[RS2.5 AAR]Sparta: Rise of an Empire. [updated 2/6/2013]

[Evalation]

Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity..
And so we ask ourselves,
Will our actions echo across the centuries?
Will strangers hear our names long after we're gone and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought,
and how fiercely we loved..?
- Odysseus

This AAR will follow the rise of Sparta to become a world power and feared Empire, I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I will writing it.

Lets take a look at the Kingdom of Sparta.
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The major cities of the kingdom.


This was the Capital city of Sparta, it stood proud at the very southern tip of Greece and was the capital up untill the fall of the Empire in 300AD. On the kings orders the city would remain unwalled as it has for centuries and stand as a proud stamp in the Earth for peoples to look upon in awe. Sparta was also the city of choice for Spartas high King Agesipolis III and also for the Emperors during the Imperial period. This was also where all the military forces of Sparta were trained, even after the Rise of its Empire days.


This massive city was that of Athens, brought under Spartan control by the Great King Agesipolis III of Sparta. This was deffinately the biggest city in the kingdom,and during the Empire, and a major economic hub and a place for citizens and "true Greeks" to flock to to visit the glorious Parthenon or the Great theatre of Dionysus.Athens was also the city of choice for Spartas second lesser King, King Pelops of Sparta.
It stayed as a beacon of light to all civilized peoples through to the fall of the Empire.
-----------------------------------
Lets look at our leaders,(more to come..)


This was High king Agesipolis III and it was he who conqured all of the Peloponnese. He marched his army all the way to the tip of Thessaly to bring the majority of mainland Greece back into the hands of "true Greeks" he then took the island cities of Chalkis(off the coast of Attica), and Kydonia(on the Island of Krete). He was truly a great man and great leader, he even reformed the senate house in Athens and allowed the Greek Senate to continue to aid him with political descisions. Though Most historians believe the reformation of the Senate was mainly for show because anytime they tried to interfere with the King, the Kings royal legions kept them under control untill the Senate "came to their senses".


This was the lesser King Pelops, He was not the fighter or conquering hero that his colleage was, but he was very strong in politics and can sway even the unswayable to his cause. His home city of choice was Athens and was friends with many of the Greek Senators.Historians say he despised his colleage and High King, that in the end Pelops may have had a hand in the kings death. But these things cannot be proven and modern day experts have wrote it off as just superstition.
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High king Agesipolis III's military reforms.

Agesipolis knew that unless a big change happened then his kingdom would not last another decade. He was invited to the west to sign an alliance treaty with the western barbarians who call themselves "Romans". After spending a few months in their capital city he learned alot about Roman warfare and when he returned home he implemented his reforms, today known as the "Agesipolion Reforms". His reforms consisted of organizing Spartas troops into a "legion" with The front ranks consisting of men between the ages of 15-20, they were called the Machiaphoroi. The back ranks consisted of men who have reached the age of 21-40, they were called the Machiaphoroi Eplekitoi.

He got rid of all phalanx type troops for the more modern legionary style soldier, and instead of a hoplon shield and spear, these men would be equiped with a Kopis and 2 throwing javilens, and a more popular oval shield with chainmail armor in the style of the western Romans. Agesipolis created two legions and gave one legion to Pelops to command and kept one for himself. On top of his new legionary style troops he formed an elite corps made up of pure Spartans called the Marines. They were the only men in his army who were allowed to keep facial hair and their long hair. The Marines became feared all over Greece and eventually the whole world. It is also said that Agesipolis introduced the Marines as "his" Marines.

Each legion was assigned a name after the dynasty their commander hailed from. Agiadis, and Eurypontids.
Each legion consisted of 6 regiments of Machiaphoroi Eplekitoi, 4 regiments of Machiaphoroi, 2 regiments of archers, and 3 cavalry regiments with 3 stone throweing ballistae for seiges.


This is the royal legion of High King Agesipolis. This is the legion that he conqured all of central and southern Greece with. this legion is named the Agiadis Legion and is based in the High Kings Capital city of Sparta. This is also the legion to which the feared Spartan Marine Corps was assigned.

