The Will of the Senate - First Consul reports

[econ21]

This thread is for the posting of in-character reports to the Senate by First Consuls in the RTR Platinum PBM thread:

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=64791

Out-of-character discussion of the campaign should be in the link above.

In-character Senate discussion of these reports should be confined to the Senate deliberations thread. (The reason for separating the two is to keep the Senate deliberations thread largely free of screenshots for ease of use. And to allow First Consuls' after-action reports to be archived separately from more ephemeral debate.)

A Concise History of the Republic




Notes for First Consuls:

(1) You must report every two days, even if it is just to say "Very busy, no progress at the moment". Failure to do so may result in my giving the reign to someone else. Sorry, but the show must go on.

(2) You must present a mid-term report at the end of your 10th turn and an end-term report at the end your 20th turn. If your avatar dies, you must stop playing and submit an end-term report. It is essential that these reports be posted promptly, as Senate sessions cannot be opened until the reports are in.

(3) Your mid-term and end-term reports should include at a minimum:
(a) a savegame uploaded to the Org;
(b) a list of enemies and allies;
(c) current revenue, expenditures and balance in the treasury
(d) description of salient events (e.g. battles, diplomatic overtures etc) to date;
(e) recommendations for future action (yours, if mid-term; the next First Consuls, if end-term.
Anything else - screenshots, battle reports, stories etc - is welcome but not essential. If you post screenshots, please do so in jpg format, reduced to 75% size.

(4) You must report asap any new faction members that are spawned (including infants), so that they may be assigned to other participants as avatars. Please give full details - name, date and season of spawn, relation to family tree, age, location, stats, traits, ancillaries, everything.

(5) If a faction member in the Lower Senate gets into a battle, press escape at the pre-battle window, save the game, stop playing and upload the save to the Org upload directory. PM the participant and ask him to play out the battle, uploading the new save within 48 hours of your PM. If he fails to do this, autoresolve the battle and continue your reign.

[econ21]

Senators,

As requested, I take a pause from campaigning to report our progress to you. As autumn approaches in this year 278, I have set up temporary headquarters with our Consular army in Croton. I currently await news from General Tiberius Coruncanius of his fortune in taking Paestum from the rebels with our Praetorian army.

I start with the main business - our war with King Pyrrhus. You may recall, my plan was to take Arretium, emboldening the Greeks to divide their forces with premature and understrength incursions into our lands. For a while, it appeared that Senator GeneralHankerchief's scepticism was proved correct and the plan was failing. While the Greeks did divide and did enter into our lands - even besieging Capua for one season - we were not able to catch them and defeat them in detail as I hoped. The wily King Pyrrhus was too careful, wary of the greater strength of our full Consular army. Instead, we shadowed each other in an unproductive dance for over a year. As my initial attempts to lure out the Greeks failed, I even attempted to repeat the stratagem - this time seizing Arminium. I have thus fulfilled Motion #8. But this time, King Pyrrhus marched north to Ancona with the full strength of his army.

Here, I must praise the initiative of a new addition to the Senate, Augustus Verginium (aka TinCow - TBC) recently married to young Fadia, daughter of Publius Laevinus. General Verginium had not long been posted to Ancona as governor when he reported his unease at his exposed position. Well before Pyrrhus marched on the city, General Verginium built a fort to overlook the road south and this delayed Pyrrhus long enough for me to return from Arminium and screen the city. Pyrrhus then fell back in disarray. It appeared that my subtle strategy of luring him north to divide his army had failed. So I resolved to resort to simple brute strength, meeting his full army with my own superior Consular force, as required by Motion #1. But then at the last moment, the gods intervened. Frustrated by the fortification on the road to Ancona, Pyrrhus inexplicably had separated from his army. When both retreated south, he went ahead to Corfinium to attend to matters of state. This was the opportunity I had manouvred for, for over a year, so I struck his leaderless army outside that town. King Pyrrhus rushed to return to his army with a reinforcement of levies. I do not know whether his great command talents were of any benefit to the Greeks on that day, but I suspect that due to his late arrival on the battle, they were not.

Unfortunately, the artists I ordered to sketch the great battle were misdirected and missed it. However, I will verbally outline its course. The Greek army consisted of all the units that Pyrrhus first landed with in 280 BC. They were deployed on a lower slope, so I led half our Consular army around their flank onto the crest of the hill while the other half, led by my Tribune, Lucius Amelius, pinned them in place. Our funditores remorsely targeted their Cretan and Rhodian skirmishers, negating their influence on the battle.

On our left, Lucius ordered a cohort of our Italian allies, armed with long spears, to engage the Thessalian horse and they soon routed the enemy. Unfortunately, we did not focus sufficiently on Pyrrhus's fiercesome elephants. They moved surprisingly fast for such great beasts and caught a unit of hastati, reducing it to less than half-strength before our velites brought down the monsters.

On the right, we broke the unit of levies that Pyrrhus had brought to reinforce his leaderless army and I assigned our second unit of Italian spearmen to engage the king himself. Our only cavalry on our right were my own escort and rather foolishly, I pursued the levies to make sure they did not rally. Pyrrhus had no difficulty in evading the spearmen I had sent to engage him and only at the last moment did I see his escort bearing down on the rear of my own bodyguard. Luckily, we halted our pursuit in time and counter-charged the Greeks. The resulting melee was long and bloody, but the superior size of my troop and the late arrival of some of our allied swordsmen were decisive. Pyrrhus was slain trying to flee.

The rest of the battle was a unbalanced struggle in the centre between the Greek hoplites and our own infantry. Outnumbered and surrounded, the outcome was never in doubt once their King was dead. By the end of the day, 771 Greeks lay dead on the field and 104 of our brave men - nearly half of them, the hastati trampled by the charge of the elephants.

There is little left to say of military affairs. I pursued a detachment of Greeks south from Corfinium towards walled Tarentum, but they broke away to the east and holed up in Croton. Wishing to avoid the delay of besieging Tarentum, I decided to bypass the city and take Croton instead. After the fall of their King, another detachment of Greeks was east of Corfinium. Pursuing them would divert my Consular army from its advance south, so I recalled the swift marching General Tiberius Coruncanius from his guard duties on the Gaulish border to run them to ground with his Praetorian Army. This he did most ably and he has now moved, on my instruction, to take Paestum from our rebellious neighbours. He will report his progress imminently.

In other news, Senator Antio Sextius is making good progress in the great diplomatic expedition we have agreed upon. He is moving east on a great trade mission, entering Scythia, en route for Armenia and Bactria, ultimately to return to Egypt. Sextius has taken to the assigment with gusto, even acquiring foreign hostages to facilitate negotiations. So far, he has secured trade rights with Carthage, Illyria, Macedon, Thrace, Pontus and Scythia. Earlier, during the shadow boxing with Pyrrhus, a Gaulish army approached General Tiberius Coruncanius at Arretium and I feared the worse. However, they merely sought trading rights. Mindful of Motion #5, General Coruncanius refused but they left our lands without further incident. I should also note here that war has broken out between Illyria and Macedon.

I must congratulate the governor of Roma, Publius Laevinus, on the birth of his fourth child, Severina. I am also particularly pleased to welcome a new addition to my own small family - dear Marcella has married Titus Vatinius. The young man, only 18 years of age, is already spoken of as a superior commander and a natural born leader.

What else can I report? A modest programme of building works has begun. We have prioritised establishing traders and temples in recently occupied lands. Roma now has a stables, so our finest young patricians may ride into battle as equites. Work has now begun on an academy there. Given that we now have both a Consular and a Praetorian army, I have fulfilled Motion 2. However, I am reluctant to train further men until our treasury improves - our balance currently stands at around 4000 gold at the beginning of each season.

Senators, you will no doubt wish to debate our next course of action. I intend to return to Tarentum and chase the last Greeks out of the Italian peninsular, in accordance with motion #1. I then plan to seize their holdings in Sicily. General Tiberius Coruncanius will return north with haste, where he will stand ready to repel any incursion from Gaul and any seaborn invasion by the Greeks. I envisage the remainder of my Consulship being finishing what we have started. It is with the next First Consul that we will face important a new decision, whether to confront Carthage in the south or Gaul in the north.

I hope this verbal account will suffice and humbly apologise for the misdirection of my artists.

Your servant

Quintus.

=================================================================
Out of character:



The state of the Republic shortly before this report was sent. Since that time, Quintus has taken Croton and Tiberius is assaulting Paestum. Notice how the new Roman traits have given Quintus a Consul trait and assigned him a Consular Army ancillary. Beautiful work, Marcus Camillus!



The first new addition to the Senate - TinCow has right of first refusal.



Tricky_Lady catches a good 'un. Not sure the same can be said of Vatinius, unfortunately.

Final savegame for Summer 278 is not yet available, but tiberius2.zip is uploaded as an interim one - it's pre-battle though.

[econ21]

Senators, this is not a formal First Consul report - one is not yet due for another two days. But I thought I would share with you the jottings in my journal, to provide a better understanding of the sequence of events in the second half of my office. I regret that the burdens of war may prevent me from answering queries arising from this account and ask your indulgence to wait for my formal report in a day or two. Artists will be commissioned to illustrate some of these events in due course.

278 Autumn
I storm Tarentum at night, killing 380 and losing 35 men.
I notice that both Publius Lavenius (governor of Rome) and Tiberius Coruncanius (commander of our Praetorian army) have the 10 years experience required for promotion to legate. So I exchange their postings. Notes a legate must be in command of troops (hence Publius must be given an army) and must be an ex-Tribune (hence Tiberius must be given time off to settle his affairs in Roma).

278 Winter
I march on rebel held Rhegium.
Tarentum’s population grows and requires a Governor’s Palace, costing 8000 gold - more than the 6712 balance we begin the season with! Still the town’s potential as a great port means that the money must be found.

277 Spring
Under Tribune Marcus Amelius’s inspired leadership, my Consular army takes Rhegium for the loss of only 44 men. In truth, my Praetorian army is only the strength of a Praetorian force.
Amulius Coruncanius comes of age. He is not like his father but has great potential. He has an understanding of logistics and strategy, and is an obsessional trainder. He is a political animal, but a poor trader. He will stay in Roma to study at the Academy for four years, until he is old enough to be eligible for the post of Tribune.

277 Summer
The time of decision. I must plan the conquest of Sicily. I have only two years to complete the operation. I had to use my influence to induce the Senate to approve this invasion under emergency motion 3 and, in order to avoid recrimination, I am determined not to leave office with the job half done. But how to take four settlements, two of them walled, in only two years with just a Praetorian army? It scarcely seems possible. The crossing from Rhegium to Messina is particularly time consuming. While it does not require a fleet, the delays in transferring an army by small boats are still substantial.

I prevaricate. Seeing a substantial Greek army land by boat at Apollonia, just a stone’s throw across the Agean from Tarentum, makes me fear for our rear if I enter Sicily. My spies provide some reassurance, although it later proves illusory, - when they scout the settlements in Sicily and find them all lightly defended. I decide to strike Messina first - Syracuse just seems too far away. So I march into the province of Messana, intending to strike it. But the gods intervene and delays in crossing the straits prevent me from reaching my target. For now, we remain at peace with Carthage.

I also realise that, as a large City, Syracuse will need an influential governor to retain its loyalty. Aside from myself, there is only one such man in the republic - the future Princeps Senatus, Publius Laevinius. I recall him from the command of Legio I. His earlier experience as a Legate will only add to his influence with the rebellious Greeks in Syracuse. To replace Publius, Tiberius Coruncanius is sent back to his old command, our Praetorian army.

