<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>steppe cavalry aeldaryaembaltae</full_name><dictionary>steppe_cavalry_aeldaryaembaltae</dictionary><category>cavalry</category><class>missile</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>steppe_cavalry_aeldaryaembaltae</name><soldiers>10</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1</mass></soldier><officers><officer1>ebofficer_dracones</officer1></officers><mount>hetairoi companion horse</mount><mount_effect>elephant -1, chariot +2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, general_unit, hide_forest, hardy, mercenary_unit</attributes><formation><side_spacing>1.5</side_spacing><front_spacing>4</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>3</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>6</loose_front_spacing><ranks>4</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>2</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>6</attack><charge>44</charge><missile_type>arrow</missile_type><range>190.4</range><ammo>40</ammo><weapon_type>missile</weapon_type><tech_type>archery</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>none</sound><min_delay>15</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>no</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>5</attack><charge>44</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>blade</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>200</min_delay><lethality>0.4</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>ap</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>22</armour><def_skill>12</def_skill><shield>0</shield><sound>metal</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>0</def_skill><sound>metal</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>5</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-4</forest><snow>-1</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>16</morale><discipline>disciplined</discipline><training>highly_trained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>2067</cost><upkeep>0</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>55</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>212</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>2067</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>armenia, slave</ownership><description><name>Aeldary Aembaltae (Sarmatian Bodyguard Cavalry)</name><short>A Sarmatian Warlord surrounds himself with fierce warriors as a personal guard. These spear-armed cavalry are an elite reserve for use in a moment of crisis.</short><long>Elite
Disciplined
Hardy
Inspires Friendly Units
Can Form Cantabrian Circle

The retainers of a Sarmatian warlord of the royal family have, like their master, access to the very best in terms of arms, armour and horses. In consequence, they are typically the warriors best equipped for hand-to-hand combat within a Sarmatian army, often the only ones, and, as such, their intervention at critical points of a battle may well decide its outcome. However, not even a Sarmatian prince may afford keeping a large retinue and hence, these select warriors are few in number. Therefore, it is imperative that they are judiciously used and committed only when and where they can really tip the balance of a fight.

Historically, Sarmatian nobles maintained a number of retainers, providing them with equipment and, possibly, some means of sustenance. In turn, those retainers followed their lord whenever he went to war. The richer the noble or chieftain, the better equipped his retinue, the extreme being those warriors that constituted the guard of members of royal families. Thus, while a lesser chieftain may be surrounded by just some light horse archers, a Sarmatian prince led a group of armoured riders wielding the finest weaponry. Friendship was highly valued among the Sarmatians and was often expressed in oaths of mutual loyalty between warriors which further enhanced the cohesion of such groups. The battlefield impact of such well equipped and highly motivated unit, even if they were not numerous, should not be lightly dismissed.</long></description></unit>