"If a man dedicates his life to good deeds and the welfare of others, he will die
unthanked and unremembered. If he exercises his genius bringing misery and death to
billions, his name will echo through the millennia for a hundred lifetimes. Infamy
is always more preferable to ignominy." -unknown
"Change! Hail Demokratia! Down with the Synedron! I shall not move from the agora!"
A lone man, stood in front of a phalanx of sarissae.
He is no barbaroi.
He is a hellene.
He is a scholar of the akademia.
He stood, defiantly, before two hundred and fifty six hellenes, with five rows of
sarissae pointed at him.
Neither has the notion to move.
.
.
.
.
.
In front of a garden of a grand abode, an old man in his late 50s muse to himself
to the gentle summer breeze. Beyond the shrubs and planted flora lies the great
plains of lower makedonia. A grand view, fit for a synedros with a grand wealth.
A slave disturbs his master's relaxation with a reminder, "Tis time, Master Kratos,
the carriage has been prepared."
"Very well," Kratos replied. "Assist me."
Helping his aging master to his feet, the slave gently supports Kratos with his
nimble roman arms. They walked through the garden to the waiting horse carriage. A
figure already sat waiting inside.
"Is he..?"Kratos turned to his slave. The Romaioi nodded.
Kratos smiled and enters the carriage, Caivs the slave salutes his master as the
carriage leaves for the city centre of Pella. He covers his face from the dust,
then returns to the mansion for his daily cleaning.
"How goes your progress?" A hooded figure asked Kratos, with an inquisitive tone.
"It has been done." Kratos answered, a little too quickly. He swiftly added, "The
masses are easy to sway, but not all scholars are fools." A slight stammering in
his voice, the wrinkles on his face multiplied along with hs nervousness. "Use the
divine power of the mnai then, they were not given to you just for rhetorics and
wine."
He took a thoughtful pause, then continued. "The basileus and his heir
campaigns in Italia against the Molossio-Romaioi, the power of Basileon Makedonikon
lies in the collective hands of the Synedron. With the Basileus away, the claws of
corruption comes to play; wealth distribuition goes astray, the masses woe day to
day." His tone was sly and playful, "Power of the state must be returned to the
people. You, Kratos the Athenaios, well versed in the greatness of demokratia are
you not?"
"It's not without it's flaws, however." Kratos confessed, sounding a little more
nervous in offending his 'benefactor'.
"Suffrage must be given to all citizens, I- YOU are to be their savior from the
decadent nobs..." Softening his tone once again, "The ends justifies the means,
Kratos"
The Carriage stops. With a thousand words' worth of thoughts, Kratos prepares to
attend the Synedron. Turning back to the hooded figure, Kratos gathers the courage
to ask, "What is the end you so wish for?"
"Synedros Kratos of Athenai, It is not your concern."
05-23-2009, 06:24
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Interesting... Is this an aar, or just another story.
05-23-2009, 06:43
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
depends on my whim, as this is sort of based on my current campaign afterall...
05-23-2009, 07:00
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Ok, ill be looking forward to reading this.
05-23-2009, 10:57
Ghaust the Moor
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
I'm slightly confused, but neato nonthelesss. I shall be reading this. :book:
I see our small talk yesterday got you fired up, didn't it? :wink:
Anyway, nice going hope to read more of this in the future. Oh, and I especially liked the Romaios slave.
Maion
05-23-2009, 19:31
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
AW: Short stories in Makedonia
Great read, satalexton! Though I doubt anyone would consider sending a Romaios anywhere else than into the mines. :wink:
05-27-2009, 14:09
satalexton
Re: AW: Short stories in Makedonia
Mines? Nah, he wouldn't even survive a week.
I'll snoop the next story by tomorrow (i have a day off yay!). I don't post the short stories in chronological order btw =P
A named blue balloon for the person that can sort out the orders by my 10th story.
05-28-2009, 16:38
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
"The minds of gods are not for mortals to know or to judge. Accept that Demokratia has a place for all of us in her grand scheme, and be happy in the part you have to play."
-Unknown Demokrate
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Please REASON with me, the Synedron is tolerant with your movement, but your demostration and crowding of the Agora is doing much unrest to Pella!"
"We will NOT leave, until All Makedonia adopts the One-True-Goddess, Demokratia!"
"All Hail Demokratia!"
"Stop the war against Demokratia Molosson Barbaropoleos! Tis an act of hubris against Mother Demokratia!"
"YEA!! To hell with zeus and his pantheon of pervese! His holy oils now burn for Demokratia!!"
"Lets Stone the heretic! He speaks too much, damned diplomat!"
"Let's kill him!"
"No, maim him first!"
"Cleanse him with the holy oil!"
"Kill maim burn! Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!Kill maim burn!"
"Heresy is like a tree, its roots lie in the darkness whilst its leaves wave in the sun and to
those who suspect nought, it has an attractive and pleasing appearance. Truly, you can
prune away its branches, or even cut the tree to the ground, but it will grow up again ever the
stronger and ever more comely. Yet all awhile the root grows thick and black, gnawing at the
bitter soil, drawing its nourishment from the darkness, and growing even greater and more
deeply entrenched.
Such is the nature of heresy, and this is why it is so hard to destroy, for it must be eradicated
leaf, branch, trunk and root. It must be exorcised utterly or it will return all the stronger, time
and time again, until it is too great to destroy. Then we are doomed."
The Great Synderion of Pella.
Built with marble whiter than snow. Each pillar painstakenly hand-carved on-the-spot by
artisans at the quarry, then lifted manually by Romaioi (their blood and sweat provided the
best polish, 5 times more effective than the smelly keltoi) pack-slaves from the mountains to
Pella. The high barbaroi mortality rate and the exquisite use of marble, the Synedrion costed
a full third of the Silver talents 'requisitioned' from the Royal Tombs of the Pontikoi Persikos.
Situated at the very centre of Pella, with a great Agora before it, it is regarded as the second
-most important landmark of the polis (after the Palace of the Basileus).
"Ionos, what happened to your slave Aemilius?"
"Oh it was misbehaving, so I removed the limbs. Maion, remind me to get more the next time I
visit Barbaropolis-"
"Sympatriotai! All rise!"
Numbering to more than a hundred, the Synedros of Makedonia rose to their feet in silence.
"The Basileus is absent, as he is still campaigning in the barbaric west, the false pretenders
of the Molossian dynasty. To give our spiritual support to our Great Basileus and his heir, we
shall recite the 'Hymn of the Peltastai' in the stead of our march anthem!"
The Strategos Autokrator claps his hands. A trio of Auletai begins to play. With grand feverent,
the Synedroi sang:
"No horizons,
No horizons,
Our Darkest dreams will lead us onward!
Let us forge ahead,
Making clear the way.
O Makedones!
Swear the oath right here,
Onward!
No horizons,
World encompassed,
Our Darkest dreams will lead us onward!
Souls this young and free,
Know no limits,
Now is the time,
Come!
Grab life while we can!
It's time!
Onward!"
"ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!" The men exclaimed. The Hypaspitai clashed their spears against
their Aspis. The Autokrator raised his arms, the Synedrion returned to silence. He began.
"Before we begin our day to day affairs, it is upon my great honour to bring to you this news.
It's true that some, if not all, of you would have knew this by now. Our heir had won his first
decisive victory against the Italo-barbaroi. Our brave thuerophoroi and peltastai, under his
esteemed leadership, had vanquished the invaders! By the glory of our Basileus, Taras is,
and will always be, an inseperatable part of Arche Makedonia!!!" "ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!! ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!! ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!!"
Most knew of the victory the night before already, but they made no attempt to hide their zeal
within the the halls. As the Strategos Autokrator turned a blind eye (for an hour), some
procured bottles of wine from their robes, some simply danced, more sang the 'Holy March of
the Taxis' over and over again...
"...hoist your xiphos into the sky!
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!!"
...A few, simply sat and said not a word.
"Have you taken care of those in the Akademia?"
"Them fools, thinking they know the world after reading a few parchments, they are in our cause now. Synedroi Kratos."
06-02-2009, 15:34
Maion Maroneios
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
:smash:
Maion
06-03-2009, 21:48
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Nice update. I loved the way you described Heresy. :2thumbsup:
06-04-2009, 09:16
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
just intermingling philosophy with my EB roleplay =P
Souls this young and free,
Know no limits,
Now is the time,
Come!
Actually why you put these sentence on retreating peltastai? time to retreat?...:idea2: Oh I know, that should be time to the Phalanx to take the peltastai's job... But I want to ask.... what's your primary ideas in these sentence?
Chronology: after the peltastai tire entire roman line with only taking some casualities, the exhausted romans got skewered by the phalangitai... exhausted men do move a lot slower and die quicker in front of Sarrisa..., except the peltastai makedonikoi, all the peltastai was retreated, rest for a long while, and then sent to either chase routers or smash the roman's opened back :yes:
06-09-2009, 09:26
Maion Maroneios
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cute Wolf
... then sent to either chase routers or smash the roman's opened back :yes:[/SPOIL]
I believe you neglect the importance of cavalry for that role. There is no thing more beautiful and awe-inspiring to behold, than a charging unit of Hetairoi in the backs of Romaioi Barbaroi. Of course, butchering thousands of crying, screaming sissy Romaioi is equally fun to do with some good Prodromoi, Lonchophoroi and the like.
Maion
06-09-2009, 12:28
Cute Wolf
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
My lonchophoroi is busy lurking against those routers... and allready smashing the flank in earlier time to "mold" these barbaroi, so they don't spill past my peltastai line...
Oh yeah... although cav is better to smash tose barbaroi's back, I didn't think encircling triarii with cav's is a good idea... :smash:
06-09-2009, 15:02
HunGeneral
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maion Maroneios
There is no thing more beautiful and awe-inspiring to behold, than a charging unit of Hetairoi in the backs of Romaioi Barbaroi.
Oh yeah now that is a site to behold.... (the only things which are somewhat more ave-inspirring is when an entire army routes from a mass-charge of 4 units of Hetairoi and two and a half units of Thessalian cavalry, or a whole army is overrun by 5 or more Saka or Pahlav Cataphracts.....)
Nice AAR - are thoose all your poems Satalexton?
06-09-2009, 15:11
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
nah, they're modified lyrics of several songs =P
06-10-2009, 06:59
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Nice update satalexton. Very nice screenshots Cute wolf.
06-13-2009, 04:54
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
I'm actually going to compose a march for this, in celebration to Maion's victory:
For loyalty! For Basileus! ALL, HAIL, MAKEDONIA!!!
06-13-2009, 05:59
Cute Wolf
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Verry Impressivveee
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA
06-13-2009, 12:48
Maion Maroneios
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Hehe, laughed at the "Malakes" part XD Trully astounding work there, Satalextos.
Maion
06-17-2009, 06:01
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
"What has the Basileus done for you? He fights his wars far away, leaving the rule to his so-called 'Strategos Autokrator' and his council of nobs from all Hellas. His heir forfeits the use of our sarissae altogether in his taxis, dishonouring our very dignity.
We clung to the Basileus, a mortal man, because He was all we knew. We feared life. We feared our own potential strength. Makedonia is dying. A slow death, but it’s dying. I did what I had to, that’s all. I opened my eyes and saw what a fool all of us were, bowing to a mortal failure slumped on a throne. Haha! The blasphemy still sends shivers down my spine. It is the freshness of life. I am given to Demokratia now. Now I truly live!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The Pezhetairos never share their wealth with us, yet we are levied when mortal peril comes our way."
"We only know how to sling and throw stuff, that can't be helped!"
06-24-2009, 03:53
Satyros
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Brother Satalexton , what chapter do you hail from ?
Or perhaps you are of the enlightened ones , like me ? Once Brothers , now thrice cursed and thrice blessed by our choice , our will and our loyalty to the Warmaster , forever immortal in the embrace of powers the lapdogs of the corpse are unable to fathom .
Do you seek to protect the corpse or be the speartip of the powers of ever-change ?
Our time comes .
Iron Within , Iron Without .
Your writing is inspiring mate , cheers .
Satyros
06-24-2009, 03:59
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Awesome Stuff Sat! :2thumbsup:
06-24-2009, 09:36
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Assert our rightous freedom! Lores of heroic deeds, Long live our Basileus!
O Fatherland of Glory,
Vergina sun shines bright!
Sons of Alexandros,
All Hail Makedonia!!!
High above on Olympus, Almighty Zeus guides on! Immortal beacons of Truth, Lucid as the sea!
O Fatherland of Glory,
Vergina sun shines bright!
Sons of Alexandros,
All Hail Makedonia!!!
March our brave Hetairos, Arche of Truth and Hope. King of Kings All Gaia, East to West he reigns. Dominion upon barbaroi, Our Basileus pushes on! Never will he be overthrown, Invincible his Agema. All Hail Makedonia!
O Fatherland of Glory,
Vergina sun shines bright!
Sons of Alexandros,
All Hail Makedonia!!!
I do most of these during my lunch hours, so I'd appreciate if I get screenshot contribuitions. =]
06-24-2009, 15:33
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Wow, a prayer for Makedonia both horizontal and vertical... You have truly surpassed yourself!
06-24-2009, 16:17
Cute Wolf
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
awesome poets... as usual... xp
06-24-2009, 16:45
Ghaust the Moor
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
wow...you must be really bored to come up with that many anthems. Well, good work nontheless.
06-24-2009, 18:49
HunGeneral
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Nice poem - This one really looks and sounds nice.. May I ask what "original" anthem inspired this one? It sounds /looks somehwat familier...:dizzy2:
06-24-2009, 20:55
Vasiliyi
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
This is excellent work Satalexton! You have talent when it comes to poetry and writing. Maybe you could write a poem for my aar one day! Keep this going my fellow Romaiotkonoi!
