TheCzarsHussar

Have you never seen Roman clothing?! I mean we all have preferences in what old clothing looks cool and what doesn't. Oh come on that's obviously mail

This hurts me in a way only a historical nerd can hurt.

Not generic roman enough for your taste?

Did the picture not load? I linked a picture with that comment about the clothing.

For me the fur can't be the main part of the outfit, it's gotta be snazzy you see? Have it in the style of a noble and wear rich outfits with fur lining.

The only fashion I think fur looks good in is Medieval Rus fashion.

? You mentioned Nords having plate armor, which they do. I mentioned it's more primitive than the plate armor we've seen in Morrowind, hell even Oblivion. Still like the way it looks though.

From what we've seen in Oblivion, the Imperials had hard-ons for northern Italian style plate armor. Although this is Oblivion, in Morrowind the steel plate armor could have been intended to be Imperial.

Better then any in-game mail armor sure, at least in Skyrim.

I'm talking about late medieval/early Renaissance levels of plate. The kind of full plate we've seen in Morrowind, while not expressly stated, that shit had to be Breton.

Fuck y'all then I'm glad I've made poleaxes a Roscrean thing then.

Any armor is going to be fucked up by a poleaxe, mail, gay little fur armor, you name it. Hey, Bretons have their plate, Imperials have their segmented armor, Nords have their mail. It was just called ringmail back then to make it sound more Nord-y.

Centurion must have gotten clapped in a game with poleaxes.

Why though? You've got a two handed weapon that (often) doubles as both an axe and a warhammer. That shit's lit, especially because those were the plate armor killers.

Does everyone suddenly hate poleaxes now?!

aight fite me m8

The fuck does PLP mean?

Out of curiosity but does ESO have poleaxes? Around late last year I really started appreciating poleaxes in particular, they're probably my favorite medieval weapon currently.

