Promising Athenian FM and Agoge

**Poulp'** · 03-22-2010, 16:07

I started a KH campaign and I now have a small problem; there's a Athenian FM who came of age and he's the perfect candidate for the Agoge. Picture this; he's Sharp/Charismatic/Vigorous, Unselfish/Optimistic/Loyal with some great additional traits (In Rude Health, Positive, Stern).

Advisor popped up to tell me to send him to the Agoge, but should I ?
How, RP-wise, can I explain sending an Athenian to Sparta for "education" ?

I'm trying to roleplay my whole campaign so powerleveling is out of the question.

**anubis88** · 03-22-2010, 17:17

Originally Posted by Poulp'

I started a KH campaign and I now have a small problem; there's a Athenian FM who came of age and he's the perfect candidate for the Agoge. Picture this; he's Sharp/Charismatic/Vigorous, Unselfish/Optimistic/Loyal with some great additional traits (In Rude Health, Positive, Stern).

Advisor popped up to tell me to send him to the Agoge, but should I ?
How, RP-wise, can I explain sending an Athenian to Sparta for "education" ?

I'm trying to roleplay my whole campaign so powerleveling is out of the question.

I don't know for sure, but i think i read somewhere that foreigners joined the Agoge from time to time. Not sure though... Perhaps someone alse will shed a light on the subject

**Cute Wolf** · 03-22-2010, 17:22

NEVER!!! Only True Spartans (and Occasionally Cretans and Rhodians), could train at the agoge! Athenians are too weak and best left to calculate some projectile trajectory...

*) If you decide to sent them out, fine, but don't complain when they start gaining numerous bad traits...

**Ludens** · 03-22-2010, 17:40

Amongst the conservative elements of the Athenian upper class there were many admirers of the Spartan system. I don't think any of them actually sent their sons to Sparta, but then relations between the two cities were often bad. If, however, in your scenario the KH alliance has been successful and the cities are now at least cordial towards one another, you could RP it as a conservative, pro-Spartan politician sending his son to train with his political allies.

**VIPERLORD** · 03-22-2010, 18:24

Hmmmm, I guess from a roleplay perspective you could always view sending the FM to the agoge with a duel purpose. A) he gets cool training and B) keep your friends close and your enemies closer. If you are the espionage type then think of it as a deliberate way of getting someone close to the spartans. Just not toooooo close (those barracks can be a bit 5cent 50cent).

**Duguntz** · 03-22-2010, 18:43

i agree with cute wolf. Even as a roleplay reason : sparta wouldn't accept non-spartan in the agoge, because THIS IS SPARTA...

**Poulp'** · 03-22-2010, 18:49

Originally Posted by Ludens

Amongst the conservative elements of the Athenian upper class there were many admirers of the Spartan system. I don't think any of them actually sent their sons to Sparta, but then relations between the two cities were often bad. If, however, in your scenario the KH alliance has been successful and the cities are now at least cordial towards one another, you could RP it as a conservative, pro-Spartan politician sending his son to train with his political allies.

In-game, Sparta and Athens are part of the same faction, and that's about all.
I even "delayed" (waited until my initial army was badly mauled) Athenian reinforcements so that they could claim that without their help, the Spartan army wouldn't have seized the day. Spartans leaders evened the score when they saved Athens from the Chalkis fullstack.
What's more, the new KH capital is now Corinth, because 1/ it is neither Sparta nor Athens 2/ the city was liberated after a heroic victory.

RP-wise, I'm taking things really slow and I'm still far from having an unified KH, but the lad is still 16. 30-40 years later, I think I could roleplay him unifying the league. Or at least, unifying mainland Greece while competiton between cities still takes place in the colonies among the Mediterranean.

Edit: Granted, any Spartiate is trained in Sparta, even disappointing FM (who in turn, may be sent to hunt pirates...).