The banner used by the Northern Forces, which resembles a lot to the banner used in diplomatic exchanges - the national flag of the North.
"The free people of the Dominion of Lightning are organised in a somewhat traditional Taika style. Having faced various powerful threats before, the military of the Lightning has shown the ability to adapt and overcome the obstacles. Seen by their rivals as traditionalists and backwatered, the fighting force of the North consists out of various specialised troops. The free Taika archers, the heavy Sanosuke footmen and lethal Alaricus lancers are just a few examples of what the North can muster. On top of that, the northern military have managed to gain access to excellent engineers and minds - allowing the armies of the Dominion to acquire deadly siege engines."
- The short description about the military of the Lightning country.
As per expected of a feudal-influenced nation, many of the military officers and leaders are from the nobility.
Intro
The military of the Dominion of Lightning is one of various strategies. Combining their prominent elements to overcome their enemies, the military of the northern peninsula have gained the respect and dread of both allies as enemies. Renowned for their excellent cavalry, siege-engineering as an understanding of logistics have moulded the forces of the North into a deadly adversary. Capable of performing offensive as defensive strategems.
The Player Characters
What about the characters, that are shinobi?
The Shinobi corp is an element within the military of the Lightning. They are often deployed alongside soldiers to combat enemy operatives. But it isn't rare for Lightning shinobi to be deployed on subterfuge or espionage missions - to undermine enemy manoeuvres or perform assassinations of high-value targets. Player characters will find themselves often rotating in operations that are aimed to make use of their specialisations as to aid the military's campaigns.
Composition
Despite the Alaricus and Sanosuke status as Great Clans, the military of the Lightning country has remained dominated by Taika traditions and culture.
The military of the Lightning is composed out of two core elements. The largest component is the Spears of the North, the often first line of defence. Traditionally, the Raikage would stand at the head of the military, but due to concern, the Raikage's influence as power has been significantly decreased. The smaller component is under the Raikage's command, often referred to as the Kumogakure Wardens - though many refer to them as Kumo shinobi.
The head of the military is the Daimyo himself. His word is considered law and must be followed. However, it can't be expected that the Daimyo himself will risk his divine life on the battlefield all the time. For this reason, the military has various leaders in charge, to prevent too much power or control for one office.
Lightning Equipment
Due to the notoriously harsh winters of the north and colder climates, the gear of the Lightning sport often components meant to keep to drive of the cold.
The equipment of the northern military is quite Taika in style and execution. Equipment is usually self-purchased, if not standardized pieces given to recruits. While many neighbours mock and doubt the Lightning military for its extensive freedom, it has created a tradition among its people and clans - allowing the state to field troops cheaper and quicker, thanks to the soldiers own investment and experience.
Of course, there is a subtle nuance that must be exposed. While the ordinary soldier has to provide much for himself, many clans have deemed it necessary to equip their fighters with equipment. Leading to the process that various clans have invested in specialised units of their own - often ranging between cavalry, infantry or skirmishers. Which allows the North to field various exceptional troops against their rivals.
The Northern Banners
With the dawn of various reforms, the military has been organised into a more structural and disciplined force. For the army, this system is revolved around four distinct units. The first and smallest is known as the Arban, which exist out of 10 combatants. A hundred troops form a Yaghun. A thousand soldiers form a Minghan and the largest unit known is the Tumen, which exist out of ten-thousand troops.
Banners
The army is divided into various banners. Each Tumen is affiliated with a specific coloured banner. These Northern Banners are given various tasks, depending on the diplomatic situation that the Lightning experiences. In peace times, a Northern Banner is tasked with keeping peace in a region, recruiting new combatants and keeping the quality of their force high. When deployed, a Northern Banner tasks differ drastically. They ought to campaign against the enemy, often cooperating with other Northern Banners to defeat an enemy.
There are currently six Northern Banners;
- The Red Banner;
A couple of riders from the Red Banner, patrolling the mountain range between the Frost and Lightning nation.
Located in the south, at the border of the Lightning and Frost. The Red Banner is tasked with overseeing the defences in the south as providing a mobile strike-force to aid the vassal state, the Frost country. Its current leader is Kasai Kohei.
- The Yellow Banner;
Located in the eastern part of the Lightning country, the Yellow Banner is notoriously composed out of a large number of nomadic people enlisted. Its large amount of cavalry allows the Yellow Banner to perform various stratagems almost unique to them. Currently, it is tasked to keep order as train more competent cavalry - for the other Banners. Its current leader is Araki Shunmyo.
- The Blue Banner;
The Blue Banner is located at the eastern parts of the Lightning Country. Tasked to keep the peace, the Blue Banner has a secondary objective. In case of dire need, the Blue Banner will deploy detachments to other locations to reinforce the different Banners. Hisoki Hojo currently commands the Blue Banner.
- The White Banner;
Located far in the North, the White Banner is almost exclusively made up from Sanosuke troops. Distinctively different in equipment from the other Banners, these Sanosuke combatants are a hardy lot. While located in the far North, to safeguard their lands from any possible threat, the White Banner can expect to be called upon in dire situations. Grimr of Yngvar currently commands it.
- The Black Banner;
The Black Banner is a strange and mysterious force within the Lightning military. Adhering to the new system, the Black Banner is composed out of a large number of shinobi-esque combatants. The Black Banner is tasked with counter-intelligence as performing foreign missions. How the members of the Black Banner conduct their affairs is only known to themselves as various high ranked individuals within the military.
- The Green Banner;
Located in the Alaricus heartlands, the fighters of the Green Banner are formed out of Alaricus combatants. Equipped differently from their Taika and Chonobi counterparts, the Green Banner is capable of delivering various strategies that can provide advantages for the North. They are garrisoned in their heartlands, which allow them the ability to aid the southern and eastern parts of the nation quickly - if required. Currently, Leonard of the Alaricus clan commands the Green Banner.
Northern Shinobi
The shinobi of the North have various and distinct equipment that set them apart from other foreign shinobi operatives. What follows is some descriptive information that briefly touches upon the shinobi of the North.
The typical Kumogakure attire. While the jacket only covers half of the torso, this is compensated with the use of shin and arm guards.
Kumogakure Shinobi
The most known shinobi operative of the north is those from Kumogakure. While stationed and trained in various other places, Kumogakure remains the main headquarters for this branch of Northern operatives. Their gear is light and meant to allow mobility with limited protection - emphasizing the operatives agility. However, customization is permitted as many more Kumogakure shinobi have adopted closed boots to combat the cold that they often train and operate.
Clad in heavier gear, meant for confrontations, the Ranzaki Daggers are well equipped for close-quarter combat.
Ranzaki Daggers
An elusive branch that seems to have various practices as abilities that are on par with the ANBU. The Ranzaki Daggers are elite Northern operatives, often tasked with hunting priority targets within and outside the Lightning. Origin doesn't seem to matter, as there is quite some diversity within the Ranzaki Daggers. While having a uniform gear, they often disguise themselves when conducting operations on foreign soil or when collecting information about their targets. Not much else is known about their ways of recruiting, training or who is in command of the organization.
Blades of Yana
The Blades of Yana have no uniform gear. They do often do attempt to mask or disguise their features - likely to keep their true identities hidden from others.
One of the most mysterious organisations within the Lightning military. It isn't entirely known to the public or most of the military what the tasks are of the Blades of Yana. It is so far known that they operate independently from the regular military. How they conduct their affairs, who leads them or what their main objectives are nothing but hunches and guesses. Some veterans assume that the Blades of Yana are composed out of ANBU and other elite operatives - to join the ranks of the mysterious organisation.