Yep, I personally don't want to spoil it with the same stuff over and over again. But I am following this, yes :yes:
Maion
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Yep, I personally don't want to spoil it with the same stuff over and over again. But I am following this, yes :yes:
Maion
Yes. I'm liking the originality of the idea too.
This is brilliant, I am following it as well. And the China blog.
Ah, I'm glad this thing is being read... well, I guess I'll get working on the next chapter. Thanks for the comments!
Chapter Eight: The Price of Money
Narrator: Doros Aithaidos Attikos
Pella was heavily reinforced by the time my army returned from our fight against the Romans. Levees from the north with several contingents of Greek mercenaries and a garrison of elite phalangites attacked us as we marched on the Makedonian capital. Without any heavy cavalry, I knew immediately that my hoplitai would have a hard time breaking the enemy, but I had to press the attack while my political power was at its height. To turn back now might cause another upstart to take the initiative and control the wealth of Pella.
Epimenes tried to persuade me to retreat one last time, arguing that our assault would be a guaranteed success if our forces were augmented with Gallic mercenaries. I would hear none of it and reprimanded him for such a dishonorable idea. My victories must be won with Greek arms, not that of barbarian mercenaries.
We lured the enemy to the edge of the forest and engaged them where the terrain was favorable to our more mobile hoplites. The levies and mercenaries fell quickly enough to our spears, but the elite phalangite reinforcements proved much more troublesome. Our attempts to pin them in place led to massive casualties as enemy pikeheads shredded my militiamen.
My light hoplitai were able to circle around and attack the flanks of the enemy, but with such a strong commander, the enemy would not surrender even when surrounded. I immediately sent my reserves made up of two contingents of slingers and a freshly recruited band of militia hoplitai to cut off the head of the serpent while the rest of us held the phalangites in place.
The plan was a success and with the general dead, the enemy broke and we gave chase just as rain began to pour down on the battlefield.
The casualties were very large on both sides and large pools of blood dotted the plains, but the way to Pella was open.
“Was it worth it?” Epimenes sat with his back against a tree while a doctor tended to his wounds. A pike penetrated his left leg, but luckily missed the bone while a javelin took him full in the right shoulder. He has a good chance of survival, but with his sword arm crippled and his mobility impaired, it was doubtful that he would ever fight again.
“Yes, it was” I stared at the huge mining complex that stretched out below us, illuminated by the flames that rose up from the city. “The sinews of war are infinite money. With this wealth, I will raise an army that will crush all who oppose me. I will sweep the Makedonians off their own lands. The Epeirotes will accept slavery rather than face me in battle. Even the Romans will beg for mercy!” I turned back to the young Kretian and took his good hand in my own. “We will become heroes for all ages, my friend, like Achilles and Patroclus. The life lost today was the price paid for these mines. With these mines, we will restore Greece to its rightful place”
Epimenes just nodded and smiled weakly.
Hey berkleyboy... I HAVE been following this AAR and so far it is very good... Ican't wait how the yllirian-Greek thing works out...
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Berkeley, ma boi! ~D :2thumbsup:
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Narrator: Demeas Lechaios
Working on Polyades’ ship is simple enough of a job. When we get out to sea with a good wind, we pull the oars in, set the sails free, and enjoy the ride. When the wind dies down or we get close to shore, we row. When there is a storm, we tie ourselves in and pray. The work is physically demanding, but so was pulling in nets heavy with fish.
The process of buying low and selling high was a little harder. The admiral would send me and a few other men into the marketplace to listen for rumors. If there was a salt shortage in Athens, we would sail down the coast while filling our cargo holds from the salt mines we encounter. Krete needs wheat? The rich farms of the Epeiros would surely provide. Sparta needs slaves? Well, in that case, we change from merchants to pirates.
Which is another complicated issue that I have to deal with. I have grown up now and am taller and stronger than the others, except for Polyades who can talk to me at eye level. I have trained with the Celtic swordsmen during my service under Kamandros and the other pirates have taught me how to fight in their own style. Steady feet are absolutely necessary when fighting on a ship and a hard blow is less useful than a well placed one. Once on shore, we use our ropes and nets to capture slaves without doing much physical harm to them. I don’t really like fighting and I especially dislike enslaving others, but in life, we do what we must.
The old pirate has friends (and enemies) in every large port we visit, may they be his former crewmen, smuggling fences, or rival pirates. During every occasion, he is sure to introduce me to the others as my grandfather’s grandson.
