Editing Exploring the Halls of Arden Vul: Institutions
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=Institutions of Empire= | =Institutions of Empire= | ||
==Themes== | ==Themes== | ||
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The Archontean emperor maintains a standing army composed of five legions of heavy cavalry (cataphracts), six legions of heavy infantry (scutarii), and three legions of light infantry (velites). In addition, the emperor directly controls nine cohorts of the tagmata, or imperial guard. | The Archontean emperor maintains a standing army composed of five legions of heavy cavalry (cataphracts), six legions of heavy infantry (scutarii), and three legions of light infantry (velites). In addition, the emperor directly controls nine cohorts of the tagmata, or imperial guard. | ||
− | Each legion is led by a polemarch and is supposed to contain 3,000 soldiers. Legions are subdivided into 6 cohorts of 500 | + | Each legion is led by a polemarch and is supposed to contain 3,000 soldiers. Legions are subdivided into 6 cohorts of 500 men, each led by a komes; each cohort has 5 kentarchia of 100 men, each led by a kentarch; each kentarchia has two pentarchia of 50 men, each led by a pentarch; each pentarchia is divided into five konturbia of 10 men, each led by a dekarch. |
− | The imperial tagmata are slightly different. Each cohort contains 1,000 | + | The imperial tagmata are slightly different. Each cohort contains 1,000 men and is led by a taxiarch. Each cohort is divided into two banda of 500 men, each led by a komes; each bandon is divided into 5 kentarchia of 100 men, each led by a kentarch; each kentarchia is divided into 5 konturbia of 20 men, each led by a dekarch. Common soldiers (privates) are called spatharii. |
==Archontean Navy== | ==Archontean Navy== | ||
− | The Archonteans have a long history as a naval power, even as their only real threats by sea are Wiskin long ships and pirates from the coast of Ostralios. The Archontean navy is built around the dromon, a fast galley with one or two banks of | + | The Archonteans have a long history as a naval power, even as their only real threats by sea are Wiskin long ships and pirates from the coast of Ostralios. The Archontean navy is built around the dromon, a fast galley with one or two banks of oarsmen plus a lateen sail. Light dromons carry 108 oarsmen in one bank, where heavy dromons carry 180 oarsmen in two banks. A super-heavy ship, the chelandion, carries 300 oarsmen in three banks. Each ship is captained by a novarch. A unit of 2-20 ships is called a squadron, and is commanded by a droungarios. A unit of more than 20 ships is a fleet, and is commanded by a strategos. |
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+ | The main Archontean naval forces are located as follows: the Karabisoi, or home fleet, based in Archontos; the Grain Isle squadron, based in Ostentown; the Irthuin Squadron, based in Narsileon; the Borealios squadron, based in Westholm; the Ostralios squadron, officially based in Agoreon but actually based in Arcturos; and the Iron Isles Squadron, based in the Iron Isles. Each ship carries a complement of marines numbering 1/6 the number of oarsmen; these marines are trained as, and have the same prestige as, members of the imperial tagmata. | ||
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=Collegia= | =Collegia= | ||
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A few well-placed magi suspect that an eighth, secret collegium exists. | A few well-placed magi suspect that an eighth, secret collegium exists. | ||
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− | + | =Sanctioned Criminal Activity= | |
− | + | ==Benevolent Brotherhood== | |
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The Brotherhood is the empire-wide thieves’ guild, active in all major Archontean cities and towns. Members are ranked: Little Brothers are the rank and file thieves; Brothers run cells within a given area; Elder Brothers are those with a certain geographic jurisdiction and authority over 7-10 cells; Eldest Brothers are a shadowy handful of senior thieves who coordinate empire-wide activities as needed. | The Brotherhood is the empire-wide thieves’ guild, active in all major Archontean cities and towns. Members are ranked: Little Brothers are the rank and file thieves; Brothers run cells within a given area; Elder Brothers are those with a certain geographic jurisdiction and authority over 7-10 cells; Eldest Brothers are a shadowy handful of senior thieves who coordinate empire-wide activities as needed. | ||
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The imperial authorities normally do not intervene in the daily affairs of the Brotherhood, leading many to speculate that the Brotherhood pays regular ‘tithes’ to avoid scrutiny. | The imperial authorities normally do not intervene in the daily affairs of the Brotherhood, leading many to speculate that the Brotherhood pays regular ‘tithes’ to avoid scrutiny. | ||
− | + | ==Vengeance Factor== | |
The empire-wide public assassin’s guild. While it is legal to hire assassins for private matters (especially matters of honor), Archontean law prohibits the Vengeance Factor from targeting public officials. | The empire-wide public assassin’s guild. While it is legal to hire assassins for private matters (especially matters of honor), Archontean law prohibits the Vengeance Factor from targeting public officials. | ||
− | As the bureaucracy is very large, many individuals are | + | As the bureaucracy is very large, many individuals are ‘pro-tected’ by their status. It is not uncommon, therefore, for a person to hire the Vengeance Factor to satisfy his grudges immediately before taking public office. Assassination that is not conducted by the Vengeance Factor is strictly prohibited, and is punished with the most gruesome of public torture. |
The Vengeance Factor is quite selective in what contracts it accepts, at least partly because members of the Factor who are killed in the service of a contract may not be avenged. In Narsileon, the Vengeance Factor operates a guild-hall in the Grain Market district, where Plashey the Face facilitates contracts. | The Vengeance Factor is quite selective in what contracts it accepts, at least partly because members of the Factor who are killed in the service of a contract may not be avenged. In Narsileon, the Vengeance Factor operates a guild-hall in the Grain Market district, where Plashey the Face facilitates contracts. | ||
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=Thorcin Recovery League (TRL)= | =Thorcin Recovery League (TRL)= | ||
The name given to organized Thorcin resistance to the Archontean Empire on the continent of Irthuin. Members of the TRL use distinctive blue arrows and are said to be led by a certain Eadric Strigona. Stated goals of the TRL include the expulsion of the Archontean empire from Narsileon and Arcturos. | The name given to organized Thorcin resistance to the Archontean Empire on the continent of Irthuin. Members of the TRL use distinctive blue arrows and are said to be led by a certain Eadric Strigona. Stated goals of the TRL include the expulsion of the Archontean empire from Narsileon and Arcturos. |