Diadochi: Death or Diadem

[MrThe]

The great king of Megalos is dead, Arkantos the Third, Conqueror of the known world, descendant of the Gods and Kings of Atlantis, the rightful ruler and new Shahanshah, crowned King of Kings. He leaves no successor save a widow with unborn child. His generals seek to claim kingship for themselves and many suspect it was one of them who orchestrated the death of this great man, though none can prove it. It is not only the Army of Arkantos that seeks to assert itself however, there are many local rulers or Satraps that believe it is time to shed the yoke of oppression, or even force it on others. In these chaotic times, who can say that they know for sure that they will survive the coming years, much less fulfill their ambitions. There are two rewards for the men of this age, the crown and the grave. Death or Diadem, what will be your reward? Only the Gods can say for sure.
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[Albion]

As the festivities of the Feast of Poseidon wind down, Sophokles finds himself remniscient of another fleet being sent off with a feast and a farewell. In those times it had been war that had driven them on, Sophokles with a newly minted commission and a head full of 'wisdom' from the various pirates he had sailed with in his youth. Now it is young men seeking riches and trade with the nations of the Atlantean Sea. There is little of the hardy poverty and depression that plagued the Eutropian League decades ago before the brutal fighting of the Lakodaimian wars - control of the straits has made the land wealthy - but many still mourn the lost sons and daughters slaughtered at the battle of Argilos Pass. Sophokles finds himself in the midst of greeting several envoys from the Atlanteans when a messenger rushes up to him, looking nervous and weary. The news is brief but disheartening. Arkantos is dead - he leaves no successor born of his blood, and his generals claim that only the strongest can succeed him. It's a wearying thought - while this presents an opportunity to free themselves from the tribute they owe to the Atlanteans, the wars likely to come shall take their toll again and again.

So Sophokles does what he does best. He calls the widow of Arkantos, who had been officially visiting for fresh air for her unborn babe's constitution. That she was truly there to flee the plots of the Atlantean court was a well kept secret - such uncivilized methods of rule, deciding the leader based on blood rather than merit. But Sophokles was not some naive idealist - he saw an opportunity for profit and expansion, and the young woman would be of use to that. His meeting with her is brief - she had clearly heard the news already - but Sophokles promises to aid her and her unborn babe in taking the Atlantean throne and settling things. He had made plenty of promises like that when he was a youth pirating along the coast. That most of those he promised ended up overboard anyway... well, that was just unfortunate for them.

Much of the fleet is not going on the trip east. Sophokles has fifty triremes and seven quadriremes at his disposal, and orders many more oxen slaughtered and sacrificed to ensure their safe travel. This fleet, however, is being sent to the isle of Megaros, to blockade it and ostensibly secure the throne. It will take several months for Sophokles to raise an army and conquer the mainland territories of the Megarans, after all, and penning up a decent portion of the Atlantean army on the island can't hurt. The Eutropians aren't supposed to raise an army, of course - Arkantos had been wise enough to ensure that in the peace treaty, so as to avoid a sharp spear to the back. But Arkantos is dead now, and there is no official head to the Empire he left behind, just squabbling Generals staking claims to land. So Sophokles orders the army raised, and the ships sent off, and prepares his spears for war - metaphorically and literally.

It takes some effort to convince the popular heads of several factions to agree - he pays less scrupulous priests to see favorable omens for war, offers merchants excellent terms of trade for any land taken, offers diplomats prize envoy spots for several of the successor kingdoms already forming even as Arkantos' body still grows cold... it takes effort, after all, but it happens, slowly but surely. The popular opinion on war changes - not overnight, but he doesn't need overnight. It takes two months, months that are spent publically supporting the widow of Arkantos and her unborn babe until his daggers are sharpened and he sends her off to the capital, to die or to succeed - it will only weaken the Atlanteans either way, Sophokles decides. The army progresses nicely - nine thousand young men, enticed with offers of glory and wealth, eager and bright if not terribly well trained. The generals are hesitant - after the whooping they received from the Atlanteans, they aren't eager to fight again. But it only takes a bit of money to change their minds, remind them of the wealth that can be gained too.

Sophokles makes ready for war.

 

[Dystopianist]

It is a bright summer’s day. The palace at Aulopolis shines a gleaming gold, reflecting the sun.

”The physician confirmed it,” Theophrastus says, entering one of the building‘s many dining rooms, “Thyresus is dead.”

“Metrakoites,“ Ochessus curses, “First the king, then your father, now the head librarian. Hermes Psychopompos is working overtime, ma Dia.”

“Language, Ochessus,” Kharmion says, reaching to grab another strand of grapes.

”Fuck you.”

”You wish.”

Theophrastus sighs, sitting down besides them. “The real loss will be his research. He was experimenting with binding other things like the Thenesthep, I was having write a list of artifacts we might need retrieved from Nekhepolis.”

Ochessus gags, “at least we don’t have to send men there. Why not grab another handful of Shahishahr’s little brothers to the west?”

“Ah, about that. Our people in Eutropolis are saying Sophokles has finally managed to replace the navy,” Theophrastus says, “We might want to station a few more peltasts along the coast.”

Ochessus grins, “Aulopolis has never been taken by any less than Arkantos ho Megas. There is no cause for great concern.”

Aetogones scoffed through his venison, “Aulopolis has existed barely three decades. We all know Sophokles - he is not one run away at the sight of challenge.”

“Sophokles is smart, but he is also arrogant, shortsighted, too fond of his own voice.” Theophrastus states, “I see no reason not to push for Demetia before we take him on. He will do the same in the north. There is no reason to accommodate for a guest long forthcoming.”