Trained to become as solid and inflexible as the Prince-lords they serve, the Grand Army is a highly trained group of soldiers working throughout the Dragastine Chain. Like the normal Dragastine folk, they have endured typhoons, floods, ash storms, Council infighting and serve valiantly in the wars against the Tryphaenic Kingdom. Because of their impressive resilience and discipline, they are known to be merciful, allowing citizens of a besieged city to flee into safe territory at the whim of Council generals. This disposition is not the same for those who would threaten the security of Dragastis and the Council, oftentimes capturing slaves and riches for their own profit.
Mercenaries
Great House Dragastis has the privilege of commanding some of the largest mercenary armies in Westacre. Their loyalties are assured through good pay and elevated ranks within Dragastis hierarchy for those pursuing their own ambitions in politics. Although they are largely kept within the walls of Council city-states as defensive armies, they may be rallied efficiently for the safety of House Dragastis. They are well-trained and equipped with the best armor and weapons the Council can obtain and decorated with all the splendor identified with good service to them.
Assembled in the year 19 SE by High Councillor Tigranes, this section of the army is also partially composed of slaves provided by the Tel Dragast Slave Companies and prisoners seeking redemption, loot and the possibility of rank accession. As a result, these mercenaries are highly versatile on the battlefield, capable of operating siege machinery, ships, raids and assisting the Grand Army at the front lines.
Turma
The Serapic Turma are the backbone of the Grand Army. Taking into account that both the mount and rider should be in perfect condition, they undergo the same rigorous training as their peers. The mounted rider was trained to have a near perfect hand-eye coordination: to shoot a bird mid-flight with a well-aimed shot was required for each and every Turma to serve. They are armed with a bow & arrows and javelins and two or four spice bombs which can debilitate or poison opponents.
Spice bombs are carried by all equine units in the Grand Army. Putrid, often hallucinatory, blinding and noxious herbs and spices are stuffed within this fragile ball. Projected via slingshot or toss, upon explosion they release a horrible gas which affects organic material, especially the lungs, skin and eyes, provoking serious rashes, gangrene and lethal poisoning.
Special Forces
Serapic Knights
The famous Knights are the most well-trained and most disciplined unit of the Grand Army. They act as a personal retinue for Queen Hadra XXI Nicator, serving as her personal legion. Anxious to safeguard her throne following the Crisis, Hadra reformed the old guard units of Serapion into the new Serapic regiments, which were meant to provide the emperor with a core of professional and loyal troops.
Naval Forces
The Grand Navy
The Serapic Dromon is the staple naval unit of the Navy, rowed by a generous number of slaves under the captain's authority. It remains the most important warship of the Serapic navy and is famous for its speed, evasiveness and ramming capability.
Fire Ship
A Fire Ship is rowed by 10 men and manned by 15. The archers within ignite their arrows to shoot at enemy fleets. On the bow is stationed a dragon head where oil is pumped through and ignited, setting fire to many ships or even ports: the composition of tpeniss a secret known only to the Serapians and even water has no effect on extinguishing this fire. The deck -- or lack thereof -- is a spiked surface which prevents any soldier from boarding. They are only accessible by a tight rear door and ram into enemy ships once ammunition has been exhausted. Once depleted of any ammunitions, they ignite the reserves of their gunpowder and oil and explode, burning down fleets with them.