Eastern Hegemony: Pontus AAR

[Bramborough]

Starting a Pontus campaign, and will try to keep up an AAR thread along the way. I see folks talking about Sparta, Carthage, Suebi, Arverni, but no one mentions playing Pontus. I don't know anything about the faction, other than that they're labeled Hellenic but have some Eastern characteristics.

I have Hooah's Suebi AAR as an example, at least first few installments will be similar.

Part I

A poor people aspire to greatness...or at least, survival...

I am Mithridates, King of Pontus. This may seem, to the ill-informed, a high and mighty state of being. Those who have been to my lands, however, know the poverty of my people and the weakness of my armies. My great capital Amaseia is a mere hamlet, and our wealthy port city of Sinope but a decrepit wharf. Pontus must grow in might, wealth, and land. Not for my own aggrandizement, but for the survival of my people. If we aspire only to cling to this sliver of seashore, we will not cling to it for long.

All is not, however, so bleak. We are a Greek people, and our brethren across the Aegean and Euxine Seas look favorably upon us. Bithynia to our west is an ally, and Trapezos to our east a Grecian friend. We have secure flanks, and a sea upon which Greek trade may flow to Sinope, however small its docks may yet be.

https://i.imgur.com/Y5E1PWw.png
Pontic homeland

Enemies we have as well. The grubby Cappadocians hold lands to our south, and have been at war with us for generations. A fragile peace holds with neighboring Galatia, but ere long the rattle of spears will doubtless be heard in this direction as well. So be it. Pontus must have land. Galatia et Cappadocia it must be. Pontic armies have only Eastern spearmen and slingers to fill the ranks. This is just as well, as these meager wages are all my treasury can support.

I place our soldiers under the command of my kinsman Praxiteles and charge him to recruit more men in the countryside. He styles his host the Scions of Sinope. A fine-sounding name for such a rabble. At least it IS an army of sorts; I remain at Amaseia in command of "the Lykoi"...which consists only of my personal bodyguard. All others I've stripped away for Praxiteles. Our hopes are pinned on the Scions...our only army.

After two seasons' recruitment, Praxiteles marches south through the passes into Cappadocia, and falls upon the town of Samosata. The small garrison valiantly sallies forth to defend their homes, but the Scions easily overwhelm them with numbers. Praxiteles has done well, and the Scions of Sinope have won a fine victory.

https://i.imgur.com/AdwTJAu.png
The armies meet outside Samosata

In Amaseia, meanwhile, I secure a formal alliance with Trapezos. Long friendly with us, they readily agree. Bithynia, heretofore merely a defensive ally, enters into full military alliance with us as well. The Bithynians, of course, take this opportunity to pull us into war with Galatia. A bit annoying, but Galatian lands have been our object in any case, it fits with our plans. War it is.

Mazaca is Cappadocia's only remaining settlement. Praxiteles, however, cannot march there directly from Samosata without traveling through Seleucid lands. The Seleucids are friendly enough with us, their Greek heritage derived from Alexander. Not so friendly, however, as to allow Pontic armies to march through their fields without a prohibitively expensive toll. I bid Praxiteles return home to find another path through the mountains to Mazaca. I am concerned that Samosata will try to rebel without our spears patrolling their streets, but the Scions are Pontus' only host, I must have them home. Praxiteles returns to Amaseia, and prepares to march west.

Praxiteles, I am pained to say, fails me. Bithynia promises a reward to our treasury for the capture of Ancyra, the Galatian capital. My kinsman seeks glory, and proposes to march direct on the Galatians. I must confess I allow myself to be swayed. The Scions debouch from the mountain pass and upon the plain before Ancyra. Praxiteles has neglected to send spies ahead, and knows not the Galatians' strength or nature. It is to be his undoing.

I have heard of peoples far far to the west, called "Kelts". The chroniclers and poets speak of their valor and fierceness. Apparently the Galatians are of this ilk. As large a host as the Scions of Sinope may be, the Galatians' Wandering Warriors horde is still larger, and supported by another substantial army. They march forward from Ancyra and fall upon the Scions on the plain. Spears and slings they have as well, much like our Pontic levy...but theirs are a fiercer variety, and are supported by some horse. This bodes ill for the Pontic cause.

Praxiteles vainly endeavors to retreat, and falls back to the foot of the mountain pass. The Galatians pursue and bring him to battle on unfavorable terms. The Scions pick a small hillock as the best ground available - meager though it is - for their stand. The Galatian host, however, overwhelms them. Our spearmen break, our slingers rout. Praxiteles' bronze phalanx guard fights hard, but cannot be everywhere at once. My kinsman falls on the field, the Scions of Sinope are no more, destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/VvZQnIp.png
The Scions of Sinope await their fate on the Galatian plain, their foes approaching in the distance

Our plight grows grave. We have always been poor....now we are poor and without an army. My family retains unquestioned power...but the Battle of Ancyra causes murmuring among our nobles. I must confess before Zeus that they have valid cause. Praxiteles, my kinsman, led our only army to ruin, and I as king allowed him to do so. Amaseia is virtually defenseless, without even walls for its small garrison to man. Philotheos, first among equals in the noble circle, remains unswerving in loyalty and offers his services to the Pontic state. I am gratified, of course, but also see that other men of wealth and power (such as they are in impoverished Pontus) may come to view Philotheos as a leader...perhaps a king.

The gods, however, smile upon us, as the Galatians seem content to remain in their own lands. No doubt the threat from our Bithynian allies plays no small part in keeping them close to their capital. We have time to rebuild our armies. I post our spies in the mountain pass, and charge them with keeping an eye on Ancyra and the activities of the Wandering Warriors. I begin recruiting spears and slings in earnest for the Lykoi, my own (soon-to-be) host. I also charge our philosphers and armorers to focus their knowledge and wits upon developing tactics and weapons, so that we may achieve a more hardy soldiery than that available to us now.

I can see, however, that for the foreseeable future, I must meet the Galatians with such troops as we can produce. I cannot beat them man-for-man, so I must outnumber them. The Lykoi will not be sufficient in and of themselves. A second host must be raised. Reluctantly, I bid Philotheos to raise such an army in Samosata (which, as foreseen, has meanwhile grown progressively more unruly). While not hardened for battle, our citizens are loyal, and they flock to our banners. Pontus will soon march again.

[phred]

Very nice!
What difficulty are you playing?

I started a Pontus campaign but I never finished - I seem to have faction ADD and can't complete a campaign.
I'm looking forward to reading more.
subscribed.

[Hooahguy]

Great! Cant wait for more!

And it comes at a time when work is overloading me, giving me little time to play the game, much less write an AAR.

[Bramborough]

Part II

The short but heroic reign of Prokopios, Savior of Pontus

I am Prokopios, lately Prince, now King of Pontus. Proud family heritage though I have, I bear the dubious distinction of being son to Mithridates I. I bore Mithridates love for my father, and loyalty for my king...but the chronicles record how he and Praxiteles endangered our realm. During the ill-conceived Galatian campaign during which Praxiteles fell, Mithridates had sent me with a small squadron of ships to navigate on the Euxine Sea. My object was to make contact with peoples on its northern shore and establish trade. In contact I was successful, encountering Cimmeria and the Cataraoi...trade eluded us, however, as these peoples far too high a gift to open their ports. Our ally Trapezos fell into war with Armenia. By terms of our treaty, we were compelled to declare against Armenia as well. I knew that on land Pontic forces could spare no men against Armenia, so I took my modest fleet to Trapezos to render what aid I could, if needed.

At Trapezos I learned of the death of Mithridates, then in his 72nd year, and I assumed the throne. No time for pageantry, as the Pontic kingdom was in peril from large Galatian and Cappadocian armies having crossed into our territory. I could not remain with my fleet with this threat upon us. Upon my father's death, command of the Lykoi had fallen to Choeros, an aristocrat. Philotheos, first among nobles, was raising a second army, the Sentinels of Hyperion, at Samosata. It was imperative that as the new king, I must lead Pontic armies in the field. I transferred command of my fleet, the Heralds of Triton, to the noble Euanthes, and took command of the Lykoi at Amaseia. Both armies, after several seasons of recruiting, were ready to take the field and reverse our fortunes opposite the Galatia-Cappadocian threat.

None too soon. The Galatians' main field army, the Wandering Warriors, had descended to the Euxine coast and was marching on Sinope. Philotheos and I concentrated our forces and marched to meet them. Flooding delayed our progress, as well as causing destruction in the Sinope region, but nevertheless we reached Sinope before the Galatians could besiege. Upon our approach, The Warriors fortified an encampment on the small plain just above the town. We attacked, both Lykoi and Sentinels of Hyperion advancing in concert. The hour was at hand to avenge the Scions of Sinope.

We had learned from Praxiteles' defeat the value of missile fire volume. At Ancyra our troops had broken under a hail of stones much heavier than that which our army could administer. We did not make this mistake again. Our armies now featured a much higher proportion of slingers, and we used them to deadly effect against the Galatians massed within their palisade. The Lycoi attacked the south gate of the fort, the Sentinels the east. From both directions our hordes of slingers unleashed a hail of stones, decimating the Celtic troops before our spears advanced to take the gates. The Galatians fought bravely at both gates for quite some duration, but eventually could not withstand the fire and the press of our spears. They broke, and began to stream out the north gate of the encampment. The few horsemen of our generals' bodyguards ran down what survivors they could. Ten Galatians died for every Pontic soldier...Ancyra was indeed avenged. Remnants of the Wandering Warriors retreat along the coast. The flood conditions prevent us from quickly following to finalize their destruction, but the threat to Sinope is thwarted.

https://i.imgur.com/dGMbQ3W.png
Sentinels of Hyperion storming the Galatians' east gate, while the Lykoi assault the south gate in background

Despite our light losses, this victory was marred by the death of Philotheos, who rashly threw himself in the midst of the heavy fight at the east gate (that's what I get for letting AI control one of the armies...oops). He was a valiant and noble general, and I mourn his passing...but cold calculation dictates that this is not altogether a tragedy. I confer command of the Sentinels upon Ariobarzanes. While not Mithridatic blood-kin, he is related by marriage, his fortunes firmly tied to our dynasty's. I now have both Pontic field armies firmly under the throne's control.

We cannot pursue the weakened rump of the Galatian force, for an equally dire threat emerges from Cappadocia. While we have defeated one enemy, another has left the roads and marched unseen through a forested mountain pass toward our capital. The Cappadocian host, the Scions of Xerxes, has emerged just above Amaseia, clearly intent upon besieging our capital. Ariobarzanes force-marches the Sentinels back to the capital. It is a risky maneuver, but otherwise the capital is defenseless. Ariobarzanes enters the city just in time, and the Cappadocians encircle Amaseia. I follow with the Lykoi at a normal pace, trusting that Ariobarzanes can hold until we arrive at full strength. The gambit succeeds.

Both Pontic and Cappadocian armies are weakened, although Ariobarzanes has taken the worst of the attrition. He cannot sally forth and take the brunt of the assault. The Lykoi, replenished during our march, engage the Scions of Xerxes to lift the siege. We press ahead in a rainstorm to attack our foes. The Cappadocians have made their own organizational mistake, the reverse of our earlier over-reliance on spears...slingers they have aplenty, but far too few infantry. Our lines press ahead with our own slingers in front, but the Lykoi don't tarry long to await the results of extended missile exchange. Our spears advance to rout the under-supported Cappadocian slingers. Their few infantry put up a spirited defense on their right flank, anchored by a small hill, but the Cappadocian left quickly crumbles, and the remaining Scions of Xerxes are enveloped and routed. Unable to retreat, their destruction is complete. The main Cappadocian field army is eliminated.

https://i.imgur.com/65S7zJu.png
Lykoi slingers open the engagement against the Cappadocians, lifting the siege of Amaseia.

Pontic fortunes are on the rise. One enemy field army is gravely weakend, another destroyed. Sinope and Amaseia are delivered. We must follow this success by taking the battle to our enemies' lands before they have opportunity to levy more large hosts. We march on Mazaca immediately.

------------------------------------

To me, Ariobarzanes, falls the sad duty to report the death of Prokopios. On the very night of his triumph on the field before Amaseia, a Cappadocian assassin stole into his tent and shed the royal blood with poisoned blade. Short though his reign was, Prokopios delivered Pontus from dual foreign threat. No nation ever had a better king at such a perilous hour. We mourn his passing, and celebrate his valor.

The young king died without heir. The throne passes to me. I can aspire only to a dim shadow of Prokopios' brief but spectacular greatness. I begin by continuing my predecessor's vision. We must capitalize on our enemies' momentary weakness. The size of our armies, moreover, is straining our small treasury; the bounty of new territories is imperative. On to Mazaca!

[Bramborough]

Very nice!
What difficulty are you playing?

I started a Pontus campaign but I never finished - I seem to have faction ADD and can't complete a campaign.
I'm looking forward to reading more.
subscribed.

Only playing on Normal. After 2 campaigns with Rome at Normal, I was definitely feeling like stepping up to H or VH...but didn't really know what to expect with Pontus. The faction change alone was enough. You've already done the Pontic start, so you know they get the short end of the stick.

Rome starts with four settlements, including 2 provincial capitals; plenty of slots to work with. Roman starting infantry (hastati), moreover, already have a substantial qualitative edge over neighboring troops, an advantage which Rome never relinquishes even if one doesn't aggressively pursue military tech-up (never even built a Level IV barracks in my first campaign, and rarely recruited troops from my Level III barracks). I had become accustomed to just mowing through everybody with my starting armies. It was fun...but wasn't much of a challenge. I won't play Rome again on Normal.

Pontus is a whole different ballgame. Only two settlements to start, both of them minor. The province in which they're located, furthermore, is populated with friends and allies (Trapezos and Bithynia), and it's probably a bad idea to turn on them to fill out the province, since Pontus is already at war with Cappadocia and soon Galatia. So the initial challenge is to expand into and establish Galatia et Cappadocia as Pontus' first full province. Which means supporting the initial effort with two small towns, neither of which has all its available build slots yet. Then there's troop quality. Eastern spearmen and slingers are the only troops available, and they're pretty much bottom of the barrel, only a step above Mobs. They have to suffice for quite a while too, because even when the first couple of barracks are researched and money available to buy them, one still has to find a scarce building slot or wait for one to grow. However one slices it, the first couple of armies are just entry-level spears and slings. Admittedly, neighboring enemies have the same issue, but that's kinda my point. Pontus may not be at a huge disadvantage, but neither does it enjoy any quality edge. It's our spears/slings vs their spears/slings. Comes down to maneuver and numbers, not troop quality. It's a bit harder vs Galatia, because their Celtic versions (levy spearmen) have better melee, armor, and morale stats...not hugely better, but enough to make a difference when there's no number disparity.

This is all compounded by my noobish Roman experience, which is to just plow my high armor/morale melee infantry into whatever they run into, and they (almost) always win with impunity. Obviously that doesn't work here. I didn't really know how to use these spear guys (not sure I do even now). Mithridates may have fobbed off the defeat responsibility on Praxiteles, but the truth is that I played like an idiot for that first battle. I just pounded my one stack toward Ancyra without looking ahead, or even looking at the encyclopedia to see what kind of early troops Galatia had available. Didn't even know they were Celtic. I was surprised that they had already built a full 20-unit army in just a few turns...an army that proceeded to thoroughly bushwack me.

So anyhoo, yeah, I've got my hands full on Normal with Pontus, at least in the early going. Which means, frankly, that I'm having probably the most fun with R2 I've experienced since release. I'm actually worried right now about the potential ramifications of pretty much every move I make. It's awesome.

[phred]

I had hoplites in my army when I first battled Galatia and it was still a messy battle. (you do want hoplites ASAP)
After the battle, Bithynia mopped up the remaining partial-stack while I was besieging their city.
They saved me from having a second battle against the remainders plus the garrison.
After that I made sure I kept Bithynia as an ally and always declared war on their enemies.

[BroskiDerpman]

Yay! Pontus is actually my favorite out of all of them. (Rome not included in comparison of factions) Looking forward to this!

[Bramborough]

Part III


The Triumph of Ariobarzanes: Cappadocian conquest, the Galatian War, and the Peace


I am Ariobarzanes, third king of Pontus. Mithridatic blood flows in my heirs' veins if not in mine. I had hoped one day in the future one of my descendants might sit the Pontic throne...but certainly had not expected to mount the dais myself. Young Prokopios' untimely death at Amaseia has thrust the crown upon me. So be it. Mithridates founded this kingdom and fostered the vision of its future greatness. Prokopios preserved Pontus in its hour of danger. It falls to Ariobarzanes to fulfill Mithridates' vision. We have served our enemies with severe defeats, yet Galatia and Cappadocia remain hostile and rebuild their armies.

My cousin Ameinias served as deputy commander to Prokopios the Lykoi and performed brilliantly in lifting the siege of Amaseia. Upon the king's death, Ameinias assumes command of the Lykoi, while I retain direct charge of the Sentinels of Hyperion, still recovering from the siege. I immediately send Ameinias through the very mountain pass through which the Cappadocians had descended upon Amaseia. Striking Cappadocia before they can raise another large host is imperative. The following season, I move to support him, the Sentinels traveling a different route through Galatian territory. I shall not see my Amaseian court again for nine years.

Alas, both Galatians and Cappadocians prove to have substantial reserves despite their recent defeats. I nearly repeat Praxiteles' folly on the Galatian plain at the hands of the rapidly reconstituted Wandering Warriors, and am forced to retire. Likewise, Ameinas is unable to advance on Mazaca unsupported; the Cappadocian forces are already too robust to justify such risk. The Lykoi and Sentinels must regroup and act in concert. The following year, we advance once more through the mountains upon Mazaca, now with both Pontic armies in tandem. The town lies before us, heavily defended, but its armies now a poor match for our combined strength.

We descend upon Mazaca for the assault. The entire Cappadocian host, both garrison and field army, sallies forth to meet us in the field before the town. My Sentinels of Hyperion face the enemy directly, while Ameinas maneuvers the Lykoi to envelop the Cappadocians from our right. Once both armies are in position, we advance simultaneously to destroy the Cappadocians. Their forces boast an unusually high number of cavalry due their consolidation of generals' bodyguard detachments, but to no avail. Our massed slingers take a frightful toll before Pontic spears close straight ahead on the left to shred the defenders. The Cappadocians are utterly destroyed, their capital fallen into our hands. They are a threat no more.

https://i.imgur.com/Mkj7fWV.png
Lykoi moving into position for the Pontic advance at Mazaca

https://i.imgur.com/7odxWed.png

Word comes from allied Bithynia that the Galatian Wandering Warriors have once again marched to the Euxine coast, this time to threaten Nicomedia. A fatal mistake...they have left Ancyra undefended. Unrest in Mazaca is a concern, but is balanced by tranquil Samosata, by now under Pontic rule for a generation. Every spear will be needed for the assault on Ancyra's walls. We move north at once with all our forces. The Galatian general abandons his threat to Nicomedia, and returns to defend his capital...but we have stolen a march on him, and the Pontic armies reach Ancyra before the Wandering Warriors. We invest the city.

We must take time, however, to prepare the assault; we'll need ladders to mount Ancyra's walls. The Warriors draw closer during this interval. Despite the Galatians' strategic mistake, Ancyra's garrison is substantial indeed in its own right, and this promises to be a bloody affair regardless. I cannot allow the Warriors to influence this assault, but as they emerge onto the Galatian plain, it appears they have returned in the nick of time. Has Praxiteles' old nemesis, destroyer of our fathers among the Scions of Sinope, once more thwarted Pontic designs?

Statecraft hinges on more than armies...and it is not only the prerogative, but the duty, of a king to employ less-than-honorable means in service of his people, however distasteful. I turn to the Eye of the King, Dioscuros, a shadowy figure of whom I prefer to know as little as possible. This wraith has performed admirably in keeping us apprised of enemy movements, but the man has darker talents. I charge Dioscuros to stop the Wandering Warriors by whatever method he deems best...and send him into the night. My Eye does not disappoint. Dioscuros steals into their camp and poisons ration wagons, spreading sickness and death throughout their ranks. The Wandering Warriors will not move this day. Well done, Dioscuros. I lament that we live in a world where a such a man can and must exist...but since the gods will it so, I rejoice that you employ your wicked arts in Pontus' service, and not to her detriment. On to Ancyra!

https://i.imgur.com/BDX0DYD.png
Not so fast, Wandering Warriors...how about you just sit here for a bit and watch?

Ladders prepared, Warriors neutralized, it is time to assail Ancyra's walls. Ameinias' Lykoi are on the field to support if necessary, but I prefer to keep him unengaged, as the Warriors will not be long immobilized and we will soon need to deal with them. My Sentinels of Hyperion lead the assault. Spearmen move the ladders forward, coming under slinger fire from the ramparts. Our own slingers answer. Men in both Pontic yellow and Celtic green fall. The ladders reach the wall, and the spears ascend. A short nasty fight ensues on the ramparts, but Galatian slingers are no match for our spears at such close quarters. We gain the wall and the local towers.

The Galatians regroup for a stand within the town. By now our success is assured, but more blood must be spilt. A band of Galatian nobles puts up a stout defense among the houses of Ancyra, their eventual death certain, but wildly and savagely taking ranks of our spearmen with them. The nobles are overwhelmed, at a high cost of Pontic blood. I admire their valor, mourn the blood cost, both ours and theirs, and chafe at the unnecessary sacrifice. The Galatian capital, however, is fallen. Ancyra is ours...Pontus' first walled city. Amaseia will forever be the ancestral and spiritual capital of Pontus...but fortified Ancyra is now the locus of our power.

https://i.imgur.com/dQBaiTX.png
Sentinels of Hyperion storming the walls of Ancyra

https://i.imgur.com/MYkm3ab.png
Last stand of the Galatian Nobles

https://i.imgur.com/80pLLA0.png

Typically, a resounding Pontic victory does not mean the end of threats. During this Cappadocia/Galatia campaign, our ally Trapezos has endured difficult times. Already at war with Armenia, they have also fallen under Cimmerian attack. Trapezos city itself has fallen to the Armenians, and Trapezan Phasis is under Cimmerian blockade. Our eastern border opened, an Armenian host now advances upon Amaseia. The Wandering Warriors, moreover, are once more mobile, weakened but still strong, and remain close at hand near conquered Ancyra. As always, we must move quickly.

The Wandering Warriors had force-marched to prevent the assault on Ancyra, and would have succeeded had not Dioscuros impeded their progress. Thanks to the Eye of the King, the Warriors remain strung out along a forest road in vulnerable order. The Lykoi, unblooded at Ancyra, fall upon them in an early morning fog. The Wandering Warriors, long the bane of Pontic arms for the past three decades, are finally caught in a Pontic net from which there is no escape. A recounting of "tactics" here is of little value, as it is not so much a battle as a massacre. Praxiteles' nemesis is no more, and his spirit may rest easy.

https://i.imgur.com/ors4Rxo.png
The Wandering Warriors die in fog at the hands of the Lykoi

In the meantime, my Sentinels force-march back to Amaseia to meet the looming Armenian threat. Their host has crossed into Pontic territory and the capital would surely fall without such a measure. I reach Amaseia in time, and for now the Armenians move no further. The Sentinels of Hyperion, however, are essentially immobilized at Amaseia, as I cannot afford to leave the capital unprotected as long as Armenia threatens. This is of relatively small concern for the near future, however, as Galatia is near extinction, with one small rump of an army caught between the Lykoi and Nicomedius' Bithynian host. The Galatian Mountain Men will doubtless be crushed by either force within a season.

Or so it would seem...but the Galatians do not go quietly into the night just yet. The Mountain Men, abandoning their homeland, search for a new one...and one wonders if not perhaps with some secret connivance at the Bithynian court. The Galatian remnant marches back down to the Euxine shore, passing directly before a strangely inactive Bithynian army. Odd. The unhindered Mountain Men then continue their march along the coast, headed straight for undefended Sinope. Our Lykoi, having expected Nicomedius to handily dispose of the last vestige of Galatia, belatedly give chase, but will not arrive in time.

It becomes clear that this Galatian general absconded with his nation's treasury before Ancyra's fall, and has used it to employ every soldier of fortune in the Anatolian peninsula. The surprisingly strong mercenary army quickly overhwelms the small Sinope garrison....somewhat annoyingly, with the assistance of a Cimmerian fleet. In the hour of triumph, we lose our only port, and now-landlocked Pontus loses trade income from Bithynia, Trapezos, and Cataraoi. Will these infernal Galatians never cease to injure Pontic fortune?

More alarmingly, now the Bithynian host moves quickly...and Nicomedius' stratagem becomes apparent. Why spill Galatian blood on an empty plain one already owns...when soon one may spill the same blood for a worthy prize? The Bithynians would be happy to conquer "enemy" Sinope and incorporate it into their own territory. I must not only retake Sinope, but do it fast enough to beat my "friends" to the city. Peace is made with Armenia, so that the Sentinels of Hyperion may be free to march once more. They exact a hefty price...but nothing to compare with the prospect of Sinope permanently under the sway of another power. The price is paid, and the Sentinels march, as do the Lykoi.

Three armies - two Pontic, one Bithynian - arrive before Sinope together. Even mercenary-bolstered as they are, the Mountain Men...last Galatian force in the field...is no match for the combined host. The Sentinels of Hyperion lead the assault, Sinope is retaken, and the Galatian menace is at long last eradicated. Pontic and Bithynian have fought shoulder-to-shoulder in this last chapter of the Galatian War...but clearly Nicomedia will need closer scrutiny in the future.

https://i.imgur.com/XDzHhVo.png

Ten years have passed since Prokopios fell to the assassin's blade. This decade has seen Ariobarzanes continually in the field...I have not actually sat upon my throne or conferred with my civil ministers since crossing into Galatian territory nine winters ago. Now for the first time since Mithridates founded independent Pontus 50 years ago, the realm is at peace on all its borders. The court heralds and chroniclers (hopefully not prematurely) have already proclaimed the "Peace of Ariobarzanes".

A state of war remains with Cimmeria and their fleets are worrisome, but their seat lies across the Euxine, and their attentions much more focused on Trapezan Phasis. Armenia to our east is no doubt an eventual enemy, but quiescent for now. Our western border touches allied(?) Bithynia and friendly Sardes, while to the south lies the Seleucid Empire, no enemy to Pontus. Cyprus bears watching...they have taken Inconium from Sardes. The Hellenic Cypriots are friendly enough with the Pontic court...but they are a satrapy of Egypt, and eventually war with seemingly every independent state with whom they come in contact. I will send Dioscuros to keep me apprised of Cypriot intentions.

But for now the Peace reigns, and I must use this time to strengthen Pontic coffers as well as its armies. My armorers and tacticians have pointed the way to Greek methods of war, now the barracks must be built. Eastern spears and slings sufficed for the Galatian War, but Pontus will need Grecian armor and pike for the future. Fields must be planted, temples erected. Sinope trade must be re-established. May the Peace of Ariobarzanes be one of enduring substance rather than ephemeral fragility.

https://i.imgur.com/n60JeA1.png

[Bramborough]

Part IV

The Cimmerian Threat - Ariobarzanes' Peace marred, Ameinas crowned


The Peace of Ariobarzanes has endured these last twelve years...within its limits. None of Pontus' peaceful neighbors have turned on Amaseia. Sinope has reopened its rebuilt wharves to trade, not only with previous partners, but now wider through the Hellenic world. Pontic merchantment carry glass, iron, and wine to Macedon, Athens, and even barbarian Cataraoi. Farms have flourished in Galatia, a wine market under construction in Ancyra. Most important, our armorers and tacticians have constructed a new barracks, that our armies may avail themselves of the Greek way of war. Pontic hoplites begin to fill our ranks for the first time.

War clouds once again loom. Cimmeria, our lone active enemy, has waxed powerful. Their longstanding blockade of Trapezan Phasis has finally broken through and conquered the city. With our ally now eliminated, the foe casts its baleful gaze about for a new conquest...and fixes upon our shores. Our armies' hoplites join the ranks just in time to deter a Cimmerian invasion fleet from landing at Sinope. Ariobarzanes soon receives word, however, that the Champions of Nike, led by Theophilos, advance through Armenian territory (with their acquiesence? One wonders...). Amaseia is once again under dire threat. Like Prokopios before him, Ariobarzanes must move quickly to defend the capital from an invading army.

Ariobarzanes' Sentinels of Hyperion move directly to the capital to meet the Cimmerians. I, Ameinias, follow closely with my Lykoi. Dioscuros, the Eye of the King, reports a large number of hoplites among the Champions. Ariobarzanes cannot meet them alone; the Sentinels remain a host of Eastern spears and slings, no match for the well-armored phalanxes. My own Lykoi are leavened with Pontus' first hoplites as well as a sizable contingent of powerful javelin skirmishers, but not yet in numbers sufficient to face Cimmeria's more numerous hoplite infantry without ample support. Once again Sentinels and Lykoi must meet the foe together.

The Champions of Nike approach Amaseia over the mountain road leading from Armenian Trapezos. Our armies surge forward to meet them to the east of the city. Strong as his army may be, Theophilos recognizes our superior numbers and retreats back up the wooded pass. We pursue, and catch the Champions among forested foothills. They have no avenue of further retreat, and must make a stand among the trees. Our numbers presage near-certainty of Pontic victory...but the Cimmerian hoplites will ensure it will be a hard-fought and bloody one. The Champions establish their line astride a wooded slope. We advance side-by-side, Sentinels to the left, Lykoi on the right. Forest obscures a large portion of our advance, but not entirely. The lines meet in broken terrain, the Sentinels making contact among low scrub, Lykoi engaging in the midst of a wooded hillock.

The forested slope makes for a confused melee. On both sides, all semblance of formation is lost as each unit gropes among the trees for an enemy, the battle devolving into a dozen isolated struggles. The Cimmerian hoplites do not break easily and put up a very stubborn defense. Our slingers and javelins find it difficult to concentrate fire. In the confusion, Ariobarzanes' bodyguard detachment runs afoul of a hoplite unit emerging from the wood, and the king falls. Our numbers, however, eventually prevail as Theophilos himself falls on the field and Cimmerian morale begins to ebb. Our own Pontic hoplites give a good account of themselves in their first engagement, proving equal to their Cimmerian counterparts. The Champions of Nike are defeated, then destroyed. Once more, Amaseia is delivered...at the cost of a valorous king. As Prokopios, so Ariobarzanes.

https://i.imgur.com/eQZt6pm.png
The battle opens: slingers exchange fire

https://i.imgur.com/yvV1wuX.png
A king falls: Ariobarzanes beset by Cimmerian hoplites

https://i.imgur.com/b9bPxU9.png
The scrum: Opposing hoplites meet on the wooded hillside

https://i.imgur.com/mvO3h1l.png
The rout: Cimmerian hoplites, now under fire from their rear, begin to break

Pontic casualties are suprisingly light given the chaotic nature of the battle, although Ariobarzanes' demise is a grave loss indeed. Our warrior-king showed valor in the defeat of the Cappadocians and Galatians, then wisdom and judgment during his Peace. The one blemish of his reign is that, like Prokopios, Ariobarzanes fell without leaving direct heirs. I, Ameinias, must assume the Pontic crown. We have little time to mourn. Blunted though it may be with the loss of the valiant Champions of Nike, the Cimmerian menace shows no sign of abatement. Word comes that the Cimmerian fleet blockades Sinope, throttling our trade routes once more. Euanthes' small Heralds of Triton naval squadron is no match for them and cannot raise the blockade. Lykoi and Sentinels must march again.

[Bramborough]

I had hoplites in my army when I first battled Galatia and it was still a messy battle. (you do want hoplites ASAP)
After the battle, Bithynia mopped up the remaining partial-stack while I was besieging their city.
They saved me from having a second battle against the remainders plus the garrison.
After that I made sure I kept Bithynia as an ally and always declared war on their enemies.

Phred, I re-read your post now with a bit of amusement, as for me "allied" Bithynia acted a bit differently in a similar situation. See Part III, near the end. It was probably just some random AI nonsense upon which I'm building an imagined storyline...after all, I can't just let Nicomedia remain unmolested forever, and will eventually need a pretext. Still, it was somewhat suspicious....

[phred]

Phred, I re-read your post now with a bit of amusement, as for me "allied" Bithynia acted a bit differently in a similar situation. See Part III, near the end. It was probably just some random AI nonsense upon which I'm building an imagined storyline...after all, I can't just let Nicomedia remain unmolested forever, and will eventually need a pretext. Still, it was somewhat suspicious....

I saw that. You had the exact opposite experience.
A couple of weeks or so ago I had a crash during the AI turn and I had to replay the same end turn 5 times in a row.
Each time was different - once it was 2 factions declaring war on me, another was one enemy offering peace and a large payment, I can't remember the other variations.
But I thought the differences were pretty interesting.

[Wilbo]

I'm really enjoying this - thanks for writing!

I recently started a Pontus campaign too, and have been amazed at how many trade agreements, defensive & military alliances I've managed to pick up! I've only got four territories, but everyone seems to love me. Except for the Romans, moody sods.

[Bramborough]

I've mentioned diplomacy/trade a couple of times in the AAR, but really not at the level of importance it deserves (lol, because the diplo/eco stuff is boring). Yeah, that Hellenic culture faction trait is really pretty potent, and is probably Pontus' key unique attribute. I've come to realize that it makes the small/poor starting position much stronger than first appears. First is the obvious benefit of substantial trade income from the many nearby Hellenic factions. Second, once the Galatians and Cappadocians are taken care of, it's quite a secure position, with friendly Greek trading partners and allies locking in the western and southern borders. I think a viable approach to Pontic "grand strategy" is to forge a sort of "Pan-Hellenic Alliance" with all these folks as eventual military allies...whose territories count toward Pontic mil- or eco-victory conditions. Provides a safe "back door" and Pontus can focus entirely north and east. At least, that's how I see myself evolving this campaign.

Cimmeria is an interesting minor faction to me. Ostensibly Hellenic, they seem programmed as the "Greek Mavericks". I'm wholly ignorant of actual Cimmerian history; were they known as some sort of "Black Sea pirate state"? I've noticed in my Rome campaigns that they always seem at war with other Greeks, and experiencing it firsthand now. Implacably hostile and refuses to discuss peace regardless of BoP...while the new Patch4beta diplo-attitude map overlay shows that they get along quite well with Eastern and nomadic cultures such as Armenia, etc. They have a pretty nice start position, the full province of Bosporus (with its 3 port settlements) at their disposal. I would not be unhappy if Cimmeria became a playable faction in some future patch/DLC...I would give them a try.

[Kamakazi]

I just started a campaign with Parthia after beating the Spartan campaign. I thought I had it covered after my normal first run so I kicked it to hard. Holy different war. I went from a melee basis to a horse complete army structure. Not to mention you get total screwed to start. The Dahe (your only ally) ended up pissing me off so I ended our alliance and then ended them. Gave me the expanding room I needed to get started.

[Bramborough]

Part V

The Reign of Ameinias and the Cimmerian War: From Independent Kingdom to Euxine Sea Power


It has been 26 years since King Ariobarzanes, my predecessor, fell in battle against Cimmeria. From the founding of our kingdom, our very existence had been repeatedly threatened by one invading army after another. Ariobarzanes died defending Amaseia from the latest of these malevolent incursions. With the throne now thrust upon me by events, I, Ameinias, resolve to ensure once and for all that this threat is the last that will approach our capital.

After the battle of Trapezos mountain pass in which Pontic armies defeat the Cimmerian invasion, our port of Sinope remains under Cimmerian blockade. We hasten to break it. I retain command of the Sentinels of Hyperion (still at this point Pontus' only hoplite-armed host). My brother Carenos takes charge of the Lykoi. Both armies force-march to Sinope. Upon our arrival, the blockade is easily broken by Euanthes' Heralds of Triton with the armies' support. Cimmerian sea forces are swept from the southern Euxine Sea for the time being.

We Mithridatics are fierce...but not bloodthirsty, striving to balance strength with magnanimity and generosity. Despite the dire threat to our interests, we have been careful to leave open the possibility of peace with Cimmeria, freeing all captured enemies that they may return home and perhaps soften their countrymen's venom towards us. A peaceful Euxine Sea would be prosperous indeed, with room for both Pontus and Cimmeria to share its bounty of trade and fish. With their Champions of Nike defeated and their remnant fleets chased from our shores, I extend the olive branch north to the Cimmerian Bosporus. I am disappointed that the Cimmerian King refuses this entreaty...war must continue. It is a sad pattern which will be repeated for a generation. Hostile though they may remain, for now Cimmerian forces lick their wounds to the north and we are left in peace for a few short years. Pontus may turn its attention to other matters.

Cyprus is a concern. Greek in culture, Cyprus is well-disposed toward us, even to the point of sending envoys to open trade. My advisors urge me to embrace them as friend. I cannot afford to be so short-sighted. The Cypriots war with other Greeks, assailing Sardes and the Seleucids. An Egyptian satrapy, it is clear they do the bidding of their Pharaohic puppetmasters. Egypt and Seleucia have warred for generations, since the time of Alexander...it is not a resolvable conflict. The Seleucids have long been a reliable Pontic neighbor to the south, and I choose to take up their cause. More immediately practical, my treasury minister points out that possession of Cypriot-held Iconium would enable us to consolidate the Galatia/Cappadocia plateau as a unified province. So be it. Duty, strategy...and admittedly, avarice...compel me. Cyprus is an Egyptian cancer which must be eradicated on the Anatolian peninsula. My Sentinels of Hyperion march while Cyprus' attention is diverted elsewhere with their war on Sardes.

Iconium falls easily to the Sentinels, who quickly overwhelm its small garrison. Fortune smiles on Sardes as well, who defeat a besieging Cypriot host in their territory...Cyprus now has no field army with which to respond to Iconium's capture. Meanwhile, Hellenic Knossos captures Cypriot-held Ephesus on the Aegean coast. Carenos marches his Lykoi to Pessina in the hilly hinterland of Asia, Cyprus' last settlement. Its garrison puts up no harder a fight than had Iconium's few defenders. In a short sharp strike, Cyprus has learned the folly of subservience to Egypt. It should be noted...disinterested Pharaoh is perfectly content to leave his Cypriot minions to their fate. While formally obligated to declare war on the enemies of their satrapy, Egyptian envoys are happy to immediately re-establish a state of peace, without even a token price exacted for their acquiescence. Cyprus is forsaken...and destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/uXP9pG1.png
Sentinels of Hyperion approach Iconium

https://i.imgur.com/deaXanl.png

With Iconium's capture, I establish the Pontic province of Galatia et Cappadocia, with Ancyra as capital. The services of noble Aristodemos are enlisted, to serve as civil administrator for this province...I trust the man's efficiency to fill Pontic coffers. I proclaim an edict throughout the province; bread and games to celebrate Pontus' fortunes. The unified populace is inspired. Hostile foreign territory only two generations ago, Galatia et Cappadocia is today a new Pontic homeland, and a central basis for our power. Mithridates' vision is fulfilled.

