Iberia Rising: A Lusitannan AAR

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Great! :2thumbsup:
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[PersianFire]

"Judging from that mini-map, Carthage is in trouble. I will pray to Herakles and mighty Ba'al to grant Carthage victory over the barbarian scum.

Oh, nice update too. "

[Wolfman]

*Rough Raspy Barbaric Voice*
Ah so those child sacrificing bastards are being sent to the firey hell they deserve! BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "drinks deeply from a skull taken from a wealthy Punic Priest" Bah! But my sword thirst for more Carthaginian blood! The thirst of this mighty wolf must be appeased! Unleash me upon that filthy Punic Scum and i will make them pay dearly for there Offenses! *Crazy Voice Off*Excellent Update Chirurgeon! Though I must ask is Castulo going to pick up a sword to end the life of Hasdrubal anytime Soon? And how does it feel fighting a faction you formerly played?

*Urgent Voice*
My lord may I make a suggestion on the Attack on Gader? Most of the people in this city are innocent. Not only are they innocent a good portion of them are Iberian! The Punics are a small minority in their empire. So small in fact they are exempt from fighting. This burden is instead put on the native to areas Phoenicians have colonized. Instead of Exterminating this city and causing unnecessary harm to our brethren why not just enslave the small Punic population instead? I also would suggest this policy for Mastia.

[Reality=Chaos]

Yay, drown them in rains of javelins chirugeon. and put the rest of them to your fancy Iberian swords:yes:

[CaesarAugustus]

Looks like you're going to have trouble with the Arverni soon. The Iberians had better watch their back, and hope they don't have to fight on two fronts. Not that Carthage seems to be putting up much of a fight so far. Great update! :rtwyes:

[PersianFire]

*Rough Raspy Barbaric Voice*
Ah so those child sacrificing bastards are being sent to the firey hell they deserve! BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "drinks deeply from a skull taken from a wealthy Punic Priest" Bah! But my sword thirst for more Carthaginian blood! The thirst of this mighty wolf must be appeased! Unleash me upon that filthy Punic Scum and i will make them pay dearly for there Offenses! *Crazy Voice Off*Excellent Update Chirurgeon! Though I must ask is Castulo going to pick up a sword to end the life of Hasdrubal anytime Soon? And how does it feel fighting a faction you formerly played?

*Urgent Voice*
My lord may I make a suggestion on the Attack on Gader? Most of the people in this city are innocent. Not only are they innocent a good portion of them are Iberian! The Punics are a small minority in their empire. So small in fact they are exempt from fighting. This burden is instead put on the native to areas Phoenicians have colonized. Instead of Exterminating this city and causing unnecessary harm to our brethren why not just enslave the small Punic population instead? I also would suggest this policy for Mastia.


Yay, drown them in rains of javelins chirugeon. and put the rest of them to your fancy Iberian swords

"In reponse to the above supporters of the filthy barbarians, I must state and pledge my support for the great city and of Carthage. We will slaughter your pathetic armies in the thousands should you dare march any further. The occupants of Gader are 110% behind us and refuse to be ruled by barbarian filth. We have have brought them 'civilisation' and they do not wish to go back to the cesspits that pass for your towns. March onto Gader or further into our territories and the towns and valleys will flow red with the blood of barbarian filth.

May mighty Ba'al grant us victory and we will celebrate with the sacrifice of each of your first borns at our mighty temples."

[Wolfman]

"In reponse to the above supporters of the filthy barbarians, I must state and pledge my support for the great city and of Carthage. We will slaughter your pathetic armies in the thousands should you dare march any further. The occupants of Gader are 110% behind us and refuse to be ruled by barbarian filth. We have have brought them 'civilisation' and they do not wish to go back to the cesspits that pass for your towns. March onto Gader or further into our territories and the towns and valleys will flow red with the blood of barbarian filth.

May mighty Ba'al grant us victory and we will celebrate with the sacrifice of each of your first
borns at our mighty temples."I guess that I would force a Smile on my face too seeing that theres always the threat of the CSS (Child Sacrificing Services) Arriving at my door and taking away my children to the fiery Pits of Bail if i don't behave! Any other day I would be 100% percent behind Karthadastim but their behavior here especially of one "Hasdrubal" "spits with contempt when he says the name" has shown me that your so called "republic" does no longer deserve my support nor my respect and is no more than a den of theives and murderers that do not deserve to be on Iberian Soil.

Edit:
Yay Six Hundredth Post!

Edit:
Chirurgeon I just had another idea. What If you write into your story that some of the Phoenicians being unhappy lately with the actions of their government switch allegiance to the Iberian Confederacy? Furthermore they work together with you and allow you secretly into the city. This could be shown by using a spy. My head is quite clear after all that wine. I do not think that we should go through and commit genocide on the Poeni citizens in Iberia. They are in the same position the celts that now fight under our banner were years ago. They are deeply tied to this land and to forcibly expel or Exterminate them would be the worst of Crimes. Their language is deeply rooted in this area just as Celtic is to the north and Greek is to the East. Again I say do not let innocent people die For the actions of A few old men Sitting in some great hall miles away.

"Switches To Dark Venomous Barbaric Voice" But once we arrive at Karthage the wolf must be released! In Carthage Let their temples Burn and let there city crumble, let there mighty fall under a storm of Javelins, And let there Heroes Dies with my teeth in there throat as i bathe in the blood of mine foe! BWahahahaha!

[PersianFire]

I guess that I would force a Smile on my face too seeing that theres always the threat of the CSS (Child Sacrificing Services) Arriving !

"Errr....I was referring to the Iberian Confederacy."

[Chirurgeon]

great update!!! Looking forward for more:book:

Thank you sir for following


Brilliant! The Punic bastards will be crushed! Let´s just hope that the Sweboz or Romans distract the Arverni from your lands.
I hope so...I am more worried about the border tribes going over to the Arverni willingly


Good going, Chirurgeon. Great, as ever.
I am humbled by your gracious comments. Thanks for following!


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Great! :2thumbsup:
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:bow:


"Judging from that mini-map, Carthage is in trouble. I will pray to Herakles and mighty Ba'al to grant Carthage victory over the barbarian scum.

Oh, nice update too. "

Hehe thanks :)


*Rough Raspy Barbaric Voice*
Ah so those child sacrificing bastards are being sent to the firey hell they deserve! BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! "drinks deeply from a skull taken from a wealthy Punic Priest" Bah! But my sword thirst for more Carthaginian blood! The thirst of this mighty wolf must be appeased! Unleash me upon that filthy Punic Scum and i will make them pay dearly for there Offenses! *Crazy Voice Off*Excellent Update Chirurgeon! Though I must ask is Castulo going to pick up a sword to end the life of Hasdrubal anytime Soon? And how does it feel fighting a faction you formerly played?

*Urgent Voice*
My lord may I make a suggestion on the Attack on Gader? Most of the people in this city are innocent. Not only are they innocent a good portion of them are Iberian! The Punics are a small minority in their empire. So small in fact they are exempt from fighting. This burden is instead put on the native to areas Phoenicians have colonized. Instead of Exterminating this city and causing unnecessary harm to our brethren why not just enslave the small Punic population instead? I also would suggest this policy for Mastia.

It is unlikely that Ditalkos would exterminate the people of Gader. Remember he needs a city with a vibrant port. His war is not with the people of Carthage :)


Yay, drown them in rains of javelins chirugeon. and put the rest of them to your fancy Iberian swords:yes:
That first battle was unimpressive...not real happy with AI.


Looks like you're going to have trouble with the Arverni soon. The Iberians had better watch their back, and hope they don't have to fight on two fronts. Not that Carthage seems to be putting up much of a fight so far. Great update! :rtwyes:
There is another couple of cities that are still independent around them. Massalia, and the areas north of their territory


"In reponse to the above supporters of the filthy barbarians, I must state and pledge my support for the great city and of Carthage. We will slaughter your pathetic armies in the thousands should you dare march any further. The occupants of Gader are 110% behind us and refuse to be ruled by barbarian filth. We have have brought them 'civilisation' and they do not wish to go back to the cesspits that pass for your towns. March onto Gader or further into our territories and the towns and valleys will flow red with the blood of barbarian filth.

May mighty Ba'al grant us victory and we will celebrate with the sacrifice of each of your first borns at our mighty temples."


I guess that I would force a Smile on my face too seeing that theres always the threat of the CSS (Child Sacrificing Services) Arriving at my door and taking away my children to the fiery Pits of Bail if i don't behave! Any other day I would be 100% percent behind Karthadastim but their behavior here especially of one "Hasdrubal" "spits with contempt when he says the name" has shown me that your so called "republic" does no longer deserve my support nor my respect and is no more than a den of theives and murderers that do not deserve to be on Iberian Soil.

Edit:
Yay Six Hundredth Post!

Edit:
Chirurgeon I just had another idea. What If you write into your story that some of the Phoenicians being unhappy lately with the actions of their government switch allegiance to the Iberian Confederacy? Furthermore they work together with you and allow you secretly into the city. This could be shown by using a spy. My head is quite clear after all that wine. I do not think that we should go through and commit genocide on the Poeni citizens in Iberia. They are in the same position the celts that now fight under our banner were years ago. They are deeply tied to this land and to forcibly expel or Exterminate them would be the worst of Crimes. Their language is deeply rooted in this area just as Celtic is to the north and Greek is to the East. Again I say do not let innocent people die For the actions of A few old men Sitting in some great hall miles away.

"Switches To Dark Venomous Barbaric Voice" But once we arrive at Karthage the wolf must be released! In Carthage Let their temples Burn and let there city crumble, let there mighty fall under a storm of Javelins, And let there Heroes Dies with my teeth in there throat as i bathe in the blood of mine foe! BWahahahaha!
I think it will be difficult to convince the tribes to go afar into Africa when their homeland is no longer threatened. However you never know what might happen.

Thank you all for the replies. I will have another update in a few days.

[Theodotos I]

Can you tell me a little bit more about your novel that your writing
It's a modern-day spy story about a U.S. paramilitary. I'd say more, but this is Chirurgeon's thread and I don't want to misuse it. PM me if you're interested in knowing more. :yes:

[Justinian II]

I guess that I would force a Smile on my face too seeing that theres always the threat of the CSS (Child Sacrificing Services) Arriving at my door and taking away my children to the fiery Pits of Bail if i don't behave!


I so think I will do this with my children. Threaten them with the CSS. That should work nicely.

Then again, this is what I would get for reading them Livy/Polybius before bedtime....


Also, still excited for the next installment! May the gods of the Lusotannan prevail over the Ba'als of Carthage!

[The Wandering Scholar]

Soo, you plan to take greece. Can't wait. PersianFire...nooo lad noo, not here.

[Warmaster Horus]

Ahh, I missed this...

Great as ever Chirurgeon! I'll probably play Lusitannia for my next campaign, all thanks to you!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XX - Delicate Occupation
Spring 560 YAF (254 BC)

The people of Punic interests had been told that Ditalkos was a cruel tyrant and exterminated everything. They were told that Ditalkos was still seeking revenge for the death of his brother. These were lies of course but the people of Gader had believed them. As the people trickled out of the city, expecting to die if caught, they were surprised when Ditalkos treated them well. He allowed them safe passage through the siege lines. Conditions in the city had deteriorated greatly. Soon it was expected they would surrender. Spring warmed into the summer and the breezes grew warm with the seasons. The estates that surrounded the city made their annual plantings and the life that sprung from the ground reminded me of the eternal cycle we are all a part of.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/20070530152746_late-spring-wheat.jpg

Soon summer was upon us and with it the fresh news of another army en route to free Gader of the Lusitannan grip that befell it. I laugh as a I write this. The Lusitannan and her kin are more kind than the people of my own lands. Kart Hadastim was the cruel one. It was a dream to think that the Phoenicians admired the Lusitani. Only so long as the ore flowed from the hills would the Phoenicians admire these people. The true qualities of the Phoenicians had been revealed. Their cutthroat ways left no stone unturned. For too long the people of Iberia had been suppressed. They had been told that the Phoenicians were their friends. Kart-Hadastim encouraged border wars and othe disputes to keep the tribes divided. The one thing that Kart-Hadastim feared was a united Iberia. They feared a man that could unite them. The thing that made rich merchants wake up in the middle of the night had happened. The power of all her tribes now gathered in one place. Once again a feeble attempt was made to dislodge us. Once again Hasdrubal was hiding far away.
***
The summer heat began to wane and the crops, which erupted out of the black earth so many months ago, were being harvested. Again another battle.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-3.jpg

In fact the very same field of battle that gripped this land a year ago again revisted this place. The earth would again be stained with the blood of the fallen. Ditalkos saw the men coming withtheir poor equipment. More slaves were sent. Again a poor force showing more desperation than bravery. The men were deployed in ranks. Skirmishers assumed the front line. Men of the north mixxed with men from other tribes. Now the militia behind them and so on. The same formation as before.
Skirmishers moved forward and began their quick and deadly attacks.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-4.jpg

Agile and swift they darted in front of the enemy, never getting too close. Javelins again filled the sky and again the screams of the fallen echoed through the glades and fields of the land.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-5.jpg

I watched as the skirmishers retreated back to their positions and gave their best in hand to hand. Exhausted and diminished they eventually retreated.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-6.jpg

To cover their escape the Militia launched thier missles into the ranks of men that now advanced. This created a great rout. Some of the enemy recovered but the results of this battle were known before they started.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-7.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-8.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-9.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-10.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-11.jpg
After the enemy fled I walked the field. The freshly dead lay atop the bones of the fallen from a year ago. The grasses of this year growing through the ribs and skulls. Had they known their fate? Were they told a lie so that they would fight? No doubt Hasdrubal would have fed them a lie as if to feed them honey. You could not walk far without finding a relic of the last battle. The dead were piled and burned. The next morning the city fell and we were victorious. Nothing was touched or looted. Not a soul was hurt in the occupation. It was as Ditalkos promised. And even greater he at last had the port so promised to the rest of the tribes. A great port indeed. It would do well to shuttle goods to the rest of the Great Sea. Gader had fallen. Our eyes looked east. Another city must succumb to the tribes.
***
We made winter camp near the edge of the land of the Turdetanii. The tribes that lived around Gader were now joined with their brothers. It was a good day. I however kept looking eastward and thought of the day I would see the man that took all that I had. It gave me comfort that we were taking what he had as well. Fresh men had joined our cause. Many villages greeted us as heroes. Sympathizers of Kart-Hadastim were exiled or killed. Everyone must choose their side. They chose the wrong one. However no matter what my fate, I know that my choice to make this journey was the right one.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XX-12.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

Ahh, I missed this...

Great as ever Chirurgeon! I'll probably play Lusitannia for my next campaign, all thanks to you!

Ah old friend I missed you as well. They are a fun and diverse faction. I still do not have the best troops. Those veiled warriors from Asturia look awesome. Good to have you back!

Sorry for the long breaks for updates. Real life is busy so I haven't had a chance to really play much. Hope to have another update by the end of the weekend. :bow:

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Great work!!! To bad the Carthi's right now are not much of a challenge.

[Chaotix]

Excellent update, Chirurgeon! I can't wait to see what happens when Castulo and Hasdrubal finally meet in battle...

[The General]

https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/20070530152746_late-spring-wheat.jpg

NEED that picture in a larger resolution!

Oh, and a nice update too. 8)

[Shylence]

F-ing vodka im so hungover. Nice update. Send me some dancing lusitani girls to cheer me up

[CaesarAugustus]

https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/20070530152746_late-spring-wheat.jpg


Do you happen to have this in a higher resolution? :yes:

Great update btw. Some of those Lusitani units look formidible (while most look like an impoverished militia), I can't wait until you unleash the elites on the cowardly Hasdrubal!

[Decimus Attius Arbiter]

Tint the sky yellow and it's like Elysian Fields from Gladiator.

[Chirurgeon]

Do you happen to have this in a higher resolution? :yes:

Great update btw. Some of those Lusitani units look formidible (while most look like an impoverished militia), I can't wait until you unleash the elites on the cowardly Hasdrubal!

I will have to see If i have that pic in High Res. Unfortunately I don't think I can get the Mics up to par in time before the War with Carthage is over. Depends on how long the war lasts. It won't last long with their terrible armies they are throwing at me. I hope to have an update tomorrow night :)

[Theodotos I]

And I have to be out of town for a week! :furious3:

[overweightninja]

Oh my I've been out of the loop for far too long :no: :shame:
Sorry I haven't been around, I missed a couple of updates and the next time I looked this thread was like eight pages long, was a bit daunting :laugh4:
Anyway I sat down today and spent a couple of hours going through all I've missed.
Absolutely fantastic AAR as always, the way you pack so much content into such a short campaign is truly inspiring, I'm guessing you we're never put on the old Ritalin eh?
Also despite the odd errors others have pointed out, it is obvious you put a lot of effort into the AAR outside of the game itself and typing it out, the research etc really helps to flesh everything out and certainly makes the whole thing a lot more interesting.
Anyways I'm glad I got back in before Carthalo's caught up with Hasdrubal, will definitely be staying updated from now on to see how that pans out, I trust you can come up with a suitably epic conclusion :2thumbsup:
Cheers again mate

EDIT Just re-read and noticed I've apologised for not reading your AAR lol, that's gotta say something :p

[Chirurgeon]

Oh my I've been out of the loop for far too long :no: :shame:
Sorry I haven't been around, I missed a couple of updates and the next time I looked this thread was like eight pages long, was a bit daunting :laugh4:
Anyway I sat down today and spent a couple of hours going through all I've missed.
Absolutely fantastic AAR as always, the way you pack so much content into such a short campaign is truly inspiring, I'm guessing you we're never put on the old Ritalin eh?
Also despite the odd errors others have pointed out, it is obvious you put a lot of effort into the AAR outside of the game itself and typing it out, the research etc really helps to flesh everything out and certainly makes the whole thing a lot more interesting.
Anyways I'm glad I got back in before Carthalo's caught up with Hasdrubal, will definitely be staying updated from now on to see how that pans out, I trust you can come up with a suitably epic conclusion :2thumbsup:
Cheers again mate

EDIT Just re-read and noticed I've apologised for not reading your AAR lol, that's gotta say something :p

I wondered where you had been. Good to have you back in the loop. :) Decided to add the backround story to this AAR and so much happens each year that each chapter only covers a year of time. Hard to believe the AAR has only covered like 20 game years lol. Yes alot of research went into this AAR. Alas I could not please everyone but I did my best. Good to see you again

[overweightninja]

You must have inspired me Chirugeon, I decided to reload an old Luso campaign after work last night. I remember a few pages back you said you were unable to get a screenshot of Moskon's relief army in the battle for Numantia, well after running into it myself I grabbed hold of one for you for anyone who is interested.
You're probably better off discovering it for yourself though, I only took about three quarters of a stack, didn't think it would be as scary as Chirugeon made out :laugh4:
Anyways.....

https://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8909/mos01fo2.jpg

Cheers

[Chirurgeon]

And there it is....in its full glory. Had he found the end of my line in the woods or had not perished in a charge, the outcome would have been different. Thank you so much for capturing that picture. Truly amazing indeed. Imagine facing that and the garrison in Numantia with a bunch of rag tag barbarians lol.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Chirurgeon, you never fail to amaze me, this chapter was great! So much story and realism in it, that's what I love to read in any story! And the picture of the crops... Marvelous!:2thumbsup:

[overweightninja]

And there it is....in its full glory. Had he found the end of my line in the woods or had not perished in a charge, the outcome would have been different. Thank you so much for capturing that picture. Truly amazing indeed. Imagine facing that and the garrison in Numantia with a bunch of rag tag barbarians lol.

You're welcome, I certainly enjoyed the fight myself, although I didn't have to rely on hiding. Fortunately the garrison was delayed, and I was able to beat Moskon off reasonably easily in a straight fight, then just mobbed the relief force when it finally showed up.
Although my army was fairly close in makeup to yours I did have one major difference in that I took Ambon along with his Dad, certainly helped to keep the enemy cav away:2thumbsup:
Looking forward to the next update.
Cheers

[Chirurgeon]

You're welcome, I certainly enjoyed the fight myself, although I didn't have to rely on hiding. Fortunately the garrison was delayed, and I was able to beat Moskon off reasonably easily in a straight fight, then just mobbed the relief force when it finally showed up.
Although my army was fairly close in makeup to yours I did have one major difference in that I took Ambon along with his Dad, certainly helped to keep the enemy cav away:2thumbsup:
Looking forward to the next update.
Cheers

His dad died real fast in my campaign. Lutros was king from almost the beginning! Good to hear your Lusitann Campaign is going well. Oh and I have discovered that the men fight quite well in the woods...although I can't see what the hell is going on LOL

[Chirurgeon]

Chirurgeon, you never fail to amaze me, this chapter was great! So much story and realism in it, that's what I love to read in any story! And the picture of the crops... Marvelous!:2thumbsup:

Thank you sir for your kind words :) I am glad to have you along for the ride. And now for another update!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXI- The Routine of War
Spring 561 YAF (253 BC)
The annual melt began and with it the movement of the army. The men awoke out of their winter slumber. A new year was upon us. The army each winter had converted the ground they occupied into a small city. Each tribe would stake out an area for their tents. Each tribe would have its Chieftain's tent in the center with all his tribal warriors surrounding the slightly larger structure. The city would develop roads between each tribe. In the center of the city was Ditalko's tent. Him with all the cavalry would occupy the middle of the city and all the roads would meet. Around the camp were the followers. Whores and day labors would follow the army looking for opportunities of employment. Cattle, sheep, and goats grazed on anything around the camp. These animals were bought for their meat or their milk. The Iberians were resourceful. They even used dried dung for fire fuel. It was a self supported arrangement. Primitive compared to other civilizations, yes, but their resourcefulness and tenacity would be the difference in battle. Although this amalgam of men from many nations had not been tested in a grand fight their will to survive, that is inherent of all the peoples of Iberia, was undying. Now this city was being dismantled. The simple tents were folded meticulously for the nights on the march.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/253-5.jpg

I missed the company of Lutros as he, over the last two winters, had traveled to his old village south of Baikor. There he had met a girl and subsequently married her. His mother and younger sister had moved from Numantia after Videllac perished in the debackled defense of Numantia. Here they had started a new life. Lutros's young wife was with child and in all likelihood would be a father in the near future. It reminded me of what had been taken from me and would make me long for when my life was in the same place as Lutros. It also gave me hope that despite war and destruction, that life and love always finds a way.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/253-1.jpg

***
The arrival of summer meant long hot marches. The men were a bit weary but none complained. Most sang songs or talked of their homes. Mainly the men spent time learning about each other. The diversity of cultures fostered an environment of sharing. Food recipes were shared amongst the tribes along with songs and tales of great men from the past. Summer also meant the clipping of sheep wool. The men would help the herders cut the wool in which they would take to the markets of the various cities. In exchange for their services the men would get to keep enough to make their own clothing. The wool could be used for insulating their winter tents, making blankets, or durable cloaks for the cold rains of winter.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/253-4.jpg

In late summer of that year the men began to pass the hillside estates of very rich Phonecians. The nobles and merchants that lived here were some of the most financially endowed in the whole republic. Their houses reflected the Opulence. Grand and awe inspiring, they represented the wealth that had been acquired at the expense of the Iberian people. Here around Mastia this was most obvious. Massive olive groves and grand statuary dotted the landscape. Many of the houses were like temples to the god known as silver. For silver had made the men rich. This ubiquitous metal had made Kart-Hadastim into an empire. As the army passed, the gates to these estates were closed and any guards they had took up their positions keeping a close eye on the army. Ditalkos informed the men not to touch the estates. It would be tempting to pillage and burn but to destroy what had been here for generations would make the relationship sour between the Phoenician peoples and the Native Iberians. This war was not to be waged with death of the innocents. Cities would not burn, women would not be raped, and treasures would not be looted. Ditalkos was trying to convince the Phonecians that the Iberians did not hate them, but rather the Senate in their capital was to be hated. The old men in robes thousands of miles away had ruined the great intercultureness that had been fostered on the peninsula for the better part of 800 years.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/253-3.jpg
***
By late summer the seemingly endless estates gave way to a great walled city. Mastia lay before us. Its great walls and competent garrison barred any further progress. Ditalkos ordered the city surrounded. Care was taken to accomodate the civilians. Many fled to safety beyond the rapidly developing siege lines. The surrounding estates provided food for the soldiers, once it was determined that the soldiers would not destroy thier lands. In fact while waiting for the city to fall many of the nobles visited Ditalkos and expressed interest in renewed trading. Ditalkos agreed, and at the conclusion of the war trade would be re-established with the former colonies. A diplomat that hailed from the capital traveled to discuss terms. Although the terms he wanted would not change the incredibly biased trade policy that denied the Iberians much of what they deserved. Punic Merchants would still control the mines of Iberia and that was unacceptable to Ditalkos.
There was a nugget of hope garnered from the meeting however. The diplomat had hinted at a philosophical change that had crept through the senate over the last 10 years. As a child living in Kart-Hadast, I knew it was generally thought that expansion of the colonies of Sicily and Iberia was an acceptable strategy. However once war with the Numidians, Rome, and Iberia severely depleted the treasury and resources of the republic that mindset has been changing. Men that insisted that the destiny of Kart-Hadastim lay in Africa were now gaining sway in the senate. The senate was disconnecting the mother city from her more distant colonies. Expansion was deemed ok as long as the cost of expansion could be repaid with interest. It was a merchant's view of the world. "If I take this land and its resources will it prove profitable?". That question was always asked when opening up new shipping channels and trade areas. The price of the Iberian colonies was outstripping its profits. Hasdrubal had been cut off from the capital and was now isolated in his attempt at thwarting our advances. Western Africa was to be the focus of the Republic. However this still created a threat. Although the Republic may lose her colonies she would still have new colonies a short boat ride away.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/253-2.jpg

***
As the crops were harvested and the men given their fill a small relief force attempted to dislodge us from the city. It was a disaster for the embattled Phonecians. My former countrymen were destroyed by Ditalkos and his nascent but potent army. Although the garrison came out to assisted they attempted to retreat. Ditalkos ordered a pursuit and although some of their men fought, mainly hardened heavy infantry, most were broken and sent to join others in the afterlife. We lost men as well but mainly the young and poor skirmishers of whom gave quite the fight before retreating. The milites were forced to hold off the heavy infantry that did appear for the battle. As a result many a man was felled.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-3.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-4.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-6.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-7.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-8.jpg

Despair gripped the city and to the north, Hasdrubal waited in Edetania. As the winter rains lashed the tents of the encampment it was hoped that the city would fall in a year or less. Meanwhile far to the north, where winter weather was more frozen than liquid, The great Verrix of the Arverni continued his rapid pace of tribal consolidation. With the independent tribes of Gaul on his side the rebelious Aeudi were the new focus. Although that old war had been stalemated for some time, the addition of the independent tribes gave the Verrix a new advantage. An advantage that he was pressing against the Aeudi Holdings in the middle of Gaul.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXI-9.jpg

[Khazar_Dahvos]

excellentttt!!!!:yes: :yes: :yes:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

excellentttt!!!!:yes: :yes: :yes:
Indeed!

