The archbarony’s survival
was due in part to Lexnol III’s talent as a diplomat, but he needed an
effective military to back it up.
Ratik’s Military
576-586 Common Year
PART
I
The archbarony’s survival was due in part to Lexnol III’s
talent as a diplomat, but he needed an effective military to back it up. This
is my article on that subject. [Note: My goals were for this article to be
interesting, informative, concise, and “accurate”. Whether it is interesting or
informative is up to the reader. On the information side, I left the
translation of information into game mechanics to the appendices. As for
brevity, oh well. I think I accomplished the “accurate” part, which I define as
being in accord with canon, or at least not contradicting it, to include
reconciling contradictory canon. I incorporated some ideas from fanon when
helpful, and tried not to contradict any of it. I’ve included endnotes for my
sources or inspiration (if any in particular), and a bibliography. Word charts
don’t seem to survive your format, so I put them in text form.]
Background
Before 562 C.Y., Ratik and Bone March’s first line of defense was a
relic of the Great Kingdom’s rule, the II Legion, supplemented by a variety of
feudal levies and provincial militias. The II Legion was a long-service, all
volunteer unit. The soldiers enlisted for 25-year terms. Their pay was usually
a few months late and a couple of gold pieces short. The legion was smaller
than most, with 10 “regiments”, each of 10 companies, and most companies of
only 60 men.[1] The legion’s authorized strength was 5,880 men, but the
ostensible commander of forces in the north, the Herzog of North Province, kept
it even weaker out of negligence, treachery, or perhaps both.[2]
Legion casualties were high in the Bone March’s unsuccessful defense,
and desertion rates among the legionnaires (many of whom were from south of the
Tessar) were even higher. Some legionnaires even defected to the invaders. In
the Fall of 562, Baron Lexnol III began conscripting human (including
part-human) males who were subjects of Ratik’s 11 freeholds, and who were
between the ages of 20 and 25 years of age, (dwarves and gnomes who were
subjects of those freeholds were conscripted at ages 45-55). Service was for 12
months; this was in addition to the traditional 56 days’ of levied feudal or
provincial service for which Ratikkans were traditionally liable.[3] The term
increased to 15 months in Needfest 564 when it became obvious that the Bone
March invaders would continue their attacks and that replacements would never
come from the Great Kingdom.[4]
In the Fall of 565, Lexnol reorganized II
Legion’s remnants into a new regular army. What was left of the 2nd - 10th
regiments became the basis for Lexnol’s new-style 225-man infantry companies
using the same number as its progenitor regiment. A 1st Company
absorbed any leftovers. Four of 1st Regiment’s companies became the
1st - 4th Cavalry Companies, one company became the
Marine Company, and the other companies provided personnel for three sapper
platoons and various spellcaster, craftsmen, scout, and staff officer
elements.[5] At the same time, Lexnol ended direct commissioning of the sons of
nobles and military officers, personally
selecting candidates for the rank of tribune (increasingly called “subalterns”)
on a merit basis, to serve for a period of time in a junior capacity before
eventual commissioning, which was also to be on a strict merit basis (at least
in theory).[6]
The term of conscription increased to 18
months in 571, while 2-year enlistments replaced the old
25-year enlistments. All human
and part-human males who were subjects of the 11 freeholds were expected to
begin their active-duty service before their 20th birthday; the age
for dwarves and gnomes was 45; for elves, 125. Subjects of the Dwarven,
Gnomish, and Elven communities were not liable to conscription in the regular
army (although many volunteered), but were liable for service with their home
communities.
Ratik faced
continued attacks from the Bone March, but conscription and mercenary
enlistments kept pace with losses. Initially, Bone March exiles were Ratik’s
primary source for “foreign” recruits, but barbarians from the north enlisted
in increasing numbers after the Ratik-Frutzi treaty. The army formed four new “volunteer borderer” companies
(units accepting only Ratikkans who volunteered for two years of active duty)
and two new sapper platoons. With time, there were enough veterans to provide
each active volunteer borderer company with a reserve company.[7] Due to the
transfer of subjects to provide cadres for the volunteer borderer companies,
the 10 infantry companies now consisted primarily of conscripts and
mercenaries. To a lesser extent, the same was true of the cavalry (see Appendix
5). The Archbaron also recruited mercenary units for specific
missions on a temporary basis (e.g, Queg’s band from the Wavewyrm in 578[8]).
