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Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Hello guys. This will be my first time writing an AAR. I feel that it will spice up my campaign a little, make it a little more than just me winning every battle one-sidedly as my willpower to not simply utterly destroy everything in my path is far too low unless there's something else stopping me, and this is just what I need. Please give advice if necessary.
Also, a note, sorry but there will be very few pictures in the introduction as I kind of started playing first and then I thought about making an AAR. I'll post the introduction in the following post.
The game was played on VH/M and, of course, no cheats will be used unless I need toggle_fow to take a screenshot. Though I may use force diplomacy once in a while to shake things up.
This was played using the RomeTW-ALX.exe.
Just a note. The first year of the empire is 281 BCE.
EB 1.0 was used in the making of this AAR. All rights reserved.
I'm kind of just thinking up house rules as I play along. I have never retrained my troops, so why not just make that one of my rules? Even though Alex.exe allows AI retraining...
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ntos/Title.jpg
Introduction: The Pontic Empire Begins.
In a way, our Kingdom of Pontos can be seen as one of the weakest and the smallest, but does not every kingdom start off small? History has shown again and again; the strong will eventually fall and the next empire will take its place. Well, this is the time of Pontos; this is the time where Pontos will rule.
Our mighty kingdom came about through the death of Megas Alexandros. Our people consist of generations of Hellenes and Anatolians. Our rulers are inherently Persian. They claim to be descendents of Darius, the ruler of the grand empire of Persia decades past, though they are cultured in the ways of the Hellenes. The area is surrounded by mountains, providing a great natural defense. The grounds of our great kingdom are also very fertile, providing our troops with the necessary supplies to go long into a campaign. Another leader would simply believe our fate to be simple farmers, but not our leaders, they dream of greater things. However, even with our fertile lands, our lands are still small and our treasury empty. This will be the greatest hurdle we will have to face before our empire may expand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...69Finances.jpg
To the East lies the Kingdom of Hayasdan. We are friends, for the moment. They are great horsemen and their strength is not to be trifled with; if we are to meet in battle, it would be difficult to say who would win. Our borders do not touch, but no doubt we may one day fight as it would surely be our destiny.
Further east lay the Parthians. They are great horsemen of the steppes. Their horses are large and strong, able to hold a fully armored rider upon its back as well as armaments for itself and yet still able to move faster and longer than any other horse in the region. Their skills for the bow are honed from birth and any target within 150 meters would surely be hit by these masters of archery and their composite bows. My leaders have great qualms about meeting their kind in battle though I would surely honor their help in any battle.
Just three short years ago, we were “friends” of Seleukeia, but our leaders knew that wasn’t about to last. They seized their chance when they had it and took the city of Mazaka on the outskirts of the Seleukid Empire. Seleukeia is mighty; no doubt can be placed upon this fact. However, might leads to corruption and such a large empire also means difficulty in protection. Their armies are spread thin as was the case of the Battle of Mazaka, where we lost only a few men compared to the entire garrison, which wasn’t many, stationed there.
The Ptolemaioi have an empire that rivals that of Seleukeia and we are also at war. I once instructed our leaders to try to arrange for a cease-fire with them. I was not surprised when they told me a diplomatic party was already sent a fortnight ago. At the very moment, word came back from the southeast. Our offer for a cease-fire was simply spat upon. I was hanging on the belief that they might be too busy securing their borders next to Seleukeia to be concerned with us, but I suppose I underestimated their treasury and man-power. After all, the fertile lands of Ptolemaioi rival that of our own; theirs perhaps even more fertile. Their ports and trade, compared to us, we who do not even hold a port next to the Mediterranean or the Aegean, are monstrous in scale.
In recent years, we have contacted the men of Makedonia, Koinon Hellenon, and the Getai. The town of Sinope was allied with the Koinon Hellenon when we attacked them a few months after our siege of Mazaka. As a result, we are currently at war with them. At the moment, our relations with the Getai are friendly, though as a result the Makedonians do not wish to further our relations except for a right of trade.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ginning2-1.jpg
Current territories of Pontos as of 269 B.C.E.
These are the nations that surround us, these are the nations we must conquer. In recent years, we have traveled west and have subdued the men of Galatia as well as a few other provinces in the area. Moving southeastward would prove harsh as our current treasury and abled men cannot handle an all out attack by or on the Ptolemaioi or the Seleukidai. Thus our current goal is to subdue the independent cities of the west before we tempt our fate with the bigger powers, and at the moment, it is just as so.
- Dionysios Herakleotes, minor advisor to the Basileus Ariobarzanes Kianos
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Looks very promising. Nice writing style too (it felt like a greek scholar was explaining everything) Now show us some more...:whip: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Nice start, keep it up!
Oh, by the way, remnant< is spelled like that. (not a big deal)
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Man, that's terrible. I was so sure I checked the correct spelling yesterday as well. Oh well.
Edit: Looks like my spelling was correct after all. Just that yours is as well.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter One: Tribulations of a Fallen General
The last thing I felt was a xyston stabbing me in the back. It penetrated my armor and punctured my right lung in a split second. I died soon after. However, what’s this I see then? I looked around me to see scores upon scores of people. Some of them are sleeping while others seem to be in a pit of sorrow. I then realized that I was in Hades. Moments earlier I had been fighting for the lives of my men and for the men, women, and children of Nikaia, including my own wife and two sons. I had no doubt that we had lost. Last I saw, a major contingent of our soldiers was being destroyed while their side only lost a few men. The only hope I have is that my wife and sons were alright.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...verAcheron.jpg
Ahead I see a river. So beautiful that it must be the Acheron itself. You would never have imagined that this was the underworld. Nearby was Charon with his signature hammer, ferrying those that had the required offering.. With those who did not have the offering, they were doomed to wonder the banks of the Acheron for a hundred years.
Then, by a stroke of luck, I saw one of the men walking around, looking as confused as myself. I immediately ran up to him. It was Astrabakos. We liked to call him the crab as one night while we gathered around a campfire drinking some wine, he had this somewhat amusing story about a dozen crabs scattered about a beach. He told us about how he caught every single one of them, each time making a walking motion like that of a crab. Our spirits were high that day. On the day of battle, which was only moments ago, I had set him, as well as a few other soldiers, to guard the town square. After we exchanged greetings, he immediately wanted to ask me about the battle. Although he could hear the screams and cries of men echoing throughout the town, he could not see due to the houses that blocked his sight. Since I realized it would be a while before my family could properly bury me as well as the aureus so that I may gain passage on Charon’s boat, I might as well speak with a few people to pass the time.
The enemy general appeared to be the Basileus of Pontos. He and his bodyguard were demons; their armor was strong, very strong, stronger than that which I have ever seen or imagined; their skill in battle was also unrivaled. Pontos had in his contingency four sarissa brigades, a unit of skirmishers and a unit of slingers. It was like the Battle of Chaeronea once more. Our shorter doru and swords had absolutely no chance against their longer sarissas, especially within the city streets where you could not effectively flank a phalangites.
Our army mostly consisted of skirmishers, some light, though mostly heavy. We only had one unit of men that could truly use the spear well. All of my other men were cavalry, which are not effective in the city.
The battle started out with the enemy ramming down the two walls adjacent to our gates. We had expected them to ram down our gates instead so most of our men were guarding the gate rather than the walls. We spent most of our javelins as they proceeded to ram down the walls. Once the walls were down, we quickly sent a few men to guard the entrances. However, these men, who have not fought nearly as much as I would had liked them to, ran blindly once the enemy started slinging their lead balls at us. Somehow, the enemy managed to sneak one of their phalangites inside the city while we were confused. The younger ones, aching to prove their worth in battle, charged at the long, six meter pikes. I yelled at them to not go, but by then they were already engaged. At that moment, I noticed a small opening in their formation at the left and right sides. That’s when I took my chance and started hacking away at the enemy’s flanks. However, I am not a general, nor am I a smart man. I was simply chosen to be the general of the defending army as there was no one else better. I had forgotten about the rest of the enemy’s army. At that same moment, I saw the enemy cavalry crash into my rear. We were trapped between a field of sarissas and a field of xystons. Moments later, I was on the ground, bleeding internally from my wound and died soon after.
Astrabakos listened on, patiently, as I revealed my tale. I asked him what had happened at the end of the battle. He simply told me what I already knew. We had lost. It was a defeat of devastating proportions. No soldier was left alive as far as he could tell. He was one of the last to fall.
Over the course of a couple hours, which felt like eternity, we began talking about our lives. We even found some more of our fellow comrades in arms while down here. The area was huge, large enough that it was impossible to find anybody you wished to. If you wanted to find somebody, you'd probably have better chance going against phalangitai head on. Then one day, I felt something beneath my tongue. It was the obolus, the coin required for crossing the river. I said my goodbyes to my fellow friends and set out to Charon’s ferry. I had to step aside my life and look to the future, whichever that may be. The next area would be the judging ground, and I only hope my life was worthy.
- Moskon – Leader of the garrison of Nikaia
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
That's certainly an interesting angle to write the chapter from. Nice work on that. :happy2:
I must say though, Mokson seemed kind of devoid of emotion - was that because he was dead? I'm not meaning this as a criticism or anything, I'm just curious.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Uh, I forgot about writing in emotions I suppose. I kind of wrote this at 4 in the morning. I'll try improving upon that in the future.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Two: A Winter's March, A Seige of Byzantion
My father’s name is Ktistes Mithridates Kianos. He was the original founder of the Kingdom of Pontos as the Ktistes part of his name means. I inherited the kingdom from his hands. He has reigned since 302 B.C.E. until his peaceful death 33 years later on the spring of 269 B.C.E. Though he has reigned, my father only assumed the role of Basileus on 281 B.C.E. meaning the kingdom is now not less than fifteen years old. Though we started out with only a small city of a few hundred thousand people, we now own the entire coastline from Sinope to that of Byzantion. He now rests in our royal tombs situated at our capital city of Amaseia.
Since I’ve been able to walk my father has trained me in the ways of battle. The world of today is a frightening one; war runs rampant and peace is only the period between the previous war and the next. To survive, one must be strong, skilled, and, above all, intelligent. I believe I have all these traits, and more, and in the prime years of my life, I will expand the Kingdom of Pontos from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, to take all of Anatolia and bring its inhabitants under my command so that they may love me and know my people as liberators.
After the siege of Nikaia, my advisors urged me to continue on. They wanted me to at least conquer at least the city of Byzantion so that I may control the Bosphorus. The Aegean Sea, if there was any sea more dedicated to trade, it would be this one. Large cities literally dot the coastline. Athens, on the other side of the Aegean, can be seen as the greatest merchant city known to man. One day, I would wish to visit it and its wondrous culture, and claiming Byzantion is the first step as it is what connects the Black Sea to the Aegean. After controlling this city, our treasury will literally be flowing.
The only problem was that of our military prowess, it was horribly weak. The only reason why we are still thriving is because we are surrounded by independent states that are not bent on conquest. Seleukeia and Ptolemaioi simply consider us too weak to even bother. However, even with that, I took almost half of the total military and set out for Byzantion. To this point, I had directly commanded five battles and directly served under my father yet another three battles. To be succinct, I felt I had the necessary experience to destroy an army with more troops than my own, which is exactly what happened.
During the winter of the thirteenth year of our empire, I set my men out towards Byzantion. Merchants pass through the Bosphorus all the time and, more likely than not, they would stop there for a few days to deal their wares and to sleep with a roof over their heads. One of these merchants named Epaphras Krannos actually heard about the garrison stationed there while he sold some of his textiles. A few of my soldiers, while having some rest in a bar near one of the marketplaces of our city of Nikaia, overheard this man talking about the soldiers of Byzantion. Immediately they obtained information from the trader and relayed it to me. I generously paid the soldiers a few shekels for their information and only a few days later, began marching them towards the target.
While on our march, it snowed. The air was humid as ever, being so near the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. The only warmth my men obtained was from the tireless marches I set them out to do and the wine. I wished to get there before winter ended, so as to surprise the enemy and catch them off-guard. Each day I thought about the future, though no less of the past. My advisors crowded around me in my tent, which is only one room rather than the grand tents of the Persian rulers before Alexandros conquered them all, well except for us. Our kingdom is the only true Persian Empire out there now, and we must take what is rightfully ours.
Finally, we met up with the city of Byzantion. It did not seem very important, but the lands it controls are, and now we will take it for ourselves. At first, I sent a diplomatic party within the walls asking for them to surrender to us peacefully. Of course, they refused. Our army was simply smaller than theirs and the defender, especially when in the safe confines of a city, is always at an advantage. Still, as soon as we caught wind of their reaction, we set the city under siege.
Byzantion was a trade city. Its soldiers, though more numerous than ours, were not as strong individually, still they were the stronger. But, they understood that in a city, their advantage in numbers would be gone. 30 minutes before dawn, three days after we besieged their city, their slipped out of the city. It would be until a great majority of their troops came out before we actually noticed their presence. However, they chose to attack us after all their troops were assembled, a mistake as it allowed us to form our own troops together and our phalangitai do take ages to mobilize.
At the moment I thought that they must be suicidal. They threw their own men into the lengths of our sarissas. However, it seemed they only used their light troops for this task. I watched as our phalangitai were immediately flanked by the enemy hoplitai.
While my cavalry worked to rout the infantry hitting the flanks of my men, I made a huge mistake. I did not notice that a large group of enemy cavalry circled around and began killing my light troops. By the time I went to help, three quarters of my light troops were already killed. I mourned for their loss. Moments later, we slaughtered the remaining soldiers holed up in the town square. My anger subsided only hours later. We examined the battlefield.
A few of our healers managed to save some of our men to fight another day, but the majority of the incapacitated were just exactly that, dead. I noticed some of the men I’ve fought with for the past few years. They were all either young or old. Bairius, able to hit a target half the time from 50 meters away. Piales, the men loved him for his jokes. He was a great asset on the short, but harsh winter march. Kyros, an old man with experience and wisdom of that of champions. I will miss them as well as the others that have honored their presence, but they will always be remembered as long as Pontos is remembered for the greatness of the empire I and my descendents will create.
