The Athenian Scrolls, an AAR
This is an AAR of the Athenian faction, as told by an Athenian scribe named Mnason, a name that means 'reminding'. if its in the wrong place, etc. please feel free to move it
och aye, here goes...
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Well, I suppose I better introduce you all to the Athenoi ruling family. This isn’t the famed Athenian democracy, oh no. This is the royal family of Athens, run by the man himself, Pesistratos. I’m the Chief Scribe here in Athens, and its my job to keep an historic record of all the Athenian goings on. So I should probably start by telling you a bit about Athens itself.
Pesistratos, the King of Athens, spends nearly all of his time cooped up within his city walls. He’s a bit of a recluse, as far as Kings go, but his two sons more than make up for it. First off, there’s his son and heir, Hipparchos. He’s the younger of the two Athenian sons, so his brother was more than a little hacked off when he wasn’t named heir, let me tell you. I shouldn’t say, but I don’t think feelings between the two brothers are as loving as they should be. Hippias spends most of the time in the city with his father, now he’s forty and has a family to care for. Hipparchos is content to camp just outside the city, with the main extent of the army; I feel he draws comfort from his men that he does not receive from his father or brother. Pesistratos has become distant these past few years and there are grumblings, mutterings within the city about his ability to lead the Athenian nation. But come, these are morbid words.
To Athens’ south lies the warrior-state of Sparte, ruled by the ferocious Leonidas. He lives in an encampment several miles east of the city, and our good King sent our envoy, Kallipos, to gain word from the Lakedaimon. Word came back positive, and our emissary managed to seal trade links and an alliance with their great nation. In my eyes this can only strengthen Athens, with an ally in close proximity, and one with such a legendary background on the field of battle.
To our north is unknown territory; rebels control most of the immediate threats, but further north we have heard rumours of the Makedon and Bessoi peoples, thirsty for Greek blood. Our princes have vowed not to let them get their fill.
Pesistratos may have become a weak ruler, but our wise leader still knows an opportunity when he sees one. After an incident in the straits concerning an Eretrian naval vessel and one of our fishing craft, Hipparchos immediately marched back to the city, and convinced his father to send out a ‘relief force’ – in other words, permission for him to attack Eretria. He landed a day later, and besieged the city after raiding the local countryside for foodstuffs and equipment. Some of the Athenian peoples are of the opinion he is a cruel general, treating Greek cousins in such a way, but I believe it is intelligence – he knows how to get what he wants from an enemy land, in hostile environments, and he plays to the needs of his men, not his people. The loyalty of 500 men close at hand is far important to a campaigning general than the loyalty of 50,000 one hundred miles away.
* * *
Hipparchos attacked Eretria today, says a messenger from the army.
He took command of the ram personally himself, battering down the gate with ease. Once again, Athenian engineering has proved superior to our Greek cousins. Hipparchos then led the assault through the gates, slaying the ill-prepared defenders as he and his men soared towards the central plaza, where the Eretrian King stood defiant. Hipparchos then slew the King himself, driving his sword deep into the old man’s side before throwing him off of his mount. Without their leader the rest of the Eretrian soldiers quailed, and were quickly mopped up by the Athenian horse.
Once Hipparchos had defeated the city’s inhabitants, many thought he would sack it or enslave them, judging by his warlike nature. However, in a surprising act of compassion, he let the city folk retain their freedom and livelihoods, stating, ‘We are all Greeks, and I would not see a brother of mine in slavery to another brother.’ He also took Dexippos’ body and burned it with honour in the plaza, and personally put the coins on his eyes for the boatman. We here in Athens shared a prayer that all the souls from the battle would find their way across the Styx to Hades.
* * *
It has been some months since Hipparchos’ victory in Eretria, and he has returned home to Athens to a hero’s welcome. The Athenian people see him in a new light, not at all what they had previously ordained from his deeds, but I fear his brother’s hatred towards him increases by the day. Hipparchos has returned to his army’s encampment outside the city, to counter the increasing threat of rebels massing in Thebai, yet it seems Hippias also wants some of the glory. He travelled to the camp three nights ago to join his brother, and we are told that he has been given command of half of the army, as Hipparchos’ plan is to pincer the rebels between hammer and anvil if they attempt to traverse the pass to Athens.
* * *
The Thebans attacked! They sent a small skirmish force through the mountains to scout out our borders, not suspecting our host was camped within the trees. They were broken and fled without much of a fight, our only casualty that of Memnon of the Royal Bodyguard, hacked down in the first foray. Hipparchos then drove the Thebans back to their own city, snapping at their heels all the way and besieging the city once his army had caught up. They attacked as soon as possible, Pesistratos having put a spy in the city over a year ago. The spy destroyed the gates during the night and our soldiers rushed in the next morning, butchering the sleepy defenders at the walls and securing the outer perimeter before a force could be mustered against us. When the enemy was finally mobile, their hoplitai proved quite a match, beating our own back from the plaza and routing several units. The two brothers and their men, however, stood fast, and Hipparchos blew upon his mighty horn and rallied the men to him. They steeled themselves against the next wave and sent the Theban elite scurrying, Hippias himself spearing the general from his horse as he charged our lines. I can imagine this is a great feat indeed, for the prince was in desperate need of some glory.
The battle was won, but at great cost to the Athenian forces, taking over 250 of our men, including all of our valuable cavalry. Hipparchos has left Hippias as governor in Thebai, yet he has gone back out into the field, albeit without his army. In usual circumstances Hippias would have been angered by his placing in the safety of the city, but I think he has seen all he wants of war and glory. He is not a natural fighter like his brother, and after receiving a grievous arm wound in the battle for Thebai, I am convinced he will leave all the ‘glory’ to his brother.
This is currently the extent of our new Athenian empire, carved mainly by the princes of our realm. Pesistratos has little to do with the running of our country now, and I am surprised he is not deposed by one of his sons. Hipparchos, however, seems to care little about his inheritance, and during my brief talks with him when he returns home to Athens I can deduce he only really cares for two things – fighting, and the sea. He will talk for hours about the wide, rippling ocean, its crystal shallows and murky depths, and how he dreams one day to sail across it and discover new lands. He tells me that one day he will sail to Colchis, or Kyrene, or even Latium to the west. It is rumoured that these far-off lands hold great treasures and resources, and if all does not go well on the northward campaigns…well, I can only imagine where our beloved prince will turn next.
* * *
A year has passed in Athens and once again the army is on the move. I have been ordered, by Pesistratos himself, to travel with the army and record their doings, so future generations ‘may learn of the greatness of early Athens’. I have to say, it is not one of the most comfortable experiences of my life. There is little food, and when there is it is of poor quality, yet the soldiers seem to enjoy it. I dine with Hipparchos most nights, in his private tent, yet he eats just the same as his men, if not with a little more etiquette. He spent the best part of the previous year living in a fishing village south and west of Thebai, for reasons only I and several others can fully appreciate, and came back wide-eyed and full of tales of the ocean, like a small child. A few nights ago he took me down to the cliffs in the dead of night and we watched the sea for what seemed like an age, the prince telling me all the tales he knew of mariners and explorers and sea monsters from the depths. I smile and nod courteously, yet I do not share his longing for a life on the ocean. A life on dry land is quite enough for me.
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thats all for now, tell me if ya like it and ill carry on
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Originally Posted by The Fuzz
