As the legion started to assemble, their standard composition started to form with the first medium infantry battalion nearest Gallanth. It had the usual six companies of one hundred eighty soldiers apiece, along with a small staff of ten to twelve with a commander and a senior sergeant for a total of approximately twelve hundred. The soldiers were arranged in twelve-man squads with an eight-man infantry team equipped with a long sword, large shield, long spear, dagger, and either banded armor or scale mail with a helmet. The other four men formed the range weapons team, with two armed with either repeating or heavy crossbows, and the other two with long composite bows. They also had a long sword, buckler, and helmet. They carried forty bolts or arrows, and had the same types of armor. All the Battle Point legion’s weapons and armor looked to be of almost Weir quality but more worn.
The squad leaders seemed to be of good quality as they arranged their men, who were fairly well armed with several having either a mithril alloy or magic weapon. There were three squads in a platoon, with the platoon leader being a formally trained commissioned officer, having attended the Alliance military academy or with a field commission, and a senior platoon sergeant of great experience. All officers had to have served at least three years as a line soldier. There was usually one battle healer per platoon, but here at Battle Point, there were two. Each battalion was supposed to have an organic wizard of mid degree with one or two apprentices, all of which provided immediate magic firepower and protection for the battalion, but they were in short supply here in the remote plains.
The heavy infantry battalion formed in the middle of the legion and was structured the same as the medium battalion, but the infantrymen were equipped with either full plate or breastplate over scale armor and were armed with large shields and either long swords, great axes, or heavy maces. The range weapons teams were armed with banded armor, crossbows, and long spears. The heavy infantry battalion was utilized as an anchor for a defense similar to how the Keystone Weir used the dwarf company. They were more focused on the close fight than missile barrages.
The land dragon battalion moved past Gallanth; it was composed of three hundred sixty men working with fifty-two land dragons. They formed three companies composed of fifteen land dragons each, with three platoons of four dragons and the commander’s, executive officer’s, and senior sergeant’s land dragon. There were four land dragons in the battalion headquarters for the battalion commander and his senior staff. The land dragons were utilized by Battle Point like the Draden regiment did, as a spearhead or breaking force in an all-out land battle or to fight larger powerful opponents the legion faced such as giants. The wingless dragons were the heavy hand of the legion and used as much to intimidate potential threats as to help stabilize the region.
The land dragons were among the most feared creatures in the unsettled lands and kept the peace up until recently. The Battle Point land dragons had even slain small white, green, and black dragons, as they always worked in pairs but also worked as a whole platoon.
The heavy cavalry squadron then started to filter in after the land dragons. There were roughly three hundred sixty mounted heavy warhorses. They were arranged in three troops of one hundred twenty cavalrymen apiece plus the commander, senior sergeant, healer, and small staff. The squadron was usually commanded by a powerful and experienced paladin of colonel or senior colonel rank. The heavy mounted cavalrymen were mostly paladins (or horsemen training to be paladins), all equipped with half plate or full plate armor with metal shields, and they were armed with hand and a half swords and heavy lances. Many of the senior paladins had some type of magical weaponry or armor, with the rest being of masterwork. Half had light repeating crossbows. A very powerful paladin commanded the troop, leading with the power of his holy sword, which was the ultimate weapon for an Alliance knight.
The two medium cavalry squadrons immediately followed. The medium cavalry was organized in the same manner as the heavy cavalry, just lighter armed and armored with more of a focus on speed and mounted archery. Their horses did not wear barding and were runners as opposed to the paladin mounts of the heavy cavalry. The soldiers themselves wore light scale or partial banded armor and were armed with long spears, long swords, small shields, and light helmets, as well as short composite bows or light repeating crossbows. They were meant for fast strikes but could fight on foot as well and operated in the field longer than the heavy cavalry. They trained to have more endurance for covering greater distances faster.
