Taranaich
06-15-2007, 20:02
The Pictish Confederacy
https://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2967/htwfactionsymbolpictsml3.jpg
Beyond the river the primitive still reigned in shadowy forests, brush-thatched huts where hung the grinning skulls of men, and mud-walled enclosures where fires flickered and drums rumbled, and spears were whetted in the hands of dark, silent men with tangled black hair and the eyes of serpents. Those eyes often glared through bushes at the fort across the river. Once dark-skinned men had built their huts where that fort stood, yes, and their huts had risen where now stood the fields and log cabins of fair-haired settlers, back beyond Velitrium, that raw, turbulent frontier town on the banks of Thunder River, to the shores of that other river that bounds the Bossonian marches. Traders had come, and priests of Mitra who walked with bare feet and empty hands, and died horribly, most of them; but soldiers had followed, men with axes in their hands and women and children in ox-drawn wains. Back to Thunder River, and still back, beyond Black River, the aborigines had been pushed, with slaughter and massacre. But the dark-skinned people did not forget that once Conajohara had been theirs.” – Beyond the Black River
Capital: Gwawela (Wolf Tribelands)
Settlements: Onayaga (Hawk Tribelands), Abooksigun (Wildcat Tribelands), Awanata (Turtle Tribelands)
Current Ruler: Teyanoga
The Picts of the Hyborian Age are very different to the Picts of the later European Dark Ages, although they are distantly related. They have some undeniable Native American similarities, particularly Algonquin and Iroquois, but they are much more savage then either, barely out of the Neolithic. I will be taking advantage of the Aztecs’ more colourful units to make some suitable Pictish warriors, though they will naturally be a lot less pretty and more savage, as befitting the Picts. The various Jaguar, Eagle and similar unit models will be made into the elites and officers of their respective tribes.
Pictish armies are composed of weak but numerous un-armoured warriors, with powerful chosen warriors and shamans, as well as a few trained animals, which compensate for their lack of cavalry. Their assassins and spies are very effective when used against civilized foes, but much less useful against fellow savages and barbarians. Conversely, their diplomats, princesses and traders work well with other barbarians, but have little success with civilized factions. Only their powerful Shaman priests are equally effective at swaying barbarians and civilized cultures.
The Picts at the moment are little more than a nuisance to the mighty Aquilonians, the stalwart Bossonian Archers successfully beating them back in their many raids beyond the Westermarck. Although they have great numbers, they are little use against the devastating Bossonian archers, Gunderland pikemen and Knights of Poitain, so any early raids would be best used for looting resources than trying to establish a foothold. They are also at a disadvantage strategically: Aquilonia continues to expand it’s borders into Pictish territory, which means that the Picts will likely lose land in the early game. At the start of the game, the Pictish confederacy consists of the Wolf, Hawk, Wildcat and Turtle tribes, which offer a useful variety for tactical purposes: the Turtle Picts are resilient as Picts go, and can act as spear infantry; the Hawk Picts are highly skilled bowmen; the Wolf Picts are highly effective ambushers and skirmishers; and the Wildcat Picts are savage and swift shock troops. Used in conjunction with the Wolf Pict’s trained wolves, they can be an effective fighting force. It is imperative that the Confederacy seek to absorb other tribes for their survival: in particular, the dangerous coastal Picts such as the Shark, Sea-Falcon and Panther Picts would supplement an army greatly, as well as give access to trade and a second route of expansion, perhaps even far south to the Black Kingdoms. If the Confederacy can last to the late game, then there is a chance for the Pictish Revolution: this will transform the Picts from a crazed rabble into an efficient, deadly horde that could bring the world to its knees.
Units
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7429/htwscreenpictstribesmenfl8.th.jpg (https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictstribesmenfl8.jpg)
Tribesmen
The average Pictish tribesman would be largely similar tribe to tribe, with only a couple of tattoos or symbols denoting their totem animal. They are fairly flexible troops, capable in defense and attack, and in sufficient numbers to act as meat shields. These warriors can be defeated easily by superior Hyborian troops, but used in conjunction with other, more specialized troops they can be deadly.