Ratik’s victorious army captured over
1,000 Bone Marchers at the Battle of the Loftwood (Summer of 578). A few,
selected by alignment and ability, enlisted directly into the regular army, but
most of them joined four new penal companies, while a few prisoners, who needed
more training (or reforming), were kept back, and later served as replacements.
Volunteers from the regulars and provincial levies provided the cadre. The
reformed brigands served 5-year terms in return for a pardon. To keep the penal
companies up to strength, they were renamed “probation” companies in Wealsun
583, accepting not only prisoners of war, but soldiers who had been court
martialed.[9] Due to many of the original recruits completing their term of
service (and thus receiving their pardons), companies were deactivated in
Patchwall 583, Growfest 587, and Richfest 587; the latter two partly due to
losses in the Kalmar Pass disaster in 586.[10]
Halflings were previously exempted from military service (most were
non-subjects from the Bone March, anyway). In 581, they were conscripted (by
the age of 22) into a skirmisher company. This unit provided the officer and
NCO cadre for an additional company at the beginning of 586.[11]
Facing the old crush of manpower at the
beginning of the Greyhawk Wars, Lexnol authorized the conscription of unmarried
women between the ages of 20-25 for a period of 3 months (without initial entry
training) in the Summer of 583 (females had hitherto been accepted as 2-year
volunteers). The intent was for women to fill new service support positions
(e.g., cook, maid, etc., one per platoon), fill garrison detachments, and to
increase the number of potential spellcaster recruits; a few (mostly from the
upper classes) served as soldiers in fighting platoons (particularly the
cavalry). Lexnol extended the term of service to 6 months, including initial entry
training, in Growfest 585. This was extended to 12 months for Brewfest 586.[12]
Ratik’s Personnel Resources
In
578 CY, about 1,379 Ratikkan human males, 9 gnomish males, 12 dwarvish males,
and 12 “miscellaneous” males (mostly half-humans) became available for military
service in the 11 freeholds. Of those, 238 of the humans, 1 gnome, and 1 dwarf
did not serve (either rejected for service, or somehow dodged), while 18 human
and 1 half-orc recruit were detailed to garrison service. This left 1,112 humans,
8 gnomes, 11 dwarves, and 11 “others” for full, active-duty service. Over time,
these numbers grew through natural population increase and the acceptance of
increasing numbers of Bone March refugees as subjects.[13] Only 19 percent of
the male Ratikkan population was either relegated to garrison service, rejected
for military service outright, or managed to avoid active duty service. Ratik’s
finances may have been in order, but the manpower pool was dry.[14]
Additionally, 783 “outsiders” (anyone from outside the 11 freeholds)
enlisted for “human” units and 43 (mostly dwarves and gnomes) enlisted for the
sappers. In the case of the dwarves, gnomes, and elves, most of the “outsiders”
were subjects of Ratik, but came from the various demihuman communities, which
had a certain amount of autonomy regarding military service. Some of the human outsiders were Bone March
refugees who were not subjects of Ratik. Other “outsiders” were foreign
mercenaries who tended to arrive better trained and more experienced, than
natives [i.e., foreigners tend to be something other than 1st level
Commoners]. The archbaron could grant Ratikkan subjecthood to foreigners, but
this was normally only done for valorous, or long (25 years’), service,
although it was sometimes granted to fill certain positions e.g. craftsmen,
spellcasters, or scouts which required subjecthood. Later, Bone Marchers who
volunteered (as to opposed to being sent) to the probation companies became
subjects after five years of honorable service. (See Appendix 1 for additional
details)
Selection Standards & Initial Entry Training
The Fest Games:
Every fest week, local communities held games, culminating in one held
in each of Ratik’s five military districts. These included contests for the
local missile weapons (sling, bow, and/or crossbow), fencing, weightlifting,
caber toss, sprinting, and an obstacle course.[15] The Western, South-Western, and Central districts held
jousting and equestrian steeplechase events (to test potential cavalrymen), and
the Central districts held swimming events (for the marines). The military
noted each participant’s performance with an eye to determining future postings
for military service, including selection for tribune/subaltern.
