Collaborative Campaign Turn 23 (Part 2)

 Further events in the Year of the Anteater (game year 23) unfold in the following by Mark Cordone, recounting the Picenian invasion of Therissa. (Text and Photos copyright Mark Cordone).

***

Rionach's curse.  The winter following her execution saw a plague sweep through Picenia.  The symptoms were fever, A heavy cough and swelling in the glands in the neck.  While having a very low mortality rate. It was very widespread and attributed to Rionach's curse.  It returned the following winter as well....

The Battle of Frourus

The Picenian fleet is red and to the left, the Therissians blue and to the right.

The previous two years of peace were only a pause in hostiles as both sides used the break to refit, reorganize and rearm.  The diplomatic efforts bore no fruit so the resumption of hostiles saw the Picenian Republic vs the alliance of Therissia and Sentis.  Multiflavious, who's dictatorship was now in its third year, chose to attack Therissa with his rebuilt fleet and an invasion army while remaining on the defensive vs Sentis.  His hope was that the impetuous Anaxander would choose to attack him, thus nullifying the mutual defense treaty of the Tetropolis.

The Picenian fleet consisted of some 120 ships in 6 squadrons commanded by Senator Gaius Duilius.  In rebuilding the fleet it was decided to go back to what the Picenianns did best, hand to hand combat.  Thus the fleet was crewed by marines and trained to grapple and board the enemy ships.

Meanwhile, the Therissians had a fleet of similar size, but crewed mostly by Therissian sailers proficient in raming tactics.  ( The battle was fought using Dominion of the Ram, both sides had 6 regular squadrons, the Therissians were rams and the Picenians marines).  The king, Gaeius Marullus, was in command of the Therissian fleet.  His plan was simply, his fleet hid in a sheltered bay flanked by two huge rock spires called the Frourus and sail out to surprise the Picenian fleet and attack them in the flank as they sailed past.

The plan wasn't 100% successful however as the lead squadron moved too soon.  The Therissians had the initiative, but the surprise wasn't total and the Picenians managed to form a battle line.

The battle opened with the lead Therissian squadron destroying the leading Picenian squadron.  Another Picenian squadron was destroyed in the center as the Picenians struggled to form up, but as the Picenians organized their battle line they began to grapple with the enemy and turn the tide.  A confused melee then developed with the Picenians gradually gaining the upper hand in the left hand sector.  Marullus then committed his flag squadron and stabilized the situation, but then Duilius led his flag squadron into the fray with the two flagships ending up locked in combat.  The brave Therissians were no match for the Picenian marines however, and all were slain, including the king.  With this the Therissian fleet collapsed, with the survivors providing a feast for the Kraken.

Without their king, the Therissians had no stomach for further conflict and quickly surrendered to the Picenian army after it landed.  The terms were harsh, but still better than the wholesale sack of the island that would have followed a Picenian conquest by force of arms.

Next, the campaign in Luss.

***

Thanks to Mark for another excellent report! Therissa is back in Picenian hands - Where do they go from here?

Collaborative Campaign Turns 22 & 23 (Part 1)

 The Collaborative Campaign rumbles on into game year 22 (The Year of the Donkey). The dice determined that this would be a further year of peace in Picenia, however in Zigura there was religious upheaval; worshippers of Anahilda, Goddess of fertility and water proposed her promotion to principal deity of the empire. There was much rioting as the King of Kings is (nominal) head of the Temple of Taran, the Bull-headed God of War and refused to allow His demotion. At least a fifth of the standing armed forces were engaged in keeping the peace, a situation that continued into the next year...

Turn 23 (Year of the Anteater) commences with an action played out by Martin Smith (the following text and photos are Martin's intellectual property).

***

  The Inconnu Incursion

Concerned by external pressures, in the form of regular cross-border raids by the hill tribes of Inconnu, Ziguran King of Kings Toshibbaz decided to act. While much of his army was busy keeping order in his own lands, he scraped together a force to teach the troublesome tribesmen a lesson, and assigned the task to a commander recommended by trusted stalwart General Amukar.

Lord Nusu, commander of the formidable Nyos Garrison Cavalry at the Battle of Arak a few years before, was summoned to the palace at Ganuk, and briefed on his new role as leader of the newly created Ziguran Expeditionary Force of Inconnu. This somewhat grandiose title ignored the reality that the troops comprising the force were mostly second rate, including as it did very few regulars, many reservists and the enthusiastic but untried Ganuk City Militia, plus a small scratch force of cavalry, all escorting a large unwieldy baggage train. Their aim, he was informed, was to locate and burn the foothills village of Chief Gezeru’s Tauroz tribe, frequent but uninvited visitors to Zigura’s northern borderlands, and thus discourage further raids.

Having crossed the northern border with Inconnu and approaching the hills, Lord Nusu’s scouts soon located the apparently deserted tribal capital, but were unable to provide their commander with any information on the enemy themselves. The tribesmen, it seemed, had vanished.

Arraying the Ziguran Expeditionary Force into a defensive formation, Lord Nusu commanded his troops to advance. Their orders were for the bulk of the force to stand ready for any threat while the Ganuk City Militia would march up the trackway, enter the conurbation, remove or destroy any foodstuffs or valuables and then raze it to the ground.

But the hills have eyes… Watching from high ground to the northeast of the village lay Chief Gezeru and his horde of loyal Tauroz tribesmen, each man armed to the teeth. Furthermore, on the hills opposite, overlooking the northwestern approach to the cluster of houses, yet another mass of warriors kept watch: normally rivals of the Tauroz, occasionally even enemies, the Zagrus tribe under their wily chieftain Suduga had put aside any differences for the chance to join a fight against the Ziguran invaders. More specifically, Suduga’s hillmen saw the enemy’s large, enticing baggage train as a gift from the gods, just waiting to be accepted into their avaricious arms, and preferably not shared with their Tauroz rivals.

