Aftermath... And Day Ten.

The Butcher's Bill, and the Way Back...

Burriena counts the cost of the skirmish. Twenty four casualties, all among the foot.

Eleven men were killed outright or died shortly after the battle of their wounds.

Another ten have serious wounds and will need transport and treatment back at base. Nineteen men have minor wounds.

Of the officers a centurion and six NCOs have been lightly wounded, and a standard bearer killed.

The locals came off much worse. Some 50 of them lie dead on the field; killed outright or in "mercy killings" during the clean-up. Forty four others have been captured, all seriously wounded.

(Note: another 36, lightly wounded, were taken off by kin, managed to hide till the Romans left or staggered from the field).

[Technical Note; all dice tests as covered elsewhere.]



Flushed with victory Burriena is feeling generous. Gwaednerth, son of Gwaednerth addresses those locals captured, telling them left again that resistance is pointless and the future of their families lies in coming to an accommodation with the new world. He says that, as a token of goodwill, they will be released, to go down to their people in the Aman Valley.

Once the prisoners have staggered away a pile is made of the captured shields, clubs and spear shafts, and they are set ablaze. Discarded weapons and spearheads are collected, and those which cannot be transported, damaged/bent where possible, concealed by being buried in a pit dug in a nearby stream-bed and covered with stones.

Burriena now has to decide where to go. His men have already marched some thirteen miles over rough ground, and fought a battle. Going back the way he came will be too long a march. He plumps for risking crossing the hostile Caenona Valleyand and into the friendly hills to the west. His badly wounded can be put on horses or carried in makeshift litters from captured spear shafts.

On the map the distance to be travelled is about three to four miles. However, in reality, with doubling back, it is more like six. His exhausted men make a rough camp in the early evening in friendly territory. They remain unmolested on their march and overnight, and the next hard day's slogging takes them back to Fort Nidenum (end of Day Ten).

[Technical Note: I used an online walking route planner website for movement in the hills. Very useful.  Dice tests for any interference etc.]

Meanwhile:

Day Ten and further Zones test for revolt. The Ronda and Isca Valleys remain loyal, as do the hills north east of the Ronda.

The hills north east of Nidenum remain undeclared, but the news of the Roman victory, and the increased garrison in the area, will no doubt affect future tests.

The revolt is now pretty much contained (the central hills and the north) and, assuming no break-outs, it should just be a case of bringing the Romans' superior forces to bear.

At Fort Firmium Caesetius assumes the offensive, sending a Legion cohort and an auxiliary cohort on a "pacification swing" of around fifteen miles or so through the two nearest districts. Overwhelmed at the sight (and by the numbers) of the cohorts the locals disperse. 

Albinius, at Difforum, marches up the Diffa with his full cohort, subduing the lower valley and the hills to the west, again with the locals fading back to their homes. Here he learns, from local tribesmen, of Burriena's swing through the zones to the north. He then returns to Difforum, again, a round-trip of some 15 miles.

However, at Nidenum, Canina seems off-balanced by the disappearance of Burriena and his command, and takes no action at all. 

[Pacified areas marked in grey. As usual, all leader decisions etc. are down to dice tests.] 

On the Silurian side Caeog actually does something, advancing into the Loyalist zone in the north west corner, burning homesteads as he goes.

Meanwhile Twrch marches north east to join up with Cyfwlch. They both then move to pick-up Tewdrig, and their combined force of 1,160 warriors marches on Fort Serovium, manned by III Bracari and 2 detached centuries from 8th Cohort II Augusta. Arriving towards dusk, they rest overnight. They were spotted by any patrols, but no messenger leaves Serovium to inform Isca or Firmium .

And so another day comes to an end.

The Battle of Pen Foel Aman.

On The table:

Play interrupted by, well, a play (Six performances  over the weekend - plus a "public dress". Pretty exhausting.), but the forces are are in place.

I have gone for ratio of 1 bod on the table representing 2 chaps in "real".

I'll need to be doing a bit of fudging with the wee guys; I don't have 180-odd auxiliaries in the same kit. But then, we don't actually have any uniform plates (each century may have had something different anyway...).

The Battle begins....

The locals have taken up position on the higher ground, as expected. Both sides have opted to deploy in reasonable depth.The Auxiliaries approach in line of battle. The locals, divided into three kin-groups, with their combined skirmishers, acting as a separate unit, to the fore, wait on their hill.

