Red Hand Company

Despite still using the lingua Tin'ala name of 'Red Hand Company' it has grown to a strength of two legions. As a professional military army, they are highly trained and skilled in multiple facets of war.
They use a rank structure of the old Teryn legions, the same as most Tin'alan countries, though they structure their units along the Shāmalta base-10 system and use Shāmaltiz battle commands to prevent (most) others from understanding them in the heat of battle.
Not only is it a strange amalgamation of traditions, but it’s one of the longest continuously-operated, independent, professional militaries in the world.
It’s at once a fraternal order, a family tradition, and a standing army.

Composition

Manpower

The Red Hand Company can field two legions using the Bartoq system:

• 10x contubernia of ten legionaries (two of which were usually recruited fresh from training) made up a century
• 5x centuries made up a cohort
• 10x cohorts made up a legion

The addition of cavalry, which was not part of the modern Bartoq system, gave them well over ten-thousand available warriors to dispatch on contracts throughout the known world.

Equipment

Due to their close relationship with the Mafakithos clan dwelling in the mountains behind them, the RHC has access to high-quality shāmalta weapons and armor.
Heavy infantry possessed:

• Lorica segmentata: torso armor made of broad steel strips fastened to internal leather straps arranged horizontally on the body, overlapping downwards, and in two halves joined by laces and buckles. The shoulders and upper body were protected by additional strips and plates.
• Scutum: a rectangular, semi-cylindrical, shield held by a horizontal bar in the center of the shield. This bar was protected by a metal umbo from the front of the shield.
• Spear: the titular polearm, a roughly 2m shaft with a pointed steel head on one end and a blunt steel point on the reverse.
• Gladius: the generic term in Teryn for a sword. The RHC uses a wasp-waisted short sword between 60cm and 70cm in length and roughly 7cm wide. Larger versions for Dryhtnar and Siegaran legionaries are also common.
• Pugio: a dagger sidearm, generally with a large leaf-shaped blade between 20cm and 30cm in length.
• Plumbatae: lead-weighted throwing darts with an effective range of 30m, carried clipped to the back of the scutum.

Light infantry and scouts possessed:

• Lorica hamata: a shirt of interlocking metal rings that offered good protection and flexibility, especially when it came to the wide-shoulder motions necessary for sagitarri to use their bow.
• Bow: archers use a composite bow made of horn, wood, and sinew held together with hide glue.
• Shield: the size and type varied with their role and duties, with most sagitarri not issued one.
• Gladius: same as the heavy infantry, but used as a sidearm like the pugio.
• Pugio: same as the heavy infantry.
• Javelin: light infantry not deployed as sagitarri were often equipped with several javelins.

Heavy cavalry possessed:

• Lorica segmentata: the same metal torso armor seen on the heavy infantry.
• Spatha: a longer sword adopted by the cavalry as a sidearm, capable of heavy slashing blows.
• Parma: a roughly flat and ovoid shield similar in size to the scutum.
• Spear: the ubiquitous polearm.
• Barding: some heavy cavalry were fielded with scale armor for their mounts, as well.

Most of the light cavalry of the RHC follow the Dryhtnar tradition, and are made up of Dryhtnar capable of wielding their deadly war bows, and are equipped thus:

• (Scalemail): the Dryhtnar term for armor made of overlapping metal scales that would cover rider from neck to ankles.
• (Warbow): the deadliest single-person weapon in warfare. The Dryhtnar warbow, in conjunction with their specialty arrows, is capable of penetrating almost every known type of armor.
• Spear: a slightly longer version that could be used two-handed, since they usually lacked a shield.
• Spiked club: if their deadly bows failed to wipe out an enemy, a deadly ride-by attack with their heavy spiked clubs was capable of bashing heavy armor and killing the one wearing it.

Coming from the Bartoq tradition, all legionaries were trained in the use of digging tools and roughly familiar with the engineering principles of road and fortress construction. As such, all RHC legionaries are also issued entrenching tools: 

• While it varied what could be issued, most legionaries at least carried a small dolabra and spade usable in one or two hands.

Structure

The legate (currently Relarial, who uses the informal epithet of commander as her rank) commands the entire force. Under the legate is the camp prefect, who's in charge of Castra Agarwen.

Training

Recruit training varies depending on the origin of the prospect. In the case of children of the legion, they would have grown up in a 'cadet cohort' and trained most of their lives in drill and fitness, and even start fighting mock combats. Upon enlisting they would fill gaps in other units as needed or be given their own contubernium. They would also start with double pay and limited manual labor duties.
Recruited prospects would go through a period of punishing 'basic training' over four months. This also applied to people recruited from other professional armies or companies, they would need to be retrained to function according to the company's system.
For both, once they had joined their unit they would train every day to maintain their readiness and fitness. Sometimes this would take the form of mock battles or training marches around the RHC territory. This had the benefit of keeping them in contact with their neighbors, and up to date on the local rumors and situation.
Additionally, the company held various specialty training courses regularly. Some of these are:

• Cūnctandus - a continuation and expansion of the irregular combat strategy pioneered by a Teryn Legate known as 'Cunctator', the delayer, focusing on a form of attrition to wear down larger armies instead of engaging in pitched battles. Named for him.
• Urban warfare - how to wage a war and use the terrain to your advantage when the field of battle is a (possibly ruined) city.
• Wilderness survival - separated from the '3Ss' listed below because this focused on survival in various environments including stranded at sea. The legionary who survives returns home to his family and company.
• Improvised weaponry - Commander Relarial's personal class, a practical exercise in how to weaponize anything you can get your hands on with a focus to every item in a legionary's kit.
• Psychological warfare - how to 'convince' your enemy it's in their best interests to stop fighting and go away sooner rather than later.
• 3Ss: Stealth, subterfuge, survival - how to get through a variety of survival situations when the individual or small group is also attempting to evade capture by hostile forces. A gathering of things taught in other classes but applied to said theoretical situation.

