Legio

Overview

The Legio is Iridine's military arm and has been a formal institution since the days of Kings. Historically, armed service was the duty of every citizen in the Republic (with the exception of the Head Count class), as the Comitia Centuriata and property classes attest. It has been reorganized more recently to reflect the Republic's newest enemies and to allow for additional manpower as the wars with Iridine's neighbors and barbarian tribes continue. It now hosts a number of foreigners and citizens alike all striving to defend, and extend, the Republic's land and influence. Those who survive may find great rewards through either monetary gain or citizenship for their time served.

This military organization is responsible for upholding the law within its jurisdiction as well as working with other law keepers.

Oath of Service
The Legionary swears his life to the oath he takes upon graduating from a recruit class. This oath is precious and should it be broken, the legionary who breaks it shall be punished accordingly and their name added to annals of dishonour.

To protect and support the nation of Iridine, that it shall not perish from Midlight
To protect her Consuls and Senate, that they may give wise and able council
To protect and support her citizens, that they may flourish and grow prosperous
To protect all in the Republic from enemies both domestic and foreign, and to swiftly put down rebellions for the peace and safety of the populace
To act as the arm of the Republic in matters of expansion and domestic acquirement
The preservation of Iridine and the Republic is of paramount importance, before considerations of personal wealth, family, or self
Loyalty to the Legion is paramount
Traitors shall be rooted out and executed
Cowards shall be dishonorably discharged
Sluggards shall be whipped
Direct orders will never be disobeyed
At all times you must think of the honor of the Legio and do nothing to besmirch it’s reputation
And you must, if necessary, lay down your life for the Legio and for Iridine

Organization

The Republic's military force is divided into two legions, Legio I and Legio II, each with approximately 6,000 men and women. The supreme commander of a Legio is one of two elected Consuls. He is granted an aide to assist him with the affairs of running and suppling the Legio, however, his Legate is the "on the ground" commander tasked with executing the orders of the elected Consul and making on the spot military decisions. Each Legio is divided into Ten Cohorts each lead by a Tribune. Each Cohort is composed of 6 Centuries, each lead by a Centurion. The ranks themselves are divided by weapon type for efficient use in battle, with each soldier being placed into either the Hastati, Principes, or Triarii. Auxiliary forces such as medics are attached to each Century.

The games playable Legio, Legio I, is the 1st Century of the 1st Cohort, making it's respective Centurion and Tribune of "Primus" rank and thus senior to all other members of similar rank in the Legio.

To view the current organization leaders, use the officials command.

Legio I
1st Cohort Rearing Stallion				2nd Cohort Wild Dog	3rd Cohort Snarling Wildcat	4th Cohort Charging Bull	5th Cohort Leaping Dolphin	6th Cohort Rampant Lion	7th Cohort Snarling Badger	8th Cohort Howling Wolf	9th Cohort Diving Falcon	10th Cohort Striking Snake
1st Century (Eagle)		…	6th Century	1st - 6th Centuries (per Cohort)
Wolf Squad	Lion Squad	…	Squads	Squads (per Century)

Hierarchy

Legions are carefully organized, efficient fighting forces. When carefully trained, they present a truly awesome and frightening aspect on the field of battle. Tales have been told from Iridine's history of entire legions wheeling and advancing as one man, mowing enemies beneath their flashing blades like so many stalks of wheat, a many-armed spectre of Death himself.

This astounding sight is achieved by rigorous training and harsh discipline, and by competent commanders and leaders. From the topmost Consul to the lowliest Legionary, everyone must work together for the greater good of the legion, and, ultimately, Iridine.

Consul

The top of the 'top brass' in the Legion, he needs to be a thinking man as well as a fighting one, as he has the final say in strategy, and in all decisions affecting his men. He is the one who takes the fall in the Senate if his men fall in the field. The consul shall be the most senior magistracy that bears imperium. The proper age for a consul shall be no less than forty-two years. There shall be two consulships available on a yearly basis, and the office shall commence on the first day of the new year. The senior senator presides during the first month, alternating monthly for the est of the year. The authority of the consul knows no bounds, and they shall be responsible for command of any army. Each consul shall be given a legion as his own, but can appropriate more of the army for whatever purpose he wishes. Consuls have Imperium, which means their authority of their office and cannot be disputed or denied, provided they are acting within the limits of the office. The symbol ofImperium shall be the fasces, borne by the Lictors bound to the office.

Legate

Ranked just below the Consul, the Legate is in charge of the twelve cohorts in the Legion, and acts as the Consul's aid in decision-making and the carrying out of orders.

