From Arsacid to.... [RTW2 AAR]

[johnhughthom]

From Arsacid to.... [RTW2 AAR]

Prologue

The king's tent.

The boy King, Arsaces, and his kinsman Tiridates looked with curiosity at the colourful goatskin their grizzled uncle rolled across the floor.

"The Greeks call it a map, it is what a bird on high sees, painted on to skin." Timgiratee advised the young men who ruled his tribe. He smiled to himself as Arsaces righted the map, aligning it with the north star and showing he understood at a glance exactly what it represented. Tiridates still looked confused, but he had always been more of a talker than a thinker, and his charisma would compliment his kinsman's intelligence in the battles ahead. Literal battles, and the battle to convince the tribal elders two boys could rule the Parni, never mind the Dahae confederacy.

"I see what it is, uncle. I simply do not see it's use. We are surrounded, our friends to the north, lackeys of the Basileus to the south and east, and the great water to the west. It tells us nothing."

"Indeed my King. I did not intend for you to use it for planning. I intend for you to hang it inside your tent. As your power grows, the colour will spread. First the north, as we tame the Scythians, who think they rival us in horsemanship. Then the east, as the Basileus' power over his satraps wanes, we can step in. Then the south, Parthava will be ours, then... Who knows?"

The boy looked sceptical. "North? You think we should attack the Scythians? Won't that leave us exposed?"

Tiridates jumped in, now that the map was not the topic of conversation, he felt more confident on his place at the discussion. "We have two leaders. Timgiratee or Ekurzakir. We can send one north, with the bulk of our horsemen to tame the Scythians, while the other takes charge of the spearmen to defend the camp. You will have to decide who goes where. Do we send our kinsman, Timgiratee, north with most of our army, and leave our defense to an outsider, or do we trust our army to Ekurzakir, and hope he doesn't use our horsemen to carve out his own Kingdom in Scythia?"

To be continued....