- Ariobarzanes Kianos, Second Basileus of Pontos, thirteen springs since the founding of the empire.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Three: Diary of a Young Maiden
My husband’s in the library of Ipsos again, reading about the Hellenes as well as expanding his own knowledge of governing. I feel my sickness getting worse. Oh, how I wish I could be by his side more. The doctors come by every day, and my husband sends over a herbalist from outside town every week, but I feel it is not working, nothing is. We met only a year ago. He was seventeen while I was only twelve. My father’s a rather prominent businessman in the area and three years ago, my husband’s father occupied and set the town and the surrounding area in the name of Pontos. To be honest, I have no interest in war, but my husband does not fight. He hasn’t even see a drip of blood besides the times he’s been in military training as is required of all the royalty of Pontos, but there’s no doubt this will change. He is a Koiranides and sole male heir of the Basileus. It will be his destiny to rule his people, and I cannot change that.
He is an energetic man, so much so that even though he wishes to be beside me, he cannot due to his inner compulsions. It can be seen as a negative trait, but you cannot silence the soul and its wishes. It is actually one of the reasons why I actually enjoy our bond. My father gave me away to the royal family to enrich his own ambitions, but nowhere can it be said that I don’t take pleasure in this. He naturally made up for the part of me that wishes to be out there, doing things. His compassion is peerless and it naturally can be seen in his actions and demeanor towards me as well as the rest of the citizens, though he could do with lowering the taxes a bit, but I can understand the need of coin for a growing empire. Sooner or later, though, he will lose part of his gentle nature. Being a ruler means the need to be ruthless in some subjects and genial in others.
There has been word that Mithridates’s father Ariobarzanes has been stationed in Byzantion for the past couple seasons. The man’s talent for command is astonishing, his own need for conquest relentless, but his own mind drives him back. He simply does not hold the troops necessary to keep going. Even now, there is no garrison where we live. The only true soldiers are that of my husband and his royal bodyguard, each strong in their own right but not...
- Diary of the wife of Koiranides Mithridates Kianos, Monima, fifteen years after the founding of the empire.
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Yeah, no pictures. You don't usually put pictures in such things. My updates are somewhat slow during the weekdays since I have school.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Four: Seleukeia and Diplomacy
Good news and bad news has arrived over the past few years. The Basileus sat in Byzantion for a while before moving back to Nikaia to get closer to his next area of interest. We have since waited a few years to increase our treasury and start building our infrastructure. However, to do that, we had to keep quite a minimal amount of fighting soldiers on garrison across our provinces. And, well…I think I will write about the good news first.
In the previous years, we have sent a group of diplomats to the west. Many alliances were achieved. If not, at least trade rights and map information were exchanged. Although it is highly in doubt that our borders would ever meet up with those of the Iberian tribe of Lusotannan or the Gallic tribes of the Aedui, having a plethora of alliances is always a good thing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/Diplomat.jpghttps://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../Alliances.jpghttps://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Diplomacy1.jpg
Our treasury has also soared in the previous few seasons. We are, or rather were, making around four hundred talents per year, which is a considerable amount, compared to the fifty talents we were making five years ago.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...reasury266.jpg
That’s about it for the good news, now for the bad news. A few nights ago, word came around that Ipsos was taken by the Seleukidai. That would’ve been fine as we could’ve just taken it back. However, such a thing is not so easy. Unfortunately, the Basileus’s only male heir was governing the town at the time of the attack. No walls were built at the time and there was hardly any warning. We simply couldn’t afford spies at the time. Troops of Seleukeia numbered in the thousands while our only protection was that of Koiranides Mithridates Kianos and his royal bodyguard, not enough for protecting the town except from a couple bandits. He was surrounded and immediately cut down. The inhabitants of Ipsos were under Seleukid rule just a few short years earlier so Seleukeia did not kill any of its commoners, but I’m sure the Koiranides’s wife and, perhaps her family, was killed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ianosDeath.jpg
The Basileus is absolutely furious at the moment and immediately gave orders to start recruiting a new population of soldiers to immediately take Ipsos as well as Sardis. It should take at least a few years before we have enough soldiers to fight off the Seleukidai, but it’s an eventuality.
- Dionysios Herakleotes, lower advisor to the Basileus of Pontos, fifteen years after the formation of the empire.
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Current map of Pontos and its somewhat surrounding area.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../Pontos266.jpg
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Couldn't write anything in the past week or so due to heavy exams. They're over with for now so I can get back to this.
Chapter Five: Pergamon
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/Pergamon.jpg
“So why did you join the army?”
“Same as yours of course! For the glory and the riches!”
Polemon and Otanes were both nineteen, new levies in the army of Pontos. It was the twentieth year of the Pontic Dynasty (261 BC). The army of Ariarathes Herakleotes was marching towards the ancient and powerful Greek city of Pergamon. It consisted of six sarissas contingents with four allied Caucasian short spear regiments as well as two allied Caucasian bands of archers. Pontos was still a poor nation at the tips of the great kingdoms of Ptolemaioi and Seleukeia.
Polemon gave his two sarissas to Otanes. “It’s your turn to carry them.” Otanes grunted as he took the four three meter parts of the sarissas. “It’s a good thing our armor is, well, hardly existent.” Polemon replied, “How is that a good thing? We’ll be dead if anybody lands a blow on us.” Otanes laughed, “Our army is nigh-impregnable from the front! It will be fine. Our king isn’t a great general, but he wouldn’t lead us to our deaths.”
“Didn’t we have another king a few years ago?”
“Yes. I hear he was a great general by the time he died. A rather massive, and powerful earthquake took him by surprise while he was drinking with his mates. The roof collapsed and killed him on the spot.”
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...arthquake1.jpg
“What a shameful way to die.”
The army has just taken Ipsos back from the Seleukidai. The garrison was small.
Scouts reported a large army of Seleukeia just southwest of Ipsos at Sardis. Even then, Ariarathes refused to stay put in Ipsos to help defend the town. He wanted to continue moving. “The best defense is a great offense.” Reinforcements were being trained at all times. They would reach Ipsos the next year.
Ariarathes halted the army. Ahead lay the city of Pergamon. Its walls could already be seen.
“Rather than give a longwinded speech about what we must do, let’s just do what we have to. You’re all intelligent people and I have no reason to believe you won’t be able to do what I ask. In that regard, this campaign is to continue the ambitions of my half-brother. We have avenged my brother’s son by taking back Ipsos, but we must do more. Our great kingdom, you and myself included, wishes to expand it borders, its spread of influence, and only you and I can do this! So without further ado, begin building the siege weapons.”
The city of Pergamon had only wooden walls. All that needed to be built were a few rams. Engineers were brought up and the soldiers were the laborers. No disgruntlement was seen in the army. In their eyes, the campaign had just begun.
After a few days, the rams were built. Ariarathes hailed the commander of the army of Pergamon and he, along with a few of his captains, were granted entrance to the city.
First thing the two commanders did was to exchange gifts. Ariarathes gave Ennomos one of his jewel-encrusted rings while Ennomos granted Ariarathes with a valuable crest off of his own shield. The standard diplomacy followed afterwards. As expected, no good came of it. Though the Pontic army was a little more numerous, its men were also weaker one on one. The men of Pergamon were never going to surrender without a fight, especially one which favored them.
Deliberations drew to a close as soon as it began and Ariarathes began the siege months later.
The battle was mostly an all-out melee at the walls and gates. The thing that swayed the battle in favor of Pontos was the death of their general. Morale plummeted and many were cut down while they tried to regroup at the town square. Polemon and Otanes both died in battle. The bodies of the dead were sent back to their families. Retribution were also given to the families of the fallen.
Danger still loomed in the foreground. The army of Seleukeia was remarkably close. It wouldn't be long before Pontos would have to fight them once more.
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https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Pontos/261.jpg
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Wow that was a nice battle there. Awesome screenies. Makes you feel like your in the action :) Keep up the good work and glad your exams are over so you can get back to this AAR.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Thank you Chirurgeon.
By the way, I've been adding that little map thing to the end a few times, but as you can see, the colors don't really... match up to those of the true game. I've been using the paint bucket tool, but the color always turns out different than what I want it to. Like, instead of the Pink Pontos, I'm getting that kind of browny I don't know what the heck it's called color. Anybody have a solution for this?
Also, I'm trying to learn how to use photoshop as it has been just sitting there on my computer all this time. Anybody know a good website so I can learn some of the better features? Googling helps a little, but the websites given don't really correspond to what I want.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Korlon
Thank you Chirurgeon.
By the way, I've been adding that little map thing to the end a few times, but as you can see, the colors don't really... match up to those of the true game. I've been using the paint bucket tool, but the color always turns out different than what I want it to. Like, instead of the Pink Pontos, I'm getting that kind of browny I don't know what the heck it's called color. Anybody have a solution for this?
Also, I'm trying to learn how to use photoshop as it has been just sitting there on my computer all this time. Anybody know a good website so I can learn some of the better features? Googling helps a little, but the websites given don't really correspond to what I want.
Well I must say I am not sure about the problem in the top paragraph. I just use the basic paint program and it turns out fine. Could be the type of file perhaps. Not sure. There are alot of people on the forums that can help though.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
If you mean adding color to the big downloadable EB map, I've had problems coloring it too. I think the picture is setup with 32 colors or something.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
I finally got it working, the coloring that is. The downloadable EB map is in .gif form. I just changed it to .jpg and it works out.
So here are the fruits of my labor. Current map as of 261 BC. Too bad Atiqa isn't there though.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
This AAR is a good read, please continue
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Six: From Sinope to Sardis
22nd year (259 BCE)
There’s only so much war a town can take before its citizens start having nightmares. That amount is one, only one. Ipsos, however, has seen been the site of battle far more than one can count in this past decade.
On the way to Pergamon, Ariarathes left a small contigent of soldiers behind at Ipsos. Two units of hoplitai haploi to be exact. There were two entrances to the town square. Each unit could effectively guard each path by themselves, but with superior numbers, it isn’t a possible task.
Such a thing was predictable, yet there’s nothing that could be done. Reinforcements from Amaseia, Mazaka, and Ankyra were still a few seasons away.
It did not take much from Ptolemaioi’s forces to defeat the small garrison, but more than half of the enemy’s troops were killed in the battle, effectively preventing those soldiers to do anymore harm to the neighboring provinces.
Seventy-two days later…
“The Basileus’s scouts have informed us of a large Seleukid force sitting just outside the east gate of Sardis. Sardis is the westernmost settlement of the Seleukidai. Between it and the rest of her territory lie the Ptolemaioi. Reinforcements would be hard to acquire. Ariarathes and his group of advisors have already gathered at his tent to discuss the next action. Pergamon is a recently conquered city and its inhabitants are still subject to riots if we do not garrison it with a sufficient force. The people have gone centuries without exchange of rulers. This is the first time another party has established themselves as the governor of the city. All the time since then has been spent quelling the population: killing off rebellious people, gifting possible friends, and the such. Either way, we’re heading out in a few days, either to Ipsos or Sardis.”
-Pharnouchos, royal bodyguard of the Basileus
Thirty-four days later…
“Something tells me what we’re doing is suicide.”
“But think of what we’ll gain once we win!”
“We’ll gain nothing if we die. We’re facing a might twice as powerful as our own! Victory just isn’t possible.”
“You belittle yourself as well as the rest of us. There have been plenty of times where a smaller army achieved victory over a larger foe.”
“And nine out of ten times they had better weapons and armor. What do we have? Linen and cloth? The mistophoroi hoplitai over there even have better equipment than us!”
“Don’t complain, else they’ll execute you and your family for treason.”
Three days later…
“A number of merchants have been traveling with us as of late. I purchased quite a number of items the other day. I sent it back to my family in Mazaka for safe-keeping. I’ll hopefully survive the next battle. It’s also been settled. We won’t be going to Ipsos. We’re taking on the superior Seleukid force at Sardis. Never can it be said that such a thing hasn’t been done. Alexandros himself did the same with even larger adversity. The Basileus isn’t as great a general as Alexandros, but no bad can be said of him. No battle hasn’t been won with him in charge. Morale is very high and hopes are still present.”
-Arsames, soldier
A day earlier…
“The army is relentless. A few days prior, we had come across a few camps where the Ptolemaioi stayed on their path to Ipsos. It seems as if they had come from the direction of Sardis. I fear the two major kingdoms of the east might be conspiring hand-in-hand.”
- Ariarathes, Basileus
Four days later…
The landscape is littered with trees; it obscures the view of the battlefield. Though the Pontic army initiated the army, they were on defense. The depth of the Seleukid army was twice the size of the Pontic formation. There were also Seleukidai reinforcements coming in from Sardis. It had been approximately a year since the last battle for the soldiers of Pontos, though most of the soldiers of Seleukeia haven’t fought in years. Cavalry on the Seleukid side numbered quadruple that of the Pontic side. Infantry was doubled. The odds were 2:1 against the army of Pontos, and it did not look well for them at all.
Two hours later…
“I realize many of you think this to be a suicide mission. I am not a charismatic person, so I’ll keep this short. You all know my skills and what I am. Nothing else must be done aside from achieving victory. Form up!”
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Seven: The Basileus of Sardis
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Here, it was a sheep against a lion, a mouse against an elephant, Pontos against Seleukeia.
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The opposing army sent their forward scouts before their main army advanced, in order to try to disrupt the Pontic formation. They were easily routed with our superior cavalry, and the army formed up proper once more.
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Our army was set up in the shape of a crescent moon. Due to the width of the Seleukid army, Ariarathes put our army in such a way so that it would be much more difficult to flank us. This natural formation also protected our archers from their more numerous cavalry as well as lowering the amount of distance Ariarathes and his bodyguard had to cover to stop the opposing army from flanking us.
Arrows flew past our heads. I am one of many men in the sarissa brigade. Against the front, we were invincible unless against another user of the sarissa. The Seleukid army was made mostly of mercenaries. That was how they had so many men this far away from their core provinces, but they still had a few brigades of sarissas in their formation, and it wasn't long before they engaged us.
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We are the main force of our army. We deliver the punch, but there's only so much we can do. No man with a brain would walk into our spears so the casualties we deliver are small. Apparently, our form of combat came from the Makedonians. They always contained a large amount of cavalry in their army. Our current army only contain the royal bodyguards, but what we lose in numbers make up in experience. Ariarathes's royal bodyguard are as battle-hardened as men can be. Anything they touched lay to ruin.
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From my left, I heard the harsh sounds of battle. I have no time to look around, nor could I. Dust enveloped around the battlefield. Blood and grime developed into a mist of death. The sun's heavenly light filled the battlefield. It was a beautiful sight.
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Yells, screams, and battlecries filled the air. Groans traveled upward from the ground as if the spirits themselves were escaping the earth. My sarissa still had not found itself within the bowels of a man while my comrades in front thrusted theirs with the ferocity of tigers.
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To my upper left, over the armaments of the enemy army, I saw my Basileus fighting the enemy commander. Our royal bodyguard are the strongest in the known world. They were fully covered with armor and equipped with a xyston and a machaira, made specifically for combat. In that regard, the bodyguard of the Seleukids were similar. Their armor, however, were lighter and not as strong, and that very weakness showed itself as the Basileus slaughtered the opposing general left and right.
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I glanced to my right to see a contingent of our sarissas routed. Our line was broken. We had to keep our lines thin to make up for the width of our enemy. There were only two sarissa contingents left. Our morale was waning and our number dwindling. The sarissas to our right were immediately flanked by an enemy phalangites. Our allied caucasian spearmen and mercenary hoplites were being overwhelmed on our right and I could see the enemy starting to move to our rear.
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The horns' ring vibrated the air. A quick glimpse to my right located the royal bodyguard charging the flanks of the enemy phalangitai as well as more of my fellow countrymen running away. My own animal instincts wished me to run, but the cries of my Basileus gave me a few more moments of confidence. However, it wasn't long before I ran as well.
I dropped my sarissa immediately and started heading off the battlefield. Again, I viewed my surroundings and saw the royal bodyguard charging into the backs of the enemy once more. That must've been at least the tenth time in the battle that they have done so. What shamed me was that the mercenaries were still standing their ground. That even they were still fighting made me mad at myself.
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"Stand your ground! Look to your left! Even these mercenaries, who have absolutely no gain in this battle, are fighting!"
No less needed to be said. My comrades and I reformed and went back into the battle. But before we could even lower our sarissas, the enemy general charged. A cold chill coursed through my veins and, once more, my countrymen and I ran away.
My quick steps brought me back to the campground. Many of my mates died as their cavalry chased us. I hid behind a tree and waited for their cavalry to trot past. I made it back to the campground hours later.
The rest of the story I heard from the Basileus himself. By the time I had ran, everybody else had ran as well. Only the royal bodyguard stayed behind. It was to be expected. They were the most experienced, most trained, and most heavily equipped.
Though some may think what he did next to be a coward's way, he considered it strategy. He was a smart man.
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He had already singlehandedly killed two commanders of the opposing army. The last one he lured away from the main force of the Seleukids, which was still at least five hundred strong, though no less tired and morale stricken as us. Having their generals dead caused their organization to suffer and they themselves were on the brink of collapse.
The Basileus fought the final commander of the army in combat. The difference in experience was very evident. It wasn't long before he was also sent to the afterlife.
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However, in the middle of the fight, the Basileus had not noticed he was surrounded by the opposing army. Dead bodies littered the terrain. He wasn't even sure if the force confronting him was big or small. He had no chance to think. Though numerous, they were weak and tired. Ariarathes also had the advantage of speed.
He took out one contingent of the enemy and retreated to another ground so that only his front had the enemy.
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Horses are naturally fearful creatures. Their first response to any danger is to bolt, but like that of great cavalrymen, the Basileus and his royal bodyguard have trained, slept, eaten, and verbalized with their horses since birth. By that time, the horse would not even need a command from their rider to know what to do. Their minds would have become linked and their spirits joined.
Any other person would have seen a sea of spears. All the Basileus saw was victory. His superior maneuverability and speed made circles around the enemy and charged home. Without their generals, the assailing army was senseless. Even their elite Galatikoi Tindanotae from the lands of Galatia routed from a few charges of the Basileus's heavy cavalry and insatiable thirst for victory.
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It wasn't long before only two contingents of the enemy still stayed in the battlefield. It wasn't as if the royal bodyguard wasn't gaining casualties as well. By this time, the two sarissa contingents did not fear him anymore. They were also almost fully manned. The Basileus charged what must've been at least ten times before one of them routed, but by that time...
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Only four of the royal bodyguard did not lay slain or injured on the battlefield. The Basileus had numerous wounds on his body, all on his front. His third right rib was cracked long ago. His left arm left unusable from a thrust of an enemy sarissa. His teeth was almost shattered from a blow of a longsword had not one of his favored men thrust his xyston into the chest of the enemy combatant in time.
But the battle was not over. The enemy was running towards him. They had dropped their sarissas long before, knowing it would be impossible to lower it in time. However, a final charge by the Basileus finally destroyed every thought of their victory.
At the end of the battle, the Basileus brought any man that could still walk back onto the battlefield to take care of the fallen and carry back the injured, as well as to capture any enemies still living for information before finally slaying them when they had expended their usefulness. In all, every man was injured in the battle, and two-thirds died. I had wounds in both my arms. The enemy army either all died or ran away, too shameful to ever fight again.
A few days later, we marched on Sardis and took it without incident. The inhabitants were actually looking for change. They did not like having such a large army on their lands all the time. The standard things necessary to take a city were still done. A few friends were made, a few enemies were killed. Apparently, we have reinforcements coming from the northeast in a year or two. Till then, we'll be resting in Sardis and healing ourselves with wine.
- Arsames, soldier of the sarissa
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Great screenshots and a great AAR nice job!
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Eight: One Man's Thoughts
Spring, Twenty-third year (258 BCE)
In the years previous, I have wandered the landscape before finally settling down in the city of Byzantion. Ariobarzanes Kianos, the previous Basileus of Pontos, was my employer until his tragic death six years ago on the seventeenth year of the Pontic Dynasty (264 BCE). Many believed his death to be a message from the Gods, to stop what he’s doing. Ariarathes, Ariobarzanes’s uncle, does not believe such a thing to be true and recent occurrences would show him to be correct.
After the Basileus’s death, I found myself and my abilities unused. I would’ve thought Ariarathes would put me in his employ at that moment. I used to be the first Basileus’s advisor as well before I moved on to advise the young Ariobarzanes. But such a thing did not happen, and now I’m a simple merchant pawning off my goods in the markets of the lands surrounding the Bosphorus. Working for the ruler of a kingdom has its rewards, influence and monetary. It did not matter that Pontos was a poor kingdom a few springs past; anybody willing to help a kingdom was practically furnished with goods fit for royalty. I had the intelligence to not frivolously spend my new wealth; the world of today is a rapidly changing one, anything can happen at any time, as was shown by the death of Ariobarzanes. Still, it is impossible to hold wealth forever.
My glorious education at the hands of the courts of the Pontic academies is being laid to waste in this rotting hellhole of a land. Still, the grounds are shining. Its people still smile. Crops grow back, rains dissipate, and the scars of war eventually vanish. My children also fill me with pride. My wife, lovely, but I can’t help but feel I could be doing something more than being a merchant.
Summer, Twenty-third year (258 BCE)
Today, we’re moving on to Nikaia, where Ariobarzanes died, and where I attained this scar across my back. It’s only so long before you get tired of one town. I would consider myself a vigorous man, a man that cannot stay in one place. I had not noticed it when I was under the employ of the Basileus as we traveled constantly. New sights were always around the corner. I would have to leave the embrace of the group of friends I have grown to fond, but such things would have happened sooner or later, either in life or death.
Summer, a day after
We are currently awaiting the ferry to cross the Bosphorus.
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Merchant ships of all shapes and sizes flow through this small strait of water, and Pontos controls all of it. In recent years, trade has made the Kingdom of Pontos prosperous and the Bosphorian strait has had no small part in that development. From what I’ve heard, its armies are growing exponentially thanks to their new source of income. The old Persian scythe chariots are finally being churned out, as well as some actual horsemen to accompany the phalangitai as Alexandros would have. Also, the army of Pontos must have produced a few veterans by now, during the previous decades of war. They probably already have elite contingents of these men formed up and on the move at this moment. With the superior wealth, probably with much better armor too. At the moment, I’m not sure if the leaders of Pontos wish to go back to the times of Persia or to form another Hellenistic nation, but it is surely growing, and doing so with immense speed.
Summer, two days after the previous
We have arrived in the city of Nikaia. It has been long since I’ve ventured inside here. Buildings destroyed by the great earthquake were already restored to their previous glory. Like always, the marketplace is bustling with activity. We were determined travelers now. We sold our home in Byzantion and are now living on the road. No convincing was needed for her. She simply follows me and takes care of my children as well as the household. We’re still peddling our goods as we travel, but we’ll probably stay in Nikaia for a couple weeks. I’m sure I can make a bargain on some of these goods.
Autumn, Twenty-third year (258 BCE)
One of my horses has come down with an illness. I’ll have to make my stay a bit longer than I wished. I’m also finding it increasingly difficult not to get involved in the affairs of Pontos. There were times where I was thought to be a spy, but nobody really knows everything. The information network of Pontos is quite poor.
Autumn, five days later
Nikaia’s pretty much an inner city in the kingdom. There is a very small garrison stationed here. As of late, I’ve been contemplating the status of my parents. I wish to one day return to them, but it would take much doing to travel to Sinope. It’s been eight years since I last heard of them and I wish to tell them of my travels.
Another thing happened today. Merchants from the north brought along a fresh supply of Thraikioi slaves, brigands that stole from an unnamed village near the edge of the Bosphorus. A few of their eyes were still full of spirit while others already lost their sense of hope, their will to fight, their dynamis. While I respected such men, they were also worthy of scorn. It was at that point that I actively wished to return to the court of Pontos. These slaves, their own ambition to escape, fueled my own desires to escape my life of mediocrity. I’ve already made up my mind and will moving towards where the current Basileus is stationed come spring.
Spring, Twenty-fourth year (257 BCE)
Merchants from the south have come once more. They say that Ipsos has been retaken by Pontos. So, on this day, I’ll be heading in that direction.
Spring, one day later
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The leaves have already recovered on the limbs of trees, and the birds are again singing. Everywhere I go there are only dirt roads available. Traveling is long and difficult. Though, every city I have ever visited seems to have the best of sanitation and healthcare. With the low amount of population in Anatolia, the governors of Pontos have been promoting the growth and survival of the population rather than their military.
Spring, seven days later
I have finally arrived in the city of Ipsos. The current governor is a step-son of Ariobarzanes, Antipatros Phabdaios, quite young at the age of twenty-nine, but very skilled. He is very likely to become the next Basileus. Before Ariobarzanes died, I had been promoted to his circle of most trusted advisors. During that time, I had met this step-son. Surely he’ll remember me and forward my wishes to the current Basileus.
…
It took much to forward my plea to meet him. He has granted my request for two days from now. Till then, I will be in the marketplace, buying a few items to show my respect.
Spring, two days later
It appears I will be working under Antipatros now. As he is likely to be the next ruler I have no qualms about it. Even if he wasn’t, surely the life I have now will be much more exciting. It did not take much to convince him of my worth. He remembered me well as the intelligent and vigorous man I was under Ariobarzanes, and he thought well to employ me under his party.
Summer, Twenty-fourth year (257 BCE)
Antipatros says we’re moving on now. In recent years, he’s been basically defeating only slaves, rebels, and brigands when he’s not governing the town. Since then, he’s gotten a little knack for commanding an army so he wishes to bring the fight to the enemy. For the past few years, armies have been recruited in Ankyra, Mazaka, and Amaseia. Now those armies will be put under the test of this man.
The treasuries of Pontos have been strained with the new addition to the military might. Antipatros says Ariarathes also has another army to the southwest with some Thraikioi allies coming from the northwest. He doesn’t know what Ariarathes is going to do with it, but chances are we will be warring with Makedonia soon.
My children will be staying behind. They're simply too young. My wife will also be taking care of them. So their residence will simply be in Ipsos. Antipatros was nice enough to find us a decent dwelling once I fell under his banner and now I'll be leaving.
We’re heading out tomorrow.
- Dionysios Herakleotes, advisor of Antipatros Phabdaios
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
I like the way you switch viewpoints, it makes the kingdom come more alive. Perhaps you could do something with the fact that the pontic royal family is Persian, whilst many of it's citizens are hellens and anatolians. Pontos was a hellenized persian kingdom. Well it's just a suggestion, so do with it what you want.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Before I started this AAR, I hardly knew anything about Pontos. And since then I've only been able to research about 1-2 hours. I can't really find a lot of information on Pontos either.
And don't worry. I might try to do something about the citizens being mostly Greek. Though help is welcome. This is really the first time I've ever written any type of story.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Nine: A Soldier's Life
Halikarnassos. Once, Alexandros had come down to this very city and taken it. It is situated in the southwestern most portion of Anatolia. The great Mausoleion of Mausolus rests in the city as well as the wealth of history that come with it. Its population, recently “liberated” by the army of Pontos, still have much pride in their past, being that of inhabitants of the capital city of the Carians. But, just as quick as they took the city, they left it. The same system of government was still set in place. In the eyes of the common people, nothing had changed besides the soldiers stationed and the destination of the taxes. Every person went about their business once more. They toiled their lands, planted their crops, and harvested them. The children still played in the streets, the men still cheated on their wives, and the wives took care of their children. Brigands still roamed the streets, taking whatever valuables a traveler may have had, even if it was a donation to the Gods. Nothing changed except it was now a province of Pontos, another step on the conquest of the entirety of Anatolia.
Spring, Twenty-fifth year (256 BCE)
Arsames sighed.
It had been three years since the battle of Sardis. Though he ran from the battlefield, he was still given a medal of valor. Word had spread of his actions on the field and it was all positive. His rally, even if it was a futile one to begin with, greatly improved his status among the other soldiers. He was twenty-five years old, yet his complexion was that of an aged man. Nightmares about the day frequently loomed his sense of self though they have subsequently extinguished. After the battle, his injuries were horrendous. The rest of the soldiers suffered similar fates. Many simply died the following day. Many others the next until there were only a few left, Arsames being one of the lucky few. At times, he wondered if what he went through was only a dream rather than reality. None of his mates in the army survived; though he knew what he had done was a victory for the books, one that may be passed down from generation to generation as one of the most famous battles of all time.
Soon after the battle, he was sent back to his home, only he didn’t have a home left when he arrived. Before he left, six years ago, his father was the only surviving family member he had. His mother died in parturition and he was the only child. His second mother also came to an unfortunate end at the hands of an earthquake. His father never felt like getting a third wife after that, and now his father was missing as well. Nobody in his town knew exactly where he went. The house was stripped of all worth years ago. Not even a rusty pan was spared. Some of the foundation was even taken as firewood.
He still had few friends in town, though many went into the fight years ago. After Sardis, he had sold much of the loot on the battlefield to merchants at Sardis, though with the new influx of armor and arms, he wasn’t compensated too well. Still, he had wealth equaling that of five families in his town. It also didn’t take much to convince some of his family friends to take him in for a while.
The town was just outside of Amaseia, the capital city of Pontos. He had entered the soldiery through a recruiter that had come to his town six years ago, promising tales of riches, glory, and excitement. Of course, at this he was intrigued and he immediately joined even at the ill wishes of his father. Arsames felt very sad, and increasingly angry at that moment. Soon, he went to the city of Amaseia to find his new life.
First searches weren’t good. A large number of the enslaved had come from the west, mainly defeated soldiers as well as disgruntled civilians of a newly conquered city. As such, it was difficult to obtain a good paying job. His starting wealth was good, but it wouldn’t last forever. He was also too old to be taken as an apprentice to a new trade, so he hired himself to be a worker of everything. People of all trades hired him for work. He accepted any type of work that was given, though very few was begotten.
Two years went by before he finally ran out of money. A series of lies and scams finally did him in. He was a soldier, not a trader. At that moment, he had no idea what to do. At that point, all he had was his shield, passed down from his father through his father and possibly even more generations. It was at the moment of his contemplation that he heard another recruiter. The kingdom was looking for new soldiers once more, for a second army to be accompanied next to the one already in place, this one, however, made up of mostly experienced men. Upon hearing this, Arsames, without hesitation, recruited himself into the army. He was a known man, a veteran from the battle of Sardis, and so was accepted without a hint of vacillation.
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He still used the sarissas, but was given better equipment. He was now considered a Chalkispides, a Bronze Shield, a part of the elite phalangitai of the Pontic kingdom. He was given a shield covered with a layer of bronze, much stronger than what he had used back in the day. This new group of soldiers was also equipped with bronze greaves, shielding their legs from possible enemy attack. It did not take a long time to see that many of his fellow soldiers were there at the battle of Sardis. A lot of their wounds had healed since then, just like Arsames’s were. They either were sent back here for retraining and refurbishing or they went the same route as Arsames did, wandering the countryside before finally deciding to join the army once more.
They drilled nonstop, day after day. Those who have been out of it for a number of years were not treated any differently from those that have been in the army consecutively. Arsames remembered back to his first drill six years ago. The physical exhaustion had been unbearable. He had undergone strain, but nothing of this kind. They lifted the sarissas and brought it down again for what seemed to be years. They marched in formation with the sarissa brought down for kilometers at a time. And all this in the hot festering sun. Current drills were much harder in comparison, but at the very least Arsames had the experience already. Every night on a march they had drilled before going to sleep. It wasn’t long before Arsames finally headed out. He would be going under the command Antipatros Phabdaios, a young man of rising status and power. It wouldn’t take much for him to assume command of the kingdom in time, and he finally felt it was time to command his own army. As how would you control a kingdom if you can’t even control an army?
“Time to go.”
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Ten: A Tale of Two Battles
“I think I’ve found something professor!”
We were on what used to be a great plain of grassland in Turkey, right off the coast of the island of Lesbos. We had finally obtained permission from the government of Turkey to search the grounds of what could’ve been an ancient battle between the armies of Pontus and Macedonia.
“You know Georgy-boy, this is exactly the evidence we need to confirm the writings of that book we found three decades ago!
“You mean the one by Dionysios Herakleotes Dr. Wilson?”
Dr. Wilson reached down to examine the javelin shaft. “Exactly George. And in that book, it said the Macedonian army had used an extensive amount of javelineers on that day.”
I looked over the dig-site. It was absolutely massive in scale. This type of grueling archaeology costed virtually hundreds and thousands of man-hours, as well as millions of dollars in expenditure. Within days, more and more battle armaments were found. Hundreds of javelin pieces were eventually recovered, as well as a few pieces of spears that may have been a sarissas. Helmets, armor, shields, and bones were also found in the next few years of excavation, while we went off to look at another battle site that was also mentioned in Herakleotes’s book.
“According to the translation of the book we found, this battle was fought simultaneously with the one at the coast near Lesbos professor.”
“Indeed. And in order to prove the validity of the history of this book, we need to test this ground as well.”
The Pontic army on the western end of Anatolia was headed by the king of that time, Ariarathes Herakleotes. We do not know too much about him right now as this book is still being translated laboriously. He faced a man named Zaikedenthes. A reinforcing army led by Euchrous Mitylenaios was close behind when the battle began. Not much is known about Mitylenaios either.
The battle that took place here, near the ancient city of Side, which has now become a very popular tourist region, was between the army of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and army of the Pontic Kingdom. This battle was lesser in scale than the one to the west, but it was still a very large battle. The army of Pontus was lead by a man named Antipatros Phabdaios. On the Ptolemaic side, a man named Mnasimachos led the army, but Mnasimachos wasn’t a very great leader, which was probably one of the reasons why he lost the battle.
A number of days passed in the excavation before we found something. My friend Sorin apparently found a dart tip.
“The book does say there were a lot of javelineers here as well.”
Of course, the same thing happened as near Lesbos. Javelin tips by the multitudes were found. Wooden shields, Thracian-style helmets, bones, that of horses and men, as well as round, lead shots were also found. Other armaments and equipment appeared as well. It was the motherlode of all excavations. Ten years from now, we would be practically experts in the field and well regarded as one of the greatest discoverers of all time. But right now, all we can do is wait as more excerpts from the book were translated.
...
The book’s finally been translated up to the end of the battles. I obtained a copy right after and began reading.
….
Summer, Twenty-fifth year (256 BCE)
At the time, I was traveling with Antipatros. He was no Ariobarzanes, but can any man be another? He made it strong that he would lead the army to victory. He also made it clear that anything that might lead to the collapse of the army would be dealt with strictly. I tell of an event just two days after crossing into the border of the Ptolemaioi. A fight had broken out within the ranks. Two men were arguing. I had no idea what it was about, but it was most likely a trivial matter. What Antipatros believed was that training would develop discipline and discipline would be the key to winning. With that, he worked the two men, hard. They attained no sleep. Every waking moment was done running. Rest was minimal. After they broke, Antipatros still went on with the regiment. Once he was done, the two men would never cause trouble ever again. Similarly, the tales of Antipatros’ apparent cruelty also prevented other men from causing trouble all the same.
At the same moment, Ariarathes was on march to the town of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. It was a heavily Hellenized town, just like the rest of the cities and towns of Anatolia. It was still held by the army of Makedonia, and pretty heavily garrisoned. One of the men I questioned years later told me Ariarathes’s decision to declare war on Makedonia was one he had already imagined as a child. In his early years, just like that of the many other members of the Persian family ruling Pontos, he had learned about the conquest of Megas Alexandros. Ariarathes never only wanted to only conquer Anatolia, he wished to conquer all that which Alexandros did as well. And, of course, the first step would be taking the cities of the nation which produced such a man, Makedonia. With the recent addition to the military prowess, he knew such a war could be properly manned. The other army can fight off the armies of Ptolemaioi and Arche Seleukeia while his can battle the army of Makedonia.
Meanwhile, at our end, Antipatros had received word of a large Ptolemaioi army just outside the city of Side. No proper numbers were given, but it was sufficiently large to be a threat. While at the island of Lesbos, Ariarathes blockaded all entrance to the city of Mytilene.
In the years after that battle, we discovered an information network between the Makedonai and the Ptolemaioi. Information must have exchanged between them as they chose to attack both of our armies simultaneously on both ends. Ariarathes led the party to the west while Antipatros led the party to the east.
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In both battles, the armies were placed in traditional format, phalangitai in the center while the more flexible troops were placed on the sides. The stronger troops were placed on the right, as the right side did not have the pleasure of a shield. Missiles either behind or in front of the army with those in front moving backwards as the enemy came closer.
The Makedonian reinforcements the battle to the west had to cross a very narrow isthmus, which was probably the reason for the overwhelming win for Ariarathes, while the commander of the Ptolemaioi to the east was basically a coward, a man who had no talent for command, which was probably the reason for the overwhelming win for Antipatros.
Both enemy armies advanced on that day. Antipatros’s starting position was poor, so he had moved his army as well at the start of the battle, while the army of Ariarathes was perfectly positioned, which perfectly showed his better commanding abilities.
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While the slingers of Ariarathes slinged their deadly lead bullets, the army of Antipatros laid in wait while the Ptolemaioi charged.
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In reality, the two battles were incomparable. The horrendous command of Mnasimachos made it not a battle, but rather a slaughter. We had recently acquired a weapon from the old days of the Persian Empire, the Scythe Chariot. It was a weapon that inspired fear within the ranks of the enemy. Its blades were designed in such a way so that whichever way it turned, one would always face the enemy. With only one look at such a monstrosity, the enemy buckled and ran. In the battle to the west, the army was mostly comprised of levies and weakly armored men, while in the east, it was comprised of experienced infantry with a heavy component of cavalry. The speed in which Antipatros destroyed the opposing army was unrivaled. In the west, however, the battle was still on while Antipatros was mopping up the routers of the opposing Ptolemaioi.
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The reinforcing army of Makedonia had split into many pieces in order to eventually converge upon the army of Pontos from all sides. The Makedonai army had many light skirmishers in their midst, as did the army of the Ptolemaioi to the east. The army of Antipatros, however, had the advantage of a huge contingent of cavalry, while that of Ariarathes only had his royal bodyguard as well as the help of a few mercenary light horse from Illyria. He also faced a much larger army.
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Ariarathes had six brigades of sarissas. Unwieldy weapons of war they were. Even with commanding abilities of Ariarathes, it did not take long for them to start losing sense of self and location. The men were bumping into one another as they tried to march towards the faster, lighter enemy. However, once they reached their target, the force they wielded lacked no weakness.
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Because the enemy was trying to converge upon the enemy, Ariarathes thought to bring the fight to them while they were still separated. It wasn’t long before the battle began to take the form of two battles, one the eastern side of the battlefield as well as one in the center.
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The phalangitai was the main force in both while Ariarathes himself thought to use the power of his horsemen to break the enemy force in the center. The enemy general was fighting, and he was fighting hard. His own actions build upon the morale of the entire army and Ariarathes knew that once he died, the army would fall apart shortly after.
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On the eastern side, enemy phalangitai fought. Once their sarissas broke, they took to fighting with their swords and axes. The entire army was exhausted, but they knew they had to continue. The voice of Ariarathes filled the air and while he still stood, nobody else could fall.
Meanwhile, Antipatros was chasing the enemy with his army. He found them on the road to Side. It didn’t take much to take care of that army as well.
While on Ariarathes’s battle, after a series of charges, the enemy general finally crumbled. Not moments later, the entire army routed. Seeing their general laying dead upon their feet shook their bodies with fear. They were untrained men, they rout at the first sight of defeat rather than standing strong and protecting the body of their commander.
On this day, two battles were fought and two were won. Thousands, upon thousands died in the useless carnage. Side and Mytilene were taken shortly after the battles were over. The men were tired and battered. Practically all of the soldiers of Ariarathes fell to the ground and slept for what seemed like forever at the end of it all. The soldiers of Antipatros had it better. Some didn’t even get to fight as the scythe chariots slashed bone and muscle off the routing enemy. The nation of Makedonia did not see the last of Pontos, nor did the Ptolemaioi.
…
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the battles. Such glorious kingdoms, now practically nonexistent. Whatever was left of the people of Pontus had moved to Greece, and now, with the blending, practically no pure Pontic people exist. Such a shame, but empires rise and fall. I’m sure the same will happen now and in the future.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
well that was cool. Using an archeologists point of view was a stroke of genius. This AAR just get's better and better.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
By the way, I've written eleven posts so far and I've hardly had any sort of criticism. I know there must be problems with my writing. Can anybody give me some advice as to which parts may be bad and how I may improve?
Also, suggestions on possible story options are quite welcome.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Not really, Korlon. Your writing is great, and so is the AAR in general. I mean, there are a few odd spelling mistakes here and there, but that can only be expected, and it's not a problem at all- any AAR writer does it. You've also developed a unique style by writing as a different person practically every time, and you also use actual pictures from the area, like Chirurgeon.
I can only say this- don't hesitate to return to the view of a previous character- that way, readers will become attached to a few characters that you use frequently- like Arsames, the common soldier. Although one thing I really enjoy about the AAR is things nobody expects- like writing from the point of view of a dead king, or a modern historian!
Anyway, keep it up! I'd like to see the Pontic kingdom become a huge empire.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
I like how your General killed 1/3 of the enemy army :)
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Thanks for your thoughts Chaotix27.
And to Olaf, I absolutely love cataphracts. I bet if you fired a cannon at them, they'd still survive and stick a xyston in your torso! In all my games, I like to use my generals in just about every battle, and my generals show for it by getting even more hitpoints! Very awesome.
About the AAR, I haven't been able to play lately, but I should be getting around to that. A problem is that I haven't been able to think of good, new ideas for a chapter, so... back to the old stuff.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Eleven: A City Conquered, A Man Conquered
I have worked hard for this day, a day to command my own army, if only a portion.
I am Arsiochos, from the family of Driles. I have come from the land of Kappadokia, a province of Pontos. My parents lived under the call of Arche Seleukeia, but I never did. I was only four years old when the warriors of Pontos arrived in my city of Mazaka. My parents told me that the city was easily taken. No looting, executions, or rapes ever befell our city when it was conquered, and now the province of Kappadokia is one of the biggest training centers for the army of Pontos.
A few men of old detested the new ruling family. Taxes were raised so it was understandable, but the people were mainly equally as happy as they were under the Seleukid rule. At least ninety-nine percent of the population living in the countryside didn’t even know there was a change, but my family certainly did. The Driles clan had been influential in the city of Mazaka for many generations, all since a certain ancestor of mine, with a significant aggregate of talents, started messing with the governing of the town, and now we’re one of the richest around. Favors are asked from us every day. Beggars once came to our door by the bucket-full until we took some proper… security measures.
My early life wasn’t terribly different than most other children, only that I discovered I held a certain… sway over other people. Every child wanted to be my friend, and it took much to ascertain who wanted to be my friend for the influence, and who wanted to be my friend only for the sake of being as such. From childhood, I was given a significant amount of training with horses. Night and day I have toiled with their usage on and off the battlefield. I have rode with my horse, Kyros, since we were both but children, and thousands of hours have I spent on his back. Our connectivity of the spirit knows no peer.
