PlaymoFriends
Creative => Story-Telling => Topic started by: PlaymoMan on July 19, 2015, 15:06:54
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Hello all!
New photo-story, hope you enjoy! :)
120 A.D
The Roman Empire had reached it's peak. It stretched from the northern reaches of Europe to the vast deserts of the east. While things in the eastern side of the empire were relatively peaceful - save for a few pockets of resistance, the marauding war bands of the desert had been pushed back as the result of a series of decisive battles - a military presence was required. The governor of the eastern provinces was joining a detachment of legionaries and other high ranking officials on a tour of new forts recently constructed along the empire's eastern-most frontier.
The camp bustled in anticipation - tomorrow, nearly 50 legionaries and other Roman officers would be departing on a month-long trip, a trip spanning dozens of kilometres, and one that could potentially pass through hostile territory. The prospect of battle always excited the soldiers, and the increasingly agitated mood of the men inside the fort was palpable.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/80a7e983-1993-4741-86f8-a16efeef8930_zpssuxvdzvo.jpg)
Near the command tent, the general in charge of the mission was briefing the officers. "Right. So, to recap, at the crack of dawn tomorrow, we're off - we can't lose any time under the governor's schedule. Our first stop will be the garrison at Antioch, after that we loop back to Alexandria, and then visit the forces based in Jerusalem. Afterwards, we'll travel to some smaller detachments based along the frontier, then, we're back home. Any questions?"
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/73d7986a-28c6-447c-bf5a-5b8daf1a369a_zps2ifll5ai.jpg)
A junior officer piped up - "Sir, what's the plan should we encounter any hostile forces en route to our destination?". The general considered the question momentarily. "The intelligence we've gathered suggests that we won't encounter any resistance during the trip, but if we do, you all know the score. Should we be trapped by an ambush, form a defensive square, should we encounter enemy forces in the open, engage in a set-piece battle. It can't imagine any other scenarios". The officer was satisfied and nodded his head.
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The governor had attempted to keep up in the conversation earlier on and play army officer, but now contented himself in a jug of wine and some assorted berries. Perhaps too much wine. "Yes, lets give those barbarians a kicking they won't forget in a hurry, general!" the governor stammered. The general recoiled instinctively. "Yes, sir." he smiled politely. To the others, he spoke - "Alright, dismissed! Report to me at the crack of dawn tomorrow." The officers streamed out towards the barracks, as did the general, leaving the governor to his drink.
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The sun began to peek over the horizon, and the general awoke, as did the rest of the legionaries and officers. As usual, the camp was hectic with soldiers filing into the parade ground and beginning to form up. The general stepped out of his tent and observed the scene. He was having trouble adjusting his eyesight to the early morning, especially as a thin layer of sand, whipped up by a storm that occurred during the previous night settled over the campgrounds. He called out to a nearby orderly - "Torch!". The man emerged with the torch which bathed the immediate area in a warm glow.
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(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/fee89f1a-af0c-49ae-9652-c8e2a570934b_zps6s3u0nwy.jpg)
Slowly but surely the legionaries formed up into a dense column. The general was worried about the effectiveness of this formation if they were forced into a battle, but it was certainly an impressive sight, he mused.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/5c8b8766-142a-4bea-9cfb-d1c37b353673_zpsg2h9p3xu.jpg)
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/f247a50c-1e1d-4a51-8521-7f82e56f1904_zpse506p8z0.jpg)
The sun was clearly visible now and it occurred to the general that he had seen no sign of the governor. He approached a junior officer and asked if he had seen the governor emerge from his tent. "None, sir." the officer spoke with a tinge of frustration. Clearly everyone was ready to get on with the mission.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/31870b15-f431-4561-bf1d-01bd6ee98fbc_zpsjj0omc1n.jpg)
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Finally the governor emerged from his tent, bleary-eyed. "Lets get a move on, shall we?" he announced. "Yes, sir." the general replied. "Now, where is my wagon?" he asked irritably. "Uh, sir, we have prepared a horse for your travels. "A horse? Nonsense! You must have at least some form of transport apart from a horse." the governor spoke with distaste. "Well, I suppose we could organize something..."
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/4f27d5c7-b5d6-4cc2-a66f-af1e9a4e8df6_zpss89mse2r.jpg)
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/444c1336-2c2b-48b1-a14d-c1dba4446ecb_zpsshqhsvue.jpg)
Moments later, the governor returned, having removed his toga and only wearing a light tunic. The general had selected two reliable infantry-men to build a makeshift stretcher in order to carry the governor. The men did their best not to show their resentment at being appointed to the task. The officers struggled to suppress their laughter as the governor nearly fell off the makeshift construction.
