Roma Victa: The Desert Rat

[Viper4Dan]

Last Saturday night, the usual group of ruffians, hooligans and scruff gathered at the home of James Manto (host of the very entertaining "Rabbits in My Basement" wargames blog) to venture into to the seedy back alleys of Canus Minor for a Late Roman Pulp Skirmish. The scenario and players are as follows:

SCENARIO:      “The Desert Rat”, 396 AD

Its hot! So hot you can see the camels sweat. But here you are in this stinking border town of Canus Minor…”Dogtown” to the locals. The only claim to fame of this miserable little one chariot town is that its far enough south of Palmyra to avoid too much attention from Imperial authorities, and too far west to be looted by desert bandits. It’s the perfect place for a man to earn an honest (!?) living on both sides of the frontier, or to live in the shadows and not draw too much attention to himself.  As a result, it has become a magnet for every smuggler, hustler, charlatan, snake oil salesman, magician, holy man,  or people with secrets to keep. In other words, its an opportunity!

CHARACTER:   Proximo Julianus - Freedman & Gladiator Trainer

You are Proximo Julianus, former hero of the gladiator ring, freedman, and now a successful trainer of gladiators. Your troupe of combatants travels from town to town throughout the East, putting on shows for the locals. By the standards of the Colosseum, you’re not much, but you’re more than good enough for this lot of rustic provincials. When not plying your trade in the arena, your troupe also makes a healthy profit in smuggling (anything or anyone), selling information, and subtle assassination. Yes, it’s a good life.

You have come to Canus Minor to not only make some money through your entertainments, but to try and collect a reward offered by Casca Severus, aka “The Desert Rat”. Casca is the son of an Equestrian family who joined the legions, deserted, and became infamous throughout the area as the leader of a band of brigands. He is presently in the custody of the local Auxilia. He has put the word out that anyone who rescues him will be richly rewarded, so.....On another note, information has come your way that a payroll shipment is to be brought to the Dromedarii Auxilia unit today, and it is lightly gaurded by Roman soldiers. Another opportunity?
Victory Conditions:
a) Rescue Casca Severus (5 Victory Points)
b) Steal the payroll and get out of town (5 Victory Points)

CHARACTER:   Gaius Marius Germanicus – Equestrian Aristocrat

You are Gaius Marius Germanicus, former Tribune of the 13th Legion and advisor to the Governor, now semi-retired, ambitious and bored. Most of your success and influence has come from your marriage to a Syrian princess, Roxanne, and the wealth her family possesses. You feel that you were meant for greater things than to be just another wealthy Equestrian. In recent months you have put events in motion in order to make a bid to become Emperor of the East. Under the guise of going to spend time with your relatives in the East, you have tried to keep a low profile while hiding out in Canus Minor, far from the prying eyes of Rome. The time has come for you begin your march to glory.

Unfortunately, a disturbing family matter has come up that may put your plans at risk. An influential Equestrian uncle of Roxanne's, Pharnaces Livius Severus, has a son, Casca, who is very dear to Pharnaces, but a total disappointment to the family. Casca Severus, aka “The Desert Rat”, had joined the legions, deserted, and became infamous throughout the area as the leader of a band of brigands. He is presently in the custody of the local Auxilia. Pharnaces does not want his son the be executed, but cannot openly attempt to free him. You will need Pharnaces support to “win the purple”, so it is up to you to try the rescue Casca. You may have to recruit local forces to help out and hide your involvement. 
Victory Conditions:
a) Rescue Casca (5 Victory Points)
b) Rescue Casca without any Roman soldiers know you had anything to do with it (5 VP)

CHARACTER:   Marcus Aurelius Galba  – Commander of Roman Dromedarii Auxilia Unit

You are Marcus Aurelius Galba, commander of a small Auxilia unit of dromedarii scout “cavalry” stationed in Canus Minor. Your role is to patrol the outlying areas along your section of the frontier and look for the first sign of invasion, as well as police the town against thieves, brigands and the scum of Roman Syria.

