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Thread: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

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    Member Member Taranaich's Avatar
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    Default The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    The Kingdom of Aquilonia
    “Another five centuries and the Hybori peoples are the possessors of a civilization so virile that contact with it virtually snatched out of the wallow of savagery such tribes as it touched. The most powerful kingdom is Aquilonia, but others vie with it in strength and mixed race; the nearest to the ancient root-stock are the Gundermen of Gunderland, a northern province of Aquilonia. But this mixing has not weakened the race. They are supreme in the western world...”
    – The Hyborian Age


    Capital: Tarantia (Aquilonia)
    Settlements: Tanasul (Goralian Hills), Castle Trocero (Poitain), Galparan (Gunderland), Bossonia (Bossonian Marches), Velitrium (The Westermarck), Shamar (Attalus), Pellia (Central Provinces), Albiona (Northern Provinces), Tauran (Western provinces), Thune (Southern Provinces), Karaban (Eastern Provinces)
    Current Ruler: King Conan
    Generals: Trocero, Prospero, Pallantides, Servius Galannus
    Princesses: Albiona
    Spies: Dirk Strom, Gault Hagar

    Aquilonia is the largest and most powerful Hyborian kingdom, but also the most unstable: apart from intermittent wars with Nemedia, Zingara and Koth, Aquilonia has frequent rebellions from various provinces depending on the leadership: if it’s a tyrant then the outer provinces are likely to rebel; by contrast, a man of the people may incur the wrath of the nobility in the central provinces. Aquilonia also boasts the strongest heavy archers, heavy pikemen and heavy cavalry in the game: the Bossonian Archers, Gunderland Pikemen and Knights of Poitain. The Black Dragons are the most powerful of the mundane general bodyguards, and the Forest Runners one of the few civilized units that hide exceptionally well in forests. Their strategy map units are not as impressive: although their spies are the best of the Hyborian nations, their other agents are merely adequate in comparison to Nemedia and Koth.

    Aquilonia may be the most powerful nation in the west, but this does not make it unassailable. Having dominion over such a vast land means that you have to please a great variety of peoples, each of them proud and patriotic themselves. The hardy outer provinces such as Bossonia, Gunderland and the Westermarck have different needs and expectations than the richer, pastoral inland provinces. Careful diplomacy is required to keep all provinces happy, although it is perhaps inevitable that one or more provinces will attempt to wrest control from you if your policies do not satisfy them, and like-minded provinces will not hesitate to join them for a revolt. It would be wise to pacify the homeland before looking to expand, as the last thing that a leader needs it for a critical province to back out in the middle of an invasion.

    Once Aquilonia is at peace, expansion will be desirable to find new resources and lands for the rapidly growing populace. The Pictish Wilderness would seem ideal for land extension, but the savages beyond the Black River could prove a constant nuisance unless a comprehensive extermination is carried out, and such an act could spurn the tribes from a rabble into a united horde. Cimmeria would be no easier: the last attempt at expansion into those dark lands resulted in one of the bleakest massacres in Aquilonian history, and a huge invasion force will be necessary to make a successful invasion. Even then a strong military presence will be required to prevent natives from taking back their land, and to defend from roaming Nordheimir bands. Perhaps the easiest option for expansion would be in the other Hyborian lands: the Hyborian Kingdoms are rich and plentiful, and would be great assets to the Aquilonian Empire. Argos and Zingara are mighty sea powers, but rely on mercenaries for land battles, and their vast navies would prove useful for expansion into southern lands. Hyperborea to the north has little to attract invasion, but the two nations have bad blood, and Hyperborea will likely attack at some point, meaning that Aquilonia will have to deal with them eventually. And then, there is Nemedia: Nemedia and Aquilonia have had many conflicts, and both thwarted the other’s invasions many times. Finally conquering their old enemy would add immensely to Aquilonia’s imperial ambitions, as well as ending a blood-feud that has lasted centuries.

    Units


    Knights of Aquilonia
    The Knights of Aquilonia are as proud and impetuous as any knight of the Hyborian Kingdoms, with the very best arms and armour available to them. They are reckless and unreliable, but extremely effective at breaking enemy lines, though they cannot be trusted to wait for their general to give the command.


    Knights of Poitain
    The Knights of Poitain are unique among the Hyborians in their discipline: whereas most knights are wont to charge recklessly regardless of their general's orders, Poitain's knights have the strength of mind to contain their incredible ferocity until the General commands. Once the command is given, however, all bets are off: these knights will ride down any enemy still standing until either they are victorious or they fall in glorious death.


    Dismounted Knights of Poitain
    The knights of Poitain rarely leave their mounts on the battlefield except where cavalry is least effective, such as the defense of settlements or in the forested mountains of their homeland. When such tactics are necessary, the knights wield terrible two-handed swords comparable to those wielded by the Nemedian Adventurers, although with the added protection of black, gold-chased armour. Being elite horsemen themselves, these warriors are surprisingly effective against heavy cavalry as well as pike infantry.


