EMPIRE: Song of Peace and War

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 19: The Black Citadel
Spring 249 BC Elymais, The Black Citadel, Headquarters of the Black Guard

Archimenes found Mardonious on the highest walls of the citadel, staring at the distant ground, nearly 700 metres below them.

"Impressive isn't it?" asked Archimenes
"That is an understatement. Seven sectors with seven rings of defences and the lowest one is 200 metres off the ground. This is the largest and most impressive fortress I have ever seen."
"Then you haven't seen Tempestfall."
"Tempestfall?"
"Yes, the largest fortress in the Empire, and the World. The Black Citadel is the second largest but Tempestfall is 5 times as large and can garrison 150 000 men."
"That would make this fortress look like a hovel."
"Nah, tempest fall may be the largest fortress but The Black Citadel is a far greater challenge to take. It's built into a mountain and seven rings of defences would stop any army."
"And with the black guard guarding it..."
"Millions would not be enough to take it."

"So where are the black guards Archimenes?"
"You have seen them already. They opened the gates for us. They are everywhere."
"Those men? They are not companions."
"No, the companion cavalry regiments of the Guard are all with Alexandros. The Infantry regiments have been stationed here, around 5 000 strong. They may not be as famous as our cavalry but they are deadly in combat."
"I see, so we are safe here from Vanara."
"Yes, but I do not intend to stay here. I'm going to travel to my own lands. I'm going to return to Green Shade Hall "

It had been several weeks ago when they had received the news from a merchant, that Lord Vanara was travelling along the Royal Road escorted by 1 500 cavalry, including the Elissian Guard. There was only one possible reason for his trip. The hunt had resumed. The fact that Vanara had not been questioned or stopped along the way, meant that Hector had not succeeded in his mission and was probably dead. No doubt Vanara had a hand in it.

"You plan on luring Vanara into a trap and avenging Hector." stated Mardonious with a sigh of acceptance.
"Yes."
"You do not even know if Hector is dead or not. He may have been delayed somewhere or reached Sidon after Vanara had left already."
"Do you really believe that Mardonious?"
"Alas, no.."
"I will avenge Hector and strangle that snake."
"Then I will come with you..."

[Imperator Invictus]

The Gods blessed us with our brother in war with the ephitet "Seleucid Empire". There is a better Rome Total War player, Europa Barbarorum player, or even an EB Seleucid campaign player, but a better AAR Author there is none!!

[seleucid empire]

The Gods blessed us with our brother in war with the ephitet "Seleucid Empire". There is a better Rome Total War player, Europa Barbarorum player, or even an EB Seleucid campaign player, but a better AAR Author there is none!!

thank you! This is probably the best praise (If i interpreted that correctly) I have ever gotten from anyone in the forums :D

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 20: Storm Clouds
Summer 248 BC Gava-Aursa, the Steppes of Dahyu Aursa

The Warlords hold was a shabby hall of wood, poorly constructed. However, it was probably the largest building in the steppes for hundreds or even thousands of leagues. The former nomad city of Gava-Aursa was nothing more than a town compared to the great cities of the Empire. As Sarpedon approached, two guards quickly stepped aside to let him in. Inside, he found Alexandros and Antiochus hunched over a map of the Sarmatian territories. They both looked up as he entered.

"Brother, cousin, ill news has reached my ears." stated Sarpedon
"Well?" asked Antiochus.
"Queen Berenice has declared an open rebellion and taken Antioch."
"What?!" exclaimed both Alexandros and Antiochus.
"She is also pregnant with Lord Oxatanies child."
"By the Gods!" exclaimed Alexandros
"How did she take Antioch?" asked Antiochus.
"She smuggled 15 000 mercenaries into the city. When the time came, they lured the hypaspistai and silvershields to a feast and slaughtered them. Then they fell on the unsuspecting city guards. It was all done in a day. In addition, five hundred noble families have been killed on her orders."

Antiochus turned visibly pale.

"And my sons?" he asked, shaken.
"My sphere agents helped the entire Royal family escape out of the city and brought them to Ephesus where you exiled queen Laodice. They are now raising an army to fight back. Our sons and relatives are safe for now."
"Thank the Gods" said Alexandros. Then he turned to Antiochus and said, "Cousin, I told you years ago it was a bad idea to marry that Egyptian *****! Laodice was a good queen and you cast her out."
"It was a necessary action. I needed Berenice to claim Egypt. If I had not, we would still be fighting rebellions up and down the Nile to this day! Laodice understood my actions and only made me promise one thing: That our son Seleucus will ascend the throne after me!"

