The Severian-Corvan Civil War

[Magicman2051]

This thread now supersedes all others in this conflict. Please keep the OOC in this to a minimum.

Battle of Massalia

Both armies, laded with silver and trade goods taken in tax, had intended to use the Port of Massalia as an embarkation point to travel to their final destinations.

They encountered each other in the forests directly outside Massalia. the Severian Legions stand between the Corvan legions and the port on a slight incline with sporadic tree cover and wide road. The Corvan legions are coming out of some thicker forest with a narrow road.

Both armies are currently beyond the range of any missile weapons.

Severian Forces - No Commander (Pontifex)

Legio IV Hispania* - Full Strength
Legio VII Gemina* - Full Strength
Hispanic Cavalry* - 500


Corvan Forces - Marcus Licinius Scipio (Monkey)

Legio XIII Rapax* - Full Strength
Legio XIV Fulminata* - Full Strength
Licinian Cavalry - 1,000

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Severans draw up in battle order. Their commander, a legate who served in the Lusitanian wars, begins to assemble his men.

Veterans in front, Juniors in the rear! Let's show these traitors Spanish steel!

[cfmonkey45]

As soon as the scouts returned, reporting that legions loyal to Severus were inhibiting their passage to Massilia, Proconsul Marcus Licinius Scipio ordered the legions to halt and arrange into battle formation. He called aside his aide de camp Centurion Lucius Vorenus, he handed him a number of unopened scrolls bearing the insignia of Dictator Decimus Cornelius Corva. He and an entourage of ten Licinian Cavalry rode out to the lines the legions claiming loyalty to Severus Magnus under the banner and assumed protection of Concordia, the goddess of harmony, diplomacy, and understanding.

They desired a parlay with the Severan legions. It would be both sacrilegious and blasphemous to the goddess for the common Roman legionnaire to kill a man under such attempts at a truce.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The centurions stopped their conversation as the cavalry detachment moved forward. Noticing the slight advantage in terrain, the Legate was not surprised the Corvans were attempting to negotiate their way out of an engagement. Caius Misenas called to the detachment of cavalry.

In the name of Severus Cincinnatus, Dictator of Rome, you shall desist immediately. I am under orders to offer safe passage to your men if they will leave the field peaceably. What is your reply?

[cfmonkey45]

Lucius Vorenus grinned slightly. He opened the first scroll.

The First Scroll

To the Legionnaires owing allegiance to Severus Magnus, On behalf of the Senate and People of Rome, sanctified and protected by Jupiter Optimus, Mars, Concordia, and all the Gods of Rome, I, lawful Dictator Decimus Cornelius Corva, do here and now grant total amnesty and protection to all Legionnaires who defect from the traitor and usurper, Severus Vispanius Cincinnatius the so-called "Magnus." We rule not only by the legitimacy of the Gods, not only by the will of the people, not only by the legions of your fellow loyal compatriots who march to our aid, but by Rome. Dictator by the Will of the Senate, Decimus Cornelius Corva Purchase: Decimus Cornelius Corva - 15 points - Imperator! Spoiler Alert, click show to read:  Imperator! (claim the loyalty of a legion): -15 points Legions raised by the Senate will be assumed wholly loyal to the senate until a General makes a bid for their loyalty. Likewise, legions raised by a private citizen (ex consul) will be assumed wholly loyal to that individual unless another General intervenes. Legions loaned to the senate or by the senate to an individual (excluding magistrates tasked with achieving a military objective) will still remain loyal to the original owners. In cases such as these it is suggested a contract be drawn up outlining terms and conditions.

The Second Scroll

To the Legionnaires who deserted their posts to join Severus Magnus, On behalf of the Senate and People of Rome, sanctified and protected by Jupiter Optimus, Mars, Concordia, and all the Gods of Rome, I, lawful Dictator Decimus Cornelius Corva, do here and now grant total amnesty and protection to all Legionnaires who have previously deserted from their lawful posts to join the traitor and usurper Severus Vispanius Cincinnatus the so-called "Magnus" on the condition that they swear allegiance to the lawfully elected Senate and the People of Rome and henceforth forsake all loyalty, homage, and friendship with Severus Vispanius Cincinnatus and his allies. Dictator by the Will of the Senate, Decimus Cornelius Corva Purchase: Decimus Cornelius Corva - 5 points - Influence Legions to Remain Loyal Spoiler Alert, click show to read:  Influence legions to remain loyal to the senate or private legions to generals fighting in the Senate's interests: 5 points

OOC: I'm going to need a mod for this.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Legate scoffed

Corva the failed Consul? The man couldn't even win the appointment to Numidia over Tranquilus the Coward? We reject these terms utterly. Depart from here if you have nothing useful to say.

