The XXI Marciean legion had formed up in tight ranks about two-hundred paces from the woodline, sunlight glinting from burnished iron helms as the early morning fog burned away. Not one man of the five-thousand heavy infantry moved or made a sound….perfectly disciplined. The opposite was true of the fifteen-thousand Cerdii tribesmen massing on the hills almost a quarter mile away. They beat their shields and screamed that high pitched battle-cry that sent shivers down the spines of even brave men. Then suddenly, just as the sun peaked over the eastern mountains, the Cerdii charged en mass, barreling towards the waiting Marciean line. The legionnaires waited until the Cerdii was less than one-hundred paces and then released a storm of javelins straight into the screaming barbarians. Hundreds of men went down, dead or dying, and hundreds more tripped over the fallen, but the charge never slowed. The Cerdii slammed into the iron wall of the XXI, and ground to a halt. Chaos broke out as the auxiliary units, barbarian tribesmen and mercenaries, slammed into the Cerdii’s undefended right flank, ending the battle. The Cerdii, like all barbarian tribes, were born warriors and fighters, and although they sometimes formed large armies, they fought as individuals with each man seeking honor and personal glory. The Marcieans, on the other hand, fought in close ranks with each man defending his fellow legionnaire and working as a unit. The result was always the same; the barbarians would scream and die under the short stabbing swords that had carved an empire from the wilderness. Afterwards, Korik, having stripped off his dented and gore caked armor, stood amongst the dead littering the field. A sound made him look up at the Marciean encampment where men were busy nailing the surviving Cerdii onto crosses along the road. “Why the scowl, Northsman,” called Valtorix as he clapped Korik on the shoulder, ”you’d think we lost the fight by the way you look.” “The Cerdii aren’t much different than many of the tribes that fought with the legions today,” Korik replied, “not so different than my people.” He sheathed his sword and turned away, “Maybe we DID lose here today.”