The Galloping Thousand: A Pahlava Migration Short AAR

[Molinaargh]

Difficulty: VH/M
Description: This AAR starts in 236 BC, when I got tired of fighting Seleukid and Baktrian stacks in my Pahlava campaign. I wanted to finish the campaign somehow and so this AAR was born.


The Galloping Thousand
A Pahlava Migration Short AAR


https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2069/96887377.jpg

Scene 1 - Dismounting Cowards

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7567/darmansmall.jpg And why would you need one thousand horses?

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg For one thousand men to become warriors.

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7567/darmansmall.jpg I would appreciate the reinforcements, but my men need them now more than ever. Could you believe they abandoned their posts in Arbela without my authorization? The Seleukids will find an empty city!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg The city this, the city that! It's always about hiding behind the walls for you and Tirdåd! We should empty them all!

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7567/darmansmall.jpg What?

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Tell me, Dårmån, how many cowards did your army consist of?

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7567/darmansmall.jpg Three hundred, four... Around one thousand and four hundred. But the Dahåën are no cowards and we will still fight!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg No. Oh, no. The Dahåën army is now dissolved. I want all horses and equipment ready for next week, and I want your cowards far from Babylon.

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7567/darmansmall.jpg What are you talking about? Tirdåd wouldn't allow that!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Tirdåd is dying in Baktria, he won't mind. Besides, those horses deserve to gallop away, don't you think? Beyond the walls of Seleukeia. I'll put them to good use.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4076/ariyahakhasmall.jpg We are going to enter the heart of Arche Seleukeia: Antioch, perhaps even Asia Minor!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg And who told you that, Äriyåhakhå?

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4076/ariyahakhasmall.jpg I just assumed, as they are our enemies...

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg No! These cities are our enemies! This corruption! We won't let Tirdåd turn our peoples into Hellenes!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg We will gallop west and let the distance make us forget the way back.

[Molinaargh]

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7763/thousand.jpg

Characters

https://img39.imageshack.us/img39/6964/pilangir.jpg
Pilångir, the rebel Sakae.


https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3710/baghabokhsh.jpg
Baghåbokhsh, son of Pilångir.

https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/2982/ariyahakha.jpg
Äriyåhakhå, commander of the left flank.


https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8188/artavakhsh.jpg
Artavakhsh, the nomad.

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/407/israban.jpg
Isråbån, the Persian.


https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/6595/darman.jpg
Dårmån, the Dahae commander.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1512/tirdad.jpg
Tirdåd, the King.

Scene 2 - The Nomad and the Persian

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/523/artavakhshsmall.jpg Not all the Dahåën are cowards, Pilångir. I too hate these walls.

https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9833/israbansmall.jpg I also heard about your plans and I'm going with you as well. Even though I lived all my life here, I couldn't wait to get out one day.


https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Very well. I have heard of your ability with the bow, Artavakhsh. You will command the right flank. And you, Persian, will stay close to him. Äriyåhakhå is taking care of the left flank with my son Baghåbokhsh. I will be in the center.


https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Warriors! All of you! You are named The Galloping Thousand, and you will never stop!

[Molinaargh]

Scene 3 - The Galloping Thousand


https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2469/54134741.jpg
We left in a hurry. Without Dårmån's Dahåën army, the Seleukids marched into our lands. Pahlavan lands. Our lands were further west.

https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7205/68979167.jpg
We were a thousand well armed and equipped warriors.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2397/76263130.jpg
Once in Asia Minor, the Seleukids stopped wondering where we were going and what was our purpose, and instead attempted to destroy whatever our plan was.

https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/72/62164860.jpg
But could they?

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1659/52720317.jpg
We charged their phalanxes head-on fearlessly.

https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/692/13967260.jpg
In the end, Sophron went back home defeated.

https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9285/78791603.jpg
We continued to advance towards Ipsos, only to avoid the city and keep going west.

https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9041/34442524.jpg
But Dyonitas, another worried Seleukid general, couldn't just look.

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/4422/62818772.jpg
This time the battlefield was open, allowing us to maneuver our cavalry.

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/1742/22064761.jpg
The Seleukids could do nothing but watch the deaths of their companions and wait for their own.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1773/67519467.jpg
A few galatian mercenaries fought bravely and were killed with honor.

https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5741/74364504.jpg
The Galloping Thousand were victorious, but not thousand.

https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9093/42249426.jpg
Our army had gone down to six hundred men, without even leaving Asia.

https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/329/84978009.jpg
But we were almost out...

https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1262/70979627.jpg
Meanwhile, at home, the cities crumbled. I didn't mind.

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/1632/67634511.jpg
In both the Seleukid and the Baktrian frontiers, battles and cities were lost every day.

https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9681/92397841.jpg
But the true war wasn't behind us. It had yet to come.

[Molinaargh]

Scene 4 - Makedonian Battles


https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4534/22439476.jpg
The Makedonians, allies of the Seleukids, feared that we would attack their lands and kept small garrisons in the coast of Asia Minor.

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/654/34463414.jpg
We advanced nonetheless, pushing their troops back and making way for our own.

https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/8844/77479710.jpg
We were attacked repeatedly by skirmishing forces.

https://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1879/21248141.jpg
These battles were bloody, ask the Makedonians.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/3900/69568653.jpg
But victory was always ours.

https://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5831/56734497.jpg
We advanced, always west, never stopping.

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3192/77667481.jpg
And the skirmishing troops became great armies as we got closer to the Makedonian homelands.

https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8320/98217473.jpg
Well trained and equipped men fought against us.

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4668/56284347.jpg
But despite losing many, we could not be defeated.

https://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5373/75019068.jpg
The Makedonians wouldn't give up as long as we marched through their territory.

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4055/36454225.jpg
But the Thousand - the hundreds - fought bravely every time.

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/975/20426680.jpg
And that was our key to victory in those forests.

https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7185/21861173.jpg
Every.

https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7010/25649443.jpg
Single.

https://img13.imageshack.us/img13/254/15450822.jpg
Battle.

https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9079/61976505.jpg
With each victory we marched further west.

https://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9139/12316272.jpg
Until, when we were leaving Makedonian lands, their men gave up on defeating us.

https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5185/82506330.jpg
But we would soon find a new enemy.

[Molinaargh]

Scene 5 - Roma


https://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9250/55680170.jpg
Guided by our horses, we went south.

https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1521/30592276.jpg
We arrived in this Roman city and couldn't resist another good battle.

https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/750/77438178.jpg
Their walls would do them no good.

https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9951/42697101.jpg
We advanced.

https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4242/55211366.jpg
Ready for another victory...

https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2310/74983933.jpg
we entered Rome.

https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8899/53020616.jpg
The battle proved to be tough.

https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9968/38117496.jpg
We marched further in, fighting the roman soldiers as they came in their urban disorder.

https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4517/34420237.jpg
We reached the core of the city, prepared for the last skirmish.

https://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2623/16557442.jpg
The situation was difficult.

https://img2.imageshack.us/img2/8427/59195979.jpg
I thought I'd die myself.

https://img37.imageshack.us/img37/526/59244185.jpg
Outlook: not so good.

https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4372/23893112.jpg
But our bravery turned the battle in our favor. Or it was our horses.

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4638/16959708.jpg
Either way, that roman flag would soon be burned.

https://img329.imageshack.us/img329/8663/85622604.jpg
Just like every roman we could find.

https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/857/82596963.jpg
And every brick we could see.

https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8752/31244100.jpg
And every temple and every column.

https://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1761/36324728.jpg
For victory was ours.

https://img2.imageshack.us/img2/9094/60347597.jpg
Rome was ours.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5298/46561604.jpg
And Rome would soon be no more.

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/460/29938640.jpg

[Molinaargh]

Scene 6 - Inside the Walls

https://img145.imageshack.us/img145/523/artavakhshsmall.jpg Our journey was successful! We have conquered the west!

https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9833/israbansmall.jpg What a grand city we are in!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg It's a city like any other.

https://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4076/ariyahakhasmall.jpg But this really is something else... certainly controlling this city would repay us with much profit.

https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9833/israbansmall.jpg Certainly! We could quickly conquer the neighbouring cities and form a kingdom, perhaps the Persia of the west!

