In Search of Truth: A Hayasdan AAR

[BerkeleyBoi]

Prologue: My Father at Five

My father once told me the story of how we came to be allied with the kings of Hayasdan. It was a great story, one that would captivate my siblings and my own imagination for all of our childhood.


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The Hayasdan king was a man named Samus. He was as big as a tree and rode on a two headed horse that shot fire out of one mouth and ice out of the other. The host numbered over six million, all clad in the finest gold armors and wielding weapons too large for any ordinary man to handle. King Samus was also a magician, summoning great beasts from the air to aid him in battle. The defenders of Trapezous were outnumbered ten thousand to one, but still they refused to surrender, brave Greeks they were.


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The battle began with the dragons swooping down on us, scorching our homes as they searched for virgins to capture. Our brave defenders warded off the flames with their shields and returned with their own shots of flaming arrows. No one missed and each arrow found their mark. The great beasts fell and our city stood.


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The Hayasdan king was furious and he sent forth great machines at our gates. They were horrendous things, made of children bones and imbued with dark magic. Yet we did not fear them. The great defenders burned forty of the dark machines, thus saving the souls of the children trapped within, but there were too many. At last our mighty walls fell and the enemy stormed our city.


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The fighting was furious in the streets as the enemy swarmed in from all directions. Surrounded, the great Greek defenders, descendants of Achilles, trained to fight in Sparta, learned in the ways of Athens, veterans from the campaigns of Alexander, fought to the death. They took hundreds of the enemies with them before at last they fell. My father himself, though only five years old at the time, killed seventy of the king’s personal bodyguards himself with nothing but a rock and a blade of grass before he was captured.


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The enemy, after suffering such horrendous losses, feared the men of Trapezous greatly. Yet, it was during that battle that they knew we were of better use to them as allies than enemies. The lives of the survivors were spared and were all granted great wealth. All the King of Hayasdan asked for was for us to forgive them for their transgression. After that, peace settled on our land once more.

I was ten years old when I began schooling. I learned many things, like letters and numbers. I also learned that my father was a big fat liar.


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[Callicles]

Great beginning. Looking forward to this one: a Hellene in the army of the Hai... Perhaps Xenophon comes to mind?

[Reverend Joe]

:2thumbsup: Good start.

[Xehh II]

Good start

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
You got the thing man! :2thumbsup:
.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Thanks for the comments. I'm going for a lighter approach this time instead of the dark brooding death is right around the other corner mood in Spear and Shield. Just trying to diversify my writing style...

So yeah, I'll be playing as Hayasdan. The unit that will be followed around will be announced with the next update or so.

Settings:
MiniMe's unit mod
MAA's city mod
Playing on Barbarian Invasion basic with no shield wall, night battles, etc...
All the EB 1.0 fixes

VH/M
No banners or green arrows

House Rules:
Auto-Win only when odds are 2-1 in my favor except when fighting rebels


Alright, that's all I can think of for now... hope you enjoy!

[Treverer]

Good to see you writing a new AAR, dear sir!

Yours,
Treverer

[keravnos]

:smash:


Surrounded, the great Greek defenders, descendants of Achilles, trained to fight in Sparta, learned in the ways of Athens, veterans from the campaigns of Alexander, fought to the death.



:inquisitive:




My father himself, though only five years old at the time, killed seventy of the king’s personal bodyguards himself with nothing but a rock and a blade of grass before he was captured.



:clown:





I was ten years old when I began schooling. I learned many things, like letters and numbers. I also learned that my father was a big fat liar.



This here AAR, is an insta-classic. :yes:

[Poulp']

BerkeleyBoi,
your name is now synonymous to HQ AAR

bookmarked, and waiting patiently for next episode

[LorDBulA]

BerkeleyBoi , nice to see Hayasdan AAR.
I am around 210BC in my Hayasdan game so I look forward to see how You will do.

I really like the style of the prologue (mystifying the history ) but it was a bit overdone in my opinion.

Cant wait for next chapter.
Good luck.

[Hooahguy]

niiiiice!
i subscribed to this thread......

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Instantly subscribed:clown: Can't wait for you to get into the fray:smash:

[Sarkiss]

I was ten years old when I began schooling. I learned many things, like letters and numbers. I also learned that my father was a big fat liar.
:laugh4:
great to see you picked Armenias. enjoyed your Saba epic now there is this one to follow instead.
good luck

[Hax]

Wooooooh!

Another great AAR coming! Yayness!

[BerkeleyBoi]

Thanks to everyone for their comments again! I will post chapter one as soon as photobucket starts working again...

[mrtwisties]

Love it.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter One: Childhood

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I myself was five years old when I saw my first battle. My father left our home early in the morning, a grim look on his face as he picked up his cloak and left to battle the enemy. I did not know who the enemy was, but with the great King Samus leading such great men as my father into battle, what could overcome them?


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I was left at home, told to protect my mother and sister, but the desire for glory and honor filled me even at that young age. I grabbed a rock from the side of the road and was looking for a good blade of grass near the walls when I heard the yelling. The battle had begun and I was locked inside.

Desperate to see my father in battle, I climbed up into one of the small wooden towers where two men were waiting for the enemy to come within range. They ignored me as I squeezed in between them and looked out.


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I saw stones flying across the air and striking at men far off in the distance. Soldiers from our city marched forward, but I was confused. Where was the golden armor? Where were the massive weapons?


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They were all dressed in the same clothes as they would when they worked in the fields. The only difference was that a spear replaced the hoe. The two lines charged at each other and clashed in the middle of the grass field where I used to chase rabbits. Some people fell and were quickly stabbed or trampled. I heard people screaming and cursing. I searched in vain for my father, but could not find him.


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Then there it was. The glittering golden armor! Riding on beautiful mounts and their long lances leveled, a band of glorious horsemen slammed into the back of the enemy, sending them flying into the air or buried in the ground.


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They turned around, whirled back, and charged again before disappearing just as quickly as they came, leaving dead and dying men behind them.


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The enemy was in disarray. Soon afterwards, they broke. I jumped down from the tower despite the warnings of the guards and landed on a dead body which broke my fall. I scrambled back up and ran towards the horsemen. My father must have been one of them, one of those great men charging into battle.

The king rode by. He did not notice me. I searched the faces of those men, but my father was not there. I called for him, but received no answer. The foot soldiers then walked by, but my father was not among them either. I felt my stomach turn. I feared the worst. I fell to my knees and was unable to move.

The townsmen now rushed out to take whatever was left on the bodies. They sickened me. They were robbing the men who died to defend them. They were stealing from my father. I saw a man in front of me pulling a pair of trousers off a corpse. Anger swelled up and I jumped onto his back and began to beat him with my tiny fists. He threw me off and was about to hit me, but suddenly he stopped.

My father was a great warrior, not a scavenger, but there he was with a pair of bloody trousers in his hand. At that moment, I looked at the corpses around me and wished my father was one of them. What a pity that wishes don’t always come true.


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[Sarkiss]

interesting how would he treat his father now:book:

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Hehehe, nice start:2thumbsup:

[Vorian]

His father was cheap....trousers???

At least grab a fine sword dammit!!


Extremely entertaining AAR so far.

[Chaotix]

Awesome AAR, BerkeleyBoi! Hopefully this will be as epic as Spear and Shield.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice start! Some nice morale conflicts and horrors of war in there to make it interesting.
The character and his father are Hellenes, right?

[BerkeleyBoi]

His father was cheap....trousers???

At least grab a fine sword dammit!!

Haha, well I figured all the levies who actually fought would have had first pick at the goods.


Awesome AAR, BerkeleyBoi! Hopefully this will be as epic as Spear and Shield.

