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Marcus your my HERO:2thumbsup: you killed the Ptolemaioi. In almost every EB game the Ptolemaioi roll over AS and Pontos I HATE that faction so much:furious3: .
P.S. Keep going want to see that Faction Destroyed message and your VICTORY
GO MACEDON!!!!!:2thumbsup:
I was actually getting tired of writing about only battles, but this is 'Total War'...Quote:
Originally Posted by Centurio Nixalsverdrus
The garrisons of Hellas were all raised in the towns, so I figured if I removed their sovereignty, they would turn on me. Since the game can't do that, I disbanded them. I also raised taxes to full to represent the city's anger. My plan was to try and hold them, but if they rebel then I'll have to deal with that.
I'm treating Pahlav as two different nations now. The Parthians still have an army of 20 cataphracts in Khiva that the Saka and Baktrians take turns throwing themselves against. And then there are the Indian territories, which I role play are a different nation.
Well, I got to the point where Ptolemai was defeated and had Demetrios take a little time to consider whether to recreate Gaugamela or make his own path. The decision ended up being made for him. :beam:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaotix27
Throwing themselves against my sarrisas? When I looked at the picture I though, "Nobody else throw so many foreign troops at me as Ptolemai. They'll recruit anyone!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakkura
Yeah, my decision to take out Ptolemai was in part due to the fact I wanted more than one faction east of me. If I hadn't attacked them after they took Anatolia, they would be fighting Baktria over India by now.Quote:
Originally Posted by White_eyes:D
I'd love to see Makedonia go west, out of Egypt through Kart-Hadast. That would be pretty awesome. Maybe keep some kind of buffer of Ptolemaioi between yourself and the Seleukids.
Don't listen to him. Wipe them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elphir
All of them.
:laugh4: Haha, great first post Mordrorru, welcome to the Org. :ave:
MAA - Another great update. Keep 'em coming. :2thumbsup:
Hahahaha! That was great.
No! KART HADAST MUST DIE!!!111eleven1
Thanks for the comments everyone, and welcome to the ORG, Mordrorru.
I've written the next update and will upload it later today. Even though the Antigonid-Ptolemai war doesn't end in it, I try to allude to the fate of the Ptolemai and the future of Makedonia.
Chapter 18: Defeat Amongst Victory
Aristotelis spent only about a month besieging the territory of Iuodaia before the Ptolemaioi showed up. He couldn't even set up a line of defense before Ptolemaic reinforcements arrived from the south and north to releave the area:
https://img240.imageshack.us/img240/8633/maa792kz9.png
Among the Ptolemaic reinforcements was the Ptolemaic king himself, Ptolemaios IV. There had been non-Ptolemaic kings before Ptolemaios IV, but the title had finally returned to a descendant of Alexandros' general. The young king was not a very good general, but he was very headstrong, as evidenced by the fact he was willing to attack Aristotelis without greater forces.
Aristotelis set up his men along a ridge and waited for the Ptolemaic levies, approaching from the south, to come to him:
https://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7291/maa794ro8.png
Those levies barely arrived before they were fleeing back down the hill. Under a rain of arrows, the poor men fell dead before they could reach the base.
Aristotelis then ordered the line to reform and prepare to engage the reinforcements for Hierosolyma, while he personally lead the cavlary and prepared to face Ptolemaios IV and his Hetairoi:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6645/maa795gy9.png
As the Pezhetairoi reformed their line, Aristotelis rushed up to face Ptolemaios IV who had just crested the top of the ridge:
https://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1633/maa796ob4.png
The two lines of cavalry charged at oneanother and clashed with great speed. The fighting soon turned into prolonged melee, and the Thrakians on the left flank of the battle line rushed in to assist:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/4959/maa797al2.png
As Aristotelis pulled away from the fight and prepared to charge again, he noticed that the Ptolemaic reinforcements were just getting ready to charge his phalangite battle line:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7126/maa798hw6.png
With enemies on both sides Ptolemaios IV stood his ground, bracing for the charge by Thessalians and Thrakians:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7529/maa799as0.png
His bodyguard wiped out, Ptolemaios IV soon found himself alone. Honorably sparing the enemy king, whose kingdom no longer threatened Makedonia, Aristotelis had his forces pull back. The king just slowly walked away, perhaps in a daze:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5632/maa800rp4.png
Maybe he was injured, maybe he was confused, or maybe he just realized that his empire was gone and wished to die with honor in battle. Whatever the reason, alone, Ptolemaios IV charged into the Kretan archers. Seeing his men in trouble, Aristotelis gave Ptolemaios IV what he wanted, charging in and killing him:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9100/maa801yf5.jpg
Later, word would reach Assyria, where Ptolemaios IV's brother heard the news, thus becoming Ptolemaios V. With Ptolemaios IV's death, Aristotelis shifts his attension back to the infantry battle and his Pezhetairoi.
With all of the fighting in the center of the line, Aristotelis orders his flanks to wrap around the sides. Meanwhile the Thrakians complete the square, circling around the rear:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8264/maa802xw1.png
Once in possition, the Thrakians let loose with their javelin on the enemy rear...
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7760/maa803of6.png
...then charge in and cut through the engaged enemy, from behind:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1823/maa804ar8.png
The Ptolemaioi panic and attempt to flee, but they soon realize they are surrounded and have nowhere left to flee.
With the infantry wiped out, Aristotelis moves his cavalry to counter the enemy general, Aristomenes Krokodilopolites (Aristomenes of the crocodile city):
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/606/maa805bh5.png
Charging down the hill, the general is killed and Iuodaia falls into the hands of the Antigonids:
https://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9348/maa807gg5.jpg
Aristotelis entered the city to find people who were overjoyed that the Ptolemaioi were removed by angered by the presence of the Antigonids. Holding the territory through military might, Aristotelis sent word for Syrian reinforcements. In the mean time, he quickly set up a local ruler to oversee the area as a allied state rather than a territory, hoping to appease the locals. Even the selection of the ruler (a Hellenized Phoenician) upset the people, though. Leaving the territory in the hads of some levies and the local king, Aristotelis once again moved his army against the Ptolemaioi.
To the west, the one problem Demetrios hadn't been able to solve the prior year, finally caught up with the Makedonian Empire. With the garrison of Hellenes hiding behind the walls, the armies of Kart-Hadast began their attack on Kyrene:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9963/maa808rm8.png
Ready for what ever may come their way, the Hellenic Hoplitai lined up to counter the enemy rams:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5649/maa809gx2.png
[Yeah, I know, where are the stone walls I was supposed to have?]
With a crash, the great wooden beams that made up the wall come crashing down. And before the dust can even settle, the Punic warriors come rushing in. The Hoplitai try their best but are gradually pushed back:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5279/maa810jl6.png
The defenders continue to get pushed back and soon the armies of Kart-Hadast are gaining ground within the walls at both breaches:
https://img521.imageshack.us/img521/5640/maa811ip0.png
Reinforcing those already engaged, the Hoplitai levies rush in, but it is not enough:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7104/maa813zv8.png
The battle line can't hold and before too long the entire Hellenic army is falling back into the city. With the walls taken, the Qarthadastim army parades through the streets:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5930/maa814uo3.png
Thinking the town is theirs, the Qarthadastim pikemen are suprised to find Hellenic forces waiting for them in the town square. Regrouped and ready to fight, the Hellenes charge in to stand to the last man:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7799/maa815gw8.png
Knowing the evil deeds that the Kart-Hadast peoples will do to their own healthy children, the Hellenes can only imagine the horrors that will unleash on the enemies of Kart-Hadast. Fearing their unknown fate, the Hellenes stand to the last man. As Apollo watches on [lets just say that is Apollo], the proove their honor and die, every last man:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7456/maa816gk8.png
Starting with nearly equal numbers, in the end the Hellenes are not even able to defeat half the forces of Kart-Hadast:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7315/maa817sf0.jpg
For the first time since the death of Pyrrhos, the Antigonids loose complete control of an entire region:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6164/maa818fb0.jpg
When word reaches Demetrios of the fall of Kyrenaia, he is quick to order that nobody do anything. All forces are to stay where they are and defend their garrison. The defeat had not only lost a city, though, it had once again cost the honor of Hellene allies. Other than garrison duty, the Hellene allies had failed at every task given to them. Seeking to restore their honor, the last Hellas in Africa ignore Demetrios' order and march westward from Libye:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8784/maa830hq8.png
The task ahead of them is a great one, though, as the city of Kart-Hadast is becoming known as one of the greatest powers in the known world:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2370/maa819md3.jpg
In Hellas itself, though, things where turning bleak. In Korinthos, Karpos, Makedonian-friendly tyrant dies:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2755/maa820cb7.jpg
Without a leader to calm their rage, and now facing the complete loss of autonomy, the people of Korinthos devolve into anarchy:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4881/maa824rv2.jpg
In Euboia things are even worse, though. Setting fire to the home of the old tyrant, the citizens of Chalkis declare themselves independant of Makedonian rule:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7492/maa823xq9.jpg
In the midst of trying to hold Hellas together, Perseus and Chrysoloras recieve word from the west that is more than troubling. The two great powers to the west, neither of which are friends of Makedonia, have signed an alliance:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1566/maa825rv8.jpg
Around the same time, Aristotelis managed to gain an alliance for Makedonia. Sharing an enemy in the Ptolemaioi, Aristotelis arranges for an alliance with the people beyond the desert, to the south:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7115/maa822iz5.jpg
With new friends to the south, Aristotelis moves against the Ptolemaioi once more, attempting to once again devide their territories:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8120/maa826sj1.png
With mostly heavy cavalry defending the city, Aristotelis sends in the Thrakians to cut through them:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2864/maa827pd6.png
With two dead enemy generals, the town is taken:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3549/maa829ze1.jpg
Just west of the Neilos, Demetrios continues to war against the Ptolemaioi. Reinforced by the last remaining Ptolemaic army in Africa, the garrison of the great oasis city of Hibis sallies forth to confront Demetrios and his elite army:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/659/maa831eb3.png
Marching slowly forward, the Ptolemaic phalangites clash with the Makedonian phalangites, while Galatians fill their gaps:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3678/maa833dv9.png
When a small portions of the Ptolemaic army begin to flee, Demetrios moves his Hetairoi around the flank. While Demetrios and the veteran Hetairoi chase off the routing enemy, the newer Hetairoi charge the Ptolemaic rear:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6684/maa835iv6.png
As the rest of the army flees, one group of desert levies stands their ground. Confronted by the Basilikon Agema, they choose to fight. Only with a charge of the Hetairoi do the break and run for the hills:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8715/maa838go3.png
And with that, the last Ptolemaic city on the continent falls to Demetrios:
https://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4018/maa839jj6.jpg
Demetrios is quick to establish military control of the town and set up a garrison. In fact, a garrison force had already been on the way to the oasis when the battle was fought. Hibis under control, Demetrios heads westward. In the hands of his well paid guides, he takes his army to the oracle of Zeus-Amun at Ammonion. Like Alexandros before him, Demetrios heads into the desert to hear of his future and what is fated for him:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9277/maa841ne6.png
[I hate just marching across the desert and really try to put restrictions on myself when doing it. Like when I made my fleet follow my forces along the coastline for 'resupply'. With the problems in Kyrene, I really wanted to just rush across the desert this time, though. So, I'm saying that there are hired guides who know the region.]
To the north, the Ptolemaic Empire continues to crumble. With the great loss of power, territory, and men, their own cities begin to call out for independance. Aristotelis continues his efforts ot continue that crumbling, as he besieges the city of Damaskos. Once a city fought over by the Ptolemaioi and Seleukids, the town was never cared for or built up by the Ptolemaioi and now welcomed the Antigonids, seeing how they had turned Antiocheia around:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/4051/maa842os7.png
Perhaps due to the vast amount of trade passing through the region or maybe by enemy sceming, the land of Phoinike suffers a plague. Blaming the Ptolemaioi for the plague, Aristotelis manages to sneak some infected spies and merchants into Edessa, the new Ptolemaic capital, to return the favor:
https://img90.imageshack.us/img90/5364/maa840mp9.png
And in Hellas, Perseus secures Aitolia as Chrysoloras secures Attica. The rest of Hellas, however, falls into anarchy:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8218/maa844xq6.png
The known world in the autumn of 216BC:
https://img137.imageshack.us/img137/...mak216wdi6.png
Next: Chapter 19 : Restoration and Consolidation
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Amazingly the Hai front was quiet for a while...
Looking a little patchy there.
