Friday 21 October 2016

The Rhokah: An army for Tolkien

Rhokah: Soldiers of the Dark Naw


By: M Harvey


Like most great campaigns there is a common enemy the protagonist faces on the battlefield. Below is the outline for an army the adventurers frequently come across.


The void between the realms where Diafol and his nine bide. Their army of years passed were made up from the most corrupt humans. They were minds, easily manipulated, souls easily demoralised. They lived in the Underworld of Naw, growing from the anguish and pain of the world that had been taken from them and so far gone they had come to no longer be living nor dead. The absence of light and being around the Nine changed their utter being. Six foot plus of pure lumbering muscle, there skin's as red as an open wound, scared and beaten. There fingers are longer, nimble with what appears to be claws for nails and their teeth, now small black arrow heads, sat in rows as the callously smile. Self aware, strong and supremely dangerous the armies on the Naw wait for the command of the nine.
These beasts began to form societies and later a fully functioning continent in the Naw. Through their malice they created a fully obedient army with its one goal. To destroy the world of light and remove the gods from there stature.

Foot Soldiers;
Light infantry beasts. Crude swords and shields but well armed. The most abundant in the Rhokah armies but not at all an easy fight. Iron armour forged to fit the joints. It's heavily spiked as further protection as well but being so heavily armoured means that they can tear through lines of men before being bought down.
Equipment:
Maces
Crude Swords
Iron Armour
Iron Shield/Buckler



Knights:
Bearing huge great shields, double handed weapons or even armed wielding two weapons, these armour clad behemoths are not a force to be reckoned with. Known for their size and strength, sweeping the battlefield they command small units of foot soldiers and are height skilled with such weapons. There strength can cleave a man in two in full armour
Equipment:
Greatswords/Greataxes
Broadswords
Steel Scutum
Steel-Plate Armoured

Archers and Infantrymen:
Trained differently to foot soldiers, both of these classes are adept with spears, bows and javelins. There size and strength makes the lethal and accurate although for manuverability they were less armour making them a more vulnerable target at the sight of battle.
Equipment:
Spears
Bows and Arrows
Wooden Buckler
Light Iron Plate Armour


Officers:
Officers are in control of single regiments. Made up of foot soldiers, Knights, archers and further militia they grace the ranks commanding orders to their men in order to stay strategically ahead in battle. Officers themselves are incredibly deadly in battle. The posses weapons ranging from giant scythes and Khopesh to Greatswords and battle axes. These weapons are often custom made to suit the officers in battle and there skill set
Equipment:
Custom swords/axes
Scythes/Khopesh
Steel shield
Steel-Plate Armour/Leather Armour



Necromancers:
These mages specialise in casting dark magic that causes curses, hexes and painful spells on their enemies. They don't pull rank and often appear over looking the battle from afar casting all manner of dark spells. There a dangerous enemy and there adept in all sorts of magic as well. All be it there power has been known to reach no limits and is rumoured that the sky has rained fire and the ground split in two during their presence in battle
Equipment:
Custom Staff
Robes
Light Steel/Leather Plates
Small Dagger/Shortsword



Captains:
Made up of the Naws fiercest and strongest warriors. They fight like no other combining magic, strength, speed and weapon skill. They are in charge of entire regiments and strategy is second to none. Above them are Generals but they are keen strategists and not so renown for their fighting. Removing a captain from battle is no small feet and changes the entire dynamic of the unit  due to their respect commanded by the troops. Double handed weapons and minimal armour may make them seem vulnerable but this only increases there dexterity on the battlefield.
Equipment:
Custom Weapon of choice traditionally double handed
Light Plate Armour/Leather Armour
Silver Armour plates traditionally enchanted




Berserkers:
Knights but bigger, more clad in armour and more ferocious. Often left in their own units as the rarely ever listen to commands given, their single purpose is to run down as many men as possible on the battlefield. Thick with armour and two handed weapons they're are simply let loose to cause as much destruction as possible during battle.
Equipment:
Two Handed Weapon
Iron/Steel Clad Armour

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