Wardens of Montfort (Mounted Yeomen Archers)

Wardens of Montfort (Mounted Yeomen Archers) are a famed regiment of bow-wielding Yeoman, hailing from the Bretonnian dukedom of Montfort.

Description
The Wardens are the elite of Montfort’s low-born, saddled castle defenders who are often sent out to harass besiegers with their noxious, Poison-tipped arrows.

As they hold such privileged positions as head gaolers and militia sergeants, to become a Yeoman is the highest rank to which a peasant can aspire. It takes many years of dedicated service for Men-at-Arms to be so promoted, and even then only an act of bravery on the battlefield will guarantee ascension. Though no peasant may ride the steeds of the Bretonnian Lords, favoured Yeomen are permitted to ride to battle on draught horses. Such troops will often scout ahead of the main army and keep the Knights informed of enemy movements - a dangerous task, and one which earns no honour, so it is a task that the nobility believe is best performed by peasants. All Men-at-Arms dream of one day becoming a Yeoman, possibly because of the folk stories that tell of Yeomen being raised to Knighthood after performing a great service or some brave deed. The truth is that it is almost unheard of for a peasant to be elevated in this way - the nobility have no wish to sully their ranks with low-born commoners.

Strategy
This regiment of renown has the bonus of applying poison on its ranged attacks which is useful for slowing down enemies chasing it and hampering the combat effectiveness of units it shoots at.