This is the royal legion of King Pelops, this legion has not seen any battle except for a few minor skirmishes with rebels. This legion is named the Eurypontids legion and is based in Athens. It is under the command of Pelops but is feircely loyal to their High King.

There were of course more legions then this well into the Imperial era, these two were just the most popular simply because they were the first legions ever created in Greece.
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The Kingdoms borders.

The borders are gaurded by men who are not of Spartan origin but are loyal to the lords they now serve. Any soul who wishes entrance into southern Greece to live, trade, or just visit must first pass through the military outposts station on the rivers linking Aitolia to Epirus, and Thessaly to Makedonia.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so our tale begins...

[seleucid empire]

nice introduction and setting! I'll be watching this one closely. what year is it btw?

[Evalation]

well my friend the year would be 2012.

Jk. ill post the year on the first update

[Evalation]

Book one: Rise of the Empire
Chapter 1: Joining the Army.

568AUC

Theseus and Mitiades walked to their favorite tavern they always have after they finished a long days work, it was a well lit building and not far up the road from the theatre of Dionysus, which during the day was filled with people watching plays laughing or sometimes booing the bad guys or cheering the good guys, or booing if the play was just simply bad.

Theseus looked around him as he continued to walk down the street, the buildings sometimes reached four or five stories tall. He could hear a man arguing with a woman in one of the houses but paid no attention, He was focused on the tavern because he had been working all day and finally he and his friend could go to the place they enjoy most.

When they entered they saw women pooring drinks, some of them sitting in the laps of men kissing them to the point where it looked like their lips would get sucked off their faces. Some men were carrying women upstairs to enjoy other forms of pleasure.

Theseus and Mitiades took their seats at the center table like they always did. A waitress walked up to the table wearing a tight fitted peplos and carrying a plate under her arm. She was really beautiful, it was as though Aphrodite herself must have had a hand in her creation.

"Can I get you boys anything?" she asked as she got extremely close Mitiades and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Well just have a couple of drinks Mia" Theseus asked with a smile
"And could you bring us a plate of bread and olive oil.?" Mitiades asked as he gently pushed Mia's hand away from him.

"Whatever you ask I will give." She said with a wink and smile directed at Mitiades.
After she walked away Mitiades watched her for a moment then turned away to look at Theseus staring at him.

"What?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and propping his elbows upon the table.
"you always look at her the same way, and she to you." Theseus said with a smile as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms."When are you going to tell her your feelings?"

Mitiades looked over at her then back at Theseus, then shook his head slowly.
"It would never work out, she is a whore, and I am a farmer.. Aphrodite is playing her games and im caught in the middle of it." He said looking down at the table.

Moments later two very stout men walked into the tavern, every noise in the place went silent as people turned to stare at them. They had close cut hair, clean shaven faces and wore the red cloak and white tunic of an off duty Eplekitoi legionary. Their kopis was slung over the right shoulder and hung at the left side of their waist. They began to move across the tavern and took a seat at the very back of the place at the far table. Their heads were held high as if saying their superior to all those before them, and it looked as though they were.
After they took their seats things went back to normal, music played and the laughter from drunk men and squeels from women filled the air once more.

"Now that is a decent occupation." Theseus said as he glared at the legionaries sitting at the back of the room. They were just talking to one another minding their own business.
"Ahh.. you fantasize about being a oorah do you..?" Mitiades asked jokingly at Theseus.

An oorah is what the common people called the legionaries because before battle they would yell "oorah!" before charging the enemy ranks or storming the enemies city walls.

"Think about it Mitiades, you and I soldiers in the finest army in all of Greece.. do you know how much respect that holds?." Theseus asked leaning over the table towards Mitiades who just shook his head.
"Tales of heros and soldiers winning glory have clouded you my friend, were just simple farmers, lets keep doing what were good at."

