Grand Rislandian Army

Grand Rislandian Army

The Grand Rislandian Army is the backbone of the Kingdom of Rislandia's defense—a professional, standing force responsible for protecting borders, maintaining order, and leading campaigns. It is also referred to in sources as the Rislandian Grand Army, the Army of Rislandia, or simply the military of the Rislandian Kingdom.

Overview

The Grand Rislandian Army maintained multiple infantry divisions, a corps of knights, supply masters, tailors, and a tradition of strong oaths of service. Its soldiers were bound by duty and discipline, and the force was historically the only military in the region to deploy airships in combat. The army operated under a clear chain of command, with generals directing field operations and airship captains serving under its authority. Guards posted at the royal palace (King Malaky's Palace) wore Grand Rislandian Army uniforms beneath ornamental silver armor. Notably, nobility were not permitted on field missions, a rule cited in For Steam and Country by Talyen as a reason Zaira von Monocle should not participate in a rescue mission.

In The Blood of Giants, the army was described as "the best professionals Rislandia has to offer." It maintained officers who worked in a war room, soldiers deployed at border regions, and a commando team that rotated with regular army personnel depending on the mission. In The Fight for Rislandia, the army was described as well-trained, with its discipline considered Rislandia's chief advantage over the Wyranth Empire other than the airship. The army also patrolled the streets of Rislandia City, with patrols of three men accompanied by a horseless carriage and a mounted gun observed in the city streets.

Marina du Willet held both a commission and a contract with the Grand Rislandian Army, and her medical treatment was prioritized because of her service to it. Zaira von Monocle's place within the army was described in The Fight for Rislandia as fuzzy and undefined, though everyone seemed to respect her authority.

The army maintained headquarters in Rislandia City, which included filing cabinets. It also employed tailors who stitched clothing for its members. In The Iron Wedding, the army conducted a sweep for looters and robbers along the road following Zaira von Monocle's last incident, and had plans to infiltrate and destroy Wyranth factories.

In The Steam Knight, knights were noted as offering a crucial support role to the Grand Rislandian Army, and regular infantry typically deferred to knights in battle. The bulk of the army was positioned near Loveridge to protect the city from invasion at the time of that story's events, and intelligence indicated the army would remain at Loveridge for at least three days. The army also maintained a garrison between Loveridge and the town where Lou (Knight of the Crystal Spire) was hiding. The army had advanced on Greenhorne and evacuated King Malaky XVI and his entourage from Rislandia City.

Uniforms and Insignia

Crew members of The Liliana (Airship) wore the standard dark uniforms of the Grand Rislandian Army. In The Blood of Giants and The Fight for Rislandia, soldiers were described as wearing "Grand Rislandian Army grays," with an armed guard at the Gretoria Asylum door and soldiers in the streets of Rislandia City both noted in gray uniforms. In The Iron Wedding, soldiers were described as wearing grey uniforms with caps, and soldiers' rations comprised small cakes of grain and bacon.

Spoiler: The Crystal ConspiracyClick to reveal

In The Steam Knight, six infantrymen encountered in the forest wore dark gray uniforms with the brass Crest of Malaky over their breast pockets and matching caps with the same insignia embroidered on them. Separately, soldiers were described as wearing gray uniforms with a pendant of the Crest of Malaky above the right breast and matching caps with smaller pendants.

For formal occasions, the army wore distinct dress uniforms. In The Iron Wedding, the honor guard at King Malaky's Funeral Procession appeared in dress uniforms described as follows: "An honor guard of the Grand Rislandian Army stood in their dress uniforms, brass buttons down the right sides of their dark crimson tunics, with their base-gray pants." Members of the honor guard also wore flat fuzzed black hats with a golden pin of the Crest of Malaky, and each held a rifle pointed toward the air.

