The Kingdom of Estalia İMike Allen 1996
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The Kingdom of Estalia İMike Allen 1996 |
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Most armies are led by a noble of royal blood. This is not as restrictive as one might think as all of the great families of Estalia are considered "royal". As an example the house of Aragon, from which the High Kings are drawn, consists of over 60 families each of whom has a patriarch whose honorary title is "king" and who rules his lands as an absolute ruler, even if it is only a few thousand acres. The young sons of the house provide the knights for the royal regiments, while the sons of the household staff provide the Caballeros. This can be very confusing for foreigners as there seem to be hundreds of "kings" in Estalia, which of course, in a sense, there are!
Troops of the Sacred Office of the Inquisition will fight with an army led by a General of the Blood Royal but only in limited numbers.
The Light Crossbow
The light crossbow is a weapon unique to Estalia. Developed originally as a hunting weapon the Estalian troops found its ability to reload quickly an advantage when pursuing raiders in the forests and mountains. It is also easier to train cavalry to use from horseback than a bow, a weapon uncommon except among the Forest Brethren. Continuing improvements in design has made this weapon as easy to use as a bow to a trained soldier.
The light crossbow has a range of 24" with a strength of 3 and armour modifier of -1. It may fired after moving with the same penalty as bow armed troops. It costs the same as heavy crossbow: 3pts.
The sons of the many noble houses of Estalia join the regiments of the Knights formed in each of the major cities of the kingdom. There are four regiments:
These units are the elite shock troops of the kingdom. They are constantly in training and are in excellent physical condition and ride the finest warhorses.
The many noble houses of Estalia are supported by a large number of followers who guard their lands and manage the tough and wild cattle on the ranches. They are expert horsemen and are able to use a range of weapons including light crossbows, which they use to fend off wolves in the mountains and lances which they use to kill wild boar. In war they form up under their house banner and support the heavier horse troops. They excel in scouting and pursuing the enemy. (Light crossbows have the same profile as bows.)
In the early days of the kingdom the Estalians were disadvantaged by having poor quality and quantity of cavalry. To even the balance the infantry adopted the "Tercio" a square of spears supported by swordsmen. As the cavalry improved, these elite units became an attacking formation using special long spears, pikes, in a tight well drilled formation. This formation takes continuous training and high morale and has become restricted to the Royal Regiments only. There are 4 royal regiments. A Tercio will always form up in as square a formation as possible ie as many ranks deep as figures wide. For example a 20 man unit would form up 4 wide/5 deep or 5 wide/4 deep.
Pikes: Pikes are very long spears and they have considerable advantages in combat. A unit with pikes can count 2 ranks in attack and 3 in defence. However if they are beaten in combat but pass their break test they may count only 1 rank. In addition they can only count 1 rank to the flank and rear and cannot overlap. They are unable to enter buildings or woods. If attacked crossing other disordering terrain only 1 rank is counted. Though two hands are required in combat shields can be used to defend from shooting attacks, except where charging a stand and shoot unit.
The Inquisition has a long standing distrust of magic and its practitioners. Many times the peace of the realm has been threatened by the manic ambition of a practitioner of magic tempted by the dark forces. Since the death of Isolde the only magic allowed to be practiced in Estalia is within the Royal College. In addition some forms of Battle Magic are considered too close to chaotic types of magic, so this small group of magic users is restricted to Light, Grey, Celestial and Jade colleges.
Their small numbers and isolation means that only a few individuals attain advanced skills. So in addition to the restricted types of magic, an Estalian Spellcaster can only cast spells of power equal to or less than their level. Also they cannot discard spells unless they are of a power greater than their level. This restricts their usefulness in battle, which is somewhat offset by a better weapon skill than most human wizards, gained by continuous training in military arts as well as magic use.
Spellcasters cannot be part of an army led by an Inquisitor General.
The rich cities of Estalia are attractive targets for a range of enemies. To defend themselves the mayors and merchants raise forces and pay for their training and equipment. The city infantry units cover a broad range of troop types including crossbowman, heavy infantry and light troops.
In the dark days of Estalia when only Cordoba and Bilbao held out against their enemies, the citizens of Cordoba funded a unit of highly skilled swordsmen to defend the walls of the city. Later the swordsmen guarded the flanks of the Tercio Aragona. When the Tercios became an attacking unit the swordsmen formed an attacking unit of their own.