Theseus just waved it off and looked as Mia was coming back to their table with their food and drinks.
"here you go loves." She said as she handed us our drinks and placed the plate of bread between us. Then tossed a glance over to Mitiades before she walked away. On her way back to the main counter a man grabbed her and pulled her into his lap, he was a big man with long hair and a large beard. he had bread crumbs all over his belly and wine dripping from his beard.

"Come here little lady." he said as he pulled her into his lap as she squeeled.
"Hows about I take you upstairs and service you for a while eh?" He said as he tried to grab her breast.
"Sorry but im on server duty today, ill call another girl over for you if you like." she said as he agian pulled her down.
"No I want you swetheart... you remind me of my wifes daughter, such pretty hair and sweet lips" He said more sternly as he ran a hand through her hair.

"Im sorry but I cannot tonight, im not on the pleasure girl list." She said as she squirmed to get away from him.

"Where you going little lady" he said as he picked her up.
Mitiades then shot up out of his chair and walked over to him.

"Excuse me sir but I beleive the lady said no." He said as he placed a hand on the mans shoulders.

"How dare you place a hand upon me, do you know who I am boy!?" he yelled as he put Mia back on her feet and tossed her to his friends.

"Do you know who I am?" Mitiades asked him in a mocking tone.

"No!." he said sternly but with a hint of confusion.

"Then were even." Mitiades said with a smile, "Now hand me the girl and go back to your drinks."
The large man just let out a bellowing laugh then punched Mitiades right in the left side of his face. Theseus then stood and ran over to him and saw blood pouring from his mouth.

"What is wrong with you!" Mia screamed as she wiggled and squrimed to get away from the mans friends.
Just then the two soldiers who have been in the back of the room were now behind the man who had punched Mitiades.

"Excuse me sir, please let the girl loose and ill buy you and your table a round of drinks." The one in front said.
He was clearly the superior of the two, he had a scar from the middle of his forehead all the way down to the left side of his face to the middle of his cheek.
He was probably very handsome at one point but the scar now dominates his features.

"Back away soldier boy, this is not your fight." He said turning to face the legionary. They were now staring each other down, and neither backed down. The large man stood at least a whole head taller then the soldier, but it looked like even though he was larger he probably would not win agianst the legionary.

"I am Memnon and this is Athialtes of the Agiadis legion, if you do not release the girl and sit back down we will have to use force."

The man bellowed in laughter, "You little man will get out of my business and go back to your table." He said as he shoved the soldier named Memnon back. Memnon just stepped forward once more and stood his ground.
"I said back away!." this time the larger man tried to shove Memnon with all his might. Memnon just moved aside and helped him by, and the man went hurling towards the counter at full speed and fell on his back and rolled. When he returned to his feet he muttered a curse and charged at Memnon agian, this time the soldier named Athialtes blocked his path and he actually mannaged to pick the man up by his waist and body tackle him to the ground. Athialtes then started pounding the mans face with a series of punches and elbows. A style of fighting I have never seen before.

All the remained was blood and a mess of a face. His friends looked in horror, but they did nothing to help their friend.
Athialtes and Memnon now had ther swords drawn and were pointing them at the table of trouble makers.

"Release her." Memnon said has he pointed the tip of his sword at the man holding Mia. So he did, and she ran over to Theseus and Mitiades who was now sitting up looking in awe at the legionaries who were now sheething their swords. The one named Athialtes walked over to the bar and through down a pouch of coins.

"Sorry for the trouble." He then turned and walked over to his companion.

"What are your names." Memnon asked them as Theseus and Mia were carrying Mitiades from the tavern.

"I am Theseus, this is Mitiades." he said as they reached the street and placed him on the bench outside of the tavern.

"Hell be alright, his lip will swell but its nothing that wont heal in time." Memnon said as he reached in his pouch for a few coins. "Take this and go see a physician."

"Thank you sir." Theseus said as he took the coins and placed them in his pouch.

"Before you go, are either of the legions recruiting?" Theseus asked Memnon before he could turn around.

"Your interested in enlisting?" He asked as he and his comanpion turned to face Theseus.

"Yes sir."

"Theres a recruiting station just up the road there beside the butchery, inside youll find a man named Losander, tell him Memnon sent you." He said as he looked down then turned to walk away.

"One more question if you dont mind." Theseus looked at him confused. "Why are soldiers of the Agiadis legion in Athens, I thought only the Eurypontid legion was here."

"You ask alot of questions kid.. the king has business in Athens, so he brought 200 of us with him, if i knew more I probably wouldnt tell you." He said without turning around. "Take care kid." He then began walking with his companion down the street.

"Thank you!." Theseus shouted after them. He got no response, the two just disapeared into the darkness.

[Grimbold]

Im a bit confused.

Is the story supposed to be set in the future? I ask because, well, from the screenshot provided, you control part of Greece up to Pharsalus, and when i read the line "in the finest army in the world" i was a bit boggled, since game wise you've dealt with basicly no1 besides GCS and Macedon.

Seems a bit early for your characters to be portraying the Spartan army as the best

Other than a few spelling/grammar mistakes (no offense, it just seems smth that people often mention to AAR writers), i like the story

Oh one more thing, in the future, you better come up with a great excuse to fit a whole elite force of ACTUAL awesome spartan hoplites... because of reasons!

[Evalation]

Chapter2: The Plan.

568AUC
King Pelops stared out of his bedroom window out into the night, the city looked peaceful at night time, all the shops had closed, the agora was empty and the theatre was deserted.

Across the city a few fires burned on the Acropolis signifing that priests were making offerings to Athena. In his palace Pelops heard men talking in the room below him, he couldnt make out what there were saying but it rather annoyed him.

"Gaurd!" he cried as he faced his door.
"Whats wrong sir" the legionary said as he entered the room.

"Would you be so kind as to go downstairs and tell those men to be quiet im about to go to bed and id like it to be quiet." he said as he walked over to his bed and pulled back the wool blankets and adjusted the silk pillows.

"Yes my lord." the gaurd saluted then exited, moments later the talking below him stopped and he fell asleep.
---
The next morning Pelops awoke to a knock on his door.
"By Apollo.. the sun has barely broke the mountains, what do you want!" he asked as he sat up in his bed.
The door opened and entered two gaurds dressed in their armor, one stepped forward with his helmet under his arm and his left hand on his sword hilt.

"Forgive me my lord, but King Agesipolis is here to talk with you." The gaurd said as he waited for an answer. He had the close cut hair of a legionary but his beard was starting to come in.

"Tell him ill see him in a few more moments, im still tired.. and shave that filth off your face, your begining to look like one of those Macedonian barbarians.." Pelops said as he laid back down.

"Yes sir, but he insisted." the guard said as he still stood in the doorway.

"Fine, fine.. tell him im coming." Pelops sat back up on the edge of his bed and rose to his feet. The guard nodded and took his leave so Pelops could get dressed in a proper Chiton.

He finally made his way down into the main hall of his palace and saw Agesipolis sitting on a cushined chair at a table which was covered with food and wine. The morning sun shown through the opened doors to the main hall of the palace eluminating all the frescos and marble columns lining the walls and roof.

"Ah, Pelops my friend good of you to join us." Agesipolis said as he stood to greet him.

"You arrive early." Pelops said as he shook the mans hand and took a seat oppisite him.

"I arrived last night, I slept in the guest quarters of your palace." He said as he took a piece of bread from the table and dipped it in a bowl of olive oil.

"Why was I not informed of your arrival?" Pelops asked annoyed, and glanced over at his guard who was still cradling his polished plumed silver legion helmet.

"It is fine Pelops, I decided not to make a fuss about it.. I entered the city in the cover of darkness and made my way here, my men and I were escorted through the city", I hope you diddnt mind but I allowed half of them to go off duty and roam the city." Agesipolis said trying to defend the young soldier.

"I hope you diddnt mind but I allowed half of them to go off duty and roam the city." He said as he crunched the piece of bread and broke off another.

"No not at all.. but you awake early my lord.. much too early." Pelops said as he rubbed the sleep from his eye and took a cup of wine from the table and began to gulp it down.

