Civil War

[Emperor Mithdrates]

Note: i'm new here and hoping i'm doing this right. I just want to make up a story based on one of my RTW campaigns, A novel i once read, and some input by and non-guild member. I hope you like it but judging by my school English grades it'll be pathetic.

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Halicarnassus 50BC, Roman Empire, Orphilo's Tavern, 11:30pm.

Cato yawned and stretched as he looked out over the mountain side. The drill by Prefect Septimio previously that day had taken a lot out of him and his 80 men; as well as the rest of the Cohort.
down below him he could see men and women leaving the temple of Neptune, no doubt hoping for a safe crossing to Jerusalem the next day, as well as the last of the merchant leaving their quarter of the city to return to their homes and ships waiting patiently in the harbour.

"Been a long day for you eh?" enquired Cato's fellow centurion and friend Macarus.

"yeah" Cato replied. "Not only did Septimo make us do the usual armour cleaning and marching training but today he also made us do some extra rowing training on the Training ship. He then let us have ten minutes brake befor two hours of combat training with those really heavy wooden swords and shields."

"phew!" Macarus commented. " I was going to complain about the extra build duties my cohorts been put on but your day seems much worse. Compared to you, building the governors living extension is nothing."

"he's not having another extension is he?"

"he is. Soon his palace will be bigger than the rest of the city, if he carries on building at this rate."

"Do you not find it odd Macarus?" queried Cato.

"what odd"

"well i've been thinking about this for a while and do you not wonder where Governor Caractius gets all this money to improve his living conditions. Its not like we're a Frontier City. Why would we need all that senate appointed money."

Macarus Laughed. "you and your educated upbringing. Most soldiers dont look that far into the private life of their General." in fact thats what got your century shipped to this hell-hole in the first place. You saw General Antium talking to some Partian soldiers and imediatley accused him as a traitor."

"that was a honest mistake and you know it."

"Mistake. They were practising for a private theatre play for the General and hs family. You then stood up in the agora the next day after seeing what you saw and told the Judeans to rise up against the general. You were lucky that you werent executed."

"lucky he was my uncles cousin more like. He's the one that got me off the hook."

"yeah well, all i'm saying mate is that just because everything isnt tip-top, spik-and-span and totaly plauseable, doesnt mean that we're all going to be secretly invaded by the Armenians, parthians or anyone else you can think of."

"i suppose so, i just dont trust him though."

"Cato, if it werent for me you wouldnt trust your own shadow. now lets get back to camp before Prefect Casius docks my wages again."

The two got up from their veranda chairs and began to make their way down through the city streets and back to the camp, outside the city to the north. It was just when they were crossing through the forum that they relised something was wrong.

"Macarus...can you smell smoke?"

"I thought i could"

the two had been laughing and talking all the way through the city and hadnt really been taken in their surroundings.

"silence a minute cato, i can hear something."

In the distance screams and crackling were just audible. and to the south in the distance, a cloud of smoke; disguised by the night sky, could be vaugly seen rising from Govenor Caractiuses palace.

"better see whats going on" Cato said to his friend as hebroke into a jog.

By the time they got there they could see that the under-construction part of the palace had been set alight and scaffolding was falling off the side of the building and onto surrounding houses. people were running yet some stayed behind to try and cease the flames destructive campaign from the palace to the rest of the city. To their right cato could just see General Caractius and some soldiers carrying buckets of water and carts of manure from the rest of the city trying to also stop the blaze.

"suppose we better help" Macarus shouted to cato in order to be heard over that crackling and screaming. just then as Macarus looked over Cato's shoulder he saw; crudley painted on the wall, the words. TRAITOR GO HOME. He pointed this out to cato and commented.

"Seems like your not the only one to suspect General Caractius" and they both stared at each other in stunned amazement.

