Germania - chronicles of the Germanic tribes

[Tricky Lady]

A quick introduction to the members of the Germanic dynasty.


Arminius


Ricburgis


Ariogaisus, the faction heir


Vannius, Ariogaisus' oldest son

[quick translation of an old Roman manuscript]

Dear (name illegible)
I send you this short note to inform you that our rebellion was succesfull. We overthrew the Germanic rule, and declared independancy from the despotic Arminius. My cousin liberated Vicus Gothi. I am confident that you will soon send us the mercenary warbands that you promised us. It is to be expected that Sennianus will support our rebellion and attack the Germanic town of Batavodorum. My spies reported that a large part of the Germanic army is near Trier, so if Sennianus can surprise them, victory is assured.
Noble greetings,
Horsa of Bordesholm


"Well done," Arminius said to the messenger who put Horsa's head on the table. "Make sure his head is conserved, and put it on a stake." This is the last thing that his cousin Walburgis will see when we oppress the Gothic rebellion."



A few years later, Arminius leads a small army that heads to the western borders of his empire. When the Saxon rebellion had been dismantled, a few people confessed under torture that their rebellion was supported by Briton and Gaulish denarii. Some sources had indicated that this support would even imply an invasion by these tribes, but Arminius was not convinced that this would indeed happen, as both tribes had signed trade agreements with the Germanics, so they'd lose too much in a war.
Four years after the reconquest of Bordesholm though, spies reported a few small Briton armies crossing the Rhine in Germania Inferior. Arminius quickly raises the best armies he can gather, and moves his army to the woods of Belgica. After a few minor skirmishes, a first important battle is fought in the woods between Samarobriva and Batavodorum. The British warlord Sennianus fields an army of skirmishers, peasants and warbands, supported by his light chariots. Unfortunately for him, the coordination between the two British armies is disastrous, so they face the numerically stronger Germanics in two separate armies, one part of their force arriving at the battlefield much too late.



The first Briton army marches towards the Germanic battle line. The Germanic skirmishers leave the spear wall and start firing their short spears to the Briton spear warband (this unit suffers heavy losses). At the same time, the unit of peasants is charged in its flank by Ricburgis and Vannius and their bodyguards. As expected the peasants brake and rout immediately. Ricburgis and Vannius stop pursuing the peasants, and attack the Briton warband in the rear. End of story. This leaves only the unit of light chariots, which starts making a long detour around the Germanic left flank. They don't come closer until Sennianus arrives with his reinforcements (a unit of swordsmen and a warband unit). The Britons are in such a rush that they impetuously try to charge the Germanic line, but unfortunately for them they get caught by the Germanic cavalry and are annilihated. Sennianus and captain Enestinus try to harass the Germanics by firing arrows at the cavalry, but in the end they get caught in the woods, and are mercilessly slaughtered by the faction leader, his son, and his grandson. Sennianus manages to escape.



In the same winter (two months later, in January, to be exact), the Gaulish general Meriadoc moves an army towards Trier. An army led by Ariogiasus (Arminius' oldest son and heir) intercepts the Gauls before they can lay siege to the valuable Germanic town. Meriadoc avoids a direct confrontation and tries to hide in the woods north of Trier. Ariogaisus forces his men to continue their three-days march and pursues Meriadoc. A battle is fought in the morning of January 21, 264BC.

Meriadocs men are deployed outside the woods. The Germanic army moves up to confront them on the small open grass area. The garrison of Trier leaves the town and arrives at the battlefield a few hours after the start of the battle. They will arrive just in time to take part in the battle. The Germanic skirmishers misunderstand a few orders from Ariogaisus' runners, and deploy a bit clumsily on the left flank. Meriadoc notices this, and orders his cavalry to charge the skirmishers. Unfortunately for them, the Gaulish cavalry (partly consisting of noblemen) charges prematurely, so they get isolated from the rest of their troops. Ariogaisus notices the danger in time, and urges the skirmishers to retreat hastily. The cavalry on the Germanic left countercharges the Gauls, and stop their wild charge instantly.



