The Daughters of the Dragon: A Valkyrja AAR (ATW)

[SubRosa]

Alkippe has caught up with them however, and she attacks one of the besieging armies. She does so at night, preventing the second Sarmatian army from entering the battle.


This rock has a good view of the battlefield.


This unit of Steppe Lancers came too far forward, and was pounced on by Alkippe and her Sarmatian Mercs. You can see Okypous and the garrison of Neo Themiskyra are now engaging the right flank of Sarmatians in the background.


Alkippe and her heavies chased the fleeing Sarmatians directly into the rest of their line, and sent them all packing.


Not to be outdone, Okypous took on a pair of Steppe Lancers and defeated them handily.


The rest of the Sarmatians were on the run.


Then their army just disintegrated.


Sadly, a few got away. It is usually impossible to catch all of the routers in these steppe battles.


Victory.


Same turn, the second Sarmatian army outside of Neo Themiskyra is attacked.


Alkippe grew tired of waiting for the garrison of Neo Themiskyra to get on the field, and attacked the Sarmatian center on her own.


Still taking their time....


Alkippe crushed the Sarmatians.


By the time the garrison arrived, the Sarmatians were in full retreat.


Victory, and the capital was safe from invaders.


Here is the situation. In the east the Sarmatians do not have a lot in sight, but I am not sure what might be lurking in that dark area where Campus Roxolani is.


To the south, powerful Scythian armies lurk along my frontier near Androphagia. Not good.

[Monk]

Wow, tons of screens there SubRosa! I had gotten through nearly all of this last night only to find you posted another installment this morning.

Looks like a really fun game, hopefully you'll be able to secure peace with the Sarmatians before having to deal with the Scythians on your southern flank. I'm not sure I like your chances in a two front war.

Looking forward to more.

[SubRosa]

Thank you Monk. I always use a lot of pictures in my AARs. Typically I will have about 1500-1600 in each. As the campaign goes on I will not have to go in so much depth in every battle, so they will decrease in that respect. But there will be more battles overall, so they increase that way.

My plan right now is a two front war in fact. At least a limited one. It will be tough, because I am very stretched in my interiour and have to use mercenaries to outfit most of my armies. But a good challenge makes the game fun. I plan to send Makanyane south with her army to deal with the Scythians in the open around Androphagia, then press on against their cities. She will be the main hammer, because wiping out the Scythians will give me more stable frontiers and also Black Sea ports for trade. The secondary front will be led by Alkippe, who will lead the troops from the capital south-east after Campus Roxolani. I may stop there, or head east across the Don and into the Sarmatian heartland. It all depends on how things are going.

[SubRosa]

I spent about an hour and half playing this afternoon and when I went to start my writeup discovered to my horror that I had forgotten to turn on FRAPs before hand. (I will have to put in my startup folder for the duration of the AAR so it does not happen again). So no pictures for those battles. No great loss, it was basically rebel-hunting, and cleaning up some small bands of Scythians and Sarmatians on the borders. Alkippe did advance upon Campus Roxolonai in the east, but saw a huge Sarmatian army coming up to its defense, and she was obliged to retreat north.

That is where things pick up. That huge army has caught up with Alkippe at the westward bend of the Don river. Alkippe does not want to fight such a huge force at a river. She does not have the infantry to hold the crossing, and will have only half the map to maneuver upon when the Sarmatians did come across. So instead she withdraws.


The Sarmatians pursue and bring her to battle in the open. Just as I had hoped (well, actually I was hoping they would not reach her until next turn, when she would have reinforcements from the capital joining her).


The battlefield is dominated by this big rock. Maybe I can put that to use...


I move all of my cavalry over to my left and charge in at the Sarmatians. This is something I learned in my Defensive Scythia AAR. When you are outnumbered concentrate all of your force upon one flank of the enemy and attack. The other flank of the enemy will not be able to attack you, and has thusly been taken out of the battle. At least temporarily. If you have an all cavalry army as I do currently, you can even gain a local superiourity at the point of attack.


With Alkippe in the lead, my Amazons and mercenaries smash the Sarmatian right.


I have to keep moving, as the rest of their army is trying to swing around and get at me. Chasing the remnants of the Sarmatian right gives me a good opportunity to kill more nomads while staying out of the grasp of their comrades.


I have gotten clear of most of their army and run the routers as far as I can go. I leave two horse archers behind to mop up a routed Sarmatian Virgin Horse Archer. In retrospect this was a mistake, as they would be trapped themselves and routed.


