The greatest moment:

(Playing with general camera)

After 10 years of campaigning in Greece Pyrrhus had seized Pella, brought Macedon to its knees and had a strong alliance with Athens and Sparta. Then he returned to Italy, formed an army out of Epirotes, Italian Greeks and Samnites and continued the war against Rome.

He conquered the two Roman provinces just south of Rome and the road to the Big One was open... Except for a hill just east of the city occupied by a small force of 120 Hastati and 200 skirmishers. He closed in with his 2500 infantry and 200 cavalry (consisting mostly of Pyrrhus' 120 experience level 9 bodyguards). The Greek slingers devastated the Roman skirmishers and Pyrrhus personally chased them down leading his cavalry. Then the Samnites marched forward and threw javelins at the Hastatii, while the cavalry manouvered behind them. Then the two lines prepared to charge the Romans on top of the hill.

Pyrrhus glanced over his shoulder and saw the city of Roma looking helplessly at the hill, where its young men were preparing to fight to the death. Just one word from him and he would send a message to all his enemies. His head turned towards the hill and his voice echoed through the air just as he drew his sword: "CHARGE!" He led his cavalry up the hill and could see his samnite allies emerging from the other side. He focused his mind on the Roman leader, who still had his back to him, ready to die for Rome. As the Samnites clashed with the first ranks of the Hastatii, the cavalry charged the rear.

Pyrrhus had his eyes firmly on the Roman officer. As his horse rode towards his victim, he flung his sword back to gain momentum for the first and final blow. The officer however heard the thunder behind him and quickly spun around to deliver a hasty thrust with his sword, before getting trampled by the charging horse. The horse continued to the top of the hill before coming to a complete halt. As the officer struggled to rise from the grass, Pyrrhus slowly turned his horse towards him. The king of Epirus, Macedon and the rightful heir of Alexander looked at this lowly Roman... and behind him he saw the city of Roma, staring silently back at him. Everything was silent... Pyrrhus looked down on his left side where the roman sword had entered, just below the rib cage. The wound was serious as he could feel his own blood pouring down his leg. He looked up again at the officer and then at Roma. A slight smile came to his face, as he thought of his fate: "What a weird sense of humour the gods have..." He knew his kingdom wouldn't survive his death, but that was no longer his problem. He closed his eyes before letting his body drift gently to the side and fall to the ground. The battle was over. He had won.


The worst moment:

Elephant upkeep...