42. The Republic
March 23rd Zethos was already marching in the opposite direction. The town of Ferrandina had surrendered peacefully, but the church and cathedral were looted for his army, 15,000 solidi, despite this no taxes were required of the newly captured settlement, but he marched from the town back north in the direction of Grottole. With 58,000 solidi he was well provisioned to continue his campaign in Lucania, marching back upwards to Grottole. It was slow work, and he was worried about ambuscades taking care to avoid them, having at least nominally taken the town of Ferrandina, but at the least taking the church wealth so that his army had more funds. His extra mace-men were interspersed to prevent disloyal actors, marching back to recently taken territory, there was peace at least for a bit.
The Republic itself continued to grow its wealth, Kwame’s seeming holy order was a problem, but at the same time it was in fact an expansion of military power. Demetra’s spies had spotted ‘the Shadows,’ but what they would do was unclear. The markets love of indigo and cloves encouraged more production, indigo, cloves, saffron powder and myrrh; 7850 litrai of indigo, 3150 litrai of cloves, 6280 litrai of saffron and 3150 litrai of myrrh; 186,000 solidi entered the treasury, and the state made sure to invest sufficiently in the new provinces. The real loyalty engine of the Republic was the engine of trade that could finance the armies and investment. Still the army and the now the clergy were not necessarily disloyal as much as they were self interested, with over half a million in solidi (506,000 solidi to be exact) Adaneus looked at the map and wondered aloud.
“Perhaps we could simply raise another army and take the lot,” Adaneus pondered.
“We will have many disloyal citizens,” Butros said, “if we do it that way there is bound to be revolt, plus there is already a Catholic coalition inbound, I would rather our military doesn’t overextend before it arrives.”
“I wonder if it’s ok to leave Kwame,” Adaneus said, “he has been here since the very beginning, and now…”
The atmosphere was pensive, he looked at the two of them, his wife and his closest adviser.
“Have I ever told you how the crystal making process can be passed down?” He said.
“It can be passed down?” Butros said most interested.
Demetra was likewise interested, keenly looking at him as he described the most mystical of things.
“Magec allows me to nominate a successor, they will gain the right to make the crystals like I have,” he said.
“It often entered my head, what would happen to the Republic if you died,” Butros said.
“I likewise thought about this,” Demetra said.
“If I left behind much salt and fish production, it would not matter so much,” Adaneus said, “but it is inheritable, not necessarily through blood lines, but by divine will. Magec could take it away from me.”
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“Thank you for telling me this,” Butros said, “what do you think is happening in the Republic right now?”
“It has three factions,” Demetra said, “that is the reality right now.”
Demetra didn’t have to spell it out for Butros and Adaneus knew exactly what she was on about.
March 24th, Barletta had been fortified, Andria likewise had been fortified with 1000 extra soldiers. Gocelin did not move anywhere, instead drilling his newly enlarged army, he thought about taking Andria, but first wanted to make sure the new reinforcements would be cohesive.
“I appreciate the Republic’s reinforcements, but it is frustrating how long I have to wait.”
“We will soon besiege Andria lad,” Thorphinius said.
March 25th evening, Zethos was one day on his way to the town of Grassano. Marching over hilly terrain, and observing the mostly peaceful countryside. It was a lull, but it was deceptive, a storm was brewing and Zethos didn’t quite know what to expect.
March 25th agents of ‘The Shadows’ had entered the town of Ruvo Di Puglia, some through the gates as normal travellers, others in the middle of the night, as the night approached, the Shadows threw knives and axes at the guards standing guard, the gates burst open and the agents burst in, running and riding through the settlement.
“The Gods have come!” One man shouted.
Troops attempted to mobilise, but had knives in the head surgically placed through throwing arms. Carts trundled in and shouts were heard. In urban warfare, ‘the Shadows’ were kings, throwing weapons into the soft spots of enemies, even with shields they found a dagger in the heart.
“For Helios! For Hermes and Artemis!” A man shouted.
Soon enough the town capitulated, the local garrison commander tied up and negotiating the surrender of the town.
I didn’t see any bolt shooters, any armies, suddenly like a curse befell me, the town was erupting in cries.
Flags of the Republic suddenly were put on all the most important landmarks, the flag of the Shadows still in Kwame’s head was not raised, but the potency of the assault group had been proven. 100 Norman casualties from a surreptitious surprise attack that had captured the town in the dead of night. Kwame would not hear of the success but Sauromates was there. Riding into a captured town. He brought the new flag, a sun, a moon, a star, arrows, a knife, wings of Hermes on a boot; it was a complicated flag so there was only one brought but the Shadows had won the day.
“The gods have triumphed today!” Sauromates said to a sleeping town, “the history of Italy will have changed completely! Join the Shadows today, for we will liberate every town in Italy! The promise of no taxation, of not clerical tyranny is now! A life where the peasant is free!”
The other Shadows lifted their spears, axes or knives in the air to celebrate the taking of the town, the locals were astonished, for the rumours had said different things, but this was like a chess piece moving by itself with no warning.
March 26th early morning. Gocelin marched to take the town of Andria, finally taking his army out of rest to take the Norman town. 4500 glaive-men, 2000 boltshooters (which were 6000 technicians) and 1000 mace-men. The siege lines were prepared, the army shouting at the garrison to surrender, and the soldiers lifting their weapons before entering a dramatic quiet. Gocelin looked at the city, before one of Demetra’s spies rushed to him.
“Ruvo Di Puglia and Bitonto have fallen to the Shadows!” The woman spy said half exasperated. “The Shadows?” Gocelin asked a little bit bewildered. What the fuck is that.
Gocelin shrugged, waiting for further clarification.
“They are the agents of Kwame, the religious minister, he has a holy order, and he has taken two towns, as commander in the field I thought you should have the information to act accordingly.” “They are still the loyal to the Republic?” Gocelin asked.
“Yes, they are still loyal,” the spy said, “but the situation is still dangerous.”
“I see, thank you for the information.”
The sunny morning, Gocelin stared at the walls of Andria and wondered about the situation he was going to find himself in.
Kwame? I question my loyalty sometimes, but this guy makes a religious order and just takes towns? Adaneus what is happening? And what are you going to do about it?
