<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>celtic infantry solduros</full_name><dictionary>celtic_infantry_solduros</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>heavy</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>celtic_infantry_arjos_rycalawre_solduros_kuarothoroi</name><soldiers>30</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1.2</mass></soldier><officers><officer1>ebofficer_celtic_standardbearer</officer1></officers><mount_effect>elephant -4</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy</attributes><formation><side_spacing>0.85</side_spacing><front_spacing>1.2</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>1.8</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>2.6</loose_front_spacing><ranks>3</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>13</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_pri><stat_pri_attr>no</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>18</attack><charge>8</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>0.13</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>light_spear</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>12</armour><def_skill>12</def_skill><shield>4</shield><sound>metal</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>0</def_skill><sound>flesh</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>5</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-1</forest><snow>-2</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>18</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>3193</cost><upkeep>798</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>80</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>130</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>3193</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>gauls, scythia, slave</ownership><description><name>Solduros (Gallic Noble Infantry)</name><short>Solduros are disciplined elite soldiers, exhibiting great tenacity and proving themselves a sturdy force in any battle line.</short><long>Elite
Disciplined
Hardy

The Solduros (Sul-dur-ohs; "Devoted Ones") are remarkably skilled, fearless elite guards of Celtic nobles. They pledge themselves to eachother and their charge, and fight to the very end. Small in number, they are a remarkable elite, best used to combat an enemy's opposing elite soldiers or heavy troops. They are very well armored and armed, and can surely break many enemies, but they are rare, very expensive, and while their armor and shields are of good quality, they have no form of retaliation at range, and would be too slow to chase off skirmishers or missile troops, and so would need ranged or cavalry support to be used to best effect.

Historically, Celtic nobles surrounded themselves with elite bodyguards of kings, magistrates, and other important nobles and officials, such as high ranking druids. Among them were the "Soldurii", the greatest warriors of the Aquitanni. Each man pledged his life to a fellow of this brotherhood, and the man pledged to would return this pledge; if the one of these two died, and the other did not, the remaining man would take his own life after the battle, for having failed defend him. Julius Caesar noted that no man ever backed down from this duty, and did so fearlessly. Their skill was tremendous; they fought against great odds and could defeat many times their own number. So great and legendary was their name even to their enemies that it can be found having influenced words such as 'soldier' and 'solidarity'.</long></description></unit>