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Post by Gandalf on Aug 24, 2021 13:40:07 GMT -5
 The camp of the Consul Quintus Sertorius, established at Mutina. This rudimentary base of operations is to be his headquarters for the Cimbrian campaign, located strategically to the south of the Po to guard the border with Italia.
Forces:
Legio VI** (1800 men remaining) - Commanded by Sertorius
Legio VII ** - Commanded by Legate Regulus
220 allied cavalry
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 24, 2021 19:49:25 GMT -5
As soon as Sertorius arrived, he ordered the former legions of Catulus out for inspection. The new Consul was an energetic and military man, more at home in the saddle than in Rome; arguably he had been elected because there were few left with the necessary age and experience of untarnished reputation. As they had turned to Marius, they had turned to this other New Man, eager to see him fail.
As he suspected, the former Consular army was in poor shape. A whole legion had been destroyed, the other four merged into two following the Cimbri's assault through the mountain passes. To conduct an offensive campaign, they would need more men - Lepidus commanded the rest of the forces on the far side of the Alps, and they would take time to reach him.
"Octavius." Sertorius waved one of his tribunes over, all sons of his noble clients. He passed him a scroll. "Take a hundred men into Mutina. Here is my writ - it announces a new tax on all the towns and tribes of Cisalpine Gaul, and the offer of Roman citizenship to those who immediately enlist. Return with as much men and coin as you can, but do not venture north of the river." As the Tribune turned, Quintus called out: "And bring me Regulus."
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 25, 2021 13:59:39 GMT -5
(Brew rolled 35% of the province's wealth, which is 950 denarii)
The amount of taxation bought back was pitiful, barely a thousand denarii coughed up for the defence of their own damned province. Sertorius ordered for the wealthiest of the Gallic tribal leaders to be found and escorted to the encampment. He would teach these damned fools a lesson, shirking their duty to Rome with a barbarian horde on their doorstep. By his powers as Consul, he would order whatever gold they had seized to be put towards the war effort with immediate effect.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 25, 2021 14:24:13 GMT -5
2,000 gold is seized in terms of Gallic wealth by the Consul. (rolled a 2 and times it by 1,000)
The proclamation by Sertorius managed to bring back two hundred and twenty mounted men, all from allied communities and tribes of Gauls in the region, many of whom had been faithful to Rome since the Punic Wars and before., that answered the writ in Mutina. Almost enough for a full unit of cavalry for a typical legion.
Lucius Atilius Regulus comes to the tent of Sertorius, who had been kind enough to make him Legate of the Seventh Legion. In his military attire, he salutes the Consul upon entering.
Salve, Consul!
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 25, 2021 14:32:11 GMT -5
"At ease, Regulus."
Gestured the Consul, who despite himself looked a little on edge. Never before had he been given full command, the full weight of responsibility. It was a heavy thing for a man to bear.
"As you can see, we have little resources. Ours is the difficult posting. But we have a greater chance at glory."
Sertorius moved over to a map that had been dutifully scrawled out by one of their Gallic allies. Such local knowledge would be invaluable.
"That the Cimbri have not yet crossed the Po speaks in my mind to a few possibilities. That they are looting the Gallic countryside for one. We cannot rule out the possibility that they will look to cross the Alps again, either."
He tapped the valley across the river; where the Cimbri were most likely making the lives of the Gauls a living hell.
"They will not expect the battered and bruised army of Catulus to come back for them. We are small, and so manoeuvrable. If we are quick we might be able to catch them piecemeal, kill them as they are out raiding. Failing that, we can bleed them dry. We will deny them battle, supplies, food, plunder, slaves. When they march to face the larger force of Lepidus, we can take their rear."
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Aug 25, 2021 18:21:24 GMT -5
New reports suggest the Cimbri host is moving south towards the Roman legions. Perhaps having noticed Roman legions in the vicinity. Further aggressive scouting parties sighted troop numbers in the thousands. Some say around 46.000 combatants.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 25, 2021 18:35:39 GMT -5
Sertorius swiftly gave orders for the camp to be disassembled and the legions to move out. They would march southwards, drawing the Cimbri towards the river Po. All of the horsemen would be sent out to delay the enemy for as long as possible under Quintus' son and namesake (+3 command) while the rest of the legions would set about destroying whatever foodstuffs and farmsteads were in their wake to deny the enemy supplies. It would be impossible to get a missive to Lepidus, but there was no doubt that he would be able to get a rider back to Rome before the Cimbri were able to reach the river.
(Roll for success, I guess?)
