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Thread: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

  1. #1

    Default Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    My AAR is getting crazy large. The existing format, with everything residing in one post, just wasn't working. I could no longer add updates due to the sheer size and the fact that the edit windows aren't very user friendly . I've got everything moved and will start posting updates again soon.

    GAME SETTINGS
    XGM 5.8.4 with Alexander EXE, Large Units, Hard/Hard Difficulty
    Fatigue OFF, Faster Movement OFF, Land Bridges ON, Minimal Borders ON
    No Red Line ON, Prometheus Cities ON, Reduce AI Bonuses ON, Enable Loyalty ON
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 06, 2009 at 04:07 PM.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    PROLOGUE - "Mother Always Loved Him More"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    It had been 3 years since Ptolemaios Philadelphus assumed the throne in Alexandria, and not a day had passed that Magas of Cyrene did not seethe with anger. His mother had changed when she married Ptolemy Soter and the minute they had their first son, Magas was all but forgotten. Even when she bestowed upon him the governorship of the Greek city of Cyrene, Magas felt it more a banishment than an honor. He was an outsider, not a Ptolemy. On the other hand, Cyrene belonged to him, not them.



    Magas first angered Ptolemy when he took Apama, daughter of Antiochus, King of the Seleucid Empire, as his wife. It wasn't long before she was imploring him to aid her father in his ongoing conflict with Alexandria. To her, Magas had always seemed reluctant, telling her that one small city could not challenge Ptolemy's empire. Antiochus himself had greater concerns - could he be counted on to aid Cyrene if the armies of Alexandria were to come calling?

    Unbeknownst to Apama however, Magas did intend to get involved. It would not be for the benefit of Antiochus, it would be to settle a score of his own.
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 06, 2009 at 11:56 AM.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    ACT ONE - "The Forging of an Empire"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    CHAPTER ONE - "The Heart of a Son"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    It was the summer of 280BC and Demetrios of Cyrene had finally come home. Some weeks before, a royal messenger had arrived at his coastal estate and informed him that his father wanted to see him. At the time, no indication was given why Magas, the King of Cyrene, wanted to speak with his only son and Demetrios could only imagine what he might want. After all, Demetrios had never had much to do with the affairs of his father's kingdom. His father always seemed an insular man and despite Demetrios' overt begging, had never demonstrated anything that commanded the young boy's respect. When Demetrios arrived in Cyrene however, it was abundantly clear - Magas was preparing for war. Magas' inner fire - the that Demetrios remembered from his youth - still burned in his father and for some unknown reason, Magas was finally getting off his throne. However, whatever that reason was, Magas chose to keep it to himself. He said very little to his son before he made his way to board a ship.



    What his father did say was that Demetrios was the Governor of Cyrene going forward. The city was his to nurture and protect. Magas asked only the Demetrios train soldiers when possible, as they would likely be needed in the future. Demetrios immediately sanctioned the building of a City Barracks and the training of 3 new units of Doryphoroi for city defense. He intended to his father proud and he hoped his father's plan, whatever it was, would inspire him in return. It only took a few weeks for Magas' tiny fleet to sail northward to Cydonia. He had not told his son that he intended to assault their Greek brothers to the north, but that's precisely what he was planning.



    Magas made landfall in winter and sent his best spy, Tomeos of Gortyna to scope out the city. What Tomeos found was that Iolkios of Crete was in the the city alone. The bulk of his forces were on duty outside the walls of the city.



    Magas wasted no time and ordered the men to begin constructing ladders. He intended to scale the walls before Iolkios' main force could return. Doing so would be considered an act of war by the independent Greeks living at Cydonia. It was a risk Magas was willing to take.



    Unfortunately, the siege ladders weren't finished by the time the Cydonian army returned from duty. Unable to return to the safety of the city and not wanting to simply run away, they attacked. Iolkios rode forth, hoping to join them in the ensuing battle.



    Magas had to hurry if he wished to take advantage of the enemy's foces being split. He ordered his Militia Phalangites to engage the main Cydonian force and then rode ahead with his Nubian Spearmen to intercept Iolkios.



    The Nubian Archers rained fire down upon the enemy General while at the same time, a unit of Nubian Spearmen unleashed their spears. The results were deadly.



    The devastation was so swift and severe the Iolkios turned and started to run. Magas gave chase but it was soon apparent he would not be able to catch up.



    With Iolkios fleeing from the field, Magas turned his entire army's attention towards the enemy's heavy infantry - two units of Greek Hoplites.



    Magas chose to avoid the Hoplites himself in favor of charging the Cydonian Captain and his Archers.



    Magas was preoccupied with the Archers and failed to notice that one unit of Cydonian Hoplites had turned around and was charging his exposed horses.



    The Cydonian counterattack was crippling, killing half of Magas' Cavalry almost instantly. Luckily, he was able to escape when his Nubian Spearmen unleashed a volley and routed the Hoplites.



    Despite his already heavy losses, Magas did not hesitate to return the favor, charging the backs of the other unit of Cydonian Hoplites while they were engaged by Cyrenian Greek Hoplites and Doryphoroi.



    The Cydonian Hoplites were completely surrounded and their ranks quickly began to dwindle.



    As the Nubian Spearmen chased the already-routing first unit of Cydonian Hoplites through the fields, the Cyrenian Militia Phalangites turned their attention towards the Cydonian Captain.



    The second unit of Cydonian Hoplites could hold no more and routed. Magas was free to rejoin the central battle.



    The first unit of Cydonian Hoplites regained their composure and rather than engage them alone, the Nubian Spearmen returned to the fight against the Cydonian Captian and his Archers.



    The fleet-footed Nubians were able to quickly overrun one unit of Archers while the Cyrenian Militia Phalangites continued their deliberate march toward the Cydonian Captain.



    Magas then joined the Nubians and the Cydonian Archers routed.



    At that point, the rest of the Cydonian army turned tail and started to run.



    Magas whipped his horse furiously as he tried to catch the fleeing Captain.



    Magas, his Hoplites, and his Doryphoroi all converged on the fleeing Captain simultaneously, ending the battle as abruptly as they ended the Cydonian's life.



    Iolkios' army had been annihilated. He could only sit nervously in his once mighty city and await his inevitable fate. Magas spent some time rallying his troops and in the Summer of 279BC, he moved to end it.



    As Magas anticipated, the walls were undefended, so he ordered a unit of Nubian Spearmen to scale them and secure the area.



    The Nubian Spearmen captured the Gateway, allowing Magas and his army to pour into the city.



    Magas wasn't interested in waiting for the rest of his army to catch up. He charged ahead to challenge Iolkios by himself.



    Iolkios watched with horror as his men fell one by one to Magas' Royal Bodyguard.



    With Iolkios completely surrounded, Magas moved in, hoping to fell the Cydonian General with his own blade.



    Unfortunate timing spoiled Magas' sport. Before he could strike Iolkios in the heart, the rest of his army arrived and surrounded the Cydonian Commander.



    Iolkios fell from his horse as a dozen spears simultaneously pierced his armor.



    The proud Greek was the last man to fall and when he did, the battle was over. Magas was victorious.



    Cydonia now belonged to Magas of Cyrene. He ordered the populace slaughtered and the buildings burned. Demetrios surely wouldn't understand - these were Greeks that were put to the sword - but Magas didn't intend to stay here long and he didn't want any resistance once he was gone.



