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= The Warder's Handbook =

== Introduction ==

Erebor has, if it is small, arguably the best equipped and trained army in Rhovanion, and probably Middle-Earth. The defense of our Mountain home is our top priority. Too many times have the dwarves been afflicted by the minions of the Enemy, and had our delvings darkened. NO MORE! Here we make our stand.
Historically, our specialty has been underground warfare. Under stone, none can stand against us, nor ever have, save for the balrog. In siegecraft we have no equal; our sappers can undermine any fortress - even Barad-dur, if anyone bothered asking us too :), and our war machines are ingenious and deadly.
However, we have also fought above stone, since ancient days, usually aiding some ally or other, elf or human. There, we fight in dense, inter-dependent and supporting units, such as phalanxes and wedges, driving through our enemy resolutely and inexorably.
In these late days of the Third Age we don't go very far from our Mountain even when we field the Silver Axes, or even the entire fyrd of Erebor. In recent years we have sent our warriors into the Anduin Vale to aid our Beorning allies, and to Laketown to the succour of our southern neighbors. We do not fight every day, and the organization of our miltary reflects this.

== What is a fyrd? ==

What exactly IS a fyrd, you may be asking? It is a term that denotes a general levy of all war-worthy dwarves, whether they be members of the Baruk Zirak or no, although if a female is not in the BZ, marching to war is optional except for times of extreme duress (and we've not seen such a time since Khazad-dum fell to the balrog). Also levied are all specialists and craftsmen, war-worthy or no, as engineers and support personnel. In short, the fyrd is Erebor's expeditionary force. War-worthy denotes a freeman who has been trained in a weapon and owns one, and a set of armor. The Baruk Zirak need no warkits, as the crown outfits them. The fyrd is referred to in general, to denote "all the fighting strength of the kingdom", when speaking, for it is, in reality, but seldom organized and put in the field. Such a thing has not been done since the Second Dwarf and Goblin War in 3007TA. The King himself commands the fyrd, with the Lord High Warder and other senior dwarves in his War Council.
Because the threat or need for a full levy is seldom great enough, and the expense IS, the Baruk Zirak is utilized even in battle, rather than the entire fyrd. The Lord High Warder will command it, and has the authority to draft the skills of any non-warder specialists he may need. But the Baruk Zirak is organized with the potential fyrd in mind.

== Fyrd Organization ==

A note on numbers is in order. While we do not assign strict Non-Player population figures to our cultures, by theme calculations the fyrd of Erebor would not equal many more than a thousand souls. When mustered in the field, this would be comprised of the East and West marches, each roughly 300 warriors. The West, on the left, is commanded by the king, with a High Warder second, and includes the Baruk Narag (which figures, although it is different in actual numbers, as the "1st cohort"). Each march carries three cohorts of roughly 100 dwarves each, commanded by Justiciars. Each cohort is divided into seven cadres, one to the Justiciar, who keeps it as a personal bodygaurd and elite shock arm, three each to Veterans, each cadre in command of a Defender and boasting twelve warriors. These numbers are complimented by specialists outside the chain of command such as quartermasters, watch captains, etc.
The East March, on the right, is commanded by the Lord High Warder with a High Warder as a second, and will follow the strata of the West in numbers. Instead of the Narag, the East is supplemented by the Irregular levies from the karlkyn stock and thus will end up outnumbering the West as much as twice again. The clan levies will be commanded by their respective thanes, who field their house carls as bodygaurds. Also in the East March will be the archer squads, all engineers, and the baggage train that will include all support personnel such as smiths and craftsmen, chirurgeons, cooks, etc. In instances of allied troops joining the fyrd, those will be attached to the West March under the king.

== Fyrd Chart ==
<pre>
1-7 \
(CADRES) ---- COHORT 7 |
| [ Being a visual representation ]
\ | [ of the fyrd of Erebor ]
7 | | [ in the field at war ]
5 | |
/ 3 | | \
CADRES 1 > - COHORT 5 > - EAST MARCH |
\ 2 | | + |
4 | | Irregulars |
6 | | Clan Levies |
/ | Archers |
| Engineers > - FYRD
(CADRES) ---- COHORT 3 | Baggage Train |
1-7 / |
"1st Cohort" ---> Baruk Narag |
+ |
(CADRES) ---- (COHORTS) --- WEST MARCH |
1-7 2,4,6 /
</pre>

= The Baruk Zirak =

== Introduction ==

Erebor does not have a standing army in the modern sense of the word. Wilderland, and all of Middle-earth for the most part, is a dangerous place to live, and dwarves are naturally militant, being created to an extent to defy the powers of Evil by Aule. Therefore most dwarves will be given rudimentary training in a weapon and learn the basics of war, during the years they live at home. Those dwarves who wish to make a career of the ways of the warrior will seek to enter the House Gaurd of a jarl or of their clan, or the Baruk Zirak.
The Silver Axes can be thought of as part garrison force and part National Gaurd reserve. They comprise the professional core of the fyrd that the king leads into the field. However, because dwarves are not great in numbers, the Baruk Zirak is not a standing force. It's members go about their lives and follow what occupation they will, with the exception of duty periods of three days out of seven, during which they will train as cadres, or to better their weapons skills, and stand gaurd duties and go on patrols as ordered by their officers.

== Marches ==

The everyday organization of the Baruk Zirak will be as follows. At the top of the chain of command is the Lord High Warder, who serves as a liason to the King and sits on his war councils. All matters of internal discipline within the Zirak will end with him. Under him are the two Marches, military units of roughly 300 souls each sans specialists, commanded by High Warders. Each March has responsibility over a certain area.
The East March operates east of the River Running, patrolling the Dwarflaw from the Long Falls (the southern termius of the Long Lake), along the Iron Road to Ritha Muireog at the Dwarven Crossroads, north to the Withered Heath (although no patrols pass into the mountains themselves).
The West March is responsible for the Dwarflaw west of the River Running, from the Grey Passage (the land between Mirkwood and the Grey Mtns) to the Forest River, including the approaches to Celebannon and Esgaroth, to Dale (although Barding town gaurdsmen patrol the actual streets of that town), and the area of the Mountain itself. Note that the Baruk Zirak does not patrol or police INSIDE the Mountain, beyond the main gate. This is the pervue of the Baruk Narag, and the clan guards. The West March's claims on areas of reponsibility, and that it's the king's to command in war, make theirs a billet slightly higher in prestige than the East. The warders of the East claim the West is a softer billet though, and hold their heads high.

== Cohorts ==

The East and West Marches of the Baruk Zirak are comprised of three cohorts each, commanded by Justiciars. The cohort will number 96 core warriors, with a minimum of 3 specialists (up to whatever number is necessary to achieve goals), of Chief or Chief Master Veteran rank, usually, including a quartermaster, and engineer and chirurgeon liasons. The warriors of the cohort will be organized into seven cadres. The Justiciar will command the 1st cadre while his lieutenants of Veteran rank each command three cadres. Outside this chain will float two Master Defenders over three cadres each as Watch Captains, reporting directly to the Justiciar. The cadres under the Defenders will number twelve warriors each, nine warders and 3 of Gallant rank, although this may vary.

== Cadres ==

The cadre is the basic unit of the Baruk Zirak. This unit will train together, barrack together, and go on patrols together, becoming a well-honed and personal fighting machine that will serve in the backbone of Erebor's fyrd in war, and do its duty defending the kingdom in all other times. It is commanded by a Defender, in stereotype a crusty campaigner. Beneath him are the grunts, in general comprised of nine warders and three gallants. In the event a Defender must break his cadre up, the Gallants can be used to head squads of warders. They will also be used to disseminate and enforce (while also following) the Defender's assignments and commands.
While the above is the general organization, not all cadres are the same in function. The 1st Cadre of each cohort is an elite arm, where the best of the warriors are assigned, and are used as the Justiciars gaurd in battle, or sent on tough missions where more expert muscle is required. Also, in the support arms of the fyrd, such dwarves as sappers, siege-engineers, archers, artillerymen, etc will be formed into their own cadres, although only in times of war.

== Distinguished Units: the "Shields of Durin" ==

The "Shields of Durin" have been, historically, one of many decorated units to serve the House of Durin, with a record of distinguished service stretching back to the times when the Lamps were still lit in Khazad-dum.
This unit earned its since coveted battle-name far back in the Second Age, in the War with Sauron in Eregion, when the rings of power were forged. At that time, Durin III came out of Khazad-dum with an army to save Elrond's forces from slaughter at the hands of Sauron's horde. The elves left in Eregion fled north under this protection, and Durin's army was left to face the Dark Lord alone. It was a long, controlled withdrawl back to the West Gate of Khazad-dum, but gladly, so puissant were the warriors Durin led, and so fervant were they in defending their king that relatively few dwarves lost their lives.
In this action one cadre of warriors shown in their zeal on this front, and most fell, to give Durin and his bodygaurds the space they needed to rally the troops back to the Gate before the Darkness fell. For this sacrifice the survivors earned the Shield of Durin (a medal for gallantry in a defensive role, and so have numerous others down through the years to serve therein), and the unit was dubbed the "Shields of Durin", a battle-name they have carried with pride ever since. The unit currently serves Dain in the Baruk Zirak as the 1st cadre of the West March's 4th cohort.

== Coat of Arms ==

The coat of arms of the Baruk Zirak is two crossed axes

= Ranks =
These are the attainable ranks within the Baruk Zirak:

<pre>
ENLISTED GRADES: COLORS: RANK INSIGNIA:
Warder..................undyed w/ silver........None
Gallant.................undyed w/ gold..........upright warhammer, iron
Defender................Cossack-red.............crossed warhammers, iron
Master Defender.........Cossack-red w/ silver...crossed warhammers, silver
Chief Master Defender...Cossack-red w/ gold.....crossed warhammers, gold

OFFICER GRADES: COLORS: RANK INSIGNIA:
Veteran.................indigo..................upright dagger, blued steel
Master Veteran..........indigo w/ silver........upright dagger, silver
Chief Master Veteran....indigo w/ gold..........upright dagger, gold
Justiciar...............amethyst................crossed daggers, gold
High Warder.............silver..................upright battle-axe, gold
Lord High Warder........gold....................crossed battle-axes, platinum
</pre>

= Uniforms =

== Enlisted Uniforms ==

Service in the Baruk Zirak should be a source of pride for any dwarf, and they are encouraged to wear at least a beard-badge (this is a narrow strip of rune-emroidered cloth a few inches long that is tied to the beard) when off-duty to denote their unit and rank if applicable. When on-duty, all warders are expected to wear black unadorned brigga (trousers), of any material, tucked into well-polished mid-shin black leather boots. All other uniform clothing is supplied by the Baruk Zirak, and expected to be well-cared for. Cadre training may be done in service uniforms. Weapons-drill may call for the addition of brigandines (a sleeveless soft-leather tunic with metal plates riveted inside) or a cuirboulle (a stiff cuirass--a breast and backplate combined--of boiled leather). Other more specialized gear is available also. Gaurd or patrol duties that take the warder outdoors call for the use of field harness (a harness refers to a complete ensemble of arms and armor). Marching to war will necessitate the use of full harness. Note that a warder will only wear a weapon or armor when on duty outside the Mountain, during a duty-period not in wartime. While under the Mountain on duty-days the warder will wear a service uniform and whatever training aids that are needed.

On formal occasions dress uniforms, and on attending a high function a special dress uniform, must be worn. Details of the special uniforms worn by each enlisted rank of the Baruk Zirak on various occasions can be found in chapter 4 of the 'Tome of the Baruk Zirak' in the Chamber of Mazarbul in Erebor.

== Officer's Uniforms ==

All dwarves with commissions in the Baruk Zirak are required to display a device denoting their service even when off-duty, although they needn't wear a uniform then. When on-duty, all officers must wear black unadorned brigga (trousers), of any material, and well-polished knee-high boots of black leather (this is the source of the troops' nickname for officers of "highboots"). Every officer must wear a service dagger (their "side-arm"), which is presented to them when commissioned. It will be worn in a belt-slip in front, across the abdomen, hilt facing right. All other uniform clothing is supplied by the Baruk Zirak, and expected to be well cared for. If an officer participates in, rather than leads, any training in unit tactics, weapons, etc, they have available the same specialized gear as the lower ranks. If an officer leads a patrol or other mission outside the Mountain, they will borrow a field harness (a harness refers to a complete ensemble of arms and armor). Marching to war will necessitate the use of full harness. Note that an officer will only wear a weapon or armor when on a mission outside the Mountain, during a duty-period not wartime. While under the Mountain on duty-days the officer will wear a service uniform.

On formal occasions dress uniforms, and on attending a high function a special dress uniform, must be worn. Details of the special uniforms worn by each officer's rank of the Baruk Zirak on various occasions can be found in chapter 5 of the 'Tome of the Baruk Zirak' in the Chamber of Mazarbul in Erebor.

[[category:Erebor]]

Erebor Warder's Handbook - Revision history

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