TEXT: Gran March Military Elite Organization Version 4.0 
  Protectors of the Commandant, of the country, and of the region 
   
  Part II of a Gran March Meta-campaign Organization written by the Gran March Triad  
   
  Organization Alignment(s)  
   
  Mountaineers: Any non-evil (chaotic types not 
  welcome, but not prohibited) 
  Couriers: Any non-evil 
  Giant Slayers: 
  Pathfinders: 
  PC Organization: 
  Yes 
  Point of Contact: 
  Mountaineers:  
  Couriers: 
  Giant Slayers: 
  Pathfinders: 
   
   
   
  Mountaineers ............................................................................................................................... 2 
  Couriers........................................................................................................................................ 6 
  31st Provisional Battle (Giant Slayers) ......................................................................................... 9 
  Pathfinders................................................................................................................................. 12 
  
  Military Elite Organization 4.0 
   
  2 
   
  Mountaineers 
  Patrolling the Lortmils and protecting the people of Gran March 
   
  Originally written by Taylor Davenport and the Gran March Triad 
   
  Grumnar has commanded us to serve you despite your lack of respect for our 
  traditions. By my axe and the axe of my fathers, I pledge myself and my men to 
  serve in your army. We will show you what it means to fight in the dwarven 
  tradition of our forebears. We will treat your enemies as our enemies and 
  destroy them as we destroyed the humanoid invaders during the time of my 
  father.  
  Furthar the Valiant, first commanding officer of the Mountaineers 
   
  As part of Gran March’s commitment to excellent war fighting practices, Gran March has 
  developed several elite units. One such elite unit is the Mountaineers, which serves to protect the 
  northeastern border of Gran March and communities in the Lortmils and the Lorridges. This 
  document covers the Mountaineers organization by describing its service requirements and 
  benefits.  
   
  Organization 
   
  Ranks within the Mountaineers parallel the standard Gran March Army rank progression. The 
  Apexmaster of Ander’s Falls outranks the other Apexmasters, and is the commander of the unit. 
  The alternate Mountaineer progression is given on the table below: 
   
  Number 
  Enlisted 
  Alternate 
  Designation 
  Equivalent 
  Military rank 
  6 
  Apexmaster 
  Captain 
  18 
  Apexclimber 
  Lieutenant 
  36 
  Senior Mountclimber 
  Mountclimber 
  Senior Staff Sergeant 
  Staff Sergeant 
  240 
  Senior Hillclimber 
  Hillclimber 
  Sergeant 
  Combat Specialist 
   
  While the Gran March Style is appropriate for the battlefields of the plains of the Sheldomar 
  Valley, it is not well suited for the valleys and peaks of the Lortmils. The Mountaineers operate in 
  small units that rely more on teamwork and skill rather than the crushing might of the Gran March 
  Style.  This teamwork is learned during the initial training and refined facing the natural hazards of 
  the Lortmils. 
   
  During training, the Mountaineers more than any other unit, rely on punishing the group for the 
  failures of the individual. To overcome this, the training units inevitably have to work closely 
  together to make it through the process. As a result, those individuals that do not wash out during 
  training have a very strong sense of camaraderie and trust in one another that their companions 
  will not fail them. This translates into a very efficient fighting style in which members capitalize on 
  each other’s strengths. 
   
  In addition to the training to develop teamwork, the training of the Mountaineers further develops 
  the martial abilities of the Mountaineers as well as teaching them the ins and outs of the peaks 
  and valleys of the Lortmils. This intimate familiarity with their prospective battlegrounds translates 
  into increased efficiencies in patrols and combat. 
  
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  Philosophy and Credo 
   
  The Mountaineers have one unwritten rule. The only acceptable humanoids are dead, in chains, 
  or serve in the Gran March army. This translates into a philosophy that has very little tolerance for 
  humanoid intruders into what they consider their territory – namely the Lortmils. 
   
  Beyond their general hatred for humanoids, the Mountaineers are concerned with protecting the 
  inhabitants of the Lortmils and Lorridges from harm.  They are cognizant that they are essentially 
  the first line of defense and cannot expect ready aid from other units that have prior 
  commitments.  This has led them to have a strong sense of self-reliance (as a unit). 
   
  Day-to-Day activities 
   
  The Mountaineers’ primary responsibility is to help the 6th Battle patrol the Lortmils and deal with 
  any threats to the communities therein.   As a result of the Hateful Wars, this duty was relatively 
  peaceful, allowing the Mountaineers time to explore many of the more remote valleys and dales 
  within the Lortmils.   However, after the rise of Turrosh Mak and the challenge he presented to 
  the Principality of Ulek, the Mountaineers had to turn their attention to repelling invaders from the 
  Pomarj. 
   
