Pale_of_Aldemar

THE SONS OF MALIN ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ “I ask, friend, what is our army? It is the whole people.” - Lathadlen FOREWORD Even though they have been promised protection by the Holy Orenian Empire, the elves of Aldemar recognize the need to back their overlords in times of war as well as defend their own lands should a raid catch them by surprise. Historically, elven states such as the Dominion of Malin and Gladewynn had possessed large standing armies to expand their respective realms and fend off the numerous, large bandit raids that plagued Atlas. With changing times, however, has come an era of relative peace- one that is devoid of bandit companies, large-scale warfare, and civil strife. Although the days of massive, regimental guard forces and a cities littered with defenses are in their twilight, the issues of crime, banditry, and occasional skirmishing may still arise, thus necessitating a modern and well-equipped force suited for combating the threats of this new era. The Sons of Malin is governed by a triumvirate of commanders, with the Okarir’sil having the final say in all decisions made. The current triumvirs are: I. Okarir’sil Galar Ithelanen II. Valandos Elverhilin III. Junar Enrique THE HISTORY OF THE SONS OF MALIN “To forget our history is to lose who we are.” - Valandos Elverhilin The Sons of Malin began as a paramilitary and political organization within the Holy Orenian Empire during the height of the Irrinite War. Elven auxiliaries led by Valandos Elverhilin, disgusted with the out-of-touch Irrinite seeds, the druidic influence within mali’ame society, and their slaying of Orenian ambassadors, decided to join the Orenian cause against the Forest Realm. They had seen the utter destruction that inter-elven rivalries had caused, and sought to bring an end to the centuries of strife and bloodshed by uniting elvenkind under the banner of Malin. By the time they had amassed into a sizable host, however, the political situation in Oren had turned for the worse. Treacherously abandoned by its allies, with its back against the wall, the Empire and its cause were both seemingly lost. Even among the many betrayals against the Empire, it was the Sons of Malin that stayed true to their word. Through both loss and victory, they continued to rally under the Orenian banner and fight for the Imperial cause. While the Sohaer and his Irrinorian allies schemed behind closed doors, cowardly avoiding battle time and time again, Valandos and his soldiers risked their lives on the fields of battle, thereby gaining valuable experience that would serve them well in the times to come. With the cessation of the Irrinite War, and the Rubern War grinding to a halt, the Sons of Malin found themselves at relative peace for the first time in years. Seeking a way to spread their ideals of elven unity and break down the subracial divisions that plagued elvedom, the Sons of Malin came across Lathadlen, a mali’ who shared their dreams. Eager work alongside such a highly regarded group, Lathadlen offered them a leading place in his newfound realm as stalwart defenders and loyal bannermen. Valandos accepted, and the Sons of Malin became the first sworn soldiers of the Pale of Aldemar. Today, the name ‘Sons of Malin’ serves as a reminder that unwavering loyalty and courage, even in the face of seeming hopelessness, never goes unrewarded. It also signifies the pan-elvenism that is core to Aldemarian society, for only in reverence of the true king may elvenkind find unity. THE MILITIA OF ALDEMAR “A trained militia, composed of the general populace, is the greatest defense any nation could have.” - Galar Ithelanen With the rise of the professional standing army, warfare was revolutionized in a way that rendered feudal levies and tribal bands archaic and obsolete. For nations most accustomed to war, the standing army enabled them to mobilize quickly, maintain discipline, and organize massive, sometimes continental, campaigns. However, maintaining such a force requires vast amounts of money, material, and manpower, and as such must be heavily supported by the government and people it defends. As the Pale of Aldemar is but a cog in the greater Imperial war machine, its leaders have found no need for a large army, and instead look to the people to take an active part in defending the nation. To prevent vigilantism and abuse, heavy regulations and restrictions are placed upon the militia and its members. The basic statutes of the militia are as follows: I. All able-bodied residents of the Pale of Aldemar age thirty and over are immediately conscripted into the militia. Requests for exemption from militia service must be taken up with the Okarir’sil, and are taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis. II. All members of the militia of Aldemar are under the direct command of the Okarir’sil and his/her subordinate officers in all situations regarding defense or upholding the law. Should no commanding officers be present, then the highest-ranking government official present may issue orders. III. All members of the militia are required to provide their own weapons and armor. Aside from certain emergency situations, they will not be given their own gear. IV. Should a member of the militia witness an act of crime take place that does not put themselves or anyone else in immediate danger, they are to report it to the nearest member of the Gladewynn Brigade or government official. V. Should a member of the militia see a person(s) under attack, they are to apprehend and detain the assailant(s) under a member of the Gladewynn Brigade or government official arrives. VI. In the event of an attack on the Pale by either bandits or a foreign army, all militia members are called to the defense of the city. VII. As representatives of the Pale of Aldemar, all militia members are expected to act in a conduct that upholds the dignity and pride of both the Pale and themselves. Should any of these rules be broken, the offender(s) may incur heavy fines, jail time, beatings, or even banishment. THE GLADEWYNN BRIGADE “Keeping a small, elite force is a wise policy that would benefit both Aldemar and Oren.” - Junar Enrique Even as the people of Aldemar form the backbone of the military, the need for specialized, elite soldiers persists. Although militia units are well-suited for city defense and minor peacekeeping, they are extremely limited offensively and are not designed to partake in raids, battles, or support operations. In order to assist their Orenian comrades effectively, the Sons of Malin utilize a professional force of soldiers trained in all types of combat. This contingent will join allied forces in battle, aid their defense in enemy raids, conduct independent raids of enemy settlements, and supplement militia forces should the Pale come under attack. In addition to their extensive military operations, those in the Gladewynn Brigade are also the primary enforcers of the laws of Aldemar. They are responsible for aiding militia forces in apprehending criminals, transporting criminals to prison, and upholding the laws of the Pale. The defense of the people of Aldemar from threats both foreign and domestic requires constant vigilance and the ability to counter new threats- two qualities that the Gladewynn Brigade prides itself upon. Because of the seriousness of the operations that the Gladewynn Brigade undertakes, and the level of skill and resilience that they require, selection is limited to the elite of Aldemar. The requirements to join are as follows: I. Must be at least thirty years of age and in extremely good condition. Must also be able to swim, climb, and horse ride skillfully. II. Must be proficient in the use of both a bow and a sword. Those who wish to join will be evaluated and scrutinized heavily. III. Must be eager and willing to lay life and limb down in the defense of both Aldemar and Oren. Anything less than unwavering loyalty will not be tolerated. IV. Must have knowledge of the Orenian and Aldemarian legal codes, wilderness survival, small unit tactics, and urban combat. Should one wish to join the Gladewynn Brigade, contact Junar Enrique [ @Junar ] , Valandos Elverhilin [ @Lhindir_ ] or Galar Ithelanen [ @Nectorist ] .