[overweightninja]

Indeed!

Ditto :laugh4: :2thumbsup:

[Wolfman]

This keeps getting better and better man! This is why I always like playing fall small factions it makes the transition from small tribe, satrapy, kingdom to empire all the more epic. Keep it up man!!!!!!!

[CaesarAugustus]

Ditto :laugh4: :2thumbsup:

I concur. :yes:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXII - Peaceful Conquest
Spring 562 YAF (252 BC)

The relentless storms of winter were unusual. In fact storms from the earth plagued the lands far to the north. The Cantabri had been struck with an earthquake that killed some of her peoples.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XXII-1.jpg

The priests have interpreted this as an omen of future turmoil. I certainly hope that this is not the case. However I can tell that there will still be conflict in Iberia despite the relative progress. The Arverni problem will not go away. Where will the Verrix turn when the Aeudi have fallen? The border regions of Cantabria and Lacetania are already leaning towards joining the confederation.
Spring is upon us now and with it the subsiding of the storms of winter. Soon the trees would burst forth and new crops will be planted. However the bounty of this region is remarkable. The massive estates that surround Mastia will supply us with all our needs. I feel it was wise that Ditalkos did not enrage the Phoenicians that call this their home.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Spanish-lanscape.jpg
***
With the coming of summer, Lutros returned a happy father of twin boys. I remember how happy I was when one was named after me. I think Lutros felt great grief at the loss of my family. In many ways they were like his family also. The two boys, Castulo and Loio, were both doing well. He wanted me to meet them and I told them I would be honored to do so. As soon as this war was over I would return to the old estate and rebuild it. I invited Lutros and his family. He was quite excited at the prospect.
The region we were in was a rich region but in the hills, beyond the grand estates were villages of an ancient people. These people called the Bastetani had migrated from a far away land. Further than Tyre I am told. Regardless, they consider themselves part of Iberia and offered their services. The Phoenicians lived in Harmony with these people but they were not allowed to flourish under the gaze of Kart-Hadastim. That would change. Ditalkos was assuring them a rightful seat on the council of tribes.
The yearly meeting in the winter between the chiefs of all the tribes would meet and discuss various problems. This year was a contentious year for the meeting. The Cantabri and the Lacetani expressed that once the war was over they would likely join the Arverni Confederacy. They argued that the Celtic tribes needed to be united. The Lacetani were already bitter over the decision to allow the Republic to take over Emporion. Their chieftain had already met with the Verrix of the Arverni several times. The Lacetanii had been left to fend for themselves once by the Iberian Confederacy. Why would they want to join it? That decision, so many years ago, may haunt Ditalkos for some time. Ditalkos argued that they were already united. The first signs of stress had developed over what, up to this point, had been a remarkable experiment in cooperation. Still with a strong Punic presence in Iberia, the focus was not broken.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/SpanishLandscape2.jpg
***
Mastia fell in the Autumn of 562. No one died, nothing was destroyed, and the population was quite relieved. The surrender would have happened sooner but some stubborn merchants insisted on waiting for a relief force. They were allowed to depart after the city fell. Control of the city was handed over to the Bastetani, who would hopefully continue the tradition of cooperation between the people of the republic and the native Iberians. The army collected itself and marched north. We camped within a season's march of Arse. A churning inside of my stomach reminded me of how close Hasdrubal was. If revenge was a flavor, my tongue would be tingling. My worst fear is that he would flee at the last moment and I would never get to face the man that exterminated all that was dear to me.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XXII-2.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

This keeps getting better and better man! This is why I always like playing fall small factions it makes the transition from small tribe, satrapy, kingdom to empire all the more epic. Keep it up man!!!!!!!

Thank you so much wolfman. Yes its been interesting playing with a faction that starts out with just one province. Its been a lot of fun to play. I am used to playing large empires. I first did Carthage and then the Ptolemies. It has been a challenging and a refreshing change.

Thank you all for the compliments. The last update is fairly short. Not much happened in the past year. We have, however, moved one more notch towards a climax of the background story between Castulo and Hasdrubal.

[General Appo]

Great! Ditalkos is to lenient though, the Cantabrians and Lacetani should be punished for daring to challenge your rightful rule. I know you´re tyring to establish some sort of half-democratic humanitarian confederation here, but sometimes you need to forget about the humanitarian part for a while. What about this, the Council votes wether or note it´s lands should be given over to the Arverni, everyone but the Cantabrians and Lacetani will vote no, and then you can rightfully claim that braking free from the Iberian Confedeartion to join the Arverni is a capital offense, and then go crazy on their rebellious butts.
Your call, but remember, this ain´t no gentlemen´s war.

[Chaotix]

Keep going, Chirurgeon! :2thumbsup: What will you do when you liberate Iberia? Will you ally with the Aedui and fight the Arverni, or will you try to keep the peace in Gaul and go after the Qarthadastim? I'd like to see your angry Lusitani sack Kart-Hadast...

[overweightninja]

I'd like to see your angry Lusitani sack Kart-Hadast...

Me too :2thumbsup:
Nice update mate, cheers.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

It's great to know that doom is certainly approaching Hasdrubal (that treacherous dog). Another great chapter in this unfolding saga!!!!!!!!!! I give it 2 ~:thumb: up!!
Waiting with great anticipation for another update:book: And keep up the good work.

[Theodotos I]

Lookin' good, Chirurgeon. I hope Hasdrubal gets what he deserves, preferably administered by Castulo himself. BTW, check out my new AAR. It's called "Across the Waters: A Story of the Migration". Let me know what you think.

[Reality=Chaos]

Once more very nice. Could you perhaps show a full map of you campaign? I am curious as to how large the Averni are. They look very huge!!! did they beat the romans or something!?

[Chirurgeon]

Great! Ditalkos is to lenient though, the Cantabrians and Lacetani should be punished for daring to challenge your rightful rule. I know you´re tyring to establish some sort of half-democratic humanitarian confederation here, but sometimes you need to forget about the humanitarian part for a while. What about this, the Council votes wether or note it´s lands should be given over to the Arverni, everyone but the Cantabrians and Lacetani will vote no, and then you can rightfully claim that braking free from the Iberian Confedeartion to join the Arverni is a capital offense, and then go crazy on their rebellious butts.
Your call, but remember, this ain´t no gentlemen´s war.

Yes but that would then obligate the Arverni to wage war with the Iberian Confederacy. I think Ditalkos would like to avoid war with the Arverni. Ditalkos has to tread lightly because the Verrix is on a campaign to unite the Celts and there are many Celts in Iberia. The Lacetani are ripe for rebellion with their current occupiers of Emporion having been nearly eliminated from the peninsula. The Arvernii may move in and "relieve" them of their occupation. If the Arvernii strike first then it would give Ditalkos more leverage with the celtic tribes of Iberia. It would be more of a defense than simply attacking a group of people that want to join another confederation. Whatever happens tumultous times are ahead.


Keep going, Chirurgeon! :2thumbsup: What will you do when you liberate Iberia? Will you ally with the Aedui and fight the Arverni, or will you try to keep the peace in Gaul and go after the Qarthadastim? I'd like to see your angry Lusitani sack Kart-Hadast...
The Arvernii may force the hand of the Iberians. As mentioned above they may seek to "relieve" Emporion of their current occupiers. That would be tantamount to an invasion and a breach of soverignty.


It's great to know that doom is certainly approaching Hasdrubal (that treacherous dog). Another great chapter in this unfolding saga!!!!!!!!!! I give it 2 ~:thumb: up!!
Waiting with great anticipation for another update:book: And keep up the good work.
Thank you. I should have another chapter up in a few days!


Lookin' good, Chirurgeon. I hope Hasdrubal gets what he deserves, preferably administered by Castulo himself. BTW, check out my new AAR. It's called "Across the Waters: A Story of the Migration". Let me know what you think.
I did check it out and it looks good! The Aeudi in my world are hanging on to Mediolanum and one other province in Gaul. I never thought the Arvernii would go on such a tear through Gaul. Over the last 20 years they have done much to unify it under their banner.

[Chirurgeon]

Once more very nice. Could you perhaps show a full map of you campaign? I am curious as to how large the Averni are. They look very huge!!! did they beat the romans or something!?

Good to hear from you Reality. I am hesitant to do that because I am really only focused on Iberian concerns. I will send some spies into Gaul and see how big their holdings are though. thanks for following!

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Truly an amazing AAR. As noted in my sig, I am a big Lusotannan fan, so this is my favorite AAR. What a great back story. In many ways, it is more interesting then the wars going on... .

I caught this AAR not so long ago, so it has been some reading to catch up and I've been waiting to congratulate you and ask questions. So...

Congrats on a GREAT AAR.

Questions...
What happened to Sarcasm, he seemed to have dropped out? Did he accept your apology? He is chock full of Iber-o-wisdom - I hope he comes back!

What source material have you used? I am currently reading Antonio Arribas' "The Iberians" (again). But it is old and I know there is more current scholarship out there.

Do you have a list of the various "families" or tribes that are used in the Lusotannan campaign? I understand that the last name is the tribe name and we can do some research from there, but was hoping to get a list of tribes - as it were - before I started my next campiagn - which is now going to be a Lusotannan campaign thanks to you!!

BTW, you can PM with answers if I am taking up too much time.

once again,

great AAR.

[Chirurgeon]

Truly an amazing AAR. As noted in my sig, I am a big Lusotannan fan, so this is my favorite AAR. What a great back story. In many ways, it is more interesting then the wars going on... .

I caught this AAR not so long ago, so it has been some reading to catch up and I've been waiting to congratulate you and ask questions. So...

Congrats on a GREAT AAR.

Questions...
What happened to Sarcasm, he seemed to have dropped out? Did he accept your apology? He is chock full of Iber-o-wisdom - I hope he comes back!

What source material have you used? I am currently reading Antonio Arribas' "The Iberians" (again). But it is old and I know there is more current scholarship out there.

Do you have a list of the various "families" or tribes that are used in the Lusotannan campaign? I understand that the last name is the tribe name and we can do some research from there, but was hoping to get a list of tribes - as it were - before I started my next campiagn - which is now going to be a Lusotannan campaign thanks to you!!

BTW, you can PM with answers if I am taking up too much time.

once again,

great AAR.

Thank you Tacitus for your interest in this AAR. It warms my heart that someone with as much admiration for Iberia would have such wonderful comments for me. Again I am flattered and I hope to continue to provide as much interesting content as possible.
Unfortunately Sarcasm never accepted my apologies. He is such an expert on all things Lusotannan I think he was not satisfied with my level of accuracy. I did my back round research for the AAR but it was not to his satisfaction. To be honest I made a sarcastic comment and thats when he left. To each his own. I hope he finds happiness in his other endeavors. This AAR was not created to be the most accurate of all Iberian AARs, rather just an interesting read that might give you the taste of what it could have been like.
I have used a variety of sources. Some from Roman sources and others like wikipedia.com and archeological sources. No one source seems to stand out. It seems like there is a lot of different ideas about Iberian history/culture that it becomes difficult to pin it down exactly how Iberia came to be. That gives me alot of creative license. I think that Sarcasm misconstrued some of the things i wrote as being fact. We all have to remember that as soon as you hit the "end turn" button history becomes your own making.
As far as the tribes I am using the names affiliated with the various provinces of the Iberian Peninsula. The EB team has done a good job of representing the major tribes and I am following that accordingly. It seems that all of Iberia was named in a Iberian friendly way instead of Punic. The regions are named after the dominant tribe in the area.
Again thank you for following and I hope I answered your questions to your own satisfaction.

[Brave]

I have heard great things of you Chirugeon, I am glad I wasn't dissapointed.

[Chirurgeon]

I have heard great things of you Chirugeon, I am glad I wasn't dissapointed.

Thanks Brave. Where did you hear these great things? Just wondering because I have not seen you before. Welcome aboard. I will have an update tomorrow night :)

[Chirurgeon]

BAH! I couldnt update tonight. This chapter is a big one. My spring break is this week coming up. I should be able to get alot done on it!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXIII - Culmination
Spring 563 YAF (251 BC)
Spring appeared to come early. The camp was broken down and our continued trek north began in earnest. We passed beautiful vistas over the great sea as followed the old trade road. All along the way Phoenician estates dotted the landscape. Ditalkos welcomed them. As long as they continued trade with the tribes they should fear nothing. Two weeks into our journey things became dreadful. Winter began a counter attack upon the countryside. We were forced to make camp for several more weeks until the weather cleared. On a personal note the winter's return felt as if Hasdrubal was trying to make the gods stop our progress. I took some time to talk to Ditalkos about my feelings. On a dreary night, that would likely turn into a rain driven day, I met with him in his tent. We drank good wine, courtesy of our Phonecian guests, and reminisced about the days when everything was so much more simple. I asked about his brother.
"Ditalkos you could have killed everyone that had caused the death of your own blood. Your brother was killed by the Arevaci and yet you stayed your hand. You had every right to put Numantia to the sword and yet you didnt. How can someone who has lost his own brother not want revenge?"
He smiled and looked at me. Both of our heads were heavy with the evening food and wine. "Its not that I did not want revenge. I simply chose another route to the same goal." He said candidly. He continued to explain. "My brother was dear to me. We played together, fought together, and fought over those beautiful women of Lusitannan." He laughed lightly. "Latronos wanted what I want, but his methods were more extreme. I have spent my ruling life trying to mend those horrendous wounds he created by trying to kill our Celtic brothers." He shook his head and rubbed his temples. "Revenge is a strange demon dear Castulo. When you enact it on your enemies it becomes harder to see who is the more evil man. I debated putting Numantia to the sword but I knew I would need their help. Where would I be if the tribes of Iberia did not trust me?" It was a profound question and I sat there thinking. He interrupted my thoughts with a jarring comment. "We are approaching the lair of the beast that slew your family Castulo." I suddenly felt dizzy and sick all at the same time. He continued. "Will you slay him as he slew your family?" I looked down. My vision became blurry with forming tears. My hands became angry fists. "I...I have to." That was all I could muster. "He will either meet us in battle or cower behind his walls. It is unlikely that you will have that chance. However I will tell the men I want him alive." He looked at me with a reflection of sadness from my own face. "It is the least I can do to help you."
I left his tent feeling somewhat better but also dissapointed that Hasdrubal would likely perish from another's blade. Or perhaps he would use his own blade. Fortunately the weight of the wine was enough to entitle me to a complete night of rest.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/251-1.jpg

***
Our second camp was broken two weeks after it was made. We crossed a river that had scouts on the other side. Ditalkos attempted to engage them but they retreated all the way into the city. Before the heat of summer was upon us the city of Arse came into view. As we followed the road a flood of memories entered my mind. I remember like it was yesterday the trips that Videllac and I had taken. I remember how I forged papers to get through the Edatani guards. I smiled slightly at my own cleverness.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/251-4.jpg

The populace knew we were coming and the surrounding countryside was empty. Early fruits were near harvest and we began to lay siege to the city.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-1.jpg

The days passed by and my anticipation grew. A fleet of Punic warships was spotted off the coast and I feared that Hasdrabul had escaped from the envelopment of the city. Spies would later confirm that he was still there. A couple of weeks after the longest day of the year a small force marched south to engage us in some desperate attempt to break out of the siege lines.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-3.jpg

Ditalkos formed lines. Skirmishers in front, light and medium spearmen in the main line and he placed the heavier spearmen and Galacians behind them. The small force of several hundred men approached our lines first. They were largely obliterated by the skirmishers. I sat on a horse with Ditalkos so that I could get a more intimate view of command. He was patient and used his forces wisely. The lines were reformed to face the garrison of Arse. Noble horses anchored the left flank. "Hasdrubal" I whispered to myself.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-8.jpg

Ditalkos looked at me briefly and nodded. "Yes he will hit our right flank with the only force he has that is superior to our own. However he will fail", he said confidently. The light troops and cavalry charged into our lines along with heavy pikemen from Africa.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-6.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-4.jpg

Hasdrubal lacked the numbers to do more than irritate the main battle line. Skirmishers were used to flank and soon many of the men from Kart-Hadastim fled back to the city. Hasdrubal continued to use the cavalry to charge retreat and charge again into the right flank.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-9.jpg

"Enough of this. Castulo...with me!!" I did as ordered. I was not a natural horsemen but Hasdrubal's bodyguard of beautiful beasts had been reduced by the repeated charges. He had the men follow him along the rear of our lines. We galloped till we were behind Hasdrubal and charged into him.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-10.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-11.jpg
I had never witnessed anything in my life. The sound of thousand pound animals crashing into each other. The screams of men and beast filled the air. I had seen my fair share of cavalry attacks but never been in the middle of one. I never stood a chance. I could not maintain myself on the horse. My horse ran into the horse of an enemy and I was launched from the beast. I remember hitting the ground like a heavy rock. The very air escaped me. Confused by the dust and the crashing of war around me I had no idea what to do. I crouched next to a dead man with his mount and hoped that it would provide protection. It was over quickly. The gentle breeze that swept the plains began to erase the dust from the bloodbath. Punic and Lusitannan lay shattered. Many were wounded. Even more were dead. One of the body guards spotted men and brought me to Ditalkos. A crowd had gathered around a particularly beautiful animal that now lay shattered. Ditalkos looked at me and then to the the ground next to the horse. An ornately dressed man lay on the ground.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-12.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-13.jpg
His left arm and left leg bent at an impossible angle beneath him. "Here lies Hasdrubal." Ditalkos whispered softly. I looked down in disbelief. I took off my helmet and knelt down next to him. He looked at me and clearly recognized me. "I guess I will see your wife before you do, Castulo" He chuckled painfully. I grit my teeth in anger. One of the men handed Ditalkos a long spear. These spears were used by the Punic Cavalry and inflicted tremendous damage upon impact. This one was sharp. Ditalkos men drug Hasdrubal away from the horse. His broken leg snapping as it caught on the ground. He screamed in agony. Hasdrubal looked at Ditalkos. His face contorted with pain. "Give me a quick death. I have met you in battle. Do not let me linger like this. From one leader to another you owe me this privelage!!" Ditalkos shook his head. "I have given the honor of taking your life to someone you know a little better. He is sure to treat you like family." He paused and looked down at the once proud but now mangled Hasdrubal. He whispered gently to him, "Just like you treated his family. Ditalkos ordered ten men to stay behind and offere any assistance I needed and he left to attend to the waiting army on a nearby hill.

I ordered the men to spread his legs and hold him down. One of the men was to guide me on the fine art of impalement. For some reason the usual sickness I would feel at the thought of my family suffering was not present here. The man I left in charge of the actual impalement was no stranger to the procedure. He had done it before, although I did not ask where and to who. He showed me how to guide the speartip into the rectum and gently move the spear in small circles to cause the most pain but the least bleeding. Hasdrubal tried to pull himself off the speartip by attempting to pull himself along the ground. The men held him down, but he was still quite resistant. Hasdrubal's buttocks and groin were soaked with blood and feces. "We can stop now and he will fester in his own shit and the toxins will spread to the rest of his body. It is a long slow painful death." I shook my head. "Continue please. I want maximum pain." His screams were still loud but his voice was scarred from the intensity of his screams. The man pushed the spear a few more inches into the bowels of Hasdrubal and suddenly he vomited. Hasdrubal was choking on his own vomit. "Is that supposed to happen?" I turned and asked the bodyguard. "Yes the pain becomes so intense it is the only way the body knows how to deal with it." Hasdrubal vomited again a few moments later. This time it was laced with blood. His hand on his non broken arm clenched the earth digging a hole. The spear inched its way deeper into Hasdrubal. "If I go any deeper he will die instantly." I nodded and told him to with draw the spear. Like a finger being withdrawn from a hole in a damn a brownish-red liquid pored forth from his destroyed bowels. Hasdrubal continued to lay there. He looked like a fish that had been brought out of water. He gasped over and over again. He coughed several times and then his chest stopped moving.
I am not sure how long it took, but I was assured he died a painful death. In another move of dishonor his body was strapped to rock to be consumed by carrion birds and other beasts. No burial or burning for this man. I felt relieved. I felt as if a great weight had been lifted. The rest of the bodies were stacked up and burned. The next day the city surrendered. For the first time I felt somewhat normal. I no longer felt the heavy guilt of not being able to save my family.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/251-3.jpg
***
The harvest came and the men helped the Phonecians gather it. I had the privelage of seeing Lutros's sons and loved it immensely. Lutros asked me about Hasdrubal and I told him he could read my journal. Afterword he nodded and understood. Lutros had made sketches of various animals that resided in the area and also was excited about finally seeing the city of Arse. I too was glad to be here. A sad chapter in my life had ended and a new one was about to begin. I watched Lutros with his young boys and was excited by the prospect of teaching him all I knew.
Just before the winter winds blew in from the great sea a spy arrived from Emporion telling of grave news. The Lacetanii had appealed to the Verrix of the Arverni for help against their Punic oppressors. The Verrix was apparently more than willing to help. By the end of the year the Arverni had wrested control from the Phonecians. Iberia was free of the Punic menace. The corruption and greed of my peoples had been expelled. Now it was replaced by men that many thought of as brothers to the Iberians. The Arvernii had arrived in Iberia.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIII-15.jpg
(Unfortunately I forgot to take another screenshot after the fall of Arse. Its no longer white but rather Iberian Green :))

[Chaotix]

Nice chapter! By the way, in the last sentence of your post, you mean Iberian Brown, right?

[General Appo]

Brilliant! Now kick those Gauls out of Iberia, no matter how unhumanitarian it would be.

[Chirurgeon]

Nice chapter! By the way, in the last sentence of your post, you mean Iberian Brown, right?

Ah yeas...sorry...I am colorblind. I cant even tell the difference in color between Rome and the Aeudi!

[Khazar_Dahvos]

yaay!!!!!!!:book:

[CaesarAugustus]

A ....descriptive, yet fitting end to Hasdrubal, but I'm never reading this AAR over a meal again. :sweatdrop:

[Chirurgeon]

A ....descriptive, yet fitting end to Hasdrubal, but I'm never reading this AAR over a meal again. :sweatdrop:

Sorry about that...wanted you to make it feel as if you were there. Death isn't pretty

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Good to see an update and good to see you taking the peninsula.

You may have gone over it before, but what is your ultimate plans of conquest?
I always have trouble playing the small factions once I take their immediate area.

[General Appo]

Well, he claims he doesn´t want to take anything but Iberia, and even there he might compromise with the Arverni. Of course, that doesn´t make for much of an AAR, so I´m hoping he kicks the Arverni out of Iberia and drives them all the way to the Rhine.

[Chirurgeon]

Well, he claims he doesn´t want to take anything but Iberia, and even there he might compromise with the Arverni. Of course, that doesn´t make for much of an AAR, so I´m hoping he kicks the Arverni out of Iberia and drives them all the way to the Rhine.
There are other expansionist regimes besides the Arverni on the move. A fledgling republic has expanded rapidly in Italy. There will never be peace it seems.

[Chirurgeon]

Good to see an update and good to see you taking the peninsula.

You may have gone over it before, but what is your ultimate plans of conquest?
I always have trouble playing the small factions once I take their immediate area.

Thanks for following MAA. I don't have any plans per say. I could just secure the borders of Iberia. But now in order to do that I have to pretty much go to war with the Arverni. Since the Arveri own all of Gaul and they will likely never surrender it could be a very long war. I wanted some peace so I can disband the army and make a major investment in my MICs and other expensive structures. Going to war with a Celtic faction is going to upset the Celts in Iberia. Things are going to get very interesting.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

So happy to get the latest update! Enjoyed it on a sunny day, with my morning cup of coffee. Good thing - as CaesarAugustus noted - I had already finished breakfast. eep!

I - too - wonder at the next direction of the Iberian Armies. Disbanding and upgrading and building your infastructure sounds wise and Ditalkos seems a wise ruler. Will the Averni keep the peace with their Iberian neighbors? What happened to the Greek presence in the Lacetana and Edetana provinces? How will the various trade agreements between the Greek cities, the Carthagianans and the Romans play out?

Will Castulo re-marry? Are his ties with Kart-Hadast broken forever?

So many questions!!

And poor Chirurgeon has spring break!

[SaberHRE]

Hey!

I just managed to read the whole thing today, very impressive! I like your narrating style. I also love you use of landscape images, it really helps the reader feel the climate. Will definately be following.

[General Appo]

Well, you could always start disbanding after a peaceful meeting with the Arverni, and then when those bastards attack (and trust me, they will) you ally with the Romans and togheter kick their ass. Yaay!!
Or you could just invade Hibernia (Ireland) and claim the Goidils there are really longing for some Iberian masters.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

*pokes head in, cup of nice hot coffee in hand*

oh. darn. no new updates.

*heads out door, remembers something, pokes head back in*

Chirurgeon, I have some interesting descriptions of Iberian warriors from an old (1960s) work by Arribas, if you are interested. I can PM them if you like. Interesting review of javelins as well.

[Chirurgeon]

So happy to get the latest update! Enjoyed it on a sunny day, with my morning cup of coffee. Good thing - as CaesarAugustus noted - I had already finished breakfast. eep!

I - too - wonder at the next direction of the Iberian Armies. Disbanding and upgrading and building your infastructure sounds wise and Ditalkos seems a wise ruler. Will the Averni keep the peace with their Iberian neighbors? What happened to the Greek presence in the Lacetana and Edetana provinces? How will the various trade agreements between the Greek cities, the Carthagianans and the Romans play out?

Will Castulo re-marry? Are his ties with Kart-Hadast broken forever?

So many questions!!

And poor Chirurgeon has spring break!
As to the first question you will have to wait and see. As to the second the tribes still maintain a healthy relationship with the Hellenes that call Iberia home. There is much respect for those ancient people. However they are in the minority and will not play a major role in Iberias fate. They are along for the ride. The trade agreements will be interesting. Carthage and Rome keep declaring war and then peace. Rome still hasn't kicked Epiros out of Southern Italy! I suppose he could remarry. However he seems to have adopted Lutros and his family. Lutros is practically a son to him. Castulo has been labeled a traitor and can never again return to Carthage. His fate is tied to Iberia now. Hope that helps!



Hey!

I just managed to read the whole thing today, very impressive! I like your narrating style. I also love you use of landscape images, it really helps the reader feel the climate. Will definately be following.
Thank you for the compliments. Yes i started doing the Landscape pics during the Sands of Africa AAR and it was such a hit i continued it through the rest of my AARs.


Well, you could always start disbanding after a peaceful meeting with the Arverni, and then when those bastards attack (and trust me, they will) you ally with the Romans and togheter kick their ass. Yaay!!
Or you could just invade Hibernia (Ireland) and claim the Goidils there are really longing for some Iberian masters.

