Life, death, and revenge - A Carthaginian AAR -Part 2-

[johnhughthom]

You spelt "guessing" wrong in your sig there Hun.

That sounded weird...

Edit: "campaigns" is spelt incorrectly too, just while I'm on the subject...

[Vasiliyi]

Your welcome.

You spelt "guessing" wrong in your sig there Hun.

That sounded weird...

Edit: "campaigns" is spelt incorrectly too, just while I'm on the subject...

Ofcourse, Johnhughthom must be anal about a minor spelling error while he fails to notice the multitudes of spelling and grammar errors in my chapters.

[johnhughthom]

Ofcourse, Johnhughthom must be anal about a minor spelling error while he fails to notice the multitudes of spelling and grammar errors in my chapters.

Meh, look through my AARs and notice how some chapters had edits weeks or months after they were written. I will give feedback on storyline or screenshots etc, but I spent ages correcting spelling and grammar mistakes on my own AARs, I'm not going to subject somebody else to my spelling/grammar nazi-ness.
Hope you didn't take offence Hun, I was only trying to be helpful.

Man, that sounded weird too...

[HunGeneral]

Hope you didn't take offence Hun, I was only trying to be helpful.

I'm not offended I was just too tired to give a normal answer at the moment (finally finished by last exam) I have a bad habbit of being unable to spot my own miss-writing Thansk for the correction by the way.

What I don't understand is why that what you wrote sounded strange?

[Reverend Joe]

I just caught up on this AAR -- good stuff! I love the swashbuckling feel it has.

[johnhughthom]

What I don't understand is why that what you wrote sounded strange?

Hun could be take as short for "honey".

[HunGeneral]

Hun could be take as short for "honey".

Aha now I get it. Well i haven't stated that I wish to be called "Hun". But I think that the two forms are written differently

By the way: say "Hun" to any roman and you can be sure he will get a scared and supprised exspression on his face (insert evil)

[Vasiliyi]

I just caught up on this AAR -- good stuff! I love the swashbuckling feel it has.

Thank yoiu very much for your comment. Update coming shortly.

[Vasiliyi]

When you meet angels and men


I looked out at the field. My back was against a tree, my hands resting
on his raised knees while I thought about her. Daleninar. What a beautiful
name. The only name that mattered.

My thoughts drifted to the moment I first saw her. I was twelve,
and just started serving my four years of training. I was in a forest
with Barca and Uxentio Scouting out a spot when I heard a beautiful
voice, singing.

I left Uxentio and Barca to their useless babbling and followed the
singing. I saw a girl, about my age walking carelessly through the
forest. Foolish it was, as the forest was full of bad characters.

I spied on her as she dance and twirled about until I saw a man.
The man jumped out and grabbed her. I drew my sword, but held
my position in hiding.

The man grabbed the girl and pushed her to the ground, yelling something
in a different dialect of Iberian that Likinos did not understand while the
girl pleaded with him. She let out a shrill of horror as the man tore her dress.

Exposed to the man, she started breating him with her bare hands.
The man parried the blows and raised his hand to hit her.

That was when I jumped like a lightning bolt at the man. I let out a
load cry as I charged the man who, stunned, looked at me.

The man didn't even have a chance to lower his hand before I plunged
my sword deep into his chest. The man looked in horror at the girl and
then fell dead, choking on his own blood.

The girl, still in shock of all that happened scurried back away from
me. I took one look at the girl and then turned away in shame. She
blushed, and her face became red like a tomato realizing she was
exposed to me. She quickly tied the top of her dress back on and
stood up. She then stood up and shook the dirt off her cloths.

"Hero, what is your name? She asked me.

I looked at her, examining her figure and answered. "I am no hero,
my lady. To be heroic is more than to just kill another man.

She looked at me and studied me. I could only imagine what she
thought. I didn't look Iberian at all, that she could tell right away.
I was of average height and very slinky. My face was clean, as
facial hair doesn't start growing that early, but it was also clean
from dirt. My hair was long and wavy. I could only imagine how
hideous I looked.