"I arise at a decent hour Pelops, there are many things to do when ruling over a large kingdom." Agesipolis said glancing at Pelops as he tossed the piece of bread in his mouth.

"Were you aware of a street riot at the agora the day before?" He asked reaching for a grape on the table.

"Yes my lord, I assumed the riot control took care of it." Pelops said as he sat back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. Is he really going to lecture me now.. he thought to himself.

"They did, but 4 lives were lost and one of which was a royal gaurd.. I assume you diddnt know this either?"

"Did you come to scold me, or was there another purpose for this visit?" Pelops replied now getting rather annoyed.

"Watch your tone Pelops, I am still High King and a member of the Agiadis bloodline, and the answer to your question is yes, there is another point to this." Agesipolis stood and motioned for Pelops to follow him. The two walked over to a table where a map of the kingdom was laid out and markings could be seen on it.

"Look at this, my scouts have been tracking a sizable Macedonian army west towards Thessaly, I fear they will seige our forts along the borders and make a push into Greek territory." Agesipolis said as he traced the armies movement with his finger,

"What would you have us do my lord." Pelops said as he looked up at Agesipolis.
"I fear the second Greaco/Makedonian wars are about to begin, we must prepare our legions for a forced march to northern Thessaly in case our borders come under seige." Agesipolis said as he turned and walked away from the map. Pelops stayed and glared at it for a moment longer.

"I agree, we must prepare our troops in case the worst happens, when do you plan to march?" Pelops said as he joined his king by the fountain in the middle of the big room.

"I dont.. at least not yet, we will wait for those barbarians to make the first move then we will answer." He said as he ran his hand in the crystal clear water, a fresco could be seen at the floor of the fountain of Theseus battling the minotaur.

"Whats the plan then?" Pelops asked him now leaning agianst the fountain looking at his colleage. Agesipolis walked back over to the map and nodded for Pelops to follow.
He began tracing movements with his finger,

"I will march the Agiadis legion north into Thessaly, then we make camp here outside the city of Pharsalus, you my friend will bring your legion by sea around here into the Aegean and land here at Makedonia, after I have dealt with the Macedonian army here, we will link up for a joint seige assault upon their capital city destroying their economy and crippling their military outposts." He said as he removed his hand.

"An excellent plan my lord, Herakles himself would never out match you in tactics." Pelops said as he put on a fake smile.

"Do not mock me Pelops, this is the beginning of a new era, an era to which Greece will become the proper empire it should have scince Zues created us." Agesipolis said as he looked down at the map once more.

"The world will be mine.." He muttered under his breath. Pelops stood and just nodded.

"I will assemble my legion on the outskirts of the city."

"No, give it about two months, enough time for me to begin a new recruitent season and replenish my numbers from our last battle." Agesipolis turned to leave, he looked back and said
"See you in two months my friend." He then turned and took his leave, with his royal legionary gaurd following him out of the door.

"Damn fool.." Pelops said as he turned to the map and glared at it.A gaurd entered behind Pelops moments later.

"My lord?" He asked as Pelops turned to face him.

"It looks as though were going to war boy, how are the men?"

"Eager to get in the fight sir." He said standing at attention

"Good." He said as he patted the young soldier on his shoulder armour.

"Good.." Pelops walked away with a wicked smile on his face.

[Evalation]

Im a bit confused.

Is the story supposed to be set in the future? I ask because, well, from the screenshot provided, you control part of Greece up to Pharsalus, and when i read the line "in the finest army in the world" i was a bit boggled, since game wise you've dealt with basicly no1 besides GCS and Macedon.

Seems a bit early for your characters to be portraying the Spartan army as the best

Other than a few spelling/grammar mistakes (no offense, it just seems smth that people often mention to AAR writers), i like the story

Oh one more thing, in the future, you better come up with a great excuse to fit a whole elite force of ACTUAL awesome spartan hoplites... because of reasons!