Ah, I hope so too. I also hope I won't get killed as quickly either...


Nice start! Some nice morale conflicts and horrors of war in there to make it interesting.
The character and his father are Hellenes, right?

Thanks for the comments! Yeah, the father is Hellenes, but the character... well, more will be revealed about him later :2thumbsup:

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
I predict he'll find out that in fact he's a bastard... :embarassed:
.

[Vorian]

^

That would be priceless.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Two: Throwing Rocks

My father disappeared when I was eleven years old, leaving me with my mother and three younger sisters to fend for ourselves. I was forced to leave school and find work as an extra farm hand for a wealthy Rhodian though I didn’t understand how he became so rich. He was a lazy drunkard. He spent most of his time beating his workers for minor offenses or lying on the floor passed out next to a pool of his own vomit. Most of the other workers were Easterners, or barbarians as my father taught me, but I found I liked them more than the wealthy Greek who lorded over us.

I found my escape a year later when the capital of the Hayasdan was besieged by the Seleucids. Since I was too young to fight with a spear and too weak to draw a bow, I was given a sling and a pouch of stones to pepper the enemy before the true soldiers entered battle.


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I had used a sling to kill rabbits for stew since I was a little boy, so I guess they figured I could kill a man, or at least give him a major headache, as well.


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We marched for many days towards the capital, but found we had arrived too late and the siege was already relieved. However, we were not sent home, but instead put on permanent garrison duty as there were reports of more Seleucids coming to attack.

The capital city of Armavir was not very impressive compared to my home. It was even smaller, had less goods in its marketplaces, and lacked the sanitation system of Trapezous. It was no wonder that King Samus decided to reside there instead of the capital. As I walked the streets, I noticed that the city was nearly empty of people. I was later told that most of the men have been conscripted to fight as the enemy armies draw nearer.


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The battles were many, but I do not remember much. Each time they laid siege to us, we would rush out and pepper the enemy with stones. The spearmen would clash with the enemy and suffer tremendous casualties before the royal horsemen smashed the enemy. Each and every battle was completely dependent on the thunderous charge of the King’s kinsmen.


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Each time I remembered fearing that all would be lost as I watched our levies die in droves as the professional Seleucid armies cut them down until suddenly, bursting out from a cloud of dust, the glittering golden armor would appear and save the day.


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I fought through almost ten battles against the Seleucids, each time I just slung my stones until none were left before retreating back into the city. The real soldiers would handle the rest.


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Then there was one day, we were badly outmatched that time, even worse than usual.


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The sally began as usual, with us slinging rocks as the spearmen charged forward to die.

But this time, they died quicker than usual. Ten fell in an instant as the veteran mercenaries and phalanxes cut then down. Then twenty died. Forty. Eighty. Soon, more were dead than alive. The general needed the enemy pinned for his charge to be effective, so the signal went up for the first time. We slingers and archers pulled out our rusty knives and marched forward.


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There was an old man who I befriended that marched alongside me. His name was Arzad, but we all just called him the Old Persian. Some claimed he was so old that he once fought against Alexander’s armies. Yet, he could sling a stone harder and more accurately than any of the young men in our unit. His sling had probably killed more enemies than even the kinsmen’s lances. There was so much skill and experience in those hands. And he was the first to fall.


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The Seleucid phalanx was murderous. We were cut down even quicker than the Kavakaza Sparabara. The charge was delayed as the general was engaged with the enemy’s cavalry. We were on our own.

In the end, we were victorious. Of the one hundred and twenty men who began the battle, only twenty survived. Our unit was disbanded and we were sent home. The small bag of coins tied around my neck made a small clinking sound with each step the whole way back.


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[Hooahguy]

its really depressing, IMO, how you lead the levies to their death, but still, great update!

[BerkeleyBoi]

Campaign Notes:

Hayasdan has been very difficult, but I've been making a lot of progress I think. I've had huge income problems in the beginning, being over 10,000 in debt, but I was able to get out of that and the save money over 6 turns and build mines. Currently, I have no monetary problems.

Pontos has been a pain. They keep on harassing my western borders with medium sized armies which divert my attention away from the east, where I want to expand. I'm avoiding the south because I don't want to share a border with the Yellow Fever and share the same fate as my poor Saba in Sword and Spear.

In battles, I'm suffering huge losses each battle as I need to use my cheap spearmen to pin the enemy while my bodyguards smash their armies. I have become completely reliant on rear cavalry charges with the bodyguards, winning against up to 1:4 odds with those guys. I have been able to win almost every battle, but retraining my armies has depleted my capitals population down to 500 people. Pop growth also seems slower with MAA's citymod.

However, with all that said and done, I have been able to escape the initial problems and the Ptolemies have been helping me a bunch. They are keeping the Seleucids busy and I have stretches of 5-6 turns where I don't have to fight before suddenly the gray banners come out of nowhere and siege my cities. Even so, as I've said, I've been able to win the battles. I think I've finally reached the point where I can turn to the offensive. There might be more action coming soon...

...but I have a conference in Hong Kong this weekend so I won't be able to update until Monday. Sorry!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Good luck! :medievalcheers:
.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Another nice update. What's he going to do now?
I recall the population drain in Armavir when I played Hayasdan. If you can afford it, build farms. They give both population growth and income. Also build health buildings, though the citymod does kind of make them less effective for huge population boosts.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Three: The Beginning and End of Peace

My mother aged forty years in the four years that I was gone. She was no longer the strong beautiful woman that stood up to my father even as he beat her or the wise mother who told me stories of Darius and Cyrus. She was bent and broken from her hard labor collecting night soil from the townsmen and carrying it far out into the fields for use as fertilizer.


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I stopped my mother in the street as she carried the buckets of waste in each hand. She stared at me as if she did not know me before her mouth broke into a wide smile. She staggered towards me, her arms open as she reached to embrace me. Three wretched girls peered out from behind her, their eyes widened as they saw me. We left the night soil in the middle of the street and started a new life.


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The new social standing that I gained through those six years of service had many benefits. I was given a patch of land in the outskirts of Trapezous that, though small, hilly, and poor, was more than my family ever had. At the age of sixteen, I began working the land by terracing the hills with my sisters, planting wheat interspersed with fruit trees to hold the soil. I became close friends with a neighboring farmer, an old Greek who traces his ancestors back to Korinth, and eventually married his daughter while one of my sisters married his son. I remember gazing out over my little piece of land, my young wife sitting next to me while my mother cradles my baby son in her arms, thinking that this was the life I was destined to live. But I guess it was naïve of me to think that such good things could last forever.

The lands of Hayasdan have expanded, but the number of people inhabiting its lands was small. Taxes were very high to support the richly ornamented bodyguards of governors and generals while the fertility of the land was low. There was little extra income to improve the sanitation of the cities and as result, disease and early death took the lives of many boys before they reached the age to serve in war.

The cities were being emptied of men. The fields were tended by children and the elderly while widows sat begging or selling themselves for an extra day of life. Even my once wealthy home was devastated. A series of attacks by the warriors of Pontus and an offensive campaign to take the town of Ani-Kamah had depleted the population to the point that daily life was barely functioning. Lives were now much more valuable. Reform was necessary.


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The king first searched among his own people to replace the Kavakaza Sparabara.


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The result was a spear unit of Hayasdan tribesmen called the Hai Nizagamartik.



The Siege of Ani-Kamah
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The Attack on Karkathiokerta
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However, they performed poorly in the siege of Ani-Kamah and even worse in the attack on Karkathiokerta. The King of Hayasdan needed infantry that could not only stand against the enemy, but survive to fight another day.

Eventually, he found his solution. And I was part of it.


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[Hooahguy]

i like this, really nice writing and nice pictures!

[LorDBulA]

Great AAR. Keep up good work.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Now the real fun begins^^
Clasical hoplites are just totally badass:smash:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice update. Keep going!

[Wolfman]

Excellent Update! I hope you are enjoying one of my favourite factions?

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
:smash:
.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting. It really makes it worthwhile for me to write this thing when I know people are enjoying it! Now, for some campaign notes:

The first reforms have taken place and I have level one and two governments built in all my cities except Trapezous (which I have kept at level three to for the story's purpose). Mines were built everywhere and I have a steady income each turn while maintaining one full stack and several large garrisons where Pontus and Seleukia always attacks. Population is no longer too much of a problem since I began switching over to stronger units and building farms.

So I'm really enjoying the campaign right now, though I still liked playing as Saba more. I now share a border with Ptolemies so things might get excessively interesting very soon...

[Chirurgeon]

What a great story. I love the personal touch! Keep it up

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Four: Of Giants and Hetairoi

Before I married his daughter, the old Greek asked me about my father. I told him he was a great warrior, one of the warriors who fought against King Samus when he conquered Trapezous many years ago. I told him that he fought on until the very end, when he and the survivors regrouped in the town square where at last they fell. I told him my father was dead, but he died as a hero.

The old Greek came to me again one day, a spear in one hand and a shield in the other. My wife stood behind him, an attic helmet, linen armor, and greaves in her hand. He said that this was his old armor and weapon, the same equipment that he used when he met the Hayasdan in battle almost forty years before alongside my father. He wanted me to have it and carry it into battle for he was too old and had no sons to fight.

I was ashamed and I told him the truth about my bloodline. I was the son of a scavenger and coward who fled from his own responsibilities as a father. I expected him to abuse me or perhaps pierce me through the chest with his spear, but instead I found his old hand on my shoulder. He put the spear and shield in my hands while my wife dressed me in my armor. He said nothing in response, but as he turned to leave, I saw a smile on his face. My wife later told me that he always knew the truth.

The King of Hayasdan wanted to test us as the new basis for his front line soldiers.


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He sent us, as well as a band of newly outfitted thureophoroi and one of his lesser generals against a band of Seleucids who had been raiding the country side. We caught up to them high in the mountains, but they did not flee. They stood their ground and we found ourselves facing a full strength band of mercenary phalangites and thureophoroi as well as a large number of experienced hetairoi.


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As we stood high up in the mountains, I remembered a story. My father once said that there was a cave near Trapezous where a giant once lived. He terrorized the farmers in the area until one day, the king sent his son to kill the beast. When the giant saw the warrior, he laughed and asked why the king did not come to face him himself. The son replied by saying that his father feared the giant. The giant laughed again and said that if a father is a coward, then the son must be an even greater coward. Before the giant could laugh again, the warrior jumped onto the beast and slew him with a single blow. With that, he redeemed the name of his family.

The battle was quick and bloody.


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The golden cavalry charged into the enemy spearmen while we engaged the phalanx from the front.


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We were able to maneuver past their pikes and engage the phalangites in close combat, thus removing their advantage. Our thureophoroi then moved to the phalanx’s exposed back and, after a shower of javelins, slammed into them. The battle seemed all but won when I found myself flying through the air, landing in a heap several feet away. I was dazed, but otherwise unharmed. A spear came at me, but I was able to roll away, grabbing my own spear as I stood back up.


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A hetairoi was above me. He was laughing. He thrust his pike at me again, but once again I was able to dodge it. He called me a coward and ordered me to stand and fight. He rode slowly towards me, taunting and laughing when his horse suddenly collapsed onto the ground with a spear in its stomach. I was quickly on top of the horsemen and before he realized what was happening, I inserted my spear into his neck.


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We performed well above the king’s expectation. Upon our arrival in Trapezous, we were showered with honors and presents for our bravery in battle. After being reinforced with eager volunteers, we marched towards Phraaspa to help train a new army that will conquer the Seleucids.


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I went to see my family one last time before I left. I told my wife that I would bring honor to my family. I told her that my son would never have to lie for my sake, that my deeds would be so well known that words would not even be necessary. She only smiled and handed me a bag of fruit freshly picked from our trees. She said I should treasure them, for it may be a long time before I returned.


The Defense of Karkathiokerta

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[Mouzafphaerre]

.
:smash:
.

[Chirurgeon]

Ah the dreaded Selucids. Endless, relentless, and resilient.

[Geoffrey S]

Like it's straight out of one of the better Cornwall books. Great job!

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Give them a nice punch in the face! Smack'em around!:boxing:

[Xehh II]

This AAR is very good, one of the best.

It seems that I've passed 1000 posts, yay me.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Five: The Persian Test

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The road from Trapezous to the capital at Armavir was one I traveled on twice before, but the additional armor, shield, and spear seemed to make the journey go much slower. While some of the other men in my unit had servants who carried their equipment, I was forced to bear the burden myself. Who would have thought that linen was so damn heavy?

We stopped and restocked our supplies in Armavir for three days before continuing eastwards for Phraaspa. The road got much rougher then. The roads were no longer paved and there were fewer markets from which we could restock on our basic necessities. However, since our numbers were few, we were able to forage for whatever we could not buy.

Phraaspa. The town was inhabited almost entirely by Persians and our commander had some doubts on whether they could form the basis for a new hoplite force.


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The majority of the garrison was made up of Nizagan-I Eranshahr, an archer-spearmen light infantry with greater range than any Greek bows, but severely lacking in terms of discipline and holding power. Our commander met with the local military officers and, despite our reservations, began to train the Persians to fight as hoplitai.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214132443.jpg

They were called the Kardaka Arteshtar, Persians trained to fight like Greek hoplites. Their task was simple enough: hold the enemy until the king’s golden horsemen charged in from behind. Staying alive would generally prove slightly more difficult.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214143017.jpg

Our general was a member of the Hayasdan royal family and has fought in many battles defending Armavir from the Seleucid invaders. He was grizzled, smart, sturdy, and impetuous. When he heard reports that the Seleucid city of Ekbatan was lightly garrisoned, he immediately led us and our freshly trained warriors to attack.

One season after laying siege to Ekbatan, a huge force of mercenaries, led by the great Seleucid general Timon Gabalon Syriakon, appeared from the east to relieve the city.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214161658.jpg

Combined with the garrison, we would be greatly outnumbered and I feared our freshly trained soldiers would be slaughtered like pigs before a festival.


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The general knew we wouldn’t stand a chance if we were caught out in the open. We positioned ourselves on the top of a small hill with some huge boulders guarding our right flank.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214162220.jpg

The Persian archers stood in the first line, followed by six bands of green Persian hoplites. The Greek Thureoporoi and Peltasti guarded the narrow passageway on our right flank while eastern axes stood ready to plug any holes in our lines. The golden horsemen stood ready in the rear. My unit stood on the left end of the Persians, warding off any enemy who try to outflank us. The plan was the same as always. We infantry hold and tire the enemy. The horsemen will do the rest.

