The Irillo Hundreds
Every Esrolian city, town or village settled or resettled from Nochet has a local defensive militia called the Irillo Hundreds. A given Irillo Hundred is grouped around approximately one hundred households. The Hundred is geographically based and not necessarily kinship based. The local free men bring what weapons and armor they own, although the cities traditionally provide a shield, a leather helmet, and a club or a spear for (some of) those too poor to provide their own. The Hundreds fight under the command of their chosen leader and under the divine protection of the Irillo cult, although sometimes from another one of the Noble Brothers. The leaders are usually well equipped with bronze mail and a sword. The hundreds of North March and Longsi Land are famed as skirmishers and slingers and often invoke Hedkoranth as their guardian war god.
The House Guards
Each Esrolian franchised house (aka clan) has its own band of household bodyguards. These bands are equipped and led as per the traditions and resources of the House. They are fanatically loyal to the house and serve only them, not in the army.
The Kimantorings
Ezkankekko founded the Kimantorings during the Darkness to take the fight against Chaos, originally as his household warriors. The Kimantorings of Nochet serve outside of the walls of the city. They are professional soldiers led by his representative in Nochet. In ancient days they were part of an overarching military command of the Unity, and officers in the darkness were usually trolls from the Shadow Plateau. The Kimantorings were the Kitori army. They called upon the terrible darkness powers in war who worshipped including the dread deities of Humakt, Babeester Gor and Zorak Zoran. They were skilled slingers, and the elite among them bore bronze scale mail and helmet, a large shield, spear, and an axe or sword.
The Kimantorings originally fought outside Esrolia. In the Dawn Age they were led by Lord Demon of Death deep into Peloria. Theyvora the Axe led them as part of the Unity Council Army of Defense when they were defeated by the Great Army of Restraint at the Battle of Night and Day. They later fought for Arkat and followed Arkat the Troll into Dorastor.
The Kimantorings were separated from the Shadow Plateau command in 578 after the Tax Slaughter. The ranking lord, the Kimantor of Nochet, commanded them. Troops were drafted from across the land sent to Nochet as permanent soldiers. They served for 25, and on retirement got grants of land provided by the Grandmother’s Council, usually in frontier lands. These settlements are the so-called “soldier clans” along the borders.
The Regiments of Esrolia
Belintar has appointed 11 military leaders – called “dukes” – to organize and command the armies of Esrolia. Standard Bearers have been approved by the Grandmothers Council to receive the troops previously drafted for the Kimantoring army, but now the units report to Belintar’s army hierarchy, not the Esrolian army. These units are generally militia similar to that of the Illiro’s Hundreds, but with training. Each Standard promotes from among its membership first to the “superior battalions,” and from that into the Select. The Select are elite warriors.
Mercenaries
The mercenary tradition is well established in Esrolia. In the Dawn Age the Grandmothers council often hired warriors to protect their land when the regular army was away fighting in Peloria. Afterwards some Grandmothers complained that their local forces “lacked the incentive to learn the arts of war, and were constantly beaten by smaller armies.” In such cases mercenaries were hired again. Their effectiveness insured their durability.
These are not permanent standing armies, although some have a nearly permanent contract with the rulers. Between employment the mercenaries a dismissed by their leaders, and hired again as needed.
Some mercenary units are well established and respected in Esrolia. Most revolve around a single war entity, but a couple have mixed troops. Among the permanent war gods are Humakti swords, Gorite axe women, Caladralander spearmen, Hedkoranth slingers.
In times of need other mercenaries are regularly employed. In addition to the types mentioned are Heortling weapon thanes, trolls from the Shadow Plateau or even Rokari knights.