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Hope you liked this opening section. I would like to hear some comments before i carry on writing.
Thanks. ~:wave:

[Quintus.JC]

Good start Cato. :2thumbsup:

I'm new to the mead hall as well, been busy these days trying to finish Machiavellian advanture of Princess Eleanor (More than 1,500 pages!), taken me two weeks to finish. Now it's done I got time to read something else, good start mate, I'll be looking forward to see some dead people. :beam:

[Emperor Mithdrates]

The next day Cato was one of the first few soldiers up. It was 6 o'clock in the morning and later the previous night the rest of the army garrison had been woken to help fight the palace flames. The flames were now out but half the palace and a good section of the citizen dwellings had been burnt down. General Caractius had ordered an imediate investigation of the fire and a few soldiers had already been questioned.

As Cato walked through the streets there was evidence of the fire nearly everywhere. People were desperatley scrubbing and lifting rubble from the street while extra town guard garrisons patroled just about every corner. When Cato got to the agora he saw a familiar face. Macarus was helping one of the merchants set up shop, while moving some old wooden beams, that were in his way.

"hey Macarus!" Cato shouted.

"how you doing friend, whats happening"

"nothing much. what about you."

"same, just helping this Syrian merchant set up shop, but em" he carried on in a whisper. "i saw a small calvary regiment with an emissary at the head ride through the North gate earlier. They galloped straight to the palace."

"how long ago was that?"

"just about 20 minutes ago but..."

before Macarus could finish his sentance he saw a legion of men run through the agora to the palace. In the distance sword clinking could be heard.

"whats up now?" Cato asked macarus.

"sounds like trouble, we better go to the Palace." they left the Syrian merchant to his customers and ran after the legion to the palace. By the time they got there they could hear horses whinnying and the sword clinking was now more numerous and all around the palace. Macarus reconised some of the apparent enemy.

"Those were the horesmen that arrived with the emissary" he exclaimed. just thenn a small guard galloped out of the palace gate and straight past Cato and macarus.

"Was that the general?" Cato asked.

"it was...i think, but where's he going?"

Later that day (after lots of regular training and armour cleaning) the entire populous of the city and tha army was called to the central Forum. there were so many people there that the neibouring, old, greek agora had to be filled as well. no one new why they had been called and murmurs ran through the crowd about the previous fight and the fleeing general. Then, the emissary that had entered the city early took the stand at the center of the crowd.

"Citizens of Halicarnassus" he then nodded to a section of soldiers. "and brave imperial warriors. We have disturbing news. The long ruling General/Governor Caractius has been found, by the senate, guilty of treason against the peoples of Rome and her mighty Emperor.

There was a disgruntling muttering throughout the crowd. a few brave people shouted out random calls like, NONSENSE and HE WAS ALWAYS GOOD.

"Let me finish before you heckle please." the emissary shouted. "the reason Governor Caractius was always so good and kind was probally because of his generous nature with money. He has more money than other governors. This is a fact because we know he is being financed by Governor Atium, who is intern being financed by the Parthians to form a rebellion in the eastern empire and to overthrow the Senate."

Now the peoples opinions had changed and many boos rang out. Just then Macarus noticed another emissary running through the crowd to the podium. The two emissarys talked for while and gradually the speech giving emissarys expression changed from seriousness to terror.

"ladies and gentlemen, i have some terrible news. There is a small army approaching the city by sea. It has come from one of the Atium surporting states and plans to add us to its small influence. our estimated timelines were wrong they've launched the rebellion already. They'll be here in exactly 1 day.

[Quintus.JC]

"Citizens of Halicarnassus" he then nodded to a section of soldiers. "and brave imperial warriors. We have disturbing news. The long ruling General/Governor Caractius has been found, by the senate, guilty of treason against the peoples of Rome and her mighty Emperor.


This is 50 BC right?

[Emperor Mithdrates]

yeah. i'm not sure about senate or emperor right? :oops:

[Quintus.JC]

yeah. i'm not sure about senate or emperor right? :oops:

50 BC is still Senate, that's the exact year The Senate refused Julius Caesar permission to stand for consul in absentia, and demands that he lay down his command, thus starting the civil war.

