![]() Peaks and ridges jutted chaotically from grasslands that concealed valleys and ravines. The highlands reminded Heruben of a mountain range, as if it had been shattered by some giant of giants. Highly mobile and in supreme physical condition, the Peltastai were intended to serve as skirmisher troops to harass and slow down the enemy. Though they had diminished range, the javelins flew straighter and were deadlier on impact, whereas arrows were easily blown off-course by the wind. Before they had been archers, but they had traded their bows for javelins. Only the best pezoi spearmen had been chosen to remain as phalanx units.Īt the front of the army, the Peltastai shifted in their linen armor. In front of them, stood the Hypaspistai, much lighter phalanx units who wielded shorter spears and lighter armor, which had been dyed from the purple thistle flowers that grew in abundance in northern Britain. They learned to fight not as a wall but as a unit, emphasizing teamwork and coordination. Heruben personally had retrained them during the two years it took for Acestes to conquer Hibernia, and had sculpted them into highly flexible and mobile heavy infantry. Three quarters of his phalanx units had traded in their spears and segmented armor for swords, shields and chain mail. Now, in the highlands, he sat at the rear of the new army he had crafted. He had known classical Hellenic tactics failed miserably against the natives, but it hadn't been until the conquest of Calleva that he had had the time to learn from his enemies. As his relatives married and built lives in Britannia, he had poured over battle records, histories and theories. Even when mayors and ministers petitioned him with policy and law, he secretly dreamed of gore and glory. While his brethren fought and died in Hibernia, Heruben spent his days with his military cabinet, planning the future of warfare.
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