Continuing the Year of the Snake, another report has arrived regarding the machinations of the Picenian Empire. Words and game images are the intellectual property of Mark Cordone.
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After finishing the conquest of Luss and the subjugation of the Wend, the Picenian Republic enjoyed several years of peace. They used this time to consolidate their control over the newly conquered lands, and to maximize their profit. One of the ways they sought to accomplish this was by the imposition of tariffs. Their traditional 10% tariff was raised to 25%.
Before the conquest Luss had a free trade policy, the kings being content to receive gifts on an annual basis. These amounted to about 5% annually. The Pentapolis, and in particular Therissa had a near total monopoly on international trade. Naturally, this policy upset them greatly. They resolved to take action to attempt to recover some of their losses.
A dramatic increase in smuggling operations and clandestine support for the rebels among the Luss became the cornerstone of their new policy. Accordingly they sent spies to the province of Luss and began to provide information and funds to the resistance led by queen Rionach. In the late summer of the year of the Snake, the Picenian governor Auteus Callosus learned the particulars of the operation and took swift action.
On the 15th day of the 8th month his forces made their move. Simultaneous attacks across the entire province rounded up every Therissian national who could be found, more than 5,000 men, women and children in all, and seized all Therissian property throughout the province. Around 100 Therissians were executed and the rest sold into slavery. An action the governor profited handsomely from.
Naturally, the Therissians were not happy about this. They sent an embassy to Picenia demanding the return of all of their citizens and property and compensation as well. The Senates response was harsh and abrupt. They found the petition unwarranted and further declared that the actions of the Therissians constituted an act of war, and promptly declared war themselves.
Therissa is primarily a naval power, and determined to prosecute the war with their fleet, which was second to none. They would do this via a blockade and raids along the coast. To accomplish this they need a base of operations off of the coast. The small island of Uliarus was selected for this. The town, while not large, was possessed of a fine, large natural harbor. A fleet of 80 Triremes with a force of some 800 hoplites under the Strategos Menelaos was allocated the task. They set sail on the ides of the 10th month of the year of the Snake.
Picenian spy's learned of this and the secret target of the fleet and a Picenian fleet was quickly scraped together to intercept and destroy the Therissians. The fleet totaled some 100 ships, but more than half of them were merchant ships packed with Marines, as were their Triremes.
On the 21st day of the 10th month of the year of the Snake the two fleets met off the coast of Uliarus just a few miles from the town.
I used Dominion of the Oar and Ram to fight the battle. (Mark's Rules that are published in The Fourth Portable Wargame Companion - Ed.)
The Picenian fleet totaled some 120 ships in 6 squadrons, all classed as regular Marines. Consul Marcus Valerius Dio deployed his fleet in two lines, each composed of three squadrons.
Menelaos had some 80 ships divided into 4 squadrons. He matched the Picenian front line with his remaining squadron in reserve. The Therissian fleet were all classed as elite rams.
The battle opened with the Picenians managing to isolate and destroy the Therissian squadron closest to the shore, but then the superior skill of the Therissian crews came through and they made short work of the Picenian fleet, ramming and sinking nearly 100 Picenian ships with scant further loses of their own.
More than 12,000 Picenians lost their lives that day, along with their general.
The town quickly fell and the Therissians began work on expanding and improving the fortifications and harbor.
Meanwhile in Picenia Claudius Livius Salinator was appointed dictator and charged with rebuilding the fleet and dealing with the Therissian threat.
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With a startling lack of success, Picenia has started a new conflict - we do live in interesting times! Thanks to Mark for the report and photos of his wonderfully painted ships.
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