I would (without actually reading the resource, which is at home) say that perhaps 5% of Heortlings (the 65+ as per a later post) are useless in a fight, with the occasional tough granny being balanced by the occasional weak or incapacitated youngster. The growing incapacity of the 55-65 age bracket is balanced by older children being able to contribute something.
This is, of course, in a "total war" sort of situation -- a brutal Lunar attack on a stead, large-scale Uz raid, a KoDP "raid to destroy steads,"etc. Normally, the fyrd (20% of the population, 40% of adults, 80% of adult men (understanding that older/incapacitated men are out and a Vingan or two is in)) are the maximum fighting force that is likely to be engaged. Right?
So, for our stead, I see it working like this -- there are roughly 20 adult males. Perhaps 25% of those males are not in the fyrd (2-3 too old, plus 1-2 infirm from other reasons or ineligible for cult doctrines, etc). This leaves us with 15 fyrdmen, plus perhaps a warrior woman or two. There's our contribution to the fyrd. I assume there is no one like a "full-time warrior" at the stead, although some of the young men may be in combat-useful OA sub-cults, and the hunters would be effective in a missile fight. It's possible that there's a son or daughter of the bloodline who has become a weaponthane and returns to the stead a couple times a year to help train the fyrd -- there might be an adventure hook there. Plus, of course, the fyrd gathers at the Chief's stead for (Weapons Day?) yearly training/rituals.
Peter Larsen
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