The light archer cavalry worked in conjunction with all the other forces in the legion or performed fast strikes and reconnaissance. Both Battle Point and Eladran Weir took this type of fighting and cavalry style from the northern Kaskar clans, who used mass light cavalry strikes to deliver a hail of arrows and then rapidly withdraw. While they were not as accurate as a stationary archer, they were very effective for these rapid attacks. Their organization seemed different to Mkel, who observed senior archers with very few commissioned officers. He would have to ask General Daddonan about them, for he was indeed curious.
The Battle Point’s catapult battalion wheeled in from the opposite side of the field, and Mkel observed them though his crossbow’s sight. They consisted of three batteries of three heavy catapults and three trebuchets apiece, mounted on special reinforced spring-equipped wagons with seventy-two men per battery. These siege engines gave the legion a total of eighteen long-range throwers operated by four hundred thirty-two men. The operators were specialized in the deployment of these deadly weapons. Battle Point had extra men and horses to man their catapults to allow more rapid transport over the long distances that they needed to travel to support their soldiers. Their catapults apparently had the same range as his Weir’s and utilized the same type of stones, dragon’s fire canisters, and the soft clay projectiles that had hundreds of nails imbedded within the sphere.
The sapper unit of the legion consisted of only one hundred twenty men. Mkel surmised that the Battle Point legion was more concerned about their own mobility rather than defensive works, since they were not out to seize opposing enemy fortresses but defended the city and the surrounding areas through a highly mobile force. They were not as concerned with siege towers or battering rams. The sapper soldiers also seemed more armed than the standard Alliance sapper.
The support battalion for Battle Point was also arranged slightly differently, being much more mobile and robust to support the increased number of cavalry; this legion was also more spread out across the broad swath of terrain that they had to cover. They had several senior clerics to help the support battalion commander perform her duties as well as providing a greater magical defensive power to the battalion. Likely also to make up for the fact that they did not have any female dragons assigned to the support battalion. This would also have to be remedied, Mkel thought to himself. Again, these support soldiers were also more heavily armed and armored than their standard Alliance counterparts.
The aerial battalion assigned to the legion took off and then quickly landed. It had over seventy-five mounted hippogriffs. They were arranged in a similar fashion to Draden’s aerial battalion, with three companies of twenty-five hippogriffs apiece. A soldier told Mkel that they were mainstays of Battle Point, with their flights being a welcome reinforcement to all forces that were hard-pressed. While not at full strength, they were constantly attempting to increase the numbers of their war birds.
Mkel saw the legion’s organic ranger company, which was mostly mounted on griffons but had a few giant eagles. This one-hundred-twenty-man unit was composed of all human rangers with one elf to aid them in tracking and dealing with the wood elves that resided in the forests to the northwest. Mkel noticed that he had the markings of Haldrin’s clan from Lucian Forest on his cloak. Like the ranger platoon at the Weir, they conducted raids and scouting missions for the legion into enemy and troubled areas.
Andellion, the legion’s senior wizard, was a key individual on
the legion’s staff, being an advisor to the legion commander and teacher to the apprentice wizards. Andellion gave the legion the most magical offensive and defensive capabilities that he could muster and coordinated with the battalion’s wizards if a great threat from enemy sorcerers, powerful evil creatures, and chromatic dragons materialized. They also acted as ambassadors for the legion when needed.
Jodem walked out of their lodging and joined Mkel as he made his way over to Gallanth. The gathering legion soldiers were all staring at the sleeping dragon, who even with his tail wrapped around his one side and his wings folded was still just under twenty-five yards long and took up a good patch of ground.
“Hey big fellow, it’s time to wake up. The whole legion is gathered to both see you and show off for you,” Mkel said to his dragon as he put his hand on his massive cheek. “I am awake. I just wanted to give them a little time to get by and to give me clearance to stand up. Quite a large force compared to the Draden regiment or even a standard Alliance legion,” Gallanth replied.
“Yes, but Draden has the Weir garrison and you,” Mkel replied.
“It has us,” Gallanth said with endearment.
“All right, just get up and raise their spirits,” Mkel said with a smile.
Gallanth lifted his head, stood up on all four of his thick tree-trunk-sized legs, and stretched his neck, wings, and tail after ensuring that he would not hit anyone.
