Europa Barbarorum 2 Sweboz AAR- First among Men

[Antigonos Karchedonios]

I'm really looking forward to this story! Keep it up!

Maybe one of the Moderators would be so kind to move this thread to the newly opened AAR-Subforum. It would be a worthy first AAR there!

[Kull]

I'm really looking forward to this story! Keep it up!

Maybe one of the Moderators would be so kind to move this thread to the newly opened AAR-Subforum. It would be a worthy first AAR there!

I completely agree!

[The Gypsy]

Thanks for moving it, at the time of creation it didn't exist otherwise I might have put it there.

[Skald]

Gypsy your awesome dude you inspired me to write my own AAR as well man. Please post the next chapter so we can see how the young warchief fares.

[The Gypsy]

The stars stood still, the moon echoing above us in the vast sky, home to mighty Thunraz. We stood outside the hall, torches rising into the night, held by members of the crowd. Geirulfr stepped out in front of the crowd and spoke. His voice rang out, fading away into the darkening night.

“We stand here to decide what to do about the Cherusci, men who have attacked us and tried to defile our land.” A growl emanated from the crowd at this but Geirulfr stood taller and raised his hand.

“I feel much as you do, but we must proceed carefully, they are a stronger tribe than us. Enough of this, may Wodanaz guide your decision. Begin the Thenxoz.”

At this the torches were extinguished and the men filed inside the main hall, the fire in the central hearth providing dancing light to the faces of the village.
“May I speak?” I said, striding to the front of the crowd that had entered the hall.

“Have you dipped received the shield and spear? Have you faced the enemies of the tribe with courage?” Geirulfr said, saying the ritual words slowly.

“I have.”

“Then speak before us.” Geirulfr stepped aside and I was left alone, standing before the people.

I knew these people, friends, cousins, fathers, grandfathers and uncles. These were my people.

“We have bled.” I paused, talking slowly and quietly, drawing them in.

“We have all lost friends to the Cherusci, I have lost a father, and we have lost a leader.”

“But the Cherusci have bled more, they have lost tens where we have lost ones. They have bled hard, but…” I paused again. “This was only a taste of what they had planned for us, they wanted it all.”

“Wives, children, families, land, hope and love!” My voice rising as I went further. “They wanted it all.”

I paused, “I wish to lead a war party against the Cherusci, to see their homes burned for what they wanted from us.”

“But that is far ahead, we must first defeat them. I would call a vote upon this issue.” I turned and walked back to the group.
“Well spoken boy,” a voice murmured from somewhere in the crowd.

Geirulfr stepped forward again, “Would anyone else speak?”

My father’s bondsman, Haderic came forward, “This boy is now a man, and he speaks well. I, for one, say we attack the Cherusci. I will support this motion."


"If that is all, let the vote begin.”

“All in favour of the plan raise your hands.” More than half of the hands rose into the air, I drooped with relief, hardly realising how nervous I was until that moment.

“So it is decided, we are at war.”

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This is hardly longer than the last one, but I've got essays raining down on my head like hail. But on the positive side I have finished most of them, so more writing. Woo!!

Hope you enjoy!

[The Gypsy]

Three days later

The march had taken two days and having decided that we could not be away from the village for more than a week, we had only one day to conduct the attack, assuming we took wounded during the attack.

Thanks to my speaking at the Thing I was somehow assumed to be in charge, with Haderic deferring to me and me not sure of how to respond. He organised most of the preparations for the expedition, but truly little needed to be done with the men organising their own food and weapons.

We arrived in the morning, with dew dripping from the leaves and the wet smell of forest in our nostrils. The Cherusci village was nearby but based on the smoke it may have been 4 km away. The area surrounding the village was open forest, with oak, beech and pine rising into the canopy, but with denser areas of hazel as well. Summoning my courage I spoke to Saiwaz, so called because he was the only one among us travelled enough to have seen the sea. He was also the best hunter in the village and had fed us in times of trouble many times. I spoke to him, “We need to scout the village and see what is there. Could you do it?”

To my surprise, he nodded and replied “Aye, lord, I’ll see what they have hiding in that village of theirs.”

Lord, I thought, Lord. He called me lord….

Saiwaz disappeared through the trees and I said to the group, “Find shelter, and set up camp.” Turning to Haderic, I said “Get some men you can trust and set them as sentries.”

He nodded and went into the rapidly emerging camp.

Saiwaz came back a few hours later and spoke to me “They have a smaller village than us with three longhouses, but they have a palisade.”

“How many people did you see?”

“About a hundred and a lot fewer men than I expected”

“Not really surprising.” I said with a hint of pride.

“We attack tomorrow,” I said raising my voice so others nearby could hear me, “And then we take revenge for our fallen!”

A murmur of agreement rattled through the camp.
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We formed up at dawn.

Forty-five men stood in the wolf dawn with grey light seeping through the canopy, casting hideous shadows in the vague shapes of men. Our spears and shields were held high on fresh arms with newly whetted spear points gleaming dully. We had felled a tree the previous day and carved it into a rough battering ram. The strongest men carried it at the rear of our formation but everyone would take a spell at carrying it. The few men who had bows also had tinder and embers from our fire, to shoot fire arrows at the thatch of the village, to spread fear and panic.

We advanced quietly in the dim light, occasionally tripping on tree roots and unseen branches. We approached the palisade and took stock. The palisade was loose at its base having, been unmaintained for years and the oak had cracked and weathered.

“Forward men and break the wall.” I said in a hoarse whisper.

We advanced the last hundred paces before and shout rang out.

“Run! Charge! Kill them ALLL!” I screamed knowing we had been discovered. The men started screaming like dervishes and howling like wolves. The eerie sound was terrifying and screams of panic could already be heard inside the walls.

“Fire arrows, NOW!” I shouted and our archers aimed and fired, sending streaks of fire to land on houses and thatch. The flames quickly took hold but people inside began throwing on water almost immediately. Meanwhile we had battered down the walls and streamed into the settlement and streamed inside to begin the slaughter.

“Haderic, come with me.” I shouted, he turned and with a few of his loyal warriors followed me.

We went through the burning village with smoke stringing our eyes and almost having coughing fits and passed our warriors killing desperate clusters of Cherusci, defending to the last. However, we made it through the village to the main hall and charged inside.

We stopped and saw the Cherusci war chief lying in a pile of furs near the hearth. He lay there and turned to us weakly and I saw the great bandages covering his midriff where my father’s spear had laid open his guts. At once a rage filled me and I advanced towards him, my spear poised to kill.

“You killed my father! YOU PIG!!” I spat, almost incandescent with rage and loss, desperately holding back tears, his presence bringing back my father’s memory in full force.

“Now you DIE!” I raised my spear to deliver the final blow.

“Please stop! NOO!” I was almost floored by small child, a young girl of eleven who after diving on me, crouched protectively over her father.

The calm came on me again like being doused in cold water. What am I doing? This man has a family who love him just everyone else.

I lowered my spear, “Yield to me and swear fealty and you can save your village.”

He nodded wearily. “What is your name, so I may swear to you?”

“My name is Harjaz.” I said.

“Then, I, Adelwulf of the Cherusci, swear loyalty to you, Harjaz of the Sweboz and acknowledge you as my Lord.” He fell back on to the furs with this effort, panting.

“I too would call you Lord,” I turned and saw Haderic, coming to knell before me.

“Will you accept me as your bondsman and give me a place at your hearth?”

“I will.” I whispered, overcome by his offer.

“Your father was a great man, and I feel you will be better than him.”

“I nominate you as chief of the Theutha, tribe. Who here agrees with me?”

A loud cheer erupted as men who had started to file into the main hall, the inhabitants subdued, caught on.

Sumroz 272 BC

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This marks the beginning of the AAR proper (took a while) where I will play the game and let it make a few plot decisions.