Klytika Kataphrakts - Damsel Book Three
The enemy does not see but hears, or rather, feels the imminate arrival of the unstoppable
Klytika Kataphrakts; a pounding that travels through the earth like a heart-beat up
into the soles of a maiden, up through her liquidifed calves and thighs, turning her
stomach sick with dreadful anticipation, forcing her heart to thump in time with the
death-beat, leaving her throat dry and finally to her mind which loses all thought
but that of flight.
Each maiden in the previous straight line of defense feels the same, wavering or frozen
waiting for the dreaded appearance through the clouds of dust raised by the swirling
swarms of Doe Horse Archers and Javelineers. And when they do, dark spectres at first,
thunderous shapes of noise, the horned head appears first and the maidens think that
hell spawned demons have come for them. Those of little courage break ranks before
the rest of the beast emerges, nostrils flaring. Those with the courage try to steel
themselves and present a formed front hoping that it will halt the charge before it
hits as they had done against the charges of the fluid Does.
But that hope is dashed as the Kataphrakts do not stop or slow. On the come, the horns
bearing low aiming to impale and above the glinting tips of spears catching the last
dying rays of the blood-red sun.
The noise fills the maiden's ears lounder than thunder.
The ground shakes worse than the most terryfing earthquake.
Maidens to left and right seek flight, screaming with mindless terror. A flight or
arrows sows further confusion and the once solid line is in shambles and this is the
moment when the metal encased beast and riders strike.
Kataphrakts are the shock maidens of the Klytika. Each rider is fully armoured in
overlapping segments and scales of bronze strenghtened with iron bands and wears an
iron helmet over a loose scale coif. Her armanent is a quiver of a half a dozen
heavy arrows and a composite bow and a short spear which can be thrown or used to
thrust. That is just their standard equipment. Each Kataphrakt then further arms themselves
as they wish with various kinds of swords, knives or maces for maid-to-maid fighting
either against mounted or foot-sped foes. The rider's Deer, the largest and strongest
of the herd, standing as tall as the rider except for the branching antlers that rise
two to three feet and ending in sharpened or iron tips. Charms, string of beads, jewels
and precious metals adorn the antlers signifying the rank and wealth of the rider.
The deer is too armoured as equally well as the rider with a leather drape underneath
an awn of bronze scales. The vunerable head of the deer is protected by an iron helmet.
In battle they are used at the deciding moment when the air is full of dust kicked
up by the Does and visibility reduced to a minimum and the enemy tired and harried
after hours of incessant ride-bys and the frustration of not being able to strike
back. When the Klytika Princess senses the moment she picks two spots where the
charge will can be made and itensifies the attacks by the Does against them. The location
which appers weakest and on the verge of collapse is where the charge of the Kataphrakts
will be made. Slowly as not to arouse notice and with swarms of Doe and clouds between
the armoured riders move into position and form into line. Then they begin to advance
and the Does harry the point of impact even further with showers of bows and javelins
and keep the rest of the line occupied so reenforcements cannot be sent to the threatened
point.
The harrasement by the Does reaches its cresendo and then it stops suddenly as they
gallop out of the way of the imminent charge. The enemy only has a few moments to
redress their line, now aware that something is about to strike as both heaven and
earth shake around them. Then the Kataphrakt appear, knee to knee, riding no faster
than the trot to keep their own line in tight and constant formation, loose one volley
of their heavy arrows which weight shields and drop the toughest of damsel, ready
their spears and weapons, and then impact; spear and antler impaling, hooves trampling,
bodies crushed between bulk.
The weight and momentum of the Kataphrakt's charge shatters the first line and takes
it into the next if there is one. At this point there is a chance that the charge
can be halted if the second line stands firm and the struggle turns into a melee where
the Kataphrakts ditch their spears for swords and maces and urging their Deer forward
try to break through. Behind them and through the hole Doe rush in and add themselves
to the engagement with dual purpose. If the Kataphrakt break the last line the Doe
burst through and fall upon the rear of the enemy, and surrounded, destroy them, or
if the enemy manages to hold and threatens surrounding the pocket of Klytika in turn,
keep the kessel open long enough for the Kataphrakt to retire in order.
In Battle
Klytika Kataphrakt's Damsel Type is below:
|
|
M
|
A
|
D
|
H
|
Notes
|
P
|
Base
|
Fig
|
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
E, Dart,
Trample
Mtd: Cavalry
Glamour1
|
28
|
8
x 6
|
4
|
Bodies vanished
beneath the glittering bulk and hooves of the Kataphrakts. One tossed its head, a
flame-haired maiden tossed like a rag into air by its sharp antlers.
Katapharkts finish the battle by
smashing the enemy's line to peices with a single well timed and
places charge. Few can withstand them.
|
|
Many of the weapons the Klytika Kataphrakt are armed with have special rules.
Dart: Weighted missiles are thrown just before contact to create
gaps in the enemy's line. The missiles don't aren't accurate at range nor carried
in sufficeint number for sustained firing. Darts are only taken in account when the
Stand moves into melee or is contacted from the front. The target Stand is D-1 in
melee.
Trample: Instead of pushing the target Stand back the Stand tramples
over them. Any Hits caused do not Push Back the loosing Stand. Roll for
Follow Up and any success count as two Hits. If the target Stand and any behind are
destroyed, the trampling Stand moves to occupy their space.
Example: A Kataphrakt Stand charges a Peltae Stand with another Stand in support
and wins the melee causing 4 Hits. The Kataphrakts roll 2 succesful Follow Up
rolls for 4 additional Hits (2 x 2) for a total of 8. Each Peltae Stand has H4 so
both are destroyed and the Kataphrakt Stand moves its front to where the rear edge
of the supporting Peltae Stand was.
|