As the sun rose ever higher Lord Nusu’s Zigurans marched steadily forwards, keeping formation, but with some surprise soon observed the two Inconnu tribes suddenly rise as if from out of the solid rock to their front left and right. Gezeru and the Tauroz now marched across the valley to block the Ziguran advance, expecting Suduga and the Zagrus to join them, as agreed.

Suduga, however, had other ideas and with a blood curdling scream his Zagrus warriors raced forwards to attack the enemy, traversing rocky ground with ease and maintaining their momentum. The Ziguran regular bowmen loosed a few volleys, but the Zagrus hillmen closed at an alarming rate. The left flank of the Expeditionary Force found itself rapidly overrun, despite a valiant effort by the Ganuk Militia, who fought fiercely before succumbing and routing.

Meanwhile, Gezeru and his Tauroz warband had abandoned their plan and joined the fight, not to be outdone by their clan rivals. Storming towards the Ziguran right, they met somewhat tougher resistance, archery driving some back and doughty spearmen holding them briefly in check. However, Lord Nusu’s force had been fatally damaged and demoralised by the sudden tribal onslaughts, and after a short-lived show of resistance the remaining units turned and ran, eager to avoid the wicked knives of their savage opponents.

As the Ziguran army melted away, and Suduga’s elated Zagrus warriors fell upon the abandoned baggage train, chaos reigned. And in that chaos, Lord Nusu became hemmed in and driven back against a mass of panicking pack mules, camels and donkeys, the horseman pulled from his mount by the Tauroz tribesmen and captured. This Ziguran noble, with his fine robes and expensive-looking attire would fetch a fine ransom, mused Gezeru, congratulating himself on a thoroughly successful day’s work, despite that upstart Suduga’s attempt to steal all the glory.

***

Thanks to Martin for this wonderful (and cautionary) tale. Lets hope Lord Nusu's family have the wherewithal to pay the ransom.    

Collaborative Campaign Turn 21 (Year of the Tenacious Bee)

 A fairly quiet Year across the known world, with Picenia still getting used to the idea of internal strife and the loss of Therissa (more on Picenia below) and Zigura adjusting to a new King of Kings.

Map at the end of Turn 20

In early Spring there was the regular incursion of "barbarians" from Inconnu into Northern Zigura. Fortune favoured the Zigurans as the region was being visited by General Evaskiwk. On receiving news of the barbarian's arrival in the region, Evaskiwk marched his force to their camp and attacked at dawn. The barbarian's scouts raised the alarm just in time and the two sides gave battle (apologies for the pictures that are rather dark - the sun was just coming up after all).

Early in the action the Ziguran regulars had the upper hand and it looked like they would roll straight over the invaders

Fate had other ideas and General Evaskiwk was serious injured leading from the front and had to be taken from the field

The Zigurans fought on and as the sun came up it was the barbarians who suffered defeat and fled.

Most valuable unit in this battle were the (recently added) Ziguran Cataphracts. The game was played with Dominion of the Spear (with In House rule for Commander Units).

***

News from Picenia (courtesy of Mark Cordone):

Although there was nominal peace in the north, it was only a temporary pause in hostilities as all parties tried to improve their positions.

Picenia:  Multiflavus reluctantly accept the dictatorship for the year of the Tenacious Bee as there was much work to do if Picenia's fortunes were to be restored.  The first order of business was the reorganization of the army, and the recruitment of new troops.  He forged ahead with this task with tireless determination, and succeeded in getting the Senate to vote  heavy, but one time only taxes to pay for it.  This met with only minimal resistance, even though he insisted the Patrician class should bear the bulk of the burden.
With the funds thus raised he replaced the loses of the past few years, and began the process of building a new fleet.
The Senate also voted him a Triumph, he delayed celebrating it for as long as possible, but it took place in the Eighth month of the year.  He also had the unpleasant and difficult problem of what to do about Rionach.  Personally, he was quite taken by her courage, intelligence and tenaciousness, but this was to prove to be her undoing.
He offered her the opportunity to submit, and be granted an estate outside the city and citizenship and patrician status if she accepted.  This she refused to do, but not until she asked for time to consider the offer, then attempted unsuccessfully to escape.  The offer was made again, and it was made clear to her that refusal would mean her death.  She refused.  Multiflavus then offered her the opportunity to avoid execution by suicide.  Again she refused.  Although Multiflavus was saddened by her actions, he had tremendous respect for her courage and honor.  Rather than have her strangled at his triumph, he granted her the highest honor possible and sentenced her to beheading.  She was placed in a guilded chariot right behind his and secured with golden chains.  At the end of the procession she ascended the scaffold with her head held high.  Before placing her head on the block she pronounced a curse for Picenia and all her people, then met her death with honor.  Needless to say, this put a damper on the celebrations, but this suited Multiflavus as he then made a memorable speech about the difficult road ahead, and the need for Picenia to put aside it's internal differences and pull together in this time of great trial and hardship.

Elsewhere, Anaxander and Gauius Epidus Marullus, former governor and now self appointed king of Therissa met and hammered out a defensive alliance.  Although neither really trusted the other, both felt it would be mutually beneficial when Picenia resumed hostilities.  Both felt Therissa would be the target, and Marullus felt a second front would be an advantage, and Anaxander hoped it could be used as leverage to draw the rest of the Tetrapolis into the war.

***

A grislily end for the unfortunate Rionach. What happens next is in the hands of the dice, and kind contributors!