Pale Gazetteer

Theocracy of the Pale Military Forces

revised February 2007

Forces of the Theocracy of the Pale

Note: In some cases, the armor or weaponry below was chosen to reflect real-world conditions that the D&D rules do not account for. Strict optimization under the D&D rules might lead to different decisions.

Prelatal Army

The Prelatal Army is one of the most highly trained armies of the Flanaess. The army consists of regulars made up of marchmen, bracemen, lancemen, and engineers, as well as irregulars known as magic corpsmen, scouts, and the Faithful Flan.

Marchmen are the infantrymen of the Pale, called such because they march to battle. Their units are referred to as Marches and are organized into groups of ten. For the most part, the Marches are heavy infantry units. They are armed with pikes [i.e. longspears or other reach weapons in D&D terms], light crossbows, and longswords. They typically wear half-plate into combat and carry a tower shield. The Marches of some commands differ from this norm due to the terrain they expect to fight in. The Marchmen of the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Dawn Commands also receive training as light infantry units with those of the Sixth Dawn Command receiving the most intensive training as light infantry. Those troops trained as light infantry do not use pikes and are armored in chainmail with light shields. The Marchmen of the Tenth Dawn Command have been retrained as light infantry troops, due to the desolate condition of Tenh in the aftermath of the Ether Threat, but they are also still issued weapons and armor of the heavy infantry to function as such in any major battles.

Bracemen are the archers of the Pale, called such because of the braces of arrows they carry with them. Their units are referred to as Braces and are organized into groups of ten. For the most part, the Braces are longbowmen. They are armed with longbows and longswords and carry large quivers filled with sixty arrows. They typically wear scale mail armor, preferring scale's protection to the mobility that a lighter armor would grant, and have bucklers in case they are engaged in melee combat. The Braces of some commands differ from this norm due to the terrain they expect to fight in. The Bracemen of the Sixth and Seventh Dawn Command, for example, wear chainmail when patrolling their forests, since the shorter sight distances make it more difficult to avoid melee combat. Some also find longbows to be unwieldy in dense undergrowth, so they use shortbows instead.

Lancemen are the cavalry of the Pale, called such because of their most commonly used weapon, the lance. Their units are referred to as Lances and are organized into groups of four. Five Lances (20 men) make up a Post, while five Posts (100 men) make up a Banner. For the most part, the Lances are heavy cavalry units. They are armed with lances and bastard swords. They typically wear half-plate and carry heavy steel shields (which, unlike wooden shields, would not shatter against a set pike), and ride heavy warhorses with heavy segmented barding [i.e. the equivalent of banded mail]. The Lances of some commands differ from this norm due to the terrain they expect to fight in. The Lancemen of the Sixth and Seventh Dawn Commands are also trained as light cavalry, riding light warhorses with chainmail barding. Those of the Sixth Command have perfected hit-and-run tactics which they regularly use along the borders of the Phostwood and even inside this deadly forest. In the Sixth Command, the lancemen have long since abandoned their lances, finding that a sword is better in the heavy forest of the Phostwood; they are armored in chainmail and do not use shields. The lances of the Seventh Command wear chainmail armor and use light shields.

The Prelatal Corps of Engineers are the troops trained in the use of siege warfare. The Engineers are highly trained in the use of their siege weapons, as well as the short sword and light shield for personal defense. They wear chain shirts for combat and are always heavily defended by at least one March. Engineers are also the construction force of the Prelatal Army, building and repairing the army's structures. Engineers in each command come to another 10% of the number of troops assigned to the command.

The Magic Corps are irregular troops of arcanists and clerics used by the Prelatal Army. They are trained in the use of their magic for war and are on assignment with the Prelatal Army from either the Arcanist Guild or the Church of the One True Path. The clerics normally wear full plate armor and carry a heavy steel shield into combat; they are expected to provide healing and support, so they simply keep their non-shield hand free for spellcasting rather than wielding a weapon. Arcanists normally do not wear any armor. Both types of spellcasters use their own preferred weapons (not standardized weaponry) and are always protected by a March. The Magic Corpsmen in each command come to another 5% of the number of troops assigned to the command. In times of war, the entire Arcanist Guild and Church of the One True Path may be pressed into service with the Prelatal Army.

