manual for guerilla wariors

Transcription

MANUAL FOR GUERILLA WARIORS
It contains information on weapons, and nations of the known world
Published: KATHOS UNITED
KATHOS UNITED – MANUAL FOR GUERILLA WARIORS
Contents:
Army forces .........................................................................................................................................................2
General Alrisa Alembick - World and Weapons. ...................................................................... 63
Fauna planet Theia .......................................................................................................................... 103
History of the world ........................................................................................................................ 108
Religion .............................................................................................................................................. 116
Day of Reckoning ............................................................................................................................ 125
WORLD INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 130
WAR FLAG ......................................................................................................................................... 155
Interest Places of Kathos ............................................................................................................... 157
WARNING
Data in the manual may be obsolete or false.
Propaganda belligerents affects the data.
Issued to support the fight for the freedom of nation Kathos.
Expand according to their possibilities.
KATHOS UNITED
ILLUSTRATION: ISOTX ©
General Alrisa Alembick ©
PUBLISHED BY: Kathos Liberation Front 2013
PRINTING: Kathos Liberation Front
First Issue
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Army forces
Contents:
Terror Walker………………………………….…………4
Devastator Tank…………………………………….….…4
Assault Archos…………………………………....………5
Bomb Truck……………………………………....………6
Savar Tank………………………………………...……..7
Propaganda Truck………………………………………..7
Elite Destroyer……………………………………………8
Bethes Cannon……………………………………………9
Royal Artillery……………………………………………10
Ambulance………………………………………………..11
Demoralizer…………………………………………...….12
Tank destroyer……………………………………………14
Command destroyer………………………………………15
Atavar…………………………………………………….16
Tri-Scout………………………………………………….17
Wheel of Doom………………………………………...…18
Command Wheel of Doom……………………………….19
Smuggler Truck…………………………………………..19
Elite Smuggler Truck…………….……………………….20
The Wrecker………………………………………………21
Black Skull Devastator……………………………………23
Black Skull Terror Walker………………………………..25
Repair Truck………………………………………………27
Rocket Artillery………………………………………...…27
Shell Walker (Ironclad)……………………………………28
Various infantry armaments……………………………….28
The Scarab…………………………………………………29
ST-35 Recluse Light Arach………………………………..30
S-75 Ontos…………………………………………………30
ST-38 Warweaver Medium Arach…………………………31
S-75 Ontos Hellfire Variant………………………………..31
The Confederate Fanatic………………………...…………31
Airship……………………………………...………………32
Small Armament………………..……………….………….36
Militia…………………………..…………………………..38
The Horsemen of Atelia……………………………………39
The Confederate Battle General…………..………….…….40
HMG……………………………………………….……….41
Armor crackers……………………………………………..42
Troopers…………………………………………….………43
Elite troopers………………………………...……………..44
Dragoon………………………………………....………….45
Mounted Bombers………………………………………….47
ST-82 Behemoth-class Siege Walker………………………48
Megaton Truck……………………………………………..49
Super-Heavy Walker: The Storm Barrager………………..50
The Nameless Behemoth……………..……………………50
Ironclad Destroyer……………………………………...….51
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Bazooka………………………………………….……….52
Mortar crew…………………………………...………….53
Grenadiers………………………………………………..55
Atelian Nomad Riders……………………………………56
Atelian Firebombers…………………………….………..57
Elite Ironclad Walker…………………………………….58
Baron Artillery Walker/Baron Battle Walker……………59
Baron MBT………………………………………………60
Deathhand Missile Platform……………………………..60
The Falcon………………………….…………………….61
The Corsair……………………………………………….61
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Army forces:
Terror Walker
―We won. But dear God at what cost! Our
late commander Crowford brought six
platoons of militia and troopers to reinforce
the line, and we held for 3 days, under shells,
shrapnel and fire. But we held. Yet I am the
only one left of all the militiamen under his
command.
On the third day our doom came. An
armored four legged monstrosity towering
over five meters high, with two six-barreled
guns mounted to each side, and driven by a
godless demon, for only someone with no
soul could unleash such a thing upon fellow
human beings.. It emerged from the woods in
front of our positions, a fair distance away.
Slowly ambling forward, it stopped well out
of our range and opened fire. The sound of those barrels spewing lead will never leave my
head. Even our elite destroyer could not stand long against it. When they saw the crews bail
out and get cut down running, some of the men turned and fled in panic. Those of us that
remained prepared grenades, and braced ourselves for the charge.
The sergeant blew the whistle, and we ran towards it. The bullets cut us down like grass. It
blew off my leg, and I dragged myself behind the burning wreckage of a Savar to see only
half a platoon reach its base and start to lob grenades. I was sure they were all going to die. As
it started moving away to reposition, shells started hitting it... Were it not for our artillery,
every single one of us would have perished from that terror walker.‖
Personal diary of Corporal Severus Cormack, 1st platoon, 12th Mountain Militia Company.
Devastator Tank
The new armor plating is functioning as
predicted, and the hull integrity has
increased by 200 to 400% in comparison
to standard armored vehicles of our
current tank corps. However, the weight
of the new hull construction and armor
has limited the speed of the vehicle,
forcing us to rethink the role we have
envisaged for it. Its armor allows it to
endure multiple hits from high
penetration rounds and enables it to
reach close range with any current
armored opponent.
We have therefore equipped the vehicle with two short-barreled 240mm cannons, mounted in
parallel on a single turret, and firing high explosive rounds. Although admittedly shorter in
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range, this weapon system is without equal per damage potential. With unrivaled armor and
firepower, this will be our new main tank.
Its christening is to be done next week by Kronprinz Alexander, but the junior mechanics who
observed the weapons testing have already named it ‗Devastator‘.
Progress report on the D-357 tank system project,
by Ludwig Todt, lead weapons engineer
Assault Archos
―Now listen here,
and LISTEN
WELL you
brainless
MAGGOOOTS!
You three were
delivered to my
hands for the
crime of blowing
up the officer‘s
latrine!! What
gave you the
bright idea that
will be
AMUSING is out of my comprehension!! You may have known some fear, you may have
THOUGHT you know PAIN, but what I will put you through will go BEYOND that, I SHIT
you NOT!! Did I hear a snicker?! DO YOU FIND MY REMARK HUMOROUS, PRIVATE
BOTTOM!? DO YOU?!‖
--―-SIR, NO, S-SIR!!‖
--―GOOD, for I LACK A SENSE OF HUMOR! Meet your ONLY friend in the next few
weeks! The basic ARH-101 Assault Vehicle, known to you as the Assault Archos. You will
clean it, love it, sleep in it, and get to know it INTIMATELY. In two weeks, you and another
12 lucky maggots that lost their Savars by some IDIOCY will be the advanced guard of our
forces. This bucket normally has room for a driver and a shooter, but for your special comfort,
a spotter will be added, since we are low on scouts.
To survive in the battlefield, you will use your main advantages: speed, speed and - speed.
Your ‗armor‘ may protect you from small arms fire for about 2 minutes, so reverse and
relocate if you see ANYTHING with explosive ordnance. The protection does not apply to the
spotter, as his head is out of the vehicle. That will be your job, private Bottom, thank you for
volunteering!
You will run fine on any terrain that isn‘t made of land mines, so use that to your advantage.
If you survive with your iron girlfriend intact, we will consider adding the optional grenade
launcher already fitted to the advanced 106 version. IF being the operative word here….
NOW HAUL ASS AND CLEAN THIS PILE OF RUST BY NOON, OR I WILL
PERSONALLY DUNK YOU IN THE LATRINE PIT!! DIIS-MISSED!‖
Introductory vehicle management lesson,
by drill sergeant Loudhalar, 7th Rahmos Armored Scouts
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Bomb Truck
"Fellow marauders, today I, your Captain, sentence these
offenders for gross violations of marauder code of honor, in
front of you all. Let me stop here a second. Some may say
we marauders don‘t have such a thing. Most of the time, that
might even ring true. The deeds these three have committed
however, are some of the lowliest actions known to living
creatures.
Raskin, rape of prisoner. Could perhaps be excused were it a
fine lass, but him being dead and a kid makes it a bit too
much. Lewella, mutilation of civilians. Knowing your past, dear lady, I would even overlook
it, were it not for the castration of a priest. After nailing him to the altar. And last but not
least, Deago. After that number you pulled with the orphanage, no gunner of mine wants you
as a spotter. An occasional shell misdirected, fine. But a 305mm shelling strike onto an
orphanage ‗just for kicks‘ is something beyond my comprehension.
However, as no man goes unused under my command, I‗ve decided to give you a new
position. Since our next target is the heavily fortified Kathosian encampment, and I don‘t
have a siege behemoth, you will drive our little surprises. Those two trucks are loaded to
capacity with TNT and various pointy objects that will vaporize anything near them. They are
relatively fast, with new engines, and still pretty maneuverable. Whatever you can throw a
rock at from the driver seat is within range, and your job is to clear us a path inside that fort.
They will blow fast if shot by anything, the trigger next to the wheel is on a ten second timer,
and there‘s a passage to the rear of the truck between TNT.
Now Raskin, Lewella, here is my offer. I don‘t care much if you survive or not, but IF you do,
you are clear, and I‘ll even give you a post somewhere out of my sight. Deago, on the other
hand, you feel free to blow yourself up ‗just for kicks‘, because I‘m putting Lt. Emilia on your
tail, and she will gladly put a 20mm slug in your groin if you bail out. And she doesn‘t miss.
Your truck is 2 kilometers up ahead. Guard, escort this trash to his vehicle."
Transcript of code violators sentencing,
by Captain Cornelius Donitz
Transcript of dialogue between General Alfonse Royle of the 5th Kathosian Army and
Sergeant Byron Finn, survivor of a recent convoy attack by marauder bands)
......................................................................
General Alfonse: .... So tell me sergeant, explain to me how you came to lose a weapons
shipment, with a full escort of our finest men and armor,mind you, to a band of vagabonds?
Sergeant Byron: ... Tis wasn't like anything I saw mi-lord.. ..we was holding the front pretty
well...till we heard a..a bloody explosion come from behind..
General Alfonse: Its a battle, there are explosions everywhere.
Sergeant Byron: Not like wot we ever heard. This one, this one was ... sudden! and..and ..
louder!
General Alfonse: Louder how? Damn it sergeant! I want answer...not cryptic ramblings!
Sergeant Byron: It..it made us deaf sir... for a while... we couldn't hear nothing else... but
but..it was one great *expletive* explosion..
General Alfonse: It was probably a rocket.
Sergeant Byron: No sir.. it came from no bleedin rocket..... we would ave saw it... we didn't
even notice it at first.... them bloody robbers fooled us sir... dressed up some truck to look like
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one o our own... before we knew it, our vanguard was snuffed out like it wasn't there at all mi
lord .. then more o em came... more..and more.. we... I...I just ran...
Savar Tank
―Kids, one thing me learnt me in all me years as a mechanick, ‗s that the only way to stop a
Savar is to blow the fucker up!! Hahahaha! They brought ‗em back to me ingin bay all the
time, in all kinds of god-awful messed-up shapes, missin‘ parts, chok‘d up vents, engine
faults, full of ‗oles, and you can fix ‗em in no time, and they roll right back out again, fast and
hard. The
bulits just
make
tingling
sounds on
‗em.
You see,
when them
Kathosian
ingineers
made the
thingie,
theys wanted it to run in the ugliest condishins possible, that the thickist idjit can drive it, and
fire away ‗till it falls apart. And them Kathosians knew their tanks. This ‗ere cannon is simple,
but packs a punch. You can get a bigger cannon, or a further shootin‘ one, sure, but ya ain‘t
gonna find a cheaper one, and that counts for a lot with the captins.
Now I‘ve had trouble fixin‘ all kinds of stuff, but never a Savar. So seein‘ as I know how easy
it is, I‘ll leave these 5 beauties for you to practice on. These two need a new front armor plate,
it gets shredded by mortar fire, this one gotta get a new right track, shells blew it right off, and
those two got hit by the same tank destroyer, the shell went through them both at once,
imagine that, hah? They got them back somehow, and they needs them on in the mornin‘ for a
raid or sum such. You get on with it, them tools are over there, you know where the storage is,
there‘s the manual, and since you won‘ be needin‘ me help, I‘ll be headin‘ to the drink…
ahem, armory. An‘ don‘t ya mess up me tools, or there‘ll be hell to pay…‖
Veteran mechanic instructing his apprentices on Savar repair
Propaganda Truck
-RADIO FAHRONGWe interrupt your afternoon of prayers to bring you the following message:
―Having received word from our brothers and sisters at the front lines that the morale of our
brave and loyal warriors is somewhat diminished due to a prolonged campaign, the Inquisitor
General has conducted a series of inquiries, and reached the conclusion that this is, indeed,
true. The great efforts undertaken in fighting the godless enemy have surely left a tremendous
toll on the souls of our brave warriors, as one of the inquired has most unfortunately passed
away during the questioning.
However, a solution to our plight is at hand! In a coordinated effort, the Office of Inquisitor
General and Radio Fahrong will be providing special vehicles to each battalion, equipped to
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continuously transmit the Good Word of our priests, with brief
alternations to patriotic tunes selected by your favorite composers
and leaders. Observations of effects of these vehicles on combat
effectiveness have confirmed that the fervor of our warriors rises
significantly in their presence, reaching raging proportions.
Each vehicle will also be adorned with colorful masks, to further
raise the spirits of its surrounding troops at all times. As the vehicle
will not be combat oriented, it will be the duty and honor of the
soldiers of Fahrong to protect it, as the lifeblood of their souls will continuously flow from its
holy loudspeakers, raising their spirits to heavenly heights.
It would be most distressing should the enemy damage these carriers of good spirit, as the
battalion it was entrusted to would lose not only its moral support, but also some of its
officers, due to inquiries which would inevitably have to be conducted. May the Holy Word
flow over you eternally.‖
These were the words of Cardinal Yoseph Boeggels.
We now return to our regular program.
Elite Destroyer
"To whom it may concern in the headquarters!
The new DST-1337 machines you have sent us recently are behaving
admirably! Although not many were sent, those that did make it to our
battalion are in top condition, and were put to combat use immediately
with my best crews assigned to them. Being the elite of the corps, their
experience has not only added to the efficiency of the vehicles, but
flushed out some inadequacies of design, which I hope could be perfected in the future.
On the positive side, the greatly improved front armor plating has given us a much needed
upgrade over even the most advanced Savar tanks in our armory (there is only so much
improvements you can make). The all around armor quality is still somewhat lacking in
resistance versus explosive ordnance, but its amount has managed to compensate for that so
far. The twin 185mm cannons provide the necessary firepower more than adequately, and no
enemy armored vehicle has been able to withstand concentrated crossfire from two of our new
elite destroyers. As the improved sighting system has enabled us to extend our field of vision
to the limits of our significant firing range, some new tactical maneuvers became available,
since the crews can spot targets themselves, without scouting support.
The biggest problem encountered by the crew is that a highly mobile enemy causes problems
due to faults in the internal design of the vehicle. More precisely, in order for the driver to
operate the vehicle, the loader of the weapon cannot access the cannon, thereby enabling only
one shot from a previously loaded barrel when on the move.
This effectively halves the damage output of the tank on the move, as a stationary machine
can fire twice as fast. Another observation I have received from my loyal crewmen regards
the diversification of munitions. An allotment of high explosive shells would significantly
increase the potential of this tank versus lightly armored opponents. We hope these issues can
be solved in the future, as an already excellent weapon would thus be perfect.
Rahmos Eternal!"
Colonel Erwin R. von Clausewitz,
commander of the 5th Rahmosian Armored Corps
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Bethes Cannon
―The winter offensive of the Confederacy of Nallum through the forests of mountainous
Ardenya, under the command of general Huderian, opened with a pincer movement that
trapped most of the 4th Rahmosian Armored Corps stationed in reserve. The Rahmosians
were surprised by the predominantly walker army of the Confederacy, that managed to
traverse with ease the extremely rough terrain previously thought impassable for armored
vehicles. Large amounts of material were captured, and losses in personnel prompted a swift
demotion of general Maginole, previously in charge for the Eastern Section of forces.
The advancing Confederates, composed mainly of heavy infantry and walker support, now
faced a predominantly infantry army quickly patched together by the new commander,
Colonel Erwin R. von Clausewitz. Looking to seize the advantage of terrain for himself, and
thus create an unexpected element of surprise, the young Colonel detached a significant
contingent of basic B-373 Bethes mobile cannons from the central forces, and assigned them
to cover the path of the incoming Confederates.
The Ardenya Rain, as the battle was to become known in the Academy textbooks,
demonstrated the full genius of the young commander. He instructed his infantry to use
guerilla tactics and relocate, thus avoiding the full brunt of the terror walkers, as the
militiamen dubbed them early on. At the same time, he personally commanded the artillery,
crushing the highly visible walkers one by one with a concentrated barrage of multiple
cannons.
Using perfectly the ability of the Bethes to simultaneously move and open fire, the Rahmosian
commander fought a seemingly retreating battle, until the enemy was sufficiently stretched in
unfamiliar terrain. Where position allowed it, the Bethes remained stationary, thus doubling
their rate of fire and damage output. The meager armored column held in protection of the
artillery collapsed in the final hours of the battle, only to allow the artillery time to retreat to
new positions, and demolish the remaining walkers. After that, the mountain militia took over
and chased any remaining infantry back through the woods.‖
Excerpt from ―The Conflict: a short history of the Rahmos-Confederate wars"
by Titus Voronin
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Royal Artillery
- Paramount Secret –
- for the eyes of the Sovereign only In accordance with
instructions we
received following
your last month‘s tour
of the front line
trenches in south
Kathos, the weaponry
division of the Rahmos
Royal Military College
has the honor to inform
the Sovereign that we
have almost completed
the final tests on your
new artillery weapon.
As you have so
correctly pointed out, the quality of the railroad network created in Kathos after the
annexation enables us to transport heavy equipment and manpower quickly and with relative
ease. A natural extension of that would be an artillery piece capable of traveling on tracks,
and thus quickly reaching points of possible resistance. Such ordnance already exists, and is
functioning as predicted. Unfortunately, our enemies have realized the devastating potential of
track-mounted artillery, and most of their important points are now out of range of our
artillery trains. With this in mind, and after your observations, we have set about enabling our
heaviest train artillery pieces (calibers from 406mm upwards) to be autonomously mobile off
the tracks as well. All the covert tests conducted so far have been a success.
We are now proud to present to the Sovereign the RA-471 artillery weapon. Pending
unforeseen difficulties, the weapon should be operational in time for the autumn counteroffensive actions on the Southern Front. Able to move on and off the tracks autonomously
and fire 471mm shells at a maximum range of 15km with necessary scouting guidance, this
weapon will enable our troops to break the gridlock of trench warfare by clearing a path for
their advance.
As Confederate forces rely heavily on massed infantry, the ammunition we chose is the
fragmentation-explosive 471mm shell. While creating massive casualties over a significant
area in its primary targets, lightly armored opponents and infantry, this ammunition causes
satisfactory damage even to armored opponents, due to the shrapnel of its large caliber shell.
Although its natural medium is still the railroad, the RA-471‘s mobility on ground (in dry
terrain) is quite good for such a massive weapon. Allowing for appropriate preparations and
suitable ground conditions, deployment and firing of the first shell can be achieved within 30
minutes. Redeployment may require a somewhat longer period, depending on length of firing
activities and the soil quality, as the heavy recoil tends to dig in the cannon significantly.
This mighty support weapon is armored only against small arms fire, as the battle scenario
you have provided us with envisages the RA-471 and its supporting crew within a secured
perimeter.
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We thus urge you to convey to your chiefs of staff that it should not be used outside the set
parameters, or in unfavorable or inappropriate ground conditions, since its functioning may be
critically impaired by such factors, as their experience with front line use of some other
support vehicles has already proven.
--- To be filed with the College Files and the Royal Archives, in triplicate.
Ambulance
―Oh, you‘re back again? What is it zis
time, a broken leg or a bullit wund? Ah,
you boyz and your maneuverz. Let
Auntie Gertrud take a look at it, don‘t be
ashamed. You all act like I‘ve never seen
a grown man's crotch! Oh, really, haven‘t
I? Young man, I‘ll have you know I
wazn‘t always zis calm and compozed!
There waz a time when your friendly
airship nurse waz a Field Medic 1st
Class! I sawed legz and patched ribz, and
brought trooperz that looked like Ralhor
cheese back from the dead. I rode a
Combat Ambulance, even drove it
sometimez. We lost our poor driverz zo
often, it was zehr sad. Thoze trucks had
no protection but speed. My babushka
must have watched over me at ze wheel, I never got a scrape.
You see, my grandmama was an Atelian midwife, a babushka zey called her, and she must
have passed me some of her gift, for she healed people with just a touch. Yes, you laugh, but
have you ever had a pain after you left my table? Zo, you‘re quiet now, are you? Don‘t worry,
I‘m no babushka and you have still plenty of life to liv.
Where waz I? Ah, yes. I waz a medic with the army for over 4 years, earned a reputation,
Bulletproof Gertie they called me, ha! Many a militiaman lived because of me… many died in
my armz as well. It‘s a hard thing on your soul to watch zem die zo close, and nothing to do
about it. We jumped out of the truck, picked up the wounded, fixed those we could, and
brought back those we couldn‘t. My team had the lowest casualty rate in the Legion, I‘ll have
you know young man, and we did it all under enemy fire.
And then I met him, Captain Marius Swalbard, one of thoze crazy Mounted Grenadiers. He
was a dream: tall, blond, bearded, with zet gleam in his eye. He came with a punctured lung,
and I nursed him back to health. It was a crush, right away. We spent two biutiful months
together. And then he went back to ze front. I begged him not to, but he laught at me, said he
will be all right. So I went too. After 4 months, zey brought him to me. Chest full of shrapnel
and a horrid head wound. It‘s a frag shell, they said, he never had a chance. I couldn‘t let him
die. I tried my best, poured my soul into his… and he lived!
But he was only as a shadow of what he used to be, no smile, no speech. Just those deep eyes,
gazing at nothing. So I left the Army. All my soul went into Marius, I had nothing to give to
those poor wounded. And the bastards called it desertion, can you believe it!?? They tried to
11
hang me for leaving the front line. Had it not been for Captain Cornelius they would have did
it, too. Some of his spies told him of me, and he took me aboard.
But that‘s another story. There you are, all better and patched up. Your head will ring for
some time, but that happens when the explosion throws you a few meters. Now you be more
careful lobbing grenades up, remember, they fall back down!‖
New recruit visits the ship infirmary after a training incident
Demoralizer
- Classified information on unit code name DEMON - for commanding personnel only There are no verified accounts or any evidence at all that the vehicle in question was created
by Rahmosian engineering, which led us to seek other lines of inquiry. Several testimonies of
doubtful origin and widespread legends in marauder circles pointed us to further investigate
the claims that it originated from a private production facility, perhaps even a marauder
workshop. The details of construction observed in the few units we have managed to capture
provided final insights as to its manufacture that eventually led us to its true origin.
The basis of this vehicle is in essence a heavy duty bulldozer reinforced even further than the
industrial version. Our agents report that vehicles of such design and extremely sturdy
construction are employed almost exclusively in one place: the Walker Boneyard area.
The front profile of the machine is almost completely obscured behind its over-sized scoop.
As the function of the original bulldozer was to clear paths through massive piles of metallic
junk and walker remains, it was imperative that no protrusions be caught in passing, which
streamlined the design. For the same reason the vehicle has a wide and low profile, and a low
center of weight, giving it tremendous pushing power and making it almost impossible to roll
over.
The machine is massive and powerful but extremely slow, and the thick and very wide armor
plate of the scoop provides ample cover to anything up to a small tank behind the bulldozer,
12
even from armor piercing rounds. We thus suspect this was the original idea behind the
concept of this vehicle, as several platoons of infantry can safely advance in its wake.
The slow but unstoppable advance of the monstrous vehicle must have been intimidating in
itself, but the development of sonic terror doctrine through anti-propaganda tapes and highly
unpleasant noise is so far unprecedented. The incredibly loud sound system is shielded, and
impossible to silence from outside the vehicle. During our initial attempts to silence it, some
of our testing staff has requested a transfer to other branches of our Order to avoid working
with this vehicle, and a few have quit on the spot. We speculate that our propaganda truck was
an influence in the development of this vehicle, at least through reverse engineering and
scavenging of the sound system, but the person who came up with the idea is unknown.
The vehicle is fortunately not armed, probably due to incompatibility of its engine with
existing weapon systems, although its effects on morale and firing precision are devastating
enough. Its armor is however some of the heaviest we have met so far. The already heavy
construction of the basic bulldozer was further reinforced with devastator armor, creating a
mound of steel almost indestructible by conventional weapons. Of the two units we captured,
one unit we put through the testing firing range withstood 10 shots from every weapon in the
anti-armor range of our arsenal. Even after 10 minutes of fire from a full tank battalion the
machine still functioned, and we managed to relocate it to the tank maneuver grounds, where
it now serves as a mobile target, and is still operational.
The only way to destroy this vehicle with conventional weapons seems to be an orchestrated
bombardment of heavy artillery, armor crackers and mortar fire for a prolonged period of
time. During the creation of this report, another way was encountered as well: our observers
witnessed the ramming and detonation of a truck loaded with explosives obliterate a slightly
damaged demoralizer. It is highly probable even an intact unit would not have survived such
damage. However, as this would require a sacrifice from one of our faithful warriors, this
tactics is still under consideration. Perhaps one of the native recruits would be more suited for
the job.
We recommend avoiding the vehicle altogether and targeting the enemy in its cover by
artillery, or from flanking positions. As it is unarmed, after the accompanying troops and
vehicles have been neutralized, it can be easily captured and demolished at leisure. The
impact on the morale should be mitigated by the spirit boosting effects of the propaganda
vehicle provided to your unit, so we recommend you utilize it.
signed: Cardinal Abraham Sauvage
To be distributed to heads of all Orders and division Archbishops.
----Attached is one of the unverified accounts the Order of the All-seeing Eye has acquired—
…………………………………………………
To Captain BigglesThe boys in the engineering department got your last request for a new vehicle. We've been
working around the clock to enhance one of your Devastators for the role, but even the
superheavy machine could not break through even the most simple of rubble, and of course
it's a familiar enough silhouette to be spotted by most armor cracker squads from a mile off.
Instead, we took the idea to try and find another vehicle to convert to the cause.
Our forces got a hold of one of the Boneyard's many bulldozers. Please, don't ask us how, but
we did. Anyway, we welded some proper armor on that thing, and note it's more then able to
take a few tank shots anyway, then Cprl. Cosper wanted to take a crack at it. Would you
13
believe it if I said there was barely any mark? We sure did outdo ourselves with survivability
here. Point of the matter is, we now got a sufficient battering ram to get us through that stupid
Baron's defenses in a week- just bulldoze right through it.
However, the cab's not the best suited for on-board weapons, and we got little time to send out
for any chassis-mounted guns and to get them working by that time. So until we can arm it
properly, we decided to try something... a little different. We talked to one of the audio techsthe guys splicing together the propaganda tapes- and asked if he could do something similar,
but make it try to give people the willys. After a bit, he had the tape ready, and we hooked up
an audioset to the back of the thing.
When he played out the tape, half of my techs jumped, and the other half looked slightly ill.
Thunderous roars and growls, followed by reverse propaganda by a voice that could have only
been the devil at work, and combined with the metal monster's shape it was coming from, I
would expect it to at least give our enemy pause, if not outright terror.
If you would wish Sir, we can field-test these during the week prior, and if you wish to
procure more we can work hard on creating more. And it beats parking one of the captured
Rhamos propaganda rigs with that tape up there, way too easy to scrap.
Sincerely,
Engineering
Tank destroyer
"My rig? Ah, it's the best tank, I tell you, the best machine
ever!! Sure, those guys in the Devastators may think they got
it good, nothing can bust them, but that thing is a shell
magnet, one will get them sooner or later! Plus you gotta go
real close to hit anything with them huge guns of theirs.
My baby doesn't need to get close, hehe. Me and my crew can
park our rig a good two miles from the enemy, take aim, and
drive a ferrite slug through the keyhole on the front gate, over
his dinner table, under the skirt of his maid, and into the
boiler in his kitchen, THAT is how precise my baby is, HA!
Well yeah, it may be slow firing, true, but you need to steady the barrel to get a good clean
shot, and yes, it don't fire many shots per minute, but boy, do they count, hah! That's a
160mm cannon on my pretty girl, but that ain't the whole story. Its got that long barrel you
see, that makes it pack a mean punch. It can bust a Savar with one shot, and if you see two of
these aimed at you... well you won't, that's the problem, hahaha, we're too far, but you are
dead anyway, hahahaha!
What do you mean badly armored!? Its no Devastator, true, but we can take a shot as good as
the next tank. Just not too many, of course. The thing I hate most are those Atelian dragoons.
The guy who gave them those 28mm Falcons was a criminal I tell you, a criminal! Sure, some
are on our side, but they go where the money is good, I got my share of their fire... we lost at
least 4 observers to them, and once I saw them blow a tank up with a lucky shot to the boiler!
And another thing: you gots to avoid the mortars like the plague. Some idiot thought radiator
vents don't need armorin' when he designed my beauty, so a shell down the hatch and we gots
14
about 5 minutes to get to repair bay, or its kaboom! But if we can see the artillery, they are
soon dead usually. We gots this trick you know, where we park just outta their range and wait
for 'em to reload, and then roll in to where we can reach them and they go BOOM, haha! If
they is a vehicle, that is. We fire armor-piercing rounds, so infantry kinda ain't in trouble with
us. But we got trooper support for that, heh.
Say my dear lady, can you get me some more of these Fahrongian herbs? OK, lets go to the
back room, no problem, hehe..."
Order of the All-seeing Eye data on the Rahmosian T-160L tank destroyer, provided by the late tank
commander Sheamus Bragg, formerly of the 5th Rahmos Armored Corps
Command destroyer
To the Inquisitor General personally!
We are defeated! As I have correctly predicted in my last
dispatch, the hopelessly outdated armored forces you have
assigned to my command have failed to stop the advance of
the 5th Rahmos Armored Corps. Their armored spear is now
pointed at the soft left flank of our main forces.
Although I have cautioned against it, you have chosen to pit
rusted Savars and black market Devastators, with novice
crews and no artillery support, against what is possibly the
most advanced armored force on Theia, under expert command of Erwin Clausewitz. Your
underlings may have blind faith in you Cardinal Boeggels, but I have seen the light, and you
are just a deluded idiot. The only thing preventing me from driving the barrel of my tank up
your 'holy' behind is that half the forces of Rahmos are in my way, and I hope they do it for
me!
For the benefit of my successor and the good of our men, I have recorded the most important
observations of the battle. We have been lucky not to meet the new tank destroyer units that
the Order of the Allseeing Eye reported on, but I suspect this was on purpose, as they did not
need to be fielded to defeat our forces. The main body of the enemy armored column
consisted of elite destroyers, and their concentrated fire reduced my Savar advance to
fireworks, while even the Devastators could not withstand it for long.
The cause of such effectiveness was the new Rahmosian destroyer tank, the command variant.
Instead of sitting in the rear and directing the battle through radio static and by couriers, as I
was forced to do, Clausewitz rode his own command tank to combat. Luther, I strongly
recommend this tank to be the primary target of our forces. The same qualities that enhance
the combat potential of nearby vehicles and their crews are also the weaknesses of this tank.
Its radio beacon is susceptible to machine gun fire, and the impressively decorated and highly
visible profile also means it is easy to track and target and hard to miss.
Unfortunately, this new vehicle has very good mobility for its size, it is well armored and can
fire on the move. Judging from the holes on our surviving tanks, it has at least a 140mm
cannon, which can dispatch Savars with relative ease, and put a dent even in heavily armored
tanks. It should be considered a very dangerous opponent in
tank battles. The main flaw of its design is a lack of dedicated anti-infantry gun, so a mixed
force with grenadiers, bombardiers or mortar support is highly recommended.
15
As I am acquainted with the 'procedures' of our Inquisitor General, a copy of this message
will be couriered in secret to my successor in command, Colonel-Bishop Luther, to prevent
further loss of lives and material.
My church may have failed me, but my faith remains strong, and I will fight the unbelievers
with the remainder of my faithful forces to the bitter end!
--the final message of Colonel Bishop Evon Lapaine to the High Inquisitor Office, as entered among evidence
in his posthumous trial for high treason, desertion and heresy. Not to be disclosed to the general public.--
Atavar
- Report on field innovation –
- to be forwarded to research and development for further
testingSince the Faronghese infantrymen have of late been
regularly equipped with grenades, our losses in material
have intensified, and we have been forced to avoid
combat engagements in areas providing cover to enemy
grenadiers and militiamen. The advancement of our
armored division has thus been halted, and this has forced
me and my men to seek alternative tactics.
As our range advantage is nullified by the hilly terrain and dense woods, and the
overwhelming numbers of the enemy diminish the effect of our armed forces, I have been
collaborating with the division engineers on a new weapon design that I am now submitting
for review and further development.
Taking the armored chassis of the latest Savar variant as the superstructure, and borrowing the
undercarriage of one of our damaged DST-1337 units, we came up with an extremely robust
platform. The drive-train is not perfectly compatible, so we lost some speed, but we gained
more torque, and that enabled us to increase the armor of the Savar chassis. We have also
managed to eliminate the construction fault of the DST-1337, and the prototype has full firing
capacity even when moving, though relatively slowly.
Experiments with multiple machine guns cannibalized from defunct Archos vehicles yielded
unsatisfactory results, so we decided to try mounting two large flak cannons we dismounted
from one of the support air-cruisers, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. The
effects on infantry are devastating, entire platoons are obliterated if caught point blank, and
the scatter effect widens the effective firing zone. In one instance the ground in front of the
prototype was covered with body parts of the attacking Confederate fanatics. The large caliber
shrapnel also makes quick work of light armored units should they get caught in the firing
zone.
As the cannons are similar in caliber to the ones we are already using, the loading
mechanisms are appropriate, and the firing cycle is not slowed down. The prototype still
suffers from traditional tank weaknesses such as artillery fire, and it is not appropriate for tank
battles, as its dual flak cannons have unsatisfactory effects on heavily armored opponents.
They are also much shorter on range, as their primary role is not long range combat but
infantry destruction, and thus the tank cannot survive prolonged shell fire exchanges.
16
The mechanics assembling the machines have nicknamed the prototype ‗Atavar‘ after the aircruiser that gave their weapons, for luck. The two prototypes my men have produced so far
are fully operational, advancing with the main force, and we are pushing the enemy back.
The detailed blueprints of the vehicle and a short manual based on battle performance and
maintenance are enclosed. I urge you to speed the introduction into serial production, as this
will greatly increase our battle potential. I also officially commend my chief mechanic, Sgt.
Furius Grumble, as he came up with the flak cannons idea.
Colonel Erwin R. von Clausewitz, commander of the 5th Rahmosian Armored Corps
Tri-Scout
To office of Inquisitor General, from the Order of Allseeing Eye
Field surveillance of enemy scout units
As the new artillery weaponry deployed in the Vehrdun
area is causing great torment to the souls and bodies of our
loyal warriors, we have acted upon your instructions and
conducted a series of observations on the key element
providing the enemy with firing coordinates: its scouting
units.
Although Atelian mounted irregulars have also been spotted scouting, the unit mainly
employed in this role is the tricycle mobile scout, or as the captive enemy infantrymen refer to
it: the tri-scout. A clever construction trick we have yet been unable to fully understand
enables the vehicle to withstand the pressure of detonations with relative ease, and the light
armor diverts shrapnel to some extent. Inquiries we conducted with the captives looking to
gain insight into this issue have yielded no results due to their already bad health and hostile
disposition.
The Order of the Holy Hammer is testing a working hypothesis on whether it is the slightly
pyramidal shape of the vehicle that enables it to divert the force of the blasts and reduce its
targeting profile. To produce results we need to capture more units and enemies, as the
brothers have… worn out the ones they were given for testing.
The vehicle‘s great mobility over diverse terrain comes from a system of two all terrain
wheels on the front end and a single wide wheel in the rear providing power. Shooting the
wheels has shown no significant reduction in mobility, so we suspect they are using full tires.
This combination provides excellent steering as well, enabling the tri-scout to quickly reverse
and escape us on many occasions.
The great observation range, the main advantage of this scouting vehicle, is achieved by the
use of a periscope-like system with large binocular lenses, enabling very precise ranging as
well, which explains the devastating effects of enemy artillery. The same extensible sighting
periscope adds to the already high profile of the unit, making it very visible and quite
vulnerable to infantry and machine gun fire, as the lenses are completely unshielded. They
should thus be the primary target of our men. Another vulnerable spot of the vehicle are the
17
venting grills of the boiler system, situated to the rear and sides of the vehicle. Small arms fire
damages the cooling and the boiler soon explodes.
However, caution should be exercised when attacking multiple tri-scouts with mid-range
infantry units, as they are by no means defenseless. Each tri-scout is equipped with a 12.7mm
machine gun of significant range, cleverly embedded within the periscope beam. It can be
extended and deployed as support to defensive positions, along with camouflage netting
which obscures the profile of the vehicle and makes targeting its body more difficult. When
deployed and stabilized, the vehicle‘s machine gun is precise and effective enough to demand
caution. Although having a relatively low damage potential, sustained fire of several tri-scouts
has been known to decimate surprised infantry.
The elimination of these enemy vehicles is of crucial importance, as their radio link, which we
have been unable to jam or decode so far, guides the artillery and provides warning to the
enemy.
Abbot Francisco Burghia, chief Inquisitor of the Order of the All-Seeing eye, Confederacy of Nallum
WHEEL OF DOOM
"I'm just a simple shepherd, nothing more Father Inquisitor, I'll tell you everything, just don't
let them hurt me anymore!
The holy
crusaders
came to our
village a
month ago,
and we were
so happy! We
put them up in
our houses,
and fed them
our best fare,
they were
pretty hungry too. They built trenches arround the village, sent out scout patrols, and said we
were safe. We helped them dig, Father! They were our friends, we would never hurt them!
When the scouts said the faithless were attacking, we prepared with them, put up barricades,
my own son joined the militia. But they didn't come then... We waited for a week, and then
the Commander of the crusaders recalled the high alert, and reduced the patrols. They said it
was a false alarm.
I was on the hillside above the village, coming back from evening pasture with my sheep,
when it happened. The 6 monstrosities rolled in from the north with roaring engines, and the
soldiers just barely had the time to get to position. Those things just drove through a hail of
bullets from the trenches and bombs from the steeple. The crusaders only dented a few of
them with grenades, they were so big and armored, and grenadiers too few.
They didn't fire a shot while driving. They stopped when they got amidst the soldiers, and
then the openings on them grew guns, dozens of barrels sprouted on every side of those
18
beasts. They spat fire and bullets in every direction at the same time. Nothing caught arround
them lived, men just fell, like cut reeds. One of them monsters has loudspeakers and a man's
voice shouted orders, thats how I knew there were men inside, but they never showed
themselves...
They moved about the village and sprayed bullets untill nothing living remained, nothing!
They left like ghosts... Not a single soldier ever stepped out of those infernal beasts, thats why
there were no footsteps, but there are trackprints, you must believe me!
I burried the dead with the handful of survivors. We even held a service for them. They were
our brothers and sisters, there were children too... And then we went south, where you found
us. You must believe me Father, please, don‘t put me to the rack again, PLEASEEEEEE!!!"
--- transcript of inquiries with a Rahmosian spy, following the massacre of the 10th Crusader Infantry by the
native collaborators of the enemy at Wietiz ---
Command Wheel of Doom
The WD360 was the first and for a long period only heavily armored anti-infantry vehicle
developed by the Royal Rahmos Military College for the Rahmos military. Also known as the
―Wheel of Doom‖, lovingly nicknamed by their crews, it is in essence a mobile firing
platform for about a dozen machineguns, well armored and deadly.
The common tactic used in the beginning was the
deployment of a single unit to clear the path for
infantry versus machine guns and entrenched
positions. As anti-armor weapons for the squad
level were developed, this tactic was abandoned,
and a charge of multiple units was employed as
crossfire zones of several units have proven to be
deadly even for vehicles.
To achieve better results in coordinated
deployment, a command variant was developed. As there were no commanding officers in
regular units, their crews were to receive instructions that would coordinate their actions from
the command vehicle. This variant was more heavily armored, and a bit slower, but the
benefits it provided in coordinated assault offset its faults.
The first successful deployment of the new stratagem was the lightning raid on the 10th
Crusader Infantry, stationed in the Atelian hamlet of Wietiz. The success was such that for a
long time the Confederate High Command thought the devastation of the unit must have been
helped by native resistance from the inside. It seemed impossible to them that an entire
company of their elite crusaders could perish with no enemy dead to be found.
Excerpt from ―The Conflict‖, a short history of the Rahmos-Confederate wars, by Titus Voronin
Smuggler Truck
―Would you like something to drink? No? Can my humble inn provide you with something
else, some atora pie perhaps?
I see. You seek transportation over the border. But, I am just a simple innkeeper, what can I
possibly do with all these expenses besieging me from all sides? The fuel prices and the taxes
19
today, and all the dangers on the road… it‘s hell out there, you know.
Ah, but of course, that gem will cover most
of my expenses, for the moment at least…
Come with me.
This is our vehicle, the Vapour300
freighter, best Kathos has to offer. Well
yes, it looks like a truck, because it is a
truck, I don‘t have an airship. Airships get
shot down you know, and I dislike heights
anyways.
But, you will like this truck, it has a very
thick bottom. Very, very thick. In fact, if I
open it, let me just pull this lever here…
there, about a dozen people can
comfortably lie down on these beds under the cargo floor.
Well, relatively comfortably, it can get a bit cramped I know, but prisoners sleep in worse,
no? And you would know, wouldn‘t you? Ha, ha…‖
A business transaction in northern Fahrong.
Elite Smuggler Truck
―Welcome. Everyone, please have a seat. You are probably wondering why I called you here,
since it would be an understatement to say we are at each others throats most of the time. As I
am aware of that, I would like to remind you that we are on neutral territory, and our
charming hostess Jasmine has locked this floor down, so we are safe here. We leave together
or we don't leave. Those are the terms you all agreed upon.
All four of you are businessmen, and
like me you deal with acquisition,
transport and redistribution of highly
sought after goods, depending on
demand in certain areas. Some ignorant
schmucks would call you smugglers and
looters, but I know better. My offer to
you, my fellow entrepreneurs, is a very
profitable one, for all parties involved. It
is a rather dangerous one too, should
anyone get wind of it, which is why you
will forgive me for the conditions of our
meeting. However, as you all accepted
the meeting, I will take the liberty of
assuming you are aware of the dangers.
It goes without saying that we never met or spoke and that we are elsewhere now, should
some inquisitive soul desire to ask.
In 24 hours, a shipment of weapons and ammunition will be delivered to a Protectorate
military warehouse. You will learn its exact location should you take me up on my offer.
20
Suffice to say, it is somewhere in south Kathos. The door of the warehouse will be
conveniently open at midnight, for about an hour, to 'vent' the premises. Should someone be
present there with the right vehicles, my contact would allow said someone to load them with
sniper rifles, walker ammunition, explosives, tank spare parts and various small arms
sufficient to field a small army. That someone would then need to drive the said vehicles over
the border into west Atelia, where another warehouse guarded by very grumpy exlegionnaires awaits the cargo. The owner of that warehouse will fill the pockets of persons
delivering the said goods with gems and gold.
I have five Reaver900 freighters. They are the last word of Rahmosian technology, fast,
spacious and reliable. Beefed up engines and my own custom bodywork are the only changes
to them, they are brand new. I need you behind the wheel because you are the best. I may hate
to admit it, but I have been trying to beat each of you for years, and you have managed to
survive me, each other, and the border patrols. Many others haven't. That's why I called you
here. We are the cream of our profession.
If you all do your part, you will end up with more money than you would get by smuggling
prisoners, food or even that crap that passes for art in Fahrong for a whole year. And if you
decide this is a good deal, and all goes well, who is to say this arrangement could not be made
more permanent? Under new, renegotiated, and mutually accepted terms, of course.
This won't be like your usual job. In Kathos, we will go through regular roads, and over a
regular border pass. No one will bother you. They will see food with valid papers. Even the
Inquisitor General could not find the real cargo in my trucks. Once we cross into Atelia, the
danger begins. Our escort will join us at a designated point, and the convoy will travel to the
destination under armed guard. An attack is unlikely, but not impossible, and that is why the
escort is there. The hulls of these trucks have been refitted with plates of tungsten-steel alloy
scavenged from walkers, and they can take a beating if they have to, bullets are a minor
nuisance. Shells would be trouble, but we won't stick around to get shot. We roll fast and
hard, we get paid and we are gone before anyone figures we've been there.
Should this work, and there is no reason it shouldn't, more of these jobs might happen. You
don't need to know anything but what I've told you, and we can get richer together than you
ever could alone. If you decide to join me, it would be on equal terms, and I will give each of
you the truck you will be driving. The next Reavers we buy and customize will be jointly
owned, and there will be many.
Now is the time to decide. Do you want to remain petty smugglers on your own, or become
the elite, with me?‖
The birth of the biggest smuggling organization in Osatia, The Anchorpoint Consortium, as described in
―The Filthy Hive‖, the much contested history of Anchorpoint by Jasmine Dovetail, former owner of
―Jasmine‘s Gentlemen‘s Club‖
The Wrecker
―As one of very few successful transitions from the field of industry to the field of battle, the
wrecking machine or just Wrecker among captains of marauder gangs, deserves a few words
when discussing heavy war machinery.
It is fairly certain that its first uses were in demolishing heavily entrenched bunkers, to which
there are well documented testimonies. Due to a lack of artillery weapons, detachments of
21
Confederate. forces confiscated such machines during their offensives as improvised means to
quickly breach barricades and fortified positions set up by the Rahmosian legionnaires and
overwhelm them. The heavy duty plating of the machine, designed to protect the driver from
debris, performed equally well versus bullets or even low caliber shells.
The first intentional use of a wrecker in open battle however, is attributed to one Hassan, a
scrapyard under-boss in the Walker Boneyard area, who rose to infamy as a marauder leader
thanks to his unique use of a wrecker in battle versus tanks and vehicles. The massive spiked
wrecking ball of his machine inflicted equally massive damage to any armored vehicle
careless enough to remain in its range.
His success prompted
others to imitate him, and
the wrecker became a
rising star of
contemporary warfare, as
it is easy to use, relatively
cheap to obtain, and
brutally effective in skilled
hands. Hassan‗s skill with
his customized rig,
however, remains
unmatched, and many a
would-be marauder fell
victim to illusions of
grandeur prompted by
owning a wrecker. For the
vehicle to be truly useful in battle, it requires appropriate support, such that can take
advantage of the fact that the enemy must focus on the wrecker to neutralize its destructive
potential quickly.
It is also not without faults, due to its heritage of industrial and not military purpose. Its steady
but relatively slow movement and low sighting range makes it unable to catch a fast
opponent, since it needs to reach close range to do damage. Should a wrecker be caught
unsupported, it is easily destroyed from distance, given time and dedication of the enemy.
Regardless of all its faults, the wrecker‗s brutal effectiveness and simplicity of use remain
unmatched, making it a prized possession of any marauder, and often stolen inventory of
many demolition crews.‖
Excerpt from ―The Conflict: a short history of the Rahmos-Confederate wars", ―Latest developments‖
chapter
by Titus Voronin
………………………………………………………………
Used at construction and demolition sites all over Rahmos, the Miloshkev Industries Heavy
Prime Mover and Construction Claw vehicles make up a significant part of Rahmos‘ urban
renewal machine force. The Heavy Prime Mover is a multipurpose vehicle usually used for
hauling heavy loads around unfinished surfaces either internally or towed, and is also
frequently used as a mobile power generator. The Construction Claw, rather euphemistically
named, is more of a demolition vehicle than anything else, using its high power claw and arm
to either carefully dismantle or forcibly demolish anything in the way of Rahmos progress.
22
And, a bit of humor! Gather ‗round children, it‘s story time! Once upon a time, in the city of
Messos, there was a great and wonderful bounty of vodka, passed from generation to
generation by Resistance family after Resistance family. Of course, they weren‘t Resistance
back then, but this is beside the point. They lived only to protect the Vodka from those who
would do it ill! Legend of this vodka reached the ears of a Rahmos light tank commander one
fateful afternoon, and he took it upon himself to liberate the precious substance from its
ignorant caretakers. It didn‘t take long for him to find the house it was in, and with a few
well-aimed fragmentation rounds from his tank‘s gun, he was able to convince the survivors
to surrender the glorious motherlode of alcoholic bliss. Immensely proud of his success, he
and his crew celebrated in the traditional Rahmos fashion: drink vodka! They drank and sang
and basically made superb asses of themselves as they loaded the liberated goods into their
tank and drove back towards the Rahmos headquarters where they would surely be greeted
with medals and promotions. Unfortunately, the vodka never reached the Rahmos
headquarters. Too late, the tank commander learned that his driver was a lightweight drinker!
Too late, the tank commander discovered he wasn‘t on a main road! Too late, the tank
commander discovered his vehicle wasn‘t capable of amphibious operations or flight! But, not
too late to take one last drink before the commander and his entire crew were drowned as their
tank fell off an embankment and upsidedown into the river. It‘s said that the tank remains
there to this day, the vodka still within. Hey, at least the commander and crew died happy eh?
Black Skull Devastator
-- top secret -- Ministry's data on subject BLACK WIDOW, personal target file - report on the D-357 variant In the past few months of combat in
northern Atelia, our forces have been
encountering special, customized
versions of our D-357 main battle tank,
also known as the Devastator, operated
by a small group of mercenaries and
employed by the Confederate army.
Although these were at first written off as
individual cases due to defections, similar
to those encountered before in the
CINNAMON case, this was not true, as
the vehicles appear to have autonomous
technical and logistic support. These
mercenaries have proven to tip the scales
against us on several occasions, thus prompting the Sovereign's Ministry of Insight to further
investigate their origin as well as the qualities of the vehicles themselves, to enable the
Protectorate forces to combat them more effectively.
The few available information eventually led us to a most peculiar group led by an
extraordinarily dangerous individual, and this situation could prove disastrous for our efforts,
should it not be dealt with in short order. The group appears under the moniker "Black Skull",
and has lately been making a growing impact on the situation. The person behind the whole
story is one Wilhemina Brandini, of unknown nationality, although presumed to originate
23
from Rhalor. To elucidate the situation, and fully clarify how serious this threat is, a
presentation on the background of target Brandini is in order.
From our sources in Rhalor, we have gathered that Brandini originates from a relatively
wealthy, if somewhat unorthodox family. The Brandini family is a de facto matriarchate, led
by Lady Luciana Brandini, grandmother of Wilhemina, who bestowed a very unusual level of
education upon their only grandchild. Financially secured, as she was the sole heiress of a
substantial family wealth based on a number of steel mills and ownership of the Brandini
bank, at age 24 she was the youngest person ever to have mastered a triple degree in steam
engineering, metallurgy and steel economics at the Rahmos Royal College, but refused an
offer to remain as a lecturer there, causing quite a scandal. She returned to Rhalor and to
everyone's surprise mastered psychology and religious doctrine too. At that point, she sold
most of her shares in the family business, consolidated her assets, and simply vanished with a
huge amount of capital.
It is only four years later that the first mention of her is found, as a small note in a covert
report on the Confederate newly developed Coreburner engine mentioned her as Mother
Superior of the Order of the Holy Hammer, the research order of their church. After another
two years, a wealth of information is to be found, as she is held on trial for treason and heresy.
Due to internal intrigues fostered by Cardinal Loyosa, she was also accused of spying for
Rahmos, jailed and tortured in the offices of Inquisitor General. According to official
propaganda, she repented and was secluded to a convent. Our deep sources in Nallum
however, report that she has managed to escape, and is now somewhere in Protectorate lands.
Whether this is a well orchestrated hoax to allow her to become an undercover agent or a true
defection, remains to be seen, and is under our investigation.
Rumours and a sole eyewitness account tell of her being seen in the Walker Boneyard area,
with her partner and possibly lover, one Gaius Ursung, former tank commander of the 4th
Rahmos Arored Corps. These two individuals have managed to gather a group of malcontent
yet highly skilled dissidents, and developed a feared and mysterious reputation as "Black
Skull", under open or shadow leadership of Wilhemina Brandini.
It is the conclusion of this Ministry that it was Brandini, aided by Ursung's combat experience
and stolen military blueprints, that managed to reverse engineer and improve a D-357. We
believe she has managed to increase its battle potential through the use of stronger alloys
created from siege behemoth hulls and unknown substances possibly of her own development.
This enabled her to increase both the armor and firepower of the tank, without any
degradation to the other qualities of the platform. Our reports confirm that Gaius Ursung is
indeed driving such an improved Devastator tank, and that he has been instrumental in the
defeat of our forces on several occasions, due to the unexpected resilience of the vehicle, and
his skilled use of its improved technology.
The Black Skull D-357 variant is not so significantly modified to be impossible to beat, once
our forces are aware of its presence and qualities. As it is adorned with the insignia of the
group for psychological effects, it is also easily recognizable. As usual, it is imperative to
avoid close range combat with the D-357, as its 240mm cannons will overwhelm any single
armored opponent in minutes. We recommend mobile resistance, as the vehicle is relatively
slow, and cannot move and fire both cannons simultaneously. We also recommend mortar and
bazooka support, as infantry has proven to be very effective versus this vehicle in our own
encounters with the Confederate forces.
24
As there are confirmed reports on several of these new D-357 vehicles in existence, in varying
degrees of refinement, we believe Brandini has managed to develop a method of improvement
that is applicable to heavy armored vehicles, and is able to produce them in series. This points
to an industrial base and support. If wealth is one of her goals, it is only a matter of time
before she starts selling her vehicles, or even her method, to the highest bidder. The other
possible explanation to her actions is that she is preparing for her own bid to some sort of
power, and that these mercenary actions are a way of testing the battle potential of her
creations while profiting handsomely at the same time. Both outcomes are highly dangerous
to the Protectorate, and need to be taken extremely seriously, and thoroughly investigated. If
need arises, funds need to be reserved to purchase the method ourselves and obtain the
services of the Black Skulls.
We will continue to closely follow this matter, as we have received reports on other types of
improved vehicles in the Black Skull organization, roughly around the Walker Boneyard area.
Black Skull Terror Walker
-- top secret -- Ministry's data on subject BLACK WIDOW, personal target file - continued
- report on walker variant sighting -
As we have already elaborated in our report on the D-357 Black Skull variant, our
investigation into the actions of one Wilhemina Brandini, an extraordinarily talented and
dangerous individual, has led us to the origin of the Black Skull mercenary group. Confirmed
reports tie her to the creation of a new and so far unknown upgrading method for heavily
armored vehicles. Until recently the D-357 Devastator main battle tank was the only vehicle
spotted in its modified version, but believing there might be other vehicles we have continued
our observations, and our persistence is now rewarded.
In a recent skirmish with the guards of a local Atelian baron, the Confederate forces have
been decimated by an enemy they had not anticipated: one of their own 'arachs', or as our
troops call them, a terror walker. This information was conveyed to us by our own 'military
advisers' that have been sent to help the said baron, as the High Command has of late
embarked on a predominantly support campaign, to minimize exposure of our own troops.
The baron has secretly arranged for support from the Black Skull group, and a very advanced
terror walker that aided him proved disastrous for the Confederate infantry. This proves that
ms. Brandini is capable of producing battle ready walkers and might also shed some light on
the presence of various walkers in baron hands lately. Regardless of whether this was just a
calling card to the Confederate Council of Cardinals, or even to our High Command, we now
know the Black Skull forces are for rent, but expensive. The arach soon withdrew, and the
Confederate counterstrike crushed the baron.
We have previously reported on the use of special alloys to improve armor and artillery
weapons in tanks, and can now confirm that Brandini has indeed managed to create a new
alloy, improved over regular steel by 10-15%, and obviously manufactured in high quantities
with relative ease. We strongly recommend communications to be open with ms. Wilhemina
Brandini to obtain this method, or the services of her personally, as soon as possible.
25
While the engine remained the same in the previous improved vehicle, this has changed in
this case. According to our sources in the field, there is reason to believe that the Black Skull
walkers Brandini is creating have incorporated the Coreburner engine, one of the few true
technical marvels of Confederate science. This enables them to retain the same speed and
increase carry weight, yet have virtually no need for refueling. Our observers have managed
to follow the walker in question for two weeks before we lost contact with them, and we have
seen no refueling of any kind. This gives further weight to our request for obtaining the
services of ms. Brandini, as she is probably the only Confederate scientist that worked on the
creation of that engine that is within our grasp.
This is known to our enemies as well, as
the secret of the Coreburner engine in
conjunction with intimate knowledge on
arach construction is the very pinnacle of
Confederate secret data. It has been
brought to our attention that Cardinal
Loyosa has directed the efforts of the
Order of the All-seeing Eye towards
abduction or even assassination of ms.
Brandini. We are now leaning towards the
assumption that this is in fact a true
defection, and not a cover for independent
infiltration action. Fortunately or not, she
has managed to elude them so far, as her
personal mode of transport is in fact the
very advanced Black Skull Terror Walker
we have been observing so far, and the
absence of field refueling gives her a huge advantage.
Improved not only for comfort and lifestyle but battle as well, her 'arach' carries customized
twin 6-barreled revolving 30mm cannons, but the engine powering it enables faster operation,
and the increased rate of fire and barrel alloys improve its damage output. In the observed
combat situation, even elite destroyer armor could not withstand its fire for long, and the long
range of the guns makes it especially difficult for infantry to destroy this walker. The already
extremely strong legs and cabin armor made of high tensile steel have been improved with
Brandini's own new alloy, making the vehicle tough to destroy without long range anti-tank
fire or dedicated artillery strikes. As we have reason to believe it was Brandini herself in
command of the observed walker, we can also add expert battlefield tactics to her list of
competencies, as her maneuvering enabled the vehicle to remain out of tank range while
laying down a devastating zone of fire at all times.
While we have been fortunate to encounter this vehicle on relatively friendly terms, since the
only presumed casualties are our observers, the next encounter might be much more
devastating for the Protectorate forces. We thus recommend extra care in scouting and
attaching anti-armor weaponry to all Protectorate forces in combat zones, as Black Skull
vehicles may be encountered under Confederate employment. Concentrated fire is imperative
in destroying this enemy.
The Ministry will continue to follow the development of this situation, and report on any
developments.
26
Repair Truck
"Yep, this ere's ma pride un joy! Shelly's er name.. got me thru thick un thin she did..
Why....I remember just about a month back, was with a armor company... 10th Division I
think..Mostly destroyers and one o em big hulkin ones... ta commander wos in it...
We was on the march to put down some rebellion wot happened just south o the Kathos River
and just when we got ta the bridge, we spotted em rebels...
Pretty well stocked too... hadda
buncha guns...they blew da bridge
so we's can't get across.. then they
blew us up wit those guns they ad
on ta far side...
Un that's were me an ol' Shelly
came in. Ta commander decided ta
charge thru da shallows instead, im
leadin da way and I got in right
there behind im.. yea dat big ol tank
o' his made sure Shelly didn't get
scraped none... I just worked up er magic , patchin up da holes faster on da boss's tank faster
then them rebel guns could make em ..
We gots ta da odder side real quick... no losses wot-so-eva, and we taught em rebels who gots
da betta guns... but the way I sees it... me n Shelly did alright... just part o the job.."
Irvan Skosk, Combat Engineer of the 2nd Kathosian Engineer Brigade
Rocket Artillery
Excerpt from field manual of the MRLP-A3
Designation: Mobile Rocket Launch Platform Type-A3 (MRLP-A3)
Armaments: Dragonfly Class Rocket Launch Chamber
Munitions: Dragonfly Class Low-range High Explosive Rockets (warheads may differ,
consult your munitions officer
for most suitable munitions before battle deployment)
Never before has devastation been mastered on such a scale as
the MRLP-A3 or more commonly known as the Rocket
Artillery. While the usage of rocket launch platforms over the
years have found ever increasing success on the battlefield,
only the Rocket Artillery combines the explosive firepower
from such a weapon with the mobility from a chassis specially
engineered to house and deploy it.
For all intents and purposes, the Rocket Artillery is well
protected by 80mm of front armor plating and 60mm of steel
plating along the rocket launch chamber; allowing the vehicle
to withstand counter-artillery fire or sneak attacks long enough to re-position or have allies
27
neutralize such threats. Avoid dedicated anti-armor weaponry at all costs as a direct hit to the
rocket launch chamber is almost always fatal. Consult with commanding authorities for
tactical deployment strategies beforehand.
Shell Walker (Ironclad)
-- Documented report of sighting of new Fahrongese walker weapon ---- Strictly for the eyes of Rahmosian High Command -Subject identified as new
model of arach deployed by
Confederate forces near the
Atelian border. Subject is
defined as being heavily
armored and able to resist
dedicated anti-armor weaponry
as depicted by surviving
multiple hits from Atelian
bazooka militiamen. It is
quadrupedal but is particularly
lacking in speed and
maneuverability.
Weaponry consists of dual cannons, short barreled, firing high explosive ammunition.
Additional weaponry may include coaxial machine gun ports. Subject seems to require a
minimum range for effective engagement of target, estimated to be 100 meters and above.
In conclusion, subject poses an exceptionally dangerous threat to the Protectorate especially
with heavy Confederate activity to the south. This document is the first instance of visual
observation of subject. My men will continue with the observations to provide additional
information on the subject in due time.
Long live the Sovereign
For the Glory of Rahmos
Octavian Vos (LC/21st Legion)
(last received report from Legion Commander Octavian Vos of the 21st Protectorate Legion)
Information related to various infantry armaments
"Now, back during the Atelia offensive, most of us guys were still greener then the grass
when the Confeds started marching in. Most of us only have ever used one of those Kham
rifles before, and then these trained soldiers come stomping in with everything from walkers
to chainguns had a good number of the boys crapping themselves. Though admittedly, the
first few days those hunting rifles served us well. Accurate as heck and had quite the range,
but still didn't quite have the punch of some of the Confed weapons.
Luckily, the confeds seemed to have a thing for those Vampire SMGs. Spat bullets like hell
and couldn't really strike well at longer ranges, but pretty damn brutal if ya caught someone
by surprise with the thing. Half the time the Resistance would shoot one of the 'Feds, pry a
28
Vamp from the hands of the still-warm corpse, and open fire at the incoming troops before
returning to cover. Heh, used to call it a 'double play,' got a few laughs for a few months.
Personally though, I always had a
soft spot for the Pratorian. Those
Rahmos blokes sure know their
automatics. Only thing ya had to
worry about was squeezing the
trigger too much tended to heat up
the barrel, but once ya had it set up,
that HMG could chew through most
things in the line of fire. Only sad
thing is ya kinda got tunnel vision
using it, and thanks to that blasted
tripod it was hard to angle it close.
Got surprised by a 'Fed like that
once, had to use my sidearm to stop
him from returning the half a dozen
favors I gave his mates that day.
Hmm, now ya mention it, I knew
this one guy who was one hell of a
shot with one of those Falcon rifles. Had it all kitted out, scope, bigger barrel, extended the
clip, practically nothing was undone. We were breaking camp one night when a scout force
ambushed us, the Feds brought a ton of Salamanders to try to smoke us out. This guy, cool as
a clam, grabbed his rifle, on horseback mind, aimed down the sights and poked a hole in one
of the flamer's tank. Blew it up, and caused a nasty chain reaction. Nasty for the Feds at least.
Think the last battle I fought with my fellow Atelians was in the Yorgian Mountains. The
Feds were rather fed up at that point and started sending half a dozen walkers a night at us, so
most of us were packing Fourties the entire trip. Simply aim and fire, and the smaller rigs the
feds rolled up blew up nice and easylike thanks to the rockets those things came loaded with.
Took a few shots for the walkers though, specially if they brought one of those BIG
sunofaguns out...
Course, by then I had enough. I split when we broke camp last time, and started making my
way back towards home. Pretty lucky I ran into Commodore Stibbs when I did though, next
day we had a hive of Mortts coming to say hello for parking the airship too close..."
Unknown Atelian deserter, assumed marauder
The arachs seen prior were too slow, so the Scarab was built
as an ambush vehicle for on and off road travels. It's a
powerful combatant to infantry and surprise attacks.
THE SCARAB
Name: S54 "SCARAB"
The need for high-speed wheeled transport
became an obvious necessity whenever combat
in built-up areas erupted. As Arachs were far
29
too large and slow to serve the purpose, the Scarab was designed to fill the role. Squatty and
angry looking, the S54 Scarab has four wide tires making it equally effective on and off road,
and its powerful Coreburner-fueled self-contained steam piston engine gives it theoretically
unlimited speed, though it damages the vehicle and engine to go much more than 80km/h
(50mph). Built for urban environments where infantry can easily ambush vehicles, the Scarab
is fitted with a powerful .30 cal machinegun.
"The Small Walker"
ST-35 Recluse Light Arach
The Recluse is a small four-legged armored arachnid
usually used for reconnaissance and skirmishing
with light enemy forces. Its low center of
gravity and stocky legs for its size make it
capable of nimble movement through
mountainous terrain inaccessible to
conventional tracked vehicles. It‘s
powered by a small internal steam engine
combined with a high pressure storage tank. The engine is too small to
fully power the hydraulics for extended periods, so a store of steam
pressure is kept in the tank, provided either by the engine while the vehicle is not moving, or
by a fuel feed from a larger arach. It uses a 20mm cannon and an 11mm machine gun to
dispatch its foes. In addition, during the Atelian urban-wars it has been fitted to launch large
explosive timed bombs often referred to as "Ball of Dooms." The name derives from the fact
that the explosive is a metal ball spewing fire through holes that due to its nature has a distinct
noise as the flames heat up the device to explode several seconds after launch. It has proven
very successful not only in bombarding entrenched Atelian warriors in Urban environments,
but also due to it‘s fear-effect.
S75 "ONTOS"
Following the losses Fahrong took in the Maecenas due to Rahmos Steel Legion Engines, the
Confederation needed a powerful mass-producible engine of their own. Superficially similar
to Rahmos engines, the Ontos is a unique vehicle in its own right. Curvier than its northern
counterpart, the vehicle is significantly more elegant, hiding its devastating power. Superior
Fahrong armor makes the Ontos a very difficult target to destroy from any angle. The main
firepower, a 95mm high velocity cannon in a large turret with a heavily armored mantlet and
integrated stereoscopic rangefinders gives it more efficient killing power than the veritable
land battleships that the Rahmos engines represent. All variants have a front-mounted 11mm
machine gun, and most have a second and third on the
left and right sides in armored casemates.
Two Coreburner boilers power the steam
drive train, giving the tracked vehicle a
surprisingly high speed for its weight, with
vibrations being the limiting factor in
the vehicle‘s speed, as opposed to
engine power. While relatively
untested in combat, the Ontos is, on
paper, possibly the best engine in the
world.
30
"The Boss Walker"
Name: ST-38 WARWEAVER MEDIUM ARACH
The Warweaver, or simply Weaver, is the medium antipersonnel arach of the Confederate
armed forces. It has heavier armor than the
Recluse and uses a similar
power system, scaled up to adequately
provide locomotion via
the six larger armored
legs. The Weaver is
equipped with a
forward turret with
a 20mm
cannon and 11mm
machine gun, the ball
mount in front houses an
11mm machinegun, two
pintle-mounded 11mms
guard to rear, and
primary
firepower is
provided by
two 90mm
mortars in
the middle of the craft. The twin
heavy
mortars are excellent for raining
high explosive
fire on enemy infantry and light
vehicles over
ridgelines and hilltops, out of the line
of direct enemy fire. It is not
equipped to engage full-sized Engines.
S75 "ONTOS" Hellfire Variant
The Hellfire Ontos is the newest variant of
the S75 Ontos engine, replacing the turret
with a semi-fixed rocket launching system.
Capable of launching 175mm spinstabilized rockets of varying type,
the Hellfire can fulfill many
artillery support roles, capable of
firing accurately at large targets,
or spreading a rain of rockets
over a large area to suppress
exposed enemy forces. Once a
volley is fired, reloading is a lengthy
process and the Hellfire is vulnerable when faced with
close combat situations with enemy engines.
The Confederate Fanatic
In the largest prison in Nalum (Fahrong), thousands of prisoners on death row choose
salvation by joining the religious sect of the Fahrong armed forces rather than being executed
every year. These prisoners then serve on the frontlines as a fanatic infantry, serving mostly in
suicide brigades.
For these ex-cons, the reason to fight can be varied, but all are equally dedicated. From
financial rewards to their families from the church, to potential amnesty from Trinthinite
31
priests, to heavy indoctrination, all
Confederate Fanatics have powerful
reasons for fighting and using their
lives as a weapon.
They mostly use old, outdated
pistols to fire upon the enemy at
long range, and their large explosive
suicide packs to blow up enemy
buildings and important leaders.
Aside from their everlasting
dedication to their side and
willingness to give their lives to the
cause, these units are especially
dangerous due to their agile
movement and quick nature. Each
Fanatic runs much faster than the
average soldier, and can deal
immense damage by triggering their
bombs.
AIRSHIP
Airships are bristling with antiaircraft weapon systems, the most effective current system
being the twin 40mm ball turret mount. these belt-fed weapons have a fairly high rate of fire
and have almost unlimited ammunition and don't overheat. They fire time-fused shells that are
set automatically as
the round is loaded
into the gun, the time
being determined by
the gunner by using
two buttons on his
control yoke. The
Rahmos military labs
are currently
perfecting a design
for radio-powered
proximity fuses,
though the
technology probably
won't see frontline
military service for
another year or two,
and won't be small enough to fit in a 40mm shell for another two or three. In addition to these
low-caliber rapid fire weapons, there are 25mm cannon on the decks for when the ship is
being badly swarmed, plus the array of 3 and 5 inch guns which can also fire timed fuses and
soon, those proximity fuses. The combination of these weapons is enough to fend off most
fighter and aerial torpedo attacks. If that's not enough to scare off the enemy, then perhaps the
airships' own complement of fighters will do the trick.
32
Secondly, these airships are well-protected and very difficult to destroy without massive
shells and bombs. The outer skin of the airship is coated in a thin armor plate backed with a
fabric material similar to Kevlar. This armor is very good at stopping bullets up to sixty
caliber fired from anything more than suicidally short range. When bullets do penetrate the
armor, the lifting gas of the ship is contained in millions of basketball-sized flame-retardant
polymer balloons. This "MBP system" as it's been titled prevents chain reaction explosions
when the ship is hit. The end result is that it's almost impossible to make a dreadnought
explode, but rather, the only way to take one down is to get powerful shells into its capacitor
and battery arrays to shut down the lift fans, or, to riddle it with bullets until it looks like a
flying grey brick of swiss cheese, hoping to pop enough lift balloons to make it sink.
Also, one huge advantage airships have over conventional heavier-than-air aircraft is range.
The world record aircraft right now is the Queen of the Clouds, a triplane designed
specifically for long range flight. Stripped to the bare minimum, she was able to make a oneway journey of an incredible 1076 miles on a single load of fuel. Military aircraft on the other
hand are far heavier, have more powerful (and fuel hungry) engines, and are loaded with
ordnance. The Petrolov IV, a four-engined metal-skinned monowing bomber, is currently the
most powerful of the Rahmos strategic bombers. It has a maximum combat range of just over
300 miles. The average fighter of the day has a combat radius of little more than 100 miles.
Rahmos airships on the other hand have theoretically infinite range, since they use the
immensely powerful Stormreaper generators to fuel their hungry engines with the static
electricity in the atmosphere. This makes them far more simple to operate logistically when
long-range operations are involved. Put simply, heavier-than-air aircraft just can't reach the
battles.
………………………………………….
Ever since the first airships took flight centuries ago, safety and durability have always been
among the biggest concerns for users. Helium-filled airships were the safest, but they were
still easy to bring down with the lightest of damage. In addition, helium leaked quickly and
needed frequent topping off. Hydrogen was cheaper and provided more lift, but electrical
sparks, lightning, incendiary gunfire and pretty much anything else were likely to cause a
catastrophic fire.
Long the leaders in airship technology, the Rahmos first began perfecting what came to be
known as the ―MBP‖ system for their military airships. The defining technology in the new
system was the use of plastic – much thinner, cheaper and lighter than the sealed cloth that
airships used for their gas bags until then, plastics allowed Rahmos to heavily
compartmentalize its gas bags; twenty plastic gas bags weighed less than a single cloth bag of
equivalent volume, and was much more resistant to damage as well. Initially, these small gas
balloons were simply inflated and placed inside the airship‘s body, held in by the fabric
exterior. This worked well, but if the ship‘s outer covering was torn, the balloons would
33
sometimes spill out and float away, greatly reducing the craft‘s lift. However, it was still a
fantastic leap ahead, and Rahmos airships were widely hailed as the most durable in the
world. Soon, all other nations were copying the design for their own airships.
The system wasn‘t perfect yet though, some believed. Whenever possible, the small balloons
were filled with helium, which was relatively rare and quite expensive, because hydrogen was
too risky to use. An enterprising airship designer altered the plans for one airship. Instead of
helium, he filled the small balloons with hydrogen and then placed them all inside a far larger
helium-filled plastic gas bag, similar in size to the original cloth gas bags used on the old
designs. The theory was that the hydrogen would greatly increase the lift of the airship, while
keeping the hydrogen in a pure helium environment would prevent fires from breaking out in
the event of damage. In fact, the new method worked very well, and all new airships were
built this way, and many warships were retrofitted in this manner to improve their
maneuverability and carrying capacity.
Large MBP-system airships are almost impossible to destroy via light gunfire to the gas bags
alone. Even large shells are unlikely to inflict deadly damage without many hits, unless a
delayed fuse manages to explode within the gas cells themselves. In the Battle of Nallum in
the First Maecenas, the airship Majestic sustained an absolutely incredible amount of damage,
losing a great portion of its lift cells before a magazine explosion doomed the ship, and that
was only achieved by multiple bomb hits from high above by Fahrong Cloud Destroyers.
Current research going on in Rahmos laboratories involves the development of self-sealing
plastics to make airship gas bags even more damage-resistant. So far, no significant progress
has been made.
Airships are the life and blood of Theia, its invention, though recent, is lauded as one of the
most important breakthroughs in transportation and combat history. Although many nations
have been using canvas dirigibles and zeppelins for decades, it was the Rahmosian which first
utilized them to achieve total air dominance by creating the armored warship.
Keep in mind that the more mass an airship needs to carry, the larger it has to be as well.
Much of the space taken are assumed to be helium/hydrogen tanks large enough to be able to
achieve sufficient lift. Dedicated cargo freighters are almost always lacking in armor
protection and weaponry as such weight would detract from speed and lift capacity, whereas
the reverse is true for warships which would have to forego carriage space for ammunition
stores, troop quarters and the assortment of heavy weaponry and defenses.
Vertical thrusters, turbine engines would help maintain lift and could also be used to allow the
craft to lift off or land, depending on the direction of force generated by the engine. As such,
they are almost always heavily protected.
Large warships are more often than not, an intimidating presence but their strengths are quite
limited. As I said before, the more mass a ship needs to bear, the larger it needs to become in
order to contain enough lighter than air elements to stay afloat. Bigger ships are prime targets
for surface to air artillery and fighter attacks which can strike at vulnerable keypoints such as
engines and weapon hardpoints. A breach through the hull can almost always be disastrous as
the helium/hydrogen within the ship has a possibility to ignite or leak out; either of which
spells the end for the vessel. Admirals are encouraged to deploy screening forces before
committing warships into a fight.
34
Warships can be classified into several distinct categories.
Gunboats/Frigates
These are light vessels which emphasize on maneuverability to employ fast strikes against
enemy ships. They are usually equipped with one or two heavy cannons and several anti
fighter platforms making them extremely versatile in both offense and defense. Gunboat
wrecks are often salvaged and restored by enterprising pirates and mercenaries. The Corsair
frigate is a particular favorite for marauders.
Dreadnoughts
The mighty dreadnoughts are kings of the skies. The largest class of warship, they often pack
large amounts of heavy cannons and artillery. A dreadnought fulfills two roles, first is
engaging enemy fleets over long range and bombarding them with artillery, and then moving
into close range to deliver a devastating broadside. Dreadnoughts are difficult to take down
but their size often makes them ungainly and sluggish. A lone dreadnought can easily become
overwhelmed by lesser craft. The Rahmosian Air Fleet has the largest number of
dreadnoughts in all of Theia although the recently endowed Confederation of Nallum has
been steadily accruing the numbers to match.
Battle Cruisers
Battlecruisers are somewhere along the lines between both a frigate and a dreadnought. They
are relatively fast and well armored and they pack a punch as well. They are some of the most
common ships in any fleet and are the most capable of operating alone without support. They
are a particular favorite for barons and marauders with the gold to afford one. The Rahmosian
built "Majestic" class is one of the most popular, used extensively in the airfleet and by nobles
and privateers with the gold to spare.
35
Battle Carriers
Dedicated light craft carriers possess the necessary facilities required to deploy and receive
fighters and
bombers,
replacing the
need for land
based runways
and hangars. A
relatively new
concept, carriers
are touted as the
ship to
revolutionize
aerial warfare as
they can hit
opponents from
a distance
without fear of
retaliation.
Carriers are
poorly armed in
general, with
much of the
space going
towards the hangar, flight deck and fuel and ammo stores.
SMALL ARMAMENT
Pistol
Gamonev Autofiring Handgun
One of the oldest handguns in Kathos, the Gamonev is highly ornate in
design with a complex firing mechanism. Unfortunately it is this very
complexity that makes the pistol prone to wear and tear as well as
highly inaccurate. While a warlord could do worse than to have this
weapon, they could certainly do better.
Light Rifle
Kham Hunting Rifle
A single-shot rifle, the Kham Hunting rifle has been a staple of the
nomadic Atelian tribes for centuries. This particular model is
manufactured by a small factory in Kham and can be found in the hands
of almost anybody; friend or foe.
Heavy Rifle (Though technically a shotgun...)
Chimera Scattergun
A uniquely Atelian weapon, the Chimera is one of the most powerful
weapons. Warlord Sahrab himself commissioned this weapon during his
rise to power. It uses two types of ammunition- the standard medium
game scattershot and unique incendiary barrel which delivers a blinding
gout of chemical fire to those so unlucky to cross its path.
36
Sniper Rifle
Falcon Heavy Sniper Rifle
The falcon is a powerful rifle made in Rahmos for special military
forces. An incredibly powerful semiautomatic, the Falcon's 60caliber tungsten-cored rounds will inflict severe damage to anything
not protected by a tank's heavy armour. Rebels with this weapon
quickly find themselves the target of the Confederation, as it is one of
the few truly fearsome weapons on the battlefield.
Light Machine Gun
Vampire Submachine Gun
The Vampire was mass produced by the Confederates for use in its
conscripted armies. While it is cheap and widely available, it is still as
deadly as ever. Many Atelians have picked them up off fallen enemies
and use them, somewhat ironically, in their struggle to retain
independence.
Machine Gun
Bretan Machine Gun
A cross between a machine gun and a grenade launcher certainly
sounds rather ingenious, and that's just what the Bretan is. Despite
being large and cumbersome, the weapon is a staple of Warlord
Sahrab's arsenal due to it's versatility within close range. It is highly
destructive in urban warfare.
Flamethrower
Salamander Flamethrower
Flamethrowers have always been one of the most brutal weapons of
war. The warlords of Atelia are no strangers to this, and they tend to
employ them whenever possible. The Salamander uses pressure to
produce a short ranged but intense blast of flame that can reach
twenty feet or so ahead of it's wielder. Alternatively, it can dispense
fuel through a nozzle and leave a puddle to be ignited; this is handy
for setting traps.
Heavy Machine Gun
Pratorian Heavy Machine Gun
Designed and built in Rahmos, the Praetorian is a large but still manportable defensive weapon. Many were given to the AAS by their
Rahmos sponsors, and some of them have found their way into
Warlord Sahrab's possession. The recoil when shooting means that it
must be deployed before firing, but when the bipod is set up, it
becomes a deadly weapon capable of wiping out entire squads of
infantry with ease. The large box magazine can hold 250 rounds each,
allowing the gun to fire continuously for long periods of time, though
reloading is a slow process due to the complicated belt-feed system.
37
40RTE
'Fourty'
The 40RTE can lay waste to tanks and other vehicles within it's path. It
is a vastly destructive antitank weapon with the ability to pierce the
strongest of armors. Unfortunately, due to it's firepower and size, it can
be difficult to load and carries fewer rounds then other weapons.
Molotov
'Firesplats'
Small glass bottles with a flammable wick and loaded with alcohol
makes excellent makeshift bombs, and the Atelians are eager users of
them. Some warlords say that there is nothing
more satisfying then setting entire units of the Confederation on fire with
a single throw.