I keep moving my main force around that big rock, keeping it between me and the main Sarmatian army. One of their Sarmatian Mercs followed, and I treat them to a dose of arrows from all of my horse archers as they vainly pursued Alkippe. They would be destroyed when she turned to face them soon later.


The rest of their army came around the rock, and after a bit of skirmishing I was forced to withdraw across the map. By now I do not have much left. Alkippe is down to only herself and one of her bodyguards. I will have to be careful not to get her killed.


Then the Sarmatian General was cut down by my arrows. Just the turn of luck I had been hoping for!


I decided to relocate again and run across the map as their infantry come up. This is a good tactic, as once you get to the far side of the map you can stop and rest your cavalry, and the enemy infantry will be exhausted by the time they catch up with you.


They pursued, with their last cavalry unit coming far out ahead of the others. I stopped my flight and came back, concentrating all of my arrows against them.


The Sarmatian Mercenaries rout, and I run them down like dogs!


All of their cavalry are dead now. I cannot believe I have done as well as I have, given the circumstances. The trouble is that I am almost out of ammo, have no heavy cavalry left, and they have two Mercenary Amazon Archers and a Virgin Archer in that infantry. I cannot win a missile duel, and cannot finish them in melee.


So I let them chase me around the map. In the process one of their Steppe Spearman units come out too far from the rest.


They are surrounded and annihilated.


That was enough for me. I let them chase me until the clock ran out (this is why I always play with a time limit). Somehow I pulled a victory out of it.


In the middle of all of this a Gallic ambassador turned up and concluded a deal for trade between our far-removed peoples.


Here is what I was afraid would happen. The Scythians have begun the assault upon Vicus Neuri before Makanyane could reach the city.


With only two Warbands and a Peasant, there was no point trying to defend the walls, so I let them in unopposed.


Instead I waited for the Scythians in the town square, where my men would not rout. I actually beat off their first wave.


But the second wave was of Head-Hunting Maidens. Eeep!


Then the third wave came.


My valiant captain was laid low.


The rest of her troops soon followed her to the afterlife.


The city was lost! The shame of it all!


However, vengeance will soon be at hand. Makanyane has reached the city to take it back!


While in the east, the battered but victorious Alkippe once more advances upon Campus Roxolani.

[SubRosa]

Once more, the Sarmatians scraped up enough troops to counter-attack the Eastern army, now led by Okypous. Only four of the Sarmatian units are new, and they are only Steppe Lancers. The rest are troops I have already beaten once.


These big jagged rocks appear to litter the steppe, like the broken teeth of a long-dead race of giants.


The first Sarmatian force of Steppe Lancers is quickly surrounded. They really had no chance.


Once they were out of the way, the second Sarmatian force was starting to come into action, cavalry first.


Their Captain was cut down by my Generals.


As my women closed in on their army, I had to be careful to ride around those Mercenary Amazon Hoplites of theirs.


I later looked over to see that Alkippe had blundered into those Hoplites while chasing routers. Clicking like a madwomen I prayed to Freja that their spears did not send her ungently into that good night.


Lucky girl. She escapes unscathed, and now the Scythians are surrounded.


The end followed soon after. Heroic Victory and another famous battle marker. It seemed barely noteworthy.


It did leave Campus Roxolani denuded of its garrison however. Now it would fall easily. Once I brought a Warband up from Melanchlaeni that is.


For those of you unfamiliar with Amazon: Total War, every faction in the game has a unique artifact which only its Generals may possess. These are items from the myths and legends of those factions, which bestow great prestige - and some even whisper magical power - upon the wielder.


In the west, Makanyane was ready to liberate Vicus Neuri. The Scythians have a lot of archers in there, so I make this a night attack to reduce their range. This is just in time too, a full stack of Scythians is headed north from Vibantavarium to attack her.


One of my own Horse Archers is now at silver experience.


A ferocious archery duel erupted at the walls of the city.


One which I would eventually win. Amazon quivers are open graves.


The way cleared by the archers, the rams made short work of the city's defenses.


Then the remaining defenders were swept aside.


My army streamed into the city down two roads. One led directly to the lightly defended town square. The other to a side-street where a large mob of Scythians lurked around the corner.


Makanyane led the troops down the sidestreet, and pulled up to a stop to rain javelins upon the Scythians. She did not want to charge in there until her infantry had the chance to catch up with her. Especially since her spies reported Bosporan Infantrymen among the Scythians.


In the meantime Polemusa went directly to the town square.


It was quickly hers, and the remaining Scythians were now trapped between Makanyane and Polemusa.


