A Game of Crowns

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Quite a twist there,making sure were awake eh?

Excellent stuff.

[WTE_OzWolf]

Just a quick chapter to introduce the Romans into the storyline.

Wars & Politics

Caeser’s cold stare followed the English envoy as he left the Roman throne room. Caeser waited until he was sure the man was out of earshot before turning to his Master-of-Arms.

“Make sure he does not leave the city.” Caeser said. “Ever.”

“Do you think that is wise, m’lord?” Caeser’s political advisor asked. “You might anger the English.”

“I do not care what the English think.” Caeser replied. “They have too much to deal with at the moment with the French, the Franco-Germans and the Americans. Elizabeth’s feeble attempt at an alliance is pitiful at the most.”

“But it could have been helpful.” The advisor offered. Caeser’s stare was cold and without mercy.

“If you keep advising me that way, you will join your predecessor.” Caeser said. “I respect honest advice but not foolish advice. Do you really wish to side with the English, who have effectively angered every faction in recent years, us included?”

“I have not forgotten the insult Elizabeth offered you upon the last time you visited London.” The advisor said. “However, you may have been able to get close enough to Elizabeth to gain claim to her lands when they finally fell. You may have even been able to sneak an army into her territory.”

Caeser’s smile in response held absolutely no humour. The advisor swallowed visibly.

“Maybe there is hope for you yet.” Caeser said. “However, as tempting as the promise of taking English lands is, cuddling up to that foul serpent Elizabeth will upset our plans with the Egyptians.”

“Yes, that is a drawback.” The advisor sighed. “Cleopatra definitely has an infatuation with you. I do not doubt for a minute that she would become jealous.”

“Definitely no doubt.” Caeser said musing. “But eventually, our plans with the Egyptians will have to come to fruition soon. You can only stand alongside someone long enough before they notice the knife moving towards their back.”

“And you do wield the largest knife in the Kingdom.” The advisor commented with pride.

“You flatter us too much.” Caeser said. “I’m afraid Prince Xerses has that honour. The Persians have always filled the bulk of the Kingdom’s armies.”

“Then why doesn’t he use that power while he still holds it?” The advisor asked. Caeser shook his head at the irony of giving his advisor advice.

“Because Xerses is proving nothing like his father and nothing like everybody expects a Persian leader to be.” Caeser said. “For over a hundred years, the Persians proved to be compulsive and reckless, often attacking against insurmountable odds and winning I might add. But that type of warfare does not promote a long lifespan for the soldier or their army.”

Caeser paused.

“No, Xerses has figured out that if he starts throwing his power around now, he will be the greatest threat to all of the other factions and regardless of who they are fighting with, everybody will change direction simply to dispose of a threat that they could not remove on their own.” Caeser observed. “He is wary and rightfully so. If the other factions smash against each other enough, the Persians will be left standing with nobody else capable of touching them. And no one faction can invade Persian territory and hope to survive.”

Caeser sighed.

“Unless the other leaders recognize the Persian threat, Xerses may well be the next king.” He summised. “Maybe not a totally bad thing, but it does little to help our aspirations.”

“Xerses appeared the least likely to take the throne out of all the faction leaders.” The advisor chimed in. “What makes you think he will suddenly make a push for King?”

“Because he does not believe any other faction leader is righteous enough to sit on the throne.” Caeser held up his hand, stalling his advisor. “And before you heap praise on me, I have a tendency to agree. Xerses does not even trust Alexander fully. I doubt anyone has truly observed it, but even though Xerses appears to be open with Alexander, I sense that he has to check himself and holds back on certain conversation. No, Xerses is not to be underestimated.”

Caeser flicked his fingers.

“Now, leave me.” He commanded. “I need to think on our next move.”

[dnassman]

I hope we don't have to wait too long for more.

[Kingof the Apes]

Very good!!!!

Joan seems like a potential ally for the Persians....

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Ozwolf its been an awfully long time since you updated this story, are you still active on poly? havnt noticed you around for a while.
If you see this please give us some more

[Easthaven I]

Where in the world is Ozwolf! He needs to continue with this story, man! It was good. And I want to read more. He better get his *** back here soon. lol

[steamthunk]

Yeah, what they said! This story had some of the better battle scenes that I've read here.

[WTE_OzWolf]

King & Queens, Pawns & Pieces

Slowly, Baron Abraham Lincoln picked his way through the remnants of the recent battle between the American and English clans. Bodies covered the ground like a carpet; both sides had payed a heavy price. But the English had paid the ultimate price, eventually surrendering their northern borders and fleeing south.

"Too easy." Lincoln commented dryly. "Much too easy."

He returned to his horse and climbed up onto its back and headed south, back through a forest towards his encampment. He always surveyed his conquests alone, basking in the triumph they brought the American clan. He especially enjoyed this one, seeing the almighty English defeated. He chuckled to himself. At the rate his armies were moving into the English territories, he would have London under American control in no time.

The cold steel of an arrowhead pressed up against his neck told him he was not alone. He pushed back the fear and surprise clawing at his stomach. He had not even felt the man behind him get on his horse. Obviously a well trained assassin.

"Too easy." A voice said, a distinct mockery of Lincoln's earlier comment, though sounding strange said with a deep, English accent. "Much too easy."

"My soldiers know where I am." Lincoln said, slowly lifting his hands above his head, clearing them of the sword he carried.

"Not for long." A second voice said. The person on the back of his horse had yet to speak. Obviously an excellently trained assassin. The only way Lincoln knew that he was there was by the constant pressure of the arrow against his spine. Speaking would give Lincoln an idea of where the assassin was himself.

"Off the horse." The second voice ordered. The pressure on the back of Lincoln's neck disappeared. For a brief second, he considered spurring his horse forward, but the appearance of two black clad soldiers with black swords blocking his path stopped him. That and the fact that his temporary riding partner most likely still had an arrow trained at his back.

Sighing his resignation, Lincoln slid off of his horse. He turned and got his first look at his assailants. The man standing before him wore black also, though he wasn't brandishing any weapons. Like the two that had blocked Lincoln's path, he was slight. He wore chainmail and had covered his face in soot. In fact, if the man had not been standing on the path with him, Lincoln doubted he could have seen him in the surrounding forest.

Movement to his left caught Lincoln's attention as another man appeared, pointing an arrow straight at him with a steady hand. Obviously his passenger.

"Baron Lincoln." The man in front of him said, offering him a half bow that Lincoln believed was more mockery than show of respect. "You are now a prisoner of the English."

He identified the man in front of him as voice one.

Lincoln chuckled menacingly.

"You idiot." He said. "The American clan is crushing your people. Capturing me will do little."

"Oh how wrong you are." Said the second voice, rounding the front of his horse, grabbing him and yanking him off the road into the sudden darkness of the forest.

Lincoln struggled, but before he could shout, a gag was bound around him.

"Look," said voice two, "we can do this the hard way or the easy way."

Lincoln kept struggling, making it impossible for his kidnappers to move him. Voice two simply shrugged.

"The hard way it is." He said, bringing his fist smashing across Lincoln's face. As his vision began to darken, voice two leant in closer. "Sweet dreams, Baron."

* * *

Bright sunlight washed across Lincoln's face. Reflexively, he reached up to block it but was stopped short by the manacles attaching his wrists to the wall behind hmi via a somewhat short chain.

The headache thumping inside his head refused to go away, as did the aching from his nose and lip. He could not breath through his nose, leading him to believe it was broken and he knew his lip was split simply by running a tongue over it.

From the sunlight, voice two spoke.

"I'd ask him to rise m'lady, but his restraints won't allow him."

"That's quite all right." A cultured female voice said. Lincoln instantly recognised it and tried to sneer. Instead, it became a grimace as his lip protested loudly and painfully.

"My dear Abraham." Elizabeth said, looking down on him. "I am so sorry for this."

Abraham tried to decide if Elizabeth meant the war or the physical damage inflicted by her lackey. He decided to try the personal approach.

"He could learn a few manners." He said. "But obviously he has been taught in your own image."

Elizabeth's eyebrows arched in amusement and mock puzzlement.

"Still full of insults, even as you lay there, tied to the wall?" She asked, a small smile playing across her lips.

"Taking me will do little to help you." He replied. "The American clan will still annex your own."

"Ah," Elizabeth said, all knowing, "that is where you are wrong. You see, some clans require the leadership of their rightful rulers. Without them, they flounder or lose direction. The American clan was nothing before you inherited your position and it will once again become nothing.

"But come. I have something to show you."

Lincoln was lifted and dragged through dark passages and up winding stairs. The only thing he saw was the hem of Elizabeth's dress, rustling softly on the floor in front of him.

Finally, they came to a stop.

"Thankyou so much for the tour of your castle's inner dungeons Elizabeth." Lincoln said. "Now, if you excuse me, I think it's time for my nap."

"Don't be a fool Abe." Elizabeth said. A door swung open and the hot, stifling air of London smacked Abe in the face. He was dragged forward until he was on a balcony. His "carriers" lifted him onto his feet. As his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the day, his stomach turned to ice. Before him, arrayed in ranks that disappeared into the hazy distance, was an army the likes and size he had never seen.

Everywhere was the glint of polished armour. Thousands of armoured warhorse stood perfectly still, the angry swishes of the horses' tails the only sign of movement. In front of them stood the equally impressive sworsdmen, burly men ready to crush anything in their path. Pikemen filled the area nearest to Lincoln. Their long spikes stood in perfect formation, family and English standards waving limply in the heavy air. The faint outlines of catapaults could just be seen in the hazy distance.

There was no hope the American armies could stop this.

"Of course," Elizabeth said, mockery in her voice, "if the Americans do not roll over as quickly as I think they will, we can just beat them to death."

Lincoln knew she was right. He shoulders slumped.

"Your clan is not the only one who suffers from being too reliant on its leader." Elizabeth continued. "The French suffered from it and now cower on their island. Your clan will either join us or be destroyed. And there is one more."

Lincoln's head rose, eyes showing his realisation.

"The Persians." He said. "You intend to take Xerses."

"Oh, I intend to take more than just Xerses, my dear Abraham." Elizabeth crowed. "I intend to take his entire army."

[Easthaven I]

Praise the lord! He has returned!





Took you long enough....

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Superb and what Easthaven said, but well worth the wait!!

[WTE_OzWolf]

Shaking the Foundations

Xerses stood outside his tent as the sky began to brighten in the east. Normally he would see this a good omen, but considering how far west they were, the sight was merely unsettling. Shaking his head ruefully, Xerses went back to practicing his sword strokes. The polished blade sliced through the damp air of the morning, almost singing in his hands. His practice was interrupted by the appearance of Lord Alexander outside his own tent not far away.

"Xerses," Alexander said, good cheer on his face, "do you never rest? You carry one of the finest swords in the land. Why must you always practice?"

"Because without practice, I will lose my edge, much like how a sword will lost its edge without regular sharpening." Xerses said, resuming his practice. Alexander walked over and took a seat nearby.

Alexander watched in silence as Xerses got back into the full swing of his training, the sword whistling through the air with precision. Finally, with sweat poaring from him and his breath coming in hoarse gasps, Xerses stopped.

"Very impressive to watch, my friend." Alexander said. "I just hope you have not worn yourself out for today."

"Do no fear, my lord." Xerses replied, sheathing his sword. "The English shall not have the same luck against us as they did against the Americans."

"Yes," Alexander mused, "it was unfortunate that Lincoln got captured. Without his leadership, the American clan is floundering. The English may yet annex the Americans as their own."

Upon the sudden the increase of power that the English had achieved, Alexander and Xerses had agreed to combine an army and head west to take the English down a peg. For two weeks the army had crossed through western Greece and mid-way across England before news had reached them that the greater part of England's army had been redirected to take on the Persian-Greek threat. As far as Xerses scouts could figure out, the English army would be in position today.

"I believe it is time to get our army ready." Xerses said, turning and picking up his armour. "Shall we?"

Alexander rose and offered a half-bow before heading off to organise the Greek contingent. Xerses busied himself preparing his strategies and prepping his army.

* * *

Even Xerses had to admit that the English army standing before them was impressive. Armoured warhorse supported by armoured soldiers was something that always struck feer into an enemy, but Xerses knew that the English were fighting no mere enemy today. They were facing the Persians, the warrior clan of the Great Kingdom. For centuries, the Persians had supplied the bulk of the Kingdom's standing army and Persian immortals were now one of the most feared units in the Great Kingdom.