The first post on this thread kinda gives a background of the story as if written in the future during modern day. Notice in some areas it says "Modern day historians". When the story begins with chapter 1 it starts off right as the kingdom was preparing to become the feared empire that it did.

As for the hoplites.. in my story they have been considered obsolete to the new legionary style for which king Agesipolis adopted from his time spent in Rome. So I dont think they will make an appearance.

But I hope that wont be a reason to not read this AAR, you might find that you enjoy it later on.

And thanks for your feedback.

Edit: This is from the opening post and I boldend the important part:
This AAR will follow the rise of Sparta to become a world power and feared Empire, I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I will writing it. (Meaning the story will begin Before its rise to Empire status.)

[seleucid empire]

Great Start Eval!

Although, I would have to ask, why did you make one of the spartan Kings the High King? It would have provided a more roleplaying opportunities if both men had the same power (at least on paper)

[Evalation]

In the descr, it says the Agiadis bloodline is superior to that of the other, I tried to portray as the game does, with Agesipolis being the superior of the two.

[seleucid empire]

In the descr, it says the Agiadis bloodline is superior to that of the other

wth????

[Evalation]

In game, Agesipolis has a trait called "Agiadis Bloodline" The definition of it says that his bloodline is superior to that of the bloodline Pelops hails from.

[McScottish]

In game, Agesipolis has a trait called "Agiadis Bloodline" The definition of it says that his bloodline is superior to that of the bloodline Pelops hails from.

Not 'superior', just older, the Agiads coming into existence earlier than the Eurypontids and commonly being considered the older of the two lineages. I will say that it would also make sense historically, Agesipolis III having been a king for some time, whilst Pelops was just a child, the son of Lykourgous and more-or-less held in the power of Machanidas.

As for the AAR itself, I like it. Great writing! Carry on, sir.

[Evalation]

Chapter3: Enlisting.
Screenshot Coming..

568AUC
Theseus, Mitiades, and Mia made their way to a physician later that night. The doctor said to just keep the cut cleaned and keep him from messing with it, which wasnt too hard because s soon as we got home he went straight to sleep.
---
The next morning Theseus woke as the sun broke through the window and struck him in
the face, he had spent the night at Mitiades' home on the farm, it was a simple
house with a with a living area, a bedroom and a place to cook, and a bath area.

Theseus got up off his little bed he made out of blankets and walked over to the door and cracked it a bit to peer in, he saw Mitiades laying on his side facing the wall with the sun hitting him in the back. It appears Mia had stayed with him aswell, she had her clothes on so obviously she had not bed him but just kept him company.

Theseus was just about to close the door when he heard Mitiades call his name,

"My friend you are still here?" He said as he rolled over and sat up on the bed.He then touched his lip where the cut was and jerked it away rather quickly.

"Still hurts huh?" Theseus said as Mitiades got up and turned to look at Mia laying on the opposite side of the bed.
Mitiades nodded and continued to look at the beautiful creature that had graced him with his prescence.
Did she really sleep by my side all night?, he thought to himself.

"Shes been with you scince we brought you home.. I thought she had gone, but I feel asleep before she I saw her leave." Theseus said as he held the door open for his friend.

The two walked into the main room and sat in chair facing each other at a small wooden table at the corner next to his front door. The sun glared into the room and made Mitiades have to readjust his chair to avoid eye contact.

"I heard you ask the soldier last night about inlisting into the legion.." Mitiades
said as he looked up at Theseus. "I guess it has something to do with your namesake.."

"No. I want to join the Greek army because I want to do my part in the defence of this country, my father was a soldier, and his father before him.. and so on." Theseus said as he folded his arms upon the table looking out of the window at the wheat field blowing in the morning wind.

"I dont want you to join with me, I jus..."

"No, I want to enlist.. if I am to be with Mia I want her to feel safe around me, last night proved that I am uncapable of protecting her.. and the way those legionaires beat that man like a child, thats something I want to learn." Mitiades said as he straightened himself in his chair.
Theseus looked up and smiled, He had hoped his friend would go with him to enlist but he diddnt want to force him into it. Now Mitiades announced that he was willing to go made him very excited.

