| Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sweden
Posts: 140
| Dujuly News
Page 1197 NEWS of the KNOWN WORLD
INCORPORATING THE RAGNAROK REPORTER.
Funfly 30th 123
HUNLAND.
Honoria warned Seg that Tenapin ap Orlin is not to be trusted.
“… he puts 20,000 warriors in the field and if he rebels many of Subedai’s levy would refuse to fight or could even join Tenapin. We don’t really know what happened to his father, do we? We only have Tenapin’s word that he is dead.
“And look at his behaviour last year: messed up your plans just so that his men could have first grab at the loot: and some iffy communications to Ghengis; I mean how did Ghengis escape you. I tell you, I don’t trust him. Watch him! Just don’t turn your back or give him a position where he could lose you the battle.”
“Yes dear.”
“Oh, do listen. You know he has a better claim to the High Khanship of Byeloland than you do: even some claim to be Khan of Khans.”
“Yes dear.”
The Siberian levy speeded up its rather leisurely pace when they realised that if they didn’t Seg would soon be treading on their tails. When they reached Mekha they were carefully helped across to Volsk, which is of course on the other bank, by anxious Volgans.
Xanadu Tuuf and Atle, leaders of the Volgan UroHuns, reached Mekha with their followers as expected and camped a little to the north of the ruins.
Seg continued down the left bank of the Don on a broad front. On the 5th Suborai in person came to Seg’s camp, duly and carefully escorted. He had a happy reunion with his brother Subedai and not surprisingly offered his services and those of his few followers to Seg.
As Seg’s forces approached the ruins of Mekha both Xanadu and Atle also came to his camp, equally carefully escorted by some of Seg’s numerous and alert scouts. They too offered their services and claimed that the Volgan UroHuns would follow them: they seemed to think that the Siberian UroHuns would also be delighted to escape Siberian domination. With Seg and his huge force so close Galgyn and Gwalchai were unable to act against Xanadu and Atle.
Galgyn sent an emissary who informed Seg that the brothers sought peace with honour: they did not intend to fight in support of Ghengis but asked that the neutrality of Volga be respected, rather glossing over the fact that it hadn’t been shown much respect so far!
Seg’s forces duly arrived at Mekha; they have established a series of camps which effectively ring Mekha on the left bank of the Don. Scouts everywhere, as usual, with a careful watch on the river and quite a few Byelohuns on the right bank cautiously watching the Siberians.. It is not clear if the Volgan forces would be allowed to leave if they tried to, nor is it clear if supplies will be allowed through the Byelohun line or indeed across the ford past the Siberian forces.
Xanadu Tuuf and Atle have shuffled their camp-site a bit further from Mekha and a bit nearer to the Byelohuns: Byelohuns watch them, entering and leaving their camp casually but politely.
SASSANIDIA.
Nubia.
Khamoun has been trying to raise a cavalry division but with very limited success: the Egyptians make very poor cavalrymen and the Sassanidians scent change or trouble or both.
The 21st Protector … a subgeneral in the Sassanidian Army of Nubia … an arrogant West Nile Sassanid, travelled with a substantial bodyguard to negotiate with Mustasha the younger.
It seems that the Protectors and Organisers will accept Mustasha’s continuing to rule as their agent on condition that he swears loyalty etc and that he acts with vigour to re-establish Sassanidian rule and to suppress Egyptian freedoms, indeed, to return the Egyptians to a state of serfdom, probably fairly abject serfdom.
If Mustasha is unwilling or unable to agree these terms, he will be permitted to leave with his personal possessions and his immediate family, household slaves, etc.
West Nile. The Supreme Organiser of the P&O sent detachments of heavily armed men to El Minya, El Giza, and Memphis.
The group sent to Memphis to arrest Ar Mergevs got lost in the maze of allies and made enough noise to ensure that he was warned of their coming and he fled.
Ar Magrevs, Sheikh of El Minya and unofficial spokesman for the peasants’ party, heard that strangers were coming and mistakenly thought that he could sort things out with a mob of supporters at his back. When push came to shove his mob fled and he was arrested: his trial is scheduled for Ete 5th but it is unlikely that he will live that long.
The force sent to El Giza duly arrived and demanded to know where Ar Diotr was to be found. Eventually they found the Bey, Ar Tolovs, who told them that Diotr is the Bey of Asyut. Significantly displeased, they took Tolovs into custody and hastened to Asyut: too late, Diotr had fled. They hanged Ar Tolovs … he’s just another blasted uppity peasant … for complicity in Diotr’s escape.
To Sassanidia.
Ptelnet and the Immortals reached Trabzon without incident on the 20th. A day’s rest to load up the spare mounts with supplies and then off again, more cautiously now with scouts ahead but still maintaining a brisk pace. They should reach Malatya in another 1-2 days where their scouts have arranged a market, promising prompt and fair payments.
Spitames has arrived in Gaza with his 2nd division and a brigade of Tospades’ mounted infantry. They were followed by Savalaces with Ptelnet’s Hexopodry and then by Horisis with Ahmose’s and Karenen’s divisions.
Bifuud, the elderly Emir of the North and Bey of Gaza, a Sassanid born in Haifa, notoriously religious, upright, pious and boringly saintly, welcomed them with some evident confusion. It is entirely possible that though he attended the POSH, he may not fully have comprehended the significance of the event (he is alert but very hard of hearing) nor of the arrival in Gaza of the forces of the brothers, Angustus and Ptelnet.
He expressed anxiety about supplies and was greatly relieved when he finally understood that merchant ships were already unloading all that was necessary.
Page 1198 VIKINGLANDS.
A brief summary to confuse you.
Who knew what? Neither Sten nor Lemminkainen knew where anybody was. Foed and Dredd were in frequent contact and knew where Sten was though they were unaware of Lemminkainen’s whereabouts. Friederich knew where Sten and Harda were and they knew where he was.
Anders knew where Dredd intended to go.
The battle(s) of Vilna. Sten Gunnarsen reached Vilna on the 2nd and was somewhat put out to learn that Vacuna had gone to Utena; he rightly guessed that he had gone there to discuss rebellion with Thor but learned that Vacuna had but a handful of warriors and he rightly guessed that Thor would have but a few dozen at the most.
Sten, unaware that Foed with a few hundred men and Dredd with 1-2,000 were with Vacuna and Thor, decided to nip the trouble in the bud. He crossed the Rusne unopposed but on the 4th he met the rebels. On their way to Vilna, they had been warned by Vacuna’s people of Sten’s approach and had prepared an ambush where the Vilna to Utena track skirts the forest. (See last News for map.)
Sten was outnumbered perhaps 4:3, but the element of surprise was crucial: many of his mounted foot warriors fled: others fought courageously but chaotically but of course now more heavily outnumbered.
Sten and about 850 of his men died. Those that fled fared no better: they reached the ford at Vilna at much the same time as Lemminkainen and Sigurd. Exactly why these two groups set about each other is uncertain as they were quite possibly on the same side … but then perhaps not. Whatever the reason, they fought, and Sten’s scattered and disorganised men with some of Dredd’s warriors still at their backs, again had much the worst of it.
Taurage, Birzai, & Utena. Friederich, informed of the activities of the Dacians, has sent instructions that a small levy is to be raised in Bamberg and another, larger, in the Danube Plain to safeguard the crossing at Linz.
Friederich pushed scouts to Birzai and once the Ostragoth levy infantry had crossed the Rusne they followed, screened by their cavalry. They arrived on the 16th and found Birzai devoid of fighting men (v.s.) but behaved with reasonable propriety. Cavalry scouts pushed towards the Dvina Vale and towards Utena.
On the 25th the Ostragoths in Birzai learned of Sten’s death and of Foed’s part in it. The Ostragoths then sacked Birzai and the surrounding countryside with abandon: the pickings have been very good and one assumes that they will continue looting for a while longer!
The scouts who reached Utena found the small town equally devoid of fighting men and guessed that the missing warriors were part of the force that had killed Sten. They entered Utena unopposed and have just been joined by a couple of thousand Ostragoth cavalry.
Harda Knut and his cavalry arrived in Taurage on the 10th without incident or mishap: his infantry reached Taurage on the 24th with a few stragglers not arriving until the 25th. The inhabitants of Taurage, remembering only too well Harda’s last visit, were less than welcoming.
By then news of the disaster (deleted) misfortune at Vilna had arrived and been confirmed. Leaving a garrison to hold Taurage, Friederich and Harda set off up the Rusne Vale behind a substantial scouting screen.
Loki’s cavalry scouts watched much of these goings on and dutifully reported them to Loki and Atlas at Okolova.
PRIPYAT PROVINCE
Don’t ask me.
“¿ are you he they call gamle schlocken ¿
“Some Fools Mistakenly So Name Me. But I Am Not A Norseman, I Am A Gaul: I Am Le Vieux Chloque.”
“AARGhhhhhhhh.”
“¿ Brunnhilde, why did you kill him ¿
“¡ he was sent to kill us but gave himself away, arrogant old fool, using capitals ¡”
VIKINGSEAS.
Konigsberg & northwards.
Friederich’s fleet, accompanied by Sten’s cousin Torvik with those of Sten’s longships that were currently manned, rowed up the coast by easy stages from Konigsberg towards Durbe. In view of his great experience and knowledge of the coast Torvik took command.
Riga & southwards. Hrunting negotiated the hire of a number of privately owned longships, 37 in total. Erik to pay!
On the 2nd Blovin and Smaragda arrived; Hrunting greeted Blovin warmly and thanked Samaragda for her efforts: she seemed inordinately pleased to see Hrunting again.
This fleet left Riga on the 4th, warriors having been transferred to the new longships. It was 5 days before they had passed the channel south of Valjala but they then made good progress down the coast with the wind behind them.
In sight of the coast were 32 knarrs and 60 longships; further out to sea but keeping in contact via 6 scout ships that weaved back and forth there were another 60 longships, their speed constrained by that of the knarrs. Another 20 longships scouted ahead at their best speed.
On the 7th these scoutships passed Durbe. Two days later they met Torvik with 35 longships. In view of the odds they turned and fled, rowing against the headwind with Torvik in pursuit.
Late on the 10th Torvik sighted the sails of Hrunting’s inshore fleet and rightly guessed that they were unfriendly. He turned and hoisted sail, now chased by 80 longships … though it is unlikely that he had counted the exact number. The knarrs were soon left far astern.
They sailed through the intermittent moonlight of the night, Hrunting’s ships spreading onto a broad front and showing lights to keep in touch. Torvik’s largely unlit but keeping close by shouts and shielded lanterns.
Dawn showed that the gap had lessened and in some desperation Torvik turned and headed for the mouth of the Rusne. Only 5 of his ships made it to the narrow Rusne estuary, the other 30 being overhauled, brought to battle, overwhelmed, and captured.
There were few survivors from Torvik’s force: at Smaragda’s insistence about 400 captured Latvians were set free. Hrunting’s forces lost about 1,000 dead or crippled.
Hrunting established a strong camp on an eminently defensible headland until the knarrs had caught up and whilst his men treated their injuries and repaired the ships and their equipment.
Konigsberg again. Hrunting’s fast scout ships set off again to Konigsberg: ten then pushed on to Holbaek whilst ten went back to guide the fleet.
Hrunting’s fleet then sailed west, past and out of sight of Konigsberg before doubling back to approach and enter the large natural harbour at Konigsberg as if from Germany. An attempt to seize a gate in the timber and earth stockade that protects Konigsberg was none-the-less unsuccessful. However, the harbour is unfortified and 50 longships and 4 knarrs were seized almost unopposed.
