Wintermark military concerns
Civilian is just another word for coward in Wintermark – everyone is expected to be able to defend themselves. In Wintermark, a warrior might spend time hunting the monsters of the wastes. They might wield weapons and armour inscribed with runes of arcane power. They will certainly die a hero, charging into impossible odds, or walking into the Heart of Ice in Sydanjaa.
The generals of Wintermark have a responsibility for their people and are expected to call a retreat if it becomes appropriate. A futile death is not necessarily a good death and once the order is given, warriors may withdraw without shame or ridicule. Winterfolk never rout – when they retreat it is a matter of tactics.
The Steinr generally prefer close melee to archery or skirmishing, most often fighting with a one-handed weapon and shield and wearing layers of mail and thick leather. Their generals are often larger-than-life figures who lead from the front and seek out the counsel of the warbands they will lead before planning their strategies – but who brook no disagreement once the plan is decided.
While many Steinr are warriors, not all Wintermark warriors are Steinr. The Suaq employ their hunting craft equally well in the forest and the battlefield, with their archers giving close support to their warriors while their spearmen engage the enemy in vicious melee. Suaq generals pick their battles carefully looking to make best use of the terrain and any situational advantage they can create for their army.
Kallavesi warriors tend to favour the axe, either a shorter axe in either hand or a long handled axe near as tall as a man. They are alert for omens, reading the flow of the battle around them and anticipating threats and opportunities. Kallavesi generals work closely with the shamans to pick the most auspicious locations and strategies for a battle.
At the heart of most Wintermark forces is one or more Bannermen. The Bannermen are an old Steinr tradition. They are warriors, men or women, whose role is to inspire and enthuse the rest of the warband. The traditional responsibility of the Bannermen is to carry a warband's banner, a difficult and dangerous job that makes it impossible to carry a shield. Bannermen find many ways to motivate their colleagues. Steinr Bannermen often carry instruments of war, drums, horns and the like to perform music on the battlefield to lift spirits. Kallavesi Bannermen prefer to annoint their fellows with scented oils and use ancient tales to remind all of the heroes of the past. Some Suaq Bannermen prefer to lead their warriors in song while others learn the chirurgeons art. Most Bannermen are skilled warriors, but whatever their art, their purpose is to rouse the courage and fighting spirit of the band, supporting them on the battlefield. An experienced Thane knows to pick wisely, for a few good Bannermen can turn the course of a battle with their skills.
Especially important are the Grimnir, the doctors and healers of Wintermark. They combine the study of herbs and traditional healing methods with practical experience that is invaluable to the militaristic Wintermark society. While they have an important role to play on the battlefield, they have a wider role to see to the health of everyone in their Hall – and a few Grimnir make a good living travelling from Hall to Hall offering medical aid.
While Winterfolk warriors are highly valued, those who keep those warriors alive and healthy are valued even higher. By ancient tradition the Grimnir are forbidden from the front lines of any conflict; they are expected to hang back and keep themselves out of harms way. After all, a dead doctor heals no warriors. Some Grimnir push this tradition to the limit, staying just behind the front line, but most take their responsibility seriously and carry out their work a safe distance away from the fighting.
As a result, the Grimnir are denied the good death, working to the last to save the lives of their allies rather than concerning themselves with personal glory. Wintermark warriors acknowledge this sacrifice, treating the Grimnir with a respect that borders on reverence. The Grimnir can be all that stands between them and a lingering, painful, inglorious death from infection. It is normal for a Grimnir to be accompanied by a few warriors, often those whose life they have saved. Unlike the Grimnir, these warriors do not hang back, they are expected to fight their way through to the wounded and bring them to be tended by the Grimnir.
The Grimnir tradition began with the Suaq. In the past, the healers of a Suaq tribe did not accompany the hunters into the wilderness but instead maintained the camp and prepared to heal those who were injured by wild beasts. The Steinr added their own traditions wherein the chirurgeon responsible for tending the wounded was also entrusted with the task of maintaining the Hall or home – good health is founded on a strong hearth. Consequently, for every Thane who fancies themselves a warrior there is a Thane who is a sworn Grimnir, seeing to the health of everyone who lives in their Hall.