[RSII AAR] The Empire Strikes Back

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Note from the Author:

Before I lay down the first post of this AAR I'd like to say a few things regarding my old works. The past AARS I've done were in the beginning something I thought I wanted to do, but as time went on interest faded or was interrupted by things happening in my life. I just wanted to give a little explanation as to why I chose to end them now and start something new because I feel its only fair to the people who read them and are now robbed of their ending.

The Lone Eagle of Britannia was started while I lived in Calgary shortly after I settled in. I moved there from the East coast, so it was a big change. Anyways I kept with it until suddenly I had to move back home which pretty much ruined the flow as I lost the internet, and priorities were elsewhere as I moved back across the country. I recently tried to get back into the story and somewhat did, but it has been over a year since I've played the campaign and it's no fun to post a dead campaign for me. I have all of the pictures but forgot what happened in half of them. So i chose to drop it. I also tried to write another AAR at the same time called the Hellenistic Struggle, but as reasons mentioned for the Lone Eagle, it suffered a quick death.

Rekindling the Lion's Heart was an AAR I started about a month after I moved back to the East. It started out good, but then my computer suffered a crash and I had no money to fix it. Right around the same time I lost the internet for awhile, so it pretty much killed the AAR. I played the game ahead of the posts and actually started beating the Romans and would have loved to show everyone the awesome battles. I have since gotten my computer fixed obviously, but the drive is gone for this story. It has been too long since I've played the campaign and like the Lone Eagle, I don't enjoy writing about " dead " campaigns. If I didn't play so far ahead, and left off where the posts were when the computer died, I would have picked it right up. Unfortunately that's not the case.

So now I'm going to start something new. I felt the need to do this since the release of Roma Surrectum 2. Some may see it as a rehash of an old AAR, but I don't care. This story won't be like the last and I have since gotten better at writing( I think). It has been about 2 1/2 weeks worth of planning, writing, reading, and editing for this. Anyways thank you for reading, and I hope you like what I'm about to throw at you.

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Prologue:



Whispers were once heard deep within the Grand Halls and Courts of Seleucia, Babylon, and Persepolis that sought not to encourage, but doubt those eagerly listening. Those whispers spoke of a dynasty that had fallen from the grace of the gods and that was on the verge of disappearing among the turmoil of my brother's poisoning. They persisted that its great Kings had since passed and that a mere nineteen year old boy would never measure up to the legacy of Seleucus I nor have the strength to harness an empire. Any that achieved great victories against our enemies, suffered much greater losses afterward that left the Empire more tattered than the last engagement. The losses were in fact great, and morale tarnished by years of failure. Many were victim to assassination and murder from the cowardly Ptolemaics and Attalids who have longed for our destruction. Such shortcomings gave many no chances to prove themselves worthy to the populace. Those whispers soon caught wind and fuelled the fires of rebellion throughout the Empire. In the west, my uncle challenged the throne while in the East; the provinces of Media and Persis did the same. So there I was, catapulted into the fragmented world as the last of Seleucus' royal blood.



With the doubts and uneasiness of many cropped upon my shoulders I began my rule with bloodshed against my own family. I marched into Anatolia, defeating my uncle Achaeus putting an end to such nonsense. Envoys were sent to the Pergamum cowards suggesting that they had better stay out of the Empire's affairs unless they sought war in the coming future. Surprisingly they obliged and I was able to turn my attention toward the Eastern Satraps failing to cooperate with their Seleucid masters. It was at Nisibis where the rebellion was suppressed and ultimately defeated giving the Empire control over its rightful holdings. Further East I rode to the banks of the Indus River cementing my alliance with the Mauryan Empire of India. In exchange for my daughter's future marriage to their own prince, the Empire received five hundred War Elephants which would prove crucial in future conflicts with old enemies of the west.

It was during the 92nd Year of the Seleucid Era that the Fourth Syrian War began. Tired of his spies and assassins flooding into my lands, and his hold over Antiocheia, the boy King Ptolemy IV had to be stopped before he could grow into a worthy opponent. The humiliation of my father's loss of the Palestinian coast during the Third Syrian war was a stain that I needed removed from the family name and Empire. The past century had seen those cowardly Ptolemaic dogs constantly mettle in our affairs. Their very existence was enough reason to put an end to it all.



Antiocheia was the first city to fall without much of a fight. They were unprepared against my attack with the sudden outbreak of war. The Imperial Capital of the West had been restored thus gaining much needed morale, and funds to further the attack down the Palestinian coast. With the army and Kingdom behind my word, we marched down the coast and conquered past Jerusalem's borders. The young Pharaoh sent his envoys, messengers, and appeasers to my court to little affect. His advisers were busy recruiting their enslaved Egyptian subjects into their ranks under Macedonian fashion while they were apparently offering "peace". Words were put aside as we picked up our blades outside the small town of Raphia. Not since the great Battle of Ipsus, eighty years earlier had there been such a massive showing of arms between two powers. The day was a slaughter of the Ptolemaics and their enslaved Egyptian subjects. Ptolemy fell as he desperately tried to save the day charging into my advancing flanks with his cavalry. Seeing his Royal guard in the mass prompted the usage of my elephants, ending his life and the battle in total rout.





The historians marked the victory at Raphia as one of the most Heroic victories of the Empire's young life. It was a true turning point for both sides. With Ptolemy dead and his army obliterated, the push into Egypt began. The coastal towns around Raphia were deposed of and Tanis came under siege within the year. The city fell leaving part of the Nile Delta's ports open for our own trading vessels and people. There were years and years of hard fighting where midway through seen the capture of the ancient city of Memphis. This split their Kingdom into two pieces, leaving Upper Egypt stranded from Alexandria. Once my son became old enough to run the affairs of the city, I set out with half of the army to secure the lands south of the sacred Valley of the Kings of an empire long gone and much older than our own.



Relying mostly on mercenaries and a small core of Seleucid born men, I conquered Upper Egypt with ease. The people had seen the House of Seleucus as saviours for repelling their Ptolemaic masters who had too long felt the pain of their whips. It appeared the propaganda spread by my court had done its job. I did not care for these simple farmers and people of the desert, but unlike my enemies I kept such thoughts hidden. They willingly joined the ranks of the army and pleaded in taking part during the attack of Alexandria when the time came. The vast riches of Africa became open to our trade routes as roads led from Thebes, straight through to the gates Antiocheia.



With the Nile under complete control, and the people behind our cause, my son Antiochus IV and I marched on Alexandria. During 109 S.E we defeated the armies led by what was left of Ptolemy's defence with ease outside the city. Like all the battles in Egypt, the elephants received from the Indus river years earlier sealed victory. The city was massacred leaving 27,000 dead and promptly ending Ptolemaic rule of the Nile Delta. I gave control of the city over to my son and also responsibility of the entire Delta of the former Kingdom. To this day though, they still hold control over Cyrene and small portions of Western Asia Minor past the Taurus Mountains.



During the campaign in Egypt, Tarsos came under attack by Ptolemaic forces stationed west of their strongholds in Side. The task to repel the threat came to the young Kassandros, son of Demetrius whom was a cousin of mine and governor of Tarsos. Antiocheia's garrison was pulled into action and combined with Tarsos' to form his army. These were not the best men we had, but they were all that the Empire could spare. Where they lacked in skill, they excelled in pure heart, blessed by Apollo. Successes were met early on allowing Kassandros to cross into Ptolemaic territory.



Victory after victory ensued and once again the Ptolemaic scum were pushed into their own cities scratching and begging for mercy against a threat that they had caused with their own aggression. Mercy was not shown, leading both into a large battle in Side. Kassandros was victorious and captured the coastal city, burning most of its innards to the ground. The province became the new frontier of the west which gave more breathing room and defence for the capital Antiocheia. Like Tarsos further east, the mountains marked the northern borders, making the city fairly defendable.



