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."

===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 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 dipped in the front and back. Lords shall wear a silver band around the base, Knights shall wear a black band with silver acorns, The Field Marshal shall wear a gold band, and Marshals shall wear a black band with gold acorns. Troops will be issued and required to wear: One jacket, Royal Blue. One pair of trousers, Royal Blue. One pair of riding boots, black.
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.

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

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.

A Change in Events

In time, Dead Angel3 of the White Guardians stepped down as King of Minas Ithil, and Raoul De La Fare was crowned King of Minas Ithil. Raoul quickly brokered a truce with the Northern Federation, and declared his support for Falasan. Raziel III was then struck down by his brother, and the Army was unable to function for a time, and all thought the Dragoons lost.

The Return

Now once again, the Northern Federation has shown its true colors, their treachery knowing no bounds. The Northern Federation has cowardly attacked Minas Ithil in a sickening attempt to grab land, breaking treaties once again. Raziel III recovered and started the Dragoons once again. They come back and are a ray of hope once more for Minas Ithil. Victory came at a high cost, but Norland was utterly destroyed... All seemed well, but war began to brew in the West...

The Decline

The Cagilan Empire struck, and Minas Ithil fought a war like never before, against the unstoppable might of the Empire and her cronies. Raziel III grew tired, and stepped down as Field Marshal. He retired from the life of war that had plagued him for so long, and returned to Dunstoke to rest. He soon left for lands abroad and the Dragoons were disbanded while their Marshal wandered from conflict to conflict on the frontier of the known world.

York's Newest Elite

Raziel returned, and with the support of the mighty Duke of York, Ted Zepplins, the First Ithillian Dragoons were reformed with Raziel as the Marshal, and Sir Caius Varrus as Vice-Marshal. The Dragoons ride again, and have replaced the now disbanded York's Elite. With funding and active support and participation from the most gracious Duke of York, the Dragoons will be an unstoppable force upon the fields of Atamara. Born to compete, never retreat!

The Great War

Minas Ithil marched to war alongside the Northern Federation to combat the Caligan Empire and her allies. The Dragoons saw many great victories, often against superior forces, and even sacked the enemy city of Barad Gardor. However, the Empire and her allies had numerical superiority and Minas Ithil was pushed back. The war ended with a peace treaty signed with Coria, however, the traitor Raoul De La Fare seceded his city from Minas Ithil, so the Dragoons ride once again to war!