RTR AAR: In Defense of the Eagle

[Hatire]

In Defense of the Eagle

The tale of the rise of the Roman Republic into Empire

by Hatire

Chapter 1: Friends, Romans, Countrymen...

The date is July 1 280 BC and I, Quintus have been tasked by the Senate of Roma to expand our burgeoning Republic further into the Latin states. To accomplish this task, the Senators have awarded me and my son, Publius Scipio, each a legion to march on our fellow Latin neighbors to the south. Despite the preference of the Senators to peacefully bring Paestum and Corfinium into the Republic, all diplomatic missions have been rebuffed by their leaders. It is time to show them the price of defying the wishes of Rome.

After a week of gathering supplies and information from our spies, we each leave the comfort of the city of seven hills at dawn, each knowing that it may be years before we see each other again. We are good Roman men though, and we know that our mission is an honorable one, and that the time when we meet again, it will be after a triumph for Rome and the expansion of good Roman virtues into these pathetic cities that are too ignorant or blind to submit peacefully.

The road is good, and we make Corfinium in a weeks march. As we prepare to make camp and for a prolonged seige, I receive word that our spy network has infiltrated the guard of the city gates. It is a risky move, but we may be able to attack in the next week when our spies are posted at every entrance. I do not wish to endanger the lives of my men by a foolish attack, but the sooner we can take the city, the sooner we can spread the blessings of Rome and return home. With the news that Pyrrhus of Epirus has already landed a strike force in the southern penisula, a quick victory would be a welcomed grace and enable us the time needed to prepare for his inevitable attack.

Despite the risk, we push forward with ou plans to attack the following week. When the day of the attack breaks, a single flaming arrow is shot from the north gate, the signal from our spies that it is clear to attack. We push forward and rush the north and eastern gates, knowing full well to expect heavy fighting from the auxiliary units stationed in the city as guard. The fighting at the gate is heavy, as their spearmen look to pin us and their skirmishers fire into our ranks. It is a good plan that would stall many foes, but our men are stout and fight on even as their brothers fall alongside them.



As true as the cowards they are, they fall under the might of good Roman discipline and retreat back to their city center. With the gateways won, I and the reserve forces move into the city as our swordsmen and hoplites continue to push towards the city center. When our hardened hastati and pricipes move from the reserve into the frontline, our enemy launches a foolish attack that costs the life of their general.



As the day is won, with the last of the stragglers shot down by the javelins of our velites, we take the city. The bodies of our fallen brothers as well as our enemies are gathered and burned. There have been rumors of plague in the northern lands and in far away Macedonia, thought to be caused by dead corpses. I will not let our victory here be decimated by some damn virus. So the bodies are burned, even as it pains me to see a thousand good men that I fought with not get their deserved burial. Curse the gods and their twisted ways,



Winter is coming, and their is no word from Publius and his assault on Paestum While winter's snow will cause Pyrrhus to delay his attack, I know that once the passes are cleared, he will be making his way north. I only hope that Publius will have taken the city in time to prepare for his attack. For now, I have sent a small detachment of my own men to Capua to gather supplies for the winter and request additional reinforcements from the Senate. Corfiniuim is lightly defended and reports from our spies say that Pyrrhus outnumbers my legion by a good margin. While I fear not the challenge, it is always better to fight on an even ground, their is more honor in the victory that way. Honor always pleases the crowd, and one day, that crowd might lift someone beyond the controls of the Senate, and with that, the possibilities for Roma would be endless...

[MasterOfThessus]

Awsome

[florin80]

In Defense of the Eagle

For a minute there I thought you`re trying to raise awareness to the plight of the eagle population. I generally don`t like the romans, but saving the eagle seems a noble quest. Nice to see rtr 6 continues to inspire people. Have fun with this!

[Hatire]

Chapter 2: Seeding

The date is now the first of April, year 279 BCE. Word has come from my son at long last. Paestum has fallen to his men with but minor casualties sustained to his legion. The two divisions that have suffered casualties are already en route to Capua and will be fit for combat again but winter's first snow. A messenger has also come from my daughter in Roma herself. She has married a young tribune by the name of Flavius Centumalus, who is supposedly a man of decent repute among the officer corps. He has lead the legions of Rome to a handful of victories, he is a good addition to the family then.

Our spies also report that Pyrrhus and his invasion force have turned south, past Croton, and looks to be leading an attack against a renegade general in the Greek-Italic settlement of Rhegium. I am conflicted about this bit of news, as it can be both a blessing and a curse. If Pyrrhus and his Greeks gain another city under their thumb, they will be that much more difficult to kick out of what should be good Roman lands. Yet there is always the chance that those renegades in Rhegium will show these wayward Greeks the bite of their own spears and give Pyrrhus such a victory that his entire invasion force is crippled. How I would love to take my legion now and assist those renegades in their defense, show them the strength of Roma and her grace as well. Alas, the cowards in the Senate stay my blade, bid me to stay here in Corfinium and let the events play out as they will.

Those Senators are fools, they will be the death of Roma if they are not put to pasture soon. Already there is talk amongst the plebians of my family's great triumphs in the name of our great city. The mob is a powerful thing, dangerous to everything that is established, but a powerful tool that can be harnassed if one can play their cards right. The cities of Arminium and Arretium still are victims of rebellious former officors. looking for a chance to strike back at the city that gave them everything. If my new son in law were to take a legion and crush these rebels, all of Italia proper would be under the banner of the golden eagle. A triumph that could send the crowd into a frenzy, a frenzy that very well could be the ultimate undoing of the weaklings in the Senate. Yes, the time for a new power in Roma is rising, that power should be my family, even if I have to march on the city herself.

I will dispatch this messanger back to Flavius in Roma, as well as my sons, let them know of the task that is to come. While the Senate thinks they are reinforincing their own armies, they will be creating the force that will be their own undoing. It will undoubtedly take a few years, but the pawns are already being set, and the seeds of destruction have been planted.