The world according to the Koinon

[Teleklos Archelaou]

That was a lot of fun reading QK! Great work! Don't tire yourself out too much - we want to see how it all ends, but I'm afraid when the patch gets here you will want to start a new one with it instead.

[Quirinus Kuhlmann]

This is planned as a slow and long run, so I'm shure, that you'll be much faster in creating the patch than me in in progressing with this campaign. Hmm. If the patch provides serious changes according to AI-behaviour, maybe it would be interesting, to replay the campaign to the point, where it's gonna be then, and then analyse the changes of situation for the factions.

[Zaknafien]

This was great reading, I love the style, keep it up! Theres alot of humor in there too, which is great.

[Quirinus Kuhlmann]

So, here is the third part of my little excursion into the world according to the people of the Koinon Hellenon. Our subject now ist the year of 242, a year, which is hopefully going to be quite thrilling, as I noticed, when I turned off the fog of war a few minutes ago. I'm forced to write that in a hurry, because I'm eager to play on. So, here we go:

Cronology of the world in 242



Epilogue: Short summary of Koinon-Activitys during the last ten years:

As told in the last chapter, the Koinon King proclaimed the task to throw all remaining Epirote-forces on this side of the adriatic sea into the very same, reducing Epirus to Taras and forcing them to finally go on war with Rome again. But after the western General in Charge, a certain Ponponios Hyperteleatos, took the town of Epidamnos, he decided to take a long rest and concentrate on his duties as supervisor of women in the local Gymnasion. So Epirus still holds Dalminion, but isn't a real danger for us anymore.
Anyway, the King, sitting far away in Tylis, was not too interested, because his firstborn son came of age and he wanted to show the world to him. So a big expansion projekt was emerged onto the tiny tyrant-ruled poleis around the pontic sea. Though fiercefully defended, Kallatis was conquered by a Koinon Elite Army led by our king. Then the kings son celebrated his 20th birthday and so his time finally came. Aided by an elderly general, the young prince victoriously crushed a fierceful Eleuteroi-Army near Chersonesos and added this settlement to the other free members of the Koinon. But then he made a big mistake. Left alone by his grown up apprentice, he conquered the proud city of Pantikapeion and was not accepted by this traditionally independent people at once. Grown up in the village of Tylis and not able to respect and deal with the complicated culture of a real polis, he got mad and simply put those equally free greeks to slavery. Now it's a big surprise to him, that everybody, including his father, hates him for acting like that. Anyway, he's going to be a great man in the future.


A Country Bumpkin'...


...sometimes does not know how to behave..

Meanwhile in minor asia, brave people of Halikarnassos made a revolution against their tyrant and joined the mighty Koinon by free will. Unfortunately mighty Arche Seleukeia only waited for a good reason to declare war on us. Now Halikarnassos is under Arche-siege and our Faction Heir finally has to put an end to his comfortable life in Rhodos. Aided by the first unit of spartan hoplites he is going to show our new relatives from Asia Minor, that they are welcome in the happy family of the Koinon Helleon.


Here they are at least:

But now let's have a close look an the rest of the world:


Map of the northwest, Spring 242

Casse:
Spring: Since the youth of now greybearded King Barae the history of the Casse-Tribes was a never ending story of fights against the neighbouring independents. Monuments of shame and honour are spread around their beloved hometown, ready to be watched by visitors from all over the world. But because of those damned pirates ruling the sea, nobody comes, and so Casse keep on struggling in splendid isolation, dreaming bloodful dreams of conquering at least only one more settlement on their craggy, unexplored island.
...into summer: They dream on...
...into autum: and on..
...into winter: and on.


Casse dreams

Aedui:
Spring: If the reports of Koinon-spys are true, Aedui besieged Bratosporios for the 6th, 7th and 8th time during the last decade. But because they always overestimate the skills of their troops, the besieging armys were always to small and Chief Caradog, Major of Bratosporios is declared as best Eleuteroi-wall-defender of all times by the United Organisatin of Local Despots (UOolD). Aeudi tried also to gain control of Avernia-ruled Vesontio a few years ago but were pushed back . Meanwhile far away the gaulish inhabitants of Segestica bravely stood up against the mighty and evil SPQR, trustfully offering their fate to the Aedui-Confederation and now waiting for troops from Central-Gaul to come and protect them. But until now, no single Aredui-warband showed up at the horizon.
...into summer: The 9th siege is layed on Bratosporios, but this time a huge reinforcement army marchs onto the town. Caradog is not amused.
...into autum: Reinforcments hide in the forest, not reaching the town yet.
...into winter: Because of the bad weather, reinforcements retreat to Aedui Mainland, leaving the 9th Bratosphorios besieging force alone in the snow. Caradog in fact now is amused.


