On the Path to the Streets of Gold: a Suebi AAR (updated 11-17, final chapter)

[Alcibiade]

On the horizon there was the Roman fortified town of Massalia, considered the jewel of Iberia

Sorry to nitpick, as I really like those AARs but was really Massilia considered as the jewel of Iberia ? It seem a bit odd considering it's southern Gaul localisation and its phocean/greeck origins....

Please never say something like this in front of Marseilles's football 's team supporters !!! I don't know in which crazy situation you would find yourself talking RTW with them, but we never knows....

[Hooahguy]

Sorry to nitpick, as I really like those AARs but was really Massilia considered as the jewel of Iberia ? It seem a bit odd considering it's southern Gaul localisation and its phocean/greeck origins....

Please never say something like this in front of Marseilles's football 's team supporters !!! I don't know in which crazy situation you would find yourself talking RTW with them, but we never knows....

No clue, but considering that in the game Massalia is almost the size of Roma, I embellished it a bit.

[Hooahguy]

Chapter Twenty-one

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

After I captured Velathri I decided it was best we moved quickly to take Roma. The Romans had a number of fleets at sea with enough soldiers to cause some problems for us so I wanted to take Roma before they were able to land and reinforce the garrison. Because they might counter-attack with a substantial force, The Wolves of War and the Bloodsworn arrived to reinforce my army, and with our combined force we assaulted the city.




As I stood on the hill overlooking the city I could tell that it was a beautiful. It had a radiance to it like no other city which I have seen before. The marble buildings with their pillars shone in the early evening sun, even from afar. Maybe this city was really made out of gold and silver. I have never known stone to shine like that, only metals of the more valuable nature. And polished iron, I suppose. Regardless, I was determined to leave as much of Roma intact as I could.




I set up the ballistas right next to a hill which concealed us from the formidable Roman defenses. They had catapults and heavy ballistas all along the wall, which would have destroyed any attacking army. But they neglected to deploy them in one place: the southern gate, which is where we would use our ballistas to breach the walls.




After a half-hour of bombardment, the southern gatehouse was destroyed and the gates were smashed open for us to storm.



I gave the signal, and our men charged forward toward the gate, eager to take over one of the most famous cities in the world.



Roman skirmishers were on the walls, preparing to rain javelins upon us, while Roman “scorpions” shot heavy bolts into the massive horde of Suebi warrior that meant their doom. Those scorpions took a heavy toll on our men; almost nine hundred of our warriors fell to those heavy bolts during the battle.




The sheer number of our warriors storming the gate shattered the first of the Roman units that were guarding the gate.



But the Roman garrison rallied and charged our men as we were forming up to take the rest of the city. But they were simply city watchmen, feeble twigs compared to our experienced warriors. They fell quickly to our swords and spears.



Finally the more experienced Roman soldiers arrived, forming a roof with their shields to protect them from our javelins. But that didn’t help, and we cut them down just like we did the rest.



While most of our men were chasing down the remainder of the garrison in the streets, I sent men to the walls to slaughter the Roman skirmishers who were harassing us.



The city had fallen; it belonged to us now.





I, on my white horse Sleipnir, (named after Wōdanaz’s horse) trotted through the streets in triumph, along with my staff.



As I rode Sleipnir through the city, I took in the sights of the (former) capital of one of the (formerly) most powerful nations in the world. It was a beautiful city— from afar, that is. Looks are deceiving. Up close, it was rather bland. Our cities were much more pleasant than this. The streets were far from being paved with gold and silver. The streets were paved with small rocks, not the gold that my dreams said they would be. Aside from the smell of blood, which radiated from the general direction of the southern gate, I could smell the stench of feces and garbage in the less-wealthy areas of the city. Parts of the Roma were run-down and in disrepair, evident of a government that was strained for money from our war with them. Nothing was shining with gold, silver, or even bronze. Except the homes of the Roman elite, that is. They, along with the government buildings, were shining in the setting sunlight from the brilliant white marble they were made of. But this was far from being made of gold and silver.

This was not what I had dreamed of. The dreams lied to me. The stories lied to me. I had lied to myself. I walked through the governor’s palace and the other government buildings. There was gold and silver there, but not much. Most of it had seemingly been removed before we arrived, taken by fleeing wealthy Romans who could afford to escape the city before we laid siege to it.

Anger, the likes of which I had never experienced before, rose in me.

The voice, which had stayed silent from the time we laid siege to the city, spoke to me again, telling me what I must do.

With a face twisted in anger, I addressed my captains:

“Sack this city! Take everything valuable you can find! Destroy every trace that these decadent Romans ever stepped foot into this city! I want to see Roma in flames, burning into the night!”

My men cheered, and Roma burned.


As I watched the fires from our encampment, the voice in my head was silent, though I was still livid. So many lives of my countrymen have been lost for this, and for what? A city of garbage and corruption? Until this moment I did not hate the Romans; in fact I respected them for their many achievements. But not anymore. Hate consumes me now. I will spend the rest of my life on this world removing what is left of the Romans! There can be no peace, no peace with Romans, men of stone, and iron, and lies! There can be only war!

Authors note:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I have decided to continue this AAR until the Romans are wiped off the map, as evident from the ending to this chaper.

[Myth]

I liked the Rome 1 quote in the end

[Hooahguy]

Glad someone noticed that!

The barbarian intro for Rome 1 was one of my favorite intro videos, I thought I should pay homage to that.

[Sp4]

How big are the Romans? Unless I play them myself, I've neven seen them get past the Etruscans XD

[Hooahguy]

They actually did quite well, until I got there.

Ill draw a map of where exactly they expanded to after class today. So in like an hour or so.

[Hooahguy]

Here is the extent of Roman expansion:

[Sp4]

Wow, that's the biggest non player expansion I have ever seen in this game.

[Bramborough]

Yeah, that's pretty good. Not that uncommon for a few go to 10-12ish settlements, but I think the 18 here is as high as I've seen as well.

[Hooahguy]

There is actually a lot of AI expansion in my campaign. For example in Normandy one of the British factions is invading, resulting in a back-and-forth war with the Artrebartes, and the Eravisci used to be quite large, but shrunk when they got in a war with the Lugii, and now they are rising to power once again. Thankfully they are friendly to us. The Avernii, who were once wiped off the map, came back with a vengeance and took the two westernmost towns from Rome: Bibracte and Nemossos and heading to take Massalia but they seem to have turned back for some reason.

Anyhow here is a current map of where Rome is.



EDIT: Actually, Rome just lost Sardinia.

[Hooahguy]

Chapter Twenty-two

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Roma burned through the night. It burned all the next day, and far into the following night as well. I could hear the screams of the people of the city as we pillaged and burned the city that they loved so much. I didn't care. In fact, I loved hearing them scream for their worthless lives.



But even as Roma burned, I was drawing plans for a new Roma. It would stand testament to our achievements and how far we have come as a people. It would stand long after I am dead and have gone to Walhalla, and long after my people are gone as well.

My captains and chief builders asked me what to do with the ruins of the city. Were we going to clear them out to build the new city or start anew in a different location?

“Leave the rubble. Let it stand as a reminder to all those who raise their swords against us, that even the strongest have fallen to our swords and spears. Besides, seeing the ruins of Roma calms me.”

And it did. Looking at the smoldering ruins of a once great city gave me an inexplicable calm that nothing else has given to me since I began this journey all those years ago.

But I cannot stay here forever, there is a war to fight! Our scouts around Akink reported that the Ardiaei had left the area completely, besides a few of their agents. It seemed as if Akink, for the time being, was safe, which allows us to focus our energy completely on the Romans.



While I was sending final orders to the defending garrison at Akink, I received word that a foreign fleet had blockaded the new Roman capital, Neapolis. Who these people were we did not know, but they did not look Germanic, Gallic, or even Roman or Greek. These people were from a place we did not know of, but whatever it was, they were enemies of Rome, and that was good enough for us. Our scouts also reported that new Roman armies were being formed at the southern cities in Italia. I froth at the mouth thinking that there will be new chances to slaughter some more Romans!




But for some reason the foreign fleet fled, and I seized this chance to take the next Roman capital. Because I had some loose ends to tie up in the new Roma, I sent the Wolves of War to take the town.




The Roman defenders knew what we do with Romans who resist too much, so after a few javelins the front line for the Roman defenses began to flee. But not before our spearmen were able to skewer a number of Romans on the tip of their spears!





Then the main body of the Roman defenses attacked. They put up a decent fight for our warriors, but in the end our strength and numbers were too much for them.




On the other side of the town, a few of the units we had sent to flank the enemy finally made contact with the enemy.



The fighting progressed to the center of the town, where the remnants of the Roman garrison put up a good fight trying to keep their town from falling into our hands.



They failed.



I could hear the death knell of the Roman nation coming. Their destruction could not be far off. It was only a matter of time before they would become a footnote in history, and we would be the ones to usher them to that destiny.

[Bramborough]

Another great chapter. Had to laugh at the Akink photo, picturing that poor lone Ardiaei champ about to get dogpiled by nine Suebi agents.

[Hooahguy]

It used to be 6 of their agents versus only two of my agents but slowly I turned most of them. Only took me 8 turns. I'm just glad how that massive horde left. I do not want to fight a two front war.

[Hooahguy]

So things are heating up on the home front and I need to devote all my attention to that. So I will be going on a hiatus for a week or two while I get my personal life in order. Ill still be around here posting but considering how much time an AAR takes I dont think Ill be able to reliably update for a bit.

[Hooahguy]

Chapter Twenty-three

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

As I sat in my tent, overseeing the construction of the new Roma while drinking some liberated Roman wine, I heard the voice again.

Death…

What could that mean? I have aged sixty-six winters, but I was by no means too old to fight, and this war with the Romans was coming to a close. There were only a few Roman settlements left, and they could not last long before they would fall. Was my death coming? I did not know, and I chose to forget about this voice.

But it came again.

Death…

I tried to keep ignoring it, but every time it would come back, a bit louder than before.

Death…

What did it mean? Did Wōdanaz want me? Was it time for me to join the ranks of the Einherjar, who lived and fought in the halls of Walhalla?

Death…



Scouts revealed that a very large Roman army was in the Roman city of Brundisium.

Death…

It was calling me. I knew that taking this city was my destiny, for better or for worse. I would find my ultimate calling here, whether that is victory, or the Valkyries carrying me away.



I girded my men in only the best of armor, including metal facemasks for some of them, which would frighten the enemy as we would bear down on them.



Our ballistas smashed their gates, just as they did with the gates of Roma.



I had hired some Northern Italian Mercenaries, who wanted to fight the Romans, who had enslaved their homeland so many years ago. They were eager to fight, so I let them scale the walls first. It was a dark day, with clouds making it appear that the city was full of smoke. A most peculiar effect, especially since the sun shone through the clouds, like a lighthouse’s beacon through a heavy fog, guiding ships away from the rocks and towards safe waters.



Our artillery smashed the enemy towers while the Italian mercenaries scaled the walls.



A unit of our Spear Brothers also scaled the walls, and began to fight the Romans on the walls.



The gates were smashed open, and I sent a unit of Spear Masters to go in first, who would be followed by the rest of us.



Then it came again, stronger than ever.

Death…

I had to go. I spoke to my bodyguards, seventy-nine in total, just as the sky began to clear up.

“Men! Today we ride! We do not stand back and let others do our fighting, not then, not now, and not tomorrow! We are the leaders of our people, the best fighters and the best riders! Today is the day that we prove it, and I, your kunungaz, will lead you to that proving!

My lead captain, Alban, took me aside. “Kunungaz, are you sure? You are our leader! Do you want to put yourself in danger like this? The initial assault in any city is always the most dangerous!”

“Alban, my friend, this is what Wōdanaz wants of me. We shall go.”

So we charged into the fray.



It was like nothing I have ever experienced before. A thousand spears and swords, all stabbing and swinging at one another in an effort to kill the other before one is killed themselves. I parried a spear that lunged towards me, while stabbing the neck of the Roman who just tried to kill me. My bodyguards tried their best to protect me from the Romans but in my heart I did not want them too. Even as I was fighting I could hear the voice calling to me.

Death…

Someone’s spear grazed my thigh, cutting deep. I grimaced, but I ignored it. Lesser men have fought through worse pain; I would not let it stop me.



The other Noble Riders, seeing the charge by their Kunungaz, soon joined in to help.



As did the rest of the infantry.



We slowly pushed into the crowd of Romans desperately trying to keep us out. As more of our men came in, the safer that I felt, but that did not stop the Romans from trying to kill me, for they soon had recognized me for the person who I was: the Kunungaz of the Suebi. By the time we had finally cleared the main gate, my shield was in tatters from blocking so many sword and spears that I had to take one off of one of my dead bodyguards. My horse, Sleipnir, was slain under me, and I had to find an ownerless horse to ride. I would mourn the loss of my horse later; there was still a battle to fight.