The innumerable enemy came at us. We could hear their chanting grow louder with each second. I adjusted my helmet nervously and glanced at my comrades. They were trying their best to look brave, but I could feel they were scared too. The Persians were the same. I saw one boy, he could not have been more than fifteen years of age, gripping his spear so tight that his knuckles were all white and veins popped up along his arm to his neck. His eyes were bloodshot and stared blindly into space. Suddenly, he dropped to the ground. I thought an arrow hit him and I quickly ducked under my shield for protection along with the majority of my unit, but it turned out he was just throwing up.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214162503.jpg

As the mercenary army drew close, our archer-spearmen let loose a huge volley of arrows. The light infantry was stopped in its tracks and tried to retreat. A second volley nearly completely wiped them out. We all cheered and thrust our spears into the air, but suddenly we saw arrows flying towards us. We immediately ducked and suffered no casualties, but the Persians, lacking shields, were nailed to the ground.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214162707.jpg

The enemy cavalry charged towards our lines and the archers immediately pulled back to the safety behind our shields. For a second I feared that the fresh Persian hoplites would collapse under the charge, but to my surprise, they held firm. The true test has begun.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214162800.jpg

Babylonians came next, slamming into the ranks of our spearmen while the rest of the army was brought up. Our golden horsemen tried to circle around for a charge, but the enemy was too many.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214162920.jpg

Seleucid phalangites soon met our lines, followed by skirmishers, spearmen, and a random assortment of axes, swords, and knives while arrows, stones, and javelins rained down from the sky. It was chaos. No orders could be heard. We all acted on our own initiative.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214163221.jpg

We held the left flank against the onslaught of the enemy axmen. They slammed into our shields, but together, we pushed them back and stabbed those who were in range. They charged again, but we refused to break while more of the enemy was downed. The third charge was half-hearted and they broke on impact like an urn thrown against a wall.


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To our right, the Persians began to pull back after they failed to break through the pike wall, but instead of fleeing, they immediately turned back after creating some distance and met a hetairoi charge head on.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214163230.jpg

The great general Timon was felled with a Persian spear between his ribs.

The enemy instantly lost their will to fight.


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We surrounded and smashed the few holdouts while our cavalry ran down the cowards who tried to flee. The battle was over. My commander reorganized our lines and surveyed the damage.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071214163910.jpg

We stood knee deep in corpses with many of our own among them, but not only did we win, our army was still intact to continue the offensive.

I looked down at my feet and saw that Persian boy who threw up before the battle. An axe cleaved his helmet in half and split his skull, but under him was a Seleucid mercenary with a spear through his chest. The Persians have passed the test.


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[Basileus Seleukeia]

You know who you got there in the garrison army? Theodoros Syriakos, or better known as Antiochos II! Now that's a good thing for roleplaying, isn't it:beam: Amazing chapter as always. You are lovely chap:laugh4:

[BerkeleyBoi]

You know who you got there in the garrison army? Theodoros Syriakos, or better known as Antiochos II! Now that's a good thing for roleplaying, isn't it:beam: Amazing chapter as always. You are lovely chap:laugh4:

Ah... these are the times when I wish I knew something about this time period's history! Oh well, too late now...

[CirdanDharix]

Good AAR, and congrats on that heroic victory.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Nice update, and nice battle!

[tapanojum]

This is the first AAR where I am reading every damn word and excited to hear whats next. GREAT JOB!

[Frodge]

Very swish, more says I

[BerkeleyBoi]

Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting. I'm amazed that this AAR already has over a thousand views... so thank you very much!

So I just installed TWFanatics mod and will be trying it out for a little bit. However, I don't want to throw my campaign out of balance and this mod might make a huge difference because of my reliance on hoplites, so I will be testing it first before using it in my Hayasdan game. And if I do decide to keep it, I'll have to decide how to RP the difference in fighting style...

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Six: Name Calling

The snow melted and the rivers were swollen, threatening to break the dikes and flood the fertile farmlands around its banks. My small patch of dry land in the Trapezous foothills never had this problem, one of the few advantages of terrace farming.


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We progressed slowly towards the Seleucid’s capital city of Susa as there were not even dirt roads in the uncivilized eastern lands. We were forced to hire small boats to ferry us across the rushing rivers and many men were lost when our general ordered us to continue crossing during a storm. The man was in a rush, I wasn’t sure why at the time, but we footmen had little choice in such matters.


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It was a fine spring day when we intercepted an enemy force in the rolling hills southeast of Ekbatana.


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We arrived on the battlefield after the enemy and found ourselves in an unfavorable position on the bottom of the hill. The general was furious at our tardiness and immediately ordered us to rush for the high ground at all costs, even if it means exposing ourselves completely to the enemy.


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We scrambled up to top of the hill as the enemy moved against us. A few arrows began to rain down, but the enemy commander was too cautious and did not take advantage of the situation.


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Soon, although tired, we were in position and our great archers began to rain arrows on the advancing skirmishers, annihilating their ranks.


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After the skirmishers were properly decorated with arrows jutting out of their corpses, we hoplitai moved forward in a long line with my unit once again protecting the left flank.


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The enemy sent their army piecemeal at us. Their axmen rushed in without support and were annihilated by the Persians.


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Another unit tried to come around our flanks but we intercepted them and methodically buried them.


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The golden horsemen charged while we slaughtered their local levies of Scythians and Parthians. At last we reached the Greek pikemen and the Hetairoi.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071217174716.jpg

It never really occurred to me that the enemy we killed was Greek while the kingdom we were fighting for were Eastern barbarians. Some of the men in my unit were talking about how we were betraying our history and our people by fighting for the wrong side. A few of them even deserted, though they did so probably because they didn’t want to ford the roaring rivers rather than for some other noble reason.

I didn’t care much about who I fought for or against. I fought for the sake of my family name, to bring honor to my ancestors in a way that my father never could. I fought for my wife so she would not feel ashamed to be married to me. But most of all, I fought for my son so he would never have to suffer as I did. That was important, not those vague ideas of Greek glory or the restoration of the Achaemenid Empire.


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The Persians threw themselves at the wall of pikes without heed for their own safety while we circled around and cut into the backs of the phalanx. The Hetairoi tried to mount a charge against us, but were intercepted but our general’s bodyguards.


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The Seleucid phalanx was surrounded, but they refused to surrender or retreat. They called to each other to keep fighting, saying that it was glorious to die for their country.


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Meanwhile, we brought the rest of our army to the front and cut them to pieces. Not a single one retreated.

The last man standing stared at me as I raised my spear to finish him. He spat angry words at me. Mercenary. Traitor. He was about to say something else, but only managed to make a gurgling sound as my spear entered his gut.


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[keravnos]

Some great writing in here! :2thumbsup:

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Ah, now we're getting even deeper in his mind here:2thumbsup:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Great chapter, keep going.

If you take Susa, be careful of the counterattacks. The AI hates having divided territory.

[gamegeek2]

This is ridiculously similar to what I intended to do, but I got some stuff dumped (phat TESTS etc.). I love playing as the 1-province factions.

[tapanojum]

As always, this is just simply great!

[Kuningaz]

Just perfect, as always.:2thumbsup:

[BerkeleyBoi]

Great chapter, keep going.

If you take Susa, be careful of the counterattacks. The AI hates having divided territory.

Ah yes, I realize that now... but the Seleucid army is pretty much shattered now. After using up the remaining soldiers that had left over before I took out the center of their empire, they only send little levy armies against my eastern garrisons. Since the odds are greater than 2:1 most of the time I just auto-win them...

And thanks again for all the comments. I have about one week left before I leave for a new job in Beijing, so I will have a very difficult time updating after that... but until then... here's another chapter!

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Seven: Achaemenid Rebirth

Susa. Such a great city with a long and glorious history filled with culture, the most magnificent goods from the farthest reaches of the world, the most honorable of men, the most beautiful of women, and the Manticore! Or so my Persian comrades have said.

Actually, to be honest, I never heard any stories about this city and my father once told me that the Manticore was found in a land called India, which I’m pretty sure is much farther away.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071217175929-1.jpg

Despite fear of a Manticore attack, we laid siege to this ancient place. No reinforcements came to aid the city and after a single season, we attacked.


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The enemy was few, but these are not mercenaries who flee after a single volley. These recruits were drawn from the surrounding countryside or within the township. They were surrounded by us, a force that was twice their numbers and with a growing reputation of allowing no quarter.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071217181918-1.jpg

Our army attacked the city from all sides. The siege tower reached the walls slightly burnt but intact, unloading a full unit of Persian hoplites to engage the peltasti who defended it. This drew the medium pikemen to assist their friends, allowing another group of hoplites to climb onto the wall without fear of harassment.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071217181119-1.jpg

Archers guarded the rear of both hoplite units while raining arrows and fire down upon the enemy.

We Greeks watched the enemy from afar. The general refused to send us in, perhaps fearing that we would loot and burn the sacred city or maybe our very presence within the walls would bring down the wrath of the gods. Whatever the case may be, the city was taken with us sitting in the grass outside the range of their towers, gambling and drinking to waste the time away.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071217182210-1.jpg
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But afterward, there was little time to waste.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218123320.jpg

A new general arrived, a man named Narek Vrastanits, and immediately marched us out once the city was secured and attacked a large Seleucid army that arrived too late to save the city.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218123549.jpg
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The fighting was a blur as we were the first the engage in combat, eager to prove ourselves after being neglected during the siege. The enemy did not fight to the death this time.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218123855.jpg

Once we smashed into their lines, they began to break and their captain died trying to rally them. Though in this battle, something peculiar happened.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218123942.jpg

One unit of Persian hoplites broke away from the rest and found themselves surrounded by axmen and slingers. Some of their comrades rushed to assist them, but by the time they arrived, the hoplites were slain to the last man.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218124100.jpg

The perpetrators were Easterners, mercenaries hired to fight for the Seleucids.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218124328.jpg

The city of Gatai was taken easily as the Seleucids sent the entire garrison to save their capital at Susa. We entered the city without a fight, secured it, and headed straight for Persepolis. We were exhausted, yet our general pushed us on. There was no time for rest as he rushed for his goal. If the Persians talked of Susa as if it were the greatest city on earth, then Persepolis would be the greatest city in heaven.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218133821.jpg

The Seleucids have exhausted their armies after several devastating defeats by our hands. Four tiny armies came at us, trying to save their city, but it was useless.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218134035.jpg

The Persians were no longer the green soldiers they fought two years ago.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218134117.jpg

They were tempered by experience and hardened by war. They were every bit as skilled as we were now.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218134626.jpg

The battle ended quickly with not a single survivor on the enemy’s side. Persepolis was ours.


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The Persians celebrated all day and night after capturing the city. The residents of the city seemed to welcome us with open arms. Of course when I say ‘us’, I actually mean the majority of our army which was made up of Persians or other Easterners while those of Greek descent were snuck into the city at night and locked within the palace for fear that the residents would mistaken us for the enemy.


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The general began to talk about the rebirth of an Achaemenid Empire. I could only understand bits and pieces between the thunderous cheers of the Persians, but this new empire did not seem to have much of a place for people like myself. I was a bit disappointed… mostly because I didn’t see the Manticore.

[Xehh II]

Awesome

[tapanojum]

this makes me want to play the hai again..just awesome!

[Kuningaz]

Just great

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Ah, good old memories of my first Hai campaign... But I hope you won't get eaten up by big seleucid stacks from all sides like I was:laugh4:

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Another great update!
Its a shame you won't be updating as often anymore.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Another great update!
Its a shame you won't be updating as often anymore.

Yeah, I haven't really continued my campaign for about 4 days now since I've been busy getting all my work permit transfered and everything packed for Beijing, but I still have enough screenshots for several more chapters, so any delays to updates would be due to my laziness (or writers block)...

[BerkeleyBoi]

Well, it seemed like I was much busier than I thought I would be these last few days...

...and until I get settled in and hooked into the internet in Beijing, I'm afraid this AAR will have to be put on hold for a bit. Sorry!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Do take your time. Your loyal fans will be waiting. :coffeenews:
.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Sorry I haven't been around in the past month or so... work has been pretty busy as I'm trying to get adjusted while the pre-Spring Festival rush is taking place.

I will try my best to update at least once before I go back home for the Spring Festival because if I don't, the next update will probably be bringing back this page from page three...

[Chirurgeon]

Sorry I haven't been around in the past month or so... work has been pretty busy as I'm trying to get adjusted while the pre-Spring Festival rush is taking place.

I will try my best to update at least once before I go back home for the Spring Festival because if I don't, the next update will probably be bringing back this page from page three...

I was worried this AAR was dead...Good to see your back...kinda :inquisitive:

[Chaotix]

Yeah, you have to continue this AAR, Berkeley! :2thumbsup: Your AARs are great- up there with Chirurgeon's and MarcusAurelius's.

BTW, where do you live, China? What exactly is the Spring Festival? (it couldn't be a festival celebrating spring :laugh4: )
EDIT: Wait, I already know you're from China, you said so a few posts up!

[Justinian II]

This here AAR, is an insta-classic. :yes:


I agree.



Have a Balloon, BerkeleyBoi: :balloon2:

[Justinian II]

Like it's straight out of one of the better Cornwall books. Great job!


*facepalm* THATS WHAT THIS AAR REMINDS ME OF.


Was trying to figure that one out. :-)

[BerkeleyBoi]

I was worried this AAR was dead...Good to see your back...kinda :inquisitive:

Ah yes... kinda back...


Yeah, you have to continue this AAR, Berkeley! :2thumbsup: Your AARs are great- up there with Chirurgeon's and MarcusAurelius's.

BTW, where do you live, China? What exactly is the Spring Festival? (it couldn't be a festival celebrating spring :laugh4: )
EDIT: Wait, I already know you're from China, you said so a few posts up!

Ah yes, I am Chinese living in China. Was in Guangzhou for most of my life, but recently just moved to Beijing because I got a new job. Spring Festival is known as Chinese New Year in the west, the most important holiday in China!

And thanks for the comments... and now... here is an update...

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Eight: Retribution

News arrived from the west as we entered Charax without a fight. We were in a joyous mood as we paraded down the streets, welcomed by the citizens as liberators. Whole herds of lamb were slaughtered for the coming festivities, a circus act that travelled with an Indian elephant arrived for entertainment, and sweet wine poured like a waterfall into our waiting mouths. Even we Hellens who served the Hayasdan were accepted and allowed to join in the festivities with a lamb leg in each hand and beautiful women in our arms.

The messenger arrived ragged from his travels, coming from the city of Karkathiokerta which had long been quiet and peaceful since an invading Seleucid army was crushed many years before. The enemy appeared out of nowhere, but they were not Seleucids. Their banners were yellow with a large black bird. Ptolemies.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218124830.jpg

They were once our allies against the Seleucids, keeping their endless armies south in defense against them instead of up north against our borders. It is because of the Ptolemies that Karkathiokerta had seen such peaceful days. Now, with the Seleucid’s strength shattered by our armies in the east, they have turned on us.


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The battle was savage as the enemy brought their huge numbers against our walls with ladders and siege towers.


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To the governor’s dismay, the gates were found to be jammed open, the work of spies that snuck into the city while his attention was focused elsewhere.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218132529.jpg

However, reinforcements from the capital had arrived in time, bringing in two strong units of elite cataphract horse-archers into the rear of the enemy.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218133135.jpg

The enemy that charged so bravely through the open gates, expecting beeline straight for the central plaza was instead surrounded by three units of Hayasdan spearmen while slingers rained stones on them from atop the walls.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218132716.jpg

The enemies treachery quickly turned on them as unit after unit of Ptolemies fell into the trap. The majority of the enemy marched through the city gates, never to leave again.


https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/EB20071218133727.jpg

The brilliance of the governor saved that day, but it was still ill news that now, instead of a focused offensive in the east, the great king and proclaimed heir to the Achaemenid Empire now had his attention split to both the west and the east.

