The Heirs of Achilles: An Epirus AAR (TW:R2) (56k Warning)

Act 1 - Introduction

question that has always been asked by historians old and modern is: What would have been the outcome of a military showdown between Alexander the Great and the Roman Republic?
Now, don't get worried, i have no intention of making an alternate history answering that question, i refuse to, Alexander's story is already perfect, and i would never desecrate it by expanding it, i don't think anyone could do it right.
But what i do intend to is create an alternate history based around King Pyrrhus of Epirus, The second cousin of Alexander. Starting in 272BC


To put it simply, Pyrrhus believes he should be the rightful leader of Makedonia, he is the closest Ancestor of Alexandros The Great, he shares his blood because his Great Aunt is Olympias of Epirus, the Late Princess of Epirus, Queen of Makedonia and, more importantly, Alexander's mother.

Alexander's other descendants were his son and half brother, long deceased. Alexander's former Generals, who Pyrrhus believes are lesser men are now in control of what is rightfully his.

But right now, he is in no position to make such thoughts public.

Maybe 14 years ago, when he invaded Macedonia and briefly held for two years in retaliation to the murder of his father and putting that pathetic puppet on the throne of Epirus, Neoptolemus II, who was son of the previous puppet king, put in charge by Philip of Macedon.

Maybe 9 years ago, when he marched Egyptian mercenaries loaned for their king into Italy and utterly battered the Romans at the battle of Asculum and Heraclea. In two years he took control of southern Italy.

Maybe 6 years ago, when he refused the throne of MaCedonia After the death of their king from a Gaulish invasion to instead Chase another prize, claiming Sicily from the Carthaginians, a Nation he believed at the time to be the strongest in the world.

By 276BC He was the king of Sicily, and had Southern Italy and his home Kingdom in his control, Epirus was the Most powerful state in Greece.

But those were his Golden days...

Today is 272BC, and because of foolish decisions in Sicily, and foolish decisions by his generals defending Southern Italy, HIs homeland in Epirus is under his control, and Sicily is utterly lost, Pyrrhus has fled to His homeland, and if he doesn't act quick, he may ironically fall to something similar to his Late second cousin's most famous strategy, the hammer and the anvil, Rome being the Hammer, ever moving forward from the west, and Macedonia, Sparta and Greece being the anvil, standing Firm in the east.




I Will be playing Epirus for this Campaign, their Greek lineage Gives them a fierce homeland defence, and a large cultural conversion bonus, which should help with public order.

Epirus Claims to be sons of Achilles, a famous Greek hero, Other Greeks though, care nothing for this, and mistrust us Which causes us have to large starting diplomatic penalited with other Greek cities. This was possibly brought by because of our alliance to Macedonia (Pronounced Mac-a-Donia) during Alexander's Golden age through his father King Philip Marrying His daughter, Alexander's sister to Epirus Royalty. But those days are over, and there is no further love and loyalty between our peoples.

Epirus has no Region Capital, and holds only minor Settlements in Greece, one settlement recently claimed which is on mainland Greece. This may be to our advantage though, seeing as we are granted a 10% bonus to all income in minor settlements, which should help our agriculture, Livestock and our Naval trading efforts.

Furthermore, Epirus is granted a maximum of +4 bonus to public order because of our Hellenic Heritage, which should further help us to keep order during times of war, when our taxes must be raised.



Our First settlement owned is Apollonia, lies on the Adriatic sea. Garrisoned their is The Brave Companions, led by Pyrrhus, a man who has recently had Phyric victories in Italy and Sicily which ultimately lead to the loss of the Phyric war. No matter, he is an experienced General, and will be an important tool in the battles to come. We have a small garrison there, remnants of the Phyric war, and left over elephants given us to Ptolemy II of egypt during our efforts to take Italy.



Our Second city, Larrisa, is a recently claimed settlement on the Greek Mainland, It holds a small Garrison, The Gryphon's Grace Lead by Eusebius. It will be an important Settlement to Hold for Future Campaigns.



Directly South of Us lies Sparta, A country we are Faction at war with. The Spartans think themselves superior to all others. They will know otherwise when Epirote Torches burn their Fields, When our swords Slash their throats, when our men scale their walls and slaughter their children, rape their women, and take their peoples as our slaves.

To the south-east lies The Greek City state of Athens, one of the greatest cities of the Greek world. Our recent excursions into Greece and their General Distrust of us has lead them to detest us, as we do them. There may be a tiny chance of lasting peace between our nations, but most likely we will be forced to put them to the sword. But in there lies scholars, not warriors. we will crush them beneath our heels.



To the West across the Adriatic lies Sicily, controlled by Carthage, and the Greek City State of Syracuse. Phyrrus Believes Syracuse will support Carthage in the event of a war between Rome and Carthage, and Phyrrus himself may become involved in this tussle, a few years ago he owned Syracuse, and all of southern Italy, and he dreams of a day he can stand upon it's walls.

There is also the Threat of mainland Italy. Rome. Their Lands and Influence has vastly spread Recently and they seem unstoppable. But we have fought and beat them before, While Alexander was busy beating Women in the east. And we WILL do it again.



To the west lies Macedonia, A faction who still Consider themselves worthy of the Empire of Alexander, But he is Dead, and his empire has crumbled and passed on to lesser men, They must be crushed under the might of Achilles Son's, We will have revenge for all of their past grievances to our great nation.



What does he Phyrrus do next?

shall he try to take a foothold in Greece? Does he push for Macedonia? He has been proclaiming to be their king for years, and They are not even half as strong as they were under Alexander. Does he make the Suicidal move back into Italy and once again fight the might of Rome to Desperately try to claw back what was lost to him? Or does he make an unexpected move to annex the northen tribal kingdoms of Illyria, and use it as a costal base on the Adriactic, and as a way to expand further? Whatever he does, it will not be easy, while his army is strong, one wrong move and he will crumble, But he has a dream, to conquer the world, to reclaim what is lost, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. First we must build our armies, Expand our infrastructure, and only then will we be ready for war. The Son's of Achilles will survive these harsh times and take steps towards greatness, With the help of the Gods, our path to victory will be assured, and a new Empire will be forged by Epirote Might!

Possibly one day, no-one will care for Alexander, just like no-one cared for
Philip of Makedonia after his son achieved more than just Greece.
Maybe one day, People will sing Prryhus' name.