06-25-2009, 00:28
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Quote:
Originally Posted by HunGeneral
Nice poem - This one really looks and sounds nice.. May I ask what "original" anthem inspired this one? It sounds /looks somehwat familier...:dizzy2:
None really, only 'All Hail Makedonia' and 'Hymn of the Peltastai' were modified songs. Poems of this format tho, aren't exactly new. =] It's just a matter of having the right words.
07-08-2009, 09:17
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
"Xairete, philos synedroi. Before we begin our topic of the day,
let us mourn the passing of Maroneios."
Stern-faced, such was our Basileus.
Mourning, for Maroneios. He now becomes one with the gods,
for he died a martyr's death, in the name of Zeus and Alexandros.
A noble Makedones he was. Truthful faith in the Fatherland;
Granting death to every foe on the battlefield.
"May his immortal beacon show the way,
for we shall step forth, seek glory."
Torn to pieces and burnt by rioters, pillagers, looters.
Back by Barbaropolis gold. Unclean filth,
purged with great vengeance they were.
"In his memory, we hoist our xiphos high into the clouds!"
"ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!
In memory of Maroneios.
ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!"
The death of a loyal, honourable hellene, is such a sad thing.
Pella weeps for him.
Makedonia weeps for him.
Hellas weeps for him.
O Maroneios.
"May the traitors burn eternally,
may Hades give his divine punishment upon the unclean!"
Nobody weeps for traitors.
Not Pella,
Not Makedonia,
Not Hellas.
Their rotting shells, exposed outside the gates.
Too lowly a feed even for the vultures.
----------------------------------------
to be continued
07-08-2009, 09:51
Cute Wolf
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Wow, a civil war in Makedonia! :dizzy:
07-09-2009, 02:39
Azathoth
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
I don't think he knows 40K, Satyros. Then again, I don't know that much about 40K, so it might be that he is mixing it in along with the extremely obvious CG: LotR influence.
07-21-2009, 11:05
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Euonos
One warm day, on the freshly 'liberated' Getic lands,
Euonos marches a small band of fresh troops to his forts.
Raised from his own (recently enriched...lavishly enriched)
coffers, (previously) disfranchaised hellenic youths,
keltoi levies from tylis, and 350 agrianian infantry.
They also 'came across' roughly a hundred or so fine horses,
which he assigned to some of the horse-trained keltoi.
Sending some of his cavalry forward as scouts,
they rest themselves upon a slight hill. A chilly stream ran
along the south, providing the men a freshening drink.
Euonos and his companions sat in the middle of the simple
tent erected by the followers. It's past afternoon, and we're
not in any hurry, mused Euonos. They'll march to the forts tomorrow.
The Getic Campaign nears it's end, The Confederacy's heartland
was sacked and peace was sued. Many slaves and talants were
gained. What remains to do is to simply 'pacify' the new lands,
and keeping the subsequent puppet rulers secure in their seats...
The agrianians guard the camp, zealous to the excess for the
Makedonian cause. Beading their eyes, they scan their surroundings
vigilantly, ever ready to grab their axes to fight on a moment's notice.
Their efforts are only appreciated by the companions, their business-like
attitude and fanatical stance irks the others, especially the hellenes.
Rowdy and youthful, the hellenes and keltoi exploited their resting
time with drinking, gambling, and wrestling. Their supplies are plentiful,
there's no need for foraging. Sun down is still hours away.
Euonos himself was about to raise a feast with his companions and officers,
when the cavalry scouts return gallopping into the camp. Ignoring swears
and curses as they trample over dice circles and smashed wine jars, the keltoi
made for the middle tent.
"Coming!" one panted, "COMING!"
Euonos sat up, a few keltoi officers hurried to help their kin off their horses.
Some were injured.
Beckoning some of the followers to tend to the wounded,
Euonos enquired, "What, who..? Coming?"
"Foes, Getic tribesmen....Not happy. One Two Three Thousand!
We fight the better, but Moc lose eye. They come for us all!"
The keltoi replied, with his limited koine tongue.
It was with the translation from a keltoi officer that clarified his words: Three thousand
Three thousand, however, still meant they're outnumbered more than 3 to 1.
A band of Getic Mauraders are approaching them.
The entire camp was whipped into a frenzy. Officers shouted,
arms unsheathed, companions readied their horses.
They all know their chances are slim, but they intend to at least
have the cavalry break out with the strategos. The rest shall fight to the end.
The Getai arrive. They stood, falx in hand, ready for the massacre to come.