The Empire by 111 S.E seemed nearly invincible against her enemies. The Ptolemaics were broken and left with a handful of city states. Kassandros was to move quickly west, giving the Empire a foothold and port in the Aegean, while I had plans of pushing toward Cyrene. Those plans soon changed when another enemy thought to have been dormant and not a threat, attacked.



The East had always been a troublesome frontier to ensure the loyalty of its people to the Throne of Seleucus. Its vast riches and trade routes were both a blessing and thorn within my ancestor's and I's side. A King in East was always loved by all during the march through the towns and cities, but as soon as one left toward the west past Susa and down into Babylonia's fertile plains, rebel strongmen and pretenders spread lies throughout the countryside. It was after all a life much unchanged since their Persian rulers were defeated by Alexander. City life changed as Greek and Macedonian colonists settled, but the countryside was almost untouched giving rebels a strong word with little law to prevent such treachery. It was believed that it was these men that prompted the nomadic and barbarous Parthians to attack the Seleucid frontier.

It had been nearly twenty years since I set foot within the Eastern Satraps and the Empire along with me was not ready for such a war, so far away. The attack came suddenly with the besieging of the outermost settlements of Rhagae and Apamea which were nearly undefended. The brave and honourable Zoilos with his nineteen hundred levies managed to kill seven hundred out of the two thousand heavily armoured and well trained Parthians before falling victim to their blades. His son, Eumenis escaped the city and rode to Tabae where he was able to deliver the horrible news, having it spread across the Empire.



The bleeding had only begun at Rhagae as I left Egypt for Antiocheia to rearm and gather supplies. The cities of Tabae, Ecbatana, and Susa came under attack soon after Rhagae's fall. It was hard to believe that so quickly, the Parthians were overrunning the borders with utmost skill and precision. Regretfully I ordered the full retreat of my generals from the frontier to mount an effective defence in the heartland. The skeleton garrisons were not meant to fight wars, only to keep order. Some of these men stood by their post regardless of my orders and the grim odds they faced from the silent desert. They were the rightful Sons of Apollo and I was truly glad of their deeds, even if it meant certain death. These were mostly the grizzled veterans whom had served under my late brother and father. Their sons were sent west while they waited for the Abyss to overcome and drag their souls through the depths of Hades. Apamea was the next to fall and none survived except those few who lived to tell the story of its destruction.



By 115 S.E the outlook was very grim and disturbing. I had the army ready for the march in Antiocheia but knew I had no chance to reach Seleucia in time to lift the siege of Susa. Even though I could have left, I knew deep down our style of warfare was no match against what our Eastern enemies was throwing at our people. Orders were sent for the most able man to command the army which was training in Seleucia to attack at once. Seleucia's new force was much different than any the Empire wielded before and was about to test itself. Failure was not an option, or the heartland would have been seriously threatened. A young man, whom at the time was not much older than I was when the Throne was passed down to me, took command.

He was born in Istakhr and retreated to Seleucia to stem the invasion while his father stood ground. His name was Praxinos and would become my Eastern commander in the following years. He surprisingly defeated the Parthian army at Susa only losing sixty-four men by using the enemies own tactics of Horse Archery. Mercenaries of the region, turncoats, and men trained in the ways of the Old Persian Empire filled the ranks with Greek lancers and companions holding down the flanks. Phalanx warfare in the East was feeble and ineffective against the Parthian's deadly cataphracts and horse archers therefore we had to fight fire with fire of our own. Praxinos lived his whole life in the East and knew nothing but horseback riding and its effectiveness on the open deserted plains.



Once Susa was safe, fortifications were built deep inside the valley directly east to hold off any future attack if it came. Praxinos exited the valley, combed the desert, and fought off armies invading the borders. The slopes and large open spaces of Tabae's borders became an area that was able to be patrolled effectively with the use of spies and small raiding parties. Praxinos had found his footing and continues to hold off the threats. The cities lost would have to wait for their liberation since the Empire had no resources to push forward thanks to another enemy that came crashing through the Zagros Mountains.



