The Aedirnian Army is the principal warfare force of the Kingdom of Aedirn. It's divided into two main parts. First is the regular army that compromises of foot soldiers, archers, crossbowmen, and cavalry. The other part, first formed by King Demavend III in 1267 as a direct answer to the threat imposed by Scoia'tael commandos, is special troops. These warriors receive half a year's training in a difficult camp and after that an above average salary. They were divided into several units, from which one was led by the infamous White Rayla. Particularly half-elves were welcome to enlist in the special army.
Aside from ground force and siege weapons like catapult or trebuchet, Aedirnian military encompasses war galleys that are used to escort important figures, such as Governor of Hagge or King of Redania, along the Pontar river.[1]
History
Possibly the hardest time for Aedirnian Army came with 2nd Nilfgaard-Nordling War which began in July 1267 and destroyed almost the entire realm At the beginning, the two allied kingdoms only managed to mobilize three thousand (3000) cavalrymen and ten thousand (10,000) foot soldiers, of which one fifth had already been blockaded in the first days of the invasion, cut off in its forts and strongholds. Part of the remaining army had to withdraw to protect its flanks, threatened by far-reaching raids by light cavalry and diversionary strikes by the Scoia'tael. The remaining five or six thousand soldiers, including no more than twelve hundred knights, was beaten in Aldersberg. A small part, however, did manage to survive and took refuge in Hagge[2] while King Demavend was forced to flee to Redania.[3]
Things changed for the better after the Battle of Brenna in which the combined strength of the North, including Hagge units, defeated Menno Coehoorn. Another major win for Aedirn happened shortly after during the Second battle of Aldersberg, in which Kings Henselt of Kaedwen and Demavend managed to end their feuds for a time.[4]