War breaks out between our Seleucid neighbor and Armenia. The duration of our uneasy peace notwithstanding, it has long been clear that the "Armenian problem" must be met. Despite Pontic expansion, the Armenian border remains perilously close to Amaseia, as well as neighboring Samosata. As long as the capital remains within a season's march of foreign territory, a repetition of earlier invasions will always remain a possibility. The Seleucia-Armenia war offers opportunity to permanently alter this strategic reality. The Lykoi strengthen their ranks with a core of newly recruited hoplite infantry...and then our armies march for the Armenian border, intending to simultaneously strike the Armenian-held cities of Trapezos and Arsamosata.

It is not to be. Cimmeria, now resurgent on the Euxine, meddles once more, and threatens Sinope with blockade. I cannot ignore this, and move to prevent. The Cimmerian ships retire north, yet their envoys continue to refuse an entreaty of peace. I move once more toward Armenia...the Cimmerian fleet returns, and I must counter-march again to Sinope. This cannot endure...Pontic fortunes held hostage to the whims of a Cimmerian naval squadron. I am not free to act against Armenia...or anyone else...as long as this threat to our seaborne lifeblood remains. Five decades of hostilities notwithstanding, the Cimmerians are Hellenic brothers, and I attempt one last time to bury this animosity between us. I go to the Cimmerians and offer the entire contents of the Pontic treasury in return for cessation of this ruinous war. No more generous and sincere guarantor of peaceful intentions can I provide.

The Cimmerian king refuses even to counter-offer. His course is set. Clearly the Euxine Sea can never be at peace as long as both Pontus and Cimmeria exist upon its shores. Very well. Extinction it will be, for one or the other. I have humbled myself, as have previous Pontic kings, for the last time. They care not for Hellenic solidarity, preferring to war upon fellow Greeks, while cozying up to the Eastern and nomadic foreigners on the steppe beyond. Cimmeria brands itself a bandit state, eschewing prosperous trade for piracy. Enough. Armenia must wait.

We'll need sea power for this effort. Euanthes' Heralds of Triton are reinforced with additional ships, expanding from a surveillance squadron to a proper war fleet. Bordered mostly by solid friends and Armenia occupied with the Seleucids, I decide to risk using the entire weight of Pontic arms for this oversea effort. If we are compelled to crush Cimmeria, we will do so with overwhelming force. The Sentinels and Lykoi embark at Sinope for the expedition, joining the Heralds. Euanthes, after decades of sterling service to the throne, dies of natural causes on the eve of sailing. My son Sokrates takes his place, destined to lead the Pontic Navy into its first true naval campaign.

The campaign proves surprisingly easy and rapid. It appears that Cimmeria had not reformed a full first-rate army since the defeat of their Champions of Nike near Trapezos. I lead the Lykoi transports, supported by Sokrates' Heralds, to Phasis and assault the town from sea. Its garrison fights valiantly, but are no match. Pontus now has a second Euxine port, as well as another fine barracks to support our arms. Meanwhile, Carenos' Sentinels steer for Phanagoria to the north. Phanagoria is in Bosporus province, the Cimmerian homeland, and I expect a heavier defense...but the Cimmerians are equally weak there and Phanagoria succumbs quickly as well. With the armies ashore, Sokrates' Heralds begin sweeping the Mare Cimmerium, hunting down the smaller Cimmerian fleets and embarked land forces, eradicating them one by one.

https://i.imgur.com/RfFufM5.png
Pursuing the routed defenders of Phanagoria

https://i.imgur.com/l1fmiXb.png
Sweeping Cimmerian naval power from the Euxine Sea

Tanais falls the following season to Carenos. Only Panticipaeum remains. Land approaches to this city are lengthy and difficult, and pass through Scythian territory. It must be another seaborne assault. Lykoi, Sentinels, and Heralds mass into a single armada, the largest concentration of Pontic power to date. Panticipaeum falls. A mere Cimmerian vestige remains afloat upon the Euxine. Remembering the example of the Galatian Mountain Men in my youth during Ariobarzanes' reign, however, we ruthlessly hunt it down; Sokrates destroys it the following season. The Cimmerian pirates are no more.

https://i.imgur.com/obX1PfB.png

How Pontus' fortune and power have grown during the Cimmerian War. Rich Bosporus is now unified under our rule. I appoint Agelaus as civil governor, trusting in his ability to administer the new province as ably as his colleague Aristodemos in Galatia et Cappadocia. Bosporus brings maritime wealth, every one of its cities a port. Indeed, the majority of all ports on the Euxine Sea are now in Pontus' territory. In addition, we inherit Cimmeria's fine well-developed barracks system. Pontus now has structure and economic means necessary to develop the further armies soon to be required, no doubt. Indeed, before even the final destruction of Cimmeria, the aristocrat Euphion had begun raising a third host, Mithridates' Chosen, at the newly conquered Phasis barracks. Word comes of old Dioscuros' death...surprisingly enough given the man's occupation, of natural causes. The Eye of the King rendered faithful service for decades to four Pontic monarchs. His demise is regrettable...but there are more such shadows; a new Eye will soon peer into unfriendly territory for the Kings of Pontus.

The long-persistent Cimmerian threat is eradicated. I found Pontus a strong but small and virtually landlocked kingdom...today we dominate the Euxine Sea, a true naval power for the first time. New armies are raised. Gold begins to fill coffers in streams rather than trickles. Armenia remains to be dealt with, and Pontic arms will soon go to the aid of our Seleucid friends. I am, however, in my 66th year, and do not expect to see the end of this campaign. It will fall to another to claim final triumph in Armenia. It is well, I have done enough, and am content. My task during the few years left me is to prepare Pontus for the coming struggle. My one regret is that I have yet to fulfill the earliest goal of my reign. Despite nearly three decades of marching armies, triumphant fleets, and doubled Pontic power...Amaseia still lies within a short march of an unfriendly foreign border. Another will have to conclude the coming war against Armenia...but I resolve to see Trapezos taken, and our capital forever secured, before I pass from this world.

https://i.imgur.com/sYE33MJ.png

[Bramborough]

Part VI

Note: For anyone who might actually be keeping close enough track, you will notice that the generals commanding armies don't align among the more recent chapters. Reason: I got the Lykoi and Sentinels backwards while writing Part V, but don't particularly feel like going back and changing it all. The armies, and which generals are commanding, are correct now, and will endeavor to keep it so during future installments.

Note 2: The "King" at some points will not always be the "faction leader" in-game. Up through Part V, I've been able to juggle things to match, with heir-less kings, etc. But with the game designating the longest-serving (and therefore usually older) family member as leader, it's difficult to reflect a direct-male-line dynastic succession. My seeming propensity to get Pontic generals killed in battle doesn't help. So I had two choices: 1) Ignore the game's "faction leader", and just make up my own family tree and king, or 2) abandon the idea of a dynastic monarchy altogether, and instead invent some sort of "family-oligarchy" type of government for the narrative. Both approaches are reasonable, and I may employ either/or in future AARs (if I do another one). In this case, I've chosen Option 1. So in Part VI, Sokrates is King, but he doesn't actually become "faction leader" ingame until Carenos gets bumped off.

The Armenian Wars: Pontic homeland secured

My father Ameinias wins great glory in the Cimmerian War, and much deserved. The turmoil on the Euxine ceases, and trade now flows reliably through Sinope. Ameinias chafes, however, at not addressing Pontus' eastern border. Its close proximity to our capital of Amaseia worries him, with good reason. Immediately upon the conclusion of the war to the north, Ameinias begins positioning our forces for the long-delayed invasion of Armenia. He and Carenos (his brother, my uncle) sail home with the Lykoi and the Sentinels of Hyperion. The noble Euphorion's newly-raised Mithridates' Chosen prepares to cross into Armenian territory from Phasis. My own fleet, the Heralds of Triton, takes station at sea near the Armenian-held port of Trapezon. Aging Ameinias is determined to fulfill this last promise of his, to secure Amaseia's eastern approaches, before death takes him. The capture of Trapezon is to be his last gift to the people of Pontus.

Alas, it is not to be. On the eve of our march, Ameinias takes ill at the Lykoi encampment outside Amaseia, and journeys onward to meet the boatman. Peace be with him. The aristocrat Bacis takes temporary command. I, Sokrates, am now King of Pontus, must further Ameinias' cause, and fulfill his last promise. My uncle Carenos, also advanced in years, retains command of the Sentinels of Hyperion near Samosata. Carenos is the most distinguished man in Pontus, commanding enormous respect - and not a little fear - among the nobles and populace. Many see him as the true power in Pontus, the de facto ruler. So be it. It matters little, for Carenos and I are of like mind on all questions. Most important, he is loyal, both to his family and to his King. [Such is my ham-fisted way of reconciling two different folks as "King" and "faction leader".]

I cannot remain with my Heralds of Triton. It might have been feasible to do so with a sea war such as we fought against Cimmeria. The Armenian conflict, however, will be wholly an affair of armies, not fleets, once Trapezos is taken. I turn command over to the aristocrat Aristeides, and travel to take command of the Lykoi. Bacis returns to the capital...I hope not to cause too much trouble in council while we are away in the field. Meanwhile, as I journey ashore, I decide to improve our position before entering Armenian territory. The Kartli city of Mtskheta [way too many freakin' consonants] beckons. Its capture would expand our hold on the Caucasian country beyond small Phasis, and would open another route upon which to approach the Armenian capital of Armavir. Mtskheta itself, largest city in the area, would increase our prosperity.

Mithridates' Chosen, led by Euphorion, is our newest - indeed, yet unblooded - Pontic army. It lacks the history, experience, and traditions of the Lykoi or Sentinels. Even so, Euphorion commands what is probably Pontus' strongest host. It has been raised from the newly-acquired barracks systems of Phasis and Bosporus. The Chosen boast a higher proportion of hoplites than either Lykoi or Sentinels. Its missile troops are archers and peltasts, rather than javelinmen and slingers. Noble Cavalry ride amongst the ranks, the first Pontic horsemen other than occasional generals' bodyguards. Finally, a newly built workshop in Phasis has built ballistae for Euphorion...another new development for Pontic arms.

I desire to see this new Pontic "model army" in action before we march against Armenia, and so bid Euphorion to defeat the Kartli and capture Mtskheta for Pontus. It is but a short march from Phasis to the Kartli capital, and the general promptly assaults Mtskheta the next season. The Kartli garrison, strongly organized but weakened by apparent economic problems, sallies forth to the plain before the capital to meet Mithridates' Chosen. These defenders valiantly march toward our lines, but the new ballistae and recently recruited archers and peltasts take aim with deadly effect. The Kartli are decimated and routed by flaming projectiles large and small before they even reach the hoplite phalanxes. Their remnants retire behind the walls, and Mtskheta then promptly falls to a rather easy assault. The Caucasian capital is ours, the Kartli destroyed. Mithridates' Chosen have done well in their first action.

https://i.imgur.com/EZb8Pfx.png
Ballistae in action before Mtskheta

It is now time to open the war with Armenia, and at long last come to the aid of our Seleucid friends. Carenos marches from Samosata and quickly captures the Armenians' lightly defended Arsamosata. So far so good. My Lykoi advance upon Trapezon, while the Heralds of Triton approach from the sea under Aristeides. Trapezon is Armenia's only port, and there are several fleets in the vicinity...individually small, but together a not-inconsiderable naval force. The city, moreover, boasts a fairly robust garrison considering the town's non-capital status. The Lykoi can easily capture Trapezon, but I fear it will cost more blood than recent conquests of Arsamosata or the Cimmerian port towns. Before the Lykoi enter the town to engage the defenders, I charge Aristeides to attack Armenian ships outside the harbor...our object being to prevent the Armenians from landing as many troops as possible to support the land defense.

The Heralds' twelve ships are constructed of fairly strong hulls, and manned by archers and javelin troops. Rather than ram and board, our naval doctrine is to overcome enemies with flaming missile fire. The Pontic fleet, however, is yet without means to put true artillery to sea. The Heralds do not have this capability at Trapezon...to their detriment. Aristeides, rather than engage all Armenian ships in view, steers for the rearmost Armenian squadron, farthest from shore. His hope is that the Armenians nearest the wharves will land their troops for the city's defense and therefore not factor in the naval battle. Aristeides aims to destroy the outlying squadron before they can reach shore, and then close toward the docks to render what missile fire support he can for the Lykoi assault.

Events do not transpire this way. The Armenian ships initially move toward shore, but upon seeing Aristeides' threat, come about to meet the Heralds. Our ships close with the targeted enemy squadron and missiles begin to take their toll upon the Armenian crews. Our volume of fire in the absence of seagoing artillery, however, is not sufficient to quickly overwhelm the initial targets, while their crews answer with their own fire. The other Armenian ships close as well, at least one artillery-equipped vessel among them. More ominously, some Pontic ships begin to run low on ammunition. The battle is quickly evened...and then goes against Aristeides. One ship is destroyed, then another. The Armenians take a beating as well, but it saddens me to report that Herald ships begin to lose heart. Aristeides orders his ships to withdraw, and the rowers turn about for the open sea. Some vessels make it, others do not. Six Pontic ships are destroyed in the fight, the admiral's flagship among them. An inauspicious beginning. Aristeides has partially fulfilled his mission by eliminating some of the Armenian crews, but at far too high a cost, including that of his own life. [wish I'd gotten a screenie of this fight, but was too busy clicking and forgot to save replay afterward]

Disheartened by Aristeides' failure, I am nevertheless confident that the Lykoi will yet gain Trapezos for us. I arrange the hoplite and pike phalanxes in a compact column, three phalanxes abreast, the better to advance through the town's streets. We advance, our javelins and slings ahead of and flanking the column. The Armenian defenders, composed primarily of spears and slings, concentrate to meet the Lykoi in an open courtyard-type area near the edge of the city. It is as decent a defending position as they have available to them, but our slings and javelins take a horrific toll upon them as they try to maintain it. Armenian troops fall in droves before the phalanxes advance. As Pontic hoplites march forward over the recently fallen corpses, the few remaining Armenian garrison troops flee. Our phalanxes march toward the city center.

Delayed though they may have been by Aristeides' failed attack, the Armenian naval missileers are now ashore, a second force with whom we must contend. They begin raining fire upon the Lykoi. Well-armored, the phalanxes continue to advance, and come to melee with the hapless Armenians. The struggle does not last long, and more Armenian blood runs in Trapezos' streets. The port city is ours. Ameinias' final promise is fulfilled. The Pontic shore of the Euxine now extends unbroken all the way from Panticipaeum in the north to Sinope in the south. It is a great victory for Pontus and the Lykoi...but the accompanying naval misadventure takes the joy out of triumph.

https://i.imgur.com/nBFNUph.png
Pontic phalanxes move toward Trapezos center, past the scene of initial contact

https://i.imgur.com/c17GeVz.png
Trapezos: Clearing the second force of Armenian naval troops

The battered Heralds of Triton moor alongside the newly-conquered wharves to recover, now under command of Cyncus [does one detect future ill omen in the admiral's very name? Hmmm...]. I look forward to their reconstitution, but it is clear to me that fundamental naval reorganization is imperative. Without such, I can never again consider to commit a Pontic fleet to battle even a similar-sized foe. We cannot hope to reliably prevail with missile and javelin alone; it is not enough to wear down enemy crews. We must quickly destroy the ships which carry them...Cyncus must have artillery. I had originally planned to develop Trapezos' wharves to carry yet more Pontic trade, but I now order the construction of a naval port instead. We enjoy the commerce of the Euxine Sea because we are its masters...but we will not long remain so without a sufficiently strong fleet. [Note: this isn't merely Sokrates' opinion that I'm putting in his mouth for story purposes. I've come to the conclusion that spamming arty ships is really the only reliable means to construct a navy in R2, if one actually wants to fight naval battles rather than AR them. The fights are just too chaotic to go with assault ships trying to ram/board. Maybe others can manage it. I can't.]

The Battle of Trapezos proves to be the most difficult of the Armenian campaign...as it appears they prioritized naval development. We do not meet a strong Armenian field army in the future. Carenos marches upon the town of Tushpa, which falls easily to his Sentinels of Hyperion. Euphorion moves south from Mtskheta to besiege Armavir. Leaving Cyncus as temporary military governor in Trapezos, I march the Lykoi toward the Armenian capital from the west. We come upon a rather large army near the city's outskirts. No mere local rebels, this host is apparently made up of deserted slaves, who style themselves Volumna's Faithful. I know not from whence they come, but in any case, I am not about to allow their continued presence on what will soon be Pontic soil.

I leave Mithridates' Chosen to invest Armavir, and march the Lykoi upon the slave army. They retreat before me, but the Lykoi pursue and bring the slaves to battle on the plain south of Armavir. Withdrawal no longer possible, Volumna's Faithful line up before us. As at Trapezos, our phalanxes advance, and cannot be withstood. Their lines fixed by our hoplites, the slave ranks are easy prey to flanking attacks by our pikemen. Many slaves die, the remainder rout. Volumna's Faithful are utterly destroyed. Their uprising, wherever it may have begun, ends here. It saddens me a little to see their fate. These men want only freedom, and to be left alone in peace. The philosopher in me does not hate the cause for which they fight. Perhaps in some future millenium, their vision of widespread - perhaps universal - freedom among mankind may be realized. But not in this world, in this time. It cannot be tolerated. Sokrates the dilettante philosopher might sympathize. Sokrates the King must be merciless, and ruthlessly crushes the revolt without remorse. I have done my duty.

https://i.imgur.com/mdVshSz.png
Lykoi phalanxes advance upon the slaves of Volumna's Faithful

The remainder of the Armenian campaign is anticlimactic. Armavir falls to Mithridates' Chosen the following season; my Lykoi are on hand to support, but their assistance is not needed. With the capital's fall, all of Armenia is now under Pontic control. I designate this territory as a formal province, under the same name. I would like to appoint a civil governor here as my father did in Galatia et Cappodocia and Bosporus, but none are currently available. (Aristodemos and Agelaus, it must be said, have been doing quite nicely in their provinces. Efficient chaps.) Our triumph at Armavir is marred by news of old Carenos' death at Arsamosata, of natural causes. My younger brother Evelthon takes command of the Sentinels of Hyperion. Our campaign, moreover, is not quite complete.

I choose to end this war by consolidating our control of the Caucasian area just to the north of Armenia. The Ardhlan town of Gabala there remains independent. This town boasts some local gold mines, and is a potentially lucrative addition to Pontic territory. My Lykoi march. As we approach, the Ardhlan garrison sallies out to the hilly plain before the town. Both forces make for higher ground, but make contact before either reaches a crest. We meet upon an open hillside, first with an exchange of flaming javelins, and then shield upon shield. The Ardhvan fight bravely, but not long. Lykoi phalanxes are once more triumphant, and the Ardhvan retire to Gabala. I elect not to burden my men with yet another assault, and am content to simply encircle the town. Gold-rich Gabala soon surrenders without a fight. The Pontic province of Caucasia is established, and the Armenian Wars are over.

https://i.imgur.com/E93D3Gd.png
End of the Armenian War: The Lykoi meet Ardhlan outside Gabala

It is just as well that open hostilities have ceased. Unlike earlier foes such as Cimmeria and Cyprus, Armenia and the Caucasus factions were of a wholly different culture than our own. Pontus is perhaps eastward-leaning (our own Mithridatic dynasty arose of Persian stock, I am told), but we are firmly Hellenic. Our new territories, however, are of Eastern culture, and do not readily accept us as new rulers. The populace are unhappy. I am compelled to tear down a great number of Eastern temples and facilities to replace them with our own. This will take time. I am compelled to use my magnificent field armies as garrison troops in these provinces, perhaps for some number of years. A rebellion even arises near Arsamosata. I decide to let the rebel army grow for a few seasons, that I may catch the most malcontents possible and destroy them all at once. The ploy doesn't come to fruition, however, as the still-small rebel force rashly attacks Arsamosata's garrison. Small though it is, the town's defenders easily dispatch the disloyal rabble. So be it.

Pontus is not only stronger now than it has ever been before, but also more secure. To the west, we border our ally Bithynia and the friendly Greek world, tied to us by mutual trade. To our south, the Seleucid Empire, now bound to us through a military alliance due to the common struggle against Armenia. To the east, a vast expanse of Seleucid satrapies are also well-disposed towards us. Pontus is at the center of a Hellenic (and Hellenic-controlled) world. Only to our north do nomadic Scythia and Sirace range even remotely close to our borders.

This good fortune does present a dillemma. My court seer once recounted a dream of his to me, in which many centuries hence people call such a situation "Catch-22" (whatever that means). Pontus is wholly protected in nearly all directions by friends and allies....friends and allies whom we do not desire to attack. How can I and my successors further expand Pontic power? North seems a possibility, but opportunities there are limited, with only a boundless wilderness beyond Scythia. Whither next the Lykoi?

https://i.imgur.com/S4NTaV7.png

[Ituralde]

There's even an official form of inheritance that favours the eldest surviving member of a dynasty: It's called Agnatic Seniority (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnatic_seniority). So it's not that unreasonable to do it that way.

This is presented to you by Things you learn from Crusader Kings 2!

[Bramborough]

Part VII

Southern troubles and opportunities: The Peace of Sokrates and a new war in Syria


The Peace

Following the end of the Armenian Wars, Pontus enjoys nearly two decades without war, a period longer than even the Peace of Ariobazarnes. It is my good fortune to reign during this time, which allows me to focus on much-needed reforms too long neglected (out of necessity).

Political Cohesion: As projected, it does take time to fully assimilate the provinces of Armenia and Caucasia. This has the effect of essentially immobilizing the armies for some number of years. At long last, however, this goal is reached, and today the formerly Eastern provinces are every bit as Hellenic and inspired as any of the other Pontic provinces.

Military Reform: The success of Mithridates' Chosen at Mtskheta and Armavir pointed the way to the future of Pontic arms. I order that the "model army" structure be adopted as standard for all our hosts. The Lykoi and the Sentinels of Hyperion march to the Bosporus to reform. In addition, a new fourth host, the Champions of Amasis under the aristocrat Cleombrotos, is raised. Long-serving slinger, javelin, and Eastern spear units are discharged. It pains me a little to see this, for these men valiantly served a succession of Pontic kings, and much of the proud glory of Pontic arms rests upon their shoulders. Their experience will be missed. In the case of the slingers, in particular, I hope I am not making too rash a decision. Our new archers and peltasts are far more potent in dealing damage quickly, particularly with the use of fire. None can match, however, the slingers' long range and capability to deal missile damage over an extended time period (over twice the ammunition capacity). I hope I have no future cause to regret sending our slingers home.

https://i.imgur.com/AqOBWHo.png
New "standard" Pontic military structure. There are still slight variations among the different armies.

Naval Reform. The naval debacle at Trapezos starkly illustrated our shortcomings in doctrine and organization. Having begun an effort at Trapezos, it quickly becomes clear that a larger facility will be required [somehow I made it through two Rome campaigns without realizing that the military wharf line can only go in capitals]. A new military wharf is built at Panticipaeum, and at last the artillery-equipped vessels so desperately needed are available to the Pontic navy. At my direction, Cyncus scraps all existing hulls, and a new, much larger and more robust Heralds of Triton is launched from the Bosporus ways. The core striking power of our new fleet is a strong contingent of seagoing ballistae, covered by a more powerful screen of archer-manned vessels. Pontic naval doctrine has always been to engage at distance, to destroy or rout the enemy before ships' gunwales can crash together in melee. Now for the first time we have a fleet that can make this doctrine reality rather than theory.

https://i.imgur.com/baSC4GO.png
New Pontic fleet structure...these guys might have done better at Trapezos

Economic development. The newly raised and reformed Pontic forces are not inexpensive. A steadily increasing stream of gold is vital. Every Pontic port (aside from the military establishments at Panticipaeum and Phasis) is commercially oriented. Every provincial capital boasts a wine market once growth can support. Small market towns remain small, but Pontus is rich in trade resources, and every town producing such grows to the highest extent possible. The countryside is filled with grain fields and cattle ranches. Such activities produce inevitable squalor, but the Amphitheaters and Sacred Groves of our capitals, as well as the Bread and Games of Galatia/Cappadocia and Bosporus, more than counteract its negative effects.

Internal Politics. However much foreign threats may have receded during the Peace of Sokrates, domestic threats remain...indeed, increase. The Mithridatic dynasty remains in unchallenged control, but each passing year the other noble families wax in power. Euphorion, commander of Mithridates' Chosen, is first among them...in time, his influence grows to a level even higher than my own. Euphorion has been loyal and his army performed well during the Armenian Wars...but I cannot allow this state of affairs to continue. I send my spies to assassinate the man. Alas, he is only wounded, and soon continues to exercise his leadership in council at Amaseia. The attempt on his life, moreover, is transparent, and Mithridatic influence falls as a result. My only consolation is that his wounding removes Euphorion from command of the Chosen, in which he is replaced by Endios.

I make other, more successful, internal moves. The aristocrat Cleombrotos has raised the Champions of Amasis, who are now campaign-ready. Sterling service indeed, but I need more Mithridatic generals at the head of our armies. My son Charidemos relieves Cleombrotos as commander of the Champions. Meanwhile, Cyncus has excelled in rebuilding the navy, and I desire to retain him as head of the Heralds (if only because such a name as an admiral amuses me to no end). I need Cyncus, however, firmly in my control, and offer him riches and influence to entice. He accepts, and I may now count Cyncus among the Mithridatic loyal. Good news arrives from the Eye of the King....Euphorion has succumbed to a second assassination attempt. Murmuring against the throne continues, but no clear leader now focuses the anti-Mithridatic party.

Seleucid Woes: A New War to the South

Pontus' increased economic and military power is realized none too soon. Two decades ago, I had thought to one day expand north toward Scythia. Suspicion of Bithynia's long ago treachery during the Galatian War had not been forgotten either. Northern steppe and the rich port of Nicomedia were to be my final gifts to Pontus in the winter of my reign. The world, however, has changed during this peace. Egypt, once vanquished by Seleucia during the time of Ameinias, has reappeared in the desert capital of Petra. They, along with their Nabatean and Saban kin, war once more upon the Seleucids....with a worrisome degree of success. The Seleucid emperor asked me during the peace to declare war upon Saba. I did so for diplomatic reasons, to keep the ally happy for a time...with no real intention of actually hazarding Pontic blood among those desert sands.

The Seleucids' deteriorating situation, however, gives me pause to reconsider. Seleucid Petra and Palymra have fallen to Egypt, Jerusalem to Nabatea, and Tyros to Saba. Antioch and Tarsus are threatened. The "secure" southern border of 20 years ago now appears a bit more brittle. Charidemos' Champions of Amasis, stationed near Bithynia for a potential march against Nicomedia, are ordered south. The Heralds of Triton, I now feel are the match of any single fleet in the world; they too begin a long voyage from Panticipaeum to the Mediterranean Sea. Our fleet will need a base upon arrival; Charidemos secures Tyros, taking it from the Saba. The Champions of Amasis perform well in their first action, light though it is. In addition to their strategic value, Tyros' dye shops promise a lucrative boost to Pontic coffers.

Meanwhile, however, Seleucid fortunes continue to wane. Antioch falls to Nabatea, who also put the Seleucid capital of Tarsus under siege. Our ally is in severe disarray. This can be no mere expedition...I decide to bring the full weight of Pontic arms to bear. I march south with the Lykoi, as does Endios with Mithridates' Chosen. Only the Sentinels of Hyperion under my brother Evelthon remain in the north...and even they perhaps not for long.

Mithridates' Chosen beseige newly-Nabatean Antioch. I would perhaps prefer that this city remain Seleucid, but that can only be idle wishfulness now. It is paramount that this key capital be regained for the Hellenic world...and if that means Pontic rather than Seleucid, so be it. Endios begins constructing siege ladders for the assault. Meanwhile, I lead my Lykoi to the aid of Seleucid Tarsus, endeavoring to help them keep their capital. Charidemos remains at Tyros, so that the Champions of Amasis may prevent any further Nabatean incursion from the south.

Nabatea sallies out against Endios. Their garrison army is well-reinforced by a Nabatean field army styled The Dread Nomads. We shall see just how Dread they may be. The Nomads march upon the plain before Antioch amidst a raging thunderstorm (somewhat rare for these parts?), and advance towards Mithridates' Chosen over wet ground. Endios prepares a strong defensive position on a hillcrest, obliging the Nomads to advance up a muddy slope towards our lines. Our archers and peltasts cannot avail themselves of flaming shot in the rain...but their fire is no less deadly for that. Valiantly (though perhaps not so intelligently), the Nabateans mount the slippery slope. Their ranks are thinned by our peltasts' fire, but still they advance. Our peltasts retire to the flanks, and the Nabateans meet our hoplites on the hillcrest.

Our archers continue to fire, secure behind the hoplites. Endios bids them use whistling shot to rend the Nabateans' ears and cause them to lose heart. The Nomads fight bravely for a time, but as so many foes beforehand, can do little against our magnificent hoplites. The attack soon falters, and the Nabateans begin to rout. Their missile troops (archers and slings, it has been reported to me) are now exposed. Endios' Noble Blood Cavalry, having annihilated a weak Nabatean cavalry probe toward our right flank, now charges forward toward the missileers. It is a slaughter. Many a Nabatean, however valiant, falls in the mud of this day. Their remnants, few in number, retire behind Antioch's walls.

https://i.imgur.com/cHnRjc6.png
Antioch: The Nabatean Dread Nomads assault Mithridates' Chosen

https://i.imgur.com/BW0KXlc.png
Antioch: Eastern spears are no match for hoplites, regardless of valor or nationality

https://i.imgur.com/Gx5SJEH.png
Antioch, the final phase: Noble Blood Cavalry ride down Nabatean archers on the muddy plain

Endios, assisted by a Seleucid fleet, immediately follows up this success with the assault upon Antioch's walls. The decimated defenders put up little fight. The Syrian capital is once more in Hellenic - now Pontic - hands. With two Mediterranean ports now under our control, Pontus' destiny obviously will unfold very differently than I had foreseen in my youth. Endios and the Chosen have once more excelled. There is, however, little time to celebrate. The Seleucids remain besieged at Tarsus.

I briefly consider, at my war council's urging, a rather cold maneuver. We could stand aside and allow Nabatea to capture Tarsus...and only then march upon its walls. Pontus could gain this rich prize for its own, without making war on an ally. I remember, however, tales of the nearly identical Bithynian ploy before Sinope. Are we no better than them? Is Pontus such a devious "friend" to our allies? Shall I allow whispers of Pontic treachery to fester in the Seleucid court for generations to come? No. The Lykoi march now to Seleucia's aid. The siege of Tarsus will be lifted while the Seleucid banner still flies above it.

We descend upon the plain before Tarsus and immediately march upon the Nabatean lines. Tarsus' garrison, heartened by our approach, sallies forth upon the plain to support. Indeed, such is their newly-invigorated zeal that they insist upon taking the lead position against the Nabateans. Weakened though they are by siege, and in any case a garrison force rather than proper army, the Seleucids nevertheless surge forward to engage, while we are still forming our lines for the advance. No deliberate assault for them.

The result is predictable. Nabatean and Seleucid clash on the plain before us. The lightly armored Seleucid troops are nearly annihilated...but their aim is true and they slay many a Nabatean themselves. I admire their valor, regret their needless sacrifice, and am gratified how they have weakened the foe. The Lykoi now advance. Nabatean infantry move upon our phalanxes in spread-out fashion, and the lines dissipate. Each phalanx finds itself in an isolated struggle upon the sand. Nabatean missile units roam the field, taking targets under fire as opportunity permits. Our archers and peltasts do likewise. Pontic armor prevails once more over Nabatean zeal, and the hoplites rout their foes. Only a line of Nabatean archers remain. The hoplites reform and advance in formation upon this final line of resistance. They do not even close for melee. The mere sight of the long unbroken line of well-armored spears approaching causes the final Nabatean units to break, and to melt away into the desert. The siege of Tarsus is lifted.

https://i.imgur.com/Zab9SIi.png
Tarsus: Lykoi hoplites advance upon the final Nabatean line

I fear this may be the last Lykoi triumph I am blessed to witness. I am in my 69th year, and soon I will make my journey across the Styx to join Ameinias and my forebears. Soon Charidemos must take the throne and guide Pontus' fate. I am content. It has been my good fortune to gift Pontus the provinces of Armenia and Caucasia in my youth. I have given her long peace, stronger armies, and a powerful fleet. And now I bequeath Mediterranean ports and an opening to vast new territories. Finally, I leave a strong son worthy of the Pontic throne.

Charidemos will indeed need such strength. Such open fields before us are infested with many a foe. The Saba and Nabateans are beaten back, but not vanquished. Their allies the Qidri and Ma'in war upon us as well. Although open hostilities are not yet commenced, it cannot be long before Egyptian spears join the fray. The deliverance of Tarsus notwithstanding, our Seleucid ally remains weak and disjointed...who can foresee how long they will be able to maintain sway over their vast eastern satrapies? Another desert folk, the Nasamones, have waxed powerful and have taken Athens...this does not yet concern Pontus directly, but it is another substantive threat to the Hellenic world. Among the Greeks, only Knossos (somewhat surprisingly) is in the ascendant rather than decline, having recently conquered the rich port capital of Alexandria. This promises to be a long war, with much Pontic blood yet to be spilt.

https://i.imgur.com/bwaf2Cd.png

[Bramborough]

Part VIII

Charidemos succeeds to the throne: A new mindset for Pontus

I am Charidemos, son of Sokrates, and sixth King of Pontus. I came of age during the Armenian Wars, and have commanded the Champions of Amasis since their formation. As First Prince of Pontus, I led the Champions into Syria under my father. We took Tyros and Antioch, and Sokrates himself led his Lykoi to assist the Seleucids at Tarsus. Sokrates was an old man when we began this war; he should have lived out his days in peace at Amaseia, enjoying the continued Peace after the glory of Armenia and Caucasia. The Fates, however, had a different destiny for him. Rebels had held Edessa for decades. We had thought for many years that the Seleucids or one of their satrapies would remove this blot from within their lands...they did not do so. After lifting the siege of Tarsus, Sokrates resolved put down the Edessan rebellion himself. The old king succeeded of course; he was always a great warrior and wily general. And it is well that he did so...Edessa is renowned for its silk textiles, and is a profitable addition to Pontic territory. At Edessa, however, advanced age finally caught up with my father. No sooner had the clash of shield and spear subsided, than Sokrates passed away. The throne has passed to me.

I revere the memory of Sokrates, and of all Pontic kings before him, from Mithridates to Ameinias. They were all men of great valor, and guided Pontus skillfully and well. We are indebted to their success. My forebears built their policies on a foundation of careful expansion and the promotion of Hellenic unity. Beginning with Mithridates, Pontic Kings have always relied upon Greek goodwill, trade, and alliance, to secure our borders.

The world, however, is different today. Greeks are in disarray...and I fear will remain forever so. The Hellenic world cannot regain its strength through diplomacy, confederation, trade and goodwill....but only through political unification. My forebears built a strong Pontic nation. It is time for us to begin thinking of a Pontic Empire, compassing the lands of the Greeks and beyond. With empire will come perpetual conflict. The days of short discrete wars, alternating with periods of peace, are gone. Henceforward...Pontic armies will always be marching. Indeed, without his own realization, Sokrates inaugurated this new era when we marched south into Syria...no longer were we defending our homes, protecting our trade, or securing our borders. Now we fight wars characterized by alien lands, foreign entanglements, and no small measure of greed. In truth, it has always been such. Ameinias defeated Cimmeria in the name of safeguarding Sinopean trade, but was not this oversea adventure every bit as much a foreign expedition for gold and aggrandizement as has been this Syrian war? Conquest and expansion have always been the true Pontic nature, despite royal proclamations to the contrary.

I do not lament this Pontic aggression, but embrace it. Pontus will wax larger...not for protection or for helping allies, but for gain. Henceforth the Lykoi and their brethren will march not because they must...but because they can. Greeks will remain allies when it suits us...and enemies when not. Most important, Greeks will need to earn Pontus' trust through strength and action, rather than common heritage. No longer will we prop up tottering allies. The Seleucids, with Sokrates' help, have recovered for now...but we will not save them again. Bithynia's long-ago stratagem at Sinope is not forgotten...they will be repaid. Pergamon their ally will have to choose. Athens, Sparta, Knossos, and Macedon likewise will soon have to weigh subservience or extinction. Such days are coming, but not yet here. For now, I must resolve this continuing war with Nabatea and Saba.

A word about the armies and fleets. Evelthon (my uncle) and the Sentinels of Hyperion remain in the Bosporus. The Lykoi, now commanded by the aristocrat Ptolemaeus, garrison Edessa...the Eastern cultural influence there from Mesopotamia is strong. Cyncus' Heralds of Triton have completed their long voyage from the Euxine, and now ply Mediterranean waters, raiding in the Mare Aegyptum, near the Nile Delta. To support my imperial vision, I order the raising of two new armies, the Defenders of Trapezon and the Wrath of Zeus; I recall the nobles Bacis and Cleombrotos, respectively, to command. Both hosts now recruit and train in the Bosporus. This leaves Endios' Mithridates' Chosen and my own Champions of Amasis to march south into Nabatea.

I besiege Jerusalem, while Endios besieges the rebel-held capital of Petra. Both cities soon fall, Petra itself surrendering without battle. Soon afterward, my Champions ambush and destroy the Lords of War, a small Nabatean army which had marched (too late) to relieve Jerusalem. I continue south the following season, and the Champions of Amasis capture Hegra from the Saba. Only the Red Sea port of Charmuthas, also held by Saba, remains...I further push the Champions onward and take this city during the following season. Nabatea is conquered, and I designate it a unified province. My Eyes of the King have been active in these desert lands, and have convinced a Nabatean dignitary to join Pontic service...I assign the man an administrative post in the new province, charging him to increase its tax revenue. Likewise, a Saban noble has elected to serve us, and I put him to work in Syria. Meanwhile, closer to home, the noble Theodotus is appointed civil governor of Caucasia, and an Edict of Bread and Games is proclaimed there. A veteran Hero (the man's name escapes me) has volunteered to serve the Pontic crown once more, and I enlist his experience to help train the newly forming armies near Phantagoria. [yes...this all means I just hit the 3rd Imperium level...gotta start worrying about that Civil War malarkey soon...]

The rapid conquest has left little opportunity to garrison these newly won towns, despite the presence of two armies. An Egyptian rebellion flares up near Petra, while a Slave army has formed between Hegra and Jerusalem. Mithridates' Chosen move to put down these threats. The slave host advances upon Endios, rather than wait for his attack. It is a poor decision, as Mithridates' Chosen have a good defensive position on a steep sandy hillside. Flaming missile fire rains upon the slave infantry, who quickly rout. Noble Blood Cavalry then sweep from our right, charging upon their javelin troops. It is over quickly.

