Wolves of Zalmoxis (Getai AAR)

[Laevex]

Welcome to my very first AAR. I hope you will enjoy it.

INFORMATION:
The mod used is Europa Barbarorum 0.81a played with BI.exe.
It was played on Medium/Medium difficulty (I play games to relax and enjoy myself, not to cause stress. However, I am working my way up the difficulties methodically so one day I might be able to handle a very hard campaign).
It was played with fog of war off. I know it's realistic to have it but it just annoys me not being able to see what other factions are doing. I think that it adds another point of interest for readers as well to see how the AI is expanding.
I will post chunks of AAR up at a time, not all at once but not every turn.

RULES:
1. No refighting battles.
2. No more than 50% mercenaries in an army.
3. Act roughly in line with characters' personalities.
4. Fairly slow expansion.
5. Justify all attacks.

The narrator of this story is Dudyx per Histria, son of Tarsa. He is an esteemed strategist, historian and friend of the Basileus. This is his story - a history of Getic courage commisioned by the Basileus himself to make the greatness of the Getai known to all.

CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: Soft in his old age?
Chapter 2: Insult to Injury
Chapter 3: The Prophet's Blessing
Chapter 4: Unification of the Thraikai
Chapter 5: The Cowardice of Epeiros

[Laevex]

Chapter 1: Soft in his old age?

In the spring of 272BC the Getai were ruled by the great warrior Zalmodegikos per Buridava. The nation of Getia was small and surrounded by other tribes, each of which posed a potential threat to the kingdom. Getic military might had kept its borders safe for years now, but in such conditions expansion of the kingdom would have been a major task that could backfire and result in its destruction.



Zalmodegikos was now 60 years old and was beginning to tire of war, despite the fact that his cammanding skills were second to none of his generals.

Scuffling for defence of the nation had grown tiresome for him and he saw it as futile at his respectable age. He saw the wealth of his northern cousins in Sarmiszegethusa and decided that the Getai deserved to be well off. Economic and diplomatic matters became the focus of Zalmodegikos's rule from this point.

Zalmodegikos's adopted son Oroles was a young and bloodthirsty general, at the time camped with an army to the north of Getia. He had proved himself to have much skill in battle against the Skythai and was eager for more victories to repel them and further Getic renown. However, Zalmodegikos had other plans. Seeing most of the country's money being drained by its many men of arms, he planned to disband Oroles' army, along with most of the nation's warbands. The young warlord was recalled to the capital and his men were mostly given back their civilian lives. Their swords were laid down... for the moment. The Skythai were given a ceasefire officially, which was welcomed because their warriors were needed to fight weaker enemies than the courageous Getai.

To the south of the nation lay Makedonia, enemies of Getia. However, between Getia and the sons of Alexandros lay the Dardanoi and Odrysai. These tribes were home to formidable warriors, particularly the men of Tylis and so the Basileus decided this war was of no real use. Peace between the Makedonai and the Getai was negotiated, but only while the other two tribes were granted safety from the proud hellennes. This would soon become irrelevant however, as the Basileus of Epeiros would soon overrun the northern lands of Makedonia.



By the autumn of 272BC, the Basileus' economic aims were taking effect on the land. Roads had been completed, linking the villages to the whole of Getia and its neighbours and allowing wealth to flow through the nation. Much of the population was uncomfortable with the lack of war and its spoils though. This feeling did not turn into discontent however, as Zalmodegikos was dearly loved for his service to glorify Getia. The warriors' loyalty was soon rewarded, as their king ordered an attack on the pitiful Triballi to the south in order to boost the nation's funds.



In the harsh winter that year, the strong men of Getia attacked the Triballi. The day was bitterly cold, but the Getic warriors did not care, being strong of heart and body. Diales, the enemy king was known as a clever commander, but the brave Dizo per Rekidava did not fear the army that outnumbered his own.

After the Getic forces had advanced, Diales made the foolhardy mistake of charging head-on into the brave Getic warriors, resulting in his ridiculous death at the hands of our spears.



