The Age of Aiakides- An Epeiros AAR

[Hax]

Thanks for all the comments, people! I appreciate it a lot.

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Chapter 2 - The Fall of the Heartland

With the fall of Pella, celebrations erupted throughout the Epeirote kingdom. Pyrrhos had proven himself the true heir of Mégas Alexandros, by liberating Pella, he had begun to forge an empire even bigger than his.

During the second week of celebrations, our Basileus suddenly retreated from the festivities, and demanded our presence.

As soon as we entered the hall of the palace, the doors were shut behind us. Slightly unnerved, I turned halfway round to look at the rest of my companions.

'Friends!' the mighty voice of Pyrrhos spoke, 'I have received word that the city of Demetrias has finally fallen.' He nodded to one of the servants, who started to read out loud from a letter.

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'To my beloved father, Pyrrhos Aiakides.It is a beautiful morning. As I write, watching from the balcony of the palace of Demetrias, outside noon has just arrived, while the sun warms up the wet ground.



Today we broke through the walls of Demetrias. It seems the Elephantes you had sent to help were put to good use. With their great tusks, they battered away at the gates of the city.



After the fall of the gates, we encountered little resistance in the first ring of defense. Strangely, the commander, Harpalos I think his name is, has only set up a unit of Akontistai to defend this line.

I sent a small force forward, consisting of levy infantry of the Illyrian coastline. They are not the best soldiers, but they can finish off the lower-class infantry and missile units rather quickly. Or so it seemed.



Although the Akontistai tried to hold their ground, they were quickly overrun by our brave soldiers, and soon, they broke off and ran.

Blood-soaked and eager to finish off this threat, the foolish levies ran straight towards the city-center, right into the jaw of Phalangitai. In the chaos, the commander of the levies was impaled on a sarissa. Blood fell from the open wound and he staggered onto the ground, lifeless. Ill news travels quickly, it seems, and as soon as word had spread that their commander had died, our troops fell into disarray and ran off.

Frustrated, and determined not to let any more soldiers uselessly die, I sent forward the second line of Illyrian levies. As soon as they marched through the gates, I led the Elephantes through another street, leading behind the Phalangite death-trap.

Unluckily, however, the Akontistai had spotted them, and started raining their javelins upon the grey flesh of these terrible beasts. Two fell, and I started to get worried. They arrived on time in the city center, and from there, charged the Makedonian Phalangite line in the rear.



Terrified by these beasts, the Makedonian line withered and fell, leading to a swift and decisive victory.

Their commander, Harpalos was imprisoned and finally swore allegiance to the Epeirote king, and was joined into a normal unit of Pezhetairoi.



Your loving son, Ptolemaios Aiakides.'

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A moment of silence as we thought about the brave soldiers of Epeiros that left their homes to fight for our cause.

Pyrrhos sat on the throne, smiling as he thought how the Makedonian homeland was freed for the greater good of the Epeirote Basileion.

And after a short pause, we all burst into applause.

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Less than a year later, we had started rebuilding in Pella. Troublemakers and rioters were arrested and interrogated, and slowly, it seemed as if peace was returning to our new capital. One day, while I was relaxing in my provisional house, someone suddenly burst in.

'Alexandros! What are you waiting for, let's go!'

'Amyntas, why the hurry? What's going-' Suddenly, my memory came back. Today was the equinox of the autumn, and Pyrrhos had ordered everyone in good health to come to the palace.

I jumped up from my seat, and followed him out.

And indeed, already a great crowd had assembled before the palace. As if it was a festival, it seemed that the shields of the Agema were polished until they could see their own reflection upon it.

'Heh,' Amyntas said, 'They'll only need the bakers and the flute-players, and they could put on a festival.'

I did not respond, as Achilleus reborn had appeared.

'Sons of Mégas Alexandros! Sons of Hellas! Not a year ago, the great city of Pella was liberated by the great army of Epeiros!'

There was cheering and clapping.


'Followers of Molossos! Less than a week ago, I was approached by a diplomat, sent from the city of Korinthos, one of the last Makedonian strongholds in Hellas. We have peace!'

Again, cheering, even louder than before.

'Let us drink to the health of Antigonas, who was wise enough to see that peace was the only solution available. Peace for the followers of Hellas!



'But not only is there now peace with Makedonia!'

There was no cheering, there was an awkward silence.

'There is now also peace with a great city across Okeanos! The city of Karthago has decided not to lift up weapons against us anymore. Now, but one enemy remains! Before the year of the 506th Olympiade, I will set sail to Megas Hellas, to end the threat of the Romaioi once and for all!'



As the cheering once again erupted, Amyntas and I looked at eachother. Our days of peace in Pella had ended. The city of Roma awaited.


Next Chapter = Megale Hellas

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I hoped you enjoyed it. Sorry for all the diplomatic peaceful stuff in this chapter.