Soderfjord Jarldoms: Post PWA Armies
by James RuhlandThe below are war-machine stats for the armies of the nations of the Northern Reaches (Ostland, Vestland, Soderfjord) some time after the "Poor Wizard's Almanac" era. If you are using the MA timeline or some variant of that timeline, these would be the units those nations would possess around AC 1017.
Soderfjord Jarldoms
Basis: Medieval; male (2.5% standing, up to 15% wartime); population 160,000; standing. Soderfjord society is particularly warlike, accounting for the increased proportion of troops possible for standing armies.
Division Name: Ragnar's Huscarles
Type of Division: Elite Division
Number of Such Units: 1
BR: 148 Personnel: 1006 Troop Class: Excellent
Division Breakdown:
Division Commander: Jarl (HM, F15, +1 wis, +2 cha)
Deputy Commander: Thane (HM, F12, +1 int, +1 wis, +1 cha)
Heroes: 6 Warriors F 15, 6 High Priests C9.
1st Warband: each has 120 heavy infantry (F3), chain mail, large shield, battle axe, 2 hand axes (throwing), longsword; 3 Bandleaders (F5); 1 Warleader (F6) commander; manning 2 longships (each with 1 light catapult).
2nd - 6th Warbands: each has 120 infantry (F3), studded leather armour, large shield, spear, 2 hand axes (throwing), longsword; 3 Bandleaders (F5); 1 Warleader (F6) commander; manning 2 longships (each with 1 light catapult).
7th - 8th Warbands, King Ragnar's Own Horse Guards: 120 cavalry (F3), chain mail, shield, lance, longsword, mounted on war horses; 3 Bandleaders (F5); 1 Warleader (F6) commander. These units have no ships of their own but presumably could use commandeered vessels for transport by sea if needed.
Division Name: Soderfjord Reavers
Type of Division: Regular Division
Number of Such Units: 4
BR: 87 Personnel: 752 Troop Class: Average
Division Breakdown:
Division Commander: Jarl (HM, F9, +1 wis, +2 cha)
Deputy Commander: Thane (HM, F9, +1 int, +1 wis, +1 cha)
Heroes: 6 F 15, 6 C9.
1st - 6th Warbands: each has 120 infantry (F1), leather armour, large shield, spear, 2 hand axes (throwing), longsword; 2 Bandleaders (F3); 1 Warleader (F6) commander; manning 2 longships (each with 1 light catapult).
Forces have improved under the influence of Ragnar.
In wartime each Jarl can muster forces resembling the following:
Division Name: Jarl's Warbands
Type of Division: Reserve Division
Number of Such Units: 20
BR: 67 Personnel: 502 Troop Class: Fair
Division Breakdown:
Division Commander: Jarl (HM, F9, +1 wis, +2 cha)
Deputy Commander: Thane (HM, F9, +1 int, +1 wis, +1 cha)
Heroes: 4 F 9, 4 C7.
1st - 4th Warbands: each has 120 infantry (F1), leather armour, large shield, spear, 2 hand axes (throwing), longsword; 2 Bandleaders (F3); 1 Warleader (F6) commander. They can quickly construct longships for seafaring use if needed.
These divisions actually vary in size, having fewer or more companies (Warbands) or units with as few as 80 men in them, depending upon the strength of the Jarldom in question. The above represents the forces available to an average Jarl.