EMPIRE: Song of Peace and War

[SoFarSoGood]

But my favorite all time sci fi is foundation. it was originally based on a book about the roman empire. I love the idea of (spoiler) an empire sending a small group off to create a foundation but then the foundation itself becomes an empire while the real/original empire crumbles.

The Asimov Foundation Series was indeed superb. I am also enjoying this AAR.

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 4: Flight from Antioch
Winter 250 BC Border of Syria and Assyria

The last snowflakes of winter were just beginning to fall as they reached the border of Syria. Normally a journey of a few weeks, it had taken the three almost 2 months to reach it. It had been Mardonious' idea to stay in the city a while longer. They will think that Archimenes had fled the city and send patrols out. If we go now, all of the other towns and cities in Syria will be searching for him, he had said.

After two weeks of waiting, the trio had finally left the city. Archimenes had wanted to avoid the major towns and cities but Mardionious reasoned that his pursuers would expect him to do that. He was right. The Main roads were free of soldiers and they had blended into the crowded cities. They always stayed for a few days in each city to give the impression that they were in no hurry.

However, their journey had not been completely free of trouble. One morning, the travellers had woken up to find themselves surrounded by 13 armed men. Although outnumbered, Archimenes and Helioketes easily overpowered the group and killed all of them except for their leader. Mardonious had asked the man who he was working for and told him that if he wouldn't answer, he would ask his friend to 'convince' him, indicating Helioketes. The man had taken one look at huge Cretan before spilling everything. He was part of a rebellion under the leadership of Philetairos of Bactria, a man who had lost everything in Antiochus II's invasion of Bactria and now sought revenge on the empire gathering 13 000 discontented peasants under his banner. He had sent 5 000 west into Syria under his right hand man captain Mysikos, to plunder the towns and now marched on Edessa, the capital of the Assyrian province, with his remaining 8 000 men.



Afterwards, Archimenes had given the man a clean death. They continued with their journey, narrowing avoiding the forces of captain Mysikos before turning south and making for the border.

Helioketes rode up beside Mardonious. Archimenes stayed behind at a slow trot.

"Where do we go now? We surely can't go to Edessa with a rebel army camped between us and the city?" asked Helioketes
"I have been thinking about that ever since we found out." replied Mardonious, "Originally, I wanted to reach Edessa and stay there until the heat dies down."
"But you said Lord Vanara will never stop looking for him."
"No, but the Imperial forces will. Lord Vanara only has 50 men men looking for Archimenes. The Imperial forces assigned to catching Archimenes number 300. Without them, we have a better chance of escaping his clutches."
"Why not just go to Seleukeia?"
"The reason we have deliberately travelled slowly through Syria is to allow our pursuers to believe that we are ahead of them. They will think that we are trying to put as many miles between us and Antioch as possible and so far it has worked. However if we go to Seleukeia now, they may still be searching there and that's what I'm worried about."
"Why don't we hide in one of the other cities along the road?"
"Those cities are not big enough to hide a fugitive who killed the eldest son of a powerful Lord."
"We have done it before. We have hidden at cities on the road here."
"We never stayed for more than a few days. If we had stayed longer, we would have attracted the attention of somebody, maybe even the city guard."
"But Seleukeia is one of the biggest cities in the empire, surely they won't find us there."
"They will have the city guard looking for Archimenes as well and the city guard are 4 000 strong. But it seems we have no choice in the matter. We will slowly make our way to Seleukeia, and pray that, by the time we arrive, they will be gone..."

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 5: Edge of Civilisation
Summer 249 BC, Sai Yavuga, the former Saka stronghold of Chighu



"Why are we still in this place brother?" asked Sarpedon,"I am tired of these endless Steppes"
"I have already told you, we have to stay and make sure the province is settled before we can leave. We also need to clear out the rest of the Saka armies in the region. We will move against the rest of their cities in the Autumn" replied King Antiochus II Theodoros.
"Why are we here at all? We don't need these lands. The empire will hardly benefit from the addition of these wastelands"
"If we don't bring the Saka to their knees they will keep raiding our eastern provinces and if we conquer all of their lands, then we can start a new eastern front against our Sarmatian enemies."
"We have brought two bright young generals here with us. They can continue this invasion for us. We need not be here for any longer."

