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"...As late summer lazed its way toward Autumn, dust from marching armies hung over the Mediterranean. Barbarians were pouring across the frontiers: Iberians ransacked the Spanish capital; Germans menaced the consul's army in the Alps; Illyrians burnt their way across the border of Epirus; and the North African desert buzzed with Moors and Numidians galloping through Roman lands. Only in the East, did Roman armies penetrate enemy territory, bringing fire to the Parthian border..."

Tauruscrania

Too long had the Oriental foe looted his way through Roman Asia, Senior Consul Tauruscrania vowed. After dispatching an Armenian raiding force in Early Summer, Tauruscrania led his consolidated legions south towards Parthia. After demonstrating against the walls of a Parthian border town for a week, he watched in anticipation as the dust cloud in the East grew.

With the thunder of countless hooves, Parthia's army arrived -- equal in size to his (11 Roman SP vs. 11 Parthian). Roman legionaries fought Parthian horse archers and armored lancers under the blazing desert sun, emerging victorious (11-9, +2 prestige points). Tauruscrania smiled as he watched the Parthian army flee. The border was breached; the way to Parthia lay open. His place in Roman history lay within his grasp.

Gracchus

Gracchus shook his head as he listened to the sweat-soaked messenger tell his tale. The Moors -- who he thought he'd crushed in Early Summer -- were apparently massing on the borders of Carthage, ready to pounce. These last few weeks, while his army toiled southeast through the Libyan desert towards the Atlas region (which reports said already swarmed with Numidians), a fresh barbarian incursion had broken out where he'd just left.

"No, Tiberius," Gracchus said to his legate's question, "Countermarching achieves nothing. Let us drive the Numidian invaders from Atlas first. In Autumn, we'll deal with the Moors."

Drusus

Drusus chuckled as he looked from his legion's orderly lines to the seething chaos of the Illyrian advance. His recent reinforcements from Aetolia afforded him a rare luxury in his career -- he actually outnumbered the enemy (10 Roman SP vs. 6 Illyrian). "Like taking the maidenhood from a dim-witted slave girl..." he muttered, waving his troops forward. Trumpets sounded and the Roman legionaries tramped forward, cutting their way through the brave, but unarmored and outnumbered Illyrian hill tribesmen (6-2, +4 prestige points). It was not his most inspired victory, Drusus knew, but any victory would keep his name on the tongues of Romans and his fame in their minds.

Incitare

After Early Summer's retreat from the Alps, his army's spirits were sinking. Unfortunately, the faces of Incitare's augers were even more glum. No good would come of an advance back up into the mountain fastness of the Helvetii, they warned. The Junior consul argued that the men needed a victory -- Rome needed a victory. So, his army climbed back into the hills, until the scouts returned, tossing their reins to their grooms in disgust. Even bigger than last time, they growled (9 German SP vs. 6 Roman SP). Incitare cursed the Helvetii, then cursed his fading luck, and finally considered cursing the fickle gods. No, he admonished himself. The Romans are a pious race. The gods had spoken and we must obey. Incitare ordered the retreat, again.

Late Summer had seen two battles, both Roman victories, and one Roman retreat before combat. Another barbarian was activated (the Moors), turning North Africa into a stirred up hornet's nest. Jason (Gracchus) had been the target of three barbarian raids already this year (Mediterranean Pirates, Numidians and Moors). His rival, Drusus (me) -- who I'm sure had nothing to do with Jason's misfortune -- opened up a breathing room in prestige points with his victory, this turn. Next turn, though, Gracchus' clash with the Numidians loomed, and would afford a chance to close the prestige point gap (or perhaps even surpass me? Horrors!)

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)
Turn 9 (Herald 50)
Turn 10 (Herald 51)
Turn 11 (Herald 52)
Turn 12 (Herald 53)