#pyresed

Overview

The Tagma is the military force residing within the city of Pyresed. Even though the Tagma was not officially founded as a military body until the year 231, it has a long and shady history within the city. Often regarded as “Pyresed’s best-kept secret”, the Tagma was once known to be an organized group of thugs and criminals. The details of their operation are sketchy at best, but rumors commonly associate the Tagma with a fighting arena called Pyrex, though no one knows or will admit to knowing the location of this arena. Members were said to kidnap people off the streets and force them to fight in this arena.

There is even more controversy as to how the Tagma became the army it is today. Some say that Tarn somehow took control of the Tagma and militarized them, while others will argue that he raised an army from the citizens of Pyresed to drive the Tagma out, taking their name for his army.

Recruitment

The process of recruitment into the Tagma occurs in a variety of ways. One of the most common methods is to best a member of the lower Tagma in combat. Killing the soldier is not a requirement, but is not uncommon, and in some cases regarded as a merit. Missionaries will also accept those willing to join the Tagma, directing them to Pyresed for formal recruitment.

A large source of recruits can be found among the homeless and orphaned in Pyresed, since both are considered unable to make something of themselves, and the Tagma provides food and pay to those who join.

When newborns are offered to the Kyanre at Pyryma, not all of them are eaten. Those who survive the culling- usually children who show an early aggressive or intelligent nature- are allowed to return to their families until they come of age, around 20 years old, and are recruited into the Tagma.

Training

Training begins once the new recruit reaches Pyrex. Each recruit is assigned to a Mentor based on their skills and preferred fighting style. Recruits are allowed to request training partners, something highly recommended by mentors, since it pairs them with someone of a roughly equal skill level and prevents new recruits from challenging more skilled soldiers. This keeps the recruit from suffering serious injury, or even death.

Recruits will spend several weeks under a mentor’s watch, before being assigned to a unit in their weapons category. Troublemakers and struggling individuals may be reassigned to their mentors at the discretion of the unit leader.

Lower Tagma

The Lower Tagma is broken down into 4 categories, one for each range of weapons styles employed by the Tagma: Close combat, which includes swords, axes, knives, clubs, hammers, staffs, maces, and flails; Polearms, which includes glaives, poleaxes, halberds, and pikes; Archers, who specialize in both compound and longbows, and Unarmed combatants. Each category is broken down into units as follows:

Close Combat: Close combat soldiers are grouped together in large units of roughly 77 soldiers. As of now there are currently eleven of these units.

Polearms: Soldiers trained in the use of polearms are grouped into units of 35 soldiers. There are currently 10 units.

Archers: Archers are grouped into small units of 10 soldiers. There are currently 35 archery units

Unarmed: Unarmed is the only category sporting a single unit. Currently there are 70 soldiers trained in unarmed Combat.

Upper Tagma

Soldiers who show a fair amount of competence and skill may be promoted to the Upper Tagma. Soldiers may be promoted through a recommendation from a mentor, and an invitation to compete in the Tagma’s monthly tournaments from the Nuet. If the soldier does well in the tournament, they will be assigned to one of three groups

Mentors- Mentors are members of the Upper Tagma responsible for training new recruits. There are Mentors for each division of the lower Tagma. Mentors report to a group of Chief Mentors, who report directly to the Nuet. The Chief Mentors are considered masters of their weapon category, and are occasionally called upon to train soldiers in specialty weapons.

Missionaries- The Missionaries are a small group of soldiers who travel across Olethyr, spreading the Tagma’s ideologies and collecting intelligence from the island’s other regions. Missionaries may settle down in cities outside of Pyresed, but are required to send periodical reports back to the Crypscaer, who then reports back to the Nuet. Since their main objective is to be the eyes and ears of the Tagma, Missionaries are not required to wear their uniforms when outside of Pyrex.

Note: Feledites and Felerchain are primary candidates for missionary work, due to their clever and less hostile natures, their ability to better blend in to local populations, and their speed as message runners. Occasionally though you will find full-blooded archain among the ranks of the Missionaries, including the current Crypscaer.

The Vanguard- The Vanguard is an elite group of soldiers who patrol the mountainous regions around Pyresed. Members are allowed to modify their uniforms to better suit the colder mountain weather, and will make a point to seek out and kill arcanids for fur to line their coats. Members of the Vanguard are grouped together in teams of 5. Each team has to report back to the Nuet once a month, where they are given new orders based on reports from the local Missionaries. Often times, these reports and orders are channeled through the Kinethym, the lead team, their captain, the Kinethyr, will report to the Nuet for the Vanguard as a whole, and then will distribute the accompanying orders accordingly.