"The legionaire named Memnon gave me directions to a enlistment building at the agora." he said as he began to stand up.

"What about Mia?" Mitiades asked as he too rose and stared at the door to his bedroom where the girl of his dreams lay sleeping.

"Write a note. tell her the truth" Theseus said

So Mitiades grabbed a piece of parchment and began to write his letter.

To my beloved Mia..
I cannot stand the fact that I cannot and will not be able to protect you from harm.. therefore I have decided to join the army with Theseus, fear not my love.. for I will return a fully trained soldier and we will begin our lives together if you will still have me.
I you wish to write me just address the letter to Sparta at the basic training outpost on the outskirts of the city.

This is not goodbye, just farewell for now.

Love always,
Mitiades

The two then set out for the city to go to the agora.
---
Once Theseus and Mitiades reached the agora people were walking everywhere, mothers dragging children behind them who were reaching out at things set up at shops lining the wide open area, fountains were shooting water out of their spickets, dogs were running wild, and many many more things that made going to the agora such a funny, scary, and exciting place to visit.

"I think its over here." Theseus said as he directed Mitiades to the place Memnon had told them to go.

Once they were inside there was a large man sitting at a desk looking over some papers, it looked as though he has had a rough day because sweat was running down his forehead and the side of his face, and the way he was flipping through the papers indicated he was in a very fould mood. On top of that though he looked like he was not the man you wanted to mess with, he had the typical short hair, clean shaven face just like an ordinary legionaire. His muscles could be seen under his white legions tunic and his Kopis slung over his right shoulder.

"Eh, what do you want..?" He said as he looked up as if annoyed by these two strangers who dare interupt his work.

"Um, are you Losander?" Theseus asked as he and Mitiades stepped further into the room.

"Whos asking?"

"A legionaire named Memnon told me to come and find you here about enlisting to one of the legions.. he told me to tell you that he sent me here." Theseus said as he diddnt take his eyes off the stout man sitting before him.

"Did he now.. well lets have a look at you then." Losander said as he rose from his chair and walked over to the two young men. He slapped Theseus' shoulders, then felt his biceps.

"Pathetic.." He said as he looked over at Mitiades.

"Whos this then.. your lover?" he said with a ugly grin, Theseus and Mitiades looked at each other then turned back to the man and said in unison.

"No!"
"Sir this is my friend, he wishes to join with me." Theseus said as he held a hand up to Mitiades.

"Ah. forgive the mistake.. we have male lovers coming in all the time wishing to join the army together... makes me sick to be honest with you." Losander said as he leaned agianst his desk.

Theseus had no comment, he just wanted to know if he was qualified to join the army.
"Are we qualified to enlist?" Theseus asked bluntly.

"Well your both as weak as my 7 year old daughter.. but I suppose the instructors at Sparta will turn that around real quick." Losander said as he smiles at them like he thought they were criminals going to their exicution.

Losander looked them up and down for a moment longer then returned behind his desk and pulled out some papers.

"This here lads is enlistment papers, I trust you can both read and write?" He asked them

"Yes sir, we can." Mitiades said as if offended, he then reached for the papers but Losander yanked them back.

"Before you sign your name boy, know this.. once your name is on this paper Ill send it to the legionary headquarters in Sparta, there it will be kept and taken notice of by my superiors, once you sign this.. you belong to the state, you life is no longer your own, you will be the property of Greece." He said as if trying to encourage us not to join.

But Mitiades agian reached for the papers.

"So be it.." Losander said as Mitiades signed his name then passed it to me.

"Now, I have to fill out these questions that will go to headquarters with your enlistment paper." He said as he took out two more papers.

"I trust that scince your enlisting together that you will want to be put into the same branch?"
"Yes sir" Theseus said as his stomach began to hurt from escitment, he was so close to becoming a member of a legion.

"What are your ages, and city of origin."

"22, and I am from Athens." Theseus said.

