To Start a War (Solus)

“Bard” you say in greeting as the man approached you. You and the legion were setting up camp with Monopoli in the background, and it was here that you had instructed the militia from Brundisium to rendezvous with your forces.

“Solus” the man replied, nodding at you. Behind him was a raggedy bunch of men in a variety of equipment, ranging from old Roman Legionnaire equipment, right down to the men with a tunic, a spear, and a worried look.

“I see you’ve brought . . . troops” you comment as your gaze sweeps the assembled ****. The militia numbered less than a thousand by your own estimates, more than enough for their purpose.

“I don’t see why I needed to bother” Bard returned “You already have an army” he commented, his own eyes sweeping the legion behind you.

“We need every legionnaire to fight Odoacer when he comes for us, your men are here to occupy the town of Monopoli” Strabo informed.

“This is my Preator Strabo, he’s in command of my Legion” you introduce. Bard nodded in respect towards the venerable soldier. At this moment, Bard’s head snapped back in the direction of your soldiers.

“Is . . . is that a woman I just saw?” he asked “A woman in legion attire?” he asked.

“Yes, there are women who serve in the Legion” Strabo replied, turning to follow the gaze of the militia commander. “We have strict requirements for what women we take, and thus, the ones we take in end up being just as strong and determined as the men, if considerably more rare” Strabo explained.

“I see now where your ideas of feminine equality come from . . .” Bard commented as the three of you watched the woman and her unit setting up fortifications. “If I am to take this town, how am I supposed to get through those walls?” Bard asked, turning to face the town. Monopoli was, of course, a walled city since that was the norm in these times, but you had just the thing for it.

“That would be the contents of those carts” You say, turning to point out three Quiphant drawn carts full of timber. “Have you ever heard of a Manganum?” you ask and Strabo frowned while Bard gave a blank look.

“I’ve heard of them, supposedly it takes thirty men to use one” Strabo commented.

“The original oriental version, yes, but this is our own version” you tell the two men. “I had Augustina draw up the plans and then some carpenters make the parts before we left” you tell them. “This magnificent beast, is counterweight artillery” you say with an expansive gesture towards the carts. “There’s a box on one end of a long pole, and a sling on the other with a frame to hold it all up” you explain “You put weight in the box and you tie the other end down, load the sling and release” you continue. “It’s absolutely useless on the battlefield, but in a siege? It’ll drill through the walls of an enemy fortification with perfect accuracy, hitting the same spot every time” you say, turning back to Monopoli with a predatory grin. It was then that you noticed the riders coming from the town.

“Sir!” a legionnaire exclaimed, running up to Strabo. “Riders from the town, they come under an ensign of parlay” he reported. Strabo nodded and strode forward a few paces while the riders approached.

“This little rabble of yours is ordered to disperse at once” Ordered an extraordinarily arrogant sounding man from atop his horse. “You are blocking trade in and out of the city” he said before turning his nose up as if the stench displeased him.

“That’s the point of a siege” you say, somewhat confused that the man clearly hasn’t realised you’d just put his town under siege.

“Siege?! SIEGE?! You dare rebel?! You dare obstruct Monopoli?! Odoacer will come with an army twice, nay thrice your own and put you all to the sword should you be so fortunate!” the representative exclaimed. “If you are so fortunate” he repeated before looking down at you and giving you a malicious grin. “But I suspect he will have many things to do to your women and children after he’s tortured you all to ****” he told you. You gave him a deadpan stare.

“If” is your one word response.

“If? If what?!” the arrogant rider demanded.

“If.” you state, more forcefully this time. “If, Odoacer comes” you say, advancing on the rider in a slow methodical pace. “If he bests us in battle” you say and fear entered the eyes of the rider. “If he survives our blades” you say and now even the horse is backing away from you in fear. “But you have more important things to worry about right now” You state with perfect authority.

“o-o-o-Odoacer is already on his way. W-we have already sent him a message” The rider stammered. You flash him a triumphant grin.

“Good, that’s exactly what I wanted” you tell the man. “I shall give you this one opportunity to run back to your little town and hide behind your women’s skirts” you say before turning your back on the riders.

“Crossbows!” Strabo ordered and several legionnaires readied their weapons. The riders took their cue and bolted back towards the city.

“You are a terrifying man, Solus” Bard told you.

“Only to my enemies” you reply “For what little time they live” you add and Bard laughed a nervous laugh. “Now come, we have weapons and armour we are intent on giving to your troops” you say “In fact, I do believe I included that in the letter I sent . . . so it was completely unnecessary for people to go out and buy equipment” You comment as you swept your gaze over Bard’s ****.

“We wanted to make sure people were actually committed,” Bard told you. “We also told them they’d get paid though we didn’t specify what exactly” Bard added.

“You are correct in the payment part, though we won’t be handing out money” You say. “I, instead, prefer to pay in goods while the economy is in shambles” you say. “Your men can expect salt, grain, and an amphora each of mead” you say. “Though rewards for heroism are also available, these can be substantially more valuable, I’ll give you the full list in my command tent, for now, let’s get your men sorted” you say and Bard nodded.

“I shall see to the siege weapons” Strabo told you.

“It may take some trial and error, nobody has ever used this kind of weapon before that I know of” you say and Strabo nodded.

“All the more reason to get started immediately” he told you and you grinned, his excitement at the new toys just barely bleeding through his voice.

“This is going to be an interesting month” Bard commented as you turned back to face him.

“Interesting indeed” you reply.