Horns of the Bull - Carthage...our homeland

[Braden]

Out of Character note: This is short mainly as I made no notes whilst I played - was recovering from illness etc.

In Character:

As I lay here in my tent, weak and old, I look back on the last few years and see that I have done all that I could. Friends have become enemies, whilst we have deserted friends whilst keeping others by our side.

The physician tells me I will not last the night and I have little to show the world for my reign. No great buildings or conquests do I leave behind me as I pass to the beyond.

The Romans have been our unyeilding enemies for many years now. At first we approached them and sought to ally with them but they were swift to turn against us. I took what warriors I had a struck out against them and took Messana. Since that day, some 6 or so years hence, they have continued to plague me and my family.

It seems that only now, at the eve of my death, have there armies been turned from our homes. Only this summer I fought a battle....nay, no battle. How can my army against one unit of infantry be called a battle?

Trapped, leaderless and placed on our shores for what reason? What did the Julii think to achieve with such a wasteful gesture?

No matter, I have rebuilt our navies, retaken our lost cities bar Palma. I have laid waste to countless "noble" Romano citizens yet I feel I leave my Heir with little more hope than we had when the Romans first tried to destroy me....

[Braden]

ok an edit didn't bring this upto the top...D'oh!

[YAKOBU]

It is 257BC and Hasdrubal becomes leader of the Carthaginian faction on the death of his father Hanno who died peacefully in his sleep. Hasdrubal has 2 brothers, Theophanes and Bomilkar as well as another, Burrhus who died heroically in battle in 267BC. On the death of his father Hasdrubal names his deceased brothers son Theages as his heir. Theages has little love of commanding troops but has shown an aptitude for management and influence. Hasdrubal believes it is this aptitude that will lead his faction forward after his death.

257BC
Hasdrubal sees that Carthaginian finances are critical for survival and believes the only hope is the capture of Syracuse. In preparation for this he cancels the alliance with the Greeks. He strengthens the navies around Sicily for the expected backlash from the Greeks as well as the continuing attacks from the Romans. News reaches us of a plague in Cordoba which is severely weakening our garrison. We are unable to reinforce it at present as all troops are needed around Sicily and Carthage.

256BC
Theages easily takes Syracuse from its small Greek garrison and the survivors are enslaved. Our strengthened navy manages to defeat Greek, Julii, Brutii and Gaul navies. This enabled us to stop Greek, Julii and Brutii reinforcements which were being transported to Sicily. The Numidians look threatening as 3 small Numidian armies camp outside Thapsus and a Numidian agent is detected and executed.



255BC
Our navy manages to defeat Greek, Scipii and Brutii navies. This enabled us to stop Brutii reinforcements which were being transported to Sicily. Unfortunately our navy did not manage to apprehend a Julii army that landed and laid siege to Caralis. The Spanish took advantage of the plague-weakened garrison at Corduba and laid siege. The Numidians also unsurprisingly laid siege to Thapsus.

254BC
Our navy manages to defeat Greek and Spanish navies but was surprised and beaten by a pirate navy. Asdroubas sallies from Thapsus and manages to defeat the sieging Numidians. This proves to be a feint by the Numidians who immediately lay siege to our capital Carthage. Bisaltes shows himself to be a Confident Commander by relieving the siege of Caralis. The Spanish defeat our plague-weakened garrison at Corduba and Hasdrubals brother Theopanes is killed in the fighting.



253BC
Our navy manages to defeat Julii and Brutii navies. This enabled us to stop Brutii reinforcements which were being transported to Sicily. Bisaltes hunts down the remaining Julii army on Caralis and shows them no mercy. Hasdrubal sallies forth from Carthage and easily defeats the sieging Numidians.

252BC
Both the Egyptians and Seleucids accept trade rights but refuse an alliance. Both Carthage and Thapsus are blockaded by the Spanish but our navy breaks the blockades. Our navy manages to defeat a pirate navy.

251BC
News reaches us that the Macedon faction has been destroyed. Again the Egyptians and Seleucids refuse an alliance. Caralis is blockaded by the Julii. Muttanbaal marries Juba who has proven himself to be a Good Commander.

250BC
Our navy manages to defeat Julii and Spanish navies. This enabled us to stop a Spanish army which was being transported to Carthage. Pirates defeat our navy in an ambush. The navy was carrying Adroubas and an army destined for Parma. The army survives but the navy is severely weakened. Our faction leader Hasdrubal dies and Theages becomes the new faction leader.

[YAKOBU]

249BC
Theage becomes leader of the Carthaginian faction on the death of his father Hasdrubal who died peacefully in his sleep. He sees that his faction has many enemies and that to survive he must carve out ceasefires and alliances where possible.
Admiral Bodinelqart defeats a Brutii fleet that was carrying a large army. Admiral Philosir sinks a Greek fleet that blockaded Thapsus. The Gauls blockade Syracuse.
The Numidians reject a ceasefire.
News reaches us that the Seleucids are destroyed.
The Julii besiege Caralis with a small army.

248BC
Admiral Bodinelqart again defeats a Brutii fleet that was carrying a large army. Admiral Philosir catches up with the Brutii fleet and sinks it along with the army. Admiral Bodinelqart is then ambushed by pirates and his weakened fleet is defeated. The Julii blockade Caralis.
Bisaltes sallies from Caralis and defeats the small Julii army.
Juba is ambushed at the border by the Numidians but defeats them in a heroic victory.



On the way back to Thapsus he also defeats 2 small Numidian armies. The Numidians siege Thapsus.
The Greeks request a ceasefire and we accept along with trade rights. The Spanish accept a ceasefire along with trade rights. The SPQR reject a ceasefire.

247BC
Admiral Ahiram and Admiral Philosir join forces to sink a Julii fleet along with its large army. Admiral Bodinelqart defeats a Brutii fleet that was carrying a small army. Admiral Ahiram catches up with the Brutii fleet and sinks it along with the army. Admiral Philosir sinks a Julii fleet blockading Caralis.
Juba relieves the siege of Thapsus.
The Gauls agree to a ceasefire and accept an alliance and trade rights. Pontus accept trade rights.
Abascantus comes of age and is already renowned as a military genius.

246BC
The Numidians again reject a ceasefire.
News reaches us that the Thracians are destroyed.

245BC
The Julii blockade Syracuse.

244BC
Admiral Bodinelqart defeats the Julii fleet to break the blockade of Syracuse. The Julii then blockade Thapsus.
Abascantus sets of by sea with an army to try and retake Palma from the Julii.
The Greeks accept an alliance.

243BC
Admiral Bodinelqart sinks a Julii fleet blockading Syracuse.
The Brutii lay siege to Messana.

242BC
Admiral Ahiram with the help of the Gauls defeats a Julii fleet carrying a small army. The weakened Admiral Ahiram and the Gauls are then defeated by the Julii navy. Admiral Bodinelqart defeats a Brutii fleet that was carrying a small army.
Abascantus lands at Palma and immediately attacks. Palma is garrisoned by the legendary Quintus Julius but Abascantus defeats him and enslaves the population.



Theages relieves the siege of Messana.



241BC
Admiral Ahiram sinks the Julii fleet to break the blockade of Thapsus. Admiral Bodinelqart sinks a Brutii fleet that was carrying a small army. The Numidians again reject a ceasefire.

240BC
The Julii blockade Caralis.
The Numidians siege Thapsus.

239BC
Admiral Bodinelqart and the Gauls are defeated by a Brutii fleet.
Bisaltes sieges and takes the Numidian capital of Cirta enslaving the population.



Asdroubas relieves the siege of Thapsus.
A small Scipii army lands near Caralis.

[TinCow]

The wind whipped through his hair as the screams of dying horses filled his ears. With his eyes closed, Asdroubas Ilipa, brother of Chief Magistrate Theages, gripped his mount hard and shouted with joy. He never felt as alive as he did when he was leading men into battle. The rush filled him and he opened his eyes to see the spectacle unfolding around him.

The land was mainly barren pasture with a few small trees scattered across the horizon. They were too far from Lepcis Magna now to see any farmland or other indications of habitation. The only evidence of civilization at all was the shallow dirt road running off to the west and the small line of wagons behind him. It was the wagons that had made this place important, at least for a day. His scouts had reported the previous morning that a Numidian nobleman was making his way towards the city with a small guard of about a hundred men. Apparently they were unaware that Lepcis Magna had fallen only weeks before. Asdroubas had ridden out to meet them.

He had brought on the Long Shields with him this time, leaving the rest of the light horse and the mercenaries inside the city. The population was not large enough to threaten the army with a revolt, but the men deserved to rest and Asdroubas had known it would be more like a hunt than a battle.

Asdroubas had been in Thapsus when Theages had taken over the role of Chief Magistrate.



The old traditions separating civil governance and military command had come to an end with the beginning of what some Romans were apparently calling the Punic War. Members of the oligarchy served both functions now, as necessity required. In the summer of 238, Asdroubas had given the governorship of the city to Juba Utica and gone to confront the Numidians.

Carthage and Sicily had been relatively secure, but Thapsus had remained weak. The wooden walls had not provided much of an obstacle to an attacking army and the garrison of poorly trained town militia and “Iberian” infantry had been ineffective fighters at best. To the west and the south, sizeable Numidian forces roamed the countryside, causing devastation wherever they went. Thapsus had been besieged no less than three times in recent years. Asdroubas had known that if something was not done, Thapsus would soon be under siege again.

Something was exactly what he had decided to do. Leaving the slow infantry behind, he had ridden forth at dawn with his personal guard and 150 mounted men. Two-thirds of them had been the lightly armed Round Shields, with only 42 of the more heavily armed Long Shields. They had not been a powerful force, but they were not mean to destroy the enemy, only to harass them. Asdroubas had decided to make a lightning quick strike against the nearest Numidian force, inflicting as many casualties as possible before withdrawing to the city. The enemy had been more than double their number and had not expected this sort of attack. As it turned out, neither had Asdroubas.



He had divided his men into two groups. The more numerous Round Shields would ride into the Numidian right flank while Asdroubas’ guard and the Long Shields attacked the left.



Their advance had been so swift that the enemy had not been able to prepare a suitable defensive line. The cavalry had ridden into the enemy skirmishers on both sides and scattered them like chaff in the wind.



The strike had gone so well, that no one had even looked for the command to withdraw. Just as well, since Asdroubas had not given it. With the flanks in flight, both wings instinctually wheeled towards the enemy spearmen in the center. Those men had put up a much more vigorous fight, mauling the Round Shields in particular, but repeated charges to their rear had eventually broken them. In the end, the Numidian captain and his small group of mounted skirmishers had been all that remained of the 400 strong force.



An organized charge by the Carthaginians had brought them down too.



Baal had blessed them. Though only half the men had returned to Thapsus that evening, none of the enemy would ever see home. The celebrations and feasts had gone on for the next two days. The second night, Asdroubas had had a dream. In the dream, a tall, pale angel with blue eyes had spoken to him.

“The desert is an ocean in which no oar is dipped,” the angel had said, “and on this ocean, horsemen go where they please and strike where they please. This is the way the Parthians have always fought. They are famed throughout the world for fighting in this way and this is the way Carthage should fight now.” He had woken, but the words had remained. With a massive amount of territory to control, few cities from which to recruit, and only poorly trained infantry to man a battle line, Asdroubas had discovered a new way of winning wars for Carthage.

He had assembled all the mounted men that Carthage and Thapsus could provide over the next year. More than two hundred Long Shields and more than two hundred and fifty Round Shields had ridden out of Thapsus in the summer of 237, following the coast south towards Lepcis Magna.

When they had finally neared the city, a small band of Libyan mercenaries had been hired to build and man a single ram to open a passage through the walls. Before construction could be finished though, a Numidian army had attempted to break the siege.



As before, Asdroubas had split his men into two flanking forces, this time with each sporting a mix of the lighter Round Shields and the more heavily armed Long Shields.



As they had closed on each flank, the Long Shields had engaged and held the enemy from one direction while their companions circled and charged from the rear. Under the ferocious assault that broke upon them, the enemy had been quickly inundated.



Not even the main body of spearmen had been able to hold out that time, as horsemen had come at them from every direction.



The victory had been total, the losses few, and the city taken.




Asdroubas could see a group of Long Shields riding towards him now; the hunt was done. One of them pulled ahead of the others and approached him. It was Timasion, one of his captains, and he was breathing heavily.

“General, the nobleman escaped into the desert alone.” Timasion bowed his head. “We regret that his horse was too fast for us.”

Asdroubas waved his hand dismissively. “It is no matter. One man is of no threat to us, even if he is of Numidian nobility. Gather your men, we need to return to the city and prepare.”

The captain straightened a bit. “Prepare for what, sir?”

Asdroubas stared off to the west. “Dimmidi, via Nepte.”

Timasion blinked. “You are mad. To come to Dimmidi from the east, you should have to cross the Sahara Desert.”

Asdroubas turned to look at him. ”That's right.”

“The Sahara cannot be crossed.”

Asdroubas smiled, “I will cross it if you will.

Timasion’s jaw dropped. ”You! It takes more than a horse, General. The Sahara is the worst place Ba’al created.”

”I cannot answer for the place,” replied Asdroubas, ”only for myself. Five hundred men are all we will need.”

”Five hundred?” The captain couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “Against Numidia?”

”If five hundred men came out of the Sahara, there would be five hundred men other men might join.” Asdroubas looked off into the west. “There are mercenaries there I hear.”

”Mercenaries are brigands. They will sell themselves to anyone.”

The general nodded. ”Good fighters, though.”

”Good... yes.” The captain reluctantly admitted. “There are walls at Dimmidi.”

”They are wooden, Timasion, and cannot be strengthened in time. If we approach from the east, without warning, there will be no stone walls at Dimmidi.”

The captain threw up his arms, “With good reason! It cannot be approached from the east.”

”Certainly the Numidans don't dream of it.” Asdroubas lifted his arm and pointed to the setting sun. “Dimmidi is over there. It's only a matter of going.”

”You are mad.”

Asdroubas grinned.

[TinCow]

Through the gate, Abascantus Ilipa watched the Carthaginian army deploying in the field north of the city. It was an awesome sight. The Gauls, encamped on the hills to the north, would have an equally spectacular view, though perhaps they would not appreciate it quite as he did.



For the third time in a year, a Gallic force had approached the walls of Corduba, threatening to besiege the city. For the third time in a year, Abascantus had turned out the entire garrison to meet them. The city was restless due to the large Gallic influence that had seeped into the culture during the years it was lost to Carthage, but not even the most rebellious citizens would rise up during a single-day sally.

Twice before the army had deployed in front of Corduba and twice before the Gauls had seen the size of their enemy and left without a fight. Abascantus yearned for a real battle; he had not seen one for some time.

He had sailed from Palma at the same time as Bisaltes had left from Cirta. It was an organized, two-pronged campaign in the tradition of Ba’al. Abascantus would go by sea and retake Corduba from the Spanish while Bisaltes went by land and took Tingi from the Numidians. Once accomplished, the two armies could support each other, using Abascantus’ fleet to bridge the short stretch of water between them.

Abascantus and his men had been the first of the two forces to reach their destination. They had fallen upon Corduba in the summer of 235. The city had been lost to the Spanish barbarians two decades before, but upon landing the Carthaginian scouts reported that it was Gallic forces who occupied the city. There had never been any major conflicts between Carthage and Gaul and Hasdrubal had overseen the formation of a nominal alliance with them against Roman aggression. Regardless, Coduba was a Carthaginian city and it would remain a Carthaginian city no matter which people occupied it.

Out of respect for the alliance, Abascantus had sent a messenger to the city informing them that the Carthaginians had come to reclaim their territory. No answer had been received and the messenger had not returned. That had pleased him. He had employed his men in the construction of siege equipment in expectation of just such an event.




His forces had vastly outnumbered the unprepared Gauls. Using the rams and a half dozen elephants to breach the walls on two sides of the city, the Carthaginians had flooded into the streets. The defenders were quickly swept aside until only a group of elite swordsmen remained, guarding the city square. Abascantus had faced them down with a wall of spearmen, seventeen deep.



The Gauls valiantly tried to break through the front ranks, but they were too few and the spears too many. A charge by the Long Shields had finally finished them off.




Life had been boring for Abascantus since then. Merchants brought news of the destruction of the Germanic and Parthian peoples, hinting at the great wars that were being fought elsewhere.




In Corduba though, there was only governance. The people were restless after so much time away from civilized influence. The city itself looked more Gallic than Carthaginian. Despite the constant work keeping order and administering to the new construction projects, Abascantus was bored. He had been born to be a general, not a governor. The aborted Gallic sieges had given him hope of some excitement, but their reluctance to fight had frustrated him to no ends.

The army was almost done assembling in front of the north gate now. The few elephants left to him had remained in the city and the skirmishers guarded the walls over the gate, but the rest of his army was now spread out on the plain before him. He rode eagerly to the front of the ranks.

“MEN! It looks like we will have a little entertainment today!” The army cheered, they were bored of garrison duty as well. “Perhaps those barbarians over there will have more courage than their brothers! Perhaps we shall…”

A low murmur had begun in the army. A few men pointed. Abascantus turned to look at the hill. He watched for a moment then threw down his sword and spat on the ground.

“BLOODY COWARDS!”

Another Gallic army was walking away without a fight.

“COME BACK HERE YOU DEGENERATE BASTARDS!”

Abascantus was enraged. He would never get his battle, his tactical abilities would go to waste and he would spend the rest of his life as a glorified clerk. No. No, that was unacceptable. He would take his army out after them. If glory would not come to him, he would go and take it himself.

He would need to calm the unrest in the city first though; he would not have it revolting against Carthaginian rule while his men were afield.

“I’ll turn them all into proper civilized people if I have to bathe every single stinking last one of them myself,” he muttered to the quickly emptying hill. “I’ll pave the roads with gold if I have to, but when I’m done…” Abascantus watched as the green last flag dipped below the horizon in front of him.

Yes, when he was done, it would be time to play.