From: Peter Metcalfe (metcalph@bigfoot.com)
Date: Tue 04 Apr 2000 - 13:48:20 EEST
Martin Laurie:
> >I do not believe the Rathori would fight [as Agincourt archers but]
> >as hit-and-run skirmishers [...].
>I'm not suggesting parade ground formations here. The Welsh archer certainly
>didn't do that, but they could draw and fire as a group and I see no reason
>why the Rathori could not do this.
Simply because the Rathori are still Hsunchen and view the formations
>I concur that they would prefer hit and
The Rathori Longbow was a gift from the Elves of Erigia after the
The Rathori avoided mounted foes by retreating to the woods and
So has a hunting rifle (compared to a bow). Which should indicate
of the civilized people as an act of madness that was invented by the
Trickster. They do not have the tradition of standing fast as one
people in the face of danger - if knights charge them, the steps they
take are bloody great big ones to the nearest cover. I don't believe
the Rathori even bother with fire arrows _en masse_ as it serves no
useful purpose in their lifestyle.
>run to a degree but would contend that the Longbow is NOT the weapon to do
>this with. The tactical use of the longbow by the Rathori would seen to be a
>reaction to the heavy armour of their oft mounted foes in the Janube valley.
Rathori graciously allowed them refuge within their woods. This
dates it to the First or Second Wane whereas mounted foes have
been in the Janube valley since the Dawn Ages.
bushwhacking them from there. The wide open spaces are not for
them as they are an arboreal people.
what I think a Rathori uses his bow most often for.
> >Secondly the Rathori have bad memories of Carmanian
> >brutality that precipitated the White Bear wars (and many
> >veterans of those wars are still alive thanks to the Ban).
>Sure, but given that we know that the Rathori are not one state or mind,
>There would be many who would not serve the Carmanians, but there would be
>those who would. Orlanthi have served the Lunar Empire, even after brutal
>conquest. I think that some clans of the Rathori probably have a long
>history of serving Sweet Sea states as mercenaries.
I don't think the Rathori have much utility as mercenaries
Up to the formation of the White Bear Empire, they were the
considering their fighting habits. They are more useful as
scouts or trackers.
weakest of the Fronelan Hsunchen because of their sluggishness
in the colder months. One could pacify them by making storm
season raids to hunt them sleeping in their dens.
With the rise of the White Bear, people treated the Rathori with
a lot more respect but the secrets of the White Bear were too
sacred to be abused in fighting for strangers. Now with the
recent death of the White Bear, they are back where they
started. There are the Spear Secrets, but I think those have
a hidden cost which is largely unknown.
- --Peter Metcalfe
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