  As rumors of the Master and his army of humanoids trickled out from Turamil and further proof of 
  the Master’s forces was discovered in Fort Tavisham, coupled with the need to support the Army 
  of Retribution, there has been an increased need for the Mountaineers to step up their activity 
  and increase their patrols to help rid Gran March of his insidious evil. This increased activity led to 
  the discovery of the ancient city of Seneshta and another batch of vampires living in the sewers 
  thereof. As a result, the Mountaineers are now more cognizant of an undead threat while still 
  performing their task of humanoid interdiction. 
   
  Important Dates, Holidays & Ceremonies 
   
  The Mountaineers celebrate the evening before Mustering Day with a dwarven feast. For them, 
  this is a celebration of those Mountaineers who have completed their service and who are 
  heading home. It is also a time for dwarven bards to recount the achievements of the unit for the 
  past year in various forms of expression. Finally, it is also an excuse for dwarves and their friends 
  to drink and make merry to show that they have survived the orcs for another year. 
   
  The Mountaineers are also very cognizant of the dwarven religious holidays, and particularly 
  those dedicated to Clangeddin. Other notable dates include: Reaping 22, which marked the end 
  of active operations in Gran March in the Hateful Wars; Coldeven 7, which marked the death of 
  Furthar; and Patchwall 4, which marked the slaughter of three thousand orcs and goblins in 
  Hettarik Canyon through the use of a well timed induced avalanche and subsequent mop up by 
  the predecessor troops of the Mountaineers. 
   
  Headquarters/ Major power centers 
   
  The headquarters of the Mountaineers is in Ander’s Falls, the Cragmor Baronial seat.  The 
  headquarters consists of four buildings.  The largest building is an extensive barracks that is 
  capable of housing all of the currently active Mountaineers.  However, only about one-third of the 
  barracks is in use at any given time.  The second largest building is a stable for military mounts.  
  The third building is the administrative headquarters, which houses the administrative offices of 
  the Mountaineers and further has a chapel to the dwarven pantheon.  A second, smaller, non-
  denominational chapel in which other faiths are permitted to hold services is also located in the 
  administrative headquarters.  The final building is a smithy that is staffed with a complement of 
  master dwarven smiths, supplemented with a few dwarven wizards and clerics to furnish the 
  Mountaineers with the best possible equipment. 
   
  
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  History 
   
  The genocidal war that led to the human-dwarf alliance of 120 CY also gave rise to a small band 
  of dwarves that always seemed to be in the thickest fighting. Losses from this band were typically 
  very high, but veterans displayed uncanny abilities to fight together, sense impending conflict, 
  and be at the right place at the right time to defend the dwarves of the Lortmils from the 
  humanoids. 
   
  This band of dwarves drew from all sectors of society. Fighters and warriors formed the backbone 
  of the band, but arcane spellcasters provided artillery support, battlepriests helped keep the band 
  in fighting trim, dwarven bards relayed signals between units, and inspired dwarves everywhere 
  with tales of bravery, and scouts ranged ahead, gathering information about the enemy. The 
  battlepriests were heavily laden with priests of Clangeddin, although a few of Moradin's priests 
  were also present. When their new human allies encountered this unit, they were amazed at the 
  abilities of these dwarves. A few hardy souls apprenticed themselves to these dwarves and 
  began to learn their ways. 
   
  The end of that war saw these veterans, both dwarf and human, find the peace of the strongholds 
  too confining. Having dedicated themselves to war, they continued the lifestyle, rejecting the 
  comforts of the stronghold. Numbers dwindled over the years, but surged again during the Hateful 
  Wars circa 480 CY. During this upsurge, elves and gnomes were also allowed to train with these 
  hardcore battle dwarves. In turn, these races offered their own battle techniques to the dwarves. 
   
  After Grunmer's showdown with the Commandant, the Gran March military command was told to 
  integrate this dwarven battle force into the Gran March military structure. Thus, Gran March 
  commissioned the Mountaineers and accepted Grunmer's selection of the first 180 dwarves to 
  the post. These 180 dwarves nominated 25 gnomes, ten elves, five halflings, and nine humans 
  thought to be acceptable to the new unit. 
   
  As part of the compromise of Grunmer, 20 Pathfinders were assigned to the dwarven 
  commanders of the Mountaineers as "advisors" with an eye towards integrating this unit into the 
  Gran March fighting style. While not in this first wave of advisors, Wayfinder Hruck Snagtooth 
  became the first half-orc involved in the Mountaineers. A seasoned, axe-wielding cleric of 
  Heironeous, his honor and ferocity earned him the grudging respect of the dwarven commanders. 
  Based on his personal recommendations, Grund Rocksmasher, Frang Goblincleaver, and Tark 
  So'Tark became the first full members of the Mountaineers with orcish ancestry.  
   
