Baktria - Basileion Hellenon Asias

[miotas]

OK, I'm gunna have a go at an AAR.

I realise that my writing isn't the best so constructive criticism would be appreciated.

In this AAR I will be using Greek words courtesy of Maion and EB itself so I will give translations for all those, like myself, who don't speak Greek.

Basileus: King
Olympionikes: Olympic Victor
Moros: Literally moron but I'm using it to mean foolish
Persoletes: Destroyer of Persians
Aaptos: Invincible
Dysarestos Kleronomos: Disgruntled Heir(he is a crazy fool who believes he should rule the kingdom)
Lipodes: The Fat
Eiar: Spring
Theros: Summer
Phthinoporon: Autumn
Cheimon: Winter

Introduction

My name is Oxyartes Marakandaios.

Today I come of age, I am officially a man at sixteen years of age, but I have yet to finish my education. My father wishes for me to stay in this backwater town and finish my education here, but I wish to travel to Baktra and study in the Megale Schole, listen to great orators in the Theatron and discover the intricacies of money in the Agora.

In Baktra I will also learn politics from the renowned politicians, my cousins Agathokles, and Heliokles, and the one good thing Patrokles produced, my half-brother Zoilos, widely regarded as the smartest man in the kingdom and the most trusted and loyal advisor to Basileus, not to mention being Olympionikes of the most recent Olympic games.

I am a part of the royal family of Baktria, grandson of Theodotus Baktrios Moros, nephew of Basileus Diodotos Baktrios Persoletes known amongst his people as Aaptos, and of course, son of Dysarestos Kleronomos Patrokles Marakandaios Lipodes. Well, that’s what everyone believes, however my father wasn’t some treacherous, filthy minded, indolent lardy arse like Lipodes, but a glorious war hero, like my uncle and grandfather.

The following comes from the diary of my father that he gave to my mother following that fateful phthinoporon in the third year of the 127th Olympiad.

The story of my father starts in theros of first year of the 127th Olympiad.

[miotas]

Let me know what you think, Chapter 1 will be up soon

[miotas]

Basileus Baktries: King of Baktria
Basilikos Stratos: Royal Army
Somatophylakes Strategou: FM's Bodyguards
Basilikoi Somatophylakes: King's Bodyguards

Chapter 1

Theros – The First Year of the 127th Olympiad.

Theodotos, then Basileus Baktries, sets off east for glory and lands, taking his son-in-law Patrokles and the Basilikos Stratos of
5000 Pantodapoi Phalangitai
6000 Persian Archers
1000 Asabaran-i Madaen and
600 Somatophylakes Strategou, of whom my father was a member

and leaving his only son Kleronomos Basileios Diodotos to defend Baktra with
3000 Persian archer-spearmen.

During Eiar of the following year, the second year of the 127th Olympiad, Theodotos ventured into the province of Paropamisadai to lay siege to the town of Kophen.

3 months later the siege rams were ready and Theodotos gave the order to attack.

The battle started as do all sieges, the rams moved into position to batter the wooden palisade surrounding the town.

The archers fired blindly towards the sarissai of the enemy phalangites, visible over the walls.

Once the walls were down, the Pantodapoi rushed the breach,
attacking viscously with their axes, taking advantage of the fact that
their lighter armour gave them more speed and flexibility in close combat.

Whilst at the other breach the Pantodapoi had time to form a phalanx
and prepare for the enemy charging from the town centre.

While the enemy infantry was engaged battling for the gates,
the Basilikoi Somatophylakes hastened through the side streets,
hoping desperately not to get lost along the way, their goal,
to seize the town centre from the light skirmishers guarding there,

they were well aware that every minute they delayed was another man dead,
as in a protracted melee the heavier armour of the enemy infantry would give them
an advantage over the Pantodapoi.

The Somatophylakes Strategou having destroyed any resistance
from the light skirmishers, now charged down the main road,
heading to the rear of the enemy formation
and dealing a devastating blow to their foes.

The enemy forces did not hold much longer and with all resistance crushed,
victory to the valiant Baktrian forces.

