Woad Raider

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A Woad Raider is a fast infantry unit for the Celts in games and , with similar stats to a heavy swordsman unit. They are effective in destroying siege weapons and killing monks and archers, which are often the most important parts of an army. They are also cheap to create, and often used in masses, just like their historical counterparts. Then, they would retreat back to whence they came and escape their enemies.

Historically they represent Celtic warriors well known for their raids and guerilla warfare in fighting Romans during Middle Ages, and famous for their frenzy and battle lust in battle. They used to smear woad on their faces to make themselves look more fearsome to their enemies, and this placed fear in their superstitious European enemies. Research indicates that the woad may have been mixed with semen and smeared over the entire body, the pagan celts believed this to give them divine protection and so they saw no need to wear armour or in some cases any clothes at all.

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