The region of Praedia, is one of enlightenment and scientific knowledge. A continent that spans from the north towards the south of the planet with a wide diversity of biomes, cultures, and people. The nations that make up the continent fight for the ever-lush resources. In futility in some cases. Nations are born and quickly snuffed out.  

However, near the edge of the continent are a series of islands that formed to create the United Crowns Alliance. A total of ten kings who united their crowns and formed the kingdom a century prior secured their islands. Every generation a new king would be selected acting as de facto ruler. The current ruler was a young sixteen-year-old. Who by sheer of will and charisma followed in his father. This in itself was a rare thing. However, the previous king, Miguel the magnificent, had ruled the alliance for seventy years, an astonishing feat in it of itself.  

The other rulers rightly assuming that the next heir of the Lione family would be a genius enshrined the young Thomas as the next king. They were right to assume so for in the first year of his reign a war would break out against the Confederation of Praedia.  

The confederation was a loose alliance to say the least. More a series of independent factions that more often than not feud with each other. However, there are rare moments where a leader with enough charisma and political insight could unite the alliance against a single foe. However, more often than not ending in failure.  

Yet, it is this war where our story starts. For the battle of the sea was completed with an outstanding victory against the confederation navy. A series of admirals who though outnumbered. Led a series of victories that culminated in the heroic victories. However, that story is best set for another time. 

On land the army was to be expanded. The alliance upheld household guards for each king. However, the alliance army as a whole was a volunteer force limited to several regiments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery batteries. For a war against the continent the army needed to be expanded further.  

To that end the alliance raised many brand-new regiments straining their officer and NCO corps to the limit. Fresh officers filled the gap, purchasing their commissions at a price, to ensure that the officer corps was of noble stock. The more prestigious regiments, like the Queen’s own, Rosen Ritter, or Guards regiments, saw their price inflate beyond an unimaginable amount.  

Other regiments or orders that proved difficult was the artillery corps, engineer corps, and the more medical knightly orders. These branches required extreme knowledge. So much so that the purchasing of commissions was sanctioned as illegal. They were instead forced to wait acquiring seniority to head up the ranks. So much so that it was not uncommon to see a fifty-five-year-old lieutenant.  

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However, in all the branches the infantry had it the hardest. Due to the need to increase their size. The peace time force of ten regiments of the line was increased to two hundred. Which prompted a shuffling of manpower. Not wanting to leave the vast majority of these new regiments to learn on the spot. Many enlisted men from the peace time regiments were promoted to NCOs to at least give some wisdom.  

Overnight the army swelled from less than a division size force to that of several army corps. Leading them all was the renowned and old General Charles O’Hara. Who led the army on many expeditions against the confederation in the past. The aging general fought many offensive battles with numbers against them. Near the city that was dubbed the gates to the Urik mountains. Fought and defeated a confederation army that numbered five times his size. For his actions he was given the title, Count of Urik, and given the moniker fox of the mountains. 

Back to the topic of the army. The branches of the army are broken into three main parts. The infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The general staff, which composes of ten generals, who plan out strategy for the coming campaigns. Allotted to this staff is the general of the infantry, general of the cavalry, and general of the artillery. These positions mostly act as inspector generals. Who ensure that the regiments within an army act according to the rules and regulations. Another post is the provost-general. Basically, military police. 

The people given command of these post is respectively. General Richard Knowles of the infantry. A stout fellow, who for the first part of his career slogged with the infantry under general O’Hara. His temperament is none the less one of love for the army.  

General Henry D'Costa commands the cavalry. The general also has another role as the knight commander of the Rosen Ritter. A knightly order, that focuses on defeating the pagans within the continent. However, the man himself is of the practical sort.  

Finally, the outlier of the generals. General Fenrir Sommerset, elected to his position rather than appointed. The general looks more like a grand scholar than a warrior. To be fair to the general. He has a lot on his plate. Other than the continued inspection of the artillery, he also oversees the engineer corps and their politics, as well as the logistics corps. Some say the general seemed always tired. Reporting first within the day and leaving last near the vestiges of night.  

The provost-general, even though given the title, is not given to a general. Instead, it is given to a colonel of one of the guard's cavalry regiments. Who so happened to be general D’Costa’s younger brother. The provost-general also sees to the commissariat. A branch of the provost that sees to the pay of the army and the proper paperwork with the civilian sector. The younger brother seemed to have struck a friendly relationship with general Sommerset. Something about the woes of bureaucracy.  

However, the army begins training as the navy secures areas of landing throughout the continent. The choice of which shall be given soon enough.