<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>eastern cavalry katpatuka asabara</full_name><dictionary>eastern_cavalry_katpatuka_asabara</dictionary><category>cavalry</category><class>heavy</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>eastern_cavalry_aspet_kappadocian_mediancavalry</name><soldiers>25</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1</mass></soldier><mount>saddle horse heavy</mount><mount_effect>elephant -1, chariot +2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_forest, hardy</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>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>9</attack><charge>27</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_pri><stat_pri_attr>no</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>8</attack><charge>15</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>slashing</dammage_type><sound>axe</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.165</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>ap</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>12</armour><def_skill>9</def_skill><shield>2</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>3</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-3</forest><snow>-1</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>13</morale><discipline>normal</discipline><training>trained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>2985</cost><upkeep>746</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>40</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>90</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>2985</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>carthage</ownership><description><name>Katpatuka Asabara (Cappadocian Medium Cavalry)</name><short>These horsemen use axe and spear and, though noblemen, they are no match for cataphracts. They should be used in flanking attacks against armoured opponents</short><long>Superior
Hardy

These Katpatuka Asabara provide Pontos with the mounted core of its army and are the shock arm of its cavalry. They ride to war in scale armour and shield, wielding spear and axe in the old Persian style. They form a reliable medium cavalry for which a good commander will find many uses.

Historically, Katpatuka Asabara comes from old Imperial Persian nobles that the Alexandrian conquest did not dispossess and still hold their old estates. The high cost of warhorse and gear required the revenues of landed nobility to be capable of affording service to the king. The excellent Median horse was raised in Kappadokia and provided the mounts for these men. Median horses were noted for their size and strength, although not particularly tall, about 14 or 15 hands. They had large heads and strong necks with most being chestnuts, browns or blacks. Persian horse manes were clipped short, like those of the mounted archers of other nations, so it would not interfere with the action of shooting. The tails were tied up to prevent it being grabbed by the enemy. The forelock was left long and tied with ribbon to form a plume above the head. The Kappadokian plain provided the grasslands and rich pastures needed for good quality cavalry and the Achaemenid Persians granted imperial estates throughout Anatolia for the raising of Satrapal cavalry forces. With the fall of the old Persian empire these men found themselves as lords of a new land, serving the Iranian dynasty of Pontos.</long></description></unit>