Sky Riders
When those that travel Isekai think of the Great Plains, they think of the Dinosaurs of the earth, the terrifying Tyrannosaurus, the stalwart Stegosaurus, and others that roam through the thick Traveler's Grass that surrounds the cities and villages that make up the Human Empire. With the grass surrounding them like a forest, few ever look up to the sky to see the winged monstrosities that the Humans also tamed, the magnificent flyers that in times of great need had saved them more than once.
Enter the Sky Riders, the elite group of Humans that have chosen to take to the skies and tame creatures that no one thought possible. It was second nature to tame Triceratops and Velociraptors to be beasts of burden and serve as quick passage, but no one believed that you could tame the free creatures of the sky. These beasts could not be trapped or caged like those on the ground, let alone trained for any greater purpose. Some Humans were crazy enough to take that chance and brought forth one of the most elite military units in all of Isekai.
Composition
Tactics
The tactics that are used by the Sky Riders are reminiscent of those used by the Elves that use the Sorcerer Carpets. Casters, Rangers, and even Barbarians are not uncommon in these ranks as the unit’s most common form of combat utilizes projectiles thrown or dropped from great heights. Anyone that can either cast magic, use a bow, or drop large rocks or objects are often the most recruited.
As there are very few aerial units utilized in the militaries of Isekai, the Sky Riders often function very similarly to a cavalry unit, with the archers and casters functioning much as they would on horseback. The range needed to complete some of their maneuvers is much longer, as many of the riders choose to fly outside of the range of anything except a longbow.
Those in the unit who specialize in dropping projectiles participate in fewer maneuvers than the others. Casters and archers fly in complicated flight patterns meant to confuse the enemy and provide cover fire for those that are hoisting large boulders or balls of pitch that can be set ablaze by the others. This group is known for their underhanded tactics, creating projectiles that are meant to burn or explode on impact.
Training
Training for this unit is not well-rounded, meaning that those that wish to join the unit must already have extreme skill in spellcasting or archery on horseback or extreme strength. The training in these areas is minimal, with the majority of training time spent capturing and breaking the pterodactyls to be used in combat. Those that specialize in training Dinosaurs are often recruited as well, but they do not participate in combat.
Once the pterodactyls have been broken and some training has taken place, the members of the unit begin their training. Flying is not nearly as simple as riding a horse, so training is taken very slowly, starting at low altitudes where any injuries can easily be taken care of by Clerics. After months, only then will they be able to fly to higher altitudes and begin the maneuver training.
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