Winged Kossar

"You are kossar. That should mean something."

  Starkhaven Kossar, more commonly known as Winged Kossar or sometimes even Sky Riders, are an elite heavy-cavalry group that specializes in shock offensives. Its members make-up the highest echelons of the city-state's warrior class, serving as vassals to the Prince of Starkhaven. They count to about eighty to one hundred-twenty at any given time.   Their decorative armor is perhaps their most well-known feature, being adorned with wings that extend higher than the warrior themselves. These wings are made of the feathers of large birds and are fastened onto either the armor of the warrior or their horse's saddle. When wind gusts through them, they create an "evil" hissing sound — one that is known to crush enemy soldiers' morale and panics their horses.   Beyond their martial talents, kossar also live by a strict code of conduct: the Harcos Módon. This code dictates how a kossar is supposed to carry themselves, what they must master about themselves, how they must engage with society, and their place within it.  

Terminology

The term "kossar" has a history longer than most fully understand. It's origin is obscure, but the furthest back that's well understood is its usage to refer to domestic servants of warrior families. Somewhere, potentially about four centuries ago during the many wars of the Storm Age, the term gained a military connotation. It began referring to landless foot soldiers who fought for Starkhaven, usually gifted a horse for their efforts. It died off for some time, as conscription became more common, only for it to return a century or so later as an informal title which suggested its bearer was both capable in war and culturally sophisticated. Ballads and tales have been spun of the exploits of these individuals. The city-state's aristocracy, now known as the civic class, began sponsoring some of these "kossar" and started revitalizing the term while also adorning their warriors in primitive versions of their iconic armor.  

Equipment

The kossar's sponsors are required to provide arms and armor for their warrior, except for the lance which is provided by the Prince of Starkhaven. Their equipment has changed over the centuries, but the following pieces of equipment are commonly used by these warriors today:   The lance is the main offensive weapon, using hollowed out designs that allow them to be longer than that of rival militaries — usually between 15 to 20 feet. They are usually richly gilded. Some kossar also specialize in using a sercobij ("heart-striker"), a narrow thrusting sword of about five feet in length that's used for its precision, ability to pierce plate when used on horseback, and its design which can be shattered to leave iron shrapnel in the body of its victims. Others rely more on using horse picks. There's also an emerging style which has the kossar rely upon composite bows usage, though its unclear if this will stand the test-of-time culturally.   Kossar tend to wear light-weight metal armor, usually around thirty pounds. Officers lean towards wearing iron scales riveted to leather support, a technique which provides nigh-impenetrable defense but is far too expensive to field for all of these warriors. Kossar also adorn themselves with exotic animal pelts by either wearing them under saddles, over their shoulders, or around their waists.  

Desire to Impress

Kossar are not sponsored by the Prince of Starkhaven directly. Instead, the highest families within the civic class are duty-bound to sponsor two, or in some cases three. To have a unskilled or ill-equipped warrior is to bring shame on your family's name, and to lose trust from the Prince. Because of this, most family's do the exact opposite: they supply their warriors with flashy colors and exquisite equipment as a way to show their fealty, respect, and wealth to all of Starkhaven.  

Culture

Many cultural pursuits are enjoyed by kossar, ranging from poetry to traditional dance to cooking to weaving and beyond. It is seen as a ceremonial gift to give a kossar a high-quality utensil or tool through which they can continue their desired pursuits. In some cases, this can be given in exchange for land as a reward for military service.   Their code dictates they act generously, honorably, mercifully to their own, and faithful to their homeland and church. Kossar adhere to this code quite stringently and are prone to make examples of one-another when one of their own acts in opposition to it.   Most are highly literate and have some teaching in statecraft, though the overall education level of each varies. Additionally, kossar are only allowed within the outer-most ring of Starkhaven — unable to enter the inner-most two.