  Circa 540 CY, the Pathfinder advisors were dismissed and a concentrated effort was made to 
  bring the numbers of the Mountaineers up to 300. These were primarily dwarves, but the 
  numbers of non-dwarves also necessarily increased. At this point, humanoids of all the PC races 
  are accepted within the ranks of the Mountaineers, although those with orcish ancestry undergo 
  more hazing and abuse than the average recruit. 
   
  Furthar the Valiant was the first formal Commander of the Mountaineers and served from 510 to 
  590 when he and thirty other Mountaineers decided to take the fight to Turrosh Mak in the 
  Pomarj/Principality of Ulek. Unfortunately, skills mastered in the hills and mountains of the 
  Lortmils proved no match for the prolific Pomarj natives and Furthar's force was cut down, albeit 
  after wading through hundreds of their foes. This was a heavy blow to the Mountaineers.  Since 
  that disaster, the Commandant has forbidden the Mountaineers from fighting outside Gran March 
  as a unit without express orders. Recently, however, individual Mountaineers can be seen in the 
  Yeomanry studying methods of giant fighting for use in the greater battle against the giants of 
  Geoff. 
   
  
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  Allies 
   
  As part of the Gran March army, the Mountaineers enjoy the support of the rest of the Gran 
  March army and can be counted on to support the Gran March army where requested as a 
  natural function of the chain of command. 
   
  Because of their history and the high percentage of dwarven members, the Mountaineers enjoy 
  the support of the dwarven populace of the Lortmils.   
   
  The resurgence of the humanoid threat and the threat of the Master’s undead has caused the 
  Mountaineer patrols to be extended into the predominantly gnomish Lorridges.  The gnomes 
  have, by and large, welcomed the new patrols as evidence of the Commandant’s desire to protect 
  his citizens. 
   
  Rivals 
   
  There is some friendly rivalry between the Mountaineers and certain elite units in the Principality 
  of Ulek.   Likewise, the Mountaineers and the Pathfinders engage in some friendly banter and 
  jibes about who is the more efficacious in their duties.   While this may occasionally rise to the 
  level of a bar fight, no lasting injuries have ever been sustained. 
   
  There is some less friendly rivalry with the peoples of the Kron Hills as the border between Gran 
  March and these peoples has never been formally defined to each side’s satisfaction. 
   
  Foes 
   
  The elves of Celene are seen to have betrayed the treaties forged during the Hateful Wars by 
  their isolation and failure to help the Principality of Ulek against the Pomarj, and thus the 
  Mountaineers consider them foes; what the elves think is known only to the elves within that 
  isolationist nation. 
   
  Recent events have disclosed the presence of a powerful undead creature known only as the 
  Master.  He is reputed to have many humanoids in his service, and their presence is most 
  unwelcome in the Lortmils.  This has led to several armed confrontations and ill feelings between 
  the two groups. 
   
  While the ties of kinship are perhaps remote in some cases, the Gran March dwarves, and as a 
  result, the Mountaineers, feel some loyalty to the dwarves of the Principality of Ulek who are 
  sorely pressed by the humanoids and giants in the service of Turrosh Mak.  Recent events 
  indicate that Mak may be pushing some tribes into the Gran March portion of the Lortmils as well, 
  breeding further hatred for this orc general.   
   
   
  Heraldry/ Symbol 
   
  The Mountaineers’ flag is a black field with a white circle in the middle.   A mountain looking 
  vaguely like a tooth is profiled within the white circle.   This mountain is the Tooth of Time that sits 
  on the ridge above Ander’s Falls.   Those individuals that use a shield typically have this symbol 
  emblazoned thereon.   Other individuals emblazon this symbol on their breastplates or other 
  armor. 
   
  
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  Couriers 
  Provide the Army with all its messaging needs 
   
  Originally written by George Harris, Ed Podsiad, and the Gran March Triad 
   
  Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing 
  to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. 
   - Original Advertisement for Gran March Couriers, CY 439. 
   
  Get the orders to the front lines.  Report the results of a battle.  Present a message to foreign 
  nobility.  Survive on the road. Avoid the enemy.  Choose the most direct route.  Find a way to 
  anywhere, anyplace, anytime. All these qualities and more are required of the Gran March 
  Couriers. 
   
  The Gran March Army created an elite unit to provide just these capabilities.  In the drive to 
  create the finest military force on all of Oerth, the command implemented a corps of Couriers to 
  provide the Army with all its messaging needs.  
   
