Carthage DEI AAR

[TacticalStats]

I'm out of town for a few days so it will be Tuesday or Wednesday before I update this. Sorry have to visit my wife's family.

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

We'll wait!

Although obviously, we want to know what happens next. It does seem that Carthage keeps running into problems...

[TacticalStats]

I'm back in town a little bit later than I intended, so I couldn't advance it as far as I wanted to. Either way, here goes a small installment.

Autumn 260 bc

Iberia

The warm waters surrounding Iberia seemed so much more peaceful than the central Mediterranean. Every few days a trade vessel would travel along the coastline breaking up the image of the natural world that seemed to own this side of the great sea. Along Carthago, Sicily and Italia the trade routes of all the worlds’ empires filled the sea with a steady stream of traffic rarely giving this same impression.


After several days of rowing into the wind Nova Carthago, the jewel of Iberia, could finally be seen along the coastline. Standing on the deck Mago was impressed with the sheer size of this western metropolis. It seemed to rival Carthago itself in land area and in some ways its walls were more impressive than their capital city. The harbor was only a quarter the size of the great cothon but his transport vessels still fit easily inside and the process of unloading the vast supplies brought with them began.


As he walked through the city streets on his tour of the provincial capital it was clear that the population density here was far lower than the capital he left. This gave room for large parks and plazas giving the city a sense of leisure that Carthago lacked. It was normal for him to compare everything to his homeland for this was the first time in Mago’s life that he was anywhere else other than Phazania and Libya. “This is a grand city you have here Thanubda.”


“Thank you for the compliment. We have been working very hard to modernize her, but it seems that these are not cooperative times.” They walked around the corner of the town senate building. “This plaza was going to be a grand garden that would be the envy of Iberia.” The large open field was filled with tent after tent housing what looked like several thousand refugees. They looked like they had been there for several weeks.


“I thought you didn’t let the tribal refugees inside the city walls?” Mago asked as he took the scene in.


“These are Carthaginian citizens from the Balearic Isles. Ibossim was burned to the ground. We haven’t ruled out sabotage but it seems the evidence was lost along with twenty thousand lives.” Out among the tents several residents of Nova Carthago were handing out bread and water to the survivors of the great fire.


“I will do my best to get the council to pay to rebuild Ibossim. That should not be Nova Carthago’s responsibility. It will be some time before I make it back to the capital though.” He clapped his hands together as he turned towards Thanubda. “We need a new position here in Iberia and you are definitely who we want to hold it.”


“A new position?” He asked cautiously.


“I need a provincial governor, and you have been recommended to me by all your constituents. Your knowledge of this area will be in great demand in the coming years.”

[Alwyn]

Small updates can be good, they make it easy for new readers to get into your story. I like the contrast between the grandeur of Nova Cathago with its high walls, its large parks and spacious plazas, and the plight of the Carthaginian refugees from the Balearic Isles. I wonder what how Thanubda will get on as provincial governor.

[TacticalStats]

Winter 260 bc

Iberia

The southern edge of this peninsula rarely witnessed a bad winter and this year was no exception to this rule. The waters surrounding Nova Carthago were still warm and peaceful to swim in. Both armies camped on opposite sides of the metropolis and Mago just now decided to make the trip to the southeast to meet with Hanno. The day long ride allowed him to become acquainted with surrounding terrain.


“Ahh, you’ve conscripted elephants.” Mago said as he walked into Hanno’s tent.


“Good morning, Barcid.” The words felt like poison coming from his longtime friend. “It took you some time to come and speak with me.”


“The council is worried about what is occurring inside Nova Carthago. I needed the time to figure out the details of this land.”


“You mean the Barcids were worried?”


The direction of the conversation was not going where he wanted it to and his skills in this form of discussion were very limited. “All of Carthago is worried. What is happening here can affect us all.”


