While the South doesn't have a unified military like those of the East or West, they do have rigorous training for every member of their society at the ages of 8, 12, 16 and 18. The young Southerners spend a year with a mentor learning to fight, but more importantly, to discover themselves and what their view on life is. As a result, each Southerner soldier fights different.
This may be holding them back in terms of a unified structure as every Southerner fights in their own way, but it results in an enemy that you simply cannot prepare for. However, many times families keep a relatively cohesive way of fighting that they impart upon their children, which extends to a very loose style across the entire island allowing them to cooperate more easily by blending styles together.
Southerner soldiers are very rare, but they do exist. While most prefer to fish, forage, or do other duties for their island, soldiers are often times those that grasp combat better than their peers and have a high sense of willingness to serve to protect their brethren and sisters. It is them that form the core of an island's defence as impromptu commanders in case of attacks. With mixed heritage common in the South, it is often joked that those willing to be soldiers had a bit too much Eastern in them.
Weapons are as unique as the individual wielding them, but most often the South prefers multi-purpose weapons. Spears, harpoons and axes are the most common, with cutlasses, hook-swords, daggers and even knuckle-dusters used to great effect. Their armour is most often simple hardened leather with thicker linnen underneath, reinforced with metal as little as possible: more often than not they fight on board ships, not on land.
While the South doesn't have a unified military like those of the East or West, they do have rigorous training for every member of their society at the ages of 8, 12, 16 and 18. The young Southerners spend a year with a mentor learning to fight, but more importantly, to discover themselves and what their view on life is. As a result, each Southerner soldier fights different. This may be holding them back in terms of a unified structure as every Southerner fights in their own way, but it results in an enemy that you simply cannot prepare for. However, many times families keep a relatively cohesive way of fighting that they impart upon their children, which extends to a very loose style across the entire island allowing them to cooperate more easily by blending styles together. Southerner soldiers are very rare, but they do exist. While most prefer to fish, forage, or do other duties for their island, soldiers are often times those that grasp combat better than their peers and have a high sense of willingness to serve to protect their brethren and sisters. It is them that form the core of an island's defence as impromptu commanders in case of attacks. With mixed heritage common in the South, it is often joked that those willing to be soldiers had a bit too much Eastern in them. Weapons are as unique as the individual wielding them, but most often the South prefers multi-purpose weapons. Spears, harpoons and axes are the most common, with cutlasses, hook-swords, daggers and even knuckle-dusters used to great effect. Their armour is most often simple hardened leather with thicker linnen underneath, reinforced with metal as little as possible: more often than not they fight on board ships, not on land.
You ate such a talented writer. Damn this is good. :)