NutraNES: Aros Arisen

orders aren't enough, we need voting

i think my last post showed my votes well

My votes were the same as those of Cedros as far as domestic stuff went. I sent orders. They're not much because I just can't think of anything that Artemacles would be doing. :/

I do need to send orders

I will assisst Aristomachus as long as he tells me of his plans beforehand (that means telling me your basic strategy in an easy to understand format in chronological order )

Click to expand...

(That's assuming Aristomachos has plans. )

Anyway, I don't get it. Do you agree with my overall strategy as posted earlier or not (basically, attack both enemy cities on land and on sea)? What about granting citizenship to refugees for fighting in the army? Where's Ichthyos? Does he want to lead a naval expedition against Zelotage? Who will accompany my army against the city of Lachykos? Do I get to fight Lachykos to the death yet? Those are the relevant issues.

Aristomachos supports the Quaestor on the financial administration reform.

If I have the support of enough immortals I will begin implanting reforms while the rest are on war and trade journeys.

My offer is to begin a army reform to let new comers join the army in return for citizenship.
To create the finance advisors job for the rich families.
To redraw some of the rules of the city (mostly the ones about slaves and citizenship together with allowing people who join the army to get a piece of land and citizenship).

Well, you already know my support for the first one at any rate.

In my orders I allowed that I was following Cedros on domestic matters.

das said:

(That's assuming Aristomachos has plans. )

Anyway, I don't get it. Do you agree with my overall strategy as posted earlier or not (basically, attack both enemy cities on land and on sea)? What about granting citizenship to refugees for fighting in the army? Where's Ichthyos? Does he want to lead a naval expedition against Zelotage? Who will accompany my army against the city of Lachykos? Do I get to fight Lachykos to the death yet? Those are the relevant issues.

Aristomachos supports the Quaestor on the financial administration reform.

Click to expand...

Granting citizenship to refugees are fine with me. Patricians may not be so happy.

Attacking both cities will result in our forces being divided, and I am still uncertain if biesieging a city is a good idea. If we try to besiege both cities this turn, the cost of warfare would be astronomical.

It would be much simpler to starve them out. Set up a forward base near one of the two bases. Use Artelmalces' scouts to identify any enemy movement in the area. Cut off all access into their city whilst staying out of the range of their ranged troops. One day or another they are bound to give up.

Artelmalces' scouts and our forward base will allow us to know when the enemy troops are coming as well as allow us to stage our own battleground. This way we acn besiege a city while enjoying the benefits of being a defender.

Edit: Anyways, the point is that besieging a city should only be done after we have eliminated all other targets. Alternative way is bribing the guardsmen of the city.

We should at least try to win this by decisive action and by taking advantage of the disarray that our enemies were thrown into by the defeat of one of their armies and the capture of one of their leaders. Also, unless the enemy decides to send another army at us (and they are welcome to try!), we have no targets other than the cities. We should at least besiege them both, which generally does mean starving them out unless we find some other way in. Bribery is probably pointless, but there might be some ways to get in that we will only find when we actually approach the cities in question. All the more reason for us to get to it quicker.

The only way to finish this war seems to be to go on the offensive, and the most reasonable target to attack overland is the city of Lachykos, bereft of its eponymous ruler. The only real question, as far as I'm concerned, is whether we should also attack Zelotage across the sea, and if Ichthyos feels that it would be best for him to avoid any further embarrassment, then I would be only happy to take our entire field army to its target overland. Nevertheless I do think we should at least continue monitoring the coastal activities at Zelotage. It is an enemy we likely cannot afford to ignore.

Also, can go I kill the traitor yet?

You can kill the traitor, Aristo

besieging them both could be a nasty business... And when you say attacking Zelotage by the sea, do you mean attacking it's harbors? Could work.

I meant sending a force and at least seeing if we can't by any chance take it by storm or set up a siege. If not, then raiding the harbour from the sea might work as well. I'm not exactly a maritime tactician. The point is, we have to keep at least some pressure on Zelotage during the other campaign.

Keep in mind we can't really send all that many troops overseas if we wanted to (our transport capacity was 4,000 men when I last checked), so the main attack will still be the one towards Lachykos. It's just that some opportunities can be exploited efficient with relatively few troops, and if it means quickly ending the war, then we can't let this sort of chance just slip away.

