The Age of Aiakides- An Epeiros AAR

[Hax]

Update.

I play on BI 1.6

Difficulty: VH/M
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 3 - Megale Hella

Part I - Arpi

In the year of the 506th Olympiad, during spring, we left the city of Pella. A long and tedious journey through the hilly land of Makedonia, only several months later we arrived near Ambrakia, although it lasted until autumn until we set sail towards the Greek colony city of Taras, that had sworn allegiance to Epeiros.



As soon as we arrived in Taras, our King was greeted by the captain of the garrison of Taras, that quickly explained the state of things there.



'Three years ago, we sent a small army to annex the city of Arpi, that was controlled by the Romaioi. I sent my second in command, Kleon to command the forces moving there. After a quick and decisive battle, the city had fallen to our command.'



'The city was only lightly garrisoned, mainly by Romaioi reserves and levies. The commander, however, was part of the Triarii, the most experienced soldiers in the Romaioi armies.'



'When we had broken through the gates, we encountered only the lightest of resistance, and our Phalangites quickly punched a hole through the reserves of the Romaioi. And soon, the gates fell to our command.'



'We quickly marched through the city streets. Children and women from the rooftops watched as they saw their fathers and husbands die.'



'By the time we had taken care of the sphendonetai in the streets, finally the Triarii marched up and attacked our Phalangitai. By that time, however, the elite cavalry from Taras had surrounded them and attacked in the rear. Quickly, the threat of the triarii was repelled.'



'With the fall of the last of the Triarii soldiers, the battle was practically over, but the city center still needed to be taken. Another unit of Phalangitai had now marched up from another side of the city.'



'The last of the Romaioi that held the city center, cast away their weapons and begged for their lives. We lifted the banner of Epeiros aloft and so, the city of Arpi was taken.'



'After a day Kleon had reported on our losses and the Romaioi's.'



--------------------------------------------------------------------------

We did not notice the sun had started to set, and the commander bid us farewell.

'This is not the end of the story, I will tell you more in the morning.'

Tired from the journey, I gladly relieved my aching and stiff body on one of the beds in the barracks of the city, and I slept until the rising of the sun.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning the commander, Aristophanes, I believe his name was, greeted us near the city streets.

'Come,' he said, 'I shall tell you everything about what next happened to Arpi'

'What about our Basileus?' I asked.

'He has gotten ill.'

I swiftly nodded and sat down, listening to his story as the morning fog made way for the warm summer sun.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Though we celebrated in the city for more than a week, our scouts had returned with grim tidings. A large Romaioi army was on the move, headed for Arpi. Too late to ask for reinforcements, we prepared what defenses we had and waited for the coming assault...

And it came.'



'Within two months, our newly-captured city was under siege by a massive force. Our forces counted less than 700, and there were nearly 1500 Romaioi. we were badly outnumbered. Unable to get any message out, Taras was still convinced Arpi was secure.

After a month, the Roman commander finally gave the order to assault the walls.'



'In mere minutes the gates had broken down and the seemingly endless waves of soldiers.

A few metres further, they had also broken down one of our walls, and just in time, a unit of Phalangitai could arrive there to pin the Romaioi that rushed in.'



'Many a soldier fell that day, but due to the skill, experience, courage and power of ours, we managed to hold them at bay.

After a while, the Romaioi panicked and started losing their formation, making them easy target for our pikemen. They cowered in fear of the Epeirote line and broke off and ran. Even from a distance, we could see the horror and panic in the face of their commander. And in a desperate action, he tried to charge the line of Phalangitai.'



'Laughing now, the Tarantinoi hunted down and destroyed the Romaioi soldiers that bravely had outnumbered us 3 to 1.'



'We destroyed 9/10 of their army. Lot's more were wounded and were lucky to even return to their masters.

And as we returned to the city, we saw the chaos and all the corpses. We wept for the brave soldiers that had fallen, and gave their last breath to defend a city that didn't even house proper Hellenic people. The stench was terrible.'



'Outside of the city, it was even worse.'



'But Arpi was stíll ours.'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit: I will do these chapters in Parts.