Encountering the Emir’s Army in Legends of Al-Andalus

In Legends of Al-Andalus you might encounter the Emir’s army. In fact this section is used for the army of all Muslim states, including the Emirate and its enemies.

Historical Order of Battle

Check out Andalusian Order of Battle. I’ve taken some liberties to enhance the flavour. Specifically by allowing guards that really only existed in an earlier period and by allowing multiple guard units.

Talk the Talk

See Talk the Talk. The NPCs are Rep 5 for this encounter. Additional NPC reaction modifiers are:

  • +2d6 if you are hated enemy (e.g. a Bandit, raiders or defenders of another State, competing Guard units when within the City)
Reaction Table
Passed die difference Reaction
Swept of feet Will offer you a job either in the Army itself or as an irregular.  Your choice whether you do it or not.
Favourable Will offer you a job either in the Army itself or as an irregular.  Your choice whether you do it or not.
Indifferent “Have a nice day”
Ask a Favour Will ask you for a voluntary gift of supplies for the troops (2 x Rep). If you don’t cough up they become Belligerent.
Belligerent Troops take an instant dislike to you and attack.  Open Battle encounter.

Employment in the Army

Characters can join the Army of the Emir.

Joining

Any time a character is in the City or the Outpost they may join the Army as a regular. Rep 2-4 characters become privates and Rep 5-6 become officers.

Joining as an irregular requires a Favourable or Swept of feet reaction.

Location

If part of the Army, At the end of each month the character rolls to see if they remain at their current post (1-5) or are relocated (6).

The specific encounter may involving moving to another location.

Encounters

Encounters while in the Army are determined by this process:

  1. No encounter this month (1-5) or encounter (6).
  2. Encounter enemy are Bandits (1-4), Muslim Army (5) or Christian Army (6)
  3. Encounter is:
    • If at the Outpost: raid defender (1-2), conduct a strategic pursuit of raiders (3-4), or raid attacker (5-6).
    • Otherwise: conduct a strategic pursuit of raiders (1-3), or raid attacker (4-6)

A raid against Bandits means the unit must march to the mountains. Against another state means the unit marches across the border into that state.

Wages 

Your wages depends on whether you’re a regular or irregular.

Wages for Regulars

A character employed by the Army as regular gets their Rep in AP at the end of each month.

If the character reaches Rep 5 during their employment they become an officer.

Any Loot & Booty collected inside the Emirate is goes to the Emir. However, any Loot and Booty collected in raiding other states, whether Christian or Muslim, can be retained.

Wages for Irregulars

Hashid (“recruits” for a single expedition), Mujahids (religious volunteers), and Muttawia (foreign irregulars) are all unpaid.

Unlike their regular counterparts the irregulars get to keep any Loot & Booty collected.

Leaving the army

The process for leaving the army also depends on whether you are regular or irregular.

Regulars leaving the army

Enlistment for regulars is for 2+ years. Two years is the minimum. A character can stay enlisted longer, but does so in complete years. The only way to leave earlier is to desert. A deserter that subsequently encounters the army might be recognised (1-2) and executed.

Irregulars leaving the army

If you are an irregular you can leave at the end of any time whilst at base. If you leave whilst on an expedition you are counted as a deserter. A deserter that subsequently encounters the army might be recognised (1-2) and executed.

Army List

I’ve split the army into groups as most encounters are fairly small scale and would not involved a general cross section of the army but a particular faction within the army.

Who did you meet Table
2d6 Group within the Army
2 Black Infantry
3-4 Andalusian Levy
5 Berber Infantry
6 Andalusian Infantry
7 Andalusian Cavalry
8 Berber Cavalry
9 Christian Mercenaries
10 Slav Guard
11 Noble Guard
12 Black Guard

Andalusian Cavalry

Light cavalry dominated Andalusian armies. Normally these were javelin and shield guys (Jinetes) although the occasional horse archer was found.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Armoured guy (MM) A/Sh Javelin, Sword Horse 23
2-5 Light Cavalry (Jinete) (MM) 4 N/Sh Javelin, Sword Horse 17
6 Jinete as above (1-4)
or
Horse Archer (M) (5-6)
4 N Short Bow Horse 14

Andalusian Infantry

The more experienced Andalusian infantry.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Experienced Man (W) 5 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   19
2-3 Spearmen (W) 4 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   17
4-5 Archers (M) 4 N Short Bow   12
6 Slinger (M) 4 N, Sh Sling   14

Andalusian Levy

These are basically villagers in arms called up for training or some special purpose.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Experienced Man (W) 4 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   19
2-3 Spearmen (W) 3 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   18
4-5 Archers (M) 3 N Short Bow   11
6 Slinger (M) 3 N, Sh Sling   13

Berber Cavalry

Berber cavalry were the original Jinetes.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Armoured guy (MM) A/Sh Javelin, Sword Horse 23
2-6 Light Cavalry (Jinete) (MM) 4 N/Sh Javelin, Sword Horse 17

Berber Infantry

Berbers from Morocco were common in Al-Andalus. Often they were mercenaries or recent immigrants (there was little to distinguish between these groups) but could also be from an establish Berber community in the peninsular.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Experienced Man (W) 5 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   21
2-3 Spearmen (W) 4 N, LSh Spear, Javelin   19
4-5 Archers (M) 4 N Short Bow   12
6 Javelinman (W) 4 N, LSh Javelin   16

Black Infantry

West Sudanese were used as infantry in Al-Andalus. There were probably bought as slaves and possibly freed.

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1 Experienced Man (W) 5 N/LSh Javelin   16
2-6 Black Infantry (W) 4 N/LSh Javelin   14

Christian Mercenaries

?? TODO ??

Recruitment Table
1d6 Type Rep Armour Weapon Other Points
1-2 Armoured Cavalry (K) 5 A/LSh Lance, Sword Horse 31
3-4 Spearmen (W) 4 N/LSh Spear   17
5 Archers (M) 4 N Short Bow   12
6 Javelinmen (W) 4 P Spear, Javelin   16

Slav Guard

?? TODO ??

Noble Guard

?? TODO ??

Black Guard

?? TODO ??

Leave a Reply