Kalik's Dragoons
Specialist group:cavalry
The dragoons are a light cavalry force focusing on skirmishing and scouting. While heavy cavalry will uses lances to shatter infantry formations, light cavalry primarily rely on bows and speed to harass forces.
The company consist of 100 riders in five 20-rider units. The total force includes another score of farriers, holstlers, and wranglers to manage the company's 250 horses. Depending on the mission, the additional horses are used as spare mounts to increase speed or as pack horses.
Each unit has a color: red, blue, black, green, and yellow. The units are often hired individually, but when the whole company is hired the formations change to suit the objective. The formations below are the typical per-unit hiring formation.
The unofficial "gray" unit handles the horses, supplies, and logistical tasks and is assigned as needed. Gray unit also includes a smattering of mages and clerics who also handle the accounting and low-level negotiations.
All of Kalik's horses are of superior grade (add +1 to con/str/dex) and thoroughly trained war mounts.
The blue, green, and yellow units are the most basic forces. These troopers are generally 3rd-5th level fighters with mounted combat, mounted archery, point blank, and rapid shot with ride skills totals of 8+ before military saddles. They generally get into position, fire a volley or two, and move again before the opposing force can do much in retaliation. Gear consists of chain shirts, composite shortbows (60+ arrows), and scimitars. Horses are generally in studded leather barding.
Each of these units is commanded by a Captain (level 5th-8th), three lieutenants (level 4-6th), and four sargeants (level 4-8th). Several of the sargeants have acquired a few levels of rogue or ranger out of a cussed determination to not be ambushed.
Red unit is a more advanced unit. Gear is similar, though likely enchanted. Troops are 6th-10th level, feats of mounted combat, mounted archery, point blank, rapid shot, ride-by attack, weapon focus: composite shortbow, and weapon spec: composite shortbow. Some have Manyshot and a few have started picking up PrCs.
Tactics are more advanced and take advantage of their higher rate of fire and damage per shot. Expect use of buff spells on both riders and mounts, with a focus on stamina and speed enhancing magics. The red unit is commanded by a Major (level:9) assisted by a Captain (Fighter4/cleric of war:4), and two lieutenants (fighter:4/bard:3, fighter7) and four sargeants (level 6-10th). Like the other companies, at least two of Red's sargeants have rogue or ranger levels.
Black unit is commanded by Colonel Kalik (level:16), a Major (fighter:4/cleric:4 of war/PrC:6), and two captains (fighter4/bard4/Prc4 and Ranger12) plus four sargeants (level 10-18th) who all have some rogue, ranger, or even barbarian levels. Kalik usually has a mage on contract of 10th level who generally fires off Haste, provides communication spells, and helps provide strategic and tactical resources.
The troops are 10th-14th level feats of mounted combat, mounted archery, point blank, rapid shot, ride-by attack, weapon focus: composite shortbow, weapon spec: composite shortbow, many shot, trample, and Spirited Charge. Many have PrCs and/or levels in other classes.
Units all have magic weapons, ammunition, and armor. Mounts wear mithril chain barding and it is often enchanted. Futhermore, these horses are the best Kalik can buy or breed (+2 con/str/dex).
Tactics vary, but the Black unit tends toward surprise attacks. It can dish out a terrifying amount of damage relative to its size and Black troops are almost impossible to route in combat.
Pay rates follow. Pay is made weekly, in advance. Minimum contract length: 1 month. Contract includes travel time but additional costs are incurred if sea travel is required.
blue/green/yellow/gray units
-because these units are often hired as reserves or as a threat, they don't see action as much and their rates are less.
1 gp/week troops
2 gp/week sargeants
3 gp/week lieutenants
4 gp/week captains
3 gp/week horses
50 gp/week per unit administration/logistic charge
Red Unit - almost always sees combat, and hard combat at that. Typically Red Unit is deployed with at least one lower unit.
4 gp/week troops
5 gp/week sargeants
5 gp/week lieutenants
7 gp/week captains
15 gp/week major
5 gp/week horses
100 gp/week per unit administration/logistic charge
Black Unit - almost always sees combat and it's the nasty stuff.
10 gp/week troops
25 gp/week sargeants
15 gp/week lieutenants
50 gp/week captains
100 gp/week major
250 gp/week Kalik
7 gp/week horses
500 gp/week per unit administration/logistic charge
