THE
KYRANIAN
MILITARY |
Their beginning is fairly
easy to summarize as the Kyranian men were born on
the ashes of a military campaign, and throughout the years their kingdom and
lifestyle was held up on the shoulders of the various men, and sometimes women,
that offered their lives in service. The Kyranian Military was known for the
six distinct branches it was divided into, though many believe that the Royal
Guard should not be counted as its own branch, but should rather be considered
a small part of the other five branches.
Throughout the various branches, whether there are five or six, there seemed to
be a general agreement on the various age limits for the different ranks.
Fourteen is the age at which a boy was considered eligible to join up. In the
case of a parent enlisting their son before his fourteenth birthday, they would
start as a page, cabin boy, or messenger boy, depending on the branch of
military.
Army. The
Kyranian army was the only branch that did not
really specialize in a certain area of weaponry, but allowed those to use a
weapon other than standard types if they showed potential. They were
essentially the guardians and protectors of the kingdom, protecting it from
both internal and external threats within throughout their land. It wasn't
uncommon for the army to board the navy's ships to help settle troubles with
pirates or other such threats of the sea if that was what the King ordered them
to do. They were also called in to break up trouble within the cities if it got
to be too much for the city guard to handle. Where the King ordered them, they
went and with their variety of training and
weapon specialties they tended to be successful.
Units
For the most part there were four basic units in the army with each unit having
a different number of people per unit and weapon specialties. Sword Units were
the most common and were lettered 'S'. A unit would be named '#S' going up from
one to as many units as there were. When a lower number unit was destroyed in
combat or disbanded, the number would open up and the next unit would take on
that open number, although the numbers of some units that were killed in combat
were retired. However this was rare and only if that unit's record was
impressive. The reuse of numbers made it to where lower units didn't have
seniority rights. Instead, for each year of service, a solider would receive a
black strip that would be sewn into all their uniforms, starting under their
arm, with another strip added beneath that the next year. (This was the same
for all other units of the army, with the exception of the
wargriders. See below.)
Each Sword Unit was made up of fifteen men with one corporal for each unit. A
sergeant had control over two corporals and a captain controlled two sergeants.
Unlike other units, the sword unit had mixed ranks. The soldiers that had skill
with another weapon were also put into these units or made up units of their
own from time to time if there were enough with one particular unit. It wasn't
unusual to see a man wielding an axe among swords or a
sword, with throwing knives sitting in
holders, crossing their chest and ready for use. When looking at the range of
weapons used by Kyranians in general, a majority of
those used for close combat of them could be seen in the army's ranks (spear-like
weapons excluded).
Spear Units were a bit bigger with twenty
men per unit and a corporal for each unit. Sergeants still had control over two
corporals, but captains of Spear Units
were in charge of three sergeants instead of the two that the captain of a
Sword Unit controlled. The
Spear Units were lettered 'L' with the
same nomenclature as the Sword with the
'S' replaced by an 'L'. A number of spear units made up the vanguard of the
Kyranian army when they went into battle, but were
kept back during a siege while swordsmen were included in the front line for
both.
Those that were trained with bows were split into two sections. There was the
Mounted Archer Unit that was put into groups of fifteen and the Foot Archer
Units that were arranged in groups of twenty. Mounted archers had one corporal
and a sergeant for two corporals, with a captain for every three sergeants.
Mounted archers were numbered '#MA', taking up the lower numbers for destroyed
units and calculating seniority like that of the
Sword Unit.
Foot Archer Units, with twenty men, had two corporals for each unit. A sergeant
had control of four corporals and a captain had control of two sergeants. Foot
Archers were numbered '#FA'.
The final regular units were that of the cavalry. Like those that used the bow,
the cavalry was divided into two groups. The first was the Lance Unit which was
numbered '#LC' while the second unit, the
Sword Unit, was numbered '#SC'. Lance units had twenty-five men per units
with two corporals and a sergeant in control of a unit and a captain in control
of two sergeants.
The Sword Units, in the cavalry, had
twenty men per unit with two corporals and a sergeant in charge of each unit
and a captain in charge of four sergeants. For the most part there were very
few cavalry units in the army as the Knights (privileged nobility) were made up
of mostly mounted forces so the army downplayed their cavalry, allowing those
trained from a young age for mounted attacks to take control there.
The last unit was an irregular unit that was the only one of its kind and only
saw combat once. The Warg Unit was made
up of sixty men with four corporals, two sergeants, and a captain. The
sixty-seven men that made up the unit were all volunteers that risked their
lives and their careers on an attempt to introduce a new mount into the army.
The captain, Garawn 'Gar' Drett, was forced into the King's Army at twelve
years of age. He had served as a page for the Commander of the Army and was
nineteen when he volunteered to be part of the
Warg Unit and was selected captain by the
Commander.
The unit lasted fifteen years before the downfall of the 'domestic'
rast warg began and proved
victorious during their only battle. The unit, simply known as the Wargriders,
was forced to surrender the creatures they had raised from pups because the
creatures trained and used by the nobility to hunt had become unreliable.
Garawn had chosen to put his own warg
down mercifully instead of surrendering it to the King's executioner and the
other sixty-six men followed his example, resulting in a dishonorable discharge
for disobeying orders and refusing to surrender the property of the Kingdom.
Garawn, having led his men, was sentenced to live in exile for the rest of his
life, as an example for others.
Ranks
- Page
A youth younger than fourteen that was given or forced into the King's
Army. Most were between age eleven and thirteen and were youths either
conscripted into the army due to their size or given by parents, who in most
cases had too many children to care for, or the boy hadn't taken to a craft.
They spent their days serving the officer they worked for while practicing with
various weapons on the side.
- Soldier
A man between fourteen and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. These low
ranked fighters fought and died for the kingdom in times of need. Many stayed
at this rank throughout their time serving the kingdom.
- Corporal
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. At a rank
above the common soldier, a corporal commanded between ten and twenty men
depending on the unit and sometimes shared command with another corporal.
- Sergeant
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. A sergeant
is two ranks above the common soldier and was usually in command of one or two
units and two or four corporals. They always served under a captain with one or
more other sergeants and their units.
- Captain
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. Captains
could control between one and six units of men and their officers and sometimes
more if a fellow officer fell during battle.
