[RS 2.1] A New Reign - AAR on the Ptolemaics

[Boustrophedon]

Dear reader,


I've had a story lodged in my head for quite some time. The story will take place all over the campaign map and will feature naval battles (only the after action reports can be shown ofcourse), palace plots, a few new ancillaries that I've added to spice up roleplaying, letters from characters to one another,... Main focus will be on two things: pharaoh, the empire and succesion on one hand and a few generals with their armies on the other.

Updated! 27-09-2012

Table of contents

Introduction and Chapter 1: Where heroes meet
Chapter 2: Assault baptism
Chapter 3: Rhodos, port of call
Chapter 4: Antiocheia for the taking
Chapter 5: Death of a brother
Chapter 6: Civil war on the horizon
Chapter 7: Betrayal
Chapter 8: Conflict and stability
Chapter 9: Fall of a king
Chapter 10: Age of expansion

Chapter 11: Campaign of Kassandros, commander of the elephant corps

Part I: Invasion of Cappadocia
Interlude
Part II: Trapped and alone
Part III: Skirmish between empires
Part IV: Slaughter at Amasia River
Part V: Thinning out the Pontic forces

Chapter 12: Campaign of Hermeias of Ace, commander of the marines

Part I: Response to a betrayal
Part II: The first step of a long march
Part III: Battle for Libyan lands
Part IV: Securing a foothold
Part V: Recovery

Chapter 13, Campaign of Ptolemaeus V, Pharaoh and King

Part I: Entering Seleucid lands
Part II: The prince and the Pharaoh
Part III: Festivities and strategies
Part IV: Treason and conspiracy
Part V: House of death

Please comment if you've read my story. I could use the help as this is my first attempt.

[Boustrophedon]

A New Reign: Ptolemaic AAR

Introduction

In the reign of Ptolemy the Third our empire suffered much and we were weak. Our lands in Asia Minor stood alone while we fought in Egypt for our survival. Seleucids, Judaeans, Greeks and even rebel scum from the desert preyed on our weakness and we payed dearly in both lives and territory. Mere days before his tragic death Ptolemy King in all his wisdom decided to abandon all territories in the north and pulled back all batallions stationed there after sending word that the governors were to pack up and leave. They all complied... except the young governor Permenion of Ptolemaic Thrakia.

When Ptolemy the Fourth ascended the throne his first act was to summon Permenion to his court in Alexandria where he would have a chance to speak before his fate would be decided. Permenion sent a slave to the court of the king with the message that Ptolemy III had left his lands and that Egypt could no longer claim sovereign over those territories but with permission from King and Pharaoh Ptolemy IV he would reconquer the lost regions and enforce Ptolemaic rule. He humbly asked for 20.000 soldiers and 500 talents of silver.

The courtiers had silently disappeared fearing an outburst from their king, but Pharaoh upon hearing this message simply howled with laughter and yelled for his vizier to give Permenion all he needed to set about reconquering Asia Minor. Servants, courtiers and soldiers spread the story of Permenion and his courage in not only fighting for Egypt but in defying two kings and strangely still alive.

Every new ruler liked to organize his kingdom to his own liking and Ptolemy IV was no different. He set about upgrading all major ports in Egypt proper and those of Kypros. The war had not been progressing well in the decades before under his father's rule and this was mainly due to a lack in the naval prowess of the Ptolemy kingdom. Ports and warships they had abound, able admirals and crewmen were more difficult to come by.

Pharaoh commanded his generals to find him men capable of seawarfare. Months later three men stood before the king in his throneroom. He knew only one: Hermeias of Ace, a fierce warrior and veteran of ten years fighting the Seleucid forces. He had been promoted to the basilikon agema after killing an enemy general in single combat, a rare accomplishment since the days of Homeros, Achilleus and Hektor. Not a likeable man if he recalled correctly. The two others were obviously sailors and both foreigners. Olganos introduced himself to Pharaoh as a humble ship captain from Rhodos. The king tensed. "Rhodos is in the hands of the Greek Allied Cities. Our enemy." he spoke. Olganos did not seem to mind being called an enemy. "Aye, it is true, lord. I was your enemy and sank many Egyptian ships in that time, but the Rhodians betrayed me. They took my family and killed them in an effort to set an example and stop brigants from roaming the island." Olganos sighed "They were innocent." and spoke again in a stern voice "I profess my allegiance to you now, my lord. I hope to sink many ships of the Rhodians and after that is accomplished I will sink any vessel that raises arms against you. I humbly ask you to accept my offer and my loyalty. My brother who stands beside me feels the same way though he cannot speak any civilized language."

The king had been impressed by these fine men and congratulated the generals on carrying out his task with such efficiency and result. The generals promised to make offerings for the new enterprise. Things happened swiftly after that and Egypt and the House of Ptolemy were on the rise again sending shockwaves throughout the Great Sea, filling their allies with hope and spreading fear into the hearts of their enemies.