Where to after the Ptolemaioi are all dead? East or West or North?
in the middle of this picture, right under Demetrias, theres something which looks like a face which is sticking its tongue out, with long hair!Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
was it intentional?
btw, great update- i was on the edge of my seat!
Perhaps due to the vast amount of trade passing through the region or maybe by enemy sceming, the land of Phoinike suffers a plague. Blaming the Ptolemaioi for the plague, Aristotelis manages to sneak some infected spies and merchants into Edessa, the new Ptolemaic capital, to return the favor:
Marcus your the man:2thumbsup: using the Plague on those accursed Ptolemaioi
Kept going because those Kast-Hadast are pushovers when compared to Ptolemaioi.
P.S. weird how your walls were wood guess Bug??:oops:
The weird face is the rebel banner over Korinthos. I'd never seen that one before, a gorgon or something. I believe Teleklos made all of the rebel banners. It is nice to add variety amoungst the rebels.
I managed to take that plague to Edessa, Seleukeia, Susa, and Ekbatana. I had three spies in the town at the time the plague started and wanted to use the oppertunity to decrease the population of my neighbors. :skull:
It seems that all stone walls that are built by Western Greeks factions (or maybe only Makedonia) are not actually upgrading in the battle map. This must just be in my game and was something that was fixed at the last minute before the release or I would have heard of it before now. Large stone walls show up, so I may have to upgrade the walls in all of my border towns just to keep them from being easy to take.
As to where to go next, Demetrios takes a couple years off before that decision is made for him...
*breaths a sigh of relief*Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus
ok. startled me too see that at first! :laugh4:
Awesome! Finish them off, Marcus, they're down to 4 territories! Hehe... wonder what Chirurgeon will say after you've destroyed them. Maybe he'll wipe out Makedonia in his campaign just to spite you. :laugh4:
looking good, I remember now what made me stop playing my Mak campaign, it was because after eevery few battles it would crash to the desktop, it would only happen once but i would have to play the entire battle again, which really pisses me off, especially if i was in your place playing these big battles.
Yes. :beam: :sweatdrop:Quote:
Originally Posted by Mordrorru
Looks cool MAA. The revolt in Hellas is a neat piece of roleplaying, I might do that sometime too.
Chirurgeon can kill off the Makedonians if he wants. The Makedonian throne in the hands of an idiot (the AI) deserves to fall!
I had something similar happen. The battles I fought before taking Paraitonion crashed as I was loading out of the last battle. I ending up not playing for a week and when I did, I "auto_win"'d those battles. Since I already won them and I took more losses with auto_win, i didn't consider it cheating.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spoofa
It really sucks to CTD after those huge battles. If it happened to me a few times, I'd end up giving up. :wall:
I just wish I could kill off the client rulers or have the switch to rebels. The guy in Sparte refused to kick the can.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakkura
Why not just switch the Gov. to lvl 1 or 4 again? I do.
CTD's kill my games Once back in 81.0 ver I won HUGE battle against the romans toke rome KILLED three stacks whole of italy ripe for the taking:laugh4: but then CTD.:wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:played again but this time they seemed to go the safe route and bring ONE more stack..... :sweatdrop:
*Thumbs up* again.
Nice job at beating the Ptolemaioi, but what's up with the rebellious homeland provinces? Time to put them back into order with the use of proper Roman ste- err, Makedonian steel!
Oh, and about expanding, definitely west.
Go go Byzantine Empire-esque empires! 8D
Wow, that's an intriguing update! Very nice with the forced rebellion in Hellas, and very realistic as well. I must say I'm a bit worrying for your empire, you have mighty enemies indeed!:rifle:
Maybe you could try using the give_trait "Client Ruler" 0 where "Client Ruler" is the client ruler trait. Hypothetically, you would be able to move them then, right? (I haven't tried this, but I'm thinking about it for the sake of role-play).
Thanks for the comments, everyone. :bow:
Carthage is the only real threat I've got, but they are wasting the most of their money loosing to the Lusotannii in Iberia, so they aren't that worrisome.
As for Hellas, it would be cool if reemerging factions worked in RTW, the rebels don't really have a chance, but going up against Kionon Hellenon again would have been fun.
Chapter 19 : Restoration and Consolidation
Demetrios was crossing the deserts of Libye, heading for the oracle of Zeus-Amun, seeking that which may be revealed to him, just as Alexandros had done a century earlier. In Syria, however, his son, Aristotelis, continued the war against the Ptolemaioi. There, he was besieging the city of Damaskos, whose sizable Makedonian and Hellene population welcomed a change after the many years of horrible administration they had suffered under the Ptolemaioi. The area had once been part of the Seleukid Empire, but had fallen to the Ptolemaioi in the Syrian Wars preceeding the war between Demetrios and Ptolemai, and had come to hate their Ptolemaic overlords.
Coming down from Assyria, General Boutrys Andriakeios moved to attack Aristotelis in the desert east of the town:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2241/maa845nv0.png
At first, Boutrys takes his time and slowly marches forward, but once in range of the Makedonian archers, he charges:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5739/maa847om8.png
It seemed like a suicidal move, to charge the line of sarrisas, but it someone succeeded. Boutrys pushed his way through the line, completely disorganizing the Pezhetairoi:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8075/maa848em8.png
His success didn't last, though. Failing to pull out in time, Boutrys Andriakeios fell dead on that field. His remaining pikemen stood their ground as they moved to engage the Pezhetairoi. Meanwhile, the reinforcements from Damaskos arrive under a rain of arrows:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9286/maa849qm9.png
Once again, the Pezhetairoi faced off against units of well armored Ptolemaic Thorakitai:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/3397/maa851hg1.png
Circling around the rear, in their customary style, the Thrakians flank the enemy and open fire on them from behind with their javelin...
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5940/maa850dm4.png
...then charge in and cut the Thorakitai to pieces:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4926/maa852ep3.png
With that, the Ptolemaioi broke and fled. Although, most fell dead under the rain of Kretan arrows:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2996/maa855fr8.jpg
Far off to the west, the 'rebel' army of Hellene allies (mast from Lesbos and Pergamon, territories that were still semi-autonomous portions of the Makedonian Empire) finally arrived at the city of Kyrene. Seeking to restore the honor of Hellenes and Ionions, they attack the city start off. The gates of which are sabataged by the residents, allowing easy entrance:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8668/maa857lv7.png
The Hellenic Hoplitai march through the streets, proudly reclaiming the town for Makedonia:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/412/maa859qh2.png
Though proud, the Hoplitai are soon countered, by the Qarthadastim elite pikemen:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4347/maa860xv7.png
Forming up in a phalanx, the Hoplitai show the Africans only a wall of shields and spears:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8120/maa861kc7.png
Circling around the rear of the Africans, Captain Marsias leads the cavalry in a pincer attack:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1452/maa862yo6.png
The battle lasts for what seemed like hours, as the Hoplitai slowly wear down the Africans:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5938/maa863jm8.png
Finally, as the last African dies, the Hoplitai regroup and take note of their losses. Killing the Africans cost them many men, including Captain Marsias, but at least the Qarthadastim Captain Chaeremon fell, as well.
As the Hoplitai had fought, the levy Hoplitai had managed to circle around the town and flank the rest of the Kart-Hadast forces in the center of the town. After a short rest, both the Hoplitai and the levy Hoplitai charge the center of the town and surround the remain elite Africans:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8286/maa866ku9.png
Costing the lives of many Hellenes, the Africans are finally pushed into a small area and begin the fall:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/950/maa867fm8.png
As the sun sets, the Hellenes are forced to withdraw [stupid battle timer]:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4089/maa868ew0.jpg
However, the next day they attack the city once again and retake the region for Makedonia [a little bit of cheating there]:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/8666/maa869ds9.jpg
After a nice period of rest lasting more than a year, the Hai once again attack Captain Aristokles and attempt to retake the Lake Van region:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7975/maa870jo7.png
The Dacio-Thrakians and steppe horsemen launch their standard attack of allowing half the enemy across before charging in and surrounding them:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6561/maa871tg4.png
Fighting more agressively than normal, the Dacio-Thrakians push their way across the bridge and kill the Hai before they can even cross:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1377/maa872ho2.png
Word once again goes across the Makedonian Empire about the bravery of Captain Aristokles and the Dacio-Thrakians:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/9618/maa873bo9.jpg
Word also reaches Pella of the completion of new mine shafts in several locations from Ionia to Kappadokia. Seeking money to fund the Aigyptos War, Demetrios had ordered these mines upgraded years earlier. Now, as the war winded down, they were finally opened for use. Though late, the increased income is greatly welcomed in the Makedonian treasury:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5906/maa875ro8.jpg
To the south, Neokles, son of Aristotelis comes of age. The child had long worried Demetrios. He worried what the fate of his Empire would be in the hands of such a man. After coming of age, Neokles still seemed less than the perfect leader. His only talent was his way with the people, perhaps that would suit him well. Seeking to increase his son's skills, Aristotelis ordered Neokles to continue his training and education in Antiocheia:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4266/maa874bn6.jpg
Around this time, the plague in Phoinike spreads to Damaskos (though it may have spread from Phoinike to Edessa to Damaskos):
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5848/maa856ro4.png
Fortunately Aristotelis and his army had left the city a few seasons earlier, heading south to finish off one remaining Ptolemaic stronghold in Sinai:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5931/maa876dl8.png
And in Hellas, Perseus and Chrysoloras had managed to establish control of Aitolia and Attike, officially integrating them into the Makedonian Empire. With those regions controlled, they headed toward rebelling City States in the rest of Hellas. After defeating the army of Elis, Perseus besieges the city of Korinthos. Chrysoloras then moved his army from Athenai to Eubolia:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1/maa877ee7.png
Before leaving Athenai, however, Chrysoloras orders the restoration of the great festivals of Athenai. The city of Athenai had suffered greatly since the time of Alexandros and only minor state monitored festivals had been permitted under Makedonian-friendly tyrants, but Chrysoloras promised the people of Athenai a new age of peace and prosperity under Makedonian rule. He also planned for the expansion of the Athenai library:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/1231/maa887tb2.png
To the south, in Libye, Demetrios had finally arrived at Ammonion only to find the remnants of dozens of Ptolemaic armies taking up refuge there:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2637/maa878yu8.png
It seemed that every army that had not been wiped out in the entire Aigyptos conquest had eventually found its way to Ammonion. Promising quarter to all Ptolemaic soldiers, Demetrios offers to not fight on this sacred ground. The Ptolemaioi refuse. It seems that the Ptolemaic soldiers, who had suffered so much against the army of Demetrios were willing to fight one last time for their dead Pharaoh.
Demetrios besieged the city, and thankfully the Ptolemaioi ran out of food before Demetrios ran out of water.
Coming out for the city, the Ptolemaioi march toward the Makedonian line and attempted to find a way through:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/7963/maa880ry3.png
Focussing their effort on the center, the Ptolemaioi soon make that hole:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4402/maa882kv5.png
Demetrios' Basilikon Agema, however manages to move around the flanks and prepared to encircle the Ptolemaioi:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1536/maa881wt2.png
Fighting bravely to the death, very few Ptolemaioi are left when they finally brake and flee back towards the town. Many those who remain fall to arrow and sling until just one man remains. The last Aigyptian Ptolemai proudly carries his banner back to the town, falling just outside the city:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/2439/maa883vk7.png
Seeing this act, Demetrios orders the banner taken to the city shrine and placed not only as a trophy but as a reminder of the bravery of all the Ptolemaic brothers who had died in this long war.
And so, Demetrios wins his last battle in this long Aigyptos War:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/4153/maa885jh2.jpg
The elderly Demetrios then entered the town:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/633/maa886ms0.png
After looking to his men and greeting the locals that lived at the oasis, Demetrios headed to the oracle...
To the east, Aristotelis fights his own battle with an isolated group of Ptolemaioi, ruled by the Anemurionios family:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/4482/maa888ec5.png
Aristotelis set his men up along the top of a hill and prepares. As the first force of Ptolemaioi approached, the slingers and Kretan archers kill a large majority. This, however, draws all fire from the forces approaching from the town, who approach mostly unharmed:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/5913/maa890gt6.png
As Anemurionios the Younger fights his way to the Pezhetairoi, Aristotelis moved his cavalry around his rear:
https://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1128/maa891zk0.png
As soon as Anemurionios falls dead, the Thessalian cavalry withdraw to avoid the infantry battle. As the forces from the city attack the Makedonian right flank, the left flank moves around to face the enemy from the side. The Thrakians also move around to the rear of the Ptolemaioi:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/1900/maa893no4.png
Encircled, the Ptolemaioi fight to the death.
Heading down to met Anemurionios the Elder, Aristotelis personally leads his cavalry in a charge:
https://img117.imageshack.us/img117/476/maa894cr9.png
Injured from the fight, Anemurionios ultimately falls when a lead bullet hits him in the back of the neck. Aristotelis then marchs into the city of Petra and declared the last Ptolemaic stronghold outside of Assyria as part of the Makedonian Empire:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3050/maa896qz0.jpg
The war approaches its end, but Demetrios is unaware. When he had first entered the deserts, Ptolemai were still in control of most of the Levant. Now, however, he didn't think much of current events, instead he focused on the future and his fate, as he planned to met with the oracle of Zeus-Amun at Ammonion:
https://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4049/maa884sb6.png
Although Demetrios had met with many other oracles, this particular oracle was particularly famous because of a past visitor. Though Demetrios didn't expect the same news Alexandros had gotten, he prepared himself for anything.
The oracle's message of the future is relayed to Demetrios,
"I saw a world where and eagle sits upon the throne of Makedonian, and and great stone lines encircle the Mediterranean."
The oracle then shifted to the more complex and several messages were relayed to Demetrios,
"Friends will be enemies and enemies, friends."
"An enemy fears the dull blade in the hands of a sharp man more than the sharp blade in the hands of a dull man."
"When forced into a corner, the serpent's venom strikes the hardest."
"The man without a city makes a poor neighbor."
"The greater the warrior, the quieter the death."
"Fear that, which strikes a friend in the back."
"One battle will decide the fate of the entire world."
When Demetrios asked about his future and what he should do, the oracle responded,
"Water."
"Follow the treasures of your ancestors..."
"...but remember, to achieve the impossible, it takes more than one lifetime."
With that, Demetrios left to ponder what he had heard. Some referred to the past, some was obvious, other things would require much more thinking. Whatever the distant future held, for now, Demetrios decided to head north and back to the Libye coast.
Next: Chapter 20 : Negotiations and Reconciliation
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I couldn't fit everything I wanted into that update, so I'm going to do a half chapter (20) to finish up what I planned to include.
Wow.
Another great update, MAA, especially the last part, concerning the Oracle, it all sounds very foreboding and you have intertwined gameplay and roleplay to a perfect balance.
After lurking for so long in this thread, I think that now is the time for me to say "VERY WELL DONE" to Marcus, and return to the shade...
:2thumbsup:
priceless. Gotta love the Oracle at times like this. It always speaks the truth! :laugh4:Quote:
The oracle then shifted to the more complex and several messages were relayed to Demetrios,
"An enemy fears the dull blade in the hands of a sharp man more than the sharp blade in the hands of a dull man."
"When forced into a corner, the serpents venom strikes the hardest."
"The man without a city makes a poor neighbor."
"The greater the warrior, the quieter the death."
"Fear that, which strikes a friend in the back."
"One battle will decide the fate of the entire world."
Good Update Marcus! I like that part with the Oracle. Can all these clues hint at a war with Rome in the near future? Or does a Ptolemy end up on the macedonian throne?
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Impressive heap of militia cadavers you left there in Kyrene! That with the banner set up in the Ammonion is very beautiful. And the best is the part with the Oracle, of course. I get the impression you want to conquer both the whole Mediterranean and the old empire of Alexandros. :yes: :yes: :yes:
Btw, is the "Return-Alexander-to-Pella-thing" working? Sorry I can't remember it right out of my head if you described that in your AAR or not... ~:0
Thanks, everyone. :bow:
I wasn't sure what to do about the oracle part, but last night, half asleep and a little drunk I wrote that stuff down. It turned out pretty good.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I think the returnining Alexander thing was deactivated, but even if it isn't, I don't want to risk it. :sweatdrop:
'Fighting bravely to the death, very few Ptolemaioi were left when they finally brake and flee back towards the town. Many who remain fall to arrow and sling until just one man remains. The last Aigyptian Ptolemai proudly carries his banner back to the town, falling just outside the city':
Ahhhhh........like seeing MY oracle tell my fate:yes:
Great AAR keep going marcus:whip:
I've got it! Friends are enemies refers to the Seleukids and the snake in the corner is the Getai. Otherwise, I dunno.