Roveni Outrider

Outriders always prefer mobility over number any day to gain the edge of speed and surprise, with them numbering around ten to two hundred riders depending on assignment.

Survival Kit: Each rider is given all the tools needed to stay alive in the wilderness if they are too far from their Roveni, from starting fires to building shelters.   Warm Clothing: Outriders rarely wear armor to avoid making noise and not being weighed when needing to move fast, but furs and thick clothing are necessary if they are going to survive in the wilderness.   Mount Kit: The Ruskev hold a strong bond with their mounts and will always have food and cleaning supplies to ensure they are in healthy condition.   Map: All riders are given a map to chart areas to spot essential locations and targets' whereabouts to report back to.   Field Lantern: Lanterns used to allow riders to see in the dark and obscured weather conditions to be able to see.

Spears: Inexpensive and easy to make, a spear is dangerous to pierce through flesh and armor when riding towards a target at full speed.   Sabers: Inspired by the scimitars of Eastern Land traders, Ruskev sabers allow their rider a devastating weapon to be used effectively on mounts as they quickly slash through foes without effort.   Bows: A good ranged weapon to keep distance between a rider and a target to avoid harm.   Crossbows: Despite being a shorter range, crossbows are faster to reload and can be fired at any time with their locking mechanism   Dagger: A reliable tool in close-quarters combat, a dagger can easily take down in the open by getting in close when they have a sword or axe.

Horse: Ruskev horses have been bred for endurance and stamina to survive the harsh tundra and allow them to cover long distances quickly. Their use for hunting and battle has made them the most used animal by the Ruskev.   Reindeer: A preferred choice by the Ruskev in colder environments requiring mobility over snowy and rocky terrain. Domestic reindeer may be challenging to train, but their stamina allows them to travel long distances to save time when necessary.

Trailblazer: The leader of an Outrider unit who is always at the head of the group and leads them into the unknown to face whatever awaits them.   Windrunner: The second in command of an Outrider unit and head of all scouting assignments and messages.   Herdsmen: An ordinary rank used for all fighters in a Roveni to standardize them and can be diversified to suit their needs.

Scouting: Outriders are always sent ahead of a Roveni to find suitable camping spots, avoid danger, find enemy positions, and hunt for food.   Skirmishing : using ranged weapons on their mounts. Outriders can cause damage to the enemy without fully engaging them.   Hit and Run Tactics: Outriders will often lead daring attacks on the enemy position when the enemy least expects it to deal, causing panic and damage before retreating just as quickly as they came.   Flanking: It is critical to attack at a beast's weakest point to take it down; the same goes for an enemy formation to cause sufficient damage to them.   Hunting: Outriders are often used for hunting game to feed their Roveni using formations and scare tactics to catch them.   Raiding: Raiding settlements and camps are an effective way for Outriders to destroy or steal supplies from the enemy.   Ambushes: Outriders will often use themselves as bait or stay hidden before attacking an enemy force to wipe them out or cause heavy causalities to them.

Stealth: All riders are trained to keep their movements hidden and ensure they are not spotted by those they are following to maintain the element of surprise and information gathering.   Survival: While most Ruskev is taught to survive at an early age, Outriders will often be separated from their Host for long periods, making it necessary to learn how to survive without the help of their people.

Outriders are generally cost-efficient mainly because they are light-equipped and receive loot shares from their peers. They also spend much of their time caring for their Roveni.

Horsemanship: An ideal rider must be able to control their mount at all times, remain on it for long periods and perform quick maneuvers at high speed without tiring.   Courage: Due to the dangers of entering unknown territory, a rider must be able to keep a clear mind in the face of danger and ensure the safety of their people.   Tracking: Tracking the movements of men and beast alike is vital to following them or figuring out their numbers.

The First Riders

  Outriders were some of the first of the Ruskev that learned the art of riding upon the Frostbound Steppes, knowing that they would become crucial to their survival with the first of them being Reindeer and later horse when they stole enough of them for the Warlock Dominions, becoming the protectors of the Derugi Roveni, the first Host of the Ruskev people. They would be critical in scouting and hunting to ensure the Warlock Lords did not discover them to maintain their people's way of life. Many of the tactics and doctrines used by Rovenis originate from the Outrider, as they were the only actual fighting force they had in those early days. Often being the only ones to set out into the wilderness in small numbers to avoid being discovered and gather what knowledge they could of the plants and animals of the steppes as well as map out the region to travel safely through it. These methods would be used for decades to ensure their people's safety, and conflict was rarely seen until the First Ruskev War began, changing them from hunter-gatherers to deadly light cavalry.   The First War was a heavily one-sided conflict as the Derugi Roveni was minuscule compared to the armies of their tormentors. Yet, the skill of the Outriders would allow them to outwit and outmaneuver the invaders at every turn. Under the orders of the Muskals, Yulif Windborn and Rimisha, the Fierce, the Outriders would fight small numbers of that were less than a hundred and conduct guerrilla tactics at all time to little down the enemy and cause confusion amongst them. Thousands of Outriders scattered themselves across the tundra, striking fear into the armies of the Warlock Lords, attacking at every turn, day and night, before disappearing before a strong force could combat them. This would significantly weaken their armies and exhaust them, being unable to properly deal with them as their small numbers made them difficult to track. With every group they wiped out, another appeared to attack them.   Much of the war was like this, and only later, when the Lords decided to split their armies to cover more ground to find these Outriders, did the Ruskev change their tactics. They regrouped to create traps and ambushes to crush their enemies until they formed an army to retaliate. By the time the Warlock Lords regrouped, many of their forces had been killed by the Outriders or the elements, as they were ill-equipped to deal with them when they finally attacked. The Battle of Thunder was said to have happened during a fierce blizzard that blinded the enemy being unable to see in front of them, and only the loud thundering of Hooves and battle cries of the Outriders as they led a stampeding herd of Mammoths their ranks to scatter and crush them did the war finally end with them becoming victorious. However, The victory was bittersweet, as the Derugi Roveni would be scattered across the land to ensure their people's survival from further conflict with the remaining Outriders, leading these new Rovenis to safety and protecting future generations.  

Survival and War

  Outriders in the coming centuries would maintain most of their original duties to their Rovenis only to become more active in military watch over their lands and conducting daring raids across the steppes' borders during and long after the fall of the Warlock Dominions. This was mainly done to ensure that no one dared to invade the steppes and threaten the Hosts. Yet Outriders would be placed in more support roles in scouting and skirmishers tactics as more diverse units would be formed to fight for the Rovenis. This did not mean they did not see combat as they would be an essential part of every conflict the Roveni Hosts would be a part of for their skills, along with leading their camps during their migrations and hunting parties in search of food. This made it an honorable position for any Ruskev to obtain, as it was a status that was meant to care for and protect their people by clearing a path for them from all dangers that they may come across.   The importance of Outrider would be crucial when the Northern Wars of Unification had begun with both sides seeking them as scouts and messengers since the Ruskev was divide and fought against one another. Many of them saw long campaigns in harsh conditions, often in the thickest of fighting. They were frequently targeted because of how dangerous they were, and many were killed, reducing their numbers significantly by the time the war ended. When many found their Roveni Hosts destroyed or absorbed into other Roveni, many chose to join them or left alone. Outriders are now scattered across the continent, turning to banditry, mercenary work, or joining the armies of the Kingdom of Norria to find some semblance in this chaotic new world.

Outriders stay loyal to the Roveni Host they are a part of and will put down their lives to protect it. Yet some have been known to join warbands and fight for them instead or have recently joined the new Kingdom of Norria to offer their services.