An AAR - Thrace, the final frontier by King 04-2003
Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:32 am
January 2,500 BC
In the far north western corner of the known world stood the city, well more exactly large encampment, of Stara Zagora, capital of the Thracian nation. No one was quite sure how long the Thracians had lived there but no one really cared. All that mattered was the now. The King of the Thracians stood at the centre of his court and made a great pronouncement.
"I am going to conquer the World."
There was stunned silence, finally a voice at the back said "eh?"
The King couldn't believe what he was hearing, "I am going to conquer the world, didn't you hear me the first time?"
"Yes sire, but how?", said one of his councilors.
"Look am the King I say things, you are my subjects you make them happen. Now I don't have all day so get on with it..... or there will be trouble."
There was another silence, everyone knew what trouble meant, finally another voice from the back piped up, "but sire we need your great wisdom here, we are nothing before your brilliance, please give us some advice."
The King felt good really good about himself, yes they truly were nothing compared to his brilliance. Yes the magic was still there, time to display it. "Look use our massive military superiority to conquer everyone else. See it is that simple"
The generals looked at each other no one really wanted to answer this one. Finally one spoke up, "Eh sire the limits of our military technology are peasant levy at the moment."
The King didn't see the purpose of that comment, time to hammer the point home, "and everyone else has?"
"peasant Levy sire", all the generals chimed in.
"AND?"
The generals were sweating now, they all looked to the senior one who gulped and replied "which is exactly the same as we have got, you see we don't have that much of a military superiority after all."
"Oh shit, now you bloody well tell me. Ok scientists go out and invent things I want the best army that money can buy. I have three cities and here is what is going to happen. Dilkili Tash, in the South West, is going to focus on producing grain. Stara Zagora will focus on building materials and copper. While Sitagrol, nearest to Asia, will become my military city. My minor settlement of Dyme will try to produce as much tin as possible, sooner or later we are bound to find some use for that junk. Finally I am changing my name and not going to die till I conquer the world. For now on you will know me as Max Power the Immortal."
Well most of made sense to court, but the last bit was a bit concerning. All they could say was nice name and then they just went and carried out the instructions. Was their King insane, or looking at a very long life, only time would tell.
Part II
October 2,500BC
The King looked around his court, he felt good. He had told them he wasn't going to die, and did he feel a day older? No sir he did not. Everything was in motion now he just need to wait for results. Dilkili Tash had a quite an impressive Grain Farm going and already they were talking about making it a large encampment, rather than one of those regular ones. In Stara Zagora a new Reed Brick Maker was under construction to give the Thracians what they needed most, bricks. Sitagrol was the real problem. The city was famous for the quality of its bricks, the King really wanted to demolish the brickworks to make way for a new barracks. However his advisers suggested expanding the brick works to make more bricks, you can't build a barracks without bricks they assured him. The King reluctantly agreed.
The calm of the court was disrupted when a general came in and asked the court to come outside. Outside was sooooooo dull but again the King reluctantly agreed. The General took the court to a field, and there stood a scientist and a man with a pointed stick. On the other end of the field stood another man and a pile of bodies. The King was intrigued, what was going on here? The King waited, everyone looked to the King, some minutes passed, and finally the King spoke "Well I am waiting."
The General nodded to the scientist, the Scientist nodded to the man with the pointed stick. The stick was thrown into the air it sailed across the field all eyes were transfixed on the path of this stick. The stick landed, right into the man who was standing on the other side of the field, who collapsed ... dead. There were gasps from the audience. The King called the general over, "Let's talk in private". The general gulped and followed.
"I am very impressed General, will this new stick throwing technique give us the edge in battle?"
The general visibly relaxed, "Sire we hope so, we are already thinking about deploying the men in loose order to throw literally dozens of sticks at our enemies, this shock tactic could be a battle winner. With your permission we were going to call these new units Hupshu Skirmishers"
"Call them what every the hell you like, by the way is there any other order apart from loose order?"
"Eh not as far as we know, but we are hopeful we will be able to develop other kinds."
"Fair enough, so when do these invincible troops going to appear in my army?"
"Well it will take a while to develop training routines and drill the men...."
"You mean you need to build a bloody barracks. I told you demolish the brick works and build a barracks, but who would listen .... no one."
"Let's not reopen that old wound shall we, just give it a little more time, after all your brilliance is going to live forever, what is a small delay?"
The King sighed and held that thought, yes I am brilliant and I will live till I conquer the world, "ok but only a small delay."
Part III
September 2,499 BC
The King was in Sitagrol for the grand opening of the new barracks. He was feeling very pleased with himself. Yes this was the first step to conquering the whole world. What more could he ask for. He turned to the Arnis the ambassador from the Pala, and said "do you fear us now?"
"Not really we are fairly neutral." was the reply.
The reply really annoyed the King. Later on when the ambassador had went away the King fumed,and the turned to his advisers. "How should we punish that man?"
The suggestions came thick and fast.
"We could ask him to leave?"
"No, let's escort him to the border, make him leave."
"Even better, make him disappear."
"No lets cut his hands off."
"Don't be silly let's blind him."
"Send his head back on a plate."
"Bugger that, send his body back in jar."
"Do nothing!" Was the last suggestion.
There was a moment of silence and then everyone chimed in, "DO NOTHING?"
"Yes, do nothing let our enemies underestimate us, they will never know what hit them."
There was another moment of silence. The room steady broke into smiles, yes let's do nothing they agreed - the enemy will never know what hit them.
The King put his anger on hold for the time being. Back to the barracks, "So will this barracks allow me to build my invincible skirmishers?"
"Eh no, they will allow us to raise Khepetj Auxillia. Much better than our peasant levy."
"These are Axillary troops?" The King asked
"Yes"
"So what are our main troops then?"
"We don't have any yet, but we are hopeful that we will have some soon."
The King was disappointed with this, but he was getting used to disappointments. Conquering the world wasn't as easy as he had first thought. "Ok so what next?"
"Well we are planning to expand the barracks, this will allow larger units to be built. We where then going to expand Sitagrol so we would have space for another barracks, this time for skirmishers. After that we expand that and then we are ready to go. With your permission of course sire?"
The King considered this, "rather than expand the barracks why no just build more units?"
"Well sire we have done studies that suggest that about 8 units is the maximum a commander can really command effectively. We could possibly push this up to 12, but this would make movement too difficult. The extra 4 could only come from garrisons. Our scientists suggest that the best way to get an edge in battle would be to have larger formations."
This didn't make much sense to the King, but he had given up trying to argue with the scientists. They were more philosophers anyway, all they seemed to do was argue all day. The last time he had tried to argue with them it had ended in a few unfortunate executions. He didn't really feel like killing anyone today.
"Ok, let's expand the barracks then."
"Eh there is a small problem here. If we want good soldiers we will need to give them some of the finer things in life. Basically we need to import some Gems and Incense."
The King nearly exploded with that news, "WHAT, they getting nothing from me, bloody scroungers."
"Sire, please calm down, consider it an investment in conquering the world."
Deep breaths, deep breaths the King went over the mantra his spiritual adviser had suggested. He felt a modicum of calm return, "Ok import some, but not too much."
"What should we sell in exchange?"
"Nothing, pay in cash."
Part IV
April 2,497BC
The King was thinking. The barracks were ready, the army was being raised, 3 Skirmishers and 5 Auxillia. What an army, nothing could stop it, the question was where to strike? A sort of consensus had been reached. In the north east corner of Thrace stood a minor settlement, Bizye, for a long time it had refused the enlightened government of the Thracian people, perhaps the it was time to be more persuasive? On the diplomatic front Thrace seemed to be getting along with their neighbors. Yes clear the decks in the north first and then turn south to attack the Pala for their insolence. Oh yes the King had not forgotten, his brilliance would be remembered throughout time, no one would forget the name Max Power.
The King's thoughts were broken, a Priest came running in with a piece of parchment with some funny symbols on it. "Look what we have here sire!", he said with joy.
"I am looking, so what the hell is this?"
"It's writing sire."
"What does this do?"
"By writing something down it can never be forgotten."
"See people those who forget things, what did I call them again?"
"Fools, that's what you called them sire." someone suggested helpfully.
"Yes that's right fools.", the King added.
"Well, I absolutely agree," the priest quickly replied, "but this invention has some many useful applications. We can build small shrines to keep the people happy, and education establishments to get them to work better. We could have a happier and more productive empire, just with the investment of a few bricks."
"Ok do it, look I got a war to plan, can I leave you guys to organise things?"
"Of course, your wish is our command."
The King went back ot his dreams of conquest, Bizye your time is running out.....
Part V
September 2,484BC
Bizye was conquered with ease, but of the 8 units that were sent in, only 7 survived. The King took the blow hard, and slipped into a deep depression, not before he executed the commander for his incompetence. For years he would just wonder around the palace going, how could my invincible armies fail me so? The rest of the court could not understand it, they had won! All they could do is obey his last command. Improvements were made, bigger towns, larger farms, deeper mines were all built. The Thracian economy was booming. The Thracian monarchy was far outstripping their neighbors on economic power, or so the diplomats told them. Not even a minor raid by the Pala could could move the King into action.
Things were invented, they showed him a concept for a training ground, he told them to build one, they showed him a blacksmith, the answer yet the same. They displayed the new units they could build, Militia Spearmen, the King told them they sounded pretty poor. The finally found a use for Tin and starting making Bronze swords, the King was unimpressed. All he would do was mop round the palace, still depressed. They even invented the circle, but after the place King had stuck the Tetrahedron on the inventor of that particular shape, no one wanted to show him that one. Although to be fair the inventor had commented that it was also strangely enjoyable as well. The army came up with chariots, the King told them people should walk. The Barracks were expanded allowing ever larger units to be built and still the King did nothing. Not even the invention of the massed Bowman unit could shake the King out of his stupor. 10 nations were destroyed and still the King sat and wondered why did his armies perform so poorly? The councilors around the King took risks, they ordered more Gems and Incense so that construction could go quicker, they ordered the food supply to be increased to the workers. The people became jubilant and larger temples where constructed to worship their divine King who strangely never seemed to age.
Then one day the King walked into the council room and said, "Build and army and attack the Pala, oh and send their ambassador home, just the head mind you, I'll keep the body."
No one quite had the heart to tell the King that the ambassador had been withdrawn a long time ago when it was clear the Thracians weren't up to much. Things where set in motion though. A Massive army, of spearmen, swordsmen, auxillia, and bowmen was raised and marched into Asia minor. The minor settlement of Sakarya was conquered, the Thracian empire started to grow.
The King was finally pleased, "Raise reinforcements", he commanded "sent them to Sakarya and then leave some troops behind to garrison, we have a world to conquer."
The King was back and the councilors smiled. Their life expectancy may have been shortened, but at least things where back to normal.
Part VI
July 2,481BC
It had been a good war. The Pala were conquered, well almost, one minor settlement held out. The Thracians had gained two more towns in Asia Minor the rest of the Pala territory had been seized by the Kizzuwatna. All in all things look good. It was time to make some decisions.
"There is but one minor settlement left sire, shall we try to seize it?"
The King considered this and replied, "No, we would have to march over Kizzuwatna territory to capture it, it doesn't seem worth while."
"But what of the feud, we where looking forward to the final destruction of hated Pala, sire?"
"They say revenge is a dish best served cold, don't you all agree?", the King asked.
"Of course sire." all of them chimed in.
The King was stunned, weak spineless fools, is no one prepared to say what they think, "Well I don't, which is why I am content to wait till the time is right."
"Genius sire, why did we not think of that?", chipped in one of the councilors with a slightly more agile mind.
"That is why I am King. Now let us turn our attention to our next foe. To the south of us lie the Arzawa. They have a minor settlement and a few towns. Let us conquer them. You know the drill raise an army, conquer a town, raise another 4 units to reinforce and leave a garrison behind. No get on with it."
Part VII
April 2,479BC
Things looked to be going good. Arzawa minor settlement had been taken already reinforcements were on their way. Troy was going to be the next target. Then Disaster struck, the Kizzuwatna attacked the Thracians, taking the town of Zalpa which had been so recently taken from the Pala. The King was outraged, and the rest were running a book on who died first.
"How dare they!", the King was definitely unhappy.
"Eh wait for us to attack them?"
"Yes, can't they see there is queue here, and why wasn't I warned? who is my expert on my victims, eh I mean neighbors?" the King looked around the table.
Everyone turned and a lone voice said "me."
"Guards take him away, you know what to do."
This was a shock decision, only the generals had bet on him, the rest had bet on the generals.