Landmine
Landmines are an old favorite for use by defending enemies. Warlord
Sahrab amassed a great number of them, and has distributed them to all
able Atelian soldiers. Their uses are quite endless, and they are one of
the more valuable explosives for desperate defenders.
Militia
Of all the men, women, beasts and war engines fielded by the great armies and sky fleets of
Kathos, perhaps it is the common militiaman who are the most underestimated force in any
one army.
Coming from all
corners of the
continent, those
who make up the
ranks of militia are
ethnically diverse
,yet are united by a
single cause; the
opportunity to
earn a living's
worth.
Generally
speaking, a single
militiaman by
himself does not
pose a severe
threat. They are
not as highly
trained as the
legions of Rahmos
nor are they as
38
fanatically motivated as the religious zealots of Fahrong, yet they do possess a certain
redeeming quality: numbers.
For every soldier shot down, there will always be hundreds more of equally destitute and
desperate recruits waiting to fill the gaps.
Every man in the militia is given the barest modicum of training and equipment available. The
standard issue long barreled rifle is considered obsolete when the likes of automated
weaponry are becoming ever more popular but militiamen are at least taught to fire in
concentrated volleys to maximize their damage potential. Occasionally, several squads would
be provided a small amount of hand grenades for use against armor or entrenched enemy
positions though closing in to make use of them can be exceptionally perilous.
Yet, despite the obvious shortfalls of the militiaman, they do provide a useful, if not, underappreciated service to their commanders; serving as a cheap but effective garrison force,
offensive counter-infantry and supplementing defensive power for armored contingents. Truly
the worth of the militias of Kathos goes beyond their perceived abilities.
Excerpt from "The Many Faces of Kathos" authored by Ser Walther Goering; Baron and former admiral of
the Kathosian airship "Balthazarr"
The Horsemen of Atelia (A documentation of the cavalry forces of the Atelians)
Atelia for all
we have known
is a particularly
backward
culture. While
they do
embrace the
technology
which their
neighbors have
brought in to
the country, its
is quite
apparent to see
their society as
barely
structured and
their combat
strategies as
disorganized
and
unpredictable.
Yet, the
Atelians have
managed to
resist both the empires of Rahmos and the Confederacy for years. No matter how many towns
are put to the torch, the invaders never seem to be able to subjugate the populace. Indeed this
intrigue has baffled military scholars and generals altogether.
39
Atelians are generally regarded to be master horsemen, being able to ride, some say, before
they even know how to walk. While the advent of armored vehicles and mechanical
constructs have made them the focal point of many battles, the Atelians continue to rely on
their cavalry, something no nation had done in decades since the birth of the steam engine.
However despite an apparent technological disadvantage, these horsemen are surprisingly
effective. Horses are after all are cheaper than vehicles and quieter too. Atelians after all, are
famed as experts in ambushing even when one expects them.
The horsemen of Atelia wield a myriad of weapons both primitive and advance, depending on
what they have managed to accrue in their raids and smuggles. Swords and spears are
common implements but they have also mastered firing rifles from horseback, a particularly
difficult feat. Some riders are even capable of shooting an enemy soldier clean through the
head whilst on full gallop. Other riders carry satchels filled with home-made explosive
grenades which they use against armored targets especially if they are undefended. The rider
simply closes in from the flanks and destroy the target from its blind side.
As of late, many of such horsemen have been seen in Kathos, perhaps having disbanded
themselves from the service of their warlords or escaped prisoners from Confedrate
concentration camps. They hire themselves to local lords and fleet captains, lending their
versatility and unique skills to whoever has the gold to spare.
Excerpt from "The Many Faces of Kathos" authored by Ser Walther Goering; Baron and former admiral of
the Kathosian airship "Balthazarr"
The Confederate Battle General
"Battle General" is a misnomer, a
fancy title ascribed to an officer who, in
any other army, would be more akin to
a lieutenant than anything else. This is
not to say these individuals are mere
figureheads. Indeed, they are the
product of a special breeding program
(inbreeding of the biggest, strongest
people the Fahrongi could find) that
consistently produces individuals
standing over 8 feet tall with strength
and weight to match. This enormous
stature serves them well both in
inspiring the forces under their
command and in combat. They wield
their specially designed vulcan machine
guns with ease and can kill most other
men with a single swipe of their sabers.
Because of the nature of their genetic
heritage, physical deformities and
mental aberrations are commonplace
among the officer caste, and the
presence of a "perfect" battle general is
regarded by confederate forces as a
good omen from their god.
40
HMG
-Requisition form 38456-A and attached message To the desk of division command - URGENT
The 12th Legion, under my command, is currently employed in the Vehrdun section of the
southern front, between Daumont
and Fortaux. We are fighting a
bloody infantry battle among the
ruins. The narrow passages
remaining among the rabble and
the structural remains prevent the
effective use of armored forces,
and we are forced to resort only to
infantry and light vehicles.
Knowing this, and with manpower
being the Confederates main
strength, they are performing
massive infantry charges,
alternated with intermittent mortar
fire to prevent our counter-attack. My legionaries are inflicting horrendous losses to the
enemy, but that does not seem to deter them. We have been able to counter their charges up to
now, using a chain of entrenched machinegun nests in key positions where there are open
lines of fire.
Some of my officers believe it is just a matter of time before the Confederate army simply
runs out of men and gives up, as they cannot believe anyone would send that many men
charging straight into the mouths of our machineguns, even after such losses. Although their
persistence is clearly insane, I fear they will continue with this madness…
However, we are having increasing problems with gunmen, as shelling and the snipers take
their toll. As the Pratorian machineguns we are using now are manned by only one soldier
(our advantage in regular conditions), the death of the gunner silences the gun, which allows
the enemy to advance. Also, the air-cooled barrels of the Pratorians are overheating with these
numbers of enemies. They are firing for hours at a time, as waves the enemy is sending
consist of tens of thousands. We replace the gunners, but we seem to lack proper guns.
We have tried to remedy the situation with artillery cover, but in this specific situation the
terrain and proximity of our own troops prevent the use of dedicated artillery strikes with full
efficiency. I therefore request a contingent of our heaviest AF-5 machineguns to be assigned
to the 12th. We need them urgently, for following reasons.
Their optional water or air cooling and easily exchangeable barrel will enable us to maintain
the killing zone for the longer periods of time. The two-man crew of the AF-5 means that
even with one gunner down, it is still possible to fire with some efficiency and maintain a
zone of fire. The problems inherent to the guns construction are nullified in our conditions: as
redeployment will not be needed, its slow dismantling will not hinder us, and the minimum
range problem will be effectively solved by providing long lines of approach and mutual
cover fire from several machineguns.
We are aware of the exposed position of the gunners, as the AF-5‘s relatively visible profile
and lack of a front cover plate has shown to attract fire, increasing the casualty rates among
41
soldiers manning it. In our dire situation, however, I must stress the need for this weapon. We
can find more soldiers to man the weapons, but if we don‘t get the weapons, the Confederates
will overrun us in a matter of days, if not even sooner. As this is an extremely urgent matter, I
am sending this message by courier.
Should the courier carrying this message fail, any Rahmosian soldier possibly finding it is to
forward it IMMEDIATELY to the division command, at top priority. Failing to comply with
this order will be deemed treason and desertion, punishable by death.
Princeps Ignatius Colter, 12th Legion
Armor crackers
-Report on war implement code named HOLY BOLT –
-To commanders of our crusader divisions - confidential
In light of the difficulties our warriors have endured while defending all that is holy from the
godless hordes of the
Protectorate, his
eminence Cardinal
Kanziani has been
praying vigorously for
wisdom and insight into
the problem of squad
level anti-tank weapons.
His prayers were
answered and the vision
that appeared to him was
conveyed to us: our holy
crusaders shall smite the
armored abominations of
the godless, with
thunder-shooting
ballistae! With this glorious vision in mind, we have proceeded to develop a weapon worthy
of our noble warriors.
The new "Thunderlord" anti-armor infantry gun is thus the result of our efforts, for the greater
glory of our Confederacy. It outranges almost all of the enemy armored vehicles, and its high
penetration warhead inflicts catastrophic damage to any known opponent armored with
conventional plating. Sustained fire of two "Thunderlord" teams has been devastating for
every enemy vehicle we have encountered in field testing, especially when supported by our
spirit uplifting radio-vehicles. Certain construction features of extremely large vehicles might
reduce its effectiveness somewhat, but those cases will be overcome too, through divine
guidance and courage!
Basing our decision on other tried and tested squad weapons, we have decided that two
warriors are the optimal team size that balances numbers and stealth movement, for one
warrior can continue the holy struggle should the other fail pray to hardships and temptation.
Although the spirit and metal are strong, the flesh can be weak, and we thus recommend to
our brothers in command to protect the crew of the "Thunderlord". Their low profile and
42
armor protects the gunners from shell fire and explosives to an extent, but any infantry fire
has proven to be very detrimental to their wellbeing, as the guns construction is not well
adapted for anti-infantry combat.
Their main advantage lies in defensive positions, but they are just as devastating offensively,
provided they are given the opportunity to deploy. The deployment phase is necessary for the
proper functioning of the weapon. Avoiding it has led to most unfortunate events for our
brothers of the Testing Coven, may their passing be eased by heavenly help, due to faulty
assembly of the weapon.
The weapon is now entering serial production, and will be delivered to the front lines swiftly.
In closing, we urge our brothers in command to impress the glorious name of the weapon
upon their warriors, as the unfortunate nickname ―armor crackers‖ for its crew has established
itself among our less educated brethren.
Abbot Nicollo Tenebrre, head of the Order of the Holy Hammer
Troopers
"You all know me, I am
centurion Wottan. Many
of you are with me ever
since boot camp, many
more are not with us
anymore, the mud,
trenches and steel took
them. Some of them have
no graves, and some are
still alive, but gone in
spirit, forever. But we
remember them... each
and every one of them.
Today ... WE AVENGE
THEM!!
Over there in their rat hole cower the Confederate scum. They came to our side many times
before, and few survived the visit. They know that. Their nightmares remind them of us. But
now... we go to their side. Between us and them are 500 yards of barren wasteland, riddled
with craters. A morning walk on green grass for my fine troopers. Once you close in, their
range advantage won't help them.
The Sovereign may have armored you and placed the implements of death in your fists. But I
have trained your minds and bodies, and I KNOW there is NO PAIN, NO BULLET and NO
DISTANCE THAT CAN STOP MY LEGIONAIRES!! When I give the word, you have 20
seconds to meet me in their trenches. Give them back the hell we've endured for the last year
and a half. Do not look behind, do not hesitate. Getting to that trench over there is your only
goal, your only purpose. Kill them. Kill them all.
You will know no fear, you will know no fatigue, you will know no mercy. Your armor is the
finest steel of Rahmos, your weapons are the finest steel of Rahmos, and your hearts and
minds are the finest steel of Rahmos!!
43
FOR RAHMOS, CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!"
The words of Magnus Wottan, centurion of the 7th Protectorate Legion, seconds prior to the assault and
taking of the Forteaux entrenchment complex from the Confederate forces
Elite troopers
―The combat has been going on
for two weeks, and everything
we see is covered in ice, blood
or frozen mud. I‘m slowly
losing my faith, as I will just as
well lose my life in this tomb of
a town.
We came north to Atelia with
the Cardinal Loyosa‘s
Firebrands, as support. They
promised me food, warm
clothes, and salvation from all
earthly woes should I help
defeat the enemies of Fahrong.
Truth be told, the first months
were all they promised. We
swept through the countryside
easily; nothing could stand up to
our arachs. I had quail for
breakfast, trout for lunch and
roast pork suckling for dinner,
and all the sweet Atelian
Redwyne I could hold in me. I
even found a girl I liked, and
thought of taking her back
South with me. The last success
we had was conquering the
citadel of some clan lord whose
name no one here remembers anymore. The arachs were diverted elsewhere, they said we
could handle it alone, it was easy. The city was large, but its streets were narrow, and it
became an abattoir once the crusaders entered it. The bullets just poured and there was
nowhere to hide. I felt sorry for the enemies.
But someone in command made a big mistake in planning, and we woke up one day to winter.
No gentle crossing of autumn and golden leaves, no rainy mornings or foggy evenings, no
mud. Just a frozen morning, silent and glistening. It was so sudden I found flowers encased in
frost in front of my tent. Birds fell from the sky, if you left your foot out of the blanket you
lost your fingers, and two tents down they found a guy frozen to death after he passed out
drunk in front of his tent: two yards from his bed, but on the wrong side of the canvas.
And amidst all that came our worst nightmares. We gave the Protectorate enough time to send
someone there, and they sent the best they had, dropped them in at night with some fast
airship: the elite troopers, the First Cohort of the Steel Legion. We fought their regulars
before, and that was tough, but we had the walkers, and that pushed them back. These were
something else.
44
The Sovereign formed the Elite by making sure every man was handpicked from the veterans
and survivors of the Vehrdun trench charges that almost broke the spine of the Confederacy.
About four hundred of them formed the original First Cohort, and they sent a hundred of them
here. These were men whose food, drink and breath were war. They knew no fear, it was said,
and I think they were all mad, since only a madman could charge under bullets and mortar
fire, and go fight again. The Legion armed them with the Pratorian, a machine gun usually
used on a tripod, and these guys wielded it like a toy. They were covered in segmented armor
and their helmet had a skull faceplate that instilled terror.
And they came for us. They had guns, but they would kill you with anything they got their
hands on. The first day we fought them I found a machinegun nest wiped out by someone
who used a trench shovel. From the debris I could see the militia and grenadiers fought them
on the approach, and died every step of the way, but could not stop them. They only killed
one of the Elites, and the guy took 16 bullets and a spike to the head to kill him! I cut his head
off in fear he might get up again.
They do not scream when they come, you get no warning. Covered in dust and snow, they
wait till our guards sleep, and then they come. I became a sergeant before we came here, and
now I command a handful of the survivors left in this freezing deathtrap. We fired at them,
blew up buildings one by one and retreated. Now we are in the last building, the citadel core.
Tonight they will come to get us. And I have no more explosive to level this building with me
in it…‖
Diary of unknown Fahrongian soldier, found after the recapture of citadel Mintaras in western Atelia
Dragoon
"Sir, I was once part of the 12th Legion. They trained us
hard, we fought hard and we died hard. There is very little
that I fear in this world, and I know a thing or two about
battle. Only one thing still puts both fear and joy in me, even
after years of battle and marauding: the Atelian dragoon.
You see, many Atelians can shoot from horseback better than
you or me ever could from knee-down, and they do it in full
gallop too. When the Protectorate recruiters first took them on
as scouts for us, 15 years ago, they were taking only the very
best, and they got the best stuff too. Most of the guys who
joined were of that very tall, strong stock, slightly darker, if you know what I mean. They
were a sight to behold.
The horses they rode were their own, and the pride of every Atelian warrior is his animal: fast,
steady and dark as midnight. Many of them rode mares, as they were calmer and more
obedient. They were such riders they wouldn't need reins, the animals knew what to do by the
pressure of the knees. They say that the only way to unhorse an Atelian was to kill the horse.
That was their weakness: the bloody militiamen would shoot the poor animals on sight, didn't
even aim for the riders. When they got the chance, that is. The dragoon usually got the first
shot, and not many linger around after they see a man‘s head explode like a ripe melon.
They were feared even before, cause of their marksmanship. What made people tremble was
the gun they were given: the Falcon 28mm semi-auto sniper. I heard that gun was a
45
redesigned anti-tank weapon, that it was first meant to be recalled when the armorin' on
Savars got too thick. The Command figured as that thunder had the strongest sighting scope
they could find for the scouts, there was no point in detaching it from the guns, heh. Military
intelligence, aye.
The first group they trained, a 100 or so, were the best ever, since the word spread fast, and
the gun attracted the finest warriors. They gave them the legion drill and armor, and created
monsters out of them. At over 6 and a half feet tall, mounted, with those guns, heads turned
wherever they went. The legion prefects loved parading them around.
They could kill a man with a shot through the eye at 3000 yards. Mind you, most of them
could do that at 2000 yards with any gun that could reach the range, even without the scope.
And to be honest, it doesn't really matter where you shot a man with a 28mm slug, he will
pretty much die anyways. But, they always aimed for the head. Some superstition of theirs, I
guess.
The Command soon realized what they had made, and dubbed them dragoons. They were a
great scouting force. A couple of them were attached to my company, and even some of our
troops dreaded them in combat. The Falcon fires FMJ tungsten core ammunition, and they
would take out those tri-scout copies the Confederates made with a shot or two, once they
learned where the boiler was. They made it a point of pride to save ammo, the Atelian way.
As those cannons of theirs easily sent bullets through several bodies, they would line up
double or even triple hits with one shot. Not too difficult, mind you, with those Fahrong
mobs, there was heaps of 'em.
But the most magnificent thing I saw them do was charging an armored battalion. It was a
counter-offensive of the Confeds, and one of their armored columns with about a dozen tanks
went for the flank of our defense line. There were six dragoons there. When they saw them
tanks coming, they shouted some Atelian hex and charged right at them! Man, I just watched
it drop-jawed, it was amazing: the destroyers firing in full speed, smoke and flashes
everywhere! And those guys ducked shells, evaded explosions, weaved left and right, and all
that while aiming and firing shot after shot with the reins 'tween their teeth. They would all
shoot at one tank 'till they got its boiler, then go on to the next one. One of them even
managed to put a bullet right down the barrel of a gun pointed at him, I swear I'm not making
this up Sir. He must have hit the igniter on the shell, ‗cause it was a huge blast!
After 20 minutes, there were about four of the Savars left, their boiler is deeper inside, so the
dragoons couldn‘t get at them, and by then the mortars relocated and shelled them to pieces.
Only one dragoon died. He lost his horse in all that chaos and mayhem, but even then he
holed up in a blast crater and just kept firing 'till some stray shrapnel got him.
However, after a while, they started to vanish in combat. There would be reports of
explosions evaporating them, of capture, and sometimes we even found dead horses, so
commanders would write them off as presumed dead. About three quarters of them
disappeared this way. Funny thing is, the guns they were carrying were never found.
So to cut a long story short, Sir, if you want my advice on recruiting that guy you asked me
about, I'd tell you to first check his gun for the legion mark. If he lets you hold his gun, forget
about it and just shoot the idiot. A dragoon wouldn't let his own mother hold his Falcon, let
46
alone a stranger. If he shows it to you himself, take him in. But you better pay him properly,
and treat him nice. You really don't want to be his target, Sir."
Recruitment advice to the captain aboard the marauder airship "Stormcloud".
Mounted Bombers
While the most prestigious
role in battle for the Atelian
nomads remains being part
of a charge of mounted
riflemen, the conflict
imposed upon Atelians by
the continental superpowers
changed the customs of
mounted warfare.
As their way of life made it
virtually impossible for them
to acquire armored combat
vehicles, the nomads turned
to other means of combat
when faced with an enemy force composed mainly of tanks and artillery.
Simple yet well crafted and deadly effective, the bombs constructed by the nomads are made
of high quality material that was scavenged, stolen, or captured from military sources. Pieces
of metal, engine gears, screws and nails are packed tightly with shell propelling high
explosives within pieces of boiler tubing. Such sticks are then bundled around a grip, primed
with primitive triggers, and given to younger, eager warriors. Although even the youngest of
warriors are expert marksmen, the cavalry carbines on their backs are rarely used. Such is
their desire to prove their courage that they charge as close as possible to bomb the enemy,
rather than fire a shot.
Their commanders further exploit their eagerness by placing them together in teams of two or
even three sometimes, so that they dare each other to deeds of insane courage regular soldiers
usually don't even contemplate, such as ambushing a terror walker.
The exemplary combat effectiveness of mounted bombers prompted the Confederate High
Command to employ the same technique, mounting their grenade squads. Their results were a
disaster, as they failed to understand the complex reasons and warrior ethics behind the
success of Atelians. Thus they resorted to recruiting mercenary Atelian mounted bombers,
whose help proved invaluable in fighting off the Protectorate tank battalions in several
instances.
The casualty rate among mounted bombers, however, is very high, as the enemy targets them
above everything else, knowing full well that to let them come to close range would spell
disaster. As horses are large and easy targets, some riders armor the front parts of their
animals, but that is minimal protection at best. Their speed and agility in dodging danger is
their best protection and greatest weapon. Artillery units that reveal their position too early
and fail to relocate or secure infantry escorts, usually fall prey to mounted bombers, as they
have no time to fire even a single shot at the charging riders.
47
With increasing marauder presence in the region, many of these warriors have jumped at the
opportunity to earn a valuable share of loot and prove their worth in the service of marauder
captains, who value them as a cheap and very effective combination of a scouting and antiarmor unit.
Excerpt from ―The Conflict‖, a short history of the Rahmos-Confederate wars, by Titus Voronin
Having huffed my way back from Fahrong on a daring mission of knowledge, I have come across a
particularly ominous report from a local contact..
Production Report of the ST-82 Behemoth-class Siege Walker
I am pleased to announce that our Behemoth-class of super heavy siege walkers has been
approved by the Lord Inquisitor General and is ready to enter full scale production. This
machine is truly the epitome of Confederate engineering prowess and I am certain will help
tip the battle against Rahmos in our favor.
The Behemoth is equipped with a single but very powerful Basilisk Heavy Shock Cannon
commonly only mounted on our warships. The gun itself serves two purposes; both as an
artillery and an anti-air cannon making the walker effective both on the offense and defense.
Support pads are deployed to increase stability during firing. Our latest iteration of Behemothclass walkers sport mounted machine gun ports to deter enemies who get too close although
with extremely thick armor plating, the walker is but impervious to the most powerful of
weapons our enemies can field against us which we are certain are non-existent.
Seizing upon the recent uprisings and general instability in Rahmosian territory, I have been
instructed by the Lord Inquisitor to present some of our prototype Behemoth-class walkers to
rogue barons willing to purchase from us. The walkers will be broken down and transported
by mercenary smugglers to an area known as the Boneyard which possesses the fundamental
equipment needed to reassemble the machine. If all goes well, the barons shall be
instrumental in helping us achieve victory in the north with our support.
Francis Demore, Head Engineer, The Grand Engineers Guild
48
Megaton Truck
As the age of marauding began to swell, the empires of Kathos began to further fortify,
utilizing heavier arms and walls to defend their weakened flanks and interiors from the
airship-borne vultures. The marauders, however, were crafty, and would resort to new tactics
and improvised weapons, from the use and creation of the Demoralizer to combining
scavenged vehicles from both the Confederacy of Nallum and the Republic of Rhamos,
resulting of devastating tactics of combined arms. The most terrifying development of the
marauding bands, however, was the use of the guided explosive, otherwise refereed to as the
Manned Bomb.
Early uses of these seemingly
suicide vehicles came in the
form of small payloads of
waste metal and standard
mining explosives, however
later innovations of this
concept would refine the
process even greater, and
removed the two greatest
weaknesses of this tactic:
Firstly, the explosive-laden
truck was not only a ticking
time bomb, but a rolling
deathtrap should it have been
seen by enemy forces, where a
wayward shell could trigger the
explosives prematurely, and
secondly, the payload of early
Manned Bombs was limited to
the use of dynamite and other
stable explosives. Being
unfocused as many shells and
more advanced forms of explosive combat, the weapon had a bad habit of only destroying a
partial of the intended target due to the unfocused explosion's shockwave falling short.
With the advent of the Rocket Propelled Explosive (as used heavily in the MRLP-A3's
Dragonfly rockets and Baron private armies), a new form of highly-reactive substance was
readily available for the marauding hordes. Marauders would catch a shipment of raw,
unstable rocket fuel, add detonation charges, and mix in glycerine and other explosive agents
to the fuel, turning it from just flammable to outright volatile. The use of these new guided
bombs was utterly devastating: the raw fireball that resulted in the liquid explosion would
burn hot enough to fuse metal and the explosive shockwave is known to send even light armor
pieces flying from the outright force of the detonation.
The offset of this delivery method, however, is that very few of the Megaton storage vehicles
are modified, resulting in a slow top speed, but the armor related to the liquid tanks is much
greater then a stack of raw dynamite, and one thing is for certain: this new incarnation of the
guided bomb is a force to be reckoned with, only matched thus far by the powers of a
Airship's aerial bombardment.
Except from 'The Age of Marauders: A study of the lawless during the Rhamos/Nallum Wars', by Hermes
Strangelove
49
SUPER-HEAVY WALKER: THE STORM BARRAGER
The Storm Barrager was intended for use against large concentrations of enemy forces. The
twin cannons seen in the image below are magazine fed, and when both cannons fire together,
they can put out 12 huge shells in quick succession!
The walker takes its name from the thunderclap like noises that its cannons make when they
fire.
The magazines of the guns are so large that they are refilled after firing instead of being
swapped out! It‘s a time consuming operation, but easier than exchanging an empty magazine
for a full one, which would require a crane and be dangerous work during a battle.
Marauder engineers who get their hands on a Storm Barrager often tinker with the cannons,
altering their fire rate, changing the size of the shells they fire, and so on, in an attempt to
make them manageable for a less well trained and disciplined crew. But even these
compromises don‘t detract from the stunning power of the Storm Barrager, this heavy
machinery is not made for the faint-hearted!
THE NAMELESS BEHEMOTH
These enormous vehicles were originally popular with large transport companies in Kathos,
but over time they have fallen out of favor. Nowadays, most of them have been bought by
independent traders, merchants, or smugglers, and they are heavily customized to their
owner‘s preferences.
Capable of carrying large quantities of cargo and often having a semi-permanent population
equal to many villages and smaller towns, they are an impressive sight as they crawl across
the continent, their huge treads leaving deep furrows in their wake.
For the most part they are greeted warmly by the settlements they pass through, carrying as
they do valuable supplies and a host of colorful characters who can quickly lighten up a
boring evening.
50
A few of them, though, have become part of a very different style of living. Used by groups
known as privateer traders, these vehicles are equipped with concealed heavy guns, and are
used to raid other vehicles and prosperous towns as they travel across Kathos.
They still do some trade from time to time, but the goods they sell are stolen.
Ironclad Destroyer
--Sighted Ironclad variant, used in pirate assault at Subpoint Alpha---Strictly for the eyes of Rahmosian High Command-Raid on Confederate stores of Siege Behemoths are going well. Most units smuggled in have
been intercepted before entering the Yard, and most of our armor-breaking tools have been
successful for destroying even the Behemoths themselves when the vehicles are brought to
operation. However, a conflict at Yard 28, designated Subpoint Alpha by the campaign, has
met heavy resistance.
It would seem that Marauder
bands have swooped into the
Boneyard area with further
intent, and we were intercepted
trying to get at one of these
behemoths via a combined force
of Terror and Ironclad-class
walkers and stolen D-357
Devastators, the pinnacle of
which was what our forces
spotted at the rear.
Naturally, most of the force,
using high-explosive shells, were
relatively effective in general, however none of the weapons we faced normally have any
51
form of proper anti-armor properties. However, this variant spotted, equipped with a
elongated barrel and shell chamber that stuck out both sides of the vehicle turret, seemed to be
firing shells similar to the 180mm antitank platforms still in service. With at least two of these
vehicles backing up the rest of this walker army, we were unable to get through, and our D357s were forced to retreat for fear of greater casualties, losing 5 of the units in the process.
This vehicle however seems to have weakness in the superstructure of the main turret. A stray
rocket from our artillery before it was eliminated struck one of these new Ironclads strait on
the turret, seeming to cause damage enough for the vehicle to stop shelling and retreat, the
other vehicle lingering until our own forces turned away.
If the Republic could only fulfill my request of more manpower and access to one of the
Storm Barragers we have in service, we may be able to capture one of these vehicles and
further explore the uses that may result from it's reverse engineering
Transcript used in the trial of Ex-Commander Arthur Moran, on the charges of 'Falsifying Reports,'
'Treason,' and 'Stating ridiculous rumors for attempts at increased manpower for a simple seizure mission.'
………………………………….
We were the finest armored company in all of Theia. If there was something that needed to be
gone, we drove our tanks right up there and blew it up till there weren't nothin' but scraps left.
The Confeds feared us, they hated us, they couldn't do a damn thing about us. Until now.
Me and my column were sent to eliminate a forward Confed base just over the border, nothing
too hard I thought since we've done it dozens of times. We've seen our share of those battleclankers the Feds threw against us. Sure they were "superior" to our tanks but they were slow,
clunky, and pretty bad shots all around. All we had to do was drive them in circles and gut em
in the rear.
This time, they threw something a little different. It was a clanker alright, but not like the
usual ones like the ST-38s. We've scrapped hundreds of those before. They were larger and
had a bloody long cannon, we didn't think much of them, Feds are still piss poor shots. We
were wrong.
The moment we closed with them in staggered formations, they let rip those bloody guns of
them, a couple of shots and poor Maxin's rig was down, and so was mine only my tank didn't
go up in ball of fire. I crept out from the wreck and watched the battle. They had 3 clankers up
against 7 of the legion and we were losing, badly. They didn't move an inch, but their turrets
turned quick. Nobody was able to get past their rear. No one even got so much as a 100 feet
before ending up in smoke. I saw the commander's tank get hit in the treads and flip 20 feet in
the air. The LT sounded the horn and I knew it was time to run for the border. In the end, only
the LT's tank, me and a few others made it back past the border.
This is why I quit the legion, lost my tank, lost my friends. Between picking a fight those
clanks or getting a boring ol' job in the tavern, wasn't really a tough choice.
Interview transcript of former Sgt Mathias Ineus, 3 months following the decimation of the Steel Legion 2nd
Armored Column.
Bazooka
―Listen up and listen well, I shall say this only once. Lookouts report a column of twelve
tanks with some infantry coming our way. Mostly Savars, maybe bigger stuff too. They have
52
to pass the river here, and get over the hill by this road. We can stop them. Our riflemen will
deal with the infantry, but we have to get the tanks, or they will overrun us.
The launcher you carry is old, but well
kept, simple to use and deadly if you use it
right. I learned to use an advanced version
in baron Kosigan's service when I was
younger, but these blew up a few tanks
too. It's a RL-83, or simply bazooka. You
put the rocket in, prime it, align the sight
with the target, and fire. The bigger the
target, the better. Sounds easy, huh? It
hurts infantry too, but they're harder to hit,
and the ammunition is too expensive to
waste.
Remember, you have to stand up or kneel
up to fire, and you must see the target.
That means the target can usually see you
too, as these things make a lot of smoke
when they fire. So you don't want to stay
up if you didn't blow up the bastards, as
they WILL fire back and unlike them, we
ain't armored. We have to do this by the
numbers if you want to survive. You all
know the curve in the road with the big
willow, by the river. You can all hit it from
your positions.
You will listen for my whistle. When you hear it, you all get up, aim at the first tank, and fire.
If it blows up, repeat with the second one, and duck back down. If it doesn't, run and reload.
One shot probably won't blow up a tank, but if enough of us hit it, we will blast the assholes
to hell, no matter what they're driving. As other tanks come in range, we do the same dance.
They will soon figure out where we are, and once they do, you change the rhythm. Pop out
from cover, blast of one shot, and run to another cover. Whatever you do, DO NOT stay in the
open, and keep moving. I don't want heroes, they die fast. If they keep coming, you retreat
and fire, and keep moving back. That's all I can teach you. Stay alive, give them hell, and pray
they don't have a terror walker. Let‘s go!―
Bazooka squad basic training, Atelian resistance movement
Mortar crew
„You want to buy a Dragonfly launcher?! Here?? Sir, don't take this the wrong way, but have
you had too much to drink last night? You do know Joaquin laces his stuff with a drop of
acid? It packs a punch, but leaves a bad hangover. But, you are in luck today, I can help you.
Let me just close the shop, and we‘ll get a drink somewhere more private.
Ah, nothing like a cold one. Sorry to burst your bubble, Captain, but you won't find a
Dragonfly in the market. Easy now, I can still help you. How? Let me introduce myself,
53
Sergeant Cassius Silva, 7th light artillery cohort, Steel Legion. I trained mortar crews, and I
can still get my hands on a couple of barrels. Mortars are useless?? Hah, you were never
under mortar fire, were you? Yes, the range is shorter, but the output counts. Put a couple of
trained crews in a good position, and nothing can survive the barrage.
We used to trap the Confederate
walkers, heh. We‘d set up a pair of
mortars in position, and mark the
ranges. One of our tanks would fire a
shell at them, and haul ass to the rear,
feigning retreat. When the walker
came chasing him and got in range,
we‗d rain 60mm HE shells on the
bastard, pulverize it so fast it couldn‘t
retreat. We could put a shell on the
visor with a good spotter, no kidding.
But you really need a good scout to
help you out. The boys by the barrels
can‘t see much crouching down, but
they can fire 4 shells in under a
minute if you tell them where.
Infantry is a bit harder to hit, but they
die pretty quick too. Just don‘t waste
time shelling mounties or dragoons.
By the time spotters mark them and wire the coordinates, they are already gone.
You have to know one thing though. In all honesty, no crew can promise you to always hit the
mark. The ammo isn‘t perfect; it can overshoot or just won‘t go off, spotters miss coordinates
in the rush. But, most of the time, it‘s a joy to behold in battle.
Why am I not doing it anymore? Well, it‘s not a pretty story... My cohort rolled up to a small
town in Southwest Kathos, at dawn. We came behind the grunts, and were told to dig in, mark
range and wait in hiding. We were there all day, waiting, and no idea what for. At sundown,
the Confeds get into town and set up in the houses, cool as a breeze. Their guards couldn‘t
spot shit. We just waited for orders.
Around midnight, orders came: shell the place to oblivion. I didn‘t like shelling them in their
sleep, but they did worse to our guys, so I swallowed the bad feeling and went about it as
ordered. The snipers took down the guards and it was clockwork perfection, not a shell
missed, for 20 minutes. I was proud of the lads. There were explosions everywhere, nothing
could have survived that. The place was almost leveled to the ground.
We passed the ruins at sunrise... Nobody told us there were kids there. I puked when I saw a
small corpse flung up a tree by the blast. When I told my crew that I‘m leaving, they came
along. Some were caught, but I made it. Two years passed since.
Sir, I can get you two well drilled crews , four 85mm mortars and about 60 shells for the price
of a Dragonfly launcher, and you will have gems to spare. Plus, you get Cassius Silva to train
you more guys if you like the sound of my brass band, he he.
What say you, Captain, could you use a few good men?"
Recruitment of two mortar crews at Walker Boneyard
54
Grenadiers
Breed, heritage and lineage are of paramount importance in our holy nation, and the holy
crusades only furthered this. Lacking the technological advances in certain areas, we turn to
our biggest strength: manpower. The huge pool of breeds available to us was tapped in many
ways to solve problems that were too complex for our technical means.
In remote areas of southeastern Osatia, there are villages with specimens of extreme physical
endurance and resilience, able to endure wounds that induce shock and death in average men.
Inquests by the Order of the All-Seeing Eye confirmed that these men and women were
indeed the fruit of inbreeding facilitated by ancient local customs, in which winners of
extreme endurance contests were preferred marriage partners. Compulsory recruitment was
undertaken, and a
thorough examination
confirmed the positive
features of the recruits.
Increased bone density
and heart size, altered
muscle composition and
superior constitution
enable these specimens to
remain mobile and
functional even after rifle
shots to the chest, and
make an almost complete
recovery. At great cost,
we have managed to
establish a breeding
program that produces
them with satisfactory
consistency. However, the virtues did not come without side effects. Their movement is rather
slower than that of regular recruits, and all the individuals in this bloodline suffer facial
disfigurements, covering their faces customarily.
Many of them also have mental capacities inappropriate for complex tasks. Lastly, they suffer
from increased susceptibility to narcotics. These issues have been somewhat of a blessing in
disguise, as they enable us to heighten their focus on orders and condition them to perform
desired tasks with full compliance.
After lengthy counseling with military experts, we have decided to arm our excellent new
recruits with torpex grenades and utilize them primarily against tanks and other vehicles.
They are able to withstand significant amounts of gunfire, shrug off detonations and demolish
any armored or fortified enemy force. Supported by regular infantry, they are almost
unstoppable.
We suggest treating this valuable resource with care. These specimens are not as expendable
as regular recruits, but a product of careful selection and breeding. Their resilience is to be
utilized to produce maximum results, not as cannon fodder. We also point out that some of the
more intelligent recruits of this bloodline might be prone to escape, as they deem their service
in our glorious crusade to be slavery, despite great care bestowed upon them. Several have
55
already escaped and found employ with marauder captains, and our agents are in the process
of neutralization or recapture.
In case of escape, do not under any circumstances attempt to follow or subdue them by
physical force. Should they be encountered in combat, they must be incapacitated by snipers
or machine gun fire, and NEVER allowed to reach throwing range.
Ibrahim Mehdi, Order of Sacred Blood
Atelian Nomad Riders
In the mountains of Atelia, highland nomads have adapted to the harsh climate and altered
their customs, making them almost a nation apart from the lowland Atelians, who in turn are
quick to point out their differences from the City folk.
The highlanders have managed to tame or subdue some of the indigenous animals of the area
such as the huge tusked borthos and the mountain atora, a variety of the common beast found
in the lowlands. They use them as pack animals and transport in the rough terrain and
unforgiving climate. The same conditions molded the highlanders into strong, resilient and
crafty people, slow to give their trust and quick to avenge any wrongdoing. The scarcity of
good land led to fierce clashes and blood feuds among the clans and, much like in other
nomad cultures, created a society centered on a warrior cult, in which bravery and skill in
combat are highly prized. The slow technological development due to the remoteness of
highlands also aided in this, as combat was at first mostly limited to melee duels and mounted
skirmishes, with firearms incorporated without changing the customs or ethos.
All this changed
with the
exploitation of rich
ore deposits in the
mountains by
invading forces.
Arriving with
airships and flying
platforms, the
foreigners
completely
disregarded the
nomad population
as primitive and
weak, wrongly
interpreting their
utter lack of interest
for fear. Nomads
had no reason to approach the miners and no interest in the areas initially explored by the
mining companies. But as miners encroached on their territory,the nomads saw that war is
inevitable and started preparing for it. At first defeated by heavily mechanized defenders,
highlanders saw explosives were the best weapon and quickly transferred from mounted
lancers to mounted grenadiers. However, explosives themselves were not enough. A bright
warrior realized by accident that an explosive grenade packed with a steel rod penetrated
more armor when it hit at a certain angle, and thus the anti-armor grenade came to be.
56
Only the strongest and most skillful riders can mount and subdue the massive atora bull,
weighing over a tonne, and only the best have the courage and skill to charge the metal
monsters of the mining companies with focus and precision. Using a tactic perfected long ago
by the lowland tribes, pairs of riders advance together, the competition driving them to insane
displays of bravery. They are extremely effective against vehicles when the riders manage to
reach close range and score precise hits, and the tough hide and thick skulls of the mountain
atora bulls enable them to survive things horses couldn‘t. The mountain atoras can also
traverse terrain impassable by vehicles and climb steep cliffs, enabling skilled riders to go
where they could not be followed.
However, as the mining barons employed the best troops they could pay, bloody displays of
bravery eliminated the foolhardy, and encouraged cunning ambushes. The defending
mercenaries also soon realized that killing the animals was still easier than targeting the
riders, and started concentrating fire on the bulls.
Seeing the enemy had no honor, the nomads adapted. Night raids and surprise attacks
massively increased the operating costs of mining, and forced the companies to limit
operations to areas only accessible by airships. But the highland Atelian is a stubborn and
patient creature, and it was a matter of time before other means were found to combat the
outsiders.
from ―Blood on ice, the Atelian highland resistance‖, by Titus Voronin
Atelian Firebombers
Of the technologies brought by the outsiders, the ―hellflow‖, as the nomads called it, left the
greatest mark on the highland society. A flammable chemical derived from rocket fuel,
created to melt the primordial ice of glaciers in order to reach the bedrock for mining,
ignitium plasma burned at extreme temperatures even under water, stuck to any hard surface
and could not be put out until it burned itself out. Some even claim the material was initially
created for military purposes but deemed too unsafe to use in combat.
When the miners moved to new mining grounds, one of the first was in the Kharr glacier,
sacred to the Kharrsagh, one of the strongest highland clans. The mining crews melted a shaft
through the glacier, but unaware of the network of underground crevasses they poured
57
excessive amounts of ignitium plasma and in the process created a ―fireflood‖. The burning
flow emerged several miles from the shaft, at the place where a river, normally created by
melting ice, emerged from below ground and flowed through nomad wintering villages.
Hundreds of nomads were killed and hundreds more disfigured or burned, men, elders,
women and children alike. The old leader of the Kharrsagh died in the inferno too. His son,
off hunting at the time, was the only surviving member of his household.
