Covered in carbon dust to prevent detection for their mostly nocturnal missions. Destined to exploit every opening in the enemy battle line, or create one if need be. They are especially good against cavalry. Skiritai were arcadian perioikoi, but were the most trusted among all the perioikoi of Sparta. Their honorary position in the battleline right next to the Spartans and their bravery in their missions means that they were elevated to a higher status than even some native Spartan units, as Spartans above all treasured bravery and prowess in battle. They are equipped with a shortened version of the pilos helmet, and a leather or felt cup underneath to soften the blow on the head, should the helmet be struck. They wear an “exomis” variation of the “chiton”, which leaves the right shoulder free for sword or spear movement. This was worn by laborers, but was popularized in between the battle of Aigos Potamoi 404 BCE and Battle of Leuktra 371 BCE, when most armies dropped all defensive armament but for the shield and helmet. Later on, most troops resumed wearing armor for the body, but Skiritai, due to the nature of their mission, probably remained in that “exomis outfit”. They are armed with a long xiphos sword, as a spear would definitely prove unwieldy in close quarter fighting. It is slung inside their shield for easy reach. They are also equipped with the Spartan shortsword, in case they lose their sword in the heat of the battle, and it wouldn’tt be easy for them to find their sword in the dark. Their shield is dark and has some bronze pins on to cover their Mora emblem an “Ierax” or hawk. They would also be covered in carbon dust so that they would be less visible, during their mission. They set up a perimeter guard around the round shaped Spartan camp, and stood guard during the night. Skiritai while a geographical term initially, it signified a way of fighting and Perioikoi from other towns too were admitted in the Skiritai units.
Historically Perioikoi Skiritai were elite specialized troops of the Spartans. They were night fighting troops be they night guards or night raiders. Their most astounding achievement was the assassination of the brothers of Xerxes at Thermopylae according to Diodoros of Sicily. The story goes like this. During the second day of the conflict at Thermopylae, Leonidas is informed in the late evening from a Persian fugitive, Tyrrastias from Kyme, the movements of the immortals under command of the Hydarnes in the mountain pass of Anopaia and decides a night raid with Xerxes himself as the target. The Persians, obvioulsly worn out by the their continuous attacks of the battleline, don’t notice a unit of skiritai night raiders, who penetrate in the royal tent slaughtering everyone they find. Xerxes however wasn’t in the tent at the time so he escapes. This wasn’t the case though for his brothers, Abrokomes and Hyperanthes. After killing them the skiritai were slain themselves as the immortals overwhelmed them. Herodotos considers that the brothers of Xerxes died fighting Leonidas in the final stand of the Spartans in the hill. That, however is false as the Persian Kings’ brothers wouldn’t fight at the first line according to their customs, and of course we know that the last Spartans of Thermopylae died from the massive arrow shots, not direct action. Thus, Xerxes’ brothers are more likely to have been killed at a Skiritai night ops than anything else. They kept on fighting for the Spartans and they are mentioned in the first battle of Mantineia, when they along with the freed Helots Brasideioi were given the left flank (with Spartans and Tegeates allies holding the right). In that battle they were the bait as they faced the elite troops of the Spartans’ enemies. They fled eventually, but after buying the right flank enough time to dismantle their opposing force and then defeating the rest of the enemies in detail. Post Mantineia they were used as hamippoi (between the horses), meaning going in battle along with the horsemen, and gutting the enemy horses when the two cavalry forces would join. Skiritai were dismantled when Thebans stripped the Spartans of their Arcadian holdings post 371, but Spartans reclaimed Skirititai land and would definitely recreate that elite night-op force. (RSdescriptions)
What's you favorite RS2 "special forces" like unit?
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Originally Posted by Heathen Hammer
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