- Commander's Captain
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. The
Commander of the Army kept eight qualified men, Commander's Captains, that were
in charge of leading multiple units and captains into battle depending on the
circumstances. One of these men always went to command when twelve or more
units were deployed. They were often referred to as the 'Leader's Lackeys' by
the common soldiers and lower ranked officers as they were kept from battle for
the most part and just oversaw the troop movements, leaving the fighting to the
others.
- Commander of the Army
A man between thirty and fifty that enlisted into the King's Army. The
Commander of the Army made all the final decision of the position of dispatched
units, number of units to send, and on the type of units. The King would make
the order and the Commander was charged with making everything run smoothly and
have the most change of being successful. The Commander also held a seat on the
King's Council and the King's Military Council in times of need.
Uniform
Other than armour, the uniform of the various ranks of the army was pretty much
the same with some subtle differences. Two pairs of simple black leggings, two
light grey short-sleeved shirts, two dark green, sleeveless tunics with the
Kyranian coat of arms, the black stag head on a
dark green field with a gem shaped like a star between the antlers, embroidered
into the front, seven pairs of socks and undergarments, a black leather belt,
and calf-high, black leather boots was standard uniform. All the cloth items
were made from Kanroan, or Forest Cotton, from the Roan Forest in the northern
part of the Kyranian territory.
In the winter thick woolen cloaks would be given out. Many would also buy pelts
from the hunters who put their part of the castle intake up for sale in the
winter. These pelts would be made into jackets and pants that would last for a
few years and keep the men warm. For the cold months, these jackets and pants
would be accepted as part of the uniform but once spring came they would have
to be put into trunks until the next year.
Finally, the armour was the last part of their uniform. A majority of the
troops wore a short-sleeve, chainmail shirt, boiled leather greaves, and
sometimes a helmet, depending on the unit. Sword Units commonly carried a
wooden shield (with metal edges) with the Kyranian
coat of arms painted on the front. Archers might have a similar shield or one
made of metal strapped to their backs so that they might duck and an enemy
archer had fewer openings to hit them.
Conscription
Throughout the life of the kingdom, the army was the only branch of the
military that conscripted untrained youths. In times of need the navy had been
known to pick up unemployed Kyranian sailors while
in port, but they were paid, given the chance to work, and released after the
trouble had passed. On the other hand, they army gathered up all the boys of
twelve and thirteen years of age if they showed signs of having a larger build
than was normal for their people. If those boys had already been promised to a
craftsman, who was considered a master of their trade, they were allowed a year
after their fourteenth birthday to work with their new master. If they showed
signs of promise at their trade then they were allowed to stay with their
master, but if they didn't have the talent, they were forced into the King's
Army.
Those that hadn't been promised to a craftsman were taken to the city/castle,
in their area where they were put to work as pages for officers of the army
until they turned fourteen. During that time they were tested with various
weapons to select the one they showed the most promise with while they tended
to the needs of the officer they worked for. On their fourteenth birthday they
were assigned a unit. The officer and men of their unit would take the place of
their father, uncles, grandfather, and the other men of their family when they
got they got the Kyranian stag head and star shaped
gem tattooed onto their backs as a sign that they have reached manhood. After
that they would train with the other youths between fourteen and eighteen years
of age each day, learning their weapon
and craft.
Navy. Having the smallest coastline of the Ancient Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Kyrania never had a very impressive navy, but they managed to keep a good watch over their port cities and coastal villages. Over the years they held their own when needed and answered the summons of the King. They were mostly called on to carry soldiers to certain destinations, defend their shores from pirates, and ward off ships carrying troops from other kingdoms, and they did a good job of it over the years.
Units
In the Kyranian Navy they had shifts or groups
rather than actual units. There was the day shift which was overseen by the
First Mate and sometimes the Captain and the night shift that worked under the
eyes of the Second and Third Mate. The number of men on the shifts depended on
how large the ship was and could change depending on casualities and recruits,
though a single shift never had more than one extra man since that left the
task load heavier for one shift and presented opportunity for idleness on the
other.
Those that worked the day shift were required to be on duty when the
sun began to peek over the horizon, so
they would need to wake while it was still dark out to get ready and eat a
quick meal before going to relieve those on the night shift. Those that worked
nights had to be up a half hour before the
sun went down for the same reason before they began their tasks with the
setting sun.
The fighters that were often aboard ship were a different matter entirely.
While the sailors had some training with cutlass, bow, or a long knife before
being assigned to a ship, those that specialized in a certain
weapon were often needed. During the
training, those that showed more ability with
weapons than the tasks aboard ship were
moved into another area where they trained with cutlass,
bow, knife, and some even learned the
sword, for almost twice as long as the other recruits. Fighters were usually
divided into groups of ten to twenty depending on the size of the ship they
were set to board after training and worked together with those they would
serve with.
Aboard ship the fighters were under the direct control of the Captain, but in
times of need the heads of the watches (First and Second Mate) were allowed to
give orders. During the days they were to spend time practicing aboard ship,
out of the way of the workers on the day shift while they slept in the
forecastle or on the hold where hammocks were hung (or sometimes bunks were
built). Every now and then the Captain would give orders to fighters aboard the
ship when extra strength was needed for a task or one of the shifts needed to
replace a sick worker for the time. Other than that they generally stuck to
their daily training and normal sleeping hours while aboard ship until they
were needed to overcome trouble.
Ranks
- Cabin Boy
A youth younger than fourteen that was signed off by their parents. Their job
was to help the crew in any way they could and serve the captain of the vessel
they worked on. They might be found coiling ropes, helping in the kitchen,
serving the Captain's meals, and more. They were also often the target of their
shipmates' jokes and pranks (when they could get away with it).
- Sailor
A man between fourteen and forty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy. They
saw to the daily running of their ship and were split into two shifts. The day
shift ran under the watch of the First Mate while the night shift was the
territory of the Second and Third. Depending on size, ability, and knowledge a
man would be given a set of tasks that need to be done during their shift along
with other orders that might be given. Also, the specialty workers such as
carpenters, fighters, trainers, and more were classified as sailors, but not
given the same tasks as others were.
