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 Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:35 am
There has been skirmishes by either side, but nothing more than a scuffle, but now Roman armies are putting in more patrols here, and Armies are forming in near by forts to the border.
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:55 pm
The fires burned around the campsite as Gaius Octavius Julius marched along the makeshift roads within the rampart walls. They were stationed just short of the Samartian border and were waiting for the campaign against the enemy to begin. Gaius wiped his brow as he moved through the camp. Endless drills and training had taken its toll on every man in the legion as they sat around their fires cooking their meals. Gaius waited for word from his brother Titus Julius in Rome concerning the senate's announcment of who would lead the armies of Rome against the south. Recently the governor of Capua had fallen victim to the Samartians and Gaius knew that the senate would thirst for blood after the slaying of one of a high officials in one of the largest cities of Rome. It had been days since the last skirmish and Gaius was beginning to expect an attack though none came. Still...he would keep up his guard.
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 3:08 pm
There was a comotion at the gate, and soon a rider had come into view as he whipped his horse on towards Gaius. His greek attendant flinched as the horse came to bear upon them but Gaius simply stood tall and stared at the rider with a slightly annoyed look. Common messengers often took themselves far too seriously, especially when they brought news directly from Rome itself. The man hopped off his horse and snapped a lazy and formless salute before handing a scroll bearing his brothers seal to Gaius. "Word from Lord Titus Julius sir, from Rome!"
Gaius took the scroll without giving the man a second glance and smirked "Thank you for stating what I already knew, simple observation sufficed thank you, you are dismissed" He scanned the lines of the parchment and grinned. He swiftly moved to the makeshift platform and began adressing his troops. "Men! We have finally recieved news from Rome! The Senate has declared that Flavius Brutus is to raise an army and begin marching on the border! The war has begun!"
This was answered by cheers and howls of joy by his men. Octavis hopped from the platform and returned to his tent where he wrote a letter out to Flavius Brutus and gave it to his attendant who would send a messenger to meet with Flavius and deliver the letter. Now all that remained was to wait.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:31 am
Gaius Octavius was seeing to the fortifications of the ramparts when the letter from Flavius Brutus arrived. He unraveled the scroll and scanned the lines quickly. He had never met the man but had heard of him from his brother Titus in Rome. He handed the scroll to be disposed of to his Greek attendant slave, a young man with wild dark hair and wide eyes. "I wonder..." he muttered more to himself then to anyone else "What does he intend to do when we reach the greek colonies on the far end of the penninsula."
He began walking back to his command tent and saluted the guards as he strode inside. He sat down at his desk and began looking over maps. Sicily seemed like it would be a valuable asset, but Octavius' true passion was to the north. He remembered what it was like when the Gaulic raids reached their peak and it opened old wounds in him. Anger seethed in his chest as he imagined the flea bitten barbarians marching on his familys doorstep. It was insulting to say the least...
After a few hours of studying maps he left his tent and returned to the rempart walls and continued his inspection. An attack could occur at any time and he would see to it that he would enjoy watching the enemy throw themselves to their deaths.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:53 pm
Lars stormed out of the War tent grabbing swiping his shield and blade rested on a boulder beside his helmet. All of them are fools just meaningless squandering. I just want to slay them all and take the command the army myself. The weather was fine for battle. There was men from different of different colors and banners boasting of their past victories over smaller tribes. He walked around camp at the young men who came from afar to learn war, training with wooden swords and large shields. Lars was headed towards a small temple freshly build 3 moons ago looking forward to a blessing in battle from the Gods. Resting his heavy shield and blade at the steps, Lars removed his helmet as he walked up the steps. The temple maidens bowed smiling as they lowered their heads tossing rose pedals at his feet. Lars nodded his head to the maidens tucking his helm tight to his left torso. The maidens giggled in childish mumblings. "Yes...today is glorious day for battle. Glory to the Gods".
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 5:30 pm
Gaius Octavius was deep in thought when he snapped back into reality. His officers were in his tent and they surrounded a large table with a map of the rampart before them. Octavius shook off his thoughts and let out a sigh. "Longinus please continue."
The man struggled to regain his composure before speaking "The fortifications have been completed to your specifications Imperator" he took in a deep breath and felt his confidence return. "The rampart walls are twelve feet high, eight out of those twelve are made of fifteen feet of earth arched upwards making a hill. The rest is wood fencing doused in a flame retardent liquid to prevent fires. The same with the gates, they are made of good strong wood. There is enough spacing for archers and spearmen to attack men trying to climp up the ramparts arch. The arch is aslo lined with a complex network of trip wires with bells to prevent ambushes as well as activate booby traps such as spike pits. On the inside of the camp there are ditches dug at the bottoms to prevent the enemy from attempting to dig through. There are wooden spikes carved from trees already sticking out of the ramparts as well as the dug spike pits. The rest of the camp has also been doused in flame retardent liquids but we have no direct defense against catapults except for the catapults we ourselves have. We also have many ballistas to help defend us. Overall it is of a very solid design."
Octavius nodded, "Indeed...if history has taught us anything it is that as many wars have been won by the pick and spade as they have by swords and shields. If an attack comes then the enemy will crash upon our walls like a wave upon the sand." He again looked over the designs and suddenly realized that he had missed a very blatent detail. "What would happen I wonder, if we were to dig pits directly in behind the gates? If we fill them with oil then if the enemy attempts to use rams and breach our gates we can simply set fire to the pits and they would be unable to cross into our camp."
This was met with approval by his officers and Octavius smiled "Good...see to it that this is taken care of then. You are dissmissed."
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:11 am
"It will be very difficult sir...there is very little time but if we"
Octavius cut Longinus off with the wave of his hand, "I understand the time constraints Longinus. But We may not be able to rely soley on Aeneas. Another legion would be invaluable to this campaign...it is necessary Longinus. Begin recruitment immediatly. We have a week to recruit enough men, and possibly a month at the most to train them."
Longinus saluted with his right arm extended and spun on his heel exiting the tent. Octavius buried his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes. He had been constantly reviewing maps and supply lists and going over his plans to further fortify the border before the campaign began to ensure an attack from the rear. Exhaustion was beginning to set in but Octavius knew there was still much to do. He opened the letter he recieved from Flavius and read over it with a small smile.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:27 pm
Eight dusty men led five ladden Mules into the Samnite camp. The men, clad in green linen travel cloaks made signs of peace and good will to the camp guards, who recognized five of the travelers immediately by their richly tanned skin and dark straight hair: Phoenicians. But not just any Phoenicians, for the guards had never seen the merchant sailors armed for war before, and the man leading the expedition was a bear of a figure, his muscles like worked iron and smile gleaming like the sunlight off his silvery metal Curiass.
"Ave my Samnite Friends!" He declared in perfect Osca, the language of the Samnite tribes. "I am Hanno Dala, Warrior Trader of the beautiful city of Carthage, and from her welcoming bosom I bring the finest in wares! Punic Wine from the lush fields of Africa! Athenian Bronze so pure that Vulcan himself wishes it were his to mold! And from the distant shores of Cyrene I bring delicious, fresh silphium, its flavor so rich it would make mud taste like ambrosia!"
He set his heavy Aspis down. As it struck the earth it rang like a gong, and Hanno smiled all the more. "And thats not all! For I hear you iron-thewed warriors are at grips with Rome. If you'll have me, I would enjoy sharing the field of battle with you mighty Samnites."
He paused and rubbed the fingers of one hand together.
"...For a small fee of course."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 11:19 am
Gaius Octavius was reading a letter from Aeneas when the news of Antium came. His personal guard Cinna had opened the flap to his tent and bode him to come out and here the report. Octavius exited his tent and was shocked to see his nephew young Marius Julius standing before him.
"Well then, when Cinna had asked me to come out it sounded as though bad news awaited me. Instead I find the cheerful and bright son of my brother standing before me! Come my boy, come inside out of this heat."
They both moved inside. Octavius sat down at his desk and bade young Marius to sit down. The young man sat and inhaled deeply before adressing his uncle.
"Uncle Octavius...I wish to ask you something." was all he could manage. Before going silent.
Eyebrow cocked Octavius inquired further "What troubles you child? Please tell me..."
Marius looked up at his uncle and quickly regained his composure. "I wish to join the legion you are forming. I wish to go to war with you."
With a smile and a full bodied laugh Octavius exclaimed "Of course you can join the legions my boy! You do realize you will have to earn your rank do you not?"
The boy nodded and Octavius smiled. They talked as the day wore on and soon Marius told Octavius the troubling news of Antium. For a moment he was silent and then he stood and went to adress his troops. This was grave news indeed, and Octavius planned on exploiting it as much as he could.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:35 pm
 ∙ﾎ⁂※⊂яìşđεдп※⁂ﾎ∙
Crisdean walked in the dark forest his golden sickle keeping time as it beat against his leg with every step. He stepped into a clearing in the woods near a small creek. "This looks nice,yes this will do nicely. I will make camp here.he said quietly to himself. He tied his black horse to the nearest tree and began to go thew its saddlebags and pull out equipment for his tent. He is quickly finished with the tent and begins to make a small fire.
