====== 12th Spear, the Burning Blades ======
//NB: following the Battle of Black Shimmering Garden and the beginning of the Plague Years, this article is essentially historical. Updated information may be found under the entry for the [[Army of the Sun]].//

The emblem of the 12th Spear is a pale blue sword, upright, wreathed in yellow flames. Of the armies of the Bull, it is formed of the men (and women) most experienced in non-conventional combat - skirmish and guerrilla tactics, logistical warfare, naval maneuvers, even the occasional aerial assault (high ice cliffs + carefully designed machinery = surprise!). Their tactical flexibility and wide range of collective experience made them the obvious choice to send south.
===== Officers of the Spear =====
Erststangemeister Tsegan Mal - Force commander of the Burning Blades, now executive officer to Wren. He's not thrilled about being displaced, but his personal loyalty to the Bull is beyond question; also, he's hardly going to argue, especially considering the circumstances. Mal is a heroic mortal with multiple commands under his belt.

"Kommodor" Marching Gale - A fisherman before joining the Blades, Marching Gale is the most skilled sailor in the spear; Wren appointed him acting Kommodor to assist her on the naval journey.

===== Forces =====
//Vorwartsflamme// ("Forward Flame"): The elite forward heavy infantry company of the spear. Consists of the most capable and best equipped soldiers Wren can field. Equipped with heavy battle-axes, reinforced breastplates, and what alchemical and thaumaturgical aid they're able to gather and use. The //vorwartsflamme// took the heaviest losses at Thorns. Technically commanded by //Oberstleutnant// Gotrek Icehammer, a heroic mortal of no small skill; however, they  are often led in battle by [[Glorious Wren]] herself.

//Lichtinfanterieklinge//: Light infantry blade. Generally fielded as two or three //kompanien//. Capable of filling a variety of roles. Equipped with straight swords, shields, self bows, and lamellar armor.

//Kavallerieklinge//: Calvary blade: Generally fielded as two //kompanien//. Light horse cavalry, specializing in skirmishes, raiding, and flanking maneuvers. Equipped with lances, straight swords, self bows, and lamellar armor. Wren tends to underestimate their capabilities, as she herself is a poor rider and dislikes horses.

//Bogenschutzeklinge//: Archery blade. Generally fielded as a single force, though may be broken up into two //kompanien// as necessary. Ranged support, providing covering fire for other forces. Equipped with straight swords, longbows, and reinforced buff jackets.

//Pioniertruppe//: Combat engineers. A short company of sappers. Those of the 12th are particularly skilled in non-obvious solutions and improvisation.


===== Notes on Organization =====
The armies of the Bull of the North are organized in the following way:
  * Army: The Bull has a single army, commanded by himself, partitioned into three //winde// (winds).
  * //Wind//: A combined arms unit led by a //kriegsherr// (warlord) roughly equivalent to a modern division. Each //wind// consists of five //stangen// (spears).
  * //Stange//: A combined arms unit led by a //erststangemeister// or //zweitstangemeister// (first or second spearmaster), roughly equivalent to a modern regiment. Each //stange// consists of four to six //klingen// (blades).
  * //Klinge//: A specialized unit led by a //klingemeister// (blademaster), roughly equivalent to a modern battalion. A //klinge// may operate as a single force, or be split into two to five //kompanien// (companies).
  * //Kompanie//: A specialized unit led by an //oberstleutnant// (lieutenant colonel), similar to a modern company. Generally the smallest independent force fielded by the Bull, or at least the smallest that matters on a strategic scale. On a tactical level, a //kompanie// has three to five //schlage// (strikes).
  * //Schlag//: The smallest mass combat unit anyone actually cares about. Led by a //leutnant// (lieutenant).