The rest of the Germanic army continues to move on. Some barbarian mercenaries though, are deployed a bit too far in front of the main battle line. Meriadoc, still frustrated by the loss of his cavalry, sees this weak spot and decides to go for it. Once again, the Gauls launch an unsupported charge at the Germanic lines. But this time they succeed (partly). Ariogaisus doesn't see the threat in time, and is too late to launche the countercharge. The barbarian mercenaries at the right flank are caught by Meriadoc and are decimated in a few seconds. Ariogaisus quickly moves from the left to the right (ignoring the Gaulish infantry) and catches Meriadoc. The melee is long and bloody. Just a few meters before Ariogaisus reaches him, Meriadocs morale breaks. He turns tail, and tries to get out of the melee. Only 3 men of Meriadocs bodyguards survive the bloodbath. One of the three is Meriadoc himself. From that day on, the Germanics will call him Meriadoc the Coward.

Two years after Sennianus' defeat in Germania Inferior, the Britons send a diplomat to Mogontiacum. They make an offer that is really hard not to accept


Yeah, right....

Arminius moves further into Briton territory. Spies have reported the presence of a few well-armed Briton forces, so Arminius decides to progress cautiously through the Belgic woods. As he suspects that a Briton army is getting closer, he sets up an ambush.
A few days later a Briton army led by Sennianus (him, again).


I'm glad I'm playing the Germanics here...



[more to follow later on... post will be edited....]

[Quietus]

261 BC. Ariogaisus, taking helm from the late Arminius, implements a series of reforms to grow the Germanic treasury. First, he halted any training of new recruits and ordered the removal of the Capital from Damme to Batavorium. He also ordered all Germania's warriors to converge to the forest, halfway from Samarobriva to Trier.

The Gaul army which was headed to Samarobriva detected this. They immediately changed course to Trier.

In the meantime, Harriufus is coming from the east with his group of two spearbands. He encountered the rebels and bandits that stalk the merchants of central Germania and decided to hunt the stalkers. With permission from Ariogaisus, he halted his long march toward the west and confronted the brigands.

Meanwhile, another Gallic army attacks Mogontiacum. It was a huge oversight by Ariogaisus. In his haste to build economically he had forgone the erection of fortifications to a later date. The construction of the Palisade was ordered, but that same time, the Gauls had already pounced. Mogontiacum fell without resistance.

Before Vannius can converge with the Grand Army of Germania deep in the forests, Samarobriva was attacked by the Britons. He received this urgent message and quickly dashed back to the rescue. It was successful gambit, but in the process of his extrication, Ricburgis, the heir, was killed.

At Ricburgis’ burial, Vannius vowed to avenge him. And at the same time at that moment, he received the honor as the new successor.

Meriadoc’s Gallic army, who marched incessantly through the night, finds Trier deserted. Sensing clear advantage, they commenced their attacks right away. Ariogaisus who refused to leave the place was trapped.

Yesterday, he bid his small army to meet his son Vannius in the secret forest hideaway. From his window, he watched the enemy army creep toward the city. His bodyguards had already shut the gates and the enemy had begun pounding from the outside.

Vannius greeted the small army and the pressing news of his father’s entrapment with an even darker vow of vengeance. Immediately, he sifted through the forests for any abled-bodied mercenaries in able to supplement his men. Harriufus who was to send two spearbands was preoccupied putting down the bevy of rebel thieves in Central Germania. Before long, the new standing Germanic army was assembled.

That night, they marched towards Trier.

At the crack of day, they saw Meriadoc’s alert armies already waiting for them. Vannius bellowed his loudest warcry and led his men to savagery. With powerful flanking movements, Meriadoc’s army was helplessly smashed from all sides. Ariogaisus was so delighted at the sight that he himself bolted from the gates and joined the killing spree. Vannius who wanted everyone caught had slain so many of the enemies that he was literally soaked in blood.

With respect, his men, aptly now call him Vannius “the Mad”.

His father Ariogaisus was so truly impressed that he decided to give Vannius free rein of the Germania’s only army: A motley of warbands, now dedicated to their chief, Vannius. In his speech at the drinking halls, he said, “To punish the Gauls, we will take their jewel; their city of pride, Alesia!!!” The room so erupted with boisterous egging that night birds were frightened away from their perch at the nearby forest. After the drinking that night, they marched out to their target.

