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Yes! What a wonderful ending that would be! Roman justice dealt out to the squabbling Hellenic swine! Oh well, even if you don't choose to do that I'm sure you'll find a great way to end this, MAA, a wonderful AAr you have created here, but all good things have to end :shame: (Including the rule of slimy Greek tyrants over the proud and noble people of Rome :evil:)Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Thanks for the support.
I think I'll put up the next update, then take a break. The next chapter kind-of ends with somewhat of a conclusion. I don't want to quit playing this campaign quite yet, but I don't have much time for playing right now, so it may take a while.
I'm working on the next chapter right now, so expect it today or tommorrow.
Chapter 40 : The City of Seleukos
Although the main forces of the Arche Makedonia fought in Babylonia, war still raged in Aigyptos and Libye. In Kyrenaia, Antisthenes Gortynios, who is brother-in-law of Aristotelis, once again defends the city of Kyrene from Kart-Hadast aggression:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/...aa22422lo8.png
This time, however, the Qarthadastism general is able to trick Antisthenes into moving his forces outside the walls. Fighting outside the city walls, Antisthenes is still able to defeat the forces of Kart-Hadast, though he took much more losses than normal:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/8605/maa22423pw8.jpg
In Nubia, an army of the Kingdom of Meroe attacks the city of Pselkis:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/55/maa2245tl8.png
[Now you see why I was trying to add more recruitment options to the Ptolemaioi/Meroe.]
As the battle just begins, the archers on the walls manage to set fire to all of the enemy siege equiptment, except one tower:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9792/maa2247su3.png
With only one tower, all of the enemy forces are funnelled into a single place, where they are all killed. Hellenes, Makedones, and Aigyptes all defend the walls and see the carnage. Soon, the pile of bodies becomes so great, that no man can help but feel sorry for the poor men that the Ptolemaic family has duped into coming to their death:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7716/maa2252cf1.png
The battle is won and the city defended, with minimal friendly losses:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3042/maa2254yd1.jpg
Back in Babylonia, Bykoli and Pefkolaos Idomeneus, who is the Bykoli's good friend and husband to his daughter, besiege the city of Seleukeia. The 'City of Seleukos' is the largest city in the known world, only rivaled by the city of Roma. Ever since the fall of Antiocheia/Demetreia, the Seleukid dynasty has centered their government in this great city [or at least I role-play that they have], but now it is left with no defenders and looks to fall at any time.
In less than a year, however, reinforcements from the east come to releave the city. They immediately attack Bykoli and Pefkolaos, without taking proper gaging of their chances:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1871/maa2222bv1.png
So, in a plain, south of the city of Seleukeia, Bykoli prepares his men. Bykoli looks to his trusted friend, Pefkolaos, to lead the cavalry, which he deploys on the right flank. And on the left flank, Bykoli deploys his few remaining elephants:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3127/maa2223yb2.png
Soon, the Seleukid army approaches. Leading the enemy column is the enemy general and some of their new Kataphraktoi. Bykoli does not fear these Kataphraktoi, however, for the forces of Makedonia have faced them before, and they offered no challenge what-so-ever:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9605/maa2225to7.png
As the enemy approaches, a unit of Hetairoi, under the command of one of the enemy generals, possitions themselves of the Makedonike left flank. The Thorakitai move to counter, but they are not enough:
https://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6200/maa2226ak3.png
With Pefkolaos and the cavalry already deploying on the right flank, Bykoli is forced to take his personal cavalry into battle to counter the enemy general. He also orders the elephants to defend the now open flank:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1116/maa2228ci2.png
When a unit of Kataphraktoi move into to attack the exposed flank, the elephants have no option but to attack. As the two forms of uniquely eastern warfare face eachother, both sides take heavy losses:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5558/maa2230br3.png
In the center of the line, the leaderless Pezhetairoi face the Seleukid phalangitai and enter prolonged pike combat:
https://img530.imageshack.us/img530/683/maa2227ws6.png
Finally in possition, Pefkolaos charges his cavalry in at the rear of the enemy:
https://img143.imageshack.us/img143/605/maa2231sy9.png
The left flank continues to suffer, though. Bykoli orders the elephants to retreat, and two of the beasts manage to pull away, uninjured, but the Thorakitai and his personal guards are not enough to fend off the enemy. With a signal toward the center, Bykoli orders the Syrian reserves to move to the left flank.
Charging in, the Syrians confront the enemy general and his Hetairoi, buying Bykoli and the Thorakitai some time to finish off the Kataphraktoi:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4123/maa2232ga9.png
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/2338/maa2233bt2.png
The enemy Hetairoi and Kataphraktoi quickly break and flee. Purhaps stupidly, Bykoli abandons the battle and gives chace to the enemy cavalry.
With Pefkolaos leading the cavalry and Bykoli pursuing the enemy general, the center of the line is forced to fight without a leader. The line begins to form gaps and loose cohesion, but a charge from Pefkolaos breaks the last enemy and kills the governor of Babylonia, Alkimos Chalkidos Syriakes:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6756/maa2234pm6.png
Chasing them from the field, Pefkolaos manages to wipe out most of remaining enemy infantry and prevents anyone from reaching Seleukeia and re-garissoning it:
https://img520.imageshack.us/img520/4349/maa2237qn2.jpg
Although Bykoli came up with the battle plan, as well as fought the hardest to defend the left flank, since Pefkolaos broke the enemy and killed their general, the men praise him and declare the day a victory for Pefkolaos. Since Pefkolaos is a good friend and a part of his family, Bykoli lets him have the praise... for now. When they march into the city, however, Bykoli is sure to take the lead.
Once in the city, the army of the Arche Makedonia takes to looting. Bykoli orders his men to keep their fun to a minimum, but does order the displacement and enslavement of a small portion of the populace (the non-Hellene, non-Makedone populace). Taking up residence in the great palace, Bykoli goes about securing the city and the rest of the region of Babylonia. Although he doesn't plan for anything soon, Bykoli orders his scouts to head toward the sea and gather information for an invasion, all the way to the river deltas.
To the north, Aristotelis is almost outraged when the elite army of the Seleukids comes out of Arbela and turns over their weapons. Aristotelis invaded the east, looking for a fight, yet all of the fighting has eluded him. Taking control of the city, he allows his men minor looting and even manages to acquire a good amount of money for himself, which he plans to use to finance further invasions eastward:
https://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2804/maa2241mh8.jpg
Old Aristotelis quickly establishes control of the city and marches his army out of the city, looking for a fight. The old man is a great leader and a great politician, but his anger is so great that it scares his own extremely loyal soldiers:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3705/maa2242wc4.jpg
Aristotelis makes a short stop over in Seleukeia and Babylon to let his new subjects greet him. After a short visit with his son, he takes his army of old veterans, who would charge the gates of Hades if he asked, and heads eastward to force the Seleukids into a fight:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9498/maa2244re0.png
Bykoli writes to his brother, in Iberia, telling him of the status of his father and the fears he has of what is to come. Neokles writes back, saying that their father, Aristotelis, is Basileus and his will is truth. However, he tells his brother to defend the borders and think of the people. Their father may wish to march to battle and possible death, but Neokles tells Bykoli, 'Do not let our father's anger cost our people suffering or give our enemies an advantage.' With this, Bykoli resolves to remain in Seleukeia for the time being and go on the defensive until his father returns. Bykoli appreciates the advice and decides to always listen to the wise words of his brother.
In Iberia, Neokles is concerned about his father, but in the center of his mind is something different. He has already ordered Pyrrhos and his son to move their armies from Roma and back to Sicilia for retraining. Neokles then orders the old army of veterans that served Demetrios, who had been stationed in Gaul, to move south and join him. With a letter to Antisthenes Gortynios, in Kyrene, his plan is completed as he mobilizes five huge armies and three fleets...
Dispite the anger of Aristotelis, the sceming of Neokles, or the ignorance of Bykoli, what Antigonos and Demetrios set in motion has grown into something great. With territories both east and west, and firm control, with organized succession, the Antigonids have surpassed Alexandros himself and established a great empire:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6369/maa2238is0.png
The known world in the year 190BC:
https://img230.imageshack.us/img230/...190edituj5.png
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I tried to add more character interactions and such, and I had more fun writting it. I have no idea what my update rate is going to be from here on out, but I'll probably take a break now. I did set up a bunch of "to be continued" situations, for whenever that is...
