Factions

[ScionTheWorm]

ALBA

(These screenshots contain units for both Alba and Éire)

In 843 AD, the ruler of the Scottish kingdom Dal riada, Cinaed MacAilpin, laid claim to the Pictish kingdom of Caledonia, thereby uniting northern Britain into one kingdom - the kingdom of Alba. After a history of internal rivalry between Scots and Picts with neither gaining the upper hand, the viking raiders eventually weakened the Picts so much that Cinaed MacAilpin could claim the throne of Caledonia through bloodlines. The population in modern Scotland is a mix of these Caledonians of Celtic origin, and the Dal riadans of Gaelic origin. Because the ruling dynasty of Alba was Gaelic, the army of the kingdom of Alba consisted mostly of typical Gaelic troops, with limited Pictish influence.

The gaelic warfare is centered around light and medium spearmen and axemen, often armed with javelins, heavy throwing spears or darts thrown before charging. The use of cavalry and archers is limited, and as a result those troop types have suffered in quality compared to those of other factions. However, the Scots, unlike the Irish, came to implement more and better long-distance missile troops and at the end of the period get access to crossbowmen as well as Gaelo-British Arras, a heavy infantry influenced by both gaelic and British fighting styles.

The Kingdom of Alba eventually transformed into Scotland, and became further influenced by their neighbors to the south. Eventually, this led to the separation of Highlanders and Lowlanders, with the Highlanders keeping up some of the old traditions and fighting styles, whereas the Lowlanders became more like the other peoples in Britain. However, this development didn't take place until after the ending date of this mod, and the kingdom of Alba is therefore mostly gaelic in terms of culture and warfare.

ÈIRE

The Irish at this time use a mix of gaelic troops and at the end of the period more and more viking influenced troops - often as mercenaries. The main weakness of the Irish is their lack of missile troops and heavier cavalry