"I do not intend to negotiate anything today." Xerses said. Alexander looked at him sideways. "The English do not deserve the crown and we will ensure they can't achieve it."

Alexander nodded.

"I suggest sending the hoplites in as a defensive line first." Alexander said. "Their superior defensive skills will mean that your troops will last just that little bit longer before entering battle completely."

Xerses nodded, then signalled to a nearby soldier. He called out, and the Persian troops all turned and knelt before Xerses.

"To our warrior god, we give thanks for his guidance and ask that he once again shine fortune and luck onto us during the coming battle." Xerses called, raising his sword.

The Persian soldiers rose again and resumed their positions.

"Luck my friend?" Alexander asked bemused. "You have said this before to your warrior god, yet I do not believe luck plays a part in battles. Skill, knowledge foresight do."

Xerses smiled tightly.

"Luck always has a place in battle, Alexander." Xerses said, before spurring his horse forward and taking up position in front of his own troops.

A drum began to beat from within the Greek ranks and in lock-step, the hoplites who formed the forward line began to march forward. Xerses waited to give them a comfortable lead before beginning the advance of his own army forward.

A mile of open plains seperated the two armies, and the trek was drawn out as both advancing armies paced themselves, not willing to break into a full run. The Greek hoplites kept up their rythmic lock-step march, always advancing like a human wall towards the oncoming English.

As the hoplites neared the English, they lowered their spears, but Xerses eyes began to narrow in suspicion as the English did not charge as was customary. As the suspicion began to blossom, Xerses raised his hand, halting the Persian army...and in perfect unison, the Greek hoplites reversed direction, now leading the English army back towards the Persians.

Xerses looked over his shoulder and saw the second wave of Greek soldiers closing in on the rear of the Persians. He checked the flanks and saw there was no way for his army to retreat that direction before the enemy were upon them. Xerses whispered a prayer to the warrior god before raising his sword.

"Attack!" He yelled, spurring his horse forward towards the Greek and English armies.

Up on the hill behind the battle, Alexander look puzzled.

"What is he doing?" He asked a general.

"Look's like he has reverted to the old ways of Persian soldiery." The general commented.

"Don't be stupid." Alexander scowled. "Xerses is not like any other Persian leader. The smart option was for him to reverse his army and try to break free through our second wave. It is numerically smaller than the English group. What is he playing at?"

The general did not reply.

Alexanders eyes narrowed as he watched the battle unfold. There was something going on here that he didn't know about.

Suddenly, something exploded amongst his second army. Bodies, dirt and weapons were flung everywhere. A second explosion smashed into his soldiers, closely followed by a third.

"They have catapaults!" Alexander cursed. "General, get somebody to find those weapons. We could lose our objective if we don't stop this."

The Greeks at the rear of the Persians began to falter. Their ranks were scattered and they still came under fire from the catapaults.

With as much precision as the Greek hoplites had done, the Persian army reversed direction, now charging at the disorientated Greeks. Alexander could see that the Persians would break free.

"I really didn't want to tip anybody off to this, but second in the the second army." Alexander said, degection in his voice. "A remember, we need Xerses alive."

Within the battle, Xerses had been knocked off his horse a long time ago. Rage filled his mind as he slashed at Greek soldiers. It was obvious his mis-givings were true. He was just glad he had smuggled those siege engineers in. The catapaults might just give his army a chance to escape.

Xerses' blade flashed through the battle in a deceptive recital of the moves he had practiced that morning. Men screamed as they fell before him. Like any battle, the strategy was gone as it became a simple slugging match. Hoplites fended off Persian soldiers with their long spears and heavy shields, while immortals flashed through the ranks, using speed and cunning to outwit their opponents into a mistake. English armoured horse simply obliterated anything in their path, while the Persian scouts had long since been vanquished, caught in the middle of a foot soldier battle.

Xerses fought on instinct, not thought. Feeling where his next potential threat was coming from and striking at it before it could strike at him. Various knicks and cuts covered his body from a number of close calls, but Xerses did not register any of the pain. The anger of betrayal burned deep within him. When he got a chance, Xerses saw that the surviving Persian soldiers all had that same look in their eyes.