Barbaroi.
Some shouted their obscene taunts, some chanted their war hymns, others threw mother insults. They're less than 3 stades away from the gates.
Euonos' entire force sallied before the front of the camp.
Their front being far shorter than their foe, they deepened their ranks to 5.
There's no point in thinning their line.
The Hellenes griped their javalins and xiphos;
the keltoi chanted as they banged their swords against their small bucklers;
the agrianians just stood there, stern faced and prepared.
Here they stand, here they fight.
All Hail Makedonia, to death and beyond.
True to the Makedonian spirit, they began to sing: (at least the Hellenes, and most Agrianians)
Onwards, O Makedones!
Right here we make our stand!
Fear no evil, Strength in soul,
Step Forth to Glory!
Arise, O brave kin!
The Vergina sun shines high!
Hoist your swords, Brace your shields,
Step Forth to Glory!
Hoist your xiphos into the clouds,
All Hail Makedonia.
To death and beyond.
Suddenly, Euonos emerged from the gates.
Alone.
Fully equipped.
Armed to the teeth.
Carrying a goat.
"Behhhhhhhhhhh" said the goat.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhh" said Euonos.
The people and barbaroi, stared.
Euonos trots out,
to right between the 2 battlelines.
"Behhhhhhhhhhh" said the goat.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhh" said Euonos.
The people and barbaroi, stared.
Euonos sits down on a stone.
"Behhhhhhhhhhh" said goat.
"Meh" said Euonos.
Euonos lights fire.
"Beh" said Goat.
"Meh" said Euonos.
A few Getai dropped their weapons,
More dropped their jaws.
Euonos kills Goat.
"..." said Goat.
"Meh" said Euonos.
Taking no notice of the thousands of empty stares
directed at him, Euonos skins the goat. Planting his Xyston into the
earth, he hangs the goatskin onto his lance. He then begins to roast
the goat upon the fire. The Getai starts to grow lethargic towards the spectacle.
Euonos then takes out a bottle of unwatered wine from within his cape. Prodding the
roast with his xiphos, he takes sips of the wine.
It is now, a curious and impetuous Getic infantry approached
the strategos with a javalin raised. The Hellenes held their breath.
Euonos ignores the barbaros.
The barbaros threw the javalin straight at his head.
Euonos simple tilted his head, evading the projectile by the skin of his teeth.
He then picks it up, and uses it to serve himself some finely roasted goat.
Enraged, the barbaros ran at the Strategos with his sika. "#$%^(&(*(*" he shouted.
Euonos swiftly stood up with his xiphos, and dispatched the barbaros by lopping off
his head. The Getai simply blinked as the strategos resumed his feast.
The Hellenes, Agrianians and Keltoi stood their ground. Anxious about the
welfare of their strategos, they dared not to break their already
thin and outflanked lines.
Stomach full of (unwatered) wine and goat, Euonos stood. The sun begins to set,
and most of the barbaroi are losing their interest. Euonos suprises all again by stripping.
Fully naked, saved for his helmet. Euonos begins to excercise on the spot.
The Keltoi watched with delight.
THe Hellenes facepalmed.
The Getai lose their interest and began to retreat.
With a great yelp of "ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!! VERGINA SUN
SHINES UPON ALL GAIA!!!" Euonos picks up his Aspis and
Xiphos. He charges, nakkid, towards the bored, retreating barbaroi.
Inspired by their naked fanatic of a Strategos, the Keltoi charged with
one great "RABOOOOOO!!!"
The others followed. The cavalry whipped their horses into action.
Surprised by the entire change of circumstances, the Getic retreat
turned into a total rout. Euonos, at the very fore of the wedge,
hacked and slashed through swaths of barbaroi.
By the time the sun sank in the west, the hill where Euonos' men
camped was littered in bodies, dismembered limbs and heads. Not
a single of Euonos' men perished.
A Heroic victory.
This was Euonos Argeads.
07-21-2009, 17:30
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
:dizzy2: Disturbing on one hand, but just GREAT on the other hand. :2thumbsup:
07-21-2009, 18:03
Maion Maroneios
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
I agree with the second part. Great update :2thumbsup:
BTW Strategos Autokrator, are you back from your vacations?
Maion
07-21-2009, 20:26
Centurio Nixalsverdrus
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maion Maroneios
I agree with the second part. Great update :2thumbsup:
BTW Strategos Autokrator, are you back from your vacations?
Maion
Sí, amigo, and now I will fall into bed since I am awake since 4am.
07-22-2009, 10:50
satalexton
Re: Short stories in Makedonia
I think our mad friend Euonos deserves an epiphet =P what should it be?