Martial Prowess of the Native Roscreans Imperial Battlemage Aldaril, Circa 3e 272 Dispatched to appointed Governor-General Claudius Atrius Preface In the event of a organized native revolt against Imperial Law, or future recruitment of native auxilia into the Legion, the office of my person has been appointed by the Blades to assess in detail the martial capabilities of the natives. My office is to assess the fields of hypothetically fielded warriors from the recruitment pool of the native holdings, by rebellious figures or Legion recruitment; observe the creation of treatises and manuscripts hereupon the martial arts of note practiced by the native warrior-class to better understand their warfare and effectively squander the effectiveness through countermeasures; and gather intelligence on the uncooperative theological cult to the northwest of Roscrea's coast. Firstly of note was the issue of intelligence prior to the Emperor's campaign of 268. The order of this guide was established by the Blades due to the difficulties of infiltration prior to the campaign. The native population are very akin to the Giants of Skyrim, with a minute human population of primitive wild Nords living in the fringes of lowland mountains. Infiltration of native society was utterly impossible by agents of the Blades, the majority of the islanders are incredibly xenophobic and isolationist in the face of Tamriel. Nordic agents were too racially, and indeed, culturally distant from the near-giants to blend in their society unnoticed. Distant observations were equally disastrous due to the aforementioned cult. The personal adherents to that occult society always happened upon the hidden encampments of dispatched agents, the few which survived the unprovoked attacks included in their reports terrible magics used by white cloaked figures, a further comprehensive report is included further. Accordingly this is to prevent any future lack of information and knowledge of our subjects. Projected Capabilities of Native Armament and Fielding of Armies Despite the obstacles faced by the Blades in their intelligence gathering, an acute observation was hypothesized by their reports. Legion commanders recognized the potentially disastrous course of the invasion should the natives amass a united army of comparable size. Quite astute in our hypothesis it was a tremendous gambit should the natives be capable of fielding such an army, and while they are not entirely alike the giants of Skyrim, they are nevertheless quite similar in feats of strength and endurance, such an army of size though primitive in arms could match the Legion through sheer brute strength and force of will. Thankfully despite the inaccurate projections of the campaign, having persisted nearly three years longer than anticipated, the natives were taken completely by surprise. Through superior deployment, and employment, of tactics and stratagem the native rulers were unable to field armies of note. It is imperative that in revolt, the conflicting foe not be allowed to amass a following of comparable size. The garrisoned double strength Legion is assessed to be a credible deterrent, failing that the double strength Legion is projected to be equipped and fully capable of stamping out vestiges of hostility, or any attempts at defying Imperial Law. In relation to this, the allied tribes have been incited to service the Legion as Foederati. These allied tribes have sworn oaths of upholdment and loyalty, clever usage of divination by the Blades in Emperor Uriel's personage has captivated the primitives, the allied tribes believe our Emperor to be an incarnation of the Nordic variant of Talos, Ysmir. However, this exploitation is not universal. The dragon worshiping population of Western Roscrea does not worship any variant or vestige of the Nordic pantheon, it is a dear shame that Tiber Septim's mercenary dragon was slain long ago, his very existence would have pacified and aligned the western natives fully under the Empire. As it stands they are the most likely cause of revolt, whereas the eastern natives are firmly under cooperation. It is of the upmost importance to enact a policy of Imperialization. Only when native lifestyle is indistinguishable from Colovian customs can they be productive members of the Empire. It is equally recommended that inclusion in both the Legion and positions of landed power be reserved towards the natives who completely adopt Imperial customs. Under concurrent commissions for the establishment of urban centers in the east will the previous condition be fulfilled. These colonies will transform rural fort-holding natives to a familiar and easily governed population, and one that offers a fair recruitment pool of future auxilia from. The residence of the Governor-General is currently established in the native great fortress complex of Nebbezzar, itself undergoing reconstruction and renovations for a joint population of colonists and natives. The full grandeur of Imperial architecture and innovation will encompass the future capital of Roscrea, the primitives will be enthralled by it's majesty alone and enforce to the natives that they are citizens of the Empire now and forever. So long as they adhere to Imperial Law, it will be a mutual relationship. Assessments of colonization within the island project a large population of which to draw on, suspected that the population will intermix into an amalgamation of half-breeds, it is unknown what the mixed population will entail. The defunct Kingdom of Roscaerea in the west has a considerable population to draw upon, having been divided into two provinces and a client kingdom drawn around existing cultural boundaries. The client Kingdom of Ecoriobriga, established from the heartland of the dismantled kingdom has by treaty avoided established colonies of Tamrielic colonists and settlers. Stemming from treaties due to the inability to conquer the palatial-city of it's namesake, is within the Middland Plateau and are under the census as "Middlander Roscreans". The native client kingdom resides and rules over a population accustomed to palatial-citadels, the allotted territory they are permitted to govern is the entirety of the rich arctic meadows and fertile extinct volcanic valleys spread across the majority of the central-western plateau. They are an agrarian society that avoids the active volcanic plots and lava fields. They preside over the largest urban-concentrated population of the island and as such are the primary risk of revolt with the greatest capacity to field an army of sufficient size. In the event of state backed rebellion against the Empire by the client Kingdom of Ecoriobriga, there are detailed demands in the potential treaty that will fully dismantle native rule. In short it is expected and enforced that any revolt be allowed