Silver Rusher
11-27-2004, 09:59
*A story loosely based around RTW*
I am sorry if this takes a long time, and I am also sorry if it seems rushed. You must know everything that happens in the prologue for the later stuff to make sense.
Prologue
The Kingdom of Armenia flourished under Artaxias' rule. Farms were cunningly built in very efficient places, like in the large gaps between the endless mountains for example. Baths and Sewers were built across the cities. All the gold to be had was mined out of Kotais, and shipped across trade as far as Carthage with other spices and exotic goods. It was truly paradise, and agree did many of the merchants who came. A perfect kingdom it was.
The people of Armenia were happy to live there. Civil strife never once broke out under the rule of Artaxias. The Kingdom grew a large military force also, soon becoming on of the mightiest in the known land. Even their allies, the Pontics shivered to hear the sound of the Armenian army's name.
The Turquoise Horde...
In this paradise of a kingdom, a second heir was born. The second heir to the throne of Armenia. Rusa was the heir, and the newborn Aramu was his little brother. In this great land he grew up slowly, to be a great warrior, a great thinker... a great tactitian. He faced off with his 16 year old brother Rusa with blunt wooden swords and still he won. He was a uniquely talented boy. When he reached the age of six, he was called into the Royal Chamber of his father.
"Son, you are amazing. You fight so gracefully, think so marvellously. And all at your age." He smiled, "You'll make a great king one day, yes you will. You will take this land and turn it into an empire. And as you grow older, I want you to have this. Hold out your hands."
The king reached within the pocket of his robe and pulled out a pendant. The string was made with diamond and the pendant itself was beautiful. It had a gold outer rim with a ruby in the middle, made into the shape of a sun.
"Every prince of Armenia has one. I have one," he said, pulling out a horse shaped pendant with a gold outer rim and an emerald imbued in the centre. "These will show people who you really are, and how they should really respect you."
"Thank you, father." And so the little prince left.
The King and his two Princes grew older over time, yes. Aramu continued to get better at thinking and fighting, and became a fit, agile boy by the age of 14. His skill was unmatched among any Armenian man under the age of 20. He became very proud of himself. And so he grew, until the next year the special day in his life came. He was to come of age.
He was brought into the grand palace hall, were priest and peasant alike gathered for the ceremony. It was a tremendous day, there was plenty of dancing, music and eating going on afterwards. When the new prince Aramu came of age, everybody was happy to hear it. The night lasted for a long while, and when the prince's crown was finally placed upon Aramu's head, he felt a surge of power which seemed to drown out the large screaming in his head.
But the King was growing old at the same time. And as he grew old he grew greedy. The neighbouring kingdom of Atropatene was a tempting target, as their army was weak and their lands rich.
So a year later he sent Aramu on an invasion of Atropatene, with a sizeable force of around 500 loyal and well trained soldiers. The march took a few weeks, and they soon arrived at the city of Phraaspa. There was no fighting to be done, as seeing the Armenians over the hill the soldiers within the town immediately surrendered.
Read on in chapter 1, coming soon.
I am sorry if this takes a long time, and I am also sorry if it seems rushed. You must know everything that happens in the prologue for the later stuff to make sense.
Prologue
The Kingdom of Armenia flourished under Artaxias' rule. Farms were cunningly built in very efficient places, like in the large gaps between the endless mountains for example. Baths and Sewers were built across the cities. All the gold to be had was mined out of Kotais, and shipped across trade as far as Carthage with other spices and exotic goods. It was truly paradise, and agree did many of the merchants who came. A perfect kingdom it was.
The people of Armenia were happy to live there. Civil strife never once broke out under the rule of Artaxias. The Kingdom grew a large military force also, soon becoming on of the mightiest in the known land. Even their allies, the Pontics shivered to hear the sound of the Armenian army's name.
The Turquoise Horde...
In this paradise of a kingdom, a second heir was born. The second heir to the throne of Armenia. Rusa was the heir, and the newborn Aramu was his little brother. In this great land he grew up slowly, to be a great warrior, a great thinker... a great tactitian. He faced off with his 16 year old brother Rusa with blunt wooden swords and still he won. He was a uniquely talented boy. When he reached the age of six, he was called into the Royal Chamber of his father.
"Son, you are amazing. You fight so gracefully, think so marvellously. And all at your age." He smiled, "You'll make a great king one day, yes you will. You will take this land and turn it into an empire. And as you grow older, I want you to have this. Hold out your hands."
The king reached within the pocket of his robe and pulled out a pendant. The string was made with diamond and the pendant itself was beautiful. It had a gold outer rim with a ruby in the middle, made into the shape of a sun.
"Every prince of Armenia has one. I have one," he said, pulling out a horse shaped pendant with a gold outer rim and an emerald imbued in the centre. "These will show people who you really are, and how they should really respect you."
"Thank you, father." And so the little prince left.
The King and his two Princes grew older over time, yes. Aramu continued to get better at thinking and fighting, and became a fit, agile boy by the age of 14. His skill was unmatched among any Armenian man under the age of 20. He became very proud of himself. And so he grew, until the next year the special day in his life came. He was to come of age.
He was brought into the grand palace hall, were priest and peasant alike gathered for the ceremony. It was a tremendous day, there was plenty of dancing, music and eating going on afterwards. When the new prince Aramu came of age, everybody was happy to hear it. The night lasted for a long while, and when the prince's crown was finally placed upon Aramu's head, he felt a surge of power which seemed to drown out the large screaming in his head.
But the King was growing old at the same time. And as he grew old he grew greedy. The neighbouring kingdom of Atropatene was a tempting target, as their army was weak and their lands rich.
So a year later he sent Aramu on an invasion of Atropatene, with a sizeable force of around 500 loyal and well trained soldiers. The march took a few weeks, and they soon arrived at the city of Phraaspa. There was no fighting to be done, as seeing the Armenians over the hill the soldiers within the town immediately surrendered.
Read on in chapter 1, coming soon.