As I've gotten half the orders I'm setting up the deadline for: FRIDAY 30th of APRIL @ 12:00 GMT-5

I repeat ORDERS DUE FRIDAY 30th of APRIL @ 12:00 GMT-5

Is Omega124 still playing?

If he does not send in his orders on Friday he will not be. If that's the case then assume that I control Omega's Immortal and will be carrying out the naval attack as you would have it. I need to start recruiting more dedicated players, it seems

Remember ORDERS ARE DUE TODAY!


Omega & Nuclear Kid if you do not send in orders I will ask you to leave the game. Neither of you have been active at all in the NES thus far and I would rather have open spots that I can NPC till interested players can fill them.

Alright, I have recieved orders from:

das
Seon
Anonymoose
erez87


Nuclear Kid and Omega, you have till the end of today to get your orders in or I will ask you to leave the game. Update is being written today, will be out on Sunday night at the latest!

Hey Nutra, I'm going to open my spot up to another player. Sorry.

I had already been NPCing your spot, no hard feelings.

Update 2​

Lachykos
214 A.F.​

Triumph!

Not long after the new year dawned the Council of Immortals and Council of Patricians unanimously declared a triumph to be held celebrating the recent victory at Dimos against the Dual Kingdoms'. Rather than have the state pay for the event, as is custom, the victorious strategos Aristomachos took it upon himself to finance the triumph, in doing so glorifying himself and his own achievements during the defensive campaign.
[+Aristomachos General Popularity, -Aristomachos Private Wealth: 10d]

A hundred prisoners were brought out and slaughtered in dedication to Akyrosyne, alongside the traditional sacrificial pigs, cows, and sheep. The entire city of Aros feasted for three days and the families of soldiers who had died in battle were given special gifts and indemnities, paid for entirely by Epricurus. Games were held and once again lead by Mateia, whose gift for planning revelry saw another mock fight between the Rich Infantry of the Grand Republican Army. The Heroes of Sakkema and Brygima were once again in attendance and furthermore feasted and honored specifically by Mateia, who hailed Brygima as 'Sister' and gifted her with conciliatory robes marking her as a member of the Council of Immortals.
[+Epricurus General Popularity, -Epricurus Private Wealth: 20d, +Mateia Sakkema Popularity]

Culminating the three day long triumph was the duel between the captured Lachykos and Aristomachos. No one expected the event to be particularly spectacular, as even though Lachykos had demanded to fight to death in the traditional Gamian way he had never been anything near to Aristomachos in the ways of war. Armed with two javelin, shortswords, and shields as dictated by the antiquated Gamian customs the two warriors stood in the middle of the Martial Field, surrounded by a mass of Arosans, Sakkemans, and a few Salpen-Corians. When it came time for the dual to begin Lachykos raised his javelin high in the air and shouted "For the dark gods asleep in the east, I give you my life!", opened his mouth to an unnatural degree, and shoved the javelin deep into mouth. To the horror of Aristomachos and the surrounding throng Lachykos did not die instantly. Instead he thrashed and wreathed around the ground, gurgling on the black blood that oozed from his mouth. Aristomachos stood frozen in place as he watched, only after Lachykos kicked a last time and laid unmoving on the ground did he go forth and cut off Lachykos' head, pulling it off the javelin with a small amount of difficulty.

Citizenship Reform

Spurred on by Aristomachos' promises and Cedros' following official decree came the sweeping citizenship reform. According to the laws drafted by Cedros any man who joins the Grand Republican Army and completes a campaign will be paid half his wages, but made a citizen of the Republic. As a result of this tens of hundreds of poorer non-citizens have flooded Aros in hopes of gaining citizenship and the many benefits it affords.

Rising alongside the swell of poorly armed recruits is the anger of the Patricians and various other richer members of society. They decried the citizenship reform as base and unorthodox to a disgusting degree. Myrolos Sikorimos, head of the Sikorimos and senate, has taken to the forums where he beseeches the masses to see how the Immortals are undoing the integrity of Arosan dignity with this reform. Although the masses he speaks to are the ones benefiting the most from the reform, many of them are swayed by Myrolos' mastery of rhetoric and oratory skills.
[-Immortal's General Popularity and Popularity With All Patrician families]

Slavery Reform

Taken up by Cedros as his personal goal was the redesigning of the laws regarding slavery. Against extreme resistance, Cedros began to probe the ways of reducing the amount of slaves in Aros by instituting limits on a slave's 'term'. The notion of a term was outright foreign to the Arosans and none, save for the slaves of course, responded favorably. The Council of Patricians have unanimously denounced the attempted reform as grossly out of touch with the actual issues of Aros and have so far moved to reverse every action Cedros has made.

