The Land of Traders [EB Karthadastim AAR]

**Ownager** · January 28, 2014, 09:32 PM

Summer, 272 BC
If a merchant ever was to travel the Mediterranean in a boat, it would be prudent for him to stop at some ports along the way, in order to replenish supplies and prepare for the journey ahead. If one was traveling from East to West, he would encounter a problem. Very few ports in the area were capable of harboring a fleet. After setting off from Alexandreia, Antioch or any other port near Syria, one would be able to make a quick stop at the merchants city of Rhodos, under heavy taxes of course. Then, they would have to go towards the West. By the west, I mean to the west of Hellas, for that is the center of civilization and the known world. While Rhodos and Antioch were well secured by their leaders, ports closer to Hellas grew more dangerous. The trader could either attempt to dock at Athens, Sparta, or Crete. Athens and Sparta are both Greek, part of an alliance of old Greek Poleis. But the area is in turmoil, and if the ships are in port when the city is captured, they will be given to the conqueror. Crete, is a pirate port, one still independent of the clutches of Greece, although rumors have said that King Areus wishes to take the land for himself. Most likely though, his presence in Crete is to gather mercenaries to the Greek cause. Continuing forward, one would start to run out of supplies. He may choose to stop at Taras, still allied to Pyrrhus of Epirus, but the Romani have a significant force in the area, and the city is not guaranteed freedom from Romes mighty grip. Coming to the jewel of the Mediterranean, Sicily, one would be able to stop at Syrakousai, but Ennychos of Syracuse has been levying huge taxes from merchants and other shipments from outside. By now the sailors may be threatening to kill and eat each other, such will be their hunger. But if one is to continue for just a little more, he would find safety. A huge, circular port, with space for hundreds of ships, would open its gates welcomingly. And this city, the great Merchant City of Kart-Hadast, or Karthago to the Romans, this city would offer you food and water, and would be your savior. It would be the largest port your men have ever seen. The wars around the world had removed the safety of so many ports, but Kart-Hadast stood firm, strong and ready to repel enemies. Their forces on Sicily were strong, and mercenaries were readily available. Here, you would find an ancient city, with an ancient port, the last free port of the West. The last one, open to all traders, welcoming to foreigners, a city older than the ancient city of Rome, even older than the propoganda of the Romani claims its "Eternal City" is.

**Boriak** · January 29, 2014, 03:14 AM

Paragraphs, mate, and line breaks.

Other than that, nicely done. A refreshing change to be out in the sea instead of in the battlefield.

**Ownager** · January 29, 2014, 05:43 AM

Oh yes. I was typing the intro, and just kept going to avoid a writers block. It will be better. I wanted to focus on the Sea going aspect of the Carthaginians, since it's the one thing that separates their armies from The Greeks.

**pokeytrev** · January 29, 2014, 08:59 AM

I like where you are going with this. It is very refreshing indeed. Keep it up.

**Ownager** · January 29, 2014, 10:24 AM

What exactly do you mean by where I am going with this? Just to clarify, is it my introduction of the sea, or my AAR idea as a whole?

**pokeytrev** · February 03, 2014, 03:54 PM

What I meant was that your introduction was nicely written, easy to follow and practical, unlike some of the AARs where the authors have their head up you know what so far that they come off as smug jerks. You present a story that gets one excited to continue reading it by simply telling a story in a form that is natural.

**Boriak** · January 30, 2014, 02:38 AM

It was a good introduction but you didn't specify yet what the main plot will be. This could be a grand introduction to a classical Karthadastim campaign or you might completely focus on fleets alone.

The sooner you write another one, the sooner this question will be answered.

**Ownager** · January 30, 2014, 04:34 AM

Ah. I see. Its not a focus upon their navy, as much as a focus on that cultural aspect. Its just that I never really go into detail about the famous aspects of each culture I play as, so I wanted to have an intro that would fit Karthadastim, the traders.

**Ownager** · February 03, 2014, 12:27 AM

Hamalcar sat atop his beautiful, black, Nisaean Charger, imported from the Ptolemaioi, who had themselves captured it from a Persian landlord. Behind him, more than 1000 men marched. Iberian cavalry, Libyan Spearmen, Expert Iberian light infantry, medium Liby-Phoenician hoplites, and of course, his own bodyguard of Astartes sacred band. The army had been marching for two seasons. The first season, reinforcements from the mainland had arrived to augment his forces. The second season, they had marched against Hieros' Mammertines in their city of Messene. The first target to defeating Hiero and unifying Sicily. The Karthadastim navy had been completely dismantled, save the trading fleets. The colonies and homelands of Carthage were rich, but they could not afford to have a huge navy as well as a unit of elephants. Hamalcar watched the city of Messana. Guards began running around the perimeter of the wall. Suddenly, a violent explosion shook the area. Hamalcar fell off his horse in shock. He was not as used to warfare as his fellow guards, who stayed firmly on their saddles, their faces betraying nought but the slightest hint of fear. The Iberians and Libyans seemed to be ready to rout right there. Hamalcar called out to his men. "Soldiers! Do not be afraid! It is just the almighty Ba'al warning the Mammertines of our approach." The men began to murmur in discontent, but they didn't run away, so that was good. Even as he looked around and spotted the Volcano that had erupted, he was thinking. One of the greatest problems for him was relating with the soldiers he commanded. Some were foreigners with no understanding of basic Phoenician, others were more civilized. But they all had different gods, and uniting them under Ba'al was not helping morale much.