Selection at Initial Entry Training:
Recruits appeared at the district rendezvous on the first of the month
after the fest. The instructors were a combination of called-up militia,
volunteer borderer reservists, retirees, and regulars from each local unit.
First, the recruits went through some basic tests. All roles took the recruits’
weightlifting and carrying abilities into account to ensure that they could
handle the gear associated with their role. Initial entry training was brief
(see below), so there was a lot of reliance on pre-military skills. Those who
became missile troops (including volunteer borderers) showed some sort of
proficiency with either the bow, crossbow, or sling (all commonly used for
hunting and competition in Ratik). Cavalry candidates proved their equestrian
skills. Marines had to have Ordinary Seamen certifications and proved the
ability to swim with weapons and armor. Craftsmen were certified Apprentices
(at least). Spellcasters were at least capable of casting cantrips or orisons.
Marines, volunteer borderers, craftsmen, spellcasters, and subalterns were
2-year volunteers. Volunteer Borderers and subalterns also had to be subjects
of Ratik; being a subject was not a prerequisite for becoming a spellcaster or
craftsman, but it was preferred. Craftsmen, spellcasters, and subalterns were
literate in Common, and had the archbaron’s recommendation. Subaltern
candidates passed a written test of military knowledge, underwent a reference
check, then faced a personal interview with the Lexnol himself.
For some jobs, the typical recruit greatly exceeded minimum standards.
The supply of willing candidates versus the small number of openings ensured
that most of the recruits who became apprentice craftsmen were actually
journeymen—this was particularly true for blacksmiths, amongst whom non-humans
were a majority. All of those accepted as spellcasters could cast 1st
level spells.
In
some cases, there were additional, unstated preferences. Any proficiency with
ballistae or catapults was preferred for marine and sapper recruits. Sappers
were almost entirely recruited from dwarves and gnomes, while the infantry,
borderers, cavalry, and the marines were almost entirely human (or part human).
Evaluators preferred stealth skills and fieldcraft for volunteer borderers.
Finally, even though Archbaron Lexnol tried to be fair, family connections and
charm inevitably played some role with anyone who needed his recommendation.
Manpower for garrison units that guarded certain archbaronial
installations came from two sources. The first source were conscripts who did
not meet the standard for service in other units, but are nonetheless judged
suitable for limited military service. The NCOs and officers for garrison units
came from veterans who have served honorably but had been physically
debilitated in some fashion, since “Heal” and “Regenerate” spells are hard to
come by. The position was meant to be something of something of a sinecure.
The instructors usually decided which recruit went to which unit on the
first Freeday after the beginning of initial entry training, factoring in
reports from any previous militia and levy service (or from service in other
armies, or employment entities, in the case of mercenaries), previous
certifications, performance during the fest games, and their training up to
that point. The instructors also sent reports on subaltern candidates to the
archbaron. (See Appendix 2 for additional details)
Initial Entry Training:
Initial entry training was designed to
develop and evaluate a recruit’s discipline, physical fitness, skill-at-arms
and armor, and some ability to campaign and fight as a member of a squad.[16] After the first week, the instructors might modify a
recruit’s assignment based on their continued training. Sometimes, deficient
recruits slipped through. Standards might also be waived simply to fill a slot,
particularly if the recruit barely missed a weight-lifting carrying-capacity
standard (the soldier just had to develop some stamina). People who were
otherwise fully qualified occasionally failed through carelessness, and there
were occasional attempts at cheating (or sandbagging), but the Powers-That-Be
had plenty of time to investigate a recruit’s background, and in extreme cases,
they had access to “Detect (Alignment)” and “Zone of Truth” spells determine
the recruit’s trustworthiness. In some cases, the evaluators waived a standard
if they thought the recruit was simply sandbagging to avoid a job, or bucking
for an outright exemption, then noted the apparent lack of motivation.
At
the end of initial entry training, the recruits went to their units, ready or
not, although the vast majority of recruits were at least proficient with their
basic weapon. Those few who were selected for the officer track were promoted
to subaltern on graduation.
Despite the chaotic alignment tilt of Ratik’s population, most Ratikkans
showed up for active-duty service (over 80 percent during the 570s), and the
desertion rate for Ratik subjects was less than 2 percent per year during the
same period. In part, this was because of the obvious threat from the Bone
March, and because both the Suel and Oeridian strains of Ratik culture tie
military service to manly worthiness (albeit in different ways).[17]
The same teams that evaluated and trained cavalry recruits (in the
Marner, Ratikhill, and Rakers cohorts) were also responsible for acquiring and
training horses. The freehold of Cormik is the closest that Ratik came to
“horse country”, so many mounts were imported from elsewhere, making Ratik’s
cavalry arm relatively small as a consequence.[18] About 10 percent of horses were replaced every year due
to aging and illness, with a few others lost in battle.[19]
(See Appendix 3 for additional details)
Bibliography:
Author
Unknown (presumably the Nyrond triad for the Living Greyhawk Campaign). Nyrond Gazeteer 593. [military descriptions
as of 592 CY]
Author
Unknown (presumably the Ratik triad for the Living Greyhawk Campaign). Ratik Gazeteer 593.
Abbott,
Peter and Nigel Thomas. Germany’s Eastern
Front Allies. London: Osprey Publishing, 1982: Reprint 1985.
Bambra,
Jim. The Complete Book of Dwarves.
Lake Geneva: TSR, 1993.
Breault,
Mike and Thomas M. Reid. Glory of Rome.
Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
Bartlett,
Clive. English Longbowman. London:
Osprey, 1995.
Bukhari, Emir. Napoleon’s Dragoons and Lancers. Botley,
Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1976.
Bukhari, Emir. Napoleon’s Hussars. London: Osprey Publishing, 1978.
Collins, Noonan, and Stark. Complete
Warrior. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
Collins, McDermott, and Schubert. Heroes
of Battle. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
Cook, David. (Greyhawk) Wars. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
Cook,
Monte, and Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams.
Dungeon Master’s Guide (v. 3.5). Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
Cook,
Monte, and Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams.
Player’s Handbook (v. 3.5). Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.
Cruel Summer
Lord, “Living Greyhawk Gazetteer Addendum: The Aerdy East, Part 3”, Canonfire.
(posted 10 JUL 2004), see “Ratik”. Accessed 27 SEP 2019: http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=456
D’Amato,
Rafaele. Roman Centurions 31 BC- AD 500.
Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2012.
Durham,
Keith. The Border Reivers. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1995.
Fosten, Bryan. Wellington’s Light Cavalry. Botley,
Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1982.
Fosten,
Bryan. Wellington’s Heavy Cavalry.
Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1982.
Fowler,
Jeffery. Axis Cavalry in World War II.
Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2001.
Gygax,
Gary. Dungeon Master’s Guide [AD&D1].
No place of publishing given; presumably Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1979.
Gygax,
Gary. “Developments from Stonefist to South Province”, Dragon #57 (January 1982): pp. 13-16.
Gygax,
Gary. A Guide to the World of Greyhawk
Fantasy Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
Gygax,
Gary. Glossography for the Guide to the
World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
Gygax,
Gary. Monster Manual [AD&D1].
Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977; Reprint 1979.
Gygax, Gary. Saga of Old City. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1985.
Gygax, Gary. “Warhorses and Barding”, Dragon Magazine #74 (June 1983): pp. 4, 6.
Henson,
Dale. Howl from the North. Lake
Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
Holian,
Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
Lau,
Matt, Empty Coffers RTK[m]3-03 Living
Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lau, Matt. Enemy Lines RTK[m]2-05 Living Greyhawk
Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lau, Matt. Reflections RTK 0-01 Living Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lau,
Matt, Scalphunt RTK[m]3-01 Living
Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lau, Matt. The Ungoblin RTK
3-05 Living Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lau, Matt. The Whispering Tide RTK 3-06 Living
Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure.
Lavery,
Brian. Nelson’s Navy. Annapolis:
Naval Institute Press; Reprint London: Conway Maritime Press, 1989.
Kuntz,
Rob. “The Great Kingdom and the Knights of Doom”, Dragon #59 (March 1982): pp.
24-25.
McNab, Chris. The Roman Army. NY: Metro Books, 2013;
Reprint Osprey Publishing, 2010.
Michael,
Nicholas. Armies of Medieval Burgundy.
London: Osprey Publishing, 1983; Reprint 1989. Art by Gerry Embleton.