Endios then quickly countermarches to meet the Egyptian rebels on a height overlooking the Dead Sea. Again the rebels advance uphill towards the hoplites. They give a much better account of themselves than the Slaves, and melee rages along the hillcrest for a time. The rebels also make a flank attack which comes closer to success than it should have. The flanking infantry come very close to threatening Pontic ballista crews before the Noble Bloods meet and decimate the attack. In the main, however, the outcome is foreordained...none in these lands have remotely approached a serious challenge to Pontic hoplites. The rebels are crushed. Nabatea remains firmly in our sway.

https://i.imgur.com/jn9VSFy.png
Pontic archers and peltasts in action during the Nabatean campaign

https://i.imgur.com/eHJyCpE.png
Noble Blood Cavalry charging upon Slave javelineers near Hegra

https://i.imgur.com/B3dBu8P.png
Egyptian rebels engage Mithridates' Chosen overlooking the Dead Sea

https://i.imgur.com/NGeYWZG.png
Pontic horsemen breaking up a rebel flank attack

The Nabateans have been destroyed, and Saba pushed wholly out of these regions. Their allies the Qidri and Ma'in, moreover, have been vanquished by resurgent Seleucid satrapies from the east. Our Nabatean eastern border is secure. Across the Red Sea, however, Egypt rises yet again at Myos Hormos, while rebels hold sway over Alexandria...a rich prize indeed. As long as Aegyptus remains in turmoil, a succession of Pharaoic contenders will continue to resuscitate Egyptian ambitions. This rich region must be brought under control...Pontic control. The Pyramids beckon, and the Champions and Mithridates' Chosen march through the Sinai toward the Nile.

The desert Nasamones blockade rebel-held Alexandria...I cannot assault the city as long as they do so. Cyncus reports that the blockade has been in place for some years, with no sign of resolution. Pontus has had no direct quarrel with the Nasamones despite their earlier wars with Athens and other Greeks...indeed, Sokrates established trade with them, which continues to this day. Nevertheless, I will not permit them to stymie Pontic ambitions in Aegyptus. I order Cyncus to break the blockade, so that our still-marching armies will have access to the walls upon their arrival. Sokrates' naval reforms are put to their first test...and are proven sound. The artillery-heavy Heralds of Triton pulverize the Nasamone squadron at range...only their heavily damaged flagship manages to close the distance to our covering screen of missile ships before it is destroyed. Alexandria will be open to assault once our Pontic armies arrive.

https://i.imgur.com/xcOJMuo.png
Heralds of Triton breaking the Nasamone blockade at Alexandria. The famous lighthouse in background.

In the north, the Defenders of Trapezon have completed muster and are campaign-ready. I have ordered Bacis to take his newly-raised host to Galatia and prepare for the long-awaited war against heretofore-allied Bithynia. Likewise, Evelthon's Sentinels of Hyperion has long remained on watch before the Scythians, and I fear they grow stagnant. The Sentinels are ordered to Galatia as well. The Wrath of Zeus, commanded by Cleombrotos, nears readiness. Newfound wealth in the south supports the recruitment of yet more Pontic forces. With proven naval success at Alexandria, a new fleet organized on the same model is ordered. Missile ships for Scylla's Terror, commanded by Euneas, begin sliding the ways at Phasis; once they are complete, the admiral will take his fleet north for the artillery ships built at Panticipaeum.

I ponder also the creation of yet another army, for which I will soon have use as Pontus advances on multiple axes. A curious development may here be related. Over a century ago, the Mithridatic general Praxiteles led Pontus' first army to its destruction on the Galatian plain before Ancyra. History records his folly, as well as the nature of this host...little more than a rabble of levied spears and slingers. They did manage to overrun a Cappadocian village before allowing themselves to be slaughtered. Few among the Pontic populace, however, read the histories...while all listen to the poets and singers. The failed general of chronicle has been transformed into the titan of myth. And while his army may in reality have been but an organized mob, the Scions of Sinope in song loom large as a glorious legend of Pontic valor. Our Lykoi and Sentinels of Hyperion date back to this time, and have the record of many campaigns to burnish their names. Pontics indeed revere their proud histories as well...but the Lykoi and Sentinels are extant and tangible. In the eyes of my people, the Lykoi walk among giants...but the mythic Scions march with the gods.

My kinsman Antiphus is direct male-line descendant of Praxiteles. He seeks to regain glory for his family in the histories as well as the songs, to march towards conquest where Praxiteles met only defeat. He makes supplication to me for command of a new host, and indeed has performed well leading Pontic cavalry in Syria and Nabatea. Very well, I can use a man of his motivations, ambitions, and talents. Let the Scions march again, with the descendant of Praxiteles at their head. They will go forth this time not as a citizen levy, but with the full weight of Pontic military technology and professionalism. Antiphus is dispatched to the Bosporus, there to raise the Scions of Sinope once more. I just hope he proves a better tactical head than his ancestor....

Meanwhile, Evelthon and Bacis arrive on the Bithynian border, above Nicomedia. If revenge is a dish best served cold, we shall relish this nearly-frozen offering indeed. It has been over three generations since Bithynian treachery nearly cost Pontus its vital port of Sinope. Nicomedus stood by and allowed the Galatian Mountain Men to traverse Bithynian territory towards Sinope, hoping to eventually gain the city for himself. The Lykoi and Sentinels marched quickly to thwart this design...but the treachery of our supposed "ally" has never been forgotten in the Mithridatic court. My forebears' commitment to Hellenic amity have stayed our hand for decades, but that time is over. Bithynia wanted our port...instead, at long last, we will have theirs. I break our alliance and trade agreements with Nicomedia, and then declare war.

Such a declaration must have consequences. Pergamon, in defensive pact with Bithynia, declares war upon us. Other Greek nations deplore our action. Our Seleucid allies and their far-reaching satrapies have long held Greek Bithynia and Pergamon in high regard, and are forced to choose. I invoke our own longstanding alliance, not just in name but in action. I remind the Seleucid ruler of our common war against Armenia, of Pontic troops responding to the Syrian troubles. Most of all, I recall Sokrates lifting the siege of Tarsus when he could very well have stood by and thereby gained that capital for himself. Reluctantly, Seleucia acquiesces, and follows Pontus into war against Bithynia and Pergamon.

Our armies promptly besiege Nicomedia, and begin preparing ladders and battering rams. I charge Evelthon to lead the assault upon the walls. The Sentinels of Hyperion have lain fallow in the Bosporus for too many a year; the rust must be knocked away. The garrison is strong and the large Bithynian fleet supports from the harbor, but I am confident the Sentinels will prevail. The assault begins. With ram and ladder, Evelthon's men gain the wall and breach the gate easily enough. Nicomedia, however, is a large city, and unlike most others, boasts a citadel with many interior towers. The hoplites win a bloody struggle at the gate, but then must continue the advance through the city under missile fire from all directions. Our peltasts and archers make their way along the rampart of the curtain wall to subdue its towers, but it is slow going and many fall. The hoplites advance upon the citadel and take its towers one by one, taking missile casualties as well. Meanwhile, the Bithynian ships have disembarked their crews, and hordes of naval missile troops range through Nicomedia's streets. Noble Blood Cavalry hunt them down and easily break them, but it is a time-consuming process. At long last, with citadel and city center captured, the resistance ends when our horsemen destroy the last of the Bithynian archers near the harbor. Nicomedia is ours...at the highest cost of Pontic blood exacted in decades. [seriously, this was one of the harder siege assaults I've done. The actual combat wasn't bad, but the city size, interior towers, ramps, and dead-end alleys were a total pain the ass. And whatever their other merits, hoplites don't move that fast...]

https://i.imgur.com/FNixN9i.png
The Sentinels of Hyperion assault Nicomedia's walls

Nicomedia is won, but Bithynia remains unvanquished, and their substantial armies and fleets will re-engage us. Pergamon marches alongside them. Rebel-held Alexandria and resurgent Egypt await us across the Nile. The erstwhile-blockading Nasamones, moreover, will soon retaliate from the Libyan desert. The tribes of Arabia have receded from our Nabatean border, but they are not all extinguished, and remain at war with the Pontic throne. The Scions of Sinope and Scylla's Terror continue to recruit, and I will soon have need of them.

[Bramborough]

Part IX

Nascent Empire: The early reign of Charidemos

My courtiers and nobles maintain an ongoing fiction that Pontus remains but a kingdom. Strong, fierce, and independent, but just a kingdom. The truth is different...and has been so since Ameinias sailed against Cimmeria. I, Charidemos, am the first Pontic king to embrace the reality that the Kingdom of Pontus is in fact a new Pontic Empire. The aristocrats recoil at the notion; they accept new land and titles readily enough, but they recognize that their political power further wanes relative to the throne's, with the addition of each new territory. The philosophers likewise harangue against "foreign entanglements" and deplore Pontic advances against fellow Hellenes. The merchants, on the other hand, are quite content, actually enthusiastic. The people do not care, so long as bread fills their tables and actors of the Amphitheatron tickle their fancy. The semantics interest me not at all. I care little whether I am called "King" or "Emperor" as long as all do my bidding. The nobles continue to lead my armies, the merchants to fund them, and the people to fill their ranks. Pontic hosts continue to march.

After Cyncus breaks the Nasamone blockade of Alexandria, Endios and Mithridates' Chosen put the rebel-controlled capital under siege. No army comes to the rebels' aid, and Endios assaults the walls as soon as the ladders and rams are ready. The Heralds of Triton support Endios' assault from the harbor, using their shipborne siege artillery to good effect. Pontic hoplites and archers gain the walls and towers near the main gate, but it is at the gate itself, breached by Endios' ram, where the focus of struggle takes place. Upon breaking the gate, Mithridates' Chosen surge forth through the opening, where the substantial rebel infantry and horse meet them in a concentrated melee. While the eventual outcome of the overall assault is in little doubt, it does appear that this first attempt might be repulsed. Endios sends more hoplites over the ladders to flank the fiercely resisting rebel forces. Archers rain fire on the defenders from the wrested walls. After much slaughter of both rebel and Pontic, the defenders finally give way, and the hoplites march toward the city center. Only the rebel general's bodyguard remains to make a lone stand...but this bodyguard is no easy matter, as it consists of war elephants. Victory is assured, but Endios wisely chooses to expend no more Pontic blood and signals the fleet. Cyncus moves his ballista-armed ships into position and takes the elephants under fire. Fearsome though the leviathans may be, they are helpless against the rain of heavy stone. Alexandria, crown of the Nile, is ours.

https://i.imgur.com/gUg6q1L.png
Alexandria: Mithridates' Chosen storm the gate

https://i.imgur.com/bcVAU9i.png
Alexandria: Hoplite reinforcements enter the city, tramping over carnage of the recent gate melee

Rebels have taken over the Egyptian city of Memphis. I lead the Champions of Amasis to dislodge them. The rebel defenders sally forth before the town, and a short sharp fight ensues before they are annihilated. Pontic power on the Nile grows, the Pyramids now ours as well as the Lighthouse.

https://i.imgur.com/HuD8NSB.png
Victory at Memphis: Champions of Amasis exult

The Heralds of Triton had performed well in breaking the Nasamone blockade at Alexandria...but that had been a relatively small enemy force. The Nasamones now send a large invasion fleet along the Mare Aegyptum to threaten Alexandria. Endios is confident of holding the city if they assault, but it would be another bloody battle for his hoplites, still recovering from the gate battle during the recent assault. I order Cyncus to meet the Nasamones and prevent their landfall. While composed of transports rather than proper naval vessels, the Nasamone fleet is every bit as numerous as the Heralds. A large naval engagement looms, and will be a sterner test of Sokrates' naval reforms.

The Heralds of Trion perform magnificently, and Cyncus wins a heroic victory. The Nasamone transports row hard to engage the Heralds' archer-manned screen, but are overcome by the weight of Cyncus' ballistae. Every enemy ship is sunk before it can reach ram/boarding range. The entire Nasamone host is lost...at the cost of not a single Pontic sailor. My father's wisdom is again confirmed; these are not the Heralds of the naval disaster at Trapezos. Cyncus follows up this signal triumph with a blockade of Nasamone Paraitonion in Libya.

https://i.imgur.com/duH8UBh.png
Nasamone invasion fleet destroyed: Heralds of Triton redeem the memory of Trapezos

Such have been our fortunes in the south, but Pontic power waxes elsewhere as well. After long but uneventful service in the Bosporus, Evelthon triumphed in the winter of his life with the capture of Nicomedia. My uncle then passed over the Styx there, and my kinsman Glaukos has taken command of the Sentinels of Hyperion. Accompanying the Sentinels in Bithynia are the recently-raise Wrath of Zeus, led by Cleombrotos. Upon Nicomedia's capture, Cleombrotos presses ahead to further carry the war against Bithynia. The Wrath of Zeus attack Pergamon, Bithynia's lone remaining settlement. Bithynia and Pergamon are the closest of allies. My court chroniclers are at a loss to explain how Pergamon's ancestral city is under Bithynian control...there must at some pont have been a rebellion there which went unnoticed in Amaseia. I have half a mind to send a few of these "historians" to the executioner's block as an example, but I stay my hand...for now.

The Bithynian garrison sallies out to meet our attack, and the Wrath of Zeus engage in their first battle. The armies meet in wooded scrubland near the city, and come to grips among the trees. Our newest armies, the Wrath among them, have been outfitted with a larger contingent of field artillery (2 ballistae instead of one), and the weight of fire soon begins to tell. The Bithynians retreat among the groves, and Pergamon is soon ours. Bithynian armies and fleets remain in the field, and they seem to retain a settlement in far-off Illyria, but they no longer hold territory on the Anatolian peninsula. How they must rue their grandfathers' treachery at Sinope.

https://i.imgur.com/RvbdAPq.png
Bithynian defenders at Pergamon flee before the Wrath of Zeus

The implications of Pontus' waxing power is not lost on other nations, particularly our Greek neighbors. Diplomatic envoys flock to Amaseia, seeking accomodation with the Pontic throne. Athens, Knossos, and the Ardiaei propose non-aggression pacts, even defensive alliances. In the past, such entreaties would have been warmly received in our capital, in pursuit of my forebears' vision of a Hellenic brotherhood of equals. Today, I rebuff them. Trade accords are always welcomed (Pontic merchants would have it no other way). The Greeks must understand, however, that henceforth there is but one political relationship which they may have with the Pontic King...subservience. My counteroffers of satrapy are rejected for now, but the envoys leave my capital under no further illusion; Pontus will only accept being acknowledged as master - not mere member - of the Greek world. Whether that object is achieved by treaty or by force of arms, I leave to them to decide. Let Bithynia serve them as example regarding which may be the better choice.

Possession of Nicomedia offers Pontus a new avenue for expansion. For the first time we have access to march upon the European mainland itself. Pergamon lies its new Thracian homeland, at Pupuldeva and Antheia. Another newly-raised and unblooded army, Bacis' Defenders of Trapezon, crosses the strait into their territory, and attacks Antheia. They oppose both the city's garrison and a nearby Bithynian fleet during the assault. The Pergaman(sp?) defenders initially put up little fight on the outskirts of the town, decimated and then routed by Bacis' artillery and missile fire. Our hoplites advance in strong column, 3 units abreast, into the town. The garrison is soon bolstered, however, by debarked Bithynian troops, and a new line of defense is prepared before the city center. The Defenders of Trapezon close with them, but the enemies fight well for a time, and many fall near the central plaza. Flanking noble cavalry enter the city via another route and fall upon the defenders' rear...only then does their spirited defense give way. Once more a Pontic host tastes victory in its first action. Antheia is ours...and with it, Pontus' first true European territory, as well as yet another Euxine port.

https://i.imgur.com/cYJ1nDD.png
Defenders of Trapezon at Antheia: Final struggle near city center

Bacis, buoyed with this success (it was his own first battle, as well as his army's), immediately carries the fight further into Pergaman Thracia, making directly for their capital at Pupuldeva. He may be a little rash in doing so. Antheia remains weak so soon after its fall, and has virtually no garrison worthy of the name. No sooner do the Defenders of Trapezon depart, than a hitherto-undetected Pergaman fleet descends upon Antheia and easily recaptures the port. Embarassed Bacis, now climbing the central Thracian plateau toward walled Pulpudeva, must now consider abandoning this push and retracing his march to the coast. I would not have it so...I want Pergamon destroyed. Bacis will continue.

I charge Glaukos with correcting Bacis' error. The Sentinels of Hyperion depart Nicomedia and cross the strait. It is a short march, and the Sentinels fall upon the Pergaman naval troops while they are still celebrating their recapture. It is regrettable that Antheia must bear the travail of three assaults in as many seasons...but Pergamon's temporary resurgence is short-lived indeed.

A humbled Bacis reaches Pulpudeva and puts the city under siege. The capital is defended not only by its garrison but also by Athena's Faithful, Pergamon's last field army. Bacis' engineers prepare for the assault by constructing a new machine called a "tortoise"...whatever that may be. A substantial Ardiaei army enters the plateau as well and offers Bacis aid. While friendly trade partners, we are not allies...it seems the Ardiaei seek to curry Pontic favor with after our rejection of their envoys. Perhaps they simply view the enemy of their enemy as their de facto ally, regardless of diplomatic formalities. No matter; their assistance is gleefully accepted regardless. There is no chance that they may gain the city by subterfuge, nor will we change our satrapy-or-nothing stance towards them. Meanwhile, every dead Ardiaei soldier storming the ramparts is a Pontic soldier who lives to fight another day. So be it.

Preparations complete, Bacis signals the beginning of the assault. The tortoise creeps slowly toward Pulpudeva's wall, roughly 100 meters to the left of the central gate. Bacis is a little annoyed with its slow progress, but impressed at the superb protection it offers, as well as its power once finally reaching its target. The tortoise breaches the wall almost instantly, far quicker than ballista or ram. As events have transpired, however, this opening is nearly superfluous. Bacis has exercised insufficient fire control over the artillery. Our ballista crews, in the absence of orders otherwise, have been pounding away of their own accord toward right of the gate. The ballistae break the wall, having been firing throughout the tortoise's slow approach, at roughly the same time.

The overeager Ardiaei do not wait for coordinated assault; their ardor carries them into the breach at once. A violent melee, Ardiaei vs Pergaman, ensues within. Bacis' oversight has resulted in good fortune for the rank and file of the Defenders of Trapezon. The general wisely holds his hoplites back for a time, conserving their strength. Let the Ardiaei kill as many of the defenders as possible before Pontic blood need be spilt. Pontic archers and peltasts do enter the right-hand breach themselves (once reasonably safe to do so) in order to lend their missile support to the Ardiaei attack. Rather surprisingly, our fellow Hellenes do well, and defeat Athena's Faithful almost wholly on their own.

After taking such a prominent role in the assault, it is rather surprising that the Ardiaei commander does not come to Bacis and claim the city for their own. They must be trying quite ardently to find favor with Pontus...and I wonder if perhaps they haven't well earned it. These particular Greeks might indeed deserve status as ally rather than satrapy...I must ponder. In any case, the Thracian capital is in our hands. The nation of Pergamon, moreover, is destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/bueU1bB.png
Pulpudeva: The Pontic tortoise approaches the wall (finally...)

https://i.imgur.com/hOcI1mU.png

News comes from the south of another naval victory. The Nasamone fleet is nothing if not persistent, it would appear. They approach Alexandria yet again, this time with a substantial naval fleet, the Scourge of the Sea. One would presume their intent is to blockade, rather than capture, with such a force...but Cyncus is of no mind to wait and see. The Heralds lift their own blockade at Paraitonion to intercept. While slightly smaller in numbers than the invasion armada so thoroughly annihilated before, the Scourge is composed of proper warships, much sturdier than transports. This will be a final test of Pontic naval doctrine. The Heralds of Triton prevail, but it is a much tougher fight. Our artillery engage at range as before, but the Scourge warships withstand the hail for a much longer time. Nasamone ships succeed in making contact with the Heralds' screen at multiple points, and close combat ensues. Once in this situation, the archers are a poor match for their naval assault infantry. Two Pontic vessels are lost, another routed, before Cyncus' relentless artillery finally breaks apart the last of the enemy vessels. Sokrates' maritime reforms are once more vindicated, but this third battle upon the Mare Aegyptum is a sober reminder that even so, not all naval triumphs will be bloodless. The Heralds of Triton withdraw north from contested Egyptian waters to recover strength at Antioch. It is a rest well-earned.

And so Pontus has advanced both north and south; along the Nile, upon Thracian plain, and upon the sea. My nobles and courtiers may cling to their notions of what Pontus once was and should be now...but year by year our armies convincingly demonstrate the undeniable reality of Empire. More hosts and armadas spring forth from Bosporus recruiting grounds and are launched upon the Euxine Sea. Euneas' Scylla's Terror has fitted out, and even now sails toward the Aegean, eager to match the glory of the Heralds of Triton. The reborn Scions of Sinope, commanded by Antiphus, likewise marches forward. Aristocrat Evandros has begun raising yet another army, named the Sons of Troy in commemoration of our recent conquest of Pergamon, in which territory that fabled city of legend once lay.

Not all is rosy. A resurgent Saba appears out of the desert waste once more, sending armies into Nabatea. My Champions of Amasis move to counter them, as do Ptolemaeus' veteran Lykoi marching south from Edessa. We fought once for Hegra and Petra, and appears we will soon have to do so again. Nobles continue to murmur at court...they remain quiescent for now, but Endios gains in prestige. Not since Euphorion has a Pontic leader outside our own family gained such sway, and served to transform mere aristocratic grumbling into a potential for action. He bears watching. Bacis remains unconfirmed in my eyes. The Defenders of Trapezon have performed well in Thracia, but this general's oversight allowed an unnecessary reverse at Antheia and also created potential moral justification for the Ardiaei to claim Pulpudeva. He is fortunate that neither gaffe led to lasting harm...but now I wonder if non-Mithridatic Bacis indeed committed any error at all.

I, Charidemos, am in my 50th year. The spring, even summer, of youth is past. At this hour of my life, it is plain that the gods do not intend to bless me with an heir. I have adopted Antiphus...let the Scions of Sinope gain for him a more secure claim to the throne than merely an aging king's wish. Barring assassin's blade or the fate of battle, however, I have many a year remaining before it is my turn to meet the boatman. I intend to use them just as I have done these 20 years past: Pontus will continue to hold forth and gain ascendancy over its neighbors. I intend to die Emperor, in fact if not in name.

https://i.imgur.com/fjs4rQR.png

[Hooahguy]

Wow, barely a week and you already have more chapters than I do. :creep:

But now that my terrible week is over, I will be able to update soon!

And what the hell is that pyramid-like siege machine?!

[Bramborough]

And what the hell is that pyramid-like siege machine?!

Yep, I guess once a day. I play a few turns, and then organize screenies for the chapter. Then write the thing up in the morning before playing a few more turns. Exhibit A for the argument "Bramborough has no freakin' life."

Behold the "tortoise". Pretty goofy-looking, ain't it? I hadn't used one before, so decided to give it a try. As noted in the AAR, slow as hell, but great missile protection for the guys moving it, and practically insta-breaches once it finally gets to the wall. One thing I didn't mention in the text and is not obvious until you start the battle...it doesn't work on a gate, only on a wall. I guess because the ram is so high.

[Bramborough]

Part X

Trouble in Arabia: The imperial march temporarily slows

These perverse desert folk annoy me to no end. Both friend and foe.

The southern Arabian tribes have warred against Hellenes and their satrapies for generations. Indeed, they have been foes of Pontus as well since Sokrates brought us south to these arid lands nearly thirty years ago. Seleucid satrapies dominate from Mesopotamia through the central Arabian peninsula, and have long been in position to crush these tribes and bring order to the Arabian peninsula. Why have they not done so? Irksome Saba and Ma'in remain secure in their desert lairs to the far south, while Mascat has joined them.

Even more perplexing, why do the armies of Saba now violate the borders of Pontic Nabatea?!? How have they arrived on the outskirts of Hegra and Petra, passing through Seleucid-controlled territory unmolested? I made a mistake before in leaving the final subjugation of these tribes to the Seleucid minions...and now Pontic interests in the region must pay the price.

A Saban army descends upon Hegra, with no Pontic army within range to intercept. The Saban force, named the Burning Sands, is not large, but has quality troops, including desert Noble Swordsmen. The modest Hegra garrison stands little chance of successful resistance, consisting as it does of Eastern spears, slingers, and a mob of townsfolk. I must laud the valor, if not the professionalism, of Hegra's defenders. The local commandant knows he cannot win, but endeavors to damage the Saba as heavily as possible. The man does well enough. He stations his spears to block a ramped alleyway overlooking the city center, with long-ranged slingers behind. He places the concentrated mob to defend a secondary alley, protecting the rear of the slingers. The garrison missile troops are so placed as to fire upon the central plaza in the town, while the spears guard them. The Sabans advance, as expected, to the town's center to take possession of the city. Our slingers begin taking their toll, and the Sabans momentarily fall back. Another attempt is made, and again the Burning Sands feel the hail of stones. The occupation attempt is abandoned, and they begin to assault our forces instead. The Eastern spears hold for a surprisingly long time, and exact their own price, while the slingers continue to pelt the attackers. However valiant, the spears cannot long hold against the Saban swordsmen, and they are eventually overcome. An Arabian cavalry troop meanwhile engages the mob and quickly disperses them as well. Only the slingers are left, but they gamely stand their ground and continue to fire. One troop expends its ammunition and makes a valiant charge into the Sabans, to buy their colleagues a few more minutes of firing opportunity. Finally only one unit of slingers remains...but the Saba tire of the chase, and are content to occupy the central plaza. Our garrison has indeed lost the fight...but have made the Sabans pay dearly, killing nearly half the invading force. A brave stand indeed...but this does not change the fact that Hegra has fallen to the enemy.

https://i.imgur.com/UAfESqa.png
Hegra's garrison makes a courageous stand

Hegra will not long remain in Saban hands. Upon the first report of Saban forces, the Champions of Amasis had begun marching east from Aegyptus, and had reached Jerusalem by the time of Hegra's fall. Now Saba will feel the true force of Pontic arms...not spear and sling, but hoplite and ballista. The Burning Sands are still weakened from the price exacted by our brave garrison when the Champions arrive at Hegra. My hoplites form their column, standard for town captures, and wait for word to advance. Ballista, archer, and peltast meanwhile bring the town's defenders under fire, while Noble Blood cavalry scout the perimeter and seek a secondary entrance route. The Saba are decimated horribly by our missiles, and are but a emaciated shell of resistance once the hoplites begin to advance. The few remaining Saba stand fast, resigned to their fate...but are robbed even of the opportunity to meet the hoplites shield upon shield. Our horsemen have indeed entered the city to the west, and now fall upon the Saba rear. The Burning Sands are routed and destroyed. Hegra is once more safely Pontic.

https://i.imgur.com/Sg2BPqS.png
Hegra retaken: Champions of Amasis hoplites wait patiently while peltasts and archers do their work

In the meanwhile, the Lykoi have been marching south from Edessa, and are now nearing Petra. Ptolemaeus comes upon two more small but well-composed Saba armies amid the arid wastes. Fortune is with him, however, as both Saba armies are marching quickly, with speed their primary object rather than reconaissance and tactical readiness. The Lykoi are able to ambush and destroy both forces in quick succession, with negligible casualties. As with the Burning Sands, the Children of the Sun and Old Men of the Desert will pose no more threat to Pontic territory. However easily we are rebuffing the Saba, my wrath has grown at the impertinence of their incursion, as well as the delay it has caused me in having to call rearward Pontic armies. I direct Ptolemaeus not to free or even enslave his captives...but to put them to the sword. The southern tribes must understand the fury of Pontus which they have called down upon themselves.

News arrives from other sectors of the empire (which my nobles and courtiers persist in calling a "Kingdom"...). The old desert dignitary Gulussa dies of natural causes; in his stead I appoint the noble Aclepiades as civil governor in Syria. Even though an incomplete fragment of a province shared with the Seleucids, Antioch commerce and Tyros dye are sources of rich prosperity; Aclepiades is well-placed to make significant contribution to the Pontic treasury.

Nasamone overtly attacks no more toward Alexandria by either land or sea, but remains in a formal state of war with Pontus. Their agents infest the Aegyptus capital's environs, seeking to spread mischief. Our own spy network, the Eyes and Ears of the King, however, are diligent in blunting their schemes, and have been quite successful in converting some of the Nasamone scoundrels to Pontic service. The original Eye of the King Dioscuros, renowned by poets for his sabotage of the Galatian Wandering Warriors during the reign of Ariobarzanes, would be proud of his kindred shadows.

A report is received that Cyncus has died of natural causes during voyage to Tyros. My kinsman Artemios takes command of the Heralds of Triton. The old lion of the sea earned great glory and respect. He was unquestionably Pontus' greatest admiral, not only in battle, but in the drydock as well. It was Cyncus who transformed Sokrates' vision into reality, and reformed a powerful fleet following the disaster at Trapezos. He then proved this new naval weapon in recurring sea victories against Nasamone in the Mare Aegyptum. I will miss the old admiral deeply. I will also miss the young nobles' tittering behind their elders' backs, whenever the admiral's name was mentioned in court.

I have been pondering the case of the Ardiaei, who bore the brunt of fighting at Pulpudeva but demurred from laying claim to the city. I order my diplomats to offer full military alliance to the Ardiaei, as equals. This is promptly done, and the Ardiaei accept. I am content, even a little proud, to count these honorable Greeks among Pontus' friends. My ministers, however, are confused, and approach me for clarification.

"Sire, you have proclaimed repeatedly to us that the only political accomodation with Hellenes is satrapy, that Pontus is to be the undisputed master of the Greek world. What, then, of these Ardiaei? Indeed, of the Seleucids as well? What other exceptions may we expect?"

"Very well, hear me now. This is Pontus' policy toward the Greeks.
1. We will trade with any Hellenic faction with whom we are not at war...which of course is true of most foreigners as well.
2. Politically and diplomatically, Pontus offers all Greek nations satrapy, to join a unified Hellenic empire under condition of subservience and tribute.
3. As King, however, I may have desire to offer full alliance as equals, to such Greeks as render enthusiastic and effective service on the battlefield, despite lack of formal diplomatic arrangement. This is what I have done with the Ardiaei, in recognition of their actions at Pulpudeva.
4. You may see that this is merely different form of the same condition. The Greek chatterers may pay tribute in money and shackled independence...while Greek warriors pay us tribute in voluntarily shed blood. I will accept either.
5. The Seleucids are a special case, unique among the Greeks with vast eastern satrapies of her own. This should be clear enough."

Let us return to the Arabian problem. The Saba foray into Nabatea is beaten back, but the meddlesome tribes of the Arabian south remain. It is uncertain whether the Seleucid satrapies have sufficient means to eradicate them...but clear enough that in any case they have little inclination to actually do so. I do not desire to entertain future such incursions into Pontic Nabatea or even Syria, while Pontic armies and fleets are pressing elsewhere. This must be dealt with. And it appears Pontus will have to do it herself.

Our hosts are not well placed for a quick strike. This will take time to prepare. Mithridates' Chosen are recalled from Aegyptus and cross back into Nabatea. The Champions of Amasis move from Hegra to Charmuthas, to move further south later. The Scions of Sinope are summoned from Anatolia, and march southward. A ninth Pontic army, Ares' Fury led by Demados, begins recruiting in Bosporus. Our current fleets cannot support at all, these are entirely different waters. I order the construction of a shipwrights facility at Charmuthas, our only available port. Even with such, we cannot build the heavy artillery ships with which Cyncus met success on the Mare Aegyptum...but then, neither Ma'in nor Mascat have large enough cities to launch such vessels either.

This will not be a rapid campaign. The distances are far, and in inhospitable desert. I do not expect many battles, nor for such battles to be particularly difficult. But there will be a great deal of hot dusty waterless marching in between. I am no longer a young King, and expect that the pacification of Arabia Felix will occupy the remainder of my days.

While these armies march and fleets build, the first step is to conquer the Qidri, lately arisen again and once more making war upon Seleucia alongside the south Arabians. Ptolemaeus marches upon Adummatu and assaults. The Qidri garrison bravely sallies forth to challenge the Lykoi. The armies meet on flat sandy waste near the town. The Qidri charge our hoplites. As so many times before, bravery is of little effect alone against professional cuirass and spear. The garrison is defeated. This dusty desert town is of little value...but it is now ours all the same. More significantly, the Qidri are vanquished, and will trouble us no more.

https://i.imgur.com/LjS2J85.png
Adummatu: Qidri rush toward Lykoi hoplites

https://i.imgur.com/6JSCAzm.png

As yet unblooded, the new Scions of Sinope have traveled from their recruiting grounds, and now descend from the Anatolian mountains into Syria. Their route takes them through allied Seleucid Dura. A slave uprising has taken place there (one of several signs that our longtime ally continues to ail), and the slave-manned army Thunderbolts of Tinia threaten the town. A fine opportunity for the Scions to get their first taste of battle. Our Phasis military engineers have not been idle. The Scions are the first Pontic army manned with new large onagers rather than ballistae, and also boast a scythed chariot force. Antiphus is curious to see these new weapons in battle...as am I.

The Scions bring the Thunderbolts to battle, but set a deliberate defense upon actual engagement. Antiphus trusts to the slaves' impetuosity to goad a rash attack. He is not disappointed. Scion hoplites form line and await the charge, while archers post themselves behind, ready to shower arrows on targets fixed in place by hoplite spears. The slaves indeed advance as expected. The new onagers begin taking toll at impressively long range, even as the Thunderbolts barely become visible in the distance. Chariots and noble cavalry await hidden on Antiphus' right flank, preparing to charge Thunderbolts in flank and rear. Winnowed by onager and then archer fire, the slave infantry nevertheless continues to close, and bravely engages the hoplite line. Their missile troops support the charge with well-aimed flaming javelins. It is a courageous attack, but the slave infantry have little chance against the hoplites, while the javelinmen are now exposed. The chariots and cavalry make their charge into the unprotected ranks, against both slave missileers and the now-routing infantry. The slaughter is sickening, the rout complete. The Scions of Sinope have performed well in their first engagement...easy enough test though it has been. The new weapons excel, Antiphus is most pleased. Yet another slave uprising is crushed. Sokrates once spoke with me of his sympathy for these men, of his chagrin at having massacred a similar slave army during the Armenian Wars. I have no such misgivings....dogs they are, and as dogs they die. Thunderbolts of Tinia....now mere Bones of the Desert. Well done, Antiphus.

https://i.imgur.com/XUWf2Fq.png
Scions' first blood: The slave Thunderbolts of Tinia charge

https://i.imgur.com/fR6rvJQ.png
Pontic scythed chariots enter battle for the first time

[Bramborough]

Part XI

Pontus resumes the march, in both Arabia and the Aegean


Arabian/Syrian Theater:

Pontic armies converge in Arabia, and we begin to press the fight harder against our foes. The Champions of Amasis, the Lykoi, Mithridates' Chosen, and the Scions of Sinope are all now operating in the desert, where just a few short years ago only small Pontic garrisons first faced Saba and Qidri. During the march from Egypt, however, Endios, most illustrious of non-Mithridatic nobles, fell ill and died. His younger brother Amompharetos takes charge of Mithridates' Chosen. I have usually prized zeal and authority as prime attributes for Pontic generals, as did Sokrates and earlier predecessors. Amompharetos, by contrast, is most known as a cunning man, devoted to the slipperiest of military stratagems. I have my misgivings, but let us see how he may use the Chosen as tool of such deviousness against our enemies. I send Amompharetos south toward the Ma'in via the long and dusty land route.

Our shipwrights' dock has been completed at Charmuthas. We begin now to form a fleet to establish Pontic superiority upon the Red Sea. Anchialus formally commissions Poseidon's Justice there. He cannot build here the heavy artillery ships of our Mediterranean and Euxine fleets, but I trust that Poseidon's Justice will be more than equal to any naval force the Ma'in or Mascat could possibly hurl against us. I intend to sail with my own Champions alongside Anchialus in any case...should we not be able to overcome with naval weaponry, we will do so by sheer numbers.

A messenger arrives from Amompharetos. His southward route winds through the territory of the Aria, one of the Seleucid satrapies. During the march, however, it has become clear that the land is no longer held by Aria, but instead has gone over to revolt (another sign that all is not well in the Seleucid lands). The town of Yathrib is now under rebel rule. This is an opporunity for us, as capture of Yathrib would open a direct land route to the southern foes. I immediately order the Lykoi to march upon the town, as they are actually closer to the site than is Amompharetos' host.

Ptolemaeus moves promptly, and Yathrib is assaulted within the same season. The town's garrison is surprisingly robust for such a remote desert village - 6 units of javelins, and 5 troops of levy spearmen. The rebel commandant himself marches with a Noble Sword guard. Staunch defense indeed...against anything less than a full Pontic field army, let alone one of such tradition and experience as our veteran Lykoi.

The garrison sallies out nevertheless and meets the Lykoi outside Yathrib. Rebel javelins make the first attack and pelt heavy fire upon the Lykoi phalanxes. The armored hoplites, however, suffer little ill effect. The rebel spears then enter the fray, and engage our hoplites all along the line, bolstered by their commandant's noble swords. A sharp melee rages for a time...but as so often before, courage does not triumph over professionalism and well-made iron. The Lykoi slaughter the rebels, who begin to break and withdraw to the town. The Noble Swords, as expected, last longer than the rest. Inevitably, however, their commander falls, and the swordsmen lose heart as well. Dismayed javelinmen follow them in retreat. Yathrib is taken. And now Pontus has direct access to the south Arabian peninsula...no longer must we consider Seleucid satrapies' tender pride in planning our advances.

https://i.imgur.com/aiahMWv.png
Yathrib: Rebel spearmen engage the Lykoi

https://i.imgur.com/eRSv68c.png
Yathrib: Enemy commander attacks a Lykoi phalanx with his Noble Swords

Gratifying though this victory may be, the woes of our Seleucid ally continue. Their Syrian town Dura falls to yet another of those ghostly Saba armies which seem to endlessly materialize out of the desert. More ominously, the Seleucid capital itself at Tarsus suffers revolt, and then falls into rebel hands. Mighty Seleucia is but a remnant, claiming only the island port at Salamis (their new capital) and the desert town of Palmyra...even these vestigial settlements endure turmoil and unrest. I am at a loss to understand how this pale shadow of former might continues to command the allegiance of myriad satrapies from here to Bactria...yet somehow they do. In any case, a rebel-held Tarsus cannot be tolerated, and naturally opportunity to strike the Saba at any location must be promptly seized. The Sons of Troy have just completed recruiting; now they march through Armenia toward the erstwhile Seleucid capital. Antiphus moves toward Dura with the Scions of Sinope.

The Scions make short work of the Saba garrison...indeed, the vast majority of Pontic soldiers do not need to fight at all. However feeble the Seleucid economy may be, they do not lack for agents, and Seleucid spies have been relentlessly sabotaging the Saba. Only a few dozen defenders remain...Antiphus' ballistae quickly scatter them to the winds. Dura is a bloodless conquest....bloodless for the Scions of Sinope, at any rate. The entire province of Syria is nearly in Pontic hands. I expect the Seleucid's decline to continue, and before long Palmyra will similarly revolt, or somehow fall prey to any rabble of desert banditry which may happen along. We will be there to reestablish order...and further extend Pontus' borders.

Amompharetos, meanwhile, has continued into Saba territory. Mithridates' Chosen now put their desert capital of Marib under siege. Marib is a walled city, and strongest in southern Arabia. It is the key to conquest of the region. Ma'in and Mascat will easily fall once Saba Marib is taken. Amompharetos has heard of the exploits of Bacis' siege engineers in Thracia, and begins construction of his own "tortoise" engine for the assault on Marib.

Aegean Theater:

Glaukos, my kinsman and commander of the Sentinels of Hyperion, has been conferring with me. He articulates his view that Pontus need not postpone advances westward...or in any other direction we may desire...due to the campaign against the Arabian tribes. Glaukos believes, and forcefully argues, that Pontus is now the strongest power in the known world. The number and power of our armies is amply sufficient to spread Pontic imperial power in multiple directions simutaneously. Glaukos is indeed a fervent disciple of my own imperial vision, and chafes as much as his king to see the Greeks under Pontic dominion. I am convinced by Glaukos' ardent entreaty, and direct him to take charge of Pontic fortunes in the Aegean. He proposes to bring Knossos and Rhodos under Pontus' rule, even as we continue to prosecute the campaign into Arabia Felix.

Serendipitously, events in Asia transpire give us an opening. Sardes rebels have sprung up in the country around Ephesus, and torment their recent Knossos masters. The Wrath of Zeus march against the rebels from Pergamon. Cleombrotos does not ask permission of Knossos to march in their territory, nor do our diplomats bother to attempt arranging military access. Our intent is to demonstrate to both rulers of Knossos and people of Ephesus where the true power of Anatolia resides. Cleombrotos advances toward the rebel army, and then pursues their retreat into the hilly terrain above the city. The rebels are brought to battle in a mountain pass leading towards our own town of Pessina. The slave hoplites meet our own, and the melee lasts on roughly equal terms for a while. Cleombrotos' blood is up, however, and he is not content to merely observe and direct the battle. His Bronze Shields play an integral part, first defending the siege artillery against rebel spearmen, and then making a resolute flanking attack upon the rebel hoplites. The Sardes rebels are defeated, and retreat wholly out of the Ephesus region, toward Ardiaei-controlled Side.

https://i.imgur.com/e0I3Y2g.png
Wrath of Zeus battle with Sardes rebels near Ephesus

Our intent, of course, was not to altruistically solve the Knossans' rebel problem for them. We have demonstrated Pontic power to eradicate a threat which their own might or other means could not. In so doing, Cleombrotos has also camped the Wrath of Zeus directly outside Ephesus' walls. Having exercised Pontic power against the rebel threat, Cleombrotos now demands the price...Pontic sovereignty. He invites Knossos to accept status as satrapy of Pontus. Not altogether unexpectedly, Knossos refuses. The show of force and diplomatic gambit is over...and have served their purpose. War is declared. Cleombrotos will continue to pursue the rebel remnant (primarily to ensure Pontic Pessina is not threatened), but when he is finished, he will besiege Ephesus.

Meantime, Glaukos has landed with the Sentinels of Hyperion on the island nation of Rhodos. While not formally allied, Rhodos is closely aligned with Knossos, and they have warred together against other Aegean Greeks in the past. On the same day that Cleombrotos presents the satrapy ultimatum to Knossos, Glaukos does the same with Rhodos. The island nation likewise refuses, and also now finds itself at war with Pontus.

Unlike Cleombrotos, Glaukos has no lingering rebel problem of which to dispose. The Sentinels of Hyperion immediately assault Rhodos. I would prefer, perhaps, that Glaukos had more prudently waited for one or both of our Pontic fleets to arrive...the Heralds of Triton have already sailed and even now draw close. Glaukos is hungry for glory, however, and does not wait. He advances with the help only of a Pontic spy. The Ears of the King does her job well enough...a Rhodan army is sabotaged, and rendered helpless to assist the garrison.

Despite the immobilized Rhodan army, the Sentinels of Hyperion are still heavily outnumbered. In addition to the robustly sized garrison and small garrison fleet, there is also a second Rhodan field army (the Hammers of Hephaistos) and fleet immediately at hand. Taken all together, Glaukos is outnumbered roughly 3 to 2. Rhodan military technology, moreover, is not so far behind Pontus' own. They count a fair number of hoplites among their garrison and defending field army. Glaukos is undeterred. He may face hoplites, as well as a much larger total force...but he also knows that the Rhodan numerical superiority comes primarily from naval missile troops who will land to augment the garrison. This throng will be dangerous indeed if they have opportunity to loose their javelins and arrows from secure position, but will be readily dispersed once their own infantry is broken. Glaukos pitches forward against seemingly long odds, but confident that in fact it is the Sentinels who have the advantage. We shall see....

https://i.imgur.com/T3vmdQk.png

The initial stage of the assault do not go well. Glaukos forms the hoplites into an assault column, and then seeks to open the battle by wearing down the Rhodan defenders with ballista, arrow, and javelin. The siege artillery does well enough, causing significant casualties among opposing infantry. The peltasts and archers, however, have markedly poor effect...rather unprecedented. Perhaps it is because the militia hoplites have stronger armor than most foes we have faced before. Or it may be a result of the deceptively steep slope of the approach into the city outskirts, which leaves our missileers firing from a lower elevation and reducing the effect of plunging fire. Most likely a combination of both factors. As it may be....the result is the same. Our missile troops have been ineffective in reducing the numbers and morale of the more numerous Rhodan defenders.

Glaukos has acted rashly in taking on superior numbers without waiting for soon-available naval support. His missile troops have uncharacterstically failed to help even the odds. Now he will stake his fortunes (and indeed, perhaps his head...this was all his idea to begin with...) on the nine phalanxes of Pontic hoplites and two squadrons of noble blood cavalry, who must enter the city and overcome the by-now 4-to-1 numerical odds. There is one saving grace, however, from the initial missile barrage. The Sentinel ballista early felled the Rhodan general...a crucial stroke of luck, which will no doubt be of great value.

The Sentinels of Hyperion march forward into Rhodos, initially climbing a small rise to reach the outskirts of the city and the waiting Rhodan infantry. Rhodan javelins begin to fly as our hoplites advance within range. Undeterred, Glaukos' hoplites continue to close the distance, and melee battle is joined. First three, then four, then five phalanxes are engaged. Additional Rhodan infantry, primarily militia hoplites but also sword-armed melee infantry, continue to appear, previously hidden amongst the buildings. Huge numbers of Rhodan javelin units, heavily augmented by disembarked naval troops, rain fire upon the Sentinels. Soon all nine phalanxes are engaged...Glaukos has no more infantry reserves.

The Sentinel hoplites prove their worth this day...probably the sternest test ever placed before them. Outnumbered or no, their armor is superior, deflecting the vast majority of hurled javelins landing amidst them. The hoplites' morale is buoyed, moreover by Glaukos' presence among their ranks with his Bronze Shield guard. The Rhodan infantry's own commander, meanwhile, had already fallen before the melee began. Individual units begin to break, but are replaced by more infantry behind. The battle continues to rage, but slowly the Sentinel phalanxes begin to push further into the town. The Noble Blood cavalry has looped to the west of Rhodos, have entered via alternate route, and now begin charging into the massed Rhodan missile troops behind the weakening infantry wall. The horsemen's appearance is a breaking point, for both Rhodan melee and missile infantry alike. Their will breaks en masse...even among units previously only lightly engaged. Resistance collapses, and Rhodos is ours...at surprisingly little cost given the scale and odds of the battle. Glaukos has walked up to the edge of the precipice...his own head forfeit with one misstep...and has triumphed.

https://i.imgur.com/0PUp53G.png
Sentinels of Hyperion hoplites advance into Rhodos, up a small but deceptively steep slope

https://i.imgur.com/3DiFGOH.png
Rhodos: Initial point of melee contact

https://i.imgur.com/PXpG4pe.png

The Sentinels and Wrath are not the only Pontic armies besetting Aegean Greeks. The Defenders of Trapezon have sailed from Thracia to join Glaukos' campaign. At the time war is declared upon Knossos and Rhodos, Bacis' army is encamped outside Hieraptyna, the Knossan capital on the island of Crete. The Defenders of Trapezon promptly assault the town. The Knossan garrison is not insignificant, but no field armies or seagoing fleets bolster the defense as at Rhodos. Pontic missile troops, moreover, achieve their customary effectiveness here, while ballistae decimate the garrison. The hoplite phalanxes enter the city and quickly rout the weakened defenders. Knossos' capital is conquered. I have been somewhat leery of Bacis in the past...but the general has certainly performed without blemish here in Crete.

https://i.imgur.com/VIVHZnq.png
Defenders of Trapezon ballistae in action at Hieraptyna

https://i.imgur.com/c3ojAyc.png
Hieraptyna: A birds' eye view of Bacis' assault disposition

And so Glaukos is fulfilling his ambitions in the Aegean. Knossos has lost its capital, and will soon see its largest city taken by Cleombrotos, who even now besieges Ephesus. Perhaps they will see now the wisdom of accepting Pontic satrapy...although I'm not sure I will again extend such offer. Rhodos has not even that possibility, reduced to a few orphaned remnants afloat in Mediterranean. In Arabia Felix, armies converge upon the Saba, Ma'in, and Mascat. Mithridates' Chosen will assault as soon as Amompharetos' tortoise is completed. I, Charidemos, am now past my 60th year...only fate will tell if I will live to see the destruction of these enemies fully completed. I am satisfied, however, that such destruction is now inevitable. With men such as Antiphus, Cleombrotos, and Glaukos...and perhaps even quirky Bacis...I am content that Pontic imperial power will continue to expand.

[Bramborough]

Part XII

Pontic imperial power expands: Key conquests in Anatolia and Arabia Felix

Several walled cities now stand before Pontic armies. Amompharetos has completed his tortoise, and is ready to assault the Saba capital of Marib in Arabia Felix. In Asia, Cleombrotos likewise has finished his preparations for attacking Knossos-held Ephesus. Evandros, with the Sons of Troy, is but a few days' march from arriving at rebel-held Tarsus, the recent Seleucid capital in Cilicia. Meanwhile, Poseidon's Justice nears the end of recruiting at Charmuthas, and will soon begin establishing Pontic dominance on the Sinus Arabica. I make preparations to begin marching with the Champions of Amasis down the long western coast of Arabia toward the Ma'in port at Eudaemon. The south Arabian factions have begun making repeated entreaties for peace....and, of course, are rebuffed. These impertinent desert folks have remained a thorn in the Hellenic flank for far too long...if the Seleucids have not been able to resolve their banditry, Pontus will.

Mithridates' Chosen are assisted by a Drangianian contingent for the assault upon Marib. The Saba have overcommitted to campaigning elsewhere in the Arabian peninsula, and Amompharetos finds the city rather under-defended. The attack is straightforward, uncomplicated, and of modest cost. As at Pulpudeva, the tortoise ponderously approaches, but then quickly breaches the city's wall. Mithridates' Chosen hoplites pour through the opening, the relatively small garrison quickly routed. The capital of Arabia Felix is now Pontic territory; the smaller Ma'in and Mascat settlements cannot further withstand us for long.

Things do not go quite so smoothly at Ephesus. Cleombrotos sets his onagers to destroy missile towers in the vicinity of the targeted breach point. The siege engines accomplish the task, but come under Knossan scorpion fire themselves. Loss of life is very light, but two onagers are destroyed. More troubles follow. With missile towers neutralized, the tortoise begins moving toward the wall...but becomes fouled in a small grove of trees. The hoplites maneuver the engine to and fro, but cannot break free. The tortoise is out of the fight. Cleombrotos had intended to hold the onagers' remaining ammunition for use against the city's defenders, but is now compelled to use them for initial breach. Once the mishap is thus resolved, the remainder of the assault proceeds as steadily as at Marib. Ephesus is ours....and most important, Asia is now unified under Pontus' rule. Establishment of the Pontic province is formally proclaimed.

[Lesson learned: when using a tortoise, ensure the terrain in front of the damn thing is completely flat and open. It hung up here on just a couple of skinny trees...not a "forested" area at all.]

https://i.imgur.com/SKf9JHB.png
Mithridates' Chosen tortoise breaches the wall at Marib

https://i.imgur.com/X7oR0kp.png
Ephesus: Wrath of Zeus hoplite column approaches the breach lately opened by their onagers

Meanwhile, Evandros with his Sons of Troy arrives at Tarsus and begins preparation for assault. As is becoming Pontic "standard" siegecraft, his engineers construct a tortoise as well. The odds are not against Evandros, but are much more even than faced at Marib or Ephesus. The Sons of Troy are the equal of any Pontic host in quality of arms and barracks training. The Sons, however, are but lately formed, unblooded in battle, and lack the veteran experience of such armies as the Lykoi or Mithridates' Chosen. The composition of the Sons of Troy, moreover, is somewhat experimental. Evandros has eschewed Pontus' standard missile troops, and opted instead for the increased mobility and flexibility of horse skirmishers. Perhaps this innovation would indeed prove its worth in the open desert of Arabia or Africa...but I fear that a city assault may not be the most advantageous debut for these mounted troops. We shall see.

Rebel-held Tarsus, meanwhile, is strongly defended, not only by its significant garrison but also a full-sized rebel army, equal in numbers to the Sons of Troy. The rebel host consists of some quality troops, featuring some strong pike units and, most interestingly, a very high proportion (roughly 40%) of Citizen and Tarantine melee cavalry. It remains to be seen whether the rebel commander can use these horsemen to full effect within the confines of city streets, but it is clear regardless that the Sons of Troy have a hard fight ahead of them.

The assault opens according to plan, with Evandros' tortoise dutifully opening a breach in Tarsus' walls. Onagers widen the breach, so that the Sons of Troy may enter the city three phalanxes abreast. The hoplites then move forward. The rebel garrison does not contest the hoplites' actual entry over the wall's rubble, but wait to engage another few hundred yards within. Once joined, the battle is fierce. Citizen and Tarantine cavalry fall upon the hoplites' front. Tactically disadvantaged vs spear infantry, the rebel horsemen are nevertheless well-armored and stout-hearted. Our hoplites are able to avoid heavy casualties, but neither can they break the cavalry's morale nor make forward progress in the restricted space filled with horsemen. Temporary tactical stalemate.

Evandros sends a contingent of three phalanxes left-ward, to find an alternate route through the city streets and flank the cavalry defense. These hoplites find such a route, and move in upon the struggle. They are met by yet more rebel cavalry, and a similar situation ensues. Hoplite vs cavalry in two locations, neither inflicting many casualties nor breaking in spirit. The struggle continues. Meanwhile, Evandros' horse skirmishers have entered the city, attempting to help break the stalemate. They do not perform well. Their javelins have little effect against strongly armored rebels. Our skirmishers themselves are lightly armored, and suffer at the hands of rebel missile infantry. The greatest challenge, however, is the confined nature of the battlefield. The horse skirmishers cannot use their high mobility to good effect, and the size of their spread-out formation proves overly cumbersome, constantly mixing with Pontic hoplites and interfering with our own forces' movement. The new horse skirmishers prove quite adept at taking casualties and sowing confusion among Pontic movement...but little else. Evandros orders the skirmishers back outside the city walls, if only to simplify his own tactical problems.

Meanwhile, the hoplites begin to make some headway against their mounted opposition. They push forward just enough to gain a small space on the right, and begin a flanking attack to envelop the rebel cavalry. Their position turned, the rebel horsemen begin to crack. The secondary rebel position begins to crack as well, and soon both hoplite fronts converge and advance into a common small plaza. At this point the rebel commander commits a strong force of pikemen to the fray. Another melee, this time spear-vs-spear, ensues. These pikemen, however, while well armed, do not possess quite the same spirit as their mounted colleagues. This struggle, while fierce enough in nature, does not last as long. Soon the hoplites advance yet again, but now face only a few missile infantry remnants, easily disposed of. Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia and recently capital of the Selucid Empire, is now ours.

https://i.imgur.com/5aAIgNI.png
Tarsus: Sons of Troy meet cavalry opposition in initial contact

https://i.imgur.com/cxOIvqf.png
Tarsus: The hoplite flank movement meets additional rebel cavalry

https://i.imgur.com/ypmtnqR.png
Tarsus: Rebel pike infantry enter the fray

https://i.imgur.com/07hO1hX.png
Tarsus: Evandros and his Bronze Shield guard during the final stages of the assault

It has been a hard-fought battle, and the Sons of Troy have taken unusually high casualties. One hoplite phalanx, stationed on the far right to guard against a flank attack, escaped Evandros' attention for a time, and was destroyed by missile fire. The horse skirmishers proved ill-fitted to city assault (predictably enough), and their lack of capacity robbed the hoplites of effective missile support during the critical stages of battle. I remain open to the likelihood that these troops may yet excel in open terrain, and we will fight often in such circumstances. The cold truth, however, is that Pontic imperial power ultimately rests on the subjugation of walled enemy capitals; every Pontic host must be well-organized for this crucial task. I order Evandros to remain at Tarsus long enough to establish some order and allow his most heavily-damaged units to recover a bit...but then to disband his horse skirmishers and march the Sons of Troy back to the Bosporus for reorganization.

This last item brings up a growing problem. In the days of my predecessors, Bosporus was a fine recruiting ground, with our capture of excellent Cimmerian barracks facilities. Even today, Phanagoria and Tanais produce superior armies, while the building ways of Panticipaeum and Phasis launch powerful ships for the strongest navy in the known world. This world-class "mother of armies", however, remains on the northern fringe of our territory. As the Pontic empire (my nobles persist in demanding only a lower-case "e" in such a term) expands, our new armies must march (and new fleets sail) further and further to the active frontiers. I desire a more central location for the raising of new hosts.

Nabatea may be suitable...it is large but not overly rich; I don't believe I would impact Pontic prosperity overly hard to convert this province into a vast desert training ground. From Nabatea, armies can march either east toward Mesopotamia, west toward Libya/Africa, and have ready access to the nearby ports of Alexandria and Tylos. This must remain but a vision for a while, as Nabatea's settlements must grow further to reach the capacity to support. But the vision is articulated, for successors to implement. As for a new naval power base, the centrally-located Mare Carpathium seems ideal. I take the decision to establish such now, ordering the conversion of Ephesus and Hieraptyna to military ports.

Many seasoned Pontic leaders are by now advanced in age, and this year in particular the boatman culls deeply. Stalwart Cleombrotos, redeemed Bacis, and the admiral Euneas all travel onward to the next life. My nephew Dmetor takes command of the Wrath of Zeus, while the aristocrats Hippolytos and Anytios ascend to leadership of the Defenders of Trapezon and Scylla's Terror, respectively.

We enter a period of "mop-up" for a short time. Pontic armies continue to engage small but irksome Saba forces ranging the Arabian desert. My Champions of Amasis defeat the perhaps ill-named Warriors of Fortune near Charmuthas, while Ptolemaeus' Lykoi destroy a second Burning Sands host near Adummatu. My Ears of the King, Aspasia, keeps the largest Saba force, Apedemark's Pride, immobilized by sabotage for several seasons, suffering attrition in Seleucid territory, before the Scions of Sinope advance from Yahtrib to ambush and destroy this Saba host as well.

The Heralds of Triton, led by Artemios, pursue and destroy the landless Rhodan's remnant fleet, the Champions of Amphritite. The Defenders of Trapezon embark at Hieraptyna for a seaborne attack on Rhodos' last army, the Harpy's Claws, off Crete. The Claws are likewise destroyed, and the Rhodos faction dies with them. Meanwhile, the persistent Sardes rebels near Ephesus have reappeared, now much larger, and taken to ships. They now raid in the Mare Carpathium, presenting an opportunity to finally rid ourselves of this substantial nuisance under favorable circumstances. Anytios sails with Scylla's Terror to engage the Sardes. Once more the power of Sokrates' and Cyncus' naval wisdom is demonstrated with terrible clarity...the entire Sardes transport fleet is destroyed without loss of Pontic life.

https://i.imgur.com/sjEZGux.png
Sardes rebel fleet destroyed off Ephesus

At last we are ready to proceed further in Arabia. Amompharetos leads Mithridates' Chosen towards the Mascat port of Maas-gat, and raids the countryside upon entering their territory (my treasurers rejoice at this). Marib remains restless, and Arabia Felix will no doubt undergo further turmoil during our campaign, so the Lykoi occupy the city to maintain order. After a long sojourn in Charmuthas overseeing our naval developments and guarding against southern attack, I finally begin marching south with the Champions of Amasis toward Ma'in Eudaemon. Finally, our new fleet Poseidon's Justice sails forth upon the Sinus Arabica.

Poseidon's Justice encounters two large Saba naval fleets (hmm where did they build them...Marib is landlocked...). Our fleet is sorely bereft of heavy artillery, but as foreseen, the same is true of the Saba armadas, composed primarily of light missile ships. Poseidon's Justice' advantage lies primarily in moderately stronger hulls...otherwise the fights are equal. This advantage is enough...Poseidon's Justice prevails in both battles, and the Saba are destroyed. Victory has come at Pyrrhic cost, however, and our fleet is gravely weakened; the durable hulls have withstood the test, but are now manned by skeleton crews. New seaborne forces from Ma'in advance into the Sinus Arabica and Poseidon's Justice is compelled to retire back to Charmuthas.

If the Ma'in continue to voyage toward Charmuthas, there is little our fleet could do. Instead I must compel them to reverse course toward home, by continuing the land advance upon Eudaemon. The Champions of Amasis march well, and reach the port settlement in good time. My Eye of the King Dakka (a Ma'in turncoat...sordid folk, these spies...) has reported substantial Ma'in forces at Eudaemon, and indeed upon arrival, I find a challenge similar to that faced by Glaukos at Rhodos. Eudaemon has a worthy land and naval garrison, reinforced by a field army and a large sea fleet, the Spice Masters. Dakka wrecks the Ma'in field army's baggage train and renders them incapable of reinforcement, but a large force remains...larger than the Champions of Amasis.

I know, however, that the large Ma'in defense will be disproportionately manned by disembarked naval missile troops, as at Rhodos. My hoplites outnumber the garrison's melee and spear infantry...once these are broken, mop-up of the javelineers will be easy enough. The Ma'in, of course, also have no siege artillery, while my ballistae, as always, will have their say about the course of the battle. Finally, the Ma'in ships will need to disembark their missile hordes on beaches outside town...I resolve to let the Noble Blood cavalry loose upon them. The Champions of Amasis, outnumbered in total as they may be, are in fine shape for this fight. The assault begins.

We begin the assault using standard Pontic tactics. The hoplites form their usual assault column, 3 phalanxes abreast, and await the order to advance. Peltasts and archers stand ready to take the central Ma'in defense position under fire. The ballistae begin lobbing heavy stones into the Ma'in defenders. As expected, the enemy ships beach themselves, and additional javelineers disembark to stream into the town. The majority of ships beach well north of the city, and their crews have a relatively long - and exposed - distance to cover before reaching the safety of the town and support from their infantry. No more enticing target could possibly be imagined for my bloodthirsty cavalry...the Noble Bloods charge.

Not knowing which flank in advance the Ma'in javelins would disembark, I have placed the Noble Bloods on the far side (south) of the army...they themselves have a long distance to cover. I must also confess that I give the order to release them perhaps a few moments late. As a result, a few javelin troops enter the city before the Nobles reach them. Even so, the slaughter is immense, and the ravenous Noble Bloods eat their fill of hapless javelinmen this day. The cavalry charge impacts just at the town's edge, and soon several Ma'in javelin units are isolated and utterly destroyed. Hundreds of javelineers lie trampled on the outskirts of Eudaemon.

Meanwhile, we begin the central advance. Peltasts and archers rain fire on the Ma'in defenders, while the hoplite column advances. The phalanxes advance under missile fire, but are well-armored and, shields held high to deflect, escape serious damage. Events proceed according to plan. The missile fire weakens and disheartens the Ma'in infantry, who soon break once the hoplite front makes contact. Noble Bloods' devastating attack notwithstanding, substantial missile troops have made their way into town from the wharves and the south beach. Without infantry protection, however, they are soon cleared. Eudaemon, with its fine port, is conquered. The strong Ma'in forces afloat in the Sinus Arabica are now orphaned, with no safe haven.

https://i.imgur.com/BlCpq9Z.png
Eudaemon: Noble Blood cavalry begin their slaughter of missile troops on the northern outskirts

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Eudaemon: Pontic peltasts in action against the Ma'in

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Eudaemon: King Charidemos leads the Champions of Amasis' hoplite column into the assault

And so Pontic imperium continues to advance. With Amompharetos advancing upon the last holdout settlement at Maas-gat, soon the Arabia Felix campaign will be complete. I am an old man, and this may be my last war. That is, however, for the Fates to decide. Until the boatman calls for me, I shall continue to lead the Champions of Amasis, and push our other armies, towards further Pontic conquest. Whither that may be, I do not yet know. The long-suspended Nasamone war may be rekindled. Perhaps it will be time to complete our assertion of primacy throughout the Greek world, by compelling Athens and Macedon to go the way of Knossos and Rhodos: satrapy or war. Alternatively, the time may arrive to finally dispel the long-tenuous fiction of Seleucid "empire" and expand towards the east.

One much-less-welcome conflict looms...perhaps still far distant, but approaching nearer nevertheless. Pontic aristrocracy is restless. Heretofore a mere semantic nuisance, political friction deepens daily over this question of "Kingdom or Empire". So much emotion in mere words. My noble generals continue to serve loyally and lead their hosts with ability (well...perhaps with the exception of Evandros...). The aristocratic class at large, however, is reactionary, and opposes continued Pontic expansion. The very word "empire" serves as lightning-rod for heated political discord. Aging as I am, I will be dead before this discord is transformed into action. Yet I foresee a day when a successor, perhaps even Antiphus himself, must contend with a threat graver - and more saddening - than any faced by Pontus since the days of Prokopios: Pontic Civil War.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

This is interesting to read. Might even buy the game just because of the story.

[Bramborough]

This is interesting to read. Might even buy the game just because of the story.

Haha, maybe CA should give me a kickback. Seriously though, thanks for the thumbs-up. Much appreciated.

[Bramborough]

Part XIII (Two Sections)


Final Years of Charidemos: Triumph in the Mediterranean

The Arabian campaign approaches culmination, as Mithridates' Chosen continue toward Maas-gat, raiding enroute. Glaukos continues to push forward against Knossos. Our fleets sweep enemies before them. I am in the deep winter of my reign, but my heart is gladdened at the march of Pontic armies. Mascat makes a final entreaty for peace...and only now have the scales fallen from their eyes. They offer to submit to satrapy. It is too late; Mascat is rebuffed.

Despite our capture of Eudaemon, a few Ma'in forces remain at large. Their host Merchants of Death lands upon the western Arabian shore and marches inland towards the desert. Antiphus ambushes this army near Yathrib, and the Scions of Sinope utterly destroy the Merchants. Meanwhile a remnant naval fleet, the Sea People, lies off Eudaemon itself. I embark the Champions of Amasis in transports and engage the warships; they too are swept away. This leaves one final army afloat in the Sinus Arabica; the last Ma'in host are the Dread Nomads. With their destruction, the Ma'in will be fully exterminated. A recovered Poseidon's Justice sails forth from Charmuthas. Archilaus' missile ships easily destroy the remnant Nomads. The Ma'in are vanquished.

https://i.imgur.com/x7MuwEs.png
Destruction of final remaining Ma'in forces upon the Sinus Arabica: the view from Anchilaus' flagship

Pontic forces achieve multiple victories in the Mediterranean as well. A Knossan army afloat, Might of Heracles, threatens Hieraptyna and Rhodos. Aptly-named Scylla's Terror intercepts and annihilates the transport fleet off the easternmost cape of Crete. Pontic fleets surge forward into the Ionian Sea, while Pontic armies embark to cross the Aegean to mainland Hellas. Military access is arranged with Athens to facilitate attack into Knossos-held Sparta.

Ares' Fury has sailed from the Bosporus and landed in Attica. Demades now leads his host over the isthmus into Knossos territory. Meanwhile, Glaukos lands with the Sentinels of Hyperion in southern Sparta, near the city itself. An enemy host is in fortified encampment on the Peloponnese, near the Gulf of Corinth. This is the main Knossan force in the region, Sparta city itself held only by its garrison. Demades will march on the encamped host, while Glaukos' Sentinels will advance upon the city.

Demades Ares' Fury finds the Knossan encampment atop a broad plateau above the gulf. This host is Ares' Terror. We shall see this day whether the war god's Terror or Fury is the stronger. This action will be the first for Demades' newly raised army. Ares' Fury is relatively light in standard hoplites, the difference replaced by several units of Thureos Spears. Demades has made this innovation with the tactical concept of using faster, harder-attacking Thureos on the flanks for enveloping attacks against foes fixed in place by the better armored hoplites. This Battle of the North Peloponnese will be the first time Pontic Thureos see combat...although the encampment attack may not offer opportunity for fully testing Demades' tactical vision.

Demades' onagers open the battle...and do the vast bulk of the work before any others among Ares' Fury engage. The powerful siege engines bash away well over 100 yards of the western palisade...and kill hundreds of Ares' Terror in the process. Pontic peltasts rain flaming javelins upon the wooden walls and defenders as well. Demades' troops wait patiently, unthreatened, while the Knossan host is engulfed in chaos and terror. When at last the onagers and javelinmen have hurled their last, nearly half the enemy are dead, and the remainder on the verge of flight. The hoplites and thureos calmly advance in line toward the battered fort to finish the affair. A short clash takes place, infantry of both sides struggling with uncertain footing among the strewn bodies of artillery carnage. The melee does not last long before the remaining defenders break and flee towards the Gulf of Corinth. Noble blood cavalry chase down a few straggling routers, and the victory is complete. Knossan military power in the Peloponnese, tenuous to begin with, is now firmly broken.

https://i.imgur.com/qcEInPl.png
Peloponnese: Carnage in the Knossan encampment. The defenders continue to take onager fire.

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Peloponnese: Ares' Fury infantry line advance upon the encampment. First use of Pontic Thureos Spears in battle.

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Peloponnese: Final melee at the Knossan encampment

With Ares' Terror defeated, Glaukos marches directly upon Knossos-held Sparta. The garrison is clearly overmatched, consisting primarily of spearmen, slinger, and mob. There may be a draft hoplite unit among them, perhaps. Nevertheless, their commander has valor (if not brains). The garrison sallies out and meets the Sentinels of Hyperion outside the town. The brave troops advance upon the Sentinels, who have taken up position on a rather steep hillcrest. The enemy charge is received and broken. Foolhardy Knossan courage ebbs quickly once met with Pontic iron. Cavalry rampage among routed troops streaming back to the town. Sparta is ours...the first Pontic possession in mainland Greece.

https://i.imgur.com/cY1xm9C.png
Sparta: Sentinels of Hyperion meet the Knossan garrison's charge

The Defenders of Trapezon, led by Hippolytos, sail up the western Greek coast toward Knossos-held Apollonia, protected and supported by Scylla's Terror. Hippolytos lands his army on a nearby beach and forms up the Defenders for assault on the town. As events transpire, it is an assault which never takes place. Hippolytos, in time-tested fashion, first bombards the town's defenders with onagers, achieving the accustomed success. Before proceeding with the conventional archer/peltast fire before hoplite advance, however, Hippolytus confers with fleet commander Anytios...and a new naval innovation is born for the Pontic navy. Hippolytos bides time outside the town while the heavy artillery ships and archer-manned vessels of Scylla's Terror are brought to bear. Anytios does not debark his crews, but rather rows his vessels close to shore and then maintains position with bare steerageway. Many of the garrison are within range of his seaborne archers, while all are easily within range of the marine ballistae. The garrison is pounded relentlessly with stone and fire. Scylla's Terror inflict many casualties...but more importantly, cause the remainder of the defenders to break and flee. Apollonia is taken, with the Defenders of Trapezon having only to walk into the vanquished town as occupiers rather than attackers. Only seven Pontic lives have been lost.

https://i.imgur.com/laC8FcE.png
Apollonia: Scylla's Terror bombarding the garrison while Defenders of Trapezon remain in position outside town

Scylla's Terror have captured Apollonia almost wholly on their own, through the unexpected success of a tactical stratagem improvised on the spot by the army and fleet commanders. When Sokrates and Cyncus reinvented Pontic naval doctrine and organization nearly 50 years ago, naval power at sea against enemy naval forces was their focus. It has since been thought among our admirals (including venerable Cyncus himself) that the new Pontic fleets remained poorly equipped for projecting power ashore, and were capable of playing only a secondary support role in capturing settlements. This may remain true for walled coastal capitals. Anytios gives us ample cause, however, to re-examine this assumption in the case of smaller, less well-defended ports.

The push against Knossos continues. The lone remaining Knossan settlement is Syracusae, on the island of Sicilia. Anytios promptly grasps the divine opportunity provided, doubtless by Poseidon himself. Despite the Sentinels of Hyperion being only a short sail behind, Scylla's Terror presses ahead in the Mare Ionium, intent on capturing the port town without support. Numerically, the odds are steep indeed, as Syracusae is defended not only by a worthy garrison but a small Knossan field army as well. The soothsayers augur unfavorably, predicting less than 1 chance in 5 for Pontic success. Anytios, however, is a man to place trust in artillery rather than omens. The bombardment begins.

The admiral divides his fleet into 3- and 4-ship squadrons each under a trusted lieutenant, for purposes of concentration of fire on designated targets. The archer-manned vessels row in as close to shore as possible without beaching. Anytios directs all the archers to use whistling shot...his object being to break morale and rout the garrison rather than inflict the maximum casualties possible. The artillery squadrons range themselves only a little further out, the entire town well within their long reach. Both archers and ballistae fire with superb effect. The town's defenders, with no land assault threatening, focus their defense on repelling expected amphibious assault that does not come. This brings them within range not only of ballista-hurled stones but shrieking arrows as well.

It is not totally one-sided. The short-range vessels necessarily must be close inshore in order to fire...this necessarily brings them within enemy range as well. Knossan archers take their own toll, and some of the Pontic archer vessels take substantial casualties. Anytios' flagship rows slowly among the forward line of his ships, the admiral maintaining morale as best he can. Nevertheless, the garrison units ashore begin to break, one by one. Anytios' attack is working, his concept sound....the question is now one not of tactics, but logistics. Many of Scylla's Terror, particularly archer vessels, begin to run short of arrows. It remains to be seen whether Anytios can complete this victory before his ships exhaust themselves of ammunition.

A squadron of three archer ships expends their arrows, and Anytios directs them back to sea at safe range. Then another squadron runs out, and they retire likewise. One vessel which has been closest to shore and has taken the brunt of Knossan fire loses heart. Anytios begins to worry if he will lose this struggle, beaten not by Knossos but by his own dwindling ammunition stocks. And then...the last defending unit is finally shaken...wavers...and breaks. Heroic victory! A roar of triumph erupts in every ship among Scylla's Terror. Syracusae is captured; it is the first time that a settlement has been taken solely by an unsupported Pontic fleet (and it should also be noted, without disembarking a single man until after the enemy's surrender). Anytios has earned an immortal place in Pontic naval tradition, alongside that of Cyncus himself.

https://i.imgur.com/WARN7oP.png
Syracusae: The triumph of Anytios and Scylla's Terror

Predictably enough, the renown and popularity of the navy steeply increases throughout Pontus. Hitherto every Pontic lad of worth burned to wield a hoplite spear...now they desire nothing but to sail in the footsteps of Cyncus and Anytios. Antiphus' own son, Prince Arybbas, clamors for the formation of another Pontic fleet. Youthful ardor aside, there is merit in his proposal. Anytios has shown what Pontic naval power can do...and nearly the whole length of the central and western Mediterranean yet lies before us. The new naval yards at Ephesus and Hieraptyna, moreover, have been completed...shall I now let them lie idle?

Arybbas is commissioned to form and recruit a fourth Pontic fleet in the Mare Carpathium. The lad has a fine appreciation for Pontic naval heritage...he christens his armada the Argonauts of Cyncus, in honor of the famous admiral. I almost countermanded this decree. However visionary and valiant the old lion of the waves may have been, he could not escape the unfortunate marine pun of his own name, much to the amusement of my courtiers and perhaps even myself. I could not bring myself, however, to dampen my young admiral's enthusiasm in the first hour of his command. Argonauts of Cycnus it is. I shall just call them "the Argonauts".

Anytios brings Scylla's Terror alongside the wharves of Syracusae to replenish his archers. He confers with Artemios, however, for further naval moves. Neapolis in Italia, has fallen under rule of Latin rebels. Artemios, eager to follow Anytios' example, sails the Heralds of Triton north to take the town...about which little is known. Upon arriving Neapolis, however, enthusiasm is tempered by prudence. Neapolis may not be walled, but is much more strongly defended than either Apollonia or Syracusae. Not only does the port town boast a robust garrison, but is also the headquarters of a full-sized rebel army. Anytios has been buoyed, but not blinded, by Syracusae glory, and he has warned Artemios of the hard limits of naval ammunition stores. Artemios has listened, and recognizes that while he stands no danger of losing his fleet, its almost certain that he would indeed expend all of his missiles before breaking the last of this host, and then be compelled to sail away empty-handed. Reluctantly, the Heralds of Triton retire back to the Mare Ionium.

Final Years of Charidemos: Victory...and disaster...in the desert

During these naval feats in the Mediterranean, our campaign in Arabia has not been idle, and features some naval highlights of its own (albeit, regrettably, not Pontic). Amompharetus, after raiding throughout Mascat lands, brings Mithridates' Chosen up before their small port capital at Maas-gat. Capture of this settlement will deprive the Mascatis of their only city, and will unite Arabia Felix under Pontic rule...the completion of my Arabian campaign begun so many years before. The Mascat capital is unusually defended. It has a typical garrison and small garrison fleet, as well as a substantial field army (Mascat's last), the Stone Breakers. The odd circumstance is that the Stone Breakers are embarked afloat, and functioning for the moment as a fleet. Amompharetos expects that they will disembark upon his approach and add their numbers to the garrison to resist Mithridates' Chosen. It will be a hard fight, but the general is well-versed in our proven town-assault tactics and is confident of victory. He forms the army outside Maas-gat and readies for the assault. Amompharetos' ballista dutifully opens fire. Predictably, the Stone Breakers' ships begin to approach the beach for unloading troops.

Assistance comes from an unexpected quarter. Aria, satrapy of Seleucia (oddly enough...Aria being far larger and stronger than the Seleucids themselves) has stationed two strong naval forces off Maas-gat. One of these armadas is naval, the other a strong embarked army of their own. Aria is not directly allied with Pontus, but is very friendly due to our Seleucid alliance, and in any case, is at war with Mascat on their own. The Aria commanders elect to pitch their forces into this battle. It is reminiscent of the Ardiaei's intervention at Pulpudeva. The Aria fleet steers directly for the Mascati ships, while the Aria army itself begins disembarking its troops on the northern beach. Aria spear infantry begin streaming toward the town.

The Stone Breaker ships abandon their debarkation attempt and turn about to meet the Aria fleet. A wild naval struggle commences just outside the harbor. The Aria manifestly practice a different naval doctrine than our own Cyncus-trained fleets. Their ships close for melee and crash in amongst the Mascati vessels. The naval combat itself is much in doubt...Aria and Mascati vessels alike fight, sink, break, and flee with equal measure. For Amompharetos, however, the crucial point is immediately clear: the Aria naval attack has prevented the Mascati Stone Breakers from landing their troops. Only the garrison itself stands between Mithridates' Chosen and the city center.

Amompharetos cancels the remainder of his deliberate missile-barrage and immediately starts the hoplite column forward. His infantry find the Mascati garrison already struggling against Aria spearmen in the northern environs of the town. Again, the combat is equal here...it is in no way clear that Aria will prevail. Again, however, it matters little; every dead Aria is a Mithridates' Chosen who lives to fight another day. The hoplites continue their march. Amompharetos' column meets a damaged spear unit and some javelineers who are easily swept aside. Archers and peltasts scurry alongside the hoplite column to provide missile cover. Finally the phalanxes reach the city center, and their nearly-intact formation occupies the city. Belatedly the Stone Breakers once more turn to the beach...they have indeed bested the Aria outside the harbor. But it is now too late. Amompharetos has captured Maas-gat. The Stone Breakers are now homeless and will soon wither away drifting on now-unfriendly waters. Arabia Felix is united under Pontic rule, and my Arabian campaign is complete.

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Maas-gat: Aria-Mascat naval combat outside the harbor

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Maas-gat: Mithridates' Chosen hoplite column enters the town

The narrow Ormuz Strait connects the broad Mare Indicum from Sinus Persus. Maas-gat lies on the southern shore. Across the strait lies Harmozia, the coastal capital of Carmania. Eastern rebels have taken control of this town, and I sense an opportunity. Charmuthas, Eudaemon, and Maas-gat are all small ports. Accordingly, our naval power is limited to missile support ships, lacking artillery. For this reason, Poseidon's Justice, while hard-fighting and indeed successful, has lacked the true naval supremacy of our Euxine-built armadas...they have triumphed, but have also lost heavily in victory. Harmozia, however, is large enough to support the construction of the sorely needed ballista vessels, and would enable the establishment of true maritime power in the Mare Indicum and the Sinae Arabica and Persis. Surely the bordering Seleucid satrapies could have little cause to protest our putting down some rebels among their midst, could they?

I intend to make this conquest myself, with the Champions of Amasis. I grow very long in the tooth...it has been many years since young staff officers' affectionate quips about "the Old Man" became standard banter within my headquarters tents. Yet I still carry my armor-weight with ease and hold a pike true and steady. As long as this is so, I continue to expand Pontus' imperium at the very front. The Champions march quickly through Arabia Felix, and then embark to sail across the Ormuz to Harmozia.

Meanwhile, I have been considering strategic options following the Arabian campaign now concluded, and have decided to unify Aegyptus and possibly Aethiopia under the Pontic imperial banner. The nobles and philosophers in Amaseia will continue to chafe at further imperial expansion, and will step up their intrigue. Frankly...I'm too old to care. Admittedly, Blemmyes has never given us cause for discord, and have been peaceful neighbors. It would be a tortured pretext indeed to justify marching upon them. Again...too old to care. The Blemmyes have committed crime enough in the eyes of an old imperialist long past inventing fictitious injuries...they occupy land, cities, and ports that I covet. If I covet, Pontus covets. And Pontus is now too strong to be denied, diplomatic niceties and domestic propaganda be damned. I dispatch Antiphus' Scions of Sinope and Ptolemaeus' Lykoi to Aegyptus, in preparation for war against Blemmyes.

Immediately after embarking for Harmozia, however, events compel a change of plan. The grand Arabian campaign of Charidemos may not be quite complete after all. Aria had long held the old Gerrhean capital of Gerrha on the Sinus Persis. Gerrha is also the largest - and only walled - city in Arabia Magna. Now old Gerrhea arises anew in their historical capital...and the original aims of our Arabian pacification are compromised. While not at war yet, Gerrhea is a long-standing ally of vanquished Ma'in, Saba, and Mascat...they are hostile to all around them, Pontus and Seleucid satrapies alike. I alter course for both the Champions and Poseidon's Justice, steering now for Gerrha. I still intend to bring Harmozia under Pontic rule, and order Amompharetos to cross the Ormuz with Mitrhidates' Chosen to take the rebel capital.

Mithridates' Chosen land and promptly besiege Harmozia. The capital is held by a strong rebel army bolstering its garrison. Amompharetos is, however, impatient...perhaps goaded a bit by the imperative order of an old and increasingly greedy king who wants to see Pontic banners above Harmozia's walls before he dies. My general orders immediate assault, without waiting for construction of the tortoise which served so well at Marib. Amompharetos is confident that his ballistae can open sufficient breach and suppress nearby towers. Once the Chosen hoplites are inside the city's walls, none will be able to stand before them.

And so it transpires...but not without complication. The ballistae begin by reducing two missile-firing towers on either side of the northern gate, and then begins pounding the gate itself, nearly breaking it as well...until the specter which haunted Anytios at Syracusae becomes reality for Amompharetos. The ballista ammunition is expended, and Harmozia's battered gate still stands. Unlike newer onager-equipped hosts such as the Wrath of Zeus or Ares' Fury, long-active Mithridates' Chosen retains its original organization of only one artillery unit instead of two. Pontic military administrators (of whom ultimately I am the most senior, and must therefore take most blame) showed wisdom in providing new armies with sufficient engines...but have erred in not updating the organizations of older hosts. And now the butcher's bill for this oversight is laid before us.

Amompharetos is reduced to the rather primitive tactic of burning down the massive wooden gate with flaming arrow and javelin, as if Pontus' professional soldiery were but a ragged band of half-naked savages mucking about in forested wilderness. Mithridates' Chosen are intact...perhaps prudence would dictate that the general retire for a time and return with properly prepared siege engines. But no, the words of my command remain, and Amompharetos loyally seeks to deliver Harmozia to his King. Now. The archers and peltasts advance.

Mithridates' Chosen archers and peltasts perform their hazardous task with courage and effect. They must, of course, march within range of the rebel archers on Harmozia's ramparts in order to fire the gate. The importance of their target, moreover, prevents them from returning fire. The rebels loose arrows in safety, while many Pontic missileers fall on the open plain before Harmozia gate. Individual arrow flames are small, while the gate is large and thick...burning it away takes far too long. The gate finally succumbs...but at horrific cost to Amompharetos' peltasts and archers. Those who remain have expended their ammunition, and are shaken to the breaking point. It has been a hard - and perhaps unnecessary - sacrifice, but the missileers have valiantly executed their task. Harmozia's gate stands open.

Now deprived of artillery and missile support, the hoplite column advances. A hard melee ensues as they enter the gate, and are set upon by rebel spears and horse. It is, however, as Amompharetos has foreseen; once entry is gained, the hoplites are irresistible. Lack of missile cover notwithstanding, Mithridates' Chosen prevail. Harmozia is ours, and Pontus now dominates the Ormuz strait on both shores. Just as important, the future strengthening of our regional sea power from Harmozia's docks is assured.


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Harmozia: Nearby towers reduced, ballistae pound the city's gate...ultimately without success

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Harmozia: Infantry melee inside the gate

I am heartened by news of Amompharetos' victory. I myself now stand before the walls of Gerrha with the Champions of Amasis. Anchialus' Poseidon's Fury stands offshore. I give the Gerrhae not even an ultimatum nor demand for submission. My only diplomatic overture to these desert ruffians is the stone of a ballista. I may be just as guilty of impatience as Amompharetos; I do not prepare siege engines, while like Harmozia, this city is likewise bolstered by a large field army (albeit waterborne) as well as garrison. Yet the die is cast. I am in my 73rd year, and feel the boatman drawing near indeed. I march with my Bronze Shield guard as I did in my youth...but perhaps not as fast. My eyes are sharp as ever, and guide my spearpoint true...but sometimes the mind's eye is clouded. I cannot wait for siege engineers to tinker away for a year on rams or tortoise...it is a year I may not have remaining to me. I will deliver Gerrha to Pontus, and conclude this Arabian epilogue. Now.

Mindful of Amompharetos' report on Harmozia, I order the ballistae to break Gerrha's gate first, before commencing reduction of nearby towers. The gate is indeed breached, and one tower neutralized, before the artillery is expended (like Mithridates' Chosen, the Champions are an older army and likewise have only one artillery unit). Poseidon's Justice has attempted to intercept waterborne troops and prevent their landing, but the Gerrhean troops were too close to shore and have debarked before Anchilaus' ships could bring them under fire. Well enough...we will kill them inside the walls. I send the ballista artillerymen to the rear to await news of our victory. The hoplite column, archers and peltasts accompanying, Noble Blood cavalry in support, begin the advance. Gerrha will soon be Pontus'.

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A Pontic army destroyed. A King fallen. A fleet severely mauled. Gerrha remains unconquered. It is the largest military debacle in Pontus' history...greater even than Praxiteles' disaster long ago in Galatia. And the first time a Pontic King has died in battlefield defeat rather than victory.

https://i.imgur.com/wvge7HA.png

I, Antiphus, King of Pontus, remain quite unclear about what happened to Charidemos and the Champions of Amasis inside Gerrha's walls. Only the artillery crews, who did not enter the city, survive. After the gate was opened, Charidemos and the Champions entered Gerrha, hoplites, then archers/peltasts, finally Noble Blood cavalry. The sounds of battle were fierce, with the King's increasingly strident entreaties for additional troops emanating from within. His final message to Archilaus: "We are few in numbers, as is the enemy. Victory still possible. We advance upon the citadel now. Debark and enter Gerrha without delay." No more detail is known.

Archilaus and Poseidon's Justice made a valiant attempt to carry out Charidemos' last order. The ships debarked the archers along the long beach north of the city. Even if the Champions had truly met their end inside Gerrhae, there was reason to believe that they had so decimated the defenders that perhaps only a ragged handful might remain. The admiral's fervent hope was that his sizable force of archers might be able to overcome this remnant, despite lack of armor or melee weapons. He marched at a safe distance round the walls to the open gate, formed up, and went forward with his archers. Alas, it was a futile attempt, however courageous. The Champions of Amasis had indeed severely wounded Gerrha's defenders...almost mortally. Just enough dismounted horse archers and other missile troops, remained to man the walls near the gate...and were able to deliver sufficient fire to drive Anchilaus' unsupported archers back from the gate's threshold. Archilaus re-embarked the remaining troops and retreated back out into the Sinus Persis, while the lone surviving Champions - Charidemos' ballista engineers and some noncombatant camp followers, began a trek north through the desert toward Seleucid territory. The young aristrocrat Alcides finds himself in default charge of this ragtag band...I suppose he is now the Commanding General of the Champions of Amasis.

https://i.imgur.com/lyk8e8q.png
Gerrha: Poseidon's Fury archers disembark for a brave but futile attempt to occupy the city

Pontus has attacked many a large, well-developed city bristling with towers...yet defended by numerically smaller garrisons. We have likewise successfully captured multiple cities while opposed by hosts equal or even larger compared to our own. As I review the chronicles, however, I fail to find a prior case where a Pontic army, without prepared siege engines, assaulted a city which boasted both formidable layered fortifications AND a vast host defending within. This is the key to understanding what happened to the Champions of Amasis. I believe Charidemos' hoplites met and broke every unit with whom they came in contact...yet there were always more enemies behind them. All the while labyrinthine towers showered them with missiles from all directions. The armored hoplites, well armored and shielded as to be nearly impervious to most missile fire toward their front, vulnerably took fire from their rear as well...and could not rout enemies rapidly enough to dishearten the garrison and win the city. Finally, Charidemos must have found himself deep within Gerrha with but a remnant of loyal spears still standing with him, and led them in a final charge into Gerrha's citadel, hoping against hope that the defenders had dwindled as much as the Champions. It is now manifestly clear that they had not. In any case, it is done...the gods have willed it so.

Charidemos was the greatest King in Pontus' history. Even alongside giants such as Prokopios and Ariobarzanes, Charidmemos looms larger. Seeing beyond the inherent limitations of Kingdom, he articulated a vision of Pontic empire...and then dedicated his reign to making this vision a reality. Despite his tragic end...he succeeded beyond even his own expectations. Pontus today is more than twice the size of Sokrates' realm. It stretches from Arabian desert to the island of Sicily, and from the Nile to the Euxine Bosporus. Pontic naval power, born of his father's wisdom, realized its full potential during Charidemos' reign. Will he be remembered for these many triumphs, rather than for his fall in defeat at Gerrha? That remains to be seen...but he certainly deserves such. Peace be to the memory of Charidemos.

https://i.imgur.com/iFOR4xJ.png

Author note:

In case anyone is wondering: No, I did not deliberately engineer a defeat just to throw a twist into the story. I straight-up got my butt kicked...am still kinda dumbfounded by it. It happened pretty much as Antiphus suspected...it was the first time I'd assaulted a pimped-out Level IV city defended by an approriate-sized garrison AND a full 20-unit army stack. The hoplites kept grinding through units, but more kept coming. Which would've been okay, except for the missile towers all over the place which kept whittling away. I gotta hand it to the AI. Perhaps by design, more probably just dumb luck, the defenders actually played somewhat smart. They didn't ALL rush me at the gate...if they had, I probably would've won. Instead I got led on a merry chase deeper and deeper into the city. Winning each individual clash...but always another group several hundred yards further. The final band of spear infantry and horse archers waited up at the top of the long ramp leading into the interior citadel...at that point I finally realized "holy crap, I'm probably going to LOSE this thing!?!"

With a younger general I might've tried at that point to back out of the walls...but Charidemos was old as dirt, so I decided to let him blaze out. Even though I had been expecting his demise every turn for almost ten years, I was still pretty upset about his death. Writing this AAR has really brought that "immersion factor" for me, and Charidemos as a personality (if perhaps not as an in-game general) had become one of my favorites, I guess just because I've been speaking with his voice for several installments now.

Part of Antiphus' mystery about what happened is story logic...details would indeed be fuzzy when an army is annihilated. As an analogy, much of what happened at the Alamo or Little Bighorn remained conjecture for decades, and even today are subjects of debate. The bigger reason, however, is that I was too busy clicking away, increasingly desperate, to think about screenies, and then at the end was just too pissed off about Charidmemos' defeat and death to plow back through the replay (which wouldn't have gone the same anyway). I actually depend on the screenshots later to help me remember details about the various battles...heh, didn't really have any for this one.

[Bramborough]

Part XIV

The Reign of Antiphus: Charidemos avenged, and prelude to crisis

I am Antiphus, first of that name, and seventh King of Pontus. I sit the throne of Pontus following the death of my adoptive father Charidemos, who fell in the disastrous assault on the desert capital of Gerrha. In a series of great kings, Charidemos' accomplishments stood greatest...yet his legacy will be marred by this last defeat, brought about by an impetuosity which cost Pontus not only its king, but an entire army. It cannot be changed now. As I accept the crown, I have two overriding priorities set before me. First, it is imperative to avenge the defeat at Gerrha. Not just in Arabia, but in the eyes of the entire world, we cannot allow perpetrators of such a Pontic defeat to remain uncrushed. No treaty, even of submission to satrapy, can be countenanced. Gerrhea must be destroyed. Second, and perhaps ultimately more threatening, is a persistent problem which increasingly worried Charidemos into the final years of his reign: the discontent and opposition of Pontus' aristocracy and learned men.

This political division deepens in intensity. The noble and priestly classes cherish Pontus' tradition as an independent kingdom, separate from neighbors, master of its own destiny but holding no others in thrall. It is a worldview increasingly disconnected in reality. Pontic power has been expanding and assimilating foreign peoples since the time of Mithridates himself. For generations proclamation and complacency served to paper over the differences. With the Syrian War of Sokrates, however, the undeniable fact of Pontic imperialism became too large to ignore. Charidemos embraced the vision of empire throughout his long reign, advocating its tenets at every opportunity...and making it further reality with the march of our armies. He alienated the majority of Pontic aristocracy in the process, driving a divide between throne and nobles. Revolt was avoided, in my view, by Charidemos' reputation. Imperialistic fervor aside, the King was regarded as the greatest Pontic of all time, even above quasi-legendary Prokopios, Praxiteles, and Ariobarzanes. Charidemos, moreover, cared remarkably little for domestic politics, and treated Mithridatic and non-Mithridatic nobles alike with equal respect and reward. The nobles opposed his vision...often bitterly...but respected the man, and loyally served their King.

I do not have this reputation. While I fully share Charidemos' conviction regarding imperial expansion...I am not my father's son in avoidance of internal intrigue. I make no secret that I hold Mithridatic loyalty equal to Pontic loyalty. All know that I will not betray Pontus, but will do all in my power to advance my family's dominance within. Thus I have made many enemies even before becoming King. I hold respect enough, but am not blind to the fact that it is a respect born of fear and increasingly fraying tradition, rather than the personal admiration which Charidemos enjoyed. So be it. I cannot change this state of affairs. The time is past for trying, as my predecessors did, to avoid open conflict. My task, instead, is to prepare Pontus for the inevitable...and ensure that the Mithridatic dynasty prevails.

And so to matters at hand...

The Champions of Amasis...such few as remain...are still in great danger after the disaster at Gerrha. The ragtag band of artillerymen and noncombatant camp followers is stranded deep in the sun-baked wilderness, threatened not only by the Gerrheans but by the desert itself. However decimated the Horns of Gruzil may be from their Pyrrhic defense of the city, they would easily destroy Alcides' miniscule remnant. The young noble, however, has read military history and has remembered it well. Alcides recalls, from accounts of the Galatian Wars, how the battered Galatian Mountain Men hired mercenaries after defeat, and posed an unexpectedly strong threat to Sinope. He resolves to follow the Galatian example. Charidemos' soldiery may have fallen with him inside Gerrha...but their wages remain at hand, in chests of the King's Coin among the baggage train. Once Alcides' offer is proclaimed, news travels quickly, and a surprisingly robust force materializes out of the seemingly desolate desert. Almost immediately, Alcides finds himself leading Arabian spears and cavalry, camel archers, even some sort of desert sword infantry. A small, somewhat motley, certainly exotic manifestation of a Pontic army...but an army nevertheless. Certainly enough to forestall the depleted Horns of Gruzil. Alcides has done well.

These new Champions of Amasis begin their trek out of Gerrhean territory. Alcides leaves the coastal road north of Gerrha and sets out over trackless waste into the Arabian interior. The desert sun takes its toll among the few Pontics, but has little effect upon the mercenary nomads. They finally emerge from the sands onto the Yathrib road, and Alcides force-marches the Champions for the border. The strange band reaches Pontic territory without running further afoul of Gerrhean forces. [This little episode brings to my mind Stillwell walking out of Burma in 1942.]

Alcides has intended to hold these mercenaries long enough only to deliver him safely to Yathrib. Upon arrival, he would pay off the desert folk, and then begin the long trek back to Bosporus, there to reform the Champions of Amasis. Events do not transpire this way. Immediately upon hearing of the Gerrha debacle, I had recognized the void of Pontic power in an Arabian peninsula now threatened from hostile Gerrha. I turned to our most time-tested host, the Lykoi, and sent them back eastward from Aegyptus. Alcides now meets Ptolemaeus at Yathrib. The commanders realize that while the mercenary-manned Champions are of uncertain value as an independent army, it forms a powerful desert-mobile force to complement the stalwart Lykoi hoplites. The Arabians will remain in Pontic pay for a while longer yet. Soon after this conference, Ptolemaeus falls ill and dies. My nephew Cleisthenes, son of admiral Artemios, takes command of the Lykoi.

Despite their victory in defense of their capital, the Gerrheans are not stupid, however hostile they may be. They see that defeat of a Pontic army, however brilliant a feat, is not the defeat of ten Pontic armies. Gerrhea also perceives how a fallen king quickly becomes a martyred king...and can inlame an entire people towards thirst for vengeance. Finally, they know full well that they cannot expect a Pontic general to make the same mistake twice before Gerrha's walls. The appearance of Lykoi co-joined with new Champions of Amasis at Yathrib goads them to action. Gerrhean envoys make entreaties for peace. Refused. Then peace and gold. Rebuffed. Finally...and truest indicator that they accurately recognize their predicament...the Gerrhean diplomats tell me that their lord desires to submit to Pontus, and become our satrapy. I do pause to consider....but no. The example must be set for the world, that none can expect to best Pontus and then live, even as slave. More practically, their strongly-walled capital dominates the western Arabian peninsula, and its port is the largest on the Sinus Arabica. Not only do I want the Gerrheans terribly punished...but I want their city as well. The Lykoi and Champions march for the border. (which doesn't quite sound right in the case of the Champions....what do camels do? Lope? Saunter?).

Time has not frozen in place elsewhere. One Knossan fleet, the Vengeance of Atlantis, has remained at large, and sails near Syracusae. Artemios and the Heralds of Triton pursue, and bring the Vengeance to battle off the coast near Cosentia. The Knossan fleet is substantial in size, nearly as large as the Heralds. The supremacy of Pontic seaborne artillery, however, is once more demonstrated. The Vengeance of Atlantis are sent to the bottom...albeit not without the loss of several ships among the Heralds' screening force. The Heralds of Triton proceed to the Mare Carpathium, there to replace losses from the shipyard at Hieraptyna.

Resilient Egypt, repeatedly "destroyed" but then rising anew, appears once more. Yet another Pharoahic descendant has emerged, and a new Egypt materializes at Myos Hormos. Charidemos foresaw this, and is proven correct. The closest Pontic army are my own Scions of Sinope. I march directly to the border, and then upon the nascent Egyptian capital. It is best to promptly excise this cancer...an Egypt ignored is an Egypt mischievous. Already a small but quickly growing Egyptian army, the Sons of Zeus Ammon, bolsters the city's garrison. The Scions of Sinope assault relentlessly. We do not, as traditionally, wait for the end of siege bombardment, but instead aggressively advance while the onagers fire. I intend to bring the Egyptian defenders under as much simultaneous missile fire as possible to break their will quickly and totally. The hoplite column advances, to bring their menace to bear as well. The hoplites do not need to actually engage...the concentrated siege, arrow, and javelin fire completely breaks the Sons and the garrison. Myos Hormos is ours...and the new Egypt stillborn. Still...I suspect we may see them yet again.

https://i.imgur.com/OuDCVFU.png
Myos Hormos: Scions of Sinope lay a heavy missile barrage on the Egyptian defenders

https://i.imgur.com/6wpNbun.png
Somehow I don't think this is the last time I'll be pasting this particular graphic into the AAR...

With the capture of Myos Hormos, I sense a threshold is reached. It is difficult to quantify or even describe, but one feels a shift in ground underneath. Pontic unity is on the verge of breaking. The aristocratic opponents of empire are driven to their last reserves of restraint. For decades, each territorial expansion has incited increased dissatisfaction (even though all have enthusiastically partaken of the booty...the hyprocrites). Now...I feel that the next province taken, even the next single city captured, may be the final straw, igniting open rebellion. I must tread cautiously.

https://i.imgur.com/i379x4r.png
Hmm...won't be long now...

Without conferring or sharing my unease with advisors, I begin taking steps to prepare Pontus for the internal strife I sense near. First, I seek to place Mithridatic generals at the heads of as many armies as possible. I cannot do this wholesale, of course...my family, while robust, is not inexhaustible. The army closest to Amaseia is Evandros' Sons of Troy, lately returned from Charidemos' ordered restructuring in Bosporus after the horse-skirmisher failure at Tarsus. Evandros himself remains under a bit of a cloud from this affair, and I believe I can sack him without too many ruffled feathers. My younger son, Prince Alexius, takes command of the Sons of Troy. He is exceedingly young, not yet 20, but already has wide reputation as a "born leader", and exerts august authority for a man of any age.

Second, I begin a carefully disguised program of gradually pulling armies back toward the Pontic homeland. One cannot foresee where rebellion may be born...I would be unwise to maintain all our power on the far frontier, hundreds of miles from the capital. Wherever revolt may emerge, I intend to have loyal hoplites between such rebels and our capital, rather than chasing from the far edges of our territory. It will take some time to execute this shift; when complete, however, our forces will be stationed ready at most of the provincial capitals in and near the Anatolian peninsula: Ephesus, Ancyra, Nicomedia, Armavir, Mtskheta. In addition, Mithridates' Chosen will march from far Harmozia to the central Arabian peninsula, equidistant between Marib and Petra. I only hope that its commander Amompharetos remains loyal...aristocrat he may be, but he is certainly an enthusiastic proponent of empire. I myself bring the Scions from Myos Hormos back to Alexandria. Anytios concentrates Pontic naval power in the Aegean and Mare Carpathium.

Finally, I order the forming of a new army, and proclaim it the Charidemos' Vengeance in honor of the late king, Pontus' greatest. It is to be commanded by Mithridatic kinsman Elephenor, son-in-law to Artemios. Charidemos' vision of shifting army recruitment to Nabatea has remained unimplemented (I really must talk to my ministers about initiating some progress on this plan). The mother of Pontic armies remains the Bosporus. Here the Vengeance will form, as has every Pontic host since the Champions of Amasis.

Our Bosporus military complex has not lain idle in innovation. Charidemos' Vengeance will be the first Pontic army built around not a hoplite core, but instead Bronze Shield Pikemen, a culmination of phalanx tactics. I remain unconvinced myself...Bronze Shields have long excelled as bodyguard units, but their employment in large numbers seems uncertain to me. The Pikemen offer unprecedented steadiness and defense, but I am unimpressed with attack prowess. Offensive capability is to come from Pontic Swordsmen, I am told. Meanwhile, our Noble Bloods will be supplanted by spear-armed Royal Pontic Cavalry, purportedly with an unequalled, devastating charge. All well and good I suppose...as long as the Royals are the attackers rather than the attacked. I am reluctant to discard reliance on time-tested hoplites and Noble Bloods. They have stood us in good stead for generations...I hope we are not being too hasty. One thing, however, does not change; this new experimental (in my mind) array will remain backed by onagers...a weapon in which I certainly have full trust and confidence. In any case, it will be up to Elephenor to win renown or embarassment in the fire-baptism of this new host.

In Arabia, the Lykoi and Champions of Amasis cross the Gerrhean border, and begin raiding. Poseidon's Justice, with ship and archer losses replaced at Maas-gat, reenters the Sinus Persis. I send word to Cleisthenes to proceed very slowly in vanquishing the Gerrheans, even to the point of besieging Gerrha rather than quickly assaulting. Despite the fact that all Pontus clamors vengeance for Charidemos, I am convinced that Gerrha's capture will incense the anti-imperialist nobles, and open rebellion will erupt. I want Pontus' other armies in place before the city succumbs. Even now they sail from locations such as Syracusae and Apollonia back toward Ephesus, from there to spread out amongst Anatolia's fortress cities.

The Lykoi and Champions proceed slowly along the Yahtrib-Gerrha road, devastating all in their path. There is not much worth destroying or stealing here in the already-desolate waste...but the soldiers garner enough booty to provide a temporary and welcome boon to the Pontic treasury nevertheless. At last Cleisthenes and Alcides arrive before Gerrha's walls. The city's defenders have recovered somewhat from Charidemos' assault (now nearly ten years past). My father's nemesis the Horns of Gruzil are here, embarked shipboard in the harbor. A new host, the Desert Winds, grows inside the city itself. Yet a third small Gerrhean army, Apedemark's Pride, camps outside Gerrha's wall, and then mysteriously vanishes into the southern desert as soon as Cleisthenes and Alcides appear.

Cleisthenes' Lykoi promptly put Gerrha under siege, while the Champions of Lykoi continue raiding immediately outside the walls. The desert mercenaries prove remarkably adept at this activity...pillage no doubt being their primary activity whenever not under contract for their martial services. Poseidon's Justice moves in from the Sinus Persis and blockades the city, entrapping the Horns of Gruzil in harbor. The encirclement of Gerrha is complete and total. Cleisthenes knows he can successfully assault the city if he so chooses, even builds ram, ladder, and tortoise as prudence would dictate. He is mindful of my injunction to buy time, however, and in any case does not desire to expose his Lykoi to Gerrha's formidable layers of missile towers. Let the Gerrheans come out beyond their towers' protection if they desire decision by sword rather than starvation. Cleisthenes is content to wait for the latter.

The Gerrhean Desert Winds and garrison indeed sally forth from the walls. Perhaps they would have done better to remain within range of the wall towers. The Lykoi hoplites line up in phalanxes and Cleisthenes' ballista begins hurling. The Gerrhean infantry bravely advance. They would be a formidable force indeed if at full complement, but the units appear understrength. They charge the Lykoi lines, and are met and held fast by the veteran phalanxes. Cleisthenes' peltasts close in from the wings and hurl their javelins into Gerrhean flanks with deadly effect. Desert troops fall in droves, no match for the Pontic (indeed...Hellenic) way of war. Soon they rout, and stream back towards Gerrha.

Alcides' Champions, summoned from their pillage, arrive. His infantry are far too distant to engage, but most of the Champions are mounted on camel and horse; they quickly close the gap. Alcides' camel archer horde sweeps in from the Lykoi right and begins slaughtering the routing Gerrheans. Squadrons of Arabian cavalry are not far behind, and join in the carnage. Ptolemaeus' and Alcides' wisdom at Yathrib, retaining these unsavory sand folk in Pontic service, is vindicated. The Gerrhean Desert Wind and garrison are annihilated almost to the last man. Perhaps a dozen or so hapless souls manage to regain the safety of Gerrha's walls. The siege continues.

https://i.imgur.com/A7RNAWr.png
Charidemos' revenge: Gerrhean casualties, obliterated by javelin fire

https://i.imgur.com/eqzdIBZ.png
Exotic Champions of Amasis: Alcides' mercenary camel archers on the plain before Gerrha

However useful Alcides' mercenaries may have proven, it now appears that perhaps Cleisthenes should have sent them south to hunt down and destroy Apedemark's Pride. This Gerrhean host has recruited unseen in the southern desert, and now emerges in Pontic Arabia, threatening Yathrib. Not only this city, but Adummatu, Tyros, Dura, Seleucid Palmyra, even Petra and Antioch are potentially open to its depredations. Apedemark's Pride is but one army, but no Pontic army at all stands between it and these cities. Alcides is closest, but is far behind Apedemark's Pride if this host continues to march north. In the meantime, I had been sailing from Alexandria to Antioch with the Scions of Sinope as part of my repositioning program. I now alter course, land in Tyros, and march directly for Yathrib. The Scions, well trained and goaded on by the hero Anatolius amongst them, march exceeding well, and arrive near Yathrib in one season. It is not quite rapid enough to prevent Yathrib's capture...but the Gerrhean host is strangely inactive in the desert, and does not move to take the city.

I press onward, and bring Apedemark's Pride to battle in the desert some distance south of Yathrib. I hope to ambush the Gerrheans on the march, but this does not transpire; I find Apedemark's Pride lined up for battle...so be it. A century of hoplite tactics has proven sound, and the Scions do not deviate from time-tested formulae here. The phalanxes form line, archers and ballistae in rear, peltasts on wings to provide flanking fire if opportunity permits. I myself take station with Bronze Shields near the left flank, to help protect the ballista crews should the Gerrheans attempt envelopment on that wing.

Apedemark's Pride advances, and the Arabian infantry engage the hoplite line. The foot melee is fierce for a time, but as so often before, the hoplites easily hold fast, while our peltasts find the opportunity they seek. Arabian cavalry, however, are a bit more worrisome; a large contingent does indeed sweep from the Gerrhean right towards our ballistae, as I'd suspected. There is nothing for it but to engage; my Bronze Shields and I attack into the horsemen. We hold them while our far left hoplite phalanx wheels around to support, and Noble Bloods belatedly cross the Pontic rear from the far right wing to assist (having themselves met and repulsed a similar Gerrhean flanking attempt there). I silently berate myself for not having ordered the Bronzes into phalanx formation...the pikes would have been useful against the enemy horse. Nevertheless, we hold the cavalrymen well, and already have them wavering even before the Noble Bloods arrive on scene to finish them off. Reckless or not as a king, I exult in finding myself in the thick of combat rather than directing it from afar. At such times the life of a king is of little worth...there will always be more kings. I suspect that, however crushing a defeat, Charidemos must have felt a similar warrior's joy and bloodlust during his final moments at Gerrha.

https://i.imgur.com/4XvMvJK.png
Yathrib: Scion hoplites clash with desert spearmen

https://i.imgur.com/2oISUG1.png
Yathrib: Antiphus' Bronze Shields meet Arab cavalry. The King himself is obscured here, but his purple-cloaked standard-bearer is visible in center, 2nd rank. Antiphus is but a pace to his left.

Apedemark's Pride is resoundingly defeated, but not annihilated. A remnant disappears once more into the desert. They can do no harm now, weakened as they are and unable to recruit or replenish in Pontic territory. Even the smaller towns' garrisons could now easily dispose of them. I retire to Yathrib, from there to resume the Scions' role in our repositioning program.

Further word comes from Gerrha. As Desert Winds before, the Horns of Gruzil also attempt to break out of our stranglehold, this time by sea against Poseidon's Justice. It is a futile attempt, their transports no match for the warships of Poseidon's Justice. The Horns, moreover, are themselves understrength, never having fully recovered from their costly victory over Charidemos, and further weakened by siege. The Horns of Gruzil are exterminated to the last man, just outside Gerrha harbor. A virtually empty city now faces the Lykoi, its defenders having been annihilated in vain sallies both on land and sea. Only the tower archers remain. Even so, Cleisthenes stays his hand. However certain victory might be, triumph is equally assured in continuing the siege. The general is content to trade time for hoplite lives.

The Gerrheans finally bow to the inevitable...and surrender. Gerrha is ours. Arabia Magna is unified under Pontic rule, and formally established as province. Walled Gerrha dominates western Arabia, and its fine port is crown jewel of the Sinus Persis. Together with the military wharf which Amompharetos has built at Harmozia, Gerrha's shipwright facility ensures that Poseidon's Justice will soon equal the power of Pontus' Mediterranean fleets. Indeed, freed from blockade duty, even now Anchilaus begins to build his long-awaited seaborne artillery. Truth be known...I'm not certain we need such naval power now, having already subdued our enemies in this region. Be that as it may....the admiral would be devastated if I forbid him his expensive playthings, and frankly he has earned them. Let Anchilaus build his ballistae, and let Poseidon's Justice rule these seas as deterrent and symbol of Pontic strength.

Meanwhile, Alcides' mercenaries have fulfilled their purpose. The young general finally discharges his desert host, and begins a long journey to Bosporus, there to reconstitute the Champions as a proper Pontic army. Alcides has grown fond of his "sand people" as he affectionately calls them, and asks to maintain them permanently. I consider this for a time...Arabia is subdued, but this will probably not be the last time Pontic arms clash in desert wastes. Wherever from Bosporus or elsewhere, Pontus has no prospect of forming such troops on its own. Mercenaries, however, are expensive. An avaricious camel-man demands far more in coin than stalwart Pontic hoplite. My long-suffering treasurer balks at this notion, and threatens to close up his purse. The man is impudent...but correct. The desert mercenaries are paid off...and Alcides' sand people disappear into the sands as if a mirage.

Rather puzzling to me, the capture of Gerrha does not provoke internal conflict. I have foreseen wrongly, it appears. The political division indeed further deepens. Vocal conflict rises to strident pitch. Nobles throughout the "home provinces" of Bithynia et Pontus, Galatia et Cappadocia, rail at the throne, and formally declare personal opposition to imperialist policy. Many grandees even begin calling local levies of their own freedmen, ostensibly for "protection" of their estates in troubled times. For now, however, the aristocrats stop short of declaring against the throne itself...the fraying thread of loyalty and tradition still holds.

Meanwhile...another threat emerges (or more accurately, re-emerges). Pharaohic pretenders breed like rabbits, it would appear...Egypt arises yet again, this time at Diospolis, further up the Nile from Pontic Aegyptus. Annoyed, I countermarch the Scions of Sinope once more. Back to Myos Hormos. Will this Egyptian nuisance never be finally put to rest?

--------------------------------

I am Prince Arybbas....no, I suppose I am King Arybbas, eighth King of Pontus. My father Antiphus has died in Aegyptus, preparing to march against resurgent Egypt, and the crown passes to me. I'd rather remain simply admiral of Cyncus' Argonauts here in the Mare Carpathium. Duty and precedent, however, are heedless of my wishes...king I must be. Antiphus reigned sixteen years, but was already approaching old age even as he ascended the throne. Nevertheless, he saw Charidemos' defeat avenged, and finally completed his adoptive father's vision of an Arabia unified under our rule. Many expected Antiphus' Mithridatic chauvinism to spark civil war...yet it did not, even with the final conquest of Gerrha. Perhaps fear of Antiphus worked as effectively as respect of Charidemos. In any case all Pontics, anti-imperial or not, were united in lust for revenge against Gerrhea.

A flag signal has been received from neighboring Scylla's Terror, lying to our north. The cryptic message lacks detail, but the central point is clear enough. Noble are in revolt to the north. Where does that mean? Bithynia? Thracia? Bosporus? How many...are there rebel fleets as well as armies? Details I have not...but I know where to point the bows of Argonaut ships. This time we sail not against piratical Cimmerian, hostile Egyptian, or desert tribesman...but against fellow Pontics, recent comrades. It seems that Antiphus' demise has provided the final spark for what the fall of Gerrha could not: Pontic Civil War.

https://i.imgur.com/9Gy0kNl.png

[Bramborough]

Out for a couple days...going to see my kid at college. Will probably post the civil-war installment on Monday (already played it).

[Bramborough]

Part XV

Early reign of Arrybas: Continued desert adventures and the Civil War

Amplifying reports have arrived. The revolting nobles, led by Alexarchos, have established their base at Pulpudeva. Six armies of Pontic troops have been raised there (very quickly, I must say). Luckily, landlocked Pulpudeva does not support fleets...otherwise the nobles may have had sea forces as well. I am deeply gratified that none of my non-Mithridatic aristocratic generals have defected to the rebellion. It has long been known that they are all staunch imperialists, especially Anytios, Amompharetos, and Glaukos. I had feared, however, that family and class loyalties would nevertheless prove stronger than imperialist convictions. No doubt they would, but even deeper in these worthy stalwarts runs the most fundamental trait of all: loyalty to one's King.

https://i.imgur.com/vqjJA8U.png
Civil War: Monarchist nobles' start at Pupuldeva.

Antiphus' foresight in re-positioning Pontic armies towards the interior is amply vindicated. Alexarchos' of Pulpudeva as his capital, by contrast, is not so wise. Loyal Pontic forces are well-placed to block any potential advance towards Amaseia or the major cities of the Anatolian peninsula. The geography, moreover, enables a vital role for Pontus' powerful fleets, as the nobles must necessarily cross water - either the Euxine, Aegean, or Pontic strait near Nicomedia - to enter the Pontic homeland.

These nobles profess to fight for a strong Pontic monarchy...how strange that they seek to achieve their aims by rebelling against that very kingship. What they really seek, obviously, is an emasculated, non-expansionist monarchy firmly under their own control. They fight not so much for monarchy as they do against monarchical power and imperialism. Nevertheless, for sake of simplicity and clarity, I will refer to these rebel forces as "monarchist", while I will term our own forces "imperialist". I believe these terms will be clearer than "nobles"...since many loyal nobles of course remain with us, or "Pontic"...we are all Pontics, after all.

Indeed, that is what troubles me so about this schism. By necessity, many good Pontics on both sides will die in this war....the vast majority of them, undeservedly so. I am pained most of all by the superb Pontic soldiers whom we must fight...and kill. The rank and file of the monarchist armies, after all, are doing what we have trained them to do all their lives; provide unquestioning support and follow the orders of their generals. It is their misfortune that they march under leaders who seek to abuse their rank and privilege in a reckless bid for power. So be it...it cannot be undone.

Before turning to an account of this Pontic civil war, however, I will convey events of our continuing campaign in southern sands...which takes on an increasingly curious character.

War in the South: Final Gerrhaean mop-up, Aegyptus unified, Aethiopia

King Antiphus, upon the capture of Gerrha, had ordered Alcides to disband his desert mercenary army, and proceed to Bosporus to rebuild the Champions of Amasis. Indeed, Antiphus went to his death believing that this order had been carried out...or at any rate, would certainly be executed once received. Alcides, however, has other ideas. Shying from outright defiance of a royal directive, the man equivocates and procrastinates...he "didn't receive the order very quickly", then "will discharge upon reaching Yathrib...then Adummatu...then Antioch...", etc. All in all, he desperately tries to keep his motley (and expensive) band together until circumstances again require their presence. Alcides has grown rather attached to these ruffians, it would seem.

Fortune smiles upon Alcides. Marching near Yathrib, the Champions of Amasis happen upon Apedemark's Pride in the desert...defeated Gerrhaea's last remaining host. Alcides' camels and Arabian cavalry fall upon the emaciated band in ambush among the dunes. The Gerrhaean hold-outs are easily destroyed. After the titanic struggles of Charidemos and Cleisthenes (with Alcides' help of course) at Gerrha itself, and Antiphus' earlier decisive defeat of Apedemark's Pride, to Alcides falls the honor of the final destruction of Gerrhaean resistance.

https://i.imgur.com/jM6OhNG.png
Alcides' camels charging Apedemark's Pride

King Antiphus died while preparing for the capture of Egyptian Diospolis. The outbreak of civil war does not derail these plans. Egypt has resurfaced from oblivion multiple times...only with the unification of Aegyptus under firm Pontic rule can this Hydra be finally tamed. Coeranus continues with Antiphus' designs, and the Scions of Sinope assault the town. They find only a small garrison in defense, and quickly overcome it with missile fire, much as Antiphus had done previously at Myos Hormos. Aegyptus is unified.

Diospolis had been so lightly defended in the first place, however, because the new Pharoah's field army, the Sacred Scarabs, had proceeded north, sailing down the Nile, towards Pontic Memphis. Amompharetos and Mithridates' Chosen has meanwhile entered Aegyptus from Nabatea. Both Scions and Chosen now maneuver to contain the Scarabs. Amompharetos finally brings the Scarabs to battle on the Nile itself, in an afloat struggle. The Scarabs are destroyed. With them, Egypt once more disappears from the earth...hopefully, this time for good.

https://i.imgur.com/1MaTQCT.png
Cautiously optimistic this will be the last time I have to post this....

With the capture of Diospolis, access towards Aethiopia is opened. The recently-Blemmyes-held port of Ptolemais Theron has come under rebel control. Alcides sees now the opportunity he has sought. Rather than disband his mercenaries, he hires more...elephants, of all things...and embarks the Champions at Charmuthas to cross over to Aethipia. The man's impertinence is astounding....but perhaps useful. A curious phenomenon has emerged. Alcides' fame, along with that of his motley desert bandits, has exploded in Pontus, out of all proportion whatsoever to the Champions' inherent military strength or actual accomplishments. Alcides himself, however eccentric his army, remains himself the picture of a proper Pontic general, marching stolidly at the head of his Bronze Shield guard. The poets, however, would not have it so, and popular imagination is rather different. In the eyes of Amaseia's populace, in Ephesus, in Ancyra, Alcides charges into battle atop a swaying camel, wielding bow or scimitar. He is "Alcides of the Sands", or "of the Desert".

Alcides has not achieved even the barest fraction of Pontic service as Glaukos or Amompharetos. Yet these worthies apparently suffer the disadvantage of having marched at the head of powerful hoplite columns, rather than skittering about sand dunes with camels. Only Anytios' daring naval success at Syracusae even remotely approached the popular renown now enjoyed by the upstart maverick. But why fight this popularity? Let us use it. In a time of civil war...here is a popular Pontic leader furthering the empire's ambitions on a far frontier. We are caught up in a struggle not only of hoplites and pentaremes, but of ideas - monarchy vs empire...and Alcides provides a glamorous face for the very idea of imperialism. Let the man have his elephants....and let him see what he can do in Aethiopia. If he triumphs, we gain further glory at little or no cost in Pontic blood. If he fails...well, no great tragedy in the demise of a few camel bandits...and the poets will make Alcides an imperialist martyr.

No, there's no game mechanic reflecting any of this. Just me having fun with these desert troops and trying to spice up the story a little. Alcides is my Lawrence of Arabia.

Alcides crosses the Sinus Arabica and lands near the Aethiopian border. I order Anchilaus to support Alcides with Poseidon's Justice...with the caveat that he is NOT to unduly hazard his fleet regardless of what straits into which the Champions of Amasis may fall. Anchilaus may let fly as many onager stones and arrows as he likes, but his Pontic naval archers are not to set foot on Aethiopian soil, as they did at Gerrha following Charidemos' demise.

Alcides crosses into Aethiopia and raids the countryside toward Ptolemais Theron. He grows fond of pillage with this dusty rabble...no matter, it certainly helps defray the cost of their wages. Anchilaus and Poseidon's Justice blockade the port. The town is defended by a strong garrison and a large rebel field army, including a rather large contingent of melee noble swordsmen. The mercenary Champions of Amasis is no match for this force alone. Alcides has read, however, of the Pontic navy's successes at Apollonia and Syracusae...and knows that Poseidon's Justice now possess the seaborne artillery of their Mediterranean colleagues. While the general holds his camels and elephants outside Ptolemais, Anchilaus moves into the harbor and begins mercilessly bombarding the rebel defenders.

Poseidon's Justice exacts a dreadful toll. Rebel javelinmen and archers, in particular, suffer horrific losses near the waterfront and break morale. The rebel garrison is deprived of the vast majority of its missile capability. Anchilaus continues to pound at the mounted and infantry units further upslope near the city center. With the steady winnowing of the strong rebel force, Alcides begins to advance the Champions closer to town. In particular, he masses the camel archers outside the western outskirts, with the slowly-advancing elephants following. The camel-mounted melee spears and Arabian cavalry array themselves to the north for a flanking attack. When all is in place, the camel archers swoop into Ptolemais and take the rebel defenders under fire...then just as quickly recede before their advance. Twice more the desert missileers surge and retreat, goading the rebel swordsmen forward bit by bit and spreading their units. Cavalry then flank from the north, while the enemy swordsman suddenly find to their front not mounted archers, but charging elephants instead. The combination of relentless naval bombardment, flanking camels, and elephants is too much for the defenders; those who survive quickly break and flee. Alcides has won Ptolemais (albeit largely on the strength of Anchilaus' onagers).

Pontus now possesses every port on the Sinus Arabica...it is a virtual Pontic lake. The capture of Ptolemais, moreover, opens up the remainder of Aethiopia. The Scions of Sinope and Mithridates' Chosen now move south to the border, in preparation for marching towards Meroe and Aksum. Alcides has won his glory...his renown now earned in fact as well as name. He is now - rightfully enough - Alcides of Aethiopia.

https://i.imgur.com/RL885F9.png
Ptolemais: Anchilaus' naval archers open the bombardment

https://i.imgur.com/U93jCiK.png
Ptolemais: Poseidon's Justice onager crew in action

https://i.imgur.com/psqfOFK.png
Ptolemais: Champion camel archers sweep into the city from the west

https://i.imgur.com/dRNTXGy.png
Ptolemais: Alcides' elephants during the final charge

Let us now turn north from this imperial sideshow to the main events of the Civil War.

Civil War: Pontic vs Pontic in Thracia

Upon the emergence of monarchist rebellion at Pulpudeva, loyal imperialist armies have concentrated toward the Pontic strait. Dmetor and his Wrath of Zeus march to reinforce Antheia, while the Sentinels of Hyperion and Defenders of Trapezon fortify on the strait crossing itself. Ares' Fury, under Demades, has completed recruiting and sails towards Thracia. The Pontic fleets, my own Argonauts of Cyncus among them, sail north from the Mare Carpathium to cover potential sea invasion routes in the Aegean and Euxine. The Sons of Troy and Charidemos' Vengeance continue to recruit/retrain in the Bosporus; upon completion, they will reinforce Panticipaeum to block a potential monarchist advance in the north (as indeed they will try).

The monarchist leaders begin their campaign in rather oblique fashion...their armies march not south and west towards Antheia and the Pontic Strait, but rather north into Odessos' territory, held by the Celtic Confederation. I can only assume that, recognizing our strength along the direct path towards Amaseia, the monarchists instead aim to march north through Celtic and Catiaroi lands towards Panticipaeum. All the better...it will be easier to contain the monarchists, and mire them in combat far from the Pontic home provinces.

https://i.imgur.com/EQDWlHE.png
Initial monarchist deployment into northern Thracia. Selected army composition is typical, with slight variations.

Glaukos proposes an interesting stratagem...to bring Odessos and the Catiaroi into the war, on the side of the Pontic throne. His intent, however, is not so much to garner needed aid for Pontic arms, already sufficiently powerful enough to deal with the threat. Glaukos' hope, instead, is that the monarchists, if at war with these nations, will perhaps capture some of their cities enroute to Bosporus...cities which we can then win back ourselves and incorporate into Pontus. The ploy smacks a little distastefully of Nicomedus' long-ago perfidy near Sinope...but this is a different time. So be it. I go a step further (perhaps too far?), and invite our allies the Ardiaei to join us as well. There is, however, some grumbling about this; many remember that it was really the Ardiaei who actually captured Pulpudeva from Pergamon three decades ago, and then stood aside, allowing Bacis to take the city. With that forbearance's diplomatic objectives now fulfilled, many fear that the Ardiaei will now pounce to take Pulpudeva if a second opportunity materializes.

Odessos needs no convincing at all to declare against the monarchists; the Celtic Confederation is already incensed by Alexarchos' violation of their borders. Catiaroi needs but little coaxing as well; a few coins are sufficient to rally Olbia's spears to our cause. Glaukos' design quickly bears fruit...no sooner does Odessos (rather rashly, as it turns out) declare war, than the monarchists march for...and capture...their city. The lead monarchist army is rather impertinently styled the Lykoi...just as most of the other rebel hosts are named in parallel as tradition-rich Pontic armies. The monarchists perhaps hope that the august aura of these veteran forces may transfer to their own. Rather ironic, as the glories of true Lykoi and Chosen have been mostly won in the imperialist march which these rebels seek to halt and reverse.

The monarchist Lykoi remain at Odessos, while the other armies continue north toward the Danube crossings. Our imperialist hosts enter northern Thracia to engage them, while my Argonauts and the Heralds of Triton enter the wide Danube and row upstream to support if possible. Meanwhile, Alexarchos, rather perplexingly, has left Pulpudeva virtually undefended...Demades immediately marches to recapture the erstwhile rebel capital with Ares' Fury. He besieges Pulpudeva upon arriving before its walls.

The Wrath of Zeus assault the monarchist Lykoi at Odessos...the first Pontic-vs-Pontic battle of this war. Dmetor's ballistae and archers open fire on the Lykoi. The Wrath hoplite column advances into the port town as so many times before, but now faced by their own countrymen. Dmetor shifts his archers and peltasts to rain fire on the monarchists from a small bluff overlooking the wharf area, to be followed up by Noble Blood cavalry entering via the western approaches. The hoplite column soon engages in melee with their monarchist foes near the waterfront. The struggle is fierce, but the opposing hoplites have been decimated by missile fire. They are then hit in the flank by cavalry. Odessos is taken, and this first battle ends in a monarchist defeat. Word is almost simultaneously received that Pulpudeva has surrendered without battle to Demades, falling much more quickly to siege than first anticipated.

https://i.imgur.com/dMcDKML.png
Odessos: First shots of the Pontic Civil War

https://i.imgur.com/3Y8zE5l.png
Odessos: Pontic hoplites in combat...against each other

https://i.imgur.com/vesWMYG.png
Pulpudeva surrenders

Alexarchos' situation is now severely compromised. Odessos and Pulpudeva now lost to him, the monarchist armies are in the midst of hostile territory with no haven available. Monarchist soldiers, as Pontics themselves, are steady and valorous in battle through heritage and training...by those same virtues, however, they are also militarily astute. They begin to desert their generals. The monarchist armies, however resoundingly named, begin to crack. I take advantage of this situation. It is disagreeable to see...to encourage...Pontic desertion, regardless of the political aims of their generals. Nevertheless, I would rather see these soldiers desert and live, perhaps, to march rehabiliated in their King's ranks in the future.

I order Hippolytos, Dmetor, and Dexios (lately having taken command of the Sentinels of Hyperion from pugnacious but ailing old Glaukos) to fortify their armies throughout the north Thracian plain, near the Danube. They are to hinder the monarchists' movements and prevent crossing of the river, rather than to seek battle directly. Upon one monarchist host, the rebel Mithridates' Chosen, I unleash the concentrated attentions of the Eyes and Ears of the King; the spies relentlessly attack the Chosen's train and provisions, immobilizing that army and hastening its desertion rate. I proclaim throughout Pontus that rank-and-file monarchist soldiers who lay down arms are rebels no more, and have free passage as citizens out of Thracia to their homes. This amnesty, of course, is not extended to their aristocratic officers.

This policy of attrition rather than battle produces the desired results...the monarchist armies dwindle, and after a few seasons are mere shells of their former selves. Ere long, they would simply disappear. My generals and staff, however, grow uneasy. They want to shed Pontic blood - on either side - no more than I do...but begin to chafe at the prolongation of a war which we could end at any time we choose. Their chief concern is that the monarchist leaders will seek terms...politically, I would be compelled to accept peace. Anytios and Glaukos in particular urge me to crush this revolt while Alexarchos remains recalcitrant, for a more complete political victory. I cannot deny the logic of their argument, and in any case the imbalance in force strength has become so overwhelming that relatively few Pontic lives on either side will be lost. Reluctantly, I acquiesce. The imperialist armies come out of encampment and bring the monarchists to battle.

"Battle" is, somewhat sadly, a misleading term for these encounters, most of which degrade into routs almost as soon as they begin. Dexios' Sentinels of Hyperion ambush their rebel namesake in an early morning fog on the Thracian plain. This one rebel host had managed to retain much of its strength through remaining afloat on the neutral Danube, but then landed again to march on Odessos. Caught in ambush, however, they are easily vanquished. Monarchist Mithridates' Chosen, barely a handful remaining after our spies' depredations, virtually evaporate at the mere sight of imperialist forces. The rebel Champions of Amasis put up a spirited fight for a time in a driving rainstorm, but are defeated as well.

Alexarchos' Sons of Amazons, however, escapes the noose into Catiaroi territory. It would be easy enough to let the Catiaroi dispose of this remnant...if we could be assured that they would promptly do so. We have no such confidence. It would be unfitting, moreover, for a foreign power to sound the final deathknell in this internecine struggle. My envoys prepare to seek a military access agreement with the Catiaroi so that we may chase down the Sons of Amazons ourselves. Before they depart, however, Alexarchos offers us an opening. Stubborn, if not particularly wise, the monarchist general single-mindedly continues his quest for Panticipaeum. He embarks the Sons of Amazons upon the Euxine Sea...thereby leaving the relative protection of Catiaroi territory. Anytios immediately pursues with Scylla's Terror, and brings the invasion fleet to battle off Olbia. A Cataroi fleet puts to sea to assist, but they are not needed. Anytios uses his seaborne ballistae with deadly effect as so many times before. Alexarchos' transports are destroyed. The Civil War is over.

https://i.imgur.com/xSlHy35.png
North Thracian plain: Monarchist Sentinels of Hyperion ambushed in early morning fog

https://i.imgur.com/8BYdK9d.png
End of the Civil War: Alexarchos' transport fleet shattered upon the Euxine Sea

https://i.imgur.com/YcdWQJ8.png
https://i.imgur.com/J9w2fOm.png

I rejoice that this unfortunate and unnecessary war is ended. I am moreover content that we have conducted it in such way to spill as little Pontic blood as possible, whether imperialist or monarchist. I must confess, however, that I am perplexed...and rather disappointed...by Alexarchos and the enemy generals. They were rebels indeed, bitter foes of the throne and of my family. They were traitors to be ruthlessly crushed, treasonous dogs that they were. For all that, however...they were Pontic nevertheless. And not merely Pontic, but Pontic nobles, the flower of our aristocracy.

Did these men not come of age in the reign of Charidemos, and learn their trade in the successful campaigns of Nabatea and Arabia? Did they not have the examples of noble commanders Ptolemaeus, Amompharetos, Anytios, and Glaukos before them? Had they learned nothing of the Pontic way of war? Why would Alexarchos choose Pulpudeva as his base city, far from Amaseia across seas dominated by our obviously powerful fleets? Indeed, why would he not make his bid from a port capital instead such as Antioch or Ephesus, and avail the monarchist cause powerful fleets of its own? What was Alexarchos' design in embroiling foreign nations against him, provoked by his march into their territory? I have no answers for these questions...and while I am gratified that an enemy would make such errors, I am likewise chagrined that Pontic-born and -trained nobles would prove so clumsy. I can only hope that we have been lucky to simply cull the dullards from among the aristocracy...rather than have glimpsed the true capabilities of Pontic nobility when left to their own devices.

[Sp4]

How long did the CW take?

[Bramborough]

How long did the CW take?

8 turns. Only reason it took that long was because I was kinda role-playing the attrition strategy. I think I could've squashed it in 4-5 turns or so, having already moved several armies back towards Anatolia.

Myth is correct (separate thread). CA needs to do something about these lackluster CWs.

[Mhantra]

I am late to the party here, but I wanted to chime in on the awesomeness that is this game in a few respects.

First of all, after I got leveled on Hard (geeze, not even VH or legendary lol!), I realzed that those Eastern Spearment are weak sauce. Literally, air is more stout then them. Give me a stiff breeze, for youknowwho's sake!

So whan I started out, I rushed Hoplites. I specialized the port town for food and put the military in the other. Now, this is interesting because when I had not purchased a single unit in those first turns, the AI absolutely rushed me. I held them off with my scout, believe it or not, and only had to make three hoplites to completely change things. I mean, completely.

First of all, the enemy to the south had no chance against hoplites. NONE.

Second of all, after picking up a few more Hoplines and HILLMEN RAWR, all hell broke loose. First of all, I completely crushed the southern faction I started at war with, Cappadocia. Secondly, Selucid became very angry with me and declared war abruptly. This while their client states there rebelling hahaha. Oh, and when I took Samosata, I kept the facility that makes horse skirmishers, created 6 of them over the next two turns, then destroyed it (non-faction building) and built my own for culture/order.

Then, low and behold, Galacia decided they want to befriend me. A few turned later, defensive pact, then full military alliance. They moved south with me and we crushed northern Slucid areas. I spread east and took on Armenia. Of course, went full military alliance with Bithynia and Trapezos, who combined to dominate the seas above us. So Galacia is moving south into Syria, I am rolling eastward and south through Armenia and Mosepotamia.

How am I rolling south and east at the same time with three armies and still protect my lands? My scout is raising hell in Selucid cities to the south, causing uprisings, sometimes with slave revolts taking over their small cities. Then I come in and grab it. My huge army is duking it out in the east, and they have nothing on my Pikes, Hoplites, Hillmen, horse skirmishers and the general with fully armored horses and chariots with blades on the wheels lol!

This is going completely differently than I thought it would, and the alliance with Galacia seems weird, indeed. But it put me on a one front expansion war, and that seems rare for Pontus.

The best thing about this game? If I started the same, there is a real chance that it turns out completely different and I am having to fight off Galacia, like last time when I got crushed.

Oh, anjoying this AAR very much. Especially because it is so different than my own experience with Pontus.

[Bramborough]

That is indeed an interesting and different campaign evolution. Good idea on keeping the the horse production building for a few turns. I have to admit I was excessively late in building my first muster field. Just didn't feel like I could spare a slot in the two minor settlements available...which in retrospect was a ridiculous misconception. I fought wars using nothing but Eastern spears and slings for far too long. Even so...guess I can't complain, I did okay.

Worth noting, we were still on Patch 3 when I started this AAR/campaign. That probably accounts for some of the different faction behavior between our two experiences. I don't see any way Galatia would've become an ally two patches ago.

[Bramborough]

Part XVI

Peace (mostly) after the Civil War...and the continuing desert campaign

The Civil War is over, and the nobles in revolt have been utterly crushed. And so now the central question of that war...in fact, the central question throughout the realm for the preceding three generations...is decided. Pontus is formally proclaimed an Empire. I, Arrybas, eighth King of Pontus, am also first Emperor of Pontus. Rightfully, such a title should have gone first to Charidemos, but that is not how the gods have willed it. Henceforth, the Pontic Emperor is Mithridatic. Perhaps not direct-male-line descendant, but without question Mithridates' blood must run in his veins. Our family is supreme in Pontus...and by virtue of the expanding Empire, by extension Mithridates' descendants also will be supreme throughout the world.

Enough such grand posturing...to matters at hand. Following the end of the civil war, we enter a period of relative peace. Some campaigning continues on the far frontiers (about which, more soon), but in general, Pontus remains content within her borders, and enjoys a well-deserved tranquillity. Cynics would say that such a lull reflects only that the internecine war has drawn our forces towards the home provinces, and the Imperial Throne needs time to march them back towards the object of our ambitions. But why would one listen to the cynics? They are, after all, such a...cynical...lot.

Indeed, we do find many of our armies close to home...closer than they have been in decades. Meanwhile Bosporus workshops have grown ever more artful and advanced in their capabilities. Yet our faraway soldiers have long marched with arms unimproved by these new capabilities. Pontic armies now march from Thracia to Bosporus and Caucasia, for a complete refitting of arms, armor, and equipment.

Speaking of Bosporus...Charidemos decreed long ago that in the future Nabatea would become the "mother of Pontic arms". Antiphus subscribed to this policy, and sought to implement it as well. We had only been waiting, it seems, for this province to sufficiently develop. I am of a different mind. Pontic armies already abound throughout the realm...how many more hosts would I and my successors build in the future, however large the Empire may grow? Truly, northern Bosporus is a far march from many of our frontiers...a newly raised host may spend years before reaching our enemies. But is it not also true that many such years would be needed to build such infrastructure in desert Nabatea? Pontus has spend much coin on the development of Bosporus' barracks, workshops, and training fields. I intend to retain them. Nabatea's fields produce much grain for the Empire. I would retain them as well.

The Noble War lasted eight years...and many of our most august commanders were not young men when it began. Death and infirmity have carried many of them away, and threaten others. Younger men, well schooled by their example, begin to take command of Pontic forces. Aristaios now commands Poseidon's Justice in southern waters...while we grieve the passing of Anchilaus, "Cyncus of the South". Demades has likewise gone to cross the Styx; Chrysanthos now commands Ares' Fury. Paranomos relieves old Artemios at the helm of the Heralds of Triton. Antymnius takes command of Mithridates' Chosen from venerated Amompharetos. My cousin Diokles succeeds to command of the Wrath of Zeus following the death of his father Dmetor. Aged Hippolytos transfers command of the Defenders of Trapezon to my nephew Agathon. Finally, the Empire mourns the passing of naval hero Anytios; Aristoboulos now commands Scylla's Terror. The old guard have served Pontus well, building the empire under Charidemos, then defending it against the traitorous Nobles. The formal establishment of the Pontic Empire is their triumph; they certainly deserved their glory, and now deserve their peaceful rest.

With Empire will come new ambitions, the current Peace notwithstanding. I use this interlude to strengthen the Pontic military for future travails, not just by refitting, but by establishing new forces as well. Sokrates' Judgment, named in honor of the King who won Armenia and who truly began Pontus' transition to Empire, begins recruiting in Bosporus. The Judgment will be commanded by Peithon. Named for perhaps Pontus' most legendary King, the Heroes of Prokopios are likewise formed, under the command of my own son Prince Azeus. The Empire will need not only more armies but fleets as well; Asteropaeus is commissioned to form the Guardians of the Pontos at Hieraptyna.

Meanwhile, peace does not reign quite everywhere. Even during the Noble War, Alcides of Aethiopia with his motley desert mercenaries opened up that region to Pontus. Quick to take the opportunity, Mithridates' Chosen and the Scions of Sinope marched from Aegyptus. These armies (along with Alcides' irrepressible Champions of Amasis, of course) now cross the border into Meroe territory, and war ensues. Mithridates' Chosen besiege the capital city of Meroe (Amompharetos' last action; he will die of natural causes during the siege). Alcides raids toward Aksum, while the Scions maintain order in Ptolemais Theron. Meroean desert armies bypass them in the sandy wastes, headed towards Aegyptus, but Pontic spies bedevil their progress. Meroe city falls to the siege, surrendering without a battle. Alcides falls upon Aksum with his camels and elephants...the defending garrison sallies out and are overwhelmed. The Pontic province of Aethiopia is unified and formally proclaimed. Throughout its cities, desert facilities are torn down, and proper Hellenic structures developed in their stead.

Despite Meroean territory vanquished, Meroean armies remain in the field...and threaten Ptolemais. Atymnius immediately marches from Meroe and ambushes one of these hosts in the desert, utterly destroying it. Alcides likewises countermarches back from Aksum to ride down another Meroean force north of Ptolemais. The Meroean Merchants of Death line up for battle and advance towards Alcides' camel-mounted archers and cavalry. They seek to destroy or force back our mounted troops with their spear-armed troops before our own infantry can engage. It is a vain attempt...the Champions of Amasis' elephants flank and charge the Merchants, while camel archers adroitly avoid melee and continuously shower arrows upon the hapless Meroean spearmen. The camel melee cavalry finish them off. This second enemy force too is destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/5jWLzsE.png
Aksum: Alcides' camels in action

https://i.imgur.com/F4XiCOZ.png
Aksum: Champion elephants ride down Meroean routers

https://i.imgur.com/vy6qx63.png
Ptolemais: Alcides' desert mercenaries victorious...in what will prove to be their final battle

With Aethiopia conquered and now secure, I must finally bow to the treasury's indignant demands. Alcides' Champions have proven worthy, and have served as an epic example of imperial might. However much the desert mercenaries may have captured the imagination of the Pontic populace, however, the hard unavoidable fact is that they simply cost too much. Our newest armies, large hosts of the most effective and professional troops in Pontus' history, cost less than half the yearly upkeep of these camel-mounted fortune-seekers. And for all their renown, my advisors continue to point out that this colorful rabble simply doesn't possess the hard combat strength of a much cheaper conventional army. The desert-mercenary version of the Champions of Amasis has served its purpose, and now it must go.

Ten years before, Alcides eluded my father's earlier disbandment order...now I send him a second, in the most unequivocal terms. He is ordered to immediately discharge the mercenaries, on the very day he receives the imperial message. Alcides will then proceed to the Bosporus to recruit a stronger (and cheaper) army. If he does not comply, then I will formally disband the Champions of Amasis entirely...and rescind his command. Alcides is surprisingly amenable to the order. He evaded Antiphus to seek reputation among the sands, but now Alcides of Aethiopia has won his glory. The desert nomads have served out his own purpose as well as that of Pontus'. However fond he may be of his camels, Alcides at heart is a conservative Pontic general, and now relishes opportunity to command a proper army bristling with Pontic pikes. The camels and elephants are disbanded...for good this time.

Meanwhile, other opportunities arise in these hot southern lands. As ever, Seleucid satrapies continue to experience public disorder. A number of their cities have rebelled...creating an opening for Pontic mastery. Near Pontic Harmozia, neighboring Persepolis and Pura are under rebel sway, as well as the old Persian town of Susa. How could their former Seleucid masters possibly argue against Pontic armies re-establishing order? The Lykoi and Wrath of Zeus, brandishing upgraded arms from Bosporan workshops, have arrived back in the desert south, and they now cross the Sinus Persis towards these rebel lairs. The Lykoi besiege Pura, while the Wrath do the same at Persepolis. The Scions of Sinope, having marched back across Arabia Felix, march upon and encircle Susa. All three cities surrender after a brief time, despite the presence of large rebel armies within. Pontic power grows in the region; no full provinces yet controlled, but Pura and Persepolis, like Harmozia taken during Charidemos' reign, are large walled cities, and are the key to military dominance of the area.

During this same time, Poseidon's Justice has pursued Meroe's last remaining army, which fled Aethiopia by embarking upon the Mare Indicum. Aristaios finally brings this afloat remnant to battle near Harmozia. As is now becoming commonplace, all Meroean ships are sunk without the loss of a single Pontic sailor. Meroe is destroyed. The Pontic Empire is now fully at peace, without even minor desert factions or rebels opposing them. Where shall I focus the efforts of these splendidly re-armed hosts?

https://i.imgur.com/fs2nWJM.png
Mare Indicum: Meroe's final force destroyed at sea by Poseidon's Justice

[nearchos]

Its great.

[Mhantra]

Ahh, I definitely agree about the differences in patches affecting things. Patch 5 seemed to make a huge difference in AI diplomacy behavior on the campaign map.

Glad you made it through your Civil War quickly without it completely devastating you. lol

[Bramborough]

Part XVII

Later Reign of Arybbas: The Syracuse War in Africa/Libya

For nearly 60 years, since Charidemos became King, Pontic diplomatic policy towards the western Greeks has been "satrapy or conquest". While Pontus has held firm on entering into no other diplomatic agreements (Ardiaei excepted), other priorities have long postponed our push to fully establish supremacy in the Greek world. Now the Civil War is over, the Pontic Empire is formally established, and southern desert campaigns have concluded (for now). It is time to make good our longstanding objective regarding the Greeks.

The most obvious course is to subjugate the remaining regions of Hellas, Macedon, and Thracia. We have, however, another alternative. Prior to his death, Anytios had proposed to me a rather audacious plan; the conquest of Africa using primarily naval power. The genesis of this idea was the admiral's startling successes at Apollonia and Syracusae, in which he was able to vanquish these cities' garrisons using only the artillery of Scylla's Terror. Every settlement in Africa is a Mediterranean port...only Carthago itself a walled capital. Anytios believed that the Pontic Navy, largely on its own, could subdue Africa within the span of only a year.

The lure of Africa is those very ports...no other province offers such a rich prospect of seaborne commerce. Frankly, the Empire's economy needs it. My predecessors and I have for decades focused our philosphers' and engineers' attentions on new methods and capabilities in warfare. I must confess now that economic and civil progress has lagged in our realm. Our treasury is robust enough and yearly revenues adequate...but I know that an empire this size should be far richer. I encourage our wise men to consider civil progress...this will take time. Meanwhile, to Africa we go.

The rich coastal province is held mainly by Syracuse, the city of Lepcis alone having been under rebel control for some years. Syracuse also holds the coastal regions of Libya, bordering on Pontic Aegyptus. We will execute this war in four phases (some of which will be simultaneous). First, an army (Mithridates' Chosen) will march overland from Aegyptus and take Paraitonion in conventional assault. Second, Pontic fleets will strike from the sea at Thapsus, Lepcis, and Macomades. Thapsus and Lepcis will be overcome by naval power alone, while the Macomades assault will be supported by a second army (in order to guard against Syracusae counterattack from Cyrene). Third, a combined land/naval force will besiege/blockade Carthago itself. Fourth and finally, after Syracusae forces in the field are neutralized, Pontic armies and navies will converge on Cyrene in Libya.

Paraitonion: Mithridates' Chosen (army)
Macomades: Guardians of the Pontos (fleet), Sentinels of Hyperion (army)
Lepcis (rebel): Argonauts of Cyncus (fleet)
Thapus: Heralds of Triton (fleet)
Carthago: Ares' Fury (army), Scylla's Terror (fleet)

My envoys journey to place the ultimatum before Syracuse: satrapy or conquest. As expected, the Syracusae reject satrapy. War is declared. The armies and fleets move into action.

Antymnius crosses the Libyan border and assaults Paraitonion. The port town is defended by a fairly robust garrison, but cannot withstand the assault of a full-sized Pontic army such as Mithridates' Chosen. In traditional Pontic fashion, Paraitonion's defenders are subjected to a hail of artillery and missile fire before having to face the standard 3-phalanx-abreast hoplite column entering the town. Decimated by arrows and stones, confronted by the ranks of some of the best soldiers in the world, the garrison breaks. Paraitonion is ours, and the first phase of the campaign is complete.

https://i.imgur.com/HNuPONr.png
Paraitonion: Mithridates' Chosen archers raining fire on the town's defenders

https://i.imgur.com/LrYuI8f.png
Paraitonion: Antymnius' hoplite column advances into the city

The Guardians of the Pontos and Sentinels of Hyperion assault Macomades from the sea. Macomades' garrison is augmented by a small army. The intent is for the fleet to clear the city, with the Sentinels needing only to land and occupy. The naval bombardment begins well. As taught by Anytios, the Guardian archer vessels close the shore while artillery ships bombard from farther out. Initial results are encouraging, as several defending units are routed near the waterfront. At Macomades, however, the city center is uphill, some distance from the wharves. Roughly half the defenders remain in the upper town, some hidden by buildings. The Guardians' bombardment is relentless and effective...but they cannot fire at what they cannot see.

The commanders confer, and decide to land some of the Sentinels to enter the town. Dexios puts ashore a force of six hoplite phalanxes, led by his own Bronze Shield guard. This force is charged primarily with locating remaining garrison units so that the naval bombardment can be completed. Dexios forms his phalanxes on the eastern beach, and begins advancing into the city. He does not make contact. The combination of the naval bombardment and the appearance of a strong land force causes the remaining defenders to lose heart and flee. Macomades is taken.

https://i.imgur.com/JcFZxK9.png
Macomades: Naval archers in action

https://i.imgur.com/CjbiKuV.png
Macomades: Dexios' hoplites advance toward the town

I, Arybbas, Emperor of Pontus, myself lead the Argonauts of Cyncus for the naval bombardment at rebel-held Lepcis. This town is most problematic, as it is held not by a typical garrison but by a full-size Punic field army. The rebel troop quality is rather worrisome. Many phalanxes of Carthaginian hoplites guard the city, led by a contingent of elephants in the rebel general's guard. This host heavily outnumbers the Argonauts, and the soothsayers tell me the omens are unfavorable. I am not concerned that the Argonauts are in any great danger themselves, but am troubled by the prospect that we may run out of ammunition before breaking these troops. I also worry that many of the rebels may remain out of sight, as at Macomades...and I do not have any hoplites to put ashore to locate them. Nevertheless, we close the harbor to begin the bombardment.

At Lepcis, however, the town center, while not directly on the wharf itself, is closer to the waterfront than at Macomades. I decide to threaten the harborfront itself, in addition to stationing ships outside the harbor mole. The proximity of vessels to the interior harbor beach compels the rebel commander to station many units on the exposed harbor mole to repulse a landing attempt there (an attempt, of course, which I have no intention of making). These superb troops are thus caught in an intense crossfire from my archers and onagers. The rebel hoplites fall in droves, while their generals' elephants are impotent and mowed down themselves. When the mole is cleared, the artillery easily clear the town's center of defenders already shaken by witnessing the harbor slaughter. The heralds proclaim a "Heroic Victory" for the Argonauts for overcoming such seemingly heavy odds...I myself regard the affair as a regrettable massacre. So be it...Lepcis is ours.

https://i.imgur.com/1lP9f4C.png
Lepcis: Rebel hoplites massacred on the exposed harbor mole

https://i.imgur.com/mZNQ7hU.png
Lepcis: Rebel commander's elephants panicked and slain

Thapsus is defended by only a small garrison, wholly unable to resist the Heralds of Triton bombardment for even a short while. Barely do Paranormos' ships appear and begin to open fire, than the garrison breaks entirely. The Heralds' action is little more than simply sailing into the harbor and taking possession of the city.

At Carthago, Chrysanthos and Ares' Fury land and immediately besiege the capital, while Scylla's Terror blockades the port. The garrison is not very robust, but Chrysanthos and Aristaios are content to wait. They are content to delay the city's capture after so many other African cities have yielded, if only to allow public unrest to subside a bit before flaring anew at the capital's fall. In any case, the combined siege/blockade disheartens the defenders, who soon surrender the capital without a fight. Africa is ours, and the Pontic province of the same name is formally proclaimed.

https://i.imgur.com/H3ZGzTJ.png

Some Syracusae forces remain at large in the coastal and desert hinterlands of Africa and Libya. Their agents, moreover, remain active and prove rather meddlesome during the assimilation of the newly-won ports. Our conquest of so many cities in the same year heightens the population's resistance...however rapid the initial conquest has been, the triumphant Pontic forces are now mired for some years in quelling this unrest. Nevertheless, Africa is assimilated. The coveted ports are all converted to commercial usage, while fields are planted anew. I order the establishment of Temples of Poseidon in every city, for both food production and public order. Our own agents work tirelessly against the Syracusae, with some success. Dexios' Sentinels are able to ambush and destroy two Syracusae forces outside Macomades, while Anymtius and Mithridates' Chosen advance from Paraitonion to besiege the final Syracuse bastion at Cyrene.

Syracuse had sent used the bulk of its remaining forces to raid into recently-lost Africa and threaten retaking Macomades from us. These armies, harried by our Ears of the King, were the forces defeated by the Sentinels of Hyperion. Few troops remain at Cyrene itself, and the walled capital soon surrenders to Dexios. The entire coastline between Alexandria and Carthago, dotted by many excellent ports, is Pontic. Only the small remnant of a Syracusae fleet remains; the Guardians of Pontos pursues. This fleet, the Tridents of Poseidon, however, makes a futile attempt to blockade Alexandria itself...our garrison fleet easily destroys the Tridents. Syracuse is eliminated.

https://i.imgur.com/9fgyU1S.png

Word is received from Bosporus; renowned Alcides of Aethiopia has passed over the Styx. He will be mourned, and missed. Alcides, with his famous desert force of camels and elephants, personified the ideal of Pontic Empire at a time when such imperialism was under attack in the Civil War. He captured the minds of Pontus' people with his desert trek after the Gerrha disaster. He then won their hearts with his exploits during the renewed campaign against Gerrhaea. Alcides triumphed in his daring capture of Ptolemais Theron, and led the Pontic conquest of Aethiopia. The iconoclastic desert general has won his place in the immortal pantheon of Pontic military tradition. His name is enshrined there alongside those of such men as Prokopios, Ariobarzanes, Cyncus, and Glaukos. The storied Champions of Amasis, host of Charidemos and Alcides, will be led now by Amiantos...the young noble has some big shoes to fill.

The Poseidon temple initiative is proving effective in Africa. My senior priests urge me to replicate this success throughout the Empire. Throughout Pontus history, many Temples of Poseidon have been built in various settlements...but never in a systematic way. Most of our local governors have promoted agriculture and livestock. The wheatfields are productive enough, but my advisors and I are ambivalent about the cattle. The pens produce much squalor throughout the empire, and only modest food and revenue. I order the cessation of commercial livestock ranching throughout the Empire, and the erection instead of a Temple to Poseidon in every settlement. We are not sure what effect this may have, with the loss of cattle revenue. Some disjointment does occur during this conversion process....our imperial food surplus does not disappear into deficit, but does drop dangerously low. Nevertheless, the initiative does prove a resounding success. Once the temples are completed, food surplus and revenue are higher than ever.