"What is done is done, we need to focus on what to do now." interrupted Sarpedon.
"Just cut her throat!" roared Alexandros."Surely you have one agent capable in the sphere."
"I have many capable agents!" snapped Sarpedon, "But she will be prepared. She has Neoptolemus of Karia, the greatest warrior in the empire as her personal bodyguard. You, yourself gave him into her service"
"Neoptolemus is loyal to me.." said Alexandros
"Was loyal to you, but I'm guessing that its changed now. After all, I don't think that Oxatanies is the only one who she spread her legs for..."
"Neoptolemus was never trained as a bodyguard, he may be the greatest warrior but surely he has never faced assassins of the same calibre as those found in the sphere."
"Yes, I have plenty of assassins who can easily kill them both, however, they are unavailable. You asked me to send my best to Roma to assassinate the members of the senate who oppose making peace with us. In between missions, they are unreachable. Such is the way of the sphere. However, I will try and get the word across to Flashblade or maybe Quicksilver..."

Antiochus flinched when he heard the name.

Quicksilver, Sarpedon's best assassin. Memories came flooding back to slaughter he had witnessed nearly six years ago. The Siege of Bactra was at an end. Only the palace remained, held by those desperate soldiers still loyal to the Bactrian King Diodotos. Four days they successfully held off Antiochus' forces. On the fifth, the Empire's forces rushed to gates again, only to find them unguarded. The assault force made their way cautiously to the throne room where a horrific scene greeted them. The room was filled with bodies. 400 elite warriors of the Bactrian Guard lay dead, their limbs and intestines scattered everywhere. All of them had their throats cut and a few had lost their heads completely. Sitting calmly on the throne was quicksilver, and he was Smiling. In his hand was a spear with Diodotos' head on top of it. All that slaughter, done by a singe man. Antiochus had not asked how he had managed to achieve it. He had not wanted to know..

"No" whispered Antiochus."No assassins. She has the support of Egypt behind her. If we assassinate her, then Egypt will continue to resist us. We will wait for her to raise the Egyptians to her cause, and then crush her in open battle. This resentment has been building up for far too long. An assassination will not stop Egypt from rebellion."
"My spies tell me that the population of Antioch is hostile towards her." continued Sarpedon,"But the presence of 15 000 mercenaries will keep them from troubling her."
"What does she plan to do next?" asked Alexandros.
"Well she has seized the treasury and hired another army of Mercenaries. They are on their way to Ephesus to put it under siege and kill the prince. Berenice has lead the Phoenician army down to Egypt and taken Alexandreia as well. Naturally, the population welcomed her as their rightful queen. Our loyal Satraps have fled down to Nubia and Ethiopia. They control Meroe, Axum and Ptolemaios Theron and are raising an army to counter-attack."

"Phoenician army?" asked Antiochus
"Vanara, that snake.." hissed Alexandros.
"We will return to the Heartlands immediately, marching through Armenia on the way" said Antiochus." I have received word from High General Epikrates that he is on the march for Uspe. If he succeeds in relieving the fortress then we will meet them halfway. I will hand him control of half the royal army so he can continue the campaign in the north and continue south with my core of cavalry and infantry."

Sarpedon nodded approvingly. "As I have told you countless times, we should have returned years ago. Now we face a massive rebellion."

"Not for long..."

[seleucid empire]

Interlude

blue = territory under Berenice's control
black = territories under the Emperor's control

[Imperator Invictus]

wow, civil war. But I think that Berenice's rebels are doomed, unless Carthage helps them or/and High General Epikrates changes sides or claims the throne for himself.

[seleucid empire]

wow, civil war. But I think that Berenice's rebels are doomed, unless Carthage helps them or/and High General Epikrates changes sides or claims the throne for himself.

ahh well, she controls egypt and Syria, two key provinces and the rest of the empire is newly conquered. The King only holds a portion of the heartlands to draw his best troops. He is also cut off from Macedonia and Asia Minor