However, Burriena has with him three locals from Hillfort Cluster XLIII, elders of that area. With an escort of two auxiliaries one of these men walks towards the hostile line carrying high a green branch of leaves, indicating a desire to Parlay. He is allowed to approach within shouting distance of the defenders' line; whereupon he calls on them to see sense and disperse to their homes.

"Men of Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff, and to Eudaf, predominant chosen head of the men of Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff. Many of you will know me, Gwaednerth, son of Gwaednerth of Duneath. I call on you to remember how, in days past, before the coming of the Steel Helms, brothers we have been. Together we have hunted head. From the Western Dogs, Rich in Sheep, to the Northern Dogs, the Hammer-Men, and The Women-Men of the River-Lands and the Lead Hills we have heads and booty taken, brothers in blood. For the sake and memory of that brotherhood I ask your trust when I speak.

For my people those days of raiding and head-taking have passed. As oath-sworn on sword fire and salt by our High King to the High King of the Steel Helms from beyond the Lead Hills, we to keep the peace have pledged, and so prospered without fear of raids from enemies or kin. It is to call upon you to honour that oath by our High King that I now speak to you.

Before you stood aloof, as was your right and your choice. But that was before the Steel helms came to your door. Now it is here that they are. Therefore I beg and urge thee, Eudaf, to come and to the prince of these Steel Helms speak in peace. And to the rest I say return to your crofts, and do not with the Steel Helms fight; for even in victory that will bring a black doom on the Folk of  Cmwaman and the Aman Hills and The Green Slopes of Taff, and upon Eudaf and all his house. For the Steel Helms are beyond numbering; and do not forget....."

Eudaf calls back - something short and offensive.

[Eudaf's reaction is diced for. Then I dice one ave. die to see how many factions there are among the locals, and get a 3. I then dice for each faction to see if they are affected by the speech. Oh boy.. I then dice for any reaction..]

The home team did NOT like Gwaednerth's efforts - and start throwing stones.

Worse (potentially) Eudaf's faction begins to move forwards - and it is only the actions of Eudaf himself, and the failure of their flanking brothers to move at all (Reluctant? Caught on the hop?), that stops Eudaf's centre from rushing down the hill.Gwaednerth is hurried back to behind the Roman line by his escorts.

So the battle begins. The auxiliary foot advance, but the line becomes slightly ragged (nothing to be worried about, and to be expected when moving as fast as is reasonable to cut down the amount of time under fire from the enemy skirmishers, on roughish ground). 

 As the foot advance Burriena decides (a bit late?) to move his leftmost cavalry over to the right, where the slope on the enemy flank is shallower, while the horse on his right push forwards to discomfort the enemy's left.

 

The leftmost of Burriena's centuries pulls ahead, clambering up (and taking disruption from) the steeper slope on their part of the field, and charging the skirmishers, who skip back.

However, as the Dalmations advance, still disordered by the steep slope, they are suddenly counter-charged by the Silurian right, and pushed back.

In fact, over the next move they will be pushed right back down the slope up which they have struggled.

But as the leftmost century are pushed back the rest of the Roman line advances, till a move by the Roman reserve onto the flank of the enemy right unit - now some distance from their fellows - and some rallying by Burriena encourages the Dalmations, and, after some serious hand to hand, the enemy right unit is forced to recoil.

Meanwhile, in Burriena's centre and centre right, the other two leading centuries have made a run up the slop; intending to scare off the skirmishers and charge the remainder of the hostile line - the left of which had angled back, for fear of the Roman right cavalry.

Here, again, the fighting of the defenders is fierce, and the lead century is pressed back. Things are not going as well for the Romans as planned.

Meanwhile Burriena, seeing the threat to his left, countermands the order to his left horse turma, and orders them to swing back to the left, and attack the now discomforted Silurian right-hand unit. They do so, and the enemy right scatters in panic.

To the enemy's rear the Roman right cavalry charge the hostile skirmishers, driving them down the slopes towards the Cwmaman Valley. But the horse keep themselves in hand, and do not pursue.

As all three first line centuries advance towards them, the Silurii centre and left make one last charge on the Auxiliary foot - and cause these to falter. But so focused are they on the wavering centuries that they ignore the horse to their rear.

