Dominus Praenuntius

 

“All I need is a pistol by my side, a radio in my hand and a good dozen men manning a rocket artillery to set this party alight. Worry not my Imperator - not a single butcher shall pass these borders without feeling the heat of precision Petrinian engineering.”

    The Dominus Praenuntius are some of the newest military titles to exist within the Golden Empire. Having only emerged thirty years ago, after the war with the Dyskhari. Taking inspiration from the Casteviedo III Revenant Legion’s hidden artillery squads, these agents of the Stormrail Legion have rewritten stealth guerrilla warfare into gritty frontal charges and zero remorse for enemy warmachines, monstrosities and unholy idols.   With a single semi-automatic pistol they march forth fearlessly through the fire while shouting orders through their radio. The results - a burning inferno around their person, with the shockwave more often than not causing their coats to flow in the wind like a mantle with its ends engulfed in divine flame.   Forged by Dominus-Legatus Mortifer Stahlmann, these explosive assassins maintain stability and order across Petrina and her surrounding lands by hunting down and marking cultists, monstrosities and eldritch horrors for extermination. Their methods of summoning down artillery shells right into their targets have been considered too extreme for some situations though, which is why they do not fight common bandits or certain beastkin raiders.     A wear that is as practical as it is fashionable. Waterproof fabrics keep mud and filth away from the Praenuntius. The hard yet flexible materials also grant them mild protection against cuts, blunt force and the elements. Within a utility belt that keeps the coat fastened around the Praenuntius waist, steel rings are fitted into the leather - serving as hooks for tying weapons and larger tools onto their person.   The trenchcoat also comes with a pair of military pants and high quality boots, that allow the agent to swiftly move through harsh terrain. Around the right leg, a leather patch that serves as a special pocket is strapped with bindings. Serving as the radio holster.   Lastly, the Praenuntius is infamous for bringing their round and thin brass framed shades into combat. Giving them a nonchalant look, as their eyes are covered by the dark glass. This has a key tactical advantage though, as they protect the wearer from going blind from all the explosions around them.     As commanders of heavy ordnance, Dominus Praenuntius usually only wield sidearms in combat as a backup weapon for emergency situations. While some use revolvers, the majority utilize the brand new semi-automatic pistols. Although their bullets are weaker than the older handcannons, rapid reloading with magazines carrying seven to fourteen shots can be a lifesaver. Especially as the Praenuntius are excellent marksmen on close to medium ranges.   The main weapon of the Praenuntius is communication - which requires a stable link to be connected between them and their artillery crew. Unlike that of the Casteviedan Ordinants, the Praenuntius does not lead soldiers into combat nor use their comms to back up their forces through miles long carpet bombing.   The Praenuntius leads the charge alone, while using flares of different colours to mark targets for elimination. While this tactic lacks efficiency in cutting off enemy lines at large scale, it has revolutionized Petrina’s efficiency at leading smaller squads to eliminate key targets.     While the flares can tell the auxiliary demolitions exactly what they need to do, without even using the radio - there are not nearly enough colours to mark every enchanted mortar ball. Commandments and preparation is key.   Before any mission - the honorific which roughly translates to lord of communications, is a title that the Paenuntius need to live up to. By ensuring that his crew has the right munitions with the right effects, for the mission.   Depending on the enemy, fire may be incredibly effective or obsolete. Be they demons, it would be far more effective to load up area denial shots with acid or better yet, holy runes. Be they Dyskhari raiders, extra magnesium rounds would not go amiss due to their culture of slavery.   For missions with precise eliminations of high priority individuals - one might perhaps even need a special made round to permanently kill a creature such as a higher vampire or eldritch monstrosity.