The Daughters of the Dragon: A Valkyrja AAR (ATW)

I decided to take a break from mod work, and once more actually play what I have been working on. Since the largest changes to Amazon:Total War have been to the Valkyrja (formerly New Amazonia), I decided to do an AAR with them. To find out more about ATW look here at the Guild, and here at Mod Realms.

I know most AARs around here are done as a melding of fiction around the framework of a campaign. Those of you who are familiar with my AARs from RTWH will know that is not my style however. I learned from people like Severous, so mine have the same blend of game information and personal observations that his did. Hopefully people will find it to be enjoyable. One thing that will be different from my past AARs is that I will be posting it on multiple forums. I never did that before. I hope it will work out.

So here we go. This will be a Valkyrja AAR, using Amazon: Total War version 2.4.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0001.jpg

Difficulty: Very Hard/Very Hard
Scale: Huge
Battle Time Limit: On
Morale: On
Limited Ammo: On
Player Manages All Settlements: On


Here are my starting territories. As you can see, I am deep in the forests of what will one day be known as Russia, with lots of dark areas surrounding my three settlements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0002.jpg

There is one Rebel settlement in view from the start of the campaign. Androphagia. I send my slovenly spy in to investigate, and find it has a small, but potentially dangerous garrison. Naked Fanatics (which in ATW are nothing to sneeze at) and Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0003.jpg

I raise taxes in all my settlements, recruit Peasants, and build Roads. Then start sending my troops out to the borders building watchtowers along the way and seeking out neighboring settlements. I start with Antimache in the north, who marches east from Neo Themiskyra.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0004.jpg

Polemusa marches west from Careotae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0005.jpg

Finally Makanyane heads south and lays siege to Androphagia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0006.jpg

Next turn Polemusa sights the Rebel settlement of Vicus Aesti.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0007.jpg

To the south, Makanyane has built her siege equipment, and assaults Androphagia. I make it a night attack to reduce the range of the Rebel Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0008.jpg

My Agema Archers have the range advantage against the Rebel Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0009.jpg

We give them an Amazon welcome.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0010.jpg

Once the defenders were slaughtered, I sent the infantry forward to batter a way through the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0011.jpg

Then I sent my women and men in through multiple entry points.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0012.jpg

Advancing upon the town square, I have my Agema Archers open up on the Naked Fanatics there. I array my Spearwomen directly in front of them in a shield wall, with a Warband directly behind them to lend the weight of their numbers. A unit of Militia Axewomen waits on one flank, with Makanyane on the other.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0013.jpg

The Fanatics are lured from the square and charge my spearwomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0014.jpg

Then Makanyane and the Axewomen close the trap behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0015.jpg

Their Captain is cut down by a lowly spearman.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0016.jpg

The Rebel Warband was finished off in similar fashion, and the city was mine. Losses were high though. Those Naked Fanatics took a real toll, even upon my Spearwomen in their shield wall. In retrospect I should have placed the Warband in front of the Spearwomen to soak up the brunt of the Fanatic's charge. They are much more expendable.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0017.jpg

As it is a tiny settlement, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0018.jpg

My Diplomat has found the Scythians and obtained the usual from them - trade rights and map info.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0019.jpg

Back in the capital, the first purely military unit I recruit in the campaign is Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0020.jpg

The reason why is the small force of Rebel Amazon Chariots that have appeared east of Neo Themiskyra.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0021.jpg

It is your basic shootout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0022.jpg

This one unit eventually led me to create this entire mod. I suppose that is why even though they are incredibly out of place in this territory, I have resisted the temptation to remove them from the game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0023.jpg

Eventually I ran out of arrows. Losses are heavy on both sides. I am not about to go into melee with those Chariots, so instead I withdraw.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0024.jpg

It goes down in the books as a defeat. This is a lesson in horse archer tactics for those unfamiliar with them. Do not hesitate to withdraw your army of HAs after you run out of ammo. Typically you are heavily outnumbered. The idea is to whittle the enemy down then retreat when you are out of ammo. Then next turn you go back and attack again with full quivers. Rinse and repeat and you can destroy an army that vastly outnumbers your own while taking very few casualties. The art of war is skill and cunning, not brute force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0025.jpg

In the east, Antimache finds the Rebel settlement of Gelonos. According to Herodotus it was founded by Greek colonists who came north from Maeotis. They sure walked a long way before putting down stakes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0026.jpg

In the west, Polemusa has laid siege to Vicus Aesti.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0027.jpg

My slovenly spy has moved on to Vicus Neuri. Not much of a garrison, but that Mercenary Spearwarband could be trouble in the narrow streets.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0028.jpg

Next turn, and round two against those Rebel Amazons Chariots.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0029.jpg

It is a nice day for an archery duel.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0030.jpg

They chased me across half the map before I realized that all of their archers were dead, and instead they had their full complement of chariots and drivers. I have seen this happen with Elephants and Chariots before in RTW.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0031.jpg

I use up all of my arrows and kill only 1 Rebel. I have too few women with me to get through their extra hit points, and there are too many Chariots, causing my women to spread their fire out amongst them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0032.jpg

So I withdraw again.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0033.jpg

Antimache assaults Gelonos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0034.jpg

I found a unit of Barbarian Cavalry waiting outside of the city and immediately charged them with Antimache and her bodyguard. They retreated to the town square, and I pursued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0035.jpg

Antimache got into range of them and stopped, throwing javelins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0036.jpg

That got their goat. The Barb Cavalry turned and attacked. Rather than duke it out with them, I pulled Antimache back to where my infantry waited.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0037.jpg

Then I hit them with everything I had, and the Barbarian Cavalry evaporated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0038.jpg

Afterward I moved back to the square and tried the same trick against the Rebel Warband there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0039.jpg

They refused to leave their square however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0040.jpg

So I brought up my infantry, and let my Skirmishers pelt them with javelins this time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0041.jpg

They came out this time, but routed too close to the square, allowing many of them to escape and reform.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0042.jpg

I pick off as many of the Warband as I can before I pull my troops back out of the square. I really do not want to get into a slugging match there, where the enemy will not rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0043.jpg

Okay, back to the drawing board again. This time I use the Skirmishers to pelt the Rebel Militia Hoplites, while my Amazon Warband sets up across from the Rebel Warband. in the meantime Antimache begins to circle around to the other side of the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0044.jpg

I use the drag function to make sure my Warband marches into the square, but does not go into the Militia Hoplites. Still, the Militia Hoplites turn and advance on them from the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0045.jpg

This in turn exposes them to a flank attack from my Skirmishers, causing them to drop their spears and draw their swords.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0046.jpg

Bam! Then Antimache and her bodyguard charged into the lot from behind.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0047.jpg

Victory would be mine. But that slugging match in the square cost me a lot of men, and a few good women too.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0048.jpg

As it is small, I Occupy Gelonos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0049.jpg

To the south, a lone Horse Archer runs down some Rebel Peasants.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0050.jpg

It is not really very noteworthy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0051.jpg

However, it did give me a Commander of the Hour, which is why I mentioned it. I am so taking her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0052.jpg

Next turn, and round 3 against those Rebel Amazon Chariots. This time I have taken the time to retrain my Horse Archers in Neo Themiskyra before engaging however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0053.jpg

It was like shooting fish in a barrel.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0054.jpg

Here is a look at the situation overall. To the south the Scythians are now on the move, having laid siege to Vicus Neuri while I was busy hunting Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0055.jpg

To the east the Sarmatians are on the move as well, advancing into the territory of the Roxolani.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0056.jpg

*Does the insanity dance of joy.*

Thank you for the dance Olaf.

One last update before I turn into a pumpkin.

In the west, Polemusa assaults Vicus Aesti.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0057.jpg

It is a nice winter day for a battle. The cold will preserve the meat of the corpses for Freja's ravens.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0058.jpg

After the first breach was made a unit of Barbarian Infantry came to the walls, received a dose of Amazon javelins, and promptly decided that they had other places to be.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0059.jpg

With the second breach open I waited no longer and entered the town.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0060.jpg

I saw the Barbarian Cavalry waiting outside the square and immediately charged them with Polemusa.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0061.jpg

Those Barbarians were tough, and really chewed up her bodyguard before they finally broke.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0062.jpg

Then my infantry had come up, and once again a Rebel Captain was laid low by a mere spearman.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0063.jpg

I am not sure what these guys are cheering about, they are about to become pincushions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0064.jpg

The javelins pulled them out of the square, where they were promptly routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0065.jpg

The second Warband followed suit. Most people would probably end the battle here when the game offers you the chance. I never do during sieges. I always fight to the bitter end, even though it means taking more casualties when the routed enemy units get back to the square and reform. It just does not seem right to take the easy way out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0066.jpg

So I take the hard way, and suffer my worse casualties in a battle yet. Obviously Polemusa is not one of my most stellar Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0067.jpg

She Occupies Vicus Aesti.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0068.jpg

Nearby, the Scythian siege of Vicus Neuri has been broken by the Rebels. *cackles gleefully*
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0069.jpg

This gives Makanyane a chance to take a crack at the Neuri.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0070.jpg

Back west, Polemusa was out building a watchtower when she spotted another Rebel settlement.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0071.jpg

Doh! The Scythians have gotten to Vicus Neuri ahead of Makanyane! :wall:
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0072.jpg

Looking south, even though the banners still say they are rebel owned, right clicking on the map shows that the Bosporus now belongs to the Scythians, and the Kuban to the Sarmatians. Given the amount of devastation around each city, it looks like they were long and bitter sieges too.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0073.jpg

Speaking of bitter sieges, the Scythians have been beaten back from Vicus Neuri a second time. Truly Freja is with us, for she has given us this opportunity to smite the Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0074.jpg

A new woman has come of age and taken her place amongst the leaders of the Valkyrja. I can use her, and the few other Generals who have adopted in recently, as I have a lot of watchtowers that need building. Not to mention for the powerful heavy cavalry units they provide. I have been avoiding recruiting troops to keep my treasury in enough money to continue building economic buildings in every city. I start with roads, then go with mines (when available) farms, ports (where available), and finally traders. I have yet to construct a single military building. I always go for the money in the early game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0075.jpg

My Diplomat meets the Dacians and makes the usual agreements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0076.jpg

As with the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0077.jpg

Terrible news. My Faction Leader Antimache has died (I need to think of what the Valkyrja would call their leaders, obviously Queen and Princess is right out, Strategos does not feel right either.)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0078.jpg

Now Makanyane leads the Valkyrja.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0079.jpg

Antimache could not pick a worse time to meet Kybele on her mountain. She leaves young Alkippe to lead the Eastern Army against a large army of Rebels, while an ominous-looking Sarmatian army has come north into our lands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0080.jpg

I missed the odds screen of Makanyane's assault upon Vicus Neuri, but did get the enemy troop composition. The Rebels are all seasoned veterans after defeating the Scythians twice.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0081.jpg

I attack the city from two walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0082.jpg

My Agema Archers soften up the defenders as my women bring up their ram.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0083.jpg

The men have no opposition at the other wall, and enter freely.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0084.jpg

Makanyane charged in once her wall was breached, and cut down the Neuri leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0085.jpg

Then it was on the the town square, where the Agema Archers took over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0086.jpg

Makanyane's Bodyguard lent a few javelins to help.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0087.jpg

I let the missile troops finish off the Rebels without entering the square. My preferred tactic. I hate those prolonged slug-fests in the square, where the enemy cannot rout. Note the difference in my losses compared to the bloodfests Polemusa has had in the west.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0088.jpg

As it is small, I Occupy. As is probably obvious now, I always do so when a settlement is 1st tier or just over it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0089.jpg

They have a shrine to Bendis! Excellent, this will give my missile troops a bonus to their weapons.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0090.jpg

In the East, Alkippe has caught up with that big Rebel army near the banks of the Volga.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0091.jpg

There sure are a lot of them, including more Fanatics.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0092.jpg

These guys are nothing to sneeze at in the early game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0093.jpg

The Rebel General gets the scent of Alkippe, and goes straight after her. She flees, and leads him to where she has her infantry hidden in the woods.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0094.jpg

Then she turns and drops the hammer on him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0095.jpg

He fled. Alkippe let him go, having bigger fish to fry. Instead she let her Mercenary Virgin Horse Archers intercept him across the battlefield and run him to the ground. The caused a unit of nearby Peasants to rout just from proximity. Got to love when that happens.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0096.jpg

Then it all fell apart. Two units of Barbarian Infantry got into the woods where my infantry was. My Warband evaporated in moments, and the Skirmishers chain routed a second later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0097.jpg

Worse, my Virgin Horse Archers were caught by a unit of Naked Fanatics while riding down the aforementioned Peasants. That was the end of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0098.jpg

Okay, I still have a Horse Archer and my General. I did not realize it at the time of this pic, but the remnants of my Warband had reformed and were hiding in the woods somewhere. Things are not that bad though. I have the mobility, and I use it to pick apart the Rebel infantry one unit at a time. The trick is to let them chase the General and become exhausted, while shooting them in the back with the Horse Archer. Then charge them and finish them off. Often they will rout before you even make contact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0099.jpg

I stop and rest my women while more of the Rebels come charging up. It is important to give your cavalry breaks to rest during large battles. The more tired a unit is, the closer to routing they are.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0100.jpg

I isolate another Naked Fanatic.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0101.jpg

They rout without me going into melee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0102.jpg

I have to be careful while I run them down, lest my women blunder into these Barbarian Infantry. Thankfully the Barbarians routed themselves a moment later. Panic is infectious.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0103.jpg

Then it was down to this last Barb Infantry unit. It did not last long.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0104.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0105.jpg

Young General Okypous intercepts some Rebels near the capital. I only mention it because the Rebels are two Generals, and I use some basic Horse Archer tactics to deal with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0106.jpg

One of the Rebel Generals locks on to Okypous. She flees, leading them past her reinforcing Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0107.jpg

Now Okypus will ride in a circle around her missile troops, who pelt the Rebel General with arrows as he rides by them. I call this the Scythian Circle. This trick will work with foot archers and slingers as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0108.jpg

When the Rebels are whittled down, Okypous turns and slaughters him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0109.jpg

Then it was time for round two. But the second Rebel General was not so obliging. He catches one of my Horse Archers in melee and thrashes them before they can run far enough away to escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0110.jpg

But then he was trapped. I call this the Triangle of Death. Basically you surround a unit (or units) with Horse Archers. That way you always have a back shot at them, and no matter which way they go, there is no escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0111.jpg

He locks on to Okypous, and she takes him into another Scythian Circle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0112.jpg

Finally he routs.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0113.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0114.jpg

Another battle with Rebels. This time a lone Horse Archer takes on a Warband and a Peasant.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0115.jpg

I concentrate all my fire on the Warband. I do not want to waste arrows against Peasants if I can help it. There are no fancy tactics needed here, just ride away and shoot them as they pursue.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0116.jpg

I was able to finish off the Warband with arrows, but then I was out of ammo with plenty of Peasants left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0117.jpg

I ride in close, daring them to come after me. I want them to chase me to get them to Exhausted. But they will not budge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0118.jpg

I hate to leave the field to Peasants. My Horse Archers have axes, which gives them a so-so melee attack. Sometimes you have to roll the hard six. I throw the dice and charge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0119.jpg

The Peasants rout!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0120.jpg

Another Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0121.jpg

I had to break this up into two posts because the forum software does not allow more than 50 pictures per post.

After the losses she took assaulting Vicus Aesti, Polemusa wisely decided not to take Vicus Gepidae by storm. Instead she settled into a long blockade to starve them out. On their last turn the Gepids sallied.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0122.jpg

I move my infantry behind the rams, so they would break up the enemy line, while my cavalry moved to get around behind the oncoming Gepids.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0123.jpg

Their first unit is quickly routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0124.jpg

They head back to the city, and Polemusa see the gates open before her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0125.jpg

She rushes into the defenseless city. I could have had her ride around to all of the gates and this point, and then take the square unapposed to win the city. But I hate to do that when I know I can beat the enemy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0126.jpg

So she came back out to finish off the Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0127.jpg

Down they went.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0128.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0129.jpg

Again, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0130.jpg

Uh oh. Over the computer's turn the Sarmatians attacked. One force laid siege to Gelonos, while two others bypassed it and are now marching upon Neo Themiskyra.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0131.jpg

Yet another Sarmatian army marches upon Melanchlaeni, and the Scythians hover like flies around my southern settlements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0132.jpg

Now the real fun begins! Young Alkippe hires mercenaries to replenish her Eastern Army and marches to the relief of Gelonos. See how it turns out next post.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0133.jpg

One more post tonight.

Alkippe leaves her infantrymen behind and rides to the rescue of Gelonos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0134.jpg

The Sarmatians have Virgin Cavalry. These women are very dangerous in the early game, thanks to that armour-piercing attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0135.jpg

These guys are dangerous at every phase of the game. They are the top of the Sarmatian heap. Their charge bonus is the highest of any unit in the game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0136.jpg

The Sarmatians have one weakness however. They only brought one horse archer. I concentrate all of my own horse archers against it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0137.jpg

In the process their Virgin Cavalry were drawn out after one of my Mercenary Virgin Horse Archers. I trapped them with my Sarmatian Mercenaries and General Alkippe herself.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0138.jpg

That was the end of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0139.jpg

At the other end of the battlefield the two Peasants from Gelonos arrived on the field in time to meet a depleted unit of Sarmatian Nobles. 480 Peasants vs. 32 Sarmatian Nobles. Who do you think will win?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0140.jpg

The Sarmatians lost only one man in the process of crushing them both.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0141.jpg

However, while they were running down my Peasants, I saw a weakness in the Sarmatian line. They had a unit of foot archers with no spearmen in front of them. I charged in with Alkippe and her Sarmatian Mercenaries.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0142.jpg

The Sarmatian Virgin Archers simply disintegrated under the attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0143.jpg

Then Sarmatian cavalry started to come in from both sides, and I pulled Alkippe and her mercenaries out of there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0144.jpg

These Sarmatian Nobles followed a little too far, and she turned and destroyed them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0145.jpg

That was enough for the rest of the Sarmatians, and they headed for the exit. I fell upon as many as I could before they could escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0146.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0147.jpg

Also my first famous battle marker of the campaign.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0148.jpg

Back at the capital, another Rebel Amazon Chariot has appeared.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0149.jpg

They are a pretty strong unit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0150.jpg

Just to see how it would work out, I charged the Peasants in to swamp the Chariots.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0151.jpg

Victory, but with heavy losses from the Peasants. Plenty more where they came from though...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0153.jpg

Okypous received a Graea as a retinue member after that battle. That should not have happened, only the Gorgons should be able to get them. One more thing for the fix list.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0154.jpg

Back east, a Sarmatian force has crossed the Don to attack the lagging infantrymen of the Eastern Army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0155.jpg

My men do not stand a chance against those Virgins. I run for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0156.jpg

Here is some good news, another General. Too bad she turns up in way out in Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0157.jpg

Those Eastern Army infantrymen retreat back to the safety of the walls of Gelonos, while Alkippe took the women and rode north west in pursuit of the Sarmatians converging upon the capital.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0158.jpg

The Sarmatians have besieged Melanchlaeni as well. Makanyane is heading to their relief, and is forced to leave her infantrywomen behind to get there in time. At the end of her move she begins hiring mercenaries.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0159.jpg

Then she send the mercenaries east to Melanchlaeni to reinforce the city, along with a lone Amazon Horse Archer that had been doing rebel-hunting duty.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0160.jpg

In the middle of all this the Britons want to trade. Sure, why not?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0161.jpg

When it rains, it really pours. Now the Scythians have attacked my mercenaries outside of Melanchlaeni.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0162.jpg

At least I have the high ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0163.jpg

Once again the AI made the fatal mistake of leaving its archers unprotected.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0164.jpg

I think one of these archers was the first woman to reach the moon...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0165.jpg

The rest of the battle did not go any better for the Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0166.jpg

Unfortunately some managed to escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0167.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0168.jpg

Next turn Makanyane reaches Melanchlaeni and hires more mercenaries. This is really killing my treasury. I have had to suspend all of my building projects to hire and maintain all of these hired bows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0169.jpg

Makanyane does not wait for the rest of her army to come up. She immediately attacks. Her bodyguard is now the size of a regular cavalry unit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0170.jpg

She sees a good piece of high ground in this hill on the Scythian flank and swings her army up around them and onto it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0171.jpg

The Sarmatians come around the left, but are met by infantry and Sarmatian Mercenaries.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0172.jpg

While on the right, Makanyane is simply rolling over the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0173.jpg

The Sarmatians have had enough, they head for the exit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0174.jpg

Victory, but many escaped.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0175.jpg

Melanchlaeni is now safe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0176.jpg

But the Sarmatians have also besieged the capital of Neo Themiskyra.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0177.jpg

Alkippe has caught up with them however, and she attacks one of the besieging armies. She does so at night, preventing the second Sarmatian army from entering the battle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0178.jpg

This rock has a good view of the battlefield.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0179.jpg

This unit of Steppe Lancers came too far forward, and was pounced on by Alkippe and her Sarmatian Mercs. You can see Okypous and the garrison of Neo Themiskyra are now engaging the right flank of Sarmatians in the background.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0180.jpg

Alkippe and her heavies chased the fleeing Sarmatians directly into the rest of their line, and sent them all packing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0182.jpg

Not to be outdone, Okypous took on a pair of Steppe Lancers and defeated them handily.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0183.jpg

The rest of the Sarmatians were on the run.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0184.jpg

Then their army just disintegrated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0185.jpg

Sadly, a few got away. It is usually impossible to catch all of the routers in these steppe battles.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0186.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0187.jpg

Same turn, the second Sarmatian army outside of Neo Themiskyra is attacked.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0188.jpg

Alkippe grew tired of waiting for the garrison of Neo Themiskyra to get on the field, and attacked the Sarmatian center on her own.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0189.jpg

Still taking their time....
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0190.jpg

Alkippe crushed the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0191.jpg

By the time the garrison arrived, the Sarmatians were in full retreat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0192.jpg

Victory, and the capital was safe from invaders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0193.jpg

Here is the situation. In the east the Sarmatians do not have a lot in sight, but I am not sure what might be lurking in that dark area where Campus Roxolani is.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0194.jpg

To the south, powerful Scythian armies lurk along my frontier near Androphagia. Not good.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0195.jpg

Wow, tons of screens there SubRosa! I had gotten through nearly all of this last night only to find you posted another installment this morning. :book:

Looks like a really fun game, hopefully you'll be able to secure peace with the Sarmatians before having to deal with the Scythians on your southern flank. I'm not sure I like your chances in a two front war. :sweatdrop:

Looking forward to more.

Thank you Monk. I always use a lot of pictures in my AARs. Typically I will have about 1500-1600 in each. As the campaign goes on I will not have to go in so much depth in every battle, so they will decrease in that respect. But there will be more battles overall, so they increase that way.

My plan right now is a two front war in fact. At least a limited one. It will be tough, because I am very stretched in my interiour and have to use mercenaries to outfit most of my armies. But a good challenge makes the game fun. I plan to send Makanyane south with her army to deal with the Scythians in the open around Androphagia, then press on against their cities. She will be the main hammer, because wiping out the Scythians will give me more stable frontiers and also Black Sea ports for trade. The secondary front will be led by Alkippe, who will lead the troops from the capital south-east after Campus Roxolani. I may stop there, or head east across the Don and into the Sarmatian heartland. It all depends on how things are going.

I spent about an hour and half playing this afternoon and when I went to start my writeup discovered to my horror that I had forgotten to turn on FRAPs before hand. (I will have to put in my startup folder for the duration of the AAR so it does not happen again). So no pictures for those battles. No great loss, it was basically rebel-hunting, and cleaning up some small bands of Scythians and Sarmatians on the borders. Alkippe did advance upon Campus Roxolonai in the east, but saw a huge Sarmatian army coming up to its defense, and she was obliged to retreat north.

That is where things pick up. That huge army has caught up with Alkippe at the westward bend of the Don river. Alkippe does not want to fight such a huge force at a river. She does not have the infantry to hold the crossing, and will have only half the map to maneuver upon when the Sarmatians did come across. So instead she withdraws.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0196.jpg

The Sarmatians pursue and bring her to battle in the open. Just as I had hoped (well, actually I was hoping they would not reach her until next turn, when she would have reinforcements from the capital joining her).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0197.jpg

The battlefield is dominated by this big rock. Maybe I can put that to use...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0198.jpg

I move all of my cavalry over to my left and charge in at the Sarmatians. This is something I learned in my Defensive Scythia AAR. When you are outnumbered concentrate all of your force upon one flank of the enemy and attack. The other flank of the enemy will not be able to attack you, and has thusly been taken out of the battle. At least temporarily. If you have an all cavalry army as I do currently, you can even gain a local superiourity at the point of attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0199.jpg

With Alkippe in the lead, my Amazons and mercenaries smash the Sarmatian right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0200.jpg

I have to keep moving, as the rest of their army is trying to swing around and get at me. Chasing the remnants of the Sarmatian right gives me a good opportunity to kill more nomads while staying out of the grasp of their comrades.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0201.jpg

I have gotten clear of most of their army and run the routers as far as I can go. I leave two horse archers behind to mop up a routed Sarmatian Virgin Horse Archer. In retrospect this was a mistake, as they would be trapped themselves and routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0202.jpg

I keep moving my main force around that big rock, keeping it between me and the main Sarmatian army. One of their Sarmatian Mercs followed, and I treat them to a dose of arrows from all of my horse archers as they vainly pursued Alkippe. They would be destroyed when she turned to face them soon later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0203.jpg

The rest of their army came around the rock, and after a bit of skirmishing I was forced to withdraw across the map. By now I do not have much left. Alkippe is down to only herself and one of her bodyguards. I will have to be careful not to get her killed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0204.jpg

Then the Sarmatian General was cut down by my arrows. Just the turn of luck I had been hoping for!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0205.jpg

I decided to relocate again and run across the map as their infantry come up. This is a good tactic, as once you get to the far side of the map you can stop and rest your cavalry, and the enemy infantry will be exhausted by the time they catch up with you.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0206.jpg

They pursued, with their last cavalry unit coming far out ahead of the others. I stopped my flight and came back, concentrating all of my arrows against them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0207.jpg

The Sarmatian Mercenaries rout, and I run them down like dogs!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0208.jpg

All of their cavalry are dead now. I cannot believe I have done as well as I have, given the circumstances. The trouble is that I am almost out of ammo, have no heavy cavalry left, and they have two Mercenary Amazon Archers and a Virgin Archer in that infantry. I cannot win a missile duel, and cannot finish them in melee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0209.jpg

So I let them chase me around the map. In the process one of their Steppe Spearman units come out too far from the rest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0210.jpg

They are surrounded and annihilated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0211.jpg

That was enough for me. I let them chase me until the clock ran out (this is why I always play with a time limit). Somehow I pulled a victory out of it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0212.jpg

In the middle of all of this a Gallic ambassador turned up and concluded a deal for trade between our far-removed peoples.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0213.jpg

Here is what I was afraid would happen. The Scythians have begun the assault upon Vicus Neuri before Makanyane could reach the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0214.jpg

With only two Warbands and a Peasant, there was no point trying to defend the walls, so I let them in unopposed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0215.jpg

Instead I waited for the Scythians in the town square, where my men would not rout. I actually beat off their first wave.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0216.jpg

But the second wave was of Head-Hunting Maidens. Eeep!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0217.jpg

Then the third wave came.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0218.jpg

My valiant captain was laid low.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0219.jpg

The rest of her troops soon followed her to the afterlife.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0220.jpg

The city was lost! The shame of it all!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0221.jpg

However, vengeance will soon be at hand. Makanyane has reached the city to take it back!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0223.jpg

While in the east, the battered but victorious Alkippe once more advances upon Campus Roxolani.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0222.jpg

Once more, the Sarmatians scraped up enough troops to counter-attack the Eastern army, now led by Okypous. Only four of the Sarmatian units are new, and they are only Steppe Lancers. The rest are troops I have already beaten once.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0224.jpg

These big jagged rocks appear to litter the steppe, like the broken teeth of a long-dead race of giants.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0225.jpg

The first Sarmatian force of Steppe Lancers is quickly surrounded. They really had no chance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0226.jpg

Once they were out of the way, the second Sarmatian force was starting to come into action, cavalry first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0227.jpg

Their Captain was cut down by my Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0228.jpg

As my women closed in on their army, I had to be careful to ride around those Mercenary Amazon Hoplites of theirs.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0229.jpg

I later looked over to see that Alkippe had blundered into those Hoplites while chasing routers. Clicking like a madwomen I prayed to Freja that their spears did not send her ungently into that good night.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0230.jpg

Lucky girl. She escapes unscathed, and now the Scythians are surrounded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0231.jpg

The end followed soon after. Heroic Victory and another famous battle marker. It seemed barely noteworthy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0232.jpg

It did leave Campus Roxolani denuded of its garrison however. Now it would fall easily. Once I brought a Warband up from Melanchlaeni that is.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0233.jpg

For those of you unfamiliar with Amazon: Total War, every faction in the game has a unique artifact which only its Generals may possess. These are items from the myths and legends of those factions, which bestow great prestige - and some even whisper magical power - upon the wielder.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0234.jpg

In the west, Makanyane was ready to liberate Vicus Neuri. The Scythians have a lot of archers in there, so I make this a night attack to reduce their range. This is just in time too, a full stack of Scythians is headed north from Vibantavarium to attack her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0235.jpg

One of my own Horse Archers is now at silver experience.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0236.jpg

A ferocious archery duel erupted at the walls of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0237.jpg

One which I would eventually win. Amazon quivers are open graves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0238.jpg

The way cleared by the archers, the rams made short work of the city's defenses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0239.jpg

Then the remaining defenders were swept aside.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0240.jpg

My army streamed into the city down two roads. One led directly to the lightly defended town square. The other to a side-street where a large mob of Scythians lurked around the corner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0241.jpg

Makanyane led the troops down the sidestreet, and pulled up to a stop to rain javelins upon the Scythians. She did not want to charge in there until her infantry had the chance to catch up with her. Especially since her spies reported Bosporan Infantrymen among the Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0242.jpg

In the meantime Polemusa went directly to the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0243.jpg

It was quickly hers, and the remaining Scythians were now trapped between Makanyane and Polemusa.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0244.jpg

They crumbled before Makanyane's advance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0245.jpg

Routing defenders in a city battle always head for the town square. This sent them directly into the waiting spears and axes of Polemusa's women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0246.jpg

Here is a shot of my Spearwomen receiving a power up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0247.jpg

There are no survivors among the Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0248.jpg

The citizens cheer as they are freed from the yoke of the treacherous Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0249.jpg

On the AI's turn, that full stack of Scythians from Vibantavarium wants no part of Makanyane.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0250.jpg

Makanyane pursues. Right now her primary goal is to destroy the Scythian armies in the field, leaving their cities easy targets.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0251.jpg

Speaking of which, now that the Sarmatian field armies have been cleared from Tribus Roxolani, Okypous leads the assault upon its Campus.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0252.jpg

Their archers were easily swept aside by my own at the walls, leaving no one to hinder my entrance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0253.jpg

The Barbarian General was drawn out of the town square by arrow fire, and met by Okypous and her Warband. The Sarmatian Steppe Lancers quickly followed their leader into the melee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0254.jpg

That left the town square empty as Alkippe rode in from behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0255.jpg

Bam! She charged into the Sarmatian rear, trapping and destroying them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0256.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0257.jpg

Once more I Occupy. I was very disappointed to find there was not even a 1st tier stable in the city. Now I will have to build one in order to retrain my Horse Archers. Still, this will be an ideal place to defend the eastern frontier against further Sarmatian attacks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0258.jpg

News reaches the plains that my Gorgon sisters have found a new homeland.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0259.jpg

Closer to home, that Scythian army continues to flee from Makanyane. I think they are headed for the low-hanging fruit of Vicus Venedae to the west. I cannot seem to catch them, so they will probably take it, meaning I will have to take it from them. I was hoping to leave it as a Rebel buffer against Dacia and Germania.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0260.jpg

In the central plains, Xanthippe rode from Melanchlaeni to intercept a Scythian force south of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0261.jpg

It was all going well until the Scythians high tailed it for the map edge. I did not want that General of theirs getting away, so I sent my Horse Archers into melee with him. I know, Horse Archers vs. a General. But I needed to stop him inside the map in order for Xanthippe to reach him. Sometimes you have to roll the hard six.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0262.jpg

Stop him they did, and once Xanthippe caught up with him he was sent to meet his barbarous gods. The butcher's bill was high. But I can retrain my Horse Archers next turn, while the Scythians are not getting that General back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0263.jpg

My economy is improving, but money is still tight. So I sell my map to the Romans.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0264.jpg

An Amazonian Diplomat offered me trade rights, I accepted and suggested we become allies. I hate to stand with those arrogant royalists, but for the moment we women need to stand together.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0265.jpg

The Britons seemed to have the same idea. They are at war with Germania, who are allied with Scythia. Given this I thought it would be a good idea to take them up on the offer.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0266.jpg

Now the Scythians want trade rights? Did this Diplomat not get the memo that we are a war?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0267.jpg

A Scythian army attacks Xanthippe immediately after their diplomat's offer to underscore the point. They have an awful lot of horse archers in there. Xanthippe withdraws rather than face certain destruction.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0268.jpg

Next turn I learn that Amazonia has broken our alliance, and Scythia and I are at war? Ahhh, I see. Scythia and Amazonia were allies. So when I allied with Amazonia, that automatically made Scythia and I neutral. Until the Scythians attacked again that is.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0269.jpg

Speaking of Scythian attacks, they did take Vicus Venedae as I suspected.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0270.jpg

Now Makanyane will have to dig them out of there. They have the missile advantage, so she does it at night to reduce the range of arrows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0271.jpg

I come at the settlement from two sides.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0272.jpg

Makanyane sees two juicy targets at the edge of town and immediately charges in at them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0273.jpg

Polemusa does likewise at the other wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0274.jpg

She drives the Scythians before her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0275.jpg

She has to stop short to avoid blundering into a mass of Scythians however. Time to bring up the infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0276.jpg

On the other side of the settlement, Makanyane was pushing her way in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0277.jpg

She had the Scythians trapped between two streets, but for every unit she routed there was another waiting behind it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0278.jpg

Polemusa had become bogged down as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0279.jpg

Then her archers cut down the Scythian Captain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0280.jpg

Now she was able to charge into the settlement.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0281.jpg

Makanyane finally dealt with the outer defenses, and closed in on the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0282.jpg

Polemusa cleared the Scythians before her and was on her way to reinforce.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0283.jpg

A horrific bloodletting erupted in the center of town.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0284.jpg

Victory belonged to Makanyane. But the losses are staggering.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0285.jpg

Still, Makanyane has 628 kills just to herself.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0286.jpg

I liberate the people of Vicus Venedae from the terrible Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0287.jpg

My treasury is just barely keeping a profit, but not much. Still, I am constructing buildings in many of my settlements again. After all, having lost so many soldiers means I do not have to pay as much in upkeep every turn...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0288.jpg

Over the AI's turn the Scythian army that Xanthippe was forced to retreat from followed her to Melanchlaeni. Alkippe is on the way from Campus Roxolani to reinforce her however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0289.jpg

Then next turn another Scythian army besieged Androphagia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0290.jpg

Xanthippe sallied from Melanchlaeni, bringing Alkippe in the battle to assist her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0291.jpg

The Scythians began the battle on the corner of the city on the strat map, so they head for that corner as the battle starts. Alkippe starts near that corner, and will move in to intercept them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0293.jpg

Xanthippe waits as the Scythians go past. She does not want to rush out and be shot to pieces by those Horse Archers going by.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0294.jpg

In the map corner, Alkippe's force and most of Xanthippe's Horse Archers (who exited by another gate than Xanthippe), had met the Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0295.jpg

Xanthippe left the city as the tail of the Scythian column came by and charged directly into them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0296.jpg

All the Scythians on hand rush into melee with her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0297.jpg

Seeing that they were all Horse Archers, it did not work out well for them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0298.jpg

Now Alkippe and Xanthippe were penning the Scythians in the corner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0299.jpg

The trap was almost shut when several of their Horse Archers ran for it and squirted free.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0300.jpg

Still, it is a victory, and the siege was lifted.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0301.jpg

The same turn, Alkippe took on a small group of Scythians who had come up to help their comrades.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0302.jpg

Nothing special about this one. Alkippe leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0303.jpg

The same turn Tereis sallies from Androphagia. This gives me a look at the army the Scythians have besieging the city. I do not like it one bit, and Tereis withdraws back to the city. I expected as much, I just wanted confirm the makeup of their army before I brought in reinforcements from Melanchlaeni.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0304.jpg

In the west, Makanyane is marching east upon Vibantavarium. If I can weather the Scythian storm in the center, she will sweep across the plains from the west and wipe them from existence.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0305.jpg

The Greeks wish to trade with us? I wish to have their heads on a platter. Well, time enough for that later. We will sell them Amazon trinkets for now.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0306.jpg

This is what I have been dreading ever since I took Vicus Gepidae, and the reason I have made sure I have had a General there at all times since. Germania has attacked.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0307.jpg

Kardika, a new member of our august gathering of Amazon heroes, rides north from her post at Vicus Venedae as far as she can go, then hires a mercenary band of Barbarian Cavalry. She sends the mercenaries on to Vicus Gepidae to assist Pantariste there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0308.jpg

Pantariste then sallies, bringing the Barb Cavalry mercs in as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0309.jpg

The Germans were on the corner tile of the city on the strat map, so they head for that corner as the battle starts. Pantariste finds an opening in their column and charges.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0310.jpg

Scratch those Screechers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0311.jpg

Her Skirmishers come out of the city and proceed to give this lagging German Spearwarband volley after volley of javelins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0312.jpg

The Germans are setting up a line in the corner of the map. I want to get at their Barb Archers and Barb Cavalry, so I sweep around their line with my horse. In the background all of my infantry is converging on that lagging Spearwarband above.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0313.jpg

Charge!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0314.jpg

There goes the German Captain. Their archers followed soon after.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0315.jpg

Mopping up. The Spearwarbands are in phalanx, and thusly are too slow to do anything but watch me butcher their comrades.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0316.jpg

My infantry is finally catching up to that Spearwarband.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0317.jpg

Uh oh, they turned and lowered their spears, this will get ugly fast.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0318.jpg

My infantry routs before I can order them to retreat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0319.jpg

Okay, time to rest a bit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0320.jpg

Pantariste tries to lure the German Axemen out of formation to pursue her. They do not go for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0321.jpg

So she rides over to the spearmen and give them a few volleys of javelins. Alas, that does not budge them either.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0322.jpg

Finally she simply charges into the Axemen on the flank, routing them instantly (they were exhausted, which helps a lot).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0323.jpg

Ooops, here comes another Axe unit. Pantariste stops before she blunders into it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0324.jpg

The Axemen charge her, and follow her back to the walls of the city. Right in front of a tower.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0325.jpg

They changed their mind about attacking her when she saw the rest of my army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0326.jpg

Too late, there is no escape for these Germans.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0327.jpg

After another rest break, another Spearwarband is lured out of formation.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0328.jpg

Again, they get close and change their minds.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0329.jpg

Too late for them as well...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0330.jpg

While my cavalry was across the field chasing down routers, my infantry dispatched another Spearwarband on their own after surrounding it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0331.jpg

It is round four or five by now, and only three Spearwarbands are left. I pick them apart. This one on the flank looks like a good target.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0332.jpg

I hit it with everything from both sides and they insta-rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0333.jpg

I let the momentum carry my army into the second Spearwarband next to it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0334.jpg

Chain rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0335.jpg

Only one left. You can guess what happened next.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0336.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0337.jpg

It was a slaughter. Over one thousand kills for Pantariste alone. Pretty good for her first battle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0338.jpg

I just love when the AI does this.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0339.jpg

In the east, Xanthippe raises the siege of Androphagia by attacking the Scythians blockading it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0340.jpg

The garrison of the city enters the battle right on the Scythian flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0341.jpg

It was your basic plains battle. Here goes the Scythian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0342.jpg

Their handlers all dead, these Wardogs are now ghostly apparitions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0343.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0344.jpg

Even further east, Okypous sallies against the Sarmatians besieging Campus Roxolani.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0345.jpg

It is not a battle, but a slaughter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0346.jpg

Finally, Makanyane has her chance to take the war to our enemies. She assaults Vibantavarium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0347.jpg

She attacks from two walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0348.jpg

Polemusa's force enters the city first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0349.jpg

But Makanyane's follows soon after.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0350.jpg

The Scythian General saw a chance and attacked one of Polemusa's Warbands that was far out ahead of the rest of her force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0351.jpg

They held long enough for Polemusa and the rest of her women to come up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0352.jpg

Scratch one barbarian warlord.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0353.jpg

Then it was on to the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0354.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0355.jpg

Makanyane shows no mercy to the vile Scythians. They are put to the sword.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0356.jpg

After withstanding attacks on all the frontiers, Valkyrja lands are once again clear of invaders. Next stop, Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0357.jpg

Can i has full map plz?
Kthnxbai

The Scythians and Sarmatians are still testing my borders. However, where previously I was rushing reinforcements from one endangered city to another in a desperate race to hold back the barbarian tidal wave, now I am using my cities as strong points to dominate the terrain. When an enemy force appears over the horizon I ride out and destroy them before they can get far, let alone lay siege to anything. It also helps that there are much fewer Scythians and Sarmatians than before. Here is one such example near Campus Roxolani.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0358.jpg

An easy victory for Okypous. I have made her my Faction Heir rather than Alkippe, as she was the one leading all of the battles anyway.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0359.jpg

I saw a lone Scythian unit wandering north of Vibantavarium and sent Polemusa out to deal with it. It shows as having only 49 soldiers, but a closer look shows it has 193. It is a dog unit. The first is the human handlers, the second is the animals (or animals + handlers?).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0360.jpg

Flawless victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0361.jpg

A lone Horse Archer rode out to intercept a small Scythian force not too far away but could not reach it. The Scythians obliged me by attacking my Horse Archer on their turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0362.jpg

The Scythians are annihilated for a Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0363.jpg

Far in the east, the garrison of Gelonos spotted a small Sarmatian force that had crossed over to our side of the border. They rode out to chastise them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0364.jpg

This is an example of a very successful horse archer tactic I call the Scythian Horse Ride. Basically you get an enemy cavalry unit to attack one of your own. A General makes the best bait, but as in this case, a simple Horse Archer will do as well. Your bait unit flees from the pursuer. Then you slide one or more Horse Archers in behind the pursuer and follow them. Your bait unit leads the enemy across the map, and you shoot them in the back with the second unit the entire way until they rout. If you have a General acting as bait, you can just wait until they are whittled down a bit and then turn and destroy them in melee. This is especially effective in destroying enemy Generals, but you better have a General of your own acting as bait.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0366.jpg

Second Heroic Victory in a row.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0367.jpg

In the west, Tereis goes to deal with a Rebel General who has been waylaying merchants on the road from Careotae to Vicus Gepidae for years. I have only now had stable enough borders to send a General after him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0368.jpg

Third Heroic Victory in a row.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0369.jpg

Polemusa has joined forces with that lone Horse Archer of mine from before, and they took on another small Scythian army, this one led by a General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0370.jpg

Only a Clear Victory this time, so my string of Heroics is broken. But I killed the General, and that is most important.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0371.jpg

Here you go Olaf, a look at the world with Fog of War off. The Gorgons have settled in North Africa, after driving Carthage from its shores. Numidia actually looks very strong. The Romans are doing nothing, as are the Iberians and Gauls. The Britons are fighting the Germans around Batavodorum. Big Yellow, Amazonia, and Armenia are all tearing pieces out of the Seleucids (funny, in my Gorgon campaign The Seleucids absolutely dominated the Near East).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0372.jpg

Here is another example of what I was talking about in the beginning of the post. A small Scythian force has crossed the border east of Androphagia. Xanthippe immediately rode out to attack them before they could penetrate far into Valkyrja lands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0373.jpg

She leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0374.jpg

In the east, Alkippe was building watchtowers south of Campus Roxolani when she saw that Tanais is tantalizingly open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0375.jpg

The reason for the lack of defenders is further west. Makanyane is one turn away from laying siege to Olbia. The Scythians seem to have shifted their armies from the east toward her. They have two half stacks of horse archers on the road between Olbia and Tanais, as well as the garrison of Olbia itself. But all are low-tier troops. They have long since used up all of the elite troops they started the game with.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0376.jpg

WTF??? Gorgons no take Triton?:furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3::furious3:

Well at least we have now seen that the Seleucids have a fighting chance to win the ME.
:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

I have tried and tried to get the Gorgons to attack Triton, but the AI just does not want to do it. I have even scripted Gorgons armies to appear right next to Triton at the start of the game. They just stand around for a dozen turns and then wander off. I tried moving Triton to see if it would make a difference, and it still changed nothing. It is like the old saying, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

Well it is about time!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0377.jpg

A Scythian army blocks the road to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0378.jpg

I set out my archers ahead of my infantry, this way they can engage the Scythians as soon as possible. I am not worried about a charge on my archers, as the Scythians are all horse archers. Still, I move my infantry forward through the archers as soon as possible to reduce the amount of time they are vulnerable.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0379.jpg

Here is a little trick to hunting horse archers when you do not have them yourself. Use one unit to push the archer in one direction, and send a cavalry unit around behind them at the same time. They end up trapped between your two units.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0380.jpg

No getting out of this.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0381.jpg

The rest of the battle went no different. Makanyane brushes the Scythians aside.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0382.jpg

She continues to Olbia and lays siege to the city. Mindful of the Scythian armies in striking distance to the north, she is careful to position herself on the western side of the city. This way if the other Scythians reinforce they will not be coming in on her flank or rear.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0383.jpg

In the east, a Sarmatian force has turned up to defend the approach to Tanais (or more likely they were just on their way to Campus Roxolani). In any case, Alkippe attacks it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0384.jpg

Nomad scum cannot stand against the might of the Valkyrja.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0385.jpg

Afterward Alkippe leaves the army and heads back north to Campus Roxolani. A large Sarmatian force has been spotted east of the city, and she will be needed to defend it. Okypous takes the rest of the force south and builds a fort near Tanais, thinking that the Scythians in the open near the city might attack her. In the meanwhile Xanthippe moves east to join her. Now that Olbia has fallen, she is no longer needed to defend Androphagia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0386.jpg

Over the AI's turn, Makanyane is attacked outside of Olbia, bringing the garrison of the city into the battle as reinforcements. If I can destroy the Scythians the city will be mine without a siege.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0387.jpg

The goddesses have blessed me with this lovely hill to stand upon. For an archery faction like mine, height is a devastating advantage.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0388.jpg

As the first army comes up the hill, I swing my infantry to the right to face them head on. In the no-woman's land between the armies, Makanyane cleans up the lead elements of the Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0389.jpg

It took a while for them to get up the hill, but the first army is finally engaging.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0390.jpg

It starts with a clash of infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0391.jpg

A unit of their Steppe Spearmen was able to get around my left. They were met by Makanyane and her Sarmatian Mercs.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0392.jpg

She continued through the routing spearmen and charged down upon the Scythian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0393.jpg

He was cut down by the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0394.jpg

Back in the center, the infantry were slugging it out breast to breast.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0395.jpg

My women prevailed, and the Scythian right dissolved.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0396.jpg

Who let these things out?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0397.jpg

Olbia's garrison was now coming into action, especially on my right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0398.jpg

The Scythians have gotten around my flank. Especially disturbing are the Barbarian Cavalry, who have a clear shot at my Mercenary Amazon Archers. I have my Warband on the flank pull out of line and charge them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0399.jpg

Spears vs. horses = dead horses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0400.jpg

The rest of the garrison was cleaned up shortly thereafter. Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0401.jpg

The men of Olbia begin their new lives as Amazon slaves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0402.jpg

I also receive a famous battle marker.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0403.jpg

Here is a turn of luck. A new daughter came of age in Olbia immediately afterward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0404.jpg

Back in the east Okypous and Xanthippe have a Scythian sandwich of that army that was in the field near Tanais.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0405.jpg

Scratch another Scythian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0406.jpg

Hmmm, the Dacians are becoming restless. They will be attacking soon. I move to reinforce Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0407.jpg

My Diplomat has discovered that the Thracians have taken Pella and Bylazora from the Macedonians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0408.jpg

Making them allies seems like a good idea right now.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0409.jpg

As I expected, the Dacians have crossed the border and besieged Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0410.jpg

Kardika sallies, bringing in the reinforcements I sent from Vicus Gepidae last turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0411.jpg

She soundly thrashes the Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0412.jpg

My slovenly spy is investigating the Bosporus before I invade. Neapolis Scythica is nearly 4th tier! Clearly, there are a lot of Scythians that need killing here.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0413.jpg

Next turn, the Dacians invade once more.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0414.jpg

Same with the Sarmatians. Nobody likes me...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0415.jpg

Once more Kardika sallies from Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0416.jpg

The Dacians have Bastarnae Mercenaries in their army. These are not your father's Bastarnae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0417.jpg

The Dacian General locked onto Kardika and charged early on. She fled before him, and took him on a Scythian Horse Ride around the city walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0418.jpg

He has not lost much going into the first turn. His bodyguard's second hit point is still holding up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0419.jpg

By the second turn the Dacian bodyguard is almost gone. They would rout two dead men later and be run down by Kardika.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0420.jpg

The Bastarnae, being mere infantry, were then baited, tired, surrounded, and destroyed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0421.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0422.jpg

The garrison of Gelonos then sallied.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0424.jpg

After a long archery duel, the Sarmatian's Virgin Cavalry came out and charged one of my Horse Archers, who promptly took them on a Scythian Horse Ride.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0425.jpg

They routed half way around the city as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0426.jpg

Heroic Victory #2.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0427.jpg

Alkippe had marched forward to the bridge on the Don, as she saw a large Sarmatian army moving up on Gelonos. She wanted to either meet the Scythians in the open, or be able to reinforce Gelonos should that army lay siege as the first did. The Sarmatians saw her and forgot about Gelonos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0428.jpg

Their first army is rather small, but that big army Alkippe was concerned about was approaching from behind the trees on the left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0429.jpg

Alkippe immediately charged across the bridge, with several Horse Archers following shortly thereafter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0430.jpg

They put the first army to flight. But that second army was coming onto the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0431.jpg

Alkippe brought her women back across the Don to wait for their arrival.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0432.jpg

As plains battles always do, it started with an archery duel. However, I concentrated most of my fire not on the Virgin Archers you see in front, but the Virgin Cavalry behind them. I knew the Cavalry would be the first across the bridge, and I wanted to blunt them first if possible.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0433.jpg

My plan worked, the Virgin Cavalry routed when they came across.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0434.jpg

But the rest of the Sarmatians followed, and I was obliged to give them space.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0435.jpg

Their General went after one of my Horse Archers on the riverbank. They fled while Alkippe rode over to intercept him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0436.jpg

She caught up with him, and with the help of a few Horse Archers sandwiched him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0437.jpg

He fled.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0438.jpg

Then he was cut down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0439.jpg

The remainder of their army was mopped up at the bridge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0440.jpg

Heroic Victory #3.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0441.jpg

Now the main event of tonight's card. Makanyane has crossed over into the Bosporus and laid siege to Neapolis Scythica. A small Scythian army from Chersonesos came up and attacked her, drawing the garrison of Neapolis Scythica into the battle as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0442.jpg

I want that big hill behind the first Scythian army. So I immediately charge forward with everything I have.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0443.jpg

Where did the Scythians get these guys? They might be leftovers from the start of the game. But I would have thought they would have taken casualties from the sieges of Chersonesos and Panticapaeum if that were so.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0444.jpg

No matter, Makanyane's guard makes short work of them. Did I mention that her bodyguard is now at 3 gold chevrons of experience? The boogieman has nightmares about her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0445.jpg

The first army's infantry is swept aside by my own.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0446.jpg

Then their Virgin Horse Archers are penned in the corner and wiped out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0447.jpg

Now I turn my army 90 degrees to the left to face the second Scythian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0448.jpg

Just in time to meet them head on.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0449.jpg

Their General is sent packing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0450.jpg

He meets his gods in disgrace.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0451.jpg

I push my army forward as fast as they can go, and the Scythians begin to collapse.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0452.jpg

Soon they completely dissolve.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0453.jpg

Victory! I was too close to the map edge though, which allowed many of the fleeing Scythians to escape back to Neapolis Scythica and continue to garrison it. Now I will have to take it by siege.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0454.jpg

Impressive Subrosa. Not only have to managed a multi-front war but you're actually on your way to smashing Scythian resistance, I very much doubt the Sarmatians are looking forward to fighting your full strength once the Scythians are out of the way.

I have to admit I had a little laugh at the Dacian general's expense. Ah, the wonders of mounted archery! :2thumbsup:

Thank you Monk. I am glad I gave the Valkyrja an entry level horse archer unit. There is no way I could have survived this long against the Scythians and Sarmatians with only Militia Cavalry.

Polemusa comes to the aid of besieged Vibantavarium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0455.jpg

Even though it was actually a rather poor performance by myself (check the losses I suffered) it goes down as a Heroic Victory and a famous battle marker.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0456.jpg

Further north, Prince Hairyfellas of the Germans had crossed over into Valkyjra territory and needed to be taught a lesson in property rights.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0457.jpg

Another Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0458.jpg

The westlands were now free of invaders. For now.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0459.jpg

Now to the east. The siege of Tanais has been one headache after another. First I built a ram, not realizing it had stone walls. Then once I did notice I had to spend another turn building a siege tower. Then when I finally went to attack my tower was nowhere to be found. That ticked me off. I am not a big fan of reloading battles, but I am not going to assault a stone-walled city without the siege tower that I wasted a turn building. I reloaded and tried again, and still no siege tower. So in disgust I auto-resolved.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0460.jpg

Tanais was taken, and I clapped the Scythian men into irons.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0461.jpg

In the west, Captain Selifator of the Scythians desperately tried to defend their capital of Neapolis Scythica from Makanyane.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0462.jpg

Makanyane attacks from two walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0463.jpg

She makes her entry with no opposition.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0464.jpg

Then she runs into fierce resistance half-way to the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0465.jpg

These Virgin Horse Archers really put up a good fight, better than you would expect for a horse archer unit in melee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0466.jpg

But finally Captain Selifator was laid low.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0467.jpg

Resistance collapsed, and it was just a matter of letting the archers mop up the remnants in the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0468.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0469.jpg

If it were another city Makanyane would have enslaved it. But this was the capital of the enemy. A message had to be sent to other nations who thought to attack Amazons. Makanyane wrote it in the skulls of dead Scythians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0470.jpg

Neapolis Scythica can render up several goodies, including these beauties.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0471.jpg

The same turn, Alkibia is dispatched south to lay siege to Chersonesos with a few cavalry units. I do not expect her to take the city by herself, but you never know when the AI will try a sally.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0472.jpg

The Dacians are still buzzing around the westlands like flies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0473.jpg

Polemusa rides out to swat them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0474.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0475.jpg

Same turn, she takes on the second Dacian force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0476.jpg

Again, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0477.jpg

After using her to smite some Rebels, I noticed that Kardika has a +6 to Law thanks to being an upright person. I am wasting her in a tiny place like Vicus Vendedae. I am going to move her to Vicus Gepidae, where I am dealing with chronic unrest from the hairy barbarians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0478.jpg

In the east, Okypous marches from Tanais to deal with one of the Scythian armies roaming Maeotis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0479.jpg

It is all high ground in front of me. Not good at all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0480.jpg

I take my entire army up to the flank and onto a piece of higher ground than the Scythians have.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0481.jpg

Then I turn 90 degrees and head straight into them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0482.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0483.jpg

The second army that was in Maeotis marched south to the Crimea. Now I have several choices to make. Do I call off the siege of Chersonesos and reinforce Neapolis Scythica, assuming they are going to attack it? Do I leave my troops exactly as they are, and hope the Scythians go after Neapolis Scythica and do not attack Alkibia outside of Chersonesos instead? Do I attack Chersonesos right now, and hope that my divided forces can maintain order in both cities and stave off the coming attack?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0484.jpg

I take a fourth option. I call off the siege and bring Alkibia and her troops back north, then march out with everything to meet the Scythian army in the open. With them destroyed, the entire peninsula will be mine for the taking.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0485.jpg

This rough patch of ground on my left would give me problems in my advance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0486.jpg

However, Alkibia found the Scythian General on that flank and immediately charged him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0487.jpg

Her women sacrificed him upon Freja's altar (the battlefield).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0488.jpg

I had pushed Makanyane forward on the right to deal with some Scythians who were threatening to turn my flank. Then she saw an opportunity and did exactly the same thing to them. At the same time Alkibia came over from the left to charge into their other flank, and my infantry advanced directly forward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0489.jpg

The Scythian center dissolved. The battle then became a series of isolated engagements on the flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0490.jpg

I just like this picture.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0491.jpg

Victory. However, some of the Scythians would escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0492.jpg

The economy is doing better. I am back to full build programs in all of my cities, and still maintaining the ever-growing military.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0493.jpg

Looks like I will be at war with the Thracians soon... I begin moving troops to reinforce Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0494.jpg

Next turn Makanyane chased more Scythians around a bit, then finally brought them to ground outside of Chersonesos, bringing the garrison into the fray as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0495.jpg

It was very one-sided.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0496.jpg

I did not realize it, but that was Scythia's Last general. Their faction is now a memory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0497.jpg

With that Chersonesos and Panticapaeum reverted to Rebel ownership, just as they were at the beginning of the game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0498.jpg

A smallish update for this afternoon.

I can now recruit Heavy Cavalry in Neo Themiskyra.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0499.jpg

The Thracians have crossed over into Amazon territory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0500.jpg

In the east, Okypous sallies against a Sarmatian army that has laid siege to Tanais.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0501.jpg

There sure are a lot of them out there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0502.jpg

Okypous gobbles up the stragglers in their line.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0503.jpg

Then she smashes their extreme right flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0504.jpg

My infantry come up on that flank, and Okypous comes back to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0505.jpg

The Sarmatians throw everything they have into it, as do I.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0506.jpg

Finally their General is cut down by my Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0507.jpg

Heroic Victory. Freja's ravens will gorge themselves tonight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0508.jpg

Hmmm, the Royalists have allied themselves with my enemies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0509.jpg

No surprise here. The Thracians have lain siege to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0510.jpg

In the Crimea, First Equal Makanyane assaults Chersonesos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0511.jpg

She attacks from two directions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0512.jpg

There was little opposition at the walls. Not after my archers were through with them at least.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0513.jpg

But their General came over to counter-attack my mercenaries as they marched into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0514.jpg

He fled when Makanyane herself appeared.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0515.jpg

In the meantime my Spearwomen were marching upon the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0516.jpg

Then it was just a matter of letting the archers clean out the last of the Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0517.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0518.jpg

The men of Chersonesos begin their new lives as Amazon slaves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0519.jpg

Vicus Venedae immediately grows to third tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0520.jpg

As does Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0521.jpg

While i love your mods i think you might need a new naming scheme for your settlements.
I mean Neo-Themysikira? While it does describe something, doesnt it just represent the Monarchists the the Valkyrjaians were fleeing from?
Just my 2cents.

Well, it is like Americans naming cities New York. But I have been thinking of renaming it anyhow, to be more distinct. I have just not decided exactly what to, but I am leaning toward Vanaheimr, Fólkvangr, or Sessrúmnir.

Id go with Vanahemir personally but its ur choice.

Tereis, now a hardened veteran from decades of hunting Rebels, sallies against the Thracian army laying siege to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0522.jpg

I come at them from two sides, and they form two lines to repel me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0523.jpg

I give them a bit of arrows, drawing some of their infantry out on their left. Then I charged them as they headed back to their lines.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0524.jpg

Their left evaporates.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0525.jpg

In the meantime, my Mercenary Amazon Archers were softening up their Phalanx Pikemen in the center.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0526.jpg

Okay, Round Two. I have pulled my troops back after chasing down the routers from the left flank and rested them. Once more I spend a while giving the Thracians some arrows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0527.jpg

I see a weakness form on their right flank, and charge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0528.jpg

Part of their center chain routs as I smash the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0529.jpg

Then it was just a matter of cleaning up the remnants.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0530.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0531.jpg

I hate when the AI does this to me. Damned Diplomats!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0532.jpg

Alkippe cannot reach Campus Roxolani this turn. I do not want to wait another turn, because that will give the Sarmatians time to build a unit to garrison the city with, then I will have to retake it by siege. So Alkippe moves toward the city, then hires a Mercenary Virgin Horse Archer. The mercenaries then ride forward with a full movement rate and reach the city, taking it with no opposition.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0533.jpg

It is my city, so I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0534.jpg

The west has not been quiet either. This is one of two Germanic incursions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0535.jpg

Both ended the same way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0536.jpg

That one got a famous battle marker however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0537.jpg

Who's your momma?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0538.jpg

I do not have any assassins to take care of that Sarmatian Diplomat outside of Campus Roxolani. So I deal with him in a way that I have found to be very effective. With money.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0539.jpg

Lousy Egyptians...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0540.jpg

I have found that my enemies always make alliances with one another. You could say that I always unite the world in RTW, against me that is...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0541.jpg

On the other hand, I can now recruit these lovelies in my capital.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0542.jpg

Money has been in short supply again, so I sell my map to the Pharaoh.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0543.jpg

A Sarmatian army has crossed the Don. Alkippe rides to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0544.jpg

The Sarmatians are destroyed, and Alkippe marches east across the Don and into Sarmatian lands. Her next stop is Campus Sauromatae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0545.jpg

The Dacian King led an army against Vicus Vendedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0546.jpg

Dacia now needs a new King...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0547.jpg

In the east, a Sarmatian army has intercepted Alkippe the Honest on her march to Campus Sauromatae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0548.jpg

Here is an example of how I try to deal with the Sarmatian Steppe Lancers. A Lancer has locked onto one of my Horse Archers. I let my HA skirmish away, drawing the Lancer after it. At the same time I send Alkippe in to intercept the Lancer from the flank, with another Horse Archer coming along for the ride (just to add numbers).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0549.jpg

The Steppe Lancers rout before Alkippe can strike them. This is one reason I brought along that second Horse Archer. Their numbers helped reduce the morale of the Steppe Lancers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0550.jpg

In the end Alkippe was victorious.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0551.jpg

Next turn another Dacian army besieged Vicus Venedae, and a Thracian army I have been tracking did the same to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0552.jpg

Xanthippe turns her famous wrath loose upon the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0553.jpg

I have to watch out for these javelins of theirs. They really pack a wallop.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0554.jpg

In this case I ran away just in time to get out of range as the deadly Thracian missiles were in the air.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0555.jpg

Here is a little example of the kind of maneuvering you can do against armies that are mostly infantry. One of my Horse Archers is chasing down a routing Thracian unit on the other side of their army. However, they have a Militia Cavalry unit going after my HA. I see an opening in their line, so I send Xanthippe through it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0556.jpg

She easily passes through the Thracian army and falls upon those Militia Cavalry, routing them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0557.jpg

By the time their infantry were reaching my own, my Mercenary Amazon Archers had taken quite a toll. This one unit routed before contact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0558.jpg

This Greek Cavalry had locked on to one of my Horse Archers, so I ran the HA behind my Warbands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0559.jpg

This resulted in the Greek Cavalry slamming into a Warband.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0560.jpg

Across the battlefield, Xanthippe's guard smote the Thracian's Captain's ruin upon the snowy fields.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0561.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0562.jpg

Nearby, Pantariste sallies from Vicus Venedae again.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0563.jpg

Another Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0564.jpg

In the east, Alkippe the Honest has marched upon the capital of the enemy and laid siege to it. They have several armies lurking about the countryside. I expect at least one to come over and attack her. I have also sent Okypous out from Tanais and into Sarmatian territory to the south, in the hopes that she will draw some of those Sarmatians away.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0565.jpg

Still the same turn, First Equal Makanyane assaults Panticapaeum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0566.jpg

The Spearwomen are the first into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0567.jpg

They are also the first to mix it up with the Rebels.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0568.jpg

Not to be outdone, my Mercenary Amazon Hoplites kill the Rebel Captain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0569.jpg

No survivors. Panticapaeum was mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0570.jpg

Makanyane enslaves the Rebels. Amazon whips will teach them to obey.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0571.jpg

Over the AI's turn, the Sarmatians obliged Alkippe by attacking her, drawing the garrison of Campus Sauromatae into the battle as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0572.jpg

This is how you kill a General with Horse Archers (and one Merc Hoplite).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0573.jpg

Down he goes!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0574.jpg

One more Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0575.jpg

Campus Sauromatae was mine, After twenty long years of war, the Valkyrja's first real blow into the heartland of the betrayers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0576.jpg

The enslavement puts Campus Roxolani up a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0577.jpg

Watch that puddle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0578.jpg

I am large and in charge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0579.jpg

This is a fun little AAR. I don't have Rome (just M2 and Kingdoms) but I've often wished there were some female generals or faction leaders sometimes. Is it really true the generals are de facto invincible in Rome? If I did what you did with your general in M2 my general would be dead in short order.

In vanilla RTW cavalry is near invincible and generals are battlefield gods.
It is hard to understand WTF was going through the CA programmers head at that time.

Hi SSJPabs. I am glad you like it.

It is true that cavalry are extremely powerful in RTW, and Generals are superheroic. It is not realistic, but I rather like the roleplay feel it gives the game, of the named characters being larger than life.


The Dacians and the Germans are in a race to see who can take Vicus Venedae first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0580.jpg

They will have to bring more than that if they want this city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0581.jpg

After gobbling up one Warband, the rest headed for the exit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0582.jpg

Pantariste hit the last Warband in line, and the other two nearby chain-routed with it. Got to love that low barbarian morale combined with a ten star General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0583.jpg

They are smoten
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0584.jpg

To deal with the Germans, I brought Kardika the Honest out of Vicus Gepidae to reinforce Pantariste.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0585.jpg

More food for the crows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0586.jpg

In the east, First Equal Makanyane has crossed the sea to attack Thatis. Her slovenly spy has opened the gates for her, so she immediately attacks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0587.jpg

The Sarmatians do not have much.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0588.jpg

This pretty well sums up the battle.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0589.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0590.jpg

As it is a tiny settlement, Makanyane Occupies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0591.jpg

In the west, more Dacians and Thracians are on the way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0592.jpg

Thrace is really going strong. They have pushed Macedon back to a single city - Thermon - and will soon have them eliminated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0593.jpg

Now about that Dacian army I saw last turn...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0594.jpg

They sure brought a lot this time! They started on the corner tile in the strat map, and head to that corner as the battle commences.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0595.jpg

Veleda gobbles up the lagging Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0596.jpg

Eventually the Dacians form a battle line (the ones that made it).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0597.jpg

Now it was time to pick them apart a unit at a time, starting with their Captain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0598.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0599.jpg

Germania is now allied to the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0600.jpg

Speaking of the Sarmatians, they tried to sneak an army past Campus Sauromatae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0601.jpg

Alkippe the Conqueror thrashes them most soundly.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0602.jpg

Now for those Thracians at Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0603.jpg

I have some infantry at Olbia, including a new Spearwoman recruited from Neapolis Scythica. It was nice to see the lines meet once more.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0604.jpg

Not to mention hit the Thracians with the hammer once they were upon the anvil.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0605.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0606.jpg

The Thracians have destroyed Macedon.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0607.jpg

However, we Valkyrja are still more Advanced than they are.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0608.jpg

The Dacians have brought a better army to Vicus Venedae. This time they have Noble Cavalry and Bastarnae Mercenaries.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0609.jpg

This is more of a challenge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0610.jpg

I start on their left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0611.jpg

Their General comes into it, and I mob him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0612.jpg

He dies under a flood of Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0613.jpg

One of my Horse Archers has drawn the attention of a Noble Cavalry. I withdraw my HA across the front of the rest of my force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0614.jpg

The Nobles rout when I order all my units to attack them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0615.jpg

Then I pull my women back for a rest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0616.jpg

The other one of those Noble Cavalry locked onto a Horse Archer. Once more I fled, allowing two other Horse Archers to shoot into the flanks of the Nobles as they pursued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0617.jpg

They routed just from the arrow-fire. Horse Archers do not have an especially high missile attack to start with, but once they get to multiple silver experience with a few weapon upgrades they get scary.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0618.jpg

Now it was just a matter of picking apart their infantry one at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0619.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0620.jpg

I now have a Large Temple of Artemis in Vicus Venedae. This means gold weapon upgrades for my Horse Archers. I am a micro-manager, so I will rotate all of my Horse Archers on the Western Front through here to get the bonus.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0621.jpg

Vicus Gepidae seems to have a permanent 45% unrest. I tried moving Kardika out of the city and it did not change, so she is not causing it. There is either a spy within the walls, or a bug causing it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0622.jpg

In the east, Alkippe the Wrathful is now marching upon Campus Alanni.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0623.jpg

Further south, First Equal Makanyane joined forces with Second Equal Okypous, and they attacked the last Sarmatian army of note outside of Ulski, this brought their King and the garrison of the city in as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0624.jpg

This big dragon's tooth will anchor my flank rather well. I put all of my infantry to the right of it, where the trees are.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0625.jpg

Things get going quickly on that flank, as Virgin Cavalry immediately charges one of my Horse Archers. I have them retreat directly to where Second Equal Okypous waits in ambush.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0626.jpg

As the Virgins draw near, Okypous broke cover and charged directly into them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0627.jpg

In the meantime, my infantry were under heavy attack by the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0628.jpg

The left is a pure cavalry affair. My forces, led by First Equal Makanyane, are ganging up on individual Sarmatian units and destroying them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0629.jpg

On the right, my infantry have held against the Sarmatian storm.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0630.jpg

Okypous charges directly into the fray as a second wave of Sarmatians comes up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0631.jpg

The Sarmatians have been broken on the left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0632.jpg

The right is a meat-grinder however. Now the Sarmatian General has joined in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0633.jpg

He is cut down by Okypous' women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0634.jpg

The first Sarmatian army is on the run. But the second is now coming on line. I pull back my pursuing cavalry and reform near the Tooth.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0635.jpg

Here comes the King.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0636.jpg

Okypous chalks up another Sarmatian leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0637.jpg

The Sarmatians still have more coming up, and my women are worn down and tired.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0638.jpg

Nothing to do but win. I send everything in at the Sarmatians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0639.jpg

They are on the run!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0640.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0641.jpg

With that Ulski was mine. It is not very big, so I Occupy. This city will become an important base against the Armenians, so I want to keep its population intact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0642.jpg

Speaking of the Armenians, I foresee war with them in the near future.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0643.jpg

Lousy Egyptians...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0644.jpg

The Sarmatians are broken. Their remaining two cities will soon be in Valkyrja hands.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0645.jpg

Oh yeah.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0646.jpg

This was just a matter of time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0647.jpg

While I was exchanging units between Vicus Gepidae and Vicus Venedae to retrain them in each city, the Dacians decided to attack. Little did the fools realize that with the garrisons for both city's on the road between them, this meant that they could all come in as reinforcements. This will give me the largest army I have had yet in the west.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0648.jpg

There are a lot of those Dacians, and they head for the corner as the battle opens. You can see my reinforcements coming onto the field in the background.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0649.jpg

The Dacians do not reach the corner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0650.jpg

Their Warlord is cut down by a hail of Amazon arrows.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0651.jpg

Then it was just a matter of shooting them to bits until they routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0652.jpg

The Dacians are smashed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0653.jpg

A turn later and another Dacian army comes up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0654.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0655.jpg

Hmmm, this makes Pantariste an Excellent Ambusher?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0656.jpg

It is definitely just a matter of time before Armenia attacks me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0657.jpg

Lousy Egyptians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0658.jpg

I have decided to simply blockade both remaining Sarmatian cities rather than try to take them by storm. I have sent most of my infantry west, and really do not want to slug it out in the streets with my Horse Archers. This is the garrison of Campus Aorsi. I was wondering who had their legendary artifact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0659.jpg

The Armenians are rolling out Cataphract Archers now. This will not make fighting them easy. I will have to get some assassins down there to start destroying their stables.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0660.jpg

Back west, Pantariste found yet more Dacians underfoot, and rode out to chastise them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0661.jpg

I mentioned how scary Horse Archers can get with some experience and weapon upgrades. Well, here is is.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0662.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0663.jpg

The Seleucids want an alliance with me. I really do not see the point, since they are on the endangered species list.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0664.jpg

Amazonia has become a protectorate of Egypt? This is odd to see so quickly, with Amazonia still quite strong.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0665.jpg

The unrest in Vicus Gepidae has gone up?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0666.jpg

Wait, next turn it is down to only 15%? There are definitely one or more spies lurking within. I have put an experienced spy of my own within the walls to ferret them out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0667.jpg

With their city about to fall at the end of the turn, the garrison of Campus Alani has sallied forth against Alkippe the Wrathful.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0668.jpg

They led with their infantry. I chewed up their Steppe Spearmen and spit them out, then settled into an archery duel with their Virgin Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0669.jpg

I was wondering where there cavalry were. Here they come around the corner. I move Alkippe, my Heavy Cavalry, and a few Horse Archers to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0670.jpg

Alkippe wastes no time and charges their Virgin Cavalry, routing them. In the meantime my Horse Archers penned the Sarmatian Virgin Horse Archers and slowly destroyed them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0671.jpg

Then their Captain (another Virgin Cavalry) came out to play.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0672.jpg

He too was routed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0673.jpg

I do not give chase. They have stone walls, and I do not want any part of their towers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0674.jpg

Their Captain reformed back in the square and came back out again. This time my Horse Archers finished him off.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0675.jpg

That is enough for me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0676.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0677.jpg

I Enslave. This time I was expecting it, so I had emptied out all of my cities of their governors. Except for the four cities along the western border, which I want to grow. So the slaves were all sent there, and to the capital of course. This is a sneaky way that you can really catapult small settlements up in size.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0678.jpg

That put Vibantavarium up a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0679.jpg

Another Thracian army threatens Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0680.jpg

Another army crushed under the Valkyrja heel.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0681.jpg

Pantariste meets a small German force outside of Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0682.jpg

They have Night Raiders. That means they must have reached 4th tier somewhere.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0683.jpg

In ATW, Night Raiders throw their axes before closing into melee. This is going to hurt.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0684.jpg

I lost 50 Militia Axewomen in that one volley. Pantariste herself is moving to hit the Night Raiders, but there is a unit of German Axemen coming after her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0685.jpg

She routs the Axemen and hits the Night Raiders from behind. I have now half of my Militia Axewomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0686.jpg

The Germans rout as a unit of Horse Archers closes in to lend an axe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0687.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0688.jpg

Hah! I caught the spy! At least one of them. I think there is still one more in Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0689.jpg

The Sarmatians are about to be history. They will sally this turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0690.jpg

But before that could happen another Thracian army came to Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0691.jpg

I come out the gates to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0692.jpg

Their General is drawn away from their lines by a Horse Archer, allowing one of my Generals to trap him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0693.jpg

Bam! I bring in the Horse Archers to mob the Thracian.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0694.jpg

He is cut down by a Horse Archer's axe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0695.jpg

My Spearwomen want some of the Thracias for themselves, so I send them all forward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0696.jpg

The Thracians are destroyed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0697.jpg

No place in the western front is quiet. Vibantavarium was besieged by the Dacians, obliging Veleda to ride out to thrash them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0698.jpg

Thrashage ensues.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0699.jpg

Kardika the Honest has now taken charge of Vicus Venedae, and she meets a small Dacian force north of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0700.jpg

I have a new toy in the west, Amazon Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0701.jpg

I just like this picture.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0702.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0703.jpg

In the east, the Sarmatians sally against Second Equal Okypous.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0704.jpg

They come right at me, and I meet them head on (with my Sarmatian Mercenaries that is).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0705.jpg

On the other hand, my Virgin Horse Archers withdraw before their Virgin Cavalry. Here you see one Virgin being set up for Okypous and a Sarmatian Merc to charge it from the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0706.jpg

Then it was the turn of their younger General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0707.jpg

Finally the Sarmatian King rode into battle. Okypous withdrew before him, while the Sarmatians to either side charged his flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0708.jpg

Okypous then turned to meet him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0709.jpg

The Sarmatian King was cast down into the dust!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0710.jpg

Now my Mercenary Amazon Hoplites took up their siege tower and rolled it over to a blind spot in the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0711.jpg

They took the undefended gate, allowing Okypous into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0712.jpg

She certainly is brave.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0713.jpg

But there is no stopping Okypous the Conqueror.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0714.jpg

Campus Aorsi was now mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0715.jpg

As this will become a valuable border city, and I do not plan to advance further south in the near future, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0716.jpg

With that the Sarmatians have horded to the east of Campus Aorsi. Now that I think about it, I wonder why the Scythians did nor horde when I wiped them out? Maybe because I killed all of their Generals while they still had remaining cities?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0718.jpg

In the hour of our great triumph, darkness falls. First Equal Makanyane has gone into that good night.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0717.jpg

Wailing menfolk???
LOLZ you really do leave no stone unturned do you?
:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Well, it is actually the CA that left no stone unturned. I just had to turn them all back over to where they should be... :winkg:

It's just amazing how you manage to post every day...:dizzy2:

Except for the battles with the Thracians you've done good work... (I am fan of these people... looong story) :bow: :bow::bow:

Thank you Stephen. You may want to skip over most of this posting though, considering your liking of Thrace... :winkg:

Vicus Venedae remains a gladiator school.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0719.jpg

Once more the Dacians flunk.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0720.jpg

Another Thracian army has marched upon Olbia. They seem to have a bottomless pit of manpower.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0721.jpg

It takes forever, but I finally get my entire army out the gates and on line against them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0722.jpg

This time I push my infantry forward early, so they would not miss any of the bloodshed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0723.jpg

Another Thracian army bites the dust.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0724.jpg

Next turn a second, smaller army followed them. This time I rode out to meet them north of Olbia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0725.jpg

The result was no different.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0726.jpg

The Sarmatian Horde is moving south through the Caucasus Mountains. *phew* Now they are Armenia's problem.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0727.jpg

Take that you Egyptians!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0728.jpg

In the far north-east, Alkippe the Wrathful turns her legendary ire loose upon Campus Sakae, the only remaining steppe settlement that dares to defy Valkyrja rule.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0729.jpg

There was a ferocious archery duel at the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0730.jpg

Then it was just a matter of battering my way in and cleaning up the rest of the rebel scum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0731.jpg

Campus Sakae was Enslaved.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0732.jpg

Kardika the Honest remains busy at Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0734.jpg

Sadly the second Dacian army ran before she could engage them. I guess they are learning after all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0735.jpg

In the west, Xanthippe the Wrathful has spotted another Thracian army moving up west of Odessos. Rather than wait them out in Olbia again, this time she marches her women to the Dnestr river to make a stand there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0733.jpg

They come to meet her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0736.jpg

Come and get it!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0737.jpg

A fearsome struggle ensues at the inner point of my Drakone's V - shaped formation. I like this formation at bridge defenses because it funnels the attackers into that inner point, where they will be attacked from both sides. This is really devastating with pike troops, but very effective with units that have shorter weapons as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0738.jpg

The Thracian General comes up and rallies his troops at the spearpoints.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0739.jpg

Case in point, the Thracian General is cut down from all sides.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0740.jpg

If the slaughter my Drakones inflicted looks terrible, then look at what my archers did at the other end of the bridge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0741.jpg

Another Thracian army shattered.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0742.jpg

Next turn, the Sarmatians continue to move southward through Armenian lands. So far they have made no hostile moves, and the Armenians have let them pass unmolested.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0743.jpg

In the west Xanthippe the Wrathful follows up her success by marching south of the Dnester for the first time, laying siege to lightly defended Odessos. The invasion of Thrace has begun.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0744.jpg

There are plenty more Thracian soldiers to the south however. She will have to move quickly at Odessos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0745.jpg

I have been gone a few days due to doing a format and reload of windows. In the bargain I bought a new terabyte hard drive, and now my box is a lean binary crunching machine.

I lost several turns due to an accidental deletal, but to bring things up to speed, I have moved my capital south to the newly renamed city of Neapolis Valkyrja.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0746.jpg

I took the city of Odessos and have already destroyed one Thracian army that tried to take it back. More are on their way north.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0747.jpg

It seems that the Sarmatians are now the Parthian's problem.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0748.jpg

I do not see any signs of fighting just yet however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0749.jpg

The Dacians and Germans continue to hover around my western cities like flies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0750.jpg

Young Maia, the new governor of Vicus Venedae begins her duties by taking out some German trash.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0751.jpg

The foul German necromancers loosed undead hounds upon us.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0752.jpg

But even their sorceries could not save them from defeat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0753.jpg

I like the cut of this young woman's jib. I make her my Faction Heir.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0754.jpg

Egypt is certainly Big Yellow in this game.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0755.jpg

Two Thracian armies came up to attack Odessos. My hired thug deprives one of its General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0756.jpg

Then Xanthippe the Conqueror sallies against the other army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0757.jpg

I eventually got most of my army out of the gates and into line. It takes forever on Huge scale.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0758.jpg

My Drakones got a piece of the Thracian Infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0759.jpg

The Thracians want no part of my women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0760.jpg

That tore apart their right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0761.jpg

Their General lost his nerve, and fled for the map edge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0762.jpg

The coward escapes!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0763.jpg

But there would be no escape for the Thracian pikemen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0764.jpg

One more Thracian army down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0765.jpg

The same turn, Xanthippe marches out of the city and attacks the second Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0766.jpg

Once more, the thin blue line reigns supreme.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0767.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0768.jpg

The best way to defeat Cataphract Archers is to not let your enemy build them in the first place.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0769.jpg

Back in the west, Kardika the Honest and Second Equal Klito have taken some troops from Vicus Venedae south and meet a small Dacian force outside of Vibantavarium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0770.jpg

Unfortunately the Dacian General would escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0771.jpg

The same turn, Veleda marched from Vibantavarium to intercept another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0772.jpg

Scratch another Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0773.jpg

In the north, Maia settles into her new position as governor by sallying against the latest Dacian siege.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0774.jpg

She thrashes them most handily.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0775.jpg

Then she rides out to deal with the rest of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0776.jpg

Flawless victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0777.jpg

Leaving behind some archers and axewomen to guard Vicus Venedae, Maia takes her Horse Archers south to clean out the last of the Dacian flies east of the Carpathians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0778.jpg

Amazon axes are made for felling men, not trees.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0779.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0780.jpg

She continues on to run down that Dacian General who had escaped from Kardika the Honest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0781.jpg

No Dacian would escape this winter's day.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0782.jpg

Here is where things stand in the west. Kardika the Honest and Second Equal Klito have continued moving south, and have rendezvoused with the Horse Archers from Vibantavarium at the pass to Porrolissum. They are reinforced with a single Drakon unit from Odessos. Their target is the Dacian capital. Taking it will secure the flank of the great sweep south into Greece. Veleda has gone back to garrison Vibantavarium in case any Dacians slip through, but Maia should have cleaned them all out from the passes. Further south, Xanthippe the Conqueror has marched to the bridge of the Danube, where she awaits the pleasure of the 3 Thracian stacks outside of Tylis. Odessos is now occupied by an army of Peasants I collected from the Crimea and shipped over last turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0783.jpg

Time for some river fun. Bloodbath On The Danube I begins when a Thracian army attacks Xanthippe the Conqueror.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0786.jpg

They have plenty of regular Bastarnae, the top of the Thracian food-chain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0787.jpg

Standard bridge defense. Step into my parlour...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0788.jpg

My line infantry usually do not get as much experience as they have been in this campaign. One of my Drakones has two silver. I think it is because there are so few of them overall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0789.jpg

Here comes the Thracian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0790.jpg

There goes the Thracian General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0791.jpg

Once the Thracians broke it was like a flood turned loose in reverse.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0792.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0793.jpg

Next turn there are still two full stacks and change of Thracians left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0794.jpg

In the north, Kardika and Kilto have laid siege to Porrolissum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0795.jpg

While the south it is Bloodbath On The Danube II.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0797.jpg

Bring it on!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0798.jpg

The Thracians must walk through their dead to reach my end of the river.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0799.jpg

Once again their General goes down under a wall of Amazon spears.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0800.jpg

Finally they chain routed. I send all of my cavalry across after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0801.jpg

I am reminded of a Samuel Jackson line "Run *** The Exterminators Are Here!"
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0802.jpg

Heroic Victory again.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0803.jpg

Xanthippe has over 1400 kills alone!!! :jawdrop: I think this may be a record for a single unit in one of my campaigns.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0804.jpg

In the east, the Sarmatians have finally done something, laying siege to Seleucia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0805.jpg

I just finished building a Catapult Range in Odessos. This means I can now recruit these beauties. Not to mention finally retrain the one I started with.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0806.jpg

Xanthippe waits at the bridge, but sends across a slinker to deal with the governor of Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0807.jpg

In the frozen north, Pantariste the Conqueror sallies against a German attack upon Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0808.jpg

She slaughters every German.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0809.jpg

Nearby, Maia rides out from Vicus Venedae to meet another German force in the open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0810.jpg

They have Chosen Axemen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0811.jpg

But arrows kill them just the same.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0812.jpg

Once again, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0813.jpg

I was careful to empty the generals from all of my cities except for those along my German border, which I want to grow in size. Then Veleda - who has come up from Vibantavarium after all - led the assault upon Porrolissum. This will be a tough one. Those Chosen Swordsmen will be dangerous in the streets, and their Archer Warbands will make any direct assault upon the walls suicide. I will require some Amazon guile.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0814.jpg

I deploy almost all of my army against one wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0815.jpg

Except for this one unit of Militia Axewomen at another wall, who push their tower up to a blind spot between the towers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0816.jpg

They take the walls and begin to run the towers while the rest of the army marches around the outside of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0817.jpg

Second Equal Klito is the first through the gateway.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0818.jpg

But a Dacian Warband comes up from the center of the city. I pull Klito and Kardika back. Putting cavalry against spears is rarely a good idea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0819.jpg

I bring my Drakones up to deal with the Dacian spearmen instead. They would rout moments later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0820.jpg

Then it was on the way to the town square, where the Dacian Captain led a counter-attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0821.jpg

He was cut down by my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0822.jpg

The Dacian Noble Cavalry still gave a good fight however, but they would eventually crack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0823.jpg

Down by the entry, the Dacians who had manned the opposite wall had come down into the street and were advancing upon Veleda, who was holding the gateway with a small force.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0824.jpg

She slaughters the Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0825.jpg

Now the way to the square was clear. First I send a unit of Horse Archers around to the side to lure out one of their Chosen Swords.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0826.jpg

Then I charged into the square to meet their other Chosen Swordsmen, who were coming from the other direction.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0827.jpg

The Dacians never got a solid foothold in the square, and my Drakones pushed them out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0828.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0829.jpg

I Enslave.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0830.jpg

Vicus Gepidae expands another tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0831.jpg

The Sarmatians are at war with Egypt now? The last I saw they were still laying siege to Seleucia. I see the Royalists have finally tired of being the Pharoah's lap dogs as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0832.jpg

The garrison of Vibantavarium now has many gold experience Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0833.jpg

Speaking of gold, here is an Agema Archer with gold experience and a silver weapon upgrade.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0834.jpg

My slinker eliminates the last Thracian General near Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0835.jpg

First Equal Okypous the Conqueror has come all the way from the eastern steppe to supervise the invasion of Thrace. Since the Thracians no longer have the nerve to attack, she leads the army across the Danube in a wide sweep to the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0836.jpg

Then she turns west and attacks the first Thracian force. This brings their reinforcements in behind them. If I had attacked head on from the river, it would have meant two Thracian armies coming in from both of my flanks. This is an example of the importance of maneuver on the strat map to give you favourable conditions on the battle map.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0837.jpg

This is more favourable that I had hoped for! I love sitting on a mountain when I have an archery faction. I had been worried that my Agema Archers were not with the army, not anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0838.jpg

Their Captain dies just a few feet from the General I had sent to block his escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0839.jpg

Now the second, larger Thracian army was coming into view.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0840.jpg

Their Captain went the same way as the first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0841.jpg

The Thracians are coming in on my flank, so I have my entire force of Drakones side-step to the right to keep a solid line in front of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0842.jpg

As the Thracians begin to draw near my lines they start to rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0843.jpg

I send my entire force at them in a rush.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0844.jpg

They are shattered.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0845.jpg

That is as far as I can move this turn. Now that I have moved off the bridge, I see I earned a famous battle marker for one of the Danube Bloodbaths.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0846.jpg

Over the AI's turn, the Thracians came after First Equal Okypous the Conqueror now that she was south of the river. They were sneaky about it too. One of their forces actually came around from behind her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0847.jpg

But I still have my mountaintop.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0848.jpg

Attacking me up a slope like this is suicide.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0849.jpg

Here comes the second Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0850.jpg

They make it about half-way up the hill when they lose their nerve and turn to flee. I send everything after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0851.jpg

Somewhere in the pursuit I lose Alkibia. I am not sure exactly when or how it happened. I suspect that she was killed by friendly fire from my archers however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0852.jpg

Still, it is a crushing victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0853.jpg

Armenia and Parthia are at war with one another! *does the happy dance*
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0854.jpg

The Thracian troops who did not attack me reinforced Tylis instead, including a General. My slinker relieves that General of his responsibilities, forever. This assassin has become quite good.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0855.jpg

First Equal Okypous is now known as "The Killer". All of my faction leaders eventually get this nickname thanks to my extensive use of assassins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0856.jpg

In the east, the Seleucids have beaten the Sarmatians off from Seleucia. I wonder where those nomads got too?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0857.jpg

I just noticed that Porrolissum (I really need to change its name to Sarmiz-whatever) can recruit a plethora of high-end troops, including Agema Axewomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0858.jpg

It can also render up Amazon Cavalry, the Amazon equivalent to Persian Cavalry and Scythian Noble Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0859.jpg

First Equal Okypous the Cunning (that was a quick epithet change!) assaults the capital of the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0860.jpg

I deploy almost all of my force in front of one of their gateways. My Agema Archers can hit them while still being out of tower range themselves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0861.jpg

In the meantime, one of my Drakones pushes a siege tower up to an undefended stretch of wall further away.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0862.jpg

They gain the walls without resistance and head for the gate. A second siege tower is rolling up to the opposite side of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0863.jpg

The women from the first siege tower meet the remnants of the Thracian wall defenders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0864.jpg

These Thracian Peltasts down in the street took a serious toll on my women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0865.jpg

Then the second tower disgorged its women onto the wall behind the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0866.jpg

With the Thracians concentrating on the first tower load of Drakones on one side of the gate, they are too late to stop the second tower's women from entering the gateway.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0867.jpg

The way into the city was mine!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0868.jpg

Their Phalanx Pikemen put up a real fight, until First Equal Okypous rode in. Then they routed as she came near.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0869.jpg

Their Captain was cut down like the dog he was.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0870.jpg

These Thracian Infantry tried to stop Okypous as she rode to the square. They failed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0871.jpg

Then it came to the best the Thracians had. Okypous let her Drakones go in first with shields locked while she maneuvered her women onto the flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0872.jpg

Then she charged the Bastarnae from the side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0873.jpg

It was now a race to get to the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0874.jpg

First Equal Okypous was the first woman there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0875.jpg

She pulls back to wait for the rest of the army to come up. In the meantime my Agema Archers can hit the remaining Thracian defenders from this sidestreet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0876.jpg

That brought the Thracians out of the square, and into three of my Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0877.jpg

Charge!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0878.jpg

Okypous the Cunning leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0879.jpg

The men of Tylis begin their new lives as Amazon slaves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0880.jpg

Vanahemir immediately grows a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0881.jpg

The same turn, I send Xanthippe out to scout around to the south and build a watchtower. She discovers that Byzantium is easy pickings, with a light garrison and no Thracian field armies nearby.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0882.jpg

Now that the Thracian heartland is mine I am rich (at least compared to everyone else). I have been building troops like crazy these past few turns, churning out more Agema Archers and Drakones to fuel the Thracian War.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0883.jpg

But the Romans are more Advanced.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0884.jpg

Just as important as archers and spearwomen are this load of Peasants I have brought over from my Bosporan cities. They will free up my army to maneuver by providing a ready garrison for Tylis.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0885.jpg

Nearby, the Dacians want their old capital (of Sarmizgetusa) back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0886.jpg

Veleda sends them packing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0887.jpg

As ever AWESUMZZ!!!!!!!!!!!:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Two things though:
1. Please dont destroy Germania, or barring that save them for last?
2. Can we get a FOW removal map again plz?

I do not think not destroying Germania will be an option. But they are not high up on my list right now. I aim to finish off the Thracians and Greeks first.

The Seleucid Empire is no more! I am not sure what the cause was however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0888.jpg

Their last two cities were not taken by enemies. They are now Rebel-owned. I suspect that their family died out of old age, destroying the faction. I saw the same thing happen to Thrace in my Defensive Scythian AAR.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0889.jpg

It appears the Sarmatians are filthy rich. I wonder how, so far as I can tell they have not sacked a single city yet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0890.jpg

Now this is more like it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0891.jpg

A big Thracian army has come up to attack Sarmizgetusa, I guess they wanted no part of the Army of Thrace that is marshaling in Tylis. Naturally I sally.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0892.jpg

The Thracians were on the corner of the strat map, so they head for the corner as the battle starts. Veleda and Kardika gobble up them up as they go.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0893.jpg

They eventually formed a line in the corner, whose flank I promptly turned.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0894.jpg

At that point they were surrounded, and it was a simple matter of wearing them down with arrows and then tearing them apart a piece at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0895.jpg

Down where it is warm, Xanthippe the Mighty assaults Byzantium.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0896.jpg

Her Drakones work on the defenses to either side of the gate.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0897.jpg

Then her bodyguard gives the defenders a dose of javelins through one of the breaches.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0898.jpg

Then she was into the city, and the Thracian Captain came to intercept her.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0899.jpg

He was cut down in the shade of a side-street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0900.jpg

In the main street of the city, a unit of Drakones has met up with some Thracian Peltasts on the way to the square. Those Thracians cut them up pretty badly with their javelins.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0901.jpg

Then Xanthippe was into the square behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0902.jpg

The Peltasts were cut off, game over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0903.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0904.jpg

As it is tiny (just over 400 souls) I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0905.jpg

Next turn I found a small Thracian force near Sarmizgetusa, and sent a brand new General out to get some experience killing them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0906.jpg

She promptly surrounds the slow moving phalanxes. Then her horse archers shoot the backs of the units across from them rather than those directly in front. This negates their shields.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0907.jpg

Then it is the turn of her javelin women as well. One thing I learned in my Thracian AAR was to always use up all of my javelins before closing in for the kill.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0908.jpg

Kill them she did. All of them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0909.jpg

Speaking of killing, my hired thug is now working over Thracian assassins in Bylazora.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0910.jpg

This gives First Equal Okypous a Master of Assassins ancillary.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0911.jpg

The Parthians offer me an alliance. Since they share a border with Armenia, it seems like a good idea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0912.jpg

Look what I can now recruit! *cue fiendish laughter*
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0913.jpg

Next turn a moderate Thracian army wandered too close to Tylis, so Second Equal Klito marched out to meet them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0914.jpg

Here is a sneak preview of things to come. I have four Agema Archers in the Army of Thrace. They stand behind an impregnable wall of spears and start shooting.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0915.jpg

The Thracians advance on my right, so I move Klito around from the left to meet them and shift all of my arrow-fire on them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0916.jpg

Most of the Thracians retreated before engaging. But their General was caught up with my Heavy Cavalry and second General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0917.jpg

A ferocious battle ensued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0918.jpg

Then Klito's women added their numbers to the melee, and the Thracians ran for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0919.jpg

Their General was cut down by her bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0920.jpg

The Thracians have been torn to shreds by my Agema Archers. I send everyone forward at a run.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0921.jpg

Victory. I need to add a few more cavalry to this army to chase down the routers. I have had to send my Horse Archers away to defend my recent winnings.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0922.jpg

The Agema Archers have the lion's share of the kills.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0923.jpg

The Germans and Dacians have not let up the pressure up north. This was their largest attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0924.jpg

They fared no better than on previous occasions.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0925.jpg

Here is a pic with Fog of War off. Egypt seems to have stopped everywhere, and the Gorgons are taking it to the Numidians. Gaul has just about been wiped out by the Britons and Iberians, and the Romans seem to be a bit paranoid about the defenses of their capital.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0926.jpg

Lousy 'Gypos.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0927.jpg

Hah! That shows them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0928.jpg

Hmmm, the Royalists have gone to war with Armenia, and my Parthian allies have become a protectorate of Egypt, making peace with Armenia in the bargain.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0929.jpg

In more pertinent news, the Thracians have sent an army to take Byzantium back. Xanthippe the Mighty sallies against them, and First Equal Okypous the Cunning has come down from Tylis to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0930.jpg

It takes a while to get my army out the gate and into line, not to mention for the reinforcements to get on the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0931.jpg

Okypous is taking forever to get into the battle. It has been going on for quite some time and she is still dawdling. I guess that is one of the prerogatives of being a Faction Leader.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0932.jpg

The Thracian General has locked onto one of my Horse Archers. Naturally I flee.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0933.jpg

I send the Horse Archer directly into Okypous' lagging bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0934.jpg

The Thracian got one look at that 100+ woman bodyguard and changed his mind. He is now running back to the warm safety of the rest of his army. I send another Horse Archer to block him long enough for Okypous and my first Horse Archer to catch him. This is going to hurt.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0935.jpg

The Thracian balks when the second Horse Archer gets in front of him. I quickly pull it back before their women get into melee with him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0936.jpg

That was all I needed. Okypous was now into it with the Thracian.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0937.jpg

He flees!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0938.jpg

Back in the rest of the battle, Xanthippe and her women have been tearing up the lighter Thracian units and sending them scurrying. She has to pull up short to avoid being spitted on those pikes though.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0939.jpg

Soon the rest of their army routs behind those Pikemen however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0940.jpg

Then the Thracian General was finally brought down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0941.jpg

His army did not last long after that.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0942.jpg

The same turn, Second Equal Klito leads her army into the mountains of northern Macedonia and attacks a Thracian army outside of Bylazora. This brings the second Thracian army garrisoning the city into the battle as well. This will be one big show.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0943.jpg

Here comes the first army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0944.jpg

They move toward my left, and I swing my right forward keep an even line with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0945.jpg

Their lead elements rout before reaching my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0946.jpg

Now my cavalry are behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0947.jpg

More Thracians are reaching my line, and routing as they make contact.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0948.jpg

The first army has all but disintegrated.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0949.jpg

Time to chase them down. I really need more cavalry in this army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0950.jpg

Now the second Thracian army is coming into action, and I have to hurry to get my Drakones back into line.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0951.jpg

Their General comes right up. I braced for his charge, but he just stopped there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0952.jpg

My Agema Archers cut him down along with his bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0953.jpg

Once again, the leading Thracian infantrymen rout as they meet Drakone spears.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0954.jpg

Now the Thracian heavies are coming up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0955.jpg

While all of this has been going on, my cavalry has been picking off routing Thracians and stray units.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0956.jpg

Here we go, the main event begins. Drakones vs. Phalanx Pikemen head on.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0957.jpg

Not to be outdone by the pikemen, their Bastarnae are now in it too.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0958.jpg

But now my cavalry have come back to the line to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0959.jpg

This is what 5,000 dead Thracians looks like.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0960.jpg

It was a slaughter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0961.jpg

Nearly 800 kills for Second Equal Klito alone. The four Agema Archers account for over 2,000, with over 700 kills by the Agema Archer unit I began the game with.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0962.jpg

With that, Bylazora was mine for the taking.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0963.jpg

The men of Thrace are led away in Amazon chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0964.jpg

Oh, an Amaz(ing) one, what is this hatred to the poor people of Thrace? Have mercy to our men and hold your anger. For we are simply defending our fatherlands. I see you trying to buld an Empire... but why do you want to alienate the people from your rule with such an attrocities?

Sephtos of Thrace

We Valkyrja are a peace-loving people. We are simply defending ourselves from Thracian aggression. We only seek to end this destructive conflict and bring order to galaxy the land of Europa. Join me Asen! You do not know the power of the Amazon side! :gring:

Lousy 'Gypos...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0965.jpg

Germania and Dacia continue to batter themselves senseless against my western defenses. One of their larger attacks was against Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0966.jpg

Pantariste sallied and now she sweeps around behind the German heavy infantry to get at the soft Skirmishers and Archers behind. I do not click on the enemy units to attack them, as that will draw Pantariste directly into the German heavies as well. Instead I double click on the ground behind the Skirmishers so that she will run through them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0967.jpg

She has crossed completely behind the German army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0968.jpg

Now she turns into the Barb Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0969.jpg

The rest of their army routed shortly afterward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0970.jpg

Easy Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0971.jpg

This is more like it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0972.jpg

Another target of opportunity has presented itself. One of my slovenly spies discovered that Singidunum was lightly defended. So I scraped up some units from Sarmizgetusa, Tylis, and Bylazora to go and take it. I am just short of making it there this turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0973.jpg

In the east, the Royalists are really going at the Armenians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0974.jpg

Back in the west, a German army has entered my territory between Vicus Venedae and Vicus Gepidae. Maia the Honest rode out to attack them, but was nearly ambushed by more Germans!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0975.jpg

She leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0976.jpg

Maia continues on to attack that first German army, and Pantariste comes from Vicus Gepidae to join the fun.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0977.jpg

The Germans are very quickly trapped.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0978.jpg

Their Noble Cavalry charged my women, and I countered with Pantariste and Maia's bodyguards.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0979.jpg

They were cut down with ease.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0980.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0981.jpg

Down south, young Molpadia has taken a small force from Bylazora to meet a Thracian patrol in the mountains. I only mention the battle because the Thracians consist of Cretan Archers and Rhodian Slingers. Not the mercenaries, but the regularly recruited variety. All of the Greek culture factions can recruit them in territories adjacent to the Aegean Sea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0982.jpg

Cretans are almost as good as Agema Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0983.jpg

Rhodians are nothing to sneeze at either.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0984.jpg

I waste no time and immediately charge both. I do not want to give these guys any time to shoot at me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0985.jpg

They are elite troops, but do not stand much of a chance against heavy cavalry in a slugfest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0986.jpg

Again, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0987.jpg

Veleda is now able to attack Singidunum. She has brought two newly recruited Onagers with her, so she does not have to waste time building siege equipment.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0988.jpg

The Onagers knock a hole in the wall and destroy the flanking towers, then my Drakones are into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0989.jpg

They crack the first line of Thracian defenses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0990.jpg

These Thracian Infantry would put up a heavy fight in the street however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0991.jpg

By the time I reached the square my infantry were tired out, so I stopped to rest them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0992.jpg

Now for the lightning round. The Drakones march in and take on their Phalanx Pikemen, while my Generals and cavalry ride around behind the Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0993.jpg

Then they charge in from behind.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0994.jpg

Here you see one of my Drakones receiving an experience power up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0995.jpg

For the fourth time tonight, no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0996.jpg

The Thracian men are fitted with collars.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0997.jpg

Thatis immediately expands with the influx of thralls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0998.jpg

Here is where things stand in Macedonia. The Thracians have sent a large army east to go after Byzantium again. This has left Pella unprotected. I had been planning to wait in Bylazora a few more turns to let the unrest die down and bring the Onagers south from Singidunum. But seeing this I changed plans and immediately sent Klito and the Army of Thrace south to lay siege to Pella. With any luck the Thracian army will turn back. If not, well, sometimes you have to roll the hard six.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja0999.jpg

I think I will give the Royalists a bit of help against Armenia. I have an assassin who has killed more people than small pox. He adds an Armenian General to his Death Note.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1000.jpg

The Germans want to end the bloodshed, for a price. I tell them to get stuffed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1001.jpg

I am not rich because I give my money away!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1002.jpg

This seems like an afterthought. The Dacians have been moving through German territory for about 30 years now in order to attack me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1003.jpg

In Macedonia, my siege of Pella has brought that Thracian army back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1004.jpg

They are too late to save the city however. Second Equal Klito assaults.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1005.jpg

One of my slovenly spies has opened the gates, and only a unit of Cretan Archers waits beyond.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1006.jpg

Rather than wait for my women in the siege towers to take the walls (and get shot to bits by the Cretans running to the gatehouse), I send Klito directly into the city, routing the Cretans. A unit of Drakones would follow to climb up into the gatehouse and secure it so the rest of the army could enter the city in safety.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1007.jpg

The Thracian King counter-attacked hard on the way to the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1008.jpg

Klito soon found herself surrounded by Thracians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1009.jpg

But it was the Thracian King who would fall this day!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1010.jpg

At the entrance to the square their Noble Cavalry attacked. Their javelins took a terrible toll upon my women. The Thracians are truly the most javeliny-powerful faction in ATW.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1011.jpg

Victory. It was a little disappointing however, as my Berserkers never even reached the Thracians after I turned them loose.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1012.jpg

The Thracians are led away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1013.jpg

Vicus Venedae immediately grows a tier.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1014.jpg

It seems my helping hand was all the Royalists needed. They have taken Kotais.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1015.jpg

They have also taken Seleucia. I would soon discover that they have taken Arbela as well. They are really turning it up in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1016.jpg

The Sarmatians are now the richest however. No wonder, it is not like they have anything to spend their money on. I am not even sure where they have gotten to anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1017.jpg

My agents report that the Thracians do not have much left in Greece.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1018.jpg

The Sarmatians are no longer richest.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1019.jpg

Second Equal Klito marched from Pella to take on that Thracian army to the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1020.jpg

They have their backs to the sea.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1021.jpg

I let the Agema Archers work them over a bit, then just sent everything forward.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1022.jpg

The cavalry smashed their flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1023.jpg

Then the Drakones hit the center.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1024.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1025.jpg

Back up north, the Dacians have scraped up a big army and once again laid siege to Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1026.jpg

They are smashed. Unfortunately their General escaped however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1027.jpg

We Valkyrja are mighty!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1028.jpg

But the Sarmatians are still rich...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1029.jpg

My Royalist cousins are doing all too well in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1030.jpg

I will see if I can throw a spanner in their works.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1031.jpg

In the meanwhile, back in the west my slinkers revealed that Larissa was weakly garrisoned. So Second Equal Klito moved out and assaulted it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1032.jpg

My Agema Archers worked over the Thracians on the walls while my Onagers battered a way in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1033.jpg

My Drakones were the first in, receiving a devastating volley of javelins from these Thracian Infantrymen on the way in (I lost 30 women in that one shot).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1034.jpg

But as Klito charged in to lend a hand, the Thracian's nerves turned to water.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1035.jpg

Klito pursued them nearly to the square. Then she noticed that the Thracian King was coming out after her, and that she was far out ahead of her supporting troops. So Klito pulled back in order to let her Drakones come up. This takes forever on Huge scale.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1036.jpg

The Thracian King saw Klito surrounded by her spearwomen, and pulled back as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1037.jpg

However, my Agema Archers were able to persuade him to return. This time directly into a shield wall of Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1038.jpg

The Thracian King is putting up a valiant fight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1039.jpg

But the women of Valkyr would lay him in his graves.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1040.jpg

With that the way to the square was open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1041.jpg

Berserkers and Drakones led the way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1042.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1043.jpg

This is the deepest penetration into the ancestral lands of the Greeks that the Valkyrja have made. The Macedonian lands which where previously conquered were the home of nothing but rustic herders when Triton was destroyed a thousand years ago. The Thessalians on the other hand, were counted among the Athenian-led alliance that laid that noble city of Libyan Amazons into its bloody grave. Amazon vengeance would begin here...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1044.jpg

A Roman diplomat offers an alliance. Since they do not have a border with me, but do border my enemies (and future enemies), I accept.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1045.jpg

Hmmm, now where do these Royalists think they are going?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1046.jpg

The Sarmatians are not so rich anymore.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1047.jpg

The Royals have crossed over into Valkyrja territory. Somehow I do not think they want companionship...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1048.jpg

Toxaris moves out of Ulski to a point nearer to Thatis. This way if the Amazonians lay siege, she can come in to reinforce them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1049.jpg

In the west young Molpadia has put together a force of women and is working her way through the mountains of western Greece toward Thermon.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1050.jpg

Next turn the Amazonians attacked Toxaris in the open! This means War!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1051.jpg

The Royals are stupid, as if bowing and scraping before a so-called Queen was not proof enough, they brought infantry to a cavalry fight. Here their Axewomen have been drawn out away from the hoplites and are about to be charged by my Heavy Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1052.jpg

They were smuushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1053.jpg

After spending a while shooting up their line of spearwomen, I decided it was time to get around behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1054.jpg

Molpadia and the Heavy Cavalry go after their General, but she flees.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1055.jpg

The sight of the barbaric holy place changes her mind, and she turns to fight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1056.jpg

It is Aristocrat vs. Equal.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1057.jpg

The Amazonian flees!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1058.jpg

But she does not make it far.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1059.jpg

Then it was just a matter of isolating and destroying the infantry one at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1060.jpg

Heroic Victory. A good way to start a war.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1061.jpg

Amazonia has plenty more where that came from however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1062.jpg

But their heartland is poorly defended. Even now Second Equal Klito is sailing from Greece...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1063.jpg

The Western Campaign does not stop just because the Second Equal has taken her army aboard ship. Molpadia forges ahead to Thermon and attacks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1064.jpg

The Thracians are slaughtered on the walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1065.jpg

Then a breach is made.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1066.jpg

Molpadia enters with the Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1067.jpg

They drive the Thracians before them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1068.jpg

These Thracians Peltasts would block the way however. Once more, they gave a far better fight than one one expect from any peltast.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1069.jpg

Then it was on to the last defenders in the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1070.jpg

Molpadia leaves no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1071.jpg

The Valkyrja have no mercy for Greeks. Freja's ravens will feast upon their bloated corpses.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1072.jpg

This is all the Thracians have left. Only two cities, but they still have a few good fights left in them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1073.jpg

A foolish army of Germans has crossed the border between Vicus Gepidae and Vicus Venedae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1074.jpg

Time for an Amazon sandwich, with some tasty German filling.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1075.jpg

Maia the Conqueror leads the attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1076.jpg

One of the three German Generals crosses the river.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1077.jpg

Maia on the other hand has already gone to the German side with half of her Horse Archers via a ford.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1078.jpg

That General on my side is treated to a Scythian Horse Ride.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1079.jpg

Down he goes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1080.jpg

Next the Germans send some infantry across.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1081.jpg

While back on their side of the river Pantariste the Mighty's Horse Archers have dispatched another German General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1082.jpg

It was just a matter of taking them apart one piece at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1083.jpg

The Germans were crushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1084.jpg

This depraved fellow escaped however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1085.jpg

Further south, young Cynane had marched from Sarmizgetusa to attack a lightly defended Campus Tevrisci. But she was attacked herself before she could invest the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1086.jpg

Here is the attacking Dacian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1087.jpg

And here is the garrison of the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1088.jpg

First my cavalry worked the Dacians over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1089.jpg

Then my infantry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1090.jpg

That was the end of the main Dacian army, which prompted the city garrison to retreat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1091.jpg

The one man who made it across the red line died a step later.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1092.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1093.jpg

Some of my ships at the hellespont were attacked by a fleet of Rebel Star Destroyers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1094.jpg

There is no defeating these guys.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1095.jpg

Lousy Egyptians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1097.jpg

Next turn Cynane assaults Campus Tevrisci, which has recruited a new garrison of Chosen Swordsmen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1098.jpg

They were drawn out of the square by my Amazon Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1099.jpg

Then the rest of the army rode through the square behind them and trapped them in the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1100.jpg

Game Over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1101.jpg

The men of Dacia are led away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1102.jpg

Further south, the Thracians are in need of a new Faction Heir.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1103.jpg

They came up with one, and he brought an army with him into eastern Epirus. Molpadia has marched north from Thermon to intercept him. With any luck, he will attack her with her back to the mountains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1104.jpg

In the east, the Amazonians are about to land a heavy blow against me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1096.jpg

But Second Equal Klito is about to land as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1105.jpg

Back up north, a large Dacian army that had been threatening Singidunum had moved north in response to Cynane's attack upon Campus Tevrisci. I see another opportunity for an Amazon sandwich.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1106.jpg

Cynane moves south from Campus Tevrisci, and Veleda north from Singidunum, trapping the Dacians between them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1107.jpg

Oh great, marching through this will take forever.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1108.jpg

