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Submitted By: Bugman Date: January 24, 2013, 12:48:18 PM Views: 941 | |||
Summary: Learn all about the best guide to The Empire | |||
The Karl-Franz authorised Complete guide to the Provinces and City-States of our most glorious Empire A work inspired and composed by the Grace of Sigmar Being a study of the likely dispositions of armies, the natures and tendencies of the inhabitants, and also the histories and traditions of the greatest nation of the Old World. A suitable reference for the traveller and the student, exhaustively researched and quite reasonably priced. -4th edition, 2522, Nuln University Press- Our glorious Empire is a diverse place, and its armies reflect that great variety. In the rich lands of the south, modern weapons of war, such as the cannon and the handgun, are put to great use; in the cold north, soldiers rely on spears, bows and their faith in the mighty Ulric, god of battle. Such is the size of this great nation of ours that it would take a larger work than this to describe even a fraction of it in any detail. This guide is thus an overview of the ten provinces and four city-states of The Empire, compiled from the works of the greatest scholars, past and present (please see the bibliography section at the end of this work if you wish to study further). The provinces are the ten Electoral states; each is ruled by an Elector Count with his own standing army. Though the provinces are theoretically subject to Imperial authority, in practice they are virtually independent nations. Any decree issued by the Emperor can simply be ignored by the Electors, and only the threat of arms can bring them in line. It is for this reason that The Empire has suffered under so many centuries of civil war. Along with the provincial armies, the larger towns are also capable of mustering significant forces. Some towns, such as Kemperbad, possess an Imperial charter that makes them independent from provincial rule. Other towns band together into leagues, pooling their resources to fight common foes unsurprisingly, relations between the Electors and the towns are often somewhat strained. The four city-states, Altdorf, Middenheim, Nuln and Talabheim, are nominally independent entities of equal import to the provinces. Again, this is not true in practice, for the city-states lack direct representation on the Electoral council. Indeed, Altdorf, Middenheim and Talabheim are now little more than provincial capitals in ages past they wielded far greater influence, but those days are now departed. Each state uses a distinct uniform to identify its troops this consists of one or two colours, arranged in a variety of combinations and designs. These uniforms vary considerably, even within the same army, and only the colours remain mostly consistent. Even then, it is not uncommon for individual regiments to be issued uniforms in quite different colours from the standard. In some cases this is done as a mark of honour for a veteran unit (a famous example being the Carroburg Greatswords), but more often it is simply due to a shortage of cloth in the proper colours. In the more prosperous provinces, soldiers wear extravagant and somewhat ludicrous clothing of the highest fashion voluminous, slashed sleeves and gigantic feathers are especially popular. For the rural states, a uniform may be nothing more than a crudely-dyed sash worn over the rough clothing of the peasantry. Armour too varies considerably from soldier to soldier a state regiment will generally be equipped with a mish-mash of gear ranging from chain mail and breast plates to simple leather jerkins. Although each state has an individual standing army, the actual number of troops on permanent retainer is often quite small. This is especially true of the less prosperous provinces. In time of war, the state regiments are joined by highly-trained mercenary companies, semi-skilled militias, and by the scarce but formidable knightly orders. The general composition of these state armies does not vary that much from province to province. All the Elector Counts retain large artillery trains, purchased from the foundries at Nuln at great expense. All of them retain an elite core of household troops, centred around the stalwart Greatswords, and call on such knightly forces as are available. Nevertheless, regional differences do exist. Local specialists such as the Bergjaeger of the Blackfire pass or the Marines of the Nordland Coast are rarely to be found outside their home region. Likewise, some provinces have the advantage of an indigenous population of Ogres, Dwarfs or Halflings. Others are blessed with a greater number of knightly orders, or with unusually skilful peasant bowmen. Thus it is not possible to say, for example, exactly how the state army of Middenland may be composed during any given campaign season. One may predict general tendencies and preferences, but to do more is not possible. Here ends the introduction to this most important work. It is the hope of the humble authors that you will find something of use among these pages, and nothing to offend. |
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