Death of a Hero, Death of a Legion.
The year is 196 B.C. The Macedonian War is in full rage. The Gaulic front now patrolled by Auxilaries and all 6 Republican Legions are smashing, fighting, and killing their way up and down the Illyrian coast, their goal a city just out of reach, with Macedonian militia and Royal Guard units blocking the way, many laying their lives in suicidal attacks. But each is just enough, just enough to tire the Roman sword arm, to blunt the gladius and fatigue their soldiers enough for more men to be brought up, a never ending wave from a never ending Empire.
The Romans had captured one Macedonian city, 3 battle kings later the Macedonian people would never let them take another.
Decius Drusus, Legate of the XII Legion looked upon his legion. They had battered their way through 8,000 Macedonians and were now within half a day's march of the city, but infront lay another 2,500 Macedonians.
On each flank were a thousand Macedonians, marching to frantically trap a Roman Legion.
Titus Asconius with II Legion was moving wide around, seeking to get to the city and lay siege with his fresh soldiers, recently reconstituted from Rome after 6 years of constant battle.
His first Cohort, that held the Legionary Eagle, and normally numbered 123 men had a mere 27. His Legion, if you could call it that, had sustained nearly 70% in combat and fatigue casualties, and that was in the units that had been fortunate.
Republican troops were in short supply, they barely had enough men to string together a battle line, but at least the Auxilia had caught up to his advance in time, the extra 700 men would be invaluable in this inevitable battle.
The Macedonians were charging, Decius ordered the attack, he would counter their assault with one of his own, throwing the Macedonians off balance and encircling them before they had a chance to flank him.
This battle, like so many others, would be costly. He knew at least 200 men wouldn't leave the field today, his the lines clashed and he winced at the sounds of battle. He called his escort to him and with the remnants of his Cavalry, set about to picking off any Macedonians that broke the envelopement, while his archers rushed around the flank, seeking the weak spot in Macedonian Armor.
The quicker they moved the happier Decius would be, the soon he could crush this army the sooner he could retreat, and let Flavius' Legion, freshly supplied with Auxilia troops, could take on the other two Macedonian forces and clear the way for Quintus Cicero, and Gaius' newly arrived Legions.
The Macedonians however, weren't briefed by the same Commander Decius had been briefed by.
The Macedonian force, mainly raw recruits, broke and ran after being enveloped, they were slaughtered mercilessly.
As Decius swung his force into Marching order to retreat, they were attacked by 1,000 Macedonian Royal Guard, quickly the experienced Repulican troops formed up and pushed right back, but they were outnumbered nearly 6-1, the Auxilia, freshly brought in and inexperienced, broke and ran, leaving the Light Auxilia and Decius' Cavalry to defend the Republicans.
It didn't take long, however, for the Auxilia to come back, retreating yet again from another Macedonian force, mostly Cavalry who scythed into their ranks, killing left and right.
As Decius finished a near suicidal charge he saw the Cavalry bearing down on his men, knew then that the battle was hopeless, their only chance of anyone from the Legion surviving would be to break and run for the safety of the night camp an hour away...
Quickly he gave out the orders, and the Republican Legionaires smoothly broke away from the slow Macedonian Phalanx and pulled out in good order, but the Cavalry were forming to cut them off.
This Decius could not allow, quickly appointing his second to lead the retreat, he took what was left of his guard and charged the 300 Macedonian Cavalry.
The fight that insued was brutal, bloody, and left Decius dying with a spear through his chest, a dozen gashes in his armor, and a very bloody sword. Some 50 Macedonians fell with the brave Legate, and the Legion was able to pull away and get clear without much harrassment.
All in all, of the war-time ranks of 1,633 Men, Decius' Legion numbered 128, mostly Archer and Light Auxilia.
The battle proved to be a costly one, as the veterans were shipped home and the Legion reconstituted, the advance on the coast was cut short by 20,000 Macedonians pouring towards Patavium, the Legions recalled to defeat yet another invasion.
This was the third time the Legions had been recalled from near victory, but the treasury could not support adequate defenses to let the Macedonians invade nad leave the Legions to take their objective.
The war was to go on.
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Originally Posted by Hoffman
