I wrote the original post in what might be considered an altered state of consciousness--I was pretty sick last night, and I was pretty tired, too. I'm feeling better today, as I can talk and swallow properly, although I still sound like someone stuffed cotton up my nose. Anyway, there were a couple details I forgot to mention, in particular, that of pay and the medical service. Pay: Legionaries are paid three times a year. The yearly base pay for a legionary is 300 imperials, an immune receives 450 imperials, junior officers and HQ staff receive 600 imperials, optios(future centurions) receive 900 imperials, ordinary centurions receive 1500 imperials, Second Spears receive 3000 imperials, and First Spears and prefects receives 6000 imperials per year. Ranks above prefect generally possess private incomes as nobles; those who do not have private incomes are paid at the rate of 7500 imperials per year. The costs of a soldier's food, clothes, bedding, boots, weapons, and armor are all taken out of his pay. Food, bedding, and boots are constant expenses; costs of clothes, weapons, and armor are deducted on an as-needed basis. In the case of weapons and armor, the soldier is not paying the full cost. Legionaries are also expected to make a yearly contribution to their century's burial society. Money contributed to the society pays for funeral expenses of legionaries who die in service. Pay stoppages for an ordinary legionary might consume on average 50% of his base pay. The percentages decrease as one moves up through the ranks. Typically, then, an ordinary legionary would be left with a net yearly pay of 150 imperials. However, this is still not the amount he would finally get paid. All ranks are required to deposit half their net pay in the legion's bank. So, out of his base pay of 300 imperials per year, an ordinary legionary would only pocket 75 imperials per year. The major advantage of military service in Cedonia is that a soldier's wages are not taxed, at any rank When a legionary is discharged, he receives his saved pay as a lump sum payment--for an ordinary legionary with the full twenty-five years of service, this would amount to 1875 imperials; for an immune, 2812.5 imperials. He also receives a payment of 4,000 imperials, enough to buy a small farm. If a legionary dies in service, his saved pay goes to his designated next-of-kin, typically either his parents, a sibling, or his widow and orphans. If there is no next-of-kin, his savings become part of the legion's general funds. Centurions receive a much larger discharge bonus, and First Spears and prefects receive the largest bonus, about 25,000 imperials. Medicine: Each cohort has an assigned surgeon, and the legion as a whole has a chief medical officer. Surgeons are ranked and paid as centurions, with the chief medical officer being ranked and paid as a Second Spear. A certain number of men in each century are also trained as medics. The medics' job is to provide initial first aid to wounded soldiers, to keep them alive long enough to reach first the field hospital, and eventually the base hospital at the legion's permanent fortress. All legion surgeons are also clerics of the Order of Mithrak, the Cedonian War God. They have the ability to provide anesthesia to wounded soldiers through their link to the god. Antiseptics are largely chemical, such as alcohol and pitch; and antibiotics are largely unknown, but here again, the surgeons can invoke the power of Mithrak. Post-surgery, pain relief is typically provided by opium or laudanum. Generally, a wounded legionary who survives long enough to reach a surgeon will probably survive his wounds--he has a better chance than a soldier in the American Civil War would. The medical officers of a legion are also responsible for maintaining legionary health in camp. They supervise the positioning of latrines and water sources. They are also responsible for inspecting food and fodder purchased by the legion, and have the power to reject food as unfit for consumption. They can also impose penalties on persons who try to sell the legion unfit food. Every legion maintains a bath-house at its home base, and this, too, is inspected by the medical officers for safety. Cedonian medicine emphasizes adequate sleep, varied diet, vigorous exercise, and regular bathing. Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
