(EB) EMPIRE: Song of Peace and War

[seleucid empire]

Nice!!!I like it

thanl you! glad you enjoyed it

sitck around for more. I update this quite regularly

[Evalation]

Very good update, keep em comin man.

[seleucid empire]

Very good update, keep em comin man.

Thanks. Unfortunately I'm having a slight writers block ATM and my words aren't coming to me very easily

[Evalation]

Thanks. Unfortunately I'm having a slight writers block ATM and my words aren't coming to me very easily

Same with mine, I picture what I want to write but when I sit down to write I just go back to blankness

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 7: Hubris Part 1
Summer 248 BC Pannonia Illyrica

Lucius Cornelius, Consul of Rome, felt his smugness dissipate when he saw the size of the Illyrian army approaching. Row upon rows of men, stretching to the horizon on every side. Still, the thought of defeat was far from his mind. His legions were disciplined, well armed and most importantly, they were made up of true Romans. Men who had expanded the borders of the Republic across most of Europe had been undefeated in battle against every enemy. Every enemy except the accused Seleukids Lucius thought.

The odds were in his favour. One hundred thousand disciplined legionaries and thirty thousand Auxiliaries against ninety thousand barbarians from a nation that had never even once bested the Epirotes or Macedonians. They stand no chance against us today thought Lucius, reassuring himself. But his hands began to twitch nervously, a feeling that was completely unwarranted given the circumstances.

"General, a small detachment of Illyrian cavalry are riding up towards us. It looks like some kind of house guard." reported his tribune.
"Very well, we will go and parley with them."

A guard of 30 men was quickly assembled and the company set out to meet the opposing party in the kill zone between the opposing armies. The foremost figure of the Illyrian party was dressed in a strange garb, more akin to a temple priest's robes than a battle uniform.

"Greetings general of Roma, I am Pactius, 3rd Septum of the New Illyrian Kingdom, Priest of the twin goddesses of Maniae and Lyssa, the queens of madness."
"I am Lucius Cornelius, Consul of Rome and commander of this expedition."
"What is the purpose of your visit here Consul? Why have you marched through our lands and with such a large force too?"
"Enough games Illyrian, you know why I am here. I have no designs on the Illyrian Kingdom. My targets are the Seleukid holdings in Macedonia. I only need to cross your lands to get there and we will trouble you no more."
"Ahh, yes but we have already sent emissaries to Rome have we not? We cannot allow another nation to cross our borders for nothing more than its insatiable greed."
"Have you gone mad? How dare you insult Rome."
"Alas I am not blessed by the twin goddess with Madness."
"You insolent fool! If you do not allow us passage, we will crush your forces today along with your tiny kingdom."
"That is yet to be seen."
"Look around you Septum. I have brought 22 legions here. What do you have? Ninety thousand barbarian warriors? We will sweep your forces aside without breaking a sweat."
"It is clear these negotiations are over.. I suggest we use swords to decide what words cannot."

With that Pactius and his party rode away. Lucius turned his bodyguard around and rode up to his own lines fuming.

"Legates! Prepare your men for an immediate attack!"

Lucius watched as his men quickly marched into formation. He smirked when he saw how disorderly the Illyrians seemed. However, when they had finished manoeuvring, their formations were perfect. Lucius hestiated, and then gave the order for the march. Fourty Thousand hastati moved forward as one, behind them, forty thousand Principes followed by twenty thousand Triarii, the backbone of the legion. On the flanks were the Greek and Gallic heavy auxiliaries, fifteen thousand on each wing. As they approached, the details of the Illyrian army became clearer and his Tribune Marcus Levitus groaned.

"What is it Marcus?" asked Lucius.
"Look there...Agrianian infantry..." said Marcus pointing.

"Yes, so?"
"Fought against them when I was just a lad and Pyrrhos was rampaging in Italy. They were the toughest and most vicious group of warriors I have ever met. I had sincerely hoped that I would never see them on a field of battle again."
"All barbarians fight like that."
"But these are different sir. They have a measure of control and combined with a barbarians skill in fighting they are a formidable force. If I remember correctly, they were also very quick and were able to run rings around the legions"
"Well, that doesn't seem to be a problem. There is no way that they can run around our lines today. It is too long. Even if they did, they will be too tired to lift their swords."
"They use axes general..."

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 8: Hubris Part 2
Summer 248 BC Pannonia Illyrica

The Illyrians were only a few score metres from the front lines now and close enough for Lucius to hear the enemy make a most dreadful noise. From the throats of ninety thousand Illyrians, came the sound....of laughter. Not a mocking laughter but a hysterical one. The sounds of mad and twisted men. From his own lines he heard only silence, a weak challenge to the enemy's psychological assault.

The Illyrians stopped marching and screaming, standing thirty paces away from the main lines, within javelin range.

What in Pluto's Kingdom are they planning? wondered Lucius.