"So here is what we do, we retake Zalpa and then we take a few more towns of them, just as a warning." The King was feeling very decisive, "oh and execute the man responsible for defending the city."
"Sire he is already dead."
"Well Kill is family."
In whisper the question was asked "I know someone bet on that?"
"Don't worry he is already dead." was the whispered reply.
"Phew, I thought I was going to get cleaned out."
There was a short of silence, then finally a brave man spoke up, "Sire should we recall the army that is marching on Troy?"
"No let that one go ahead, raise a new army. Once Troy is Taken, put the campaign against the Arzawa on hold, till we have punished the Kizzuwatna enough."
With the body count kept mercifully low, everyone went about their chores.
Part VIII
May 2,474 BC
The King looked round the table, things could be better, there again they could be worse. Question needed answering, people needed to be encouraged. He had to make things happen. Suddenly he was distracted by a group of soldiers walking past his window. He had never seen the like of them before, surely they would not of hidden from him the fact that the enemy was about to take his capital? Things had been hidden from him before, usually bad things, and examples were made, but nothing this big!
Time to ask some questions, "Eh... those men outside there, what are they?"
"they are some of your soldiers sire."
The King scratched his head, now he did have rather a large army, so he could hardly be expected to know every soldier personally. At the same time he felt it would be useful to at least be able to recognise his own armies when he saw them. "So what kind of soldiers are they then?"
"These are the latest additions to our army, the Sea Peoples War Band!"
"Do they have ships?"
"No they walk."
The King was confused, however no point worrying about that it was time to consider his options. The town of Zalpa had been retaken from the Kizzuwatna and another city seized. Then the Luka, another neighbor had taken on itself to rake a town of the Thracians. This too was recaptured and Luka town seized as compensation. There was also the problem of mysterious disappearance of the ambassador to the Kizzuwatna. The Kizzuwatna said they didn't know what had happened, but they felt that it was a distinct possibility that something bad had happened. The King wasn't sure, something didn't quite fit, he disappeared just after Zalpa was retaken. The King felt that could be more than a coincidence. However never mind that, there were plans to make, who to conquer, who to attack?
"Well gentlemen what next, restart the war against the Arzawa, continue to punish the Kizzuwatna or the punish the Luka?"
"Well sire here is an option you may not have considered, our war against the Kizzuwatna leaves us with a common border with the Pala. Maybe we can finish them off?."
"Actually that is very tempting. Yes send an army, but that wont take too long, so what else do we do?"
"Well we could do all three, strike at one then the other and then the other. Keep doing that till there is nothing left."
"YES, that's it, we shall conquer them all. Get on to it, start with he Arzawa. They look like they are needing liberation."
Part IX
November 2,469 BC
"So let me get this straight, we have lost another diplomat?", the King asked.
"Well not exactly lost, we do know where he is."
"Well where is he?"
"Sitting outside the Palace begging."
The King was flabbergasted, "Why exactly is he doing that?"
"Well there aren't that many jobs for blind people."
"Blind people? Last time I heard he could see."
"So did we, but the King of the Luka too the loss of that minor settlement pretty hard. He took it out on our ambassador."
The King's brow furrowed at this news, "What exactly did our ambassador have to do with a loss of a minor settlement?"
"Nothing, but you did. Remember our new war strategy?"
The King's face brock into a big grin at this news, "Oh yeah, so I did. Oh well casualties of war."
"Well I guess we will have to take another minor settlement of them, but before you we do that conquer the last Arzawa city. Oh and then I think we need to cut the Kizzuwatna a bit more down to size."
Part X
August 2,460BC
"Sire, someone has brought you a present."
THe Kings eyes lit up, it had been a long time since anyone had sent him a present. It seemed there was a silly rumor going round that getting noticed by the King was bad for your health, what nonsense.
"Well open it up"
Some of the slaves began to unwrap the massive present, it was a big as a man, suddenly a foul oder fell across the chamber. It smelt like something had been dead for some time.
"Oh that doesn't smell good, what is it?", the King asked.
"It appears to be a man sire, a dead one."
The King started to feel a bit angry, "anyone I know?", he asked.
"It's just the ambassador to the Luka, that's three we've lost since we took that last minor settlement."
"That's it! I want them destroyed."
