Reed Forest Suvru 'The Bogtrotters' Keyword

He Who Fights and Runs Away, Lives to Fight Another Day (better yet, don't fight at all!)

The Reed Forest Suvru is one of the earliest formed of Darjiin's modern military units; it predates the more widely known Moonrunners. It recruits solely from the Darjiini traditionalists; the Stickmen (Lodril-worshipping immigrants) and Lunar citizens are excluded. Their typical tactics are the strike from ambush followed by a rapid retreat. They also make excellent scouts. Fighting in disciplined ranks is completely foreign to them; generals forgetting this do so at their peril (as someone found out after Boldhome). The Suvru usually serves in Darjiin; however, whenever the Empire requires specialist troops with river or swamp experience, the Bogtrotters are called upon. Their base is in Yushargos; when the Alkothi invade, the usual tactic is to harass them by hit and run raids from the cover of the swamps. They have served as specialist river and swamp runner troops in many of the Imperial campaigns - notably in the conquest of Imther and Holay.

Virtually all officers and most soldiers follow Kotori the Black Death Snake; other practices found in the Suvru are Shantamar, Yestendos, Gissullee, Verondum, Savasukan and Suvar. These tend to be confined to single specialist decurons; e.g. Gissullee is confined to the healers attached to the Suvru, Shantamar and Savasukan are found in the supply train etc.

Like most Darjiini units in the Lunar Army, spit and polish is unimportant to them - but their weapons are always in excellent condition. Uniforms are virtually unknown; the troops usually dress in loincloth, light tunic, cape and sandals. Britches and socks are used in colder climes. Colours are subdued natural browns and greens. Each decuron also has a scarf worn in a particular way and sash (for officers) in a particular colour - e.g. the Blue Arm decuron wear their scarf tied round an arm and their suvaru adds a sash of that colour. Manimat-ensivrus and manimat-suvrus wear black sashes and neck-scarves; the shamen don't wear a scarf but have a spirit pole instead (where their badge is attached).

Armour tends not to be used - it's too heavy and constricting for their style of combat, although manimat-ensivru and manimat-suvrus may wear leather breast plates and helmets. Each soldier carries a leather-covered wicker pelta, and one or more bundles of 7 javelins with throwing loops. Back-up weapons are personal preference; most carry a machete as a general purpose tool and weapon. Other back-up weapons known in the Suvru are short stabbing spears (no more than 5' long) with a broad head and large knives or daggers.

Gin (when obtainable), homebrew and hazia are their favourite intoxicants. The Great Sex Hunt is a favourite leave request - this is usually granted as otherwise the troops have a habit of recreating it wherever they are to the scandal of any Dara Happan generals and the enthusiastic participation of the rest of the army...

The Suvru standard depicts a heron hidden in a forest of reeds. A snake is carved in very low relief round the pole of the standard; being made of ebony it is impossible to see this unless you are holding the pole. The standard forms a large Kotari fetish. The badge is the heron in reeds which is attached to the scarf or sash; officers add javelins to this: a suvaru has one lying horizontally under the badge, a manimat-ensivru has 2 crossed under the badge, and a manimat-suvru has 2 crossed over 1 horizontal. A dogarz has his javelins with his badge on his spirit pole.

Basic training: