Pax Germanica - Swebóz AAR

[Skandaz.Imperator]

I am Marcus Lepidus, one of many sons from Rome. This is my account on the events in the frozen north beyond the Alps, which I had the fortune to witness.

Chapter 1: 272-271BC : New lands

I'm constantly cold, and the ill-healed scars from the tight ropes around my wrists are still sore. It has been two years since I set out with my companions from Rome, and nearly three months since the ambush where I was captured and my companions were slaughtered or sold off as slaves.

My captors has taken me far north than any roman has wandered before, and I almost fear that we are heading for Thúle. I'm having difficulties understanding their language, it reminds me of the Arverni, Raeti and Aedui tongues, though they're not the same. We march through deep forests, and the snow-covered mountains are no longer visible to the south. Finally, with the coming of spring, we reached my captors home of Swebotráustástámnoz.



The poverty is striking, even the nobles are dressed as simple plebs, and many goes hungry. While in Swebotráustástámnoz, I begin to pick up some of the language of my captors. Apparently, they call themselves Sámnonoz but they are part of a greater confederation of tribes, known as the Swêbóz. I have been informed that their newly-elected kuningáz (king) Hêruwulfáz has marched the Swêbóz army west, towards the tribes of Héruskoz. Meanwhile, the king's younger brother Ansuhárjáz has started the siege of the Hábukoz tribe, aiming to incorporate them into the Swébóz confederation by force.

The Héruskoz fell after a short siege, and my captors' company was sent to aid Ansuhárjáz in the siege of the Hábukoz. We had just arrived though, when the Hábukoz, crazed from starvation, sallied out from their city in an attempt to break the siege. This was going to be a close call, with the forces matched almost one to one.



The Swébóz warriors, mostly spearmen with some cavalry and archer support, responded to the sallying forces by charging forth, effectively pinning the bulk of the Hábukoz army against their own walls. Though this seems crazy to me, used with the structured assault of the Roman army, it apparently worked as the Hábukoz were caught in a deadly trap of spears and swords.



In the fray, the Hábukoz general was mauled down, and I was told later that his body was never recognized amongst the dead, though I suspect the body was plundered and vandalized. When words of their general's demise, the Hábukoz army began to rout in panic, the gates were flung open and as the Swébóz captured the gates, the fate of the settlement was sealed.





After the battle, I was finally presented to the commander, the king's brother Ansuhárjáz. Ansuhárjáz was merely 21 years, 1 year my junior, but already had led armies into victory. In celebration of his victory, he offered me to serve him as an advisor, an offer I couldn't refuse.

I am Marcus Lepidus, 22 years, born in Rome and advisor of the war chief Ansuhárjáz, brother of the Swébóz kuningáz Hêruwulfáz. This is year 1 of my stay with the Swébóz.

Next: Chapter II: 271-267BC : The Shores of the Northern Sea