277 Autumn.
Since I did not reach Messana, I rethink my intention of striking there first. Having crossed the straits, it is just as possible to strike Syracuse as Messana. So I turn my men back and head south. We drive off a small Greek army and lay siege to Syracuse. Now I find that the gods blessed me by slowing my progress. My spy in Sicily reveals a large Carthaginian army in the field, approaching Messana, complete with elephants and led by a superb general. I give thanks that we are still at peace, so that I may dispatch the Greeks without interference.



A tense moment at the start of the invasion of Sicily. Quintus's Consular army, reduced to the size of a Praetorian army, besieges Syracuse while a large but neutral Carthaginian army loiters nearby.


I decide to lower taxes in Ancona and Capua in order to encourage migration there. Given that we will depend on our Roman provinces for recruitment for some time in the future, it is important that these towns be encouraged to grow.

277 Winter
I storm Syracuse. The walls are not manned and so we seize them by means of our siege towers, using the vantage point to rain missiles on the lone phalanx at the gates. The two phalanxes in the forum are more of an obstacle, but are enveloped and destroyed by our greater numbers. I fear taking such a large city will at worst lead to rebellion and at best tie down my small army in garrison duties. Consequently, I decide to enslave many of the Greeks. The transfer of population threatens to overcrowd Rhegium and next season we must begin constructing a governor’s villa. After the battle, I marvel at the development of Syracuse - it almost rivals Roma in its glories. However, my joy is muted when the surveyors report that constructing a dockyard will cost 10,000 gold. We began the season with only a balance of only 5172 gold. That expense must wait for another day. For now, I hastily order the construction of shrines to the gods, in thanks to our victory.

276 Spring
The small Greek army that I had brushed past en route to Syracuse advances on Rhegium. I order Tribune Marcus Amelius to engage them and they flee without giving battle.

My spies temporarily lose sight of the Carthaginian field army. Where is it? It has left Messana. My spy checks Agrigento and Libybaeum but it is not there. Where is it?

I am alarmed to learn of a force of bandits marauding near Ancona. Without city walls and only a single unit of Italian spearmen to defend it, I fear the settlement will fall next season. Luckily, we are able to use the stream of troops we have been recruiting for despatch as reinforcements for our campaign in Italy. Hasty orders are given to reverse their movement, so as to garrison Ancona from attack. In the meantime, Tiberius Cronuncanius is ordered to move his Praetorian army, now called Legio II, towards Latium so that he can engage the bandits.

Some solace is provided by the news that the Greeks are at war with the Illyrians, which accounts for why their army headed inland from Apollonia into Illyria rather than re-embarking for Italy.

Sextius Antio reaches the Seleucid lands beyond Armenia and secures trade rights with both them and Parthia. He sets out for Bactria.

276 Summer
Again the small Greek army advances on Rhegium and again my Tribune Amelius scares them off. But this time, I am free to take my army north from Syracuse and trap the Greeks.



Quintus prepares to finish off the last Greeks in Sicily before turning on Carthage.

The outnumbered Greek army takes refugee on a small peaked hill, but my spearmen charge their cavalry and our many javelins slaughter their hoplites. We kill 215 for the loss of only 12 men. This earns me the reputation of being a superior commander.



Quintus, Publius Laevinius and Augustus Verginius lead the Consular army to defeat the last remnanents of King Pyrrhus's army

My determination to strike Carthage is strengthened by the news that the Carthaginians have crucified two of our citizens, accusing them of stealing the secret of purple dye. So, it will be war. But where exactly shall we strike them first?



A diplomatic incident provides the pretext for Rome's declaration of war on Carthage.

276 Autumn 276
This is the moment of decision. My spy finally locates the Carthaginian field army. It is deployed east of Agrigento. He also discovers that the Carthaginian King resides in Messana. My army outside Syracuse has been reinforced and is now at full strength. Where to strike? North to Messana or east to Agrigento? If I go north, I may decapitate the Carthaginian leadership but I risk exposing Syracuse to an immediate assault as their elephants may batter down the city gates. If I go east, I leave Messana in my rear and doubling back will delay the inevitable march on Libybauem.

