Horns of the Bull - Carthage...our homeland

[Severous]

During the summer of 227BC there was one event of note.

The battle of Cordoba.

Taking heed of a wise mans advice the forces in and around Cordoba were carefully inspected. Few were found wanting. Only minor changes were made to the order of battle...primarily the bringing in of a full strength Baleric slinger unit to replace the depleted unit.

We would not wait like cowards behind our walls. Battle was taken to the enemy in the open fields.


----
The odds show that despite the near equal numbers that man for man the Gaul are the better men. This is despite the superb commander we have compared to what a Roman would call sniviling fool that leads the Gaul.
There are very good troops in the enemy ranks. Chosen swordsmen and lots of them.


----
Infantry and elephants on a slope. Missile troops hidden in the centre, Cavalry out in front looking to survey and harass the enemy. To wear them down before the infantry encounter.


----
The Gaul general is the only cavalry unit they have. And he is eager to meet his maker. Perhaps he was drawn to the exposed slinger. He will be met by Carthage horsemen. Slinger is ordered to stand its ground and turn off fire at will. Cant have friendly fire casualties can we.



On my right flank a pair of horsemen (group iv) face off no less than 6 Gaul units. There will be no combat here although the Gaul frequently attempted to run down horses. Fools. The Gaul get warmed up, winded and will eventually tire and have nothing to show for it. In the centre General v.s General occurs....I have cavalry helpers.


The Gaul General is killed.

----
The audacious general and his two cavalry units burst through the Gaul centre. Once through the idea is to hit the right hand side of the Gaul lines simultaneously with cavalry from the front. The troops at that end are mainly lower quality warbands. It was not painless ...chosen swordsmen are not easily brushed aside....some casualties occur.



Overconfidence causes the cavalry to turn back on the chosen swordsmen. More losses and all the while the Gaul are closing on the missile troops.



Taking control the battle gets back on plan with attacks on the weak right end of the Gaul line.


----
Cavalry tear up the Gaul right. As the Gaul centre of Chosen swordsmen rush to assist I order my missile troops to open fire. The rattle of stones on armour soon rings out.




----
One unit (26men) is ordered to kill routers. The remaining horsemen draw breath if they can. I give ground in the centre. My infantry and elephants back on the hill slightly adjust their lines. Stones continue to rain down on the Gaul who tire.

----
An impetous warband on the road races ahead of the rest of the gaul army and is cut down. Elsewhere my previouslty hidden slingers are now being charged by chosen swordsmen. Will have to give ground...but enough time for one more volley I think.

----
Skirmishers open fire for the first time. Fires on swordsmen advancing up the road. The Gaul advance will adjust to this new threat. Meanwhile slingers are racing away from the threat they face.

----
Another mistake. A standing horseman unit is charged by Gaul. Will have to get out of there.

----
Shouts of retreat are heard. The Gaul army is retreating. Had killed 63% when that was first noticed. Front rank of spearmen are ordered to run at the enemy backs. Although they are fresh they wont catch many Gaul.







Retreating units are not the same as routing units. They will fight back. Will loose a few more cavalry stopping chosen swordsmen leaving the battlefield.
----






Heroic and Famous battle.
----
As the summer closes in Spain I have my sights on two regions.
- Victorious troops from the battle of Cordoba have eliminated rebels and are poised to approach Scallibis.
-The govenor of the Ballerics has got off his backside and been ferried to Carthago Nova where he spends a mint on mercenaries.

We are broke but victorious. We now also have trade rights and a map of Dacian lands.

[Severous]

Winter 227BC

- Did some rebel bashing.

- Did some Naval work including sinking a ship with artillery and pigs on board (4 units).

- Beseiging Gaul held Carthago Nova

- Moved up on Scallibais and got a nasty surprise. The Gaul are the most advanced troops I have seen in RTW. I lack the movement points to withdraw. My reinforcing half stack are spearmen.


Over turn end:

- Gaul offerred a ceasefire. Its terms...we must give it Cordoba. Oh really. After wiping out a stack that threatened Cordoba I am hardly going to give up that city. I counter with offer of ceasefire, trade rights, and Gaul must give me Carthago Nova and its map. No deal. Good.

- Riots in two cities.

[Severous]

Summer 226BC

- Carthago Nova is ours. We rammed the wall and enslaved the population.






----
- Scalliabis is ours. Gaul withdrew from their seige without fighting us. So we attacked the city.





Used elephants to knock down an undefended section of wall. Had some nice cavalry street battles and elephants got one or two as well. The Spanish faction leader was the most powerful unit in the battle. I sprung a trap on it that had all my spearmen block the generals retreat back to the plaza. So he died...soon after this shot.




----
- Pirates are at large. Our fleets are more dispersed under my command and our lone Quinreme was caught south of Caralis. Going to have to be careful on the high seas.
----
Spies built and despatched over the last few turns are reporting that Italy is not well guarded.
----
Blockades being used on Roman cities: Rome and Capua.

Rather uneasy at those upgraded Gaul. Going to be a hard fight soon.

[Severous]

226BC continued

We are ashore in Italy.
- Protected by a fort our troops are in striking range next turn of Croton.
- Three spies will try to get us in

Short of cash I have raised taxes to the max and withdrawn the majority of troops from several cities that will riot. Some brave leaders will remain in those cities in order to complete buildings and hopefully earn good traits by completing buildings during very high tax turns.




End of 226BC Winter
- The Gaul did not attack...indeed no one did.
- 5,700 civilians and 62 troops died in 5 riots.
- 8 buildings damaged in riots. Repairs will eat into income from increased taxes.
- We are now the third faction leaving behind Gaul and catching fast Egypt and Greece.
- We are the Largest and Most Advanced faction
- Big Nubidian stack on the loose in Africa
- Elephants built in Carthage. They will have a long walk.

[Severous]

Winter 226BC

----
Rebel bashing.







Will gain skills ahead of the tougher fight against that approaching Nubidian stack. May need to hire some mercenaries next turn.

I engineered that Riot in Thapsus. Extra cash from tax = 822. Cost of sewer repairs = 144. Loss of unwanted population = 1227
----

Important naval battle v.s Pirates. It was won. Silver chevron Quinreme outclassed the pirates.



It was a good turn at sea. Many blockades in place and few enemies left in the western med. Sights turn to the Adratic next.
----

Battle for Croton
-
Spies to open the gate...maybe. Fort to protect my approach. Attack how ?

-

From the north, Bypass the Scipii stack. Its full of tough infantry.

-

Here we go. Spies have done their work.

-

Initial deployment...see bottom left. Only my general was on the map at first. So the Brutii deploy against him. Leaves the top right gate unprotected for my main army.

-

Skirmishers run through the fire from the gate towers.

-

My general is bait for the Scipii

-

He gets their attention with a gesture and a few taunts.

-

Meanwhile the Brutii defenders are responding

-

First time ive seen Roman missile cavalry. Thought they were Equites. Couldnt understand why they stood off from the spear points. Had to charge them down. One Roman general down. Two more to go.

-

Wall towers kill first Scipii. My general has to run hard. He would not win a stand up fight with the larger Scipii general unit.

-

Exhausted skirmishers hold their fire. Lets the towers do the killing . Skirmishers need to regain some breath as the next section of wall has bends that offer towers a field of fire that rakes the wall top...so skirmishers will die and in their weakened and exhausted state remainder will rout.

-

Brutii Principles trapped and routed. I take a few losses from my 'own' tower fire.

What I didnt notice straight away was the Scipii main force is now heading for the gate. Its got a safe passage as that section of wall is not in my control...not yet. It would give them the opportunity to enter the city with few casualties.

-

Scipii general that had been chasing mine is killed in the same spear trap that killed the first Roman general.

-

Scipii have got off lightly as they approach the gate. But its mine now so the missiles will fly from the towers and Scipii losses will start in earnest.

-

Baleric Slingers ran to that bend in the wall. It offerred a good field of fire onto the Scipii below. With the wall towers they killed many Scipii as they marched around inside the city. The weakened Scipii remains marched into the centre of the city down this road. I was ready for them.

-

The third Roman general is killed.

-

Two units of Roman Equites guard the plaza. Stones from the slingers catch the Romans attention. They charge. Slingers scurry back through supporting infantry. The Equites will die on phalanx spearpoints.

-

The last line of defense. Tirarii. They kill more than the rest put togther.

-

Celebrating and looking at that big building. I later find out this is a +3 experience temple. Wow. Not had one of them before. Wish I could train more than two units per turn. Or should I demolish it for a Baal temple.?

-

Well done lads.

-

Glad we have a healer in the retinue.

-

Enslaving 11,594 of the population and looting a mere 2,324. The slaves trigger three cities to expand beyond 12,000 (Caralis, Cirtis, Cordoba). Juba the general gains three for his retinue...Roman turncoat, Veteran warrior, Body slave.
----

Brutii is down to one region.

----

Elsewhere its about regaining control of the rioting towns. Have landed a small force near Osca.

----

Our special task Elephant unit is now in Numidia. No rebels left in North Africa so Elephants are travelling alone.

----

Over the end of turn
- Palma riots as expected.
- We find a Gaul spy in Cordoba. I think there are others as unrest is too high to be otherwise. Will station a second Carthage spy in Cordoba to counter the Gaul spy(s) l think are still in the city.
----

End of turn.

[Severous]

The Summer of 225BC

----

Our Elephants are in Mauretania and look for a ship to transport them next turn. Whether this happens or not is dependent on defeating those pop up pirates first. Our troops already in Spain cannot reach Osca this turn.

----

The approach to Tarentum is guarded by Brutii units. 2 Scorpions, archers, principles and hastati. We commit part of our army and at odds of 3:5 in their favour we gain a heroic victory. General and slingers were bait. Our cavalry sprung from ambush or launched a charge when the Roman artillery or archers were unprotected.


