Photo by Arran Hopper.
The Legion of Maor Dlí is the political, legal, and military organisation that unites the Northern lands of Ásaterra. The Legion of Maor Dlí is a confederation of the other Legions, united under the command of the Northern Councillor. While the Legion of Maor Dlí has very few people working directly for them, all Legionnaires are technically members. And so, when the Legion of Maor Dlí is called to war, it is a call to arms for all of the North.
Nonetheless, Northern Ásaterra requires some Legionnaires dedicated directly to the Legion of Maor Dlí. These Legionnaires operate out of what used to be the royal palace in Hynafoltre, and fulfil many high level roles within Northern Society. From Administrators, Mages, Lawkeepers and soldiers, those employed directly to the Legion of Maor Dlí are as varied as the duties of ruling.
Origins and Formation
During the civil war of 650-654BA, a shortage of soldiers among local authorities led to break down in law enforcement. Criminal organisations rose to prominence within Ásaterra, organisations who were able to hold local nobles to ransom through criminal acts. Without the local militia to back them, The Cataphract order was overwhelmed, leading to a rampant rise in crime.
As such, in 654BA, soon after her coronation, Queen Safae founded the Legion of Maor Dlí to tackle these threats. The Legion was loyal directly to the Crown, and as such was able to travel anywhere within Ásaterra to enforce the law, untethered to local politics.
Upon their founding, they worked tirelessly to stamp out all the known criminal organisations, and restore peace to the crime-ridden corners of the realm. So successful was the Legion of Maor Dlí, that it became a permanent part of the Ásaterran monarchy, acting as the purple fist of royal justice throughout the rest of the monarchy’s history.
Roles Within Ásaterra
Since the fall of both the Monarchy and Royal Council, The duties of the Legion of Maor Dlí have expanded beyond that of pure law enforcement. They act as the political foundation of the North, being the knot that ties the Legions of the North into a single organisation. By extension, technically every member of every Northern Legion is a member of the Legion of Maor Dlí, though their day-to-day activities will be working for their local Legion.
When the North marches to war, it does so under the purple banner of the Legion of Maor Dlí, the local Legions mustering and fighting as part of that whole. As such, there are a number of soldiers and knights who are employed on a permanent basis by the Legion of Maor Dlí. These soldiers act as armourers, instructors, strategists, engineers, and warriors of supreme skill. This provides the North with a disciplined and professional core to be swelled with the ranks of local Legions in times of war, resulting in an army equal to any internal or external foe.
The Legion of Maor Dlí is also at the forefront of disaster relief efforts. After the fall of the Monarchy and Royal Council, the responsibility for aid in famines fell to the Legion of Maor Dlí. This is a responsibility the Legion of Maor Dlí has taken to heart, and has taken steps to ensure a portion of every harvest is stored in great grain silos throughout the North. These grains are then given out in times of starvation to the needy, managed and distributed by members of the Legion of Maor Dlí. These relief efforts are not limited to the North either. There have been several occasions where the silos of the Legion have fed the bellies of Southerners, Easterners and Westerners in time of need. To the people of the North, these relief efforts are a source of pride, for they are a sign that they have prosperity to share.
The Maor Dlí Lawkeepers
Though the duties of the Legion of Maor Dlí have expanded beyond that of law enforcement, many of its members are still lawkeepers. These Maor Dlí Lawkeepers operate throughout Northern Ásaterra, investigating serious crimes and aiding local Lawkeepers in catching criminals. Their role is to step in and enforce the laws of Ásaterra where the local law enforcement bodies are out of their depth. As such, when a bandit group gets too large, or a criminal organisation covering the whole nation is discovered, it is the Legion of Maor Dlí who brings the purple fist of the law upon them.
While the Legion of Maor Dlí has the authority to enforce the law throughout Ásaterra, they do not have the authority to override the ruling of a local leige. This means that when judgement must be passed on an individual (outside of the North where they are respected as the best law enforcers), they will more often bring the suspect to the local leige to pass judgement.
The Expeditionary Force
Upon the founding of the Ásaterran expeditionary force, Councillor Constantine II collected the best and brightest of those under the employ of the Legions and added their strength to that of the other factions within the force. These Legionaries have been instrumental in combating the threats to Ásaterra, their Lawkeepers dispensing justice while their soldiers provide a bulwark of steel against those who seek to destroy the nation. They continue to provide a valuable service to Ásaterra, representing the North and their commitment to Ásaterra’s stability and unity.
Recruitment
Most of those employed directly by the Legion of Maor Dlí are drawn from the local Legions of the North. When a gap opens up in an existing cohort of the Legion of Maor Dlí, experts of that field are invited from the local Legions to fill the position. Indeed, such is the prestige of such positions, political maneuvering often takes place in order to secure the roles. Courtiers from each of the Legions will compete to have their favorite candidates appointed, maneuvers that can often be years in the making.
However, there are times when the Legion of Maor Dlí will recruit externally. If the Legion is required to set up a new cohort, or replace one wholesale in the case of a great disaster, then recruiters may approach individuals they feel have a strong talent in the role. Recruitment in this way is not limited to those that live in the North, Indeed it is known for people to be recruited from all corners of Ásaterra, especially if they are renowned in their field.
It is not unheard of for courtiers to travel to the far corners of Ásaterra, seeking out the best candidate for a position, then inducting them within a local Legion to give them the best shot at a position. These external candidates are often invaluable to the strength of the Legion of Maor Dlí, providing insights that could not be obtained from within.
