RabidGibbon
04-15-2005, 01:06
The Sons of Antiochus.
Boring technical stuff first, I strongly advise you skip this paragraph unless you really want to know about the game this story’s based on. Still here? Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This story is intended to be a history of a Seleucid provincial campaign played using the Rome: Total Realism mod (v5.4.1 I think). The setting are campaign emperor, and battles praetor, which equates to VH/M. The battles themselves are played with the General cam switched on, which kind of makes up for the naff AI as half the time you cant see or control your units and so just stick them on AI control.
The emphasis of the storyline will follow several characters on their adventures through what I imagine given my playing skills will be the decline and fall of the Seleucid Empire. I will try and keep characters actions in the story true to their traits, and when not with other major characters their co-conspirators will normally be members of their retinue suitably fleshed out. Finally please forgive any gross historical blunders. Any Feedback, Criticism or Plain Old Abuse will of course be gratefully received.
Part 1 - Winter 280 BC.
The Gods play games with mortals, this I know as truth. No man who has seen what I have seen, heard what I have heard and stood where I have stood could ever doubt this. I have seen bravery punished with shameful and ignominious defeat, and treachery rewarded with kingship. I have stood on the banks of the Indus, and the shores of the Mare Interum and always vice triumphs and virtue is trodden into the mud by the baseness of the masses. Ahhh, but I see you stand there and look knowing young warrior, you imagine I am just another tired old cynic, who tries to hide the fact he knows nothing by belittling everything, who having achieved nothing in his lifetime imagines that nothing can be achieved. Well then let me tell you my story you would be Achilles, and why, if there is anything in that helmet, when I am done you will throw down that spear and build yourself a hovel, far from the great roads the armies of great kings march down and till the humble soil until the time comes when you pay the ferryman and cross the styx. It begins in winter, in the city of Antioch, though you would not know it was winter for the sun was shining brightly in a blue sky. Aye, the sun always shone in Antioch…..
The trumpets blared out again, and again from above the great north gate of Antioch a fanfare replied, almost as if the army at the gates and the garrison within were engaged in some strange form of combat, and indeed on cue the army returned the salute, seeming even louder than before. This was a feat which only a few moments before any onlooker would have sworn was impossible, especially the captain of the gate, who leaned back over the parapet, swore violently in his gruff Macedonian accent and cuffed a gawping boy round the ear, “Quit lazing bout lad and git to east gate, find out were the ‘ell those friggin ‘eralds ave got to alrite? Rite lads” he continued, turning to a red faced, gasping clutch of trumpeters “Lets give em ‘ail to the conquering hero, an put some bleedin wind into it this time. Goddam show off bunch o whoremongers.”
Wearily the heralds picked up their weapons, gathered their breath and wits, and prepared to duel once more for the honour of the city of Antioch, whilst all the while beneath them the great iron bound gate ground inexorably open beneath them.
The sound of the trumpets spread chaos ahead of them, as onlookers rushed to the walls, Merchants and Fathers sought to hide what was valuable to them from victory drunk soldiers and in the Governors Villa Demetrius, 3rd son of Antiochus, the King, raced around trying to ensure his house was in a state fit to receive his father, yet knowing in his heart of hearts that he had already failed.
“Pytheas!” he cried, racing from room to room “Pytheas!”. Finally Demetrius found his quarry, half running half collapsing into a small room made to seem even smaller by the scroll cases that were stacked up every wall, “There you are….. What are you doing in here?”
Demetrius’ mentor looked up quizzically “What am I doing in my study? Why Studying of course. Hem, I often think all my time teaching you was completely wasted, you cannot draw even the most simple conclusions.”
Demetrius stared for a moment as Pytheas returned his attention to the scroll he had been studying moments before, before shaking his head “Never mind that. Where’s Athena, where are the Children?”
“Ah yes” chuckled Pytheas, “Grandfather will want to see all his grandchildren and beloved daughter all lined up looking happy, healthy and….” he paused for a moment whilst Demetrius grew even more anxious “Clean.”
“Clean, why clean Pytheas? Why Clean?”
“Well my dear fellow, when last I saw them they were in the kitchen, which is only a short hop from the gardens, where, due to the new sewers being installed I understand there are several wonderfully muddy pools. Wonderfully muddy.” The old man chortled as Demetrius ran from the room, crying for servants, hot water and his wife, then stood up and went outside into the courtyard where he picked up a servant Demetrius had bowled over and instructed him quietly and sternly to go to the kitchens and prepare hot water, fetch both the young childrens nannies to the kitchen, and inform his master, whom he would find in the gardens with his children, that the Lady Athena was in her quarters preparing for her father in laws visit.
Next instalment to include, meet Aristarchus, the Faction Heir, Antiochus, The Faction Leader and an unexpected battle.