I am in my 74th year. I have weathered the storm of Civil War. The "imperial question" has been resolved, and the Pontic Empire formally established. Aethiopia and rich Africa have come under Pontic rule, as well as several other settlements in Thracia, Salamis, and the far East. Today Pontus is stronger and richer than ever in its history...with its victorious forces poised for future triumphs. Pontus will soon bring the remainder of the Greek world under its sway. I am content.

------------------------

I am Azeus, son of Arybbas. Ninth King of Pontus, and second Emperor of the Pontic Empire. Arybbas, after a long reign of trial and triumph, has passed of natural causes. He remained at the helm of his beloved Argonauts of Cyncus to the last, his greatest personal victory the capture of Lepcis in Africa. It falls to me to continue his vision. Greece...and then perhaps the East...await. Onward Pontus!

https://i.imgur.com/hnuium0.png

[Bramborough]

Part XVIII

The Cyrenaican War

Following our defeat of Syracuse and Arybbas' death, my main priority is to consolidate the Greek provinces of Hellas, Macedonia, and Thracia under Pontic rule. The non-Pontic settlements, which include the walled capitals of Athenai and Pella, are under Macedon and Triballi control. It will take some time, however, to reposition our armies and fleets from the recent war along the Africa/Libya coastline, and subsequent assimilation of Africa. In particular, nautical engineers have completed the expansion of our military port at Ephesus, and our Mediterranean fleets all return to the Mare Carpathium for hull strengthening (Poseidon's Justice is likewise undergoing upgrade near Harmozia). During this interlude, I decide to complete the unification of Libya province.

Pontus already holds the coastal settlements including walled Cyrene, but the nation of Cyrenaica holds the interior towns of Ammonium and Aguila. The Cyrenes field two respectably large armies, the Wings of Pegasus and Helene's Faithful, and employ a large number of agents active throughout Libya and Africa. Dexios passed away of natural causes following the capture of Macomades; Heliodoros now commands the Sentinels of Hyperion. Antymnius commands Mithridates' Chosen at Cyrene. I command these two generals to defeat the Cyrenaican armies and unify Libya. I also charge my Eyes and Ears of the King to relentlessly pursue Cyrenaican agents, and prevent them from interfering with the Sentinels and Chosen.

Both armies march inland from the coast. Antymnius assaults Ammonium, the easternmost of the two Cyrenaican towns. Mithridates' Chosen easily sweep aside the garrison, and the town is taken. Meanwhile, the Sentinels of Hyperion approach western Aguila over the desert road. As Heliodoros crosses the border, however, he decides to proceed further west and bring the Cyrenaican Helene's Faithful to battle. The man foolishly sets out across the desert to shorten his march. The unforgiving sun exacts its heavy price...baking Heliodoros' column and taking far more soldiers than Helene's Faithful are likely to.

Heliodoros' weakened Sentinels catch up to the Faithful, and indeed ambush them near the border with Seleucid Garama. They are still excessively stronger than the ambushed Cyrenaicans, and kill hundreds of the desert soldiers before the Faithful withdraw, at little cost in Pontic blood. One of the fallen, however, is reckless Heliodoros himself....upon taking command of the Sentinels, the general chose a chariot detachment as his guard rather than the typical Bronze Shields. Despite the one-sided massacre, a Cyrenaican spear unit still managed to catch the chariots standing still while Heliodoros was observing the progress of a cavalry charge. No doubt Bronze Shields would easily have protected the general. Heliodoros is fallen, and I do not mourn the loss of this witless man. We will render full military honors at his burial...and silently breathe relief that a more capable man (my cousin Aristarchus, son of Agathon) now marches at the head of the Sentinels of Hyperion.

Antymnius proceeds from Ammonium to attack Aguila itself (the imbecilic Heliodoros having failed to do so). Mithridates' Chosen array themselves before the desert town in typical array. The hoplite 3-phalanx column is formed, while missileers take station on either flank to wear down the defenders. The ballistae are set in place just behind the archers. Aguila's garrison is large but low-quality. There are a few units of Egyptian infantry, but most of the defenders are a mere mob. Antymnius' hoplites advance, but do not need to come to blows. The ballistae, archers, and peltasts mercilessly shower the defenders with deadly effect. The garrison breaks entirely under the bombardment. Aguila is taken without the loss of a single Pontic soldier.

https://i.imgur.com/k5dCfIQ.png
Aguila: Antymnius' archers open the barrage

https://i.imgur.com/CzX0Xua.png
Aguila: Mithridates' Chosen peltasts attacking the garrison

Libya is now unified under Pontic rule; the Pontic province of Libya is formally established. Helene's Faithful and the Wings of Pegasus, however, still remain at large in the desert. The Faithful, in fact, march through the sands and threaten Macomades. The Seleucids are also at war with Cyrenaica, and several of their forces and agents are in the area...yet none act to hinder the Faithful' movements (a curious inactivity which will not be forgotten in Amaseia...). Aristarchus marches to intercept with the Sentinels of Hyperion (already nicely recovered once back on the main road in Pontic territory). While Helene's Faithful threaten Macomades, the Wings of Pegasus have appeared out of the desert near Aguila itself. Antymnius prepares to meet this desert host.

Meanwhile, our Eyes and Ears have been productive indeed. My spies have not only prevented Cyrenaican agents from doing much mischief, but have used their wiles to convert several. As the Cyrenaican ship sinks, the rats abandon. Two Cyrenaican aristocrats, Dakka and Neferu, defect to Pontus. Perhaps these desert nobles may prove of use in our newly won provinces; I find them administrative positions in Africa and Libya. The Cyrenaican hero Naqy has also entered Pontic service; Aristarchus puts the man to work training his Sentinels.

Mithridates' Chosen ambush the Wings of Pegasus in the desert just north of Aguila's eastern oases. Antymnius approaches the marching Wings from behind a large dune...the Chosen crest the dune and surprise is complete. Hoplites advance down the dune's slope toward the Cyrenaican column, while archers rain fire from the crest. Caught unaware, the Wings are disheartened and do not fight long. Only a short melee ensues before they break and flee...but the majority are destroyed. Aguila is secure.

https://i.imgur.com/sfq4yFx.png
Ambush: Chosen archers firing from the dune crest

https://i.imgur.com/P7cxRIT.png
Ambush: Wings of Pegasus put up a short melee struggle before morale is broken

Meanwhile, Aristarchus is led on a bit of a chase. Helene's Faithful (fortunately) do not press toward Macomades, but instead continue north toward Cyrene. The Sentinels bring this force to battle along the coastal grassland some distance south of the walled capital. The Faithful are not surprised in ambush, but are no less disheartened for it. The Cyrenaicans resignedly align themselves on the field and make a valorous attack against the Sentinel hoplites. Their infantry are soon bested and flee. Some courageous javelineers stand their ground for a bit longer, but are also routed. Aristarchus' Noble Blood cavalry mercilessly cut down the Cyrenaican routers. With the destruction of Helene's Faithful, Cyrenaica is vanquished.

https://i.imgur.com/tZhEATj.png
Cyrenaican javelineers make a brave last stand

https://i.imgur.com/duIIqhq.png
Noble Blood cavalry ride down Cyrenaica's last few troops

https://i.imgur.com/YaHPENc.png

Antymnius and Aristarchus have done well (in contrast to Heliodoros). Libya is unified and secure. Mithridates' Chosen in particular has shown its usual excellence...and is in need of a rest. This army was formed in the time of Ameinas, and first blooded in Sokrates' Armenian War. Since that time, the Chosen have marched continuously in Pontus' desert campaigns; Syria, Nabatea, Aegyptus, Arabia, far Harmozia, Aethiopia, and now Libya. This host has never returned to the Pontic homeland; alone among our armies, Mithridates' Chosen still operates with only one siege artillery unit, and its troops fight with weapons and armor unimproved by Bosporus' superb workshops. The Chosen were materially Pontus' best-equipped army when first formed so many decades ago...now it is among the weakest. I order Antymnius to march the Chosen home, and re-equip his veterans with arms worthy of their hard-won experience.

Meanwhile, the Pontic fleets have been suitably reinforced. The Heralds, Terror, Argonauts, and Guardians now boast the strongest naval hulls in the Mediterranean. Macedon will be next to feel the fury of Pontic arms.

[Bramborough]

Part XIX

Unification of Greece: War against Macedon and the Triballi

Hellas, Macedonia, and Thracia remain fragmented. The Greek peninsula must be unified at last under Pontic hegemony. Macedon and the Celtic Triballi stand in our way; Macedon controls the great cities of Pella and Athenai, while the Triballi hold lesser towns Larissa and Navissos.

Pontic envoys journey to Pella, in one final attempt to avoid Hellenic bloodshed. Macedon is offered satrapy. They refuse...regrettable, but expected. My conscience is clear. My ambassadors depart Pella having left a declaration of war in the Macedonian king's hands. The non-Greek Triballi merit no such diplomatic formalities...they will receive notification of hostilities upon hearing the tramp of our armies' march.

The campaign against Macedon

The war opens at sea, in the Mare Aegeum. Several Macedonian fleets ply the area, while a few embarked armies are afloat as well. The concentrated Pontic fleets - Heralds, Terror, Argonauts, and Guardians - sweep into the Aegean from the Mare Carpathium. A large Macedonian army, Bite of the Basilisk, supported by their fleet Pytheos' Navigators, are caught between Scylla's Terror and the Argonauts of Cyncus. Aristoboulas and Aeolus press forward and bombard the hapless Macedonian vessels from ahead and astern. The Bite is utterly destroyed, while few Navigators manage to withdraw after losing heart. I must confess the admirals might have made a neater job of it...before their destruction the Macedonians did manage to close in melee, and a few screening vessels were lost. Scylla's Terror will need to return to the Mare Carpathium for replacements. Even so, I cannot complain. Macedon's largest field army is destroyed at the outset of hostilities. The Argonauts of Cyncus pursue and soon dispose of the remnant Pytheos' navigators.

https://i.imgur.com/51sO6R3.png
War against Macedon begins: Bite of the Basilisk destroyed in the Mare Aegeum

Ashore, Sokrates' Judgment marches a short distance from Sparta to besiege Athenai. My memory may be faulty; I do not recall any minor actions which Peithon's host may have performed...but I do know that this will be the first major battle in which the Judgment engage. Asteropaeus' Guardians of the Pontos support the siege with naval blockade. Pontic generals have been rather reticent to assault walled capitals, ever since Amompharetos' difficulty at Harmozia, followed by the catastrophe at Gerrha. Athenai is a robustly defended city, with one of the largest garrisons in the known world - nearly as large as Sokrates' Judgment itself. It has been five decades since Gerrha, however, and I want to re-establish throughout the Mediterranean that no walls can stand before a Pontic army. I order Peithon not to wait out surrender, but to assault Athenai as soon as his siege engines are prepared.

Peithon complies, but is (appropriately) deliberate in his assault. The general wisely chooses a wall section near the shoreline, to avail himself support of naval bombardment. Before Sokrates' Judgment moves forward, the Guardian naval onagers reduce several arrow towers, while Peithon's own onagers subdue two more outside the ships' range. The entire western wall is deprived of missile towers. Only then does Peithon's tortoise advance to open a breach....which is soon completed without undue delay or casualties. Alongside the tortoise, Peithon also advances siege ladders manned by Pontic Swords, to clear the wall of garrison missile units before the main column enters the breach. The swordsmen take some casualties on the approach, but once up the ladder, they slaughter the hapless Macedonian missileers. The wall is cleared.

Peithon's phalanx column now enters the city, unharried by missile fire. These are not the steady Pontic hoplites of tradition, but Bronze Shield Pike phalanxes. As they enter the city, the main body of the garrison is revealed, standing ready in an open agora below the Acropolis. The Guardians' naval artillery begins to relentlessly pound these massed defenders. The Bronze Shields advance, bristling with long sarissae. Pontic Swords, their duty on the wall complete, flank via alternate route, as do our Royal Cavalry. Two phalanxes abreast in the narrow city street sweep all before them. The Bronze Shields do not inflict many casualties directly, but are themselves virtually invulnerable with protected flanks. Indeed, they do not even attempt to directly engage the Macedonian spear and melee infantry before them, but simply keep marching forward as if on parade...letting the sarissae do the work, irresistibly herding the Macedonians before the pike points. Our swordsmen advance from flanking streets and assail enemy javelineers, while Royal cavalry begin causing light troops to rout merely by their appearance. Some sharp melee finally ensues in the open agora, where the Bronze Shields must maneuver and protect their flanks. Even so, they steadily advance with few losses. Ere long the entire garrison is disheartened and flees the city. Athenai, jewel of the Aegean, is ours. Hellas province is unified.

https://i.imgur.com/in876yh.png
Athenai: Pontic swordsmen clear the wall of missile troops

https://i.imgur.com/6TQLjue.png
Athenai: Bronze Shield pike phalanxes advance toward the central agora

https://i.imgur.com/TtQmYbh.png
Athenai: Victorious Pontic Royal Cavalry before the Acropolis

Meanwhile, the Champions of Amasis cross into Macedonia itself from Pontic Thracia. Amiantos' object is the capital of Pella. The Macedonians, however, are also at war with the Gaetuli, and Pella is currently under Gaetuli naval blockade. Pontus would have to make war upon the Gaetuli to break this blockade and besiege the city. We certainly have the power to do this...but Gaetuli fleets and armies range throughout the seas, small but numerous. As our forces have lately marched away from Africa and other western possessions, Gaetuli involvement could be complicated. Amiantos restrains himself for now to raiding the Macedonian countryside near Pella, and waiting for an opportunity.

Such opportunity materializes when a small, previously undetected Macedonian fleet attacks the Gaetuli blockade force. Amiantos wisely refrains from involving the Champions, and the Gaetuli are beaten off. With the way open, Amiantos promptly besieges Pella. With the supremacy of Pontic assault capability reestablished at Athenai, I am content to allow Amiantos to wait for the city's surrender. Lately released from Athenai, the Guardians of the Pontos proceed north to support the siege with blockade. The Macedonian garrison holds out for a time, but it is not long before they bow to the inevitable. Pella surrenders.

Cities captured, fleets and armies swept away, only a tiny Macedonian remnant remains in the field. Hounded by our forces, these Odysseus' Wanderers are brought to bay on the Hellespont peninsula near Antheia...by none other than Mithridates' Chosen led by Antymnius. The Chosen had been enroute to Bosporus for rest and refit after the Cyrenaican War...the Fates ordained, however, that Antymnius' army would be our closest host to the Macedonian holdouts. Antymnius lands his army and marches upon the Macedonian encampment. However in need of updated equipment they may be, the Chosen are among Pontus' most stalwart veterans, and quickly vanquish the Wanderers, slaughtering them in their makeshift fort. The Chosen then continue on their way toward Bosporus...while Macedon is destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/7oyeeDf.png

War against the Triballi

Meanwhile Pontus is not idle against the other holder of Greek peninsular territory...the Triballi. Pontic armies have long become accustomed to warfare against Hellenic and various Eastern/Nomad opponents in arid climates. Not since the long-ago Galatian War of Prokopios and Ariobarzanes nearly two centuries ago, however, have we faced a Celtic foe. These Triballi are...different. Wild-looking folk, perhaps a bit undisciplined, but valorous. They fight with spear as we do...but not in phalanx. The Triballi possess ballistae every bit as deadly as our own. Most mysterious, we have heard tales of Celtic warriors called Oathsworn. It is unknown precisely what these are, we have never encountered such; they are believed to be uncommonly steady and merciless sword infantry. I do not know how challenging or easy the coming battles will be...but I strongly suspect it will be an altogether different affair than dispersing a rabble of starving desert ruffians as so often the case in Libya or Arabia.

This portion of the Greece campaign opens satisfactorily enough. Just after capturing Athenai, Peithon and Sokrates' Judgment march the short distance north to Larissa. The town is held by a respectably-sized garrison, but no Triballi field army lurks nearby. Peithon begins a standard Pontic assault on the town, using Bronze Shields in column, preceded by missile bombardment, with cavalry searching a flanking route. The Celtic garrison troops, however strangely equipped and trained they may be, react familiarly enough to the relentless missile fire and the sight of our phalanxes. They are decimated, shaken, then broken. Larissa is taken. The province of Macedonia is unified within the Pontic Empire, and formally proclaimed.

https://i.imgur.com/D9JugNy.png
Larissa: Bronze Shield phalanxes advancing toward the town

Ares' Fury now takes the battle further north, toward Triballi-held Navissos in western Thracia...wooded, hilly terrain. Cleisthenes marches his army overland from Apollonia, and then proceeds north from Pella (at this point still under Amiantos' siege). Ares' Fury ascends the wooded mountain pass leading into Thracia. The Ears of the King report a Triballi army in the mountains ahead, and Cleisthenes takes appropriate care, not pressing his men to march with undue speed. It is well that he takes this precaution, for it soon becomes clear that not one but two Triballi hosts stand before him. Together, the Triballi Mountain Men and Warmongers substantially outnumber Ares' Fury...and they move to attack. Just before the battle, moreover, a Triballi spy attempts to assasinate Cleisthenes in camp. The attempt fails, but the general is wounded. My young kinsman Apelles must take charge of Ares' Fury for the battle.

The Triballi armies descend along the pass towards Apelles in an early morning fog. The young general arrays his hoplites in the main battle line, and posts Thureos Spears on the flanks protecting peltasts. The spears and missileers' task is to flank enemies held fast by the hoplite phalanxes. Noble blood cavalry are posted in a small grove to the far left, hoping for opportunity to attack the Triballi rear once the melee lines are engaged. Apelles' onagers are stationed behind the hoplites some distance...but in the fog they may not be able to make full use of their long reach.

The Triballi do not immediately rush pell-mell, but instead wait to combine both their hosts into one combined horde...it appears they will seek to overcome Ares' Fury through sheer weight of numbers. Their primary infantry force are spear warriors, backed by javelin skirmishers. Rather ominously, the Triballi field three ballistae contingents. The Mountain Men and Warmongers carefully co-join their forces in line, and only then advance through the mist.

Apelles' onagers take their toll on the rapidly advancing Celts, but the speed of the advance and the fog reduce their typical effectiveness. In any case, they are soon compelled to shift their aim to the Triballi ballistae. Celtic cavalry materializes on Apelles' right in a flanking maneuver; Thureos Spears adjust to meet them. The main lines close to melee, and a rather long struggle ensues. The hoplites stand their ground firmly...but the pressing Triballi hordes fight harder and deadlier in close combat than any foe Pontus has seen for generations. Many Celts fall in the clash...but so do many Pontics. Oathsworn do indeed appear among the assaulting infantry, apparently their generals' personal guards. These swordsmen prove worthy of the tales; they fight ferociously and with deadly effect, showing not the slightest sign of wavering heart.

The Thureos on the right succeed in repulsing the Triballi horse. Peltasts maneuver to deliver flanking fire as they can, with some effect. The hoplites fight grimly and do not lose ground...but, their lines anchored on Oathsworn, neither do the Celts. Apelles is not (yet) worried about his lines' integrity, and the hoplites show no sign of breaking...but he begins to become concerned about the casualty rates. It becomes increasingly evident that the hoplites may run out of men before the Triballi.

It is the Noble Blood cavalry who break the impasse. They charge from concealment on the far left, towards now-exposed ranks of Celtic skirmishers behind the melee. First one, then two, missile units waver...and then chain-rout. The appearance of horsemen in their rear finally shakes the resolve of the Celtic spear warriors; they begin to waver, and fall back. Only the Oathsworn remain steadfast, continuing to exact a fearful toll with their blades. Rock-like as they may be, however, they are soon isolated. Once beset from flanks and threatened from rear, even these stalwart foes are compelled to give way. The Triballi armies retreat back up the pass toward Navissos.

https://i.imgur.com/R5hJq5P.png
Pella: Thureos Spears repulse Triballi cavalry (rather inexplicably, with their swords...did I miss a formation setting perhaps?)

https://i.imgur.com/TosWTzg.png
https://i.imgur.com/c3UjnXt.png
Pella: Ares' Fury hoplites in close combat with the Celtic horde

https://i.imgur.com/rCK5HGG.png
Pella: Noble Blood cavalry break the deadlock with a flank attack into the Triballi rear

Apelles has done well, winning a victory against the numerically superior and valiant Celts. The Mountain Men and Warmongers are decimated, and in no shape to further campaign. Ares' Fury, however, has lost heavily as well. Siege of Gerrha aside, more Pontic soldiers have fallen here than in any open-field battle in living memory. Several hoplite phalanxes are badly mauled, having lost well over half their men. Thureos Spears and peltasts have suffered substantial losses as well. The Triballi armies may have lost the field and rendered themselves incapable of further combat. But they have achieved their objective, at least temporarily. Prudence dictates that Apelles abandon his progress toward Navissos for now. He is confident that the weakened army is still strong enough to take the town...but potentially at the total loss of some units. He would then be obliged to leave the Greek peninsula entirely and take Ares' Fury to Bosporus. Better to replenish in safely Pontic southern Thracia for a season or two before resuming the march.

It soon becomes clear that the mountain defeat, however, has totally broken the spine of Triballi military strength. The Eyes and Ears report that Mountain Men and Warmongers have both retreated all the way to their capital at Singidun. The spies add, moreover, that no other enemy armies other than typical garrison forces remain in Triballi territory. They begin to harass the stricken Triballi armies, particularly the Warmongers...continously attacking provisions and train, keeping this host immobilized and weak. The Triballi economy appears too weak to quickly reconstitute their forces.

Ares' Fury, by contrast, are quickly replenished. Apelles advances once more towards Navissos, this time approaching via Pulpudeva. The town's garrison sallies out to meet Ares' Fury, who meet the attack on the crest of a hill outside Navissos. The Celtic attack, lacking numbers, ballistae, or Oathsworn, is readily repulsed. The Triballi withdraw from the field, and Navissos is taken. Thracia province is unified...and with it, the entire Greek peninsula...under Pontic imperial rule.

https://i.imgur.com/A0JBdzj.png
Pontic peltasts at Navissos

https://i.imgur.com/swXCJWw.png
Navissos: Ares' Fury meets the rather thin Triballi attack

The territorial objectives of the war have been attained. It only remains to finish off these Triballi, so that they may not again emerge as a threat in the future. The majority of stable Thracia has been Pontic territory since the Civil War, and the typical public-unrest concerns do not pertain after the capture of Navissos. Apelles immediately marches north to besiege the Triballi walled capital at Singidun, in Pannonia. The weakened Mountain Men remain inside the walls, while nearby Warmongers are utterly neutralized by continued sabotage. The Triballi are in no condition to resist, and the city quickly surrenders without a fight. The Pontic Empire frontier extends forward once more.

In a vain attempt to reverse fortune, the general of the Warmongers spends his remaining treasure on hiring every mercenary in the region to bolster his nearly-eradicated army for a last attempt at resistance. Futility. The mercenaries are hampered by our Eyes and Ears just as the Triballi native troops were. Apelles marches a short distance from the gates and destroys this remnant without trouble. Methinks these soldiers of fortune charged far too modest a price...

This is not quite the end of the Triballi. Heretofore unknown, a third army, Sons of Smertios, has apparently been campaigning well to the northwest...perhaps Raetia or Cisalpina. They have appeared on the Mare Adriaticum, apparently in a belated attempt to reach home and assist. The Sons have been unable to do so, blocked by Ardiaei territory, and remain afloat. Scylla's Terror enters the Adriatic, but the Sons lead them on a chase, up and down that sea. Archippos (now in command of the Terror following the death of Aristoboulos) cannot quite bring them to battle. The Defenders of Trapezos embark in transports at Apollonia...not to run down the Triballi force themselves, but to help block and trap the Sons among the islands of the Illyrian coast.

Archippos finally succeeds, and brings the elusive Triballi transport fleet to battle. The outcome is so predictable as to be foreordained. The artillery of Scylla's Terror shatter the Sons of Smertios' transports; every last one is sunk, at the cost of not one Pontic. The last vestige of Triballi hopes lies at the bottom of the Mare Adriaticum. This war is concluded.

https://i.imgur.com/SncxAAy.png
Triballi eradicated: The Sons of Smertios destroyed upon the Mare Adriaticum

https://i.imgur.com/0y1U6Xh.png

Latin footnote: Cosentia

These wars on the Greek peninsula command our attention, of course, during these years. In the midst of the campaign, however, a side-theater opportunity arises. The town of Cosentia, in Magna Graecia, had long been held by the Iberian Cessetani. It has, however, recently lapsed into revolt, and is now controlled by an army of Latin rebels. The way is open to expand Pontic holdings in mainland Italy without confounding allies or neighbors. The Sentinels of Hyperion, idle since the Cyrenaican War, sail north from Lepcis and soon land in Pontic Syracusae. From there it is a quick march across the Messana Strait to Cosentia. Aristarchus promptly assaults the town. The Latin army sallies out to meet the Sentinels.

The brief struggle is notable in that it is the first time a Pontic army faces a Latin opponent. These folk don heavy armor and fight as swordsmen, eschewing spear or pike (although not thrown javelins). We have certainly met sword infantry before...but not an entire army of them. These rebel Italian swords predictably break after a time...but beforehand the melee is quite vicious. It does give one pause to consider what higher-quality versions of this troop type may be able to achieve. In particular, our Roman neighbors at Brundisium and Lilybaeum are said to possess the best sword-armed melee infantry in the world. I should perhaps commission one of my Eyes to snoop around Brundisium and report back. In any case, Cosentia is won; the Pontic frontier edges forward.

https://i.imgur.com/G3mFAba.png
Cosentia: Sentinel hoplites clash with rebel Italian sword infantry

[Bramborough]

Hiatus here for a day or two while I turn attention toward first installment of the Athens succession game.

[Bramborough]

Part XX

Final years of Azeus: Northern campaigns in Dacia and Ponto-Caspia

War Council

With Macedonia and Thrace consolidated within the Empire, nearly all the Greek world is under Pontic dominion. Only the Hellenic Ardiaei and Seluecids remain outside our formal borders (each for particular unique reasons). The long-term objective of Pontic imperial policy, established at the outset of King Charidemos' reign, is fulfilled. The Empire, moreover, is at peace on all frontiers. No nagging border troubles annoy, no hostile empires threatening war. Many might say it is time to enjoy the peace. The Pontic Empire is the largest, wealthiest, most powerful in the known world. None would dare infringe.

This may be so, but I am Charidemos' descendant in every respect, and firmly believe in Empire for Empire's own sake...an expanding Empire. There is no steady status quo; the day Pontus stops to rise is the day that Pontus begins to decline. We will continue to march; on this I am steadfast. On the question of where to march, however, I remain open.

I call a Council of War among the senior generals. The decision is mine, of course, but I would hear what these men counsel. Several men urge that the alliances with the Ardiaei and Seleucids have long outlived useful purpose, and that it is time to bring these last Greek factions within the Pontic fold. Others eye the rich lands of Italia and Magna Grecia. Some seem to prefer hot sand, advocating yet more desert campaigns (have we not had enough of these?).

In the main, the various proposals can be categorized into two general trends: the West strategy and the East. Aeolus and Apelles are the two most senior and respected leaders, and the disparate views coalesce around these two men. Aeolus (as would be natural for an admiral) advocates Pontus expanding west, spearheaded by the powerful fleet. He argues, validly enough, that the Mediterranean offers richer commerce, with its many as-yet-unconquered ports. The admirals all support him, of course. The East school, centered on Apelles and numbering the majority of generals, is more traditionally or conservatively oriented. They argue that Pontus is fundamentally an Eastern power, our aristocracy having originated in Persia; we should march further east and consolidate that entire half of the known world.

Both arguments have merits...but of course the articulated positions conceal true motives. The army leaders want a long-term strategy which will marginalize the hugely popular navy for generations; they've heard enough of such names as Cyncus and Anytios. The admirals, naturally, desire the opposite, seeing the Mediterranean as not only rich in potential for Pontic glory, but for Pontic naval glory.

For the time being, it pleases me to support the generals...after all, there are simply more of them. In any case, after decades of more pressing priorities, Pontus finally has opportunity to pursue a secondary but nevertheless long-cherished goal. Ever since the Cimmerian War nearly two centuries ago, kings and emperors have eyed the steppe north of the Bosporus. This province is the "mother of Pontic armies"...yet the hinterlands upon its very borders remain under the sway of such barbarians as the Aorsi, Massagatae, and other such ilk. In addition, the conquest of Singidun and Navissos opens inroads into the rich province of Dacia, home of the Eravisci.

So we will march north. Dacia and Ponto-Caspia will be my final legacy to the Pontic Empire. It will take some number of years to reposition our armies...meanwhile let Pontus indeed enjoy a well-deserved peace. Advances in agriculture and construction have enabled new techniques, and I order a major program of theater construction and landed estates throughout all unified provinces within the empire. The vast estates will provide such bounty that cities across the empire will double or even triple in size and wealth. The massive new theaters will serve the larger populations. The Pontic Empire today is rich...within in a generation, it will be doubly so.


Dacia: The Eravisci War

After eleven years' peace, the armies are ready to march. They cross the frontier from Pannonia to the Caspian Sea. By far the majority of combat occurs in and near Dacia, against the Celtic Eravisci. These folk live and fight much as their cousins the Triballi, a previous foe. Indeed, I believe they are really the same people, much as we Greeks are.

The war is opened by Sokrates' Judgment, led by Alkibiades. The Judgment cross the wide Danube north of Pulpudeva, and come upon the grain town of Malva. The Eravisci garrison is robustly-sized for such a town, and sallies out to meet Alkibiades. They are valiant, but I wonder if they have ever met pike phalanxes and onagers before. The Celtic infantry and skirmishers attack Alkibiades' Bronze Shield line, and are quickly stymied by bristling sarissae, and unnerved by our archers' whistling shot overhead. They find themselves unable to effectively engage in combat, their short weapons impotent. Able to do nothing but stand and die at pike-point, they turn and flee back into the town. Malva is taken, at virtually no cost.

https://i.imgur.com/aMPdOE8.png
Malva: Eravisci warriors fleeing from Sokrates' Judgment phalanxes

The largest battle of this war occurs further northeast. Agathon and Amiantos have marched their armies north of Singidun in order to threaten both Eravisci Akink in Pannonia and the Dacian capital of Zarmizegetusa. In this wooded border region, the Champions of Amasis come upon the Spear Men, their greatest army. With two Pontic hosts before him, however, the Eravisci general withdraws north toward Akink, enabling his reinforcement from the large garrison there. Amiantos and Agathon pursue, and bring the Spear Men to battle a few miles from the Pannonian town.

Agathon's Defenders of Trapezon, primarily a hoplite army, makes first contact with the Eravisci on the open plain just south of Akink. He aligns his hoplites defensively, and bombards the Spear Men with his ballistae while waiting for Amiantos' Champions of Amasis to reach the field. The Spear Men themselves await reinforcements, who soon arrive from the northwest. Amiantos' Champions, based on Bronze Shield pike phalanxes, arrive. He advances to place the Champions on the right of the Pontic host. Agathon intends to meet the Eravisci and engage, while the Champions will perform a massive left-wheel maneuver to entrap the Celtic host in a vise.

Such is the cleanly-expressed intent. Reality, as usual, proves much more muddled. The Eravisci horde does indeed charge the Defenders' lines. The hoplites prove more than equal to most of the opposing Celtic infantry, particularly on the flanks. The Eravisci center, however, is anchored on a contingent of the dreaded Celtic Oathsworn. These powerful swordsmen outmatch the hoplites in front of them, and nearly annihilate one unit. Neighboring hoplites are obliged to turn and enter this melee...but they do little against the Oathsworn, while their own local flanks are now exposed to other Eravisci infantry and missile fire. The Defenders' hoplite line loses integrity, and Agathon's center devolves into a large formless brawl. The Pontic archer line behind is now vulnerable as well.

Amiantos' Bronze Shields make their wheel maneuver, and the Pontic lines are soon perpendicular, enclosing much of the Eravisci army within a shrinking kill-zone. Pontic Royal cavalry appear on our far right, and charge towards the Eravisci rear, shredding their javelin units. Pontic sword infantry, meanwhile, have marched fast to the Defenders' left, and making a flanking attack from that direction, alongside Agathon's Bronze Shield guard itself. Pontic advances from both flanks break the morale of the majority of Eravisci infantry. Soon only the redoubtable Oathsworn - still inflicting horrendous casualties - remain in contact. Finally they are surrounded on all sides by Pontic infantry. Exhausted by their long struggle, they finally give way, and the Battle of Akink is won. There is nothing left but for Pontic royal and noble cavalry to ride down the the streaming routers. The town falls to Pontus...and more importantly, the back of Eravisci military strength is broken. It has come at cost: several hoplite units have suffered terribly at the hands of the Oathsworn, one nearly annihilated.

https://i.imgur.com/Mg0oleY.png
Akink: Melee in the center

https://i.imgur.com/suHilXA.png
Akink: Pontic Royal Cavalry charge in a flank attack

https://i.imgur.com/DlR85Q5.png
Akink: Eravisci Oathsworn finally surrounded on all sides

The remainder of the Eravisci War is largely anticlimactic. The Champions of Amasis, bolstered by Apelles' Ares' Fury, besiege Zarmizegetusa immediately after the Battle of Akink. The capital is held by the largest city garrison ever seen by Pontic forces; fully as large as the Champions themselves. Even so, the presence of two Pontic armies keeps them at bay, and soon Zarmizegetusa surrenders, after a futile sally attempt. Meanwhile Alkibiades has marched Sokrates' Judgment north from Malva. The town of Petrodava, recently Eravisci but now held by rebels, is the last remaining town in Dacia. Alkibiades easily captures. Dacia is unified...albeit restless. I proclaim Bread and Games in this new province to help hasten its assimiliation.

Now landless, the lone remaining Eravisci force is the Fury of Sabazios. Not quite as large as the Spear Men, it is nevertheless a respectably-sized host. The Eravisci general marches toward Akink in an attempt to regain that city. In the wooded border region west of Zarmizegetusa, Ares' Fury ambushes the Fury in twilight fog. Apelles' hoplites and Thureos Spears rush the marching Celtic column out of forest on both roadsides. The Fury are annihilated, and the Eravisci War is concluded.

https://i.imgur.com/fS2li5u.png
End of the Eravisci War: Ares' Fury ambush the Fury of Sabazios at dusk

https://i.imgur.com/cUCZ9hP.png
https://i.imgur.com/h5R4c7C.png


Ponto-Caspia: War against the Aorsi and Massagetae

Much further east, Prokopios' Heroes and Mithridates' Chosen have marched north from long-Pontic Caucasia into the Ponto-Caspia. These lands are held by the Aorsi and Massagetae. Truthfully, there is little worth relating of these actions. My son Prince Perdiccas leads the Chosen in assaulting the Aorsi town of Samandar. These steppe folk are known for their extensive cavalry, but he finds few here. Perdiccas advances upon the town in time-tested Pontic fashion, and meets success. The town's defenders cannot stand up to the Chosen's archer and onager fire; they break before the hoplites make contact. Samandar falls...rather uneventfully.

My own Prokopios' Heroes advance toward Massagetae Siracene...and encounter the main Aorsi field army. This force does indeed mainfest the vaunted steppe horsemen...but I catch these Steppe Wolves in ambush. The nomadic cavalry are as vulnerable as any other force when surprised in such fashion. The Steppe Wolves are decimated and routed as easily as the Eravisci had been in Dacia. Rather than pursue their remnant, I elect to proceed to the town. Siracena falls even more easily than Samadar. Half of Ponto-Caspia is already taken with little effort.

https://i.imgur.com/uOg9Euf.png
Mithridates' Chosen advance upon Samandar: "Standard" Pontic settlement-battle formation

-------------------------

I am Perdiccas, son of Azeus. I am tenth King and third Emperor of Pontus. Azeus, 68 years of age, has died of natural causes at Siracena, having just won a victory over the Aorsi. I am happy that Azeus won this battle and captured Siracena before old age took him. My father was placed in command of Prokopios' Heroes during his youth, widely hailed for his authority, zeal, and cunning. Antiphus, Arybbas, and indeed Azeus himself then proceeded for decades to use Prokopios' Heroes largely in frontier watch and garrison duties. I may be mistaken, but I believe the Aorsi battle and capture of Siracena were the first military actions Prokopios' Heroes - and my father (as a commander) - ever fought.

This does not diminish the achievements of a great and wise emperor. I am simply happy that Azeus found battlefield glory before passing from this world. He guided the Empire steadily throughout his reign. He was a great unifier. Long-fragmented Pontic territories in Libya, Macedonia, and Hellas were consolidated by Azeus; he then went on to add the whole of Dacia. Azeus did as much as any Pontic King or Emperor to further political consolidation of the Greek world. Nor did he neglect civil concerns, conceiving and initiating currently ongoing agricultural reforms. I am proud to succeed Azeus, his name worthy of honor alongside those of all other Pontic Kings. I will finish this Ponto-Caspia campaign for him...and then we will consider further this great question of "West or East?".

https://i.imgur.com/WBPkps9.png

[TarheelDan]

Really enjoying this!

[Bramborough]

Part XXI

The Bastarnae-Anartes War

My first order of business is to complete Azeus' planned conquest of the Ponto-Caspia. This means declaring war on the Celtic Bastarnae. Somewhat regrettable, as they have been quite friendly towards Pontus. Such, however, are the imperatives of the Empire. Our armies prepare to march upon Olbia and Solokha.

The Bastarnae are joined by their allies the Anartes from neighboring Sarmatia. My economic advisors point out that the Sarmatian region of Galic is rich in leather, while to its far north is a port on a foreign northern sea. I have reservations about Azeus' relatively modest northern objectives cascading, but am lured by these lucrative prospects; we will carry the war beyond Ponto-Caspia itself.

Meanwhile, the conquest of Dacis has sufficiently enlarged the Empire to support additional forces. New armies begin recruitment in the Bosporus during this period. The Centaurs will be led by Aristarchos, the Sons of Rhea by Antinomous. Later on, I myself, Emperor Perdiccas, will leave Mithridates' Chosen to raise The Ravaging Chimeras....but that's getting a bit ahead of our story.

Azeus' agricultural reforms bear prodigious fruit. Large estates throughout the Empire now produce an unprecendented surplus of food. My father's intent had been to use this bounty to feed the populations of great new cities, and support massive temples and theaters. Indeed, provincial capitals and resource towns now begin to grow rapidly. Tax revenues from these expanded cities grow as well...and soon our yearly revenues have doubled in size. It is a Golden Age in the Pontic Empire.

https://i.imgur.com/gReRwrp.png
Wow, that worked out even better than I'd expected. A few turns later, nearly every provincial capital and resource town is Level IV, producing over 40,000 income per turn. Level IV temples and theaters keep Public Order comfortably in the green. Food surplus still remains over 200.

The war begins with some small but important fleet actions in the western Euxine Sea. Bastarnae fleets and embarked armies there are not very large, but could be troublesome if left unchecked. The Guardians of the Pontos and Heralds of Triton rapidly bring these forces afloat to battle and destroy them. One small Bastarnae fleet eludes for a time, remaining just out of reach of our fleets...but then is destroyed during a rather dubious attempt to blockade Antheia. Our supremacy upon the Euxine is reestablished.