Sword and Buckler fighting: The Swordsmen of Cordoba are armed with swords of the finest Tobaro steel. This superb steel gives a -1 armour saving modifier. In addition the swordsmen carry a special fighting shield, called a buckler, which gives them an extra attack in combat while retaining the armour modifier for carrying a shield.
In general, gunpowder weapons are disapproved of by the Inquisition and only appear within the royal artillery companies. The one noticeable exception to this is the elite unit that guards the High King of Estalia. The Arquebusiers of Cordoba are well trained and armed with high quality weapons forged in Tobaro. These weapons are longer and heavier than the handguns used in the rest of the old world. They have a range of 30", and may be used in close combat as a somewhat clumsy two handed weapon giving a +1 strength bonus, alternatively they may choose to use their swords.
The fleets of Portua guard the northern and western coast of Estalia and protect the trade routes north to Bretonnia and the Empire. These ships contain units of marines to defend the vessels and carry out boarding actions. Sometimes the marines form units to fight with the armies of the kingdom. Their ability to shoot and fight equally well is highly regarded by many generals.
Estalia is not heavily populated as it is a dry, hot land. It times of dire need it is necessary to call on the farm and ranch workers of the countryside to join the army. These troops are keen and determined but lack training and equipment.
Occasionally bodies of mercenaries are allowed to enter the country to assist in defending the realm. These are nearly always Tilean troops though on rare occasions bands of adventuring dwarfs or Brettonian Questing knights join the army.
The sons and daughters of the lay members of the Sacred Office may choose to join the military arm of the Inquisition: the Red Order. The very best of these are selected for the two elite inquisition units. Only the finest training, weapons and food is provided for these troops. Others join the rank and file of the Inquisition and provide units to protect the convents, monasteries, hospitals and public buildings of the Sacred Office.
Those sons and daughters of the lay members of the Inquisition who show ability in the magic arts are channelled into two quite different orders. The majority of males join the Black Order and are trained to be Inquisitors, while most of the females join the White Order and become healers. Inquisitors are taught to seek out all evil within the land, particularly secret practitioners of magic. To assist and protect them they are taught the skills of "anti magic" concentrating on dispelling rather than casting. Their staffs of office allow them to earth the power within a spell effectively dispelling it. The range for this effect is given below. Any spell cast or entering this area may be dispelled. This applies equally to friendly spells.
Over many years of continuously "earthing" the winds of magic, inquisitors become infused with magical energy. The most senior inquisitors appear to have a silvery blue aura around them which heightens the peoples belief in their divine power. This aura has a more practical effect in battle. As the inquisitor starts channelling magic energy and becomes filled with the righteous rage of battle, the aura glows strongly making him difficult to look at. In addition the aura itself can slightly deflect the weapons of the enemy. This is resolved as an armour saving throw unmodified for strength. This has no effect against weapons such as cannon, but does count as "magic armour".
| Level | Save | Range | Dispel | |
| Inquisitor | 1 | 6+ | 3" | 5+ |
| Inquisitor Champion | 2 | 5+ | 6" | 4+ |
| Inquisitor Master | 3 | 4+ | 9" | 3+ |
| Inquisitor Grand Master | 4 | 3+ | 12" | 3+ |
The sons of the lay members of the Inquisition are eligible to join the most elite unit of the military orders, the Brethren of the Infanta. Only the very best physical specimens are selected at 12 years of age and then enter 5 years of training in a range of martial arts. They are totally devoted to the Sacred Office and by the time they join the regiment they are the finest human warriors in the world. The Brethren are fielded as super heavy cavalry on the best warhorses in Estalia.
Known as the "Amazons" by the army, this elite unit is made up of the daughters of the Brethren who haven fallen in battle. They are raised and trained in the same way as the Brethren but to be elite light rather than heavy cavalry. They have the unique attribute of being mounted on Elven steeds. This is due to the mysterious relationship between the Sacred Office and the Forest Brethren, who do not ride the horses themselves but willingly supply young steeds for this unit. They also provide bows and the superb arrows made using arrowheads of the finest Taborin steel, which are the same as used by the brethren themselves. They are expert riders and are able to guide their horses with voice and knee commands only. This gives them the unusual ability to fight with a weapon in each hand and to shoot from a moving horse with no penalty.