The warriors of our country fought hard, slaying many of the Triballi, but the enemy wore thick hellenic armour and were defending with courage. When Dizo fell to his demise the brave Drapanai made a frenzied last charge on the well armed and armoured Thraikoi, but eventually realised their lives were best put to use in a battle they could win.



The Triballi had successfully defended their homes from Getic wrath through their expensive equipment, but at a great loss to both sides. The Getic army was slaughtered the next day in one last stand at the border between the two lands. With its army dishonoured and obliterated, Zamlodegikos became stirred to hatred for the Triballi.

The country was beginning to feel wealth through its new enterprises, but the Triballi needed to be crushed soon to teach them who the greatest warriors really were.



In the spring of 270BC the Basileus of the Getai led a newly-mustered army of courageous men against the weak Triballi in revenge. What ensued on that day was no battle however. The Triballi were slaughtered until only 400 remained.

Zalmodegikos' army set alight the entire town of Naissos and pillaged all that could be found before leaving it, a smouldering symbol of what happens to those who spill Getic blood.

[alatar]

Very good!

[Laevex]

Chapter 2: Insult to Injury

In 269BC, with Getic coffers still in a dire state, poverty was causing the population to regain its bloodlust. Oroles, the famous warmonger and second adopted son of Zamlodegikos begged the Basileus for another battle in order to fulfil his and the public's desire for war.



Zalmodegikos granted Oroles permission to attack Olbia and raise money for the state and in the spring of 268BC the brutal warlord lead the wolves of Getia against Sinis, the great hellenic strategist of the southern Skythai.



The Getic men fought with honour, spilling a sea of hellenic blood and winning a great victory for their country. One man in particular earned great renown. His name was Kezloxi and he was the first of the wolves to breach the walls of Kallatis. He burst through with the rage of a great beast as soon as the wall fell, his blade singing as it sliced through the necks of 3 defenders. Their heads hit the ground before the men of Kallatis even knew the wall had fallen.



Kezloxi went on to kill over 50 of the enemy that day, even knocking Amnexos - the leiutenant of Sinis - off his horse with a javellin thrown from a great distance. This was a great blow to the morale of the Crobizii forces and was one of the events that caused the fearless wolves of Getia to triumph on that day. Oroles awarded Kezloxi with a jewel-encrusted and and highly decorated falx for his extreme bravery once the battle was over.

Olbia fell to Oroles' wolves and the town was plundered and laid to ruin. The general then ordered the inhabitants - other Getic people - to be exterminated, bringing much shame upon his head and earning a reputation as a heartless psychopath.



Oroles defended himself with his purist ideas that only those from Getia proper should be considered of the same blood as the Basileus and that he would cull the population of every town that refused to accept Getic rule if he got the chance. Some of the people of the nation admired the ruthless prince for these beliefs but many Getai had lost distant family or friends in the extermination of the town and so he was not hailed as a hero.

By 266BC, it became apparent that Zalmodegikos' peaceful ideas were not efficiently providing his kingdom with enough cash and poverty became rife as the country's money was exhausted paying its armies. Tribes surrounding the Getic lands sniggered behind their walls at the ironic fact that the Basileus of the Getai was causing more war through his 'peaceful' ideals than when he was a true warlord.

Tauronos, king of the Scordiscii ridiculed Zalmodegikos publicly, drawing attention to the punitive size of the so-called 'wolves of Zalmoxis' and predicting that the Getic people would tremble if the surrounding tribes formed an alliance against them. The victims of the last two Getic raids were thirsty for revenge and so Tauronos gained much popular support. Infuriated by this insult and in dire need of more funds, Zalmodegikos let Oroles lead an army in the third raid in the last 6 years on a nearby tribe. This time it was the Scordiscii, who's army were more hellenized than that of the Getai. They proudly charged out of their town's walls to meet the fearsome Getic host as soon as the army arrived.



Although the army of Singidunum was well commanded and equipped to a far more expensive hellenic standard, the brave men under the command of Oroles managed to win a glorious victory through brave fighting and deadly strategic manouvres.



The town was plundered and destroyed in the same merciless manner as before, which had by this time become a trademark of Zalmodegikos' heir. The head of Tauronos was impaled on Oroles spear and he personally rode to each of the defiant tribes with it held high in the air and told them that any who faced the mighty Getai would face the same fate.

The prospects of an alliance against Zalmodegikos and his violent prince were quelled, the latest show of force working in the Getai's favour by scaring the surrounding tribes into submission. But this peace, like times of peace, was not to last.

Once fear of the Getai had died down - almost a year after the last battle - trouble began to brew in the east once more. The remaining population of Singidunum were left leaderless and bitter and begged the king of the warlike Avernii to come to their aid. The Scordiscii gave the Avernii king power over their province, hoping that the Gallic warriors from the west would come and get revenge on the victorious Getai.



Getia now had an enemy in these Gauls, who could prove a major threat to the land.

[Zalmoxis]

Not bad, but I do feel like I'm being ignored a little here.

[deadmeat36]

I like how you mention one specific warrior during the battle even though it was some random soldier. Gives it more life

[Rilder]

Nice AAR, sigged.

It was played on Medium/Medium difficulty (I play games to relax and enjoy myself, not to cause stress.

Agreed, my Luso campaign is stressfull enough I don't need 3-4 more Stacks charging me.

[Zim]

Not bad, but I do feel like I'm being ignored a little here.

Generally far more people read an aar thread than respond in one. I liked the way you roleplayed the early attacks on rebel settlements. I always have trouble thinking of them as more than "rebels", so they only got a sentence or two in my aar.

[deadmeat36]

Hes doing better than me in the views to replys ration

Hes about 2:1 against me

[Zim]

Hes doing better than me in the views to replys ration

Hes about 2:1 against me

That's because when you actually comment on the lack of replies in your thread, people feel guilty about reading without leaving comments, and start replying. Then people reply to those comments, and sometimes it can snowball.

[deadmeat36]

and its rolling as I speak :P

but to get back on topic as I said before good AAR keep it up

[Laevex]

Chapter 3: The Prophet's Blessing

In the winter of 264BC the plunder from Singidunum had well and truly run out and the Basileus began to realise that in order to support his army, they must constantly be raiding other tribes and stealing their wealth. This was not a cost-effective way of raising money but Zamlodegikos was stubbornly set on eventually establishing a peaceful means of funding the tribe and saw this only as a phase, somehow thinking that if he invested the money raised by war in economic policy then eventually the province of Getia would be able to support itself and its army without these aggressive forays. Besides, the Basileus enjoyed the fear that other tribes were beginning to feel for the grim wolves of the Getai.

A large army was sent north to the cousins of the Getai - the Agathyrsi - with the intention of bleeding their rich land dry of its wealth. The forces were lead once more by Oroles, backed up by his son and another general. 600 of the 800 komatai were experienced warriors from the previous raids and had won great renown.A battle ensued at Sarmiszegethusa that would turn out to be a memorable day in the history of the tribe.



The battle was a disastrous defeat due to the enemy's superior cavalry and the lack of Getic spearmen. The Getic army, despite having fought like true wolves, was obliterated. Both Orodes and young Brasos joined their brothers and holy Zalmoxis in the afterlife that day, leaving the Getai shamed and without any military forces to defend their lands. Gyrazi - a hero of the Sarmiszegethusai and a giant of a man - was rumoured to have killed both Orodes and Brasos of the Getai in combat as well as single-handedly holding a pass leading to the town square for ten minutes. The Agathyrsi bragged to others that it was they who had put an end to the devastating raids of the Getai and had a statue built of Orodes cowering under the blade of Gyrazi in their town square to comemorate the day.

The only way the country could now afford to raise a new host of warriors was to risk attack by disbanding all its remaining warriors and building up its funds through trade. This was a dark time for the Getai.



The next few years passed slowly for the people of Getia as they lived in constant fear of attacks from their Gallic-governed neighbours with no hope of defence. However, the Averni king seemed not to realise the opportunity of conquest that lay to the east as he was preoccupied with the war against the rival Gallic tribes - surely a blessing from Zalmoxis.

The funds of the nation rose in these years, with markets being built to boost peaceful trade. The people became wealthier than ever before. It seemed that Zalmodegikos' ideas had finally worked to some extent, although only through peace could poverty be avoided.



