Stories thread

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Thread for IC stories for Vandal Invasion game(including battle reports).

No OOC posts please, and if your story involves other player's characters doing or saying things they have not in-game or in an IC post, please ask their permission.

[TheFlax]

Coop with Braden and Ibn-Khaldun

363 AD, Summer
Somewhere in Germania

The cool morning breeze of Northeastern Europe washed over Visimar's leathery skin as he watch his people ready themselves for the long journey West. Women and children were assembling around large wagons drafted by oxen, while the men, all of them armed, assembled into large fighting companies. They were leaving these lands for the Huns were coming at their back and he knew his people would be swept away like the others before them. So they ran... No, it was not running he reminded himself, it was seeking new opportunities. Some of his people had accused him of running, of being a coward. Then now rested in a shallow grave and he was still standing, he was right.

If anyone could defeat the Huns, it would be the Roman Empire and he would lead his people to them, to seek shelter and opportunity in their lands. Yet, to reach Roman territory, they would have to cross the lands of several people, none of whom would look kindly to his intrusion. At his core, Visimar was not a man of words, but he did recognize their worth. The Vandals didn't have the luxury of squabbles with nearby tribes, not now at least.

Oza had been called to the Chieftains longhouse urgently, preparations for the exodus had already started. Younglings yelped and scrapped as only children did when confused with the changes around them. Womenfolk gathered bedding and meagre possessions...to travel light is to leave much of what you call "home" behind, but this did not phase Oza. Long since had he left all trappings of "home" behind, no warm and comely maiden busied herself gathering his bedding and possessions, he was a warrior of no home and no love, loyal to tribe and Chieftain...a scout, a spy.

He waited now at the back of Visimar's longhouse, concealed by gloom and squatting down amongst furs and cushions. He was to observe, listen and understand what Visimar was to say to Duva. It was of great import Oza knew but of what exactly he knew nought, very one knew they were to travel soon...some said West away from the aggressive Hunic tribes whilst others believed either South or North.

Speculation. Foolish at that, this eve though Oza would find out and know his tasks ahead. Oza and Visimar were of the Silingi, this spoke volumes of the pledge Oza had took.

Now he waited...all would be revealed soon enough.

"My king," Duva said and bowed before Visimar. "People who are coming from east are telling that the Huns are getting closer every day. If we want to avoid being crushed by them just like hundreds of other tribes we must move soon."

Duva sighed. He knew that Visimar was probably better informed than him. Duva sighed again and then continued.

"Most of the chieftains and other important people are waiting in the Council tent," he said while pointing towards a large decorated tent in the middle of the camp. "They want to know what are your plans for the future. We can leave from these lands but exactly where? How far and how long to we have to run from the Huns?"

"As far as it takes." Visimar groaned at his own words. "I'll find a new home for my people, I promised as much, haven't I?"

The powerful man immediately shook his head, indicating to his envoy that the question didn't merit an answer. He sighed, before resting a hand on the hilt of his sword. Many would take this as a threat, but for Visimar it was simply an old habit.

"Duva, the situation is grimmer that most of you know. We don't have time to negotiate lengthily with the tribes between us and the Roman Empire. You will go ahead, tell them we wish to pass and gather information. If by the time my people reach them, they are not ready to let us pass, then I will destroy. Make sure they understand."

Easier said than done, thought Duva.

"I will do my best, my King!" he said to Visimar. "But if I may, then I'll go now and make some last preparations before the journey."

Duva bowed and turned to leave.

Oza waited until Duva had left…Visimar called him without turning “You heard then Oza?”

Oza emerged from the darkness behind Visimar, coalescing from darkness to light.

“I did my King, So, what would you have me do Lord? My task ahead would be difficult I feel.”

"Duva might fail, if so we must be ready. Go with him to the Sarmatians, take note of their numbers, their positions. If we must strike, it will have to decisive, we cannot afford to linger."

Oza understood and nodded thoughtfully.

"I will make it so my King. Fearsome creatures these Sarmatians but I will gather all I can and do all I can to ease our peoples trials."

Oza bowed again before moving off once more into the back of the Longhouse...he left though the darkness and out of a rearward entrance to avoid detection.

He gathered his horse and pack, gave the busying camp one last look of longing before raising himself into his saddle. He set of West, better to keep a wide berth between him and Duva lest Duva become aware of his shadow.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Summer, 363 AD, somewhere in the steppe..

Duva continued his ride to west. He was determined to get to the Western Roman lands before the rest of the tribe gets there. Perhaps it's possible for him to arrange some kind of deal with them then. If not then he knew very well what might happen. Death and destruction...