I learned of this news much later after the festivities had long ended. By the time news of the Ptolemeoi betrayal reached by ears, we found two more messengers in our city. One arrived from the city of Gabai, bringing news of two great victories against successive waves of Seleucid attacks.

In the first attack, though greatly outnumbered and outmatched in arms and skill, the levies fought with such intensity and spirit that the enemy, composed almost entirely of mercenaries, was overwhelmed.


The First Great Defense of Gabai

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The second attack was much larger and was spurred forward by a new Seleucid general seeking to gain the attention of his superiors. Besieging the city from two sides, the defending garrison was forced to split their already meager force to fend off the enemy’s attack. The fighting was savage as the enemy bravely fought their way up to the way under a hair of fire and arrows. All seemed lost as the enemy cut down the poorly trained peasants that manned the walls, but the defenders held on despite their losses. Eventually, as the siege lengthened into a stalemate, the enemy was forced to withdraw.


The Second Great Defense of Gabai

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Soon after the great story was told, a second messenger arrived. This time, battle was coming not to a distant place, but to us. The enemy has finally arrived to face us, true soldiers and veterans, conquerors of Persepolis and Susa, and followers of the heir to the Achaemenid Empire. I wrote a letter home to my wife and tucked it beneath my armor before we headed out to face the enemy. The letter was unfinished, just to give me extra incentive to survive the upcoming battle.

[Xehh II]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Good to see you're back. Great update!
I'd almost forgotten the plot...

[BerkeleyBoi]

Good to see you're back. Great update!
I'd almost forgotten the plot...

Haha, I forgot too... I had to go back and read all my previous chapters to get a feel for it again...

[Dragunija]

Yay! This is alive! Great chapter.

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
Welcome back BerkeleyBoi! :cheerleader:
.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Rejoice! This AAR has risen from the dead! Good luck Berkeleyboi:2thumbsup:

[Chaotix]

Yes! A new chapter!!! I'm worried for your campaign, though... with the Seleucids and the Ptolemies both against you, there's a chance this AAR could wind up like the last one... :wizard:
Let's hope they don't decide to make peace with each other (or have they already?)

[Theodotos I]

Yeah, that would be a huge shame. I've been lurking around these forums for months before finally joining, BerkelyBoi, so I read and loved your Saba AAR. Such a pity it had to end the way it did. I've got to ask one question, though. Are you a professional writer? One way or another, you've got a good style. Here's a balloon :balloon2:

[Chirurgeon]

Great Job man. Ahhh the Ptolemies. One of my favorite factions and now...your nemesis. Good luck my friend

[BerkeleyBoi]

Great Job man. Ahhh the Ptolemies. One of my favorite factions and now...your nemesis. Good luck my friend

Ah yes, I noticed that your campaign is coming to an end. Interesting twist at the end with pirates and all, I like it very much!


Yes! A new chapter!!! I'm worried for your campaign, though... with the Seleucids and the Ptolemies both against you, there's a chance this AAR could wind up like the last one... :wizard:
Let's hope they don't decide to make peace with each other (or have they already?)

Yeah, the Seleucids and Ptolemies made peace after the Ptolemies kicked them out of the west... and I'll not say anything about what happens, less I spoil the fun :laugh4:


Yeah, that would be a huge shame. I've been lurking around these forums for months before finally joining, BerkelyBoi, so I read and loved your Saba AAR. Such a pity it had to end the way it did. I've got to ask one question, though. Are you a professional writer? One way or another, you've got a good style. Here's a balloon :balloon2:

Thanks for the comment, I'm actually not a professional writer and... English isn't my first language, though I did live in the United States for a while and am now an English teacher in China.

And thanks to everyone for your comments. Without you, I would have left this thing in the graveyard and spent my time reading manga instead of playing EB. Hopefully I'll get another update before the Spring Festival, but no guarantees...

EDIT: Ok, so I decided to write a short update. Slightly different style based on the English level of the majority of my students... hope you enjoy!

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Nine: A Poorly Written Letter Home

To my dear wife,

I am sorry I long time no write. I no write no because I love other not wife women, because you are most beautiful and very scary when jealous or suspicious. I am making joke! You can see that this letter is written very bad. The old letters sound better because my friend help me write it. This letter I write myself because my friend die when we fight in Susa. No many Greek left. We only have sixty seven. Others? They all die.

How are you and our home? Have the apple trees flowers now? Sometimes I have dream of the flowers and I remember your face when you sleep. Sometimes I have dream of our son, but he must be very change now as he is nine years old and the last I see him he is a baby. I see your letter that mother has now die. I pray for her and I hope I make her proud.

I want you tell our son the stories I tell you. I want you tell him honor is not come when people born. Honor comes when you fight the bad people and protect the good people. Honor comes when you stand even when you have fear. Honor comes when you do great things. Tell him people who say honor is in blood is lie and coward. No matter people is Greek or barbarian, rich or poor, man or woman they all can come honor or they all can come coward. What people do is what is important.

The enemy come today to fight us. We fight to defend the city Charax. We fight for family. We fight for honor. And the king, he say we fight for Arka… Amaen… Akariniamniga Empire.


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I don’t know what it is but he say it is big and great and go from one sea to other sea. The enemy fight only for money and they come to steal from us and the people. The enemy is Greek, but that no makes they good. Remember honor not come born. Honor come when do good thing.

The enemy come to fight and we go out to fight them. It no good for me to tell you much blood. That not good for woman know but you know we win. We win because we fight for good things in the world. In the end, there no enemy stand on the ground.


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I no know when I see you beautiful face again. Maybe not long time. Maybe is long time. Some people say we go north soon. Some people say the word “Salukia”. They say it the heart of the enemy. They say we will take it.

My wife, I know my writing bad. Know that I no become stupid. But I am a soldier. I am no writer. My tool is a weapon, but that tool bad to express my love to you so I must use word. I love you very much. I always will. Be safe and protect our son. I be with you again in the future. Soon.

Your husband,
…

[Mouzafphaerre]

.
:2thumbsup:

The broken English representing the distorted Greek is brilliant! No offence but it sounds like the average Chineseman (as opposed to you, better than many native speakers :bow:) writing in English.

:stupido:


I translate business emails between a Turkish company and a Chinese one from which they import raw materials/demi-products so I know it first hand. Admittedly, it's much harder to understand what the Turkish guys say (supposedly in Turkish) than the English of the Chinese though. :wall:
.

[BerkeleyBoi]

.
:2thumbsup:

The broken English representing the distorted Greek is brilliant! No offence but it sounds like the average Chineseman (as opposed to you, better than many native speakers :bow:) writing in English.

:stupido:


I translate business emails between a Turkish company and a Chinese one from which they import raw materials/demi-products so I know it first hand. Admittedly, it's much harder to understand what the Turkish guys say (supposedly in Turkish) than the English of the Chinese though. :wall:
.

Hehe, I take no offense. I was trying to think of ancient Greek as being similar to classical Chinese where the written forms would be different from speaking. I mean a perfectly intelligible speaker without proper literacy training would find it impossible to write 'good' essays in classical Chinese. I have no idea what ancient Greek is like, so this is just an attempt.

[Kuningaz]

That broken English is a really nice idea. Sort of reminds us that the guy is just a simple warrior.
Keep going

[BerkeleyBoi]

Well, heavy snowstorms will prevent me from going home for the holidays... so there might be a chance I'll be able to update before Chinese New Year.

I actually strongly regret my last update, the broken English really breaks with the theme of my AAR... oh well, what's done is done. I'll try to do a better job with the next one.

