Turn 1
Turn 2

As summer's heat beat down across the Mediterranean, Rome's legions sweated through way through battle after battle against the Republic's foes. In Sicily, Thrace and the East, the legions triumphed, sending its enemies fleeing and the prestige of their noble commander's soaring.

Our third turn of the campaign would see three battles, and Roman commanders avoid two other possible ones. A barbarian nation was also activated for the first time, as Jason spurred the Gauls to mass on the borders of Cisalpine Gaul. With Italy's borders in danger, the Consul Drusus was given incentive to finish the Slave Rebellions quickly.

Drusus

When his scouts returned with the news of the massive size of the Servile King's force of gladiators and slaves, Drusus shook his head. If his army was going to be able to get back to defend Italy, there was no choice but to forge on ahead and trust in the steel of his men. The Slaves outnumbered Drusus' forces 33 DBA elements to 24 (I'd rolled the worst possible roll when determining their size). However, I knew that half of the Slave force was auxilia, which was no match for either my blades or cavalry.

Drusus' forces concentrated on the slaves (auxilia), while leaving the gladiator's (blades) alone, as much as possible. The triumph was complete, the slaves fleeing in rout and the rebellion mopped up by Drusus' cavalry (12-3 victory = +9 prestige points, plus bonus 1 for fulfilling initial assignment of supressing slave rebellion). Drusus' prestige was now unmatched at a campaign total of 19.

Tauruserania

Now, Tauruscrania chuckled, Rome would see the genius of his plans. His seaborne legion marched on the Thracian border, where they were met by a tribal force (and the effeminate governor of Macedonia's flustered emissaries). His Romans brushed aside the governor's objections and attacked the Thracians, chasing them from the field, despite their superior force (12 Roman elements vs 15 Thracian). His 5-1 victory netted four prestige points.

In Galatia, Tauruscran's two remaining legions executed a pincer movement. The Eastern legion ran into a huge tribal levy, and were outnumbered by 9 elements. Unlike Drusus, the legionary legate had no pressing deadline and withdrew back into Bithynia. The Western pincer met an equal sized force of Galatians and thrashed them, winnng 4-2. The border of Galatia was now breached, and its provinces lay open to conquest.

Back in Rome, the nervous muttering of the Senate quieted down with news of the victories. Thuruscrania may be an oddball, but he apparently knew how to defeat tribesmen. The laurels of the battles stifled the calls for the governor's head.

Incitare

His force gravely wounded in Spring, Incitare probed with a small force towards the Gallic border. His scouts quickly spurred back to tell him the border was still boiling with tribesmen. Cavalry and warbands were encamped not far away, outnumbering Incitare's small force at least two to one. Incitare retreated quickly. He was in no hurry, and eventually the Gauls would have to disband their army to return home and work their harvests.

Gracchus

After defeating the Numidians in Spring, Gracchus felt the war was concluded to his satisfaction. His entire force marched north back into Libya and settled into quarters to wait out the intense desert heat.

If Gracchus was dismayed by stories of his rival consul's soaring prestige, he did not show it, merely calling for more chilled wine as he read his dispatches.

More 1st Century BC Campaign

Turn 1 (Herald 42)
Turn 2 (Herald 43)
Turn 3 (Herald 44)
Turn 4 (Herald 45)
Turn 5 (Herald 46)
Turn 6 (Herald 47)
Turn 7 (Herald 48)
Turn 8 (Herald 49)