the suddenness of defeat

The armies of Carthage and Syracuse glared at each other across the heath, while in the background the waves crashed ceaselessly on the shore. Both sides had hastened towards their foe after the Carthaginian landing, each hoping to reach and either cross or dig in behind the small creek that led down to the shore. But in the event, both armies had reached a similar distance from its broad stream at about the same time, and now scouts sought warily for a suitable crossing point while the armies held back from committing.

Carthage threw forward its light horse in the end, driving to find a ford before the Sicilians could line the river bank. Content to find a good defensive position for their main force, the Syracusans edged their foot and stone throwers forward while the horse on their right pounded forward to gain and hold the flank over the advancing Punic foot.

The Syracusan commander has dispatched spies to watch the approaching Bruttian force and warn when these allies of the Carthaginians might be close to the battlefield. But apparently his scouts had been spotted and cut down by the Bruttians, as their contingent swung over a hill an onto the battlefield at the most inopportune time possible. Racing over the crest, they surrounded and cut down the Syracusan light horse. Caught by surprise, the Tyrant wheeled his cavalry piecemeal and sought to drive off the cavalry and light foot sent by his Neapolitan rivals.

But it was the brown, pink, and vanilla horde that triumphed. Falling back before the charge of the Italian horse, they drew their enemy into a deadly trap, and after a short hand to hand struggle, the Syrcusan general was unhorsed and slain.

Without even letting loose a bolt from their ballistas at the Punic invaders, the army of Syracuse turned tail and beat a careful, methodical retreat. Agrigentum now belonged to Carthage!

Final result: 0+2G to 0. Bruttia gets 4 prestige points (2 for kills, 2 for the general). Carthage captures Agrigentum. Syracuse loses 1 Cv, 1 LH, and two other elements for losing its general.

New map to be posted this weekend.