Minas Ithil/First Ithillian Dragoons

The First Ithillian Dragoons

"The objective of war is not to die for your realm, but to make the other poor, dumb bastard die for his."

http://sdf.alabama.gov/images/cavalry.gif

===The Dragoon's Song===
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the battles' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war

well,I wanna horse in the volunteer force that's riding forth at dawn
Please save for me some gallantry that will echo when I'm gone
I beg of you sarge let me lead the charge when the battle lines are drawn
Lemme at least leave a good hoof beat they'll remember loud and long

I'd not a good foot soldier make, I'd be sour and slow at march
And I'd be sick on a navy ship, and the sea would leave me parched
But I'll be first in line if they'll let me ride, by god, you'll see my starch
Lope back o'er the heath with the laurel wreath underneath that vict’ry arch

I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the battles' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war

Let me earn my spurs in the battle's blur where the day is lost or won
I'll wield my lance as the ponies dance and the blackguards swing their swords
A sabre keen, and a saddle carbine and an army behind me
Where the black thatched shaft screams with the cold, cold steel let me be a cav’lryman

I wanna be in the cavalry if they send me off to war
I wanna good steed under me like my forefathers before
I wanna good mount when the bugle sounds and I hear the battles' roar
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go of to war

Let 'em play their flutes and stirrup my boots and place them back to front
For I won’t be back on the rider-less black and I'm finished in my hunt
I wanna be in the cavalry if I must go off to war
I wanna be in the cavalry, but I won't ride home no more.


===Traditions===
All Dragoons, cavalry or not, travel whilst mounted, and every trooper is armed with a saber. All troops will wear a black brimmed hat. The crown of the hat shall not be pushed in or otherwise altered. The brim may be creased upwards. Knights shall wear a silver band around the base, Lords shall wear a black band with silver acorns, Marshals shall wear a gold band, and the Field Marshal shall wear a black band with gold acorns.
Also, of great honor to any mounted noble, it is an honor to receive one's spurs. This is the highest honor awarded by the Dragoons, and it considered a requisite to distinguish oneself and earn their spurs.

The History of the Dragoons

===Birth===
Fed up with the lack of tradition and competence he saw in the Mounted Knights of Minas Ithil, Raziel III Himoura took it upon himself to remedy the situation. When he was granted his father's title as Baron of Dunstoke, he immediately founded a new army, one that would preserve the cavalry tradition and continue to display the prowess of the mounted warrior on the battlefield. Thus, in Dunstoke, The First Ithillian Dragoons were born.

===First Blood===
The Dragoons were founded in the midst of the Norland/Ithillian war, and quickly made a name for themselves, securing many victories, and gaining significant ground against Norland. Their founder and Marshal, Raziel III Himoura proved himself a bold, cunning and wily tactician. Moramroth, Barad Riel, and Amriel fell before Ithillian forces, with the Dragoons leading the way.

Treachery

However, Norland's confederates couldn't watch their confederate lose, so they forsook their honor and broke many treaties and joined in force to combat Minas Ithil. Minas Ithil lost what ground it had taken, but has done a remarkable job of holding the cowardly invaders at bay. The cunning tactics of Raziel III got him named Field Marshal of Minas Ithil, and his boldness will surely lead our armies to victory.