I have a feeling the Arverni are going to occupy me for some time. If only they hadn't laid claim to Emporion...you must have clairvoyance or something about them attacking me! I wont be making that trip to Ireland for a long time it would seem!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXIV - The Illusion of Peace
564 YAF (250 BC)

The end of a Punic military presence in Iberia was a relief. The Verrix to the north appeared to have no ill will towards Iberia. Having sealed an alliance with the peoples of Iberia there was no immediate threat to the peninsula. The triumphant men from the war with Kart-Hadastim celebrated as if it was their last day alive. I still shake my head in disbelief that Ditalkos was able to defeat the Republic. With the peninsula free the men were allowed to travel to their homes. Peace had settled across Iberia. The shadow of Kart-Hadastim had not disappeared entirely however. The Republic still marched across the long coast of Africa. Soon they would be our neighbors again. Only a small sliver of water would separate the two enemies.
Ditalkos made the journey to Gegorvia in Southern Gaul. He hoped to meet with the king and convince them to return Emporion and all her holdings back to the Iberian confederacy. I did not travel with him, rather I returned to the old estate. Lutros and his wife with his two sons were already there when I arrived. I hired crop hands to replant some of what had been lost. The olive trees, having been burned, were rising from the ashes. The old trunks sending out fresh tendrils of life. With deep roots it would not take long for the grove to recover.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/250-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/250-1.jpg
^^Famous Vincent Van Gogh painting of an olive grove.

I celebrated 41 years of existence and when I think back I realize I have seen more than most men could imagine. Hope filled my being as I saw my lands recover. The villa would be rebuilt. Herbs from Greece and other locations were shipped in. Ditalkos had found over a hundred talents of silver that Hasdrubal had stored in his personal estate. It was given to me. I used it wisely. The Olives from Iberia were massive. They were prized in other parts of the world.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/250-3.jpg

I established shipping contracts with Punic merchants. They did not take sides in war. They only wanted it to end so they could sell goods again. I too was ready to trade again and thanks to some old friends of Videllac I secured some lucrative contracts for future shipments of olives. I also used the silver to plant grapes on the southern slopes of the estate. Here the cool mists from the great sea would cover the grapes at night quenching their thirst. During the day they would grow parched but it was an intense struggle. This intense struggle would make the grapes more concentrated and their flavors would burst from the wine. I had hoped that my fledgling grapes would spread their flavors across the great sea.
Gader was a thriving city. The war had caused trade to nearly stop and now the ships could not carry all the goods that had backed up. Kart-Hadastim was a financial mess. Her coffers exhausted and armies defeated she would feel the sting of defeat for a long time. Rumors abound that the senate proposed to stay only in Africa and not try an overseas expansion to the north. Kart-Hadastim lost her most profitable colonies and because a formal peace was not established she did not trade with us.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIV-1.jpg
^^Updated and labeled family tree
***
I traveled to Oxtraca during the bitter cold of winter and met with Ditalkos. All the tribes had come. The commoner of the confederacy felt peace had fallen the lands but a great discord had shown itself. The chieftains of the Cantabrii wished to withdraw from the Confederacy and join the Arverni. They argued that the war was over, they had their ports on the great sea, and peace was established. Ditalkos argued that the Lacetanii were not part of the Confederacy and yet they were part of Iberia. Until the Lacetanii joined the confederacy and offered their port for free, the goal of the confederacy was not achieved. Of course all of the tribes present knew that the Verrix would not give Emporion up. For him to do this would cause his loss of prestige amongst the tribes of Gaul.
Nine tribes now constituted the Confederacy. The Lusitanii, Galecii, Asturii, Arevacii, Cantabrii, Carpetanii, Bastetanii, Edetanii, and Turdetanii all were united under King Ditalkos. Each one had a say in the fate of the Peninsula. The Cantabrii had wished to leave and should we stop them from leaving then the Asturii would join their brothers and fight with the Verrix. A vote was put forward. Should the Cantabrii leave the confederacy it would be viewed as an act of war. The Turdetanii, Carpetanii, Edetanii, Bastetanii, Lusitanii, and Arevacii voted to go to war with the Cantabrii should they leave the confederacy. The Galecii, Asturii, and Cantabrii voted against the proclamation of war should they leave. A new division had developed that would threaten to tear the Confederacy apart once again. This war, should it transpire, would not just involve Iberia. Should the mainly Iberian tribes wage war against Celtic tribes the Verrix would get involved. Once again the Iberians would be outnumbered and the sheer number of tribes that the Verrix commanded could very well suffocate Iberia. Clearly this was the opportunity the Verrix was waiting for. Dead Celts in Iberia could be a battle cry to the warriors of Gaul.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIV-2.jpg

[jfun23]

New to this mod and these forums, and as it happens I love AARs.
I feel like I've discovered a gold mine with your stuff; these are some of the best AArs I've ever read, for ANY game. Kudos to you! And now, a question, if you don't mind. In your Ptolmie AAR (which I finished last night - brilliant), upon conquest of many provinces you show a screenshot of what looks like in-game text, giving details about the just-conquered region. I really like that, but can't sem to duplicate it in my games. Is that an actual in-game feature that I just haven't found, or simply flavor text that you created to look like in-game text? Thanks again for many an entertaining read.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Wow. Looks like war with the Celts. I've never seen the Averni get the upper hand over the Aedui like that.

[Chirurgeon]

Multiquote isnt working so I will do it this way

@jfun23: Thank you so much! I have put alot of time into these and I am thrilled that you like it so much. Its guys like you that I do this for! Thank you for your comments about the Ptolemaic campaign. That is a feature of Hellenic factions with a commentary about certain Regions. A very cool feature indeed.

@Tacitus:
I watched the war between them and the Aedui kept sending stacks into north central italy where ther were subsequently ground up and spit out by the Romans. They totally ignored the attacks by the Arverni...Very strange indeed. The Arverni had free reign over Gaul. I was surprised at how they took Tolosa though. Pretty big stack in that city. Thanks for Following!

[General Appo]

Brilliant. If the Romans and Karthasdim keeps getting in war that´s probably because the Romans keep attacking Messana and getting beaten back, whereafter the Karthasdim sue for peace. I trust the Romani at least has Rhegion?
Anyway, it´s good to see that war is finally returning to Iberia.
Just got to ask, have you ever concidered taking the Baleares? I know it´s not really Ditalkos style, but there lives a lot of at least half-Iberians there, and it´s even an Expansion region for the Luso´s. Besides, you could use some good slingers against the Arverni.

[Chirurgeon]

Brilliant. If the Romans and Karthasdim keeps getting in war that´s probably because the Romans keep attacking Messana and getting beaten back, whereafter the Karthasdim sue for peace. I trust the Romani at least has Rhegion?
Anyway, it´s good to see that war is finally returning to Iberia.
Just got to ask, have you ever concidered taking the Baleares? I know it´s not really Ditalkos style, but there lives a lot of at least half-Iberians there, and it´s even an Expansion region for the Luso´s. Besides, you could use some good slingers against the Arverni.

I had thought about it...and if peace had lasted another year or two then yes...but alas war is here again. I will post an update shortly as i wont be around to post an update in the middle of the week.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXV - The Crumbling Facade of Unity
Spring 565 YAF (249 BC)
The estate was flourishing. Spring plantings of herbs were proceeding and the nascent grapes that had been planted while dormant were emerging for the first time. They seemed to like the soil. Green tendrils reaching upward and finding holds. So fragile and delicate. Its amazing how easily life can be extinguished. It is also amazing of the tenacity for life to persevere no matter what.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/249-1.jpg
Lutros and I spent the last several months reviewing Greek texts that I had transcribed from the ancient city of Syracuse. He was fascinated with how the Greeks fought off the monster of Asia. How could such a small nation fend off the Persian horde? It was wonderful to see him digesting everything I set down in front of him. It cost a lot of silver to have the scholars of Syracuse copy their texts but it was well worth it. I also spent time teaching him about Kart-Hadastim. I told him the story of my ancestors and how they fled and found a new home. As I told him this I realized that I did miss my homeland. However I knew that I could never return to the great city. After looking around I realized I had no desire to leave this place. This was truly my home. I had taken a love to the land. After seeing so much death it was nice to come here and try my hand at growing new life. Loio and Castulo were two years old and were growing fast. Peace it seemed had fallen over southern Iberia. However to the north the situation was grim.
***
Much tension existed between the tribes along the north and the rest of Iberia. With so much tension and emotions involved it was only a matter of time until something happened. It happened on an early summer morning. Ambon, a nephew of King Ditalkos, was attacked along the Ebro river. That would be the event that started a war. A war that could determine the very survival of Iberia as it is seen now.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXV-2.jpg
He nearly died as he fled the forces of the Arverni Confederation. Upon hearing this I knew what would happen. The elevated tension between the Celts and the Iberians had finally boiled over. The Verrix demanded the tribes pick sides and pick sides they did. the northern tier of the peninsula declared their alligiance to the Verrix and withdrew from the Confederacy. Terrible, but not unexpected news. The shaky alliance that Ditalkos had formed so long ago had finally fractured. Once again Iberia was torn apart.
***
I arrived in Oxtraca where the tribes that had not pledged allegiance to the Arverni, were mustering an army. Men from central and southern Iberia were migrating to Oxtraca. Here they would assemble and march north to once again try to bring peace to Iberia. Lutros accompanied me. He had trained in Gader as a soldier loyal to Ditalkos. Because of his wealth and status he could afford the best equipment. A new soldier was being used in this army.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_loricati_scutari.gif
Many nobles lived in Gader and Mastia and could afford to provide better armored infantry than other areas. As a result the Loricata Scutari were born. The wealth that had been amassed in these areas allowed for the handcrafting of beautiful scaled bronze armor, solid shields, superior weapons, and better training. These men were now being sent north to Oxtraca.
However it might be a year or more before the men were ready to move.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXV-3.jpg

[General Appo]

Brilliant once more. How did you make all those three towns go over to the Arverni though, I can´t seem to think of any way that wouldn´t include giving them a bunch of freed slaves.

[Chirurgeon]

I just gave it to them through diplomatic means...I havent spied on the cities but in Velika (cantabria) ther are native units there.

[Chaotix]

Great chapter! But it looks like you've got your work cut out for you. Do you think you can win after "losing" three cities? What difficulty are you on, anyway, Chirurgeon?

[Chirurgeon]

Well I hope so. I am using M/M. Its easier to do that for Roleplaying Purposes.

[Theodotos I]

A new award for Chirurgeon the Great! Most Stomach-Churning Moment in an AAR Award! Honestly, friend, I thought I possessed a strong stomach for blood--I've read books on the Bataan Death March and the Nazi concentration camps. But I had to skim over Hasdrubal's death. It was just a tad bit too graphic.
Anyhow, still enjoying the AAR. Will be interested to see how long it takes Castulo to realize the emptiness of revenge. He has a war now to distract him, so maybe that won't happen. Good luck with the Arverni--I play on M/M as well, I'm not looking for a headache, just a challenge. Thanks for your kind comments over on my AAR. I aim to please. :yes:

[Chirurgeon]

A new award for Chirurgeon the Great! Most Stomach-Churning Moment in an AAR Award! Honestly, friend, I thought I possessed a strong stomach for blood--I've read books on the Bataan Death March and the Nazi concentration camps. But I had to skim over Hasdrubal's death. It was just a tad bit too graphic.
Anyhow, still enjoying the AAR. Will be interested to see how long it takes Castulo to realize the emptiness of revenge. He has a war now to distract him, so maybe that won't happen. Good luck with the Arverni--I play on M/M as well, I'm not looking for a headache, just a challenge. Thanks for your kind comments over on my AAR. I aim to please. :yes:

I actually had more details but cut out some of the more gruesome stuff. I have enjoyed your AAR as well. Ah yes the emptiness of revenge hasn't caught up with him yet. Thanks for following!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXVI - A Brewing Storm
Spring 566 YAF (248 BC)
I had seen it before so many times in the past. War preparations. The mood in the camp. The serious faces. The men seemed to face a certain destiny. I shake my head at what i was seeing. Once again Iberia was preparing for war. This time it was a more dire situation. Although Kart-Hadastim was a formidable enemy, their distance from Iberia prevented us from feeling her full wrath. The Arverni had no such limitations. The could walk freely into our lands and attack without worrying about distance. In fact, in the north, the tribes allowed use of their soldiers. There would be no shortage of blood for the upcoming conflict. Ditalkos however had use of some better trained men and many of the veterans joined him from the Punic Campaign. Lutros was also worried about the conflict. As a father he no longer had to just worry about himself.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVI-1.jpg
***
A large army left and crossed the Tagus river. Another nephew of the king would be in charge of the mustering fort and help train men that continued to migrate. For now the forces would head north towards the capital of the Galecia. Perhaps with some convincing the Galecia would return to the confederation. As I traveled north with the main army we left with the best wishes of the people. No one wanted another war, but no one wanted to be under the harsh gaze of the Verrix either. For nearly two generations the peoples of Iberia fought for unity. They have yet to achieve that goal.
Ditalkos had begun a transformation as well. He seemed to take the betrayal of the Confederacy hard. He had given the various tribes a say in how Iberia would be ruled and this is how they treated him. No matter what consessions he made he realized that some tribes would never willingly join. As soon as they had the chance, the predominately Celtic tribes in the north, had abandoned the cause for a Celtic neighbor. Ditalkos knew that deep down he could only gain the respect of these tribes if he taught them a powerful lesson. But then again they would have never abandoned the cause had the Verrix offered them a different arrangement. In addition the Verrix pledged military support should anyone attack them.
However there was another way for the Celtic tribes of the north to gain the respect of the King of the Lusitannan. Ditalkos would have to beat the Arverni in a pitched battle. Or he would have to consistently smash their forces until it was clear that the Verrix was not as powerful as he was made out to be. No matter what happened it would take a long time and alot of fighting for the Celts to respect the Iberians. True the blood of the two peoples had mixed, but Celtiberians still had Iberian blood and there was just not the same respect. The one thing both cultures recognized was valour and honor on the battlefield. It was up to Ditalkos to outshine the Celts on the field of battle. That would garner the respect of the Celtic regions of the Peninsula.
***
Winter camp was made along the Tagus river. Already it was colder than what we had been used to during the Punic War. Lutros and the rest of the heavy infantry slept, ate, and bathed together. Most were from Turdetania. Although Lutros was a soldier he was also a scholar. It was a rare combination. Ditalkos proposed a new evolution in the fighting tactics of the Iberian army. The best armored men, Scortamareva and Loricata Scutari, would anchor the forces:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_scortamavera.gif
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_loricati_scutari.gif
Light infantry would support the flanks or possibly be used to ambush an unsuspecting enemy:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_loricatii_caetratii.gif
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_caetratii.gif

Lighter spearmen would absorb the enemy first but would be withdrawn behind the main battle line after taking significant losses:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_gestikapoinann.gif
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_scutari.gif

Lighter infantry was easier to replace than the heavier armed variety. Skirmishers would still screen out the enemy or be used behind the main lines to pelt enemies with minimal risk to themselves:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_balearic_slinger-1.gif
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_iberian_velites.gif
However in the past the skirmishers have shown great resolve and staying power. Overall the army fielded by Ditalkos was tactically flexible, lethal, and resilient. It was formidable in offense and defense. The proficiency of the javelin had enabled the Iberians to devastate their enemies even before attacking them with their swords. In less than a year, Ditalkos would be at the gates of Tyde.

[General Appo]

Yeah, kick some Arverni ass! But do you really think defeating the Arverni in pitched battles will be enough, perhaps burning some rebellious towns will help convince the Celts to re-join the Iberian confederacy. Tyde could be a good place to start, as that seems to be the way you´re heading.

[Shylence]

Ill be honest mate. I dont know who to support.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXVII - Challenging The Beast
Spring 567 YAF (247 BC)
We marched in familiar territory once again. It seemed so long ago that Latronos had subjugated the Celts of Galecia. We crossed the Duoro river once again. It was unimaginable that sword and shield would clash here again. But here again we are. We marched until late summer when we finally saw the city perched before us. Ditalkos promptly ordered the city surrounded. Once again Ditches were dug and the siege began. However Ditalkos had no wish of waiting out the city. He was going to burst into the city with the men of Iberia and show our resolve. Winter was restless. It rained and snowed. Sometimes both at the same time. The men were ready. In the spring the rams would be pushed forward and the city will fall. Examples had to be made. Retribution for betrayel would be swift and harsh. Ditalkos or the next king of Iberia could not tolerate such dissent from his subjects. For now we wait.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVII-1.jpg
A young captain came to Ditalkos and ordered him to leave. Ditalkos refused and the man proclaimed that the Verrix would not tolerate this. He proclaimed that Tyde was a sovereign city and was part of a sovereign land. Her fate is hers to decide. In those words the captain had doomed his men to death. No armies would help this city. While the flora broke out of its winter slumber in just a few months the fighters inside the walls would succumb to a slumber of an eternal nature.
Ditalkos did not want this. He grew weary of war but his hand had been forced. He wanted nothing more than to see Iberia united. His father, seemingly so long ago, had a dream of a safe nation for his people. For too long they had been pressed. Their backs against the sea they fought like caged animals would fight for a chance of freedom. I looked at the men that followed their king. The lines between the tribes was beginning to blur. The men of this land were fighting for the same thing. The bonds between the men grew stronger the longer they were forced to fight. The Arverni were only trying to undo what Ditalkos had spent most of his life repairing. The rift between Celts and Iberians was expanded when his brother went on a merciless killing spree. The scars would never heal. And they should not heal. The scars are a reminder of a dark past that needs to stay in the past. Ditalkos was merely trying to remove the pain that left the scars in the first place. He had come so close. His spirits were good. The men were confident. A great victory here and the other tribes may swear their alligiance to Ditalkos again. The spring would reveal the fate of Iberia.

[Chirurgeon]

Yeah, kick some Arverni ass! But do you really think defeating the Arverni in pitched battles will be enough, perhaps burning some rebellious towns will help convince the Celts to re-join the Iberian confederacy. Tyde could be a good place to start, as that seems to be the way you´re heading.
I agree that would be a way of perhaps convincing the rest of the tribes to change allegiance. The Cantabrians started all these problems. The Galecii and Asturii just joined up with them. If the Verrix does not come to the help of his new allies it will cause him to lose face and bolster the forces of Iberia for their cause of unification.


Ill be honest mate. I dont know who to support.
War is never an easy thing. Castulo wrestled with it as well.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Reading your updates never gets old Chirurgeon. And for Ditalkos and his steadfastness to unify Iberia I salute you Yol Bosun!!!!!(may there be a road):beam: .

[Chaotix]

Keep it up, Chirurgeon! Once you reunite Iberia, will you incorporate Gaul into the confederation too?

[Chirurgeon]

Keep it up, Chirurgeon! Once you reunite Iberia, will you incorporate Gaul into the confederation too?
I have a feeling the Arverni will not be happy if they are evicted out of Iberia. Will Iberia choose a more defensive posture or go on the offensive to eliminate threats to her sovereignty?

[Chirurgeon]

Reading your updates never gets old Chirurgeon. And for Ditalkos and his steadfastness to unify Iberia I salute you Yol Bosun!!!!!(may there be a road):beam: .

Thank you so much. I am glad I can keep you entertained :)

[Khazar_Dahvos]

I appreciate you reply. I am quite drunk right now!!!!!!I am in Iraq in the u.s. military)!!!!! But I assure you right now you are the best writer for EB(I am a ancient history major?). Your updates gives me a reason to live.:2thumbsup:
Where are you from by the way????
My favorite Authors are from Great Britain or from South Africa BTW.

[Chirurgeon]

I appreciate you reply. I am quite drunk right now!!!!!!I am in Iraq in the u.s. military)!!!!! But I assure you right now you are the best writer for EB(I am a ancient history major?). Your updates gives me a reason to live.:2thumbsup:
Where are you from by the way????
My favorite Authors are from Great Britain or from South Africa BTW.

Well I suppose I feel speechless. I had no Idea that what I wrote on these forums had such an impact. Your efforts are monumental in Iraq. I suppose if I was there I would want to be drunk as well!! I support the troops 100%. The human toll over there has been staggering for all involved. I am from Orlando Florida. So are you a British transplant in America or do you just fancy British authors? Again I am humbled by your comments and I hope to continue to provide you with entertaining updates! Stay safe dear friend.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

nope I am a 100% german-american who likes to read.:book:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXVIII - Casting The Stone
Spring 568 YAF (246 BC)
All winter the men trained and polished their weapons. Finally as the cold weather retreated the men were formed into lines. Four battering rams had been fashioned.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-2.jpg

Ditalkos was not planning to just use strength of numbers to win, he also planned on employing a strategy of wearing the enemy out. He knew that the Celts woul throw most of their men upon us at the same time. Ditalkos wanted to use his men in stages. The light infantry were the first to move forward. The moved the rams to the walls and began smashing. The Galaecians had no slingers so the Belaeric slingers wreaked havoc from a distance. The screams of the maimed men echoed over the walls. Already the enemy was dying before we broke the walls. As the walls began to give under the hammering of the rams, skirmishers were moved forward and hurled their javelins at the defenders that had moved up to plug the soon to be gaps in the wall. The rams broke through and the light troops unleashed a furious barrage into the defenders, who merely became unwilling participants in some sort of unfair target practice. The light troops, having demoralized their opponents poured through en masse.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-3.jpg
Soon the initial defenders were routing. The ran towards the central street that led to the town center. The enemy regained some poise and plugged up the main street, but it was not to last long.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-4.jpg
Ditalkos ordered the second wave of men into the city. They unleashed another maelstrom of javelins into the heart of the enemy resistance. Their men fell like trees in a windstorm. The retreated up the hill to the fortified hill. The light troops pursued. Wielding their falcatas they outmanuevered the Celtic spearmen and hacked them to pieces.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-6.jpg
^^Watched this guy singlehandedly kill like 10 enemies himself!
Another effort was underway to defend the top of the hill. The medium spearmen were moved forward and when they were in place the withdraw order was given to the light troops. They were enthusiastic but exhausted at the same time. Ditalkos did not want exhausted me fighting exhausted men. they withdrew behind the medium spearmen and the spearmen unleashed their javelins into the pursuing celts.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-7.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-8.jpg

They fell like wheat beneath a scythe. Many panicked and ran. Some came forward to fight. They too were killed. Gradually Ditalkos ordered the medium spearmen into the remaining defenders. He would withdraw a unit as it became tired and throw a fresh one into the fray. It worked wonderfully. The last few defenders perished and the Iberian confederacy stood triumphant having only lost a handful of its brave fighters. Ditalkos won a great victory today and clearly this would be felt throughout the Arverni Confederation.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-9.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-10.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-11.jpg

***
The extra men led by the Kings nephew occupied Tyde until its own garrison could be trained. Ditalkos was wasting no time. The northern mountains saw snow early and he would not wait to take the pass into Asturia. The army marched east. This time a road was present where last time nothing but game trails and thick forests. We moved at a blistering pace. The summer heat would soon succumb to the cold of winter. Ditalkos wanted to reach Pallantia before winter. It was a great request. However the men would respond. We traveled through beautiful tree covered landscapes. This was so different than the land around Gader. From her people to her geography, Iberia was defined by diversity.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/246-1.jpg
***
As the leaves changed from bright green to dull brown we made haste to surround the city of Pallantia. Of course we had been here before. Some of the men, the older men, remember as well. They were still very young the first time. It looked like it was going to be another bloody spring.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-13.jpg
Ditalkos eldest son and heir to the throne resided in Numantia. Numantia had been very calm and boredom had led him to drinking. So bad was the problem that Ditalkos did not want him to rule. He feared the very ruin of everything he labored to build.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-14.jpg

An occasional drink is not a problem but the stiff brew had become his lover. It embarassed Ditalkos and he did his best to keep the problem buried. Now it was a problem. Arebasico had decieded to leave Numantia and wished to join us here in Asturia. Ditalkos had refused and sent his son back to Numantia. Fuming he did not return but rather took up residence in a village near the Ebro river. He had heard that the Verrix himself was coming to Iberia. Apparently our actions of late had gotten his attention. Arebasico insisted on "welcoming" the Verrix to the Iberian Peninsula.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-15.jpg
Ditalkos feared the worst but could do very little to control his very out of control son and heir. Rumors flew that his son was going to challenge the Verrix to battle. If the kings son was felled by the sword of an old man it would look terrible. Not to mention the loss of the heir to the throne. However there was always the chance that Arebasico could slay the Verrix. That would send a sound message indeed.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXVIII-12.jpg

[Shylence]

Celts, always making big statements when it comes to battle. If the Verrix falls i wouldnt be surprise if the averni soon crumble and lose the grounds they gained.

[General Appo]

I don´t know, I´ve got more of the feeling that Arebasiko is gonna get himself and a bunch of other loyal Iberians killed, only bolstering the Celtic cause and prolonging the war. Oh well, we shall see how it plays out.

[Theodotos I]

Looking better and better, my friend. You keep so busy on this it surprises me to find you reading my story. Curiosity question: 1.1 is out, and it's not save-game compatible? What will you do? :dizzy2:

[Chirurgeon]

Looking better and better, my friend. You keep so busy on this it surprises me to find you reading my story. Curiosity question: 1.1 is out, and it's not save-game compatible? What will you do? :dizzy2:
I will continue this AAR until I feel it has run its course. I don't know about you but I think it is just getting good! I guess it will be a while until I try 1.1. If interest in this AAR wanes I may stop but for now I am going to continue. I guess we will be getting a slew of new AARs on the forums

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Please continue! It has been superb so far. Plenty of time to play EB 1.1 in the future. The drunken son, spurned from the place of honor by his father in battle, seeks out battle to prove himself. eek! I sense tragedy. Or not! How will the progidal son fare?!?

Usually I enjoy your updates with a morning cup of coffee. But tonite it is with a fine glass of port - made not far from where Ditalkos is! (relatively speaking)

If I may ask, who else has shown themselves worthy to lead the Iberian Confederacy? *bits nails*

[Disciple of Tacitus]

@ Khazar Dahvos. You have my support good sir. Be safe.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Thank you I appreciate that very much!!!!!:beam:

here are some war quotes for you guys.
Our alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for
another 10 minutes.
-He stays up for days on end.
__________________________
You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
-He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________
You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
-He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
__________________________
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go
meet up with your friends.
-He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
__________________________
You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
-He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
__________________________
You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
-He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
__________________________
You don't feel like helping out your dad today, so you don't.
-He does what he is told.
__________________________
You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
-He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
__________________________
You complain about how hot it is.
-He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to
wipe his brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your
order wrong.
-He does not get to eat today.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
-He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons
are clean.
__________________________
You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
-He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________
You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
-He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.He does as he is told.

nuthin like a bit o perspective.

(Future years will never know the seething hell and the black infernal background, the countless minor scenes and interiors of the secession war; and it is best they should not. The real war will never get in the books)
Walt Whitman

[johnhughthom]

Some nice quotes there Khazar Dahvos. Stay safe.