“I see General Daddonan and his staff gathering up by his headquarters building, and we don’t want to keep the general waiting,” Mkel said as Gallanth looked down at him with the best a dragon could do to make a smile.
“No, we can’t have that, especially Colonel Sykes and his staff,” Jodem echoed as they started to walk to the front of the assembling legion toward General Daddonan and his staff. Gallanth walked slowly behind them, trying not to create too heavy a tremor from his heavy footsteps, for even as big as he was, he could walk relatively quietly when he wanted to. The soldiers of the legion quieted down as Gallanth approached, staring in amazement at the big gold dragon. They probably had not seen a gold dragon for some time, and then to be this close to the largest dragon in the world, save Michenth and Tiamat, must have left a distinct impression. This was especially true since Gallanth was almost three times the size of a land dragon. Mkel’s soldiers and even the soldiers of the Draden regiment were used to being around Gallanth.
“Welcome, Draden Weir,” General Daddonan greeted them.
“Gold dragon Gallanth, Captain Mkel, Master Wizard Jodem, on behalf of the Battle Point legion, we welcome you and are honored by your presence,” Colonel Sykes echoed as the chief of staff and official commentator of the legion. Mkel was used to some Alliance officers having a little animosity toward him for being both a dragonrider and an officer. Only a few like Colonel Lordan and Lieutenant Bristurm were in the same position he was. The only ones who could give Colonel Lordan a hard time were generals, but they did not, because of his stature as a silver dragonrider and Weirleader.
“The legion is anxious for your review, Lord Gallanth,” Sykes added, almost biting his tongue. “Commanders, bring your units to attention,” he shouted as the subordinate battalion and regiment commanders saluted, turned around, and called their commands to attention. “Sir, Gallanth, gentlemen, if you would follow me.” He turned and walked toward the first infantry battalion. The group walked over to the beginning of the infantry regiment. The soldiers were standing tall, shoulder to shoulder, tens of rows deep. Their armor and weaponry looked very well kept, almost to a fault, but still well used. As General Daddonan walked up to the regimental commander, he drew his sword, an impressive mithril alloy broad sword with a dragonstone in the pommel, likely from a bronze or silver dragon. He saluted the general and Gallanth, and the general returned the salute with his sword, and Gallanth lowered his head for a cursory return.
As they walked across the front line of troops, Gallanth spoke in his full voice, commenting on how good the soldiers looked. “Impressive infantry, General. I see courage and spirit in them,” he stated. The infantry regiment alone was almost the size of Draden’s combined regiment with the Weir’s garrison. They then walked past the cavalry regiment. They looked almost as good as Lenor’s paladins, but the Weir’s knights were slightly better armed. Again Gallanth complimented them, and to the surprise of the cavalrymen, Gallanth did not spook their horses like they’ve seen chromatic dragons do.
Next was the land dragon battalion. These land dragons were not as big as Wheelor’s but were more on par with Draden’s company. Gallanth spoke up in Draconic, which only Mkel, Jodem, and the battalion wizards could likely understand.
“Thank you, my little brothers, keep your strength and faith.” All the land dragons present, roughly thirty of their total of forty-eight, bowed their heads in unison, much to the surprise of their crews, in deference to Gallanth. This was again the fondness that the metallic dragons had for their smaller land dragon cousins and the inherent admiration that the less-intelligent land-bound fire serpents had for the dragons, especially gold and silvers.
As the group walked in front of the hippogriff squadron, Gallanth stopped and looked directly at a young rider. When any metallic dragon would look at someone, it was as if they could look right into their soul, but especially a gold dragon could make a man shiver. It could be both an uncomfortable and peaceful experience at the same time, for dragons could read emotions as if they were spoken words, and they could always tell if someone was lying.
“Do not worry, young Dackner, rider of Bracks, you will not fail your comrades in battle, and you will find your courage. I have faith, so should you,” Gallanth said to the young hippogriff rider, nodding his immense head to convey that an answer was not necessary. Dackner looked at Mkel, who smiled at him as they kept walking. He started to blush with embarrassment as the other riders in his squadron looked at him with an intense curiosity. Even his hippogriff seemed surprised by the incident; they were usually oblivious, being only just slightly more intelligent than dogs. It was well known that gold dragons had the power of foresight to varying degrees, but to be talked to by one was usually a sign of very good luck.
