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Post by Gandalf on Oct 12, 2021 14:04:57 GMT -5
"Of course, of course. We shall lend you our forces at sea, such as they are, and some of our able bodied soldiers."
The Vizier looked to the king, who gave the slightest nod of consent at the arrangement.
Cyprus gives the Romans twelve Quinquiremes carrying two thousand men; 1500 light infantry and 500 heavy infantry.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 12, 2021 14:56:23 GMT -5
"Rome will remember this, king Ptolemy. I bid you farewell, with my bussiness concluded"
Said Crassus with a short nod.
Now I only have to remember who is who and send men to different scenarios. Else they kill each other.
The pro-consul, without much rest save for a night in Cypriotic soil, entertained by some local notables, left for foreign shores. Libannon itself would be his next objective. And maybe... that queer king of the Jews, some Alexander. Thanks Janus that one had a different name, he could hardly keep the Ptolemies and the Antiochus apart.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 12, 2021 15:31:40 GMT -5
Antiochus IX can be found at the ancient city of Demetrias, in southern Syria, being relatively far in-land from the coast. Expecting the Roman arrival, a substantial escort is sent to bring the Pro-Consul to the Syrian King's abode in the ancient city.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 13, 2021 10:06:56 GMT -5
Antiochus IX can be found at the ancient city of Demetrias, in southern Syria, being relatively far in-land from the coast. Expecting the Roman arrival, a substantial escort is sent to bring the Pro-Consul to the Syrian King's abode in the ancient city. Crassus needs to have a hold of himself not to grunt or limp too much while walking. The wound is taking its toll. But he keeps pushing forward. For the third time, the pro-consul wears his toga and visits an Oriental king. "Ave, Antiochus, King of Syria"He said. "I come here on behalf of the Roman Senate. We heard your kinsman has thrown his lot behind the abhorrent Mithridates of Pontus, that fiend"
He added, using his best voice, as always.
"Rome cannot stand this breach of treaties and this wanton aggression. Your rival king shall be dealt with once the Pontic king is thrown from Asia and our Eastern provinces"
Crassus looked at those there gathered. "How long do you believe will take for this pretender to come at head of an horde of Galatians and Scythians to try to end your rightful claim, king Antiochus?"
He added, arching an eyebrow. "Thus, Rome offers her friendship and support, in exchange for yours in this dire time when our very homes are threatened by this so-called king of kings"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 13, 2021 11:27:14 GMT -5
”Hail, Pro-Consul.”
Greeted the Syrian, who looked just like the dozens of statues he had commissioned of himself all over the city. Robust and bearded, basically the standard for a Hellenistic king.
”I have heard that my brother has been promised Roman Cilicia for his assistance to Mithridates. I shall ask only for sole ruler ship of my kingdom. With Rome’s assistance, I shall break our treaty and drive him out, ending the possibility of his further treachery.”
Said Antiochus, who was ever looking for men and money to retake his patrimony.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 13, 2021 13:11:27 GMT -5
”Hail, Pro-Consul.”Greeted the Syrian, who looked just like the dozens of statues he had commissioned of himself all over the city. Robust and bearded, basically the standard for a Hellenistic king. ”I have heard that my brother has been promised Roman Cilicia for his assistance to Mithridates. I shall ask only for sole ruler ship of my kingdom. With Rome’s assistance, I shall break our treaty and drive him out, ending the possibility of his further treachery.”Said Antiochus, who was ever looking for men and money to retake his patrimony. Said Crassus. "The Senate will hereby contemplate you as the sole ruler of Syria. And once Mithridates is dealt with, this troublesome pretender shall be done for"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 13, 2021 16:08:23 GMT -5
"Then I shall menace his southern border. I dare not overcommit myself to a distant conflict, for as I have heard my brother is weakened from his assistance to Mithridates. It is a perfect time to strike."
Said Antiochos, who was still hoping for a more present form of Roman assistance than a distant promise.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 13, 2021 16:37:10 GMT -5
"Then I shall menace his southern border. I dare not overcommit myself to a distant conflict, for as I have heard my brother is weakened from his assistance to Mithridates. It is a perfect time to strike."Said Antiochos, who was still hoping for a more present form of Roman assistance than a distant promise. Said Crassus, realizing he could unburden Rome from these handful thousand men and open a dangerous second scenario for Mithridates and his allies to deal with. "With such forces you could very well tip the balance in your favour"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 13, 2021 16:52:09 GMT -5
Antiochos seemed to practically salivate at the prospect of such a force marching under him.
"I shall not forget this, Roman. You have my friendship for eternity, this I swear."
