Preview VI: The Warriors of the Steppe
Welcome to the sixth faction preview of RESTITVTOR ORBIS.
Here we offer You a first look at the tribes of the Steppe!
- Historical Background -
- The Alans -
The Alans, also known as Alanoi by the Greeks, Alani by the Romans and later conflated into the Massagetae by later writers, were a nomadic pastoralist tribal confederation of Indo-Aryan and Iranian descent, comprising a number of Scythian and Sarmatian tribes. They inhabited the northeast steppes by Lake Meotis (the Azov Sea), although they controlled a much larger area ranging from the Black Sea to the north of the Caspian and Aral seas, according to Chinese sources in the 1st century BC. Due to their nomadic nature, no known settlements have been identified, though by the early 4th century AD, the Chinese scholar Fan Ye identifies the Alans as possessing “country and towns.”
The early Alans are known to us by a number of scholars. Sima Qian, writing in the 1st century BC, claims the Alans inhabited northwest Sogdia aside a vast shoreless lake and could field up to 100,000 archer-warriors. Strabo, in the early 1st century AD, mentions they occupied the coastal region of the Black Sea, living by the river Tanais (Don) as the Aorsi and Siraces, and that their king, Spadines, could field upwards of 200,000 horse archers. Later, Josephus mentions how they frequently raided and plundered both the Armenian and Parthian realms, crossing into the later by means of the Iron Gates (the Darial Gorge). Arrian marched against them in the early 2nd Century, as they threatened the Roman province of Cappadocia (Turkey). Later in the 4th century, Ammianus states they were formerly known as the Massagetae, and had been overrun by the Huns.
Of the Alans themselves, much information and archaeological finds survive. Ammianus describes them as fierce and savage warriors with a taste for raiding and plunder, being blue-eyed and blonde-haired. Such was their devotion to battle, that it was said among them a man was called happy when he had been slain in battle. They were known to scalp their enemies and use these as war trophies adorning their horses. Both Roman and Chinese sources state the Alans spurned cottages and plough alike, preferring to live on meat and milk transported by wagons, living on foraging and pasture. Their lands were known to be always green, with wax trees, pines and white grasses, enjoying always a mild climate.
Yet, they were by no means poor. By means of their skill in war and control of key trade routes, they were able to import Armenian, Indian and Parthian imports, affording them the luxury of golden ornaments, precious metals, iron and silk ornaments. They were known to dress, arm and armour themselves in the same manner as other Sarmatian and Scythian tribes, relying on an assortment of lighter cavalry making use of composite-bows, while being supported by an elite of noble heavy cavalry with armed with lances, spears, axes, swords and maces, and armoured in scale and lamellar armour at later dates.
While they raided the Danubian provinces frequently in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, by the late 4th century they had been overwhelmed by the Huns and migrated eastwards with the Vandals and Sueves in their invasion of Roman Gaul, crossing the frozen Rhine on the 31st of December 406. From there they raided Italy, before crossing into Hispania and Africa with the Vandals. Later, Vandal kings would style themselves as “King of the Vandals and Alans.” Today, the Alans are identified with a subset of modern Ossetians, the Ossetian language being the successor of the ancient Scytho-Sarmatian language.
- The Iazyges -
The Iazyges, also known as the Jaxamatae and Iazyges Metanastae (wandering Iazyges) among other names, were a semi-nomadic tribe. Considered a branch of the ancient Sarmatian peoples, they were known to speak an Iranian language. The Iazyes first appear along Lake Maeotis (the Sea of Azov) around 200 B.C, before sweeping westward along the northern shores of the Pontus Euxinus (the Black Sea) into what is now Moldova and southewestern Ukraine. For this reason, they were referred to by the geographer Ptolemy as “Iazyges Metanastae” or vagrant Iazyges.
