Faction : Goth

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The Goths were an ancient Germanic people from the Baltic coast region who migrated towards Dacia in the 3rd century A.D., but before that they were reputed to have crossed the Baltic from their original homeland. They settled around the Vistula river and at some point the tribes divided into the Ostrogoths and the Visigoths, or Western Goths. The Western Goths were the first barbarians to carry out a major incursion into Roman territory and, while the other barbarians were even more brutal in their warmaking, the Goths struck fear into the enemies. Their practice of sacrificing captives to their war god, Tyz, was particularly horrifying. This practice was been abandoned when the Goths adopted the Arian version of Christianity.

They were, however, still dangerous warriors and well able to exploit any weakness in Roman lands or among their more barbarous neighbours. Historically, the Goths were driven across the Danube and into Roman territory by pressure from the steppes. While the Goths tried to behave peaceably, the Romans treated them abominably. At the battle of Adrianople in 378, the Goths destroyed an Imperial army and killed the Emperor.

Units

Peasants

Peasants are reluctant warriors at best, but a life of endless toil and drudgery does at least produce strong backs and an acceptance of grim reality. Men, no matter how untrained or unready for war, are always useful in battle -- the enemy can be weakened simply by having to hack a way through the press of bodies. Forcing peasants to leave the land and fight is cheap and quick, even if it does damage the prospects for the next harvest. This is an important consideration when famine may only be one failed harvest away. Still more of a problem is the reluctance of these men to fight well in a situation they neither know nor care about. That said, these men can fight; maybe they are not experts, but every enemy they kill is one less for proper warriors to face down.

Arian Priests

Arian Priests inspire nearby troops to acts of great bravery through their Christian prayers and blessings. The religious life, as you'd expect, is not much of a training for personal combat, and these men will quickly suffer in hand-to-hand combat. Christianity is a new faith spreading from the East, but it is still very much in its infancy. It has, however, already split up into sects and competing dogmas. The sect that has had most appeal to non-Romans is Arianism, a set of teachings that proposes that Christ is not part of God or the Trinity but created by God and therefore not eternal, something that is regarded as heretical by the "official" Churches of the Roman world. Despite the arcane arguments of theologians, there is much that is appealing to ordinary soldiers in the promise of personal salvation and a place in the afterlife, and priests are now an established part of many armies. Although they profess a pacifistic religion, the followers of Christ have had to adopt a more muscular attitude to warfare, particularly against pagans. A doctrine of "just war" has started to emerge from the Church's more advanced scholars, but this does not extend to priests themselves getting involved in combat except in self defence. These men are expected to encourage, not set an example.

Runaway Slave Spearmen

Runaway Slave Spearmen are the lowest of the low, given the worst weapons and no armour before being pushed into a battle line. These are the men that peasants look down upon. These men will fight because they have no choice. They have thrown in their lot with the enemies of Rome, and must now triumph or face the consequences. Running away is a death sentence for slaves. The laws of Rome have been tightened over generations for peasants and small farmers, tying them to their land where they can be taxed to the hilt; laws on slavery have never been relaxed. The lot of slaves at the bottom of the system has just become even harsher. Christianity, with its promise of universal brotherhood, has merely made matters worse in some ways by giving hope but then not delivering earthly freedom.

Gothic Warriors

Gothic Warriors are good, steady hand-to-hand fighters who suffer from the common "barbarian" trait of being a little too eager for combat. What they lack in discipline they make up for in killing power and raw courage. Every Goth warlord will value some of these men in his army, as they are unwilling to shame themselves before their comrades by running from battle. These warriors are proud men, and pride sometimes makes them overly-keen to get to grips with an enemy. Expense is never stinted when giving these men their war gear. They are expected to stand in line of battle, and never waver, and thus they need practical protection.

Steppe Horde Chosen Warriors

Steppe Horde Chosen Warriors are among the best fighting individuals in their tribe. While superbly skilled and extremely tough, they are not naturally inclined to fight as a coherent group, but they are an intimidating sight. Personal glory and the need to be first amongst the enemy ensure that they are headstrong and ill-disciplined. They are, however, equipped with fine swords, decent armour and shields. This unit will disband when the horde settles in a new homeland.

Goth Spearmen

Goth Spearmen are recruited from amongst the young and low-status members of a tribe. They are given a spear, a shield and a good lesson in obedience to their betters before being pushed into a battle line. Spearmen are the men that real warriors look down upon from their lofty saddles. This can be rather foolish, as a man with a spear can kill even the bravest warrior, or stop him dead in his tracks when his horse (quite sensibly) refuses to charge headlong onto a sharp spear point. These men are worth bringing to a battle, as they can provide a solid anchor for a battle line when fighting cavalry, even if they are vulnerable to attack by missiles or swordsmen.

Goth Raiders

Goth Raiders are expert archers. Few enemies within arrow shot are safe. They can also fight hand-to-hand when they must, making them a double threat to enemies. The Goths would like to be seen as a peaceable, farming people, but this is disingenuous. They would not have survived as a tribal unit if they weren't good fighters. The raiders, drawn from the Goths of the woods and forests, may not look impressive -- or particularly clean -- but this doesn't detract from their utility in battle. They should be seen as good all-round fighters, and as a result are a useful force for any warlord to lead. When they aren't shooting enemies, they can cut a few throats.

Goth Lancers

Goth Lancers are cavalry best used to charge into enemy formations in an attempt to break them through shock and impact. They are vulnerable if used against spear-armed infantry. The cavalry spear is a weapon that puts all the speed and weight of a man, his armor, and his horse into a single very sharp point. Given the long reach of a spear, this is a very dangerous weapon: a man-sized target can be run through, regardless of how much armour he is wearing. However, once a rider has struck home with his spear, he is then vulnerable to counter attacks from any distance closer than the point. A cavalry charge with spears is an immediate event. If enemies are not killed outright, the best tactic for lancers is to break off, reform and attempt another charge. Staying to fight is an excellent way of dying.


Goth Noble Warriors

Goth Noble Warriors are heavily armed and armoured warriors who are expected to charge into enemies and hack them to pieces. Unlike lancers, these men do not charge home. Instead, they cut their way through enemies with their swords. Once committed to a fight, they triumph or die in the attempt. Like many nobles, they owe their status to birth and bravery in equal measure. Cowardice or slacking in the face of an enemy would be enough to wipe away any pretence of nobility. These men are best used to cut down enemies who are already weakened. They can be used against other cavalry but are probably too heavy to make an effective screen against light cavalry or catch horse archers.

Goth Warlords

A warlord leads a personal guard of able and fierce warriors. These men are his elite, 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.

Steppe Horde Horsemen

Steppe Horde Horsemen 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. This unit will disband when the horde settles in a new homeland.

Goth Horse Archers

Goth Horse Archers are highly skilled, lightly armoured, horsemen who are both tenacious and skilled in battle. Their equipment is similar to many other steppe horsemen, and designed so as to be efficient and easy to maintain. They use composite bows cunningly laminated from wood, sinew and horn to give tremendous power without needing a large bow or long pull.

Alan Horse Archers

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 be 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.

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