[Reality=Chaos]

Even if I don't agree with the reasons for you being there (which I don't) I still want to say: you are doing a doing what you must do. Not everyone who doesn't support the war hates the soldiers doing their, very hard, job. Stay safe and come back alive, mate.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

I myself agree 100% with you reality= chaos. But orders are orders (join the army see the world LOL). I will not even begin on my own and fellow battle buddy's political rant(s). But let me tell you that bullets fly both ways regardless of why I am here. Also a close friend of mine since highschool in November of 05 was doing his tour in Iraq and was in a hummer on the turret minding his own business when a carbomber decided to ram it and detinate(He did get some rounds off though). Luckily he is alive with hearing loss in one ear 3 degree burns on arms and hands(they looked horrible) and shrapnel in his face which old uncle sam decided finally to remove the pieces of tire tred and wiring not one year ago. His fellow buddys were not so lucky......but We digress..:hmg:

[Chirurgeon]

I myself agree 100% with you reality= chaos. But orders are orders (join the army see the world LOL). I will not even begin on my own and fellow battle buddy's political rant(s). But let me tell you that bullets fly both ways regardless of why I am here. Also a close friend of mine since highschool in November of 05 was doing his tour in Iraq and was in a hummer on the turret minding his own business when a carbomber decided to ram it and detinate(He did get some rounds off though). Luckily he is alive with hearing loss in one ear 3 degree burns on arms and hands(they looked horrible) and shrapnel in his face which old uncle sam decided finally to remove the pieces of tire tred and wiring not one year ago. His fellow buddys were not so lucky......but We digress..:hmg:
Hey Khazar was just wondering if any of your buddies read the forums here? Any lurkers there in the military? I look at the page views and always wonder who is watching quietly.

[Reality=Chaos]

I myself agree 100% with you reality= chaos. But orders are orders (join the army see the world LOL). I will not even begin on my own and fellow battle buddy's political rant(s). But let me tell you that bullets fly both ways regardless of why I am here. Also a close friend of mine since highschool in November of 05 was doing his tour in Iraq and was in a hummer on the turret minding his own business when a carbomber decided to ram it and detinate(He did get some rounds off though). Luckily he is alive with hearing loss in one ear 3 degree burns on arms and hands(they looked horrible) and shrapnel in his face which old uncle sam decided finally to remove the pieces of tire tred and wiring not one year ago. His fellow buddys were not so lucky......but We digress..:hmg:


Ouch, nasty stuff man. Good to see that chirgeuon can give some diversion at times. I can only belief you about the bullets, mate. I cannot imagine what it's like but I can emphatize.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

no not really most don't really like history (clowns) but I did get my nephew into EB and he is in Iraq too in a different part. Unfortunately his laptop's having some problems and won't connect to the internet so he can not download it or talk on the forums(I think I am going to burn it to a cd and get it to him). I try to promote EB whenever I get a chance to because it is the best game/learning tool I have ever picked up.:beam:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXIX - Kingslayer

Spring 569 YAF (245 BC)
Warm breezes began to migrate north to our siege camp surrounding Pallantia. Ditalkos was anxious to get this over with. Only a small garrison stood between him and the reconquest of Pallantia. Dawn on a day that still felt the icy chill of winter the men began their movements to the walls.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-3.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-4.jpg

The rams began their rhythmic thumping against the fortified walls. Our slingers poured a murderous fire onto the defenders. The skirmishers brought their wrath over the walls and onto the defenders. The ground was turned into a bloody pincushion and the defenders began to waver. The rams broke through. A synchronized war scream went up from the light troops and they poured into the city.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-6.jpg

I expected another long day like was had at Tyde. It was not to be. The enemy quickly lost their resolve and streamed into the center of the city. Here they were slaughtered like animals. It was over very quickly.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-7.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-8.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-9.jpg


***
In the days that followed the recapture of Pallantia from the rebelious Asturians the men that had been defeated felt betrayed by the Verrix.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-10.jpg

He did not send his endless armies of Celtic men like he promised. Rather he let the small garrisons perish beneath the Lusitannan hammer. Ditalkos was becoming well known to the tribes of the North. Word reached us that Arebasico had crossed the Ebro and traveled north past Velika in an attempt to engage the Verrix. It would be several more days before we would know what happened. The results were worst than Ditalkos could imagine.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-11.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-12.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-13.jpg

On a cool, early summer evening the Kings son rode into our camp alone. I was dining with Ditalkos and Lutros was one of his personal guards. Lutros was highly trusted by Ditalkos because he was highly trusted by me. It was truly an honor. His son was bloody and exhausted. He stumbled into the tent.
"Father I have challenged the Verrix in battle and wounded him!" He proclaimed loudly. Somehow on the return journey from his battle he had found his good friend of ale.
Ditalkos looked at his son in a very serious manner. "Yet you are not dead?" He said in a low voice.
Arebasico looked somewhat confused. "Father I challenged the King of the Arverni and survived to tell the tale!"
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-14.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-15.jpg

Ditalkos shook his head and looked down at his plate of roasted pork. "That is why we have Bards! Brave men die bravely. They do not tell of battles they have lost. A brave man that loses a battle does not fight another day! It is the only honorable way to fight!" Ditalkos was becoming angry.
"Father I do not understand. I traveled to challenge the man that is threatening our homeland and you insult me!" Arebasico ranted angrily.
Ditalkos stood up and kicked the chair he was sitting on backwards. It went flying into the side of the tent and fell over. He angrily pointed his finger at his son. "You are the one that has insulted me! You have done more damage to our cause than you can possibly imagine. What do you think the Celts will think of us when they find out that the heir to the throne fled the battle with a king and was the only survivor!? All this time I have tried to get the respect of the tribes that have allied with the Arverni. In one drunken move you have destroyed that respect. The future leader of our people fled the battle so that he could tell the story of how he wounded a king. What a wonderful tale that will make. Maybe you should have had another drink before you charged into battle. That way you would have not had the sense to flee." A guard had picked up the chair and placed it behind Ditalkos. He sat down and rubbed his head with both his hands.
"I only wanted to get your respect father. I really did think I could beat him in battle. He is an old man. We were outnumbered. What did you think i was going to do? I did it all for you." Arebasico was bawling like a baby. The tears flowed down his cheeks freely.
"You are a disgrace to this family, this nation, and these people. I have fought my whole life to unify our lands and this cowardly move will cause the Celts in Gaul to mock us!" Ditalkos looked up and leaned back in his chair. "Seize him!" He said quickly. Lutros who was to the right of Arebasico lept like a cat and grabbed his sword arm before he could do anything. The other guard grabbed his left arm. Ditalkos stood up once his son was restrained. Now Ditalkos was crying. Slow hot tears ran down his face. His chin quivered slightly. You could almost see the tightness of his throat as he prepared to speak. He looked at his son as if his son had died. And in many ways he had.
"You leave me no choice my son. I hereby strip you of all claim to the throne of our people. Not only stripped of this privelige but you are no longer a citizen of Iberia. You are henceforth banished from these lands and any future lands we may occupy or control." Arebasico screamed out loud as if he had been stabbed with a searing blade. His agony penetrated the entire camp and the fields surrounding it. Lutros and the other guard barely contained the man and two other guards came in to assist. It was the most dishonorable thing I could imagine. The pain in Arebasico's eyes was that of betrayal. He truly had no idea that this could happen.
The agony in his eyes reflected the agony I had felt when I saw my family skewered like beasts upon those pikes so many years ago. I suddenly felt sick and ran out of the tent. What was wrong with me? He screamed as he was drug away from his fathers tent. He was kicking and yelling like a child. I found myself crying at the suffering before me. I think back to Ebudonus and the bond that existed between me and him. I could have never done anything to hurt him. And yet I had. He became the innocent victim of a sick man. A sick man that suffered immensely at my hand. Was Ebudonus and Anastadae and my infant girl better off because of what I had done to Hasdrubal? I would give anything to have my family back. That unreachable goal is dangled in front of me this night. Here was a father choosing to let go of his son. A father that essentially made the decision to kill his son. The very thing that he is given a choice to make, I was not offered. I was angry. I stormed off to my tent in a rage i had not felt since I plunged a spear into the anus of Hasdrubal.
***
It took me a while to pull myself together. Arebasico fled north to the Pyranees and sought refuge there. I did not think I would ever see him again. I made my way back to see Ditalkos and he seemed to be in good spirits. Too good of spirits for a man that just banished his son. I walked into the full tent to see several men gathered together talking excitedly.
"Dear Castulo. It seems my..." he paused momentarily. His eyes grew distant for a just a moment before refocusing. "...son did in fact wound the Verrix. Being older and in the wild he was taken to Velika where he is recovering from his wounds." He looked at me intently. "We march for Velika in the morning." I could not believe what I was hearing. Ditalkos aimed to trap the King in the city! Would it be possible? Could it really be that easy? He would have no escape and no doubt Ditalkos saw an oppurtunity to redeem the cause.
***
Autumn was upon us. Already the distant mountains were seeing fresh snow. Soon that snow would be falling on top of us. At frost fall we crossed the Ebro river and in the middle of the night arrived at Velika. The king was too ill to be moved. Plans were made to get him out of the city but they did not materialize. The king in his ailing state did not want to flee from battle.
As the coldness of winter descended around us, the scouts to the north discovered an army marching towards us. A small army, it might be a distraction to get the king out of the city. However the army was too far away.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-16.jpg

The rams were pressed forward and prepared to take the walls. The gate to the city was opened and the royal banners of the Arvernii fluttered around a figure dressed in wonderful armor. It was the king of the Arvernii.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-17.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-18.jpg

He approached our lines and Ditalkos ordered his men forward.
The two men came face to face. Two kings of two great nations. I was standing as a witness to something the world might never had seen. I wrote much of it down as I could.
The Arvernii spoke first "Your son is a coward and I hoped you dealt with him properly" He grunted as if irritated. The king was clearly uncomfortable in his saddle but nonetheless put on a good show. "And a good morning to you." Replied Ditalkos. The Arverni chieftain looked across the mist that clung to the ground and seemed to swirl around the men. All our men were present. There were many more Iberians than Arvernii on this day. As the daylight flooded the earth, more and more of our army was revealed. Dawn was fading. The waning red in the sky would be replaced by crimson earth. It would be a long day. "It would appear you have more men than I." The proud old man looked down. "I should have listened to my brother. Two old men such as ourselves should not be leading armies. We belong in some corner of a drinking hall telling tall tales and looking at women we can no longer mount!" Ditalkos smiled at the statement. "I have a feeling this is not the last time our forces will meet in battle. Your brother will no doubt seek to revenge your death." The old man nodded in agreement. "You will feel the full wraith of our forces. My brother will make sure of that." Ditalkos shifted himself. He leaned in close to the King. "It doesnt have to end like this. Leave Iberia and we can restore our alliance." The Verrix shook his head. "It is to late for that noble warrior. The gods have chosen a different path other than peace for our people." He looked at the army behind us. "A beautiful lot of men you have there my friend. It is too bad I could not challenge you with the best of my warriors." Ditalkos looked at the man softly. "Unfortunately only one of us will get to do that." Upon saying that the old man nodded and signaled for his men to re enter the city. As soon as the gates were closed, and the sounds of the bracing boards being placed back against the doors, the four rams rolled forward. Again the light troops would be the first into the city.
Sling stones hurled through the air striking everyone that dared not duck at the sound. Many fell in these barrages. We poured javelins into the ranks further reducing their numbers.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-19.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-20.jpg
Cantabrians aided the Celts and at times it became difficult to see who was fighting who. Seeing other Iberians perish in the fighting made it even harder for Ditalkos. Him and his brother had already conquered these regions once. Now more Iberian blood was being spilt. Bolstered by the Arvernii Verrix the men fought hard. Both sides wore themselves out on each other. Soon the second wave of men came into the fray. The spearmen with their dangerous Sofilerum pushed into the gaps in the walls.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-21.jpg

The light troops being replaced with the more armored spearmen. The side of a hill leading to the stronghold became a fierce defensive structure for the enemy. From here the Cantabrians rained an endless stream of javelins into the ranks. Both sides were frozen in their movements. We had more men but they had elevation. Soon the medium spearmen were exhausted. They withdrew as the final line of battle hardened troops entered the city. Scortamareva and Loricata Scutari began their march up the hill to press the final defenders of the king.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-22.jpg

I strained but my eyes could not find Lutros. He was with the Loricata Scutari somewhere. I prayed he survived the battle. Suddenly a horse fell amongst the guard of the king and the entire fighting seemed to stop.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-23.jpg

You could almost hear the birds singing. Cries of agony came from the top of the hill and the enemy broke rank and ran. The Verrix had been slain.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-24.jpg
And with it we sealed the promise of many years of fighting.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-25.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-26.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-27.jpg
***
After the battle I found Lutros unhurt. He had orchestrated a push to kill the Verrix and with it the enemies morale. I guess it worked. Lutros was given credit for the kill but he says that its all quite foggy and only faintly remembers unleashing the last of his javelins at the Verrix's sillouette. The men did not celebrate like they had in previous victories. The very real future of brutal war seemed to temper their enthusiasm. Retribution would be harsh. The Arvernii would not stand by and the Verrix's brother would do everything in his power to destroy Iberia.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXIX-28.jpg

[johnhughthom]

Love that shot of the king going down.

[Chirurgeon]

Please continue! It has been superb so far. Plenty of time to play EB 1.1 in the future. The drunken son, spurned from the place of honor by his father in battle, seeks out battle to prove himself. eek! I sense tragedy. Or not! How will the progidal son fare?!?

Usually I enjoy your updates with a morning cup of coffee. But tonite it is with a fine glass of port - made not far from where Ditalkos is! (relatively speaking)

If I may ask, who else has shown themselves worthy to lead the Iberian Confederacy? *bits nails*

Ah a fine glass of wine. You have my palate swirling. I have to settle for tea ATM. I think the latest update (which is a big one) can answer many questions. Ditalkos's youngest son has been named heir. Although he likes the bottle as well! Seems the king's sons are drunkards! It will make for some interesting moments I'm sure. Anyway enjoy the update. One of my favorite chapters yet!

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Wow!!!! I did not expect to get a big dose of my favorate drug.(lol)~:smoking: ~:dizzy: :nurse:

[Theodotos I]

Looking good, Chirurgeon. I still need to get caught up. Thanks for following my AAR, everyone else seems to have lost interest in the furor over 1.1. I'm going to finish my story before I switch over, and I hope you'll do the same. The background story to this is getting ever more interesting.

[Chirurgeon]

Wow!!!! I did not expect to get a big dose of my favorate drug.(lol)~:smoking: ~:dizzy: :nurse:

haha i liked those smileys :) Anyway glad I could provide it to you. Alot things happened in one year. So cool when two Kings face each other in battle :)

[PersianFire]

"Nice update Chirurgeon. Looks like you sustained some losses assaulting the palce. about time too."

[Chirurgeon]

"Nice update Chirurgeon. Looks like you sustained some losses assaulting the palce. about time too."

Wait till you see the losses after facing Naked Fanatics...

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Wait till you see the losses after facing Naked Fanatics...
eep!

Wow. Alot happened in one year. I can imagine that it is full on war with the Averni now. Good thing The Carthaginians are busy elsewhere and the Romani are otherwise occupied.

Will the Pyrenes Mountains help hold back the screaming celtic hordes? Some stunning scenery from that region.I look forward to the next update.

yeah! :beam:

[Reality=Chaos]

That was awesome. A king on king battle, how much more epic can you get:smash: :smash:

[Chaotix]

Great chapter, Chirurgeon!
I just had this idea for your AAR that I think would be really cool. What if you kept Arebasiko hanging around Gaul, and then when Ditalkos is fighting an important battle, he'll appear, and redeem himself in front of his father?
Just thought I might give a suggestion, maybe you already thought of that, or have something else planned.
Anyway, keep it up! I think this is the best AAR you've written to date!

[gamegeek2]

king+king vs. king, vanilla RTW. I was parthia, armenia was my ally, egypt had eaten the other half of the seleucid empire. My ally got rolled by some guys who warped in from 1500 BC, but cataphracts shoved the mummies back in to the time portal.

In every EB battle, it's more epic than that. And that's why we have this AAR.

[Chirurgeon]

king+king vs. king, vanilla RTW. I was parthia, armenia was my ally, egypt had eaten the other half of the seleucid empire. My ally got rolled by some guys who warped in from 1500 BC, but cataphracts shoved the mummies back in to the time portal.

In every EB battle, it's more epic than that. And that's why we have this AAR.

Haha that sounded interesting. 1500 BC...wonder what warfare was like then? Always wondered what it would be like to fight even earlier than the EB timeline


eep!

Wow. Alot happened in one year. I can imagine that it is full on war with the Averni now. Good thing The Carthaginians are busy elsewhere and the Romani are otherwise occupied.

Will the Pyrenes Mountains help hold back the screaming celtic hordes? Some stunning scenery from that region.I look forward to the next update.

yeah! :beam:
Carthage has taken all of West Africa and kicked Rome out of Sicily. The Pyranees are an awesome defensive Barrier.


That was awesome. A king on king battle, how much more epic can you get:smash: :smash:
Reality did you read my Sands of Africa AAR? I had a King on King battle there. Pretty cool actually.


Great chapter, Chirurgeon!
I just had this idea for your AAR that I think would be really cool. What if you kept Arebasiko hanging around Gaul, and then when Ditalkos is fighting an important battle, he'll appear, and redeem himself in front of his father?
Just thought I might give a suggestion, maybe you already thought of that, or have something else planned.
Anyway, keep it up! I think this is the best AAR you've written to date!
thanks Chaotix! That means alot. I feel very attached to the characters in this particular AAR. Arebasico is still alive. His ultimate fate yet to be determined.

Thank you all for following. The Arvernii are attacking the Aeudii capital in the middle of Gaul. That is keeping them busy. Its only a matter of time till the Aedui are swept from Gaul altogether and will be clinging to their piece of land in Northern Italy. Then I fear the Arvernii will turn their attention to the lands beyond the Pyranees again. IN the meantime I am doing what I can to consolidate my gains and prepare for a brutal war.

[Reality=Chaos]

Haha that sounded interesting. 1500 BC...wonder what warfare was like then? Always wondered what it would be like to fight even earlier than the EB timeline


Carthage has taken all of West Africa and kicked Rome out of Sicily. The Pyranees are an awesome defensive Barrier.


Reality did you read my Sands of Africa AAR? I had a King on King battle there. Pretty cool actually.


thanks Chaotix! That means alot. I feel very attached to the characters in this particular AAR. Arebasico is still alive. His ultimate fate yet to be determined.

Thank you all for following. The Arvernii are attacking the Aeudii capital in the middle of Gaul. That is keeping them busy. Its only a matter of time till the Aedui are swept from Gaul altogether and will be clinging to their piece of land in Northern Italy. Then I fear the Arvernii will turn their attention to the lands beyond the Pyranees again. IN the meantime I am doing what I can to consolidate my gains and prepare for a brutal war.
I must admit I can't remember the sands of africa one. Even though I avidly followed that one ( I think it was the one which made me decide to stop lurking, and sign up) Still the 'barbarian' Element is what made it great.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXX - Lacetania
Spring 570 YAF (244 BC)
In two more years I will be half a century old. A hard milestone indeed. My body felt it. For the first time I felt I had a home. We marched in the great shadow of the Pyrenees and along the mighty Ebro.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/244-4.jpg
The men did not march hard as we had the last two years. Two years and three cities. It was an impressive record. Many of the men had changed since that first battle. The men of Iberia were heeding the call to protect our lands and to finally capture the great city of Emporion. The countryside was safe for our men. The tribes of this region suddenly grew warm to the thought of being in the confederation. Winter camp was made some distance from the city itself and as new men flocked to the standard of the king, the veterans were allowed to go home and visit their families. Scouts had reported little threat to our north. Loyalists to the Arverni were preparing the defenses of Emporion for the inevitable assault. The great mountains that separated Gaul from our lands was virtually impregnable. The only real way to gain entry was to the north of the mountains and to the south. This was where the mountains met the coast and the terrain a bit more forgiving. Ditalkos ordered a fort built to the northern entrance and it was stocked with a small garrison. It was more of a deterrent than an imposing blockade. Armies that are to enter Iberia would now have to pass on our side of the mountains.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/244-1.jpg
Lutros and I took mounts south along the coastal road to Arse. Here we found a substantial trading vessel and the winter winds pushed us south at a brisk pace. In a few weeks we found ourselves approaching the port of Gader. As we disembarked we paid the merchants a fair fee and took our mounts up the coastal road and into the hills. In two years the nobles of the region had transformed the hillsides of this land into beautiful estates.
Several years ago I had planted grapes from Sicily. They were growing quickly and it appeared a harvest was in sight! It would be a small one, but a harvest nonetheless. The olives had grown immensely from their destruction and were taller than a man. Small olives would be found come summer. Other vineyards and groves were covering the hills but I had already secured contracts for my harvests. I hired an expert from Sicily to supervise the production of my first vintage of wine. It would probably only be a few dozen bottles, but it was a start. The Vintner was impressed on my selection of where to place the grove and surmised that they would do well. In less than 10 years it would be at full production.
Lutros's boys were growing by leaps and bounds. They were seven and hardly recognized their father. Both were enrolled in school. However Loio would grow impatient at his studies and would rather go outside and play. Castulo the younger would almost have to be forced outside to play. As we watched the boys and interacted with them during the winter it became apparent that Loio was the warrior and Castulo the younger the scholar. Although they were not my children I was treated at their grandfather. Loio wanted to go to war with his dad. Castulo simply wanted to be anywhere quiet so he could read. Already he had devoured much of the text in the library. I took him to Gader and we found merchants that had old manuscripts. I also bought him a scribe kit so that he could write his thoughts down. Of course Loio tried to stab Castulo with his new writing quill. Boys will be boys it would seem.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/244-3.jpg
***
At the turning of the sun at midwinter we prepared for our journey north. The only good thing about fighting in the north is that the winters last longer so It gives us time to come home. Lutros was ecstatic about finally seeing Emporion. Although 20 years my younger he was still very much like that young man I found in Numantia so long ago. Another spring would be upon us soon. The men would rouse from their winter and another year of bloodshed would be upon us.

[Shylence]

lovely jubbly

[Reality=Chaos]

Nice. I liked the family interaction bit. Methinks you are grooming a new Castulo for when you decide that this one will die (he's got what 10 to 20 years left, or is he going to be one of these incredibly old people)

[Disciple of Tacitus]

An unexpected pleasant suprise - another chapter!

[Chirurgeon]

An unexpected pleasant suprise - another chapter!
thank you. I will have another one tonight. I


lovely jubbly
Thanks :)


Nice. I liked the family interaction bit. Methinks you are grooming a new Castulo for when you decide that this one will die (he's got what 10 to 20 years left, or is he going to be one of these incredibly old people)

:shrug: who knows. I guess you will have to wait and see :)

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I love the pictures you use. They add a great feal to your AARs.
(Crush those dirty Gauls!)

[Chirurgeon]

I love the pictures you use. They add a great feal to your AARs.
(Crush those dirty Gauls!)

Thank you MAA. I was in the Pyranees two summers ago and I think its one of the most gorgeous places on the planet. Its been fun scourering for pictures online.I have been following your AAR as well. It broke my heart to see all those Iberians dying before your armies :( Anyway keep up the good work.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXI - In the Shadow of the Army
Spring 571 YAF (243 BC)
It took longer than anticipated but we found the Army and joined them in winter camp. The winter was long but the men seemed to deal with it well. Soon the army would be moving again. Our forces were prepared for the march to our goal: Emporion.
By late spring we were at the city. Its walls stood before us. Not imposing and the garrison was not enormous. Siege lines were dug. Now the waiting began. Ditalkos did not want to charge into the city. Rather he wanted the Arverni to fight him for it. It was an interesting strategy.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII.jpg

On our way to the city we were followed. A small group of riders shadowed our movement. With light horse they could not be caught if pursued and they always stayed just on the edge of our vision. I asked Lutros who he thought they were. "Arebasico" is all he said. I nodded. I told Lutros how furious I was about how Ditalkos banished his son. Lutros was surprised. "You killed the man that was responsible for the death of your family. Shouldn't you put it all behind you now?" He looked back at the path in front of him. "Yes I suppose so." I looked down at the mane of my horse. For whatever reason I could not let it go. Killing Hasdrubal had not ended my suffering and it had not brought my family back. I took the life of a man in the most brutal form possible and yet I still felt empty. How could I replace that emptiness? I brought the conversation back to Arebasico. "Why does he linger Lutros? He must have so much hate for his father." I asked quietly. Lutros shrugged and looked at me. "Perhaps its all he knows. I mean he can't go into the land of the Arverni. They would not accept him. He tried to kill their king!" Lutros took a deep breath and looked at the distant ridge to our left. "I suppose he will hide in the wilderness that surrounds the great mountains. More than likely he will follow us to see how the war transpires." I thought about how miserable he must be. I still think back to the night he was drug out of the encampment. In one bout of liquid courage he became an orphan to his own people. The very people he was meant to rule.
***
The terrain of the land and its geography is quite varied. We left Vellika and as we traveled toward the great sea the vegetation as a rule become shorter and the climate more dry. The land along the Ebro river however was quite green and fertile. Many small villages are located on this river. Villages could also be found on the minor rivers that entered the Ebro. The terrain was tough to get through and required substantial effort to make adequate progress. The great mountains, the Pyrenees, to our north could be seen as marched south of them.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/243-1.jpg
Sheep and goats were moved up and down the slopes leading to the Ebro river according to the season. The snow melt was substantial and the people of this region would plant their crops to coincide with this melting. Multitudes of fish and birds could be found as well. The closer to the mountains we passed the less dry the vegetation.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/243-4.jpg
The trees that resided on the slopes of the mountain were quite tall and straight. Many of these trees kept their leaves year round while others shed their leaves as a warning of incoming winter.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/243-3.jpg
Having skirted these great mountains for a year gave me pause as to their breadth. Indeed it is a formidable boundary to those that wish to enter Iberia.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/243-2.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXII - One Banner
Spring 572 YAF (242 BC)

The Arvernii have been busy dealing with the remaining resistance in the north. The Aeudii in their capital have repelled several attacks. However their population and garrison is dwindling. I fear they will not be able to fight for long.
Spring came and with it some relief forces from the north for their last foothold on Iberia. Ditalkos was able to repel the attackers. The battles are hardly worth mentioning save one thing. One group of giant men wearing no clothing and armed with massive swords were able to inflict terrible casualties on our light troops. I rode with the bodyguard of Ditalkos to investigate. They were beautiful specimens. Muscles flowed and their movements looked like they carried no effort. I would watch them get wounded and they simply did not stop fighting. What sort of man would fight when outnumbered and wounded? Is it bravery or foolish pride? I could not tell but after the battle Ditalkos had hoped we had seen the last of them. A scary lot they were. I suspect all types of warriors will show up for this war.
Fighting For Emporion:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-3.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-4.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-5.jpg

***
After the two small battles the city of Emporion had enough. In the summer they surrendered. Euphoria erupted from the men. Iberia had been united. It took 30 years of constant battle. There were many setbacks. First the independent tribes had to be united. Then Kart-Hadastim had to be removed. At least their military presence. The merchants and nobles stayed due to Ditalkos warm policy. Finally war with the Arvernii erupted when the Cantabrii elected to leave the confederation.
It has been a hard road for this nascent nation and for me personally. I lost my family, but gained a new one. I lost my estate, but had it rebuilt. Many people have lost so much due to the persistence of war. One banner now flew over the lands. Iberia, and all her peoples, were united. Ditalkos disbanded the tribal elders council that met every winter. His rationale was that members would always want independence. Independence would divide Iberia and leave her vulnerable to attack. For she sat on a sea of resources that anyone in the world would love to possess. Ditalkos was a true king with absolute power. However, from what I have witnessed, he has used that power only to benefit the cause of Iberia.
Ditalkos allowed many of the men to leave and return in the spring. I stayed along with Lutros. We toured the city and found ourselves at the most gorgeous of structures. A city within a city. A group of ancient temples replete with its own housing and academy.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-7.jpg
These temples were from Greece. As we toured I met many of the Greek residents of this city. Further east along the coast of Gaul was its mother city, Massalia. Emporion had become a colony of a colony. However it retained much of its Hellenic nature. Lutros, as I suspected, was absolutely enthralled. He walked amongst the gardens and statues. He ran his finger over the statue of Hygeia and other Greek gods. He marveled at the writing. I watched him as a father would watch a son. In many ways Lutros was my son. He did not mind me "fathering" him. I know it is out of sympathy for my losses. However I swore an oath to take care of him should his father die. Lutros spent the summer learning from the great minds that still lived here. Ditalkos was also impressed with the grandness of the temple complex. In talking to the populace he assured them that no more harm would come to Emporion. Death, war, and famine would end for these noble people. Many of the tribes that called this area home had adapted their fighting techniques to incorporate Hellenic tactics. Many of these men used the famous Hoplite template. However they added their own native flair. Its a curious blend of peoples. One that was accepting of foreign rulers so as they looked after the safety of the city.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/rebel_massiloi_hoplitai.gif

***
As the fall came we left for the estate on the hills outside of Gader. It had been two years since returning to the estate. Much had changed. The key feature was voracious growth. The vines of the estate had produced a good harvest.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/242-1.jpg
My Vintner had said the soil was generating a unique flavor that left the mouth a bit dry but also tingly. He said it reminded him of a spice called Cumin which originated very far to the east. Interestingly enough, a merchant in Kart Hadastim offered to buy the entire vintage for a rather hefty price. My wine apparently was all the rage back in Kart-Hadastim and the nobles their could not get enough. The first vintage produced only 20 bottles. Last year nearly 40 bottles and this year 50 bottles would be produced.
The Olives were also producing. They too seemed to relish the combination of hot dry days and cool damp nights. The dew that formed on the fruits seemed to be pulled inside the developing plants.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/242-3.jpg
Lutros wife seemed to have quite the green thumb and had harvested a large yield of various herbs to be used in cooking. Oregono, Basil, Rosemary, and Thyme to name a few. She saved the jasmine flowers and made a delicious tea with it.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/242-4.jpg
Medicinal plants were also grown that could treat stomach ailments and wounds. I spent the winter sampling wines from other regions of the world. Wines from Greece were my favorite. I spent my evenings outside under the arbor watching the sun drop into the great sea to the west. The water extinguishing it each night. Each morning it would rise from the east as if reborn. This winter was particulary nice as I watched Lutros's boys, who were now nine years, play in the fields around the house. Lutros and his wife and I drank our wines and ate plates of fish that had been salted and mixed into Olives all covered by the oil of the olive. Herbs were added and it made for a filling meal.
I felt so far away from all the fighting in the north. However come spring we would return to the battlefront. Lutros talked continuously about the Greeks of Emporion and how much he wanted to return to see them. I looked out at the orange disc of the sun as it kissed the distant ocean and thought that we would soon be seeing more than just Greeks.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXII-6.jpg

[Reality=Chaos]

What are you going to do now you have the peninsula under your control? besides having a huge brawl with the Averni that is. Can't wait to see how this will go.

