Arbiter's Comments: This is the first of a series of posts which will describe the battle which unfolds as a result of Catulus' march toward Lissus. Readers are encouraged to follow this string of posts backward and read "Illyricum: The Action Begins" (about 10 posts earlier on the "Illyricum" thread). From here, you will get a description of the terrain involved, as well as the critical action of Appius at the Drilon River which set the stage for this upcoming decisive engagement.

Now, what is going to happen here is this: There will be posts by the Arbiter describing enemy actions and battle outcomes. These outcomes will be based on orders received from each player, die rolls, and application of the new Land Combat Results Table. All this will be overlaid with the sound military judgement and impartial yet keen analysis of the Arbiter. Once each phase of the battle is reported upon, the Roman side will make a post describing the aftermath from his perspective, then issuing orders for the next phase of battle. The whole process will play out over several days IRL, and take maybe three or four posts.

We will begin with this description of the Illyrian Cavalry Praefect as he attempts to flank the Roman forces emerging from the pass. This post will be followed by a battle results post. At that point, Catulus will be free to describe the action from his perspective, issue modified orders, and the next phase of the process will begin.

Now, if you don't care about the mechanics, just sit back and enjoy reading about a bloody good battle!

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ILLYRICUM, IANUARIUS 644 AUC, NORTHEAST OF NYMPHAEUM.

Pastitsio Souvlakios, Prafect of the Illyrian cavalry, saw one last chance to blunt the Roman advance out of the narrow pass from which they were emerging. The Romans had achieved a considerable element of surprise, emerging from the pass far sooner than anyone in the Illyrian command tent could have imagined possible. They had, however, done so at the expense of maintaining their superior numbers. They also, being foreigners, might have misread some key features of the home terrain of the Illyrians.

Consulting with King Trahale, Souvlakios made this proposal as he gestured to the map spread out before them. "Majesty, these Romans have ridden double on cavalry mounts in order to steal this march on us. That will have taken a toll on their horse; ours are still fresh. Also, look here. The Romans have split their cavalry, arraying half their horse on either side of the flanks of their legionary cohorts. That is a good move, a conservative and sound tactic...but Sire, look at the terrain! They are protecting their left flank with half their horse, and the river already does that for them! We likewise have arrayed our infantry so that phalanx spearmen secure our right flank up to the banks of the water. They are protecting themselves against an action along the river's bank which we know we cannot take, and they, if they would charge with their horse along that bank, would face a wall of Illyrian spears...any fool knows that such a matchup would end very badly for the horsemen!"

Recognition quickly spread across the King's face. "So, Souvlakios, what you are saying is to use our cavalry, all of them, to strike here, on their right flank?"

"Precisely, Majesty! Our entire force, over three thousand strong, are already camped here, just to the southwest of your lines. The Romans took us by surprise, and we didn't have time to deploy in a standard formation to match theirs, so all of our horse are here in this lop-sided arrangement! They are already mounted. Say but the word, dread King, and we will attack!"

"You won't have support from our slingers. I can't get them there in time to assist you."

"Do not the Romans have a saying, 'Fortuna favors the Bold?' Let us do this thing, Sire. Bring the hoplites and slingers forward when you think best in order to pin their infantry in place. If we break through their horse, we will turn their flank and force them onto your phalanx's spears!"

"And if not, Praefect?"

"Why then," Souvlakios said as he produced a coin from his purse. "I'll see you on the far banks of the Styx!" He then laughed as he placed the coin under his tongue.

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Arbiter's comments: The next post will describe the action of this cavalry clash. Following that, Catulus is free to post his counter-actions.