The Daughters of the Dragon: A Valkyrja AAR (ATW)

The Dacian King led an army against Vicus Vendedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0546.jpg

Dacia now needs a new King...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0547.jpg

In the east, a Sarmatian army has intercepted Alkippe the Honest on her march to Campus Sauromatae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0548.jpg

Here is an example of how I try to deal with the Sarmatian Steppe Lancers. A Lancer has locked onto one of my Horse Archers. I let my HA skirmish away, drawing the Lancer after it. At the same time I send Alkippe in to intercept the Lancer from the flank, with another Horse Archer coming along for the ride (just to add numbers).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0549.jpg

The Steppe Lancers rout before Alkippe can strike them. This is one reason I brought along that second Horse Archer. Their numbers helped reduce the morale of the Steppe Lancers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0550.jpg

In the end Alkippe was victorious.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0551.jpg

Next turn another Dacian army besieged Vicus Venedae, and a Thracian army I have been tracking did the same to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0552.jpg

Xanthippe turns her famous wrath loose upon the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0553.jpg

I have to watch out for these javelins of theirs. They really pack a wallop.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0554.jpg

In this case I ran away just in time to get out of range as the deadly Thracian missiles were in the air.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0555.jpg

Here is a little example of the kind of maneuvering you can do against armies that are mostly infantry. One of my Horse Archers is chasing down a routing Thracian unit on the other side of their army. However, they have a Militia Cavalry unit going after my HA. I see an opening in their line, so I send Xanthippe through it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0556.jpg

She easily passes through the Thracian army and falls upon those Militia Cavalry, routing them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0557.jpg

By the time their infantry were reaching my own, my Mercenary Amazon Archers had taken quite a toll. This one unit routed before contact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0558.jpg

This Greek Cavalry had locked on to one of my Horse Archers, so I ran the HA behind my Warbands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0559.jpg

This resulted in the Greek Cavalry slamming into a Warband.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0560.jpg

Across the battlefield, Xanthippe's guard smote the Thracian's Captain's ruin upon the snowy fields.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0561.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0562.jpg

Nearby, Pantariste sallies from Vicus Venedae again.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0563.jpg

Another Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0564.jpg

In the east, Alkippe the Honest has marched upon the capital of the enemy and laid siege to it. They have several armies lurking about the countryside. I expect at least one to come over and attack her. I have also sent Okypous out from Tanais and into Sarmatian territory to the south, in the hopes that she will draw some of those Sarmatians away.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0565.jpg

Still the same turn, First Equal Makanyane assaults Panticapaeum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0566.jpg

The Spearwomen are the first into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0567.jpg

They are also the first to mix it up with the Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0568.jpg

Not to be outdone, my Mercenary Amazon Hoplites kill the Rebel Captain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0569.jpg

No survivors. Panticapaeum was mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0570.jpg

Makanyane enslaves the Rebels. Amazon whips will teach them to obey.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0571.jpg

Over the AI's turn, the Sarmatians obliged Alkippe by attacking her, drawing the garrison of Campus Sauromatae into the battle as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0572.jpg

This is how you kill a General with Horse Archers (and one Merc Hoplite).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0573.jpg

Down he goes!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0574.jpg

One more Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0575.jpg

Campus Sauromatae was mine, After twenty long years of war, the Valkyrja's first real blow into the heartland of the betrayers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0576.jpg

The enslavement puts Campus Roxolani up a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0577.jpg

Watch that puddle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0578.jpg

I am large and in charge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0579.jpg

This is a fun little AAR. I don't have Rome (just M2 and Kingdoms) but I've often wished there were some female generals or faction leaders sometimes. Is it really true the generals are de facto invincible in Rome? If I did what you did with your general in M2 my general would be dead in short order.

In vanilla RTW cavalry is near invincible and generals are battlefield gods.
It is hard to understand WTF was going through the CA programmers head at that time.

Hi SSJPabs. I am glad you like it.

It is true that cavalry are extremely powerful in RTW, and Generals are superheroic. It is not realistic, but I rather like the roleplay feel it gives the game, of the named characters being larger than life.


The Dacians and the Germans are in a race to see who can take Vicus Venedae first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0580.jpg

They will have to bring more than that if they want this city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0581.jpg

After gobbling up one Warband, the rest headed for the exit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0582.jpg

Pantariste hit the last Warband in line, and the other two nearby chain-routed with it. Got to love that low barbarian morale combined with a ten star General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0583.jpg

They are smoten
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0584.jpg

To deal with the Germans, I brought Kardika the Honest out of Vicus Gepidae to reinforce Pantariste.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0585.jpg

More food for the crows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0586.jpg

In the east, First Equal Makanyane has crossed the sea to attack Thatis. Her slovenly spy has opened the gates for her, so she immediately attacks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0587.jpg

The Sarmatians do not have much.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0588.jpg

This pretty well sums up the battle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0589.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0590.jpg

As it is a tiny settlement, Makanyane Occupies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0591.jpg

In the west, more Dacians and Thracians are on the way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0592.jpg

Thrace is really going strong. They have pushed Macedon back to a single city - Thermon - and will soon have them eliminated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0593.jpg

Now about that Dacian army I saw last turn...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0594.jpg

They sure brought a lot this time! They started on the corner tile in the strat map, and head to that corner as the battle commences.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0595.jpg

Veleda gobbles up the lagging Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0596.jpg

Eventually the Dacians form a battle line (the ones that made it).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0597.jpg

Now it was time to pick them apart a unit at a time, starting with their Captain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0598.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0599.jpg

Germania is now allied to the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0600.jpg

Speaking of the Sarmatians, they tried to sneak an army past Campus Sauromatae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0601.jpg

Alkippe the Conqueror thrashes them most soundly.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0602.jpg

Now for those Thracians at Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0603.jpg

I have some infantry at Olbia, including a new Spearwoman recruited from Neapolis Scythica. It was nice to see the lines meet once more.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0604.jpg

Not to mention hit the Thracians with the hammer once they were upon the anvil.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0605.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0606.jpg

The Thracians have destroyed Macedon.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0607.jpg

However, we Valkyrja are still more Advanced than they are.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0608.jpg

The Dacians have brought a better army to Vicus Venedae. This time they have Noble Cavalry and Bastarnae Mercenaries.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0609.jpg

This is more of a challenge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0610.jpg

I start on their left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0611.jpg

Their General comes into it, and I mob him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0612.jpg

He dies under a flood of Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0613.jpg

One of my Horse Archers has drawn the attention of a Noble Cavalry. I withdraw my HA across the front of the rest of my force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0614.jpg

The Nobles rout when I order all my units to attack them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0615.jpg

Then I pull my women back for a rest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0616.jpg

The other one of those Noble Cavalry locked onto a Horse Archer. Once more I fled, allowing two other Horse Archers to shoot into the flanks of the Nobles as they pursued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0617.jpg

They routed just from the arrow-fire. Horse Archers do not have an especially high missile attack to start with, but once they get to multiple silver experience with a few weapon upgrades they get scary.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0618.jpg

Now it was just a matter of picking apart their infantry one at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0619.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0620.jpg

I now have a Large Temple of Artemis in Vicus Venedae. This means gold weapon upgrades for my Horse Archers. I am a micro-manager, so I will rotate all of my Horse Archers on the Western Front through here to get the bonus.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0621.jpg

Vicus Gepidae seems to have a permanent 45% unrest. I tried moving Kardika out of the city and it did not change, so she is not causing it. There is either a spy within the walls, or a bug causing it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0622.jpg

In the east, Alkippe the Wrathful is now marching upon Campus Alanni.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0623.jpg

Further south, First Equal Makanyane joined forces with Second Equal Okypous, and they attacked the last Sarmatian army of note outside of Ulski, this brought their King and the garrison of the city in as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0624.jpg

This big dragon's tooth will anchor my flank rather well. I put all of my infantry to the right of it, where the trees are.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0625.jpg

Things get going quickly on that flank, as Virgin Cavalry immediately charges one of my Horse Archers. I have them retreat directly to where Second Equal Okypous waits in ambush.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0626.jpg

As the Virgins draw near, Okypous broke cover and charged directly into them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0627.jpg

In the meantime, my infantry were under heavy attack by the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0628.jpg

The left is a pure cavalry affair. My forces, led by First Equal Makanyane, are ganging up on individual Sarmatian units and destroying them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0629.jpg

On the right, my infantry have held against the Sarmatian storm.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0630.jpg

Okypous charges directly into the fray as a second wave of Sarmatians comes up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0631.jpg

The Sarmatians have been broken on the left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0632.jpg

The right is a meat-grinder however. Now the Sarmatian General has joined in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0633.jpg

He is cut down by Okypous' women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0634.jpg

The first Sarmatian army is on the run. But the second is now coming on line. I pull back my pursuing cavalry and reform near the Tooth.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0635.jpg

Here comes the King.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0636.jpg

Okypous chalks up another Sarmatian leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0637.jpg

The Sarmatians still have more coming up, and my women are worn down and tired.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0638.jpg

Nothing to do but win. I send everything in at the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0639.jpg

They are on the run!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0640.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0641.jpg

With that Ulski was mine. It is not very big, so I Occupy. This city will become an important base against the Armenians, so I want to keep its population intact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0642.jpg

Speaking of the Armenians, I foresee war with them in the near future.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0643.jpg

Lousy Egyptians...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0644.jpg

The Sarmatians are broken. Their remaining two cities will soon be in Valkyrja hands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0645.jpg

Oh yeah.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0646.jpg

This was just a matter of time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0647.jpg

While I was exchanging units between Vicus Gepidae and Vicus Venedae to retrain them in each city, the Dacians decided to attack. Little did the fools realize that with the garrisons for both city's on the road between them, this meant that they could all come in as reinforcements. This will give me the largest army I have had yet in the west.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0648.jpg

There are a lot of those Dacians, and they head for the corner as the battle opens. You can see my reinforcements coming onto the field in the background.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0649.jpg

The Dacians do not reach the corner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0650.jpg

Their Warlord is cut down by a hail of Amazon arrows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0651.jpg

Then it was just a matter of shooting them to bits until they routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0652.jpg

The Dacians are smashed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0653.jpg

A turn later and another Dacian army comes up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0654.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0655.jpg

Hmmm, this makes Pantariste an Excellent Ambusher?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0656.jpg

It is definitely just a matter of time before Armenia attacks me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0657.jpg

Lousy Egyptians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0658.jpg

I have decided to simply blockade both remaining Sarmatian cities rather than try to take them by storm. I have sent most of my infantry west, and really do not want to slug it out in the streets with my Horse Archers. This is the garrison of Campus Aorsi. I was wondering who had their legendary artifact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0659.jpg

The Armenians are rolling out Cataphract Archers now. This will not make fighting them easy. I will have to get some assassins down there to start destroying their stables.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0660.jpg

Back west, Pantariste found yet more Dacians underfoot, and rode out to chastise them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0661.jpg

I mentioned how scary Horse Archers can get with some experience and weapon upgrades. Well, here is is.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0662.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0663.jpg

The Seleucids want an alliance with me. I really do not see the point, since they are on the endangered species list.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0664.jpg

Amazonia has become a protectorate of Egypt? This is odd to see so quickly, with Amazonia still quite strong.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0665.jpg

The unrest in Vicus Gepidae has gone up?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0666.jpg

Wait, next turn it is down to only 15%? There are definitely one or more spies lurking within. I have put an experienced spy of my own within the walls to ferret them out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0667.jpg

With their city about to fall at the end of the turn, the garrison of Campus Alani has sallied forth against Alkippe the Wrathful.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0668.jpg

They led with their infantry. I chewed up their Steppe Spearmen and spit them out, then settled into an archery duel with their Virgin Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0669.jpg

I was wondering where there cavalry were. Here they come around the corner. I move Alkippe, my Heavy Cavalry, and a few Horse Archers to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0670.jpg

Alkippe wastes no time and charges their Virgin Cavalry, routing them. In the meantime my Horse Archers penned the Sarmatian Virgin Horse Archers and slowly destroyed them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0671.jpg

Then their Captain (another Virgin Cavalry) came out to play.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0672.jpg

He too was routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0673.jpg

I do not give chase. They have stone walls, and I do not want any part of their towers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0674.jpg

Their Captain reformed back in the square and came back out again. This time my Horse Archers finished him off.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0675.jpg

That is enough for me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0676.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0677.jpg

I Enslave. This time I was expecting it, so I had emptied out all of my cities of their governors. Except for the four cities along the western border, which I want to grow. So the slaves were all sent there, and to the capital of course. This is a sneaky way that you can really catapult small settlements up in size.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0678.jpg

That put Vibantavarium up a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0679.jpg

Another Thracian army threatens Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0680.jpg

Another army crushed under the Valkyrja heel.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0681.jpg

Pantariste meets a small German force outside of Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0682.jpg

They have Night Raiders. That means they must have reached 4th tier somewhere.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0683.jpg

In ATW, Night Raiders throw their axes before closing into melee. This is going to hurt.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0684.jpg

I lost 50 Militia Axewomen in that one volley. Pantariste herself is moving to hit the Night Raiders, but there is a unit of German Axemen coming after her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0685.jpg

She routs the Axemen and hits the Night Raiders from behind. I have now half of my Militia Axewomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0686.jpg

The Germans rout as a unit of Horse Archers closes in to lend an axe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0687.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0688.jpg

Hah! I caught the spy! At least one of them. I think there is still one more in Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0689.jpg

The Sarmatians are about to be history. They will sally this turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0690.jpg

But before that could happen another Thracian army came to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0691.jpg

I come out the gates to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0692.jpg

Their General is drawn away from their lines by a Horse Archer, allowing one of my Generals to trap him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0693.jpg

Bam! I bring in the Horse Archers to mob the Thracian.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0694.jpg

He is cut down by a Horse Archer's axe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0695.jpg

My Spearwomen want some of the Thracias for themselves, so I send them all forward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0696.jpg

The Thracians are destroyed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0697.jpg

No place in the western front is quiet. Vibantavarium was besieged by the Dacians, obliging Veleda to ride out to thrash them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0698.jpg

Thrashage ensues.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0699.jpg

Kardika the Honest has now taken charge of Vicus Venedae, and she meets a small Dacian force north of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0700.jpg

I have a new toy in the west, Amazon Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0701.jpg

I just like this picture.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0702.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0703.jpg

In the east, the Sarmatians sally against Second Equal Okypous.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0704.jpg

They come right at me, and I meet them head on (with my Sarmatian Mercenaries that is).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0705.jpg

On the other hand, my Virgin Horse Archers withdraw before their Virgin Cavalry. Here you see one Virgin being set up for Okypous and a Sarmatian Merc to charge it from the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0706.jpg

Then it was the turn of their younger General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0707.jpg

Finally the Sarmatian King rode into battle. Okypous withdrew before him, while the Sarmatians to either side charged his flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0708.jpg

Okypous then turned to meet him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0709.jpg

The Sarmatian King was cast down into the dust!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0710.jpg

Now my Mercenary Amazon Hoplites took up their siege tower and rolled it over to a blind spot in the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0711.jpg

They took the undefended gate, allowing Okypous into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0712.jpg

She certainly is brave.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0713.jpg

But there is no stopping Okypous the Conqueror.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0714.jpg

Campus Aorsi was now mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0715.jpg

As this will become a valuable border city, and I do not plan to advance further south in the near future, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0716.jpg

With that the Sarmatians have horded to the east of Campus Aorsi. Now that I think about it, I wonder why the Scythians did nor horde when I wiped them out? Maybe because I killed all of their Generals while they still had remaining cities?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0718.jpg

In the hour of our great triumph, darkness falls. First Equal Makanyane has gone into that good night.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0717.jpg

Wailing menfolk???
LOLZ you really do leave no stone unturned do you?
:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Well, it is actually the CA that left no stone unturned. I just had to turn them all back over to where they should be... :winkg:

It's just amazing how you manage to post every day...:dizzy2:

Except for the battles with the Thracians you've done good work... (I am fan of these people... looong story) :bow: :bow::bow:

Thank you Stephen. You may want to skip over most of this posting though, considering your liking of Thrace... :winkg:

Vicus Venedae remains a gladiator school.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0719.jpg

Once more the Dacians flunk.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0720.jpg

Another Thracian army has marched upon Olbia. They seem to have a bottomless pit of manpower.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0721.jpg

It takes forever, but I finally get my entire army out the gates and on line against them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0722.jpg

This time I push my infantry forward early, so they would not miss any of the bloodshed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0723.jpg

Another Thracian army bites the dust.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0724.jpg

Next turn a second, smaller army followed them. This time I rode out to meet them north of Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0725.jpg

The result was no different.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0726.jpg

The Sarmatian Horde is moving south through the Caucasus Mountains. *phew* Now they are Armenia's problem.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0727.jpg

Take that you Egyptians!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0728.jpg

In the far north-east, Alkippe the Wrathful turns her legendary ire loose upon Campus Sakae, the only remaining steppe settlement that dares to defy Valkyrja rule.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0729.jpg

There was a ferocious archery duel at the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0730.jpg

Then it was just a matter of battering my way in and cleaning up the rest of the rebel scum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0731.jpg

Campus Sakae was Enslaved.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0732.jpg

Kardika the Honest remains busy at Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0734.jpg

Sadly the second Dacian army ran before she could engage them. I guess they are learning after all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0735.jpg

In the west, Xanthippe the Wrathful has spotted another Thracian army moving up west of Odessos. Rather than wait them out in Olbia again, this time she marches her women to the Dnestr river to make a stand there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0733.jpg

They come to meet her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0736.jpg

Come and get it!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0737.jpg

A fearsome struggle ensues at the inner point of my Drakone's V - shaped formation. I like this formation at bridge defenses because it funnels the attackers into that inner point, where they will be attacked from both sides. This is really devastating with pike troops, but very effective with units that have shorter weapons as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0738.jpg

The Thracian General comes up and rallies his troops at the spearpoints.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0739.jpg

Case in point, the Thracian General is cut down from all sides.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0740.jpg

If the slaughter my Drakones inflicted looks terrible, then look at what my archers did at the other end of the bridge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0741.jpg

Another Thracian army shattered.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0742.jpg

Next turn, the Sarmatians continue to move southward through Armenian lands. So far they have made no hostile moves, and the Armenians have let them pass unmolested.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0743.jpg

In the west Xanthippe the Wrathful follows up her success by marching south of the Dnester for the first time, laying siege to lightly defended Odessos. The invasion of Thrace has begun.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0744.jpg

There are plenty more Thracian soldiers to the south however. She will have to move quickly at Odessos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0745.jpg

I have been gone a few days due to doing a format and reload of windows. In the bargain I bought a new terabyte hard drive, and now my box is a lean binary crunching machine.

I lost several turns due to an accidental deletal, but to bring things up to speed, I have moved my capital south to the newly renamed city of Neapolis Valkyrja.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0746.jpg

I took the city of Odessos and have already destroyed one Thracian army that tried to take it back. More are on their way north.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0747.jpg

It seems that the Sarmatians are now the Parthian's problem.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0748.jpg

I do not see any signs of fighting just yet however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0749.jpg

The Dacians and Germans continue to hover around my western cities like flies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0750.jpg

Young Maia, the new governor of Vicus Venedae begins her duties by taking out some German trash.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0751.jpg

The foul German necromancers loosed undead hounds upon us.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0752.jpg

But even their sorceries could not save them from defeat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0753.jpg

I like the cut of this young woman's jib. I make her my Faction Heir.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0754.jpg

Egypt is certainly Big Yellow in this game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0755.jpg

Two Thracian armies came up to attack Odessos. My hired thug deprives one of its General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0756.jpg

Then Xanthippe the Conqueror sallies against the other army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0757.jpg

I eventually got most of my army out of the gates and into line. It takes forever on Huge scale.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0758.jpg

My Drakones got a piece of the Thracian Infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0759.jpg

The Thracians want no part of my women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0760.jpg

That tore apart their right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0761.jpg

Their General lost his nerve, and fled for the map edge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0762.jpg

The coward escapes!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0763.jpg

But there would be no escape for the Thracian pikemen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0764.jpg

One more Thracian army down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0765.jpg

The same turn, Xanthippe marches out of the city and attacks the second Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0766.jpg

Once more, the thin blue line reigns supreme.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0767.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0768.jpg

The best way to defeat Cataphract Archers is to not let your enemy build them in the first place.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0769.jpg

Back in the west, Kardika the Honest and Second Equal Klito have taken some troops from Vicus Venedae south and meet a small Dacian force outside of Vibantavarium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0770.jpg

Unfortunately the Dacian General would escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0771.jpg

The same turn, Veleda marched from Vibantavarium to intercept another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0772.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0773.jpg

In the north, Maia settles into her new position as governor by sallying against the latest Dacian siege.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0774.jpg

She thrashes them most handily.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0775.jpg

Then she rides out to deal with the rest of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0776.jpg

Flawless victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0777.jpg

Leaving behind some archers and axewomen to guard Vicus Venedae, Maia takes her Horse Archers south to clean out the last of the Dacian flies east of the Carpathians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0778.jpg

Amazon axes are made for felling men, not trees.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0779.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0780.jpg

She continues on to run down that Dacian General who had escaped from Kardika the Honest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0781.jpg

No Dacian would escape this winter's day.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0782.jpg

Here is where things stand in the west. Kardika the Honest and Second Equal Klito have continued moving south, and have rendezvoused with the Horse Archers from Vibantavarium at the pass to Porrolissum. They are reinforced with a single Drakon unit from Odessos. Their target is the Dacian capital. Taking it will secure the flank of the great sweep south into Greece. Veleda has gone back to garrison Vibantavarium in case any Dacians slip through, but Maia should have cleaned them all out from the passes. Further south, Xanthippe the Conqueror has marched to the bridge of the Danube, where she awaits the pleasure of the 3 Thracian stacks outside of Tylis. Odessos is now occupied by an army of Peasants I collected from the Crimea and shipped over last turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0783.jpg

Time for some river fun. Bloodbath On The Danube I begins when a Thracian army attacks Xanthippe the Conqueror.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0786.jpg

They have plenty of regular Bastarnae, the top of the Thracian food-chain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0787.jpg

Standard bridge defense. Step into my parlour...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0788.jpg

My line infantry usually do not get as much experience as they have been in this campaign. One of my Drakones has two silver. I think it is because there are so few of them overall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0789.jpg

Here comes the Thracian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0790.jpg

There goes the Thracian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0791.jpg

Once the Thracians broke it was like a flood turned loose in reverse.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0792.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0793.jpg

Next turn there are still two full stacks and change of Thracians left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0794.jpg

In the north, Kardika and Kilto have laid siege to Porrolissum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0795.jpg

While the south it is Bloodbath On The Danube II.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0797.jpg

Bring it on!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0798.jpg

The Thracians must walk through their dead to reach my end of the river.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0799.jpg

Once again their General goes down under a wall of Amazon spears.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0800.jpg

Finally they chain routed. I send all of my cavalry across after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0801.jpg

I am reminded of a Samuel Jackson line "Run *** The Exterminators Are Here!"
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0802.jpg

Heroic Victory again.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0803.jpg

Xanthippe has over 1400 kills alone!!! :jawdrop: I think this may be a record for a single unit in one of my campaigns.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0804.jpg

In the east, the Sarmatians have finally done something, laying siege to Seleucia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0805.jpg

I just finished building a Catapult Range in Odessos. This means I can now recruit these beauties. Not to mention finally retrain the one I started with.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0806.jpg

Xanthippe waits at the bridge, but sends across a slinker to deal with the governor of Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0807.jpg

In the frozen north, Pantariste the Conqueror sallies against a German attack upon Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0808.jpg

She slaughters every German.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0809.jpg

Nearby, Maia rides out from Vicus Venedae to meet another German force in the open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0810.jpg

They have Chosen Axemen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0811.jpg

But arrows kill them just the same.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0812.jpg

Once again, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0813.jpg

I was careful to empty the generals from all of my cities except for those along my German border, which I want to grow in size. Then Veleda - who has come up from Vibantavarium after all - led the assault upon Porrolissum. This will be a tough one. Those Chosen Swordsmen will be dangerous in the streets, and their Archer Warbands will make any direct assault upon the walls suicide. I will require some Amazon guile.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0814.jpg

I deploy almost all of my army against one wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0815.jpg

Except for this one unit of Militia Axewomen at another wall, who push their tower up to a blind spot between the towers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0816.jpg

They take the walls and begin to run the towers while the rest of the army marches around the outside of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0817.jpg

Second Equal Klito is the first through the gateway.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0818.jpg

But a Dacian Warband comes up from the center of the city. I pull Klito and Kardika back. Putting cavalry against spears is rarely a good idea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0819.jpg

I bring my Drakones up to deal with the Dacian spearmen instead. They would rout moments later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0820.jpg

Then it was on the way to the town square, where the Dacian Captain led a counter-attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0821.jpg

He was cut down by my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0822.jpg

The Dacian Noble Cavalry still gave a good fight however, but they would eventually crack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0823.jpg

Down by the entry, the Dacians who had manned the opposite wall had come down into the street and were advancing upon Veleda, who was holding the gateway with a small force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0824.jpg

She slaughters the Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0825.jpg

Now the way to the square was clear. First I send a unit of Horse Archers around to the side to lure out one of their Chosen Swords.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0826.jpg

Then I charged into the square to meet their other Chosen Swordsmen, who were coming from the other direction.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0827.jpg

The Dacians never got a solid foothold in the square, and my Drakones pushed them out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0828.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0829.jpg

I Enslave.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0830.jpg

Vicus Gepidae expands another tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0831.jpg

The Sarmatians are at war with Egypt now? The last I saw they were still laying siege to Seleucia. I see the Royalists have finally tired of being the Pharoah's lap dogs as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0832.jpg

The garrison of Vibantavarium now has many gold experience Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0833.jpg

Speaking of gold, here is an Agema Archer with gold experience and a silver weapon upgrade.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0834.jpg

My slinker eliminates the last Thracian General near Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0835.jpg

First Equal Okypous the Conqueror has come all the way from the eastern steppe to supervise the invasion of Thrace. Since the Thracians no longer have the nerve to attack, she leads the army across the Danube in a wide sweep to the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0836.jpg

Then she turns west and attacks the first Thracian force. This brings their reinforcements in behind them. If I had attacked head on from the river, it would have meant two Thracian armies coming in from both of my flanks. This is an example of the importance of maneuver on the strat map to give you favourable conditions on the battle map.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0837.jpg

This is more favourable that I had hoped for! I love sitting on a mountain when I have an archery faction. I had been worried that my Agema Archers were not with the army, not anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0838.jpg

Their Captain dies just a few feet from the General I had sent to block his escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0839.jpg

Now the second, larger Thracian army was coming into view.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0840.jpg

Their Captain went the same way as the first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0841.jpg

The Thracians are coming in on my flank, so I have my entire force of Drakones side-step to the right to keep a solid line in front of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0842.jpg

As the Thracians begin to draw near my lines they start to rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0843.jpg

I send my entire force at them in a rush.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0844.jpg

They are shattered.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0845.jpg

That is as far as I can move this turn. Now that I have moved off the bridge, I see I earned a famous battle marker for one of the Danube Bloodbaths.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0846.jpg

Over the AI's turn, the Thracians came after First Equal Okypous the Conqueror now that she was south of the river. They were sneaky about it too. One of their forces actually came around from behind her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0847.jpg

But I still have my mountaintop.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0848.jpg

Attacking me up a slope like this is suicide.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0849.jpg

Here comes the second Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0850.jpg

They make it about half-way up the hill when they lose their nerve and turn to flee. I send everything after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0851.jpg

Somewhere in the pursuit I lose Alkibia. I am not sure exactly when or how it happened. I suspect that she was killed by friendly fire from my archers however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0852.jpg

Still, it is a crushing victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0853.jpg

Armenia and Parthia are at war with one another! *does the happy dance*
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0854.jpg

The Thracian troops who did not attack me reinforced Tylis instead, including a General. My slinker relieves that General of his responsibilities, forever. This assassin has become quite good.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0855.jpg

First Equal Okypous is now known as "The Killer". All of my faction leaders eventually get this nickname thanks to my extensive use of assassins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0856.jpg

In the east, the Seleucids have beaten the Sarmatians off from Seleucia. I wonder where those nomads got too?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0857.jpg

I just noticed that Porrolissum (I really need to change its name to Sarmiz-whatever) can recruit a plethora of high-end troops, including Agema Axewomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0858.jpg

It can also render up Amazon Cavalry, the Amazon equivalent to Persian Cavalry and Scythian Noble Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0859.jpg

First Equal Okypous the Cunning (that was a quick epithet change!) assaults the capital of the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0860.jpg

I deploy almost all of my force in front of one of their gateways. My Agema Archers can hit them while still being out of tower range themselves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0861.jpg

In the meantime, one of my Drakones pushes a siege tower up to an undefended stretch of wall further away.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0862.jpg

They gain the walls without resistance and head for the gate. A second siege tower is rolling up to the opposite side of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0863.jpg

The women from the first siege tower meet the remnants of the Thracian wall defenders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0864.jpg

These Thracian Peltasts down in the street took a serious toll on my women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0865.jpg

Then the second tower disgorged its women onto the wall behind the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0866.jpg

With the Thracians concentrating on the first tower load of Drakones on one side of the gate, they are too late to stop the second tower's women from entering the gateway.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0867.jpg

The way into the city was mine!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0868.jpg

Their Phalanx Pikemen put up a real fight, until First Equal Okypous rode in. Then they routed as she came near.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0869.jpg

Their Captain was cut down like the dog he was.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0870.jpg

These Thracian Infantry tried to stop Okypous as she rode to the square. They failed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0871.jpg

Then it came to the best the Thracians had. Okypous let her Drakones go in first with shields locked while she maneuvered her women onto the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0872.jpg

Then she charged the Bastarnae from the side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0873.jpg

It was now a race to get to the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0874.jpg

First Equal Okypous was the first woman there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0875.jpg

She pulls back to wait for the rest of the army to come up. In the meantime my Agema Archers can hit the remaining Thracian defenders from this sidestreet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0876.jpg

That brought the Thracians out of the square, and into three of my Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0877.jpg

Charge!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0878.jpg

Okypous the Cunning leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0879.jpg

The men of Tylis begin their new lives as Amazon slaves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0880.jpg

Vanahemir immediately grows a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0881.jpg

The same turn, I send Xanthippe out to scout around to the south and build a watchtower. She discovers that Byzantium is easy pickings, with a light garrison and no Thracian field armies nearby.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0882.jpg

Now that the Thracian heartland is mine I am rich (at least compared to everyone else). I have been building troops like crazy these past few turns, churning out more Agema Archers and Drakones to fuel the Thracian War.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0883.jpg

But the Romans are more Advanced.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0884.jpg

Just as important as archers and spearwomen are this load of Peasants I have brought over from my Bosporan cities. They will free up my army to maneuver by providing a ready garrison for Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0885.jpg

Nearby, the Dacians want their old capital (of Sarmizgetusa) back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0886.jpg

Veleda sends them packing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0887.jpg

As ever AWESUMZZ!!!!!!!!!!!:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Two things though:
1. Please dont destroy Germania, or barring that save them for last?
2. Can we get a FOW removal map again plz?

I do not think not destroying Germania will be an option. But they are not high up on my list right now. I aim to finish off the Thracians and Greeks first.

The Seleucid Empire is no more! I am not sure what the cause was however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0888.jpg

Their last two cities were not taken by enemies. They are now Rebel-owned. I suspect that their family died out of old age, destroying the faction. I saw the same thing happen to Thrace in my Defensive Scythian AAR.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0889.jpg

It appears the Sarmatians are filthy rich. I wonder how, so far as I can tell they have not sacked a single city yet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0890.jpg

Now this is more like it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0891.jpg

A big Thracian army has come up to attack Sarmizgetusa, I guess they wanted no part of the Army of Thrace that is marshaling in Tylis. Naturally I sally.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0892.jpg

The Thracians were on the corner of the strat map, so they head for the corner as the battle starts. Veleda and Kardika gobble up them up as they go.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0893.jpg

They eventually formed a line in the corner, whose flank I promptly turned.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0894.jpg

At that point they were surrounded, and it was a simple matter of wearing them down with arrows and then tearing them apart a piece at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0895.jpg

Down where it is warm, Xanthippe the Mighty assaults Byzantium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0896.jpg

Her Drakones work on the defenses to either side of the gate.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0897.jpg

Then her bodyguard gives the defenders a dose of javelins through one of the breaches.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0898.jpg

Then she was into the city, and the Thracian Captain came to intercept her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0899.jpg

He was cut down in the shade of a side-street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0900.jpg

In the main street of the city, a unit of Drakones has met up with some Thracian Peltasts on the way to the square. Those Thracians cut them up pretty badly with their javelins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0901.jpg

Then Xanthippe was into the square behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0902.jpg

The Peltasts were cut off, game over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0903.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0904.jpg

As it is tiny (just over 400 souls) I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0905.jpg

Next turn I found a small Thracian force near Sarmizgetusa, and sent a brand new General out to get some experience killing them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0906.jpg

She promptly surrounds the slow moving phalanxes. Then her horse archers shoot the backs of the units across from them rather than those directly in front. This negates their shields.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0907.jpg

Then it is the turn of her javelin women as well. One thing I learned in my Thracian AAR was to always use up all of my javelins before closing in for the kill.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0908.jpg

Kill them she did. All of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0909.jpg

Speaking of killing, my hired thug is now working over Thracian assassins in Bylazora.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0910.jpg

This gives First Equal Okypous a Master of Assassins ancillary.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0911.jpg

The Parthians offer me an alliance. Since they share a border with Armenia, it seems like a good idea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0912.jpg

Look what I can now recruit! *cue fiendish laughter*
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0913.jpg

Next turn a moderate Thracian army wandered too close to Tylis, so Second Equal Klito marched out to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0914.jpg

Here is a sneak preview of things to come. I have four Agema Archers in the Army of Thrace. They stand behind an impregnable wall of spears and start shooting.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0915.jpg

The Thracians advance on my right, so I move Klito around from the left to meet them and shift all of my arrow-fire on them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0916.jpg

Most of the Thracians retreated before engaging. But their General was caught up with my Heavy Cavalry and second General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0917.jpg

A ferocious battle ensued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0918.jpg

Then Klito's women added their numbers to the melee, and the Thracians ran for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0919.jpg

Their General was cut down by her bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0920.jpg

The Thracians have been torn to shreds by my Agema Archers. I send everyone forward at a run.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0921.jpg

Victory. I need to add a few more cavalry to this army to chase down the routers. I have had to send my Horse Archers away to defend my recent winnings.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0922.jpg

The Agema Archers have the lion's share of the kills.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0923.jpg

The Germans and Dacians have not let up the pressure up north. This was their largest attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0924.jpg

They fared no better than on previous occasions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0925.jpg

Here is a pic with Fog of War off. Egypt seems to have stopped everywhere, and the Gorgons are taking it to the Numidians. Gaul has just about been wiped out by the Britons and Iberians, and the Romans seem to be a bit paranoid about the defenses of their capital.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0926.jpg

Lousy 'Gypos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0927.jpg

Hah! That shows them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0928.jpg

Hmmm, the Royalists have gone to war with Armenia, and my Parthian allies have become a protectorate of Egypt, making peace with Armenia in the bargain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0929.jpg

In more pertinent news, the Thracians have sent an army to take Byzantium back. Xanthippe the Mighty sallies against them, and First Equal Okypous the Cunning has come down from Tylis to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0930.jpg

It takes a while to get my army out the gate and into line, not to mention for the reinforcements to get on the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0931.jpg

Okypous is taking forever to get into the battle. It has been going on for quite some time and she is still dawdling. I guess that is one of the prerogatives of being a Faction Leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0932.jpg

The Thracian General has locked onto one of my Horse Archers. Naturally I flee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0933.jpg

I send the Horse Archer directly into Okypous' lagging bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0934.jpg

The Thracian got one look at that 100+ woman bodyguard and changed his mind. He is now running back to the warm safety of the rest of his army. I send another Horse Archer to block him long enough for Okypous and my first Horse Archer to catch him. This is going to hurt.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0935.jpg

The Thracian balks when the second Horse Archer gets in front of him. I quickly pull it back before their women get into melee with him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0936.jpg

That was all I needed. Okypous was now into it with the Thracian.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0937.jpg

He flees!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0938.jpg

Back in the rest of the battle, Xanthippe and her women have been tearing up the lighter Thracian units and sending them scurrying. She has to pull up short to avoid being spitted on those pikes though.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0939.jpg

Soon the rest of their army routs behind those Pikemen however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0940.jpg

Then the Thracian General was finally brought down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0941.jpg

His army did not last long after that.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0942.jpg

The same turn, Second Equal Klito leads her army into the mountains of northern Macedonia and attacks a Thracian army outside of Bylazora. This brings the second Thracian army garrisoning the city into the battle as well. This will be one big show.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0943.jpg

Here comes the first army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0944.jpg

They move toward my left, and I swing my right forward keep an even line with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0945.jpg

Their lead elements rout before reaching my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0946.jpg

Now my cavalry are behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0947.jpg

More Thracians are reaching my line, and routing as they make contact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0948.jpg

The first army has all but disintegrated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0949.jpg

Time to chase them down. I really need more cavalry in this army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0950.jpg

Now the second Thracian army is coming into action, and I have to hurry to get my Drakones back into line.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0951.jpg

Their General comes right up. I braced for his charge, but he just stopped there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0952.jpg

My Agema Archers cut him down along with his bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0953.jpg

Once again, the leading Thracian infantrymen rout as they meet Drakone spears.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0954.jpg

Now the Thracian heavies are coming up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0955.jpg

While all of this has been going on, my cavalry has been picking off routing Thracians and stray units.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0956.jpg

Here we go, the main event begins. Drakones vs. Phalanx Pikemen head on.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0957.jpg

Not to be outdone by the pikemen, their Bastarnae are now in it too.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0958.jpg

But now my cavalry have come back to the line to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0959.jpg

This is what 5,000 dead Thracians looks like.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0960.jpg

It was a slaughter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0961.jpg

Nearly 800 kills for Second Equal Klito alone. The four Agema Archers account for over 2,000, with over 700 kills by the Agema Archer unit I began the game with.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0962.jpg

With that, Bylazora was mine for the taking.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0963.jpg

The men of Thrace are led away in Amazon chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0964.jpg

Oh, an Amaz(ing) one, what is this hatred to the poor people of Thrace? Have mercy to our men and hold your anger. For we are simply defending our fatherlands. I see you trying to buld an Empire... but why do you want to alienate the people from your rule with such an attrocities?

Sephtos of Thrace

We Valkyrja are a peace-loving people. We are simply defending ourselves from Thracian aggression. We only seek to end this destructive conflict and bring order to galaxy the land of Europa. Join me Asen! You do not know the power of the Amazon side! :gring:

Lousy 'Gypos...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0965.jpg

Germania and Dacia continue to batter themselves senseless against my western defenses. One of their larger attacks was against Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0966.jpg

Pantariste sallied and now she sweeps around behind the German heavy infantry to get at the soft Skirmishers and Archers behind. I do not click on the enemy units to attack them, as that will draw Pantariste directly into the German heavies as well. Instead I double click on the ground behind the Skirmishers so that she will run through them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0967.jpg

She has crossed completely behind the German army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0968.jpg

Now she turns into the Barb Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0969.jpg

The rest of their army routed shortly afterward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0970.jpg

Easy Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0971.jpg

This is more like it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0972.jpg

Another target of opportunity has presented itself. One of my slovenly spies discovered that Singidunum was lightly defended. So I scraped up some units from Sarmizgetusa, Tylis, and Bylazora to go and take it. I am just short of making it there this turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0973.jpg

In the east, the Royalists are really going at the Armenians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0974.jpg

Back in the west, a German army has entered my territory between Vicus Venedae and Vicus Gepidae. Maia the Honest rode out to attack them, but was nearly ambushed by more Germans!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0975.jpg

She leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0976.jpg

Maia continues on to attack that first German army, and Pantariste comes from Vicus Gepidae to join the fun.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0977.jpg

The Germans are very quickly trapped.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0978.jpg

Their Noble Cavalry charged my women, and I countered with Pantariste and Maia's bodyguards.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0979.jpg

They were cut down with ease.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0980.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0981.jpg

Down south, young Molpadia has taken a small force from Bylazora to meet a Thracian patrol in the mountains. I only mention the battle because the Thracians consist of Cretan Archers and Rhodian Slingers. Not the mercenaries, but the regularly recruited variety. All of the Greek culture factions can recruit them in territories adjacent to the Aegean Sea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0982.jpg

Cretans are almost as good as Agema Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0983.jpg

Rhodians are nothing to sneeze at either.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0984.jpg

I waste no time and immediately charge both. I do not want to give these guys any time to shoot at me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0985.jpg

They are elite troops, but do not stand much of a chance against heavy cavalry in a slugfest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0986.jpg

Again, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0987.jpg

Veleda is now able to attack Singidunum. She has brought two newly recruited Onagers with her, so she does not have to waste time building siege equipment.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0988.jpg

The Onagers knock a hole in the wall and destroy the flanking towers, then my Drakones are into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0989.jpg

They crack the first line of Thracian defenses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0990.jpg

These Thracian Infantry would put up a heavy fight in the street however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0991.jpg

By the time I reached the square my infantry were tired out, so I stopped to rest them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0992.jpg

Now for the lightning round. The Drakones march in and take on their Phalanx Pikemen, while my Generals and cavalry ride around behind the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0993.jpg

Then they charge in from behind.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0994.jpg

Here you see one of my Drakones receiving an experience power up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0995.jpg

For the fourth time tonight, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0996.jpg

The Thracian men are fitted with collars.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0997.jpg

Thatis immediately expands with the influx of thralls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0998.jpg

Here is where things stand in Macedonia. The Thracians have sent a large army east to go after Byzantium again. This has left Pella unprotected. I had been planning to wait in Bylazora a few more turns to let the unrest die down and bring the Onagers south from Singidunum. But seeing this I changed plans and immediately sent Klito and the Army of Thrace south to lay siege to Pella. With any luck the Thracian army will turn back. If not, well, sometimes you have to roll the hard six.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0999.jpg

I think I will give the Royalists a bit of help against Armenia. I have an assassin who has killed more people than small pox. He adds an Armenian General to his Death Note.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1000.jpg

The Germans want to end the bloodshed, for a price. I tell them to get stuffed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1001.jpg

I am not rich because I give my money away!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1002.jpg

This seems like an afterthought. The Dacians have been moving through German territory for about 30 years now in order to attack me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1003.jpg

In Macedonia, my siege of Pella has brought that Thracian army back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1004.jpg

They are too late to save the city however. Second Equal Klito assaults.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1005.jpg

One of my slovenly spies has opened the gates, and only a unit of Cretan Archers waits beyond.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1006.jpg

Rather than wait for my women in the siege towers to take the walls (and get shot to bits by the Cretans running to the gatehouse), I send Klito directly into the city, routing the Cretans. A unit of Drakones would follow to climb up into the gatehouse and secure it so the rest of the army could enter the city in safety.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1007.jpg

The Thracian King counter-attacked hard on the way to the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1008.jpg

Klito soon found herself surrounded by Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1009.jpg

But it was the Thracian King who would fall this day!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1010.jpg

At the entrance to the square their Noble Cavalry attacked. Their javelins took a terrible toll upon my women. The Thracians are truly the most javeliny-powerful faction in ATW.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1011.jpg

Victory. It was a little disappointing however, as my Berserkers never even reached the Thracians after I turned them loose.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1012.jpg

The Thracians are led away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1013.jpg

Vicus Venedae immediately grows a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1014.jpg

It seems my helping hand was all the Royalists needed. They have taken Kotais.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1015.jpg

They have also taken Seleucia. I would soon discover that they have taken Arbela as well. They are really turning it up in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1016.jpg

The Sarmatians are now the richest however. No wonder, it is not like they have anything to spend their money on. I am not even sure where they have gotten to anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1017.jpg

My agents report that the Thracians do not have much left in Greece.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1018.jpg

The Sarmatians are no longer richest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1019.jpg

Second Equal Klito marched from Pella to take on that Thracian army to the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1020.jpg

They have their backs to the sea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1021.jpg

I let the Agema Archers work them over a bit, then just sent everything forward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1022.jpg

The cavalry smashed their flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1023.jpg

Then the Drakones hit the center.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1024.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1025.jpg