Boring technical stuff first, I strongly advise you skip this paragraph unless you really want to know about the game this story’s based on. Still here? Well don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This story is intended to be a history of a Seleucid provincial campaign played using the Rome: Total Realism mod (v5.4.1 I think). The setting are campaign emperor, and battles praetor, which equates to VH/M. The battles themselves are played with the General cam switched on, which kind of makes up for the naff AI as half the time you cant see or control your units and so just stick them on AI control.
The emphasis of the storyline will follow several characters on their adventures through what I imagine given my playing skills will be the decline and fall of the Seleucid Empire. I will try and keep characters actions in the story true to their traits, and when not with other major characters their co-conspirators will normally be members of their retinue suitably fleshed out. Finally please forgive any gross historical blunders. Any Feedback, Criticism or Plain Old Abuse will of course be gratefully received.
Part 1 - Winter 280 BC.
The Gods play games with mortals, this I know as truth. No man who has seen what I have seen, heard what I have heard and stood where I have stood could ever doubt this. I have seen bravery punished with shameful and ignominious defeat, and treachery rewarded with kingship. I have stood on the banks of the Indus, and the shores of the Mare Interum and always vice triumphs and virtue is trodden into the mud by the baseness of the masses. Ahhh, but I see you stand there and look knowing young warrior, you imagine I am just another tired old cynic, who tries to hide the fact he knows nothing by belittling everything, who having achieved nothing in his lifetime imagines that nothing can be achieved. Well then let me tell you my story you would be Achilles, and why, if there is anything in that helmet, when I am done you will throw down that spear and build yourself a hovel, far from the great roads the armies of great kings march down and till the humble soil until the time comes when you pay the ferryman and cross the styx. It begins in winter, in the city of Antioch, though you would not know it was winter for the sun was shining brightly in a blue sky. Aye, the sun always shone in Antioch…..
The trumpets blared out again, and again from above the great north gate of Antioch a fanfare replied, almost as if the army at the gates and the garrison within were engaged in some strange form of combat, and indeed on cue the army returned the salute, seeming even louder than before. This was a feat which only a few moments before any onlooker would have sworn was impossible, especially the captain of the gate, who leaned back over the parapet, swore violently in his gruff Macedonian accent and cuffed a gawping boy round the ear, “Quit lazing bout lad and git to east gate, find out were the ‘ell those friggin ‘eralds ave got to alrite? Rite lads” he continued, turning to a red faced, gasping clutch of trumpeters “Lets give em ‘ail to the conquering hero, an put some bleedin wind into it this time. Goddam show off bunch o whoremongers.”
Wearily the heralds picked up their weapons, gathered their breath and wits, and prepared to duel once more for the honour of the city of Antioch, whilst all the while beneath them the great iron bound gate ground inexorably open beneath them.
The sound of the trumpets spread chaos ahead of them, as onlookers rushed to the walls, Merchants and Fathers sought to hide what was valuable to them from victory drunk soldiers and in the Governors Villa Demetrius, 3rd son of Antiochus, the King, raced around trying to ensure his house was in a state fit to receive his father, yet knowing in his heart of hearts that he had already failed.
“Pytheas!” he cried, racing from room to room “Pytheas!”. Finally Demetrius found his quarry, half running half collapsing into a small room made to seem even smaller by the scroll cases that were stacked up every wall, “There you are….. What are you doing in here?”
Demetrius’ mentor looked up quizzically “What am I doing in my study? Why Studying of course. Hem, I often think all my time teaching you was completely wasted, you cannot draw even the most simple conclusions.”
Demetrius stared for a moment as Pytheas returned his attention to the scroll he had been studying moments before, before shaking his head “Never mind that. Where’s Athena, where are the Children?”
“Ah yes” chuckled Pytheas, “Grandfather will want to see all his grandchildren and beloved daughter all lined up looking happy, healthy and….” he paused for a moment whilst Demetrius grew even more anxious “Clean.”
“Clean, why clean Pytheas? Why Clean?”
“Well my dear fellow, when last I saw them they were in the kitchen, which is only a short hop from the gardens, where, due to the new sewers being installed I understand there are several wonderfully muddy pools. Wonderfully muddy.” The old man chortled as Demetrius ran from the room, crying for servants, hot water and his wife, then stood up and went outside into the courtyard where he picked up a servant Demetrius had bowled over and instructed him quietly and sternly to go to the kitchens and prepare hot water, fetch both the young childrens nannies to the kitchen, and inform his master, whom he would find in the gardens with his children, that the Lady Athena was in her quarters preparing for her father in laws visit.
Next instalment to include, meet Aristarchus, the Faction Heir, Antiochus, The Faction Leader and an unexpected battle.