Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
The slightly unorthodox AAR for my new 1.6, lowered rebel/pirate spawn rates, night battles enabled Gaul campaign. The first episode is the meeting at Massilia of Brennus and his sons in 264, recalling the events so far. It is heavily role-played, rather than power-gamed. I may be using scripting to help my role-play later.
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Brennus sat down at the head of the table, half a goblet of wine in his hand. He turned to his eldest son, Eporedorix, who was already turning slightly red with the alcohol. Eporedorix grinned drunkenly back. Brennus looked over his shoulder at his bard, ‘You may begin.’
The bard began,
‘Twas six years back, when dreaded lack of weal
And many foes would curse the Gaul,
Despising all his beard and demanding for his fall.
Thus the brave Brennus and his sons would ride,
Shining in the glorified manner of Gods.’
Vindex yawned audibly, while Rianorix was unsettled, caring not for such verse and wanting to return to his city of Numantia.
‘These five men, all so brave,
With no fear for sword or for grave,
Did swear an oath to reap the souls of all
Those who dared to curse the fair land of Gaul.’
Eporedorix occupied himself instead with the wine. Lugotorix sat there with a sense of duty and an appreciation of poetry.
‘Father of them all was bravest Brennus…’
The poet continued for a while then got to the war with the Britons,
‘And with many a trumpet’s striking sound
Great Brennus circled the walls around
With the heads of rams
And laid them open, lambs to the slaughter
Were these Britons, whose chariots and pomp
Has left –’
Vindex interrupted, ‘Tripe!’. He cried out. Eporedorix was the only one who didn’t look up. ‘Dad,’ he began to Brennus, ‘Were you not overcome by the Britons at first?’
Brennus nodded, ‘yes, they sent twelve-hundred men at my six-hundred and then managed to muster three hundred reinforcements. Were it not for those chariots I’d have thrown them back into the sea there. Regardless, their victory was shortlived, for they had lost one thousand men. I rolled up most of their men in night battles with my remaining troops, and then with one hundred and seventy reinforcements I surrounded Samarobriva. Belenus, chieftain of the Britons, had still got a hundred more men than I, and he had chariots.’
Brennus took a sip from his wine, and Lugotorix took a similar sip from his. Vindex looked on intently.
‘Well, they sent their infantry out of the gate and sent their chariots towards another gate, meaning to outflank me. I rushed the infantry and overran them, driving them back into the city. I then formed up my own infantry force in the central street and the chariots crashed into them. I assisted them and Belenus was cast down. The other Briton leader, Sanaius or something equally absurd, was overcome in a similar fashion, and the Britons were cast from Gaul.’
Brennus looked pointedly at his son. ‘Haven’t you been doing something?’
‘I was serving under Epp, here.’
Eporedorix looked across dimly, and then looked down.
‘Well, since he’s in no fit state too, you tell the story.’
Vindex said ‘well, mind you, I was only here for the latter part of the campaign. They tell me Arretium had the gates opened by spies and that Ep struck it at night and seized the place. Then there was some skirmish outside Segesta, and that, being unwalled, fell too.’
He continued as Rianorix looked dully towards the door, ‘I arrived after that and together we assembled a grand host and besieged Ariminium. The Julii sent a small force to besiege Arretium and we ignored them. A senate army went to relieve them and our elder brother is a genius when it comes to war.’
Eporedorix looked up, suddenly betraying none of his inebriation,
‘Ah yes, I sent our mercenaries in front and drew out Publius Maxentius, before the Julii could arrive. It was quite successful, and the senator retired. However, he rallied his men and came in again. This attack of his was anticipated and absorbed by warbands while my swordsmen remained fresh. My infantry absorbed the Julii bodyguards, and my cavalry outflanked them. I killed one of their generals in personal combat, while Flavius Julius was cut down by a swordsman and Maxentius was overrun by light cavalry. After that victory, I stormed the town with its few remaining guards.’
Vindex interjected as his elder brother’s speech became more slurred,
‘The men who had besieged Arretium turned back to repel us, but finding it was too late, they became petty Italian brigands.’
Brennus simply said, ‘All-consuming in the battlefield and tavern, no? Eporedebrius Victor.’
Rianorix smiled sarcastically, ‘While you would toy with words, I would return to Numantia.’
‘Ah yes, what have you been up to?’
‘Managing the city of Numantia and guarding it from attack. It feels like a dereliction of duty to come here while my men are besieged.’
‘You, Lugotorix?’
‘I manage the accounts of Mediolanum, that is what I do best.’
‘Well, you simply must come to Alesia with me when I go. I want your aid in finances there.’
‘But Rome would be an ideal place for my managerial skills to be exercised –’
‘I would not have you become an oversized Roman. I want you to spend a few years in Gaul.’
Rianorix immediately asks, ‘may I have an army to join my son at Narbo Martius and return from there to Spain? I must leave!’
At that moment a horseman entered, ‘Victory has been gained in Iberia over the besiegers, but we have been again besieged. I come from the captain who gained the short respite, requesting your return.’ He looked at Rianorix, who nodded.
‘Father?’
‘I give you two-hundred and fifty spearmen and a hundred cavalry. As well as assistance of the treasury for your campaign. Go swiftly and fight well.’
Rianorix bows before immediately leaving to mobilise his men.
‘Now, I have called you here to see how you are doing, and sadly Rianorix has had to leave. I see that you, Vindex, are impatient for your own command.’
‘Not every man can go to Corinth.’ Objected Lugotorix with his favourite Greek saying. ‘Eporedorix is twice the commander you are. He ought lead against the Romans.’
‘I thought you’d say that. And while not every man can go to Corinth, I’m certain that I can. I request seven hundred infantry, one hundred cavalry and one hundred and fifty ships to prove it.’
Brennus is quite taken aback, he eventually nods, ‘I should not restrain your talent longer, with the rhetoric that Eporedorix is the best. One day he will be in my place, and when I am not there, he will be needed against the Germans. You must develop your abilities in Greece.’
Vindex, quite surprised at the agreement, also leaves to ready his men.
Brennus says, ‘come Lugotorix, we leave for Alesia.’
Eporedorix looks up from the floor, ‘why do you hire such an awful poet?’
‘There are some moments, son, when I could swear you’re sober.’
Eporedorix picks himself up from the floor in the morning and shrugs his shoulders. What was it he’d meant to ask about again? Oh, an army to take Rome. By the Gods, where had they all gone?
Oh well, he’d just have to hire men from his own cities: Arretium and Ariminium. Maybe his sons could get some from Patavium and Segesta. Travelling light he’d get to Mediolanum before Vindex.
He slowly resisted the urge to have another drink. Why had his father banned him from building taverns? He mounted up and rode towards Italy, with Rome in his mind.
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Feedback very welcome/post reserved
Orb
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
What are the conditions of this PBEM?Is for RTW 1.5 without mods?
Caius
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caius Flaminius
What are the conditions of this PBEM?Is for RTW 1.5 without mods?
Caius
Well he used version 1.6 and made some minor changes to the game himself;
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orb
The slightly unorthodox AAR for my new 1.6, lowered rebel/pirate spawn rates, night battles enabled Gaul campaign. The first episode is the meeting at Massilia of Brennus and his sons in 264, recalling the events so far. It is heavily role-played, rather than power-gamed. I may be using scripting to help my role-play later.
Also, Orb merely posted an AAR,I don't think he intended to start a new PBEM - if that was why you asked.
:balloon2:
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caius Flaminius
What are the conditions of this PBEM?Is for RTW 1.5 without mods?
Caius
He's just writing up a story for his single player campaign, I think. ~:)
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Nice work Orb!
Keep them coming
MCM
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Pictures!
Pretty good though :)
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
Zimfan/DG are correct - pics will be added when I can be bothered to upload them all...
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April 258 BC
Eporedorix dragged his head from his latest vat of wine. It was about time he could have a drink. Well, now he was King, who could stop him. Still, he missed his father; Brennus had caught an illness a little after leaving the conference of Massilia. Lugotorix had reported dutifully from Alesia, having gone there to fulfil his father’s wish, that ‘he had been happy to go after seeing his sons for one last time’.
Eporedorix gestured vaguely at the cowering Roman. ‘Can you write Greek?’ The terrified figure nodded. ‘Well, write this:’ The Gaul stood up, in the manner of someone dictating a letter.
‘My brothers, it has been six years since last we spoke, and I hope to amend that soon. I, from our conference, raced towards Mediolanum and then down to Arretium, but Vindex insolently raised men from Ariminium, Patavium and Segesta without my permission, and even took the Italian host from Ariminium onto a mere sixty ships.
We were assailed by a host of Greeks from the sea, twelve-hundred strong, and I was trapped in Ariminium. I sent a messenger to Vindex, demanding his return to assist me, seeing as he had stolen my soldiers. He ‘didn’t hear’, but fortunately his fleet was attacked by Romans and driven back to our swords, he was forced to disembark and come to my aid. Between us, we won a grand victory, and the Greeks were forced to offer a ceasefire, after being driven from our shores.
From there, I reassumed the command of my army, and gave Vindex a small force to fight off a German incursion to Northern Italy, which he finally accomplished last year.’
Vindex keeled over and crashed into a table. The table didn’t survive the encounter and Vindex slowly brought himself to his feet. ‘You aren’t going anywhere!’ he shouted to the fleeing Roman, who abruptly halted. ‘I have more to put down.’
‘Well, from there I led maybe thirteen hundred men, a mixture of swordsmen and light spearmen for the most part at Rome, I had a few hundred cavalry in that. Myself and Meriadoc, Vindex’s lad, a good kid, were in command. The senate had about three hundred men up on me, many heavy horsemen and heavy infantry’;
He laughed, ‘Bloody lot of good that did them. Their cavalry were drawn out, surrounded and destroyed. All five of their commanders were killed in the battle.’
The Roman flinched, he knew each of these commanders, Flavius and Alcman of Corinth… Servius Maxentius, who had led the reinforcement force of three or four hundred was a fine man while this Gaul was a drunkard. Still, the drunkard had won … he would write history.
‘Then our own cavalry overwhelmed their light troops and struck down their heavy infantry. I was left with seven hundred and fifty men, while they were destroyed utterly. Not one soldier escaped my fury.
Roman, are you writing?’
‘Y…yes, king.’
‘Good: I led my remain forces against the walls of Rome and attacked with a two sets of ladders and a pair of rams in the dead of the night. Though I had maybe three men to each Roman, they were entrenched behind stone. Both my rams were consumed by flames and neither side could make headway against the gatehouse from the ladders. To this end, I told those on the wall to merely stand ground, and sent others which had climbed up to either side: they took another gatehouse, and from there I entered with the cavalry.
The skirmishers of Mediolanum supported me and the Roman Marcus Maxentius was pierced by a javelin with his locally superior forces useless in the face of Celtic valour. The men on the walls soon surrendered and I took the city.
I thought you might like to know: Mediolanum is to be renamed ‘Abnobaeum’ in honour of its patron goddess, whose priests and traditions encourage excellence in archery. Rome is to be renamed Eporedorum in honour of its status as my first conquest as King.
Rome is taken…’ He repeats, shaking his head to clear it of the wine. ‘You appear pale?’
‘Just the cold, king.’
‘I wish to know equally how Spain and Gaul have been. Bring the tablet here, Roman.’
The Roman brought out the wax. ‘Oh, wait a minute, I forgot: By the way, brothers, Ariminium came under siege. Vindex is marching to relieve it… and I mean to meet up with you in Eporedorum in four or five years’ time, foes and campaigns irrelevant.’
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Lugotorix scanned the tablet again. That ‘Eporedorum’ was a new trouble. Another such council could bring Gaul to her knees. If they had not done such before, the Spanish and Germans would not have dared to invade. Still, a king was a king…
He turned to his informant. ‘My brother is constructing a tavern in rome?’
‘Of course, why should he not?’
‘My father forbade him taverns. He is disobeyed after death.’
‘Eporedorix is king now, Brennus is king no more.’
‘And the world falls worse for it.’
‘My pay?’
‘GET OUT!’
The informant retreated hastily from the house. Lugotorix thought: so, this was why his father had sent him to Alesia. Being corrupt, Rome corrupted. Lugotorix drew his spear, unused for a very long time…
No, such extreme measures would be worthless. Nonetheless, Lugotorix, should he inherit the kingdom as he was appointed to, would cut off the sinful limb that called itself Rome. He would torch the damn place to the ground and give the husk to some Carthaginian or Numidian. No doubt ‘Eporedorum’ was to become their new capital. Maybe this Meriadoc would replace him as inheritor. Well, time to begin his reply…
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
:)... Do I need to post more?
Re: Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign
‘This sounds a little cold,’ Eporedorix mused, ‘One victory has been achieved by mine own hand, and the Germans have been defeated many more times by my trusted subordinate, who is called Orgetorix of Mossela. The town of Samarobriva was lost to the Germans, but the town of Lugdunum has been taken in exchange. Though victory against these disciplined spearmen was difficult at first, the assistance of skirmishers and swordsmen has resulted in complete victory in several ambushes. If you could spare skirmishers and archers from Abnobaeum, I will be able to begin retaliations against the Germans in full. I am leaving Samarobriva in their hands for the moment, a host of Britons has arrived there, and I would rather the Germans absorb the losses than we do. I am needed here, and will not be present at your conference.’
Eporedorix span round, and cast the tattered scroll into the mud outside Eporedorum. ‘He doesn’t suffer at all! Vindex is dead, both his sons are dead, my daughter’s husband is dead. Every bloody Gaul of note here is dead except me! I have fought the hardest battles of our time. Vindex gave his life like a hero to hold onto our possessions, so did one of his sons. The town of Ariminium was held and the Romans beaten back. I’ve fought battle after battle, defence after defence, to cling onto our lands! They’ve had three men to one at least in all of them. I gained Capua, and not a word of thanks! I’ve held Eporedorum against odds that were called impossible. HE SCORNS MY BLOOD!’
The Gaul’s huge fist slammed down on the table. ‘He is denied any assistance from Abnobaeum.’ The table collapsed feebly and Eporedorix sat down again. He stretched his arms. ‘I would like to congratulate my Iberian brother on his run of successes against those barbarians and hope that he will come to this town soon.’
He stood up again and started pacing. He glared at the messenger: ‘Go, tell them.’
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Screenies
I have a few hundred of these, but only the best/most informative are worth posting.