The surrounding countryside has been looted for supplies, valuables, and maidens, but the people of Konigsberg are so poor that some of the looters actually gave trinkets to those they should have been looting and a number of maidens were all too happy to be carried off.
The ships that went on to Holbaek found a fleet coming towards them, probably Bjarni’s fleet.
Page 1199 CARTHAGE.
Trias.
Baal continued to provide … an unpleasant death for Motiph’s followers, and their goods and chattels for Baal’s adherents.
Zaranissa and Salammbo left Zytokberg with their followers and forces; they moved east then north to the coast road. There a detachment was sent up the coast road scouting towards Sidris. The rest continued eastwards along the coast road behind a large scouting screen. As they neared Sabratha they moved more rapidly: during the night of the 16th-17th they moved round Sabratha to attack at dawn with the rising sun behind them. Sabratha has a low wall around the city, big enough to hold 20,000 although the population has shrunk to a mere 4,000.
There is a harbour adequate for 45 ships with several largely derelict shipyards, and there is a first class fortress on a nearby low hill. But Sabratha is ruled by a Motiph mob, and their organisation did not run to sentries and guards; in fact the gates were open and a casual inspection suggested that they had not been closed for some months.
The Trias Baalist forces took over the city more or less unopposed and soon set about cleansing the city of all hints of Motiphation. The levy moved into the surrounding lands to continue the cleansing … and to scout to the east, just in case. On the 22nd they left headed up the coast road towards Sidris: they passed the Zytokberg junction a day ago.
Baal continues to provide.
Demiliton. Philipo called on his men and those of Hasmarbal and Moloch to rally to him at Windicta: by the 18th those that were coming had come. Meanwhile Philipo sent emissaries to Trias to ask if they would help against the Motiphators, and perhaps also to find out if the Trias forces were moving against him.
Philipo’s men readied two battlefields, one on the road to the south of Windicta and one on the road north-west of the city where it runs along a ridge. In view of the reports he received, efforts were soon concentrated on the latter.
Elros with A’Rrosee and Melqart halted some 50 miles north-west of Windicta whilst their scattered forces concentrated and caught up. Each morning they sent light cavalry to threaten an attack, forcing the Baalists to send their own cavalry to protect the infantry working on the rather rough and ready field defences … a shallow ditch and a low upturn of earth and stones … which they were preparing on a gentle slope. Each morning Melqart and A’Rrosee (“No, Emperor, you shouldn’t take the risk.” “Oh, all wight then, I’ll have a thweetie.”) went to study the preparations.
On the 22nd the Motiph light cavalry … actually, they were Melqart’s Punic Imperial Guard cavalry … moved forward as usual but on this occasion the rest of the Motiph army was close behind them and the bulk of the light cavalry, almost 10,000, wheeled off to the right into the rough scrubland and started to move round the left flank of the Baalist position.
The Motiph line over-lapped the Baalist line; they moved steadily up the slope towards the fortifications but paused when in missile range and demonstrated all too clearly that a ditch and a low mound are no defence against skilled missilemen, then charged up the slope and over the obstacles.
The Baalist line-up from their left, was:
Mercedex Pedro Trias Blaaloch Cortex Moloch Hasmarbal,
with the Baalist artillery just behind the Trias contingent!
A’Rrosee, Ban’kher and Melqart faced them.
ML ML ML MC PC TC BI CI CL MX HC
Each group above represents about 500 yards frontage.
L is light troops, mostly light cavalry, C is armoured cavalry,
I is infantry except light, and X is a cavalry-infantry mixture.
AL AL AL AL AL AC BI MC MI MC ML ML ML
Quarter was rarely sought and rarely granted except for Melqart’s generosity at the end of the fighting.
Rather mixed fortunes: initially the two right-most of Mercedex’ light cavalry brigades fled, but Moloch and Hasmarbal, out on the left wing, presumably to mark their ignominy, broke the light cavalry attacking them.
Mercedex himself fled next as did half of Cortex’ force, soon followed by the remainder of Mercedex’ and Cortex forces.
About noon the Motiphs still struggling to cross those damned defences broke contact: none of the Baalists made the mistake of launching a pursuit! But by this time most of the Punic Imperial Guard light cavalry had reappeared on the ridge behind the Baalist position … only most of it as two or three thousand had gone to see if they could get into Windicta: no luck, there was still an alert garrison.
After a brief rest (statutory lunch break?) the Baalists decided on a desperate gamble; they crossed their defences, re-ordered, concentrated, and charged, the generals in the front line. The Motiphs counter-attacked, A’Rrosee and Ban’kher in the front line, Melqart prudently not.
Most of Pedro da Tineo’s cavalry, overstretched and out-flanked, broke on contact, the rest soon after. Then the Trias contingent, their flank now exposed, turned and fled … to Ban’kher’s immense relief! “Tough b*gg*rs, that lot.”
And finally the light cavalry arrived; some Baalists fought on, a few escaped to Windicta. Hasmarbal, Moloch and Blaaloch surrendered to Melqart who protected them and indeed their men against the Motiphators, with the suggestion that they were to be recruited into his army.
The other Baalists were less fortunate, many being slaughtered by the victorious Motiphators in a variety of traditional and non-traditional ways.
Losses: these numbers are rounded for convenience: (the Baalist discrepancies are probably in Windicta)
Hasmarbal
600 killed in battle, 360 slaughtered (out of 960)
Moloch
600 killed in battle, 450 slaughtered, 1,800 prisoners (out of 2,850)
Blaaloch
1,100 killed in battle, 620 slaughtered, 2,050 prisoners (out of 3,800)
Pedro da Tineo
1,500 killed in battle, 550 slaughtered, 0 prisoners (out of 2,500)
Mercedex
4,000 killed in battle (out of 4,600)
Artillery
None killed, 1,900 slaughtered (out of 1,900)
Cortex
5,000 killed in battle, 400 slaughtered (out of 5,400
Triassic division
500 killed in battle, 800 slaughtered, 700 prisoners (out of 2,700)
Ban’kher
1,300 killed in battle (out of 2,900)
Horus
150 killed in battle (out of 2,100)
A’Rrosee
1,500 killed in battle (out of 14,000)
Melqart
650 armoured cavalry killed out of 3,000, 2,600 light cavalry killed out of 12,250, 1,300 heavy infantry killed out of 3,700
Philipo was amongst those that made it back to Windicta, struggling past Melqart’s light cavalry through the scrub. Windicta is now in a state of some turmoil, loosely besieged on the landward side by the forces of Motiphation.
