The Woodland Muster
The Woodland Muster is the broadest element of the organised defence of the Golden Woods. It is not a standing army, nor is membership compulsory. Rather, it is a voluntary agreement amongst those inhabitants who are already capable of bearing arms that, should the Golden Woods face a serious threat, they will answer the call to defend their homes.
The Muster was established by Dîmeril Laeghartha after the arrival of the Golden Woods in Warlderia. She quickly recognised that the woods already contained a considerable number of capable people. Hunters, foresters, former soldiers, retired adventurers, experienced archers and warriors lived amongst its scattered communities. Some had considerably more experience of violence than the young volunteers entering the newly established Greenward. Dîmeril saw little purpose in pretending otherwise. The Woodland Muster therefore does not attempt to turn these people into soldiers. Its purpose is to ensure that, if they must fight, they can fight together.
Any adult inhabitant of the Golden Woods who believes themselves capable of contributing to its defence may volunteer for the Woodland Muster. There is no formal upper age limit and no expectation that everyone must be a particularly accomplished warrior. A sixty-year-old hunter who can still put an arrow accurately into a target may be considerably more useful than a strong young labourer who has never held a weapon. Those joining have their abilities recorded by their local Muster leader. Weapons, armour, previous military experience and other useful skills are noted. The Muster consequently contains a remarkably varied collection of people. Alongside ordinary hunters and woodsfolk might stand former mercenaries, retired adventurers, Elven archers, Fey accustomed to defending their territories and others whose peaceful present gives little indication of what they once did for a living.
Members are not expected to abandon their ordinary lives for lengthy periods of training. Instead, local musters are held periodically throughout the Golden Woods. These are intended less to teach people how to fight than to teach them how the defence of the woods is organised. Members learn where they should assemble, who will command them, the signals used by the Rangers, the location of nearby stores and how messages and warnings will be passed between communities. They practise assembling quickly, moving together through woodland, establishing watches, defending paths and settlements and withdrawing in good order. Dîmeril considers this organisation every bit as important as individual skill. Fifty excellent archers arriving independently at the wrong place are considerably less useful than thirty competent ones waiting at the right place.
The Greenward and the Muster
The Greenward and the Woodland Muster are closely connected, but they are not the same thing. The Greenward provides structured training to volunteers, particularly younger inhabitants who may have little previous military experience. After six weeks of training and a further six weeks of active service, a Greenwarden returns to ordinary life with their armour, sash and training. They may then add their name to the Woodland Muster. In this way, the Greenward steadily increases the number of trained people available to the Muster without requiring the Golden Woods to maintain a large permanent army. Older inhabitants and those who already possess sufficient experience need not undertake Greenward training merely to prove what they already know. They may volunteer directly for the Woodland Muster.
The Woodland Muster is intended for serious threats, not every troublesome beast or band of brigands which wanders into the woods. Ordinary dangers remain the responsibility of Rangers, the Sisters of Anwyn and those permanently engaged in protecting the Golden Woods. Should something greater threaten them, however, Dîmeril may call the Muster. Warnings are carried through the woods by riders and runners, reinforced where possible by horns, bells and magical communication. Local Muster leaders gather their people at predetermined rallying points, where additional weapons, arrows, food and other supplies are maintained. Greenwardens bring their own studded leather armour and distinctive green-and-gold sashes. Older members arrive with whatever equipment they possess. From the rallying points, companies can be directed by Rangers and experienced leaders towards wherever they are required. The intention is not to create a conventional field army overnight. Muster companies are principally expected to defend their own country: holding paths and crossings, guarding settlements, protecting civilians, watching flanks, carrying supplies and preventing an enemy from moving freely through the Golden Woods.
Dîmeril remains wary of allowing military organisation to dominate life within the Golden Woods. There are no compulsory drills, no conscription and no expectation that every able-bodied inhabitant must bear arms. Those who choose not to join the Muster suffer neither penalty nor disgrace. For those who do volunteer, however, the promise is understood. If the call comes, they will answer it. The Woodland Muster therefore exists mostly unseen. Its members tend fields, fell timber, keep shops, hunt, raise children and pursue hundreds of other ordinary occupations. Their bows hang above fireplaces and their armour rests in chests. Dîmeril hopes that most of it will remain there. But should an enemy ever march upon the Golden Woods expecting to find nothing more formidable than scattered villages and peaceful woodland folk, they may discover that the woods themselves have mustered against them.
