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War is not a game, it is a life-and-death conflict. Most Navarr warriors have little interest in forming battle lines and engaging their enemies in a honourable battle. They are pragmatic, and favour war through ambush, skirmish and guile. They disdain heroic charges and single combat with enemy leaders - better to fade back and draw the enemy into a trap than face them in one-on-one combat.
{{CaptionedImage|file=NavarrGoToWar.jpg|title=Warpaint allows Navarr warriors to display their commitment to the coming fight.|caption=War is not a game.|width=600|align=left}}
==Overview==
War is not a game, it is a life-and-death conflict. Most Navarr warriors have little interest in forming battle lines and engaging their enemies in honourable battle. They are pragmatic, and favour war through ambush, skirmish and guile. They disdain heroic charges and single combat with enemy leaders - better to fade back and draw the enemy into a trap than face them in one-on-one combat.


Donning warpaint – often embelished with a stylised thorn motif – is an important pre-battle ritual and warrior bands work together to paint each other. By donning warpaint, the Navarr warriors display their commitment to the coming fight. Members of a band will often use similar themes, colours or designs to give themselves a clear battlefield identity as a unit, in the same way that other nations use livery or heraldry.
The warriors of the Navarr have two primary areas of interest. They are concerned with the defence of the Steadings and Stridings against bandits and barbarians. They also take responsibility for fighting the forces of the [[Vallorn]]. The Vallorn represents a hostile environment, replete with dangerous plants and monstrous insects. These creatures make infrequent incursions into Imperial territory, and the Navarr are at the forefront of driving them back. They also prepare for the day when they will be able to assault their enemy directly, both by scouting the areas of Vallorn influence, and by locating areas that might serve as bases of operation, or recruiting allies to help in the inevitable challenge of defeating the Vallorn's progeny.  


Donning warpaint – often embellished with a stylised thorn motif – is an important pre-battle ritual and warrior bands work together to paint each other. By donning warpaint, the Navarr warriors display their commitment to the coming fight. Members of a Steading or Striding will often use similar themes, colours or designs to give themselves a clear battlefield identity as a unit, in the same way that other nations use livery or heraldry.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: right;"><quote>“You can’t betray your enemies.”</quote></div>
Leather and chain mail are favoured along with the ubiquitous barbed spear, which honours the original spears wielded by the Navarr forebears. Shields, when used, are narrow and fluted, barely wider than the wielder and often heavily decorated with the thorn motif.  
Leather and chain mail are favoured along with the ubiquitous barbed spear, which honours the original spears wielded by the Navarr forebears. Shields, when used, are narrow and fluted, barely wider than the wielder and often heavily decorated with the thorn motif.  


<quote>“You can’t betray your enemies.”</quote>
==Thorns==
Those Navarr who devote themselves specifically to war are called [[thorn|Thorns]], who form a professional warrior caste of the Navarr. Like [[brand|brands]], Thorns make an active decision to commit themselves to their chosen course; they literally swear to be ready at all times to fight in the defence of their community. They mark their oath, usually with a tattoo but many also choose to don warpaint each day. This ritual ensures that they remain focussed regardless of where they are. By marking themselves out in this way they make their identity and pledge clear and remind others that they are ready to fight.
{{CaptionedImage|file=MerrynFarkas.jpg|title=Merryn Farkas, of the Ruis Farkas, served as General of the Quiet Step.|caption=Fight to live, do not live to fight.|width=500|align=right}}
 
==Imperial Armies==
The Navarr field three [[imperial armies]]; the ''Black Thorns'', the ''Quiet Step'', and ''Isaella's Dance''.
{{CaptionedImage|file=BlackThorns.jpg|align=left|width=100}}
===The Black Thorns===
This [[Imperial_army#Enlargement|large]] army is especially [[Army qualities#Fast|fast]] moving, able to cross great distances very quickly. They are especially adept at using the trods to move large numbers quickly, and have excellent logistical support as well as several covens of [[Navarr magical traditions#Vates|vates]] and apothecaries who help restore troops after forced marches. They have a knack, historically, of turning up just in time to help tip the outcome of a campaign.
 
