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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 13, 2021 12:27:16 GMT -5
Mithy liked the idea. His ally was onto something here. "Will you march with me Gordius? So that we achieve victory against the invaders."
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Post by rhapture on Oct 13, 2021 15:03:39 GMT -5
"The only way we will defeat them, my king is if we work together." he replied
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 15, 2021 10:14:34 GMT -5
The Romans, still traversing the banks of the river Halys, would soon come into the vicinity of central Cappadocia, some miles from Mazaka. Aware from previous scouting reports of a sizeable Mithridatic army in the area, Sulla would find some favourable ground in the Anatolian hills and construct a fortified camp, defended ably by earthworks and wooden towers from which the legionaries could hurl projectiles on attackers below. Caesar was ordered take several cohorts to the surrounding settlements to forage for supplies. Likewise would Cinna lead a similar sized party to construct several bridges over the Halys in rapid fashion, should Mithridates suddenly conspire to change his position. Finally, Regulus, placed in charge of a sizeable cavalry detachment, would establish a perimeter around the encampment and use the rest of his horsemen to probe the enemy positions to their east.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 16, 2021 4:34:01 GMT -5
(As per Brew's instructions for Mithridates...)
Hearing no word from the King of Kings or his army, Sulla orders the men to break camp and march for Mazaka, preparing for battle.
What they find is... Nothing. It appeared that Mithridates had retreated somewhere, leaving only an empty capitol with a few civilians behind them. Declaring Cappadocia liberated, missives are sent to every city in the province declaring Rome's new dominion and demanding their surrender. With no client king to install, the Republic would simply annex this desolate region and name it a Roman province. Though outwardly confident, the Roman general could not help but be perturbed. What game was Mithridates playing? Thankfully, his supplies could now be bought from Galatia and Cilicia to be stored here in Cappadocia, and word would be sent to the legions at the Cilician gates to march here and install a military garrison in the region. Not that the King of Kings had left much to rule over, taking most of the harvest away with him.
With winter approaching, the Pro-Consul decided that for the coming months the army would remain in Cappadocia to gather supplies and drive out the Pontic presence. Scouts were sent in all directions to find Mithridates, wherever he might be hiding, while Sulla would prepare for an invasion of Pontus in the new year.
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Post by sforza on Oct 16, 2021 5:05:16 GMT -5
"Should i lead a scouting party to find the foreign despot?"
Cinna asked of his cousin, certainly, he didn't want to just stay in Mazaka to just serve as a garrison commander in the coming months. It was in Cinna's nature to seek military action.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 16, 2021 5:35:39 GMT -5
"With winter coming fast, I suspect we shall not see the King of Kings until the new year."
Replied Sulla, who had appropriated the palace of the old Cappadocian kings as his own. It was rather spartan, even the furnishings having been stripped bare by the retreating Pontic army.
"Once we have an idea of which cities resist our rule, we can move against them. I shall leave the recovery of Asia to Lepidus, whilst we go on the offensive."
The Pro-Consul sipped thoughtfully on some wine.
"And send for Crassus. His legions should soon be arriving from Cilicia, and I would have him put them to use. Commander or not."
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Post by sforza on Oct 16, 2021 14:43:14 GMT -5
"We should send envoys to the remaining Cappadocian cities then"
Cinna said, who scratched his maimed chin.
"I suppose that with the enemy army gone from this region they shall open their doors for us"
The legate hoped not, for captured cities always gave alot of loot to indulge in.
"If not they shall face the wrath of Rome"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 17, 2021 6:12:15 GMT -5
”They shall nonetheless. I intend to make those cities that opened their gates to the enemy pay a hefty fine for their treachery. As ever the Greeks are a fickle and treasonous lot.”
Sulla could see no other reason why they would go over to some eastern barbarian. A lack of gratitude must be sternly punished by the paternal hand of the Republic.
”But that shall be arranged after our victory. The old dog Mithridates avoids battle with us, to my surprise. I had thought he would be eager to engage us and prove to our fickle allies his supremacy. Instead, he hides in the mountains, like a coward.”
It would be prudent to gamble on his recall, had Sulla not had the support at home to continue his command for years hence.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 17, 2021 16:19:53 GMT -5
Mithy is at Sebasteai, camping for winter.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 17, 2021 16:51:16 GMT -5
Hoping to catch Mithridates before the snows come in, Sulla breaks camp with his main force and marches north, abandoning his winter quarters to face the King of Kings in Sebasteia. Crassus’ men are kept in Cappadocia to serve as a garrison and a fall-back should the Romans suffer defeat.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 18, 2021 7:03:36 GMT -5
Mithradites decides to offer battle in one of the narrow valley passes around Sebasteia.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 18, 2021 7:09:53 GMT -5
Approaching the Pontic army in marching formation, Sulla dispatches Regulus with a hundred horsemen to bypass the valley and view the enemy position from afar. He is ordered to survey all entry and exit points to the pass, and report on whether the full strength of the Pontic army is arrayed there. He is explicitly ordered to not engage the enemy. In the meantime, the untested legions begin construction of an armed camp, while the veterans stand guard in battle formation.
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 18, 2021 8:01:51 GMT -5
Mithridates is alerted to the Roman scouts who are driven off. The capadocian army is sent to the pass, looking for Roman attempts to take it or perhaps even exploit it.
(as per instructions from Gandy) The capadocian army and the Roman legion sent to the pass encounter each other. The Romans must now chose to engage or not.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 18, 2021 8:13:07 GMT -5
Cinna (+3 command) is sent with the Legio Fulminata (+1 battles) and 500 cavalry to assist Regulus (2 command) and his own escort, the Legio VI (+1 battles). Once Cinna arrives, the Romans engage. --- The Romans are organised in the traditional three line formation with cavalry covering either flank to defend from any attempt to get around their lines, supported on each wing by a cohort of infantry. The main line infantry are to draw any pikemen they engage onto uneven ground, where they are weakest, then harass their lighter armour with pila and attack them from all sides to disrupt their formation. Other infantry is to be dealt with in the standard fashion, good old fashioned melee slogging. Any heavier horse is to be attacked both at range and in melee with Pila. Should the Romans be driven back, 500 men from each legion will cover the retreat back to the Roman camp. {Roman Force}
Left:
3500 Legio Fulminata infantry (+1 battles) - Cinna (3 command)
400 Roman cavalry
250 allied cavalry
Right:
3500 Legio Samnium infantry (+1 battles) - Regulus (2 command)
400 Roman cavalry
250 allied cavalry
Reserve:
500 Legio Fulminata (+1 battles)
500 Legio Samnium (+1 battles)
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Oct 18, 2021 8:57:09 GMT -5
The battle of the Sebateia pass. The Romans had hoped to march through the pass where scouts fond a way through earlier. However, with the scouts being found by Pontus loyalists, Mithridates dispatched his second army on Gordius to sniff out any Romans that may come sniffing. The Romans had send two legions headed by Cinna and Regulus. Soon the armies came into contact. Gordius had positioned his heavy pike troops on a narrow stretch of the pass. The Romans countered by throwing Pilla at them before charging into the brave Cappadocians. The battle went on for hours without a clear victor emerging. The sheer numbers brought to bear by Gordius didn't make it easy for the Romans to break through. On the left of the pass the Capapdocians slaughtered many Romans but on the Right the Romans did the same to the Cappadocians. In the heavy fighting, Regulus had to be brought off the field due to a minor injury (-1 resilience for a day). The day ended with a Roman withdraw, after which the Cappadocians soon retreated as well. DRAW, strategic victory for Gordius.
1215 deaths on the Roman side (distribute among the infantry as you please.) 1115 on the Pontic side (Mainly the Pikeman)
1+ veterancy for the Romans.
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