At a rough count Philipo now commands the garrison of 1,000 Leonese infantry, plus about 2,000 assorted cavalry, survivors of the battle.
In the harbour there are a dozen or so merchant vessels, and 20 transports and 16 triremes, Ostia’s fleet come in response to Elros’ command.
Melqart’s reward is appointment to the prestigious post of Commander of the Imperial Gooey Sweetie.
Page 1200 THE EAST.
At least the supply situation is now somewhat ameliorated.
Mesopotamian (2Rivers) rumours & politics.
Make sense of this lot if you can! El Tanmud of Arbil, the Mosul ruling council who are mainly Ishmaeli, and even Altalaces of Sinjar have asked Brahma as their Emir to beg the Emperor to take them back into the Empire under his protection; Brahma strongly supported this move and intended to recommend it to the Emperor.
Abraham thought that a compromise might be for Nyfører to hold the Tigris Vale (perhaps excluding Tikrit) as Angustus’ satrap.
Abraham informed Brahma that an emissary from Nyfører had offered to cede Tikrit to Abraham (or to Suren) subject to an oath of loyalty to Emperor Angustus. Brahma expressed slight surprise as he had had a different offer from Nyfører.
In response to this offer from Nyfører Brahma said that his loyalty to Angustus has never been in any doubt and that he is hardly going to swear allegiance to the barbarian who is the cause of so much trouble, whatever inducement the said barbarian may offer.
After constructive meetings, sumptuous feasts, and lengthy discussions with Abraham and Wagnimandua about the present situation and how best to co-operate in the future, Brahma set off to discuss the situation with Emperor Angustus in Petra, promising to present Abraham’s ideas.
Before leaving, Brahma confirmed that Wagnimandua is to rule Tikrit as his Regent during his absence, and asked Abraham to give her the freedom to do this, and to give her any necessary support.
Nyfører has offered to swear fealty to Emperor Angustus for the lands of Upper 2Rivers and Tigris vale: he offers a meagre share of the taxation income in exchange for Angustus’ support in settling any minor (?minor?) unrest.
Nyfører confirmed Diamanjani in the post of Emir of the Upper Plain and thanked him for his support with generous gifts.
Mesopotamian (2Rivers) actions. On the road from Mosul to Babylon Brahma was ambushed by a group of armed barbarians who easily killed or drove off his small bodyguard and then slew Brahma. Survivors claim that the barbarians were led by an Achmenid.
Abraham sent a reliable commander with 1,000 levy cavalry to serve Wagnimandua; they have pushed scouts eastwards towards Gorgan and northwards towards Sahand despite opposition from the Iranian tribes.
It is possible that El Tanmud of Arbil who is known to dislike Brahma personally as well as having a grievance over some land, was cynical in his support of the request to Brahma: about the middle of the month, aware that Brahma had left, he moved with 200 men to recover the disputed land.
Those he sought to evict are mostly Galatians but also include Iranians and Ishmaeli.
Initially they were outnumbered and had much the worst of the inevitable fighting, but their kinsmen rallied to their support and by the end of the month El Tanmud had been driven back to Arbil. El Tanmud has called upon Nyfører for help.
The two brigades of infantry and their cavalry escort, access to Sinjar still being refused, built a strong camp and established a rather loose siege. They also foraged locally, though in the face of increasing opposition.
Nyfører’s two biremes at Hakka-Hakkari have been dismantled and are being transported by wagon, pony and man-power: they turned north at the Hosa fort two days ago and are now headed for the northern end of Karakum Lake.
A new shipyard is being built at the Hakka-Hakkari complex.
Amol, Babol & Daran. Boson’s 2nd brigade moved from Babol to Daran where they are securing the stores and camps. One of Hyasaqyte’s senior staff was sent to advise on the building of some harbour facilities but left muttering that the reason that there was no harbour was that no harbour was feasible and that they should continue to pray that no strong easterlies blow up.
Masacaces 2nd & 3rd cavalry, based in Daran, has provided escorts for the supplies being moved inland and has sent small well-supplied scouting patrols to watch shipping from convenient headlands.
Hans Hansson and his fleet moved to the Kura estuary where they were joined by the 112ers under Lief.
They established a camp and are building wharves near the mouth of the Kura estuary about 20 miles south of Amol. They were joined by Nyfører, and three days ago wagons arrived believed to carry part of Hyasaqyte’s siege corps.
Nyfører called upon Daraxes to surrender but was then told that Daraxes was out but was assured that were he, Nyfører, to be patient, it was probable that a satisfactory answer would be forthcoming. In response Nyfører’s men are constructing siege lines and artillery positions.
Nyfører has stated that any who wish to leave may do so: those who stay to defend the city or Daraxes will be killed or enslaved. If Daraxes and his family are handed over no one else will be hurt.
Nyfører sent a message to Polymetus and the men of his fleet asking them not to support Daraxes and to move their ships out of the city prior to Nyfører’s forces arrival.
Polymetus was given to understand that he would be assumed belligerent if his forces were to remain in the city without either helping Nyfører secure the city or harbour or alternatively agreeing to be hired by Nyfører to work for him for the year.
Polymetus is a Greek but is none the less loyal as well as able, popular and charismatic: he is also notoriously rash. He has married locally and adopted local customs: he has gone native. He and indeed his men are aggrieved that after many years faithful service they were dismissed … but they kept their warships, Viking style longships provided by Moab. Further, they have been sheltered by and have received largess from Daraxes.