Cynane's army started by attacking the cavalry on the Dacian's right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1109.jpg

Her Amazon Cavalry chop them to pieces in hand-to-hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1110.jpg

Cynane herself does the same on the other flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1111.jpg

The Dacians are being pushed together into a mob in the center.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1112.jpg

These damn dogs are eating my women, while they stand by doing nothing because the handlers are out of range. I hate wardogs.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1113.jpg

Time to get at those handlers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1114.jpg

No girls, that is not your tummy's growling. Look behind you.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1115.jpg

I am still waiting for one of my reinforcing units to get on the battlefield.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1117.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1118.jpg

The Dacians are nearly done for. I am not normally a blitzkrieger, but these two lightly defended cities are too juicy a target to pass up. I am going after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1119.jpg

It has been a while, so here is a pic with the Fog of War off. The Roman war machine has moved off from Rome and is enjoying the beaches of southern Italia. The Egyptians have just stopped doing anything, and the Gorgons have almost squeezed out Numidia. Gaul is on its last legs, with the Britons having taken all of modern France.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1120.jpg

As far as I can tell, this is all that is left of the Sarmatians. I am guessing those units they do have are tiny in size, as their flag is barely filled in at all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1121.jpg

Now back to the war. A sad day, First Equal Okypous the Cunning has gone gently into that good night.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1122.jpg

However, she has left the Valkyrja as the most advanced faction in the world.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1123.jpg

But the Sarmatians are richest once more.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1124.jpg

A big German army has come to batter itself upon the walls of Vicus Gepidae.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1125.jpg

Pantariste crushes them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1126.jpg

That big Thracian army I saw in Epirus ignored Molpadia and instead headed east to lay siege to Pella.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1127.jpg

Thankfully I had seen them coming and managed to get a few Generals and Agema Archers in the walls before their attack. Xanthippe the Mighty is no stranger to killing Thracians. She sallies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1128.jpg

My Agema Archers can hit the Thracians from the walls. Got to love that.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1129.jpg

I start by disposing of their cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1130.jpg

Soon their entire army turns and heads for the map edge. I notice there are a lot of bodies piled up along the line they had been deployed in. It looks like my two Agema Archers from the garrison were what made the army retreat. This is why their unit description says they have been known to single-handedly defeat enemy armies.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1131.jpg

I run down as many as I can.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1132.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1133.jpg

Here is the tale of the tape. As I suspected, the Agema Archers killed half the Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1134.jpg

Now it was time for Apollonia. One of my hired thugs removed the Thracian General there of his responsibilities, forever.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1135.jpg

Then the Army of Thrace, now led by Kardika the Honest, moved up to the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1136.jpg

In the east, First Equal Klito (all those stars and she does not have an epithet yet?) makes landfall and immediately assaults Themiskyra. After five centuries, the Valkyrja have come home.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1137.jpg

As you can see, half of my fleet has sailed up onshore...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1138.jpg

These foolish women have not built stone walls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1139.jpg

That oversight costs them dearly as my archers work them over.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1140.jpg

Eventually I was into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1141.jpg

The Amazonians tried to stop me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1142.jpg

But the free women of Valkyr cannot be dissuaded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1143.jpg

The Amazonian Captain was cut down as she tried to flee to the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1144.jpg

Uh oh, some Amazonian Agema Axes have come over from the other wall, behind my troops headed for the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1145.jpg

I get some Drakones in place to block them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1146.jpg

My spearwomen really cannot hope to stop these head-hunters on their own.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1147.jpg

So my Onagers lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1148.jpg

As does a unit of Heavy Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1149.jpg

That still did not do it. Finally I got some cavalry in behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1150.jpg

That broke them, but only after losing a lot of women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1151.jpg

Then it was on to the square, where my Agema Archers were baiting the remaining Amazonians out and into the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1152.jpg

How is that for the clash of spears?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1153.jpg

While that was going on, First Equal Klito and a unit of Heavy Cavalry were sweeping through the city streets to enter the square from another side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1154.jpg

They enter as the last of the defenders are engaged by the Drakones. One charge and that was it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1155.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1156.jpg

Once again, it is the archers who did all the heavy lifting. You can also see that almost all of my losses came from that one unit of Amazonian Agema Axes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1157.jpg

As these are sister Amazons, merely misguided by aristocratic tyrants, I Occupy. Besides, Themiskyra is near to being Huge level, which means Companions. Once the initial unrest dies down this will be an invaluable base for all my operations in the east.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1158.jpg

Speaking of which, the Amazonian heartland lies bare.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1159.jpg

My navy has once more run afoul of that super Rebel fleet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1160.jpg

I do not stand a chance against those guys.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1161.jpg

Out east, Amazonia has sacked Artaxarta and laid siege to Ulski.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1162.jpg

Toxaris sallies from Ulski. It seems the Amazonians forgot to bring any archers with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1163.jpg

I did not forget them. I have been reinforcing Ulski with Agema Archers since I first saw the Amazonians coming north. Here you can see that they can hit the Amazonians from the walltop. Lovely.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1164.jpg

After allowing my Agema Archers and Horse Archers to work them over a bit, Toxaris and Klymene the Mad charge the cavalry on the Amazonian left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1165.jpg

The Amazonians are gobbled up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1166.jpg

While this was going on, my Horse Archers were enveloping the rest of the Amazonian army. Then they all turned and headed for the exit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1167.jpg

There was nothing to do but charge them down and hope for the best.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1168.jpg

The Amazonians were cut off from the map edge.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1169.jpg

Then they were destroyed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1170.jpg

Out west the lewd German Faction Heir has returned for a lesson in manners.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1171.jpg

Pantariste the Mighty rode out to school him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1172.jpg

He learned his final lesson at the hands of my Horse Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1173.jpg

Scratch one more German army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1174.jpg

The Germans have the plague, and now so do two of my spies. There is nothing to do now but spread it to all of their other cities.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1175.jpg

To the south, one of my stinkers removes another Thracian General from his duties.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1176.jpg

Then in the same turn Xanthippe the Mighty ran down the Thracian who had attacked Pella. It seems he has hired every mercenary in Macedonia since his defeat.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1177.jpg

The battle would be fought in these deep woods.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1178.jpg

These Thracian Infantry came forward a bit too far, so Xanthippe charged and destroyed them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1179.jpg

That brought their General up. It was too good a target to pass up, I send everything I have after him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1180.jpg

A ferocious melee ensued.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1181.jpg

Finally the Thracian was brought down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1182.jpg

I had to break off the pursuit of his broken bodyguard however, as their Mercenary Hoplites were coming up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1183.jpg

Then it was just a matter of taking them apart one unit at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1184.jpg

Scratch one more Thracian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1185.jpg

Nice work, both on and off the battlefield:2thumbsup:

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon reading this from post #1, so kudo's for a good storyline to hold my attention that long:2thumbsup::2thumbsup:

The way this campaign is unfolding reminds me so much of the 1580 Oda campaign in STW/WE......relentless enemies on all sides...and a quick defeat if one does not act aggressively and decisively........

Some of the tactical maps look to be custom?!? Is that the case, and if so what sort of mapping tool is available? One of my biggest beefs with RTW is the crappy, cookie-cutter maps (MHO, of course).

Making maps has always been my first love......been doing them since grade school. Currently, I make maps for a WWII strategy game and apparently they are pretty good as campaign designers are constantly asking for new ones or the reworking older ones to suit their needs.


















I'd be teaching those @#$% Germans some lessons on their own turf.....I'd put together a marauding army for the express purpose of........in the words of William Wallace:



BURRNN IT!



Oh, and btw, that's another of my peeves with RTW....the endless-stack syndrome. Yes, I know it builds elite troops and generals if you win, but after awhile, at least for me, it gets boooooring. Now for the historical buffs, how many governments could suffer one crushing defeat after another and still remain in power? I can't think of one, offhand. Now if one could only impose, say, a 5% popularity penalty across the board for every crushing defeat, then bigger garrison's would have to be kept at home to maintain order. This would go away gradually, like devastation does, or by notching some heroic victories.

End of rant.....sorry about that:embarassed:

Thank you Samurai. Those are actually all of the original battle maps. I have not done anything to mod them.

It has been quite a challenge. The hardest I have had for quite some time, especially in the first 20 years. Without the horse archers I would not have survived.

I do plan to deal with the Germans. Just not yet. I have other fish to fry right now. Mainly Dacia, Thrace, and Amazonia. Not to mention the hated Greek Cities.

Quote:

---

Those are actually all of the original battle maps. I have not done anything to mod them.

---

What about a mapping tool? I would dearly like to try my hand at making tactical maps...........:yes:

Quote:

---

I do plan to deal with the Germans. Just not yet.

---

I wasn't suggesting a permanent campaign into their territory, but one of slash & burn. I've often used this tactic to quiet down a pesky adversary for a short term so I could move in the direction I really needed/wanted to go. Sure it creates some super-peasants (nothing you can't handle....right?) but it generates instant cash and requires complete reconstruction of a town/city that's been razed. And by the time your army returns to friendly territory, it's gained as much experience or more than from constant sallies.

You are obviously doing well, anyways.......I was just thinking out loud about what I would do:dizzy2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reluctant Samurai

What about a mapping tool? I would dearly like to try my hand at making tactical maps..........

---

I have never done any work with maps. If you ask about modding tactical maps in the Modding Questions forum someone might have some suggestions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reluctant Samurai

I wasn't suggesting a permanent campaign into their territory, but one of slash & burn. I've often used this tactic to quiet down a pesky adversary for a short term so I could move in the direction I really needed/wanted to go. Sure it creates some super-peasants (nothing you can't handle....right?) but it generates instant cash and requires complete reconstruction of a town/city that's been razed. And by the time your army returns to friendly territory, it's gained as much experience or more than from constant sallies.

---

Ahh, the old Viking Raid. I have done that in the past as well. As you say, it can be very effective and crippling an enemy and building some quick cash at the same time. I might do something like that after all, but I have no infantry in the west. Still, I have pushed my garrisons forward from Vicus Venedae and Vicus Gothi into Germania, I think I am going to lay siege to their border cities and either bring them out into the open or take them by blockade. Right now the have the plague, so I do not want to take them just yet anyhow.


In the east, the Royalists have sent two assassins after First Equal Klito, but she is more than a match for either.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1186.jpg

While to the west, the Thracians think they can turn the tables on Xanthippe the Brave. There are quite a few of them, but all are low tier. This means their remaining cities must also be small.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1187.jpg

I want that high ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1188.jpg

Such lovely ground for an archery faction like mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1189.jpg

Their first army is shot to pieces then run down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1190.jpg

Time for round two. I see that their extreme right is made up of only Thracian Peltasts. So I bring my General around from my own right and charge them with both my Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1191.jpg

Blammo!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1192.jpg

The rest of the Thracians soon followed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1193.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1194.jpg

I think a farmboy from Tatooine must be leading this Rebel fleet.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1195.jpg

Whoever he is, the Force is with him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1196.jpg

The Germans and the Greeks are now allied? Well, I was going to attack those damned Greeks soon anyhow.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1197.jpg

I am fabulously wealthy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1198.jpg

The hills of western Greece are infested with Thracians. Molpadia rides to exterminate them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1199.jpg

Once again I go for the high ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1200.jpg

Now this is such a great view.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1201.jpg

So is this.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1202.jpg

Charge!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1203.jpg

No survivors, my only losses were to friendly fire.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1204.jpg

In the cold north, Cynane attacked a Dacian force that blocked her march upon Lovosice.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1205.jpg

Not even Chosen Men can stand against Amazons.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1206.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1207.jpg

The same turn, Cynane continues on to Lovosice.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1208.jpg

She has brought an Onager with her, so she can assault immediately.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1209.jpg

The Dacian Prince within is said to wear a helm that once belonged to a God.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1210.jpg

He is certainly brave. He comes right at me as soon as my women enter the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1211.jpg

While the Drakones pin him in place, Cynane circles around behind him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1212.jpg

The Dacian Prince is squished between the two forces like a bug.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1213.jpg

Then the remaining defenders were baited from the town square by horse archers on one side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1214.jpg

Allowing the rest of the army to enter the square unopposed from the other side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1215.jpg

The Dacians are slaughtered in the street. None survive.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1216.jpg

As it is a tiny settlement, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1217.jpg

The same turn, Veleda assaults Aquincum to the south. Within is the Dacian King.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1218.jpg

Again, he is baited from the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1219.jpg

Then it is taken without opposition.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1220.jpg

The King is dead.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1221.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1222.jpg

Once more, as it is a tiny settlement, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1223.jpg

This leaves the Dacians with only Iuvavum left. I do not see any family members within, but their faction has not been destroyed. They must have a General or two still roaming around the countryside somewhere.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1224.jpg

There he is. If I can smoke him, the Dacians will be history.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1225.jpg

Back in western Greece, Kardika the Honest leads the assault upon Apollonia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1226.jpg

The road to Valkyrja victory is paved with scenes like this.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1227.jpg

The street was blocked by Thracian Peltasts, who once more put a far sterner fight than light troops can be expected to.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1228.jpg

But there is no stopping the Valkyrja war machine. The city was taken with no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1229.jpg

Kardika Occupies as well. These settlements are so small there is no one to slaughter even if I wanted to.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1230.jpg

Salona is all the Thracians have left, and Molpadia is already on the way to take it while Kardika remains behind in Apollonia. I have brought over a half-stack of Peasants from Pella to provide a garrison to assist her. This is a common strategy of mine, which allows me to instantly move an army out of a city I have just taken and continue to operate in the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1231.jpg

In the east, I concentrate the garrisons of Ulski and Thatis upon a Royalist army that has come north onto the plains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1232.jpg

I start against their cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1233.jpg

Now I have turned one flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1234.jpg

Then they were surrounded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1235.jpg

It was a slaughter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1236.jpg

The Amazonians were broken.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1237.jpg

In the Aegean, Admiral Skywalker is once more making life miserable for my navy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1239.jpg

Once again I am most ingloriously thrashed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1240.jpg

In the west, I am busy spreading plague among all of Germania's cities.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1241.jpg

Veleda and Cynane have run the last Dacian to ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1242.jpg

Not my ideal choice of a battleground. I deploy Veleda's women outside of the dense forest that takes up the center of the battlemap.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1243.jpg

But the Dacians end up deploying in the open on the other side of it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1244.jpg

That puts them close to Cynane's army as she enters from the other side of the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1245.jpg

Veleda's army quickly comes up to trap the Dacians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1246.jpg

I have hired some local mercenary scum to lend a hand against the Dacians local mecernary scum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1247.jpg

Up the hill, Cynane's Horse Archers are taking the Dacians apart.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1248.jpg

Finally Veleda comes to grips with the Dacian King.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1249.jpg

He is cut down before Cynane can even get there to help out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1250.jpg

The Dacian army was in flight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1251.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1252.jpg

With that Dacia is no more. That should be my third faction of the campaign.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1253.jpg

To the north, Pantariste the Mighty has marched west to lay siege to Vicus Gothi, and Maia the Conqueror lays siege to Vicus Marcomanni. Neither has infantry or siege equipment. I am hoping to lure German relief armies out to precipitate field battles, or to simply take the cities by blockade.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1254.jpg

With that the Germans want me to pay them to stop killing them. Not bloody likely.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1255.jpg

I would be tempted to pay Admiral Skywalker and his Rebel Fleet to leave me alone however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1256.jpg

These Rebels are unstoppable.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1257.jpg

Lousy Egyptians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1258.jpg

I wonder what caused my mutual allies to have this falling out?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1259.jpg

There have been numerous little skirmishes in the east like this one, but none of great size or importance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1260.jpg

I have been slowly cleaning up the Royalists.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1261.jpg

Uh oh, the evil Greeks have marched from Attica and are now advancing through our lands. Next turn they will be able to strike either Thermon or Larissa. Probably Thermon as it is less heavily defended.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1262.jpg

Time to finish my work with the Thracians. Molpadia assaults Salona.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1263.jpg

After the missile troops clear the way, her infantry enter the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1264.jpg

The Thracians would put up a fight deeper in the city however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1265.jpg

I advance upon the town square from three directions, here you see the view from my right flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1266.jpg

Molpadia pursued the Thracians down the main street for too long, and has gotten far ahead of the rest of the army. I am obliged to pull her back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1267.jpg

These Thracian Infantry leave the square to go after her, giving my Horse Archers a lovely shot at their flank as they did so.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1268.jpg

Then suddenly my Beserkers were in it. I never ordered them to attack. They just did so on their own. Or maybe one of the Thracians was able to hit one of them, pulling them into the fray.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1269.jpg

With that there was no point waiting any longer, I sent everyone in to support the Berserkers. In moments only the Thracian King was left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1270.jpg

Molpadia went into hand to hand combat with him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1271.jpg

She cut him down with her own hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1272.jpg

She left no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1273.jpg

Once more, I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1274.jpg

With that the Thracians are destroyed. My fourth faction of the campaign. I wonder why the defeat movie is not playing? I did not do anything to tinker with it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1275.jpg

Just as I had hoped, a German relief army attacked Pantariste the Mighty outside of Vicus Gothi.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1276.jpg

The army that attacked me had the high ground, but no archers to take advantage of it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1277.jpg

I bait out one of their Noble Cavalry into a Scythian Horse Ride.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1278.jpg

They quickly rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1279.jpg

That got the attention of their other Noble Cavalry unit, who foolishly charged Pantariste, not seeing the rest of my army charging them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1280.jpg

They are quickly put to flight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1281.jpg

Now only the garrison of Vicus Gothi was left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1282.jpg

I take their General on a Scythian Horse Ride.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1283.jpg

We have not gone very far at all, and he has lost a third of his bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1284.jpg

Now he has lost two-thirds, and Pantariste turns to finish him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1285.jpg

He routs first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1286.jpg

My Horse Archers cut him down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1287.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1288.jpg

The Goths are lead away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1289.jpg

Well it is about time! 50 years into the campaign and the Romans are finally attacking the Gauls.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1290.jpg

The Greeks have changed their mind about invading me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1291.jpg

In the east, Klito the Cunning assaults Myrina.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1292.jpg

I stretch out my army in a long line, this causes the Amazonians to put most of their troops at the gatehouse, where I am not going to attack.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1293.jpg

Instead my Onagers create a breach at the other end of the wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1294.jpg

In we go.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1295.jpg

A unit of Axewomen tried to stop me, but First Equal Klito put them to flight.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1296.jpg

Now the rest of their army started coming down the road from the gatehouse.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1297.jpg

I know my Drakones do not stand much chance against those Agema Axewomen, so I throw everything I have at them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1298.jpg

That includes four Agema Archers. Now it is the Agema Axewomen who do not stand much chance.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1299.jpg

Now their General is coming.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1300.jpg

My Agema Archers slaughter her bodyguard.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1301.jpg

She is cut down by my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1302.jpg

Still not finished with them yet. Their own Agema Archers are waiting around this corner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1303.jpg

I have at them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1304.jpg

After a grueling melee, the last of their gatehouse troops are finished.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1305.jpg

Then it was on to the square, which was defended by a lone unit of Amazon Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1306.jpg

They were crushed, and the city mine.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1307.jpg

Victory, but with heavy losses from Amazonian missiles and Agema Axewomen. If I had not forgotten to use my Berserkers I probably would have lost fewer.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1308.jpg

Klito Occupies. I want to get this city up to Huge as soon as I can as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1309.jpg

In other news, it looks like the Gorgons have finally knocked off the Numidians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1310.jpg

On the steppe, the Amazonians have not had the nerve to attack my border cities, and so they are milling around the southern plains. I finally saw an opportunity to attack one of their stacks without the other two being able to counter attack me later in the turn.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1311.jpg

I move up into contact as fast as possible.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1312.jpg

Then I pick them apart.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1313.jpg

Their General was lured into a Scythian Horse Ride and trapped.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1314.jpg

She runs for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1315.jpg

But there is no escape.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1316.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1317.jpg

It also netted me a famous battle marker.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1318.jpg

A small update tonight.