“The tribes are fighting each other, it doesn’t really involve us. None of them have grown as bold as to dishonor their commitments to us. Wish that held true for everyone I deal with.” Hanno said with his head lowered staring into maps of the Peninsula.


Mago could do nothing but smile. “They fill our lands with refugees, burdening our food supplies. They march through our territory without permission, all to battle each other. Let me ask you, should we wait until we are that other?”


This caused Hanno to raise his eyes upwards. “If I had my cousins here I would gladly pick a tribe and attack, but they were abandoned to Rome. If I had a man I could trust I would take Saguntum immediately. Sadly, I do not.”


“What houses emblem I wear does not matter. There is a war brewing here, and it will involve us in the upcoming years. Think about it throughout this winter. I want to strike one of these tribes soon. They do not seem capable of controlling their people and we cannot have this chaos at our doorstep.”


“The chaos is inside our house, at our door and on our roof.” Hanno looked back at his map and smiled. “I do agree though. This land needs tamed if we are ever to garnish the amount of resources we need out of it to really battle with Rome. The people are torn and see these barbarians as saviors to the unfairness of life that they blame us for.” He withdrew his dagger and stabbed into the wooden table that held his map. “The Arevaci are who we attack. They are the powerhouse in the region.”


“The Arevaci,” Mago took a deep breath as he stared at the table. “Who are they?”


“I’ve been here for two years and you come acting the hero. The Arevaci conquered all the lands that the Lusitanians conquered. If we are to take this land then it will be best to topple them while their armies are busy on the western edges of the peninsula.

Autumn 259 bc

Iberia


The first nine months of the new decade passed by without much incident. The time was spent working the two armies into a cohesive fighting force. Even though Mago held the upgraded Carthaginian soldiers he was still at a lower rank than Hanno forcing him to take his orders from his old faction leader. The Arevaci’s armies hadn’t been seen moving through the country side since the turn of the new year but with a lack of trustworthy spies there was no way to locate exactly where and how many forces there were hiding though out the peninsula.


The armies were marching along the coastline road heading off towards the north. Hanno and Mago rode near each other at a slow pace. “Once we cross the bridge you will take your army down the coastline and lay siege to Saguntum. Do not attack until I arrive. I will be providing a buffer on your extreme left ensuring that we don’t get surprised while we march.”


“We will halt right outside of the town.” Mago responded as he watched a lone man ride up towards them. As he reached the two generals he saluted and then began to speak.


“The declaration of war has been delivered, they did not seem stunned.”


“No, I did not expect them to be.” Hanno said.


Mago smiled as he looked towards the north. “That would be why this uneasy peace held no chance in lasting”


“No, it seems war was brewing either way. They do have an army holed up inside Saguntum. It is roughly the size of your army, Mago.”


“They will remain there unless they get reinforced.”


At noon the following day the two armies slowly crossed the river jocar making their way into Arevaci territory. To the plan Mago split off and began the three day march along the coastline. At the end of the three days the town sat in front of them. The army that the scout spoke of days earlier now could be seen sitting in the town square. It was clear that even with the advanced declaration of war the Arevaci’s main armies were further inland and out of the way for this engagement.


A banner went up and a rider rode off into the town to attempt to garnish a surrender with promises of allowing the town to become self-sufficient. A volley of arrows chased him back to the main infantry line. “So we wait.” The general mumbled to himself.


The afternoon passed by without incident as the two sides squared off with each other. As evening fell and a series of horns blew from the hillside behind him, announcing the arrival of Baal’s Protectorate. It took an hour for the two armies to work their lines in together as they had been training for. This went at the disgust of Hanno who was yelling at the men of both armies. Luckily the Arevaci just sat watching the whole scene unfolding.


The decision to not move out into combat was based on retaining the defensive edge of fighting in the city streets keeping the fact that they were outnumbered from being a tactical advantage for the invaders. Horns and trumpets rang from inside the town as the soldiers coordinated their defense.