As Pharaoh hoped Permenion quickly became a hero and inspired men and women alike to once more and with conviction serve the empire and the Pharaoh to make them both the greatest of the world...

Chapter 1: Where heroes meet




Hermeias of Ace was not a pleasant or joyful man, as the Pharaoh had shrewdly guessed. When he was in his early youth his village Ace was just like any other village in the Levant and he lived there happily with his sister and parents. Though the region was frequently beset by armies of the Seleucid and Ptolemaic forces, fighting for control of these lands, they had never deemed his little village of shepards worth bothering. Until one night some hundred armed riders descended on the hapless sheep shepards and their families. They were Seleucid and had come from a garrison 50 miles further inland.

Even today, 9 years later, Hermeias could still feel his blood freeze at the thought of those huge, grim warriors. They had seemed like demigods to him and he had been too petrified to stop them when they killed his parents, even joyfully hacking away at their already lifeless bodies. The rape of his sister had perhaps been even worse.

"She's too pretty to keep her to myself", the leader had said. "Who wants a go with her? Keep her alive though!" the leader had laughed then amidst the chaos and death around him. Hermeias could hear him laughing in his nightmares. He had been forced to watch and with every soldier penetrating her, with every scream she uttered, his hatred had grown.

When the old Ptolemy III toured his empire at the end of his life, Hermeias had packed all he owned of worth and went to see the king. When finally they had met, each saw in the other a man who could be of immense worth. Hermeias told crisply of the doom of his village and his need for vengance. The king looked at him and offered him his own sword and a place in his army if he would swear to serve, always and loyally, the House of Ptolemy. Hermeias did not hesistate and swore his oath, thinking of the Seleucids that would meet his blade in the time to come.

After ten years of hard fighting, his body was littered with scars and his hatred for the savage Seleucids had not diminished, but his respect for their fighting skills grew with each battle. They could field some fierce warriors. When campaigning in the Levant the commander of his battalion took him aside one day and spoke of a special commission straight from the King's advisors. Though he had distinguished himself in battle, he could not fathom being considered for a commision. He was a fighter and thought only of his own survival and that of his comrades beside him. Yet the King's generals had asked specifically for "the warrior Hermeias from Ace, a man said not to have smiled for nearly ten years". No further information had been forthcoming so he had obeyed and travelled to Alexandria, never having seen the city though he had heard tales of its massive walls and enormous harbours.

Upon arriving he had been directed to the palace of the Pharaoh where after a long wait the ruler of a massive kingdom had talked of his plans and how the past of Hermeias meant he could be trusted where other generals could fall victim to bribes. After they had talked for hours on the new military enterprise that would launch in one month time, he had been shocked to discover he had been given command over 20,000 soldiers. All of them young macedonians, as old as he had been when the dreadful attack on his village had taken place.



The commision had seemed like a mountain he could not climb for he had never been a thinker in battle or strategos in a campaign yet now he held 20,000 lives in his hand and his actions would see them live or die. He sought out the officers of all batallions and sat down with them, talking of the campaign to come. They were impressed with his crisp and succint outlay though it was clear he did not have that streak of genius soldiers hoped for in a new general.

A few weeks before launching his invasion he went swimming in the Great Sea, not knowing that this side of the beach was reserved for the young nobles that were abound in Alexandria.

"Foolish man! Do you not know this beach is reserved for nobles and not peasants like yourself?"

The voice came from behind him and slowly he turned around. Four young men stood facing him and their wide grins disappeared when they saw his chest, abdomen and legs littered with dozens of scars old and recent. A fifth young man walked up to the group of nobles and flashed a savage smile.

"Was that fear I saw on your face, Dios? I could have sworn it was, but then again fear is a frequent visitor in your life. Now run along before this veteran warrior decides to kill you and eat you alive!"

They scurried away and the young man spoke then to Hermeias with a voice that betrayed his nobility and his level of education, for he was a recent graduate of the naval academy.

"They have more noble blood than brains but if I had let you hurt them their fathers would have demanded your death and that would be a sad end for a warrior like yourself."

"Very considerate of you, young noble. What makes you think I will not harm you for patronizing me?" Hermeias felt the soldiers before he saw them standing close by. Armed to the teeth, hands on their swords and grim-looking men

"It would be unwise and careless. I am an officer expected to report at the barracks of the marines in one hour so men would come looking for me, warrior. I hear the new general is a sheep-shagger from the Levant but I do not want to antagonize him."

"Aye, good point, noble one. You should not believe the stories until you've actually witnessed him going at it with a sheep. I hear they are difficult to catch." His face held a tiny hint of a smile.

A soldier came up to the young noble then. "My lord, it is time for you to leave. We must not keep your father waiting, the King wishes to see you before you depart."

"You are the son of the King?"

"One of them. Hopefully we will meet again, warrior."

[dezikeizer]

Good to see a Ptolemaic aar, there aren't very many. This sounds interesting, so I'll certainly be following.