[Chirurgeon]

What are you going to do now you have the peninsula under your control? besides having a huge brawl with the Averni that is. Can't wait to see how this will go.

A huge brawl indeed :)

[CaesarAugustus]

Wow that was a lot of catching up I had to do!:beam: The characters, epic battles, and beautiful pictures that characterize this AAR make it an absolute pleasure to read, Chirurgeon! :2thumbsup: :balloon2:

[General Appo]

Yaayy!! Now, on to Das Rhine!!! While your at it, take Bocchoris, lots of opressed Iberians there begging to be freed from Carthaginian rule. And then maybe the Nuraghi will feel opressed, and then maybe the Sicilians, and before you know it, the Indians will be feeling opressed and it´ll be your duty to free them.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice update.
You've got all of Iberia! This is the point at which I start to loose interest in barbarian factions. Good luck with your 'brawl'!

[thelord]

Nice, I'm looking forward to your upcoming war with the Arverni, your empires around the same size so will be very interesting.

[Chirurgeon]

Nice, I'm looking forward to your upcoming war with the Arverni, your empires around the same size so will be very interesting.
Yes we are evenly matched. It could be a long war.


Wow that was a lot of catching up I had to do!:beam: The characters, epic battles, and beautiful pictures that characterize this AAR make it an absolute pleasure to read, Chirurgeon! :2thumbsup: :balloon2:
Thank you sir! I am glad you continue to enjoy it :)


Yaayy!! Now, on to Das Rhine!!! While your at it, take Bocchoris, lots of opressed Iberians there begging to be freed from Carthaginian rule. And then maybe the Nuraghi will feel opressed, and then maybe the Sicilians, and before you know it, the Indians will be feeling opressed and it´ll be your duty to free them.
Ha ha right now I am going to be busy enough with the Arverni


Nice update.
You've got all of Iberia! This is the point at which I start to loose interest in barbarian factions. Good luck with your 'brawl'!
I could stop at this point and just keep an army on either side of the Pyrenees. However I will move north to break the Arverni Hold on the region.

thanks everyone for following!

[Disciple of Tacitus]

What a great way to end the day - a pleasant cup of coffee and 2!! installments of my favorite AAR. Although it sounds like perhaps Castulo's days in Gader may have been nicer. A glass of wine with a couple hours of EB sounds like a great idea. I'm off.

ps. Will Lutros be studying in Emporium? I dread the coming war with the Averni. What level are your MICs now, I see you have most of the troop types, unless I am mistaken.

[Chirurgeon]

What a great way to end the day - a pleasant cup of coffee and 2!! installments of my favorite AAR. Although it sounds like perhaps Castulo's days in Gader may have been nicer. A glass of wine with a couple hours of EB sounds like a great idea. I'm off.

ps. Will Lutros be studying in Emporium? I dread the coming war with the Averni. What level are your MICs now, I see you have most of the troop types, unless I am mistaken.

Lutros has become quite the warrior. Besides he is in his 30s now. He won't be spending much time in Emporion. However his sons will.The Mics are almost at the highest level in Arse, Numantia, Pallantia, and Vellika. That is where my troops mainly come from. Kinda disappointed though I thought that Numantia would produce better troops than Milites. Yes Castulo loves his estate. Thanks for following. :)

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXIII - Camp Life
573 YAF (241 BC)

We arrived back to camp in the waning weeks of winter. The winter had been somewhat milder than in the past. As we approached Emporion and headed north of the city the sheer number of warriors was impressive. Ditalkos had sent riders to all the cities of the land requesting aid. Ditalkos was planning on an invasion. He wanted to break the Arverniis grip on the land. Two armies had gathered on the coastal plain north of Emporion. One army was full of raw recruits which underwent training. Blacksmiths and other craftsmen flocked to Lacetania to offer their services. These raw recruits were put through vigorous exercises which were designed to make them better warriors. I spent some time at the recruit camp led by Atu, son of Ditalkos. In the center of the camp was the tent of Atu and all around him were the cavalry. The camp was next to a stream which provided them with water and sanitation. Defecation occurred some distance away as it was know that defecating near clean water would make you sick. Outside the mass of tents were the craftsmen. I watched the blacksmiths work with iron to melt it into sharpened spears. The main line of the army used these spears. Most of these men were from central Iberia and used a long spear that was well balanced. The end of the spear was pure iron and square in shape at the attachment and then tapered to a wicked point. These spears were all metal and quite heavy. I have seen the men that wield them punch through armor as if through parchment. A terrifying weapon indeed. Our enemies in Gaul used spears as well but often only the tip was metal and it did not have the same weight or penetrating power. However the lighter spears allowed them to be used more deftly than all metal ones. Iberian spearmen would stand in a long line and rely on their companions to form a wall. However they also were formidable when charging. Often charging into the ranks and the momentum sending their all metal spears through shield and men alike.
The light troops of the army used small circular shield but were adept at countering blows. Watching them train against each other was like watching two dancers in some sort of dance of death. Speed, not power enabled these Caetrati to parry and block. They whirled and danced with their falcatas, each move trying to make their opponent miss. The men watching the training would sing and clap in unison to the tune of the battle between the two men. They practiced with wooden swords so that they may feel an impact but they would live to fight again. They wore the lightest armor. They were extremely fast and had an incredible endurance. They could be seen running through the fields around the camp chasing rabbits and other game to maintain their agility. They were encouraged to capture game with their bare hands. Only a few had achieved this and when they did it was quite an honor. To lead these light troops their officers had to pass this test where they could catch small game with their bare hands. Training in this manner made these troops incredibly efficient fighters. They tended to fight far apart from each other so that they can have room to use their maneuvers.
I rode north out of the recruiting camp and made my way the half mile or so towards the main camp. Here the men trained as well. The light troops doing their dances. Heavier armed troops would actually partake in mock battles and practice various maneuvers. It was clear to me that this army was highly disciplined and quite potent. However it had not been challenged in a very long time with a capable force. Not since the Arevacii assembled a massive army in the defense of Numantia had its fate been tested. Surely that would change in the future.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/241-1.jpg
***
Food for such a large gathering of men was of interest. The armies of greater societies like the Greeks and Kart-Hadastim would rely on wagon trains that would have to haul not only the food but also the means of cooking it. The men of Iberia prepared their food much differently.
Often one man would carry with him a variety of tubers that could be stored for a long period of time. His equipment and clothing would be carried by the rest of his tribe. For every ten men or so there was a designated man that did most of the cooking. This cooking was done in ways that is unknown to many others. During winter camp special tents were set up that basically allowed meat to be cured. The flocks of sheep that many of the men were familiar with, as they were herders as well, could be used for meat. This mutton was preserved and dried and then distributed to the men to eat when there was much marching to be done. In addition the goats that were kept had many females that bore milk. Much of the food was cooked in the stomachs of the animals they killed. Stuffing the stomachs of slaughtered sheep and goats with meat and a wide range of vegetables made for a heavy meal. These stomachs were placed in sand right next to the fires and after several hours had cooked from the heat. They were then washed off in a stream and opened to reveal a delicious stew. Cheese could be made as well. Milk placed in the stomachs could be kept in large piles of leaves and other plant material and after a few weeks a soft, albeit bitter, cheese would emerge. After a time the cheese would dry and could be wrapped in cloth and be eaten while on the march. The Iberians were deft hunters as well. They could use slings to disable their prey. As many of the men had been used to chasing predators away from the flocks they were proficient hunters. During the late spring, fish would come up from the lower rivers to lay their eggs and the men would trap them, using all sorts of tactics. The Iberian army ate well and generally lived off the land. However an army this large may need some supplemental food. Ditalkos bought grain from ships that traveled from Sicily. The great city of Syracuse was a long time trading partner of Emporion. From Sicily came wonderful grains that could be distributed to the army and ground up and made into cakes. Again these cakes can be dried and used for quite some time. Olives and grapes also supplemented their meals. The men rarely drank ale or other alcohols during campaign because they had to be ready for anything. However while encamped outside of cities it was not unusual for the men to make their way to town for a taste of the brew.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/241-2.jpg
***
In late autumn a rider came in from one of the sentry points to the south and west of our encampment. Apparently a group of warriors were setting up camp about a half days walk from our main camp. They asked to speak to Ditalkos in person. I was busy sketching some of the fighting scenes I had watched the day before. Ditalkos asked If I would ride with him. He said he had a suspicion as to what this was all about.
We arrived at the camp in the late morning. What I saw was a combination of terror and fascination. In front of was a line of infantry all nearly identical. They had beautifully carved shields and very effective spears. Their armor was of a scale fashion. Made of tiny bronze scales it caught the sunlight perfectly and made the men sparkle. Underneath this small bronze scale armor was chain mail. I had never seen anything like it. The most disturbing aspect of their armor was what was on their heads. They had a beautiful bronze circular helm but attached to it was chain mail that was like fabric. It covered all but their eyes. They were large men. They had to be in order to carry the weight of their armor. I kept staring at them. Never had I seen a warrior without a face. Never had I seen a man so heavily armored.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_dosidataskeli.gif
One of the soldiers approached and bowed slightly before Ditalkos. Ditalkos returned the nod. "I am Orivado. I am the leader of the men you see behind me. I come on behalf of the Vasci King Redobova."
Ditalkos looked puzzled. "I thought your kind were a legend. It is true then. You are the famed Dosidataskeli. You are tasked with guarding your king."
Orivado nodded slowly. With the veils on it was quite difficult to see emotions. He could have been smiling and I would have never known. Ditalkos continued, "Yet when we conquered Cantabria you did not come to the aide of the Cantabrii?"
"Yes we make our home in the great mountains and rarely do we take sides in a conflict. Our isolation allows us to decide who to side with. Our king wished to see who would be stronger. The death of the Verrix was an omen to our people. King Redobova believes that the Iberians are the ones chosen to win this war. King Redobova believes that Iberia is gifted with a great king. He wishes to express his honor by offering our services for your army."
Ditalkos smiled and nodded again. "You are most welcome to fight with us. Your legend of greatness will alone scare our foes."
Orivado nodded again. He then departed back to his tent and I rode with Ditalkos and some of his body guard back to our own camp. He looked at me. "I am glad they choose to fight with us instead of the Arverni." I shook my head with disbelief. "I fear all would be lost should we face an army of them and those naked men." Ditalkos laughed lightly. "Yes my dear Castulo. I believe you are correct."
I turned back at him my brows in a frown. "How will you employ them in your army?" Ditalkos looked ahead for a long moment. "Do you remember the game my men play when they have to walk down a skinny tree on its side and not fall off?" Yes I do. I was a bit confused but I let him continue. "You may also remember an occasional man that would reach out and shove the man on the log. This would cause him to lose his balance. Battle is about balance. At the point at which a battle could turn for the good or worse I will use those men to shove the enemy off the log." He was looking ahead. His mind was obviously processing what had just happened. When spring arrived we would press North of the mountains and into Gaul.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/241-3.jpg

[Khazar_Dahvos]

What can I say always a pleasure!!!!!!!:book:
I cannot wait to see what those juggernauts can do in battle. Never seen em in action myself(take good screens of them in battle:beam: )

[Reality=Chaos]

Waaah It's getting even better!:2thumbsup: Can't wait for the big battle

[Chirurgeon]

Waaah It's getting even better!:2thumbsup: Can't wait for the big battle


What can I say always a pleasure!!!!!!!:book:
I cannot wait to see what those juggernauts can do in battle. Never seen em in action myself(take good screens of them in battle:beam: )

Thanks guys I will have an update on Thursday.

[Frodge]

Chirurgeon you have me on the edge of my seat, hurry up with the next chapter so i can see what will happen.

[Midnj]

I gauge the greatness of an AAR by how much I want to play the faction in the AAR.

Let's just say I abandoned my other game 120 turns in... great job.

[Chirurgeon]

I gauge the greatness of an AAR by how much I want to play the faction in the AAR.

Let's just say I abandoned my other game 120 turns in... great job.
Haha glad I could help you decide :) I think you will like them alot. Its really cool watching a faction go from one province to something much greater. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for commenting


Chirurgeon you have me on the edge of my seat, hurry up with the next chapter so i can see what will happen.
Alright you got it :)

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXIV - Into Gaul
574 YAF (240 BC)

We left Iberia having passed east of the wondrous Pyrenees. Many of the men offered sacrifices to the various gods. It was a beautiful terrain. As we passed north of the great mountains and headed inland the land became slightly more forested. The trees were taller and the grass a little greener. Finally the road led to capital of the dominant tribe of this region. For nearly twenty years the Verrix had annexed the Volcae tribe into the Arvernii confederacy. However they had significant contact with us in trade. Iberians could be found here although they were a minority compared to the Celts.
***
By late spring we arrived at the city of Tolosa. They seemed to be ready in that the garrison was great. The walls were quite formidable. Made of stone they could resist any great foe, us included. Ditalkos ordered the city surrounded.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-5.jpg
Ditalkos had no intention of charging into this heavily fortified city. Instead we would wait them out and face the Arverni in a great battle.
We would not have to wait long. By midsummer the Arverni had scrapped together a force that was to challenge us. It was lead by a local chieftain and not a great warlord as Ditalkos had hoped. The last hold of the Aeudi slipped from Gaul and now the Arverni could turn their full attention upon us. With only a few independent tribes far to the north the only threat was us. The relief army arrived within a few miles of the city and Ditalkos ordered the men to be drawn up for battle.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-6.jpg
The slingers were posted in front of the main force in order to harass the enemy as they came at us. The spearmen were the anchoring force. They braced for impact as spearmen of the enemy charged headlong into our ranks.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-7.jpg
While the enemy pinned down the main battle line they attempted to flank that main battle line. Ditalkos ordered the light troops to flank the flankers and soon the left flank turned into a dusty maelstrom of men, blood, and screams.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-8.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIv-9.jpg

For a while it was chaos until the cavalry charged in and routed the flankers.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-10.jpg

The enemy chieftain rallied his men having them charge into the main battle line over and over.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-11.jpg

He himself led a charge and was struck and fallen.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-16.jpg
Soon chaos ruled the hour and the many men of the enemy threw down their weapons and fled. Ditalkos ordered the cavalry into the retreating men, slaughtering many.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-12.jpg

It was at this moment that the garrison from Tolosa arrived on the field.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-13.jpg
Some of the garrison ran into our lines and this time the heavy infantry was ordered to go in and make a mess of things. The unit stationed next to Lutros charged into the enemy causing panic.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-14.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-15.jpg

Some of the garrison was killed and as a result the size of the garrison was much smaller. In the spring Ditalkos would have to make a decision as to whether or not he should charge the town.
***
As winter approached word from Iberia was that of a population boom. The return of the men to their wives a year ago and the burgeoning trade of the Confederacy has led to a large increase in the population of the coastal cities. Merchants were returning to Iberia since peace has reigned for some time now.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-3.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-1.jpg
The men took even greater measures in preparing themselves for the coming cold. The land north of the Pyrenees was brutally cold in the winter. The people of this land had no interest in becoming part of Iberia. But they also understood that when the Verrix went to war, that their territory would be at risk for capture should the Verrix fail.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIV-17.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

Statistician pops into thread..."You have 10,000 views!" Wow thanks so much EB community. You guys keep me going and I must say that I could not have done it without you. From the lurkers to my regulars a heartfelt Thanks!

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Great update as always!!!!!!!! Looking forward for more!!!!!:beam:

[Chaotix]

Keep it up! Nothing can stop the Iberians now!

[Frodge]

Mmmm Iberian goodness, nice update Chirurgeon

[CaesarAugustus]

You should take the Balearic Isles, Iberia doesn't seem quite complete without them. :whip: And you'll have a source of slingers, too.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXV-Tolosa
575 YAF (239 BC)

At the arrival of Spring Ditalkos made the decision to charge into the city. Rams would not take the walls of the city. Ladders would have to be used.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-3.jpg
Two units of Spearmen on either side of the main gate were charged with scaling the walls. They would release the gate and allow the rest of the forces to enter.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-1.jpg
The spearmen climbed the ladders using their shields over their heads to fend off projectiles.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-4.jpg
Soon they were pouring over the wall and fighting for its control. With a small garrison the resistance on the walls was minimal.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-7.jpg
Soon the walls were captured, the gates undone, and the rest of the spearmen poured in.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-5.jpg
A desperate fight ensued behind the main gate.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-6.jpg
Soon the Celts were running for the center of town. The spearmen pursued and a new battle erupted for control of the center of town.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-8.jpg
Their chieftain fought hard and slew many men.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-9.jpg
However great his fighting prowess he could not contend with an organized attack meant to wear out the enemy.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-10.jpg
Before long it was over and Tolosa had fallen.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-11.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-12.jpg
It would take the better part of a day to clean up the dead and offer a proper funeral. Pyres were erected and the warriors of both sides were sent skyward by great flames. It is always a sad thing to see so many dead. However the sacrifice of these men would ensure a peace that would last a very long time.
***
Ditalkos was approaching his sixth decade. Although still fit and quite agile for his age, at some point he would have to remove himself from battle. He would allow his son to lead the army and try to teach him what he had learned. Atu was brave enough. But was he smart enough to use the men before him in a worthy command. Time would tell.
Having placed a garrison in Tolosa the army marched west across the northern face of the Pyrenees. Soon we crossed a river and into a more forested area. The trees were lush and green. Many had white trunks. Our guides led us across this landscape of rugged hills and thick forests.
North Side of The Pyrenees:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/239-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/239-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/239-3.jpg
We followed the general course of the river until we arrived at another city.
As we traveled west and north along the river, the members of the Volcae tribe, showed us the best way. Ditalkos after victory decided not to sack the town and this bridged the divide between the Volcae and ourselves. Another tribe however did not welcome our presence.
The Aquitanians had rested their hopes with the Arverni confederation. The lands of these people were lush. However to the west lay the great sea. The lands closer to the ocean was poor and did not hold crops well. Our Volcae scouts said that gold and silver could be found in the mountains to the south. Yet another reason to control this territory. The Aquitanians were actually a conglomeration of a multitude of tribes. Too many to be listed here but rest assured none of them wanted to be under Iberian rule.
***
By late autumn we had reached Burgidala. This stronghold was the major city in the region. These people had traded with the Cantabrians for years but because the Cantabrians were so isolated from the rest of Iberia, there was not much holding our two nations together. Atu ordered Siege lines constructed around the city and in the spring it was felt our forces would take the city. He hoped, like Ditalkos, that this would draw another Arverni army out of Gaul and force them to give battle on our terms.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXV-14.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

Great update as always!!!!!!!! Looking forward for more!!!!!:beam:
Yes it has been fun doing this AAR. In some ways its my favorite. I still can't believe I started with one province. Thanks for following and commenting :)


Keep it up! Nothing can stop the Iberians now!
History is always full of twists and turns...however things are going nicely I must say.


Mmmm Iberian goodness, nice update Chirurgeon
:yes: I thank you.


You should take the Balearic Isles, Iberia doesn't seem quite complete without them. :whip: And you'll have a source of slingers, too.
Kart Hadastim is still bitter about what happened with their colonies. We have not heard the last of them. For now all focus is on Gaul however.

[General Appo]

Great update. Though I still maintain that taking the Baleares should be of outmost priority. You probably won´t even need a big army anyway, it´s usually left almost undefended. Can´t you hear its oppressed natives crying out to be saved? Oh well, I´m sure you´ll take it sometime, even if it takes year to get to that point.

[Ayce]

Whoah, Lusotanna vs Arverni - the clash of the titans, that is vveerryy ahistorical.
Good updates BTW!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXVI - The March of Victory
Late Winter 576 YAF (238 BC)

You could tell we were further north than we had been ever before. The winds bit harder and clothing never seemed to be enough. Rarely did your body feel warm. Respites during the winter, common in Iberia, almost never occured. The cold seemed to filter into everything. The enemy must have known this. In the waning month of winter we were challenged for control of Burdigala. A small relief force of less than a thousand men challenged our hold on the city. The tribes of the Aquitanians had sent out riders and calls for aid. The arrival of this small but determined force was enough to draw out the garrison of the city. Ditalkos had been in camp and was planning on leaving in the spring. Now he would have to fight one more battle.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-2.jpg
The men were lined up to greet the main army from the garrison.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-3.jpg
The Caetrati, our light troops that seemed to dance with their enemies, were ordered to engage the smaller relief force. The Caetrati ran through the grass towards their enemy as if floating instead of running.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-4.jpg
The spread out into a long line and our slingers fired stones of great insult into the small force. Meanwhile Ditalkos ordered his spearmen into a single line, five men deep. On the right flank was a small farm, and its structures were used to anchor the flank. Behind the spearmen were the heavy infantry. In reserve were the great veiled warriors. Cavalry and ditalkos himself surveyed the scene from the rear of his army.
The celtic spearmen poured onto our lines like gushing water. A caucaphony of noise was heard as shields and men slammed together.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-5.jpg
The impact of so many men pushed the main line a bit backwards. The left flank was clearly taking the brunt of the attack, while the chieftain, repeadedly attacked the middle of our line.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-6.jpg
He could be seen whirling his sword around. He was whipping his men up into a ferver.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-7.jpg