After the fall of Grenada the first governor, Master Inquisitor Hernando Lacruiz , discovered that the city was riddled with many miles of sewers and tunnels infested with all kinds of foul and evil denizens. In addition the cemeteries of Grenada were over 2,000 years old and had been haunted by necromancers and chaos worshipers for a large proportion of that time. After months of increasing attacks by Undead, Skaven and bandits he formed a unit of watchmen to patrol the streets and sewers by night to protect the citizens. This was a task for the most hardened warriors and over many years the unit gained the awe and respect of the citizens, membership often passing from father to son through succeeding generations. Consequently the watchmen are not easily frightened and will fight with great determination against their traditional enemies. They draw great strength from their belief in the cult of Isolde.
The Sacred Office has many shrines, monasteries, convents and public buildings to protect. It provides governors to many towns and its Inquisitors must travel the country to seek out and destroy evil. To provide protection, the Inquisition raises units of infantry. These are well trained and equipped and are used to both guard and provide troops for the army. Though these are good troops they are not of the same quality as the elite Inquisition units as they do not have the same training or experience in battle.
Many people fall foul of the strict rules of the Inquisition. The penalty for transgression can be severe including the punishment of purification by fire. In times of war those who transgress who show repentance may be given the opportunity to redeem themselves in combat. Bands of penitents, lacking any armour and armed with only the most rudimentary of weapons are roused into a religious frenzy and driven into battle. Needless to say, very few survive this redemption through combat, those that do are allowed to return to their former lives. Many choose to enter the Inquisition monasteries and convents instead.
The forest brethren are not numerous. They will occasionally field a unit of archers from each forest to assist the armies of Estalia. Unlike their near cousins, the Wood Elves, they have not developed a long bow but use a powerful composite bow. This, with arrows tipped in the finest steel, give them a strength 4 hit but with a range of 24". Like the Wood Elves they can move through forest without penalties though not as swiftly. The weapon is supplied to the Infanta's Guard.
Mountain Gun
While reopening the road to Tobaro the army of the High King had continual problems with attacks by large monsters and bands of goblins taking shots at them from hiding places in the rocks. Attempts to take the large cannons of the army into the mountains for support were hampered by the steep and narrow roads. The first step was to develop a very light gun which could be manhandled by troops rather than drawn by horses. This helped with fighting the large monsters but not the goblin snipers.
It is not recorded when, but in a fierce engagement with a goblin archer band, a mountain gun crew ran out of cannonballs and in desperation scooped up handfuls of large stones lying by the road. When fired the result was spectacular with the stones ricocheting through the rocks cutting down dozens of goblins. Since that time mountain guns carry metal canisters of handgun ammunition to fire in their defence. This gives them the special ability to stand and shoot against chargers. Use the dragon breath template, any troops under this template will be hit on 4+ with a strength of 4. When firing cannon balls the gun has a strength of 5 and is subject to the rules for firing cannon. Regardless of the round used the cannon is still subject to rolls of the artillery dice to check for misfires.
In battle the mountain guns of the Royal Artillery only accompany the Tercios. As they are so light they are able to keep up with the troops even on a march move. They cannot charge. They must stay within 2" of the Tercio unless the Tercio charges. They test leadership as part of the Tercio and are subject to their results. However they can be targeted by the enemy and if they fail a leadership test the Tercio is not affected. In simple terms if the Tercio breaks the mountain gun breaks, if the mountain gun breaks the Tercio does not. A maximum of 2 guns can accompany a Tercio.
The troops of the Inquisition do not use gunpowder based weapons. They employ Large Catapults and Bolt Throwers as their main artillery.
Fires of Purification
To improve the effectiveness of their catapults the alchemists of the Sacred Office experimented with various chemical combinations until they came up with a powerful incendiary which ignites in contact with the air and cannot be extinguished by water. The chemicals are added to large earthenware pots sealed then heated. The heat causes the change in the substance. Loaded onto the large catapults the pots explode as they hit the ground throwing liquid fire in all directions.
Use the large stone thrower template any troops underneath take a strength 5 hit, if wounded d3 wounds are caused. The sight of their friends being burnt alive causes the unit to take a panic test.
Monsters of any type are greatly mistrusted in Estalia as many evil creatures live in the mountains and raid the plains below. Only a few monsters are used in the Royal Army and those only as mounts with the exception of the wild cattle driven into battle the Toros Embolados. No monsters are used in an Inquisition army.