The Ivae'fenn

[Monkee 7369]

The Ivae’fenn

 

 

The Ivae’fenn is the Snow Elven military. From Anthos to Almaris, it has a lengthy, centuries-long history of fighting in some of the descendant realm’s bloodiest wars and battles. Across the years, it has garnered a fearsome reputation, particularly among the Elves. Service in the Ivae’fenn is more widespread than among any other standing army. Many Snow Elves will actively serve for their entire lives, while others will engage in active service for a time, only to enter into periods as a reservist. Nonetheless, the Ivae’fenn enjoys the participation of a significant proportion of the adult population, male and female. As a result, conscription is a rare policy, reserved only for the utmost emergencies. Where once it served the Princedom of Fenn, it is now reformed to serve the Fennic Remnants.

 

A Guardian.

 

Initiates in the Ivae’fenn are subjected to rigorous training, focusing upon discipline, individual fighting, and formation fighting. It is often a brutal process - spars are fought until a combatant yields or falls unconscious, and out of pride, the former is rare. Thus, the Ivae’fenn breeds hard warriors. After their initial training, soldiers ascend to the rank of Guardian, as full-fledged soldiers of the Ivae’fenn in cloaks of blue. Even then, however, training continues. The next historical rank is the Vanguard, denoted by cloaks of green, and these soldiers represent the experienced among the enlisted. After Vanguards are the Valkyrim, a special rank denoted by cloaks of purple. Their status coveted, they serve as royal guards. Wardens, dressed in cloaks of black, are the lowest rank of officer. They are enforcers of discipline, trainers, and tacticians - often leading small formations into battle. Beyond the Wardens are historically the Sentinels, cloaked in gold. As the highest rank of officer, they serve as tacticians and strategists, leading the Ivae’fenn on and off the field. Last is the High Sentinel and Prince. Both typically wear white, though the latter may opt for purple if they are an oathed Valkyr.

 

In service to the Fennic Remnants, only the ranks of Initiate, Guardian, Warden, and Valkyr are opened.

 

From left to right: A Valkyr, a Warden, and a Guardian [[Art courtesy of JJosey]]

 

Taken together, when the Ivae’fenn fight, it is primarily as heavy infantry. They march and give battle in dense formations of spears and shields, supplemented by archers and heavy cavalry.

 

 

The Valkyrim

 

With sharpened mind and unmatched limb,

My life I pledge in battle grim.

Let prince and Wyrvun hear my hymn,

Beware - here come the Valkyrim!

 

A Valkyr.

 

To be a Valkyr is among the highest aspirations in Snow Elven society. These soldiers are carefully selected from the ranks of the Ivae’fenn on the basis of supreme discipline and martial ability. They are the best fighters of the Snow Elves. It is common for soldiers to pass up careers as an officer for an opportunity to join the ranks of the Valkyrim.

 

 

These soldiers wear cloaks of purple. Whilst standard battle-dress sees the rest of the Ivae’fenn don helms, the Valkyrim typically opt for purple veils, shielding the face beneath the eyes. This allows them better visibility. The veil, or bandana, was introduced to the Tundraks during the many interregnums of the Snow Elves, where their people were scattered to the winds. During these times, many Tundraks took up service with mercenary companies, where the bandana was prized as a symbol of martial prowess by mercenaries and bandits. Thus, it was adopted by the Valkyrim.

 

 

Together, the Valkyrim serve as royal guards. Their primary responsibility is to the prince, and thus on occasions where the prince is on the battlefield, it is only from him that they accept their orders. As the prince’s personal armed retinue, they spend much time with him, and are counted among his closest friends. Often, the prince will be a Valkyr himself, if before his ascension he has proven himself worthy of the coveted title. As a result of their reputation, the Valkyrim may also be tasked with some of the Ivae’fenn’s most difficult feats, including high value raids and flanking operations upon the battlefield.

 

 

Strategy and Tactics

 

Among the Ivae’fenn, most soldiers in a given battle serve as heavy infantry, fighting in dense formations of spear and shield. Behind them are positioned the archers, often in equally heavy armor, whilst heavy cavalry shield their flanks - wielding lances. The resulting structure is dense - and so on the defensive, it often holds a static formation, repositioning cavalry and reinforcements as seen fit. On the offensive, this structure sweeps across the battlefield.

