Carthage, Kingdom of Riches

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

On twcenter.net, two other players and I decided to do a multiplayer campaign. We have started an AAR on the subject, with all three of us updating when we can. In this thread I will post the campaign from my point of view (Carthage). If you want to see the story from the point of view of Greece or Dacia, go here:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=115750

Otherwise, continue reading.



Through the eyes of Hiram Tunis, Diplomat.



Greek Governor: Welcome, Speaker of Carthage, to the city of Syracuse.
Hiram: It is my pleasure. I come on behalf of my majesty, Hanno.
Greek Governor: A noble man. What does he wish to say?
Hiram: The Kingdom of Carthage would like an alliance in Sicily.
Greek Governor: What would be the terms of this alliance?
Hiram: You will allow us to take the city of Messana from the Romans, and in return we will protect Syracuse at all costs.
Greek Governor: Hmmmm... Very well, it's settled.
Hiram: Thank you, noble sir.

Through the eyes of Hasdrubal, heir of the Empire.



"Men of Carthage. This day the Roman cowards face us on the field of battle. The Romans are not a weak opponent, but they are a barbaric one. We cannot allow these filthy beasts to control part of our island Sicily. Fight without fear! Fight with dignity! Today Carthage shall have victory!"



Hasdrubal was aroused to confidence from his father Hanno's words. His orders were to send the cavalry unit through the enemy lines, then finish them off with the cavalry unit, while he himself would lead the attack on the enemy commander.

The battle begun, and Hasdrubal's elephants and cavalry broke the Roman infantry, as predicted. He moved on to fight with the enemy general. Hasdrubal engaged the enemy commander himself in combat. After just one bout, the enemy leader was slain. It wasn't long after that the entire Roman army had begun to retreat. Hasdrubal and his cavalry trampled all of the fleeing men.

"VICTORY! VICTORY!" Hasdrubal chanted before his men. They roared like tigers at their battle. Hasdrubal had a moment of extreme happiness, it was the first victory against the Romans in years.

However, not long after, Hasdrubal learned that his father had been slain by one of the Roman officers. Revenge ran deep throughout his blood.

"Resume the march to Messana!" Hasdrubal shouted, half in sadness and half in anger. A few hours later they arrived at the target city. The elephants trampled down the gate and the city was taken with little resistance.

"Sir, what shall we do with the Roman citizens?" one of Hasdrubal's captains asked after victory was assured.

"Leave them be... They're our citizens, now" Hasdrubal decided, "but inform them of this - the city's name shall be changed to Hanna in honor of my father. Do not harm them. Let the Romans know that resistance is not only futile, but not necessary."

Hasdrubal sat in his new Throne, hearing shouts of joy from his victorious soldiers. But he could not join them in their victory - no man can be happy when his father has fallen.

To be continued...

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Years after Hanno's death...

Through the eyes of Hasdrubal.



Terror struck through Hasrubal's heart. He looked around. All he saw was destruction. Roman soldiers were all around, raping and killing the Carthaginian people. A man was running for his life past Hasdrubal, when suddenly a flaming onager projectile smashed into him, incinerating his body.

He awoke. It was only a dream, Hasdrubal thought to himself. He had been fighting off the Romans in small skirmishes for years, and they hadn't shown much strength since the battle at Hanna. He rose from his bed, recovering from his vision. He heard footsteps outside of his door.

One of his captains barged in.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Hasdrubal questioned.

"Sir! Forgive me for the intrusion... A Greek messenger has arrived! He says that the Romans have landed on Sicily!"

"Bring me my armor," Hasdrubal ordered, "and get that messenger in here!"

The Greek messenger came as quick as he could, out of breath. "My lord! The Roman army has arrived just outside of Syracuse! Cleon of Sparta has sent me here for aid! We are outnumbered two to one!"

"Your people have become like brothers to me in the fight against the Romans," Hadrubal admitted, "and I swore I would protect Syracuse at all costs. Tell Cleon of Sparta that we will arrive as soon as possible."

Hasdrubal, his elephants, and round shield cavalry arrived at the battlefield.