Mkel reminded himself to ask what his dragon meant by his comments. He likely had a feeling of some sort that this particular lad would play a part of something in the near future. Time will tell, he thought to himself. They then passed the catapult battalion, sapper unit, support corps battalion, and ranger company. All looked very professional and polished, and they projected good bearing. Their rangers were not all mounted on griffons; some were on giant eagles, and only one of their numbers present were elves, who gave the elven acknowledgment to Gallanth. They at least had two elves, which Mkel considered good. Out here on the plains, they likely didn’t feel at home, for a lack of forests. Their dealings with the independent wood elves in the forests of the north made their sacrifice valuable to the Alliance. The wood elves distrusted all and were only slightly friendly to the elves of the Alliance. However, in this far outpost of the Alliance, they came to their aid against the occasional chromatic attack, especially the elf-eating green dragons that tended to inhabit the same areas as elves.
They then made their way back to the front of the legion formation. General Daddonan moved up to the stand and placed his dragonstone-powered sword in the central podium to enable it to amplify his voice. “Gentlemen, ladies, soldiers of Battle Point, please stand at rest. I first want to tell you that all units of the legion look outstanding, and I am very proud of what I see today and the job that you have been doing in the recent months. The fight we recently had south of here showed the enemy our mettle. We suffered only three casualties to a whole company of orcs and a band of giants that were sent to hell. Even the drow sorcerer was taken down fairly quickly. We have a special honored guest here today, in case you missed him,” he joked as chuckles reverberated throughout the formations of soldiers in
light of the forty-five-yard-long gold dragon sitting directly behind him.
“We want to give the mighty gold dragon Gallanth, his rider Captain Mkel, and the Council Wizard of Keystone Weir, Jodem, a hearty welcome to Battle Point.” A thunderous applause came from the six thousand soldiers standing in formation. “I don’t want to take any more of your time than I have to, for I will have a meeting with your commanders later. So I now have the pleasure to introduce the most powerful dragon in the Alliance, save Michenth himself,” he finished as he turned and walked off of the platform and gave a nod to the gold dragon.
Gallanth raised his immense head as the soldiers of the Battle Point began to cheer again. Mkel was standing with Jodem beside Gallanth and looked up at his dragon. At the Weir and with the garrison, Gallanth did not speak a great deal to the men, other than occasional words of encouragement and during leader meetings. However, when they traveled outside of the Weir or interacted with other non-Weir Alliance units, Gallanth did as much talking as Mkel. Even though he was the rider, he was still a captain, and sometimes higher ranking officers would listen to a dragon, especially a gold dragon, before they would him.
“Soldiers of Battle Point legion, I, my rider Captain Mkel, and the wizard Jodem are all honored to visit your city and our fellow Alliance brothers and sisters of arms. We are extremely impressed with what we have witnessed. I can see the honor and courage that this legion is known for in your eyes and in your hearts. I also mourn with you for the blood you have spilled recently in your battle to the south. You can be assured that the enemy knows who dealt them the blow, for you performed admirably and are a credit to the Alliance. We are entering into uncertain times, and a growing threat is emerging but has not fully identified itself as of yet. Whatever that threat might be, I have faith that this legion will meet this challenge face to face and see it put to ruin. We want you to know that if and when you are in dire need, you can count on the full might of Draden Weir.” A loud cheer erupted from all the soldiers assembled on the parade field, for they knew the promise of a metallic dragon was as unbreakable as mithril. The knowledge of a whole Weir, especially Draden, backing them up likely rested a great deal of anxiety and fears of the soldiers of this legion, especially with rumors of chromatic dragons encroaching. Jodem and Mkel looked at each other with an uneasy feeling, for Gallanth had just promised them what he and Jodem had spent hours today avoiding saying to General Daddonan, without consulting Colonel Wierangan first.
Dragon Alliance: Rise Against Shadow Page 20