An Optio falls, a centurion is wounded and Dalmations drop to the ground in the fierce fighting.

But losses among the Silurian leading men, and one last push by the Auxiliaries, personally inspired by Burriena, plus the auxiliary left century moving to rejoin the fray - and with cavalry hovering to their rear - the home side's spirit falters. 

They are forced back then, finding themselves molested by the Roman cavalry, break.

As the enemy left and centre scatter down towards the Caenoa Valley, and the unbroken skirmishers and broken right kin-group, pull down towards the Aman, Burriena orders the recall sounded.

It was a short fight, and there was no serious pursuit of the beaten side, so local casualties were not as bad as they might have been. 

On the Roman side, however, the Dalmation foot did not exactly excel themselves, and the action felt more touch and go than it ought. Burriena now has wounded to tend - and a decision to make....

Technical Notes: 

The battle was fought using SP tokens for unit leader and Overall Commander Activation, with ad hoc dice tests for detached friendly and Hostile decisions using IMP options. I used the "Stack and Stop" method (NMTB) rather than a SP-style token draw with Tiffin token process. Movement, Morale and Combat rules were my usual cannibalised House Rules.

As always: queries, thoughts & comments encouraged.

The Battle Between Two Rivers (Prep.)

Or, The Battle of Pen Foel Aman.

So, Burriena pushes into Area III. As usual I have looked at old O/S maps, local history sites and Google Earth to get an idea of the topography etc. 

This small patch mainly consists of a high plateau, broken up by watercourses and a valley. There are no clear tracks for the force to follow. The ground is mainly open grass and scrub. The only farmsteads are on flatlands to the north, the slopes above the river valleys either side of the zone and in the vale of the Aman (Cmwaman) leading down to the Diffa Valley.

This is likely a poor area, with little or no chariotry. The local headman and family may be pony-mounted, but the folk are mainly sheepherders and small-scale farmers in the valleys. On the plus side the nearby rivers are likely full of pebbles for chucking/slings so expect a lot of this.   

The local have gathered on Pen Foel Aman; a high spur of the plateau in the centre of the area, whose flanks, scrubby and steep to deter pursuit by cavalry, allow easy escape into the large river valleys to south and, via the Aman valley, east, which are also in a state of revolt (note: the road on the map is modern).

The terrain here allows the locals to sit on high ground dominating the route of anyone proceeding along the plateau, and the slopes and nearness of the revolted valleys prevent wide outflanking movements by the Romans. This looks as good a place as any for a stand. Looking at Streetview and the topography, the "dome" of the spur has a "nose" on the north west end. Placing the locals on this seems the best option, to protect their flanks.

Burriena does have the option of pulling back; but doing THAT, against hill tribes the world over, will almost certainly result in a harassed retreat. Simply pushing past will leave the cohort at risk of flank attack and leave hostile force to his rear. He really has no choice but to disperse the locals - and even with the home advantage, this, with only 200 locals, mainly amateurs to fight, should in theory be a routine action for a Roman cohort. However.....

Burriena's Dalmations are a cohors quingenaria equitata. But as we've seen, some are on detached duties at the two forts. He therefore only has with him 2 Turmae and 4 centuries, whose ACTUAL strengths on the day are:

Century 1: 52 men
Century 2: 56 men
Century 4: 50 men
Century 6: 26 men
(184 foot)

Turma 1: 15 men & horses
Turma 2: 21 men & horses
(36 horse)

Dismounted cavalry (men whose became lamed/rendered unfit or sick en-route etc. but who are retained as baggage guard): 2 troopers.
Servants etc.: 28

[Above figures and decisions ascertained by dice tests as usual. Battle location by IMP.]

IF the battle drags on there IS the possibility of interference from the neighbouring hostile septs. But this is unlikely, since two of these areas have already had the bulk of their men drawn off by Twrch and all three will be aware of the arrival of Albinius at nearby Difforum - and his larger force less than two to three hours march away.

To The Table:

This should be simple enough; a rough dome of a spur with a sloping approach, scaled to the chosen man/figure ratio. The Romans coming from the north would be confronted by this - with the likelihood that the "tip" of the nose would be occupied by skirmishers, with the rest of the men further up-slope. The slopes would make flank defence easier.

