| Though many might not believe the Wagon Peoples have an ordered military organization, they most certainly do. It is a rather simple system, breaking down into three different sized groups. These are known as the Oralu, Orlu and the Or. These terms translate respectively into the Thousand, Hundred and the Ten, which signifies the amount of warriors in each unit. Each warrior of the tribes is a member of an or, each or is a member of an orlu and each orlu is a member of an oralu. Each warrior knows his place within his group so each group works very well together.
These units may be arranged in various formations, dependent upon the strategic and tactical needs at the time. For example, in one narrow formation, there was a column of orlu units. Each orlu unit was five warriors abreast in twenty rows. After each unit, there was left an empty space large enough to fit an orlu. This formation and its spacing helped decrease the amount of dust that was raised by the mounted units. The spacing allows some time for the dust to subside after each unit, and thus not hindering the next unit in the column.
The leader of each of these three military units is called a commander. In respect for these commanders, the warriors of the tribes will smote their lances on their shield. They do this once for the commander of an or, twice for an orlu, and three times for an oralu. The Commander of a Thousand is the next level under the Ubar. At least for the Tuchuks, red is the color for their commanders. For example, outside a commander's wagon will be a standard of the tribe. The pole holding this standard is painted red, indicating this is the wagon of a commander. There does not appear to be any specific differentiation for the standard between the commanders of the three units.
During the day, drums, bosk horns and motions of the standard dictate the movement of the military units of the tribes. Such methods can also be used to send messages at other times and not just during times of war. By night, this communication is conducted with drums, bosk horns and war lanterns slung on high poles carried by certain kaiila riders. The lanterns come in different colors such as red, yellow, green, and blue. The books do not provide details on the specific meanings of these colors. When the initial bosk horns blow, signaling an attack is being made against the camps, everyone rushes to their places and positions, including the women.
When an attack is made, it is the duty of the Free Women to cover the fires and to prepare the men's weapons, bringing forth arrows, bows and lances. There is no need for them to retrieve the quivas as they are kept in the saddle sheathes on the kaiila. The bosk must also be hitched up, to prevent them from wandering off or getting in the way as well as so the wagons can be moved if necessary. The slaves are also chained, partially to prevent them from joining in on the attack. After these matters are completed, the women will ascend to the top of the wagons so that they can see the war lanterns.
The women are capable of reading these signals as well as the men. These lanterns may indicate whether the wagons must be moved and if so, in what direction they should move. If Turians are attacking, it is known that they commonly will burn any and all wagons. In general, the women of the tribes do not engage in combat. At best, they might wait, armed with knives, for their men to toss them victims to kill. A single example of this was provided in the books and it is unsure whether this is common practice or was an isolated incident. |