Stories Thread

[MerlinusCDXX]

One cold, clear morning, winter 271 BC, Phanias Lydikes' winter camp at the Parthayan border...
A mounted party approaches our camp, as they arrive, their apparent leader dismounts before the gate and introduces himself as Smerdis Artabanzes, a local noble with an estate near our camp.

Smerdis bows and asks "May this be the entourage of our newly appointed Satrap?"

I chuckle out my reply, "HeHeHe, good guess, what gave it away? Was it the plumes on our helmets?"

Smerdis smiles, "Not exactly, your party just looks very official. Welcome to Parthaya, sir. I have the privilege to be the appointed speaker for the local Landholders' Council, and we have a proposition for you."

"Say on", I grumble. "A bit early in my appointment to be asking favors, don't you think?"

" I'm sorry to approach you like this, but our council has thought about the recent unrest hereabouts, and we have come to an idea that may alleviate the 'unpleasantness'. If you could perhaps see your way to allow our council to have more of a hand in our day-to-day affairs, we could help to keep the people calm by having our richer members serve in the Satrapal Cavalry. We use large Nisean warhorses, and most of us have or can afford to buy armor and tack. You see, sir, the recent unhappiness in the Satrapy was found to be caused by the ever-increasing incursions by random daha(robber) parties, and the people were unhappy about the fact that the local nobility wasn't allowed to protect our people without appealing to the government in the West. I mean no disrespect to your Shahanshah, but he is far away and the dahae are here. Thank you for hearing me out."-Smerdis-

-Phanias-"Was that all? Hmmm...you've given me something to think about, however, nothing is going to get done about this until the passes in the Zagros and Elburz are clear of snow. I'll see how things are around here as the winter goes on, and we'll meet late in the spring or early summer and I'll give my decision."

Later that day Phanias, Mardakou and Aziles, Phanias' maternal uncle from Skythia, sit around a fire discussing the morning's event.

Aziles muses, "I think we should consider his request. Our ancestral enemies, the Sauromat, have been getting their hands on more armor and dressing their 'nobility' in it. If we had the local nobility equipped and properly armored, we wouldn't have to wait a year to have horsemen that could stand up to the armored nobles, and if those backward Sauromat sheepshaggers can get good armor, you know the local dahae will be able to."

-Phanias-" Ok, Aziles, I'll see what the Basileus has to say about it. Hmmm, Mardakou, how would you like to go back home to Babylon for a while?"

Mardakou gasps in surprise, "Why, sir, I thought you'd never ask. Thank you very much. I could go see my family while I'm there. What would I be doing there, sir? You make it sound as if it's a bit longer of an assignment than a quick message to the Basileus."

I reply, "Yes, it would be a permanent post. You would be my representative in Seleukeia when the council is not in session. I would send instructions for you by courier when I need to get my ideas heard by the Basileus and other members of the war council, but your first duty is to find out how more autonomy for the locals here will be received by the rest of the Arkhe. Aziles, is your son busy?"

"Oxydozes? No, why?" asks Aziles.

"Because I need a courier I can trust at a moment's notice, and you are required here to train these nobles on steppe warfare if they do form their Ilai, and to keep me abreast of goings on out on the steppes, oh, and learn the Arshkanig's speech. If they so much as stop to take a piss within my borders, I want to know about it. Well, we're done here, and I smell our midday meal."