"Tales of the Koinon" Unit Preview: Vampire Faction

[Argeus the Paladin]

Hi there, this time in order to not forget my plot points and backstory in my new work, "Tales of the Koinon" I've decided to create an "unit preview" for each faction. I put it here with the goal of having people look at it and spot any discrepancies between this and reality/logic/history/whatsoever so that I may correct them before I actually sit down to pen the thing.

My showing it up here on TWC has another meaning: Since many of my units are inspired by Total War units (Guess which one is which. Hint: Europa Barbarorum) maybe someone could help point out if any violates copyrights?

Here goes the unit preview for the vampire faction:

1) The Beholden.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Beholden are more like slaves than regualr citizens of the vampire race. Comprised of enslaved (as in, bitten and mind-controlled) humans given some rudimentary arms and magic training or artificially created humanoids given life by a vampire lord's magic, this unit is more often than not thrown into the battle line before the regular vampire army attacks. They are the sort of wretched creatures that are universally considered less than even humans by pretty much every vampire of every social class, and yet numerous and loyal enough to guarantee endless levy.

They are usually armed with a short spear, a wooden shield and the basic equipment of any town levy. Despite their lack of training or abilities, they are extremely numerous and has almost unbreakable morale. It is arguable whether they are still living creature, as in battle they are less creatures than mindless tools of war. In the offside, they are more than willing to thrown themselves in otherwise suicidal charges without thinking twice.

Historically, in the feuds between vampire clans in the past centuries Beholdens were used extensively. Sometimes battles boiled down to which side had more Beholdens. It was only until the 17th century when vampire warfare evolved to the next level, resembling the Alexandre-esque strategy of using Beholdens as an "anvil" to anchor their enemies in place so that the better vampire troops could swoop in for the kill.

2) Havenguards

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As the secluded, secretive vampire communities known as "Havens" grew, so did the need for their protection. This is what the Havenguards are supposed to do: They act as a paramilitary police force to both maintain peace and order in their Haven and defend it from external threats, such as vampire hunters of the Catholic Church, or, in the case of Japanese Havens, the various Shinto militants.

While their role looked like that of a town militia, the Havenguards are anything but. In battle time, they are the sort of soldiers any vampire lord can depend on. Armed with light cuirasses, enchanted shields bearing the coats of arms of their haven and exceptional steel longswords, they are an ideal field force capable of dealing with all unprepared and most extraordinary attackers. Of particular note, each Havenguard unit is attached with a mage detachment to ward off against non-magical enemies. Their standard formation is a box, with said magic detachment in the center.

Historically, to the outside world the Havenguards were the second most well known presence in the secretive vampire society, second only to fabled vampire lords, since they are the ones who had the most dealings and contacts as well as conflicts with the humans and werewolves. Some exorcists likened them to the Spartan hoplites or Sacred Band of Thebes of the ages past - a disciplined force trained from birth and who were loyal only to their Haven rather than their ruling liege. On the minus side, this often put them at the center stage of infighting between the various vampire Havens in the last centuries before the Black Kaiser reunited them all, ce. 1900s.

3) Night Brothers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The myth of vampire fear of sunlight, garlic and cross stemmed from two things: Vampire Lords, whose massive use of dark magic forbade contact with sunlight, and these Night Brothers. They act as a foil to their more brute-force inclined comrades the Havenguards. They act as assassins, spies and informants in a vampire army, a post that required much less number and far more eliteness from their membership. This is why they were usually drawn from the upper-medium class, those who had much more stake in the running business of the vampire society than the average citizen.

All of the Night Brothers, as the name suggested, are members of the Temple of Blood, a secretive cult with infamous reputations even among vampires. Their dealings included sacrifices, blood rituals and inseparable brotherhood with one another. The fact that the Temple of Blood was feared by the lesser vampire citizens speaks volumes about their infamy.

While most of their works are done in the night, as their name suggests, when the time comes, they would march into battle together with their brothers. In a pitched battle, their role is strictly reserved to flanking, and their equipment reflects that - light coats, no shield and a two-handed falx-scythe, with copious amount of black-red facepaint. Their reputation preceded them, and their frightening presence could scare off all but the most fearless of foes. In a vampire army, their elans and esprit de corps is second to none because of their religious bonding with one another. However, their lack of armor meant they would be torn apart by many opponent who could ward off their initial impact. Most opponents, though, would not manage that.