Back up north, the Dacians have scraped up a big army and once again laid siege to Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1026.jpg

They are smashed. Unfortunately their General escaped however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1027.jpg

We Valkyrja are mighty!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1028.jpg

But the Sarmatians are still rich...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1029.jpg

My Royalist cousins are doing all too well in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1030.jpg

I will see if I can throw a spanner in their works.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1031.jpg

In the meanwhile, back in the west my slinkers revealed that Larissa was weakly garrisoned. So Second Equal Klito moved out and assaulted it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1032.jpg

My Agema Archers worked over the Thracians on the walls while my Onagers battered a way in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1033.jpg

My Drakones were the first in, receiving a devastating volley of javelins from these Thracian Infantrymen on the way in (I lost 30 women in that one shot).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1034.jpg

But as Klito charged in to lend a hand, the Thracian's nerves turned to water.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1035.jpg

Klito pursued them nearly to the square. Then she noticed that the Thracian King was coming out after her, and that she was far out ahead of her supporting troops. So Klito pulled back in order to let her Drakones come up. This takes forever on Huge scale.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1036.jpg

The Thracian King saw Klito surrounded by her spearwomen, and pulled back as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1037.jpg

However, my Agema Archers were able to persuade him to return. This time directly into a shield wall of Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1038.jpg

The Thracian King is putting up a valiant fight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1039.jpg

But the women of Valkyr would lay him in his graves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1040.jpg

With that the way to the square was open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1041.jpg

Berserkers and Drakones led the way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1042.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1043.jpg

This is the deepest penetration into the ancestral lands of the Greeks that the Valkyrja have made. The Macedonian lands which where previously conquered were the home of nothing but rustic herders when Triton was destroyed a thousand years ago. The Thessalians on the other hand, were counted among the Athenian-led alliance that laid that noble city of Libyan Amazons into its bloody grave. Amazon vengeance would begin here...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1044.jpg

A Roman diplomat offers an alliance. Since they do not have a border with me, but do border my enemies (and future enemies), I accept.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1045.jpg

Hmmm, now where do these Royalists think they are going?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1046.jpg

The Sarmatians are not so rich anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1047.jpg

The Royals have crossed over into Valkyrja territory. Somehow I do not think they want companionship...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1048.jpg

Toxaris moves out of Ulski to a point nearer to Thatis. This way if the Amazonians lay siege, she can come in to reinforce them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1049.jpg

In the west young Molpadia has put together a force of women and is working her way through the mountains of western Greece toward Thermon.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1050.jpg

Next turn the Amazonians attacked Toxaris in the open! This means War!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1051.jpg

The Royals are stupid, as if bowing and scraping before a so-called Queen was not proof enough, they brought infantry to a cavalry fight. Here their Axewomen have been drawn out away from the hoplites and are about to be charged by my Heavy Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1052.jpg

They were smuushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1053.jpg

After spending a while shooting up their line of spearwomen, I decided it was time to get around behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1054.jpg

Molpadia and the Heavy Cavalry go after their General, but she flees.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1055.jpg

The sight of the barbaric holy place changes her mind, and she turns to fight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1056.jpg

It is Aristocrat vs. Equal.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1057.jpg

The Amazonian flees!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1058.jpg

But she does not make it far.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1059.jpg

Then it was just a matter of isolating and destroying the infantry one at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1060.jpg

Heroic Victory. A good way to start a war.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1061.jpg

Amazonia has plenty more where that came from however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1062.jpg

But their heartland is poorly defended. Even now Second Equal Klito is sailing from Greece...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1063.jpg

The Western Campaign does not stop just because the Second Equal has taken her army aboard ship. Molpadia forges ahead to Thermon and attacks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1064.jpg

The Thracians are slaughtered on the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1065.jpg

Then a breach is made.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1066.jpg

Molpadia enters with the Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1067.jpg

They drive the Thracians before them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1068.jpg

These Thracians Peltasts would block the way however. Once more, they gave a far better fight than one one expect from any peltast.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1069.jpg

Then it was on to the last defenders in the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1070.jpg

Molpadia leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1071.jpg

The Valkyrja have no mercy for Greeks. Freja's ravens will feast upon their bloated corpses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1072.jpg

This is all the Thracians have left. Only two cities, but they still have a few good fights left in them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1073.jpg

A foolish army of Germans has crossed the border between Vicus Gepidae and Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1074.jpg

Time for an Amazon sandwich, with some tasty German filling.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1075.jpg

Maia the Conqueror leads the attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1076.jpg

One of the three German Generals crosses the river.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1077.jpg

Maia on the other hand has already gone to the German side with half of her Horse Archers via a ford.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1078.jpg

That General on my side is treated to a Scythian Horse Ride.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1079.jpg

Down he goes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1080.jpg

Next the Germans send some infantry across.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1081.jpg

While back on their side of the river Pantariste the Mighty's Horse Archers have dispatched another German General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1082.jpg

It was just a matter of taking them apart one piece at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1083.jpg

The Germans were crushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1084.jpg

This depraved fellow escaped however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1085.jpg

Further south, young Cynane had marched from Sarmizgetusa to attack a lightly defended Campus Tevrisci. But she was attacked herself before she could invest the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1086.jpg

Here is the attacking Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1087.jpg

And here is the garrison of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1088.jpg

First my cavalry worked the Dacians over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1089.jpg

Then my infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1090.jpg

That was the end of the main Dacian army, which prompted the city garrison to retreat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1091.jpg

The one man who made it across the red line died a step later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1092.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1093.jpg

Some of my ships at the hellespont were attacked by a fleet of Rebel Star Destroyers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1094.jpg

There is no defeating these guys.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1095.jpg

Lousy Egyptians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1097.jpg

Next turn Cynane assaults Campus Tevrisci, which has recruited a new garrison of Chosen Swordsmen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1098.jpg

They were drawn out of the square by my Amazon Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1099.jpg

Then the rest of the army rode through the square behind them and trapped them in the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1100.jpg

Game Over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1101.jpg

The men of Dacia are led away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1102.jpg

Further south, the Thracians are in need of a new Faction Heir.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1103.jpg

They came up with one, and he brought an army with him into eastern Epirus. Molpadia has marched north from Thermon to intercept him. With any luck, he will attack her with her back to the mountains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1104.jpg

In the east, the Amazonians are about to land a heavy blow against me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1096.jpg

But Second Equal Klito is about to land as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1105.jpg

Back up north, a large Dacian army that had been threatening Singidunum had moved north in response to Cynane's attack upon Campus Tevrisci. I see another opportunity for an Amazon sandwich.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1106.jpg

Cynane moves south from Campus Tevrisci, and Veleda north from Singidunum, trapping the Dacians between them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1107.jpg

Oh great, marching through this will take forever.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1108.jpg

Cynane's army started by attacking the cavalry on the Dacian's right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1109.jpg

Her Amazon Cavalry chop them to pieces in hand-to-hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1110.jpg

Cynane herself does the same on the other flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1111.jpg

The Dacians are being pushed together into a mob in the center.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1112.jpg

These damn dogs are eating my women, while they stand by doing nothing because the handlers are out of range. I hate wardogs.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1113.jpg

Time to get at those handlers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1114.jpg

No girls, that is not your tummy's growling. Look behind you.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1115.jpg

I am still waiting for one of my reinforcing units to get on the battlefield.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1117.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1118.jpg

The Dacians are nearly done for. I am not normally a blitzkrieger, but these two lightly defended cities are too juicy a target to pass up. I am going after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1119.jpg