“Mago.” Hanno said as he rode over towards his second in command. “I want you to lead the Carthaginian hoplites down the left flank and fight your way into the town square. The Libyan hoplites will move through the center while I will take my mercenary spear bands down the right with the two units of African elephants.


The salutes went out and the battle horns blared beginning the three hours of carnage. Shields banged togeher as Balearic slingers hurled stones into the dense crowd of men holding the town square. It was difficult to get the elephants into the enemy’s rear lines due to the makeup of the town’s streets and instead had to push their way through spears and swords. The shrieks and screams as flesh was sliced echoed throughout the town, a dozen elephants lay dead in the city streets.


After five hours the fact that they Arevaci was outnumbered became too much to bear and the route began. “Capture who you can and keep your men in control. This town is to be spared.” Hanno ordered as he met up with Mago in the town square.


“You heard the general chase down these barbarians but preserve the town.” The order went out to a cheer from the infantry.


“Cancel that order.” Hanno screamed as he changed his mind, something he hated to do in the field. Screams to halt went out throughout the two mixed armies before several hundred eyes returned to him. “We need to protect our cities to prevent a counter attack. Mago, take your army back to Nova Carthago and defend it from any attack.


“Yes sir!” Mago screamed as he began the process of withdrawing his army to return to the provincial capital. The victory ensured that the first phase of the Iberian war began on a good foot.



Out on a hillside cliff overlooking the battle, sat a man watching the entire day’s events. He remained nameless as he wrote what he saw down. The ending result of the battle didn’t surprise him but he finished recording it none the less. He withdrew his seal and dropped the hot wax onto the rolled up scroll. As he pressed the seal into the wax leaving the image of the golden eagle with wingspan spread out wide. Rome was very curious in how this change of Carthaginian policy was going.

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

I like the conversations between Hanno and Mago; I think they're very effective.

Nice victory. I wonder what the Romans will think of it...

[TacticalStats]

Summer 258 bc

Carthago
“What do we do with this Roman navy sitting off shore?” Ad Herbal asked as he stood in the center of the main council chambers. The bulk of the seats were empty with the deployment into Iberia.


“We can do nothing but wait.” Hasdrubal said somberly.

“I’m not saying we go to war but we have no defense here but the city guard. We sent Sambuc to guard from the Egyptian tribes and we sent our navy west to patrol the Balearic Islands. What do we have here?”


Hamilcar sat in his seat shaking his head in disgust. Things were getting out of hand. “Rome will stay in its place.” His voice was all but confident.


“How can you be so sure?” Herbal asked.


“My spies say that they are busy in their Alps. It would strain them as much as it would strain us.” Hamilcar stated as he read a scroll that was just given to him by his aid.


“What is the news?” Hasdrubal quietly asked as he sat back down into its seat. It was frustrating sitting here in Carthago feeling helpless as the world continued to change around one’s self.


“Mago and Hanno are making strides. Saguntum is ours as is Corduba and Ebora. They are asking for reinforcements.” Hamilcar said as he set the scroll on the ground at his feet. “We cannot send met to Iberia but we can send money.”


“Why can’t we send more men?” Hasdrubal asked directly.


“Are you going to lead them there?” Hamilcar took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, it doesn’t matter if you are willing to head to Iberia, and we do not have the funds to send you with army of men. Even if we did, it would take months to get you there. The money will be better spent elsewhere.”


“So we leave them in Iberia on their own?” Ad Herbal asked looking over the room.


“No, we do what we have always done. We give them money to hire mercenaries.” Hamilcar said as he set his stamp into the hot wax of his scribed orders.

[TacticalStats]

I'm not sure if I like the small posts or not but I'm trying to mix them up.

[Roman Heritage]

Nice updates! I, as a reader, do find short chapters to work. Also, if you have trouble finding spare time to write, short chapters are ideal, aren't they?