In 88 B.C, the Iazyges are known to have served as allies in the Pontic army in Mithradates VI Eupator’s wars against the Romans , lasting a further four years. By 78-76 B.C, they had settled in the Baragan Plains in Dacia (Romania) north of the Danube. At this time, the Romans sent a punitive expedition over the River in an attempt to overawe the Iazyges. Together with other tribes such as the Roxolani and Alans, they alternatively supported and took advantage of the kingdom of Dacia, Rome’s principal enemy in the region. By 7 B.C, Burebista’s Dacian Kingdom began to collapse, with anarchy following soon thereafter. Taking advantage of the situation, the Romans encouraged the Iazyges to settle in the Pannonian plain between the Tisa (Theiss) and Danube rivers.
The society of the Iazyges appears to have been divided into freemen and serfs, the latter known as Sarmatae Limigantes. These serfs probably represented the settled elements of Iazyge society, leading a different manner of life and being made up of older, conquered populations and vassals, enslaved by their nomadic masters. They are known to have revolted in 34 A.D, but were repressed through foreign aid. In Rome’s further wars with Dacia, the Iazyges proved uncooperative, though it is unknown whether they acted as an ally or vassal of the larger Dacian kingdom. The Iazyges, remaining semi-nomadic, watered their cattle along the shores of the Black Sea every summer, and a Roman conquest of Dacia would interrupt their pastoral way of life. Eventually, they were to become such a problem for the Romans, that emperor Domitian was forced to interrupt an ongoing campaign against the Dacians to harass both the Iazyges and the Suebi, a Germanic tribe also dwelling along the Danube. Early 92 A.D, the Iazyges, allied with the Sarmatians proper, the Germanic Quaxi and the Roxolani, crossed the Danube into the Roman province of Pannonia (Croatia, northern Serbia and western Hungary) where they plundered the province and destroyed the Roman Legion XXI Rapax, which was disbanded in disgrace soon afterwards. Fighting continued until Domitian’s death in 96 A.D.
By the start of the 2nd century A.D, Trajan had finally conquered the Dacians between the years of 101-105 A.D, reducing their kingdom to the status of a Roman province. Two years later, Trajan sent his general and eventual successor, Trajan, to deal personally with the Iazyges, whom were forced to submit. In 117 A.D, Hadrian became emperor, consolidating Trajan’s gains, keeping Dacia and allowing the Iazyges to remain nominally independent as a client-kingdom of Rome. Peace would only last fifty years however, as by the summer of 167 A.D, while the Romans were occupied with a war against Parthia, a nomadic confederation of Marcomanni, Varistae, Vandal, Hermunduri, Suebi, Quadi and the Iazyges swept over the Danube to invade and plunder the under-garrisoned Roman provinces. It would claim the life of Claudius Fronto, the Roman governor of Dacia and Lower Moesia, and Emperor Marcus Aurelius was to spend the rest of his life attempting to restore the situation. Personally moving against the Iazyges from his base at Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica, Serbia) he pressed them to their limits, being denied dealing a final blow by Avdidus Cassius’ rebellion in the east, which interrupted his campaign. However, the war had taken its toll on the Iazyges, and their king, Zanticus, made peace with the Romans, offering up 100,000 roman captives taken prisoner during the conflict, and being forced also to provide 8,000 cavalry to serve in the Roman army as auxiliaries. 5,500 of these are known to have been sent to Britain, where they may have inspired the Arthurian legend.
The Iazygen mode of warfare was not dissimilar to that of other Scythian and Sarmatian tribes, combining elements of horse-archery with concentrated charges of heavily armed and armoured cavalry reminiscent of those of later medieval warfare. In fact, Tacitus states so heavily armoured were the cataphracts, that they were unable to lift themselves from the ground if unhorsed, as both rider and mount were heavily covered in scale armour, and yielded heavy kontos lances.
The Iazyges reappear around 230 A.D, with the Asding Vandals pushing in to the north of their lands. By this time, Rome’s main enemies would become the Germanic tribal coalitions such as the Alamanni and the Franks. It is possible that the Iazyges made up part of the hordes led by the Heruli in 267-269 A.D, sailing down the Black Sea and ravaging Roman Greece and Anatolia, sacking cities such as Athens, Byzantium, Corinth and Ephesus. As late as 371, the Romans saw fit to build a fortified trading center, Commercium, to control trade with the Iazyges. They also frequently allied themselves or found themselves in the mercenary employ of other tribes which regularly raided and fought the Romans, such as the Quaddi. By the 5th century however, the Iazyges cease to be mentioned as a tribe.