Logistics

Upkeep

With the establishment of communities surrounding Castra Agarwen itself, and the territory nearby, the legions have access to a lot of trade to supplement their logistical needs. What can't come from their internal resources is sourced as part of a contract, or purchased directly from outside trade outfits.

Recruitment

Joining the legion comes about in one of two ways. The children of active duty and honorably-retired members all serve a period in a “cadet cohort” as part of their overall education. Over a period of years, instead of months, they receive all the training that a new recruit would undergo. Upon reaching the age of maturity for their race, they are encouraged (but not required) to take the oath and join the company.
Those who do are tested to ensure they retain the minimum fitness levels before being allowed to join with similar benefits to a veteran: increased base pay and reduced manual labor duties.
Outsiders not born into the tradition have a much harder time. They must first be vouched for by an existing or honorably-retired member. The candidate must pay a sum up front, or agree to a contract to deduct costs monthly from their wages to cover the costs of securing the high-quality wargear the company utilizes. It also reimburses the company for its investment in the candidate to train them.
Upon completing their rigorous basic training, the new soldier is assigned and begins their career.
Both types of recruits swear the oath for a period of service no less than twenty years. Longer-lived races can voluntarily swear for longer, initially, at their discretion. They are sworn in individually (if a small recruit pool) or enmasse (if a large group.) The oath hasn't changed much in 300 years:
"I swear by various gods (substitute individual deity as needed) and unbreakable oaths that I will follow my commander wherever she may lead me. I will obey orders enthusiastically and without question. I relinquish the protection of civil laws and accept the power of my commander to put me to death without trial for disobedience or desertion. I promise to serve under the black and red for (allotted time) and not to leave before my commander discharges me. I will serve faithfully, even at the cost of my own life, and will respect 'The Code' with regard to civilians and my comrades in camp."
Once the recruit has been sworn in they are recorded in detail: names and description, along with any recognizable scars, marks, or tattoos. They will be issued their training gear and a neck pouch containing an ukhlekna, a little tag with their basic info for identification. This is especially useful for recovering bodies from the field, and returning them to their families.

History

The Red Hand Company is a mercenary company formed in the year 4952 of the Third Age by a member of each of the five major humanoid races. The five founders were all veterans of multiple different mercenary companies and adventuring bands over their lives, and each brought their own perspective and racial customs to the table. More importantly than their diversity was the fact that all knew and trusted the others.

• Brokkr Sindrisson: a Siegaran berserker ironically known more for his masterful logistics than his ferocity in battle. He also brought the advantage of ships, experienced vikingr crews, and work in his homeland.
• Relarial Abhainno at mishno Bekhel Romnu arElynwar dequis Dankil: an Elynwari-expat, and the oldest of the group. She had served in the Myral Legion as part of their auxillia before being ejected for insubordination. The decades in between were filled with adventuring and serving in so-very-many mercenary bands. She brought her great experience and ruthless cunning.
• Thrantor Thalmudnu arVanadis dequis Mafakithos: a dwarf from the Thanedom of Bartoc, a veteran of their army, and a skilled mason and architect. His field experience was second only to Relarial, and surpassed her in some ways due to remaining with his legion his whole career. Besides his knowledge, he brought valuable contacts to high-quality dwarven wares and, later, many in his clan itself.
• Tulgan Wodan Unishna: a drythnar from the Tin’alan Unishna tribe who had left at an early age to adventure. He developed his shamanic powers during that time and eventually returned to his people to take a position as an aid to the Wodras, the spiritual leader of his tribe. Though the youngest of the five he had an innate grasp of the ebb and flow of battle. He used his powers and connection to the spirits to manipulate the field to devastating effect and simultaneously bless and protect his allies. From him came their name: red hand, the common translation for a dryhtnar tribe’s warchief title. It was through his presence the company could gain drythnar-bred horses, bows, and horsemasters which were much superior to the human kingdoms.
• Vledec: a human from the Kingdom of Karvan who had also left home at an early age like Tulgan, but for him, it was to escape mandatory military service. Instead, he ended up working with roving bandits and raiders living on the boundaries of the war between Karvan and Myral. He ended up working for Relarial after the band he was with was destroyed by her. Unlike many war-wizards, Vledec was a master of the arts of divination and enchantment; he could predict a situation and then manipulate it to his whims.

Historical loyalties

The Red Hand is loyal to the Red Hand and the contract; allies can become enemies and vice-versa as the seasons change.

Type

Mercenary

Founding

4952.TA

Overall training Level

Elite

Assumed Veterancy

Veteran

Ranks & Titles

• Centurion
• Decanus
• Decurion
• Legate
• Optio
• Tribune