Despite the contreversy of the move marring Cedros in most mortal eyes, slaves now look upon Cedros with favorable- if somewhat perplexed- eyes.
[+Cedros Slave Popularity, -Cedros General Popularity]

Arosan Streets Expanded!

To accomodate the sudden boom in population, commerce, and travel the city streets of Aros and the southern country roads have begun to be improved. In a sweeping program designed by Cedros and the newly created mortal lower Quaestors construction has begun to connect Aros to Haplesia as well as possibly Sioth. By the end of the year construction in Aros has already been completed and the Arosans were able to marvel at the new Via Appen that will attempt to cross through the rugged Appen foothills. Difficulty, however, has been encountered in surmounting the Heiron River and many Patricians have grumbled at the necessity of connecting Aros to Sioth and not the far-flung refugee-city of Haplesia.
[+Aros Infrastructure, +Aros Upkeep: 5d, Further Investment Needed to Complete Project]

Further Expansion of Sioth!

Planned by Cedros and the lower Quaestors was the expansion of Sioth's harbors and main streets to better accommodate the increasing interest in naval affairs. Designed to be, as Cedros himself described, as "the seat of Dorarities," the expansion of the harbor will take many more years to complete with the current punitive amount of the Republican budget invested in the project.
[Further Investment Needed to Complete Project]

School of Cedros Expanded & The Young Baskymma

Despite his many unpopular actions during the past year, Cedros' school has begun to grow in enrollment and teaching staff. Those students whose intellect best pleases Cedros are invited to permanently live under his household as teachers of the more basic studies, freeing Cedros' precious time to explore more complex intellectual musings with his advanced students. Patricians still boycott Cedros' classes, calling them base and unnecessary- some even going so far as to setting up rival schools as a means of lashing out against Cedros and his recent spate of unpopular reforms. The merchants and artisans expectedly continue to send their sons and daughters for tutelage under Cedros, but there is an increase in the number of foreigners attending his classes. Some come from Salpe, but more come from Sakkema where the news of Cedros' lectures has begun to pique the interest of the newer Sakkeman nobles. Of the dozens of Sakkeman students Baskymma Nephele rises above the others and even overtakes those Arosans who have had a year to study under Cedros.


A comely young noblewoman whose ancestry would have her likened more to a shepherdess than a patrician by Arosan standards, Baskymma takes to Cedros' lessons with a prodigious speed and comprehension. In a matter of months she is teaching the more rigorous studies and leading the discussions amongst her learned peers. Baskymma seems to hold Cedros with the ardor of a worshiper, and she can often be found trailing after her Immortal teacher with an enthusiasm that is most unbecoming of a young lady. She has become so enamored with Arosan society and Aros itself that she has applied for citizenship and emancipation from her native family, requesting to be adopted by the Immortal as his daughter- a move most unorthodox and bound to stir many strong feelings depending upon the outcome.
[+Income of Cedros' Private Wealth: School]

Trade With Salpe & Wine Cultivation in the South

Trade withe the Salpen-Corians increases over the year, in large part due to the efforts of Epicurus. In an attempt to overtake the Penumar Patricians in securing trade with the Salpen-Corians, Epicurus commisions the construction of five new trading vessels to add to his fleet and hires the most able-bodied young men in Sioth (much to the chagrin of Ichthyos). By mid-summer, while Epicurus is away on the Lachykos campaign, the ships set sail for Salpe and return by autumn laden with goods and gold. Epicurus' trading tactics soon take on a more aggressive approach as he purchases five ships from the Penumar, bribing the ship captains with promises of the riches to be obtained from the goods he grows in the south: wine.
[+Epicurus Private Wealth: Gold, Trading Vessels x 12 (Upkeep 12d), +Epicurus Private Wealth Income: Trading Vessels, -Epicurus Private Wealth: 20d, -Epicurus Penumar Popularity]