[Boustrophedon]

Chapter 2: Assault baptism

Hermeias felt his spirits lift as he entered his command tent. He was one of the oldest men in the newly established Naval Forces and one of a handful of men with real combat experienc. It gave him a kind of authority which he never expected to cherish yet he did because the men gathered in his tent counted on his ability to lead them to victory and keep them alive in the process. He cleared his mind, took a deep breath and entered the tent...

"Where have you been!? We've been waiting for nearly two hours and you could have sent word if you were delayed!" spoke Dios, his face seething with anger.

Hermeias walked past him and seated himself at the head of the long table, bidding the others to sit as well.

"When you have earned the right to address me in such tones you will know it. Until that time you will address me as either sir, general or lord. I have received this command from the pharaoh and basileus Ptolemy IV and by his divine will I sit here. If any of you recruits speak to me in a disrespectful tone I will ship you home in disgrace, is that understood? Here in this tent your former ranks, social status and wealth mean nothing! I am the one and only authority here and the only one who can override me is the King!"

It was a boiling hot afternoon in the desert but the temperature in the tent dropped instantly and Hermeias' eyes were scanning the 20 men sitting at the table. Nobody moved, nobody spoke. He began placing men in command of the various components in the army. He had worked it all out beforehand ofcourse and had memorized it for his knowledge of numbers was limited. Fourteen batallions of marines, 1200 men in each of them, making a total of 16,800 marines placed under command of fourteen commanders. A great responsability to command 1200 but he had already decided to remove those whom he deemed unfit. The first battle would tell him all he needed to know. 4000 peltasts were placed under the command of 4 captains and his 1200 light horse under two men, one a veteran from the hetairoi and the other the nobleman Dios. A combined force of 22,000 soldiers. Recruits they may be but he would make veterans out of them and the finest fighting force in the Ptolemaic armies. He turned to the young nobleman at the end of the table.

"What is your name, prince? You will be my second-in-command by order of the King until I deem you unfit for the task or another brings forward evidence of sloppy work. Do you accept these terms?"

"I do, general. My name is Ptolemaeus Philopator Philometor Epiphanes V, but my friends call me Adrastos."

~

Admiral Olganos stood on his deck with his brother Apisaon, his face one of concern. Having sailed these waters often in his days of fighting for the Rhodians, he knew them to be treacherous. His assistant up in the mast then screamed at the top of his lungs: "Land! I see land!" and Olganos relaxed a little. "Prepare for landing and make it a flawless one, boys!" The crew had trained for this moment months before, practising on smaller islands. But this was Krete and not some speck of rock with friendly natives. This was enemy land and he had been sailing enemy waters, cunningly avoiding the Greek patrols. The Kretans were in for a surprise...

~



"Where the hell are we? asked Hermeias.

"Western Krete, sir. About 100 miles from Kudonia."

"Aye, it will be a forced march then. The Greeks have not yet been alerted to our presence so we must keep the momentum. Let's get the boys ready for the road. Oh and Adrostos make sure they know what prize awaits."

He knew it was important for the recruits to have achieve a sound victory in their first battle. Starting a campaign with a defeat would be disastrous for morale. Leaving 5000 men to guard the beached ships and gather provisions from the island natives, he marched to Kudonia...to spoils and victory.



They caught the city completely unaware to invaders and King Byzas only had his militia with him, his regular forces campaigning with the Athenians in the peninsula. He could muster a little more over 5000 men but the 17,500 men with Hermeias made short work of them and took control of the capital. The marines had shed their first blood and were jubilant. Nevertheless 600 men were dead or would never bear arms again. Hermeias had fought countless battles before but the loss of those 600 was an agony he could not describe or share. Only Adrastos knew of his anguish but then again there was not much Adrastos did not know.

He was the general now so he could not show weakness. He could not falter, he could not give up courage, he could not sleep it off or drink the pain away. He could keep going and not give the enemy an inch, making them fight like lions if they were to conquer his marines. He would unleash his hounds on the Seleucids soon enough. The Epibatai stood victorious and new lands lay ripe for conquest...

[Maiar93]

Ah, RSII with the ptolemaics! I just stick with the romans

[Boustrophedon]

Chapter 3: Rhodes, port of call

The waves were dashing about, sending the ships reeling while the crew worked hard to keep them afloat. Under the leadership of Olganos the fleet grew in confidence and each day they performed miracles. The Rhodians had a strong navy patrolling the sea around the tiny island. Hermeias knew a stealthy approach would be out of the question. They had sneaked into Kudonia but they would have to batter down the gate of Rhodos or scale the walls or just sit and wait. Many might die but it would be worth the losses.



Olganos landed his massive fleet on the southern end of the island and prepared his captains to battle the Rhodian fleet under command of Admiral Polycratis. Olganos had 120 warships and the Rhodians 40 of similar quality so it would come down to skill and cunning and weight of numbers. He could not lose.



The Rhodians had called for aid from their Seleucid allies who held no love for Egypt and they sent a mighty fleet of 80 vessels under command of Admiral Leocharis, an old veteran of the Great Sea. With superior crews and the newest artillery on their heavy quinquiremes Olganos inflicted a terrible beating on the combined Seleucid-Rhodian fleet.