“It is important that you get your name out there” Polyades explained one night, “You killed a Roman general while a slave and a boy. You stood your ground and rallied the men when the horses bore down on you. Heroic deeds, Demeas, are only heroic when many know of them. It is a currency more valuable than gold”
“What use do I have with such things?” I muttered to myself, but Polyades heard me.
“You are the grandson of Luftar, the greatest of all Illyrians. You are a freeman now, but you are not freed from your name and no man is free from his people” He waved over at the Illyrian pirates gambling at the docks. “We have fought amongst each other for hundreds of years, coming together only to steal from others. We need a leader”
“I’m no leader” I shook my head and swung my mace around. “I don’t even like fighting. My grandfather once said…”
“…that in life, all you need are sons, fish, and peace. I know, he told me the same thing when I asked him to lead” Polyades’ eyes suddenly hardened. “But your sons will be slaughtered, your fish stolen, and peace cannot exist without strength. Not just one man’s strength, but the strength of a people”
“You say that I am a freeman, yet you say that I am not free” I shook my head again and smiled. “Are you saying that I wasted my money when I bought my freedom?”
“Oh, far from it” Polyades grinned again, showing off his cracked and missing teeth. “You bought freedom for all Illyria. Quite a bargain for the few silver pieces you paid!”
Well, I'm going back to the countryside tomorrow and there's no internet, so I don't think I'll be able to finish this AAR before then. I seriously underestimated how many chapters this thing was gonna have (12 chapters left to write)... ah well... I'll write as many as I can before I leave.
I can't wait.
This is good -- keep it up!
Beautiful AAR...
I am however confused on who is the main character in each chapter, for me it seems you are switching in between 3 characters.
Ah, sorry about that. The ones with the Illyrians are usually from the point of view of Demeas the slave. The ones about the Greeks are spoken by Doros the faction heir. I don't use their names too often... I should clarify that in the future posts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alsatia
EDIT: Alright, I added a little note as to who the narrator of each chapter is.
Chapter 10: Killing the Hound
The Molossian hound is a vicious animal and was used in war as well as hunting by the Epeiros since their beginnings as a people. Yet it is said that a Molossian hound were the most loyal of dogs. There was a story told by the common people that a soldier left his home for war, leaving his hound behind to guard his child not yet a year old. The hound hunted and brought food for the babe and fed it with her own milk. When the snows fell and the master had yet to return, the dog chose to starve to death rather than forsake her oath.
The Epeiros had done nothing to make us go to war with them and were our allies for a good two decades, but they decided to take Thermon despite our warnings. In the past, our allied cities were conquered despite our political protests, but there was little that the Greeks could do. Now, however, with the growing strength of our empire, such transgressions cannot be tolerated.
I marched my army straight at their capital city of Ambrakia. A large Epeiros army led by the son of Pyrrhus intercepted us, asking that we honor our alliance and leave their lands in peace. They offered to return Thermon to our control, but I countered that the damage was done. Their actions proved their treachery and such actions must be punished. I would accept nothing but unconditional surrender and the absorption of Epeiros into our empire. The son of Pyrrhus declined my terms and our armies were ordered forward.
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The battle was bloody, but we won a decisive victory. The newly recruited Kretian archers, heavy cavalry, and hoplitai worked perfectly in combination with each other. The enemy levies suffered tremendously under the Kretian arrows, the hoplitai held their ground superbly against the enemy phalangites, and the noble Greek cavalry swept the enemy off the field with their charge. The son of Pyrrhus was captured, executed, and given to his own hounds to eat.
“Amazing” I said to Epimenes as the dogs scurried away from the corpse, “The loyalty of those animals really weren’t just a myth”
“Maybe we should send the body to his brother in law in Epidamnos, sir?” Epimenes recovered from his injuries, but his sword arm was severely weakened. He has turned to practicing with his left arm while strapping a shield to his left, but I have yet to send him into battle. He is too valuable of a captain to just throw away. “He fought bravely and honorably this day”
“Yes, that is true” I summoned the executioner over and pointed at the corpse. “Chop off the head and have it sent to his brother. Take his body and feed it to the pigs”
“Sir, if I may interject” Epimenes stood between the executioner and myself. “Desecrating the body will only incense his brother in law and the people of Epeiros”
“No, you may not interject” I scowled and I pushed the Kretian aside, “He is an enemy of our people and betrayed the trust bestowed on him by his betters. He will be punished and if his brother in law chooses to fight, so will he” I nodded to the executioner. “Hurry up and be done with it”
The Epidamnos Campaign proved to be a bloody one. It seemed as if the whole of their population took arms against me, their numbers never ending as they tried to gain victory by suffocating my men with their corpses.
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In the end, Epidamnos fell to our men at a heavy price, but with the wealth of Pella, more men quickly refilled my ranks. After a seasons rest, we marched south at last to free Thermon.
To my surprise, we were intercepted by two armies made up of Illyrian pirates, Epeirus regulars, and Greek levies. The citizens of Thermon, instead of welcoming me as a liberator, have risen up against me in support of their Epeirus masters!
“Treacherous bastards” I growled as I stared at the enemy that organized below me, “Thermon will burn for this”
“The people of Thermon saw what happened to Epidamnos and Ambrakia” Epidemes said coolly, “You let our men loose on the city, raping, murdering, and looting as they went. They know what will happen if we reach Thermon”
I glared at Epidemes and spat on the ground. “Take up your spear and shield. It is about time you did some fighting instead of just shooting your mouth off”
We fought nonstop on our way to Thermon. The enemy ambushed our foragers, burned our supply lines, fell trees in our path, and even burned their own fields to prevent us from eating. My rage grew with each step we took and I vowed to wipe that city off the face of this planet.
After countless skirmishes and detours, we caught the last son of Pyrrhus and the remnants of his army. It was made up of nothing but Greek levies and skirmishers.
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My army swarmed around the enemy and piled a mountain full of corpses, but not a enemy fled. They fought with their crude weapons and continued to fight with their teeth and nails. In the end they all died.
“Bring Epidemes to me” I said to my runner after the battle, “I want him by my side as we burn that city to the ground”
“My lord” I turned around and saw one of my minor captains kneel before me, his helmet off his head.
“What is it?” I said gruffly. There was slaughter to be had and I had no desire to give another promotion to self-proclaimed brave deeds.
“My lord, Epidemes fell in battle” Behind him, two warriors brought forward the Kretian and laid him on the ground before me. A spear got past his weak guard and pierced his heart. “I am sorry, sir”
My dearest friend was dead. I collapsed to the ground and stared at the corpse in shock. A thousand emotions surged through me in a single moment. Hatred at the enemy who killed him, sadness that I had lost my friend, joy at the memories of the past, laughter at his jokes half remembered, and regret. I sent him to his death because of my own rashness. I gave my best friend to Hades for the sake of protecting my own pride.
“My lord” It was the captain again. I could barely hear him. “I am sorry, but what shall I tell the men? Shall we march on Thermon?”
“No” I whispered, half choking with tears. I rose to my feet shakily and looked at the captain. “No” I said again, more firmly. “No! No! NO!” I screamed and grabbed the horrified captain by his collar. “A funeral pyre” I whispered to him as he stared at me, “Gather our dead so that we may honor them”
“What of the enemy, sir?” The captain stuttered as I finally released him, “What shall we do with their wounded and the captured?”
“Send those who can walk home to their families” I said, “If the wounded have loved ones, they will come to take them back” The captain stared at me as if he did not understand. “Do it”
That night, the dark sky was lit with flames fed by the bodies of our fallen. Wailing was heard for miles around as we cried for our comrades.
“I treated you as a tool” I whispered to Epidemes, “I treated you and all my men as tools for my own vanity” I kissed his forehead, took a few steps back, and lit the pyre. “Never again. It will not happen again”
Looks like this will be the last chapter for a while because I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again.
Great AAR BerkleyBoi.
After a month of silence, still no update. :no:
I want more!
Can't wait!
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Originally Posted by BerkeleyBoi
Ahem...
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hell yes
Will be back in the civilized world the day after tomorrow. After handling whatever necessary domestic affairs that need to be taken care of, hopefully I'll be able to update (assuming I remember what my story was about...)
Oh, and thanks for the comments while I was gone!
(Happy Dance)Quote:
Originally Posted by BerkeleyBoi
/me second that! :smash:Quote:
Originally Posted by the man with no name
He's back!
Good to see you back but don't feel obligated to write. Only continue the AAR if you want to. When someone writes because they want to, it always ends up better.Quote:
Originally Posted by BerkeleyBoi