Sadly, who is speaking in this document is unclear - a little spent faith reveals, however, that they were a second age clan somewhere in Quiviniland. The concentration of spears in the formation suggests the clan bordered Prax.

The horse people taught us to fight from horseback, though we have never caught on to the use of the bow from the saddle. So instead we have learnt the lance and how to throw the javelin while flying along on horseback. Our horsemen approach the enemy, then ride along their line from left to right with their long shields hanging from their sides protecting them. Our horsemen then pepper the enemy with their javelins then ride back to our lines for more. When they run out or the enemy line gets too close they withdraw to protect us and we arm them with lances.

Us carls and cottars fight in the shieldwall like all good Orlanthi though we train only with the spear, the javelin and the bow for many of our foes are mounted foes. An axe and a sword are good against honourable enemies but our enemies will kill you before you can get to use them. Our spears and arrows kill our enemy’s beasts then our youths go out and stab the riders while they are laying on the ground.

Within an eight feet section of our shieldwall you will find eight mature men in two rows armed with spears, round shields, metal caps and if they have it metal armour. Their shields overlap. Behind them two younger men of 13 years perhaps, but not yet fully matured, support their fathers with light javelins. They are armoured lightly with only caps and small shields so they can run out, shoot and then run back in again. Their fathers know that their sons can run fast if need be and that is a blessing.

Next to the young men stands an older stronger man who must heft the long spear which is twelve feet long and needs two hands to use its full length. His shield is slung around his neck and shoulder by a cord and just hangs there. He keeps enemies back while we kill them and also dissuades cavalry from charging us.

Next to him is a bowman or sometimes a slinger who can both shoot high and shoot at very close range as if he was stabbing with a knife.

Though the men behind the shieldwall are specialists everyone leans his shoulder into the wall when the enemy is so close he is pushing against us with his shields and weapons. All Orlanthi know that if a shieldwall retains its integrity it cannot be defeated.