Some 40 ships were captured or sunk while losing none. Hundreds had been wounded but the Ptolemaic fleet lost no sailors that day, while stunning the Seleucids with a hammer blow. They had been masters of the Great Sea but Olganos was turning the tide...

Rhodos meanwhile had been under siege for several months and felt the sting. Bread had become a luxury and potable water was used as payment in the city. Despodent they offered terms and handed over the city to Hermeias and his marines. Their blockade had been so succesful they had captured an immensely important harbour and lost only one marine, who fell to the ground while crossing a farm and was crushed in a stampede of pigs.



He took command of the island and directed Adrastos to distribute half the booty among the men and keep half for the king. The port of Rhodos was put to good use and Olganos placed his brother in command of a large fleet. They had a combined strength of 250 warships and 20,000 sailors, enough to dominate the eastern part of the Great Sea, using Rhodos as their main base of operations. All inhabitants were sold into slavery and houses auctioned to the soldiers. No civilians could live on Rhodos anymore. Marines captured it and marines will make it their home.

The next few months were utter bliss, the men relaxing at the seaside and the captains and commanders growing into respected coworkers and even friends. Not all was calm however. The admiral brothers hunted down enemy ships and blocked ports all over the Great Sea, crippling trade for their adversaries. They were unmatched and fearless.



Hermeias was raiding the coasts of Asia Minor with his marines from his base on Rhodos and nothing could break the havoc he created. He doubled the height of the walls of the city in a mere month, thanks to the brilliant sketches and instructions from Adrastos. At one time he even caught Demetrius, son of the Seleucid king, in Side. He destroyed the prince's little force and slaughtered the Seleucid population who had been supporting raids on Kypros for years. They felt fear now as marines dispensed justice for 50 years of raiding and piracy. It was a bloody mess but his men did as he asked, for he had led them to victory time and again and yet he wondered when the gods would decide his luck has run out...

[Maiar93]

Nice update, you surpass my tactical abilities with a great margin i would have lost five hundred men to those pesky kretans lol.

For the writing, i think it's awesome. Keep up the good work!

And you at least write them really, i just make them up from my mind - although i always have the main story which i'll keep to.

[Boustrophedon]

Chapter 4: Antiocheia for the taking

The battle for Antiocheia would become a fierce struggle, both sides realizing the importance of the city. It lay at the crossroads of Asia Minor and Asia proper, a region stuffed with resources and a central hub for inland trade coming from the Seleucid lands and even India. Hermeias and Adrastos had known from the start, when plans were being developed for the assault, that the Seleucid forces would not give up the city without a fight. The city itself only held a small garrison of some 5000 soldiers, militia mostly, but the excellent road network meant that they could not siege the city into starvation as it was likely that the king of the Seleucids would send a strong relief force. Should that come to pass, the marines would become trapped between the city, the mountains and the river and they would be annihilated within days.

Hermeias thought on this issue for days but it was the young Adrastos who proposed they set a trap for the Seleucids, as they came to reinforce the city. He outlined his plan to Hermeias:

"They have to come through the gap between the mountains and there is only one bridge that can sustain heavy military movement. If we hide men along the road to Antiocheia we can have them send word to our main force and march to meet them at the river crossing. If we succeed they will be stunned into inaction and it might give us the time needed to capture the city."

Hermeias could find no fault in this plan and before calling his batallion commanders to him he thought of the battle to come. The Seleucid king was no fool and would realize that the sack of Antioch would gravely weaken his position in Syria and the surrounding provinces, perhaps even beyond salvation, so he would send his most experienced army. Hermeias grimaced while images of those argyraspides and elite silver shield thorakitai flashed through his mind. Many years ago he had faced them on a battlefield in a major campaign and realized they were the men who had come to his farm and killed his family, they had terrified him then even though he was no longer that young boy but a veteran soldier. The silver shields had cut their way to our king and the basilikon agema of the pharaoh had to fight them off while sustaining heavy losses. The Silver Shields were ferocious warriors and he wondered if his lightly armoured marines could achieve victory against them.

Battle at the river:

Months went by and they besieged Antiocheia with the skill they had achieved from all the other cities they had taken over the years, even though this Seleucid city was a stronghold protected by immensely strong and high walls. It would fall in time though like all the other cities that defied the marines.

Word came that a massive army was rapidly approaching from the east. Seleucids. Who else would send an army on a forced march to this part of Asia if not the Seleucid king? Hermeias sent 2 batallions under command of prince Ptolemy to the other bank of the river where they were to remain hidden until Hermeias sent word to fall on the rearguard of the Seleucid army. Smoke signals would be used to communicate. Hermeias assembled his marines to march for the bridge and left his cavalry wings behind to patrol the perimeter of the siegeworks. They were useless anyway in the fight to come.



Mere hours after they arrived at the bridge, exhausted and dirty from marching, the enemy approached. Hermeias observed the Seleucids coming out of the woods and nearly lost the will to fight.



Antiochos had sent his most elite regiments, as he had expected. Hypaspistai and Silver Shield regiments marched towards the bridge, some of their commanders already shouting orders as they had seen our marines obstructing the road.



Could there be victory against these hoary vetarans? Hermeias pushed all such thoughts aside for fear of showing his men that he had doubts on achieving victory or even surviving the onslaught to come. He prayed to all the gods he could think of to grant him victory and that the enemy did not discover Adrastos with his two batallions.



The Seleucids decided to storm the bridge and poured every regiment into the bottleneck. A sound tactic Hermeias could admire. Every fibre in his body told him to retreat but he could not. He had rolled the dice and must trust in his luck to hold.



Fierce fighting erupted with the marines trying to push the Silver legion back and the Seleucids attempting to force a crack in the Ptolemaic lines they could then exploit. It was a grim battle, the wounded and dying trampled by friend and foe alike while they fought for every step forward. Hermeias had kept 200 shock marines in reserve with him who would be responsible for either turning the tide when defeat was near or deliver the final punch which would ensure victory.



He could hear the thunder of hooves and realized the Seleucids were massing their cavalry to storm the bridge and charge straight into his vulnerable marines. It would be difficult to withstand such a charge from hetairoi and cataphracts.



His men tried dodging the sarissa's from hetairoi aimed at their chest and many were nimble enough to escape the first charge, though the second charge from the cataphracts inflicted severe casualties on the marine batallions in the front line.



He signalled his assistant to give the smoke signal to Adrastos who was still waiting on the other bank. Hermeias smiled at the thought of the young prince trying to keep his wits while oblivious to the progress of the battle. He turned to his 200 men and suddenly felt filled with courage and pride, his confidence soared and he addressed them in a stentorian voice:

"My brothers, do you hear that thunder? I once thought it to be Ares himself roaring at me but I know better now and so do you, men! Those cataphracts are just human like us, they bleed and die just like us. Does their thick armour and long lances scare us? Do their snorting horses scare us?"

"No, general!" they roared in unison

"Good! I need brave men such as you at my side. I'd rather do all the killing myself than put you in danger but I can't have you relaxing all day, now can I? One side will gain a victory here...now make sure it is our victory!"

Without another word Hermeias stormed off to the frontline, not looking back to see if they followed him. He knew they would follow and fight like lions all the way through. 200 men followed in his wake, killing anything that looked even remotely Seleucid. Hypaspistai were laying dead at his feet, though they were fierce fighters and veterans they were cut down like dogs by his shock marines. He reached the bridge and saw that many of the cavalry were still fighting and could see reserve regiments of pikemen waiting at the end of the bridge, ready to be thrown into battle. He despaired then for the marines had killed more than half the Seleucid army yet they still stood and fought. A faint familiar voice sounded then from the other end of the bridge. It grew in power and become clearer with the second until it was impossible to ignore even with the sound of battle all around them.

"Epibatai, epibatai! Victory to the epibatai! Fight for our brothers and drive them to the bridge!" prince Ptolemy roared.

Adrastos and his two batallions had found their way to the other river bank and fell on the Seleucid reserve pikemen regiments, slaughtering them before they could form a defensive formation. A magnificent sight to behold and Hermeias fought on with renewed energy. He assigned 20 men to 10 batallions of marines to reinforce them and drive the remaining Seleucid forces onto the bridge where they would be cut down and die or where they would jump in the river, hoping to flee disaster. Those that did not drown immediately were chased by marines, swimming with daggers between their teeth to finish them off. The massacre was complete...



Hermeias and his marines had achieved total victory though the cost was high with over 3000 dead and wounded, many of them from the charges of the hetairoi and cataphracts. They did not die in vain and it was a glorious battle that would pass into legend many generations from now.



Antiocheia fell a few months after the battle and Hermeias ordered his marines to plunder as they saw fit, a reward for their indomitable spirit in this campaign. Even after the looting, over 32,000 talents of silver and gold were found in the palaces and treasury and shipped to Alexandria.



The Seleucids had lost one of their major cities and would be attempting to recapture it so the defenses of the city were repaired and new regiments of militia trained to take over garrison duties from the marines. The marines took command of the city, slept off their weariness and grieved for the 3000 dead and all the friends who died. Young Ptolemy and Hermeias took up residence in the largest palace and began reorganizing the province of Syria to be incorporated in the glorious Ptolemaic Empire...

[Boustrophedon]

I'm doubting how to proceed. I've written 2 new chapters and they are ready to be uploaded but I ran across a special event.
My FL has three sons and one has died one turn after the FL died. Should I continue with like a small civil war between the two remaining sons?
I can also just write/play further with my original storyline I had in mind and ignore the rest. What do you guys think?

