Roman Fortress

POV: General Varian

War Room

Varian looks around the table, all of his highest ranking centurions and commanders sit and stand nearby. A shoddily put together map of the general area lies on the table before them. With what little details the scouts could add to the map, the general grabs some pieces that each represent a legion. All the while a group of men quickly copy the map onto smaller Papers for everybody in the room.

"So we will send five legions towards the town known as 'hoofton' along with more archers and a cavalry escort. The cavalry is to scout past the town further south while the legionnaires begin the siege if they do not surrender outright. Now We only have about a few months left of supplies, about half a year if we stretch it with rationing. Hopefully we manage to loot the surrounding countryside for enough food to last the siege." The camp commander says, moving small figures used to represent the legions around the map.

“Hm the soldiers won’t like that. We all know how the ranks get when food becomes scarce.” Varian comments.

"Sir may i add something?" The Fortress commander asks

"You may" Varian states, looking up at the man.

"Sir Due to our unique situation, i say we use our cavalry more sparingly. It seems as though we will have an impossible time to get more, as the equines here are sentient and far too small to ride, even if they would let us. Not to mention that some have the ability of flight and some have some sort of magic. Our cavalry is one of our only advantages we have over them besides training and equipment, Though i would suspect the latter to be less prominent if any proper army were to show itself."

"Hmm you have a point. Though anthing can happen here. We should be careful with our horses, Though should we risk sending out scouts to search for wild horses to see if we could tame them if there are any?"

The Cavalry commander steps up. "I believe it is. Horses are the best way for us to scout and transport supplies, we lose our horses and cannot replace it with anything else, we will not be able to transort supplies. Likely the locals wouldn't be able to carry as many things nor be as willing to do it."

“Hopefully there are some alternatives to horses in these lands. Send a cavalry division to scout north and west of us, we have enough information on the south and a ocean is east.” Varian looks to the camp commander. “How long will our water supplies last?”

“Indefinitely, there’s a freshwater river south of the fortress. The engineers have been thinking of ways to divert it closer or build a primitive aqueduct to bring water in without bucket groups.”

“Perfect. Seems we have everything prepared. This meeting is adjourned, let us hope Jupiter gives us strength for the coming siege.”

Varian picks up the maps and hands rough copies to the commanders, each nodding and heading off to do their collective tasks. Varian himself donning his armor and checking his weapon as he walks out to see the men already marching out of the gatehouse. With any stragglers rushing to meet up with their legions before they get noticed.

Climbing into his personal horse he makes sure he has what he needs and rides out to the front of the column. Passing by each legion and handing out crude maps to each of he lead centurions until he reaches the front with the first legion, marching onward to hoofton.

30 minutes later

Scouting division

Objective: Find horses, or pack animals of any kind

“I still doubt we’re going to find any wild horses out here. Horses live in plains not forests.” A random cavalryman states.

“I know, my father bred horses, but we have to try. We run out of horses we turn into infantry without the armor or shields.” The captain states as him and his division spread out over a wide area to search for anything resembling a horse.

“Hey you hear that?” A second cavalryman states before the whole group stops to listen, readying their javelins and Spears. Some looking to the sky for any flying menaces.

“Sounds like growling from wolves.. but.. larger..” the same cavalryman states. “Look! There!” He yells pointing a spear towards a dense section of forest and bushes, showing the group of glowing orange eyes staring at them.

“Everybody Keep your horses calm and-“ he is interrupted by the sound of snarling and a pack of massive horse sized wolves made of wood burst out of the bushes towards them. Causing the horses to spook and attempt to flee as the cavalrymen throw javelins at the beasts.

“SWEET MOTHER- I SHOULD'VE STAYED IN NUMIDIA!” A man screams out as he turns his horse and gets it to gallop away along with the rest of the cavalry. Each man attempting to weave their horses through the trees.

"EVERYONE WHEN WE GET TO THE FIELDS GET YOUR JAVELINS READY!" yells the captain as he grabs a javelin from his horses javelin strap. Looking behind him, seeing that the wolves are slowly gaining upon them, snapping their fangs at the closes horses to them.

"READY! TURN LEFT AND THROW!" Following the orders, each cavalryman turns sharply to the left, throwing a javelin straight at the group of ten wooden wolves. Some impaling the wolves, yet most miss by inches. Those that were struck appear to visually flinch from pain but continue on with javelins sticking out of their sides, faces, and backs.

"That didn't work!" A panicking man yells out as he attempts to peel off from the group towards the fortress.

"NO YOU IDIOT STAY TOGETHER!" The captain yells, just as the wolves see the man and split off to chase him. Causing the Half of the cavalry to circle back and head after the wolves.

The wolves slowly begin to gain on the secluded cavalryman and his horse. The man throwing whatever he can to slow them down, including his sword and helmet. All to little or no effect as they simply bounce off or get suck in the wooden beast. At that point a much larger wooden wolf jumps out from the brush to the right of the man, tackling his horse and the man to the ground. letting the wolves tear at the poor horse as it attempts to escape before its neck is snapped by the alpha wolf. The man, fueled by adrenaline, gets up and attempts to run away, but gets quickly tackled and pinned by the alpha wolf as the horse is eaten by the others.

"HELP!" He yells as the wolf snarls and bares its fangs. Thrusting its head downwards to bite his neck and end him. Only to get a spear, thrust right into its eye socket. The captain of the division rides past, his spear breaking as half of it is lodged into the wolf's skull. Its eyes no longer glowing as it falls over onto the scared-to-death man, its wooden limbs simply falling, no longer being supported by whatever magics held it together. Dead

"Istano are you alright?" The captain yells down as he draws his spatha and looks towards the rest of the wolves, Who all instantly look up at their dead alpha, Seeing the human who slayed him.

"Y-yes b-but i don't think ill fine with them looking at us.." The cavalry all line up behind the captain, ready to charge with their spears seeing where to target now.

The wolves, surprisingly to the men, simply stop eating the horse and seem to lay down, their ears lowering in a submissive way.

"What the..?" Istano states, befuddled as the captain stares at the wolves thinking.

"Are.. Are they surrendering or something?" Another man states.

"I think they recognize the captain as an alpha now.. I've seen heard about this in germania. Though, these wolves seem somewhat intelligent. Look at the way they are eyeing our spears, watch." He lowers his spear, causing the wolves to take a step back before raising it like the rest, making them appear less tense. "See, they recognize the spear as a danger. Maybe they understand us, I mean the colorful horses did."

"Hmm.. Uh. take a step back." The captain states, thinking it wont work. Yet to the surprise of everybody, They take a single step backwards. "Well ill be.."

"It just listened to him.. You guys saw that too right?" Another man asks his compatriots in shock.

"Somebody get a message to General Varian, I think i have an idea on how to solve our ability to get more horses.."

Author's Note

Thank you for your patience guys, sorry i haven't updated in a while. School, and general laziness has put this off but i'm starting to get 'back in the grove' as it were. Hopefully

Thanks for sticking around this long. Been playing more Rome 2 so that probably helps.