Polymetus and his men, Armenians and Georgians, were pondering Nyfører’s request (deleted) ultimatum when they were apprised of the arrival of Hans Hansson and his fleet. They decided that it was time to repay their host for his generosity; Polymetus sent a messenger to Nyfører’s camp to say that Nyfører and his fleet were coming to join him … the messenger was unaware of their real intention, just in case.
Polymetus and his 20 longships rowed gently down the estuary with extra men hidden or casually lounging about, bows and fire arrows prudently concealed. When they reached Hans’ anchorage they found three of his ships beached and the others afloat at anchor though many of the crewmen were ashore.
It wasn’t really a battle: Polymetus captured Hans’ great drekar with Hans himself aboard, plus four of his longships and his three knarrs: five more of the longships were destroyed by fire and there was minor damage to two more. Polymetus’ losses were not negligible but easily replaceable.
Polymetus returned to Amol in some triumph to a hero’s welcome. He insisted that Hans and the other captured Vikings be freed unconditionally with one of the captured longships.
The Eastern Ocean. The Chaldean navy continues to support and protect the merchant ships transporting grain to Daran.
Page 1201 Sevan & Oz, Shushu & Kazgan. As anticipated, in an interview with Nyfører, Hrakon, popular, brave and honest, did blame Rosanna for the troubles in Ostland but he said that in his view Daraxes was blameless: his dislike of Sarmatians in general and Rosanna in particular is quite well known, but his defence of Daraxes was unexpected. He renewed his oaths of loyalty, willingly to Nyfører and rather reluctantly to Rosanna who without hesitation forgave him his lies (deleted) misguided comments about her part in events. He accepted a garrison in the citadel as well as one in the ford fort.
Nyfører confirmed Hrakon as ruler of Sevan; he also sent emissaries to Wulfric, to Cymonadice and to Haomoputri with offers which, seemingly not having been received, were neither rejected nor accepted. Nyfører has publicly blamed Daraxes and Darius for the present troubles in Ostland.
Darius and Daraxes were asked to surrender to Nyfører’s mercy … or else. In view of events elsewhere one must assume that they prefer the “or else” option.
Nyfører despatched a brigade of cavalry and a brigade of infantry up the Oz river valley to Oz. There they demanded the surrender of the city, according to Nyfører’s terms. The Regent, the Lady Haomoputri, informed them that the ruler of Oz, the son of the late Hamar, was currently visiting his summer residence on Wizard’s Isle in Lake Oz in the hills some 40 miles further up the valley. The cavalry stayed to establish a loose siege of the city whilst the infantry set off up the difficult path to continue the negotiations.
Hidy Harald, Skrapehake, and Laganides moved down the Arax with about 15,000 mounted men. A detachment rode towards Kazgan where they met Nestro’ai’s scouts. Nestro’ai in person rode out to meet the cavalry captain and told him that he would obey the direct orders of Rosanna, given in person, but until then would regard any further incursion into the Kura Vale as an act of aggression.
The main force pushed on towards Shushu but were met by increasing numbers of Ostland feudal cavalry, soon reinforced by Nestro’ai who seemingly took the failure to heed his warning as a personal insult.
After two weeks of increasingly savage cavalry and light infantry skirmishes with almost 1,000 Ostlanders and Sarmatians dead and with allied losses 300 or so less, Hidy Harald was able to claim victory (though Pyrrhus would have worried) and irritatingly his opponents failed to give ground, and indeed seemed keen to continue to press the fight.
“There’s so many of the bastards!”
Besh Detachments of Boson’s division were sent from Besh to the Hakka-Hakkari fortress, to the southern end of the Sivas bridge over the Firat, and to the Kilis bridge. The latter found the bridge forts already occupied and were not only refused admission, but were rather abruptly ordered to leave the area or produce appropriate permits: they returned to Besh.
Sahand & Karakum.
Tremuras and the Caspian levy, in view of the increasing shortages of supplies, drifted west-south-west to Sinjar where supplies, although not munificent, are better, particularly as they can not only forage but indulge in a little light-fingered pilfering: pretty ladies too!
Za’rashti bar Zayid and the Pontic division of the Chaldean army is guarding the supply dump and the supply line from the Tigris. They have also pushed scouting detachments south to watch Iran and towards Sinjar and Tikrit; there have been some skirmishes. The 5 brigades in Karakum continue to help with the distribution of supplies.
Tareq with the Guard and Heavy divisions have protected the move to Amol of the 112ers and elements of the siege corps whilst pushing detachments west and south towards Sinjar and Tikrit: they have met serious opposition.
Minor Moves etc.
Bold Cnut and his army marched without incident to Zara where they had been assured supplies would be available. They arrived on the 15th: no supplies. By the 18th supplies were trickling in but it was not until the 23rd that Cnut decided that they had enough to tackle the mountains. But a new problem: prudent as ever Bold Cnut had sent a detachment of light foot ahead to scout to the Upper Arax. These now returned to report that supplies in the Upper Arax and in Ararat were inadequate.
Assured by the liaison officer that all would be sorted out long before they got to Ararat, the Vikings set off on the 24th carrying enough on requisitioned ponies to get them to Ararat. They have just reached the summit of the pass above the Arax river.
Naladi bar Sahdi with two brigades of 1st Seljux rode to the Tug bridge where he was joined by the 3rd brigade on the 15th, thence north via Sivas to the Black Sea at Of: they are now at Trabzon.
Suren has expressed some puzzlement as to why so much trouble has blown up in Ostland over what seems to be but a minor matter of hurt pride and trivial offence.
ALANSBERG
Retail therapy.
Thorsson sent detachments of light troops to scout out the best roads from the city. They also purchased (promissory notes to be redeemed by an officer coming forthwith) mounts and wagons from surrounding estates to facilitate the homeward journey of Thorsson’s men.
