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Post by Gandalf on Sept 30, 2021 15:24:18 GMT -5
(Just need some orders from the Gauls and we can get this going)
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 30, 2021 16:48:39 GMT -5
The Gauls arrange opposite the Romans on a relatively flat plain to the south-west of Tolosa. Their right flank is positioned near to the Garonne River. It appears to Lepidus that they have adopted a fairly standard formation of a single line of infantry with the cavalry massed on the wings.
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Post by Gandalf on Sept 30, 2021 18:18:26 GMT -5
The Gauls advanced, the ferocity of their charge rocking the Roman line. Lepidus in the centre struggled particularly this time, being pushed back inch by inch by the sheer savagery of their lightly armoured counterparts. Their cavalry came up with them on each wing, the horsemen on the Gallic right trying to lure away the mass of Roman cavalry from the battlefield. They did not take the bait, so instead the Gallic horsemen crashed into Sulla's men on the left. Thankfully for the young tribune, his men held valiantly, the XI redeeming their previous error and holding the line admirably and even turning the Gallic assault back. Drusus saw similar success after early setback, the stamina of the legions winning out and taking ground inch by inch. Here the Gallic cavalry was stifled by the presence of their Roman counterparts, the men of the Allobroges and Aedui battling their enemies against the river until eventually their superior numbers told. Thousands of Gallic horsemen were trapped and driven into the waters of the Garonne with nowhere to turn. Though Lepidus was forced to give the centre after fierce fighting, Sulla on the wing came to his rescue and rolled up the Gauls from the left, the men of the XI proving to be the stars of the battle after also driving off the Gallic reserve's attempt to shore up their line.
This, of course, led to a disaster for the Gauls. The Roman cavalry rode them down with impunity as they lost all attempts at cohesion, and what could have been a horrific defeat for Lepidus had been saved by the valour of his young tribunes. 9000 denarii is looted from the baggage train in plunder and slaves. The Aquitani immediately retreat to their own territory, having lost more than half their force
Roman victory.
Remaining Gallic Force:
2500 Light Infantry
1800 heavy infantry
1800 cavalry
Remaining Roman force:
Legio X - 3800 infantry, 400 cavalry
Legio XI - 3760 infantry, 400 cavalry
Legio IX - 3600 infantry, 400 cavalry
2300 allied cavalry
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Sept 30, 2021 18:34:36 GMT -5
Lepidus stood on the field, a victor this time. Spotting his tribune on the left and right. Heaving his sword to salute them. Even though the glory would go to him, it was their effort that had saved the day. They should know it, feel it and enjoy it. The question of loot was to be settled now. Both men would be offered 2000 denarii for their service in this battle while Lepidus would walk away with five. A bigger cut for leaving the loot before to them alone. Regardless of this, Lepidus now faced the choice to built yet another colony, on these hallowed ground. The coming day he's ponder on it. For now he'd ask for his secondants to join him.
"Gentleman, congratulations. You saved me today" He said, laying his right hand on Drusus his shoulder and his left one on Publius's. He smiled, feeling proud towards the men he saw growing in stature every day. "I'm proud of you young fine man" he added, still smiling like he did before. "Now we shall take their capital" Lepidus said.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 1, 2021 5:57:33 GMT -5
Publius was covered in blood, mud, and sweat from head to foot. The long, golden hair he so proudly sported had become matted red and dark brown, the colours of war and death. It had been a fight for his life, in there in the mud amidst the footsloggers. He had even killed a man himself, sinking his blade deep into a horseman's flesh, though the details of his face now seemed to be but a smudge in his memory. Glory was his, or so Lepidus said. In truth, Sulla had simply stayed alive and allowed the military machine to take over. The Eleventh fought like men possessed, the Centurions barking orders at the cohorts to deal with each threat as it came. As the battle wore down into a bruising melee, the superior stamina and organisation of the legion told, with each rank cycling forward and backwards ad infinitum.
Eventually, the Gauls on his side had broke and ran. Sulla, with some space to breathe and think, grabbed one of the Gallic horses left on the field. Surveying the carnage, it suddenly became apparent that his side of the field had been the first to claim victory. Filled with a mixture of bloodlust and elation, the young tribune raised his sword and cantered off towards Lepidus, the centurions taking their cue quickly and bellowing orders for several cohorts to accompany him and roll up the Gallic line. Everything after that was rather simple, to the point of being unsavoury. Thousands upon thousands of Gauls were ran down and killed, their corpses littering the field like flowers in spring. Surveying the carnage, Publius appeared almost deaf to the words of his commander as he watched the carcasses gathered in preparation for their ritual burning. He could not even wash himself in the river, filled with the dead as it was, so he would send slaves out to find a clean spring for a nice, hot bath.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 1, 2021 7:13:12 GMT -5
As the Romans approach Burdigala, they discover that the defeated remnants of the Gallic army is holed up inside the city. It is a well fortified settlement, with strong, thick stone walls and supplies coming down the Garonne from other Gallic settlements on the Atlantic coast. A large riverport juts out from the city onto the Garonne's west bank, albeit it is shielded from the romans by the city walls.
Nonetheless, the Gauls send out a rider to discuss terms with the Romans upon their approach.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 1, 2021 8:24:59 GMT -5
Lepidus rode to meet the emissary. Flanked by veteran centurions and his tribunes.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 1, 2021 8:48:36 GMT -5
The Gauls offer Rome tribute, hostages, and recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic as allies. In return, the Romans are to leave their territory and cease hostilities with the Aquitani.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 1, 2021 9:28:50 GMT -5
Lepidus frowned as the offer was made. A small grin on his face as he looked to his seconds to gauge their reactions.
"Well, this is what we'll do." Lepidus said, with a bit of a temper. "You have no allies, you have no relief force and you have not a single army in the field. While your fort may be advantages you can't hide forever and we have the time." Lepidus bit towards the emissary with a lot of words per second. Lepidus tapped his gladius with his hand who had been to the side of his body, relaxed. Perfectly calm before he started tapping. In his head Lepidus was counting. Wondering how long it would take but with the third tap he once again took the initiative. Realizing he had to keep the initiative. "You pay 75.000 denarii. I will leave your tribe in peace but as part of the Republic. Failure means I will find every man, woman and child who ever set foot on your lands and fraternized with you. Your women will be raped by everyman in my camp before being sold into slavery. While the man will be murdered brutally and stuffed with their balls in their mouths while being hanged on the roads to all other tribes in the region. The aquitani name will be etched out of existence while the remainder of your folk, the children will grow up without tongues and they will suffer for the coming 50 or more years pleasing elder Roman men with their obsessions and hard labor." Lepidus said on an especially brutal tone, he lost himself in the words he had just spoken. With a fresh breath of air and a sickening face from the emnisarry's Lepidus asked one more thing. "Is that understood?"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 1, 2021 9:40:46 GMT -5
The Gauls reply that they do not have the funds to pay such an indemnity immediately, and therefore retreat to their walls and prepare to withstand a siege while the other tribes begin slowly to gather what men they had left.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 1, 2021 9:46:05 GMT -5
Sentries are deployed, the entire remaining cavalry force. The Legions are ordered to construct everything with all due haste.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 1, 2021 12:51:14 GMT -5
The Previous Battle:
Marcus Livius Drusus lined up behind his legion and looked out over the field at the approaching gallic line. It was strange to think of them as 'his legion' , but he had grown to know many of the men by name over the last months. He respected them , and now, after being bloodied and surviving a severe wound, they seemed to respect him too. He shouted down the line "Keep your spacing!!" , the far left cohorts seemed to be bunching towards the center. The Gauls did not seem to have any tricks to be played this time, the whole horde seemed arrayed before them. They were already shouting amongst themselves for encouragement. A few more minutes, Drusus thought, and then they would clash again.
He could feel the tension in the air, as if the whole legion dug their heels in and griped their shields a little harder.
"Pila Ready!!" Came the calls from the centurions down the line.
These battles certainly got the heart beating in excitement, Drusus thought again, one was alive here.... and dead soon enough if you were not careful.
"LOOSE!!!"
The sound of the spears as one through the air gave a swooshing sound and then many a Gaul stumbled to his death.
They front lines braced for the charge and then the battle truly began. How loud it was he thought. After a few minutes , the battle line forming a wave as certain units moved back or forward, Drusus walked behind his men, encouraging them. Then a large push came two thirds of the way from the center. Drusus saw his chance, and gathered his reserves and led them directly into the forming hole.
"For Rome!!" He shouted suddenly in surprise to himself, as he drew his gladius and dived into the melee.
Soon it was over, the cavalry defeating their counterparts and the Legions holding their lines and finally the gauls fled. It was a good victory. Yet still afterwards he walked the lines and saw all the Roman bodies, dead and mutilated, or permanently disabled. Why are we wasting our good men on some land far from home, he wondered. It seemed a like there were better uses for them.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 1, 2021 12:56:51 GMT -5
Present Time:
Drusus walks into the command tent as the legions start to gather the materials for a siege and assault.
"Marcus Aemilius!" He forces out , trying not to shout. "What in the name of Romulus are you doing?"
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 2, 2021 5:40:04 GMT -5
Lepidus stood in the sun, enjoying the business of the legions preparing the siege engines. Looking over those who did the work this day with the hot son on his face he felt at peace for a moment. Which was rudely interrupted by Drusus. It caused Lepidus to seriously raise a brow. He turned to the man, showing his relative uneasiness with Drusus almost yelling at him. "Keep it down" Lepidus barked back, a man of his station wouldn't be talked to like that. "What is it? Getting week knee's?" Lepidus asked as he started moving to a quieter place, directing Drusus to follow him.
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Post by rhapture on Oct 3, 2021 10:46:32 GMT -5
"Why are you planning to waste more Roman lives?? These gauls have surrendered , but you won't except because you want to squeeze every last valuable item they own?" Drusus interrogates.
"They have even offered you their abilities as a cavalry force in future battles, which we could use, but you need more glory? There is no glory in crushing a defeated foe, Marcus." He states strongly.
"You should accept their terms, the money you save from raising new troops and buying new mercenaries will more than make up from this insane frontal assault on their town. Besides, let them defend their own lands as allies instead of needing more Legionaries further from our province. It is good sense , instead of this waste you seem intent on proving." Drusus implored. "I thought you were a bigger man than this." He finished turning away with shame.
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