Alea Iacta Est!

Caivs Cominvs Dolabra curses silently under his breath as brambles snag at him in the dark and rainy night. He had thought he was through with this business of war for now when he went with Lvcivs Cornelivs Scipio, he had hoped to get rich, to cuddle up to a hot woman at night- or carouse with friends, instead he is sneaking around wet and sweaty in the darkness of Germany as a night of thunder offers ideal opportunity for their purpose. One would almost think that even the Gods themselves were on the side of those Cimbrii chiefs and their plan to launch several surprise attacks at their enemies all on the same night by small dispersed forces sneaking up at night and lying low during the day.

Oh well, war was his business just as commerce was Caivs Caecilivs Rvfvs' and ruling was Lvcivs', and his business he would ply where and when Lvcivs Cornelivs decided he was needed. Dolabra had long ago learned not to ask too many questions, but rather obey and try to survive; a simple soldier did not meddle in the affairs of the mighty of Rome. But he did wonder what brought them from being so close to the gold they could almost smell it, to this cold and dark place while he sneaked on, the large farm with a huge feasting hall they were to attack sometimes visible in the flashes of lightning and driving rain.

Yes how did they end there?

As Caivs Caecilivs returned to the village and farm/manor, no one seemed to notice his absence, except that Háriáwulf used the pretext of him catching nothing to tell a story of how a visit to the Gautoz up north of the northern sea had turned into a futile trollhunt. At the feast the Chief had related how local farmers claimed that a Troll in the mountains stole their sheep, so true to his warlike nature, Háriáwulf had vowed to find it and kill it. He had hunted across the mountains for days, lurked near sheep pastures and talked to local hunters and trappers, all in vain. However, the day after, he and Hrothulf, the high chieftain, had wanted to talk to Lvcivs alone. There was much ale, but no-one to serve it, no guards, only the three of them. And the two Cimbrii chiefs had told a story.

“Now friend Lvcivs, let me tell you a little story and see if you can guess the ending. As we skirmished with the Aedui and your people in Gaul, the Varinii caught a Roman noble. As he was a very bad slave, refusing to learn our language and working only reluctantly and badly even when beaten- and ever both scared and full of arrogance and hatred, convinced of his own superiority to us, they had no use for him. I purchased him and tried to learn your language and ways from him. But with a combination of stubbornness, fear, stupidity and arrogance, it was impossible to get any sense into or out of him. Eventually, not knowing that my nephew would soon return with knowledge of a language you speak, I tried to make him understand that I wished to send him as an envoy to your people with offers of peace and friendship. Even this he seemed not to understand, but as he had often been seen sneaking about near our holy bog, I decided that he had probably guessed at the sacrifices we make there and was trying to find out if we had sacrificed any riches he could make off with. At this point I could have killed him for his sacriledge.” Hrothulf looked meaningfully at Lvcivs while Háriáwulf smiled, before continuing; “And perhaps in retrospect I should, but instead I decided to arrange for him to escape, hoping that his knowledge of the treasure would draw men of ambition and intelligence I could use to create an alliance with Rome. You are such a man friend Lvcivs, you have proven that by saving my daughter and helped save my nephew from poison. And you have in general behaved honourably and as a warrior and a man of his word.”

He looked meaningfully at Lvcivs again.

“So let me tell you of a dishonour that it shames me to speak of.
We had the good fortune to take from the Aedui a good deal of gold. And as Háriáwulf's father and predecessor as Hárjánáz, Háriuhá, fought a successful rearguard action, the High Chief Háuház could lead the main part of the army away with the loot.
Some of it was sacrificed to placate and honour the Gods, but the rest Háuház gifted to the Dánoz tribe of Svionoz in exchange for a marriage alliance and a large shipment of Roman arms and armour from the Rugoz allies of the Svionoz. The bride never turned up, nor did the weapons, and war broke out. A hard war as the Danoz, Svionoz and Rugoz were prepared for the attack. Hard enough that eventually all the rest of the Suebi intervened as both sides started drawing in allies and it threatened to escalate and wreck the entire tribe. The war ended three years ago and I replaced Háuház by choice of the Ting and single combat. And since I have planned how to gain revenge. The time is now ripe, my various envoys have returned from our allies; the Gautoz and Heruloz will join in the attack on the Svionoz and the Langobardoz king's son, Háiláthêwáz, will marry Háriáwulf's sister, Godáhilthjo. Thus our enemy loose one of their strongest allies. The attack is well prepared; all the Erloz will attack the Suionoz, Danoz and Rugoz lands with their warbands. They will strike at night and wreak havoc for 10-15 days, burn the almost ripe crops, kill cattle and people, cut down trees and pillage what can be transported- destroying the rest, then return with the loot. Likely the enemy will be too weakened to respond in kind before winter and the Suebii will reconcile the warring parties again. Or if not, we will have won a huge advantage by a surprise attack on all our enemies, crippling them in one swift and fell blow. Only one thing lack now; Will you honour us, by joining us and make certain that in the future Rome will be our friend? You shall not go unrewarded; the ring was made round to roll, and a chief shares with friends”.

Lvcivs had happily done so, reasoning that he had cast the die the moment he had set out on this sojourn. That now it was all or norhing, he would return with gold or he would die, and there was much benefit to gain by these two formidable barbarians as friends and allies, even when back in Rome, one never knew when one needed a barbarian army...
The Evocatii and Ingihárjáz had joined in the barbarian training for this war, and especially Agelastus had proven his worth, as an old centurion he could teach skills no barbarian had. A week later as harvest drew near, other chieftains and their followers starts turning up for a large feast until around 1500 warriors clutter the fields.
Only 150 picked men were at the actual feast in the hall. The others made do with a large one outside. As the first round of food and ale settled and people relaxed, Hrothulf moved outside and onto a small platform built for the purpose. Here he revealed the plan for a war of revenge and loot; to surprise and swiftly defeat the Danoz, Suionoz and Rugioz by a surprise attack just as harvest starts, when no one would expect it. To take out their rulers in one fell swoop, then ravage the lands by two weeks of swift/moving warbands burning and looting, only granting peace for tribute and hostages. The other chiefs dispatched messengers to their home and the warbands they had partly assembled, to form the second wave that will mostly deal with prisoners and loot and land as soon as they can.