The Civil War is over, and the nobles in revolt have been utterly crushed. And so now the central question of that war...in fact, the central question throughout the realm for the preceding three generations...is decided. Pontus is formally proclaimed an Empire. I, Arrybas, eighth King of Pontus, am also first Emperor of Pontus. Rightfully, such a title should have gone first to Charidemos, but that is not how the gods have willed it. Henceforth, the Pontic Emperor is Mithridatic. Perhaps not direct-male-line descendant, but without question Mithridates' blood must run in his veins. Our family is supreme in Pontus...and by virtue of the expanding Empire, by extension Mithridates' descendants also will be supreme throughout the world.
Enough such grand posturing...to matters at hand. Following the end of the civil war, we enter a period of relative peace. Some campaigning continues on the far frontiers (about which, more soon), but in general, Pontus remains content within her borders, and enjoys a well-deserved tranquillity. Cynics would say that such a lull reflects only that the internecine war has drawn our forces towards the home provinces, and the Imperial Throne needs time to march them back towards the object of our ambitions. But why would one listen to the cynics? They are, after all, such a...cynical...lot.
Indeed, we do find many of our armies close to home...closer than they have been in decades. Meanwhile Bosporus workshops have grown ever more artful and advanced in their capabilities. Yet our faraway soldiers have long marched with arms unimproved by these new capabilities. Pontic armies now march from Thracia to Bosporus and Caucasia, for a complete refitting of arms, armor, and equipment.
Speaking of Bosporus...Charidemos decreed long ago that in the future Nabatea would become the "mother of Pontic arms". Antiphus subscribed to this policy, and sought to implement it as well. We had only been waiting, it seems, for this province to sufficiently develop. I am of a different mind. Pontic armies already abound throughout the realm...how many more hosts would I and my successors build in the future, however large the Empire may grow? Truly, northern Bosporus is a far march from many of our frontiers...a newly raised host may spend years before reaching our enemies. But is it not also true that many such years would be needed to build such infrastructure in desert Nabatea? Pontus has spend much coin on the development of Bosporus' barracks, workshops, and training fields. I intend to retain them. Nabatea's fields produce much grain for the Empire. I would retain them as well.
The Noble War lasted eight years...and many of our most august commanders were not young men when it began. Death and infirmity have carried many of them away, and threaten others. Younger men, well schooled by their example, begin to take command of Pontic forces. Aristaios now commands Poseidon's Justice in southern waters...while we grieve the passing of Anchilaus, "Cyncus of the South". Demades has likewise gone to cross the Styx; Chrysanthos now commands Ares' Fury. Paranomos relieves old Artemios at the helm of the Heralds of Triton. Antymnius takes command of Mithridates' Chosen from venerated Amompharetos. My cousin Diokles succeeds to command of the Wrath of Zeus following the death of his father Dmetor. Aged Hippolytos transfers command of the Defenders of Trapezon to my nephew Agathon. Finally, the Empire mourns the passing of naval hero Anytios; Aristoboulos now commands Scylla's Terror. The old guard have served Pontus well, building the empire under Charidemos, then defending it against the traitorous Nobles. The formal establishment of the Pontic Empire is their triumph; they certainly deserved their glory, and now deserve their peaceful rest.
With Empire will come new ambitions, the current Peace notwithstanding. I use this interlude to strengthen the Pontic military for future travails, not just by refitting, but by establishing new forces as well. Sokrates' Judgment, named in honor of the King who won Armenia and who truly began Pontus' transition to Empire, begins recruiting in Bosporus. The Judgment will be commanded by Peithon. Named for perhaps Pontus' most legendary King, the Heroes of Prokopios are likewise formed, under the command of my own son Prince Azeus. The Empire will need not only more armies but fleets as well; Asteropaeus is commissioned to form the Guardians of the Pontos at Hieraptyna.
Meanwhile, peace does not reign quite everywhere. Even during the Noble War, Alcides of Aethiopia with his motley desert mercenaries opened up that region to Pontus. Quick to take the opportunity, Mithridates' Chosen and the Scions of Sinope marched from Aegyptus. These armies (along with Alcides' irrepressible Champions of Amasis, of course) now cross the border into Meroe territory, and war ensues. Mithridates' Chosen besiege the capital city of Meroe (Amompharetos' last action; he will die of natural causes during the siege). Alcides raids toward Aksum, while the Scions maintain order in Ptolemais Theron. Meroean desert armies bypass them in the sandy wastes, headed towards Aegyptus, but Pontic spies bedevil their progress. Meroe city falls to the siege, surrendering without a battle. Alcides falls upon Aksum with his camels and elephants...the defending garrison sallies out and are overwhelmed. The Pontic province of Aethiopia is unified and formally proclaimed. Throughout its cities, desert facilities are torn down, and proper Hellenic structures developed in their stead.
Despite Meroean territory vanquished, Meroean armies remain in the field...and threaten Ptolemais. Atymnius immediately marches from Meroe and ambushes one of these hosts in the desert, utterly destroying it. Alcides likewises countermarches back from Aksum to ride down another Meroean force north of Ptolemais. The Meroean Merchants of Death line up for battle and advance towards Alcides' camel-mounted archers and cavalry. They seek to destroy or force back our mounted troops with their spear-armed troops before our own infantry can engage. It is a vain attempt...the Champions of Amasis' elephants flank and charge the Merchants, while camel archers adroitly avoid melee and continuously shower arrows upon the hapless Meroean spearmen. The camel melee cavalry finish them off. This second enemy force too is destroyed.
Aksum: Alcides' camels in action
Aksum: Champion elephants ride down Meroean routers
Ptolemais: Alcides' desert mercenaries victorious...in what will prove to be their final battle
With Aethiopia conquered and now secure, I must finally bow to the treasury's indignant demands. Alcides' Champions have proven worthy, and have served as an epic example of imperial might. However much the desert mercenaries may have captured the imagination of the Pontic populace, however, the hard unavoidable fact is that they simply cost too much. Our newest armies, large hosts of the most effective and professional troops in Pontus' history, cost less than half the yearly upkeep of these camel-mounted fortune-seekers. And for all their renown, my advisors continue to point out that this colorful rabble simply doesn't possess the hard combat strength of a much cheaper conventional army. The desert-mercenary version of the Champions of Amasis has served its purpose, and now it must go.
Ten years before, Alcides eluded my father's earlier disbandment order...now I send him a second, in the most unequivocal terms. He is ordered to immediately discharge the mercenaries, on the very day he receives the imperial message. Alcides will then proceed to the Bosporus to recruit a stronger (and cheaper) army. If he does not comply, then I will formally disband the Champions of Amasis entirely...and rescind his command. Alcides is surprisingly amenable to the order. He evaded Antiphus to seek reputation among the sands, but now Alcides of Aethiopia has won his glory. The desert nomads have served out his own purpose as well as that of Pontus'. However fond he may be of his camels, Alcides at heart is a conservative Pontic general, and now relishes opportunity to command a proper army bristling with Pontic pikes. The camels and elephants are disbanded...for good this time.
Meanwhile, other opportunities arise in these hot southern lands. As ever, Seleucid satrapies continue to experience public disorder. A number of their cities have rebelled...creating an opening for Pontic mastery. Near Pontic Harmozia, neighboring Persepolis and Pura are under rebel sway, as well as the old Persian town of Susa. How could their former Seleucid masters possibly argue against Pontic armies re-establishing order? The Lykoi and Wrath of Zeus, brandishing upgraded arms from Bosporan workshops, have arrived back in the desert south, and they now cross the Sinus Persis towards these rebel lairs. The Lykoi besiege Pura, while the Wrath do the same at Persepolis. The Scions of Sinope, having marched back across Arabia Felix, march upon and encircle Susa. All three cities surrender after a brief time, despite the presence of large rebel armies within. Pontic power grows in the region; no full provinces yet controlled, but Pura and Persepolis, like Harmozia taken during Charidemos' reign, are large walled cities, and are the key to military dominance of the area.
During this same time, Poseidon's Justice has pursued Meroe's last remaining army, which fled Aethiopia by embarking upon the Mare Indicum. Aristaios finally brings this afloat remnant to battle near Harmozia. As is now becoming commonplace, all Meroean ships are sunk without the loss of a single Pontic sailor. Meroe is destroyed. The Pontic Empire is now fully at peace, without even minor desert factions or rebels opposing them. Where shall I focus the efforts of these splendidly re-armed hosts?
Mare Indicum: Meroe's final force destroyed at sea by Poseidon's Justice
Re: Eastern Hegemony: Pontus AAR
Originally Posted by Sp4
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