[Emperor Mithdrates]

50 BC is still Senate, that's the exact year The Senate refused Julius Caesar permission to stand for consul in absentia, and demands that he lay down his command, thus starting the civil war.

What month was that again?

[Quintus.JC]

What month was that again?

The Senate demanded Caesar's return to Rome (disabanding his army) in December 50BC. On January 10th, 49 BC Caesar crossed the Rubicon river (the frontier boundary of Italy) with only one legion and ignited civil war. Upon crossing the Rubicon, Caesar is reported to have quoted the Athenian playwright Menander, saying alea iacta est, "the die is cast".

[Emperor Mithdrates]

The Senate demanded Caesar's return to Rome (disabanding his army) in December 50BC. On January 10th, 49 BC Caesar crossed the Rubicon river (the frontier boundary of Italy) with only one legion and ignited civil war. Upon crossing the Rubicon, Caesar is reported to have quoted the Athenian playwright Menander, saying alea iacta est, "the die is cast".

quite helpful. I think i will try and make it out that ceasers rebelion rose directly from the ashes of my Judean rebelion.

[Emperor Mithdrates]

That night there was pandimonium. Soldiers were rushing all around the city walls preparing defences for the morning, crude catapults were being made and positioned just inside the city, ready to fire over the walls and the temporary apointed governor (Catos former prefect, Septimo) had declared a state of emergency throughout the region and conscripts were arriving hourly. Much to his surprise Cao had been made acting prefect of his cohort, promoting him from centurion. he now controlled nine centurys through his cohort. this was classed as Minute army. four cohorts was small, 8 large, ect. Cato ran from tower to tower calling to his troops to man certain positions. In order to test his skills and potential as a commander General Septimo had given his cohort half the section of the East wall, from the central gate to the North-East tower as that was the section most likely to be attacked. Macaruses century under universal command of Prefect Casius manned the exact same section but on the road just under the wall, inside the city.

When each individual soldier found their post they had to rough it on the walls for the night and survive on whatever personel rations they had brought up to their posts with them. All the female and children citizens of the city had been advised to stay indoors as the army and their conscripted husbands and fathers fought the next day. After checking all his men and assigning a few guards he also took a central possition on his cohorts stretch and turned in for the night.

It felt like he had barely got to sleep when a horn sounded from the forum. He woke with a start at the repeating drone of it. All around the city he could see other soldiers walking and hurridly picking up their helmets and weapons.

"Troops...make ready for combat" cato shouted along the wall. Around him his men roared battle cries and shouted his name. He could hear it being repeated all around the city with other commanders named. Cato looked out into the distance and saw about 40 centurys of roman men, however these mens shields were Brownish-bronze colour instead of the custom Roman-eastern Blue. The Halicarnassus army had roughly the same amount of men pluss 600 archers to help the legions man the walls. Cato also noticed that the rebels had about 6 catapults against their two. he could see the armys catapult leader arming the catapults and shouting that as soon as the rebels were in range they should keep up a constant barrage. to hassle their troop movements.

The rebels were now aranging themselves into battle lines. Cato could also just make out 16 laders in 4 groups of 4, ready to use in scalling the east wall. As he looked along at his men javelins and spears were being given out for hurling over the wall when the enemy came close enough and down by the gate some soldiers were reinforcing it with beams and logs in case the rebel catapults targeted it. now cato could see that the enemy catapults had set their targets and were firing into the city. The order for his men to take cover came just as the first rocks hurtled over his head, into the town center. Now the rebels could be seen marching with their ladders towards the walls. When they got in range his archers and spear firing soldiers shot wildley into the crowd of enemy men. And screamed at them, and as their ladders were proped up his men immediatley pushed them back down. It was then that the rebels changed tactics. The catapults now fired at the wall slowly weakening it away. Cato noticed the danger and told his men to move away from the centre of the wall. The men moved and shuffled to the sides as quickly as they could and were almost too late. Just as the last of the men were away from the center the wall came down. Now Macaruses Cohort was directly in the line of the rebel charge. As cato expected the rebels next move was to direct all men in a huge assault on the broken peice of wall.

