Greek Tragedy

[Franconicus]

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Dareios the King, son of Hystaspes, Achaemenid, King of Kings of Persia, Pharaoh of Egypt, King of Babylonia, rules the greatest empire ever seen in history. It covers the provinces Across the sea, Akaufaka, Arabia, Arachosia, Aria, Armenia, Assyria, Babylonia, Bactria, Cappadocia, Caria, Chorasmia, Dahae, Drangiana, 1st Egyptian Satrapy, 2nd Egyptian Satrapy, Eber-Nari, Elam, Gandhara, Gedrosia, Hyrcania, Ionia, Hindush, Libya, Maka, Media, Parthia, Persia, Quadia, Saka, Sardis, Sattagydia, Skudra, Sogdia and Yehud. Hundreds of peoples and tribes in the civilized world owe their lives to Dareios the King. The King himself donates his subjects peace and welfare and he protects them from the barbarian tribes residing at the edges of the great empire.

At the far western border of the realm, at the great satrapy Sardis, there are living the subjects of the Ionian nation. They live at cities, ruled by Ionian lords, appointed as tyrants by the Satrap of Sardis, Artapherus. These cities live mainly from the trade with the Ionian cities in the west.

Sales are slow lately. The occupation of Egypt, the war against Scythians and the destruction of Sybaris at Italy cut off the Ionian cities from their trade partners. Discontent with the Persian rule grew.

About 40 years after the Persian conquest of Ionia, the stand-in Milesian tyrant Aristagoras found himself in this familiar predicament. Aristagoras's uncle Histiaeus had accompanied Darius on the Scythian campaign, and when offered a reward, had asked for part of the conquered Thracian territory. Although this was granted, Histiaeus's ambition alarmed Darius's advisors, and Histiaeus was thus further 'rewarded' by being compelled to remain in Susa as Darius's "Royal Table-Companion". Taking over from Histiaeus, Aristagoras was faced with bubbling discontent in Miletus. In the year 22, Aristagoras was approached by some exiles from Naxos, who asked him to take control of the island. Seeing an opportunity to strengthen his position in Miletus by conquering Naxos, Aristagoras approached the satrap of Lydia, Artaphernes, with a proposal. If Artaphernes provided an army, Aristagoras would conquer the island, thus extending the boundaries of the empire for Darius, and he would then give Artaphernes a share of the spoils to cover the cost of raising the army. Artaphernes agreed in principle, and asked Darius for permission to launch the expedition. Darius assented to this, and a force of 200 triremes was assembled in order to attack Naxos the following year.
In the spring of the year 23, Artaphernes readied the Persian force, and placed his cousin Megabates in command. He then sent ships on to Miletus, where the Ionian troops levied by Aristagoras embarked, and the force then set sail for Naxos.

The expedition quickly descended into a debacle. Aristagoras fell out with Megabates on the journey towards Naxos. The Naxians were able to prepare properly for a siege, and the Persians arrived to a well-defended expedition. The Persians laid siege to the Naxians for four months, but eventually they and Aristagoras both ran out of money. The force therefore sailed despondently back to the mainland.

With the failure of his attempt to conquer Naxos, Aristagoras finds himself in dire straits; he is unable to repay Artaphernes, and has, moreover, alienated himself from the Persian royal family.
 

PLAYERS:


The Stranger - Aristogoras - Milet
Kival - Pixodarus - Caria
Greyblades - Onesilos - Cyprus
King Kurt - Helespont

Arjos - Ottanes - son-in-law of Dareios
Rickinator9 - Daurises - son-in-law of Dareios