Scenario "A"

Part I:

Don't throw good troops after bad. Allow App' to hold on its own. Its just possible he'll siege rather than assault if you have enough #s on the peasants. Your relief force should -- if a general is present -- build a fort. Garrison it with mercs and a hoplite or two. Take the general and the better troops out and withdraw to Thermon. Hopefully the fort will buy more time/kill more Jollies and let you make Thermon a death trap for them.

Part II:

You're going to have to kill some Brutes -- and blood cost must be paid. If you lose Corinth, your forces are split and the Brutes have interior lines -- most annoying. Perhaps you can get in the red zone and force one of them to attack you? Nothing like spears that he has to come at to win after all. But even if you lose half you force destroying his two, it will be worth it strategically.

Scenario "B"

Option I:

What's between you and Sardis? If you must lose lots of troops killing the Brutes in "A," perhaps a raid on Sardis can help fund your recovery? Then strip it and sell it back to the bridge-boys as a cease-fire offering. From there you can return to your bridge.

Option II:

If a raid is impracticable, stay on your bridge -- you'll defend that against anything short of a full stack of elephants and Cappadocians (and maybe them). Let Asia remain static (your defenses seem well placed) and focus on re-stabilizing home base.