Stories Thread

**SwissBarbar** · 11-04-2008, 02:16

The Story of

Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes

Chapter 2 - in preparation for the voyage to Phyrgia

Nikarchos walked trough the gates of the royal councils' residence and squinted his eyes due to the scorching sun. Divine Marduk meant it almost too good with his worshipers and let the sun burn down remorselessly.

Nikarchos rambled through the park, buried in thought, and planned his journey to Ipsos. He thought about being accompanied by all of his bodyguards and of course his servants. The journey through Kilikia an Phyriga was very dangerous, so he could use every able man available to be on his side.

And not only the men but also the gods of course! Shortly after reaching his mansion and giving all orders to his servants, he left heading the Temple of Marduk. But not the one in the City. He prefered the great Megas Naos Mordekou out-of-town. A place built by one of his ancestors.

Marduk, Lord of the Gods and master of the sky was the protector of Mesopotamia and Babylonia, where his greatest temples have been built many generations ago.

The temple guard already awaited him. So Nikarchos went to the shrine of the father of the gods and begged him for a secure voyage to Phyriga. And he hoped to find out more about his future.

For at least 2 hours he just sat there on his horse and waited for a sign of Marduk. Everything around him was silent, he didn't apperceive the noise the temple guard made nor the soft breeze on his face. There was just him and his thoughts.

He felt the presence of the divine at this place. He tried to absorb it with every fibre of his body.
And then, suddenly... he saw a dazzlingly white light in his head and a picture appeard in his mind. He had a vision...

He stood on a battlefield like a ghost with one of his bodyguards. It was a field of death, a terrible sight. Tens of thousands soldiers lay dead on the ground, there were disembodied extremities widely scattered and here and there heavily injured men screamed theirselfs hoarse. When he saw macedonian ensigns on the ground he became frightened.

What does this sign from Marduk say to him? Should it be his fate to defeat the macedonians in the west and merge them into the Seleukid empire? Or was it a sign of his own fall? After all he was of makedonian origin! Maybe he was about to become a betrayer and fight the Arche Seleukeia on the Macedonian side in order to re-establish Alexanders empire? Nah, could not imagine that, there was no man more loyal to the Arche Seleukeia than him. It must be the first of these cases...

Whatever his fate was, the future will show .....

**johnhughthom** · 11-05-2008, 18:16

Two men walked out of the council chamber in Seleukeia

"Well Polyxenidos, where to?"
"Let's head back to Babylon for a few days, I wish to sleep in my own bed again... I feel you looking at me Heronius, what's wrong?"
"Just wondering, you seem to have held back the last couple of days in there. I expected you to savage young Mysiakes, remind the Basileus how you wanted to fight that large Ptolemaic army that have come back to haunt us and demand we focus on one area at a time as we seem so overstretched as you warned would happen."
"Hmmm, perhaps once I may have done so. What is the point of doing so now? The satisfaction of being right, I know when I'm right and care little if others know. No, I see myself nudging the Empire in gentle pushes. I'm a blind man, if I start shouting off about things I will be ignored as "that crazy fool who can't see." I have to be careful. Anyhow you are the one who told me not to be too harsh with that brash easterner, and you know Mikleia thinks I should tread carefully."
"Since when have you listened to what women think, even your wife?"
"Remember there was a time I wouldn't take any advice, even yours. She has grown up amongst the Greek ruling class, she knows how to get her way without drawing attention to herself. Don't worry, I won't be asking her advice on military matters, that's still your domain."

The two men walked in the direction of the stables, ready for a few days away from the politics of running an Empire.

**GMaximus** · 11-07-2008, 18:54

Somewhere in Kappadokia

The wooden chair on which Mikithion sat creaked loudly as the Strategos leaned back, placing all his weight on the rear legs. Brushing some dust off of his easily noticeable robe, he cast an angry glance at the ceiling, before resuming reading the letter from Sarpedon Syriakes for what must've been the twentieth time that evening.

Hearing a silent knock on the doors that separated his small, humble room from the rest of the inn, the Hellene answered with a 'Come in, Polymarches'. Lysimakes and Polymarches were the only two people that he had allowed to disturb him, and the old herbalist was asleep in the room next to his; Mikithion could hear the honorable man snoring. Thus, Polymarches was the only one who could be behind the doors.

Indeed, the doors carefuly opened and Polymarches stepped into the room. "My lord, I appologize for disturbing you, but Alexander has returned, and he reports that Sarpedon Syriakes..."

"Yes, I know that we have his permission to join his army. And if that is the case, then Basileus must've approved my request to be assigned to the Pontic frontier." When Polymarches raised his eyebrows in surprise, Mikithion gestured with his free hand to the letter. "The Kleronomos asked me to take command of his army temporarily, until either he can reasume his position at its head, or that Makedonian joins us, Nikarchos Syriakes or whoever..."

Polymarches' eyebrows rose even further, and when they could no longer move up, the spear carrier expressed his surprise with his eyes. He went through a quick change of emotions as the surprise became awe, and awe became joy.

"You have been appointed to lead a Royal Army temporarily, my lord? That is great news indeed, a fine chance to prove your worth!"

