The Trench Watch

In these troubled times for Creevin most able-bodied quar have taken up arms, in or out of uniform. These ad-hoc regulars and militia units garrison towns and crossroads along the Suddigffyrdd. The main fighting force of Creevin, however, is still the Trench Watch. Their numbers are dwindling but those that remain are hardened veterans, held back only by the weight of the forces arrayed against them and their increasing lack of supply.

The Watch does not follow typical Quar military organizational structure. The concept of brigades or divisions or other traditional elements are not utilized. Instead, each county is responsible for the raising, housing, and pay of its own Watch forces in smaller company and regiment sized units. Trench Watch arms and equipment are supplied by the royal families in exchange for every third new recruit being sent to join the national army in Invevenverta.

Prior to the Crusade, the Trench Watch was the best assignment a potential rhyfler could hope for. The Watch had long-standing traditions, commanded respect, and on most nights members would be close enough to home to sleep in their own beds and dine with their families, provided they made themselves available should muster be called early or an emergency arose. Watchquar that failed in that duty could be barred from service or, worse, sent to join the national army.

Trench Watch units are typically stationed at a relay town or other outpost along the Suddigffyrdd and are responsible for maintaining the security of many miles of trench-highway. They are a fast and nimble force that heavily utilizes scouting elements to track enemy formations. The relative safety of the Suddigffyrdd allows them to maneuver unmolested in the face of enemy attack and to emerge from the trench-highway to counter-attack wherever is most advantageous to  the Watch.

Since the Crusade and the demise or impoverishment of most of the royal families, the Trench Watch was forced to requisition the local county governments and families for arms and supplies rather than relying on the capital to provide the bulk of the funding for the Gwyldyfin. This led to wildly disparate levels of quality from one unit of the Watch to another, as some counties had bigger coffers or more generous donations

The eastern counties with their active ports tended to have more resources available while the southern Creevish counties saw more fighting during the Crusade, giving those Watch units more combat experience; indeed, some of the northern Watch catrawds have barely seen action since the Borderers Conflict against Leitrom in the 40s.

After the withdrawal of most of the Crusader military units in the late 1770s, the situation became even more dire. Infighting between ethnic and political factions of the Creevish population may have lent more experience to the Watch units involved, but it also depleted their already dangerously low supply levels. By the time of the Arnyaran invasion, some Watch units could only issue a single bandolier of ammunition to its rhyflers, while others had no fuel for their wagons or fodder for their cavalry. This has led to sporadic reports of Watchquar raiding neighboring counties for ammunition and supplies, and widespread cadier theft across the border into Maer Braech. In spite of these shortcomings and logistical difficulties, the Trench Watch remains a powerful force in southern Creevin and a substantial force with which to contend.

The Creevish National Army
The national army, entrenched around the Creevish capitol and often referred to as the Army of Invevenverta, is considered part of the Gwyldyfin but it’s organizational structure is that of a more traditional military structure. Most units are organized into regiments with a few brigades. Command is centralized under the Creevish monarch and their council’s of war. The national army’s mandate is to bolster the common defense where needed and to form the core of any Creevish forays into neighboring countries, something Creevin has not participated in many decades.
The national army also maintains a modest naval and air force. It’s squadrons and rigid airships escort transports along the Hovdaen and Illyrich air streams to protect against piracy and raiders. The naval ships are for the most part older hulls and primarily augment local defenses of Creevish ports with most of the national assets anchored around the capital. Creevin had never been a robust air or sea power. Her strength has always been derived from her peoples.

Military Organization

An accurate assessment of total Creevin combat power as of 1781 is difficult to estimate. The Army of Invevenverta invested in and around the capital is approximately 300,000. The last official census of the Watch, taken prior to the fall of the Grand Army, was 2,230,000. These numbers were then swollen by remnants of the Grand Army as it disintegrated and then dispersed under Crusader rule.
The average Creevish citizen has always had a rebellious and independent streak, and most able, and not-so-able, quar have taken up arms all across Creevin. The most famous partisan uprising during the Crusade occupation years was in Creevin’s Elghmore Valley. The current resistance across Creevin makes the uprisings of 1771-3 pale in comparison.
The resistance is lead from the county, city or even hamlet level. In addition to the official equipment of the Watch there are many caches of surplus Grand Army and even abandoned Crusader arms and equipment being utilized.

Military Assets

Creevish Air and Naval assets are divided between the national army and local commands in much the same way as the Gwyldyfin. Many cities and counties take great pride in their kite squadrons, rigid airships and naval craft. Many of these local vessels and craft are as well crewed and maintained as any other nation’s assets on Alwyd.

Air Assets –
Army of Invevenverta – Caenerol Yuliar commanding, 24 Kite and Krate Squadrons
Independents – Approximately 40 Kite and Krate squadron equivalents

Rigid Airship Assets –
Air Fleet of Invevenverta – Sky Aemyril Moostyn commanding, Gaens-plot Flagship (Battleship), 2 Battleships, 8 Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 44 Gunships and various cargo transports and tenders
Independents – 4 Battleships, 12 Cruisers, 21 Destroyers, 148 Gunships and various transports and tenders

Naval Assets –
Navy of Invevenverta – Aemyril Bo’thof commanding, Hyrmon’s Cove Flagship (Dreadnought), 3 Battleships, 7 Cruisers, 22 Destroyers, 4 Submarines and 65 Torpedo Boats and small combat craft.
Independents – 4 Destroyers, 2 Submarines and 136 Torpedo Boats and small combat craft

Trench Watch Company Organization

The standard Gwyldyfin trench company is a mix of infantry and cavalry. This provides a scouting and screening force utilizing the cavalry element and a solid base of defensive fire in the rhyfler section. 

Typically company officers are elected each year by vote of thesupporting populace for that particular company. NCO’s are selected by seniority in the Watch and in the rare case where an NCO moves to a new territory they are reduced in rank to rhyfler until an NCO spot becomes available and they outrank the other candidates.