Disfavored Legion

The Disfavored Legion is the formation of the Disfavored under Graven Ashe. It has changed little since it's development in the Northern Empire other than being consolidated and swearing fealty to Kyros.

Composition

Manpower

The official muster number was 18,000 prior to invading the Tiers, with another 3-4,000 camp slaves in the supply chain.

Equipment

Legionary arms and armor are made of iron, largely unique to the more important Imperial formations. They wear banded armor, braced shields, spears and javelins, with a short, broad-headed gladius as an emergency sidearm. The Stone Shields are most notable as bearing the average complement of gear and making up the bulk of the formation. Some soldiers, such as the Crescent Runners and Oathbound, wear lighter armor and weaponry for ranging and covert operations. The legion is uniquely lacking in medical equipment as "Graven Ashe protects" and the few medical personnel are used only under grave circumstances.

Weaponry

Iron-headed spears are the predominant weapon of the legion. These are supplemented by javelins and gladius swords.

Structure

Graven Ashe commands the Legion with his Iron Guard serving as battalion commanders (or legates) and command advisers. Each individual battalion (legio) within the Legion is commanded by an Iron Legate and consists of 10 cohorts of approximately 600 troops. Each cohort is commanded by an Iron Centurion, further breaking down into centuries of about 100 men each.

Senior Officers

• Legate. The legion commander, known as "Legatus Legionis" in the old Northern Tongue. The post is usually filled by an Iron Guard, appointed by Graven Ashe, who holds command for 3 or 4 years, although they could serve for a much longer period.
• Senior Tribune. The second-in-command of the legion, known as "Tribunus Laticlavius" in the old Northern Tongue. Named for the broad striped tunic worn by men of senatorial rank in the old Northern Empire, this tribune is appointed by Graven Ashe. Though generally young, they are more experienced than the junior tribunes. If the legate died they would take command of the legion.
• Camp Prefect. The third-in-command of the legion, known as "Praefectus Castrorum" in the old Northern Tongue. Generally a long serving veteran from a lower social class than the junior tribunes, and who previously had served as First Spear and finished his 25 years with the Legion. He is used as a senior officer in charge of training a legion, though he can also command a cohort as necessary.
• Junior Tribunes. The junior command officers, known as "Tribuni Angusticlavii" in the old Northern Tongue. Each legion has five lower ranking tribunes, who are normally from higher social standing and have at least some years of prior military experience. They often serve the role of administrative officers. In the old Northern Empire, this tribunate was often a first, but optional, step in a young man's political career.

Iron Centurions

The rank of centurion is an officer grade that includes many ranks, meaning centurions have very good prospects for promotion. The most senior centurion in a legion is known as the First Spear Centurion who directly commands the first century of the first cohort and commands the whole first cohort when in battle. Within the second to tenth cohorts, the commander of each cohort's first century is known as a Front Spear Centurion and is in command of their entire cohort when in battle. The seniority of the Front Spear Centurions is followed by the five other century commanders of the first cohort, who are known as First Rank Centurions.

The six centuries of a normal cohort, were, in order of precedence:

• The forward spears (priorsum hastati)
• The rear spears (tergum hastati)
• The forward principal line (priorsum principes)
• The rear principal line (tergum principes)
• The forward third line (priorsum triarii)
• The rear third line (tergum triarii)

The centuries took their titles from the three lines of battle using three classes of soldier. Each century then holds a cross-section of this line). Each of the three lines is then sub-divided within the century into a more forward and a more rear century.

• First Spear Centurion (Primus Pilus). The commanding centurion of the first century, first cohort and the senior-most centurion of the entire legion. (Unlike other cohorts, the first cohort has only one javelin century, instead of a "front spear" and a "back spear" century.) The First Spear Centurion has a chance of later becoming a Praefectus Castrorum. When the First Spear Centurion retires, he will most likely gain entry into the middle class. He is paid 60 times the base wage. The First Spear Centurion was also payed more than an average centurion and more like a Junior Tribune.
• Front Spear Centurion (Pilus Prior). The "front file" centurions are the commanders of the 10 1st centuries within the legion, making them senior centurions of their respective cohorts. While the legion is in battle formation, the Front Spear Centurion is given command of their entire cohort. The First Spear Centurion is also a Front Spear Centurion, and the most senior of all the centurions within the legion. These positions are usually held by experienced veteran soldiers who have been moved up within the ranks. This rank is subordinate to the First Spear Centurion.
• First Rank Centurions (Primi Ordines). The "ranks of the first cohort" are the five centurions of the first cohort, and include the First Spear Centurion. They, excluding the First Spear, are paid 30 times the base wage. This rank is senior to all other centurions, save the First Spear and Front Spears.
• Other Centurions. Each battalion has approximately 59 or 60 centurions, one to command each century of the 10 cohorts. They are the backbone of the Legion and are the career soldiers who run the day-to-day life of the soldiers and issue commands in the field. They are generally moved up from the ranks, but in some cases could be direct appointments from Graven Ashe or an Iron Guard. The cohorts are ranked from the first to the tenth and the century within each cohort ranks from 1 to 6, with only five centuries in the first cohort (for a total of 59 centurions and the First Spear). The century that each centurion commands is a direct reflection of their rank: command of the 1st century of the first cohort is the highest, and the 6th century of the 10th cohort was the lowest. Paid ten times the basic wage.