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Silence! Mount on your horses, we are leaving! Moving on!

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1682/baghabokhshsmall.jpg But father... I like it here.

https://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1669/pilangirsmall.jpg Far and beyond, like true nomads!


https://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8426/63693688.jpg
Victories have a price.

[Molinaargh]

I think that was all. Let me know if I got something wrong.

I'll try to continue that campaign just to see where it goes, but I don't think I'll make an AAR out of the rest, unless there are enough people interested.

Thanks for reading! :grin:

[johnhughthom]

Nice stuff. :2thumbsup:

That looks like a fun campaign, complete chaos in the east. What on earth are the AS playing at way up there?:laugh4:

[the man with no name]

I will follow this. Very interesting.

[Horatius Flaccus]

I hope you will continue it, I mean, the Pahlava sacking Rome, that has to be good!

[satalexton]

BRILLIANT The Sacking of Barbaropolis......it brings tears to my eyes!!!

[Whatever Scortamareva]

Reminds me of around the world in 80 days, I'd love to see more, but where can your horses go now that they have felled Roma?

[Molinaargh]

Scene 7 - Italia

https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1682/baghabokhshsmall.jpg My father and the Thousand continued our conquests in the land of the romans.



https://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9250/36069031.jpg
We weren't many, but we were the best.

https://img190.imageshack.us/img190/9849/38717876.jpg
We left Roma and attacked a nearby city - Arretium.

https://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1331/37549187.jpg
With our trusty steeds we galloped in.

https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8823/28316709.jpg
The romans did not surrender, but we'd have had no mercy if they did.

https://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6709/86566411.jpg
Capua was next.

https://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3286/85751863.jpg
Instead of waiting for us in their city - which so far had proven to be disastrous to the romans - they met us in the open.

https://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9499/54783160.jpg
We charged, led by my father, the invincible Pilångir.

https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6528/38873839.jpg
Who once again couldn't be defeated, even my forces four times larger than ours.

https://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9839/21921190.jpg
The western coast of what they called Italia was ours.

[Molinaargh]

Scene 8 - Like True Nomads



https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7584/62519353.jpg
But my father, despite the will of the commanders of The Galloping Thousand, took us away from Italia. Äriyåhakhå, commander of the left flank, convinced my father that he should stay in Roma to eventually supply our equestrian army. I haven't heard of him since.

https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4659/96582925.jpg
We went to Arveni lands - cold lands - and they supplied us with men, food and horses. Then we marched north.

https://img2.imageshack.us/img2/5047/38005542.jpg
We reached a city called Ascaucalis, in the far north, and pillaged it.

https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3290/10606637.jpg
It was a beautiful city.

https://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8978/10582985.jpg
My father was old and sick, and we, the commanders of The Galloping Thousand, were without guidance.

https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6492/31360238.jpg
We ended up living in Ascaucalis for many years.

https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6639/71519583.jpg
But not without opposition. We were constantly attacked by natives of Gintaras Ostan. The Persian commanded us while my father was sick.

https://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4075/80766707.jpg
Their men fought well...

https://img3.imageshack.us/img3/231/31791930.jpg
...but had few horses.

https://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9792/25773142.jpg
My father died disappointed, I'm sure. But not sad, for Ascaucalis has no walls.

[Molinaargh]

Scene 9 - Ascaucalis has no walls

23 Years Later (193 BC)

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg Our only hope is going west and seeking their help.


https://img10.imageshack.us/img10/4917/60631733.jpg

https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7343/77201962.jpg

https://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4531/25719190.jpg



Characters

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2186/farnakiya.jpg
Farnåkiyå ê Dahåën, son of Artavakhsh ê Dahåën, who was, together with Isråbån of Persia, commander of the right flank.


https://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4193/parsamanesh.jpg
Pårsåmanesh, Daha refugee from Nisa, in the eastern Pahlavan homelands.

