<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>dacian cavalry komatai hippeis</full_name><dictionary>dacian_cavalry_komatai_hippeis</dictionary><category>cavalry</category><class>light</class><voice_type>Light_1</voice_type><soldier><name>germanic_cavalry_ridoharjoz_komataihippeis</name><soldiers>25</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1</mass></soldier><mount>medium horse</mount><mount_effect>elephant +1, chariot +2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, very_hardy, cantabrian_circle</attributes><formation><side_spacing>2</side_spacing><front_spacing>4</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>3</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>6</loose_front_spacing><ranks>5</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>2</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>4</attack><charge>24</charge><missile_type>javelin</missile_type><range>55</range><ammo>8</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>thrown</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>8</attack><charge>24</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.15</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>no</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>3</armour><def_skill>10</def_skill><shield>3</shield><sound>leather</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>1</def_skill><sound>flesh</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>2</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-2</forest><snow>0</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>13</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>1906</cost><upkeep>477</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>60</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>80</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>1906</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>dacia</ownership><description><name>Mezenai (Dacian Light Cavalry)</name><short>These horsemen form the mounted counterparts of the komatai war bands.</short><long>Impetuous
Hardy
Expert at Hiding in Woods

These horsemen form the mounted counterparts of the Komatai war bands. They ride into battle armored with studded leather armor and trousers, while carrying javelins, spears and short swords. Their nimble horses allow for very good performance in any type of terrain, being often used to screen flanks, charge home and for pursuit once an enemy is broken. They are also expert scouts and perfectly suited for the scorched-earth raiding tactics commonly used by the Getai. While they can pose problems to heavy cavalry when using javelins, they’ll also carve a bloody path through most medium cavalry with their spears.

Historically, the word ‘mezena’ is a purely Thracian one meaning rider or horseman as a tomb inscription reveals. These riders were nothing more than Komatai who could afford losing their horse on the battlefield. They preferred the short sword to the common sica due to their stabbing effectivness and in pursuit. Their numbers fluctuated, and could at times be considerable. When Alexandros pushed up to the Danube, many thousands from the Mezenai confronted him there.</long></description></unit>