Once again, I benefit from a stroke of luck. A German army has come to the relief of Vicus Marcomannii and attacked Maia the Cunning.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1319.jpg

I deploy on a hill at one side of the field, this way the German reinforcements from the city will be coming in directly behind the German army, rather than on my flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1320.jpg

I quickly bait out a unit of Gothic Cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1321.jpg

Then I charge them from open-shields with Maia.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1322.jpg

They insta-rout.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1323.jpg

Maia pursues, but has to be careful of these Naked Fanatics. Well, maybe she does not. They have lost 130 men in less than a minute of arrow-fire. Barbarians never learn that heavily-armoured fanatics are better than naked ones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1324.jpg

Now Maia has to stop, as the rest of the German army is in the way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1325.jpg

Then it was standard horse-archer tactics. Pick them apart and destroy them one unit at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1326.jpg

Their Captain was squashed by an Onager boulder. Onagers miss everything else smaller than a stone wall, but they always manage to find Captains and Generals.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1327.jpg

Now it was the turn of the garrison.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1328.jpg

It was pretty much a repeat of the first, except this time my Drakones got to have some fun as well.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1329.jpg

Heroic Victory, and a famous battle marker.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1330.jpg

Then men of Vicus Marcomannii are led away in chains.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1331.jpg

Looks like the Amazonian empire has grown to a mythic proportion since the last time I checked this thread. Well done SubRosa!

Thank you Monk, but I think you mean the Valkyr Empire? :winkg:

On the eastern steppe, the garrison of Campus Aorsi has ridden out to intercept an Amazonian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1333.jpg

I send my cavalry around their flanks.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1334.jpg

Now time to get rid of those Onagers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1335.jpg

Then it was a matter of taking them apart a unit at a time.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1336.jpg

Scratch another Amazonian army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1337.jpg

After the battle there was still a small Amazonian remnant nearby, so I sent a young General out to deal with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1339.jpg

I like this picture.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1340.jpg

Heroic Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1341.jpg

Out on my new western frontier, all three cities I have just taken are 1st tier. Not really much use to me, as I cannot even retrain horse archers in them. So I have been sending waves of Peasants in from my big cities and disbanding them. This has gotten all three settlements up to 2nd tier in just a few turns. I think in a future version of ATW I will include a colonist unit to facilitate this sort of thing.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1338.jpg

It looks like the Marian Fairy will be coming in a matter of turns.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1342.jpg

I have a scarfaced General. I have not had one of these in a long time. She got it fighting rebels too. If she were not so old I would send her south to be an extra heavy cavalry unit in the Army of Armenia that is forming on the southern steppe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1343.jpg

First Equal Klito the Conqueror assaults Trapezus.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1344.jpg

The Amazonians had nothing to oppose my entry. The battle would begin as I approached the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1345.jpg

Their General was cut down in a furious melee with my Drakones.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1346.jpg

Then it was down to the Axewomen.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1347.jpg

Victory. I lost a lot of women to that General's javelins and those Axewomen's flying axes however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1348.jpg

I Occupy. It is nice to finally take on a faction of the same culture. Without the culture penalty it is so much easier to hold on to what I take.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1349.jpg

Further east, only one Amazonian army remains on the steppe.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1351.jpg

They have good ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1352.jpg

I quickly turn their flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1353.jpg

Then I start munching on their soft gooey filling.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1354.jpg

The Amazonian army is being shredded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1355.jpg

No survivors. The steppe is now clear of Amazonians.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1356.jpg

In the west, Molpadia has finally returned from Salona and marshaled the Army of Vengeance. However, when I tried to make my Berserkers walk up to join the stack behind Molpadia, instead they decided to walk all the way around the mountain range to the south of them instead, using up all of their movement points in the bargain. I wish RTW had an Undo feature to save me from annoying things like this.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1350.jpg

Not surprisingly, the Greeks attacked them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1357.jpg

There is really only one way this battle is going to end. It is just a question of how many Greeks my Berserkers can take with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1358.jpg

I attack their General, but even though I am warcrying, my Berserkers do not go berserk. It must be because it is the Captain unit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1359.jpg

It is most disappointing. I am sure I would have gotten much more of them if I had been able to go berserk.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1360.jpg

Still, this means war! This entire campaign I have never initiated hostilities against any faction (except Rebels). I am going to try to keep it that way until the end. I also see that the Gorgons and Egyptians are now at war. Good, it is about time the two African heavyweights duked it out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1361.jpg

Off the coast of Aetolia, my Roman allies and I cleared the sealanes of some pirate scum.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1362.jpg

Coming next, the War of Vengeance!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1363.jpg

My slovenly spies show that the Romans have taken Mediolanum. All the Gauls have left are Patavium and Segestica.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...yrja1363-1.jpg

In the east, an Amazonian army has laid siege to Myrina.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1364.jpg

First Equal Klito the Conqueror comes down to with her army to deal with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1365.jpg

There sure are a lot of them, and all of my cavalry is in the city. Since the Peasants are in the UI before the cavalry, none of my horsewomen will enter the battle as reinforcements.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1366.jpg

So it will be the infantry who win the fight today. I send them forward into the Amazonians to come to grips with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1367.jpg

Grip them I did.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1368.jpg

They cannot stand up to Valkyrja women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1369.jpg

The entire center dissolved.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1370.jpg

Victory. Many escaped due to my lack of cavalry to run them down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1371.jpg

In the west, the War of Vengeance has begun. For over a millenia the Greeks have been our enemies. A thousand years ago they destroyed the Libyan Amazons, sacking their capital of Triton in an orgy of blood. Five hundred years ago at Heraclea they inflicted a humiliating defeat upon Amazonia that left thousand of Amazons as captives. Yet these Women would escape and make their way north across the sea to become the Valkyrja. Now we have come full circle, to take our revenge for over a thousand years of blood. The world of men shall fall...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1372.jpg

The Greeks start on the low ground, I intend to keep them there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1373.jpg

I start with their General, sending out a unit of Drakones to assist Molpadia in running him to ground.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1374.jpg

He is cut down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1375.jpg

In the meantime the rest of my army was forming a line across the hill in front of the Greek army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1376.jpg

Then my cavalry swept around behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1377.jpg

Trapped, they were annihilated by my Agema Archers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1378.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1379.jpg

Here is a pic with the Fog of War turned off. The Britons and Iberians are slugging it out over what was once Gaul, and the Romans are finally moving against what is left of the Gauls in northern Italy. The Gorgons still dominate North Africa, but a full stack of Carthaginians has landed near Carthage to take it back.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1380.jpg

That damnable Rebel fleet has made its way into the Black Sea, and continues to haunt my navy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1381.jpg

I have had over a dozen battles with them. Every one ends like this. At least I am slowly whittling them down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1382.jpg

Hmm, it looks like the Egyptians are going to attack me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1383.jpg

In the east, The Army of Armenia has built a fort in the pass north of Kotais while they wait for their newly raised infantry to come up to join them. The Amazonians came north to attack them, and Marpesia sallied against them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1384.jpg

She starts with their cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1385.jpg

Then surrounds them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1386.jpg

The Amazonians are crushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1387.jpg

Finally, in the west Molpadia turned and advanced upon Athens, the most hated city of the foul Greeks. She found three Greek armies waiting there. The smart thing to do would have been to attack at night and only face one army at a time. But there is something very satisfying about taking on three enemy armies at once. Besides, what is a War of Vengeance without at least one massive effusion of blood? Molpadia attacks them all.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1388.jpg

Here comes the first Greek army. You can see their capital in the distance behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1389.jpg

I send my cavalry out ahead to shoot up the approaching Greeks. Molpadia found some Rhodian Slingers on their left and charge in after them. This brought her dangerously near to the second Greek army that was quickly coming onto the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1390.jpg

Molpadia ran down the Rhodians and continued on to smash the Cretans and Rhodians in the second Greek army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1391.jpg

Oh oh, a unit of Greek Heavy Cavalry is closing in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1392.jpg

A fearsome battle ensues with them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1393.jpg

The Greeks do not break, and now the rest of their army is closing in from both sides.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1394.jpg

Molpadia routs! The shame of it! She would fleet directly off the field.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1395.jpg

On the other flank, my remaining General Lampedo is running through the Greek Peltasts and Heavy Peltasts there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1396.jpg

By now the infantry were slugging it out head to head.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1397.jpg

The Greeks are coming around my flank. But Lampedo is behind them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1398.jpg

She charges them from behind just as they wrap around my left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1399.jpg

There goes the first Greek army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1400.jpg

There were still two Greek armies to go however.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1401.jpg

Here they come!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1402.jpg

There they go.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1403.jpg

My archers are now out of ammunition. From now on it will be the fearful work of swords.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1404.jpg

The next two Greek armies hit me at once, especially on my left flank where they are coming in almost behind me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1405.jpg

They have Spartans leading the way there too.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1406.jpg

On the far right, Lampedo is rushing from one area to another to prevent the Greeks from turning the flank there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1407.jpg

Back on the left, I throw everything I have against the Spartans, surrounding them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1408.jpg

A unit of Greek Heavy Cavalry charges in at my Drakones there from behind. Thankfully I was able to turn two of them to face them just before they hit.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1409.jpg

The Heavy Cavalry is driven off, but the Spartans will not break. They are made of iron.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1410.jpg

Finally, with Lampedo herself closing in they give way.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1411.jpg

So what do these Greeks think they are going to do, scare us with a ham sandwich?
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1412.jpg

I have now thrown my entire army (what remains of it), against the Greeks on the left.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1413.jpg

There are a lot of scattered infantry battles like this one. Their Rhodians are very tough in melee. Eventually they would be mopped up.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1414.jpg

It was time to silence those Onagers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1415.jpg

The Greeks were not finished yet however. They still had one last roll of the dice.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1416.jpg

I meet them head on and destroy them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1417.jpg

Heroic Victory, and that one really felt heroic. Over 7,000 dead Greeks and 1,500 dead Amazons.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1418.jpg

Nearly 1200 kills for my Horse Archers alone. The Agema Archers averaged about 600 each.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1419.jpg

This leaves Attica and the Peloponnese bare of defenders.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1420.jpg

One last update before bedtime.

The Western Front is anything but quiet. The Germans want Vicus Gothi back. Myrine sallies to contest the issue.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1421.jpg

This is what the Valkyrja think of the hairy savages.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1422.jpg

This German thinks he has escaped.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1423.jpg

Not!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1424.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1425.jpg

The same turn, Maia the Cunning rode from Vicus Marcomannii to deal with another German army.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1426.jpg

So this is what it takes to be a Blasphemer.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1427.jpg

I send the fool to meet the Gods he did not believe in.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1428.jpg

Victory. Now all is quiet on the Western Front.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1429.jpg

I have finally run the Rebel Fleet to ground (erm, to water?).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1430.jpg

After hounding me for over a decade, the pirates are finally sent to Neptune's Locker.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1431.jpg

In Greece, the War of Vengeance continues. I divide my army, sending half of it to lay siege to Corinth, while my Onagers move up to Athens.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1432.jpg

Lampedo assaults Athens that turn. Within are the survivors of the Battle of Attica. The most hated city of the enemy, it was Athens led the Greek Alliance that destroyed the Gorgons a thousand years ago. Now the Greeks would pay for their crimes.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1433.jpg

These are what Spartans at silver experience are like. Yikes!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1434.jpg

With their missile troops, a head on assault would be suicide. So I opt for the indirect approach, and march around the city to another wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1435.jpg

My Onagers had created a breach by the time the rest of the army got there.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1436.jpg

These foolish Greek Cavalry tried to contest my entry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1437.jpg

Now it was into the depths of the city, where the Spatans were marching to meet me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1438.jpg

I give them an Amazon greeting.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1439.jpg

Then it was hand to hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1440.jpg

They were crushed!
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1441.jpg

My spear women caught sight of the Greek General approaching from the other side of their temple.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1442.jpg

He turns from my infantrywomen and heads for the square instead. But I have sent Lampedo and my Horse Archers ahead to block him.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1443.jpg

The Greek is cast down at the very feet of his dark gods.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1444.jpg

These Greek swine thought to stop us in the town square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1445.jpg

No more would these war pigs have the power.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1446.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1447.jpg

Athens was no longer a city. It was now an altar, and the men of the city were the sacrifices.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1448.jpg

Molpadia brings the Onagers up to Cornith, and attacks the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1449.jpg

I love how cavalry units can throw their javelins over stone walls to hit the enemy on the other side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1450.jpg

The first unit of Armoured Hoplites is quickly routed as my women enter the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1451.jpg

But there is a second unit of Armoured Hoplites approaching. I send some of my infantry and archers through the second breach in the wall, to their right.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1452.jpg

The Greeks turn to engage the newcomers.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1453.jpg

This leaves their rear open to my troops who entered through the original breach.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1454.jpg

The Greeks are squished.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1455.jpg

Then it was on to the square for a bacon dinner.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1456.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1457.jpg

The walls of Corinth are washed in Greek blood.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1458.jpg

I had forgotten about the Wonder. This is my first of the campaign (I really need to edit that text about the hero of Rome...).
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1459.jpg

The same turn, Molpadia sends a small force on ahead to lay siege to Sparta. They cannot take the city, but will prevent the Greeks from recruiting any more units within, and if I am lucky they might sally.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1460.jpg

I was not lucky, so next turn Lampedo brings up more women and assaults the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1461.jpg

The Greeks waited for me in the square. My Agema Archers draw them out.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1462.jpg

Then my cavalry hit them from behind and trapped them in the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1463.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1464.jpg

The screams of the dying are played as a symphony in Greece.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1465.jpg

It looks like I am at war with Egypt, and Parthia has broken our alliance to remain on Big Yellow's good side.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1466.jpg

Here is why we are at war. Egypt has blockaded Athens.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1467.jpg

Well, this means I no longer have to wait for that Egyptian army outside of Myrina to attack me. I attack them instead.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1468.jpg

The Egyptians have excellent ground. I really do not want to attack them up that slope.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1469.jpg

So I sit back and wait to see if they will come down, and their second army comes on the field. They look like they might come after me.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1470.jpg

I send my cavalry out ahead to soften them up, targeting their horsemen first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1471.jpg

They countered with Chariots, which I promptly took on a Scythian Horse Ride and routed. But they had been able to get into my second General beforehand, killing quite a few of her bodyguards.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1472.jpg

After that their second army went up the hill to join the first.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1473.jpg

Well, there is nothing for it then. I go up after them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1474.jpg

They come at me as I crest the hill.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1475.jpg

The Chariots on the Egyptian left vastly overlapped my right. So I sent my Beserkers in to hold the line.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1476.jpg

Then I found that the Egyptian Chariots had gotten into my cavalry and second general on the left. Yikes! I quickly pull them away and send my Agema Axewomen over to lend a hand.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1477.jpg

Back on the right, the Berserkers have cleared the way for my cavalry to sweep around the Egyptian flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1478.jpg

Then in the center the Egyptian General was laid low by my Drakones. My spear women are going through the Egyptian infantry like a hot knife through cotton.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1479.jpg

My Berserkers were having problems with their phalanx troops however, so I sent some cavalry over to lend a hoof.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1480.jpg

Both Egyptian armies were crushed.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1481.jpg

Victory.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1482.jpg

But at a heavy cost. My second General was killed in there somewhere. I do not even know exactly when. Just that it was sometime after I swept their left flank. That is the problem with fighting Egyptians. You never know when you are going to look over and find a General being swamped by their Chariots.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1483.jpg

After the battle, one of my stinkers found that Heraclea was devoid of a garrison, except for a lone Amazonian General. He relieved her of her duties forever. Now if I can get some cavalry over there before they can garrison it...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1484.jpg

I looked around a second time, and found that I had a General in the Crimea who was in striking distance of Heraclea. I immediately put her on a ship and sailed her down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1485.jpg

She takes Heraclea without a drop of blood (well, except for those my assassin made when he put the dagger in the Amazonian Governor's back...)
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1486.jpg

In the east, the Amazonians did not attack me across the river north of Kotais. However, I found that I could move across diagonally to the tile beside them.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1487.jpg

Then I was able to turn and attack in the open.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1488.jpg

I quickly sweep around their flank.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1489.jpg

Then finish their cavalry.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1490.jpg

Soon I have them surrounded.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1491.jpg

They run for it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1492.jpg

But there is no escape, and no survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1493.jpg

Next turn Marpesia marches down to Kotais and attacks it.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1494.jpg

I do not want to make a head on assault against those Agema Archers. So I walk around the city to attack from another wall.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1495.jpg

My Onagers opened up the walls ahead of my army, and the Amazonians moved their Chariots over to defend the breach.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1496.jpg

They come out to attack the leading elements of my army. Good thing I have spear women.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1497.jpg

The Chariots dealt with, I send two of my infantry units into the city.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1498.jpg

I did not have enough Onager ammo to reduce the tower and Gatehouse flanking my breach. So each unit will have to take one before the rest of my army can enter.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1499.jpg

The Drakones went right up into their tower. However, the Agema Axewomen just milled around the base of the Gatehouse being shot at, and then stood still.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1500.jpg

I ordered them up again, and once more they milled around a while again and then stood still while being shot.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1501.jpg

So I order them up again. This time they got off their shields and got into the damned gatehouse.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1502.jpg

Finally I was able to get my army into the city and head to the square. Marpesia took the bulk of the troops down the main road.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1503.jpg

She crushed the Amazonians in the street.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1504.jpg

At the same time I sent a smaller force to the square via a small back road.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1505.jpg

They break the Amazonian infantry there, but still have to contend with their General.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1506.jpg

Marpesia and Klymene the Mad rush to help out with that Amazonian General, while my infantry went after their last Armoured Hoplite unit in the square.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1507.jpg

Their General was struck down.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1508.jpg

No survivors.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1509.jpg

I Occupy.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1510.jpg

Look what I can now recruit in Tanais! Too bad the city has the plague...
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...lkyrja1511.jpg