[Maion Maroneios]

Wow, I was surprised to see this! Good stuff dude Oh, and take a balloon for creating this:

Maion

[miotas]

Wow, I was surprised to see this!

i said i was gunna

MY FIRST BALLOON!!!!!

*edit*
next installment tomorrow, then after that sometime next week.

now i'm off to bed

[Maion Maroneios]

Well, I thought it would come later. Anyway...

Maion

[satalexton]

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIAAAAA!!!

[miotas]

Well, I thought it would come later. Anyway...

Maion

Well I find if i think about things for too long they tend not to get done, best to do it now while it's a fresh idea then to think it to death.

ALL HAIL MAKEDONIAAAAA!!!

Makedonia? You mean

BAKTRIAAAAA!!!

hmm... doesn't quite have the same ring does it?

well, what about

BASILEION BAKTRIES!!!!!!

Nope?

well i'll get it a some point

[Belisarius II]

Keep it up! Now there is only one thing left to say...ON TO INDIA!!!

[Olaf Blackeyes]

This should prove to be excellent so plz keep it up.

[miotas]

Chapter 2

Late theros the eldest daughter of the Basileus, Klophia wife of Patrokles, arrived at Kophen. Over the
phthinoporon my father and Klophia slowly fell in love and they had the whole cheimon to meet in
secret away from the Basileus and her mad husband Patrokles.

After cheimen Theodotos once again headed eastwards, my father following him leaving Patrokles and
a pregnant Klophia behind.

Through the following months the army faithfully followed Theodotos further and further east until
early phthinoporon of the third year of the 127 Olympiad they came upon the banks of the mighty
Indus. Theodotos had heard stories of the wealth of these lands and grew anxious over the following
days as they waited for the scouts to find a suitable crossing.

The scouts soon returned with a suitable ford and the river was swiftly crossed. Before long the
mighty stone walls of Taksashila were encountered. These lands must be rich indeed to afford such
elaborate defences and the Basileus ordered that the town should be surrounded and preparations
made for a long siege, while the engineers examined the walls for any potential weakness they might
exploit.

The Basileus also ordered that the scouts should scour the surrounding countryside and find anyone
who could be questioned on the composition of the towns defending force.

One week later and still no sign of any locals could be found. It was assumed that they had all hidden
in the town as the army had marched into their lands. Some of Theodotos more cautious advisors
urged him to rethink his plans for a long siege, the locals could not be expecting the siege to last long
if so many were hiding within such a small settlement. No chance for a change of heart was allowed
however, as the enemy forces sallied exactly one week later.

Theodotos ordered his phalangites and archers to take up position in front of the gates.



They then proceeded to fire upon the enemy as they left the gates and terrorised and any attempts
by the enemy to get into formation.



The Basilikoi Somatophylakes engaged the enemy horsemen on the flanks, the enemy may have been
lighly armoured, but the armour was very well made and they put up a surprisingly good defence
against the Basilikoi Somatophylakes, however no man can stand against the mightiest that Baktria
has to offer.



At this point, from the gates there emerged men wielding strangely made blades that cut through iron
armour like it was only leather.



These blades however, could do nothing against the power of a charge from Baktria’s finest fighting men.



Despite all the advantages of our enemy it seemed as though Theodotos would win the day. That is
until, from around the side of the town there emerged,



ELEPHANTES!

Many men tired and injured from the many hours battling, simply took one glimpse of these terrible
beasts and dropped their weapons and shields, running for the hills never to be seen again. Some
brave souls, realising they had to buy as much time as possible for their Basileus to retreat, charged
futilely at the elephantes.

Their brave sacrifice sadly achieved nothing as Theodotos horse was shot from under him. The only
surviors were 5 of the Somatophylakes Strategou, four of whom committed suicide for having failed
their Basileus and one, my father, who travelled back to Baktrian lands to tell the tale of the brave
Moros Theodotos.

On the way back to Baktra, he stopped in at Kophen to see Klophia. He was told that Klophia was
sick so he simply left his diary and continued on his way. Klophia was infact not sick but in labour.
She gave birth to a boy on that day exactly 16 years ago.

My father arrived at the court in Baktra, and after informing the new Basileus Baktries of the
situation, slit his own throat for failing in his duty to Theodotos.

