Basileion Bosphorou: a Tale of the Pontos Euxeinos

[Mjolnir]

Chapter 1: The Wind and Troubles
Chapter 2: Pantikapaion
Chapter 3: A Course is Set
Chapter 4: On the Edge of Civilization
Chapter 5: Old Alliances
Chapter 6: An Old Feud
Chapter 7: Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 8: Hatching a Plan

[Chirurgeon]

Alright! Im excited :) Cannot wait for that first chapter!

[SwissBarbar]

Hear, hear! Can't wait to read how you prepared it all

[Mjolnir]

OOC Notes:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

First of all, a couple of shoutouts:
Hax and SwissBarbar - thanks for helping with my modding issues.
Maion Maroneios - thanks for supplying me with the necessary Greek translations.

I'll be playing the campaign on H/M using EB 1.2. I don't exactly know which mini-mods I'll be using yet as I still have a couple of issues to work out, but I'll at least be using FD for RP purposes and to keep things realistic. This is not a full mod; I did some editing of the EB files changing some names, ethnicities, faction name and color, AoR for some units, and used console commands for the rest.

I'm fairly certain this is the first Bosporan AAR for EB, so I'm breaking some new ground here. I'm very excited about the unit mix and RP possibilities for a Hellenic Bosporan faction.

I really think that pictures give depth to an AAR and help people visualize the story, so my apologies to those of you using dial-up.

Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1: The Wind and Troubles

Summer, 270 BC

The wind originates in the forests of the great frozen north, it makes its way south across the vast steppes passing over the nomadic tribes driving their herds on their way to summer grazing grounds, and finally reaches an odd shaped peninsula on the north of a great oval shaped sea. Our sea.

The cool wind is a welcome relief from the heat of the midday summer sun here on top of the southern walls of the city. As I look out over the walls south towards the docks and warehouses of the port, a set of sails appears on the horizon and slowly draws closer. Squinting I can make out the coloration on the sails and the shape and size of the ship, a merchant ship from Trapezous most likely carrying iron and copper goods.

Good, trade has slowed to a trickle of late. Our port can hold 30 large galley type ships, but it is presently less than a quarter full. That is very troubling; this city was built on trade.

They say this city is over 300 years old and was founded by colonists of the Milesioi from Anatolia whose ancestors themselves were colonists from Hellas itself. They made a good choice when they founded Pantikapaion. The city is positioned on high ground commanding the mouth of the large Lake Maiotis and has many natural harbors for the use of our ships on top of the port facilities that have been constructed.

The Tanais River empties into Lake Maiotis bringing with it nutrients needed for the rich grain fields surrounding the lake. Down the river also comes a steady supply of barbarian slaves and other trade goods which along with the grain are shipped to Athenai, Sparte, Korinthos, Thermon and other cities in Hellas and to Sinope, Trapevous, Karia, and other Hellenic cities in Anatolia. In exchange pottery, metal goods, and luxury goods flow back to us. Oh how the gods have blessed us with wealth; or at least that’s how it used to be.

It has been a year now since the news of the fall of the city of Athenai, our friend, ally, and trading partner. Six months later we received word that Sparte too had fallen. Now Rhodos stands alone against the Makedonian scourge, and what can they hope to accomplish against the might of Makedonia? Our hope in the Koinon Hellenon has been crushed. And with the death of our hope comes the withering of our trade. Makedonian warships now own the Aegean and our trade ships are seized and confiscated under the pretense that our ships and goods were intended to aid Koinon Hellenon rebels.

Trade from Hellas now goes east to the Makedon’s allies in the Arche Seleukeia instead of north to us. And just when things seemed darkest, it got worse. A month ago Makedonia dispatched messengers to all the Hellenic cities: Pergamon, Kallatis, Sinope, Trapevous, Karia, Nikaia, Byzantion, Kydonia, Thermon, and us in the Basileion Bosphorou.

The messenger informed us that Makedonia was reclaiming her rightful place as the true heir to Megos Alexandros, and as such, all Hellenes must once again unite under Makedonian rule. With many thinly veiled threats that this would happen whether we liked it or not, Makedonia offered us their protection and the resumption of normal trade in exchange for regular tribute and the allowing of Makedonian garrisons in our cities.

