Stories Thread

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Seleukeia, Summer 272BC

Antiochos stood near the window and watched outside. Recent messages from all over the Empire made him sour and grumpy. He turned around and walked back to table that was filled with parchments. He sighed and then ringed a bell. One of his personal slaves walked in.

"Sautes, here is the list of the Strategos' that have been invited to the Royal Council. Make sure that all of them get the invitation."

Sautes bowed and took the list. But before he left the room he turned around and said..

"Basileus, you can not blame yourself. Most of us, most of the people, will support you no matter what happens."

Antiochos smiled and gave a nod to Sautes who bowed and left the room. Once alone in the room again he turned and took a seat.

"Although some say that we are the Most Advanced, Largest and Strongest Empire in the known world. But I think we are just a shadow of our former glory. Riots in east have showed that. Over 600 people died in those riots, both civilians and soldiers. Many buildings were damaged. Even some temples were razed by the angry people. And now this. Hayasdan, Pahlava and Baktria have declared themselves independent and cancelled alliances with us. Ptolemaios and his bloodthirsty Egyptian hordes will soon be upon us too. And our western enemies..."

Antiochos sighed...

"Creation of the Royal Council was the last resort. I can not fail my father and his dream..."

[Celtic_Punk]

A cool chill ran down Cunobelinus' spine. He was a reddish-blond haired man with a frightening physical stature. The cool summer breeze ran southwest along the grassy hills outside Ipsos.
"Master, we are needed at the council chambers, by the order of the Basileus"

"Of course, Sennus." Arrhenides Gedrosianos Cunobelinus replied to his servant.
Cunobelinus rose from his knees at the grave infront of him, thinking to himself - "I never knew you, father, But by the will of the Gods I will wear your name to honour you, and bring honour to our family.

Cunobelinus walked to his horse, "Damn Syrians think they rule the world! Bah! We shall see soon enough, won't we Sennus? Ptolemy grows stronger by the day, and with the Nile as his spine, he will not be broken easily."

"Sire, you give him too much credit! And these Syrians are rulers of the most powerful empire in the four quarters."

"Hmmm, only you of all servants would have the manhood to disagree with me. You do have a point however!" chuckled Cunobelinus, "However we are in a precarious position, the Persians and the brutal nomads to the North grow bolder each day. It is only a matter of time before the Northern borders collapse. It is this man's opinion that our future lies in the Mediterranean. Not in the East. We should leave that place for the Nomads who seem so eager to have it. This empire is but a shadow of the former glory that was Megas Alexandros! And these bastard Syrians do not hold the values and visions of unity that he did. The Arche Selucia's Easten holdings WILL fall. Alas we will last... If this blasted Syrian dynasty does not."

"You DO have a point there Sire!"

The two men saddled up on their horses, Arrhenides looked to his fathers grave one last time. "I will see you one day Cunobelinus, By the will of Morrigan we will meet." the young Cunobelinus nodded, as he pulled the reigns of his black horse.

"Oh, and not a word of this to anyone, right Sennus?"

"Of course, Sire!" his loyal servant said with a ear to ear grin,

"Look, the sun is rising! I think today is going to be quite a day, wouldn't you agree?"
Both men looked at each other and laughed as they rode north to the city.

OOC: lets get some more stories in here!

[johnhughthom]

Polyxenidos Lykikos lay senseless in his bed, an opium pipe dangling between two bent fingers and six empty wine jugs scattered on the floor around two sleeping prostitutes, each garishly made up. The late afternoon sun gave the room a surreal air, the bright blue Ishtar Gates visible through the window reminded Heronius, Greek captain of Lykikos personal bodyguard, how far from home he was, the pathetic sight of his patron reinforced how he missed Corinth.