I decide to strike Messana first and catch King Hanno in the town forum. He bravely charges my Italian spearmen. The victory costs us 50 men. It costs Carthage 151 and their King.



Quintus ruthlessly starts the war on Carthage by decapitating their leadership. King Hanno dies bravely.

[econ21]

OOC: report on battle for Agrigento moved to:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showp...77&postcount=2

I now await news from Legate Tiberius Corcuncanius on his engagement with the rebels. I worry in particular that the recall of his Legio II from the north leaves Arretium and Ariminum exposed to invasion by the Gauls. I must properly establish Legion I, which exists on paper only, in order to prevent such a drastic step being necessary in future.

I have only two seasons left as First Consul, but - the gods willing - I begin to feel confident that my period of office will end on a satisfactory note.

[econ21]

Senators,

I dutifully report the end of my Consulship. As a parting gift, I offer you Sicily.

I besieged Lilybaeum in the Winter of 276 and it fell to my assault in Spring 275. The entire island is under our occupation and no hostile forces remain there. In winter I did spot a large Carthaginian army approaching Lilybaeum by ship, but after we stormed the town their fleet changed course and headed west.




A Carthaginian armada approaches, but reverses course when Lilybaeum falls

Loyalty on the island is not perfect, so we have currently stationed substantial forces there, including my Consular army. I would advise my successor to retain my army there for a period in case the enemy fleet returns.

I will now briefly outline the state of our Republic, for the benefit of members of the Upper House, who find it difficult to inspect the situation for themselves.

Our armies

We have three field armies. My Consular army is in Agrigento, although the units within it are rather depleted from their exertions.

Legate Tiberius Coruncanius (aka FLYDUDE) has returned with Legio II to the border with Gaul. I have recruited a spy in Roma to travel north under the direction of the next First Consul.

Tribune Lucius Amelius (aka DDW) is travelling south with Legion I. He is currently with half the legion at Rhegium. Young Amulius Coruncanius (aka Mount Suribachi), is leading the other half to join him. Seeing the Carthaginian army approaching by sea, my intention was for them to join me in Sicily, but I now believe that may be unnecessary.

Notable Romans

Of the other notable Romans, ex-Legate Publius Laevinus (aka Shifty157) is currently keeping Syracuse under order by force of personality alone.

Tribune Augustus Verginius (aka TinCow) was assigned an under-strength legion (without alae) to hold Lilybaeum in the face of the Carthaginian threat. (Had they landed, I intended to lure the Carthaginians to siege the town and then strike from with my Consular army from Agrigento.)

Tribune Titus Vatinius (aka Tricky_Lady) is near Messana, bringing up reinforcements for my depleted Consular army.

Diplomat Antio Sextius (aka Ignoramous) is in Parthia, marching towards Bactria.

Legate Coruncanius's newly adopted son, Publius Pansa (aka Glaucus) is governing Roma.

Building program

Our starting balance in Spring 275 is 8913 gold.

The following notable buildings are under construction:

Dockyard - Syracuse
Armourer - Roma
Auxilia II - Arretium & Paestum
Auxilia I - Corfinium (& completed in Arimium)
Wooden walls - Tarentum (the proximity of this key settlement to Apollonia is alarming; stone walls would be desirable)

Parting words

Fellow Senators, there are many constraints on our development but at the moment, the most severe is our treasury. You must not underestimate the cost of even the simplest upgrades - basic roads, ports, markets, farming upgrades etc. All these things were too expensive for me to sanction building. Now that we have expanded from three provinces to fourteen, our economic situation should slowly improve. But I urge Senators to recognise the limitations that this imposes.

A second constraint is our lack of a navy. Having seen a vast Carthaginian fleet - and seen Greek warships so advanced we can only marvel, I must caution the Senate: obtaining naval supremacy will be a slow and expensive process. Tarentum and Syracuse must slowly be developed to produce the best warships possible. But that will not be possible for several decades and will require great outlays of gold. Until then, we must move by land, not sea.

