Their archers will destroy whoever challenges them!!!!
:surrender: :hmg:
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Their archers will destroy whoever challenges them!!!!
:surrender: :hmg:
Very well written !!!!!!
Thanks for the continued support.
The first three chapters are the introduction to set the stage and atmosphere for when the action starts in chapter four.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olaf Blackeyes
Chapter 3: A Course is Set
Summer, 270 BC
The door opens into a long covered patio which exits into the garden in the back of the palace. Walking back out into the sunlight I quickly glance across the half dozen groups of men scattered about amongst the small fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs.
Finding the man I’m looking for I head for his group while nodding a general greeting to the other groups I pass. Reaching the seven men circled in discussion I catch a snippet of the conversation.
“…so I think we can count on his vote in-“
The tall board-shouldered man cuts off as he notices my approach. Inclining my head towards him, “My apologies for interrupting Synedros Brentisinos”
Smiling, “Nonsense, the Kleronomos Arches is always welcome”
I return the smile and turn towards the man I seek, “Basileus”
“Spartokos, my son you are just in time. Did the gods give you any revelations today on the walls?”
“No father”
“A pity”
“Although” I direct my comment back to Synedros Brentisinos, overseer of the Pantikapaion port, “I did see a trade gallery in bound from Trapevous”
Synedros Brentisinos’ face brightens, “Well that at least is good news” turning to his secretary, “Go make the appropriate preparations” The secretary bows and hurries off.
Addressing my father again, “So what news is responsible for this emergency Synedrion meeting?”
A frown crosses my father’s face, “That is best left for the meeting itself” Rising his voice “Synedroi, it is time”
We all move towards the large one-room building, the Synedrion chambers, sitting a little apart from the palace itself. I follow my father inside leaving Lysandros outside with the rest of the secretaries and bodyguards. My father takes the seat at the head of a long table with a large map of the Pontos Euxeinos and surrounding territories on it while I take a seat to his left against the wall as I am not officially a member of the Synedrion. The twelve members of the Synedrion, the twelve most powerful men in the Basileion next to my family, take their seats around the table. Synedros Brentisinos and Synedros Oionios, my father’s greatest supporters, sit to his right and left respectively. The Brentisinoi and Oionioi have been allies of ours since even before my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, and namesake, Spartokos overthrew the Archaeanactids and established the Spartocid dynasty 175 years ago. Others like Synedros Archilochos and his cousin Synedros Poikas have a more adversarial relationship with us. Synedros Archilochos is the direct descendant of the sister of the last Archaeanactid Basileus and it is whispered that he would like to press that claim given a chance. Thankfully for us he lacks the support necessary for such an enterprise and thankfully for him my father is a benevolent man.
My father, Pairisades Spartokides, Basileus of the Basileion Bosphorou addresses the Synedrion in a firm voice, “I call this meeting of the Bosphorou Synedrion to order. Synedroi, two days ago I received very troubling news from my agents in Olbia and yesterday the same news from Tanais. Our client rulers in both regions have decided to take this opportunity of perceived weakness on our part to forsake their oaths of loyalty to the Basileion Bosphorou. All officials, soldiers, and citizens still loyal to us have been expelled or killed.”
A murmur of shock, anger, and dismay jumps up from the silence.
“What will become of us? We depend upon Tanais and Olbia for slaves and grain, we can’t survive without their trade!” Synedros Tenedios, the city’s largest slave dealer, almost shouts panic evident in his voice.
Voices rise in support and I confess that my own thoughts run along those lines as well.
“Quiet, quiet!” Synedros Oionios nearly shouts above the clamor while pounding his hand twice on the table, as the noised dies he adds, “Panicking will get us nowhere, logic and cool heads are what is required of us now”
“Thank you, Synedros Oionios” my father says, “this is indeed dire news, but this is not an end of us”
“P-p-p-perhaps it would be a good idea to reconsider the Makedonian offer?” the fat Synedros Koios almost whined in his slight stutter, “I d-d-do not think there is anything perceived about our weakened position nor do I think having the strength of Makedonia t-t-to support us would be a bad thing at present”
I feel my lip curl in disgust at Synedros Koios’ display of his well known bent towards cowardly self-preservation. If his family was not so prominent or his monetary reserves and land holdings were not so great, my father would have long ago removed him from the Synedrion.
“Surrender is not the answer here, a display of strength is what this calls for” Synedros Brentisinos answers him.
“I agree” my father nods, “Olbia and Tanais must be brought back under our authority, by force if necessary”
Synedros Oionios, “I concur”
A number of heads around the table nod in agreement, Koios whimpers softly. I have no doubt this exchange has been foreplanned by Brentisinos, Oionios, and my father.
“And so, Basileus Spartokides” Synedros Archilochos’ smooth deep voice cuts in, “your idea of ‘displaying of strength’ is to strip us of defenses and send off our armies into the steppes?”
“And you would have us simply sit here waiting for the hammer blow?” My father’s retort.
They lock stares for several moments before Synedros Archilochos drops his eyes.
“I will order local levies to be raised to augment our Hellenic troops. The Pantikapaion forces will take boats across Lake Maiotis to besiege and retake Tanais. In the meantime, I will head west to-“
“Wait, who exactly is leading this army if you head west?” Synedros Tenedios interrupts.
My father turns his head to look directly at me, “Spartokos will be commanding the attack on Tanais”
My heart skips a beat.
“The boy?” Synedros Poikas asks scornfully, “He’s only 19”
“Twice he has gone north with me to drive back nomadic raiders and proved his worth on the battlefield. I have every confidence that he is up to the task”
He smiles reassuring at me and then turns back to the Synedrion.
“Meanwhile I will take Synedros Tenedios and Synedros Eleios with me to Chersonesos. We will sure up support there and raise an army to retake Olbia. Synedros Brentisinos and Synedros Oionios will be in charge of affairs here in my absence”
Synedros Brentisinos, “I call for a show of support”
Eight of the Synedroi stand indicating their support of my father’s plan. Synedros Archilochos and Synedros Poikas are two of those seated. The Synedrion is dismissed. I thank my father and exit the building. Lysandros immediately joins me.
“What is the news?” Lysandros asks quietly as soon as we were out of eyeshot of the others.
“Bad news; ready your men for war Commander, we march on Tanais”
His broad smile emphasizes the battle scar on his left cheek, “I thought you said it was bad news”
I laugh.
This is made of AWESOME!!!!!
You can say that again!!!! Here's to you Mjolnir :balloon2::balloon2:
I'm glad you both enjoyed it. I put a lot of time into planning how I wanted this chapter to play out and then writing it all down.
Kudos...great job. lets see what this kid is capable of
really awesome! I agree with Lysandros, that's some good news ^^ and your AAR is good news as well
This is really very interesting. Hoping to read more soon!
Just discovered it and it's great, i'll be following the AAR
Thanks for the support guys.
I'm working on the next chapter and I'm having some trouble with screenshots. I get in the middle of a battle and hit the "prt sc" button, alt + tab into Paint, and then copy the screenshot and save it, but when I try to get back into EB the game CTDs. Any ideas on how I can take and save screenshots without the game crashing?
Download the program called FRAPS. www.fraps.com Its free but if you pay ten dollars to get the full version you do not have to convert bmp files int jpeg files. It runs in the backround and you see the fps in the top corner of your screen. I have F10 as my default screenpic key. The fps number will flash white when you take a screenshot. Hope this helps!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mjolnir
Thanks, I'll try that.
Chapter 4: On the Edge of Civilization
Winter, 270 BC
It’s cold out here on the edge of the steppes at night in winter, but our goal is in sight – Tanais is but half a day’s march south of us. I have over 15,000 men under my command.
https://img3.imageshack.us/img3/1052/spartokos19yw0.jpg6,500 Hellenic light hoplites, drafted from the port workers and poor farmers of Pantikapaion, half of them veterans from my father’s previous campaigns the other half green and eager to prove themselves. 1,500 Hellenic slingers, recruited from the shepherds and farmers around Pantikapaion, also veterans of my father’s campaigns. 4,000 Pontic light spearman, levies supplied to us by the native Hellenized tribes as part of their oaths of loyalty to our Basileion. 1,500 heavy archers from Pantikapaion’s city guard, these are heavily armed men from mixed backgrounds who are highly trained and paid to be the best archers a Hellenic army has ever fielded. 1,500 Scythian horse archers from the northern border area of our Basileion, recruited with the promise of loot. And finally almost 1,000 elite hoplites commanded by my second-in-command Lysandros, these are the best of the best – veterans of a dozen battles and armed with the best weapons our blacksmiths are capable of making.
https://img517.imageshack.us/img517/...army270ck6.jpg
We crossed the strait at the mouth of Lake Maiotis in mid-autumn using a small fleet of ferries.
Heading north and east to cross the river Tanais north of the town itself, we now sit here just north of the town as winter is beginning in earnest.
“What was it like when my father took Tanais, Lysandros?” I ask as we sit huddled around a campfire as the night sets in and the snow continues to fall.
“Well that would have been about 15 years ago. Hellen merchants from the south had founded a small trading post at the mouth of the Tanais River about 10 years prior. It had grown quite a bit and a local Scythian warlord decided that it was too tempting a target. The merchants called for aid and your father answered. The battle was short and decisive. Afterwards your father put one of his officers, a Hellen from the south named Ourgios, in charge of the city and he has ruled well and apparently loyally until now.”
All is silent for several minutes except for the howling wind.
“My lord, what forces will we be facing tomorrow?”
I answer, “It now appears that Ourgios has been agitating against us to the local Scythian tribes for some time now. Many of them support him and have supplied 6,000 archers to his cause, most of them foot archers thankfully. He also has the support of the 3,000 mercenary light hoplites stationed in the city by my father. Additionally he has over 1,000 medium cavalry composed of adventurers and cut-throats loyal to him. He was just waiting for us to show weakness to make his move.”
“It won’t be easy tomorrow”
“No, it won’t, may the gods be with us”
**********
A light snow falls as we begin our advance into Tanais an hour after midday. The town is unwalled so we have no need of siege equipment. The green hoplites comprise the left, the pontic levies in the center, and the veteran hoplites on the right. On the left behind the green hoplites are the slingers and heavy archers, I send the horse archers swinging wide out to the right, and my elite hoplites advance behind the veterans on the right flank.
We are seen, warning horns sound from the town and I give the order to charge. My heartbeat quickens as we near the town at a fast trot, Lysandros at my side in the battleline. A group of huts blocks our way to the town center and the veterans and my elites swing to the right, while the greens and the levies swing left. My slingers and archers halt and fire a volley of missiles into the town. In response, a volley of arrows from within the town falls amongst us as we pass the first few huts. Most bounce off our heavy armor and shields with metallic clanks, but a hoplite three men down from me topples backwards grasping at an arrow sticking out from his throat above his breastplate. To my left on the other side of the huts I can hear the roar of battle as my left flank clashes with a unit of the mercenary hoplites and Ourgios’ horse archers. We come out into the open at the bottom of a sloping hill halfway up which waits the rest of the mercenary hoplites. With a shout the veterans in front of my elites rush forward, but just as they reach the waiting spears a cry from off to their left draws my attention as Ourgios and his medium cavalry charge out of a side street into the left flank of the my veterans.
“Attack! Death to the traitor!” I shout.
“Death to the traitor!” Lysandros echoes and the cry is taken up as my elites surges forward into the cavalry.
Some of the horsemen turn and kick their horses towards us. An oncoming rider thrusts his spear at my head.
Deflecting the blow with my shield I raise my sword and cleanly slice the horse’s throat open toppling the rider to the ground at my feet. A quick thrust of my sword between the ribs finishes him. The space around me is a swirl of spears, horses, and men. Hacking and slicing, the cries of horses and men is all that exists for minutes which seem like eternity.
Finding a moment of respite I discover Lysandros still beside me. Glancing across the conflict I see Ourgios fending off several hoplites about 30 yards off.
