Stories Thread

Epilogue:

The carnage was huge....... blood soaked the field that the remains of Patrokles guard sat in.
"Well, this is it then." Patrokles said. Staring at the remains of his men, Tears streamed down his cheeks as he saw these men, the men he had spent his time with for more than 10 years, die. Die for nothing he bitterly thought. He looked over to Hyllos, "Get out of here, take everyone you can and go. I am going to see if the gods are on my side."
"What does that mean Patrokles?"
"let us see if one man can take down a king."
Patrokles turned his horse around and his horse lurched forward as he galloped towards Sarpedons guard. Hyllos ran forward and slammed the flat edge of his sword in to Patrokles head. He slumped in his saddle and Hyllos tethered his horse to Hyllos's own. He turned and called over the commanders, what was left of them anyway.
"Forget what Patrokles just said. He is out of his mind at the moment and I am taking command. We all need to help cover Patrokles movement out of this deathtrap."
The men nodded, they would not leave their commander.

That was when things started to fall apart..... Sarpedons men moved in, the last of his heavy infantry charging in on the last of Patrokles men. They were overwhelmed..... They fought bravely, but were outmatched and outnumbered. Many fell on that field, and Hyllos understood the day was lost when Sarpedon himself charged the field Towards Patrokles and his guard.
"Some men don't understand the folly of the victor..." Hyllos said, "Let us see what the gods have in store for us all then!" Hyllos rallied the Guards, meeting Sarpedon on the field..... They fought with a desperation born of a man understanding his doom, but soon enough they were also outmatched. Hyllos fell to the blades, his armor broken and bloodied from the battle. He slumped in his horse, whispering his last words "Heh, it was worth it in the end, we gave the greatest army in the Arche a run for its money...." he looked to where he knew Patrokles lay "I just wish in the end it could have worked out... Let us hope our death was not in vain....." he fell from his horse the deep wounds in his side finally overcoming him. In the end just more picking for the looters who would tear the field apart in the days to come.

The last of Patrokles troops lost hope, bolting from the field, fear in there hearts. The self-proclaimed king of Babylon was soon to be no more....


Far away in Babylon, things looked just as dark, but for another reason. A rainstorm had started and by the time, Liatus reentered the city, his heart grim. It would be days before the news of his brother’s capture would reach him. Days, he would spend weaving tales of his brothers victory to Patrokles young son......


(I don't care if no one else finds this chilling, I do. Spent the last like 4 months role playing Patrokles, and this is pretty sad for me.)

The Fate of Patrokles Adiabenikos
Sarpedon entered through the gates of Antiocheia at the forefront of his army, and his Hypaspistai followed behind him, dragging with them a shabby man with dirty looks and a long beard. His physical state was completely wrecked, and he could not walk on his own, so his uncovered feet were dragging in the ground. At one time, that man had called himself a king. That man was Patrokles Adiabenikos, but from looking at his body and face, it was hard to tell. The countless hours of torture had left its mark - but he was still alive and breathing.

When they got to the place where the once mighty barracks had stood, Sarpedon signaled for the troop to stop. He dismounted and looked at the ongoing construction, that fitted one unusual pillar. He turned to Patrokles, pulled up his shabby head by the hair and looked straight into his eyes.

"I guess this is where we part ways, old friend, even if only for a while. I'll make sure to come and visit you again, if you manage to stay alive, but... well, we'll see how long you will last, first. "

He smiled and let Patrokles head go, and as he did so, it returned to the original position with the face aimed straight into the ground, as if he didn't even have the strength to carry his own head. Sarpedon gave a signal to the guards, who put him in place in the pillar, and workers quickly built him in so that he could do nothing but stand and look out through a small opening that had been made for his face.

"It's a fitting twist of fate, isn't it?", Sarpedon said. "You destroyed the barracks here only to become a building block for the new ones, and here you will stay and repay your crimes until Hades takes you." Sarpedon laughs. "Oh, but don't worry - we'll do our best to keep you alive so you won't have to bring the shame of dying in debt!" He laughed once more, before he drew a dagger and made small marks on his chins and forehead. He smiled.

"Well, that's enough for this time; I must be going now. Pressing business; I'm sure you understand. Nothing personal." Without looking back, Sarpedon rode on to his palace.

There Patrokles was left until he finally died.