Beasts and Battles: A Gallic campaign

[Zimfan]

What are the conditions of this PBEM?Is for RTW 1.5 without mods?

Caius

He's just writing up a story for his single player campaign, I think.

[M.Cornelius Marcellus]

Nice work Orb!
Keep them coming

MCM

[whtdoesitmatta]

Pictures!
Pretty good though :)

[Orb]

Zimfan/DG are correct - pics will be added when I can be bothered to upload them all...

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April 258 BC

Eporedorix dragged his head from his latest vat of wine. It was about time he could have a drink. Well, now he was King, who could stop him. Still, he missed his father; Brennus had caught an illness a little after leaving the conference of Massilia. Lugotorix had reported dutifully from Alesia, having gone there to fulfil his father’s wish, that ‘he had been happy to go after seeing his sons for one last time’.

Eporedorix gestured vaguely at the cowering Roman. ‘Can you write Greek?’ The terrified figure nodded. ‘Well, write this:’ The Gaul stood up, in the manner of someone dictating a letter.

‘My brothers, it has been six years since last we spoke, and I hope to amend that soon. I, from our conference, raced towards Mediolanum and then down to Arretium, but Vindex insolently raised men from Ariminium, Patavium and Segesta without my permission, and even took the Italian host from Ariminium onto a mere sixty ships.

We were assailed by a host of Greeks from the sea, twelve-hundred strong, and I was trapped in Ariminium. I sent a messenger to Vindex, demanding his return to assist me, seeing as he had stolen my soldiers. He ‘didn’t hear’, but fortunately his fleet was attacked by Romans and driven back to our swords, he was forced to disembark and come to my aid. Between us, we won a grand victory, and the Greeks were forced to offer a ceasefire, after being driven from our shores.

From there, I reassumed the command of my army, and gave Vindex a small force to fight off a German incursion to Northern Italy, which he finally accomplished last year.’

Vindex keeled over and crashed into a table. The table didn’t survive the encounter and Vindex slowly brought himself to his feet. ‘You aren’t going anywhere!’ he shouted to the fleeing Roman, who abruptly halted. ‘I have more to put down.’

‘Well, from there I led maybe thirteen hundred men, a mixture of swordsmen and light spearmen for the most part at Rome, I had a few hundred cavalry in that. Myself and Meriadoc, Vindex’s lad, a good kid, were in command. The senate had about three hundred men up on me, many heavy horsemen and heavy infantry’;

He laughed, ‘Bloody lot of good that did them. Their cavalry were drawn out, surrounded and destroyed. All five of their commanders were killed in the battle.’

The Roman flinched, he knew each of these commanders, Flavius and Alcman of Corinth… Servius Maxentius, who had led the reinforcement force of three or four hundred was a fine man while this Gaul was a drunkard. Still, the drunkard had won … he would write history.

‘Then our own cavalry overwhelmed their light troops and struck down their heavy infantry. I was left with seven hundred and fifty men, while they were destroyed utterly. Not one soldier escaped my fury.

Roman, are you writing?’
‘Y…yes, king.’

‘Good: I led my remain forces against the walls of Rome and attacked with a two sets of ladders and a pair of rams in the dead of the night. Though I had maybe three men to each Roman, they were entrenched behind stone. Both my rams were consumed by flames and neither side could make headway against the gatehouse from the ladders. To this end, I told those on the wall to merely stand ground, and sent others which had climbed up to either side: they took another gatehouse, and from there I entered with the cavalry.

The skirmishers of Mediolanum supported me and the Roman Marcus Maxentius was pierced by a javelin with his locally superior forces useless in the face of Celtic valour. The men on the walls soon surrendered and I took the city.

I thought you might like to know: Mediolanum is to be renamed ‘Abnobaeum’ in honour of its patron goddess, whose priests and traditions encourage excellence in archery. Rome is to be renamed Eporedorum in honour of its status as my first conquest as King.

Rome is taken…’ He repeats, shaking his head to clear it of the wine. ‘You appear pale?’
‘Just the cold, king.’
‘I wish to know equally how Spain and Gaul have been. Bring the tablet here, Roman.’

The Roman brought out the wax. ‘Oh, wait a minute, I forgot: By the way, brothers, Ariminium came under siege. Vindex is marching to relieve it… and I mean to meet up with you in Eporedorum in four or five years’ time, foes and campaigns irrelevant.’

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Lugotorix scanned the tablet again. That ‘Eporedorum’ was a new trouble. Another such council could bring Gaul to her knees. If they had not done such before, the Spanish and Germans would not have dared to invade. Still, a king was a king…

He turned to his informant. ‘My brother is constructing a tavern in rome?’
‘Of course, why should he not?’
‘My father forbade him taverns. He is disobeyed after death.’
‘Eporedorix is king now, Brennus is king no more.’
‘And the world falls worse for it.’
‘My pay?’
‘GET OUT!’

The informant retreated hastily from the house. Lugotorix thought: so, this was why his father had sent him to Alesia. Being corrupt, Rome corrupted. Lugotorix drew his spear, unused for a very long time…

No, such extreme measures would be worthless. Nonetheless, Lugotorix, should he inherit the kingdom as he was appointed to, would cut off the sinful limb that called itself Rome. He would torch the damn place to the ground and give the husk to some Carthaginian or Numidian. No doubt ‘Eporedorum’ was to become their new capital. Maybe this Meriadoc would replace him as inheritor. Well, time to begin his reply…

[whtdoesitmatta]

:)... Do I need to post more?

[Orb]

‘This sounds a little cold,’ Eporedorix mused, ‘One victory has been achieved by mine own hand, and the Germans have been defeated many more times by my trusted subordinate, who is called Orgetorix of Mossela. The town of Samarobriva was lost to the Germans, but the town of Lugdunum has been taken in exchange. Though victory against these disciplined spearmen was difficult at first, the assistance of skirmishers and swordsmen has resulted in complete victory in several ambushes. If you could spare skirmishers and archers from Abnobaeum, I will be able to begin retaliations against the Germans in full. I am leaving Samarobriva in their hands for the moment, a host of Britons has arrived there, and I would rather the Germans absorb the losses than we do. I am needed here, and will not be present at your conference.’

Eporedorix span round, and cast the tattered scroll into the mud outside Eporedorum. ‘He doesn’t suffer at all! Vindex is dead, both his sons are dead, my daughter’s husband is dead. Every bloody Gaul of note here is dead except me! I have fought the hardest battles of our time. Vindex gave his life like a hero to hold onto our possessions, so did one of his sons. The town of Ariminium was held and the Romans beaten back. I’ve fought battle after battle, defence after defence, to cling onto our lands! They’ve had three men to one at least in all of them. I gained Capua, and not a word of thanks! I’ve held Eporedorum against odds that were called impossible. HE SCORNS MY BLOOD!’

The Gaul’s huge fist slammed down on the table. ‘He is denied any assistance from Abnobaeum.’ The table collapsed feebly and Eporedorix sat down again. He stretched his arms. ‘I would like to congratulate my Iberian brother on his run of successes against those barbarians and hope that he will come to this town soon.’

He stood up again and started pacing. He glared at the messenger: ‘Go, tell them.’

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Screenies

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Gallic Territory by Winter 253 BC.





Vindex in Battle


One of the battles against the Britons

I have a few hundred of these, but only the best/most informative are worth posting.