Bratosporios again

Avernii:
Spring: Ok, true, the Avernii tribes are now adressed as „homunculi of the red pomaded beard-shavers from over the hills“ by Aedui-Druids for over one decade. But anyway, they live a quite peaceful life as client-kingdoom of the Romans, calmly improving their military and economy. No need to expand northwards, as Roma probably would not like them to become too powerful. Some old warband-members may still shake their beards, but the young party people of Massilia are startig to shave them instead. Lets hope, that Roman greed will be satisfied in the north for a little bit longer, so that Massilia youth can party in peace for a while, laughing about rumors of smelly Aedui-intruders, who are easily pushed back to where ever they might belong.
...into summer: Huge campfires on the beach of Massilia.
...into autum: Still nice campfire-weather.
...into winter: Indoor parties.


Avernii-Stronghold

Sweboz:
Spring: As told in the last chapter, the independent forest-tribes surronding the notorious warlocks of the north are no longer enemys but protectors of the Sweboz Tribe, because of constantly intruding Roman legions. But that may soon become an issue of the past. Gawjam Hattoz is nearly in the hands of Aemilius Blasio, and a guy called Gaius Iustus Scipio is on the loose with mighty forces, willing to be called "Scipio Swebicus" soon by his phoney Roman friends in the Senate. Gloomy Sweboz warcraft will send him to his ridiculous gods anyway, shold he try to walk on.
...into summer: By the hammer of Thor, trouble emerges, because Gawjam Hattoz fell into the smeary hands of that Blasio!
...into autum: By now that Romans seem to keep calm. So do the Sweboz.
...into winter: No attacks or defeats yet.


Roma ante porta westfalica

SPQR:
Spring: The rapid expansion of SPQR in the far north didn't go on as rapidly as it used to during the last decade. The further the expensive legions intruded, the more fierceful and hostile the enemys became. And, to make irritation complete, stupid barbarians in Segestica threw away Pax Romana and revolted to some powerless gaulish cretin-confederation. That was enough for the senate to make a certaind decision. Guys like Gaius Iustus „Swebicula“ Scipio must now think twice, before they hire another warband for their so called „legion“. The decision was one of the most earthshaking decisions in the history of world so far. SPOR finally started the first punic war.
No longer will the Safot Softim bQarthadast be the only power to conquer rich Sicily in front of the noble-grown noses of Roman noblemen. War is declared and Messana is besieged. Sicily will be Roman or it will be not at all.
Also these annoying greeks in the south can no longer feel safe. Rome already sent a provocative army into their small but well-protected territory. Maybe Epirote tradition in Italy will be cut soon.
...into summer: While the victory of Gawjam Hattoz is barely noticed by the senate, real roman war machine marchs southwards, threatening both Greeks and Phoenicians.
...into autum: Minor backlashes: In the northeast a legion is destroyed by Eburonum-Independents. The siege of Messana wasn't succsessful due to brave Qartadast-defenders. Still no war with Epirus.
...into winter: Because of the influence of Gaius Iustus Scipio, the Senate decided to put priority in nothern expansion again. Lucky Epiros, lucky Qartadast.


Northern part of the Empire

Safot Softim bQartadast:
Spring: Wise Qarthadast Leaders managed to stop the silly sand-wars against the Ptolemaii a few years ago. Unfortunately they forgot to call back their armys, so that hostility with the aegypto-greks could break out again at any time. In Iberia they took the town of Arse and in Sicily they reinforced their troops. Then Qarthadast art of diplomacy was executed on the great stage of the global playground. Roma declared war on the Aeduii? Ok, next year Qarthadast declared alliance with those poor northern buggers, just to annoy the arrogant Romans. And finally it worked. Finally Rome betrayed „poor“ Safot Softim. Oh how sweet the revenge will be, oh, how unbelievably elephantesque the celebrations will be, when finally the huge temple of mighty Baal will be inaugurated right on top of that capitol-hill.
..into summer: Alliance with Epirus is declared, while huge Qarthadast armys march along the african coast to join the punic war.
..into autum: Siege layed on Emporion in southern Iberia. Reinforcements for sicily are delayed. Still no sand wars.
...into winter: A march onto Syrakuse could bring the hegemony for the Phoenicians on Sicily next year.