They crumbled before Makanyane's advance.


Routing defenders in a city battle always head for the town square. This sent them directly into the waiting spears and axes of Polemusa's women.


Here is a shot of my Spearwomen receiving a power up.


There are no survivors among the Scythians.


The citizens cheer as they are freed from the yoke of the treacherous Scythians.


On the AI's turn, that full stack of Scythians from Vibantavarium wants no part of Makanyane.


Makanyane pursues. Right now her primary goal is to destroy the Scythian armies in the field, leaving their cities easy targets.


Speaking of which, now that the Sarmatian field armies have been cleared from Tribus Roxolani, Okypous leads the assault upon its Campus.


Their archers were easily swept aside by my own at the walls, leaving no one to hinder my entrance.


The Barbarian General was drawn out of the town square by arrow fire, and met by Okypous and her Warband. The Sarmatian Steppe Lancers quickly followed their leader into the melee.


That left the town square empty as Alkippe rode in from behind them.


Bam! She charged into the Sarmatian rear, trapping and destroying them.


No survivors.


Once more I Occupy. I was very disappointed to find there was not even a 1st tier stable in the city. Now I will have to build one in order to retrain my Horse Archers. Still, this will be an ideal place to defend the eastern frontier against further Sarmatian attacks.

[SubRosa]

News reaches the plains that my Gorgon sisters have found a new homeland.


Closer to home, that Scythian army continues to flee from Makanyane. I think they are headed for the low-hanging fruit of Vicus Venedae to the west. I cannot seem to catch them, so they will probably take it, meaning I will have to take it from them. I was hoping to leave it as a Rebel buffer against Dacia and Germania.


In the central plains, Xanthippe rode from Melanchlaeni to intercept a Scythian force south of the city.


It was all going well until the Scythians high tailed it for the map edge. I did not want that General of theirs getting away, so I sent my Horse Archers into melee with him. I know, Horse Archers vs. a General. But I needed to stop him inside the map in order for Xanthippe to reach him. Sometimes you have to roll the hard six.


Stop him they did, and once Xanthippe caught up with him he was sent to meet his barbarous gods. The butcher's bill was high. But I can retrain my Horse Archers next turn, while the Scythians are not getting that General back.


My economy is improving, but money is still tight. So I sell my map to the Romans.


An Amazonian Diplomat offered me trade rights, I accepted and suggested we become allies. I hate to stand with those arrogant royalists, but for the moment we women need to stand together.


The Britons seemed to have the same idea. They are at war with Germania, who are allied with Scythia. Given this I thought it would be a good idea to take them up on the offer.


Now the Scythians want trade rights? Did this Diplomat not get the memo that we are a war?


A Scythian army attacks Xanthippe immediately after their diplomat's offer to underscore the point. They have an awful lot of horse archers in there. Xanthippe withdraws rather than face certain destruction.


Next turn I learn that Amazonia has broken our alliance, and Scythia and I are at war? Ahhh, I see. Scythia and Amazonia were allies. So when I allied with Amazonia, that automatically made Scythia and I neutral. Until the Scythians attacked again that is.


Speaking of Scythian attacks, they did take Vicus Venedae as I suspected.


Now Makanyane will have to dig them out of there. They have the missile advantage, so she does it at night to reduce the range of arrows.


I come at the settlement from two sides.


Makanyane sees two juicy targets at the edge of town and immediately charges in at them.


Polemusa does likewise at the other wall.


She drives the Scythians before her.


She has to stop short to avoid blundering into a mass of Scythians however. Time to bring up the infantry.


On the other side of the settlement, Makanyane was pushing her way in.


She had the Scythians trapped between two streets, but for every unit she routed there was another waiting behind it.


Polemusa had become bogged down as well.


Then her archers cut down the Scythian Captain.


Now she was able to charge into the settlement.


Makanyane finally dealt with the outer defenses, and closed in on the town square.


Polemusa cleared the Scythians before her and was on her way to reinforce.


A horrific bloodletting erupted in the center of town.


Victory belonged to Makanyane. But the losses are staggering.


Still, Makanyane has 628 kills just to herself.


I liberate the people of Vicus Venedae from the terrible Scythians.


My treasury is just barely keeping a profit, but not much. Still, I am constructing buildings in many of my settlements again. After all, having lost so many soldiers means I do not have to pay as much in upkeep every turn...


Over the AI's turn the Scythian army that Xanthippe was forced to retreat from followed her to Melanchlaeni. Alkippe is on the way from Campus Roxolani to reinforce her however.