He never even knew I existed.

I have often wondered what he would have done if he had know of my birth.

So there is my father's story, and so begins mine. I have many plans to avenge my father and
grandfather, but they must wait. For now I head Baktra to truly begin my education.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Interesting loss. It will be interesting to see where you take this.

(It should probably be "avenge" there in the last paragraph.)

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Wow thats actually very deep man.
I like it.

[ezekiel2517]

interesting story, but the screenshots are the best here

[Vasiliyi]

Nice little twist there. Good start, keep it up!

[miotas]

Chapter 3 coming up soon, not many screen shots though, just setting the scene.

And before i get too far ahead of myself i should say that alot of the ideas I'm using are insipred by Vasiliyi and MAA. Kudos to those great writers

*edit*
I'm not saying my aar holds a candle to either of theirs, but they are very inspiring

[miotas]

Chapter 3

It has been two years since I arrived in Baktra and those years have truly changed me. I have a
greater understanding of geography, music, rhetoric, engineering and mining. But most importantly I
have devoted myself to studying tactics, logistics and the recent history of our Basileion.

The actions of Basileus Diodotos following the death of his father are very interesting.

Firstly he hastened the ongoing construction of the Teiche Lithina that now surround Baktra and
focused on training archers to fight in the local manner to defend the new walls rather than recruiting
an army of conquest as Theodotos had done.



Once the security of Baktra was assured, he declared independence from, but not war against Arche
Seleukeia. Diodotos made it clear that he wanted to maintain trade links but the people of Baktria
would never be subject to a Basileus living so far from their homes.

He then devoted time and money to improving the trade,



roads



and sewerage sytems.



After the infrastructure of the city was in place he then spent countless fortunes on schools, and
cultural buildings like theatres and religious shrines, despite not believing in any gods himself.



He developed quite an extensive spy ring to counter any enemy spies or assassins from our many
potential enemies, and has also become known as quite the counter-spy.

In less than sixteen years he transformed the struggling satrapy he inherited from his father into an
independent Basileion of great learning and wealth.

What makes this all the more fascinating is that he managed to do so while fighting off invasions from
endless hordes of Pahlavan horsemen, and the occasional attempt from Arche Seleukeia who seek to
return us to a Satrapy, as well as, in recent years, a few raids from the Hadou Hippeis, Saka Rauka.

Over the years, due to his countless victories, hundreds of thousands of Persians have their final
resting place within the borders of Baktria. Diodotos has truly earned the title of Persoletes and it is
no wonder the citizens of Baktra yell Diodotos Aaptos from the windows when he walks through the
streets.

And now I shall have my first taste of battle, a Pahlavan horde awaits their destruction outside our
city walls.

[miotas]

Interesting loss. It will be interesting to see where you take this.

Ah! MAA commented on my AAR!!

I swear I almost screamed like a school girl, I'm very honored I hope I live up to your expectations.

(It should probably be "avenge" there in the last paragraph.)

Cheers mate, changed it.

[Vasiliyi]

Good update. Keep this going. Ive never seen a Baktrian aar last very long so this should be good.

[miotas]

Good update. Keep this going. Ive never seen a Baktrian aar last very long so this should be good.

I'm finding it very fun so it will keep going for a while yet, I've got a more chapters under my belt but I'm waiting a bit to post them as whats happening now might change things a bit.

possible spoiler if you're following the story

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Possible reforms, as capua has 25000 pop. but is still a large city. fingers crossed

I just done a search and the last Baktrian AAR was over a year ago and lasted 2 posts! These are rare indeed.

[V.T. Marvin]

Very good story, keep it up!

I just done a search and the last Baktrian AAR was over a year ago and lasted 2 posts! These are rare indeed.

You have not searched too well - my Baktrian AAR lasted longer than that and is dead only for a month (and still on the first page - at the very bottom, though)

I wish you more endurance and less real-life time constraints than I have had...

[miotas]

Very good story, keep it up!


You have not searched too well - my Baktrian AAR lasted longer than that and is dead only for a month (and still on the first page - at the very bottom, though)

I wish you more endurance and less real-life time constraints than I have had...