- Third Mate
A man between eighteen and forty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy. The
Third was set to help the Second Mate during the night shift and they were also
put in charge of the medical stores aboard ship and deal with injuries and
illnesses. To reach the first acknowledged rank aboard a ship a sailor needed
to demonstrate a basic knowledge of the medical stores on the ship and how to
treat various injuries that might occur aboard ship. Before being assigned a
ship and when docked after being assigned these things were reviewed to allow
equal opportunity to move up and keep things from getting out of control during
dangerous conditions/situations.
- Second Mate
A man between eighteen and forty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy. The
Second Mate was in charge of the night shift, with the assistance of the Third
Mate. They were in control of matching men on the night shift with the tasks
that needed to be done during ideal conditions while having the ability to give
orders when things turned bad quickly.
- First Mate
A man between eighteen and forty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy. The
First is in charge of making sure the day shift runs smoothly and is often
backed up by the Captain should trouble occur both aboard ship and with the
weather or approaching ships. When trouble breaks out aboard ship, the blame
falls on the First Mate where as on the night shift, the Third Mate usually
takes the fall for both their mistakes and those of the Second.
- Captain
A man between twenty and fifty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy.
Captains ran the ships in the kingdom's navy and were in charge of keeping
their ship looking and running to the standard of the Navy. Keeping order on
their ships and making sure that as few injuries and casualties as possible
happened during good and troubled times. Those that rose to the rank of Captain
were allowed to continue serving into their mid-fifties while those that didn't
have this privilege were honorably discharged at forty-five years of age. This
was installed when Captain Talash 'Lash' Gawesk requested permission to serve
until he died aboard his ship in 9482 b.S. when he turned forty-four. Eleven
years later he died aboard his ship and that event set the retirement age for
Captains and Commanders.
- Commander of the Navy
A man between thirty and fifty-five that enlisted into the King's Navy. The
Commander of the Navy had control of where the ships went, how many sailors and
fighters were needed aboard and how to run the Navy, but they made moves by the
King's orders. The Commander was also in control of a ship of his own, which
was the Flag-ship of the Kyranian Navy during their
reign over that branch of military. A seat on the King's Council and King's
Military Council (in times of need) was also reserved for the Commander of the
Navy.
Uniform
Aboard ship there was little that could distinguish a navy crew from a merchant
crew as they moved with the same fluid efficiency as any seaman would and the
formal uniform that identified them as men of the
Kyranian Navy was stuffed into trunks once the ship had left port. At sea
they would wear clothing that allowed them to move around easily. Loose pants
of dark green, often cut off mid-shin, were often faded, ragged, stained, and
patched from the life of a sailor and the short-sleeve, rough white shirt that
when worn with it tended to look the same if not worse. In the winter, longer
pants and long-sleeve shirts coated in oils so that rain would slide off would
be pulled out of trunks and worn over the shirt and pants of warmer material
that they would wear.
When at port full-length, straight legged pants of dark green would be worn
along with a variety of other clothing items that were better kept locked in a
trunk in the sailor's opinions. A black shirt would be worn beneath an
open-front, collared shirt of the same dark green as the pants (either
long-sleeved or short-sleeved depending on the weather). The worst part for the
usually barefoot seamen had to be the addition of black leather boots that had
to be worn when they went ashore.
With that they wore a leather belt, commonly holding a long knife or cutlass.
When on the ship, this item would be brought up on deck before the sailors
shift and hung on a catch on the outer wall of the forecastle, so that it would
be within reach of the crew should trouble occur and it wouldn't bother them as
they went about their tasks.
Knights. In the eyes of many, the Knights of the Kyranian Kingdom were just a glorified version of the Army. Based in the capital of the kingdom, they specialized in mounted attacks and were made up only of those of noble birth. Many during the years and to this day disapproved of the 'selective membership' that was often enforced. Some men remained squires until they were thirty and forced to give up because those that were higher ranked than them didn't approve of their style, their trainer wasn't very good, or other ridiculous reasons. In the later years, many of the noblemen that were serious about protecting their kingdom joined the military instead and made a difference in many areas.
Units
Depending on the opinion of the knight spoken to, there were two or three
different units. Some considered Cavalry that specialized in the use of the
sword to be a different unit from the group that specialized in the lance while
others called it the same unit. Either way, the various units were grouped
according to weapon of choice. The sword,
lance, and
bow were the three most commonly used among
the knights, as the sengren, a
double-bladed axe used to disable rider's horses and dispatch the rider, was a
specialty weapon and was too large to use effectively on
horseback.
The Sword Unit of the cavalry was
grouped into units of twenty men under a corporal with three units under a
sergeant and two sergeants under a captain. Many believed to be this too big
for the officers to handle and many were right as they tended to break up in
battle. Before it had been twenty-five to thirty men per unit, but when that
failed they reduced their numbers and refused to reduce numbers again, leaving
a weakness in the Noble Cavalry. This was until one Commander voiced his own
opinions, though this was near the fall of the Kyranian
Kingdom. At that time the numbers were decreased to ten per unit, but that
couldn't change the way things were going. The
Sword Unit was identified by two swords
embroidered onto a patch with the gemstone of the
Kyranian coat of arms settled where they crossed and the unit number in the
back. That patch was sewn onto the sleeve of the tunic of each knight in that
unit.
The Lance Unit was similar in some ways,
but they started and ended with fifteen men per unit, as the General of the
King's Forces at the time of the founding of the knights had a few good plans.
A captain commanded two sergeants who in turn commanded two corporals each, who
each commanded a single unit. This seemed to work a bit better than the Sword
and bragging occurred, causing trouble between the
Lance and
Sword units over the years. The Lance
unit was identified by a similar badge to that of the
Swords, except that instead of crossed
swords it was crossed lances with the
number in the back and the gem
sitting where the two weapons crossed.
The badge of the Bow Unit was similar to
the others, with the weapon changed again. Two arrows were crossed with the
unit number in the back and the gem sitting where they crossed. The difference
was that one arrow tip pointed down while the other pointed up for some reason
no-one living or dead understood. It is believed to be a design flaw or a bit
of the seamstresses own touch to the same old patches. The
Bow Units were put into groups of twenty
with two corporals per unit. A sergeant controlled two units each and a captain
controlled two sergeants, or four units.
Ranks
Page
youth younger than fourteen, of noble birth, that was sent by his parents to
Caleum, the capital, of the Kyranian Kingdom. These
boys were put to work as runners for the various lords while they were trained
in the ways of court by a relative or friend of their parents.