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5928/htwscreenpictshunterstm8.th.jpg (https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictshunterstm8.jpg)
Hunters
As well as war, all Picts are trained to hunt efficiently in the wilderness they live in, but just as some Picts choose to concentrate on warfare, some Picts specialize in hunting as their vocation. These warriors are normally safe to hunt in peace, and exempt from the predations of hostile tribes, as it is a grave offense among Picts to kill one of Jhebbal-Sag’s children while in hunting-paint. In times of war, however, these hunters scrub off their distinctive hunt markings to paint themselves in the unmistakable war paint of the Picts. A lifetime of hunting the deadliest animals on the earth has made them effective ambushers, and whilst not as effective in a melee as a warband, they have more than enough warrior spirit to prove a dependable support unit in a battle.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5417/htwscreenpictswarbandwf8.th.jpg (https://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictswarbandwf8.jpg)
Warband
Picts have a great love of war and bloodshed, and so it is natural that most Pictish men take up service in the patrols and warbands of their tribe. While all Pictish men are trained for battle, the vast expanses of the wilderness mean that tours of duty can last weeks, so a rota of warriors is established: these Warbands are sent to see off any intruders, whilst the tribesmen remain at the village to defend it in their absence. They use the highly versatile spear, carrying a couple extra to hurl at foes before closing into the melee.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/818/htwscreenpictswarriorsfl9.th.jpg (https://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictswarriorsfl9.jpg)
Warriors
For most of the Hyborian Age the Pictish culture was in a strange state of suspended animation: it neither advanced nor retrogressed. However, some Picts nearer the civilized lands have the cunning to steal or even trade for high-quality Hyborian steel, usually from the Zingarans. These warriors are few in number, but highly skilled and armed, wielding their steel with the ease they would an axe or spear. If the Pictish Revolution is triggered, then these troops can be upgraded to light mail and scale mail, becoming a disciplined fighting force with the ferocity of a thousand years of barbarism - a deadly combination that could bring the civilized lands to their knees.
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7765/htwscreenpictstigerwarrep6.th.jpg (https://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictstigerwarrep6.jpg)
Tiger Warriors
Each Pictish tribe has an elite group of warriors that put their regular troops to shame. The wild Tiger Picts of the central Wilderness have evolved a patience akin to their totem, choosing to advance silently before pouncing. Like many Pictish elites they are frighteningly adept at hiding in the jungles, and can appear out of nowhere to even experienced woodsmen. These warriors have proven their aptitude at ambush and quick, silent kills, their final test being the slaying of a tiger. Those who fail usually die: those who succeed are lauded, for only a tiger can kill another. As reward he is permitted to bear the skins of the beast as proof that he is of the tiger's brethren.
https://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2967/htwfactionsymbolpictsml3.jpg
Beyond the river the primitive still reigned in shadowy forests, brush-thatched huts where hung the grinning skulls of men, and mud-walled enclosures where fires flickered and drums rumbled, and spears were whetted in the hands of dark, silent men with tangled black hair and the eyes of serpents. Those eyes often glared through bushes at the fort across the river. Once dark-skinned men had built their huts where that fort stood, yes, and their huts had risen where now stood the fields and log cabins of fair-haired settlers, back beyond Velitrium, that raw, turbulent frontier town on the banks of Thunder River, to the shores of that other river that bounds the Bossonian marches. Traders had come, and priests of Mitra who walked with bare feet and empty hands, and died horribly, most of them; but soldiers had followed, men with axes in their hands and women and children in ox-drawn wains. Back to Thunder River, and still back, beyond Black River, the aborigines had been pushed, with slaughter and massacre. But the dark-skinned people did not forget that once Conajohara had been theirs.” – Beyond the Black River
Capital: Gwawela (Wolf Tribelands)
Settlements: Onayaga (Hawk Tribelands), Abooksigun (Wildcat Tribelands), Awanata (Turtle Tribelands)
Current Ruler: Teyanoga
The Picts of the Hyborian Age are very different to the Picts of the later European Dark Ages, although they are distantly related. They have some undeniable Native American similarities, particularly Algonquin and Iroquois, but they are much more savage then either, barely out of the Neolithic. I will be taking advantage of the Aztecs’ more colourful units to make some suitable Pictish warriors, though they will naturally be a lot less pretty and more savage, as befitting the Picts. The various Jaguar, Eagle and similar unit models will be made into the elites and officers of their respective tribes.
Pictish armies are composed of weak but numerous un-armoured warriors, with powerful chosen warriors and shamans, as well as a few trained animals, which compensate for their lack of cavalry. Their assassins and spies are very effective when used against civilized foes, but much less useful against fellow savages and barbarians. Conversely, their diplomats, princesses and traders work well with other barbarians, but have little success with civilized factions. Only their powerful Shaman priests are equally effective at swaying barbarians and civilized cultures.