"I am Daleninar, My farm is just down in that valley."

My heart ripped in two when I heard her say her name. Daleninar,
what an angelic name. I looked in her eyes and she looked in mine.
Suddenly I saw a beautiful girl standing in from of me with all her
gentleness about her, even after what the man tried to do.

I snapped out of my daze and replied hastly, "I am Likinos, son of
Bareaus."

About this time Barca and Uxentio ran up to us, their falcata unsheathed
and ready to fight. They stopped suddenly, seeing the dead man. They
looked at me for an answer, but I couldn't stop looking at her.

She finally spoke for me. "That man tried to hurt me, and Likinos saved my life."

Barca, looked at at the dead man, then back at me, "Is this true."

I looked at him, and replied. "He jumped out and grabbed her, I charged
him and then he fell down."

I starred at Barca, unsure of what just happened. They just looked back
at me in disbelief. I don't think that they thought I was capable of killing
a man.

Now she just stared at me. What was she looking at? She bit her lower
lip while her eyes moved from my sandals to the ends of my hair. My
heart jumped when she looked in my eyes. I couldn't believe what was
happening to me. Uxentio was the one who broke our staring.

"AH, well done Likinos, so you really are a celt, and not one of them
Carthaginians." While he said Carthaginian, he pushed Barca aside
while he laughed at his joke.

Barca, insulted, immediately punched Uxentio in the throat and the
two began to wrestle.

I looked at her, and realized she would going soon. Not realizing
before it happened, as asked, "May I walk you home?

My voice quivered and squeaked.

"Please do." She answered.

******************

That night after I meet her I couldn't fall asleep. We were camped
in the same forest, spread out evenly amongst the other trainee's.
I had killed a man that day, my first kill and still my thoughts drifted
to Daleninar.

Her beauty consumed me. Hey blue eyes put the sky to shame. Her
lips, my, they were more red than the blood of that man. I couldn't
take it, I snuck out of the forest and ran to her house.

Her father was a farmer, and I didn't stop until i reached the path
where there was barely on one side and wheat on the other. Although
her father didn't like me, he did have his wife put food out in front of
me for saving his daughter. Carrot soup and roast goose. The best
meal Ive had since training started.

I stood there, a few paces from where she slept, yet I could not get
her attention. I sat next to her window and looked out at the stars.

"Likinos?!"
******************
Like cold water being poured on your as you wake up, such was the
voice of a soldier who called out my name. Reality struck me across
the face. I was here, in Gaul, awaiting to speak to the Gallic King.

"Yes, I am coming." Annoyed of my daydream being distured, and yet
feeling a sense of duty come over me, I stood up and walked into the tent.

The tent smelt of sweat and wine, and the two didn't mix well together.

"Your leader sent you to speak on his behalf, so speak."
The Gallic king started.

"I am here to have you uphold your side of the alliance. Barca needs
as many hardened veterans as you can give up, to help us in our
invasion of Italy." I said, starting to perspire myself from the heat in
the tent.

"Oh does he? And who shall fight for me when the Aedui come to take
my cities? Besides, he is a Carthaginian. He does not know how to lead
celts." He spoke in a tone worthy of a king.

"You will not have any cities if you let the Romans keep attacking. We
are going to attack the heart of Rome. Besides, Barca decided that I
would be leading all the Celts. For I am his champion, and a Celt."

The king looked at me. I hadn't changed my in appearance, but I was
taller, and much more muscular now. I was an awesome sight to see.
I well groomed and bred Celtic warrior who knew how to dress. Daleninar
always told me that I had a look of a lion when I looked at people.

"Your a Celt?" He looked at me, putting his hands to rub his beard
around his chin. "If you can beat my champion, you can have 500
veterans. If not, you will have to report to Barca, that we breed better
celts here, in Gaul. Brennus, teach this miserable fool a lesson."

To be continued....

