Oakenthorne Militia
Operating out of a civic legislation that requires a standing "regimented corps of volunteers", the Oakenthorne Militia are a curious footnote in the history of the Free Republic of Volfor. Initially incorporated by the Kingdom of Sudvanne as a way of dealing with problems at the very edge of its domain, the "Princely men of the militia" have been ever present to act on behalf of the people of Osuvanne and the sourrounding countryside. The militia is organised into small groups known as "fifths", groups of five that will operate autonomously unless organised work is required, in which case the sergeant adjutant will deploy fifths as needed.
Description
The Militia has several standing precepts:
1. The Militia will always be numbered of ten fifth's.
2. The fifths will be distinct.
3. The fifths will report to the Merobidd of Osuvanne in the first instance, with loyalty to the people before the crown.
4. The fifths will be of honest men.
5. The fifths will not be ignorant of the plight of the common man.
6. The fifths will respond to the danger of the country, respect the lore and the laws, and be selfless.
7. The fifths will have compelled thier duty complete when the sergeant adjutant declares it so.
8. The Sergeant adjutant will be drawn from the first of fifths.
History
Created following an outbreak of lawlessness in the region over 200 years ago, the Oakenthorne Militia was formed by Reginald Oakenthorne to provide support, guardianship and security to the people of the area surroundin the town of Osuvanne(Town). Reginald was also a learned man, and was fascinated by the theory of numerology, hence the division of the militia into units of 'fifths'.
As time passed, the number of fifths grew, and the area they protected spread out further reaching as far as all settlements in the area drawing short of Vol in the North to Tor Kalverna in a southerly direction, through to the forests just short of Blademarket. An agreement with the Amahi keeps the militia from the gates of Blademarket, but they have worked with the town guard when jurisdiction permits.
Due to the heritage of Oakenthorne (although his family tree has long since died out) the leaders of the fifths are expected to elect a representative to report to Vol every year. While they have a voting privillege on the matters discussed there, other factions have argued for this privillege to be stripped from what is seen as a 'group of farmers with swords' even though some quite well respected soldiers have grown from the militia.