A peasant was committed to see if the gates of Tarentum would be opened by our spies. They wouldnt. Croton would riot this turn so its garrison would need to do something useful outside of rioting Croton. So they went a seiged Tarentum. Building 3 ladders and 2 seige towers for the Stone walls next turn.
----

In Africa the Nubidian stack nears Lepcis. Spy reports its light on cavalry but has three ranged units. We will have to be careful. Our leader is back in the city and two good cavalry units are on their way from Thapsus to help in what is sure to be a fight next turn. We have one unit of Nubidian Javlin cavalry mercenaries and our best shield cavalry should be back at full strength for the fight.

----

That would have been it...except that when I was checking all our spies had moved I found one in Croton that was awaiting orders. At a 75% sucess chance it could spy on Tarentum except it was under seige. I ordered a temporary break in the new seige and sent in the spy. He gained information which I already had from 2 spies. He gained a spying increase in the process. Vitally he increased the chance of gate openeing. The seige was put back in place..the spies now open the gates! So seige abandoned and assault went in.


There are only 4 defenders but they are good.


Big Gerenal faction leader unit, two triarii and these Velite Gladiators. All upgraded.




So ended the hopes of Brutii faction. Faction Eliminated. 11,000 more slaves sent to cities already groaning with population.
----

Our General gained a Galloper for his rentinue plus eliminating a faction and another Heroic must be building his skills. We can build Onagers.

----

We take a chance and advance into Gaul held Spain. In striking distance of Numantia next turn. Lots of cavalry move as far as they can. A mercenary barbarian infantry unit hired at the end of movement. Will provide bait for Gaul if they attack me. My infantry and slingers follow as best they can. Scallibis will riot next turn.

----

Over turn end:

There was indeed Gaul spies at work in Cordoba. Another one was found and executed. We have 2 spies on counter spy work. Getting rid of enemy spies will reduce unrest, increase public order, and allow higher taxes...I hope. Cash is still in short supply. If only we could exterminate.

----

Not seen one of these before. Our spy in enemy Osca gains a Dancer. Now has a monkey and a dancer. Increases his chance of opening the gates next turn. (tries to envisage how monkey and dancer help open gates)

----

Our faction is gaining in world standing. Lepcis is beseiged by the Nubidian faction leader. Not a surprise.


End of report for today. More fighting tomorrow if I have time.

[Severous]

225 BC Winter (Only time tonight for African theatre of operations)

Sally from Lepcis

The Nubidian faction leader and his army beseiging Lepcis outnumbers us and has battle odds in its favour calculated at 2:1. But Nubidian armies are weak. The enemy leader is 6* against our 4*.
----
It is standing orders to take the fight to the enemy when beseiged. The Carthage sally forth is underway.



Cavalry run out to attack the still forming Nubidian battle line. They aim for the two end units which are both skirmishers and ride them down.
----

After a little indecision they identify the enemy General is vulnerable. The Carthage horsemen gang up on the big Nubidian Royal bodyguard and the fight is soon decided. Just in time to run from the approaching desert spreamen.




----

The Carthage horsemen now sweep behind the enemy lines to their other flank. Three missile units to attack. Archers, Slingers and Skirmishers.


The missile troops didnt last long.

----

The Nubidians had a unit of that excellent missile cavalry. It had not been a force until now. Managed to kill a few Roundshields with missiles. But occupied against one of my units it was drawn into a trap. Carthage horsemen surround the fresher unit and will kill it.

----

I saw one Roundshield getting close to the flank of a wavering Desert Spearman unit. Tired and wavering I thought the spearmen would break on first contact....especially as it was a unit that started the battle understrength. So I allowed the fight to occur.

Infantry didnt break and Roundshields suffered. Ordered them out of there. Score: Cavalry 1 Spearmen 7
----

Another skirmisher unit broken and routing. Meanwhile my own Nubidian mercenary missile cavalry is in action. Its carefully hoarded missile capability is now required against Desert Spearmen. It leads a unit towards a wall tower.

----

If a cavalry missile unit runs away from a persuing infantry unit the infantry will soon give up the chase and turn away. Thats what my missile troops were playing for. A shot at the back of the infantry. A salvo with lots of hits would shake an already tired unit.


Nearly the last volley ...it was enough. The spearmen unit routs. Two other units chain rout.


Then the fresh mercenaries charge to finish the job.

----

Elsewhere infantry did a number on another Nubidian unit. No casualties suffered in this little encounter...not by Carthage .

----

Last Nubidian unit. Townwatch and Iberians will soon sort this.

----



----

The battle at Lepcis marks an important strategic point for our lands in North Africa. There is no longer a hostile force within our borders. We can reduce garrisons and look now to our frontiers...or better put..look at the enemy lands beyond them. Spy from Lepcis sent east to scout. We know from diplomat reports that the Egyptians have many big stacks in their homelands.
----

Our leader has been garrisoning Dimmidi. He likes the hot desert climate. From there he has directed our increasing spy activity and changes his title from 'The Conquerer' to 'The Cunning'. He is getting on in years and arrangements are made to pass on his retinue to a younger man.

----

Captain Abdimiki commands our special Elephants. He walks West. The ferry to Spain didnt turn up. It had been crushingly defeated by a pirate force.


----

Important encounters in Spain and Italy are yet to occur in this season. Update later in the week