"Brennus, this crossing will cost us."

"Nonesense! The bridge is almost completed. Our men will be on their way by nightfall."

"And what of the Latobrigii?"

"Don't worry about the Latobrigii. We've got a handful of them as captives. They mean us no harm. They know we seek to pass through."

"Brennus, reports have come in from the scouts. The Latobrigii intend to contest the crossing. The Leucii and Nemetes have joined them as well. This won't be a walk through the park."

Brennus slammed his fist onto the makeshift table, shattering it's legs. The map, positioned on the table caught the wind and left the tent. Brennus took his sword gingerly from the scrap wood, and slung it on his side, before storming out of the camp. Making his way through the camp, he found the chief engineer, responsible for the construction of the bridge across the Rhine. "Dema, your men will be under fire from the far bank as soon as the bastards across the river can hit you. You're going to need shields."

"As it is we're already stretched thin. The engineers won't like this."

"I don't care whether they like it, I care whether they can get the job done."

"I don't see how. If they have soldiers waiting for us, they can simply destroy the foundations of the bridge before we can make the bridge traversible."

"What if we secured a landing for you? A handful of soldiers cross in the night on rowboats, hold the landing site, and you finish the bridge."

"We would need hours."

"I'll get two Korja across the river, and you will have the bridge done in an hour after that point."

"An hour? With all respect, Brennus, we are engineers, not magic-makers. You'd better get the druids for an act like that."

"I don't ask much of you, Dema. Just be ready, tomorrow is the night."

"The wood is all ready, Lord. Just give the order."

"Thank you Dema. The gods will sing your praises soon enough."

The Next Night, the Crossing of the Rhine

In the dead of night, illuminated only by the moon, 50 small boats were shoved off into the muddy banks of the mighty Rhine. Dipping paddles gingerly into the water, the soldiers of Brennus crossed the Rhine. "Do you think they're waiting for us?" whispered Amban, one of the prestigious members of the Korjo Kourak, to his commanding officer, by the name of Komrigo. Komrigo didn't respond, however, only looking towards the shore, scanning for opponents.

As the boats neared the shoreline, the men began to make out faint lights in the distance, the camps of the opposing warriors, no doubt. "Komrigo, we're almost there, be ready to give the orders."

"I don't like this. It's too quiet. You'd think they'd have sentries of some kind. Amban, do you see anyone?"

"The moon is full, they're probably too busy getting drunk."

"Aye, but keep your eyes sharp."

"Will do, Kom-Agh!"

Just then, a barrage of projectiles whizzed through the air, all aimed at the helpless men rowing ashore. Onward the men rowed, through the stinging bite of stones, arrows, and spears. The shoreline erupted into flame, as the warriors of the Latobrigii ignited their torches. A thunderous battlecry froze Brennus' men to the core. Komrigo stood, raising his shield above his head, and shouted in response, "For Brennus! For Glory! Onwards!" before leaping from his boat, wading through the waist-deep water to the shore. His men, stunned briefly, knew not what to do, before the horns sounded and the men followed suit. Soon enough, Komrigo was shoulder-to-shoulder with comrades, approached the Latobrigii army with the force of a hammer against soft copper.

"Fan out and protect the landing! The engineers need to finish the bridge!" Komrigo ordered, as his men dredged themselves from the muddy banks. The Latobrigii had begun assaulting Komrigo's Korjo with chariots, still preferring to engage from range. The Korja locked shields, and deflected what projectiles they could, buying the engineers time.

The Latobrigii let out yet another battlecry, echoing across the river. With a thunderous stampede, the army broke rank and assaulted Komrigo. Valiant and steadfast, his men held, but their position was untenable. The mud made it very difficult to stand, and men in the ranks behind the front were not able to support their comrades, instead only holding them upright.

The engineers scrambled, dropping the two main support logs into the soft mud, and clambered to lay planks across the gap. On the close side of the river, standing nervously, was Brennus and his chariots. Once secured, his cavalry would cross the river and chase off the Latobrigii, hopefully ending the conflict for the night. "How much longer, Dema? I told you one hour"

"Just a little longer, Brennus. 5 minutes at the most."

"Make that two. Our men are dying across the river there. That blood is on your hands."

"Brennus, I am trying. We can only work so fast, if you want to be able to cross safely."

The Latobrigii battered the remaining soldiers across the river, with Komrigo desperately trying to keep his soldiers upright and fighting.

"Komrigo, it's been a pleasure serving you. I know not how to repay you."

"In the next life, friend. In the next life."

A Latobrigii leaped onto Komrigo, plunging a dagger into his shoulder. Writhing in the mud, Komrigo shattered his opponent's skull with his fist. Clambering to his feet, he found himself surrounded, with his comrades all dead at his feet. The Latobrigii were ready to take him to the afterlife, but he was determined to take a few with him. Raising his sword, grimacing through the pain of the dagger still embedded in his shoulder, Komrigo collapsed. As his soul escaped him, taking him to the afterlife, he heard the thunder of hooves crossing the bridge. He had accomplished his mission, and brought glory upon his people.

The Rhine was conquered, and the Latobrigii brought to terms. Inspired by Brennus' display of power, overcoming the Rhine and Latobrigii both, they willingly submitted to his strength. Naming him Rix Taros Avon, the King from across the River, alongside his men they marched. So too, did the Nemetes, Sequanii, and Leucii. Rix Brennus they called him, though no true Rix was he.

Onwards these men marched, through the wild and foreign lands dominated by unfamiliar tongues. Flanked by great mountains to the south, the men marched onwards.

Brennus found himself abruptly obstructed, as his men reached ever Eastwards. Not by mountains, or a river, or by a great wall, but by men. To the North, strange men speaking a similar tongue once more. Some bore the same names as Brennus' men, and others claiming ancestry from Gaulish tribes such as the Bituriges, Arverni, or others. These men, surely, would be reasonable. A show of strength or magnificence will win these familiar foreigners over, and passage will be afforded. Surely.

Map of the March of Brennus

The Conthoths of old in Gaul still remain, of those who did not join Brennus. Much like in their early days, these tribes constantly bicker and fight, with no end in sight.