A longtime industry in Aros, wine cultivation takes on a commercial aspect when Epicurus buys up large swaths of land south of the Heiron River, commanding the farmers to cease growing crops meant for subsistence and instead growing large amounts of wine specifically to be sold. Although none of the vineyards have yet to reach the maturity to have their produce sold, Epicurus has none the less taken the first steps to making Aros a commercial society.
[+Epicurus Private Wealth: Vineyards (15d Upkeep), -Epicurus Priavte Wealth: 20d]

Matiea Constructs a Theater

On the outskirts of Aros Matiea spends a great deal of her wealth to begin the construction of Aros' first proper theater. Partly brought on by the revival of Gamian plays due to Cedros' school teaching the Arosans about their distant ancestors and also brought on by Matiea' general love of the arts, the project nears completion by the end of the year and the throngs of Aros can barely contain their anticipation for the revelries to be had in the future.
[+Matiea General Popularity, -Matiea Private Wealth: 40d]


Not long after Lachykos' grisly death Aristomachos goes about dispelling the Arosan's apprehension of war by erecting a small temple to Akyrosyne upon the very spot where Lachykos took his life. The temple, though small in size, is filled to the brim with the loot gained during the last campaign and every day members of the army and the Adored Thousand dedicate blood and gold sacrifices to the fickle Goddess of War. As the campaign against Lachykos approaches worship of Akyrosyne spreads like wildfire amongst the young male populace. Helped in part by the citizenship reform bringing in hundreds of young hopefuls into the city and greatly by the patronage of Aristomachos, the Cult of Akyrosyne becomes established in no time.
[+Faction: Cult of Akyrosyne, +Aristomachos Cult of Akyrosyne Popularity, -Aristomachos Private Wealth: 15d]

Aristomachos takes it upon himself to assume the role of high priest of the cult, doing so in a ceremony where he dressed as Akyrosyne herself and slew fifteen captured Dual Kingdoms officers in fair combat (as fair as the match up between a mortal and Immortal can be). He appointed lesser priests from amongst the Adored Thousand and ordered them go out into the city and preach the bloody message of Akyrosyne to any who would listen. Furthermore Aristomachos made it known that he and every member of the Adored Thousand would educate any cultist in the ways of the warrior, resulting in the majority of the ten thousand Poor Infantry who swelled the Republican ranks attending these sessions and dedicating themselves to Akyrosyne. These soldier's fervor began to seep into the ranks of the Grand Republican Army and it was not long before even the haughty Rich Infantry and Cavalry trained alongside their poorer counterparts all in the name of Akyrosyne.

Amongst the converts was a large majority of the Kataxen Patrician Family who, despite their past grievances with the Immortals, quickly came to see Aristomachos' establishing the cult as an act most pious and proper. A staunch military family since the first Kataxen male earned his name upon the battlefield, the Kataxens quickly took to the teachings of the cult and became its loudest followers. A smattering of young noblemen from other families joined the cult for a time, but due to the Council of Patrician elections nearing and the subsequent political jockeying going on between the Patrician families these hapless youths were quickly ousted by the boisterous Kataxen.
[+Aristomachos Kataxen Patrician Popularity]

The Cult of Akyrosyne went to great pains to make its tenets known to all. They are simple: the cultivation of one's physical self for the ultimate glorification of Akyrosyne upon the battlefield. Each day the cultists gather at the Martial Field to re-devote themselves to Akryosyne via blood or gold sacrifices, displays of martial prowess, and intense exercise meant to hone the body. Aristomachos leads these rituals daily without fail and soon the Arosans come to associate Aristomachos so closely with Akyrosyne that by the end of the year his name is a by-word for the war-goddess.

An unfortunate side-effect of the cult is the general bandying of insults between the cultists and those who honor Dorarities. They call the sea-god the 'Horned One,' pointing to all the old Gamian stories of Akyrosyne laying with all kinds of men and rarely with her nautical husband. Endless arguments ensue between the sailors and soldiers, though they rarely come to actual blows due to the temperance Aristomachos preaches unless upon the battlefield. Many see this as yet another way Aristomachos seeks to undermine his natural rival Ichtykos, the Immortal known to revere Dorarities.

Rural Settlements Expand

Following the disturbing events beginning the year was a period of extreme growth and prosperity in the rural villages and towns surrounding Aros. Experiencing only a mild winter which allowed for an earlier planting season, rural Arosans also saw their settlements lavished with the Immortals' gold. Irrigation systems expanded, cobble roads laid down, and new equipment bought- it has never been a better time to be a rural citizen of Aros.

Artemalces in an act of extreme generosity spent all of his wealth upon the northern settlements which had been devastated by the Dual Kingdoms' horde. Not only did he and the Hand of Sphasia police the northern countryside, he took the time to travel to each and every village he could to teach them various rustic skills. In the most far flung villages and towns Artemalces quickly came to replace their local non-Arosan deities, many of them coming to see Artemalces as the divine combination of all their gods.
[+Artemalces Farmer Popularity, -Artemalces Private Wealth: 75d]

Epicurus followed Artemalces' example, although his efforts were focused on the southern town of Haplesia. By now Haplesia had become a local center of commerce, although the population still remained fair divided. Set up into districts reflecting specific cultures, Epicurus began to propagate Haplesian unity by using himself as a conduit, chiefly by erecting statues of himself throughout the surrounding country settlements and in Haplesia itself. He gifted the Haplesians with farming equipments and personally worked on irrigating the most destitute villages. Though not hailed as a god-on-earth like extreme northern villagers did to Artemalces, Epicurus has been consistently hailed as a hero and patron of Haplesia and all its surrounding villages.
[+Epicurus Haplesia Popularity, -Epicurus Private Wealth: 20d]

Preparation for War

The Republican Army is Summoned!

Under the continued dual-generalship of Aristomachos and Epricurus the 23,400 veteran citizens mustered themselves yet again for a new campaign. Although some of the older men grumbled that their hands were needed to till the land, many of the younger men were eager to take up arms to wreak bloody vengeance against the Republic's aggressors. Mateia made it well known that she would be joining the army as a lieutenant, specifically commanding the noble cavalry.

Many efforts were made to replace the men lost during the Dual Kingdoms' attack and ultimately the efforts of Aristomachos payed off. Expending 25d of his private wealth he payed the Grand Republican Army himself and made promises of citizenship to those who would join. From this over 10,000 young men, mainly those from the outlying reaches of Republican territory, assembled under the Republican banner as Poor Infantry. Though this action certainly pleased the masses, the Patrician families- and specifically the Kataxen- were livid to see citizenship granted so freely. Further taking matters in his own hands was Aristomachos' declaration to supply the campaign himself, spending 10d for this end.
[+Aristomachos General Popularity, -Aristomachos Kataxen Popularity, -Aristomachos Private Wealth: 35d]

Accompanying the Republican Army were the 15,000 Sakkema Heroes lead by Brygima, as well as Artemacles and his 50 woodsmen dubbed the Hand of Sphasia.

The Adored Thousand of Akyrosyne, unable to convince the 200 who had left under the command of Niptileo Plassynx, nevertheless replenished their numbers with the throngs of young men who had begun to surround Aristomachos and his Cult of Akyrosyne.

Under the command of Aristomachos the Grand Republican Navy was formally created and Ichthyos was voted to act as Navarchos until further notice. He was given those 2,000 poor infantry who had served under him, although their prior experience and riches gleamed from Ichthyos' unforgiving coastal raids made them more so Raider-Marines. Aristomachos also commanded that 2,000 Ranged- Javelins accompany Ichthyos during his campaign against Zelotage.




The Grand Republican Army set out from it's winter encampment near Aros as soon as the first spring buds, Aristomachos and Epricurus at its head and Artemacles and Mateia in attendance. Their march to Lachykos was a long, but relative undisturbed one as it seems that the army lead by Lachykos had evaporated after their king's capture. As the army neared Lachykos towards the third month of spring it seemed that help from Zelotage was unlikely, though Aristomachos was ever weary and Epricurus even more cautious.

Artemacles and the Hand of Sphasia set out ahead of the main body of the army well in advance, visiting the Dual Kingdoms' settlements along the way to search for any possible news about a defending force of any size. They found that the majority of the villages were deserted. At first Artemacles and the Hand assumed the inhabitants had caught wind of the Republican army marching north, but in each village Artemacles found the body of a young girl mangled, bloody, and seemingly sacrificed, hinting to some more sinister truth.