  A Courier must be able to adapt to any situation, to be ready with a contingency plan, and to 
  remain capable under the most stressful situations. Harsh elements, fatigue, wounds, hazardous 
  terrain, or impossible odds are but minor nuisances to the best Couriers. 
   
  Organization 
   
  Ranks within the Couriers parallel the standard Gran March Army rank progression.  There is one 
  Diplomatic Unit, and four regular units.  The Diplomatic Unit is based in Hookhill.  The other units 
  are based in Buxton’s Crossing.  The Special Ambassador of the Diplomatic Couriers of Hookhill 
  outranks the Ridemasters, and is the commander of the unit.  The alternate Courier progression 
  is given on the table below: 
   
  Number 
  Enlisted 
  Alternate 
  Designation 
  Diplomatic 
  Designation 
  Equivalent 
  Military rank 
  5 
  Ridemaster Special 
  Ambassador 
  Captain 
  15 
  Ridefinder 
  Special Envoy 
  Lieutenant 
  30 
  Senior 
  Marchrider 
   
  Marchrider 
  Senior Diplomatic 
  Envoy 
   
  Diplomatic Envoy
  Senior Staff 
  Sgt. 
   
  Staff Sgt. 
  100 
  Senior 
  Courier 
   
  Courier 
  Senior Diplomatic 
  Courier 
   
  Diplomatic 
  Courier 
  Sergeant 
   
   
  Corporal 
   
  Philosophy and Credo 
   
  The Couriers serve several important functions, and are found wherever Gran March has an 
  interest.  Their primary duties are as follows:   
   
  • 
  To carry military orders from Hookhill to military commanders in the field, and then to 
  report back the results of those orders. As Couriers are not a part of a Battle’s command 
  structure, they cannot carry orders from unit commanders to troops under their command 
  out in the field. 
  
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  • 
  To carry important diplomatic packets from the Commandant to the leaders and nobility 
  of other countries, and to return with the response to those diplomatic packets.   
   
  • 
  To carry important documents between Hookhill and the various Gran March Electors.   
   
  • 
  To spread important news to all corners of the realm in less than a week.   
   
  Day to Day Activities 
   
  The day-to-day activities of the Gran March Couriers mainly consist of delivering important 
  messages from one end of the Gran March to the other.  You can normally find at least one 
  courier with each battle or at a nearby Rider Relay station.   
   
  Stations: 
   
  Rider Relay: 
  o 
  New riders take over every 75 to 100 miles.  
  Horse Relay: 
  o 
  Riders get a fresh horse every 10 to 15 miles.  
  Speed: 
  o 
  Horses travel an average of 10 miles per hour.  
  Horses: 
  o 
  600 horses stock the Gran March Courier route. Light Warhorses are the most 
  popular horses for the route. 
   
   
  Important Dates, Holidays & Ceremonies 
   
  The first day of Richfest is Mustering Day. This is an important day for many aspirants as this is 
  when many new Couriers are given their assignments as more experienced Couriers retire from 
  the military.  Couriers can be appointed at any time to fill the ranks, most assignments occur at 
  this time.  Flocktime 18 is also an important time for many Courier Aspirants.  On this day, 
  training and testing begins for those individuals hoping to enter the ranks of the Couriers. 
   
  Headquarters / Major power centers 
   
  The Diplomatic Unit is assigned to the Commandant on a permanent basis in Hookhill. Each 
  additional Ridemaster provides oversight on a regional or operational basis.  One always serves 
  at the Courier’s headquarters in Buxton’s Crossing (and is also responsible for the training 
  center), while the other three are assigned at need.  Currently, one is with the Army of Retribution 
  at Hochoch, one is responsible for internal operations, and one is assigned to extraterritorial 
  operations. Each has 3 Ridefinders, 6 Marchriders, and 20 Couriers under his command. 
   
  There are 12 Rider stations (approximately one in each of the Baronies and Marches), and an 
  additional 48 horse switching stations.  The horse switching stations are run by the Herdmaster’s 
  Guild. 
   
  The Courier Trail normally stays within the bounds of the Gran March.  The longest trail within the 
  Gran March is the approximately 300 miles from Hookhill to Hochoch.  Diplomatic Couriers are 
  frequently seen in Geoff, Bissel, and Keoland; but can be found at any country’s capital, 
  especially those friendly countries in the Sheldomar Valley.  The most frequent trail outside of the 
  Gran March is the approximately 450 miles from Hookhill to Niole Dra, of which over 200 miles is 
  in Keoland. 
   