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The general passed on the order to advance, and the column began to move forwards. He was aware that the detachment was already falling well behind the schedule and so he ordered the men to move at double time. He wondered what the consequences of such a delay could be. If there were enemy forces massing to meet the column, any extra time for them to prepare would give them an advantage in battle. Did the opposing forces even know about the detachment's travels? Maybe not, but in any case, the army would have to be on their guard.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/2eb525f3-2dfe-4078-9cdb-46fffa8b7ba9_zps9qglbhtj.jpg)
To be continued... :roman:
A new instalment should be posted by the end of the day, or beginning of tomorrow. :)
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That was great - love the pics in the dark, very nicely done :)
(that idiot needs Ballista in charge - he burned the noblemen's wagons ;D )
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Very nice start, I like the dramatic lighting. I'm curious what other trouble that governor will cause for the troops. :)
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That is some beautiful photography right there :) Good posing of the clickies too, very... lifelike!
I hope to read more soon.
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Incredible stuff. Looking forward to more.
I've started working on my legion again recently, you've inspired me to move forward with plans for stories etc.
One question though: is everyone in that empire left handed?
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Thank you all! New batch of photos will be up in a bit.
One question though: is everyone in that empire left handed?
I realized that as I was shooting today's pictures and was trying to think of a reasonable excuse for the left-handed tendencies of my Romans but came up with nothing. Perhaps the disciplinary measures of the Roman army are such the left-handedness is mandatory for all legionaries and officers? :lol:
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But even the governor holds his cup in his left hand. It's got to be genetic.
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Next part, here we go!
Midday
The sun had only just reached it's zenith; the legionaries were well aware that they would have to endure almost half a day under it's blistering heat, and so the column trudged on. Despite the best efforts of the officers to increase the pace of the infantry detachment, the speed at which they were travelling gradually slowed to a steady walk, rather than the brisk march that the general was hoping for in order to stay on schedule. If it wasn't for the governor... the general reflected with a trace of annoyance.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/4985f5d9-8814-4c64-b17f-34ecca859634_zpssawd526e.jpg)
Speaking of which, just before their departure, the governor had been so insistent on a wagon of some sort that the general had been forced to further delay the column's mission in order to track one down. With the help of his staff he found a very old model in storage, dusted it off, and departed the camp, with the governor in tow. The governor had been dismayed at the condition of the wagon and had been complaining non-stop since their departure, so much so that the general left to the head of the column and with a pang of guilt, had left one of his junior officers in charge of the governor's well-being.
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The general was so preoccupied that he failed to notice the column come to a halt. Snapped out of his thoughts, he glanced up and assessed the situation. Now he could see why. Up ahead was a narrow canyon, wide enough for three men at the most. He strode up to the centurion at the front of the detachment.
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The centurion saluted. "I suggest that I move forward with half the men in order to assess the conditions in the canyon, sir. I can't imagine that moving the whole army forward is a good idea without knowing the potential dangers of the area." The general considered his suggestion. "Very well, but it would be best if I joined you and your detachment; I am the commanding officer after all." he chuckled. "Yes, sir." the centurion spoke with a smile.
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The legionaries rearranged themselves to fit the dimensions of the canyon and soon the column proceeded into the narrow ravine.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/7df10261-bd1d-449e-b70b-4562809046b6_zpsbhekzzcx.jpg)
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The legionaries, acutely aware that the canyon was a near-perfect place to stage an ambush were glancing about the rock walls for any signs of enemy warriors. The general was aware of the nervous tension and was eager to get out of the gorge as soon as possible.
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The canyon gradually evened out until the column reached a large, natural rock wall right in the middle of their pathway, about half a kilometre into their scouting mission. After a quick look around the area, both the centurion and the general realized that there was no discernible exit from the gorge, and turned back, returning to the main unit. The general was frustrated at the lack of progress the detachment was making, and was well aware that the trip was falling quite behind schedule at this point. His thoughts clouded by these concerns, he and the others failed to notice a greater threat to the unit emerging behind the shelf of rock.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/a72a541d-6e04-4695-bb11-abb0d07014f3_zpsgmjw1yle.jpg)
To be continued... :roman:
The next batch of photos is ready, and a new instalment will be posted tomorrow morning!
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Egyptian shields go the other way round.
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Nice photography - I like the style.
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Nice pictures, I like how you really give the idea of heat with that lighting.
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Thanks again!
Egyptian shields go the other way round.
I know. I probably should have mentioned this, but I mean for the Egyptians to instead be middle eastern warriors of some sort (that fits better within the time in which my story is set as well as the location in which my story is set) and so flipped the shields to differentiate between the two.
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Oh right I grok you. Please carry on!
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Oh right I grok you.
ROFL.
Great pics :) Looking forward to more (I do find strange that the romans all have the same hair though..)
The way the men are looking around is very well done :) It is really amazing how some people can accomplish such things, with the movement we KNOW the klickys are capable of!
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Next part!
After recovering from the initial shock of the ambush, a quick-witted centurion at the head of the column formed his men up into a defensive position. It was a crude imitation of the formations endlessly practiced and perfected on the parade ground, but given the time for his men to react, it was passable. With no time to loose their javelins at the enemy, the front two ranks instead extended their throwing arms and pointed the weapons at the approaching warriors. It presented a prickly obstacle for the brigands, but their sheer determination to get through the Roman line proved to be just as potent. Scores of soldiers on either side were struck down and eventually it was the legionaries that began to buckle.
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The general, watching the destruction of his detachment unfold before his very eyes, turned to the closest officer. "Return to the main unit and report the situation to the officer in charge as well as the governor. Tell him to send the main column of legionaries - we need all the help we can get." the general spoke with a certain resolve, and the officer could tell he wasn't letting the unit go down without a fight. "Yes, sir!" the officer replied, before galloping back through the canyon at top speed. The general turned back to the fight at hand, preparing for his inevitable demise at the hands of the enemy, and drew his sword, striking it out at any warrior that dared to approach him.
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The Roman line began to crumble and soon the battle devolved into a series of one-on-one combats, a test of skills and strength, rather than simply a showcase for the well-honed, disciplined war machine that was the legions of Rome. The legionaries towards the rear of the column began to slowly but surely give ground, with many attempting to flee the battlefield outright.
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Arriving mere minutes after the general ordered him to report to the main column, the officer dismounted and approached the general's staff with a certain degree of dread. The governor wouldn't be happy about this delay - perhaps more than a delay; the column sent forward into the ravine could be dead already, the officer reflected with a trace of anxiety. Still, he must make his report. "Sir, the forward column was ambushed only minutes ago. The general respectfully wishes that the rest of the unit reports to the scene to address the situation." the officer spoke, hoping that his tone didn't betray his fear. He must act cool in order to cast the best impression on his superiors. The governor motioned towards the centurion at the head of the main column. "Advance into the canyon." he spoke with confidence, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along. The circumstances of the decision were understandable, so none of the officers argued with governor's choice, but still, it was unusual, to say the least, for a political figure to be acting as a military figure and giving orders as a veteran of the Roman army.
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At a brisk march, it didn't take long for the legionaries to reach the tail end of the column. Unfortunately, the legionaries attempting to flee from the detachment currently engaged in battle were confronted by the approaching main column, which resulted in somewhat of a tangle towards the rear end of the skirmish. After a few minutes, the two detachments finally met up. As the morale of the legionaries was boosted, they began to push forward, against the enemy line, which, moments ago, had been poised to break the Roman formation. Sensing a shift in numbers, the warriors fell back to the rock wall at the end of the canyon and prepared to make their final stand.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/9f4b02c0-56eb-4682-94be-07967c27c875_zpsssbue9cq.jpg)
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The legionaries advanced without remorse, bearing down on the enemy line at a measured pace, short swords bristling from between the rectangular shields unique to the legions. It was a hard fought, but quick fight. The legionaries managed to win the day simply by sheer manpower. For their adversaries, fighting with their backs to the impenetrable rock wall turned out to be an unfortunate choice as they were surrounded and unable to flee the battlefield.
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The Roman officers had thankfully been able to rein in the legionaries during the fight, noting that the capture of prisoners would be far more valuable than eliminating them entirely. The general approached a junior officer - "Any sign of the enemy commander?" he asked. "None, sir. We did just discover a narrow pathway in which the their leader could have used to escape during the heat of the battle." replied the officer. With prisoners in tow, the column marched away from the scene. As they left, the general couldn't help but feel that the battle wasn't over just yet.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/commercialaviation101/eb0089bc-429d-45ce-bdc1-daadbcdef143_zpsq43m6kna.jpg)
This might be the last instalment of the story for a while; I'm out of town for the next few weeks and won't be able to continue shooting before the beginning of August at the early. Hope you've enjoyed it so far! :)
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Its a nice story so far, looks like that governor isnt a complete fool after all. :)
I'm curious to see how the rest of their trip will go but it looks like you are going on a trip first. :P
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Great story with great photography. Looking forward to future installments.
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Wonderful story! The positions of the klickies, their arms, necks/ heads suggest movement all the time! I'm a sucker for the Romans anyway so I can't wait till the story continues! :clap: :clap:
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good work, it's action packed! 8-)
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I re-looked at the photos in this just now. Some really good work here. Really expressive images.
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:roman: 5 Stars! :roman: