The Royal Council

[navarro951]

General Ankyrikos rises

If you will allow it Basileus, as I have been promoted and am allowed 2 more units as a max, may i request two units of whatever type from Phanias Lydikes forces being broken down. It will help me in my protection of the Arche from incoming Epiros forces.

[MerlinusCDXX]

Basileus, I've taken a look at the Army rosters, and have come up with a composition. Some of the units that you have in that army are not easily retrainable out here in the East, so I propose that all units EXCEPT the Hetairoi Aspidophoroi, Caucasian Archers, Ioudaioi, and Galatians be transferred here to the East, and I will merge them as necessary and send the unusable and un-retrainable remnants back to the west for retraining and redistribution to other commanders that have need of them. The units that I've named above can be kept in the west, as I'll have no way of retraining them should they take casualties, at least not without them being gone for 2 years or longer.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I checked the RV and only want to keep relatively close to AoR units out here. Some of the guys you have are nice (Het. Asph.)...but Antiocheia to retrain? that would take like 6 or 7 turns just to get 'em there.

[Hax]

Andromachos enters the throne room, with two armed men at his side.

"Hail, Sarpedon.

It is with the greatest sorrow that I have heard about your father's, and my uncle's, death. However, I would like to take this moment to wish you the best of luck; and even though we may have had our disagreements in the past, I promise the Arche my unfaltering loyalty."

Andromachos kneels before Sarpedon and waits until he speaks...

[YouHaveRecieved]

Phormion enters the hall with a bewildered expression on his face.

Where is the Basilieus?

A scribe tells him and he falls into a chair.

Such a good man, my messenger will be killed for this I swear it. Long live the Basileus.

Phormion seems to regain his composure for a bit and steadies himself.

Basileus, I know this might not seem like the right time, but yur father told me there were some troops in Persepolis that I could take over to help eradicate rebels in the area. Am I still able to do this or would you rather I join an army?

[The Celtic Viking]

Sarpedon stands up and puts his right hand on Andromachos' head.

"I thank you, my cousin. Now rise. It is good to see you."

Sarpedon turns to the heir.

"Phanias, my friend, I believe you are mistaken. Those are my units, and they're not in your authority to command. It is my father's old army that belongs to you now. I would like to have your decision on what exact units you want before Autumn comes."

Sarpedon now addresses Ankyrikos.

"Yes, I think it is best that you get some more soldiers when I leave for Alexandreia. Which units will depend on Phanias' choice."

"Oh, and I think you should eradicate the rebel threat, Phormion. The units are currently under the command of Captain Antiochos Soter between Persepolis and Charax, where I believe the rebels he spoke of are situated. They need to be dealt with, and if you were on the way to do so, I would like you to finish that task."

[Hax]

Andromachos rises and bows before Sarpedon, before walking to his seat.

"Sarpedon, perhaps I could be of assistance in eradicating the brigands in Parsa. I still regard it as my home, and to leave them plundering the countryside pains my heart."

[The Celtic Viking]

"I have no objection, though I do not forget how you did nothing to stop those brigands right outside Persepolis when you were still a satrap there. You will have to speak with Phormion about it. I will leave it up to him to choose what to do with your request, as the task is already his."

[YouHaveRecieved]

I do not mind if you take the deed Strategos Syriakos, but I would dearly love to do this as it was my last order by the old Basileus and I believe he thought I could do it. As I said, if you insist you will have to do it, if not then it would be a pleasure to eradicate them off the face of the Earth.

[Hax]

Andromachos rises.

I seek not to steal your mission, Strategos Armeniakon. Perhaps we could best co-operate, eh?

[YouHaveRecieved]

Where is your current location?

I'm of course sure we could co-oporate, I only wish to command the army, but I'm sure you would get a fair share of the action. Afterwards I will leave and join an army, hopefully a battle will be the making of me.

[Hax]

After this council session, I will return to my city of Persepolis. You can find me there.

Andromachos nods to Phormion

[YouHaveRecieved]

Of course, I will meet up with you there. I hope we can eradicate them rebels together.

[SwissBarbar]

Nikarchos Asterias Syriakes storms into the hall, breathes heavily and says


"I've heard the bad news, I can't believe it... Basileus...dead...shit... came as fast as possible...."

He calms himself

"My Lords, the bad news about the death of our beloved Basileus have reached my ear. My grief is beyond belief."

Looking to Sarpedon

"At the other hand I'm glad to know, that our new Basileus is an able man. It was an honour to fight side by side with him, it now is an honour to fight for him. Long live the Basileus Sarpedon Syriakos.

Many matters are now to be clarified...."

Galaktión whispers something in his ear

"Ah, they already did..."

Galaktión continues

"What?"

"Who, me?"

Galaktión finishes, and takes his seat. Nikarchos Syriakes lookes surprised.

"My Lord, i accept your amazing offer and will do everything to prove myself worthy. I'll make my father, Alexandros Syriakos, who adopted me and made me a member of his family, proud!"

[The Celtic Viking]

Sarpedon smiles. "You've proved a trustworthy friend, Nikarchos, and I have no doubt you will do a good job managing Ipsos. I'm still waiting to hear your decision, though: do you want an infantry, a mixed or a cavalry army? The quicker you let me know, the quicker will you get your army."

[MerlinusCDXX]

Sarpedon stands up and puts his right hand on Andromachos' head.

...
"Phanias, my friend, I believe you are mistaken. Those are my units, and they're not in your authority to command. It is my father's old army that belongs to you now. I would like to have your decision on what exact units you want before Autumn comes." ....

My Apologies, Basileus, I believe I had the wrong roster. Turning towards Mardakou Mardakou, find me the Roster for Antiochos' old army. Any roster that mentions the Basileus will now have Basileus Sarpedon's troops marked as the main Royal Army.Addressing the Basileus again I'll look over those army rosters the moment I get them.

[MerlinusCDXX]

Basileus, I've looked over the rosters again, this time the right one. I can use all of those units except the Toxotai and Ioudaioi. If you need to take one of the Pantodapoi Phalangitai and reassign them, that works. With what i see on that roster, I think I will have plenty of infantry, and I can retrain the Persians pretty close to home. I'm also sending a half-strength unit of Prodromoi toward the Capitol, they are camped just west of Apameia. I've let their captain know that they are probably going to the Aigyptian desert or into Europa.

[The Celtic Viking]

"Very well. Then I believe that matter is settled. You have your Royal Army now, and..." Sarpedon turns to the magistrate who had spoken before. "... we can move on now, eh?"

Sarpedon turns to Panaitolos.

"I would like you to go to Byzantion with the Lydian Army and hold it. I will send units from Pergamon and Ankyra to replace you as the garrison in Nikaia. If you need retraining, I would ask Nikarchos if he will allow you to do so in Ipsos. If he says no, you can retrain your hippakontistai in Sardis or Pergamon, and I will see to it that reinforcements will be sent from elsewhere."

[navarro951]

"Very well my lord, well might as well get to it" Panaitolos bows to the Basileus and departs the council.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Magistrate looks through his documents and then speaks..

Yes, problems with Phanias Lydikes' Royal Army have been solved.

Only one little problem remains and this is important to you, Basileus, since you are also our current Chancellor. Nikarchos Syriakes must decide what type of army he wants. Infantry, Cavalry or Mixed one. Mikra Asia is very well developed by you, Basileus, when you still were a Satrap there and I think Satrap Nikarchos could get his Army even before the next Council Session.

[The Celtic Viking]

"Good. Then I have only to say that I have chosen to take you up on your offer, Phanias. I ask that you send that pantodapoi phalangitai unit to Byzantion to become part of the 1st Lydian Army."

[SwissBarbar]

Nikarchos thinks

Hmmm... since I come of an old Makedon bloodline , I choose to lead an Infantery Army. My forefathers lead infantery formations into battle for Aléxandros ho Mégas, so I shall lead infantery too for Aléxandros' true heir.

As for the Lydian Army, I first must see how many men Ipsos can spare. If there are many, I'm sure we'll find enough able men to replace your losses in your Army, Panaitolos.

Nikarchos sits on his seat again, and whispers something to Galaktión

[kingsnake]

Aratos enters the council.

Hail Basileus Sarpedon!

