The Unyielding
The elite royal regiment of the Empire of Khasimar clad in Phytium from head to toe. They saw deployment most notably in the Last Khasmari War against the Second Empire of Enoh, proving to be one of the most successful units throughout the war.
Composition
Manpower
Their number changed throughout their lifetime, originally starting as an elite guard of around 50, reaching around 200 before the outbreak of the Last Khasmari War. During the war, their number swelled to 2000, which lasted until their dissolvement at the end of the Fracture of the Khasmari.
At 2000 strong, they had a support team of 500, which included blacksmiths and armourers, supply trains, and runic specialists in various forms.
Weaponry
They were the most heavily armoured units the Khasmari or it's descendants have ever fielded. They wore Phytium plate, 1cm thick, that covered their entire body. The suit of armour couldn't be fitted solely and required a servant to finish sealing the soldier in from the back. This weak point at the rear was then overlaid with plate and secured, effectively creating an impenetrable tomb for the wearer. The helmets were also attached to the suit of armour, using a Phytium chain link underneath the plates, and consisting of only 2 thin horizontal eye slits. The entire suit had a rigid, angular-like design meant for compacting in a formation close together.
They carried a tower shield that reached to 1.4m, the max height of anyone allowed to join the regiment. On the bottom of the shield, was a lip attached on the inner side that allowed them to stack and attach to each other, a feature they took from the Enoh during their wars against them. The shield had two grips, a normal shield grip about three quarters of the way up, and the second only about a single quarter up from the bottom, which was perpendicular to the first. This second grip was mostly used by the second line of troops who attached their shields over the heads of the first line, when extra force was needed to hold the wall together, such as against Vitus powered attacks. At the top right and top left of the shields, were small quarter-circle cut outs, perfectly sized for the spears.
Lastly, they had a 1.4m long short spear, made originally of a Phytium core wrapped in leather multiple times, and pointed at both ends, but without barbs or shape; like a sharpened point. This was to allow fast and systemic retraction of the weapon from the enemy bodies. Eventually this evolved into a solid metal spear, rather then just a metal core, with the leather only on a small portion for the grip. This stopped the leather from snagging and catching on the shields when retracting or stabbing the spear.
Tactics
They used a number of formations and tactics, but they were primarily suited for defence and standing their ground, though at times they were used as an effective blunt force to puncture the enemy lines, increasingly more so as their time went on.
Their "Bastion" formation being one of their most prominent; it consisted of the frontline interlocking their tower shields, where the left lip of the shield would cover the right side of their neighbours shield, forming an unbroken wall that wouldn't easily buckle under pressure. This frontline would kneel and brace against the shields, which would be dug into the ground, holding both grips. The second line would then slam their shields overhead, and hold both grips to secure them, attaching with the lip on the bottom of their shields. This second line of shields would be angled slightly upwards. A third and fourth line would repeat this, but facing the opposite way, sealing all four lines into an angular dome of metal. This formation was particularly useful against Vitus infused spells, or to defend against the arrow hailstorms that used Brio Crystals. The Phytium shields and their runes absorbed such power and force, and spread it out along all connected surfaces of the same material.
Their "Scattered Spike" formation was used to break up and disrupt oncoming attacks. Here, they would loosely spread out in a checked formation, where there was enough space between each soldier for enemy soldiers to run through. In this formation, they would plant their shields in the ground, and then plant the rear point of their spears in the ground behind them, laying the forward end in the shields speargroove. They would brace, and stand firm. This gave the effect of a spike trap, much like those that are used to stop cavalry charges. Here however, the enemy infantry would be baited to charge in, and weave between their lines. One of two tactics would be used once the enemy was past them; the first would be an order causing the front lines to close the gaps and form a solid shield wall, stopping anymore enemies from pushing in, whilst the rest of the lines would stand and slaughter the now trapped victims, possibly with the aid of light infantry from the rear. The second tactic, was an order to "brace for impact", as the ranged units from behind would launch volleys into the Unyielding. Their armour was so renowned that they themselves wouldn't suffer losses from this friendly fire, but the now loosely spread out enemy who are unable to form any substantial shield wall of their own, would indeed perish.
Training
The skill and prestige required to even be a candidate to become one of the Unyielding was extreme. Only candidates who were back by a minimum of ten sponsors could be selected; these ten swore an oath on their recommendation.
The ten would ritualistically forge the Unyielding candidate tag and carve their family runes into it. This would be used as the candidates proof, and given to the authorities for submission. The training would be gruelling and start immediately. Daily drills would then follow for years, and during peace time a minimum of five years training was required to officially serve in the regiment.
Type
Special Forces
Founding
Unknown; sometime in PA.
Dissolution
1857 PA
Overall training Level
Elite
Assumed Veterancy
Decorated/Honored
Used by
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