Illyricum

The Boii harass the Roman engineers as they build their bridge, deploying men to watch the other side and kill any Romans that date cross. They stubbornly block the crossing of Lepidus here at every opportunity, harassing the romans with javelins and arrows. As soon as the bridge is built, the Dindari immediately depart to defend their lands from the Boii. The Boii themselves gather their forces to face the Romans as their backs are against the river.

The fearsome Gallic tribesmen, heirs of Brennus who sacked Rome and the Brennos who led the Galatians into Asia, formed up opposite the riverbank that necessity had positioned the Romans on. While the Romans had adopted their traditional flexible and orderly formation, the sheer number of barbarians was frightening to behold. Their cavalry rode in on each wing, behind their infantry, the best of whom were clad in chainmail and wore fearsome helmets with wings or animal devices. Behind them were the lighter levies and warbands, wearing little but spears, cloaks, and loincloths (some did not even bother with these).  They advanced as a great mass, and then, predictably, began hooting and whooping as they descended into the fearsome charge that the Gauls were known for.

They crashed into the Roman line with savagery and ferocity that could barely be contained. With little room to manoeuvre, the Romans fought valiantly, and it was a testament to their veteran discipline that they kept formation in the face of the horde. Sulla's centre undoubtedly fared best, the one eyed tribune barking orders left and right, riding up and down the line to ensure that any gaps were filled. Try as they might, the Gauls simply could not break them. It was, in the end, the centre that ensured that the day was not completely lost for the Romans.

The disaster first began on the right. Overwhelmed, the veteran legion were forced to give ground; only that behind them was a river, just a short few paces away. The reserve Legio XX came to shore up the line, and for a moment plugged the gap as the veterans rested and recuperated. 

The committing of the reserve on the right, however, meant that Lepidus was left alone on the left to shore up the crumbling flank. Try as he might, the great general could not rally his men as the Gauls assaulted them from all directions. When a group had found their way behind the line, Lepidus knew it was time to call the retreat. Sulla's men, acting as a reserve, took the brunt of the fierce Gallic efforts to stop the Romans from falling back, losing many lives in the process. It was only by their efforts that complete disaster was mitigated. 

Destroying the bridge behind them to prevent a Gallic crossing, Lepidus finds himself now in hostile territory with a badly bruised army. Fortunately, the Boii appear neglectful to pursue the Romans across the river, likely afraid of leaving their civilians unguarded. They return to pillage the lands of the Dindari.


Roman defeat. All legions gain +1 veterancy. Sulla gains +1 command for winning all three phases.

Roman casualties:
625 Legio IX
250 Legio XX
445 Legio X
280 Cavalry
700 Legio XI


Gallic Casualties:
744 light infantry
700 heavy infantry
450 elite infantry
260 cavalry

Sulla had been on horseback behind the men, barking orders from his vantage point. It gave him the necessary clarity needed to direct men where they were needed most, yelling to the centurions to cover holes in the line as the Gallic warriors poured forward. Perhaps for another man, this might have been called cowardice - but the luxury of battle scars and a mural crown ensured that the accusation would not be thrown at him lightly. Besides, he joined the battle himself, near the end, risking life and limb to wade into the centre and hold back the enemy for the rest of the army's sake.

"Hold! Hold!" Sulla bellowed, shoving a Gaul back with a shield before burying the Gladius into his gut. From his peripheral vision, he saw one of the Centurions he liked go down to a Gallic spear. Luscus grit his teeth and kept pushing. Having been spared the brunt of the battle, they were now being scythed down through no fault of their own, Gallic champions smelling blood wading deep into the lines, wielding the kind of vicious broadsword that had taken one of his eyes at Burdigala. Fatigue searing his aching joints, his movements became almost robotic, stabbing and stabbing again as the whistle finally came from the other side of the bridge. Even then, they had to keep formation and move backwards, and there was some pride as he sensed the Gauls could not quite believe that the Romans had not broken and ran. They stood off their beleaguered foe, something they would regret as the bridge was swiftly hacked apart and the crossing sunk beneath the waters.

Publius wiped the blood from his face with a cloth. "I am honoured, Commander." Sulla replied, exhausted. Personally, he felt the centurions were more deserving, but he would not begrudge the will of the army.

---

If Lepidus wished to attack the Boii, he would need to find a safe crossing point back into Dindari lands, and preferably before the Dardanians came to answer the threat of a trespassing Roman army in their territory.

His other option was to march south, back into Illyria, either by asking passage of the Dardanians or simply moving through and hoping for the best.

The Romans find that the rain has caused the banks of the river to swell, making crossing difficult. Worse still, the Dardanians have found the Romans, and a group of horsemen have noticeably been shadowing them for the past few days. It appears that the only viable route is south, back into Illyria. Some of the Centurions suggest to Lepidus that perhaps the men should regroup in friendly territory before continuing their campaign against the barbarians.

The Dardanian shadowing force gets larger and larger as the days go by. Lepidus' every move is being watched as he marches south, following the river into Dardania.

One morning, scouts report that a small force appears to be encamped in front of the Romans, no larger than around two thousand men. They have made their base at the foot of the mountain, adjacent to the passages that the Romans must move through to return to friendly territory. The Legions enquire what they are to do about this obstacle.

The scouts reckon at least a few thousand horsemen are following them, but it is difficult to tell as they keep their distance and quickly disperse when followed. The force ahead, apparently alerted to the Roman advance, retreats further into the mountain pass.