Mohan,
Kim. Advance Dungeon & Dragons
Wilderness Survival Guide. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
Nicolle, David. Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars. London:
Osprey Publishing, 1984. Art by Angus McBride.
Phillips,
T.R., ed. The Roots of Strategy, Epitome
of Military Science by Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole
Books, 1985.
Salas,
Dan. “Rel Mord”, Fate of Istus. Lake
Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989.
Sargent,
Carl. Atlas of the Flanaess: From the
Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
Sargent,
Carl. The Marklands. Lake Geneva, WI:
TSR, 1993.
Sargent, Carl, and Rik
Rose. Greyhawk: Folk, Feuds, and Factions.
Lake Geneva, TSR, 1989.
Simkins,
Michael. The Roman Army for Caesar to
Trajan. London: Osprey Publishing, 1984; Reprint 1998.
Baker,
Rich and Skip Williams. Combat and Tactics [AD&D2]. No Place
of Publishing given; presumably Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
Wilson, Johnny. “Prying Eyes”, Dragon #303 (January 2003): pp. 72-78.
Endnotes:
[1]
Author Unknown (presumably the Nyrond triad for the Living Greyhawk Campaign), Nyrond Gazeteer 593, “Military
Organization and Composition”;
Rafaele D’Amato, Roman Centurions 31 BC- AD 500, (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2012),
3-5;
Gary Gygax, A Guide to the World of
Greyhawk Fantasy Setting (Lake Geneva, WI: TSR Inc., 1983), p. 23;
Rob
Kuntz, “The Great Kingdom and the Knights of Doom”, Dragon #59 (March 1982: 24-25, 24-25;
Chris McNab, The Roman Army (NY:
Metro Books, 2013; Reprint Osprey Publishing, 2010), 146, 152;
Michael Simkins, The Roman Army for Caesar to Trajan (London: Osprey Publishing,
1984; Reprint 1998), 10.
Using the Nyrond Gazeteer as a basis, I use the Imperial Roman Legions as the
likely model for the Great Kingdom’s military system, but with modifications.
The Nyrond Gazeteer’s legions average
10 companies per “regiment” (an Imperial Roman cohort had five or six
centuries), but this is in line with Gygax, who notes: “. . .the Overking’s
Companion Guard consists of 10 select companies of various arms…” Kuntz also
describes multi-company formations as “regiments”. Gygax and Kuntz may have
been inspired by late 18th Century – mid-19th Century
British (or American) use. I figure each of II Legion’s companies had 60 men,
except for 4 cavalry companies in the 1st cohort, which had 30 men
each (somewhat like the Roman equivalent). That the kingdom’s northernmost
defenders were the Second Legion is my invention, inspired by Legio II Augusta
in Roman Britain and the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of
Korea.
[2]
Carl Sargent, Atlas of the Flanaess: From
the Ashes (Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, Inc., 1992), p. 34.
A reasonable surmise from “…Ratik’s
relationship with the Great Kingdom cooled following the succession of the
House of Naelax in the Kingdom, which increasingly neglected this little
state.”
[3]
Carl Sargent, The Marklands (Lake
Geneva, WI: TSR, Inc., 1993), 11.
Sargent describes Furyondy’s feudal service
as the “traditional two months each year.” I assume that two months (56 days)
was probably the old Great Kingdom’s typical military service requirement for
feudal or provincial service (sort of like England or Scotland’s 40 days per
year).
[4] Gary Holian, Erik
Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, (Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast,
2000), 35.
The Bone March “ceased to be part of that
empire after 563 CY”, and presumably, Ratik along with it, if not before.
[5]
Gygax, A Guide to the World of Greyhawk
Fantasy Setting, 32;
Nicholas Michael, Armies of Medieval Burgundy (London: Osprey Publishing, 1983;
Reprint 1989), pp. 12-13, table on pp. 12-13, Table B on p. 13, p. 11, 12-13.
