Tarnsmen Attacks |
| There are numerous defenses to tarnsmen attacks, depending upon the location
of the attack. Within a city, tarn wire is often used, though generally
only when danger is imminent. This is thin, almost invisible, wire that
is stretched over the city like a net. It will slice a tarn that tries to
pass through them. Some tarnsmen may carry bladed hooks on long lines to
sever these wires. In cities, towns and small villages an overhead network
of ropes, cloths and tarnwire present a good defense. The network will present
certain small holes that ground based archers can use to fire at the tarns.
But the tarnsmen, due to the swift speed of their mounts, will find they
ave insufficient time to acquire a proper target for their own missile fire
through the cover. Iron stakes on the ground will also help prevent talon
attacks from tarns. Out in the open, the most common defense to an aerial attack is the "shield roof" or "shield shed" which is similar to the old Earth formation called the "tetsudo" or "tortoise." Shields are held to constitute a wall for the outer ranks and a roof for the inner ranks. Dietrich was the first man to properly coordinate air and ground forces. He coordinated these forces so as to force his enemies into sturdy but relatively inflexible defensive squares. He would then advance his archers in long enveloping lines so they would present a much broader front for low-level point-blank firepower. The archery of tarnsmen is most effective against massed infantry or cavalry. It is much more difficult to strike a man or mount when he is wary of you and ready to evade your missile fire. Tarn drums are used to control the complex war formations of tarsnmen. |