We stand at a crossroads; a great decision lies before us and no less than the fate of the Basileion Bosphorou and her people are at stake. As I gaze out at the Pontos Euxeinos I consider what peace must accompany having no worries like the sea or the wind. The mindless sea which comes on with a rush and then breaks and recedes only to repeat itself again and again for the rest of time or the wind which blows for forever and a day without a care in the world. Ah, but the cool wind does feel nice.

[SwissBarbar]

Veeeerryyyy nice !!! I like the narrative form, it's a tale from a contemporary witness. And the pics are awesome (will you create a map in future?). This AAR is as invigorating as a cool wind in hot summer ;-)

[HunGeneral]

Nice start. This should become interresting. Good luck to it

[Maion Maroneios]

Excellent start, Mjolnir I'll sure be following this

Maion

[Olaf Blackeyes]

This will be good

[machinor]

Excellent first post, Mjolnir. Keep it up!

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Hmmm i wonder if you and chrureigon should team up? I mean u are both doing the same thing, a migration campaign, just in diff directions.

[SwissBarbar]

You mean integrating the other's campaign in your own and let it end in a great MP-War? ^^Interesting Idea, but I think not what they intended to do ;-)

[Chirurgeon]

I don't think it would work out. A lot of Logistical issues. Although I must say that this AAR has a remarkable resemblence to my own. Albeit in a different area of the world. Should be very interesting to see what happens. I will be following this closely :)

[gamegeek2]

Once we get AtB done, this sort of thing will be quite easy to do!

(If you want to learn more about AtB, please click the link in my sig)

[Olaf Blackeyes]

Awww man!!!!
I was SUUUUU hoping for a grand Hellenic SUPOR ALLIANZE

[Maion Maroneios]

When I come back as the Makedones, you filthy Emporiatai and Pantikapaioi shall both kneel before the only true Basileus of the Kosmos. Mwhuhahahahahahaha!!! Together with the Germanoi (under Olaf), we shall spread chaos and darkness to the world

Maion

[Mjolnir]

Thanks for all the well wishes everyone.

Hmmm i wonder if you and chrureigon should team up? I mean u are both doing the same thing, a migration campaign, just in diff directions.

I'm not sure how that could be done besides pure RP, and we'll have to wait to see for that. Our AARs may take us in two completely different directions.

I don't think it would work out. A lot of Logistical issues. Although I must say that this AAR has a remarkable resemblence to my own. Albeit in a different area of the world. Should be very interesting to see what happens. I will be following this closely :)

Thanks Chirurgeon, I've been planning most of the elements of the AAR for two weeks now, I guess great minds think alike or something like that. It will be interesting to see how our AARs diverge as our campaigns progress.

When I come back as the Makedones, you filthy Emporiatai and Pantikapaioi shall both kneel before the only true Basileus of the Kosmos. Mwhuhahahahahahaha!!! Together with the Germanoi (under Olaf), we shall spread chaos and darkness to the world

Maion

And you wonder why people don't like the Makedonians.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

When I come back as the Makedones, you filthy Emporiatai and Pantikapaioi shall both kneel before the only true Basileus of the Kosmos. Mwhuhahahahahahaha!!! Together with the Germanoi (under Olaf), we shall spread chaos and darkness to the world

Maion

SWEET!!! Ill get the mind@#$@ mushroom and berserk potions, as well as dark magics and demons, ready for chaos to unfold!!

[Maion Maroneios]

And you wonder why people don't like the Makedonians.

Maion

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

Interesting start. Keep it up.

[Mooks]

Was waiting for a pontic AAR.

[Maion Maroneios]

Was waiting for a pontic AAR.

Blasphemer! The Pontioi are filthy traitors and half-breeds, there shall never be a Pontic AAR

Maion

[machinor]

Blasphemer! The Pontioi are filthy traitors and half-breeds, there shall never be a Pontic AAR

Maion

Leave my beloved Pontics in peace! At least they put up quite a bit of a fight, contrary to your precious little Makedones. <--- Laughing in the face of oh-so-powerful Makedonia.

[Mediolanicus]

This is looking like a very promising AAR, Mjolnir. I'm eager to see more.


(I'm less eager to see more off topic spam though, but as long as Mjolnir is all right with that..)

[Maion Maroneios]

Leave my beloved Pontics in peace! At least they put up quite a bit of a fight, contrary to your precious little Makedones. <--- Laughing in the face of oh-so-powerful Makedonia.

Are you laughing at me, the Basileus? This is blasphemy, this is madness!












Go on someone, I know you want to say it (hint: a balloon for the first one to do so)

Maion

[Olimpian]

THIS IS SPARTA !


(did this just for the balloon)

[Maion Maroneios]

THIS IS SPARTA !

As promised:

And ok, I'll be a good boy and stop spamming.

Maion

[Mjolnir]

Was waiting for a pontic AAR.

Sorry to disappoint.


Let's try to keep the off-topic spam to a minimum please. Chapter 2 should be posted within a couple hours.

[Mjolnir]

Chapter 2: Pantikapaion

Summer, 270 BC


OOC Note: The back of the coin reads "PAN" for Pantikapaion.

Turning my back on the sea, I address the man beside me, “I think our time of idling here on the walls is at an end, Lysandros”

“As you say, my lord”

I walk back down the wall towards the tower to the west, my armored companion a step behind. We pass the lookouts and take the winding stairs down. As we pass out of the guard room at the base of the tower we are joined by 6 of my body guards who fall in behind myself and Commander Lysandros and we begin walking down one of the wide stone streets towards the center of the city. We pass large grain warehouses and two story residences with tiled roofs on either side. As we near the city center, Pantikapaion’s Shrine to Poseidon, god of the sea, comes into view.

A steady trickle of people flow in and out and a smell of the burning sacrificial meat begins to fill my nose. As a city of the sea which depends upon her trade ships and fishing boats for supplies, wealth, and a portion of our food, Poseidon’s altar never lacks for sacrifice whether from a fisherman giving thanks for a great catch or a merchant praying for his ships’ safe return. We pass the Shrine and fall in behind a trio of market goers carrying large empty baskets and talking loudly of the latest gossip.

As we near the trading stalls in the center of Pantikapaion, the streets begin to fill with people flowing in both directions and the noise level rises to a muted roar. The majority of those crowding the streets are Hellens like myself and my guards, but dressed in the Hellenic woolen chitons and himations ranging from the rough drab of the poor to the richly adorned of the merchants rather than in armor.

The rest are mostly Hellenized native Pontics from the towns and villages inland who have been part of our Basileion almost since the Milesioi arrived here. They wear trousers and loose fitting shirts and come in from the country side to sell the grain and vegetables they grow in exchange for the pottery and metal goods we buy from the trade ships. Sprinkled throughout the crowd are leathered animal skin wearing barbarians, Scythians and other northern nomads and semi-nomads, come down to sell slaves or to simply to view the “town made of stone”. And every now and then a brightly clad foreign merchant from far off Armenia or Babylon can be seen through the mass of people.

We push our way into the market square through the milling crowd past vendors and traders hawking their wares and towards the large iron gates at the east side of the city center. I and my retinue are immediately recognized by the guards and the gates swing back to let us into the entrance gardens of the Basileus’ palace; a large ornate two story stone house with surrounding gardens and a stone wall enclosing it. Perhaps not a palace in the eyes from someone Athenai or Rhodos, but here on the edge of civilization a palace it is.

As we reach the wide entrance doors past rows of columns and all of my guards except Lysandros peel off to the side. Lysandros pushes the doors open and I step in out of the midday heat. A servant is ready to take my dusty cloak which I readily surrender and begin to make my way down the hall with long strides past scurrying servants.

Lysandros catches up with me and breaks the silence, “What hurry, young one?”

Casting a sidelong glance at my companion I respond, “I wish to make some inquiries before the Synedrion meeting gets under way”

Nodding he replies, “Do you think it is good news or bad which warrants this emergency meeting of the Synedrion?”

Pausing at a large wood door with ornately carved bronze trappings I answer in a slightly sardonic tone, “When has good news ever warranted an emergency meeting”

Pushing open the door I step inside.

[Chirurgeon]

Very nice. You are a good writer. Keep it up. I can feel the tension building.

[Olaf Blackeyes]

The Bosphoros had better kick !@#!$@%