Before Theodoros could reply, Alexandros came into the hall.
"Hello cousins, I have just received some bad news from the west."
"Well?" asked the King
"This is a letter from one of my companions. He is hunted by Lord Vanara for killing his son."
"That news hardly concerns us." said Sarpedon
"No, but it concerns me. He has always been loyal to me and saved my life many times. I intend to return the favour. However that is not the news I bring you. In his letter, he tells me of a large rebellion in the Heartlands led by a man named Philetairos of Bactria."
"He is in the Heartlands? How many men does he lead?" asked the King
"13 000, but he leads mostly armed peasants and has split his force in two."
"See brother? We need to return to Antioch. You have been away from the heartlands for too long, you need to go back and tighten your grasp on the lords and the people." exclaimed Sarpedon.
"I have a better idea. We will send instructions to Lord Artabazanes to raise an army and march to confront these rebels. When he crushes them, it will show the rest of the empire that my reach is long and make them think twice about making a move against me"



"After he crushes the rebellion. Then what?" asked Sarpedon
"I will send him north to replace Herakleidies Atarneou." replied the King
"Your sending him against the lord of the north?" asked Sarpedon,"Why?"
"Are you unaware that his actions led to the destruction of the entire legion of the north?"
"He is a fool. So what? He has still managed to keep the north from falling into the hands of the Sarmatians. You didn't replace him ten years ago when this happened, why act now?"
"Herakleidies Atarneou is not that much of a fool. He sent the Legion of the north on a suicide mission because they were loyal to cousin Alexandros. He destroyed them so he could raise his own loyal troops and has had free reign over all of the north for the past ten years. I will not let that kind of treachery go unpunished."
"Very well, but I still believe you should return to Antioch before it's too late..." said Sarpedon before marching out of the room

Alexandros turned to Antiochus.
"I still need one thing from you cousin. I have written this pardon letter for my companion but I need your seal."said Alexandros
"You are really willing to anger lord Vanara for this? He is a dangerous enemy to make." replied Antiochus
"I am more than willing. I already have many enemies in court. What difference is one more if I can save the life of my loyal servant."
"Very well," said Antiochus, reaching for his seal, "But if this man of yours has really killed Lord Vanara's son, I doubt even a royal pardon can save him.."

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 6: A Forked Road
Autumn 249 BC, Seleukeia

Mardonious and Helioketes were deep in conversation when the door opened. Archimenes came in and behind him was another man. He was of the same stature as Archimenes and wore a full suit of shining armour. Mardonious looked at the man, his gaze resting on the stranger's helmet: A helmet with a black plume. A another member of the Black guard.

"This is my comrade Hector. He came here to find me as I told him where we were hiding in my letter" said Archimenes, introducing the man.
"Alexandros has sent me to deliver a royal pardon to you and to give a second letter to Lord Vanara ordering him to stop with his chase." said Hector.
"That is good news, however, you know as well as I do that Vanara will not be stopped." replied Mardonious
"He will not be allowed to use the men or resources of his Satrapy to continue the chase and if his men are caught, he will be punished for defying a royal decree." argued Hector.
"Yes, but that man is capable of anything. He may not be able to use the army any more but he has plenty of servants of his own."
"I am no fool. I will not reveal myself to him, but at least I will not be hunted by the guards of every city any more." replied Archimenes
"There is one more piece of news. Lord Artabazanes is raising an army in nearby Babylon. He intends to crush Philetairo's rebellion and head north to displace Herakleidies Atarneou."
"Displace him?" asked Helioketes in sudden interest
"Yes, the King believes that Herakleidies Atarneou purposely led the legion of the north to destruction ten years ago and replaced them with his own men so he could gain absolute control of the north."
"What?!" exclaimed Helioketes, his face twisting into an expression of pure rage. He got up and flipped over the table.
"Calm yourself!" shouted Mardonious
"My brothers died for his petty schemes. I will not rest until that man burns! Mardonious, I know I agreed to accompany you in your ventures but I must finish this before I can join you. I will go to Babylon and enlist."
"I understand. This is something you must do and I will not stop you." replied Mardonious.

An hour later, Helioketes had said his farewells to the three men and left.

"Mardonious, I will stay with you. I have a debt to you now that can never be repaid" said Archimenes.
"You owe me nothing, but I would like you to join me. That offer is still open if you choose to take it"
"Where will you begin your venture?"
"Well, I will need to return to Antioch first and find the money lender before I can begin. I may have already lost my opportunity if he has changed his mind. We have been gone for a year."
"That will not be a problem. Hector has brought the spoils I have claimed on my campaigns here with him. I will help you begin your trade"
"I don't think your spoils will be enough"

Archimenes began to chuckle, puzzling Mardonious

"Come with us," he said,"I want to show you something"

The three men made their way to the Agora. They arrived at a ring of wagons guarded by no less than 8 members of the black guard. Mardonious looked inside and his jaw dropped. Each of the wagons were filled to the top with gold pieces and statuettes.

