Regiment of Hypaspists — Lunar Provincial Army
Regimental Statistics
History & Background
This modern unit of well-drilled hypaspists is capable of fast marching and operating in difficult terrain. The Silver Shields are more maneuverable and flexible on the battlefield than the Stonewall Regiments, and are usually placed on the flank of the Lunar line. Their shields are gilded with silver — the source of the regiment's name.
The regiment was created by the Conquering Daughter for her campaigns against the Blue Deer Princes of Vanch and the Kynnelfing Alliance. Its recruits are drawn from across the southern reaches of the Empire and even the Provinces, with its home in Jillaro in the satrapy of Sylila. It has a paper strength of 1,000, though its current strength is only about 750.
Soldiers wear hardened leather breastplates, white tunics, and red parade cloaks, with brown trews in cold weather. Beyond their armor, they carry long spears, kopis, javelins, and their famous silver-plated bronze shields.
The war gods of the regiment are Yanafal Tarnils and Hwarin Dalthippa. Each soldier swears loyalty to Moonson and the regiment. The regimental genius is Ipharia Enestratos, who resides in a gold-and-silver bat atop a silver moon disk mounted on a blackwood staff; in life he performed a Heroquest that turned the shields of his regiment silver. The Commander of the Thousand presides over worship of the regimental gods and guardian, assisted by the regimental priests.
Three companies of the regiment were stationed in Pavis until the rebellion of 1625, fighting at the Second Battle of Moonbroth in 1624. The reconstituted regiment, with restored but inferior standards, was assigned to bolster the Native Furthest Corps in 1626 and fought at the Battle of the Queens. Apocryphal sources suggest at least some elements of the phalanx were destroyed at Pavis in 1625.
Organization
The regiment is built around files of seven soldiers. Ten files plus a command group of fourteen, led by a Centurion, make up a company — a total of 85 soldiers. Ten regular companies, a command company, and a support company make up the full regiment, led by a Commander of a Thousand.
| Rank / Role | File | Company | Regiment | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier | 5 | 105 | 735 | |
| Half-File Leader | 1 | 21 | 147 | |
| File Leader | 1 | 21 | 147 | Optio Lacellus |
| Standard Bearer | — | 1 | 7 | |
| Trumpeter | — | 1 | 7 | |
| Centurion | — | 1 | 7 | Nomelion Flactum |
| Commander | — | — | 1 | Banaryos |
| Commander's Aide | — | — | 2 | |
| TOTALS | 7 | 150 | 1,053 |
Notable Personnel
A soft-spoken peasant from the hill country of Sylila who has fought with distinction for the Empire for almost twenty years. Banaryos is a no-nonsense officer — cunning and fearless in battle, but neither hide-bound nor blindly obedient. He carries the traditional weapons and armor of his regiment and expects the same of his men. He worships Hwarin Dalthippa and the regimental gods, and keeps a priest of Yanafal Tarnils among his personal retinue.
A brutal, hard-drinking, insubordinate rogue, and also the best and bravest file leader in the Silver Shields. Off duty he is drunk, gambling, whoring, or brawling — sometimes all four. Banaryos can never quite decide whether to promote Optio to centurion for his battlefield bravery or crucify him for his insubordination.
A simple soldier from Sylila nearing retirement, promised an estate in the Grantlands for his years of service. He wants no trouble or complications, and is heartily sick of futile pursuits of nomad raiders into Vulture's Country. If he takes a liking to a hero, he'll recommend they seek out Raus of Weis Domain for employment.
Two Krarsht initiates who each call the other "Brother Lip." They wear Moon Masks and fight with curved short swords and entangling nets; trespassers are sacrificed to Krarsht in their basement shrine. Outside the cult they have no contact with one another — one is a Lunar clerk assigned to Commander Banaryos, the other a manual laborer from Riverside.
The Camp
A section of the regiment's camp forms a small village of some 54 people across 12 tents, with a corral of 20 mules and 6 sable antelope nearby. A colony of 20 bachelor newtlings and a troop of a dozen baboons also lurk close by — the baboons are chased off whenever they come too near.
Field Report
Net strength of the Silver Shields under Commander Banaryos: 752, including six centurions. Absentees total 456 (five centurions): 46 guarding the governor, 337 at Corflu under Nomelion, 72 on patrol, and one centurion's detachment at Boldhome. Remainder present: 296 (one centurion), of whom 31 are unfit — 15 sick, 6 wounded, 10 with eye inflammation — leaving 265 fit for active service.