Structure

• Commander: Baron Theodore von Monocle served as overall commanding general. Zaira's father held the position of general and managed the army alongside King Malaky XVI; command later passed under Queen Reina I.
• Standard ranks: Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, First Sergeant, Private, Corporal, Ensign
• Specialized Corps: Artillery, engineers, scouts, medics, supply masters, tailors
• Knights: A contingent of knights was deployed in The Fight for Rislandia to destroy Wyranth artillery. In The Steam Knight, knights were noted as offering a crucial support role to the army, with regular infantry typically deferring to knights in battle.

• War Room: Officers coordinated strategy and operations from a dedicated war room, using markers on a model of Rislandia to represent troop positions.
• Headquarters: Located in Rislandia City, with filing cabinets for record-keeping.
• Garrison: In The Steam Knight, the army maintained a garrison between Loveridge and the town where Lou was hiding.

Culture

• Discipline and duty above all; soldiers were considered the best professionals Rislandia had to offer.
• The army's training was regarded as Rislandia's chief advantage over the Wyranth Empire, alongside the airship.
• A strong oath of service bound all members.
• Baron Theodore von Monocle signed up to join the Grand Rislandian Army, though he took a different route than most to do so.
• The battle cry "For Steam and Country!" was a tradition shared by Rislandians broadly and the army in particular.
• Soldiers' field rations comprised small cakes of grain and bacon.
• In The Steam Knight, regular infantry typically deferred to knights in battle.

Weapons and Equipment

In The Blood of Giants, it was noted that the Grand Rislandian Army's infantry still used cannonballs rather than explosive shells. In For Steam and Country, General Carwell had new cannons installed on The Liliana. In The Fight for Rislandia, a contingent of knights was sent specifically to destroy Wyranth artillery, and soldiers were staged on rooftops to defend the palace. Honor guard members at King Malaky's Funeral Procession each carried a rifle, and the coffin bearers fired three shots into the air in honor of King Malaky XVI. In The Steam Knight, six infantrymen took James Gentry and Ethan von Lantern's weapons and patted them down before leading them to camp.

Airship Fleet

Notable Units

Greenhorne Regiment

Famous for holding the line during the Wyranth invasion. In The Steam Knight, the army had advanced on Greenhorne.

First Infantry Division

In For Steam and Country, this division was ordered to deploy to the south of Plainsroad Village.

Commando Team

Twenty-Third Regiment

A Rislandian military unit mentioned in The Fight for Rislandia. The Twenty-Third Regiment encountered small bands of Wyranth soldiers not impacted by the anti-serum, and every battle they fought was described as a rout.

Border River Garrison

Defended the southern frontier along the Border River.

Role in For Steam and Country

In For Steam and Country, the Grand Rislandian Army was dealing with a budding crisis at the Wyranth Empire border, described as the reason the Liliana was rushing to assist. General Carwell, one of the army's generals, directed operations, moving pieces on a map representing the army's different divisions and ordering the First Infantry Division to deploy south of Plainsroad Village. General Carwell also had men install new cannons on the Liliana. The army sent a scouting party to the Plainsroad Village area and conducted disaster relief operations in Portsgate.

Several characters were identified as members or former members of the Grand Rislandian Army. Baron Theodore von Monocle served in it and flew an airship on its behalf. Mr. Gentry also served in it, and James Gentry suspected his father had fought in it. Talyen von Cravat (Captain von Cravat) wore its uniform. A gunman encountered in the engine room of the Liliana wore Grand Rislandian Army colors. Zaira von Monocle's father was associated with or a member of the army.

Role in The Blood of Giants

In The Blood of Giants, the Grand Rislandian Army remained an active force in the ongoing conflict with the Wyranth Empire. Its infantry forces made good headway in a battle described in the book, and soldiers were deployed along the Border River as part of a response to a Wyranth feint. The army had captured Wyranth soldiers and observed their behavior.