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 26, 2021 0:12:00 GMT -5
"At ease, Regulus."Gestured the Consul, who despite himself looked a little on edge. Never before had he been given full command, the full weight of responsibility. It was a heavy thing for a man to bear. "As you can see, we have little resources. Ours is the difficult posting. But we have a greater chance at glory."Sertorius moved over to a map that had been dutifully scrawled out by one of their Gallic allies. Such local knowledge would be invaluable. "That the Cimbri have not yet crossed the Po speaks in my mind to a few possibilities. That they are looting the Gallic countryside for one. We cannot rule out the possibility that they will look to cross the Alps again, either."He tapped the valley across the river; where the Cimbri were most likely making the lives of the Gauls a living hell. "They will not expect the battered and bruised army of Catulus to come back for them. We are small, and so manoeuvrable. If we are quick we might be able to catch them piecemeal, kill them as they are out raiding. Failing that, we can bleed them dry. We will deny them battle, supplies, food, plunder, slaves. When they march to face the larger force of Lepidus, we can take their rear." Regulus puts his stance into that of an at ease Legate. Our force is small enough to draw them into battle. They are over confident, given the recent string of victories, and knowing they have killed Consuls before. That should be enough to give them an overconfidence that will make them lose.The Roman remarks. As long as our ranks remain disciplined, our formations tight, and our steel true, we will overcome them by the very same resolve that destroyed Carthage, Macedonia and many more before.Lucius notices a map before the Consul. Do you have an intention of where to fight them?
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Aug 26, 2021 5:34:53 GMT -5
Sertorius swiftly gave orders for the camp to be disassembled and the legions to move out. They would march southwards, drawing the Cimbri towards the river Po. All of the horsemen would be sent out to delay the enemy for as long as possible under Quintus' son and namesake (+3 command) while the rest of the legions would set about destroying whatever foodstuffs and farmsteads were in their wake to deny the enemy supplies. It would be impossible to get a missive to Lepidus, but there was no doubt that he would be able to get a rider back to Rome before the Cimbri were able to reach the river. (Roll for success, I guess?) 17, success! The earth and farms are set ablaze. The enemy forces however now know they need to punch through the Romans to ensure survival. Giving them +1 resilience in attack.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 26, 2021 5:47:09 GMT -5
"At ease, Regulus."Gestured the Consul, who despite himself looked a little on edge. Never before had he been given full command, the full weight of responsibility. It was a heavy thing for a man to bear. "As you can see, we have little resources. Ours is the difficult posting. But we have a greater chance at glory."Sertorius moved over to a map that had been dutifully scrawled out by one of their Gallic allies. Such local knowledge would be invaluable. "That the Cimbri have not yet crossed the Po speaks in my mind to a few possibilities. That they are looting the Gallic countryside for one. We cannot rule out the possibility that they will look to cross the Alps again, either."He tapped the valley across the river; where the Cimbri were most likely making the lives of the Gauls a living hell. "They will not expect the battered and bruised army of Catulus to come back for them. We are small, and so manoeuvrable. If we are quick we might be able to catch them piecemeal, kill them as they are out raiding. Failing that, we can bleed them dry. We will deny them battle, supplies, food, plunder, slaves. When they march to face the larger force of Lepidus, we can take their rear." Regulus puts his stance into that of an at ease Legate. Our force is small enough to draw them into battle. They are over confident, given the recent string of victories, and knowing they have killed Consuls before. That should be enough to give them an overconfidence that will make them lose.The Roman remarks. As long as our ranks remain disciplined, our formations tight, and our steel true, we will overcome them by the very same resolve that destroyed Carthage, Macedonia and many more before.Lucius notices a map before the Consul. Do you have an intention of where to fight them?
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Aug 26, 2021 11:13:46 GMT -5
King Boiorix and with him the following tropps make a charge on the bridge,
10.000 heavy infantry
15.000 light infantry
6.000 skirmishers
5.000 cavalry
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 28, 2021 10:21:46 GMT -5
Sertorius summons Regulus to his side on their march back towards Latium.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 28, 2021 10:51:19 GMT -5
Sertorius summons Regulus to his side on their march back towards Latium. The legate rides up, joining Sertorius. Gaius Marius is certainly smiling from above, seeing the Republic safe.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 28, 2021 11:13:58 GMT -5
"We have earned our triumph, Regulus. We shall be back in Rome before the nominations begin."
Excellent timing, in retrospect. He would be able to convince the Senate to appoint him to Macedonia and perhaps even Asia for the coming year.
"I wonder, what are your own ambitions? Perhaps the Praetorship?"
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Aug 28, 2021 11:44:40 GMT -5
Lucius hadn't been able to think much on what to do when he returned. The Roman had only thought of his wife and family to be honest in any quiet moment he had.
A praetor or maybe a Plebian Tribune, Sertorius.
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