Tales from the Shepherd Empire

Chapter Three-Onwards regardless

Latronos Listened intently to the noblemen of Tyde. He had trouble trying to understand every word that was said. The language of the men from the north was disharmonious compared to his. he asked them to slow down.

"You may have the power now Lord. but! But you will have to prove to these people how we will prosper as your allies to the east lie the Arevaci and their allies. A strong power indeed what do we gain from joining this confederacy"

The noble spoke in a insidious manner implying that Latronos was only a passing ruler and would soon go just like the great men who had fled north. All along the coast until reaching the Euskadi of the Mountain wall Men came and then left boarding boats to go north to the lands of the gods and where the mist of the boiling seas from the west brought demons of the underworld.

"we have enemies too Lord. Our neighbours the Asturi they steal our sheep our cattle and sometimes our women. Since.... you have killed our men and this is now YOUR land then it is your duty to avenge the kidnap of YOUR women"

"very well" Smiled Latranos he then sighed “We will have to raise the taxes to make a force to deal with them. Wait? The only money left in this rugged land...oh just yours and your noble friends I guess you owe ME as I am now your ruler..."
The glorious smirk that emanated from the nobles face was gone in a flash what was left was a hollow face. Latranos burst into laughter.

In the south things faired better Tantalos had discharged his veterans and gave them the lands of the dead Iberians. Enslaving the survivors into new levies. New trade had relived pressure back in Oxtaca. Over the next few seasons the economic hardship was eased. Tantalos would have to show he meant business diplomats and retainers were sent beyond the mountain wall and into the cities of the south. Even though he was far from capable of defending his land he needed to show some strength. Of course the Arevaci didn’t care. They were too powerful holding the centre of Iberia but lacking the foresight to see they held the largest army on the land. The men of southern cities had stationed an army in the east outside Mastia. Monitoring what was going on beyond his lands would be key. Beyond the Mountain wall was Gaul He learned of a civil war that had raged on for centuries with tribes rising and falling like the tides each day. The survivors had fled south bringing the destruction with him. Tantalos knew that the to hold the wall was to protect Iberia from any more intruders. He also knew he would never see that day. He needed to reach Baikor and that way he could keep the Carthaginians south of the mountains and squeezed next to the sea. The chance would come soon. Baikor had a large mine a lot of trade was falling into the cities hands only to be wasted away by corrupt men. Tantalos saw the money being used to rise the standard of living for his people. Roads and general infrastructure were needed.

Money was slow to arrive in the north Latranos decided all he could do was to march on the Asturi in Pallantia. The veterans from the south headed to meet him at Tyde. Not much of the army was left. The two armies had now become one and a much smaller force from before. Garrisons were left in Tyde. Upon reaching the town it was decided that the siege would be quick and it was hoped the battle too which proved to be wrong skirmishing had reduced levies but they had destroyed a guard at the gate but then were pushed back and eventually slain. The gate became a blood bath the army was slowly being forced out of the settlement but in a stroke of like the enemy general found himself isolated and surrounded his horse was brought down and he was prompted slain by the heaviest troops. The enemy faltered and broke cut down as a flood of Lusotannan men poured through the settlement gates. Isolated pockets of men were resisting but soon collapsed under the sheer weight of the army. Latronos had fought a good battle and the Asturi were beaten but the rugged lands in the north were far from productive.

In 4 years the Lusotannan tribal Confederacy would start to prosper and Tantalos by this time was 70 years old, wise and starting to feel frail the army was brought south and Tantalos headed east towards to Carpetani of Baikor. The important mines were crucial Most of the trade had again headed south and the Carpetani had given up much independence to the Carthaginians. Iberian resources had been snatched away And it was time to liberate them. After a half a year siege The walls were breached.
Just like Pallantia the defenders of this town were much more stubborn in moving from the walls. A new type of solider had arrived on the battlefield, heavy spearmen. The Scuttari, they had managed to hold the gate and rout the Levies and fresh troops from the confederacy. After the destruction of much of the army the last garrison held out in the town centre. Tantalos had entered the fray himself. The enemy chieftan had fled and was hiding at the other side of the town. While fighting and slaying to young soldiers Tantalos felt a sharp pain in his left arm he smiled expecting to see a small desperate fighter about to bring him down. As he swung his sword round parallel with the gaze of his eyes he was surprise to see no one there. The pain got worse and soon was in his chest. He signalled he was in distress in the confusion of the battle the army pulled out Tantalos was slumped into his saddle clutching at his chest. He was having a heart attack. A local healer brewed an herbal soup and the pain was eased. The captains sent some levies to continue the siege while the army recovered they were destroyed forthright and a weakened Tantalos marched to Baikor again. He walked out of his tent one night dismissing his guards. He climbed a small hill and looked over the settlement and his army. With a small pray to the gods and to his ancestors he sat and watched smiling at the scenery of his land. He closed his eyes and thought of younger days, meeting his wife, fighting the Arevaci during the dark days and he began to see fallen comrades looking back further he saw the farmstead and his family his brothers and his father. He stood up and walked towards them ignoring the army and Baikor which laid behind him They smiled and welcomed him in he didn’t care now he knew what was happening and a peaceful wave came across him Tantalos had passed on. In his tent was a simple note. “Onwards regardless”