"Men! We do not have much time for words! Our Greek friends requested our aid, and here we are! Fight like you would if this was your home! Your brother's home! The Roman menace must be destroyed!"

The armies lined up across from one another. The Greeks were coming to the aid of Carthage, so the Roman infantry charged the Carthaginian army.

"Elephants!" Hasdrubal shouted, "Charge!"

Carthaginian elephant units charged through the hastati lines.



The elephants crashed through the Hastati lines, sending Roman bodies flying. Round Shield Cavalry zipped around the flanks and smashed into the Roman backs. The Roman infantry cowards ran for their lives, but none were spared. Enemy skirmishers approached the elephants, but the Round Shield Cavalry cut them off and slew every man.



All that was left was the enemy cavalry and Commander, Cassius Brutus. Hasdrubal sent his Round Shield's to the enemy flanks and he himself charged into the enemy's heart. His cavalry slammed into their sides. Not too long afterward, Cassius began to flee. Hasdrubal and his guards persued, and eventually Hasdrubal slew Cassius himself. Meanwhile the Carthaginian cavalry wiped out the enemy Equites.

Cleon and his men arrived shortly after the battle ended. "I apologize for our late arrival, King of Carthage!" Cleon praised.

"No need for apologies! You were on time, we just obliterated the Romans early!"

The Carthaginian soldiers cheered in happiness. That night the Carthaginians and Greeks feasted together like brothers. Sicily was again safe, and the Romans had been crippled.

The next day, however, Hasdrubal got word from Carthage. The Romans had arrived with an entire stack of troops at Sardinia. They were just outside of Caralis. The city of Carthage mustered together all of it's troops to face the myriad of Roman warriors.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Through the eyes of Bomikar, brother of Hasdrubal, Mytonnes Berenice, son-in law of Hasdrubal, and Burrhus, brother of Hasdrubal.



Word had reached the capital that the Roman Julii family had sent a large army led by Amulius Julius to seige Caralis. Burrhus, governor of Carthage, put Mytonnes Berenice in charge of the relief army. Burrhus's brother Bomikar joined in the battle, as did Burrhus himself.

The three sons of Carthage scraped together all the cavalry they could, and Mytonnes recruited some mercenaries to aid them as well. When the army was together, they were transported across the sea to Sardinia.



Even after bringing all the men they could, the three officers were still outnumbered. Once both armies met each other face to face, the generals met in the center of the battlefield.

Burrhus, Berenice, and Bomikar came face to face with Amulius and his two captains.

Burrhus: Why do you invade our lands?
Amulius: We have come for the glory of Rome.
Burrhus: Our people have no quarrel with the Julii family.
Amulius: You have insulted the name of Rome. I have been sent by the Senate to redeem my family in the eyes of the Roman people. I will not stop until the island of Sardinia is under Roman control. Until I have dignified myself in the eyes of my family.
Bomikar: I suppose surrender isn't an option, then.
Amulius: It is for you.
Berenice: We have come to save our people from you Roman pigs. We believed that the Julii family may actually have some brains, but you filthy dogs are just as dumb as the Scipii and Brutii.
Amulius: We outnumber you two to one! Do not insult your future masters!
Berenice: Then it seems this must be decided on the battlefield.

The men returned to their sides, and the battle commenced.

Fearing the enemy reinforcements, the Roman army made the first move. Amulius sent his skirmishers ahead to take out the Carthaginian elephants. However, Berenice's Round Shield Cavalry charged ahead and sent the enemy skirmishers running for their lives.



With Amulius's counter to Carthaginian elephants running like cowardly Gauls, Amulius sent his first line of Hastati forward to take out the enemy Round Shield cavalry. However, they never arrived at their target.



The mighty elephants of Carthage forged ahead and smashed head-on into the Roman infantry. Before long they were destroyed. Amulius sent his archers forward to shoot fire arrows at the elephants, attempting to terrorize them into attacking their own men. However, Berenice sent his cavalry forward and wiped them out.



With only one line of infantry and Amulius himself left of the enemy, Berenice sent his elephants to charge through the enemy's flanks, and Bomikar was sent to bring back Amulius's head.