  
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  History 
   
  After Commandant Berlikyn was slain in the Small War, his elected replacement was faced with 
  the task of not only reassuring the Electors that he would not repeat Berlikyn's practices, but of 
  evolving Gran March military strategy to compensate for weaknesses brought to the fore in the 
  recent war.  One of these weaknesses was that the Gran March could not reliably send 
  information from one military location to another.  The military caravans took twelve days to cross 
  from Hookhill to Hochoch and even longer to Niole Dra.  But twelve days to a military commander 
  seemed an eternity, and something had to be done.   
   
  Commandant Trelyn ordered the formation of the Couriers, an elite group consisting mostly of 
  highly decorated soldiers.  These soldiers first and foremost had to be the best riders in the 
  military.  Secondly, they had to be able to find the fastest route from one location to another.  
  Thirdly, they had to know proper etiquette when delivering messages to high ranking military 
  officers or foreign nobility. 
   
  Allies 
   
  As part of the Gran March Military, the Couriers are strong allies with their brothers in arms.  All 
  Gran March soldiers immediately recognize Couriers and know the important function they serve.  
  The Couriers also enjoy the respect of the Knights of the Watch and the Knights of Dispatch, for 
  the same reasons. 
   
  Rivals 
   
   The Couriers have no real rivals within the borders of Gran March.  Their job is an important one 
  and extremely arduous, for this they earn much respect from all branches of the military.  Outside 
  of the March as well, very few organizations begrudge the Couriers their duties. 
   
  Foes 
   
  The enemies of Gran March are the enemies of the Couriers. 
   
  Heraldry/ Symbol 
   
  Couriers' insignia is a galloping horse on a Gran March Shield. The horse’s color/metal denotes 
  the rank within the organization: a brown horse for Couriers, a black horse for Marchriders with a 
  red saddle on the horse denoting Senior status in both ranks. Ridefinders have a silver horse, 
  and Ridemasters have a golden horse.
   
  
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  31st Provisional Battle (Giant Slayers) 
  The elite forces devising the defeat of the Giant menace 
   
  Originally written by Michael D. Moore and the Gran March Triad 
   
  Trying to use cavalry to herd giants into arrow fire only gets your horse killed. 
  Strike them from a distance, hidden and behind cover. They can’t hit you if they 
  can’t see you. Coordinate concentrated fire, stay in motion on the battlefield, 
  stay out of their reach, and stay in contact with your comrades in arms. 
  Sergeant Amalyn Goodheart, Gran March Scout 
   
  The combat doctrine of the Gran March military evolves with each foe they face. For years, the 
  methodology of the Gran March military has centered around cavalrymen leading mounted 
  assaults with the intent of softening up enemy forces and herding them into open territory, where 
  archers pick off units with near impunity. This doctrine has only been a formula for disaster 
  against larger foes, such as giants, who can bat down Gran March horses before charging 
  cavalrymen can make contact with their lances. Knight Field Marshal Alicia Helanasdotter of the 
  Gran March Army of Retribution in Geoff developed a new methodology of dealing with the giants 
  and determined that, ultimately, a new unit would need to be developed to support this 
  methodology, an elite force of guerrilla fighters and trainers who would develop a coordinated 
  effort and tactical doctrine for bringing down large foes from a distance using stealth, guile, and 
  combat multipliers to minimize force casualties while maximizing the amount of damage against 
  the enemy. 
   
  This document covers the purpose, organization, and fighting doctrine of the 31st Provisional 
  Battle (Giant Slayers), the first military unit formed specifically for doing battle against giants. 
   
  Organization 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle (Giant Slayers) follows the organizational structure of a standard Gran 
  March Battle, except that the Pikeline has been replaced with a second quiver. Transfer into the 
  31st Provisional Battle requires certain standards to be met (see Requirements). After a soldier 
  comes into the 31st Provisional Battle, he must then undergo wilderness survival and tactical 
  training in a grueling one-month long course. At the end of this course, the soldier candidate 
  earns the right to wear the Giant Slayers emblem as part of his military uniform standard, 
  denoting that he has completed elite forces training. Even after the soldier has left the 31st 
  Provisional Battle, this emblem will remain authorized to denote his or her time in the elite forces 
  and his or her qualification to give advice on tactics for fighting giants. 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle is commanded by Knight Colonel Oleg Malathorn (newly promoted out 
  of the Army of Retribution), with a staff consisting of a captain, 2 lieutenants, a senior staff 
  sergeant, and a staff sergeant. There are a transport platoon, a spell caster support platoon, two 
  quivers, and two prides. The spell caster support Platoon is responsible for prepping the 
  battlefield with mass damage spells, providing morale to encourage soldiers into battle (bards), 
  and providing healing for soldiers injured on the battlefield. The quivers, rather than lining up and 
  arching arrow fire against the enemy, practices coordinated movement to cover and firing against 
  the foe in such a manner that half the element is firing at the enemy while the other half the 
  element is moving to cover. When the moving element arrives at a feasible firing position behind 
  cover, the firing element advances to its next position while the other element provides 
  suppressive fire. Cavalry Prides then charge against the enemy with swift movement through the 
  enemy lines to break their cohesiveness and make future offensives easier to launch against split 
  units. To fight against giants, mounted combatants never remain near the enemy for longer than it 
  takes to make a pass with a lance. Staying in direct contact with a giant is fatal for combatant and 
  mount alike.  
  