Eeep, I did a search for titles with "Baktria", apparently this didn't include titles with "Baktrian"

And it's now a second page story I'm sorry to say, mine must have pushed it down

Nice AAR btw, too bad it died.

[miotas]

Chapter 4

The battle started with the archers atop the walls killing as many of the enemy as possible before the
Somatophylakes Strategou prepare to engage the enemy.





After many hours the rest of the nobles and I formed up our Somatophylakes Strategou and readied
for the charge.



Basileus, seeing I was eager to prove myself, gave the order for me to charge down some of the
Pahlavan forces best riders.



I took down many enemy horsemen, but being so numerous, we had no chance of winning,



I was about to order a retreat when the Basileus himself rode to my aid.



The Basileus and myself, fighting side-by-side to save the kingdom from these foul nomads, this was
the proudest moment of my life.



Diodotos then rode off to do battle with the enemy general,



The death of their general was enough to break the spirit of the enemy. The rest of the battle was
simply a matter of killing as many enemy as possible before they fled into the bush.



My sword arm will ache in the morning.

[miotas]

Taking good screenshots can be tricky stuff, in this battle I was busy taking lots of good screenshots and didn't even realise my main character had lost over half his men

So lots of screenshots to come will now be missing chunks of the sky because I've now taken to pausing

[miotas]

Hadou Hippeis - Horsemen of Hades


Chapter 5

My second battle in as many years. This time against the Hadou Hippeis, Saka nomads.

The battle started with the archers firing from the walls, they seemed to have a personal grudge
against these foes and took no shame in showing it.



This battle would be quite different to the last however, as the these horsemen had fine armour and
our arrows dealt little damage, this battle would ride solely upon the back of our fine Baktrian steeds.



Basileus gave the order for my brother to charge a group of Saka nobles who ventured too far from
the main army.



The noise of the two lines of heavily armoured horsemen clashing deafened all those nearby. The
small enemy group was soon overwhelmed and turned tail.



I was then ordered to charge some light horsemen on the flanks, the blood surged in my veins as I
charged into the enemy lines.





They did not stand long in the face of such well armoured foes and I started to give chase before
remembering the rest of battle. I reordered my men and prepared to charge the rear of the last
standing Saka nobles.



However they fled at the sight of us and the day was ours.



The battle may have been short, lasting little more than an hour, but the fighting was fierce and
many fine sons of Baktria had taken their last breaths that day.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Taking good screenshots can be tricky stuff, in this battle I was busy taking lots of good screenshots and didn't even realise my main character had lost over half his men

I hate it when that happens. I've had many times when I've had to stop taking pictures in a difficult battle just so I don't loose something.

[miotas]

Metalleutikon Kentron - Mining centre
Athanatoi Hippeis - Invincible Horsemen

Chapter 6

I am now twenty years of age and have completed my education. I spent the final year of my
education, following the battle with the Saka nomads, studying armour so that we might have an
advantage over them in future. After examining the armour captured in the battle,



consulting with my history teachers, and long discussions with the master smiths, we have developed
a new type of armour, far superior to any possessed by our foes to the north.

The armour consists of full iron lamellar barding for the horses, and a combination of plate, mail and
lamellar armour for the riders. The armour will be incredibly expensive, however I believe it will be the
finest in all the world, none will withstand the mighty charge of these Athanatoi Hippeis.

I am meeting formally with my uncle later today in his capacity as Basileus and I hope to convince
him to let me carry out my plans for an invasion of the lands beyond the Indus, with my bodyguard
outfitted in the new armour of course.



I was shown into the throne room and greeted my uncle, “Hail Basileus Diodotus Baktrios Persoletes.”
“Welcome Oxyartes. What did you wish to ask?”

“Basileus, I have plans for an invasion of the lands to the east.”

“The east?”

“Yes Basileus.”

“You know your grandfather died in the east young Oxyartes.”

“Yes Basileus, Thedotos Moros.”

“What makes you believe your plan can succeed where he failed?” asked Diodotos, none too pleasantly.

“I have studied the tale of that lone survivor closely and believe there is a way to succeed were your father failed.”

“Yes?” Inquired the Basileus sitting forwards in his throne.

