Artorius, despite his Roman title, hailed from a long line of Britannian nobility with his family having faithfully served the Empire for three generations. The game had woven an intricate backstory for this NPC, imbuing him with a deep-seated commitment to safeguard the people of Britannia.
In a daring and unexpected move, Artorius chose to forego a passive defense behind the walls and instead led his legion of 5,000 Roman soldiers onto the open fields outside the wall. This strategic decision was made to buy precious time for the civilian population to seek refuge behind the protective walls of the Roman fortifications.
Standing in opposition to Artorius and his Roman forces were the combined might of the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. Their numbers were formidable, totaling 20,000 invaders who had crossed the treacherous seas with a fierce determination to conquer Britannia.
Although they were outnumbered, the Roman soldiers were impressively outfitted with complete armor, gladius swords, javelins, and robust tower shields. Furthermore, the Romans held a substantial edge in their organizational structure and disciplined approach to battle. They were divided into ten highly ordered cohorts, with each cohort comprising 480 legionnaires standing closely side by side, establishing an impervious defensive formation.
Adding to the Roman Legion's number were the newly formed auxiliaries, comprised of players from the Paris server. These 1,000 players had been carefully integrated into the Roman ranks, and divided into three distinct units. Two infantry cohorts and one cavalry unit stood ready for the forthcoming battle, awaiting the orders of their commander.
As the tension on the battlefield reached its zenith, the air was filled with the deafening war cries of the barbarian forces. They were resolute as they charged forward into the field.
The Roman legionaries stood in perfect formation, their shields raised high, creating an unassailable wall against the raining arrows of the barbarians.
With a commanding voice, Artorius issued the order and the legionaries acted swiftly, lowering their shields for a brief moment to hurl their javelins at the oncoming barbarians. The sky was filled with projectiles, and screams of the charging barbarians filled the air as the Roman javelins found their marks, killing hundreds before the legionaries closed their shields once more.
The collision of the two forces was like an earthquake, the thunderous sound of clashing steel and the anguished cries of those caught in the deadly melee. Wood splintered, and men were crushed in the merciless exchange.
"Hold!! Hold the line!!"
The battlefield evolved into a grueling test of endurance. Both sides relentlessly pushed and shoved, slashing through any gaps they could find with their weapons. This brutal dance continued for hours, and dozens of warriors fell with each passing minute.
With unwavering discipline and determination, the Romans held their line. Their shield wall served as a sanctuary against the deadly onslaught.
As the barrage abated, Artorius, recognizing the pivotal moment, shouted the order with unyielding resolve. "Push! Push them back!"
The disciplined Roman legionaries redoubled their efforts, and with a collective surge of strength, they began to drive back the barbarian horde. The momentum shifted, and the barbarians, their resolve weakened, were forced to yield ground. Finally, the Romans demonstrated their formidable strength and cohesion as they broke through the barbarian lines.
Hundreds of Saxons, Angles, and Jutes panicked and turned to flee from the battlefield. It was a moment of desperation and chaos.
At this juncture, Captain Thierry, the commander of the French military forces, blew his horn, signaling the initiation of the battle's subsequent phase. On the flanks, the French units of players, exceeding a thousand in number, charged swiftly toward the retreating barbarians.
It was evident that the French captain's tactics aimed to minimize player losses while maximizing their gains. The enemy's withdrawal marked the point in the battle when most of the casualties took place, and the French captain had skillfully leveraged this moment.
[You have killed a Saxon Warrior]
[You gained 250 XP and 125 survival points]
The notifications popped up for the players as they engaged in a brutal bloodbath. Each player from the Paris server managed to eliminate multiple barbarians before some withdrew into the protective cover of the forest.
"Stop! Do not enter!" commanded the captain as he pulled the players back to the rear lines of the Roman formation. He then approached the French noble, Axel, and delivered the news, "Mister Axel, it's done."
"Good. Continue with the second phase," Axel responded, his plans moving forward in the unfolding battle.
The captain approached Artorius with a sense of urgency. "Lord Artorius, the barbarians have flanked us toward Cromwell. We should hurry and save the town"
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the considerable distance, and the limited number of riders available, Artorius made a quick decision. He called upon all the riders at his disposal, even summoning half of his knights to join the effort.
"We will accompany you!" the French captain affirmed, rallying the players who had horses to join the rescue mission.
In a matter of minutes, a group of 400 riders comprising Roman cavalry and players sped toward the village, hoping to arrive in time to prevent further tragedy. However, upon their arrival, the scene they encountered was grim: the village, once home to a few thousand inhabitants, had been brutally massacred.
"Those savages!! They are going to pay!!" Artorius roared in anger, summoning his knights to pursue the raiders. They charged into the woods in hot pursuit. But to their astonishment, the culprits they found were not the expected barbarians; instead, they were a group of players who had supported the barbarians.
More than 500 players from the Cairo server had set up an ambush against them. Artorius still in rage and confident in their advantage of being on horseback, prepared to meet them head-on.
As the clash began, Artorius was taken aback by an unexpected turn of events. Half of his cavalry, the French players on horseback, suddenly retreated from the battle.
"Why are you leaving!!"
At the same time, a well-coordinated volley of firearms took a toll on the knights, causing many of them to fall from their horses. Following the initial volley, Egypt's veteran and elite fighters sprang into action, eager to claim their rewards.
[You have killed a Roman Centurion]
[You gained 400 XP and 200 survival points]
[You successfully killed a champion knight - Sir Gawain]
[You gained 1000 XP, 500 survival points, and 1x E-rank reward]
The Roman knights, trapped and outnumbered, fell one by one. Even Artorius himself was struck by a bullet and tumbled from his horse.
"Do not falter! Fight on!"