The more superstitious nomads saw it as a punishment of the Kharr glacier spirit. The smart
ones, including the new clan leader, saw the disaster happened when the miners arrived on the
glacier and tied the two together. At the next gathering, the young new Kharrsagh clanlord
united four of the most powerful clans by killing their leaders in combat, and the rest
followed, recognizing his right to rule. Realizing that the ―hellflow‖ can be a weapon for the
nomads as well, the young leader undertook a desperate attack on a remote mining convoy
and managed to obtain a significant amount of ignitium. The victory was not cheap, though.
An accidental explosion of ignitium plasma vaporized most the defending troops, a third of
the attacking nomads, and demolished everything in a 200 meter radius. In spite of the losses,
the clan lord was pleased: his goal was achieved. Preparations were made, and the stage was
set for retribution.
Packed in grenade-like canisters with regular explosives, and given to the strongest warriors
of the tribe, the first use of the new weapon in combat had crushing effects on the enemy.
Unaware of the danger, the mining company‘s mercenaries concentrated on the gun wielding
warriors, and ignored most of the charging firebombers believing they carried nothing more
than blades, of no danger to vehicles. The simultaneous explosions from several new grenades
demolished a devastator in moments, while the blast wave flung vehicles meters in the air and
spread the burning ignitium in a wide radius, melting armor and killing and maiming infantry.
A single group of firebombers demolished a terror walker and was only stopped by long range
sniping from elevated ground.
Wielding this terrible new weapon enabled the highland nomads to acquire valuables they
could trade for other advanced weaponry. Smuggling marauders supplied the clansmen with
guns and more ignitium, in exchange for the service of warriors who gained experience in the
employ of marauder captains. The returning warriors brought more weapons and
technologies, foreign women and customs. The highlands changed to survive and win, and
there was no way back to the old times.
from ―Blood on ice, the Atelian highland resistance‖, by Titus Voronin
Elite Ironclad Walker
"How the bloodeh hell did you get your hands on one of- actually, nevermind, the shell holes
explain it all Captain... At least next time TRY not to break it to pieces before I can put it back
together again?
Admittedly, it's not like the internals are in any danger on these things, though. Ironclads
aren't called Paperclads, after all, and it's a wonder you managed to kill the crew without
exploding the whole tank around them. The boilers in these things were always
temperamental, but admittedly it's not like they really stressed em much.
Allright, let's see what caliber this thing's got... hrm, 240? We're in luck, some idiot decided to
make a Devastator out of a 'Clad! I mean sure, the Dev's cannon got some range bonuses over
58
the 'Clad's standard, however there's no bloody way it'll have the same kick using the Dev's
round.
Hrm, someone's
been kicking the
tires on this one
too. Engine's a
better model,
probably
supercharged.
Legs have been
augmented too,
the casters aren't
the factory model
and the joints are
reinforced.
Whoever owned
this last certainly
wasn't a stranger
to experimenting with it. If I can fix this up, this lass'll be quite the speed demon for her
weight limit.
Well, I'm quite sure we can get this fix'd up to battlefield standard in a few hours. Now stop
gapping your mouth Commander and hand me a crowbar."
-A mechanic explains the technical difference between an Elite and Standard Ironclad-Class Walker to his
commanding officer-
Baron Artillery Walker/Baron Battle Walker
"One thing I'll never understand about the Barons: They take apart perfectly serviceable
vehicles and put
them back
together into a
different machine,
when in all
seriousness they
could have done
the same job with
more and cheaper
equipment.
Take those walker
variants of theirs.
A trio of Bethes,
or a pairsome of
Wheels with a
command vehicle
could do so much
damage on an
enemy in a much
faster speed, and
59
yet the Barons are so interested in keeping a uniform walker unit line that they rather finagle
and twitch with a Terror Walker chassis to make it do things it wasn't designed to do.
The worst, most damnable part about it? The bastards get it to work. Those Artillery Walkers
are fricken brutal, and it's a major surprise that we've not seen the poor Bethes taken to the
scrapyard if the Rhamos or 'Feds got ahold of the design. The cannon's been upgraded, armor
augmented, the design of the chassis allows for easier maneuverability of the cannon's aim, all
in all a much more vicious artillery unit...
And than there's the Wheel of Doom knockoff, their 'Battle Walker'. The funny part about
those is, if you look closely enough, it's exactly how it looks- some fool with more money
than sense hammered a Wheel of Doom chassis onto a Terror Walker's leg assembly and
called it a new design. Though it's not just sticky glue holding it together though,
unfortunately. They strengthened the frame, and than supercharged the legs under it, making
it go faster than what you'd expect for a 'Fed construct.
All and all, I'm starting to wonder if the Barons have got the right mix of crazy and science up
their sleeve to eventually become a major threat..."
-The drunken musings of a Marauder engineer, overheard at the Wheelhouse Bar in Anchorpoint.
Baron MBT (Main Battle Tank)
BARON ARMY SPOTTED STOP. MAIN FORCE CONSISTS
OF MASSED INFANTRY AND NEW TANK VEHICLES
STOP. TANKS ARE FIXED TURRET VEHICLES WITH
CURVED ARMOR PLATING STOP. STABLE BARREL
SEEMS TO HOLD HIGH POWER ANTI ARMOR SHELLS
AND ABLE TO FIRE AT TWICE THE SPEED OF
CONVENTIONAL ANTITANK ARMS STOP. FIVE OF
THEM FLATTENED DEMORALIZER SENT AS
DISTRACTION MEASURE IN TWO VOLLEYS STOP.
MOST LIGHT VEHICLES DESTROYED STOP. SOUNDING
RETREAT BEFORE LOSING FURTHER ASSETS STOP. WILL REQUIRE PICKUP AT
ATELIAN BORDER FULL STOP.
-Telegram intercepted by Rhamosian spies, forwarded to the Republic due to information on Baron heavy
weapons.
Deathhand Missile Platform
A late-end development of the Confederation, the
Deathhand only reached the war by the end of the
resistance, though it served during the course of the
Atelian counterattack through the course of the
summer offensive. It's similarity to the more
commonly-used MRLP-A3 Dragonfly-class rocket
launchers has been noted by many weapons specialists
after the war, however it's got a major twist of it's main
ammunition, which is a chemical-laden rocket. After
the rocket strikes an area, it'll cause a chemical cloud
to hang around the struck area, causing any sap too
focused on repairing or evaluating the damage to suffer a slow, painful death.
60
The Falcon
Built in the more
flamboyant older style,
the Falcon is a classic allround design. Reliable
and inexpensive (for an
airship), they are a
popular choice among
would-be Captains who
are just starting out in any
area, be it trading,
passenger carriage or
marauding. An extra
bonus for less lawabiding Captains is that
because Falcons are so
common, it‘s very
difficult for lawenforcement - or other
marauders you may have
crossed - to identify and track you down.
The Corsair
It‘s rumored that the
Corsair was
designed by a
Kathos airship
engineer who was
engaged to a Duke‘s
daughter. He
intended to name
the model of airship
after her, but when
he told her, she
thought the ship
ugly and demanded
that he scrap his
work on it. Hurt, the
engineer refused,
feeling that it was
the best design he
had ever created.
Following a number
of increasingly heated arguments, the engagement was broken off.
After completing the design, the engineer was pleased to find that as well as being hailed as
innovative and elegant, his new ship had great appeal to pirates and other ne‘er-do-wells,
quickly becoming known as the Corsair. He took no small delight in how his ship would
cause problems for his ex-fiancé‘s father.
61
62
General Alrisa Alembick - World and Weapons.
(Joseph Allen)
The Comparison of Military Powers in IG Universe
Infantry equipments and vehicles
Heavy tanks:
Steel Legion tank(Rhamos):
With frontal armor of 78mm
thick,the tank can withstand
any frontal hits during the
early stages of the Kathos civil
war,however,with the
development of newer anti
tank weapon,the tank soon
become obsolete.With the
primary goals is to support
infantry attacks,it was heavily
armed with 6x 57mm guns on
each sponsons.These designs
soon become obsolete with the application of rotational turrets on combat vehicles.Since it
was an infantry tank,the speed are quite slow, 12 km/h and it was underpowered by a pair of
200hp diesel engines.
Slugger Main Battle tank(Rhamos):A modernized design to combine three good
elements,speed,armor,and firepower.Nevertheless,the tank was one of the most perfect
vehicle that Rhamos ever produced.However,its exposed tracks are an easy target for enemy
infantry,and when its being immobilized,it will even facing greater chances of being
destroyed.The 150mm armor help it withstand most of the standard AT weapons.A Close
Support 90mm gun were fitted to the turret for Infantry support and anti tank purposes.The
tank generally not well protected,but can move fast and provide sufficient firepower vs enemy
armors.
Excelsior heavy cruiser tank(Sedales):One of the most advanced design that were based on
the experience after the Confederate Invasion of Sedalia, fitted with a hydraulic turret and an
electrical firing system,the tank is a marvel of Sedalian tank production.In general, it frontal
63
armor can protect the tank
quite well,with armor of
125mm,its virtually safe
from direct hit.However,it
side armor are only
50mm,making it
vulnerable to flanking
attacks.fitted with a
90mm howitzer,it have a
very good anti tank
capabilities,especially
with the HEAT
munitions,can penetrate
through any heavy
armor,from Devastator
tank to a War Weaver
Walker.
Bullfrog heavy tank(Rhamos): Desined for Breakthrough Purposes,it was well armored with
160mm armor,however,it
was underpowered,It
engines is insufficient to
move the 57 ton monster,the
tank used a 105mm
gun,with velocity of
990m/s,making it an
effective tank
killer.However,the firing
rate are slow due to the
limitation in crew,only 4
men per tank(gunner,
loader, commander,
driver).It short tracks also
the problem,making it
ditching to a shell crates or a
trench when it was needed
to go on bad terrains.
Arrowhead Multi-turret heavy tank(Sedales): Inspired by the early land battleship
concept,this vehicle was a
result of a heavy
breakthrough tank.It was
mounted with heavy
armanents,the lower 125mm
mortars with machine guns
were used to clear out enemy
forts and infantry,while the
main 75mm gun were used
for anti tank purposes.The
tank have a very good
64
mechanical reliability and armor,but it suspension is short lived and often needed frequent
replacements.The view range is limited,and it also have a tall profile,makes it easier to be
spotted by enemy.Overall,the tank were obsolete just like the Steel Legion by the time of the
Invasion of Sedalia happened,only a limited numbers of these tanks in service,the remainings
were scrapped and replaced with the Excelsior Heavy tank(see above).
Dingo medium tank(Rhamos): Armed with a pair of 45mm guns,the tank is very useful for
urban warfare,however,it was not well
designed for Anti armor purposes.It
armor was very thin as a medium
tank,30mm in the hull and 40mm in
the turret.The tank however can move
quite fast,but it armor and cannon
were inferior to the tank that the
Confederate and Sedales have.This
was one of the most widely used tanks
in Rhamos army,more than 6000
specimens were produced in a
year.With a speed of 45km/h,it is quite
fast,but the engine lacks of cooling
system,which mean this tank can't be
used on desert or tropical conditions.
Judius medium tank(Sedales): A tank that can be produced with simplified methods,it
doesnt require much sophisticated equipments and complexive constructions.The Judius can
be used as a cavalry tank,it crude suspension is a bit outdated,the armor is quite vulnerable to
HE shell due to it riveted construction(early variant).The 75mm gun proved to be a good
armanent against
infantry with the HE
shells,however,it was
not designed for AT
purposes.It moved
slow with the speed of
34km/h and having a
good frontal armor for
a cavalry
tank,77mm,making it
invulnerable to early
AT weapons.The
cannon velocity is
660/s, proven to be insufficient vs enemy tanks.It was the most basis design of the
Sedalian,the most economical and reliable ones,it only cost 500000 credit to produce one
tank,when a heavy tank cost 3 millions per specimen.
Sedales Walkers
M-47 Fury infantry walker: Based on a captured specimen of a Warweaver medium walker
from the Confederate Invasion.Sedalian engineers soon reverse engineered the walker
technology the Confederate have.The results are quite promising,and thus,through many
designs,the Fury was born.The Sedalian engineers soon found out about one of the major
mistake that the Confederate make,their walkers weren't designed for Anti tank,but it was
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rather for anti personel purposes.armed with 2x37mm Anti tank guns and a 105mm
mortars,the firepower
was quite improved
over Confederate
models.The Fury
have been well
known to be a carbon
copy of the War
Weaver,however,it
was somehow a better
walkers at infantry
supports and
performed to be more
mobile than its
counterpart thanks to
the newly developed petrol electric transmissions.
M-55 Wolverine heavy walker tank: A perfect combination between a walker and a tank.In
order to improve the cross country capabilities of the Excelsior tank,the Sedalian decided to
modify a couples specimens with walker legs.The legs proven to be have a good grip on the
road.However it was
too bulky and
making the vehicles
having a low central
gravity.Nevertheless
it turret still capable
of dealing a better
firepower thanks to
the retro-fitted hivelocity 88mm anti
tank gun.It limited
service in the later
stage of ConfederateSedalian Commonwealth war have proven its combat performace.The cannon was very
effective against the Warweavers and out range the Ontos,along with 150mm thick armor,this
walker is nearly invincible.The cost however are quite expensive,so only 251 specimens with
2 prototypes were ever produced.
GR-45 Havrot anti tank heavy walker:
A cancelled project based on the IronClad
Walkers of the Protectorate,this vehicles
was designed to be more mobile and
capable of dealing a better
firepower.Armed with a pair of 75mm
Anti tank guns,it can be used as a
formidable tank destroyers,and powered
by 2xdiesel engines,common types of
power plants for Sedales
vehicles.However after the mockup test
evaluation,it was not adopted and the
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Sedales army decided to go for the research on the Fury as a cheaper alternatives.
1st Image:Top to bottom
Reveilli M-11 9mm pistol:One of the standard
Sedalian Army pistol,cheap and reliable,it was widely
used by many private military organizations.It doesn't
have a good capacity,but it firepower and the firing rate
is quite considerable.
Oslor FV-22 .303 inch revolver:A Vintage double
action revolver that can have more firepower than any
regular pistols w/ the .303 MG bullets,however it firing
mechanicalism is complicated and the weapon have a
slow rate of fire.Mostly used by high ranking military
officers.
AS-44 9mm Machine Pistol:A licensed built variant of
the Rhamos F-43 Repeater pistol,it was quite common
with the special ops for its durability.The gun can be
plunged in water,shoved in sand and still firing like
normal weapons,nevertheless this weapon is the best
pistol Sedales Army can have,however it was quite expensive to produce.
Yarev 7.62mm pistol:Common type of pistol that were used by Sedalian officers,the weapon
are well known for its recoil mechanicalism,it have a very low incidence of bullet jam while
firing at semi-automatic rate.
2nd Image:Top to Bottom
Reveilli M-44 submachine gun:Propably one of
the most common assault weapon used by
Sedalian Army.The gun was designed with many
innovative features such as the blowback
mechanicalism,with a rate of fire at 780rpm and
an optional 50 rounds magazine ,it was quite
useful for urban police when they need to stop a
riot.
AS-3 Carbine:The most basic rifle for every
Sedales rookie,the cadtridge of 7.62mm are quite
useful,additionally,a rifle grenade can be fitted
and reloaded to the muzzle.the weapon can also
fitted with additional sniper scope for long range
targeting or a bayonet for close combat.
Breda M-14 LMG: The essential weapon for
every motorized infantry,this weapon could either
used by a standing person or deployed just like a
regular machine gun.the disadvantage however is
the slow firing rate w 560 rpm and the low magazine capacity of 25 rounds per mag,thus
reducing its effectiveness compare to other machine guns.
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Double-Barrelled shotgun:The cheapest weapon that widely used by Sedales police.It was
also used by Engineer corps and Army Medician for close defense.Its armor piercing bullet is
the most important aspect.The shell can pierce through any standard infantry armour at close
distance with its split fires.
The spearhead of the Kathosian Armored Force
Part 1:Birth of the Savar
During the pre-Border Conflict war between the Confederate and Kathos,the Royal army were
reformed as a results of the Industrialization that happening in Kathos.These reformations of
military were basically a mondernization,it consist of the changes in using cavalry tanks
instead of horse riding troops,the usage of breech loading howitzers,or the changes in the
designs of Kathosian aerial dreadnought.As the horse riding cavalries units begins to
outdated,a new Research Committee was formed by members from Research Ministry,High
Command and Naval Command.The Committee was a small cabinet committee about
discussions to deal with an idea which later became the 1st revolutionary in tank designs.
Most of the tanks during the pre-war time was not a conventional tanks with turret at all,some
of them were walkers with revolving pivots,capable to turn 360 degrees,some others,like
Multi Directional Attack Vehicle (Wheel of Doom) having problems with low central
gravity,therefore they can't be fitted with turrets,these tanks have sponsons which consist of
light MG.Rahmos Steel Legion tank also built in the same way,with 6x57mm cannons in the
sponsons and 2 frontal firing MG,but no turrets.At that time, Confederate,
Kathos and
Rahmos,the 3 superpower nations soon realize what they need is a conventional, cheap tank
design that can be mass-produced and outnumbering enemy defenses.
Confederation
of Nallum,
A.K.A Fahrong
soon came up
with their new
designs with
,which later
became
inspiration for
Ontos and
Devastator
prototypes.
Meanwhile in
Fahrong standard medium tank,the Ontos
Rahmos, the government hired their best chief engineers from Research Departments to
gather all the designs which later incorporated into Jackal MK I,a Rahmos Medium tank
design with Caffel suspension(a combination of bell crank and leaf spring suspension)
providing the vehicle with faster speed.Kathos on the other hand,decided to make an unusual
idea that was consider to be nearly impractical and wacky at that time,using an agricultural
68
tractor as a combat vehicle.Many of them didn't know that the vehicle would be one of the
most successful tank in service with Kathos Armoured Force.
About the Harrolt
tractor,it was
manufactured by
Harrolt Brother's
Company,a total of
500 specimens were
produced and
available for
commercial
use.These tractors
was well known for
their reliabilty and
cross-country
performance,
however, their speed
are quite slow.
Therefor,a new
2 Rahmos Jackal Medium tanks,on a battle against Kathos partisans.
improved variant of these tractors was built and it was tested by the Research Ministry in
Tohrun Calvary base.The tractor,nevertheless,capable of crossing the trench without any
problem.However the Ministry afraid that it might not be able to cross wide trench,since
then,the Harrolt Tractor was modified and enlarged to cope with the design of this new tank.
The Modified Harrolt Agricultural Tractor for military research purposes at Tohrun cavalry
base
69
The Ministry soon approved for the development of the new armored tank.This tank was
proposed to be cheap,capable to provide an adequate amounts of firepower and good
mechanical reliability.The project was then begins with multiple proposal armanent choice
,from 2x Heavy MG,short barrelled 37mm gun or 75mm mortar,however above them all is the
design by an engineer who soon later became chairman of Kahron Industries,named Theodore
Kahron.Kahron design are simple, a 57mm AT gun was mounted in the turret,next to the gun
will be a co-axial HMG.The turret can turn 360 degrees,furthermore, the layouts of the tank
was designed with seperated engine compartment,which never appears in any previous tank
designs before.By the time the 1st Savar prototype was tested,it was the 1st operational tank
to adapt a fully revolving turret into combat.The 2 other nations takes 2 more years to finish
their tank designs,therefore those tanks were furthermore advanced than the savar in the later
decades.
The 1st prototype
was tested on a
countryside area in
Lorres province,It
was fitted with
boiler plates.The
speed of the tank
was 25km/h,which
is consider to be
fast at that time but
turn out to be slow
because they can't
catch up with
motorized
trucks.The frontal
boiler plate
thickness was
30mm,this amount
A cutaway diagram of the 1st Savar prototype
was later used on every Savar in specimen.After the test,it was consider to be satisfactory,with
sufficient firepower to support infantry in advancements.A first batch,consist of 200 tanks
was ordered, 2 more batches consist of 450 tanks were also ordered as a private ventures for
other nations who don't have the access to armored units during the pre-war time.The price for
1 tank are very cheap,about 10000 credit per tank,along with a good engine reliabilty and
suspensions.Many of them were exported to Sedales,Donac Enrus,even a few warlords in
Atelia also purchase 105 improved Savar tanks and use them against Confederate Forces
during the Invasion of Atelia.Their services careers and productions still continue even the
designs have considered to be obsolete.
The main armament choices for the standard Savar was a 57mm GT-3 tank gun.This cannon
was designed for general purposes but not against heavy tanks because the usages of armored
force into combat at that time are still limited.If enemy tanks were encountered,tank destroyer
will be called in to provide fire support.The ammo capacity for the savar is only 45 rounds of
57mm shells can be carried along.The gun muzzle velocity was low,680m/s,with an effective
range of 650m.However,at the current time,it was the only cannon that can be used with both
AP and HE rounds.
Its secondary armament is a co-axial AF-6,an aircooled variant of the AF-5 Heavy Machine
Gun,with 25 rounds belt-fed and total of 500 rounds can be stored inside the tank.This
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machine gun was considered to have a slow rate of fire 497 rounds/min and very low
magazine
capacity due to
limited space
inside the tank.It
was chambered
with 8mm
munitions enable
them to firing the
same caliber like
the standard
SMG of Kathos
army
did.Therefore,
they can be
always
supplemented
without the
problem of
ammo scarcity.
Savar tanks being produced at Mercos Vehicle Factory
Fun Fact:The meaning behind the name of Atavar tank
During the
invasion of
Atelia, 64 out
of 105 Savars
went through
some Atelian
modification.
To fight
against
Confederate
infantry,the
57mm gun
was removed,
Instead ofa
pair of semi
automated,
A pre-series Savar on a performance test in Mercos
short barrelled 25mm cannons made by Atelian were fitted for these tanks.These cannons was
locally produced in Atelia for stationery turrets.The Atelian also remove side armor plates on
the tracks due to snow condition cause the jamming in the sprocket wheels.The turret of these
Savar was reinforced with additional steel armor.After the invasion,some were sold to new
owners,Baron,Marauders or even some Kathosian Cavalry Corps.200 more of these vehicles
were produced during the post-Border Conflict war period by Atelian under licenses and
supervisions from Kahron Industries.These tank were nicknamed as Atavar,a portmanteau of
2 words "ATelian" and "sAVAR".With the Atelian modifications,Those Savar now have been
turned into a fearsome infantry tank for it's original designated role:To suppressing enemy
infantry units.
71
Bonus Picture(dedicated to NOOB ALLIANCE):a picture of a NOOB LEGION's officer,with
an Atavar and her crew in the background
Part1: The birth of a machine
The Complete History of Kathos Tank Destroyer
During the war between the Confederate Expendition Armies and Kathos Royal Forces.The
Confederate forces overrun many of Kathosian fortified positions with their
tanks,walkers.These vehicles were a tough nuts to crack ,As reported by the 3rd Royal
Artillery Regiments,"Those things crawled up to our trench,the battlefield was a massacre full
of tanks surround our troops "The 75mm Howitzer of the Self Propelled Kathos Artillery were
ineffective.Even with the current armor support from the Royal Armored Corp, it's still not
sufficient,the standard AT gun used on the Savar-the basic light tank of the Royal tank
Forces,were a 57mm gun,it's effective range is 650m,with low velocity of 680m/s,it's
incapable of penetrating the thick armor of the Ironclad walkers and Devastator tanks, which
were fielded by many Confederate mecernaries at that time and having a reinforced frontal
armor up to 120mm.
A commitee between members of Royal Research Administration were formed.The idea is to
design a Counter-Armor Vehicle,This vehicle must be capable of reaching 40km/h,its chassis
must be able to carrying a heavy anti tank cannon.Afterward,A new design was born,it was
the E-44 "Hunter",The 1st prototype of the E-45 tank destroyers line.
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Part 2:From Designs to Prototypes
With the Ressearch Committee requirements, 2 different manufacturers named Karon
Automobiles and Ferris Industries were tasked with this job-to create a mobile tank killer.The
1st proposal design were designed by Karon along with another 2nd design by Ferris
Industries were submitted to the Royal Research Ministry.These two designs shared the
similarities and differences along with the Kathos Tank Destroyer we know nowadays .
Design 1, using a Modified 90mm AT gun as their primary weapon,it proven to be excellent
at it's anti tank capabilities. However,the gunner crews were not very well protected,the
frontal turret shield is 30 mm thick and it's open-topped,it would be a very dangerous thing if
they were exposed to enemy artillery units.The ammunition capacities were limited,only 44
AT rounds can be carried.The powerplants of this tank is 2xRM14 V12 engines,it gives a
power of 200 hp,capable for the tank to reach 45km/h,but it has a tendency to overheat due to
the lack of cooler.After those flaws were founded on the field test,it was not accepted as the
standard Tank Destroyers,but luckily,it was moved into a training tank role for AT crews. A
total of 20 of these vehicles were manufactured by Karon Industries,most of them remain at
homeland for training purpose,all of them were scrapped after the war ends.
Design 2,borrowed some elements from design 1, with the same chassis,but modified.The
modification of the chassis include Horizontal Volute Spring suspension,proven to be more
efficient than previous Coil Sping suspension used on Karon's prototype.The turret were
designed to be enclosed with additional ammo racks,it provide a better protection with an
armor of 57 mm. The armanent choice however was not as good as the Karon variant,but its
sufficient,a long 88mm cannon were proposed,it was mainly for destroying bunkers and
enemy medium tanks,but not heavy tank. The engine of this design was further improved,with
an intercooler and a specialized fuel injection systems,it was consider to be efficient on the
battlefield but these tank comes with a high price: 200.000 credit per vehicles.This design was
then merged with some features from the 1st design into the initial prototype of the 1st tank
Destroyer lines in Kathos.
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Part 3: The construction and fieldtests
With all the materials gathered.The construction of the ast prototype begins at Ferris
factory.However,it was hampered by continous bombing raids from Confederate
Airforce.Many other reasons were followed by to hampered the constructions such as the
revolt in Baggerstorm,which limited the supply lines of the finest Atelian mild steels to
construct the tank,or the delay of engines delivery due to the fact that they were damaged
during a bombing raid.Many of the precious resources were used to construct this tank,from
the frontal armor made from the finest iron manufactured from Atelian mine to the best type
of gasoline specifically used for Kathosian tanks,those things even doubled the cost of the
original prototype.
It tooks them about 2 months to complete the prototype and being ready for the 1st fieldtest at
their homeland.
The construction of the E-44 tank destroyer,a 90mm cannon was used instead of the 88mm
tank gun
After the Prototype was completed,there was an air raid.The sole prototype was damaged,but
luckily,it was salvage-able.The test was delayed and pull back to 3 more days.The tank was
soon repaired and it was demonstrated to the High Command at the Ferris 34th Car
Factory.The tank went very smooth on flat ground, it was capable of reaching 47km/h,passing
a wide trench easily.
It was then criticized by the High Command generals at that time with many flaws such as the
turret transverse speed was slow and the cannon reload speed was also slow.However the
results gained from the design was satisfiable enough to put it into operational services,along
with a few minor changes in the design such as an better suspension,some improvement in
armor plates and perhaps the most revolutionary things about the minor change are the usage
of optical range finder,and an auto loader which capable of loading a round within 2
74
seconds,the best of them, was the hydraulic motor for the turret,the transverse speed were
improved.This production model is the well known Tank Destroyer that Most of Marauders
used on every raids,It is the E-45 Kathosian Tank Killer,a perfect tank destroyer that
combined the elements of armor,speed and firepower that we know nowadays.
1st test of the E-44 Tank Destroyer prototype,with 2 High Command Generals supervising,the
middle person in the image is Heinz Kusser,the Chief Engineer of the E-44 design.
Tank Destroyer in Action
A total amount of 1500 vehicles were ordered,the 1st batch consist of 195 tanks were
completed 5 months after the
test of the 1st prototype.22 of
them were tasked with the
4th Armor Regiments and
take part in the Battle of
Kahros,an old town lies in
the border of Nallum and
Kathos.The cold winter of
the region have limited the
supply lines,therefore, only
10 out of 22 tanks are usable,
6 of them was fully equipped
with ammunition and
fuel.Their mission, to hold
one of the most weakest
defense line of Kathosian
army
Two E-45 of the Company E,4th Royal Regiments
75
In the early morning of 1935 ( just an estimated timeline I set up), two Tank destroyers of
Company D of the 4th Royal Regiments goes on a patrol.Two tanks, number 478 commanded
by one of the famous Tank Ace of Kathos - Doyte and 429 commanded by Helmut Weller
spotted 6 devastator tanks heading toward the town,The TDs-which were tasked with the
mission to defend the line is now ready for their 1st engagement with the Confederate force.
From the memoirs of General Doyte Jenet (1910-1966)
It was a cold day as usual,we set up our patrol near the woods.We were travelling and
then,suddently,we saw something in the mist of the early winter morning.
"I dont feel alright at all,there is something suspicious behind that mist."My mate told me
through his radio
We stopped for a while,using the range finders we have on our tank ,that thing finally came
out of the mist and just when we though it was an elephant, but it was something worse,it was
a heavy tank.We soon try to fall back to get a distance for our clear shot. I told my Driver to
stop,then we turn our turret to the right.The tank is now at a static position,I turn the cannon
slowly.With the Tank on my sight,I open fire
*BANG!*,the 1st shell flew away from the barrel and hit the frontal armor of the heavy
tank,but I see it bounced off,we did nothing but a scratch on its hull.
My mate is right beside me,he suddently spotted more tanks is coming
"Look,out there,I see two more,wait!It's five tanks heading to us!"
They have spotted us right after my 1st shots,I was very nervous at this point,I try to load in
another round,and aim carefully,I wait for it within 900 yards, I will open fire.It was a risky
decision I have made back then,I know that it would have been too close and they might got
us too.
"Steady...Hold it...and Fire!"
*BANG* and another shell flew away,this time it struck right into the turret of the leading
Devastator tank.
The 60 ton monster in front of us still keep moving even her turret was unable to turn.It was
our opportunities,we firing another round.This time,it hit the tracks of the devastator tank.The
monster stopped, we tooks another shot,this time it hit the frontal armor and...the monster
exploded.
I also saw my mate beside me desperately trying to defend the line.We knock down 2 more
with our cannon,the whole battlefield was filled with shell crates and the sound of
gunfire.Suddently,I see my mate stop firing,I try to communicate with him through our radio
"I saw another groups of enemy tanks on your left,Jenet"
Then,I saw 4 more Ontos Medium tank firing at us.Now there is only my tank against 3
Devas,we didn't have much shells left,it would have been more than just 6 devas , they were
supported by 4 medium Ontos.We took another round,aim at the closest tank we can-an
Ontos.BANG! the shell hit the Ontos and it exploded.my loader became very nervous,I can
see the looks on his face,if our gun is jammed, we have no choice than let it be in god
hand.We soon try to aim at the weakest spots on their tanks,we pray to God,we keep firing
from one to another round, all 3 Ontos were destroyed.I only got 10 rounds left in my
racks,we loaded them in and prepare to aim at the Devastators.
Suddently, my mate got struck by a shell from the Ontos.It was lucky that the armor is good
enough to block the shell,he tell me that the hydraulic system is damaged,his turret can't
turn,then I saw him fall back,the enemy have a payback for us.
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One of the Devastators turn left,I quickly turned my turret along side with it, we have to made
it count, those Ontos were so fast that it tooks me 20 rounds to finish them off,now what I
have left is 10 AP rounds loaded in the cannon.
I decided to stop my tank,it was a dangerous decision,Ithen I took a point blank shot right into
the Deva side armor,the tank stopped and exploded.
the remaining enemy tanks retreated as I was headed on.At that time,we have realize that we
have become the sole possessors of the battlefield.The desperate fighting between 2
Destroyers and 6 Devastators,4 Ontos ended with the casualties of 5 destroyed Devastators
and 4 Ontos,our tanks have changed the face of modern warfare forever.
The aftermath of the fight,This devastator frontal armor was shredded by an AP shell used on
the E-45 Tank Hunter,another one can be seen in the foreground destroyed due to turret
explosion when an AP shell hit the ammo racks.
Part 4:Service careers and retirements
After the results gained from the Battle of Kahros, these vehicles then soon became one of the
most important things to the Kathos Army.They were often mentioned on propaganda media
as the war-winning weapon,capable of sweeping waves of enemy tanks.More orders of these
vehicles were push into productions and in 1936, total of 1500 tanks were completed.They
were tend to be the interim combat vehicles until the appearance of Kathos Main Battle Tank
in 1937.
These tank were proven to be an extremely good tank killer.However,their gun are more
effective against armor and vehicles rather than infantry,these vehicles lack of co-axial
MG.The main reason behind it is the compartment of the crews are very narrow.Luckily,these
faults were soon resolved by adding an additional MG in a ballmount coaxial position near the
90mm gun.The choice of the potential machine gun used for these tank were AF-5 heavy
machine gun,air cooled variant,with 900 rounds,this feature help to protect the tank against
enemy infantry better.
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When it was put into service along with a tank battalion,it was settled up that every 5 savars
would have
been fight
alongside an E45 tank
destroyer.This
deployment
were very
effective,
especially when
most of the
Baron Armies
used their tanks
in large numbers
as a part of the
Fast Attack
E-45 tank destroyer,5th Royal Tank Corps,??? turret number.This one is a stratégy
later series variant with escape hatches on the sides of the tank.
(based on
Blitzkrieg tactics).
3 years later,an Armistice came to an end to both sides,with no winners.Based on the
experiences gained from the E-45 tank,the Research Ministry decided to assign to the
manufacturers in Kathos to design a new battle tank that can be mass-produced,with an
adequate firepowers and the same speed like the E-45 did.The main reason behind this is the
budget cuts due to the high price of the E-45.The potential designs of this new tank were later
evolved into a very futuristic machine,they were tend to be used for the new Kathosian Armed
Force after the reformation of the nation after the war,these vehicles later on were known as
Baron Main Battle Tank.
The E-45 then was
put into limited use
afterward for
training
purposes.Some of
them were
converted into other
variants to extend
their lifespan such
as:
A-48 Tank
Destroyer (Elite
Destroyer):Using
torsion bar
suspension,it gaves
more power to the
A former tank destroyer,being purchased by a Marauder captain at
Chassis and the turret Walker Boneyard,the side armors of this one were removed,revealing
of these converted
the bogies and the return rollers of the tank.
vehicles were fitted with 2x R-42 76mm AT gun.The R-42 was a late war licensed variant of
Rahmos FL-44 76mm Anti tank gun it's effective range were
78
reduced to 850mm and it was only design to counter medium tanks,not heavy tanks so these
gun are barely ineffective against Devastator tanks.A total of 230 vehicles were retrofitted
with new turret.
Part of the Semiot fort,an E-45 tank destroyer turret can be seen here
C-46M Command Tank:This tank was used for most of the Kathos tank commanders as a
communication vehicles.The armament was reduced to a low velocity 77mm modified
howitzer with a velocity of 565m/s.The turret was modified to carry extra communication
devices such as radios,map tables and phones.These tank are still in limited services with the
baron forces,with the amount of 122 specimens being converted from the original chassis.
The fate of the rest of the unconverted vehicles during post war time were still
questionable.Some of them were scrapped in Walker Boneyard,or being repurchased by some
wealthy Marauder captain.Some other were converted to Armored Recovery Vehicles for
Baron Armies after their turrets were removed.These turrets were later reinforced to the
Semiot line in the Northern region of Kathos.
A list of descriptions about nations in Iron Grip Universe
Write: Joseph Allen
Federal Republic of Rhamos and it's Commonwealth States(Protectorates)
Leader:Chancellor Heinrich Vallorum
Capital:Aldania
Official Language:Sedalian
Currency:Rahmosian Jolny
Population:45 millions(excluding Commonwealth States)
GDP per year:1400 trillions Jolny(equal to 5600 trillion gold coins)
Major exports:machinery,agricultural products,fishery,and chemical products,...
Economic type: free market(75%),state controlled(25%)
79
Ethnic groups:Sedalian(63%),Atelian(25%),others(22%)
Politics:Rhamos is a Federal
republic,with Chancellor Vallorum as the
head of the High Council members,the
power between each states of Rhamos
were shared between each members of
the Council,a governor.Their system were
based on democratic and instituitions
with the shared powers between each
governors,although some states were
officially declared to be souverainism ruled by some of the notorious Rhamos Overlords.
Economy:Rhamos was considered to be one of the most developed nation in the world of
Theia.Their economic structures were mostly free market,thus encouraging more chances for
competitors.Also,the nation were considered to be one of the most busy stock exchange
place,with the total gross of more than 12 billions Jolny per year.Along with the new
Industrial Revolutions happened in Rhamos,many technology innovations have vastly
changed their economy for past few years.
Machinery industry:Factories were modernized with new equipments such as controlled
robotic arms,automated assembly lines,with the increasing numbers of newly constructed
factories,the Rhamos machinery products become one of the most important aspect of the
globe.Most of their famous industrial exports are: Gelva Sedan, Ferol Coupe,Rhamos
stainless steels,purified Aluminium,...
Agricultures:The climate of the islands made it a suitable place to grow some profitable basic
crops such as wheat,rice,corn.With an extensive adaption of modernized equipments,the
quality of Rhamos crops increased and they were always being tested to ensure that their
crops are suitable for exports.The Rhamos total Agricultural exports for the current time is 45
million tons of wheat and 24.6 million tons of rice around the world,making it a remarkable
result from the Industrialization of Rhamos during the earlier decade.
Socialist Republic of Sedalia (Repubblica Sociale Sedalia) also known as RSS
Leader: Governor Antonio Harkins
Capital:Valros
Official Language:Sedalian,Atelian
Currency: Sedalian Lirah
Populations: 12 millions (total)
GDP per year:679 trillion Lirah( equal to 3900 trillion gold coins)
Major exports:timbers,refined oil and energy,machinery,fishery,staple agricultural products,...
Economic types: free market(40%),state controlled(60%)
Ethnic group: Sedalian(45%),Kathosian(32%),Atelian(21%),others(2 %)
Politics: Sedalia government follow a democratic system,with the debate choices for a new
leader of the nation every year by its own people.Every 4 years,a new Governor were
appointed based on the votes of their people.Each island located in Sedales Republic is
actually independent nations,but still united together,ruled by three different leaders with
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different government types:Kingdom of Gelva in the North,Socialist Republic near Rhamos
and Democratic Republic of Vallas,making it a Trinity States of Sedalia.Also thanks to their
neutral policy,they were safe from the needs of two world superpowers who looks for "living
spaces".The national politics also achieved a very promising results in the term of human
developments.
Economy: Sedalia was the 3rd nation in Theia to
Industrialize,since their Industrialization are much
later than the Rhamos and Kathos,their technological
developments are much better.By adapting the
modernization based on Rhamos industrial
experiences,Sedalian Industrialization progress are
much faster than Rhamos. Within 5 years,their steel
production vastly increased,along with the
appearances of many skyscrapers in a few Sedalian cities, contributing to their economy is
their services,with mostly state controlled banking systems,Sedalia gained 50 billions Lirah
per years,making them one of the best and safest banking location in the world.
Machinery Industry:Most of the factories in Sedalia were owned by public limited companies
and corporations,competitions between business are common in here.Thus making the price
of industrial products quite cheap,for example,a type of family car that everyone can buy,the
Rema R30 with a relatively cheap cost( about 50000 Lirah).Vast economic boom also
happened in other island,many newly built industrial districts were established in Gelva,along
with increasing rate of international investments,bringing more profit to the Trinity Island of
Sedalia.
Agricultural: Sedalia have many sugar cane plantations,most of them were located in Vallas.
Along with many other types of plants such as cocoa, coffee also grown here. Cattles and
farms were the most common thing in Vallas ,through traditional method,many qualified
products were made,such as Atora milk cheese was well known as one of the best agricultural
products in Sedalia.
Kingdom of Kathos
Leader:King Jervis XIII
Language:Kathosian,Sedalian
Capital:Kersva
Currency:Kathosian Pahas
Population:47 millions
GDP per year:569 trillions
Economic type:Free Market
Major exports:Staple foods,fishery,beverage,processed chemicals,refined metal,machinery
components,processed food
Politics: Kathos is a parliamentary republic,although the king is the leader,most of the power
is in the hand of the government council,along with each independent states ruled by the
power of each Kathos baron.Since the economic recession in 10 years ago,a civil revolution
happened against the government and it eventually lead up to the separation of parliament
council,causing the conflict within the high members of the government,and eventually cause
the civil war.With the intervention of Rhamos Expedition Force,the newly formed
government militia force were repelled after taken the city of Vistorg for 10 days.The official
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government become puppets for the Rhamos and eradicated most of the anti-Rhamos
politicians from the
Council,some survived and
eventually formed up the Kathos
United Republic,an unofficial
government made of council
leaders who have different
ideology.The barons of Kathos
have their own powers but being
ruled under the command of
Rhamos Overlords,with the
exception of Baron Alvas.