Seeing Mardonious' expression, Archimenes said,"These are the spoils of a thousand cities. There is enough for me to fund your venture and still be one of the empires' richest men."
"I see, well then we can begin."
"Where will we go?"
"Arabia."
"Arabia? Why there?"
"Because only in Arabia are we on the offensive. In the west and north, we are holding our ground against the Romans and Sarmatians. In Arabia, we are on the offensive, sacking and enslaving their cities. I will be able to find an inexhaustible source cheap slaves there. We will go in a week and go south to join general Seron Kydnikes of Antiocheia who is camped with a huge army in the desert of M'ain right now. We should be able to catch up to his army by the time he reaches the Sabaen cities."

Hector turned to Archimenes and handed him the parchment with his pardon written on it.
"My friend, I must continue with my mission now. My men and I will go to Sidon and deliver the King's orders to Vanara. Then I will go back to Baktra, claim my spoils and return to Susa to live the rest of my days."
"Farewell my friend, may Hermes keep you safe on your journey."
Archimenes then said his farewells to the other 8 Black Guards in turn.

As Hector and the other companions rode off, Mardonious had a feeling that Archimenes would never see these men alive again. He kept these thoughts to himself..

[seleucid empire]

I hope you liked that chapter. If your wondering
Mardonious is 15, Archimenes is 34 and Helioketes is 32 when the story begins

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 7: Acts of Treason
Winter 249 BC Sidon

The Great Port of Sidon was the largest port in the empire excluding those of Seleucia Pieria and Alexandria. A thousand ships entered and left it's harbours each day with goods coming in from Greece and even distant Iberia. On some days, such as this one, Lord Vanara, Satrap of Phoenicia would stroll through the bustling harbour with his guards. Vanara often liked to visit the port. It was his creation and would be his legacy. Ten years of his life he had dedicated to it and the result was spectacular. Whenever, he walked through the markets many people would stop with their work and show their respects to him. As he reached the piers, a man crept up beside him, keeping pace with the lord.

"Well Ennychos, I hope you are here to give me some good news, and that my men have found and killed that bastard who took my son away from me." said Vanara to his chief eunuch without looking at him."
"I'm afraid not my Lord, certain...complications have arisen."
"What complications?" snarled Vanara,"Don't tell me that captain Perikes has failed me again. You have been searching for a year already!"
"It seem our prey is much smarter than we thought. He has eluded us so far."

Without warning, Vanara lifted his hand and struck Ennychos.

"You disturbed my walk to tell me this?"
"No my lord," stammered Ennychos,"I have come to tell you that nine members of the Black Guard are here. They request an immediate audience with you on behalf of Alexandros the Black"
"Did they state the reason for their trip?"
"No my Lord but I have an idea."
"You think that they are here with a royal pardon for Archimenes from the King?"
"Yes I do my Lord."
"I feared this would happen. That was why I wanted him found quickly! Now the imperial forces will stop searching for him."
"You can still hunt him with your own men my Lord. If the King finds out you can always say that you could not find your men in time to give them the new orders."
"Yes, but without the imperial forces and the city guards of the Empire, I will never find him."
"They is another way my Lord...What if...the messengers were sidetracked, and you never received the orders."
"Make it happen Ennychos.."

[moriluk]

ohh ok, I see your point. Basically like the legend of Aeneas, he leaves the powerful troy and founds an even more powerful empire of Rome? So your going to keep playing as the Seleucids but focus more on your colony and let the empire slowly die?
Are you going to make an aar with your campaign? cause i would love to read that (i enjoyed your other aars immensely). Especially if you're going to britain because i have never seen an aar about a civilised faction migrating to the tin isles

I don't know. I started a migration aar of aedui to ireland a couple of months ago. fun start but i got distracted with irl and it is in stasis, plus the aar is about 40 years behind the actual game. I haven't posted it yet. I may not. Seleukids in Briton sounds interesting. I guess if it never happened, the idea of Celts in Anatolia would seem unlikely too, so Greeks in Briton may be fun. Either way, an aar of a crumbling seleukid empire would be fun. I wonder if it is possible to change Seleukid generals to syracuse hoplites..

Oh and this idea is nothing original, I am not claiming that. 2 things inspired this. An old incomplete arr of a bactria fm traveling to krete and starting a new kingdom (about 100 years into the campaign). And another incomplete aar of seleukids where everything crumbled save for syria (so around 250 bc seleukids are about like pontos/hayasdan/bactria 272bc).

My aars are a pimple on the ass of obelics. I will never have the time nor creativity to accomplish that sort of hilariousness and depth. But i am glad you like them. My carthage one crashed (the actual aar that is) and i was not about to redo 10 years. hayasdans last situation was about 30 huge armies of carthage circling around egypt like vultures.

Anyway, nice updates. This is a fun read, keep it up.