- The Eastern Heruli -
The Heruli were an East Germanic Tribe, which migrated from Thule (Scandinavia) to the northern shores of the Pontus Euxinus (the Black Sea) sometime in the 3rd century A.D. The sixth century chronicler, Jordanes, claims a tradition in which they were driven from their homeland, somewhere in the Danish isles or southern Sweden, by the Northern Germanic Dani. Procopius maintains even in exile, they retained close links with their kinsmen in Thule.
It is suggested the word Heruli can be identified with the Anglo-Saxon eorlas (nobles) and that thus, Heruli may have meant a title of honour in their Germanic language. Heruli society was known to be extremely brutal and vicious to Roman and Greek writers. They were known to practice human sacrifice, and a form of senicide, where a non-relative would kill the sick and the elderly, cremating their remains on a wood pyre. Heruli women, on being widowed, were expected to commit suicide by hanging. While in the early 5th century, many converted to Christianity, many remained pagan. Militarily, they were known to not wear armour, save a shield and a thick jacket. Slaves were allowed to fight alongside their masters, but were forbidden to carry a shield until proven in battle. Their elite units, known as the Rosomoni due to the red tattoos that covered their body, practiced a form of cranial deformation intended to present a terrifying visage. Being Germanic in nature, it is likely their infantry would have been just as capable as their cavalry.
The Heruli are first mentioned by Roman writers in 267 A.D, during the reign of Gallienus. Leading a number of gothic tribes, the Thervingi and Greuthungi among them, on a devastating sea-raid aboard 500 ships into the Pontus Euxinus, they sacked Heraclea-Pontica, Cyzicus and Byzantium. After being defeated by the Roman navy, they escaped into the Aegean, where they further plundered Lemons and Scyros, fought a successful land battle at the Thermopylae Pass, and went on to sack Athens, Olympia, Argos, Sparta and Corinth. They were then defeated by Dexippus, a Greek statesman and historian, forcing the marauding warbands north, where they were destroyed by the Roman army under Gallienus in an important battle by the river Nessos (Nestos). The Heruli leader, Naolobatus, subsequently came to terms with the Romans.
However, with Gallienus’ assassination in 268 A.D, the following year an even larger confederation was again assembled and led by the Heruli, consisting of the same Gothic tribes, joined now by the Gepids and Peucini, aboard 2000-6000 ships, according to Zosimus. The same put their numbers at 325,000 men. While suffering initial setbacks, such as failing to storm Tomi and Marcianopolis, and having part of their fleet wrecked, they soon sacked Byzantium and Chrysopolis, before entering into the Aegean and ravaging its islands, uncluding Crete, Rhodes and as far into the Mediterranean as Cyprus. The fleet also sacked Troy and Ephesus, destroying the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and it is not known if it was subsequently rebuilt. They then fled inland into the Balkan interior, on hearing news that the Roman Emperor Claudius was advancing from the north.
It is known they planned to directly invade Italy, but were engaged in the Battle of Naissus by the Naissus river by Claudius. Fiercely contested, large numbers on both sides were slain, but in the crucial point of battle, the Romans feigned a retreat before turning about and slaughtering and capturing upwards of 50,000 warriors. For this action, Claudius was to receive the title “Gothicus”, and it is known that future emperor Aurelian commanded the cavalry and was responsible for the decisive counter-charge. Part of the survivors fled north into Germania, where they settled on the lower Rhine to become the Western Heruli. The remainder were re-settled within the empire and incorporated into the Roman army as auxiliaries. These would later form the Heruli Seniores Auxilia Palatinae legion in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D, which would fight under a number of emperors, Julian, Valentinian and Theodosius among them.