First, 225 men per company seems to have
been inspired by Charles the Bold’s Ordinannces of 1473. As to gear, “the
baronial levies consist of schiltrons of spearmen and a small force of light
cavalry… A force of men-at-arms, crossbowmen, and mounted sergeants comprise
the regular arm of Ratik, with bow armed woodmen patrolling the north and
sling-equipped hillrunners watching the southern borders.” Spearmen and light
cavalry are typically more “regular army”, while men-at-arms and sergeantry are
more associated with levies, but Charles the Bold’s Ordinannces of 1473 did
have men-at-arms in the regular army. So, are the crossbowmen supposed to be
mounted? Maybe EGG got dyslexic and reversed the two? Or maybe that was the
Table of Organization before 576 CY, to the best of the Savant Sage’s
knowledge? Maybe the TO&E evolved slightly over time? It does confirm that the following weapons
were in use: Crossbow, Sling; Bow; Spear.
Gary Gygax, “Developments from Stonefist
to South Province”, Dragon #57 (January 1982): pp. 13-16, 14.
Gygax’s description of the regulars as
“the standing army of 2,250 foot and 500 horse” seems to confirm my idea that
the infantry and light cavalry are the regulars. To square the circle a little,
I assume that nobles and gentry disproportionately join the cavalry when they
serve, and might therefore be (self-equipped) as medium or heavy cavalry. Incidentally,
it would ease the transition between active military service and the levies if
both had similar organizations.
[6]
Author Unknown, Nyrond Gazeteer 593,
“Military Organization and Composition”.
For 582-592
CY, “Tribune” is the starting rank for all officers and spellcasters in Nyrond,
where the rank of tribune is roughly comparable to a lieutenant in the U.S.
Army or U.S.M.C (O1 or O2). In the Roman Imperial Army, “Tribune” equated to
anything between a 2nd lieutenant (O2) and a lieutenant colonel
(O5). I assume that Lexnol would have made commissioning somewhat more
meritocratic when he reformed so many other things. I am not crazy about the
title “tribune” for Ratik (or Nyrond, for that matter), so I figure there was a
shift toward the term “subaltern”.
[7]
Gygax, “Developments from Stonefist to South Province”, 15;
Michael, Armies of Medieval Burgundy, pp. 12-13, table on pp. 12-13, Table B
on p. 13, p. 11, 12-13.
By 578, “the standing army of 2,250 foot
and 500 horse was augmented by four companies of borderers (900 men) and the
cadres for four more such units.”
The infantry and volunteer borderer
companies seem to have 225 men per company, which just happens to be the
strength of Charles the Bold’s 1473 Ordinnance companies.
Since Ratik’s human population pool was
already a bit “dry”, I assumed that the cadre were for recalled reservists.
[8]
Gygax, “Developments from Stonefist to South Province”, 15.
“The newly proclaimed Archbaron of Ratik frantically
organized his forces after the joint Ratikker-Frutzi foray into the
Bluefang-Kelten.”
Gygax
mentions Queg’s (apparently free-lance) band defending the Ratikkan left at the
battle of the Loftwood.; I invented the name of Queg’s vessel for my own
campaign (three PCs served on her).
[9]
Gygax, “Developments from
Stonefist to South Province”, 16;
Simkins, The Roman Army for
Caesar to Trajan, 8.
“About 1,000 [captured Bone Marchers] were willing to join the
Archbaron’s army…” I assumed that 1,000 would be a large number to absorb into
the units after seriously wounded troops returned to duty and the arrival of
new recruits to the units in Readyreat. The Battle of the Loftwood occurred on 14
Reaping in my campaign.
[10]
Author Unknown, Ratik Gazeteer 593, “Ancient History”;
Holian, Mona, Reynolds, and Weining, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, 91.
Holian et al describe most of the lost as
Bone Marchers. That implies independent émigré outfits, but I figure some of
the losses could have been from the probation units.
[11]
Author Unknown, Ratik Gazeteer 593,
“House Optwall” and “Notable Sites in Ratik”;
Sargent, Atlas of the Flanaess, Reference Card #2 (585 CY);
Gygax, A Guide to the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting, 3, 18, 32 (576
CY);
Holian, Mona, Reynolds, and Weining, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, p. 89
(591).
No
halflings are listed for Ratik’s population in 576 and 585. Ratik’s 591 CY
population includes 8,310 halflings, so I had to do something with all those
new halflings. The Ratik Gazeteer
seems to assume that the halflings arrived recently: Lord Erik of Optwall “has
made good friends with the leaders of halfling communities that have set up
residence in his lands”, including at Hobniz End. Recent Halfling exiles from
the Bone March or the Rakers would explain why the Halfling population saw a
disproportionate increase vis a vis the other races between 576 and 591.
