I have renamed my story and I will give a character list later. A BIG THANKS TO iZaln =D he helped me all the way
I "Run, run!" That was all he could think to do. The Veterii scout was running for his life with the Hastalamani in hot pursuit. He thought it couldn't get any worse because his horse already had died about 3 kilometers back, and now he had arrows whizzing by his head and three war bands screaming as they chased him down. Now it was too late. A piercing pain shot through his leg. Then, "THUD!" The cold ground came up to meet him. Kronos would not be happy tonight. The scout was lying there, a pile of flesh just waiting to be hacked to pieces by these... These unwashed, unworthy, stinking barbarians. He thought to himself, "How did this happen?" Abruptly the thoughts of training, of patriotism, and a sense of good Roman honor came to him. It had been four years since the acceptance of the fall of the great S.P.Q.R., but this was why he fought: The barbarian Gauls had not tried to attack Rome in over two hundred years, but now they knew Rome was finished. Those savages knew they could finally take back their homeland and restore their old pagan gods and the simple ways of life. He suddenly felt cold steel on the back of his neck and a rough voice said, "We've got special plans for you Roman!" II "AHHH!" growled Kronos as he recived the news of the capture of his best scout. Kronos is a Greek who had came from the Eastern Empire to lead the cause to victory. He is a bigger man with a very swarthy complexion and had the makings of a leader. "What happened? Tell me everything! Now!" The frightend messenger could tell Kronos was indeed very upset at the fact that his scout had been captured by the Hastalamani pigs. "W-w-well, um sir, I uh well," stuttered the messenger. He had never been more nervous in his career as a messenger.To bear bad news alone was hard to bear, but to a Cataphract Captain, and one from the eastern empire at that was almost suicide! "Out with it man! Back in my days, the messengers were tougher men of bigger builds, but now this scrawny man who can't even talk straight! Bah!" Kronos hoped that by insulting the man he would be able to give him more information. The messenger once again started to speak this time though he puffed his chest out to make himself look bigger. "Sir, I'll have you know that I have traveled from one side of the Empire to the other without once backing down to any foe!" Now Kronos was just insulted and sent the man out. He thought to himself, "What is becoming of our cause?" Then the sounds of new recruits came to his ear. He could tell by the informity of their clanking armor. Again he thought to himself, "Oh great fresh meat for the barbarians to hack apart..." Zion had better be happy with his new "meat". Zion, who answered only to Zaln, was probably the toughest and meanest Centurion the Veterii had ever had in their legions, and he was the one who trained the new "meat" to become diciplined Commentsarii. III It was dark and damp at the barbarian camp, but that didn't stop the soldiers from having a good time. "Three cheers for Anstrad!!!" Yelled one of the war chief named Vicus Alemani sitting in the beer hut. "Here here!!!" responded all the barbarians in unison. It had been a long day, and in the past few months, Hastalamani morale had been slowly deteriorating since the defeat of Illyricum, which is what really blew it to pieces, but now with the capture of a Roman scout and a man named Anstrad to claim the bounty, things were starting to look up. "Well I did what I could," said Anstrad rather softly. The barbarian chieftain came up to the young man, grasped his shoulders tightly to himself, and yelled out to all to hear, "Listen to this young one; He and his modesty!" The whole hut erupted into hearty laughter. Anstrad looked up at Alemani in a rather unamused way. Alemani looked back at him with a stern look on his face. "Boy, when you are praised, accept it like a man and have some pride in it. That's what gives the men hope that even they can achive much through battle," said Alemani quietly. Anstrad knew what was needed to be done and looked up at all the larger men and yelled out, "I will get even more of those bloody Roman dogs!" Alemani gave him a pat on the back while the sound of the soldier's chanting Anstrad's name filled the hut. Alemani thought to himself, "Praise Wotan for all is not lost..."
IV Kronos awoke to the sound of clanking armour, the shouting of warriors, and men who smelled of jerkied meat and not bathing for months. He knew that smell... mercenaries. "Good morning to you all!" yelled one of the leading mercenaries. Kronos readied himself as quickly as he could, he threw on his chain mail and kissed his crucifix pendent and tucked it under the mail; he then threw on his red cloth tunic and steped out side his barracks. "State your buisness here mercenaries!" shouted Kronos to the mercenaries. Arretius gave him a stabbing look. Kronos who had just gotten up was surprised to see Arretius already up and ready, and better yet making buisness with the mercenaries. "I am hiring more troops for our cause Kronos. Do you have a problem with that?" said Arretius in a commanding way. The mercenaries looked over at Kronos with a laugh. His expression went from confident cataphract captain to lowly "meat". "No sir, no I do not." he said very sheepishly. That was twice this week he had been insulted. "Good then captain let's not have any of those outbursts again shall we?" said Arretius. Arretius looked back at the mercenaries "im so sorry, so where were we?" The head mercenary spoke up and said, "Sir we were still at introductions, sir my name is Edward Ilrichia, and I am willing to cut you a deal." Arretius looked at Kronos and gave him a pericing look that told him to go back inside his barracks,to which Kronos understood and went inside. Arretius looked back at the mercenaries with a rasied eyebrow and a look of intrigue. He scanned this young man. He looked about twenty a bit skinny but muscular nonetheless. He carried an oval green sheild and a long sword which was unheard of in roman legions. "Edward, it is an honor to meet you, but i see you and your group are not here to fill our legions. Well I mean with your armourments, they are standard of Samnites not of Romans." said Arretius with a grin. Edward looked back at his scruffy army of fifty or more,"Boys, did we come here to fill the legions?" he asked with a laugh. The mercenaries laughed with him and their reply was "No!! We came to fight not as legions, but as warriors!!!" Arretius was stunned at the fervor of these mercenaries. Never once had he seen a group so willing to lay down their lives for an employer as much as these men. He saw this as an opportunity to boost his men's morale. Arretius now wide eyed, regained his composure and put on that same smug grin sothat no one could see his past expression. "Well you said something of a deal, what was this deal?" asked Arretius in a very indifferent way trying to make it seem that these men were not needed. Edward looked back at Arretius too late to see his expression. Edward had a serious mentality now. "Sir we are here because we led a rebellion in Northern Illyria against the Hastalamani--" he was cut short by Arretius's quick retort "Now you listen here, we do not need rebel barbarians in our army who that the barbarians can no longer trust, and if you rebeled against them how can we be assured you will not rebel against us?" Arretius was now on the brink of rage. Edward who was just annoyed by this comment continued on with his own remark. "Sir when Romans learn to hold their tounge and listen to a complete story ill be a rich man on a fertile farm but untill then just hear me out. We did not rebel against them because we were them, we rebeled because we are Samnites from northern Etruscia, and the romano-gauls living there requested our support." Retorted Edward quietly to Arretius with a hint of arrogance. Arretius who was not used to this kind of treatment was shocked at such an insult to his Roman honor. Edward continued on with his deal. "The deal I am willing to give you is, we have a score to settle with these barbarians. Sir on that day we won and liberated that small village, but we suffered many casualties. Mind you sir we were outnumbered three to one and lost over thirty brave men but even so we have a score to settle for each man they killed of ours!" Arretius, who was not willing to let that one snide comment of Edwards interfear with a possible victory grudgingly, said, "Name your price Samnite." Edward, who now had a grin on his face, looked up at Arretius. "Smart move Roman, and our price? Well, that sir will be taken care of later." Edward said deviously. The mercenaries all were happy to now have support from the cause, and soon possibly the Eastern Empire. Although Arretius knew these new found "friends" would fight bravely and with great courage, he also knew these men had an agenda of their own.
V The world felt good as through the eyes of any Ostoroth. Campfires lit up all across the western shore of the black sea, god was looking kindly upon them, and new reinforcements were coming from across the sea from a province called Chersonesos. Every man looked up at the sunset, felt the cool summer breeze, and the chirps of the swallows. All these troops knew however that in the next month they would replace the sunset with a dark night, the cool summer breeze with the dust and the dead, and even the chirps of the swallows which they loved dear would replaced with the clanging of swords the shouts and cries of the warriors. The men are not dreading the battle field rather they wanted some action, but they knew that they would miss the gentle things of life. "So" said Wridlof who broke the silence on the far eastern side of the camp, which was closest to the shore. "Are you ready?" he tried to be quiet yet keep a sense of light hearted ness in his words. The other soldiers, who were all veterens, looked at him rather oddly. Wridlof shrunk and his heart dropped he knew these men were ready for anything that came their way. One soldier in particular named Matthias looked at him and beckoned him over to his tent. Of course Wridlof obeyed he took any moment he could to talk to the veterans. As he walked in immediately he smelled fermented wine, sweat, and burnt oak wood. Wridlof looked around to see the small circular tent all around it was rather empty other than a small round table, a cloth sheet filled with straw and covered with a wool blanket, and a few other personal posessions. "Now listen here new guy." commanded Matthias queitly as though not to have the others come in and ridcule him or Wridlof. "What I am about to tell you will help you in your short career as a soldier. Never, and I mean never try to talk to these men about being ready for war or try to have a personal conversation." Wridlof looked suprised at this news "Sir pardon my curiosity, but I did not think all of these men were cold.... are they?" inquired Wridlof. "You are excused." Matthias said and then sat down and poured some greek wine into a wooden mug. He swirled it around and took a very long drink. He then looked up at Wridlof and said very wisely "You know this wine? If a man drinks too much he becomes someone who he is not, correct?" Wridlof was confused at this statement for he knew the answer as well as anyone. "Why yes of course everyone knows that." said Wridlof sarcastically. The veteran took another long drink, and wiped his lip."Boy this wine is like war a man loves it at first but when he takes to many a drink he finds it is not all it is cut out to be, but once he drinks it he cannot stop and eventually becomes a man who he is not." Wridlof who did not expect this kind of wisdom from a battle hardend soldier stood in awe, speechless. Matthias took another drink from his mug slammed it down on the small round table he had in his tent. The silence was unbearable to both men so Matthias looked in side his mug brought it to his eye level. "Empty, already!?! Ah no matter I need to stop anyway." said Matthias with a smile. Wridlof was shocked that Matthias indulged himself in the two very things that he told Wridlof would consume him, both war and drink. Wridlof stared at Matthias confused. "Whats the matter? Ah I bet you want something to drink eh?" said Matthias with a hearty laugh. Wridlof was extremely thrown off by Matthias's comment. "Why no sir i do not belive that would be the best decision for me right now." said Wridlof sheepishly. Matthias smiled smugly "Good man its not a good habbit to get into. Well I sudgest you go outside right now I have some important letters to write. Now leave!" Wridlof left and went to his group tent. He contemplated everything the veteran had said. "I wont let war become an indulgence for myself!" He arrived at the side of the beach where his tent was. He nodded at the other recruits as a gesture of hello. Wridlof settled down on his bed and opened up an old scroll. Although he couldn't read it he knew it was important. Oh if he only knew how it would change his life. Just as Wridlof opened his scroll one of his comrades Cengetorix stumbled in. Wridlof who was embarrased to be seen reading, and reading in the army at that, fumbled with the scroll and slid it beside his straw filled sack. "Ugh!! I hate sailing! Leading the Chersonesians to us was a pain! " Shouted Cengetorix "I wish we had more time for one on one sparring." Cengetorix was one of those people who was best to avoid at their worst. Wridlof knew that if he gave Cengetorix time he would cool off. "Well it cant be that bad, right?" said Wridlof. Cengetorix was infurriated at Wridlof's ignorant comment "Why yes, it is that bad, and I swear I will kill you if you remain to be ignor--" He was cut short by the war horn. The camp soon became alive and every man grabed his gear and ran to the shoreline and formed lines. Nothing like the organization of the legions but lines none the less. The commander Alexandr and his aide rode by on their horses and behind them arose the shadow of cogs on the horizon. "I think those are reinforcements." whispered Wridlof to an anonymous soldier standing next to him. The soldier said nothing and stood at semi attention. Alexandr stopped infront of Wridlof's group and he ordered his aides to give the information that reinforcements had arrived from Chersonesos. "Men the Chersonesians have come to add to our numbers. Treat each man as your own brother and even better." Alexandr had such charisma that would make even the worst criminals follow his every order. "A camp is pitched in Germania, at the entrance of the rhine, in hostility to our culture; the number of the enemy increases daily; and yet the general of that camp, the leader of those enemies, we see within the walls. These new men with us will drive them from their walls and we will find new lands and new towns and a new world!!! Finally the Ostoroth men shall be free!!!" The lines erupt in cheers of victory and of cheers for their leader. Every man rasied his sword and yelled "All hail the great general Alexandr!!!"