    Magas was right. Once news of the slaughter reached Cyrene, Demetrios was sickened, saddened, and furious. So much for the thought of his father making him proud.



    CHAPTER TWO - "The Head of a Brother"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Cydonia, the sister city of Cyrene, was under Magas' control. It was an important conquest for him from an economic standpoint - it was a major hub for sea trade in the area. With control over Cydonia established, Magas sailed on to Rhodes. He dropped off his Chief Diplomat, Daidalos of Pherai, to secure a ceasefire with his fellow Greeks - he could ill afford to be at war with them during the upcoming campaign.



    What Magas didn't know as that Demetrios was in the process of agreeing to trade rights with the hated Ptolemies. A Ptolemaic envoy had arrived in Cyrene and Demetrios welcomed him. After all, Demetrios' interest lied with keeping Cyrene safe, not with making his father happy.



    In the winter of 279BC, a political rival of Magas named Hierophon managed to unify a group of dissenters south of Cyrene and raise a relatively large army. They had the numbers to easily take the city but there was no evidence that they intended to do so, so Demetrios was content with letting them be and observing them from afar.



    In the north, Magas' impatience had ignited a war. His fleet, commanded by Admiral Siromos, was sailing east when a Ptolemaic Admiral near Side chose to block his progress. Magas did not want to declare his intentions so early, but he also wasn't willing to to wait, so he ordered his ships to attack. The battle was won, but Cyrene was now the enemy of one of the world's most-powerful empires.



    If that bothered Magas, he certainly didn't show it. He continued on, undeterred. Late in the winter of 279BC, his fleet made landfall at Salamis and Tomeos infiltrated the lightly defended city.



    Magas' army followed Tomeos in the summer. Salamis had no walls, so there was no need for siege weaponry. The Ptolemaic defenders had little time to prepare and despite having similar numbers, they were obviously outmatched by the higher-quality Cyrenian troops.



    One unit of Ptolemaic Peltasts was circling the city when the attack began. They briefly considered charging the oncoming Cyrenian army but instead decided to march back inside the city.



    Their march turned to flight as the approaching Nubian Spearmen began to hurl their weapons.



    The Nubians ran them down and engaged them in hand-to-hand combat.



    They quickly routed and the Ptolemaic Captain sent another unit of Peltasts to take their place. In the meantime, Magas had managed to make his way to the side of the square, contemplating a flanking maneuver.



    Having ordered the Nubian Spearmen to stand their ground however, he decided to give ground to the Peltasts and engage them himself.



    The Peltasts absorbed the cavalry charge with only light losses, keeping the horses engaged in front of them.



    Unfortunately, they were unaware of the Cyrenian Militia Phalangites approaching them from behind. By the time the Ptolemaic Captain had come to their aid, they were already broken and retreating.



    Magas again gave ground, this time to the enemy Captain. He had Nubian Spearmen waiting around the corner to surprise Captian Charoiades, so he set the trap.



    As the enemy commander concentrated on Magas, the Nubian Spearmen leaped out and engaged his troops from behind.



    The Cyrenian Greek Hoplites then joined the fighting, causing Charoiades to attempt to flee but also cutting off his only avenue of escape.



    In the chaos that ensued, Charoiades somehow managed to make it past the Hoplites, forcing Magas and his troops to react.



    Their reaction was swift and the enemy Captain's escape ended almost before it began. A Nubian spear plunged into his heart and his body went limp.



    The enemy commander was dead.



    Despite the death of Charoiades, a fair number of Ptolemaic soldiers remained, not yet ready to concede. While Magas and his Spearmen were busy dispatching the enemy Captain, his Militia Phalangites had continued their march towards the city square, killing Peltasts as they went.



    Their arrival at the center of the city presented the remaining Ptolemaic forces with one last chance to expel the intruders.



    With the enemy fully engaged, Magas had an opportunity to exploit their exposed flank. He maneuvered his Cavalry into place and ordered his Hoplites to run around to the rear.



    Faced with such overwhelming odds, the Ptolemaic soldiers died swiftly.



    The Cyrenians won the battle easily, suffering minimal losses and leaving not a single enemy standing.



    Salamis was now under Cyrenian rule. All adult men capable of wielding a weapon were executed and the Temple of Hathor at Salamis was destroyed. Magas used the temple materials to construct a new Shrine to Poseidon at the site.



    By the winter of 278BC, news of war with the Ptolemies had reached Cyrene. Demetrios was inclined to blame his father but before he had a chance to organize his thoughts, he was notified that the Ptolemies had declared a ceasefire. Furthermore, they had declared an alliance with one of Cyrene's friends, Macedon. Demetrios was prepared to give his father the benefit of the doubt, for something was afoot in Alexandria.



    Fortunately Demetrios wouldn't have to face this alone - his father had already set sail for home. It wouldn't be long before the two would be face-to-face again.



    Alas, it wasn't going to be smooth sailing back to Cyrene. The fleet was ambushed by pirates and suffered a crushing loss. Luckily, Admiral Siromos was able to outmaneuver the pirates in a last ditch effort and escaped with his foundering ships to the port of Cydonia. Once at Cydonia, Magas realized he had left his trusted aide, Tomeos behind in Salamis.



    Magas had avoided both a crippling military defeat and a family tragedy by the skin of his teeth. That near tragedy turned to joy in 277BC with addition of two new members to Magas' family. Early in the year, Gelon was born in Cyrene. In winter, Demetrios received word that Magas wished to adopt a son - a 30-year old soldier named Polyphetes. Magas intended to put him to work immediately.



    It was also in 277BC when Demetrios got word that the Ptolemies and Seleucids had declared an alliance. What was once a mild concern had grown into full-fledged worry.




    The Ptolemies were obviously consolidating power for some reason and both Magas and Demetrios believed it was because of Cyrene. Fortunately, Magas had finally arrived at the shores of Cyrene and not a moment too soon.



    It didn't take long for the Ptolemies to reveal the truth. As the African summer sun beat down upon the desert, the Ptolemies declared war - and it didn't stop there. Demetrios' deeper fears were validated when the Seleucids and Macedonians broke their alliances with King Magas. It seemed the whole world was lining up against Cyrene.



    Magas immediately sent Polyphetes to Cydonia to recruit mercenaries. He needed able-bodied, Greek troops and he needed them fast.



    Magas also needed to know just how much of a threat Hierophon was, so he sent a new spy, Pleistolas, to spy on him. The news was not what Magas needed - Hierophon's army of Nubians was well-rested and ready for a fight. Polyphetes was not yet back from Cydonia, so any action to suppress the rebellion would have to wait.



    It wasn't until the late winter of 276BC that the Ptolemies showed the first signs of aggression. Ptolemaios Philadelphus himself had been seen marching toward Cyrene with a small army.



    Polyphetes returned with his mercenaries in the summer of 275BC and joined Magas. They marched eastward to meet Ptolemaios on the field of battle. Magas could only hope that Heirophon did not have eyes for Cyrene - every available Cyrenian soldier was on the way to fight the Ptolemies.



    As Magas made his way east towards Paraetonium, he sent Pleistolas ahead to scout the garrison there. The city seemed to be his for the taking, but Ptolemaios was nowhere to be found.



    Before leaving Cyrene, Magas had tasked Admiral Siromos with retrieving Tomeos from Salamis. However, when Admiral Siromos arrived, he discovered the area teeming with Ptolemaic ships. Before he had a chance to react, they attacked him.



    In the winter of 275BC, a small Ptolemaic force came from Paraetonium to prevent the inevitable Cyrenian siege. Magas marched forward to meet them, unprepared for what awaited him - Ptolemaios had been waiting in ambush. Despite the complete surprise, the odds were heavily in the Cyrenian's favor. It was Magas' first chance to accomplish the plan he set in motion 5 years before - to kill his half-brother.



    Despite being dramatically outnumbered, Ptolemaios and his men marched forward with an almost reckless abandon.



    As Nubian Spearmen and Ptolemaios' horses clashed with Cyrenian Militia Phalangites, the second Ptolemaic force began to advance from the opposite direction.




    Magas surveyed the field - nowhere did he see his own men struggling. They were holding their own, so he and Polyphetes charged the Ptolemaic King, hoping to end it there. The force of the charge sent Ptolemaios and his men into a panic.




    Ptolemaios had no intention of dying in the field that day and ordered his Cavalry to retreat.




    Once Magas realized there was little hope of catching his fleeing sibling, he decided to focus his efforts on slaughtering the cowards he could catch.



    Faced with an overwhelming force and taking heavy casualties from javelins and arrows, the remaining Ptolemaic soldiers routed.




    The Cyrenian Militia Phalangites weren't about to let them escape alive.



    The end result was a Cyrenian victory, but to Magas it wasn't complete. Ptolemaios had escaped alive. Even then, Magas had gained much-needed experience from the battle. The next time he and Ptolemaios met, his brother would not be so lucky.



    With the Ptolemaic armies scattered in every direction, Magas began the siege of Paraetonium.



    Pleistolas delivered a message from inside the walls - Ptolemaios had retreated to Paraetonium and was now trapped. Magas ignored the surrounding Ptolemaic armies - he had a brother to kill.



    As the rams rolled to smash the walls, Magas abandoned all semblance of order and pressed forward. The prospect of killing Ptolemaios had overtaken the General's reason.



    Huddled inside the walls, the Ptolemaic men were helpless against the pouring rain of flaming arrows.



    They were granted a brief respite from the fire before the volley of Nubian javelins began.



    The gates were battered and torn from their hinges. The Nubian Spearmen rushed forward into the city, routing the soldiers that they encountered.



    As the Spearmen headed towards the center of the city, Magas and Polyphetes rode through the gates and engaged a unit of enemy Peltasts.



    Ptolemaios decided to advance as the Cyrenian army literally poured into the city.



    Magas and Polyphetes cornered another unit of Machimoi Peltasts and cut them down.



    Ptolemaios rode toward them, eager for a fight.



    Both Cyrenian Generals turned and ran, hoping to lure the Ptolemaic King into chasing them.



    Ptolemaios didn't take the bait and instead chose to charge into an advancing column of Cyrenian Militia Phalangites.



    This left Magas and Polyphetes with a clear opening to flank the enemy King and kill him.



    Magas rode forward, Polyphetes at his side, trampling Ptolemaic Peltasts on his way to Ptolemaios.



    Polyphetes struck at multiple enemies with his sword while Magas frantically tried to find Ptolemaios in the chaotic melee.



    Magas was never able to reach his brother and could only sit proudly in his saddle as Ptolemaios’ body disappeared into the crowd. Polyphetes was so involved in the fighting that he never noticed the great King’s fall.



    It was done. Ptolemaios Philadelphus, Ruler of Alexandria, Son of Ptolemy Soter, and half-brother to Magas, was dead.



    The death of their King broke the Ptolemaic forces’ will to fight and the battle was over in an instant.



    Magas was victorious in his first major battle with the Ptolemaic Empire. Yet victory seemed to be a word not strong enough. His half-brother - their King - was dead. Magas was indeed "triumphant".

    CHAPTER 3 - "Like Father, Like Son"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    With Ptolemaios dead, Magas' thirst for Ptolemaic blood had reached an unmanageable point. He ordered his men to pillage and destroy, maim and kill. He wanted Paraetonium to be an example to the rest of the Ptolemaic Empire - Magas was coming.



    To the north, Admiral Siromos was cornered by a Ptolemaic fleet. His forces, battered and depleted from previous conflict, fought valiantly but to no avail. In the end, Siromos himself sank to the bottom of a watery grave.



    In the summer of 273BC, as Magas braced himself for a counterattack, he sent Tomeos forward to Memphis. Magas wanted to strike at the heart of the Empire while the Ptolemies were reeling from the loss of their leader. What Tomeos found there was almost too good to be true - Magas' nephew, Charikles, the new King, was there with only a small bodyguard. The junior Ptolemy was filled with pride and arrogance. He had a suprise for Magas - one that would ensure he never made it all the way to Memphis.



    Charikles' surprise arrived only weeks after the fall of Paraetonium. He had sent a large force to siege and recapture the city. However, they spent months camped outside the city without building siege weaponry. By winter, Magas had waited long enough and sallied forth to meet the siegers.



    Without siege weaponry, the Ptolemaic army was not in a position to attack. They decided to move to a more defensible position as Magas and his army rushed forth to attack them.



    Magas and Polyphetes chose the least formidable of their foes to charge, cutting down Levy Spearmen and Peltasts as they advanced.



    Like cornered rats, the enemy Nubian Spearmen lashed out at the closest Cyrenian target. Unfortunately for them, it was Magas' two units of Greek Hoplites.



    The Spearmen quickly found themselves surrounded.



    At the other end of the battlefield, Magas killed the enemy Captain.



    With the Captain gone, they continued to round up enemies and dispatch them before they had a chance to flee the field.



    Filled with bloodlust, Magas foolishly charged a unit of Levy Phalangites, despite the fact that another unit of Levy Phalangites was behind him.



    Cyrenian foolishness was not enough to spare them. The Ptolemaic army had suffered a bitter and bloody defeat.



    Magas was now a player in the region - he had the full attention of Charikles. He also had a friend who was familiar with the inner workings of the Ptolemaic dynasty itself.



    Magas wasted no time and marched his army south to siege the village of Ammonium. A Ptolemy - Sabeteos Philometor - was there without much support. However, the second part of Charikles' surprise - another large army - had other ideas and attacked before the siege engines could be completed.



    The Cyrenian forces gathered at the top of the hill and let the enemy come to them. The tactic proved both effective and deadly.



    By the time Sabeteos turned to run, the Cyrenian army was already in a full, downhill sprint. He was not able to escape.



    Another Ptolemaic family member was dead. Magas was beginning to take a personal toll on the family's bloodline.



    He was also taking a severe toll on the military might of the Ptolemaic Empire.



    Ammonium had fallen. As before, Magas had all free people put to the sword. The screams could be heard for miles and the smoke could be seen from even further away. Charikles knew that Magas the Brave was coming.



    In the winter of 272BC, Magas set out for Memphis. He replenished his ranks with Nubian mercenaries and in the process garnered himself the attention of their captain. It was a desperate hour for Charikles - as he was preparing for a battle with Magas, he received news that one of his Generals had started a war with the Eastern Kingdoms.



    Back at Paraetonium, a new Ptolemaic army threatened. Not wanting to lose Paraetonium altogether, Demetrios devised a plan to sell the city to the Greek City State of Rhodes. They didn't trust Magas not to betray them and turned down the offer. Luckily, the Ptolemaic army did not attack.



    By the winter of 271BC, Magas had reached the walls of Memphis. He sent Pleistolas in ahead of his main force to make sure Charikles was still there - he was and he was still only protected by a single unit of Machimoi Phalangites.



    Magas orders his men to build battering a sap point and ladders. This time, they were able to finish preparations but were attacked before they could actually begin the attack.



    Normally being bookended by enemy troops would be problem. However, Charikles' force was tiny compared to the Cyrenian army, so Magas ordered his troops to rush the enemy General. He was hoping to quickly eliminate his nephew while at the same time putting distance between himself and the larger Ptolemaic army.



    The Nubian Cavalry formed a Cantabrian circle and hurled a nonstop flurry of javelins at Charikles.



    Polyphetes couldn't contain his excitement and charged into the fray, temporarily separating Charikles from his men.



    As Polyphetes whittled away at the Ptolemaic horses, Magas rushed to his aid. The Cyrenian General's presence was enough that the enemy Cavalry lost heart.



    Polyphetes hurried to halt his escape.



    Charikles had too large of a headstart.



    The second Ptolemaic force was too close to continue pursuit, so Magas ordered his lines to reform and make ready.



    Away from the infantry battle, Magas and Polyphetes rode down the enemy's Nubian Cavalry and rendered them helpless.



    In the center of the battle, the Ptolemaic infantry soldiers found themselves surrounded.



    On the fringes, Magas and Polyphetes continued to hunt down stragglers and put them out of their misery.



    The Ptolemaic armies panicked as they were trampled under Cyrenian hoof.



    The Cyrenian Generals rode down a contingent of Machimoi Phalangites before they could inflict further harm.



    The enemy Captain and his unit of Spearmen fought on against Cyrenian Hoplites, despite the fact that they alone were what remained of the Ptolemaic army.



    Magas' arrival was all it took to send them scurrying.



    They didn't get far. Magas and Polyphetes slaughtered each and every man. The Cyrenians had suffered moderate losses but no one was left to reinforce Memphis. It would almost certainly fall.



    Magas celebrated the victory. He knew that Charikles cowered in Memphis, aware that his fate was sealed. At the same time back in Cyrene, Demetrios celebrated the birth of Milon.



    Magas returned to his already-completed siege weaponry in the Summer of 271BC. Charikles prepared for the inevitable.



    The Cyrenian Hoplites were the first to scale the walls. There was no resistance anywhere in sight.



    They took each tower one by one, allowing the rest of the Cyrenian army to enter unmolested.



    Charikles and his men huddled nervously as two separate forces approached, one from each corner of the square. As Magas drew near, he noticed another Ptolemaic General in the square - Meryres.



    With heightening desperation, the Ptolemaic King charged the Cyrenian Greek Hoplites.



    Magas and Polyphetes immediately rushed to their aid.



    The rest of the Cyrenian army sat and watched as battle raged between the four Generals.



    The Cyrenian Generals proved too strong and the Ptolemaic Cavalry began to wilt.



    Meryres was the first to fall.



    Charikles fell shortly thereafter.



    With the death of both great Generals, the Ptolemaic forces melted away. The battle was won quite easily.



    As his men yet again revelled in the slaughter of innocents, Magas marvelled at the Great Pyramid at Giza. It's towering presence had long reminded the ancient Egyptians of the power of the almighty Pharoah, god on Earth. On that summer day in 270BC, it reminded Magas that, for the second time in less than 5 years, he had slain said "god".


    CHAPTER 4 - "Prelude to Conquest"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    By winter of 270BC, the war with the Ptolemies was in full swing. Demetrios took a brief respite from the planning and strategy to adopt a son.



    The celebration was short as Menelaos was needed at the front. He left immediately for Memphis with a small force.



    At sea, Admiral Polykleitos engaged a Ptolemaic fleet and defeated it.



    The political winds were shifting. Far to the east, the Ptolemies' allies in Armenia attacked the Seleucid Empire. It was just enough provocation to get the Seleucids to dissolve they're uneasy peace with Alexandria. The Ptolemies were able to save face somewhat when they allied with the Scythian Hordes far to the north.



    Daidalos even managed to gain the trust of the Rhodian Greeks.



    Admiral Polykleitos continued his success against the Ptolemaic navy, winning battles even when vastly outnumbered.



    En route to Memphis, Menelaos encountered a lone unit of Arabian Camel Archers riding under the banner of Ptolemy. It was a good chance for Menelaos to test his mettle, so he foolishly charged them, almost dying in the process.



    His Nubian Cavalry arrived just in time to send the Camels running.



    Menelaos' bravado had cost him some pride. At least it hadn't cost him his life.



    The Nubian Cavalry continued to pressure the Camels in an effort to break their morale.



    They finally got close enough that Menelaos' archers could open fire.



    It was enough to convince the Ptolemaic force that the battle was lost.



    Back at home, Demetrios sent an assassin to take care of Hierophon. The rebel bodyguards proved more than capable of handling the threat, however.



    In the summer of 268BC, the armies of Cyrene convened at Memphis. Polyphetes and Menelaos, it was decided, would march south with an army to besiege Thebes. Magas would remain behind to defend Memphis against Ptolemaic counterattacks.



    268BC also saw the adoption of another son by Demetrios - Kebes.



    In Memphis, Magas decided that he no longer wanted to look at the Temple of Horus. He had it demolished and erected a Shrine to Nike in its place.



    To the south, Polyphetes and Menelaos began preparations for the siege of Thebes.



    To the north, Tomeos had infiltrated Alexandria and was gauging the strength of the army there.



    Finally, out at sea, Admiral attacked a Ptolemaic fleet attempting to blockade Cyrene.



    The stage was set. Magas was ready to make his next big move.

    CHAPTER 5 - "Jewels of the Nile"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    The summer of 267BC - the summer in which Magas and his little city-state became a full-fledged power on the world stage. Not content with destroying his brother's family, Magas wanted to destroy his empire as well. He began with the crown jewel - Alexandria. The army marched north, prepared for a long and deliberate siege. However, when they arrived, Magas was stunned to see the gates of the mighty city sitting open.



    Magas almost had to pinch himself, but there they were - the gates of Alexandria swung wide.





    Rather than attack immediately at a heavily-fortified gate, Magas chose to try and enter through a different gate.





    He ordered a unit of Nubian Spearmen to enter the city and look for defenders.





    No enemies were present, so the Nubians secured the walls to pave the way for the rest of the army.





    The Cyrenians formed three columns. The primary column, headed by Phalangites, approached from the southeast. Magas would reinforce the second column himself, as it was headed by Militia Phalangites. They approached from the southwest. A third contingent, made up primarily of Thorakitai, would approach the square from the northwest.





    The secondary column was the first to be attacked. Unfortunately for Knemos, he sent Peltasts, which were quickly slaughtered.





    The Thorakitai hit the square and Knemos split his forces, sending Nubian Spearmen and his Machimoi Phalangites to deal with them.






    The Thorakitai surrounded them almost completely, leaving an opening for Magas to charge.





    Magas slammed into the rear of the Machimoi formation but they held fast.





    Magas had to disengage to help his Militia Phalangites, who were under attack from the elite Basilikon Guard.





    The Basilikon Guard barely noticed as Magas charged into their backs.





    So Magas lined up for a second charge, but again the Basilikon Guard was unbroken.





    A third charge finally did some damage.





    With the threat from the Basilikon Guard diminished, Magas had to turn his attention back to the Thorakitai, who were being overwhelmed by Machimoi Phalangites and Knemos himself.





    Magas chose to ignore the Machimoi for the time being, and instead focused on the enemy General.





    The Cyrenian forces died rapidly at the hands of the enemy Phalangites. One unit of Thorakitai chose to back off instead of continuing to sustain heavy losses. Magas wasn't going to be able to hang on much longer.





    Just when all seemed lost, a stray spear got Knemos - the enemy commander was dead.





    With the enemy General out of the way, Magas was able to draw one unit of Machimoi Phalangites away.





    The Thorakitai went in the opposite direction, splitting the overwhelmingly powerful Ptolemaic force in two.





    Magas returned his attention to the Basilikon Guard who were still not yet eliminated.





    With the Basilikon Guard finally eliminated, the Cyrenian Militia Phalangites were free to engage the Machimoi Phalangites.





    Cyrenian Phalangites engaged one unit, while the Thorakitai enticed the other into a trap.





    Magas' charge was swift and decisive.





    Magas and his men had sustained heavy losses but were victorious.





    The difficult victory garnered attention for Magas. New friends came to his side.





    Once again, Magas had the citizens put to death. The people Alexandria would know darkness, for the light of the Pharos now belonged to Cyrene.





    At Rhodes, Daidalos was able to secure an alliance with the Greek City States.





    Tomeos was sent to spy on one of the larger armies threatening Memphis.





    At Thebes, Polyphetes and his men had just finished building the battering rams when Pleistolas managed to open the gates.





    Polyphetes and his men rushed forward towards the open gates when he suddenly remembered that a Ptolemaic force was approaching them from behind.





    Polyphetes and Menelaos rode into the fray, cutting down Nubian Spearmen under a hail of javelins.





    Ethiopian Axemen pressed forward as Nubian Cavalry continued to hurl spears at the enemy.





    Polyphetes and Menelaos tried to keep casualties low by tracking down Peltasts behind the lines before they could throw their weapons.





    The Nubian forces under Polyphetes' command quickly overwhelmed the enemy Captain and killed him.





    The remaining reinforcements were sent running for the relative safety of the city walls.





    Unfortunately, safety usually came in numbers and the Ptolemaic forces found themselves on the short side of the equation.





    Polyphetes' Nubian Spearmen stormed into the streets as the Ptoelmaic forces absorbed arrow fire.





    The next resistance they encountered was a unit of Levy Phalangites.





    They unleashed a volley of spears.





    The Spearmen surrounded the hapless Phalangites and cut them down.





    Emboldened by the ease of their advance, the Nubian Spearmen surged into the city square.





    Hestiodoros waited until they were exposed and then pounced. The Cyrenian forces routed instantly, forcing Polyphetes and Menelaos to try and bolster the line.





    The Cyrenian forces couldn't hold and were forced to retreat to a better position next to their Archers.





    Under the cover of arrows, Polyphetes' Nubian Spearmen regrouped. Hestiodoros and his men weren't prepared to be countered and suffered heavy losses.





    Polyphetes and his men pressed forward once again.





    The remaining Ptolemaic forces panicked. All that remained was to round up the stragglers.





    The great Hestiodoros was the last to fall.





    Polyphetes left no one, not soldier or commoner, alive. He saw no reason to part from the strategies he had learned from Magas. After all, when the people were focused on fear, they were not focused on freedom.





    In just one season, the forces of Magas had conquered the two jewels of the Nile. Alexandria, the capitol of the Ptolemies and beacon of the Hellenistic era, and Thebes, the seat of the ancient Egyptian golden age of 1000 years before, both now belonged to Cyrene.

    CHAPTER 6 - "Swan Song"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    By the winter of 267BC, the damage had been done. The heart of the Ptolemaic Empire was under Magas' control. With Magas in Alexandria and Polyphetes and Menelaos in the newly-won Thebes, the Ptolemies chose to siege Memphis.



    Polyphetes immediately departed to confront the threat. Menelaos took time out to get married.




    Polyphetes sent a message to the tiny garrison of Memphis - he had arrived with a few Nubian horsemen and wished to rendevous and combine forces.




    The Cyrenians surrounded their enemies and the two sides exchanged missile fire.



    The losses were enough that the small Ptolemaic force routed nearly immediately.




    While on patrol duty, Admiral Polykleitos was defeated by a band of pirates.




    Menalaos had barely been married 6 months when he decided to adopt a son.




    One year after the fall of Alexandria, the Ptolemies made a sweeping counterattack, striking at Memphis and Alexandria simultaneously.




    Polyphetes again arrived with his cavalry to break the siege at Memphis. The Ptolemaic forces weren't numerous - it was obvious their military machine was faltering.




    Polyphetes sat and waited for the Memphis garrison to arrive.




    As soon as they arrived, he ordered his Phalangites to engage the enemy Machimoi Phalangites.




    One of the Phalangite units was quickly slaughtered and broke ranks. Captain Linos marched to their aid and attempted to route the Machimoi Phalangites.




    Captain Linos and his Doryphoroi surrounded to the enemy as the last of the Phalangites panicked and started to run. He need to hold the center - the other Phalangites were holding their own while Polyphetes worked on the Peltasts and the Nubian Cavalry rounded up stragglers.




    Polyphetes was overmatched and had to run away.




    His Nubian Cavalry came to the rescue in the nick of time.




    There were just too many Cyrenian troops - the Ptolemaic force was overwhelmed.




    Captain Linos surveyed the field looking for Polyphetes. His men had killed the enemy commander.




    With Captian Mnesiphilos dead, his men gave up. Memphis was saved by Polyphetes again.




    Polyphetes enjoyed the spoils of war.




    Magas enjoyed being one of the most powerful men in the world.




    While the Cyrenian King was living it up, the Ptolemies were losing control of their once great empire. Magas received word from Tomeos and Pleistolas that Pselchis had revolted and was now in the hands of Nubian rebels.




    Both spies then made their way to Hibis, to report on the defenses there.




    Menelaos marched north towards Memphis. Magas had tasked him with breaking the siege and then taking over as the city's Governor. Megasthenes took over the duties of Governor of Thebes. Kebes celebrated his nuptials in Cyrene.




    Polyphetes joined Menelaos on the battlefield. He wanted nothing more than to defend Memphis for a third straight time.




    The Ptolemaic army waited patiently on the side of the hill, waiting for Polyphetes to make the first move.




    Polyphetes took advantage of their inaction and combined forces with Menelaos.




    With Menelaos' Phalangites holding the line, Polyphetes ordered the Mercenary Archers and Doryphoroi to flank the enemy.




    The Ptolemies' Nubian Spearmen were ill-equipped to match the long pikes of the Cyrenian Phalangites.




    The Phalangites cut through the enemy like butter while Polyphetes' Nubian Cavalry chased panic-stricken Ptolemies from the field.




    It was a decisive victory for Menelaos and he was richly rewarded for his efforts.




    Despite being at a significant numerical disadvantage, Magas decided that he had psychological momentum on his side and sallied forth to face the sieging army at Alexandria.




    Magas had to position his men very carefully. The enemy had the capability to put more men on the walls than he did.




    Fortunately, his towers and archers made quick work of the enemy siege towers.




    Their battering ram was next. The dangerous sap points were all that remained.



    Using the sap points would require surviving tower ballistae and constant archer fire.





    That proved to be easier said than done.



    The enemy forces were helpless to protect themselves and the bodies began to pile up outside the walls.



    Remaining Ptolemaic troops emerged from the safety of the sapper's tunnel after successfully breaching the massive walls.