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  Philosophy and Credo 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle (Giant Slayers) was formed to address a developing battlefield 
  doctrine of guile, concentrated missile fire, constant movement, and efficient communication on 
  the battlefield. This doctrine is the safest and most effective way to bring down a larger foe. 
  Knight Field Marshal Alicia Helanasdotter noted while fighting in Geoff that, while cavalry can 
  whittle down giant forces by effective charges, the casualties suffered are too great. 
  Helanasdotter then petitioned the Commandant to form a Battle to support a new methodology to 
  bring the giant menace down while reducing the casualty rate in combat. As a result, she and 
  those of the Army of Retribution’s Headquarters unit developed the doctrine of strategic guile and 
  the development of a force in constant motion. The central motto of this new force is “Shoot with 
  deadly accuracy, move like lightning, and communicate the next move.” In short, “Shoot, move, 
  communicate.”  
   
  Day to Day Activities 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle has a two-pronged mission focused on the defeat of the giants in 
  Geoff, though they are not necessarily part of the Army of Retribution in Geoff. The first prong of 
  this mission is to devise methods of defeating giant units with a minimum of casualties suffered 
  by the army. This means developing training scenarios to test plans and methods developed by 
  the strategic think-tank of the 31st Provisional Battle. The second prong is to send trainers to all of 
  the units in the Gran March military organization as advisors and tactical instructors in the 
  methodologies developed by the headquarters element of the 31st Provisional Battle. The 31st 
  Provisional Battle is not a conventional unit in the sense that all members fight together. They are 
  a coherent unit in that all members work together to devise methods of defeating giants with a 
  minimal casualty rate and then send contingents to inform sister units of the tactics devised by 
  the 31st Provisional Battle. 
   
  Important Dates, Holidays & Ceremonies 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle observes the same important dates, holidays, and ceremonies as the 
  Gran March military. Since the 31st Provisional Battle is an organization that is literally under 
  development, it has not yet developed its own traditions, though graduation from the Giant 
  Slayers course (GSC in military anachronism terminology) will probably come to be seen as a 
  special enough moment in a Gran March soldier’s life as to warrant the development of special 
  traditions with particular meaning for all those who participate. 
   
  Headquarters / Major power centers 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle will be headquartered at Orlane, with a fort in the process of being built 
  nearby and access to large tracts of land suitable for conducting battle drills and training 
  exercises. 
   
  History 
   
  Currently, the 31st Giant Slayers has no extensive history. In recent months, Knight Field Marshal 
  Alicia Helenasdotter submitted a proposal to the Commandant to create the 31st Provisional 
  Battle to develop a doctrine for fighting giants that would not result in such high rates of 
  casualties. The Commandant approved the proposal and called a war council to discuss what 
  doctrines should be the starting point for fighting the giants, who will lead the 31st Provisional 
  Battle, and what volunteers will be taken to man the unit.  
   
  Allies 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle is part of the Gran March army, and so the unit enjoys the support of 
  the rest of the Gran March army and can be counted on to provide advice and support wherever 
  
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  the Gran March army is conducting operations against giants and their kin. In fact, 31st 
  Provisional Battle operatives are intended to be dispatched to units throughout the Sheldomar 
  Valley to train the rest of the army in the methodology under development. 
   
  Rivals 
   
  Many old soldiers have become so entrenched in the battle doctrine of the Gran March style that 
  the concept of a new methodology that contradicts theirs is offensive to them. Such old soldiers 
  are likely to see 31st Provisional Battle operatives as a threat to their command structure, as 
  upstarts come to tell them how to conduct warfare. To an extent, that is exactly what the 31st 
  Provisional Battle is intended to be, though operatives serve as advisors and trainers attempting 
  to transition the battle doctrine for use against the giant menace. These old soldiers view the 31st 
  Provisional Battle with suspicion, and when they outrank an operative, it is very likely that they will 
  maneuver to keep 31st Provisional Battle operatives out of their business as much as possible 
  without making it too obvious that they are not welcome. At best, they provide begrudging 
  cooperation while trainers from the 31st Provisional Battle do their best to prepare units for the 
  next encounter with the giants. 
   
