Navarr military concerns
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.
Donning warpaint – often embelished with the stylised thorn motif that runs throughout Navarr art – before going to battle is an important ritual and warrior bands work together to paint each other. This shared preparation often includes checking each others' weapons and armour, and is important for bonding the warriors together before they face death in the upcoming battle.
“You can’t betray your enemies.”
Those Navarr who make a study of war are called Thorns. 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. 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.
Thorns are called upon to reamain vigilant against the creatures of the Vallorn, but they more commonly see more action in battles against bandits and barbarians than against giant insects. They are also charged with maintaining preparedness to fight, and many take on the additional role of ensuring that anyone who intends to fight but is not a Thorn is ready to do so. They encourage training and military practice not only among the Navarr but (where feasible) the other Nations.
It is customary for larger stridings and 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.
Thorns are not known for their timidity and reserve. Brand Isaella, the most infamous Thorn in Imperial History, murdered Mad Emperor Nicovar in 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.