Into the Hills with the Reavers

The Hill Cantons have a strong martial borderlands tradition perhaps best summed up by their much-feared battle cry: “Live Weird or Die.”

Unlike the rest of the Overkingdom, most forces are directly drawn by the semi-autonomous cantonal councils (Radas) supplemented by the relatively small retinues of the nobility. Most able-bodied free adults have gone through at least rudimentary military training and possess some related arms and armor. While the cantons hold only 40,000 souls, they can field a combined force of almost 5,000 in a normal mobilization and another 4,000 in an emergency.

Military organization is loose and informal as it was in Earth's early renaissance. The Marlankh Reavers, the forces of Marlinko Canton, are called loosely a “company” but that has no numerical significance. The Reavers are subdivided into ad hoc groups called “battles” when the company is moving together in large numbers or “columns” when it needs to operate with smaller detachments (as it is now).

Ranks—themselves somewhat loose and informal--as such are more about a rough chain of vocal command than leading a set, formally-defined unit. Raugraf Androj Andimachus the Younger (NPC) is the current elected Captain and commanding officer of Marklankh's forces in the field. Each column leader is called alternately a “lieutenant” or “subaltern” depending on seniority and reports directly to the Captain. Non-commissioned officers are called “journeymen”.

Reaver Order of Battle at the opening of the Border War campaign

Total force

3 Hawkriders (courtesy of the Guild of Accipitaries and Drovers), giant hawk air cav, riders with studded leather, long bows and short swords.

10 Brothers of the Other Mother, martial clerics, half-plate, shields, maces.

160 Lancers, medium cavalry with scale mail, metal shields, lance, and longswords or maces.

420 Border Ruffians, light cavalry with studded leather, small wooden shields, javelins, and short swords or hand axes.

100 Amazon Outriders, light cavalry with ring mail, composite bows and hand axes.

300 Landsknecht Pikemen, medium infantry with slashed poofy doublets and hose (with half-plate), ostrovan pikes, short swords.

60 Landsknecht Swordsmen, medium infantry with slashed poofy doublets and hose (with half-plate), two-handed swords.

180 Hill Wardens, light infantry with leather jack, long bows, hand axes.

40 Skullcrushers, half-ogre medium infantry with ring mail, assorted pole arms.

60 Bushwhackers, black hobbit light infantry, short bows, sharp pointed sticks, barbed knives.

1200 Camp Followers, civilian “logistics workers”

By Column:

Main Battle, reserve stationed at the watchfort in the pass. Commanded by the Raugraf.

3 Hawkriders

10 Brothers

100 Lancers

300 Landsknecht Pike

40 Landsknecht Swords

20 Wardens

1200 Camp Followers

Column A*, led by Ba Chim

NCO's: Manzafrain

100 Ruffians

20 Lancers

40 Wardens

20 Landsknecht Swords

Column B*, led by Evagoras Sospiri

NCO's: Sir Eustace

100 Ruffians

20 Lancers

60 Wardens

Column C*, led by Ooluu the Sea Blood

NCO's: Donnal MacDonnal

120 Ruffians

60 Wardens

Sorcha's Stinging Whip Column, led by Barbarella

NCO's: Sir Eusyram

100 Amazon Outriders

20 Lancers

The Penal Brigade, led by Angrox

NCO's:

30 Skullcrushers

60 Bushwhackers

*Name TBA

(Note that some NCO players are still yet to be assigned to columns.)