 

 

Should a formation break, typically through the incurment of too many losses to hold it together, spears are replaced with personal weapons. Upon raids and in loose skirmishing, this is also often the case; a soldier of the Ivae’fenn is prepared for both formation fighting and loose, individual combat. Swords, glaives, axes, and warhammers cut through the battlefield once the space has been created for their use.

 

 

To dictate strategy, warhorns and drums are used, signalling orders throughout the ranks of the Ivae’fenn. This is often supplemented by shrill whistles, intended to intimidate the enemy. Strategically, retreat for the Snow Elves is a difficult feat, for most of their soldiers are laden down with heavy armor. Further, they are a stubborn people, and so it is often not in their will. Across many a battlefield, Snow Elven formations have held the line even as their allies have melted away. This has led to either instances of mass death, or slow, messy withdrawals as lumbering formations give ground.

 

 

The Cyanic Creed and Honorifics

 

        The Cyanic Creed

 

In din of battle, in peace of glade,

No act unjust shall sully my blade.

Against civilian and surrendered, and those low-laid,

Forevermore my hand is stayed.

 

 

The Cyanic Creed is the basis for honor among Snow Elven soldiers, and dictates a code of conduct. The Mali’fenn have very specific ideas on what the proper conduct of warfare should look like. The Cyanic Creed bars the use of magic upon the battlefield, for magic drawn from foreign deities is sacrilege, and that which is drawn from the void corrupts. Further, the creed dictates that civilians are not to be harmed, with exceptions permitted for government officials and self defense. Those who have surrendered upon the battlefield are not to be harmed either, unless previous crimes of theirs warrant punishment. Should it not prove an inconvenience, soldiers are also instructed to aid the sick, aid the wounded, and aid civilians in need. Respect is to be accorded to those who have fought well and with honor. Further, no Snow Elf is to be left undefended, and soldiers are to strictly follow orders. They are to hold their ground at all costs unless ordered otherwise. These are the tenets of the Cyanic Creed. It is not law, however, and merely serves as an unofficial guide to the principles of honor among the Mali’fenn.

 

 

        Honorifics

 

Honorifics are recognitions granted to soldiers of the Ivae’fenn for great feats and desirable qualities, and are represented upon uniforms in the form of a small, colored piece of cloth wrapped around the left arm. The blue armband represents Loyalty, and is awarded to those whose participation in the Ivae’fenn is worthy of admiration. The gold armband represents Valor, and is awarded to those who successfully perform risky feats during battle. The red armband represents Service, and is granted to those who sustain a grievous wound in the service of the Ivae’fenn. The coveted purple armband represents Prowess, and is awarded to one who manages to vanquish an impressive number of enemies in a single engagement. The final armband, black, is posthumous; it represents Sacrifice, and is awarded to the families of those who give their lives in battle for the Ivae’fenn.

 

Enlistment

 

Before you stands a Warden, palm outstretched in waiting. Upon the table nearby - parchment, and short sticks of charcoal. The forms read as follows:

 

Name:

Race:

Age:

Gender:

[[OOC]]

Username:

Discord:

Timezone:

 

Afterwards, you are told that an officer will reach out to you for an in-person meeting, and told to move along.

[Orlanth 4667]

A loud "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" could be heard from Rydia's house in Fenn.

[sneLf 314]

Name: Lyulen Daemyr

Race: Dark Elf

Age: 260

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: Silenthz

Discord: Woah#3181

Timezone: Some shitter islander timezone

[Wizzar 613]

Name: Ivaryne Araaloq

Race: Snow Elf

Age: 23?

