This is scary dude, plain scary.
I love the way how you go into detail, and how you seem to really catch that spirit of war. Awesome stuff, way to go! =D
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This is scary dude, plain scary.
I love the way how you go into detail, and how you seem to really catch that spirit of war. Awesome stuff, way to go! =D
Wow, I can't keep up reading this...
Nice to see a successful Sabyn Empire.
Haha, well I guess I shouldn't spoil anything, but the next chapter will be titled "Collapse"...Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
EDIT: I changed my mind... maybe it won't be called "Collapse"...
great AAR!
I just loved the scene when you stormed a town in arabia and described that men didn't fought for glory of their king but for taking water and food from the village conquered.
Well, thanks to everyone for the comments, I really enjoyed writing this AAR, but I am sad to announce that there will be only two chapters left... maybe three. Maybe I will start another single-unit AAR in the future, but once again, thanks to everyone for reading!
Oh, and I will try to post the next chapter tomorrow.
why only 2 or 3!?!?!
oh, now i know....
man, i loved this AAR.... ill be sad to see it go!
So our poor Ethiopean chap is going to be slain by villainous Ptolemies? I knew the are good for nothing but evil deeds *glances at chirurgeon*:laugh4:
ha ha Seleukeia. I only have to look as far as my own family for my wife...how convienent
Haha, yeah the Ptolemies are surprisingly strong despite the genetic defects they all have from incestuous relationships... sigh...
I'm sure that even in defeat the end of this AAR will be awesome!
cheers!
PS: BTW, I'm bored of all those AAR where the player always win
anyhow, i cant wait for the next chapter, which will be annyoning, b/c i have a match tommorow and i wont be able to read it until a while!
subscribed:beam:
good luck fighting Ptolies. buggers can be nastier than infamous gray death.
Chapter 10: Ptolemaioi Retribution
We laid siege to Paraitonion as a cool winter settled over northern Africa. My army consisted entirely of Greek mercenaries. I had difficulties communicating with them ever since my translator died of a snake bite. Messengers began to arrive once a week, bringing more news and orders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/125.jpg
The first runner came, bearing news that the Ptolemaioi have concluded peace with another empire to the north and have brought their full forces down upon us. Alexandreia and Memphis were both under siege, but my orders were unchanged.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/123.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/126.jpg
The second man arrived a week later, looking more ragged than the one before. He had arrived from the south, reporting that my homeland of Ethiopia was under attack. Galatians and elite long-spear men filled their ranks. The king had ordered the south to be evacuated and all defenses concentrated on holding Egypt. My orders were unchanged.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/124.jpg
The third messenger was bloodied and rested two full days before he was able to deliver his message. The Arabian peninsula was under attack. Carna itself was sacked and its inhabitants slaughtered while the governors desperately raised taxes and levies to defend the capital. I received no new orders.
There was no news for several weeks until our scouts found a man in the desert. By the time he was brought to me, the vultures had picked his corpse clean. Nothing remained but his clothing, which marked him as a royal messenger, and a note.
The farmer-general turned king, Ab Karab Il Zarih, was killed. The garrison fought their way out of Memphis and attempted to return to Maryab, but the Greek mercenaries deserted his after failing to receive pay and in the ensuing chaos, the king was separated from his army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/155.jpg
Two thousand Ptolemaioi surrounded his unit, yet he refused to retreat. Perhaps he knew that all was doomed anyways.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/156.jpg
They charged into battle as if they alone could turn the mighty Ptolemaioi war machine. They were surrounded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/158.jpg
Slaves pelted them with rocks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/159.jpg
Galatians slashed their bodies with swords.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/157.jpg
Hetaroi lances pierced their armor. Still they fought on, refusing to run. In the end, they died.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/160.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/161.jpg
The enemy cheered. Our empire, after rising to such great heights, has collapsed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied8.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied7.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied6.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied5.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied4.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied3.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied2.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../occupied1.jpg
There was a single line scratched hastily on the bottom of the parchment: King Dawit of the Saba, lead your people to salvation.
