The Army of Orlais

[David]

The Imperial Orlesian Army

The Orlesian military is one of the largest in Thedas, behind only the Tevinters and Qunari in size and professionalism. With over 600,000 men (women in the Orlesian military are far rarer than in Ferelden), divided into 100 legions of 6,000 men each, it relies heavily on men-at-arms, men protected with heavy grey-iron chainmail and armed with steel longswords and shields. They also have halberdmen, men with similar protection armed with a halberd, a roughly 6 foot poles headed with a steel axe-pike-warhammer combination, pikemen, armed with 10 foot poles with steel tips at the end, and archers, men protected with lighter chainmail armor and armed with oak longbows (it is not uncommon for them to have flaming arrows).

After the regular army, there are roughly 54,000 mounted Chevaliers. Also divided into legions, these men are formed entirely from the ranks of nobility. They serve as the elite shock troops of the Orlesian empire, and there are few things more fearsome than one of their cavalry charges. Protected with massive plate Red Steel armor, they are armed with 8 foot lances for the initial charge, then switch to Red Steel longswords to hack and slash their way through the enemy.

The city of Val Royeaux, being the heart of the empire, is defended by 10,000 men of the Royal Guard. These men are drawn from the most veteran units of the army, and are hand selected by the Emperor or Empress. Protected by veridium plate armor, they are armed with veridium sword and shield, and have oak crossbows for manning the walls.

The regular army also has supplementary forces of 30,000 men. 18,000 (3 legions) are light cavalry, which act mainly as scout and harassment forces, and are armed with smaller 6 foot lances, grey iron chainmail, and small shortbows. The additional 12,000 (2 legions) are the siege corps engineers, men who specialize in the use of trebuchets, catapults, and ballistas.

The army is divided into four main groups, with each one in charge of a specific region of Orlais.

Army Group Center: Largest army group in Orlais. Stationed near Val Royeaux. Comprised of 210,000 regular army (35 legions, 7 armies), 24,000 Chevaliers (4 legions, the largest concentration of Chevaliers in Orlais), 6,000 engineers (1st siege legion), and 6,000 light cavalrymen (1st light horse legion). The Royal Guard, while technically under the AGC command, follow their own rules.

Army Group North: Second largest group (due to hostilities with Nevarra). 180,000 regular army (30 legions, 6 armies), 18,000 Chevaliers (3 legions), 6,000 light cavalrymen (2nd light horse), and 6,000 engineers (2nd siege legion).

Army Group South: While it has been considerably downsized due to Gespard's ascension to the throne, it remains a formidable force. In charge of the Dales and Gamorran peaks, it is widely disperesed, yet if fully organized would be very difficult to overtake. It is comprised of 150,000 men (25 legions, 5 armies), 6,000 Chevaliers (8th Chevaliers) and 6,000 light cavalrymen (3rd Light Horse).

Army Group West: Smallest of all the legions. Mainly frontier forces that guard the western approach and Andorral's reach. Only 60,000 men strong (10 Legions, 2 armies) and 6,000 Chevaliers, it is mainly a token force that keeps the peace.

Rank Structure in Orlais:
Commoners:
Recruit
Legionnaire Third Class
Legionnaire Second Class
Legionnaire First Class
Corporal
Colors Corporal (Man in charge of a unit's standard)
Sergeant
Sergeant First Class
Sergeant Major

Additional Ranks:
Trumpeter (Corporal)
Drummer (Legionnaire First Class)
Runner (Legionnaire First Class)
Mess Sergeant
-Cook's mate (Legionnaire)
Surgeon's mate (Corporal)

Guard Ranks (commoner)
Guardsman Third Class
Guardsman Second Class
Guardsman First Class
Guard Sergeant
Master Guard Sergeant
Guard Sergeant Major

Chevalier Ranks
Squire
Lancer
Lancer First Class
Knight
Chevalier
Master Chevalier

Officer Ranks:
Second Lieutenant
First Lieutenant (Guard Lieutenant, Lieutenant Chevalier)
Commander (Guard Commander, Chevalier Commander)
Captain (Guard Captain, Captain Chevalier)
General (Grandmaster Chevalier)
Field Marshal

Organization of the Army

The largest is an Army Group, which varies in size and strength, depending on the needs of the nation. There are 4 in Orlais, and each is led by a Field Marshal.

An individual army has 5 legions, 30,000 men total, is commanded by a General. A minimum of two armies and a Legion of Chevaliers is required to be considered an Army Group.

A Legion, being the standard unit in the military, is subdivided in the following manner. Comprised of 6000 men and officers. Commanded by a Captain. 150 men are make a support company, comprised of logistics, cooks, surgeons and medical staff, couriers, the commander (captain), executive officer, and Aide-de-Campe, Legion Standard bearer and guards (5 men total), and Captain's guard (50 men)

3 Regiments, comprised of 1950 men each. 31 men are regimental staff, which include the commander (Commander), executive officer, small band (trumpeter, drummers, and regimental colors, 10 total), runners, and Commander's guard (10 total)

19 Companies per regiment, comprised of 101 men each. (100 men, 1 commander (First Lieutenant))

4 Platoons per company, 25 men each, commanded by a 2nd lieutenant.