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Lucius Alden,
‘Bloody Tiger’
Lord Lucius Aldenus the third,
Praetor Maximus,
King Lucius III
Lorian Plains | For Regia
Part I
-The King’s speech-
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Dawn of 15th Primus 194 NC,
Eighteen Months Offensive
Code named -18 plus 14-
Campaign Day 405
The III Legio sets up before Lonely Marsh, a kilometer from Mercator’s Inn
Ramirus saluted the briskly walking Lucius, who was followed by Centurion Merenda. The 2nd Cohort's leading officer had spent the energetic march near the King of Regia. Lucius reached the hastily setup Field Tent and glanced at Sirio that was lighting up the two large oil lamps hanging by the rafters over the maps table.
At the center in black chalk was the map of Mercator’s Inn redrawn the previous day by the LID Officer with the help of Prefect Trupo to include the most important landmarks and the changes Ligur had done to the surroundings.
A small town built on the flats it was a central location as it stood hours from Islandport and half a day from the village of Lourmar to the east. Lucius had ordered Nasica –the cavalry officer was injured but remained in the field- to scout as far down the east flank as he could and check on the road towards the village.
Logan was to arrive there within hours if he hadn’t already and reclaim it if it was possible. In the even that he couldn’t, Logan was to monitor the situation and cut the road until Croton’s advancing through the forest troops reached the village to assist him. Lucius could do nothing about that front as it was too far away from them. Logan had to manage it himself but it wasn’t a critical part of the battle.
Duke Holt had messaged them that the assault on Regulus’ guarding the bridge forces would begin on the 16th and he had amassed enough soldiers across the bridge to march them over despite the waters being relatively high still.
“There are fortifications reaching Windbreak Woods to the west,” Ramirus started when Lucius took his seat. Stone walls erected cutting the road but Kaeso reports that the sentries retreated in the city when they approached.”
“Abandoned them?”
“It seems so.”
Lucius pressed two fingers above his left brow to alleviate some of the pressure. He used his right hand to do it as his left was in a cast still.
“Ligur hasn’t redeployed yet. Betto should have been here already,” he murmured. “He’ll defend nearer to Islandport. Probably has Celsus hidden near the woods bordering the houses east of the city?”
“Not enough men to cover the front?” Trupo guessed.
“Sula is still alive,” Lucius said and looked at Marcus Antonius.
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” the Centurion agreed with a smile.
“That’s days of pummeling from Ligur’s artillery,” Ramirus said a little unsure.
“If he gained a foothold in the city or retreated north towards the woods above the road,” Lucius explained. “Then that’s enough cover between him and the machines. For a while.”
Trupo brushed his mustache thoughtfully.
“Do we rest the men or attack the city immediately?” He asked Lucius.
“Brevis with the 1st Cohort will stop at Windbreak Woods,” Lucius replied. “Sir Valens will swing west around the coppice and scout the terrain while Kaeso searches the woods for any surprises. Order him to do it immediately.”
“Brevis is missing Capito’s Century,” Merenda pointed out. The 4th Century of the 1st Cohort had been almost wiped out with 129 out of 150 members dead or gravely injured along with Capito. The Centurion had been killed defending Sorio’s charge. The same engagement had caused the death of Long.
Dixon’s 2nd Century of the 4th Cohort had suffered serious casualties with 98 out of 150 dead or badly injured by Celsus’ horse drawn machines the very first day of Holt’s Stable battle.
“The 1st Cohort can handle the west flank,” Lucius replied standing firm on his decision and Merenda shrugged his shoulders.
“The 2nd Cohort will support Silvius’ 4th in the center,” Lucius continued and Merenda furrowed his brows as he’d taken him from the flanks. “Falx and Lepidus will manage the east flank and secure Worm Lake woods.”
“There’s a gap there,” Merenda argued.
“I’m aware. The 2nd will advance towards the Peaceful Pond woods Antonius,” Lucius replied. “You’ll guard Silvius’ east flank and flush Celsus out. Durio will be with you.”
“You don’t think they’ll hold in the town?”