Your men are in good spirits today since their back pay is about to be delivered from Palmyra. In addition, in your jail cell you hold an infamous local brigand, Casca Severus, aka “The Desert Rat”. Casca, the son of an Equestrian, joined the legions, deserted, and turned to a life of crime. By capturing him, you definitely helped advance your career. The same unit that is to drop off your payroll will also be taking Casca into custody to return him to Palmyra to face trial. The sooner the better as far as your concerned, since several of the local nobles, particularly Odenthius Lysander, wanted you to turn Casca over to him to be put to death for offences against him. Others see Casca as a bit of a folk hero, so want him released. You can't turn him over to the soldiers from Palmyra soon enough!
Victory Conditions:
a) Collect your pay (5 Victory Points)
d) Deliver the Casca to the Roman Army (5 Victory Points)


CHARACTER:   Lucius Verrus Metellus – Commander of Payroll Escort

You are Lucius Verrus Metellus, commander of a small unit of German Auxilia, stationed in Palmyra. Your men are hot, tired and miserable. This stinking desert is nothing like your home in Germania! On top of that, you have been ordered to deliver a payroll convoy to this cesspool called Canus Minor. It is to be delivered to the commander of the Dromedarii unit, Marcus Aurelius Galba.  Your miserable commander thought it funny to make you march the 30 miles here on foot as punishment for your unit’s drunken brawl in the taverns of Palmyra a few nights ago (it was a good brawl too!).

Once you deliver the payroll, Galba will deliver a prisoner to you to return to Palmyra for trial. Casca Severus, aka “The Desert Rat” is the son of an Equestrian family who joined the legions, deserted, and became infamous throughout the area as the leader of a band of brigands. Rumour has it that some of the locals want him dead, while others think him a folk here and want him freed. This day just gets better and better.....
Victory conditions:
a) Delivery the payroll to Marcus Aurelius Galba  (5 Victory Points)
b) Escort Casca off the table. (5 Victory Points)


CHARACTER:   Demetrius Dexa - Merchant & Trader

You are Demetrius Dexa, second in command of a small group of well armed merchants and traders (thieves, cut throats and brigands are such harsh terms!). Under the leadership of Casca Severus (aka “The Desert Rat”, son of an Equestrian family who joined the legions, deserted, and became a bandit), you have been quite successful looting the merchants and caravans that travel across the desert.....perhaps too successful. Recently, the local Roman Dromedarii unit surprised your band, killing several of your brothers and capturing Casca. He is being held in the local jail. Your informers in Canus Minor tell you that he is to be transported to Palmyra today to face trial (and execution!). They also tell you that a lightly guarded army payroll is coming to town today. Hmmmm.....this could be a bonus if all goes well!
Victory Conditions:
a) Rescue Casca (5 Victory Points)
b) Steal the Army payroll (5 Victry Points)


CHARACTER:   Geta – Hunnic Scouts

You are Geta, leader of a group of Hunnic cavalry. You and your men are far from your people and homeland, and have made a living as a scouts, mercenaries,  caravan guards, sellers of information, and transporters of people and goods (“no questions asked”), on both sides of the Roman frontier. Work has been scarce lately, and you are in need of money and supplies. The frontier town of Canus Minor might provide both, either honestly or dishonestly.
You plan to enter the town and either gain some form of employment to buy supplies, or steal them from the various traders and caravans in and around the town. The town is lightly guarded by a unit of Roman Dromedarii Auxiliries, so you will need to consider this in your plan.
Victory Conditions:
a) Each coin you possess at the end of the game (1 Victory Point)
b) Each pack animal (loaded with supplies) that you possess at the end of the game (2 Victory Points)


CHARACTER:   Odenthius Lysander – Palmyran noble

You are Odenthius Lysander, a Palmyran noble and wealthy silk merchant. Your caravans regularly travel though Canus Minor as their last stop before crossing the frontier to the East. In recent months a group of brigands, lead by Casca Severus, aka “The Desert Rat”, have attacked several of your caravans, stealing rich cargo, and killing and maiming many of your men. Last month, one of your nephews was killed in their attack. Family honour and blood demand revenge!

Now, Praise be to Abgal (Abgal was a genie of the desert, the patron of camel travel and bedouins of the Palmyrene steppe), this worthless  pig, Casca, has fallen into the hands of the Roman Dromedarii Auxilia in Canus Minor!  You have asked their commander, Marcus Aurelius Galba, to hand him over to you. He refused. You offered to buy him. He refused!! Now you have heard that he is to be transported from the jail to Palmyra to face trial under Roman law. This is your opportunity to take revenge!
Victory Conditions:
a) Kill Casca yourself (10 Victory Points)
b) Have someone else kill Casca for you (5 Victory Points)

[Duke Donald]

Fantastic preamble! I'm looking forward to seeing how it all unfolded.

[Viper4Dan]

The game started slowly enough, with lots of subtle, non-aggressive moves, and much discussion between players of a "trust me" nature! Once the payroll rolled into town, Casca's brigands attempted to steal it from the Roman Auxilia, and succeeded briefly. A confused fight broke out in the streets involving the payroll Auxilia guards, the local Dromedarii, and the brigands, with Odenthius' Palmyran horsemen and Germanicus' Syrian foot archers firing into the mix for good measure. Just when it looked like one of the brigands would escape with the pack camel carrying the army payroll, he was cut down from behind by the ballista mounted on the walls of the Dromedarii headquarters. A skilled and nasty shot for sure. Ouch! Perhaps this is the  Latin origin of the term "the long arm of the law"!

With Casca's men in full retreat, the two Roman units exchanged payroll and prisoner. Just as Casca was taken into the street and about to leave town, Odenthius and his men rode out and showered the Romans and their prisoner with two volleys of well aimed arrows. Despite rolling great saves, two arrows penetrated the mass of Roman shields and put an end to Casca.

Odenthius' was avenged, the Roman Dromedarii until claimed victory (they did, after all, just collect their pay and turn the prisoner over to the other Roman unit!), the brigands were in retreat, and Proximo's gladiators and Germanicus' Syrian archers seemed to be forming some type of unwholesome friendship at the far end of town! Only the poor, long marching, hung over, and thoroughly abused German Auxilia were left trying to figure out how they were going to tell their commander that they failed in their mission. The Dromedarii Auxilia, smug in the security of their headquarters, and knowing that they just dodged a (sling shot) bullet from being the ones in custody of Casca when he was killed, were quick to throw the German Auxilia under the cisium! As for the Huns, they didn't show, just hung around the edges of town to keep people guessing.

A good night of throwing dice, double-dealing and back-stabbing. As they say "a good time was had by all, and all were had for a good time"!

[Viper4Dan]

The quiet streets of Canus Minor....

[Viper4Dan]

.....the local band and jugglers are performing.....and the village drunk is "drag racing" his camel down the streets....

[Viper4Dan]

.....the payroll arrives in town from Palmyra.....followed by some of the mounted Dromedarii....

[Viper4Dan]

......Proximo's Gladiators (Testosterone, Tans & Tridents).....and Odenthius's Palmyrans (the Fast and the Furious)...

[Viper4Dan]

....confused fighting in the city streets....

[Duke Donald]

This must have been a fantastic game. Just out of curiosity, what rules are you using?

[rumacara]

Very nice AAR and scenario/miniatures.

[Viper4Dan]

Duke Donald, I use my own homebrew rules "Roma Victa". I have posted these back in July of 2013 at:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=54835.0

Cheers,
Dan

[3 fingers]

Great background 

[Duke Donald]

Thanks for pointing me to the thread with your rules. Somewhat embarrassingly, I actually commented on there ...

[nervisfr]

I like it, i like it and i like it.

That's give me lots of idea for my own project with Rome and Alexandria revolt.

Great !
Keep going on

Eric

[Viper4Dan]

nervisfir:

Alexandria has whole new layers of possibility. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, caravans, nomads, desert raiders, mummies (?!), back alley thugs, religious fanatics and political opportunists abound. That would make a great thread.