"Eh yes sire, we'll get on to it right away."
In the far north western corner of the known world stood the city, well more exactly large encampment, of Stara Zagora, capital of the Thracian nation. No one was quite sure how long the Thracians had lived there but no one really cared. All that mattered was the now. The King of the Thracians stood at the centre of his court and made a great pronouncement.
"I am going to conquer the World."
There was stunned silence, finally a voice at the back said "eh?"
The King couldn't believe what he was hearing, "I am going to conquer the world, didn't you hear me the first time?"
"Yes sire, but how?", said one of his councilors.
"Look am the King I say things, you are my subjects you make them happen. Now I don't have all day so get on with it..... or there will be trouble."
There was another silence, everyone knew what trouble meant, finally another voice from the back piped up, "but sire we need your great wisdom here, we are nothing before your brilliance, please give us some advice."
The King felt good really good about himself, yes they truly were nothing compared to his brilliance. Yes the magic was still there, time to display it. "Look use our massive military superiority to conquer everyone else. See it is that simple"
The generals looked at each other no one really wanted to answer this one. Finally one spoke up, "Eh sire the limits of our military technology are peasant levy at the moment."
The King didn't see the purpose of that comment, time to hammer the point home, "and everyone else has?"
"peasant Levy sire", all the generals chimed in.
"AND?"
The generals were sweating now, they all looked to the senior one who gulped and replied "which is exactly the same as we have got, you see we don't have that much of a military superiority after all."
"Oh shit, now you bloody well tell me. Ok scientists go out and invent things I want the best army that money can buy. I have three cities and here is what is going to happen. Dilkili Tash, in the South West, is going to focus on producing grain. Stara Zagora will focus on building materials and copper. While Sitagrol, nearest to Asia, will become my military city. My minor settlement of Dyme will try to produce as much tin as possible, sooner or later we are bound to find some use for that junk. Finally I am changing my name and not going to die till I conquer the world. For now on you will know me as Max Power the Immortal."
Well most of made sense to court, but the last bit was a bit concerning. All they could say was nice name and then they just went and carried out the instructions. Was their King insane, or looking at a very long life, only time would tell.
Part II
October 2,500BC
The King looked around his court, he felt good. He had told them he wasn't going to die, and did he feel a day older? No sir he did not. Everything was in motion now he just need to wait for results. Dilkili Tash had a quite an impressive Grain Farm going and already they were talking about making it a large encampment, rather than one of those regular ones. In Stara Zagora a new Reed Brick Maker was under construction to give the Thracians what they needed most, bricks. Sitagrol was the real problem. The city was famous for the quality of its bricks, the King really wanted to demolish the brickworks to make way for a new barracks. However his advisers suggested expanding the brick works to make more bricks, you can't build a barracks without bricks they assured him. The King reluctantly agreed.
The calm of the court was disrupted when a general came in and asked the court to come outside. Outside was sooooooo dull but again the King reluctantly agreed. The General took the court to a field, and there stood a scientist and a man with a pointed stick. On the other end of the field stood another man and a pile of bodies. The King was intrigued, what was going on here? The King waited, everyone looked to the King, some minutes passed, and finally the King spoke "Well I am waiting."
The General nodded to the scientist, the Scientist nodded to the man with the pointed stick. The stick was thrown into the air it sailed across the field all eyes were transfixed on the path of this stick. The stick landed, right into the man who was standing on the other side of the field, who collapsed ... dead. There were gasps from the audience. The King called the general over, "Let's talk in private". The general gulped and followed.
"I am very impressed General, will this new stick throwing technique give us the edge in battle?"
The general visibly relaxed, "Sire we hope so, we are already thinking about deploying the men in loose order to throw literally dozens of sticks at our enemies, this shock tactic could be a battle winner. With your permission we were going to call these new units Hupshu Skirmishers"
"Call them what every the hell you like, by the way is there any other order apart from loose order?"
"Eh not as far as we know, but we are hopeful we will be able to develop other kinds."
"Fair enough, so when do these invincible troops going to appear in my army?"
"Well it will take a while to develop training routines and drill the men...."
"You mean you need to build a bloody barracks. I told you demolish the brick works and build a barracks, but who would listen .... no one."
"Let's not reopen that old wound shall we, just give it a little more time, after all your brilliance is going to live forever, what is a small delay?"
