S.P.Q.R.

[mini]

Prelude, Rome 240BC



A young slave darted through the narrow streets which formed a dazzling labyrinth in the lower regions of the city. Normally packed with huge crowds, the streets were actually so much less crowded the slave actually saw the pavement in front of him. Pavement was a good sign, It meant he was coming closer to his destination, the Via Sacra, which lead to the heart of the Republic: The Forum Romanum. There he was to search his master, for there had arrived an urgent message for him. Although the house steward knew it was rather pointless, he still sent out a young slave to fetch the master, so the latter could not reprimand him later on.
As the young boy neared the Via Sacra, the buzzing sound of a huge croud, cheers and music drifted towards him. The Senate was in session today, for the first time this month. It had been a week of festivities, in which the whole city revelled. Consul of the year, and triumphator Caius Aurelius Cotta had returned to the city, announcing the news officially from the Rostra: The war with Carthage was over and won.
Though not Roman himself, the young slave, head filled with the heroic fantasies of youth, still felt some sort of pride.


And proud the Romans were. After stumbling into a mere territorial conflict between the Greek city-states on Sicilia and Carthage, the Republic faced one adversity after another. For almost ten years, the Republic fought a frantic battle. Both scale and ferocity were unseen in the already bloody history of the Republic. After subdueing the Italian Peninsula, the Senate had grown cocksure and had looked to its ever-expanding borders to meddle in the affairs of their neighbours. A state of affairs which had brought the Greek city-states on Sicilia to send pleas for help against Carthagenian pressure. What started with a diplomatic round of accusations and verbal abuse, quickly erupted into all-out warfare in 249BC. Cnaeus Fabius Ambustus, who was married to Caiuss Aurelius Cotta's daughter Domitila, had been a military tribune to the legions of his Father-in-Law and had been send to Syracuse to parlay with its leaders.
The young tribune was shown the city and its surroundings, and taken to show the border so he could be certain that the Greeks were in their right. Disaster struck when a Carthagenian roving border patrol stumbled on the group and decided to attack it. A few survivors made it back to the city of Syracuse alive, but the young tribune was not one of them.
A message was sent to Rome with the news. Caius Aurelius Cotta - although a novus homo - was one of the more powerful senators. He had survived the samnite wars in 270BC and had been on the forefront ever since. However he lacked seniority as much as ancestors, so he was passed time and again during the brief but very prestigious wars against the other Italian neighbours of Rome. Not that he wasted time feeling sorry. He was considered one of Rome's best orators of the time, and was to be found on the Forum and in the courts daily. His prestige grew, and so did the group of people who owed him a favour after a succesful defence in court.
When the news of the young tribune's death arrived in Rome, he was to be seen in mourning clothes everywhere, and people grieved with him. Louder and louder the demand was heard that Roman honour should be restored and Carthage was to be footed the bill. Combining his oratory talents with his clouth in the senate, the Republic was slowly diverted from bandying words with Carthage to exchanging blows.

What followed was a horrible struggle for supremacy on the Sicilian Island. After years of losses, the newly Italian Allies from like the Insubrians and the Ligurians were reminded of the treaties with Rome. The Republic threw in their allies, at which point the cours of war slowly shifted. But in the meanwhile, the stakes grew higher. The Greek city-states were reduced to onlookers, as Rome and Carthage fought it out on their soil. Supremacy over Sicily was now the price of the game and in Rome they realised that a Carthagenian Sicily was too much like having a lion in your backyard.
The biggest confrontations took place in 241 and 240 BC, where both sides took terrible losses in both red and blue blood. When the smoke cleared, it was Caius Aurelius Cotta who had lead the Roman Legions to victory. As reward, the public hailed him as consul and triumphator.

Now the triumph was over, and the senate was in session for the first time since peace was declared. For the first time, it was obvious how costly the war had been for the Senate.
Many seats were empty, and those who were present, were wearing mourning togas.
When looking at the four or five prominent families of the last 20 years, the damage shows most.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(The Aurelii Cotta)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(The Cornelii Blasio

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(The Cornelii Scipio

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(The Cornelii Scipio Asina

The Senate had been called into session by its Pinceps, the venerable Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asinus.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The war was won, but the Republic needed government. Who knows what could happen next? The slave didn’t worry, whatever it was would be dealt with by the Senate.

[mini]

State of current affairs and few other things:


First of all: I'm bored, and there are no good PBM's going on atm. Which is why I started this.
If you like it: great, if you don't.. well don't read then.

It's a pretty standard AAR: as much roleplaying as possible, settings on H/H...
I'll try to add a historical flavour where I can, but the course of the game will not follow history.

The storyline will proceed in various ways. The red line will of course be the Republic, and how the game is going. However it will not always be directly narrative. Certain characters might be followed during part of their life or entirely, PoV's might be switched to mere legionairs in conflicts and some stories will have nothing to do with the progress of the game, purely for entertainement.

Updates will be done once they're ready. I'm no machine.
That's the personal stuff.


As for the game info
Game starts in 240BC (god knows we've seen enough rome vs phyrrus)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The current world map

As you can see, italy is solidly pacified.



Here's a screen from the northern border:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

EVERY settlement in this picture, is type IV (client ruler)
Massilia to the west, is also a type IV


In the south, Tarentum and Rhegion are also Client rulers, and so is entire sicily.

Which means I only have 4 or 5 Type I cities (Rome, Capua, Arretium, Ariminum and corfinium)(explains the small family tree)
I chose the client ruler system, for it reflects the spirit of the Italian Allies system the republic had.
At some point in the very distant future, things might switch to type II (romanized province) and eventually the italian allies will be given roman citizenship.


Next update in a few days, if enough exciting things happen by then.

[Maion Maroneios]

I'm certain you're aching for me to comment, aren't you?

Maion

[mini]

nah it's fine

I KNOW you'll be reading this one ;)

[Maion Maroneios]

I KNOW you'll be reading this one ;)

Good luck mate

Maion

[mini]

Rome - 239BC

A letter from Marcus Appolonius, backbench senator, to a renowned knight Gaius Pomponius Balbus.

Dear Gaius,

Rome has finally settled down in the last year. With the war against mighty Carthage concluded, daily life resumed throughout the republic, no more true so on the Forum Romanum in the heart of it. Caius Aurelius Cotta, triumphator of the war, has been using his popularity peak to good effect.
Though he was dismissed by the patrician snobs (you know how they are) as a popularis, Caius Aurelius had nevertheless gained a substantial amount of influence. Although the first man in Rome - someone who through shere dignitas & auctoritas was considered the first amongs his peers - was still Cnaus Cornelius Scipio Asina, Cauius Aurelius was to be considered not far behind by forum frequenters.

The first glimps of his influence showed at the start of the new year, 239BC. Although he was a consular already, he put himself up for election as a plebeian adile and swooped in the office. Though the ploy was obvious to his peers - throwing huge games to increase his already immense popularity among the people - the crowd loved it.
Next, he used his popular position to lobby himself to the office as censor. I myself voted yes on the motion. The man is as capable as respectable. I thought he'd make a fine censor.

And time has proven me in the right. Only a week in office, and he gave the crowds somethign to lick their fingers on. You know how the plebs are when it comes to scandals and good old senatorial conflicts.

Well Cotta had never forgiven Cnaeus Cornelius Blasio for beatign him in the praetor elections so many years ago. As a result, Tiberius Sergius Silus -married to Cnaeus Cornelius Blasio's daughter Marianara- was the first to undergo a close inspection by the new censor. The result was that the latter received a nota Uxurium. Of course this threw his family in a furor, and now both sides are threathening with law suits. much to the delight of the crowds, might I add


When they managed to get Caius Aurelius to a trial, the man showed up and loudly pronounced that Servius Aurelius Cotta had also received a nota, for not be willing to marry.
The crowd loved this show of impartiality and promptly delivered a verdict: absolvo.
Of course the crowds forgot to notice that this Servius Aurelius Cotta was actually no relation to Caius Aurelius, as the former was the duumvir of Rhegion. You should have seen the fits that Tiberius Sergius threw cause of the stupidity of the jury. Hilarious!

The result of course was another peak in the popularity of Cauis Aurelius. The current First Man could not let this pass, thus Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina proceeded to proclaim on the Forum that the people should stop putting all these honours and offices upon his family.
the crowd was swooned by this performance.


Cotta immediately responded by indicting yet another member of a famous family.


The end of the year ended in sorrow, as the princeps passed away. One must wonder if Cotta drove him over the Styx.



As a final word, news has reached Rome that those barbarian Gauls are gettign restless near the border. Should you be willing, could you check with your contacts there, and find out what's going on?



Your friend,

Marcus Appolonius

[Roka]

i will be watching this closely

[Vasiliyi]

Nice work mini! I like your political point of view here. Its refreshing. Ill be watching this one.

[mini]

Rome - 238 BC

"Quintus Sulpicius conferred with the Gallic chieftain Brennus and together they agreed upon the price, one thousand pounds' weight of gold. Insult was added to what was already sufficiently disgraceful, for the weights which the Gauls brought for weighing the metal were heavier than standard, and when the Roman commander objected the insolent barbarian flung his sword into the scale, saying 'Vae Victis-- 'Woe to the vanquished!

The whole city was in a frenzy. Mourning toga's were plenty, women were weeping and men with fear in their eyes tried to behave as if everything was normal. Every day all eyes turned to the Curia Hostilia, where the Senate met behind closed doors. A sure sign of the gravity of the situation.
Inside the Curia, heated debates were going on.

The beginning of the year had started as the last had ended. Caius Aurelius kept using his censor position to settle scores, much to the delight of the rest of Rome.


With Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina dead, Cotta was trying to maneuver himself as the First Man in Rome. He had the popularity and the clouth. But amongst the ancient patrician snobs - who still had a big say in things - he was far less popular. Though he had vanquished the Carthagenians, and brought Sardinia and Sicilia under the Roman fold, Cotta realised he needed another major military engagement to take him that last step of the way.
That he was one of Fortune's favourites, showed in a disastrous way.

For late in spring, news started dripping into Rome about a Gallic invasion. Almost 150 years after a great chieftain named Brennus had sacked Rome, the Republic was now possibly facing yet another Gallic menace. Though the populace jumped on the rumours, the Senate waited for further news. By the summer, a few shabby looking men entered Rome, claiming to be survivors of the siege of Mediolanum. The Senate tried to hide the matter, but secrets were hard to keep in a city like Rome. While the people mourned, the Senate heard the survivors.



"It was a terrifying sight. Barbarians seemed to be on every hill. We tried to get messengers out, all in vain. The Gauls were very eager to prohibit any news leaving the area. It took them weeks to set up a proper siege, and even more to build a decent siege tower.
Then, one mourning we were woken by a horrific sound. Not much later the alarm was sound, the Gauls were attacking.
Spurius Licinius Crassus acted immediately. Firy bolts were shot at the tower from every direction. The whole wall cheered when it caught fire. We had hope still, then.



For some reason however, the Gauls remained active beneath the walls. They kept stepping in and out of range. Though at a loss by this strange tactic, Crassus kept us firing whenever they came into range. For a while we thought they would give up.
How wrong we were. We had no sign, no warning... One minute, the wall was intact, the next it came crumbling down, right on top of our own men.



To us, a complete suprise. Reinforcements rushed to the place of doom, trying to stop the gap. But we came too late. Hordes of barbarians were already leaping over the ruins, and they came at us in a killing frenzy. Never thinking about waiting for their comrades, or making a formation. A trickle became a flood, and a vicious struggle erupted.

Though we had lost about a third of our fighting power, we still gave them a hard fight. Crassus kept us in the fight, and we managed to gain ground inch by inch. Our spirits soared, the day might be ours after all.
At that time, more trumpets were to be heard in the distance, behind the walls. Out of nowhere he came, the Gallic leader and his nobles, riding through his own lines and smashing into ours.



By the end of that day, only 16 of us made it out of the city. 4 made it to Rome."




The silence in the Curia was deafening. Some senators sat numbly staring at the survivors, others had their head in their hands, silently weeping. The moment lasted only a few seconds. To the men present, it lasted an eternity.