He praised the Republic to the skies that day, and hastily signed an alliance with the Romans.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 13, 2021 17:11:29 GMT -5
Antiochos seemed to practically salivate at the prospect of such a force marching under him. "I shall not forget this, Roman. You have my friendship for eternity, this I swear."He praised the Republic to the skies that day, and hastily signed an alliance with the Romans. Said Crassus. "Five thousand men shall disembark shortly, they're yours to command"He added, with a flourish of his hand. The pro-consul knew that only one king was left without being treated with: the Jewish king in Palestina.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 14, 2021 4:55:42 GMT -5
Jerusalem. A city, old, so very old. Perching on rock, surrounded by lush orchards, olive fields and bountiful lands watered by streams and rivers. Surrounded by a thick stone wall, crowned by powerful towers and bastions. At the heart of the city stood the holiest place for Jews, The Temple of Salomon, where the holies of holies resided, symbol of the covenant between God and His Chosen People. Crassus knew nothing of the matter, he considered such people one among many and found their fixation of a single god queer and foreign, hard to explain, when everything was godly and sacred and divinity could be manifested in so many ways.
The pro-consul crossed the iron-barred gates of Jerusalem, amidst a crowd of merchants, traders, priests, artisans and soldiers. His pro-consular guard stood among the crowd and they waited in the stone-paved loud streets of the city for the guards and chamberlain of the Jewish king to arrive. A man of strong character that had single handely conquered half the Levant and raised a powerful kingdom. He would be the last that Crassus would seek before returning to Cilicia and Asia proper, at least to pretend he shared of the war scenario.
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 14, 2021 7:01:34 GMT -5
Alexander Jannaeus was, like all others in the levant, styled in the manner of the Hellenes, though the extravagance of the Jewish monarch was somewhat toned down compared to that of the Syriac Despots and Egyptian Pharaohs. He was a warrior, first and foremost, and indeed the Pro-Consul had caught him in the midst of a campaign both against the kings of Nabataea and a rebellious faction in his own kingdom that sought to overthrow him. Hurriedly, the Roman is ushered in for an audience with the King himself.
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Post by oznerol on Oct 14, 2021 7:19:19 GMT -5
Alexander Jannaeus was, like all others in the levant, styled in the manner of the Hellenes, though the extravagance of the Jewish monarch was somewhat toned down compared to that of the Syriac Despots and Egyptian Pharaohs. He was a warrior, first and foremost, and indeed the Pro-Consul had caught him in the midst of a campaign both against the kings of Nabataea and a rebellious faction in his own kingdom that sought to overthrow him. Hurriedly, the Roman is ushered in for an audience with the King himself. Said the pro-consul, somewhat weary from all the traveling, but not a bit less satisfied and pleased with himself than before. "I come on behalf of the Roman Senate"He added. "There is trouble in the East, with the despot Mithridates raising against our presence in the Greek lands of Asia, threatening everything from Pella to Rhodes"
His Greek was well-trained and he had the right declamation and tone, albeit with a ring of Latin accent. However, the grace of his manners and speech compensated as much. "Janneus basileus, noble one, priest of the Jews, we come here seeking your friendship. Rome wills not that there is some enmity between your people and mine. If the tyrant comes beseeching your support, turn him a blind eye, for he is a cruel and ambitious man that would rather rule everyone than have them as friends"
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Post by Gandalf on Oct 14, 2021 7:56:05 GMT -5
Jannaeus looks thoroughly disinterested. He had better things on his plate today than dealing with faraway kingdoms that had no bearing on him.
"Hm. Whatever. I am friend to none, but neither am I an enemy. Judaea stands proudly alone, as it has always done. No power ever aided us. God and faith are our strength."
Replied the King of Judaea, having heard only cursory tales of this Mithridates and only poor reports from his neighbours as to the arrogance and meddling of the Romans.
"My interests are in this land, the land of my people. You have nothing to fret about from me, sailing to join this distant Persian in Asia."
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Post by oznerol on Oct 14, 2021 8:13:18 GMT -5
Jannaeus looks thoroughly disinterested. He had better things on his plate today than dealing with faraway kingdoms that had no bearing on him. "Hm. Whatever. I am friend to none, but neither am I an enemy. Judaea stands proudly alone, as it has always done. No power ever aided us. God and faith are our strength."Replied the King of Judaea, having heard only cursory tales of this Mithridates and only poor reports from his neighbours as to the arrogance and meddling of the Romans. "My interests are in this land, the land of my people. You have nothing to fret about from me, sailing to join this distant Persian in Asia."Said Crassus. "I thank you for the audience, I shall not mingle in any of affairs any longer. Shall Jove bestow his blessings upon you"
He added, as some sort of farewell. Queer people indeed.
Judaea stands alone... interesting. Standing alone means no help in a future conflict.Crassus would then take the long road, by horse and sail, to the war scenario. Twenty ships, large and powerful, would be joining the Roman fleet in the Aegean and he himself could boast of getting men and coin for various kings and securing a strong ally on the East, while removing one of Mithridates'. Something to be proud of, he thought, while crossing the Levant on his way to his legions, Sulla and the enemy himself.
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