The King sighed and held that thought, yes I am brilliant and I will live till I conquer the world, "ok but only a small delay."
Part III
September 2,499 BC
The King was in Sitagrol for the grand opening of the new barracks. He was feeling very pleased with himself. Yes this was the first step to conquering the whole world. What more could he ask for. He turned to the Arnis the ambassador from the Pala, and said "do you fear us now?"
"Not really we are fairly neutral." was the reply.
The reply really annoyed the King. Later on when the ambassador had went away the King fumed,and the turned to his advisers. "How should we punish that man?"
The suggestions came thick and fast.
"We could ask him to leave?"
"No, let's escort him to the border, make him leave."
"Even better, make him disappear."
"No lets cut his hands off."
"Don't be silly let's blind him."
"Send his head back on a plate."
"Bugger that, send his body back in jar."
"Do nothing!" Was the last suggestion.
There was a moment of silence and then everyone chimed in, "DO NOTHING?"
"Yes, do nothing let our enemies underestimate us, they will never know what hit them."
There was another moment of silence. The room steady broke into smiles, yes let's do nothing they agreed - the enemy will never know what hit them.
The King put his anger on hold for the time being. Back to the barracks, "So will this barracks allow me to build my invincible skirmishers?"
"Eh no, they will allow us to raise Khepetj Auxillia. Much better than our peasant levy."
"These are Axillary troops?" The King asked
"Yes"
"So what are our main troops then?"
"We don't have any yet, but we are hopeful that we will have some soon."
The King was disappointed with this, but he was getting used to disappointments. Conquering the world wasn't as easy as he had first thought. "Ok so what next?"
"Well we are planning to expand the barracks, this will allow larger units to be built. We where then going to expand Sitagrol so we would have space for another barracks, this time for skirmishers. After that we expand that and then we are ready to go. With your permission of course sire?"
The King considered this, "rather than expand the barracks why no just build more units?"
"Well sire we have done studies that suggest that about 8 units is the maximum a commander can really command effectively. We could possibly push this up to 12, but this would make movement too difficult. The extra 4 could only come from garrisons. Our scientists suggest that the best way to get an edge in battle would be to have larger formations."
This didn't make much sense to the King, but he had given up trying to argue with the scientists. They were more philosophers anyway, all they seemed to do was argue all day. The last time he had tried to argue with them it had ended in a few unfortunate executions. He didn't really feel like killing anyone today.
"Ok, let's expand the barracks then."
"Eh there is a small problem here. If we want good soldiers we will need to give them some of the finer things in life. Basically we need to import some Gems and Incense."
The King nearly exploded with that news, "WHAT, they getting nothing from me, bloody scroungers."
"Sire, please calm down, consider it an investment in conquering the world."
Deep breaths, deep breaths the King went over the mantra his spiritual adviser had suggested. He felt a modicum of calm return, "Ok import some, but not too much."
"What should we sell in exchange?"
"Nothing, pay in cash."
Part IV
April 2,497BC
The King was thinking. The barracks were ready, the army was being raised, 3 Skirmishers and 5 Auxillia. What an army, nothing could stop it, the question was where to strike? A sort of consensus had been reached. In the north east corner of Thrace stood a minor settlement, Bizye, for a long time it had refused the enlightened government of the Thracian people, perhaps the it was time to be more persuasive? On the diplomatic front Thrace seemed to be getting along with their neighbors. Yes clear the decks in the north first and then turn south to attack the Pala for their insolence. Oh yes the King had not forgotten, his brilliance would be remembered throughout time, no one would forget the name Max Power.
The King's thoughts were broken, a Priest came running in with a piece of parchment with some funny symbols on it. "Look what we have here sire!", he said with joy.
"I am looking, so what the hell is this?"
"It's writing sire."
"What does this do?"
"By writing something down it can never be forgotten."
"See people those who forget things, what did I call them again?"
"Fools, that's what you called them sire." someone suggested helpfully.
"Yes that's right fools.", the King added.
"Well, I absolutely agree," the priest quickly replied, "but this invention has some many useful applications. We can build small shrines to keep the people happy, and education establishments to get them to work better. We could have a happier and more productive empire, just with the investment of a few bricks."