Note: There were actually quite a few large battles that were fought in the south and in the Arabian Peninsula (all of which were very bloody and led to my defeat) but my screenshots were corrupted... so sadly I am unable to show what really led to the Saba's total collapse...
But the next and final chapter will come soon. Maybe even tonight. The title: Visions at the End
Interesting turn of events, very interesting.
amazing....
Wow, I really love it when EB does this kind of stuff, it makes it more realistic, but why now? This AAR is so excellent it is a shame to see it die.:no:
Yeah, I thought it would be smooth sailing after sacking those too big cities. My coffers were bursting after extermination and I started building new barracks in my capital. Then, the yellow banners popped up all over the place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Basileus Seleukeia
I actually blame Seleukeia for settling peace with them and freeing up their northern border. :beam: As Saba, I had huge difficulties fighting phalanxes as I was used to playing factions with horse-archers who could whittle down their troops and retreating with no casualties. As Saba, my levy units suffered extensively after each battle, even after victories, and I just couldn't match the Ptolomies in production power.
Ah well, one more chapter. Maybe I'll post it tomorrow instead of tonight... unless enough people demand it before I go to sleep that is...
No! ~:mecry:
I hate it when AS and Ptolemai conspire against you...
wow- i had no idea the AI could do this..... i better prepare well......
Chapter 11: Visions at the End
Final Chapter
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/128.jpg
I did not even know whether our capital still stood or was burnt to the ground. Ab Karab Il Zarih has named me his successor, but I did not even know if there was still a village in this world under the Saba banner.
My king has died. He gave me everything that I had. It was because of him that my life had meaning. I was no longer a farmer. I was a soldier. I was a general. Now, I am a king.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/127.jpg
I stared up at the walls that stood before me. The garrison sat silently, waiting for a relief force to arrive and destroy us. They knew my army would be incapable of assaulting them. I commanded a rag tag band of Greek mercenaries who knew no loyalties. There were no reinforcements coming. I ruled only the patch of sand I stood on, nothing more. So I ordered my men to attack. For the honor of the late king, I will fulfill his last orders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/129.jpg
The Greek mercenaries marched forward with the ladders under a hail of arrows, decimating their ranks until they reached the base of the wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/130.jpg
I sent all of them up the walls even as casualties mounted.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/131.jpg
Eventually, the defenders were overrun and the gates were opened to my Hanatim Kushim.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/132.jpg
I rushed into the city and quickly organized the survivors into two groups.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/134.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/133.jpg
We would attack their long-spear men from both sides, charging them at the same time. We would eliminate the final defenders and gain one last triumph for the late king.
But the Greeks knew nothing of honor, they knew only of plunder. They disregarded my orders and charged through the city, looting and raping as they went.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/136.jpg
They stumbled into the town square where the enemy waited for them and without any support, they were quickly cut down. I rushed to assist them, cursing them as I ran, but we were too late.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/138.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/140.jpg
By the time we entered the square, the enemy had already routed the mercenaries, their general running down the survivors while the Galatians and long-spear men turned their attention on us.
Overwhelmed, I tried to pull my men out, trying to save the men who have loyally fought for me all these years. We disengaged from the enemy, leaving the mercenaries to fend for themselves, but as we tried to escape, we found ourselves facing a full unit of the general’s bodyguards charging down on us.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/142.jpg
We had no choice. We were surrounded. So we fought.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/143.jpg
The heavy cavalry pinned us against the wall, but were unable to break us.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/144.jpg
We held our ground and hacked away at the enemy, waiting for the long-spear men to charge in and finish us off. But they never came.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/146.jpg
The long-spear men stood silently, spears up in the air, watching us as we fought. They were not of the same people as the cavalrymen. They were levies. Farmers and workers dragged from their homes to fight for a king and god they did not believe in. They watched as we did battle. It was not in their interest to join in the fight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/145.jpg
The general thought he would crush us under the hooves of their horses, but he underestimated us. We have fought more battles and killed more kings than he could possibly have imagined.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/147.jpg
We dodged their lances, stepping around and pulling them off before stabbing them in the face. The general’s confidence began to fade as he saw his men fall one by one. Soon, he was alone, surrounded by my men. He cursed the long-spear men, calling for their help, but none would come.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/148.jpg
We killed his fine horse and pulled the richly decorated man off his mount. He begged for mercy, saying that he would make us a part of his court, give us power, money, and women. I stared at him and declined. I was a king, I said to him as his eyes widened in disbelief, there was only one man in this world I would serve and he has already left this world. With that, I kicked him into the dirt and thrust my sword through his neck.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/149.jpg
The few of us who survived walked calmly towards the square. The long-spear men stood confused, calling for us to leave the city. They would not chase us, they said, they have no quarrel with us. I did not listen. I leveled my sword and pointed at the enemy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/150.jpg
We charged. There were about three hundred of them remaining while only about 30 of us stood.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/151.jpg
We were surrounded, yet we fought on. We killed five for every one of us lost, but we were overwhelmed. I was knocked to the ground. A young man stood above me, his eyes quivering with fear as he raised his axe for the finishing blow.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/152.jpg
Time slowed and then froze. I remembered the face of my mother as she held me in her arms while drawing in her last breaths. I remembered my father smiling as I sprinted across the finish line to win first place at our village festival. I remembered climbing trees with my brothers to steal coconuts from our neighbor. I remembered being taken away from home and the long ride on that crowded ship. I remembered the first man I killed and the way his body shuddered before he collapsed. I remembered her green eyes and the way she flowed across the room to bring wine to the noblemen. I remembered my wife and the children I never met. I remembered the farmer-general turned king, his kindness to his men, his bravery in battle, and his sadness as his enemies were put to the sword. The fifty years of my life flew by in an instant.
Time moved again. The axe came down. My helmet split and blood ran down my face. My head tilted back and I saw white clouds moving slowly across the vast blue sky. One of them looked like a rabbit. Another looked like India. This is the end. Goodbye.
AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sniff*
im so sad...... ~:mecry:
what a great ending to a great AAR.....
Epic. Short, sweet, and dramatic. Bravo, truly!
Wow that was incredible! Sad but very good nonetheless. I loved your screenshots. Those were epic in themselves! I loved the part "With that, I kicked him into the dirt and thrust my sword through his neck" Amazing stuff man I hope to see more of your work
That was awesome, you definitely have to do another AAR.
To everyone who has read and commented, thank you very much! I never thought my first AAR would get such a positive response and as a result, I plan on writing another soon.
But before a new AAR can being, this one must be finished. Since some people were wondering what happened to my campaign, I will post an epilogue some time soon.
great work! congratulations!
@Chirurgeon: Thanks man. I really enjoy your own AAR as well. I tried to create something in between of Berkeleyboi's "soldier point-of-view" and your own "king point-of-view."
So I chose the Somatophylakes Strategou, de Royal bodyguard of the Epeirote family members.
---------------------------
Okay, guys. There's been some problems. I just conquered Kallatis, but when I went back to view and edit my screenshots, I found I had forgot to turn on Fraps. So I'll try to RP why 6 years have passed without any screenshots.
Oh, yeah. And something else. When I had conquered Tylis, and tried to go back to my screen, the game CTD without an error message. Same thing happened with Kallatis, so I'll just auto_win next time I play the game, though you'll notice some inconsistencies with unit numbers.
Edit: LOL! Totally confused, I thought I was posting in my own thread. Hahaa!
Sad, very sad, but truly homeric! Thou shalt honour us again with thine tales of far-off lands! I shall await thee when thou beginst thine new story, which shall surely have a more cheering end than this!*Shakespeareramblingend*
Can't wait for another AAR of yours!:2thumbsup:
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This is the BEST AAR. Ever! Please repost it at the Throne Room. Please do, I beg you! When the time comes, this will be nominated and elected the best write up for Hall of Fame 2007. :yes:
The following screenshots and subtitles, I nominate for the best screenshot of the month. Please also care to repost them at the sticky:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/nexadamo/88.jpg
The Ptolemaioi allowed me to escape. I vowed to make them regret that decision.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/145.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/148.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...xadamo/152.jpg
I was knocked to the ground. A young man stood above me, his eyes quivering with fear as he raised his axe for the finishing blow.
.