Chapter II: Old Friends and New Enemies
Fall, 272 BC
The Parni were happy. Arsarces’ tribe so quickly made themselves at home in Nisa it was as if they had always lived there – only months after the last spear loyal to Andragoras was dropped to the ground in surrender. The stone and marble of the town spoke of permanence, and they began to craft new lives and look to the future. Many took to the surrounding countryside and with sweat and the fertile land and good rains, farms soon provided an abundance of food for the people and the armed forces that protected them.
Parthava, for now, seemed content with its lot of governing most of Parthia province including the major towns of Susia and Zadrakarta from its capital in Hecatompylos. To the east lay another Seleucid satrapy, the Aria. Dignitaries from both had not only recognized Arsarces and his court as a sovereign power, but relations seemed amicable enough.
Perhaps the Seleucid Empire had bigger concerns than a Parni upstart in a small town on the south-eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. To the north, Arsarces’ allies the Dahae controlled the southern half of the province of Chorasmia.
Secure for now Arsarces thought to himself, looking over the town from his balcony and picking at a bowl of dates and dried peaches. His thought of peace had only just faded as his steward Arsak stepped out from inside and into the sun. His face was not peaceful.
“Autocratos, the Dahae ask for our help. Bactria has declared war upon them.” “Has Amul been attacked?”
“Not yet, King of Kings. The Dahae had sent an emissary to negotiate a trade agreement with Bactria. The man’s horse returned without a rider, but with an answer. His head, along with samples of the wares the Dahae had to trade, and a letter…saying they would rather not pay for what they would soon take by force. How should I respond?”
“Tell the Dahae I am a man of my word, that I remain grateful and will not soon forget their hospitality. Their enemies are Parthia’s enemies.”
“At once, Autocratos.”
Bactria was no small foe. The Dahae’s sparsely populated lands were home to only one true city, Amul. By contrast, the provinces of Transoxania and Bactria were home to four, two of them with thick walls built at great expense. But, there is much hope. Bactria’s army is small. Enough to defeat the Dahae on their own, but not – I think – to defeat me. Arsarces’ invading army, The Children of the Parni, had resumed drills as soon as the people had settled into their new home of Nisa and easily numbered twice the men the Dahae had at their disposal.
Still, we should be prepared for the worst. Nisa had a military stables capable of outfitting a host of melee cavalry, and Arsarces would do just that. Yet, not a month had gone by before the situation became more difficult. The Khorasmii, a nomadic peoples who had stopped for now in Kath in northern Chorasmia, had begun a series of raids in Dahae land. The Dahae retaliated, and war soon followed. True to his word, young Arsarces declared war on Kath. Parthia now had enemies in the north, as well as the east.
Over the next year, Parthia kept close contact with Dahae for any movement by Bactria and in the meantime recruited, outfitted, and integrated into the army three units of Median cavalry. Arsarces’ would lead the army himself, giving it a new name for a new age: The Black Quivers. His uncle, Timgiratee, would remain behind to train more spearmen and more horse, continuing the legacy of The Children of the Parni.
When all was ready, he left his older brother Tiridates to govern in his absence, and made for the Chorasmian border.
All Hail the New Parthian Empire! - A Total War: Rome II AAR
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Hooahguy
Bookmarks