The Armenian Kingdom, once lands under partial Hellenistic rule but never fully subjugated had shown their gnarly and bearded faces once again during the worst possible time. No doubt coached by their eastern neighbours, these fiercely independent peoples swept down from their mountainous homeland with hopes of carving out their own empire while ours was seriously weak, overextended, and at war. I knew not if these fools were allied with Parthia, except for the fact that we were their targets. They saw us as tyrants and rulers over a vast area of cultures and people much older than our own. What the Empire held was occupied territory making us Greeks outsiders within their shallow minds. They attacked where the Parthians had failed which was at Ecbatana's gates. The city stood no chance and suffered a horrible fate.



Exhausted and tormented by all of the bad news reaching my ears in Antiocheia, I decided enough was enough!. I recalled troops from the city of Side, gambling its safety in hopes of saving the interior of Babylonia. Once in the capital, I integrated them into the Royal Army and marched toward Armenia's bordering city with the Empire. I had with me the best of the best which was all of the veterans from the Egyptian campaign. Like our cities in the East, Arsamosata was lightly defended and fell within days. The sack of the city filled the coffers and kept the men happy enough to push forward. That winter the enemy crossed into the satrap of Karkathiokerta attacking the city which was more of Armenian descent than Greek; no doubt a reason for its taking. Combined with a small force under command by Demetrius of Tarsos' second son, Philotas, I attacked the besieging army winning the battle easily. For his duties Philotas would govern the satrap while I decided where to strike next.



The choice became an easy one as the Armenian King boldly attacked Pinaca during the early spring of 119 S.E; the year in which I am writing this shortened history for the archives of Alexandria, Antiocheia, and cities alike. I feel as if the Empire now stands at a crucial crossroads within its history much like the great battles of Troy, Marathon, Thermopylae, Gaugamela, and Ipsus. I feel the sands of time eroding my very body for it is tired of war, politics, and the desert sun that radiates over my face presently. Although I am much older, I am wiser, and more experienced than I have ever been and feel these next years will define my reign as a failure or success despite the conquest of Egypt. Currently the army and I are camped two days away from Pinaca, and hopes are high that we reach the walls before it's too late. This may be the second battle of my career against a King of another nation, and I hope for the same results as the last with the blessings of Zeus to guide us.



Before I lay down my reed, I must note that my son and heir to the Empire have been recalled from Alexandria per my request for the coming war. His army of native Nubians, mercenaries, and Greeks should be enough to stave off the rebel attack on Raphia, so that he can move into Mesopotamia. The time has come for this young man to prove himself worthy of commanding an army watched over by the gods. With a little help from them, he should do just fine. My second and third born sons govern Antiocheia and Jerusalem during these troubling times and may be called to the front if the fighting becomes thick.



While all of these plots intertwine themselves, the East still sits on rocky grounds. Tabae is once again close to being besieged while Praxinos prepares to repel yet another attack against the Parthians. If his men fail to reach the city, I hope that the old and wise Podaleirios has enough life left within him to hold off the many that want him dead.





These will be trying times indeed and by the light of Apollo there had better be something left for his flamed chariot to illuminate before this war reaches its end. Many hope for our defeat, while few see victory as a possibility. Either way, however you see it fit, the Empire will strike back...

Antiochus III, 119th Year of the Seleucid Era.

[McScottish]

A most excellent beginning, I look more than forward to seeing where this shall go in future posts. Excellent writing, excellent set-up...just generally excellent. A true show of writers arete.

[Ganbarenippon]

Nice start, presented with your customary flair. I look forward to seeing where this goes!

[First Citizen Gallienus]

Indeed ^^^

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Thnx guys, appreciate it. I always try for strong beginnings. I've got the next update's pictures edited and ready for writing. You'll see an update soon.

[Lunchbox]

Yus another Seleucid AAR from you. I loved the first one so will definitely be following this one

[Ybbon]

Excellent start, looking forward to this matching your previous ones. If I may make a wee suggestion, feel free to pour scorn on it if you want of course
There is a painted map somewhere that works with RS2, if you want maps, I suspect that would fit in well with your images (the fow map as we all know is pretty much crap) if you intend to add any that is.

