Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls ...

[Atraphoenix]

THIS AAR UNFORTUNATELY DISCONTINUED BECAUSE OF ENDLESS CTDS THAT WAS CAUSED BY INTENSIVE USE OF CODES THAT MADE MY SAVE GAME UNPLAYABLE.



Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)

EPISODE 1

Dānu apara, the tomb of my soul...


In fact, I cannot remember much. The only thing I can remember about my early childhood from that great voyage was the man, Kūrūš the loyal friend of my father who disappeared around 6 or 8 years ago. My father never talked much nor said anything about the the great long voyage that my mother told me.

When I started to think like a man not like a child any more. I should have been around 11 or 12 when my mother died. In fact, it was at the same time my father became a "living dead".
He did not speak and eat anything for days, he also disappeared for two days after his disappearance the peak of white mountain close to Olba burned for some days. When my father re-appeared again looked at the smoke coming from the mountain and murmured something I did not understand. It was not like the language Yaunas spoke or Sakaens.

When I asked my father why my mother did not come back with him. He said that :
"Son, can you see the smoke?"
I said yes.
"It is the ladder for your mother that she will raise to the heaven."
I asked him whether she was still climbing it.
"Yes, my son the smoke will be disappear when your mom climbed the heaven."
I could not ask him why she had left us. Father was very sad and after that day I could not see his face smiling again.

...........



One day, when I met my father near Dānu apara, he was murmuring "Dānu apara the tomb of soul..."
When he saw me, he asked me "Do you still remember something about the great long voyage?"
"I only remember a man who was holding the reins of the horse that I mounted"
"Do you remember Kūrūš?"
"Yes."
"It was him."
"What happened to him dad?"
"He..... returned..."
"Where?"
"Where you were born son, our motherland."
"Motherland?"
"Yes, did you learned the scripts I have given you today?"
"Yes, but it did not mean mean any sense to me.."
"One day, son they will, they will enlighten your way, your life."
"So dad why do not we return our motherland?"
"To live my son, here I am half alive if we return we all will be total dead...."
I could not ask him any more questions just watched together Dānu apara with my dad.

[Atraphoenix]

Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)

EPISODE 2: TAURICA


When I was about 14 my dad gave me a colt and named him as "Bād" means gale. So as to make him run like a gale. He grew up fast and he deserved his name.

I mostly rode down to Taurica with my friends and visited Pantikápaion, the capital of Yauna Kingdom in Taurica. Yaunas were always busy with war war war..... Sarumatah, Geta, and of course local lords against the king.

Taurica is a peninsula, so it is easy yo defend it from the land by controlling passes.
But Yaunas knew that so long as they are powerful behind their Stone Walls Sarumatah have no chance against them as Yaunas have no chance against them in the open field.

My father taught me that if I can build an army half Yauna half Sarumatah I could be a second Kūrošé Kabīr or The Great Yauna, Skandar who destroyed the great kingdom that Kūrošé Kabīr have founded.

.......

I had less difficulty to understand Sarumatah but to understand Yaunas, I spent my years to learn their language.
Our small clan was located in the valleys of Dānu apara. After my father dedicated himself to raise me, he taught me how to ride, how to shoot mounted even shoot back while I was riding front.



The Yaunas called me Partoi when they see me practicing it.
Though I could only watch them running, throwing javelins in their competitions they had no competition with horses.
When I first entered to Olba to trade for our clan, I was very surprised to see Yauna Soldiers who was carrying long spear that was nearly at the length of 4 men. When my father saw me surprised he said:
"These men will be your worst enemy, no cavalry can withstand against them."
"So how can I defeat them dad?"
"Like Arshak, son."
"Arshak?"
"It will be a very long story..."
Then he started tell the story of Arshak, who defeated the Satrap of Parthava and made himself the First King of Parthava.
When he finished his story, I saw he was crying.

I was going learn the rest of the story that my dad omitted.

