Pax Germanica - Swebóz AAR

[Skandaz.Imperator]

I am Marcus Lepidus, one of many sons from Rome. This is my account on the events in the frozen north beyond the Alps, which I had the fortune to witness.

Chapter 1: 272-271BC : New lands

I'm constantly cold, and the ill-healed scars from the tight ropes around my wrists are still sore. It has been two years since I set out with my companions from Rome, and nearly three months since the ambush where I was captured and my companions were slaughtered or sold off as slaves.

My captors has taken me far north than any roman has wandered before, and I almost fear that we are heading for Thúle. I'm having difficulties understanding their language, it reminds me of the Arverni, Raeti and Aedui tongues, though they're not the same. We march through deep forests, and the snow-covered mountains are no longer visible to the south. Finally, with the coming of spring, we reached my captors home of Swebotráustástámnoz.

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The poverty is striking, even the nobles are dressed as simple plebs, and many goes hungry. While in Swebotráustástámnoz, I begin to pick up some of the language of my captors. Apparently, they call themselves Sámnonoz but they are part of a greater confederation of tribes, known as the Swêbóz. I have been informed that their newly-elected kuningáz (king) Hêruwulfáz has marched the Swêbóz army west, towards the tribes of Héruskoz. Meanwhile, the king's younger brother Ansuhárjáz has started the siege of the Hábukoz tribe, aiming to incorporate them into the Swébóz confederation by force.

The Héruskoz fell after a short siege, and my captors' company was sent to aid Ansuhárjáz in the siege of the Hábukoz. We had just arrived though, when the Hábukoz, crazed from starvation, sallied out from their city in an attempt to break the siege. This was going to be a close call, with the forces matched almost one to one.

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The Swébóz warriors, mostly spearmen with some cavalry and archer support, responded to the sallying forces by charging forth, effectively pinning the bulk of the Hábukoz army against their own walls. Though this seems crazy to me, used with the structured assault of the Roman army, it apparently worked as the Hábukoz were caught in a deadly trap of spears and swords.

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In the fray, the Hábukoz general was mauled down, and I was told later that his body was never recognized amongst the dead, though I suspect the body was plundered and vandalized. When words of their general's demise, the Hábukoz army began to rout in panic, the gates were flung open and as the Swébóz captured the gates, the fate of the settlement was sealed.

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After the battle, I was finally presented to the commander, the king's brother Ansuhárjáz. Ansuhárjáz was merely 21 years, 1 year my junior, but already had led armies into victory. In celebration of his victory, he offered me to serve him as an advisor, an offer I couldn't refuse.

I am Marcus Lepidus, 22 years, born in Rome and advisor of the war chief Ansuhárjáz, brother of the Swébóz kuningáz Hêruwulfáz. This is year 1 of my stay with the Swébóz.

Next: Chapter II: 271-267BC : The Shores of the Northern Sea

[Treverer]

A good start, do keep it on!

And (though I do not know if I'm qualified for):

Welcome aboard!

Yours,
Treverer

[Callicles]

Great way to tell the story. Well done.

[Wolfman]

I haven't seen one of these in a long time. Excellent well composed first post I actually felt like i was there. Keep up the good work!

[Redmeth]

Very nice :2thumbsup:

[overweightninja]

Hey, welcome to the forums bud
Nice start, I'm playing a Sweboz campaign myself at the moment and the captured slave POV is a really nice idea.
Best of luck I'll be following :2thumbsup:
Cheers

[CaesarAugustus]

Hello and welcome to the Org, Skandaz.Imperator. I like the idea of writing a campaign from the perspective of a foreign slave, I don't think that has ever been done before. Keep it up!:yes:

[Skandaz.Imperator]

Chapter II: 271-267BC : The Shores of the Northern Sea

Autumn was short this year. After the conquest of the Héruskoz and the Hábukoz, we have been marching north...again! I didn't thought it were possible to go further north, but according to Master Ansuhárjáz some of the Swêbóz tribes comes from lands called Skándzá. However, we are not heading that far to the north. The Kimbrioz tribe had during the last two years made several raids into Swêbóz territory, and now king Hêruwulfáz has decided to stop them once and for all. My master, the king's brother, has been called to join him in the siege of the Kimbrioz capital.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9144/swebos11gp1.jpg

It was there, when autumn turned into winter and snow fell once again, painfully reminding me of the events that happened one year ago, that I first met Hêruwulfáz. To my suprise, he even greeted me in my own language. How surprised was I to hear latin in this barbaric land. Hêruwulfáz and his brother, my master, Ansuhárjáz began to make up plans for the attack, and I sat down in the background and listened to their conversation. The Kimbrioz had been caught by surprise and they didn't have had the time to erect any palisades, hindering the Swêbóz warriors' advance. Confident in their numbers, Hêruwulfáz declared to his thanes that the assault would begin the first day of spring.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/397/swebos12jy5.jpg

The Kimbrioz captain Thêudánáz were a grizzled, old veteran of severals before my arrival to the north, and he would be a dangerous foe to my masters. According to my service as his advisor, I had to follow Ansuhárjáz into the carnage and I was given a crude iron sword and a buckler. This was the first time in my life that I ever wielded a sword and I was excited and yet terrified.

