The Pyrrhic Dynasty : A Makedonian AAR

Thank you.

My last AAR had almost no pictures, so when I first started this AAR I made sure to have plenty of pictures and I guess I've just gotten used to the style. It doesn't take too long to edit. The battle shots are really easy. I just open them, resize them to 60%, crop them to 750x460, and save. The ones with multiple shots put together take a while longer, but eh I wouldn't do it if it wasn't somewhat fun.

I had originally planned to take Olbia and immediately move to Tanais, but Olbia had almost no infrastructure. I have to keep my army and governor there for now to keep it from falling apart. Plus I don't want to make an enemy of Sauromatae, so I'm going to have to get it to rebel or buy it from them...

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army. :beam:

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7840/maa3445mm1.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Hey everybody. I've reach a new point in my midgame modding. I finally figured out how to reskin units. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it, but it opens up a new oppertunity for brand new military reforms in my army. :beam:

I made these guys out of Thureophoroi, Roman Eastern Avxilias, and the Basilikon Agema:
https://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7840/maa3445mm1.png

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Now you've finally run away.:grin: Though I think that phalanx-ability on anything other than a proper Makedonian phalanx doesn't look very good. What about giving them underhand spear, and approx. the stats of Sacred Band infantry?:smiley:

wow damn it's as if you were playing ALL The factions in one!! :shocked2:

AMAZING :2thumbsup: :balloon::balloon::balloon::balloon3:

I love this story :beam:

MAA, you now kick twice as much ass.

I'd actually planned to make those guys use the underhand spear animation, but after altering the skin I found out they shared the model with the KH Thorakita Hoplitai, which I had already been using. That picture ended up just being a reskinning of that unit. The model didn't use the merc trick, though, so I'm now using the "roman infantry eastern auxilia" unit changed to use the merc trick:
https://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4459/maa3446tl3.png
I wanted to make a non-Makedone eastern Thorakitai unit out of these guys, which I can elist in my army Roman-style (though I'm having trouble finding a unit to convert into a non-Makedone western Thorakitai that I also wanted to make). Although I haven't had a good enough reason to make such a huge roleplaying change, yet.

Next chapter coming soon...

Chapter 71 : The Syrian War (Part III):
Reconquista

In the two years since Philippos had begun his Syrian invasion, things had turned from bleak to impossible for the Demetrid dynasty. All the garrisons in Syria, Assyria, and Babylonia had been tied down with sieges and the Galatians and Romaioi had managed to completely destroy the field armies of Syria. Without any assistance coming from Aigyptos, the only choice of the Demetrids is to wait for the inevitable.

In Tarsos, the elder brother of Philippos, Sotades, had tied down an army that had been meant to halt any Pyrrhid invasion from Anatolia. Instead of being halted by this army, Philippos simply ordered the city besieged and then bypassed by the bulk of his forces. Now, being the only large force remaining to the Demetrids, the army of Tarsos makes one last attempt to break the siege and move to rescue Demetreia:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/150/maa3389zf2.png

The Demetrids inside Tarsos where determined, but outside the city awaited a large army of old veterans who had fought with Pyrrhos himself in Africa, so many years earlier:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6996/maa3390nw2.png

While the army of Sotades waits for the Demetrid infantry to line up outside their city walls, the Demetrid kataphraktoi make their move. Their attempt to break around the flank of Sotades' line is quickly countered by the Illyrioi, who pull out their axes to hack through the kataphraktoi armor:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4318/maa3392hz5.png

The kataphraktoi quickly break and the Illyrioi do not pursue.

Along the infantry line, the Demetrid phalangitai attack the veteran Pezhetairoi from the west:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9365/maa3394kn9.png

After flanking manuevers from Thraikioi and Samnici, the Demetrid infantry begins to take heavy losses and loose morale:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7711/maa3396fh2.png

Sotades allows the enemy to retreat and reforms his line. Before too long, the Demetrids reemerge from the city and attempt another attack:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7958/maa3398ge6.png

[This is the part of siege battles where the enemy marches out, breaks and retreats before even getting to me, marches back out, breaks before hitting my line and retreats, etc. :wall: ]

This time, the Samnici lead the counter attack and push the Demetrids back to the walls of the city...
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1337/maa3400ry6.png

...and even chase them into the city streets:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6357/maa3401pb6.png

The day ends in a draw, with the few remaining Demetrid soldiers still in control of the city:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6174/maa3402dg4.jpg

However, with losses from the battle and lack of supplies within the city, the few remaining Demetrids and their disgraced general decide to surrender the city. So, once again the city of Tarsos and all of Kilikia is returned to the hands of the Basileus of Makedonia, Sotades' younger brother Basileus Philippos V:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5395/maa3403gj9.png

Soon after taking the city, Sotades learns what a desperate enemy is capible of. One night an assassin comes of his life but is narrowly thwarted. Aware of the risks, Sotades learns to be ready for anything, even in the dark of night:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5586/maa3407uc8.jpg

Soon after the fall of Tarsos, the forces of Sophene report that the Hayasdan region has surrendered and the bulk of Armenia and its resources are now back in the hands of Makedonia:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3534/maa3404jn8.jpg

Over the next couple months, there is little activity in the civil war as besieger and besieged await the inevitable. During this time, the city of Ippone is once again threatened...
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8822/maa3408hw6.png

...and in Hellas, Philippos' youngest brother, the troublesome one, begins to mature and even gain knowledge of governing and of warfare:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9339/maa3409ne6.jpg

Laandros is soon exposed to his first crisis when an earthquake hits the area. Laandros is forced to deal with a real problem, being the man in charge of administering Hellas:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4908/maa3414ny9.png

Back to the east, Herodes of Bosphoria manages to negotiate the surrender and disarming of the garrison at Edessa:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9108/maa3410vr3.jpg

With the fall of the city of Edessa, the entire region of Assyria firmly falls into the hands of Philippos. This separates Babylonia and Syria, the only two regions with Demetrid garrisons still standing.

Doing his part in the war and seeking to remove the last army loyal to the Demetrids outside of Demetreia, King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon launches an attack on the city of Seleukeia:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/526/maa3417dw1.png

With great siege towers pushed across the plains, Isidoros assaults the walls of the great city:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6040/maa3420zy7.png

Once on the walls, his elite Babylonians meet with some resistance...
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1136/maa3421mt6.png

...but no matter the costs, the walls are taken:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3503/maa3422hk4.png

And with the walls under their control, the assualt forces open the gateways of the city for the bulk of the Babylonian army to enter:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4411/maa3423yz0.png

The battle at the gateway is short, with most enemies falling while attempting to retreat. The survivors retreat to the center of the city, where they reform their lines under the command of the local governor. Isidoros' men are well trained and don't give pursute to the center of the city, where rested enemy forces await. Instead, the army of Babylonians take their time to rest and slowly march on the city center. Once they are in possition on three sides of the city center, Isidoros gives the word for the archers to release their arrows:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7854/maa3424cd5.png

Most of the remaining infantry of the city guard quickly fall. The governor of Seleukeia, under a rain of arrows from all sides, decides to take his chances and launches a counter attack against the southern force of Babylonians:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/7850/maa3425yr0.png

The spearmen absorb the charge and hold their ground against the assault by the heavy kataphraktoi:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4941/maa3426nh4.png

While the kataphraktoi fight with the Babylonians to the south, the Babylonian forces to the east and west charge the city center and quickly wipe out the last of the city guards. These two forces then charge south toward the battle with the kataphraktoi and attack their enemy from the rear:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3703/maa3427nn5.png

One at a time, the kataphraktoi fall dead. Soon only the governor remains:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/156/maa3429ua2.png

When the Makedonian governor falls dead, the city falls into the hands of the Babylonians and thus all of Mesopotamia is once again under the control of the city of Babylon, for the first time in centuries:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8836/maa3431ws8.jpg

King Isidoros learns much from the battle...
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/87/maa3432lb8.jpg

...but at this point in his life decides he much rather prefers governing over warfare:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/145/maa3433uq1.jpg

King Isidoros Oresteus of Babylon takes control of the city of Seleukeia as well as all of the territories along the two great rivers, from Assyria in the north to the border of Median control near the sea. Isidoros promises Philippos that the region will return to the Arche Makedonia, but until the war is over it is to be managed by Isidoros and the Babylonians. Philippos is worried at the thought of another uncontrollable client state, but at least Isidoros is getting old and has no sons.

With the fall of Kilikia, Armenia, Assyria, and Babylonia into the hand of Philippos, the western Arche Makedonia is once again the undisputed greatest power in the known world:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8819/maa3415xa0.jpg

With his powerful mother at his side, Euktimenos takes control from the failure of his, court, advisors, and what remains of his generals:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3213/maa3416mc9.png

With failure surrounding him and his own end quickly approaching, the young Euktimenos Idomeneus of the Demetrid line finally takes complete control of the eastern Arche Makedonia. However, now the eastern Arche Makedonia consists of only that which is within the walls of the city of Demetreia. Euktimenos Idomeneus is the direct line of Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Demetrios I Poliorcetes, Antigonos II Gonatas, Demetrios II Megas, Aristotelis, Bykoli, and Pefkolaos Idomeneus. Great men preceed him in his family line, but there is little greatness in the future of Euktimenos. The only choice left to Euktimenos is whether he will die fighting of surrender to the armies of his distance cousin, Philippos V.

The known world in160BC:
https://img391.imageshack.us/img391/...02edit2xi2.png

Next: Chapter 72 : The Syrian War (Part IV): The Fall of the Demetrids

Another great update, MAA! Finally we will see the Arche Makedonia united again!!

Maion

Finish the reconquest and then Destroy Numidia!!!

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!

Thanks, everybody!

My plan had been to take the fertile crescent, then Aigyptos, then part of Numidia-Mauretania, and finally to finish off the Iberians in the reign of Philippos. Although, I've encountered problems with my neighbors after reuniting the Arche Makedonia and has so far (as far as I've played) been side tracked with other "problems".

Just discovered and read this AAR. Simply astonishing. I have never read anything so epic. I am assuming you edited the EDU to enable the recruitment of all those regional and non-regional(the Polybian Triari, Principes, Hastati) units for Makedonia?

Thanks. Yeah, I've altered many units to allow recruitment, starting with the basic Thorakitai. Some are easy, like the Thorakitia, but units such as the Romaioi require many changes to many files to get them to work.

...

I've gotten the chapter after the next written, but not the next one yet... :dizzy2:
I'm planning on writting up some story elements rather than just review and that usually takes me a while to do...

Absolutely EPIC update MAA, once again you reaffirm your status as King of the AAR

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NickTheGreek

Absolutely EPIC update MAA, once again you reaffirm your status as King of the AAR

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Seconded!

All hail His Majesty MarcusAureliusAntoninus, the King and Emperor of AARs!

Thanks, guys.

I've been busy the last week (and sick), so I haven't been visiting the forums much, let alone writing much.

I had split the next chapter into two pieces, but I'm thinking of spliting it into three or four now. I hope to have the first part up today here soon...

Chapter 72 : The Syrian War (Part IV):
Before the Fall

Separated from Demetreia and the royal family of the Demetrids of Syria, the land of Aigyptos had begun to opperate as a separate nation. "Requests" of military aid from Aigyptos to Demetreia had been turned down by the Makedonike nobles now ruling Aigyptos. Not only was it impossible for aid to reach Demetreia, but any attempt to do so would have been a great risk to Aigyptos itself and may have weakened the defenses of the ancient land. Not only did Aigyptos need fear Philippos, and a reprisal on the nobles who had apposed him, but Aigyptos also needed a strong army to defend itself from enemies from the lands of Nubia and their Ptolemaic king.

Aigyptos would not come to the aid of Demetreia because of the amount of Philippos-controlled lands between the two areas and due to Philippos' sea superiority. However, claiming to be coming to the aid of Syria, though in truth only seeking to expand the land controlled by the greedy nobles of Aigyptos, an army from Aigyptos marches north and attacks the city of Hierosolyma and the Ioudaioi army:
https://img504.imageshack.us/img504/849/maa3412fe2.png

[I didn't get any screenshots of this battle.]

After a short time being besieged, and without any chance of Makedonike reinforcement from the north, the city is attacked by the siege equiptment of Aigyptos. The Ioudaioi army was conscripted under special conditions to defend the city. Had there been no Makedonike civil war, there would have been no Ioudaioi army. Now, they are put to the test defending their homeland.

The Ioudaioi defend the walls of the city, but it is only a matter of time before the superior numbers and elite status of the army of Makedones from Aigyptos gain superiority. With the defenders faltering, the battle looks bleak and the fall of the city becomes only a matter of time. Just as morale hits its lowest point, spooters report seeing another army approaching. To the east an army of Nubians approach the city and attack the part of the army of Aigyptos that still remains in reserve outside the city. Seizing this oppertunity, the king of Hierosolyma rallies his men and pushes the men from Aigyptos from his city.

Thanks to the army of Nubians, the city is saved and the Aigyptians retreat back to Alexandreia. The battle is a costly one, however. The army of Ioudaia is almost entirely wiped out and those who still stand are mostly mercenaries loyal to money and not Ioudaioi loyal to the king. With another army marching from Aigyptos, forces of Arabia surrounding the region, and Nubian "allies" just outside the city walls, the king is in a dire situation. Unable to raise an army quickly, the king is forced to accept aid from Chrysoloras Delphikos and his mercenaries. Once Chrysoloras Delphikos and the mercenaries reach the city, there is no longer any need from a Ioudaioi army and in fact Chrysoloras, under orders from his Basileus, discourages the raising of a new army.

As for the Ptolemaioi of Nubia, they declare an official war on both Syria and Aigyptos, promising to live up to their new alliance with Philippos:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2892/maa3413fw7.jpg

A year later, a small scout force from Aigyptos tests their other border with Philippos' Arche Makedonia:
https://img374.imageshack.us/img374/5467/maa3434tq2.png

With the forces from the two adjacent forts coming to their aid, the small garrisons of the Lybian forts chase their enemy back to Aigyptos:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8344/maa3435qb4.png

The forces from the fort loose no men, but manage to kill many with their javelin even though they never face their enemy with their swords:
https://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7342/maa3436dc2.jpg

With both borders to the Arche Makedonia tested, the forces of Aigyptos turn south and to the lands which were lost earlier in the civil war to oppertunitic Nubian forces. Their timing is poor, however, as Ptolemai VII, himself, and his huge army is passing by the region at the time:
https://img374.imageshack.us/img374/5183/maa3440de8.png

Off to the west, the itch at is Numidia, attacks Ippone once more:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5627/maa3437jd6.png

Growing ever more confident in his abiltity to lead, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus and his local garrison gallently defends the city once more:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3981/maa3438nx5.jpg

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Philippos and his men have been sitting outside the walls for more than two years. The
army has been camped in the area so long that the camp has basically become its own city.
Around Demetreia Philippos' army had built a pallicade encircling the city and then another
around the camp itself, with a couple of towers built on the hills above the city. The bulk
of the camp is to the north of the city on the same side of the river (the east), but there
are also large forces stationed to the south and in the hills to the east, which overlooked
the town. Other than Philippos' army, mercenaries, Galatians, and Romaioi allies would also
frequent the camp around Demetreia as various armies patrol the lands of Syria.

The trade routes had been reopened when the other armies of the Arche Makedonia had
taken all the territories surrounding the region and trade once again flows through the region.
Traders pass through the valley and stop in the camp instead of stopping at the city of
Antiocheia / Demetreia as they once did. Some "traders" had even set up permanent residence
in the camp, especially those who "goods" appeal to soldiers and their vices.

Philippos, himself, had been absent from the camp on several occasions, but had been trying
to manage the vast Arche Makedonia from his residence in the camp. In the time since his
father's death, Philippos hadn't fought a single proper battle but had dealt with more
bureaucracy than he had ever dreamed of. Much of the managing work of the Arche Makedonia
is passed off to others and taken care of by Philippos' elder brother Sotades (once Sotades
took Tarsos) and his younger brother Euphrantos in Makedonia, who had continued to grow
and mature from the rebellious youth he once was. A great deal of the managing work of both
Philippos and Euphtantos has also been assumed by the nobles of Pella, both by order of these
men and by the own initiative of the nobles.

Many times envoys from one side of the siege of Demetreia would talk with the other side, but
the Demetrid family, namely Antigone, would never accept the terms of Philippos. Time had been
running out for the Demetrids, though. Just a few months prior, the city of had cast out several
hundred people into the regions between the city walls and the pallicades of Philippos. Had they
been barbarians, Philippos would have ordered his men to kill them or simply leave them there to
die, but they were Makedones, Hellenes, and Hellenized Syrians. Seeking to prove himself the
greater good in the fight, Philippos took in the cast out civilians. Thankfully, the invasion of
the surrounding areas had been completed and feeding, supplying, and relocating the people from
the city proves an easy task.

Finally, the time comes when a choice has to be made and word was sent out from the city
to the camp of Philippos that Euktimenos wished to arrange a meeting, face to face, and
discuss the surrender of the city and the fate of the royal family. Philippos is cautious of a
trap at first, but knows that nobody claiming such noblity would stoop so low. Philippos
agrees to the meeting on the terms that he brings his royal guard.

Philippos, his most trusted lieutenant, and a group of his royal guard approached the northern
gates of the city of Demetreia around midday. With the rest Philippos' army watching not too
far from the city, the gates opened up.

Philippos and his men are escorted to a villa near the gate, belonging to some local noble, where
the meeting is to take place. As they slowly move forward, Philippos takes time to observe his
enemy. The city looks clean and strong, but in the distance there are signs of filth and an occational
shift of the wind brings the smell of death, disease, and human waste. Along the sides of the
road, the soldiers of the garrison and what is left of the Demetrid royal guard are lined up. Their
armor and weapons are shined in order to give off an image or strength and honor, but the men
themselves look as though they are struggling to simply stay standing. The bodies of the soldiers
look weak and tired, but when Philippos looks into their eyes he sees something he doesn't expect,
he sees nothing. There is no fire in the eyes of his enemy, not even any fear. These are the eyes
of men who have already given up, accepted death. These are the eyes of a prisoner just before
he is exicuted, half his spirit has already gone to Hades. Philippos thinks to himself, 'These men have
already surrendered. They know their Basileus will not rule for long. Were I to give the order, my
twenty guards could take this city on their own. I could even give an order to these men, they
would probably follow it without a pause and turn their backs on their own side. These men have
no faith in their situation or their leader.' It is at that moment that Philippos knows the war was
over and that he was the sole ruler of most powerful empire in the known world.

Next: Chapter 73 : The Syrian War (Part V): The Fall of the Demetrids

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

[I didn't get any screenshots of this battle.]

After a short time being besieged, and without any chance of Makedonike reinforcement from the north, the city is attacked by the siege equiptment of Aigyptos. The Ioudaioi army was conscripted under special conditions to defend the city. Had there been no Makedonike civil war, there would have been no Ioudaioi army. Now, they are put to the test defending their homeland.

The Ioudaioi defend the walls of the city, but it is only a matter of time before the superior numbers and elite status of the army of Makedones from Aigyptos gain superiority. With the defenders faltering, the battle looks bleak and the fall of the city becomes only a matter of time. Just as morale hits its lowest point, spooters report seeing another army approaching. To the east an army of Nubians approach the city and attack the part of the army of Aigyptos that still remains in reserve outside the city. Seizing this oppertunity, the king of Hierosolyma rallies his men and pushes the men from Aigyptos from his city.

Thanks to the army of Nubians, the city is saved and the Aigyptians retreat back to Alexandreia. The battle is a costly one, however. The army of Ioudaia is almost entirely wiped out and those who still stand are mostly mercenaries loyal to money and not Ioudaioi loyal to the king. With another army marching from Aigyptos, forces of Arabia surrounding the region, and Nubian "allies" just outside the city walls, the king is in a dire situation. Unable to raise an army quickly, the king is forced to accept aid from Chrysoloras Delphikos and his mercenaries. Once Chrysoloras Delphikos and the mercenaries reach the city, there is no longer any need from a Ioudaioi army and in fact Chrysoloras, under orders from his Basileus, discourages the raising of a new army.

---

Why?! ~:mecry:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Growing ever more confident in his abiltity to lead, Zaikedenthes Echinaieus and his local garrison gallently defends the city once more:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3981/maa3438nx5.jpg

---

Judging from the amount of casualties, did you use auto_win?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reverend Joe

Why?! ~:mecry:

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I started to play the battle once, but the Nubians didn't show up. (I only had a picture of guys standing on the walls waiting for the towers.) Since I wanted to force the Ptolemaioi/Nubian and the Demetrids/Aigyptos into a war I reloaded and just used auto_win to ensure the outcome I wanted and the war between the two. However, since I used auto_win I ended up taking huge causualties, which I just roleplayed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus

Judging from the amount of casualties, did you use auto_win?

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Yeah, I've been auto_win for a while with the constant seiges of Ippone. When they send a large force, however, I'll fight it. I'm kind of hoping to loose the town for roleplaying purposes, but they are just so incompetant. I'm hoping to actually take the war to the Numidians, soon.

Chapter 73 : The Syrian War (Part V):
The Fall of the Demetrids : Introductions

Philippos V, son of the famed Pyrrhos of Makedonia and current Basileus of the vast Arche
Makedonia, stands in a quiet street of the city of Demetreia. Surrounded by a circle of royal
guard, Philippos notices only the deafening sound of silence in the streets around him. His own
men surround him silently, only moving their eyes to look for any possible threat. Along the edge
of the road the soldiers of his enemy stand as dead and motionless as statues. To Philippos, the
silence seems to stretch all the way from himself, down the road, through the open gate, across
the vast no-mans-land, and to the very faces of his own men standing, waiting at the pallicades.
The silence seems to build until it is completely unbearable, then suddenly their is a noise which
seems to tear the entire moment apart. The sound is a simple footstep, but it draws Philippos'
attention.

From the entrance to the villa, Philippos sees two of his own guards emerge. One of them give a
simple nod and the whole group around Philippos begins to move. As soon as the group moves,
all the other noises seem to return. Philippos hears a man cough, and when Philippos looks to his
side, he sees one of the soldiers in the enemy garrison grab his side and lean against the wall, as
though the man had finally lost the last bit of energy left in him and is incapible of even standing
for the extra moment before Philippos enters the building.

The entrance to the villa opens up into a courtyard rather than the building proper. The gardens
within the courtyard looks well tended, with small statues around the ege and a fountain in the
center. In the corner of the garden a small fruit tree stands, but unlike the rest of the garden, it
looks quite sickly. In the center of the courtyard there is a large table with seats along two sides.
On the far side of the yard there stand two guards in elabrate armor. The two men are quite old
but they look healthy and strong, unlike the men outside. A breif thought passes through
Philippos' head that these men may well have been guards of Bykoli, who were assigned to guard
Euktimenos and have done so his entire life.

Two of Philippos' guards move inside of the main structure, while three stand on either side of the
door they just passed through. The rest of Philippos' men remain outside in street. Philippos and
his lieutenant sit at the table and wait.

Just as they sit down, the door to a side building, the door guarded by the two elder Demetrid
guards opens. Philippos instinctively puts his hand to his sword at his side but quickly moves his
hands back to his sides. Two more guards immerge from the doorway, followed by an old man, a
woman, and a youth. The guards stand to the sides and the three others approach the table. The
old man begins to speak and annouce their presence. A string of formallities flow forth and the
youth is announces a Euktimenos of the Demetrid line and the woman as his mother, Antigone.
Philippos remains seated for the event with an emotionless look on his face. After some time the
old man becomes silent. Philippos and his lieutenant glace at eachother, sharing the same
simple thought, 'Finally.' Philippos and his lieutenant then stand and his lieutenant begins to
introduce Philippos. With another chain of formalities, Philippos is introduced. On the other side
of the table the listeners attempt to remain emotionless but remain standing, although there is
visible irritation in the eyes of Antigone when Philippos' lieutenant purposely emphasized, "the
rightful heir of Megas Demetrios," in his description of Philippos.

Finally, with the introductions finished, all those around the table sit down and face eachother. It
is at this time that Philippos realizes just how large the table is. Although they sit at the same
table, it would take a sarrisa to thrust at someone on the far side. Philippos also notices that the
seats on the far side are raised higher and seem to be the point of honor on this table. This
simple act makes Philippos smile ironically as the old man once again opens up in a series of
bureaucratic ramblings and talk of terms.

"You wish to surrender this city?" Philippos says suddenly, cutting in and ignoring the old man all
together.

The old man looks visibly disgruntaled. "Excuse me-" The old man tries to speak but is stopped
by a motion from Antigone.

"A man of action," Antigone begins, "getting right to the point. Just like your father." Philippos is
disturbed by this comment about his father from a woman who never met him but lets her
continue, "We are willing to discuss terms by which you will become the sole inheritor of this great
empire. We wish to help you in a stable transition from war to peace. And there would be no
greater statement then an alliance between your family and ours. What would show greater unity
to the people's of this vast empire than to have our families become one?"

It is at this point that many later writer of history recount that Antigone attempts to seduce
Philippos. Some even say that he fell into her trap and was only brought back to his senses when
the captain of his royal guard intervened. Most, however, recount Philippos turning to Euktimenos
and saying, "What of you, boy? Do you intend to let your mother sell off your inheritance for her
own gain while she casts you aside?"

"How dare you!" Antigone screechs as she rises to her feet. "You are no-"

"SILENCE!" Philippos bellows back at the woman, while simultaneously rising to his feet. In that
moment, Philippos looked to be ten feet tall and towered over the table, even higher than those on
the upper side. Around him there seemed to be an aura of authority and confindence. "Be quiet
woman. This is a discussion between Basileu and no place for the likes of you. Be gone, leave
now or I will."

Antigone motions to move forward and around the table, but the captain of Philippos' guard
quickly put his hand on his sheathed sword and takes a single set forward. The guards behind
Euktimenos do similar, but before anything can occur, Antigone had spun herself around and
marches for the guarded door. As she enteres the room, elder slave woman comes to comfort
her, but Antigone pushes her to the ground. The door closes and the four men returned to their
seats.

With none of the previous fire in his eyes, the ordinary looking Philippos looks across at
Euktimenos, smiles, and says, "Now, shall we continue?"

Next: Chapter 74 : The Syrian War (Part VI): The Fall of the Demetrids

Ah, a merciless demonstration of power and humiliation of the enemy. I fear for the poor child... :2thumbsup:

This AAR is a hundred foot tall and made entirely of kickass, the little character bit with Philippos was excellent. Really added some flesh you know?

Thank you for your kind words.

I had the next chapter written a couple days ago but I just didn't like it. It made Philippos seem almost evil and I wanted him to be more of a Avgvstvs like figure and less of a Caracalla. I ended up deleting it and am in the process of rewriting it. I hope to have it up today or tommorrow.

Classes finally start for me on monday, so I may visit the forums less. Though, in all actuallity I'll probably visit more often.

Chapter 74 : The Syrian War (Part VI):
The Fall of the Demetrids : All Must Accept the Fates When They Come for You

Philippos once again stood in the streets of the city of Demetreia, but all is different this time. All
around him, his own men run through the streets. Coming through the city's northern gate, still
opened from when he had entered, thousands more continue to enter the city. At Philippos' side
stands the young Euktimenos, a man who only truely ruled anything from the short time his mother
left the negotiation table until his surrender to Philippos V.

Euktimenos had shown himself worthy during the negotiations but nowhere near the skill or
experience of Philippos and his lieutenant. In the boy, Philippos had seen great knowledge and
wisdom and strangely almost no signs of corruption and greed. It is said that power corrupts, and
this youth had never seen any true power. At first glance it would seem that his mother weilded the
power, but she only truely had control over her son. Since Philippos' father killed Euktimenos'
father in battle, the true power had layed with the nobles and royal advisors. In the negotiations, the
nobles had been represented by the old man at Euktimenos' side, but after what had happened
between Antigone and Philippos, he feared contolling the negotiates and dominating Euktimenos in
front of Philippos.

The fall of the city of Demetreia and the fall of the Demetrids themselves had been assured when
the armies of Assyria and Syria had been wiped out and it became clear that no one was coming to
save the city, years earlier. The negotiations were not been those of peace but rather a negotiation
on the terms of surrender. The Demetrids also had almost no weight to negotiate with. There are
almost no armies still standing and the people and soldiers within the city were starving and running
out of supplies. In the end, Euktimenos was able to gaurentee only one term, that he and his
mother would not be killed by Philippos. So the Demetrids surrendered and the city and what was
left of the army of Syria, including a division of kataphraktoi, are turned over to Philippos:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/1889/maa3441dg4.png

Although he is not killed, Euktimenos is taken into custody by Philippos' guards and perpared to be
sent back to Makedonia. The Demetrid advisors and nobles who had sided with Bykoli and
Pefkolaos would not be as lucky. Euktimenos is just a boy, without any great desire for power, but
he could be a useful tool for those who did seek power. To remove the chance of future uprisings in
Syria and to make an example to other powerful nobles who might seek power, the worst amongst
the advisors and nobles of Demetreia are ordered killled.

So in front of the palace of Demetreia, a structure originally rebuilt by Demetrios himself, those
deemed responsible for the war are executed. As he stands in front of the palace, Philippos can't
help but think of the time when he visited Syria in his early twenties and feared for his life. It was
the very nobles of the city, who hated his father, who had been forced to flee so many year ago.

Once the act is done, Philippos' men spread out to find the few nobles, generals, and advisors
without even the honor to face their death. Many who are deemed worthy of death still hid and the
palace itself has yet to be fully secured. Philippos quickly turns to leave the palace as his men go
about their business, but is soon stopped when one of his men calls for his attension. Rushing
after the man, Philippos finds a group of his men attempting to force a door open. With one last
great push the great doors to the royal audience chamber flies open, knocking down a group of
servants. Within, Philippos sees the body of Antigone, blood still pouring from her wounds, knife in
her hand. The elderly slave woman at her side reaches down and grabbing the knife turns to
Philippos to speak, "She would not be a prize for you to parade through the streets Pella in
chains." Then without a sound, the old woman uses the knife on herself and falls over, at the side
of her mistress. Deep in thought and with little emotion, Philippos turns and leave the room, the
palace, and the city itself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Word goes out throughout the Arche Makedonia and the surrounding world that the city of
Demetreia has fallen. The story is told that the city is taken without any spilled blood by Philippos'
army and that Euktimenos lives as a guest of Philippos. It is said that Antigone took her own life
but there is little mention of the nobles and advisors killed by Philippos. Only the nobles of Pella
hear the tale, clear of the message being sent to them by Philippos.

Philippos and his army only stay in the city of Demetreia a short time. Soon, Sotades and his
army arrive from Kilikia and occupy the city. Leaving the management of Syria to his elder brother,
Basileus Philippos V heads back to Makedonia.

Although Euktimenos is a prisoner, Philippos honors his royal birth and treats him well, dining with
him and even having long conversations with him as though he is a friend. A short way into
Anatolia, the army meets up with Philippos' family coming to meet up with Philippos on his way
home. Philippos' wife, first-born son Alypios, and two daughters then join Philippos, Euktimenos,
and the army on the way back to Pella.

Euktimenos had seen many faces of Philippos. Philippos had been a strong negotiator, a good
general who walks amoungst his men and talks with them, a strong (though not great) manager,
and even the moster he had seen when he spoke with Antigone. Now, Euktimenos sees another
Philippos, a family man, a loving husband, and a kind father.

Being only a few years different in age and both being raised to lead and empire, Euktimenos and
Alypios find much in common. Euktimenos takes this time to simply forget about the past and the
loss of his mother, deciding to simply travel with the family of Philippos. Although he was promised
his life, Euktimenos is well aware of the fact that he very well may be killed when the arrive in Pella,
but at this point he no longer even cares.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Aigyptos had not been returned to the Arche Makedonia formally but, Philippos declarss the civil war at an end and the Arche Makedonia reunited (including Aigyptos as part of his claimed territory). Philippos then orders his father's crest removed from the military standards and the star of Makedonia replaced in its rightful place. Effort would have to be put into forcing Aigyptos to recognize the sole rightful Basileus of Makedonia, but for most living within the Arche Makedonia, peace had finally returned.

The known world in159BC, at the fall of the Demetrids and the reunification of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/...159editry9.png

Next: Chapter 75 : A New Age

Good to see an end to the war...but why is Egypt Numidian now?

Most likely it is still Demetrid (controlled by Baktria) but recoloured as the Demetrid regions have been for some time now, only recoloured differently to signal the defeat of the actual Demetrids.

Great chapter, but its title made me think of an extremely bad cover of a well known song.

Bad fates bad fates, whatcha gonna do, watcha gonna do when they come for you? Bad fates fates etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/...159editry9.png

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BACK TO BLACK finally...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

BACK TO BLACK finally...

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Hell yeah!

Thanks. It's good to have the color back to normal. Unfortunately it seems that the AI remembered they hated the color black and soon after the war ended everyone declared war on me. With all the losses I took in the civil war (mostly the 50% of my armies I disbanded at the very beginning) I'm almost having trouble defending my borders. I'm considering allowing some regions to fall for some nice story...

Aigyptos is still "Baktria" and I indeed just recolored it again.

It's kind of funny you mention the title, Appo. I tried a bunch of different variations but never found a version I liked. I should have just left it plain "The Fall of the Demetrids".

I cant believe its over! The civil war was great, really entertaining!:2thumbsup: Makes me wonder what’s next!?
It felt like years ago that this AAR was about Demetrios and Alkyoneus, good memories :yes:

I realy wonder what's going to happen next:beam:

Good to see the old colour back...:yes:

One question though: about the units you moded (top of page) are you going to make a Makedonian version of the Praetorians or something?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Thanks. It's good to have the color back to normal. Unfortunately it seems that the AI remembered they hated the color black and soon after the war ended everyone declared war on me. With all the losses I took in the civil war (mostly the 50% of my armies I disbanded at the very beginning) I'm almost having trouble defending my borders. I'm considering allowing some regions to fall for some nice story...

---

"Almost" having trouble, eh? ~D

I had a bunch of time between classes earlier today and was bored so I looked over the beginning of my AAR and the good old days of Demetrios. I sure made big chapters back then but ironically posted them more often. One thing I had forgotten was just how much territory I had gained during the reign of Aristotelis, nearly as much as I gained under Demetrios. Too bad Aristotelis went crazy in his old age.

The units at the top of the last page are something I'm working on to make a non-Hellene regional Thorakitai. I wanted to make an eastern version that had scale and a western romano-keltic version. I was thinking of having some kind of reform down the road to have state supplied troops to troops along the line of the Marian reforms, at which point foreign troops will join the ranks of the Thorakitai as auxilaries.

I would have more trouble of defending my borders if the AI did a better job of attacking. They'll send just enough troops to win a auto_calc battle, but not anything played out, while they have tons of reinforcements just out of range to help. The Getic Confederation and the Gauls are still my friends, but other than that I've been almost completely turned against. I should just take out the small fries and concentrate on the big ones. The problem is that I'm having trouble adressing anything at all when it all happens at once. It is kind of fun since it is a challenge, though I'm still clearly winning on all fronts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

The Getic Confederation... are still my friends

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Are you serious?! Still?! That's got to be the weirdest diplomacy quirk ever.

Yeah, they've really surprised me. I thought I would have been at war with Getai as soon as I took Kallatis, but even after buying a couple towns from them they haven't thought of advancing southward. Even after the civil war forced me to disband a bunch of my Danube defenders they didn't attack. My theory is that the Boii rebel spawn has confused them. They tried to take that town a dozen times a hundred years ago. Now they just have their entire military standing on the border to that region.

I hope to have the next chapter up soon.

Chapter 75 : A New Age

Loose Ends

With the fall of Demetreia, most Demetrid forces surrender, disband, or retreat to Aigyptos (where they join what is widely being called a "rebellion" and not a "civil war"). However, some still choose to stand in defiance of Philippos. Mostly due to fear of what will happen to them if they surrender, especially what will happen to the military officers. To deal with the problem, the Galatians are tasked with chasing them down, a job they gladly accept:
https://img374.imageshack.us/img374/843/maa3442ce5.png

In the mountains between Kilikia and Syria, the last forces of what was the Demetrids are destroyed by the Galatians. Since in every battle the Galatians are force to take the offensive, many Galatians die in this last fight but their general continues to improve his skills:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/7194/maa3443vo1.jpg

With the war over and new defendable borders established. Philippos begins to reorganize his armies. Across Anatolia, Pontos, and Kappadokia garrisons are reduced and life begins to return to the old ways of peace these regions had once enjoyed as the center part of the Arche Makedonia. In Armenia garrisons are consolidated but the army of steppe cavalry remains in the region to hunt down rebels and brigands. The four large armies of Makedones and Hellenes, those of Philippos, Sotades, Herodes, and the mercenaries of Chrysoloras Delphikos remain in Syria and Assyria to reestablish order.

Many of the allied armies are sent back to their respective homes. The Illyrioi, having been almost entirely wiped out are sent back to Illyria and disbanded. After the years of war with the Romaioi and then the loss of this army in Syria, the Illyrioi almost entirely loose the ability and desire to wage war. Instead Illyria is garrisoned by Hellenes. From this time forward, the few soldiers recruited in the region no longer fight in their native style but in a Hellenistic formation [Thorakitai].

The Galatian army, still at two-thirds strength, returns to Galatia (a land which had gained much territory during the civil war). Many of the Galatian soldiers disband but a good deal of the amry remains a standing force. The Galatians had proved to be great allies and friends of Pyrrhos and Philippos but they had gained great deals of power and were becoming something to be feared. The Galatians now had power that could be used as leverage to make demands of Makedonia.

To the east, an army of Armenians and Thraikioi, who had settled in Armenia, had assisted Philippos in the war by taking control of eastern Assyria. Most of the Thraikio-Armenians take the end of the war as an oppertunity to return to their homes in Armenia, but a few remain to guard the city of Arbela where some even choose to settle. The Thraikioi, in the reigns of Demetrios, Aristotelis, and now Philippos had been given settling rights similar to the Makedones and Hellenes that had been settled by Megas Alexandros. Though few pick up and leave Thraikia, many mercenaries recruited into the armies of the Arche Makedonia, who had served in the east never return home and instead settle alongside native populations.

King Isidoros of Babylon remains in control of Mesopotamia and Philippos is slow to remove him from power or take control of the region. [Both Babylon and Seleukeia have Type3, representing a client state under family member control, since I don't want to spawn a client ruler.] Just prior to the civil war, Bykoli and Pefkolaos had nearly defeated the Median Empire, but their march to Pella had allowed to Medians to regain their lost land and even grow in power. Now, Media is a powerful empire and a client state in Babylonia under King Isidoros proves to be beneficial to Philippos. King Isidoros' army is not great and Mesopotamia lacks the income to launch an offensive war, thus Mesopotamia poses no threat to Media. If Philippos marches and army of Makedones into Babylonia, Media might take this as an act of agression. In order to maintain this buffer state, Isidoros gains greatly by remaining in power.

The Romaioi and their Consul also prepare to go home. Marching south from Syria, the Romaioi set up camp near Heirosolyma and make a stance of power to deture further attack from Aigyptos or Arabia. The Romaioi expect to wait a few months before boarding their ships to sailing back to Italia, but fate has one more mission left for the Romaiai...
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8341/maa3444eb2.png

Eastern Ways

Aristotelis, Bykoli, and Pefkolaos had all spent their lives fighting wars in the east. Since the era of Demetrios, these men had been the generals in wars against the Ptolemaioi, the Armenians, the Arche Seleukeia, and the Median Empire and the unique ways of fighting wars in the east. Aristotelis and Bykoli had especially been interested in eastern culture and warfare.

After a war with the Armenians, Aristotelis had attempted to develop his own kataphraktoi, but Demetrios saw no point in them and nothing much came of it. Later, during his invasion of Babylonia, Aristotelis had encountered the kataphraktoi hellenikoi of the Arche Seleukeia and had even managed to capture some of them. However, by that time in his life, Aristotelis only wanted to fight a war and not develop new types of warefare. Once the civil war had begun and the Demetrids had been cut off from western and Galatian smiths, chainmail and the new way of fighting that had been developing within the Arche Makedonia was cut off from them. The Demetrids were thus forced to turned to the eastern ways of fighting. With the captured Seleukids as their cores, the Demetrids began to found new military units to fight Pyrrhos.

With the quick conquest of Anatolia and the surrender of Demetreia, many of these new units had been left intact and are now looking for employment. As with most soldiers, to these men warfare is an issue of money and not necessarily loyalty. Thus several new types of military units, based in eastern technology present themselves to Philippos and offer their military services. Primarily amongst them are the Hellenistic kataphraktoi developed from the Seleukid model:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9247/maa3447fb5.png

Also amongst the men deployed to fight in an eastern style are the Hellenistic horse archers. Developed in Baktria, this form of combat made its way to the Seleukids [Yes, I gave these guys to the Seleukids earlier, they just didn't ever want to ever recruit any.] and then into the hands of the Demetrids during the conquest of Babylonia:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9752/maa3448at3.png

Although the Demetrids never had the chance to use it before it fell into the hands of Philippos, they had also developed armor for the elephants of Demetreia, copying Indokoi tactics and technology:
https://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3793/maa3449iv2.png

Finally, there were the elite Thorakitai. With chainmail a rare resource in the east, it was reserved for the elites. Once again, copying Seleukid technology which had also been encountered in Babylonia, the Demetrids attempted to create an improved version of the Hypaspistai. Only a handful of these men were ever deployed and even less were available for recruitment:
https://img374.imageshack.us/img374/7456/maa3450gr7.png

Since his youth, Philippos had been interested in the technologies of foreign powers, though normally western powers, such as the Romaioi and the the Keltoi. For nearly his entire life, Philippos had gone to battle with his Thorakitai army and personally created a new style of warefare for the Arche Makedonia. Philippos took note of the new units but was unsure on how to actually use them and hesitant to recruit anyone with unsure loyalty while there were still rebellions and Demetrid supporters still around. It would actually be his elder brother Sotades who would begin experimenting with them while governor of Syria.

The known world in159BC:
https://img119.imageshack.us/img119/...159editry9.png

Next: Chapter 76 : The Sons of Pyrrhos

Wow, this has got to be the longest running AAR in the history of EB. You have probably beaten just about every AAR record there is out there, haven't you ~:)?

Any chance of going to fight the barbarians of the north or the nations of the far east?

However, it does seem more likely that you'll just go for the Numidians/Qarthadastim or Aiguptos. (with maybe a possible chance of a brief war against the Saba)

Can't really say much more than what others before me have said...wow. The discussion of available merc units is outstanding!

I agree with Aemilius -- I'd love to see some action against the Sabyn...

my god, MAA!
i just spent the past 1.5 hours reading everything!
spectacular job!

Me thinks the coast of Africa should be secured for the glory and well-being of the Arche Makedonia.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus

BACK TO BLACK finally...

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Its actually dark brown!!!....;p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tls5669

Its actually dark brown!!!....;p

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:stare: Be wary, lest you invoke the wrath of Megas MAA.

In four days, this AAR will be a year old. :dizzy2:

Since everyon in Europe (other than the Lusotanni) are my friends (for now), I don't really expect to fight barbarians anytime soon. Though I would like to gain some more territory in Gaul, for instance.

My original plans for conquest after the civil war was to deal with Aigyptos (I had originally planned to just make peace with them [other than Alexandreia there isn't really much to gain from Aigyptos, it doesn't have too great of resources and it is overpopulated with people that don't like Makedonia]). After Aigyptos I had planned to take the coasts of Numidia and Mauretania (Siga and Lixus) to hopefully bankrupt them and at least cut down on there per turn unit spawns. Then have Philippos move to Iberia and finish what he had started with the Lusotanni. My plans didn't really work out, though. As the oracle said to Demetrios, "Friends will become enemies, and enemies friends." :egypt:

The color is actually a dark brown. :shame: It is supposed to be black but black doesn't look great on the minimap. With the current color, you can see the contrasts of the terrain on the minimap better. I still call it black, though.

Thankyou to those of you who have read my AAR and thanks to those who have commented. I caught up with my picture editting and have about a two hundred uneditted pictures from the last couple months / decade of play that I need to edit before I can even start the next chapter. The next five years will go pretty fast...

Beat the shit out of those pesky Numidians and take their lands! They have rich mines after all. They deserve it. :grin:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

In four days, this AAR will be a year old.

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:happybirthday3: in advance. And since it´s never to early to start celebrating a birthday, let´s party. :clown: :birthday2: :belly: :juggle2: :cake: :holiday2: :campfire: :verycool: :applause: :holiday: :gathering: ~:cheers: :bling: ~:grouphug: :duel: ~:joker: ~:wave: :tomato: ~:thumb: :thrasher: :eyebrows: :girlslap: :cheerleader: :dancing: :elephant: :bounce: :knuddel: :hippie: :balloon2: :egypt: :crown: :2thumbsup: :grin: :crowngrin: :mad: :sunny: :balloon: :laugh3: :love: :guitarist: :smitten: :party2: :juggle: :party3: :drummer: :lips: :gorgeous: :mickey: :sweetheart:

Hmpf, apparently there´s some stupid rule about max 50 images a post.

:gossip: :cool3: :lips2: :kiss2: :iloveyou: :hat: :Mr-T: :cool4: :tongue3: :san_cheesy: :san_kiss: :barrel: :rtwyes: :gring: :medievalcheers: :7stripper: :7clown: :7jester:

You only need one image to party.

https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1496/bostonvv8.jpg
https://img510.imageshack.us/img510/...jpg/1/w380.png

(And the image limit is to prevent people from spamming full-sized images.)

@MAA: Ccongratulations. I've been following this since day 30 or so; you and Chirgueon (I forget how to spell his name) have truly raised the standards for AARs, at least around here.

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA

http://i.fokzine.net/s/static.gif Makedonia http://i.fokzine.net/s/static.gif

:smash::smash::smash::smash::smash:

October 2nd was my best friends Birthday...

Hmmm...Which is more important..AAR, or Birthday?

The AAR damnit :laugh4:
Cool update MAA I eagerly await the next

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NickTheGreek

The AAR damnit

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Seconded. Happy (belated?) birthday for this AAR.

Lol. Thanks everyone. :juggle2:

I didn't have the internet earlier so I was doing some personal modding. I'm still trying to make some foreign under-hand spearmen Thorakitai for a future reform. This is what I've made out of the Roman auxilia to be a European foreign Thorakitai. (Removed the pants and resized and reskined the shield.) I'm still not happy with them though, still look too Roman:
https://img393.imageshack.us/img393/7099/maa3453km8.png
I've also made a series of changes to the skins and stats of my existing types of Thorakitai.

It's the tunic, I suspect.

This is my first reply in this behemoth of the AAR world, so I'm obliged to say; awesome AAR, MAA!

Yeah, it´s the tunic mainly.

Give them greaves and an Iron helmet.

Still, it is a cool thing that you mod your game only for an AAR.:2thumbsup:

I went to change their helmet and decided to change their whole head. They look less Roman, but with the cheek guards, you can't see their full beard and they look like mustached Gauls:
https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/6158/maa3499eu5.png
I thought about adding greaves but decided against it since these guys aren't supposed to be as well equiped as my regular units.

I can only say one thing: WOW.

(cant wait to see "seleucid" and "bactrian" units in the armies of Makedonia:yes:)

Your moded units look very good - they do look a bit like gauls but you could change that by giving them a beard like their officer has. You could also try to add bows as secondary weapons for them (a kind of recreating the "immortals") but thats your decision:dizzy2:

oh yes and the most important: ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!

Very nice. I'm considering doing similar things once I'm in the Persian lands (Saka AAR), and maybe adding some greek/macedonian units, too.

Thanks.

I tried to remake those guys again but accidentally saved under the wrong compression and RTW couldn't read the unit. Thanksfully I copied the file (the guys in the last pic) so I don't have to completely start over agian.

Saka has some pretty good Indo-Greek units. Some of those guys could easily be modded into some sort of standard Greek units for recruiting in Persia and Babylonia.

But enough with my mini-modding. I'm working on the next chapter. It will probably be a short one. Thanks again for following.

MAA: those thorakitai look pretty good, but the avxillia green tunic with the white band still throws me off. Also, if you switched out the chainmail for a more celtic style with a mail shoulder cape instead of greco-roman linothorax style shoulder straps it might help. Absolutely love your AAR. It is the pinnacle of EB.

Chairman

Chapter 76 : The Sons of Pyrrhos

After eighteen years of civil war, people all across the Arche Makedonia seek only a time of peace and security. Busy with issues in Makedonia, Philippos decides to make that peace and give the rebels in Aigyptos an unexpected oppertunity. Risking egitimizing their continued rule over Aigyptos and giving them power, Philippos sends envoys to Aigyptos to negotiate peace with the local nobility:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7091/maa3455kc4.jpg

Basileus Philippos V of Makedonia is now the sole ruler of the reunited Arche Makedonia (aside from Aigytpos) and now had peace. But Philippos could not rule the vast lands of the Arche alone. To maintain control of the lands, Philippos depended on many advisors, generals, nobles (both Makedones and foreign), and members of his own family. Makedonia, itself, is mostly controlled by the nobles and the foreign satrapies are primarily controled by regional nobles or kings advised by the generals of the Makedonike armies. However, the satrapy system had been shown to have weaknesses in the civil war and had too many chances for disloyalty. A rapid set of reforms and changes just after a civil war is too risky, though. Philippos realizes he must stick with the current system and simply rely on his generals and advisors to ensure peace, order, security, and loyalty. Closest and most trusted of Philippos' advisors are his own brothers. Pyrrhos had given his sons a great deal of responsibity under his rule and now Philippos continued to give them more. Pyrrhos' wife had given him four sons and no daughters, and now, with Philippos leading them, it is up to these men to rule the Arche Makedonia.

Sotades is the first-born of the sons of Pyrrhos:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9392/maa3466sh4.png

Raised and educated in Italia, Sotades was too young to fight along side his father in the Romaioi War but first commanded an army at the age of sixteen against rebels in Italia. Sotades accompanied his father in the war against Kart-Hadast and is now the only surviving general that participated in that war. When Pyrrhos returned to Pella to claim the throne, Sotades came with him, at his side. Sotades fought several battles at the very beginning of the civil war but ultimately got tired of warfare and command. Seeing this in his son before he even did, Pyrrhos had given the title of heir to his second son, Philippos.

During the Syrian Invasion, Sotades once again lead an army but fought only one major battle during that campaign. With Philippos returning to Makedonia at the end of the conflict, Syria and the city of Demetreia were handed over to the control of Sotades. Finally doing what he most enjoys, Sotades now governs greater Syria and concentrates on rebuilding the damages of the war. Showing such zeal for his work, Sotades quickly wins over the people of Syria

Philippos is the second-born son of Pyrrhos and current Basileus of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/694/maa3467ki5.png

Philippos was raised in Italia but was sent to Hellas where he participated in the Spartan Agoge and ironically became one of the last Makedonike nobles to complete it. After the completion of the Agoge, Philippos then spent a couple years in Athenai, at its great schools. After completing his education, Philippos raised an army of Hellenes and began to experiment with new tactics. Having been raised in Italia, Philippos chose to raise an army of Thorakitai and copy Romaioi military tactics. With his new army, Philippos made his way eastward, defeating brigands and assisting local governments who had problems with rebel armies. Eventually he made his way all the way to Syria and the city of Demetrios.

It was in Syria that Philippos first realized the divide that had begun to grow between the east and the west as well as the great fear people had at the immanent end to the Antigonid dynasty. Fleeing Syria, Philippos found his way to Aigyptos, where he finally got a true test of his army against an army of Meroe. After only one battle, Philippos was called by his father to Africa and then sent to Iberia to deal with the betrayal of the alliance with the Iberian Confederacy.

After thouroughly defeating the armies of Iberia and conquering half the peninsula, Philippos made his way eastward to assist his father and brothers in the civil war. After greeting his father, Philippos' first task was to defeat the Spartans, who had taken the civil war as an oppertunity to rebel and conquer much of Hellas. Due to their horrible treatment of other conquered Hellenes, the task of turning Hellas against Sparte and defeating them was an easy one. In the end, Philippos end up killing the very men who had taught him how to fight.

Philippos spent the next several years with his father and brothers in Pella, planning the invasion of Syria. Pyrrhos would not live to see the invasion fulfilled but his plan was a complete success.

With the war over, Philippos returned to Makedonia with the young Demetrid Basileus Euktimenos as a prisoner. During the celebrations in Pella, Euktimenos was publically humiliated but was not killed. Once the celebrations had died down, Philippos gave Euktimenos a mansion in Pella and placed him under house arrest. Only a handful of the descendants of Demetrios were still alive after the war, and since Demetrios had been so respected by the Makedonike people, killing one of his descendants would upset the masses. Philippos decides to leave Euktimenos alive, for now, to respect the memory of his ancestor. So, Euktimenos disappears from public view and public thought, quietly tutored and kept in Pella.

The great empire Philippos now rules finally pulls itself from the hole of the civil war. With all debts long repaid, the treasury of Makedonia continues to grow. Although racked by unprecedented corruption on all levels of government, the amount in the treasury grows to a point that it surpasses that of all other known kingdoms and peoples:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8694/maa3462aw1.jpg

With the reunification, a huge treasury, and the reconstruction of devastated cities of culture such as Athenai and Demetreia, Philippos' Arche Makedonia once again reclaims the title as greatest kingdom in the known world:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8351/maa3463nd4.jpg

Euphrantos the Crippled is the third-born son of Pyrrhos and widely known as the most corrupt:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9733/maa3468hr8.png

Once Pyrrhos realized that the nobles supported him and were preparing to choose him over Bykoli were Basileus Neokles to died, Pyrrhos had to protect his family. Because of what had happened to Philippos in Syria, Pyrrhos chose to keep his third son with him in Kart-Hadast rather than send him to Hellas or even Italia for education. To protect him, Euphrantos was tutored in Kart-Hadast and very closely protected and spoiled by his father. Because of this and the fact he was crippled from birth, much like his father, Euphrantos did not get much experience with the real world.

Soon after Pyrrhos reached Pella and was declared Basileus, his wife and two youngest sons joined him in Makedonia. After spending his entire life in a foreign city under strict supervision, Euphrantos was finally in a large Hellenistic city and son of the most powerful man in the known world. In the years that followed, while Pyrrhos, Sotades, and Philippos waged wars and planned strategies, Euphrantos endulged in the vices of the large city and spent his nights in all kinds of unseemly activities.

Euphrantos' life would have continued like this if not for the death of his father and the rise of his brother to the throne. With his elder brothers fighting in the east, Euphrantos was forced to at least take a figurehead role in Makedonia, although Makedonia itself is mostly ruled by the noble Makedones. Euphrantos is never cured of his vices and gains little experience in management, but at least takes on a some responsibility.