[Atraphoenix]

Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)

EPISODE 3: LEGEND OF ARSHAK



"When Skandar the Great marched to conquer Persia, he had defeated Dāriūš the last king of Haxâmanešiyan. After his death his commanders divided his Empire into parts.
Arshak was a Parni that was a tribe migrated from mostly from Baktriš.
When his father was still alive Arshak the elder, he was the real king as he was the spahbod of the army. He allied himself with Dahâ, and with the regional support from local chiefs he rebelled against Seleukeia. As the Seleucids did not care east of their empire much soon Baktriš and Parthava rebelled.
When Arshak entered the Parthava/Pahlava, he fought with the local rebelious satrap and killed him. He captured Hekatompylos then he declared himself king.

He fought many battles but thanks to excellent cavalry armies of Dahâ, Pahlava, and infantry support of Hyrcanians and mercenary Yaunas; he managed to defeat the remnants of Seleucid armies in his kingdom.




- - - - - - - - -

His conquests were not easy and he had no luxury to lose a battle.
He planned his battles very carefully. He never touched locals after he conquered the cities. The local people welcomed him as liberator from Yaunas.

After his great victories even Persians started to see him as the liberator and successor of Haxâmanešiyan.

- - - - - - - -- -

His legend is very long and I am so tired of today."

I said "OK, dad. I look farward to hear the rest."
"You must be patient son, very patient."
"?"
"If you one day face a Yauna Army you will see what I mean now. When you face them you will feel that you are fighting against a walking mountain, it moves slowly but always forward...."

---------------

-A walking mountain..... I thought all day how to fight against a walking mountain....

[Vasiliyi]

Very nice, do I sense a rare Saramatoe Aar?

[Atraphoenix]

No, but wait for surprises
This AAR was planned to be very long.
At the moment I am busy to wait the child' birth, yes yes he was not even born now
His father just married but very lazy on love affairs.
so I need his birth first then I will write a flash back.

[Lysimachos]

Great beginning! I'm looking forward to surprises.

[Skullheadhq]

Your writing style is really great!
"The ladder to heaven" made me feel sad

[Atraphoenix]

Your writing style is really great!
"The ladder to heaven" made me feel sad

Thanks, I became happy to hear studying Literature Courses for years was not waste of time.
On the other hand, this AAR based on a tragedy and I am indecisive whether I will put a happy end or not for the hero.

I will try a risky game play and I will force the game engine and data with my conversion to Maximus's Alex EB. So I expect lots of crashes. You will see what I mean in the next chapters.
so be ready to surprises.

[Atraphoenix]

Kept on Alexander EB Adaptation of LZ3's Minimod Pack and my Conversions.....

Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)


EPISODE 4: Parni

"The Parni tribe had migrated to north of Parthava long ago, we have not much info how they migrated or from where, possibly they had migrated from Baktris.

Arshak's rise to the leadership of the Parni tribe was not clear and Yaunas has no informations about their early period.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

In one theory, Arshak lost his father Arshak The Elder and his grandfather Phrapates the Elder when he was very young. According to that story Phrapates the Elder started a campaign on northern steppe where mostly Aursas and Mazsakats were ruling.

One wise man who saw that days had told me :

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Phrapates marched to the land of Mazsakats with 10 thousand man. King Urgos who was the king of Mazsakats had 15 thousand men under his command. The battle between Parni and Urgos was very bloody Parni thought that they destroyed the whole Mazsakats.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

But both Kings fell in that battle more than 22 000 men died fron both side. The day after that great bloodshed when Parni started to count their death they were shocked they lost nearly 7 000 men together with their King.

Arshak The Elder sent his son back to Nisa because his second son, Tirdad was too young if he loses his elder son and namesake Arshak the younger, the kingdom would be in chaos.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Arshak the elder was under heavy sadness he seperated the army sent Harasp the Daha who was the loyal leader of daha tribes to Khiva. Even sent some of his detachments to reinforce his son in Nisa.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Though the reinforcement returned Nisa on time, Arshak could not welcome them when he learned that just after his father sent him his best 1000 horseman, the rebel Mazsakats with an army of 6 000 men assaulted the city , Mazsakat Kings were ruling before, Gava Mazsakata, that cost many parni lives, and Arshak the Elder was still in mourning of his father and his men, when guards saw enemy galloping towards the city.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Arshak the elder had 2 000 men under his command after he sent 1 000 to his son. The Rebel spies must have informed their chiefs just after the reinforcement was sent to the capital Nisa.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