Human sacrifice is common in Arosan society, even more so now with the advent of the Cult of Akyrosyne, but the sacrifice of non-criminals or prisoners of wars- let alone children- is incredibly taboo. Distraught by the sight, Artemacles was hesitant to disturb the fell religious altars where the corpses of the each child lay. It was not until the Republican army began to encounter the villages that they even knew of the heinous rituals, yet instead of disgust the army was emboldened with anger.

In a display of his master of rhetoric, Epricurus addressed the Grand Republican Army to not see the Dual Kingdoms' villagers as transgressors against Arosan decency, but simpletons in dire need of proper civilization- which only the Republic could provide. He pointed to Lachykos as an example of how the world needed to see the rise of a great empire based upon Gamian traditions, but this time trimmed with the golden values only Aros could offer. To the soldiers of the Republic Lachykos became the enemy, Zelotage became the enemy, but not the Lachykans or Zelotageans. Epricurus temporarily instilled in the people a sense of unity and greater duty, and although it would diminish after the campaign, such a notion of Arosan harmony was indicative of what was to come for the city and its people.

With no surprises to be had the Grand Republican Army arrived at the walls of Lachykos by early summer and upon their arrival they knew where the villagers had gone and what had become of them.


A great wall made up of bones, flesh, and gore wreathed the city of Lachykos. Though the smell of the thing traveled miles ahead of the grisly sight were it not for Artemacles and the Hand the wall of bodies would have nonetheless caught the Republican army by surprise. Scholars have long debated exactly what the Lachykans had intended the wall to do. Ward the Republican Army off? Serve as a means to dishearten the Arosans? Or was it truly a last ditch attempt to protect themselves? Though scholars would debate the Arosans beholding the wall only acted, and their actions were of such violence that the resulting battle came to be known as The Bloody Siege.

Attempts to parley with the Lachykan notables were quickly dashed aside as Aristomachos was taken up a blinding wrath at seeing innocents so cruelly dealt with. "Say what you will of the Imperator," one later historian would write, "but upon that gods-cursed day he proved himself a friend to man and all goodly mortals."

Aristomachos immediately called for a siege, although the exact planning and logistics of it was left to Epricurus and Mateia. Expecting that a wall composed of human matter would be weak, the two Immortals were surprised to learn that it withstood their early attempts and so the two planned for a long, drawn out siege.

Months came and went and it was almost winter when the skeletal wall fell after what seemed to be an eternity. By then most men were either mentally spent from gazing upon the fell wall day after day or they were hardened with a resolve almost inhuman. Thanks in part to the Cult of Akyrosyne the latter outnumbered the former, as the cultists took it as their mortal duty to wreak Akyrosyne's bloody vengeance upon the builders of the flesh wall.

The actual battle was quick. Aristomachos lead the charge through the breech, cleaving the enemy asunder with pent up rage and unthinking glee. Matiea lead the Rich Infantry soon after, taking a deep wound to her shoulder from a Lachykan in a ragged black cloak ringed with red lines at its sleeves and hem, but nevertheless she continued the fight. The glory of the battle, however, would go to Epricurus and in a lesser part to Artemacles.

As Aristomachos lead the bulk of the army through the city like a swarm of locusts over a field, Epricurus and a small band of his own men made their way for the grim palace that sat in the center of the city.


The Lachykan nobility, which had been absent during the street-to-street fighting, were all gathered in the palace. They wore no armor, but instead ragged black robes much like the one worn by Matiea's attacker. Initially they paid no mind to Epricurus or his retinue, going about some strange business despite the fact their city was crumbling around them. Eerie moments passed as Epricurus found himself free to wander throughout the palace unmolested, and though his gut told him to attack his reason won and he stayed his blade. Leading his small band through the palace's halls Epricurus came to the main chamber where he say a circular throng of black-clad nobles surrounding something he could not quite make out. Entering the room caused the heads of every assembled body to abruptly snap their head to Epricurus, and though Epricurus could not see their eyes he felt something very wrong was behind them.

With an inhuman lack of fear the figures set themselves upon Epricurus and his band with wraith-like speed, but the fight was a punitive one. The nobles wore no armor, carried no weapons, and simply threw themselves at the Arosans. By the end of the battle Epricurus was far more bewildered than wounded, and the same could be said for his men. Looking past the bodies that blanketed the floor Epricurus saw a crude, red symbol drawn upon the floor.