Quaestor

Equal in rank to the Legate, the Quaestor is responsible for the acquisition and disbursement of supplies such as armor, food, and animals. His job is extremely important, as he is the one who runs the supply lines when the Legion marches into enemy territory. Traditionally, like the Consul and Legate, the Quaestor is elected by the Senate, but of late there has been a trend of consuls asking for specific men to be their quaestors. A person may hold quaestorship before or after entering the Senate, but they have to be age 30 to do so. There are twelve such positions available. The quaestor's primary responsibilities are fiscal. He might be seconded to the Treasury, or to collecting customs or port duties, or to collecting rent for state-owned lands either at home or abroad, or to managing the finances of a province.

Tribune

Also traditionally elected by the Senate of Iridine, the Military Tribunes are each in charge of one cohort of men, which is six centuries, or six hundred men. Most of them ride into battle with their men, although some few march, and usually at the rear, in order to better direct their soldiers' movements. They receive their orders from the Legate, although occasionally they may be asked to attend battle-planning with the consul. Twelve people shall be elected by the entire assembly to serve as legally elected officers of the army. Six shall be assigned to each legion of the consuls. This position is pre-senatorial.

First Centurion

The First Centurion (or Primus Pilus | Primus Pilae) is the First Centurion of the First Century of the First Cohort in a Legion, and senior to all other centurions in the Legion. Thus, they receive their orders directly from the Tribunes, and may on rare occasions be asked to attend battle planning with the consul. The First Centurion is certainly the spokesman for the rankers under their command in the Legion.

Centurion

The centurions are often rankers who have worked their way up from the bottom through years of military campaigning. They are in charge of one century, or a hundred men, eighty soldiers and twenty non-combatants. They are often considered more valuable even than Tribunes, as they are the ones who train and drill the men, and lead them into battle at the head of the formation.

Standard-Bearers (Aquilifers & Signifers)

Standard-Bearers, or Aquilifers and Signifers, are men who have been awarded because of acts of valor or courage the right to carry their unit's Standard in battle. Each century has a standard-bearer, as does each cohort, with one for the entire legion itself. Standard-Bearers may often be distinguished not only by the decorated Standard poles they carry but also by the bear, lion, or tiger skins they wear, with heads attached, over their armor. They often follow their centurion into battle. They are ranked equally to Decurions, with the Legion Standard-Bearer being senior.

Decurion

Decurions are rankers who have worked their way up from being the lowliest of grunts to being in charge of a squad of twenty-five men. They provide leadership for their unit when it is not formed into a century, and take their orders from their centurion.

Optio

Optios are in charge of ten men, usually enough to form a patrol. These ten are the ones who eat together, camp together, and fight elbow to elbow with one another every day. An optio can be identified by the mirror-polished bronze phalerial worn about the neck.

Contubernalis

A Contubernalis (or "cadet") is an officer in training. He is often a patrician's son beginning his journey up the "cursus honorum" to eventually end as consul, if he lives long enough. He then technically is higher ranked than a common foot soldier, but since he is in the legion to learn, he is placed equal to a sergeant in rank, without men to command until he proves himself.

Especially promising Contubernali (sometimes with the help of a substantial bribe from their parents) might be placed as an aide to the Tribunes, Legate or Quaestor, where they may learn firsthand the duties associated with running a legion.

Legionary

The common infantryman, enlisted from the ranks of the common folk. They are expected to outfit themselves with armor, weapons, and kit, and will serve a minimum of ten years or four big campaigns, whichever comes first. Many re-enlist. A legionary can be identified by the highly polished bronze phalerial worn about the neck, covering the chest.

Recruit

Legionaries aren't born; they're made. Interested civilians will be put to the test during a recruitment process that can take up to an year in The Eternal City. During this time, these civilians are given the rank of recruit. Recruits that pass the halfway point will be given the rank of Greenie. This rank is denoted by it's brightly colored green sash.

Auxiliaries

Besides the standard troops of the Centuries, the Legions have Auxiliaries. These troops are used as support and/or quick strike troops or support staff.

Cavalry

Each legion has a unit of three hundred cavalrymen assigned to it, each working in thirty-man teams, or turmae. Three officers, or Decuriones, each command ten men, with one commanding the turma itself. Cavalrymen come from the ranks of the Ordo Equester of the city, or Knights, men who are not necessarily noble but may be wealthy.

Archers, Sappers, Engineers

These men are still soldiers and fight as soldiers, but can be drawn out of rank and used for their specific talents whether it be as a hail of deadly arrows, an explosion of huge proportions or the creation of a bridge to get troops across a river. Engineers, archers, and sappers, are specialty units that come from the ranks of the common soldiers, employed where they are needed.

