Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves

level), and 50 senior officers (13th level +) below the Wizard-
Major and her second. Among these ranks, there are many
types of wizards, including the four types of dualists. Of these,
only the forest wizards are singled out for distinct duties aside
from the norm—they work as scouts and quick-strike forces
when working in either Akh’Faer or Akh’Velahr.
Any akh’faern (member of the Army of Art) has access to
certain magical items provided from the army stockpiles. All
troops bear a ring identifying them as akh’faern, and these
minor items allow the wearer a +1 to saving throws against
spells. Offensive wands of lightning, frost, flame extinguishing,
or magic missiles are the norms allotted to junior officers;
senior officers might gain rods of absorption, alertness,
or security while on maneuvers or in a combat situation.
The Akh'Velahr
There are more than 3,000 elves in the standing army of Cormanthyr,
and nearly every able fighter among Cormanthyr’s
populace (elf or N’Tel’Quess) would gladly join the fray if
needed in times of crisis. Of all the elven races, the moon
elves eclipse all others among the army’s overall membership.
There are four main groups among the akh’velahrn:
scouts, the troops, the noble knights and guards of Myth
Drannor, and the cavalries.
The scouts are led by Otaerhyn Hawksong, the second-incommand
of the akh’velahrn. The bulk of the scouts are
green elves, and their skills as archers, rangers, and spies
(rogues, thieves) are invaluable for reconnaissance and
quick-strikes against minor invasions in the forest. Most of
the scouts wear leather or no armor, boots and cloaks of elvenkind,
and all arm themselves with bows, daggers, and a
variety of weapons (as per each individual). This is the leastdisciplined
part of the army, since their skills make them less
effective in groups larger than three or four and individuality
is essential to their jobs. As the farthest-ranging of Cormanthyr’s
soldiers, they act as perimeter sentries and are most
beloved among the border colonies and the human Dalelands
(though most shy from the latter).
The warriors and common foot soldiers of the army comprise
more than two-thirds of its total strength. The army’s
bulk consists of commoner elves (40% of total army, 60% of
these are moon elves), N’Tel’Quess fighters (10% of total
army, 70% of these are humans), and varied mixes of allied
sylvan races such as centaurs and satyrs. The army itself has
standard long swords, broad swords, shields, and spears for
weaponry; the army’s common armor varies from studded
leather to chain or (rare instances) scale mail. The officers
have improved weapons, including some magical weapons,
and they all have elven chain mail or better armor.
The Protectors are the elite troops and those specifically assigned
to defending Cormanthyr’s nobility. Comprised almost
entirely of gold elves, these troops tend to be bladesingers,
higher-level rangers, or fighters. In fact, many of the Protectors
opted to remain as rank-and-file among the elite rather
than become officers of the lower-status common army. Almost
all Protectors have elven chain mail, though the officers
48 • Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves
among them have elven plate mail (strong, light plate mail
that allows elves to cast spells from within it). The standard
weapons for the elite (long bow, spear or other polearm, long
sword or broad sword) are all at least of +1 enchantments. A
sign of prestige among the elven nobility of Myth Drannor is
an honor guard of personal Protectors, rather than standard
mercenary guards from the common army.
“The Wing & Horn"
While technically part of the Akh’Velahr, the Wing and Horn
are the elite cavalry troops that are accorded a certain
amount of autonomy by Cormanthyr’s Captain due to their
specialized skills. Their commander is the gold-dragonrider
Lady Ahskahala Durothil (CG gold elf female F16). Among
the Wing & Horn are six distinct cavalry units comprising less
than 15% of the army.
The most elite and the primary officers of Wing & Horn are
the dragonriders. Numbering five in all, they were once far
more numerous in the early days of Arcorar; most have flown
west to aid in the defense of other realms, most especially
Evermeet. This quintet remains as a personal favor between
Lady Ahskahala and the Coronal Eltargrim; she and her
mount (plus her faithful lieutenants and their mounts) will
remain to defend Cormanthor and Myth Drannor until the
end of the Sixth Rysar. At that time, she and the other dragonriders
(all windriders) and their mature dragons will wing
west toward Evermeet. Each dragonrider either commands a
Wing (flying) or Horn (grounded) cavalry unit.
• Lady Ahskahala rides Haklashara, a gold dragon of 488
winters, and she commands the Wing & Horn.
• The moon elf lord Avourel Omberdawn (LG em F14) commands
the hippogriffs, the largest Wing contingent of cavalry.
Avourel is acclaimed for his aerial battle tactics, with
he and his Wing scoring over three dragon kills inside two
centuries. Of course, the bulk of the strategies come from
his silver dragon companion, the 350-year-old Otaaryliakkarnos,
though she doesn’t mind him taking the credit.
Hippogriff-riders are the most common of the cavalry
troops of Wing, and most of them are moon elves. Numbering
about 250 riders and mounts at any given time, they are impressive
in their tight regimented formations and attack patterns.
As the slowest among the flying cavalry, they rely on
group tactics and teamwork to defeat their foes. Their Sixstar
Maneuver (named after the site in Myth Drannor) is their
most famous, where six hippogriffs pilot into positions in
which all six riders can perform lance charges and pull away
safely from each other and their outflanked target.
• Lord Avourel’s moon elf wife, the Lady Fieryat Omberdawn
(CC ef F13), rides the 332-year-old silver dragon
Evenaelorathos the Blackspine, an affected name from
his atypical jet-black dorsal spine and horns. Even and
Lady Fieryat command the pegasi Wing cavalry together
and have made their reputation as incredibly fast cavalry
support for beleaguered ground troops.
Next among the cavalry of wing are the pegasus-riders.
One hundred pegasi from the herds among Cormanthyr and