The Hollow War - Landsknecht

When anabaptist extremists rebelled and took control of the Westphalian town of Münster, the church ordered bishop Franz von Waldeck to lay siege to the town, retake it, execute the leaders of the rebellion and crush the movement for good. With the help of the infamous Landsknechte, hired elite mercenaries, the defenders broke through the ranks of the bishop's troops, killed von Waldeck and displayed his remains in a metal cage that they hung from the tower of one of the many local churches.

Ever since then, the anabaptist dominion of Münster has been a powerful and rich independent nation that has repelled any attempt of reintegration into the real, be it forceful or diplomatic. As its power grew over the years and with the church being forced to focus on the globe spanning defense against ever growing heretical invasions, Münster was able to offer the service of their Landsknechte to the highest bidder.

Brutally effective assault troops, the Landsknechte have stubbornly resisted any change in their approach to war: with their almost head high Zweihänders, they can wreak havoc among enemy units. They have adapted their fighting style to still be just as effective in the narrow trenches of the Hollow War as in the open field. The only concessions to the ever advancing technologies of this brutal war they have made are a breastplate and a gas mask to counter the ranged weapons of the cowardly soldiers that refuse to meet them in melee combat. Apart from their Zweihänder, each Landsknecht carries non-lethal concussion grenades that stun their foes, for they have sworn to deliver the killing blow with the sword. Casualty rates among the Landsknechte are notoriously high, but joining their ranks brings prestige, a shiny uniform and a salary much higher than any young man could earn on a farm.

Supports for this model will follow shortly!