From the Roman point of view there is nothing other than the slope to give pause.
There is room for the horse to manoeuvre and a small hillock on their right flank to provide a rallying point if things go awry (best line of retreat would be across the narrow Caenona valley into the friendly territory above Ronda (about five miles away) and from there back to Nidenum.

In the event of a victory, nearby springs would be useful post-battle; particularly for the wounded and the horses.

The ground is rough grass and scrub. The trees thereabouts as seen on Google are, from old maps and photographs, clearly modern plantations, so no palisades/fieldworks/surprises from woodland to worry about. Basically this looks like a slightly rougher version of the open sheepwalks we get round here in Sussex, but with steeper sides in places. Not the best of marching grounds - but certainly no worse than what the Dalmations would be used to at home. 

Scale-wise I'm undecided, other than this seems best suited to my 20mm figures (as it's really a skirmish). The Silures will have a likely frontage of about 60m or so I guess. I have done one figure = one man actions before, and have enough bods to do that, but maybe I'll plump for 1:2. It'll make a decision once I get the table out (this will be the first 20mm action in the Blockhouse playroom). 

So, to battle...

This Ain't Siluria Two - Into Week two

Move In to Danger.

Day Seven of Nine.

No rest on the seventh, as the Roman plans kick-start.

While these wheels begin to move the revolt both spreads and, in places, runs up against loyal septs. There are now clear "boundaries" to the revolted area in the north west and north east (red zone "border boundaries" on the map).

A leader named Tewdrig appears in the hills above Serovium and begins rallying the septs there.

North of the Black Mountains Caeog (now joined by Buan) STILL hesitates to commit, but in the central hills Twrch has raised some 900 men, and now leads them south, burning the farmsteads of their Loyalist neighbours in the Bagadiffa Valley.

Day Eight:

Made aware of Twrch's movements the garrison commander at Difforum puts the fort in readiness against attack, and sends out pickets, but stays put. The commander at Serovium is equally hesitant.

However, at Fort Nidenum the Tribune commanding (Burriena), acting on his own initiative, decides to probe the rebellious area II up the Nida Orientalem valley and through the loyal tribal zones north west of the target. He reaches friendly Hillfort Cluster XVIII in the late afternoon with his depleted unit (2 Turmae and 4 centuries - the remainder having been left in garrison at the fort itself or being on detached duties at Leuca), ending the day's march in a friendly hillfort.

On the evening of the 8th Caesetius's vexiliation arrives, footsore, at Fort Firmium.

Twrch himself moves down to the main Diffa Valley, to arrive outside Fort Difforum itself (!) where he is joined during the day by 100 more tribesmen.

Tewdrig raises 100 tribesmen, but remains still. In the neighbouring mountains another leader pops up - Cyfwlch.

In the north, Caeog seems to have got wind of the Roman troops moving towards Firmium, and withdraws westwards, further into the hills.

There is still a risk the revolt could spread into the Isca (blocking the Firmium road) and Diffa Valleys or down the Serrova corridor (hills and Ebuna river valley) towards the sea - which would threaten Roman east-west communications, but there seem to be no issues with The Plan itself.

Day Nine:

Which looked like it would be producing the first serious clashes. 

[Again, all the decisions below are dice-led - including those of detached Roman officers - "I" am still at Isca...]

Caesetius is static, as expected, sorting things at Firmium and sending out patrols, but Albinius is due at Fort Difforum during the late morning/early afternoon, where Twrch, the rebels' most active leader so far, is camped outside the fort.

In addition, Burriena is getting ready to move his cohort into hostile, rebellious Area II. 

However, Twrch, clearly alerted to the Albinius's force headed for Difforum, slips back up the valley down which he had recently come, so no action there. 

Meanwhile, Cyfwlch raises 60 men in his mountains, and marches to join Tewdrig. Perhaps they both intend to meet up with Twrch somewhere west of Serovium...? Perhaps Twrch intends to draw Albinius after him into some kind of planned ambush..?

Caeog remains up in the hills. He is giving the impression that he is NOT the dynamic leader men took him for... OR is he planning a sweep down the weak western part of the district, though the collaborating zones, and down to Leuca? 

In the central highlands when Burriena pushes into Area II the locals fade into the hills. He then decides to advance, scouts out, into newly revolted Area III. Here the locals decide to make a stand. However, only the folk of THIS area are present (the guys from Area II clearly didn't scamper here).

