Stories Thread

[navarro951]

Part III: The Story of Dentatvs

290 BC

Midday, the battlefield in Campania.

"Alright men this is it, lets finish this and go home!" a centurion shouted. The Latium Conscription span out in a beautiful show of Roman tactics. A fine rank of Hastati to the front, Principes had formed from two sides in to create the second rank; and the mighty veteran triarii formed the backbone of the rear. Some rorarii had been brought up as reserve. The battle field was wet, muddy, making most of the legionaries' feet sink into the soft Earth.

"Look how many men came to die today!" a lone legionary encouraged. The ranks who could hear him laughed out and cheered. Behind his units, Consul Dentatvs stood watch over his men, grinning and admiring at how prepared they were to fight and die for the Res Publica. He turned to the left and in the distance, young Cornelius Blasio nodded to him, he then turned to the right and caught Legate Marcus' eye as well. He motioned, and both equites units rode off to take their flanking position. He then faced forward and eyed his enemy who outnumbered him in one massive, ten man thick, line. Dentatvs placed his general's helmet on, raised his hand, and motioned for a full assault.

The sounds of horns rang out. First from the left flank, then the middle, and finishing in a perfect chorus. One by one, each centurion roared out, "Forward!...Forward!...Fooorward!". A perfectly on step march let loose.

Ahead of the legion, there was a small hill the samnites and sabines had positioned themselves atop. The enemy hollered out in a show of defiance. When the legion was less than one-hundred yards from the samnites, who took the front line, they were fired upon by arrows from the rear. Good training had prepared them; the first line dropped to a knee, the second followed by covering his fellow legionary with his shield. Only one arrow made it through finding a place in a centurions neck; he died almost immediately. Seventy or so yards from the enemies front line Dentatvs' legion let out with a terrifyingly accurate javelin through.

"Charge!" the senior century ordered.

Each unit clashed one by one into the samnite line scoring kill after kill. A whistle was blown, and the second line took of the hastati took over; more show of Roman tactician genius. MORE TO COME, THIS PART IS BIG.