to gain sufficient momentum as to implicate King Cassivelogenos in it's organization. The Imperial ruled provinces of Old Dowry and Roscaen Province respectively are garrisoned and plans of colonization are expected to yield similar results of Imperialization as the eastern island. The Old Dowry is not unlike the east with it's rural fort-holding tribes and sufficient establishment of infrastructure around the coastal fortress-complex of Boiliobris should establish a proper basin of Imperial culture of which to lead the west's Imperialization. For Roscaen Province, the province is ripe with industrial potential. Part of the Middland Plateau, the province houses several urban centers and is plentiful in precious metals, glass is among the most valuable resource currently extracted by the province in it's still active volcanoes, though resources such as iron, tin, bronze, copper and the like are worked on by the natives. What the province excels in through mineral wealth, mostly unfound throughout the rest of the island, is severally lacking in farmable land. It is overall too mountainous, too volcanically active, and infertile to support large populations. The assessment of potential auxilia or revolt from either province is low, especially with legionary garrisons. Native Martial Arts This chapter is entirely dedicated to understanding the practice of natives with their martial arts. Understanding several key factors is paramount to surviving combat against the natives. First and foremost, you are weaker then they. It has little precedence if you are a Nordic or Orcish Legionary, unless you are the spawn between the union of one aforementioned and a giant. Myself I have witnessed a peasant native armed with nothing more then a wicker shield and wooden club break a Nord's skull with a single downward strike, the Nord was a veteran Legionary of previous conflicts, armed in full. He was of far greater skill then the peasant and of much greater prowess-of-arms as well, yet a single worthy strike ended his life. Secondly the peasantry, and lower warrior classes enter into battle in the Nordic fashion, that is by organized shield walls. There is little in the way of frenzied charges. What differs massively from the Nordic fashion are the arms present, even Nordic peasant farmers often own an axe of some makeup. Roscrean peasants are often poorly armed, amassing stone tipped spears and wooden clubs, protecting themselves behind wicker oval shields, some with hide atop them. The poorest peasant with nothing to their name can still find sturdy wood to carve, and stones to hew. Third, metal resources are far more scarce in Roscrea than elsewhere, even the wealthier rural population often cannot afford the luxury of metal weaponry and armor. Although a hallmark of recognizing a wealthier rural warrior is through better protection of their person, such as forms of linen armor and better quality shields. Forth, the greatest advantages the Legion has over the natives are logistics and technology. Entering into the melee with the natives always amasses casualties on our front lines, avoiding the clash of shieldwalls is perhaps the most important aspect of warfare against the native amassed peasantry. With the understanding of how the lowest class of Roscreans do battle, the focus most now shift to the dedicated warrior-classes of the natives. It varies depending on the region as access to wealth and resources varies across the island. Beginning from the lowest caste of warriors, that as should be noted is still a place of good standing in their societies, are the Bondsmen. Bondsmen can be described as Warrior-Servants, bound by service to their master through gifts these are the semi-professional warriors of Roscrea. Their position and arms varies from master to master. In the service of their master they are equipped from his household. When attached to wealthy noble's service they often dedicate their lives to martial practices, gifted fine arms of iron and bronze. However, when attached to the service of lesser masters they often serve their role as Warrior-Servants alongside another profession. It has been observed that the majority of Bondsmen are members of urban middle and lower classes. When attached to wealthier masters and can dedicate their profession entirely to warfare, they should accordingly be counted among the higher warrior classes in terms of ability, only outstripped by the superior arms and armors of the nobility. When assessing the arms and armor of the nobility, and those in their service it must be noted the prevalence of chainmail. Popular across the entire island, bar the even more primitive lowlanders of central Roscrea, native mail is considerably thicker and heavier than Tamrielic counterparts. Almost always worn atop some form of linen armor such as gambeson. It varies in length, form, and extravagance as there is no uniformity of arms. There are further regional variations to this, the eastern Roscrean nobility often wears lamellar woven with their mail, while the Middlanders sometimes adorn cuirasses atop theirs. The most well equipped nobles can be expected to wear armor from head to toe. Full mail coifs with heavy iron helmets, sleeved hauberks that extend below their knees, well padded with linen armor, mail chausses. The heavy mail is extremely difficult to slash or cut, even with Nordic handaxes, thrusts with a gladius or other sword fair better but are similarly ineffective. Against the well armored native, warhammers are best used in melee, or a better alternative is to target these individuals with battlemages and other ranged choices. Although as will be written further, arcane abilities are a detriment when faced with certain nobles. The upper warrior-classes consist of lesser nobility and the greatest of elevated Bondsmen. Retainers are the personal household guards of an individual, often of the nobility. These are the elites of the natives and accompany their lord wherever he may be. Traditional Roscrean warfare are duels between elite retinues of retainers and their nobles, instead of large scale pitched battles that the Legion is unparalleled in. It is extremely romanticized in the Roscrean cultures, that their ancestral way of war is sophisticated and that our warfare of pitched battles are barbaric. Retainers are often equipped like the nobility, and are only told apart from their lord by the extravagance of his arms and armor compared to the retainers. Among the upper class combatants faced, retainers are the most common and the entirety of that caste dedicates their life to martial pursuits. They can be described as Masters-at-Arms for their proficiency with many manner of weapons. The upper warrior-classes near universally prefers polearms and poleaxes to any other weapon, with a universal focus