Military Logistics of Thelidor

The Kingdom of Thelidor conducts warfare in the classic medieval style, favoring open-field battles across rolling plains and gently forested terrain. Its armies reflect a high to late medieval technological level, equipped with chain mail, plate armor, swords, spears, and emblazoned livery.

Maximum Troop Mustering Capacity of Thelidor

Estimated maximum army size: Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 troops can be mustered in total during a major campaign.

The maximum includes levied troops from noble houses, mercenary contingents, and city militias.

Average Size of a Mercenary Band

Typical mercenary band size: Between 150 and 300 soldiers.

These bands are professional, cohesive units often led by experienced captains. Larger bands exist but are rarer and more expensive to maintain. Mercenary bands include a mix of infantry, some cavalry, and specialists like crossbowmen or pikemen. Their size allows flexibility for lords to hire multiple bands for campaigns without overcommitting.

Average Troop Numbers Led by a Noble House

Average noble house levy size: Roughly 300 to 800 troops.

This includes knights, men-at-arms, and levied infantry sworn to the house. Larger houses with more wealth and land might muster up to 1,000 or slightly more, but most are smaller. Noble levies are often supplemented by mercenaries for campaigns. The size depends on the house’s wealth, landholdings, and political influence.

Army Composition and Mercenary Reliance

While Thelidor’s noble houses maintain their own levies—trained men-at-arms and knights sworn to their lords—the kingdom has grown increasingly reliant on mercenary bands. These mercenaries are professional soldiers of fortune, often hardened veterans who bring specialized skills and discipline. Lords hire them to supplement their levies, preferring the flexibility and experience mercenaries provide over the sometimes unreliable feudal levies.

Despite this, Thelidor’s soldiers are known for their strength and resilience. The kingdom’s martial tradition is robust, and its warriors are well-trained and battle-hardened. However, internal strife among noble houses frequently weakens the kingdom’s ability to rally large, unified armies against external foes. This factionalism has historically made large-scale invasions rare.

Historical Context

One notable exception was under King Bertram, who successfully led a campaign to capture the strategic port city of Grey Harbor from the neighboring kingdom of Arinn. This campaign marked a rare moment of unity and military focus. Bertram’s forces nearly pushed further, threatening an invasion of Veloria, but political and logistical constraints prevented this escalation.

Naval Forces

Thelidor’s navy is modest and primarily tasked with defending its port cities and coastal trade routes. While the kingdom controls several important ports, its naval power is limited compared to its neighbors. The neighboring sea powers—Veloria, a soft-power theocracy with a large imposing navy that doesn't stir unless it must, and Alendria, a war-ravaged and impoverished realm—have historically not posed direct threat, reducing the urgency for Thelidor to develop a strong fleet.

Warfare Tactics and Logistics

Thelidor’s warfare emphasizes heavy infantry and cavalry formations, with knights in plate armor leading charges supported by spearmen and archers. Battles are often decided by discipline, terrain advantage, and the ability to maintain formation under pressure.

Logistically, armies rely on local levies and mercenaries to provide supplies, though extended campaigns strain resources. The kingdom’s infrastructure supports rapid mustering of forces near key strongholds, but internal political rivalries can delay or complicate mobilization.