The contest pitting the Caetrati against the relief force had gone terribly for the enemy. The Caetrati spread themselves out and when the enemy charged into the line all the cohesion was broken. The spearmen could no longer use his brother to shield him. The agility and dexterity of the Caetrati cut the spearmen to pieces. They could not defend themeselves when disarrayed. The relief army was routed and the Caetrati ordered to take up a position off of our left flank. At the right moment Ditalkos would have them attack the Celts that were wrapping themselves around the left flank. Several of the Spearmen units were suffereing terribly. Some were down to half strength. He sent the order to the heavy infanty to ready their javelins and to brace themselves. As soon as the heavy infantry were in place and ready he sounded the retreat horn to the spearmen. They turn and ran between the glittering lines of Loricata Scutari. As they ran the Celts pursued. It was as if all the heavy infantry had been holding their breath. Finally they released that breath. Instead of air it was all metal javelins.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-9.jpg
The Sofilerarum punched through the ranks of Celts intent of catching their fleeting enemy. Several of their units began to question that pursuit as the men at the front of their lines had been turned into some sort of groteque target practice. Some of the Celts had two or three javelins in them. I even saw one after the battle that had been speard through his shield and looked as if he was wearing his shield for chest armor. The javelins were brutal but many of the Celts continued to run into the heavy infantry.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVi-10.jpg
Off to the left flank the slingers had been producing a murderous rain into the backs of the units now trying to flank the heavy infantry.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-8.jpg
The Caetrati having rested now charged into the rear of those flanking units. At almost the same time, the war leader fell causing much panic.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-11.jpg
The Arverni broke rank and ran for the city. However they were exhausted from their fighting and long march and our cavalry having waited patiently during the fight was quite fresh. Ditalkos instructed them to kill all before them and they did just that.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-12.jpg
On a cold winter day we routed an enemy in their own land. They were sent fleeing across the Garrone river. Thank gods for the cold because the stench of so many bodies would have been overwhelming. Burdigala was captured.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-13.jpg
With so many Celts in one place that could rise up against us in the future, Ditalkos ordered all the men of fighting age put to the sword. Brutal, but in the long run it was hoped to provide stability.
***
As spring arrived Ditalkos met with the men and introduced them to his son. Many of the men knew and respected Atu because he had help train them. It was Atu's responsibility to train new arrivals in the fine skills of fighting as a unit, instead of a man.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-1.jpg
Ditalkos was leaving. He was nearing sixty and wished to go to Emporion. Here he was having a royal estate built and asked me to join him. I told him I wished I could but I had my own estate to deal with. After the battle Atu turned the men around and recrossed the river north of Tolosa. Ditalkos and Atu had talked at length and they felt it was necessary to move to attack the capital of Gergovia. If Gergovia were to fall, all of southern Gaul would be in the hands of the Iberians. Atu was a smart man but very distrustful of strangers. Ditalkos had enacted a policy of immigration to southern Gaul by people of Iberia. Lusotannan was now the dominant language of the peninsula. Thirty years of conquest meant you could change even language patterns. Punic was also accepted as many of the coastal cities had more people of Punic descent. However the only acceptable language of the newly conquered regions was that of Lusitannan. Lusitannan was a strong cross between Celtic and Punic. The natives of Gaul could not as a rule speak it. Ebiduros Lusitann, the son of Latronos, was in charge of the new recruiting army. They followed the main army by several days and also carried much of the provisions. Now he was responsible for finding adequate land for migrating families out of Iberia. Ditalkos paid each head of the household for each person they brought to Gaul. These people began to pour across the Pyrenees into this new land. The Celts, unable to communicate and having their lands taken from them, simply left. Most fled north across the Garrone river. Some fled east towards the many tribes of the Alps. The Celts of this region were becoming second class citizens. Atu did not want to exterminate them. However he wanted Iberians to enjoy the spoils of victory.
***
With the army taking a long march and likely a long siege, Lutros and I took a month to visit the estate.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-14.jpg
It was the middle of summer and the boys were in Emporion being tutored by the great Greeks that lived there. We spent a few days visiting with them while we awaited the departure of a trading ship to Gader. Both boys were 13. Loio was fast becoming a warrior. Retired Greek soldiers, that resided in Emporion helped train Loio into a great warrior. He would not be allowed to fight however until he was 16. Ditalkos, upon his retirement, appointed new officers to several of the units. Lutros was thrilled that he was the new file leader of the Loricata Scutari that he fought in. His son was to take his place in that unit when he came of age. Lutros had the coin and resources to properly train his son. All of the Loricata Scutari had to be of nobility or sponsored by a noble. The armor alone was very expensive to maintain. Each scale of bronze armor had to constantly be inspected. The blacksmiths that maintained this beautiful armor were not cheap. Therefore that alone prevented most of the men from having such wonderful armor.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/lus_loricati_scutari.gif
Soon father and son would be fighting side by side. It made me remiss my own son but alas there was nothing I could do about that. I also feared that son could lose father or father could lose son.
Castulo the younger was absorbing the knowledge of the Greeks like a dry sponge placed in water. He loved his father but felt a strong connection to me. He wrote Greek nearly perfectly. I was amazed. My adopted grandson could write and speak in three languages. Lusotanan, Punic, and now Greek. He could speak some rudimentary Celt as well. We spent as much time as possible together before my departure back to the estate.
***
Lutros's wife and her relatives had taken up residence in the estate. That was fine with me. The grounds were immaculate and the plants massive. It had been almost four years since I had seen the place and i was incredibly impressed. The Grapes were in full glory. Here in the middle of summer the green pearls beneath the soft leaves were already growing day by day.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/2565524270045146464S200x200Q85.jpg
It would be another good harvest. The olives, having grown from the shattered trunks so many years ago, were three men high.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/matureolivetreewu8.jpg
They produced bountiful fruits of great quality. Summer was quite oppresive but the cool nights made up for it. It was a good feeling to be home again. However I knew that I must return. I talked to Lutros about having Castulo accompany me to the siege line at Gergovia. I told him that I wanted Castulo to learn how to observe and write as much down as possible. More importantly I wanted Castulo to take over what I had spent a lifetime doing. Castulo always wanted adventure but never thought that being a writer would entitle you to adventure. When I told him about my life he was jubilant about seeing things that I had seen. He would love to fight but never had the prowess of his brother. This was an opportunity for him to see his brother every day. The thought of being away from his brother upset him greatly. Lutros could think of nothing better than having both his son's with the army.
***
As the autumn winds shifted we caught another vessel back to Emporion and set out for Gergovia. This time we had a new fellow in our journey. Castullo rode with us and soaked it all up like a sponge in water.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVI-15.jpg

[CaesarAugustus]

Nice conquests in Gaul, though I still think Iberia's destiny lies in the south and east, not the North. Carthage might soon forget their past defeats, so maybe you should give them some new ones to remind them! Create a Spanish Morocco centuries early, and maybe take some of those western Mediterranean islands?

[Chirurgeon]

Nice conquests in Gaul, though I still think Iberia's destiny lies in the south and east, not the North. Carthage might soon forget their past defeats, so maybe you should give them some new ones to remind them! Create a Spanish Morocco centuries early, and maybe take some of those western Mediterranean islands?

I really must finish this war with the Arverni. You are correct of course but right now I cannot divide my forces. Kart Hadastim owns all of western Africa. From Mauretania to Kyrene is all theirs. I dare not try anything until I can consolidate the lands in Gaul. The Arvernii are a formidable threat and will not accept peace. Do not worry my friend...war with Kart-Hadastim is not over. They have been blockading my ports as of late. At some point I will have to deal with that. Thanks for the comments!

[General Appo]

Great update. How are things going with the Greeks in Massilia? From the sound of it, you´re really respective and all of the Greeks, to the point where they almost seem like the elfs in Tolkien stories, but the Greeks might not be so respective of you.

[Reality=Chaos]

@ general Appo. It's both castulo's that like the greeks a lot. Doesn't say much of the rest of lusotanna I think. I'm kinda sad Cause I have the feeling that Castulo the elder won't be with us for much longer~:mecry:

[Chirurgeon]

@ general Appo. It's both castulo's that like the greeks a lot. Doesn't say much of the rest of lusotanna I think. I'm kinda sad Cause I have the feeling that Castulo the elder won't be with us for much longer~:mecry:
As a whole the Iberians really don't hate or like the Greeks. The Greeks have not given reason either way. Castulo the elder liked the Greeks, however Castulo the younger feels an even greater connection due to his many years spent at Emporion. His brother has also been trained in Greek tactics.


Great update. How are things going with the Greeks in Massilia? From the sound of it, you´re really respective and all of the Greeks, to the point where they almost seem like the elfs in Tolkien stories, but the Greeks might not be so respective of you.
Massilia has become emboldened. They have a full stack inside the city. I am concerned about their intentions. However they have not done anything particulary worrisome.

[Theodotos I]

This is as good as ever, Chirurgeon. It doesn't look like you'll have too much with the Arverni, but be careful none the less. Good luck! :2thumbsup:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXVII - Gergovia
577 YAF (237 BC)
In the winter of 576 we arrived in Gergovia. A new year was upon us and as the sun began to make the days a bit longer, it was learned that the Verrix was inside the Capital. He was older than Ditalkos. He refused to come out because he would not meet with anyone less than a king.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVII-3.jpg
That was his choice. For the better part of a year we waited on the city. Atu knew that the men inside the city were elite. The naked men would no doubt greet us as we tried to break into the city fortress. The siege had been underway since the previous frostfall. It was hoped that the city would not make it a year. Atu had to make a decision as we waited. Would he wait till next year or attempt to break into the city before the brutal winter. The men were surely in favor of staying in warm houses instead of cold tents.
***
In the summer we were attacked by a small band of men that seemed to be more of an irritant than an army. They were quickly dispatched. After this short battle, Atu made the decision to take the city by force. It was unknown how long they would last. Besides another development further complicated the issue. Arebasico was mettling in affairs across the Rhone river. Some how he had gotten into an altercation with some Greek troops outside of Massalia. Massalia having declared their membership with the Hellenic city states declared war on Iberia. The city was teeming with Greeks and sympathetic Celts. Time was of the essence to secure Southern Gaul before doing anything else The Governor of Massalia had made it clear he wanted Emporion and Arse to become directly tied to the City States of Greece. To further add insult to injury, Massalia and the Arverni sealed an alliance.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVII-1.jpg
No doubt designed to undermine our control in the region. Our own diplomats had been unsuccessful in brokering a peace. However we were in no position to cross the Rhone and quarrel with the Greeks. If they attacked that would be one thing. For now a wary eye would have to be kept on Massalia. Castulo the younger began to have mixed emotions about all this. Since he was Iberian he wanted the best for his people. However he had learned much from his Greek tutors at Emporion and felt a connection to the Greeks. The turmoil this created in the young man was similiar to my own feelings about the Iberians and Phoenicians.
***
Before frostfall of 577 Atu informed the men they were going to storm the town and take what they wished. Whether that was women or gold did not matter to him. However, the fight for the town would be brutal.
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In the early morning of a cool fall day, the ladders were prepared for their march to the walls. All five heavy infanty units would be used. Each having been assigned to a group of ladders.
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The ladders made it to the wall without much problem and soon the heavy infantry was climbing the walls. To the left of the gate were the ferocious naked warriors we encountered several years ago. Clearly they were the best warriors the Celts offered and defeating them would be difficult. I had no idea.
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One of the units of Loricata Scutari descended right into the middle of one of these naked men units. Despite our armor and training the entire unit of men were slaughtered. It was as if a great beast had swallowed them whole. Atu saw the chaos on the walls and rode his horse up to them to offer a moral support and encouragement. To the right of the gate the fighting also involved some of the naked men, but less than on the left. For an eternity our heavy infantry battled their way across the wall. We lost a disproportionate amount of men compared to them. Every inch was covered in blood and every foot a body lay. It was truly horrific. Finally the fighting on one side of the wall proved successful and the gatehouse was captured. Some of the medium spearmen had been deployed to the walls to reinforce the heavy infantry.
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The best men Iberia had to offer had taken a severe beating. They were exhausted and diminished. Their battle was over. They had opened the gates for the rest of the army. The Caetrati poured into the city and overwhelmed the defenders.
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A flight began to the center of the city and the Caetrati along with several units of spearmen ran towards the city center. The Verrix and one of his generals threw themselves into the fray.
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A sea of horses pushed our men backwards until finally both man and beast were exhausted.
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Finally the Verrix was thrown from his mount and succumbed to his wounds.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVII-13.jpg
The men were jubilant and pushed into the last bastion of resistance. In the center of the town, on a small wooden platform the last group of defenders did their best. It was not enough and we carried the day.
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The battle was costly. Many men died and more were wounded. Ebidurus rode to Emporion to muster more men to replace the ones lost. The only real nugget of goodness to come out of this was the fact that the men were able to spend the winter in a city with ample shelter. It would take a good amount of time to replenish and train the men that had been lost this day. I hoped this costly battle would have Atu reconsider before charging into a city with such high quality troops manning the walls. We spent the winter recovering from this brutal battle. Atu made the decision to move north and continue the invasion.
My time was over. I made the decision to retire. I handed over all my writings to Castulo the Younger and traveled back to Gader. It was a painful move, but one I felt necessary. Young Castulo had demonstrated his ability to write and he was honored with the task. I told him to write often. Many of the men cried when I told them I was leaving. I had been with this army since Tantalos. I felt that I had lived longer than my age. How many men could have seen what I seen, met who I met, and had this grand adventure fit for a conquering hero? I was privileged beyond anything I could imagine. I was going home and it was home I could think about all these things and appreciate life in its simplest forms.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVII-18.jpg

[Hooahguy]

great update! fighting against the Gaesatae on the walls must have been torture.....

[Olaf The Great]

Ah yes, Gaesatae on walls, impossible to beat in any way other than throwing your best troops at them, as the fortifications deflect arrows and rocks.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Great update!
Does KH have a large army in Massalia or a powerbase elsewhere to fund a war with you? It would be just like the AI to attack you from a small isolated city without any chance of reinforcement.

[CaesarAugustus]

NIce update! I hope that the Iberians will resist the temptation to tak Massalia, or they may soon have yet another enemy on their hands in the form of Rome...

[Chirurgeon]

NIce update! I hope that the Iberians will resist the temptation to tak Massalia, or they may soon have yet another enemy on their hands in the form of Rome...
Yes I am aware of this and because Massalia is isolated it will provide a buffer to Rome. Somehow Kart Hadastim regained Sicily. I do not know if it was an invasion or what but the Romans are reeling in the south. And they can't seem to break the defenses of Mediolanum.


great update! fighting against the Gaesatae on the walls must have been torture.....
My god you have no idea. I watched and entire unit of heavy infantry get completely destroyed...not one survivor. It took five units of heavy infantry and three units of medium spearmen to finally kill the Gaesatae. Those units were unable to do anything else. They were either gone, exhausted, or otherwise incapicated.


Ah yes, Gaesatae on walls, impossible to beat in any way other than throwing your best troops at them, as the fortifications deflect arrows and rocks.
tried to whittle them down with slingers...i think i killed two of them...lol


Great update!
Does KH have a large army in Massalia or a powerbase elsewhere to fund a war with you? It would be just like the AI to attack you from a small isolated city without any chance of reinforcement.
Massalia is by themselves. But they have a full stack of some decent infantry. If the Romans do attack they will be throwing men into a meat grinder. Things are getting very interesting in the current campaign thats for sure.
Thank you everyone for following...I hope to have another update tomorrrow night!

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Wow and I thought things could not get any more interesting.(other than a long grinding war with the gauls). Now you have a possible war with the greek city state of Massila. Great chapter as always Chirurgeon!!!!!!!!!!:beam:

[Reality=Chaos]

Great update once more. Those gaestatae were truly destructive. Things are getting ever more interesting aren't they. Maybe time for an alliance with the romans, to beat the Kart-hadastim? I can't wait for the fresh perspective of Castulo the Younger. I hope Castulo the older has a peaceful old day amongst the olive groves and vineyards.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXVIII - Two Journeys
578 YAF (236 BC)
I arrived at Emporion to find a city that was hotly divided. The city of Massalia had convinced the Greek residents of Emporion to throw off their shackles of occupation once more. Ditalkos was here and he stayed their loyalty. It was a tumultuous affair but in the end the Greek residents decided not to do anything. However if an army from Massalia or the Greek Cities showed up at the door of Emporion, what then? It was hoped that would never happen. I spent a wonderful week in early spring at the governors estate at Emporion. We talked about many things. He showed me his brothers journal which was of great interest. We laughed about certain things and reflected upon others. In many ways Ditalkos was like family to me. Few people could truly understand what his people truly have been through. As the borders of Iberia rapidly expand it becomes clear that ruling the lands will become more tedious. This business with the Greeks was a good example of that. After feasting on wonderful items and drinking the finest ale and wonderful wine I said my goodbyes. In reflection I knew that it would be the last time I saw the good king alive. Age was catching up to him fast. His son, Atu had demonstrated himself as a capable leader but was still somewhat young. He has not met the Ditalkos standard in my opinion.
I boarded a vessel heading south out of Emporion and I spent the weeks at sea reflecting on many things. I looked off the port side of the ship and could just barely see a landmass in the distance. These were the Belaric Isles and they were still firmly in control by Kart Hadastim. Ditalkos wished to journey there and capture the lucrative port but alas the Arverni made a mess of things. One day Iberia will own these also.
With fair winds and light seas our ship made good time and we arrived in Gader. I was welcomed most warmly by Lutros's wife and the estate was magnificent. Lutros's extended family now called the estate home. I gave the estate to Lutros who swore to keep it in fine condition. When I pass I know it will be in good hands. The estate was producing amazing quantities of wine. I elected to plant more grapes on an adjacent hill to the existing vineyard. The olives were to doing well.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/DancingWinterVines-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/olive_grove_al_koura_tn-1.jpg

Virtually no sign of their destruction remained. This years harvest would be a bit smaller as I saved the seeds to start a new grove. I had another house built and a nursery for new plants. It was a busy time for the estate and it did me good to see something else other than death and destruction. I spent my days using my hands to give life. At the end of summer I received a letter that arrived by ship from Emporion. I recognized the seal and handwriting. Castulo the Younger had written me. I sat down in the late afternoon with a goblet of wine and began to read what he wrote:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/578letter-1.gif
I gently unwound the second scroll and continued to read
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/578letter-2.gif
Battle of Viennos:
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I sat there for a moment running my fingers over top of the wine goblet. I read the letter three times and tried to picture what it was like. I nodded slowly as I saw the battle and the campaign in my mind. So Atu was doing about what I thought he would. He is giving no quarter to the Arverni and has now killed two of their Verrix. Not bad at all. Clearly the situation in Gaul is chaotic. The various tribes must be at a loss of what to do. Atu has a golden opportunity to continue to wreak havoc until the Arverni can fight back. However, at this point their confederation may very well be on the brink of dissolution. With the defeat of the Allobroges, the Arverni have no more allies to the east of Gaul. Central and northern Gaul are all that remain in the confederation. These are interesting times indeed and I almost wished I had been there to see it. Those days are gone for me. For now the simple art of growing things will have to do for my entertainment.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXVIII-19.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

I bought a new graphics card for my computer so hopefully in the future the screenshots will be even more detailed. Although I don't think they look to bad right now. Wow 15 pages. Never thought I would see that. Thanks everyone!

[General Appo]

Nice update! Just make sure the Greeks aren´t able to use that big army of theirs, or you might have to make a second Arverni invasion thingy, what with FD´ing Emporion to the Greeks. By the way, are you sure you can´t spare a couple of units and a FM to take the Baleraric Isles, I´ve never seen the Qarthadastim guard them very well.

[Reality=Chaos]

Looking good there. You are really kicking Averni Ass. Do you want to utterly destroy them, or would you let them exist in a small way? The situation in Massilia is interesting as well.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

You should just conquer the Arverni and make a Transgalloiberian Empire!

[Chirurgeon]

You should just conquer the Arverni and make a Transgalloiberian Empire!
Its beginning to look like that isn't it? Thanks for following MAA


Nice update! Just make sure the Greeks aren´t able to use that big army of theirs, or you might have to make a second Arverni invasion thingy, what with FD´ing Emporion to the Greeks. By the way, are you sure you can´t spare a couple of units and a FM to take the Baleraric Isles, I´ve never seen the Qarthadastim guard them very well.
Yes I am worried about the Greeks but so far the seem to be minding their own business. For now the focus is in Gaul.


Looking good there. You are really kicking Averni Ass. Do you want to utterly destroy them, or would you let them exist in a small way? The situation in Massilia is interesting as well.
Atu feels the Arverni should not exist as a confederation anymore. They act as a dividing force in Iberia.

thank you all so much for the continued comments. I will have another update soon!

[Frodge]

Very nice, a pleaseure to read. Thanks Chirurgeon

[Reverend Joe]

Who painted the picture of the grape vines? I would swear his last name starts with a V... he' one of my favorite painters.

Edit: nevermind, I was thinking of Cezanne, but I can't tell if he did that one or not. I'm an amateur.

[Chirurgeon]

Who painted the picture of the grape vines? I would swear his last name starts with a V... he' one of my favorite painters.

Edit: nevermind, I was thinking of Cezanne, but I can't tell if he did that one or not. I'm an amateur.

Not sure of the painter. The painting is called Dancing Grape Vines or something like that.

[Reverend Joe]

Not sure of the painter. The painting is called Dancing Grape Vines or something like that.
Looks like it's just someone named Dana Hawley. Not bad, though.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

damn skippy!!!!!!!:book: :laugh4:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XXXIX - Full Circle
Spring 579 YAF (235 BC)
For the first time in a long time I was able to remember a spring while home. This was my second year away from the army and to be honest I wish I could see the men one more time. However now my place was here with my land. Lutros's wife and their family were the greatest. Each day we would arise with the sun and eat a light breakfast before tending to the land. I enjoyed the routine of the day. I took great pride in how the estate grew. As spring gave way to summer I began to wonder what the army of Iberia was up to. The port of Gader was getting increasingly busy, however Kart-Hadastim was making a mess of things further up the coast. Between Arse and Emporion the Republic was wreaking havoc. Their warships were attacking merchant vessels and even blockading ports. Over the last year they have grown quite brazen. No doubt the know that Iberia is extending her borders and influence far beyond the Pyrenees. As the grapes turned their distinct dark colors before harvest another letter arrived from Castullo the Younger. I eagerly wanted to know how he and the army were progressing in their campaign in Gaul.

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The Lands of Central Gaul:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/235-1.jpg
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https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/235-3.jpg
It was a good thing to hear from him finally. He seemed to be adjusting well to all the changes. I also realize that his twin brother is fighting with his father. I hope that the gods protect those three as they fight in a strange land. I should hope there is a respite in the fighting and they will be able to come home. However I am not sure if Castulo would rather live here or make his own place in Emporion. His connection to the Greeks that inhabit that city is strong and I suspect he would like to spend more time there.
The Battle of Lemonum:
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-3.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-4.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-6.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-7.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-8.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-9.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-10.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-11.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-12.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-13.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-14.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XXXIX-15.jpg

My connection, on the other hand, to this world is fading. I have enjoyed the last few years of my time living in great comfort and peace. A peace I have rarely felt and yet somehow knew it was always there. I wish I could see them again but I know the current campaign will take a long time to complete. The Arverni confederation is still strong apparently and their willingness to resist great. I have faith that Iberia will do well. The people are strong and the land worth fighting for. I have had a good life. I would have never imagined what was in store for me when I boarded that vessel in Kart-Hadast so long ago. I can be proud of what I have done. My documents are now in the safe and capable hands of my young apprentice. He will see that the people of the world see what has happened here. The story of Iberia is a great one and her triumph over great odds unique among tales. It is a story of the oppressed fighting back, and a people on the brink emerging from darkness. Iberia is in full bloom and I smile knowing that.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/L0286spanishsunset01.jpg

[Reverend Joe]

Beautiful. :2thumbsup:

In all honesty, though, the scroll things you are using are kind of an immersion breaker. I understand why you want to use them, but they look too much like something out of an early-90's computer game for my taste. Next time you need to show a communication like that, I would suggest you just put it in a quote box; I think that would actually be smoother.

[Chirurgeon]

Beautiful. :2thumbsup:

In all honesty, though, the scroll things you are using are kind of an immersion breaker. I understand why you want to use them, but they look too much like something out of an early-90's computer game for my taste. Next time you need to show a communication like that, I would suggest you just put it in a quote box; I think that would actually be smoother.

Well when I tried to find scroll or other old paper backgrounds on google images most of what came up I would have had to buy. You don't have to worry though, their won't be any more letters for a long time. I will try to do better next time.

[Chaotix]

Great update! How many cities do the Arverni have left?

[Chirurgeon]

Great update! How many cities do the Arverni have left?
5-7 I believe. Several are well developed with their best men. It should be a pretty good fight. Interesting thing is that there are 3-4 of those cities with full stacks but they won't leave those cities to meet me in open field battle. When I do siege a city often only one unit will come as a relief force. So much for a big battle lol.


Great update once more. Those gaestatae were truly destructive. Things are getting ever more interesting aren't they. Maybe time for an alliance with the romans, to beat the Kart-hadastim? I can't wait for the fresh perspective of Castulo the Younger. I hope Castulo the older has a peaceful old day amongst the olive groves and vineyards.

He has my friend. He died a happy man :)


Very nice, a pleaseure to read. Thanks Chirurgeon
thank you :)


damn skippy!!!!!!!:book: :laugh4:

Glad I could have a skippy update my friend. Trying to do one each day.

[Shylence]

Once again a good catch up, as usal on my way home from the pub i got started on by dickheads and morons.....I walk past on my own.... on the other side 7 young boys 15-20 2YEAHHJHHH your a cunt, a pussy!!!!!" i wonder why they do it...Why would i answer back or respond...i guess they are hard for tonight. But i know, well knew someone who got stabbed and killed over £20.....what is the world omming too. Sorr Chirg! my drunken thoughts on the reall world hae spilt over.


Intresting to see wha happens next

[Chirurgeon]

Once again a good catch up, as usal on my way home from the pub i got started on by dickheads and morons.....I walk past on my own.... on the other side 7 young boys 15-20 2YEAHHJHHH your a cunt, a pussy!!!!!" i wonder why they do it...Why would i answer back or respond...i guess they are hard for tonight. But i know, well knew someone who got stabbed and killed over £20.....what is the world omming too. Sorr Chirg! my drunken thoughts on the reall world hae spilt over.


Intresting to see wha happens next

Shylence...you love the bottle as much as Arebasico...next thing you will do is challenge a king to a duel! Man your hangover is gonna suck

[Wolfman]

A familiar face darts through the crowd surrounding the large campfire Whew! Man Chirurgeon you've been busy. Good to see this is still going. Now kick some Arverni @$$. Then target those effeminate greek boylovers! (kidding not trying to cause a flame war)

[Chirurgeon]

A familiar face darts through the crowd surrounding the large campfire Whew! Man Chirurgeon you've been busy. Good to see this is still going. Now kick some Arverni @$$. Then target those effeminate greek boylovers! (kidding not trying to cause a flame war)
Wow good to see you old friend!! Don't be such a stranger and I am glad you enjoy it.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

what can I say!! I love my Floridians by the way!!!!! what part of florida do you come from. (I am just asking because I have an aunt that lives in Panama beach who owns several sonic resturaunts) and to my great displeasure I might be without internet for the next several weeks as of may 1st . And by the way give me a good birthday update because my 25th birthday is on the 30th of this month. Sorry if I am asking for to much but honestly my life without eb for 8 weeks (U.S. top secret) is to much to handle.:furious3:

by the way keep up the good shite.(I appreciate it!!!! and in the future I hope I have your permission to visit you and at the least to buy you a drink and show off my culinary arts to you and your fam.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:beam:

[Chirurgeon]

what can I say!! I love my Floridians by the way!!!!! what part of florida do you come from. (I am just asking because I have an aunt that lives in Panama beach who owns several sonic resturaunts) and to my great displeasure I might be without internet for the next several weeks as of may 1st . And by the way give me a good birthday update because my 25th birthday is on the 30th of this month. Sorry if I am asking for to much but honestly my life without eb for 8 weeks (U.S. top secret) is to much to handle.:furious3:

by the way keep up the good shite.(I appreciate it!!!! and in the future I hope I have your permission to visit you and at the least to buy you a drink and show off my culinary arts to you and your fam.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:beam:

yes florida is really nice. Lived here all my life. Born in Miami. Lived in the Keys and now live in Orlando. Panama city is really nice as well. Sorry about the internet man. Happy birthday and of course you can buy me a drink. We have many awesome drinking spots here. I hope your not invading Iran or something. I think the US has a full plate already. Stay safe and I will try to squeeze in a few more updates for ya!

[Wolfman]

Wow good to see you old friend!! Don't be such a stranger and I am glad you enjoy it.Oh believe me i wasn't trying to be. I had to take a full driving course it was pretty involved but i passed plus i've got to study for my exams and the dreaded SAT:skull: Kidding i know i'll do great:beam:. But the biggest event is it seems that there is a certain young lady who has been the object of this young wolfs affection. I don't think she knows i like her. She's is a really good friend of mine but we don't talk to much because of being in separate circles. But after three years i've finally been able to develop a friendship with her (which was what she was trying to do with me but i was to D**N shy. Enough about me though back to war! whimpers when no one is looking than looks lovesick Bah! I need wine points at person sitting closest to the him know were to get a good bottle of wine around here?

