For centuries, the Romans were faced with enemies from all corners of the known earth, and so their Hellenicised descendents, the Byzantines, often had to be on their guard against all manner of enemies and their treacheries. Thus was born the Akritae, or border guards. These units unlike the peasant levies of the European barbarians or the heathens of the Asian wastes are professional soldiers, and thus their armour, skill with a javelin and hitpoint count make them a cut above all other units.