An English swordsman appeared in front of him. Xerses swung his sword high, but his opponent deftly blocked it before reversing his sword and making his own strike. Xerses side-stepped and the English sword pierced empty air. With a quick swat, Xerses knocked the enemies sword downwards, a blow that generally disarms an enemy, but this one kept control of his sword. Xerses pressed his attack, his sword flashing at blinding speed in at the English swordsman, but he deflected each thrust with ease. The Englishman counter-attacked, pressing closer and closer to Xerses. Xerses held off each attack, losing a little ground with each thrust, but otherwise holding his own.

Suddenly, a passing horse knocked Xerses from behind, sending him off balance. With a quick flick, Xerses sword spun out of his hand and over the heads of other soldiers into the distance. His dueling partner shoved him to the ground. Xerses lay there, knowing his fight, and his life was over. He waited calmly as the Englishman raised his sword to strike. Xerses awaited his fate.

The Englishman's eyes suddenly went wide and a hoplite's spear protruded from his chest. The sword that was going to strike down Xerses clattered uselessly to the ground. The spear pointed downwards and the Englishman slid off and was dumped unceremoniously to the ground. A Greek soldier looked down at Xerses. Xerses tried to get up, but the Greek hoplite pushed him back down with his foot then pointed the spear straight at Xerses throat. The Persian leader simply sighed in resignation.

Xerses watched the rest of the battle unfold around him. His troops were still fighting valiantly and were getting ever closer to the open spaces behind the armies when he saw the wave of Greek soldiers crest the hill. Xerses had managed to smuggle siege engineers into this battle, but Alexander had smuggled an entire army. He was never going to win this battle.

"Surrender!" Xerses shouted. "I command you to surrender."

No use getting his men pointlessly slaughtered. Slowly, but surely, the command rippled through the battle and Persian troops threw down their weapons. When finally it was over, his captures dragged him to his feet and took him to Alexander. Xerses' eyes met Alexander's and he had the satisfaction of seeing the Greek leader flinch away from the anger radiating from him.

"Xerses." Alexander said, his genial mood no longer present. "Such hatred. It is bad for the soul."

"You set us up." Xerses said in a low growl.

"Yes, I did." Alexander replied. "There are those of us that should rule and those of us that should follow. You, my friend, are a follower. The fact that I could lead you around by the nose is proof of that."

"What do you hope to gain from all of this?" Xerses said.

"Oh, quite simple actually." Alexander said. "While I control you, I control the Persian armies. They will follow me because you follow me."

"I will never follow you, Alexander." Xerses stated. "Not now, not ever."

"Ah, but you will." Alexander said. "If you do not declare your allegiance to myself and Elizabeth, I will not kill you, I will kill your people."

Xerses straightened.

"You wouldn't." He said.

"I would." Alexander said. "They're either an army for Elizabeth and myself or they are dead. Simple as that."

"If you try to enslave them, they will rise against you. The will not fight for you under duress."

"Then they will die." Alexander said. "They have no leader who is anywhere near as good as you. Without that leadership, the Persian armies will be easy pickings. Make your choice."

Xerses' head dipped before he looked Alexander straight in the eye.

"I will do as you say." He said. "But know this: you're not the only one that can play this game."

"Excellent!" Alexander said. "Take him away."

As Xerses was lead away, Alexander had a sense of foreboding. He couldn't figure out why. He had exactly everything he wanted. The Persian army as his own, a powerful alliance and his biggest threat his prisoner. Then why, if everything was going so well, did he feel that he had walked squarely into the hands of the Persian Prince?

[ChrisiusMaximus]

my word what a load of evil minded self obsessed leaders you have in this story. So many twists and deceptions to feed the readers mind.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Any chance of getting some more ?

From one of your fans

[VaaQ]

I've read every one of your stories and i simply love them. I've printed them all up and made covers (just the story's name and author's name, no fancy artworki'm afraid ) for them and put them in my bookshelf. They're really great stuff to read!

So please write more?

[EQandCivfanatic]

i saw this on civfanatics, i hope you add more