[Vercingetorix King of Gauls]

I'm doubting how to proceed. I've written 2 new chapters and they are ready to be uploaded but I ran across a special event.
My FL's has two sons and one has died one turn after the FL died. Should I continue with like a small civil war between the two remaining sons?
I can also just write/play further with my original storyline I had in mind and ignore the rest. What do you guys think?

No, Egyptans have to conquer, not to kill each others

[dezikeizer]

Great updates and great progress. As for the situation, personally I wouldn't mind the civil war, as you are in the time period where the big civil wars between members of the Ptolomaic royal family started. +rep
Just a few things:

The generals promised to make offerings to the the new enterprise

I think you meant: The generals promised to make offerings for the new enterprise.

had shrewdly guess

Shouldn't that be: had shrewdly guessed?

He was the general know so could not show weakness

I think you meant: He was the general now so he could not show weakness.

and they sent mighty fleet of 80

I think you meant: and they sent a mighty fleet of 80.

[Boustrophedon]

Chapter 5: Death of a brother

At the sound of running servants and a child crying from the courtyard Adrastos looked up from his desk, heavy with scrolls, walked over to the window and glanced at the town square below. He saw a messenger clearly in a hurry ride his horse straight through the gate of his palace, brushing aside his guards posted at the entrance. The young man frowned and called for his servant to bring the visitor to his chambers before anybody had a chance to speak to him. It was clear the courier was on an important mission, but what could be that important to nearly trample Royal Guards.

When the messenger entered Adrastos offered him refreshments and a towel to wash the dust from his face. He posted two loyal guardsmen outside the doors and closed them, while adressing the man now seated opposite his desk...

"Tell me what can be so urgent that you completely forget protocol and don't properly greet a prince of the empire."

The man's eyes were wide from fear and he profusely apologized for his disrespect.

"I come directly from the King, my lord. I am one of four messengers and the message I'm carrying is to be posted in every major city of the empire. It concerns the death of the king's firstborn Euthydemus and the appointment of a new heir to the throne."

Adrastos froze and did not know how to react to such news. How could Eutydemus be dead? He was always the warrior and seemed too strong to die at such a young age. And what of this new heir? His father had never been proud of him and would not have named him his heir while his other brother is too much the scholar. He spends his time in the Library at Alexandria and rarely leaves the capital.

"Give me that message."



He died in battle while commanding the Judaeans. His body is already transported to Memphis for mummification but the news has not yet spread. Thank the gods for that! He read on and was shocked to read his father had actually named someone outside the family as heir. A hero sure, but not kinsman to us at any rate! Not enough noble blood but a well-liked man throughout the empire. A political move but not one Adrastos can accept.



He'd rather die than see old Permenion on the throne lording over him as if he were subject to him. He walked over to the door and called his guards in. Before the messenger realized what Adrastos was doing behind him, a blade ran across his throat and his blood formed a pool on the floor. The two guardsmen picked up the courier's body and wrapped him in a carpet. Adrastos adressed the senior one of the two.

"Make the body disappear. Do not speak of this to anybody. He never arrived here but was found dead on the road far from here. The poor man was robbed by bandits. Keep his horse for yourself."

The guards smiled upon hearing that last command for it was custom that messengers get first pick at the horse markets. They would make a fortune selling it as a breeding mare.

"Oh...Nearchos! Summon Hermeias to me after you've cleaned up the blood."

"Your will, my lord."

"On second thought...leave the blood."

[Boustrophedon]

Chapter 6: Civil war on the horizon

Hermeias was exhausted from the day's work when a guard woke him from a very pleasant dream and did not feel like getting up for whatever it was that needed his attention. The thought of all the administrative duties that awaited him was daunting and while Adrastos took responsibility for many of them, it was still Hermeias who had to make the final decisions. They had been in Antiocheia for little over three months now and with the southern coast of Asia Minor secured and the King campaigning against the Seleucids in their own lands, there was little fighting that required his marines. They were growing restless, tired of the garrison duties and homesick, though no soldier under his command would ever admit it. Nearly two full years they had campaigned against the Allied Greek Cities, against rebels, against pirates and against the mighty Seleucid Empire, which they had humbled at last with the sack of Antiocheia.

"Why did you wake me, Nearchos? Surely prince Ptolemy can deal with it?"

"My lord, it concerns the prince. He summons you to his study where he awaits your arrival."

"He summons me?"

"That is what he said, lord."

"Why is there blood on your blade, Nearchos?"

"A thief was caught in the palace, lord. I took his hand."

"Clean it up. A guard should not walk around with a bloody sword at his side."

"I'll get to it right after I've escorted you to the prince, lord."

Hermeias had never before been summoned by Adrastos, nor would he ever accept such a thing from a boy who just reached manhood and he most certainly had never needed an escort in his own damn palace. Something was definitely going on and he did not like not knowing what. Quickly putting some clothes on he set off for Adrastos' study.

When he arrived he noticed some obscure bearded figure near the window, an man with an alien look about him and he thought then he could smell blood in the room, a figment of his imagination surely. Adrastos was seated at his desk and Hermeias could barely hold his anxiety as the boy waved his hand to bid him to the chair.