    Their feeling of success was fleeting as they too were quickly cut down by Cyrenian missiles.



    The Ptolemies had suffered many setbacks against the forces of Cyrene, but none were as devastating as the Massacre at Alexandria in the Summer of 265BC.




    Magas celebrated the victory with an emissary from Scythia.




    Magas continued to reap the rewards of victory while celebrating the birth of Olympias.



    Things seemed to be going well when Tomeos and Pleistolas sent word that a small force had left Hibis, headed for Ammonium.




    In the winter of 265BC, the 62-year old Magas celebrated the birth of a baby girl whom he aptly named Olympias. He informed his family that he had fought his last battle. His old body couldn't withstand the rigors of battle anymore - he intended to enjoy the splendor of Alexandria for the rest of his life.




    Just as it seemed the Ptolemies were finished, a massive army under the command of Pamillos Philopator appeared on the doorstep of Thebes.




    Megasthenes prepared for the assault only to watch Pamillos disappear to the north. Pamillos quickly made his intentions known - he wished to take Memphis from Menelaos instead.




    Near the port of Alexandria, the new commander of the Cyrenian Navy won his first big battle against the Ptolemies.




    Only 2 years after hanging up his armor, Magas quietly died in Alexandria of old age. Ironically, it was his brief, uneventful retirement that ended up producing the most lasting effect on civilization, not his exploits on the battlefield.



    While the rest of the kingdom mourned the death of their great King, an out-manned Menelaos prepared to defend Memphis yet again.




    The enemies brought a formidable array of siege weaponry to the field.




    The towers made quick work of the battering ram.




    The ladders had little trouble advancing however, and Ptolemaic infantry began pouring over the walls.




    The Cyrenian forces tried to surround the enemy wherever possible.




    Menelaos was in the unenviable position of having to use Phalangites to defend his walls.




    The Ptolemaic army seemed to be coming from every direction.





    Menelaos had to pull his archers from the wall to prevent them from being slaughtered.




    At the gateway, enemy forces overwhelmed the defenders, allowing their compatriots to enter the city and forcing Menelaos to retreat.




    Ptolemaic soldiers rampaged through the streets as a seeminly endless stream of troops continued to come up the ladders.




    Just as it seemed all was lost the gods decided to smile on Menelaos. Nearing victory, the Ptolemaic forces were stricken with fear.




    The invigorated Cyrenain Phalangites moved to retake the gateway.




    They captured the gateway just as Pamillos was attempting to enter the city.




    The gates were closed, cutting off the enemy Phalangites from their commander.




    They didn't last long.




    On the walls, the Machimoi Phalangites had regained their composure but were seriously outnumbered.




    In the streets, the last of the invaders had been killed.




    His cavalry decimated when the gates were slammed in his face, Pamillos had no choice but to abandon the siege. Menelaos had won a difficult but satisfying victory.




    The last significant Ptolemaic army in Africa had been routed at Memphis. Magas took his last breath in almost the same instant that his half-brother's once-great empire was taking one of its own.
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 06, 2009 at 03:57 PM.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    INTERMISSION - "Nostalgia"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Demetrios surveyed his kingdom - in spite of himself, he started to smile. Fueled only by vengeance, Magas had removed the heart of one of the world's superpowers. It was strange, but Magas' death was the catalyst needed for Demetrios to finally make peace with his father. Demetrios' heart was warmed with the thought that he might carry on such a great legacy.



    There was just one little thing in the way - what was left of the Ptolemaic Empire.
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 06, 2009 at 04:10 PM.

  5. #5

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    ACT TWO - "A Brave, New World"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    CHAPTER 1 - "Some Things Old"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    In his first official act as King, Demetrios appointed Menelaos to the Governorship of Alexandria. Megasthenes replaced him as governor of Memphis. He then celebrated as Gelon made the transition from boy to man.



    Later that same year, Gelon joined with Polyphetes and Kebes and with a large army, marched southward to engage Hierophon. He was in no mood to fight and fled. Having already exhausted their troops, they were unable to pursue immediately.



    Demetrios thought briefly about reconciliation with the Ptolemies but decided it was out of the question. He sent a young trainee Kleandros to deal with an approaching diplomat.



    The following winter, the Cyrenian army caught Hierophon and engaged him in battle.



    Hierophon knew he was outnumbered so he positioned his forces on the side of a hill to improve his chances.



    Polyphetes and Kebes ordered their forces to the enemy flank to avoid the casualties of a frontal assault.



    Losses were still heavy, especially to the Light Cavalry, but Hierophon's men were steadily losing ground.



    As the Cyrenian Phalangites continued their approach, the Nubian Archers opened fire. Simultaneously, the three Cyrenian Generals moved to attempt a flanking manouver.



    Those three things combined for a dramatic effect.



    Polyphetes, Kebes, and Gelon all chased Hierophon. It was a race to see who could kill him first.



    One of his bodyguards struck the killing blow and Gelon claimed bragging rights.



    The three then proceed to chase down the routers. The battle was over and so was Hierophon's Rebellion.



    Good news always seemed to be tempered by bad, however. Daidalos, once a close friend of Magas, decided to offer his services to the Independent Greeks at Halicarnassus.



    In the northern sea, Admiral Aristedes defeated a Ptolemaic fleet near Salamis. His counterpart was not so lucky - the Ptolemaic fleet sent his ships to the bed of the sea.



    The summer and winter of 260BC saw the first of what would be a long and continuous stream of Ptolemaic assassins directed at Alexandria and Memphis. Demetrios immediately put Kleandros to work as a counter-agent. He was swift and effective, learning as he went.



    Admiral Aristedes patrolled the trade routes between Alexandria and Salamis, clearing out enemy ships as he did so.



    The influx of Ptolemaic assassins continued - Kleandros dealt with it.



    Polyphetes and his army marched eastward towards Alexandria, stopping to take care of a band of Brigands near Paraetonium.



    The Brigands were loosely organized, allowing the Cyrenian army to pick them off unit-by-unit.



    The Cyrenian Generals and Cavalry broke ranks to run down fleeing enemies, allowing the the enemy Captain to spring a trap on Kebes.



    He wasn't able to maintain the attack once Polyphetes and Gelon arrived. Polyphetes routed the enemy infantry while Gelon charged the Captain himself.



    The Captain and his Nubian Archers tried to run and find a more defensible position.



    Gelon had no idea that catching up was the last thing he wanted to do. The Nubians drew their blades and and started cutting down horses.



    Polyphetes was able to assist just before Gelon's men were completely annihilated.



    Polyphetes made quick work of the enemy. As the Captain perished the rest of his forces gave up.



    After the battle, one of the Brigands threw himself at the feet of Polyphetes, begging for mercy.



    Kleandros continued his campaign of terror against Ptolemaic assassins.



    After the battle at Paraetonium, Polyphetes marched to the south. He had received reports from the local villagers that a Ptolemaic defector named Charoiades was terrorizing the countryside. Polyphetes found him and engaged him in battle.



    The smaller Rebel force set up on a hillside and waited for the massive Cyrenian army to approach.



    The Cyrenian Cavalry charged forward ahead of the main force.



    Despite the threat of missile fire, they rode into the midst of the enemy ranks.



    The charge took a heavy toll but produced the desired outcome as enemy soldiers started to flee the field.



    Polyphetes' Nubian Archers then unloaded a volley of fire on the Charoiades and his remaining forces. They died quickly.



    One of the burning missiles struck the Rebel General, killing him and scaring his men into surrendering.



    Polyphetes' consistent success continued to attract new followers.



    Admiral Aristedes swept westward along the African coast, clearing out Ptolemaic ships as he went.



    Kleandros continues his personal war on the assassins of the Ptolemaic Empire.



    By the summer of 257BC, the Cyrenian army under the command of Polyphetes, Kebes, and Gelon had finally arrived at the lone remaining Ptolemaic settlement in Africa - the Siege of Hibis was underway.



    Admiral Aristedes continued his work in the waters north of Cyrene.



    Once the battering rams were constructed, Polyphetes gave the order to attack.



    The Cyrenian army lined up ominously outside the wooden walls of Hibis.



    The battering rams breached the walls as the Ptolemaic troops hurried to fill the gaps.



    They had trouble maintaining their position as they were bombarded by Cyrenian javelins and arrows.



    Faced with ridiculous odds, the Ptolemaic soldiers decided to abandoned their defense of the wall.



    Polyphetes' Nubian Cavalry and Spearmen flooded into the city streets.



    Near the left breach, the two sides exchanged javelins.



    At the right breach, Cyrenian Phalangites decimated a unit of Nubian Spearmen.



    Back at the left breach, the Cyrenian forces proved too numerous and overwhelming.



    On the right flank, the Phalangites had a clear path to the center of the city.



    At the other end of the street, the second unit of Phalangites was close to completing the bookending maneuver.



    All that stood in their way was a hapless unit of Levy Phalangites.



    Before they had a chance to complete the maneuver, the Ptolemaic Captain panicked and charged the other unit of Phalangites. The result was disasterous.



    His men fell as quickly as he did.



    The slaughter was so horrendous that the mere sight of the advancing Phalangites caused terror in the enemy.



    Polyphetes tried to further the effect by unleashing flaming arrows on the two fresh units in the square.



    The Ptolemaic Levy Phalangites prepared themselves for combat.



    The Nubian Spearmen got anxious and decided to charge.



    Against the teeth of the Cyrenian Phalanx they fared no better than their brothers. Fear set in and they turned to run.



    There was nowhere to run. They were caught between the Cyrenian pikes and those of their own Levy Phalangites.



    The Levy troops were no match for the Cyrenian Phalangites and they soon succumbed.



    Hibis was occupied by Polyphetes. The former Ptolemaic Empire in Africa belonged to Demetrios of Cyrene. The last of their settlements on the continent were gone.

    CHAPTER 2 - "Something New"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    Demetrios threw a lavish party to announce that Agarista was being married to Thalysios of Cyrene. Thalysios was a close friend of the family and was certainly in line to become Governor of Cydonia.



    East of Alexandria, Kleandros got his first taste of failure. His attempt on the life of the Ptolemaic General Thanates was unsuccessful but luckily he wasn't detected and was able to escape.



    Under the patronage of Demetrios, Menelaos oversaw the completion of one of the world's great centers of learning. Demetrios knew that his father was proud.



    In the winter of 256BC, Thalysios marched eastward from Cyrene with the city garrison to confront a band of thieves. It was his last task before leaving for Cydonia.



    What should have been an easy battle was complicated by the swirling winds, whipping up sand.



    Thalysios kept the enemy Archers running so that they couldn't fire upon his army while it advanced.



    Once the Cyrenian Archers were in place, Thalysios retreated to a distance safe from the Nubians' missile fire.



    The Cyrenian Phalangites continued forward despite the enemy's arrows.



    The enemy Spearmen stood their ground as long as they could.



    Eventually, the Nubian leader had to rush forward to prevent his men from being slaughtered. The Cyrenian Phalangites continued forward, unphased.



    The Nubian Captain was overmatched and his men were broken. The few that remained attempted to run.



    Thalysios quickly dispatched them and ended the battle.



    With the thieves rounded up, Thalysios boarded a ship bound for Cydonia and left the Cyrenian garrison to march back home on their own.



    By 256BC, the Ptolemaic Empire was in full decline. There was no time for Demetrios to relax, though. A new and powerful threat had emerged in the south. The Eastern Kingdoms had taken Pselchis and Polyphetes was ordered to stop them from expanding further. He wasted no time, marching on the city and beginning the construction of battering rams. The consequences were felt far and wide.



    Their meager resources wouldn't allow them to send troops, so the Ptolemies continued to send assassins. Again, Kleandros prevented any Cyrenian loss of life.



    An ambassador from Saba arrived at Memphis and he and Megasthenes signed a new trade agreement.



    The royal family welcomed yet another new member.



    Kleandros was bored with killing other assassins and he wanted another shot at a true Ptolemy. Demetrios obliged and ordered him to kill Amytaios. Unfortunately, he was once again unsuccessful.



    At Pselchis, the battering rams were ready and Polyphetes was preparing his men for battle. The war with the Eastern Kingdoms was about to officially begin.



    Polyphetes and his men paused for a moment to let the enemy contemplate what was about to befall them. The ominous-looking Cyrenian line extended beyond the boundary of the city wall itself.



    The battering rams made quick work of the wooden walls while Polyphetes organized his Nubian Cavalry into a deadly wall of javelins.



    Their initial salvo sent the enemy scurrying for cover like cockroaches.



    With the enemy in disarray, Cyrenian skirmishers swarmed into the city.



    The Eastern Kingdom commander sent a contingent of Nubian Spearmen to try and stem the tide.



    The Cyrenian skirmishers stormed forward unphased.



    The enemy was quickly enveloped by the Cyrenian horde.



    It was all they could do to just get away.



    They mustered every ounce of courage they had and once again turned to face their attackers.



    The Cyrenian mercenaries quickly dispatched them and moved into a back street to prepare for a flanking maneuver. The horses and Archers were in place to bombard the square.



    Not content to sit tight and be slaughtered slowly, Captain Rusa charged the Cyrenian infantry.



    However, with the Cyrenian Cavalry in such close proximity, that proved to be a costly mistake.



    The Eastern Kingdom reserves threw their spears in an effort to cover his retreat.



    It didn't take long for Rusa to realize that there was no escape. He was determinted to take as many enemies with him as possible.



    The Cyrenian forces just proved overwhelming.



    Rusa himself was killed as his men fell around him. The Eastern Kingdom army was completely destroyed. Pselchis was secured for the Cyrenian Empire.



    At Alexandria, Kleandros' failure to assassinate Amyrtaios left a sizeable Ptolemaic army sitting on the doorstep. Menelaos sent Tomeos to determine the severity of the threat.



    At Pselchis, Polyphetes celebrated his victory by entertaining a Pontic diplomat.



    Just when it seemed all Cyrenian attention would turn south, the Ptolemies had decided to re-enter the picture. Demetrios' kingdom now faced a serious threat from the Eastern Kingdoms while at the same time he had to find a way to deal with a resurgent enemy to the east.

    CHAPTER 3 - "Caught in the Middle"
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    In the winter of 255BC, Amyrtaios made his move. If the Ptolemies were going to return to prominence, they would have to capture Alexandria.



    In Pselchis, Polyphetes was having trouble keeping order. There was disillusionment amongst the natives and that disillusionment was manifesting itself in violence against Cyrenian forces. After finding out that the uprisings were being sponsored by local religious leaders, Polyphetes decided to tear down the Temple at Abu Simbel. It wasn't an easy decision to demolish somethign with such a storied history, but the situation required the attention of Athena.



