Nothing like a crushing defeat to make you love EB.

[Landwalker]

So, after my first debacle as Pontos, in which I managed to quickly expand to Byzantion, Nikaia, Sinope, and Trapezous, and then just as quickly irreparably bankrupt the kingdom with client rulers (who knew they cost so much to maintain?), I decided to give Pontos another shot. This time, as before, I snatched Sinope and Nikaia quickly and without much loss. However, rather than turn to Byzantion, this time I moved to Ankyra.

Never. Again.

The garrison immediately sallied, meeting my four units of pantadopoi phalangitai, my faction heir, and one unit each of slingers and skirmishers in front of the city. With four phalangite units, I wasn't terribly concerned despite claims by the engine that I was at a 2:1 disadvantage in terms of power--I could hold the Galatians at bay, maneuver my skirmishers and general's cavalry into the rear, and then hammer the Galatians into the anvil. Unfortunately, that's not quite how it went.

The pantadopoi phalangitai held on for a couple of minutes, but only barely--the fear instilled by those damned naked spearmen and equally naked swordsmen had my phalangites wavering long before they had taken many losses. I had no idea the fear of these nude warriors was so great. When the enemy general punched straight through the front of my right-side phalangites, they buckled like a shoe. The rest of the army quickly followed.

Pontic military power is crippled, and the tattered remnants that escaped are holed up in Nikaia to keep order, hardly sufficient to make a foray into Thrace, let alone back into Galatia. Thanks to the Galatians, any hopes to bring Byzantion and Trapezous into the fold any time soon are crushed. Now it falls to my generals to hold on to what gains they have made until the treasury finishes its slow climb out of debt, with the Grey Death lurking right around the corner, the proverbial nail in the coffin that could be driven home at any moment.

You've got to love the nail-biting adrenaline that EB can bring, as you hang on by your teeth, the entire campaign in the balance.

Cheers.

Edit Addendum: And now, a portion of the Galatian garrison has actually chased me back to Nikaia and is attacking my army there. Belligerent buggers.