"Ready Pillae!" barked Marcus, who had ridden up behind the lines of hastati.

"Aim!"

"Throw!"

Forty Thousand Javelins flew and before they struck their targets, most of the hastati had their second pilla ready.

"Ready!"

"Aim"

"Throw!"

To his dismay, Lucius saw that few of the Illyrians had gone down. He squinted to get a better look and then his eyes widened in shock. The Illyrians in the front lines were studded with javelins. Some men had up to three javelins embedded in their bodies. But they still stood. The confident faces of the Hastati turned into expressions of pure horror.

Oh.

"Lucius! Sound the horn for a fighting retreat!" screamed Marcus but Lucius just sat there, staring dumbfounded at the Illyrians.

As if responding to some silent command, the Illyrians began to scream again and they rushed forward all at once in a huge wave. The Lines clashed, and the screams of his own men filled the air, mixing with the bestial sounds of the Illyrians...a morbid chorus of madness and terror. The front rows of Hastati stabbed repeatedly at their opponents but their opponents seem to ignore their wounds and fight on. The madness continued to shine in their eyes even after limbs were cut off. They only seemed to die after many mortal wounds were inflicted.

These Illyrians...are no longer men at all..

An aide rode over to the general.

"Commander! The right wing is buckling. We cant seem to bring these monsters down. What are your orders?!"

"I...I...don't know..." stammered Lucius.

From the left wing the same cry for help arrived. Soon, even the centre was buckling under the pressure of these madmen, men who felt no pain and continued fighting on with their wounds until they dropped dead of exhaustion.

"General..I think its time to make amends for these men...for leading them here to this hell..." said a voice next to him. Lucius turned around and saw Marcus' grim face beside him.
"Yes.." said Lucius slowly."We must save as many as we can...Marcus, sound the retreat."

He unsheathed his sword and urged his horse onwards. Three thousand horsemen followed, riding into certain death. Marcus blew three sharp notes from his horn and then rode after Lucius. The centre disengaged at the sound of the horn and the Illyrians raced after them. Lucius' cavalry crashed into the Illyrians just as they were about to overtake the legionaries. The leading Illyrians vanished under hooves, the sounds of bone crunching and spears puncturing chests. Their momentum carried them far into the Illyrian masses, where a newly formed line halted their charge. Bogged down and surrounded, they fought desperately, in a fight they were never meant to win. Lucius looked back and saw four battered legions retreating off the battlefield. Everywhere else he looked, his men were getting butchered by the victorious Illyrians.

Oh Gods, so few...4 badly mauled Legions...out of 22. Jupiter forgive me...

He turned his head back around just in time to see an Agrianian javelin enter his chest...

[seleucid empire]

just a question, and this may affect where my story goes. Which of the storylines do you enjoy the most?

- Archimenes, Mardonious
- Helioketes
- Alexandros, Antiochus and Sarpedon
- The Flame Breakers
- High General Epikrates

[Grimbold]

My question is (perhaps answered in the future) are you turning more into fiction now? I mean, men with several javelin hit on them... undead?

[seleucid empire]

My question is (perhaps answered in the future) are you turning more into fiction now? I mean, men with several javelin hit on them... undead?

Haha it was always meant to be like this but Its taken me a long time to actually write about something supernatural. Although I did hint that this wasn't going to be a normal aar when I wrote about quicksilver's parentage.

and no they are not undead, its more to do with madness. Think of an Illyrian version of the naked fanatics (The ones from EB)

and i mentioned Maniae and Lyssa, the Greek Goddesses of Madness, who have a role in the story in the future.

[Grimbold]

Haha it was always meant to be like this but Its taken me a long time to actually write about something supernatural. Although I did hint that this wasn't going to be a normal aar when I wrote about quicksilver's parentage.

and no they are not undead, its more to do with madness. Think of an Illyrian version of the naked fanatics (The ones from EB)

and i mentioned Maniae and Lyssa, the Greek Goddesses of Madness, who have a role in the story in the future.

True but those things are more likely to be taken into account as mere mythology or stuff of legend, like the father of Quicksilver being Hades, something said just to emphasize his legend.

It's a bit of a strech with the naked fanatics example, since the way you described the scene had them being hit with a considerable amount of javelins which no man would survive, regardless of being on drugs

[seleucid empire]

True but those things are more likely to be taken into account as mere mythology or stuff of legend, like the father of Quicksilver being Hades, something said just to emphasize his legend.

ahh, well not in my aar, myths and gods will be a lot more active... Wont give anything away now

It's a bit of a strech with the naked fanatics example, since the way you described the scene had them being hit with a considerable amount of javelins which no man would survive, regardless of being on drugs

yeh, the reason I made it unbelievable was cause I wanted the reader to realise there was something horribly wrong with Illyria. I guess I should have toned it down a bit

[Evalation]

Ill put an arrow by the ones i think are the most enjoyable.

- Archimenes, Mardonious<---
- Helioketes(Cant remember what this ones about)
- Alexandros, Antiochus and Sarpedon<---
- The Flame Breakers<----
- High General Epikrates

[seleucid empire]

Ill put an arrow by the ones i think are the most enjoyable.

- Archimenes, Mardonious<---
- Helioketes(Cant remember what this ones about)
- Alexandros, Antiochus and Sarpedon<---
- The Flame Breakers<----
- High General Epikrates

hmm ok interesting, I guess I havent written as much about Helioketes as I would have liked

[Evalation]

the thing im most looking forward to is the showdown between the usurpers and the imperial army lead by the king.

I read through and I remember what Helioketes story is about, and yea I like that one also.

[Evalation]

Bump, Hey buddy I just started a new AAR called Sparta: Rise of an Empire. Go check it out when you get time.

[seleucid empire]

Chapter 9: Dance of Blades
Summer 248 BC Seleukeia

When Mardonious arrived at the training fields, he saw most of Archimenes' recruits sprawled out on the ground. The captains and sergeants were barking orders at the unresponsive recruits while Archimenes himself was standing silently, his face darkening with every moment.

"How am I supposed to turn these recruits into soldiers. We've only been training for an hour and they can't move!" exclaimed Archimenes.
"You need to inspire them, to draw out their hidden strength." replied Mardonious
"How?"
"Try using a speech."
"Ah, a speech. I wrote one, but I have not said it yet." replied Archimenes handing Mardoinous a slip of parchment.

Soldiers of the Seleucid Empire. Let these trials be a lesson on the harshness of life. If you do not succeed in the training grounds, you will be the first to die on the battlefields!

"By the 12 Olympians!" exclaimed Mardonious
"What?"
"That is the worst speech I have ever seen. You're supposed to inspire them, not make them desert!"

Archimenes scowled at this, made to say something, then promptly shut his mouth. It took Mardonious a moment to realise that Archimenes was looking at something behind him. He turned around and saw a man standing at the edge of the training field dressed in a distinct silver armour. Mardonious recognized him immediately: Abbadion, Blade of the Emperor, the bodyguard of the most powerful man in the world.

Although Neoptolemus of Karia was officially recognized as the greatest warrior in the empire, few men in the royal army believed it. Those who had seen Abbadion fight were forever humbled and if the two warriors should ever meet, no one doubted that Abbadion would be the one who walked away in the end. No one knew where exactly Abbadion had come from except that he was from a land further east than India, who he had been trained by or how old the man was. They only knew that by the time he reached adulthood, his skill in the sword was unmatched. So the question now was: What was he doing here?

"Greetings Blade of the Emperor. May I ask what the purpose of your visit is?" asked Archimenes
"I am here to check up on this battalion. I must say I am appalled to see your incompetence in dealing with these recruits."

He's trying to bait Archimenes, thought Mardonious. He opened his mouth to warn his friend but saw from his friend's expression that Archimenes already knew.

"I am sorry to disappoint you." replied Archimenes reaching for his sword.
"You have not disappointed me yet." said Abbadion, drawing his own. It was made of fine Galatian steel and was the same length as a two handed Gallic sword but it was curved, a foreign style of swords that Mardonious had never seen before.

All the recruits were watching the two men now, and silence hung over the entire field. The two men closed on each other in a blur, too fast for Mardonious to follow. For the spectators, the duel resembled two whirlwinds battering each other and breaking apart in a repeated succession.

A dance that would awe the Gods themselves..

Sparks flew from the clash of blades and the air was filled with the sound of steel striking steel. Suddenly, the two men broke apart. Abbadion was the first to sheath his sword. Mardonious saw a small cut on Archimene's face while Abbadion was completely untouched.

"I have never faced a man who has lasted so long against me. You are the best I have ever fought Lord Archimenes." said Abbadion, who then turned around and departed the field without another word.

"He was so fast..." stammered Archimenes, sinking to his knees.
"Look at the recruits!" exclaimed one of the captains.

Archimenes and Mardonious turned their gazes towards the recruits and saw them standing in lines, a new spark of life in their eyes.

He had given the men faith in their commander, thought Mardonious, Well done Abbadion, well done...

[Evalation]

Great update, keep em comin.

[Grimbold]

2 legendary warriors destined to bravely perish at the hands of the undead (?) illyrian horde

[seleucid empire]

well if you dont like it...

and they are not undead =.=

as I said I have been influenced by steve erikksons work so there will be gods and supernatural elements blended into the story. But that doesnt mean my aar will have big magical duels or undead or zombies or unicorns :/

[Grimbold]

well if you dont like it...

and they are not undead =.=

as I said I have been influenced by steve erikksons work so there will be gods and supernatural elements blended into the story. But that doesnt mean my aar will have big magical duels or undead or zombies or unicorns :/

You misunderstood me. I wasn't criticizing it.

Just imagining it as a possible scenario.