With all of his men dead except his personal bodyguards, Amulius fled for his life. Bomikar led the chase to capture Amulius. After hours of restlessly fleeing, Amulius managed to lose Bomikar's men in the forest. With nearly all of his men dead, Amulius swore revenge upon the three sons of Carthage, and retreated back to his ship.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Through the eyes of Hasdrubal.



While the three Sons of Carthage were defending Sardinia from the House of Julii, Hasdrubal's patience was wearing thin. The Romans would not stop until his nightmare came true - until the city of Carthage was crushed and it's people raped and killed. He knew that the only way his people could survive was if he went on the offensive. All of the soldiers of his Sicilian forces were gathered at Hanna.

Meanwhile, an envoy came from the Greek Cities.

Envoy: My lord has sent me to seek the reason for your gathering of troops.
Hasdrubal: The Romans have sent one too many armies in an attempt to destroy my empire. My troops will land on Italy and will not stop until the Roman empire has turned to dust!
Envoy: My king demands that you do not invade the Romans.
Hasdrubal's eyes engulfed in fury.
Hasdrubal: What are these ill words that come from your mouth? The Greeks control the richest regions of the world, and their empire is nearly twice the size of ours! And now you tell me that I am not allowed to destroy my only enemy?! The House of Brutii is crippled, but will not be for long.The Greeks do not own me! Tell your master that I will destroy the House of Brutii, and after that I will concentrate my efforts elsewhere!
Envoy: oh... of course, my lord... I will do so immediately.

The Sicilian army forged to the docks and embarked on their campaign to Southern Italy. Upon their arrival, they found that the Romans were even more broken than they could imagine. They marched onto Croton, the Brutii capital.



Tiberius Brutus, Leader of the Brutii, was soon to be dead.

Hasdrubal sent his elephant units ahead to destroy the weak wooden walls.



Before long the enemy gates were down. Carthaginian Round Shield Cavalry poured into the enemy walls and decimated the Roman cavalry.



Every Roman soldier in Croton was dead in no time, including Tiberius himself.

After the battle was over, the Carthaginian cavalry marched forward to the next and final Brutii Settlement: Tarrentum. Another easy victory. Hasdrubal enslaved a good portion of the populace from both cities to work for the Carthaginian people. The House of Brutii had been conquered.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

That's all so far. I will update this as the campaign progresses. I hope you like it!

[Caius]

That's all so far. I will update this as the campaign progresses. I hope you like it!

I like it. Keep it coming!

[mrdun]

Very good imaginative speech.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Thanks very much to both of you!

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Excellent story line SSJVegetaTrunks! Keep it coming!

[Fate]

Great AAR, though may i suggest that you throw in some campaign map shots?
It all helps to build atmosphere, and to show the true extent of the the glory of the house of carthage!!

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Alright, I think I may take some campaign screenshots of my cities, armies, enemies, etc in my next update.

[Sabbat]

I am really enjoying this...looking forward to more.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Unfortunately, Exekutor (Greece) quit yesterday. Then today, DrugMunky (Dacia) told me that his computer died. So the campaign is off. However, I'm working on a Vampire mod at the moment, and once that mod is finished I'll start a campaign and make an AAR while using it.

[mrdun]

How does a multiplayer campaign work?

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

You download this mod: https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=64876

Then you have to do what it says in there and start the campaign. You do your turn, then send the save file to the next player (email), and then they do theirs. Unfortunately that means no player vs player battles.

[mrdun]

OK, thank you.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

You're welcome. If you do decide to play it, I suggest only playing with 3-5 people, too many makes it take forever.

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Well, I'm starting a new multiplayer campaign (as Carthage again), so I'm going to make another AAR, just to let you guys know.

[mrdun]

I like it, you have a fan here!

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Thanks :). I'll make sure to post it here, too, then.

[mrdun]

Lol post where you want, i'll find it if its the last thing i do.
whay 100th post, when did i become a member??
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Meaningless edit|

[SSJVegetaTrunks]

Well, I have begun the new AAR in the thread "Dominion of Carthage". I hope you enjoy it.