Caius Aurelius stood up, looked at the consul with the fasces to get the word. When the consul agreed, he first ordered the lictors to open the doors.
He waited silently, and silence continued. Finally the doors were open, and immediately huge crowds of listeners showed up. Whatever said here would be known by Rome in minutes.

"Dear Conscript Fathers. We have witnessed a dreadful report. For one hundred and fifty years, we have busied ourselves with regain control of Italy after the last barbaric invasion. We even stumbled into war with mighty Carthage, and while taking a serious beating, we came out on top. Bigger, stronger, richer.. and more powerful than ever before.
And now, we are faced with the same threat our ancestors where faced when they grew stronger than their neighbours.
But this time, it will be different, Conscript Fathers. If you let me, I will sound the horns and beat the drums. Veterans from the Punic war will flock to my banners. With a consular legion under my command, I will march north and face these barbarians from Hades, and I WILL SEND THEM BACK."

As he paused, a huge cheer erupted outside the doors of the Curia Hostilia. Though tradition would have the consuls waging war, no senator dared to interrupt and mention the fact. Caius Aurelius would get his command, and his consular legion.



TO BE CONTINUED...



Clarification:

Currently, polybian reforms have passed. and legion composition is as follows:

Polybian Era
1 General
1 unit of Velites/Accensi
1 unit of Hastati
1 unit of Principes
1 unit of Triarii
ALAE
The two socii alae are composed as follows:
1 unit of allied skirmishers (any mix of javelineers, archers and slingers)
2 units of allied infantry (two different pairs of Samnite, Lucanian, Bruttium, Ligurian, Gallic, or Iberian infantry)
1 unit of pedites extraordinarii
1 unit of allied cavalry (Campanian, Greek, Gallic, Ligurian or anything else available, or possibly equites extraordinarii)

As Caius Aurelius has been voted a proconsular command, and the current consuls have stepped down in his favour, he received a consular legion.
This latter legions is simply a standard legion, doubled.

As you can see, the legion under his command is being put together in this fashion.

As this is an exceptional situation, it called for exceptional solutions in a constitutional way.
Only the consuls are to command a consular legion under normal circumstances.
Any other magistrate will be able to command only 1 legion (+- halfstack) when he has been a praetor.

[Vasiliyi]

Nice job Mini. Im really enjoying this. I really liked the picture with Brennus throwing down his sword on the scale. Very cool Also the picture where the gallic cavalry charge the walls. Nice work. Im subscribed to this one.

[mini]

battle will be implemented after the weekend.

[Vasiliyi]

Looking forward to it.

[NickTheGreek]

I love the SPQR, I'll be following this

[mini]

Cisalpine Gaul - 237 BC

Numerius Cornelius sniffed, and pretended not to see what was going on in front of him. Caius Aurelius Cotta, consular & censor, was walking about a huge table. The command tent was filled with officers and centurions. As a conservative patrician, Numerius Cornelius had developed a disliking stance towards Caius Aurelius - a plebeian popularis. Now the command tent was filled with centurion plebs. Now numerius Cornelius was elected quaestor, and had promised himself to do his job properly. Now he could trump up enough military insight to see that when centurions were aware of the battle plan, it was in everyone's interest.
What offended him at the utmost, were the few gallic-italian leaders present. Caius Aurelius had proquiered several cohorts of gallic warriors, to fill the ranks of his alae legion. Filthy barbarians, wearign trousers.. Numerius Cornelius looked - as any good Roman ought in his opinion - down on anything unroman, especially gauls. Not that he hated them, he just didn't think of them as people.


Caius Aurelius Cotta was well aware that his quaestor harboured such feelings. He had been wondering how to play a prank on this young snob.
As most Romans, Caius Aurelius was fond of the absurd. And while the battle plan unfolded in his mind, he had thought of a way to play his game on Numerius Cornelius.

"So, it is set then. The Alae troops will be the vanguard of the assault. As it is their city we are relieving from its Gallic and Belgic conquerors, it is only proper they should clear the path."
Many Roman officers nodded approving. On the alae deputation however, reactions were mixed.
The Gallo-Italian deputation from north of the padus looked firm, radiating confidence at the task at hand. The other part, italian officers from south of the padus and all over Italy, looked grim. Hard eyes set upon hard eyes. The butchers bill would be grossly paid in Italian blood, not Roman.