The locals in Area III can muster about 150 men of warrior age. However, as things are desperate, they also drag out the old men and beardless boys, so about another fifty or so. The Romans would seem to have the advantage.

Remember, however, I still don't know how under-strength Burriena's cohort is. This will be our first clash, "The Battle Between The Rivers", and covered in the next post.

 

Finally, at the end of the day Caninia and his units from the Leuca area arrive at Nidenum - to find most of the garrison has gone up into the hills. NOT what he  was expecting...

And whether they are coming back is anyone's guess....

As always, comments, queries and thoughts welcome...

 

 

 

This Ain't Siluria Two - cont'd. (Part Three)

Decisions, decisions, Day Six.

At Isca there is intelligence to process and decisions to be made.

Reports from various sources, including from the forts, make it clear that something serious, in the form of a revolt, is taking place in the north beyond the Black Mountains and in the Central Hills. The problem is spreading rabidly and the situation changing daily, and there seems to be a clear need for local decisions to be made without constant referral to headquarters. It is decided to create two independent vexillations.

The following will take place: 

The 2nd Cohort (Trib.Caesetius) and 8th Cohort (Trib. Flaccus) will proceed from Isca, along with II Vascones, along the Via Firmia to Ft. Firmium. Caesetius is to take command locally, form an independent vexillation from the units of Augusta and the garrison, and at once move to subdue those septs north and east of the Black Mountains. It will take one full day to get the force ready, another to force march to Fort Firmium, then a day to recover, form the vexillation, sent out reconnaissance and plan matters (Say four days before affirmative action can begin).

The 3rd Cohort (Trib. Albinius) and I Morini will march from Isca to Bovium via the via Bovia, pick up the Auxiliary (only) units deployed there, then proceed to Fort Difforum (Via Diffa). Albinus will take command here, form an independent vexillation, and move north along the Diffa Valley with whatever forces he deems sufficient to secure the valley and the hills to the north west. It will take one full day to get the force ready, best part of another to march to Bovium, then most of the following day to reorganise at Bovium, march to Difforum and assess local conditions (again, say four days before affirmative action).

The force at Ft. Serrovium is to patrol and prevent any minor incursions down the Serrova valley or across/southwards in the Serrova/Isca hills. It will take at least four hours before despatches reach Serrovium, maybe more. However, some scouting/patrolling SHOULD be routine. 

The 8th Coh. (Trib. Caninia) road-building units attached to Leuca (NOT the centuries at Bovium) are to concentrate at Fort Nidenum by the quickest routes. Once concentrated Canina and the garrison will coordinate with and support Albinus to subdue the central hills. It will take at around eleven hours before despatches reach Leuca, maybe more, then another day for the units here to concentrate. Thus it may be up to three days before units get to Nindanum (say four days before action, to allow local assessment of the situation and coordination with Albinus). 

The Auxilia at Fort Leuca are to follow Standing Orders to patrol the borders and highland to the north, and prevent any minor incursions from the north and west.

So, basically four days before we can start hitting the rebels - partly because with ALL of the above there is the factor of not looking too hurried or panicked; in case THIS discourages loyalists/encourages would-be rebels. 

The Roman Plans: detailed view of north/centre

From patrols, intelligence assessments and census returns it is estimated that the rebels in arms will at this stage number no more than two to two and a half thousand warriors of all types, these likely to be scattered across the areas in revolt, with concentrations only in the vicinity of the Black Mountains/northern Isca valley.  

The main force will remain on stand-by at Isca pending the success of the vexilliations.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill: 

A force of some 780 men have gathered in the hills just south of Fort Firmium under a tribal leader named Buan. He moves up towards the leader of the revolt, Caeog of the Mountain, who has gathered some seven hundred men from the northern hills to his banner - but seems to lack the drive to use them.

[All the result of dice tests. These numbers are diced for for each zone occupied by the testing leader and each adjacent revolting zone. Totals are diced for in "thirds" on a 6D, with potential numbers for each terrain type as follows: Each Hillfort Cluster – 600 potential warriors. Each hill zone - 150, plains zone - 270, woods/mountains - 90. 

The attitudes of the leaders are likewise dice-driven.]

By end of Day Six more areas have risen, including the area along the River Serova (and around Fort Serovium) and the Diffa Valley. This NOT good for the Romans, as the long river routes and open valleys allow contacts with many other adjacent zones. However, the septs in the Bagadiffa Valley have remained loyal to Rome.

In addition, a leader named Twrch has risen in the Central Hills, and is also gathering forces.

All in all the Romans have been caught on the hop. The distances involved are, in the grand scheme of things, small, but everything takes time. Meanwhile, the native rumour mill (just as fast and far less vulnerable than despatch riders) spreads word of the revolt. The rebels have four days before the Romans start to bite.

AND we still haven't got up to date details of Roman effective strengths.  

Thus it goes....

This Ain't Siluria Two - cont'd.

Trouble In T'Hills

So, we have the map and the basic procedures. On with the show.

My available troops form a reasonably large force; 

Ten cohorts of IInd Augusta Legion (though the restrictions on how I can use them were mentioned in the last post) and the various Auxilia Units attached to the base at Isca.

One legionary cohort (9th) is dispersed at the ports at Leuca and Bovium and along the road links west of Fort Occamium on construction duties. There is a small (three century) temporary camp at the junction of the Leuca/ Nidenum/Occamium roads, engaged in road building.

Two centuries from another cohort (8th) are at Fort Serovium, also engaged on road building.

Several elements of the Auxilia are deployed at the various forts for policing, tax gathering, general security duties etc.

The auxiliary units (with paper strengths) are as follows: 

II Vascones  500 foot (Isca).

I Dalmations 500 foot (Isca).

I Morini 500 foot (Isca, with a detachment of two centuries at Fort Bovium).

IV Gallic (mixed cohort) 500 (1 century, 30 horse at Fort Oceamium, rest at Fort Difforum).

II Dalmations (mixed cohort) 500 (1 century, 30 horse at Fort Leuca, rest at Fort Nidenum)

III Bracarii (mixed cohort) 500 (Fort Serovium).

VI Nervii 500 foot (Fort Firmium).

I Tungrians  500 horse (Fort Firmium).

I Spanish 500 horse (Isca).

II Asturians 500 horse (Isca).

HOWEVER... These (and indeed the legion numbers) are paper strengths. I will only discover their actual field strengths once operations commence (local administration at Isca has been lax and the returns have just not been coming in to London they should have. There may be a number of "ghost" soldiers on the books, as well as the usual attrition due to sickness, leave, detachments,  secondments etc. etc.  As the Vidolanda documents et al. have shown, unit effective strengths are potentially wildly different from the ideal).  

Meanwhile, I have tested for the first moves in the campaign, and two areas (in orange above) have revolted; with the locals killing any Roman traders/officials in said areas and attacking any patrols/foragers etc. (the latter to be tested for, as will be the "time lag" between the events and my being informed of matters; this including any local decisions by my "men on the spot").

Revolting Zone VI has also produced a "Leader" (a throw of 6 on a dice throw 1xD6). The Leader will affect neighbouring Zones by prompting them to test next go. Leaders can also lead rebel forces to other rebellious zones and "accumulate" Field Armies.

The zones in pink are currently quiet, but will test as other zones from now on. 

The Zones in green above have refused to be part of the revolt. They will not test again unless surrounded by zones in revolt. 

Day One:

There are no Roman patrols in the revolting zones (dice test result), and no news of the revolt reaches any of the forts on the first day (dice test - as time passes the likelihood of a report coming in increases).

Day Two:

Two more zones revolt (no Roman patrols are affected), but in the north west one zone comes out as pro-Roman (perhaps they have benefited from increased trade up the Leuca - or, being a border sept, feel safer backed by Rome's soldiery). 

Still, no reports of the revolt have come into the forts.

Day Three:

A fleeing trader arrives at Fort Nidenum, telling of the revolt of the central sept. No news has yet arrived at any other fort. The local commander at Nidenum discounts the trader's story; assuming he has simply had a brush with brigands, and panicked.

The revolt appears to be spreading - but another north-western sept remains loyal, blocking rebel messengers from fomenting trouble.

Day Four:

The commander at Nindenum is made aware of local rumours of trouble in the central hills, and, having a rethink, decides to send a patrol to investigate matters.

Fort Firmium receives news of the revolt in the north (but not of concerns in the centre). Patrols are sent out. A message indicating that worrying rumours are circulating is sent to Isca.

The revolt continues to spread - but slowly; especially with the rebel leader being hesitant to leave the seat of the revolt. 

Day Five:

The rumours reach Fort Difforum, as the revolt spreads. The commander here sends a message to Isca about the rumours and dispatches a patrol northwards.

Fort Leuca hears of the revolt from friendly locals, but no message is sent to Isca.
Ditto Fort Oceamium.

In the north it is clear that this is escalating into a major issue; the patrols from Firmium confirming hostile activity. A message confirming the revolt is sent from Firmium to Isca. A messenger is also sent to Serrovium - which itself only becomes aware of whispers (from local sources) of the dangers at day's end; just before the arrival of the message.

Meanwhile, the senior Tribune (Ist. Tungrians) at Firmium calls a council of war. He thinks a force should be sent at once to crush the revolt at source. However,  the Tribune of the Nervii urges caution, and the two centurions of the IInd. are divided; not least because in the chain of command they answer to Isca, rather than to the c.o. of Firmium. No action is therefore taken. THIS may prove to be a lost opportunity. The senior of the two legionary centurions sends a messenger to Isca asking for guidance.

Isca has not, so far, reacted in any way.

The situation at close of Day Five below. There have been no clashes of yet.....

However, we shall see...

This Ain't Siluria Two....

Another "Romans in the Hills" Campaign.

I've decided we will return to the hills and valleys of South Wales for the next simple campaign. Here are my initial (draft) thoughts.

Since the pacification of the area (see the first project I posted about here on the Blog) the Roman administration has been busy; pouring in money and labour for road building, subsidising local friendly leaders, strengthening the marching forts set up during the pacification, establishing garrisons for policing and using those forts as administrative centres for tax gathering.

Two port facilities have been set up so as to boost the local economy. Like the roads, these will bring trade benefits to the area. Like the roads they will also help support troop movements and supply.    

However, the central and northern regions have barely been touched by the Roman administration and there are no roads or forts here. 

Furthermore, the septs in several zones to the north of the northern mountain range (west of the headwaters of the Isca River) and in the hills between the Nida and Diffa upper reaches/headwaters never submitted to or were never pacified by the Romans before the High Tribal leaders came to terms.

The northernmost septs are almost certainly in contact with the unpacified Ordovices to the north.

Some of these unpacified zones will be the seat of the revolt (dice throw 1x6D per such zone. Result 1-2 = nothing. No further testing here. 3-4: test each subsequent map move. 5-6; zone in revolt.).

I will be using some of the same basic processes applied in the first campaign (movement/supply, Events, War Diary etc.) but with the addition of a Revolt Table (see below for draft) for zones in the "Pacified Areas". 

Isca and the ports may be considered "Supply Depots", unless occupied by hostile forces.

I will play the Romans. I will dice to see what forces I have at the forts but all will be Auxilia.

The forces at my disposal to crush the rebellion will consist of the fort garrisons and the Auxlilia based at Isca.

There IS a partial legion at Isca (eight cohorts of the IInd Augusta, shifted from Glevum during the emergency; its place at Glevum being taken by a vexillation of the XIVth ) but while I can call on elements from it to support my campaign I will be penalised if I do so.

Victory Conditions:

Basically the Romans need to pacify all zones in revolt. As soon as all rebellious zones have been pacified the campaign is deemed over. I've drafted the following:

Two points gained for each rebellious zone pacified.

Two points gained for each 500 men of each rebellious force dispersed/destroyed.

Three points for each rebel leader killed or captured.

Minus one point for each zone which revolts (exclude zones which start the game in revolt). 

Minus three points for any fort destroyed (any cause, including voluntary destruction).

Minus five points for any Port facility destroyed (ditto). 

Minus five points for each zone Ravaged (by either side).

Minus one for any Forage token lost to enemy action.

Minus three points for each Auxiliary Cohort lost (any cause).

Minus six points for each Legion Cohort lost (any cause)

Minus one point for each legionary cohort deployed from Isca.

IF more than four legionary cohorts are deployed from Isca a penalty of minus three points will be applied for each additional cohort so deployed.

Conclusion:

Well, those are the initial thoughts. Watch this space...

As always, thoughts & comments welcomed.