Historically, their church was founded in late 4th century AD as a foil to the growing Catholic church. Needless to say, their moral ambiguity and the general intolerance of Christianity to "heresy" in that age meant that their religion was one of the first to be actively forbidden and purged by the Catholic Church. This, and the fact that they were no less bigoted than the Catholics themselves meant that they were the most vehement Vampire Hunter-Hunters. An uncredited source stated that roughly ninety percent of all vampire hunter casualties in covert operations over the past millenium were owing to the ferocious Night Brothers and their fearsome falxes.

4) Hunter-Killer

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Nicknamed "Peltastai Vampirikoi" by the Greek vampires, they were widely known among their community as the second coming/counterpart of the elite Makedonian "Peltastai Makedonikoi".

Their birth arose from a specific conflict in the 17th Century: The Romanian Vampire War. The need to combat specialist Vampire Hunters who were steadily carving their way through various vampire armies - including vampire lords - with fighting methods they never caught on before meant that the Greek vampires had to find new ways to defend their Havens. Their answer was the Hunter-Killer, "Peltastai Vampirikoi". As the name suggested, they were designed primarily to counter Vampire Hunters in any situation.

Suffice to say the Hunter-Killers were the elite of the elite, sons, and sometimes heirs, of lower vampire nobles. They were trained in their archnemesis' way of combat, with emphasis on speed, range and accuracy and durability rather than pure brute force. This is reflected in their equipment: Light crossbows, matchlocks and enchanted short-swords as well as heavy cuirasses masterfully made so as not to hinder speed or aim. The official uniform did not include a trench coat, but more and more of them started adopting it, claiming that they looked more 'heroic' in those coats. They didn't neglect magic as well, and are capable of magic dueling with all but the most powerful specialized mages.

The point of the Hunter-Killers was an all-rounded unit that could take down any enemy in any given battle space. Thus their inclusion would greatly boost a vampire army's versatility, regardless of terrain or battleground.

Historically, the Hunter-Killers were extensively employed in the Romanian vampire war, winning many key victories, usually by themselves and often crushing. However, the huge cost and standards accommodating them meant that their numbers were usually very limited. Until the 20th century, they still managed to defend their Havens against Nazi trespassers, sometimes battallion-sized, with no more than a dozen heads. A word of warning to vampire hunters: If you see a vampire soldier in black trench coat with a crossbow and matchlock in the distance, run if you value your life. Sometimes even that wouldn't be enough.

Thoughts?

(I may or may not add pictures, depending on my friends in another forum of mine)

[DukeCanada]

Pictures would be cool but I liked it .

Whats the setting in terms of date and location. Im guessing Europe in modern times?

[Argeus the Paladin]

Actually it's 21th century Japan.

It makes sense in context, don't worry.

[Argeus the Paladin]

Perhaps I should change the thread name, but here is the Koinon faction unit preview.

The existence of the Koinon (lit, the Union) traced back to the year 272 BC, when King Pyrrhos Aiakides of Epeiros, following his conquest of the Makedonian capital of Pella, following his friend Demetrias Thermopylaios' wish, executed him and had his ash mixed with steel and forged into a sword which he would carry into battle. The purpose of this was so that in the afterlife Demetrias could still see Pyrrhos' will to unite Greece and bring back the golden age of fabled heroes.

However, as history would have it, due to no small part his lack of strategical planning and luck, Pyrrhos failed to complete this quest and ended up being slain in battle at Argos several years later. Trapped in the sword, Demetrias was forced to wander the afterlife for all eternity.

As fate would have it, however, death was but the beginning for Demetrias Thermopylaios. Hearing the tale of his bravery in battle and devotion to his cause, as would be expected from a Spartan, the souls of fallen soldiers who had bravely laid down their lives for their nations flocked to his side. Over time, his reputation and his charisma built up a large army of restless souls, mostly comprising of cream-of-the-crop elite troops from many nations from all periods of history. As a consolidated band of brothers, those deceased soldiers practiced their skills day after day, weeks after weeks, month after month, year after year... even though they knew too well that in the afterlife their skills would all be for naught.