Lower Ranks

• Second Man (Optio). One for each centurion, the Second Man was the lieutenant and aide-de-camp, acting as the centurion's second-in-command. They are paid twice the basic wage. Roughly equivalent to a modern First Sergeant or Senior Lieutenant.
• Guard Commander (Tesserarius). One for each century. They act as Third Man and are paid one and a half times the basic wage. Keeper of the watchword, administrative assistant to HQ Staff, third in command of a century. These men fight as normal soldiers when the century they are attached to isn't in the vanguard. Roughly equivalent to a modern Staff Sergeant.
• Spear Leader (Decanus). Commands a ten-man tent party (contubernium), eight soldiers and two non-combatants, roughly equivalent to a modern Sergeant.
• Point Man (Cuspus).
Foremost soldier in a team of four soldiers (quaternion).

Special Duty Posts

• Eagle Bearer (Aquilifer). One for each battalion, the eagle bearer is an enormously important and prestigious position. Losing the eagle is considered the greatest dishonor a battalion can endure. This post therefore has to be filled with steady veteran soldiers, with an excellent understanding of the tactics of the Legion. Paid three times the basic wage.
• Standard Bearer (Signifer). One for each century and within each cohort the 1st century's standard bearer would be the senior. They was bear the Century's Banner (centurial signum), a spear shaft decorated with medallions and topped with an open hand to signify loyalty, which is a rallying point for the soldiers. In addition to carrying the Banner, the bearer also assumed responsibility for the financial administration of the unit and functioned as the legionaries' banker. They are paid twice the basic wage.
• Hornblower (Cornicen). Works hand in hand with the Standard Bearer drawing the attention of the men to the Century's Banner and issuing the audible commands of the officers. Paid twice the basic wage.
• Overlord's Man (Imaginifer). A special position introduced after the surrender to Kyros. The Overlord's Man carries a standard bearing the image of the Overlord as a constant reminder of the Legion's loyalty to Kyros. Paid twice the basic wage.
• Immunes. Immunes are legionary soldiers who possess specialized skills, qualifying them for better pay and excusing them from labour and guard work. Engineers, artillerymen, musicians, clerks, quartermasters, drill and weapons instructors, carpenters, hunters, medical staff and military police are all immune soldiers. These troops are still fully trained legionaries, however, and are called upon to serve in the battle lines when needed.
• Evocatus. A special rank designating an Oathbound. They are veterans of the Legion who have undergone exclusive, special training, binding their Quaternion to each other. They receive double pay and are excluded from any regular duties, such as manual labour.
• Duplicarius. A special pay grade that can also be awarded regardless of rank, received double the basic pay.

Tactics

The Legion forms a "phalanx" formation, referred to as "The Phalanx" in grand terms. This is a deep (eight ranks or more), densely packed formation, mostly consisting of the heavily armoured and shielded Stone Shields. The phalanx aims to charge and break through the enemy line. Fighting is in tight formation, stabbing with the spear. Phalanx fighting requires extensive training, as holding formation is critical to success.
The phalanx is mostly used for large-scale battles. Though engaged in at a squad level, it is much less practical for any small-scale raiding and skirmishing, hence the predominant use of Crescent Runners for ranging and scouting.

Training

Discipline

The military discipline of the Legion is quite harsh. Regulations are strictly enforced, and a broad array of punishments can be inflicted upon a legionary who breaks them.
Minor Punishments

• Castigatio – being hit by the centurion with his staff or animadversio fustium.
• Reduction of rations or to be forced to eat barley instead of the usual grain ration.
• Pecuniaria mulcta – Reduction in pay, fines or deductions from the pay allowance.
• Flogging in front of the century, cohort or legion.
• Whipping with the flagrum (flagellum, flagella), or "short whip" – a much more brutal punishment than simple flogging. The "short whip" was used by slave volunteers, volones.
• Gradus deiectio – Reduction in rank.
• Missio ignominiosa – Dishonourable discharge.
• Loss of time in service advantages.
• Militiae mutatio – Relegation to inferior service or duties.
• Munerum indictio – Additional duties.

Major Punishments

• Fustuarium – a sentence for desertion or dereliction of duty. The legionary are to be stoned or beaten to death by cudgels, in front of the assembled troops, by their fellow soldiers or those whose lives had been put in danger. Soldiers under sentence of fustuarium who escape are not pursued but live under sentence of banishment from the Northern Empire.
• Decimation – a punishment carried out against an entire unit that has mutinied, deserted, or shown dereliction of duty. One out of every ten men, chosen by lots, would be beaten to death, usually by the other nine with their bare hands, who would be forced to live outside the camp and in some instances obliged to renew their military oath, the sacramentum.

Logistics

Logistical Support

The Legion is supported by an extensive baggage train and camp slaves and followers, numbering nearly a quarter of the total Legion's strength. Where possible, the Legion will survive off the land by requisitioning grain and food from the conquered territory through which they move. They are notorious for doing this without mercy to civilians in conquered territories.

Upkeep

Pay

Legionaries receive a base pay of 225 copper rings per year. However, the soldiers do not receive all the money in cash, as the Legion deducts a clothing and food tax from their pay. To this wage, a legionary on active campaign will hope to add the booty of war, from the bodies of their enemies and as plunder from enemy settlements. Slaves can also be claimed from the prisoners of war and divided amongst the legion for later sale, which would bring in a sizeable supplement to their regular pay.
All legionary soldiers also receive a praemia on the completion of their term of service (to receive this the minimum was 25 years in service): a sizeable sum of money (3,000 copper rings or more) and/or a plot of good farmland back in the Northern Empire.

Type

Infantry

Overall training Level

Professional

Assumed Veterancy

Trained

Used by

• The Disfavored