NationStates Jolt Archive

Petbe, the Neferhewet Palace

The great hall of the Neferhewet palace, lined with braziers, its floor here and there littered with a pile of papyrus scrolls, the occasional empty bucket of plaster (the murals were being re-painted), was quite busy. Both Teppicymon IV and V were present, as well as general Rahotep. Tameri of the Scorpion Army had been delayed by bad weather on the crossing from Paros, apparently. Which Tameri considered as no great loss.
The three, with their various captains, were crowded around a map of the Aegean.

"My lord," Tameri spoke now, "Its not a matter of resources as such. We can buy what we need with trade from the crops...its mostly a matter of SPACE. One good plague and we'll be up to our knees in the dead."

"He speaks truely, father. The people are restless, and its certainly doing them no good to be restless when you can't whisper without a dozen other people hearing it." Teppicymon V, who was somewhat shorter than his father, pointed at the map, "We should move northwards. The islands the Greeks call Icaria and Samos are easily within our reach, and with no oraganized city-state should be simple to take." The prince drew a line from Naxos to Icaria with his finger, the way was, indeed, clear of islands.

Teppicymon IV considered this. He adjusted his crown slightly before speaking, "This...seems a wise course, initially, however..." The Pharaoh pointed at Samos, "Taking Samos puts us directly into conflict with the Samaten Empire. I think that, for now, that is a battle we should avoid. At least until we have gained some allies."
"I believe our course, my son and my general, lies southwards. Ios and Santorini, once taken, provide us with a straight shot to Crete, which will secure for us much of the production of the Aegean sea." Teppicymon IV had spent much of his life learning from the Greeks, and was obviously more comfortable with their words than his general. His son seemed to dislike them, and while the Pharaoh agreed that some aspects of their culture were...strange, he had no great qualms with them.
"There is, of course, a city-state on the island...but I have no doubt we will find them...amicable to our requests. It is quite a large island, after all."
"And, of course, the island of Santorini gives us a fine harbor. Something our current possessions are not possessed of, as it were."

Teppicymon V and Tameri considered this. The southern islands would most likely be less valuable than Icaria or Samos, but Crete was certainly a goal worth fighting for. The Pharaoh had a tendency to think a few steps ahead of his current move, and it was unlikely that anybody would object to Petbe seizing the pile of rocks that was Santorini. And Ios featured little more than a goat farming village. Neither had a significant population, either.

"Tameri, you will remain here to defend Petbe. Consult with Rahotep if anything happens." Teppicymon narrowed his eyes slightly, "I know you dislike him, but in matters of the survival of our kingdom I am sure I can rely on both of you to put aside your petty arguments. I grant both of you authority to raise levies if you require them."

Tameri bowed, "Of course, my lord."

Teppicymon nodded, turning to his son, "You will take tie island of Santorini. Gather your troops and inform them that we shall be departing. Leave some to defend Dewa Hedj. Make the difference up with conscripts."
"I will depart for Ios with the start of the winter season. The blessings of the gods upon this endeavor!"

(OOC:
Are we using any kind of timescale? Or do we just fluid-time things?)

Kem Djew, Outside of Petbe

Heat seemed to radiate from the black stone of the fortress. Its walls acted as a massive heatsink during the day, easily blistering the feet of any foolish enough to walk barefoot upon the stone walkways during the afternoon, but, at least, providing warmth at night. Egyptians had not invented the bed cover and most in the army went without one, at least, at home.
The Pharaoh walked in the courtyard, observing the newly formed levies at work with their training. A hundred men, presently armed with sticks tipped with leather 'axe heads' were sparring, the dust combining with their sweat to coat all of them in a thin layer of dirt. The sound of shuffling feet, yelling NCO's, leather striking wooden shields and the occasional grunt as a blow connected made it difficult to hear.

"A fine group this year, your majesty!" Captain Reshkamun, the garrisons commander, was practically beside himself with the honor of having the Pharaoh personally present, "I haven't seen a finer group since I took command! There was hardly even a grumble when the recruiters went around, too!"

"Ah...perhaps that should worry us. If they're eager to be in the army, one must wonder what they feel about their home life." Teppicymon, who was used to speaking to crowds and over courtiers, did not have to raise his voice to be heard over the din. "They do look impressive, at least. For militiamen. How are the negotiations for armor going?"

"The Greek merchants are stubborn! I think they must be talking to each other about this, because they all demanded 5 silver deben per set of leather armor, which is completely absurd! I told them that I would pay no more than two!"

"A wise choice. The Greeks are a wiley bunch. Have you ever heard the saying "When dealing with a Greek, be sure to count your fingers afterward?"

"No, my lord. Who said it?"

"I just made it up. Rather clever, I think."

A short time later, after a brief meeting with the officers of the fortress, the Pharaoh was in full inspirational-speech swing on a small platform before the troops, both the veterans and the new levymen. A scribe behind him was writing frantically.

"-Stole our lands, deprived us of our birthrights! The Eastern Barbarians who dare to call themselves an empire! And, as if we were unworthy to even fight their army, they bribed our allies from our sides! They slaughtered the sons of Egypt as if they were no more than petty rebels, and then, piling sin upon sin, they dragged my great-great grandfather from his bedroom and murdered him!"
Teppicymon paused. Technically what he was saying was true, of course, the details were simply different from what one might find in a historical account.
"They have occupied our lands, a barbarian 'official' rules Egypt in place of a true Egyptian king, and dictates to Egyptians what is right and wrong, forces them to serve their uncouth, idiot of a 'king' and then dares to say what the priests can and cannot preach! This Samaten, this barbarian, places himself above the GODS! He speaks with the very words of Set and seeks to set himself up like the 'One God' of the Jews!"
"To this, I have a simple answer! We all know what Jews are good for!"

This brought a cheer from the crowd, slightly encouraged by the slaves who had just raised a banner with the Egyptian equivalent of 'Applause' written on it (in this wheat, man sitting down, squiggly line, constipated eagle.)

"Five months from now, we will begin the first steps of our reconquest! We will build our strength, gather allies who will not be bought with coin, and drive the Samaten Barbarians and their Jewish king from our lands! Sekhmet guard and guide you all!"

A somewhat more authentic cheer this time. None of those present could even remember Egypt. Only a few were still living now who had even seen it, and they had been very young. But it remained, as a sort of ethereal paradise in the minds of those who had, from childhood, listened to the stories of the great river Nile, and of the ancient empire of Egypt, stretching back before history. Virtually every citizen of Petbe longed to return to their homeland, with its temples and tombs, and grand palaces, and cities larger than any in Greece. To feel the rich soil of the Nile floodplains beneath their feet. Even the nobility were, to some extent, affected by this romantic view.

Teppicymon dismounted the stage, made a brief review of the soldiers, and, after some conversation, withdrew back to the palace in Petbe to resume the negotiations, planning and meetings that would, hopefully, bring them that much closer to their final destination.
Of course, whether that destination was the fields of Egypt or the Fields of Osiris had yet to be seen.