Story with screenshots
Untill the beta is released i guess i will be posting many images of the battles you can play
You may remember i wrote a couple of stories involving the unlucky but brave Median general Datis. Well after his failure at marathon he was sent to defend the northern border against the scythian incursions. At least i think thats what i said happened... (all fiction here by the way) Nehoo now Rise of Persia has practically finished the Persian and Sakae skins i can do the scythian part of datis's story. This time in diary format.
All skins taken from Rise of Persia - Beta release coming A.S.A.P pending ctd investigation.
On the 3rd day of the month of Arshat i was sent to this godforsaken wasteland. An unjust punishment in itself, one battle we lost! if you could even call it that... Thus the wise and all powerful Great king Darius has sent me here to redeem myself. Maybe he forgets what happened when he wandered around this barren land with a hungry army and no one to fight! I have no idea why his majesty insists on holding onto this rock - no doubt a staging point for revenge or some other scheme. He is too old to campaign and yet he still plans invasions... and yet no Persian can fully resent the Great King Darius - he saved all our conquests, he conquered further, he embodies Persian greatness. I will gain his favour again!
The 5th day of the month of Arshat saw the same bleak landscape chase away the light of ahuramazda. The night was chilled and i barely had time to enjoy any sleep in my Lydian bed, brought with us at great cost to my purse and my servants backs. I was rudely awoken and in a breach of all protocal shouted at until i got up. After calming the young messenger boy down i was told that the scouts had reported a large host of Sakae cavalry on its way to raid the border provinces.
With a hurried breakfast I was escorted to the "command Post" of the garrison, Id rather like to think of it as a shack rather than a center of authority... All around youths of the area were running this way and that in stuttering confusion and fear. I seemed to be the only sane man in the room! After taking a look at the maps it was quite clear where to make a stand and with the troops i had brought from Persia I saw no reason to be alarmed by the onset of a cavalry force. Of course i was judging the enemy by the barbarian fools around me, being of the same stock i assumed they were all as dithering as each other. I assembeld all provisions needed and ordered my troops to take up a position between the caucasus mountains and the black sea. The march was easy and almost pleasant as the light of the sun glinted off the waves hitting the shore. With our positions set i took my sleep in a tent pitched among the Arstibara encampment.
at the very beggining of the 6th day of Arshat I was refused a good nights sleep again! The Sakae had forced marched right up to our position during the night and we would have to hastily prepare for the coming assault. Fortunatly the Sakae paused to rest their men and i drew up the Persians in standard battle formation for facing cavalry centered armies.
The sakae wer advancing in a veritable horde being masked by the dust they kicked up
After seeing this pitiful formation i was even more convinced of our victory. But then the dust began to split apart and ordered cavalry forces began to emerge flanking our position.
With one eye the flanking horse archers i ordered the archers to create a storm of arrows for the sakae.
What they had of infantry was quickly decimated by our accuracy and rate of fire.
Then my joy turned to suprise and an adrnaline fueled panic. From the ghastly dust cloud charged forth a gleaming mass of lances and armour.
Our arrows had little effect and there was little to do but brace for the attack. however my panic deepened when i realise the lancers were heading for my weaker right flank where the less experienced troops had been placed. The tension mounted as the Sakae thundered ever closer...
Then they struck like lightning and our right wing was shattered and transformed into a chaotic struggle to stay alive.
just as I was worrying about the right flank the Sakae had moved like lightning and struck at our left.
And almost as before they tore through the Sparabara and pushed through our first line. However the Sparabara were hardier troops and were able to keep their composure under the brutal assault.
This gave me enough time to order the Takabara and Anusyia stationed on the right flank to engage the Sakae horsmen and relieve their bretheren.
Young Orontes of the anusyia was the first to rush at the Sakae with vengence burning in his eyes
Whilst on the left flank the carnage was softened by the overconfidence of the Sakae knights. They had foolishly charged through the sparabara and right into my personal unit of Arstibara! They paid for their insolence dearly
Soon with the help of the Anusyia the Knights assaulting us on the right flank were routed and chased down
And on the left the Arstibara had seen off the Lancers attacking them. But as soon as those horsemen were routed a new wave surged forwrard into the Sparabara and Arstibara on the left flank. The ornament and skill of these warriors made it clear to me that the commander himself was making a desperate last push
The havoc created by this immense charge was devastating, yet we held our ground tenaciously
The merits of holding fast became apparent quickly as i noticed the chief had chaged without support and he was quickly surrounded.
But again the smile was wiped from my face when the flanking horse archers which had my attention earlier on came in behind my Arstibara in a desperate attempt to save their chief
But my Anusyia Asabari were thankfully on hand to deal with this threat and quickly dispatched the lighter Sakae horse archers
With the Sakae chief surrounded and alone there was little hope for him, i saw his death myself when a palta struck him full in the chest. After the loss of their cavalry the Sakae archers who had been harrasing us finally fled the battle.
With the day won i retired to my tent to finally get some sleep. Only to realise it was only three hours until my duties called me as governor of my pitiful town. With a sour expression on my face i tried my best to avoid the cheers of the citizens who barred my way with garlands and wine. reflecting on it now i had always wanted to revel in the glory of victory and yet this time all i wanted to revel in was my bed. At least Darius will hear word of this, the messenger left right after the battle - I made sure of that. The sooner im home the better
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Poor Datis seems to allways have the short end of the stick.
