"You rely on speed to find the enemy, screen your allies from his scouts, and strike without warning where he least expects."
"We never had a chance, sir. They came out of nowhere. Before we could turn they were in among us, shouting their chilling battle-cries as they rode us down. It is true we ran from them, sir, but these were not men — they were Daemons on horseback."
- —Gunter Friesheim, after the Rout of Rifraffa[1a]
Arabyan light cavalryman
With fewer heavily armed and armoured knights than the Empire, Tilean mercenary armies rely on fast, lightly-armed horsemen to provide mobile striking power. Rather than charge headlong into the teeth -- and pikes -- of the foe, Tilean light cavalrymen, called stradioti in their language, prefer to strike from the flanks or, best of all, the rear, where the enemy's baggage train presents a tempting target.[1a]
A life of constant raiding and defending against raids, whether from Humans, Goblins, or Beastmen, has bred mounted warriors who hit their target fast, cause as much confusion and panic as possible, and then ride away before the enemy can react. Light horsemen from the desert lands of Araby perform much like the Tilean stradioti and many companies of Arabyan horsemen work with mercenary commanders. Ungol horsemen from the northern steppes also fulfil a similar role in the armies of Kislev, and their companies, known as rota, can be found working as mercenaries.[1a]
In the Empire, light cavalry units are employed mostly in the southern Grand Provinces and the Reikland, where their ability to function in both rough terrain and plains makes them useful as scouts and quick-reaction forces. Though still largely Tilean, more and more recruits are coming from Imperials looking for something more exciting than marching back and forth. Sudenland has long employed stradioti to patrol its southern reaches, and The Elector's Own Lancers is a highly regarded outfit.[1a]
Sources[]
- 1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Up in Arms (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 44
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