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XL - Into the Heartland
Spring 580 YAF 233 BC
The fight for the Veneti capital of Darioritum was fierce. I stood behind my father's heavy infantry unit of Loricata Scutari and watched the battle for the town unfold.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-1.jpg
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https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-4.jpg

Our slingers opened up with a deluge of death that scattered the enemy. With such an unrelenting missle attack the defenders retreated toward the middle of town.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-6.jpg
This enabled our spearmen to break down the walls without getting too molested by missles and such. Soon the rams had broken through and our spearmen were able to form ranks in the main street. They never completely got there as the enemy descended upon us in a swarm. Sword and spear, shield and helm all glittered in the morning light.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-7.jpg
Death emanated from the brawl going on. There was no real cohesion just a mass of men intent on killing each other. The chief of the Veniti descended upon our men but it was not enough to stop this Iberian tide.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-8.jpg

Finally the chieftain was thrown from his horse and impaled.

https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-9.jpg

I watched as the enemy broke an Atu signaled the advance of the heavy infantry. I took a deep breath and followed the heavy infantry with my horse.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-10.jpg

Ahead of us were the Caetrati. They were running up to the center of the town in an attempt to box in the surviviors.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-11.jpg
We were told to march to the bottom of the hill and to hold until it was our turn to fight. I saw Loio anxiously talking to another soldier next to them. Both looked eager to do something. My father stood on the left side of the men. His head continually moving checking the current situation. All around us were bodies of the slain. Horribly twisted with the faint sound of moaning. Behind us the spearmen had retreated out of the city. They had broken the defenses and were now resting in the tall grass outside the walls. A horn sounded. It was the advance horn and I saw my father motion "forward" with his sword. Almost in unison the men went forward up the hill. I followed a few feet behind the last man of the unit and soon could hear the fighting in the center of the town. Before the men were in place the fight was over. The last remaining defenders had been killed by the Caetrati.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-12.jpg

Again my brother had been denied a battle but I was a bit relieved for my family was safe.
The men were put to the sword and many of the women shackled and marched out of the city for slavery. Such is the fate of a people I suppose.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-13.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-14.jpg
***
After securing the town with a small garrison the main army rested for a week or so. Ebidurius returned from Burdigala and informed Atu that Iberians and even Phonecians were slowly migrating north into the former lands of the Arverni. We followed the Liger river east and peeled off it after walking through more beautiful lands. The sky seemed bluer and the grass seemed greener here. As we marched we knew we were marching into the Arverni Heartland. Some of the strongest tribes in all of Gaul lay before us. One of these tribes, the Carnutes, were before us. Their lands were rich and fertile. We walked through endless meadows with small stands of trees. To our right only a few miles was the Liger River.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/233-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/233-2.jpg
Our march was to take us to Cenabum. This city on the river was a very important Celtic town. The Druidic Council met here on a yearly basis. It was a great symbol of Celtic power. As we arrived and prepared to besiege the town it was learned that more of the naked men were present here. No doubt hell bent on protecting their land to the last man. Atu rubbed his chin as he decided what to do. It was decided we would wait for the town to surrender. All access had been cut off and we hoped that it would surrender before next winter. I arranged my tent and set up my study. I would have plenty of time to look through the multitude of texts I had brought for the journey.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XL-15.jpg

[Chirurgeon]

Oh believe me i wasn't trying to be. I had to take a full driving course it was pretty involved but i passed plus i've got to study for my exams and the dreaded SAT:skull: Kidding i know i'll do great:beam:. But the biggest event is it seems that there is a certain young lady who has been the object of this young wolfs affection. I don't think she knows i like her. She's is a really good friend of mine but we don't talk to much because of being in separate circles. But after three years i've finally been able to develop a friendship with her (which was what she was trying to do with me but i was to D**N shy. Enough about me though back to war! whimpers when no one is looking than looks lovesick Bah! I need wine points at person sitting closest to the him know were to get a good bottle of wine around here?

Good luck on your exams and the SAT (had no idea you were that young). Good luck with the lady as well. Oh and I am drinking a lovely Pinot Noir ATM :yes:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLI - A new Chapter
Spring 581 YAF 232 BC
We have settled in for a long year of sieges. Word has come that Ditalkos is quite sick and the Greek Physicians are tending to him to their best ability in Emporion. He may not last long. Atu has left to go see him. With little activity with the Arverni and no indication that the siege will be over any time soon Ebidurius is in temporary control of the army. I too have left with the heir to the throne. We blazed through Gaul on the primitive roads and eventually reached Emporion. Here we found Ditalkos ailing. He was in his last stages. Atu spent several days with the King until early one morning we were all awoken to learn that he had passed. Many of the priests from Oxtraca had arrived to begin the transition. The next day their was a public viewing of the body. Many had come. Ditalkos wished to be buried at the royal estate he had built in Emporion. In his last years as King, Ditalkos had grown fond of Greeks and their culture. He respected their traditions and gods. Most importantly their philosophy attracted a lot of his attention. Atu made the decision to make Emporion his home as well. The city had become a major trading center. It was in an ideal location. It was a blend between Gaul, Iberia, and Greece. Even a touch of Phonecian settlers were noted. A burgeoning city with a diverse population.
I of course was very fond of the city. Oxtraca far to the west had not seen a King since the Celtic split in Iberia. Emporion and the rest of the coastal cities were becoming increasingly important. Trade with the Romani was exploding. It seemed the port was constantly full of various ships. However the Kart-Hadastim menace still haunted the waters. Their fleets would occasionally raid the coast causing mayhem. Atu was considering how to deal with this. When he was done with the Arverni we would turn our attention back to Kart-Hadastim. Our spies in Sicily indicated that the Romans were driving out the republic. Hopefully if Kart-Hadastim loses control of that Island it would hurt their ability to raid us. Other islands in the great sea would have to fall under our control if we were to truly stop Kart-Hadastim and their coward tactics. Atu had his own future to look ahead on. His wife has given him four children. Unfortunately they are all girls. He has yet to produce and heir. His cousin Ebidurius also has not produced a male heir.
***
My brother had wished to go to the Estate for the time being and visit our mother. I decided my place is here in Emporion. I showed the many scholars the relics I had brought back. I had sketched all sorts of Celtic objects. Mostly weapons but also religious icons and jewelry. They were quite intrigued. I gave it to them to study and they in return continued my education. As good as life was here there were always distant murmurs of how Massalia may claim her former colony. I knew that if the allied cities of Greece did that, there would be blood spilt. I was 19 now and my mother and father wished for us to take a woman as a wife. I preferred the daughters of the Greek inhabitants while Loio wanted a more traditional wife from the tribes. My father was ok with my decision however my mother thought it would taint our blood by intermarrying. A few women were of interest but I resisted for now.
My father, Lutros, decided to give my brother and I a quarter interest in the estate. It was being managed by a man from Gader that took 10 percent of profits. It seemed a fair trade off. The land of the estate was producing marvelously. In a few years I would have enough coin to buy some land and start a small estate of my own. Ditalkos had willed some land to my father in the hills outside of Emporion. My brother had no desire to build another estate but I thought about the prospect of having my own land outside of my favorite city and I could not help but to smile. I hoped that my father would grant me the land when he felt it time.
***
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLI-1.jpg
In the Autumn I reluctantly accompanied many other men including our new King north again to the stubborn city of Cenabum. We moved through more beautiful country until we saw the telltale signs of approaching winter. The trees became more naked and the nights were cold. Winter was coming but soon the city of Cenabum would pour forth in a furious attempt to drive us off their lands. At least thats what I hoped would happen. Battles make for exciting storytelling.

[Chaotix]

For lack of a better chapter name- Chapter XLI: A New Chapter!
Great update, though. Has Atu decided on an heir yet?

And a baloon for your 40th chapter! :balloon3:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

A new king and the conquest of Gaul! Keep it up!
Btw, do you intend to keep playing this v1.0 campaign until a certain point or just until you grow tired of it?

[Wolfman]

Ah war. It is enough to drive away the pain of loneliness this aching heart feels at the moment. I can almost taste the blood of mine Celtic Enemy! snatches Chirurgeon's wine while he isn't looking Correction: You were drinking a Pinot Noir until moments ago!

[Chirurgeon]

Ah war. It is enough to drive away the pain of loneliness this aching heart feels at the moment. I can almost taste the blood of mine Celtic Enemy! snatches Chirurgeon's wine while he isn't looking Correction: You were drinking a Pinot Noir until moments ago!
haha very funny. The next chapter is much more action packed. A very busy year for Iberia


For lack of a better chapter name- Chapter XLI: A New Chapter!
Great update, though. Has Atu decided on an heir yet?

And a baloon for your 40th chapter! :balloon3:
Thank you for the baloon. I kept trying to think of a name and for some reason that one seemed appropriate. After all we have a new narrator and a new king. Atu's heir is his cousin Epidurius. However they are roughly the same age. However neither has produced a male heir. Although Atu managed to have four girls...what are the odds of that


A new king and the conquest of Gaul! Keep it up!
Btw, do you intend to keep playing this v1.0 campaign until a certain point or just until you grow tired of it?
I am not tired of it yet. There are more conflicts ahead. I am glad you guys are following the progress of this AAR. It means a lot to me :). At some point I will install 1.1 but not till this AAR is over. A lot more action ahead so buckle your seatbelts!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLII - A Heavy Blow
Spring 582 (231 BC)
As the snows melted into the Earth, it became clear to the Carnutes that we were not leaving and they could not wait for a relief force. At dawn on a crisp spring day they emerged from the gates.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-3.jpg
Their numbers vastly reduced and their strength weakened.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-2.jpg
They nonetheless wanted to challenge our lines. Atu placed the Caetrati in front behind our slingers and waited for the enemy. Cenabum's inhabitants knew this was a suicidal mission. Their army would fail but they had to fight. Emaciated men with their armor sagging on their bodies mustered enough strength to charge one more time.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-4.jpg
The Caetrati filled their ranks with a storm of javelins. Although the naked men were incredibly strong, they were suseptable to the javelin. By the time they arrived at the front lines, much of the enemy had been decimated. Although the survivors fought ferociously.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-5.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-6.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-8.jpg
They would not last long. The final blow came when Atu ordered the Caetrati to retreat through the spearmen. As they turn and ran the spearmen sent a wave of javelins into the remaining men. All hope was lost for the enemy.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-7.jpg

The fled en masse to the town. However our cavalry was not going to allow that. They pursued the enemy and cut them to pieces leaving no man to survive.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-9.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-10.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-11.jpg

The city, with no army to defend her, surrendered. Atu again put the fighting aged men to the sword and sent many women and children into the realm of slavery. With Cenabum captured and the Druidic holy site along with it, we moved south. Again crossing the Liger river we headed into central Gaul. The heavily defended and fortified city of Avaricum lay before us. This city had great walls and a huge garrison. We were outnumbered. There was no way Atu would try and take this city. Rumors of a relief army spread through the ranks. Would this be the great battle for Gaul? Would there be a great challenge to our invasion? So far the Celtic peoples had provided tepid resistance to our rampaging men. Atu prepared the best he could for a big fight. That of course meant a lot of drinking. I hoped that when the time came that his drinking would not distract him from his fighting and command ability.
***
With the Siege lines in place and some time I took the liberty of traveling to Emporion again. My Greek teachers and other scholars were very impressed with the tales of my journey. An even greater academy existed in Massalia. Because it had joined many of the other Greek Cities in a sort of alliance, the number of Greeks traveling to Massalia had exploded. My advisor's in Emporion encouraged me to continue my studies and share my own documentation with the great writers and philosophers there. I was hesitant but assured them that when the war with the Arverni was over I would travel there. Who knows maybe I could bridge the chasm that had opened up between our peoples.
***
One of the more distant relatives of Atu had assembled a force and was preparing to launch an invasion of the Belaric Isles. It was hoped that by capturing this port the attacks on our shipping interests would drop. Also gaining the port of these Islands would give access to the entire western sea. I spent the last few weeks of winter here in Emporion. I enjoyed the relative warmth here and dreaded traveling back to the dismal cold of Gaul.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLII-12.jpg

[Chaotix]

Nice, sounds like a huge battle in the next update! By the way, did you change your capital to Emporion? That's what I'd supposed from the way Atu "made it his home". It's a nice choice, too, right between Iberia and Gaul.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice job.

This kind of reminds me of my old Romani campaign when I invaded Gaul. I did a similar sweep around north to Cenabum then south and north again along the Rhine (I was trying to copy Caesar's wandering in Gaul). I didn't get any resistance from Gaul in that fight until I had taken 2/3 or Gaul and was marching north along the Rhine.

[Chirurgeon]

Nice, sounds like a huge battle in the next update! By the way, did you change your capital to Emporion? That's what I'd supposed from the way Atu "made it his home". It's a nice choice, too, right between Iberia and Gaul.
Yes the next chapter is battle heavy. I haven't officially changed the capital to Emporion but when Atu is finished in Gaul that might be a logical thing to do. He has to keep a close eye on his newly acquired lands. It would be very difficult to do that in Oxtraca. Thanks for following.

[Chirurgeon]

Nice job.

This kind of reminds me of my old Romani campaign when I invaded Gaul. I did a similar sweep around north to Cenabum then south and north again along the Rhine (I was trying to copy Caesar's wandering in Gaul). I didn't get any resistance from Gaul in that fight until I had taken 2/3 or Gaul and was marching north along the Rhine.

MAA,
Yes I figured by hugging the coast I could sort of surround their heartland. I have not encountered any major resistance until I hit Cenabum. Interesting how they do not send any major armies until they are seriously in trouble. Interesting development as of late is that I sealed an alliance with the GErmans. I am not planning on conquering to the Rhine. Atu's invasion of Gaul was more or less to protect Iberia from the Arverni. I think its safe to say he is at that point. With the Germans as my ally I may very well leave a swath of Arverni territory between me and the Germans. I have been using type IV govts in most cities in Gaul. Thanks for following MAA and good luck on your new, but still old, AAR!

[Wolfman]

Excellent Update as always Chirurgeon! The big showdown between Gaul and Iberia! This is going to be a battle of epic proportions. But i know that as always Iberia and her sons will triumph over the savage foe! not with superior technology but with good old Iberian Determination! Might i give you some advice on battling Gaesatae? Vasci Shock Troops can fight toe to toe with Gaesatae I mean they are the Iberian equivalent of those Naked dudes.

[Chirurgeon]

Excellent Update as always Chirurgeon! The big showdown between Gaul and Iberia! This is going to be a battle of epic proportions. But i know that as always Iberia and her sons will triumph over the savage foe! not with superior technology but with good old Iberian Determination! Might i give you some advice on battling Gaesatae? Vasci Shock Troops can fight toe to toe with Gaesatae I mean they are the Iberian equivalent of those Naked dudes.
you are right and the next chapter employs that when the naked men attempt to flank me.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Ah - a quiet Saturday morning, a light spring rain, a cup of coffee, and several updates to catch up on - not a bad start to the day! Many thanks for this AAR. I rather enjoyed the "scrolls" from the new chronicilar of Iberia! It was a very interesting narrative device, as one narrator took over from the other. I think I speak for everyone when I say ... a trip to Castulo's grave on his estate in Gader is in order! In honor of his memory!
It feels as if you have moved the capital of Lusotana to Emporium, I've always wondered when people made that move in their games, it seems inevitable as Octraxa is so far West.
Can I ask what level MIC's you have that you are getting those veiled guys? And are they available in 1.1? I am planning my new 1.1 campaign and - due to your most execellent AAR - it is going to be Lusotanna!
And if you are a Pinot drinker, may I recommend the Cycles Gladiator from Napa? For it's price it is an unbeatable wine. Although ... I should be recommending some Iberian wines!!

[Chirurgeon]

Ah - a quiet Saturday morning, a light spring rain, a cup of coffee, and several updates to catch up on - not a bad start to the day! Many thanks for this AAR. I rather enjoyed the "scrolls" from the new chronicilar of Iberia! It was a very interesting narrative device, as one narrator took over from the other. I think I speak for everyone when I say ... a trip to Castulo's grave on his estate in Gader is in order! In honor of his memory!
It feels as if you have moved the capital of Lusotana to Emporium, I've always wondered when people made that move in their games, it seems inevitable as Octraxa is so far West.
Can I ask what level MIC's you have that you are getting those veiled guys? And are they available in 1.1? I am planning my new 1.1 campaign and - due to your most execellent AAR - it is going to be Lusotanna!
And if you are a Pinot drinker, may I recommend the Cycles Gladiator from Napa? For it's price it is an unbeatable wine. Although ... I should be recommending some Iberian wines!!

Ah yes Spanish wine...my favorite is Rioja. Lovely wines from there :) Although the move to Emporion is not official it could happen in the near future. I am getting them from high level MICs from the regions of Cantabria and Asturia.
Well I am thrilled you will be playing a Lusitannan campaign. Make sure to give us some updates :) Although there are some different units available in 1.1 then in 1.0. Some nice Celtiberian infantry from what I have seen. I will look for that wine in the future. So glad to see you again!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLIII - The Beginning of The End
Spring 583 (231 BC)

The new year was upon us and with the men in deep winter camp the enemy decided to challenge us for their great city of Avaricum. I had arrived in camp about a week before the enemy sent a relief force at us. Atu awoke the men and ordered them into battle lines. There was a frightening number of Celts challenging us. Atu deployed the men traditionally. No clear leader was discovered, just a collection of various chieftains and village chiefs that wanted to free their country from our attacks. Again the Naked men made an appearance. They seemed even crazier because it was still the dead of winter and they had no clothes on.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-1.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-2.jpg
The Caetrati spread themselves out in front of the spearmen. They gave themselves plenty of room to use their swords without endangering their fellow Iberians. Deft with the sword they hacked and slashed the enemy as they poured into their ranks.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-3.jpg

The naked men were getting cut to pieces but still they fought on as if they were some sort of enraged animal. There were as many of these fanatics as seen at Cenabum. Their destructive power and sheer reckless abandon is now firmly entrenched in the minds of the men.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-4.jpg

Soon the Caetrati were taking substantial casualties and were withdrawn through the ranks of the spearmen. As they withdrew as quickly and orderly as possible the Spearmen filled the enemy with a rain of javelins that caused whole groups of men to collapse under the volley. Still the fanatics ran headlong into the spearmen.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-5.jpg

Their great stature and perfect use of their sword, began to inflict horrible casualties on the spearmen. The right flank was taking a beating. The group of spearmen on that flank had been reduced by half. The left flank went virtually untouched. Atu had positioned the end of the line against a farm which physically limited the ability of the Arverni to go around. Now they focused their best troops on the right. With our spearmen melting beneath the assault Atu orderd them to withdraw through the ranks of the heavy infantry.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-6.jpg

This was it. One of our cavalry scouts came storming up to the king. "The garrison of Avaricum is coming!", he exclaimed as if it was his last breath. "Good gods" I thought to myself. Our lines had been significantly weakened by the assault of the relief force. The garrison was a bigger force than ourselves! Suddenly I felt vulnerable. The spearmen ran past me. Some were covered in blood. The blood of their brothers that had been hacked to pieces by the naked fanatics. I looked up and saw the last of the spearmen run past me and now the naked men along with some basic spear wielders plunged into the heavy infantry lines.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-7.jpg

Lutros and Loio were on the right flank. I feared that they would be killed. I looked at Atu and he sent a messenger to the Dosidataskeli that waited patiently behind the heavy infantry. Their captain motioned for the men to turn to their right and they began a quick march to the right flank. The naked men were focusing all their energy on destroying the left flank. Hacking and slashing their attacks were relentless. They would get stabbed and still they swung their sword. The Dosidataskeli postitioned themselves and then charged the fanatics.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-8.jpg

The garrison had yet to get to this part of the battlefield. Many of the other units in the relief force had been virtually destroyed. Seeing these fleeing units might have caused hesitation. The Dosidataskeli unleashed a furious barrage of javelins into the flank of the naked men. This did cause many to fall. Miracoulously some still got up. One had a javelin straight through his leg. He simply turned at the new threat and could be seen screaming. The Dosidataskeli ran headlong into the fanatics.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-9.jpg

Superior armor and excellent training enabled our veiled warriors to turn most of the blows from the fanatics. And even these unleashed beasts grew tired.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-10.jpg

They had enough. The fanatics fled back towards Avaricum. The Dosidataskeli threw a volley of javelins into their rear for good measure and then moved back to their position behind the heavy infantry.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-11.jpg

The garrison was getting close.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-12.jpg

Not all of their units had committed. Atu moved up the Spearmen and put them in their original line and waited. Sure enough a number of their men charged our lines after staring at us for a bit.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-13.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-14.jpg

It was a half hearted attempt and the captain, in an attempt to again crush the right flank, was impaled.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-15.jpg

This caused a visible shock from the enemy and they turned and ran. The cavalry was briefly sent after them, inflicting even more casualties.
After the battle the death toll for us was greater than normal. Many men had lost limbs in their bout with the fanatics. With the garrison having retreated to Avaricum, Atu sent orders to Epidurius to send men to replace the ones he lost in this costly battle.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-16.jpg

***
Finally the winter snows retreated like the many armies that challenged us. The air grew warmer and soon summer was upon us. On one particularly hot day a relief army circled around behind our siege lines and challenged us from behind. This was a potentially grim situation. Atu was quick to realize that we could be fighting a battle on two sides. This is never a good situation to be in and he knew it. He consulted with his advisor's and after learning that the relief army was fairly small, ordered the heavy infantry, himself, and the Dosidataskeli into a postion to challenge the relief army. The spearmen would form a line to deal with the garrison. He kept the Caaetrati and the cavalry in reserve in order to prevent a flank attack.
The garrison never appeared. Perhaps they did not know about the relief army, or they did not want to tangle in open field combat against us again. Whatever the reason it meant that the relief army was doomed. Outnumbered and let down by the garrison there was a brief battle that quickly went our way. Loio killed his first man this day. Lutros and the rest of his men celebrated. In fact Loio killed three men. He truly was a warrior now.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-17.jpg

***
In the autumn, just before the leaves turned their gorgeous spectrum of colors, Atu made the decision to attack the city. Another relief army was gathering and he did not want another battle that could further wither his men. Some of his advisor's thought it would be better to wait the city out. However Atu felt that now was the time to strike.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-18.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-19.jpg

On a cool morning the ladders were brought to bear on the fortified walls of Avaricum. Slingers and other missile troops took their toll. My father and his group of men were on the far right and did not take the brunt of the attack. A quarter of the heavy infantry had either been killed or incapacitated. This would be a long day.
Finally having reached the walls they began their ascent. The missle troops on the top, having pelted the men from a distance, were no match for the Loricata Scutari. Our best men cleaved their way up and down the walls.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-20.jpg

Bodies could occasionally be seen falling from the walls. The distant thud a reminder of the desperate fighting. Soon the walkways and tops of the walls were covered in blood.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-21.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-22.jpg

The crimson was slippery and men would lose their footing and fall to their deaths below. It must have been horrible. Soon some of the men captured a tower near the gate and killed the archers inside. The bolts were turned to the men on the inside of the town and pandemonion set in as the enemy realized their own tower was shooting at them.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-23.jpg

The last of the defenders were killed and the gatehouse was captured. The gate was unlocked and the spearmen poured into the town.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-24.jpg

The Celtic rabble descended onto our men and a messy street fight erupted. Cohesion was lost as men became seperated and could not find their group. All the while the tower poured a murderous fire into the Celtic mob. Realizing the chaos, the captain fled towards the middle of the city in an attempt to reform his men.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-25.jpg

It worked. The spearmen followed and ran headlong to fresh reserves from the town center. Another brutal fight erupted.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-26.jpg

Just as the men were getting exhausted this second line of defense broke. Atu ordered the Dosidataskeli into the center of the city. The survivors had huddled here after having made two different stands. They unleashed their javelins causing much death.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-27.jpg

Then they charged. They were quiet and meticulous fighters. Their long spears skewering every man in their way.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-28.jpg

Soon the city surrendered. Again the men were put to the sword and the women and children sold into slavery.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-29.jpg


The city was now largely empty. Atu had chosen various sympathetic Celtic nobles to act as governors of the cities we conquered. They answered to the Iberian King. This city would be no different. Save for Burdigala and Tolosa all the cities of Gaul that had been conquered were ruled by nobles that were considered trustworthy. It also allowed for the cities to remain a bit autonomous and have the illusion of many freedoms. As long as they behaved, Atu had no problems with that. Swarms of Iberians and others flowed steadily into Gaul to make a profit off this new land. Merchants were finding valuable mines and other resources that had not fully been exploited. The war between the Arverni and the Aeudi had caused these mines to fall into disrepair. Now the merchants were using fresh Celtic slaves to rebuild the mines and begin to turn a profit.
***
As winter descended into Gaul the men crossed the southern part of the Liger river and set up winter camp in an open plain that was easily defensible. The Aeudi tribe's homeland was before us. Although they had been forced to join the Arverni Confederation they would rather fight us then their Celtic brothers. The city of Bibracte was their capital and is still a formidable defensive position. It would have to be captured. They had mainly retreated to the other side of the Alps in Italia, but the Arverni had a sizeable garrison in the city.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/XLIII-30.jpg
^^The date is off in this picture...It should read 231 BC

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice update!
Is Bibracte going to be the furthest extent of your conquest?
Also, I've noticed that your army is still entirely Iberian, are you using any Gallic troops, "allies" from you client states, other then garrison duty?

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Wow. That was a lot of battles in one update. Will Atu hold the line at the Rhine? It looks like the Balerics are yours? What news of them? And the Carthaginians? And the ever present shadow of the Romans?

[Chirurgeon]

Wow. That was a lot of battles in one update. Will Atu hold the line at the Rhine? It looks like the Balerics are yours? What news of them? And the Carthaginians? And the ever present shadow of the Romans?
Right now the Arverni only have like four cities left. I am going to make them as a buffer zone to the Sweboz Confederation to the north and east of my holdings. Yes a cousin of Atu captured The Belaric isles. Only one unit in the city so not much to write about. Carthage lost Kyrene to the Ptolemies, Sicily to the Romans, and now the Belaric isles to us. They only have west Africa and Corsica and Sardinia left. Rome has all of italy, sicily and is laying Siege to Segesta and Mediolanum. Segesta and Mediolanum are the only two Aeudi provinces left. They will fall shortly and when they do they will have to go through Massalia to get to my lands. It will take a while as there is a full stack of Greeks in that city.


Nice update!
Is Bibracte going to be the furthest extent of your conquest?
Also, I've noticed that your army is still entirely Iberian, are you using any Gallic troops, "allies" from you client states, other then garrison duty?
Atu "hates strangers" so I am roleplaying that a bit by not allowing Gallic men to serve in the army. Likely I will stop at Bibracte. There is no point of going further. I thought about going to the Rhine but the Sweboz have a town on this side of it. Since I have an alliance with them I really don't want to mess things up. However, Kart Hadastim's constant blockading of my ports is really getting annoying. Thinking about increasing my sphere of influence a bit into West Africa...

