Rise of the Arche Epeirou

[the man with no name]

And if you lack screenshots, use the enter button more generously.
It's more inviting to read short fragments than whole blocks of text.

Even if the total amount of text in 1 update stays the same.

Plus it makes the updates look bigger.

[Scipio Germanicus]

Chapter 3: Consolidation

Demetrias- 271 BC

Horns rang throughout the city. The time had finally come. Demetrias’ gates swung open and out marched the Macedonians. From atop his horse, Pyrros could see the faces of the first few soldiers. There was no courage, no hope. He saw only desperation. They were outnumbered, starving, and demoralized. They had been under siege for over a year and had simply exhausted their supplies.



Pyrros’ allies in the south had managed to keep Antigonus’ main army in Achaea, so there was no chance of relief from the outside. Demetrius, known by many as Kalos, “the handsome,” was trapped and left with only two options—he must either sally from the town and attempt to drive back the Epeirotes or surrender the town to them.



Pyrros, expecting the proud young Macedonian to fight, had kept his troops battle-ready for the past several weeks. Now the time had come to take the town and reap the rewards of their patience.
His army quickly lined up similarly to their last battle: Phalangitai in the center and Illyrians on the flanks. This time the Galatians moved to the left flank behind the Illyrians while the elephants were on the right. Pyrros led his Companions and Illyrian cavalry on the far right of his line. Ptolemaios and many Companions had remained in Pella to keep order. They would be missed, but it could not be helped.



About half of the Macedonian garrison was skirmishers and slingers.



This would be a suicide charge. A twinge of guilt struck Pyrros. These men die because of one man’s arrogance, he thought. He called for a runner and had him send orders to the lieutenants that any Macedonian who surrendered were to be spared. The young man sped off and Pyrros returned his attention to the battle.

A cloud of dust rose from the west side of the town. Though he could not see, Pyrros guessed that Demetrius was attempting to circle the town and surprise him.
“An over-proud and foolish amateur,” he said to his retainer, “He would see his men die rather than surrender.”

As Demetrius and his bodyguards came into view, the Phalangitai attacked the Epeirote center while the Thessalian cavalry attacked the Illyrians on the left. The Galatians circled around and charged the Thessalians, who were quickly cut down.

Meanwhile, Demetrius had almost reached the Illyrians on the right when Pyrros ordered his cavalry to charge. The Macedonians clashed with the Illyrians just before Pyrros and his cavalry charged into their flank. Most of the bodyguards fell on contact, and Demetrius himself fell within seconds. The Illyrian cavalry quickly turned and charged the Akontistai, Agrianians, and Sphendonitai, who promptly threw down their weapons. With the battle lost, the remaining Macedonians surrendered as well.
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Pyrros marched into the city at the head of his army. Despite having been under siege and clearly in poor health, the people welcomed him as a hero. He later found out that the people had urged Demetrius to surrender many months ago, but he’d refused. With Pyrros would come food and medicine, and that was all the people wanted. He would give it to them, and the people would love him all the more.

Several days later, Pyrros sent out a diplomatic envoy to Antigonus’ camp just outside of Korinthos. Along the way, the group stopped at Athenai where they met with Chremonides, the mastermind behind the Koinon Hellenon. After learning more about the situation in Achaea, they set off to meet with Antigonus himself.
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The guards looked on the Epeirotes with contempt. Everyone in the group grew nervous. Harmodios Arbaios, the head of the group, glanced at the soldier next to him.



Antigonus had assured him that the soldiers would not attack, but it was little comfort here, surrounded by all these hostile faces.

As they approached the main tent, a large rock sailed past Harmodios, barely missing his head. One of the Macedonians, presumably the same who threw the rock, cried out, “Go home you barbarian dogs!”

Several guards quickly subdued the man, but Harmodios could see that they agreed with the man. They were only following orders and would gladly join with the soldiers if given the chance. Harmodios
slightly quickened his pace.

When they reached the tent, only Harmodios and one aide were allowed to enter. They found Antigonus at a desk, pouring over a map of southern Hellas. They were ushered to a couple of chairs across from the Macedonian ruler.



“What does Pyrros send to me on the lips of his lapdogs?” he asked. Harmodios suppressed his anger at the insult and summoned as much grace and courtesy as he could.

“Basileus Pyrros Aiakides, king of the Epeirotes, lord of Makedonia,” Harmodios stressed this part, “and protector of the Royal Tombs at Pella sends a most generous offer.” So far, so good, he thought. He felt especial delight at seeing Antigonus tense when he called Pyrros “lord of Makedonia.”

“My king suggests an end to the fighting between our kingdoms. Having fought hard for the lands of Makedonia and Thessaly, my lord will retain possession of said lands. Achaea and Lesbos shall remain in your possession for as long as you can hold them. These are my lord’s terms. There will be no negotiation. Do you accept?”