    Once things had settled down, Polyphetes and Gelon marched north to Thebes, leaving Kebes to govern the people of Pselchis.



    In return a small group of Nubian Spearmen was sent from Thebes to reinforce the garrison at Pselchis. However, their march south was halted when they encountered a group of brigands harassing travelers.



    While the Spearmen had numerical superiority, they lacked unit diversity. The enemy had Cavalry and that would be a problem.



    Captain Brilessos ordered his men to surround the enemy and unleash javelins.



    The brigands charged, hoping to minimize casualties from missile fire.



    The fighting was furious but the enemy Cavalry kept their distance, allowing the Cyrenians to dedicate 2 units of Spearmen to every one unit of brigands.



    It wasn't long before the enemy leader and his men buckled.



    In the chaos, Ptesion was killed.



    Only the Archers and Cavalry remained. The Archers were completely surrounded.



    The Cavalry made their charge but it was too late to save the Archers from being slaughtered.



    The charge did inflict severe casaulties, however.



    It also brought them within range of the Cyrenian javelins.



    They didn't last long.



    The Cyrenian troops turned their attention back to the Archers.



    They didn't last long either.



    The relative ease by which Cyrene won belied the loss of lives they had suffered.



    In preparation for an offensive on the Eastern Kingdoms, Pleistolas infiltrated the city of Campus Blemmyae. There was a considerable enemy presence in the area, including two influential members of the royal family.



    Near Alexandria, Kleandros got back to his favorite task - murdering Ptolemaic assassins.



    Despite Alexandria being the largest city in the Kingdom, Memphis had become a hotbed for social and political activity. Envoys from as far away as Vienna made their way to the city, seeking an audience with the Cyrenian royal family.



    As the entire family celebrated the birth of Telemessa, Demetrios celebrated the ascension of his son, Milon to manhood. Milon in many ways, reminded Demetrios of his own father.



    Admiral Aristedes broke a Ptolemaic blockade of Cydonia.



    Kleandros turned his attention to a Ptolemaic diplomat.



    Yet another diplomat sought the company of Megasthenes, this time from Armenia.



    In the winter of 254BC, after nearly a year of making preparations, Amyrtaios abandoned his efforts to siege Alexandria. Memphis looked like an easier target.



    The Ptolemies had reorganized and were once again on the move.



    Kleandros made another attempt on Amyrtaios and once again, he failed. Amyrtaios appeared nervous however, and quickly moved away from Memphis.



    It had been 25 years since Magas enacted his plan to topple Ptolemy's empire. Milon admired the handywork of his grandfather as he marched east towards Alexandria.



    Due to the large Ptolemaic armies looming in the north and the presence of Eastern Kingdom forces directly to the south, Polyphetes decided to hold tight in Thebes. Despite his status as heir to the throne, Demetrios had granted command to his son, Gelon. It was Gelon who led the Theban garrison against General Sherh.



    As the aggressor, Gelon and his men would have to fight an uphill battle - literally.



    The Eastern Kingdom had both javelins and arrows - scaling the hill would be costly.



    The Cyrenian forces made their way around the backside of the hill in an attempt to minimize losses.



    Sherh made them pay for that decision.



    The General slaughtered every last Cyrenian Phalangites in front of him, forcing Gelon to respond before he could swing around and route the Hoplites too.



    Gelon's charge and a volley of flaming arrows was just enough to get Sherh to back off a bit.



    The Hoplites were slowly being overwhelmed by Nubian Spearmen. Fortunately, Polyphetes had Sherh occupied a good distance away.



    Gelon once again arrived in the nick of time.



    The tide turned quickly.



    It was a costly, bloody battle but the Cyrenians emerged victorious. Unfortunately, they weren't able to prevent Sherh from returning to Campus Blemmyae to replenish his army.



    Gelon's selflessness on the battledfield won him a new friend.



    His victory also garnered the attention of an Eastern Kingdom cutthroat. Fortunately, Kleandros was nearby.



    In the winter of 253BC, Amyrtaios returned to Memphis with the intention of finishing what he started. This time, the gods smiled on Kleandros.



    Upon arrival at Alexandria, Milon was given command of a group of green recruits and told to take care of a band of rebels to the southwest of the city.



    It didn't appear that it would be much of a fight.



    The Cyrenian Thorakitai baited them into a chase that left them exposed to Nubian spears.



    The quickly moved out of range, so Milon feinted as if he were going to charge.



    The rebels were once again pulled through a shower of javelins.



    Their numbers slowly dwindled as they foolishly chased Milon around the battlefield.



    Eventually, their forces were sparse enough that Milon alone was able to finish them off.



    Milon gained a trusted aide for his efforts.



    Gelon wasn't happy about the presence of a band of rebels to the west of Thebes. He and Polyphetes marched to intercept them, this time with the elder Polyphetes in command.



    The rebels placed themselves in a favorable defensive position.



    They showered the advancing Cyrenian forces with javelins.



    The Cyrenian Hoplites absorbed the missiles and pressed forward into the rebel ranks.



    They then ran away, tricking the rebel Cavalry into turning their backs on a volley of flaming arrows.



    Gelon and Polyphetes chased the enemy infantry around the field.



    The enemy commander fell quickly.



    Polyphetes and Gelon turned their attention to rounding up stragglers.



    The kingdom was now secure internally and Demetrios could concentrate his efforts on fighting a two-front war.
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 16, 2009 at 03:38 PM.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    ....
    Last edited by htismaqe; January 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

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    Last edited by htismaqe; January 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

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    Last edited by htismaqe; January 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM.

  9. #9

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    OK, most of the content is now moved and I've reserved placeholders for future chapters, so feel free to provide feedback anytime.

    Also, if anyone would care to proofread, just to make sure I didn't make any typos during the transfer, I would REALLY appreciate it.

    Thanks for reading!

  10. #10

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Good idea. Your page was getting kinda hard to load. I'd help you proof read but I'm a terrible spellur myself.

  11. #11

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Very entertaining, htismaqe. Looking forward to next update.

  12. #12
    rogergargantua's Avatar Senator
    Join Date
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    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Chapter 1 of Act two was very cool! Some amazing screenshots there (for example, the one where your army attacks the Ptolemaic village and your skirmishers throw javelins). Its well written too! Keep it up!

  13. #13

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Quote Originally Posted by rogergargantua View Post
    Chapter 1 of Act two was very cool! Some amazing screenshots there (for example, the one where your army attacks the Ptolemaic village and your skirmishers throw javelins). Its well written too! Keep it up!
    Your Carthage AAR was definitely a major influence on my style.

  14. #14

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Act 2, Chapter 2 is up.

  15. #15
    Primicerius
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    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Nice I'm waiting for a truly big war to break out.



  16. #16

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    I don't have any truly big enemies is the problem. I ruined the Ptolemies - the only reason they're still around is because they provide a nice buffer between me and the TSE. The Eastern Kingdoms are tiny in relative terms, but they do have a massive army. So while I can't promise a big "war" I will tease and say there's a big "battle" on the horizon.

  17. #17

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Act 2, Chapter 3 is up.

  18. #18
    Primicerius
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    3,925

    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Nice. Solid progress, finish off those EK guys in the south so you can move North and reclaim the reset of the Ptolemaic Empire.



  19. #19
    Athenogoras's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: Cyrenaica AAR - NEW THREAD

    Excellent screens and story - as always.

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