As custom, Hêruwulfáz led the charge straight into the settlement, attacking everything that pointed a spear in his way. The ferocity of my barbarian masters is remarkable, as they charges the enemy over and over again, showing no fear whatsoever.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7960/swebos13sg2.jpg

In this initial assault, the enemy captain Thêudánáz were encircled by my unit and I caught a quick glimpse of the captain's face as he tried to find a way out of the men surrounding him. I dodged a loose horse, and the next second the captain was dragged down to the dirt and stabbed several times through the throat, almost severing his head from his body.

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9018/swebos14hx1.jpg

With the loss of their captain, the Kimbrioz tried to surrender but was struck down where they stood. The battle was soon over...

https://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7066/swebos15yz4.jpg

...but the slaughter continued afterwards, for several days. The Swêbóz were terrible in their revenge and I dare not describe all the horrors that I witnessed that day. Still when we were marching east days later, the fire had not been extinguished and the smoke could still be seen.

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We were now forced marching east, towards the Rugoz tribe. As I rode just behind my master, I overheard him and Hêruwulfáz discussing the motives of the attack. Apparently, the king's coffins were almost empty and Hêruwulfáz had ordered the whole army to go on a giant raid along the shores of this northern sea, to capture any town that stood in it's way, and Gáwjám-Rugóz stood in our way now. However, Ansuhárjáz had been given the orders to be present but not to attack, the king needed as many men as possible to be fresh for further raids. Thus far, I never saw action at Gáwjam-Rugóz.

https://img410.imageshack.us/img410/5221/swebos17ww3.jpg

As Hêruwulfáz summoned his brother to his tent after the battle, I was given a short account on what had happened. The battle has been pretty standard "charge and outlast the enemy" until the enemy general had mounted his horse and tried a flanking maneuver. Hêruwulfáz had however saved two cavalry units who counter-flanked the Rugoz general. As the general turned to flee, his horse was cut down from behind and the general was trampled to death.

As the winter's grip slowly loosened and spring once again emerged, we found ourselves on the march eastwards, constantly follow the shore line, but now more inlands than before. The goal was Venedu Tauta and the capital of Ascaucalis, a land rich with minerals to be mined for future expansions.

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/266/swebos18zo8.jpg

Ansuhárjáz assumed command of the army this time, relieving his brother for more important tasks, which I was informed of much later.

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Once again, I was at the front with my master and this time I even got the chance to use my sword, although my first experience as a fighter was somewhat of a failure. As the first wave of enemies came crashing against our shields, like the sea against the rocks of the earth, I was knocked unconscious by my own wooden shield and fell to the ground...

...I awoke several days later in a daze, only to find myself in a bed in Ansuhárjáz tent. Apparently, he had taken care of me personally and though he was not educated in medicine, I suffered no lasting effects. We had been on the move again, and meanwhile I had "slept as a lamb" as my master chuckled, he and his brother the king has captured Cintaras-Ostan, a neighboring city also rich with minerals. The loot from the cities, and the newly-gained control of their mines had started to pay off, as money was slowly returning to the king's chest. I was given a map, painted on a cow's hide, over our small kingdom.

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9045/swebos20pm2.jpg

We had made halt outside Ascaucalis and was told to rest until spring. Hêruwulfáz would stay in Cintaras-Ostan and set up a new mining administration and would not join us as we prepared to march south...

Next: Chapter III : 267-260BC : Timber, money and flesh

[Beefy187]

Woah nice...

I never went on positives as Sweboz..Its a little too hard for me :laugh4:

I like your charming Roman fellow plz keep it up!:2thumbsup:

[Callicles]

This reminds me of the 13th Warrior. Good job.

[Geoffrey S]

Nice AAR, but this one line made me laugh out loud...

As I rode just behind my master, I overheard him and Hêruwulfáz discussing the motives of the attack. Apparently, the king's coffins were almost empty and Hêruwulfáz had ordered the whole army to go on a giant raid along the shores of this northern sea, to capture any town that stood in it's way, and Gáwjám-Rugóz stood in our way now.
Empty coffins? It's a funny motive for war, at least!