Scouts are irregular troops used by the Prelatal Army for scouting ahead of troop movements or determining threats to which the Prelatal Army may be blind. They are trained in mounted and foot combat and are always armored. The exact armor varies from scout to scout, but it is rarely more than a chain shirt, or chainmail for the occasional scout willing to sacrifice some mobility for extra protection. Their weapons vary according to personal skill and focus. The use of a mount depending on their current mission and environment, but most own their own horses, in any case.

The Faithful Flan are a group of irregulars composed of Tenhas (ethnic Flan) who have converted to the worship of Pholtus and sworn loyalty to the Theocracy of the Pale. They were the front line of the Pale's advance into eastern Tenh in late CY 594, and suffered the worst losses among the branches of the Pale military. Still, new converts among the young Tenhas swell their ranks. They number about 5,000 troops now, distributed among the cities and castles of Pale-held Tenh (especially Atherstone) and the northwestern Theocracy of the Pale. The Prelatal Army trains and outfits them as light infantry. Although they do have their own officers, they are almost always referred to as the Faithful Flan by other members of the Prelatal Army when not spoken to directly. The army provides them with pikes (or glaives or other reach weapons), longswords, light shields, and chainmail or scale mail armor for use in combat.

Pale Patrol

The Pale Patrol is actually a sub-division of the Prelatal Army. These troops are responsible for patrolling the internal territory of the Pale. They are generally trained as light infantry and light cavalry. Many are also skilled in the use of the bow. They are outfitted with chainmail armor and a light shield (or a buckler, for patrolmen favoring the bow). Their weapons are generally lances (when mounted), longswords, and longbows. They are trained by the Prelatal Army at the training facility near Holdworthy. Any horses they use are light warhorses. During times of war, the Pale Patrol is pressed into service with the regular Prelatal Army as necessity dictates.

Pholtan Knights Valorous

The Pholtan Knights Valorous falls under the auspices of the Prelatal Army as well. They are allowed free rein, however, within the Theocracy of the Pale, except when operating with the Prelatal Army directly. The Knights patrol the Pale, wherever their goals take them (either as individuals or as an organization). They are well trained and experienced warriors who augment the Prelatal Army during times of war and even during times of peace if they see the necessity. Knights bring their own weapons and armor with them, as well as their own mounts and supplies. The Prelatal Army repairs and/or replaces this equipment as necessary when the Knights are pressed into service with the army.

Pale Militia

The Prelatal Army may also call up the Pale Militia in times of war. Led by former officers and sergeants of the Prelatal Army, the Pale Militia is made up of the city guards of all the cities of the Pale, as well as all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 35. The exact numbers in the Pale Militia, therefore, vary. All of these men receive training from the Pale Patrol once per quarter, to ensure they are prepared for battle at all times. When pressed into service, most of the militia acts as light infantry or ranged combatants (archers, slingers, or crossbowmen) depending on their skills. Many of the militia in the Pale's cities are equipped as heavy infantry, with longswords and heavy crossbows to defend the city walls in times of war. All weapons and armor are provided to them by the Prelatal Army when the Pale Militia is called into service. Former soldiers of the Prelatal Army may wear their previous uniforms and may be formed into separate units.

Church Militant

The Church Militant is also a shared division between the Church of the One True Path and the Prelatal Army. They are primarily used by the Church for their military operations and to uphold ecclesiastical law, but they have been used by the Prelatal Army irregularly; during a time of war, they make up elite units to protect the clerics of the Church of the One True Path attached to the army. Members of the Church Militant are assigned weapons and armors by their organization depending on their current assignments. During a time of war they will all be armored in full plate armor. The exact numbers of the Church Militant are unknown to the majority of citizens in the Pale.

Rank Structures

The rank structures of the Prelatal Army and the various organizations that interact with them are laid out in a very organized manner. The ranks of each organization cross back to the ranks of the Prelatal Army and are detailed in the table below.

The rank insignia are the same as the Prelatal Army insignia going across the chart. For example, a Prelatal Army sergeant's insignia is a double gold crescent moon and so is a Pale Patrol sergeant's, a Lawgiver's, and a Town Constable's.

The insignia are as follows by Prelatal Army rank. (Note: The insignia have been revised slightly in recent years. There may be some discrepancies from what has been published in various adventures.)

