Alani (Empire Divided) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Alani Swordsmen

Able to withstand rough seas, these ships' crews can capture enemy vessels in any weather.

Once drawn, their blades must taste enemy flesh.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Alani Swordsmen)
Alani warriors were known to be strong and fierce - the Roman historian Marcellinus spoke of them in complimentary terms, calling them "men of great stature and beauty" with "terribly fierce" eyes. Their hardiness and determination is hardly surprising, given their lives on the harsh, eastern steppes, and then having to cope with upheaval and westward migration brought on by the appearance of the Huns. The Alans, Sarmatians and indeed all the nomadic tribes, had no choice but to master this unforgiving life or be destroyed or consumed by a stronger people. They dominated the Pontic steppes until the Gothic tribes spread south-eastward into their lands. The subsequent encounter had a significant influence on Gothic culture, with the Germanic people developing into exceptional horsemen in their own right.

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Alani Swordsmen

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Alani (Empire Divided) Units
General (3)
1.Alani Royal Horses
2.Noble Steppe Cataphracts Bodyguard
3.Steppe Cataphract Archers
Melee Infantry (5)
4.Alani Axemen
5.Alani Swordsmen
6.Armoured Axe Warriors
7.Armoured Steppe Warriors
8.Steppe Warband
Melee Cavalry (9)
9.Alani Axe Cavalry
10.Alani Horsemen
11.Alani Nobles
12.Alani Riders
13.Alani Royal Horses
14.Alani Royal Horses
15.Steppe Cavalry
16.Taifali Cavalry
17.Sarmatian Light Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (7)
18.Alani 'Amazonian' Archers
19.Alani Horse Skirmishers
20.Alani Noblewoman Archers
21.Steppe Cataphract Archers
22.Steppe Cataphract Archers
23.Steppe Horse Archers
24.Steppe Horse Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (5)
25.Armoured Steppe Lancers
26.Noble Steppe Cataphracts
27.Noble Steppe Cataphracts Bodyguard
28.Noble Steppe Lancers
29.Steppe Lancers
Field Artillery (2)
30.Steppe Ballista
31.Steppe Bastion Ballista
Special (1)
32.Steppe War Dogs
Admiral (2)
33.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
34.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
Melee Ship (4)
35.Assault Raider - Steppe Warband
36.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
37.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
38.Medium Assault Raider - Alani Swordsmen
Missile Ship (3)
39.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
40.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
41.Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers