Stories thread

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Winter, 364 AD
somewhere in the lands of Marcomanni


Duva saw couple of buildings near the road. An old man was outside fixing the roof of one of the buildings. Seeing Duva the man stopped for a moment but realizing that he wasn't a threat the man continued his work.
"Good man, can I stay here and rest a little bit?" asked Duva.
"Sure, traveler." said the man.
Duva got down from his horse and sat under the roof. The man continued his work while Duva took out his food. He offered it do the old man who nod and sat near Duva.
"So, traveler. From where are You coming?"
"From the lands in east. I belong to the tribe called Vandals."
"I've heard of you. Is it true that a strange people from the east are coming. People who can not be stopped?"
"Yes. That's why we are moving. The Huns are dangerous people. They probably would kill us all."
Both men fell into their own worlds and did not say anything in the next half hour.
"Good man," said Duva and thus breaking the silence,"how far is the Vicus Marcomanni? I want to gather some information about the Romans and I understand your Chief have fought them many times."
"If you follow this road then you'll be there before the next full moon."
Duva got up and bowed to the man.
"Thank you for allowing me to rest. Hospitality and kindness is rare in this world."
The man nodded and watched how Duva rode away.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Event 2
Summer, 365 AD

Results

Riding - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Trusty Steed ancillary
Archery - Winner: Gildo(Madoushi), reward: Master of Archers ancillary
Sword fight - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Swordbearer ancillary
Wrestling - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Hale and Hearty trait

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

These rewards will be added to the avatars as soon as possible.
I had a story written as well but for some reason I thought Lord of Lent is Gildo and thus this story doesn't make much sense anymore. Will write a new one if I have the time.

[TheFlax]

365 AD, Winter
Near Aquincum

Visimar, weary of a journey of roughly three years, stood stoic in the chilly winter morning. Below him, out in the distance, laid the city of Aquintum, the Vandal king's first Roman city. He dared not show the awe he felt at the sight of the high stone walls of the city, lest his men think less of him. However he felt, he had come here as the vanguard of his people, to assure them a better life. Ordering most of his troops to sent up a makeshift camp, King Visimar picked a few of his finest riders to accompany him closer to the Roman city.

The small mounted group stopped at the outcropping of a small forest, not far from the city gates, and at the order of the king, one of the men waived a large battered white cloth, signal to the Romans that they wished to discuss. It took only a short time before a small group of roman cavalrymen rode out of Aquincum and made their way towards Visimar's band. These roman horsemen were hale and hearty, strong and well equipped, they bore a certain resemblance in their features to the small party of Vandals, but their roman banner marked their allegiance clearly. Unsurprisingly, these men spoke a similar tongue as the Vandals and soon an rough understanding between the two was reached. Nevertheless, both sides were on edge, each carefully studying the movements of the others.

During the discussion, one of the Romans seemed to reach for something in his heavy cloak. Childeric, one of the men accompanying Visimar screamed out a warning before unsheathing his blade. In the following instant before chaos erupted, the Roman rider was skewered and was revealed to be reaching for a gourd.

Visimar screamed defiantly, wishing to prevent the bloodbath that was about to happen.

It was in vain, his men instantly pulled our their own swords and joined Childeric. Some of the surprised Romans managed to put up a fight, but soon each of their eight bloody body laid strewn upon the snow, gashed and pierced by Vandal blades.

Some time later, Visimar and his five followers gathered further in the woods. Soon they would have to return to the camp and fighting the Romans over a misunderstanding, however innocent it has been, would not motivate the men to continue the journey, much less defeat the Romans along the way. No, for this exodus to succeed it would have to be the Romans' fault. Yet, for this to be believable, to be irrefutable, Visimar knew a sacrifice had to be made.

Dismounting, the King of the Vandals motioned Childeric to join him. They had known each other for two decades and for all that time Childeric had been his valiant companion, one of his most trusted lieutenants like the four other present. This made the deed all the more painful for Visimar, but the though of his people, his responsibility, drove him on. In one swift motion he drew a dagger and buried it in his friend's throat, cradling Childeric as the proud warrior fell to the ground clutching the mortal wound, his expression showing shock and surprise. Despite all his efforts to remain composed, Visimar shed a single tear.

During the following minute, Visimar remained crouched near his fallen friend and any of his four companions could have slain him easily, but such was their loyalty to the man, they simply stood to the side, themselve shocked by the brutal display. Then began the gruesome task of removing Childeric's head, which Visimar did with a small hatchet while explained his plan to his fellows. They would bring back Childeric's head as proof of Roman duplicity and following the general outrage of the men, Visimar would lead them to siege Aquincum. For this to work and for Childeric's sacrifice to retain its meaning, they would have to each take a vow to keep the truth silent. Each of them nodded in a certain understanding, a certain reluctance showing, but for now the secret was safe.

When Visimar arrived to camp and told his men what has happened, he found that the lies came much too easily for burdened conscience.

[TheFlax]

366 AD, Winter
Southwest of Aquintum

When Oza's men informed King Visimar that a small Roman relief force was making its way to pin him against Aquintum, he immediately took all of his riders and moved to intercept them. In a snowy field some distance away from Aquintum, Visimar finally spotted the forces of Captain Glycerius and engaged them.

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King Visimar led his men personally. After the troubling events of the past year, he was eager to join battle. It was something he had not done for some time.

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Visimar arrayed his horsemen in a loose, waiting to see what posture Glycerius' force would take.

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Glycerius positioned his frontline troops in a line with his best troops, the Comitatenses, holding the middle, while Foederati Infantry with their spears took the flanks. Behind, a loose formation of peasants followed the Comitatenses, surely pressed into service out of service. At the rearmost was Glycerius himself with two units of Foederati Cavalry.

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Visimar set his horse archers to attack what he perceived as the greatest threat, the two units of spearmen, while he personally rode out, accompanied by the lancers, to intercept a unit of Foederati Cavalry.

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Visimar spotted the band of peasant, running alone in the field. While he was busy fighting the unit of Foederati Cavalry, he sent his lancers upon them. In a matter of moments, most of them laid dead in the snow, as the thunderous charge of the Vandal cavalry crashed into them.

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The Roman infantry scattered, pursuing the Vandal cavalry left and right, but with the unit of Foederati Cavalry routed, Visimar pulled back, confident he could engage them at his leisure.

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Visimar soon realized, to his dismay, that he had made a mistake. During the heat of his battle, he had lost track of the other unit of Foederati Cavalry led personally by Captain Glycerius. Frantically, he searched the field for his opponent, until he found him far to the rear of his forces. Glycerius had boldly made his way through the Vandal forces and had taken chase to a unit of horse archers. By the time Visimar and his lancers caught up, the unit of Horse Archers had been destroyed. In fury, Visimar charged Glycerius' unit of Foederati Cavalry with the aid of his lancers and soon the Roman Captain was fleeing for his life.

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Meanwhile, two units of Comitatenses had followed Visimar at a run, hoping to catch up to him before their leader was beaten. They faced only death as Visimar charged the first unit, while his lancers wheeled around to attack their rear.

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The second unit of Comitatenses fared no better, and soon the whole Roman force was routed, with the Foederati Infantry whittled down to a few man under the hail of arrows from the horse archers.

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The first battle of the Vandals against the Roman thus ended with a clear victory for King Visimar.

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In which he had proved himself a capable commander once more, despite his mistake.

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A few hours after the battle, Visimar was leading his horsemen back to Aquintum, when his scouts brought before him a battered man. The Vandal king immediately recognized Glycerius, who he had fought personally in the previous battle.

"You speak our tongue?" Visimar asked the Roman.

"I do."

"What is your name?"

"I am called Glycerius." The Roman had a moment of pride as he told his name, before becoming crestfallen again.

"I am Visimar, King to these people." The Vandal king simply replied. "What will happen if you return to your people?"

