Book V: The Growth of an Empire
Apollodotos and Antigenes
Joined with Raudäka Oxyboakes
And went on campaign against the hordes of
Pidan the Slothful and Vanaspara
Both kings of the Haomavarga tribe
And vanquished them on the great battlefield.
They soon set siege to the tribe’s camp, Oyrta,
Kept at bay only by a wooden wall.
In the western deserts, Aryandes, his
Brother Zeionises, and Chastana,
A confident young man seeking to prove
His worth not only in eagle hunting,
But in commanding a great Saka horde,
Assembled a mighty army with which
They would march of the city of Khiva
Belonging to the Huwarazmish tribe
The locals prayed to their favorite god,
Known in their tongue as Ahura Mazda,
To banish the mighty nomadic force.
But the Saka host triumphed in the end,
Just as Oxyboakes took Oyrta.
Still the Saka were not content with their
New conquests, for Apollodotos soon
Brought his great army to Orthospana
And took it from the Uparisena.
The nomads’ herds swelled larger than ever,
For now they had far more lands to graze in.
The elite flaunted their newfound riches
Filling their simple food with rare spices
Looted from distant eastern settlements,
And sharing war stories of distant lands,
Of Haoma drinkers and Yavanas.
Oxyboakes continued to fight,
Now against the eastern Yuezhi nomads,
Winning countless battles against that tribe.
But the Saka were not the only ones
Whose herds grazed upon the mighty steppe lands.
The Pahlavâns watched the expansion of their
Deadly northern neighbors with great concern.
When a Saka tribe strayed into their realm,
They attacked them and killed their warriors.

At this time, Aryandes had marched northwards
To conquer the tribe of the Alantae.
Their chieftain, Tsaegaer, defeated him,
Pushing him back to the western deserts.
The news of the attack came days later
As the Rrudi brought his army along
The ancient caravan routes of traders.
“This grave offense shall not be forgotten,”
The warlord proclaimed to his warriors,
“If they want to wage war, they shall have it.”
He planned to lead the invasion army,
But an unexpected illness struck him,
So young Chastana commanded his horde,
While Aryandes brooded alone, stuck in
Khiva, the town of the western wastelands.
Chastana was twice the warlord he was,
And defeated a Pahlavân army
Led by swift Varâzdad ê Dahâën.
While the Rrudi recovered, his brother
Zeionises marched on the Alantae,
Even besieging Gava-Alanna.
When he became well, he rushed north to fight,
But an Alantae war band beat him first.
Ashamed by his countless defeats, he went
Back to Khiva, never again planning
To lead a horde onto the battlefield.
That would be the work of his brothers, his
Yavanas generals, and his children.