Since childhood I have worked hard to earn up to my name. My studies were always excellent. My mastery of the sword, though not as good as those who have used it in battle, is as good as it can be. Free time? There was hardly any free time. I understood the necessity for rest and pleasure, but it wasn’t of the utmost priority. Bettering myself made me happy and my hard work would eventually be rewarded thrice over.
At the summer of my twentieth year, I had been riding with a few friends around the countryside. An epistle awaited me at home. The royal family of Pontos had noticed my talents and wished to adopt me and give one of their daughters as a wife in return. I already had a lover, a girl that I have had relations with for almost a year, but such an opportunity comes rarely, if ever. This was exactly the kind of thing my life’s work had been leading up to, a chance to use my skills and talents for something bigger than a broker or simple soldier. Though I regrettably had to terminate my relations with the girl, life’s a cruel thing. She could not have granted me any influence, being the simple commoner she was. My family was extremely happy. My father had trained me for this day and my mother… just raising me and seeing me to such a glorious position was reward enough. Their faces practically beamed when they heard the message.
I did not take long to part my ways. An Antipatros Phabdaios was the one that asked my services. I met up with him between the two mountain ranges at the eastern portion of the province of Phrygia. Just a few seasons ago, we had taken the city of Sidon and the area which it controlled, and now we’re heading towards Tarsos, in the province of Kilikia.
It isn’t difficult to see that Antipatros is a much smarter man than I am, but he is also older. The army he commands clearly contains much respect for him, and is quite confident about his talent for command. In that regard, it’s the complete opposite in my case. Most of these men are older than I. They hate being commanded by someone younger, and clearly inexperienced in the ways of battle. They are right. I’ve spent most of my life holed up in the city. I have no experience in command. The only battles I taken part of were the ones near the city of Side and all I did was run down some routers. Clearly my expertise was of the peasant kind, absolutely nothing.
The men, though, were still confident. There are currently two main armies in the Kingdom of Pontos. One, currently led by Ariarathes, was nearing the city of Pella, the capital of Makedonia. I am in the latter. The one led by Ariarathes are made of mostly levies, though experienced by years of war under the command of Ariarathes. The one led by Antipatros is made of mostly veterans, veterans with money from years of service. Their experience made their morale huge, and their new, better armaments helped as well.
I was sent forward, ahead of the main army, to scout the city of Tarsos with a small contingent of foot soldiers. The main army followed, though at a slower pace.
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We were practically running all the way there. Our Caucasian allies were in front. They wore only a light leather jerkin, hardly worth anything in a melee. Spears would penetrate it as if it were cloth. Their little knives didn't help matters either, but their skill in archery could not be badmouthed. They most likely used the bow all their lives in the Caucasus mountains, either to hunt or otherwise. The broad, dynamic design of their bows and arrows did not make matters any better for the one on the receiving end.
Our elite chalkaspidai were in the back. Good men, strong. Able to do what is needed of them. Their stamina honed through years of training and battle. Everything is easy.
It didn't take long to reach the city. A few weeks did the trick. The rest of the army laid in wait somewhere behind us. My orders are thus: "Figure out the strength of the enemy, and to take down its walls for the main army to swarm in. On the cover of night, my men began building the siege weapons necessary to bring down the walls of Tarsos. A few more days, and we will be on the city like a swarm of vultures on a carcass.
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The rams are brought forward. As always, archers are necessary to disrupt the enemy formation. The fire arrows also brought much needed panic to the enemy so that they may not know our exact numbers.
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After the rams brought down the walls, we retreated. The soldiers of Tarsos were still confused when we slipped out through the woods in the southwest.
Days later, I met up with Antipatros. He congratulated my success and we began our trip to Tarsos in masse.
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The garrison was small indeed, at least compared with our army. Its men weak, mostly composed of levies from the local population. Antipatros told me to just sit outside and observe.
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The archers had replenished their supply of arrows. While we marched, they were knifing their shafts. While we were sleeping, they were in the woods, searching for good material for their arrows. These are men that know the importance of their equipment, and each army needs one of these men.
Once more, the fire arrow tactic was deployed. I sat behind the formation of men, observing my superior commander's tactics.
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A relatively simple one was used this time. Send light troops in to move quickly around the city, then replace them when the enemy is tired.
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Three skirmishes eventually happened: one on the left, one in the middle, and one on the right.
The center and the left were eventually replaced with fresh troops.
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Once the enemy's center fell, it was all over.
I couldn't see the exact details, but the result was evident, a clear victory for our side.
After the battle, Antipatros and I talked. The resulting discussion was as such.
"No doubt you already know why I asked for your services."
I already had some idea as to why.
"Whatever you're thinking, it's just the tip of the iceberg. You might know that I don't have any direct descendants at the moment. Even if I do, they might be utter morons on the field of battle as well as off of it. Either way, my time is short. I don't have time for making children, nor raising them. You, on the other hand, are already matured. Your past is magnificent, and your knowledge clearly rivals many great men, but you lack training, experience. I offered my half-sister as a sort of dowry. Now I offer to adopt you as my own successor. If you do well, I will make sure you will directly control the powers that be this kingdom."
I was astounded. My thoughts raced. Such a reason never even crossed my mind. I knew I was chosen for my skills, but for something this large to happen to me was extraordinary.
"Why was I chosen? There must be other men with the same skills as I, or possibly greater. I hardly even know you! A year ago, I had not known if you even existed, and now this? It's madness!"
"You don't understand the amount of sway your family holds over our kingdom. I must tell you that the reason for why you were chosen isn't just due to your skills; it's also for the amount of support your family has given us. If you ever thought your family was a great and kind one, you're dead wrong. In the darkness, your aunts, uncles, and even your parents, are involved in some of the most horrendous slave trades to ever exist. They have always been rich, but dealing with clean money only brings financial ruin. History has shown money comes from crime. It's the same as what we're doing now. We're taking cities, and sometimes we may have to enslave or kill the population to stop them from bringing us trouble. This brings us many riches, and you know it yourself. Just look over there!"
Groups of men were dragging dead men into the city square, stripping them of armor and weapons and tossing them into a pile nearby. The stench of blood and shit was widely noticeable. Already, vultures could be seen from outside the city. Flies surrounded the dead bodies as if it were vinegar. Other groups of men brought forth valuables from the mansion. Jewelry, gold, spices, and other richly things were gathered into one small location. Their worth could feed the entire population of this city for months. The armor and weapons of the fallen could bring that amount to a year.
“Understand now?”
I understood perfectly. In one day, a city had been conquered, and in one day, my beliefs were too. I had no complaints. Such a wonderful opportunity had been presented to me, and I graciously accepted it without a second thought. Clearly a new stage in my life had begun, and clearly it would be an exciting one.
- Arsiochos Driles, Twenty-two years of age, Summer of the Twenty-seventh year (254 BC)
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Twelve: Makedonia
My son is finally coming. I’ve been on this campaign for who knows how long. I’ve taken cities of such wealth that not in a decade can I spend it all. And yet, in all that, I have not had time for my family. My eldest son, Artaxerxes, who is thirty-three years of age at the moment, is currently governing the city of Mazaka. We keep in touch. The soldiery recruited there always has letters and I send them back. My second eldest, Holophernes, who is twenty-two years of age, is governing the city of Nikaia. Both of my eldest sons are absolutely terrible at the art of command. Artaxerxes is lazy, and an idiot, but his ability to make friends baffles even me. With his advisors, he’s been doing quite well at the moment. Holophernes had traveled with me since he’s been a child, but even he eventually succumbed to his inner urges. He doesn’t enjoy killing; he would much rather do something administrative. I let him do so. As Xenophon once said, “Willing obedience always beats forced obedience.” If I forced the two of them to do what I wanted, they would never succeed.
My wife’s still in Nikaia with Holophernes and my sixteen year old daughter. I haven’t seen her in years. My only redemption is my youngest son, who actually wishes to join me on the campaign. He had also stayed in Nikaia until recent days. Tales of my victories spread far and wide. Many men want to join me; many women desire me. Such tales naturally fell into my son’s footstep. He’ll be here within the year. In the mean time, I should probably be taking care of the Makedonian army that’s only a few kilometers away.
I employ in my envoy many scouts, many of them men who have caught wind of my name. I may have scouts ten kilometers away report to scouts eight kilometers away who report to scouts six kilometers away, and so on. This makes sure messages are moved quickly, as well as allowing more news that is current to the locations my scouts lay. We had been moving on Pella for the past half a year. It isn’t hard for the Makedonians to catch wind of us. A large baggage train with thousands of soldiers always draws attention from the local merchants and peasants. At least one of them will sell this information to the ruling party of enemy cities for some temporary wealth, and now the Makedonians have come out to face us on the battlefield.
It is a quant location for a battle. Flat grassland with trees littered about the horizon. Ever since I caught wind of the enemy army and their location, we have been setting up our formation. Our stomachs are full, our thirst fully quenched, and our bodies and minds fully rested. They will be tired, hungry, and thirsty. It doesn’t take much to see who will win in this battle.
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The formation is one I’ve used for quite a while. It rarely fails me. Two contingents of sarissas at the front. One more contingent on either side, though moved a little backwards. Any attempt to flank will be met with even more spears. Lighter, more flexible troops stationed at the side, with the bulk on the right. Slingers at the helm.
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I can see the enemy army now. They come from the west. Towards that direction lay mainly woods, perfect for ambushes, but the enemy general is too conceited to realize he may stand a better chance at winning while we’re on the road, unformed.
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The enemy general, whose name eludes me, was quite a weak man. His left leg was unresponsive and his left arm not any better. Stories passed around after the battle of his defectiveness ranged from battle injuries to seizures to poison. Regardless of what happened, a quick thrust by one of men’s spears dropped him off his horse. I would have liked to have captured the man, so that he may see the downfall of his kingdom, but…
The battle still wasn’t much of a battle. By the time they came to our battle line, they were already tired. I would imagine the enemy general was too eager to prove himself due to his crippled nature.
After battle reports shows only a few hundred slaughtered to their army entire. It wasn’t long before the Koinon Hellenon declared war on Makedonia. Their army destroyed, the Koinon Hellenon didn’t take long to take advantage of this.
We will be marching on Pella in a few short months.
-Ariarathes Herakleotes, Twenty-eighth year (253 BCE)
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Final exams are coming up for me. Four in four successive days starting in two days. So you can probably imagine why the latest update was so slow.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Ouch, final exams already? Mine are a bit like yours- 2 exams a day for 3 days straight- but I've still got a month left before them.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaotix27
Ouch, final exams already? Mine are a bit like yours- 2 exams a day for 3 days straight- but I've still got a month left before them.
Yep. College started early so final exams happen early, though my summer vacation is fairly long.
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Re: Remnent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Thirteen: Young Men of Pontos
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It’s been a few months of travel. My head’s still riling from what I must do in the future. I have taken the time in our travels to talk with our men. The commander’s job is the command, and the soldier’s job is to fight, but such a thing is not interchangeable. If I wish to command, my men must love me. They must see me fight; they must see me as strong and passionate. They must see me as a beacon of hope. They must see me not as invincible, but mortal, like them. They should see me as a man they would want to protect and would know I would do the same. Once this trust is formed, our army will be invincible. Contrary to what many men may believe, confidence is the foremost weapon. Just look at our allies from Galatia, especially that of the Tindanotae. Their ferociousness and utter absense of fear make them fight at an almost superhuman level. Normal men might buckle under the pressure. You only have so little time to dodge that sword or spear. These men of Galatia do not hesitate, while these men do. That tiny microsecond means all the difference.
I have finally arrived to my father. It’s been years since I’ve seen him. I remember travelling with him as a child. I was there when he took Halicarnassus. I was there at the battle of Sardis. I was there at the battle of Mytilene. I was there for everything. But I have never actually seen him fight. I was always on the sidelines, far from the battlefield. Of course, he would always relate the battles to me afterwards. I have also studied the regular articles of command, though I hold no real battlefield experience. My father never believed me to be ready when I was young, but now I am.
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Antiocheia is one of many cities the Seleukidai Basileus Seleucus I Nicator once found. It is only fourty-eight years old. It is rumored Seleucus found the city through the use of an eagle, but that won’t matter now. The garrison is a tiny one. Antipatros, seeing the opportunity, has granted me usage of a portion of the army, large enough to defeat the garrison he believes. The battle will be a small one, and he’ll be looking from afar.
Pella is the capital city of the Makedonians. It was found by a man named Archelaus over one hundred fifty years ago. It is where Philip II of Makedon and Alexandros once lived. However, besides that, I know nothing of the city. But, it is where our new territory will rest as my father has allowed me enough men to take the city. This is where I will prove myself as a commander. It is my first battle, one that my father can take easily, but he chooses to allow me the pleasure.
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This is the first I’ve ever seen a city with such walls. Across all the cities of the Pontic Empire, there are only wooden walls. I would suspect such walls to not be easily penetrated, if the garrison was more numerous than a book in a house of fools.
I would’ve expected a city of greater grandeur than just this. Capital of the Makedonian Empire and they never think to increase their defenses? Do they think their strength is unmatched?
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Our rams are not necessary. Using only the siege towers will be good enough. With their garrison, it wasn’t hard to take the walls. Even with the subsequent fight on the walls, it didn’t take much to slaughter them.
The streets of the city are a double-edged sword for our phalangitai. Slow moving, hard to maneuver, but such streets are easy to defend and attack as long as their rear is safe.
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We have finally arrived near the city square. The enemy is riled up for a fight.
I could hardly call it my fault when I’m losing! My men are just too weak compared to the enemy’s. I should’ve asked my father for more troops. Doesn’t he know a siege requires much more men than a field battle? Then again, his wisdom surely surpasses mine. I should reach the location soon.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...eiaDeploy5.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...eiaDeploy6.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...laDeploy14.jpg
A battle is never a battle when you don’t take part in it yourself. Years of training, only to simply command? That’s not the way. In this I question the old Persian kings. They were cowards.
My childhood friends are dying left and right. It does look like I’ll win due to our superior armament, but at what cost? I question my decision to join my father. Taking part in a battle is hardly the same as hearing about it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...eiaDeploy7.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...laDeploy15.jpg
Nothing needed to be said. Once surrounded, men fall.
I have sent the mercenary hoplitai as bait. It’s a shameful action. I watched as they were massacred while their shorter doru couldn’t reach the sarissa wielders, but it was a necessary action to ensure my victory.
Antipatros, though it didn’t show, clearly praised my victory when he arrived hours later. This would be the first step in stepping out of Anatolia and to the rest of the world.
My father, though it didn’t show, was clearly sad about the deaths of so many of his soldiers. It was the first time I have ever commanded an army. He should’ve known the disastrous results and praise that I could even win such an engagement with so few troops.
Spies have been employed in the service of Pontos in recent years. Nearby cities of Arche Seleukeia are weakly garrisoned. Antipatros has told me that we will rest in Antiocheia for a while, and then we shall split up our forces. Our men are numerous and experienced. Anything we encounter would be completely decimated. It is a waste of resources to simply move everyone together. He has told me that I clearly have more than enough common sense to guide men even if I am inexperienced. I can honestly say this man will be the first that have praised me so openly.
My father’s proud of me, though he shows he would rather have one of my older brothers to be on the battlefield with him. He’s still joyful of our time together. Nothing can make men bond more tightly than battle. At this point, though, he knows not where to move next. His goal of conquering Pella has been realized. The Makedonian Basileus has fled to Thermon, their only sphere of influence other than Chalkis. Since the Koinon Hellenon declared on them, though we have no idea what they’re up to currently, it might be possible the city has already been besieged. Until then, we’ll wait and think up our next course of action. We have a ceasefire with the Koinon Hellenon. My father and I come from families of Hellas and we do not wish to attack them if it isn’t necessary. We are brethren, and we should not war. Perhaps we’ll move northeastward towards Scythia.
- Arsiochos Driles
- Ariaramnes Herakleotes
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Wow. Impressive as always, you always seem to further innovate your AAR with every chapter.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Fourteen: Omniscience
Overview of Pontos
This year strikes the thirtieth year of the Pontic Kingdom. I have been asked to study all aspects of Pontos and give a written report of everything possible. This also includes everything we may know about the different people of the world.
This is the current map of the world, though what we currently know is…
This map of the world is old, and very outdated. We need to obtain more current map information.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...alOverview.jpg
Our financial situation has been the best it’s been. With all income and expenditures added up, we stand to make at least seven hundred fifty talents per year. However, to do this, our armies protecting our inner cities are bare or nonexistent.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...onOverview.jpg
The capital of our kingdom is still Amaseia. There have been thoughts of changing the capital to somewhere more central, but such thoughts have been quickly silenced.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...allRanking.jpg
1. Arche Seleukeia
2. Karthadastim
3. Ptolemaioi
4. Pontos
5. Sweboz
Currently, Arche Seleukeia is considered the greatest power in the known world. We are the fourth greatest. It is not a bad accomplishment considering how weak we were just a short three decades ago.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...aryRanking.jpg
1. Arche Seleukeia
2. Karthadastim
3. Ptolemaioi
4. Sweboz
5. Pontos
Our military is strong, but also weak. It is only the fifth in the world in terms of power. The way we have won our battles is to utterly exhaust our standing armies elsewhere in order combine them into one massive, destructive force. If our cities were to ever rebel, it would be difficult to take them back. Attacks by sea would also be disastrous.
Our arch-enemy, Arche Seleukeia, has more than twice the military prowess we have. If their military could be combined into one gigantic force set out only against us, it would be difficult to say if we could survive. It is a good thing they can’t as such things would also prove to be their downfall. They will be severely weakened in the ensuing fight and other nations such as the Ptolemaioi, Hayasdan, Pahlava, and Baktria will surely take advantage.
The Ptolemaioi, after recent attacks by our men, have been quite weakened in terms of military. It would prove difficult for Arche Seleukeia to not attack them, even though they are currently in an alliance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ionRanking.jpg
1. Arche Seleukeia
2. Pontos
3. Karthadastim
4. Romani
5. Koinon Hellenon
Our production is just about the best, but it fluctuates wildly.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ialRanking.jpg
1. Arche Seleukeia
2. Karthadastim
3. Pontos
4. Ptolemaioi
5. Sweboz
Our territories have been systematically increasing since the start of our kingdom. Now, we have the third most territories in the known world. Many of our current territories come from that of our enemies. It can be easily seen that the Ptolemaioi and Arche Seleukeia have been losing territories.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ialRanking.jpg
1. Romani
2. Pontos
3. Ptolemaioi
4. Baktria
5. Makedonia
The Romani has everybody completely beat in terms of monetary prowess. Their protectorate, the Aedui, constantly gives them talents season by season. It isn’t hard to see why they’re so rich.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ionRanking.jpg
1. Arche Seleukeia
2. Ptolemaioi
3. Karthadastim
4. Pontos
5. Romani
In terms of population, we are fourth. Arche Seleukeia has quite a bit of citizens living under her belt. Our recent conquests have increased the amount of people we control dramatically.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ilyTree253.jpg
Here is how the royal family of Pontos is related. Generally, the men on the left are Hellenes. The men in the middle are Kappadokos. The men on the extreme right of the chart are descendents of Darius himself. The current system is hardly that of the old Persians. Instead of heritage, ascension to the throne depends solely on ability. At the moment, the man that will most likely take the throne after Ariarathes is Antipatros.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...itaryForce.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ntOverview.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ntOverview.jpg
Our current family members with their skills are shown. A small, detailed message about every city we own is also shown. Current locations and skills of all our agents are also enclosed.
Diplomatic Overview of the World
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...plomacy251.jpg
Faction: Pontos
Allies: Hayasdan, Saba, Pahlava, Aedui, Sweboz, Sauromatae, Getai, Lusotannan
Enemies: Arche Seleukeia, Makedonia, Ptolemaioi, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: This is our kingdom. See the previous messages for information.
Faction: Arche Seleukeia
Allies: Makedonia, Ptolemaioi
Enemies: Saba, Pontos, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: One of our greatest enemies. We were once allies, but their fall will come soon.
Faction: Baktria
Allies: Hayasdan, Pahlava, Sauromatae, Koinon Hellenon
Enemies: Saka Rauka, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We know nothing about this nation.
Faction: Hayasdan
Allies: Baktria, Pontos
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We are currently staying away from them. We may have to conquer these men one day, though we are allies at the moment.
Faction: As’Sab’yn wal’Jau
Allies: Pontos
Enemies: Arche Seleukeia, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: They recently took Palmyra away from Arche Seleukeia. They may prove useful allies against them.
Faction: Makedonia
Allies: Arche Seleukeia, Romani
Enemies: Pontos, Getai, Koinon Hellenon, Epeiros, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We recently took their capital city of Pella away. They won’t stand long as a nation after this crushing defeat.
Faction: Safot Softim biQarthadast
Allies: Romani, Lusotannan
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: Expanding at a rapid pace. They have no enemies to speak of, meaning they are able to keep expanding without anybody to halt their advance. This kingdom is a powerful one and may prove to be extremely strong should we ever try to fight them.
Faction: Senatus Populusque Romanus
Allies: Makedonia, Qarthadastim, Averni
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: Aedui
Other Information: Currently the richest in the known world. They could potentially cause a lot of trouble should they find the opportunity to use their riches.
Faction: Pahlava
Allies: Baktria, Pontos
Enemies: Saka Rauka, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: One of our long standing allies.
Faction: Saka Rauka
Allies: None
Enemies: Baktria, Pahlava, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: They are practically beaten to a pulp. Baktria and Pahlava have taken upon themselves to beat this nation to the ground. They currently only hold two territories and have weak military and monetary power.
Faction: Aedui
Allies: Romani, Pontos, Casse
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: They are the protectorates of the Romani. They are doing quite well.
Faction: Sweboz
Allies: Pontos
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: They are expanding at a rapid pace with no signs of stopping. Most of the Germanic tribes are fallen to their military might.
Faction: Casse
Allies: Aedui, Averni
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We have never established diplomacy with these people.
Faction: Sauromatae
Allies: Baktria, Pontos
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: Our allies, but we have not talked for quite a while. We do not know what they are currently up to.
Faction: Getai
Allies: Pontos
Enemies: Makedonia, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: One of our longer standing allies. They don’t seem to be bent on domination. Apparently content to just sit there.
Faction: Koinon Hellenon
Allies: Baktria, Ptolemaioi
Enemies: Makedonia, Rebels
Protectorates: Epeiros
Other Information: Recently declared war on the almost destroyed Makedonian state. Used to be enemies. We currently hold a ceasefire with them.
Faction: Ptolemaioi
Allies: Arche Seleukeia, Koinon Hellenon
Enemies: Pontos, Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We are their only enemies. They have potential to attack us, but our tactical genius has managed to push them back very quickly. Losing territories rapidly.
Faction: Averni
Allies: Romani, Casse
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: We currently have no information about these men.
Faction: Lusotana
Allies: Qarthadastim, Pontos
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: Slow, but steadily conquering. These men of Iberia are allies to us. May prove to be beneficial allies against Qarthadastim should we ever fight them.
Faction: Epeiros
Allies: Koinon Hellenon
Enemies: Rebels
Protectorates: None
Other Information: They are protectorates of the Koinon Hellenon. They are directly west of our westernmost city of Pella. Their intentions are unknown.
Geographical Overview of the World
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/Pontos.jpg
Our inner cities. Very weakly garrisoned.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...uivsAverni.jpg
The Averni are reported to be attacking the city the Massalia. Their cities appear well garrisoned. Their Gallic brothers, the Aedui, do not seem to be trying to attack just yet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...sQueRomani.jpg
This is the current border situation between the Aedui and the Romani. Both parties appear mistrustful of each other. Heavy garrisons are stationed near the border.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...os/Baktria.jpg
The men of Baktria have weak, but very far spaced, cities. Their only large army appears to be stationed in the center so an attack in any direction may be quickly reached, though a multi-directional attack may prove fatal to this nation.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ntos/Casse.jpg
The men of Casse are poor and cannot afford to spend too much on military. However, the other tribes in the area appear to be too strong to be subdued. For now, they can only sit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ntos/Getai.jpg
The Getai are strong compared to the amount of territories they currently hold, though they refuse to use it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...s/Hayasdan.jpg
The armies of Hayasdan appear hesitant to take more territories than they can hold. The nearby town of Kotais can be easily taken, though this might mean a weakness will form. A border established against the Sauromatae may also not be prudent.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/Hellas.jpg
This is the current situation on Hellas. Currently four civilizations hold this large expanse of land. Large armies are held by all civilization in case of war.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...rthadastim.jpg
Qarthadastim hold very strong armies near their capital city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Ptolemaioi.jpg
Qarthadast might eventually have to fight the Ptolemaioi. Their borders are close. At the moment, one of their parties is besieging the city of Kyrene.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...thadastim2.jpg
It has only been a short few years. The land on the African coast has been gobbled up easily by Qarthadast. They may take Sala in a short few seasons.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Lusotannan.jpg
The Lusotannan have small armies across their territories. Nothing seem to be strong enough to bother most nations.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...vavBaktria.jpg
The Baktrians have some armies holed up near the border next to Pahlava. The Pahlava is doing the same. Both have quite weak armies across too large of an expanse of land. They hope to only protect their borders so it would not be necessary to protect all their cities.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...os/Parthia.jpg
The cities of Pahlava are very weakly garrisoned, even their capital.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Ptolemaioi.jpg
The Ptolemaioi have strong armies near the Nile Delta. They should use those armies to secure their borders against kingdoms that may actually harm them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ontos/Saba.jpg
The Saba have very strong armies near their core cities, but seem not to want to expand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../SakaRauka.jpg
Saka Rauka has only two territories left. Their main territory is currently protected by their leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Sauromatae.jpg
The Sauromatae has wished to expand into Chersonesos, but a large army prevents them. A few years ago, a message was sent from Chersonesos for help to fight against the Sauromatae. The message was written off due to our alliance towards the Sauromatae, but that may eventually change.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Ptolemaioi.jpg
The land on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean is a hotspot for war. We will eventually take this land, though the cities’ garrisons appear to be quite powerful.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../Seleukeia.jpg
Two of our parties of spies are moving towards a few Seleukidai towns. Though it would appear the one to the east is quite strong.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...Seleukeia2.jpg
The inner cities of Arche Seleuekeia are protected in comparison to ours.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...sQueRomani.jpg
The Romani are currently trying to take back the city of Rhegion.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tos/Sweboz.jpg
The Sweboz are moving along nicely. Their main armies are moving southward. The Alps should stop them eventually.
Afterword
In just a short thirty years or kingdom has expanded magnificently. I would recommend to keep conquering, but it’s better to consolidate the current territories. Moving too fast may have negative consequences upon our own cities. We may not be able to keep all of them happy or strong enough from attack.
During this time, I would suggest trying to obtain ceasefires with the Ptolemaioi and Arche Seleukeia. If at all possible, try to obtain Makedonia as a protectorate. Their recent defeat should’ve cause them enough fear.
Also, we need to begin building ships to protect our shores. We should also help our brethren at Chersonesos as soon as that fleet is built.
As for economic recommendations, we are doing quite well on this aspect. I suggest starting construction on some mines in Pella as well as a wealth of advancements in trade there. New ports should be constructed as soon as possible to foster trade. If we do obtain ceasefires with Ptolemaioi, their numerous port cities should bring much wealth to our own.
If we do obtain ceasefires, the choice to disband some of our army is there. This doesn’t mean we don’t have the power to conquer the lesser kingdoms either.
None of my recommendations have to be followed if you don’t wish to, but they are recommendations nonetheless. They are what I believe to be best for us.
- Dionysios Herakleotes, Greater Advisor to Antipatros Phabdaios. A message for the Ariarathes Herakleotes and Antipatros Phabdaios. Thirtieth year of the Kingdom (251 BCE).
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
wow well I must say those are some jaw dropping screenshots you got there from your various battles. I like your analysis of the world. I can't even imagine how long that took you!! Awesome job my friend. This is progressing nicely. Keep up the good work!
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Wow, those are some large updates.
Great pictures and way-to-go with your success with Pontos.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Keeo on writing, mN. As far as I'm concerned, this AAR is a Bright light on this forum
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Excellent story-line - really enjoyed the different perspectives you're giving by having different "narrators" with each new chapter.
Interested by the strategy revealed in Chapter 11 - did you fight the battle that way to make the story better, or did the battle just happen that way and then you made it fit to the story? I'd guess the former, which suggests you have your story line developed ahead of your game-play strategy?
Keep up the good work - can't wait for the next Chapter!
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Timidus
Excellent story-line - really enjoyed the different perspectives you're giving by having different "narrators" with each new chapter.
Interested by the strategy revealed in Chapter 11 - did you fight the battle that way to make the story better, or did the battle just happen that way and then you made it fit to the story? I'd guess the former, which suggests you have your story line developed ahead of your game-play strategy?