Baron Theodore von Monocle had signed up to join the Grand Rislandian Army, though he took a different route than most. Marina du Willet held a commission and a contract with the army, and her medical treatment was prioritized in recognition of her service. Some army members in uniform were observed loading cargo onto The Liliana upon its return to Rislandia City. An armed guard in Grand Rislandian Army grays stood at the door of Gretoria Asylum.

Role in The Fight for Rislandia

In The Fight for Rislandia, the Grand Rislandian Army faced a severe Wyranth advance and was described as struggling to hold against it. The army patrolled the streets of Rislandia City in groups of three men with a horseless carriage and mounted gun. Officers coordinated planned troop movements and logistics in the war room, using markers on a model of Rislandia to represent positions. The bulk of the army's forces were due to arrive in the city the day after the war room meeting, and the army was actively setting up the defense of Rislandia City.

King Malaky XVI sent the full might of the Grand Rislandian Army to Lake Bethany. A contingent of knights was dispatched to destroy Wyranth artillery. Soldiers were staged on rooftops to defend the palace. The army was also stationed further south of the mountain area near Lake Avily.

The Grand Rislandian Army gathered at Cliffside Castle as a rallying point, with several contingents from the west and east meeting there. At this point the army was described as "as strong as it will ever be." However, the army took heavy casualties in Rislandia City, and soldiers on the streets were described as overwhelmed by the Wyranth forces—"The Grand Rislandian Army looked overwhelmed from this distance," as observed through a telescope by Lieutenant Colwell.

Nearly a dozen soldiers were encountered in the street under Sergeant Lansing. Soldiers stopped Zaira von Monocle's group at gunpoint before recognizing her. The army provided The Liliana with its best soldiers, including commandos. Zaira von Monocle's place within the army was described as fuzzy and undefined, though everyone seemed to respect her authority. The army had supply masters, infantry units, and knights among its branches.

Role in The Iron Wedding

In The Iron Wedding, Talyen von Cravat and Baron Theodore von Monocle were identified as members of the Grand Rislandian Army. The army maintained its headquarters in Rislandia City, complete with filing cabinets, and employed tailors who stitched clothing for its members. Soldiers wore grey uniforms with caps, and field rations comprised small cakes of grain and bacon.

Following Zaira von Monocle's last incident, the army conducted a sweep for looters and robbers along the road. The army also had plans to infiltrate and destroy Wyranth factories.

The Grand Rislandian Army provided an honor guard at King Malaky's Funeral Procession. The honor guard wore dress uniforms consisting of dark crimson tunics with brass buttons down the right sides, base-gray pants, flat fuzzed black hats with a golden pin of the Crest of Malaky, and each member held a rifle pointed toward the air. Military personnel also comprised the band at the procession, and military members carried King Malaky XVI's coffin. Each coffin bearer fired three shots into the air in honor of the king.

Role in The Steam Knight

In The Steam Knight, the bulk of the Grand Rislandian Army was positioned near Loveridge to protect the city from invasion. Intelligence provided by Lou (Knight of the Crystal Spire) indicated the army would remain at Loveridge for at least three days. The army also maintained a garrison between Loveridge and the town where Lou was hiding. The army had advanced on Greenhorne and had evacuated King Malaky XVI and his entourage from Rislandia City—an action described as boggling to those who witnessed it.

Two Grand Rislandian Army soldiers were assigned to accompany Ethan von Lantern and James Gentry on their mission. Six infantrymen encountered James and Ethan in the forest; the soldiers wore dark gray uniforms with the brass Crest of Malaky over their breast pockets and matching caps with the same insignia embroidered on them. The soldiers were suspicious of James and Ethan for wearing Wyranth uniforms, took their weapons, patted them down, and led them to camp.

Sergeant Lansing and Lieutenant Fearson were identified as soldiers in the Grand Rislandian Army in this book. Major Edwin Ral also held rank within it. Knights were noted as offering a crucial support role to the army, with regular infantry typically deferring to knights in battle.

Battle Cry

"For Steam and Country!"

