Thunder Legionary
Thunder legionaries were the esteemed soldiers used by the Legion of Thunder to conquer the Cloudlands, and Veskovia (after The Unbirthing). They were clad in gold-coated Thundersteel armour and wielded weapons of the same fashion.
Purpose #
The legionaries of the Legion of Thunder were there to enforce the Legion's will through policing the populace of controlled territories while waging war against its enemies.
Professional Soldiers #
Thunder legionaries weren't conscripts, instead being professional soldiers that applied to the Legion to serve as its warriors. A rigorous set of examinations had to be completed to be accepted into the Legion's forces, including both physical and mental aptitude tests. Typically, a member of the Tempest Inquisition would oversee the examinations to ensure that only loyal subjects of the Legion's lands were accepted.
Soldiers serving the Legion gained many benefits, incentivizing many to work towards becoming a legionary. For example, a potential soldier's family would be lavished with great service and riches in the form of the Daughters of Hyperius Program.
Equipment #
Thunder legionaries were one of the most expensive troops to arm and armour in all of Legere, with their gold-coated Thundersteel gear, fine silk robes and capes, and guaranteed access to incentive programs.
Armour #
Thunder legionaries wore thundersteel armour that allowed them to send electrical currents through the weapons of those who struck the metal. A legionary could also engage the storm magic within the armour to perform all manner of arcane feats, such as a radial electrocution (if surrounded by opponents).
Thundersteel armour was rarely forged as plate, instead manifesting as lamellar armour comprised of multiple overlapping strips, or scale armour. Higher ranking members of the Legion of Thunder, like centurions or members of the Tempest Inquisition would have the rare privilege of gaining plate armour in the form of a muscle cuirass.
In layers underneath the thundersteel were a mail coat, which helped to reinforce gaps (especially in lamellar armour patterns), and beneath that a quilted padding that offered additional protection as well as insulation from the often-chilly winds that could blow across the Cloudlands.
Legionaries also wore thundersteel helmets. A plume or lack thereof on the helmet's zenith indicated the rank of a legionary, like if they were a captite or centurion.
Weaponry #
The legionary's most iconic and reliable weapon was a gold-plated thundersteel sword with a short, leaf-shaped blade. It combined well with the legionaries' often-accompanying off-hand piece of equipment, which was a large wooden scutum with a thundersteel boss.
Legionaries would also arm themselves with spears and pikes in different circumstances. A smaller parma shield could also be carried by legionaries who weren't engaged on the front lines.
Tactics #
Testudo Fulminis #
The thunder legionaries' most iconic battlefield formation was the testudo fulminis, which saw each soldier line their massive shields up so that they overlapped. They would then channel the fulgurmantic energies of their shields' Thundersteel bosses, creating powerful arcs of lightning that leaped between the shields. This electrified shield wall was highly effective at repelling enemy formations that approached the legionaries while also providing a potent defense against projectiles of magical nature.
Storm Magic Siege #
With a standard sized century (100 men), thunder legionaries could combine their power to summon and maneuver storms of varying power and with varying attributes. For example, a century could conjure a raging twister, or a cloud that shattered structures with a tumultuous hailstorm.
Effectively, these conjured storms replaced the Legion of Thunder's need for siege weaponry.