[Romani AAR] It began on seven hills...

[QuintusSertorius]

Campaigns in Lacetania, 217BC, part 1

Late in the spring of 217BC, General Scipio halted his men and constructed a marching camp. He didn't want to over-stretch his supply lines, nor advance too deep into the countryside without being sure of the loyalty of the local tribes.

While in his camp, his scouts and spies reported the approach of a Qarthadastim army, Bodinelqart and the survivors of the last encounter returned for more. Scipio was puzzled as to why the Punic commander would seek battle again so soon, without even drawing reinforcements. Perhaps he was confident that his elephants would do better this time. Perhaps he feared being replaced if he didn't quickly earn a victory to expunge his defeat. Perhaps there was some other, inscrutable reason. Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, Bodinelqart sought battle. Scipio's men were eager for vengeance for Orata, and cheered when they were ordered to march out of the camp to offer battle.



Scipio's army drew up on the top of a hill, looking down the wooded slopes to where Bodinelqart advanced.



Bodinelqart led with his elephants, hoping to sow disoder and rout the Romans with the first charge. He rode one of the elephants himself, perhaps adding to the confidence he felt.



Elephants and cavalry charged clear of the trees, entering a hailstorm of missiles from both the Roman light and line troops. Wary of the elephants, centurions ordered the men to throw everything they had, regardless that it might leave them with nothing for the enemy infantry when they arrived.



His overconfidence led to his end, Bodinelqart was killed by a sling bullet which took him in the throat. He died choking on his own blood as he tried in vain to dig the pellet out.



Soon all the elephants were driven off.



Elite infantry emerged from the woods and, heedless of the loss of their commander engaged the Romans.



Supporting them came Numidian skirmishers.



The extraordinarii and Campanian cavalry looped around the line to threaten the elite's rear.



And in a short while, the pressure broke the resolve of even these very brave men.



The Gallic cavalry drove off the skirmishers.



Surrounded, the elites in the centre broke.



But those on the left fought on.



In the end, though, they could not survive alone and were forced to flee. Bodinelqart had foolishly thrown away his life and his army.

[QuintusSertorius]

Campaign in Lacetania, 217BC part 2

Having crushed Bodinelqart, Scipio was surprised when a few days later his camp was threatened once more. This time by the local tribes, who either out of loyalty to their Punic masters, or else fear of another oppressor gathered a force and attacked. They were led by a fearsome warrior called Elazuno, who scorned the Romans and their effete ways.



Much as he had done before, Scipio deployed atop the same hill overlooking the forest. His men were confident taking up the same positions that had brought victory so recently.



Using the cover of the forest, Elazuno, a canny raider attempted to sneak around to flank the bigger Roman force. Scipio had outriders keeping tabs on the enemy, and readdressed his line to meet the ruse.



In a brave, if somewhat foolish move, Elazuno shouted his men forward, straight up the hill at the Romans.



They charged into a hail of javelins, then halted to deliver their own missiles. Meanwhile the Gallic horse spurred off to challenge Elazuno and his bodyguard.



Just as against Bodinelqart, the extraordinarii and Campanians moved to outflank their enemy.



Expending their missiles, the tribesmen charged.



As the enveloping maneuver took place on the right, the velites looked to repeat the maneuver on the left.



Elazuno ran from the Gallic horse, and unable to see their leader the Iberians lost heart. Their confidence evaporated and they tried to escape.



Elazuno didn't even look back as he and his horsemen fled the field like cowards.



The day was Scipio's and once again with very few casualties.



As spring turned towards sweltering hot summer, embassages were received from the local tribes who promised not to attack the Romans any more. Scipio didn't press for a more punitive accomodation, he needed the locals supportive, or at least outside of the bigger conflict with Qarthadast.