It has been a while, so here is a pic with the Fog of War off. The Roman war machine has moved off from Rome and is enjoying the beaches of southern Italia. The Egyptians have just stopped doing anything, and the Gorgons have almost squeezed out Numidia. Gaul is on its last legs, with the Britons having taken all of modern France.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1120.jpg

As far as I can tell, this is all that is left of the Sarmatians. I am guessing those units they do have are tiny in size, as their flag is barely filled in at all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1121.jpg

Now back to the war. A sad day, First Equal Okypous the Cunning has gone gently into that good night.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1122.jpg

However, she has left the Valkyrja as the most advanced faction in the world.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1123.jpg

But the Sarmatians are richest once more.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1124.jpg

A big German army has come to batter itself upon the walls of Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1125.jpg

Pantariste crushes them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1126.jpg

That big Thracian army I saw in Epirus ignored Molpadia and instead headed east to lay siege to Pella.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1127.jpg

Thankfully I had seen them coming and managed to get a few Generals and Agema Archers in the walls before their attack. Xanthippe the Mighty is no stranger to killing Thracians. She sallies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1128.jpg

My Agema Archers can hit the Thracians from the walls. Got to love that.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1129.jpg

I start by disposing of their cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1130.jpg

Soon their entire army turns and heads for the map edge. I notice there are a lot of bodies piled up along the line they had been deployed in. It looks like my two Agema Archers from the garrison were what made the army retreat. This is why their unit description says they have been known to single-handedly defeat enemy armies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1131.jpg

I run down as many as I can.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1132.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1133.jpg

Here is the tale of the tape. As I suspected, the Agema Archers killed half the Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1134.jpg

Now it was time for Apollonia. One of my hired thugs removed the Thracian General there of his responsibilities, forever.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1135.jpg

Then the Army of Thrace, now led by Kardika the Honest, moved up to the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1136.jpg

In the east, First Equal Klito (all those stars and she does not have an epithet yet?) makes landfall and immediately assaults Themiskyra. After five centuries, the Valkyrja have come home.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1137.jpg

As you can see, half of my fleet has sailed up onshore...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1138.jpg

These foolish women have not built stone walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1139.jpg

That oversight costs them dearly as my archers work them over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1140.jpg

Eventually I was into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1141.jpg

The Amazonians tried to stop me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1142.jpg

But the free women of Valkyr cannot be dissuaded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1143.jpg

The Amazonian Captain was cut down as she tried to flee to the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1144.jpg

Uh oh, some Amazonian Agema Axes have come over from the other wall, behind my troops headed for the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1145.jpg

I get some Drakones in place to block them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1146.jpg

My spearwomen really cannot hope to stop these head-hunters on their own.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1147.jpg

So my Onagers lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1148.jpg

As does a unit of Heavy Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1149.jpg

That still did not do it. Finally I got some cavalry in behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1150.jpg

That broke them, but only after losing a lot of women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1151.jpg

Then it was on to the square, where my Agema Archers were baiting the remaining Amazonians out and into the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1152.jpg

How is that for the clash of spears?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1153.jpg

While that was going on, First Equal Klito and a unit of Heavy Cavalry were sweeping through the city streets to enter the square from another side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1154.jpg

They enter as the last of the defenders are engaged by the Drakones. One charge and that was it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1155.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1156.jpg

Once again, it is the archers who did all the heavy lifting. You can also see that almost all of my losses came from that one unit of Amazonian Agema Axes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1157.jpg

As these are sister Amazons, merely misguided by aristocratic tyrants, I Occupy. Besides, Themiskyra is near to being Huge level, which means Companions. Once the initial unrest dies down this will be an invaluable base for all my operations in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1158.jpg

Speaking of which, the Amazonian heartland lies bare.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1159.jpg

My navy has once more run afoul of that super Rebel fleet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1160.jpg

I do not stand a chance against those guys.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1161.jpg

Out east, Amazonia has sacked Artaxarta and laid siege to Ulski.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1162.jpg

Toxaris sallies from Ulski. It seems the Amazonians forgot to bring any archers with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1163.jpg

I did not forget them. I have been reinforcing Ulski with Agema Archers since I first saw the Amazonians coming north. Here you can see that they can hit the Amazonians from the walltop. Lovely.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1164.jpg

After allowing my Agema Archers and Horse Archers to work them over a bit, Toxaris and Klymene the Mad charge the cavalry on the Amazonian left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1165.jpg

The Amazonians are gobbled up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1166.jpg

While this was going on, my Horse Archers were enveloping the rest of the Amazonian army. Then they all turned and headed for the exit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1167.jpg

There was nothing to do but charge them down and hope for the best.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1168.jpg

The Amazonians were cut off from the map edge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1169.jpg

Then they were destroyed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1170.jpg

Out west the lewd German Faction Heir has returned for a lesson in manners.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1171.jpg

Pantariste the Mighty rode out to school him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1172.jpg

He learned his final lesson at the hands of my Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1173.jpg

Scratch one more German army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1174.jpg

The Germans have the plague, and now so do two of my spies. There is nothing to do now but spread it to all of their other cities.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1175.jpg

To the south, one of my stinkers removes another Thracian General from his duties.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1176.jpg

Then in the same turn Xanthippe the Mighty ran down the Thracian who had attacked Pella. It seems he has hired every mercenary in Macedonia since his defeat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1177.jpg

The battle would be fought in these deep woods.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1178.jpg

These Thracian Infantry came forward a bit too far, so Xanthippe charged and destroyed them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1179.jpg

That brought their General up. It was too good a target to pass up, I send everything I have after him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1180.jpg

A ferocious melee ensued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1181.jpg

Finally the Thracian was brought down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1182.jpg

I had to break off the pursuit of his broken bodyguard however, as their Mercenary Hoplites were coming up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1183.jpg

Then it was just a matter of taking them apart one unit at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1184.jpg

Scratch one more Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1185.jpg

Nice work, both on and off the battlefield:2thumbsup:

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon reading this from post #1, so kudo's for a good storyline to hold my attention that long:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

The way this campaign is unfolding reminds me so much of the 1580 Oda campaign in STW/WE......relentless enemies on all sides...and a quick defeat if one does not act aggressively and decisively........

Some of the tactical maps look to be custom?!? Is that the case, and if so what sort of mapping tool is available? One of my biggest beefs with RTW is the crappy, cookie-cutter maps (MHO, of course).

Making maps has always been my first love......been doing them since grade school. Currently, I make maps for a WWII strategy game and apparently they are pretty good as campaign designers are constantly asking for new ones or the reworking older ones to suit their needs.


















I'd be teaching those @#$% Germans some lessons on their own turf.....I'd put together a marauding army for the express purpose of........in the words of William Wallace:



BURRNN IT!



Oh, and btw, that's another of my peeves with RTW....the endless-stack syndrome. Yes, I know it builds elite troops and generals if you win, but after awhile, at least for me, it gets boooooring. Now for the historical buffs, how many governments could suffer one crushing defeat after another and still remain in power? I can't think of one, offhand. Now if one could only impose, say, a 5% popularity penalty across the board for every crushing defeat, then bigger garrison's would have to be kept at home to maintain order. This would go away gradually, like devastation does, or by notching some heroic victories.

End of rant.....sorry about that:embarassed:

Thank you Samurai. Those are actually all of the original battle maps. I have not done anything to mod them.

It has been quite a challenge. The hardest I have had for quite some time, especially in the first 20 years. Without the horse archers I would not have survived.

I do plan to deal with the Germans. Just not yet. I have other fish to fry right now. Mainly Dacia, Thrace, and Amazonia. Not to mention the hated Greek Cities.