+rep

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Funny you mention maps, It has been something I've been stewing over as how I will present it. I have thought of just finding a map of europe and coloring in roughly to areas which I have done in my previous works. Or I've thought of finding that RS2 map you've mentioned. Or using actual ancient maps that the characters at that time would have viewed the world as like the Ptolemy map i used in the title picture (which i made btw lol). Perhaps I'll mix and match. Thnx for the feedback as always ppl.

[DedlySerious]

as always red great to see you doing what you do best

[Radzeer]

An excellent start for a great tale to come!

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

Can't believe this slipped under my radar the last few days. Well done for an absorbing and epic opening - with gorgeous pics, to boot. This will turn into a real treat I am sure and I will be looking forward to the next updates with eagerness.

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Update One:



Like a massive wall of Troy separating the vast East from the cradled West, the Persian Gates sat silent as one strained his neck to catch a glimpse of its snowy peaks. For generations these mountains marked the borders of rival tribes, Kingdoms, and Empires until the Persians closed them for century as their people rose to power. It would take Greek and Macedonian blood, over one hundred years ago to open them once again leaving us to where we are today in their ashes. Susa, originally a Persian city, now Hellenic with eastern influences was the first in range of the Gates making it the prime target for invaders. The Parthians had tried such a move but failed by the hands of Praxinos who crushed their forces with ease. Defences since that battle were built within the mountain passes and now held the Parthians at bay while Praxinos surprised their crazed commander by sneaking behind their own baggage train. He was Southwest of Tabae during that time making this a rather simple but laborious task tracking the overturned earth and sands. The weak always lead one to the strong.





High above the valley floor upon a sliver of a plateau crumbling from the mountainside, Praxinos met the Parthian force that was scrambling to find its footing against the threatening attack. The Babylonian, Saka, and Greek riders formed a strange yet potent battle line supported by four battalions of mercenary Persian Infantry. I believed that it troubled our enemy to see Persian peoples fighting under a Greek banner, yet I would argue that these nomads were the true invaders. After all, we were here first and rightfully deserved the mass territory controlled by the Throne. Our people fought an enemy that enslaved and bribed our own for too long. Their weathered yolk was smashed and never again would there be another pressing down on us, such as these Parthian animals. Their intolerance of Hellenism is going to be their undoing if our war goes as planned.



Commander of the high Hill Forts; General Phillip had the enemy trapped by constantly showering down arrows from his positions. Their small wooden bunkers on the mountainside consisting of no more than ten men a piece proved to be quite deadly. Nearly unseen by their foes, it was almost impossible to get a clear shot off into their small fortifications. It was either stay there to be harassed by something they could neither see nor hear, or face the brunt of thousands of riders armed by the bow.

Praxinos rode into a comfortable range and began pelting the barbarian raiders while waiting for them to make a decision in how they were to die. They turned around and charged directly into army and toward those who were not on horseback. Though outnumbered and on foot, the Persian mercenaries were quick and lightly armoured beyond what the eye could see. They retreated back and forth whirling spears through the air with deadly accuracy. With the Saka and Babylonians covering their flanks with constant firing, the Parthians could not get into a reasonable range. Their bodies kept piling up while the lancers moved in to grab a healthy serving.





Once the right mistake was made, the lancers and Praxinos' guard charged into those stupid enough to get too close. I am told that the scene was a blinding dust cloud of dirt and blood. Luckily many died by the arrow before the hand to hand combat dominated the battlefield. These men were no masters of the sword therefore they fell easily. Many of our horse archers rode well past the flanks and completely encircled what was left of their army. Many ran before the fight had even started.





Once the Parthians were in full retreat, the line spread across the whole of the plateau, cutting down whatever they caught sight of. Phillip's men in the trenches and mountains finished off those that ran in their direction. The cowards were few afterwards.