"All men off the walls, meet up with Prefect Casiuses men to defend the Wall-Gap. Immediatley his men pushed and shoved to get down the tiny tower staircases and onto the ground floor. were they met up with Casiuses men and frmed fresh ranks, with cato and casius at the front.

"ready junior?" casius asked

"As i'll ever be" Cato replied.

"Make ready" casius shouted just as the Rebels formed a line exactly opposite them outside the city. Just then the rebels charged.

"Here we go" cato muttered under his breath.

[Carlos Matthews]

This is quite a good aar/ story. I think you may have inspired me, General Cato.

[Prince Cobra]

If you want to know what is happening in my head currently, I start to wonder what these rebels are... What are they doing in Halicarnassus? Good! I'll continue to read this in order to find out more. Yet, you should not tell me everything I want to know since there must be always something that should make me keep reading. And you know, whenever you give one answer, it is good to provoke two quewstions in your readers mind. :bow:

My advise is to avoid using numbers in your texts. For example instead of "600 archers" use " six hundred archers". :bow:

The usual Spolier

My humble, non-professional opinion

[Emperor Mithdrates]

There was a tremendous bang as roman shield smashed roman shield. Cato was pushed back a few inches by the direct force of the rebel charge. Glinted metal slashed out from the gaps in the shield wall and Cato narrowdly missed a few well placed jabs. This wasnt like the rebels they had fought back in Kabul. (when Cato worked in Judea) These were romans. who had trained like other romans and knew roman military tactics. It was going to be a hard battle, but eventually one side had to get tired and intern clumsy. when this happened the opposition would take advantage of the oppurtunity and try to break through the line. Cato swore that it wouldnt be him or his side.

For many minutes the lines didnt move, the Loyalists held the rebels between the walls and didnt allow them to gain any ground within the city. But eventually the rebels begain to push them back. soon Cato and Casiuses units were no longer between the broken walls and the rebels had a small portion of the street. Cato looked around desperatley. In other parts of the city the rebels had abandoned the wall attacks and were filtering round to join their commrades in attackin through the gap in the defences. Cato thought that this may be the end. His soldiers had already began to break formation and were now engaging in a series of smaller battles around the street. Then two things happened that restored hope. The catapults that had remained inactive for a long time had slowly been moving to the central forum in order to get better range, now they were aiming and firing into the bunched up rebels. with nowhere to go the rebels attacking the gap were slowly crushed or burned. This didnt really matter though as the other rebel legions were coming round to help their comrades. The main thing; that made Cato cheer along with some of the other soldiers, was that in the distance, to the North, calvary were just visible. Cato would latter find out that these came from "Everphites". A large fort that guardered the bridge that crossed the river to Nicomedia and Pergamum. At that time it seemed that the rebels hesitated. Some of the soldiers had to fall back in order to form a second battle line facing north. now that the other Loyalists from the now not-under-attack southern, western and northern walls were coming to Cato and Casiuses aid Cato thought that he could take a risk.

"ALL UNITS.....CHARGE!" he yelled at the top of his voice. somewhere near he heard Casius shout a similar thing. Their two Cohorts ran at their full spped and slammed alot of the rebels ot of the way cutting a small passage through the attacking rebels. In two seperate groups the rebels didnt fight nearly as well soon they were all but destroyed. Cheers rang out through the roman ranks. now another couple of cohorts had met up with them and Casius, Cato and the other two prefects stood at the front of their force.

