u/BasicallyaFilipino

The Sacred Band of Erotska is an all female unit initially composed of female lovers. It is a fully musketeer regiment, given armor similar to pikemen and drilled to out shoot most musketeers for their time. Their creation by the Regicides is somehow even more absurd. The Regicides—a coalition of warrior nobles and followers of the Vudonist denomination of Surunism—rebelled after their rights and the practice of Vudonism was banned. After being forced to retreat into the southern mountain ranges. They need to solve their manpower crisis. The influential Irya Yonivik proposed the idea of getting female lovers in the frontlines, believing their love is a strong bond to ensure they fight hard, citing the the Sacred Band of Nothenia of the antiquity, which had the same principles, except they're all male lovers.

Now, the War Council of the Regicides is made up of eight different factions, these being: Traditionalists, Erotskanists, Meritocratic Progressives, Moderates, Conservatives, Romantics, Reformists, and the Unconditional Progressives. As you can see, more than half of it is right wing. So how did this even pass? Just see the statements for yourself.

Imran Zaitsev of the Traditionalists: "If we look past Karetsky's (the founder of the First Erotskan Empire and the father of the Erotskan identity) unified code, we can see our ancestors before him have very lax laws with these sexual deviants. Not only that, but Karetsky's son, Ysta the Wolf, is more softer than his father when it comes to them. If Karetsky's son can do so, we can afford to be even softer."

Yulian Pavrotsk of the Erotskanists: "The worth of the true Erotskan is how much they're willing to bleed for this beautiful soil."

Yemetri Stalavetsk of the Meritocratic Progressives: "The women and their homosexual counterparts are readily welcome to be our sisters in arms. As long as they fight like men and die like men, they have earned their place to be of equals."

Jan Trosk of the Moderates: "The most pragmatic path forward is to do anything to gain manpower."

Ijemetri Zhudamayets of the Conservatives: "These deviants, while an affront to God, is not against our culture and our situation. It is true. Erotska survives with sheer pragmatism. This time is no different."

Boryet Malinkopov of the Romantics: "Such beautiful creatures condemned to war. It's a tragic but necessary thing. At least they'll see the glory of battle and comradery they've never experienced before."

Abram Durovich of the Reformists: "This structure, if it were to persist post war, could only give us more possible manpower to draw from. The only problem now would being our own logistics in arming these new recruits."

Dmitri Shaskapov of the Unconditional Progressives: "This is a victory for the women of Erotska, who seek to be acknowledged as equals. May their prowess in battle help them in their fight for a more equal state."

Somehow, the other conservative factions think the Traditionalists' argument is the most absurd, because what do you mean "past Karetsky"? One other traditionalist jokingly said "We have to draw the line and define what a traditionalist is. I do not want to worship pagan gods out of tradition."

So what did the Sacred Band gain? Well recognition, and a newfound respect for what the Erotskans and people of the times view as "sexual deviants". Their first commander, Yuliy Tosotorets, was a beloved figure, an old man who loved them all like they're his daughters. He died in battle and was replaced by Yosef Karkopov, an eccentric and flamboyant commander. He was more radical than the former commander, officiating mock weddings and paying them higher wages (though this one was justified and approved by the War Council since they're technically a special unit similar to the Iron Hussars). Not only that, Yuliy drilled them so effectively that even though they were still using wheellocks, they can fire at the same fire rate as those who use doglocks or flintlocks. Indeed, the saying "Fear a woman scorned, lest it's led by Yosef, then kill yourself first" was first attributed to the noble Yemets Fylinko, who is one of his harshest critcs. After the end of the war, many Sacred Band soldiers were given fair compensation and is even the first in the victory parade. Recognized for their valor, the unit would have an on and off relationship with the government, being relegated as a ceremonial unit before being deactivated before being activated once more, returned to ceremonial duties and returned to active duty once again, until the fall of Erotska in 1925. They are still popular among the modern generations, with Erotskan lesbians utilizing the double headed eagle holding the Interlocking Symbol of Women in one claw and a musket on the other, which is the banner of the Sacred Band.

"I know racists who use stereotypes and they are cowards for not doing anymore research!"

- this was in context to the release of the film "Brave Sons". A Kotervian propaganda film that is supposed to take place during the 11th century wars between the Erotskans and the Kotervs. In the film, the Erotskans are seen eating organs, particularly human hearts. While the backlash was severe for depicting the Erotskans as these barbarians that eat human flesh for fun, one odd group of people led by Erotskan historian Yuri Stopaletsk. He is the one that was quoted and explained that while the heart eating is exaggerated, citing that only the higher statuses can afford the regular consumption of said organs, he is more angry at the fact that they think ancient Erotskans are barbaric enough to not cook human organs. He said "There are lots of surviving works about the preparation and cooking of human organs, especially hearts, in Erotskan history. The Center for Erotskan Culinary Traditions has many, many examples of how these organs were served. Frankly, I and some few are quite disappointed." He then continues "How dare these Kotervs, these communists try to depict us as barbarians! Weren't they descended from barbarians too? If you are to dehumanize a race, do it properly, with proper research, with proper study. How generic. How uncreative. Read a book and get new material!"

No Morrigan stuff for a while. Am focusing on worldbuilding stuff for a bit. Btw, where do y'all guys scale Morrigan?

I'm drawing another Morrigan art and simultaneously playing Rome: Total War instead of memorizing my speech bruh. Priorities I guess.

Wdym I can just put a Spartan hoplite on a gate, put another behind as reserve, put the other hoplites on walls and wait?

The Sacred Band were female soldiers who were lovers. Conceived during the First Erotskan Civil War by the militant Royalists, they were a full musket regiment. The Sacred Band, at least in their early years, were not equipped to the standards of their main army. They were equipped with older wheellock muskets compared to the doglocks and flintlocks the main army would field. That would change later on as the Royalist would pile on more and more victories, capturing armories and ports, allowing them to finally be equipped equally to their main counterparts. Their commanders were Yuliy Tostorets, who oversaw the formation and initial drilling. He was replaced after dying in battle. He was replaced by the more strict yet competent commander Yosef Karkopov, who would end up pioneering Erotskan line warfare.