Editing Red Cliff Domain:Anusiya of Urvairinus Origine (section)

==History==

The Anusiya (Companions) were the brainchild of Faius Gisto originally though he passed much of the actual development and administration to Sistan once he had identified him as the needed commander. Intended to work outside the normal Army structure as an advance party and tactical development group, it's members were chosen on the basis of exceptional behaviour under pressure and loyalty to the Lunar cause. In fact for the first few years Sistan was simply shunted from one front line unit to another as he hunted down suitable candidates. Not coincidentally, this placed Sistan in the heart of some of the Lunar Army's toughest areas and battles, in both the Provinces and the Heartland. 

Although it eventually reached regimental strength, the Anusiya are organised around a small, highly mobile squad of between 5 and 10. Membership was often drawn from the squad leader ranks and the regular command structure of the Army was loosened to allow each man to contribute. Skilled, disciplined soldiers were then given further training and bound into the Urvairinus Origine cult. From there they became Faius Gusto's personal problem solvers on behalf of the Army, Heartland or Provincial. Infiltration, scouting, assassination, demoralisation and other strategies became their mission. 

===The Third Ford Incident===

As part of Theophilon's retirement planning, the entire regiment is assigned to a major advance on a Heortling holdout as the main scout troop under their official name, First Scout of the Sevened Lion. Sistan manages to make sure all his patrols miss the third ford but the wily Orlanthi war chief turns out to smart enough to interpret the Lunar's troop maneuvers and commits more to the ford than the General and Sistan have anticipated. The result turns the entire battle for the Lunar force, wholesale slaughter being only reduced by Sistan taking to the field with the regiment as a rear screening force for the ensuing rout.

They also take heavy losses, though they hold the line, and Sistan takes a heavy beating in personal combat with the chief. They're seperated by Sistan's own bodyguard but it does look very likely that he would have lost and he loses a number of his best in the process.

The subsequent investigation draws in Temar Sixpens. Through a convoluted series of impenetrable cutouts Sistan allowed the unit to be "discovered" by an officious Dara Happan staff officer and Urvairinus Devotee named Temar SixPens. An old political foe of Faius Gusto he jumped at the chance to purge this deviant unit from the Army, laying charges of Heresy and Unsanctioned Scriptural Innovation on every man. Sistan, in turn, used his own extensive Army contacts to deadlock the prosecution until he got the result he wanted. The men were given a choice, face charges or retirement without benefits.
The incompetence and the cult are covered up and the unit is quietly disbanded to save Army morale and discourage further questions. 

Many of the men scattered, returning home to family or finding work as mercenaries or simply vanishing. This was also part of Sistan's plan. What remained and joined the Red Cliff project would be the most loyal and reliable, people he could always turn his back on. Not all the loyal survivors are engaged at Red Cliffs, some are "sleeping" in the Heartland, others have been swept up by the League or received orders from the General before his passing.