It seems that the light troop detachments initially were unaware of the fun (deleted) trouble (deleted) fun (v.i.) that they were missing and inadvertently deepened the confusion by detaining travellers whilst questioning them about the local geography and the state of the roads.
The fun (deleted) trouble: on the morning of Funfly 2nd, in what in retrospect can be seen to have been a misjudgement, Treasurer Enronaces ordered some of the treasury guards to apprehend a group of still or already, who can tell, inebriated and noisy Vikings. They resisted arrest successfully: Enronaces then petitioned Bey Artakan for support and yet more heavies turned out.
Matters then got seriously out of hand; the Anatolian heavies took a severe beating and the aggrieved Vikings started to loot in rapidly increasing numbers: for their own good reasons a number of them took control of the city gates; no-one could enter or leave. They also confiscated horses and ponies, and wagons and carts, from livery stables and private homes. A number of comely wenches kindly volunteered to help by pulling handcarts.
It took Thorsson two weeks to call his men to order, by which time hundreds of Vikings and thousands of Anatolians had perished, and an enormous amount of cash and valuables had been transferred to the former from the latter. The City treasury was sacked and the armouries were cleared of armour but the Imperial treasury and the Anatolian provincial treasury were both secure in the great citadel. The looters were unable to requisition enough wagons (or comely propelled handcarts) to empty the granaries, but some tons were taken.
A few hundred Vikings, when the pickings were beginning to diminish, visited the mines south of the city but found very little worth taking: they took it though.
Well, Thorsson got his men on the move and they are now approaching Corun. His army has been preceded by heralds who have informed the authorities of their approach and have promised good behaviour; and indeed the men have been impeccably well behaved … cheery greetings and paying for goods and services with a smile.
Amasra.
It has been widely reported that admiral Philip seeks a crown. There is no hard evidence of treason: the evidence is entirely oral but it is likely that any move to acquire a crown will be costly.
Page 1202 NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Central Mediterranean. On the 15th a lone nondescript merchant ship entered Naples harbour: it paid its dues without demur. A cargo seemingly of grain but actually mostly ballast and a tough looking crew who found a convenient hostelry in which to spend their evenings.
On the 16th another two merchant ships arrived late in the evening, apologising in the harbour-master’s office, when they went to pay their dues, for the lateness of the hour and slipping him an amphora. He said that he would inspect their cargo in the morning … he was wrong, their cargo was fighting men.
At a yet more ungodly hour the afore-mentioned fighting men were let into Naples through a small gate near an unsavoury hostelry and at first light on the 17th they prevented the closure of the main wharf-side gates when 15 galleys and yet 5 more merchantmen arrived and disgorged a mixture of oarsmen and marines, soldiers, and Sardinian warriors.
Naples has no formal garrison, and the 400 or so local “policemen” were no match for what was reliably estimated to be a force of about 10,000.
The town was systematically looted and a number of citizens were rounded up, some perhaps for sale as slaves, others to provide home comforts.
There was one untoward and most unwelcome incident: three of the raiders’ merchant ships and one of the galleys caught fire during the night of the 23rd: two of the merchantmen were saved but one and the galley were lost.
It was suggested that the fires were set by the “comfort” ladies; most unlikely but they have subsequently been much more closely watched. A few of the captives perished as did half a dozen raiders.
On the 24th three of the merchantmen left heading out to sea: the raiders’ other ships left and visited a few nearby unwalled smaller towns up and down the coast.
The raiders have now gathered and a few hours ago headed out to sea in a south-westerly direction.
Malta. The captain of the garrison declined to meet Temeraix; the latter has let it be known that if he has to wait much longer, the deaths of the garrison when the fortress finally falls will be that much more protracted: but he said that if he had to he would wait. His descriptions of the planned torments were graphic, but he did suggest that a prompt surrender would be generously rewarded.
The Adriatic. With regret the death of Kallinikos the Geek Inventor is announced; the injuries he sustained during his amazing demonstration of his Kombustion Kit proved fatal. The future of his device and formula is unclear: it is to be fervently hoped that Murcia or his aides recorded and understood Kallinikos’ explanations and will bring the foersom device into production.
Eastern Mediterranean. The New Persian 1st Fleet rowed from Salamis westwards and then northwards to the southern Pontic coast. They then turned eastwards along the coast. They were followed after a couple of days by the New Persian 2nd Fleet. Both fleets are now off Tarsus.
They have been shadowed by two or three fast Punic galleys, possibly with a few more over the New Persian horizon but visible to the Punic scoutships. An attempt to engage them was unsuccessful.
The Aegean. Leo has sent generous gifts to Flaubal and to Sirsalis.
Sirsalis continues to support Maharbal and Ceutabaal. He has a small camp on Helios island whence his ships watch Gallipoli and Biga with occasional forays as far as Bolu.
Flaubal’s scouts patrol widely and in some strength throughout the Aegean. In the south they scout to western Crete and past Rhodes as far as Cyprus. His galleys are in frequent contact with those of Sirsalis.
GREECE.
Demetriaces and his armies. At the beginning of Funfly Demetriaces moved with much of his court, his advisers, and Vashti, into Loppson’s camp. Loppson posted scouts and sentries to watch Philipopolis and the Provincial Army: hordes of messengers have sped throughout Thrace.
Because of the Carthaginian armies marching into Thrace martial law has been declared throughout the Province. Demetriaces has ordered a recruiting drive, initially of militia, throughout the province, and city authorities have been told to ensure that their garrisons have adequate grain supplies etc.
The elements of the Thracian Provincial army not already there rallied to Philipopolis. Artillery and then foot and cavalry detachments guarded fords and crossing points before rejoining the main body of the army. By the 16th they were all safely concentrated. On the 17th they set off for Adrianople, Demetriaces himself commanding a rearguard; they reached Adrianople a couple of days ago and are resting, re-supplying, and conferring.