That last observation dictates our future direction of expansion. There has been talk of going to Africa or Greece by sea. With only three light ships, we could land only three military units and even then, our ships would probably be sunk before they arrived. The only direction we can expand is north, through Cisalpine Gaul. The next First Consul has little choice but to raise an army - or two - and march north. I do not like to dictate the actions of my successor, but at this moment, I believe he has no other choice.

I wish to conclude, honorable Senators, with thanks for all your efforts in assisting me. I am particularly indebted to Legate Coruncanius (FLYdude) and to Tribune Amelius for their swift efforts in doing battle on my behalf. I offer whoever my successor is my services in the same role. I would be only to glad to do battle once again in the service of Rome.


==========================================================
OOC: savegame loaded as Senate275s.zip



North Italy




Sicily and Southern Italy

[Death the destroyer of worlds]

Senators,

I will give you an overview of my actions so far. My main problem was that most of our troops were occupied with garrison duty. Accordingly, many garrison troops have been trained, freeing our men for duty in the field. Otherwise I have concentrated on building roads and supressing unrest, allowing me to raise taxes. I have also increased our fleet to two small squadrons of four light ataphracts units. The Gauls have, as I feared, started to undertake hostile actions against us. They are spying out our northern frontier and I am worried about an impending attack. Luckily I have already brought our northern Legio II Sabina Quintia, under the command of Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude), up to full strength and I have gathered troops of around one and a half praetorian legion strength, under the banner of Legio I Italia, which have gathered just south of Rome under my personal command. I will now list my actions in detail :

1. summer 275 BC
I started construction of a minor temple of Mars in Lilybaeum and a minor temple to Jupiter in Messana to combat unrest. I also started the construction of roads in Croton.

I started recruitement of one light ataphracts to increase our fleet to four ship units. I also started recruitement of three italian spearmen units for garrison duty. Lastly, I started recruitement of a diplomat in accordance with motion #8 of the second session of the senate.

Then I rearranged my troops to combat unrest and increased taxes to high wherever possible.

Next I solved that glaring oversight, our lack of intelligence, by building two watch towers on our northern border with Gaul, which revealed a strong Gaul army, led by the powerful chief Lugotorix, to our north.

Our diplomat Sextus Antio (Ignoramus) negotiated an exchange of maps with Parthia and Bactria. I ordered him to move to Armenia. I moved our spy Quintis Classicianus to Arretium, to provide counterintelligence, a move which almost seems to be foresight in retrospect. I moved our spy Decius Curtius to Lilybaeum, where there is a lot of unrest.
Gaul sent a diplomatic mission to offer trade, but I declined their offer according to the wishes of the senate expressed in motion #5 of their first session.

2. Autumn 275 BC
Rhegium completed the construction of a government villa, giving us a strong authority in the region. Agrigento completed the construction a minor temple to Saturnus.

Senator Amulius Coruncanius (TinCow) gets married to Tullia. My congratulations, senator !

I started construction of roads in Rhegium. I also started construction of a minor temple to Mars in Agrigento to combat unrest.

I started recruitement of two light ataphracts unts to increase our fleet to six ship units. I also started recruitement of three italian spearmen units for garrison duty.

Our new diplomat Oppius Vintruvius negotiates an exchange of maps with Gaul and Germania. He also talks to Greece, but they refuse a cease fire. Despairing of their attitude I ordered him to move to Iberia in accordance to the wishes of the senate expressed in motion #10 of their second session.



3. Winter 275 BC
Corfinium completed the construction of an Auxilia I building. Messana completed the construction of a minor temple to Jupiter and Lilybaeum completed the construction of a minor temple to mars.

I adopted Valerius Paullus into my family. I immediately sent him to Syracuse to the academy as he had nothing better to do. He is an able young man and I hope you will welcome him into this house.



I started construction of roads in Corfinium. I also started construction of a minor shrine to Ceres in Lilybaeum to combat unrest.