"Sir, a letter from the Basileus!" he announced in a loud voice, startling the prostitutes out of slumber but the only sign Lykikos was still alive was a flutter of his fingers, dropping the opium pipe to the floor. Heronius walked up to the prostitutes and kicked one in the side, "Get out of here" he ordered in his most authoritative voice, vaguely wondering if they were male or female as they stumbled out. Sitting on a chair beside Lykikos bed Heronius looked at the man who paid his wages, thinking the letter in his hand would change both their lives, for the better or worse he had no idea. He was well aware of the problems facing the empire and realised that if the Basileus thought men like Lykikos was the answer things were actually much worse than he thought. Perhaps Antiochos believed sacrificing the most incompetent men in the empire would appease the gods, in which case he would drag Lykikos to Seleukeia by the feet if necessary.

"Sir!" he shouted again and Lykikos began to stir. Heronius handed the letter over, fully aware Lykikos was illiterate. The Babylonian looked at the letter through bleary eyes then handed it back "I am too tired to read today," he claimed in his most arrogant voice "I spent last night putting together a business deal that will pay the wages for you and your men for the next 20 years. You read it to me, you haven't had to fight for the twelve years you have worked for my family, I may as well get some use out of you."
"Of course sir, the Basileus requests your presence in Seleukeia."
"Who?"
"The Basileus sir, Antiochus"
"You don't think he wants me to fight do you? I mean, it's about time. I suppose he will want me to run Babylon for him, such a great city is probably too much for him. Won't the people be overjoyed?"
"Yes, they truly will."

Heronius called the houseslaves up to clean the room and Lykikos, then went downstairs to ready the men for the short journey to Seleukeia, absently wondering how hard it would be to "accidently" kill Lykikos in the confusion of battle.

[MerlinusCDXX]

At Kleros Laodikeion in Sophene, early afternoon. Late Summer 272 BC

Phanias Laodikeias Lydikes steps forth from the smoke filled tent with an exclamation of, "Syria Dea! what now?" to the messenger standing at the entrance. "Can't you people leave me to my meditations?"

The messenger responds with a sneer, " I don't think rotting your brains in a barbaroi hemp oven does anything to promote the glory of Megas Alexandros. Wake up, man, you are a Strategos of the Arkhe Seleukeia, it's about time to start acting the part, well, here's your opportunity. The Basileus has called a meeting of Strategoi at Seleukeia, you are required to attend".

Phanias looks up with a smile "Well, it's a cold wind howling down the pass, I suppose it's a good time for a holiday to the riverlands. Courier, I shall depart presently. Mardakou!" Phanias snaps to his steward, "Saddle my good Skythoi mare, the one I have from my mother, and tell Danae to get ready to go on a journey. Pack provisions and wine to last a trip to Seleukeia. And have a slave take this messenger to the kitchens and feed him 'till he can't eat anymore, and wine to wash off the dust of the desert"

Mardakou stammers incredulously as the courier is escorted to the kitchens, "b.b.b.but Sir, do you really think it's advisable to bring an Hetaira to the Basileus' war council?"

Looking put upon, Phanias sighs, "Just do it Mardakou, I'm sure the gods don't begrudge me joyful companionship, considering my former 'wife' decided to run off with some dirty Armenios, he was a pig farmer or something, wasn't he?"

"I don't know, sir" states Mardakou, "and anyways, shouldn't you be thinking on the business of punishing those Armenioi if you get the opportunity? It will be more difficult to keep your focus strong if you surround yourself with distractions like Danae"

"Hehehe, my dear Mardakou, Danae is accompanying me on this journey, your protests not withstanding. I don't pay you to advise me of court etiquette, and your dislike of Danae is immaterial. I pay you to run my estates and instruct my servants, so please do so now. We leave tomorrow at sunrise." Phanias smirks.

[Rodrico Stak]

At the house of Attalos Pergamou Mysiakes, Sardis.

Iskender knocked on the door, and entered without bothering to wait for an answer. He found Strategos Attalos Peragmou Mysiakes, son of Kleomenes Peragmou Mysiakes, former King of Peragmon, at his table eating breakfast.

"I'm sorry to distrub you sir, but there's a letter for you. It's from the Basielus." Iskender panted as he spoke. It was clear that he had run all the way here from the Governor's house.

