All posts by Jon Hunter

Lunar Military Policy in Balazar

Background, Lunars

For the Lunars Balazar is a backwater of little or no strategic importance. The Lunar incursion into Balazar over 50 years ago was never strategic, but a tactical attempt to stop raiding over a difficult border, and to buffer Imther, Tarsh and Holay from constant raiding from the Elkio clans.

Now this goal has been largely achieved the Leadership of the Lunar provincial government has no plans and little time for Balazar. All eyes are on Satar, Prax and Whitewall and events of strategic, religious and cosmological importance going on in that theatre.

This has left Balazar without strong Lunar governance, an unclear power structure and a lack of troops and resources for the Lunar leaders to implement the basic tasks assigned to them.  The limited Lunar garrison in Elkio has the following responsibilities.

  • Support the King of Elkio who the Lunars have selected.
  • Protect Lunar citizens within the Kingdom of Elkio and across Balazar
  • Suppress any revolts and raiding from within the Elkio clans
  • Patrol the border and stop other Balazaring tribes raiding the Empire
  • Scout deeper into the Balazar and the Elder wilds to detect threats or opportunities for the Lunar empire

For this task they have been provided with 200 Lunar troops, and have the 30 additional citadel warriors at their disposal. They even struggle to feed this limited number and have to use resources guarding the food caravans coming into the citadel.

The current situation is starting to get concerning for local lunar leaders with the following trends

  • Clans traditionally loyal to Elkio pulling away from the citadel and rule of the King Glyptus
  • Increased Orlanthi activity with balazaring Orlanthi appearing and the Windsword being found
  • Occasional raids on Lunar convoys
  • Killing of a Lunar Citizens in Trilius
  • Yelmalio temple relocating to Dykene after the opening of the new Lunar temple in Elkio

The view from Mirin’s Cross

The Lunar provincial government sees very little of value in Balazar, with the only opportunity of note being the rumors of the Giant Gon Orta and his pass into Northern Prax.

However to connect with Gon Orta the Lunar administration would have to;

  • Subdue another 80,000 Balazarings,
  • Subdue or reach treaty with 300,000 very primitive trolls,
  • Create a treaty with an elven society which still remembers the mooburn
  • Open up a new 200 mile wide front with a potential Pentian threat

Not things the provincial administration would want to do and even if firm data and good intentions were received from Gon Orta. It frankly would not be worth the effort to expand further east.

The Lunar Admirations sees Elkio as a buffer to the rest of Balazar, Balazar as a buffer to the Elder Races, the Elder races as a buffer to the Pentians who are still seen as a significant threat to the empire.

This status quo is a situation the provincial administration approves of and it would take significant changes in opportunities or threats for them to even consider a change of position. The activity to the south means they are unlikely to even recognize a change of threat level in Balazar.

Local leaders have been ordered to maintain the status quo and quash threats to the empire, with only the resources to hand, and to expect no more.

The View from Balazar

The day to day Leadership of this province has been left in the hands of three very different men, with three very different perceptions and agendas.

Halycon Von Enkorth

Sees himself an up and coming man, he is 25 years old in a position of power as ’Advisor to the Lunar Minister of Provencal Security with special consideration to Balazar and the Elder Wilds’ and is looking for more. He somewhat bemused with his posting in the backwater and sees it as a slight. However he is still looking wants to make a name for himself and looking for opportunities to distinguish himself to his superiors.

Halycon is firmly of the belief that to keep the border stable  the Lunar empire needs to keep rivals and opponents unstable. He is actively destabilises non lunar tribes clans and tribes, aids and support rebellions. He actively campaigns against opponents outside Lunar lands and has no issue in detaining or assassinating people anywhere in Balazar.  His agents are more circumspect in the other two citadels but apart from that he works with impunity.

Due to there not being a direct line of command between himself and the Lunar garrison Halycon mainly uses mercenaries for his operations with varying degrees of success. Currently;

  • Barons Blackshields – A small group of adventures come mercenaries who are on permanent retainer with Halycon, these coordinate most of the other mercenaries for Halycon.
  • Elkio tribesmen- There are always a small number of Balazarings ready to do virtually anything for Lunar goods and gin.
  • Tusk riders – Halycon has recently imported a fair sized band of tusk riders, on the promise of land and payment. This is not turning out to be one of his better projects.
  • Imther, Holay and Tarsh mercenaries – Halycon will employ mercenaries on an ad hoc basis as they finish their work guarding the supply columns coming to Elkoi

Halycon knows Ergryptus is working against him and is considering having him eliminated if an opportunity were to present itself.

Ergryptus the Bold

The 55 year old career soldier and commander of the Lunar garrison wants to hit retirement alive. He knows situation is delicate, he does not have the resources to deal with a significant uprising and he is protecting an incompetent king.

He his however a highly competent and professional soldier and just wishes to fulfil his standing orders, with minimum of fuss and little interference. He has no need to prove his competence or curry favour with any politician.

It is his belief that a steady, competent garrison duty is what is required to maintain the border. He sees no reason to engage in behaviour that will provoke confrontation either within or without the borders of Elkio.

He is however concerned about the lack of manpower to garrison this frontier but has been informed from the Lunar Provincal Army that no extra resources will be forthcoming. His response is to start to train a local auxiliary of 100 Elkio tribesmen to supplement the lunar forces, this force is not part of the citadel guards but reports directly to him.

Due his competence over a 5 year period he has by far the best information network in Elkio and the allied tribes.

Lines of command are confusing with Halcyon reporting into a ministry in Mrins Cross and Ergryptus reporting into the Lunar provincial army.

He has a personal dislike of Halycon and his actions and thinks they will destabilise the border and create issues.  If Ergyptrus  can find a pretence and gets enough evidence he will have Halcyon arrested

Glyptus the Good

Though as a client King Glyptus is officially the supreme authority of the Lunar Empire in Balazar you would not know it, he dithers, confers and vacillates between the opinions of his two lunar advisors and subordinates, and then does exactly what his wife tells him to.

However Glyptus is bright enough to be concerned about his position. He is losing support of many  traditional Elkio clans and some have even raided the lunar supply caravans.

He is desperate to be seen as important within the Lunar Empire, and this with his wife encouragement makes him  pray to Halycons more strident manipulations.

However he is very aware that without Ergyptus support his head could be on a pike attached to castle gates very quickly. King Glyptus thinks he is cleverly following a middle path between the two lines of council, but the truth is he vacillates between opinions which infuriates each of the men in turn. It also makes lunar Policy very hard to predict.

 

Balazaring Perceptions

To most Balazarings the Lunar empire has unlimited resources and is wanting to invade neighbouring lands at the slightest provocation. Though this is not true, it is the widely held perception of the Empire of all who pay it any attention.

The exception to this is many of the formerly Elkoi clans who have stopped paying Glyptus fealty in recent years, they have realised that of Lunar Dominance over western Balazar does not extend far beyond sight of the citadel of Elkoi.

However the fact that the Lunar garrison is twice the size of the standing armies of Trilius and Dykene leaves an impression of strength, both kings are concerned about possible invasion and the hunting clans are rife with rumours of plots afoot,  the machinations of Halycon von Encorth keep the myths alive.

Trilius is trying to strength its light bringer connections to bolster itself against the empire, without being directly provocative to the empire. Dykene is strengthening its Yelmalion credentials and a the public perception of a stronger alliance with the Dwarves of Greatway to increase its position of strength. Both are unaware these moves are unneeded.

Current Lunar Troops

The current Lunar garrison is comprised of the following;

  • Permanent Garrison, Command staff, and logistics – Regular Lunar Army – 30 effectives
  • Elkoi Militia – Balazaring Peltasts Skirmishes – 60 effectives

The following units tend to be rotated on 2 or 3 season rotations.

