Military of the Imperialis Dryadalis - Part 1

At this stage it behooves the author to once more return to the subject of the Athanasian Dryads, more specifically, the military branch of that illustrious and mysterious people.

Magic being a primary facet of society means that it plays a key role in all aspects of their army, or Stratos as they call it. In the infantry, largely made up of the Pezedoroi, spear and shield wielding soldiers, an overlapping system of "Kidemónes" and "Polemistés", who are protectors and warriors respectively, mean that a great deal of discipline and awareness is required for this way of war to be effective. One part, the Polemistés, assault the foe and another, Kidemónes, protect the attackers. Should this system break down so too does the army, and for those who war against them, this end is the end of all strategies, since, should it remain unbroken, the armies of the Dryads are near impenetrable to assault and they role over their opposition like an avalanche.

This system remains true for the powerful shock cavalry that are much feared and world renowned for their powerful charge to shatter resistance before them. Though carrying no shields, the rear ranks of Kidemónes form a protective magical barrier to the front of the charge, making it near invulnerable, while the front ranks of Polemistés level large lances and cast volleys of spells to weaken the defender before sweeping aside what remains in a devastating blow which has marked the end of many a battle for the oft victorious Athanasian Dryads.

In the ranks of the dedicated missile forces, known as "Velákoi", the Dryads magic is often used as a means of augmenting the potency of their various darts and arrows. A volley of arrows might suddenly ignite mid-flight, or bullets from slingshots veer off at strange unpredictable angles. This makes them very difficult to protect oneself from them without magical protection for the defender. Even if this is possible the protection must be in equal power to that being cast by the Dryads themselves, a high bar for even the most ambitious sorcerer. Once more there is a repeat of Kidemónes acting as protectors for the archers while others in their ranks unleash deadly volleys upon their foes. This makes them near invulnerable to other missile armed foes, and often generals of armies are advised to either destroy them with cavalry if possible or to unleash artillery fire from war machines and mass missile fire against them to overwhelm the capabilities of the Kidemónes.

Overall the "Stratoi" of the Dryadalis Imperialis are truly impressive forces. It was not mere chance that they conquered most of the known world and held it in sway for so many hundreds of years. It is only by cunning and careful planning that they are overcome and almost never by strength of arms alone. If not for the Sancti Armatores who provide the legions of Atlas their famous black armour that repudiates magic, and the blessing of Custodia, the Republic would have fallen back into the control of the mighty dryads many years ago. For all those readers who serve in some militarily capacity for the Republic this author advises further research and understanding of this enemy before giving battle, else death is near certain otherwise.

Excerpt from "Fabulis Animantium", by Favonius Justinianus.