• March/Brace/Lanceman — single silver crescent moon
• Master March/Brace/Lanceman — double silver crescent moon
• Corporal — single gold crescent moon
• Sergeant — double gold crescent moon
• Lieutenant — silver half-moon
• Captain — silver full moon (plain disc)
• Major — gold full moon (plain disc)
• Colonel — silver six-pointed star
• General — gold six-pointed star
• Celestial General of the Prelatal Army — gold six-pointed star behind the holy symbol of Pholtus

Ranks of the Prelatal Army and Other Organizations

Uniforms of the Military Forces

Prelatal Army

The uniform of a regular in the Prelatal Army consists of the following in addition to their armors. All members wear a purple tabard with the coat of arms of the Theocracy of the Pale emblazoned on the breast and back. A white tunic is worn so that the collar is visible above the armor, where rank insignia is worn on the left side and the command designation on the right side. The uniform is complete with a pair of black trousers. For those higher in command, silver or gold piping is added for junior officers and senior officers respectively. For senior officers, the tabard is also replaced with a purple cloak instead. The heavy Lancemen of the Pale wear their rank and command designations on the neck guards of their armor. The Faithful Flan also wear the holy symbol of Pholtus next to their command designation insignia.

Pale Patrol

The uniform of the Pale Patrol consists of the following in addition to their armors. All members wear a purple tunic with the collar visible above their armor. Their rank insignia and the emblem of the Pale Patrol are worn on the left and right side of the collar respectively. They often wear all-weather cloaks as well with the emblem of the Pale Patrol embroidered on the back. Their trousers are plain brown woolen trousers. Members of the Pale Patrol sometimes wear their badge of office on a neck chain, but they are not required to do so; they are required to have their badge of office somewhere on their person though.

Pholtan Knights Valorous

The Pholtan Knights Valorous does not have an official uniform. All members of the group have tabards with the emblem of their Knightly Order emblazoned across the breast and the shield of an individual Knight will usually have his family or personal coat of arms on it. Rank is displayed by use of the shield, flags on the lance, or insignia worn on the tabard. In the case of the shield, a squire is only allowed to wear the holy symbol of Pholtus or heraldry of the Knights Valorous on his shield, a Knight may have his own heraldry or that of his order on his shield, and a Knight Captain will always have a purple and gold slash across the upper dexter of his shield. In the case of flags, a squire is not allowed to have any pennants on his lance, while a Knight is allowed one and a Knight Captain two. Most Knights also wear purple cloaks when going into battle.

Church Militant

The uniform of the Church Militant consists of a purple cloak with the holy symbol of Pholtus on the right breast side. Members of the Church Militant do not wear any rank insignia. When riding into battle, members of the Church Militant will often carry a shield emblazoned with the heraldry of the Church Militant.

City Guard

The City Guards of the Theocracy of the Pale dress in their armor with a purple cloak. The back of the cloak is emblazoned with the heraldry of the Theocracy of the Pale. They wear their rank insignia on the collars of their cloaks. There are no other requirements for their uniform.

Constabulary

There is no standard uniform for the constabulary of the Pale. They are all issued badges to represent their station and rank, but amongst the individual constables, rank is more a prestige issue than anything. Those who are constables within cities have more prestige and rank than those who are assigned to towns and villages.

Pale Militia

There is no standard uniform for the militia, but the armor they are issued carries the insignia of the Theocracy of the Pale. Each member of the Militia is also issued a purple armband emblazoned with the insignia of the Pale, to be worn on the left upper arm.

Prelatal Army Commands

First Dawn Command (Wintershiven)

Headquartered in the city of Wintershiven is the Prelatal Army — First Dawn Command. The First Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, and Faithful Flan. The First Dawn Command has no cavalry troops, due to the strong presence of the Pholtan Knights Valorous in Wintershiven. The troops stationed at Wintershiven are the best trained in all of the Theocracy of the Pale. The garrison commander for the First Dawn Command is the Celestial General of the Prelatal Army, Sloan Burgos. His assistant, General Amelia Corenthal, a devout Pholtan descended from a wealthy Oeridian family, oversees the Command's day-to-day operations.

The garrison of the First Dawn Command is housed among four keeps: two outside the city walls of Wintershiven, one within the Basilica, and a small keep inside the city proper. Each keep outside the city consists of three main structures: an army barracks, an armory, and a Command Barracks. The keep inside the city has a smaller Army Barracks, a Command Barracks, and Command Headquarters. The Headquarters for the Prelatal Army is located in the Basilica along with a small Command Barracks.

Several Brilliant Castles near Wintershiven fall under the control of the First Dawn Command: Dour Pentress and High Pentress (despite their location in Tenh), Castle Ascension, Castle Egremont. , The troops at the Pentress castles are always under the command of a Colonel, and each of the other two is under the command of a Major.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 100 troops in Wintershiven who patrol the immediate area around Wintershiven. They maintain their own barracks and administrative offices within the city proper.

Wintershiven is also the home of the Pholtan Knights Valorous, and the “old guard” of the Knights of the Order of the Sun consider Wintershiven their home. The Pholtan Knights Valorous maintains their own keep outside the walls of the city for training young knights. The numbers of knights listed for Wintershiven include all those knights within two days' ride of the city. The keep has four main structures consisting of a barracks, stables, a command building, and a smithy.

Second Dawn Command (Ogburg)

Headquartered in the city of Ogburg is the Prelatal Army — Second Dawn Command. The Second Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, and cavalry troops. The troops in Ogburg are some of the best trained mountain fighters in the Pale. In mountain warfare, they are bested only by those troops in Rakervale. The Commander of the Second Dawn Command is always a general. The current commander is General Theodoren Seldarak.

The garrison structure is a large keep along the edge of the city where its gates can actually open up into the city. The 30-foot walls of the keep are connected directly to those of the city of Ogburg. The main structures of the keep include the following: an army barracks, a Command Barracks, Command Headquarters, stables, the armory, and the Command Headquarters.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 200 troops in Ogburg who patrol the area east of Ogburg into the Rakers as well as the immediate area around the city. They maintain their own barracks and administrative offices inside the city near the gates of the Second Dawn Command's Garrison.

Ogburg is also considered home by the Knights of the Order of Luna by this order of the Pholtan Knights Valorous. They maintain a small training facility inside the walls of the city. It consists of a barracks, a smithy, and stables.

Third Dawn Command (Holdworthy)

Headquartered in the city of Holdworthy is the Prelatal Army — Third Dawn Command. The Third Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, cavalry, and Faithful Flan. The troops stationed at Holdworthy are second only to those of the First Dawn Command in skill in all of the Theocracy of the Pale. The garrison commander for the Third Dawn Command is always a Colonel.

The garrison structure of the Third Dawn Command is a large keep outside the city. The complex consists of six main structures: an army barracks, an armory, a Command Barracks, stables, and Command Headquarters as well as a large smithy. The smithy is the main smithy for the entire Prelatal Army and as such is huge. The Third Dawn Command is also responsible for the training of all Prelatal Army troops in the large fields outside the city, so the keep also has a large enclosed training field for training the military forces of the Theocracy. The Prelatal Army maintains a small outpost inside the city walls to assist with internal city problems as necessary.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 500 troops in Holdworthy who patrol the other half of the huge expanse of internal Pale territory between Holdworthy and Ogburg along with the Pale Patrol troops out of Eltison. They maintain their own keep adjacent to the training keep of the Prelatal Army, where their own troops train as well. The keep consists of five main structures: a Troop Barracks, a Command Barracks, Pale Patrol Headquarters, stables, and an armory.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous maintains a small barracks inside the city of Holdworthy. There are always 50 knights here who are used as trainers for the Prelatal Army's cavalry forces. Their mounts are kept in their own stables, maintained next to their barracks.

Fourth Dawn Command (Hawkburgh)

Headquartered in the city of Hawkburgh is the Prelatal Army — Fourth Dawn Command. The Fourth Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, and cavalry. The troops stationed at Hawkburgh constantly perform training operations in and around the city. They are considered to be the most battle-ready troops in all of the Theocracy of the Pale. The Fourth Dawn Command is considered the first line of defense should the decadent kingdom of Nyrond decide to invade the Theocracy of the Pale again. The garrison commander for the Fourth Dawn Command is always a general.