Attalos took the letter and opened it. "A meeting of the strategoi? Interesting. This may be my opportunity, Iskender. As you know, my father was once King of Peragmon, but he was overthrown by his brother, who's son rules Peragmon now. My father was given shelter here in Sardis by the old Basielus (may he rest in peace). Perhaps this is a chance to retake Peragmon for the rightful heir? Certainly if we can get the rest of the council to agree to it, Peragmon can become part of the Arche Seleukia, and I can become King (under the Baselius of Seleukia, anyway) as is my right? Prepare two horses. We leave tomorrow."

"Two horses, sir?"

"Yes. Did you really think that I would leave without my most trusted servant? I don't know what I'd do without you."

[The Celtic Viking]

- You there! Bring me that slave girl, what's her name... that girl I bought from the market yesterday. I think it's time for her initiation.
- Right away, sir!

At the same moment that the guard leaves, a messenger steps into the room.

- "Sir, I come bearing an urgent message for you. His lord Antiochos..."
- "Not now. Whatever that old man may want from me, it can wait. I have other things to do right now."
- "But sir, it's important, and I was ordered to deliver the news to you as soon as I got here. I have already given the first letter to Iskender, a servant of lord Attalos."
- "And I'm sure he made the wisest of it. I, however, have bought a new girl for my collection, and it's high time for me to welcome her to her new master. Oh, and here she is! Not noble by any means, but still a feast for the eyes, wouldn't you say? So, you wait."
- "Yes, a beauty she is. But milord, I must insist that you listen to what I have to say first. It is in your best interests. You will have plenty of time for her when you get back."
- "Get back? Get back from what?"
- "That's the thing, sir. Lord Antiochos has called for the creation of a Royal Counsil, where very important decisions will be made, and you are called to attend it."
*Sarpedon sighs heavily*
- "All right, you win. Guard, send the girl away. Now tell me all I need to know about this counsil.

After the messenger leaves, Sarpedon walks over to the window, and addresses another slave.

- "What day is it now, Arsenios?"
- "It's Monday, sir."
- "Monday, eh? Hmm... I'll need to leave first thing in the morning. Make sure that everything is ready for my departure, and inform Hilarion as well - he'll be coming with me. I'll be going to bed now; I want to be rested out for the journey. I expect to be awoken at the first sunlight."

[kingsnake]

At the governor of Mazaka's house, summer of 272 b.C.

A ray of light found its way through the curtains and hit Aratos' face. The suns heat woke him and he move his head lazily. However it was impossible to fall asleep again the city's square was already filling up with the noise of the traders mounting their tents. He growled, this was the smallest "palace" he had ever been stationed in. This was quite a promising city, miners have already found precious ores but were waiting for investment, the lands were fertile and the Persian Royal Road passed right through it. But the war, the damn war drained all the money. Well at least the governor wasn't corrupt and didn't spend his assigned budget on building huge palaces for himself.

He got up, kissed his wife good morning, climbed over the wooden frame holding the curtains and stood up on the tiled floor of the rooftop's balcony. That night, as on many other hot summer nights, he slept outside, a good opportunity for petty assassins but Aratos always reorganized and reforced the night shifts of the guards when necessary annoying many hosts. Sometimes he wouldn't even do that, who would want to assassinate an unknown and young Strategos? Now his father, Timarchos, had plenty of failed assassination attempts stories when he returned home from a spying mission, but one is just so lucky. Aratos' was 17 when a messenger arrived at his family's state bringing news of his father death by an egyptian assassin. Everyone cried, but Aratos remained steady, remembering his father's lessons, he then pledged to avenge his father's death and destroy Ptolemaios' Egypt.

From his missions to far away lands Timarchos always brought back home to Persepolis friends and teachers who helped in his son's education. The Syriakes family was a military one, Aratos grandfather had been a captain of Nikathor Syriakos' Royal Army. But Timarchos had chosen a different path and he regreted it. So he dedicated himself in educating his only son (though Aratos had an unmarried younger sister, 16 years old). One of his foreign military teachers was Hágárádáz, a germanic exiled from his tribe called the Hobukoz, quite a mysterious man as most of his foreign teachers were, and as was also Timarchos, who always tried to keep his son out of his shady side businesses. Probably that's why he got killed...

Hágárádáz fell in love with Persia and remained in Persepolis under Syriakes family protection. Then Aratos was promoted to Strategos and was assigned to Mikro Asia, at age 20. Of course he brought the germanic who Aratos grew fond of. Besides his strange "barbaric" ways, he was a wise 48 year old man and could prove useful when dealing with galatian mercenaries, who Aratos would surely meet at Mikro Asia.

Aratos sighed and looked around the small town. He looked south and watched the huge mountain range, reminding him of his travels to the northern Baktrian regions when he was a child. There was also a vulcano expelling gases between the mountains, he never saw one before, and desired to climb it, but those regions were dangerous because beyond them was a region controlled by egyptians and the city of Tarsos. Then he looked north, along the endless stone road curving between the forest, beyond it were independent Pontic lands.

How can these lands remain independent, they must be -

"Master Syriakes!" shouted someone, down on the garden.

Aratos walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down. "Well good morning Virios, how did you know I was awake?"

"Oh I know many things Master."

Aratos laughed. "What do you have for me?"

"This is a message from the Basileus. Hágárádáz was awake when a messenger arrived early this morning."

"I assume he's waiting for me at the living room, I'll come down. We shouted to much, we must've awaken the governor by now and he doesn't like me very much."

When Aratos arrived at the living room, the servant gave him the message and left, the Strategos opened it and read it.

Aratos face was concetrated, after a while he raised his eyebrows and looked up at Hágárádáz. "The Basileus is summoning a Council with all the Strategos."

"Strange..." murmured Hágárádáz.

"Yes... very interesting. Well Hágárádáz go and prepare the expedition. We'll travel only with our bodyguards and we will cross egyptian territory quickly, I don't feel like going all around the borders."

"Yes, sir."

"I'll go warn my wife, we'll be in Antiocheia for a short time, then we return to Mazaka."

Later in the day, while Aratos mounted his horse, he smiled and thought about many other Strategos who had to cross the whole Empire to arrive at Antiocheia. Captain Krateros, a good friend of Aratos, asked why was he smiling and so Aratos told the joke to his soldiers while the gates closed behind them.


OOC: You might want to view Mazaka in game, to help illustrate the story... Note how small the governor's house is!!! I never seen such a thing. Yes there is no rooftop tiled balcony, but imagine it
I think I never wrote so much in my life, this PBM is going to change my life 0_0

[LordofUmbar]

Bithys Nisaias Parthiakes awoke from his troubled sleep with a start, drawing his sword from the table besides his bed.

“Whose there?” he shouted. “I can see you hiding in the shadows.” All he met with was silence. “Just another dream.”

He lay back down on his bed and pulled furs close. He looked around his Spartan apartment. It consisted of a single room with a simple, wooden bed and a table with a single chair. A single window looked out to the world beyond. Outside was a strange land. The town was Greek in design but it lay amid the cold, harsh steppe stretching to the horizon. Memories suddenly came flashing back to Parthiakes , memories he wished to forget. He had been sent when young to Sparta, never to see his family again. There he was trained and brought up as a Spartan soldier. After his training, he saw some service but nothing exceptional. He would have had a nice life there if he hadn’t killed his messes’ overseer.

“That man was cruel, a scourge to god and man, I was right to do it. You were right.” he told himself again and again.

After that, he was forced to flee for his life. But the arms of those who wanted his blood were long and he barely survived several assassination attempts. He didn’t find peace until he reached the ends of the know world, the barren steppe far away from the world he knew. There he was hired as a Strategos to help fight off the nomadic hoard under the name of Parthiakes.