"Good you could come, Hermeias. Please be seated and watch out for the blood, it might stain your clothing. Nearchos, close the door behind you and stand guard until I call for you."

Only then did Hermeias look down and notice a huge pool of red fluid on the floor under the desk. Whoever had bled here must have died judging from the shear amount of it and must have died fast.

"Who died?" he asked, trying to assume an airy tone.

"Just a messenger from my father." answered Adrastos loftily.

Adrastos handed Hermeias the letter the courier had carried with him and walked over to the window, whispering something in the ear of the bearded man. Hermeias did not like the thought that Adrastos was keeping secrets from him, especially when he was in the same room. Without even touching the letter, he got up and walked over to Adrastos and the bearded stranger.

"Listen here, boy. I don't accept that my subcommanders keep secrets from me. You will tell me who this man is and why he does not even greet me or I will cut his throat and stain your own damn clothes with it."

Neither the prince nor the stranger moved or even responded to the threat. They merely glanced at each other and decided to speak their mind rather than further antagonize Hermeias into any rash action. He was still a fierce warrior despite approaching forty.

"My brother Euthydemus has died less than a month ago. He was heir to the throne and firstborn."

Hermeias had never met him, though he was rumoured to be a great warrior and he led the Judaeans to battle against the Arabs and Nabataeans. A veteran and an intelligent man or at least he was thought to be but now Hermeias felt that might be overrated as he was stupid enough to get himself killed in some desert battle.

"I understand. Your father has named a new heir then and it is not you he named or you would have greeted the messenger with the courtesy normally extended to guests. It is quite understandable as you are the youngest child and he has never quite taken a liking to you."

"You see things clearly yet are wrong. He has named Permenion his heir, though the man is but a shadow of his former self and twice the age of my father. No matter. Soon I will make father change his mind."

Hermeias did not like where this conversation was going. Though no threats or plans were voiced he knew Adrastos' path was set and he was heading for betrayal, murder and perhaps even civil war. Whatever the young man had planned Hermeias had to convince him that a civil war would destroy the wealth and expansion they had fought so hard for.

"Adrastos, if you intend to start a civil war I cannot stand by your side. I swore an oath to always and loyally serve the House of Ptolemy. I cannot take up arms against your older brother or your father even if I had a wish to do so."

"I know that, Hermeias. I do not want a civil war, but I do want the throne when my time has come. If father has his way our dynasty will die and I will not let that happen."

"I believe you and agree that it cannot be allowed that another rule the empire when your father passes into the afterlife. You are wise as you are brave, yet I fear my judgement is failing as I have not seen the ambition for the throne in you."

The bearded stranger moved from the window to where the young prince stood and handed him a paper.

"These are the names, my lord. Perhaps general Hermeias can help with this particular problem."

Hermeias barely stayed his hand when hearing the stranger talk as if he weren't there. Who is this man to whom Adrastos listens with such awe and interest.

“Should you have a question for me, stranger, then ask it. Don't talk again as if I were somewhere else or I will kill you where you stand. Who are you and what gives you the right to speak here?"



"I am the chief of police in Alexandria and a loyal follower of prince Ptolemy. I gather information with my network of spies and associates and deliver this to the young prince. My orders come from him and him alone. No other man may command me. I meant no disrespect, lord."

Hermeias turned to Adrastos with surprise. The boy had only just entered manhood yet this spy must have been recruited by him long before this war broke out. How much more was the young man hiding from him, he wondered.

"You may speak freely in his presence, Hermeias. This man has uncovered so many plots against me that it's possible he has saved my life even more times than you have. His loyalty is not in question."

"But mine is, Adrastos?"

The prince's face softened and for a second Hermeias thought he could see that young boy from the beach all those years ago. The soft expression lasted a while and the young prince told him not to fear him.

"I think of you as my father, Hermeias. More so than I think it of my real father who is brilliant in his own way, but a weak man in many other ways. Please sit down and let us talk a little."



"Our great nation has been fighting hard these last few years to increase our influence over the lands bordering our own and we've captured some enemy regions as well. Today my father rules over 21 provinces with our capital at Alexandria. The main problem I will be faced with is our enormous noble class. There are too many nobles in the kingdom, Hermeias. Basileios has been gathering information over the years on all of them and we've come up with a list. There are 480 names on that list and I must decide which men I can trust to aid me and which men will opppose me. I don't have to tell you what needs to be done with that list. Basileios and I will quietly...convince...those who would oppose me not to do so when the time is near. I need you to speak to those we suspect would aid me. You need to make sure we can count on them when I make my bid for the throne wether that is tomorrow or in ten years time. Can I count on you, Hermeias?"

"I am grateful that I will not be the one to...convince...those who might oppose you. I will travel to those who might be willing to aid you and I will help you in your claim to the throne. I have several conditions however."

"Name them", Adrastos whispered.

