In Black Horizon (the novel I'm working on), the main story is set just over 200 years after the War of the Dragon. As we learnt in our previous history lesson, Toraan is the only Kingdom (to our knowledge at least ) to have survived. Although there are a few towns in the south eastern part which are pretty much all populated by the descendants of the refugees from the fallen empire of Rytsia-Altiare. They've been petitioning the government of Toraan for an official seperation and to re-instate a constitutional Altiarian soveriegnity, thus re-creating their country, but these petitions have failed mostly due to the imperical and rather aggressive policies of the old empire.
Many historians and political analysts theorise that this minority may soon turn to violence and riots in an attempt to have their own country again.

But that's a different story, we're here today to learn about the High Court and the Viermashtoviak, which literally means 'the fighting peoples'. It is the military force of Toraan, and like most things military in Toraan, a lot of the names and bodies are referred to in the old Toraanim language.

The High Court is the collection of the highest officials of the Toraanim heirarchy, this usually encompasses ten people, but will also include any princes or princesses if they're between the ages of twenty to forty.
The High Court is divided into two parts, the high step and the lower step, as you can guess the high step is superior to the lower step in the heirarchy, this is composed of the King of Toraan, who at the time of the story is King Vyachel VII, princes or princesses, The kings Grand Advisor, the Keeper of the Books (Master of the Library at the palace and head historian) and the Court Spellbinder (who, since the end of the war, was Elzor).

The lower step consists of the Master General of each segmat (a segmat is a corps in the Viermashtoviak). There are six segmat and they follow in no particular order.

The Asyeldsk is basically the cavalry corps of the Viermashtoviak, as with every segmat, they've had little to do since the war. Mostly working on re-expanding and rebuilding Toraan, as well as garrisoning the towns near the borders against the odd Kobold raid.
The Autisk is the intelligence agency of Toraan. It covers everything from internal to external affairs, inquisition, secret police, spying, and espionage. Again, after the war there has been no contact with any other countries, so thier main concern is the rebuilding of infrastructure and internal policing.
The Ishlavsk is the main bulk of the fighting force of Toraan, it's basically the infantry and foot soldiers. After the war they've been working to re-expand and rebuild Toraan.
The Biernavosk is the segmat that is mainly concerned with siege engines and artillery, since the war this segmat has dwindled as there has been no real need for such tools of invasion. These days they're mostly concerned with defending the outer towns.
The Ogfisk is the engineering segmat of the Viermashtoviak. As you can guess they've mostly been rebuilding Toraan since the war.
Lastly is the Kralivsk. A pretty much recent arm of the Viermashtoviak. Created by General Kaeden (A main character in the story) around 150 years ago. This segmat is commonly referred to as the Royal Guard. It comprises a few units of elite fighting men hand picked by the General himself, and are arguably considered to be the best force of fighting men to have ever existed. Each man is a hardened veteran, skilled in many forms of combat. And General Kaeden himself is a gifted leader with a massive amount of experience and superior knowledge of tactics.

The Kralivsk itself is unique among all the segmat, because the High Step has no executive authority over it, so General Kaeden can ignore the kings requests and has freedom to command over the Royal Guard any way he sees fit.
Most people don't make an issue out if it, General Kaeden presents himself as a proud and upstanding commander, he always takes on board anything that king has to say, and is known to be old friends with the Court Spellbinder, Elzor.
But there are many who don't like the situation, they believe that no man should be allowed to hold that much power, that Kaeden must have his own motive or agenda... they may be right...