I really liked the exchange between Herbal and Hamilcar; and I do wonder, too, what will Rome do

[TacticalStats]

Autumn 258 bc

Iberia

The twelve month campaign has gone better than anyone could have expected. Three cities fallen with minimal losses, a feat better than Hanno dreamed of when they began the attack on Saguntum. It had been a week since the rag tag army holed up inside of Ebora had been surrounded and defeated and the wooden palisades still lay destroyed awaiting men to rebuild them. On the morrow the townsfolk were to be organized so that this process could begin.

The level of cooperation that he and Mago were enjoying far exceeded anybody’s expectations. A lot of it was due to the surprising success that they were having in southern Iberia but the level of teamwork between the two generals was reminding Hanno of the days prior to the Roman War. The morning discussion went pleasantly until a scout arrived into the town talking of a massive army making its way towards them from the west. “The palisades will not be built by the time they arrive.” This was Mago’s statement as Hanno led his army out west after the scout’s reports.

Six hours of marching into the hills with his calvary running in front of his forces scouting the terrain and acting as a screen to his infantry. Then a messenger arrived from Ebora saying that the enemy army was marching upon to the town. Assessing the news he called his army back to the town, he would not be able to make it back before the enemy started their attack. This realization was disappointing in his whole march to catch the enemy was now clearly a mistake, he would ensure that it wasn’t to be a devastating one.

Six hours of marching back to their camp left the day fading into night and as they arrived onto the battlefield the sounds of combat could be heard. “Let’s get there before it is too late!” Hanno shouted to his men.

Inside the town Mago was right in the middle of a pincer attack by the Arevaci and holding his ground. His bodyguards were not poorly trained and pushed back into the massive crowd of Iberian infantry attempting to push their way up the slight grade into the hilltop town. The elite Carthaginian hoplites held off three times their numbers grinding the battle to a halt. Screams of terror quickly become drowned out by the battle cries of both armies.

“What are your orders?” Hanno’s young cousin Antiana asked as he sat on his horse.

“We head along the northern side of the city and cut off their ability to retreat.” Hanno said. Antiana rode off passing the orders onward and the army slowly turned into the field.

“Get those noble fighters back to the top of the hill.” Mago screamed as slingers hurled their deadly stones over his head into the crowd pushing up over the burning pit traps his army set afire earlier. A series of horns relayed these orders but the sound of battle kept the exact orders from being heard. To his left his javelins were beginning to throw their weapons into the crowd causing massive bloodshed.

As Hanno’s army turned around the town and got their first look at the massive horde of Arevaci soldiers it became clear that Mago had successfully bottle necked his enemy perfectly. “If we can close the door on them this battle will be over extremely quickly.”

The first units that struck the rear of the Arevaci was his African elephants and they routed immediately, not a good start for Hanno. “Send the Libyans in.” He ordered as he saw the elephant riders trying desperately to calm their animals down. If they could succeed at this then they would be able to bring them back into combat.

Mago stood behind his bodyguards watching the return of Hanno. “Men advance!” A new battle cry went out as everyone knew what it meant to be surrounded. Swords and spears cut and stabbed at the now outmatched enemy, and with the return of the elephants the enemy began to rout. With the defense of the town succeeding it was unclear just how much fight these people had left in them. For now though southern Iberia was firmly in Cathago’s hands.

[TacticalStats]

Spring 257 bc

Carthago


Hasdrubal walked through the marble hallways of the small government hospital looking for the fifth room on the left. It happened to be the last room sending his mind to wonder why the aid didn’t just say that to begin with. Pushing the cloth that hung in the doorway aside he saw his cousin lying in the bed looking out a marble windowsill at a small garden filled with various colorful flowers. “Hamilcar, I came as soon as I could.”


Leaning back onto the bed the twenty-one year old grimaced as he held his stomach. “They tried to kill me but little do they know I can wield a knife as well.”


This caused Hasdrubal to smile for the first time since the news of last night’s events reached him. “An assassination attempt in this town.”


“Hanno knows no honor.” Hamilcar said as he spit into a clay pot on the floor next to his bed.