Eventually both governments
declare themselves as the
officials of Kathos and still
waging war upon each others til
today.
Economy:Each Kathos States were ruled by different Barons,thus their economy might be
different from each others,the economy in Kathos relied on industry,with most of the factories
constructed by Rhamos corporations here.Besides industry,Kathos also have many beautiful
ancient buildings,such as Castle of Tohrun,Vintage Town in Mercos,Ancient Temple in North
Osatia,...making it a suitable place for tourists,thus also creating a higher chances of robbery
in here due to the undiscovered nature of the Northern Osatia forests.Tourist in Kathos also
were warned to ensure that there are protections for them,since marauders might attack your
car at anytime,make sure you put your valuables at a safe house before you go.
Machinery Industry:Most factories in Kathos were belong to Rhamos with the exceptions of
Tohrun,Hallana,Virstorg.The Kathos factories mostly owned by private companies from
Rhamos.The technology in Kathos is still quite obsolete,total sum of the cars and planes
produced by Kathos this year are still lower than Confederate of Nallum and Sedalia,although
it have been industrialized 20 years ago.The productions were also hampered by the war
between Rhamos and Confederate,making their increasing rate slower this year.
Agricultural:Kathos were well known as one of the most ideal place to farming in Osatia,the
major things you can see here is wheat,corns,rice.Cattle in Kathos mostly consist of Atora
bulls,used for meat industry and making milk.Also Kathos were well known for many other
things such as beer,olive oil,fruits and last but not least...Finest Wine made from various
organic parts,including Mortts.
(INVADED BY RHAMOS 15 years ago)
Other countries:
Naccaran Republic
Leader:Prime Minister Radek Vernas
Capital:Sevrona
Currency:Naccaran Kelva
Language:Naccarian
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Major exports:Agricultural products,metal ores and oils
(INVADED BY CONFEDERATE OF NALLUM 10 years ago)
Kingdom of Karthonie
Leader:King Helmut XIV
Capital:Martosa
Currency:Karthonian Sessah
Language:Kathosian
Major exports:Agricultural
products,chemicals,fishery
(INVADED BY CONFEDERATE OF
NALLUM 2 years ago)
Confederate of Nallum Secret Weapons: Intercontinental bombers
Write: Joseph Allen
The earlier failures in Atelia Invasion and the First Maecenas proven that tactical air
superiority plays a vital key roles in battles,the Rhamos,who have the largest airship fleets in
the world eventually defeated the slower,obsolete Confederate airships.Many years later,by
the gained bloody experiences from these campaigns,the Confederate eventually realized what
they need is a wonder weapons,something that capable of flying above the standard airships
operational heights,a high altitude heavy bombers.
Erma N-90 Phantom heavy bomber (Fahrongi Aircraft Designation Project Code: FAHM-44)
The Rhamos have the
largest airship
fleets,however,at the
current time,non of their
aircrafts or airships were
capable of flying above
30000 feets.The
Confederate of Nallum
on the other hands,begins
to develop their interests
in Hi-Altitude Long
Range Bombers that
capable for InterContinental flights
instead of airships.The
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main reason is they need a fast aerial vehicles that can partially replaced airships in terms of
longer range,speed,fuel consumption with an inexpensive operational cost.
Designed by Victor Erma,one of the most prominent engineer in Fahrong,this plane was the
secret weapon of the Confederate during the 1st Invasion of Sedales Island.Based on the
experience from the Atelian Invasion and the 1st Maecenas,Erma suggest to the Aviation
Ministry about a conceptual flying wing aircraft.The feature of this plane is that it is
tailess,and have no conventional fuselage.This plane was planned to carry maximum 9000kg
of bombs and capable to have enough fuel consumptions to reach the Rhamos city and return.
One of the most revolutionary features of this design is the sleek flying wing shape,it help the
plane to have less drag,also,the operational cost of this plane are quite cheap comparing to a
Confederate dreadnought.The 1st prototype was proven to be very sturdy,and the large wings
enables it to have much longer operational ranges than any contemporary bombers.However,it
was diagnosed to be difficult to control and the engines gerboxes were malfunctioned during
couples of test flights,thus reducing the effectiveness while flying at high altitude,this
problem was not solved until the newer Panhar Cyclone radial engines were used.
In combat,the plane was proven to be a very sturdy aircraft,with 14mm steel alloys,it was
virtually invulnerable to enemy fighters.The wings also enables it to have a large fuel capacity
for flight range up to 7000km.With the average flight altitude of 34500 feets above the
ground,it was virtually safe from Rhamos and Sedales interceptors.It 1st operational combat
service in the bombing of Valros proven that this plane was strategically effective as most of
the Sedalian AA defense can't reach an altitude that high to intercept these planes.Advanced
bomb sighting systems were also used,thus increasing the accuracy of each drops.With total
of 5600 fspecimens produced,it formed a formidable backbone of the modernized Fahrongi
Air Force.
Specifications:
Crew:4 (pilot,navigator,radio operator,gunner)
Max speed:633km/h
Cruise speed:312km/h
Combat radius:6987km
Max take off Weight:20000kg
Powerplants:4xPanhar Cyclone 3 strokes radial engines(3140HP)
Service ceiling: 34500 feet
Top ceiling: 40660 feet
Armanents: 2x 12.7mm MG in the front turret,2x 20mm remote controlled cannons in the
turret located behind the canopy
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Panhar N-88 heavy pusher bomber(Fahrongi Aircraft Designation Project Code: FAHM-38)
One of the most
widely used
bombers by the
Confederate,this
plane have play a
vital part within
their airforce.
Originally
designated as a
testbed for the
experimental
SR-551 Turbo
jet engines,it
performance was
proven to be
impressive and it
have gained the
interest of the
Fahrong
Aviation Ministry.Their major interest was to built a similar bomber design based on the
testbed.Thus,the interest encourage Panhar to produce 2 more prototypes with modified
layouts to carry the AM-55 bomb sight and 12000kg bombs.
The 1st prototype,designated as a testbed for the SR-551 jet engines was used for evaluation
purpose.Comparing to the 3rd prototype,it speed was much faster and more sturdy,however
stability and control were poor.The design went through various modification until most of
the technical problems were solved in 6th prototype.The wings was swept back for 25
degrees,thus making it faster.One of the interesting features are the jet-piston
combinations,which was the main powerplants for the plane.The glazed nose cockpit was
used instead,capable of much wider visibility than other contemporary bombers in
Confederate Air Force.At first,a total of 10000 frames were ordered,later the number reduced
to 5400 specimens.Besides the Fahrong Air Force,many other Confederate Allies nations also
express their interest to purchase the aircraft.Some even wanted to buy the license,a different
export version was also developed with much different layouts and equipments compare to
the Fahrong Air Force variant.This export variant was having a solid nose with the pilot crew
compartment located in the canopy instead,along with the change in the engines.
Herrad Legionnaires pilots was trained to use this type of aircraft rigorously .Most of the
time,the jet engines were used for take off-assisting purpose or supplemented for
intercontinental flights.The jet engines were shutdown while in flight,leave only the piston
engines to do its job.With a much more simplified constructions than the N-90 flying
wing,this plane proven to be more stable and maneuverable.It have much better range thanks
to the jet engines and the fuel capacity on the wings,however the fuel tank was not protected
properly,making it a vulnerable targets to enemy fighters.Thanks to the operating altitude of
32000 feets,this problem weren't occured much often because neither the Rhamos or Sedales
Air Force have suitable fighters capable to reach their heights.
Crew:6(2 pilots,1 navigator,1 radio operators and 2 gunners)
85
Max speed:788km/h
Powerplants:4xHerkules V-12 liquid cooled invert supercharged V engines , 2x SR-551 turbo
jet engines
Armanents: 2x 12.7mm MG in the upper fuselage,2x 20mm remote controlled cannons in the
turrets located under fuselage
Ismanev N-86 Raven heavy bomber
Designed as a
simplified aircraft that
doesn't require much
materials to build,its
construction was quite
simple.The plane was
mainly made from
aluminium and
plywood.Originally a
plane designed for
commercial airliners,it
was soon converted into
heavy bombers
followed the order from
the Fahrong Air
Ministry.The new
bomber design was to incorporates with many modernized equipments into the aircraft and
retro fitting with pressurization for the internal compartments.The seperation of cargo and
bomb bay was made,it was quite unusual for a plane like that.A total of 2100 kg bombs and
11000 kg of cargo can be carried.
The plane was the most common bombers aircraft among the Herrad Legion pilots.It control
was quite responsive and the maneuverability was excellent.However,the range were not
really as good as the other two competitor designs did.The Intercontinental variant of the
aircraft was proposed with Ismanev turbo charged turbo props engines instead of radials,and
the 4 engines variant was designed as a gun-ship and perhaps,some were converted into
specific VIP transports.
The plane operational range was 31000 feets,making it nearly invulnerable to AA guns and
interceptors.However it was slower than others,making it a perfect targets for enemies while
at low level bombing.The most effective role perhaps is the Maritime reconnaissance,with an
exceptionally good range and payload,it was also being used as a bombers,and the long range
variant was still undergoing testing trial,no photo evidence of this type was taken yet as it was
still a secret,the design of a stratofortress bomber are still an unparalleled question.Total of
450 planes were produced,with the testing prototype of the 6 engines variant, rumors said that
3 more of this type were constructed,however it was unconfirmed
N-86(proposed Intercontinental variant)
Crew:9(2 pilots,1 navigator,1 radio operators and 1 bomb sighter,4 gunners)
Max speed:796km/h
86
Powerplants: 6xPanhar Weaver Turboprop engines (3140 hp each)
Armanents: 2x 12.7mm MG in the upper fuselage,2x20mm cannons located in lower hull
gondola
Iron Grip Universe Nations:Sedales Socialist Republic (Sedalian United Kingdom)
Write: Joseph Allen
Two Sedalian Rocket Artilleries in 14th December Victory Day March near the Summer
Palace of Kalros
Sedales Islands are a group of three countries that were united on the December Revolutions
led by a revolutionist named Gregor Halvanski .Originally,it was three different nations,the
Kingdom of Gelva in the North,the Feirrer Republic of the Vallas island,and the Sedalia
Republic.The Industrial Era came,and along with it,many revolutions arises,among them is
the December Revolution of Sedales Islands.
87
The December Revolutions,as every historicans refers as the Sedalian Unifications War was a
5 years conflict between Sedalia and the Rhamos Federal Republic.The Rhamos government
knows that if Sedalia is being unified,they will lose their influences since Gelva is currently
being influenced with the politics of the Rhamos and about to become part of the
Protectorate.However,in later stages,the war turns the tide and eventually,Revolutionary
Army gained their victory in the final battle of the War,the Battle of Apoli.
At the beginning of the Revolition,a campaign started in Valros,it begins with the March of
the Redshirt Army,which was led by General Gregor Halvanski.Since all of the negotiations
and debates for a Unified Kingdom have came to nowhere,Sedalia begins to proceed its step
to unify the tri-islands area into one nation.The Revolutions eventually successful.The whole
Sedales Islands area have been unified into a nation we called nowaday as Socialist Republic
of Sedalia,or Sedales Kingdom.
Sedales politics is a parliamentary republic.The King was the leader,but he have limited
powers.Most of them are belong to the Parliamentary Council,which will decide the decisions
of the King and Queen if it was right.each members of the Council are called Governor and
they all have different roles in the Government.The Prime Minister are the true leader of the
Council,he is the ones who will planned out the economic growths,laws and fundings.By
far,The Sedalian Prime Minister is the highest and the most powerful individual in Sedalian
Government that have the total rights and powers to lead his country.
The Sedales Republic have total of 3 States 15 provinces and 12 cities,their cities were
consider to have one of the fastest economic growth in the globe.
States: Gelva, Sedalia, Vallas
Cities:
Valros(Sedalia)
Alanas(Vallas)
Kalros(Gelva)
Syrenia(Sedalia)
Helvatia(Gelva)
Filenze(Sedales)
Provinces:
Lorraine(Gelva)
Ansalna(Sedalia)
Lanzio(Vallas)
Tosana(Gelva)
Asossto(Sedalia)
Apoli(Vallas)
Nisessta(Gelva)
Reinaica(Sedalia)
Velezia(Vallas)
Volosa(Gelva)
Ansalos(Vallas)
Tolessi(Sedalia)
Alvrigon(Gelva)
Savados(Sedalia)
Luxemburg(Vallas)
Hannaut(Vallas)
Besova(Gelva)
Felanzia(Sedalia)
Lisbon(Vallas)
Feldova(Gelva)
Brenaica(Sedalia)
88
Military in Iron Grip World,the Aferos Union Navy
Write: Joseph Allen
Aferos,located in the southern
peninsula of Zafir is a Federal
Monarchy nation with multiple
rulers from each states comes
together and form the Aferos
Commonwealth Union.Through
their history,the Aferosian was
well known for their superiority
technology that is parallel to the
Rhamos.The main reason behind
this is their primary efforts in
scientific research,an
achievements that eventually been
paid off.From biological research to shaping the vaccines against the diseases in tropical Zafir
to the advanced weapon fire control systems on their airships.Their military also known as
one of the most powerful navy in Theia,only to rival with the Rhamos Republic Air
Force.They prefer air powers in conflict,believing that air-superiority is the tactical key
element to victory,although Aferos army did provide auxillary troops and vehicles for the
Confederation.However,for most of the time,the Aferos rely on the Confederation for ground
assaults and infiltrations.
Several details about Aferos Air Navy:
Aferos Dreadnought Damascus
89
Size comparisons to smaller Sedalian fightersNamed after Damascus Arculus, a diplomatic
ambassador who successfully negotiated the Confederation about their trading agreements
between Confederate States and Commonwealth States.It's the flagship of the Commonwealth
Empire.The ship itself is slow(until rocket engines were fitted),however,it was remarkably
well armed.The ship possessed at least four 230mm heavy naval cannons mounted
forward,with several broadside 57mm cannons for dual purposes,anti-ship and antiaircrafts.Also it's construction is an effort of cooperation between engineers of Fahrong and
Sadrid.Commissioned 10 years ago,it have made total 10 maiden voyages from Zafir to
Southern Osatia.A Fahrongi airship captain who touring it's 1st voyage enthusiastically states
that the ship is one of the most innovative airship ever built.By combining elements of
airships and planes,the Aferos engineers finally came up with the designs of winged
cruisers,which eventually lead to the birth of the Damascus.Although it was built by Fahrongi
Heretic Engineering Corps,the ship were joinly gifted to the Aferos as a symbol of peace
between two nations.
Class: Damascus class battleship
Number built:2,Damascus;Arterius (under construction,to be comissioned in next year)
Speed:290km/h,450km/h with rocket engines
Crew:422
Armour:Max:450mm,Min:44mm
Primary Armanents:
4x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted forward
2x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted in upper turret
Secondary Armanents:
Six turrets which possessed 2x57mm SF-44 dual purposes cannons each
4x57mm SF-44 cannons mounted on broadsides.
Max Payload:56000 tons
Engines:4xAS-99 Cerberus radial engines
4xLiquid Oxigen Rocket engines
Aferos 1st fleet - The Commonwealth 1st fleet on patrol,note the Damascus in further left
90
The Aferos 1st Fleet is the largest fleet of the Commonwealth.Consist of
dreadnoughts,carriers and frigates,it's served as the rapid response fleet,to be able to respond
to any attack from unexpected enemies over Aferos airspace.Currently,there are total of 22
ships in comissioned with the fleet.Most of them were made of indigenous ships which shared
common principle designs,thick wings with multiple engines to propel the ship forward,while
the airbags and the Felix Lift Device keep the ship floating.
Griffin class dreadnoughts
A state-of-art ship,the
vessel itself was designed
for ship-to-ship
battle.Possessed powerful
naval cannons and well
trained crews,it was well
armed and fully
coordinated with the
Commonwealth fleets.It's
roles was came up as a
solution after the RhamosAferos Colonial Wars 20
years ago.The ship also
shared common
indigenous design of the
Aferos,winged design.
Number built:25,Most notable ones:Colossus,Leviathan,Goliath
Speed:310km/h
Crew:245
Armour:350mm max,47.5mm min
Primary Armaments:
4x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted in three deck turrets
2x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted in lower forward sponson
Secondary Armaments:
Four turrets which possessed 2x57mm SF-44 dual purposes cannons each
Two turrets,each possessed 2x20mm R-21 anti-aircraft guns
Engines:4xFV-45 V12 engines
Aferos 3rd Fleet
A flotilla consist of 15 frigates,the fleet itself specialized in hit and run tactics.Their real
power is rather more suitable to merchant raiding rather than direct counter-attack like the 1st
fleet.Thanks to their mobility,these frigates gained their advantages over Rhamos
ships.Armed with smoke bombs,artillery shells and explosive shells,they are usually
dispatched to protect weak colonies from pirate attacks and mercernaries.
91
3rd fleet on patrol
Avalon class frigate
The staple of the
Commonwealth
Navy and the
backbone for
majority of their
fleets,also known as
Union Frigate is a
type of warship used
by the Aferos Navy
and by the extension
of the Confederate
Navy.The Avalon
was light warship
designed for heavy
combat duty.For
such,it was
compensated with
oversized heavy
naval cannons,and came up with a price.The armour of the ship is weak comparing to other
Aferos ships.The twin naval cannon mounted in lower hull is powerful enough to penetrate
the hull of a Rhamos MK IV dreadnoughts.High performance turboprop engines were used to
increase the speed of the ship.About 4 to 6 Avalon Frigates are able to outgun the MK IV or
Indomidable class Rhamos dreadnought,proven that the ship have capable firepower when
used in sheer numbers.
92
Number built:147,Most notable ones:Feros,Anos,Batos,Artos
Speed:450km/h
Crew:120
Armour:255mm max,42.5mm min
Primary Armaments:
2x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted in upper deck turret
2x230mm Felix Naval Cannons mounted in lower deck turret
Secondary Armaments:
Six turrets which possessed 2x57mm SF-44 dual purposes cannons each
Two turrets,each possessed single 20mm R-21 anti-aircraft guns
Engines:4xDT-55 Turboprop engines
Felix Lift Unit,A possible replacement for Lighter-Than-Air gases?
The Felix Unit is
a highly
complexive
device that burn
coal or fuel to
generate energy to
keep airship
afloat.
Currently,Aferos
Union is the only
sole provider of
Felix Unit.The
design still a
mystery to other
scientists as it was
based on a more
advanced
quantum physics
theories that can't
be comprehend.A captured example of this device was examined by Rhamos engineers,and
neither they can understand about how it works,and the generate powers for lifting the
battleship.It was theorically stated that the device used high pressure steam to turn the
turbines and provide push-forward motion,but how they work is still a question among the
Rhamos and It's Allied scientists.
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Aferos Union Army
Active personnel: 120000
Ranking:4th largest military expansion in Theia
Reserved personnel:105000
GDP percentage:6.7%
Budget:7 million Union credits/year
Domestic Suppliers:
 Freger Industries
 Ansara Foundation
 Deleka Workshop
 Vol Barlus Enterprises
 Sanati Shipyard
 Felix Industries
 Makovska institute of Technology
 Teras Tank Foundries
 Northern Aferos Shipyard
 Sevnash Aero Research Station
Description:The Aferos Army was formed from the guerrilas who fought against the
Imperialistic Sedalian Expeditionary Corps during the Aferos Independent Coup.The guerrilas
grew stronger with the supports of the Confederation of Nallum.Eventually,they were able to
thwarted the Aferos puppet goverment and hold waves after waves of the Sedalian Invasions
on their fatherland.After gained independence,the Aferos themselves reform their Army under
the new doctrines.Through years of industrial developments,Aferos begins to expand their
territories in Zafir.The expansion met with the hostility action from Rhamos,who also wanted
the oil-enriched colonies in Zafir.Through a long chain of unsuccessful negotiations,the
Colonial war broke out and the outcome is devastating.The Aferos Union Armed Force have
win,but it was a
pyrrhic victory for
them.Rhamos
Expeditionary
Forces was lost,and
their army was
crippled through
series of
bombardments and
attacks on cities in
Zafir. It was then
the might of the
Aferos
Commonwealth
Union grew
stronger through
the victories of the
Colonial War.
Aferos Expeditionary Corps:Commanded by General Valko Kerrik.It was originally
organized for the 1st time in Aferos.The Corps consist of 11 Infantry divisions,5 Armoured
94
Battalions.There are also Fahrong volunteered troops from Herrad Legion joined with the
Corps.Most of the officers and soldiers were trained with the disciplines of Aferosians and the
trainings of Confederate Army.Each nations in the Union have different rules approaching to
their
soldiers.Aferosians
were very keen with
public service,as
such,for every
Aferosian who
reached age of
15,they were
enlisted into the
Army.For
Aferosian,joining
the army and fight
for the Union is an
honourable
tradition. The main
reason is Aferos have a long history of nomadic tribal culture,and its have inherited by the
Modern Aferosians to their hearts.
Aferos Marine Corps:Originally founded by Commander Valus Korchev as a response for an
amphibious rapid assault platoon during Colonial War.The Marine themselves were
rigourously trained and remarkably well armed.It's strength consist of 12 Marine Battalions
and 4 Armoured Divisions.The Aferos Marine Corps were usually seen conducting drill with
Herrad Legion on the beach of Zafir,which was a concern for the Rhamos.They have became
more specialized with specific tasks such as infiltration,assassination,hostage rescues,making
them one of the most well trained special operatives units in Theia.
Note!Aferos Union will not be responsible to the death of the individuals who joined
Marine,however,their sacrifices in combat will be honoured by the Commonwealth
governments and their families.
Aferos Indigenous Armored Fighting Vehicles
Freger Type 47 light infantry support tank
95
Originally designated as a light infantry support tank,it was well armoured and armed with a
short barrelled 57mm cannon.The tank was developed from an experimental tank prototype
based on Confederate design.As the needs for the Colonial Wars came,the tanks were 1st
deployed in Zafir,against the Rhamos Steel Legion.Its armor of 40mm thick with sloped
design was proven to be very durable against bullets.However,it's main gun was a short
barrelled cannon design for infantry supports,not meant to be an anti tank gun.The result is the
stalemate tank battles that came nowhere between the outdated Steel Legion tanks and the
Aferos Zafir Corps light tanks.After the war,these vehicles were put into reserved and were
maintained in order to ensure the Aferos will have sufficient amounts of combat vehicles
needed for defense.
Manufacturer:Freger Industries
Armor:40mm hull,30mm turret
Number built:~2400
Weight:6.5 ton
Crew:3(gunner/commander,loader,driver)
Armanent:1xs FS-4 short barelled 57mm gun,muzzle velocity:560m/s
Engine:6 cylinders Freger diesel engine
Secondary armanent:8mm AF-5 heavy machine gun
Max speed:44km/h;15km/h(cross country)
Fuel capacity:170 liters
Suspension:Vertical Volute Spring
Ansara Type 56 medium tank
The primary combat vehicle of the Aferos,this tank have play a very crucial roles in numerous
conflicts.Originally developed as a mass producible tank,it was much cheaper and easier to
produce than its counterparts like the Ontos and the Dingo.Its also possessed a powerful
75mm anti tank cannon which fired HEAT round.The armour of 60mm frontal is good to
withstand against low caliber anti tank guns.However,the side armour was poorly
armoured,making it a potential target for enemies.Another weak spot is the side doors of the
turrets unarmored.The tank itself was proven to be tactically effective for the role of cruiser
tank.It can move fast,with an adequate fire power for counter enemy armors.Speed is its
advantages in every battles,the petrol engines provided for the tank shown to have high
performance;giving its a speed of 60km/h.
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Manufacturer:Ansara Foundation with production at Teras factories.
Number built:~4600
Weight:23.5 ton
Crew:5(gunner,commander,loader,driver,radio operator)
Armanent:1xL-88 75mm gun,muzzle velocity:860m/s
Engine:Two 6 cylinders Freger diesel engines
Secondary armanent:8mm Breda light machine gun; 12.7mm Ismanev AA machine gun
Suspension:Torsion Bar
VB-69 heavy tank(Type 69)
Originally developed as a counter measure against Rhamos heavy tanks,the prototype was
tested and enters production after the Colonial wars end.These vehicles were deployed with
independent battalions,where their roles were specialized in.The tank itself have heavy and
thick armour,enables it to fulfil the roles of a heavy breakthrough tank.The armaments consist
of a 105mm howitzer in the turret.Even the velocity is short,the cannon can fire HE
round,which was proven to be extremely useful against fortifications and light armoured
vehicles.Even its suspensions was proven to be reliable,its engines still suffer from overheat
problem the prototype faced.The engine was proven to be unreliable for long travel and need
repair,there are always a halftrack escprt the convoys to help to repairing them incase of broke
down.The weight also a difficult problems to the tank,making it unable to crossing bridges.
The tank also proven to be expensive,time consuming and intensive uses of materials and
labors were used.Currently,these tanks served the roles as a propaganda tools rather than
deployed for combat due to their ineffectiveness with the modern tactical doctrines.
Manufacturer:Vol Barlus Enterprises
Armor:120mm frontal,40mm turret,55mm hull
Number built:~1200
Weight: 56.2 ton
Crew:8(2 gunners,commander,3 loaders,driver,radio operator)
Armanent:105mm gun,muzzle velocity:670m/s
Engine:Two 12 cylinders Barlus petrol engines
Secondary armanent: two 8mm Breda light machine gun;One 12.7mm Ismanev AA machine
gun
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Suspension:Coil Spring
Felix Type 2 heavy destroyer walker
The modern doctrine made the
tanks into more extensive use.As
a result,in order to counter
enemy heavy armors.The
Aferosians developed a type of
walker made for this role.The
walker itself proven to be
tactical value when used in
conjunction with medium
tanks.Its anti tank cannon can
shred through any heavy tank
armor it met while the thick
armor of the walker protect it
from artillery shells.
It have a good engine reliability,however the production was time consuming and require
extensive uses of resources.The vehicle was a good bargain of firepower,armour and
reliability.However,only a few hundred were built due to the expensive cost for each walker
Manufacturer:Felix Industries
Armor:90mm frontal,74mm turret,50mm hull
Number built:~450
Weight: 42.2 ton
Crew:5(gunner,commander,loaders,driver,radio operator)
Armanent:90mm anti tank gun,muzzle velocity:965m/s
Engine:Two V12 Felix diesel engines
Secondary armanent:8mm Breda light machine gun;One 12.7mm Ismanev AA machine gun
Suspension:Coil Spring
Freger Type 79 heavy tank
An all new heavy tank
prototype that was
designed with many
innovatives features.The
turret were equipped with
hydraulic system,the auto
loading cannon.Every
scientific research of the
Aferos Union were put
into this vehicle.Armed
with a 90mm high velocity
gun,it have a formidable
anti tank
capabilities.However,the
weight is still a problem
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with a vehicle like these.It can't pass most of the bridges due to its heavy weight of 67
tons.Currently it's still under trial,and total of 190 specimens were expected to be delivered
next year.
Manufacturer:Freger Industries
Number built:1 prototype,additional 190 production model were ordered
Weight:67.5 ton
Crew:4(gunner,commander,loader,driver)
Armanent:1xAS-7 90mm anti tank gun,muzzle velocity:960m/s
Engine:two 6 cylinders Freger diesel engine
Secondary armanent:8mm AF-5 heavy machine gun
Suspension:Torsion Bar
Pre-Historic World of Theia
200,000 years ago,before the time of the first historic civilization in Theia,there are traces that
show the existences of even older civilizations,through the research,modern day scientists
were able to study the relics of the ancients.Their ruins have been a wonders to many
scholars.A theories were came up by multiple archeologists based on the ruins they
found,there are two races exists in the world of Theia long before it was terraformed.The ruins
they found have the ages of thousands of years old,through time,the scientists soon learned
that there are two species co-exist in that period,the pre-historic humans and a race of spacefaring species labelled as the Valarians.Based on the carving of the ruin,they suggest that
these species have vanished for an unknown reason.However,the truth are something more
than they could comprehend.
History
The Valarian,also known as The Old Gods,The Precursors,The Ones Who Came Before are a
species of space faring races who mysteriously vanished 200,000 years ago.It was speculated
that the Valarian have the same DNA as the Pre-Historic Human on Theia through the
remains of their bones,the two species apparently exist at the same time.They soon became
the 1st being to develop their civilizations on the planet and begins to call it as their
homeworld.At the same time,Pre-historic Human also evolved,and the two species making
their friendly contacts through communications.It was implied that the Valarian have
developed their own space ships at that era,and several have been successfully founded new
colonies beyond the Theia Star Systems.
According to the Aferos scientists,the Trinithite mythology is somehow related to the research
they found.and of course,later,the Aferos learned about the true existences of the Life
Singer.The Life Singer is a mythologized figure that represent the Valarians who return to
Theia during the second terraformation of the planet.The Valarian Missionaries who returned
to the planet were fascinated after found out that a once mighty human empire are now de
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evolved into multiple species of Primitive Cavemen.The Valarian were the All-Knowing God
in the primitive human eyes,the main reason is at that time,the primitive human languages
have been limited,and they don't know how to call a species with such advanced technology.
Through the knowledges left behind by the Valarians,human eventually re-establish their
civilizations again.By the time the 1st historic human civilization have developed in Theia,the
Valarians left their home world once again,they knew that the terraformation of the planet no
longer suitable for them to live.Coincidentally,the 1st historic ancient civilization was located
in Fahrong,which is now part of the Confederation of Nallum.
The Valarian
Left:A concept of a Valarian soldier,based on the primitive human rock carving in
Osatia;Right:Possible renders of the Valarians,who were known to have an extremely good
hearing abilities that allow them to hear SONAR and long range sound frequencies
Technology
Their pieces of technology are rare,but it doesn't mean that they don't exist.Their last traces
was about an evacuation of the entire population from Theia,and they have left behind five
artifacts named The Cubes of the Singers.These Artifacts were found at the ruins and was
later implied that they were the real "Life Singer" that were mythologized by the Theian
religions.Their society were said to be heavily regulated,and scientific research becames a top
priority for the Valarians.It was something that was actually saves their life in the future from
the catastropes
It's not knew much about the technology they possessed.However,there are myth that the
Valarians have been able to construct anti-gravity device by using Cordial,a type of rare
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radioactive minerals found on Theia to turns it into electricity for their devices.Another pieces
of technology that the Valarians left behind is the ruins of a communication tower left on
Zafir,presumes that this device can be used to communicated with the Valarians on other
planets through thousands light years and far away.The Valarian technology was suggested
that they are electrically based,from the comm tower to the artifact the Expeditionary Scientist
found.Another part of the ruins,perhaps the greatest discoveries they ever found is the remains
of what they believe to be a Valarian city under the West Osatia Seabed.The remains slightly
represent the carvings on the pillars and wall,which was similar to the carvings of the
discovered comm tower.Yet the reason that the Valarians reappears and vanished again are
still an unknown reasons,many speculations of their fates were made by various
scholars,however they are just theories.What happened to the Valarians after their own
catastropes are still an unknown question to many people.
Ruins of the Valarian Communication Tower
Biology
The Valarian appearances are similar to human.However their DNA have evolved to adapt
with hearing senses.Their ears shapes were pointy,which makes the scientists labelled them
with a nickname as the "Space Elves".Evolved on Theia as similar to the human,they have
adapted their ability as a hunter-gatherer.Scientists also speculated that to improve their
hearing capabilities,the Valarian developed some sort of specific communication devices that
allow them to contact each others even when they are at distances.A normal male Valarian
can grow up to 2.9m height,while a female only grew up to 1.8m.However,the life expectancy
of a Female Valarian were much more than their Male counterpart,each female can lived up to
700 years old,however,male Valarian can only lived up to 670.They also have different hand
anatomy compares to human,each hand have three fingers,slim and spaced,allow them to have
better grip.
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Cultures
Little is known about the Valarian Culture,however it was said that their culture are heavily
regulated.Valarian Empire is a militaristic government.Most of the teenagers were fitted with
the virtue of public service.Most notably through 2 years military service.Another sources
speculated that the Valarians adopted the symbols of Nobility,Prosperity and Sovereignity as
the representation symbols of their mighty Empire.
Catastropes
The Valarian fates remained unknown,however there are numerous speculations they have
found from the ruins.The 1st theory is that their Island City in the West Osatia Sea facing a
tsunami and presumably drowned all the population.The 2nd theories however,is that they
faced a war against an unknown humanoid races who evolved at the same time.More theories
were came up and yet,by far,the two main theories above are the best speculation and most
debatable ones about the fates of the Valarian.
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Fauna planet Theia
The Morrt (Termitidae Mortis) is a massive worm like creature which dwells in the
mountainous regions across the Osatian continent. Despite its appearance, it is not related to
worms and is in fact an insect closely related to average termites. This correlation can be
attributed to recent, if not perilous studies into the life of Morrt colonies which can number in
their thousands. Morrts are exceptionally aggressive and show no fear nor restraint. Despite
their size, they can achieve a quick burst of speed to chase down and subdue foes although
they quickly become exhausted soon after, because of this, Morrts prefer to have their prey
enter their labyrinthine hives where escape is near impossible.
A Morrt goes through a simplistic metamorphic life cycle. Starting out as eggs, before
hatching into larvae which are exceptionally voracious. The larvae througout its lifecycle will
continuously shed its skin, growing larger and larger till it finally pupates, which is when the
role of the Morrt in its colony is determined.
Each colony of Morrts is governed by a queen similar to that of their lesser cousins. The
queen is almost 3 times larger than a common Morrt although much of that mass is due to the
queen's only functionality as an egg producing entity. Queens live in the deepest reaches of
the hive and their existence was only known when coal miners blew up a mountainside only
to find a Morrt queen's egg chambers and hundreds of her minions.
If a queen perishes, the entire colony perishes as well as the Morrts are completely dependent
on her. For reasons yet unknown to us, Morrts just as termites, ants and bees are greatly
affected by the loss their leader. They will not eat or even bother to react to threats outside the
colony which means they eventually starve to death in their masses or be subjected to
extermination by Morrt hunting specialists which have been growing in popularity across
Kathos.
As of documented, Morrts have a social structure akin to termites and ants. Many variations
of a single Morrt species dwell within a colony, each providing a different utility to benefit
the colony.
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The Soldier Morrt is the largest, growing up to 30 to 40 feet i n length and over 15 feet high.
They are covered in a chitinous skin that is difficult to pierce through and have mandibles
capable of ripping through steel and rock. Soldiers both defend the colony and hunt, using
their size to block tunnels and overpower prey.
The Spitter Morrt is a worker of sorts in the Morrt colony. They are distinctly smaller, only
growing to 20 feet in length and 8 feet in height and have an unusual greenish shell which
glows in the dark. They are called spitters as they spit a highly corrosive acid from their
mouths which after ,careful observation was discovered as a means to soften rock in order to
ease burrowing. However, it is almost certain that the spitter may use it as a weapon during
times of threat.
Caretaker Morrts are never seen outside the colony but they play an important role in the
colony. They transport food to the queen and her larvae and move the infants from one
chamber to another depending on the metamorphic stage of the larvae. Caretakers are also
seen forming a carpet under their queen as a means of transportation. They are truly the slaves
of the colony, if not the most numerous yet they never venture into the open. They are
considerably smaller than any of the Morrt variants, being slightly larger than an oxen.
As of late, extensive mining in the mountainsides have aroused the Morrt colonies forcing
them to attack humans; possibly considering them a viable food source. Around 2000 miners
die each year to Morrt attacks and as a result, armed protection are often employed to protect
miners and destroy Morrt colonies. Many a colony have been forcibly evicted and if a queen
survives the encounter, she may attempt to restart a colony. Small Morrt colonies have been
found in scrapyards, forests and even in the sewers of cities, much to the horror of people
when they emerge to hunt.
Extract from "Osatian Wildlife" authored by Ser Davis Atrenborgh of the Kathosian Geographic Society
Mortt Soup
Some of the most dangerous opponents in Iron Grip: Marauders are the legendary Cave
Mortts. The mortt is said to inhabit the deep recesses of Atelian and Kathos mountain ranges.
Some of you may have tasted the dangerous dish called Mortt Soup. Perhaps it will be a
fantastic new dish available at the Wheelhouse Bar at some point in the future! Today I will
tell you all about the special Mortts and how to extract their valuable ingredients for Mortt
Soup.
What are Mortts exactly?
These are large creatures able to swallow a man whole. One discovered specimen had 198
dagger-like teeth, arranged in multiple rows. Their heads have two multifaceted eyes the color
of dull bronze. They have many legs and at least eight antenna or feelers.
Mortt Soup sounds disgusting!
It‘s not, I‘ve personally tasted it and I recommend it to any Marauder who wants a full belly
before heading out for some action! Mortt Soup is a famous delicacy most likely originating
from the mountain people. They passed on the special recipe to soldiers who brought it back
to their families across Kathos.
The Ingredients
Although these cave dwellers are hard to lure out of their hiding places, the trampling feet and
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engine roars of a marauding army may well stir them from their burrows. The ever hungry
mortt babies quickly appear out of the shadows, but their remains are not edible. The ones we
need for our recipe are Cave Spitters and the monstrous Mortt Queen.
The Cave Spitters are ferocious creatures, who attack much like artillery units, which can also
do melee
damage.
When their
spit lands it
splashes
around and
any units
in the
vicinity
touched by
the
dangerous
goo will
lose that
part; it eats
right
through
them. If a
Spitter is defeated, their glands need to be extracted with surgical precision. Again, if any spit
lands on a cook‘s limb, it will burn through it and cause a progressive necrosis. The limb will
need to be amputated.
After the Spitters die with a final screech, the Mortt Queen may be awakened. The brave
marauders who encountered a Queen may have soiled themselves at first, but the thrill of
defeating her has caught on quickly. It has become a sport to hunt for the most dangerous
Mortt of all. She boosts the Mortts around her much like a Propaganda truck would soldiers,
and her wrath destroys anything in her path. If one would be so lucky to grab a fresh mortt
egg from her lair, or possibly even straight from her remains, they can consider themselves
rich! One egg would feed a family for a week!
Preparing Mortt Soup is Dangerous!
Ok I have to be very careful now, because preparing Mortt Soup is dangerous. First of all, the
eggs need to be really fresh, or else they will begin to rot. Start by preparing the glands,
carefully cut the… AHH... it‘s on me!!! Get it off!! Get it….
This article has been interrupted because the journalist writing it has sadly passed away. The preparation of
Mortt Soup has been deemed unsuitable for the general public. Don‘t try this at home!
Sincerely
Sai Nyasson
The Atora
Decided this beast deserved an entry since its all over the place yet never gets any attention.
Also coming soon(er or later): descriptions of Syreden and Ralhor. Still trying to piece
together second-hand information into something useful.
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...Orignally native to the steppes of the mountain ranges that run through the former Kingdom
of Kathos and Atelia down to Fahrong, the Atora's incredible utility has seen it spread all
throughout the Kathosian continent and down into North Osatia. Atora are large and powerful
creatures, much larger than horses, but are
herbivorous and largely docile despite
their intimidating tusks, which are used
solely for defense. Its cold and jagged
native environment has endowed it both
with a thick coat of fur and a surprising
level of sure-footedness in mountainous
terrain, making it an ideal beast of burden
for travelling merchants who encounter
cold weather on their journies. The
warmth and durability of tanned atora
hides also makes them valuable to
garment makers. Atora meat and milk
figure heavily into traditional Kathosian
cuisine, including the omnipresent dish
Atora Pie, a stew of Atora steak and
kidneys cooked with gravy and vegetables and enclosed within a pastry crust....
-"Big Book of Kathos Wildlife, 5th Edition", by Fres Freemon, Royal Kathos University Press Services.
Little update on the ecology of the planet. Evidently the wildlife is quite terrifying. In addition
to the Mortts we have these freaky looking airship beasts and the oceans seem to be teaming
with monstrous sea-serpents. Might explain the abundance of airships. Noone's dumb enough
to try and cross the sea on a boat.
The Tragak
The Tragak is native to the plains of Northern Kathos. For thousands of years, the creatures
have been used to transport materials across Kathos. It is unknown to Theian biologists why
the majority of Tragaks have three main tusks or horns, there are exceptions, all Tragaks have
at least 1 (females), but some male Tragaks have had as many as 5. It seems that the Tragaks
with the most horns are the largest of the species. The Tragak forehead is covered with
smaller horns, cm in size. After death, these are usually sold as they are similiar to pearls, but
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have a different shape. The main horns are also sold, but for display purposes. To keep warm,
the Tragak has a woolly coat, small ears, no sweat glands, and live in herds.
