"The riders of the Celestial Host are the elite of the elite. The Dragon Emperor trusts only his own kin more than they."
- —Description of the renowned Great Longma Riders in Total War: Warhammer III.[2]
A host of Dragon-blooded Great Longma Riders
The Great Longma Riders are the flying heavy shock cavalry units of the Grand Imperial Army of Grand Cathay. Dragon-blooded nobles of the Celestial Empire who are yet to rise to their own prominence or prefer a place within the Celestial Host for the honour it brings often become Great Longma Riders, essentially a form of heavy aerial shock cavalry whose steeds are Longma, a horse-like flying creature native to Grand Cathay with horns and scaly wings and skin.
Role[]
The Celestial Dragon Guard of Grand Cathay are formidable soldiers, easily the equal to the best mortal troops of other realms. Supplementing their natural skill, they are given the best equipment in the Celestial Empire -- often carrying Celestial Blades and armour forged in the workshops of Kunlan.[2]
Their presence on the battlefield almost guarantees victory for the Cathayans, and other troops in the army draw courage from the sight of the Dragon Emperor's personal troops standing among them. Almost without exception, the Longma cavalry of the Celestial Host consist of the Dragon-blooded. Swifter than normal horses and able to spear their foes on their horns, Great Longma are the ultimate steeds for heavy shock cavalry.[2]
Flying to battle alongside other elements of the Celestial Host, they are the solution to endless problems on the battlefield, from eliminating enemy flyers to assaulting the hardiest of ground troops. While Grand Cathay's military is often focused on dealing damage from afar, anything in the way of the Great Longma Riders is unlikely to survive for long. Such is the strength of the Longma's charge that enemies have been known to flee in fear before they are even beaten.[1]
Notable Great Longma Riders[]
- Righteous Lances of Wei-Jin - The Righteous Lances of Wei-Jin are among the most skilled of the units of Great Longma Riders serving in the Grand Imperial Army. Originally raised from the population of the Cathayan capital city of Wei-Jin, the Righteous Lances have the honour of riding alongside the Cathayan Dragons, acting as bodyguards for their millenia-old rulers.[2]
Sources[]
- 1: Total War Blog - TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER III GRAND CATHAY ROSTER REVEAL
- 2: Total War: Warhammer III (PC Game)
Gallery[]