Again cato gave the call to charge and their cohorts slammed into the side of the rebels, northern facing battle line that was waiting for the cavalry. The end units had to quickly turn and face the new threat but as theydid the first of the cavalry arrived. Slaming into the confused rebels the Cavalry offered no mercy. Soon the rebels battle line was little more than a barbarian horde, trying to roughly arrange themselves in a circle. Nearly all were cut down. Now there were only a couple of rebels cohorts left and they werent fighting for a loosing cause. They began to flee back along the coast to the rousing cheers of the Loyalists. The rebel General tried to organise his troops, but when a good number of the reinforcement calvary charged him, he too fled back, having to face the retribution of Govenor Atium.

That night Cato and Macarus met up in the army camp, where wound were being treated all over the place.

"you cant exactly say we didnt pay a price for this victory" Macarus sighed.

"No" Cato replied. but there was a good sized army and it makes me wonder How many others does Govenor Atium Command."

"I more concerned about whats in it for him. The Parthians have always wanted us out of the way but now they're enlisting our own men. Whats Atium getting in return for this huge risk."

"hopefully some of our spys will know. If not....then when we win this war, we'll find out of the man himself."

"you mean, if,we win."

"you herd what i said Macarus" Cato glared at him. "we out number him. we'll win"

"all together the loyalists outnumber him. but how many troops do you think the senate will send. General Ceaser is already busy with an army in Gaul. And theres rumors of unrest in Carthage. The east is on its own. and most of the east is rebels."

"we'll need to think of something soon if were tocrush these rebels then" Cato replied. Just then an emissary ran up to them.

"Prefect, centurion. Govenor-General Septimo is meeting with all Prefects and centurions in his tent."

"when Macarus asked quizically"

"immediatley. he wants to discuss our future campaign."

[Martok]

Interesting, Lord Young. I'll be curious to see if Cato and his friends next take the fight to Atium. :sweatdrop:

[Emperor Mithdrates]

Ah...the last of our number arrive. Prefect, Centurion. Congratulations on yours and our victory. Those rebels will think twice before expanding into "our" empire.
"yes sir" Cato replied, untireing the chinstrap on his helmet and placing it on a nearby table. Hopefully that was a good section of Atium's army we destroyed today.
"yes i hope so to prefect, but now that we're all here. to business. I have a rushed dispatch from the senate they're sendng General Plautus and a large army to reinforce our influence here."
There was some rousing cheers around the room untill Septimo spoke again.
"dont get your hopes out too soon though. The army in question is on the wstern Spanish border at the present time....."
some centurions, cursed and voiced their anger untill septimo called quiet again. "This is the only free army at the minute due to other campaigns and minor revolts."
One veteran centurian called out. "Minor revolts, this things serious. This morning, a third of our men were killed and we dont know how many more troops Atiums got out there. He could even threaten rome if we get destroyed."
"but thats not going to happen is it Vicius. We just have to hold Asior Minor until the reinforcements arrive. It will take about a year as they are coming by sea."
Some others now shouted out. "A year. With just our men. This is absurd...." The random heckles were soon ceased by Septimo, yet again.
"SILENCE....This isnt a democracy. I'm in charge and i give the orders, ok."
"yes sir"
"I DONT HEAR YOU"
"YES SIR"
Thank you. Now our campaign plan. Our forces shall be divided throughout Asior Minor to help Garrisons. Ventium's cohort shall be placed in Nicomedia, Aliciumias' in Pergamum, and so on and so forth, moving down the cohort numbers and intern down the region."
Cato relised his Cohort was the fourth. He counted down from the north of the region untill he found his City. Ephesus. Port of the Agean. He was just glad he had Macarus in command of a century in his cohort. He would need his guidence in helping a city like this. He glanced over at him. He was looking at the ceiling and Cato could tell he was trying to work out where they were stationed. Cato smiled. Macarus was a great politician and leader, but rubbish at numeracy and any form of sciences. Cato leaned over and whispered their postings name. Macarus nodded encouragingly. and why shouldnt he. Ephesus was a great city full of theatres, culture and excellent shops due to the traders from Greece and the black sea. "we're going as soon as day breaks tommorow. by noon i dont want to see any of you ladies here other than mine, and Goulsiuses cohort. Got that. right, dismissed."