The garrison structure of the Fourth Dawn Command is a large keep outside the city proper. The keep consists of five main structures: an army barracks, an armory, a Command Barracks, stables, and Command Headquarters.

The Brilliant Castle of Pilgrim's Gate is also under the command of the Fourth Dawn Command as well as the garrison outside of Longfield. The troops at Pilgrim's Gate are under the command of a major, while those at Longfield are under the command of Major Hyrund Vendouer. The outpost at Longfield is under expansion and many people surmise it will soon become a Brilliant Castle in its own right to aid in the defense of the Theocracy of the Pale from Nyrond.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 500 troops in Hawkburgh who patrol the borderlands of the Theocracy of the Pale shared with Nyrond. They maintain their own keep just outside the city. The keep consists of five main structures: a Troop Barracks, a Command Barracks, Pale Patrol Headquarters, stables, and an armory. The Pale Patrol in Hawkburgh train regularly in military operations with the Prelatal Army.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous has a strong presence in the city of Hawkburgh. This city is considered the home of the Knights of the Order of the New Moon, and some members of the Order of Celene are stationed here. These knights support the knights stationed in Midmeadow following the agreement between the Pale and Nyrond in early CY 595, which withdrew the Valorous League of Blindness from Nyrond. The keep maintained by the Knights houses 200 knights who train with the Prelatal Army regularly and stand ready to ride in defense of their homeland and their deity. The keep consists of a barracks, stables, and a smithy surrounded by a ten-foot-high stone wall.

Fifth Dawn Command (Rakervale)

Headquartered in the city of Rakervale is the Prelatal Army — Fifth Dawn Command. The Fifth Dawn Command is made up of infantry and archers. The troops stationed at Rakervale are the best mountain fighters in all of the Theocracy of the Pale. The garrison commander for the Fifth Dawn Command is always a colonel.

The garrison structure of the Fifth Dawn Command is a large keep outside the city proper. The keep consists of four main structures: an army barracks, an armory, a Command Barracks, and Command Headquarters. The Fifth Dawn Command maintains a good relationship with the dwarven communities in the Rakers nearby as well as inside the city of Rakervale to obtain dwarf-made weapons on a regular basis for supplying to the Prelatal Army. The men of the Fifth Dawn Command are known as some of the finest troll-fighters in all of the Theocracy.

Three Brilliant Castles are under the command of the Fifth Dawn Command as well: Castle Arndulant, Northern Lights, and Griffwatch Castle. The troops at each location are always under the command of a major. These three Brilliant Castles are responsible for the defense of the Theocracy of the Pale from the eastern Troll Fens. Together with the Pentress castles (Dour and High), they form the first line of defense against threats from the entire Troll Fens.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 200 troops in Rakervale who patrol into the Rakers as well as along the northern portion of the Troll Fens. They maintain their own facilities inside the city consisting of barracks, an armory, and a command post. The structures are located on the outskirts of the city and have a small wall enclosing them.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous maintains a small keep outside the city of Rakervale. About a hundred knights live within two days' ride of Rakervale. Many knights maintain keeps in this vicinity due to the threat from the Troll Fens and the Rakers.

Sixth Dawn Command (Hatherleigh)

Headquartered in the city of Hatherleigh is the Prelatal Army — Sixth Dawn Command. The Sixth Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, cavalry, and Faithful Flan. The troops stationed at Hatherleigh are trained to fight in wooded terrain and are the best trained for it in all of the Theocracy of the Pale. Most of the Marchmen and Bracemen of the Sixth Dawn Command look more like scouts than the highly trained soldiers they actually are. This stems from their training in guerilla combat for use in the Phostwood should necessity dictate they ever have to fight inside this eerie forest. The lancemen of the Sixth Command are not the heavy knights of most of the other commands, but are actually light horsemen trained as strike forces instead of cavalry. The garrison commander for the Sixth Dawn Command is always a colonel. The current commander is Colonel Kiana Gunnhild.