Squire
A man between fourteen and thirty, of noble birth, that was training to be a
knight. At this rank, the person was in charge of seeing to the needs of the
knight they served and responding to the training they required without
question. These is never any assurance that a squire will be come a knight and
a few have been recorded to have held the position until they were thirty and
dismissed by the knight that was in charge of their training. It is believed
that some have the makings of a knight and others don't. This was the only
branch of the military where a man might never move up to the next level. A
knight of this branch is close to the rank of a soldier or sailor in the army
and navy branches, though they are of much higher birth. Some noblemen have
been known to bypass the knights and join the army or navy because they didn't
believe in 'selective membership'.
Knight
A man between sixteen and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the King.
The status of a knight is higher than that of Captains in the previous two
branches, but it is the lowest level of fighting unit in this branch. There are
some that never reach this rank and many more than never rise any higher.
Knight-Warden
A man between eighteen and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the King.
It was considered an honor to reach this rank even though there are still many
ranks above, but the nobility made a fuss over the rank. As a corporal, the
knight was in charge of a unit and was to see that it ran smoothly.
High Knight
A man between twenty and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the King.
Sergeants of the knights were often in command of two to three units and two to
three corporals depending on the units. They served as a second in command and
often worked with another of their rank under their captain.
Knight-Captain
A man between twenty-two and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the
King. Any that reached this rank were either very privileged, had connections
in court, or was very good at what they did. A captain was in charge of various
units depending on the type and size and a group of officers that saw to the
minor details that went with the lower ranked knights.
Knight Councilor
A man between twenty-five and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the
King, selected by the Commander of the Knights, and approved by the General of
the King's Forces. There were ten of these men that served as part of the
council that governed the knights. While the King gave the orders, the council
debated on the way to carry out those orders. They were also in charge of
discipline among their branch and even the most minor offenses came before the
full council (ten councilors, plus the Commander of the Knights).
Commander of the Knights
A man between thirty and fifty, of noble birth, who was knighted by the
King, selected by the previous commander, and approved by both the General of
the King's Forces and the King. The Commander of the Knights was often related
to one of the three officials that had part in the selection. It was an
honorary title for the longest time and sometime was used as a way to remove or
silence people. While the Commander had the most influence in the Knights
Council, there was written evidence that this position was often the voice of
the General of the King's Forces among the noble military branch.
Uniform
The knights only had a set uniform when riding to battle or during formal
presentation. The rest of the time they were allowed to wear whatever they
wanted, and staying true to their daily life-style, they wore simple clothing
that allowed them to move and do what they needed to without worrying about
ripping something new or expensive. It wasn't until the evenings that the more
outrageous court styles came out of hiding.
During battle the knights had a choice of plate mail or chainmail depending on
what their family could afford. Most had enough coin by the time they were
knighted to purchase suitable armor even if they were born to a family noble by
name only. If the newly knighted person couldn't buy their own armour, their
former mentor usually found serviceable pieces for them as a gift. In order to
'save the King from embarrassment' the council of knights commonly voted to
have those with plate armor groups with others of the same armor and those with
chainmail likewise grouped so there was some uniformity among the ranks. Other
than whatever armour they could buy, there was little more to their uniform. A
black tabard with the Kyranian goat of arms
embroidered on a shield in the middle was always worn to identify them and
their badge with their unit emblem and number was required to be worn on all
uniforms. Lastly, a shield was required with the coat of arms on it. Depending
on preference the shield was held, strapped to the knight's back, or strapped
to their saddle.
For formal presentation, they were required to wear a fitted dress shirt with
way too many difficult buttons and way too much decoration. The coat of arms of
the Kyranians, a commonly seen mark, was fancifully
embroidered onto the front of the dark green, long-sleeve shirt with button
cuffs and collar. On the right sleeve of each knight's shirt was their badge
with unit emblem and number while on the other sleeve, their rank was shown in
an emblem on a shield like badge of dark green.
A silver helm with black plume was the emblem for a knight. Three stars over
the weapon of choice (bow,
lance, and
sword) was the sign of a corporal. A
banded battle horn was for the sergeants and wings for the captains. The Knight
Councilors had scrolls embroidered onto their badge while the Commander had a
single star in the middle.
With the dress shirt was a pair of straight black pants, shiny, black leather
boots and a belt of the same material and color. The knights, corporals, and
sergeants wore a plain or decorated knife on their belts while captains,
councilors and the Commander wore decorative or plain swords. The events were
mostly planned by the Commander who was more often than not into court
presentations and showing of his men. The rest of the knights had to suffer
through the event without a word. Other than formal presentations planed by the
Commander, the uniform was also required for a knight to attend the General
Council to the men's dismay.
Guard. The guard was rather well liked and well organized throughout the years of the Kyranian Kingdom. They kept the people happy and feeling safe within their homes without stirring up the inevitable string of petty thieves and underhanded dealings that happened within any city. The Commanders knew they were there throughout the years, but it worked to their advantage to work around the little things and keep the heads on the bodies of the young guards. Some think it odd that the guard practically walked side by side with the criminals of the city, but letting a few thefts and smuggled goods get by helped keep people alive and the leaders of the guard thought that lives were more important than a few possessions.
Units
The guard is separated into two shifts (day and night) instead of groups. The
amount of people on each shift depends on the size of the city and various
parts. For example, a small city might have needed the same amount of guards,
if not more than a city slightly larger due to the fact that there tended to be
more trouble and dangerous location. The day shift is often less hazardous
because it is rather rare for someone who doesn’t have a death wish to try and
take out someone with witnesses around, but during the night shift, guardsmen
have been known to never report back in and bodies are found in an alleyway or
the harbor (if it’s a port, lakeside, or riverside city) the next morning.
Along with the two shifts there were four groups of guards. The first group
worked Washday and Ploughday, scheduled to arrive before the sun (even those on
the nightshift) on the first day and they weren’t released until Bakeday when
the second group came in. Group two had to arrive before the sun (like the
first group) on Bakeday and they worked that day and Brewday, not leaving until
the third group arrived the next morning. Group three was in charge of
protecting the city on Scrubday and Fastday and they weren’t released until
group four showed up. The fourth group was considered to be part-time workers
and was only paid half the weekly pay if a guard. They worked only on Prayday
and got off the next day when group one reported in again.
Ranks
- Messenger Boy
A youth younger than fourteen that was signed off to the guard by their
parents. They were in charge of running important papers such as: orders,
schedules, notes, hour sheets, reports, and more to and from the castle. It was
also their job to wake the men thirty-minutes before their shift, help out in
the kitchen, and fetch the officer on duty if needed. These boys worked in
shifts as well and those taking their turn to rest, would wake the others
before seeking their beds.
- Guard
A man between fourteen and fifty that enlisted into the guard. Guards were
grouped in either pairs or units (containing three to five men) depending on
their routes and shift. In the richer quarter of the city the guards would work
in pairs patrolling their area, while those that drew the docks would work in
groups of four or five men. Their job was to pretty much keep the peace in
their assigned areas and see to anything odd or out of the ordinary.
- Gate Guard
A man between fourteen and fifty that enlisted into the guard. This is not a
rank, but one of the tasks a guard performs. The gates were one of the areas
that were watched during all the shifts and when drawing shifts at the
beginning of the week, a few pairs on each shift always got Gate duty (the
number depending on how many gates the city had). It wasn't a bad position and
it was just another part of the job to many.
Jailor
A man between sixteen and fifty that enlisted into the guard. This is not
really a rank either, but rather a task that any guard between the ages
mentioned are selected for and assigned to for two weeks. Some enjoy the task
as they get to sit in the shade and relax; only having to get up to move every
hour or so to check on prisoners. Others despise it because of the almost
constant inactivity.
- Watcher (Night and Day)
A man between sixteen and fifty that enlisted into the guard. There were two
watchers per shift, who were in charge of making sure everything ran smoothly.
The two night watchers and two day watchers were supposed to make the rounds
through the city during their shift and check up on each of their pairs/units
to be sure nothing out of the ordinary was happening. This was also to make
sure the guards showed up and to ensure that any who might have gone missing
hadn't been gone for long and thus had a chance of turning up alive.
- Captain (Night and Day)
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the guard. Each watch had a
captain. It was their job to stay at the base, fill out reports on the progress
for the shift and prepare sheet for the returning guards to write weekly
reports on what happened during the shifts that week. They were also stationed
at the base with the guards on the next shift in case trouble broke out and
they were needed.
- Guard Captain
A man between twenty and fifty that enlisted into the guard. These men were the
commanders of the various city guards throughout the Kingdom. They were in
charge of keeping the peace within their city and sending off the weekly
reports from the guards and daily reports from the captains at the end of each
month. Each week the commander would meet with their captains and watchers to
assure that things were working well and all complaints were addressed, keeping
problems from occurring too often.
- Commander of the Guard
A man between twenty-five and fifty that enlisted into the guard. The Commander
of the Guard often ran things from their office at the castle, which is why the
Messenger Boys were rather helpful. Unlike some of the other branches, the
commander kept things running smoothly within the cities and among the guard
for many years as each commander was a captain who was raised up to the higher
position by the previous leader.
Uniform
The uniform that was to be worn on duty was fairly simple. While making their
rounds they were required to wear plain black pants tucked into soft,
calf-high, black leather boots. A plain white shirt went under a short-sleeved
chain shirt that went under a dark green tunic with the stag head and gem over
the guard's heart.
The sleeve of each shirt showed the guards rank. A boy in a guard tunic with a
scroll on each of his shoulders was easily recognized as a messenger boy. The
shoulders of the guards where bare, while the gate guard had one black stripe
sewn into the fabric and a jailor had two. Watchers had three slender stripes,
half the size of the guard stripe sewn into their shirt, white for the day
watch and black for the night, while Captains had two stars with similar colors
for night and day. Finally, the Guard Captains were recognized by two gold
stripes and a gold star on the shoulders of their tunics. The Commanders had
their own distinct uniform, but swords, point away from their neck, with a
single star at the hilt, was the sign of rank for them.
A black leather belt with the guard's
weapon of choice was strapped around their waist (commonly a
sword). During the winter months, a
thick cloak of dark green would be added to the uniform. A shield with the coat
of arms and iron helm was optional though those usually on gate watch had to
carry one or the other with them.
Around the guardhouse they were allowed to shed the mail and tunic and sleep,
lounge around, or practice with their weapon in the back in their black pants
and white shirts. At that time they were the closest to out of uniform as they
could be while on duty, but in the early years the commander had conceded that
wearing the dark green tunic when in the guard house was pointless as it
required that they remove that to put on their chainmail and then put it back
on.
Pathfinders. This group was based out of the capital city of Ancient Kyrania, Caelum. While most the other branches of military worked together, this was the odd one out in many ways. Made up of mostly loners, they were possibly the hardest of the five branches as potential Pathfinders had to go through a four or six year apprenticeship and pass the test at the end of those years to gain approval. While they were the hardest 'fair' unit, the knights still beat them in the eyes of many with their 'selective membership'. Over the years, the various sects within the Pathfinders played important roles in the improvement of the kingdom, though some also place the blame on them for the downfall as they abandoned the kingdom when the descendent of Narinos, Jalttren Dereswungen, was crowned King of Kyrania
Units/Sects
The Pathfinders made up the majority of this branch of the Military. Young men
seemed to flock to this sect with boyish admiration in their eyes.
Kyranians were hunters and the thought of living
one's life in the woods with the trees and open skies surrounding them appealed
to many. Though it wasn't always that way, those that made it past the
apprenticeship stage never regretted their choice. As with the rest of this
branch they weren't really units as these people tended to be the loners and
worked best on their own. This group was known and easily spotted by the
earthen colors they always wore when in or out of uniform.
Scouts were much the same and they were the second most popular group. They
were the most helpful when the King needed to know what was going on within his
kingdom and many young men that wanted to see more than the four walls of their
city often joined with these men. Again scouts usually worked alone or in
pairs, allowing them to move swiftly and quietly when need be. This also worked
when they were following an enemy unit, allowing one to run back to their
people and tell them what they found while the other continued to watch for
more secrets. They were commonly known from the uniform which will be described
below.