  • 1 Company of Mercenary Peltasts from Holay(80 effectives)
  • 1 Company of Barbarian Mercenary Spears(80 effectives)  from Holay or Tarsh
  • 1 Company Mercenary Light or medium Horse (40 effectives) from Holay

Balazaring Appearance & Dress

Background, Balazarings

Physical Appearance

Balazarings and Votanki are a sub branches of Pelorians, with usual Pelorian traits of fair skin and light or brown hair. However due to their lifestyle they are a lot more weathered than most Pelorians so skin will tend to be bronzed most of the year, paling in late Dark and Storm season.

Eyes are often brown and blue, but can vary greatly due to the impact of various animal spirits. Also these same spirits give a more extensive range of natural hair colours from fair through brown and black.

Very few Balazarings are either over weight or of weak build, most being well muscled and athletic. Balanced healthy diets ensure that most Balazarings are in good health most of the time, rotten teeth are rare and complexions are usually healthy.

Physical features of clans totem spirits can have profound effects on clan members physical appearance and , sometimes changing some traits beyond what would be considered human, such as animalistic eyes, fangs, ears, or claws instead of nails. These features are seen as normal and attractive to Balazarings, even if not to other humans.

Balazaring Clothing

Balazarings clothing and appearance is largely determined by a  number of factors;

Available Materials

Traditionally Votanki clothing, textiles and decoration has been made solely from the skins of prey animals or from gathered grasses and plants. Textiles and fabrics have not been available, they still are not manufactured in any volume in Balazar. This has lead to very high skill levels in skinning tanning, fur and leatherwork within the clan communities.

However the existence of the citadels has created trading centres to which textiles are imported and more civilized clothing can be purchased if at a high price. At Dykene and Trilus these are  more primitive and straight forward garments, at Elkio a much greater range of textiles and garments are available at more reasonable prices.

Broadly speaking Votanki will use traditional materials as will clans from Trilus and Dykene for the most part. Clansmen from the Elkio area  may be seen in a mixed array of traditional and more civilized garments, especially those friendly with the Lunar administration. Citadel folk will usually be seen wearing a mix of traditional and civilized garb, expect in Elkio which sees mainly Lunar and Tarshite clothing styles  worn by most citadel inhabitants.

Clan Tradition & Totem Spirit

Most Votanki and Balazaring clans will seek in some way to reflect its totem spirit in the dress style and personal decoration of its members, this can be done through skins and pelts used, cut and style of dress, use of dyes,  tatoos, feathers and other decorations.

This can lead to vast differences in appearance between neighbouring clans of the same tribes, it has been noted that the clans further away from the influence of the citadels tend to be more extreme in the visualisation of their tribal spirits. Those closer to citadels seem to be plainer in presentation.

It s also worthy to note that to most Balazarings hunting is a sacred act and they will dress and prepare ritual clothing and markings for significant hunts whenever  practical. This also means that most ritual decoration is helpful in camouflage.

Shamans as a whole are more extreme, diverse and to be frank weird in their  appearance often including bones, mummified remains, dung, blood and death masks as part of their ritual and some times daily regalia.

Generally Balazarings are not overly prudish when it comes to bare flesh and in the hotter seasons scant clothing is very common across many clans, however certain spirits maybe more conservative and also the Yelmalian influence around Dykene does creates pockets of Balazar where large amounts of bare flesh may not be tolerated as much.

Climate and Weather

Its changeable climate brings as much variation to appearance in Balazar as any other factor with its continental weather patterns of hot summers and bitterly cold winters, tribal preference and decoration may have to take second place. In the deep cold of dark and storm season heavy furs, cloaks and coats are common across  all tribes and clans.

Fire and Earth season see very light practical clothing being used, with higher degrees of body painting and decoration being used.

Personal aspiration and spirituality

A Balazarings spirituality and direction in life will also show through in attire, hunters and clansmen are content to wear traditional garb. However those who are embracing foreign Gods and seeking spiritual power through them do tend to reflect this in the way they dress.

Leaders of the Yelmalio cult in Dykene are eager to mimic the styles found in some of the larger Sun Dome Temples which can be found  in Saird, Holay and Trash. With ceremonial armour, short linen tunics, long cloaks and bare legs being preffered attire.

