Armed Forces

    Just like the people, the armed forces of Vessia are very varied in equipment, doctrine, leadership and competency. Due to age old advancement in technology of the country it relies on peasant crossbows and artillery who are rather simple to train, along with surprisingly well armed conscript spearmen. The sword is usually reserved for those of the upper or rare middle class in the army who actually get proper training. Their military has been optimized for swift and overwhelming wars against minor states and peoples who try to stay independent of their rule. However recently some of their enemies have proven to be difficult and now they are in the process of a complete overhaul of their military in the east, training men to use bows, making proper light infantry, so on and so forth. There is no separate policing force, the Empire instead preferring to let the military enforce the law. Most of their border with recognized countries in the open lands is through the seas, connected on land through a very small land-bridge. There is great use of Clerics in their military as they are the only openly practiced thaumaturges, but there is extremely limited and often secretive use of other mages. It is well known that the military is one of the very few ways for a lower-class citizen to progress through social hierarchy, although it is also known that this is one of the most unsafe means to progress as well.