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Dragonarmies

Article written by Uziel & Kranar Drogin


The Dragonarmies were the collective five armies of Takhisis, that were raised during the Age of Despair and launched their offensive across Ansalon, to conquer the land in the name of the Dark Queen. The five armies were filled with Chromatic Dragons, Draconians, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Humans, kobolds, Minotaurs, Ogres, and all manner of other evil humanoids. Each of the armies was led by a powerful Dragon Highlord, who was aided by one or more Dragon Highmasters.

There was an army for each of the chromatic dragon types: red, green, white, blue and black. The dragonarmies were led by the warlord Duulket Ariakas, who ultimately served Takhisis. The dragonarmies were undone as a major force during the War of the Lance, and the remnant forces were chased down and destroyed over the next few years.

Structure

Draconian Armies

Even though the cost to keep these armies going was relatively low, they usually had the highest casualties of any of the armies. Normally were led by a human officer rather than allowing a draconian to have too much power. The draconians also were more liable to fight amongst each other. Their armies were structured in this way:

Type: Infantry
Commander: Human Flight Marshal
1st Brigade: 1 human Commander, 1 company of 240 Baaz Draconians, 2 companies of 150 baaz draconians.
2nd Brigade: 1 human commander, 2 companies of 150 Kapak Draconians, 1 company of 90 kapak draconian archers.
3rd Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 company of 150 kapak draconians, 1 company of 150 baaz draconians, 1 company of 150 baaz draconian archers.
Dragonwing: Dragons attached to this army.

Mercenary Infantry

This was a mixture of both human and draconian soldiers and more the standard compilation of the armies. The dragons with this group can benefit and hinder them. For draconians, it will inspire them, while with the human element it will cause them to be overcome with dragonfear if the dragon gets too near. There will also be an extra sub-commander assigned to each brigade, which was normally a baaz or kapak NCO. Their armies were structured in this way:

Type: Infantry
Commander: human flight marshal
1st Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 baaz sub-commander, 1 company of 240 baaz draconians, 1 company of 150 human heavy infantry, 1 company of 150 human light infantry.
2nd Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 kapak sub-commander, 1 company of 150 kapak infantry, 1 company of 150 human heavy infantry, 1 company of 240 human light infantry.
3rd Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 baaz sub-commander, 1 company of 150 baaz archers, 1 company of 240 human heavy infantry, 1 company of 150 human light infantry.
Dragonwing: Dragons attached to this army.

Mercenary Cavalry

In the dragonarmies, cavalry was not used as often, instead relying on dragon air power. The horses in a cavalry army had the tendency to panic whenever a dragon came near, throwing the army into chaos. When they were used, it was usually in the reserve to mop up a battle since the costs of training cavalry was so much higher than regular infantry. Their armies were structured in this way:

Type: Cavalry
Commander: human flight marshal
1st Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 baaz sub-commander, 1 company of 240 baaz draconian infantry, 1 company of 120 human heavy cavalry, 1 company of 150 human light cavalry.
2nd Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 baaz sub-commander, 1 company of 150 kapak infantry, 1 company of 160 human heavy cavalry, 1 company of 240 human light infantry.
3rd Brigade: 1 human commander, 1 baaz sub-commander, 1 company of 150 human archers, 1 company of 160 human heavy cavalry, 1 company of 243 human light infantry.
Dragonwing: Dragons attached to this army. (Optional)

Ogre Infantry

These armies are comprised of ogres from the ogre lands of Kern and Blöde. He have their own strategy with Kern ogres relying more on hit and run tactics while Blöde ogres attack in brute strength. The humans attached to these armies are usually slave conscripts who live under the threat of death for not only themselves, but for their families back in the ogre lands. Their armies were structured in this way:

Type: Infantry
Commander: Ogre Chieftain
1st Brigade: 1 ogre commander, 2 ogre sub-commanders, 3 companies of 120 ogre infantry, 1 company of 120 human heavy infantry, 2 companies of 120 human light infantry.
1st Giants: 1 ogre commander, 1 company of 30 hill giants.

Kobold Infantry

A Kobold army was comprised of infantry, slingers, and some cavalry. Natural cowards at heart, they tend to like to ambush, but when in the service of the dragonarmy they were mostly used as skirmishers. First having their slingers attack, then infantry after that only to pull back. The War Leader of the group tended to be the wiliest, craftiest, and most ruthless of all the warriors. Their armies were structured in this way:

Type: Infantry
Commander: Kobold War Leader
1st Brigade: 1 kobold lieutenant, 2 companies of 150 kobold infantry, 1 company of 100 kobold slingers.
2nd Brigade: 1 kobold lieutenant, 2 companies of 150 kobold infantry, 1 company of 100 kobold slingers.
3rd Brigade: 1 kobold lieutenant, 1 company of 150 kobold infantry, 2 companies of 50 kobold dire weasel cavalry.

Goblin Infantry

The goblin armies from the War of the Lance were comprised mainly of goblins and hogblins with even some Bugbears or trolls. With hobgoblins being the better soldiers and having military minds were usually the leaders over their lesser goblin cousins. Most goblins came from the regions of Throt, western Khalkist Mountains, and from the Throtl Regulars.:

Type: Infantry
Commander: Hobgoblin Chief
1st Brigade: 1 hobgoblin sub-chief, 1 company of 150 hobgoblin heavy infantry, 2 companies of 150 goblin light infantry.
2nd Brigade: 1 hobgoblin sub-chief, 1 company of 150 hobgoblin heavy infantry, 1 company of 100 goblin worg cavalry, 1 company of 100 goblin archers.
3rd Brigade: 1 hobgoblin sub-chief, 1 company of 150 hobgoblin heavy infantry, 1 company of 100 goblin worg cavalry, 1 company of 100 goblin archers.

Minotaur Marine

The minotaur soldiers of the Dragonarmies were usually led by a minor chieftain of a minotaur house who was loyal to the cause. They they led their soldiers into battle which was mainly made up of Infantry and Marines. Typically they would attack from either 10 warships if in normal water, or from 20 icerigger boats if they were in the lands of Icereach.:

Type: Marine
Commander: Minotaur Chieftain
1st Brigade: 1 minotaur war chief, 2 companies of 120 minotaur marines.
2nd Brigade: 1 minotaur war chief, 2 companies of 120 minotaur marines.
3rd Brigade: 1 minotaur war chief, 2 companies of 120 minotaur marines.
4th Brigade: 1 minotaur war chief, 2 companies of 120 minotaur marines.
5th Brigade: 1 minotaur war chief, 1 company of 120 minotaur marines, 1 company of 120 minotaur infantry.

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This article has been viewed 6,217 times. It was added on February 12, 2006, and was last modified on July 27, 2006.

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