Behind the Scenes

In the acknowledgments of For Steam and Country, Jon Del Arroz used the name "The Grand Rislandian Army" to refer to the friends via his email list and Facebook group who assisted with the book's promotion.

In the short stories

In The Neverending War, infantry wear grays with brass buttons, carry rifles and packs, and march while steamcars carry officers and artillerymen. Avery's platoon scouts ahead of a push from Greenhorne toward Loveridge, meant to converge with the 18th and 47th battalions. The men sing the army marching song (see Rislandian Customs & Traditions).

In Tangled Web, the airship is called "the Rislandian Grand Army's only airship".

In A History of Rislandia

According to A History of Rislandia, the Grand Rislandian Army has a documented institutional history stretching back centuries, with the sourcebook treating it as one of the kingdom's defining factions.

Founding and Early History

According to A History of Rislandia, the Grand Rislandian Army as a formal standing professional force was created by King Malaky V during Years 167–180 of the Rislandian calendar. Prior to this, military action was conducted on an ad hoc basis: the sourcebook notes that King Malaky II besieged Portsgate in Year 96, well before the Grand Army existed under that name. The bible does not use the name "Grand Rislandian Army" for this earlier force.

Conscription and Service

According to A History of Rislandia, conscription requires all able-bodied men to serve for two years upon reaching age 18. During wartime, conscription applies more broadly to all able-bodied men. The sourcebook also notes that the army maintained a professional officer corps distinct from its conscripted enlisted ranks. Retired soldiers are respected members of Rislandian society and are often granted pensions or land grants upon leaving service.

Rank Structure

According to A History of Rislandia, the full rank hierarchy of the Grand Rislandian Army runs: Field Marshal, General, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal, and Private. The novel-based account on this page lists ranks including First Sergeant and Ensign, which are drawn from the novels; the sourcebook's rank table does not include these grades. See Conflicts.

Composition and Arms

According to A History of Rislandia, the army is organized into Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, Engineers, and Support units. Infantry are armed with muskets, rifles, and bayonets. Artillery employs cannons and mortars. Cavalry is noted as less common due to Rislandia's terrain.

Culture and Oaths

According to A History of Rislandia, new soldiers swear loyalty to the crown before the Crystal Spire. Units that distinguish themselves in battle receive regimental banners and medals. The sourcebook lists the army's core values as discipline, courage, loyalty, and sacrifice, and states that soldiers follow orders without question, with loyalty to the crown considered paramount. Soldiers can rise through the ranks based on valor and skill.

Role in the Portsgate Conflict

According to A History of Rislandia, the army held superior land forces compared to Portsgate during the Portsgate Conflict and conducted the siege of Portsgate under Malaky II (Year 96), though the formal Grand Army name postdates this action.

Role in the Fantasy War (Years 375-383)

According to A History of Rislandia, King Malaky XV recognized the existential threat posed by Wyranth and mobilized the full might of the Grand Rislandian Army in response. The army was deployed to the southern border and reached Lake Bethany in force on Day 25 of the Month of Princesses. It subsequently retreated from Pleasant Pass, evacuating civilians to Lake Bethany on Day 35 of the Month of Princes. Despite overwhelming odds, the army held during the final battle. Southern Rislandia was fortified as part of this campaign.

Supreme Commander

According to A History of Rislandia, the supreme commander of the Grand Rislandian Army at the time the sourcebook was written is General Baron Theodore von Monocle. The sourcebook also states that the monarch traditionally leads the army in wartime. The novel-based account on this page describes command as managed by Zaira's father and King Malaky XVI jointly; the sourcebook names Theodore von Monocle as supreme commander without reference to shared management. See Conflicts.

Notable Units

According to A History of Rislandia, the notable units of the Grand Rislandian Army include the Greenhorne Regiment and the Border River Garrison. The sourcebook does not mention the First Infantry Division, the Commando Team, or the Twenty-Third Regiment by name.