It is 240 BC. A year ago, the First Punic Wars ended, with Rome’s victory. Following peace and the signing of the Treaty of Lutatius, saw Carthage’s retreat from Sicily. The island was now Rome’s for the taking. City by city, village by village, Rome subjugated the island. Those that accepted Rome’s supremacy, were made Rome’s tributaries, or outright annexed. Those who resisted were conquered, their cities were sacked and their populations enslaved. One of the cities that resisted, was city of Nane. The city was founded around 400-390 BC, by Egyptians. One of a few Egypt ever made. After Egypt’s fall to the Persian Empire, the city became independent. For hundreds of years, the city was ruled by cunning governors, who in reality were kings and queens in all but name. In 264 the Punic war began. In 260, a Roman general Quintus Valerius Pesca arrived, aiming to gain the alliance of the Nane city. Unknown to him, the governor Ouei, had no intention of joining Rome - she had already started cooperating with Carthaginians. The wicked Ouei decided to kill the general and his retinue, then send his head to Carthage for a reward. She had poisoned all of the Roman general’s bodyguards and captured the general. She and her sister tortured him, with intention of killing him later. But the man was both strong and cunning. He freed himself from his bondage, raped both women, kidnapped the governor and using her as a hostage, escaped. While leaving, he swore he would one day unleash his vengeance upon the city. Twenty years have passed and in year 241, the war ended. In 240, Rome’s army arrived, but the Nane refused to surrender, so Rome’s army lay siege on the city. Three months of siege and assaults passed, and the city was about to fall. Everyone knew about that.
@Regin34 The chaos of battle slowly substituted. With the destruction of ramps, it was now only a question of rounding up the Roman army. It was glorious battle for the Amazons! Rena was dispatching the gladiators – slave soldiers send in a first wave. Before Ivyari could do anything she was pulled behind the wall. Just in time as several arrows fell right into their ranks. “They don’t care about their own soldiers.” Korina snarled as she held her bleeding arm.
@Tjf General Quintus Valerius Pesca looked over the city. Another assault failed – but he could see cracks in the city’s defences. They were worn out. It was but a probing attack, and he only lost slaves and mercenaries in that attack. The war was ending, and it was best not to leave to many of them free to roam about. “The gods smile on you Quintus.” He looked to the side, the Roman priestess Flavia smiled at him. “Your victory is all but assured.” The priestess had assured Quintus, many times, that the victory would be his.
Ivyari laught and send arrow to enemies ranks, easy targets in such mass of men. She take cover quickly and look at Korina. "I can't never understand why our traditional outfits for battle looking more like whores clothes? No way that could protect anyone from the strike." She said and point at her leather armor, which protect her torso, upper legs and forarmrs. On head she have band with metal protection too. " We should fight on horses in the field, not hidding behind the walls. "
@unisol_gr44 Opening his eyes, Aulus realises with a start that he isn't dead. Part of a group tasked with extracting a traitorous Egyptian noble hiding in a farmhouse outside the walls of Nane, Aulus was caught unaware when stones had begun to fall from the sky. Upon the walls were Belearic slingers, men trained to perfection with their chosen weapons, and able to send forth small stones with enough force to kill a man. As the Romans began to get close to the farmhouse, the deadly hail began, killing Aulus' tribune before he could get his shield up, the man falling backwards and knocking Aulus over, bronze helmet crashing into his face and knocking him out for a moment. Getting to his feet, Aulus sees that 16 men of his squad are still alive, beginning to panic without a leader. With a start, he realises that he's in command of them all, now that the Tribune's dead. As the next wave of stones come flying, the men instinctively raise their shields, protecting themselves, but looking at Nane, Aulus sees that their problems have only begun. The gates slide open, and a squad of Carthaginian cavalry exit, 20 strong and baying for blood, heading towards Aulus and his men. In a few moments, the young Roman weighs his options: - He can prepare his men to meet the charge head on, and try to make a shield wall too strong for the horsemen to break. -He can have his men run to the farmhouse where the Egyptian noble is supposed to be. -Thirdly, he can order a retreat and get his men back to the Roman front line behind him. He judges that he can run there before the horsemen can catch up, at which point the cavalry would be insane to pursue.
