War Lions of Chrace

War Lions of Chrace is a High Elves war beast unit added in The Warden and the Paunch.

Description
These fearsome beasts are deadly hunting cats, powerful creatures with a muscular frame and a sharp, cunning mind. Almost as tall at the shoulders as an Elven Steed, a War Lion is far stronger, able to break bones with each sweep of its claws and shatter even helmeted heads with a single chomp of its fanged maw. When War Lion prides hunt, none within their chosen grounds are safe. They will range far and wide, coordinating by instinct, in search of prey. A War Lion's loyalty is to its kin, first and last. This fidelity, along with their incredible ferocity when they attack, has given rise to a great many songs and poems throughout Ulthuan, and it is with a clear measure of pride that the Phoenix King's bodyguard have adopted the famed White Lions of Chrace as their namesakes.

The High Elves of Ulthuan do not regard the War Lions as evil creatures, but rather savage beasts to be feared, respected, and occasionally, in the case of hunters of Chrace, nurtured. When preparing for war, it has been known for High Elf Mages to bind a pride of War Lions to their will. Such a gesture is not without risk, for the lions of Chrace are intelligent and patient beasts, and they are not easily controlled. Even when armoured for war and bound by powerful magic, White Lions maintain a lethal predatory instinct, and they remain vigilant against any threat, constantly ready to pounce should danger present itself.

Whilst Scrolls of Binding will unify and direct the War Lions for a time, a cunning Mage will strive to bond with her predatory companions. Once accepted by the pride, the War Lions will remain loyal to the wizard long after the rites of binding have dissipated and all magical bonds are gone. One who has been adopted by a pride of War Lions in this way can find herself with a bodyguard that even the Phoenix King himself might envy.

Attributes

 * ↑ Lion Pelt: White Lion fur is not merely a fashionable status symbol, it also provides protection against regular and magical missile attacks.
 * ↑ Armour-Piercing: The damage of armour-piercing weapons mostly ignores the armour of the target, making them the ideal choice against heavily-armoured enemies. They are often heavier and attack at a slower rate though, making them less efficient against poorly-armoured targets.
 * ↑ Anti-Infantry: Anti-infantry units have an advantage against targets that are smaller than a horse. This advantage can be a damage bonus against small targets, superior weight used to smash through lighter enemies, or an explosive attack from range that effects a large area.

Strategy
The war lions are essentially hound units with armour piercing and anti-infantry. They are fast and deadly against all forms of infantry. Because of this they can also function as a sort of shock unit on the front lines. The war lions are a versatile unit that only need to be wary of heavy cavalry or being swarmed by infantry and unable to retreat.