Nine hexes north, two northeast of Alakran.
We find the camp of the Third Company of the Shasari army an hour's easy chariot ride from the capital, poised to defend the southern lands. In theory, anyway. In practice, neither the Third nor the Sixth (whose camp near Anani we have passed over, distracted by the caprices and oddities of that famous town) are well placed to reach the frontier of the Arhappa in time to repel raids from the south.
The order of battle of each of the six companies of the Shasari army is standard, though the First and Second, posted in the capital, are granted more capable fighters and equipment.
60 longspearmen, hide armor
20 longbow archers, unarmored
10 2-man 2-eland chariot teams (hide armor; 2 lancers/archers, one of which drives if in motion)
Three-man, four-eland chariots for captain and lieutenant, each scale-armored with driver and bowman.
The military preparedness of Shasari is not great. None of the towns are walled, fortresses are nonexistent except in the north (from long-ago civil strife with the province of Tarhun in that direction), and the Companies, while reasonably brave, are not numerous. The troops could be better armed but currently only the 1st has heavy spear and charioteers (scale armor). The other legions' armor was sold off to neighboring provinces during a debt crisis two generations ago. After all, Shasari does not abut any hostile state, and Dulsharna's government seemed peaceful and stable...
The Third's captain is the volatile and resentful Hashtayar, known as the Sunstroke, and his lieutenant is Tatileni, a man who follows orders but secretly sympathizes with Halpashulupi. The company's camp is organized around a well, which more and more in summer runs dry, so that oxen with barrels have to be sent to the river. They also have a detention pen for local criminals built of sharpened cedar stakes, known as the Red Roofless House for the color of the wood.
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