The Battle of the Lakonian Plains : Blood in the Sand Campaign

Following his ignominious defeat in Lycia Consul Martinus of the fledgling Romanus State was forced to return home empty handed. On the depressing voyage across the Aegean Sea he sailed close to a number of islands which showed little promise of future plunder or expansion. However, as his small fleet sailed around the coast of what he believed to be the mainland he spied land where inland from the flat plains the land seems fertile and actively farmed. The men working the land appeared not in the least warlike and submissive. On his return home he was lucky to escape with his neck having squandered much of the finances he had been given for the previous expedition. Using less than subtle methods he persuaded the state leaders to permit him to lead another expedition to the area he had seen. The following year his ships set sail stopping first in the north where he was able to persuade a tribe of  fierce Galician horsemen to join his force this on the promise of easy pickings and plunder. His growing force then set sail for the south and the land he had seen. Due to bad weather and storms the ships carrying the Galician horsemen was separated from the main force. But no matter Consul Martinus would land anyway and hope the Mercenaries would arrive to support his invasion.

As his ships turned the last promontory he saw an ominous statue looking out to sea, somehow he hadn’t seen this the year before. The beach seemed eerily quiet as he disembarked his forces but he had a sense he was being watched.

Amongst the low hills that surrounded the beach King Anaxander of Lakonia watched in silence, his scouts had warned him that the invasion force would be arriving and he had hurriedly pulled together a force to prevent the invasion. Uncertain of the size and nature of the enemy he had called in support from local city states and nearby tribal horsemen. No matter the size of the enemy he knew his small core of Lakonian troops would rather die here on the battlefield than suffer the disgrace of defeat. After all his wife had told him to “come back with his shield or on it”. It would be his greatest honour to die this day in battle  HA-OOH

Those of a delicate historical nature should avoid this Blood in the Sand battle or they may suffer a nose bleed or other ill effects. But rest assured no elephants will hurt during the battle 🙁