“It’s a resort town, large streets, big houses standing quite apart,” Lucius explained. “Very flat terrain. Nah, he’ll guard the other side with the woods on his east flank and the road towards Islandport behind him. Hit us as we come out of the settlement and from the sides.”
“He might have forces between Peaceful Pond and Worm Lake woods,” Trupo cautioned.
“It’s possible but this is a wide front to cover adequately,” Lucius paused to think about it some more. “We need information on Sula’s condition. If the 4th Legion is still in a position to bother Ligur, then our old Legatus will have his rear exposed.”
“He could angle and retreat west towards Tenor,” Ramirus intervened.
“He has to concentrate his forces or we’ll keep on marching after him,” Lucius replied. “Ligur will fight here or not at all. I’m fine either way.”
“Well then,” Trupo decided and eyed the sweating Sirio keeping notes of the meeting. “This was almost boring. Right lad?”
“I wouldn’t use the same wording Prefect,” Sirio murmured. “This is quite nebulous and exciting.”
“You’re a learned lad so it makes sense to think that,” Trupo agreed. “See that you don’t weave too much bullshit in the report though to liven it up. This is the army. We like our wording to stay consistent and boring. Exciting is the opposite of what we need.”
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“Stay Antonius,” Lucius said when the officers departed to relay the King’s orders to their units and oversee their movements during the night.
“I have to get the boys rolling near the stone fence.”
“Domus can do that. You’ll promote him to Centurion. Murena will take the spot of Decanus in the 2nd Cohort. They earned it. Especially Domus.”
Merenda pursed his lips in silence. Then he scrunched his jaw. “I’m not sure I understand. The 2nd has enough Centurions Praetor.”
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“Don’t get defensive,” Lucius scolded him patiently and got up with a grimace of discomfort, his arm a constant bother. “I need an officer to fill Gripa’s position.”
“I see.”
“It’s good that you do. That means less drinking,” Lucius said returning his stare.
“Wasn’t aware the general’s staff were under such an ascetic curfew,” Merenda seemed unsure despite his attempt to make light of it.
“It’s a promotion Antonius. You’re to be a Prefect of the 3rd Legion. An aide to the Praetor and advisor to the King of Regia.”
Merenda nodded.
“Your lack of enthusiasm is concerning Prefect,” Lucius pointed out.
“Far from it. I was just hoping to lead the 2nd Cohort your grace.”
“You shall. Do I have to convince you? I’m not asking you to retire Antonius.”
“Absolutely not. I appreciate the opportunity,” Merenda puffed out. “It was unexpected my lord.”
“Antonius what’s the matter?” Lucius asked and walked up to him.
“Nothing. I’ll find my footing sir. You honor me,” the officer replied and touched his fist on his chest. “Ehm, I guess I’ll get to pick a better horse sir,” he added.
“Of course you shall. You are an exceptional officer. Brave and decisive in the field. You see the whole battlefield and not just what’s in front of you. This isn’t unearned by the way if that’s what is worrying you,” Lucius assured him. “I like you as an officer as much I like your company Prefect.”
“Enough to rethink the no-drinking policy sir?” Merenda asked with a smile, his confidence returning.
“I’ll pretend you didn’t ask that,” Lucius replied. “Now, give me your opinion on the coming struggle. What do you think Ligur’s next trick will be?”
“Unless he has more forces in the field,” Merenda noted with a glance at the maps table. “I don’t think there’s much more he can do sir. I’ll be on the lookout for Cavalry action on the flanks.”
“Mmm,” Lucius agreed with a nod.
Horses were the only thing they were lacking to cover both flanks adequately, which was why Lucius had Sir Maximilian’s knights in the field alongside young Decurion Jago Davy.
> Silvius 4th Cohort aka ‘Macrinus Lads’ under Prefect Draco (three relatively intact Centuries, the first under Silvius, the third under Jason Gordon and the fourth under Caleb White, with the surviving fifty legionnaires of the Second under promoted Centurion Joss as their reserve) entered Mercator’s Inn the morning of the 15th. They scaled the stone wall and marched towards the first villas with the corn fields to their east. The two platoons from Tenor that guarded the street retreated towards the houses at the shores of Peaceful Pond and the woods near Celsus’ remaining Scorpios.
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> Draco ordered Silvius to stall for the newly promoted Prefect Merenda to reach the 2nd Cohort under Centurion Domus (another field promotion) and move them forward through the corn fields. The Second Cohort aka ‘Sula’ or ‘Blue’ the second oldest unit in the 3rd Legion was supported from Prefect Durio’s engineers and their war-machines. Merenda kept his distance from the unseen Celsus (everyone suspected him to lurk near the slopes of Peaceful Pond’s east banks amidst the tall cedar trees) and nothing happened until the afternoon when Durio approached close enough to shell the enemy positions.
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> At the flanks, Kaeso cleared the woods of any hostiles without any incidents and his mounted rangers loitered near Sir Valens cavalry in front of Windbreak Woods the fortifications of First Legion’s Castrum visible at the north edge of town. Brevis moved the 1st Cohort over the abandoned barricade and marched west of the villas pausing a couple of kilometers behind the supporting cavalry roaming northwest of their position.
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> Nasica reached the Word Lake woods but received slingshot fire and had to fall back. Falx’s 3rd Cohort aka ‘Lucky’ or ‘Purple’ moved to assist him, bringing four Centuries and Sorex’s slingers along.
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> Lucius rode to the front, Gaeta’s Cartagen Regulars taking their positions as a strategic reserve at the center and visited all flanks, officers positions etc while observing the gathering enemy forces arriving from Islandport.
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> Ligur had the bulk of his forces at the center, Glycia’s 1st Cohort holding the road running between Peaceful Pond and the elongated Castrum, with Prefect Betto and the 3rd Cohort to his west and Regulus’ advancing 2nd Cohort parking in the flats between Worm Lake and the woods of Peaceful Pond to block Falx and Lepidus. While the latter were the more famous of the ‘Lucky’ Third’s officers, both Centurion Julius Sepofa of the 3rd Century and Jorgen Osmond (Maza Burg) of the 4th were very experienced and of equal skill.
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> With time slipping away from them while units repositioned in the field, Lucius debated whether to order an attack immediately using smoke signals, bugles, riders and flags to coordinate an afternoon action or not.
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> Brevis’ 1st Cohort was in position to control the west flank unopposed. There was Sorio’s cavalry situated there but they weren’t strong enough yet (Sir Rik De Weer’s ‘Crows’ were redeploying to strengthen them but that was beyond Lucius knowledge) so the Legatus ordered him to press on until the west walls of the Castrum.
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> Brevis marched north out of Windbreak Woods and Draco with Silvius moved through the city heading for the Castrum gates in testudo formation while Durio kept Celsus pinned down on the other side of town.
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> Ligur’s west front angled inwards under pressure and the Legatus realized he wouldn’t be able to defend the Castrum with the forces at his disposal. Slaurus’ machines were late and Trifer who was supposed to already be there wasn’t, leaving Prefect Betto in a precarious position. Ligur ordered Betto to at least attempt to hold the Castrum until his army manned the fallback line, but to abandon it if he was threatened with encirclement. With Regulus holding between the two large thickets on the east flank and Glycia already at the last line of fortifications on the road Ligur decided to defend in a slanted line (almost ninety degrees angle) until reinforcements arrived or his cavalry freed his weaker west flank.
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> So Lucius took ¾ of Mercator’s Inn that very day even before afternoon arrived. The walls of the Castrum visible, as was the wide gravel road leading to Islandport that cut across the woods of Peaceful Pond. At the end of it Glycia waited.
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> As then Prefect Trupo famously commented watching the back and forth between the two large armies; ‘Whelp, I reckon all this fancy and cute dancing about is fixing to get a lot of good folk murdered sire.’
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> And he was right.
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>
Kaeso was the last of the high-ranking officers to arrive. The one-armed Centurion (of Rangers) smirked brazenly at Lucius’ stare but greeted warmly Sorex that had arrived just before he had from the other flank. The two men’s friendship going back well before Lucius came into their lives. Every unit had an officer present and Gaeta’s packed lines of soldiers were just twenty meters away. Galio still on his horse and Ramirus poring over reports and missives from the rear with Sirio standing two meters away. Marianus had half his staff with the supply train and the mobile hospital due to the many injured.
Lucius climbed on the stone wall with the help of Trupo and glanced over the nearby and distant units already deployed, the riders galloping back and forth to relay messages pausing to hear the King speak. The banners of the 3rd Legion billowing in the soft cold breeze, the sky clear for days despite the winter chill of the Plains.
Legion polished helms and red armours as far as his eye could see.
The stitched snarling Blacktiger he had first drawn as a teenager, now in gold, at the center of the square Legion banners. The more realistic, sculpted Panthera Tigris long staff at the hands of the Signifer the ‘Stout’ Brim Solomon. The fiercely grinning bearded Northman bobbing the symbol of the ‘Bloody Third’ up and down with barely controlled enthusiasm.
He had carried it from icy Maza Burg and the crude Crimson Fort across the mighty Lud River. The hundred day march that had moved them over the ice-covered lake at Rockfort before ending in Krakenhall. It had brought them to the frozen edge of Jelin. The Signifer had marched with it back through the Mountain Pass to the walls of Kas, then Halfostad and Eaglesnest. Down the sinister Screaming Road towards Anorum. To the bleached walls of Asturia and then further south, over Kato’s gory Bridge to the plains of Storm’s Rest. Across the narrow Durio’s Road and the barren inhospitable Oras Navel.
All the way to Oldfort and Cartagen.
Home.
Galio turned his tightly secured helm towards the silent Lucius, lined face and old eyes urging him not to waste anymore daylight.
“I heard a lot of opinions,” Lucius started very moved and aware of the significance of the moment. “Let’s attack on the morrow some say. Perhaps rightly. For we will be more ready. I don’t want to do that. I shouldn’t. Ligur is slow but the morrow is a new day and in war things change in an hour. I say we’re ready. We’ll do what’s needed,” he paused to look at the faces of the men trying to memorize them. Some of the more enthusiastic soldiers and officers cheering him on, especially those that had been with him on the journey for over five years now.
“The true King is Lucius!”
“A hail for the good Praetor!”
“GODS KEEP HIM!”
Lucius waved his arms and shook his head at their heartfelt cheers.
“I do have a request, aye. So hear me out dear comrades, valued friends. We shall be companions forever! Hear me out though.” Lucius cleared his hoarse throat and raised his voice even more his heart beating wildly in his chest. “I can see their coat of arms, the Legion crimson banners alike ours and yer own bloody brothers and sisters over there! I can and you can as well. Trust that I know it! This isn’t for my late father or his vile wife. It isn’t for any Alden, nor a Holt and no O’ Dargan. Nor for my son or your sons and daughters and all those we left buried in ice and mud. It isn’t for the dead or a misbegotten sense of vengeance for wrongs done unto me or unto you, yer families back North or here in the bloody south! I asked nothing of you for years, but I shall ask you this for it is bigger than any one person. Be it a noble or commoner. This day and on this field! Win here! Win now! FOR REGIA!”
> King Lucius’ now well documented words were like a shock to the system. It overwhelmed our senses like a sudden bolt of lightning that fell from the clear sky. Everyone present felt this supernatural connection to the King’s speech and the man himself. It alleviated the fear of the coming struggle and turned the weary soldiers into one entity, each person linked to the next with unseen spiritual threads over the common cause.
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> And while Lucius genuinely tried to steer the soldiers to fight for Regia and the kingdom, in this single task this colossal figure of our times failed miserably. Almost everyone present went to battle for him and fittingly never really stopped until this day. ‘Lucius Alden’, as Queen Faye notably declared years later, ‘is our king and the whole blasted Kingdom. As long as he remains be it in flesh or spirit, Regia shall endure.’