"23, I am also from Athens." Said Mitiades

"Athenians huh.. I hail from Argos myself." Losander asked them, as if they cared.
He then wrote down the information on the two pieces of parchment then looked back up.

"Ok so your too old to join the Machiaphoroi, and you have to be a pure blood Spartan to join the Marine Corps, so here are your options." He said as he sifted out another piece of paper and began to read off a list of occupations.

"The Machiaphoroi Eplekitoi, a cavalry career, you can join the navy, one of the supporting archer regiments, or you can join a ballistae crew.. what will it be?" he said as he looked up from the list.
Theseus and Mitiades looked at each other for a moment and then a silent agreement came between them.

"The Eplekitoi." Theseus said as he turned back to look at losander.

"The Eplekitoi it is.." He said as he returned to the other papers and scribbled it onto one of the lines.

"Ok you boys are all set, you leave... now, members of the Agiadis legion are preparing to leave for Sparta as we speak, their taking all the new recruits with them to begin their training, I suggest you hurry to catch up." Losander said with a smile.

Theseus grabbed their paperwork and ran out with Mitiades right on his heels.

[Evalation]

Not 'superior', just older, the Agiads coming into existence earlier than the Eurypontids and commonly being considered the older of the two lineages. I will say that it would also make sense historically, Agesipolis III having been a king for some time, whilst Pelops was just a child, the son of Lykourgous and more-or-less held in the power of Machanidas.

As for the AAR itself, I like it. Great writing! Carry on, sir.

Oh well I already wrote it.. Im not changing it now.

But im glad you like it.

[seleucid empire]

I agree with grimbold, sparta just isnt the same without its legendary hoplites. Maybe you can write about a civil war involving the old spartan veterans which were forcibly retired because of the reforms. My AAR will also see spartans, the EB version.

[Evalation]

In my story the spartans realised that the hoplite fighting style was obsolete, so when the reforms hit the men who were the hoplites become legionaires. The Promachoi(Spartan Elite) were reorganized into the Marines, the elite fighting force and "wall taker" troops within the legion. I may write in something where they are honoring the old hoplites though.

But I will not be using hoplites in the new Spartan army. If you dont like it i dont want you to feel like you have to read it, but nothing is goin to change as far as hoplites, but if people start to really not like it then ill cancel it.

No sense in writing something no one wants to read lol.

[seleucid empire]

Ahh i see: spartan pures = marines

Marines are probably the one unit form RS 2 that I would like to see in EB (historical accuracy be damned)

Steve Erikson''s books who I get my inspiration from have marines in every single book

the closest things EB have are

http://europabarbarorum.heimstatt.ne...y&category=any

http://europabarbarorum.heimstatt.ne...y&category=any

http://europabarbarorum.heimstatt.ne...y&category=any

[McScottish]

Ahh i see: spartan pures = marines

Marines are probably the one unit form RS 2 that I would like to see in EB (historical accuracy be damned)

Not sure what you mean by this...marines are perfectly accurate, almost every major power would have had their little compliment of them. True, the term 'marine' may not be right, but any infantry aboard a ship to board another/fight on land is essentially a marine force.

[seleucid empire]

Not sure what you mean by this...marines are perfectly accurate, almost every major power would have had their little compliment of them. True, the term 'marine' may not be right, but any infantry aboard a ship to board another/fight on land is essentially a marine force.

Thats why Im saying RS2 has a bit of inaccuracy by introducing them as 'marines'. it should just be heavy infantry or mobile assault infantry. The fact that they introduce them as marines (the modern concept of marines an elite/specialist force) shows that they want to add some flair to their game.


The actual marines which fight on sea should not be available for land based armies. And I don't think they would be elite cause navies were made of up of them which would mean that a country would pour all of its best troops into their navies.

I haven't ever heard of a land battle involving actual marines (especially not spartan ones).

The fact that they are in the game and available as heavy infantry for your land armies is a bit inaccurate. As I said, I think they added it to add more flair to the spartan armies

[Evalation]

This AAR is not following any historical path, nor am I trying to simulate a historical accurate army. Im just using my imagination on this one to make a good story.