Structure
The Northern Councillor
At the head of the Legion of Maor Dlí is the Northern Councillor. The Councillor of the North is elected by the Electors of each Legion, with each Elector title holding a single vote. The Councillor then rules the Legion of Maor Dlí until the next Ásaterran election cycle. The Northern Councillor is the one who decides the direction of the Legion of Maor Dlí politically, initiates campaigns, and ensures the unity of the Northern Legions. The Northern Councillor is also paramount in the overall running of Ásaterra, representing the North in national decisions and discussions in the capital.
Primus
However, due to the many responsibilities of the Councilor, the management of those serving the Legion of Maor Dlí directly is delegated to the Primus. The Primus is the one who makes the decisions regarding direct Legionaries, from Cohort placement, recruitment of specialists, and ensuring discipline is maintained. Indeed, to the eyes of most, the Primus is considered the de facto commander of those sworn directly to the Legion of Maor Dlí, while the Councillor acts as the commander of the entire North.
The Primus is a highly sought after position, for it is one of the highest titles that those outside of the nobility can obtain. Its appointment is based on talent rather than birth, and is appointed by the Councillor themselves. Such is the prestige of the position, it is not unheard of for a successful Primus to retire into a landed title, their family joining the ranks of the nobility as a result.
The Current Primus of the Legion is Primus Damasus Byzantine.
Cohorts
The cohorts of the Legion of Maor Dlí are formed and disbanded as the needs of the North arise and change. As such, the number of cohorts is never fixed, and neither is their size or placement. Each cohort is assigned a specific duty, with some being formed to tackle specific threats, while others serving as permanent cornerstones to Northern society.
Each cohort is led by a Strategoi who oversees the task assigned to them. These Strategois are often given a lot of autonomy over the completion of their task, as some tasks require them to work far away from the Legion headquarters. These Cohorts are deployed to the far reaches of Northern Ásaterra, each performing their tasks as appointed. Some are even known to serve in the other provinces of Ásaterra, providing expert assistance, aid, and justice wherever it is required.
The most notable of these are as below:
The Legion at the January Social event 2016
The Lion Cohort
The Lion Cohort was formed by Councillor Constantine II to serve as the Northern contingent of the Expeditionary Force. This cohort has travelled far and wide across the nation, tackling many of the biggest threats to Ásaterra’s stability and people. Due to the variety of tasks the Expeditionary force is expected to handle, this Cohort boasts a high number of Lawkeepers in its ranks. These Lawkeepers have helped the Expeditionary force maintain law and order throughout Ásaterra, while the cohort provides a steel bulwark against those who seek to destroy the nation.
The Oxen Cohort
The Oxen Cohort is the portion of the Legion of Maor Dlí responsible for disaster relief. Their primary duty involves travelling from Leige to Leige, collecting a portion of their crop yields to be stored in the Legion’s grain reserves. This grain is then re-distributed to those in Ásaterra who have been hit by the worst of that year’s harvest, ensuring that starvation is a rare occurrence. Naturally, this cohort is extremely popular amongst the poorest citizens of Ásaterra, who see the nicknamed “Purple Bread'' as a lifeline in times of need.
The Griffon Cohort
The Griffon Cohort act as the Legion of Maor Dlí’s professional soldiers. This Cohort is by far the largest Cohort of the Legion, made up of the specialists and experts required to wage war. Siege engineers, knights, battlemages, drillmasters and quartermasters all find employment within this Cohort, their headquarters located within Fort Griffon’s Peak a mile from Hynafoltre. This Cohort acts as the professional core of the North’s army, the spine around which the North’s army operates. In times of all-out war, their numbers are bolstered by the local legions of the North, to form an army worthy of any foe. As such, the Cohort hosts multiple Stragois, each in chrage of a wing of the Cohort.
The Viper Cohort;
Stationed within Broad Oak forest, for several years the Viper Cohort has been fighting running battles with the various bandit groups that plague the forest. The members of the Viper Cohort have become experts in tackling guerilla warfare, able to track with ease and ambush their foe. The members of the Viper Cohort tend to favour the bow over other weapons, as the bandits of the forest will often flee before they can be closed into melee range.
The Eagle Cohort;
The Eagle Cohort is the oldest of the Legion, for it is focused on Lawkeeping. The Eagle cohort keeps to the old traditions of the Legion, it’s members working tirelessly to ensure the laws of Ásaterra are upheld. Members of the Eagle Cohort are never all gathered in one place, instead they travel in groups to the far reaches of Northern Ásaterra, aiding in the pursuit of dangerous criminals. There, they aid local forces in the uprooting of serious and organised crime, their expertise and martial skills ensuring that few escape the law.
Members of the Eagle Cohort have also been known to travel beyond the Northern province, lending their aid to local Lawkeepers across the length of Ásaterra. The reaction to their aid from the other provinces have been mixed. Some welcome their help with open arms, working closely with them to uproot crime rings. Others see them as the North muscling in on their lands, interfering with local matters and undermining their authority. Nonetheless, members of the Eagle Cohort are resolute in their pursuit of justice, and supremely effective.
The Legion of the Maor Dlí, 'Prologue' 2015
Notable Figures
Main Page: The Expeditionary Force
Relevent pages
- Law Enforcement in Ásaterra