At the age of 71, Zalmodegikos died peacefully in his palace. His funeral was a great celebration of the Basileus' life and many stories were told of the great battles earlier in his life, where he lead the brave wolves of Getia against the vicious Skythai and the proud Odrysai.

Koson, son of the bloody Oroles was crowned the new Basileus.



In his childhood his father had not been present, busy at war with the surrounding peoples and Koson had developed a disgust for the warlord's cruelty and bloodlust. Koson favoured peace over war, but had seen battle in the last years of Oroles' life and had proved himself a competant warrior nonetheless.

The new ruler agreed on the whole with Zalmodegikos' policies, but saw the discontent in the population with no army to protect them. He began immediately to raise an army of strong and brave warriors from the many honourable men of the Getai.

By the end of 259BC Koson had mustered a fairly numerous host of warriors but, as the previous Basileus had found, the army could not be supported by the money raised in Getia alone. To the north lay Sarmiszegethusa - the town that Oroles had failed to conquer. Koson marched his army towards it, openly declaring the attack as an act of revenge for his father's death. His real motives however were numerous. Firstly, the province of the Agathyrsi was rich with resources such as precious metals and stone which would be very useful to bolster the nation's funds. The area was also home to Kogaionon - the holy mountain of Zalmoxis. Koson was a devout man and believed that if the holy place was under his rule, his nation would be truely blessed by Zalmoxis and would flourish under his leadership. Koson's third reason for this attack was to prove to his subjects that he was a noble warrior and a competant general, contrary to the beliefs of the masses.



The battle was a grand success and the people of Sarmiszegethusa accepted Koson's rule relatively happily once Skorillo - their tyrannical Basileus - had been killed. The wolves of the army had earned respect for their new ruler, as had many of the people of Getia.



With the ample funds of Getia Koile flowing into the coffers of the nation, the Getai began to flourish as a nation reunited. Koson continued building the land's economic capabilities and established trade across the newly-expanded kingdom. Poverty was almost eradicated and the people were happy. The land was safe too, as Koson's honorable men could now be kept at arms to defend from any attacks on the Getai. The armies of the country spent their time as a now professional force training and defending Getia from small raiding parties and bandits and became well ordered and effective in battle. Soon the army was feared across the Balkans.

Zalmoxis had surely blessed Koson's nation and he devoted many days of the calendar to thanksgiving festivals to the great prophet-god as a reminder of the importance of religion, for the Basileus feared the populace would get complacent and forget who had brought them to this relaxed state of affairs.

[Zalmoxis]

Generally far more people read an aar thread than respond in one. I liked the way you roleplayed the early attacks on rebel settlements. I always have trouble thinking of them as more than "rebels", so they only got a sentence or two in my aar.

Actually, I wrote to point out the coincidence that the original poster Laevex used my user name in his thread title and that we had the same avatar, but ok.

[Zim]

Actually, I wrote to point out the coincidence that the original poster Laevex used my user name in his thread title and that we had the same avatar, but ok.

and even. I had the two of you mixed up.

[Laevex]

Hey people.

Just letting you know I havn't killed this AAR, I had my 18th Birthday yesterday so drinking has taken priority to it atm.

I have got a fair amount of material stored up though and I'm trying to type it up so that the AAR can catch up with my game. It's getting a bit more exciting now. Getia won't be forgotten in my version of history.

[Laevex]

Chapter 4: Unification of the Thraikai

For 6 years the Getai existed in this relaxed state, living peacefully off their own lands while their warriors became stronger by the day. Koson became respected as a good ruler and administrator, but not loved, for the Getai take pride in their martial prowess and he had only won a single decisive battle during his years as Basileus. The people muttered that even if the Gallic-ruled Scordiscii laid Buridava to waste, Koson would try to negotiate peace. This bothered the great man, as he began to realise he had become the very opposite of his father and in trying not to become a bloodthirsty beast he had become a cowardly mouse.

Koson took command of the army and marched to Singidunum, laying seige to the city. He ordered his men to chant Getic war-cries at the enemy and insult the Gauls within the walls.