@majus Flanked by courtiers and military staff, Governor Anai of Nane sits upon her golden throne in the city's great palace. Two scantily dressed slaves wave palm leaves in front of her, producing a cool breeze to lessen the severity of the Sicilian heat, as she hears the clacking of footsteps upon the tiled floor. Anai knows without having to look up the the new arrival is her daughter, Taia. No one else would walk with such boldness in the hall of such a fearsome ruler. Striding forth to sit in a chair beneath Anai's throne, symbolising her status as the heir, Taia kicks her feet up lackadaisically. "The last of the Carthaginian exiles has arrived, mother. General Bostar has come to pay his respects." At her signal, the gates of the throne room open, and a man enters, a grizzled veteran of the brutal First Punic War. Anai has to amend her prior statement. Clearly the Carthaginian is as bold as Taia, striding forth to walk up to the dais, looking up at Nane's queen in all but name. "Governor," his speech is perfunctory, airs and graces worn away by years of conflict, "It is my honour to be here. Together, we shall send the Romans cowering away from your fine city." The lines are rehearsed, and not spoken particularly warmly. Anai knows that the Carthaginians are not well disposed to her, due to her not delivering as many men and supplies as she promised to the war effort. Bostar in particular, her spies inform her, blames her personally for a Carthaginian defeat not far from Nane.
Aulus look around him, blinking his eyes after seeing stars from being knocked out. Luckily he spotted the riders coming for them. He was young and relatively inexperienced, but the senior men had died. He had a decision to make, and quickly. Calling to his men, he tried to rally them and take command, 'Hastati! Form ranks and raise shields! Advance on the farmstead. Double time!' Aulus attemped to get enough men together for proper protection against the hail of stones, hoping they'd get to the farm before the riders caught up to them.
To Aulus' horror, as he goes to speak, nothing comes from his mouth. Frantically, he tries again and again, in the midst of all the adrenaline somehow forgetting how, but after a moment of pure panic, he wets his tongue, and his voice rings out as clearly as any centurion's. The men, roused from panic by the voice of a superior officer, move like automata, raising shields and assembling themselves from a chaotic mass into an ordered double line. Seeing the Romans head towards the farm, the Carthaginians speed up to a gallop, looking forwards to getting vengeance on their hated foe. As the Romans rush to the small farmstead, the horsemen get close, but judging the shield wall too strong, pull away at the last moment, especially when a javelin flies from a window to impale a Cathaginian, and the Romans are able to get inside the farmhouse. Heading inside, Aulus is nearly decapitated as an axe flies past him to dig deep into the wall. "Oops." A foreign voice rings out, and Aulus looks up to see a Celtic auxiliary grinning at him. "Sorry 'bout that, friend. I thought you was one of them Carthaginians." A group of other Celts give a chuckle. "Enough." A silky, seductive voice sounds out from behind the warriors. "You were sent by the general?" Turning, Aulus sees the speaker. Back in Rome, women tend to be clad quite lightly, but even Aulus is unused to such scant clothing, and his men are outright leering. Outside the window, he sees the Carthaginians dismount from their horses, a particularly muscular and tall one stepping forward to challenge the Romans to a duel in single combat. "Come, you cowardly whoresons! Are none of Rome's finest willing to fight without a thousand men at his back?" He taunts. Aulus knows that single combat, champion against champion, is a very good way to gain renown, but those duels are also often a trap.
Are you a fool, or a sycophant, woman? I have time for neither. Pesca supresses his irritation, knowing that the priestess is politically connected, and that it pays to be polite with such people. "You honour me with your confidence, priestess." He smiles. "But it's unwise to praise the day before the sun has set. No victory is assured."
Anai does not allow anything but cool indifference to show on her face. She knew that if it was up to the general, he would be on ship, back to Carthage. He and his men were unlucky because of the treason of one of Carthage senators. Now, he was stuck here. "Indeed we will, general." She answered with a slight nod. And once the blockade was gone, the man would probably take over dew of her ships and make run for it. She wouldn't even mind, as long as she got a good peace deal with Romans. But that was for later. "But the question is how." She leaned forward, allowing a man to get glimpse of her cleavage. "I have some ideas, but I am sure that so do you, general."
A small smirk graces the lips of the woman. She was the priestess of some minor god - one that emphasised sex and war. She was known for organising orgies - more violent than it was normal in Rome. She was well connected in capital and popular - at least for now. "The battle, might not be won, but the campaigning is as good as won." She said as she moved her hand over the general's shoulder. "All you need is time. It's inevitable." He could smell Flavia's sweet scent.