The first Navarr General leads the [[Black Thorns]] army, and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Summer solstice each year.
{{CaptionedImage|file=QuietStep.jpg|align=left|width=100}}
 
===The Quiet Step===
The army of the Quiet Step is loosely organised, allowing individual components a certain amount of leeway to operate as they see fit but benefiting from a central logistical core. They were once known for their experienced scouts capable of quickly gathering information about the enemy armies they encounter. They are equally adept at facing barbarian orcs, vallornspawn and [[Varushka|Varushkan]] monsters. Since the Winter Solstice 381YE, however, they refocused their purpose toward more aggressive tactics, employing [[Army qualities#Cunning|cunning]] strategies to confound and slaughter their foes. This shift in emphasis was effected with the assistance of the [[eternal]] known as the [[Arhallogen|Spider King]] - heralds and creatures loyal to Arhallogen sometimes accompany or support the army.


==Thorns==
The second Navarr General leads the [[Quiet Step]] army, and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Autumn equinox each year.
Those Navarr who make a study of war are called thorns. The Navarr consider surprise to be one of the most effective weapons to use in battle, so they are particularly wary of being caught unawares. The thorn philosophy is one of constant preparedness. Rather than a paranoid assumption that attack is imminent, they maintain a resonable vigilance and ensure that they are prepared to defend themselves when the time comes. They ceremonially don warpaint each day as a ritual that helps to ensure that they remain focussed regardless of where they are, and reminds others that they are ready to fight.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Isaellas Dance Colour.png|align=left|width=100}}
 
===Isaella's Dance===
The army of Isaella's Dance finished mustering just before the Summer Solstice 384YE. The army is able to use their mastery of Spring magic and their expertise with herbs to create powerful blade venoms to apply to their weapons. These poisons are designed to kill quickly and without suffering, ensuring that the enemy do not linger in pain. The [[Army_qualities#Thornbound|thornbound]] army was founded following an [[Comes_a_time#Without_Fear_or_Favour|opportunity]] presented by critics of the Spider King.


It is customary for larger [[striding|stridings]] and [[steading|steadings]] to look to one of the Thorns to take responsibility for defence and to lead the warriors in battle. Whenever Stridings come together, the Thorns select one amongst their own number to lead, but the Navarr are flexible in warfare, as in life, choosing who they want to follow into battle where the choice exists.  
The third Navarr General leads the army of [[Isaella's Dance]], and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Spring equinox each year.


Thorns are not known for their timidity and reserve. Brand Isaella, the most infamous Thorn in Imperial History, murdered Mad Emperor Nicovar in [[History|309]] and is also responsible for codifying a lot of Navarr military doctrine. Known as the ‘Irrevocable Blow’, it attempts to educate the reader that war should be fought swiftly, without mercy or doubt.
==Army Orders==
The Navarr armies are the only ones who can benefit from the hidden [[Liathaven#The_Paths_of_Lan_Th.C3.BAven|Paths of Lan Thúven]] in [[Liathaven]] a magically shrouded route that passes through the heart of the [[vallorn]] and allows them to treat the [[territory#region|regions]] of [[Liathaven#West Ranging|West Ranging]] and [[Liathaven#Western Scout|Western Scout]] are adjacent to one another.


[[Category:Navarr]]
{{Navarr Links}}
[[Category:Nations]]

Latest revision as of 21:03, 6 June 2023

Warpaint allows Navarr warriors to display their commitment to the coming fight.
War is not a game.

Overview

War is not a game, it is a life-and-death conflict. Most Navarr warriors have little interest in forming battle lines and engaging their enemies in honourable battle. They are pragmatic, and favour war through ambush, skirmish and guile. They disdain heroic charges and single combat with enemy leaders - better to fade back and draw the enemy into a trap than face them in one-on-one combat.

