Howdy all – here’s a preview of something I am working on for the next issue of Wyrms Footnotes: Hero Wars Army Lists! I’m a bit of a wargamer at heart, and Greg and I have long wanted to get out a canonical army list of the Lunars AND the rebels.

This is a non-exclusive and unfinished list of canonical regiments and special units in the Lunar Army during the Hero Wars period.

To further discuss this list, I’ve put a thread up in the forum: https://wellofdaliath.chaosium.com/forums/glorantha-group1/glorantha-discussions-forum1/lunar-army-discussions-thread45/

Lunar Headquarters

The headquarters of the Lunar Army is more than merely the command center. It is the mobile household of the Red Emperor, with dignitaries, consorts, priests, clerks, servants, and slaves. It is a mobile temple, home to the wargods of the Lunar Empire, and attended to by scores of priests.

The Red Emperor is the immortal, ever-reincarnating ruler of the Lunar Empire, responsible only to his mother, the Red Goddess. He is the supreme head of the political government, the highest priest of the Lunar religion, and commander-in-chief of the Lunar Army.

The Imperial Warlord was appointed in 7/36 (1607) by the current Mask of the Red Emperor. He serves as high priest of all the Lunar wargods and wields the sacred Five Star Standard. The corps of the Lunar Army report to Bellex Maximus, who in turn reports directly to the Red Emperor.

This Heroine of the Lunar Empire is the Fourth Inspirations of Moonson and the current incarnation of the Red Goddess. She is the greatest Hero of the Lunar Empire.

The Daughter of the Red Moon, this demigod is one of the very few beings not responsible to the Red Emperor, instead owing allegiance to the Red Goddess herself.

College of Magic

A prominent superiority of the Lunar Army is their unique use of sorcerers, shamans, and priests organized into permanent military units. Most magical units are assigned to the College of Magic, including, among others, the Field School of Magic, the Crater Makers, and the Crimson Bat.

The Crimson Bat is a Chaos demon alive in the Middle World and bound in service to the Red Goddess. It is the most awesome exotic magical unit of the Lunar Empire, capable of devouring entire regiments and routing armies. The Crimson Bat generates its own Glowspot, extending approximately 10 miles in all directions. It is served by a cruel Chaos cult that keeps it fed with human victims.

The Crater Makers are an independent school of the Lunar Magical Corps. Their training allows them to call upon the Red Moon to hurl down huge chunks of roaring rock from the sky to fall upon their foes.

The Field School of Magic consists of six priestly/magical units, each with some 200 Lunar priests, sorcerers, and shamans from the University of the Seven Phases in Glamour. The purpose of the Field School is to serve the Red Goddess by serving the Lunar army. They also oversee the coordination of other cults (except the wargods) with the Lunar army. Their magic is subject to the Lunar Cycle.

The Field School is divided into four Minor Class units and two Major Class units. Minor Class units provide as many squads of flexible Lunar magicians as possible. Each squad is organized so that its members collectively master the Seven Phases of the Moon. The members of a Minor Class Unit all dress alike.

Major Class units are composed of Illuminated Lunar magicians, each trained to master at least six of the seven phases. The Major Class magicians are mounted on horses.

The Field School of Magic is protected by two regiments of University Guards. They worship Yanafal Tarnils and are sworn to defend their magicians to the death. Sometimes the magicians have to be quite close to the fighting, and since they are likely to be involved in otherworldly activity and utterly helpless in the mundane world, they are very dependent upon their guards for defense. As a result, the University Guards are beloved by the Field School magicians and a part of the Field School’s magic is always given to their Guards.

The Blue Moon School is an independent school of the College of Magic. They preserve ancient Lunar secrets from lost Mernita that predates the rebirth of the Red Goddess.

The Spell Archers are an independent school of the College of Magic. They are sun priests who can cast fiery bolts down from the heavens with their spells.

This order of stargazers is an independent school of the College of Magic and use celestial magic to disrupt the enemy.

Imperial Bodyguard

The Imperial Bodyguard is a special group of elite regiments that serves as the bodyguard of the Red Emperor and the tactical reserve for the Lunar Army.

This magical regiment assigned to the Imperial Bodyguard is feared throughout Glorantha. Its soldiers are demigod immortals, heroes in training who descend to earth from the Red Moon to fight for the Red Emperor. When they are slain, they return to their Mother, who heals them and sends them back to the Lunar armies.

This former kitchen slave led a successful slave rebellion, using only the tools of his trade. The rebellion was crushed by Jar-eel, but Beat-Pot became her constant companion and high priest of the Bloodspillers cult.

First of the Silver Regiments founded by Yanafal Tarnils to protect the Red Goddess, this regiment is made up of men and women who dedicate their lives to the martial arts and the defense of the Red Emperor.

This ancient regiment is comprised of the followers of a ferocious wargod from Alkoth. The Carmanians set the wargod against the Red Goddess, but instead swore to serve as one of Her guardians outside of Raibanth in 0/15 (1235).

One of the Silver Regiments, members of this regiment must be veterans of ten years service, and have lost a close relative to enemy action before they can join.