It was told that when Arshak the elder saw all of his men lying on the floor, he went insane although some of his loyal men managed to save him from the enemy and hid him in the city, he could not live long because of his deadly scars and his deep sadness so even the rebels thought they failed to kill the king.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

But it was not Mazsakats, or his scars, or the death of his father in front of his eye, caused his death; because of the fact that he could only sent just 1 000 horsemen to his son's celebration as the Crown Prince, that meant for him his kingdom had already been wiped out and the last 1 000 men were not going for the celebration but for the funeral of the kingdom.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Arshak the younger could not speak for days even the bodies of the former two kings of Parni were in the enemy's land. So the time was not for the celebration of his ascend to the throne....

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Some of his commanders asked him the new King, to march on the rebels and kill them all, but he said : The time will come... now it is time for father's turn...... not sons........
Nobody could understand him except for old Harasp who told him to relax and go to Margiane one of the beautiful cities of Aryans that was under Yaunas rule at that time.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Arshak marched with 3 000 men to Margiane to ask for help of Arche Seleukeia, he entered her as visitor but left her as a conqueror!

-What? did he conquer Margiane?
-Yes, son but this is another day's story.
-Not again, dad. You are leaving on the most interesting part that I am dieing for learning it.
-So you forgot yesterday's lesson?
-No!
-So what was the lesson of yesterday?
-Not the braves, not the cruel ones, not the lucky ones win the battle, it was the only ones who wins the battle are the ones who held their lines just 5 minutes more than the enemies....
-Excellent, you are learning very fast.
-Thanks to you, dad...
(In fact I lied, I hadn't understood what the hell was the fathers' turn.. not sons...)

[Atraphoenix]

episode 5 will be written later .... when I managed to finish the game in the suitable place to write this episode.

[Vasiliyi]

Ah good, my sarmation aar idea is still safe. Yah good work. I personally really like it when aar-writers give a good history lesson before getting into their aar. Keep this going and Good luck!

[Atraphoenix]

do not be so sure this is not a pahlava AAr either

[Atraphoenix]

My Alexander EB vanilla crashed so I will continue this AAR on LZ3's minimod for Alex EB.

[the man with no name]

Good Job dude. Interesting.

[Atraphoenix]

Be prepared for my last surprise

[Atraphoenix]

I have written episode 4 finally after re-installation torture.
I will add pictures after imageshack managed to reduce it to 1024ish...
I hope you enjoy, and do not worry as I said that would be a very long AAR. I am very decisive on it.
episode 4 pictures finally have been added.
just clicks spoilers .

[Atraphoenix]

Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)

EPISODE 5: MYSTERIOUS GUEST



In steppes there were no rule except power. If you have the power you had everything, if not you are nothing. My grandfather always told me: "We the nomads do not live for power instead the steppes makes us powerful. We loved her even to the death."
He died exactly like he did say. He was always proud of the his participation of the battle against the Yauna King, Iskandar. Though northern nomads managed to destroy one of the armies of Iskandar. He was able to conquer Parsa, Hindu and many countless countries and cities. He died young...
too young...

His Empire gone, but not his name....

-What! Did he lose a battle?
-Yes, son but he was not at the head of his army. He sent a general to north to subdue steppe people.
He himself went to his conquest of Parsa. No one knows what happened to that army because nobody left back alive.
-What do you know about this war, dad?
-All I knew was what my grandfather said to me.

- -- - - - - -- -- - -- - -

-OPEN THE DOORRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
-Kneel you stupid child....

I knelt in front of a man who broke into our house with his men. Although I could not hear his name. It was clear that he was a noble man. With long dark reddish hair he looked like a lion man.
Although servants warned me not to do it. I slowly approached to the room of my father where both the man and my father was talking about something serious and discussing over some drawings on a deer leather.

I came very close, to the corner where one of the guard was waiting. I could not hear much. All I heard was...