Sahure & the UPA. Sahure reached Istanbul without incident and after minor delays crossed to Anatolia. They are now about halfway from Amasra to Niksar having prudently decide to avoid the mountains.
Shalman and The Royal Polonovan Army. The Emperor announced that Demetriaces is confirmed as the successor to the late greatly lamented Antigonus. He also announced that the Royal Guard is to be paid by the Imperium and not by the revered ex-Empress, and that it … the Guard … is to be summoned to Adrianople.
Shalman moved with the RPA to Adrianople whence scouts were pushed further west to see what Maharbal is up to.
Hebdobal in person informed these scouts that were they to cross the Nis this would be taken as an act of war, but he did take a Pontic cavalry captain to talk to the prisoners.
(What prisoners??? Read on!)
Montenegro.
Maharbal again sent messengers under flags of truce, to Philipopolis to reiterate that he came only to re-establish his rule in the Montenegran cities of Nis and Belgrade as arranged with the Empress Ate, and to the two cities asking that all foreign troops in their territories either move to Thrace or if this is not possible, surrender to his officers pending negotiations about their repatriation.
Sirsalis having been left in Thessaly to hold the city as a base and to use its harbour to amass supplies, Maharbal, Ceutabaal, and Leptonos and their forces headed north up the road and then over that well-worn track to the Nis headwaters.
Maharbal with his cavalry and Ceutabaal with his veteran mounted infantry, most with spare mounts carrying supplies, forced marches of up to 30 miles per day. Hebdobal’s light cavalry scouted ahead and Leptonos and Bomulqert followed at a more modest pace bringing yet more supplies. Maharbal and Ceutabaal debouched into the Upper Nis plain on the afternoon of the 5th.
Scouts from the Thracian Provincial Army and from the Pontic Royal Guard had been watching them … cautiously, and reported their progress to Nonobenines: “No army should march that fast if there is the possibility of a battle: they will be knackered. And they’ve split their forces!”
Page 1203 Greece, continued. Katastrafos and the Imperial Siege Corps was still based on Nis and Nonobenines and the Pontic Royal Guard were encamped in the Upper Nis plain with elements in various of the forts. They conferred with some urgency.
On the evening of the 3rd they had received a message from the Emperor (“Who?” “Oh, him!”) to re-deploy immediately to Adrianople and were preparing to move, though perhaps without the expedition that the message demanded.
Nonobenines ordered Katastrafos to get the Siege Corps into Nis … “There isn’t room.” … across the Nis ford then, as quickly as possible.
Nonobenines had decided that he would seize the chance of defeating the Punic van whilst it was tired and disorganised but feared that he would be unable to prevent their cavalry getting past his infantry army with an obvious risk to the valuable Siege Corps.
On the 5th, even though it was getting late, Nonobenines moved briskly to attack the Carthaginians as they spilled out onto the plain; rather to his surprise the Punies formed a line of battle with exemplary dispatch and moved with equal speed towards his army, leaving a couple of thousand cavalrymen to guard their supplies and spare mounts. Nonobenines began to worry that he had miscalculated.
Nonobenines had deployed Tyrosinase on the Pontic right with his armoured close order infantry, and Achalaces with his mixture of iron and leather armoured close order, and intermediate and open order foot on the left.
Ceutabaal was on the Punic left with his close and intermediate order armoured infantry; his lethal slingers mixed with LHI on the wing: Maharbal on the Punic right had his armoured cavalry.
Pontic line-up (T=Tyrosinase, A=Achalaces)
T-HI T-HI T-EHI A-EHI A-MI A-MI A-LMI A-Mix
Punic line-up (C=Ceutabaal, M=Haharbal)
CMix CMix C-LHI C-LHI C-EHI M-SHC M-SHC M-EHC M-EHC
Each group (hyphened or otherwise) in both line-ups represent about 200 yds frontage: about 2,000 close order foot or 1,000 SHC, others in proportion.
Battle was joined in the late afternoon. Ceutabaal, Maharbal, and, courageously, Achalaces fought in the front rank. Achalaces medium and light medium brigades were broken on contact by Ceutabaal’s EHI and by Maharbal’s SHC. Within an hour Achalaces and his fully armoured foot had also routed along with a brigade of Tyrosinase’s heavies
As the light began to fade the rest of Achalaces’ men routed, leaving Tyrosinase with two brigades isolated and all but surrounded. Ceutabaal, returned from a brief pursuit, accepted his surrender.
Losses, dead or seriously injured:
Tyrosinase, 336 EHI & 2,126 HI.
Achalaces, 1,203 EHI, 4,000 MI, 1,413 LMI, & 82 LI.
Ceutabaal, 20 EHI, 232 LHI, & 159 LI.
Maharbal, 12 SHC & 244 EHC.
Maharbal arranged for the care of the wounded of both armies and expressed his regret that Nonobenines hadn’t had the good sense to surrender. Maharbal holds about three thousand uninjured captives and almost one thousand wounded who are expected to make a full recovery.
Maharbal pushed unengaged cavalry and mounted infantry rapidly down the valley: when they got to the Nis ford they found that Katastrafos, the miners, and the cart-mounted bolt engines had crossed the ford, but that the leading wagons were still a few miles away. The reluctance of the wagons to surrender was soon dissipated.
After a brief discussion about the disadvantages of rowing, Nonobenines agreed to order the garrisons in the forts to surrender. Officers went to the forts, and to Nis and Belgrade bearing the glad tidings that they were liberated from the burdensome Pontic yoke and were returned to the bosom of the Montenegran … well, you know what I mean.
The Punies are mostly at Nis with a substantial detachment at Belgrade and significant detachments bringing in supplies from Thessaly, guarding the track and the supplies against the bandits which infest the region..