I started recruitement of two italian spearmen units for garrison duty. I also started recruitement of one triarii unit for the northern Legio II Sabina Quintia. Lastly, I started recruitement of one light ataphracts unit to bring our fleet to seven ship units.

4. Spring 274 BC
Rome completed the construction of an armourer. Tarentum completed the construction of a wooden wall. Agrigento completed the construction of a minor temple to Mars. Lilybaeum completed the construction of a minor shrine to Ceres.

Once again the diplomat Oppius Vintruvius tries to broker a peace deal, but the Greeks remain obstinate. He continues on his way to Iberia.

Our spy Quintis Classicianus in Arretium detected a Gaul spy, but he narrowly escaped him ! To make matters even worse, the Gauls had the gall to claim this incident as a transgression on our part ! Clearly, they are looking for an incident to start a war.

Galerius Vatinius is born, the son of Valerius Paullus, my newly adopted son. Manius Aemilius, my oldest natural, and unfortunately hooting, son, has come of age. I sent him to Syracuse to the academy in the hope that this will cure his speech impediment.



I started construction of roads in Rhegium. As I was unable to build more temples in Agrigento, I destroyed a minor temple to Tanit there, so I could start construction of a minor shrine to Ceres. We need to counter the large culture difference we have, so we have less unrest and can raise more taxes, and this gradual conversion process seems the best way.

I started recruitement of two italian swordsmen units for garrison duty. I also started recruitement of one light ataphracts unit to bring our fleet to eight ship units. As our balance is falling, I will probably not build any more ships untill we can build warships. These eight ships are meant to transport our troops, not to combat the massively superior fleets of our enemies.

5. Summer 274 BC
The Kingom of Pontus declared war on the Seleucid Empire.
The Ptolemaic empire allied with the kingdom of Pontus.

Manius Aemilius, my eldest natural son, has married Titiana.

Croton completed the construction of roads. Agrigento completed the construction of a minor shrine to Ceres.

The Gauls are spying on Arretium and getting away with it under the nose of our spy Quintis Classicianus. The Gauls are also bringing more troops into the region. They are obviously up to something. Our northern Legio II Sabina Quintia, under the command of Tiberius Coruncanius (FLYdude), is almost up to strength with one last unit of triarii on the way.

I started construction of roads in Agrigento.

Finally having enough ships and free troops to launch a raid, I send Senator Publius Laevinius (shifty157) on a raid on Melite. I am awaiting word of his succes.

This is the current situation. Within a year, I will send a praetorian legion to relieve consul Quintus and his army, so they can march to Rome in triumph. I will station my Legio I Italia to support Tiberius Coruncanius at our northern border. With consul Quintus at our back we will easily be able to crush the Gauls. I will also launch an invasion of the other Cartheginian islands when the troops are available.

Our northern border :

[Lucjan]

August, 499AUD

I have been kept quite busy by the affairs of state recently but have once again set sail for lands across the sea. I cannot write much now, there is a storm approaching, but I will be sure to report the most pressing facts. The senate can determine their importance for themselves.









As well as this, Carthage has managed to bribe away some of our Italian alae outside of Thapsus. Marcellus has been given the order to deal with this problem. http://www.totalwar.org/patrons/pbm/...-marcellus.zip

In nomini Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.
Servius

[Lucjan]

((Spring, 251 BC))

My consulship nears its end, and time is becoming hard to come by, but I feel confident that much can still be accomplished before my rule is over, and that I will leave this Republic in a stronger position than it has ever enjoyed.
To date, under my rule the Republic has repelled the Seleucids and made vast advances against both them and the Ptolemeics in the east. The majority of Asia Minor is ours, and what has not fallen cannot contend with the might of our legions there. Stability is quickly coming to that region, and I hope to have Prusa and Heracleia before the next elections, but only time can tell. We have reorganised the navy and are uncontested on the seas. Our heavy garrisons are being phased out in favor of lighter troops capable of performing the same job at a much lesser cost. The dire monetary situation of the Republic has been significantly alleviated, we know accrue 32,000 denarii a season, and will be making even more before my consulship ends. There are still a number of naval trading projects yet to be finished, a few more conquests in Afrika, and the garrisoning reorganisation. All of these will aid our coffers significantly. Our borders are secure in the east, in the west, at the Danube, and in Afrika. There is no place for enemies of Rome to strike without having to step within arms reach of our legions. Palma fell to us this season as well, and when my consulship ends, I will retire there until such a time that I am needed in Iberia.