"Ok do it, look I got a war to plan, can I leave you guys to organise things?"
"Of course, your wish is our command."
The King went back ot his dreams of conquest, Bizye your time is running out.....
Part V
September 2,484BC
Bizye was conquered with ease, but of the 8 units that were sent in, only 7 survived. The King took the blow hard, and slipped into a deep depression, not before he executed the commander for his incompetence. For years he would just wonder around the palace going, how could my invincible armies fail me so? The rest of the court could not understand it, they had won! All they could do is obey his last command. Improvements were made, bigger towns, larger farms, deeper mines were all built. The Thracian economy was booming. The Thracian monarchy was far outstripping their neighbors on economic power, or so the diplomats told them. Not even a minor raid by the Pala could could move the King into action.
Things were invented, they showed him a concept for a training ground, he told them to build one, they showed him a blacksmith, the answer yet the same. They displayed the new units they could build, Militia Spearmen, the King told them they sounded pretty poor. The finally found a use for Tin and starting making Bronze swords, the King was unimpressed. All he would do was mop round the palace, still depressed. They even invented the circle, but after the place King had stuck the Tetrahedron on the inventor of that particular shape, no one wanted to show him that one. Although to be fair the inventor had commented that it was also strangely enjoyable as well. The army came up with chariots, the King told them people should walk. The Barracks were expanded allowing ever larger units to be built and still the King did nothing. Not even the invention of the massed Bowman unit could shake the King out of his stupor. 10 nations were destroyed and still the King sat and wondered why did his armies perform so poorly? The councilors around the King took risks, they ordered more Gems and Incense so that construction could go quicker, they ordered the food supply to be increased to the workers. The people became jubilant and larger temples where constructed to worship their divine King who strangely never seemed to age.
Then one day the King walked into the council room and said, "Build and army and attack the Pala, oh and send their ambassador home, just the head mind you, I'll keep the body."
No one quite had the heart to tell the King that the ambassador had been withdrawn a long time ago when it was clear the Thracians weren't up to much. Things where set in motion though. A Massive army, of spearmen, swordsmen, auxillia, and bowmen was raised and marched into Asia minor. The minor settlement of Sakarya was conquered, the Thracian empire started to grow.
The King was finally pleased, "Raise reinforcements", he commanded "sent them to Sakarya and then leave some troops behind to garrison, we have a world to conquer."
The King was back and the councilors smiled. Their life expectancy may have been shortened, but at least things where back to normal.
Part VI
July 2,481BC
It had been a good war. The Pala were conquered, well almost, one minor settlement held out. The Thracians had gained two more towns in Asia Minor the rest of the Pala territory had been seized by the Kizzuwatna. All in all things look good. It was time to make some decisions.
"There is but one minor settlement left sire, shall we try to seize it?"
The King considered this and replied, "No, we would have to march over Kizzuwatna territory to capture it, it doesn't seem worth while."
"But what of the feud, we where looking forward to the final destruction of hated Pala, sire?"
"They say revenge is a dish best served cold, don't you all agree?", the King asked.
"Of course sire." all of them chimed in.
The King was stunned, weak spineless fools, is no one prepared to say what they think, "Well I don't, which is why I am content to wait till the time is right."
"Genius sire, why did we not think of that?", chipped in one of the councilors with a slightly more agile mind.
"That is why I am King. Now let us turn our attention to our next foe. To the south of us lie the Arzawa. They have a minor settlement and a few towns. Let us conquer them. You know the drill raise an army, conquer a town, raise another 4 units to reinforce and leave a garrison behind. No get on with it."
Part VII
April 2,479BC
Things looked to be going good. Arzawa minor settlement had been taken already reinforcements were on their way. Troy was going to be the next target. Then Disaster struck, the Kizzuwatna attacked the Thracians, taking the town of Zalpa which had been so recently taken from the Pala. The King was outraged, and the rest were running a book on who died first.
"How dare they!", the King was definitely unhappy.
"Eh wait for us to attack them?"
"Yes, can't they see there is queue here, and why wasn't I warned? who is my expert on my victims, eh I mean neighbors?" the King looked around the table.
Everyone turned and a lone voice said "me."
"Guards take him away, you know what to do."
This was a shock decision, only the generals had bet on him, the rest had bet on the generals.