While few knew of the spies they were more common than the Wargriders, who
seemed the favorite of wide-eyed little boys, because their training wasn't
near impossible. They were never really recognized as any part of the
Kyranian Military and even they were taught to
'forget' their employer. They were often shipped off to different parts of the
continent to be the eyes and ears of the king in the different courts. They
worked on their own always and never knew where any of their sect's people were
stationed in case they were unmasked and questioned. All precautions were taken
to keep word from spreading even though most knew that each King had their
connections.
Wargriders were perhaps the closest thing
that comes to actual units because they were often dispatched in groups of
three or four to certain areas for a time. They would travel to that area
together before breaking up to go on to do their own tasks that had been given
to them separately before they left. Some believe that this was to keep people
from suspecting their true missions and throw off those that might have their
own spies among the King's men. Others think that they always believed the
wargs to be dangerous and had them ride
in groups for a time to give their men a fighting chance. Whatever the reason,
the Wargriders would ride together for a
majority of the way and meet up on the way back.
Wargs were used throughout the
Pathfinders from 1,406 b.S. when Rastaar 'Rast' Lawett trained the first warg
pup, until about 1,224 b.S. when the number of people savaged by
wargs rose too high for the King to
overlook. The Pathfinders tried to prevent attacks by only using wargs born in
captivity to parents that had been 'trained' after the five attacks during the
first year that these beasts used. Ironically, Rastaar was killed during one of
the first attacks by a warg one of his
friends managed to raise and train.
Ranks
- Hunter Apprentice
A man between fourteen and eighteen that were enlisted into the Kyranian
Pathfinders. Four years as an apprentice required and only those between the
ages mentioned were accepted. Those that wished to serve the kingdom as hunters
were passed into the hands of a seasoned hunter and trained until they reached
eighteen years of age. On their eighteenth birthday they were tested by their
mentor. If they passed the test they were considered a hunter and were allowed
to take on an apprentice of their own in a year. Those that didn't pass were
dismissed.
- Hunter
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the Kyranian Pathfinders
and was approved by their mentor. Hunters had a variety of jobs they performed
for the kingdom though the most commonly known was hunting for the King's table
and military unit's meals. The other widely known job was hunting rogue or
troublesome animals in the kingdom. The less commonly known jobs included
bounty hunting, assassinations (though the King and Commander never commanded
but asked each individual), trapping (both humans and animals), and more.
- Scout Apprentice
A man between fourteen and eighteen that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders. Four years as an apprentice
were required and only those between the ages mentioned were accepted. Like
hunters, scouts had to go through the same apprentice stage, where they learned
everything their mentor could teach them about the job they had signed up for
before they were tested. Those that passed were considered scouts and could
take on apprentices after about a year while those that didn’t were dismissed.
- Scout
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the Kyranian Pathfinders
and was approved by his mentor. The main jobs of a scout were to survey enemy
units and report their findings back to their superiors. During peace times
they were mainly sent out once a month to inspect certain areas of the kingdom
(areas where rumors of trouble were brewing) and check their borders. While at
war, they played a more crucial part and the well trained scouts often helped a
good deal.
- Spy Apprentice
A man between fourteen and twenty-two that enlisted into the Kyranian
Pathfinders. Four years as an apprentice were required and only those between
the ages mentioned were accepted. This area is somewhat similar to those above,
but it has its differences. This sect of the pathfinders wasn't widely known,
but when youths of fourteen came the day after the Manhood Ceremony, the leader
of this branch was their to survey them as well. Some were forced out of their
chosen sect and into this apprenticeship. The age range here is larger than
with the others because those that didn't pass the other tests were sometimes
offered an apprenticeship with one of the veteran spies. The down side of this
part was that should a youth not pass they were forced into another branch of
service and incidentally put in harm's way as soon as possible. Those that
passed were allowed to take their own apprentices a year after they ended their
own apprenticeship.
- Spy
A man between eighteen and fifty that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders and was approved by his mentor. The rest of the sects
despised these men, but had to admit that they did their job nicely. Only a
handful of these people were left in the city so that they could take on
apprentices, but other than that handful and their rank leader, the rest were
often spread throughout the kingdom, weaving a web of intelligence for the King
and General of the King's Forces.
- Wargrider Apprentice
A man between fourteen and eighteen that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders. Six years as an apprentice
were required and only those between the ages mentioned were accepted. The
wargriding unit only lasted for a couple hundred years before falling, but
during that time they made use of the creatures. It was also the most difficult
apprenticeship to pass through. The first test was to be accepted by a warg
pup. When the pups were two months old the possible apprentices were introduced
to the pups and if one of them approached them, they would be taken by one of
the experienced riders, if not they were dismissed. The pups seemed to have a
sense of the people around them as a third or a fourth of the potential riders
were turned away each year. While they were trained they were expected to take
good care of the pup, any signs of neglect or bad training would lead to the
dismissal of that apprentice. If the pup wasn't trained well enough the
apprentice would be dismissed.
If the pupil made it through the four years they would be tested. If they
passed they would be put under a hunter, scout, or spy (rarely though) for two
years so that they could learn the things they needed to know to complete those
jobs. At the end of those two years they would be tested again. If they passed
they would go on to their job and be able to take an apprentice of their own in
two years. If they failed the first or second test they were dismissed.
- Wargrider
A man between twenty and fifty that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders and was approved by his mentor. These beast riders
were valuable to the Kyranians for a time as they were able to cover a good
deal of land in a day and they were overly protective of their owners, which
kept more hunters, scouts, and some spies alive throughout the years. Wargrider
was somewhat of a heavy title to bear and they were the best trained among the
Pathfinders.
- Rank Leaders
A man between twenty and fifty that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders and was approved by their mentor. Each of the four
sects had their rank leader. These people had to have passed their training and
had trained one or two successful new additions to their sect. The rank leaders
were those that were, hands down, the best at their job. In areas that had more
than one of those men, the eldest would have seniority and would serve as the
leader of their sect until their death, discharge, or retirement. The council
formed by the rank leaders was in charge of discipline, new recruits, and
setting up a deployment schedule for the Commander to look over.
- Grand-Rider
A man between twenty-five and fifty that enlisted into the
Kyranian Pathfinders, was approved by their mentor,
had trained a handful of Pathfinders, and had been a rank leader. The
Grand-Rider was chosen from those that were rank leaders before the previous
commander's death. They were in charge of keeping the Pathfinders operating,
keeping track of their hunters, scouts, and Wargriders, and passing on
intelligence gained by the spies of the kingdom onto the king. Unlike the
highest position among from of the other branches of the military, they were
chosen for their skill, rather than their standing within the court.
