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Nightstar The Bright
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The Alethi military is currently one of the major military forces fighting against the Fused Invasion, most notably during the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]] and the Emuli Campaign.{{book ref|sa3|115}}{{book ref|sa4|19}}{{book ref|sa4|112}} Although many more battles and skirmishes were fought between the two armies between {{rosharan date|1173}} and {{rosharan date|1175}}.{{cite}} They also led the Evacuation of Hearthstone in early {{rosharan date|1175}}.{{book ref|sa4|1}} They are currently centered around and stationed in Urithiru.{{book ref|sa4|116}}
=== Wages ===
Although uniforms differ between armies, most Alethi wear something very similar. Uniforms are usually coloured with the colours of their wearer’s highprince.{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|58}}{{book ref|sa3|116}}
Uniforms are generally comprised of stiff trousers, a jacket, which often comes down to the waist and buttons closed beneath the belt, a shirt and boots.{{book ref|sa2|2}}{{book ref|sa3|59}} Uniforms, both the ones of common soldiers and the ones of high ranking lighteyed officers, always have a patch to indicate the duty and unit of the wearer.{{book ref|sa2|2}} Some men choose to further personalize their uniforms with embrodiery or colourful scarfs.{{book ref|sa2|44}} When it rains soldiers may choose to wear a stormcoat over their uniform, and there are often umbrellas ready for officers.{{book ref|sa2|81}}
An officer’s uniform is usually comprised of a waistcoat and a double breasted longcoat, sometimes decorated with embroidery or precious metals. These longcoats, called officer’s coats, are approximately waistlength and are supposed to
Officers are distinguished by knots on a cord across the epaulette, with the amount of knots and their colour signifying their military rank, and their rank in the Alethi caste system.{{book ref|sa1|1}}{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|17}}{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|47}}{{book ref|sa1|58}}{{book ref|sa1|67}} White knots indicate a citizen officer, that is a sergeant or squadleader;{{book ref|sa1|1}}{{book ref|sa1|6}}{{book ref|sa1|46}} red knots indicate an officer of seventh dahn;{{book ref|sa1|46}} and gold knots indicate second or third dahn;{{book ref|sa1|26}}{{book ref|sa1|46}} It can also distinguish between low captain,{{book ref|sa1|67}} captain,{{book ref|sa2|25}}{{book ref|sa3|83}}{{book ref|sa3|117}} captainlord,{{book ref|sa3|63}} lieutenant,{{book ref|sa3|i|14}} sergeant,{{book ref|sa3|6}} and battalionlord.{{book ref|sa4|40}} Soldiers without authority bear no knots.{{book ref|sa1|17}}{{book ref|sa1|46}}{{book ref|sa1|67}}{{book ref|sa4|23}}
The Alethi are outfitted with a large variety of armours, what a soldier wears depends on their job, wealth, and rank. Regardless of these factors however, soldiers almost always wear the colors of their highprince.{{book ref|sa1|47}}
Regular spearmen wear special skirts, which are appropriately named spearmen skirts. It is forbidden for spearmen, even squadleaders, to wear trousers, although this rule isn’t taken very serious; respected soldiers won’t get into trouble for breaking it.{{book ref|sa1|47}} They also wear leather caps and they don’t seem to wear any arm or leg guards.{{book ref|sa4|108}} Wealthier soldiers, or those in professional armies, may wear proper steel breastplates, steel caps and chainmail.{{book ref|sa2|2}} Archers generally wear leather vests,{{book ref|sa1|57}} while heavy infantry wears thick steel armour.{{book ref|sa1|4}}
Wealthy lighteyes often wear steel plate armour. At least some lighteyes decorate their plate armour to resemble Shardplate. Some lighteyes prefer helms with open visors to helms with closed visors.{{book ref|sa3|3}} Some lighteyed soldiers also decorate their helmets with bird plumes.{{book ref|sa3|11}} High ranking Brightlords may
==== Weaponry ====
Most of the Alethi soldiers, the spearmen, are equipped with spears, both longspears and sometimes shortspears,{{book ref|sa2|81}} and shields.{{book ref|sa1|47}}
only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Shortspears and longspears.{{book ref|sa2|81}} maces.{{book ref|sa2|6}} War axes and polearms.{{book ref|sa3|11}} shortsword and longsword.{{book ref|sa4|35}} also truncheons and small round shields, used with swords and large rectangular shields, used with pikes.{{book ref|sa3|73}} Poleaxes. Shortbows. {{book ref|sa3|3}} arming women just isn’t done, even scouts wear only knives.{{book ref|sa3|70}} Darkeyed soldiers are primarily trained in spears and axes,{{book ref|sa1|26}} with swords being used only by higher-ranking lighteyes.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Axes, however, are a nonstandard weapon usually only given to squadleaders and above.{{book ref|sa1|47}} Some soldiers use halberds, although how common they are is unclear.{{book ref|sa4|77}} Several hundred cavalry, darkeyed spearmen, lighteyed heavy foot have large maces, square steel shields and thick armour.{{book ref|sa1|6}}▼
▲only the officers wield swords because, according to Vorin traditions, the sword is regarded as a lighteyed's weapon.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Shortspears and longspears.{{book ref|sa2|81}} maces.{{book ref|sa2|6}} War axes and polearms.{{book ref|sa3|11}} shortsword and longsword.{{book ref|sa4|35}} also truncheons and small round shields, used with swords and large rectangular shields, used with pikes.{{book ref|sa3|73}} Poleaxes. Shortbows. {{book ref|sa3|3}} arming women just isn’t done, even scouts wear only knives.{{book ref|sa3|70}}
=== Tactics ===
The Alethi have a wide range of tactics. A popular tactic is the hammer and anvil tactic.{{book ref|sa3|3}} The Alethi are also practiced at executing a fake rout, often leading to an ambush.{{book ref|sa4|41}} At the tail end of the Era of Solitude warfare started to include heavy cavalry more and more, although the use of heavily armoured and equipped horsemen was still a relatively new and costly strategy.{{book ref|sa3|73}}
The Alethi military also relies on trained [[Shardwielding|Shardbearers]] to aid their regular soldiers. Due to their militaristic society, and the large amount of Shards they have, the Alethi have become excellent at training Shardbearers.
In most cases, lighteyed boys of appropriate rank around the age of ten are chosen by an ardent swordmaster for training.{{book ref|sa2|16}} These boys typically already have at least some training with the sword. The swordmaster teaches them the ten [[Stances|Shardblade Stances]] and familiarity with
==== Punishments ====
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