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.
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:
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).
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.
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...
I like the look of the campaign map you are using.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Something I cobbled together a few years back.
ReplyDeleteThe original was hand-drawn on paper, then I digitalised/photographed it so I can add data. Works for me. :)
I have tried a couple of computer mapping systems, and found some with styles I really like, but I nearly always come back to making hand-drawn originals. Seems quicker - and I don't have to master new software...