The warriors of the Navarr have two primary areas of interest. They are concerned with the defence of the Steadings and Stridings against bandits and barbarians. They also take responsibility for fighting the forces of the Vallorn. The Vallorn represents a hostile environment, replete with dangerous plants and monstrous insects. These creatures make infrequent incursions into Imperial territory, and the Navarr are at the forefront of driving them back. They also prepare for the day when they will be able to assault their enemy directly, both by scouting the areas of Vallorn influence, and by locating areas that might serve as bases of operation, or recruiting allies to help in the inevitable challenge of defeating the Vallorn's progeny.

Donning warpaint – often embellished with a stylised thorn motif – is an important pre-battle ritual and warrior bands work together to paint each other. By donning warpaint, the Navarr warriors display their commitment to the coming fight. Members of a Steading or Striding will often use similar themes, colours or designs to give themselves a clear battlefield identity as a unit, in the same way that other nations use livery or heraldry.

“You can’t betray your enemies.”

Leather and chain mail are favoured along with the ubiquitous barbed spear, which honours the original spears wielded by the Navarr forebears. Shields, when used, are narrow and fluted, barely wider than the wielder and often heavily decorated with the thorn motif.

Thorns

Those Navarr who devote themselves specifically to war are called Thorns, who form a professional warrior caste of the Navarr. Like brands, Thorns make an active decision to commit themselves to their chosen course; they literally swear to be ready at all times to fight in the defence of their community. They mark their oath, usually with a tattoo but many also choose to don warpaint each day. This ritual ensures that they remain focussed regardless of where they are. By marking themselves out in this way they make their identity and pledge clear and remind others that they are ready to fight.

Merryn Farkas, of the Ruis Farkas, served as General of the Quiet Step.
Fight to live, do not live to fight.

Imperial Armies

The Navarr field three imperial armies; the Black Thorns, the Quiet Step, and Isaella's Dance.

BlackThorns.jpg

The Black Thorns

This large army is especially fast moving, able to cross great distances very quickly. They are especially adept at using the trods to move large numbers quickly, and have excellent logistical support as well as several covens of vates and apothecaries who help restore troops after forced marches. They have a knack, historically, of turning up just in time to help tip the outcome of a campaign.

The first Navarr General leads the Black Thorns army, and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Summer solstice each year.

QuietStep.jpg

The Quiet Step

The army of the Quiet Step is loosely organised, allowing individual components a certain amount of leeway to operate as they see fit but benefiting from a central logistical core. They were once known for their experienced scouts capable of quickly gathering information about the enemy armies they encounter. They are equally adept at facing barbarian orcs, vallornspawn and Varushkan monsters. Since the Winter Solstice 381YE, however, they refocused their purpose toward more aggressive tactics, employing cunning strategies to confound and slaughter their foes. This shift in emphasis was effected with the assistance of the eternal known as the Spider King - heralds and creatures loyal to Arhallogen sometimes accompany or support the army.

The second Navarr General leads the Quiet Step army, and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Autumn equinox each year.

Isaellas Dance Colour.png

Isaella's Dance

The army of Isaella's Dance finished mustering just before the Summer Solstice 384YE. The army is able to use their mastery of Spring magic and their expertise with herbs to create powerful blade venoms to apply to their weapons. These poisons are designed to kill quickly and without suffering, ensuring that the enemy do not linger in pain. The thornbound army was founded following an opportunity presented by critics of the Spider King.

The third Navarr General leads the army of Isaella's Dance, and is appointed (or re-appointed) at the Spring equinox each year.

Army Orders

The Navarr armies are the only ones who can benefit from the hidden Paths of Lan Thúven in Liathaven - a magically shrouded route that passes through the heart of the vallorn and allows them to treat the regions of West Ranging and Western Scout are adjacent to one another.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information