With the main group of Romans dead or fleeing towards the city center, we had a moment to breathe. I ripped some cloth off my pants and wrapped it around my thigh to stop the bleeding, while I tried to get my men in order. I had lost thirty-seven bodyguards. Alban asked me if we were going to lead the charge again for the center of the city.

“No, Alban, we will not. We have proven our worth in the crucible of this battle. Instead we will seek out the Roman general, and kill him. He is still out there somewhere, and we will be the ones to slay him and his bodyguards.”

I inquired about what happened with the mercenaries. Alban told me that they were almost all completely wiped out, many of them fighting to the death against endless waves of Romans.

At that time I noticed a large group of Romans gathering to our left, so I sent a few units of Spear Brothers to take care of them.



As our men moved away from the front gate, it revealed the slaughter that had taken place.



I then noticed a large number of Romans moving to our right. I ordered one of my units of Noble Riders to intercept.



I thought that our heavy cavalry would easily clean up whatever Romans were there, but to my surprise, they were completely wiped out. The sheer number of Roman infantry was just too much for our Noble Riders.




Our main force hit the Roman legionnaires at the center of the town, resulting in a huge melee in which neither side gave an inch.



Our men on the left flank finally broke the Romans they were fighting, and I sent them to flank the main melee in the center.



The Romans were now surrounded by two unstoppable walls, and they soon were crushed between our Suebi warriors.



With the main battle completed, our men fanned out to hunt whoever was left of the Roman garrison.



I took my bodyguards and began to hunt for the Roman general. I found them behind a building, trying to slip away. We did not let them.



The enemy general was slain by one of my men, leaving only three of his bodyguards left. I faced off against one of them, confident that my bodyguards would kill the other two. But they didn’t, and I found myself surrounded by Romans.



Then I felt it. The spear in my side, piercing through the unprotected side of my armor, the screaming pain surging through my body as I fell off my horse, unable to move.

My men quickly slew the remaining three Romans and carried me off the battlefield as I writhed in pain. When word spread about what happened among the ranks, nobody was celebrating this victory anymore.




I was laid on the bed in my tent, the doctors doing what they could to save me, but I knew that it was for naught. All they could do was stall what was inevitably coming.

Death…

Everything was fading. I could hear everyone talking in worried voices but I could not see. I had lost a lot of blood. They knew I was dying. I knew I was dying. I wish my wife, Milja, was with me, and my son, Sebjorn. Both were still in Lupfurdum. It would be a while before they would hear of my death. I wish they could be here to mourn me. I told my captains that Ricfried would be the next ruler until my son came of age. I trust Ricfried, he has been a loyal subject and friend my entire life and I expect that he will be an excellent teacher for my son.

Alban asked me if I had any final wishes. I made Alban swear that he would make my successor swear to crush the Romans wherever we could find them. We had taken their last major city in Italia and now they were on the run.

But I didn’t care anymore. Ricfried would have to care about that now. I was free of that burden.

I had taken Roma in my lifetime; I have seen its streets and the buildings. I have accomplished that lifelong dream of mine. It did not pan out how I imagined it would be, but I had the immense pleasure of watching Roma burn into the night, and that is just as good in my eyes. If I die now, I die content. I have led a good life, a life of service to my beloved Suebia and her people. I die with no regrets. I had conquered great swaths of land. I had become Kunungaz with only a single city under my control. Now I had brought my people to greatness, from the Northern Sea all the way to the bottom of Italia. I had faced off against great tribes and nations. They were now dust in history, while we will be lauded in songs for generations to come.

The Suebi in the summer of 232


I cannot hear the voices of my men anymore. Everything is dark. I feel two sets of hands on me. They feel like the hands of a woman. They begin to lift me. Could it be? Had the Valkyries chosen me to march alongside the Einherjar in Walhalla? I could feel the darkness parting, as I heard the voice calmly and firmly announce my fate.

Welcome, Chlodochar, son of Valbrandr. Welcome to Walhalla. Welcome home.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Author’s note:
It has been a huge pleasure to do this AAR, which, I might add, is the first one I have ever officially finished. Now I, along with a few others, will begin serious work on a complete Rome II guide in the likes of the Frogbeastegg guides of years past, which I hope will be completed before Christmas.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for reading!

[Bramborough]

Great AAR, it has been good to have this on the forum! Looking forward to the guide...both reading it and also contributing if/where I can.

[Hooahguy]

So this isnt much news, but I have put all of the chapters into the first post for easy access.

Also, I plan on doing a Baktrian AAR once patch 8 comes out.