"And as my quaestor, Numerius Cornelius will personally lead the vanguard attack. I am sure, that as a noble scion he will adore his patrician family tree by leading his troops to victory." Without looking at his quaestor, the general continued. "You have heard my plan of attack, I will leave it to you to execute the first part of it. You should go now and confer with the Italian and gallo-italian leaders in order to establish a good communication for the morrow. Good day gentlemen."

it took every ounce of willpower in him to hold his laughter until his tent was empty. The face on Numerius Cornelius! And the thought of that puckered up snob in one tent with all his detested gauls and italians.. Oh the hilarity!



But at dawn, the general was as serious as one can be. Today, he would reclaim Mediolanum, and he had even bigger plans for after that. His path to becoming the First Man in Rome had been laid out in front of him, and he would walk it, no matter what.




Numerius Cornelius heard the trumpets sound as he ordered the advance. Not that he had altered any of the general's plans. He was either there for show, or to get himself killed. He had figured out which yet. For now, he intended to stay well behind his lines.




Caius Aurelius heard the bugles calling, and watched the towers go foward. His Roman consular legion was deployed in the standard quincux formation. His troops were looking sharp, he was a contend man.




The Gallic archers stormed forward, and started to barrage the walls. The siege towers rolled onward to the walls with very few losses. The Gallic troops fiercely stormed up the towers and spilled upon the walls like furies from Hades.




Caius Aurelius Cotta squeezed his eyes, trying to see what was happing on the walls. It seemed the fighting was furious, for a long time the banners didn't seem to progress. Though outerly sober and serious, inwardly he was secretly grinning at the thought of Numerius Cornelius trying to create order out of the chaos at hand.





4 hours later...


Numerius Cornelius rested his men in the shades, and distributed water. The enemy had retreated into the city and were nowhere to be seen. He decided to play it safe.



He advanced through the streets, though he had no idea where he was going. He had never been to the city, and he refused to ask any gual - nor any italian for that matter - for directions. So he wandered aimlessly, sending runners to Caius Aurelius still outside, requesting for reinforcements.
Before he realised it, the colonne turned a corner and stumbled on the main gallic army.

A bloody battle followed, coloring the streets of Mediolanum red.



Caius Aurelius Cotta arrived at the scene and overlooked the chaos before assuming command. A relieved Numerius Cornelius was redirected to command the reserve.
Now the general was there, decent orders were issued, and soon an actual battle formation was formed.



While the ligurian infantry suprisingly held his its ground under the vicious assault of the enemy, Caius Aurelius had his gallic archers enter the frey.





Slowly the enemy were driving to the center of the city, amassing there to make their final stand.
Cotta overlooked the town square, and send the Gallo-italian warriors to certain death by having them charge the enemy head on.
Though a boldly move, it gave him enough time to swing the most experienced italian cohort behind the enemy lines. The pediti extraordinari ate the enemy up.




Although the assault had cost Cotta about 1/5th of his army, losses had been solely Alae troops. Ergo it would go down in Rome as a total victory.




While his men feasted, the general send an urgent courier to Rome, proclaiming that mediolanum was relieved from the northern threat, and governement was returned to the hands of the locals.

[Reality=Chaos]

I subscribed to this.... It looks really good so far... I like the ally roleplaying you do here... Is there going to be a civil war, so the italians can finally become roman citizens?

[mini]

well, it's only 237 BC :)

at the moment, the republic doesnt have much territory outside italy except for sicily etc..

So most of my cities are all 'allies' (type IV)
As there are no provinces or settlements with only latin rights, there is no cause for friction.

Of course, perhaps in 100 years, the situation might change ;)

[Reality=Chaos]

well, it's only 237 BC :)

at the moment, the republic doesnt have much territory outside italy except for sicily etc..

So most of my cities are all 'allies' (type IV)
As there are no provinces or settlements with only latin rights, there is no cause for friction.

