The Shemites, driven to the west by the Stygians and battling them nearly every step of the way, founded great cities near the rivers, using swampland to insulate themselves as a natural barrier. As the cities expanded, the swamps were drained and slowly vanished. The citystates were insular and, like many other nations and places, more inclined to see their own needs and interests as more important and valuable than the needs and interests of others. The city-states fought over scarce resources primarily, such as land, labour and water, although conflicts for supremacy and sovereignty, especially against Stygia and the Hyborians, also took place. Interestingly, wars are portrayed by the priests as epic conflicts between the patron gods of the battling cities and the soldiers fighting the wars are the chosen warriors of the gods. Thus, heroism is accorded great honour and social prestige. To fight in these epic battles between the gods and earn the resulting glory, the Shemites maintain an impressive military. The war machine of the Shemites is comprised primarily of professional soldiers, the asshuri. To make soldiering more attractive to people, the Shemite society has made them upper class, with benefits befitting their station. Commoners are taught that soldiers are the warriors of the patron god. The asshuri are more celebrated than the regular militia but both are well-trained units. Most of the city-states can provide 600 to 700 men in their standing armies of asshuri. If cities need more troops than they can provide themselves, they hire asshuri from other cities or even mercenary units from other nations.
‘Crom, it seems that all you Shemites do is hole up in your little city-states and venture out once a year to try to conquer your neighbour. It is but a larger version of the clan feuds of my homeland. You fight a few battles and then slink back home with nothing gained. And this with Koth hungering at your border.’ John C. Hocking, Conan and the Emerald Lotus
Shemite Mercenaries – Asshuri The mercenaries of Shem are considered to be men devoid of compassion or mercy. These cold-blooded killers for hire are inhumanly cruel, fighting with the ferocity and lust of wild beasts. They do not leave fallen foes behind, but kill the wounded and the downed with pitiless intensity. Although some of the Shemitish mercenaries were skilled with swords and spears, their archers were the most in demand. Extremely keen of eye, the Shemites are feared for their deadly archery skills. They are practically born with bows in hand and horses beneath them. Dressed in scale corselets and cylindrical helmets, the sons of Shem are always ready for war.
Shemite Military
The Shemite Military
The asshuri are from the Meadow Cities in the western part of Shem. They draw their numbers from the free men of the city with good wages and a tradition of civic service. Also, by entering the ranks of the soldier, the free men become part of the upper class of society. The king of each city supplies his asshuri with the best equipment he can afford, as well as military training. A soldier may serve in the asshuri for as long as he wishes, though few choose to make a life of it. Most take the training and the equipment, earn their gold, then move on to more lucrative careers as a piece in Shem’s merchant empires. They are famous for their ruthlessness in battle as well as for their skill with the bow. A city-state in Shem can muster approximately 3 to 15 units (with about 200 men per unit) of asshuri. Of these, about 50% are assigned to mercenary duty. They can be recalled, but it may take months for them to return from their current assignment.
Asshuri Company Names The elite warriors of the meadow Shemites call themselves asshuri, and they do not refer to themselves as Shemites. They are members of whatever tribe or region they belong to. They are not Shemite asshuri, but the asshuri of Nippr or the asshuri of Eruk. A company of asshuri goes by a name combining both its
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