10th Legion, Lords of the Hunt

The wilds of these lands are dangerous to anyone no matter how well trained they are but to us, we feel right at home in the wilderness more than any other man, and rather than just survive in it we thrive with all of its wealth and wonder - Centurion of the 10th

Structure

Legatus: The Legatus or general is in charge of the entire legion under his command obeying their orders. They also have political influence as well.
Tribune: The second of the Legtus that carries out orders under them and ensures that reports on all parts of the legion are given to him when they are preoccupied with other duties.
Praefect: The third in command and in charge of maintaining the supplies, equipment, and construction of the legion. They ensure that everything is in order and that the men are disciplined.
Primus Pilus: The veteran centurions of the legion that run the cohorts, each one has decades of experience and is an expert in warfare. They are allowed to act independently in battle when they see a change in a situation and adapt to it.
Centurion : The backbone of imperial officers in the legion, the ensure that their troops stay in line by any means, most of them are respected or feared by their men.
Optio : The second in command of a Centurion that aid them in daily duties and orders. Often take over when they cannot and can read and write messages for them.

Culture

We are men of the wilds, for we live for the hunt. For the hunt gives us life and purpose in our service. May they be man or beast none shall escape from our watchful gaze for long- 10th Legion Pledge

Being a Member

Looks like you never going to see civilization again if you ended up here. You might as well have decided to forget who you once were because they are dead and buried for what you signed up for in the 10th Legion. Here they take the survival of the fittest to the heart and whatever you were taught that was important no longer matters, only the hunt matters. Here you have to keep your senses and wits about as you in the wilderness where something is going to try to make you its next meal sooner or later. You are going to have to learn real quick how to survive by any means necessary. For what does it truly mean to live if you never risk your life in the struggles that this world has to offer. To kill those who would try to kill you may they be man or beast for the same reason, to survive. For what better place to learn this than the very wilderness that so many try to avoid due to the dangers that it holds. To become a hunter of all things does show that you are the dominant creature to ever step foot in the wild country, to no longer hide in fear of the unknown for you will experience it first hand and strike it down with those hands. You will become something more than a man, you will become one with your surroundings that many have forgotten by those who have left these untamed lands. Making you far more dangerous than any man can be and the beasts of these lands will bend to you will as well for you have the power bend them to you will for you no longer fear them. As for the beasts that don't, their meat will feed you, their fur shall keep you warm and their prized parts shall be trophies to your victories over them. That is the reason why only the hunt matters for you are never more alive when you put your life on the line and the life of another in the balance.

What People Think of You

The 10th Legion may be respected by some but to others, they are treated like they were savages that they hunt. No one understands why they live the way they do and why they are so fixated on treating everything like a hunt. But no one will disrespect them when they are around because they don't take too kindly to that who are "civilized" treating them more like sheep since often never fight back and the beast they keep around them keeps it that way or there would be a blood bath more often than there should be. But no one can deny that they get results done when they are sent into the wilds where very few men ever go for death awaits those unprepared to face them. But they go into it without a second thought and take pleasure in it. Often coming back with trophies for they dared challenge them not caring if they were men or beasts. But their defiance of authority can be as much of a problem, but how can you get someone to listen to you when they kill monsters for a living and only seem to respect their fellow legions or those of a considerable rank for they lead the empire. It only seems that they are tolerated and their service is still required no matter how far they are willing to go for their sacred "hunt."

Public Agenda

The 1️0th Legion has been assigned to deal with threats that are found in the wilderness within the borders of the Vatian Empire and eliminate them.

Assets

War Beasts: The legion has many beasts at its command that are used to fight in battle. Each one is trained to follow their commands and obey at their beckoned call.
Hunting Armour: Modified lorica segmentata armor that is not as loud-sounding nor reflective as the standard. But it does not sacrifice protection as it is combined with different materials to make it light and durable.
Hunter's Shadows: The elite scouts that the legion uses, their skill in stealth and recon are considered some of the best in the empire. Making them hard to detect and can move around without being noticed, making it easy for prey or an enemy to easily fall into an ambush.

History

Rise of the Hunters

The 10th Legion has had something of a mythical status since its early days as they were one of the first legion sent off beyond the borders of the empire into the harsh and untamed wilderness of the Wild Lands where no Vatian had ever gone before during the Barbarian Wars in an attempt to create outposts to charter the region for further invasions into it. Most believed that it was a fool's errand as many believed that one legion would never be able to accomplish the task let alone come back alive at all. After many months with no answer, it was believed that the legion was lost and resources were being sent elsewhere until the unexpected happened. A lone rider came to deliver a message from the 10th legion. They were confused to see the Legionary before them as he looked like a barbarian if it weren't for his armor and weapons. He wore animal skins across his body, his face was not shaved and it did not seem that he had bathed in weeks. But what seems more shocking were the scars on his body while some came from blades and arrows, most of them looked like they came from the beasts that roamed in the Wild Lands. What he told was considered unbelievable to them even more as the legion had gained a foothold in the region and were pressing deeper into the territory at an alarming rate. Something that was considered impossible by many if it wasn't for the proof the reinforcing legions gave them when they sent into reinforcing them.
The legion itself was unrecognizable when they finally met with them as it appeared that they went, full native as they all wore animal skins of all manner of beasts, their weapons and armor had been altered and modified and they looked wild animals more than men. The truth of it all was the 10th went through hell when they entered the Wild Lands as they were constantly dealing with poor weather, starvation, and threats from both man and beast. But rather than parishing to the elements, they instead decided to adapt to their new hostile environment to ensure victory and most of all their survival. They realized that being civilized didn't mean it was a sure way to make it out alive in the wilderness as the civilized were often the easiest to sneak upon. So they turned themselves into an army of survivalists, skilled in living off the harsh landscape, and acted more like hunters using their training and discipline to get the drop on anything that stood in their way. This change in appearance and tactics would catch the barbarians off guard in the region allowing the legion to advance claiming land at a fast rate and the wildlife was no match for them either. This would further aid them as more legions joined them in the campaigns during the wars and by the time it was finally over the 10th were rewarded for conquering the wilderness that seemed all but impossible to do. But they would forever be changed by it as what was once Vatian soldiers were now men of the wild that seemed to prefer to stay that way and not return to their normal lives and due to their experience, they continue to be just that only being sent into the most dangerous places in the Western Lands to carry out the will of the empire by their means.

Into the Wilds

The 10th may look like a legion but act far from it as they tend to follow their way of handling things when in the wilderness as they believe that the civilized have no place in such a place to properly survive. Creating their own culture that is surrounded by the idea of survival of the fittest and honing their instincts to that of a bestial nature. Along with dominating everything around them through hunting and bending the beasts of the land to their will. Creating a hunting tradition that can raise one through the ranks rather than traditionally. They named themselves the lords of the hunt for that reason alone and stick to their traditions like a plant to water. This can both be a blessing and a curse depending on the situation as it can lead to the legion being successful in their assignments but can cause them to go to extremes that might be more hazardous than beneficial. Another problem is that the legion is often living out in the wilderness rather than in settlement often living off the land and disciplining themselves to become more skilled as time goes by. Making it somewhat difficult to find them to begin with some cases as they tend to know how to stay hidden despite being an army. But their skills are still considered renowned nonetheless as their senses and reflexes had been heightened from being out in the wilderness for so long. Making them the best soldiers to be sent into uncharted territory and seeing that their tasks were completed. There have been many cases where the 10th have been sent to handle threats that are too much to handle for a normal legion as they have no experience in dealing with such harsh conditions unlike them and they seem to enjoy it too much. Making feel more like a game rather than a life or death situation, rather than competing with each they work more like a pack of wolves with each one playing their part, even sacrificing themselves if need be to complete their mission.

Hunting the Hunters

Hunting centers around the very being of the 10th as it is something that every member of the legion does. But it is more than just survival, it is to prove that they are capable of tracking down and finishing off their prey. Wearing what you kill is just one way to prove this. But the real challenge that they often face is often the predators that are found in the wilderness. While the legion's main task is crushing all threats of rebellion in the wilderness, their secondary task is to deal with threats that live within these places when they start attacking settlements or roads. The beasts and monsters are often too hard to handle in some cases for normal hunters and the skills the legion have to offer are often sent in to deal with them. This proves to be the right choice as their experience helps them out much better than most. It is also considered a challenge to them as the only way to show who is a real hunter is to hunt something that can fight back and is far more dangerous than you. This is why they jump at the chance to fight something rather than rebels as they are often easy to handle most of the time. Once they are sent on the hunt they will continue to do so until their prey is killed or die trying. Once that task is complete the Legionary who delivers the killing blow will be rewarded by wearing the skin of the slain beast and making a trophy out of a part of it. While the legion will use every part of the beast to create things of use such as leather, tents, and anything that it might have a use. Everything you see that the legion has is often made from some sort of animal as everything should be used to properly honor the kill.

in venari (On the Hunt)

Founding Date

887 BCA

Type

Military, Army

Alternative Names

10th

Formation Type

Legionary

Training Level

Professional

Veterancy Level

Veteran

Demonym

Legionaries

Parent Organization

Imperial Legions

Related Ethnicities

• Vatian

Rite of Passage

Fresh recruits are never treated like a member of the legion until they prove themselves that they are worthy of all the hunts to come. This is often done through a set of trails known as the Hunter's Mark, putting them through hell as they prove that can be capable hunters. It is also meant to beat the civilized out of them as it will not help them at all for only beasts can survive where they're going. Once they pass the trial preferably without being killed in the process they will go out to hunt a predator and bring it back the kill or at least a part of it to prove they did it. Once that is done if they weren't killed during the trial they wear the hide of the animal that they killed as proof of their rites of passage. Along with their armor being modified to suit their needs for the hunts they will go on.

Beasts of War

Ulvenwald Bear by Jason Engle

Besides being masters of their craft the 10th has been known for another skill of theirs, the taming of beasts. Not of war hounds and horses, but Jackalopes and Great Bears, beast that was believed far too wild to be tamed for the use of man. But the legion has its ways to dominate many beasts and break them to their will and by doing so they become far more dangerous than ever before. With these Warbeast at their side, the probability for success in battle and on a hunt becomes much higher than ever before. What is more terrifying is that the beasts that serve them are trained to follow their commands making them much more lethal when being sent into battle and targeting anyone who they don't recognize by scent.

Forged in the Wilderness

Teutoburg Forest by Paul

The legion is never found ever near large settlements or areas that are largely populated which is a rare sight to see when they do. This is mostly due to the fact the legion no longer considers itself a part of the civilization anymore because of how they live their lives in the legion. They mostly see those who live in civilized societies are lazy and weak and consider them more as livestock that runs in fear at the first sight of trouble. Where they are fully dependent on themselves and know how to be thankful for every meal they get to survive. They are often only found in the wilderness waiting for orders or carrying them out, though how they manage to feed themselves for long periods due to them being an army is a mystery to many. This of course has caused them to be problematic when it to authority since the idea of a proper leader is being out in the field with their mean and sharing the burden, so any lazy politician or rich sleaze bag will not get their attention. Unless it comes from a member of the military or a high-ranking official only then will they follow their orders? That is of course if the messenger manages to survive long enough to find them as they can be hard to find as the wilderness can be a large place to search for a legion, especially in their case as they tend to camouflage themselves with the environment nothing get the drop on them.