In Central Germania, Harriufus is dispatching and scattering the Rebels left and right. He received news that Vicus Marcomanni was under attack from a Dacian army. It seemed he’s not destined to move West after all. At the same time, he received news of Vannius’ victory over Meriadoc. He was relieved to do so and ordered the courier to tell his brother, Ariogaisus that he must head back East. He embarked right away from their small camp at the bridge near Bordesholm. In his mind, he wished that the peasant garrison won’t perish before he gets there.

256 BC. Alesia was on fire. Vannius went on a rampage and had conquered the city. Vannius eyes burned as he sought for more blood. He instructed his men that there is no time for celebrations. He knew the hornet's nest had been rattled.

He was correct. The Gauls were enraged by this dastard act and has sent a stream of warriors from their settlements just to the south. Vannius the Mad knew that in his absence, there must be a guardian of the western frontier. And so, he gave a portion of his army to his trusted Captain, Segestes. He instructed Segested to clean up behind as he take the fight even further and deeper to Gaul territory down south. First on his list: Lugdunum.

Segestes didn’t disappoint. In his first victory against scattered Gaul holdouts, he became “The Man of the Hour”.



With Ariogaisus’ blessing, he was promoted and became a part of the first family of Germania.

255 BC. Vannius cleared all the small obstructions in front of him and reached Lugdunum in no time. He had the town besieged, cornering the Gallic general Cassivellanus of Alesia and his small army. When out of nowhere, Captain Vercassivellaunos' large reinforcement arrived from the south.

.

It was a mistake, for Vannius doesn’t like surprises. His crazed army ripped through both armies. First it was Cassivellanus who was hacked off his horse. Then it was Vecassivellaunos turn. Albeit his army held a little longer, they broke quickly as soon as the terrified routers were chased out of their minds by Vannius’ savage spear wielders The rest of the scampering Gauls were hunted down like swine.



Unto the east, Harriufus reached the Vicus Marcomanni too late. The Dacian flag hung high, visible from afar. But revenge was definitely at near grasp. He handpicked some local mercenaries and viciously attacked the insolent Dacian invaders. The settlement passed hands very quickly. But Harriufus was not done. He’s making sure this insult to German soil is not repeated again. He took his small band of mercenaries to Lovosice. Just like his nephew, he destroyed any opposition along the way….

Midway between Alesia and Trier, Segestes was assigned by Ariogaiusus to wipe out any rebel and Gaul trouble makers who managed to sneak into the Western frontier. Segestes was a great Captain. He was an even greater General. And he did his duty superbly:

.

Segestes moved up and down the frontier seeking the troublemakers. He even destroyed the Britons who again broke the ceasefire and economic treaty by attacking Samarobriva.

Eventually, when all threats have vanished, he was bored silly. Thus, he asked permission from Ariogaisus to drive out the Gauls from the West once and for all and thereby securing the western land border forever. Ariogaisus strongly agreed and wished him the best his in mission. Starting at 252 BC, for nearly 2 years, Segestes of Vesantio marched to the western borders and successfully captured both Condate Redonum and Lemonum. In 250 BC, He led his remaining army out of Lemonum to meet the waiting Vannius. At that time, Vannius was already called by his men “the Conqueror”.

In the Eastern frontier, Harriufus was successfully starving the large Dacian army huddled in Lovosice. They were eating and singing outside the gates of while the pitiful Dacian aggregate starved inside. They were fearful of Harriufus even with greater numbers! Slowly, their men died one by one until one day, they managed to stoke a measure of courage from their hungry bodies and mustered to sally forth. It was pointless, since Harriufus’ and his merry army simply flicked off their efforts and their lives with ease.

Vannius had skirted Massilia – whom he thought was a rebel colony – and captured Narbo Martius. He went back and discovered that the Gauls were flying rebel flags in their cities. They had prepared for his coming. Vannius the Conqueror did not care. Once he and his men crossed the bridge, he ordered the well defended and well preparced city besieged.

At the same time, a foolish Gallic Captain by the name of Vortigern was sent to reinforce Massilia. Not valuing his life or his men, by not even evaluating the situation, he ordered a bridge counterattack. When they reached the other side, Vannius spearband sprung their trap. Every single one of Vortigern’s men died skewered in the long implements. Eporedorix attacked just like Vortigern. And just like Vortigern, they ended stabbed and impaled to their death. The whole Gallic army was slaughtered at the bridge and Massilia became a possession of Germania.



In Central Germania, Ariogaisus was not sitting pretty himself. He had his own little campaign. His mercenary army retook Mogontiacum and proceeded to silently smash through Iuvavum, Patavium and Mediolanum, destroying even the hardests of obstacles. The Germanic armies had churned one heroic victory after another, conquest after conquest.

By 250 BC, the whole ancient world was in awe of the Brutal Germanic Empire: They are undisputedly, the most advanced of all the great states.

.

Ariogaiusus sat back drinking spirits, very happily admiring the gardens of Mediolanum. Earlier, the treasurer has informed him Germania had accumulated 50,000+ denari. This amount will fund not just the city projects but also future armies to secure Germania’s ever expanding borders.

(3rd edit: I've re-cleaned the story and the grammar (again) to make it better readable – Q).

[Craterus]

i really enjoyed reading those posts, they were great,
good luck on continuing with your Germanic campaign!

[econ21]

250 BC, A Germanic wald somewhere near Lovosice

My brother always was too smart for his own good, Hariulfus thought casting down the latest communication from King Ariogaisus, admiring the gardens of Mediolanium, indeed!

Hariulfus turned from his inner contemplation to look at the tired messenger who had brought his brother’s letter: “How many men exactly does the King have in Mediolanium and Patavium?”

Under the austere glare of governor, the messenger struggled to answer precisely: “My lord, I believe the King has one company of mercenary warriors with him, another three in Patavium.”

Hariulfus shook his head, dismissively. “And you say on your way here, you passed a Roman army near Patavium of how many?”

The messenger bowed his head, defeatedly. “My lord, I fear I did not try to count them. But, my lord, it was an immense force – the largest army a single general could hope to command.”

Hariulfus nodded curtly and fixed the messenger with a cold glare: “You will rest here tonight and then set back to Mediolanium at first light in the morning. You are to tell the King this: His brother Hariulfus congratulates his majesty on his fine conquests north of Rome. But he respectfully warns that his majesty is now outside the wolf’s lair. Within the year, the Romans will attack and he must look to his defences."

Would that be enough? His prim and proper brother seemed had fixated on the size of his treasury, without realising the danger he had walked into. Perhaps it was age. At sixty, Ariogaisus had perhaps looked only to the past – the wars with Gaul, Britannia and Dacia. Those wars had exhausted all four parties, but now the German empire had reached the borders of the vigorous rising power of Rome and would be tested to its limits.

247 BC, Patavium



Arogaisus, the berserker king who made Germany the largest power in the known world, passes away peacefully in his sleep.

So, the old fool is dead – long live the unhinged loon! Hariulfus smiled bitterly. King Arogaisus had survived being besieged by the Romans in Mediolanium; it was peaceful retirement that had killed him. The hastily raised spear warbands had held off Roman assaults both there and here in Patavium. Time had been bought for relief forces to be hastily marched to northern Italy – both Hariulfus’s own army from the Dacian front and that of the new King, Vannius, from the war with Gaul. Vannius had secured Mediolanium and then persuaded his father to retire to the warm sea front at Massila. But the old man had died in his sleep on the journey there. Perhaps it was foolish to make the old berserker give up war. But then Vannius, while famed for his skill at war, was not renowned for good sense. Hariulfus peered over the stockade – according to the herald who brought news of Arogaisus’s passing, Vannius should be here any moment.



Vannius’s army of Gaul and Hariulfus’s army of Dacia meet – with the pride of the Julii faction trapped between them.

The Roman fortifications besieging the town seemed quiet – deserted almost. Presumably they too, had been forewarned. From far away, Hariulfus heard the deep call of a German horn. They are here! To Hariulfus’s dismay, a nearby chieftain turned to the men around him and called out:

“To arms, men! March out to battle! The new King Vannius is here to avenge his father. Would you let him stand alone?!”

Instantly, there was chaos as warriors scrambled for their weapons, their mounts and their commanders. The gates were thrown open and with a cheer, the fastest warriors rode out – followed by enthusiastic townspeople and peasants. Hariulfus swore testily before hastily mounting his own retinue and following the mob.



The beginning of the battle of Patavium – the massed spears of Vannius face the Roman general Decius Julius, while behind the enemy, Hariulfus arrives with a force sallying from Patavium. Only one hundred Romans will survive and even then, their escape will be short lived.

After the battle, Hariulfus wiped the blood from his sword and cursed. Although the Roman infantry had been massacred almost to a man, their leaders and some cavalry had cut their way through Hariulfus’s disorganised sallying force and escaped. Despondent, the warlord approached King Vannius. The young monarch’s eyes lit up as he saw the greying warrior approach:

“Uncle Hariulfus! Well met! Have you ever seen such a thing? An entire Roman army overrun by mere “barbarians”!”

Hariulfus bowed his head. “My liege, I congratulate you on this great victory. But I must ask you to excuse me from the celebrations.”

Vannius’s eyes narrowed. Hariulfus hurried on: “Their generals escaped, my King. I humbly ask you – give me permission to take my men and hunt them down.”

Vannius smiled and waved his uncle off: “Dear uncle – you are a warrior in the same mold as my brave father. Do not let me keep you. Good hunting!”



Hariulfus’s army hunts down the survivors of the battle of Patavium.

and fells Decius Julius, the heir to the Julii faction:



Winter, 239 BC, somewhere on the Dalmatian coast.

Was this war or was it slaughter? Hariulfus wondered as his horse picked its way carefully among the bodies of the dead Romans. Over three hundred Romans lay fallen but barely a score of German warriors had died. This pattern of losses had been repeated throughout the course of the war with the Romans. Only the previous summer, Hariulfus’s men had defeated a Roman army twice their number with very few losses. The Roman infantry could not penetrate the stout spear wall of the Germans and as a result were overrun when faced with a frontal engagement.

This Germanic superiority had been evident soon after the relief of Patavium in 247 BC, when Vannius had met an army of over eight hundred hastati. Only twenty Romans escaped the slaughter, whereas only thirty Germans had fell – most victim to hurled javelins.



A typical battle of the period – Vannius engages the Roman infantry head on in a battle near Patavium in the Winter of 247 BC.



Seemingly effortlessly, the German spear wall breaks the Roman infantry allowing a murderous cavalry pursuit.

Hariulfus was surprised that the Romans had found no tactical counter to the ponderous, unarmoured spear walls of his people. Instead, the Roman leaders had resorted to underhand stratagems, courting local tribal leaders to betray Vannius. The list of cities who had succumbed to the Romans’ denarri was long – Narco Martius, Lovosice, Massila, Viscus Gothi, Trier, Mogontiacum, Viscus Marcomanni, Bordesholm and Damme. Surely it would be quicker to make a list of those towns which had never defected, Hariulfus thought bitterly! Much of the war with Rome so far had been concerned with quelling these local insurrections by traitors, but thankfully Vannius had managed to advance on two fronts.

First, he had despatched the fearless Segestes to conquer Britannia. There Segestes had won several great victories against the Britons, culminating with a triumphant battle against the odds outside of Deva.



The climax of Segestes invasion of Britannia – the British warbands will fare no better than the Romans against the German spears.

Second, while Hariulfus battled green-clad Roman infantry in Dalmatia and Illyria, Vannius himself carved out an approach to Rome itself. Roman armies led by leaders of the Julii family had been defeated and disgraced – aided in part, by the recent German adoption of archery by chosen warriors.



The battle of Arminum in 241 BC. Vannius crushes two Roman armies – a loss from which the Julii family will never recover.

Now, with the Roman cities of Arminum and Arretrium captured, the door to the Roman capital was open. Even a Gaulish revolt in Patavium could do little to dampen German spirits. In ten short years, Hariulfus mused, the German kingdom had gone from having the most precarious grip on its nascent empire to appearing unchallengeable.

[SwordsMaster]

238 BC, Monday 15 November, 0800h, Valerius Maxensius walks into the room where the commander of Damme’s garrison awaits. He is a fat and greasy man, nothing compared to the aristocratic roman who is asking himself if the smell in the room comes from the commander or the guards whose breath he feels on his back.

Barbarians.

-Do we have a deal then? Asks the german in a barely understandable latin.
-Yes, we have a deal, governor. The roman puts a scroll sealed with the eagle of the senate on the greasy table.
-Here is the order that makes you Brutus Germanicus, welcomes you to the Brutii family and makes you governor of this Gods-forgotten place. The german ignored the intended insult.

-And what about my money? He kept watching the stance of the diplomat wondering if he could beat him and how.

-The senate ordered you to take it out of the tax, and ordered me to make sure it is the correct amount. Maxentius smiled at this point.

The german sat silently in his corner.

After a few minutes, Maxentius tried to get away, but the door was locked and the guards stood outside.

-Governor, do you mind letting me out?! Maxentius was not as confident as when he walked in.
-Governor! He approached the german. The smell definitely had his origin somewhere on his anatomy.
-Governor! He stepped away in despair. Brutus Germanicus was asleep.
______________________________________________________________

A few thousand miles south, near the Roman town of Patavium, Carolus got out of his tent. The snow was lying outside, dirty with mud and excrements of the camp. The rest of the commanders stood behind him.

-So you will start building the engines now. I want these traitors dead, and the heads of their leaders on a stake around my tent as soon as this damned ice melts. Who would have thought that Italy was this cold? The generals smiled politely. Most of them were half naked, including Carolus.

-And let the men hunt. I´m sure we can at least get some decent meat in these mountains. Now go. And someone bring me my horse! He shouted at the bunch of spearmen crossing the yard in front of his tent.

______________________________________________________________

“…captain Butilinus showed impressive skill and bravery in commanding the army tat cleared of bandits and rebels the forests of northern Gaul, and I recommend him to you as it would be a shame to our people if his skill passed unseen and unsupported…”

Vannius put the letter in the pile on his right and lifted his big and scarred body from the table and personally set fire to the pile of letters on the left. His secretary looked at the King.

Vannius pointed the pile on the right.
-Make those happen. And left the room.

The greek slave, Vannius’ secretary approached the pile and swore. Who was the fool who showed these men to write? Whoever he was, he could have done better. It was almost illegible. He sighted and tool the first letter of the pile.

…Promote Captain Butilinus…
______________________________________________________________

Valerius Maxentius hated these Germans more every day. But here he was, shaking hands with the now-roman governor of Bordesholm more than 2 months travel from Damme, this time outdoors, as the day was good.

-Rome will be proud. He said to the translator who travelled with him. The man translated, and the german smiled. Maxentius wished he hadn´t. The scar that split his face in 2 different halves made him look like one of those mythological creatures who, converted one in stone if he looked them in the face. He never remembered mythology.

-I have to leave now, governor. Maxentius gave up trying to liberate his hand from the governor´s grip, and was just hoping the german would hurt his hand with the rings the he wore.

The translator said something in german and the governor let go. Maxentius hurried to his horse.

-Thanks Pluton. He whispered.

_______________________________________________________________

Carolus left his tent in full war paint and equipment.

-It is time. He raised his sword.

The siege rams moved forward pushed by the gaulish mercenaries. His own axemen followed close.

The resistance couldn’t stand the fierce charge of the axemen and the cavalry, and Carolus personally sank his sword into the enemy general´s chest in the town´s center.

Patavium had fallen.

-Kill every man in age of taking up arms. He said.

_______________________________________________________________

Vannius was happy and drunk. Surrounded be slaves and generals, he laid naked on a pile of couches, his head lower than his feet for some reason he didn’t quite remember.

The head lying beside him kept talking.

-Twoh gweat victories, Vannius. Congratulations. Let’s drink to Butilinus and Carolus. And the head started sucking an empty bottle.

Vannius turned away. The man has been repeating the same 3 sentences with variations in pronunciation for the last 5 bottles, and the king couldn’t imagine anything worse than listening to that again.

As he rose, he thought that cold air would help him dissipate the roman wine, egyptian beer and the weeds the german druids have been burning in the tent for hours. He made his way to the exit through the drunk and naked generals and slaves. He answered the call of nature outside, and then stared at the darkness to the south. Lights danced in front of his eyes.

He turned to the west and suddenly realized that there shouldn’t be any lights as the sun was already rising.

The alcohol was suddenly gone. He ripped the bearskin that was the entrance of the tent.

-Generals!! He shouted.
-I will personally take the head off anyone who doesn’t sober this instant! Suddenly the tent fell silent.
-Get the girls out. The slaves, suddenly ashamed of their nudity, rushed off the tent.

Vannius breathed in, giving his men a moment to recover. Then stared at them.

-There are 2 armies out there. 4 hours ride away. Down the hill.

-Romans? One of the generals asked and chuckled.

-If you don’t answer me that question in 2 hours, I´ll have you hanged. The general stopped laughing and left the tent hurriedly. Vannius heard him shouting orders outside.

-We have no infantry, chiefs. What do we do? The generals moved closer to the big table in centre in the room. His brother swiped away all the wine, beer and food.

The german cavalry swiped through the roman lines. Vannius lost 8 men. Only 10 romans were allowed to leave the field.

Vannius supervised personally how the heads of both consuls were staked outside his tent.

-Bring me a bottle of this wine we just captured. One of the guards put a bottle in his hand.

But before he could drink, the scout sent this morning to check any other roman forces nearby entered the tent.

-General. I bring bad news. Vannius stood very still.
-Your uncle Hariulfus the Brave died in Ilyria 3 weeks ago.Vannius was still silent.
-His army was surrounded by 2 Roman armies near Salona and extermined. Only 150 men made it to safety.
Vannius sighted.
-We will mourn for the great warriors fallen in battle. He said. And drink to their memory.

______________________________________________________________

237BC, 28 february, 0543h. Vannius reached out as far as he could, but still couldn’t see over the ridge.

-Damn! He swore to his moustache. He knew that the city´s treasure was escorted by the consul into the city.

Vannius could use both the money and the victory. Several months of small scale raids, and ambushes were exhausting his men, and he was looking for a strong blow that would let them get some decisive advantage and rest for a few days.

Somewhere inside him he knew that the advantage would only be his if he took Rome once and for all.

The war in Italy was far from over. Rome itself had an extremely capable (as far as Vannius could tell) army inside the walls, but for some reason they kept sending out small garrisons that Vannius crushed and approached the city more every time.

On the east, Verritus was somewhere on the other side of the mountains, with a small but efficient army recruited over the past 6 months among the conquered peoples of Southern Gaul and the Italian cities. His orders were to bring the fight to Brutii´s Homelands to divert their attention from Ilyria where after the defeat of Hariulfus, there was no capable army and the Brutii and the rebels inflicted much damage.

The good news were further North. The Dacian front was secure. The cities´ garrisons were numerous and their morale was high. The Roman Maxentius who had bribed the 2 northern cities was bribed himself and now travelled west into Thracian territory where he could do no damage…

Vannius still remembered the face of the man when, after an audition with the king, the diplomat asked for a mission to prove his value to his new master. He looked so pitiful in his white robes among the half-naked, muscular and painted warchiefs…

After thinking about it, Vannius said that the Thracian maps were of incalculable value, and solemnely informed Maxentius that his job was to go and buy them from the Thracians. The roman´s face became even longer after hearing this.

- Of course, sir. He said. And left the room before the king could think of another assignment for him.

Vannius stretched out a little more. There they are. Purple standarts and purple cloaks over expensive senatorial armour were glowing intermittently in the woods.

Vannius looked around. His 600 men looked like fallen trees, and were spread out in the forest. He heard a horse, and then the voice of the rider. He took a deep breath.

Then he shouted:

-King Vannius! And ran forward like mad.

The roar among the trees as his men stood up and ran was as a storm in the high seas. Vannius has been in one, a few years ago, and remembered the sensation.
_______________________________________________________________

The romans never stood a chance. And as soon as the consul fell from his horse the rest of the men dropped their weapons and ran.

Vannius smiled. The road to Rome was opened.




To be continued....

[SwordsMaster]

This is a short writeup with no pretention of literary style or any sort of other pretention for that matter. I might expand it after the deadlines rush I´m in the middle of settles down a little, until then, enjoy.

