The Unlucky XIIIth aka the 'Cack-Handers'

[MOB]

To test and strengthen their faith, Yelmalions who take a gift also take a geas. Yelmalio bestows these so that his people will serve him better, and to admonish and correct the wayward.

Unfortunately, some of Yelmalio's geases make it difficult for those who receive them to continue serving in the line of battle, which relies on a uniformity of action and singularity of purpose.

Templars whose collection of geases renders them incapable of joining the line are instead sent to a serve in a specialised unit at Harpoon, as are other templar misfits: inveterate left-handers, shirkers, and assorted reprobates not considered bad enough to warrant a spell at Pent Ridge. Here they guard the famous giant spear-throwing weapon that sits high on the bluffs.

Although officially designated the XIIIth Square ("the Unlucky Thirteenth"), the rest of the Sun Dome Templars fix on the left-handers in this group and derisively refer to them all as the "Cack-Handers".

Led by the senior initiate (and sometimes Light Son) Ouric Goldflinger, whose chequered career is said to have earned him the unofficial Sun County record of simultaneous geases, the Cack-Handers are formed into outsized half-files of 10 or more, depending on their prohibitions.

The lowest of the low are the final file, the "Dirty Dozen" who all share that same unfortunate geas, "Never bathe".

The XIIIth Square on parade are certainly an interesting sight, lining up with a variety of armour missing, and carrying assorted weapons or shields in either hand. The other templars snigger and say that the only thing more amusing than watching the Cack-Handers try to form a reasonable shield wall is watching them try to eat at dinner time.

In the Time of Two Counts, many members of the Cack-handers – including all those who were actually left-handed – defected to Lord Belvani. Ouric Goldflinger did not, and Countess Vega has rewarded his loyalty by reinstating him as a Light Son.

[I posted this over on the RuneQuest Facebook group; posting here too, for ease of future retrieval]  

Edited June 7, 2021 by MOB

[metcalph]

IIRC other units reportedly include Dads Square (the square for retired Templars), the Young Pikes (Cadet Templars), the Tenth or Perfect Square (the Best of the Best), the Showers of Gold (an Archery square) etc etc.

[AndrewTBP]

28 minutes ago, metcalph said:

the Young Pikes (Cadet Templars)

All of whom wear neck scarves, no doubt. 

[Rob Darvall]

On 6/7/2021 at 6:50 PM, AndrewTBP said:

All of whom wear neck scarves, no doubt. 

Ascots surely?

[Stephen L]

9 hours ago, Rob Darvall said:

Ascots surely?

Young Pike wearing a scarf might be a British reference to young Pike in Dad's Army who *always* wore a scarf (normal knitted affair).  His mother didn't like him being out at night, and insisted that he wear a scarf so he didn't catch a cold.

A link to the wikipedia image:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/51/Dadsarmy_1.jpg

Pike is the young lad on the left, wearing a scarf.

Edited June 8, 2021 by Stephen L

[AndrewTBP]

11 hours ago, Stephen L said:

British reference to young Pike in Dad's Army

I think they've rumbled us.
— Sgt Wilson

[Scornado]

Don't tell them Pike!

 

[Darius West]

On 6/7/2021 at 5:54 PM, MOB said:

Templars whose collection of geases renders them incapable of joining the line are instead sent to a serve in a specialised unit at Harpoon, as are other templar misfits: inveterate left-handers, shirkers, and assorted reprobates not considered bad enough to warrant a spell at Pent Ridge. Here they guard the famous giant spear-throwing weapon that sits high on the bluffs.

I could see some value for the cack-hands to be forming a portion of the left flank of the line.  During hoplite rank fighting in ancient Greece there was a recorded tendency for the formations to engage, and then sort of rotate around the battle-field in a counter-clockwise direction due to the way the shields interlocked, and both sides fighting for advantage.  Having dedicated Left handers in play on the left flank would tend to off-set this tendency potentially without entirely breaking the formation, with only a minor change in the drill.  Just a suggestion.  I can also see why it might not work if trained badly.

Edited June 14, 2021 by Darius West

[MOB]

56 minutes ago, Darius West said:

I could see some value for the cack-hands to be forming a portion of the left flank of the line.  During hoplite rank fighting in ancient Greece there was a recorded tendency for the formations to engage, and then sort of rotate around the battle-field in a counter-clockwise direction due to the way the shields interlocked, and both sides fighting for advantage.  Having dedicated Left handers in play on the left flank would tend to off-set this tendency potentially without entirely breaking the formation, with only a minor change in the drill.  Just a suggestion.  I can also see why it might not work if trained badly.

Later on, during the Time of Two Counts, a traditional regiment of right-handed hoplites commanded by Countess Vega faces up against their heterodox left-handed hoplite opposition, led by anti/Count Belvani. This clash, which happens near Angle Fort in the Big Rubble, is first time the two rival counts and their forces come into direct and bloody conflict with each other, Templar against Templar.