Keep up the good work - can't wait for the next Chapter!
Thanks for your words, as well as everyone else's.
Practically every battle strategy has to be thought up beforehand. Generally, I'm already thinking of the story when I'm fighting the battle. Also, I have to pretty much compensate for the stupidity of the AI sometimes. So, in chapter 11, I had to do what a real commander would probably do, send in lighter troops before the heavier ones. If I wasn't writing an AAR, I could just send in the phalangitai and get almost zero casualties on my side in the case of chapter 11 as well as most other sieges that may happen in the future.
Edit: Ah, I see what you mean now. I forgot what I wrote in the first part of the chapter. Yeah, definitely story induced. If this wasn't an AAR, I would've just sent my little tiny stacks and still would've won with minimal difficulties.
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I need to start losing more as well. Losses make for great material. I've already thought of a great way to start a story off if I lost, though the loss would have to be believable. Also wished there were more field battles. I still have a bunch of formations to try that I generally never use in a non AAR battle, some of them being crazy and some of them not so much. My usual battle formation in one of my regular games is just that of the crescent Ariarathes usually uses in the story. It generally works quite well. (I stole it from Hannibal! Hahaha! Did I tell you how much I love that guy?)
And, probably no update for a few days. I won't have time to write until Thursday, and we'll see what happens then.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
This is one of the best AAR's here! Hope you continue this.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Fifteen: The End of All Wars
Spring, Thirty-first year (250 BCE)
Lately, there has been unrest within the ranks. For most men, they have been on the battlefield for more than seven years. Most of it is walking, training, and eating. There have only been a few significant battles in these past seven years, but the men do complain about not being able to see their families. As far as I know, most of my family’s dead. I remember some cousins visiting the house one day when I was around eleven years old, but I have no idea where they are now. My mother’s dead, my father’s missing, and my grandparents died decades ago. I am thirty-one years old and I have no place to go.
I am paid one-sixth of a talent for every year of service. The officers in each unit are paid quite a bit more than the regular soldiers. Still, even with the solid pay, many soldiers wished to return home. They wanted to see their families, or to spend their money on booze and women before coming back into the fray. Others were like me; they have no homes and thus rather be on the road. They would rather be doing something where they were experienced. They would rather do something that gave them a purpose in life.
Antipatros has definitely changed in the past six years I’ve served under him. This is either due to age or just as a result of battle. He has grown a little sterner. His emotions are turning slowly towards apathy. Recent actions that needed to be done in the cities didn’t help either. We had to expel many civilians in the recently conquered settlements to quell any unrest that may arise. Some real troublemakers were sent into slavery. Anybody short of a psychopath would begin to feel affected. One cannot excuse himself from the guilt through any means. The guilt first manifests itself as a strange tingle or feeling, then it eventually turns into dreams, nightmares, and visions, and those visions are never good. Dead men, women, and children pop up on the street while you’re walking. Dead children run away from you, dead women glare at you with their terrifying eyes, dead men threaten you and your family. The worst cases are when a comrade with a very strong relationship with you dies in battle, even worse if you witness the event. Sometimes, you may see him next to you. You talk to him, you eat with him, you drink wine with him. He’s next to you while you’re in formation, he’s opposite you in a spar, he’s always there, laughing with you. It’s even worse when you’re the one witnessing such a man in the middle of his delusions. Sometimes, I don’t even know if I’m suffering from battles or from the horrifying deeds I have surely done. The doctors cannot treat such a disease. There is no cure. You can only live with it for the rest of your life, and that’s all you can do. That’s all I can do.
Summer, Thirty-first year (250 BCE)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iaBesieged.jpg
There is a Ptolemaic army right outside our gates. They plan on taking the city. Their commander must either be a fool of epic proportions or his need to die is simply overwhelming. The population of Antiocheia surely wouldn’t like it if they won. No doubt they’ll be further subjugated by the Ptolemaioi. Antipatros has already told us that we will be taking the fight to them, but under the cover of darkness.
His plan is thus: fool the enemy into thinking we will be attacking by day while our real attack will be by night. Small amounts of soldiers would be sent outside where they will disturb the enemy. They will then quickly run back within the safe confines of our walls. Such feints are to be done dozens of times. Our real attack will be in autumn, though Antipatros has not told any of us exactly when he’ll sally all his troops.
Autumn, Thirty-first year (250 BCE)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...tiochSiege.jpg
It is the first month of autumn. Antipatros has finally decided to fight. In the day, he sent our lighter cavalry outside to keep the enemy busy while the rest of our men rested. No man was to leave the city under any circumstances. Anyone seen outside would be killed on sight. The cavalry made sure the enemy would be sufficiently tired. We started the battle two hours after sundown.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege1.jpg
The infantry formed up next to the gate. The archers, under the cover of night, started forming up at the top of the walls. It did not take long for the enemy to notice our troops moving about. Their commander immediately ordered the men form up as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege2.jpg
The exhaustion could be easily witnessed. They practically put all their units in the range of our archers as well as our towers. The enemy did not even notice their mates dying beside them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege5.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege3.jpg
At this point, we began to start coming out of the gates. The lighter troops first. Our sarissas are too unwieldy to be used in this situation. It would take too long for us to form; the enemy would be upon us by then.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege4.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege6.jpg
Our lighter troops were equipped with javelins. They were to lure the enemy away from the gate for our sarissas to form.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege7.jpg
It didn’t take long for us to get into the thick of it. Our Galatian allies were still running around to my forward right. One unit of their sarissas was hell-bent on attacking them. All the better for us. Their commander clearly had no experience in a fight or simply very little.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege8.jpg
While in the forward left of my view, the men from Kappadokia attacked their elites, the Klerouchon Agema, the elite phalangitai of the Ptolemaioi.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ochSiege14.jpg
These men were clearly better than us. Their skill was much better and their sarissas were better designed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...iochSiege9.jpg
Sarissas always fall when the enemy hits them in the flank or rear. For these men, it is not so. They held up quite well even when our hoplitai attacked their rear. Clearly very well trained.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...ochSiege10.jpg
While to my forward right, I spied upon our Galatian allies once more. The bulkier sarissas units of the Ptolemaioi simply couldn’t keep up with them. After all, they wore only a helmet and shield. Their only armament was a longsword. Their javelins were spent long ago. They hit the back of the phalangitai we were attacking. It didn’t take long for them to rout from their ferociousness.
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The royal agema of the Ptolemaioi was still not breaking. Most of our army was on them, they were surrounded. They still did not break. Their strength is the only possible compliment that could be given to this battle. However, our own royal bodyguards’ charge dealt a blow that was too hard to recover. One horseman killed one man on the charge and his horse subsequently trampled two others.
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Their only elite units had routed. Only their levies were left. Another charge by Antipatros punctured the enemy formation. The rout happened milliseconds later.
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The enemy cried out to their comrades. They told each other to run away. They told each other that they’ll meet each other in the Fields of Elysia. They told each other to take care of their families if they were to ever live. Antipatros still had some compassion for such men, but war is war, it cannot be changed. The men were run down.
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Winter, Thirty-first year (250 BCE)
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The consequences were far reaching. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. We quickly sent out an envoy to obtain a cease-fire. We were tired of the fight and so were they. We didn’t ask for any extra conditions for the cease-fire. The Ptolemaic Empire was still stronger than our Empire.
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Second thing that happened was the subjugation of the Makedonians. The recent attacks on the Makedonians destroyed any chance of their survival. In their time of weakness, we have since declared them to be our protectorates. In return for our “protection” we would receive any excess talents they would obtain. The protection I’m talking about is undoubtedly very little. They are not in any position to question either. The Seleukidai, however, were allied with the Makedonians. With our new status as the protector of the Makedonians, we formed a temporary cease-fire. No doubt fighting would begin anew very soon, but for now, we will enjoy the peace with them.
Our cease-fire with the Ptolemaioi will probably falter soon enough as well. Antipatros is using this chance to send most of the men home. Those who still want to stay will have that option. I certainly will be. Those who wish to complete their line of service will be given land in the newly conquered provinces to compensate for their years of service. Those who were most especially honorable, brave, or skilled will be given more in comparison to those weak-willed. I would like to retire someday, but that day hasn’t come yet. My coffers are not at all full. I don’t feel I could live the rest of my life with only that amount of money. It would take quite a bit for me to feel better. I’d have to buy a few slaves to work on my farm when I finally retire, which might as well be never. There are plenty of instances of men older than sixty still fighting in the army. I could always be one of those men.
- Arsames, Chalkaspides of the army of Antipatros Phabdaios
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Sixteen: Aftermath
This is a series of excerpts from the 1996 book, The Pontic Empire by Fred Davis.
XXLII
It wasn’t until about this time that Artabazos Kianos finally showed up in the surviving records. His grandfather, Mithridates Kianos, was the rightful founder of the Empire of Pontus. Though by a strange act of fate, he only had two sons. At this point, Mithridates’s daughter’s husband was the ruler of the empire he had founded. Before, it was his eldest son that ruled, though he tragically died in an earthquake. Mithridates’s eldest son was named Ariobarzanes. He would eventually become even greater than his father, though he was also tragically given only one son who died at a ripe age of eighteen on the field of battle.
At that moment, the ones that hold true sway over the empire are those that relate to Mithridates’s daughter or granddaughters. Mithridates’s second son, Arsames Kianos, was not a very likeable man. His personality made him out to be a great administrator, but, likewise his personality also made it difficult for him to make friends. One of the men that once served under him once described him as a “cantankerous loon with a knack for economics.” He was a shy man, but brilliant. He never had any ambitions to be great. His first son was also not very blessed. The written records from that era indicate him a fool. Apparently his head was pulled out a little too late during birth. Nothing else is known about that man, however, nor do we know his second son all that much.
Arsames had a third son, however, named Artabazos. His personality was completely different than his father’s. He was still young when he started commanding armies by himself, though mainly against the many rebellions that popped up along the provinces. A multi-cultural empire such as Pontus was prone to insurrection and he was the one that stepped up to defeat them.
One such occurrence was at a slave rebellion at Mazaka (modern day Kayseri), but he promptly defeated the insurgents with minimal lives lost.
Another was at Ankyra (modern day Ankara). The rebelling Galatians were also quickly put down.
Many more battles were referenced to in other books, but unfortunately their details have been since forgotten. It was around this time that Artabazos started to proclaim his wish to control the empire once more. He felt his family to be the true successors to the throne, and that his blood tied the power of the founder to him. He felt himself to be the rightful ruler of the empire. Many people thought him to be absurd and foolish. He wasn’t anyone great. His only power rested in the immense wealth the royal family had accumulated over the years and in name only. He had no special skills, except that of his lies.
Artabazos was a masterful liar. His managerial skills were green. The people sometimes knew his name, but they certainly wouldn’t recognize him if he were to walk amongst the commoners. His skill in commanding an army came solely from battles against the rebel rabble armies. But all that didn’t matter. He could talk himself out of any situation imaginable. His stories were outlandish and clearly contained many truths and untruths, though mostly the latter. If any other man were to say such stories, they would think the man a blabbering idiot, but not him. He had a certain way to tell a tale that would make it appear reality rather than myth. Men were drawn to his words like bears to honey, and they always believed it.
Artabazos must have developed this skill from a young age. The first century B.C. historian Antagoras once said of him, “Artabazos was a man with skills unlike any other. His mastery of the spoken word is not one anybody can achieve at such a young age without much usage in his younger years, though no one actually knows [what he did to] accomplish such a feat.”
XXLIII
At this point in the history of Pontus, the ceasefire with the Ptolemaic Kingdom had been broken for about a year. They had attacked Antiocheia (modern day Antakya) a few seasons in the past, but now they have brought more troops to try to take it again. However, Antipatros’s decision to mostly abandon the walls proved intelligent and brought very few deaths to the Pontic garrison while the Ptolemaic army suffered heavy losses.
The Seleucid Empire still held an alliance with Ptolemy and it was clear they were going to attack soon. A rather large army had come very deep into Pontic lands and camped right outside Tarsos (modern day Tarsus). Antipatros’s scouts had sent almost half his troops back home two years prior to this event and was in no condition to attack them while still being able to handle any new attack on Antiocheia. At this point in the empire, there were only certain people that could command an army. Most of the royal family, as well as the families that were connected to the royal family through marriages, didn’t want glory on the battlefield. They wanted to live with the vast amounts of wealth they had acquired over the years. As such, most men were governors and administrators, and it could not be said that there weren’t a couple lost coins here and there. Just because you were part of the royal family did not mean you were skilled, even if you had acquired an education far exceeding that of a normal commoner. This is one fact Antipatros knew quite a bit about.
Antipatros sent messages to the homeland. He had spotted the Seleucid army travelling towards the inner provinces. By this time, the army he had sent home was already resting on their newly acquired lands. Plans were quickly made to recruit new troops. It was during this time that Artabazos defeated the rebels at Ankyra. The men of Ankyra were quite grateful as the rebels, in order to survive, were stealing from the neighboring villages and farms. Artabazos had acquired word of the cry for help and asked the citizens of Ankyra if they could deliver onto him a few men for his army. The governing party of Ankyra knew of Artabazos’s standing and wealth, and they knew of the help he had given just a season prior. They provided him a few young men and a couple old veterans for the fight. At this point, he hired a few mercenary cavalry from the town and the cities of Amaseia and Mazaka delivered him some more troops. Nobody else was generous enough to command the army so Artabazos took up the challenge. He would have to pay for the upkeep of the men, but his coffers were wide and spacious. If he were to win, he would gain much more wealth in comparison to what he needed to spend on his men.
It wasn’t long before he had an army that rivaled the Seleucid one in manpower. Scouts had reported the Seleucid army was made of mostly light troops, nothing really heavy. Artabazos’s army was similar. The troops were lightly armored. Many were simply skirmishers. A majority of the army was composed of levies. It wasn’t easy to find veterans willing to fight on such short notice.
It was around this time that Mazaka fell under a plague. Many of the young men in Artabazos’s care were both relieved that they weren’t there, as many of the men were from that town, and scared for their relatives’ safety and health. The city was immediately placed under quarantine. The city would have the plague for approximately a year.
In the mean time, Ariarathes Herakleotes, the King of Pontos at the time, started moving towards Tylis.
