184 BC

I'd have a world map, but not much has changed...evil Sweboz Demons...

CURRENT ALLIES: Ptolemaioi

CURRENT ENEMIES: Sweboz

CURRENT WORRIES: Sweboz...


In the winter of 187 BC, the din of battle echoed across the Eastern Empire. Rudd, son of Ryddon, a warchief not yet 30, already the victor of battles against the Romani and their allies, was facing the most daunting task of any Casse warlord since Barae himself – the monstrous Empire of the Sweboz, brother-empire of the Casse, had finally declared war.

Reports of German raids spilled in from across the borderlands. A massive confrontation was inevitable…

This catastrophic war had been foreseen, even in Barae’s time. After all, what bear could share its den with a wolf? Bears are huge, and hungry – they are greedy for space. But also stupid…


Romani Wars: 228 BC – 184 BC

Roma, Jewel of Latium


Meanwhile, in the warm lands of the Far South of Latium, Ryddon finished the work he had started nearly 25 years ago…the complete extermination of the Romani.

After the fall of Rhegion and the subsequent sack of Messana, Ryddon turned his eyes on Syrakousae, last city of the Romani.

The Romani dogs, looking down the snout of utter destruction, sent their last army against Ryddon in the shadow of Mt. Etha...

Summer, 184 BC: The Battle of Etha



Though the Romani dogs put up a good fight, the Samnites under Ryddon’s command were brutal. Not a single Roman soldier – aside from their cowardly general – survived.







The defenders of Syrakousae fell like saplings. At the end of the day, Ryddon was a very, very happy – and drunk – Bren. The elation of his forces echoed throughout the decimated city. The Britons praised the one Roman invention they adored – the vomitorium.



If only Ryddon had known the peril facing his Empire – and his son – in the north, perhaps he would not have been so jubilant…


***


Germanic War: 187 BC - ?

Major Battles, 187 – 184 BC


Rudd needed a larger base of operations north of the Alps. He didn’t enjoy being completely surrounded by the lands of the Demons…so he gathered the tribesmen of the Noricae and marched west, to Veldideno, a fortress perched atop the steep cliffs of Rhaetia, Celtic borderlands held by the vile Sweboz.

Winter, 187 BC: The Battle of Veldideno

Rudd’s forces surrounded the city. Winter had not yet passed before a vast horde appeared from across the river to the north, led by two German warlords. These Demons, confident in their vast numbers, came to relieve the already sizable garrison at Veldideno. What was more, the remnants of the armies at Iuvavoaeta, allies of the Romani, joined the Sweboz at the foot of the cliffs of Veldideno – they attacked!

What followed was, by far, the bloodiest battle in the history of the Empire.

Rudd was outnumbered, and he faced armies led by German warlords more capable than even the son of Ryddon Romaneitas.

Rudd took up his position at the mouth of the forest. He and his men, most of which had never seen a battle larger than a border skirmish, could only watch as the hordes of Sweboz spilled down the hill…





The fighting raged all morning, and well into the afternoon. The Demons were vicious, and many of the Casse fell to their axes, spears, and swords. For every Demon that died, two more fresh warriors appeared in his place.



When the killing finally ended, Rudd stood victorious atop a mound of his dead kinsmen. All three of the German warlords had either been killed or had fled like cowards. The depleted British army marched into Veldideno and occupied the fortress – there had been enough bloodshed that day, even for the warriors of the Casse…

***

Even as Rudd secured the lands of Rhaetia, two more Germanic incursions rocked the raw lands of Noricae over the next two years, supported by troops from Skandza to Scythia…







These insults cost the Sweboz two promising warchiefs…stupid Demons...




Though these incursions died at the walls of Iuvavoaeta, Rudd knew that the lands north of the Alps could not be defended forever…the Sweboz were simply too powerful, and too many. In time, the Demons would surely crush Iuvavoaeta and spill over the Alps like great waves crashing over a lone rock in the ocean…

Rudd sent messengers to the northlands of the Empire, to the Great City of Camulosadae herself, with tidings, and a plan.



Summer, 184 BC: The Battle of Rhaetia

As Rudd marched to the aid of Iuvavoaeta in the summer of 184 BC, besieged by the Sweboz yet again, he was ambushed by a horde under the command of yet another great German warchief. Rudd’s army, at half strength, outnumbered 2 to 1, and taken by surprise, knew the situation was grim…



The Casse fought valiantly and viciously, like the wolves they were. For every warrior of the Casse that fell that day, five Demons joined him!





The German warchief himself was slaughtered like a pig at the hands of Venetian champions. The battle hung in the balance for hours…



Despite the valor of the Casse, the Demons’ numbers were too great.
Rudd’s forces, exhausted and bleeding, were forced to retreat.



Only a handful of his men survived that day’s onslaught – the Demons were victorious, though they paid for the victory with rivers of their own blood.



It was one of the few defeats the Empire had ever known, and, coming this soon in the war, it was an ill, ill omen indeed…


***

Rudd’s Plan

News of the German threat reached Nimall, lord of Belgae Britannia, in the winter of 186 BC, along with Rudd's plan. Nimall immediately put it into action…

Rudd needed to divide the attention of the Sweboz, and, in effect, their power – and force the Sweboz to engage in a 2-front war. If this could not be done, the rich, newly conquered lands of the south-eastern Empire would surely fall…

Spies in the Dark Lands of the Germans reported that the shores of the German Sea were undefended – it seemed every Demon in the Empire of the Sweboz was marching on Noricae and Patavium.

With sufficient force from the Northlands, as well as swift and deadly mercenaries from the lands of the Horse Masters, perhaps the Sweboz could be made to tremble.

It was time to call upon the fleets of the Casse, the only naval power in the North Seas, for the first time in 50 years...




The war horns echoed throughout the Northlands. Hammer-men from Erain, Cwmyr from the Midlands of Albion, Dark Men from Caledryn, warriors of the Belgae, legions of tribesmen from the Gallic Coast and champions of Cassemorg itself – all answered the call.

A massive invasionary force was raised, commanded by Nimall, great-grandson of Barae himself. The ships of the Casse took to the waves, headed for the dark waters of the Germanic Sea, ready to wreck havoc and burn down the homelands of the Demons, or die trying…

Nimall knows it is unlikely that he, or any of his men, will ever return. He goes for duty, for glory…for the Empire…

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