Military Structure
by WingofCootWhile the Emperor is the ultimate commander of the military, he rarely involves himself directly, beyond appointing the High Generals and provincial Governors. If there is no major war (something far beyond the usual, continual conflicts), the Emperor otherwise simply receives reports on the situation from his High Generals and Governors, only occasionally directing their actions.
The Empire currently has three High Generals (the Emperor has changed this number depending on needs, and re-assigned the territories each position is responsible for, several times over the Empire's history; during the major period of conquest of the northern hemisphere, there were more High Generals with smaller areas of responsibility):
- The First High General is responsible for the defense of the Central Lands, the province of Aut, and the Imperial Lands and Outerlands north of 40N;
- the Second High General is responsible for the provinces of the Hephaeston Mountains and the Sandfolk Basin, and the Imperial Lands and Outerlands in the Eastern Hemisphere south of 40N, as well as the large scale defense of the eastern Empire from any attack from the south ;
- the Third High General is responsible for the Imperial Lands and Outerlands in the Western Hemisphere south of 40N, as well as the large scale defense of the western Empire from any attack from the south.
Other than the three Provinces placed directly under one of the High Generals (Aut, Hephaeston Mountains, and Sandfolk Basin), the military forces of the Provinces do not report to the High Generals and their chain of command except in the case of a large scale attack from the South (which has never occurred, but has been feared ever since the failed invasion of Mygalla). Provinces' forces are instead directly under the Governor of that Province.
However, both central Imperial forces and provincial forces use the same basic system of organization, with large forces made up of sub-units of a single troop type:
- platoons (originally 25, but in some regions reduced to 20) of non-magical infantry, all with a single type of training and armament;
- squadrons (usually 10-12) of "blasters" (low-level, non-flying mages)
- wings (usually 5-6) of flight-capable mages [very powerful mages (18th+ level) often operate in pairs instead]
- pairs or small groups of scouts
For example, a major canal junction fort might have a permanent garrison of 15 platoons of heavy foot, 6 platoons of archers, 4 squadrons of "blasters", and a few scouts, and also be the usual headquarters of a mobile force of 12 wings of mages.