[Place-holder title]MAKEDONIA: An EB Inspired tale...

[satalexton]

I love EB.

It has wasted so much of my time; It has twisted so much of my mentality; It has shaped a great deal of my hobbies.

This is one of them. I wish to share it with you all.

As some of you may know, I tend to write quite lengthy proses in a certain AAR. I've decided to post my EB inspired story here for all to read at their leisure. It's a draft, so feel free to give comments and suggestions, especially on certain terminology and historical background.

And do think of a good title for me. Enjoy =]

p.s. I may produce screenshots in later posts since certain bits of it can easily be replicated in the game itself....or somebody with a bit of spare time can give me a hand at it.....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prologue:

I hate this city.

Everyday the same thing happens again and again.

The pretenders only bring false hopes and more misfortune.

I hate this city.

I am not a rebel. I've never rebelled in my life, not even against my elders. Sure, there were plenty of arguments and disputes due to my relative inexperience and naivety...and the 'occasional' acts mischief of course. However, the so-called 'rebellious stage' that most young upstarts go through...it never seemed to have happened to me at all.

My homeland is but a shadow of her once magnificent past. Her lands broken, territories torn to shreds by self proclaimed heirs. When the great king lived, they fought like wolves in a pack, they brought down many barbaroi of Asia, they brought civilization to the ends of the world.

But he is dead, rumored to be poisoned, by the very wolves he reared as his pack. Wolves no more, his would-be heirs, they squabbled over his still-born realm like hyenas to a stolen carcass.

Worse off, like vultures, the Romaioi circles upon our kingdom. Using the most pitful of excuses, they divide our land, they take our riches....worse off, they take our honour.

This city, once the magnificent capital of my homeland, now lies as a mere husk of it's former days. Our lands divided into four 'provinces', each governed by tools of the Romaioi.. The clutches of their greed can be seen everywhere. My home is being bled dry, little by little.....

I hate this city.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Chapter:
******** Uprising

[Codyos Vladimiros]

Hmmm...this sounds like it could be set in the Levant? I'm curious, and can't wait for the next installment.

[Maion Maroneios]

Excellent writing there, satalexton. You really have a talent for this I'll be following this closely and think of a title.

@Codyos: The city is more to the west (hint).

Maion

[julius_caesar_the_first]

I wonder which faction it is. Interesting start

I'm definitely going to following this AAR.

[satalexton]

Korinthos Uprising (part 1)

“A word from our Consul Lucius Aemilius Paulus.”

A patrician, of a rather portly stature, steps onto a hastily built stage. Though his peers dub it as 'the glare of ambition', his eyes clearly gleamed of greed. Not even his tribunes can hide it however, as there are grumbling even amongst his own troops that they have not received enough loot. Their Consul had taken too much for himself.

“Bloody foreigners! They have to cheek to go to war with us! OR WORSE, telling other people to go to war for them! I'd say we should give these poltroons such a beating, that TEN YEARS from now, people will still speak of them!

The world is full of lies! 'One must not murder', 'one must not steal', 'one must not be dishonest'....These are all lies, deceptions. 'I do not want to be killed', 'I don't want to be a victim of theft', thats why they use lies such as justice and morals to protect their weak selves. The original truth is survival of the fittest. One must devour it all, whether it be other humans, wealth, power, OR THE WORLD ITSELF! Roma will destroy this world's lies and bring forth the truth! ROMA VICTRIX!!!”

“ROMA VICTRIX!! ROMA VICTRIX!!” The legions cheered. What made them cheer with further zeal, though, is what Paulus said next.

“We now go to Epirus! They are in suspect of supporting the Macedonian cause! Their towns and citizens will pay to price to cleanse off the suspicion!” Paulus reached for his gladius, wanting to wave it in the air in a majestic manner. He gave it several subtle tugs, the ornament refuse to move as much as an inch from it's hilt. Giving up, he held onto the hilt and waved with his left. The legion cheered again, eager for plunder.

70 towns were sacked, over 150,000 were enslaved. The Epirotes were left to bankruptcy...and a rekindled hatred...


