Tartesso Military

Overview

The military of Tartesso is not a traditional standing army but a dual-system force built around internal control and selective power projection. Its structure reflects the priorities of the Electors: stability, surveillance, and protection of wealth over large-scale conquest.

The Dominion relies on:

• The Warders (primary land and internal force)

• The Dominion Navy (maritime power and external projection)

Command Structure

• Ascendent – Supreme authority over all military forces

• Elector Council – Strategic oversight; controls funding, deployments, and officer appointments

• High Warder-Marshal – Commander of all Warder forces

• Grand Admiral of the Dominion – Commander of the Navy

Command authority is deliberately fragmented to prevent any single military figure from threatening the Electors.

Core Components

1. The Warders (Internal Security & Land Force)

Role

• Internal policing and surveillance

• Suppression of unrest (especially among Dusties)

• Enforcement of economic and social laws

• Acting as the primary army during wartime

Structure

Urban Warders – Uniformed police and riot control

Veiled Agents – Undercover operatives embedded in guilds, temples, and trade networks

Contract Enforcers – Oversee labor systems, especially Grubber populations

Border Guard Division – Secures the Roughbounds and eastern frontier

Elite Units - Desert Wardens

• Long-range patrol units operating in the Shugath Gol Desert

• Track smugglers, fugitives, and runaway Grubbers

• Highly self-sufficient and feared even among Warders

Characteristics

• Highly disciplined but politically controlled

• Loyal to the Elector system, not to a national identity

• More focused on control than battlefield maneuver warfare

2. The Dominion Navy

Role

• Coastal defense and patrol

• Trade route protection

• Anti-smuggling operations

• Limited blue-water power projection

Structure

• Three Major Naval Commands (each tied to a major port region)

• Naval Infantry Barracks attached to each naval base

• Patrol Fleets (coastal enforcement)

• Expeditionary Squadrons (blue-water operations)

Operational Reach

Regular presence in: Meridian Sea, Sunsrest Sea, Occasional deployments into the Little Sea

Characteristics

• Fast, maneuverable vessels optimized for interception

• Emphasis on boarding, seizure, and enforcement rather than fleet battles

Naval Infantry trained for:

• Port seizures

• Ship boarding

• Coastal raids

Doctrine

Tartessian military doctrine is built around three core principles:

1. Control Above All

• Military exists to maintain internal order

• Suppression of revolt is prioritized over external war

2. Fragmented Strength

• Forces are intentionally divided between Warders and Navy

• Prevents unified military power that could challenge the Electors

3. Selective Projection

External operations are limited, calculated, and economic in purpose

Focus on:

• Trade enforcement

• Anti-smuggling

• Strategic intimidation

Recruitment and Composition

Warders

• Drawn primarily from the Terce-equivalent class (loyal, skilled citizens)

• Some Dusties recruited into lower ranks for dangerous roles

• Advancement tightly controlled and monitored

Navy

• Mix of Terce sailors and specialized naval infantry

• Officers often tied to Elector families or patronage networks

Desert Units

• Often recruited from frontier peoples or semi-nomadic groups

• Given limited privileges in exchange for service

Equipment and Warfare Style

Weapons

Spears, curved blades, and shields for close combat

Muskets or mechanical ranged weapons

Naval crews equipped for boarding combat

Armor

• Light, breathable armor suited for heat

• Veils and layered cloth for sun protection

Tactics

• Urban suppression formations

• Ambush and pursuit in desert terrain

• Naval interception and boarding actions

• Avoidance of large-scale pitched battles unless necessary

Strategic Role in Ametria

• Seen as a controlled but dangerous power

• Not expansionist, but highly protective of trade and internal order

• Capable of sudden, precise intervention—especially at sea

Summary

The Tartesso military is not designed to conquer—it is designed to control, contain, and enforce.

Its strength lies not in massed armies, but in constant surveillance, economic enforcement, and swift, targeted force.