Nedes Nesamoi (Celtic Retainers)

Nedes Nesamoi (Celtic Retainers)
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Primary Weapon	Type: Javelin Attack: 9 Charge: 0 Lethality: 1 Range: 65 Ammo: 2 Attributes: thrown missile
Secondary Weapon	Type: spear Attack: 8 Charge: 14 Lethality: 1 Attributes: Light spear, Spear bonus 4
Defence	Armour: 6 Shield: 6 Skill: 9 Upgrade levels: 1, 2
Recruitment	Soldiers: 48 Cost: 1925 Upkeep: 481 Turns: 1
Mental	Morale: 8 Discipline: disciplined Training: trained
Climate Fatigue	Hot climate : 3
Ground bonuses/Penalties to attack	Scrub: -1 Sand: -4 Forest: -1 Snow: -4
Other	Hit Points: 1 Mass: 1.2 Attributes: Can board ships, Can hide in forests, Inspires nearby units, Hardy, Power charge Formation: square Side/Back spacing: 1.02/1.02 Ownership: Aedui, Arverni, Romani

Oath sworn to protect their master, the Nedes Nesamoi are loyal and resolute warriors who can be expected to form a solid line on the field of battle.

Description

"One's Valiant Followers"

A man's vow should be stronger than steel. Some men may temper this steel-like vow with a payment of gold or silver, but as long as his tongue remains strong who cares what price he asks. The Drutonedammoi are men of steel vows, and steel weapons also. Dutifully they follow their masters into the fray. Like mountains they stand beside him, unmovable, resolute, blade in hand and pride in heart. Each man has a different tale of how he came to serve his master, and some motivations may not be as pure as others, but when the carnyx is sounded and battle is joined, none doubt their courage and loyalty.

Historically, although there were a wide variety of government types among the Gallic peoples, a common theme in these governments appears to have been the power of the nobility. To reinforce their positions it appears that the Gallic nobility made extensive use of retainers, in some cases employing them against the laws of the states in which they lived. One clear example of this was when the Heluetioi leader, Orgetorix, upon being summoned to stand trial, brought with him 10,000 followers in order to disrupt the proceedings. Later on, Uerkingetorix formed an ad hoc army of followers from various parts of Aruernoi society and with these behind him seized control of the kingship of that tribe. It is unclear if such retainers partially supported themselves, or if their livelihood stemmed entirely from their noble patron. In any case those nobles who kept retainers would have employed a complex system of gift giving to ensure loyalty. Gift giving was a very different system from our modern economic concepts. Unlike a capitalist transaction there was no end to gift giving. Once an item was donated a social debt would be created which could never be repaid in full. Gift giving required that the recipient of the gift give something of greater value to the donor, thereby resulting in a never ending cycle of reciprocation. It is likely that some of the finest examples of La Tène artwork recovered, such as the Agris helmet, the Gundestrup cauldron or the Basse Yutz flagons were involved in this sort of socially important exchange.