Stories Thread

[navarro951]

The General's Relaxation After a Siege...

General Ankyrikos and his best Captain, his loyal friend, sit atop a well in the center of occupied Nikaia...

"You seem to be enjoying yourself general", the captain smirks.

The general, takes a long and deserved gulp of water. He allows it to quench his thirst and closes his eyes smiling at the Captains remarks. His eyes open, "Well...its the first city I've taken, how should I feel?"

The Captain nods and looks off into the breeze at some shackled prisoners. One of them is naked and bloody. He points, "Oh my look at this one here, he seems to of lost his armor," the General takes another long sip. "Servant get that man the finest of armors...order it from the Basileus himself!" he jokes.

The General spits out the water breaking down in childish laughter and the Captain joins. "Captain! You are truly the sickest of men!" He continues to laugh.

"What! You think that's wrong? Well maybe I should cancel my night alone with his wife ya?" Ankyrikos smiles. "Hell if shes built right ill join ya!" They chuckle.

"Well, good general, I'm off to bask in my own glory...there's got to be something entertaining to do in this town."

The General smiles, "Ya doing the wife". The Captain smiles, nods, pats the general on the shoulder and walks off.

[GMaximus]

Western Mikra Asia

"See, Polymarches? Everything is going well, just how I told you. The siege of Byzantion was over fast, and now we're going east, to aid the new Kleronomos in the management of his satrapy and possibly even interfere in the war between those Parni barbaroi and Baktrians, should orders come. And I sincerely hope they do." Mikithion bit his lip silently after muttering these last words. As a true Hellene through and through, he couldn't stand the thought of some barbaroi from the steppes daring to threaten a Hellenic civilization with extinction.

Polymarches yawned. Even this iron man felt exhausted after travelling an entire day, just after battle no less. At least he knew he would sleep well, and that was at least partially due to the fact Mikithion seemed to have finally secured a position in the Arche, and not as the laziest of all Strategoi.

"But didn't you intend to free Athenai?" The spear carrier inquired, rubbing his eyes.

Mikithion looked back, beyond his bodyguards that strolled after the three figures (Lisymakes was also with the duo, however the herbalist was nearly asleep and didn't partake in their conversation), towards where he knew lay the coast of Ionia, the island of Mytilene, the Aigai, and beyond it, the shores of Mother Hellas and his mother city, Athenai.

"Yes, I did... However Athenai is not threatened to be wiped out by barbaroi. We must make sacrifices, but not enormous ones. Baktria could very well be a sacrifice of my sentimentality if no one else decides to march to its aid and the Hellenes there cannot hold against the flood of the Parni. I trust that if Athenai is taken by one of our Strategoi, many will go against the sacking of such an ancient city, one of the craddles of Hellenic civilization."

Doubt crept over his brow, however the Hellene shook his head and focused his mind on the duties ahead instead of what may befall his home in his absence. True, the Arche was better than the Ptolemaioi, but just how much he didn't yet know. He was a relative newcommer to the big stage, and although he heard rumors both in Athenai and Antiocheia, they could barely be trusted to be thruthful, comming through the Ptolemaioi navy in one place and the Arche's garisson in the other.

[Warluster]

Side 259 BC

In the small house in Side, along the coast of the great Arche empire, a lone servant was hurrying through the stone corridors of the house. He was worried, concerned, a frown was on his face and a sword hung absently by his side. He was walking up stairs now, and soon stood by a door on the third level. As a cool breeze blew through the window at the end of the corridor where he stood, he raised his hand, ready to knock.

His closed fist lowered slowly, uncertianty flashing over his face while furious sounds of writing echoed from within the room. He knocked quietly twice, and the writing stopped. Two heavy thuds and the door was swung open fast.
"What!?" demanded the grey haired man holding the door.
"I was wondering if you were alright." voiced the servant nervously, the lord frightening him.
"Do I look alright to you!? Of course I;m bloody alright!" yelled the man, turning away to the desk he was writing at,
"I am alright now, but this damned Empire isn't. Run by fools, I say."
"You didn't say that, did you?" asked the servant quickly. The Stratego looked angrily at the servant, answer enough. He sighed loudly, standing up and going abruptly quiet, stabding at the window looking out.
"By the Gods I hate this place." he muttered quietly, and the servant strained to hear him. The servant hurried to behind his master.
"Is there something wrong, my lord?"
"Yes, very much so." Theodotas turned quickly, startlign the servant, but Theodotas ignored him, racing to his desk and picking up the quill.


"I need to contact someone with authority. I need to do something, I need to MOVE!" he roared, writing furiously now. The servant was wary, and hovered nearby. Theodotas threw down the quill, sitting back and putting his hands over his face, trying to relax from the cramps in his back.
"The Gods must need me here or I would barge into that dmaned Council Hall, useless as it is, and take the Chancellor by the collar and shake a damned answer out of him." He leaned forward, thinking, but the servant did not realize.
"may I get you anything, my lord."
"DAMNIT!" roared Theodotas, blowing up in anger completely and pulling a short knife from his waist. THe servant hurried, running but walking, and slammed the door shut quickly as the tip of the knife sliced through the door, settling mere inches from the servants face.
"I NEED TO FIGHT! I NEED TO MOVE!" roared Theodotas, crashing around in his room, but it suddenly went quiet.
"Leave, let me write." he ordered quietly, worrying the servant more then his shouting. As he raised his hand he stopped suddenly, afraid to tempt the man's brilliant anger. No, he would not tempt luck today again, and with that he walked away.

Theodotas, meanwhile, was in his room preparing a short message to the Basileus, asking for him to be able to command an army somewhere, preferably where there was fighting. THe promise he had publicl made, for the enemies heads to be brought directly the basileus stuck with him. Theodotas had no doubt he would eventually lead an army, he was angry that he did not already.
Damned foolish man He thought angrily, thinking of the loss of the 1st Parthian Army, If that was me, I would've pulled away or demanded reinforcements. he thought confidently, ithcing for a chance to fight. He pulled himself away from the furious letter. Time will tell, he thought gravely, time will defintly tell.

[Cultured Drizzt fan]

The Words of a Spirited Man: Winter 258 a wooded glen north of Edessa.

A man stands, his sword raised above his helmeted head. He gazes at his force, 120 Native phalangtite, men that would form the backbone of this battle. The 80 Persians archers at his command. And the 120 lightly armed spearman he also had. “Praise the Basileus for giving me such a force, and damn these rebels for making me throw some of their lives away.” Patrokles muttered, and then called for silence from his troops. They stopped and most men kneeled, showing respect to their commander. Patrokles scoffed “what are you men doing, bowing, to me? No, men I do not deserve such respect, in fact I Should kneel to you! To you, men that deserve better than this soon to be bloody field will give you. You deserve the highest honors, for you men are true patriots!” a roar shuddered through the crowd and men jostled in closer “You are the men who fight, die, and KILL. All for your country and for your Basileus.” Another roar “I am a patient man, a kind man, and I wish that it was not necessary to take you from your fields, and your shops. BUT there is one thing I am not patient to, one kind of person I am not kind to. And those people are rebels, for any man who would stand against the Arche deserves a swift trip to Hades, something I plan on giving them all” an even louder yell shook through the assembled army. Patrokles continued “and now let us not tarry, Let us fight, and yes if the gods will it, die. But if such things should pass then let me die with a hundred mans life staining my blade! FOR THE ARCHE!”
The army mobilized and marched forward, they marched against a force twice times their number but with half as much spirit...... the rebels never had a chance.