The Southern Campaign of Artobyzus, 323 BC

[McScottish]

The Army of the Desert

Persia AOR: 2,500 men per province (4) Professional: 1,2000 men Allied: 2,8000 men Levy: 6,000 men Total: 10,000 men Noble Guard: 1,200 Men (Professional/Elite) (6,000 Pts) Bearers of the Flame (Elite Heavy Cavalry) 400: Since the founding of the Persian Empire the nobility of the varied nations have given over their young men to be trained as warriors, something that the descendants of Cyrus knew something about. These men are part of that legacy- riding atop sturdy mounts, man and rider armoured in scale, mail and a blend of both, and bearing lance and sagris, they bring the Fire of Ahura Mazda to their foes in a tide of blood. (2,000 Pts) Immortals (Elite Heavy Infantry) 600: Although never having come across the name of Immortals during his time in Persia, Artobyzus came across it among the Makedonians and adopted it for the name of his personal guard. These men are the tallest, the strongest, and the most honest men to be found in his newly founded kingdom. Armed with the infamous spears with bases like golden apples, as skilled in close quarters as they are in archery, these men are truly a formidable foe. (3,000 Pts) Allied Forces: 2,800 Men (Heavy Infantry) (5,600 Pts) Native Phalanx Levy (Heavy Infantry) 1,400: To defeat your enemy, you must become your enemy...or something like that. Artobyzus has seen what phalanxes of Makedonian soldiers can do first hand, and he would not have it repeated in his own kingdom. As such, he had taken these steps to begin recruiting the sons of natives and Makedonian veterans from the various Alexandrias in order to form a core of sarissa-wielding fighters of his own, and use his enemies weapon against them. (2,800 Pts) Mercenary Greek Hoplitai (Heavy Infantry) 1,400: Ever since Greeks first set foot in Ionia, centuries ago, their will to fight their own and do it for nothing more than gold has made them famous- sometimes infamous- as spears for hire. Some of these men may be digruntled Greeks, others maybe veterans of Memnon's actions against Alexander, either way it makes no difference. These warriors have taken the gold of Artobyzus and now serve him, unchanged from the time of both their forefathers, warriors of bronze and a bristling wall of spears. (2,800 Pts) Levied Forces: 6,000 Men (Assorted) (8,000 Pts) Camel Riders (Light Cavalry) 600: What can a desert be without camels, especially when they are so plentiful; these are the outriders of the desert, members of the nomadic tribes that roam the wastes, knowing every trail and oasis secreted away in the sands. Not only this, but they make fine cavalry, and the fact that the stench of them is enough to scare horses cannot be a bad thing. (1,800 Pts) Parni/Dahae Horse Archers (Missile Cavalry) 400: Drawn from the nomadic tribes of the northern provinces, these men are born to both saddle and bow, their skills harnessed now by Artobyzus and thier arrows used to harm his enemies. (1,200 Pts) Persian Archers (Missile/Light Infantry) 1,000: Never has a Persian army gone to war without archers, and neither shall Artobyzus! These men are equipped and trained to fight with both spear and bow in the old style. Though not up to par with professional troops, they are dependable and willing to die for their King.(1,000 Pts) Persian Infantry (Light Infantry) 2,000: These men could be called the atypical 'levy', thousands of men drawn from the provinces securely under the sway of the self-proclaimed satrap, armed with a variety of spears, swords and wicker shields, and usually carrying at least two javelins, they are determined opponents on their home soil but against others outside the confines of their own regions not so much. (2,000 Pts) Persian Axemen/Hillmen (Light Infantry) 2,000: Much like Thrake, Anatolia and Baktria, it is in the mountainous terrain of the Iranian east that the most ferocious fighters are found. Used to a life of hardship, made strong by constant struggle against their environments and one another, these sturdy but lightly clothed fighters make up a good portion of Artobyzus' levy. Armed mostly with the 'Persian pick-axe', or another form of axe (all the better for piercing armoured adversaries), these nimble and skilled warriors grip their crescent-shaped shields and plunge deep into the hearts of their foes. (2,000 Pts) Total Points: 19,600 Pts

After many days, the gathered masses of the army of the Desert Hawk finally arrive in the province of Persis.

Though a patient man, recent Makedonian activity had forced Artobyzus from his desert realm and out into more open lands, to take the provinces of the south by either coercion or by force.

On the day that they arrive at Persepolis, the old ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, Artobyzus sends an envoy to demand the immediate surrender or the Persian Satrap or Makedonian lackey that has been left and set as overlord of the lands thereabouts, his army camping all around with aprehension for events to proceed.

The terms presented by the envoy are as follows; that they lay down their arms and swear allegiance to Artobyzus just as the north had- in which case no one would be harmed -and that they consider the number of his army, the claim to the land as a strong Persian ruler of native blood, his forgiveness by Ahuramazda himself and the looming threat of Makedonian domination of Persia if they are not united.

If this would not convince him, then Artobyzus was prepared to sadly spill Persian blood, for the greater good.

[Honors Bastion]

OOC: Check your math on the elite soldiers. You are missing 200 of them.

Surrender/Submission Roll:

Basic Roll: 5/20
Modifiers: +3 for outnumbering them 4 to 1.
Final Roll: 9/20 chance

Rolled a 5, the province surrenders.

[McScottish]

OOC: Check your math on the elite soldiers. You are missing 200 of them.

Surrender/Submission Roll:

Basic Roll: 5/20
Modifiers: +3 for outnumbering them 4 to 1.
Final Roll: 9/20 chance

Rolled a 5, the province surrenders.

OOC: I believe I put that many due to there being caps on the % of cavalry and Heavy Infantry available to me, the ellites being of those types.

IC:

Artobyzus accepts the surrender, pleased that no-one need die foolishly, and turns his army to head for Southern Karmania (province 81). With a gathering of provisions, and taking hostages from the various noble families as insurance, the call goes up and they are away to the south-east regions and a route out to sea.

[McScottish]

Within days, and after holding a banquet for his esteemed guests in Persis (yet not in Persepolis itself, for he is not King of Kings), Artobyzus arrives at the capital of Southern Karmania- the city of Harmozeia (81).

Taking his horse forward toward the walls, he raises his arms to the Heavens and lifts his voice high on the winds.

"People of Harmozeia, let you and your leaders listen; I wish only what is required- your submission without bloodshed to one of your native Satraps who has seen the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord. In the East the Makedonians gather like carrion, an ambitious but honourable man and his whipped dog. It could be that they never march forth on your lands, but they are the successors of Alexandros after all! United, as one blood and one Kingdom, we may resist them as Darius could not. Join me not, and I assure you that we shall all die or become slaves to Greek strategoi and Indian Chiefs. So, come now, throw open your gates and put your care into my hands. Do so, and you shall have taken the first step toward a reinvigorated Persian Empire."

Lowering his voice, and hands, he awaited the reply from either the people as a mass, or from the Satrap of these lands.

Surely they would not be foolish enough to refuse?


OOC: Roll needed please, the pros should be rather self-evident. Hopefully.

[Honors Bastion]

Surrender/Submission Roll:

Basic Roll: 5/20 chance
Modifiers: +3 for outnumbering them 4 to 1, +1 for Persian culture likeness, +2 for bringing up the conquests of Alexander/potential return of the Macedonians.
Final Roll: 11/20 chanc

Rolled a 7, province 81 surrenders.