Editing Landsoftheblacksea:Main Page/realms/athervon (section)

=== Armies ===
Athervon’s land forces are organized as noted in the Government section above.  

Individual units will be of a uniform social stratum with the possible exception of their leader.  For example, there are elite units of heavily armed and armored Chevalieres cavalry, led by a prominent Chevalieres or a land-lord (Baron, comte, etc.).  Another unit might be similarly equipped mounted Ecuyer, who will be led by one of their own, or possibly a Chevaliere.  But the bulk of Athervonian forces will be drawn from the ''Serf'' classes, on foot with very few exceptions, including archers, pavasiers, pikemen, swordsmen, crossbowmen, and the like.  These units are described by the general term ''Armati''.  Armati units may be led by one of their own, or an Ecuyer.  Only rarely will a Chevaliere lead a unit of Armati.

The Athervonian army includes specialized units such as miners and sappers, as well as logistics units, provisioning and supply elements, and numbers of weaponsmiths, fletchers, and armorers, all of whom will generally be drawn from the ''Guildhomme''.  But the numbers of skilled craftsmen in the military ranks is low, and they are generally integrated into the fighting units that they support when on the march, or housed in forts and castles during peacetime.  

During peacetime, Athervon’s military is generally able to maintain its numbers through volunteer forces; during wartime, the nobility are called to service via the levy, and conscription is used to swell the ranks of the Armati via Royal decree.

With the relatively recent annexation of the Northern Protectorate by Athervon, a significant number of the barbaric tribes and clans within that region have now either sworn loyalty to the King, or unknowingly live in areas under his control.  Athervon has recently been experimenting with the formation of military units comprised from these tribes, to be used as scouts within the region and bordering lands, or as shock troops when employed in the more civilized regions.  Only two such units have been created, and neither has yet been tested in battle under Athervonian command.