The Macedonian king stood quietly for a moment. Harmodios could see the anger raging inside him and wondered if this would be his last mission. Finally, Antigonus quietly began.

“How does this barbarian warmonger demand anything of me, the Basileus of Makedonia, the heart of Megas Alexandros’ great empire? Your king has taken more from me than just land. My eldest son and my brother lie dead, cut down by Epeirote blades. How can there be peace while their blood cries out from the streets of Pella and from the fields of Demetrias?! Let Pyrros sit on my throne while he can! My armies outnumber his four to one! Let him sit and await his destruction!” As he spoke, Antigonus’ voice continued to rise, reaching a shout as he uttered the last statement.

Harmodios sat quietly throughout the rant. He eyes never left Antigonus, and his face showed no emotion. When the raging king had finished, Harmodios played his trump card. Slowly rising to his feet, he looked Antigonus in the eye and said, “You are surrounded by the armies of Athenai and Sparte. No reinforcements will come to you. They will tighten their grip while my king strengthens our army in the north. While you bleed, we will grow stronger. When the Hellenes have bled your army dry, we will descend on your army and destroy any who are left. So I ask you again, do you accept a ceasefire between our people?”
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Harmodios rode hard from the Macedonian camp. He wanted to put as much distance between himself and Antigonus as possible. After receiving the Macedonian’s answer, he and his group had immediately left the tent and wasted no time in leaving the camp. Within days, the Hellenes would begin their attack on Korinthos. Harmodios couldn’t help but smile. While their rivals fought, Pyrros and the Epeirotes would rest and regain their strength. There would be peace between Antigonus and Pyrros—at least for now.

[Scipio Germanicus]

Chapter 4: A Short Rest

After the end of the Macedonian War, Pyrrhos went about securing his new possessions. Ptolemaios was made the governor of Demetrias while a portion of the Phalangitai were sent to garrison Pella. Pyrrhos himself took the remainder of his army and marched back to Ambrakia.

His representatives in Pella and Ptolemaios in Demetrias, having pacified the conquered regions, begin to set up governments. Despite the objections of many, both Makedonia and Thessaly are given equal status to the Epeirote homelands. Pyrrhos hoped that doing so would make the people of those regions happier, thus making them easier to rule.



While Pyrrhos built up the infrastructure of Hellas, Helenos and the town of Taras were once again threatened. The Romans broke the six-year peace with the Epeirotes and blockaded Brundisium. Helenos was now completely cut off from Hellas.



However, he had been busy during those six years. He had first completed a stone wall to improve the town’s defenses. To counter any siege engines the Romans might bring, he had trained many Toxotai. These archers could use arrows wrapped in oily cloth and lit on fire to shoot at rams and towers, hopefully setting them on fire. He’d also trained Peltestai, who could rain javelins on the enemy but were also decent melee fighters. It would be with this force, along with the surviving Illyrians and Hoploi, that Helenos would have to defend Taras.




In the winter of the third year of the 127th Olympiad (266 BC), Nereis, daughter of Ptolemaios, marries an Agrianian named Aruptaios of the Eleaios family. Seeing potential in the young man, Pyrrhos sends him to Pella as a governor.



After years of peace, events in the southern part of Hellas force Pyrrhos to build up his army. Antigonus had been defeated after a year of almost constant battles. With Antigonus’ defeat, the Koinon Hellenon had finally captured Korinthos and the whole of Peloponnesos. However, instead of disbanding most of their army and preparing for peace, the Koinon had raised even more troops. They then moved a large part of these troops to Attike. Seeing this as the precursor to an invasion, Pyrrhos quickly began raising more soldiers.



Ptolemaios also began preparing for war, training Hoplitai and Phalangitai to defend Demetrias in case of an attack.

Their moves proved wise. During the last year of the 127th Olympiad, the Hellenes made their move. A small force marched north from Attike and besieged Demetrias. At the same time, a slightly larger force crossed the Straits of Rion and attacked Thermon, the meeting-place of the Aetolian League.

Aetolia had been a buffer state between the Epeirotes and Hellenes, with both sides agreeing to refrain from moving troops in the region. With these acts, the Hellenes initiated the largest war ever fought in Hellas. The prize for the winner was absolute control of Hellas. The future of both the Koinon and Epeiros were at stake.

[Scipio Germanicus]

Alas! My game has unfortunately become unstable and crashed! I have tried repeatedly to continue but is keeps crashing at the end of the turn in winter 242. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to fix it then I'll try. But if not, then I apologize to any who may have enjoyed my attempt at writing.

[anubis88]

wow, surprisingly good read... You really have a way of writing, i like that. To bad about your crash

[Scipio Germanicus]

Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it, what little there was. I don't feel particularly inspired to start another one right now bc of school and work, but hopefully I will soon.