Apelles leads Ares' Fury out of Dacia and attacks the Bastarnae port town of Olbia. Standard tactics prove successful once more. The hoplites do not need to engage; onagers and peltasts destroy the garrison on their own. Olbia is easily taken. Worth noting; every port on the entire Euxine coast is now Pontic.

https://i.imgur.com/PjFyv7s.png
Olbia: Onagers open the bombardment

https://i.imgur.com/dcYwwgt.png
Olbia: Ares' Fury peltasts in action

At the same time, Cinyras' Sons of Troy march north from Panticipaeum and besiege the walled capital of Solokha. In addition to the garrison, two Bastarnae field armies are in the area, but the Eyes and Ears of the King keep them weakened and immobilized. Ares' Fury soon makes a foray from Olbia to destroy one of these hosts. After a time, Solokha surrenders without battle. The province of Ponto-Caspia is unified.

https://i.imgur.com/NJrmcSn.png

Further west, rebel forces in Hercynia invade Pontic territory in Pannonia. Athenaeus had not seen the rebel army as a direct threat, fully expecting them to remain stationary near the rebel town of Istros. He had marched the Defenders of Trapezos towards Zarmizegetusa to support the war effort, trusting that Akink and Singidun would remain unmolested. Obviously a mistake in hindsight, but I find it hard to fault the man, as his assessment of rebel intentions mirrored my own.

The rebel army overwhelms Akink's small garrison and takes the town. Rather embarrasing to Athenaeus...and myself. The general countermarches the Defenders of Trapezos and defeats the rebel host. Akink is retaken. Luckily, the rebels' rule had been so short that construction initiatives in the town had not been disrupted...but the battles have flared up public unrest in Pontic Pannonia. Rather annoying. Athenaeus seeks permanent resolution to this rebel problem, and continues north to assault rebel-held Istros. Bereft of its army, Istros is virtually undefended and surrenders. Rebel rule there is quashed. The Pontic imperial frontier, unplanned or not, now extends well into Hercynia.

At the opposite end of the Empire in far-off Harmozia, old Diokles, commander of the Wrath of Zeus, dies of natural causes. My son and heir, Prince Deinokrates, takes command. The Wrath have been essentially on garrison duty in the trans-Sinus south for decades, along with the Scions of Sinope. My predecessors had felt compelled to keep armies in that region because of the distances involved, and as a hedge against potential breakup of the Seleucid satrapies. Such fears have proven groundless, however, and so Pontic armies have lain fallow in that arid backwater. I chafe at their inactivity, and ponder whether or not to bring the Wrath and Scions home, as we had previously done with the Lykoi.

Meanwhile in eastern Ponto-Caspia, an Aorsi cavalry army appears. Prokopios' Heroes, led by Antagoras, forays south from Siracena and defeats this host near the Caucasian border. While the threat is easily disposed of, it is an ominous reminder that a state of war still exists with the Aorsi, who hold lands beyond the Caspian Sea. With order becoming better established in Ponto-Caspia, I order the Heroes as well as Mithridates' Chosen to move to the northeast border, near Scythia. At some point in the near future, we will need to resolve this Aorsi threat by taking the war further east. As with Sarmatia, I feel the "limited" northern campaign slowly turning into a generations-long major effort. I wonder if my ancestor Sokrates felt the same so long ago in Syria....he began with limited objectives near Antioch, but Pontic armies did not stop marching through desert sand until reaching Libya, Aethiopia, and Gedrosia. Are we to repeat this now in the freezing north?

The Aorsi make further trouble. Just after Antagoras' victory, an Aorsi assassin attempts to poison me, in the Mithridates' Chosen camp north of Samandar. They strike not only at the fringes of the Pontic frontier, but at the imperial establishment itself. I survive, but the effects of the poison linger. I cannot continue at the head of the Chosen. I turn command over to the aristocrat Theron. Once recovered, I elect to leave Theron in command there, while I myself will lead the new Ravaging Chimeras, as previously mentioned.

The final Bastarnae army, the Warmongers, marches between Solokha and Olbia, near the river Borysthenes (Dnieper). Cinryas' Sons of Troy brings the Warmongers to battle near the river's northern bank. The Celtic infantry charge and put up a ferocious fight for a time. The Warmongers, however, have been severely weakened by losing their logistic support following the fall of their cities. They are simply too few, and soon give way. The Warmongers are destroyed, and with them the Bastarnae nation.

https://i.imgur.com/Z1RzSeO.png
Battle on the Borysthenes: Pontic and Bastarnae clash

https://i.imgur.com/Ity0SER.png

It is time to press forward against the Anartes in Samartia. North of the Ponto-Caspia border, the unforgiving terrain is snowy and icebound much of the year. Archesilaus' Champions of Amasis march from Dacia and easily capture the leather-producing town of Galic from German rebels. The main Pontic effort proceeds from Ponto-Caspia towards the Anartes capital of Tur. Daetor and the Lykoi march in the van, supported by the Sons of Troy. Meanwhile Sokrates' Judgment move north past Galic toward Tur along a different road. Daetor has requested such support because of the terrain. Even when strictly maintaining the road, the cold takes its toll, snows claiming any foraging party or patrol wandering even a few hundred yards from the roadside. All three armies arrive before Tur's walls reduced in numbers. [pretty annoying how cold attrition still hits a marching army sticking close to a road. Seems to be worse than desert attrition.]

Tur is defended by a large garrison, as well as the Anartes field army, the Glory of Epona. The Glory include several units of Oathsworn infantry. These Celtic warriors have given us trouble in the past...and then they appeared only an an opposing general's guard. Daetor does not relish the idea of meeting an entire battalion of them...he elects to besiege Tur rather than assault. Despite the strength of their infantry, the Anartes are cowed by the presence of three Pontic armies outside the city. The Sons and the Judgment raid the environs just beyond the walls. After a time, Tur surrenders without battle.

The Bastarnae-Anartes War is essentially over. A small Anartes army remains at large further north, but it will soon be dealt with. The northern port, Mons Regius, is under the control of the Gutones tribe...Sokrates' Judgment will march hither as soon as recovered from the cold attrition suffered thus far.

Alarming news arrives from eastern Ponto-Caspia once more. Not one but three Aorsi armies have crossed the Caspian Sea and landed on our shore. Not only recently-conquered Samandar but also long-Pontic Gabala in Caucasia are threatened. Charidemos' Vengeance is dispatched from Ephesus to meet these invaders, but will not arrive in time to prevent their capture of Gabala. The newly-raised Centaurs are also sent towards Samandar, but again it appears the Aorsi will beat us to that city. We have another war confronting us. Clearly, we must continue east to deal with these confounded Aorsi permanently.

https://i.imgur.com/NHTQ04j.png
Don't expect this to become "standard". Just got a bit carried away with Powerpoint. Geeked out.

[Sp4]

You need to geek out more =P It's gonna inspire me to do an AAR myself at some point.

[Hooahguy]

Man I wish I had your time to play this game.

[Bramborough]

Part XXII

The Steppe War: Scythia and Chorasmia

Much as I'd foreseen, Pontus is indeed drawn further and further east, dealing with these pesky horsemen. Whether planned or not, the Empire's frontier expands east over the trackless expanses of grass. The war has actually been ongoing already for years, ever since Azeus captured Samandar from the Aorsi. Our attentions turned westwards toward the Bastarnae and Anartes afterward, but the Aorsi conflict simmered on unresolved.

No sooner have the Bastarnae and Anartes been bested, than this dormant Aorsi war flares anew. Three Aorsi horse armies appear out of the Caspian Sea, threatening Samandar and Gabala. Two Pontic armies move to meet this threat, but it appears that Gabala at least will fall to the Aorsi before they arrive. I have every confidence that we will deal with the Aorsi and win back Gabala. Meanwhile, I order other armies to cross into Roxolani territory and bring war to the Aorsi and other such steppe folk as may be friendly or allied with them. I want this situation resolved permanently.

This offensive has a pleasantly unexpected effect. With their capital at Sarai now threatened by Mithridates' Chosen, the Aorsi cavalry reembark upon the Caspian and depart our territory. Gabala is saved. We press on into Scythia.

The war opens in the far north against the Roxolani settlement of Gelonus. It is a long march through snowy lands to reach this remote village, and both Prokopios' Heroes and Ares' Fury have suffered attritional losses enroute. Prokopios' Heroes, led by Antagoras, take the lead in the assault, with Ares' Fury supporting. The town is defended by a surprisingly large garrison, as well as a Roxolani field army, the Burners of Yurts. The high preponderance of horse archers and other mounted troops is not unexpected, but nevertheless unfamiliar to the Pontic rank and file. We find that cavalry-heavy opponents react little differently than their earth-bound colleagues in response to massed missile fire and heavy onager bombardment. The garrison is decimated. Antagoras' pikemen then advance into the town in phalanx formation. There is little the garrison can do in the confined quarters. Between merciless bombardment and the prospect of unflankable pike points, they break. Gelonus is taken.

https://i.imgur.com/qE1abzI.png
Gelonus: Prokopios' Heroes phalanxes advance into the town over carnage wrought by onagers and archers.

Mithridates' Chosen, commanded by Theron, comes upon the Aorsi capital of Sarai, and puts the place under siege. Theron decides to assault rather than wait out the defenders. With the peculiar configuration of earthen walls, however, he cannot use the siege engines so effective against more conventional fortresses. Sarai's defenses, moreover, are built upon a high bluff, rendering scaling ladders ineffective as well. There is nothing for it but to assault the ramped gate leading into the city. Theron repeats Amompharetos' long ago mistake at Harmozia; he orders his siege artillery to target arrow towers before turning attention to the gate itself. The towers are neutralized, but as at Harmozia, the onagers are depleted of ammunition before the gatehouse is destroyed. Peltasts and archers must finish the work with fire...at potentially ruinous losses.

Happily, however, the Aorsi missile troops are not effective; our archers and javelineers are able to fire the gate without taking casualties. Once the gate is burned, moreover, the archers are able to rain fire on the shorter-ranged Aorsi bowmen above them and break their morale. The gate is not only open, but cleared of defensive missile fire. Theron's hoplites now advance unhindered into Sarai. They must climb first a steep approach and then the interior ramp before reaching level ground inside the walls. There they find massed cavalry and foot defenders. The initial combat is intense for a time, and the first few hoplite units take some casualties. More and more phalanxes, however, feed through the gate, and are able to extend the Pontic frontage to either side of the gate melee. The defenders are eventually enveloped, then routed. Sarai falls to the Pontic Empire.

https://i.imgur.com/A5Yfm71.png
Sarai: Archers firing the city gate

https://i.imgur.com/PqKSh6P.png
Sarai: Initial combat at top of the gate ramp

https://i.imgur.com/XrOTsqK.png
Sarai: Mithridates' Chosen cheer in triumph

The Roxolani and Aorsi are deprived now of their territory...but I'm not sure this means as much to these nomads as it does to us. In any event, large Roxolani and Aorsi horse armies remain in the field. In particular, we have not seen those Aorsi hosts reappear from the sea...they are still out there somewhere. Apelles and Ares' Fury are able to ambush a Roxolani cavalry force in open steppe southwest of Gelonus. It is a trickier affair than an ambush of pedestrian troops, and some unarmored archers are mauled. Nevertheless, the morale advantage of surprise is unsurmountable, and the Roxolani force is vanquished. With it, the Roxolani tribe is no more.

https://i.imgur.com/a9JF3PN.png
Apelles with his Bronze Shields during the ambush of the Roxolani. He doesn't look so brave here, but I guess it makes sense, as the real purpose of the unit is to keep him alive...

The Sons of Rhea and Charidemos' Vengeance had originally marched to Caucasia in response to the now-vanished Aorsi threat. Now these armies cross the Caspian themselves, and land on its eastern shore near the settlement of Aktau. This town is held by the grandly-named Horde of the Steppe. My advisors tell me that this is a confederation of the Khorasmii and other steppe folk. Amphinomous leads the Sons of Rhea towards the city. The garrison sallies out to meet the Sons. The Steppe defenders are surprisingly light in mounted troops; consisting mostly of foot spears and archers. Only their commandant's guard rides. On the plain before the town, the armies meet among some isolated farm buildings. Amphinomous is able to align his phalanxes between two such structures, creating an unflankable pike front. His archers station behind this impenetrable wall, while Pontic Swords stand ready to meet any potential flanking attempt around the far sides of the buildings (none such materializes). The Steppe garrison attack, but are impotent against the bristling sarissae; they are unable to engage the Bronze Shields in melee, while taking archer fire. The long reach of the pikes keeps the Steppe foot separated far enough from our pikemen that the archers' fire trajectory passes over, without errant arrows striking our troops' backs. The Steppe men are utterly disheartened and retreat. Aktau is taken. With it, the province of Scythia is unified under Pontic domain.

https://i.imgur.com/YGWDBAY.png
Aktau: The Sons of Rhea brace for the Steppe advance

https://i.imgur.com/Z5GGgDi.png
Aktau: The town's defenders are impotent against Bronze Shield phalanxes

Meanwhile, the Aorsi hordes appear once more from the sea, apparently undetected during the Sons' and Vengeance's crossing. They disembark once more near Samandar and Gabala, as before. The nearest army at hand is the veteran Lykoi; not only is this Pontus' oldest army, but its fastest as well, with a long tradition of hard marching. The Lykoi are followed by Aristarchos' newly-raised Centaurs, as well as my own Ravaging Chimera, whose recruitment completes just as the Aorsi appear. These three armies meet the Aorsi in the Caucasian and Ponto-Caspian plains, and are able to ambush the horsemen as the Aorsi attempt to march quickly toward Siraces, Samandar, and Gabala. In a series of battles, the Aorsi cavalry forces are destroyed. The Aorsi faction, moreover, is eliminated. Pontic armies, oldest and newest, have done well.

https://i.imgur.com/yEHRgzs.png
Aorsi cavalry, caught by surprise, attempt to engage pike phalanx frontally. It doesn't work very well...

https://i.imgur.com/y47qqMr.png
I don't know why this particular Bronze Shield unit popped out of phalanx formation. In any case, they still did a fine job with their short swords.

https://i.imgur.com/jykPl1D.png
Pontic Swordsmen advance to the aid of some Bronze Shields. This fight was pretty messy due to the wooded hilly terrain; the phalanxes could not keep unbroken line.

https://i.imgur.com/12Jp8hD.png
Pontic cavalry in action vs Aorsi foot. I think this is a Royal unit, vice Noble, but I don't quite remember. The two units look very similar.

It remains now only to complete the subjugation of the Horde of the Steppe. Apelles and Ares' Fury march south to beseige their walled capital at Kath. Apelles is content to wait out the defenders, who soon bow to the inevitable. Despite its robust defense of garrison plus the Horde army Children of the Larch, Kath surrenders without battle. The final Horde settlement of Amul is defended by the Horde Blood Riders. Charidemos' Vengeance, led by Eirenaois, marches south and attacks the town. As at Gelonus, the steppe folk cannot withstand the bombardment of proper siege artillery, and are routed. Amul is taken. The Horde of the Steppe are destroyed. The province of Chorasmia is unified.

With the capture of Amul, the Steppe War is at an end. The horse factions Roxolani, Aorsi, and Horde have been exterminated. Newly Pontic Chorasmia now borders only the very friendly Seleucid satrapy of Aria. The eastern frontier of the Pontic Empire is wholly secure....at least, as long as strong relations with the Seleucids endure, as they have for centuries now.

https://i.imgur.com/7rVLoBq.png

All has not been totally quiet in the Pontic west during this eastern conflict...but that is an account for another time.

The siege assault at Sarai was a little weird. I actually just waited the defenders out, rather than assault. But just before the surrender, I got a battle pop-up during AI turn. I didn't look at it too closely, I thought they were sallying out for open-field battle, so just clicked "battle". But no, it threw me into assaulting the city...turns out somehow the game was asking ME what I wanted to do; I didn't register the "Continue Siege" option for auto-victory. I hadn't seen this before...bug? Anyway, I fought the battle out, but afterward, got the weird camera orientation problem described in another thread. I went through several savegame reloads trying to fix that (without success). Anyway, I just accepted the surrender on the subsequent runs, but I had the screenshots from the unsaved battle, so decided to describe it that way.

https://i.imgur.com/Z3pWlT9.png

[Bramborough]

Part XXIII

Western opportunism

Ever since Azeus' war council years ago, the admirals have grumbled. The Pontic navy have had little role to play in the conquests of Dacia, Ponto-Caspia, and Sarmatia, relegated only to some small Euxine Sea actions during the Bastarnae War. With the opening of our major effort in east, crossing into Scythia, Aeolus virtually revolts. The senior admiral jealously guards the reputation of the Imperial Navy, and demands opportunity for seaborne glory. He is joined not only by fellow admirals, but also by a few of our western generals who likewise feel sidelined while their colleagues march to the east.

Absolute imperial power or not, I cannot ignore the respect, popularity...and political power...of the Pontic fleet. I articulate a new "western policy" to remain in effect throughout the Steppe War. I give Aeolus authority to direct Pontic military forces west of the Aegean-Thracia-PontoCaspia line...which means he has control of all four Mediterranean fleets plus the Sentinels of Hyperion. I tell the admiral that he cannot expect additional forces beyond these, there can be no reinforcements while the majority of our forces are engaged so far east. He is authorized to make war on rebel regions, picking up new Pontic possessions where opportunity arises. I am also open to considering small wars against isolated single-region factions where there is little possibility of being drawn into a larger conflict...but Aeolus must first gain imperial permission before embarking on any such action. Aeolus is content with the restraints; he is, after all, not a stupid man, merely an ambitious one. Rebels will offer his fleets glory enough for now.

Before turning to these expeditions, however, there remains the uncompleted conquest far north in Sarmatia. After the Anartes' defeat, Sokrates' Judgment, commanded by Alkibiades, marches through icy woodland to the far north port of Mons Regium, held by the Gutones. The Judgment are supported by the Sons of Troy. The Cimbri and Frisii make war upon the Gutones, and these factions blockade the port. Alkibiades cannot attack the town without enlarging the war...an unappetizing prospect with so many Pontic armies far to the east. The Judgment and the Sons content themselves with merely raiding Gutones territory while awaiting opportunity. It is a miserable business...the remote backwater is completely icebound and snow-covered. Pontic troops, accustomed to temperate home climates and desert campaigns, do not take well to the frigid environment.

Nevertheless, the sought-after opening soon arises. The Cimbri are emboldened by the Pontic armies' appearance...they apparently expect help. The Cimbri admiral decides to assault Mons Regium from the sea, presumably relying upon the Judgment to do the actual fighting. Alkibiades is joyously content to remain a spectator, and watches the Gutones easily repulse the Cimbri ships. Before the Cimbri have even disappeared over the horizon, Sokrates' Judgment promptly assaults the town.

The Gutone garrison is robust, but cannot stand up to the might of a Pontic field army. Onagers and archers do their usual work, and Bronze Shield phalanxes advance into Mons Regium on two different axes, supported by Pontic Swordsmen. The Celtic defenders make a valiant attempt to resist, but cannot do so for long. Decimated and disheartened, the Gutones break. Mons Regium is taken. Samartia is now unified within the Empire, and Pontus has a trade outlet on frigid northern sea. Alkibiades loses little time in marching back south; the Judgment are happy to depart the cold.

https://i.imgur.com/81HPaPe.png
Mons Regium: Bronze Shield phalanxes advance toward the town

https://i.imgur.com/PDk5a9g.png
Mons Regium: Short melee near the waterfront

Aeolus surveys the western Mediterranean, looking for easy pickings. Genua, the port of Cisalpina province, has lately gone over to rebellion....a perfect opportunity. The town is defended by a large rebel field army, and Aeolus sends a large enough force to ensure sufficient ammunition for bombardment. Scylla's Terror and the Heralds of Triton, with Archippos in overall command. The Pontic armada indeed possesses enough power to overwhelm the defenders...but encounter the same problem which Arybbas' fleets had suffered at Macomades during the African war. Genua's city center is uphill from the waterfront, hidden by buildings. Many of the garrison are hidden from view. Archippos does not have an ammunition problem, but a sighting problem.

The seaborne onagers destroy every garrison unit which comes into sight, but others remain hidden. At length, Archippos decides to risk a few troops ashore, hopefully to draw defenders into sight. He has only archers. He disembarks one ship directly onto the waterfront, trusting that any rebel forces drawn down to the waterfront will be annihilated by the massed archer penteres crowded near the wharves. The plan only half-works. A rebel cavalry unit is indeed destroyed this way...but not before inflicting severe casualties and routing the Pontic naval archers. Still, Archippos has little option...he puts another archer crew on the wharf. This time three rebel horse units are showered and routed...but yet another archer contingent is maimed. Now, however, the rebel cavalry is eliminated...no sudden charge can emanate so quickly from among the town. Archippos lands one more unit, which now faces only foot troops. The archers carefully maneuver, staying close to the wharf. The final rebel defenders and sighted and destroyed. Genua is taken. [Wish I'd gotten some more screenshots of this back-and-forth...]

https://i.imgur.com/ZWMpEHD.png
Genua: Scylla's Terror approaches the waterfront while Heralds of Triton stand off to sea

After Genua, Aeolus takes an action which perhaps should have been implemented in the wake of the Macomades experience. It is the first major change to Pontic naval organization since Cyncus' reforms over a century ago. Aeolus decreases the number of archer penteres in the fleet structure, to be replaced by a contingent of assault ships. Pontic Swords are the troops of choice for this new "marine" capability, but these are limited in supply. Some fleets make do with Thureos Spears...adequate enough in themselves. Aeolus' intent is not to provide the fleets with a robust land combat capability, but rather to provide a capable contingent to land ashore and draw defenders into naval fire...without undue risk to getting annihilated themselves. This change should enhance the fleets' capacity for taking ports at low cost, while not unduly weakening their screening forces for true sea battles.

Across the Mediterranean, opportunity beckons in the desert. The Mauretanian landlocked town of Dimmidi has gone over to rebellion, as has the walled port capital of Tingis just outside the Pillars of Hercules. Aeolus decides to take the inland town first, and then proceed to Tingis for combined land/naval assault. The Sentinels of Hyperion, led by Aristarchus (not to be confused with the Centaurs' commander Aristarchos), march overland from Africa towards Dimmidi. The rebel garrison, mostly African spearmen, sally out from the town to meet the Sentinels on desert plain. It is an unequal and short contest against a superb professional army, veterans of many desert campaigns. The garrison troops are easily routed, and Aristarchus takes possession of Dimmidi. He will remain here for a time to restore public order, and then march to the coast through Seleucid Iol for his land advance upon Tingis.

https://i.imgur.com/v82vRoh.png
Dimmidi: Sentinels of Hyperion in action

Phocas' Heralds of Triton, just having received its marine component of Thureos Spears, sails westward to support the upcoming effort against Tingis. As it happens, the island town of Ibossim is found under Punic rebel control. Another opportunity. Phocas alters course and steers for the port. Ibossim is defended by a full rebel army, spearheaded by an elephant unit, and possessing a large number of quality Carthaginian units. This host also greatly outnumbers Phocas' fleet, but Anytios' formula of seaborne artillery and archer fire proves the great equalizer. The town's topography, moreover, favors Phocas; proximity of the city center to the wharves compels the garrison to defend close to shore. The Heralds' spearmen are not compelled to land and face the elephants. The rebel army proves difficult to break quickly, but the relentless fire eventually has its effect. After a great waterfront slaughter, the garrison finally succumbs. Ibossim is Pontic.

https://i.imgur.com/HUK5Yr4.png
Ibossim: Herald archer penteres fire upon the waterfront defenders

https://i.imgur.com/dXoPaym.png
Ibossim: The garrison is finally broken; its remnants flee the wharves

The capture of Ibossim coincides with the end of the Steppe War. With the exception of rebel Tingis, the Pontic Empire is...temporarily, at least...once more at peace. Perhaps it is time for another council.

[Bramborough]

Part XXIV

Final Years of Perdiccas: Policing rebels and a subversion campaign

After the Steppe War, the Pontic Empire enters another period of relative peace. The western policy of opportunistic actions against rebels, however, continues. I pull back on the reins of our expansion for several reasons. First, I have seen enough of war in my lifetime. Second, I increasingly see the inevitability of war with the Seleucids and their satrapies, and desire to spend my remaining years ensuring that Pontus is prepared for this. The Seleucids are not strong so much as they are pervasive. Their few disjointed holdings are far apart and easily taken. But the spread nature of Seleucid possessions means their armies and fleets are spread throughout the Mediterranean, complicating defense of the many Pontic holdings. The satrapies, moreover, are much stronger, especially Aria. Singly, Seleucos and its satrapies would be no great concern for Pontic might...but taken together, it is a challenging proposition. The fifteen Pontic armies are the greatest military in the known world...but will nevertheless be spread thin.

Meanwhile, the Seleucid satrapies war upon Media, which also borders our own realm. Media will clearly be destroyed by Parthavan and Arian armies in any case...I decide to extend Pontic domain in Mesopotamia. My Ravaging Chimeras cross into Median territory and ambush one of their hosts, the Manticore Claws. The location is a small oasis called Athura. The surprise is complete. The Chimera phalanx line emerges from an oasis grove along the entire length of the Median column. Disheartened, the Medes try to resist, but can do nothing against the wall of sarissae. Meanwhile Pontic Royal Cavalry slaughter their light missile troops in the rear of the column, and Pontic Swordsmen advance from the flanks. The affair does not last long, and the Manticore Claws are utterly destroyed. From here it is a short march to the Mede town of Hatra, which has no garrison. With not even token opposition before us, the Chimeras simply march into Hatra and take possession. Parthava gobbles up the remaining Mede territory before we have opportunity to gain further. Media is destroyed.

https://i.imgur.com/wcfZCY6.png
Athura: Ravaging Chimerae advance upon hapless Mede column

https://i.imgur.com/p7sYJmE.png
Athura: Mede infantry helpless before the sarissae

Our Mediterranean forces continue to take advantage of opportunites offered by rebelling regions. Tingis, besieged just as the Steppe War ended, falls without battle...a bloodless victory marred only by the natural death of Admiral Aeolus on the eve of rebel surrender. Across the Pillars of Hercules, the Iberian port of Gadira also falls into rebellion. Philandros' Guardians of the Pontos crosses the strait and takes the town under bombardment. A large rebel field army defends, but are helpless against the weight of onager fire. Compelled by topography to defend close to the wharves, the rebels are massacred, and Gadira easily taken. A few short years later, the rich dye-producing town of Migdol in Mauretania goes over to rebellion. This is a lucrative prize indeed. Once more the Guardians sail. The terrain at Migdol's port is very similar to that of Gadira, and a nearly identical scene unfolds on the harbor mole: wholesale slaughter. Migdol falls to Pontus.

https://i.imgur.com/bMvWHgL.png
Gadira: Defenders taking fire on the harbor mole. This particular Med minor port map is by far easiest for an unsupported missile-heavy fleet to capture. The AI garrison has to defend close to water and are sitting ducks.

https://i.imgur.com/WO95QDz.png
Migdol: Guardians of the Pontos aligned for bombardment

https://i.imgur.com/O6SUg9m.png
Migdol: Gratuitous blood-pack slaughter scene

Around this period, a rather odd conversation takes place in the Council, when I inquire into research projects.

"Tell me, what grand designs are our engineers and philosophers pursuing?"
"None, Sire."
"What? Why not?"
"Well, Sire....um...we know everything."
"What do you mean, you 'know everything'?!?"
"Pontic knowledge encompasses all things in heavens and earth; all is discovered. Even the gods themselves know nothing which we do not."
"Well, I'm still shaving every morning with only one blade. Why don't you work on THAT?"
"Indeed, Sire, and that is the apogee of razor technology. Two millenia hence, men will still be shaving with only one blade."
"I find that hard to believe. Heck, I already came up with that idea for you, just now. All you have to do is figure it out."
"Sire, it is impossible."
"You guys suck."

I refuse to believe that these cretins have discovered everything, but there is little I can do, Emperor or not. I can have them all executed in disgustingly horrific ways, of course, and am tempted to do so. But there are no others to take their place in the libraries. At least, no others who would do anything more than what these fat cats are doing right now....occasionally dusting off the bookshelves and otherwise lolling about drawing an imperial salary. Well, if I can't make them work, I can at least stop paying them. I decide to disestablish all libraries, to be replaced in some cases by wine or grain markets, in other cities some sort of temple or perhaps an industrial brickworks. Relatively marginal structures...but anything is better than a bunch of lazy philosophers who've now decided that they're "smart enough" not to work any more.

My soothsayers tell me that the Empire will gain untold wealth and be established forever as the richest, most powerful state in the world...if we can take the port of Oraea in Gedrosia. I don't quite see what's so critical about this fringe backwater port in a remote arid province...but one does not argue with soothsayers. The port, however, is held by the Drangiana, a Seleucid satrapy. Not desiring war with the Seleucid bloc, I charge my Eyes and Ears to incite unrest, arson, and other nefarious action in and near this town. My hope is that these agents may drive Oraea into rebellion...thereby opening the door for Pontus to put down such rebellion and gain possession.

[note: Oraea is last town needed for eco-victory; all other conditions met. But Seleucid war means losing 5 trade partners, and not enough other factions to make up difference for the 20 required. Hence trying to make Oraea rebel rather than directly war with Drangiana. This situation, btw, is why I've put the brakes on most military action, fighting only rebels; can't afford for any more factions to die. I count them all up and realize this just after helping kill off the Medes...but they were going to die anyway, Parthava was flooding them.]

More cities in the Iberian interior fall under rebel rule. Olympiodoros leads the Sentinels of Hyperion across the Pillars to besiege the Baetican capital of Kartuba; despite its strong defense, the city quickly surrenders. Lusitanian Ebora is likewise in revolt; Olympiodoros will march there next.

Meanwhile, the Eyes and Ears have been intensively sabotaging Oraea. Their efforts meet some success, and the town is deeply troubled. Several times rebel forces begin to form outside the port. Each time this occurs, however, Drangiana forces manage to destroy them, despite our agents' best efforts to prevent. I fear this subversion campaign will ultimately meet with failure...even if it does eventually succeed, I do not believe I will live to see it, having just passed into my 74th year.

https://i.imgur.com/K47NG96.png

I am Deinokrates, eleventh King of Pontus and fourth Pontic Emperor. My father Perdiccas, having reached advanced age, has passed over the Styx. His was an imperial reign of much success. Perdiccas incorporated vast areas into the Pontic Empire, vanquishing northern barbarians and eastern nomads. Pontic interests advanced in the more civilized Mediterranean world as well.

https://i.imgur.com/h5DDbx9.png

I have chafed, however, at these last years of inactivity. I believe my father received poor counsel in pursuing this shadow war against the Drangiana while so many Pontic armies lay idle. Perdiccas vigorously pursued war against frontier folk, but shrank from engaging other nations. Why do such rich regions as Italy and Iberia remain largly outside the Empire? Why do we persist in maintaining this Seleucid alliance which outlived its purpose so long ago? One may ask the same question of our accord for the Ardiaei. They waltz into a city ahead of our hoplites, kill a few garrison troops, and this gives them a free hand to expand without Pontic interference for over a century?

Enough of avoiding rich lands. Enough of the Seluecids. Enough of the Ardiaei. I am not so rash as to confront all of these simultaneously...but rest assured that the Reign of Deinokrates will see a new direction in Pontic imperial policy.

[Bottom line: all three victory conditions require full possession of a province which currently has a Seleucid satrapy sitting in it. Gedrosia (economic), Persis (culture), or Bactria (military). There's really no way to avoid a major war with these guys. Certainly strong enough to win it, but Seleucids are so spread out, their little armies and fleets are freaking everywhere...it'll be a big game of whack-a-mole. Will probably lose a few settlements here and there temporarily. Was trying for a while to finesse the eco-win, but the spy attacks on Oraea just aren't working. Rebels form, but can't take the city. Time for Plan B.]

[Bramborough]

Part XXV

The short reign of Gallus: Drangiana isolated...and economic supremacy

I am Gallus, twelfth King of Pontus and fifth Pontic Emperor. I succeed Deinokrates, who was King and Emperor for less than a month; he fell ill and died near Harmozia only a few weeks after the death of my grandfather, the Emperor Perdiccas. Deinokrates was uncommonly young to die of natural causes...at least for an emperor. He had not yet reached his 60th year. The only notable event of Deinokrates' brief reign was the fall of rebel Ebora in Lusitania. That capital surrendered to Olympiodoros' Sentinels of Hyperion less than a week after Perdiccas' death; at the far opposite end of the Empire, Deinokrates had not even received word of the victory before his own demise.

However short his imperium, Deinokrates laid out a clear departure from Perdiccas' less-than-successful subterfuge policy. I intend to move forward with my father's vision. Attempts to undermine Drangiana have failed; we will proceed now with overt force, even though it will mean war with the Seleucids and all their satrapies. Possibly the Ardiaei as well, who will have to choose between their two major allies.

Imperial envoys go forth, and war is formally declared upon Drangiana. A pleasant diplomatic surprise transpires; the Seleucids forsake their satrapy and join the Pontic side against their former minion. The other Seleucid satrapies follow suit. We had expected to find ourselves pitted against the entire Seleucid alliance network...instead it is Drangiana which finds itself isolated against many enemies.

The main priority is capture of Oraea...the port town in Gedrosia which had been the object of Perdiccas' spies for so many years. The Centaurs attack the town, supported from the sea by Charybdis' Terror, a fleet recently raised in the Sinus Persis in anticipation of war against multiple eastern foes. The Centaurs align outside Oraea and prepare for assault, but only their onagers actually fire in anger. The land attack is preceded by this siege artillery as well as naval bombardment by the Terror. Our fleet arrays itself near the harbor mole, threatening to land. The garrison is forced to guard against this potential amphibious attack, and defend on the mole itself. They are easy prey for both land-bound and ship-borne onagers, receiving fire from front and rear. Closer-range scorpion penteres join the bombardment. The slaughter is terrible. Oraea's garrison is nearly obliterated; the few survivors soon rout, and flee for the outskirts. The port town is taken, and Gedrosia province is unified. This victory is accompanied by the successful capture of Bam by the Scions of Sinope; Carmania province is also consolidated under Pontic imperial rule.

https://i.imgur.com/GoWVx64.jpg
Oraea: Charybdis' Terror scorpion penteres raining fire on the Drangiana garrison

https://i.imgur.com/5apLA02.jpg
Oraea: Defending troops taking fire from Centaur onagers

https://i.imgur.com/0Rll7gp.jpg
Oraea: Garrison troops slaughtered near the harbor

Drangiana is now virtually eliminated; a lone remnant remains among the desert hills. The conquest of Bam, however, opens a previously unavailable trade route to the capital of Parthava. In the west, realignment among Celtic nations has opened a similar new route to the Insubres faction. Trade is initiated with both of these nations, more than overcoming the commercial revenue previously lost from Drangiana.

With our military might, vast territory, advanced technology, newly expanded trade, and consolidation of Gedrosia, the Pontic Empire reaches a new threshold of supremacy. The name of Pontus will live forever as the greatest empire of our time...perhaps of all time. Mithridates would be proud.

https://i.imgur.com/IQsZvPp.jpg
Snap from the victory video. Probably common to all Hellenistic factions? Didn't see anything Pontus-specific in it.

https://i.imgur.com/KylqhXw.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/KfqQAB2.jpg

So...as it turns out, I guess I didn't really understand how satrapy works. I had been working under the assumption that war against a Seleucid satrapy would automatically mean war against the Seleucids themselves...which would then bring in all their other minions. Obviously this isn't the case...the Seleucids were happy to throw their satrapy to the lions, which kept Parthava, Persis, and Aria in line as well. So was able to get Oraea after all, and then just needed a couple trade partners to wrap up economic win. I don't think this would have been possible in earlier patches when trade agreements were much harder to get and then maintain.

[Hooahguy]

Wow! Excellent! Nice job with the economic victory!

I really hope you do another AAR with your next campaign!

[Bramborough]

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. It was fun. The process facilitated immersion in the game, made me roleplay a bit more than I had previously. Kept thinking about how the story would unfold as I did this or that. How I would translate game decisions into reasonable motivations for the faction leader (who wouldn't think in terms of "+2 Hellenic culture", "need that tech in order to build X", etc). I also wound up doing a lot of things in-game that I just wouldn't have done if I was playing the game "straight". One reason it took almost 270 turns to complete.

I do indeed plan to do an AAR again...but am trying to think of different ways to do it. I tend to be "wordy" already in general, and trying to describe everything from the King's all-encompassing point of view resulted in a lot of "War and Peace" chapters which actually covered only a few turns. I literally spent as much time writing as playing. I'd like to find a way to get it more like 70-30 or at least 60-40. So many times I thought "crap, I've got to stop and save NOW...this next chapter's already going to be so long!"

I think I want to go Hellenic again, mainly because I didn't really understand pikes vs spears until very late in this campaign, and I want to play with that some more. Notice right toward the end how so many screenshots suddenly were filled with Bronze Shield pike phalanxes. That was me discovering, "oh...THAT's how that works....muahahahaha". Plus they just look cool. Macedon is tempting, as is Sparta, but both seem a little "mainstream". I would consider Athens, but we're rolling that faction as the succession game right now. Egypt is another possibility....sure, they get an easy start, but I don't remember anyone ever mentioning playing an Egypt game.

[Hooahguy]

Oh no dont do Macedon! Im doing Macedon next!

Just kidding, go ahead- at the rate Im going with the Suebi I wont be done for another month. :sweatdrop:

[TarheelDan]

This was really good, and I'm impressed by the pace at which you put out quality updates! Looking forward to your next work. On that note, Egypt would be really neat!

[Bramborough]

This was really good, and I'm impressed by the pace at which you put out quality updates! Looking forward to your next work. On that note, Egypt would be really neat!

Thanks, sincerely appreciated. And yeah, I'm actually leaning towards Egypt for several reasons. First, as already mentioned, nobody talks about playing Egypt very often. Second, I'm bumping myself up in difficulty level, so don't feel "under-challenged" by the easy start. Finally, I looked through their units in encyclopaedia, and their options seem pretty versatile. I didn't notice any "best in class" stand-out units, but Egypt appears to have a little of everything. Plus I had a lot of fun with Alcides of Aethiopia's mercenary camel archers (immersion-wise, he was by far my favorite general, as one could probably tell from the way I wrote about him).

Meanwhile, right now I'm playing a couple more "first 50 turn" starts with Pontus, trying different early strategies and army compositions from those in the AAR. Lol, kinda figuring out I made it unnecessarily hard on myself in the first 2-3 chapters. Prokopios didn't save Pontus from the Galatians and Cappadocians nearly as much as he was saving Pontus from ME.

[Sp4]

Was a very nice read. Thanks :)

[Ituralde]

I really enjoyed your AAR and am glad to find out you did the little summaries at the end of the reign with PowerPoint. Had been wondering which program you have been using for this. As a little bit of a map geek those were the highlights of the AARs for me! I'm really looking forward to your next one!