<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>dacian infantry taxeistribalii</full_name><dictionary>dacian_infantry_taxeistribalii</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>heavy</class><voice_type>Light_1</voice_type><soldier><name>dacian_infantry_taxeistribalii</name><soldiers>40</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1.18</mass></soldier><mount_effect>elephant +1, chariot +2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hardy</attributes><formation><side_spacing>1.2</side_spacing><front_spacing>1.6</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>2.4</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>3.2</loose_front_spacing><ranks>4</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>5</attack><charge>8</charge><missile_type>javelin</missile_type><range>45</range><ammo>3</ammo><weapon_type>thrown</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>10</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>prec, thrown</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>10</attack><charge>8</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>blade</tech_type><dammage_type>slashing</dammage_type><sound>sword</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.225</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>no</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>8</armour><def_skill>9</def_skill><shield>3</shield><sound>leather</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>0</def_skill><sound>flesh</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>3</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>2</forest><snow>0</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>14</morale><discipline>impetuous</discipline><training>untrained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>1850</cost><upkeep>462</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>30</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>40</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>1850</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>dacia, macedon, numidia, thrace, romans_julii, slave</ownership><description><name>Taxeis Triballoi (Triballi Infantry)</name><short>Taxeis Triballoi are armored in leather and carry a quick and efficient longsword. They carry javelins as well as swords, and are an efficient and deadly medium infantry.</short><long>Hardy
Sapping Ability
Expert at Hiding in Woods
Can Hide in Long Grass

The Triballoi are a particularly fierce Thraikian tribe that contributes a very deadly assault infantry to any Thraikian warlord or any Strategos who hires them. These Thraikians are wearing leather armor with ptyreges, leather greaves, Thracian helms and thureos shields and they are armed with javelins and Skythian longswords. True to their Thraikian ancestry they are ferocious warriors who fight with an intensity unmatched by other troops in the region. They are more than capable of going toe to toe with most other medium infantry and can be utterly lethal as flankers against heavier infantry. Their javelins give them another edge, as they can unleash a volley or two before closing in on the hopefully thinned enemy formation. In short, they are a very able assault infantry if properly used on the battlefield.

Historically, the Triballoi were among the most fierce and warlike of the Thracian tribes, although that has been said about most Thracian tribes. However, it might have more merit for the Triballoi, as they were a byword for savagery, their name became slang for youths spending all their time in taverns and even an Athenian club for lawless youths was named after them. The Triballoi were once subdued by Philippos II, and then again by Alexandros. Alexandros was so impressed by them that he hired many and brought them on his Persian expedition. They were instrumental as assault infantry, and were able to outfight the Persian infantry on every occasion that they met them. These troops had a simple philosophy of war. Throw javelins, charge, and then rip your enemies apart. For such simple tactics, they were wildly effective against most enemies.

The Triballoi were in constant contact with the Getai and Skythians and also the Illyrians. One Illyrian tribe, the Autariatai, overcame the Triballoi around 424 and forced them out of their original homelands further south than their present location and they were also hard pressed centuries later when the Celts migrated to the area. The Skythian, Illyrian and later Celtic influences on the Triballoi might be the reason they are sometimes mentioned as distinct from the other Thracian tribes.</long></description></unit>