“Tell me what happened.”


“I was working late processing the documents from Iberia hoping to get the work done so that I could have today to myself when an aid came saying that the guard captain requested my presence. It wasn’t out of the ordinary, it is my office that deals with the cities defenses after all.”


“Even at that hour?” Hasdrubal interrupted.


“The hours never end.” As he was talking he grimaced into a sitting position. “Well, I walked through the gardens towards the guard house when a man jumped out of the thick bushes wielding a knife. I couldn’t respond quickly enough and he stabbed me whispering Hanno for all of time.”


“Are you sure that is what he said?” He found it weird that an assassin would say the name of who hired him.


“I’m positive. I saw his eyes as he said it. They held the truth in them. As I stabbed him with my knife that truth remained until he went cold from lack of life.” Hamilcar rubbed at the cloth that covered his wound. “Hanno hired him to kill me, for what I do not know.”


Hasdrubal walked to the window feeling the breeze of the warm African air hit his face. “It could be a ploy to blame them, the lower houses are not dumb.”


“It was Hanno!” Hamilcar coughed as he spoke.


“I know you feel that way, and I do not detract from what you say but Hanno is in Iberia ruling over a conquered tribe. He has no more followers in Africa. Mago, I worry about, but he is also in Iberia. The lower houses all sit here doing nothing but plot. It would make sense to do this and blame a man we cannot speak with or even encounter. I’m not so sure that it is true though.”


“Mago is not a Barcid, he cannot be trusted.”


Hasdrubal did not want to debate with his wounded cousin. It was clear that this incident will change him. He will struggle to trust people for quite some time. Mago held up the Barcid name when no one else would so it was unfair to doubt him now. Although from all reports he and Hanno were working together quite well in Iberia. A change of scenery might help him keep from feeling tempted to switch houses. “What we will do is keep an eye on all political houses operating inside the city. You rest and get better, the aid said that tomorrow we can get you to your manor.”


“Can I have some wine?”


This caused Hasdrubal to laugh. “No cousin, not for a few days.”

[Muha]

great update! Looking forward to find out who really hired the assassin!

[TacticalStats]

Spring 255 bc

Africa



Seagulls sat along the beaches of Hadrumentum watching over their nests in the warm afternoon sun. Fishing boats traveled offshore hoping to make a good days wage while ignoring the events happening all around the world. The town was small but well developed. Paved roads led to a main town square where a few commercial buildings sat along a series of small gardens.


One of these buildings held a small café serving a variety of seafood all local to the region. A small statured man sat at one of the outdoor tables picking at a branzino fillet. “What are we waiting for?”


The fuller bodied man ate at his steak wondering why he was dragged away from Carthago to meet his brother here. “Patience brother, we can’t do anything more yet. We’re lucky our last ploy went to plan. The Barcid’s don’t even know who struck at them.”


“How could they, they’re too busy worrying about who else to attack. They don’t understand business. We need more trade not all of these wars.” The tomatoes and onions worked perfectly with the fish on his plate. It was not a wonder why this town was renowned for its fishing docks. “If we do something now then we can take them from power.”


“Relax Sirom, we don’t have to do anything at all. Iberia is ready to go in full rebellion as is Mauretania and it is all their fault. Everyone is whispering of the Barcid tyrants. Why should we make a move at all? Let what they built fall apart.”


Sirom sat back in his chair realizing that he wouldn’t be able to convince his brother to do anything just yet. How could he argue with his points though? He received the same reports from the western world and it wasn’t good. The people their felt they had no representation and wanted to be free from Barcid tyranny. “So what did we accomplish then? Why did we even risk the assassination of Hamilcar Barcid?”


“That was simply to bring them to a state of suspicion, and it worked perfectly. The laws they recently passed, the changes they made to the palace grounds all make every citizen look at them like they are dictators. We got lucky that our assassin got killed and was able to say that nonsense statement that he believed in.” Ad Herbal laughed as he professed this truth. “All we need to do now is what and watch. If things go our way we will replace these newcomers with our houses name.”