Sicily situation in autum, after pushing back Roman intruders

Lusotanii:
Spring: While their allied Phoenician neighbours start to act as real global players, the peaceful bull-fighters of Lusotania keep on keeping on with their joyful village life. Nobody disturbed them in the last 30 years, and so it could go on, if you ask them.
..into summer: Bull-stinging season.
...into autum: Calf-training-time again.
...into winter: Cattle must be brought into shelters.
(No screenshot nessesary)


Map of Arabia, Spring 242

As'Sabyn wal'Jau:
Spring: The last decade would be remembered as the years of the great breakthrough of the conquering lions from deepest Arabia. The towns of Carmanc and Tarna finally had to surrender to brave Sabyn 'Jau forces and now are facing a great future as nucleus of an uprising desert empire. But on the other side of the red sea, at the shores of the nile, betrayal is committed by the inhabitants of Meroe. For reasons, that will stay in the dark, they kicked out the Sabyn garrison and proclaimed independence again. Revenge will come over them like a conquering lion from deepest arabia.
...into summer: Several 'Jau forces on the loose in the desert on both sides of the red sea.
...into autum: Desert exploration.
...into winter: Strong forces march onto Sabata to enlarge the Jau-powerhouse.


Sabyn 'Jau on desert expeditions



Map of the north-east

Saka Rauka:
Spring: Still hunting the evil steppe-rabbit with their compound-bows, which are beyond compare, the Saka Tribesmanship stays where it is. Every few year spys return form Bactria whispering the three words („still too strong“) into the hairy ear of the king.
...into summer: „still too strong“
...into autum: Minor Saka forces leave their hometowns.
...into winter: Minor Saka forces sneak around the settlement of Gava-Saka.


Saka sneaking around Gava-Saka

Baktria:
Spring: The Bactrian policy of provocating the allied Arche Seleukeia to declare war is at the heap. Two big blue armys are trampeling down Arche vegetable fields near Alexandria Ariana. How long will Arche Seleukeia stay calm? The Bactro-Seleuceian alliance seems to be inofficially in tatters by now.
...into summer: Retreat of the big blue armys. Maybe a trick?
...into autum: ...but maybe they are interested in Pahlavia instead.
...into winter: Two armys stand near Pahlavii-borders now.


Baktria retreating from Arche, picking on Pahlavia?

Pahlava:
Spring: No territorial progress or degress in the waste land. But King Phraotes developed the army, supervizing the training in his honourable person himself, as you can see below.
...into summer: Spy-stories of a huge Arche-army at the sothern borders came to the ear of the King.
...into autum: The arche force disappeared, but purple alert is kept up by Phraotes.
...into winter: Bactrian wars are a sincere possibility for the near future. But Wastelanders are prepaired.


King Phraotes gang of wasteland-juggernauts



Map of the central hellenic world

Arche Seleukeia:
Spring: Ups and downs for the still mighty Arche Seleukeia: Finally they got hold onto Tarsus and so managed to cut Ptolemaian empire into two pieces. On the other hand, Ptolemaians got hold of sweet Seleukeia and Damaskus, so Arche empire is also cut into two peaces. The real winner of the great sucessor-wars so far seems to be the rest of the world.
Also Arche is stagnating in the Pahlavii-whipping-projekt and constantly picked on by the Bactrians. To declare war on the mighty Koinon Hellenon in such a precarious situation could be the overture of a tragedy beyond description.
...into summer: Halikarnassus is besieged, new hope at the Pahlavii-borders.
...into autum: Halikarnassus is now an Arche town. But from the sea, a Koinoin army appeared and layed siege on it. Maybe that war was not a good idea. Victory against Ptolemaians at the gates of Bostra.
...into winter: Halikarnassus is lost again. A new inner-greek war will rise on minor asia. Just to piss off the Koinon, Arche allies with their new Sauromantian neighbours.


The enclave of Bostra

Ptolemaii:
Spring: Now that Tarsus is lost and borders to the minor asian parts of the empire are cut, one could mean, that Ptolemaian gods had chosen another peoples to watch over. But wrong! The subjects of the „Pharao“ are doing quite well in spite of that painful defeat: They won the first sand war against the Qartadast, reconquering the lost Kyrene, they still hold the great Seleukeia and they took Damaskus, another key-town formerly owned by the „megalomaniac mammouth from Mesopotamia“, which seems to be seriously wounded by now. Meanwhile, sea trade with asia minor is doing quite well.
...into summer: With nearly 60000 inhabitants Alexandria is for shure the true center of the world.
...into autum: Minor defeat against Seleukids at the gates of Bostra. But nothing serious.
...into winter: Still there is an annoying Qartadast force at ther gates of Kyrene. But peace has to be kept, till the Arche is sunk.