This regiment originally consisted of crazed followers of Jakaleel the Witch and now worship a variety of Hell deities. It is a ferocious unit feared by friends and foes alike.

One of the Silver Regiments founded by Yanafal Tarnils to protect the Red Goddess, the soldiers of this unit wear silver facemasks.

This regiment was originally founded to protect the Red Goddess as she wove her great magic at the Battle of Castle Blue.

Heartland Corps

The Heartland Corps are the heir of the pre-Lunar Dara Happan Field Army and consists of regiments of heavy and light infantry.

One of the ancient Stonewall Phalanxes, this regiment has special magic for fighting against the Ram People of Talastar and Brolia.

One of the ancient Stonewall Phalanxes, this regiment has special magic for fighting against trolls.

One of the ancient Stonewall Phalanxes, this regiment has special magic for fighting against the people of First Blessed.

One of the ancient Stonewall Phalanxes, this regiment has special magic for fighting against Darkness.

One of the surviving Line Regiments of Emperor Elmexdros, this unit consists of 300 spearmen and 700 archers. The spearmen wear bronze cuirasses and carry long spears; the archers wear leather armor, and carry medium shields and kopis swords for close combat.

This unit of well-drilled hypaspists is capable of fast marching and operating in difficult terrain. They are named after their famous silver-plated shields.

This unit originated in Second Age Fronela, and is armed with weapons made by the dwarves of Nida. They served the Carmanian Shahs until after the Battle of the Four Arrows of Light. The soldiers worship Humakt the Iron Sword.

This archery unit is traditionally commanded by one of the daughters of the Red Emperor.

This Darsenite regiment once guarded the Earth Temples of the Darsen Hills from despoliation by men. They are especially effective on broken ground.

This Old Carmanian unit is protected by an ancient Sakkar (saber-toothed tiger) spirit. They have an ancient rivalry with the Lasadag Lions.

This ancient Suvarian unit fights as peltasts. They carry crescent-shaped wicker shields and wear square bronze pectoral plates.

This Darjiini unit fights as peltasts. They carry crescent-shaped wicker shields and wear circular bronze pectoral plates.

This regiment of Eolian auxiliaries is famed for its surprise attacks and skillful, tactical withdrawals.

These slingers from the Orayan hills are skilled skirmishers in broken country. They wear their slings, made of hair and sinew, wrapped around their temples.

The lion-soldiers of Pelanda are an ancient and well-known regiment. They served as bodyguards to the Lion Shahs of Carmania. They wear lion hides and some can even transform into lions. They have an ancient rivalry with the Doblian Dogeaters.

This ancient unit of Darjiini skirmishers has served the Dara Happa Empire since the First Age. They wear lamellar cuirasses of lacquered leather.

The soldiers of this Darsenite regiment decorate their helmet crests with eagle feathers. They are skilled woodsmen.

These two regiments of skilled slingers come from Eol and are widely considered the best missile troops in the Lunar Army.

This regiment from Doblian was founded by Hon-eel the Artess at the end of the Fourth Wane.

This regiment was founded in the Second Wane by Hwarin Dalthippa for the Daughter’s Road Campaign. The soldiers fight as a phalanx, but move around the battlefield and on campaign on horseback.

This regiment was founded in the Second Wane by Hwarin Dalthippa for the Daughter’s Road Campaign. The soldiers fight as a phalanx, but move around the battlefield and on campaign on horseback.

This superbly drilled regiment fights as a phalanx, but moves around the battlefield and on campaign on horse. The regiment was founded by Hon-eel the Artess at the beginning of the Fifth Wane.

Total: 23 Regiments out of 36

Cavalry Corps

During the wars with Sheng Seleris, the Cavalry Corps gained in prestige and importance at the expense of the Heartland Corps.

The Antelope Lancers are Sable Riders from the Hungry Plateau. They worship the Twin Stars.

This regiment was founded by Hon-eel the Artess to fight against the Pentans in the Fifth Wane.

This tribe of Pure Horse People have been allies of the Red Goddess since the Battle of Seven Horses in 0/8 (1228).

This regiment was founded by Hwarin Dalthippa during the resettlement of Rist in 1/49 (1296).

This aristocratic regiment from Birin was founded by Avivath in the First Age. They are notable for the golden sun on their shields.

This regiment of Carmanian cataphracts comes from the province of Jhor.

This regiment of Carmanian cataphracts comes from the province of Worion.

This regiment from First Blessed is always commanded by a priestess of the Red Goddess.

This regiment of Carmanian horse archers is noted for its skill at fighting Pentan cavalry.

This ancient regiment maintains the taboos of the Pure Horse People and worships Hyalor. They ride in the ancient manner, and do not use saddles.

These mounted archers from the Redlands are noted for their ability to shoot their bows while retreating away from the enemy.

These scouts from Terarir revel in reckless behavior, drunkenness, and death.

These horse archers from Oraya are scouts and skirmishers.

Provincial Army

Tarsh

Yelmalio cultists organized around their Sun Dome Temple.

Holay

Supported by the Bell Temple in Filichet.

Aggar

Vanch