I'm with you on this one. I think "elite" can be a misleading term. If the Legion is made up of professional fighters of any type, and the rest of the forces of Light are a rag-tag assembly of peasants and refugees fighting for a chance of survival under the banner of one of the Nine, then the Legion probably appears to be "elite" in comparison even if its win/loss record is a fairly dismal 51/49% affair with a huge rate of attrition even in victory. I think the big difference would be the training and camaraderie that would keep these warriors fighting against the odds to claim a narrow victory on occasions when less disciplined forces would have broken and run. That doesn't mean that troops of the Legion don't retreat or flee in panic, as witnessed with the officer running from Soulblighter while holding his guts in with his shield (Good reason to run as any I can think of, by the way). I think the Journal Writer's sense of irony is clear when he talks about being sent into danger. Notice how he doesn't say the the Legion IS a bunch of hardasses, but that it has that reputation. I think the Journal Writer shares your sentiments. Being "elite" doesn't mean much when a hoard of thrall made up of former comrades is carving you into pieces, and if the reward for being elite is to be sent into greater danger, then it's not much of an honor.
: Between Martel's post and that not-entirely-upset comment by the Journal Writer, it appears that "a"
: legionaire in the Province is noticably less capable
: than the Legion's hardasses, even after those who are
: merely average soldiers are "recruited" by
: Balor as Thrall. Not incompetent, mind you. But if the
: Legion is sent where the fighting will be ugliest,
: that means that its regarding as something of an
: elite.
: Anyone have thoughts on exactly how that is so?
