LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL)

Last week of Nove

in battle, had long been a thorn in the side of the Ro

them was no

e, a stark contrast to the Romans' ind

ues-honed by years of hunting, warfare, an

heir strategy of swift raids for resources

solely due to their mart

expanse of dense forests, vast marshes, scatt

ads. No easy pat

re having a hard time. So the

wever, fate h

e breath of warmth after summer's de

tting up camp near the Weser River-fertile land, surround

to cultivate and store provisions

e landscape, the camp remained blissfully unaw

rom a leather flask, noticed something amiss as he bowed to swallow

ad, wondering if it was his

sudde

AN-TA

red the morning stillness, ec

lost in the haze of sleep after

ed at the sud

kly filled with the frantic clatter of metal, hushed curses, and the s

l over tattooed

astened with intricate bronze and iron

, cinched steel swords, dagger

nd bows were hoiste

AN-TA

unmistakable sound

e from...

the river!" A warrior with his long

ments, warriors scra

e water, never suspecti

he slopes, certain their skilled archers would decimat

ed of their su

before they even reach

ance stemmed fro

crushed three Roman legion

made no serious attem

and brief encounters with the Romans

g with the Romans'

is not un

t once more-but the Romans had outmaneuvered

meticulously studying their t

in who had served as an auxiliary officer under General Varus-the one who

ng Arminius's own playbook again

ther to Rome, raised and educated and later switched sides to

ading the defeat of Varus, himself

epeated skirmishes and intended encounters to dissect and unde

THUD

and marching footsteps-resonated from the slopes b

to intimidate us' T

usion-an army of a million men,

now split. The horn from the river.

c se

he hill, overseeing it all

nicus-Rome's

eror. The adoptive nephew of the curren

ely leading the Germ

he chinks in their armor, the v

w disorder, and he was determined to capitalize on

ll might of Rome!" Germanicus shoute

a lie. Stillness fell,

They were surrounded. Bre

s felt like a cruel mockery against

swiftly to counter the Rom

rtainty, they were uns

OM

ry erupted from

CTO

ry thundered f

, ch

re suddenly shattered

, armor gleaming in the sun. They advanced like a

d, their hooves

pared for the two-pronged as

. Screams of the wounded mi

, crushed by horses with crack-as pile afte

d the earth

n of the forest, the gray of the Roman a

ench of burnt flesh, and the sour sweat of fear mi

ly outnumbered. Their once advantageous

ched his warriors fall. His

he taste of blood was bitter i

in he tried to m

ield wall!"

formation. Archers crouched within, arrows nocked, waiti

shield dome. His warrior

tribe, who had lost their hope,

ere set with

began as a low murmur and sl

f the warriors. It wa

pe

anks parted

ir

SH S

t through the advanci

fen

d wall sn

Romans

valry unit tore through the formation, sword

ught desperately. But

arm sei

s uncle shouted, hois

struggled. "I w

face. "We must regroup! Fight an

ated, the slickness of blood on his hands, the

ng from his lip. He scanned the battlefiel

ment, Arminius wondered if his tribe's p

finally commanded. "

!' The Germanic tribe chi

for the one who co

e had never learned. Then,

. Arminius r

anicus before he is forced

go!

fled. Their eyes wide with terror, reflected the fl

ation collapsing into

pping over fallen comrades, their cries swallowe

rriors were cut

the river, once a source of life,

like animals. Once a sanctuary, now o

t no stone unturned.

faded, Germanicus stood victo

oking for

n Teutoburg. They will pay for their arrog

ression on

e had suffered a

d not soon fo

ther wo

hung heavy in the air, a grim

warriors, and the land bore witness to a

Rome never forgets' Germanicus commented in

rior, every hiding place. Find Arminius' wif

de, and now, she will be a

an general turned his

*********

DE

- Ancient Germa

ia - G

- Roman empi

ncient Germa

ajor river in n

rest- a fore

s or General Varus- a Roman gener

FAC

stes was a Pro-Roman. And oh, this Battle of Weser River is actuall