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The Legions are Alera’s major military force. They have protected the Realm since the time of the original Gaius Primus, and are considered by many to be the perfect fighting machine. However, during the events during and surrounding the Vord War, it is realized that the Legions had become less effective due to long years with very few true threats to counter.

Structure

The backbone of a Legion is its legionares—single infantrymen trained in the use of sword and bow. Eight legionares comprise a single spear. These eight men do their work together and share a tent when the Legion is in the field. In formation, they stand in a line eight ranks deep with the file leader at the head.

Ten spears form a single century—30 men. The centuries are kept in order by centurions—senior warriors, but not officers. Centurions carry a baton in addition to their standard arms, used to dress ranks, enforce general order, or to lay out an uncooperative legionare.

There are four centuries in a cohort—360 men, except for the Prime Cohort, which is double the size of a standard cohort. Each cohort is commanded by the senior centurion except for the Prime Cohort, which is led on paper by the Legion's Captain, though most of the responsibility and command falls to the First Spear, the most senior centurion in the Legion. Every Legion has fourteen to twenty cohorts, depending upon the varying needs of each. While all Legions are heavy infantry units, most also have at least one cohort of auxiliaries—scouts and cavalry. Each Legion attempts to have a century of Knights at its disposal, referred to as a cohort for organizational purposes. The Crown Legion is the only Legion with anything approaching a cohort-sized contingent of Knights.

All told, a Legion may number anywhere from 4,000 to 6,500 legionares.

In addition to the legionares, each Legion also has a support staff which includes blacksmiths, cooks, domestics, healers, muleskinners, valets, and other necessary personnel. Some of these carry a rank in the Legion, while others are simply hired help. Additionally, a Legion tends to attract a good number of camp followers—peddlers and merchants, musicians, brewers, doxies, dancers, and any other people willing to follow and do business with regularly paid legionares. Camp followers may sometimes outnumber the Legion, though typical numbers range from 3,000 to 4,000.

A sizeable chunk of the Legion followers is typically comprised of Legion families. While legionares are not legally permitted to marry, that does not stop some from forming relationships and families. Many of the unofficial wives (and their all-to-officially-illegitimate children) follow the Legion until their husband completes his term and may legally marry.

Legion Ranks

  • Legionare: Standard infantryman of a Legion.
  • Centurion: A centurion is a singular soldier in command of a century of legionares within a Legion.
  • First Spear: Commanding centurion of the Prime Cohort.
  • Subtribune: Assitant to a Tribune.
  • Tribune: Commanding officer of a single area of the Legion.
    • Knight Tribune
    • Legion Tribune
    • Tribune Auxiliaris
    • Tribune Tactica
    • Tribune Medica
    • Tribune Logistica
    • Tribune Strategica
  • Captain: Commander of the Legion.

List of Legions in Alera

  • First, Second, Third Antillan
  • First, Second, Third Aquitainian
  • First, Second, Third Attican
  • First, Second, Third Ceresian
  • First, Second, Third Forcian
  • First, Second, Third Kalaran (and then four others during the Kalare Rebellion)
  • First, Second, Third Imperian
  • First, Second, Third Parcian
  • First, Second, Third Placidan (one of which Lord Placida entirely mounted in Princeps' Fury)
  • First, Second, Third Phrygian
  • First, Second, Third Rhodesian
  • First, Second, Third Rivan
  • Crown Legion (reinstated after Second Calderon)
  • First Aleran (formed at the outset of Cursor's Fury)
  • First, Second Senatorial (formed just prior to Captain's Fury)
  • Free Aleran (formed between the events of Cursor's Fury and Captain's Fury)
  • Legion Aeris (A Legion of Knights Aeris, formed by Aquitainus Attis during the Vord War)
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