While the Western Heruli would enjoy varying fortunes allying themselves with the Saxons, Franks and Alamanni, raiding Gaul and Spain together, the Eastern Heruli were eventually subjugated by the Ostrogoths by the end of the 4th century A.D, before they themselves were soon after destroyed by the Huns around 375 A.D, the Heruls then becoming subject to the Huns. When the Hunnic kingdom fell in 454 A.D, they created their own kingdom between the March and Theiss rivers (Slovakia) before joining Odoacer, commander of the Imperial foederati troops, who later deposed the last Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus, in 476 A.D. With their kingdom destroyed by the Lombards, they migrated into the Byzantine Empire, where they were allotted lands by Anastasius in 512 A.D, and served in their armies, including those of Belisarius, thousands serving as his personal guard under their leader Pharus. They disappear from the historical record around the sixth century A.D, with Procopius stating many returned to Thule where they resettled among other Germanic tribes. It is even theorised they may have even been the first tribe to settle Iceland.
Written by: Knonfoda
- The Units -
Here we present some of the new units recruitable by the Steppe factions.
- The Heruli -
Here's some samples of the Heruli units:
- Saka Foot Archer -
While any sensible person from the steppes prefers to be on a horse there are occasions in battle when an infantryman has more utility than a cavalryman. These bowmen are a recognition of this fact, and are effective enough under most circumstances. They are by no means line infantrymen, and will succumb quickly in hand to hand combat, but they are still steppe people and are therefore very effective and deadly archers.
They use composite bows laminated from wood, sinew and horn to give tremendous power without needing a large bow or long pull.
- Herulja Light Infantry -
The Heruli were a nomadic German people known for the fighting prowess of their light forces. They were subjugated by the Ostrogoths, the Huns, and later joined the Lombards in their conquest of Italy. The etymology of the name is related to earl (erilaz) and was probably an honorific military title.
These light infantry are best employed to harass enemies and thin their ranks with missile volleys before the main battle is joined. They are capable of fighting hand-to-hand, and the Heruli were renowned for their ferocious attacks, even their lightly armed infantry.
They carry little war gear other than their weapons, giving them their speed over rough terrain.
- Herulja Warband -
Exclusively foot-soldiers, the Heruli were a nomadic tribe who used horses only for moving their camps. A particularly frightening tactic of the Heruli which amazed the Romans, was that they were so fast on foot that they would team up with a horse-riding warrior, hang on to the mane of the horse with their left hand, wield their swords with their right hand, and charge into battle, running as fast as the horse directly into the fray.
- Herulja Heavy Warband -
These men are more heavily armed and show an influence of steppe culture by their conically shaped helmets and mail chest armour. They have either gained their army from being of higher status in the tribe or by pillaging dead romans! Either way, they are an advantage to have, especially in the front ranks of a warband.
- Herulja Berserkers -
Herulja Berserkers are dangerous men indeed. The repeated stress of battle, strong drink or the potent, drugged brews of witchery - or all three - make them into fearless, slavering beasts with swords.
The berserker phenomenon is not unique to the celts or germans, several other cultures up to southeast asia (Amoks) report of a class of fighter that is fearless, stronger than normal men, and impervious to wounds, despite a proclivity to fight unarmored.
Berserkers must make an effort to drive themselves into the right state of mind, although some prefer stimulants to initiate their killing frenzy. Having driven themselves into a state of blind rage berserkers will attack anyone who stands nearby. They feel no pain, experience no fear and simply do not understand the concepts of mercy or restraint. Once the red mist has descended across their sight, there is no stopping them.
Berserkers usually fight without armour. It's not unknown for them to fight without weapons from time to time, hurling themselves on enemies and attacking them tooth and nail!
- Herulja Harjaz -
A warlord leads a personal guard of able and fierce warriors. These men are an elite force, ready to be thrown into the fight at the moment of decision.
Given that he owes his authority to personal bravery as much as any tribal position, a warlord has to be willing to risk his own life in personal combat and stake the outcome of a battle on his own skills as a fighter as much as his grasp of command.
A wise leader, therefore, makes sure that he has the best chance possible of coming through a fight alive so that he can inspire his men by example as well as by his mere presence. Politics and warfare mean that he must not just triumph, he must do so publicly and in brave style.
- Saka Horse Archers -
The Saka were an Iranian speaking peoples of Aryan (Indo-Iranian) Stock. Saka Horse Archers are highly skilled, lightly-armoured horsemen who are both tenacious and skilled in battle.
Almost as a matter of course anyone from the steppes learns to ride as soon as they can walk (or before), and to use a bow shortly afterwards. Not to do so is to invite death or enslavement by others, or simply to go hungry.
Their equipment is similar to many other steppe horsemen, and cunningly designed so as to work perfectly. They use composite bows laminated from wood, sinew and horn to give tremendous power without needing a large bow or long pull.
The Uar (Hua/Var) are in some accounts a member tribe of the Juan Juan (Rouran/Ruru/Juju), and in some accounts one of the first tribes among the Hephthalites. Some of these accounts also point to the Uar as the possible ancestors of the Eurasian Avars.
- Cavalry Herulja -
Barbarian Cavalry are a shock force, best used to push enemies on the verge of breaking into complete panic.
They are not truly heavy cavalry in the same sense as some of the eastern or steppe peoples use, but they can be a potent force if handled correctly. They should be used as a hammer to repeatedly charge home against the flank or rear of an enemy in the hope of defeating them.
- Saka Cataphracts -
The Saka were an Iranian speaking peoples of Aryan (Indo-Iranian) Stock. Saka Cataphract Lancers, with heavily armoured rider on an armoured horse. Few can withstand their ponderous lance charge!
The Uar (Hua/Var) are in some accounts a member tribe of the Juan Juan (Rouran/Ruru/Juju), and in some accounts one of the first tribes among the Hephthalites. Some of these accounts also point to the Uar as the possible ancestors of the Eurasian Avars.
These heavy cavalry are not the answer to every tactical problem. They are superb for breaking enemy formations, but they cannot be used for more 'traditional' cavalry duties such as pursuit and screening. They are an iron fist inside a spiked iron glove, ready to deliver their commander's punch to the enemies' collective throat!
- Heruli Noble Cavalry -
A warlord leads a personal guard of able and fierce warriors. These men are an elite force, ready to be thrown into the fight at the moment of decision.\n\nGiven that he owes his authority to personal bravery as much as any tribal position, a warlord has to be willing to risk his own life in personal combat and stake the outcome of a battle on his own skills as a fighter as much as his grasp of command.
The Heruli were a nomadic German people known for the fighting prowess of their light forces. They were subjugated by the Ostrogoths, the Huns, and later joined the Lombards in their conquest of Italy.
- The Iazyges -
Here's some samples of the Iazyges units:
- Quadi Light Skirmishers -
The Iazyges used other tribes for infantry. These light infantry are Quadi tribesmen.
Skirmishers are best employed to harass enemies and thin their ranks with missile volleys before the main battle is joined. They are capable of fighting hand-to-hand, but this is not their strength and against anyone other than other skirmishers they will suffer disproportionate casualties. They carry little war gear other than their weapons, giving them their speed over rough terrain.
- Carpi Falxmen -
This man is armed with the two-handed weapon called a falx. Falx is a Latin word originally meaning sickle, but was later used to mean any of a number of tools that had a curved blade that was sharp on the inside edge such as a scythe.
Marcus Cornelius Fronto described the large gaping wounds that a falx inflicted, and experiments have shown that a blow from a falx easily penetrated the Romans' Lorica segmentata, incapacitating the majority of victims. These experiments also show that the falx was most efficient when targeting the head, shoulder, leg and especially the right (sword) arm, which was generally exposed. A legionary who had lost the use of his right arm became a serious liability to his unit in battle.
The Dacian falx came in two sizes: one-handed and two-handed. The shorter variant was called sica (sickle) in the Dacian language with a blade length that varied but usually around 16 inches (41 cm) long with a handle 1/3 longer than the blade. The two-handed falx was a pole-arm. It consisted of a 3 feet (0.91 m) long wooden shaft with a long curved iron blade of nearly-equal length attached to the end. Archaeological evidence indicates that the one-handed falx was also used two-handed.
