"Korchok looked up from the fire, continuing to run the worn whetstone along the keen edge of his chagkra. The messengers dropped quickly to their knees and gripping the dirt with their hands. Korchok bid them speak and they explained that the Uren horses had entered the valley and set fire to the tents. Looking back to his sharpening he told them to wait, when they were closer and their flanks exposed along the valley's length, the Ortor would fall upon them with great speed and strength. Acting too soon would lose the day, too late and they would be overrun. Korchok smiled to himself. He had faced this Thard [Captain] an Kandal before, but this time, he was ready."

Book of War - The Dekàlan Military

• Introduction
• Early Empire (EE)
• Middle Empire (ME)
• Late Empire (LE)

Introduction

One of the most successful Uren militaries ever to march the World of Teréth End were the armies of the Dekàlan High Kings.

Early Empire (EE) 115 AR - 264 HK

...

Middle Empire (ME) 265 HK - 839 HK

...

Late Empire (LE) 840 AR - 1246 HK

The Dekàlan Late Empire is defined by two important developments in the history of the Nor Ter'as Dekàlas:  1) the presentation of Steel-lore to the High Throne by Rothic priests in 835 HK and 2) the beginning of the Tasseri Campaigns, which would teach the Empire many hard lessons by the claws and tails of the resourceful Sha'al.  Although the Late Empire is seen by many scholars as a time of declining power within Dekàlas, the armies of the High King were never stronger than during this time.  In the preceding centuries the surrounding world had learned many hard lessons at the hands of Kryr Tremèndum and had assembled substantial forces of their own, many mimicking aspects of the invading Dekàlans.

Composition of Forces

It is believed that one of the major contributions to the success of the Dekàlan armies was its organization.  From the smallest four man units to armies of over a thousand soldiers, the High King's forces remained organized along a strict heirarchical structure.  The design was so important to the Dekàlan armies that breaking from this order was often treated as insubordination and sometimes treason, each punishable by torture, exile or execution.

The smallest recognizable unit was the "dag" (see also OE lard).  Each dag consisted of four men which would share a tent and a mule to carry their provisions.  Members of this unit would often join, train and serve in the same dag from the time they were mustered-in until the time they could return home from the campaigns.  Most dags trained in the same weapons, shields and mounts (if applicable).  Each dag was expected to be self-sufficient (i.e. cooking, animal care, first aid, armor repair, weapon maintenance, etc.).  Dag soldiers would either serve as part of an arrangement to serve on behalf of their local lord or as paid mercenaries when greater numbers were required.  Dag regulars were armed and armored according to their region and the wealth of their supporting lord or state.  Dag mercenaries were supplied more meagerly, being expected to provide for themselves.

* Dagord do not typically merit standards.

The "lardag" (i.e. camp) was the next largest unit, usually consisting of three dags led by a [sergeant] who was sometimes a thard.  It was most common for all dags within a lardag to be similarly trained and equipped to provide for a coherent force on the battlefield (i.e. a lardag of pikes, a lardag of archers, etc.).  In addition to twelve soldiers and their leader, each lardag was assigned at least one [attendant] (more if the leader was a thard) whose job was to provide for the leader and his men.  Duties of the [attendant] included cooking, camp chores, etc.  If the lardag was a mounted unit, additional [attendants] would be required.

* Lardàgor do not typically merit standards

A "rultàrda" included a minimum of five camps and was considered by many as the smallest of the effective fighting formations. Each rultàrda was manned by at least sixty soldiers, sometimes of differing disciplines (i.e. archers, infantry, etc.).  The three score soldiers were supported by a minimum of five [attendants] and standard bearers, [sergeants] (one for each lardag), at least two lieutenants and a [captain] who were in turn supported by a handful of guards and escorts.  Rultàrda [captains] were unfailingly thardram for the command of a lord's troops in these numbers could not be granted to one who had not been given that lord's blessing.  Should a thard fall in battle, the lord's troops could not be commanded by anyone unless: 1) they were given permission or blessing by the lord (such as a thard lieutenant), 2) given blessing by proxy of the lord's priest or 3) given blessing by proxy of the lord's commander (see galdar).  While not one of the largest units fielded by the Dekàlan High Kings, at a minimum of seventy-six men, the rultàrda was a considerable force.

* Rultàrdadén standards are silver or golden discs; silver discs are given upon the creation of a March, whereas golden discs are presented following successful battles or campaigns by a [commander] or [general]; in rare instances an encrusted disc is awarded particularly heroic rultàrdadén by the High King.

The most (in)famous of the Dekàlan formations was the "galdar" (i.e. legion).  Officially, Dekàlan legions were called "nor galdar ursorend" and were comprised of at least 540 soldiers, 45 [sergeants], 45 [attendants] and standard bearers, 18 [lieutenants], 9 thard [captains], and a thard [commander].  Military campaigns often involved one or more galdar, whether they be land or naval forces.  Each galdar had a complete complement of disciplines (i.e. archers, light and heavy infantry, calvary and siege engineers) all at the direction of the thard [commander] through his various [lieutenants] and [captains].  Though great liberty was granted each thard [commander] in the execution of the campaign strategy, each maintained direct contact with the directing High Lord (who in turn was given rights or permission by the High King to pursue war). With this liberty came great responibility. Should a thard [commander] lose a galdar he was required to return to the High Lord's throne where he would apologize to both Lord and King and then be judged by the Temple of that state.  Commonly, these [commanders] were killed; such was the price of failure.

* Galdàror standards are silver or golden D'agul; upon the formation of a galdor a silver D'agul is presented to the [commander]; golden D'agul are presented to those galdàror which distinguish themselves in battle and are usually presented by a High Lord on behalf of the High King.

Largest of the military formations within the empire was the [army].  [Armies] rarely acted as a single unit, instead existing as many galdàrden within a region (typically a frontier).  For this reason, it is somewhat disingenuous to define them a single body.  The last [Army] of the Empire was the [Army] of Viríllis which stood for almost 500 years until the end of the Second Acentran-Dekàlan War in 1246 HK.  At its height of power, that [army] contained six galdàrden, fielding well over 4,000 soldiers.  This number was in addition to garrisoned troops within the city-state of Viríllis and various colonies throughout the Acentran Sea (i.e. Celeca, etc.).  Leadership of an army is given to a [general] which is either a highly placed thard (or thardor) or a High Lord, depending on the High King's wishes.  All activities of the [army] are overseen by the High King, though most movements and decisions are made by the [general].  Historically, High Lord [generals] that serve Kryr Tremèndum well, favorably position themselves in line for the D'agul throne.

* [Army] standards are golden double D'agul.  The only d'agul bràd'a to ever be lost was the that of the [Army] of Viríllis, now considered a relic that would bring "great" favor on whomever might return the standard to Kryr Tremèndum.

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