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: Krunos10

Discord: Wizzar#7376

Timezone: EST

[JJosey 1481]

Name: Sarya Elathana Ithrandos

Race: Elf(Snow elf)

Age: 89

Gender: Female

[[OOC]]

Username: JJosey

Discord: Josey#5073

Timezone: GMT+1

[Mehl 25]

Name: Petra Vilulf

Race: Snow Elf 

Age: 93

Gender: Female 

[[OOC]]

Username: Mehlodi

Discord: Mehl#8038

Timezone: GMT+10

[DragonofTaters 920]

Name: Rhae

Race: Snelf

Age: Rude

Gender: The good one

[[OOC]]

Username: DragonofTaters

Discord: DragonofTaters#5574

Timezone: CST

[ABruhMoment 609]

Name: Aesilnoth Tundrak

Race: Snow Elf

Age: 238

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: ABruhMoment

Discord: ABruhMoment#4276

Timezone: CST-6

[EnderMaiashiro 664]

Name: Velatha Sylric

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age: 425

Gender: Female

[[OOC]]

Username: EnderMaiashiro

Discord: EnderMaiashiro#7430

Timezone: EST

[Fekr 424]

Name: Akkar Tundrak

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age: 87

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: ItsIn

Discord: Bennie#1513

Timezone: GMT (+0)

[GrimDeValhalla 20]

Name: Taveric Sylric

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age:334

Gender:Male

[[OOC]]

Username:GrimDeValhalla

Discord:GrimDeValhalla#6996

Timezone:GMT+1

[Monkee 7369]

1 hour ago, sneLf said:

Name: Lyulen Daemyr

Race: Dark Elf

Age: 260

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: Silenthz

Discord: Woah#3181

Timezone: Some shitter islander timezone

 

1 hour ago, Wizzar said:

Name: Ivaryne Araaloq

Race: Snow Elf

Age: 23?

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: Krunos10

Discord: Wizzar#7376

Timezone: EST

 

1 hour ago, JJosey said:

Name: Sarya Elathana Ithrandos

Race: Elf(Snow elf)

Age: 89

Gender: Female

[[OOC]]

Username: JJosey

Discord: Josey#5073

Timezone: GMT+1

 

59 minutes ago, Mehl said:

Name: Petra Vilulf

Race: Snow Elf 

Age: 93

Gender: Female 

[[OOC]]

Username: Mehlodi

Discord: Mehl#8038

Timezone: GMT+10

 

55 minutes ago, DragonofTaters said:

Name: Rhae

Race: Snelf

Age: Rude

Gender: The good one

[[OOC]]

Username: DragonofTaters

Discord: DragonofTaters#5574

Timezone: CST

 

54 minutes ago, ABruhMoment said:

Name: Aesilnoth Tundrak

Race: Snow Elf

Age: 238

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: ABruhMoment

Discord: ABruhMoment#4276

Timezone: CST-6

 

54 minutes ago, EnderMaiashiro said:

Name: Velatha Sylric

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age: 425

Gender: Female

[[OOC]]

Username: EnderMaiashiro

Discord: EnderMaiashiro#7430

Timezone: EST

 

45 minutes ago, ItsIn said:

Name: Akkar Tundrak

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age: 87

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: ItsIn

Discord: Bennie#1513

Timezone: GMT (+0)

 

27 minutes ago, GrimDeValhalla said:

Name: Taveric Sylric

Race: Mali'Fenn

Age:334

Gender:Male

[[OOC]]

Username:GrimDeValhalla

Discord:GrimDeValhalla#6996

Timezone:GMT+1

 

By way of a raven's dark wings, word is sent to each of the respondents; dropped from its talons, a simple parchment.

"Meet me in-person, by the square or tavern of Ikur'fiyem, and we shall discuss your enlistment. I await you there."

-Signed, Vytrek Tundrak

[Orlanth 4667]

Name: Rydia

Race: Snow Elf

Age: Somewhere around 60

Gender: Female

[[OOC]]

Username: Orlanth

Discord: Orlanth#3080

Timezone: MST

[Kaiser 2347]

Name: Enring Belechirr

Race: Snow Elf

Age: 40

Gender: Male

[[OOC]]

Username: KaiserThoren

Discord: KaiserThoren#7818

Timezone: EST

[SwampRump 171]

Name: Arevthor Tathvir

Race: snelf

Age: 180ish

Gender: male

[[OOC]]

Username: Trekwars

Discord: Trekwars

Timezone: CST