[Wolfman]

Excellent Update Chirurgeon! It made me feel all warm inside seeing those Gaesatae skewered by Dosidataskeli and turning them into Gaesatae Sausage (hmmm wonder how that taste?~:wacko:) There is only one thing that keeps bothering me. Everytime Castulo the younger speaks i keep giving him an english accent:wall:. It's annoying!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLIV - Setback
Spring 584 YAF (229 BC)
The snows melted late this year. Perhaps the gods were trying to slow us down? Regardless upon the signs that Spring had truly arrived, Atu had the army move forward. Bibracte was just on the other side of another river that ran alongside the Liger. It was smaller but nonetheless had to be held in order to capture the city. Having captured the bridge and putting pressure on the city itself we waited for a response. A large group of reinforcements from Emporion were moving north of Gergovia and we hoped that they would be available to us within the year. Our existing pool of replacements were dwindling and Atu grew increasingly frustrated at how long it took for new men to arrive. The further we were from Iberia the more difficult it became to move quickly.
***
During the heat of summer, as the rivers receded a bit from the spring melt, a considerable force of Celts challenged our control of the bridge.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-3.jpg
Our scouts indicated that a ways downstream was a shallow area where the enemy could cross. Atu prayed to the gods that they would not find the ford.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-5.jpg

Our attention became focused on the other side of the bridge. The garrison joined up with the relief force and they began to pour across the bridge in earnest. Their slingers attempted to thin our ranks and their archers contributed as well. I watched in amazement as the naked men, cavalry, and regular spearmen poured into our lines.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-4.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-6.jpg
The collision was impressive. So many of their men pressing against the center of the line. Our spearmen could not stop the momentum and I witnessed the men in the back of the line digging their feet into the earth and pushing the man in front of them. They were losing the battle.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-7.jpg
Atu saw the developing situation and realized that the center of his spearmen would soon be intermixed with the heavy infantry behind.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-8.jpg
He had the men on either side turn and face the enemy and now the front line looked like this: V.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-9.jpg
The Celts found themselves surrounded and trapped.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-10.jpg
Their commander fell into a morass of blood and bodies. He was the glue that held the men together and now their cohesion unraveled.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-11.jpg
Chaos ensued as the men tried to run through our ranks. A massacre ensued. I almost felt sorry for the poor souls. I don't remember a time when the number of dead was focused into such a small area. It was a truly horrific scene.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-12.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-13.jpg
It took the rest of the day to stack the bodies and burn them. Atu respected the honor of the chieftain that had been slain and gave him a separate pyre to be burned on. The men curiously did not celebrate this night. There was no drinking, except of course for Atu. He was doing his usual nightly binge. The encounter that happened today was not a battle it was a slaughter. The survivors now huddled in the city of Bibracte in fear for their army had been destroyed.
***
In the Autumn Atu was waiting for his reinforcements to arrive and instead received word of a devastating nature. The reinforcements were ambushed in the mountains of central Gaul. There was only a few survivors. Atu was furious and realized it could take another year before he had enough men to take on the last of the great cities of this region. He waited impatiently and would occasionally go on relentless rants. The men were losing confidence in their leader. He loved ale more than women and had yet to produce a male heir. While he laid passed out on many a night he could have been growing a child with his wife.
***
The snows came earlier than last year. The men looked grim as they realized the next several months would be tough. One highlight of good news was the sealing of an alliance with the distant Germanic tribes.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLIV-1.jpg
Far to the north these people were mysterious and many argued they were invincible warriors. Long had they prized the land of Gaul for its great resources. Now the Arverni were squeezed between us and them. With the Arverni so weak would these warriors storm into the land of Gaul and take what they wanted?
Atu hoped to return to Iberia after the falll of Bibracte. The men wanted to go home. Many saw no purpose in fighting the Celts any longer. I tended to agree. Atu had successfully protected her against the Arverni and now with our homeland truly secure, save a few raids on our southern ports from brazen Kart-Hadastim vessels, we would likely be going home. I for one was thrilled. My father was also growing weary of the war and wished to go home to the estate in Gader. Loio would join him there. I had my eyes set on Emporion and wished to make a home there.

[Reverend Joe]

If you end this the same way as the Ptolemaic AAR, that will be just too depressing for me to read. Seeing the Ptolemaic kingdom fall is one thing, but the people of Iberia have a real chance to become a major influence on (your alternate) history, in a much greater way than they actually did. I am very interested as to how this could turn out.

[Chirurgeon]

If you end this the same way as the Ptolemaic AAR, that will be just too depressing for me to read. Seeing the Ptolemaic kingdom fall is one thing, but the people of Iberia have a real chance to become a major influence on (your alternate) history, in a much greater way than they actually did. I am very interested as to how this could turn out.

Thank you for following Joe. The only threat that could destroy Iberia would be Iberia. She is not that big as to collapse under her corrupt weight. Atu is a good leader even if he is a drinker. An heir has been found. Ebudurius has a two year old son. This will keep the crown in the Lusotannan family :)

[Theodotos I]

Looking good, Chirurgeon. This is reminding me more and more of your Ptolemaic AAR with the huge battle chapters. BTW, my AAR is still rolling. Cadwalador did not die! Little late April Fools', friend! :laugh4:

[Chirurgeon]

Looking good, Chirurgeon. This is reminding me more and more of your Ptolemaic AAR with the huge battle chapters. BTW, my AAR is still rolling. Cadwalador did not die! Little late April Fools', friend! :laugh4:
You see that was a little reverse psychology trick I was doing to you. With me saying it was over you wanted to prove me wrong :egypt:
Thanks for your continued support I will try and read it later today

[Theodotos I]

You see that was a little reverse psychology trick I was doing to you. With me saying it was over you wanted to prove me wrong :egypt:
Thanks for your continued support I will try and read it later today
Actually the next chapter was already written when I posted "Starvation". I was just holding back on everybody. Good luck, friend.

[penguinking]

I just had to acknowledge the excellence of this AAR! Great work! :2thumbsup:

[Chirurgeon]

I just had to acknowledge the excellence of this AAR! Great work! :2thumbsup:

Thank you and welcome to the Forums!

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Another excellent and interesting chapter. They will leave Bibracte intact? Surely the Averni are too weak to cause more problems. Can we get a current campaign map? I should like to see which provinces you have.
It almost sounds as if his father is weary of war. War with Kart-Hadastim? An expansion along the North African coast intrigues me.

[Chirurgeon]

Another excellent and interesting chapter. They will leave Bibracte intact? Surely the Averni are too weak to cause more problems. Can we get a current campaign map? I should like to see which provinces you have.
It almost sounds as if his father is weary of war. War with Kart-Hadastim? An expansion along the North African coast intrigues me.
Thank you for the comments Tacitus. I have been busy with real life so the game has stalled a bit. I should get cracking again next week. Lets see, Loio and Castulo are in their 20s so Lutros is in his 40s. He is older than Atu. He is weary of war but Loio is in his prime. I will post a campaign map in the next chapter. Yes something is going to have to be done about the constant harrassment of Iberian shipping interests in the Med.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Just caught up... Keep it up! :2thumbsup:

On a side note, in my AAR campaign I was looking around at the Iberian towns. I found that their new faction leader and his name is "Atu [something]" in my campaign. :egypt:

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLV - Closure In Gaul
585 YAF (228 BC)

Atu ordered the men to take up position on a series of large hills that overlooked the city of Bibracte. It was a gorgeous vantage point. Clumps of forests with great rolling hills on a sea of grass made you appreciate this land. You could see for a long ways in any direction. As the summer came upon us it was not that hot because there was always a breeze. A small stream was nearby and was a popular spot for deer and rabbits. The hunting was good and the men of Iberia were superior hunters. The army ate well and Atu waited for the enemy to make some sort of move.

It came in late summer. A small relief army accompanied the garrison and they divided their forces.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-1.jpg
They marched through the grassy knolls on their way to meet us. It would be a significant engagement.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-2.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-3.jpg
Again the imposing form of the naked men were ever present. The grasses coming up to their waist the Arverni marched to meet us. Each end of the line became engaged.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-4.jpg
Leaving the center of the line untouched the enemy pounded our flanks. The left flank taking a very hard beating. Our slingers poured their deadly rain of lead into the mass of Celts hammering our left flank.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-5.jpg
Our Cantrati were used to try and break up the men trying to surround our flanks.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-6.jpg
It was a desperate fight on the left. One of our unit of spearmen were nearly destroyed in the mayhem.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-7.jpg
Our heavy infantry were prepared for battle. Atu ordered the retreat of the spearmen and the enemy poured into our lines. The cavalry under command of Atu was able to isolate the Gallic cavalry with their general.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-8.jpg

Soon a desperate fight for survival was underway in the shade of a grove of trees on our right flank. Moments later the enemy general was slain and our cavalry rejoiced.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-9.jpg
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-10.jpg
The Arverni were terrified and ran for their lives. A few units remained but the Veiled warriors of Cantabria took care of this threat as well.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-11.jpg
The cavalry chased down the fleeing men. It was a long ways back to Bibracte and few made it.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-12.jpg

The city surrendered. Their elder council decided it was wise to not resist. In fact one of the elders was elected to rule on behalf of Atu. The men were permitted to pillage the town however.
***
With no more armies coming to help and the Arverni decidedly beaten Atu made the decision to return to Iberia. I for one was very happy. One more winter in Gaul and then a return home. Alas I could continue my work in Emporion and plan out an estate for myself. Atu promised me slaves from our conquest and I would use them in the best manner possible. I had a chance to talk with our King, when he was sober. I asked him about the issue of an heir and he was angry. He had four daughters but no boys. However his cousin, who is a direct descendent of the great Tantalos, had a three year old boy. This boy was a Lusotannan like himself. Atu would not permit succession by some other tribe. "We brought Iberia together. Why would I let anyone else rule the lands that we conquered?", I remember him saying. Eventually however this could be a contentious issue. What if the boy is not fit to rule? What if Atu dies before he comes of age? It nearly gave me a headache to think about it.
Atu also wished to move all administrative affairs to Emporion. Oxtraca looked like a dirty village compared to this city. Although he hated strangers, especially ones of a Celtic origin, he did not mind the Greeks. He sort of admired their methods, philosophies, and architecture. Emporion would enable him to access any region of the conquered as well as have a fleet.
Atu wished to put an end to the Kart-Hadastim menace in Africa. Many Iberians lived in their lands. Before the war, Iberians were used as mercenaries and served proudly in their armies. Now Atu may be calling these men to help Iberia. Would these men honor their loyalty to Iberia? It would take alot of time to organize such an expedition. An invasion of Afrcia would be a huge ordeal. A strong fleet would be needed and it would take much time to construct. For now however my thoughts were on the warm breezes of my homeland.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLV-14.jpg

[General Appo]

Yay!! The Arverni have been defeated, and the sunny shores of Africa awaits the conquerors of Iberia and Gaul. Destroy the Carthies once and for all!!

[Chaotix]

So the Arverni Campaign is over, huh? A mighty foe smashed down to a couple of villages next to some ruthless Sweboz:whip: .....

When you attack Africa, it'd be cool if you completely destroyed Kart-Hadast, and left it in ruins... teach those Carthaginians a lesson for trying to oppress the Iberians!

[Shylence]

The war council speaks... Hmm i would go east into the mediterrainen and take Sardinia and Corsica. Inhabited by ancient peoples who are descended from the same peoples that the more ancient iberian tribes hail from. Also those islands serve as a base to counter a red menace that grows in the peninsular that dominates the centre of the sea.

A three Way economic war in the western end of the med is about to begin....

[CaesarAugustus]

That red menace Shylence speaks of is also currently bordering the Iberian Empire... let's hope they choose to go east instead of west after Liguria is conquered.

[Chirurgeon]

The war council speaks... Hmm i would go east into the mediterrainen and take Sardinia and Corsica. Inhabited by ancient peoples who are descended from the same peoples that the more ancient iberian tribes hail from. Also those islands serve as a base to counter a red menace that grows in the peninsular that dominates the centre of the sea.

A three Way economic war in the western end of the med is about to begin....
I had thought about that as well but the real threat to our ports is coming from Africa. Perhaps in good time they will come into our hands.


Yay!! The Arverni have been defeated, and the sunny shores of Africa awaits the conquerors of Iberia and Gaul. Destroy the Carthies once and for all!!
I have a feeling it will be a much more intense war than with the Arverni


So the Arverni Campaign is over, huh? A mighty foe smashed down to a couple of villages next to some ruthless Sweboz:whip: .....

When you attack Africa, it'd be cool if you completely destroyed Kart-Hadast, and left it in ruins... teach those Carthaginians a lesson for trying to oppress the Iberians!
I had thought about just completely razing their cities to nothing and then giving them back. That would send them into the stone age for sure. Not sure If holding North Africa is something that the Iberians would have done. We shall see.

[Chirurgeon]

That red menace Shylence speaks of is also currently bordering the Iberian Empire... let's hope they choose to go east instead of west after Liguria is conquered.
There is a pretty formidable stack in Massalia. I have a feeling the KH will be able to resist for a while.

[Wolfman]

Excellent update again Chirurgeon! Even though technically they're still around I felt like i was watching the death of the gallic empire. But Beware the sons of Aeneas and their wiley schemes. I fear that soon it won't be just the shores of africa that run read with blood. Italia to i fear will feel the sharp blade of the Iberian Empire. All hail mighty the Mighty Iberian Empire and hers sons. And may the line of Tantalos Lusotanakum be forever pure and true.

[Theodotos I]

Looks good, Chirurgeon. Even if you are thrashing my beloved Gauls. Shame this isn't 1.1. Lusotana has access to so many new units in the new version. Milites Ilergetum, Shepherd Slingers, Iabarranta, Dunaminaca. Speaking of. . .
https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj198/Theodotos/Dunaminaca.jpg
Yes, those ARE my mercenary Dunaminaca fighting Lusitanian forces. The Iabarranta are in the lower right-hand corner. Just a quick peek at 1.1 :beam:

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Whereas before I was looking forward to the coming Cartho War, now I await it with trepidation. If Carthage is as strong as you say ... and Rome on the move ... .

*bites nails*

[Africanvs]

Looking forward to seeing what happens next. Romans or Carthaginians, what to do, what to do. Nice job, great AAR!

[Chirurgeon]

Looking forward to seeing what happens next. Romans or Carthaginians, what to do, what to do. Nice job, great AAR!
Thank you and I am glad you stopped by.


Excellent update again Chirurgeon! Even though technically they're still around I felt like i was watching the death of the gallic empire. But Beware the sons of Aeneas and their wiley schemes. I fear that soon it won't be just the shores of africa that run read with blood. Italia to i fear will feel the sharp blade of the Iberian Empire. All hail mighty the Mighty Iberian Empire and hers sons. And may the line of Tantalos Lusotanakum be forever pure and true.
yes there are several powerhouses in the Western Mediterranean. Rome is behaving themselves for the moment :)


Looks good, Chirurgeon. Even if you are thrashing my beloved Gauls. Shame this isn't 1.1. Lusotana has access to so many new units in the new version. Milites Ilergetum, Shepherd Slingers, Iabarranta, Dunaminaca. Speaking of. . .
https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj198/Theodotos/Dunaminaca.jpg
Yes, those ARE my mercenary Dunaminaca fighting Lusitanian forces. The Iabarranta are in the lower right-hand corner. Just a quick peek at 1.1 :beam:
yes I regret a little bit of not switching to 1.1 but this AAR...I cant stop writing. LOL


Whereas before I was looking forward to the coming Cartho War, now I await it with trepidation. If Carthage is as strong as you say ... and Rome on the move ... .

*bites nails*
Yes the probable scenarios are all bloody and tough.

Thank you everyone for the comments. I should have another chapter up shortly. Thank you all for the support!

[Khazar_Dahvos]

I'm back!!!!!! and of course ready for more:book:

[Theodotos I]

Actually, the picture was meant to reward you for not switching. I've followed Bovi's suggestion and have both installed, which slows down my ancient Dell, but is worth the price. That way, I get to play with the new units and finish my AAR. Good work!

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Welcome back Khazar,
Glad you are safe. How goes things over there? Caught up with all of Chir's installments?

[Chirurgeon]

Welcome back Khazar,
Glad you are safe. How goes things over there? Caught up with all of Chir's installments?
I am just glad he is back :)


I'm back!!!!!! and of course ready for more:book:
Good to see you again I was so worried about you. Hope you have caught all up and stuff. Update forthcoming.


Actually, the picture was meant to reward you for not switching. I've followed Bovi's suggestion and have both installed, which slows down my ancient Dell, but is worth the price. That way, I get to play with the new units and finish my AAR. Good work!
Yea I thought about that but room on my hard drive is a precious commodity. Just think when this is all over it will be like unwrapping a new game!

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLVI - Foundation
586 YAF (227 BC)
The journey home is often the longest journey. I traveled with the army and you could see their spirits climb higher and higher the more familiar things became. By the time we saw the Pyrenees the men were singing songs. Our pace seemed to quicken. I felt like a little child again. Soon the city of Emporion and the coast came into the view. The smell of the salt air and the warm breezes made every man smile. The men were allowed to leave and see their families. For many men they still had to travel across the breadth of Iberia. It was however a joyous time. However over the course of the next month it was learned of the harm that Kart-Hadastim had done to our shipping and trade in the south. Gader and Mastia were constantly being economically hamstrung by the raids and blockades. The men of Africa took the ribbon of water to mean that it was boundary. However Atu was going to turn it into a door.
Over the course of the year he began his planning. Although the army was gone for the moment he arranged for various cities to provide troops. He commenced a fleet to be built. A foundation for invasion was being laid. Our greatest cities were quietly preparing for war. While the men were away with their families, Atu was meeting with the great nobles of the land. He did not ask for Phoenician support for he felt they would not aide him. Some Phoenician's came willingly since their business had been hampered by the actions of the Republic.
***
I too began my planning. Planning of a different sort. My father gave me a large sum of money from the estate in Gader. He and Loio went there to see their families and Loio's new wife. We were both 24 years of age and I had not taken care of the business of finding a wife. I wanted to use the money to build my own estate and to hopefully raise a family. My visits to Emporion had seen a city changed. The old wall was being dismantled and a new wall being built further away. The port was awash with ships from all over the world. The Greek minority had grown considerably and the Temple complex was receiving great attention and maintenance. I visited with the old scholars who had taught me much. I felt home here. I found a renowned Architect who had built many things in places like Massalia and Syracuse. I recruited his services in designing my estate. The old vintner from the estate in Gader came to visit me and found some wonderful land about a day's journey from Emporion. It was in the hills and sat under the watchful gaze of the Pyrenees. Here olives and vines could be grown. Other crops and herbs would grow nicely. The land contained two year round streams and four seasonal streams. The ice water from the mountains had deposited great nutrients on the land. Atop the largest hill I wanted the main house built. Sloping away from the house would be the Olive Grove. Adjacent to that would be the grapes. I had the house built in the Greek style with beautiful columns and a statue of Hygeia would dominate the main courtyard. It would be of square design with a large courtyard in the center that would have a variety of fruit trees. The breezes were consistent on the top of the hill and many of the native trees would be maintained in order to provide the necessary shade in the summer.
I visited Atu in his father's palace and we talked long into the hot nights of summer. He wanted to be the first to drink any wine made by my estate. I told him the first few years the wine would have a virgin flavor and not be mature. He stated that he preferred virgins over maturity anyway. Fair enough I suppose. Atu also gifted me a large sum of money to purchase the slaves I would need to run the estate. With my Greek architect paid I took up residence in the temple complex of Emporion until I could begin living in my newly built estate. It would be at least a year. It was in this time that I met a beautiful young woman named Ariadne. She was named after the Daughter of King Minos. Her name means "utterly pure". She worked in the temple complex and her father was a great noble of the city. I was well respected and our relationship was blessed quite easily. Our courtship was wonderful and I spent the last half of the year swimming in the sea of love.
***
As winter began its onset the estate saw some snow but nothing unbearable. I was told it would help the grapes and other crops in the spring. A little cold would make the plants more resilient. Ariadne and I spent time traveling to the estate to watch it rise from the black earth. Atu had the road improved, using his small army of slaves. In one of my visits to his palace he indicated it would take another year to arrange for the invasion. it would start with their westernmost holdings of Africa and then travel east along the coast. He really was going to go through with it. I was too young to see the war here in Iberia that brought about the end of Phoenician rule in Iberia. So I had little information on the soldiers employed. The Greek scholars indicated they were a professional force and quite capable. At least I would have another year before i would have to leave. Perhaps by the summer I would actually be able to live in my estate before the distant beckoning of war became audible again.

[Reverend Joe]

I told him the first few years the wine would have a virgin flavor and not be mature. He stated that he preferred virgins over maturity anyway.
:laugh4: Either that didn't quite come out right, or you are one dirty little man, Chirurgeon.

[Disciple of Tacitus]

Excellent. Another quiet Sunday morning update over a cup of coffee. I didn't quite catch the ethnicity of our hero's new wife. She is Greek?

It's unfortunate that Atu can't get his army of slaves to build paved roads ... *grumble, grumble*, but I suppose it is realistic . . . somehow . . . .
(someone will have to let me know if you can "modify" the game to allow the Lusos to build roads)

How old is Atu now? How far West has the Carthagian empire stretched? Sorry to ask so many querstions. I shall poke about some maps and see where the new vineyards are coming up. I'll try to find out which D.O. it is and which grapes do best there.

[Khazar_Dahvos]

Thanks tacitus and chirurgeon!!!!! I really appreciate that!!!! And actually I have not read any new installments (Im a sadist and I love torturing myself LOL) I plan on reading everything all over again with a nice 80 dollar usd bottle of Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine.

[Wolfman]

Ahwww, things are looking so good for Castulo the Younger. He's has a marital prospect, he's wealthy, and is well renowned. But where ever there is good bad is around the corner. And I hear the distant war drums of the African coast pounding their way into this story. Switches to Barbaric voice and chugs down some wine Plunder pillage! This will be a war of rememberance! Sharpens Falcata I can't wait to sever some phoenician heads from their rightful owners bodies and mount them on my wall! But if this isn't a war of rememberance, well, at least our coffers won't be empty.

[Chirurgeon]

Chapter XLVII - Winds from Africa

587 YAF (226 BC)
The winter was fairly mild but did hint at the cold of Gaul. Here the lands of north and south met. Some say the collision made the Pyrenees. The estate was coming together. It enabled me to grow some foods that required a touch more cold. Certain vegetables like lettuce and other leafy vegetables seemed to do well in the cooler air of the lower mountains. Ariadne had been married in the traditional Greek ceremony. My father respected it but my mother was somewhat resistant to the ideas. The priests came up to the estate from the temple complex of Emporion and blessed the lands. It would not be long before the estate was complete. We were living in the main villa, awaiting the marbled floor from the Belaric Isles. The marble of those lands was quite nice and would do well to mitigate the hottest days. A sculptor also recieved his rectangular block of marble and began work in constructing the statue of Hygeia. Figs and other trees including certain date palms from as far away as Egypt had been planted and the seedlings were growing. Ariadne's family traveled from Emporion and I allowed her brother's and sisters to reside in the residence in my absence. At my wedding Atu had asked if I would join him in his journey to Africa. How could I resist.
***
Over the summer the finishing touches were put on the estate including the floor. It was a beautiful marble that had been polished to look like ice. I spent the remainder of the summer making love to my new wife hoping to plant a seed inside that would grow like the many young trees that now surrounded our main house. It was a large estate that took up many miles. Much of it I left untouched. Later I might cultivate it further. For now the first olive and Grapes were growing and as time went on, new groves and orchards would be grown.
I spent my days in Emporion studying with some of the greatest minds. Here I learned about the final abolition of a culture. The Aeudi, having sought refuge south of the Alps, had been wiped out and enslaved by the rapidly expanding Romans.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLVII-2.jpg
These Romani had similar gods as the Greeks but were rather brutal in their ways. News of the world beyond Iberia began to filter into Emporion. It took them many years but they had unified all the tribes of Italy and Sicily. They had moved further east into Illyria and the people there were reluctant to be ruled by them. The Dalmation coast could become a firestorm as the two bitter enemies of Epirus and Rome shared the region. The Hellenes of the Aegean controlled much of what had been taken by them. Former colonies from as far as the Black Sea declared themselves into a Hellenic Alliance. Egypt had extended her influence over much of the former Persian Empire. The legacy of Alexander is very evident as the Ptolemies have reclaimed much of Alexander's old Kingdom.
The Arverni continue to make pathetic attempts at recapturing their former lands. They have even tested the defenses of the Germans across the Rhine River. The awkward situation with Massalia continues. Officially we are at war with them and yet they make no attempt at aggression. However the number of Hellenic citizens traveling between Emporion and Massalia has never been greater. No doubt the increased status of Emporion has created jealousy over the colony's success.
***
As winter fast approached I said goodbye to my wife and boarded the fleet that would be taking us south. For two years the fleet had been built to carry our army south into Africa. The nobles of the coastal cities had gained such status that now heavily armored horses accompanied us.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLVII-1.jpg
Although the horses choose to travel by land, until we actually journey to Africa. Reserve troops were gathering in a large encampment outside of Gader. Apparently Loio and father were using the estate to help supply the men with food and wine. A cousin of the king was in charge of gathering the men that would replace our losses in the main army. Our ships were put into Port in Gader until the light spring winds would come again. We would sail through the Herculean Gates and then follow the coast of Africa to the furthest of the Kart- Hadastim holdings. Here King Atu would begin his long march east.
https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h301/troyboy1208/Iberia%20Rising/XLVII-3.jpg
^The Big Picture ( I finally caved to showing a removed FOW map"

[Chirurgeon]

Ahwww, things are looking so good for Castulo the Younger. He's has a marital prospect, he's wealthy, and is well renowned. But where ever there is good bad is around the corner. And I hear the distant war drums of the African coast pounding their way into this story. Switches to Barbaric voice and chugs down some wine Plunder pillage! This will be a war of rememberance! Sharpens Falcata I can't wait to sever some phoenician heads from their rightful owners bodies and mount them on my wall! But if this isn't a war of rememberance, well, at least our coffers won't be empty.
I love having a barbarian council member :) Your input is always welcome


:laugh4: Either that didn't quite come out right, or you are one dirty little man, Chirurgeon.
it came out as I intended...


Excellent. Another quiet Sunday morning update over a cup of coffee. I didn't quite catch the ethnicity of our hero's new wife. She is Greek?

It's unfortunate that Atu can't get his army of slaves to build paved roads ... *grumble, grumble*, but I suppose it is realistic . . . somehow . . . .
(someone will have to let me know if you can "modify" the game to allow the Lusos to build roads)

How old is Atu now? How far West has the Carthagian empire stretched? Sorry to ask so many querstions. I shall poke about some maps and see where the new vineyards are coming up. I'll try to find out which D.O. it is and which grapes do best there.
Yes she is Greek. Atu is in his late thirties or early forties. Yea the road restriction is interesting. But it makes sense. Hopefully the map I posted can clarify the extent of different Empires. And no you don't ask too many questions. I really enjoy answering them. This AAR is for you enjoyment and I do what I can to enhance it :)


Thanks tacitus and chirurgeon!!!!! I really appreciate that!!!! And actually I have not read any new installments (Im a sadist and I love torturing myself LOL) I plan on reading everything all over again with a nice 80 dollar usd bottle of Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine.
sounds yummy:) I just polished off a nice bottle of Spanish wine myself :)

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Good to see you continuing. Keep it up.
Be careful not to go to war with both Roma and Kart-Hadast at the same time.