Uniform
The hunters didn't really have a set uniform as they tended to wear dark
greens, browns, blacks, and greys on their own and when the Pathfinders were
established the Commander set those colors down as their uniform. As long as
they are wearing the colors mentioned they are considered 'in uniform'. Deep
hooded cloaks would often accompany these men even in the warmer months and
were usually the darkest material on them. However, they were required to wear
certain armor, though to them it didn't seem like much of a requirement as the
armor proved to help instead of hinder.
Their armour was a thick leather with small 'scales' of boiled leather, black
and grey iron, steel, some stones, and the hides of some animals both native to
their area and imported (such as: the stone bear, Rimmerin bear,
rast wargs, wolves, drakes, and any
other animal pelts tough enough that they can get their hands on). The
underside of the metal and stone 'scales' were padded with deer hide to keep
them from making noise as the wearer walked. They were also often covered with
a dark greenish-brown paint so the metal wouldn't give them away if the light
hit it.
The same armour was also used for the scouts as they needed something to
protect them, though they were more partial to metal scales rather than hide
whereas it was the other way for hunters. Unlike the hunters however, the
scouts had a set uniform while within the city. They were required to wear
brown leggings with a dark green shirt that had the
Kyranian coat of arms over their heart. They were also required to carry a
bow and sword or knife with them at all
times so that they might be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
It wasn't unusual for a messenger to approach an off-duty scout with the man's
bag (they always had a pre-packed bag in their trunk or by their bunk for such
reasons) in one hand and food supplies and orders in the other. During the
winter months, a waist length jacket, open front jacket of black (sometimes
with a fur-lined inside if they were friends with a hunter) was used in place
of a cloak.
There is not much to say for the spies other than they had no set uniform or
set armour as they would try their best to blend in with those around them and
would adapt the clothing style of the people they were watching. Wargriders on
the other had looked almost like the scouts and hunters. The same 'scale' armor
was required for each rider while out on the land.
While in the city the Wargriders wore something similar to the scouts with the
exception of the shirt. Instead of the Kyranian
coat of arms over their heart, it was embroidered across the front of the dark
green shirt, and a shield shaped patch with a passable image of a warg was
sewed onto the left shoulder. The same waist length jacket was of better
quality. The riders that took the time to collect the soft undercoat that their
warg would shed in the spring, could use this fur to make jackets that provided
just the right amount of warmth.
Royal Guard. The Kyranian Royal guard was made up of a group of hand-picked men from the various branches to patrol the palace and accompany the king when he ventured outside the palace walls. For the most part, the Royal Guard is and isn't considered a branch of the military. Throughout the record found, there have been mentions of five branches and six branches by commanders of the other branches, even before the departure of the Pathfinders, leaving them with only four, or five, branches. Those that claimed only five branches, displayed clear dislike of this branch as they Royal Guard was made up of the best from the other groups. They didn't have to train their men from raw recruits, but rather removed the Army, Navy, Guard, Pathfinders, and sometimes the Knight's (though rarely as hatred for the King ran deep in the veins of some nobility) best fighters and claiming them as their own.
Units
Like the city Guard, the Royal Guard was split into shifts rather than units,
though instead of being stationed around the city, they were stationed within
the various halls of the king's home. They would patrol in groups of two to
four men and each month those groups would be evaluated, sometimes split up,
and reassigned to a different portion of the castle and grounds. While they
were being evaluated for their actions and abilities, their skill was also
tested. Any found lacking were sent back to their original branch of the
military and then tested once again. If they failed that second test they would
be discharged, but if they passed they were returned to their original rank, or
the highest open position and often times put back with their original unit if
circumstances allowed.
Those that remained with the Royal Guard were given a post to watch and a shift
to work. They were split up into four shifts. The first shift started at
Firstflame and end at Sunreign, at which point the second shift would start and
run until the end of Lastflame and beginning of Starrise. The third shift last
until Darkreign, while the fourth would work from that point until Firstflame,
when the schedule reset.
The six hours on duty and eighteen hours off duty was installed to keep those
that protected the king and others within the palace from being too tired to do
their job well on their shifts, but their says where not entirely free. They
were allowed to sleep for one or two of those shifts, but the rest of the time
they were training with the keeps Swordsmaster and on their own so they
wouldn't be discharged when the end of the month came around.
This way of selecting and removing members of the guard made it easy for those
that didn't wish to serve to return to their original posting, though the
mandatory test upon their return caused them to find other ways. However, they
soon learned that those that took to obsessive drinking, fighting, and drug use
to return often found themselves dishonorably discharged from the Royal Guard
and their previous post.
Ranks
- Royal Guard
A man between twenty and fifty that had distinguished himself in another branch
of the military through his abilities and was selected to be part of the Royal
Guard. While this was the lowest ranking of this branch, it was still
considered a high position and an honor to hold and serve the king. This group
was mostly made up of distinguished commoners and low-ranked nobles, which were
new noble families and common folk given small plots of land or just fancy
titles for small deeds of merit.
- Corridor Caretaker
A man between twenty-one and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard. The Corridor Caretaker, or Caretaker for short, was in charge of
watching anywhere from a few insignificant halls to a whole wing in the place.
All the guards in those areas reported to the Caretaker, who was responsible
for working one shift five days and then two shifts on two days. The second
shift was filled with the paperwork on the various guards and reports of any
activity.
- Ground Keeper
A man between twenty-one and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard. The Ground Keeper was on the same level as they Caretaker and the duties
and other things were the same except for the territory. The Keeper was in
charge of a certain part of the castle grounds, the walls, and the underground.
Those that worked in the area of a keep reported to them. The hours worked were
the same as that of the Caretaker, five days of one shift and two days of two
shifts.
- Hidden Guard
A man between twenty-one and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard. These men generally came from the Pathfinders branch in the military and
were used by the king and his men to monitor the things that happen within his
city and sometimes other cities. Many times, spies were bumped up to the Royal
Guard to replace a member of the Hidden Guard. According to all official
reports this rank never existed, but unearthed documents declare that there was
indeed a Hidden Guard, that was in charge of monitoring the city in the clothes
of the common folk.
