Grand General Dolric MilnerThe man behind the human uprising, Dolric Milner has led the Vanguard since her creation, and is simultaneously one of the most respected and hated people in all of Alscium. People will either follow him to their deaths, or wish for his own demise every second of their waking lives. After the victory at Feridone, Dolric shaved his head clean, and vowed not to regrow his hair until every last city of men had been liberated from Einheldren control.
|
Scarlet Vanguard Infantry CompanyThe backbone of the Vanguard is her infantry; hardy footsoldiers in mismatched plate armor. Despite their rag-tag appearances, the infantry of the Vanguard show that even the most common man, when given a sword and training, can be turned into a competent machine of war. The grand majority of the Vanguard's troops are career soldiers, signed on to fight until they achieve final victory against the Einheldren, reach the age of thirty-five, or perish in battle; whichever happens to come first.
|
Scarlet Vanguard Free CompanyThe "shock-troops" of the Vanguard are her Free Companies, bands of warriors with myriad specializations that come together to form elite groups that are well equipped to combat a wide variety of foes. These Free Companies often refer to themselves as "adventuring parties," as they undertake long-lasting and far-reaching missions on the part of the Vanguard. They are made up of members from all walks of life, and from all over the world. Free Companies operate in a separate command structure from the Vanguard, and all of them report to Lady Felix Kerstein, Commander of Companies.
Scarlet Vanguard HandgunnersWielding rudimentary matchlock firearms created by gnomish mechanoneers, dubbed 'gnomepowder' technology, handgunners are amongst the most devastating weapon in the Vanguard's arsenal. Able to fire up to three shots in a minute, each with the capacity to bring down even the most ferocious charging orc or haughty advancing elf, handgunner volleys fill the battlefield with a thunderous cacophony of death and destruction.
|
|
Scarlet Vanguard Cavalry CompanyWhile only a few companies of the Vanguard are dedicated to horseback warriors, the thundering hoofbeats of a cavalry charge strike fear into the heart of even the hardiest of warriors. Though they must be used carefully against the spears of the Einheldren, the Vanguard's cavalry are a spectacular sight to witness charging into battle, and have turned the tide on more than one occasion.
|
Dwarven WarriorRare in number on the battlefield, in no small part due to their bitter wars of near-extermination with the elves and their high demand as blacksmiths, dwarven warriors make for a terrifying mass of meat and metal nonetheless. Their stout stature and well-made weapons result in many a dead Einheldren warrior before they themselves are cut down. Years of smithing metal and combating the goblins of their underground cities have shaped the dwarves into some of Alscium's hardiest warriors.
|
Tiefling SpellcasterThe finest spellcasters at the disposal of the Vanguard are the tieflings, as their innate commune with the dark arts leads their magical casting to be especially devastating. Often they are seen leaping into combat at precisely the right moment to unleash a devastating flurry of fireballs, lances of ice, or an explosion of witchfyre at the enemies of the Vanguard.
|
Halfling AssassinSometimes, a battle can be won without armies ever having to meet on the field. That is where halfling assassins come into play. Often sent into Einheldren cities and campaign camps, they cut throats, poison glasses of wine, or even drop chandeliers on unsuspecting members of the elvish ruling class. They are, without a doubt, the best of the best when it comes to sabotage and subterfuge.
Gnomish MechanoneerHalf engineers, half artillerymen, the gnomish propensity towards mechanical creation and alchemical experimentation means that they are naturals at the creation of all manner of firearms, cannons, and other weapons deemed "crude" by their former elvish masters. The Vanguard has no such qualms when it comes to the use of such devastating weaponry, though, and employs gnomish inventions to great effect on the battlefield. Mechanoneers sometimes train halflings or dwarves in their arts, but "big folk" are too large to fit inside most of their steam-powered creations, and so gnomes don't often bother teaching their ways to humans or tieflings. Gnomish War EnginesThe Guild of Gnomish Engineers maintains a fleet of machines of war that, as of 2E 220, includes:
The steam landship - a rudimentary tank, of which there are two patterns; the human sized "Leviathan," and smaller, steam-spitting "Basilisk." A fleet of rotocopter Whirlybirds - simple helicopters that come in bomber, transport, and reconnaissance variants. The 'Wave Diver'- a submarine (still in development.) Sylheldren WoodrunnerThe precious few woodland elves that have made their presence known outside of the Forbidden Forest lend their services to the Vanguard as scouts, adept at slipping into and out of any environment. They track columns of Einheldren across the land, reporting their locations to Vanguard companies and assisting them with strategic raids, sabotage missions, and ambushes. Stealth and cunning are prized above bravery and courage in Sylheldren society, so it is rare for them to throw themselves into pitched combat, but each is a whirling dervish of destruction if pressed into the fray.
|
|