Once again their horde fell with relative ease leaving Praxinos free of defending the eastern capital. He would ride toward Tabae under my orders in hopes of saving the city governed by his own ageing father. His victories were beginning to be noticed both by my court and that of the enemy's. I hope for his sake and our own that they have not laid a trap, for the young lad to stumble upon. It is very strange that their army sits mere miles from the city without any attempt to siege its walls.



Although the news of victory eases my headaches on the Eastern front, I secretly fear for my own son's fate and nervously await the messengers holding such answers...

Antiochus III, 119th Year of the Seleucid Era.

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Feedback:

@ DedlySerious - Thanks, and I feel the same way. This will go to the very end as needed.

@ Radzeer - Thanks, I think this is the most effort I put into a single post. I'm hoping for some epic clashes with these "barbarians".

@ SBH - Thanks. Pictures are always something I love to have and are my strongest attribute I think. And I always like to have a great opening. It's like recipe, if it looks good then you'll make it and cant wait for it to cook! lol.

[Ybbon]

Excellent pictures to go with a great story.

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

I agree with ybbon66 there - this is shaping up into an epic and memorable AAR!

[McScottish]

Crush those Parthian fools! Bwah-hah-hah-hah-haaaaaaa!

[ReD_OcToBeR]

@ ybbon66 , SBH - Thanks guys, and its about to get hectic with events.

@ McScottish - I plan on crushing those barbarous fools and backstabbers, but those damn Armenians are another thorn.

Next update will most likely be done tmmrw or the next.

[ReD_OcToBeR]

Update Two:



The fields of Raphia had not seen a drop of blood since I was there during the summer heat of 94 S.E which seen the destruction of Ptolemy's army. Raphia had never been an area of frequent battle and uprising. Its people were content with their ways of living and showed no resentment toward Seleucid rule. Its position however was of ideal importance when connecting the wealth of Egypt with that of the Empire's richest cities in the East and West. The old enemies of the Ptolemaics knew this and seen us as just another Greek power that did not belong next to their lands. These people were the rulers of Petra and any town or port south of its boundaries down the Arabian coast. Before my showdown at Raphia, Ptolemy had tried to capture the ancient city and enslave its people into his own army. To his surprise they defeated his armies many times resisting the foolish young boy. Even nearly twenty-five years after his death, the bastard's bad choices still haunt my own Kingdom because these people now attack us due to the fact that we too are Greek. While having Parthian and Armenian forces crawling into our Empire, we were left to deal with a broken enemy's unfinished business. The gods can really torment the mortal men who worship them.





My Son met the rebels of Petra near my old battleground and was surprised what had been besieging the town. Much of the enemy were made up of Ptolemaic deserters mixed with Arabian locals and mercenaries. It appeared their own people were not sent to suffer that day. Only men full of gold and no honour shifted the sands. Antiochos' many Nubian and Syrian archers formed much of the army. Skirmishing cavalry protected the flanks.





The Nubian dressed in their thin loincloths, armed with Zebra skinned shields and spears broke through the untrained phalanxes with ease. The cavalry peppered their flanks and eventually drew in their leader. He died by a spear piercing his breastplate soon after. Antiochos and his men were soon slicing down fleeing men gaining him his first victory and the hatred of Petra citizens.







The victory celebrations were short lived, as news came from Alexandria that the Ptolemaics were moving toward the Empire's borders. The watchtowers that were built when the Empire was nearly bankrupt had payed off in sighting those sneaky cowards. I knew as soon as my son left the city, something could possibly stir in the west, and I was sadly correct. Frustrated with such news, I had to send my son back into the Delta to deal with this problem. His force was not nearly as large as those behind Petra's walls therefore taking the city was out of the question. He was also close enough to make it to Alexandria in time, so it was a choice I had to swallow. Not having Antiochos' aid in the East was going to be a problem I had to deal with at a later date.



Alexandria's safety was far more important than some of the towns and waterholes of the East. It was the final resting place of Megas Alexandros and I would not see his body fall into enemy hands again. His accomplishments were legion to our cause and a constant reference during these hard times. I felt it was my duty to defend the remains of the greatest hero to ever live. My son and I shared this view and he gladly reversed his course to march toward the enemy.