- Iazyges Lancers -
Iazyges lancers wield the kontos, a two handed lance, very effectively. As horsemen they have few equals; as heavy cavalry they are used to batter lesser enemies into submission.
The Iazyges Sarmatians are master horsemen, and usually heavily armoured in suits made from many plates of iron, bone and horn, sewn together with horse sinews. In some cases Iazyges Sarmatian armour was constructed from polished mares' hooves, cunningly fashioned to resemble the scales of dragons. Even horses could be armoured in this kind of style. This gave Iazyges Sarmatians a particularly frightening aspect to many enemies.
- Iazyges Armoured Archers -
Iazyges Armoured Archers are steppe warriors, with all that implies about their skills as horsemen and archers! Their armour is heavy by the standards of other horse tribes.
The Iazyges Sarmatians are an Iranian-speaking people who have dominated the southern steppes for centuries, a loose coalition of smaller tribes including the Scythians and Roxolani. Like most steppe peoples they use the compound bow in warfare, a weapon that is ideally suited to horse archers having a short but very powerful pull.
Their armour is often beautifully made from many plates of iron, bone and horn, sewn together with horse sinews and, perhaps thanks to Scythian influences, they are enormously fond of gold decorative touches. For all the beauty and strangeness of their armour, they are still a steppe warrior people, and dangerous foes!
- Iazyges Cataphract Lancers -
Iazyges lancers wield the kontos, a two handed lance, very effectively. As horsemen they have few equals; as heavy cavalry they are used to batter lesser enemies into submission.
Though the Iazyges Sarmatian tribes (Roxolani, Alans, Iazyges, Scythians) have been subjugated by the Huns, their skill and cunning is still much appreciated and much desired by their conquerors and other peoples alike.
The status of an elite among the Sarmatians depends as much on being brave, unflinching and merciless as on birth. From the moment they can walk, nobility - the 'argaragantes' - are trained to fight and ride, skills that are vital on the steppes. The Iazyges Sarmatians are master horsemen, and usually heavily armoured in suits made from many plates of iron, bone and horn, sewn together with horse sinews.
In some cases Iazyges Sarmatian armour was constructed from polished mares' hooves, cunningly fashioned to resemble the scales of dragons. Even horses could be armoured in this kind of style. This gave Iazyges Sarmatians a particularly frightening aspect to many enemies.
- Iazyges Argaragantes -
Iazyges Argaragantes are the warrior elite among the Iazyges Sarmatians, they wield the kontos, a two handed lance, very effectively. As horsemen they have few equals; as heavy cavalry they are used to batter lesser enemies into submission.
Though the Sarmatian tribes (Roxolani, Alans, Iazyges, Scythians) have been subjugated by the Huns, their skill and cunning is still much appreciated and much desired by their conquerors and other peoples alike.
The status of an elite among the Sarmatians depends as much on being brave, unflinching and merciless as on birth. From the moment they can walk, nobility - the 'argaragantes' - are trained to fight and ride, skills that are vital on the steppes. The Sarmatians are master horsemen, and usually heavily armoured in suits made from many plates of iron, bone and horn, sewn together with horse sinews. In some cases Sarmatian armour was constructed from polished mares' hooves, cunningly fashioned to resemble the scales of dragons. Even horses could be armoured in this kind of style. This gave Sarmatians a particularly frightening aspect to many enemies.
- Royal Argaragantes -
These Argaragantes are chosen as bodyguards, they wield the kontos, a two handed lance, very effectively. As horsemen they have few equals; as heavy cavalry they are used to batter lesser enemies into submission.
Though the Sarmatian tribes (Roxolani, Alans, Iazyges, Scythians) have been subjugated by the Huns, their skill and cunning is still much appreciated and much desired by their conquerors and other peoples alike.
