Journey Of The Hellenes

II. Distant Disruption
Mastia, Iberia
271 BC
I traveled south to Mastia upon the request of my father. He has grown ill over the course of the year and wishes me to take more control of things. Regardless I am of 20 years and much has changed since I left. I have met a woman of pure Greek blood. Her family hails from Athens and she is the daughter of a ship merchant. When I return it is hoped that we can wed. My father has already gifted the estate to me should he pass. I have had time to think about things greatly. The distant war has caused a mess with trade. The Ptolemai are staunch supporters of the Greeks of Athens. However many of the Macedonian cities are now boycotting trade to independent Greek colonies. Now I must find a way of getting our products back to Emporion and still make a profit.
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***
Upon entering Mastia I met an old friend of the family who is quite fond of me. Videllec the merchant from Kart Hadast had just finished making a run from that great city and now is in Mastia preparing to return. I spoke to him and he told me that he also had to deliver some other precious cargo, including a senator's son to Gadiz. Some young aristocrat named Castulo. "Your moving up in the world" I remember telling him. He smiled and I remember asking him where he was going. Apparently he was headed to Baikor with goods and coin to get items. "Whats the word out of Baikor?" I asked. "Trouble" was his only response. When I asked what was going on he told me the Lusitanns were on the warpath. Their leader Tantalos was wreaking havoc and preparing to march to Baikor. "I'm trying to get in one more shipment before all hell breaks loose" He lamented with a frown.
So now, not only our sea trade is threatened but the flow of silver from the mines could be interrupted. Gods this thing can't get any worse. "You should talk to Hadrubal" He told me. I bid him farewell and went to the palace to meet with Hadrubal. Apparently there was alot going on. Generally life in this palace is more than relaxed. I found appropriate quarters for the night and in a few days met with the Governor. My goal was simple. I needed him to put pressure on the Kart-Hadast senate to open up a new trade route that had been lost when Mytilene cut off trade. He greeted me in a non jovial manner which is quite unusual for him.
I asked him what was going on and he grumbled something about the Lusitanns. He had also found out that Senator Gaston's son, Castulo, had gone missing during a diplomatic meeting with the Lusitanns. I wonder what Videllec would think of that. He was rubbing his head complaining of a headache. I left him a bag of convincing metals and had my request written up by a scribe. I would have to check back to see if anything occured. I decided to go ahead and meet with more of the merchants here.
The price of everything was high. I penned a letter to father asking him for advice. Although I knew he would just tell me to do what I thought was best. He really had gifted the business to me. I talked to old seamen that I used to drive crazy with my childish antics. I couldnt tell you how many times i was told not to climb the mast or to get off the deckrail. Although I was considered nobility in Emporion I felt very comfortable with the rough and tumble nature of the ports. The smells, sights, and sounds was something i grew up with. As soon as I was able to walk I remember holding my father's hand and he used to take me down to see the merchants. My mother of course disaproved. As I got older I would come down on my own and watch the endless stream of vessels leaving the harbors. Countless sunsets of my youth were spent watching the port settle in for another night. I knew all the ships and all the captains. I was adored and respected. Most nobility would never soil themselves like I had.
Most of the merchants I ran into were desperately trying to find alternative ports to get their much desired products from. Most of the Aegean wanted nothing to do with us. Even Rhodes was dealing with a naval blockade. It figures that just as I take on a more important role in all this, the peace we had enjoyed for so long began to unravel.
***
As I prepared to sail to Gadiz to try and secure something from that port of use I learned of a terrible thing. Apparently Athens and Sparta had been defeated and the remains of their army and many civilians fled on the high seas. Rumors had it they were heading to Crete or perhaps Cyreniea. No doubt they will ask for the help of the Ptolemai. These are truly desperate times for all.

Another excellent read. I'm curious, are you planning on not using the game at all or is this just the intro?

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Originally Posted by Mjolnir

Another excellent read. I'm curious, are you planning on not using the game at all or is this just the intro?

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It takes time for me to build the story. The game is a framework for my writing and provides a general direction. I know its a bit slow but you really do need to understand the backround of whats going on before I can just dive into battles. I am tying events from my last AAR into events with this AAR. Do not worry there will be plenty of battles. My AARs are a combination of fighting and the events that caused the fighting or the events that occurred because of the fighting. It sounds complicated but its the only style I am really comfortable writing in. I try to best represent the people that are involved in the conflict as well as the conflict itself. Thank you for the inquiry.

I wasn't complaining, just wanting to know what to expect. I look forward to seeing this unfold. :2thumbsup:

III. Pillars of Hercules

270 BC
I sailed out of Mastia on a brisk spring breeze. We docked in the harbor before the Herculean Gates. Things were busy but also chaotic. You get a feel for the natural rhythms and pace of the port. People unfamiliar with the ports see only chaos. I see an organized system. Everyone depends on everyone else to get the job done. There is yelling and occasional shoving match. This is all necessary to ensure the proper order of things. The people were not working as quickly as they should be in the spring time. Boats should be streaming into the port and many should also be leaving. The loading and unloading of cargo should be at a frenetic pace. On this day it is slow. Boats are still waiting on cargo from the north. Sucum Margi to the north is delaying shipment of goods due to the war there. Currently the Lusitann army was entrenched around Baikor. They were destroying entire villages in their path and this disrupted trade considerably. Refugees could be seen on the hills around the city as they wait for the Lusitanns to finish their destructive march. Its much worse than I thought. The leader of the Lusitanns is apparently trying to exterminate the Celts. I prayed that Videllec was ok on his journey.
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***
I spent much time trying to secure new pricing and trade to replace what had been lost in the far eastern ports. The Ptolemai had apparently pledged to increase their number of trade ships. However it might take more than a year. Other important concerns loom as well. What impact will the refugees from the Aegean peninsula have on overall trade? What about the Makedonian fleet? Would they try and sabotage trade in their pursuit of the Greek flotilla? I shuddered at the thought of all those poor civilians packed onto boats trying to outrun an enemy force. To make matters even more confusing some merchants said they heard from other merchants that the Greek Flotilla was near the Island of Corsica. I suppose it would make sense to land on an Island. However I doubt that Kart-Hadastim wants to further enrage Makedon.
***
Later towards the dead of winter we did learn that the Greeks had indeed landed in Corsica. Perhaps they were going to make another colony there? My mind began to wonder about how lucrative it would be to secure trade with them. They would need much. Basic supplies and luxury supplies. Some of the merchants insisted the size of this floating refuge was a city. Truly amazing. I would pen a letter to father and request permission to visit this possible new colony. It is not everyday that this happens. This could be most fortunate. It would be dangerous. The Makedonian fleet could still pursue them. But now they have another piece of land between them and their enemy.
***
I spent some of the time that winter walking and talking with the refugees. This only solidified my view of the atrocities occuring to the north of the Punic colonies. Great effort from the people of Gader and Mastia was made to provide basic needs to these people. They had planned to travel north again when winter raised its cold veil. One piece of good news was that the missing Senator's son from Kart-Hadast had miracoulously returned to Gader. Castulo was my age, and although I did not get to meet him he apparently had quite the tale to tell.
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Another great chapter. :yes:

Nice story so far! Keep it up, Chirurgeon!

Another good chapter. Things are starting to come together.

Nice chapter. The story seems to be revealing slowly.

I've read the first few chapters and i KNOW this is going 2 be good:laugh4:

IV. Transplants
269 BC
Securing more trade for Emporion took the better part of a season. With a small adjustment in taxes it seems to have worked. If the volume of trade is what it should be then that will more than make up for the reduction in taxes. I arranged for travel back to Mastia. If I was lucky I could find Videllec and reconnect to the Governor Hadrusbal.
I arrived in Mastia to find it suffering the same way Gadiz had. Hadrubal managed a better mood when I saw him this time. Still the wrinkles of concern crossed his face. The bold action of the Lusitanns had stunned him. Now Baikor had been brought into the fold of Lusitannan influence. "We must be wary of the tribes. Should they grow to powerful they may question our trade arrangements", he told me while thinking about distant things. In other words they would raise prices for raw materials. With the tribes fractured it would be easier to keep these prices low. With a grand army and unification it would be difficult if not impossible to achieve the same low rates. With so much on his mind and trade suffering, I had to remind him of why I came back. With a great sigh he got up and paced the floors. "How can you expect more goods at lower prices when I don't even know if shipments will arrive from the interior. This Latronos is worse than his father. He is now turning his aggression northward. The best iron mines are in the very area he plans on attacking. I receive orders from the senate to get even more armor so that they can raise a force in Sicily." He sat there breathless having spewed all this out in a single action. "After all the groveling i did to get this position, now I cannot meet the demands of my people.", he said quietly. "I am sorry I cannot help you Nikea". I nodded and made my exit. Perhaps I could score a deal with merchants. My father had penned a letter of items in need in Emporion.
***
I again rented appropriate quarters and began hunting for excess items. I found some pottery which was in need back in Emporion. I took it off the merchants hands and arranged for travel back to Emporion. I would stop in Arse and stay with some good friends of my father. It was hoped that with all the chaos maybe the merchants in Arse needed some supplies that our merchants had in excess. It was worth a try and if I could get a quote I could deliver it when I arrived in Emporion. Perhaps a profit could be made out of this mess. The profit alone from the pottery would justify this trip.
Before I left I scoured the merchant quarter for Videllec. He was no where to be found. His ship still anchored in the harbor. I approached the ship and heard terrible news. Videllec's home village was off the road about halfway to Baikor. Apparently a detachment of soldiers from Latronos's army laid waste to his village and killed everyone. Gods this was horrible. Videllec likely sought revenge on these heinous killers. I may never see him again.
***
Everything changed in the late fall when i received a letter from my father. He stated that the huge Greek Flotilla had landed north of Emporion. I was shocked. Why had they come to Emporion? I had to get back to Emporion immediately. I got as far as Arse before the seas turned violent. I recognized these seas. There would be no traveling them until spring. I hired a small escort company and stormed north on the shoddy roads that cut near the rugged coastline. As beautiful as the land was around me I was preoccupied with the fact that the survivors of the Athens and Sparta had landed on our shores. The journey seemed to take an eternity. The future was unwritten and for the first time in my life I was truly scared.
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Originally Posted by Mjolnir

Another great chapter. :yes:

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Thank you sir. Your AAR is coming along nicely as well :)

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Originally Posted by Chaotix27

Nice story so far! Keep it up, Chirurgeon!

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Thanks for your support old friend. Glad to see you still hanging around !!

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Another good chapter. Things are starting to come together.

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Yes it should get quite interesting soon enough

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Originally Posted by Silence Hunter

Nice chapter. The story seems to be revealing slowly.

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Not to slow I hope. I wanted to build the background story.

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Originally Posted by the man with no name

I've read the first few chapters and i KNOW this is going 2 be good:laugh4:

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lets hope so! Oh and welcome to forums :)

Ummm ok i is confused.
In ur Luso one the greeks never got to Emporion.
So how can u keep contiunity with that one while doing this?
Or are u ATLing this one?

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Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes

Ummm ok i is confused.
In ur Luso one the greeks never got to Emporion.
So how can u keep contiunity with that one while doing this?
Or are u ATLing this one?

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When i wrote the Iberian Rising AAR I did not think that I would do another one in the same area. I took a hard long look at how to achieve the goals of my current AAR. Essentially Emporion is no different than it is in my Iberian Rising AAR. It is an independent city much like Arse. Nikea and all the people that live there are independent. The Koinen Hellenon faction has not taken the city. So the colors on the map would be the same as in my last AAR. I hope this helps. Currently the city is a nonplayer and has no influence in the fate of the peninsula

Ok my NEXT ???s then.
1.R u gonna FD the Luso supor empire into existence?
2.R the KH gonna reclaim teh Hellas?
3.How do u write such AWESOME AARs!?!?!?!?!?!

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Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes

Ok my NEXT ???s then.
1.R u gonna FD the Luso supor empire into existence?
2.R the KH gonna reclaim teh Hellas?
3.How do u write such AWESOME AARs!?!?!?!?!?!

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1. Well the Lusitanns actually have helped me out with this. They are almost working on queue when it comes to this. I did have to give Baikor to them though.
2. That is rather ambitious considering they just arrived far from home with not much more than the clothes on their backs. The remnants of Sparta and Athens are in pretty rough shape.
3. Well I have been planning this one for like six months. I have a very active imagination. The gears are always turning. The support of this community is as much a tribute to the success of my AARs as the writing of them. I would have never done this without that support. Its absolutely vital. Any AAR writer will tell you that.
Good questions and I hope I answered them to your satisfaction.

Excellent story, Chirurgeon!:2thumbsup: I love the concept of leaving the game development aside for a while until a good introduction is developed! Shame, this is something that I am not able to achieve in my AARs, which basically are a description of what is happening on the strat map.:embarassed:

Anyway, keep up good work, you are a legend aroung here! :bow:

P.S.- If may to give an unsolicited advice, it would be nice to post some screenshots too, escecially the mini-map to see how is the international situation developing. Probably it would be best to hide in a spoiler, though, not to interfere with your story too much. :2cents:

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Originally Posted by V.T. Marvin

Excellent story, Chirurgeon!:2thumbsup: I love the concept of leaving the game development aside for a while until a good introduction is developed! Shame, this is something that I am not able to achieve in my AARs, which basically are a description of what is happening on the strat map.:embarassed:

Anyway, keep up good work, you are a legend aroung here! :bow:

P.S.- If may to give an unsolicited advice, it would be nice to post some screenshots too, escecially the mini-map to see how is the international situation developing. Probably it would be best to hide in a spoiler, though, not to interfere with your story too much. :2cents:

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Ok that is a good idea. Thanks. I haven't taken any screenshots but as of right now the map is identical, at least in Iberia and southern Gaul

Very good so far cant wait until the real action starts:yes:

Ah ha! The pieces are beginning to fit together for me. Great work. :2thumbsup:

I still can't believe that, even before you posted your first chapter you got 14 responses by people besides you!:jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:

Finally I got around to read the last chapter of your AAR. Again very well written, as I said before I really like the point of view from which you tell your story. Very interesting background-story. Now let's see what those Greeks want ;-) Keep the terrific work up!

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Originally Posted by Mr.Man

Very good so far cant wait until the real action starts:yes:

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thank you. I am anxious to see how these Greeks are in a fight.

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Originally Posted by Mjolnir

Ah ha! The pieces are beginning to fit together for me. Great work. :2thumbsup:

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Very cool. Thanks for following. Your AAR is doing quite well I must say

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Originally Posted by the man with no name

I still can't believe that, even before you posted your first chapter you got 14 responses by people besides you!:jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:

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I am lucky to have so many people that appreciate what I do. They make it worth it for me

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Originally Posted by SwissBarbar

Finally I got around to read the last chapter of your AAR. Again very well written, as I said before I really like the point of view from which you tell your story. Very interesting background-story. Now let's see what those Greeks want ;-) Keep the terrific work up!

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Thank you kind sir. I like the point of view as well.

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Originally Posted by Chirurgeon

Very cool. Thanks for following. Your AAR is doing quite well I must say

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Thank you very much, I think it's cool that we're coming at the same idea from different directions at the same time. :beam:

Ok even MOAR ???s
1.I meant by the first question as in R the Greeks gonna reclaim Hellas at all during this campaign or r u committed to the Western Med?
2.Is this gonna turn into an island hopping game/AAR?
3.Im can assume that this AAR is in the same TL as ur previous one then?

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Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes

Ok even MOAR ???s
1.I meant by the first question as in R the Greeks gonna reclaim Hellas at all during this campaign or r u committed to the Western Med?
2.Is this gonna turn into an island hopping game/AAR?
3.Im can assume that this AAR is in the same TL as ur previous one then?

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I do not want to reveal too much information, but I will try to answer the best I can.

1. Ultimately the refugees from Sparta and Athens would like to return to their homeland. But they have to make sure their current cities are safe.
2. Anything is possible
3. To a point. There will be an event that changes the direction of things dramatically.

I really can't predict to much as I really have not thought that far ahead. Thanks for asking.

Don't spoil the story for us Chirurgeon plz!!!

I would never do that :)

:wideeyed:

DUDE! AWESOME!

(I just found this AAR!)

V. 268 BC - Awkward Coexistance - Part I
I arrived at the villa much to the surprise of my father. He was quite taken aback by the fact that I had taken a land route. I talked to him briefly and reminded him that I had sent all the goods via ship and should have already arrived. He was in and out of the very infirm position of bedrest. The local Chirurgeon had recommended some various tonics to help his joints and lethargy. He didnt know about the shipment because he could not go to the port. I arrived as the sun was setting in the great mountains behind us. The snow beginning its annual descent from the distant peaks, winter would be here again. And again the storms would come. I shared the evening meal with my family. My mother was insistent I get married and told her that things were quite busy at the moment. Hopefully I could get it over with in the slow time of the winter. My good friend Lugos had come from his own house and joined us.
Lugos's father was Lacetanii and his mother Greek. We had been friends for a long time. He had a boy named Armin. We talked till the lanterns went out about the situation. Lugos had been to the massive Greek encampment about a day north of the city. The Indegetii were not happy by this sudden appearance of people on their lands. In fact the Athenians and Spartans had landed about an hours walk from a Indegetii holy site. I sighed at the prospect of soothing relations. I asked Lugos how many people landed on the coast and he said it was like a city. More than lived in Emporion. I shook my head in disbelief.
My father concluded the discussion by saying that their would be a meeting with a diplomat from the Aegean Greeks. He wanted me to come to the meeting so that I could learn how things were done. He was very sincere and I could tell that he wished for me to replace him on the council. The elders council has been an establishment of the city for some time. The vote of the council would determine major decisions. The day to day runnings of the city was handled by a an appointed Governor. The people voted for the council members and the council voted for the Governor. It was a simple and fair system. One that has worked for hundreds of years.
I had to get the inventory off the ship that had set in harbor. With winter fast approaching the captain wanted to get to his home port of Massalia. Great urns and delicate plates were offloaded. With all the chaos in the Aegean, the great Potters could not get their wares to market. With the surplus I bought i Mastia I sold to the merchants of the city. Some would stay and the rest would be sent elsewhere. Overall it was a successful week of business dealings. As a cooler blast of air settled over the city the council met in their chamber. The Greek encampment sent an envoy named Oddyseus to make some requests. I sat with my father and wrote as much as I could. Oddyseus was from Sparta and apparently the Spartan King, Areus, was in command of everyone. This was interesting because Athens had supplied the vessels and oarsmen. Oddyseus was sent to ask for aid...from one Greek to another. The council agreed that much was needed. However with the shipping season essentially over it would be difficult to obtain enough supplies. By spring new orders could be placed. In the mean time we sent envoys and coin to the Indegetii to smooth their feathers after the rather surprising landing of the Greek flotilla.
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***
Two more seasons passed and many more problems developed instead of being solved. The council demanded to speak to King Areus in person. So on a warm summer day the king came. There were many concerns. The people of Emporion had bent over backwards to try and accommodate the huge influx of people. Until things could be sorted out the transplants were told to stay in their encampment and only a limited number of people could actually enter the city. For two seasons a monumental effort had been taken to feed, water, clothe, and shelter the massive number of people. Tensions within the Greek camp had been building as the efforts of the Emporions were falling short. The council sent envoys to Arse and most importantly Massalia. Massalia sent their own diplomat and explained that hosting the refugees was putting all free cities at dire risk. Massilia refused to offer aide and for good reason. The Macedonians had sent an envoy to Massalia warning them not aide the refugees. Arse offered a trivial supply of grain. Not nearly enough. The same envoy from Macedonia arrived at our door, demanding we tell the Greeks to leave. King Areus is to be taken prisoner and delivered to occupied Sparta. Of course our small garrison of men could not do that. There are many civilians living in the camp, but also an army worth of men that still had the very real capability of fighting.
***
In the two seasons of spring and summer I had journeyed to Mastia to again proposition Hadrubal about our predicament. He laughed at the request of the Greeks settling in their lands. "We are at war with Syracuse and the Romans. Sicily burns dear Nikea. We cannot afford another enemy. The Lusitanns rampage unchecked. Perhaps they would be willing to deal with your Greek problem." I walked away empty handed. It seems every sense of normalcy was unwinding before me. Just as I was coming into the prime of my life I would be dealing with tulmultous issues.
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