of martial arts in combination with poleaxes. The most loyal and skilled among the retainers are champions, they are the most favored of the retainers and are never left wanting of gifts and good positions in society. Where retainers can be described as household guards of an individual, Roscrean champions are their personal bodyguards. They are indistinguishable in quality and extravagance of arms from their master and by merit are the cream of the crop of the warrior-classes. By right they are allowed to sit at the inner circles of the feasting tables reserved for the high nobility and may be the personal supplicant of their master in duels with other nobles and their champions. Currently the judicial relationship between the nobility and their champions have been disenfranchised everywhere except the client Kingdom of Ecoriobriga, as it is a barbaric and uncivilized relationship. Much more importantly by removing the native laws surrounding and encompassing the nobility and their champions, a very dangerous caste of warriors have been nearly removed from existence through law. Unrest was narrowly avoided by elevating the champions to noble classes, this practice need only continue a few generations. Finally this brings us to the nobility and the treatises of Roscrean martial arts. Again much is dependent on the location, wealth and availability of resources, that the Roscrean Nobility is often dedicated to their primitive mundane and arcane educations, theological and martial pursuits. Roscrean martial arts is very heavily focused on the expression of raw strength, and while it would be easy to dismiss their martial prowess as sheer brutish lumbering and swinging, it cannot be further from the reality. They are notoriously disciplined in their form, and when equipped with their favored poleaxes does their martial expression fully reveal itself. There is an incredible design of forcefulness and grace. They are far from the swiftest warriors, though their movement of arms can be applauded for how technically advanced their are. In campaign I have personally observed their advanced stature and form, they are incredibly reactionary both in offensive and defensive measures which in their martial arts are one and the same. There is never a strike parried without reprisal, and in every reprisal there is never a strike made that cannot be defended in turn, and often becomes a vicious cycle until one is left defeated. Beyond their skill of arms, the greatest danger against the native proficient in native noble combat is the skill at which they attempt to overpower you. Form is the most highly disciplined aspect of the proficient warrior. Against one another it is a battle of 'cleverness of strength', one and another use their bodies and poleaxes to break the other's form and either deliver a killing blow, or knock the other to the ground and partake a killing blow. A warrior so completely steadfast and hunkered to the ground that he cannot be toppled or struck in wounding blow is considered perfection by native contemporaries. The Roscrean polearms are the perfect weapon for their extraordinary stature and strength, no other allows for such wide array of potential. Against man, mer, or beastfolk the Roscrean's martial arts are at their most dangerous. These are professional warrior-classes that train in such fashions and under no circumstances should they be dismissed. And furthermore, under absolutely no circumstances are they ever to be engaged in duels. The Legion operates as one cohesive unit, the moment one breaks to answer the challenge of single combat by the warrior-class is the moment they are dead men walking. The nobility of the Middland Plateau are exceptionally harrowing in combat, they are deeply beholden to the arcane study. Many of their nobles are of a priestly class and wield powerful and sometimes alien magics. As the natives lifespan is on average three times that of man, their arcane-attuned nobles should be treated as if facing an Elven opponent, with extreme caution. They've had several lifetimes to hone their art, both martially and in the Middland Plateau, magically. As I myself am an Altmer, have found no resemblance of familiarity in their race. They are inhuman yes, though unless they and the Giants of Skyrim are a long lost Elven race, are an anomaly of the world. Cult of Jhunal Perhaps the most pertinent issue of the island is the reclusive theological cult that resides in the Isle of Long Stones, as the natives call it. They have opposed the Legion both directly and indirectly during the campaign. These "Druids" as the natives call them are of a sinister makeup, they are supposedly worshipers of the Nordic aspect of Julianos called Jhunal, who's worship has long subsided in Skyrim. The Druids are revered by the natives as much as they are feared, from what is gathered there is a great power held on the Isle of Long Stones. From what was observed, the cult employs mages cloaked in white robes and white cloaks. They are hidden from the mundane and yet are ever present, they are rarely seen and yet all natives know of their power and presence. So little is known about these practitioners of the occult, yet they are a threat to the Imperial administration of Roscrea. Attempts to land on the Isle of Long Stones have always been met with disaster. Vessels are torn apart by reefs that were not there moments ago, survivors pulled down underwater by the unseen and drowned. Mages cloaked with invisibility and water walking spells are never seen again once they reach the forested shores of that dark island. It is constantly permeated by a everlasting visage, untouched by winter monsoons and blizzards. The natives claim that only those welcomed by the Druids may set foot on the isle, and that those who have returned are beholden to the cult. Attempts at extracting the information from these individuals and priests have failed, no manner of coercion or force reveals anything of use. Furthermore, those involved in the attempted extraction of information disappear from the face of the island. Each action against their cult invoked a harsher reaction, after a year of occupation it is decreed that best leave the cult alone. Any Legionary that witnesses the white cloaked cultists should make no action against them, unless they are in violation of a serious crime. No interaction of any kind is encouraged.

Did we all just laugh at Balrog's comment at the same time?

Beholden thou art, mine suffering thou hast attained.

Seriously though, that's a great commission. Very well drawn and the background is really popping.

Real nice commission there man, but that Orc too pretty.

Of fucking course Bardok was standing there with his hands crossed. Irs becoming iconic at this point.

@The Good Doctor Colonel hid my comment behind spoilers