Meanwhile, near the Persian Gates, Praxinos was ready to make his return to Tabae after crushing the Parthian mob near Susa. The original plan was for him to engage the army encamped near the city after the mountain passes were cleared. Suddenly though, his own father Podaleirios sent word to his son that in the event of an attack, his own men could and would hold the city if the current situation stayed as it were. He was recruiting more men to the ranks and training those already there on how to fight better with what little resources they had.



Trusting his father's words, Praxinos turned west and rode north into the cracks and slivers of the Persian Gates near the annexed city of Ecbatana. Old forts were built in these small passes to help block the advance of the Parthians, which were now being attacked by Armenians. These forts were now behind enemy lines and would suffer a cruel fate if not relieved. The mountains according to the scouts were calm and scarcely defended which was an eerie setting. Was the enemy hiding and waiting? Praxinos would find out if these speculations were true, none the less.



That was the news that filled my mind with uneasy thoughts and intrigue as I was about to meet the Armenian King outside of Pinaca. I had to go into the fight knowing that help beyond this battle would most likely not come for months, if not years. My army was ready for such a future though and was alone throughout the entire Ptolemaic conquest. I had the veterans of Egypt and those who crushed the Ptolemaics at Side with Kassandros to slaughter these fools with. These men knew how to kill and where to take its results. My longtime friend; Koinos who had helped me defeat the rebellion at Nisibis years earlier would also join the battlefield commanding the garrison while I engaged those besieging their home.





The spies held valuable information regarding the men I was about to meet. Their King was old and near the end of his life which was perhaps his reasoning for invading the Empire. He had with him a younger noble, most likely a cousin or prominent general to assist him. Perhaps his use was to govern the city if it fell into their hands, which was out of the question. Both of these fools soon showed the Empire with good reason why they inherited such foul names. I would give them no easy and clean glory.



The day of battle was yet another scorching hot wave of heat under Apollo's watchful eye. The horizon was barely able to be seen among the pitted landscape that soon made the most simple of movements a burden. Many were already exhausted climbing up and over dunes and rocky hills trying to catch sight of anything hostile. Tunics were stained with sweat while mouths drank heavily from their skinned sacks hanging from their neck. The glimmer of metal burned into your eyes as they scanned through the thick and sticky heated waves emanating from the sands. Gladly though, my scouts found the Armenians while they were scaling a large dune to set up their line. We were able to take them by surprise.





The voices of my Syrian commanders shot across the thin valley in a language unknown to me. Their arrows split through the air with punishing results. Our enemy was surprised and tried to push themselves up the heavy sands to the top of the dune in hopes of gaining a better position. That was their first and last mistake. Their pace sped up for maybe five minutes and then slumped to mere walking motion, all the while being pelted by fiery Syrian arrows. Their men wore heavier armor and were not used to such conditions. The Armenians were spent of all energy and soon broke as their King spotted my cavalry charging down from our Right flank into the sandy bowl that they were now caught in. I rounded the crest of the dune they were running for with my men and led the charge into what fools we could catch.









Most of their army managed to get away from us, including the King and his cowardly Nobleman. I chose not to pursue them in case of there being an ambush force waiting nearby or another whole army unknown to us. The lives of the men were more important and exhausting them in a fruitless chase into the mountains would have been pointless. I turned back and sent news to Koinos to bring his own men back to the city. He was too far away and took no part in battle since it ended so quickly. The army resupplied in the city for one week gaining much needed rest. Currently we are camped slightly within Armenian territory. I have yet to make a decision where I will bring the army.





I could either try to make an attack on their capital of Van, by pulling the last remaining reserves from Seleucia to protect the supply train, or simply defend the border. I have my doubts by just sitting and waiting for something to unfold. This could be my chance to take the fight into their lands and reverse what upper hand that they may have had or recently lost.

Antiochus III, 120th Year of the Seleucid Era.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Interesting start! Subbed and +rep.