[PE] Revolution is Hard! VH/VH Numidia - Update 1

[Alavaria]

Vh/Vh Numidia

After waiting for far too long, it's the RTR Platinum Vh/Vh Numidia campaign!

The Sinuhet's AI Battle Formations are used. However, when faced with an army of largely the same thing (you'll see) one wonders ... in any case!


This is a story of freedom from oppression,
and liberty from cruel tyrants who demand sacrifices of blood.

Soldiers of Numidia, unite!
You have only your suffering to lose!
-King of Numidia, beginning the Numidian Insurrection.

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The Campaign started off quietly.

While the Carthaginians still slept quietly, satiated by their food and wealth, loyalists to King Syphax began infiltrating the Carthage-Numidia border fortifications.

Long used to control our people, Carthage had begun to remove their troops for greater conflict elsewhere, sending more of our own "unsteady" men to the thankless duty.

They forgot who was being defended from whom.

[Yep, setting up this here blockage. Also spamming tons of javelinmen from my two settlements.
Though it causes problems (with horrible population drops) I have a plan!]






Adonibal, the youngest prince of military age, was ordered to keep the order in your great capital.

[There are 3 starting family members. Two of them will sit in the two starting settlements for slavery purposes - like him. The Faction Leader and Heir will go to battle as they have the largest bodyguards.]








Our plan was nearly slipped when one of the King's diplomats asked for maps of Carthage's holdings.

They responded by kicking the man out of the city.

Fools! Their own "slaves" will bury them!








Giscon Mainake, possibly thinking our King's army the garrision that he had asked for, set out south to oppress another settlement in the desert not yet forced to pay tribute to Carthage.






The sentries at Thapsus were too alert. Seeing that our soldiers were led by their own officers, rather than those of Carthaginian training, they realized that the people's revolution had chosen their city to break out upon.

With Giscon Mainake so far to the south, our brave men could carry the city before he was able to return and relieve our brief "siege" (actually cover for constructing ladders).

However, the men from Hadrumetum arrived to aid their fellow slaves.

Not only had they encouraged both forces to take to the field (where our King had significant advantages in command), but they had also weakened their own city's defences and in particular lacked a proper commander.





It was to be a vital battle.

Our King had to carry the day, or the people would be crushed again under the heel of Carthaginian politics.








Our spearmen (hoplites) broke into a lose formation. Being lighter (and generally less intensively drilled) as their enemy, they would exploit a loose formation to tie down the enemy phalanx without themselves being caught and broken by the denser and heavier Carthaginian formation.

When some of the Iberian mercenaries arrived with a volley of their soliferrum (a sure display of Carthaginian decadence) the wisdom of open ranks was further established.





The enemy tried a flanking attack. The King led his chosen men against them with another unit of horse led by a close relative of his.

The two units watched the enemy horse run into a formation of spears, and then - amazed that they did not break immediately upon contact, wavers and fled before the King's splendid guard.







With the enemy phalanx and scutarii formations busy fighting (but not defeating) our spear formations, the soldiers of the land moved up.

The javelinman was as much a soldier as the proud hoplites that Carthage so loved to parade.

Their weapon was simple, easy to create, yet deadly. A small clutch of 9 metal tipped javelins (as you can see) can inflict deadly damage.

While the enemy was occupied, the soliders swiftly approached them on the right side.

Several volleys of the land's missile swiftly took apart the arrogant fools.






The enemy reinforcements sent forward some peltasts in an attempt to gauge the situation of the battle.

Before they could report a total loss on their side, our King's horse immediately set upon them and broke apart the scouts, driving them away from the army that was reorganising for a second round of battle.








A group of Iberians hired to fight for gold, pressed forward against our "light" desert spearmen.

The fools did not see the King's horse returning to catch them in the rear.






As the main enemy force approached out ranks, they could doubtless see the many bodies of their compatriots, who had been throughly taught about the true way of war.








However, they had little idea or knowledge save that retreat was now impossible.

therefore they endeavoured to shatter our lines in an all-out charge, as they had been taught by their foolish Carthaginian teachers.






Javelins we have in plenty, and courage in greater abundance.
These enemies of ours have little enough of either, and will shortly lose whatever they have.
We shall conquer!
-King of Numidia, post-battle speech, rallying his men onto the next battle.








The foot attacked the right-most flank of the enemy, and the horsemen with their javelins (as yet unused) took apart the second unit.

This swiftly broke the enemy, who turned to flee.

Of course, no man can run as fast as one mounted, or with as much stamina as the latter.
How much more shall Numidian steeds teach them the meaning of horsemanship?
-King of Numidia, praising his bodyguards in the second part of his post-battle speech.








The bodies of enemies were scattered about like dirt on the land they had thought to exploit.

The Numidian Insurrection had begun with a mighty victory! Men from across our lands, and even some of the Carthaginian "slaves" would join our great revolution!








Indeed, a great victory won by the skill and work of the formerly oppressed.






Thapsus fell without further combat. Our ladders were used as campfire fuel for the men who camped outside, tending to the horses and generally preparing to meet up with more revolutionaries.

The only condition for the surrender: no slaughter.


Our King found this agreeable. Upon entering into the city, he had the men take a count, and determined that many of our own countrymen were living with the enemy, through no fault of their own (slaves).

The "free men" who were complicit with the Carthaginian regime were sent back to our sandy lands to serve as laborers and clerks, while their "property" were given both their freedoms and property.

With the city both pacified and loyal to its liberator, the men marched out, ready to meet the Carthaginian attempt to snuff out the fire of our victory.










But no such shoe was incoming.

Perhaps Mainake was unaware, but he continued into the desert on his mission.

Spies of ours also heard news that Carthage was preparing for a resumption of hostilites with Rome.

Many mercenaries in the area, who could have easily been bought by Carthage's mountains of ill-gotten gold - taken from the people! - remained unpurchased.






We moved to lay siege to Hadrumentum.

A small force, perhaps moving out to support their earlier (now dead) friends, returned to find the people industriously building ladders, and attacked!






The relief force marches toward us, confident that they and their friends will catch us in a noose and crush the life of the revolution.

Our King marches towards them, so that one side will "hit" before the other, thus allowing our men a good superiority in each of the two fights that will take place today.








On the left, a combined force of infantry and cavalry slammed into a dense phalanx of ours, and began breaking into it.

Hearing the cries of his men, our King approached the fight and several of his bodyguard threw javelins into the enemy's rear.

The enemy horse broke off and began to run. However, they could not outrun the fresh Numidian mounts that chased them.








The enemy's right were broken by javelins to their right and rear.

Our own phalanx was taking advantage of the disarray in the enemy's due to the rout of the horsemen that broke their ranks.








However, the King soon returned and made good work of the last enemy with javelins.

It was a mighty slaughter! Our King from behind broke their formation and the men in front thrust their spears into the running men.






With the hoplites bloodied slightly, fresh units were brought to face the incoming reinforcements.

Javelinmen who had unused missiles also prepared themselves for victory!








The enemy came forth and almost immediately after hitting our line, their leader's unit was broken.

They fight in the same way as they always have!








Similarly, the horse finish off their own javelins and broke the second unit with little problem.








Training or not, their deficiency is a lack of understanding of the will and cooperation present in any society, or army!

After all, the people's army is made up of the society that is forced to war by aggressors and despots...










More dead enemies. Their army was completely destroyed, and total victory was ours!








Again, our King freed the slaves and brought the yoke of servitude upon the enemy of the people!

The King's many citizens rejoiced to see justice in their time!






What ... are they up to?

[Gath]

Great job so far, I will follow any more updates. The quotes from the king are especially good, they add a lot of flavor to it.