Moonshield Warriors
The Moonshield Warriors were a type of heavy horse archer that had a crescent shaped shield strapped to their arm. They often served as a local khan or chief's bodyguard or as a shock unit. They were often recruited as mercenaries to fight against their counterparts.
These mounted warriors usually originate from the North Yamuhi Steppe's more western regions where armies tend to have better infantry and where the horses have come in contact with larger and more "civilized" breeds. Traditionally, they come the more western Guntartar tribes or from other South Hu-Balaiin nations. However, during some of the Guntartar Khaganates people were also recruited from more interior steppe tribes as a part of a consolidation or integration effort. However, there are quite a few tribes from the Northern that developed this unit or a very similar one independantly.
Composition
Equipment
A moonshield warrior was equipped with a bow, a shield, a spear, a sword and a lot of arrows. He would wear a helmet and some scale or lamellar armor over lightly padded clothes (sometimes the horse was also armored, but lightly). He would also travel with an extra horse or two along with a change of clothes, something to serve as toilet paper, a bag for loot, extra arrows and some water (they usually foraged for food). Sometimes however, they would head out with nothing except their weapons, extra horse, extra arrows, a little bit of water and that's it.
Weaponry
A moonshield warrior was equipped with a variety of weapons:
A long spear or lance to charge at a target and skewer it.
A compact recurve composite bow with a heavy draw weight (usually about 120 lbs at full draw).
A crescent shaped shield that was strapped to the arm. The she shield was constructed in such a way that the straps that were held in the the hand were only like 10 from the edge, and with the cutout starting about 5 cm above the hand and continuing in a concave curve. If you were to put a straight line between the points where the cutout starts and finishes, it would usually be 30-35 cm long (depending on the size of the shield). The shield was either planked or made of wickerwork and covered on rawhide.
About 50-100 arrows with one or two different types of points.
A curved one handed sword for backup.
These weapons were usually used in the following order: The spear would be used in an initial charge. Then, after losing or ditching the spear the bow would be used either until the battle was won or lost, or until the arrows ran out. If the arrows ran out before the battle was over and there was no way to replenish them, the sword would be used.
Vehicles
They tend to ride horses or ponies of slightly heavier stock that what is often seen in the interior of the North Yamuhi Steppe.
Tactics
If not used as a bodyguard, they would go in with an initial hit and run charge, and then they would join the ranks of the rest of the horse archers.
Logistics
Logistical Support
When part of a more organized body they are connected to a supply chain, but otherwise they tend to forage.
Auxilia
A lot of times a detachment of infantry would be added to them to engage their opponents from head-on while they harassed it from the rear and flanks. They also fought alongside dedicated light horse archers most of the time.
Type
Cavalry
Overall training Level
Professional
Assumed Veterancy
Experienced
Used by
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments