Manchester Cavalry

The final component for my Manchester force are these dragoons.

I don't know where the figures are from, but they're originally Mexican-American war Mexican cavalry that Xander kindly forced on me, possibly to make me write cavalry rules.

The bases are, perhaps, a little too large, but I think they look good.

Flying Squad officers often wear non-standard uniforms, mostly because they can.

Probably my favourite. The paint job on the horse really stands out here.

The Flying Squad (or, The Lancers) are not a formal part of the Manchester Guard. Early in the city's history a fast mobile unit was put together to counter bandits and generally keep order among outlying settlements. At first this was little more than a posse of well armed busybodies who threw their weight around outside the walls of the citadel. As time went on they developed their own tradition and history but began to deploy regularly alongside or in support of the Guard proper.

Technically any man can join the Flying squad; the only requirements being that he must provide his own horse. In practice this limits membership to rich sons of the Houses or other prosperous individuals. Additionally the use of the male pronoun throughout the Book of Rules, the governing document that describes the responsibilities and privileges of the Flying Squad has been used to limit membership to men only. This reading of the document has been upheld at least once, making this one of the few roles in Manchester from which women are formally barred.

The preponderance of thrill seeking rich among the Flying Squad has, inevitably, created a hostile relationship with the Guard, who know them by a number of insalubrious names. In fact, while their value in providing a visible presence for Manchester's satellite communities is respected by the leaders of Manchester, their actual utility in battle is still debatable. While they commemorate a number of "great victories" their detractors are quick to point out that these were attained against what amounts to disorganised bandits and disgruntled farmers. The armies of the Karn, by comparison, are like nothing they have faced before.