Medics

The Infirmary and the Medics are a semi-autonomous branch within the Tagma. Recruiting into the Infirmary is often done by combat mentors- who deem those with little to no combat skill unfit for training- due to the fact that most Medics are often too busy treating soldiers to do their own recruiting. These recruits are often still required to train at least once a week, to give them some basic combat ability, but are no longer required to take on the duties of an average soldier. This is mostly due to the fact that, unlike the rest of the Tagma, the Infirmary does not fall under the direct command of the Nuet. The Infirmary falls under the command of its own lead, who is selected by experience and seniority, rather than rank.

Medics are usually trained based on their levels of intelligence and competency. More intelligent soldiers are usually taken on by senior and Upper Tagma Medics as apprentices. Soldiers who are less competent are usually assigned tasks as orderlies, but are treated with no less respect than any other Medic. Though rank is of little concern to them Medics, may be promoted to the Upper Tagma, and usually only those who act well under stress even attempt to seek this promotion, since the only requirement for promotion is a conversation with the Nuet. Having members of the Upper Tagma and choose to continue to serve in the Infirmary also gives it some credibility and respect from the rest of the Tagma.

There are also rumors that the Kyanre’s adviser also has a hand in the Infirmary, and that he could also possibly be its true Head, but there is little evidence to support this claim.

High Command

The Nuet- The Nuet is the highest ranking position within the Tagma itself. He is the Kyanre’s right hand, and carries out his will. The Nuet serves to command the army’s general body, as well as to direct the movements of the Upper Tagma’s different branches. The Nuet is also responsible for reporting any and all significant activity directly to the Kyanre.

Hayai- Also known as the Scientist, Hayai is the Kyanre’s closest adviser. Little is actually known about his position, though it is said that he also oversees the prisoners within Kyst and perhaps even the Infirmary.

The Kyanre- The Kyanre serves as both leader of the Tagma, and of the city of Pyresed. The Kyanre oversees the city’s affairs and gives general directives to the Nuet to be delegated to others within the Tagma. 

Note: The original name for this position was The Kelaenre, but was changed to Kyanre during Tarn’s formation of the Tagma as a military unit in 231. Other known variations of this title include Kymore, taken by Tarn’s illegitimate son, and Korethre, taken by a Crypscaer who later rose to higher power. All variations of the title command respect, but Kyanre is a title that rings synonymous with fear and respect.

Other high ranking members:

-The Crypscaer- Head of the Missionaries. Generally considered to rank just below the Nuet in terms of power. -The Head of the Infirmary- The member of the medics with the most skill and seniority, appointed internally regardless of rank. -The Kinethyr- Head of the Vanguard and leader of the Kinethym, or lead team.

Uniforms and Rank

All Tagma Soldiers are given the same standard uniform upon recruitment. This includes:

2 Gray Uniform coat

1 Belt

Pants are not provided, but it is required that they must be the same color as the coat or darker. Modifications are made to these uniforms depending on rank and position within the Tagma.

Ranks are designated by stripes on the left arm.

Lower Tagma- Basic uniform, no stripes Upper Tagma- One stripe Medics- Two Stripes High Command- Three Stripes (The exception of this rule is the current head of the infirmary, who wears the first and third stripe, as he is not a member of the Upper Tagma)

 Other branches are signified by changes in the uniform. The Vanguard is allowed to freely modify their uniforms, so long as it still bears some resemblance to the basic uniform, and the Missionaries aren’t required to wear a uniform at all. The Nuet also wears a black coat instead of the standard grey.

The Tournament

Religious Holidays

Each of the religious holidays reflects upon one of the Houses, the foundations of Taraxian religion (See "The Houses" for more information). These holidays last three days, and are celebrated throughout Olethyr.

Saceritu

Saceritu is the festival of the Celestial House that marks the beginning of Sura and the new year.

On the first day of Saceritu, a ritual is performed in the temple at Aeol, in which a large boar is sacrificed to the previous year's reigning god, and a special priest called a Sacerdori divines from the beast's entrails which of the gods is to reign over the new year. A group of riders then travel quickly across the land, spreading the news of the new reigning god.

The second day is filled with celebration, honoring the Celestial House and the new reigning god. People flock to the temples and give offerings to the gods.  In each city, a goat or smaller boar may be sacrificed to the new god as a symbol of welcome.

The third day of the festival is generally much quieter and is a day to be spent with family and  also marks the beginning of the growing season, and in many villages people come together to help plant the year's crops.

Temenritu

Temenritu is the festival of the Taraxian house, celebrated at the beginning of Aesta.

Temenritu has the least cohesive timeline of the three holidays, with each major region celebrating the holiday in their own way, as opposed to having days dedicated to the gods individually.

In Aeol, the highlight of the holiday is a series of trials. Any prisoner who has served in prison for three years is given a trial. The guilty are executed, and sometimes eaten, and the innocent are released from custody. This serves a double purpose of honoring Raed, and clearing room in Aeol's over-crowded prisons.