As time passed into the 20th century, the number of the army dwindled. Many of them had found their enlightenment, or been freed from the load which made them wandering spirits in the first place, and departed from this limbo into the afterlife. By the time the story began, only four leaders of four sub-factions remained: Demetrias Thermopylaios and his loyal Epirote/Makedonian elite phalangites; Kaeso Junius Quinctilus, the Roman centurion and his fellow Marian Reformed Legionaries; Gilbert d'Aquitaine, the French Grandmaster of the Fellow Knight-Brothers of St. Martin and Aquitaine and his Knight Brothers; and Thomas Canton, the English mercenary retinue captain and his band of Welsh-Cornwallian longbowmen. Each of them had their own reason binding them to limbo that hadn't been lifted, or for some, downright impossible to lift.

Demetrias wished only for his brothers to be free to enter the afterlife. Not all hope is lost, though - It was so foretold by the Delphi Oracles years ago that some day, he and his brothers would have to fight a final war against an enemy vastly superior to anything they had ever seen in their mortal lives. And then if they win, they would be free. Their only clue was a "war maiden" who could see the sword in which Demetrias was buried in its original form, without the wears and tears of weather and the years.

Until that day come, they would prepare themselves for war...

1) Epeiro-Makedonian Phalanx.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Epero-Makedonian Phalanx under Demetrias' command are two things - the apex of Hellenistic Diadochoi warfare, and the surest sign of solidarity between two bitter enemies, united under Demetrias. They were actually a merged unit, comprising of Epirote Chaonian Agema and Makedonian Argyraspides, fighting side-by side. The fact that in their mortal life these two units were each other's equals meant that even now in the afterlife there was competition between them, alongside with brotherhood and esprit de corps.

Their equipment is principally similar with only minor differences in color scheme and pattern. Each of them marches into battle in phalanx formation, armed with a long sarissa, a short slashing kopis, a large round shield bearing their national symbol, a pair of good bronze greaves, an open helmet with Corinthian horse hair decoration and a suit of hardened linen thorax. Of particular note, the Argyraspides, as their name (lit. Silver Shield) suggests, are armed with shields gilded with silver.

In battle, the Chaonian Agema always line up on the right side of their composite phalanx, while the Argyraspides on the left. This setup is so as to make optimum use of the Argyraspides' superior silver shield. Like all other phalanxes, they are strongest at the front, where they could make short work of even superior forces with their extended spear wall, but are quite vulnerable on the flanks and rear. To cover this weakness, it is prudent to prepare a strong flank guard, and in Demetrias' case, his usual choice would be either the Roman Reformed Cohort or the Frankish Mounter Knight Brothers.

2) Roman Reformed Legionary Century

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Roman soldiers who were slaughtered in the battle of Carrhae and came to join Demetrias' corps shortly after, their arrival marked a pronounced weakness in the Roman army composition at that era - little support cavalry and extreme vulnerability to Eastern cavalry archer. However, Kaeso Junius Quinctillus' men are very good at what they do best - a versatile, mobile field force that could deal plenty of damage at both close and medium range and hold the line against superior force with equal ease. Not to mention unequaled carriage capacity and stamina, thanks to the harsh training regime established by consul Gaius Marius, making them into what would then be known as "Mules of Marius".

Their equipment was revolutionary for their time: Celtic chain mail, Gladius Hispaniensis, a Scutum Romani, an open Montefortino helmet and a pair of iconic pila that they hurl at their enemies before closing on for melee. Much of this setup wasn't of Roman origin, but rather adopted from the various tribes and nations they had vanquished on their path to glory. Of particular note, the Roman soldier's extensive, rigorous training since youth meant that while not the only ones to use such weapons, they would certainly be the most skilful and most disciplined of them all.

Like all other legionaries, Kaeso's detachment could form a testudo (lit. turtle) formation, overlapping their shields and wrapping them around their tight company formation, making them nigh invulnerable to missile fire from above, front and two flanks. This formation is best used to sponge missile fire while advancing.

Their versatility in combat meant that very often a commander would be tempted to use them as the core of their force while ignoring the need for support units. A few word of advise for the wise in that position: Carrhae, 53 BC.

