The long and the short of the story is: the Aquilonians (look and dress like Romans) cross into Pict (Germania) territory in order to expand their empire.<br/><br/>The Pictish tribes unite under a single banner and massacre the Aquilonians, driving them back across the Thunder (Rhine) River.<br/><br/>All the fighting takes place in the dark forests.  The Picts are the masters of their element, and the fight is very one-sided.<br/><br/>I'm sure Howard had this battle in mind when he wrote the story.<br/><br/>