Segestes opened the sealed letter, and narrowed his eyes as he made the effort to read the confuse mixture of greek and latin in which the script was written.

"Who sends this?" he asked his men standing a few paces behind him.
"We think it was sent by the governor of Messana to Corduba, king". One of them, a dark skinned goth from the Pyrenees said. It was strange to see his dark and barechested figure in the snow of the mountain camp.

Segestes read:

The first couple of senteces were illegible as there was a hole in the material, where the sword cut the paper and the man underneath, and then there were a few stains of blood.

"... the German king Vannius, first known as the Mighty, then as the Mad, and then as the Bloodyhanded, only a month ago, opens the possiblity of an alliance between the Roman and the Carthaginian peoples to destroy his now disorganized hordes, who will struggle a leader as bloody, brave and brutal as the one who just passed away. As far as our informations can tell, his older son is Numantia, after defeating the last Gaul garrison, he established there, collecting money from the iberian mines and fortifying roads and mountain passes, fearing an attack by the native iberian population.

But he is not prepared to withstand the armies of the mighty Carthage, whose force is respected in the Mediterranean and feared in Africa, and Numantia would be an easy trophy for the Mighty Carthaginian Council.

As of our own state of affairs, I have to confess that the last years have been disastrous. Vannius took Rome twelve years ago, and put its habitants to the sword. After that, Tarentum and Croton were rapidly besieged and taken by Verritus, and despite our economic efforts to spark the rebellion, Capua fell two years later and was also exterminated.

My informants tell me that also in the more incivilized parts of the world, the Germanic domination rises. Their struggles on the Dacian border, funded by our political rivals, but Romans nonetheless, the Brutii were won by force when Campus Lazyges is besieged, although the Dacians managed to break the siege, their military power was crushed.

Then our allies, the Macedonians, afraid that such close proximity with the Germanics and the Romans would bring war to their land, make war on the Greek Leagues to gain some more land and men for the struggle, which in the end becomes a stalemate somewhere in the Pelopponessus.

Closer to us, Salona, Apollonia and Thermon were taken in three years, and in 226, Verritus begins the building of the fleet that would close the Ilyrian sea to the civilized nations in Croton, Apollonia and Thermon while fighting off the rebellions of the loyal men inside the cities.

Such was the barbarian´s arrogance, that they landed an army near Messana, but they couldn´t hold the city once they took it, but destroyed the buildings dedicated to our Gods, and painted the streeds red with the blood of Roman citizens. Later, they were surrended and destroyed by the Consul and the Governor of Syracuse.

Last year I received notice of the sickness of Vannius. Apparently the old tribesman lost his mind, but nevertheless besieged Porrolisium, the last Dacian stronghold, before dying when his horse broke its leg crossing a river and he was taked by the current, and despite being rescued by his men later, developed a sickness than ended his life in the subsequent week.

But there is still force in the Scipii. Africa is still ours, and the Germanic barbarians will have a hard time..."

Segestes let the letter fly away with the wind. The new fort was ready, and trusted men would keep the pass from iberians or Carthaginians, who had broken their promises of alliance, but Segestes couldn´t care less. He knew that the destiny gave him the power to decide, and th might to make his decisions lie heavily in other nation´s memories.

"Did you bring the emissary?" he ws looking at the man struggling in the hands of two red haired soldiers of his own guard.
The dark man only shook his head and pointed to the man.

"Lift him" when the face of the man was at the same height as his own, he kept talking.
"Tell wherever you are going that there is no way to avoid war. And I am not the one who will be trying to avoid it. And whoever sent you should know that I will be victorious in any war I undertake. And That is because I do not fear death and neither do my men, and the knowledge of that truth makes you weak with fear.
Because if we do war to ourselves, what can YOU expect from us?
But we live for war. And you will die for us.

But not today." He smiled. And his expression was almost shy.
"Ride, messenger." He turned around to watch the spears of his infantry disappear behind the ridge, moving towards the border. His men stood silent behind him. He heard as the messenger tried to get up. Then one, two, three paces, then silence. He turned around.

"What happened?"
"He is dead, king. I believe it was the cold..."
Segestes turned his gaze to the white mountains bright with iberian sun. Someone standing close enough could hear that he was whistling a warrior´s song and smiling.