Iolei (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Sherden Swordsmen

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

These warriors carry the legacy of the infamous Sea Peoples.

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.

(Sherden Swordsmen)
The term 'Sea Peoples' is used to refer to various seaborne raiders and marauders who troubled the Aegean, the Near East and Egypt during the second half of the 2nd millennium BC. The collapse of many of the Late Bronze Age civilisations is attributed to the Sea Peoples, as their piratical ways swept across the Mediterranean. Among the first tribes to appear in historical records were the Sherden, who were defeated by Ramesses II in the second year of his rule and so impressed the Pharaoh that they were subsequently added to his personal guard. Multiple settlements, lands and goods were gifted to Sherden warriors in payment, confirming the elite status of the Sea Peoples within Egyptian ranks. It is believed that the Sherden were ancestors to the Nuragic civilisation on Sardinia, who inherited and maintained much of their martial legacy probably due to their relative isolation. Nuragic bronze sculptures, as well as their use of horned helmets, further supports the ties between the two races.

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

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

Sherden Swordsmen

• Killing Spree
  Increases weapon damage for an extended period.
  Weapon damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Guerrilla Deployment
  This unit can deploy outside of the deployment zone.
• Stalk
  This unit can move hidden in any terrain.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

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

Sherden Swordsmen

• Very good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Good morale

Iolei (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (3)
1.Noble Sardi Archers
2.Sherden Horsemen
3.Sherden Swordsmen
Melee Infantry (23)
4.Heavy Nuragic Runners
5.Nuragic Runners
6.Nuragic Warriors
7.Sardi Axemen
8.Sardi Hillmen
9.Sherden Swordsmen
10.Native Aequi Swordsmen
11.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
12.Native Carthaginian Infantry
13.Native Gallic Axemen
14.Native Italian Hillmen
15.Native Italian Swordsmen
16.Native Latin Tribesmen
17.Native Ligurian Axe Warriors
18.Native Ligurian Swordsmen
19.Native Lucanian Warriors
20.Naked Native Warriors
21.Native Sabine Warriors
22.Native Samnite Infantryman
23.Native Sicilian Tribesmen
24.Native Tribeless Warriors
25.Native Umbrian Hillmen
26.Native Volsci Warriors
Missile Infantry (15)
27.Iolean Javelinmen
28.Noble Sardi Archers
29.Nuragic Ambushers
30.Sardi Bowmen
31.Sardi Skirmishers
32.Sardi Slingers
33.Native Iapygian Archers
34.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
35.Native Bruttii Slingers
36.Native Gallic Hunters
37.Native Greek Archers
38.Native Italian Skirmishers
39.Native Italian Slingers
40.Native Lucanian Ambushers
41.Native Sabine Skirmishers
Spear Infantry (8)
42.Nuragic Shield Wall
43.Sardi Spearmen
44.Native Carthaginian Spearmen
45.Native Etruscan Spearmen
46.Native Greek Militia
47.Native Latin Spearmen
48.Native Umbrian Spearmen
49.Native Volsci Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (6)
50.Sardi Cavalry
51.Sherden Horsemen
52.Native Aequi Horsemen
53.Native Campanian Cavalry
54.Native Gallic Horsemen
55.Native Ligurian Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (3)
56.Sardi Horse Skirmishers
57.African Cavalry
58.Native Veneti Raiders
Elephant (1)
59.African Elephants
Fixed Artillery (1)
60.Iolean Polybolos
Field Artillery (1)
61.Iolean Ballista
Admiral (2)
62.Medium Assault Raider - Sherden Swordsmen
63.Medium Missile Raider - Noble Sardi Archers
Melee Ship (8)
64.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
65.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
66.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
67.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
68.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
69.Medium Assault Raider - Nuragic Warriors
70.Medium Assault Raider - Sherden Swordsmen
71.Assault Raider - Sardi Axemen
Missile Ship (5)
72.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen
73.Medium Missile Raider - Noble Sardi Archers
74.Medium Missile Raider - Sardi Bowmen
75.Missile Raider - Iolean Javelinmen
76.Missile Raider - Sardi Bowmen