Corsairs
Abilities and Equipment
Corsairs equip themselves for close-quarters fighting with cutlasses and wicked axes. Pistols and crossbows are both frequent additions, depending on the affluence and technological savviness of the individual Corsair.
Corsairs vary widely in training and quality of equipment, but the majority have at least a modicum of professional training, and armor is usually seen as a worthwhile investment in a mercenary hoping to live to retirement. Munition plate, gambesons, and bascinets or morions are frequently seen for armor.
Every Sidri merchantman or slave ship boasts a complement of Corsairs- even those who are not planning on raiding or engaging in piracy still require a complement to dissuade other Sidri ships from targetting them. Those Sidri known as Corsairs range far inland as well, however, as the term has come to reflect a type of far-ranging mercenary, raider, and pirate.
Corsairs often originate from grizzled veterans seeking fortune, though many also come from middling merchant-class who struck out as mercenaries in search of greater fortune, or become Corsairs after mutinying against their old captains. They are not loyal soldiers, but when motivated by coin have a certain degree of professionalism.
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Ritualist Swordsmaster
Abilities and Equipment
Ritualist Swordmasters are extremely skilled swordsmen, typically utilizing long sabers as their preferred weapon. With their ritual arts they are able to cast spells using their swords, crafted from arcane materials such as silver and Maczsor horn.
By intricately weaving their weapons in precise patterns, they are able to create mystical spells, such as launching waves of fire or wreathing their blades in mystic light.
Swordmasters typically are lightly armored- often utilizing sidri diskmail with light padding underneath.
Originating from one of the two major Sidri religions, the Ritualist Swordmasters are a secretive monastic sect of warrior-monks who have learned to channel magical power through their sword techniques.
They are not magi, strictly speaking, and possess no inherent magical ability. The ritual sword arts they possess are entirely derived from manipulation of natural magical energies, and require minute precision. The swordmasters typically wear only light armor to make their techniques easier to utilize.
In order to perform any ritual one needs a matrix and catalyst; for a Swordmaster, the matrix is typically their sword, and the catalyst is an ingredient carried on their person which is tossed aloft during sword techniques. As they cut through clouds of powder or smoke their blades become wreathed in frost, launch waves of flame, or fling needles of pure shadow.
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Sidri Conscripts
Abilities and Equipment
The average conscript is equipped with either a crescent axe or a simple steel-tipped spear, and armored in typical Sidri Diskmail- armor made up of many overlapping disks sewn onto a gambeson.
The most frequently seen soldiers within the Sidri archipelago in the Silver Seas, the basic conscript is usually armed with a spear or axe and ringmail armor. Usually fairly well drilled and disciplined, they understand how to march in formation and fight as a unit, but individually are weak combatants without highly advanced armor or weaponry.
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Condotierri
Abilities and Equipment
Condotierri are usually fairly well funded troops equipped with steel munitions equipment. Mirror armor or cuirasses with lobster helmets, bascinets, or morions are typical.
Weapon wise, Condotierri generally favor swords and spears in equal measure. Spears are usually held two handed with a buckler on one hand, while swords are of the saber variety with a buckler in the other hand.
The archetypical Sidri mercenary, Condotierri are distinguished from their Corsair brethren by more organized formation and professional, disciplined troops. Unlike Corsairs, Condotierri most often fight for their home nation, but are self-organizing and equipping. THey are considered mercenaries, but in practice often act as official state troops- though they are still susceptible to changing sides should a higher wage be offered.
Few Sidri fight for any kind of nationalistic zeal, due to the fractitious and ever-changing political landscape. However, when it comes to conflict between the two major religious groups of the Sidri, changing sides is far less frequent, as religion is one of the most prominent unifying- or dividing- factors of the Sidri society.
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Condotierri Horsemen
Abilities and Equipment
Condotierri are usually fairly well funded troops equipped with steel equipment. Mirror armor or cuirasses with lobster helmets, bascinets, or morions are typical. These horsemen are the same, though they may be able to afford fitted armor instead of cast munitions plate.
On horseback, Condotierri favor sabers, lances, repeater crossbows and pistols. Their horses are usually lightly barded with chainmail or diskmail, providing them a decent modicum of protection if not approaching that of an Andovri knight.
One weakness of such troops is their steeds- Sidri horses, while sturdy and enduring, are typically not the fastest nor largest of breeds.
Condotierri horsemen are well-prized soldiers for obvious reasons. Even in addition to the utility of cavalrymen, the higher status of such soldiers means they typically are better equipped and sometimes better trained as well.
Most of these horsemen come either from highly succesful mercenaries, who can then afford horses and training, or younger sons of merchant families whose only inheritance was their education and the equipment required to become potent mercenaries.
Such troops fight on foot as often as horseback, and are prized equally nonetheless.
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Mechanized Chariot
Abilities and Equipment
Constructed entirely of metal and rimmed in edges and spikes, the process of even trying to attack a mechanized chariot is a difficult one for prospective opponents. In addition to its use as a motorized battering ram, the mechanized chariot also serves as a mobile firing platform- at its most powerful, it could be firing rockets or small cannon shot, but more typically will have a handful of handgunners or a crank-gun.
A recent innovation developed in an attempt to supplant traditional mounted cavalry, which the Sidri have never excelled at, the Mechanized Chariot is a steam-powered, four-wheeled vehicle fulfilling a similar purpose to a traditional chariot, its main purpose being ramming into enemies and carrying dragoons on its back. To fulfill this purpose, it is well armored, and possesses blades and spikes on the front and sides to gore its enemies with. Of course, the high cost of the contraption as well as the fuel requirements have prevented it from seeing widespread use.
In form, the Mechanized Chariot is segmented into two sections; the "Chariot proper", or the rear section with two wheels, passenger space, and blades on the sides, and the "Mechanical Horse"- more aptly put, a steam engine with two wheels directly connected and spiked dozer blades at the front.
Typically this mechanized chariot has also had a crank-operated machine gun or riflemen situated in the rear compartment.
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