Imperial Blatian Arquebus Corps

A powerful weapon

Gunpowder, also known across Yeia as "Fire of the Blatians" or "Thunderous fire", and its known to the Blatians as Zerah's fire is one of the most feared and mysterious weapons in the world. It was invented by the Ikarians around 390 AP by a monk called Orestes. The monk said the recepee for creating gunpowder was revealed to him by the goddess Zerah herself, who also ordered him to reveal the formula to the Ikarian Emperor and to use it against his enemies.   It is used in warfare in the form of firearms and cannons. Blatian armies are famous for besieging the strongest fortifications with this type of artillery. Specially renown are its Arquebus Corps. These are elite units recruited from the best range units of each of the Blatian legions and they usually form a screen in front of the first lines of the legions wreaking havoc upon the charging enemy units. No one is safe of their deadly bullets made of iron, not even the heavily knights of Western Teria and North- East Karia, who had experienced their power first hand.  

The first regiments

The first regiments of firearms units were called artillery cohorts and used hand cannons as their primary weapon. These were composed of volunteers, and both their training and the use of their weapons were highly secret. These units played a decisive role in the Second Siege of Blati, also known as the Battle of the Walls of Firewhere they eliminated hundreds if not thousands of barbarian attackers from the towers and walls of the imperial capital using these primitive weapons.   The invention of the arquebus at the beginning of the 8th century AP marked a technological revolution in warfare for the Blatians. Not only were these weapons much more accurate, but their shots were also more powerful and had a longer range.   Many generals in the imperial army understood the enormous potential this new weapon could have in the fight against the barbarians, and that its use was not limited solely to creating a screen of fire in front of the legions as they advanced, or to decimate the enemy as much as possible before engaging in close combat. These arquebusier regiments could also be used to harass the enemy during their march, setting up ambushes in mountainous terrain or forests and then disappearing as quickly as they had appeared, and this eventually would become one of their roles.

Organization and structure

Arquebus regiments' structure is the same as the archer cohorts of each Blatian Legion, they are led by a centurion and organized into cohorts of around 140 men (in contrast with the 480 men of the standard legionary cohorts). Though here we have to make a tiny distinction. The best arquebusier units, the best equipped and trained, are those belonging to the field armies and the armies commanded by the Emperor himself or by his representatives, while the Limitanei, the frontier army units are slightly smaller and, although they are excellently trained, are more lightly armed, specifically to ambush the enemy from hard-to-reach places such as crags, cliffs, or dense forests.

Equipment

Imperial arquebusiers possess equipment similar to that of legion archers. They wear a cloth or wool cap, and in some cases a helmet, a tunic, and occasionally a gambeson over it. Their primary weapon is the arquebus, whose ammunition is stored in small wooden pouches or containers called "disciples," reminiscent of the numerous disciples of the prophet Blatikuski. These pouches hang from a baldric and they contain both the projectile (usually a small lead ball) and the gunpowder used to fire it.. As a secondary weapon, should they ultimately have to resort to close combat, many of these soldiers carry a longsword, the standard issue of the legions, and a small circular shield similar to that carried by many foot and horse archers.   Members of the most heavily armed regiments of field armies almost all wear helmets and scale armor, lightweight but highly protective, in addition to the weapons described above.  

Training

The training of these soldiers remains highly secret, not because they are harsh tests or anything like that, but because the handling of gunpowder and its manufacture are a state secret. Woe to anyone who speaks the truth, for death awaits them for such treason! In fact, in case of danger of capture, the arquebusiers must disable or dispose of their weapons as quickly as possible, as well as their ammunition, to prevent these secrets from falling into enemy hands.   The arquebusiers share the firing ranges with the archers and are also taught to fire in ranks, in formation, something they use on the battlefield (since they use more dispersed formations to harass and ambush the enemy during their march). It is said that a Blatian arquebusier can fire at least 2 or 3 shots per minute (to this must be added the rest of the missile units that accompany them: archers, slingers, javelinmen...). These shots have a devastating effect on enemy morale, not only because of the casualties they cause but also because of the noise and the smell they produce, many enemies believe it is powerful magic or a secret weapon that the gods have given to the Blatians.  

A versatile formation

As stated above, the arquebusier formations used by Blati's legions are very versatile, as they can fulfill a wide variety of roles and assume varied positions on the battlefield depending on the occasion and the commanders' strategy.   They can both harass the enemy before the legions attack them and carry out ambushes or even flanking maneuvers. This is not the first time that Blatian arquebusiers appear behind an unsuspecting enemy and unleash upon them a cloud of fire, iron, and death.   What matters most is their aim, fire discipline, and above all, their agility and speed, enabling them to quickly flee after their ammunition has run out or they have been detected by the enemy, thus returning to friendly territory and avoiding pursuit by enemy cavalry or infantry.