This is a continuation of my previous topic: my new H/H julii campaign.
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After the conquest of Crete, our soldiers, still bored to the bone, embark on a quick sea trip towards Rhodes, continuing our pursuit of advanced naval bases and a more special, subtle gain. Rhodes posseses something that noone else had, has, or ever shall.
This tiny island, founded as a greek colony, boasts an impressive harbor, guarded by collossal statue, hailed throughout known world as Collossus of Rhodes.Whoever reigns supreme over this speck of land profits from the mystical power of the bronze guardian, boasting a 40 precent increse in naval trade revenue.
House Julii controls mostly coastal regions, only 3 out of 18 regions cannot build ports and trade by sea.With the addition of this base, our treasury will become fat of taxes from naval trade, a great boon.
At the end of stunning pleasure cruise, visually pleasurable not any other way you perverts, julian army reaches Rhodes and ...surprise: A whole Brutii army waits on the island, ready to lay waste to the city.
What they were doing there we can only speculate: shell gathering on beaches, looking for trees, or simply drooling over the bronze sculpted body of the collossus.
Back home, whispers reached us about certain excesses Brutes patricians seem to indulge in.
Quick and decisive, after a short scouting, our general orders a siege:
This assault will prove to be most unusual. Two giants have converged on this small spot to twat a mosquito with enormous sledgehammers. Logic tells us that such an encounter will not go very well, for the giants. Smashed heads, entangling of sledge shafts, bickering over who actually performed the brave deed ...
Siege commences and our forces find themselves on 1 side of the city, directly opposite our friend and annoying ally. Like at assault of Lugdunum, 2 battle rams are hastily built and smash open the gates and the walls under cretan archers protective fire.
Fortunate for us, we dont have to deal with armored hoplites, just their poor cousins, greeks do posseses some cavalry though. The Red Duke leading this army has forseen this and came prepared. First task he adressed after landing on Rhodes was to recruit from local citizens a hoplite mercenary unit.These hoplites find themselves at point, spearheading the advance. Their phalanx formation is extremly useful in creating a cork to plug the road leading to town square.
A cork made out of muscles, armor and shiny spears for the greek cavalry to impale themselves upon.
As soon as we smash a hole in city defenses, our allies start to move. Rushing like a bear to honey, they run with utter abandon around the town. With reassuring proof of their incompetence, they double time close to city wall, within an arrow shot of defensive towers. By the time they reach our position, they loose many, many men to merciless arrows shot by city defenders. Such display of crass lack of tactics only infuriates us. After all those men only follow orders, and they are romans too.
Bloody display steels our secret resolve to eliminate these bloody Brutes, who eat, drink and multiply at home, in their villas while common soldier bleeds on battlefield, following poor orders.
Julian soldiers and their officers fair a lot better. Whole army stays in place, while archers are letting loose, killing enemy hoplites, skirmishers and whatever dears come close to the walls. Sooner than expected, Brutii cavalery has arrived. With no regard for their lives, foolishly, 2 full squadrons charge in and impale themselves on enemy hoplites spears. Did they want to die? Were they fed up with crazy green clad generals?
More Brutii troops follow them in, pouring in uncontrolable frenzy. Their valiant effort sends us in action. Two hastati and 2 principes units are sent in through the gaps. They are followed swiftly by 2 more julian infantry and the mercenary hoplites. With quick and efficient sword strokes, they clear a huge area of routing enemy and remanent hoplites.
That settled, they block the access road, mercs in front, in phalanx formation, principes flanking their left and a bit behind, followed by 4 more infantry in tightly pack squares:
Cretan archers rush through the gates and take position behind this mass, firing at will. As soon as last trooper has taken proper position, whole "cork" begins to advance slowly, with deadly purpose. A greek militia cavalry charges advacing troops like madmen. Half of them get skewered by hoplite spears, other half is impaled by precision launched javelins.
The 4 survivors retreat and charge again, only to get trampled by pricipes. A seconf greek militia follows. They stop, throw some javelins at us, but their unit has lost it's cohesion, is stringed like sausages along whole road, ergo their missiles have little impact. Then they decide to switch to knives, and come at us one by one. All meet the same end: irontipped spear to the guts. Mounds of horse and men are piling up like cordwood if front of merc hoplites. Powerful tactic.
Sudenly, our formation is broken up. From behind, comes an outporing of mighty beasts, wardogs, set loose by their Brutii masters. In great leaps these ferocious beast advance through our ranks and run ahead, chasing, biting and demoralizing the two remaining greek cavalry: a militia and general himself with his unit. Finaly an action that makes sense from our cousins. Wardogs kill and rout the mounted greeks, leaving a clear path for our troops, which soon reach town square.
Julii general holds back only phalanx we have, correctly deciding that in open space of the plaza, roman infantry is superior, through agility and reaction time. Three hastati and a principes make a left turn, on a secondary road perpendicular to our avenue of approach and are orderd to fire at will. Two remaining infantry with depeleted pila still block the access road, backed up by two more units rushed upfront, and many disorderly Brutii forces.
Under fire from cretan archer, remaining two hoplite formations loose half of their effective before they decide to move. Once they reach the corner of the plaza, where the two roads we blocked converge, a hailstorm of pila breaks up their attack, routing them.
House Julii wins the battle and control of the town, with only 75 soldiers killed:
Population is put to the sword, as maintaining a province so far from our capital, more than 70% and suffering from culture penalty and unrest is nothing but asking for trouble to let them live.
Next season meets us with no battles, but great pressing administrative issues. Our treasury, despite the influx of funds generated through conquest and taxes was dwindling dangerously low: from 30 thousand denarii to less than eight.
Troops were being trained at home, ships were being built in most port cities, troops were initiated in the Agoge, wages and dispensations were being handed out faster than our tax collectors could bring in the coin.On top of it, in Tessalonica, at temple of Artemis, wich grants an upgrade in missile weapon, new mounted javelineers were being trained and in Larissa the first assassin join the ranks of expanding shady network:
As you can see, this professional is extremly talented and fate has placed his 1st target right outside his home town: a Brutii assassin. Nothing more satisfying than slaying and enemy death dealer with one of your own. Our man has suceeded, inspite of 69% chances of success.
Monotony of signing documents, marching orders and inventories is happily broken up by a rare event. Our House leader, Flavius Julius, today turns a very respectable 73 years. In his very long and fruitful life, this old horse had gathered a trully impressive list of traits and characteristics:
Happy and serene, this old chap has left behind his ever increasing retinue, retiring to small town of Segestica to live out his days in middle of forested hills, golden fields and fiery sundowns.We manage to surprise him with a small banquet, where he got to know his great grandsons, Luca and Publius Julius, born this year.
Even in middle of warm, close family atmosphere, the great patriarch has maintained his composure, with the attitude great men of power have, enhanced by that mysterious awe that one feels when so close to the inevitable.After parting gifts and few tears, we let the old man retire to his hobby he picked in the flowery hills: beekeeping.
Next day, spell was broken by more reports, income statements, more marching orders, plans, they never end. Sometimes I feel like Sisyfus, carrying on my back the responsability that comes with my position. Maybe is time to give it all up and retire to a small town, on shores of Mediteranean sea, like Segesta, away from palace life, intrigues, politics and bloody affairs.
Like my mentor before me, I was training a replacement. He is not my blood, this person was chosen above all others for his abilities, awarness and dedication. His name is Cornelius Constantinus Manius and I find him a very capable hand, familiar with all subtle plans set in motion.
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After the conquest of Crete, our soldiers, still bored to the bone, embark on a quick sea trip towards Rhodes, continuing our pursuit of advanced naval bases and a more special, subtle gain. Rhodes posseses something that noone else had, has, or ever shall.
This tiny island, founded as a greek colony, boasts an impressive harbor, guarded by collossal statue, hailed throughout known world as Collossus of Rhodes.Whoever reigns supreme over this speck of land profits from the mystical power of the bronze guardian, boasting a 40 precent increse in naval trade revenue.
House Julii controls mostly coastal regions, only 3 out of 18 regions cannot build ports and trade by sea.With the addition of this base, our treasury will become fat of taxes from naval trade, a great boon.
At the end of stunning pleasure cruise, visually pleasurable not any other way you perverts, julian army reaches Rhodes and ...surprise: A whole Brutii army waits on the island, ready to lay waste to the city.
What they were doing there we can only speculate: shell gathering on beaches, looking for trees, or simply drooling over the bronze sculpted body of the collossus.
Back home, whispers reached us about certain excesses Brutes patricians seem to indulge in.
Quick and decisive, after a short scouting, our general orders a siege:
This assault will prove to be most unusual. Two giants have converged on this small spot to twat a mosquito with enormous sledgehammers. Logic tells us that such an encounter will not go very well, for the giants. Smashed heads, entangling of sledge shafts, bickering over who actually performed the brave deed ...
Siege commences and our forces find themselves on 1 side of the city, directly opposite our friend and annoying ally. Like at assault of Lugdunum, 2 battle rams are hastily built and smash open the gates and the walls under cretan archers protective fire.
Fortunate for us, we dont have to deal with armored hoplites, just their poor cousins, greeks do posseses some cavalry though. The Red Duke leading this army has forseen this and came prepared. First task he adressed after landing on Rhodes was to recruit from local citizens a hoplite mercenary unit.These hoplites find themselves at point, spearheading the advance. Their phalanx formation is extremly useful in creating a cork to plug the road leading to town square.
A cork made out of muscles, armor and shiny spears for the greek cavalry to impale themselves upon.
As soon as we smash a hole in city defenses, our allies start to move. Rushing like a bear to honey, they run with utter abandon around the town. With reassuring proof of their incompetence, they double time close to city wall, within an arrow shot of defensive towers. By the time they reach our position, they loose many, many men to merciless arrows shot by city defenders. Such display of crass lack of tactics only infuriates us. After all those men only follow orders, and they are romans too.