The Picts at the moment are little more than a nuisance to the mighty Aquilonians, the stalwart Bossonian Archers successfully beating them back in their many raids beyond the Westermarck. Although they have great numbers, they are little use against the devastating Bossonian archers, Gunderland pikemen and Knights of Poitain, so any early raids would be best used for looting resources than trying to establish a foothold. They are also at a disadvantage strategically: Aquilonia continues to expand it’s borders into Pictish territory, which means that the Picts will likely lose land in the early game. At the start of the game, the Pictish confederacy consists of the Wolf, Hawk, Wildcat and Turtle tribes, which offer a useful variety for tactical purposes: the Turtle Picts are resilient as Picts go, and can act as spear infantry; the Hawk Picts are highly skilled bowmen; the Wolf Picts are highly effective ambushers and skirmishers; and the Wildcat Picts are savage and swift shock troops. Used in conjunction with the Wolf Pict’s trained wolves, they can be an effective fighting force. It is imperative that the Confederacy seek to absorb other tribes for their survival: in particular, the dangerous coastal Picts such as the Shark, Sea-Falcon and Panther Picts would supplement an army greatly, as well as give access to trade and a second route of expansion, perhaps even far south to the Black Kingdoms. If the Confederacy can last to the late game, then there is a chance for the Pictish Revolution: this will transform the Picts from a crazed rabble into an efficient, deadly horde that could bring the world to its knees.
Units
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7429/htwscreenpictstribesmenfl8.th.jpg (https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictstribesmenfl8.jpg)
Tribesmen
The average Pictish tribesman would be largely similar tribe to tribe, with only a couple of tattoos or symbols denoting their totem animal. They are fairly flexible troops, capable in defense and attack, and in sufficient numbers to act as meat shields. These warriors can be defeated easily by superior Hyborian troops, but used in conjunction with other, more specialized troops they can be deadly.
https://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5928/htwscreenpictshunterstm8.th.jpg (https://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictshunterstm8.jpg)
Hunters
As well as war, all Picts are trained to hunt efficiently in the wilderness they live in, but just as some Picts choose to concentrate on warfare, some Picts specialize in hunting as their vocation. These warriors are normally safe to hunt in peace, and exempt from the predations of hostile tribes, as it is a grave offense among Picts to kill one of Jhebbal-Sag’s children while in hunting-paint. In times of war, however, these hunters scrub off their distinctive hunt markings to paint themselves in the unmistakable war paint of the Picts. A lifetime of hunting the deadliest animals on the earth has made them effective ambushers, and whilst not as effective in a melee as a warband, they have more than enough warrior spirit to prove a dependable support unit in a battle.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5417/htwscreenpictswarbandwf8.th.jpg (https://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictswarbandwf8.jpg)
Warband
Picts have a great love of war and bloodshed, and so it is natural that most Pictish men take up service in the patrols and warbands of their tribe. While all Pictish men are trained for battle, the vast expanses of the wilderness mean that tours of duty can last weeks, so a rota of warriors is established: these Warbands are sent to see off any intruders, whilst the tribesmen remain at the village to defend it in their absence. They use the highly versatile spear, carrying a couple extra to hurl at foes before closing into the melee.
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/818/htwscreenpictswarriorsfl9.th.jpg (https://img527.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictswarriorsfl9.jpg)
Warriors
For most of the Hyborian Age the Pictish culture was in a strange state of suspended animation: it neither advanced nor retrogressed. However, some Picts nearer the civilized lands have the cunning to steal or even trade for high-quality Hyborian steel, usually from the Zingarans. These warriors are few in number, but highly skilled and armed, wielding their steel with the ease they would an axe or spear. If the Pictish Revolution is triggered, then these troops can be upgraded to light mail and scale mail, becoming a disciplined fighting force with the ferocity of a thousand years of barbarism - a deadly combination that could bring the civilized lands to their knees.
https://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7765/htwscreenpictstigerwarrep6.th.jpg (https://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=htwscreenpictstigerwarrep6.jpg)
Tiger Warriors
Each Pictish tribe has an elite group of warriors that put their regular troops to shame. The wild Tiger Picts of the central Wilderness have evolved a patience akin to their totem, choosing to advance silently before pouncing. Like many Pictish elites they are frighteningly adept at hiding in the jungles, and can appear out of nowhere to even experienced woodsmen. These warriors have proven their aptitude at ambush and quick, silent kills, their final test being the slaying of a tiger. Those who fail usually die: those who succeed are lauded, for only a tiger can kill another. As reward he is permitted to bear the skins of the beast as proof that he is of the tiger's brethren.