Collaborative Campaign Year 3: Part 3

 The second part of Mark Cordone's reports from Picenia/Luss for the Year of the Pot-Bellied Pig follow, with a counter move from the still independent Southern Luss:

Map at the start of Year 3 - North Luss currently in Picenian hands

The Battle of Auduta and various other events. 

High King Bui of the southern Luss faced serious opposition as a result of his policies towards  Picenia.  He had signed a treaty of friendship with them two years ago (and received lavish gifts as a result), and then had done nothing when the Picenian's had seized Dubrovium and the territory on the west bank of the river Sulla.  At that time opposition to him began to coalesce around  King Belligerence of the Vindilici.  Matters slowly came to a boil after the Northern Luss were defeated at the battle of the twin Bridges, and then the fall of the fortress of Lusatia and the conquest of the northern Luss.  All the tribal kings turned against him and with the writing on the wall he fled to Picenia with his bodyguard and rather considerable personal fortune.  Seeing potential future use for him he was welcomed by Senator Galenus with open arms. At a conclave of the kings Bui was declared to have abdicated and Beligerans was elected High King.  He quickly summoned the Host and launched a winter campaign to retake Dubrovium and the west bank of the Sulla.  Once that was accomplished he intended to march north and liberate Northern Luss.
The Picenian governor, Licenius Alragius gathered together what forces he could and made a stand at the town of Auduta north of Dubrovium.

The battle of Auduta, 30th day of the second month of the Year of the Pot Bellied Pig.

The weather had been worsening for the last several days, and on the day of the battle there were on and off heavy snow squalls.  In game terms I decided to roll each round of combat with a 50% chance that blowing snow would force a pause in the fighting resulting in that side losing their attack that round.
Governor Licenius had chosen a very strong position to receive the Lussation attack.  In the lefthand sector defending a steep hill he posted IV legion (elite with a defensive bonus).  In the center were his Lussation auxiliaries (unreliable fierce melee infantry) and on the left, on the other side of the frozen Sava river defending the town of Auduta he had the II Legion (elite melee infantry with a defensive bonus).  His (melee) cavalry were in reserve.

Beligerans spread the bulk of his army (three melee infantry) evenly across his front with his elite bodyguard and cavalry in reserve (fierce melee cavalry and infantry).
The battle opened with Beligerans ordering his infantry in the center to advance.  The Lussation auxiliaries opposing them refused to fight their countrymen with most fleeing and some going over to the enemy.  Licenius then ordered his cavalry to charge in the center but they were routed.  As this happened heavy snow paused the fighting, which allowed Licenius to rally his cavalry.  (I rolled bad weather two rounds in a row, effectively cancelling turn two, and the Picenian cavalry rallied).

When the snow stopped Beligerans renewed the attack in the center, once again, routing  the cavalry.  IV legion then advanced and in very heavy fighting both sides were eliminated as effective fighting forces on the left.  With the battle lost, Licenius retreated with the intact II Legion to Dubrovium, confident he could hold out until a relief army could be sent from Picenia.  However, the Lussatian citizens threw open the gates and the garrison and all the Picenians in the city were slaughtered.  To preserve his honor, Licenius fell on his sword.

The spring and summer saw Beligerans reverse the conquest of Northern Luss, completely driving the Picenians from the country.  However, his attempt to get his people to launch a full scale invasion of Picenia in the fall failed, instead the fighting degenerated into the familiar pattern of small scale raids back and forth across the border by both sides.

Elsewhere, in Agrina:  in the giddy days following Multiflavus's Triumph Senator Galenus was unable to get the votes needed to raise another army.  This changed after the news of the defeat at Auduta and the fall of Dubrovium and a new army of six legions was authorized.   Multiflavus would once again be in command, and the Senate passed a resolution to restore Bui as king of Southern Lussatia ( as a client king), in exchange for this Picenia would receive Northern Luss, the west bank of the Sulla and Dubrovium as the new province of Lussatia.  Galenus and Multiflavus were able to resist the calls for an autumn campaign, arguing that to thrust the army into combat before it was properly equipped and  trained was to court disaster.
Who would strike first?  The Picenians or the Luss?  Either way, the coming spring promised the continuation of the war.

Meanwhile, in the days following the raid on Metlustum:
Centurian Devius Cacus knew who Rionach was, and saw opportunity in sparing her from his commanders order to slay the captives.  He was certain the battle was lost, but if he could escape the carnage with her he could expect to be rewarded should he present her to the governor, she would likely prove a valuable bargaining chip in the future.  Accordingly, he took two men to the tent she and her maid Mahavia were being held in.  He told told his men what he intended, then they entered the tent to see Rionach standing brandishing the leg of A table she had broken apart, prepared to die fighting.  Devius surprised her, he and his men entered with their swords sheathed.  He addressed her, "Lady, if you want to live you will do exactly as I say!"  With no time to think, but with an unexpected flicker of hope, she quickly decided to take her chances and dropped the table leg.  Devius smiled and said, "I am going to try to get you out of here", as he stepped forward and picked up her cloak.  Tearing two strips of cloth from it he gagged her and bound her hands together as he said, "you will do exactly as I say or I will kill you without hesitation, understand?"  She nodded.  He then turned to her hand maid and said, "Play dead.  If you’re lucky they won't look twice", then be bundled Rionach out of the tent.  He bluffed  his way out of the prisoners pens as the slaughter continued.  The scene was very chaotic as many of the prisoners were fighting back, and the sounds of combat in the camp were growing louder as the Luss fought there way closer. 

Luck, or fate, played a hand (actually, several rolls of the Oracle die), and Devius succeeded in escaping the carnage with his prize.  The snow continued however, and as night fell the fugitives were forced to take shelter in an isolated shepherds cottage.  The shepherd's young son was able to hide in a shed as the soldiers approached, and they did not know he was there as they forced themselves on the rest of the family, demanding food and shelter and complete obedience on pain of death.
Meanwhile, Catacius searched for Rionach among the several hundred Luss captives and survivors, and among the slain without finding her.  However,  Mahavia had also survived and told him what had happened.  Knowing that in this weather they couldn't have gotten far, he set out with a dozen men on horseback to search.  As luck would have it they came upon the Shepard boy, struggling through the snow towards his army searching for help.  After hearing his tale they made their way to the cottage.  The surprise was total and the combat brief and Catacius and Rionach were reunited!

That summer they were wed with great joy and fanfare.  Catacius and Beligerans having made a bargain.  For his part, Beligerans recognized Catacius's courage and ability, and actually had a strong liking for the lad.  Catacius knew who was in the strongest position, and respected Beligerans.  Beligerans vowed to aid Catacius  in liberating Northern Luss and recognized him as the rightful King of that realm.  For his part Catacius swore fealty to Beligerans, recognizing him as high king of all the Luss.
Going forward the Luss would be united in their struggle against Picenia.

Thank you Mark for an epic post. A turbulent year in the North West with territory changing hands, and more action to follow as Picenia's war of expansion has seemingly faltered...