Although the gates of the town had been opened by Getic spies, he made sure the warriors of his army stayed camped outside Singidunum's walls and sent this message to the Averni captain:

Captain Lannildot,

Your king has posted you here in charge of these people, but you do not belong here. My father - a savage brute of a general - obliterated this town 14 years ago because he and his master believed these people are weak. I do not share my father's views.

I have marched here with loyal men at my back because you have remained in this land - as an enemy of the Getai - through all these years without regard for these people's needs. Granted, you were willingly given control of this place at first, but these people asked you to defend them from my dispicable father and his rampant pillaging, not to bleed these good people dry with your taxes and exploit them as pawns to your country.

I offer you a chance to regain some honour now. Either you and your army march out and meet our forces on the battlefield, or you chose to hide with your tails between your legs and let these people starve to death under your vile rule. I know well that your allies in your homeland are busy fighting another war, so you cannot hope for any aid from them. Your position is hopeless now, you must realise your chances of victory are slim at best, so be valiant and grant us an honourable battle.

Gauls, we stand here today, and we shall stand here tomorrow. We shall stand here until these people are free.

Koson, Basileus per Getia

The Gallic captain responded to Koson's proposal reluctantly, marching his army onto the field of battle in the spring of 252BC. The the sons of the wolf were confident and numerous, taunting the enemy relentlessly. The shamed Lannildot ordered the Gallic charge as soon as his army were arrayed and the bloody business commenced.



Koson's army fought well against the Avernii, slaughtering every last one of them and putting the Gauls to further shame.



Many Getai were awarded precious gifts by Koson after fighting like true wolves of Zalmoxis. The people of the newly-rebuilt town of Singidunum recieved a public apology from the Basileus himself for their extermination at the hands of his ruthless father. Koson offered the Scordiscii peace and allied status as long as they recognised his rule. They accepted, pleased at the ruler's humility and kindness and the tribe happily became clients of the Getai.

The Scordiscii proved useful friends to Getia, aiding the nation with its funds in return for protection against invasion. Although the Gallic threat was now quelled, other factions vyed for power in the area. Epeiros reared up as one of these threats - a warlike kingdom of hellenes who had been forced to withdraw from Italia many years ago and were now beginning to brutally conquer the whole of northern Hellas and now some of Thraikia. The brave Odrysai had fallen when faced with their might and the mighty polis of Byzantion now also lay under their rule. The Epeirotai seemed to be destoying all in their wake and the people of Getia soon began to feel threatened.

Koson decided that the Getai would be the ones to push back these arrogant and perfumed hellennes, for the wolves of Zalmoxis were the most fearsome and formidable military force in the whole of Thraikia. In order to defend the Thraikai, the Getai would have to unite them so that they would become a stronger military force. Koson realised that the proud rulers of these peoples would not simply submit to his rule and so the army marched forth from the heart of the land to unite them through force.

The first target of liberation would be Kallatis - a town whose inhabitants were brothers of the Getai. The region was under heavy threat from the Epeirotai and so the Basileus lead his warriors at a back-breaking pace as they raced towards the coastal polis.

The army of Koson reached Kallatis in the spring of 249BC with the hellenic army only a few leagues away to the south. They laid seige to the inhabitants, offering them peace as fellow Getai, but the stubborn King of the Crobyzii refused to surrender, distrusting of the sons of Zalmoxis after their raid many years before.



The conflict that ensued when the Getic warrior band attacked Kallatis turned out to be more of a show of force than a battle. Only 60 men died in total as the Kallatai soon surrendered. Koson forgave Takosis - the defiant Basileus of the tribe - but nevertheless assumed rule over this land himself. Another humble apology was made for his father's sack of the land and the people learned that their distrust had been pointless, as the region was decreed a true Getic tribe and its menfolk acknowledged as fearsome wolves of the prophet-god.

The Epeirote army abandoned its attack on Kallatis, evidently daunted by the glorious and dangerous Getai and marched west towards Naissos. Once again the wolves of Zalmoxis had beaten the eager hellennes to the settlement. The freshly-recruited second band of Getia's army stormed Naissos 6 months after the fall of Kallatis under the command of Rhemaxos per Drobeta - the young brother of the Basileus.



The defending Triballi hardly had a chance against the Getic horde, but they stood stubbornly at arms for their tiny home all the same. The battle was a massacre, with only one Getic casualty (A bumbling jester of a man named Tylammo. His immortal soul now jests at the side of Zalmoxis).



Once more, an apology was made and the tribe began to submit to the grand empire of Koson's expanding rule. Getia's influence was now wide and powerful, with many of the Thracian tribes united under the banner of Koson per Drobeta. The hellenes to the south would have a daunting task if they planned to conquer our lands now.

[Conradus]

Laevex, I really like your AAR, reminds me of my old getic campaign in 0.72. Ow and happy birthday.

[Laevex]

Laevex, I really like your AAR, reminds me of my old getic campaign in 0.72. Ow and happy birthday.

Thanks for the kind words. All I hope for is that people enjoy reading it.

I'm thinking of just continuing it until the Getic empire has risen and fallen/until the end of time because writing an AAR really enhances gameplay for me. I feel like Koson is a really great guy and I actually hate Epeiros. I've never got emotionally involved in a game before.

[Laevex]

Chapter 5: The Cowardice of Epeiros

The Basileus now believed that his alliance of the Thraikai under Getic rule had created a strong enough border with the Epeirotai. To the south were the last independent tribe of the region - the Dardanoi. This tribe was strong and Koson had faith that they could hold out against this threat, as they had already repelled several Epeirote attacks before now. The next objective of the king was to liberate the valiant Odrysai from the Aiakides family's oppressive rule. He merged the military forces of his lands into one army and garrisoned them in freshly-conquered Naissos as Eucharion of Epeiros approached from the east.



In the spring of 247BC, the army of Eucharon attacked Naissos. The grand army of Getia marched forth to meet them in noble defence of their homes and allies.



The brave men of our land fought with pride and disregard for their mortal lives in the name of Getia and Zalmoxis. The courageous wolves of the Getai soon broke the Epeirote line and sent the hellenic prince fleeing for his life with only a handful of remaining troops.



Koson's triumphal speech in Naissos was full of disdain for his enemy. He famously boasted "If the general we vanquished today was a hero of these people, then every wolf of Getia is thrice a hero in comparison." This kind of flattery and pride in his army had become a habit and was no doubt highly beneficial to Koson, as his men grew to believe they were the ultimate warriors.

The Epeiro-Getic war was now official and at thanks to the victory at Naissos, the Getai had gained the upper-hand in its first stages. Koson was a wise Basileus though and decided to attack the nearby army of Damophilos as well, refusing to sacrifice Getic momentum.



Despite his proclaimation of Getic might, the last battle had seen a considerable number of Koson's warriors go to the afterlife and the army was at reduced strength. This did not matter however, as the strong wolves of Zalmoxis still outnumbered the Epeirote prince's relatively modestly-sized army.

The Basileus fought with the strength of ten wolves against the Epeirotai that day, slicing his way through the enemy cavalry and leading his men by example like Megas Alexandros.



Ironically the enemy general, who claimed descendancy from the great Macedonian conqueror, cowered at the back of his army while the Getic host brought death to his men. Damophilos then turned his back when he was sure of defeat, running away from a dignified death into a life of shame.



The battle resulted in a Getic victory, but Koson's lack of any great commanding talent meant that another large number of his men ended their mortal lives that day. This meant that the grand army of Getia was now severely weakened.

The Epeirotai had been driven out of Getic lands, but their threat was still felt in the Balkans. The men of Tylis and Byzantion were still under their oppressive rule and these people were friends of the Getai. The Dardanoi were still holding their ground, for they were strong men and proud warriors.

Soon the Epeirotai retalliated against their new enemies, laying seige to Kallatis. In the winter of 246BC, Koson took a small force to repel this attack, whilst his brother Rhemaxos took another army across to defend the west of the Getic empire.



Epeiros was shown to be a nation of cowards on the day Koson's army marched to Kallatis. His troops had to do no more than stroll towards their vastly outnumbered enemies and they quaked, running away like ants from a boot.



With the Epirote war well established by now, Rome - another enemy of the arrogant Epeirotai - saw a friend in our empire and declared itself an ally.



The Romans were a mighty force, at this time a rising empire with a skilled and disciplined military, and promised to prove valuable friends to Koson's nation.

After the embarassing events of Kallatis, the Epeirote army fled southwards. Koson and the first band of the Getic army persued them, driving into enemy territory. Any skirmishes were easily won, as Thraikia was a land familiar to the wolves of Zalmoxis and they knew how to use the forests and mountains to their advantage against the sluggish enemy phalanx troops.

Meanwhile the second band were under the command of Rhemaxos in the east, warding off the pesky Epeirote forces that marched on Getic soil. The newly-mustered third band of the army was commanded by Dekeneus per Histria - a young general and a good friend of the Basileus. The third band was scheduled to march south to rendezvous with Koson's first band and then push southwards to liberate the Thraikai who were living under hellenic tyranny.

When the disgraced Epeirote army finally stopped running away, the first band attacked them.



As was expected, the brave sons of Getia crushed their foes, leaving the hellenic-ruled Tylis exposed and ready for liberation.

As the first band marched for the home of the Odrysai, reports came in of a large Epeirote host approaching from the south-west. Koson was vulnerable with only the first band to defend with, as Dekeneus was still far to the north with the fresh third band and would not reach the first in time to reinforce them if the enemy army attacked now.

The menacing Epeirote army attacked Koson's troops, as the Basileus expected. It was commanded by Alexandros Aikides - a competant commander, schooled as a general in a hellenic academy. With no hope for an even battle, Koson called army of Daoi out onto the battlefield and prepared for the bloody battle that was to come.



The Basileus had experienced the nature of hellenic armies and how they worked best in open fields, relying on tightly-ordered hoplitai and phalangitai. He deployed his men deep in the woods, telling them to hide in the shrubs and trees and instilling confidence in them by claiming the Epeirote troops would crumble into a mere rabble if the wolves of Getia sprung a surprise attack on them from behind the trees.



As the hellenes neared the Getic battle line, the komatai sprang out from the trees and grass and hurled their javellins at the enemy, causing panic and distress to manifest in the enemy's minds.



The Daoi faught with the strength of ferocious wolves indeed, obliterating the enemy who greatly outnumbered them through courage, strength and intelligence.



No longer would these hellenes have any reason to look down on the brave Getai. Koson was beginning to become known as a great commander, a strategist worthy of his crown, but he persisted to deny this, thanking instead the courage of the fearsome wolves at his back.

The following winter, Koson's first band were busy back in the heartland, recruiting more brave men to replenish its ranks. The ruler had placed Dekeneus in charge of the war to the south. The third band were camped west of Tylis, deep within the Epeirote territory. A small army attacked their camp one bitter day, threatening the only defence the Getai had in the area at the time.



Dekeneus saw no threat from these hellenic vermin and immediately marched the wolves of the third band out to face the attackers.



The enemy quaked at the mere sight of the brave Getic Daoi and ran away from the battle, pathetically upholding the cowardly reputation that their nation had gained among the wolves of Zalmoxis.

By the spring of 244BC, the third band had moved towards Tylis in another attempt to free the opressed Odrysai. Koson had assumed command of these men, with Dekeneus his leiutenant. Frantic for a victory against the vicious 'barbarians', the Epeirotai threw two armies at the third band successively.



Both battles were victories for the Getic army, managing to slightly deplete the enemy's vast military forces. The Epeiro-Getic war was beginning to look promising for Koson, but he and his troops were worn out from the persistent fighting that had brought them these victories.



By the Autumn of the same year, the teenaged Zyraxes - first son of the Basileus - had reached the Odrysai region with the replenished troops of the first band. He lead the brave Daoi against Xenolaos Aiakides, a young prince that the Epeirotai regarded as a fine commander. The enemy army was outnumbered by the Daoi, but these hellenes were a particularly well-trained and well-equipped force and posed a great test to the young son of Koson.



The battle went well, Zyraxes using his intellect well to command the wolves of Zalmoxis. The day ended with a familiar sight - another member of the Aiakides family running from the battlefield after a crushing defeat. It would seem the Epeirotai had absolutely no concept of honour or bravery.



