Military of Kastrot

[SteelEagle]

This is the topic to discuss the Kastroti Military, including ideas and thoughts, that will go into a larger topic. Feel free to post!


-------

 

The military of Kastrot is not well-regarded by those outside of Maretonia at their own peril. This could be because unlike other city-states and nations, Kastrot does not maintain a unified fighting force. Instead, each island is charged with its own defense and raises its military force to suit its needs. Certain islands are thus famed for certain styles of warfare, but as a whole the disunity and politicking has hampered cooperative planning. It takes a very keen political and strategic mind to fully utilize the Kastroti talents. When utilized effectively however, they are exceptionally competent.

 

Kastrot's generational foray into dark arts and other magic run alongside combat arts. Kastrot can field large numbers of battlemages including considerable numbers of high-class Warmages. While not as well known as Neighponese Battlemages who combine magic with technology, Kastrot's long history with dark magic gives it control of some of the more obscene methods of war. Non-Battlemage forces include large numbers of militia made up from the common citizenry, including Unattached communities who join to earn the right to move back to an Island. Some islands produce better trained militias than others as well as better equipped, and tactics involving them are as varied as they are sinister.

 

When the city does see need to come together for mutual defense they will bolster their forces with coin, purchasing the contracts of many mercenary organizations. Indeed, it is not unheard of for more than eighty percent of a Kastroti force heading into battle to be battle-hardened mercenaries. Many bloody defeats have seen near immediate counter-attacks by fresh Kastroti forces, unharmed in previous engagements that saw mercenaries battered into pieces. With Battlemages providing outrageous power and the militia allowing the city good numbers and mercenaries filling up the wholes, a prepared Kastrot is formidable.

 

Of course the city rarely comes together unless it is threatened directly and as such offensives aren't as dangerous or large as their enemies. It has never mounted a direct assault on the other great cities, but instead has chosen to slowly but surely drive them to ruin through harassment. Individual or small groups of battlemages from the same island purchasing the contracts of mercenaries as well as bringing around some prized militia to harass their enemies is not unheard of.