"So here is what we do, we retake Zalpa and then we take a few more towns of them, just as a warning." The King was feeling very decisive, "oh and execute the man responsible for defending the city."
"Sire he is already dead."
"Well Kill is family."
In whisper the question was asked "I know someone bet on that?"
"Don't worry he is already dead." was the whispered reply.
"Phew, I thought I was going to get cleaned out."
There was a short of silence, then finally a brave man spoke up, "Sire should we recall the army that is marching on Troy?"
"No let that one go ahead, raise a new army. Once Troy is Taken, put the campaign against the Arzawa on hold, till we have punished the Kizzuwatna enough."
With the body count kept mercifully low, everyone went about their chores.
Part VIII
May 2,474 BC
The King looked round the table, things could be better, there again they could be worse. Question needed answering, people needed to be encouraged. He had to make things happen. Suddenly he was distracted by a group of soldiers walking past his window. He had never seen the like of them before, surely they would not of hidden from him the fact that the enemy was about to take his capital? Things had been hidden from him before, usually bad things, and examples were made, but nothing this big!
Time to ask some questions, "Eh... those men outside there, what are they?"
"they are some of your soldiers sire."
The King scratched his head, now he did have rather a large army, so he could hardly be expected to know every soldier personally. At the same time he felt it would be useful to at least be able to recognise his own armies when he saw them. "So what kind of soldiers are they then?"
"These are the latest additions to our army, the Sea Peoples War Band!"
"Do they have ships?"
"No they walk."
The King was confused, however no point worrying about that it was time to consider his options. The town of Zalpa had been retaken from the Kizzuwatna and another city seized. Then the Luka, another neighbor had taken on itself to rake a town of the Thracians. This too was recaptured and Luka town seized as compensation. There was also the problem of mysterious disappearance of the ambassador to the Kizzuwatna. The Kizzuwatna said they didn't know what had happened, but they felt that it was a distinct possibility that something bad had happened. The King wasn't sure, something didn't quite fit, he disappeared just after Zalpa was retaken. The King felt that could be more than a coincidence. However never mind that, there were plans to make, who to conquer, who to attack?
"Well gentlemen what next, restart the war against the Arzawa, continue to punish the Kizzuwatna or the punish the Luka?"
"Well sire here is an option you may not have considered, our war against the Kizzuwatna leaves us with a common border with the Pala. Maybe we can finish them off?."
"Actually that is very tempting. Yes send an army, but that wont take too long, so what else do we do?"
"Well we could do all three, strike at one then the other and then the other. Keep doing that till there is nothing left."
"YES, that's it, we shall conquer them all. Get on to it, start with he Arzawa. They look like they are needing liberation."
Part IX
November 2,469 BC
"So let me get this straight, we have lost another diplomat?", the King asked.
"Well not exactly lost, we do know where he is."
"Well where is he?"
"Sitting outside the Palace begging."
The King was flabbergasted, "Why exactly is he doing that?"
"Well there aren't that many jobs for blind people."
"Blind people? Last time I heard he could see."
"So did we, but the King of the Luka too the loss of that minor settlement pretty hard. He took it out on our ambassador."
The King's brow furrowed at this news, "What exactly did our ambassador have to do with a loss of a minor settlement?"
"Nothing, but you did. Remember our new war strategy?"
The King's face brock into a big grin at this news, "Oh yeah, so I did. Oh well casualties of war."
"Well I guess we will have to take another minor settlement of them, but before you we do that conquer the last Arzawa city. Oh and then I think we need to cut the Kizzuwatna a bit more down to size."
Part X
August 2,460BC
"Sire, someone has brought you a present."
THe Kings eyes lit up, it had been a long time since anyone had sent him a present. It seemed there was a silly rumor going round that getting noticed by the King was bad for your health, what nonsense.
"Well open it up"
Some of the slaves began to unwrap the massive present, it was a big as a man, suddenly a foul oder fell across the chamber. It smelt like something had been dead for some time.
"Oh that doesn't smell good, what is it?", the King asked.
"It appears to be a man sire, a dead one."
The King started to feel a bit angry, "anyone I know?", he asked.
"It's just the ambassador to the Luka, that's three we've lost since we took that last minor settlement."
"That's it! I want them destroyed."
"Eh yes sire, we'll get on to it right away."