[Ariovistus Maximus]

AAAAAG! I finally caught up and now I have to wait for Linikos' duel!

Nicely done! I very much like the way your title fits in.

[HunGeneral]

Nice! Really Nice chapter Vasiliyi!

[Vasiliyi]

The duel

The king exited the tent, followed by Brennus then me. A circle was
quickly drawn while we took our armour off. Helmets, shields, chainmail,
all of it. We were allowed our swords. Brennus was a large man. If i
were to compare him to anyone, id compare him to my father. Same
build and height.

The warriors of the camp quickly surrounded the circle each trying to
get the better look. Brennus turned his back to me and started
cheering himself on. With him, the rest of the warriors starting chanting
his name, trying to defeat me before ever swinging a blade.

They cheered and I watched, did he take me as a fool? Suddenly,
though not to my surprise he swung his sword towards me, and a
jumped back. He then turned his whole body and raised his sword
above his body, ready to crush me as he lowered his sword.

I dropped to the ground, my sword in front of me, barely stopping
the weight of his strong arms slamming the sword against my own.
I rolled, and with all the speed I could, i cut his foot, just above
the ankle.

He let out a cry, but then he laughed at me as I got up. I saw a
wave of emotion rush through his face and he charged again, slashing
at me from right to left, not stopping until he ran himself out of the
circle. The crowd let out negative cheers for me, as they watched
their clumsy champion trip and fall.

I was impressed with the endurance of this large man. The fight
continued, neither of us getting the advantage. He had his strength
and I my footwork. My father had taught me how to fight bigger
man, being the bigger man himself.

I could see he was tiring though, not by his swings, which stayed
strong, but by the way he was breathing. Now, I took the offensive.
I jumped up from my latest dodge, and lunged at him. He was taken
by surprise. We now fought man to man, as I dropped my sword.
We rolled as we threw punches at each other while with one hand
he clutched his sword.

We fell to the ground where he planned to finish me, until he realized
that I had his sword in front of his neck, while the hand that was
holding it, was cut from falling on it. He struggled, but he realized it
was in vain. I pushed my sword tightly against his neck. He looked at
me in disbelief and then look at the king.

"I yield." said, until I made sure the blade cut him enough to yell "I yield!"

***************

I returned to the main camp with 500 veterans for Barca but I did
not rejoice in my triumph. Another day had passed since Ive seen her.

[Ariovistus Maximus]

Epic; truly epic. It was really good over on the TWC too!

Hope you feel better!

[Jebivjetar]

All hail Karthage!


Joking... Great work, Vasiliyi: keep on going!

[Vasiliyi]

Unleashing the beast



Many thoughts were crossing Laro's mind that day. The first battle
against the Romans was before him. They had marched all the way
from Emporium to the walls of Massalia. They quickly set up siege
works around the city and began construction of towers. Within a
few weeks, everything was ready. No relief force came to challenge
the seige. Everything was working out well. Barca, although a little
under the weather, felt good about today.

Laro had one mission today. His duty was to scale the walls, fight
off the first wave of defenders and then wave a flag to to signal
the rest of the army to move in. Laro laughed at the orders. Still,
he agreed.

The tower moved like a slug towards the walls and it was several
minutes before it reached the walls. He yelled his orders and his
men scurried into the towers. Laro was first on the ladders.



They moved quickly, like animals, fearless to the orders being yelled
by the Romans on the walls. They had one master, and his name was
Laro. They all looked to him for bravery and obeyed without a questions.
In return, he lead them without fearing, making them rich with loot.
So many raids they performed, always successful. No one could bring
these beasts down. Who were these Romans, were they more
fearsome than their Iberian warlord?



"Boys, here we are. I hear these Romans are rich and cowardly. They
rely on armour and numbers. Give them hell, and they will run. BOZ
BOZ BOZ!" Laro yelled to his men.

The cheer they produced from Laro's speech was immense. One could
go deaf from the yelling and clanging of axe against shield.

