Training sequence: Legionaries hurl their pila at hay bale targets, and prepare to charge in with drawn gladii.

Second rank looses pila. The third rank holds theirs in reserve.

Take that! Gaius Darius Valerianus (Gil Whitley) buries his gladius hilt-deep in alfalfa. The vigorous, two-day training regimen prepared us for the "real" battle on the third.

Drusus Caelius Salto (Doug Kihn) makes sure his bale is good and dead. Behind, Varus Veneus Traiianus (Trevor Magson).

Taking it easy in the shade, after a goodly day's training.

Archers, loose! Drusus and Gaius Manlius Magnus (Caius Man) portray auxiliary archers.

T. Flavius Crispus (Dave Michaels) portrayed Centurio for the shoot. He's a newly promoted Centurio, obviously, since he's still wearing his legionary kit and has no greaves of yet.

Our Vexillator Julius Germanicus Avisianus (J.D. Feigelson), proudly displays the unit's vexillum.

More training, in armor this time. We learn to move formations in tactical blocks, representing centuries and maniples.

Learning to keep the formation tight while on the move...

Our first attempt at forming a testudo. A little rough, but practice...

....makes...

...um, nearly perfect.

Training over for now, Centurio declares his men fit for battle.

The Conquest team grabs some shade while Peter Woodward goes over the next shot.

Traiianus (center) can't wait to get into the fight! Little did he know he'd "die" in battle as a Roman, only to be reborn as a barbarian!

Battle day! Formed into three ranks, the assault forces marches down the hill.

Ad scutum, clina! A smart turn to the left.

Peter addresses the assembled ranks prior to the attack.

Another view of Peter's address.

A Peter Connolly-esque shot of Centurio at laxate.

The front rank was composed of the six-man Conquest "team," including Legio VI's own Gil Whitley (at far end), wearing expendable Museum Replicas gear purchased for the shoot.

Huzzah! Legionaries display their readiness to attack for the cameras.

The Barbarian Horde, another Conquest team plus members of Queen Mebd's Encampment, work themselves into a pre-battle frenzy.

On second thought, maybe that Celtic afterlife isn't so great after all...

Pilae parrati! The assault formation prepares to unleash a barrage of pila...

Volley fire by ranks...

Attacking legionaries clear the ranks of haybales, used as simulated enemies for the pila volley. Beyond, the "real" barbs await.

Legionaries advance under fire, through a hail of darts and spears.

The Roman front rank engages the barbarian line in perfect fighting position, swords drawn, shields forward, left leg forward. In the foreground is Quietus Germanicus (Jeff Lutz, also a member of Legio X Fretensis in Northern CA).

The front line makes contact, shoving the enemy back with shields and thrusting with gladii.

Wham! A front-rank legionary takes a tremendous blow to the shield as the lines collide.

Breakthrough! The right side of the barbarian line begins to collapse. Suddenly, Centurio and two other legionaries are behind enemy lines!

Smash! Aulus Virgilius (Adrian Ross-Jones) takes a heavy blow to his shield, while Centurio's scutum is knocked back into his helmet, "ringing his bell" good!

Aulus sets up his barbarian foe for a classic Roman gut thrust.

How to Defend Against Barbarian Attack, Part I...

...and Part II. Several days of battle left us with a great appreciation for the protective qualities of the Roman scutum!

Meanwhile, Centurio has his hands full with Mr. Vicious Falx Man!

OOPS! Well, that'll teach 'em to ring Centurio's bell...*

Meanwhile, the main battle line keeps its position, rear ranks pushing into contact with the crumbling enemy lines, gladii constantly thrusting. Peter Woodward describes this as a "Roman mincing machine."

The enemy ranks face flank attack as the breakthrough group turns on the remaining line. The field is littered with enemy dead, and a few Romans...

Run, barbie, run! Knowing they're beaten, the Barbarians break and flee the field.

Percute! (Attack!). Centurio forms up the attack column for pursuit.

OK, everyone's alive again. We congratulate our proud foes for a good fight.

The face of battle. The blood's real, of course. But you should see the other guy...

Between takes, Magnus and Darius chow down. That armor's getting pretty hot right about now...

Traiianus relaxes in the shade, and gets to know the pretty P.A...

"...and then the next thing I knew, I was dead, and I saw this bright light at the end of a tunnel..."

Da man's chair and script.

All right, enough lying about... Peter's waiting!

"Dead" Legio VI legionaries come back as barbarians. From left, Traiianus, Drusus, and Postumus Scaevola (Ron Glass).

In the next scenario, the barbarians man a "hillfort" in anticipation of a Roman attack.

The assault column moves toward the hillfort...

Coming under fire, the column quickly forms a testudo and resumes the attack. Thank the gods for all that training!

The assualt testudo approaches the hillfort...

Rear view of the assault testudo. Moving forward under fire, over broken ground proved tough, but doable.

A hard day's shooting half over, Peter joins his Roman friends for a group shot.

Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis gathers around its newest member, Peter Woodward, star of "Conquest!"