Postumus: Call of the West

Part 10: The invasion of Gaul

The history of Rome is riddled with instances of military commanders who thought that maybe, maybe if they scored a decisive victory over the enemies of Rome, prestige and honor would come their way. Many of these people hoped to be the next Caesar, but more often than not, they ended up like Crassus- defeated and humiliated. All of these commanders who strayed from the formula hoped to be the former. Placiadanus is no different.

As soon as his forces were ready, he marched north on April 27th, onto the city of Lugdunum. The city must be taken as a starting point of the invasion, for it can serve as a base of operations for Placiadanus until Claudius arrives. Victorinius and his men, who were encamped outside of the city, were simply not ready for an attack from Placiadanus, but the Roman Gauls luckily spotted the scouts of the attackers and withdrew behind the walls. Before Placiadanus could besiege the city proper, Victorinius sent a messenger to Hispania with the urgent message for Postumus: Help!

Placiadanus takes no rest with the siege of the city, immediately ordering his men to make whatever necessary to assault the city. As he rested in his tent, he imagined the honor and the prestige that would be bestowed onto him by Emperor Claudius Gothicus. Placiadanus cracked a grin- it was all happening so easily.

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Inside the city, Victorinius repeatedly examines all of the defences, wishing that he could field more men. He still had his Praetorians, but they were too few to turn the tide of battle if and when it happens. If assistance from Postumus did not arrive in time, southern Gaul would fall, allowing the Realm of Postumus to be effectively split in two. Aid had to come.
 
Part 11: March of the Gauls

May 9th, 269 A.D

"Message for you, sir!"

The gates to Postumus's estate opened to allow the entrance of a man on a horse bearing the royal insignia of Postumus's realm. Both the horse and the rider were exhausted.

Short of breath, the soldier said "My lord, Victorinius calls for aid! Lugdunum is under siege!"

The rider collapsed.

Postumus couldn't ask any follow up questions- however, he had no need too. He had heard little about the movements and campaigns that Roman Empire- based in Rome- had been carrying out besides the fact that the Roman Emperor himself, Claudius Gothicus personally led an army to stop the Vandals from ravaging Pannonia. His success or failure was not known.

"Praetorian Guard!" Postumus called out, "be ready to march to Gaul! Our brothers in arms need us!"

The Guards saluted their Emperor. "Hail Postumus, Imperator of the west!"

The hurried off to their quarters. Soon, riders were dispatched to the surrounding towns and cities to muster an army, and fast.

"Lysander, get up!"

The newest member of Postumus's entourage jolted awake. The merchant of exotic goods would soon have to adapt to a more militaristic and fast-paced life.

"Lysander, Victorinius's position has been compromised and his army is being held up in the city of Lugdunum. We have to leave very soon."

"Alright, alright," Lysander said as he stood on his feet. His life as a merchant has lead him to traveling lightly.

The two of them, with the Praetorian Guard, headed into the city center of Toletum, a nearby settlement. Postumus, of course, kept up on his public image by walking instead of riding, with a Praetorian on his horse instead.

"People of Toletum!" Postumus bellowed, "Our enemies march against us! Our own countrymen, our fellow Romans, have decided that it would be best to, instead of find a way to settle our disagreements as a civilized society, they have taken the path of the barbarian- striking without hesitation at our heartland!"

The crowd cheered.

"Justice will be served! We shall strike them down with the blessing of the gods! They claim to be true Romans, ruling from Rome, but they are wrong, and they are ruining the glory of the city in which they plan the demise of their own people!"

The crowd roared with approval.

"Now," Postumus stated, "Who is willing to lay down their lives for our Empire? Who is willing to strike fear into our enemy? Who is willing to stand with me against this tyranny?

The crowd absolutely erupted with cheers. The masses all shouted out their approval for war- their approval for dying a glorious death on the field of battle and beyond.

"Get a baggage train organized, Postumus barked at his subordinates. "We march at first light tomorrow."

War would soon be coming to the invaders. The foolish men that chose to attack their fellow countrymen would long rue the day that they challenged the Emperor of the Gauls, the Emperor that saved the west.
 
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