He dared not approach it.

Instead the image shimmered and dispersed itself in many globular forms that shot every which way, escaping the palace through every crack. Exiting Epricurus found that all the black figures he had seen before were now collapsed upon the ground, seemingly dead for they did not stir when he pierced their ragged shapes with his sword. When he neared the entrance he heard a fell cry and saw a great red shape barring his way.

Epricurus knew not if the shape was man, beast, or something in between. It seemed to writhe in the sunlight and in his later Histories he would note that the malevolent red figure gave off the same repulsive stench as the flesh wall. The redness lunged past Epricurus, splattering onto his men and killing them instantly by entering every pore of their body and exiting with an explosive force. Whirling around just in time to see the last of his guards die, Epricurus saw the redness finally decided upon the shape vaguely reminiscent of a man.


Lurching at Epricurus the red beast brought down a lumbering claw that Epricurus barely had the strength to deflect. He suffered another such onslaught two more times before he thought he had an opening, but upon stabbing at the beast Epricurus was dismayed to find that the beast's oozy, red flesh simply opened up around where Epricurus would have struck. Death, for the first time in an eon, crept up in the back of Epricurus' mind and his thrusts, parries, blocks, and slashes became increasingly desperate.

Epricurus later swore that the fight carried out for entire hours and poems, songs, and plays dedicated to the Bloody Siege would culminate in a similarly long battle between Epricurus and the Red Beast. Were it not for the sudden sound of an arrow being loosened and finding its home in the gaping maw in the center of the redness' body Epricurus surely would have died there that day. When the arrow struck the beast recoiled in pain for the first time. Knowing that this would be his only chance to strike Epricurus threw himself at the the beast, piercing it through a cruelly shaped red horn crowning its body. When Epricurus landed he landed on the ground not only was the beast no more, there was no redness to be found save for the bloody bits of his retinue splattered onto the walls. All that was left to note that the beast had even existed were the accounts of Epricurus, Artemacles, and a small blood-red jewel that Epricurus found and cautiously claimed for himself.


Artemacles told Epricurus that the battle was over, the city of Lachykos had fallen to the Republic. Despite this neither Immortal seemed at ease.

[+Artemacles, Epricurus, Aristomachos, Matiea Private Wealth: 125d, +Epricurus Priavte Wealth: Red Diamond (Magical Item), +Artemacles, Epricurus, Aristomachos, Matiea General Popularity, Lachykos and Its Territories Are Under Republican Control]

Results of the War

Though the war stretched well into the year, that Lachykos fell in a matter of months was nothing short of miraculous. In Aros the people celebrated wildly upon hearing the news and the Council of Patricians put aside their factional jockeying for a week out of respect for those warriors who had fallen for the Republican cause.

Only female and child slaves were taken by the Grand Republican Army and all men that they came across were slaughtered on sight, an order that Aristomachos rigorously saw carried out. The fertile lands of Lachykos now stood at the beckoning of Aros, though the people were not sure if they could all populate it due the death of nearly the entire Lachykan countryside inhabitants. Most expected that land would be sold cheaply and given the new trade lanes opened via sea they further anticipated the great wealths to be earned with the cultivation of cash-crops.

Further buoying the Republican spirit was news of Ichthykos' successful raids up and down Zelotage's coast. Though this time the Navarchos encountered heavy resistance from Zelotagean forces, they fell quickly to the newly increased navy with only a few casualties. It could safely be said that Zelotage's naval efforts would be crippled and any trade they may have conducted was now thoroughly staunched by the Arosans.
[+Ichthykos Private Wealth: Gold]

Council of Patricians Elections


Though war raged on to the north, Arosan politics continued unfettered and this round of elections has seen the Sikorimos claim enough of a majority to swing the council in their favor. The Council Head remains Myrolos Sikorimos, who kept his seat on the platform of pro-mortal acts and the promise of limits placed upon Immortal power. The Sikorimos' chief most rivals, the Kataxen and Eluthyerus Families have seen a general fall in their power due to their generally pro-Immortal stance and the Kataxen's large absence due to the majority of their family entering the war. Diapthylos and Penumar Patricians have kept their amount of seats the same and currently head up the council as its moderates, neither family seeming to want sweeping changes or stymied progress.