Evershields

"Ever vigilant! Ever dauntless! Ever faithful!"

-Mantra of the Eleventh Angelic Legion, the Evershields

The Evershields, the Eleventh Angelic Legion, were lead by the Seraph Raziel. Renowned for their astounding levels of discipline and tenacity, they were among the most prominent and successful legions within the Angelic Conquest, alongside the likes of the Godbreakers, Primal Hands, and Morningstars. None could match their mastery of defensive strategy, and only a few could rival their architectural and logistical mastery. All these skills proved invaluable in the civil war against their traitorous Fallen brethren, as the Evershields remained loyal to Ynoch in the midst of betrayal, and became some of the traitor's most implacable adversaries.

Organization
During the fullness of their power during the Angelic Conquest, the Evershields numbered approximately 120,000 legionaries, making them average in size compared to their brother legions. Organizationally speaking, the legion was notable in that eschewed the use of Divisional sized units entirely. Despite this fact, the legion's devotion to their Seraph was absolute. Raziel demanded utter obedience from his warriors, and they provided it.

Lacking Divisional units, the Eleventh's Regimental commanders were allowed to range farther from the legion's main body when occasion allowed it. For conflicts which required above Regimental strength, commanders followed the Aptitude Protocol, a procedure which entailed commanders submitting themselves to the authority of whichever of their peers had the skills most suited for the present situation, for the duration of the conflict. Given the highly disciplined and pragmatic nature of the legion, conflicts around the protocol were minimal. And when they did occur, those responsible faced Raziel's personal chastisement for compromising the efficiency of his legion.

This structure, it should be noted, was not at all for the purpose of promoting independence among the legion. Rather, every Commander put in charge of one of the legion's Regiments would have had their entire service record, from the date of their recruitment to the present, thoroughly examined and analyzed by the Seraph, before they were deemed worthy of promotion to the position. Any such warrior could stand proud indeed, knowing that their every act within the legion had been closely scrutinized by their soul-sire, and they had not been found wanting.

The structure also allowed for more hands on command from their Seraph, when it was deemed necessary, allowing him to commune directly with Regimental commanders without the inference of officers in between. Such a fact was only possible due to Raziel's titanic aptitude as a general, which was legendary even compared to his esteemed brothers, all of whom had been trained since childhood for command.

The Adamantine Circle - Lieutenants of the Bulwark
Raziel's personal bodyguard numbered ten warriors, including the Lord Commander who lead them. Though the first of their duties was the defense of the Seraph's person, and as such, their skill as individual fighters must of course be peerless, every one was also required to be a brilliant battle commander before they would be considered for the position. This requirement was put in place in the instance that Raziel ever felt the need to place them in command of any force undertaking a task which he considered of paramount, import, but could not attend to directly himself. Any subordinate officer within the legion who was informed a member of the Circle would be taking command of their unit was expected to yield command for the required duration without hesitation and without question.

Vice-Commander of the Circle
The most prominent member of the Adamantine Circle, and indeed, the entire legion, was Raziel's Vice-Commander. The individual who bore this position was the Seraph's chosen, elevated above all others within his trust and favor, the finest their legion had to offer. None other held so much honor or so much burden as they. Not only did the Vice-Commander hold sway over the nine subordinate members of the Adamantine Circle, but they served as the Will of the Seraph. Within the Evershields, their word was absolute, for they were Raziel's most trusted and intimate confidante and advisor. None but the Seraph stood higher than them. And outside the legion, Raziel occasionally dispatched his Vice-Commander to stand in his stead among his brother-Seraphim. No easy task.

Commanders
Commanders were the leaders of a Regiment, the largest unit within the Evershields legion, numbering ten thousand warriors when at full strength (twice the size of the standard five thousand man Regiment). Generally speaking, Raziel kept several Commanders and their Regiments under his authority, dispatching others to prosecute campaigns on his behalf, and gathering or redistributing them as needed to prosecute more effective conquests.

Every Commander possessed one Battalion directly under their own authority, and nine subordinate Battalions within their Regiment.

