Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Add some flavour to Qadiri forces and Firemane.
- Image Credit: Here.
- Role: Mechanised cavalry.
- Links: Qadiri, Firemane.
Equipment: They can use Abregado-Rae Guild of Hammers equipment due to Firemane gaining access to ARGH tech in this thread.
- Valora walker
- MACU-BD Squid Buzz Drones
- Eidolon Modulating Energy Shieldhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/134597-eidolon-class-modulating-energy-shield/http://starwarsrp.net/topic/134597-eidolon-class-modulating-energy-shield/ (purchase request here, permission here).
- ACS-207 Aerosolblaster (purchase request here, approved here). Wrist Bolter, ACS-208 Wrist Ion Beamer (storefront request here, permission here), ACS-208 Wrist Tensor (storefent request here, permission here). ACS-208 Wrist Charric (request here, permission here). ARGH flamer (Wrist variant). Two wrist weapons per soldier max.
- ACS-004 Olympian Battle Armor (Permission requested here, obtained here). Commlink uses CD-X cryptologic key (available for Firemane per this thread).
- Sarixhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/125525-sarix-mk2/http://starwarsrp.net/topic/125525-sarix-mk2/.
- Vibroknives.
- Cylix bolt pistol, Magnetic Revolver, Shatterpistol or Blaster Pistol
- Thermal Detonator, EMP Grenade, Flash Grenade. Smoke Grenade, Sonic Imploder, Dampener aerosol.
- Misc. equipment such as lifeform scanners, repair tools, medkits, neural band, Grappling hooks, Paragon-class Personal Energy Shield (request here, permission here).
- Availability: Rare
- Deployment: Minor.
However, they are light walkers and thus vulnerable to ordinance, such as handheld missile launchers. They also have the traditional weakness of having long, somewhat spindly legs which can be disabled and cause the walker to fall if hit. Against infantry and light vehicles, the Valora is an absolute terror. With a mix of anti-personnel, area of effect and penetrating weapons the Valora can hammer such forces. Against larger tanks it can deal damage, but lacks the resilience to stand toe-to-toe. Against air, the walker can be equipped with AA missiles, but these are only partial protection, and determined air attack is not advised.
Outside of their mechanical mounts, the Clibanarii are very skilled in melee and close quarters combat. This enables them to defend themselves should they have to dismount or in the case of their vehicles being wrecked. However, on foot they lack long range weapons and would thus be vulnerable if engaged from a distance. Thus they would require protection from sharpshooters, among other things. Moreover, the Clibanarii are non-Force-users and lack cybernetic or genetic augmentations that could give them preternatural capabilities.
Description:
War for the Qadiri has always been a daily part of life and politics. While Tygara was isolated from the rest of the Galaxy, technology of war became highly skilled art over time. The use of mercenaries and professional soldiers was common, leading to long campaigns of manoeuvre and position. Defeating an enemy without fighting a battle was seen as noble, not cowardly, and rash commanders looked down on as uncontrolled.
In battle there was a complex interplay between cavalry, infantry, archers and Force users. Each was countered by another, and is in turn counters another. For instance archers were formidable at cutting down infantry, but were easily dispersed by Yazgid mounted riders, who in turn could break formed infantry. The perfect timing and co-ordination required in a general made successfully ones highly honoured.
A key component of the armies of the more powerful Qadiri states, especially the Amikarese Empire, was the heavy cavalry. Both the rider and the Yazgid mount was draped from head to toe in scale armour. Their Yazgid mounts were fearsome beasts, but required a competent rider to control them. The riders served as either the elite cavalry or assault force for most empires and nations that fielded them, primarily used for impetuous charges to break through infantry formations. They were known as Cataphracts or Clibanarii, which literally means mail clad riders. The best riders formed a garde du corps for the Shahbânu of the Amikarese Empire.
The Qadiri experienced quite a culture shock when 'sky people' arrived on Tygara, for blaster weapons, faster-than-light travel and spaceflight were unknown to the elves. They realised soon that they needed to adapt if they wanted to avoid being subjugated. None of them realised this more than Shahbânu Semiramis, ruler of Amikaron, who entered into an alliance with Lady Siobhan Kerrigan. For its part, Firemane took an interest in the Qadiri, supplementing its regular forces by recruiting Sepoys in large numbers. The evacuation of Tygara accelerated the drive to catch up with the rest of the galaxy.
One of the fruits of this was a new Clibanarii corps. Essentially it is an attempt to transfer old Qadiri cavalry tactics into the modern battlefield. Rather than ride on predatory lizards, these riders have mechanical mounts in form of Valora class walkers. Building on the AT-ST, the Valora walker – named for the Eldorai goddess of war – was built to be a fast and resilient scouting vehicle, but with enough firepower to help back it up. Since flexibility was the name of the game, the walker was designed to be modular in both combat, and non-combat tools it could use. It could perform both roles equally, and serve a variety of combat tasks as well.
Against infantry and light vehicles, the Valora is an absolute terror. With a mix of anti-personnel, area of effect and penetrating weapons the Valora can hammer such forces. Against larger tanks it can deal damage, but lacks the resilience to stand toe-to-toe. Against air, the walker can be equipped with AA missiles, but these are only partial protection, and determined air attack is not advised. In battle the walker operates in groups of two with squadrons of eight being common. These pairs operate semi-independently and the pilots are encouraged to use initiative and to ambush the enemy where possible.
Qadiri are almost all extremely good navigators. They seem to have an instinctual internal compass and thus make good pilots. In addition, the Clibanarii are also very skilled in melee combat, enabling them to dismount and fight enemies on foot in close quarters if needed. They have a bit of an honour code and regard it as a matter of principle to disembark and fight if their walkers are disabled. This zealous attitude has its benefits, but it can also lead to an overly stubborn refusal to quit even though the situation might warrant it. The Clibanarii still keep Yazgid lizards around as mascots. As a throwback to old traditions, taming one of them is still treated as a rite of passage.
Pending secondary approval!