“A large contingent of Dahae riders, skirmishers, and peltastai, should be sent along with our heavy
cavalry and phalangitai, they would bring down the Elephantes and kill many of those formidable
sword men from a distance.”



“Your plan has merit. However, I could not leave Baktra while the threat of nomad invasion exists,
and who knows what Patrokles would try if I were to leave the Basileion.”

I took a deep breath before continuing “I would propose that you let me lead the invasion Basileus.”

There was a long silence and the Basileus lowered his head to think. “We will discuss this plan later
with Agathokles and your brother Zoilos. Prehaps it is time to increase our power” he muttered under
his breath. “If that is all you, may go.”

I took another deep breath, “There is one other thing before I go Basileus.”

“Yes?”

“I, with some of your finest smithies, have developed a new type of armour, and if this invasion goes
ahead, I would wish to outfit the bodyguard in this new, manner.”

“Is there anything I should know about this new armour?”

“I believe it is the finest in the world Basileus.”

“And…?”

“The expense will be enormous.”

“I see.”

“However with the recently built Metalleutikon Kentron there should be no troubles in paying for them.”

“Yes, well we will discuss it later. If there is nothing else you may go.” It was not a question, I had
thrown a lot at him and I hoped he would not be angry later.

[miotas]

Hetairoi Kataphrakoi - generals bodyguards

Chapter 7

Phthinoporon the second year after the 134th Olympiad, I am now in my 25th year, and I have been
waiting out side the walls of Taksashila for almost 2 years. Despite my in depth instructions for the
supply train that I left with Patrokles, in recent months supplies have been short and the men are
now on short rations. I would leave to set things right however, I believe the enemy will be sallying
for soon. Prehaps they plan to do so in the coming cheimon, to catch us off guard. I will certainly
inform the Basileus of Patrokles incompetence after I have returned in triumph.

Antimachos, the makedonian son-in-law of the Basileus, has been getting irritable, lately and I don’t
blame him. The thought of facing those elephants has caused me many a restless night recently.

The Basileus convinced me to bring him along due to his formidable fighting skill and his ability to think
quickly in a tight spot, he should be a valuable commander in the upcoming battle

We left Baktra in late Theros of the third year of the 133rd Olympiad.



And arrived at Kophen just as Cheimon was starting, glad to be out of the harsh weather, but
dreading the thought of spending the entire cheimon with Lipodes.

I despised asking Lipodes for anything but I needed skirmishers, and Kophen was where the
skirmishers were. I almost turned back then and there, but I sucked up my pride and asked him
towards the end of cheimon, knowing he would be insufferable after I did.

I left with my skirmishers as soon as the weather permitted in the fourth year of the 133rd Olympiad
and set off east to the Indus.



I received word in Theros that my new armour had been tested in battle. All the royal family members
upon viewing my Athanatoi Hippeis had outfitted their bodyguards in the same manner, the resulting
units, Hetairoi Kataphrakoi, were frighteninly effective in battle.

They charged, over and over again,

Decimating the enemy forces many times over,



The enemy slingers tried to bring them down but even their lead bullets bounced harmlessly off.



The enemy general valiantly tried to stand his ground



But he stood no chance against these lion faced men.



I could almost feel sorry for those poor fools, that is if they weren’t trying to steal our freedom.



The enemy lost almost 25000 men while our forces took less than 300. It was more than I could have
ever hoped. I hope they perform as well against the Indian forces.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Some general stats if anyone is interested. I was quite pleased with myself, sure I’ve won battles
with worse odds, but rarely do I win such a large battle with so few lost.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Cyrus]

How the hell can you have more than 100k mnai with such huge armies and only 2 settlements? Are you cheating?
Anyway very good chapter, only one question, i thought it was the protagonists father who died in india, not his grandfather....

[the man with no name]

I just started reading this cuz i've had no wireless internet acess up here at my gradparents house and have had to use wire which i just got onto. It's 5 hours up to NY from the maryland suburbs of D.C. I'm following this and good luck.

Edit: HOLY SHIT how did those troops get so F***ing much experience. Did you cheat them in?Better not of or else... jk. Also you must of cheated the money.