"Firstly I see the name of Dios, commander of the second light horse squadron, on the list. Let me make myself clear that he will not be harmed in any way nor will I allow you to harm any man under my command. Secondly no marines can be used to fight fellow Ptolemaic soldiers. Should a fight become absolutely necessary I will only fight it with mercenaries. Thirdly no members of the royal family can be harmed for I have sworn to protect and server the House of Ptolemy and will not allow anyone to inflict harm on them. Can you agree to these terms, Adrastos?"

The young prince stared into the eyes of Hermeias and realized he needed this man, who would give his life for him but not if it went against his principles. He stood before an ultimatum and could applaud Hermeias for the manouvre. He had no choice but to accept.

"Done. Basileios, send word to your contacts that Dios must not be harmed, nor any other marine and send extra guards to my close relatives to ensure that nobody even thinks of harming them. Hermeias has never even met anyone of my family apart from my father yet he would fight me if I tried to have them killed. A strange lot they are, that noble House of Ptolemy you so wish to defend."



Hermeias was relieved Adrastos accepted his terms and thought of the months he would spend separated from him while he toured the lands to convince nobles of the young prince's right to the throne. He would have to take his marines with him as they could not be left under the command of Adrastos. Something told him it would not be wise to tempt the young man with 20,000 veteran soldiers, dangled in front of him as bait.



"What will be your first move, Adrastos?"

"To convince the Judaean army that I am a worthy replacement for my brother. I have no idea yet how to achieve this but I will succeed. After our marines they are the most experienced army I can think of, apart from my father's. I need to assure their allegiance before anyone else does."



"A sound move, Adrastos. The army has always been a major leverage on politics, even I know as much. I will leave one of my assistants as governor of Kilikia and the king has already named a new governor for Seleukis and Antiocheia. Nothing keeps me here so I am free to help you with your bid for the throne."



"I will leave you now and prepare my departure. I will start in Rhodos and then make my way through the empire to further your cause. The marines will travel with me as far as Rhodos where they will be under my orders to enjoy a little time off and to train the new recruits who have filled the place of our dead. Only Olganos will follow me where I go and his fleet will be a welcome protection against any raiders foolish enough to attempt an attack on me. I've made quite some enemies over the years with all the pirate-killing."

With that Hermeias walked out the study and shouted for his aides to prepare his departure and to assemble the marines for boarding. He was leaving this corner of the empire and was heading for a long sea voyage with an old friend.





Meanwhile in Adrastos' study:

"Nearchos! Come here and shut the doors."

The guardsman obeyed and stood to attention before the young prince, nothing to remark in his posture and his eyes gazing firmly at the wall above Adrastos' head. A loyal soldier can be such an asset, thought Adrastos.

"I need you to pick some men you can trust and send them along with general Hermeias to Rhodos. They will report his every move until he gets to the island and then they will offer to be his escort while he journeys to all the nobles. Can you find such men, Nearchos?"

"I can, my lord. It will be done as you say. I humbly ask your permission to go along myself to ensure everything goes smoothly."

The prince smiled at that. The man was eager to please and he would not deny him the pleasure.

"No, I need you for a more dangerous task."

"No task is too dangerous, my lord."

"Good. I need you to travel to Alexandria and to seek out my brother Tigranes. As captain of a basilikon agema regiment you will find it easy to track down his whereabouts. I want you to guard him as you protect me and make sure to convince him and those close to him of your good intentions. I would be very unhappy if something happened to my dear little brother. An accident is never far away, you see. A fall from a horse, drowning in the Nile, a stampede of pigs...a whole lot could befall a man. I will send Basileios to you when you when I no longer need him here in Antiocheia"

"I understand, my lord. I will protect him with my life and be vigil to any danger that may befall him."

[Diomede]

On second thought, leave the blood. :o Nice!

[dezikeizer]

Great updates as always, and a great description of the battle. It's going to be tricky to maintain the borders while a civil war is fought, so be careful. Just one thing:

He could here the thunder of hooves

I think you meant: He could hear the thunder of hooves.

[Vercingetorix King of Gauls]

Good, go on

[Boustrophedon]

On second thought, leave the blood. :o Nice!

Thanks, man! Yeah I kinda liked the cliffhanger feel to it.

Great updates as always, and a great description of the battle. It's going to be tricky to maintain the borders while a civil war is fought, so be careful. Just one thing:
I think you meant: He could hear the thunder of hooves.

Thanks for for the praise, it's much appreciated. I corrected the mistake and another one that slipped past me.
English is only my third language so mistakes are bound to occur

Good, go on

Civil war chapters are coming soon

[Maiar93]

That cliffhanger is E-P-I-C
More plz!+rep

[ReD_OcToBeR]

I must say you've put alot of effort into this. Great work. The screenshots are nicely laid out my friend. +rep

[Boustrophedon]

That cliffhanger is E-P-I-C
More plz!+rep

I've got the whole night to spend on writing new chapters so it's coming

I must say you've put alot of effort into this. Great work. The screenshots are nicely laid out my friend. +rep

Thanks man! Great to get feedback from a prolific writer such as yourself