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Description

Every year the King sends out parties of recruiters, first in the capital city and then in the surrounding provinces in search of boys of about 6-8 years. Some are the sons of farmers or artisans, others are the sons of urban workers and merchants, some are from rich families (though there are efforts to limit their numbers) and others are the sons of nightsoil men, beggers or whores. Either way they compete for the attention of the recruiters, for a few of their number will be selected to become squires. Once their quota is met they are taken back to the capital to begin training in horseback riding, swordsmanship, archery, reading, writing, tactics, strategy and more at the King's expense. They can see their families once a week, but for the next fourteen years their home shall be the barracks as well as well as various camps. A third of them will be washed out and even for those who graduate about half will be considered part of "the reserve" and will be left to find their own employment*. But among their ranks are a select few who will have the privilege of becoming a Kataphract.

There are a Grand Gross (1,728) of Kataphracts and are their Kingdom's finest soldiers. They serve the King directly acting as his bodyguards and a devastating elite strike force. The Royal Armies are usually a cut above provincial forces , but the Kataphracts are in a league of their own. Their lives alternate between the comforts of their generous quarters and wages and the regular drills and fighting that they must engage in to keep their role. Many a rebel or a barbarian warrio r has met their end by a Kataphracts hand. Clad in mail and fine lamellar armor and armed with the Swordsmith's guild's finest blades few can stand against them unless they possess overwhelming force.

*Mostly members of The Reserve find employment in the Provincial Armies as knights, though some are called to return to the King's Service if there has been extensive casualties among the Kataphracts.

Description

Every year the King sends out parties of recruiters, first in the capital city and then in the surrounding provinces in search of boys of about 6-8 years. Some are the sons of farmers or artisans, others are the sons of urban workers and merchants, some are from rich families (though there are efforts to limit their numbers) and others are the sons of nightsoil men, beggers or whores. Either way they compete for the attention of the recruiters, for a few of their number will be selected to become squires. Once their quota is met they are taken back to the capital to begin training in horseback riding, swordsmanship, archery, reading, writing, tactics, strategy and more at the King's expense. They can see their families once a week, but for the next fourteen years their home shall be the barracks as well as well as various camps. A third of them will be washed out and even for those who graduate about half will be considered part of "the reserve" and will be left to find their own employment*. But among their ranks are a select few who will have the privilege of becoming a Kataphract.

There are a Grand Gross (1,728) of Kataphracts and are their Kingdom's finest soldiers. They serve the King directly acting as his bodyguards and a devastating elite strike force. The Royal Armies are usually a cut above provincial forces , but the Kataphracts are in a league of their own. Their lives alternate between the comforts of their generous quarters and wages and the regular drills and fighting that they must engage in to keep their role. Many a rebel or a barbarian warrio r has met their end by a Kataphracts hand. Clad in mail and fine lamellar armor and armed with the Swordsmith's guild's finest blades few can stand against them unless they possess overwhelming force.

*Mostly members of The Reserve find employment in the Provincial Armies as knights, though some are called to return to the King's Service if there has been extensive casualties among the Kataphracts.