    Gunderland Pikemen
    The wild Gundermen are the mightiest and most unbreakable pike infantry in the world, born and bred to battle and with unshakable will. Unlike the other Hyborian Kingdoms, Aquilonia long learned the value of strong infantry, and put great stock in their strong pikemen from Gunderland. Whereas most Hyborian pikemen were a mere wall of spears to be sacrificed for the glory of knights and men-at-arms, the Gundermen have a pride and resilience which makes them virtually unroutable. They fight with a unique pike and shield combination .


    Bossonian Archers
    Raised in the unforgiving westermarck in the shadows of Picts and Cimmerians, the Bossonians are raised with the constant threat of annihilation: however, their success in fighting back roving hordes of Picts with their mighty longbows have given rise to the proudest and most formidable archers among the Hyborian Kingdoms. Armed in brigandine or mail (or sometimes both) and chanting their boisterous songs, they are a strong and vital presence on any battlefield. They have such great discipline and synergy that they loose as one man with deep, short shouts with volleys that don't so much shower their foes as pummel them like fists. The Bossonians are arguably the greatest protection the Aquilonians had from the Picts: once the Aquilonians stupidly massacred them in response to desertion the empire soon fell to the Picts in a tide of blood.


    Mounted Bossonian Archers
    This is a dynamic unit, this time assuming that the Aquilonians didn't foolishly massacre the Bossonians in the late Hyborian Age, and formed a special division of archers on ponies to counter the Hyrkanian and Hyperborean mounted archers, as well as a rapid response unit along the borders of Cimmeria and the Pictish Wilderness.

    This page will be updated with more content over time.
    Last edited by Taranaich; 06-17-2007 at 21:45.

    "Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world, like blue mantles beneath the stars...
    Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.

  2. #2

    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    I do hope more units are planned for Aquilonia.


    You like EB? Buy CA games.

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    Member Member Taranaich's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    There are actually tons of units for Aquilonia, I just haven't gotten around to posting them.

    In addition to those in the preview, here's a list of ones done:

    Black Legion Guardsmen
    Black Legion Archers
    Black Legion Knights
    Borderers
    Bossonian Militia
    Forest Runners
    Gunderland Militia
    Gunderland Guard
    Lancers of Poitain
    Pellian Spearmen

    There might be a few others I've forgotten.

    "Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world, like blue mantles beneath the stars...
    Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.

  4. #4

    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    To be short: Nicly done.

  5. #5

    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    Tar, how about Black Dragons elite as general's bodyguard?
    O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti täde
    keimetha tois keinon rhämasi peithomenoi!

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    Member Member Taranaich's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    Yup, Black Dragons are the General's Bodyguard for Aquilonia. I might make a dismounted version for use in siege defenses, but they'd have a long recruit cycle and high upkeep, meaning that you could only really recruit one every 10 or so turns per settlement.

    "Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world, like blue mantles beneath the stars...
    Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.

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    The Scourge of Rome Member Spartan198's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    I like the Gunderland Pike formation. Very Cool. Just curious,will it be mobile,like a phalanx,or stationary like a schiltrom?
    My Greek Cavalry submod for RS 1.6a: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=368881

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    Member Member Taranaich's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    Quote Originally Posted by SpartanGlory1983
    I like the Gunderland Pike formation. Very Cool. Just curious,will it be mobile,like a phalanx,or stationary like a schiltrom?
    Funny you should mention that, since the four Gundermen pike units will have very different roles and formations to wring every possible tactic from pikes available:

    Gunderland Schiltroms are unarmoured pikemen with high mobility, and are surprisingly adept at forest ambushes considering their unwieldy pikes. They are generally used to form a very nasty surprise for foolish knights charging into lightly wooded areas. They are trained in square and schiltrom formations, and are best used offensively due to their mobility.

    Gunderland Pikemen are medium-armoured pikemen trained in the standard Hyborian spear-wall formation, but they are still reasonably mobile units which specialize in the Gundermen pike-and-shield style, trained in the square and spear wall formations for maximum offensive and defensive effect.

    The Gunderland Phalanx is a lightly-armoured unit which use smaller shields than normal and longer pikes than any other pikemen, making them ideally suited to push through other pike formations. They are far more offensively-based than other Gundermen unit, and probably the closest thing to assault pikemen in the Hyborian Age.

    Gunderland Guard are heavily armoured and highly trained soldiers utilizing the pike-and-shield style, sacrificing the mobility of the phalanx in favour of a slow, relentless juggernaut to roll over inferior infantry. They are trained in the schiltrom and shield wall, making them very strong defensively and devastating in melee, but their very slow speed make them vulnerable to cavalry and artillery.

    I'll post pictures when I finish the models: at the moment the Phalanx and Guard are pretty much finished, but the Phalanx and Schiltroms really need a buckler on their left arm or something so they're not just regular pikemen.