[Subedei]

Brilliant AAR....How big is your empire by now?

Very entertaining staff...Bravo!:smash:

[Mouzafphaerre]

.

I actually strongly regret my last update, the broken English really breaks with the theme of my AAR
I perceived it upside down. :wall:


You can see that this letter is written very bad. The old letters sound better because my friend help me write it. This letter I write myself because my friend die when we fight in Susa. No many Greek left.

Dumb me! I read the chapter hastily and thought it was the guy who was writing it down for our Trapezuntios that had the bad Greek. :shrug:
.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Ten: Elites

Seleukeia. A new city that seems like it was grown from the earth instead of built by the hands of men. I learned nothing about it in the few years of schooling that I had, yet some of my comrades said that it now rivals Athens as the center of Greek culture. Marvelous temples to the gods, bathhouses that could cleanse the stench from our entire army, gardens that grow from the desert sands, and markets selling goods from the farthest ends of the earth are all housed behind those great walls. Then there are the smithies and forges, the training halls, and the barracks that equip, create, and house the elites of the Seleucid armies. And here we are, an army led by barbarian warlords composed of Armenians, Scythians, Persians, and a handful of Greeks. We could hear the enemy’s laughter even as we prepared for the siege.

But all those trees that we felled for our machines died for no purpose.


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A large enemy force came from the north, a ragged group of mercenaries with an inexperienced sixteen year old minor nobleman at its head. If they came at us alone, then there would have been nothing to fear, but the garrison of Seleukeia was not made up of ordinary peasants and weekend soldiers.

There were the Hypaspistai and the Pheraspidai, the royal guards of the Seleucid capital equipped with fine armor and weapons, trained from infancy, and ready to die for their king. Yet it was not they that we feared. From the first day that we arrived, the metal men were drilling in front of the city walls even as our entire army camped just outside their tower’s range. They seemed to be inhuman, golems of iron that were crafted for the sole purpose of waging war. They had no faces, only layer upon layer of mail. Their wicked, long headed spears whistled as they practiced, cutting through the air with such speed that we could feel a breeze to blow by as we spied from the distance. Thorakitai Agemata Basilikou. We feared them, it as simple as that.


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When the battle began, our commander, who was also the heir to the Achaemenid throne, split our armies in half.


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My unit, battered and beaten, was tasked reinforce any weak points in the Persian lines until the enemy force across the river was defeated. We were not expected to win, as the general had no such expectations, but only to stand our ground against the mightiest of foes.


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The battle began first behind us and victory was certain. The idiot captain sent his entire army charging across the bridge right into wall of Persian spears while arrows rained upon them.


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Yes, victory against those fools was certain, but I was not certain they would crush the enemy before one of those broad headed spears struck me down.


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Perhaps the King of the Seleucids was a little too impetuous as he charged his unit into our line of spears. Perhaps he was trying to save the other army from their fate. Perhaps he thought we would flee at the sight of his glorious army. Or perhaps he was tired of life and was feeling suicidal. Whatever the case may be, he charged his men into our spears and our prince outflanked him and crushed the Seleucid king’s skull with his mace.


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With a single stroke, we had cut off the head of the serpent.

We did not expect the enemy to flee as they usually did after the death of their commander. No, we knew that men such as these would never surrender. The death of their general would only harden them as they lusted for revenge. And so they came.


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The golem elites slammed into the ranks of our Persian hoplites and immediately sent them back ten steps and causing a hole to appear in our line.


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Without hesitation, we charged to plug the hole, intercepting a unit of levies before they could cut our line in half.


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The royal guards soon followed, their ferocity alone driving the Persians into the ground.


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I stood face to face with one of those golems. From beneath all that metal, I could feel his joy as he closed in for the kill. He thrust his spear at me, but it was deflected as a comrade to my right covered me with his shield. Another spear came at the man to my left, but I raised my shield to deflect the blow. The elites pushed at us, trying to break our formation, but the men behind us braced for the charge and they enemy’s charge was stopped. The Persians around us began to form together as well, holding their ground against the masses of the enemy. I could feel the enemy begin to waver, doubts creeping into their minds as they failed repeatedly to dislodge us.

Suddenly, the man to my right screamed. I thought he was hit, but instead he charged forward. Then, I felt my feet moving and my mouth open and my throat throbbing as I screamed and charged as well. Our entire line slammed into the enemy, completely catching them off guard. Though the weapons we wielded could not penetrate their armor, our bravery and courage cracked their morale.


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As javelins rained down on the enemy from behind, the elites broke from their formations and ran. We followed and cut them down.


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We turned back after the last enemy was dispatched and, to their surprise, joined the other half of the army holding the bridge.


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We surrounded the Seleucid phalangites that still held their ground and aided our brothers in dispatching them. The victory was absolutely crushing.


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There is no such thing as an elite soldier. I know that now. No matter what armor, weapon, or even training a single man has, he can never be an elite. Elite, in the singular form, does not exist. We as an army, with our cohesiveness, our single mindedness, and our faith and trust in each other, is what make us all elites. As an army, we are unstoppable.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Brilliant AAR....How big is your empire by now?

Very entertaining staff...Bravo!:smash:

Right now... well, I actually haven't played in a while. Work has been keeping me busy as well as the countless hours I spent fighting in the train station for a ticket back home. The updates are actually from before I left in December. As for how big my empire is... well, I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say this AAR isn't gonna end up like my Saba one! :2thumbsup:

Oh, and the above update will by my last one for about two weeks or so. Hope you all enjoy and please leave comments!

[Mouzafphaerre]

.

Perhaps the King of the Seleucids was a little too impetuous as he charged his unit into our line of spears. Perhaps he was trying to save the other army from their fate. Perhaps he thought we would flee at the sight of his glorious army. Or perhaps he was tired of life and was feeling suicidal. Whatever the case may be, he charged his men into our spears and our prince outflanked him and crushed the Seleucid king’s skull with his mace.
:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Great update BerkeleyBoi! :2thumbsup: Can't wait for two weeks :smash: but I have to. :shrug:
.

[EmporerOfNothing]

Appears from the shadows.
Ive been lurking in the shadows reading your AAR for a while now and its great.:beam: :beam: :beam:
Keep up the good work.

[Subedei]

2 weeks over yet? More action, plez!?!need good stuff to :book:

[BerkeleyBoi]

.

:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Great update BerkeleyBoi! :2thumbsup: Can't wait for two weeks :smash: but I have to. :shrug:
.

Sorry for making you wait. I am back in Beijing now and I might be able to update soon!


Appears from the shadows.
Ive been lurking in the shadows reading your AAR for a while now and its great.:beam: :beam: :beam:
Keep up the good work.

Thanks for commenting! I'm glad you've enjoyed it!


2 weeks over yet? More action, plez!?!need good stuff to :book: .

Yes, 2 weeks are over! Which means I have to go back to work, which is bad for me, but increases the possibility of me writing a new chapter, which might be good for you!

[Gebeleisis]

you are a god m8,why dont you start writing books based on the storys from the campaigns you do?

those would make some hell of storys:2thumbsup:

You rock man cannot w8 for an update and more aar's by you:2thumbsup:

[zooeyglass]

fantastic! i've read a few of these now (read - 20 or so) and this one is absolutely brilliant! it made me want to quit my makedonian campaign immediately and take up the reins of the Hayasdan empire. Such a great AAR, and by focusing on one character with such detail, it's become very engaging and entertaining.
I wonder, is our hero going to turn out like his father, in facing super-human foes? It seemed like it was getting that way when he described the elite seleukids as "golems".....will he gain the same verbosity as his father?

congrats on a great read.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Well, so it's been a little while since I've update and it seems like it will be a while longer...

