Savoyard Brigade

[FORƎST 1312]

First Imperial Regiment

Fourth “Savoyard” Brigade

 

The White Striped Banner

 

In the name of His Imperial Majesty John III Owyn of the House of Horen, by the Grace of GOD, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, forever August, Apostolic King in Oren, of Savoy, Kaedrin, Haense, Renatus and Salvus, Defender of the Faith, Duke of the Crownlands, Avar, Frederica, Krajia, and Cascadia, Margrave of Greater Kreden, Count of Johannesburg, Louvain, Beauclair, Sundholt, Estavar, and Wett. Sovereign of Humanity, Suzerain of the Elves and Protector of the Dominion of Malin, etcetera;

 

By the order of the Duke of Blackwald,

On the 1st of First Seed, 1585

 

The Ashford personal levy is hereby disbanded and merged into the Imperial Legion under the First Regiment, from this point on to be known as the Fourth Savoyard Foreign Brigade.

 

 

THE BRIGADE

 

Savoy’s fourth brigade, commonly referred to as “White Stripes” due to their choice of coloring is largely made up of men whose grandfathers once served Olivier in the Savoyard Kingdom of the early 1500s.

The men of the swamp levy have completely immersed themselves with the Blackwald. After a decade spent in their new home, their plate and chain armors have become tinted the same muddy green as their surroundings.

 

Preference falls to ambush tactics and skirmishes over full out assault, as the result of battles in the Blackwald largely depend upon footing. When the field dictates that they cannot unload their crossbows from afar, or rather spring out from foxholes with their weapons at the ready, they prefer to arm themselves with spears and halberds.

 

Many white striped legionaries believe that the degradation of their duchy, even their kingdom, was due largely to foreign influences. They oft assert that the nonhuman favoring Renatian houses, who famously wormed their way into the de Savoie family’s trust, are to blame for the dormant and weak state of Savoy -- and they hate them all the more for it.

 

So when the Empire calls for the slaying of nonhumans, whether humanoid or otherwise monstrous, there are no finer hunters to call upon.

 

Crossbow-wielding savoyards navigating the Blackwald depths

 

 

RANK STRUCTURE

 

THE BRITTLE                                                                                                                               

Those who make up the ‘Brittle’ are the untrained members of the brigade. It is within this rank that newcomers must prove themselves worthy. These recruits are expected to learn from the more experienced within the Brigade, and show obedience at all times. The Brittle are not required to take an oath of loyalty, and their actions are not the Brigade’s responsibility.

 

THE HARDENED

The tested men who form this rank are the backbone of the Brigade. They have taken their oaths and are fully equipped to defend Savoy. The Hardened are knowledgeable in the military’s operation and follow their superiors without question. After two years, or two Saint’s weeks, of service, they are allowed to request honorable discharge.

 

THE ABSOLUTE

Made up of the Brigade’s finest, the word of the Absolute is law. Soldiers who show exceptional talent in leading are considered, but only the most promising few are selected. The role of the Absolute is to train their comrades and lead them into battle. Those who disobey these officers are subject to punishment and possibly dishonorable discharge

.

 

 

Rebel bodies left behind at the Siege of Barrowyck

 

 

STANDARD ARMAMENTS

 

ONE HANDED

Imperial Arming Sword

The arming sword is a one-handed variant of the longsword possessing a shortened blade and hilt. Useful for dispatching foes at close range and in one-on-one situations, this sidearm is the weapon of choice for most of the Brigade’s soldiers.

 

Strelt-make Mace

Specializing in blunt trauma, this weapon is made up of a metal rod with a rounded, flanged head. It is especially useful in bashing and breaking plated foes.

 

Misericorde

The misericorde is a slender dagger with an exceptionally sharp point. It serves as a backup weapon in melee scenarios, and as the deliverer of mercy strokes to either friend or foe.

 

TWO HANDED

Kaedreni Pike

The epitome of simple yet effective, this evolution of the spear consists of a long wooden shaft with a pointed steel end used for penetrating armor and ending opponents.

 

Savoyard Halberd

This deadly weapon combines the length of a pike with an axe’s blade. It was developed during the Ducal War as an answer to cavalry and heavily armored opponents.

 

RANGED

Kaedreni Arbalest

The use of the Kaedreni Arbalest dates back to the Order of the White Rose, and it remains as effective today. As a heavy crossbow, the arbalest excels at penetrating armor and formations, but takes more effort to load.

 

Hansetian Longbow

An enlarged version of the bow, this long-range weapon consists of a curved wooden limb with a tight string connecting the two ends. It does not possess the raw piercing power of the arbalest and takes more strength to use, but reaches far further and with a drastically shortened reload time.

 

 

The battle for Milvain Bridge

 

Enlistment

 

One must be a male imperial citizen with the ability to trace one’s lineage up to two generations. Only full blooded humans with Class A or Class B citizenship may serve in the Officer ranks or as a Knight. Upon taking oath, one must serve at minimum 2 years (2 Saint’s Weeks) before being allowed honorable discharge.

 

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Enlistment First Regiment, Fourth Brigade;

 

Fill out the following form in its entirety and address it via raven to the Castle Gravelhold,

((crazyguy1916 in game or forum PM)) Savoy Province in order to arrange a face to face interview.

 

Name, surname:

Place & Date of Birth:

Racial status:

Any prior service:

Trades or skills that you might provide to the Legion:

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A copy of the Imperial Legions is pinned below

 

[lawnmowerman 3040]

Philip de Capua smiles at Jon Renault's work, saying to him.

 

"The match is struck. A blazing star is born!"

 

 

[Destroyer_Bravo 1054]

"Wait, what?" says a swamp elf as he is informed he cannot rank up past oathed rank.

[Andustar 4143]

"I thought the Savoyards would've died out by now in that swamp of theirs!"  Viktor would remark

[The Great Mongol Khan 1110]

Cardinal Luminous Rothgard smiles proudly "It is good to see the Savoyards are making an ascension from the solitude of their swamp."

[ARCHITECUS 4788]

His Grace Timothy Locklear of Killeen, hobbyist military historian, breaks into conniptions as the Savoyards claim invention of the centuries old halberd during the relatively recent Duke's war.

[Endovelicus 614]

"Are the savoyard swamps even lived in?" A young von Herrick comments as he sees this, remenbering what his uncle told him about Savoy in it's old days.

[Vamoose 265]

"Nothing tastes better than bog water." Audwin states as he contemplates the bitter flavor of raevir blood.

[Harri 4815]

Roland is rather pleased to have others to wade around with, finally.

[_Stigwig 1510]

Trooper Smith reports for duty.

[mitch dharma 438]

Sammy materializes from the shadows.

[WuHanXianShi14 0]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.