“Lysandros, your spear”
He hands me the broad shaft, the entire thing several feet taller than myself. Leaning back I throw the spear with all my might, and just like on the practice field, my aim is true. The shaft catches him full in the chest carrying him backwards off his horse to the ground. A roar goes up from my troops as the enemies turn and begin to flee.
“Forward; kill them all!” I roar.
As we charge up the slope, I look to my left and see that my troops there have won their fight as well. All of Ourgios’ soldiers save the archers in the town center are in full flight.
A last volley of arrows hits us and then we are upon them. The battle is quickly over.
All in all the battle only took two hours and in the end all 10,000 of Ourgios soldiers are dead or scattered, while 6,000 of mine lie dead as well. A bloody day.
**********
The next day as the work of burying the dead is carried out in the fields to the west, I take the opportunity to walk the streets of Tanais. I did not have time to notice much in my time in the town yesterday, but now I take in the sights. The town is a thorough mixture of Hellen and Barbarian. Barbarian huts sit beside Hellen houses, steppe riders with bows on their backs lead horses past richly dressed Hellen merchants, and half-Hellen/half-Scythian children play in the street.
https://img17.imageshack.us/img17/7395/greektownjn3.jpghttps://img49.imageshack.us/img49/5648/nomadtownzc0.jpgThis is the edge; the northern most outpost of Civilization. It is a strange thought that everything north, west, and east of this point is totally and utterly barbarian.
My father commanded me to find a replacement for Ourgios, someone whom could be cemented to us through marriage. I reach the meeting hall on top of the hill in the center of Tanais, waiting for me there is a man named Demaratos Therapnaios. He is a Hellen who settled in Tanais and took a Scythian wife. He and his family, including his 16 year old son Aitios, were imprisoned by Ourgios when they refused to swear loyalty to him.
https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6180/aitios269hw0.jpg
https://img15.imageshack.us/img15/46...ohellenjw6.jpg
“Come Therapnaios, we have much to discuss”
**********
Spring, 269 BC
Having setup a provisional government and constructing a small wooden palisade around the town for defense, I left Demaratos Therapnaios in charge of the town and military forces there and take a trade ship to Pantikapaion in the spring.
Standing in the bow of the galley I watch Pantikapaion’s walls drawing ever closer.
“You’ll like Hermine, and I think my sister will like you too” I say reassuringly to Aitios who is standing beside me gazing wide-eyed at the city.
“I do hope so, I am honored to be asked to marry into the Basileus’ family”
Our ship pulls into the dock and is tied up. My father has been forewarned of our approach and is there to greet us. We embrace.
“Is all well with you? Did things go as planned in the east?”
“Yes Spartokos, Olbia is once again ours. My congratulations on your taking of Tanais; Lysandros writes that you did our family proud.”
“Thank you father. This is Aitios” I wave Aitios closer.
“Ah yes, let us walk” says my father eying the young man up and down.
My sister and Aitios were married the next month and a month afterwards I too was wed to the youngest daughter of Synedros Brentisinos, Antheia. It will take time to get used to the idea of being married.
Afterwards we had over a year of peace and quiet before we received troubling reports from the south.
**********
The Known World in 268 BC
https://img21.imageshack.us/img21/37...dmap268yt4.jpg
nice job! Although I have one question. Is there some equation you use to estimate the number of people in your army? I guess its more realistic that way.
I just x10 everything. I think that's the way most EB players do it if they want more realistic numbers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chirurgeon
This is awesome!!!
Very nice !
Excellent, truly excellent. Hell, in my previous Makedonian campaign, I had moved the KH to the Taurike and they expanded just as you have!
Maion
:bow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Antinous
Quote:
Originally Posted by SwissBarbar
Thanks, yours is coming along nicely as well.
It's a good area. With just the four settlements I have a +600 income every turn, and it would be quite a bit more if I wasn't RPing a lack of trade and therefore not signing any trade agreements.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maion Maroneios
I am a bit worried about the Sauromatae though, they keep on moving half-stacks into and out of my territory. :hide:
Excellent chapter! Keep up:2thumbsup:
If I may give you two recommendations:
1.- Switch off the green arrows and you will get even nicer screenshots. There is a shortcut called "Preferences" in your EB folder in StartUp Panel, launch it and tick "Disable Arrow Markers" ON. You may also want to UNTICK "Show Banners".
2.- To take screenshots, consider using "Howie's Quick Screen Capture Tool" (download here- it is in the "Misc Software" section) instead of FRAPS. I find Howie´s better as it saves the pictures already in .jpg format.
Thanks for the advice. I've disabled the green arrows, but I think I'll stick with Fraps since I have to edit everything in Paint anyway so the format Fraps uses doesn't really matter.
Im playing a pontic campaign right now. People say its hard, but if you blitz the Seleucids in asia minor then you get lots of extra income and bring the fight to them (they will eventually attack you). They have basically no army in AM.
Chapter 5: Old Alliances
In the year and a half after the Tanais campaign tranquility prevailed. While we still cannot move our goods into the Aegean, we have worked out an agreement with Byzantion to ship our goods for us after we drop them off there. That along with the more direct control we now wield over the slave and grain trade with solidification of Olbia and Tanais in the Basileion Bosphorou means that our immediate crisis is over. We have constructed stone sewers and larger granaries in Pantikapaion to help deal with the influx of refugees of Athenai and other parts of Hellas after the Makedonian conquest and things are generally peaceful.
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8664/sewered4.jpg
https://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4473/granarywa4.jpg
I am spending this warm autumn afternoon out at our family’s country house east of the city with my wife and two younger brothers when a messenger arrives on a lathered mare.
“The Basileus requests your immediate presence at the palace”
“What is it?” I inquire.
“I do not know Kleronomos Arches, but the Synedrion did met this morning with a representative from Trapevous”
Nodding, I give orders to have a horse saddled and ride into Pantikapaion. Arriving at the palace just after nightfall I find my father, Lysandros, Synedros Brentisinos, and Synedros Oionios in a meeting room on the second floor seated around a circular wooden table.
“Ah you’re here, good you’re just in time” My father addresses me as I enter.
“Greetings Spartokos, how is my daughter?” Synedros Oionios greets me smiling.
“She is well Synedros, she’s with Nikanor and Phrixos at the country house”
Taking a seat, I ask, “The messenger said the Synedrion met with a man from Trapevous this morning, but he could tell me no more. What was the purpose of his visit?”
“Very bad news, unfortunately” My father replies, “apparently the Arche Seleukeian satrapy in northern Anatolia capitaled in Amaseia has declared itself independent, proclaimed itself the Basileion Pontikos, raised an army, and is deadset on conquering everything it can reach. Our allies in Sinope have fallen and the Basileus Pontikos has supplied men and funds to a noble in Trapevous named Neoptolemos to seize power and rule as a puppet for him there.” My father’s voice is grave.
Synedros Brentisinos cuts in, “The man from Trapevous we met with is Synedros Thorikios, he has requested that we honor our alliance with Sinope and Trapevous by dispatching an army to free those cities from Pontikos rule and we have agreed”
“Spartokos” my father resumes, “I am not as young as I once was, I cannot go campaigning for seasons on end like I did in my youth. That is why you will be commanding this expedition.”
I nod slowly.
He continues, “Troops are being called in from the frontier and new units are being raised as well. You and Lysandros will set out as soon as winter is over”
**********
Spring, 267 BC
We land on the coast of the heavily wooded plains east of Trapevous just as the spring flowers are beginning to bloom. The Hellens of Trapevous and Sinope are our brothers as we share the same father, the Milesioi. Sinope and Trapevous handle the rich trade flowing north from the Euphrates river valley and west out of the Caucasus mountains. They have been our trade partners and allies for generations and losing them would be a heavy blow. Summer is almost come by the time we reach the walls of Trapevous and form our siege ring around it. I have over 20,000 men under my command.
https://img3.imageshack.us/img3/108/spartokos267oz1.jpg10,000 light hoplites - half of them veterans, 2,500 Pontic light spearmen, 2,500 slingers – half of them veterans, 1,500 Bosporan heavy archers, 3,000 Scythian foot archers – supplied to us as recompense for their backing the traitor Ourgios at Tanais, and of course my elite hoplites commanded by Lysandros. We face an opposing force of 17,000 defenders; 7,500 Hellenic missile troops and hoplites, 4,500 Persian light skirmishers, and 7,000 warriors from various Caucasian barbarian tribes from the wild mountainous region in the south and east with which Neoptolemos has allied or bought.
https://img502.imageshack.us/img502/...army267sq6.jpg
We maintain the siege for several months, allowing disease and hungry to work on our enemies’ strength while we construct three huge rams to batter down the gate and walls. On a clear cool autumn day I deploy my troops as if to assault the walls. Neoptolemos is clearly a politician and not a soldier, for immediately he sends his troops rushing to the walls. But I, instead of ordering the rams forward, order the archers to fire. Volley after volley is shot over the walls into the lightly armored mass of defenders.
By the time the order is given for them to fall back nearly a third of their number lie dead. With the walls clear, I give the signal for the rams to move forward. The ram on the south wall and the ram on the gate smash holes in the wall, but the defenders manage to set the ram on the north wall on fire before it can do its job.
Once inside the walls I divide my troops into three columns, sending one south and one north, I lead the middle column directly west into the city center. Fights begin to spring up all over the city as my hoplites clash with the city defenders.
My column engages several thousand of the Hellenic troops including Neoptolemos’ hoplite bodyguard in a large square. As we slowly advance we leave the bodies of countless dead enemies in our wake many from the earlier missile barrage.
The stench of blood and sweat is everywhere and my sword arm grows weary.
Down the line a shout goes up, “Neoptolemos is dead!”
The remaining Hellenic defenders throw down their weapons and surrender while the barbarians flee the town for the safety of the hills. Trapevous is ours. 15,000 defenders dead while I only lose 2,500; good, I will need every man I can get when I face Pontikos.
We winter in Trapevous and setup a provisional government under the control of Synedros Thorikios as well as repairing the damage we caused to the wall and gate.
**********
Spring, 266 BC
With the coming of Spring comes tragic news from Pantikapaion, my father came down with an illness over the winter and died. The news deeply shakes me, I loved my father and I had counted on his support and encouragement. I do not know if I am ready for the responsibility that is now mine. Lysandros is shaken as well, maybe even more so than myself, he fought with my father since my father became Basileus over 35 years ago only leaving his direct service to command my bodyguard. But we have a job to do and we must be about it, mourning will have to wait.
Leaving 1,500 light hoplites to guard Trapevous along with 1,500 Caucasian warriors from tribes I convinced to ally with us, we march west along the coast towards Sinope passing through beautiful forest.
However they are without roads and we are slowed accordingly. The Basileus of Pontikos has ample warning of our approach and as we begin the siege of Sinope in mid-autumn he springs his trap. A Pontikos army of 5,000 men moves in to attack us from behind as the 5,000 defenders sally out. While I out number them with my 16,000 men, I am caught between an anvil and a hammer.
I gamble. I deploy my forces to face the force advancing on my rear, ignoring the force sallying from the town leaving my left flank completely vulnerable. I hope to be able to defeat their forces piecemeal.
Deploying my hoplites in a battleline with the archers behind us, I await the Pontikos forces’ advance. They charge across the field taking heavy casualties from my archers and by the time them reach my line they are easily disposed of.
Quickly shouting orders I swing my battleline to the north to force the second Pontikos army advancing from Sinope. The gamble worked. My battleline is formed and ready as they exit the woods and come under my archers’ fire.
“What are those?” I ask in amazement to Lysandros as several hundred heavily armored men on heavily armored horses come into view sporting long lances. These are nothing like the lightly armored horse archers of the steppes or the Hellenic medium cavalry I am used to.
“I don’t know, but I don’t think we’re going to like it” Lysandros growls.
The ground trembles as they lower their lances and charge the light hoplites at the center of my line to the right of my elite hoplites. The Pontikos cavalry, later we learned they are called the Pontikos Royal Kinsmen heavy cavalry, smashed into and almost completely through my line. Over a hundred of my light hoplites died in their initial charge alone and my center bulged backwards precariously.
The Scythian archers behind the center turned and began to run, something had to be done at once.
Recovering from my shock I yelled, “Pivot on the right; charge!”
Swinging around my elites crashed into the rear of the cavalry. Turning to ignore my ruined center, the Pontikos cavalry began a desperate struggle with us as the arrow continued to fly overhead.
Though intense, the struggle was soon over and their leader received a spear in the chest. Panting, I turned to find the remains of the Pontikos army fleeing back towards Sinope. We pursued them, but they managed to make it back and lock the gates and discouraged us from following them with a rain of arrows.
Withdrawing back to our camp I find one of my scouts waiting for me in my tent.
“My lord Basileus” I’m still not used to be called that, “there is another Pontikos army approaching from the south. It will be here within 2 days.”
“How many?”
“Our best guess would put them at over 12,000, my lord”
Thanking and then dismissing him, I lean back in my chair wiping blood from my hands and thank the gods this new army was late. If it had arrived with the other one, we would surely have been lost. Even now it will be a close thing. We only lost 1,000 men today, but my soldiers are exhausted and will be facing fresh soldiers. And those heavy cavalry, gods, I hope this new army doesn’t include any more of those.
**********
As I deploy my battleline on ground still dark with blood, I look into the distance and see the Pontikos army approaching. With a sinking feeling I can see more of that heavy cavalry, but thankfully most of the rest of the enemy seems to be composed of light missile troops with only 4,000 light and medium infantry in support.
Making a quick change to the battle formation I put my elites out in front of the light hoplites in the center of the line, I think our heavier armor and greater training will allow us to fare better against that implacable charge.
Once again the ground trembles as the cavalry thunders towards us. A violent shock runs through my body as a horse impales itself on my spear. Somehow we manage to hold the line and the light hoplites swarm in to help us bring them down.
Once again the fight is short but severe, and once we have disposed of the cavalry the rest of the Pontikos army again goes to pieces and routs.
Sure that we would be crushed, the garrison of Sinope sallied again to join the fight, but we were ready this time and cut them off from the town. The people of Sinope welcome us into their city with open arms. I lost nearly 3,000 men in the battle, but my ranks are quickly filled with volunteers from the Hellenic inhabitants of the town and my army is swiftly brought back up to strength.
**********
Winter, 266 BC
Winter is well under way when I received an embassy from the Basileus Ponitkos. It seems the loss of over 22,000 soldiers along with two of his best generals has convinced him that I am too painful a thorn to deal with and perhaps afraid that I mean to take Amaseia next and is offering peace. I accept upon the condition that he renounces any claims on Sinope or Trapevous. It is agreed and a trade agreement between our two Basileions is signed as well.
I am quite pleased with current events until I receive a letter from my wife informing me of trouble back home and begging me to return to Pantikapaion with all haste.
**********
The Known World in 266 BC
https://img26.imageshack.us/img26/27...orld266ez6.jpg
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OOC Note: I really wish I had a screenshot of the charge the Pontos Royal Kinsmen cavalry made in the first battle, but I was in too much shock from seeing my entire center almost collapse to remember to hit F12. I had forgotten how powerful those guys are, I won’t make that mistake again, but it did make for some good RP.
Your AAR not only is a very good read, I also like those very beautiful pictures! Can't wait for the next chapter.
damn, that is so nice Mjolnir, I wonder what struggles that will be. Maybe the Sauro are about to start a campaign. O_o;
haha, just noticed your Signature :laugh4: my young padawan :2thumbsup:
Thank you; I'm waiting for the next update of yours with much anticipation.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwissBarbar
We shall see. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hotseat_User
Great stuff. I continue to relish your story. You are expanding alot faster than me though. Its taking a while to get things going with only one city to use. But it makes for a different story thats for sure. Yea Swissbarbar you need to get your ass in gear ;) Anyways there are alot of really good AARs right now