[M D]

Cilo having escaped Capua (Magic confirmed), arrives in Hispania and looks out for the Magnus. Although likely in for a bollocking, he brought with him his income for that year (Magic confirmed) in a chest behind him. Even though the new 'Senate' had taxed it, he had brought 5536 Denarii.

[Magicman2051]

Battle of Massalia

Severian Rolls -

13
16

Corvan -

2
20

Battle

Due the polarised Corvan rolls the battle, from a direct moderation perspecitve, resulted in a victory favouring the Severians. Cliff notes version of the battle, feel free to insert colour at will.

Both Cavalry detachments are aligned on the left flank and remain there until the Corvan forces advance, fifteen minutes after beginning to engage. The Severian cavalry begins to wheel away from its legionary flank and the Corvan cavalry splits into two wings of 500, one wing responding with a brutal counter charge and the other moving to flank them.

-95 Severian Cavalry
-50 Corvan Cavalry

The flanking wing ran blind into a detachment of Severian infantry who had been covering the cavalry, the entire thing being a ruse on the part of the Severians. The second COrvan Cavalry wing suffers losses as it is showered with missile weapons before crashing into a staggered shield wall.

-230 Corvan Cavalry
-60 Severian Infantry

The Corvan and Severian Cavalry continue to engage, with the Corvan cavalry being hit by missiles from the Severian line, though shaken the Severian cavalry has experience and holds.

-120 Corvan Cavarly
-100 Severian Cavalry

As the Corvan infantry advance they are hit by several waves of missiles from the Severian side, who hold their shield line steady.

-530 Corvan Infantry

At this stage the second Corvan Cavalry wing has fallen back, with pretty severe casualties and the remaining Severian Infantry begin to charge the Corvan/Severian cavalry mass.

-130 Corvan Cavalry
-210 Severian Infantry

The Severian Cavarly, having now lost more than half of their force, manage execute a successful retreat with the Corvan Cavlary, still unaware of or ignoring the Severain presence on their flank pursues.

-90 Severian Cavalry
-30 Corvan Cavalry

The Severian charge, and prior use of their remaining pila, catches the Corvan Cavalry off guard but they manage to wheel around and return to their lines.

-120 Corvan Cavalry
-20 Severian Infantry

The advancing Corvan legions meet the Severian sheild wall and an orderly battle line is formed.

-330 Corvan Infantry
-40 Severian Infantry

At this point in the battle losses are.

-330 Severian Infantry
-345 Severian Cavalry

-860 Corvan Infantry
-580 Corvan Cavarly

The Corvan cavalry regroups and makes an attempt to flank the Severian lines but are cut down en masse by missles through from the Severian reserves.

-210 Corvan Cavalry

The main battle line remains fairly even with both sides suffering casualties at a rather equal rate. Due to Severian unit deployments and superior positioning they retain the advantage.

-2400 Severian Infantry
-3100 Corvan Infantry

The Severian Cavarly attempt a flanking maneuovre and are moderately successful.

-40 Severian Cavalry
-210 Corvan Infantry

At this stage the Corvan lines begin to fold and the Severians press their advantage, both Cavalry detachments briefly engage with a Corvan victory and the COrvan cavalry cover the infantry retreat.

-30 Severian Cavalry
-10 Corvan Cavalry

-610 Corvan Infantry
-140 Severian Infantry

As the Corvan infantry retreat the Severian Infantry form back into a coherent line, repelling the Corvan cavalry and throwing what remains of their pila and the ones they could recover on the field at the retreating Corvans.

-310 Severain Infantry
-1200 Corvan Infantry
-140 Corvan Cavalry

Result

At this point the Severians are victorious.

Total Cavalry losses for both sides.

-415 Severian Cavalry (Disbands)
-940 Corvan Cavalry (Disbands)

Both set of orders focused on eliminating the cavalry and both sets of orders effectively countered each other.

-3180 Severian Infantry - Spread evenly across both legions.
-5980 Corvan Infantry - With the the Rapax taking the brunt of it.

[Magicman2051]

The Severian Legions hold their position on Massalia, the Corvan legions have escaped to parts unknown with Scipio alive and well.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lucius rides up, ahead of Victrix I and the rest of the Severan Legions that were marching. He rides up to Severus and Cilo.

I have heard of your victory here, O'Great Severus. I would advise that we fortify the city of Massalia. Then send forces north to pacify the rest of the Proconsulate.

Lucius dismounts and walks next to Severus.

Are you planning to seek aid from the Aedui? And perhaps aid from the Chieftains of Celtibri and Aquitani. We do have the ability to ask for quite a lot of foreign troops levied for our armies in the areas of Hispania and Gaul.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Everyone's in Spain