21.4 Taking up the role of legion commander.

Although it is possible (and commonplace) for legions to be controlled entirely through dispatches prepared and sent out by remote masters, many chose to lead their city or guild legions personally. They take up the status of 'commander', also known as the lieutenant, the constable or the guild-captain. It is the lowest military rank an Avalonian can hold since it is the only non-commisioned rank, but, perhaps more importantly it is also a position open to all citizens and guildsmen, regardless of age, nobility and past experience. It is the entrypoint to interacting hands-on with the military and fieldworker legions of the land.

To take up a commandpost in a legion type MARSHALL followed by the legion-name. You must have been designated of sufficient authority over the specified legion to take up the post and the legion must have, at the very least, sufficient numbers to be of 'company' size. Issuing this command will cause the legion to marshall a phalanx formation about you, arranging itself about your person such that you are virtually invulnerable from direct toe-to-toe melee. You are, however, likewise limited in your ability to target individual opponents directly since they will be beyond the periphery of the legion formation about which you will become surrounded. So: you are both relatively safe and an effective leader of legions but, by dint of your well-surrounded post, you surrender much of your ability as a direct combatante. Below is a list of the command-set available to you once you have successfully taken up your post at the centrepoint of a legion:

Normally it is only possible to issue the MARSHALL command and, indeed, occupy the command-post position when in regular human form. Legions do not tend to react well to being led by animalforms, disguises, mists, light-beams, ghosts and the like. If you possess any such form or you find yourself taking on a non-human form while in the command position, the success of your orders in being relayed about the legion for immediate action will depend on the 'ghostrider' specialist-skill of the legion you are attempting to take over/order about. A dearth of 'ghostrider' skill will mean an absolute denial of leadership from non-humans, while 100% 'ghostrider' potency will enable unrestricted leadership no matter the form of the commander - the legion well capable of discerning the inner qualities of the leader, whatever disguise or shape he/she is in.

Syntax: MARSHALL <legion>.
As documented above, you use this instruction to take up a commandpost at the centre of the specified legion. It takes a little time for the legion to marshall the correct formation but, having done so, you will be much protected by dint of being at the epicentre of the group. At the commandpost and, if you are of lieutenant rank, there alone - will you be able to take hands-on control of passing orders to and gathering information from the legion. This is one of the cornerstones of battlefield action. If the legion is sufficiently developed at the 'ghostrider' specialist-skill then it will be possible to marshall the legion in ghost, mist, light or other non-human forms. Normally, however, proper human form must be maintained.

Syntax: RELINQUISH <legion>.
Reverses the effects of the MARSHALL order by information your legion to disperse and afford you a way out, back into the open. The legion will quickly adjust its formation to let you relinquish your commandpost (thereby losing direct control of the group) and return to a normal unprotected state.

Syntax: COMMAND <legion> [<...goal/mission...>].
A marshall, having taken up a commandpost at the epicentre of a legion, may use this command to pass orders directly - in real-time - to the group over which he or she has assumed leadership. Commands generally supersede dispatches (the other form of order-giving). They are simpler, more direct, less inviting of interpretation or complex assessment of criteria. You command; the legion obeys. See HELP GOALS for a list of direct legion-goals or actions available to the 'commander'.

See also HELP LEGION for the central legion management command documentation, HELP DISPATCH for a comprehensive dossier on the creation, writing and propogation of dispatches while HELP SPECIALIST/HELP SPECIALIST <skill> gives you crucial rundowns on the specialist-skills.