More bad news for the Empire

Photos of the twin defeats will be forthcoming, but advance notice of two losses by the forces of Order and Civilization by two different sorts of Persian-speakers. Photos are online!

In one battle, an Eastern Roman Empire army was defeated in a squeaker by forces of the Sassanaians. Three Persian cavalry were cut down by the doughty blades of the Roman foot (!) but on the other side of the battlefield, the Easterners managed to slaughter the Roman light troops just a little faster, slaying several units of auxilia and psiloi and (quite unexpectedly), killing off a detachment of light horse in a stand-up fight with skirmishers. (4-3 Sassanids)

In the second battle, Sarmatians overran another Imperial Army, this time of the West. Despite luring the enemy deep into hilly, wooded terrain in Moesia, the local legate was surrounded and cut down by enemy heavy horse before his foot troops could wreak devastation on the columns of closely packed riders (2G-0 Sartmatians).

A Victory for Rome!

And Rome West puts some points on the big board!

A horde of Burgundi swarmed across the frontier, but have been bloodily repulsed by a mobile force led by the local dux limitis. After a third of their manpower were cut down, the barbarians sued for terms, provided hostages (or sausages) an d promised to leave the Empire, never to return.

The dux offered his officers 5 for 3 that they would see the same Burgundi again before the year was out and found no takers.

another Ostrogothic defeat!

A series of reports from the latest attack of the Ostrogoths upon the Empire:

First: As for the fall of Rome, it teeters as we speak. The Ostrogoths report paralysis and despair among the Eastern Roman forces who are nearly completely encircled now by Goths, with their camp within range for sacking and all their Auxilia Palatina slain fighting in muddy ploughed fields against the deadly Gothic skirmishing bow. The battle is not over, but there are reports that the treasurer of Allanasius of Ferrence has already been seen riding away on the road back to Byzantium, whipping his heavily-laden horses and casting terrified glances backwards as he goes.

Then: A second rider has arrived from the Ostrogothic battle. The mighty Ostrogothic Knights finally got into battle, attacking the unprotected prostitutes and washer-women of the Eastern Roman camp.

The washer-women and whores of Byzantium proved that they are tougher than the Auxilia Palatina of Byzantium's army, slaughtering the Ostrogoth Knights (1-5 roll).

Now the battle is suddenly too close to call.

Finally: The Ostrogothic Psiloi were devastating to the Romans, slaughtering two Auxilia and putting the Romans on the brink of doom. But then the Ostrogothic Knights got into combat, losing every roll they made, dying in droves.

The Ostrogoths, thoroughly smashed, retreat from Illyrica and head towards Northern Italy and the West.