Upwardly mobile  Elkoi citizens do all they can to mimic Lunar dress and styles, with long gowns and ornate decoration for higher ranking individuals, and short toga like tunics for the practical requirements of  more mundane workers.

Those from Trilius who are embracing the Orlanthi Gods are less set on  imitating style than embracing new powers ideas and capabilities. However metal armour is worn when available, and more practical forms textile clothing are used but tend to be homespun Trilus garments or Lunar styles amalgamated with more traditional hunter garb.

Balazaring Clan Leaders of Note

Background, Balazarings, NPC's

Outside of leaders of the three main Tribes of Balazar there are a number of other notable clan chieftains, heros and leaders. Some owe allegiance to the tribal kings others  lead their clans independently of the politics of the citadels.

Duvan Drawf-Friend – Elder of the White Goat Clan

The most important and influential tribal Chieftain of the Vale of Hammers, a conservative man of later years. He no longer hunts, but is a formidable warrior and owns a shirt of Dwarven mail.  He has good relations with the Dwarves of Greatway and is strong ally and friend of the King of Dykene.

Yontak the Red, Master Hunter – White Fox Clan

A young ambitious master hunter who leads the White Fox Clan in the Elmswood, he is currently leading young braves from 4 clans against the Lunar empire and the forces of Glyptus the Good, mainly raiding the supply route from Soldiers Ferry, and occasional hit and run attacks on a smaller groups. He has been receiving aid and support from the Balazaring Orlanthi and is considering converting to the cult.

Vilic the Snake – Warlord –  Grass Viper Clan

A leader who has recently emerged in the green viper clan as they have engaged the propitiatory worship toward of the Chaos from festering isle, he is now a devotee of Cacodeman and the clan has embraced deeper forms of Chaos worship unbeknown to other local clans.

The green viper clan leads 3 a loose alliance of other clans in the bear woods area in propitiatory worship of chaos to ward off raids, and for support  against raiding trolls.  The pay lip service to the King of Dykene, but no tribute or formal allegiance.

Wurtarg the Pure –  Master Hunter – Red Otter Clan

An seasoned hunter and he is a hyper conservative leader and a follower of the Shaman Namara, he leads a coalition of 3 clans which have broke away from Elkoi tribe in the higher reaches of the South Woods. They reject all foreign Gods and presence of outsiders in Balazar, but are placed far from where most will be found.

Personable, wise and considered with Balazarings, he refuses to deal with outsiders in any manner apart from the spear and the bow.

Kolsar Strongarm – Master Hunter -Winter Bison Clan

A hunter from Oakwood famous for killing a bear with an axe on his own about 10 years ago,  he is but one of the council members on his clan, but his reputation makes him influential beyond his role with surrounding clans.

Of considerable bulk,  gruff in nature, of few words, and his mood has not improved as his three golden haired daughters  have approached marrying age. He is staunchly loyal to the tribe of Trilius and a friend of Yalaring monster slayer

Vulric Longrunner – Master Hunter, The Running Men

One of the most notable Hunters and clan chiefs of the east plains, if well known for his ability to chase down prey over long distances and is most famous for chasing a wounded Giant Elk for 3 days on a hunt, long after all the dogs and other hunters had given in.

He is a charismatic man and well liked and popular amongst the clans of the east plain, and has changed the name of his clan to reflect his prowess. He is well respected by the tribal leaders of Dykene and Trilius, but currently his allegiance is with Trilius though he rarely visits either citadel.

Banathi Moonsong – Seven Mother Initiate, Barking Dog Clan

Clan chief notable for fully embracing the Lunar ways, he has travelled to Mrins Cross and met with Lunar priests and leaders there.  His clan hunts in the region in the south of the Dog Hills and they are enjoying a period of prosperity, trading with Lunars in Elkoi, the villages and at Holay fort

Banathi is peaceable man of middling years who is well liked and respected by all me meets, he is not the most proficient hunter or warrior but leads his clan with skill and diplomacy.