<div style="color:black;font: 10pt arial;"> <div><font size="2">Here is Part 31 where we learn some history of Bitt's people.</font></div> <div><font size="2"><br> </font></div> <div><font size="2"><br> </font></div> <div><font size="2"> Chris</font></div> <div><font size="2">The Lurking Fox</font><br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Relations between Tirontach and the empire had always been mixed. In good times they were allies, semi-peaceful neighbors or Tirontach was a Client state. In bad times there was open war between them. The majority of the time it wobbled around somewhere in between. It made for a complex and confusing relationship for all involved.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is unknown exactly who or what put the idea of conquering Tirontach into the mind of Marcus Anthemius Petronius Tarquinius. Some say it was the Magna Bibliotheca using the emperor to get rid of an old enemy. Others say it was that he wanted to be a conqueror, like the emperors of old. He wanted his own victory arch.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The initial invasion came in April 1114 (Empire Reckoning) when three legions (the 76<sup>th</sup>, 24th and 1<sup>st</sup> marched north from Moguntia. They looted, raped and pillaged as they went.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The clans held a great meeting to decide what to do. There were two basic strategies. The first was to face the legions in a full, open field battle. Army versus army. The thing legends and great stories are made of. Where a warrior can show his strength and courage in front of all. This would also see the invasion ended quickly. An important thing for those whose lands were being looted. But this was putting the outcome of the whole war in the results of one or two battles. And the Legion was master of such battles. A fact that everyone was well aware of.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The second was the complete opposite. Rather than face the Legions in one grand battle they would wage a slow war of attrition. Fight no great battles but scores of little ones. A war of ambush and hit and run fighting. Such a battle lacked the glory of one big battle but it risked less if they were defeated. But such a fight would not be short or easy and could last for years. Those whose lands were closest to the border and were being ravaged by the legions favored an immediate fight. Those with lands more distant wanted to wait, fall back and fight a long war of harassment and ambush.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unable to decide, after much arguing and bickering they decided to visit the Lady of the Hills. The lady was a seer. Someone who could look into the future.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><a name="_Hlk225557"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt reached into the pouch on his belt and pulled out a small wooden box. Inside was a metal stylus made of pewter, two more made of reed and a silver inkwell. The inkwell had an elaborate latch to keep it from opening by accident. </a>He picked up the pewter stylus and after opening the inkwell dipped the point into the ink. He then started to add notes of his own onto the scroll.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>To some she could be called a Sybil but the phrase is not a good match. And both would find the comparison insulting. A more accurate title would be Siulan Cosain - Pathwalker but few understand the true meaning behind that title. Seer is as good a title as any. A delegation, after much arguing was decided upon and dispatched. They argued about who to send. The delegation argued all the way to the Lady’s tower. They argued about who had the right to enter first. They argued about who would state their question. They even argued as they waited for her answer. These were things the seer herself took notice of.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><u><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></u></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a long time before she gave her answer. When it came it was oddly specific and yet vague as well. Seemingly clear and easy to understand. And yet with hidden depths.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“There are many answers to questions both asked and unasked. Some that should be asked. Some that shouldn’t. Others that must not be asked or that can never truly be answered but must be asked all the same.” She intoned enigmatically.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“You have asked me ‘How do we win against the empire? How do we obtain victory?’ But what is victory? And win what? This battle? This campaign? This war? Or the ultimate struggle between your two peoples? Are you really two separate peoples? Are not all people connected to each other in some way?”</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“The path to ultimate victory lies forward. Attack. Strike the legions before they reach the city. Only that way will our people see past the empire and the coming darkness. Dark times. Black times. Gray times. Bright times.”</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></b></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When I myself look beyond that simple explanation I see a deeper, more complex and ominous answer. Several actually. Perhaps I am thinking too hard. Perhaps I have drunk too much. Maybe not enough. But I digress. What I think of it doesn’t matter. The Clans simply interpreted her answer as they saw fit. Oddly enough there was little argument over it. Perhaps they had already made their decision before arriving? It seems the long trip to the Lady had been time well spent. The lady herself would offer no explanations or clarifications. Nor would she accept any payment or rewards. Most odd indeed.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Satisfied with his small addition he waited for the ink to dry before continuing to read what was already written.</div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The leaders gathered all that they could, understanding that they would have only one opportunity. A great host was gathered and moved south to face the legions. The Great armies met on a field now known as the Plain of Sorrow.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The combined army of Tirontach drew itself up in good order a few miles south of the valley mouth.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The imperial army was already drawn up in a battle line. Its flanks were anchored by a wide stream and rugged terrain on one side and a deep forest and hills on the other. A perfect place for them to fight from.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>With a roll of drums and the blaring of trumpets the clans let out a wild shout and charged full force at the imperial army. This massive force rolled forward screaming and howling as they came. A seemingly unstoppable force. </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That ran into an immovable object. The legionnaires closed ranks and absorbed the blow. The fighting was exceptionally vicious and bloody but the issue was never in doubt. The Clans had pushed and now the legion pushed back.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The clans fought harder but they were pushed back anyway. Many saw the way things were going and started to retreat. Some broke and fled but a tough core remained. Giving ground stubbornly. It was here that the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic">Meirge Ard Rithe - </span>High King’s banner was taken. Those who defended it died honorably.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The clans were pushed up the valley to the aqueduct where it crossed the valley a few miles south of Carraigsiona. There they made their stand. Warriors climbed to the top of the aqueduct. From there they showered the imperials with a deadly hail of missiles. Below them others stood among the tall stonework piers itself. Using the massive columns to strengthen their lines.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There they held off repeated imperial attacks for several hours till two cohorts climbed the valley sides and attacked the top of aqueduct. When it had been swept clear of warriors they took to showering their enemies below. Only then did the defense line break and the survivors fled north.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The imperial army followed, killing and burning everything as they came.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Realizing that their options were limited the clans sent a delegation to the Emperor to discuss terms. This was the old way of things. In the wars of the past this had always resulted in a treaty being agreed to and peace being restored.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But not this time. The delegates were brutally tortured and murdered. Their heads sent back as the emperor’s answer.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Again the clans decided what to do. Some advocated scattering into the woods and hills and fighting a war of ambush and raiding. Others wanted to rely on the strength of their Oppidum and city walls. A siege could last months or even years. Eventually the empire had to give up and withdraw. There were scores of Oppidum. Even the great strength of the Empire didn’t have the resources to take all of them.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Both strategies had been used in the past with various degrees of success. But neither was a particularly good choice. Scattering to the woods and hills would make the Legions fight a thousand small skirmishes. Something the clan warriors exceled at. But it was not an easy life. It meant surviving in the wild. Freezing in the cold, sweltering in the summer. Months of meager food, little water and no shelter. Many more would die of the cold and disease than from the legion’s weapons.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The alternative of falling back on the strong walls of their cities and oppidum was not much better. The defenses were strong; the ditches and moats were deep and wide and the walls tall, thick and strong. It would take months to reduce each one. And a siege of Senaloca could take months or even all year. Long months that could see a besieging army waste away to disease and starvation. But by concentrating all their people in a few places it was allow the empire to concentrate their forces too. And starvation and disease was a bigger threat inside a besieged city than outside.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Still the clans were not fools and eventually decided that they had best not rely on any one strategy and agreed on both. The weakest oppidum and towns would be abandoned. Their people moving to others to strengthen the defenses there. Many of the strongest and fittest would scatter to the woods and hills. So while the legions attacked and besieged the cities in front of them. They themselves would be attacked raided and harassed by the warriors hiding behind them.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The legions pressed forward bypassing the largest oppidum completely and taking the smaller ones with frightening speed. The headed straight for the capital.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The city of Senaloca was well defended. It was surrounded by a moat that was wide and deep. It’s walls, the Legionnaires noted had been built with the help of Empire engineers. Traitors lured there by offers of gold and wealth.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Bitt stopped reading at that point and his pride got the better of him. He picked up his stylus and added his own comments<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><br> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style:italic"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“Wrong! They were not traitors. They were legally hired by Tirontach when it was a friendly, client state. Rebuilding the walls had been seen as a good move by the empire. Which at that time was more worried about the Mintiri to the north than Tirontach. The Mintiri are always a problem.”</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Honor and accuracy satisfied Bitilus put the pen down and continued to read.</div> </div> </div>