My sincere condolences, your father was a great man and so was his reign. May yours be greater!

He made a respectful bow and went on to his seat.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

The old magistrate goes through several documents...

A new Heir... Done..
His new Royal Army.. Done..
New Satrap of Ipsos.. Done..
His hew satrapal army.. Done..

After thinking for a moment he turns towards Basileus Sarpedon..

Looks like all important matters have been solved. And, if any of the Strategoi have any questions about the laws of the Arche then just ask them and this old magistrate here will try to answer them.

[SwissBarbar]

Nikarchos rises

"My Lords, since all important matters have been taken care of, with the permission of the Basileus I will ride to Ipsos immediately for two reasons.

First I will take a look at the city and await my army.

Secondly, my wife gave birth to a healthy son, whom I want to hold in my arms as soon as possible.


As always, my loyal friend Galaktión will represent me in this council. Next month I will hold a festival in Ipsos to celebrate my sons birth. You all are invited, if your duties and time will allow it.

[YouHaveRecieved]

I have taken control of the garrison army allocated to me to fight the rebels. I marched the boys down to just outside the rebel emcampment but I am awaiting Spring to attack them. Andromachos Syriakos, you will need to reach me by Spring or else I will lave you behind, sorry.

Basileus, I am assuming this army will be transferred back to its original city when I am finished?

[kingsnake]

Now that the former Basileus Antiochos I is np longer with us, who is the one that will be the new spearhead of our campaign against Egypt and conquer Alexandreia?

My army is fresh and will part south. It is time to lay down each army's roles in this campaign. Who conquers the city and who supports and clears the way from any enemy?

[The Celtic Viking]

"I will go and take Alexandreia myself. That will be my first military task as a Basileus. There are some Ptolemaic armies gathering just outside our borders in the south though, and except for the 1st Parthian Army that is supposed to take Petra, the only military presence we have there is a part of Phanias' Royal Army and is currently led by a captain. That won't do, especially not considering that they're bound to move north. You should move south and take care of those armies while I retrain and make my way down there.

When that is done, you should co-operate with the 1st Parthian Army. I will give you partially free reigns on what to do - the only command I have is that you leave Alexandreia to me and follow this guideline: Petra - defence of our territories - screening - taking territories. By that I mean your highest priority should be to take Petra, if the 1st Parthian Army hasn't done so already by then. When Petra is taken, you should seek to defend our territories. If none of our settlements in the area is under a threat, you should look to screening my Royal Army, keeping any army that might try to surround me, or when I have laid siege on Alexandreia try to relieve it, away from me. If I am under no such threat, you can look to taking new territory, as you together with Nikanor decides. It must belong to the Ptolemaioi, though.

I am a little bit worried about Nikanor's command over the 1st Parthian Army, though. He was given the order to take Petra under Antiochos' reign, but failed to do so. He was again ordered to proceed with the plans when I took the throne, but still has yet to leave our own territory. This forces me to ask you, Nikanor: what is the hold up here?"

[MerlinusCDXX]

Boy, what a mess this war is becoming. I only wish I didn't have over 10,000 stadia of border to protect so I could come down there and put paid to that old dog Ptolemaios myself, his people deserve better than him, and ours don't deserve his stupid, blind aggression.

[Celtic_Punk]

Cunobelinus enters the room, his armour stained with blood and the black turban he unravels shares its own dose of blood"I apologize for not gettin' here sooner. I was attacked by bandits, my guard was killed only I and Achiakos survived the attack... My condolences Sarpedon. May your reign not be one of terror! Cunobelinus smirks With a new satrap however, I question my position in the Satrap of my home. Am I still aid to the satrap? I sense our commanders are being stretched thin, so I guess there is no hope of me returning home to the farm anytime soon... And with my extensive experience in battle, I think I should be on the business end of the war in the West... However.... Sarpedon would you wish me to join your new Royal Army, I'll be glad to. However I do believe I would be better suited in a leadership role now, up to your discretion. Perhaps if a new army was to be created once the funds are available..." The man pauses for a few seconds to receive reply, and then leaves after to get washed up

[SwissBarbar]

If you wish to be the Satraps Aid, you shall be welcome, My Lord Galaktión responses