  Foes 
   
  The 31st Provisional Battle was formed to destroy giants, who have received only minimal 
  intelligence that such a unit is under formation. Enough of a reputation has not been established 
  between giants and the newly formed unit to formulate a history of hostility. The unit itself is 
  nothing more than an attempt at solving a problem that has been nagging at the high command of 
  both Gran March and Geoff. Enemies are yet to be made. 
   
  Heraldry/ Symbol 
   
  Members of the 31st Provisional Battle wear a patch on the left shoulder or shoulder pad of their 
  uniform shaped like a shield. Its field is green with the symbol of a bow firing an arrow shaped like 
  a lightning bolt toward the upper right-hand side. 
  
  Military Elite Organization 4.0 
   
  12 
   
  Pathfinders 
  The Pathfinders provide the Gran March Military with all of its expeditionary needs.   
   
  Originally written by George Harris, Mike Sell, Michael Eshleman, Nick Perch and the Gran March 
  Triad 
   
  Organization Alignment(s)   
   
  Any non-evil 
  PC Organization: 
  Yes 
   
  Lead a quick, safe retreat. Find a way to infiltrate a camp. Hide the passage of 
  troops. Survive in the wilderness. Choose the most direct route. Find a way out 
  of anywhere, anyplace, anytime. Track an enemy. Find a lost person. All these 
  and more are required of the Gran March Army. 
   - Commandant Trelyn, CY 439. 
   
  The Gran March Army created an elite unit to provide just these capabilities. In the drive to create 
  the finest military force on all of Oerth, the command implemented a corps of Pathfinders to 
  provide the Army with all its expeditionary needs. Whether invading a neighboring country, 
  escorting VIPs, or harassing invading forces, the Pathfinder gets the job done. 
   
  A Pathfinder must be able to adapt to any situation. Any member should be always ready with a 
  contingency plan and always capable under the most stressful situations. Harsh elements, 
  fatigue, wounds, hazardous terrain, or impossible odds are but minor nuisances to the best 
  Pathfinders. 
   
  Organization 
   
  Ranks within the Pathfinders parallel the standard Gran March Army rank progression. The 
  Waymaster of Shiboleth is outranks the other Waymasters, and is the commander of the unit. The 
  alternate Pathfinder progression is given on the table below: 
   
  Number 
  Enlisted 
  Alternate 
  Designation 
  Equivalent 
  Military rank 
  5 
  Waymaster 
  Captain 
  15 
  Wayfinder 
  Lieutenant 
  30 
  Senior Marchwalker 
  Marchwalker 
  Senior Staff Sergeant 
  Staff Sergeant 
  180 
  Senior Trailblazer 
  Trailblazer 
  Sergeant 
  Combat Specialist 
   
  One Waymaster, three Wayfinders, six Marchwalkers, and 30 Trailblazers are assigned to the 
  Commandant on a permanent basis, in keeping with the longstanding tradition of having 40 
  Pathfinders under the Commandant’s banner. Each additional Waymaster provides oversight on 
  a regional or operational basis. One always serves in Shiboleth (and is also responsible for the 
  training center), while the other three are assigned at need. Currently, one is with the Army of 
  Retribution, one is responsible for internal and border patrol, and one is assigned to 
  extraterritorial operations. Each has three Wayfinders, six Marchwalkers, and 30 Trailblazers 
  under his command. 
   
  
  Military Elite Organization 4.0 
   
  13 
   
  Philosophy and Credo 
   
  The Pathfinders serve several important functions and are found wherever Gran March has 
  interests. Their primary duties are as follows: 
   
  • 
  Tactical Intelligence Gathering - determining the location, disposition, and intent of enemy 
  formations. 
   
  • 
  Counter-Unit Operations - operating behind enemy lines to collapse bridges, interview 
  locals in a clandestine and surreptitious manner, raising and training partisans, and 
  generally disrupting the enemy’s ability to make war. 
   
  • 
  Training - making sure that units of the Gran March Army scouts units are trained on the 
  latest methods of waging war against the enemy. 
   
   
  Day to Day activities 
   
  Pathfinders spend most of their time out in the field.  They travel in small groups or alone.  
  Occasionally, a Pathfinder will lead a group of scouts into the wilderness for training and other 
  special missions.  Occasionally, a Pathfinder might be outside the bounds of Gran March and her 
  allies.  If they are on a mission at this time, the Gran March would disavow all activities of the 
  individual if caught.   
   
  Important Dates, Holidays & Ceremonies 
   
  The first day of Richfest is Mustering Day. This is an important day for many aspirants as this is 
  when many new Pathfinders are given their assignments as more experienced Pathfinders retire 
  from the military.  Pathfinders can be appointed at any time to fill the ranks, most most 
  assignments occur at this time.  Flocktime 18 is also an important time for many Pathfinder 
  Aspirants.  On this day, training and testing begins for those individuals hoping to enter the ranks 
  of the Pathfinders.    
   
