Atrian Military



As freedom-loving individualists, the Atrian League has never held conquest of foreign lands as an objective. Therefore, the Políteia (military), such as it is, focuses itself upon defensive warfare and the elimination of 'unwholesome competition', as pirates are referred to. It comes as no huge surprise, then, that the focus of the Atrian League is upon its navy.

Comprised of large biremes and triremes, each city-state is responsible for fielding and funding their own políteia. Indeed, the word políteia has its roots in the word for citizen (polítés). As one can imagine, this can be a source of intense competition with Archons often using their own funds to lavish the políteia with the finest in an attempt to show that they (and therefore, their polis) is more wealthy and patriotic than the others.

Of course, the source of such pride (and expense) would not wish to be lost at sea without reason. As such, políteia rarely sail outside of sight of harbor and the mobilization of a polis navy is something of significant note. It should be mentioned that the other reason a políteia to weigh anchor is to engage another polis in 'active trading negotiations'.

As to the constituency of the nautés, or fighting forces, they primarily consist of axes, polearms and short, hacking swords normally wearing nothing at all or, more rarely, light armour.While it may seem counterintuitive to go into battle naked, the tight quarters of a rolling ship provide many opportunities for clothing to be caught. Further, the sight of fifty naked, screaming men and/or women coming over the gunwales can give pause enough to those who have more modest sensibilities, and that pause is enough to kill them.

The Atrian emphasis on personal honour combined with the limited ability to practice in large groups lead tactics to be either individualistic in nature or centering around small units. The few times that large scale endeavours have been launched, they inevitably end up with petty bickering and pointless in-fighting taking hold the instant that the imminent danger has been neutralized.

Note that some major families have small 'protection forces' of highly trained nautés and exceptionally well-built ships to ensure the safety of their personal ventures above and beyond the general políteia. This would bring back to mind the earlier statement about 'unwholesome competition', but the definition of 'unwholesome' is entirely in the eye of the beholder.