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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5239771" data-attributes="member: 92305">-- Order of Battle -- War Chief Eanbotha organizes his main force of 53 warriors in the traditional Cimmerian way--into two warbands consisting of 27 warriors each. 27 + 27 + Ean = 53. Every man in the clan is expected to be a warrior, and Ean's two war bands are comprised, mainly, of those warriors between the ages of 15 and 30. At least one elder accompanies a war band when it leaves the town. Most often than not, this elder is Ean, but sometimes another elder will go in Ean's place or lead the second warband. Most often, the second elder, besides Ean, is a clansman named Bec. At 32, Bec is one of the clan's youngest elders. Twenty years ago, Bec ran the first Ras Croi around Seven Stones and became the first Ar Grais. The tree that stretches across the shallow gorge in the race is named for him, as it is called "Bec's Bridge". Though every man of warrior age (15-30) and most elders (age 31-60) are considered to be Clan warriors, almost none are full time warriors. Most all have a vocation--a position among the clan providing goods and services. It is how they make their living. Eanbotha, as war chief, is the only full-time warrior in the entire clan. He does not practice another trade (though he is a skilled hunter). The clan uses an honorary tax system (you give what you can) in order to support the war chief. Ean still hunts, too, while out in the wild. Unless some crisis doesn't permit it, Ean rotates the use of his two war bands. A war band will "take the watch", as its called, for about three months, then relinquish the duty to the other war band for a like period. While on watch, a warrior patrols the Clan's territory, its trails and hunting grounds, and protects Seven Stones and the 9 outlying homesteads. Much cheer is brought to the four seasonal clan festivals as this time is used as the watch change. Thus, a warrior might take the watch just after the Beltain (May 1st), the festival celebrating the 1st Day of Summer. He'll stay on watch through the Lughnasa (July 31st), at which time he is off watch until just after the Samhain celebration (October 31st). Regaining the watch, his duty lasts until just after the Imbolc festivities (Januray 31st), at which time, he's off watch again through the Beltain. Often, warriors will switch watch by staying on watch for a six month stretch. This is done to alter watch seasons, which can be important so some clansmen, depending on their vocations. Being on watch does not mean the warrior cannot ply his trade during his time on watch. Ean does not leave Seven Stones undefended, usually keeping 10 on station at Seven stones, 7 keeping touch with the 9 homesteads, and the other 10 patrolling the trails and Clan territory. There is usually plenty of time for a warrior on watch to also work his leather or weave his cloth unless the warrior comes from one of the homesteads--in which case, the warrior is typically away from home for the entire three months. In sum, at any one time, under normal conditions, there are just 27 warriors protecting and patrolling Seven Stones, the homesteads, and all of the Blue Fox territory. 10 warriors typically stand the watch at Seven Stones. A band of 7 move from homestead to homestead, among the 9 Clan homesteads, keeping in touch with those who live outside the Clanholme. And a patrol of 10 is used to rove the trails and lands of the Blue Fox clan.</blockquote>

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