  Headquarters/ Major power centers 
   
  Shiboleth is the main headquarters for the Pathfinders.  This is to prevent the appearance that all 
  of the Pathfinders are under the direct control of the Commandant.  There is also a major 
  presence of Pathfinder in Barony Malthinius.  Due to the conflicts with the giants and other 
  humanoids in Geoff, there are many Pathfinders stationed near Hochoch, Orlane, and the Dim 
  Forest.   
   
  History 
   
  After commandant Berlikyn was slain in the Small War, his elected replacement was faced with 
  the task of not only reassuring the Electors that he would not repeat Berlikyn's practices, but of 
  evolving Gran March military strategy to compensate for weaknesses brought to the fore in the 
  recent war. One of these weaknesses was that the Gran March Army's scouts had become 
  complacent in their training since the early days when the Gran March was first being settled, and 
  from whence the scouts had truly earned their reputation for finding paths, uncovering 
  information, and infiltrating enemy lines. 
   
  Felling two goblins with one stroke, Commandant Trelyn ordered the formation of the Pathfinders 
  in CY 539, an elite group consisting mostly of highly decorated scouts. Each of the eighty 
  Electors was asked to select two men from among their retinue to report to Shiboleth for 'special 
  training'. Commandant Trelyn himself personally selected forty veterans of the war to receive this 
  honor as well. After a year of intense training the two hundred soldiers emerged as the first elite 
  
  Military Elite Organization 4.0 
   
  14 
   
  unit of the Gran March armed forces: the Pathfinders. The mandate of the Pathfinders was for 
  them to have current information on all potential Gran March enemies, infiltrate enemy lines in 
  order to harass and confuse the enemy, as well as to make sure that the scouts are constantly 
  being trained in the most current techniques. 
   
  In the beginning, individual Pathfinders owed allegiance first to their Electors, then to the March, 
  then to the Commandant. This provision was enacted by Commandant Trelyn to strengthen the 
  loyalty of the Electors, and to demonstrate that the Commandant was not building a private army 
  with which to enact a coup of some sort. The forty men selected by the Commandant, of course, 
  were loyal the March, and then to him. The two sets of Pathfinders served different functions 
  within the March. Those of the Commandant were sent to neighboring countries to assess the 
  movements of enemy troops and report of any untoward activity. Those of the Electors patrolled 
  the interior of the March, reporting any humanoid activity and training the Gran March Army 
  scouts. As time wore on the organization grew more cohesive, a trend which was completed 
  when Commandant Trelyn's successor appointed one of the Pathfinders, Line Sgt. Tywyr 
  Cavened, as its leader and granted him the rank of Captain. And although the unit headquarters 
  remains in Shiboleth, he also granted the unit its own training facilities in Barony Malthinius. Since 
  that time, the unit has served with distinction in every major conflict Gran March has engaged. 
   
  Allies 
   
  As part of the Gran March military, Pathfinders are strong allies with their fellow brothers in arms 
  and are loyal to the Commandant. This allegiance is particularly strong with the Gran March 
  Scouts, as Pathfinders have instructed many scouts through the years. They are also on good 
  terms with both the Knights of the Watch and the Knights of Dispatch, but tend to favor 
  Dispatchers more due to the use of similar tactics. 
   
   
  Rivals 
   
  The Pathfinders keep close tabs on Knights of the Malagari operating within the borders of the 
  Gran March, and try to keep tabs on them when they are operating in some of the disputed areas 
  of the Rushmoors.  The Pathfinders still tend to keep close tabs on agents of the nation of 
  Furyondy.  While they are not hostile to people from Furyondy, they still have many suspicions 
  that arose from the Short War.   
   
  Foes 
   
  The enemies of Gran March are the enemies of the Pathfinders. However, they hold special 
  loathing for the enemies that tend to plague the northern and western borders. These include 
  giants and humanoids of Geoff, the humanoid forces of the Pomarj, and the Baklunish armies of 
  Ket. 
   
  Heraldry/ Symbol 
   
  Pathfinders' insignia is a single upright arrow on a black field. The arrow color/metal denotes the 
  rank within the organization. A red arrow for Trailblazers, a green arrow for Marchwalkers with a 
  hash on the arrow denoting Senior status in both ranks. Wayfinders have a silver arrow, and 
  Waycaptains have a golden arrow. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Living Greyhawk/Metaorg Material/Gran March/Old and Retired Versions/Gran_March_Military_Elite_Organization_4.0.pdf