Line of Arcuarii firing harpoons to catch and drag prey to their deaths
Cataphract Arcuarii are imposing warriors encased in extremely thick and finely lacquered armor. Fighting effectively in such heavy armor requires a lifetime of training as well as exceptional strength and endurance. Arcuarii wield great hooked harpoons called arcus that can be brought to bear in close quarters or fired across the battlefield to impale enemies and drag them close. Arcuarii are trained to act in concert to bring down the mightiest prey and are often deployed alongside beast handlers to help bring in fresh supplies of wild titans to be broken and trained for war.[1]
Not all skorne can aspire to become a Cataphract, as the position requires exceptional height, bulk, strength, and unflagging endurance. Similarly, not every house boasts Cataphracts among their numbers; only a few possess the esteem and wealth required to field even a few of these heavily armored combatants. Those deemed fit by the chirurgeons and mortitheurges of their house are the greatest warriors of their generation. Cataphract philosophy is founded on proud self-reliance within a supremely capable fighting unit. The arcus takes its name from the great harpoon wielded by Vuxoris, the progenitor of hoksune. The modern variant of this weapon is essentially a small but powerful crossbow that discharges a chained blade able to bring distant enemies to the immediate attention of Cataphracts, who brutally and efficiently end their time on Caen.[1]