But to put his mind off of matters such as this, he chose to assault the city immediately. He told his men that he was attacking for the gods had signaled for him to do so, but in reality, he was scared that a second eruption would send his men running back to Africa or Iberia. Hamalcar sent his Iberian Caetrati to harry the Greek skirmishers. They would be a terrible threat to the elephants, which were vulnerable to enemy fire. The Equites began to take losses as they came within the guard tower range, but they held firm, and the startled Akontistai retreated to a narrow passageway. The elephants began their furious barrage, and broke down the gates with ease. Hamalcar cried out, and the Caetratii poured in. First, they unleashed a terrible barrage of Soliferra, which Hamalcar had imported from Iberia. The militia hoplites at the gates were sent into dissarray, and so the Iberians gained access easily. The Caetratii were experts in guerrilla warfare, but they were not used to urban warfare. Here, they were attacked by Militia hoplites and some mutated version of the standard hoplite, named after Iphikrates. They were surrounded, but their falcatas were chopping right through the hoplite armor. Suddenly, a cry erupted, and Liby-Phoneicians and Libyans poured inside. They began to drive back the defenders, but suddenly the tide turned. Ennychos charged forward with his Tarentine cavalry, who began to push the invaders back, isolating the Caetratii. Hamalcar, frustrated, sent his Milites to stand ready in case they needed to join the fight. The cavalry held the invaders at the gates, and the Iberian Caetratii kept falling. Suddenly, Hamalcar ordered his men out. As many men as possible went out, but many got separated from their units and stuck inside.

A horn came out from behind the walls as Diomedes of Athens speared another barbarian. Ennychos was so close to him, and he kept fighting for his life, desperate to hold off the barbarian onslaught from coming inside. A cry of fear came out from the. Greeks around him, and the Barbarians cheered as a loud stomping began to ring out. Suddenly, a grey beast loomed over him. He could only watch as his spear broke off when it hit the things tusks and the beast gored him. His last thought was to his family, before he succumbed, to become another body in the mayhem. The elephants began to break up the disciplined hoplite ranks, but the Caetratii wouldn't hold for much longer. They were exhausted, almost surrounded, and could see no hope of escape. The elephants retreated to a distance, then charged again. Hamalcar was worried about the Iberians, for unlike most generals, he cared for the lives of the men over their fighting skill. Not necessarily a good trait for sending men to war. He began to march forward himself, but the Tarentines managed to stall his men, and killed one before he retreated a bit. The man sent his Milites in, while at the same item using the elephants again. Suddenly, the tables turned. The morale tipping point reached, the Iberians routed. Within that same time, the Greek ranks broke and ran. Hamalcar lined his infantry up and began to chase the enemy routers. He watched as they fell, and downed many himself. Ennychos had already fallen, and the last few units of hoplites were defeated at the end. Unfortunately, the elephants caught some sort of disease from the Greek blades, probably dirtier than the ground they walked on. They all died, which was a relief to the economy, although a sad loss for Hamalcar. Hamalcar besieged Syracuse next.

Ll try to keep this going, but I'm losing interest in favor of a Makedonian campaign. My ADHD is just getting worse, not letting me concentrate at all on one campaign.

**Ownager** · February 04, 2014, 02:13 AM

Oh. Ok. I wasn't aware my AAR had a natural form, but thank god it is.

**pokeytrev** · February 04, 2014, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Ownager

Oh. Ok. I wasn't aware my AAR had a natural form, but thank god it is.

It was meant to be a compliment, so take it as you will.

It has a natural form because it is told as a story without extra bs thrown in.

In other words, you don't start out your story like others by saying things like: "The Romans are a people of virtue. They [history lesson thrown in]. They also [another lesson]. ...random bs before starting out proper.

**pokeytrev** · February 04, 2014, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ownager

Oh. Ok. I wasn't aware my AAR had a natural form, but thank god it is.

Do I sense sarcasm here?

**Ownager** · February 04, 2014, 07:36 PM

Ahhhh. I was going to do that, since it seemed to flesh out the aar, but I guess it's not as useful as I thought.

**Ownager** · February 05, 2014, 12:29 AM

Noooooooooo. Seriously, I was not aware that stories with added effects like detailed intros would be considered BS, plus I didn't have that in mind while writing it. When you said you liked it, I didn't know what to say, since I hadn't wanted it to come out like that. I'm glad you are reading. Sarcasm is for the sarcastic.

**pokeytrev** · February 05, 2014, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Ownager

Noooooooooo. Seriously, I was not aware that stories with added effects like detailed intros would be considered BS, plus I didn't have that in mind while writing it. When you said you liked it, I didn't know what to say, since I hadn't wanted it to come out like that. I'm glad you are reading. Sarcasm is for the sarcastic.

Well, I don't want to say they are bs in general for everyone. What I said really only applies to me; it's not universally true. Anyway, when is the next part coming?

**Boriak** · February 05, 2014, 07:59 AM

Sounds good. Keep it up.

**Ownager** · February 05, 2014, 09:26 AM

Sorry, to say, I usually restrict myself to weekends, part of a strict new regime I imposed around the household. All recreational activities related to the computer to be held till the weekend, and even then, only 2 hours. But I will try, if I get free time, to make a few hints and foreshadows into the next stage. I've divided the AAR into about 5 stages, which are divided into subdivisions, although I don't want to reveal them yet.