218 B.C.
A brief summary of the campaign from GMT Games Rise of the Roman Republic. Let us have Berg himself reach from the grave and share his insight! He will always be with us with games such as this!!!

The hard winds and rain from the mountians were long behind them.

Now warm spring rains watered their horses, and fed their stock.

The Army of Hannibal was recovering from the ordeal of passing the Alps. During the early Spring he had used that time wisely. Scouting recruiting and bringing to heel the lands north of Rome’s center of power.

He was now ready for a lightening campaign to subdue his sworn enemy. He would walk the streets of gold, and lay barren the womb of Rome to his revenge for his father and family name.

 His forces travelled from Oppida Taurinorum via Vercella, Novaria and Mediolanium to  Placentia. Where he immediately laid siege.

Longus, the vaunted self proclaimed hero of Rome avoided battle like a desert rat. He left a garrison [6SP].

Hannibal sends others on after keeping a force to siege taking a large army [32 SP] with H. Gisgo, Mago and others.

As the siege wore on Hannibals force was reduced but not as quickly as the hungry enemy inside. Gisgo takes a force from Hannibal main force to Pisae, which in turn splits again as Mago leave to chase down the leadership of small townships and  secure their loyally. 

Longus, see the havoc being wrought, splits his forces leaving Scipio east of Tarquini. He moves east of Spoletium near the Tiberius river.

Mago with a much smaller force lays siege, and Bomilar car assaults Venetia. While losses were high it quickly subdues the township and the surrounding country side.

As the year wears on forces from both sides wither at Arretium and Placentia. Finally Placentia falls but not with out cost. The high for the time walls, and determined defence cost Hannibal months in time and 100’s of men, losing nearly 25% of the men sieging. Hannibals anger is vented via his men who sack the city. As women and children die around him, he roars  “ resist and die, join and thrive” He sends a small party of children and women with a basket of ears to find the nearest Roman settlement. ‘ Pass the word on, I am coming”.

Messages arrive around this time from Gisgo, pleading for more men, as his attempts to reduce the walls are coming to nought. “We require proper siege engines and support Hannibal, you should have invested in these instead of bloody elephants.. I warned your elders of such”

Later in the month Parma falls, freeing Bomilar and H. Barca to move to Picenum to subdue it and secure the provence.