“No one knows our houses name. We’re known as a minor house.”


“So was the Barcid’s before Hasdrubal Barcid rose to power.” Herbal smiled as he took a sip from his coffee. “At least he died a hero instead of the offspring that he left for us to deal with. I promise you brother, they will not be remembered as fondly.”

[Caillagh de Bodemloze]

Those are dramatic and entertaining chapters, TacticalStats!

I really want to know whether the Barcids will discover who's plotting against them, and whether Ad Herbal's plan will work...

(Also, "he grimaced into a sitting position" is an inspired description. )

[TacticalStats]

August 254 bc

Iberia



Eight years of military life turned what was a young man leaving Carthago into the true leader of the Hannonid house. Every morning he awoke at the same early time and began to inspect the paperwork outlining the logistics of keeping his army fed and in fighting condition. Just because the Arevaci were now conquered did not mean that the rest of Iberia would stay calm.

“Sir!” a young man said as he entered into the plain square shaped officer’s tent.

“Yes?” Hanno said as he read a report on the expanding borders of Messina. It seemed that the defeat of the Arevaci tipped the balance of the region towards this Roman ally in a way that no one could have predicted.

“Reports from Carthago.”

“Let me see them.” Hanno said as he reached out for a split second until realizing that the man didn’t hold any paper work. Instead he turned and pulled the tent flap open revealing his young cousin. The fourteen year old man walked in slowly holding back a smile that Hanno could not prevent from showing on his own face. “Garautis!”

“Hello uncle.” The young man walked in with a reserved presence instilled on him by his deceased father no doubt.

Looking at the adolescent’s features he could see Hannibal Gisgo’s stature in him everywhere. It brought a bit of pain to Hanno’s heart. “I am excited to see you here, I was wondering when your mother would push for you to gain some experience in this world. Tell me how is she?”

“She is doing admirably. We have enemies in Carthago that she is combating as best she can.” Garautis looked down at the paper work and maps laid out neatly across the table curious to what it all meant.

“Have a seat and explain what is happening?” Hanno gestured to the chair in the corner as he sat down behind his table.

“There was an assassination attempt on Hamilcar Barca. The man was killed but not before he apparently uttered “Long live Hanno!” It was clearly not of our house hence my mother doing what she can to clear our name but we have real leads on which of the smaller houses pulled this string.” Garautis continued with all the facts of that night.

“A fracture of the houses is not good for these current times. We are at risk of losing everything that we have gained here in Iberia. The conquered towns are in protest and here in Ebora there was a full blown revolt. I was forced to send in a thousand men to put the town back into order. I tell you Garautis, it is harder to speak with conquered men than it is to conquer them. The town is quiet now but not before three of my men were killed along with sixty-eight of the townspeople. Why rush a phalanx with nothing but sticks and stones?”

“Desperation.” Garautis’ eyes remained stern as he attempted to absorb all of this information.

“Well we raided the houses and gathered up a few of the rebellious members of the local public. We now know that up in those hills is a group growing in numbers and well equipped. They hold dreams of pushing us out of this valley.”

“It’s not just here uncle. The shores of Africa speak of Barcid tyranny as does all of the Iberian towns, even the Balearic Islands. New laws have been given to all local governers to crack down on public meetings and speech. It seems that the Barcid house has grown too powerful for their own good, and this assassination attempt has only caused them to become overly paranoid.”

“The Barcids have the power now.” Hanno once again thought of his two cousins dying on Sicily. How things could have gone so differently if they would have succeeded. “If it’s as bad as you say it is then we must do something. We cannot afford a rebellion of all our lands. The people must be put at ease or we will lose everything that we have fought for.”

“It’s quiet here in Iberia so it seems our only threat is ourselves.”