Curse the nomads, they always seek to take what is ours and our ‘fellow Greeks‘ in Bactria won‘t be much help either, they have a mind of their own. This empire was once great but now has fallen into shadow. The Seleucid monarchs took more than they could handle when they claimed this wilderness. Many leaders of the Empire seek to abandon the east all together and destroy our enemies in the west at all cost. But this is a foolish view. We cannot abandon fellow Greeks to be slaughtered mercilessly.

Just then, a messenger arrived, slowly opening the creaky door.

“Strategos, you have been summoned to Antiocheia by the Basileus.” the messenger announced.

“Why me??” Parthiakes replied.

“All the Strategos of the Empire are being called together, leave at once.”

“All right, I will go.” Parthiakes sighed. “Tell the stable boy to saddle my horse and provision it for the ride to Antiocheia.”

“Very well.” the messenger replied. He then turned around and left at once.

This could be my chance to redeem myself. I will assuredly find friends, but will I find enemies as well? It matters not, to horse…

[Celtic_Punk]

The sun was high, baking the three men on horseback, heading West along the old Persian road.
"This is where it happened."

"What, sire?"

"Where those brave... no foolhardy bandits attacked us, Sennus." Cunobelinus sunk into his horse grasping his longsword. He glared around himself, watching the tops of the mountains, he was all but home, but despite good omen of perfect weather, he still felt uneasy

"Whats wrong Arrhenides?" Achaikos asked
Achaikos was Cunobelinus' closest companion, a friend from childhood, a friendship reinforced by battle.

"Got the chills again, brother. The same ones that hit me before they hit us."
A glint in the sky caught Achaikos' eye
"! an arrow!" The head sunk deep into the thigh of Sennus' horse, wining in pain, Cunobelinus sat back up drawing his blade, as 5 light cavalry charged out of the brush. One wielding a bow. He must not have been very good with it, missing all but the first shot.

"Into them! We face them head on!" Cunobelinus shouted,
As the three men crossed through the bandits charge, Cunobelinus sliced open the Bowman's gut, Achaikos clashed blades with another and came out unscathed, Sennus plunged his blade into another's chest, but lost grip of the hilt, and was cut down by another bandit.
"SENNUS!" A red mist covered the Galatian's eyes, his fallen comrade now at the back of his mind, survival at the front.
"There's three left! You take left, I've got the right, Cuno!"
Paying no attention to his friend Cunobelinus charged up the middle urging his horse on, decapitating the first man, parrying the second on the left, and ducking under the third's blade. Achaikos cut down the last horsemen as Cunobelinus ducked under the bandit's slash. The last bandit now realizing he has been outclassed took flight. Cunobelinus pursued, throwing his spear at the man. The weapon sunk deep into the horse's rear, toppling. The Celt dismounted walking up to the man now trapped under his wounded horse.
"You have no idea whom you quarrel with."
"Life is easy for a boy whom has been born with everything!"
With that Arrhenides sank his blade into the battered man's neck.

"If I'd spotted the arrow sooner We'd-"
"We'd have lost Sennus earlier. It doesn't matter. He's dead. He was just a slave."
"He was your friend. In light of his passing don't forsake his friendship. I'd hope if I fall beside you you don't do the same." retorted Achaikos,
"You aren't a slave."
"And you aren't a King."
"Regardless, we need to address this issue with the Satrap here. We need to increase the military presence here. If we had a larger garrison this never would have happened."
"You should know as much as anyone that you cannot stop bandits completely, Arrhenides. We cannot watch the roads all the time. Besides we need to focus our energies elsewhere. The campaign to the Southern coast approaches soon. And no doubt you are going to be on it."
"As if they'd leave my Celt ass to keep the books in Ipsos!" Laughed Arrhenides "just make sure that horse is looked after... The arrow cut deep, but he's a strong one."
"I hope you don't charge into Ptolemy's heavy cavalry, like you did here... You won't last long with foolishness like that, brother. You are too sure of yourself!" Advised Achaikos
"So was Alexander..." Cunobelinus glared towards Achaikos.
"Just watch the bushes and mountains... We don't need anymore bloody surprises today." remarked Achaikos.