Horton's Army
Horton's Army is a self-proclaimed "Life Blood of Homeland" militia that formed the overt line of defense against Ironworks incursion into Reclaimer territory. More militia than true army, they organized into disparate encampments centered on pre-Fall buildings bearing their patron saint Horton's name, using a mix of guerrilla and conventional tactics depending on the terrain and the local commander's preferences.
Each encampment operates semi-independently, with leaders who employ everything from forest ambushes to conventional barricades and kill zones. Despite the decentralized command structure, the Army maintains cohesion through yearly leadership meetings on the outskirts of Tohr, where commanders from every outfit negotiate trade deals, assign border posts, and coordinate defensive lines. They also serve as a policing force for major Homeland settlements, keeping zed and raiders in check when the Ironworks military is not the immediate threat.
Finding a Horton's Army encampment guarantees any traveler a warm bed, hot coffee, and a good meal. Supplies are shared between encampments even when their leaders disagree on politics. The red-lettered banner of Horton flies at every post, and the hospitality it represents is as much a part of the Army's identity as the guns and barricades. Horton himself is believed to have been a national hero of Homeland, both warrior and philanthropist, whose pre-Fall buildings now serve as command posts. The Army notes that his buildings grow scarce south of the border, evidence that the Mericans reviled him, which only strengthens their devotion.
Each encampment operates semi-independently, with leaders who employ everything from forest ambushes to conventional barricades and kill zones. Despite the decentralized command structure, the Army maintains cohesion through yearly leadership meetings on the outskirts of Tohr, where commanders from every outfit negotiate trade deals, assign border posts, and coordinate defensive lines. They also serve as a policing force for major Homeland settlements, keeping zed and raiders in check when the Ironworks military is not the immediate threat.
Finding a Horton's Army encampment guarantees any traveler a warm bed, hot coffee, and a good meal. Supplies are shared between encampments even when their leaders disagree on politics. The red-lettered banner of Horton flies at every post, and the hospitality it represents is as much a part of the Army's identity as the guns and barricades. Horton himself is believed to have been a national hero of Homeland, both warrior and philanthropist, whose pre-Fall buildings now serve as command posts. The Army notes that his buildings grow scarce south of the border, evidence that the Mericans reviled him, which only strengthens their devotion.
History
Horton's Army coalesced from the Reclaimer communities along the Homeland border as the Ironworks pushed north. Rather than form a single army under one commander, the various settlements each raised their own encampments, anchoring them to the pre-Fall buildings bearing Horton's name. The decentralized structure was both a strength and a weakness: no single strike could destroy the Army, but coordinating a unified offensive required the yearly meetings at Tohr. Over time, the Army evolved from pure border defense into a broader policing and hospitality network, with encampments serving as waypoints for travelers and first responders against zed incursions in Homeland settlements.