The garrison structure of the Sixth Dawn Command is a series of structures set up as an encampment outside the city. The facility consists of three main structures: a Barracks, an armory, and Command Headquarters. Horses are kept in a fenced area with a large barn. The entire encampment is surrounded by a ten-foot wall.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 200 troops in Hatherleigh who patrol along the border of the Phostwood and inside the boundaries of the forest to a certain extent, based on a treaty with the Phostaldaron. They maintain their own encampment adjacent to the encampment of the Prelatal Army. The encampment consists of three main structures: a Barracks, a Command Post, and an armory. They have no horses, but do hold a contract with a local stable to provide steeds to them when they need them.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous has a considerable presence in Hatherleigh as well. Hatherleigh is considered to be the home of the Knights of the Order of Celene (which includes many elves, half-elves, and even arcanists), who maintain a small keep inside the city to support the knights living less than two days' ride away. Many of the knights of the Order of Celene were reassigned to Midmeadow or to Hawkburgh as of early CY 595.

Seventh Dawn Command (Stradsett)

Headquartered in the city of Stradsett is the Prelatal Army — Seventh Dawn Command. The Seventh Dawn Command is made up of infantry, archers, and cavalry. The troops stationed at Stradsett are trained to fight in wooded terrain like the men and women of the Sixth Dawn Command (Hatherleigh). They are second only to the Sixth Dawn Command in guerilla warfare tactics for use in heavy woodland terrain. The Marchmen and Bracemen of the Seventh Dawn Command may look more like scouts than the highly trained soldiers they actually are, depending on whether they have been assigned to patrol the Gamboge Forest or the open lands to the east of the forest. The lancemen of the Seventh Command are a mixture of heavy and light cavalry. The heavy cavalry serve in the open fields of the Theocracy of the Pale, while the light cavalry serve as strike forces along the edge of the Gamboge Forest. Several members of the Arcanist Guild have been trained with the troops here, in case the Green of the Gamboge (the dragon Sasrananakmasha, or “Sassy”) turns her attention from the gnomes of the Flinty Hills and toward the Pale. The garrison commander for the Seventh Dawn Command is always a colonel. The current commander is Colonel Eldarion Amanodel, a half-elf devoted to the Church of the One True Path and a rarity at this rank in the Prelatal Army.

The garrison structure of the Seventh Dawn Command is a walled complex of buildings within the city. The complex consists of four main structures: a Barracks, an armory, stables, and Command Headquarters. The complex is surrounded by a twenty-foot wall.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 200 troops in Stradsett who patrol the Gamboge Forest and to the east of the forest as well down to the Nyrond border. They maintain their own complex outside the walls of the city surrounded by a ten-foot wall. The complex consists of four main structures: a Barracks, a Command Post, stables, and an armory. Like their counterparts in the Prelatal Army here at Stradsett, they have received heavy training in guerilla tactics for use inside the Gamboge Forest.

Eighth Dawn Command (Landrigard)

Headquartered in the city of Landrigard is the Prelatal Army — Eighth Dawn Command. The Eighth Dawn Command is made up of infantry and archers. The troops stationed at Landrigard are trained for mountain combat. Like their counterparts in Ogburg and Rakervale, they receive heavy training in tactics for use in mountainous terrain. The garrison commander for the Eighth Dawn Command is always a major. The current commander is Major Audhild Mendelfirth, a gruff Oeridian woman who fabulously claims to have dwarven ancestry.

The garrison structure of the Eighth Dawn Command is a mountain keep located a couple miles outside the city. The keep consists of four main structures: a Barracks, an armory, a smithy, and Command Headquarters. The complex is surrounded by a twenty-foot wall on its front (southern side) while its northern side is built against one of the mountainous foothills of the Rakers. The Command Headquarters is actually built into this mountainside.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 100 troops in Landrigard who patrol the Rakers and the lands to the south to Eltison. They maintain their own complex inside the walls of the city. The complex consists of three main structures: a Barracks, a Command Post, and an armory. Like their counterparts in the Prelatal Army here at Landrigard, they are trained extensively in mountain tactics for use inside the Rakers.

Ninth Dawn Command (Eltison)

Headquartered in the city of Eltison is the Prelatal Army — Ninth Dawn Command. The Ninth Dawn Command consists of infantry, archers, and cavalry. The troops of the Ninth Dawn Command are the least experienced of all the troops in the Prelatal Army due to their position inside the Theocracy. Eltison is the most secure city inside the Pale, so its troops do not see as much combat duty as other Commands, but they maintain their training just the same. The commander of the Ninth Dawn Command is always a major.