...I was kicked out of my apartment a few weeks ago and with housing prices going through the roof in Beijing, I can only afford to rent a closet with no internet. My screenshots are at my home computer and I'm not allowed to bring flash drives to work for fear of smuggling out sensitive information. Which means I'm a little stuck.

So for people who were hoping for an update, I apologize. There might not be any updates for a long time, though I refuse to say this AAR is completely dead.

[Subedei]

Oh, this sounds bad. Hope you can find a new place! Good luck to you, BerkleyBoi! Sub

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Indeed, good luck to you.
I hope you come back and continue this AAR.

[Chirurgeon]

I hope you find a way to continue this...I just finished reading it. I like it!

[d'Arthez]

Good luck BerkeleyBoi with sorting things out. I hope you can soon find a suitable and affordable place.

[LusitanianWolf]

Awesome AAR!!!!
Good luck fighting your way throught the walls of iron from Silver and yelow death...

I've never played with Hay, but theres an thing in your AAR intriguing me: why do you, playing as an HA nation use so few cavalry? For saving money sake? for roleplaying?


Thanks and keep the excelent job coming!!!!

[Laevex]

Your situation makes me feel guilty that I havn't turned out a decent AAR in all the time I've had to freely play EB.
The best of luck finding a decent place and I hope this brilliant AAR can continue because it's really quite compelling.
I love seeing factions that usually get crushed by the Grey/Yellow/Blue death do well.

[Reality=Chaos]

It's very sad:no: I like this AAR a lot. I hope you get a better appartment soon. Probably not half as easy to do though:wall: I'll keep remembering you Berkleyboy, and when you are back, I will be onto this AAR like a shot. I don't care how long it takes.

[keravnos]

RL can be a female molossian hound sometimes...

Don't give up yet. There are two things I can advise, if possible, because I do believe that your writing is the stuff of legend. :yes:

1. Save your work and post from an internet cafe, along with pics (Hopefully there is an internet cafe that you can upload information on, aka their PC's usbs are working)

2. Continue on, then use a .pdf converter and make a .pdf of your story when it reaches a finish. I guarantee you people will read if for a LONG time!

Whatever you do, keep on with the story. It is just too good to let go.

[Obelics]

good luck for your life in BeiJing BB, it's a town i love... i have been there for some time...

[BerkeleyBoi]

So I found out I can sneak my iPod into the office with screenshots on it and then upload them at work no problem since I can just say that I'm recharging my MP3 player.

However... I just found out that EB 1.1 is out and 1.0 saves are not compatible... decisions decisions...

EDIT: And I'm working full time, blogging, and making a module for NWN2 at the same time... hmm...

[eliad91]

:ave:
Thats very awesome AAR,Keep it up :medievalcheers:

[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Eleven – To Find the Truth


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The roads were filled with refugees as we marched towards Babylon, but they were not fleeing from us. They cheered as they passed by, with little gifts shoved into our hands. The children ran around our army, waving poorly made banners of the New Persian Empire, while old men bowed from the side of the road. We could not understand what was happening, for we have slaughtered thousands of peasants since we first began our campaign, but at least, truth has reached our years.

Babylon for ages was in the hands of a kind Seleucid governor who tolerated all people within the ancient city. Even as Seleukeia was being built to replace it, the old man still acted as if he still stood at the center of the world and the people within it were gods among men. That all changed when our armies smashed the Seleucid Empire into dust.


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The Ptolemies took advantage of their old rival’s weakness and snatched Babylon away from the old governor, displaying his tortured body for weeks at the old blue gates. The people suffered tremendously under the rule of a cruel new governor and now they fled for our lands, hoping that we would be more merciful.

But we were soldiers of war, not peace. We brought only death and suffering to others while enriching ourselves. I had no delusions about that, yet I have grown numb to killing. It has all become routine to me now that there was nothing left to fear. I have grown to love only my comrades and the Persians we trained long ago. When we are in battle together, we are like one mind, one body with only one purpose: to kill all who stand against us.


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Siege was laid upon the city of Babylon. There is little to speak of. The enemy was weak and we crushed. We piled their corpses within the ancient Hanging Gardens and slit their throats to water the plants with blood.

Arbela was our next target and it went with barely a fight as the remaining Seleucid mercenaries deserted their young general.


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Finally, we marched for Edessa. Our general told us that after the city was taken, we would finally be released from our service with great honor and reward.

There were forty of us left in our unit and a little over a hundred Greeks including the Thureophoroi. As we sat in our camp, we talked of our home, trying to remember the greatness of us Greeks, the heroics of our ancestors, the glory of our land, but there was nothing. All we remembered was the cowardliness of our fathers, the pompous lies of our great history, and mostly, the poverty under which we struggled. Only our shell remained Greek, our hearts, our minds, our blood, our souls have become the same as that of our Persian brethren.

And so we drank. We drank to our transformation into true men. We drank to the ancient Persian gods and heroes, we drank to the victories that we ourselves have won, and we drank to our fallen brothers, Greek and Persian, who have died so that we may live.

But most of all, we drank to truth. We drank to the truth that war is killing, that empires are built on the bones of the innocent, that we are nothing but tools to empower our betters. We drank to the truth that greatness is not a birthright, the truth that honor must be earned, and the truth that we have earned it.

We expected another easy battle, for the enemy to flee before we could meet them in battle, but this time, it was different. It seemed all that was left of the Seleucid Empire had gathered to face us one last time. Which is quite fitting for our last battle, for after all the suffering the Seleucids have inflicted upon us, it would have been a pity if they disappeared with barely a whimper.


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[BerkeleyBoi]

Chapter Twelve – My Father at Fifty

The old man was brought to me before the battle began. He was found sneaking around the perimeter of our camp the night before and was to be executed as a spy before one of the Persians found, to my shame, that he resembled me.

He was a ragged, dirty old man nearly just skin and bones. His hair would have been white if it wasn’t for the dirt and his body was covered with old scars and bruises. For a while, we just sat there in silence broken only by the old man’s chewing of the bread and slurping of wine. Finally, he lifted up his head with tears in his eyes.

He said they were tears of joy, for he had not known that someone of his blood could grow to such greatness. He called himself a wretched, useless coward who could never accomplish anything in this life. He said that as he looked upon me, he saw everything that he wanted to be but couldn’t. He said that as the sun rose behind me, I had the look of Hercules.

Before he could finish the last sentence, I ran him through with my spear. He looked at me in shock before it turned into anger. He cursed me even as blood gurgled up his throat. He called me a traitor to my people even as his eyes rolled back into his head. He scratched at me even as he fell to the ground. When my comrades questioned my action, I told them he was not my father for he had died long ago in the defense of Trapezous.

Dust can be seen rising in the distance. My father was quickly forgotten, my spear was wiped clean, and we march off in unison to meet our enemy in the field of battle.

Before the image of my father completely faded from my mind, I could not help but think: Perhaps what I was seeking for all these years was not the truth. I did not want to know that my father was a coward, that I pissed on myself during my first battle, and that the fact that I'm still alive is entirely based on luck. No, I guess I was not searching for the truth. I was redefining it.

[Reality=Chaos]

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: Yaaaay. Two more updates of this awesome AAR. I liked the bit with his father. Maybe a bit short on Drama, but that suits the character of the protagonist just fine.

[BerkeleyBoi]

Well, to be honest I'm just rushing to finish this AAR so I can start playing EB 1.1.

So I think 2 chapters, maybe 3 left and I'll end it.

[Chaotix]

Yeah, it must be tough to write an AAR with the conditions you described... but you still manage to make it great! Good luck, and finish this AAR off with a bang!