Miletus, Capital of the Kingdom of the Aristydes

[jacb547]

The ancient Greek city of Miletus stands on the border of Aristyes' realm and yet is it's beating heart, traders and artists adorn the busy streets where heavily armed men patrol and the harbor is bristling with trade and war ships. However behind all this beauty the heavy hand of Aristyes can still be seen, decapitated heads decorate the city gates and gallows and gibbets are full of rebels and opponents, however people who accept their new Macedonian overlord can lead a fair and good life. The gates of the city lead to the wilder countryside, where Aristyes' rule is not yet solidified.

The Aristydes Dynasty

Aristyes of Makedon Age: 46 years of age Family: Theodora of Ionia, his wife, 38 years of age Alexander, son, 10 years of age Helen, daughter, 6 years of age Bio: ​Arysties was one of the generals in the armies of Alexander and of Phillip, his father, he fought in many battles and killed many men under the Macedonian banner. On Alexander's initial campaigns he took grievous wounds and was forced to remain behind in the city of Ionia, recovering. Due to his prolonged stay in the Greek city Alexander named him satrap of Ionia and a stripe of the Anatolian shoreline, he married Theodora, one of the healers who had nursed him and named his firstborn Alexander to honor his great King. For long years afterwards he ruled the lands granted to him, seemly content with running it as a personal Kingdom and desiring no further glory, Aristyes rules tyrannical with an Iron fist squashing any who dare oppose him however he is also apt to speeches and manipulation managing to keep a resemblance of order on his lands. With the death of the last King of Makedon Arysties decided to crown himself King, something he was in all but name. A huge man bloodthirsty and lusty he seems to be able to entertain such vices in peace time, seeking no unnecessary wars with his neighbors and seeking to ensure his rule of Ionia and the coast. He possesses some sort of low cunning and skill at arms, although wearied by the years, but he is still ruthless with his foes foreign to the concept of mercy.

The Lands of the Aristydes

Capital: Miletus, 19 Lands: 17,18 and 23

The Royal Armies

Professional Army: 400 Hetairoi Royal Guards (Elite Cavalry) 500 Silver Shields (Elite Pikemen) 340 Hetairoi (Heavy Cavalry) 880 Phalangites 880 Hypaspists Total: 3.000 Men Allied Army: 400 Citizen Cavalry (Light Cavalry) 1000 Greek Hoplites (Heavy Spearmen) 400 Pergamum Archers 300 Ionian Slingers 200 Bithynian Horse Archers 700 Troad Swordsmen (Light Swordsmen) Total: 3.000 Men Levy Army: 360 Levy Cavalry (Light Cavalry) 540 Levy Hoplites (Light Spears) 600 Levy Phalangites (Heavy Pikemen) 400 Levy Archers 200 Levy Slingers 100 Levy Peltasts 900 Mysian Spearmen (Light Spears) Total: 3.000 Men Grand Total: 9.000 Men

Royal Navy

10 Quintereme 15 Quadrireme 75 Trireme 140 Bireme Total: 240 Ships

[Lucius Malfoy]

An emissary from the King of Macedon, Leonnatus of Amiphipolis, comes to Miletus to speak with the Aristydes King of Ionia.

[jacb547]

The emissary from Macedon is shown to the King, a large, fat and bearded man with pig eyes. The King beckons him forth and says friendly "Welcome, kinsman! What word from the west?"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Troubling news, my King. Thracians seeking to overthrow Macedonian control over the Balkans, a new league of Greeks declaring their independence...with so many threats, Leonnatus can only focus his attention upon the Thracians and let the Greeks enjoy their freedom. Yet, his neighbor, this Cleitus of Thrace, may not always be a faithful ally during these times. Thus my King looks to you, Aristyes of Makedon, for a more faithful and true friend in case anything were to happen.

[jacb547]

Aristyes of course, had already heard of such developments, indeed those pesky Greeks had tried to sway some of his neighbors into their league "Then he shall find no truer friend then me! We good Macedonians must bind together to preserve our glory! First my armies will march to help you against the treacherous Thracians and then we can march upon those hellenic bastards." The King was greatly worried by the league, he feared they would try to annex his own former greek polises.

