KWK 255
“With most citizens holding some sort of military rank or position, The Siol Armed Forces are as vast in numbers as they are in complexity, with several branches competing for standing and influence. From the common militias (that alone outnumber the entire Fulcrum military three to one) and cults, to the elite fleets and specialist forces, Siol Society has gradually come to match the Fulcrum in militarization, if not in nature then by degree.
Within this multi-layered, overlapping and often competing organisation, Siol Diseiders hold the majority of high command posts, often as part of their other duties and titles, but on paper there’s nothing stopping non-shapers (and indeed, the vast majority are not shapers by any means) from rising to the highest commands. If from nothing else, than a shortage of Shapers.
While there exist a vast gulf in the quality of the various military formations of the Siol States compared to the more elite Fulcrum military, the standing Siol units that guard central installations, fortresses and cities are a match for any Fulcrum formation.
It is these venerable units, up to the army size, that compete with each other, the Shivans and even the Kabal for power within the Siol. With common maneuvering, skirmishes and even open street fighting, any promising commander is always looking for favorable conditions to advance their position or undermine the competition.
Any such military commander has a Diseider patron on some level, but they are often granted complete autonomy to act on their own accord and judgement, if not by decree then by neglect or disinterest. As all Diseiders, from aspiring Chosen to lowly researchers and philosophers, hold some sort of military command, ambitious non-shaper Commanders often seek out service under such Diseiders to have greater autonomy.
From this, the obervant reader will find it easier to understand why the Siol often need outnumber the Fulcrum three or even five to one to achieve victory in the field, even when fielding forces of comparable quality. However, this also means that the complacent Fulcrum commander can suddenly find themselves surprised and overtaken by the lowliest of Siol units, carrying out some daring operation (to the point of foolhardiness) or finding sudden focus to strike when least expected.”
-From Rollo Eilsens writings on the Siol
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