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks guys =] part 2 coming real soon.

[desert]

YEAAAHHH! ROMA VICTRIX!!! Or should that be...

ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!

[HunGeneral]

Nice beginning there satalexton. I'm really interrested to see what this will be like

[satalexton]

Korinthos Uprising (Part 2)

Eprius was in ruins. What was fertile farmland became dark, scorched earth. Villages burnt, men of fighting age crucified, women and young enslaved. Only the elderly and children remained. Wherever the romans tread, desolation and despair follows their wake like a tide. Such is the punishment for being the target of suspicion; such is the punishment for not being roman.

In the mist of destruction, a small party of men make their way south through what was the countryside of Ambrakia. Clad in brown cloaks, concealing their faces, they flank a small boy. Barely able to keep up with the men, the child huffed through the pieces of charred rubble with the resolve of more than double his age. He stumbled a little. The leader of the men, a grizzled veteran, old enough to be the child's grandfather, he bends over towards the child.

“Should I instruct one of us to carry you, young Anastasius?” He inquired politely.
“No, I'm fine. We must hurry to Korinthos.” Although no older than 8, his eyes are more resolute than any man in their band.
“Yes, my lord.” The man gave a subtle bow.
“Deacon, where is Andriskos? I have not seen him since we left.” Young Anastasius asked, as he scorned at the unsightliness of the Roman atrocities. The Epirotes have long been docile, since the death of Pyrrhos. The Italiote barbaroi are more vengeful than the keltoi.
“He is on his way to Syria as we speak. In the name of Makedonia.” Replied the old hypaspist. He too sighs at the degree of destruction.
“I see...”
“HALT! Identify yourselves, travelers!”

A group of hastati approached them. Some of them are carrying pieces of gold ornaments, tying them to the fittings of their pectoral plates for ease of carrying. Their empty handed leader approached Deacon's party. The other hypaspitai slowly shuffled around their young prince. Bastard or not, he is the last bloodline of the Antigonid dynasty. He must be hidden.

“We're peddlers, traveling through the hellas in search for opportunities for trade. There is little we can find here, thus we move towards Thermon for better chance.” Quick witted, Deacon crafts his fibs. Slipping a piece of silver into the leader's hands, he continued, “and this is our proof, may you let us past, kind sir.”

Taken by greed, the romans left the party to their own accord and return to their own affairs of pillaging. With a breath of relief, the hypaspistai continued their secret escort. As they neared the woods...

“Wait!” The Romans changed their minds.
“Boy, come forth.”
Anastasius stepped forward, reaching for something hidden in his cloak, pleaded to the Roman, “Please sir, let me leave with my grandfather. We're but poor traders looking for a mouthful in this barren land.”
“We're keeping the boy, he'll make a good man-whore for the camps. We're sick of dancing hags.” The hastati reached for the boy's rear, with a lustful gaze.

A gentle thud, a severed hand landed onto the grass. Blood gushed from the stump, staining the prince's cloak with a new shade of crimson. Anastasius holds a kopis in his hands.

“Do it.”

Several javelins flew from the woods and tall grass, punching through the Roman's throats with deadly accuracy. The peltasts emerged from the shadows like specters with a stoic wrath, wielding their xithos with unrivaled skill. Within seconds, only the leader was left standing.

“Mercy! SOMEBODY!”

The Roman fell on his knees, cradling his bloody stump on his wrist. The prince raised his kopis.

“All. Hail. Makedonia.”

Silence returned to the countryside.

Barbaroi deserve no mercy.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the support guys =]

p.s. Somebody has clearly watched wayyy too much Code Geass =P

[Maion Maroneios]

Another excellent update, satalexton. I like the way you write, it's like a good book. I'm very eager to see how this is going to unfold...

Maion

[satalexton]

=P those who know greek may actually sniff out hints of what may come in the future =P....

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Looks good so far. I agree with Maion, it's like a book. A very rare style among AAR's, and I like it . I'm eagerly awaiting the next update.

[desert]

*Stares directly at Satalexton*

Indeed... ;)

[satalexton]

OK, this story is NOT dead.

The good news is, I've drafted out the next chapter..and some of you may begin to understand why this 'volume' is called korinthos uprising...BUT.

...I don't have the time to type this down in word format yet, thanks to the festivities and general annoyance of real life.

Sorry to keep your necks long waiting...=[ hope you still bother about this thing here....

[julius_caesar_the_first]

I'm still subscribed. Good to see your back.

[Maion Maroneios]

I'm still subscribed. Good to see your back.

Likewise

Maion

[satalexton]

Expect more to come up next year. And god, this story still has no title. =[
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Korinthos Uprising (Part 6), Owned!

'Pydna.....
“WE ARE THE AGEMA!”
“ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!”
“STAND YOUR GROUND, SONS OF MAKEDONIA!”
.....
.......
.........
...........
....
..
.
“DEATH AND GLORY!!!”
...
......
...
.....
“Bring my blade and shield to my son Maion, he shall lead the peltasts in my stead....ALL HAIL MAKEDONIA!!!”
.....
“ITALIOTE BARBAROI!!”
...
...
...

“HYPASPISTAI! DISENGAGE! THIS IS -MY- ORDER!!!”
“But my Basileus-”
“I have a hidden bloodline near Serdike, GO!”
...
....
.....
......
“ROMA VICTRIX!!”
“AVE FORTUNA!!”
....
..'
----------------------
...
..
“So, you're Andriskos.”
.....
“So, YOU'RE Andriskos from Makedonia?” Demetrios Soter raised his voice.
“Yes, ...Basileus.” The address left a bad after-taste in Andriskos mouth.
“And what proposal do you have for me?hmm?”
.....
“The defeat of Roma.” Andriskos replied loud and clear.

“Right.” Demetrios studied Andriskos' face. It was dark and dusty, weary from a restless journey....The Seleukidai narrowed his eyes and stared at him, judging him. Andriskos dared not return the gaze, Demetrios Soter is divine...at least he believes he is. Gods are fickle beings, too. Andriskos did not wish to gamble his chances...

“Such an uneasy silence,” he thought. A nearby light flickered slightly, followed by a rustle of leaves. Demetrios finally rose, and spoke curtly, “I shall discuss this, with my advisors.” He turned and left for his chambers, leaving Andriskos blinking. A eunuch offered a seat and some wine, which he took to quite gratefully. He had ventured so far, to seek aid from fellow hellenes against a common foe; he had ventured for so long, to raise arms with a fellow son of Makedonia against the barbaroi. A son of Seleukos, divine heir to Alexandros apparently, a fickle descendant of Dionysos, now tells him to wait.

The day gradually reaches to an end, as the slaves and eunuchs scurry about lighting lamps and muttering to one other in their own babble as they carried food towards a distant location to be prepared. Andriskos finished his third helping of wine as he wondered upon the result of Demetrios' discussion. A nearby eunuch hastily filled another helping of wine and placed a small platter of cured olives. Though hardly a fan of gourmet, Andriskos found the taste of the olives oddly familiar. Olives are a common staple, as well as a good source of oil, but the particular flavour of these ones...could only be found around Taras....

Two sets of footsteps echo against the chamber corridors, Demetrios emerged with a stern face. Andriskos throat sank as his stomach boiled spontaneously with righteous hatred. The second man, of a portly stature, grinned. His greedy eyes glowed against the lamp lights as the sky darkens.
“Another lie has been defeated, oh rebellious client governor of Roma.”
“WHERE IS YOUR HONOUR DEMETRIOS!?”
The 'Soter' said nothing as he beckoned the TABs. Mail-clad, faces hidden, the Thorakitai Agematos Basilikou marched in behind Andriskos.
“ROMAOI BARBAROI!” Andriskos spat.
“Quisque Est Barbarus Alio,” Lucius grinned wider, cheeks stretching like a frog. “Honour, valour and laws mean nothing. Survival of the fittest is the only law of Roma. You are unfit to survive. Now Demetrius, will you please.”
“Roma Victrix. Guards, lock him up.” Demetrios nodded flatly.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Good to see this continuing.