Tylis was a predominately Celtic settlement. The Galatians of Galatia migrated eastwards from that area. Ariarathes left his son in command of the city of Pella with a small portion of his men. There were still many parties of spies around the area. He ordered his son to quickly hire some mercenaries if there was any sign of threat as he was surrounded by powerful nations. As to why Ariarathes went to Tylis, nobody knows. An ancient joke circulated around his rather flaccid manhood when it came time to deal with his wife and subsequently he felt he needed to prove himself once more, but it is most likely simply a myth and not grounded in truth at all. He was rather old by that time, at fifty-five years of age, so the first part may have been grounded in reality.
At this time, another attack on Antiocheia occurred. It was a rather minor skirmish. Antipatros exited the city in the daytime and easily defeated the invading force with very, very few losses.
At the same time, Artabazos was close to Tarsos. Another reason why he took up the fight was because his older brother was stationed there. The town was really weakly garrisoned. A couple Thracians plus Artabazos’s brother were the only ones protecting the army. There had been a rebel army ravaging the countryside for many years, but Artabazos’s brother had no means of defeating them. He simply wasn’t confident he could defeat them. Artabazos was around at that time and he felt confident in his abilities to defeat the rebels. He had fought rebels for many years and had gained much experience combating them. Though rebels are different in each event, they were also the same. Their methods were generally the same. Their morale, though they think it to be great, was always easily broken. It did not take long for Artabazos to defeat the rebels.
The Seleucid party had gained word of Artabazos’s apparent disappearance. Seizing the opportunity, they laid siege to the town of Tarsos.
The general of the previous siege on Antiocheia had run away during the battle. Arsiochos followed them right after the battle. The general was subsequently cut down along with the rest of the men that had run away.
On the way back, however, Arsiochos was attacked by a small group of Ptolemaic phalanxes. Arsiochos made a hasty retreat, only to find the city of Antiocheia besieged once again, this time with more troops than before.
There was a small fleet of ships docked at the port of Antiocheia and Arsiochos could’ve just boarded those to escape, but he thought it better to simply destroy the enemy now rather than later. Though he did take a few casualties, he thought he did quite well against the larger force. What led to his victory here was the flexibility of the horse in comparison to the phalanx. The enemy phalanxes found it difficult to maneuver that some of them simply dropped their sarissas and charged with their swords, which did not work as well as one may have hoped.
While Arsiochos wondered about what he was to do next, Artabazos rejoined his men that were stationed at a fort a few kilometers back. The men at Tarsos were cut off from the outside world for about a month before Artabazos attacked the besieging army. The Seleucids’ armies were sectioned. About a third of the troops were days away while a tiny portion were hours away. The army that besieged Tarsos was the bigger one, though it was small in comparison to the magnificent force Artabazos commanded. If all of the Seleucid armies were together, they outcome may have been different, but history says it wasn’t so.
The battle took place on the river right outside Tarsos. The Seleucid army had mustered up their men and retreated a little back to a favorable position. There was only one way to get across the river and that was the bridge. The Seleucid commander was simply a military man, a veteran lineman that, by happenstance, became the leader of the army. He had never had experience commanding an army nor has he had any education upon the subject, but he was still chosen due to his experience in battle.
It happened in the afternoon. Antagoras had this to say, “The main battle began with an exchange of arrows and shots. The men on the Pontic side had bows that were better designed and stronger men in which to pull them with. Many times, the Seleukidai archers’ arrows simply fell into the river.”
“During the skirmish, Artabazos’ brother rode in from the city of Tarsos to help fight off the Seleukid army. At this time, the Seleukidai commander became tired of his men dying and ordered his troops to cross the bridge. As soon as Artabazos saw this course of action, he brought up the young men of Galatia. These young men were very enthusiastic about proving their worth as men and sought to get to the frontlines as soon as possible.”
“A fierce battle immediately began. Though the Galatian young males were very weakly equipped, they had the strength of courage. The men they fought were trained as phalangitai, though the situation as it called did not allow them to use it. They were surrounded on three sides almost immediately.”
“It was at this time that the commander of the enemy force fell to his death. No man can identify his body after the body nor could they. He simply wasn’t prestigious enough for most men to even know his looks. Most of the battle, the Pontic army thought him to be just another soldier on the line. But the Seleukidai army knew him. Many of them had fought with him for most of their lives. Their morale waned immediately and they sought to regroup back across the river. Artabazos’s main infantry comprised mostly of phalangitai at the moment. They could not form up quickly enough to be useful across the river, so he sent for the last of his flexible troops, the few veterans from Galatia and a few light infantry from the Caucasian Mountains.”
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
“They were sent across the bridge running, hoping to meet the enemy formation before they had time to regroup. Fight began anew as Artabazos and his brother, as well as the mercenary cavalry from Galatia, crossed the bridge. The phalangitai followed soon after. The rest of the battle was a slaughter as it was before. Without the river at their backs, most men endeavored to run. They saw clear plains with no enemy. They knew their brothers would be only a bit beyond the horizon. Such thoughts were correct, though they did not escape. Artabazos’s cavalry simply cut them down as they tried their hardest to run away.”
The battle had no real effect on the power of the Seleucids. They had plenty of manpower back in their core provinces. They still had a large amount of men rivaling that of Artabazos’s northeast of Antiocheia, as well as a few men near Artabazos at that moment. In the mean time though, Ariarathes had moved upon Tylis and taken it. His decades of experience of battles and sieges allowed him to take the town with very little effort.
Contrary to a few decades ago, the great expanse of the Pontic Empire pretty much requires it does many things at once. Priests and doctors were still working on the ill and dead at Mazaka as the plague was still fairly rampant, though it showed signs of recession. Krateios, a healer of the second century B.C. had this to say, “[Something] weird was that certain people were apparently resistant to the effects of the plague. Though they touched the plague victims and breathed the same air, they were perfectly healthy. I have a feeling they may be blessed by the gods, though many men of similar devout behavior are dying by the hillfull. The fellow doctors are absolutely flabbergasted as to what to do about this other than quarantining the infected. Some plants have been found to slow the effects, but none of them work forever. It’s painful to look at their suffering expressions. Many can’t sleep at night due to the pain. Certain groups have popped up, offering to release the infected from their suffering, though what they really did was to kill them before the infection did so. The infected corpses were burned. Houses were nailed down. I run across looters routinely. It’s a blessing that I haven’t been infected yet, though I have very low hopes for myself if this continues.”
XXLV
By this time, the Pontic military machine was running flawlessly. Very few losses were found in the history of Pontus, but the recent battles were always won and always with very few casualties. The next battle was nothing different. There was still the problem of the Seleucid force sitting between Antiocheia and Tarsos. Feeling trapped, the Seleucid commander, which was as green as the commander in the previous battle, attacked Artabazos. The men under the Seleucid commander were clearly not in the spirit. Evidence shows a large portion of the army was destroyed before the infantry lines even clashed. Antagoras says, “…and the lead bullets of the Pontic army spread panic across the Seleukidai ranks. The slingers worked double-time in this battle as a quarter of the enemy army were simply destroyed before they even reached their target. The slingers only had to run behind the infantry while the javelineers threw their akontia at the incoming troops.”
The Pontic line was much wider than the Seleucid line. As soon as the Seleucids met the opposing phalanxes of the Pontic army, the lighter troops at the flanks of Pontus’s formation moved forward and enveloped the Seleucid army. It was a double envelopment that spread terror within the ranks of the enemy. Before they even reached them, the Seleucids ran from the battlefield. Many were cut down trying to escape.
With this, the threats upon the Pontic provinces were gone from the Seleucids, for now. The city of Antiocheia was still besieged by the Ptolemaic Kingdom, though Antipatros had quite a bit of confidence in his abilities to take care of the threat. There was a still a large Seleucid force north of Antiocheia as well, but their only direction of travel would be through the mountains, which was controlled by Pontus, or westwards, where Artabazos was resting. Travelling through the mountains would be very slow. The Pontic Empire had plenty of scouts in that direction and could fashion a new force quite quickly in case of possible attack. Mazaka’s plague had run itself to the ground so now they were a source of men once more.
The only direction the Seleucid force could move would be westwards towards Artabazos. By this time, though, Artabazos had gained much experience commanding. He was a pessimistic man by nature, but the recent wins have changed his personality for the better. He was always a vigorous man, but now he felt absolutely exhilarated. The world of Pontus already knew his name. He would become one of the greatest generals Pontus has ever seen, and he was not even twenty years of age. Many began to think him Alexander reborn, though he rightfully denied it. His ancestors were Persian and though he thought it a compliment, he didn’t want to believe his skills were due to a distant man in the past. His success was all his own, and he believed it as such.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Sorry for the seriously slow update. Couple things happen in real life (moving out of college, looking for a job and others) so I haven't really had time to play, and when I did play, I wanted to try a few new factions in EB 1.1. That Saka Rauka Guide also took a few hours out of my life. Well, there's the new update anyhow. Trouble with finding out how to start it also took a few hours.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Finally got time to play the game. Update will be posted shortly. Making those fan videos took up most of my last week so I haven't had time to play until now.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Chapter Seventeen: Stranded
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“There’s only so long before there’ll be a mutiny Arsiochos!”
“What are you proposing I do then Meriones? Disband them? How will I keep the population in check without men?”
Arsiochos, I feel he has gone mad. It’s been four years since he has seen any of his friends. The city of Antiocheia was frequently besieged, so frequently that he could not enter the premises and meet with Antipatros once more. Since then, our travels have brought us to Alexandreia.
“Why not abandon the city and sail back home?”
“Look at all the wealth! Look at the treasures! If there’s a city that could rival Athenai, it would be this city.”
We sat in the palace of Pharaohs. This city used to be the capital of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, and rightly so it was. I would wager this city to be the grandest I have ever laid my eyes upon.
“The knowledge… the profusion of knowledge this place holds… It’s the city in my dreams… Have I ever told you about my past?”
“That you have.”
“Then you’ll know my reason for staying. The mercenaries may be looting and pillaging at this moment, but I have ordered them not to touch anything sacred or of the intellectual sort. Peasant houses yes, but grand temples and libraries? The first man I see doing such a thing will have their head chopped off with a dull sword.”
To keep order, we had to order the massacre of three quarters of Alexandreia’s native population.
I myself extinguished at least thirty of them. Such acts seldom faze me nowadays. Years of battle have turned me cold; my mind sways not in the middle of such foul deeds. Changes have occurred to Arsiochos as well as the rest of my friends. Arsiochos desperately tries to hide his natural disposition towards depression and dismality, but he can’t fool his closest friends such as I.
“At least send word towards the mainland; perhaps they’ll send a few soldiers to us.”
He nodded his head as I took my leave. It was a majestic palace. Paintings were spread across the walls. Priceless works of pottery sat on tables on the sides of the grand hall. A red carpet, which must’ve cost a fortune, rolled from the main room towards the entrance. A few mercenary soldiers were posted outside the entrance. I waved to them and they waved back. Friendly fellows they were. A few years ago, these men were still wandering the plains of Mesopotamia.
Four years ago, I, as well as a few dozen others, followed Arsiochos southwards. It was after a recent victory over a Ptolemaic sieging party. We ran the general to the ground and slaughtered the rest of his cowardly men. On our way north, we found the city of Antiocheia besieged once more. The city was utterly surrounded. To make matters worse, a scouting party found us afterwards. Arsiochos had to kill every man to make his position unbeknownst to the enemy. We spent the next year meandering about the lands of the Ptolemaioi and Arche Seleukeia.
I honestly thought he had grown mad. More than once I have been asked to cook for the men. Cook? I am a soldier, not a preparer of food! So all they ate was bread and, at best, a rather fancy rat on a stick. Looted the tiny villages we did. Destroyed whole fields of harvest we did. Fought tiny armies we did.
Still, we starved. We all longed for that next battle. It kept our minds off the grumblings of our stomachs. Still, men came forward. They’ve heard of Arsiochos’s name, but who wouldn’t have? He was driving the men mad with hunger! Their cries for food and their booming stomachs could be heard from the ends of the earth! But now this is when I really thought he had grown mad. He actually believed he could strike the heartlands of the Ptolemaioi! Now we moved westward, hiring mercenaries along the way. At that point, I felt uneasy. A whole army of only mercenaries is never a good thing. They have no ties. They could be here one day and be gone the next. Without loyal, native troops, we cannot stop them.
Still, one thing that wasn’t mad about this entire trip was our naval superiority. If there a warship was sighted in the eastern Mediterranean, it is most likely one of Pontos. Still, this does not mean our trip westward would be a silent one. We were still deep inside enemy territory. True to the word, we were attacked. However, we held the high ground. The enemy phalangitai’s abilities were rendered inert. I, and the rest of Arsiochos’s bodyguard, went straight for the enemy general. We charged at his men at least four times, though it took a mercenary to kill him. The rest ran away.
We travelled west once more.
We grabbed hold of a fleet of warships and sailed southwestward towards Alexandreia. There were not too many soldiers guarding the city. A strange thing, this. They must’ve thought it impossible that an army would arrive by sea. So now we bring ourselves to our current predicament. The mercenaries are plundering and pillaging as would pirates and barbarians, but their appetite will eventually be quenched. So hopefully we’ll obtain reinforcements from across the sea.
“Well met Meriones!”
“Well met Leokritos!”
Well, we’ll see what happens soon enough.
- Meriones, personal friend and bodyguard of Arsiochos Driles. Thirty-sixth year (245 BCE)
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Good to see you continued. :2thumbsup:
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Just a note. Pretty much starting now, I won't be devoting every minor detail to a lengthy chapter. The empire's, or should I say kingdom's now that I don't have any vassals anymore, too large to talk about everything that occurs in each part of world. So what I'll be doing are a few turns/years dedicated to one person only. I'll probably summarize everything that happened beforehand, but that'll only take a few short sentences.
Also, Arche Seleukeia's getting damn strong. They got full stacks almost everywhere. Antiocheia got besieged about seven times so far in the past few years. Everybody's dying.
Also, used a few move_character cheats recently. I said I wouldn't use cheats, but what I really meant were cheats that would help me in any great way. Moved a couple Casse stacks next to rebel towns as they just wouldn't move. Moved two Getai stacks as well. One's town's currently being besieged by the Getai, though the other stack isn't doing anything.
Karthadastim's getting especially strong. Since I want to have some fun, I moved a few of their stacks next to rebel towns as well, though they aren't biting any of the bait. A few other factions were moved as well.
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
This is the best thing I've read in a long long long long long time Well done:medievalcheers:
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Re: Remanent or Supremacy? - A Pontos AAR
Just epic. The stories are of the highest quality. Keep it up!