Guardians - Elite Veterans
Longstanding elite veterans of the Eleventh Legion were known as Guardians. As a mark of their skill and service, Guardians were grouped into the First Company of every Battalion, and served as the personal Company of that Battalion's Lieutenant-Commander.

Lieutenant-Commanders of the Battalion
Every Regiment is divided into ten Battalions, numbering one thousand men strong when at full strength, and lead by a Lieutenant Commander. Every Lieutenant-Commander lead their own personal company of Guardians, elite veterans of the legion.

Captain - Company
Ten Companies existed within every Battalion, each one commanded by a Captain with one hundred warriors at their back.

Sergeant - Squadron
Sergeants were tasked with commanding squadrons, the smallest unit size within the Evershields legion, numbering ten men,

Legionaries
The warriors of the Eleventh Legion did not afford themselves any special title to distinguish themselves, such other legions might. They existed purely to fulfill Ynoch's will, and that of their Seraph. They were warriors, first and foremost. That said, their identity did not end there. Every legionary of the Evershields was also made to build and to defend, their purpose being the construction of the Dream.

Combat Doctrine
Of all the legions, Raziel's Eleventh were among the most extensively skilled in siege warfare, matched only perhaps by the Tenth, though the Eleventh was often agreed to be more skilled at defensive strategies than their brother legion. Like the Tenth, the Eleventh favored emphasis on heavy firepower, and fortification, preferring to fight at range than in close quarters. That said, they were utterly dauntless no matter the field of battle they fought in, being known for a stubborn tenacity that was rivaled by only a few of their brother legions.

Most legendary of all, however, was their renowned discipline. No other legion's warriors were so thoroughly committed to self mastery as Evershields. Yet at the same time, the Eleventh were also known to be amongst the more humane and noble of the legions, with doctrines that commanded they avoid civilian casualties wherever possible.

Officers of the legion were also often inclined to command from the rear of a battle, especially those more highly ranked, so as to be able to devote their considerable tactical skills to analyzing the battle. Officers within the lower echelons of the legion were more apt to lead from the front. Still, those higher officers possessed of strong leadership skills or personal combat prowess would still be apt to fight at the front of their army, earning glory for themselves and their legion.

Training and Recruitment Doctrine
"A soldier is most efficient when in complete control of themselves."

-Raziel, Seraph of the Evershields Legion

Recruits to the Evershields legion began the induction process with a period of intense physical and psychological conditioning. First and foremost, recruits were required to learn self control. Reigning in one's emotions in battle was one of the most important tenets of the legion, as it both allowed for the use of more sound strategies and prevented an unhinged warrior from inflicting unnecessary casualties.

Once a recruit had demonstrated sufficient self mastery to their trainers, they would be allowed to advance to eventually become full Ynochim. Though more bellicose and belligerent recruits were accepted into training, if they failed to master themselves and channel their emotions productively, they would be discharged. Ever practical, Raziel decreed that those recruits whose temperament did not match that of his chosen be sent for training in one of his brother's legions, not wanting to waste a potential warrior in Eden's cause.

Governmental Doctrine
Worlds taken over by the Evershields could expect that the first alteration would be the fortification of their realms, with repairs and improvements being implemented upon all defenses. Subjugated realms taken into Eden's dominion were under its protection, and conquering forces of Evershields would always leave behind a substantial garrison of soldiers for the purpose of safeguarding the realm and training new recruits.

Heraldry
The banner of the Evershields displays a green field, upon which sits a golden shield. Encompassed by the shield is a green tree, with a black sword standing before it. The green of the field, as well as the tree, both represent the prosperity of the Dream, and the growth and progress it brings when planted in a realm and allowed to take root. The sword and shield symbolize the legion's absolute devotion to the Dream's ideals, that they will first and foremost shield them from any threat, but will also bring ruin and death to all the Dream's foes.

Battlegear
A soldier of the Evershields was garbed in rich green plate, trimmed with gold. Higher ranking officers had engraved armor designed to resemble tree leaves, which symbolized that their continued service has allowed the Dream to grow and prosper.