1.00The Persian Wars #1 - Uprising in Ionia (3 missions) ˇˇˇ @X ˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇˇ ŒK Uprising in Ionia - Personal Motives (mission 1) Uprising in Ionia - Personal Motives (mission 1).scn œP ÓR Uprising in Ionia - Food for Thought (mission 2) Uprising in Ionia - Food for Thought (mission 2).scn ‘9 Ω£ Uprising in Ionia - The Spirit of Tragedy Is Born (mission 3) Uprising in Ionia - The Spirit of Tragedy Is Born (mission 3).scn 1.11N +≤5: You are Histiaeus, an ambitious Greek nobleman living in Asia Minor -- the land of the Ionians.
The winds of history are blowing, Histiaeus, and you know the time has arrived when the Greek people of Ionia will finally welcome a storm of war against their oppressor, the Persian Empire.
Ah, but how can you turn the situation to your personal advantage?
After mulling the possibilities for several months you latch onto a plan: All it would take, you reason, is one spectacular military blow against the local Persian satrap, Artaphernes, and the fire of freedom will be stoked in the hearts of Greeks throughout the land. A surprise attack on his capital city of Sardis would do the trick. But you don't want to be directly involved in the uprising. No, that would carry harsh consequences if the Persians win -- hmm, what to do... what to do...
A stroke of genius! Your son-in-law Aristagoras has just returned, defeated, from an invasion of Naxos -- and he's eager to restore his reputation. Why not have him lead the attack on the Persians? A secret message is dispatched to his home in Miletus. He raises a small personal force and asks the Greeks back on the mainland for additional troops.
But Sparta turns him down cold, and Athens -- motherland of Ionians -- sends only a handful of ships. They have been escorted into the region by two Athenian triremes, but expect nothing else from Athens. Even her two triremes have orders to remain neutral unless attacked.
Determined to have your son-in-law move forward with or without a large army, you receive word at the last minute that the city of Ephesus to the north has mustered troops from her outlying provinces! Now -- can you and your son-in-law bring these forces together and sack the provincial capital of Sardis -- or should he sally forth without his allies? Beware -- the road to Ephesus is guarded. Persian troops are on patrol.
But if you try to transport your force by sea, you'll have to contend with their naval allies, the Phoenicians.
What price, ambition? The death of your son-in-law, the anger of Persia, the slaughter of your fellow Greeks? It all seems worth the risk -- when you're driven by personal motives.
VICTORY CONDITIONS:
Destroy the Persian government center at Sardis.
You are outnumbered, but exactly how many hostile Persian units you'll encounter will depend on whether or not Ephesus declares war on Artaphernes and eliminates some of them. Be careful of getting embroiled in such a war -- if you accidentally damage Ephesian units, they'll declare war on you, too!
And a final reminder: You are operating without the support of the people at this point. None of your units can be repaired, replaced, or healed. There are no villagers for you to command or resources for you to draw on -- except your military wiles.