Back in the day by @The-Wizard-of-Zaar (The Wizard Of Zaar)

A depiction of a group of early Free East Stratikion; more specifically Forosians. This was a time where the Ashkandars would pair up Kadar as partners and have them take secret, religious vows before teaming them up with Stratikion.

These groups would be quite rugged and ramshackle; being more skilled champions, duelists, and brawlers than like the soldiers of today, Eym families, particularly Taanist ones produced Stratikion sons and daughters; equipped, trained and provisioned by their families and employed by the community to keep law and order, and protect Kymar and it's surrounding settlements. Female Stratikion were more common these days, as in desperate times, adult Eym women are also often expected to fill mens roles. Kadarim of this time were much akin to today, as a pair of Kadarim could be followed by an entourage of zealous dagger wielding Karia caught up in the frenzy of religious fanaticism.

Groups like this skirmished with tribes of Shammarim slavers and the dreaded worshippers of Lhaar. Organized by a loose command structure comprised of Eym elders and the Ashkandar of Kymar. These groups would often combine together into small armies to defend from or carry out sieges, face off with armies of Avramites of similar size or even larger... Or occasionally try and present a tough front to scouting parties from Lykon.

Initially arms and equipment were obtained out of a soldiers own pocket, or as a family investment; the archetype of Forosian was most common, as small buckler, dagger and spear were affordable, armour often was poor quality leather and cloth. Eventually as the Free Republic of the East was officially formed with the successful building and holding of early Penkilos; the Senate began to incorporate the army into it's control and began to use new taxes for it's maintenance and growth.

Hence Stratikion began to receive uniforms, weapons, equipment and more comprehensive, standardized training.

The Ashkandar paid a modest sum to the families of Kadarim and issued Kadarim with modestly priced, adequate quality of weapons... These generally included a single other weapon from the religious dagger they own. In these days Kadar didn't wear armour and spears, single short swords were the norm, as well as a Katar paired with ones dagger or an dual set of daggers were just as common too.

Archers were common amongst both Kadar and Stratikion. Often squads such as these would contain one or two archers; though later on archers would be collected into specialized groups of exclusively archers.

Since it's beginnings during the day of beheading, the Free East would fight many brutal and bloody battles and wars. Often having to punch well above their weight and hold steadfast onto everything they built or captured. These were violent times and

Many of the fiercest, most skilled and battle hardened of these soldiers went on to train further generations; creating a high quality and robust military.