[Emperor Mithdrates]

Cato fumbled for the cloth in his pocket for a good few minutes. it was hard to get it out from under his armour. After several attempts he pulled it free and mopped is brow furiously. the day was hot and the fact that they had been on the road since 6:30 didnt help him or his men. He looked down the cohort to the century at rear guard. There macarus was looking patheticly uncomfortable from the heat, but still trying to retain his pose and supirior posture infront of his men. Other centurions were less bothered he noticed and he saw many centurions throwing water from their drinking skins onto their hot armour. he looked up at the sun. he made it noon. He looked over to the other side of the road to check with his Optio. He signalled him to look at the sun. The optio looked up and nodded to Cato indicatng that he thought it was noon too, and intern time to stop for lunch.

"Cohort!" he shouted "Halt." The men ceased marching and looked at their centurions pleadingly. "Cohort, at ease for break....dismissed." The men hurridley dumped their heavy equipment and sulked to the side of the road for a well deserved break. "Centurion Macarus. to the front please" Cato yelled up the dismantling column. The centurion; and second in command of the column to cato, stepped up to the sweating Catos' side.

"sir"

"consult the map Macarus, where are we" He saluted and went to collect his map from his centurys wagon. After a few minutes Macarus returned.

"we are aproximatley 30 miles from Ephesus now sir."

"right. we'll let the men rest for a minute or so and have a snack then. if we press on at full marching speed, we should reach Ephesus by 5 o'clock."

"ok sir, but we could have picked a more covered place to stop. we're in the middle of a plain, we're probally being watched as we speak."

"stop being so silly Macarus, we'll be ok, i dont think there'll be many of Atiums men this far North."

"i'm not worried about that sir. i'm worried about raiders."

"Macarus, we're a full cohort of proffesional soldiers. who in there right mind would attack us."

"wait a minute sir"

"what now. This better not be the irony of raiders."

"Its someone sir. to the north. they're calvary, but they dont look like raiders.

"What do they look like"

"well they look like romans."

"how many are there,, and what are they. I mean, i suppose they could be a roman welcoming party from the garrison at Ephesus."

"well....it looks like calvary, but its a large body. actually, it looks to big to be a welcoming party. theres about 600 there."

"600!"

"yes and there approaching alfully fast."

"em could you tell me something Macarus. Has the calvary emissary we sent to Ephesus this morning come back?"

"er no. in fact we havent had much news from Ephesus in Months. even when we were back at Halicarnassus."

"you dont think that....well, they've perhaps defected."

"sir?"

"To Atium. We're soon going to find out" Cato said as he pointed to the calvary. they had now stopped and a single rider was heading towards the cohort. "cohort at arms" cato shouted. The men jumped up and grabbed their swords and shields. Cato didnt know who these people were but he wasnt taking any chances."

[Quintus.JC]

Six hundred cavalry against a full cohort? This doesn't look good for Cato.

Here's a curious question, are we going to see any historical characters in this story at some point? I know this story is purely fictional but around 50BC is a time of civil war, the Parthians are on the east of the borders, maybe one day we could just see....

[Prince Cobra]

Six hundred cavalry against a full cohort? This doesn't look good for Cato.

Here's a curious question, are we going to see any historical characters in this story at some point? I know this story is purely fictional but around 50BC is a time of civil war, the Parthians are on the east of the borders, maybe one day we could just see....

It's not obligatory to have historical characters as main characters. For example,in one of my favourite books, "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco the struggle between the German (and Holy Roman) Emperor and the Pope was only hinted. There was not a single scene with either of them. It depends on the writer's choice. This story is progressing and I wonder how far it would go
:2thumbsup: ~;)

[Emperor Mithdrates]

probally there wont be that many historical characters. the parthians may make an apperance and if you have any suggestions just tell me

[Emperor Mithdrates]

Six hundred cavalry against a full cohort? This doesn't look good for Cato.

he still has 129 more men but they have horses. you'll have to stay tuned to find out what happens.