The status of an elite among the Sarmatians depends as much on being brave, unflinching and merciless as on birth. From the moment they can walk, nobility - the 'argaragantes' - are trained to fight and ride, skills that are vital on the steppes. The Sarmatians are master horsemen, and usually heavily armoured in suits made from many plates of iron, bone and horn, sewn together with horse sinews. In some cases Sarmatian armour was constructed from polished mares' hooves, cunningly fashioned to resemble the scales of dragons. Even horses could be armoured in this kind of style. This gave Sarmatians a particularly frightening aspect to many enemies.
- The Alans -
Here's some samples of the Alan units:
- Alan Horse Archers -
Alan Cavalry are highly skilled, steppe warriors and, like most steppe peoples, they are tenacious and skilled in battle.
As a people the Alans have been forced to bow at the knee to many masters, but they have kept alive their skills as both horsemen and archers. Indeed, it is these skills that make them valuable additions to the ranks of many armies - they are too useful, even in defeat, to put to the sword in true steppe fashion!
Their equipment is similar to many other steppe horsemen: they use composite bows cunningly laminated from wood, sinew and horn to give tremendous power without needing a large bow or long pull.
- Alan Armoured Horse Archers -
Alan Cavalry are highly skilled, heavily armoured, steppe warriors and, like most steppe peoples, they are tenacious and skilled in battle.
As a people the Alans have been forced to bow at the knee to many masters, but they have kept alive their skills as both horsemen and archers. Indeed, it is these skills that make them valuable additions to the ranks of many armies - they are too useful, even in defeat, to put to the sword in true steppe fashion!
Their equipment is similar to many other steppe horsemen: they use composite bows cunningly laminated from wood, sinew and horn to give tremendous power without needing a large bow or long pull.
- Alan Lancers -
Alan Lancers are cavalry best used to charge into enemy formations in an attempt to break them through shock and impact. And in employing the lance none can equal the Sarmatians, who wield the lance, or kontos, in a two handed style.
Although the Alans have been conquered by other steppe peoples, they have still managed to maintain their own tribal identity. They are master horsemen and formidable fighters, and this alone has made their conquerors co-opt them rather than put them all to the sword. These men are not a resource to be lightly cast aside.
The Alans have even been known to use the heads and flayed skins of their enemies as decorations for their horses, making them a macabre and terrifying spectacle. Their reputation for doing this makes them fearsome adversaries.
- Alan Cataphract Lancers -
Alan Lancers are cavalry best used to charge into enemy formations in an attempt to break them through shock and impact. And in employing the lance none can equal the Sarmatians, who wield the lance, or kontos, in a two handed style. These lancers ride heavily armoured horses making their impact against the enemy even more impactful. They are the tanks of the battlefield!
- Alan Noblemen -
These Alan Noblemen are chosen as bodyguards, they wield the kontos, a two handed lance, very effectively. As horsemen they have few equals; as heavy cavalry they are used to batter lesser enemies into submission. . In battle, they are a heavily armed and armored elite, to be used at the moment of crisis.
These Noblemen are well trained, better armoured than almost every other soldier in the world, and brutally effective! Few other men can hope to stand against an attack by these super-heavy cavalry. The only thing that they have to fear - and this is true of all cavalrymen - is a unit of stalwart spearmen. Even a fully armoured horse will hesitate when faced with gleaming spearpoints. These men are best used as a mobile 'hammer' to smash slow or static enemy units. They are not suited to pursuing fleeing enemies or driving off skirmishers.
- Screenshots -
Here's some screenshots of the new units in action:
- Faction Icons -
Here we have the faction icons of the Steppe factions:
- Historical Portrait -
Here's a sample of new portraits for the Steppe factions.
- Conceptual Art -
- X-mas Wallpaper -
This wallpaper was released as a Christmas gift to the fans of INVASIO BARBARORVM.
- The Credits -
The Team of INVASIO BARBARORVM - RESTITVTOR ORBIS, consists of:
julianus heraclius - Mod Leader
Joar - 2D Art & Textures
Knonfoda - Historical Research
ray243 - Historical Research
Our thanks goes to leif_erikson & the RS2 team, for allowing us to use textures and models.
A full and more detailed list of credits will be provided at the release of the modification.
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Originally Posted by Diocle