Banditry. The hills to the west and to the south of Philipopolis have always held a few assorted bandits: debtors, smugglers, escaped convicts and slaves, and so on. Their numbers were swelled by the recent Hunnic looting of the lands south and west of the Marit. They have recently become more daring but attacks on Punic forces have so far been few and unsuccessful.
Chaldean Travellers. Shakbut bar Sahdi duly reached Amasra where he waited for Mustasha senior to arrive. Mustasha, muttering a bit about the uncomfortable design of modern new-fangled saddles, arrived two days ago and a ferry crossing has now been booked.
WALLACHIA.
Cambyses’ marching camp.
The training programme for Cambyses’ great army has now extended to long marches in full battle order. They have just arrived in Cluj: a route preparation planning exercise to Istanbul is also under way.
Having provided an elite personal guard for the Empress Ate a couple of years back, doting Uncle Cambyses is said to be incensed that the "jumped up ninny" has deprived her of it but provided one for his "barbarian floozy". Cambyses is rumoured to be planning to bring his entire army as a substitute.
GAUL.
A bad day at the Leonese camp.
Sancho was enjoying a rare moment of peace on the evening of 17th. An excellent meal, a comely cup-bearer (D) (“Would you like more?” “No, no, they’re quite enough.”) and a pleasantly warm evening.
But as the light faded an onlooker more alert than Sancho’s guards might have noticed a small mound of sand worming its way towards Sancho’s tent.
At the tent wall it halted and turned into a crumpled remnant whilst inside the tent a man gathered himself and then leapt, a short sword swinging.
Sancho is a hard man brought up in a hard school; ignoring a wound to his arm as he deflected the blow, he slashed his cup across the assassin’s face: the cup-bearer screamed and hit the assassin with the amphora: as guards arrived the assassin dived to crawl back the way he had come but Sancho with his own sword cut short the fellow’s escape and indeed his right leg at the ankle.
No he didn’t bleed to death and yes, he proved very willing to talk, as did his two accomplices challenged by an alert sentry and then caught. It seems that the would-be killer is … well, by now, was … a Carthaginian from Senastarte who had settled in Taragon Province some years ago after his military service; he was hired by an old army colleague:
One of his accomplices was a Taragonese horse handler whose amazing rapport with horses was based on a meeting of intellectual equals: the other accomplice was the old army colleague; hired in Taran Scodar by a Baal loyalist to avenge Sancho’s recent unwelcome intervention in Carthage.
They are probably all dead by now. Sancho’s injury was but a minor flesh wound.
But why the heading, “A bad day at the Leonese camp”? The cup-bearer apologised for breaking the amphora but pointed out that it was only half full, and empty would not have had such an impact “… true, but such a rare wine.”
Page 1204 The Leon levy arrives.
The Leonese crossed the Pyrenees without incident and joined in the fighting. As they were passing, the garrison of the Zaragozza mine fortress offered to surrender on terms: our reporter assumes that supplies are running low after so long cut off.
The conflict intensifies.
Cerdic, and Sancho and Leo pushed increasing numbers of troops into the great plain around Limoges using infantry, often mounted, to stiffen their cavalry. Intense skirmishing and small battles erupted from La Rochelle and the coast in the west to the Clermont hills and Bourges in the east, and occasionally as far north as the Loire.
The Gauls, getting the worst of the skirmishing, have given ground, stripping the land of flocks and herds as they retired. Anything missed by the Gauls has been gratefully seized by the invaders who have put some effort into rounding up herds and flocks around Mende, Clermont, and La Rochelle: horses have been distributed to unmounted foot. The locals are going hungry and many will starve.
The Gauls have prudently moved all boats however small to the right bank of the Loire and have strongly fortified all potential crossing points: the bridge at Tours is particularly strongly defended.
By the end of the month there was fighting along an ill-defined 50 mile deep front running west from Bourges for 150 miles or more, north of Limoges and south Tours. The Gauls may have lost as many as 9 10,000 men and the invaders some 1-2,000 less.
Nancy. Learning from their scouts that Nancy is unfortified, the Dacian raiders headed there with some alacrity. An attempt to hold the Marne ford against them was overwhelmed and Nancy was over-run and looted. Many of the inhabitants were slaughtered before the raiders, alerted by their far-flung scouts, fired the town and prepared to face the Bruxellois.
The Bruxellois had almost reached Paris when they learned of the Dacian attack on Nancy. There was a long and heated discussion, but in the end only Kalevard IV elected to obey Cerdic’s orders and continue on to Tours where his men joined the fighting south of the Loire.
Rostiq, Odo, and Parapluix and their forces headed at their best speed up the Marne valley, most on the right bank but with a small detachment of light infantry on the left bank. They are now about 15 miles north-north-west of Nancy: the Dacians are about 2 miles NNW of Nancy.
The Dacians think that they are outnumbered, but not by too big a factor: the Bruxellois scouting had been a bit lax but they know that there are enemy near.
Marseilles. The stalemate continues, with Marseilles city loosely besieged and the fortress now firmly in Tuscan hands. Regan has explained that not only has Cerdic not come to relieve them, but that he isn’t going to. They can either surrender to her now and keep their freedom and their belongings, or they can be assaulted, looted, and the survivors sold into slavery.
The Western Ocean. The Bruxellois fleet continued down the Channel making fair time against the prevailing wind. They have requisitioned several small fishing vessels which the owners fear will be used as fireships.
Via Cherbourg and Brest, they arrived in Nantes five days ago and have used a couple of those fishing vessels as inconspicuous scoutships to inspect the Iberian navy’s position in the Garonne.
Unpromising in the extreme, the current militating against fireships and the narrowness of the estuary negating their numerical advantage of almost 3:1.
The able Villeneuve of Brest has been appointed by Cerdic to command the Breton fleet.
Sancho has moved much of his close order foot north to a strong camp more or less equidistant from Limoges, Clermont, and Bordeaux city.
Last edited by Angst; 02-05-07 at 11:53 AM.
Reason: added map of Gaul
|