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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 9:37:50 GMT -5
Drusus sends scouts back up the trail to the where the battle took place.. The Roman bodies were stripped of all equipment and left to the animals. The Gauls must have taken their own men to be burned on pyres. This was a large loss of armor and arms. On his return to camp, he sends two cohorts and his cavalry to give the Romans remains what burial they could manage.
From what they could gather the Gallic force was still massed near Burdicala.
Drusus reports back to Ledidus, informing him of the location of the Gauls, then moving on to the dead legionaries.
"Marcus, They left our men to rot in the sun, to be eaten by wolves and other animals. It was a disgrace to our men." He laments. "And now our response is to kill Women and capture livestock? Waiting for an attack?" Visibly upset he continues. "I think the men need an offensive movement to gain back our honor, not crawling into a fort and passiveness." He urges, frustrated. Without waiting for a proper answer or dismissal, he turns and heads to his tent.
Later, word reaches Lepidus that Drusus dispersed his loot from the raid to his cohorts.
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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 9:42:00 GMT -5
Drusus sat in his tent, his wounded leg being re-bandaged when Publius arrives.
"salve, Publius." He waves him over to another chair.
"Please sit and have some wine." He waits until the other legate gets comfortable. "What can I do for you?"
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 9:52:40 GMT -5
"Salve, Drusus."
Replied the youthful tribune, stopping to wince somewhat visibly at the sight of his comrade's wound before joining him in being seated. A slave was on hand, as always, with a cup of wine. At least that was something that remained of civilisation.
"You have some battle scars to bring home once we are done, eh?" Publius gestured to Drusus' leg with levity. "I heard the last engagement with the Gauls was not as decisive as the Imperator hoped. I have wondered since how our legions lost to an inferior force of unwashed tribesmen. The men say it was some woman's trick." Sulla obviously felt he could speak to Drusus in confidence, perhaps knowing the man by reputation to be honest and honourable. Even in the Subura, one heard all the gossip of the great families, and the Livii were among the greatest.
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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 10:13:20 GMT -5
Drusus grunted.
"Unless some spirit woman called up a rain storm, I saw no tricks." He answers. "We don't need any talk of that, I find, simple men have simple superstitions, we don't want them believing some arcane tricks are why we lost." Drusus commented.
He shifted on the stool to take pressure off his leg. After some fortified wine, he continued. "It was horrible terrain for our legions, the cohorts could not stay cohesive. We rushed right into them." He commented.
"There is no reason we should not crush them, while fierce , the legions can handle that with discipline." That was all that saved the last battle from complete disaster he thought to himself.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 11:03:07 GMT -5
”I see.” Replied Publius, somewhat warily. It seems that Drusus was braver than he thought, or at least brave enough to lay blame squarely with Lepidus’ leadership in a rather open fashion. The long-haired tribune took a healthy draught of wine, wincing and coughing at how strong Drusus liked his drink.
”I have yet to be blooded in my first true battle. I hope we fight them on the open plains in the future, or else we will all end up hobbling around.” Sulla smiled weakly at his own jape. ”It is some small comfort than the men have kept their spirits. On my arrival, they seemed near mutiny.”
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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 11:22:05 GMT -5
"It was a giant nest of confusion , followed by a hurried withdrawal. I can't blame the men for being disheartened. " Drusus explains. "But Lepidus does have some victories to his name, so they were probably more staggered than mutinous."
"Hopefully they are ready for revenge. I know I am ready to reclaim some lost glory." He added. "Perhaps if we put down these Aquitanii gauls quickly, the other tribes will be more subdued, " Drusus felt overcome with so many conflicting emotions. He was angry at Lepidus, he hated the Gauls, felt sorry for his men. All his words came out just bitter though. He drank some more.
"Any word on a Gallic advance?"
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 11:46:04 GMT -5
”None for the time being.”
Publius replied. That Drusus considered it a possibility spoke to the strong likelihood that eventually the Gauls would give pursuit to push them out. The little spit of land that Lepidus had thus far conquered would already be in danger of being lost.
”The withholding of pay was the chief cause of their concern. Now that has been remedied and our supplies renewed, they seem to be much more eager to face the Gauls again.”
Sulla spoke somewhat proudly, considering that to be his own accomplishment. Even if it had been largely the product of instinctive thinking than any grand strategy, it still counted in his favour. He shrugged, and braved another sip of whatever fortified tripe Drusus had them drinking.
”I have heard the Gauls are many tribes and nations. Do you think that Lepidus plans to make war on them all?”
Surely all Gaul would be too much for one man to conquer. They were fierce men, not like those soft and perfumed women in the east. Even ancient heroes like Camillus had not crossed them lightly.
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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 12:45:18 GMT -5
"I am not sure, he is not what I would call a humble man, he certainly wishes to make a name for himself out here. But I am unsure of his ultimate goals, we did not discuss them much." Drusus answered. He thought for a moment before continuing. "He has loyalty among the legions here, and it appears to be more than just his victories. So he is grounded somewhat, he can communicate with the common man."
"If more tribes come down however, " Drusus continued. "He will keep fighting and I believe it would only encourage him to push his advances out farther."
He took another drink. Hopefully there would be no movement early tomorrow .
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 13:23:27 GMT -5
"He possesses some gravitas, that I will not deny."
Though, to Sulla, he was still an aristocrat. The aristocrats had not had to face the smell of the shit covered streets of the Subura and behold the true face of their city. Publius had gotten lucky in that he had an ancient name and a well established relation. Elsewise he would likely have found himself still in Gaul, but among the footsloggers, facing arrows and spears in the rain rather than enjoying the much less arduous life of a commissioned officer.
"You have the right of it. My uncle must think that we will be out here in this backwater for a while, or he would not have sent me here to watch for trouser wearers every night."
Publius smiled ruefully, likewise hoping that the Gauls would not wake them early the next morning. This wine was beginning to get to his head.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Sept 29, 2021 14:20:24 GMT -5
Whilst the younger generation was off drinking. Lepidus a man shrouded in mystery was at his quarters. The Gallic slave women still there, albeit without clothes now. Lepidus had done his thing with them but enjoyed looking at them. As was the case with many of those with noble blood like Lepidus. Perverted parties, copious amounts of alcohol and enough food to feed a small city would have this effect on people. Lepidus had been besides himself though. The loss of his men during the battle in the woods effected him greatly. He wasn't seen much outside of his quarters since the defeat. He kept wondering if the gods hated him but often managed to relativity it to the point where he outright blamed himself. He had an inner battle with himself about if it had not been smarted to fall upon his own sword. Especially after the change of strategy proved effective. Effective in the case of loot, slaves and booty at least. Lepidus sighed and rubbed his face as he looked at the brown, blonde and red headed slaves that had been presented by Publius. A form of fatigued, the result of the stress caused the sigh. What was he even doing here? He wondered. Was he going to take the entirety of Gaul? Did he have the stomach for all the Romans that would perish in such an endeavor? Lepidus didn't even know it anymore.. all he did know is that he wanted to cement a legacy.. and thusly he wrote a letter to his clerks back in Messalia. 20.000 Denarii of Lepidus his own personal coffers would be alloted to build a new city, in Gaul, as the new capital of Roman Gaul and it would be called Aemilius Lepidi.
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Post by rhapture on Sept 29, 2021 15:00:18 GMT -5
With fresh fighters recruited, the Aquitani tribal leaders debate their next move and send out sentries.
Discovering no enemy activity until the Roman camp, they head out from Burdicala seeing not scouts around their fort
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 15:09:24 GMT -5
Perhaps due to their tiredness, the Roman scouts are slow to report any Gallic movement. A day passes until they discover that the Gauls have marched past Lactora to the south, circumvented their position, and invaded the province of Transalpine Gaul proper. What the Romans did to the Gauls was repaid in kind, with the Aquitani plundering the lands around the settlement of Tolosa at will.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Sept 29, 2021 16:19:07 GMT -5
The Romans march on the Gauls..
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 29, 2021 16:31:43 GMT -5
Word reaches the Aquitani that the Romans are converging on their position from the direction of Lactora.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Sept 30, 2021 8:07:59 GMT -5
The Romans take the advantages ground in preparation of battle. Scouts are sent to discover ambush potential.
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