Of course, perhaps in 100 years, the situation might change ;)

OK... That's an awful long time before starting to romanize Italy though isn't it? but hey it's your AAR, and I am enjoying it so I won't grumble

[Vasiliyi]

Nice work mini! I'm really enjoying this. Don't let it die.

[johnhughthom]

for letting allied troops die, while good Romans stood and watched.

[Ghaust the Moor]

While the ligurian infantry suprisingly held his its ground under the vicious assault of the enemy

Well, duh, thier stats are almost equal to the post marian reform legionnarres. Less defence but higher attack I think.

[mini]

yes, we know the stats :)

But they are supposed to be italian light infantry i think.

[mini]

Gallia Cisalpina - 236 BC

The Roman camp bristled with activity. Like an ants nest, legionairs were milling about, centurions were barking orders left and right and the legates tried to distill order out of the whole chaos. The young military tribunes were looking upon it all big-eyed, and the contubernalii all but tripped over their own feet, carrying the orders of Caius Aurelius Cotta throughout the camp.
The latter whom was to be found outside his tent in the exact middle of the fort, on the axis of the 2 roads that made a greek cross within the fort walls. There had installed a small dais, and was patiently awaiting for the chaotic madness to turn into nice military order. The time in which this army completed the transformation, was a proud example of Roman drilling traditions and good generalling.

As his troops all stood before him, the Romans close to the dais followed by the italian alae troops more to the back. Almost out of earshot were the gallo-italian troops. Most of what the general was about to say, would be passed on down the lines. It was unpredictable what kind of message reached the back of the crowd eventually. Nevertheless, Caius Aurelius - flanked by his legates and Numerius Cornelius - passionately started his speech.



"Hello Boys! I think you have already noticed, we are not alone today. For those of you who have not heard, or do not believe, I confirm it to be true. Outside the walls of our camp, there is an army of Germans having a picknick. They think us invaders, that we are here to rape, pillage and murder.
While it is true that you are here for that reason," some muffled laughs passed trough the lines as the generals words were mouthed on, " it is not the reason why we came here. Last year, we were requested to intervene on behalf of the people of Mediolanum as their city was conquered and its people enslaved. The Senate of Rome responded apropiately to the request of its friend and ally, and sent all you cunni to Gallia Cisalpina to remedy the situation.
Since they thought you a worthless plebs, no patrician right in his mind volunteered to lead you. Instead, they thought of giving this mass of worthless plebs a leader of its own kind. Me.
I have fought the Samnites under Curius Dentatus. I have fought the Carthagenians under various commanders, and when those perished I took up their sword and led Roma to victory. I threw every last Carthagenian of every island surrounding italy, and doubled Rome's income.
I am the First Man in Rome, the first among my peers and I hold this position not by violance but by sheer willpower and the vastness of my auctoritas and dignitas.
Yet to the high nobility, those ancient families, whose ancestors whiped the feet of kings before Rome became a republic, I am nothing.
Or let me rephrase that: I am nothing but a popularis. A plebeian popularis. They accuse of me of trying to woo the plebs in order to use them for my own means. They accuse you, the plebs, of being too mentally retarded to reckognise being abused.

So I felt we ought to show those ancient snobs, just what us retarded plebs could do. And we showed them boys, didn't we!?" Approving voices were stemming out of the crowd.
"We marched north with the lightning bolts from Jupiter Optimus Maximus up our arses. We sieged and we rationed, and when they day came we stormed the walls and slaughtered any who stood in our path!" Loud cheers rose from the crowd, swords were banged against shields. Cotta waited a few moments for the noise to die.
"And when the smoke cleared, we liberated the city to be governed by its own people. Not as conquerors, as liberators. We followed the trail of the barbarian survivors, we crossed the Alps to make a statement!

We came here, to tell any long-haired barbarian, that they should stay on this side of the Alps for their own sake!
For on the other side of the Alps lay people under the protection of Rome. If they dare to challenge them, they challenge Rome AND ROME IS MIGHTY!!" Again the noise rose to a deafening cheer, which took several minutes to die.
"We marched to the nearest settlement of importance, because we CAN. We astonished those barbarians by erecting a fort, swiftly in one day, because we can.
We attacked nobody, we stole no food. And yet they say we are conquerors.

