Klytika Does - Damsel Book Three
After the metal encased Cataphracts, the Doe are the next prestigious of the Klytika
maidens. Mounted on swift steeds it is their role to scout ahead of the tribe and
Klytikon - what more seemingly civilised Helenas City State dames would call a warband
- and search both for prey and hunters of the tribe. Riding days ahead of the rest
they scour the land and leave no ravine or crook unsearched and return only when a
suitable picking or threat has been discovered. Then, if the rewards of attacking
are great enough, the Klytikon descends upon the prey with amazing speed, the Does
striking around each flank to fall upon the hapless enemy from all sides with a barrage
of hurled javelins and show arrows.
If the prey try to flee they will be unable to escape from the speed of the Does and
easily picked off one by one until all are slain or lassoed to the ground and returned
to the tribe's camp as slaves. And for those that stand firm and try to resist the
Klytika with a wall of shields they have unwittingly allowed themselves to be trapped
and pinned by the Does and are now ready to be ridden down by the powerful Cataphracts.
The Does form the majority of the Klytika but a maiden visiting their camp as visitor
or unlucky slave would not know it. There they would only see scores of Cataphracts,
Maids of the Stirrup attending their betters, and hundreds of slaves, for the Does
are always coming and going, ensuring the survival of the tribe and always delving
deeper into the Helenas heartlands appearing out of the blue to amaze and terrify.
Always travelling and potentially for long periods of time, Does are self-sufficient
and capable maidens. They do not burden themselves down with trinkets and pointless
loot; preferring to find a target large enough for the Klyikon to attack and share
the spoils. Apart from their bland clothes - simple breeches, tunic and cap almost
dyed to uniform colour and pattern at the camp - a Doe only carries what is truly
necessary: dried food for herself and her mount, and her weapons.
Whilst Does are not heavily armed and only now armouring themselves in the face of
better trained and equipped Helenas damsels, their weapons are highly effective and
suited to the tactics that they use. Broadly Does are armed with one of two weapons:
a bow or javelins, and the choice clearly defines how they fight. The lasso, more
feared than either previous weapon because being trapped by it means a ride to slavery,
is a secondary weapon which all Does carry.
Klytika Does armed with bow and javelin assail a stretched line of Helenas Sarissas.
Does armed with bow harrass the enemy with their accurate fire, racing past lines
of nervous maidens and shooting into them with impunity before turning away to safety.
All day a small contingent of Does can stall or surround a larger body of maidens
and keep them trapped until the Cataphracts arrive for the final charge.
Those with javelins are braver and have to get close to the enemy to hurl their missiles
or charge into wavering foes and fight them directly. When the white-painted javelin
Does begin their charge it is time for the final act. If the courage of the maidens
facing them fails they speed their mounts faster and burst through, or if a stand
will be made, break to either side with a shower of missiles right behind which come
the Cataphracts. Few damsels withstand the double impact.
The archers shoot as they pass by from point blank range, instantly followed by
the
javelineers as they exploid the disorder.
In Battle
The following Damsel Types can be used for Klytika Does.
|
|
M
|
A
|
D
|
H
|
Notes
|
P
|
Base
|
Fig
|
|
10
|
2/2
|
2
|
3
|
S, 360
Javelin 4"
Lasso
|
10
|
8
x 3
|
2
|
Chesnut hair
flying wildly, javeling holding arm raised high, the maiden whooped with joy and healthy
fear, her thighs tightly gripping her mount as the pair, comrades on either side,
hurtled towards the the quavering line of red-headed girls.
Javelin armed Does are not afraid to
charge enemies that are ready to break and run them down just as
eagerly as a fleeing enemy. Their agility allows them to get within
paces of the enemy before the final decisio is made: to break
through or break off - either case the enemy pelted with their white
shafts.
|
|
|
Klytika Composite
Bow Doe
|
|
M
|
A
|
D
|
H
|
Notes
|
P
|
Base
|
Fig
|
|
12
|
1/2
|
2
|
3
|
S, Sf, 360
Composite Bow 8"
Lasso
|
12
|
8
x 3
|
2
|
Letting go
of the reins, Allia sped parallel along the long line of Hoplites, their spears too
short to reach her. She took her time and aimed carefully, judging the small gap between
sheilds and let fly her arrow into the slit of a maiden's helm.
The
composite bow is a small but powerful weapon that is most effective
at close range where the arrow can punch through most armour. Does
such armed move in swarms and attack from all angles and then
retreat without a blow being struck back.
|
|
Many of the weapons Klytika Does are armed with have special rules.
Composite Bow: The composite bow has a high tensile strength that
at close ranges can propel its missile through even a Hopite shield. At a range of
4" or less the target stand is D-1.
Lasso: Klytika use the lasso to snare maidens for slavery and are
skillful enough to pull another damsel from her mount or drag one out of a battle
line as just a Cataphract charge is about to hit. A Doe Stand supported by any other
Stand can make a Lasso attack instead of an ordinary A roll. Roll
a D6, if it hits against the target Stand's D, the target suffers H-1. Now replace
the Doe stand with the supporting Stand and resolve that melee.
Strafe (Sf): Stands with the Strafe trait can make a missile attack
during any part of their movement. Resolve the attack immediately and then complete
the Stand's movement. If the target has yet to move, they can after the attack is
resolved.
360: Stands with the 360 degree trait can make missile or melee attacks
in any direction and do not suffer penalties for being engaged in the flank or from
behind. If engaged from two sides the melee occurs as normal.
|