The garrison structure is a large keep surrounded by a 40-foot-tall stone wall. Inside the wall are seven main structures: the Army barracks, the stables, the Army Command barracks, the Pholtan Knights Valorous barracks, the Pale Patrol Barracks, the armory, and the Command Headquarters. Both the Prelatal Army and the Pale Patrol also maintain small barracks inside the city of Eltison.

The Pale Patrol maintains a garrison of 500 troops in Eltison who, along with their counterparts in Holdworthy, patrol the largest portion of the Pale's territory. They maintain a barracks within the keep of the Ninth Dawn Command as well as their command post and a smaller barracks inside the city of Eltison.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous has a large presence here in Eltison as well. Eltison's existence within a large plains area makes it prime land for the knights to build their keeps around. The barracks inside the Prelatal Army keep which belongs to the Pholtan Knights Valorous houses 100 knights who regularly visit the city from their own homes.

Tenth (“Tenh”-th) Dawn Command (Atherstone and Calbut)

Headquartered in the city of Atherstone is the Prelatal Army — Tenth Dawn Command, formerly the “Tenh Dawn Command.” The Tenth Dawn Command includes infantry, archers, cavalry, and Faithful Flan. The Tenth Dawn Command used to be under the direct control of the Celestial General of the Prelatal Army and not a separate command, but it became the Tenth Dawn Command after the occupied lands of eastern Tenh were secured by the Theocracy of the Pale and declared a prelacy in their own right. The troops stationed at Atherstone, Calbut, and other towns in Pale-held Tenh are the most experienced soldiers in the Pale. Many of them have fought Iuzian troops, the Fists of Stonehold, or Ether Creatures. The troops of this Dawn Command have been undergoing intensive retraining to deal with the wasteland that Tenh has become. They are being cross-trained as light troops, able to move quickly and with little equipment, in order to react quickly to the troubles in the Tenh, but they can still take to the field of a major battle as heavy infantry. The light steeds of the cavalrymen were first imported from the lands around the Bright Desert, but more recently bred and trained locally. The garrison commander for Atherstone is Knight Captain Louis Phillip Gaston II, while a colonel commands the troops in Calbut.

The primary garrison structure of the Tenth Dawn Command is the city of Atherstone. Troops are barracked in an encampment outside the city or in structures procured by the Prelatal Army for their use. Officers are housed in inns or in commandeered homes. The armory is in a large warehouse under constant guard by the troops, while the stables of the city are used as necessary for the horses along with a large fenced area near the encampment. The Prelatal Army is working on a permanent keep west of the city near the current encampment.

The Pale Patrol has no presence in Atherstone or Calbut yet. All the lands west of the Yol River are patrolled by Prelatal Army regulars.

The Pholtan Knights Valorous has a large presence in Atherstone, since the commander is one of their own: Louis Phillip Gaston II, commander of the Prelatal Army forces in Atherstone, and Provisional Governor of Tenh. Many of the nearly 200 knights who reside in Atherstone are comrades in arms and companions of the Knight Captain, and they took an active role in the liberation of Tenh from the grip of Iuz, Stonehold, and the Ether Threat. It is rumored that most of the funding forthe new keep at Atherstone is coming from the Knights themselves. The Knights generally camp alongside the Prelatal Army troops, but their officers reside in houses that they bought from the local populace or built for themselves in the last several years. The Knights in Atherstone have already converted their combat style from that of heavy cavalry to light cavalry. They continued to scout into the Tenh, during and after the Ether Threat.

The Tenth Dawn Command is also stationed in the cities along the road that marks the Pale's new western border: Calbut, High Hadleigh, Oxton, and Harpender. Among these, the largest force is at Calbut, which the Pale continues to refortify against monsters from the mountains, guarding the valuable platinum mines that were reopened in CY 595. The wastelands of central Tenh contain only a scattered population of dangerous and otherworldly creatures, as well as daring Tenha pioneers, but none of the towns along the Pale's western road has faced a concerted assault. These towns are generally considered more secure than Calbut, while Atherstone remains a strong point of support for the Pale's campaign in Tenh.

Theocracy of the Pale Troop Numbers by City

Theocracy of the Pale Troop Numbers by Brilliant Castle