Non-Combatants

Non-Combatant auxiliaries are medics, surgeons, tailors, seamstresses, cooks, tanners, smiths and more. These people specialize in their talents and often are untrained in arms or bear very simple education in such. They are not soldiers per se, even though they are legionaries. Twenty men out of each century (20 of 100) are non-combatants dedicated to handling the care for animals, transport supplies, and repair items(smiths).

Equipment

The Legionary of the Republic is outfitted in such a manner to aide not only survival in combat, but efficient and deadly use of a cohesive, well trained, professional military machine. Pictured is the standard outfit of an enlisted member of the Legio. Those citizens and foreigners who can not afford, nor wield, this equipment are allowed to bring their own so long as they are capable of fighting well with their brothers-in-arms.

Recruitment

Recruitments are held periodically for Legio I, as Legio II is active and in the field at this time. Legio I welcome all citizens and foreigners with clean backgrounds and a desire to serve the Republic. Recruits must pass a series of field and written exams before being classified as "greenies" and wearing the green combed wool sash of an official Legio Recruit. When they have completed their tasks and fought, for the first time, as a unit against the enemies of the Republic, they are promoted and their training is considered complete.

Policy

Due to both the fear of a military coup and the tradition that citizens put down the plow, fight, and then return as private citizens, the Legio is not allowed to wield their weapons while within the city walls unless in matters of self defense or upon request for law enforcement purposes. Their training is conducted in the Campus Martius, just beyond the walls and across the River Invex. Their primary fort is outside the village of Vetallun.

History

Notable Events

Below are the Legio accounts of notable in-game story arcs.
The Monlon Saga
The Armagorus Cycle
Nefarious Nyx
Mad Brith

Enemies of the Republic (EotR)

In death, the Enemies of the Republic provide a unique and useful service to the Republic. Their bodies, piked in front of various forts in the Republic, provide a display of strength and warning to those who would dare consider being traitor to Iridine’s causes. These are some of the stories:

+ Piked Enemies of the Republic 💀

Reece

Reece was known for many things, but was notorious for his selling of illegal hoods and his prominent membership in the Cineran Liberation Army (CLA). The supposed purpose of the CLA was to aid in the downfall of the Republic, but in practice they acted more like the Boukoloi Bandits that once roamed the forest between Iridine City and Vetallun. While the CLA didn’t do much for their purpose of causing the downfall of the Republic, they were a constant thorn in the side of the Legio, attacking travelers at times, and targeting soldiers specific. Eventually captured, Reece was piked outside the Vetallun fort, where his body remains an education for those who consider the folly of aiding the enemy.

Rindak

Armagorus

Armagorus was one of the more successful Cineran spies in the current war. Able to slip into Iridine and integrate himself so well, he was able to poison the horses at Vetallun, depriving Legio I of much of its needed military. Although captured, he was rescued by Cineran Raiders and Heavies. Between his rescue and his eventual death, Armagorus kidnapped a healer, assisted the Cinerans building a stronghold in Grey Sands, and with his soldiers, waylaid a patrol and tortured its soldiers. He was eventually slain by Takius Proteus, and his corpse was piked outside of Vetallun fort. For a more detailed story, see the Armagorus Cycle.

Irelius

Irelius was a former Cineran General who fled to Iridine after the murder of his family. After living a low key, commoner’s life, Irelius ran into some trouble with a citizen of the Republic by the name of Grendol. Irelius then murdered Grendol in full view of Leda and Cassius in their dojo and brought the corpse past the clerk from Seneda’s bank. Irelius was seen carrying Grendol’s body by a legionary also. When at trial, Irelius’ own witnesses admitted his guilt, condemning the man to some sort of punishment. What sealed his fate was his own ranting at the Justice, invoking the name of Ereal against a pious man. Irelius was beheaded upon the podium in Iridine by Optio Indea and then-recruit Ibios, and his body piked outside of the fort in Vetallun. His head was piked upon a spear outside of the city gates, but has since vanished.

Amici

The blubbery head of the Gadaene Amici stands as silent testament to the greed of foreigners. A travelling showman who used beaten, tormented animals to entertain the crowd, Amici fled the city after a senator was slain by one of his creatures, set loose by a member of the crowd. Though Amici was not at fault for the action of the foolish man in the crowd, the tide of opinion quickly came against him, leading him to choose flight over remaining behind.

Amici found his place in the bandits residing in the Traevant woods, and devoted his skills as a bear-tamer — and his bears — to their cause. He was captured and beheaded, his head now residing on a pike outside of Vetallun fort.