Mikithion only yawned. "Indeed it is. Tell the men to be ready early in the morning, and send out one of them to Antiocheia. Not Alexander, let him rest. Tell whoever you send to... Wait, nevermind. Send him to my room some ten minutes from now, I'll have his orders then. And rest well yourself, we'll have a long way to go to reach Sarpedon's army."

Without even trying to distinguish his joy, Polymarches left the room. Mikithion yawned again, before asuming a more comfortable position for writing and beginning to scribble something on a piece of paper.

**kingsnake** · 11-08-2008, 21:27

The Syrian Army's Fort, west of Mazaka.
Winter 266 BC

Everything was calm now. His army was experienced and loyal. Things ran smoothly and there were no worries, except for the occasional new recruits, but each captain could handle them effectively.
Wearing no armor, only fur to protect him from the winter morning cold, Aratos was walking towards the small wooden tower. Greeting, on his way, the few men who were already awake and the patrolling soldiers, he arrived at the tower. When Aratos reached the top, the tower guard automatically greeted and climbed down.
Aratos, looked up, closed his eyes, inspired the fresh air and sighed.
One more day. Soon the army will march up and enter Pontic lands. Opening his eyes, he looked north and observed the thin fog that covered and tried to slide down the rugged rocky peaks of the mountains. Soon the sun will climb up and destroy the fragile mist.
The camp was well positioned, away from the frontiers, though close enough for the planned surprise invasion. Our enemy will hardly suspect anything. The assault must be quick and effective, Aratos thought. Once the Pontic problem is dealt with, he could go south and aid against those damned Egyptians. Hell! He should be there right now! One of these days he’ll soon have to return to Persepolis, he misses his homeland and his son must have a persian education. Then, he won’t be able to avenge his father as he correctly wanted. His son was more important now and Aratos knew it, since the day he first held his baby on his arms.

**00jebus** · 11-11-2008, 21:02

Cadeyren laugh shook the night "Across a desert? well, if they want to drag their troops to their death, I say we let them, they'll need to found a new city of the dead before they get here though"

Timarchos however looked at the scout that had just informed him of a large army advancing from Egypt, he spoke "where are they?"

"About one seasons march out" replied the scout in front of him

"Look, boss, if that were a celtic army, then it would literally melt in that heat.."

"But its not, I guess we'll deal with it if it manages to cross the desert, I just hope half of the men you saw were an illusion, cause if not this thing will die faster than it began."

Timarchos looked around his tent, "Gods I wish I was rich enough to buy some merc's.." he looked at his scout "go do a whip round, jews are supposed to be rich right? see if we can't get enough for something!"

Cadeyren looked sceptical "Thracians? we can't affort them..."

"I know, I'll get anything I can afford, we lack any heavy infantry, and now I really am starting to miss them"

"You've never commanded any"

"Not for greeks I havn't" a smile crossed Timarchos lips, Cadeyren stayed quite, by unspoken consent, neither wished to intrude on the others memories of wars gone by unless it was offered, but the Celt seriously doubted anyone east of Antioch even knew what true heavy infantry actually was.

**Celtic_Punk** · 11-12-2008, 03:06

"I am a newly wed! I should be at home caring for my wife, not killing young lads..."
"You're losing your touch?! Bloody Hell Cuno, you are a General, and a soldier first, a husband second."
"Achaikos, does it really matter who commands these men? They have my best friend as their supreme commander. I am just here for the ride."
"Not true, you command the cavalry! What if Aratos falls? Who will command them then? You will, and you are the most qualified for such a job, you know these men, you saved their lives at Pamphylia."
Cunobelinus looks up at the sky "Perhaps... You've convinced me... My wife is young. Maybe with my time here away she will bud into a beautiful flower... I'll fight. For Galatia, my wife, and for the men."
"That's all I ask, brother. That's what all men fight for...Home, family, and the men next to you."

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**GMaximus** · 11-14-2008, 21:30

The Gates of Ipsus

“Well that wasn’t a pleasurable experience.” Mikithion groaned, making his way through the gates to the town of Ipsus, Polymarches and Lysimakes at his side and his bodyguard behind him. They had rode from Kappadokia to Ipsus without any prolonged stops; Mikithion was only glad that hopefully, he wouldn’t need to make such wild rides like from Kappadokia to Seleukeia or this journey. The army was supposed to move slower than a small party of horsemen, after all.

Polymarches only grunted something in response. The spear carrier was still grieving over the fact Mikithion’s power over the Royal Army of Sarpedon was so short-lived; this temporary promotion seemed to Polymarches like the gates to higher rank, glory, money and just about anything else, gates that have just been closed.

Mikithion himself did not pay that much attention to this brief interruption in his otherwise uneventful life as a Strategos; ever since sending out Alexander to Seleukeia with his request of reassignment, the Hellene could only imagine himself earning glory in this war. If he was lucky, he’d get to prove his mettle in a battle under Sarpedon and the Kleronomos would put in some words for him in the Council, maybe even enough for Mikithion to be assigned his own troops. If he was very lucky, then he might even become an Aid for the Satrap.

Both those options were appealing, and as he rode into Ipsus, Mikithion allowed himself a weary smile – this war was indeed a gift from Athena.