- King's Guard
A man between twenty-one and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard and was hand-picked by the Captain of the Royal Guard and approved by the
King's Council and the King himself at the beginning of a new king's reign.
Possible candidates for this position were investigated and their living family
members located before being selected as one of the King's Guard. There were
eight of these guards whose job it was to protect the king. At least two of
them were with him at all times. They were set on six hour shifts and those not
on the shift would sleep in a room near the king's own or be practicing in the
yard. However, when the king left the castle he was surrounded by his eight
personal guards along with a good part of the Royal Guard.
- Area Leader
A man between thirty and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard, reached a higher rank, and was selected by the Captain to represent that
rank. There were four of these men, one for each of the four ranks above the
rank of Royal Guardsman. The Area Leaders were in charge of representing their
group. They were referred to as Captain of the 'blank' (Insert rank such as
King's Guard, Hidden Guard, etc.). They were also in charge of the paperwork
for their group and were supposed to take care of issues that were too big for
one of the lower ranking officers.
- Captain of the Royal Guard
A man between thirty and fifty that had distinguished himself in the Royal
Guard, had at least ten years of service on his record, five of which were with
the guard, had been an Area Leader, and was hand-picked by the King and his
Council. The Captain of the Royal Guard was in charge of the King and his
family's safety. Aside from that the paperwork and proper running of the Royal
Guard would fall heavily on him and should something happen to the Royal Family
it was his neck on the line.
Uniform
The required uniform of the Royal Guard tended to change with the rank. The
original rank of the branch itself was the Royal Guardsman. Their uniform
consisted of a black shirt, a dark green tunic and pants of the same color, all
trimmed in silver, with a black leather belt around their waist and black
leather boots on their feet. The front of the tunic displayed the star-shaped
gem and the stag's head on the front. The only difference to the Coat of Arms
was the silver crown sitting on the animal's head. Aside from the above
mentioned they were also issued a thick, black cloak for winter and a thin,
black one for all other times among with changes of clothing and other
necessary items.
The Caretakers and Keepers switched to a uniform, almost the complete opposite
of the one that had worn so that ranking guardsman could be found easily. They
wore silver-trimmed shirts, tunics, and pants of black that caused their belt
and boots to blend in with the rest of their outfit. Often times they looked
like they were about to sneak off into the darkness and attack their monarch
themselves. On the front of their tunics were large shields of dark green with
the crowned stag's head and star gem. Along with this, patches were sewn into
the tunic, above their heart, that marked them as a Keeper or Caretaker so that
when off-duty, soldiers wouldn't get confused. They were also given the same as
the pervious rank, when it came to necessary items, though their cloaks were
dark green.
The rest seem to fall under rather simple categories. The Hidden Guards didn't
have a uniform as they were always seen in peoples clothing and when they had
to report or return to the keep to spent their two day break every other week,
they would go to the guardhouse first and speak to the Guard Captain of the
King's City. There they would slip into the set of guard clothing set aside
from them and put on a helm and deep hooded clothing and go to the castle.
When it came to the King's Guard, there were little changes from the uniform
the Caretakers and Keepers wore. However, the little difference made a bit
impact. Instead of silver trimming to their clothing, the King's Guard's
uniform was trimmed in gold and they wore long, thin or thick, golden cloaks at
all times, and the stag's head on their tunics had a golden crown instead of
silver.
Area Leaders typically wore what their rank wore, though the finer material,
gold trimming, and gold crown set them apart as much as they patch on their
breast. Though, the change made little difference as Area Leaders were rarely
seen in the halls and grounds of that castle, as they remained in their offices
until they were needed and walked their territory only once or twice a day if
that.
Short-sleeved chainmail shirts were required under the tunics of all of the
guard, no matter which rank. With this, those working the grounds were often
required to wear bits of plate armor, specifically made to cover the various
vital points so that they could not be taken out overly easily. They were also
required to wear helms while on duty. For the others however, this was a bit
more lax. They wore certain bits of armor while on duty, but not as much as
those on the ground and helms in the hallways were completely optional.
According to most records, the Hidden Guard only wore leather or hide armor
beneath their commoner's clothing as it wouldn't do for them to be parading
around in mail.
When it came to the King's Guard the equipment upped a bit again. They were
forced to wear special bits of plate, put together from multiple pieces from
bits of chain, with easy access straps. This was so that they could deflect
attacks aimed at their backs, which could easily kill them or make them useless
to the king, while giving them enough movement to bend and move their arms in
tough situations.
Discharge. There were various reasons for being discharged, mainly disobedience and endangerment, in the Kyranian Military. There were two main factors that led to an honorable discharge.
Age
Between the age of forty-five and fifty-five, depending on the branch and rank,
a man was honorably discharged from service and given the coin earned from his
work, which was set aside for him each time he was paid, if he lasted that
long. Age, slowing reflexes, and disabilities tended to weed out most men by
that time, though if a lower ranked man around that age could prove that he was
still fit for the work, his commanding officer might forget about the paperwork
for a long as possible. Records have been found of a seventy-one year old man
dying in battle. Also, scattered throughout the ranks were
age-limits/time-limits on advancement as some branches eliminated those that
didn't show promise or ability to move up in the ranks.
Disabilities
Disabilities also proved to be a bane for the various branches of military.
Those that were disabled after time of service were released with their pay,
plus a bonus depending on their service record. From time to time, staff jobs
within' the military and local keeps would often come up around the same time
as a disability. If the disabled man had a good record and his disability
didn't prevent him from doing the tasks of the open position, he would be
suggested to the person in-charge of filling the position with their commanding
officers signature. These jobs were mostly things like organizing records,
tending to tasks in the stables, cleaning and protecting gear. They weren't the
best or most sought after jobs, but they paid good coin and kept the disabled
person from burdening their family or living on the streets.
Aside from conscription, few men were forced into the military, unless they
were desperately in need of warriors. Those that were conscripted due to their
size were tested between the age of twelve and fourteen. If they showed a
disability that would prohibit them from performing well or endangered their
companions, they were dismissed. Any man that enlisted was also tested and
trained before being put in the field or on duty and if anything prohibited
them from doing their job they were dismissed. However, only those showing
crippling disabilities were looked over.
|