The plan I shall leave the Republic off with for dealing with Iberia will have the following troops ready for deployment.
1 - Consular legion at Gergovia.
5 - Praetorian legions in Comata, Luvavum, Tingi, and Palma (2).
3 - Praetorian Fleets at Tingi and Palma (2).

The Roman hammer that would descend upon Iberia simultaneously through the advance of these forces would be enough to break Iberia before they even knew what had hit them, and the war would be over before it began.

Time will tell the fate of the Republic, but I have faith that we are entering our golden age, and for as long as I survive, I will not let that go.


Our construction the last two seasons was extensive, finishing some serious projects throughout the Republic.










And our recruitment focused on reinforcements for Marcellus Aemilius's legion, the creation of another small fleet in the east to maintain control while the main fleet heads back to Tarentum for transportation duties, and the regarrisoning efforts.







Yet another Coruncanii has come into the world. Congratulations to that family, and to Galerius Vatinius as well on his well deserved marriage.


A battle report will be posted tomorrow in the library detailing the events at Palma, but nevertheless, the island is ours.

I hereby submit this report for senatorial review.

In nomini Roma, et pro totus doxa deum.

Servius Aemilius

[Lucjan]

Once again I write my consular reports from far afield. My time is Rome was well appreciated, at least in an environmental sense. But I see now that the blind will of old men whose sight has gone astray from the true purpose of the senate must once again be properly fixed. Their gaze turned away from proper enemies to those who already cannot contend with us, whose lands would spread us unnecessarily thin in the wrong direction, whose wealth would inspire the senate's greed to break our own backs on an expedition doomed to failure before its own beginnings. I have fixed this. As I have fixed every mistake in judgement and error of thought that the senate has made during my consulship, it frightens me to wonder what will happen of the Republic when my consulship ends. I will be safe, this I know. My legion and I will return to the safety of my estate on Palma. But outside that island I fear the foolishness the men of this senate will bring to the Republic. But I can no longer control this. I have done for Rome all that I can do. I have brought the Greek colonies under control. I have given Rome Asia Minor, I have given Rome Carthage, I have given Rome a defensible eastern frontier...and I will leave Rome giving her one more gift. I will leave Rome giving her the foothold in Iberia she so strongly needs and desires. Let these barbarians break themselves on Roman arms. Hopefully by the end of the war, the senators in Rome will have broken themselves on old age, and the senate will be filled with younger minds less dilluded with age and old rivalries. Men born from war, men of logic, men of intellect, men of honor.

Word has reached me that Cornelius Saturninus's ship was attacked by pirates and sunk off the coast of Sicily, but even with the unforetunate loss of this general we must press on, the campaign ensues. The senate almost unanimously pushed for eastward expansion recently....I would laugh to see such a poor decision wrought upon this Republic, so it must be shown with the most undeniable facts that I will not let this occur. With Iberia, THERE SHALL BE WAR! All the men on the lines have been given there orders, but while we are weakest near Gergova, I fear not for whatever may occur there, for I will arrive there shortly. Emporiai will fall this season to my men, and the subsequent push north will wrest Gaul from Iberia without fail.

Rome is a nation that was born in war. But half the art of winning a war is knowing what battles to fight and when. We must strike at Iberia now, while the iron is hot. If the senate contests this, then let them take their contest to the gods.

Because the gods have looked upon me at the dusk of battle and smiled, and said aloud. "This is our son." And they have bid me slake Rome's thirst on the world, that Rome herself may be the daughter of the gods, and I, the man who gave her the beginnings of her golden age.



This image is a blatant ripoff from the "300" movie trailor.