Military Forces of Thyatis

In ancient times the early Thyatians relied on masses of levy infantry, the Legions, who proved very effective against marauding orc and barbarian hordes, but all too vulnerable to Alphatian magics of air and storm. This was already changing by 959 AC, with increased use of heavy cavalry knights alongside light cavalry and archers.

The annihilation of Emperor Gabrionus V's army and navy and the fall of Thyatis City in the brutal 959-960 AC Alphatian Spike Assault - along with the murder of Gabrionus and almost the entire Imperial Family -  put the final nail in the coffin of the old Thyatian military system, with its masses of unwieldy Cohorts. The adoption of the Fireball spell by the master-mages of the Alphatian military had been long in coming, for Flame was the device of their ancient homeworld rivals, but its widespread use had proved devastating - hundreds of Thyatian ships, and tens of thousands of infantrymen, had perished without ever coming to grips with their enemy.

Following the liberation of Thyatis from the Alphatian invaders led by the gladiator Thincol of Oceansend, the new Emperor Thincol I Torion set about rebuilding Thyatis' shattered forces along modern lines. Nowadays the mounted Knights of the Legion Cavalry and the Feudal Domains are the core of Thyatis' fighting forces, supplemented by light cavalry scouts, foot archers, and a small force of infantry, such as the feared Pike regiments of Hattias.

Today a typical Knight of the Legion Cavalry, such as the all-female Wings of Vanya regiment, is a Fighter of 3rd level equipped with platemail, shield, sword, lance, silver dagger, and shortbow. Legion Knights are typically issued with 5 silver arrows, one or more enchanted +1 arrows for use against mages employing Protection from Missiles magics, and three bags of flour for use against Invisible foes.
Knights of the Noble Levies tend to be similar, usually 2nd-3rd level, with some areas omitting use of the 'unmanly' bow.