About 800 to 900 years ago, the Fahraam began using the pack animal as a cavalry. Using this
heavy cavalry, the fought off southern Ursay cavalry and northern infantry. After extending
their empire, they helped expand the range that the species covers. Today the Tragaks range
include all plains in northern Kathos, from Lyruthes to mid-Atrios. Some even survive in
Atelia and Naccaran
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History of the world.
TIMELINE:
1. Year 0 - Era of Foundation. Great technological advancement.
2.Nardos II’s wife dies, Horatius II is turning Rahmos atheist. Syreden discovered by Donac
Eros explorers.
3.Syreden conquered, Uusi religion formed.
4.Uusi travels to Fahrong, Sadaf Raha alters it and creates Trithinism.
5.Sadaf Raha unites north Fahrong, sends missionaries into Atelia. Huge Atelian city-states
built.
6.Year 30 – Nardos II and Sadaf Raha die (Sadaf Raha relatively young, lower life expectancy
in Fahrong?)
7.Civil war starts in Kathos, Trithinite crusade into south Fahrong begins.
8.Year 60? – South Fahrong Crusade ends. Atelian city-states declare independence.
9.Year 200? Egastas tries for independence, conflict between Mercos/Galatius intensifies.
Syredese people rise up.
10.Year 210-220? Rahmos invades Kathos under Marcus Mirrius.
11.Year 225? Fahrong starts invasions of Syreden, sponsors invasion of Naccaran by Atelian
warlords
12.Year 230? Rahmos and Fahrong begin taking serious interest in Atelia, and begin their
respective strategies to win them over.
13.Year 235? Accords of Central Kathos signed, the First Maecenas follows shortly after.
14.Year 245? Present day?
Now, as the history currently stands, in Year 0 (at the invasion of Syreden) the technology
level is pretty medieval, swords for instance. By year 200, there is sufficient technology for
the Syredese to build their underground moving cities from Donac Eros mining machines, and
I think relatively modern style navies. However, the time that Egastas goes for independance
and all the other stuff happens is flexible, so could change by several hundred years if
necessary. Any thoughts, questions. All this is not at all final, so point out flaws, problems etc
to your heart's content
Ancient History- A member of the Sedales Islands Royal Family comes to Rahmos and is
crowned as their first king.
Middle Ages- The death of the Kathosian Emperor sparks a succession war between various
members of the Royal Family. The civil war eventually leads to the foundation of the
successor states of Mercos, Garados, Crescu, Torun, and Dynadares. These states grow into
wealthy merchant republics, but continue to squabble over land, with each state hoping to be
the one to reunite the Kingdom under its leadership.
Prior to IG Oppression- Rahmos abandons religion in favor of science. Rahmos becomes a
republic (weather via revolution or peacefully is unknown). Rahmos begins strengthening its
military and builds up a large airship fleet.
- Exasperated with the Successor State's constant feuding weakening trade with the nations,
Sovereign Marcus Mirrius deigns to invade Kathos and stabilize it by force. The invasion is
successful, as the disunited Kathosians fail to put up an organized resistance. Many Kathosian
peasants and nobles alike welcome the Rahmosians as saviors from the Royal Family's greed.
Reconstruction of Kathos begins, with the intention of pulling troops out after it is complete
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-Rahmos develops the Tank, or Siege Engine
- Marcus Mirrius is assasinated, and Praetor Afrecus takes his place as ruler of the republic.
He formally annexes the Kathosian Successor States into the republic. Diplomatic pressures
soon add Karthonie to the protectorate as well.
- Agents from Rahmos anonymously hire the Atelian warlords Arlos and Yarolk to invade
Naccaran, so as to frighten them into joining the protectorate. The warlords are given tanks
for this task, and are the first people to use them in combat
- Years of being ruled as a conquered prize by Afrecus give rise to a partisan resistance in
Kathos. Though unsuccesful at first, the resistance succeeds in preventing Rahmos from
exerting complete control over the Kathosian economy.
Meanwhile- Made nervous by the atheistic Rahmosian's rising power, Fahrong begins to unite
under the Sjah as the Confederation of Nallum. They invite Syreden and Atelia into the fold,
but are rejected. The Sjah then elects to simply conquer Syreden by force instead. The
Confederate advance is stalled after the Syredenians begin attacking from hidden mountain
strongholds. Despite this, the Confederacy soon begins another offensive against Ralhor, but
strong resistance from the militaristic and technologically advanced people of that nation
leads to a bloody stalemate.
- Rahmos deploys forces along the Kathos-Fahrong border and decries the Confederacy's
invasion of Syreden. Skirmishes between the 2 sides occur. Devastated by Rahmos's Steel
Legion tank units, the Fahrongi begin developing their own tanks.
- Rahmos organizes a volunteer force and comes to Naccaran's "aid" against the Atelians,
pushing the warlord's lines back into Atelia and capturing them. Naccaran is added to the
protectorate.
-Fahrong aquires the schematics for battle-grade airships through spies in Rahmos, and finds
that Atelia is home to an abundace of the resources required to build them. The small Fahrong
fleet invades Atelia from the south in hopes of capturing these resources before the
Rahmosians can.
-In the north, the Atelians quickly unite and halt the Rahmos advance, helped in part by
increasing unrest and rebellion in Kathos forcing the Rahmosian military to divide its
attention. In the south, resistance is slow to build, and the Fahrongi make significant territorial
acquisitions before warlod Sohrab unites the southern tribes with tales of Confederate
atrocities and cultural protection. The Confederates are eventually defeated.
- 15 years after the war over Atelia, The Republic and the Confederation turn their sights back
toward one another and begin an all-out war. Marauders begins.
If I recall correctly, we're on planet Theia on the continent of Kathos. Prior to Marauders there
was a huge civil war between the various nobles of some major country on the continent, and
the 3rd reiche-esque armies of the island of Rahmos came in to put an end to it. The
comparatively nice leader of Rahmos was assasinated shortly after they gained control of the
continent and leadership was taken over by a supremely oppressive douche which led to the
resistance movement that was the focus of IG: Oppression. Meanwhile in the south there is
another country known as the Confederacy of Fahrong that has decided, in true medieval
109
fashion, to use its newly adopted religion as an excuse to expand and violently conquer
everything in sight to bolster its power in preparation for an inevitable war with the atheists of
Rahmos, so it invades the resource-rich nomad-inhabited country of Atelia. The warlords
band together with a little material support that they got from Rahmos before infighting or
something got Atelia's security put on the back burner. This conflict was the focus of IG:
Warlord and ended with the Confederates getting tossed out. That's about when Marauders
starts.
The civil war took place in the kingdom of Kathos (same as the continent), but it was kind of
in the ''middle ages'' of the world, or at least a very long time ago. It led to the formation of
the two rival kingdoms of Mercos and Galatius. The persisting civil war made them an easy
prey for the invading armies of the Protectorate of Rahmos.
The Superpowers Expand
The conquest of Kathos means that Rahmos now has a modern military force combined with
great economic potential if they can stabilize Kathos. This makes many of the nations
surrounding Kathos nervous, especially the Sjah Nezar in Fahrong.
It isn‘t long before strong diplomatic pressure from Rahmos leads Karthonie into joining
Rahmos as a protectorate. In response to this, the Sjah meets with representatives from nearby
countries including Syreden and Atelia, to try and persuade them to join the ‗Confederation of
Nallum‘. However, none of the other countries are interested in joining Fahrong, convinced
they will be safer if they remain independent.
Disappointed by this, the Sjah instead begins to plan an invasion of Syreden. Before long, the
invasion is launched, and initially Fahrongi troops make fast progress across the grasslands of
Syreden. However, when they get into the mountains, the Syredese begin to attack from
hidden tunnels, and the Fahrong military very quickly ceases to gain any territory.
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Praetor Afrecus reacts to the Fahrong invasion of Syreden by deploying several divisions on
the Kathos-Fahrong borders, as well as issuing a statement condemning Fahrong‘s actions. By
now, Afrecus has chosen his next target, the small nation of Naccaran, to the south of
Karthonie. Rahmos agents are sent to the two most powerful warlords in Atelia, with the offer
of money from an anonymous source if they will work together and invade Naccaran. The
two men, Warlord Arlos and Warlord Yarolk both accept the deal.
After a few months of preparation and planning, the two warlords launch their assault.
Naccaran and the rest of the world are taken completely by surprise by the unprovoked attack.
When the shock caused by the surprise attack wears off, the warlords do not make good
progress in Naccaran. They are unfamiliar with the terrain, and are not used to commanding
large forces across such a great distance. However, these issues are offset when Warlord
Yarolk introduces a new weapon; the tank. The big metal vehicles are slow, prone to
breakdowns and awkward to operate, but they terrify the Naccaran defenders, and are highly
effective in the right conditions.
Meanwhile, Praetor Afrecus organizes a volunteer force in Kathos, and prepares to come to
the aid of Naccaran with the volunteers and elements of the RSAS. He plans to use the
invasion as a key factor in persuading Naccaran to join Rahmos as a protectorate.
The Fahrong invasion of Syreden remains stalled as the Syredese prove impossible to root out
in the mountainous terrain. Despite this, the Sjah orders the invasion of another country,
Ralhor. Consisting of Iperon emigrants from Rahmos, Ralhor is technologically advanced,
and all its citizens are trained as paramilitaries. The Fahrong army moves into Ralhor, and
immediately encounters heavy resistance. Progress is slow, and many die on both sides.
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In Naccaran, the tide of war has turned against the two Warlords. Arlos‘ offensive has simply
stalled against the firm defence of the Rahmos volunteers, while Yarolk has overextended his
lines. Many of the smaller tribal groups and warrior bands making up their armies are
beginning to desert and return to Atelia.
Praetor Afrecus chooses this moment to give the Warlords a killing blow. A full division of
the RSAS, mounted in transport airships, strike behind the lines of Yarolk‘s army. Both Arlos
and Yarolk are captured, and later delivered to the Naccaran leadership. The war in Naccaran
is over.
Now Afrecus intends to persuade Naccaran into joining Rahmos as a protectorate state, with
the incentive of permanent Rahmos protection and possibly technology trade. However, this
plan is interrupted by an unexpected move by Fahrong.
The Sjah has just left a meeting with a group of Nezar spies from Rahmos, who have
delivered detailed plans and schematics for some of the older airship designs. He is worried to
find that almost all of the vital materials and resources required for airship construction are
found in large quantities in Atelia. Rahmos is unlikely to be aware yet of how valuable in
terms of resources Atelia really is, and the Sjah decides that he must take the initiative.
If Atelia remains neutral, Rahmos has the greater economic power, and so will be able to buy
far more of the airship specific resources than Fahrong, giving them a decisive advantage. On
the other hand, Atelia could choose to keep its resources to itself. Once it gains airship
technology, Atelia could form the largest and most modern airship fleet in the world. The Sjah
realizes that this cannot be allowed to happen.
Hmm...somehow the invention of tanks by Atelians seem ....baffling ... I would think a more
industrialized nation like Rahmos/Kathos/Fahrong would pioneer mechanized assault forces..
instead of mountain barbarians...
When you consider that it was Rahmos backing the warlord's operations its pretty clear that
the tanks came from them. I assume that the Rahmosians invented the actual tank as we know
it, since the description of the Confederate Ontos indicates that they developed it only AFTER
taking severe losses from the Rahmosian Steel Legion. The article doesn't say exactly when
all this happened but since IGW was all defense and the map doesn't indicate that Atelia
actually annexed and Naccaran territory I'd guess that it happened a fairly long time (maybe
10ish years?) before Oppression, since the kind of organized and highly successful resistance
you saw in that game doesn't pop up over night. With the way the Kathosians were at each
other's throats prior to the invasion, it would have taken a few years of unfair treatment by
Afrecus to get a widespread resistance and a few more for it to organize and equip itself
enough to become the headache it currently is for Rahmos.
According to the lore in the library...Marauders is set after the events of Warlord where the
Atelians have resisted against both a Rahmosian and Confed occupation. So the 2 powers end
up massing troops near the borders between Nallum and Kathos in preparations for a major
offensive/defensive.
The Protectorate is particularly taxed by this as they have to contend with upstart nobles back
in Kathos and they don;t have the resources to spare to secure all their holdings. They have to
increase taxes to support the war effort and of course...no one likes paying taxes...so some
barons just say *screw it* and rebel.
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This instability attracts the marauders from the north who see the poorly defended lands as
ripe plunder.
Oh and Oppression would be set before Warlord since it depicts the occupation of Kathos.
But of course, the Confeds don't play a role here though I figure the war with them happened
sometime in between the 2 games.
Strategies aren't really known, but I have done some work in the past. Known
information says this:
Confederation: sends hordes of infantry at a single point in an attempt to overrun an area. If
this is unsuccessful, a specialized team (the herrad) will try to disable important defenses. The
armor of the Confederation is very heavy and is used to support infantry rather than fight
battles division against division with the Rahmos Steel Legions. The only other thing is
Confederate Arachs have different jobs (artillery and anti-air), and can walk into nearunaccessable places.
Protectorate: Very dependent on its armor and airships. It has the best in the world (as far as
we know, but most likely true). It has decimated the Confederate airforce, making it the
superior air power, but its airships are countered by heavy anti-air weaponry on the side of
Fahrong. At the moment, its tanks are super-heavy, but lack maneuverability and can be
overcome if caught without other forms of support. I believe its infantry divisions are at a
stalemate just across the Fahrongi borders. They have good weapons, but can't advance
against the Confederate hordes without more modern tank support.
Right now the Rahmos Steel Legion is modernizing with a more diverse array of vehicles like
lighter tanks featuring anti-infantry/fortification guns and armored cars.
Rahmos may have the upper hand in naval power now, but it's going to have a nasty suprise if
Fahrong decide to switch to carrier-heavy or raider tactics on dreadnought-heavy forces.
Evolution of Tactics in Iron Grip
Fahrong- They had large armies divided into large groups of men. Mostly light infantry. This
would explain why they suffered enormous causalities against tagrak cavalry of Fahraam,
which were more suited for plains and slight inclines. As the Tagrak moved North, the large
tagrak were not suited for small valleys and steep inclines, allowing for Fahrong to develop
elite tagrak killing units. The Herrad, who were naturally bigger than most Fah people
(Fahrong or Fahraam) were natural for this because they could take more of a beating than
their smaller counterparts. However, this dependence greatly reduced Herrad numbers,
causing inbreeding to become a problem for survivors (since Fahrong wanted them almost
strictly for military purposes). Also, Fahrong lagged behind in early air technologies because
its empire was land based and contained less mountains than in the north.
Also, Fahrong is a more divided nation than it at first seems. It's more a collection of states,
each with their own language, and some even with old-school sub-religions.
It therefore ads to the slow progress this country has in general to modernize and innovate.
However, compared to the Atelian division of tribes, Fahrong has violently controlled its
tribes (almost exactly like Fahraam). This has worked to Fahrong's benefit with the state
control of Herrad people and possibly others that I don't know about. I didn't go on to say
what you said though.
Also, I thought of something of an addition to Atelia. If you guys do ever make Fahraam
official, then it would have probably led an offensive or more into Atelia. The walls would
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have proved their strength against the Fahraam armies and caused them to be more reliant on
them as time passed.
Well, in Fahrong, they have developed the tactic of send hordes of men at our enemies. That
only changes when there is a new weapon introduced. And this tactic worked until the
introduction of the machine gun, which resulted in the death of thousands of Fahrong.
Tech/tactical changes
-introduction of Herrad led to the idea of specializing certain portions of the army in order to
aid in sieges and take out heavy units (cavalry).
-tanks(arach) usage is different than in the north. Protectorate armor divisions have dozens of
tanks, but the Fahrongi divisions are combined with infantry divisions. However, Fahrongi
tanks are expensive and highly specialized (anti-air, anti-infantry, scout, etc) so they are good
at what they do and can afford to be in smaller groups of threes and fours. At least thats how it
seems to me.
-aircraft, the Fahrongi are only building airships to battle the Rahmos airforce. These are
poorly made, but rely on the old boarding/ramming tactic before money is put to weaponry
that would be expensive and shot down. The fahrong depend on the capture of lighter vessels
of other countries as a result and also depend on the element of surprise in order to take as few
casualities as possible.
Rahmos and Sedalia- Being based near the north pole of Theia, it was difficult to maintain
trade routes over seas, let alone maintain affairs with continental Kathos. As a result, the 2
countries formed airships for trade. At first it was only trade, but to counter pirates and
storms, other technologies were added to the eventual development of light warships.
Railroads were invented, allowing for a quicker transport of materials to build up larger fleets.
With the invention of stronger materials and better airship technologies, the Rahmos nation
would soon become linked to continental Kathos through trade and the almost entirely airbased invasion of Kathos. Many generals still rely on similar tactics used in the invasion.
Kathos- Kathosian armies based their early weaponry in spearmen, allowing for control of
certain mountain passes over larger armies (like from the south). Looking for ways to counter
other continental powers, like Tahr Goras of Karthonie, the Kathosians developed small elite
groups of swordsmen or bowmen (similar to the English longbow). These
swordsmen/bowmen were meant for flanking maneuvers. Some cavalry was used, but wasn't
incredibly effective. As technology increased, during the civil war, advances in gunpowder
was made and quckly spread to all corners of Kathos. The weapon led to a stalemate that
wasn't broken until the Sassoryan age. Railroads developed in Kathos would be used for quick
movement of troops after the Rahmos invasion. However, this method would be perfected by
the Rahmos with airship support for the Steel Legions.
Syreden- Invaded by Donac Eros, the Syredenese retreated to underground bases. From here
they built up cities that eventually released the aboveground cities from Erosian rule. As a
result, Syreden has very little air power. Gunpowder was applied to more purposes in defense
of tunnels. It was suicide to enter the tunnels because of ambushes using flashes triggered by
gunpowder.
Atelia- A nation of city states. Always experiencing civil wars and/or raids from nomadic
warlords, the cities built huge walls to defend themselves. Gunpowder was introduced late in
Atelia, and as a result, many Atelians still learn swordsmanship and cavalry tactics. The Ursay
is a widely used cavalry on the Atelian plains.
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Karthonie - Very similar to its western neighbors, it was very dependent on spearmen.
However, Karthonie would experiment less with light cavalry and other weapons. These
factors would lead to Tahr Goras' losses to foriegn armies that had adaptepted with new
tactics. As the civil war began in the west, Karthonie had very few chances for trade without
seeming allied to ether Mercos or Galatius. This caused it to look towards the Rahmosian and
Sedales Islands for trade. This brought some trade to Karthonie, but it did not adopt a airfleet.
Instead it became dependent on the Rahmos airforce for protection. Which also leads to its
reliance in modern times.
Donac Erus and Egastas - With a relatively mild seas and a current from the south heating
the waters around the 2 islands, the situation of a navy is very different then Rahmos. Instead
of turning towards alternative methods of trade, sailboats and trireme-like ships were
produced on the islands. Because boats were much easier to advance technologically at the
time, numerous attacks from Donac Erus led to the eventual conquering and subjugation of
the Egastian population. A similar style invasion was used against Syreden when Donac Erus
began looking to obtain continental holdings.
Ralhor has great fighters, almost rivaling the nomadic warlords in Atelia, yet they're very
organized, traditional etc.
Ralhor is very infantry based due to its geographical location (mountainous).
They have certain key cities that are like fortresses where the majority of the population lives.
They have been in constant war with Fahrong and the later Confederation, with some
exceptions; all for trying to gain independance.
Lately, they've been sponsored by Rahmos and more-or-less have a mutual enemy-kind of
unstanding.
Kostir is much like Syreden, but has a religious seperation from it, along with a fairly
different culture. They arrived from abroad (mix of cultures), and therefore never mixed well
with the other parts.
Originally tribal bands under Donac Erus. Some of these tribes, inspired by Syreden, rose up,
well, dug in. They aren't as underground as Syreden but have well fortified bunkers under
original cities. Kostir rebels, lacking the supplies necessary for aircraft, as well as being south
of the aircraft monopoly of Rahmos at the time, took to sea piracy. They developed a hit-run
tactic effective against Erusian ships that have influenced Fahrong in their air campaigns
against the Protectorate.
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RELIGION
The Sjah Nezar proclaimed himself leader of Northern Fahrong, after uniting the country
under the banner of the religion Trithinism. The Sjah's ultimate goal was to bring Trithinism
to the entire world, thus ensuring peace and plenty for all nations. Perhaps more tellingly, he
believed God intended for him to be happy and live luxuriously. Trithinism did not appeal to
the people of southern Fahrong, however, who found the glamor and sophistication of it of
little relevance to their own hard lives.
Uusi
Pre-Invasion: religion in Syreden
Before the Erosian invasion, religion among Syredese communities is only loosely structured.
Aside from seasonal celebrations, harvest ceremonies, and a handful of other collective
activities, few beliefs or rituals span the entire region.
Each village protects its craft by maintaining the cycle of life: burying, burning, or laying
upon the ground some gift to feed those members of nature which provides for that particular
Syredese community. Wise wanderers, known as Sajuren, travel from town to town to help
discern what gifts are desired and how best to prepare them.
Though the Syredese do not believe in continuation of personalities beyond death, they do
believe in an unending cycle of life... of which people are a part. A proverb of this time states:
"New life is like water formed into snow. In death, we are spilled back onto the earth and
given new shape by the mountain."
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Emergence of Uusi during ccupation
When the Erosians come, religion is one of many ways in which the Syredese unite. This
unification evolves both in acceptance and in rejection of Erosian influence.
On the one hand, occupying governors recognize Syreden's widespread affinity for nature as a
powerful medium through which Erosian propoganda might take hold. The Syredese habit of
gift-giving could, it seems, be redirected from nature to the new government through the
inclusion of natural imagery and symbolism in government affairs.
The governors also recognize the Sajuren as respected authority figures who could be
persuaded (severely, if necessary) to subdue resistance in Syreden. The few Sajuren who
cannot be convinced are not seen again (rumors claim that some escaped to the mountains,
though others claim all are dead or imprisoned). Following this, though the Syredese people
commonly scorn the Sajuren in private, public scrutiny is avoided for fear of imprisonment
and fear of losing access to a Sajur's unique wisdom (which is believed to be independent of
the Sajur's actions).
On the other hand, Syredese communities come together in their struggle against the
occupation. Seeing how the Erosian invaders are empowered by a unified faith in a single
dominant spirit, Syredese society embraces the previously unpopular belief that all vessels of
life are sustained by one Life-Singer, also known as Uus. The Life-Singer, originally
envisioned as a songbird shaped of snow and sunlight, takes on a fierce and stony nature more
similar to figure of Donac Erus. Like the Erosians, the Uusi (literally "people of Uus") can
now rely on a divine hand in war.
Still, gift-giving is common, and separate Syredese communities emphasize different "faces
of Uus" (physical manifestations, such as gemstones, soil, or beasts of the wild). Syreden
resists the urban culture of the Erosians, and this means protecting the local customs of
communities located in different environments.
Expansion
It is likely this acceptance of disparity and embrace of rural values that makes Uusi so popular
throughout southern Fahrong. Uusi enters Fahrong in trade caravans from occupied Syreden,
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and spreads across the Ematia States like wildfire. If anything, Uusi is more popular in
Fahrong than in the country of its conception.
Though the "faces of Uus" adapt to Confederate landscapes, the Uusi of Fahrong envy the
fine metalworked figurines that are common in the ore-rich mountains of Syreden. These
skillfully-crafted and ornate representations of the Life-Singer provide the Uusi with
something constant and readily accessible through which to communicate their pleas for help
or guidance. Such figurines become a major export of Syreden.
Off-shoots
Trithinism and Ashi are both derivatives of the Uusi religion.
Sadaf Rah, founder of Trithinism, calls Uusi "a slave religion" because of its emphasis on
gift-giving, something he views as a burden on the poor and wealthy alike. In Trithinism, the
"Life-Singer" is transformed into an "All-Knowing God", which better suits the more urban
culture of northern Fahrong. The ornate (but generally inexpensive) figurines imported from
Syreden become the basis for extravagant paintings and furnishings in Trithinite places of
worship.
The Trithinites' frequent derision and persecution of the Uusi has led to great bitterness
between the two religious communities.
Ashi is virtually indistinguishable from Uusi, but political interests ensure that at least a
verbal distinction remains.
Ashi
History
(One generation after the Kathos Cold War)
At this time in Syreden, an initial honeymoon period of peace following the ejection of the
Donac Eros occupiers ends abruptly when a series of communities along the south-west coast
demand independence from Syreden on religious grounds. The Erosians in this area had been
farmers living on the surface, growing food and raising livestock, which is nearly impossible
in the tunnels inhabited by many of the other Erosians elsewhere in the country. These
Erosians had begun to grow distant and separate from their mine dwelling compatriots. The
priests in these areas took this to be a blessing specifically granted to their followers, and their
concept of Uusi gradually changed so that the sun and nature had greater significance.
Now that the Erosians were gone and the Syredese can move around the country freely again,
the divide between south-western Uusi and the Uusi worshipped in the rest of Syreden
became more prominent. Quickly a lot of friction formed between the south-west
communities who want independence, and newly instated politicians who want the whole
country to be united to be as strong as possible. These politicians saw the south-western Uusi
to be attempting to split apart Syreden to weaken the country for more invading armies.
However, Consul Vespasia makes a decision to allow the communities in the south-west to
declare their independence without any opposition, reasoning that the aim of forcing the
Erosians from Syreden was to allow peace and freedom. To cause a civil war over the same
religion that helped many Syredese cope with the sometimes appalling conditions under
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Donac Eros leadership would be hypocritical of the entire rebellion. Because of this, the
south-western Syredese declare themselves as the new nation of Kostir, and they name their
version of Uusi, calling it Ashi.
Differences between Uusi and Ashi
In Uusi, the Life-Singer (or Uus) was inially envisioned as a songbird shaped of snow and
sun. Uus was also seen in many differing forms, such as gemstones, soil, or animals. In Ashi,
the Life-Singer becomes simply the sun, Aa. Whilst most of the Syredese people spend at
least part of their lives in the underground mine cities, the Syredese along the south-west
coast were farmers and kept livestock. They were far more sensitive to the seasons, and a
cold, hard winter could easily wreck devastation. Snow and ice became synonymous with
death, although the religion has not yet developed a counter-point 'death' figure.
Ashi still continues many of the traditions of Uusi, and gift-giving is formalized into two
ceremonies, one at planting time (spring) and one at harvest (autumn). In the spring
ceremony, gifts are burned in a giant bonfire and the smoke 'rises to the sun'. In autumn, as
the sun becomes much colder and dimmer, the Ashi bury gifts in the ground, after the harvest,
where they freeze. In spring, these are then dug up (with the planting) and burned.
The Life-Singer continues to be modeled as a bird, but whereas in Uusi the bird is made of
both gold and silver, with a variety of gemstones, in Ashi the bird becomes pure gold, with
rubies or red gemstones for decoration.
These bird figurines are very delicate, and prized by Fahrong. During the winter, when
farming is minimal, many of the south-western Syredese spend their time crafting these
figurines, ready for export.
Similarities between Uusi and Ashi
Naturally, as Ashi has evolved from Uusi, the similarities are rampant. Both religions focus
on rural imagery and gift-giving. In the mines, there is more of a focus on gems, soil, rock and
animals, as these things are so important to their survival. However, the stories and myths told
about the Life-Singer are practically the same. As a songbird, the Life-Singer descended from
the sky (sun), and landed on the blank world. The bird sang, and skipped from place to place.
Wherever he landed, grass grew. For every living creature, there is a corresponding song, and
the Life-Singer sang them all.
Death is silence. In both religions, funerals are carried out in complete silence. It is not until
the person is buried that grieving begins.
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Worship is often accompanied by singing. Music and song is a massively important part of
Syredese culture. They will sing while working, and while playing. All music is considered
sacred, and the Sajuren of both Uusi and Ashi are always excellent musicians. Sajuren are
quite rare, particularly after the Erosian occupation in which many were killed, or turned
traitor. To have one arrive in time for a wedding or gift-giving is considered very auspicious,
and the marriage (or planting/harvest) will go well.
A note on Trithinism
The idea of the 'Spirit of Sa' is very much linked to, and evolved from, the Life-Singer. A
healing plant heals, because it carries the Spirit. This is almost directly linked to the Uusi/Ashi
concept where a healing plane heals because it is a carrier of a healing song.
However, Trithinism differs quite radically from both Uusi and Ashi in that lingering disease,
poverty or pain is a sign of an unworthy life. Trithinism believes in re-incarnation, and the
caste system, whilst Uusi and Ashi do not believe that personality continues beyond death,
and that life is simply given a new shape "New life is like water formed into snow. In death,
we are spilled back onto the earth and given new shape by the mountain."
Equally, the concept of Sajuren was transformed in Trithinism to the 'Speakers'. However,
whereas Sajuren have no hierarchy or real connection with each other, and can say what they
please (and frequently disagree), in Trithinism all Speakers must be recognized by the Sjah,
and form part of the Sjah's communication system. A Speaker who says something
detrimental to the Sjah will often be 'silenced' by the Nezar.
Equally, the vibrant and rich songs of Uusi and Ashi became atonal meditation chants in
Trithinism.
Legends and Predictions
Ashi, like Uusi, sees life as a cycle. When anything dies, it is returned to to the Life-Singer,
and shaped into something new. Every winter must eventually give way to spring. As such
they have no predictions of the end of the world, or of an ultimate judgement.
They do believe that if they sing often, and well, that their life will be an easier, better one.
There are some legendary songs, that have been lost. These were written and sang by Sajuren
long since dead, and supposedly contained great Truths that have since been forgotten. Some
people believe that fragments of these songs can be found in more modern ones, and a few
people have dedicated their lives to studying older music, trying to find and piece together
these fragments. Some have even developed numerical theories, and complex codes, to assist
them in piecing these songs together.
Trithinism
History
Uusi enters Fahrong in trade caravans from occupied Syreden, and spreads across the Ematia
States like wildfire. If anything, Uusi is more popular in Fahrong than in the country of its
conception.
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A year or so after the coming of Uusi to Fahrong, a man emerges with a vision. Sadaf Raha is
a charismatic young man from a poor background, but he made every effort to educate
himself and had been largely successful. He sees Uusi as being a slave religion, formed by the
oppressed Syredese, and as such unfit for the superior Fahrong people. However he does
agree with many of the basic tenets. He reinvents Uusi, making the changes he thinks are
necessary, and calls his new religion Trithinism.
With his charisma and intelligence, Sadaf Raha quickly brings Trithinism too many
communities in the north, and becomes popular and well known himself. When most of the
major cities in the north have established Trithinite groups, Sadaf Raha declares to his
followers that he is the First Prophet of the All-Knowing God. His vision is of a world one
day united by faith, where war and conflict are a distant memory.
Trithinism is a far more glamorous religion than Uusi, an image carefully cultivated by Sadaf
Raha. He commissions craftsmen to create sculptures and artifacts with many precious stones
and valuable metals, and hires the most expensive halls for his sermons. This approach
appeals to the wealthy and powerful, and soon Sadaf Raha can count several governors,
nobles and influential scholars as among his followers. These people spread Trithinism even
further, and soon the whole north of Fahrong is joined in their belief in the All-Knowing God
"Sa".
About
Like most religions, Trithinism varies a bit according to the personal interpretation of the
practitioner. It was founded by Sadaf Raha, of Fahrong, who declared he was the First
Prophet and renamed himself Sjah Nezar (Holy Leader).
Trithinists believe in a single divine entity, known by the meditational syllable Sa, or Za, and
by the name Sajon (a corruption of the phrase omnipotent Sa).
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Sajon is everywhere, and all positive action/result is the consequence of being atuned with
"The spirit of Sajon". Example: a healing plant heals, because it carries the Spirit of Sajon,
and if you are attuned to the Spirit you will be healed. Lingering disease or pain, then, is a
sign that you are not attuned to the Spirit and are therefore out of favour.
Reincarnation is a part of Trithinism. Fahrong has a very structured caste system, and those
nobles at the top are there because of divine right. If you live a good, worthy life you will be
reincarnated in the next level. After nobility, you die and become part of Sa, which is
described as a state of eternal bliss.
If you live an unworthy life, you are reincarnated lower in the caste system. So, if you are a
beggar, it's your own fault! On the other hand, if you live a happy, rich and pleasurable life,
you also deserve it.
There are religious "convents", which take in lower-caste people and educate them to become
worthy and therefore move up the caste system. Lower-caste people include orphans, beggars,
the diseased, and the poor. These convents are run by women. They dispense medicine,
advice, and food along with religious instruction. They are funded by donations from rich
nobles who believe that by donating they are assuring themselves of moving up and not down
after death. Most missionaries, as a result, are women.
The caste system runs thusly:
1. The Sjah (not actually part of the caste system, but a channel for the voice of Sajon. The
Sjah can do no wrong, and is assured of eternal bliss after death)
2. The Nezar (although only rumoured to exist, the Nezar are the hands and eyes of the Sjah,
and carry most of the power in Fahrong)
3. The Nobles (landowners, and the richer merchants. Their luck is clearly a sign that they are
favoured by Sajon) and Religious Leaders (most towns and all cities will have one or two
"Speakers", who are generally women who grew up in convents and who have been "Touched
by Sa". They range from the prophetic to the sensible. A Speaker has to be officially
recognised by the Sjah - if a random person tries to set up as a Prophet, they are dealt with
very swiftly by the Nezar. Speakers have a dual function, in that they also proclaim any
official messages from the Sjah to the general populace).
4. The businessmen/traders.
5. The workers. (Craftsmen, steelworkers, miners, farmers etc. Anybody who produces
something for a living)
6. Beggars, thieves, criminals. (Anybody who does not contribute to society, or actively
works against it)
Most convents will have a "Sacred Object", that will have been something belong to the
original Sjah, the First Prophet Sadaf Raha. These objects can range from cloth from his
burial shroud, to his jeweled scepter in the case of the Convent at Nallum.
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The jeweled scepter once was accompanied by the Sjah's jeweled crown, however the crown
disappeared in mysterious circumstances around a century ago. Although heavily guarded,
and immune to theft, it vanished overnight without anybody seeing anything. Rumour has it
that the Sjah himself returned from death to collect the crown, and that when it reappears it
will be worn on the head of the Second Prophet, and that the Second Prophet will foretell the
end of the world.
I've read some of the info on Sadaf, and you all have said that Trithinism is a very showy
religion, so my question is, how honest was Sadaf Raha? Was he really, truly religiously
motivated, or did he just declare himself prophet because he wanted power, and liked the rich,
showy version of his religion better than the original that he based it on?
Sadaf Raha was genuine. He liked the basics of Uusi, which Trithinism is based off, but
thought it wasn't suitable for the Fahrongi people (which he saw as superior to the oppressed
Syredese who created Uusi), so he reinvented it as Trithinism.
He honestly wanted to create peace throughout the world by making everyone believe in
Trithinism, but it was acceptable for him if that peace was created by force (since it would be
in everyone else's benefit if they were forced to be Trithinite and united).
This forcing of peace and Trithinism was the point of the Southern Crusades, but over time
Sadaf's advisers (and especially members of the Nezar) started to take a more pragmatic and
aggressive viewpoint.
In short, Sadaf Raha was honest, he was religiously motivated, and he wanted the best for
everyone. The showy nature of Trithinism was probably partly to appeal to the more wealthy
Fahrongi people, and simply how he thought religion should be. It was others who became
part of the Trithinite order who took advantage of the power available. The Nezar in particular
have a warped view of Raha's original teachings.
Well, depending on how he features in what you're writing, you might want to leave it a little
open. Personally, I would like the idea that he was always genuine, but as he got older he was
increasingly ignored and lied too by his supposed advisers and friends. Of course, he probably
got a bit too used to his luxurious lifestyle to really try and see what was really going on
anymore, but I would like to think he was always at heart a good person, despite his power.
Mind you, if his advisers were bypassing or lying to him (as they almost certainly were near
the end of his life at least), he might not actually have had as much power as it would appear.
I would assume that any Sjah would need an iron grip () to keep the Nezar in check, and I
don't think Sadaf would have gone with that style of command.
But it is quite possible that he became corrupt. I'm not sure which is the best way to go with.
I imagine reports would vary a lot depending on who was giving them. Unless you're writing
from Sadaf's point of view, it would probably appear ambiguous as to whether he was corrupt
or just very tired. It does sound hard to believe that someone so powerful (and responsible for
the Nezar) could be totally genuine, so it wouldn't be surprising if most people assumed he
did become corrupt.
123
Ikozi
History
Under the orders of the Sjah, many Trithinites agreed to travel northeast into Atelia to spread
the word of the All-Knowing God. The native population of Atelia is made up of nomadic
tribes, who follow the "savage" religion of Ikozi. They live in a state of almost constant war,
fighting battles over fertile land, hunting grounds, and sacred places.
About
In it's original form, Ikozi was the worship of all things in balance; all elements became Gods
- water, air, fire, along with death, sickness, travel etc. Followers would make a token
sacrifice - burn a bundle of herbs or leave fruit under a tree - to bring good luck for an
endeavor or to placate the God of Sickness etc.
These gods took on animal characteristics - the God of Death had the head of a wolf, the god
of travel the head of a horse. Followers began to sacrifice the heart of the respective animal,
and rituals were formed around it. Each God/Spirit has a name, that is known only to the
Shaman of each tribe. (Rural communities do not have access to shamans, except when they
pass through, and this is one reason they were more susceptible to Fahrong influence)
The Gods are larger-than-life-humans (think Greek mythology) in the sense that they are not
perfect, but suffer from pride, jealousy, greed, etc. The tribes have many stories handed down
through oral storytelling/dance about the creation of Atelia and the Gods.
These stories are jealously guarded by the tribes, and even the Atelian rural communities have
all but forgotten them. To the Trithinites, these "Gods" are savage, foolish, and the worship of
them with the sacrifices they view as barbaric.
Ikozi and Trithinism
Due to the influx of Trithiist missionaries and Speakers, Ikozi has become corrupted to a great
extent. Different communities have adapted the teachings of Trithinism and combined them
with their own religious traditions.
Frequently, the Gods become the messengers of Sa, and some people lay claim to specific
Gods as totems that help them atune to Sa. As such, Ikozi becomes more hierarchal, with Sa
at the top, and Ikozi Gods beneath. Legends and history become skewed, to include references
to Sa.
124
Day of Reckoning
This article refers to the Rahmosian national holiday. For the attack on the Manifest, see
Day of Reckoning – Attack.
The Day of Reckoning is a nationally-recognized holiday in Rahmos. The holiday began with
a petition to the government by the Primary Works Alliance to celebrate the many
contributions to Rahmosian society by industrial workers with a day free from toil. Today, the
holiday is observed primarily as a resting day. The day is used to reflect on the benefits
industry has granted to all Rahmosians. It is a day to reckon with the spiritual debt owed to
the many who spend their lives propping up the Rahmosian economy. Coincidentally, the day
often falls exactly one week before federal taxes are due in Rahmos. Many people spend at
least some of the day getting their financial affairs in order, adding another layer of meaning
to the name.
Ethos
The matters of ceremony and commemoration for the Day of Reckoning were laid out in the
original petition of the Primary Works Alliance — an open-air procession in the nation‘s
capital to demonstrate to the community the dedication and fraternity of Rahmosian industrial
and trade institutions. This was to be followed by a street carnival for the exercise and leisure
of workers and their families. The pattern for the Day of Reckoning was set; soon every
village and town across the nation of Rahmos had its own procession and carnival. Public
addresses by outstanding citizens became standard fare, and greater importance was assigned
to the financial and community aspects of the holiday.
Presently, the Day of Reckoning is considered by the public to be a day to spend time with the
family and rest. A certain cynical view condemns the irony that the holiday celebrating labor
and ‗the working man‘ is also the day when many people make sure they‘ve given enough of
their earned income to the government. Day of Reckoning festivities can include communitywide banquets, charity drives, and casual sporting events. Rahmosian youth consider it the
last weekend for socializing before school begins again.
Conflict
The first Day of
Reckoning procession in
Rahmavay was
coordinated by the
Primary Works Alliance.
Two years later, the
procession was repeated
and the Public Works
Alliance adopted the
event into their official
charter. Other industrial
organizations attempted
similar marches and
events, emphasizing
their own political
agendas rather than
those of the Public
Works Alliance, most
notably the Global Labor
125
Fraternity. One of these rival parades led to a confrontation between members of the PWA
and GLF, ending in the Smeltertown Riots in the streets of downtown Rahmavay. The official
stance of the government was that memorializing the event on that day would be tantamount
to officially approving the riot, so the date preferred by the Public Works Alliance was
adopted by the Rahmosian government as that of the official holiday.