Glourious Ptolemaian sea-trade

Hayasdan:
Spring: The Hai-delay in Phraaspa ten years ago was not as bad, as it looked like, because Seleukeian allies didn't take the town too. Now it is starved by an unprotected Hai-family-member and will surrender or sally next month. So maybe we'll see Hayasdan Empire grow soon.
...into summer: Heyho! Hai crushed a rebel-army near Mtskheta, crossed the bridge and layed siege on that town. Two armys perfectly worked together, fulfilling that task in a brillant way!
...into autum: Phraaspa seems to be the Hayasdan Bratisporos. Siege is broken and layed once more. More hope in Mtskheta, which is threatened by a real army.
...into winter: Mtskheta is ready to be picked from the tree of Hai-glory.


Pepairing....


...to cross the bridge....


...and take the town.


Pontus:
Spring: Pontus has, to put it simply, seriously entered the club of hopeful middle powers in the last years. Finally the pontic forces managed to put an end to gaulish druidism in the centre of the hellenic world. Ankyria-Druids are very occupied in pontic mineur-business now. Also the town of mazaka fell to pontic power, so the the former hillbilly-hellenes now seem to be the greatst power in minor asia.
...into summer: Threatening armys are removed from the Koinon-borders. What are they in charge of?
...into autum: Who knows?
...into winter: Pontus seems to be interested in the independent town of Trapezus. It is stronghly defended, but anyway, Pontus whipped the gauls too.


Pontus-Novus

Sauromatea:
Spring: Sauromateans seem to be satisfied with life in the giant eastern plains, that they controll. Anyway they have unwelcome new neighbours now. The strange „Kunn'On“ greeks led by a badly reputated man called „the oil-eating slave-trader from tylis“ by local greeks is now in charge of the colonists of Pantikapieon. The Sauromateans, who are passionate slave-traders too, will superstitiously watch over the new concurrent.
...into summer: Finally, Sauromatean forces are trying to expand. Siege is layed on the town of Gelonus, probably to sell the inhabitants to the Kunn'On.
...into autum: No news, siege goes on.
...into winter: Gelonus is in Sauromatean hands now. Those Kunn'On greeks were not interested in the inhabitants, but the ones from Sul 'Uk 'Ja bought them all.


Threatening Gelonus

Getai:
Spring: Nothing new behind the seven hills, but hmm. The Getan ceasefire with epirus and constant activities of Getai diplomats in front of Koinon Poleis are at least a little bit irritating. But they probably won't dare. Won't they?
...into summer: Won't they?
...into autum: Not this autum.
...into winter: Getan army marchs on independent Singidunum.

Epiros:
Spring: Epirotean luck seems to be in tatters due to the mighty Koinon. Actually they hold the rich mineur-town of Delmatia, which could be easyly taken at anytime and the italian enclave of taras, which is protected by the last two great Epirotean armys. Now, that the Roman koloss gets more nosey in the south, maybe war is inevitable, and for Epirus it will be a struggle for bare survival against an overpowered enemy.
...into summer: Mighty Roman war machine is gathering at the borders, so an alliance with the new friends from Qarthadast is thankfully accepted. Oh, the future is dim in this times!
...into autum: Phh, Roma didn't attack yet, and Epirote forces stay in guardian-mode.
...into winter: Oh, it's a good feeling, when the pressure decreases.


Epiros situation in summer 242 (looks worse, than it is)

Epilogue:
This was the year, Koinon was involved in the struggles of minor asia by accident. Halikarnassos was won by rebellion, then lost to the Arche-Kataphractoi and then won again. We just couldn't let those Halikarnassos people alone, who wanted to join us at free will. Now we are in trouble, now we have to deal with that trouble, and we will. Who knows, what will be. See you soon, when the fog will disappear again,
yours Quirinus Kuhlmann.


Lost Halikarnassos


Reconquered Halikarnassus with premiere of Spartan Hoplites


Slowly Civilization process in Tylis with still barbarian market (where the king's son grew up)

[Geoffrey S]

A fascinating thing to read, and a most evocative depiction of the events taking place on your campaign map. I'm looking forward to further tales!

[Alkiviadis]

What can I say? Perhaps you would be to make it movie!!!!
Congratulations...

[Quirinus Kuhlmann]

I think, for a good movie the plot is a little bit to complicated. I mean, almost twenty main characters, that would be a movie!
Anyway, I'm glad you like the storytelling. Thank you very much for the posts, which are very welcome to me, because they force me to keep on with this joyful kind of writing.