"The heat will make it quite tiring later on. Not to mention you can move far more freely with less gear and fight longer." She answered as she cut of a piece of dead soldier's cloth and used it as bandage. The arrow Ivyari fired, hit one of the Roman's straight into the eye. "Ride out into those ramparts? Thanks no." Korina shook her head. "I prefer to die fighting, rather than be needled with arrows in senseless charge." She looked down. "It looks like the battle is ending. Let's mop up the survivors."
Aulus was catching his breath, slightly glaring at the Celts but not too angry at them, 'Well, thanks for killing that rider behind us anyway.' He looked at the young Celtic girl, 'I'd wager if you really mistook me for a Punic bastard I'd be a head shorter. I hope you had your fun making me shit my pants.' He turned around to the Egyptian woman, and like his men he was quite taken aback by her looks. He had never seen such obscene curves on a woman and one so scantily clad as well. He had to gulp, a bit out of his element, 'Oh, uhm,' the young man blushed and had to clear his voice and start again, 'Uh, yes, we are to bring you back to our lines.' He didn't have much time to converse with the woman before the Carthaginians challenged them, he went up to a window, but kept to the side, 'What do you want? A duel commander to commander and you will just let us leave if we win?'
Along the sides of the throne room, there's muffled discussion as the court gossips about the the Carthaginian, and Anai is acutely aware that every single soul in that room is looking out for themselves above everything else. General Bostar looks at Anai's cleavage, though not for too long, hatred outweighing arousal. "Perhaps it would be better to discuss strategy in a war council than in the throne room, ma'am. I get the distinct feeling that most of what is said here goes directly into General Pesca's ear." There's an angry murmuring from the courtiers as the Carthaginian implies that some of the city's nobles are spies, even though it's almost certainly true. The murmurs stop, however, as Bostar gives them a look that suggests that he wouldn't be against pulling out his sword and butchering them all here and now. Anai's daughter gives a chuckle at the man's lack of tact.
"Plenty of fun, thanks." The Celt continues to grin, but Aulus gets the feeling that he's won a little bit of respect by admitting to flinching, and not acting too offended. The Egyptian nods, softly smirking at Aulus' reaction, before turning at the sound of the Carthaginians. "We'll have to get rid of them first, I imagine." The Carthaginian outside chuckles as he hears Aulus speak. "They're sending children to fight us, now? Beat me, boy, and I promise you that you'll get back to your line unharmed. The traitor comes back with us, but by the god, Baal I swear that you and your men will live. Aulus sees that a few of his men seem like they want to go out and fight the Carthaginian champion, though not so much out of a desire to escape, and more to impress the busty Egyptian and the redhead.
'What? I'm not going to fight a duel just to go back to the General empty-handed. If we win the duel, everyone in here gets to leave to our line, your defector included. She's coming with us,' Aulus scoffed. He looked at his men, trying to judge who would have the best chance at beating the Carthaginian, or if he had to step up himself to get them out of there without further losses.
Anai hummed. She had quite a few lovers-opponents in past. Angry sex gave her quite a rush. She would need to get into man's pants to ensure his loyalty. She nodded and got up. "Let us go then general." She nodded, as she moved to the council chamber, the general and her daughter following. She did share her daughter's outlook on the man.
"Heh, you'll lose anyway, boy, so why not?" Looking at his men, Aulus judges that the most qualified would be Brucca and Valerian, not to include himself. - Brucca, a heavily muscled soldier over six feet tall, is by far the physically strongest of the group of Roman soldiers, and about the equal in size to the Carthaginian. He's good at bull rushing opponents, and has a high pain tolerance. On the downside, his technique is poor, preferring brute strength to finesse. - Valerian is a short and thin man, often standing behind the first man in a shield wall to strike at the enemy's legs during battle, from the blind spot. He's highly intelligent, and is well practiced in multiple styles of combat. The downside is that he's physically quite a bit weaker than the Carthaginian. - Aulus himself is somewhere in the middle.
Thinking neither man really fit the bill. He grumbled, his stint at command might turn out shorter than a day. He looked to the others, trying to look confident, 'Make ready to get out of here. I'll fight that bastard.' Stepping through the doors of the farm, he seized up the commander, weary of treachery or one of his men making a move, 'Alright then, your people keep out of this. It's between you and me.'
"Yes, yes less weight maybe it's right, but the rest is bullshit. Armor didn't slow me down or make me less freely than I would fight naked. I can ewen show you my salto, after battle." She said and give another shoot to survivor. "I didn't mean charge, but sending arrow after arrow to enemy, sitting on the horse and ridding away from them, like on the hunt for lion."