"They will kill me for cowardice." Glycerius stated morosely.

"I know you are not a coward Roman, you showed cunning and fought well. Despite my overwhelming victory, of all your troops only you cost me a serious loss."

"So you will kill me to avenge them?" The dejected Roman barely seemed interested in his fate.

"That would serve no purpose. No, but I could use a man of your experience. This will not be my last battles against your people after all."

"I suppose so." Glycerius seemed to regain some vigor. "Your offer is better then death."

"It is." The Vandal king said firmy.

Glycerius nodded his consent.

"Get this man a horse, he rides with me." Visimar ordered and the scout obeyed.

At the end of the day, when the band of horsemen settled in camp, some distance away from Aquintum, Visimar had gained a new follower.

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[TheFlax]

367 AD, Summer
Near Aquincum

On his way back to the siege of Aquincum, King Visimar spotted another Roman force, which had previously been camping near the city. Wishing to make his assault simpler, Visimar led his cavalry in attack of this small army, commanded by Captain Hannibalianus. Glycerius informed the King that this man was one of the most trusted captains of Spurius Flavius, governor of Aquincum.

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The Romans fielded two units of Limitanei at the front, with Archers taking up the center and a mix of Catholic Priests, Foederati Cavalry and Sarmatians Auxilias. Glycerius cautioned not to take the latter lightly, for the Auxilias were lead by Hannibalianus himself. Well armed and armored, they would be match even for Visimar's elite personal bodyguards.

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Visimar placed his riders in a similar formation of the one he had employed against Glycerius, for it had worked well.

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In a thunder of hooves, the Vandal advance began with the Horse Archers taking point and targeting the Roman Limitanei.

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Already some of the Limitanei began routing and King Visimar took the opportunity to charge the exposed unit of Foederati Cavalry.

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King Visimar's assault decimated the Foederati Cavalry, while Hannibalianus' Sarmatians took in chase the Vandal's depleted Lancers. The Horse Archers continued to pour waves of arrows upon the Roman infantry.

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With the Lancers in danger, King Visimar rushed across the battlefield and headlong into the Sarmatians. Soon after, the nimble Lancers moved into a flanking position and charged.

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As Captain Hannibalianus and his Sarmatians fought for their lives, the young Gildo came forward and took chase of the Roman Archers who were trying to flee the battle.

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In the end, Visimar won a clear victory, leaving only Hannibalianus and nine Sarmatian riders alive on the Roman side.

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[TheFlax]

367 AD, Summer
Aquincum

Visimar decided the siege of Aquincum had lasted long enough.

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With his vastly superior force, taking the city should not pose a problem and so, on a mildly foggy but sunny morning, Visimar assembled his men for the attack.

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Immediately, spearmen began the attack by pushing to battering towards the gate, while the Chosen Warrios took ladders and rushed for the walls.

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Unfortunately, one of the battering rams began burning after repeated volleys from the archers on the walls and the towers.

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The second battering ram met a similar end moments later, but the Chosen Warriors had reached the walls.

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The Roman archers were not match for them and were cut down to the last man.

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These elite troops then took the gatehouse, permitting a horde of spearmen to pour in.

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The Steppe Spearmen were evenly matched with the Limitanei, but when the Chosen Warriors reassembled, they found themselves behind the Romans. The gatekeepers of Aquincum were now stuck in an deadly pincer.

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As the Vandals pushed further into the city, Visimar himself led the march.

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That was until they found Governor Spurius Flavius, holding the city center with a unit of Comitatenses. Visimar's warriors rushed and like a river crashing into a dam, the met and overwhelmed the Romans. Meanwhile, Visimar had moved to the side of the city square and rushed in to assist his troops, thus flanking the enemy.

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Spurius Flavius fought to the bitter end, but it was to no avail.

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In the end, King Visimar had won another victory of the Vandal people and had shown that the Romans were far from invincible.

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[Ibn-Khaldun]

Placeholder for Duvas adventures in Rome and signing the ceasefire.