Then next turn another Scythian army besieged Androphagia.


Xanthippe sallied from Melanchlaeni, bringing Alkippe in the battle to assist her.


The Scythians began the battle on the corner of the city on the strat map, so they head for that corner as the battle starts. Alkippe starts near that corner, and will move in to intercept them.


Xanthippe waits as the Scythians go past. She does not want to rush out and be shot to pieces by those Horse Archers going by.


In the map corner, Alkippe's force and most of Xanthippe's Horse Archers (who exited by another gate than Xanthippe), had met the Scythians.


Xanthippe left the city as the tail of the Scythian column came by and charged directly into them.


All the Scythians on hand rush into melee with her.


Seeing that they were all Horse Archers, it did not work out well for them.


Now Alkippe and Xanthippe were penning the Scythians in the corner.


The trap was almost shut when several of their Horse Archers ran for it and squirted free.


Still, it is a victory, and the siege was lifted.


The same turn, Alkippe took on a small group of Scythians who had come up to help their comrades.


Nothing special about this one. Alkippe leaves no survivors.


The same turn Tereis sallies from Androphagia. This gives me a look at the army the Scythians have besieging the city. I do not like it one bit, and Tereis withdraws back to the city. I expected as much, I just wanted confirm the makeup of their army before I brought in reinforcements from Melanchlaeni.


In the west, Makanyane is marching east upon Vibantavarium. If I can weather the Scythian storm in the center, she will sweep across the plains from the west and wipe them from existence.

[SubRosa]

The Greeks wish to trade with us? I wish to have their heads on a platter. Well, time enough for that later. We will sell them Amazon trinkets for now.


This is what I have been dreading ever since I took Vicus Gepidae, and the reason I have made sure I have had a General there at all times since. Germania has attacked.


Kardika, a new member of our august gathering of Amazon heroes, rides north from her post at Vicus Venedae as far as she can go, then hires a mercenary band of Barbarian Cavalry. She sends the mercenaries on to Vicus Gepidae to assist Pantariste there.


Pantariste then sallies, bringing the Barb Cavalry mercs in as reinforcements.


The Germans were on the corner tile of the city on the strat map, so they head for that corner as the battle starts. Pantariste finds an opening in their column and charges.


Scratch those Screechers.


Her Skirmishers come out of the city and proceed to give this lagging German Spearwarband volley after volley of javelins.


The Germans are setting up a line in the corner of the map. I want to get at their Barb Archers and Barb Cavalry, so I sweep around their line with my horse. In the background all of my infantry is converging on that lagging Spearwarband above.


Charge!


There goes the German Captain. Their archers followed soon after.


Mopping up. The Spearwarbands are in phalanx, and thusly are too slow to do anything but watch me butcher their comrades.


My infantry is finally catching up to that Spearwarband.


Uh oh, they turned and lowered their spears, this will get ugly fast.


My infantry routs before I can order them to retreat.


Okay, time to rest a bit.


Pantariste tries to lure the German Axemen out of formation to pursue her. They do not go for it.


So she rides over to the spearmen and give them a few volleys of javelins. Alas, that does not budge them either.


Finally she simply charges into the Axemen on the flank, routing them instantly (they were exhausted, which helps a lot).


Ooops, here comes another Axe unit. Pantariste stops before she blunders into it.


The Axemen charge her, and follow her back to the walls of the city. Right in front of a tower.


They changed their mind about attacking her when she saw the rest of my army.


Too late, there is no escape for these Germans.


After another rest break, another Spearwarband is lured out of formation.


Again, they get close and change their minds.


Too late for them as well...


While my cavalry was across the field chasing down routers, my infantry dispatched another Spearwarband on their own after surrounding it.


It is round four or five by now, and only three Spearwarbands are left. I pick them apart. This one on the flank looks like a good target.


I hit it with everything from both sides and they insta-rout.


I let the momentum carry my army into the second Spearwarband next to it.


Chain rout.


Only one left. You can guess what happened next.


Heroic Victory.


It was a slaughter. Over one thousand kills for Pantariste alone. Pretty good for her first battle.


I just love when the AI does this.


In the east, Xanthippe raises the siege of Androphagia by attacking the Scythians blockading it.


The garrison of the city enters the battle right on the Scythian flank.


It was your basic plains battle. Here goes the Scythian General.


Their handlers all dead, these Wardogs are now ghostly apparitions.


Victory.


Even further east, Okypous sallies against the Sarmatians besieging Campus Roxolani.


It is not a battle, but a slaughter.