Journey Of The Hellenes

[Chirurgeon]

Good to read your AARs again. Waiting to see where this takes us.
"Any port in a storm." ... ?

Thank you kind sir. Like i said you will see some familiar events and people at least early on in the AAR. I looked for that phrase you quoted but can't find it.

[Mjolnir]

Oh this is going to be good. But there goes my plan of doing a Massalian AAR, I guess I'll switch to doing a Bosporan one instead.

[Chirurgeon]

Oh this is going to be good. But there goes my plan of doing a Massalian AAR, I guess I'll switch to doing a Bosporan one instead.

You could still do it. Other than the geography I am sure they will be very different. Either one sounds good :)

[Chaotix]

Awesome start. The second master of AARs has returned to tell us another tale!

[julius_caesar_the_first]

Sorrry Chirurgeon, but I couldn't resist.

Good to see you are back. I see the beginning of another Chirurgeon masterpiece among masterpieces. Goog luck with the AAR.

[Chirurgeon]

Awesome start. The second master of AARs has returned to tell us another tale!

Sorrry Chirurgeon, but I couldn't resist.

Good to see you are back. I see the beginning of another Chirurgeon masterpiece among masterpieces. Goog luck with the AAR.

Thanks guys for the support. Update coming up!

[Chirurgeon]

II. Distant Disruption
Mastia, Iberia
271 BC
I traveled south to Mastia upon the request of my father. He has grown ill over the course of the year and wishes me to take more control of things. Regardless I am of 20 years and much has changed since I left. I have met a woman of pure Greek blood. Her family hails from Athens and she is the daughter of a ship merchant. When I return it is hoped that we can wed. My father has already gifted the estate to me should he pass. I have had time to think about things greatly. The distant war has caused a mess with trade. The Ptolemai are staunch supporters of the Greeks of Athens. However many of the Macedonian cities are now boycotting trade to independent Greek colonies. Now I must find a way of getting our products back to Emporion and still make a profit.

***
Upon entering Mastia I met an old friend of the family who is quite fond of me. Videllec the merchant from Kart Hadast had just finished making a run from that great city and now is in Mastia preparing to return. I spoke to him and he told me that he also had to deliver some other precious cargo, including a senator's son to Gadiz. Some young aristocrat named Castulo. "Your moving up in the world" I remember telling him. He smiled and I remember asking him where he was going. Apparently he was headed to Baikor with goods and coin to get items. "Whats the word out of Baikor?" I asked. "Trouble" was his only response. When I asked what was going on he told me the Lusitanns were on the warpath. Their leader Tantalos was wreaking havoc and preparing to march to Baikor. "I'm trying to get in one more shipment before all hell breaks loose" He lamented with a frown.
So now, not only our sea trade is threatened but the flow of silver from the mines could be interrupted. Gods this thing can't get any worse. "You should talk to Hadrubal" He told me. I bid him farewell and went to the palace to meet with Hadrubal. Apparently there was alot going on. Generally life in this palace is more than relaxed. I found appropriate quarters for the night and in a few days met with the Governor. My goal was simple. I needed him to put pressure on the Kart-Hadast senate to open up a new trade route that had been lost when Mytilene cut off trade. He greeted me in a non jovial manner which is quite unusual for him.
I asked him what was going on and he grumbled something about the Lusitanns. He had also found out that Senator Gaston's son, Castulo, had gone missing during a diplomatic meeting with the Lusitanns. I wonder what Videllec would think of that. He was rubbing his head complaining of a headache. I left him a bag of convincing metals and had my request written up by a scribe. I would have to check back to see if anything occured. I decided to go ahead and meet with more of the merchants here.
The price of everything was high. I penned a letter to father asking him for advice. Although I knew he would just tell me to do what I thought was best. He really had gifted the business to me. I talked to old seamen that I used to drive crazy with my childish antics. I couldnt tell you how many times i was told not to climb the mast or to get off the deckrail. Although I was considered nobility in Emporion I felt very comfortable with the rough and tumble nature of the ports. The smells, sights, and sounds was something i grew up with. As soon as I was able to walk I remember holding my father's hand and he used to take me down to see the merchants. My mother of course disaproved. As I got older I would come down on my own and watch the endless stream of vessels leaving the harbors. Countless sunsets of my youth were spent watching the port settle in for another night. I knew all the ships and all the captains. I was adored and respected. Most nobility would never soil themselves like I had.
Most of the merchants I ran into were desperately trying to find alternative ports to get their much desired products from. Most of the Aegean wanted nothing to do with us. Even Rhodes was dealing with a naval blockade. It figures that just as I take on a more important role in all this, the peace we had enjoyed for so long began to unravel.
***
As I prepared to sail to Gadiz to try and secure something from that port of use I learned of a terrible thing. Apparently Athens and Sparta had been defeated and the remains of their army and many civilians fled on the high seas. Rumors had it they were heading to Crete or perhaps Cyreniea. No doubt they will ask for the help of the Ptolemai. These are truly desperate times for all.

[Mediteran]

ah, this is nice, i used to read your carthage AAR, it was amazing, the best aar i ever read.. im going to enjoy this

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I looked for that phrase you quoted but can't find it.

It's just an old saying. I was reminded of it when I read the last part of your chapter.
Again, interesting start. I'm going to have to go back and reread you other AAR, I barely remember it...

[Chirurgeon]

It's just an old saying. I was reminded of it when I read the last part of your chapter.
Again, interesting start. I'm going to have to go back and reread you other AAR, I barely remember it...

Thanks everyone and don't worry MAA you only have to re-read the first 10-15 years.

[SwissBarbar]

Very good nice start, i have the feeling this will become a very interesting AAR

[gamegeek2]