[12]
Sargent, Atlas of the Flanaess, p.
34;
Matt Lau, Enemy Lines
RTK[m]2-05 Living Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure, p. 3;
Matt Lau, Scalphunt RTK[m]3-01 Living Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure, p.
5.
Sargent: “Ratik men and women are all
militarily trained, and conscription is universal” ias of the Spring of 585CY,
presumably meaning universal military service for both sexes. Conscription for
women is not mentioned for women in 576 or 578, so it probably came after 578.
In 592, Lau describes five male and female soldiers serving together as
(apparently) infantry. In 593, Lau describes a patrol of “Loftwood Foresters”
with both male and female members, but they are not Ratikkan troops (see Matt
Lau, Empty Coffers RTK[m] 3-03 Living
Greyhawk Ratik Regional Adventure, p.5, where the foresters wish to ally with
Ratik).
[13]
Sargent, Atlas of the Flanaess,
Reference Card #2 (585 CY);
Gygax, A
Guide to the World of Greyhawk Fantasy Setting, 3, 18, 32 (576 CY);
Holian, Mona, Reynolds, and Weining, Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, p. 89 (591
CY).
Ratik’s 576 CY is listed as: “35,000”
“total human population”; “8,000 +” Mountain Dwarf “fighting males” (see definition
p. 18); “3,000 + Gnome” “fighting males”.p. 32; definition of “fighting males”
is on p. 18 off the Glossography. The
definition for “total human population” is on p. 3, which does not include
garrisons.
Ratik’s 585 CY population is listed as 36,000
Humans; 8,000 Dwarves; 3,000 Gnomes;
Ratik’s 591 CY population is listed as
109,415 humans; 8,864 mountain dwarves; 2,216 hill dwarves; 8,310 halflings;
4,155 elves; 2,770 gnomes; 1,385 half-elves; 1,385 half-orcs on LGG, p. 89.
The 1,379 male humans coming of age every year is about what Ratik is
less than Ratik would need to go from 35,000 humans in 578 CY to 109,415 in 591
CY, even allowing for a very high rate of births, and a low rate of deaths, but
not impossible rates. I assume, however, that some of the population increase
between 576 and 591 came from naturalization of Bone March exiles.
[14] Gygax,
“Developments from Stonefist to South Province”, 14.
“The manpower pool of the Archbarony was
totally dry in 577.” …and presumably in 578 as well.
[15] Matt Lau, Reflections RTK 0-01 Living Greyhawk
Ratik Regional Adventure, pp. 2-3.
Reflections
includes an example of local Needfest games during the early 590s. Many of the
participants might not have served yet, which might explain the apparent
preponderance of Commoners.
[16]
McNab, The Roman Army, 152-153 (on IET);
T.R. Phillips,
ed., The Roots of Strategy, Epitome of Military Science by Flavius
Vegetius Renatus (Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1985), 75, 80-94, 103,
118-119, 132, 143, 149-150, 171-172;
Simkins, The Roman Army for Caesar to Trajan, 9-10.
I figure the Ratikkans
would try to maintain the classic Great Kingdom’s training standards, but there’s
only so much you can do in month; Continuing the
Rome-Great Kingdom analogy, the initial entry training for the Roman Legions
was typically four months (close to the current for US Army or USMC for combat
arms), at the start of up to 25 years of active duty.
[17] Cruel Summer Lord, “The Aerdy East, Part 3” see
“Ratik: Society and Culture”:
http://www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=456
Ratik is a mix of Suel and Oerid culture.
[18]
Author Unknown, Ratik Gazeteer 593,
“House Cormik” (“The peasant families who lie here [Cormik] raise a wide
variety of crops and livestock.”).
I assume that a wide varietyof livestock
includes horses. This is the closest that any of Ratik’s freeholds came to
being described as horse producing.
[19] Bryan Fosten, Wellington’s Light Cavalry (Botley,
Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1982), 25-27;
Bryan Fosten, Wellington’s Heavy Cavalry (Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing,
1982), 21.
Most cavalry horses were 3-12 years’ of age during the Napoleonic
era. I don’t see why it would much different in the Flanaess. Maybe we need age
tables for horses…