The people of the otherwise quiet region in and around Oreades celebrate the holiday with something a little more raucous- three days of wild drinking and partying. Orgies are not uncommon, especially among the Feledites. These parties are continuous throughout the entirety of the festival, with participants often going until they pass out from drunkenness or sheer exhaustion, and resuming activity as soon as they are once again coherent. Many see it as honoring Weald, who was known to be adept at making wine and spirits, and quite fond of revelry.

Pyresed, ever fond of tournaments, holds a mock tournament for the townspeople, an acknowledgement of Ell and his Valiant nature, and an open market where locals are encouraged to show off their best-crafted wares in honor of Weald's Skill.

Due to the nature of some festivities, children and elders typically celebrate in other ways. Common examples include the Elders telling children of the exploits of the Taraxian gods when they walked the land as mortals, of Ell's bravery and strength in battle, of Weald's cunning and his talent, and of Raed's fair judgement. Elders will also often teach older children the basics of their crafts. Goat races are also a popular amusement, especially among the younger children.

Lyttritu

Lyttritu is the festival of the Chthonic house, held at the beginning of Kelyph.

Lyttritu is overall divided into traditional and modern festivities. Traditional festivities are more solemn, and place their focus on warding off the bad fortune thought to be brought by the Chthonic gods and honoring those who have died.

Citizens who take the more traditional appproach to the holiday will place candles in the window sills and painting their doorframes with goat blood to ward off evil spirits and to keep ghosts from haunting the house for the next year. The second day is spent providing offerings and prayers to the gods and to ancestors. On the third day, citizens will craft small boats of paper fitted with a candle, and release them into the sea, so the ghosts and spirits of loved ones can find their way back to the afterlife. This practice is especially common in Oreades. Traditionalists in Aeol will place these boats in the river that runs through the city.

More modern practitioners tend to see the holiday as one for celebrating life through death. Modern festivities take on a lighter air, full of bright colors and light, They embrace the idea of change, and challenge the unknown, with braver celebrants even going to far to venture to the abandoned city of Tmesi, which is rumored to be haunted or cursed, and spending at least one night among the ruins. Offerings are still made to the gods and to ancestors, but with a more welcoming air, sometimes offerings are set up within the home, as if to invite good fortune and benevolent spirits to grace the household. These practices are especially common among the citizens of Pyresed, and the younger generations in Aeol.

Both traditional and modern practitioners will hold vigils in honor of Naht and remembrance of the lost Equitar race, usually on the evening of the second day. Especially in the larger regions, this is accompanied by the burning of Equitar effigies laid upon a pyre.

Harvest

Nepenth

Nepenth, held during the entire fourth week (roughly from the 18th to the 23rd) of Paryph, is a festival of the harvest.

The first two days of Nepenth are dedicated to harvesting and preserving the year's crops, with the very best portion set aside for offering to the gods. These offerings are gathered into a huge pyre, and lit on the morning of the third day, beginning the real celebration of Nepenth. This fire is kept burning throughout the remainder of the festival.

From the third day on, the cities become giant markets, where townspeople trade their harvested goods. Parents will give their children small bundles of whatever the family produced for the year, to trade in the market for sweets. However, not all shopkeepers will accept what a child is carrying, teaching children to trade with each other as well as adults. Many families will celebrate with a large meal, occasionally combining their efforts with friends and neighboring families for a massive feast

Especially in larger cities like Aeol, it's very common for children and adults alike to dress up in bright costumes for the celebrations. Troupes of dancers and acrobats in costumes depicting the gods and sometimes mythical creatures will parade through the cities, acting out scenes from popular stories in exchange for small offerings of money or food.

At the end of the festival, the pyres are allowed to die out, and the ash is collected and distributed among the townspeople, to fertilize their fields during the next planting season

A Bloody Mess

Pyryma

Pyryma is a relatively new holiday celebrated during the 27th of Aesta in Pyresed. It was created in the year 243 by Datura, who served as the Nuet at that time, to honor the Kyanre and attempt to further ingrain the Tagma doctrine into the people of Pyresed.

Pyryma "festivities" include a tournament, normally held solely within the Upper Tagma, open to all members of the Tagma and held for public viewing. They are seen as a promotional opportunity within the Tagma, and are also used to weed out weak and useless members. It was during the tournament in 264 that Datura was challenged and killed by Strych, who became his successor.

Another practice is for parents to bring their newborn children to Pyrex as a sacrifice to the Kyanre. The children are then handed off to the Tagma, and the majority of them are eaten. Those who seem to be the most aggressive, or those who appear to have intelligent tendencies are spared, and sent home to relieved parents, with guaranteed recruitment into the Tagma when they come of age. The wealthier citizens may opt out of this "sacrifice" only if they pay a percentage of their year's income.