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg Greetings from Nisa, from the east! I am Pårsåmanesh.

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg Nisa? You have come a long way.

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg It was our only choice. Our only chance. The Makedonian traders in the Amber Route told us we could find you here.

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg Me?

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg Well, not you... The Galloping Thousand. The Pahlavan men who came west, never losing a single battle and conquering all. We seek help from their leader.

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg You are right about our invincibility, but this city is our only conquest, and the only battles fought by my men are to defend this village with no walls.

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg Your men? Who are you?

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg Farnåkiyå, commander of the Thousand since the death of Baghåbokhsh.

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg My Lord! We beg you for your aid! Our tribes are humiliated by Baktrians in the east! We lost everything! Please, return with us to the steppes!

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg We can't. The Thousand swore never to return.

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg They also swore never to stop, didn't they? Or am I wrong? You ashame Pilångir and your father by defending this city!

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg And how do you want us to get out? We have few men and no horses!

https://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5482/parsamaneshsmall.jpg Then come with us to the steppes at once. We brought you your horses, Farnåkiyå ê Dahåën, new leader of The Galloping Thousand.



https://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5034/79142788.jpg
The Dahåën from Nisa.

[Molinaargh]

Scene 10 - Zero Thousand

https://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1734/farnakiyasmall.jpg Forward, Galloping Thousand! For Pilångir!


https://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9450/33274525.jpg
We left Ascaucalis with the Dahåën.

https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/475/61157115.jpg
In the forests, germanic men standed in our way.

https://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4383/89510353.jpg
Our first - no, our second - mistake was attacking them in the forest.

https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/8644/33182282.jpg
We could not organize our forces and would be defeated soon.

https://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5759/13792218.jpg
But we reatreated to open land.

https://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1548/49227686.jpg
Still, their men outnumbered us by many.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/4766/33228307.jpg
And our first mistake was revealed. May my father excuse me, but Pilångir was right. The Dahåën are cowards.

https://img44.imageshack.us/img44/4951/89073006.jpg

https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4080/60525846.jpg

And here I am, eyes to the sky.

Ears screaming, companions die.

"For The Thousand!", a man of mine.

Soon to feel the blade come by.


https://img36.imageshack.us/img36/3330/51510693.jpg


The End

[Molinaargh]

Extras

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9510/42907358.jpg
I'm rich! All I need to do is multiply by -1!

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2566/99260442.jpg
The map in 193 BC.

Full screenshot:
https://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2738/100fmv.jpg

I used no console codes. The Dahae army that went all the way from Nisa to Europe I got through a rebellion in Baktria's Nisa.
Edit: Only toggle_fow, actually.

[johnhughthom]

:stunned::thumbsup:





That was superb.:2thumbsup:

[Companion Cavalry]

The Seleukids completely destroyed the Parthian empire by the end :laugh4:

[Molinaargh]

The Seleukids completely destroyed the Parthian empire by the end :laugh4:
Completely?

https://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2566/99260442.jpg

https://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4310/101hdu.jpg

:wink: :laugh4:

[satalexton]

do it for epicness, carve an empire starting from there.

[fleaza]

LOL. that is a truly epic idea right there. if you can make an aar of you expanding your empire again id be mighty impressed

[HunGeneral]

Truly impressing I must say. A great and epic story. If you really continue this then it would become even better. It is however already great the way it is:yes:

I salute to you worthy Nomad.:knight:

[Whatever Scortamareva]

You could make a completely different AAR of you trying to get out of debt :clown:

[Horatius Flaccus]

Fantastic, great AAR! :thumbsup:

[Molinaargh]

You could make a completely different AAR of you trying to get out of debt :clown:

do it for epicness, carve an empire starting from there.

LOL. that is a truly epic idea right there. if you can make an aar of you expanding your empire again id be mighty impressed
I'm not sure if that's humanly possible without console codes :dizzy2:


Fantastic, great AAR! :thumbsup:
Thanks, glad you liked it!