⎰≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫⎱
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:51 am
Hanno ripped the hot flesh off a roasted leg of mutton and watched the battle of proud Samnite Warriors in ritual combat, celebrating the spring season.
Hanno was merry indeed, for his prized Athenian Bronze was swallowed up quickly for a good prize and soon many bronze belts and breastplates were hammered out of the fine metal. The romans were hiding behind their fortifications and left the Samnites alone for the time and so the Samnites took the opportunity to hold a feast day.
No takers had agreed to his mercenary pay demands, but the day was not over. And with the promise of more merriment and events as the day wore on, it seemed like Hanno would not lack for amusement this day.
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:54 pm
After informing his troops of the events in the north he began sending out riders to spread the news across the country side and bring new soldiers to join his cause. He needed men to fill the ranks of his second legion before he could hope for the senate to give him the field commander position opposite Flavius Brutus.
Octavius looked over some paperwork at his desk before standing up and walking over to the tent. He was growing more and more bored as of late. But on this day he would go to one of the local port towns not far from where he was camped. He informed his liutenant Longinus of his departure and began preparation for their journey.
He and twenty men armed with only short swords (all except Octavius who always took his spear with him) mounted horses and began riding off across the country side. It took them several hours of riding before they reached a quaint port village where they stopped at a local inn and dismounted.
Hands behind his back Octavius Julius inhaled deeply and reveled in the salty air coming from the sea. He turned to the his nephew and smiled "It tis a most beuatiful sight is it not Marius?"
His nephew smiled and nodded "It is indeed uncle, but why did we come here?"
Octavius laughed and slapped a hand on the young mans shoulder "I love the sea young man, but I am also a general of Rome. This place is quaint and far from crowds, yet it is also a good place to trade. Perhaps I shall find something interesting here while I rest."
Marius nodded and stared out across the sea, "I never thought I'd hear you say that you needed rest uncle...but I guess even being a general can be exhausting."
Grinning Octavius explained his meaning to the young man, "Of course being a general is tiring, especially when one is good at it." ending with a wink he returned his gaze to the sea. "I have no respect for men who live like this while their armies live like the our men. But even I need to return to civilization for awhile."
They stood in silence for a time before leaving the inn and heading into the town to see what entertainment there was. They all wore dark cloaks over their armor and arms so people did not suspect them to be soldiers and pester them into solving petty disputes that were for the courts to decide.
Octavius smiled to himself, this town held many memories for him, and he was happy to be back.
((I needed a slight change of scenery. Theres only so much to see and do at an army camp))
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:24 pm
∙ﾎ⁂※⊂яìşđεдп※⁂ﾎ∙
Crisdean Sat near his small fire. It look as if he was singing in a unknown language as he weaved something on a small loom. It was night and the full moon, and stars shown brightly.
⎰≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫⎱
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 7:48 pm
((....sight seeing and weaving. Wow are you guys boring.))
As Hanno celebrated with the Samnites he heard tell of a dangerous beast that lived in the area one of the six armed giants known as Gegenees. The beast was known to attack local villages and carry off young maidens and cattle. Many a samnite warrior had tried to slay the Giant, but none had come back to tell the tail.
This intrigued the adventurous Hanno.
"Another chance to add to my legend? How can I turn it down?" The Punic Demigod glanced about the camp with a shrug.
"Nothing else is going on it seems."
Taking his war gear and biding his men wait for him at the camp, Hanno took one donkey with him towards the foothills where the Gegenee supposedly lived.
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:20 pm
∙ﾎ⁂※⊂яìşđεдп※⁂ﾎ∙ Crisdean finished singing a spell in to the fabric he was weaving he look the black fabric and let it fall to the ground it was a long black cloak, " "It is finished, its perfect. now lets test to see if I said the spell right."he said as he wrapped the long black cloak around himself and disappeared. He walked invisibly towards the small creek and paired into the water to see if his reflection showed....it did not. "good It worked, now time for some dinner and exploring of this land.This calls for a different form.he said as he took off the cloak and put it and the small loom in to his black horses saddle bag. he went to teh fire and put it out throwing the small clearing in darkness. ~ath-dhealbhadh a-steach do sìdheach~ A blinding light shown and then disappeared, where Crisdean once stood now was a black wolf.  its walked noiselessly out of the clearing and into the woods. Its eyes paired into the darkness all was seen nothing could hide. ⎰≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≪≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫≫⎱
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