Bloody display steels our secret resolve to eliminate these bloody Brutes, who eat, drink and multiply at home, in their villas while common soldier bleeds on battlefield, following poor orders.
Julian soldiers and their officers fair a lot better. Whole army stays in place, while archers are letting loose, killing enemy hoplites, skirmishers and whatever dears come close to the walls. Sooner than expected, Brutii cavalery has arrived. With no regard for their lives, foolishly, 2 full squadrons charge in and impale themselves on enemy hoplites spears. Did they want to die? Were they fed up with crazy green clad generals?
More Brutii troops follow them in, pouring in uncontrolable frenzy. Their valiant effort sends us in action. Two hastati and 2 principes units are sent in through the gaps. They are followed swiftly by 2 more julian infantry and the mercenary hoplites. With quick and efficient sword strokes, they clear a huge area of routing enemy and remanent hoplites.
That settled, they block the access road, mercs in front, in phalanx formation, principes flanking their left and a bit behind, followed by 4 more infantry in tightly pack squares:
Cretan archers rush through the gates and take position behind this mass, firing at will. As soon as last trooper has taken proper position, whole "cork" begins to advance slowly, with deadly purpose. A greek militia cavalry charges advacing troops like madmen. Half of them get skewered by hoplite spears, other half is impaled by precision launched javelins.
The 4 survivors retreat and charge again, only to get trampled by pricipes. A seconf greek militia follows. They stop, throw some javelins at us, but their unit has lost it's cohesion, is stringed like sausages along whole road, ergo their missiles have little impact. Then they decide to switch to knives, and come at us one by one. All meet the same end: irontipped spear to the guts. Mounds of horse and men are piling up like cordwood if front of merc hoplites. Powerful tactic.
Sudenly, our formation is broken up. From behind, comes an outporing of mighty beasts, wardogs, set loose by their Brutii masters. In great leaps these ferocious beast advance through our ranks and run ahead, chasing, biting and demoralizing the two remaining greek cavalry: a militia and general himself with his unit. Finaly an action that makes sense from our cousins. Wardogs kill and rout the mounted greeks, leaving a clear path for our troops, which soon reach town square.
Julii general holds back only phalanx we have, correctly deciding that in open space of the plaza, roman infantry is superior, through agility and reaction time. Three hastati and a principes make a left turn, on a secondary road perpendicular to our avenue of approach and are orderd to fire at will. Two remaining infantry with depeleted pila still block the access road, backed up by two more units rushed upfront, and many disorderly Brutii forces.
Under fire from cretan archer, remaining two hoplite formations loose half of their effective before they decide to move. Once they reach the corner of the plaza, where the two roads we blocked converge, a hailstorm of pila breaks up their attack, routing them.
House Julii wins the battle and control of the town, with only 75 soldiers killed:
Population is put to the sword, as maintaining a province so far from our capital, more than 70% and suffering from culture penalty and unrest is nothing but asking for trouble to let them live.
Next season meets us with no battles, but great pressing administrative issues. Our treasury, despite the influx of funds generated through conquest and taxes was dwindling dangerously low: from 30 thousand denarii to less than eight.
Troops were being trained at home, ships were being built in most port cities, troops were initiated in the Agoge, wages and dispensations were being handed out faster than our tax collectors could bring in the coin.On top of it, in Tessalonica, at temple of Artemis, wich grants an upgrade in missile weapon, new mounted javelineers were being trained and in Larissa the first assassin join the ranks of expanding shady network:
As you can see, this professional is extremly talented and fate has placed his 1st target right outside his home town: a Brutii assassin. Nothing more satisfying than slaying and enemy death dealer with one of your own. Our man has suceeded, inspite of 69% chances of success.
Monotony of signing documents, marching orders and inventories is happily broken up by a rare event. Our House leader, Flavius Julius, today turns a very respectable 73 years. In his very long and fruitful life, this old horse had gathered a trully impressive list of traits and characteristics:
Happy and serene, this old chap has left behind his ever increasing retinue, retiring to small town of Segestica to live out his days in middle of forested hills, golden fields and fiery sundowns.We manage to surprise him with a small banquet, where he got to know his great grandsons, Luca and Publius Julius, born this year.
Even in middle of warm, close family atmosphere, the great patriarch has maintained his composure, with the attitude great men of power have, enhanced by that mysterious awe that one feels when so close to the inevitable.After parting gifts and few tears, we let the old man retire to his hobby he picked in the flowery hills: beekeeping.
Next day, spell was broken by more reports, income statements, more marching orders, plans, they never end. Sometimes I feel like Sisyfus, carrying on my back the responsability that comes with my position. Maybe is time to give it all up and retire to a small town, on shores of Mediteranean sea, like Segesta, away from palace life, intrigues, politics and bloody affairs.
Like my mentor before me, I was training a replacement. He is not my blood, this person was chosen above all others for his abilities, awarness and dedication. His name is Cornelius Constantinus Manius and I find him a very capable hand, familiar with all subtle plans set in motion.
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