SOLDIER WORK
Argos does not maintain a large, standing army like most Hyborian nations. Instead, the kingdom uses a system of small units. An invader, if it survived or bypassed the large mercenary army, would find itself pitted against several smaller companies of troops as it moved across the land.
MERCENARIES
Argos is a rich kingdom, and in times of war, mercenary companies will be hired to defend the realm. Most of these will be assuri mercenaries from the Meadowlands of Shem, but pikemen from Gunderland are also favored to a lesser degree. Pointainian companies of Knights are used as well.
THE GUARDIANS
The Guardians are a type of border patrol maintained by the crown. Service is determined by lot, and many citizens serve early in their lives. But any free citizen could be chosen for duty from age 17-60. The Guardians act as scouts as well as man the border watchtowers.
MANOR MERCENARIES
The interior of Argos is a land divided by the nobles. Each noble House maintains a small army to defend the fief. Some of these fief units become quite large and gain fame throughout the land, such as the White Falcons of the Falcon Barony. These units will hire out as mercenaries within Argos itself, never taking long term contracts or traveling outside the kingdom.
NAVY
Argos maintains the largest navy in the known world. All told, the navy consists of about 500 vessels, where 200 of these are warships. 20 warships defend the port of Messantia alone. Others patrol the Argossean coast and make port in each of the Coastal Cities.
CITY GUARD
Most of the vast Coastal Cities maintain a Watch. The City Guardsmen of Messantia is quite a large force by itself.
ROYAL GUARDSMEN
The Royal Guardsmen are truly an elite force, based in Messantia, charged with protecting the king. This small army consists entirely of high level Soldiers, level 4-6. The
Kings Hand is a special unit among the Guardsmen that serve as the king's personal body guards.
The Royal Guardsmen are loosely associated with the Guardians, though the two units operate completely independently.
HOUSE GUARDS
Some of the larger Merchant Houses maintain fairly large forces charged with protecting the House and its holdings.
THE ARGOSSEAN "ARMY"
If the need arises, the King of Argos can call in his feudal bannermen and have units from all of these armies mentioned here banded together to form a grand army for Argos. Even without mercenaries, the king can field a force of 5,000-10,000 men.