The Saga of Agathon

[Owen the Mighty]

The Saga of Agathon

Hellas
Chapter One

A brilliant morning sun bathed the stirring acropolis in a concoction of clear light and vibrant heat. In harmony with the ever-rising sun, the intelligentsia of Athenai flocked to the major public centers. On this day, the ruling order of Athenai, the Makedonian Hegemony, was to conclude on the innocence of accused supporters of the foreign Diadokhoi kings. Musician and politician alike crowded the streets in anticipation.

Amidst the hordes of urban locals stood a small contingent of linothorax-adorned Pezhetairoi, who were anonymously shielding a youth from the crowd. To the untrained eye, the youth seemed fearful of the crowd. In reality, he was analyzing their every move with hawk-like concentration.

The senior Pezhetairoi raised his voice.

"Sir, it seems that our journey to your uncle's command post will be delayed"
"Not to worry, Kassandros. I am in no hurry to accompany my uncle. In the time being, I would like to become familiar with my new....home."
"As you wish. Men, march!"

With Kassandros's bark, the column of Pezhetairoi slowly heaved forward towards the center of Athenai. The youth had his eyes on the awe-inspiring acropolis in the distance.

"Agathon, keep pace! You must not let yourself become exposed to this rabble of commoners......there are those here who would destroy you if they had the opportunity."

With that, Agathon hurriedly re-entered the column of his bodyguards. Today, he thought, I must face my uncle's scrutiny. What he orders dictates what I am to become.

After his thoughts, Agathon mounted his battered Thraikian helm on his head and turned his attention towards the ever-growing mass of people at the center of Athenai.

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[pockettank]

pretty neat is his uncle like some corrupted old pervert? and he's afraid he might try to make him be the same way..? or why does he not want to see him? oh well keep on writing i want more

[Owen the Mighty]

Thanks, pockettank! I'll have an update by tomorrow.....and no, his unlce isn't a pervert. You'll see why he doesn't want to see him in time....

[LusitanianWolf]

Interesting
Keep it going!

[pockettank]

Thanks, pockettank! I'll have an update by tomorrow.....and no, his unlce isn't a pervert. You'll see why he doesn't want to see him in time....

but you didnt say he wasnt corrupted if i were Agathon and i wanted to be in Athens and didnt like my uncle i would just send an assassin to kill him

[Wolfman]

Or his uncle may be some type of Alexander the Great type person whom he feels he will never live up to. There's also the possibility that he and his uncle just have bad blood.

[Owen the Mighty]

Hellas
Chapter Two

Agathon's column of Pezhetairoi bodyguards came to a disciplined halt at the edge of the gathering crowd. Judging by the uncanny silence of the commoners, the Makedonian representative had arrived. In the distance, on the famous elevated marble steps of Athenai, Agathon could see a line of Makedonian soldiers shimmering in the Hellenic sun. Hypaspistai, no doubt. Their presence confirmed the arrivial of the Makedonian representative.

As if to answer to the crowd's eagerness, a bronze horn blew a monotonous tone, signaling the entrance of this unknown representative. In tandem with the horn, a man of grand stature entered the crowded city center. He was outfitted in the marvelous armour of a true Hellenic strategos.

"I, Andronikos of Pella, am here to represent the true Diadokhoi king Antigonos of Makedonia, and therefore I will declare his decree;"

The crowd stared at Andronikos with extreme apprehension.

" 'Those caught supporting the natural enemies of Hellas, the foreign Diadokhoi, will be mortally punished without question.' Antigonos has spoken!"

In response, a death-like stillness swept over the commoners, accompanied by a few mournful weeps. Andronikos and the Hypaspistai approached the edge of the crowd, at which the same time the commoners parted in fear. Andronikos threw Agathon and his Pezhetairoi a baleful gaze, then quickly recovered with a look of false family compassion.

Andronikos approached Agathon with wavering confidence.

"Hello, uncle."

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It was midday by the time Agathon, accompanied by his uncle and his entourage, arrived at the Makedonian command post of Athenai. From where Agathon was standing, a massive force had gathered, radiating from the central command post tent, which he predicted belonged to his uncle and his tacticians. He was, after all, the principal strategos of the Makedonian forces.

"My nephew, you are witnessing the single-most world altering moment of our time, on a scale grand enough to challenge the conquests of Megas Alexandros himself."

Agathon gave his uncle a quizzical glance.

"Follow me to my tent; everything will be explained in time."

Inside the central command tent stood groups of tense men; some analyzing immense leather maps, others cataloging entries from unit commanders. All amounting to the feeling that the size of the Makedonian forces was greater than one man could imagine.

"Our King, Antigonos, has been planning this war for decades, and now he insists that only the intellectually esteemed will have command of his forces. Of course, with the exception of veterans such as myself. But you, my nephew, is what our King seeks....."

"As you may recall, you have been brought here for your.....remarkable... tactical abilities. Since you have yet to command men on a true battlefield, I will not be promoting you so hastily as our King suggested. Instead, I will have you prove your worth as a Pezhetairoi unit leader....in fact, those bodyguards you brought with you will be apart of your unit. Let me see..."

Andronikos shuffled through heaps of weathered parchment;

"Ah, you are to command my former veterans, the Crimson Spears. I suggest you get familiar with your men before our force mobilizes. You may also want to refresh yourself with phalanx tactics.....that is all."

"But uncle, how am I to practice if I do not know my enemy?"

Andronikos looked up from his makeshift desk with a demeaning stare;

"Agathon, have you no ears? We are to reclaim the land conquered by Megas Alexandros from the foreign Diadokhoi; the vile dogs of Baktra, Seleukeia and Aigyptos are our enemies."

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[pockettank]

pretty cool.. im glad he isent a corrupted old pervert i hope you destroy those evil ptolmaioi first cuz personnly i like them the least of the three so keep going this is rly good and hope to see more coming

[LusitanianWolf]

Hell yeah!!!
You should rite an book

[Wolfman]

He has been blessed by Thoth

[Owen the Mighty]

thanks for the comments, everyone! I'll have an update by tomorrow or the day after.

[Owen the Mighty]

Kypros
Chapter Three

It had been a long voyage to Kypros.

Back at Athenai, Andronikos had been ordered by Antigonos to take the main army to Kypros via the fleet. From there, he was supposed to restock his supplies and hire the locals as a rearguard force. After this, he was ordered to immediately set sail for Syria and capture Antiocheia to use as a base of operations for the invasion. Well, that was the plan.

It was the veterans of Agathon's Crimson Spears who spotted the discrepancy in the plan first.

Kassandros squinted inquisitively into the distance; "Sir, correct me if I am wrong, but we are expected at Salamis?"
"Yes, that is the plan,"
"And the garrison is a Makedonian force, correct?"
"Yes, if I remember correctly--"
"Then why is the garrison flying a gray banner on this day?"

Agathon whirled around towards the bow of the trireme; "By Zeus, the Seleukid vermin have taken Salamis!"

All around Agathon, men began releasing angered roars as they noticed the hostile status of the garrison of Salamis.

"Kassandros, alert Andronikos! He must not sail within range of their oxybeles!"
"Right away, sir!"

With that, Kassandros clambered across the fore deck of the trireme.

And so the siege of Salamis began.

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[Chirurgeon]

Good stuff Owen. Im liking the tale so far :)

[LusitanianWolf]

Kassandros squinted inquisitively into the distance; "Sir, correct me if I am wrong, but we are expected at Salamis?"
"Yes, that is the plan,"
"And the garrison is a Makedonian force, correct?"
"Yes, if I remember correctly--"
"Then why is the garrison flying a gray banner on this day?"

Looooooool!!!!!

[Owen the Mighty]

Kypros
Chapter Four

A thunderous rain blanketed the entire Makedonian encampment, inducing further misery upon the besieging troops. It had been many moons since Andronikos's army had landed on the shores of Kypros, and with no progress against the Seleukids, the siege was beginning to make the Makedonian soldiers question their commander.

Agathon peered out the crevice of his tent, studying the foreign sky. Just what we need, he thought, more damnable rain. Agathon returned to his mass of papers, books and maps that laid sprawled over his bedroll and desk. Among these piles lay the answer to his uncle's problem; how to defeat the Seleukids here at Salamis. They held the high ground, the immense fortifications, the supplies and the morale. It seemed taking Salamis was an impossible task.

Kassandros and two Crimson Spear Pezhetairoi entered Agathon's tent, drenched from the persistent weather.

"Sir, Andronikos requests your presence at headquarters; he is holding a war council for all of the unit commanders."
"I will be there shortly. How are the men, Kassandros?"
"Tired of this blasted rain, sir."
"Ah, I see. Let's hope we shall never have to spend another siege on this wretched island."