    Anyway, here's the Gunderland Pikemen, the fellows in the preview are now Gunderland Schiltrom:


    "Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world, like blue mantles beneath the stars...
    Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.

  9. #9

    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    Taranaich, one thing to consider is a couple of militia units that can be assembled quickly in central Aquilonia. In 'The Scarlet Citadel' Conan raises an army very rapidly once he returns to his capital:

    It was a motley army Conan had assembled, in the wild hours following his return to his capital. He had beaten the frothing mob away from the Pellian soldiers who held the outer walls of Tamar, and impressed them into service. He had sent a swift rider after Trocero to bring him back. With these as the nucleus of an army he had raced southward, sweeping the countryside for recruits and mounts. Nobles of Tamar and the surrounding countryside had augmented his forces, and he had levied recruits from every village and castle along his road. Yet it was but a paltry force he had gathered to dash against the invading hosts, though of the quality of tempered steel.

    Nineteen hundred armored horsemen followed him, the main bulk of which consisted of the Poitanian knights. The remnants of the mercenaries and professional soldiers in the trains of loyal noblemen made up his infantry -- five thousand archers and four thousand pikemen.
    Also, again in Scarlet Citadel, reference is made to 'ballistas' in the city of Shamar:

    [Strabonus] had anchored a flotilla of boats in the middle of the stream, over against the river-wall. Some of these boats had been sunk by stones from the city's ballistas.
    And the same story gives a great portrait of the Bossonian bowmen:

    The Shemites opened fire at five hundred yards, and arrows flew like hail between the hosts, darkening the sun. The western archers, trained by a thousand years of merciless warfare with the Pictish savages, came stolidly on, closing their ranks as their comrades fell. They were far outnumbered, and the Shemitish bow had the longer range, but in accuracy the Bossonians were equal to their foes, and they balanced sheer skill in archery by superiority in morale, and in excellence of armor. Within good range they loosed, and the Shemites went down by whole ranks. The blue-bearded warriors in their light mail shirts could not endure punishment as could the heavier-armored Bossonians. They broke, throwing away their bows, and their flight disordered the ranks of the Kothian spearmen behind them.
    And regarding the Gundermen pikemen:

    Without the support of the archers, these men-at-arms [Kothian spearmen] fell by the hundreds before the shafts of the Bossonians, and charging in madly to close quarters, they were met by the spears of the pikemen. No infantry was a match for the wild Gundermen, whose homeland, the northernmost province of Aquilonia was but a day's ride across the Bossonian marches from the borders of Cimmeria, and who, born and bred to battle, were the purest blood of all the Hyborian peoples. The Kothian spearmen, dazed by their losses from arows, were cut to pieces and fell back in disorder.
    Note that the Knights of Poitain seem to use 2-handed swords from horseback:

    ...and into the heart of their host rode the knights of Poitain, swinging their terrible two-handed swords.
    Also, note that in Hour of the Dragon Conan's banner is described as black with the golden lion: "The shadow of the western cliffs fell like a vast purple pall across the tents and the army of Aquilonia, and upon the black banner with its golden lion that floated above King Conan's pavilion."

    A description of the Aquilonian host from HotD: "...a roar that shook the mountains went up from the host. They shook their blades adn thundered forth their acclaim of their warrior king -- knights in gold-chased armor, pikemen in mail coats and basinets, archers in their leather jerkins, with their longbows in their left hand."


    Also, the Bossonain archers are described wearing "leathern jackets and iron head-pieces."
    Last edited by cherryfunk; 04-07-2008 at 00:29.

  10. #10
    Member Member Taranaich's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Kingdom of Aquilonia

    Quote Originally Posted by cherryfunk
    Taranaich, one thing to consider is a couple of militia units that can be assembled quickly in central Aquilonia. In 'The Scarlet Citadel' Conan raises an army very rapidly once he returns to his capital...
    Yes, I had planned for the militia units to be very quickly recruited to represent this very event from the books: they'll be generally impetuous, ill-disciplined and poorly armoured, but with a stout spear and strong shield they can hold a line for a time.

    Also, again in Scarlet Citadel, reference is made to 'ballistas' in the city of Shamar:
    Aquilonia will have a few ballistas. Good stuff on the Bossonians, Gundermen and Poitanians!

    Also, note that in Hour of the Dragon Conan's banner is described as black with the golden lion.
    This is Conan's personal banner, which I and others theorize to be his mercenary company's banner, carried over to be his royal regalia and starting the House of Conan. The old Royal Houses of Aquilonia will be rebels with their own regional banner bearing their symbols (the golden dragon and golden serpent).

    Also, the Bossonain archers are described wearing "leathern jackets and iron head-pieces."

    "Know, O Prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an age undreamed of, when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world, like blue mantles beneath the stars...
    Is fhearr fheuchainn na bhith san duil.

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