[Callicles]

I assume he meant coffers, but it is still a good AAR.

[Beefy187]

Germans: Kings coffins empty!! must kill other kings!!

I can understand that :laugh4:

[Chirurgeon]

This is great! What a fresh perspective. Keep it up :)

[LotW89]

Great ^^
btw: You should take Scandinavia, there is a Mine, so you will get more money ;)

[Skandaz.Imperator]

I assume he meant coffers, but it is still a good AAR.
You're right, english is not my first language so you'll just have to stand major/minor errors from time to time.

[Skandaz.Imperator]

Chapter III : 267-260BC : Timber, money and flesh

The years goes faster here in the north. I have been in Ansuhárjázs service for 12 years now, and the years have really gone by fast. I'm a full grown man now, not the spoiled diplomat who left Rome 13 years ago to set up new connections with the Rhaetians.

My king's son, for Hêruwulfáz is now my king, came of age just some years ago. The boy is strong, takes much of his father and sure is a promise for the future. After his initial trials as it's custom among the Swêbóz, the boy was elected heir at the théngaz.

https://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5203/swebo1xq6.jpg

We marched south, Ansuhárjáz with the new heir Hárjáwulfáz and the army, towards the town of Arctaunon. Arctaunon had a long history of interfering with Swêbóz affairs, occasionally sending raiders into our territory to capture women and slaves. It has now been decided that Arctaunon would be subdued and incorporated into the Swêbóz confederation.

During the siege of the town, I began to notice a change in my master, the lord Ansuhárjáz. He seemed more and more disgruntled, restless and sometimes lashed out against the young heir. Although I never asked, I suspected that Ansuhárjáz would prefer to be elected heir himself. The king must have sensed this and sent his along Ansuhárjáz to "learn", but rather to spy.

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/791/swebo2hk2.jpg

Anyhow, we had to set aside all differences as the enemy attempted to break the siege and sally forth. The next morning we woke up to the sound of horns and everybody rushed to the gate to stop the enemy.

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/5395/swebos3aq5.jpg

Eager to prove his valour, Hárjáwulfáz was usually the first one to charge into the enemy. Several times, he and his men took on enemy companies twice his size and routed them all.

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/1513/swebo4jb7.jpg

His men even charged the enemy general's mounted bodyguard, and after a long bloody fight, Hárjáwulfázs men had all but annihilated the unit.

https://img125.imageshack.us/img125/6641/swebo5ox4.jpg

In the end, it was Hárjáwulfáz and his men who had carried the day, much to my master Ansuhárjáz's frustration.

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Even more angered, Ansuhárjáz left me in Arctunon to instruct the new administration while he marched north. At first, Hárjáwulfáz had been left with me for his education, but he soon ran off and caught up with Ansuhárjáz. It turns out that he had marched north, to the lands of the Skándzáwárjoz, Skándzá.

Although these lands in hallowed antiquity had been part of the Swêbóz homeland, it has fallen from Swêbóz control and developed an independent kingdom. The swêbóz had never really forgotten about their birthright to Skándzá and now rumors had been circulating about a newly constructed mine and Ansuhárjáz saw his chance to increase his reputation. Needless to say, he was not too happy of Hárjáwulfázs return under his command.

The battle still eludes me to the very day, as few of the veterans from the Skándzá campaign refuses to speak of their homeland and the action that was taken their. However, according to one of the bodyguards of Ansuhárjáz, the enemy had been overwhelming in numbers and the general had been considered greater than Ansuhárjáz himself. A first attempt to besiege the city has failed, there were too few men to encircle the walls and the siege had to be called off.

However, with fresh silver sent from Swebotráustástámnoz and promises of prominent positions within the new administration of the city, native mercenaries could be enlisted for the cause. With more than a hundred new mercenaries, the Swêbóz had still been undermanned but decided to attack anyway.

Once again, Ansuhárjáz had pinned the enemy against their own walls as they tried to break the siege. When the enemy general fell, and the companies began to rout, the Swêbóz cavalry had pursued and cut them down to the very last man. The victory had been nothing less but heroic!

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After the victory in the north, my master returned to Swebotráustástámnoz where I had been sent and we stayed there for almost a year. The income from the captured mines started to prove useful for the construction of the kingdom. New armies could be raised, settlements could be expanded and the people was generally happy about the situation. We got words from the east, king Hêruwulfáz had captured the town of Gáwjám-Silêngóz and requested our presence there. We raised the army, and marched east...

Next: Chapter IV : 260-255BC : To the east, to the west

[LotW89]

The story goes on. ~D
Great job. Keep going ~;)