3) Frankish Knight-Brothers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Fellow Knight-Brothers of St. Martin and Aquitaine was founded in 1180 AD, as the French's answer to the Aragonese Knights of Santiago, making it one of the earlies military order in Western Europe. The Knight-Brothers of St. Martin were different from the other orders by virtue of two things: Their leadership being the hereditary Duke of Aquitaine and their primary allegiance to the Crown of France rather than the Papacy. This had led to the order being on the forefront of war against the Spanish, and later, the English, the latter bringing forth their doom.

Their membership over the centuries included lesser nobles and knight-errants who were bound more by honor than anything. Training was harsh, as were discipline and their occasional crusades in the name of the Christian church. Their nature meant that they weren't as sponsored and pampered as much by the Papacy as the other fanatic military orders like the Templars or the Hospitalers. On the other hand, it made the Knights of St. Martin far more beholden to their monarch than a military order should ever be.

Officially the order of St. Martin ceased to exist on St. Crispin's Day, 1415, when the entire order, including the Grandmaster, Gilbert d'Aquitaine, fought against the English at Agincourt and were felled to a man. Some said that the Duc d'Aquitaine were the only one to see through Henry VI's deployment among the higher leadership, but were unable to convince the arrogant Charles d'Albret otherwise. Now in limbo, the Knight Brothers lend their service to the one leader they deemed worthy, Demetrias Thermopylaios.

The Knight Brothers were the pinnacle of French warfare in their age. Plate armor, fine longsword, good shields and fine linen tabards proudly bearing the coats of arms of their order, they were practically the symbol of Frankish chivalry. They would either fight mounted, whereas they became a worthy replancement of the Hetairoi in Demetrias' formation, or dismounted, in which case they could hold their ground against practically anything coming their way and then shred them to pieces.

Unlike the Legionaries, they are a very specialized group. Either mounted and charge, or stand in place and defend. They would perform poorly in any other situation, one of the main reason why they lost the battle and their lives at Agincourt.

4) English Cornwallis Retinue Longbowmen

(This one is pretty much ripped from the Total War manual)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Many longbowmen sign a contract of indenture with a captain to become part of his retinue or company. The captain then hires out their services to the king. Such men are in effect professional soldiers, and highly skilled archers.

The Cornwallis Retinue was one such company of mercenary longbowmen. Their beginning was humble - peasants and townspeople who had fair skill with the bow to begin with and who disliked the mundane life and sought adventure in the name of wealth and glory. This one happened to be far more successful than their compatriots, partly because of their guile and cunnings, and partly because they were on the winning side of the War of the Roses... at their time, at least.

Things started to go downhill for the Cornwallis Retinue when they signed a contract with the later-infamous Richard III. For one thing, he paid more, and for the other, their commander, Thomas Canton, wasn't particularly fond of the Lancashire nobles anyway. That he might have possibly murdered the two sons of the late King Edward IV could have given them some ominous implications. Not that they had heeded.

On 22th August 1485 the Cornwallis' existence came to a bloody end when their unit was completely annihilated on the field of Bosworth no thanks to the treachery of Thomas Stanley. In an act of chivalry, the newly crowned King of England, Henry Tudor, declared clemency upon all members of the retinue who survived. There were few alive to receive this mercy.

Now part of Demetrias Thermopylaios' army, Thomas Canton and his men returned to the work they are best at - raining death on their enemies with their bodkin arrows. With Thomas' addition, the Koinon was complete, as the infantry-heavy army now had a magnificent archer support wing to carry on whatever task they see fit.

Each of the Cornwallis longbowmen were equipped well to accommodate this task: Their signature longbow, a bulging quiver of bodkin arrows, light padded armor and a fine short sword in case things go sour. Though, in the same unit with other brutally effective infantrymen, their short sword might as well have come to waste. In the unlikely case they are flanked by cavalry, they can still turn to their trusty weapons, sharpened stakes planned in the way to block out, hinder or outright kill enemy cavalry. It goes without saying that these stakes are equally effective against cavalry and vampires.

That being said, the Cornwallis retinue must not be subject to melee in any case should they be expected to carry out their designated mission.