1.x AI Faction Progression Thread

[Maion Maroneios]

OK Stuntz, we know Hellas is the most beautiful country all right

Anyway, here is a shot of my ongoing Makedonian campaign. The year is 239BC:


Makedones: The mighty Basileion has risen from her ashes, and has unified Hellas under leadership of Antigonos Gonatas. Long dead now, the Crown belongs to his son Alkyoneus "Philopator". With the Epeirotai unable to properly defend Megale Hellas against the Romaioi Barbaroi, the Makedones established a foothold on Kalabria. This would ultimately lead to a war of attrition against the Romaioi, and the expansion of the Basileion. The Karchedoi have also joined the party, getting a nice beating from Demetrios (Antigonos' youngest son) who recently killed about 36,000 of those sea-loving barbaroi. A campaign in Illyria has brought the region under Makedonian control as well, as has the naval invasion of the Crimean to protect the Hellenes against the Skythai. Currently at war with the Pontioi (who repeatedly attack Byzantion), Romaioi, Karchedoi and Ptolemaioi (who attampted to sieze Rhodos several times). With the coffers bleeding badly, something has to be done quickly to avoid a future crisis.

Iberioi (aka Lusotani): Standard expansion by these barbaroi here. One of their proxenoi visited Hellas some years ago, I believe his name was Audaxos. It seems they might have some problems with the Karchedoi, once the latter realise they should simply abandon their plans in Sikalia and Megale Hellas due to Makedonian intervention.

Brettanikai Phylai (aka Casse): WTH? Where did they go? Fear not, Strategos Maroneios decided to kick them out and replace them with a shadow faction of the mighty Makedones. Ah, the thought of Civil War is always pleasant.

Aidouoi (aka Aedui): Pah, smelly barbaroi. We'll get them one day, though. And, Zeus' willing, we'll take revenge of them for sacking Hellas. Anyway, they just do what they should do. Fighting with the Arbernoi, those other barbaroi. As if we give a dime about those damn, god-forsaken forests of theirs.

Arbernoi (aka Arverni): More or less the same with the Aidouoi. They do seem to constantly have a slightly upper hand, though. Not that we care, but even our fearless Basileus might have to consider establishing some solid relationships if one of the two manages to unify Gallia.

Germanikai Phylai (aka German Tribes): Not much is known of the phylai of the Hyperborioi, though from what we've heard there seems to be one phyle stronger than the others that tries to unify the dark forested lands of those primitive barbaroi. Not that we care. Not at all, that is. I bet a square mile of their dark beforested land is worth less than a Triereres. Indeed, it is.

Romaioi (aka Romans): Only the all-knowing gods know hom much I enjoyed hearing that our great Strategos, Demetrios "Romaioktonos", killed 4 of the most influental men of that polis, Rome. Or better Barbaropolis, seing they are no better than the rest of the barbaroi that surround our beautiful Basileion. When they realised they won't have a bright future trying to expand south, they instead shifted their attention to the north by warring with the local phylai of the Keltoi. Pah, I'd like to see their faces when our great Demetrios knocks upon the gates of their beloved capital one of these days!

Italiotai Apeirotai: See that little patch of Tirqoise there on the map? There, on Megale Hellas? You don't know where that is? *Sigh* *points to the map* There. Well, they are basically remnants of the Epeirotai who fled from Hellas after loosing the war against Antigonos "Gonatas", our former Basileus. Quite manipulative and persuasive as well. I'm quite interested to see howlong they're going to last. I'd pay to see them get a good old beating ala-Demetrios. Oh yes, I wouldn't miss that for the world.

Karchedoi: What to say of those people? First of all, they start poking their noses with the affairs of Hellenes by attacking Syrakousai. And the Hellenes didn't even ask for help! They did deserve being captured and punished by the Karchedoi, if you ask me. But then they did the unthinkable: Just as Demetrios readied his push up the spine of Megale Hellas, they attacked Brettia! They got butchered by our noble Strategos though, as the dogs they are. They will soon loose their holdings in Sikelia, as everything shows. Anyway, let them do what they please. They did regain control of Sardinia and Korsike from the Romaioi dogs some years prior, that much I admit.

Thrakike Symmachia (aka Thracian Alliance): Yes, you heard it right. A Symmachia of Thrakes, of all people! Truth is, it isn't much of an alliance if you ask me. Just a couple of phylai that bully the rest into paying them taxes and providing them with troops. Pah, barbaroi all of them. I did hear something about military activity near the borders of Dardanoia though...

Skythai (aka Scythians): Well, i don't really have to say much about them. Only that they invaded the Crimean just as we launched a naval expedition there. Oh yes, they did. They even captured Pantikapaion! Good thing the leading Strategos, noble Perseus and son of our beloved Basileus, was there to take the polis back and kick the barbaroi out of the region. I did hear that he did so with substantial casualties, though. Not wanting to insult the man's abilities, of course. But one shouldn't underestimate them.

Pontioi (aka Pontics): Filthy animals all of them! Sacriligeous beasts, filth of the earth, unwashed barbaroi, Hellenes-wannabees, sons of who... Sorry, I got carried away. But those animals have set an eye upon the great polis of Byzantion! Time after time, our loyal Strategos and Dioiketes of the polis and surrounding region has repelled their attacks, but recently he died against an army led by one of the finest Strategoi of the Pontioi. Not before he took him to Hades with him, though. The men of the polis also managed to drive away the army, so things are OK for now. As for those barbaroi themselves, they took a clear advantage of the situation in Asia to take a good chunk of Anatolia under their control. Only Pergamon stays defiant, though if she falls too we'll have even more problems...

Arche Ptolemaion (aka Ptolemaic Empire): One word: Wow. I may not like them, but an applause is due. Against all odds and facing their own inside problems, they managed to deliver a crippling blow to the Seleukeis by grabbing Mesopotamia from them. There are words of a Sivil War though, as the Startegos who took control of Mesopotamia and pushed as far as Asia has dreams of carving his own Empire in expense of Pharao Ptolemaios. He is just one step away from declaring himself the new Basileus ton Basileon...

Seleukeis (aka Seleucids): One word; Dissapointment. But what would one expect from these Diadochoi wannabees? Truth is, they did remain loyal allies. But I'm pretty sure that'd change if they were in the position of the Ptolemaioi. They still hold on firm, transfering their capital in Sousa. Let's see if they manage to spring back. Rumours speak of secret meetings between our Basileus and representatives of the Seleukid Basileus. What that could mean I don't really know, though I really hope our Basileus doesn't decide to join the chaos in Asia.

Armenioi (aka Armenians): Nothing interesting here, philoi. Busy repelling the Skythai from the north, while they always keep an eye to the south. Especially now that the Ptolemaioi have gone on a rampage.

Arabikai Phylai (aka Arabian Tribes): Not much is known about those people as well. Better let things stay so. You bet I don't give a dime about the eremos in which those dehydrated barbaroi live.

Parthoi (aka Parthians): A very interesting expansion by the nomadic barbaroi here. Managed to blitz straight into the heart of the Seleukeis. I just hope they give the Ptolemaioi a mighty headache.

Sakaioi (aka Sakae): You sure want to know a lot, don't you? All right, all right I'll tell you. Well, according to information coming straight from the far-away Basileion of Baktria (oh yes, I spoke to an old merchant who used to be a soldier fighting there) the Sakaioi are quiet. Not causing too much trouble to the ruling Hellenes, that is. What? That is not reliable information? Like I give a dime about some barbaroi living in the ends of the Earth.

Baktrioi (aka Bactrians): After officially breaking apart form the rule of the Seleukeis, they carved a nice little Basileion of their own. Bet they're making tons and tons of money there. *Sigh*

What are you looking at? That's all I had to say. Sheesh, people nowdays are very rude. Never happy with what they have...

Maion