Re: Raids, tactics of

From: Stewart Stansfield <stu_stansfield_at_...>
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 16:45:27 -0000


[It never fails. Whenever I potter off to check my e-mail a wicket falls in my absence. Perhaps I should sit in front of the PC all bloody day, the way things are going...]

> OK. But if this is simply like the guardian of a
> heroband, I'd guess that other members of the heroband
> will notice? The question is perhaps whether any of
> those other members would be elsewhere, like back at
> base, and in a position to do something useful with
> the information?

and

> How about people not present? Will there be such, I
> wonder? Would attached non-combatants exist, and
> notice?

As every heroband is unique, HQ doesn't go into great detail on the rites associated with membership. The effect of distance on the link between guardian and member is also kept fuzzy. But we can generally suppose that a considerable amount of ritual and ceremonial binds member and guardian, and can foster a useful link [of some kind] even when they are separated.

Many [most?] Lunar officers will be consecrated to some such guardian in the form of a regiment, a private vexilla or a 'headquarters heroband' of the warlord and his favored aides and companions [never much discussed anywhere, but an avenue I think is one of fun potential].

Some may also be consecrated to an 'official' vexilla lare. Either way, they may have a tangible link to a guardian/lare in the field.

How that link manifests itself might depend on the distance between them, and the level of commitment to the heroband. And also the form of the guardian itself (an archetype vs. an emanation, or a manifestation that might itself be able to give some warning before its focus and form is stricken).

A humble scribe and clerk might feel only the faintest chill when the vexilla lare is stricken by some mythic whirlwind; while an officer and aide to the warlord positively blanches and screams out in agony in the commander's tent, before collapsing to the floor.

I'm all for presages of terror, trouble and disaster striking a command before official word comes through; information which could indeed prove useful if acted upon presciently (though I prefer somewhat muddied prophetic colour to exact details).

Horses for courses, methinks!

Cheerio,

Stu.

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