“If that were only true. Enough of politics for now. Let’s take a walk and look at the camp. There’s nothing like watching the war elephants graze near horses, it is a wonderful sight no matter how many times I see it. I promise you cousin, stay with me for a few years and you will understand this lifestyle far better than I did when I took command eight long years ago.”

[TacticalStats]

Spring 253 bc

Mauretania


Slowly the times have changed towards Mago’s favor. A year ago he was stuck in Tingis arguing in senate halls trying to get the locals to see the bigger picture of what they were facing. Now things couldn’t be more different. The public calmed down mostly due to the fact that people are impatient and as each week passed by without any news of change the common citizen began to relax. As the months passed by, less and less people sat in protest in the city streets. This alone brought about a certain stability to the province that owned the Hercules’ Gates.


Now that the year had passed into record the Barcid general sat on his horse looking out over a grass field. His men were lined up behind him wondering what the reason for the delay was. War had been declared upon the Moroccans and he was tasked with conquering their rebellious town. Their raids upon the Numidians had grown to be too much. These people needed to be tamed.


His orders were simple, move to the border and wait for reinforcements. It was here that he sat waiting for this simple step to be completed. The land was heavily wooded and uneven in altitude. He had his men lined up in a small field waiting for some sign of his promised reinforcements. To his dismay the men in the distance were not Carthaginians but the Moroccans in all their numbers.


The army before him outnumbered him by double and they were running straight for him. Looking around he saw the fear on his men’s faces. “Do not be alarmed!” he yelled. “They are weak in armor and poor in discipline. What we do now will be remembered by all of your children.”


The tribe of Gaetilu sent their children into his lines hoping to envelope him quickly. For this very reason he ordered his elite cavalry to his left flank along with his only elephants. His infantry marched out to meet this rushing horde, no one was left in reserve. “Give me everything that you have and I promise you will see tomorrow.”


The battle began with a clash of metal as the Carthaginian line held strong, spears lunging forward into unprotected torsos. The Numidian archers hired for war began their barrage of arrows into the massive enemy numbers. It was moments like these that untrained men could just load arrows and shoot into a clump of men and still hold an advantage when the whole picture was taken into consideration. Mago was holding the right flank as his elite swordsmen collided with the poor levy spearmen of the enemy. With an arm signal the horns began to sound over the cries of dying men. This signaled the horsemen to begin charging around to the rear of the Moroccan lines.


Even with the successful encirclement it was still a losing battle as the sheer numbers of the enemy allowed them to overcome any mistakes in their tactics. With all their success the cavalry was eventually pushed back and the full weight of the enemy pushed into Mago’s lines. His hoplites and swordsmen pushed back trying to gain some sort of edge.


An hour in and exhaustion was becoming a major problem. Even though each man of Carthage killed at a rate of four to one the overwhelming numbers pitted against them were taking their toll. The cavalry although successful in limited circumstances were not able to turn the tide of battle. As the sun drifted down towards the beckoning night sky the change in the battle came in the form of unexpected reinforcements. The young Hanno Garautis led his small army onto the field from the rear of the Moroccans. By themselves they would have been annihilated but with their timing the small tribesmen had no chance of reacting to their arrival.


With the enemy fully surrounded the elephants began their rampage into the massive crowd of infantry stampeding through hundreds of them into a victory that seemed unobtainable hours earlier. In the aftermath of the battle the path to a quick victory sat in front of Mago who took the best equipped regiments with him into a full assault of the town striking for a quick end of the war. With this success Mago’s fame grew in a way that he couldn’t have predicted but more important than that the growing empire of Carthage now had nothing to fear in western Africa, northern Iberia was now the largest obstacle in their path for regional safety.

[Alwyn]

I like the way that you tell the story of the battle against the Moroccans, the line "Give me everything you have and I promise you will see tomorrow" is a good one and I enjoyed the arrival of Hanno Garautis. With western Africa secure, I wonder what challenges await Carthage in northern Iberia.