Recently, a group of Atelian student radicals known as Final Incarnation staged a takeover of
the decommissioned airship Manifest on the Day of Reckoning. The name of the holiday now
has a second, grimmer connotation.
Day of Reckoning Traditions
Formal etiquette in more affluent social circles proscribes the drinking of Atelian wine
between the Day of Reckoning and the beginning of the new year. To be entirely proper, over
the winter months only domestic vintages should be consumed in Rahmosian high society.
The weekend after the Day of Reckoning is the traditional time for Workman‘s Canter, held
annually in the city of Varhami in southern Rahmos. It is the largest horse race in Rahmos,
and, aside from irregular Fahrongi events, the largest on the continent. The Workman‘s Cup is
awarded to the winner.
At Rahmavay University, a yearly memorial ceremony is held on university grounds for the
victims of the attack on the Manifest.
Day of Reckoning - Attack
This article refers to the attacks on the Manifest. For the Rahmosian national holiday,
see Day of Reckoning – National Holiday.
OVERVIEW
The Day of Reckoning was a crisis of diplomacy between Atelia and Rahmos in which 215
people were held hostage for nine hours after a group of Atelian student radicals seized
control of a decommissioned Rahmosian airship prototype in protest over Rahmosian
economic policies in Atelia. Other than the nine radicals who died during the ensuing crisis,
24 people were murdered during the attacks, with another two dying and four seriously
injured when a victim hurled from the Manifest fell into a crowd of onlookers on a balcony,
collapsing the railing. Oddly, of the people listed as on board the Manifest that day, three
remain missing and unaccounted for.
EVENTS
On the morning of the Day of Reckoning, eleven student radicals affiliated with the Atelian
militant group Final Incarnation hijacked the Manifest, a decommissioned military prototype
created by the Rahmavay University Engineering Department for Rahomsian military use. As
the prototype was never to see military service, its propulsion system was disabled and the
ship was retrofitted to serve as a floating museum, lounge, and convention center above the
university. The Final Incarnation radicals disabled the control room, killed the pilot, and
began moving the many people on board to the top deck area. From there they issued
demands and, when the demands were not met, flung hostages overboard to their deaths.
In Atelia the majority of people viewed the crisis as a strike against out-of-control Rahmosian
influence in Atelia. Though never officially confirmed, most of the Atelian public believed
126
(and considerable evidence indicates) that Rahmos provided funding to tribal warlords for the
purpose of creating dissent and unrest in an Atelian government unreceptive to Rahmosian
requests for preferential trade agreements. In Rahmos, responses to the event ranged from
indignation to outright fury. The action was, to Rahmosian perceptions, a flouting of ancient,
international principles of safety and security in places of learning.
The incident
culminated
when a
Rahmosian
rescue mission
regained
control of the
airship and
freed most of
the hostages,
but not without
considerable
loss of life,
permanent,
irreparable
damage to the
Manifest rendering it unusable, and the deaths of four Rahmosian soldiers.
In Atelia, the Day of Reckoning is believed to have fortified the status of tribal leader and
Trithinite convert Sajuri Gheggad and tightened the grip of anti-Rahmos feeling among
Atelian militants. The attack also indicated the onset of Rahmosian legal actions against
Atelian national interests.
HISTORY
Rahmos had been a staunch supporter of Atelian Doge Izzka Ontani for many years. During
an extended conflict with a Fahrongi-financed confederacy of tribal warlords, Rahmosian
forces briefly occupied part of Atelia to prevent it from being incorporated into the
confederacy. Rahmos compelled the existing Doge, Maldvar Urbayer, to step down in order
to make room for his more Rahmos-friendly cousin, tribal warlord Izzka Ontani. After the
dissolution of the warlords‘ confederacy, the Atelian government, for the most part, became a
political ally (some would say puppet) of Rahmos. In return, Rahmos supplied Ontani with
arms and financial assistance.
In the fairly recent past, Chancellor Menthard Kuba, an Atelian autonomist and political
adversary of Doge Ontani, nationalized Atelia‘s Rahmosian-North Atelia Heavy Metal
Extraction and Processing Group, a company owned and operated by Rahmosian interests.
This action was met with widespread approval among Atelians, but Rahmosian-North Atelia‘s
Rahmosian owners were irate; they pulled all workers from Atelian digs and field offices and
called a halt to mining operations and fee payments to the Atelian government. This had a
profoundly destructive impact on the fledgling Atelian economy.
In Atelia, discontentment was growing. The Rahmosian diplomatic corps, in cooperation with
Atelian tribal rivals of Menthard Kuba, initiated an operation which ultimately led to a
rebellion among Atelian nomads and the ousting of the popular and Atelian-selected
Chancellor Kuba. He was succeeded by a more Rahmos-friendly administrator. Over the next
127
several years, many factors combined to create massive antagonism against Doge Ontani: lack
of economic growth, suppression of anti-Ontani political views, rampant abuse of
administrative authority, and the secular, Rahmosian lifestyle of the Atelian rich. The growing
unrest ended in an Atelian Trithinite revolution. Izzka Ontani fled the country, and is
suspected to have taken shelter in Rahmos.
Within the now-governing revolutionary faction, Ontani‘s admission to Rahmos elevated the
levels of anti-Rahmosian sentiment and created suspicion about a Rahmosian plot to forment
rebellion and reinstate Izzka Ontani as Doge. Leader of the revolution (and new Doge) Sajuri
Gheggad began a series of mandatory public assemblies in which he presented Rahmos as an
immoral, idealogical enemy plotting against a sovereign Atelia.
Final Incarnation, motivated by the increasingly-heated conflict between their home country
and the nation in which they were being educated, targeted the Manifest because to their eyes
it was a symbol of Rahmosian aggression and greed, and would have been impossible to build
without Atelian resources.
TAKEOVER
Hours after the public opening of the Manifest, armed Final Incarnation organizers gathered
in the airship‘s lobby, gaining unremarked access through their Rahmavay University student
status. One team of four moved into the command/communications bay of the Manifest and
murdered the pilot, then ordered the rest of the crew onto the floor. The remaining seven
militants moved through the halls and rooms of the ship, herding prisoners into locked rooms
until everyone was accounted for. At that point, they began moving hostages up to the top
observation deck of the Manifest. They bound and blindfolded their prisoners and displayed
them from the top of the airship. Final Incarnation began making demands via loudspeaker
that Rahmos promise not to interfere in Atelian affairs, make massive financial reparations to
Atelian citizens, and a list of other grievances. The Rahmosian government, unwilling and
unable to make such massive diplomatic and administrative changes in a matter of hours,
were helpless to prevent the hostage-takers from hurling victim after victim from the
observation deck of the Manifest, before the eyes of the horrified onlookers below. Nine
hours later, a rescue operation was successfully staged, but significant loss of life had already
occurred.
AFTERMATH
The taking of the Manifest was not as successful for Atelia as Final Incarnation might have
hoped. It damaged the credibility of the new Trithinite Gheggad government, and Atelian
nationalist groups came under suspicion everywhere. Fahrong, for example, expelled Atelian
immigrants in great numbers for several months after the event. However, within Atelia the
symbolic gesture fortified militant groups. Anti-Rahmos sentiment rose to ever higher levels,
and Doge Gheggad‘s vitriolic discourses on the evils of Rahomsian society became weekly
rallies, with massive, popular attendance figures. The Gheggad government, installed by force
via revolution, deepened its hold on the nation. At the same time, any government figure
suspected of having any ties to Rahmos were removed, sometimes by force, from their
administrative roles.
Rumors exist that the hull of the Manifest, towed and discarded in the wilds outside of
Rahmavay, is now a secret meeting, recruitment, and training point for radical Atelian
nationalist groups.
128
It all looks good to me except for the time period. Horatius II was around during what is the
equivalent of the medieval period in the IG universe, or perhaps even earlier (at least that's
how it is according to the history at the moment). If you replace Horatius II with one of the
more modern Praetors or similar (they used to have a page in the universe stuff, but I think
they're gone now) then it should be fine. I like the character and history though, that's very
interesting.
129
WORLD INFORMATIONS
Theia is a medium sized rocky planet, orbiting a young type G2 star known as Solaria once
every 392 days in the nebula of an ancient supernova. Theia orbits Solaria at an average
distance of around 167 million kilometers, giving it a temperature range comparable to Earth,
though very slightly cooler as a whole, with an average temperature of roughly 13ºC
(although the minimums and maximums are distant from this middle point). The planet's axis
slowly rotates the same direction the planet orbits Solaria, leading to a very long season cycle
of roughly three years. The planet itself is dense and very rich in heavy metals, primarily iron,
leftover from the supernova. The atmosphere is comprised of 48% nitrogen, 29% argon, 21%
oxygen, and 2% other gases including water vapor and 0.07% carbon dioxide. The planet has
a single major satellite, the moon Orpheus, though several smaller bodies orbit the planet in
regular stable patterns. The planets' surface is initially similar to Earth, being covered in
roughly 63% water (as opposed to Earth's 70-71%), with the land being a mixture of
mountains, plains, deserts and forests, and some jungle regions in the tropics. Both poles are
home to substantial icecaps which lock up most of the planets' fresh water.
The practical implications of these differences are numerous, and range in importance from
trivial to critical.
The biggest difference between Theia and the Earth is the atmosphere. Theia's atmosphere is
much heavier than Earth's due to the high argon content, yet it is still completely compatible
with the development of life, including human life. The biggest planetary change this heavier
atmosphere implies is a slower and more stable weather pattern, with some areas having
almost no weather changes at all. Therefore, some places are perennially sunny, while others
are wracked by permanent storms. These stormy areas have recently been seen as a potentially
limitless source of energy, and experimental storm powerplants are already operational. These
sturdy facilities have large towers that reach high into the roiling black skies to harness the
electricity and winds for the betterment of mankind.
On a related note, the denser atmosphere has more friction when moving through itself, and
wind generates much more static electricity than it does on Earth. As a result, lightning is
extremely common, sometimes occurring even from blue skies in dry windy areas, and actual
lightning storms
can be incredibly
intense. Forest fires
on the planet are
common, but due
to their frequency,
the forest floors in
deciduous areas
remain fairly clear
of debris and scrub.
This denser
atmosphere also
makes flight, in
both lighter and
heavier-than-air
ways, more easily
attained. Lighterthan-air craft can
be significantly
130
heavier per volume than an Earth-bound counterpart and still displace enough atmosphere to
be buoyant, while aircraft can carry heavier loads with less wing area, though the density of
the air has thus far prevented heavier-than-air craft from economically reaching long ranges
and high speeds.
The higher content of
heavy metals has also
shaped the planetary
economy and iron, bauxite,
copper, molybdenum,
tungsten, lead and much
more are all plentifully
available. This abundance
of metals has made
development, both military
and civilian, take off very
quickly over the past
hundred years as smelting
and alloy-making
processes have been
invented.
The night sky is a beautiful
sight to behold all over the
planet, with the cosmos
being perennially illuminated with pale blues and reds from the nebula surrounding the solar
system.
I like the dense atmosphere concept. It opens the way for more Steampunk tech, as smaller
airships can have steam engines, similar to trains, that use the heat to fill the balloons and the
steam to run the propellers. There are some neat things that can be done with compressed
steam, as it takes less energy to reheat, but I don't know much about its air
displacement/weight.
Biplanes could be sustainable in the air over long distances, if a little slow, and gliders could
fly for significantly longer, and you could open a parachute closer to the ground, as the the
dense air should decelerate you more quickly.
There's a possibility of wind being fierce near the surface, but being very clear in the sky, as
the waves in the oceans would still displace air, and the denser air would have more "umph*
to it. Maybe opening up the possibility of more prevalent sail driven land vehicles.
That would indeed be an interesting concept, though land-sail ships are very risky i think; if
you look at those beach carts with surf-sails on them, they topple all the time and have to ride
on flat terrain to minimize this.
We would use it for long open tundra's or something.
131
REGIONS
Atelia
"The term 'Atelia' is merely a geographic expression"- Count Metrach
Count Metrach's words ring true when we examine Atelia as it has been in past centuries. The
Atelian region plays host to not one but many cultures and peoples. Though their celebrated
cavalrymen has made the various nomad tribes the most well-known of the Atelian peoples,
there also exist numerous Atelian city-states and in ages past the Nythian culture was
responsible for the construction of large castles and feudal estates (the last of which was
unfortunately destroyed during the Confederate invasion). These various tribes and city-states
existed in a state of total disunity, feuding with themselves as often as outsiders and making
the region wholly inhospitable to travelers. Curiously though, one uniting factor between the
various groups was a widespread polytheistic religion, the principle deity of which is Stym.
A technologically backwards region, Atelian military operations traditionally relied heavily
on cavalry and breach-loading muskets, leaving them ill-prepared for the war with Fahrong.
When organized resistance to the invasion began, the warlord Sohrab received heavy material
support from Rahmos, the Confederacy's chief rival, in the form of heavy weapons and armor,
and the artisan workshops of the city-states managed to produce surprising numbers of high
quality weapons. Abundance of weaponry was not enough however; internal rivalries
prevented the Atelians from uniting against the invaders and the few who would soon found
that Fahrong's overwhelming numbers prevented them from fighting anything but a losing
battle. That was until Sohrab's warband began spreading its message of religious bonds and
news of Confederate atrocities galvanized the populace into action. Today, Atelia is more
unified than it has ever been before following the defeat of the Confederacy.
Short article on Atelia, Ralhor newsmagazine.
-----------------------------------------------Atelia is a country that is made up of a complex array of factions. Loyalties and priorities are
divided.
Basic Information
132
State Leader - The Doge leads the city states, various Warlords lead the tribes.
Religion - Uusi (5%), some Trithinism (10%), and Ikozi (80%)
Language - ?
Currency - ?
Climate: Quite Cold (e.g. South Canada, North US)
1. The Tribes
Nomadic, and led by a Warlord. Tribes differ greatly. Some are incredibly warlike, and make
their living by raiding cities or travelers. These Warlords rule by dint of strength. They follow
the religion of Ikozi.
2. The Farmers
The farmers develop the land, and grow crops. They grow all the usual suspects - potatoes,
vegetables, wheat - and keep goats (in the mountains) and cattle (on the plains).
They trade often, with miners, nomads, travelers, and the Fahrongi settlers.
They are frequently raided, but a delicate balance exists -- if they are raided too much, they
leave, and the warring tribes know this. In some farming towns, the raids are spoken of rather
bitterly as a "tax" as they come regularly, and take only a cut of what is there.
Older farmers follow the religion of Ikozi, but the younger ones have often been influenced
by the Fahrong missionaries into becoming Trithinites.
3. The Miners
Atelia mountains are rich in mineral deposits. There are gold, copper and tin mines, as well as
iron mines. Mines are poorly organised, and mainly run by the desperate and those looking to
"get rich quick".
Miners will spend several months in the mountain mining areas, leaving on poor rations. They
don't leave until they strike lucky, or starvation drives them out. Then they trade - firstly with
the nearest farmers, and then they either go to the Cities, where the goods fetch a higher price,
or they smuggle to Rahmos or Fahrong. Rahmos pays more, but some miners are suspicious
that Rahmos will shut down their independent mines and replace them with organised mines
if they take over the country, and thus refuse to trade with them.
Miners are rarely raided by warlords when in the mines as they own very little other than their
equipment, and what little rations they take with them. When a miner strikes it lucky, and fills
up their wagon with ore, they know they are a prime target, and will often hire mercenaries to
guard them until they get to a city.
Most miners work in gangs, but these gangs have little loyalty to each other, and most would
stab each other in the back if it meant getting a better deal.
Mines are small, rushed, and often dangerous. Accidents are common.
4. The City Dwellers
The cities are more like fortresses, originally founded by Fahrong settlers who needed to
protect themselves from the tribes, they are now centres of Atelian independence. Ruled over
by the Doge, they have a functioning social order (including explicit laws, and a citizen
militia responsible for enforcing those laws). The nomads, when they realised they couldn't
133
defeat the settlers, ended up trading with them. Soon, the older members of the tribes would
go to the cities when they became too old for the nomadic lifestyle of their tribes. In this way,
the tribes and the cities became tied together, and the Fahrongi presence was almost
completely diluted. The cities became centres for trade, with farmers, miners and nomads
traveling there to sell their surplus goods.
The cities are fiercely independent, but they play a very delicate balancing game. Without the
farmers trading with them, they would quickly starve. Without the help of the tribes in
defending them, they would quickly fall. They send goods to Fahrong via the trade caravan,
but they also negotiate with Rahmos.
Eventually -- as the tensions heighten -- the cities become the focus of Confederate attacks
and Atelia/Rahmos defence.
5. The Missionaries/Speakers
The Missionaries were part of the Fahrong plan to convert the farmers and City States. They
travelled from Fahrong to the rural communities and cities, accompanied by Confederate
Soldiers. In the cities, they were tolerated, but gained little backing. They settled for the rich
trading and sent supplies and valubles back to Fahrong. In the rural communities, they were
often killed, and frequently ignored, but in some cases they were able to become part of the
village or town. In this way, Trithinism was spread to Atelia. As the number of their converts
grew, the scale of their influence spread. Along with Trithinism, they sold the ideals of
Fahrong society - Ikozi was not an organised or conciously taught religion, and many of the
younger members of the rural communities, eager for novelty and new ways of thinking, and
dazzled by the riches (both material and in terms of knowledge/skill) Fahrong could offer,
became converts. These converts later became the lifeblood of the Atel, an Atelian group
fighting on the side of the Confederate army.
Fahrong
The Confederation of Nallum (formerly Fahrong)
Once a loose conglomerate of states in the
southern regions of Kathos, in recent times
Nallum has used the Trithinite religion as a tool to
unite all of Fahrong under banner the banner of
the Sjah in a sort of ultra-zealous crusader state,
bent on purging the continent of "infidels" and
uniting it under the authority of her theocratic
government. The Confederation occupies a very
mountainous part of Kathos, and the Fahrongi
have been making use of spider-walkers, or
arachs, since the invention of the steam engine
and the coreburner. The Confederate military is
extremely large, thanks to the nation's huge size
and population, but most of their soldiers are
poorly trained and equipped, excepting elite
forces like the Herrard Legion and the Templars,
and are used in bloody human-wave tactics.
Despite her lust for power, Fahrong has been late
in modernizing her army; Siege Engines were
adopted only after the confederacy took serious
134
losses from Rahmosian Steel Legion forces, and her military airship fleet is smaller and
weaker than her Rahmosian rival's due to lack of ship building resources within Confederate
borders. This was the primary impetus for Fahrong's "righteous crusade" into Atelia, which
would undoubtedly have succeeded had the commanders of the Atelian taskforce not chosen
to level entire cities in their conquest, a tactic that led to the unification of the various Atelian
peoples and the Confederacy's subsequent humiliating defeat at the hands of musket wielding
primitives.
Recorded lecture by an unnamed Syredenian professor of history and politics. Captured during an abortive
raid of the Syredenian catacombs by Confederate infantry, subsequently destroyed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Basic Information
State Leader - Overlord. Sjah Nezar as religious leader, the Sjah is the true power in Fahrong.
Religion - Officially Trithinism, mostly a mix of Uusi (45%) and Trithinism (40%).
Language - ?
Currency - 1 Kon - 100 Kiya (Coins are silvery, with the Sjah's profile on the Kon and the
Overlord's profile on the Kiya)
Climate: Temperate (e.g. Central US, England, France)
Economy and Trade
Fahrong has one of the most outwardly impressive cultures. With vast reservoirs of wealth, a
religion that is both structured and infused in every part of official life, and a underground
society (Nezar) responsible for getting rid of dissidents, Fahrong shows a united front.
It imports metalwork, religious figurines, gems, and raw material from Syreden, and spices,
food, gems, iron, copper, and raw material from Atelia. Trade caravans are a near daily
occurrence in every city, and they return not only with material belongings but with new
vocabulary, customs, ideas and technology.
Fahrong is also land-rich, enabling it to grow many luxury crops. With a climate more
temperate than most of its northern cousins, harvests are massive. In southern Fahrong, sugar
cane is grown, along with fruits such as oranges, mangoes, etc.
Further north, potatoes, wheat, and corn are grown, whilst huge prairies permit grazing vast
herds of cattle.
The cities are sprawling. There is a sharp divide between the rich and the poor, and many
places are slums, with all the associated crime, poverty, illness and adventure. Sometimes just
two streets over are vast mansions, gardens and streets dedicated to expensive, high-class
shops.
Because of the caste system, there are complex rules governing dress and jewelry. Workers
are forbidden from wearing ornate jewelry (a simple ring or earring is allowed), whilst
merchants and nobles are permitted to wear jewelry and silk, but not the incredible dresses
and robes of the Sjah and his followers, or the archaic, deeply traditional dress of the Overlord
and his court.
The Caste System
1. The Sjah (not actually part of the caste system, but a channel for the voice of Sajon. The
Sjah can do no wrong, and is assured of eternal bliss after death)
135
2.a The Nezar (although only rumoured to exist, the Nezar are the hands and eyes of the Sjah,
and carry most of the power in Fahrong)
2.b The Overlord and his court. The official judges and legislators, they mainly carry out and
are responsible for the beaucratic functions of the region; collecting tax, dispensing public
law, maintaining the military)
3. The Nobles (landowners, and the richer merchants. Their luck is clearly a sign that they are
favoured by Sajon) and Religious Leaders (most towns and all cities will have one or two
"Speakers", who are generally women who grew up in convents and who have been "Touched
by Sa". They range from the prophetic to the sensible. A Speaker has to be officially
recognised by the Sjah - if a random person tries to set up as a Prophet, they are dealt with
very swiftly by the Nezar. Speakers have a dual function, in that they also proclaim any
official messages from the Sjah to the general populace).
4. The businessmen/traders.
5. The workers. (Craftsmen, steelworkers, miners, farmers etc. Anybody who produces
something for a living)
6. Beggars, thieves, criminals. (Anybody who does not contribute to society, or actively
works against it)
The Army
Fahrong has a massive standing army. The poor sign up in droves, as it is often the only way
they can get a chance at food, equipment and a useful role. Conscripts in the modern
Confederate army are generally provided with uniforms, weapons, ammunition and rations.
This is a big improvement over the old Fahrong army, and its lead to a heightening of morale
among all servicemen. Conscripts are the lowest tier of infantry in the Confederate army,
recruited by the state to partake in Church-led ―holy wars‖ against the chosen enemy of the
day. Generally untrained, these troops are, nevertheless, generally well motivated and loyal.
The Confederation
Fahrong is the primary force behind The Confederation of Nallum (also known as The Ematia
States). However, Eastern Syreden is also a part, and should not be overlooked.
The Confederation has invaded both Syreden and Ralhor. It is also engaged in a war with
Rahmos over the country of Atelia.
Syreden
The birthplace of the Trithinite faith. Rather ironic that the plains that run through the center
of the country have been invaded, occupied, and annexed by the Confederacy in the name of
that same religion. At present most of the remaining free Syredenians are holed up inside The
Nexus, a network of developed caves and catacombs they dug into the northern and southern
mountain ranges for defense ages ago. Last time they got any use out of the dang things was
back when Donac Erus showed up and kill off everyone but the nightwatch. They've been
waging a guerilla resistance against the Confeds out of those caves for as long as I can
remember, and the blue-bellies can't do a thing about it. No shell big enough to crack open a
mountain, and no human wave savage enough to overwhelm the defenders when it has to pass
through a 15 foot bottleneck to get into the caverns. But there's a catch to it: food don't grow
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so well in candlelit stone. Sure they've got all the metal and minerals they'll ever need, they're
living in a damn mine! But food? No siree, they have to get that from the outside, and they'll
pay top dollar to anyone dumb enough to try and roll a convoy through the artillery-racked,
mortt-infested goat paths that pass for roads up in those mountains. That's where we come in.
Elderly smuggler, to his young apprentice.
---------------------------------------------Basic Information
State Leader - Consul
Religion - Mix of Uusi (80%) and Trithinism (5%)
Language - ?
Currency - ?
Climate: North is quite cold (e.g. South Canada, North US), South is more temperate (e.g.
Central US, England, France)
History
Syreden was intially made up of people from many different cultures, and the country itself is
made up of many different settlements. They were bound together by "The Syredese
Collective Contract", an ancient document. The Consul and sub-consuls administer law and
order, but there are few disputes.
However, due to their wealth, they are invaded by Donac Eros, and despite a long and violent
battle, are eventually mainly occupied by Erosian military. Vel Amit is the only city that
remains under Syredese rule. Donac Eros lays siege to it, but Vel Amit uses underground
tunnels to bring in food. Finally, the Erosian military trick the Consul into letting them enter
the city under a cease fire, and then slaughter them all. They burn the city, and essentially
reduce the Syredese people to slaves.
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However, the Night Watch had managed to escape into the tunnels beneath Vel Amit, and
they used the network to prepare for an uprising. After receiving a pledge of support from
Mercos, they strike back at the Erosian occupiers. They use guerilla tactics, and target major
facilities. When the Erosian soldiers attempt to follow the Night Watch into the tunnels, they
are swiftly dispatched.
Finally, after a bloody execution leaves Syreden furious, the entire population rises up against
the occupiers. The Erosians withdraw, but the country they leave has been changed forever.
Uusi was now the predominant religion, and many Syredese were accustomed to living
underground. They turn their underground bases into cities, expand the mines and tunnels,
and create massive 'City Crawlers', underground mobile fortresses that are home to thousands
of people.
The surface is left to farmers, traders, diplomats, and elderly people retiring to the sun.
This split eventually leads to the above-surface settlements of south-west of Syreden
announcing independence, and renaming their religion 'Ashi' and their country Kostir.
This divide between the surface dwellers and the underground cities is further strengthened
when Fahrong sends in diplomats and missionaries to persuade them to join the
Confederation. When Fahrong invades Syreden, it goes remarkably peacefully, and Fahrong
swiftly gains control of a large portion of south-western Syreden. Once they hit the
mountains, however, the military campaign grinds to a halt. Fahrong is also invading Ralhor
and preparing for a war with Rahmos in Atelia, and Syreden remains divided.
Economy
Despite the antagonism between the underground Syreden cities, and the surface settlements,
the two rely on each other. The underground cities produce most of the countries wealth, by
providing the gems, gold, silver, and copper for which Syreden is famous. However, the
surface settlements provide the food, and control the diplomatic relationships and trade
between Syreden and the rest of the world. The Consul knows this, and is anxious to stay on
good relations with the above surface sub-consuls. Sadly, most people under ground view the
surface dwellers as 'sun-baked morons', who have betrayed them by allying with Fahrong.
Equally, the sub-consuls above surface are anxious to keep the flow of metal coming, but the
general populace think of the underground Syredese as archaic, military fools, who do not
understand diplomacy, trade and compromise.
Health
The underground cities have their fair share of problems. Pollution dissipates through smokeholes and vents, but these are inefficient. With mining a common occupation, respiratory
problems abound. Equally, the lack of sunlight causes rickets in children, and mobility
problems (osteomalacia) in adults. Many sick and elderly people move to the surface. Sources
of vitamin-D (fish and eggs) are therefore extremely important for long-term underground
health.
The surface-dwellers are generally healthier, but winters are long and cold.
138
The Sovereign Republic of Rahmos
State Leader - The Sovereign
Religion - No state religion, secularism encouraged. 85% of population non-religious, 10%
Iperon.
Language - Sedalian
Currency - 1 Drakha – 100 Khas
Climate: Very Cold (e.g. Northern Canada or Russia)
Currently a republic, the Isle of Rahmos was originally governed by a monarchy, the first
monarch hailing from the royal family of their sister archipelago and close ally, the Sedales
Islands. Rahmosian spiritual beliefs of ages past have been mostly forgotten, though they are
currently a largely atheist country, putting them at odds with the Confederacy of Fahrong.
Militarily speaking, Rahmos posseses the finest airship fleet in Kathos and was among the
first nations to employ the new siege engine technology, discreetly supplying them to the
walords Arlos and Yarolk during their invasion of Naccaran. Their soldiers are more highly
trained and less dispensable than those of Fahrong, as their population is smaller, though their
forces are growing in number thanks to the advent of conscription in conquered territories.
Prior to the Kathosian campaign, Rahmos was under the leadership of the benign Sovereign
Marcus Mirrius, who earnestly intended to do nothing more in Kathos than stabilize the
decades old feuds in the region and then withdraw his troops. However, following his death
(almost certainly a result of foul play) and succession by Praetor Afrecus, Rahmos has
become increasingly imperialistic, permanently integrating the various Kathosian states into a
protectorate to help fuel an active war with the Confederacy and violently crushing any efforts
by partisans to re-establish independence.
Excerpt from: The History of Kathos and Osatia, vol. 7, 3rd edition. Leo von Rhanc, Kathos Royal Library
Publishing Division. [BANNED BY AUTHORITY OF THE SOVEREIGN]
139
Kathos
Kathos - Kathos as a political entity is no longer really in existence, it's part of the Rahmos
Protectorate States, and run by Rahmos officials, or Kathos officials working for Rahmos
officials.
State Leader - Was Overlord, now some kind of Governor-Sovereign? (from Rahmos)
Religion - Very mixed. Probably reflects their neighbors, so more atheist or Iperon to the
north, with some Uusi along the Syredese and Ralhor borders, and Trithinism along the
Fahrong borders. Probably not any real Ikozi, but maybe a touch along the Atelian border?
Language - Again, mixed. Most languages are spoken in Kathos, again most likely reflecting
nearby borders and such. Also, there is a Kathos language, which might be common as a trade
language (since Kathos was so large and influential)? Could be called Kathon? (name very
subject to change, please post suggestions if you have something better! )
Currency - ?
Climate - North is very cold, like Rahmos, south is only quite cold, like Atelia.
The nation of Kathos has never seen much peace throughout its entire history. Although
viewed as a single country by many outsiders, the nation itself is actually comprised of
hundreds of provinces each ruled by a nobleman; a Baron. While Kathos does posses a ruling
government, it heavily relies on the Barons to govern each individual provinces to reduce the
burden of administration as the sheer landmass of Kathos makes it difficult to assert total
control. In return, the Barons are given free reign to govern their properties as they see fit
while paying a tithe to the ruling class.
This of course has too often lead to turmoil within the country. Infighting is not uncommon as
the lust for power and resources often lead to small battles between rival barons. Alliances are
made and broken with treachery showing itself at every turn and most often it is the poor
Kathosian citizens who suffer as a result of forced conscription into militias and the frequent
land grabs which leaves hundreds of people homeless overnight. The government, more often
than not, is highly corrupt as bribery and blackmail prevents any action from being taken
against particularly ambitious barons. The result of this instability resulted in the neighboring
nation of Rahmos to step in and ultimately occupy Kathos, abolishing its ruling class and
140
establishing a protectorate upon it. Many citizens, especially in the larger and highly
developed regions welcome the new order with reprieve from the constant anarchy of the past.
Despite the best efforts of the new leadership, several barons still refuse to submit to this new
order and have rebelled as a result. Even the highly trained Rahmosian Legions sent to quell
the uprisings have had little to no success as the rebels are decentralized and frequently
employ guerrilla tactics. However, the more powerful and wealthy barons are capable of
employing highly trained mercenaries and have acquired deadly military equipment, be it
stolen from old Kathosian armories or bought straight from the black market. This has
allowed them to openly challenge their Rahmos occupiers on even terms. Some have even
personally funded into experimentation, employing engineers and scientist from all corners of
Kathos to design and construct strange, new machinations of war.
Recently, the barons seem to have shifted attention away from Rahmosian holdings and
focused towards shoring up their borders. The reasons are yet unclear although rumors speak
of vicious marauder forces pillaging the lands in the far north. Whatever the cause, the nation
of Kathos continues in its legacy of discord.
Extracted from the Kathosian Geographic Journal - authored by Ser Walther Goering and co-authored by
Augustina Inis; Published and circulated by the Kathosian Geographic Society
The Rahmosian Barons:
The Barons of the protectorate are mostly Rahmosian, along with some Karthonian influence
along the Karthonie border.
These men are semi-feudal lords whose family accomplished a feat during the invasion of
Kathos. These lineages have grown stronger throughout the years of occupation. These men
have remained some of the best strategists in the wars, but are surpassed by select generals.
They also act as the lord/governor of their territory in Kathos. This has caused curroption and
is one of the leading causes of riots.
I wouldn't be surprised if the barons are being systematically replaced by better advisers and
such in order to counter corruption, but some of them are too powerful to simply liquidate.
Without these sources of influence/control, the Rahmosian government couldn't hope to
maintain control.
AS for the Sovereign abandoned part, it's mainly due to Praetor Afrecus disliking the title. As
for the Barons; when Rahmos took over Kathos, Kathos was split into a feudal imperialist
system. The king had died many years ago which split Kathos into Mercos and Galatius, both
having a set of Barons, Dukes, etc.
When Rahmos took over it vowed to get rid of these corrupting elements, but atm with it's
troubles in the South, Rahmos is "allowing the system to keep the peace".
Dislike it as much as they do, but the Feudal system keeps Kathos in place, and lets them
think they're in control somewhat and maintain their legacy/culture.
Considering the Kathos Barons have great power they're able to contribute greatly in giving
the protectorate a strong appeal worldwide, especially looking at the strong Confederate
juggernaught in the South.
The downside is that Barons are corrupt, and they just as easily attack each other as they do
the enemy. Rahmos recently introduced the Conclave which is a secrete service specifically
designed to root out corruption in the Kathos royalty. It hasn't proved very effective so far, as
if there's 1 common foe to both please and fool for the Barons, it's Rahmos...
yeah atm the problem is that Rahmos is in no position to dispose the royalty in Kathos, they
need em to maintain control, yet at the same time the royalty are trying to work on
undermining each other's power as well as Rahmos's for their own personal gain.
141
The clashes with Fahrong are in part due to Royalty wishing to exploit Atelian resources,
although Rahmos was already working on trying to remove confederate influence from
Southern Atelian through ATEL.
but different from what I've heard about the political situation in Kathos from official sources
(second hand). As Ar_adunkhor put it earlier in the thread and according to some
information TVTropes scrounged up before the IG Oppresion site got replaced by a shadow
of its former self, the nation of Kathos was once unified under a monarchy until a succession
war broke out, which led to the foundation of several rival kingdoms founded by prospective
succesors. According to the maps on page 2 they consisted of Mercos, Garados, Crescu,
Torun, and Dynadares (if I'm interpreting it properly). These rival kingdoms eventually came
to resemble the wealthy merchant republics of old, but the feuding between them never
stopped, dragging on for (supposedly) centuries (hundred years war allusion anyone?), which
was Sovereign Mirrius's original impetus for invading them: put an end to the endless fighting
between the corrupt and, in my opinion, childish upper nobility of the successor states. Then
his ass got assassinated and everything went pear shaped and bla bla bla you know the rest.
The bit about the rebel Barons is very nice though, because Oppression had a tidbit in it
about both rebellious and collaborationist nobility existing in Kathos.
A few other changes I've made after re-reading the "Superpowers Expand" article (reposted
below if you're too lazy to follow the link): The leader of the Confederacy is called the Sjah,
and first people to actually use tanks (aka siege engines) were, in fact, the Atelians.
Specifically the warlords Arlos and Yarolk in their attack on Naccaran, just prior to the start
of Oppression. Though I doubt that they actually invented the machines. Since they were
getting paid to attack Naccaran and being given free equipment by the Rahmosians, I gotta
figure it was the Rahmosians who invented them.
Kathos has always had a large part in shaping the continent. It was the largest country, formed
by an ancient alliance of four kingdoms, led by a single ruler. To the south of Kathos lies
Fahrong, a country only a little smaller than Kathos, but far more fragmented. Many smaller
empires are held together by treaties and trade pacts. To the south-west of Kathos is Syreden,
a land half lush grassland, and half mountain. Bordering both Kathos and Fahrong, Atelia is
positioned to the south-east. It is populated by a vicious warrior people, who live in nomadic
settlements. Far to the north of Kathos is the continent of Rahmos and the Sedales Islands.
These two countries are closely bound together, the first King of Rahmos actually having
been a member of the Sedalian royal family.
Several points throughout history have set the stage for the continent as it is now. Here you
will find a brief overview of the history of Kathos and important events leading up to the
present.
Sedales Islands
State Leader - Royal King of the Sedales Islands
Religion: Iperon, 98% of population follow it.
Language - Sedalian
Currency - ?
Climate: Very Cold (e.g. Northern Canada or Russia)
Religion Key
Iperon – Followers are Iperos.
Uusi - Followers are the Uusin.
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Trithinism - Followers are Trithinites, or ‗Triths‘ as a derogatory term.
Ikozi - Followers are called the Kolill
Documentation on the Political Establishment of the Theian Nations and the Foreign
Policy of Fahrong towards Neutral Powers:
Fahraam- "Conquered"
3 major cities: Malos (capital), Trabil, Sutonas
Religion: Monotheistic, unornamented religion
Population: unknown
Industry Level: Low, moderate in Malos
Empire: none
Military: Infantry, Cavalry, emerging artillery
History: Once Fahrong's ancient imperial
rival, and closely related ancestry. Fahraam
extended farther south as well as north. It
marks the beginning of a great plain area on
Kathos, thus lacking major mineral deposits.
At one time, its light cavalry, the Ursay
(similar to the horse), and heavy cavalry, the
Tragak (a large, hairy rhinoceros like
creature), dominated the Fahraam military. The Fahraam conquered to the west coast and
controlled much of Fahrong. In Fahrong's patriotic revolution against the Fahraam, the
country was united. Now, Fahrong happily control's Fahraam as a puppet state. Speak of
unrest is usually met with forcve and is mercilessly suppressed. Fahraam supplies Ur Natahra
with food as well as Fahrong.
143
Geography: foothills and mountains in Northwest near Trabil. Scattered woodalnds in the
east. Mainly a flat plain.
Fahraam, once the power center of an ancient empire, was conquered by Fahrong under the
Southern Crusades of Sadaf Raha. Although always fighting culturally, the Fahraam people
hold relatively similar beliefs to the Fahrong. The two cultures also hold a hatred for one
another as a result of the Ancient Wars, Crusades, and their aftermath.
In the recent years, fighting in major population centers and certain cultural "strongholds"
have intensified. These conflicts are spread across the country under different banners, and as
a result cannot support a country-wide rebellion. Fahrong, before sending missionaries into
Atelia, attempted a similar strategy of conversion (used as an example for Atelia). This was
successful and has isolated some of the smaller groups even more.
Estros- "a Versailles Feudal Society."
Estros is a relatively united nation. It's
establishment of power is feudal, however the
lords of the lands live in certain wealth centers.
They tend to stay out of foreign affairs, but they
have a mutual friend in Fahrong. Fahrong's
allies have free movement through border
territories of Estros, protection, and investment
while Estros receives artifacts from Atelia and
Fahrongi technology/military to quell the call
for equality.
In recent years, a middle-class rebellion
occurred but because of the deal, Fahrong
intervened and supported the wealthy. This
allowed for the region to remain stable. This
stability has allowed wealth to continue to flow
across the borders in the form of trade.
Atrios- "A sub-state society."
Government: Anarchy, pirates, warlords and rebels
2 major city: Gaja (old capital), Jurika
Religion: Urchie (oor-chi-ay)
Population: unknown
Industry Level: scattered, low (was moderate before civil war)
Empire: none
Military: no government forces, different based on faction
History: A major Ushein nation-state. Very forested on the west side of the mountainous
region. A desert on the other side. There are hundreds of warlords competing for different
objectives. Mainly the mountains in order to gain materials to supply the remaining Atrios
Industry. Pirates consist of both Naval and Air ships.
Atrios, the second southern power, has a state like establishment. Originally, Atrios was a
group of city-states who allied together to expel the Fahraam. This led to a congressional-like
formation of states. However, this "Congress" has no police/executive force to carry out its
verdicts. In the northern states, Fahrong has disrupted power through invasion, to gain
resources. These states tend to benefit from Northern trade and have split from the Southern
states. Now there is a civil war, with Fahrong getting involved only to protect valuable
resource deposits. Some states have even separated themselves from the old government. As a
144
result, in some places old noble families are regaining power and in others warlords are
gaining power. Some states are being manipulated by foreign ideas (Fahrong, Estros,...) while
others are trying to take advantage of the instability to make a strong state of their own.
Lastly, some are breaking off to join other countries because of cultural ties and/or ideas of
unity with other countries.