After this latest victory, Zyraxes marched the first band to join the third band of the Daoi, where the two merged and formed the 1st Warhost of Getia under Koson's command. The system of bands was done away with, as these were too small for the scale of war the Getic empire now intended to wage. Recruitment in the north-west of the empire began to complete the 2nd Warhost, which was to be commanded by Rhemaxos.

Koson and the 1st Warhost attacked Tylis the following spring, facing up to the cowardly Xenolaos and his Epeirote garrison.



The Getic wolves ravaged the cowardly Epeirotai soldiers that day, letting a river of hellenic blood flow in the name of Zalmoxis and freedom for the Odrysai. A member of the drapanai named Dopimikos was one of the heroes of the day, single-handedly fighting his way to the vile Epeirote prince. His falx sung through the air as it rended limbs from bodies. When he reached the commander he leaped into the air with a cry of pure fury and sliced Xenolaos' head clean off, leaving his lifeless body to topple off its confused mount. Koson proclaimed Domigikos Grand Master of the Drapanai for his bravery, so that he could inspire the other falxmen of the 1st Warhost as he lead them in subsequent battles.

The day ended in victory and the Basileus declared the Odrysai tribe a free people under the rule of the Getai. He promised them peace and fair treatment if they became part of his growing empire, which now had united the majority of the people of Thraikia.



Koson now planned to simply hold his empire in one piece. He was not an ambitious man and felt no desire to conquer hellenic lands to expand his empire. He ruled by affection and loyalty to the tribes of Thraikia and now that all these tribes were free of the despicable rule of Epeiros, he was content. The only Thraikai now independent of Getic rule were the Dardanoi - who were still defiant towards Epeiros - and the men of Nikaia - who were becoming rich through being absorbed into the gargantuan Arche Seleukia.

The Epeirotai still considered themselves vicious enemies of the Getic empire, but Koson felt that for now he should simply consolidate his lands and repel any threats to them, as the war had made his people less prosperous.

[alatar]

Great post.
I played a campian in FATW, with dunland.
After I'd concqers everything north of the white mountian and east of the isen, I made them stop.
The old kingdecided it was enough, his son got agitated as he had defended the crossings for about 20 years. As soon as his dad dies, he will pour into the enemies land.
Thats what I hope will happen in your AAR aswell. Surely the kind kosan has a selfish heir who will raid the epierote enemy!?

[Laevex]

alatar:
That's a grand idea. I need an excuse to wage some good thoughtless war.
Zyraxes is a bit hot-headed, I think so he fits the bill.

[alatar]

Glad to help, I like this AAR (the way you treat rebel's as real factions is great).

[Laevex]

Just letting you all know that I won't post in this AAR for a while, possibly ever again because, to be completely honest, it was boring me. I think I prefer 'civilized' factions and maybe I should have tried playing a 'barbarian' one before writing an AAR. I would love to one day establish a Getic Empire spanning half of the map, but at the moment I'm enthralled with Makedonia. I might make a Makedonian AAR in the future in fact, as they are probably my overall favourites.

[Vred var VingTor]

Arrrg, now I am never going too see fulfillment of the Getaian Empire This forum should have a rule about prematurely ending good AARs.

[Laevex]

Don't worry, when I get bored of poncy hellenic factions I will forge a Getic Empire. I'm really sorry to disappoint any readers, I didn't think I had many anyway.

[paullus]

Wow, I totally missed this AAR. Some really nice elements to it, Laevex! If you don't continue this one, then I'll be looking out for more from you in the future.

[deadmeat36]

All the good barbarian AAR get stop prematuraly

[Laevex]

Some good news! I will soon achieve the victory conditions in my current 1.0 Getic campaign and I'm hoping to be writing a post-VC AAR following the exploits of the Arche Getia in all its might! So if you enjoyed this patheticly abortive AAR then you could be in for a treat. Plus my writing will be better I hope, as I'm now reading a BA English Literature at Sheffield University (which involves a lot of reading and writing as one might imagine!)

[Hax]

Wow, this is all very impressive. This was a great AAR, and I'm REALLY looking forward to your next!

[Brave]

a good read