A Bit of History
This month we are looking at not one war, but several interlinked conflicts, Caesar's Gallic Wars. This seven year long series of military campaigns stretched from 58B.C.E. to 51 B.C.E., and resulted in the Roman conquest of much of modern day France. It has the benefits of being well documented (though as Larry Gonick commented in The Cartoon History of the Universe Volume 2 Caesar not only went down in history, he wrote it as well), involves major historical figures most people have heard of (such as the big J.C. himself), involves nations that are familiar (Romans, Celts, and Germans), and has plenty of room for the type of campaign you may want to run. With regards to system, Ancient Rome is a popular era, and there are a lot of choices. Alephtar Games' BRP Rome is my go to system for historical Rome, or even ones with some slight supernatural elements (though it should be noted I have written two adventures for Alephtar about Julius Caesar in the Vini, Vidi, Vici anthology and have a Punic Wars campaign book coming out in late 2011 or early 2012). GURPS has a good Rome supplement for 3rd edition that can be adapted for 4th (I also write for Steve Jackson Games), Green Ronin's Eternal Rome for d20 3.5 is set in a later era, but can be adapted for the Gallic Wars (yeah, I have something coming out from Green Ronin later this year). There are a host of systems that do not have a specific Ancient Rome sourcebook or setting that can be used, so when planning your campaign take a look at what you want to do and choose a system you and your group are comfortable with. When I last sat down to run a Gallic Wars campaign I used the old World of Darkness from White Wolf Games, however it featured Gallic werewolves (that's right, the Gallic Garou for all you alliteration lovers out there) fighting Roman vampires.
A Brief History of the Gallic Wars
In brief, the Gallic Wars were a move on the part of the Roman Republic to gain land and secure their northern border. They were hard fought wars of conquest and assimilation, and featured some of the most brutal and imaginative violence of the ancient world. Julius Caesar (then a member of the Triumvirate that ruled Rome) was prompted by a need for power, wealth, and fame. The opportunity came when a Gallic Tribe, the Helvetii, decided to conduct a migration from their current lands towards the Atlantic Seaboard. This would require them to cross Roman territory, as well as the lands of Gallic Tribes allied to Rome. What followed was a series of short wars fought against first one, then another, and then several Gallic and Germanic tribes.
As the series of conflicts progressed and Roman intervention in the region turned grew, some of the Gallic tribes became worried about the threat of Roman domination and conquest. These united in a series of confederations, first under the Veneti in 56B.C.E, and later under the leadership of the Gallic hero Vercingetorix in 53 B.C.E. It is this final major campaign that often draws the most attention, and is the one best suited for role-playing.
At the end of the campaign, Vercingetorix was forced to take refuge in the walled city of Alesia. Caesar promptly laid siege to the city by enveloping it entirely with a fortified wall. Shortly after construction was finished on the wall, a large relief army of Gauls was reported to be heading for Alesia, and thus J.C., in a stroke of either madness or genius, built a second wall around the one he just had constructed, thus sandwiching his entire army between two enemy forces. In the end, Vercingetorix and the Gauls were defeated, and all that was left for J.C. and the Roman crew to do was mop up any remaining resistance. Gaul was now firmly in the hands of the Republic and Caesar was rich, powerful, and famous. What to do, what to do (spoiler: you cross a river).
Straight Historical
The PC’s are members of Caesar’s elite Legio IX at the start of the invasion of Gaul. They are also some of the select few legionnaires that Caesar trusts with special assignments and delicate matters. As such they are, in a sense, ‘special forces’. Need someone assassinated, send these guys. Have to have some deep recon performed in enemy territory, a fortress infiltrated to avoid a lengthy siege, secret dispatches carried, the legion’s payroll transported, or even some young headstrong senator’s daughter rescued, Caesar sends his best, Caesar sends you. Below are four adventure seeds that can form a campaign arc for your first year in Caesar's service.
A Journey into Winter: A year with Caesar on Campaign
The Spring Message
The PCs must return from Gaul to Rome with a message from Caesar to one of his political allies. The party needs to find a way across hostile territory and then slip quietly into the City. However, a traitor has already tipped off their patron’s rival, and now they face danger at every turn. Can they win through, deliver the message, and return safely through a war zone?
The Summer Meeting
Their patron has his hands full with the barbarians in front of him, and now an alliance of Gallic chieftains may form in his rear. This new alliance is composed of tribes that are old enemies, but may unite against the Roman invaders. The meeting between the chieftains is to be held on midsummer in a secret location. The PCs are sent to find and disrupt the negotiations using any means necessary, as long as they can’t be traced back to their patron.
The Autumn’s Investigation
Young Titus Falco has achieved his dream of becoming a military tribune. Sadly, his ineptitude and lack of virtue has caused him to gain many enemies amongst the men. After a particularly cold and foggy night, Titus is found strangled outside of camp. Who did this, and can the PCs find the answer before the answer finds them?
The Winter Proposal
Epona, queen of the Remi (a pro-Roman Belgic tribe) is a young and beautiful woman. Her king, Atuatchi, is an old and scarred warrior. It is well known there is no love between them, as he bought her from her father with a large bride price. Unfortunately, the J.C. has become smitten with his ally’s wife, and now plots to pursue his lust to its tragic conclusion. Towards this end, he has enlisted the PCs as messengers, go betweens, and accessories to adultery. Will they obey his demands, try to dissuade him from such foolishness, or leave his service in protest?
Werewolves and Vampires
Barring any old or new World of Darkness inspired Gallic Wars campaigns (both games have ample mythologies to draw from to produce such a game), there are many ways one can do a werewolves and vampires campaign. Werewolves are savage, feral, and tied to the wilds. Vampires are civilized, organized, and bound to their prey in the cities. Frenzied werewolves charging into cohorts of vampire minions, ripping and tearing in a battle between savage man-beast and supernaturally enhanced thralls. Gallic werewolf packs assaulting Roman field fortifications in the hopes of slaying the vampiric tribune (which would have to be at night, since that's when the fortifications are thrown up). However, there are other ways to look at this.
Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome, were suckled at the teats of a she-wolf. Italy and Greece were the homes of the Benandanti, a real world werewolf cult that fought devils and witches. Wolves are social creatures, organized into packs of related individuals. Powerful family clans dominated Rome, especially during the Republic. In fact, your clan allegiance determined much of your place in Roman society, a society that saw plenty of infighting, power plays, and violence. Sounds like werewolf activity to me. This puts your howling were-soldier in a suit of lorica hamata (Roman chainmail), arms him with a gladius and a pair of pila, and places him in the front ranks of the legion. The Gauls are dominated by their vampiric masters, creatures of the night who either act openly, or find it easier to hide amongst a scattered and less organized people. The shifting alliances, constant migrations, and vicious politics are all a result of the vampires manipulating the Gallic tribes for their own perverse desires. By working in the Benandanti you can have a secret supernatural where the heroes are regular legionnaires by day, and rampaging demon hunting werewolves by night.
Next month we look at a historical campaign in progress, the choices made during its creation and play, and how you can apply those to your own historical campaigns in CASS United. As April showers bring May flowers, the Double Sized Annual #2 will come the following month, and in addition to a review of historical RPG resources, a perennial favorite, maritime games, will return with In the Service of the Queen. Until next time, like Julius Ceasar don’t just go down in history, write your own bit of history.