Ralhorthese guys are kinda the "Poland" of the story, but a bit different. The Confederation is trying
to annex them, and the Protectorate is trying to "help" them (which in return most likely leads
to annexation). These guys want independence from everybody so atm they're accepting
Rahmos's help, but watching carefully and making sure Rahmos doesn't get a stronghold in
Ralhor.
Naccaranis in civil war and currently not allied with anybody. It does have an old alliance with
Karthonie, but other than that, this nation has little importance (almost no resources, small
population, little value). Thats not to say Rahmos isn't trying to annex it, but more on a
diplomatic level rather than active.
Supported Karthonie against Lyruthes, because of its current weakened status it is watchful of
Lyruthe invasion and Atelian warlords annexing border provinces.
Egastaswas formerly allied with "Mercos" but now has declared itself neutral in the current conflict.
It does however trade with everybody. Currently annexed in the Greater Donac Erus.
Donac Eruscurrently has a non-violence pact with Rahmos and Fahrong to ensure neutrality. Has its own
civil unrest so can't afford to get tied up in the large conflict.
Kostira religious state which previously had a conflict with Syreden, but due to Syreden being
invaded by Fahrong, now enjoys neutrality. Kostir contains many key religious places and
artifacts.
Before the Udornii rebellion, Jadorran put pressure on Kostir to join the Allies of the
Peninsula (Jadorran, West Syreden, Natahran merchant fleet, and independant Katharas
islands) by blockading the island of Kostii. Kostir however, has benefitted from the more
technologically advanced North Kathos nations. Not only does Kostir outmaneuver the
Jadorran fleet with trade airships, but Kostir is famous for its blockade runners. Now that
Udornii has rebelled against the Jadorran nation, the Kostii trade fleets easily get through the
thinned Jadorran Navy. At the moment, Kostir remains neutral, but if Syreden falls (inevitable
without Jadorrans support on the Southern front) then Kostir may be forced into war.
Jadorran- "Conservative Society"
3 Major cities: Jadorii (Capital), Oredo, Bahran
Government: Monarchy with a house of nobility
Religion: strict government controlled ideal of the king as a god
Population: unknown
Industry level: moderate only in Jadorii and Bahran, the rest of the country is agricultural
Empire: Jadorran Peninsula, Jadorran Isles, scattered tropic Islands across Theia.
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Military: Strong Navy, Cavalry, backwards large army, weak air force, emerging armor and
artilleries
History: Once a great power, Jadorran is attempting to keep its balance of power. It opposes
Fahrong's imperialism and has cut off all sea trade to Fahrong. It has sent troops to West
Syreden. A rebellion has begun against the totalitarian government. At the Southeast tip of the
Jadorran Peninsula, a city-state has seceded. Colonial Islands around the world have also
attempted rebellion. It has shown early victories against Fahrong in the north, but its lack of
armor and advanced airships/artillery are putting it at a disadvantage. Frontline morale is
beginning to drop as air raids and "armored beasts" begin to take the lives of Jadorrans.
The society and government of Jadorran seems to have been almost untouched by outside
influence for hundreds of years (except in sciences, its technology is not that far behind
Fahrong, but it is still a gap). The country was barely strong enough to unite its Peninsula as
well as defend itself. However, it has proven to be able to keep its independence.
It has always hated Fahrong and believes that its religion is superior. It has an Inquisition-like
police force that has made use of technology to quell non-patriotic thoughts and currently
attempts to support anything fighting Fahrong.
Ur Natahra
1 major city: Natahra (Capital)
Government: Democracy, Fahrong Martial Law
Religion: unknown
Population: unknown
Industry: Heavy, factories and shipyards dominate Natahra. Has a large trade fleet.
Empire: none, owns three islands in the south (provides much of Natahra's agricultural needs)
Military: Minor land forces. Moderate naval forces Factories provide many armor pieces.
Emerging air forces.
History: From ancient times, Natahra held abundant minerals and had a large industry
buildup. As the city grew to enormous size, the government attempted a colonial empire, only
5 of 21 attempts across Theia were successful. In a war, one was lost. Another was taken by
locals in a rebellion in recent history. The remaining islands, mostly Ur Huitas, provides
Natahra with vital agricultural supplies to feed its citizens. Recently, Fahrong forces have
moved into Natahra, furthering the industrial revolution there. Now, the city's factories
produce armor and is beginning to produce airships for Fahrong. Unfortunently, a good
portion of Natahra's Trade fleet and Navy have rebelled (they oppose the Fahrong) and have
blockaded their own country (with Jadorran's help). The country is on the brink of civil war as
Fahrong begins to install government offices of their own.
Ur Natahra/Fahrong relations:
Fahrong has not mobilized its industry to mass produce arachs, airships, and/or tanks.
However, the relationship with the massive ship industry of Natahra has been transformed to
make the materials needed for the airships and arachs. The trade that Natahran's merchant
fleet would be doing has now diminished. Many of the merchant captain's, Jad-Natahran war
veterans, are finding hard times now. More and more join the blockade in order to protest
Fahrong interference with Natahran trade.
Udornii
1 major city: Udornii (capital)
Government: rebel military
Religion: Jador (Jadorran religion), rebel atheism
Population: unknown
146
Industry level: Very Low (most industry was destroyed during uprising)
Empire: none
Military: The Jadorran Liberation Army, contains some Ursay cavalry, rebel infantry, and
some Fahrong armor.
History: Recently, Udornii rebelled from Jadorran. Fahrong gave its support with armor and
by redeploying the rebel propagandist, Froum Serrasus, in the city. Using a Fahrong airship,
they sent Froum to Udornii. They were dropped north of the city. In a week, Froum was there,
spreading propaganda. With troop morale against the Fahrong lowering over the past year,
and unrest growing, news peasant massacres reached Udornii. Froum called for rebellion, and
the people followed. Messengers of Serrasus traveled across the country and uprisings were
sparked. In the west, troops were called to suppress the people, but in the east, the troops
joined the rebels. Towns around Udornii join the rebellion daily. Jadorran is weakening, but in
an attempt to cut off Udornii from anymore support from Fahrong, the naval forces from the
Natahran coast have been sent to blockade the rebel coast.
Tyreh
unknown
History: Tyreh is covered by a very dense forest. It is believed that only tribal peoples inhabit
it. small trading posts dot the coast, but the forest's diseases, poisonous plants, and fierce
animals have kept all but the most adventurous out. Along its Narvesan border, there is an
almost perpetual thunderstorm. The trading posts do not yield minerals, so many Kathos
nations are relatively uninterested in the area. Narvesa is one of the only countries with
trading posts in it. Teams of scientists have been sent in by Narvesan airships and have found
some of the believed tribes, an ancient civilizations ruins, and many wildlife that could be
used for the progression of Narvesa.
Narvesa
2 major cities, 1 major trading post: Hujer (capital), Mikrit, trading post: Koven
Government: Noble/Corporate Republic
Religion: ditheism
Population: unknown
Industry Level: Moderate
Empire: 12 Katharas Islands, Trading posts in Tyreh, 2 colonies
Military: Ursay Cavalry, moderate navy, moderate infantry, low air power (mostly frigates
and light fighters)
History: five decades ago, Narvesa established its first railroad between its two cities. Its
citizens believed it would be the dawn of a golden age. A middle class began to form as two
years later, factories were establishe int the cities as well. The middle class mingled with the
nobility, and even though the nobility detested them, they benefitted each other. The nobles
votes within the government for bribes. As the companies grew, they sponsored ventures into
Tyreh and around the world. While the rest of Kathos was at war, Narvesa is exploring the
unknown areas of Theia. Across the ocean on the Continent of Culbar (named after its
discoverer Albus Culba) there are two Narvesan colonies. The method used to colonize some
of the Katharas is the same method being used to run the colonies on Culbar. Foriegn products
are then sent to the port city of Mikrit and redistributed over the continent. Because of
Jaddoran blockades however, trade has decreased. Narvesa is on the brink of entering the war
against Jadorran in order to reopen Natahra,
Katharas Islands
Near 100 islands, only 37 major islands
147
1 major city: Kotii
Population: unknown
Industry level: moderate, almost exclusively shipyards
Religion: Jador, many other religions
History: Has been colonized by Ur Natahra (Ur Phebos and Ur Katas), Narvesa, Jadorran,
Atrios, Fahrong, and Kostir. Here was where the last days of the attempted Natahra colonial
empire lived out. The Jadorran and Ntahra grand fleets engaged between the continent and
island chain. Natahra lost two Islands to Jadorran, and the Natahran government was
reorginzed in order to make peace. Kostir owns the Island of Kotii, and benefits from the
trade of that area.
Lortha
Government: Monarchy
1 major city: Helgrat
Religion: Urchie
Empire: none
Military: weak army, emerging artillary
History: Lortha is named after its hero, Nath Lortha, who freed them from the Atrios Empire.
Lortha is allied with Estros. Because of it giving its support to Estros in the war with Maktri,
its 2nd major city seceded from it.
Nather
Government: Republic
1 major city: Nather
Religion: Urchie
Military: weak army
History: Recently seceded from Lortha because of opposing views on the war against Maktri.
Name in its language means Republic.
12 years ago Fahrong attempted to influence the area in
order to control the midwest of Kathos. This would give
Fahrong access to the mineral-rich mountains within
Atrios. Like in Atelia, the Fahrong attempted to convert
the population. The Urchie religion was immensely
influential in the area and proved that this would be a
futile attempt. Instead, Fahrong took control of the
northern Ushein nation-states of Vhen as well as supplying
Maktri forces in their war against the Atriosians. Within a
year, Vhen was a puppet state like Fahraam. However, the
Maktri and Vhen were poor nations. Soon the entire
Ushein region was in a state of war. Estros was troops
were moving north to take Maktri. Lortha split into two
nation-states. Vhen was rebelling against Fahrong. Every
nation in the area was attempting to gain possessions in the north. The Atrios kingdom was
beginning to shake as well. Then the king was assasinated, it is believed by the Fahrong or
Estros in order to stop Atrios' advance into Maktri. Atrios fell into civil war. Maktri had lost
the money to fund the war against the Atriosians and the Estrosians, but provided Fahrong
with influence as long as they controlled the nation. Maktri's government began to fail, so
Fahrong took it over.
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Nordelia
Nordelia was a settlement of Narvesa. It
was hoping it could use the city as a
fortress to deploy troops from against
Fahrong. It had an alliance with Atrios,
before the civil war, and inherited the land.
After the Great Ushein War began,
Nordelia switched hands from Maktri to
Huikras to Fahrong. The citizens of
Nordelia still had a hatred for Fahrong and
rebelled successfully. The true reason is
because Fahrong doesn't care, Nordelia
shows little value to the war effort.
Jri:
Speaks a modified Fah (Fahronghi?) language and the cities have Fah architecture. This is
because it was the third ancient Fah state. It rebelled from Atrios after the Great Ushein War
began. It now fights to maintain its Independence as an Ushein state. It is mostly agricultural
but has some lumber and ceramic industry.
Huikras:
A wooded country with few settlers. Has a culture that has survived in isolation for thousands
of years. It has its own religion and language. There is currently a small rebellion against the
passive government in order to industrialize the nation and attempt war with its weaker
neighbors (Nordelia, Vhen, Jri)
Lyruthes- "Military Regime"
3 major cities, 2 major trade/mining center: cities: Lutka (capital), Ozivka, North Rahi,
trade/mining center: Storos, Movkos
Government: Monarchy, semi-feudalistic
Religion: Ikozi (Rahi, and some small villages), a tri-theistic religion dominates the empire
Industry level: low, moderate in
Empire: North Rahi, Storos Isles
Military (better than South Rahi): weak navy, moderate army, emerging armor, emerging
artillary, Tragak cavalry
History: Lyruthes and Karthonie have always fought with each other. Almost every year there
is some border skirmish. With the recent Karthonie-Rahmos protectorate, Karthonie has
become more aggressive, attempting to get a response from Lyruthes. Lyruthes has been at
war with South Rahi since its capture of North Rahi.
Lyruthes is a war-mongering state that is essentially cut off form most centers of power and
attention. Pre-Protectorate, it was at arms with Karthonie in sporadic wars for border
territories that it claimed of ancient rites. As a result the two countries hate each other. Since
the formation of the protectorate, it attempted the same thing in Naccaran. However, the
Naccaran people had formidable advantages in terrain.
Lyruthes has since looked towards Atelia as well. Its government is weakening and needs a
successful war as well as outside support. It is possible that the country is making deals with
Fahrong (Since it is anti-protectorate). If it were to attack Atelia and weaken/distract Atelian
forces, it could easily gain Fahrongi support as well as lands.
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South Rahi
1 major city: Rahi (capital)
Government: Ikozi
Theocracy
Religion: Ikozi
Industry level: low
Military: moderate army,
emerging navy, Tragak
cavalry
History: Ikozi Cultural
center. Experienced
religious prosecution
during Fahraam
occupation. Began a
domino that eventually
destroyed the Fahraam
empire. Now engaged in a
war with Lyruthes.
History: Rahi is a gigantic cultural center of the area. It is a holy city for the Ikozi religion.
Every year, thousands of Atelian missionaries travel there on a quest of enlightenment. In the
center of the city is a gigantic temple (one of the great wonders of Theia). After completing
the walk, involves having a stamped book from many of the missions on the path from Solav
to Rahi, one is admitted to the temple. Little is known of the rituals within the temple, but it is
guessed that a spiritual healing is given to the worshipers.
In the time of the Fahraam empire, Rahi was a great harbor for the Fahraam. The Fahraam
introduced Tragaks to the area. Rahi prophets began speaking out against the Fahraam
occupiers and were killed. This upset the loyal Ikozi and sparked rebellion. There were two
months of fighting, were the Fahraam troops were forced to withdraw from the southern half
of the city. Lyruthes, seeing a time to gain southern resources and farmland sent troops to take
the northern half. Within a month, the Lyruthes managed to take North Rahi, and Fahraam
was forced to retreat to Sahhor (at the time part of Fahraam). Fahrong finally saw its time to
strike back at their rival and took it. The Fahraam Northern army was crushed, and Sahhor
came under Fahrong rule.
This began a five year war that would ultimately lead to Fahraam's dislodge from all modern
Fahrong territory. Within a century, the Fahraam empire would disappear, and the current
Fahraam religion would be installed, blaming their fall from heights on the old religion.
Lyruthes still occupies North Rahi and has attempted to take South Rahi many times.
Lyruthes is no one's ally, but shows strong dislike towards Kathornie.
Óskar
Location: On the Western Border of Atelia and Kathos, not too far from Leives.
Exports: Fine furniture, jewelry, fine clothes, instruments, compasses, other luxuries
Imports: Anything they might need; timber, raw cotton and silk, food, metals and jewels
Óskar is the city-state of the rich, the influential, and the old families of Atelia. Most of the
diplomats from the other city-states live in Óskar, along with emissaries from Kathos,
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Fahrong, Syreden, and Naccaran. The Doge also makes his home here. This is where the city
states negotiate with one another over their policies and trade. Southern Atelia, other than the
scorned city-state Tamir, is not represented here. In fact, the rich and privileged people of
Óskar like to forget that they have anything to do with the nomads and farmers of the south.
Óskar is the center of any crafts or arts that require patrons, and has a thriving arts community
because of the amount of wealth floating around in the city. In fact, Óskar's Opera House is
world renowned for its beauty and productions. Rebekka Tabea, the historical opera singer
connected to Prince Galatius, Prince Mercos, and Lord Raiyn of Kathos gave her final
performance there before she was murdered. There is also a great library of various religious
and scientific texts, the Library of Atelia, and it was once run by the famous philosopher
Henning Matteo. It doesn't compare to the library of Trithinite texts in Fahrong, Syreden's
mechanical and scientific library, or even a public library in any of Kathos' bigger cities, but it
is the largest and most extensive in Atelia. The city is always making an effort to expand this
library, seeing it as a way to counter the general opinion that the Atelians are poor,
uneducated, and uncivilized.
In that same vein, Óskar has an established school system, requiring all citizens to attend at
least until they can demonstrate basic skills such as reading and arithmetic. This hasn't
worked as well as it was originally hoped, as it is fairly easy to ignore or get out of that
requirement, so many of the poor, who the requirement was aimed at, still were not literate to
the aristocrats' taste for a long time.
Óskar overall doesn't compare to the bigger cities in Fahrong or Kathos, but the city is very
proud of its status as the richest and most civilized of the city-states in Atelia.
Much of the city follows Uusi or Trithinism rather than Izoki, considering either religion more
civilized than Izoki. The beautiful Aviram temple rests in the middle of the city, and is one of
the other prides of the city, other than the Opera House. Until Northern Atelia allied
themselves with the Rahmos Protectorate, Aviram was a Trithinite temple, lead by the saintly
priest Elior Ehud. However, Elior disappeared soon after publically decrying Rahmos'
treatment of the poor people in the south and the mysterious death of Eirik Fionn, and the
temple was slowly converted to a political hall to spite both Fahrong and Atelian Trithinites.
Many of the Rahmosian elite soldiers and politicians began to use it as their own personal
quarters and planning rooms.
Óskar gave into Rahmos' offers without much resistance, early on in the conflict over Atelia,
and their precedent caused many of the other city-states to follow, with the exception of
Tamir. Óskar was afraid of their city and treasures being destroyed by an invading force, as
they sit right on the border of Kathos. Luxury and respect seeking politicians also decided that
accepting the offers would increase the wealth and prestige of their city.
Lord Christoph Tobias is the "elected" ruler of Óskar. His power is second only to the Doge,
although whatever Lord Tobias wishes for Óskar happens, whether the Doge approves of it or
not. The Tobias family has ruled Óskar for the last sixty years, despite the fact that the leader
is supposedly chosen by the people. Lord Christoph, the current Tobias in office, was
preceded by his grandfather Spiros, and his mother Joasia. Lord Christoph is a firm believer in
order, and so he strictly enforces laws. He also was a supporter behind swaying to Rahmos'
demands. Although not notably cruel, Christoph is politically and financially minded, and can
sometimes be considered harsh by the poorer people in the city-state. The aristocrats and
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diplomats love him, however, and it is probably this that keeps him in his position, rather than
corrupt bargaining, although Spiros Tobias was known for his underhanded dealing.
The Tobias family is involved in a feud with the much older and entrenched Milena family,
who are incensed that the Tobiases have ruled Óskar for so long, and fighting against their
own family's decay from inter-fighting and intermarrying. Their fights generally don't effect
the city itself that much, other than providing news and entertainment for the other aristocrats.
Luce Milena violently opposed joining Rahmos, feeling that in the end Rahmos would rule
Óskar, rather than its own people, and he was thrown in jail for his treason. The rest of the
Milena family fled the city, ending up in Irva, where they joined the underground resistance
there that rose out of the death of Anselm Hartshorn.
The city itself is haphazard and winding, although not particularly crime-ridden, thanks to
Lord Tobias. The aristocrats donate a fair amount of money to keep the city clean and
beautiful, so even the poorer areas and the slums have a pretty face to them. The beauty and
money of Óskar was more of a political representation than a truth; there was a rotten center
hidden behind the rich and flawless facade. The old families were proud and stagnant, and the
city relied, and still does, heavily on its neighbors for anything it might need other than
money. When the war between Rahmos and Fahrong broke out, and the rulers of Óskar were
removed and replaced with Rahmosians that were too busy dealing with Fahrong and southern
Atelia, the city began to fall apart from within. Lord Tobias eventually regained control under
the idea that it would take some of the pressure off of the Rahmosian diplomats placed in
powerful positions, but the damage was already done. The social hierarchy of Óskar was
broken, which proved to be better for the city overall. Surprisingly enough, the Tobias family
still controlled the city after this break, and Lord Christoph bent with the times and let the city
change to be more modern and less obsessed with prestige, heritage, and its past. It is still the
richest and most influential of the city-states, but is no longer in danger of crumbling beneath
its own pretentiousness.
Famous Citizens:
Reina Merav, a resistance writer
Alexander Serafeim, a famous composer who now lives in the Opera House
Elior Ehud, Trithinite Priest
Henning Matteo, head of the Library of Atelia and Philosopher
Alon Jacenty, renowned pianist and violinist
Verena Sera, Opera Singer
Fahrong has invaded... Fahrong has been forced out. The result, a power vacuum within a
large area of Atelia combined with a highly nationalist feeling throughout the country. The
Protectorate is wary to actually move in and support a government with fear of being
treated as an outsider. Instead, they are using economic means and "favorite" Warlords to
accomplish their goals. Fahrong is unable to attempt another invasion, as the combined
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attrition and lack of Atelian support makes the effort nearly impossible while fighting on
other fronts. One question remains...
What happens now? I've noticed that I can no longer visit the area deemed the IG
Universe. What is going on in your minds? This seems to be how the world of Theia stands
at the moment...
Atelia
While certain powers rise within Atelia, a brutal Civil War erupts. Leading to a highly
nationalist government. The victorious government will no doubt have received support from
a neighboring superpower, and to repay Atelia's benefactors, they will most likely give
mining or airbase rights within the country.
The Protectorate - Rahmos
Since the time of the Oppression, Rahmos and its allies have been modernizing its forces.
Using designs tested against revolutionaries in Kathos and the Western Islands, its Steel
Legion is now more powerful than ever before. This, combined with new airship designs and
other technologies, has made the Protectorate into the most "modern" power in the world.
Now, to break the stalemate of trench warfare on the southern front.
The Confederation - Fahrong
Even with the loss in Atelia, Fahrong is still in the fight. Boasting the largest population in the
known world, a simple offensive into the country would be a horrible loss. The many different
tribes/religious sects that form the nation disagree, with the main fight be the southern tribes
that were conquered during the countries crusades. In the past couple years, Fahrong has
brought increasing force to its domestic population in order to quell the possible rebellions.
The basic idea being, if they can't unite their own country, they will never be able to bring
another into their sphere of influence.
Kathos
The Resistance continues, although its targets are highly selective, they have caused many
problems within the Kathosian-Protectorate government. Assassinations, sabotage, and public
riots are common in the area as a result of a prominent middle class. The resistance receives
Fahrongi support. Many Kathosian exiles reside in the west, such as Naccaran, Atelia, and
beyond, but they still provide some form of support (when possible) to the homeland
resistance front.
Syreden
With a mixture of above ground and underground cities, and a history of occupation, Syreden
is currently fighting Fahrong. Using what little northern support they can get, the Syredenese
have brought the advance to a virtual halt. However, as a result, the Fahrong have assumed a
strategy similar to Earth's "island hopping" of WWII. This has resulted in a very slow advance
focusing on one city or base at a time while completely avoiding non-strategic bases that can
be starved. Kostiri volunteer brigades have recently been allowed to aid Syreden.
The "South"
The only place where Fahrong can easily boast its economic superiority. The South needs
products that Fahrong can supply, however, the Southern half of Fahrong is known for its
ruthlessness and dislike of the Fahrong (results of old rivalries). This has resulted in a
Southern liberation movement that attracts men from the regions of South Osatia and Seryon.
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It also has brought Rahmosian advisers. The result, an annoyance to the Fahrongi government
and military.
The "East"
Isolationist governments that are forced to listen to the Protectorate. As a result of little
tactical value, their only expectation is to not get in the way. However, it is possible that these
countries dream of a stronger Eastern Identity. As a single power, they could be a thorn in
both superpowers sides.
Taetus
Taetus, a cold wasteland with barbaric peoples. While not being a warzone of Rahmos, the
imperialist Donac Eros and the Sedalians both claim territory on the continent, as well as the
islands South of it. Kostir has also claimed some of the smaller islands in an attempt to build
its influence. However, whereas the Northern powers depend more on aircraft, Kostir has
some interesting naval designs, most notably the submarine.
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WAR FLAG
Kathos Liberation Front
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Interest Places of Kathos
The Walker Boneyard
The Walker Boneyard, where once great war-machines are patched together for sale, or
stripped of everything valuable. The Boneyard is far away from the countryside around
Anchorpoint, and you won't find any rustic villages, lively forests or pleasant mountain vistas
here. Don't worry, you get used to the smell of oil, rust and decay before you know it!
You can vist Joaquin's Bar to start a raid or smuggling run, visit the local black market, or
head back to the World Map. You can access quests from the Trucker (in the lower left).
Anchorpoint is popular because it offers an excellent place to buy and sell almost any goods
you can imagine, while still allowing captains to feel relatively safe (as safe as you can feel in
a town of pirates, marauders, and other individuals of questionably legal business). However,
there is a whole world of opportunity out there for ambitious marauder captains to explore and
exploit - the Walker Boneyard being one such opportunity.
Think of an aircraft boneyard mixed with a fully operational salvage yard. Walker Boneyards
handle all kinds of scrap vehicles, but the rusting skeletons of once mighty battle walkers are
the focus of the largest projects in the yards: sometimes to dismantle them and take out
valuable systems, in other cases to restore them to active service.
Although it is possible to run these scrapyards as legitimate businesses, they often become
dens of criminality, with people interested in buying and selling illegally acquired vehicles
and parts. There are laws in Kathos prohibiting the restoration of military vehicles and
weaponry recovered from scrap vehicles, but these laws are rarely enforced. Some Walker
Boneyards have especially large operations, and the central management of the yard
sometimes has difficulty controlling the outer areas.
It‘s common for bands of scavengers to raid scrapyards, with the goal of finding especially
valuable salvage and stealing it before the yard‘s owners can collect it themselves. There are
often violent battles between mercenaries hired by the yard owners and scavenger groups for
particularly rare scrap components. Because of this it‘s common to find marauder groups
offering their services near Boneyards, either as security or extra muscle for raiders.
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Aside from these marauders, the men (and the few women) who choose to work in the dirty,
loud and foul-smelling environment of a Walker Boneyard tend to be rough and aggressive
individuals, who aren‘t concerned about the ethics of making deals with criminals, or hiring
marauders to do work for them. Often, the most valuable thing a marauder band will be
offered from a Boneyard worker will be the chance of receiving a working ex-military walker.
Even aside from the prospect of getting your hands on a few more walkers, there are always
plenty of other reasons to pay a visit to a Walker Boneyard. Information brokers often operate
there from seedy bars, offering information about good raid targets and other well paid job
prospects, and Black Markets often thrive in such places. Why wouldn‘t you want to pay a
visit?
Anchorpoint
Welcome to Anchorpoint. This lovely mountain outpost is the first city to be unveiled in Iron
Grip: Marauders. It offers a personal place to get down to the business of being a Marauder.
Within the town you can vist Jasmine's to start a raid or smuggling run, visit the local black
market, or head back to the World Map. You can access quests from the Trader (on the right)
and you can begin the main quest with the Mysterious Stranger (the central airship).
Located in Kathos, in the region of South Torun, Anchorpoint was originally a fort,
constructed long ago to look out over the fertile land below. After the nature of warfare
changed and the fort became obsolete, it was converted by the local Baron into a holiday
residence (some of the more intricate architecture, such as the blue domes and the observation
balcony were put in at this time). During the Rahmos invasion of Kathos, the Baron was
killed in the fighting, and his heirs didn‘t have enough money to maintain the mountain
holiday home, so they let it fall into ruin and disrepair.
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It didn‘t take long before bandits and outlaws started using the place as a hideout and meeting
point. Some of the platforms were converted into berths for airships, and that was when
Anchorpoint became a popular stop-off place for a good number of morally dubious airship
captains. Smugglers and the more daring traders began to visit it frequently, because there
were always plenty of recently paid mercenaries and pirates looking to spend their money.
Soon the town became an illicit trading hub for the entire region.
Anchorpoint grows and shrinks over time, depending on world events, but its easily
defensible position (only one road leads along the cliff side to Anchorpoint) gives people
visiting it a feeling of security which is rare to such hideouts from law and order. Of course,
for many, Jasmine‘s Gentleman‘s Club is the primary reason to stop at Anchorpoint. Some
old marauders have been known to retire here solely so they can stay near to the Gentleman‘s
Club!
There is no official administration in Anchorpoint, but it is widely understood to be neutral
ground. Any marauder planning to settle a grudge or try a scam in Anchorpoint will at the
very least find themselves ostracized from the various services the town provides. If they‘re
unlucky, they‘ll get tossed over the edge of the mountainside. It‘s a long way down.
Baggerstown
In the early days of Atelian exploration, when there was a massive rush for the valuable
resources in the mountains of the east, the Protectorate funded an ambitious project put
forward by the Kathos engineering company Fieron Industrial. Fieron Industrial said they
could build a series of massive floating platforms; mobile mining bases which could not only
extract the minerals from Atelia, but process them as well. They called these Skybore
Platforms. Initially, the project went well and a number of small prototypes were produced –
many of these are still serving as observation and staging posts for patrols in the Teltos
Straight between Rahmos and Kathos.
However, as the size of the platforms increased, so did the problems. There were difficulties
in finding powerful enough civilian engine designs to control the movement of the gargantuan
mining stations, and the company began to run into financial difficulties. Platform One was
launched far too early in a desperate bid to secure more funding and save the company from
bankruptcy, but it was an unmitigated disaster, with strong winds forcing the platform into a
nearby hill. No-one was killed, but many were injured and Platform One itself was ruined.
Fieron Industrial went into administration, while the Protectorate military appropriated all
designs, prototypes and other documents relating to the Skybore Platforms.
When Platform Two launched many months later, it had been fitted by military scientists with
cutting edge generators to collect energy from lightning, and many other problems with the
design had been dealt with. Platform Two was the first to actually extract and process Atelian
minerals, using civilian workers under the watchful eye of military officers and guards.
However, new problems were discovered in the field that had not been evident in the
laboratories – the platform could not quite justify its running costs at this point, so it was
withdrawn from Atelia and decommissioned.
Another design was produced, and Platform Three was to be the last chance for the Skybore
concept. Finally completed years after the idea of a floating mining platform had first been
proposed, Platform Three demonstrated why the idea had been put forward in the first place.
Able to reach resource deposits that ground based crews simply couldn‘t, and capable of
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vanishing into the clouds if nomads attacked, Platform Three paid for itself in less than a year.
The processing plants and engineering facilities built into the platform meant that it could
sustain itself, replacing damaged equipment and producing its own fuel (primarily through the
generators). The excellent performance of Platform Three also had the side-effect of putting a
lot of people out of work – many mining companies were forced to downsize, and the poorly
performing ones just went out of business. While the generals and the nobles drank toasts to
the success of Platform Three, many of the common people cursed it.
With the success of Platform Three, another Skybore was put into production, this one to be
commanded by one of the Kathos Viscounts. The only new features with this version were
four heavy defense turrets, added by request of the Viscount. However, though the technology
was the same as on Platform Three, the crew and working environment on Platform Four was
very different.
The Viscount made Platform Four an oppressive place where the underpaid laborers,
desperate for any work they could get, were forced to work longer and longer shifts, with little
concern shown for their health or safety. The guards of the station savagely pushed down any
efforts by the workers to improve conditions at the cost of even a little efficiency.
Eventually things became intolerable, and the crew rebelled. The guards were outnumbered,
and once it became clear that the entire crew was united against them, the guards threw down
their weapons and surrendered. The miners dropped them off in the shadow of a remote
mountain range, and proclaimed Platform Four to be a free air station. It became known as
Baggerstown after the workers who first rose up against the guards – their job was to sort
processed materials into large bags ready for transport. Before the rest of the Platform‘s crew
joined them, many of the baggers lost their lives, but their sacrifice is recognized as the
catalyst for the rebellion.
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Infuriated at the Viscount‘s foolish waste of the Skybore, and deterred from an aggressive
recapturing of the Platform by the defense cannons, the Protectorate decided to no longer sell
Skybores. If a Platform Five ever comes to pass, it will be a military project. But Platform
Four will forever be an example of the power of the masses against the elite.
The crew of Baggerstown had freed themselves from the Viscount‘s rule through a violent
rebellion. Of course, sweeping changes in leadership never go smoothly, and after the initial
jubilation at being free of the Viscount‘s tyranny had faded, a decision had to be made about
who would call the shots now. Two sides formed: the ‗Baggers‘ – named after the workers
who started the uprising that freed Platform Four, and the ‗Cable Snakes‘ – named after the
people who kept the many cables around the Skybore maintained, commonly likened to the
various tree-snakes common in the forests of Kathos. Most of the unskilled workers favored
the Baggers, while the Cable Snakes gathered support from the technicians and engineers who
kept the machines across Platform Four running smoothly.
A council of sorts was formed, where representatives from each group met together to debate
on important issues such as where the Platform should travel next, who they should allow to
dock, and most importantly, how much everyone should be paid now that the Viscount was
gone. Most issues were quickly decided on – Baggerstown would continue on the course that
had been already been plotted for it (a yearlong route through high-resource locations in
eastern Atelia), and all airships would be welcome as long as they had no affiliation with
nobles of any kind.
But on the issue of pay, opinions differed wildly. Many of the Baggers supported the radical
idea of everyone being paid exactly the same amount, regardless of their role. The Cable
Snakes argued that the existing pay structures should stay in place. After days of increasingly
heated debate, the Baggers decided to take direct action, and declared strikes and protests
across the air-station.
Meanwhile, the Viscount was moving to try and regain control of Baggerstown. He knew that
he couldn‘t retake it by force, but wasted no time in trying to plant informants. Amid the
chaos of the strikes and protests, his spies found it simple to infiltrate the air-station. As the
Baggers and Cable Snakes continued to argue, more and more of the Viscount‘s men
smuggled themselves aboard. Encouraged by how easily this was done, the Viscount decided
to launch an attack. Three disguised airships full of his soldiers landed at the station, and as
they burst out into the landing bays and processing areas of the lower air-station, the spies
took up arms and attempted to disable or capture the four defensive guns.
It was a bloody battle, but the Viscount‘s hopes were shattered when his spies failed to
capture three of the defensive guns, preventing the Viscount from sending reinforcements to
aid his soldiers, who eventually ran out of ammunition and other supplies, before
surrendering. None of this happened before many of the Baggerstown crew had died, though,
including most of the representatives from the two factions. A number of individuals who had
played key roles in defending the air-station took on the job of governance. They realized that
more rigorous security was vital to prevent another recapture attempt by the Viscount, and
that they could not afford to have long-term disruption and argument within the crew.
In a single all-night debate session, they reached an agreement that both Baggers and Cable
Snakes were happy with. The Baggers would continue to work for the same pay, but in
exchange they would receive numerous compensations – regular holidays, a certain amount of
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free drink and cigarettes, generous payment for work related injuries, and the right for
workers in non-vital areas to hold small strikes, among other things. The Cable Snakes would
not get any of these things, but they would maintain their higher pay, and also be part of a
democratic ‗Worker‘s Council‘, able to vote on certain important matters.
Since then, things have been mostly stable in Baggerstown. There are still conflicts and
occasional fights between members of the Baggers and the Cable Snakes, there are still strikes
and protests now and then, and there are always spies from the Viscount trying to worm their
way into positions of authority. The ‗natives‘ of Baggerstown are always distrustful of
outsiders for this reason, especially ones who stay around for longer periods of time. Despite
this, Baggerstown is still very popular among traders, smugglers and marauders, being one of
the few independent places to resupply an airship in the wilds of eastern Atelia.
Frannel’s Smoking Den
One of the few
entertainment venues
present on Baggerstown
back when it was known
as Platform Four and
under the Viscount‘s
control, Frannel was
smart enough to predict
the coming rebellion,
and offered his business
as a place for the
disgruntled workers to
meet. When the uprising
came, Frannel‘s
Smoking Den was
largely untouched, and
he had earned the trust
of the new air-station‘s
new leadership. Even
during the Viscount‘s
attempt to recapture the
platform, the Smoking
Den managed to avoid
the worst of the fighting.
Though it might look like any other high class club for drinking and gambling, Frannel‘s
Smoking Den offers more than just cards; in Baggerstown almost anything goes. Even when
something does cross a line, Frannel is willing and capable of accommodating almost
anyone‘s desires if they can afford it and are suitably discreet. For payment, information or
money serves, and if given a choice Frannel will usually choose the information. He works
especially hard to provide entertainment that appeals to the local Atelians who sometimes
visit Baggerstown, and for this reason the Smoking Den is usually the first port of call for
those who seeking accurate local intelligence about Nomad camps or Baron mining
operations.
162
New visitors to the Smoking Den often find Frannel a surprising character at first – charming
and eager to please, but always with a pistol within reach. The
handgun isn‘t meant, as some assume, to intimidate patrons.
Frannel is well aware that he doesn‘t cut an especially
intimidating figure, and he can easily hire people who do
rather than bothering with it himself. Most of his guests are
tactful enough to avoid saying anything, but when someone
does ask, they‘ll find themselves immediately ejected from the
premises without a word.
Many people argue (quietly) that Frannel suffers from some
kind of paranoid anxiety, that he can keep under control as
long as he has a weapon in his hand or at the very least on his
person. He is very particular about guests leaving weapons at
the door, and only his most trusted staff are allowed to carry
arms.
Those who don‘t know him say he sleeps with a gun in his
hand, and that he has a wound in his leg from when he pulled
the trigger in his sleep. Those that do hint at enemies from past
lives, and talk of death threats from the Venta Erus organized
crime syndicate.
Frannel will be generous with his hospitality and information
to anyone who can pay, but don‘t ever expect him to give you
his trust.
Black Skull Enclaves
The Black Skull Cult are believers in a coming apocalypse – it‘s their belief that one day, the
sun will be snuffed out and the world plunged into darkness. When that happens only those
who are capable warriors, true of spirit and accepting of the ‗long night‘ will be spared. The
non-believers will be slaughtered, after which the sun will ignite again and the survivors will
live together in a fair, just society, where there will be no classes or nobles and all people will
be equal.
Introduction
It is common for those
unfamiliar with the Black
Skulls Cult to see their
vehicles and ask why the
skulls are white. However,
the two words have
separate meanings in the
Cult‘s name: ‗black‘ refers
to the coming long night,
while the ‗skulls‘ refer to
the deaths of nonbelievers.
―Nothing but adrenaline
seekers with a trumped up ‗ideology‘ to justify it to themselves.‖ – Aidan Kuross, intellectual.
163
Ideology
Because of their belief in a just and fair society, the Black Skull Cult is a popular refuge for
the poor, the dispossessed and those with nowhere else to go. New followers receive large
tattoos on their face and hands, and give their lives to the Cult. In exchange they get food, a
place to sleep and the promise of a new life after the long night. Black Skulls followers group
themselves into Enclaves – small groups of individuals who isolate themselves from the
greater mass of humanity around them. Each Enclave will have a Savant who organizes his
fellow cult members, arranges their raids or mercenary work and leads them in battle. The
Savant also acts as the spiritual center of the Enclave.
Black Skull cultists consider their primary task to be gaining combat experience, in readiness
for when the long night comes and they will need to cleanse the world of non-believers, and
so they spend most of their time working as mercenaries for whoever can afford to hire them,
or preparing raids together. Even though this often means working for those who have no
belief in equality (such as marauders), the Savants claim that it doesn‘t matter because all
these people will be cleansed as non-believers when the long night comes.
They see themselves as an illuminated few who understand what is coming, so they value
their lives very highly, and usually deploy in tough, powerful vehicles like Devastator Tanks
and Wreckers. Because of this tendency towards heavily armored but slow vehicles, when
they do form raiding parties made up entirely of Black Skull vehicles, it is common for them
to make deals with local gangs of Dragoons, taking advantage of their skill as scouts. The
experienced and successful Black Skull cultists with customized vehicles are known to be
capable warriors, so Dragoons consider it a mark of prestige to have served with a Black Skull
Enclave at some point.
The ‗Divided Sages‘ Black Skull Enclave, along with hired Dragoons from the White Hood Gang
164
Present Day
For all their professed belief in equality, few Black Skull Enclaves are genuinely egalitarian
efforts in the modern day. Instead, wealthy young nobles with romantic and generally
misguided ideas about what the Cult stands for will fund local Enclaves, and go along with
their raids for the thrill of battle. Of course, due to their position and a generous gold
contribution to their chosen Enclave‘s coffers, the Savants will allow them to forgo the
tattoos, and so the nobles can leave the Cult whenever they please. The less wealthy and
influential people who come to the cult, on the other hand, will have no such choice.
Most people fear and despise Black Skull cultists. Once a person has been tattooed, they are
forever marked as a Black Skull cultist and return to a normal life is nearly impossible,
despite the fact that they are theoretically free to leave the cult at any time if they wish. For
the unprivileged, the only realistic way out of the Black Skull Cult is death.
165
Kathos United
First Issue
Published by: Kathos Liberation Front 2013
Illustration: ISOTX ©, General Alrisa Alembick ©
Printing: Kathos Liberation Front 2013
ISBN 978-80-7387-499-2
166

manual for guerilla wariors

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