[QuintusSertorius]

Battle in Lacetania, summer 217BC

Early in the summer of 217BC, Scipio received some reinforcements from Rome, along with a new legate and quaestor, Decimus Claudius Pulcher. The men were heartened both by the replacements and the arrival of Pulcher, who some had fought under in Cisalpine Gaul when he drove off the Cenomani.

Scipio had made some minor changes to his army in the months since the battle with the local tribes. He'd consolidated the surviving Bruttians into one command and brought in some local fighters to serve in the Left ala.

With his force back up to full strength, he pressed on towards Arse, stopping in some wooded country on the Roman road to pitch camp. Spies among the local tribes whispered of a large Qarthadastim force marching towards the Romans, ready to kick them out of Spain. They were led by a half-Iberian noble called Mytonnes Saunites. They outnumbered the Romans by a small margin, but a significant part of their force were recently freed slaves.



Scipio marched out of his camp and arrayed his forces on the road, keeping the legions visible in the centre, but hiding the two alae in the woods. The right wing was commanded by Pulcher, the left by the cenburion in charge of the extraordinarii. They had a strong position halfway up a hill.



Saunites ordered his men to advance. He feared little from these Romans, beating Bodinelqart had handily removed a rival for supreme command in Spain. His heavy calvary rushed for the Roman left.



The rest of his army charged up the hill, tiring themselves out. His heavy cavalry caught the allied slingers unawares, cutting many of them down. The extraordinarii marched to their rescue, knowing that if they cavalry gained a foothold they could roll up the entire line. The Gallic horse drew another group of Liby-Phoenician cavalry away from the rest of the army.



In the centre the Iberians and slaves charged.



Gallic mercenaries and Numidian skirmishers joined in support of the heavy horse, and a desparate scrap broke out on the left.



Rather than engaging, the slaves in the centre began to drift away from the fight as the Iberians and African infantry moved to engage.



On the right, more Gallic mercenaries and Maure skirmishers pushed the Roman slingers back. Pulcher looked for his moment.



Using the cover of the fighting on the left, Saunites and his bodyguard slipped behind the Roman line.



Still the fighting continued on the left, with no sign of a resolution in sight. The Gauls were well-armoured and skilled, and despite their fatigue fought fiercely.



Sautines attacked the allied slingers once more, many of whom were already injured or dead. The triarii from the First Legion were ordered to support them.



For a time Sautines and his band threatned the Roman centre.



But he was wounded in the scalp, and a worried ward pulled him clear of danger.



The Gauls on the right were caught between the triarii, Bruttians and Pulcher's cavalry, and mauled badly. They decided discretion was the better part of valour.



Seeing the Gauls flee, and suffering many dead and wounded themselves, the Iberians fled. Pulcher led the Bruttians and his cavalry to outflank those remaining.



The return of the Gallic horse routed the mercenaries on the left. Soon resistance there crumbled.



His wound staunched with a makeshift dressing, Sautines attempted to salvage something of this battle.



But it was too late, most of his army were already in flight.



He tried to slow the Romans down anyway.



However the day was already lost.



He fled the field, narrowly escaping being slain himself as Pulcher spotted him while riding down fleeing Iberians.



A great victory had been won, further hampering the Qarthadastim war effort in Spain.

[QuintusSertorius]

Autumn 217BC:



Scipio's victorious army is threatened immediately by a slave army led by Burrhus Gades, along with the remnants of Sautines force. There's another Qarthadastim army nearby led by another FM.

Elsewhere in the world, Baktria have lost their capital to the Saka again, although they have troops around so should retake it.

The Iberians look to be trying to start things up with the Arverni again (even though they're allies). The Aedui in Celtiberia don't seem to want to move, they're recruiting more troops to add to the formiddable amount they already have.

Seleukids are holding now that I teleport any serious opponents away from them. There's a lot of Ptolemaic troops languishing in the Egyptian desert years away from causing any harm.

Still a stalemate in Greece.

I'm now three turns away from the appearance of Hannibal, assuming it all works. Two from giving Qarthadast Capua.