Well, they will not listen to reason and they came to pick a fight. I say we give them one!" As the cheering started once more, Caius Aurelius Cotta nodded to Numerius Cornelius Scipio, who in turn nodded to the hornblowers.

The Romans were on the move.



The Romans exited their camp by all 4 gates. The missile troops took the eastern gate, which faced the german encampement. The Gallo-italian troops took the north gate, while the bulk of the army took the south gate. 3 Roman cohorts took the western gate.

The Germans were suprised. Quickly they moved to their right, so they faced both north and east gate at an angle. While the Roman missile troops advanced from the east gate, one of the germanic leaders charged on the exiting troops of the northern gate.
Numerius Cornelius, whose famous father Lucius Cornelius Scipio had recently died, had been given this important position due to his new status. He had inherited most of his father clients, and was now one of the most powerful men in the republic, save for Caius Aurelius Cotta. The latter had instantly reckognized this, and had started being a tee-bit more friendly to the former.

Numerius Cornelius formed his ligurian infantry to take the blow in the center. More Germanic warriors decended from the forest line in sight of their comrades foolish bravery.
They were met by the Gallo-Italic warriors, and fierce barbarian battle erupted.



As the sun progressed through the sky, the main army of the germans came crashign down from the forest. In the East, Caius Aurelius Cotta was still advancing until he saw half the german army rushing down to his lines.
The other half ran straight for Numerius Cornelius, who was comfortably holding his own.
He spotted the threat and shifted his formation. He left the Ligurian infantry holding those attackers of the first hour and withdrew one Gallo-italic cohort from his right flank to make a second center, behind enemy lines.
This would mean that the germans would have to get through him to relieve their comrades.




Meanwhile in the east, Caius Aurelius blunted the blow of the german advance by peppering the enemy with arrows and javelins. The germans desisted and Cotta stopped his advance, to move more lineair in order to reach his quaestor on the eastern front. Here, the battle raged heavily and the divide-&-conquer strategum had served its purpose long enough.



As the 2 fronts merged, the germans were starting to see they had lost the day, and started routing.
Several young tribunes goggled at the gallic archers who made sport of letting survivors almost get out of reach before shooting them down from afar.






At the end of the day, no german was to be seen and Cotta was thinking about moving onward.



A german delegacy from the near city Aventicos reached them the other day. They offered many riches if the Roman army would but return to its own side of the Alps.
All present in the command tent could almost smell the gold the germans were offering, and many did not notice the brooding look on Caius Aurelius' face.

Suddenly he eyed the leader, and spoke to the translator. "Ask him if they have kept prisoners."
The german leader confirmed, and argued that he kept them as an insurance that the Romans would not break the peace after he had handed the gold to them. if the Romans left as they promised, he would release the prisoners and give them safe passage to the alps.
Caius Aurelius looked fierce. "You will release those hostages now, and you will make sure that nothing happens to them. If you do not, I will come get them myself."

The german leader laughed. They were not the only army in the vast forest. If the Romans wanted their prisoners, they were welcome to come and get them.

Aventicos would see the face of Caius Aurelius Cotta after all...





TO BE CONTINUED...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[mini]

update should be following soon.. stay tuned

[Reality=Chaos]

update should be following soon.. stay tuned

Woohoo

[mini]

well i'll be darned

Glad to see this topic still exist :P
Been a long while since i've been able to play some TW

Maybe i'll try an ETW aar if i can find the subforum for it :p

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Forum for AAR's is called TreasAARy. It's in the Mead Hall. There are some very good AAR's!

[Mulceber]

Awesome AAR, I'm looking forward to more of the adventures of Cotta and Scipio. -M

[lionhard]

What graphics card have u got mini? looks nice :)

[mini]

Ati HD4870 :)

I'm looking for my RTW cd's, I might rekindle this

[woodyman91]

You really should mini! I have just joined the forums and I am attempting to conquer my own share of the world with the Res Publica! haha!

Def jump back to this. I will be watching!! :)