A small river crossed his path and he stopped. Once he got off from his horse he checked the horizon. From the day he left from the camp he had a feeling that someone was following him. Simple things gave it away. Things that others would've probably never noticed. However, Duva was not your normal diplomat with a scroll of parchment in his hand. He grew up in a hostile world where you had to fight if you wanted to survive. Because of this he was able to notice things that others couldn't. However, he was not concerned or scared. He knew that if someone would've wanted to attack him they would've already done it. There were plenty of opportunities for that during his journey.

Looking back towards the river he saw couple of small trees and he decided to rest a little. Even he needs to sleep and eat sometimes..

[Braden]

Oza knelt down and studied the tracks before him…”where was Duva going?”…clearly the tracks headed due West, wasn’t the main body of the Sarmatians South of here?

It was a pity, Oza could not track further. Already he was behind his internal schedule, a tight one at that. He needed to head East before tracking back and gaining on Duva again but now with Duva taking an unexpected course his trail would be difficult indeed to catch when he next came this way…

Several day’s passed. He was being followed, shadowed, to his left and right by groups of riders. He smiled to himself briefly before spurring his horse forward into a gallop. Likewise, he felt rather than saw, the following riders do the same. He twisted through a low valley and through coppice trees before halting and diving from his horse into cover.

He waited partly buried in Autumnal leaves. He heard the muffled hooves of the chasing horses, imagined how they’d ride past…spot his riderless horse and return…a movement very close to him…he sprung out grabbing an ankle and pulling violently as he stood up. The owner of the ankle sprawled in a cartwheel over the floor as several pairs of eyes darted to look at Oza.

Oza laughed “Ha! Karz you old ox, you still have to watch where you step…imagine if I’ve been a pile of dung!?!”

Karz sprawled on the floor and looked up from his back at Oza with a gap-toothed smile “Aye, but ya know I already smell worse than any dung…and you smell fouler than that!”

Oza reached out an arm to aid Karz to rise as the others gathered round “So, Nesta…what news for me?”

A small man, strongly built with olive complexion moved forward “We’ve met a negotiator from the Huns East of here, sly fox I say but he knew not who we were. An talk of one of the Sarmatian Princelings rutting his way through the villages t’the South.”

Oza was pleased “Good…Good! Send one of your men to my King and tell him thus but don’t take long, we have much to do and that self-important negotiator Duva has gone and lost himself in the West”

Another man spoke up, short and stocky again but with fair skin and blue eyes “Do we give chase my Lord?”

“Nay Otec, not yet anyway. We must head South and see what we can find out about the warriors there, from there we swing West then Northwards to see if we can catch up with Duva before he blunders into an Assassins blade. Still, before that…where be the nearest Villages…has been many days on the road and no mead to speak of!”

With that the party laughed before gathering their horses riding on

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Winter, 364 AD
somewhere in the lands of Marcomanni


Duva saw couple of buildings near the road. An old man was outside fixing the roof of one of the buildings. Seeing Duva the man stopped for a moment but realizing that he wasn't a threat the man continued his work.
"Good man, can I stay here and rest a little bit?" asked Duva.
"Sure, traveler." said the man.
Duva got down from his horse and sat under the roof. The man continued his work while Duva took out his food. He offered it do the old man who nod and sat near Duva.
"So, traveler. From where are You coming?"
"From the lands in east. I belong to the tribe called Vandals."
"I've heard of you. Is it true that a strange people from the east are coming. People who can not be stopped?"
"Yes. That's why we are moving. The Huns are dangerous people. They probably would kill us all."
Both men fell into their own worlds and did not say anything in the next half hour.
"Good man," said Duva and thus breaking the silence,"how far is the Vicus Marcomanni? I want to gather some information about the Romans and I understand your Chief have fought them many times."
"If you follow this road then you'll be there before the next full moon."
Duva got up and bowed to the man.
"Thank you for allowing me to rest. Hospitality and kindness is rare in this world."
The man nodded and watched how Duva rode away.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Event 2
Summer, 365 AD

Results

Riding - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Trusty Steed ancillary
Archery - Winner: Gildo(Madoushi), reward: Master of Archers ancillary
Sword fight - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Swordbearer ancillary
Wrestling - Winner: Maroboduus(Lord of Lent), reward: Hale and Hearty trait

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

These rewards will be added to the avatars as soon as possible.
I had a story written as well but for some reason I thought Lord of Lent is Gildo and thus this story doesn't make much sense anymore. Will write a new one if I have the time.

[TheFlax]

365 AD, Winter
Near Aquincum

Visimar, weary of a journey of roughly three years, stood stoic in the chilly winter morning. Below him, out in the distance, laid the city of Aquintum, the Vandal king's first Roman city. He dared not show the awe he felt at the sight of the high stone walls of the city, lest his men think less of him. However he felt, he had come here as the vanguard of his people, to assure them a better life. Ordering most of his troops to sent up a makeshift camp, King Visimar picked a few of his finest riders to accompany him closer to the Roman city.

The small mounted group stopped at the outcropping of a small forest, not far from the city gates, and at the order of the king, one of the men waived a large battered white cloth, signal to the Romans that they wished to discuss. It took only a short time before a small group of roman cavalrymen rode out of Aquincum and made their way towards Visimar's band. These roman horsemen were hale and hearty, strong and well equipped, they bore a certain resemblance in their features to the small party of Vandals, but their roman banner marked their allegiance clearly. Unsurprisingly, these men spoke a similar tongue as the Vandals and soon an rough understanding between the two was reached. Nevertheless, both sides were on edge, each carefully studying the movements of the others.

During the discussion, one of the Romans seemed to reach for something in his heavy cloak. Childeric, one of the men accompanying Visimar screamed out a warning before unsheathing his blade. In the following instant before chaos erupted, the Roman rider was skewered and was revealed to be reaching for a gourd.

Visimar screamed defiantly, wishing to prevent the bloodbath that was about to happen.

It was in vain, his men instantly pulled our their own swords and joined Childeric. Some of the surprised Romans managed to put up a fight, but soon each of their eight bloody body laid strewn upon the snow, gashed and pierced by Vandal blades.

Some time later, Visimar and his five followers gathered further in the woods. Soon they would have to return to the camp and fighting the Romans over a misunderstanding, however innocent it has been, would not motivate the men to continue the journey, much less defeat the Romans along the way. No, for this exodus to succeed it would have to be the Romans' fault. Yet, for this to be believable, to be irrefutable, Visimar knew a sacrifice had to be made.

Dismounting, the King of the Vandals motioned Childeric to join him. They had known each other for two decades and for all that time Childeric had been his valiant companion, one of his most trusted lieutenants like the four other present. This made the deed all the more painful for Visimar, but the though of his people, his responsibility, drove him on. In one swift motion he drew a dagger and buried it in his friend's throat, cradling Childeric as the proud warrior fell to the ground clutching the mortal wound, his expression showing shock and surprise. Despite all his efforts to remain composed, Visimar shed a single tear.

During the following minute, Visimar remained crouched near his fallen friend and any of his four companions could have slain him easily, but such was their loyalty to the man, they simply stood to the side, themselve shocked by the brutal display. Then began the gruesome task of removing Childeric's head, which Visimar did with a small hatchet while explained his plan to his fellows. They would bring back Childeric's head as proof of Roman duplicity and following the general outrage of the men, Visimar would lead them to siege Aquincum. For this to work and for Childeric's sacrifice to retain its meaning, they would have to each take a vow to keep the truth silent. Each of them nodded in a certain understanding, a certain reluctance showing, but for now the secret was safe.

When Visimar arrived to camp and told his men what has happened, he found that the lies came much too easily for burdened conscience.

[TheFlax]

366 AD, Winter
Southwest of Aquintum

When Oza's men informed King Visimar that a small Roman relief force was making its way to pin him against Aquintum, he immediately took all of his riders and moved to intercept them. In a snowy field some distance away from Aquintum, Visimar finally spotted the forces of Captain Glycerius and engaged them.

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King Visimar led his men personally. After the troubling events of the past year, he was eager to join battle. It was something he had not done for some time.

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Visimar arrayed his horsemen in a loose, waiting to see what posture Glycerius' force would take.

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Glycerius positioned his frontline troops in a line with his best troops, the Comitatenses, holding the middle, while Foederati Infantry with their spears took the flanks. Behind, a loose formation of peasants followed the Comitatenses, surely pressed into service out of service. At the rearmost was Glycerius himself with two units of Foederati Cavalry.

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Visimar set his horse archers to attack what he perceived as the greatest threat, the two units of spearmen, while he personally rode out, accompanied by the lancers, to intercept a unit of Foederati Cavalry.

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Visimar spotted the band of peasant, running alone in the field. While he was busy fighting the unit of Foederati Cavalry, he sent his lancers upon them. In a matter of moments, most of them laid dead in the snow, as the thunderous charge of the Vandal cavalry crashed into them.

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The Roman infantry scattered, pursuing the Vandal cavalry left and right, but with the unit of Foederati Cavalry routed, Visimar pulled back, confident he could engage them at his leisure.

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Visimar soon realized, to his dismay, that he had made a mistake. During the heat of his battle, he had lost track of the other unit of Foederati Cavalry led personally by Captain Glycerius. Frantically, he searched the field for his opponent, until he found him far to the rear of his forces. Glycerius had boldly made his way through the Vandal forces and had taken chase to a unit of horse archers. By the time Visimar and his lancers caught up, the unit of Horse Archers had been destroyed. In fury, Visimar charged Glycerius' unit of Foederati Cavalry with the aid of his lancers and soon the Roman Captain was fleeing for his life.

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Meanwhile, two units of Comitatenses had followed Visimar at a run, hoping to catch up to him before their leader was beaten. They faced only death as Visimar charged the first unit, while his lancers wheeled around to attack their rear.

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The second unit of Comitatenses fared no better, and soon the whole Roman force was routed, with the Foederati Infantry whittled down to a few man under the hail of arrows from the horse archers.

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The first battle of the Vandals against the Roman thus ended with a clear victory for King Visimar.

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In which he had proved himself a capable commander once more, despite his mistake.

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A few hours after the battle, Visimar was leading his horsemen back to Aquintum, when his scouts brought before him a battered man. The Vandal king immediately recognized Glycerius, who he had fought personally in the previous battle.

"You speak our tongue?" Visimar asked the Roman.

"I do."

"What is your name?"

"I am called Glycerius." The Roman had a moment of pride as he told his name, before becoming crestfallen again.

"I am Visimar, King to these people." The Vandal king simply replied. "What will happen if you return to your people?"

"They will kill me for cowardice." Glycerius stated morosely.

"I know you are not a coward Roman, you showed cunning and fought well. Despite my overwhelming victory, of all your troops only you cost me a serious loss."

"So you will kill me to avenge them?" The dejected Roman barely seemed interested in his fate.

"That would serve no purpose. No, but I could use a man of your experience. This will not be my last battles against your people after all."

"I suppose so." Glycerius seemed to regain some vigor. "Your offer is better then death."

"It is." The Vandal king said firmy.

Glycerius nodded his consent.

"Get this man a horse, he rides with me." Visimar ordered and the scout obeyed.

At the end of the day, when the band of horsemen settled in camp, some distance away from Aquintum, Visimar had gained a new follower.

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[TheFlax]

367 AD, Summer
Near Aquincum

On his way back to the siege of Aquincum, King Visimar spotted another Roman force, which had previously been camping near the city. Wishing to make his assault simpler, Visimar led his cavalry in attack of this small army, commanded by Captain Hannibalianus. Glycerius informed the King that this man was one of the most trusted captains of Spurius Flavius, governor of Aquincum.

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The Romans fielded two units of Limitanei at the front, with Archers taking up the center and a mix of Catholic Priests, Foederati Cavalry and Sarmatians Auxilias. Glycerius cautioned not to take the latter lightly, for the Auxilias were lead by Hannibalianus himself. Well armed and armored, they would be match even for Visimar's elite personal bodyguards.

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Visimar placed his riders in a similar formation of the one he had employed against Glycerius, for it had worked well.

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In a thunder of hooves, the Vandal advance began with the Horse Archers taking point and targeting the Roman Limitanei.

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Already some of the Limitanei began routing and King Visimar took the opportunity to charge the exposed unit of Foederati Cavalry.

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King Visimar's assault decimated the Foederati Cavalry, while Hannibalianus' Sarmatians took in chase the Vandal's depleted Lancers. The Horse Archers continued to pour waves of arrows upon the Roman infantry.

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With the Lancers in danger, King Visimar rushed across the battlefield and headlong into the Sarmatians. Soon after, the nimble Lancers moved into a flanking position and charged.

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As Captain Hannibalianus and his Sarmatians fought for their lives, the young Gildo came forward and took chase of the Roman Archers who were trying to flee the battle.

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In the end, Visimar won a clear victory, leaving only Hannibalianus and nine Sarmatian riders alive on the Roman side.

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[TheFlax]

367 AD, Summer
Aquincum

Visimar decided the siege of Aquincum had lasted long enough.

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With his vastly superior force, taking the city should not pose a problem and so, on a mildly foggy but sunny morning, Visimar assembled his men for the attack.

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Immediately, spearmen began the attack by pushing to battering towards the gate, while the Chosen Warrios took ladders and rushed for the walls.

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Unfortunately, one of the battering rams began burning after repeated volleys from the archers on the walls and the towers.

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The second battering ram met a similar end moments later, but the Chosen Warriors had reached the walls.

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The Roman archers were not match for them and were cut down to the last man.

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These elite troops then took the gatehouse, permitting a horde of spearmen to pour in.

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The Steppe Spearmen were evenly matched with the Limitanei, but when the Chosen Warriors reassembled, they found themselves behind the Romans. The gatekeepers of Aquincum were now stuck in an deadly pincer.

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As the Vandals pushed further into the city, Visimar himself led the march.

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That was until they found Governor Spurius Flavius, holding the city center with a unit of Comitatenses. Visimar's warriors rushed and like a river crashing into a dam, the met and overwhelmed the Romans. Meanwhile, Visimar had moved to the side of the city square and rushed in to assist his troops, thus flanking the enemy.

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Spurius Flavius fought to the bitter end, but it was to no avail.

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In the end, King Visimar had won another victory of the Vandal people and had shown that the Romans were far from invincible.

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[Ibn-Khaldun]

Placeholder for Duvas adventures in Rome and signing the ceasefire.