The ramp was unleashed and the beasts jumped to the wall, only to
their surprise there were no Romans near them.



Suddenly, Laro pointed at a tower entry were the Romans came charging
in. Just militia.

"SLAUGHTER THEM!" Laro yelled and swung his axe. His men lunged forward.



There was no order after that. The unarmored, and unskilled militia
fell to Laro's beasts as if they were swine in a slaughter house. Swinging
and hacking with his axe Laro chopped a mans head clean off.



His face was covered in blood as the headless man sprayed his blood
from his neck. He fell with a jerk. The next man looked in horror at Laro.
Laro took his axe and swung again, cracking the mans chest with his axe.



It wasn't long until the real Romans came running to help the militia.
Well armored, they reminded him of Greek hoplites he had seen in
many Greek settlements. These Romans relied on order and discipline.
They wished to fight as one unit. But that is where laro's beasts thrived.
They broke all order. They had no fear. They simply climbed the edge the
wall and jumped right into the Trarii. The Trarii could not stand such
ferociousness and they soon fell.

There was an incident during the fight though. Laro, attempting to
flank a trarii lost his footing in a pile of dead bodies. He starting falling
back off the wall when he swung his axe into a skirmisher.



Using the momentum, he pulled himself back onto the wall and left
the Roman fall to his death off the wall. His men cheered as they
watched the man fall instead of their leader.



Laro was impressed with these Romans.



The skirmishers were cowering behind a single Roman Trarii. He held
his shield close to himself protecting his chest from the deadly axe
of the beasts. He yelled something in Latin and then lunged himself
at them, but it was in vain as they fell upon him without fear.

They charged the rest of the skirmishers and slayed them in droves.
Laro looked back at the dead Romans.



He then remembered what his mission was and realized it was too late.
There were no more Romans on the walls. He took the banner that he
was supposed to show to Barca and threw it into city. No, he would
take the city with just his own men today. He lead his men up to
another tower where Barca's soldiers where waiting in the tower.



"Go back and tell Barca that we alone shall take the city today. I
need no help." Laro yelled.

The rest of the day Laro slaughtered the inhabitants of the city along
with the remnant Roman soldiers. There was a Greek captain along
with some local levy Greek hoplites. They lined up and created a barrier
between the center of the city and Laro. Laro's men did not accept
such a welcome.

They pounced and killed the hoplites. It was a ghastly scene. Whenever
one of laro's men was stabbed or hurt, he did not quit. He had no
right to quit. He would get back up, no matter what the wound and
fight back. Even when strength escaped him, and his life blood slipped
away he would use his teeth to bite the feet of the hoplites.

Then the Greek captain was isolate and hacked to bits and pieces.



Men ran to the center of the city where some citizens armed themselves
with whatever was available. Laro smiled at the day. For they had all
died by his men. When the last man who resisted died, Laro's men
cheered for Laro who looked around at the carnage.


***********
All the while Barca was amassing his men outside the walls. When he
had heard that Laro refused to allow anyone into the city until they
were done, he was infuriated. He waited at the gates with Likino's at
his side. When the gates were finally open, Barca stared wildly at
Laro who was covered in blood from head to toe. Fresh scalps were
hanging off his body. Behind him, Laro's beasts were also covered in
fresh scalps. In his hand Laro carried the head of the Roman commander.
He threw it at Barca's feet.

There was silence for a moment until a wild cheer escaped the mouths
of the Barca's infantry. They did not understand Barca's anger. But
Barca could not rebuke Laro when Barca's men loved him so. Likinos
spat in Laro's direction and rode off on his horse into the city.

And so, the beast was unleashed, the General became enraged, and
the lover continued in his thoughts of his love.

[johnhughthom]

Those axemen look brutal.

[Reality=Chaos]

Great chapter

[HunGeneral]

You spelt "guessing" wrong in your sig there Hun.

That sounded weird...

Edit: "campaigns" is spelt incorrectly too, just while I'm on the subject...

Corrected.