[TacticalStats]

Spring 253 bc

Corsica


Ad Herbal stood in the center of the small town square ignoring the rain that was falling on his back for the last hour. This was not the time to worry about weather. A carriage pulled into the square and the small wooden door was opened just a crack as the driver motioned to him to get in. This was the point of no return for the leader of the Herbal house. It was here that he was to make his mark on history, here, where his house would finally earn a name worthy of Carthage.


Once inside the carriage continued on its path out of the town of Aleria. Inside sat a man in a dry red robe. “Sit Ad Herbal, it has been a while since we have spoken.”


“It has Menlius Volusa. How is Cornelius Scipio?” The Carthaginian senator said as he removed his wet hood and set it by the door to the carriage.


“He sends his regards for the birth of his child keeps him in Roma as you can imagine.” The Roman envoy said as he sat hiding his emotions and body language.


“I can imagine for that it is a wonderful time. I have succeeded in my mission to crack the Barcid and Hanno alliance. With one more strike I will have them at each other’s throats.”


“Relax Ad, we are patient here. The Barcids are weak and will not make any brash moves, and with what we have planned they will be on the defensive.”


“What do you have planned?” Herbal asked with curiosity.


“We have spies in Numidia that have delivered a vast wealth to the leadership of the Masaesyli tribes convincing them to strike at Carthago. If they can conquer the city they will earn triple what we gave them already.”


“Conquer Carthago?”


“Relax. Our deal still stands. Once we defeat the Hanno and Barcid houses you will be put in charge of the town, keeping your African provinces and only forfeiting your last vestige of Sicily and Corsica and Sardinia to us.” The Roman general spoke as he watched the final rains fall for the day.


“Once that is done I promise you will always have an ally in Carthage.” Ad Herbal spoke with a diluted sense of pride.


“I trust that to be true. Now go and convince your people to defend their homeland. Your stance cannot be mistrusted in the coming years.”


The voyage back to Carthago went quickly and the senator was busy trying to plan his next steps in this decade long strategy that he started on when the first Punic Wars ended. If everything went as planned there would be no one to stop him from ruling over his homeland. Gone would be the days when his family was an afterthought to the ruling elite.


Carthago


“I sense a level of treachery here.” Hasdrubal said as he leaned back into his chair.


“Treason is what I see.” Hamilcar said as he stood in the center of the senate hall.


“Treason, how!?” Sirom screamed a bit louder than he intended to.


“These tribes are being funded, they are hiring mercenaries in numbers larger than we have ever seen before. Where have they acquired the gold to do this? It pains me to say that something foul is happening here.”


“Hamilcar, relax. These Numidians will be defeated quickly.” Sirom tried to control the conversation.


“Relax? They have our city under siege. They outnumber our city garrison even with the support of our navy. Relax I cannot!” Hamilcar responded.


“What is your plan cousin?” Hasdrubal asked as he studied the cherades of the minor houses wondering if it was this house that struck at his cousin in the failed assassination attempt. His mind wandered into a thought process that he didn’t this would be possible in any point in his life. If these houses were willing to kill one of their own would they also be willing to fund this type of attack?


“I am leaving for Hadrumentum to hire an army. Our standing armies will not have the time to return to Carthago to defend us. It will be up to me!” Hamilcar said with his fist raised into the air.


“You have zero experience of leading men into war let alone mercenaries.” Sirom spoke without an ability to hide his disbelief.


“I like it, and my cousin can do this. Unfortunately no one is present from the Hanno house to comment so my vote will cement this quick ruling. Hamilcar take whatever money you need and get the army necessary to defeat this tribal peasants.

[TacticalStats]

Well the update to DEI now crashes my saved game file. I have to figure some things out. A restart forcing things to go this current path might be in the future. If anyone has any ideas that aren't so drastic let me know.

[Alwyn]

Good update! Sorry to hear about the crash. It would be great to see your story continue, if you decide to restart the campaign or if you find another solution.