As man in charge of Makedonia, Euphrantos manages to accumulate a sizable personal wealth, even with his squanderings in idle activities. At the same time, he even learns how to govern effectively, though it is arguable that what he lacks more than outmatches what he gains:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1591/maa3456ad8.jpg

Laandros is the fourth-born and youngest son of Pyrrhos:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2514/maa3469ht4.png

Laandros made the trek to Makedonia, after his father became Basileus, while he was still a child and was the only son of Pyrrhos to come of age while Pyrrhos was ruler of the Arche Makedonia. Due to the problems in Hellas, Laandros completed his education in Pella. While at school in Pella, he quickly became friends with Anaxagoras, the second son of the murdered Herakleon. At first it seemed that the two youths would follow the ways of Euphrantos and simply indulge in the pleasures of life, but both were quickly forced to take a possition of leadership when Pyrrhos died.

At the death of Pyrrhos, Anaxagoras would return to Bosphoria, and soon after Laandros was assigned to Hellas by his brother, Basileus Philippos V. Because of the rebellion in Hellas and the delicate situation in the region, Philippos needed someone who could both be trusted and who was capable. At first Philippos considered assigning Sotades to manage Makedonia and Hellas, but Sotades had connections with the army and was needed on the front. So, Philippos assigned Makedonia to Euphrantos, knowing the nobles would handle everything anyways, and assigned Laandros to manage all of Hellas.

In the job of governor of Hellas, Laandros began to excel. With his youthful ways put behind him, Laandros manages to become one of the greater governors in the Arche Makedonia:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/2904/maa3461nm6.jpg

In order to more closely monitor the Spartiatai, Laandros would administer from Sparte itself. After the civil war and the end of the Spartiatai rebellion, Sparte began to grow and change. Sparte finally began to loose the last traces of the old Spartiatai ways that had lingered for centuries. One thing didn't change, however, and that was the skill of the Spartiatai to teach the ways of warfare. Even without fighting a single battle, Laandros learned from his advisors and became a capable leader of men:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9638/maa3470fb0.jpg

As for Anaxagoras, he returned to Bosphoria and quickly experienced a great oppertunity when the city of Olbia declared itself independant of the alliance of steppe tribes. Seizing on this oppertunity, Anaxagoras raised and army and quickly took the city for the Arche Makedonia. This action gained the entire coastline from the mouth of the Istros (Danube) to the former borders of the satrapy of Bosphoria. After taking the Olbia, however, he found himself bogged down having to completely reconstruct the city's infrastructure after years of neglect. Over the following years, Anaxagoras was forced to become compitant in construction and supervision:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6149/maa3464ba0.jpg

Meanwhile, his elder brother Herodes helped Philippos fight the Demetrids and managed to personally take much of Assyria near the end of the war. Herodes, himself, could have contested a right to the throne at the beginnig of the war, being the direct great grandson of Antigonos Gonatas, but was too young to truely contest Pyrrhos and decided simply to join him against those who killed his father. From the war, Herodes manages to become a decent military leader:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2858/maa3471fd9.jpg

Still in Assyria, Herodes even manages to gain prestigue in the Arche Makedonia:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/565/maa3465gb1.jpg

Off in Babylonia, Isidoros Oresteus retains his title as King of Babylon, though spends most of his time in the more advanced and more Hellenistic city of Sekeukeia while rebuilding Babylon:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6236/maa3498gv5.png

With one army of elite Babylonians and a sizable force of reserves, King Isidoros only makes a small amount of excess money in his Babylonian Satrapy. Almost the entire excess tax and trade income of the area then immediately goes to rebuilding Babylon as a great city, in a Hellenistic fashion.

After taking the city of Babylon, Isidoros begins to enjoy management of cities and lands rather than warfare. He does, however, lead his army to victory against the Demetrid garrison in Seleukeia at the end of the war. Now, with more than twice the territory, Isidoros returns to governing and management:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7209/maa3496uo8.jpg

Although, Isidoros does not have any sons, he does have a daughter. After many years of going unwed, Isidoros' daughter marries. The man turns out be be quite inempt but Isidoros still declares him his heir:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3765/maa3472rf4.jpg

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While the people of the Arche Makedonia only seek peace, the attension of the military of the Arche Makedonia once again shift to the areas outside their borders. The main problem for the immediate future of the Arche is the rebels in Aigyptos who are still attempting to sure up power in the region. To the west, Europa remains mostly quiet other than occational battles amongst the Gauls. In the east, the Arche Seleukeia had managed to stretch its border from Persis in the south to the fare northern steppes, but in the process managed to stretch their military quite thin. A major competitor to the Arche Seleukeia, in the east, is the rebuilt Median Empire. The Medians had almost been completely conquered by Bykoli at the beginning of the Makedonian Civil War, but with his withdrawl managed to reestablish themselves and grow. During the civil war the Medians had remained neutral to both sides as well as the Arche Seleukeia but had managed to expand southward into eastern Arabia:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6030/maa3457zq0.png

With a recognition of the now reunited power to their west, the Medians agree to an alliance with Philippos:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/3951/maa3459bg7.jpg

This alliance allows for the Medians to focus their attension on one side of their empire and declare war on the Arche Seleukeia, planning to "liberate" Persis:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/295/maa3460gl0.jpg

In order to fulfill their goals of defeating the Arche Seleukeia, the Median Empire also negotiates an alliance with a Seleukid-occupied group of steppe peoples and smuggles them supplies:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3579/maa3473kb4.jpg

Philippos attempts to mantain peace for the Arche Makedonia as long as possible, but it is not long before it is broken. In an confusingly stupid move, the navy of Alexandreia sails north and attacks the coast of Syria. To answer this act, Philippos declares war against the rebels of Aigyptos and prepares his army to sail from Makedonia:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/3351/maa3458rt9.jpg

Travelling straight from Makedonia to the delta of the Neilos, Philippos lands his army outside of Alexandreia and immediately besieges the city while his navy takes control of the seas:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6364/maa3474dy1.png

In order to avoid possible reinforcement of Alexandreia from the south, Philippos quickly attacks the city and easily takes it:
https://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7522/maa3476cl1.jpg

Although generally disapproving of foreign rule of any type, the people of Alexandreia welcome Philippos and the peace that will come with him. For nearly a decade, as the Demetrids declined and the rebels fought amongst themselves, the city of Alexandreia, and in fact all of Aigyptos, had suffered from near constant rioting and civil wars. In the fighting, the tomb of Alexandros was even damaged, though the body remains safe:
https://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1336/maa3475tu4.png

With Alexandreia, Philippos has a base from which it will be easy to retake the rest of Aigyptos. An alliance with the Ptolemaioi of Nubia also ensures some assistance dealling with the rebelsfrom the south. While Philippos prepares for his coming war, his first and only son comes of age and becomes a man:
https://img259.imageshack.us/img259/7232/maa3480ws4.png

Although he is a bit lazy, he takes after his father and grandfather. With Alypios now of age, Philippos declares him his heir, with Sotades next in line were both Philippos and Alypios to die. Alypios is quick to join his father and sails for Alexandreia, where he completes his education at the great library.

Next: Chapter 77 : Eastern Affairs
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Sorry for more review but I wanted to get all of the characters for the upcoming era to be explained. Basically, these guys and one other guy will decide the next decade of Macedonian history. I didn't have a map picture for this chapter because of the crazyness in the east, which will be explained in the next chapter.

Wow. I've got to read through this again from the beginning. Any plans to make it into a book?

Would be kinda hard, seeing as pictures form a great part of it. AAR´s rarely make good books.

But yeah, continued great story. I´m eager to hear about these eastern affairs.

C'mon, he could make it into an alternate-world setting. Maybe with elves. lol

Thanks, but I doubt it would make a good book. Not only is it picture driven but it lacks a main character, antagonist, challenge, climax, or end. If it were just written down it would sound more like a history book of an alternate dimension. I enjoy writting, although with most of my actual stories I've tried to write I just end up getting lost on how to end it after the story's peak point.

No elves, but along the lines of an alternate reality, I got bored the other day and made this picture of what BI would look like in this alternate dimension, if I were to quit the game right now and start up again in about AD200:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/...ueambi2mf7.png
The Arche Makedonia tries to recover after loosing territory to both the Keltic nation and to the Neo-Persians, meanwhile the age of migration is about to begin in Germany, as well as dealing with a rebelling Italian client-state. Hun-like nation emmerging.
:clown::smash:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

Thanks, but I doubt it would make a good book. Not only is it picture driven but it lacks a main character, antagonist, challenge, climax, or end. If it were just written down it would sound more like a history book of an alternate dimension. I enjoy writting, although with most of my actual stories I've tried to write I just end up getting lost on how to end it after the story's peak point.

No elves, but along the lines of an alternate reality, I got bored the other day and made this picture of what BI would look like in this alternate dimension, if I were to quit the game right now and start up again in about AD200:
https://img296.imageshack.us/img296/...ueambi2mf7.png
The Arche Makedonia tries to recover after loosing territory to both the Keltic nation and to the Neo-Persians, meanwhile the age of migration is about to begin in Germany, as well as dealing with a rebelling Italian client-state. Hun-like nation emmerging.
:clown::smash:

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That's flipping cool. I would like to play that sort of game.

Holy meatballs! Seeing a alternate dimension for this AAR Would be mind-blowing! :beam:
It would be interesting to see the fall of the Macedonian empire (but quite sad at the same time~:mecry:)

I was thinking if I ever ended this, I'd make the last chapter a story of what happens to the Arche Makedonia and the world over the next few centuries.

Next chapter \/ :2thumbsup:

https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5558/maa3486dc1.png
Chapter 77 : Eastern Affairs

During the seventh year of Philippos' reign, he had retaken the city of Alexandreia and the Neilos delta. With the great port taken, the Romaioi legion moves down from Ioudaia and make their way into Aigyptos, to finally make there way home. In the sea, however, the navies of Makedonia and Aigyptos engage eachother just off the delta. The superior Makedonike ships win the day:
https://img56.imageshack.us/img56/6375/maa3477tj0.png

With both land and sea secure, Philippos goes about rebuilding Alexandreia while his men prepare to sail up the Neilos. One of the first acts of restoration is the restoration of the tomb of Megas Alexandros and the replacing of his body to its rightful place:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7038/maa3479rl2.png

When Philippos first took the town, since the tomb was damaged, it was momentarily discussed whether the body should be moved elsewhere (Makedonia or even Amonnion), but the subject was quickly dismissed.

After several seasons, Philippos and his son, Alypios, gather the army and march south to the ancient city of Memphis, capital of the rebel Aigyptos. In Alexandreia, Philippos leaves the family Grenideus, who are relatives to the great general Antisthenes Gortynois, in Alexandreia and give them charge:
https://img56.imageshack.us/img56/8470/maa3482mz1.png

In Arabia, the Kingdom of Sab'yn had profitted much from the Makedonike Civil War, gaining territories along the northern part of boths sides of the desert, though suffering losses to the Medians in the east. With plans for the future, the Kingdom of Sab'yn make peace with Aigyptos and an alliance with the Arche Seleukeia, both are enemies of the Arche Makedonia:
https://img56.imageshack.us/img56/8922/maa3481ft3.jpg

As for the Arche Seleukeia, she had suffered a terrible change of fate. Over the years that the Arche Makedonia had fought a civil war, the Arche Seleukeia had charged northwards into the plains and wastelands. After years of warfare, the armies of the Seleukids had been streched quite thin. Other than that, being isolated from large populations of Makedones and Hellenes, the quality of soldiers capible of being raised had also been quite low lately. When the Median Empire declared war and openly encouraged rebellion amongst the conquered peoples of the Arche Seleukeia, everything fell apart in the east.

When the Seleukid armies march south, the northern steppe regions of the Arche Seleukeia seize apon their oppertunity, declare themselves independant, and immediately raise armies. Marching southward, these armies manage to gain vast territories both peacefully and by force. After several years, the armies of the steppe peoples finally meet true resistance and begin to fight the armies of the Arche Seleukeia openly:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7796/maa3483lv5.png

Meanwhile, the Medians move their forces eastward into Seleukid territory, planning on expanding into Persis:
https://img56.imageshack.us/img56/7770/maa3484cc4.png

It is around this same time, that the governor of the semi-autonomous satrapy of Baktria finally openly declares itself independant from the Arche Seleukeia, who is obligated to declare war. Having marched his armies into the Indus valley and conquered the Gandharans, the Basileus of Baktria is, in himself, a more than formitable apponent for the Arche Seleukeia.

Back in the Arche Makedonia, Philippos has problems of his own from across a wasteland. While still on their way to Alexandreia, the Romaioi are suddenly attacked by an army from the deserts. Since there is peace between the Arche Makedonia and the Kingdom of Sab'yn and no other people could raise an army of such size, the event surprises the Romaioi, who thought they were in safe territory:
https://img406.imageshack.us/img406/8887/maa3485hr0.png

The battle begins with the Romaioi with the lower ground and the army of Saba coming down off a hill toward them:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8273/maa3487qy6.png

The Romaioi march forward to get up the hill and meet the Sabaeans on semi-level ground. In order to ensure they meet the Romaioi on a slope, the Sabaeans rush down as quickly as they can:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/4536/maa3488vu0.png

The mass of enemy soldiers is too much for the first line of infantry and Consul Tiberius Aurelius Cotta is forced to send his second line in early:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9936/maa3489tu1.png

While the infantry do their best to hold the line...
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1427/maa3491vf3.png

...the Romaioi cavalry clash with the enemy cavalry:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2004/maa3492bf8.png

After a short battle, the Sabaean cavalry break and flee. The Romaioi cavalry move to get behind the enemy line, but the Sabaeans panic when they realize they are without cavalry support and begin to flee:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1228/maa3493ta3.png

Cotta once again learns a lesson of warfare, even at his advanced age:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1066/maa3494sw7.jpg

Rather than continue forward to Alexandreia, Consul Tiberius Aurelius Cotta gives chase to the fleeing enemy. Pursuing them across the desert, the Romaioi finally corner the enemy army within the walled city of Petra, a city which was once a city of the Arche Makedonia.

With war once again threatening Syria and armies of Arabia marching northward, Philippos decides to take the offensive. Sending orders to his brother in Demetreia, Philippos orders the city of Bostra retaken and the klerouchoi settlers of the region liberated. From Demetreia, Sotades sends word to Herodes of Bosphoria to march his men south and accomplish the task:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7396/maa3497ox1.png

After only a few months, an army that was just to the south of Bostra arrives and attack Herodes and his army, in the heat of the summer. Unlike the army that fought against the Romaioi, this army approaches the Makedones slowly and orderly:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8122/maa3503wk2.png

With the home of a local Makedonike klerouchoi soldier right in front of them, serving a symbol of their fight, the line of Makedones absorb the intial charge:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8194/maa3504xk8.png

Separating into two separate groups and attacking on either side of the villa, the Sabaeans throw their whole army at the line:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5594/maa3505nc5.png

While the bulk of the battle occurs in the center, at the left flank, a group of Thorakitai fight a small enemy group, but the enemy quickly breaks. The Thorakitai pursue their enemy but fall into a trap when they are surrounded by a hidden enemy force:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3813/maa3507mg4.png

In order to save the Thorakitai, Herodes personally leads his Galatian cavalry forward:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1035/maa3508oi7.png

The Galatian cavarly has great success and breaks the entire ambushing party. Seeing their flank exposed, the rest of the Sabaean army breaks soon after. Although the first army is broken, scouts report the garrison of the city approaching. Herodes orders his battle line to reform an his cavalry to chase down and kill or capture as many enemies as possible.

As the infantry reform, a strong wind begins to blow and picks up the dust from the parched grounds:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9168/maa3510jy1.png

Taking advantage of the poor visibilty, Herodes' steppe cavalry rush forward and take out isoloted enemy units:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/67/maa3511ba8.png

The cavalry attack a group, fights them until reinforcements approach, then retreat. After doing this several times, a good deal of the reserve forces of the Sabaean army are wiped out. Meanwhile, the phalangitai infantry continue to move forward. Suddenly, the wind stops all together and the dust clears. The Sabaeans hardly have time to notice the vast infanty force just ahead of them, before Herodes orders the charge:
https://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5760/maa3516tf8.png

Confused by the dust storm and the sudden attack, the Sabaeans panic and break. Although some manage to make it back to the city of Bostra, all give up their arms and disband:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/5682/maa3518ov3.jpg

With this great victory, the regions east of the Jordan are restored to the Arche Makedonia and Syria gains a larger buffer area against attack:
https://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5743/maa3519uz6.png

With the city taken, Herodes prepares to finally return home to Bosphoria, but in Damaskos is a man ready to take his place and continue the war against the Kingdom of Sab'yn. Chrysoloras Delphikos had been raised in Bostra and had fought against Arabian invaders from the south his whole life along side his father. The civil war had given his family a break against this task, but once again Chrysoloras Delphikos takes up the mission of fighting the Kingdom of Sab'yn, however this time he will not simply sit behind the walls of Bostra and wait for the enemy to come to him.

The known world in156BC, four years after the fall of the Demetrids:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/...56edit2qd7.png

Next: Chapter 78 : A Journey Up the Neilos

plz take gaul. plz, plz take gaul so you've trumped the Romans.

oh, and my modding forced me to reinstall EB, but my saves are all intact, and so I was able to update my AAR today.

:smash::smash::smash::smash::smash:

I see much grievances on the road ahead for the Sab´yn. But first of course, the remained of Aigyptos must be secured.
Have you noticed that you hold all but 2 ports in the Med? That´s right, those damns Numidians are denying you those ports. Take ´em!

Are we going to see Philippos and Cleopatra?

Quote:

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Are we going to see Philippos and Cleopatra?

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:laugh:

I must admit, that'd be cool :-P

Maion

I don't really have any need or desire to take Gaul right now. However, the Aedui are slowly winning the war against the Arverni and will inevitably turn on me some time. I may take part of Gaul, some day once my Arverni allies fall.

I'm thinking along similar lines, General Appo. My goal for the reign of Philippos had been to take back Aigyptos then take a series of port cities all around the Arche, especially take complete control of the Pontos Mesogeios and Pontos Euxeinos. However, a few things changed due to every faction suddenly deciding they hate me.

Aigyptos only has a fractured rebel Makedone nobility and a rebellious native population. There aren't any real Cleopatra-like people in Aigyptos. There is the Ptolemaic dynasty in Nubia, though. I tried to make Antigone a Cleopatra like character, though only showing the last, less than glorious, moments of her life.

Hi MAA,

Great update, as usual :yes:

Could you tell me what factions you used or tell me in what part of the AAR they explained?? The Demetrids were Baktria. Media = Hayasdan i guess but the rest??