[Lucius Malfoy]

If you truly wish to help us in this war, then prepare your troops indeed. We shall call upon you if needed, but for now, the strength of the Thracian army is unknown to us. Once we know of how many we are facing, we shall send quick word. And my King believes the Greeks must recognize Macedonian hegemony over their lands, yet allowed them to have their independence due to the war.

[Oznerol]

Ten biremes escorting a huge quintireme arrive to Miletus. They are envoys from Antigonus I Kalós, former-somatophylakes of Alexander Megas, now Macedonian King of Egypt.

[jacb547]

If you truly wish to help us in this war, then prepare your troops indeed. We shall call upon you if needed, but for now, the strength of the Thracian army is unknown to us. Once we know of how many we are facing, we shall send quick word. And my King believes the Greeks must recognize Macedonian hegemony over their lands, yet allowed them to have their independence due to the war.

"So it is, my armies will march forth soon!" The King smiled "A promise to a Greek is no true promise, they will all bow to Macedonian power once more."

Ten biremes escorting a huge quintireme arrive to Miletus. They are envoys from Antigonus I Kalós, former-somatophylakes of Alexander Megas, now Macedonian King of Egypt.

The envoys are led before King Aristyes, currently sitting on his throne swirling a cup of wine. The King was huge, fat and bearded with small pig like eyes red from alcohol, he rose and welcomed the envoys. "Hail friends! What bring you from Egypt?"

[Oznerol]

"So it is, my armies will march forth soon!" The King smiled "A promise to a Greek is no true promise, they will all bow to Macedonian power once more."


The envoys are led before King Aristyes, currently sitting on his throne swirling a cup of wine. The King was huge, fat and bearded with small pig like eyes red from alcohol, he rose and welcomed the envoys. "Hail friends! What bring you from Egypt?"

The envoy knew Aristyes well, it was Demetrius, Antigonus' old uncle, who had served under Philip II long years. They have shared more than one party, and they both had seen each other be drunk to stupor during the splendid symposiums of the former Macedonian King.

"Hail Aristyes! King of Ionia, troubling news bring me from Egypt: A local, a mere upstart barbarian, defies my nephew's rule. He could be crushed easily, but we fear he might ally himself with an even more barbarian from Nubia, who has raised a gigantic army against us. Do you believe it? Two barbarian dogs barking my nephew! Our rule is still unstable, as merely a year has passed since we rule over Egypt"

"Thus, Antigonus offers you his friendship; the hand of his eldest daughter, Stratonice (ooc: she is 9), born from my King's marriage with Selene, a proud Macedonian noblewoman. With our families, King Aristyes, joined in marriage, we could help each other in troubled times"

[jacb547]

The envoy knew Aristyes well, it was Demetrius, Antigonus' old uncle, who had served under Philip II long years. They have shared more than one party, and they both had seen each other be drunk to stupor during the splendid symposiums of the former Macedonian King.

"Hail Aristyes! King of Ionia, troubling news bring me from Egypt: A local, a mere upstart barbarian, defies my nephew's rule. He could be crushed easily, but we fear he might ally himself with an even more barbarian from Nubia, who has raised a gigantic army against us. Do you believe it? Two barbarian dogs barking my nephew! Our rule is still unstable, as merely a year has passed since we rule over Egypt"

"Thus, Antigonus offers you his friendship; the hand of his eldest daughter, Stratonice (ooc: she is 9), born from my King's marriage with Selene, a proud Macedonian noblewoman. With our families, King Aristyes, joined in marriage, we could help each other in troubled times"

The huge King drank deeply from his goblet, tossed it away and descended from the throne. His step resonated in the hall as he step forward to Demetrius and hugged his with bear-like strength "Demetrius! It has been long indeed!" He pulled away, leaving the man to regain his breath and speak his fill. As he mentioned the troubles the King grew red with wrath, he did not tolerate pesky natives who opposed Macedonian power "Well but this is an outrage! Hang all these unwashed barbarians, feed them to their crocodiles! This cannot stand!" The King seemed to calm down a bit at the mention of marriage "Perfect! My son, Alexander, is ten, strong and handsome. Took after his father no doubt!" He laughed heartily "Nothing would please me more then to see him wed to a good Macedonian girl! Yes, yes, as soon as she has her blood we can arrange a great wedding to seal our friendship."

[Oznerol]

The huge King drank deeply from his goblet, tossed it away and descended from the throne. His step resonated in the hall as he step forward to Demetrius and hugged his with bear-like strength "Demetrius! It has been long indeed!" He pulled away, leaving the man to regain his breath and speak his fill. As he mentioned the troubles the King grew red with wrath, he did not tolerate pesky natives who opposed Macedonian power "Well but this is an outrage! Hang all these unwashed barbarians, feed them to their crocodiles! This cannot stand!" The King seemed to calm down a bit at the mention of marriage "Perfect! My son, Alexander, is ten, strong and handsome. Took after his father no doubt!" He laughed heartily "Nothing would please me more then to see him wed to a good Macedonian girl! Yes, yes, as soon as she has her blood we can arrange a great wedding to seal our friendship."

Demetrius grabbed the king's arms in friendship.

"A long time, King, too long, I missed companions as you! Ah! Those times with the old Philip, we'll never forget those times!"

Demetrius gets enraged as well, he was as hot headed as the King:

"They are putrid bastards, sons of jackals. Their bodies should be carnage to the carrion!"

He laughs with the King.

"Stratonice has the golden hair of his father, and well be a fine Macedonian bride. Maybe she's two or three years away from his first blood, and then we will celebrate it lavishly! If gods wishes still to have me lurking around, of course"

"I'm thirsty, Aristyes. Being at the sea surrounded by so many water..."

[jacb547]

Demetrius grabbed the king's arms in friendship.

"A long time, King, too long, I missed companions as you! Ah! Those times with the old Philip, we'll never forget those times!"

Demetrius gets enraged as well, he was as hot headed as the King:

"They are putrid bastards, sons of jackals. Their bodies should be carnage to the carrion!"

He laughs with the King.

"Stratonice has the golden hair of his father, and well be a fine Macedonian bride. Maybe she's two or three years away from his first blood, and then we will celebrate it lavishly! If gods wishes still to have me lurking around, of course"

"I'm thirsty, Aristyes. Being at the sea surrounded by so many water..."

"Of course, of course! Wine!" The King bellowed and a servant rushed into the hall with a flagon "More wine you dimwit! Who do you think we are, women?!" The servant hurried away scared and Aristyes smiled "Indeed, eh? What has this world come to? Phillip dead, great Alexander dead his line ended and barbarians rise against us. I myself have some thrice damned Athenians lurking on my border and those Greeks would stop at nothing to steal my lands." The servant returned, this time with a barrel of wine in hand and two other rushed in bearing a small table and two chairs. They set them down in the middle of the hall and the King seated himself with a thud, beckoning Demetrius to follow.

[jacb547]

"Haha they should!" Aristyes was a heavy drinker and although a bit drunk he had most of his wits about him, red faced he welcomed the new envoys "Welcome, welcome! Always good to entertain my good neighbors! Come sit down, you fetch a chair!" A servant fled with haste and returned bearing a wooden chair, he set it near the table, surely for the leader of the emissaries.

[Xion]

"Haha they should!" Aristyes was a heavy drinker and although a bit drunk he had most of his wits about him, red faced he welcomed the new envoys "Welcome, welcome! Always good to entertain my good neighbors! Come sit down, you fetch a chair!" A servant fled with haste and returned bearing a wooden chair, he set it near the table, surely for the leader of the emissaries.

The leader of the group, a Carian named Lykos who led the portion of the Carian army who marched eastward with Alexander and dressed in a more Macedonian fashion than his companions who vary from Carian to Greek. "Hail Aristyes, King of the Ionians. May the gods bless your reign." He bows and then takes the offered seat. "I come from Halicarnassus, to offer you trade with Caria along with a non-aggression pact, as there are greater threats to Ionia and Caria that lie to the west and north of our respective realms that would benefit from us drawing blades against each other."

[jacb547]

The leader of the group, a Carian named Lykos who led the portion of the Carian army who marched eastward with Alexander and dressed in a more Macedonian fashion than his companions who vary from Carian to Greek. "Hail Aristyes, King of the Ionians. May the gods bless your reign." He bows and then takes the offered seat. "I come from Halicarnassus, to offer you trade with Caria along with a non-aggression pact, as there are greater threats to Ionia and Caria that lie to the west and north of our respective realms that would benefit from us drawing blades against each other."

The King raises a hand in greeting and a servant offers the emissary a goblet of wine "Hail and well met it seems we have much to discuss. I am more then pleased to accept such a pact, I have no expansionist ambitions towards my neighbors contrary to those you mentioned, this is Demetrius of Egypt an emissary from Pharaoh Antigonos we were just discussing those threats."

[Xion]

The King raises a hand in greeting and a servant offers the emissary a goblet of wine "Hail and well met it seems we have much to discuss. I am more then pleased to accept such a pact, I have no expansionist ambitions towards my neighbors contrary to those you mentioned, this is Demetrius of Egypt an emissary from Pharaoh Antigonos we were just discussing those threats."

Lykos takes the goblet of wine, nodding to the servant in thanks before drinking from the goblet. He then slightly bows to Demetrius as a sign of respect. "Indeed we do. My Queen's agents have heard of Athenian envoys reaching out to the few Ionian communities in Caria earlier this year, and if they have done so in Caria, it may have occurred in your lands as well where there is a far greater population of Ionian Greeks. Coupled with the rapid rise of this new League in Greece has made my Queen think they may have designs on our lands where the Delian League once held sway.."

[Oznerol]

Demetrius, who was listening carefully, nods in the envoy's direction.

"They must be held at bay, they should not interfere in your affairs, King, nor in your Queen's"

He sips.

"Indeed a pact between you both would be beneficial, for Athenians are ambitious; they'll try to rebuild what once they had. The one who could help you to stop them is the King of Macedon. But he seems to be too busy with the filthy hordes of barbarians coming his way. My King will help you both as much as he is able to. Unfortunately all his forces are gathered in Upper Egypt, as his rule is menaced by barbarians from Nubia and a filthy Egyptian usurper"

[jacb547]

"True, friends!" Aristyes drew a dagger, finely made with shining blue steel from his belt, it's pommel was adorned with jewels and it once belonged to a political enemy. Confiscated before his death. "Let us bind our friendship now, three nations as one to stand against the Greeks!" With a steady movement he cut his palm, exactly where he had cut it on his show to the plebes, a small trickle of blood descended down it's sharpened edge "So swears Aristyes King of Ionia."

[Oznerol]

"True, friends!" Aristyes drew a dagger, finely made with shining blue steel from his belt, it's pommel was adorned with jewels and it once belonged to a political enemy. Confiscated before his death. "Let us bind our friendship now, three nations as one to stand against the Greeks!" With a steady movement he cut his palm, exactly where he had cut it on his show to the plebes, a small trickle of blood descended down it's sharpened edge "So swears Aristyes King of Ionia."

Demetrius cuts his palm as well.

"So does Demetrius, on behalf of Antigonus Kalós, King of Egypt. Unwavering friendship between Ionia and Egypt, between true Macedonians"

And grabs his hand.

[Xion]

"True, friends!" Aristyes drew a dagger, finely made with shining blue steel from his belt, it's pommel was adorned with jewels and it once belonged to a political enemy. Confiscated before his death. "Let us bind our friendship now, three nations as one to stand against the Greeks!" With a steady movement he cut his palm, exactly where he had cut it on his show to the plebes, a small trickle of blood descended down it's sharpened edge "So swears Aristyes King of Ionia."

Lykos draws his own dagger, a slightly curved one taken from a dead Persian warrior at Gaugamela and slices his own palm. "So swears Lykos of Kaunos, on behalf of Queen Artemisia III Hecatomnid of Caria. Friendship between Ionia and Caria, that may, gods willing, last through the passage of time."