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Agathon past two Hypaspistai as he entered the grand tent that was his uncle's headquarters. Inside, the 13 other unit commanders radiated around Andronikos. Agathon's uncle spotted his entrance, and motioned him towards his desk. The other unit commanders muttered jealous remarks as Agathon joined his uncle at his side.

"Agathon, our situation is dire. Our fleet has been annihilated by our enemies. We do not have enough supplies or men to continue this siege."
"Then what are we to do?"
"We will assault Salamis tonight, under the cover of this weather."

Andronikos cleared his throat, masking Agathon's opposition.

"Men, tonight we will break this siege. We will take Salamis back from the Seleukids, and we will leave this island and accomplish our mission."

"The Hypaspistai will assault the southern wall at twilight, covered by our missile fire. The ram, accompanied by the Pezhetairoi, will attack the gate after the southern wall has been taken, and the Phalangitai will storm into the city once the gate has been taken. You have your ord---"
"Uncle, you cannot expect regular tactics to work in our current situation. We have already assaulted Salamis three times using this technique, and have failed miserably."

Andronikos turned towards his nephew.

"Do you question my ability to command, Agathon?"
"No, I question your ability to learn from your faults. If we are to take Salamis in an assault, we must confuse the Seleukid garrison and not follow a tactical pattern. We should never underestimate their military prowess."

Andronikos studied Agathon's face with intense demeanor, and then sighed in agreement.

"What do you suggest, Agathon?"

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[LusitanianWolf]

Yes, what do you suggest Agathon, I want to know!!!!

[theycallmetighty]

Excellent aar Owen, what difficulty are you playing on?

[Owen the Mighty]

Well, this story is taken from an old Makedonian campaign of mine, which I played on VH/M.

Thanks again for the continued support! I'll have an update by tonight.

[Owen the Mighty]

Kypros
Chapter Five

A unforgiving wind blew across the weathered stone walls of Salamis, extinguishing the torches of the Seleukid garrison. On top of the southern wall stood hundreds of Toxotai Syriakoi, all nervously waiting for the inevitable assault. Accompanying these infamous archers were the world-renowned Thorakitai, also awaiting the Makedonian attack.

Behind the southern wall, on the stone-cobbled streets below, formations of Phalangitai could be heard bustling past the colossal walls in search of a suitable defensive position. Amidst these formations of regulars, an old man on horse back surveyed the defenses, flanked by the elite horsemen of the Diadokhoi; the Hetairoi.

A young Hetairoi rode up towards the elder.

"Sir, our scouts report that the Makedonian force is nearing the city. They shall attack within the hour."
"And what of their strength? Do they possess a large assault force?"
"Surprisingly, they do not. Their army is a mere fraction of its initial size."
"Ah, good. Then we shall crush them in a single night. What poor tacticians these Makedonians are...."

The old man chuckled to himself, realizing the absurdness of his words.

"Shall we station men on the other walls, sir?"
"Pah! There is no need! They will attempt to assault the gate as always, and so we will meet them there with our spears."
"As you command, sir."

The young soldier reared his armoured horse around towards the mobilizing Phalangitai, and galloped down the street with his orders.

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Agathon walked cautiously over the forest floor, wary of the sound he might create. Behind him, a mass of spears, swords, shields and bows followed, intent on clearing the forest and reaching western wall unnoticed. Through the patchwork of trees, Agathon could see the fortifications of Salamis silhouetted against torches and cook fires of the city. To his delight, he could not spot any Seleukid soldiers on the western wall; just as he had predicted.

At that moment, the bronze horn of his uncle's vanguard blew its familiar tone, signaling his charge on the gate. Agathon quickened his pace, and so did the Makedonian soldiers in his wake. Within seconds, he and the other Makedonians had cleared the forest and were sprinting towards the western wall, with ladders at the ready. Agathon's heart thumped intensely in his ears, his adrenaline catapulting him forwards at immortal speed.


The Makedonians stealthily rolled across the western field like a twilight fog.


To Agathon's relief, they reached the western wall unscathed. The clatter of the wooden ladders on stone echoed across the field, covering the sound of the whispers of the Makedonians as they eagerly scaled the western wall. After a few moments rest, Agathon followed his men up the ladders.

Now we must take this city.

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