WOW! you fianally won!!!!!!!!!
Congratuations to your victory!
.
:medievalcheers:
.
He may have faked victory. He's faked a number of defeats in the past. (For other factions.)
But yeah, I can tell you're getting tired of this campaign because you're not even pretending enemies are a threat anymore. :laugh4:
new factions?Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
will they be in the next release? and which factions will they replace?
he just recolered and renamed Ptolemaioi (Meroe), Phalava (Mauryan) and Hayasdan (The Purple) respectively.Quote:
Originally Posted by LotW89
One thing bugs me.
If he replaced the color of the Pahlava in the descr_strat, how come I see a bit of the pink near their homeland? O_O
yeah, and he even destroyed the ptolemaios...Quote:
Originally Posted by Hax
i wonder if he cheated^^
Ah, what a great story! Do you plan on continuing this in the future or will you start a new campaign?
He has already explained this.Quote:
yeah, and he even destroyed the ptolemaios...
i wonder if he cheated^^
But, isn't it impossible to give one faction two colours at the same time?
Excellent Job MAA. Your endurance in this effort is second to none. Bravo!!
Now it is time for you to pat yourselve on your shoulder, MAA. Not only have you created the biggest empire the world has ever seen, but you also have written a chapter with trait-based actions. This will surely make the chapters to come (no matter how long it will take, they will never be too late, so take yourself time, you deserve it) much more interesting.
Now, everybody, give MAA a big hug!:laugh4:
How disappointing that this faboulus AAR seems to come to an end.:no:
But, as said before, you already proved veeerrryy long endurance, and I think the story came to a good end (if it ends).
So congratulations, MAA. I know that I am far to lazy to write an AAR for such a long time. Doubtless, you joined QK and Obelics on the Olympus of AARs...:2thumbsup:
Edit: I almost never read AARs. I made an exception just for you and QK!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the support and comments. :bow:
I don't feel like starting a new campaign (though I have played Broken Crescent a bit and started campaigns there). When I play EB, it will probably be this campaign, unless something new interally needs testing here soon. When I play, I'll update the AAR if I get the energy to do so.
The Pink up in the steppes is photo editting. The town rebelled to Pahlav/Gandhara and I didn't want a patch of green up there so I cut a piece out of an older picture and pasted it over. I'm role-playing that there are two separate nations and the Pahlav have rebelled to get their freedom. Give it a year and the Baktrians will conquer it again, though. You can even see a little evidence with the border to Kangha, since the picture I took the piece from had Saka in that region, not rebels. (Many territories have been rebelling up there, it seems Saka is falling apart.)
Will you make a Broken Crescent AAR? That would be awesome...
it has ended.....I feel like i am standing at the end of an era.
Thanks MAA for this excellent read
Wow...what an epic story. I just read about 5 pages, could not stop! :book:
:sweatdrop:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaotix27
:skull:
I played Broken Crescent too for a bit, but... I don't know, I think I'm just a little too spoiled by EB. I'll probably play it a bit more once more character traits are put in, that's what is turning me off from it right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
After an eternity and a half I finally managed to read the entire AAR (plus 60% of the other posts).
Congratulations Marcus for this extraordinary AAR and the endurance you have shown in writing it.:2thumbsup: !
to MAA from a lurker, you are a AAR hero and legend. :2thumbsup:
Thanks again to everyone who read have read and to those who have commented.
Well MAA, I just want to say thanks. This was the most enjoyable AAR ive ever read. It was what inspired me to start a campaign with Makedonia myself, which then led onto my AAR The war against Seleukeia. I suppose the mantle rests on my head come to think of it, there aren't any other active Makedonian AAR's. Weird because there were heaps at one stage. Anyway, thanks, this was awesome. I do hope you do another AAR at some stage.
Congratulations! A mighty fine looking empire you set up, too, and to get to follow its creation was both interesting and a lot of fun.
Well, MAA, I have to admit that I have been a complete lurker, but since this AAR is over (or temporarily over) I just thought that I'd say thanks and congratulations.
Here, have a "slave" I acquired from my Romani campaign:
:belly:
Thanks again. :bow:
I've played this campaign almost another decade and have been taking screenshots. I was thinking about making another chapter, but I keep not having either time or energy to do so...
Aww c'mon MAA, just for old times sake