<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>dacian cavalry tarabostes</full_name><dictionary>dacian_cavalry_tarabostes</dictionary><category>cavalry</category><class>heavy</class><voice_type>Light_1</voice_type><soldier><name>dacian_cavalry_tarabostes</name><soldiers>25</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1</mass></soldier><officers><officer1>ebofficer_dracones</officer1></officers><mount>heavy horse</mount><mount_effect>elephant -1, chariot +2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_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>4</attack><charge>32</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>180</min_delay><lethality>0.38</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>ap</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>10</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>sword</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.13</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>no</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>8</armour><def_skill>11</def_skill><shield>3</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>4</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-2</forest><snow>0</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>17</morale><discipline>impetuous</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>2948</cost><upkeep>737</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>60</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>90</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>2948</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>dacia, slave</ownership><description><name>Tarabostes (Dacian Medium Cavalry)</name><short>Tarabostes are fearsome all-round cavalry, well armored and with their traditional ferocity they can always turn the tide of battle.</short><long>Superior\nImpetuous\nHardy\n\nThe Tarabostes are mounted war bands comprising warriors, usually veterans, attached to a war chief. They often form the main volunteer force for pillage raids. Being attached to the Getic nobility these warriors often have better equipment than their fellow Getic warriors. They are armored with chain-mail, armguards, greaves and large oval shields. They carry a spear and the sica blade. They are fearsome all-round cavalry, well armored and looking upon war as a class-affair. Their overconfidence, combined with Getic religious beliefs, makes these men prone to charge against tremendous odds as long as their chieftain is alive; thus, they lack the discipline required to any elite cavalry, but their traditional ferocity can always turn the tide of battle if properly timed or by sheer luck.\n\nHistorically, the Tarabostes had a much more independent spirit than any centralized authority would have preferred. Each of the more important tarabostes houses seems to have had its own dava (fortification) and each house maintained rather large forces at their own expense; their troops were experienced and loyal, bound to their leader through a system of privileges and favors. These warbands proved their worth during Burebista's campaigns against the Boii and Taursicii, where they seemed to have had the upper edge over the Celtic cavalry. Still, precisely these forces provided the Tarabostes the needed self-confidence when they assassinated Burebista in 44 B.C., upon hearing the news that Caesar no longer threatened the kingdom’s borders.</long></description></unit>