-Are you sure?
-Yes, my spies just reported.
-So it will be the big day for you.
-I still need your help and you know it is easy to find a man who fights to death in steppes but it is quite hard to find a man like you to save one army.
-It will not be easy, you know this.
-We have no chance like that until next year.
-That makes me remember my old days ...
-Memories makes you weak, pal....
-Also makes me strong.
-Yes, a shepherd does not put his hand into the nest of scorpion twice.
-Any.....?
-He is still alive, that is the only thing I really know.
-Maybe, he might have been the king......
-I just heard about worried Yaunas in Bāb-ilû who are afraid of a possible Parthian raid.

......

-I need you tomorrow.
-I know, I'll do my best.


- - -- - -- -- - -- - - - -- - - -- - -- - -- - - -- - - -- -

[Atraphoenix]

episode 6 is ready the only thing is missing waiting the son to reach 16, he is just two years old.

[Rahwana]

Nice AAR there... keep up

[Cute Wolf]

episode 6 is ready the only thing is missing waiting the son to reach 16, he is just two years old.

I watching this interesting nomad AAR too...
now, how old are he?

[Atraphoenix]

I watching this interesting nomad AAR too...
now, how old are he?

10 more years mate 10 more

[Skullheadhq]

Argh, aging takes ages

[Atraphoenix]

Dānu apara, The Tomb of Exiled Souls (An EB Hotseat AAR)

EPISODE 6: BETWEEN TWO STORMS......



"Thracia, the only thing I can remember from my youth; the fierce and endless battles between Thracian tribes and nomads. When I was very young, though old enough to participate into battles, we heard that our Aryan brothers in the north Moesia managed to capture sea shore until the Bosphorus.
Many Saka died but they successfully defeated Thracian tribes, the strongest one of them, the Getai managed to unite the remnants of the old traditional Thracian tribes confederation and they were ready to face the new threat against them."

-Saka?

-Yes, son. Both people were brave, both loved their land, and of course, both lost numerous men. many.. too many of them.........





"After both leaders decided they both lost enough men they sustained a temporary but mostly a stable border. Nomads were the ruler of the sea shore, plains, and of course steppes....

On the other hand, no nomad must have been mad enough to challenge Getai on forests where they were the kings. Many brave Saka scouts entered that unknown woods but none returned."



" Sakas, Even Dāryavuš failed to subdue them. He came to Dānu apara, he even passed her. Sakas forced him to return. After the collapse of Eranshar and while the successors of Iskandar, The Yaunas were fighting each other. During that time not long ago, must be around a decade before your birth, two Aryan people, Saka and Pahlava, one in here in Dānu apara, the other in Parthava grew and expanded slowly. While Saka were expanding against Haímou, The Pahlavan even entered to Birit narim. "

-You mean Aškānīān?
-Yes son but Arshak was alive at that time after his death Aryans called them as Aškānīān.
They fought bravely, united Eranshar but they were still too weak to revive Haxāmanišiān, the great empire of Kūrūš.

-So you say they ruled Birit narim, I did not know these.
-Yes, son they took it but later they lost after Arshak died.
-How he died?
-It is not certain, many stories many rumors, even some claim he is still alive and he dedicated his life to our great lord , Ahura Mazda.
-I wish I had seen him.
-Who knows, maybe you had already, son ...
-?!!!!!!!

[Atraphoenix]

The child is growing the only problem, what if he would be a Dull/Uncharismatic/Languorous
that would kill whole AAR
I still have not decided how to kill heroic brothers, I don't wanna kill them
BTW I will decide after I will finish first Saka parts (Do not mix Saruomatae with saka Rauka, Achaemenids called them Saka, Greeks nearly called whole nomads Saka at that times...)

[Cute Wolf]

Phew... reading this AAR made me think that this AAR is not a Pahlava one, but either Sauro or Saka....

Bet you use script command to change factions in the middle of the game, or use savegame editor?

Very interesting and full of surprise BTW! Here's a red balloon for horse archer target practice!

[Atraphoenix]

Phew... reading this AAR made me think that this AAR is not a Pahlava one, but either Sauro or Saka....

Bet you use script command to change factions in the middle of the game, or use savegame editor?

Very interesting and full of surprise BTW! Here's a red balloon for horse archer target practice!

As it is written in the title this is a hotseat AAR on alex that means I swap factions via console, in fact I play 2 faction one by one

when I finished first Balkan campaign I will give enough tips for you

[Skullheadhq]

Did the son reach the good age yet?