Re: Paying the Lunar Army

From: jeffrichard68 <richj_at_...>
Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 19:41:22 -0000

> Sadly the reverse is also occasionally true. During times when the
> infrastructure of army supply breaks down, a great many officers
are
> forced to increasingly resort to their own pocket to keep their
> troops at the 'proper level' (sub judice). The exactitudes will
vary
> immensely, but when funds are short, proud commanders will rapidly
> have to resort to their own funds to keep their formations in
> business. John Lynn estimated that such measures equated to 25% to
> 30% of military expense for the French in the Grand Siecle.
> Reimbursement was frequenttly slow and/or non-existant. For every
> Kelly's Hero or Spiv there's a Kelly's Poor Sod of a Ruined
Officer.

Some good Gloranthan opportunities certainly exist to financially ruin proud Lunar officers - Starbrow's Rebellion and the years following the Fall of Whitewall on. In the harsh years leading up to the Dragonrise (1622-1625) probably as many fortunes are destroyed as are created.

> This was common in the 17th and early-mid 18th centuries; Turenne
> sold his family silver to help keep his army in the field (unless
my
> memory fails me). When that lowly (if pro-Lunar) stead in Sartar
> boasts a hearth full of finest Pelandan statuery, you know times
are
> hard. In pro-Lunar territory, exempt from the harshest levels of
> contributions and taxes of violence, trying to trade your poor
> commander's ornately carved Carmanian writing desk for some cows
and
> grain proves a rather different interlude.

These are all great ideas! I imagine that some of the tribal kings -  like Blackmor, Hroar the Mad or Willandring Clever-Kennings (not to mention Harvar Ironfist) have made some good profit out of the discomfort of proud Lunar officers.

> The poor Lunar beggars aren't all Wallensteins!

True. But we need a few Dukes of Friedland as well! Then again, maybe Jomes the Wolf and Baron Sanuel fit in that categoy...

Jeff