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490 BC
Athens

The Athenian council chamber was filled with raging voices, “Hold them off here!”
“No we must stop them from the cost!”
“No we cannot risk sending men away from Athens, it would make us vulnerable!”
“We can deplete their forces greatly at the cost then make it back here in time!”
“No we can’t! We can only spare 9000 Hoplites (Greek soldiers) which will be up against 20,000 infantry, 5000 Calvary and 200 ships carrying 40,000 sailors!”
“We can send for help from other Greeks!”
“Name one that would help!”
“Spartans! They always are looking for a fight! Or what about Plateau’s?”
“Spartans?! Since when have they added us?! And we would be lucky to get 1000 soldiers from Plateau!”
“Excuse me?” a voice carried from the back of the crowd.
All faces turned to see a military leader called, Callimachus, “We may not have numbers but we could win by using our brains!”
This increased the arguing inside the council chambers...
“Quite down! This man may be on to something! Listen until he has finished his piece!”, all eye’s turned this time to Miltiades.
They then turned back to Callimachus, “Send for help! I however don’t believe that help will come! I believe that we can still destroy the Persian army!”
“How?!”
Callimachus smiled, “There is one tactic I have in mind! You see what we need to do is forget about arrows for coverage and charge the Persians! But first we must arrange our lines like this!” He ducked down into the dirt and poked a few dots into the ground with his finger.
The men gathered around and noticed that the dots represented their soldiers. However instead of an even line he had drawn it so the flanks both left and right were bulked up making the centre of the line weaker, “The Persians will see and think to attack our most vulnerable point here,” he said pointing to the centre, “They will charge this point in a triangular formation, point hitting the centre first. Unknown to the Persians however is the knowledge that our left and right flanks are being bulked for a reason. Now our left and right flanks will start wrapping around the outside of the Persian flanks like a crab’s claw slowly surrounding the Persian army completely. Not only will this work physically but mentally! Imagine everywhere you turn there is an enemy soldier! You would give up hope.”
He could tell that they were impressed... deeply, “Fine then you and your friend Miltiades shall lead them to battle!”

Plains of Marathon

The Plateau’s sent 600 hoplites’ to join at Athens in the battle against the Persians and there Callimachus stood over the plains at Marathon seeing the ships of Persians unload...

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Away For Three Days

Theseus lined up in the second rank of the center line amidst the dusty air filled with musk and sweat of his brother hoplites. Their line is the most forefront in battle, yet the least in numbers. They're expected to suffer heavy casualties but the Athenean didn't care. He held his shield tighter as the ground shook from the march of heavy persian boots.

"You do know....," the man beside him spoke slowly over the din of the marching steps of the enemy, "....that we're here as bait, yes?"

Theseus smiled from and held his spear tighter as he looked at his childhood friend, Goreus.

"With someone as good looking as me, it'd be a wonder if they do NOT come here, dear Goreus."

Small laughter escaped among the ranks. Everyone knew how Theseus was blessed by the Gods for having such good looks. Yet his thirst for battle made him an even more alluring catch among the ladies... and some senators as well.

"Hoist up men! Here they come! Stand fast and wait for my order!"

The line tightened and the Athenean front rank shields locked tight as Theseus poised his spear over the shoulders of those kneeling in the front ranks. Sweat flowed from every inch of his body as he shivered not in fear, but in the thrill of the upcoming combat.

"Here they come."

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Aeolus had the pleasure of being in the first ranks of the right flank, the hammer that will strike the anvil. Kneeling on the ground, he could feel the vibrations of the marching Persians, knowing they were getting closer by the second. Aeolus was scared, there was the chance he would die this day, but where he was now, he couldn't admit such a weakness.

He felt a nudge in his back, his friend Valtius trying to encourage him a bit. "So how many do you think you'll kill before they beat a hasty retreat? Fifty? Maybe a hundred?" Valtius gave a great grin, hoping to boost his spirits.

"If we could manage such feats, I think the Spartans would be trying to sign us up for their army. Though who knows, maybe between the two of us, we may get the awe of those Spartans and make them wish they showed up for this." For his friends sake, Aeolus grinned. Someone is going to die this day, but he had only hope that it was only going to be the Persians. A naive hope, but hope non the less.

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Wanted For:
- Assault With a Deadly Weapon
- Assault With a Potentially Deadly Weapon
- Assault With a Weapon We Can't Believe Could Possibly Be Deadly, but Unfortunately Was.

Callimachus and Miltiades stood out in front of the Greek line. Miltiades looked at his new friend then to the advancing Persian Army, “It’s Time...” Callimachus said by his side.
Miltiades nodded then raised his sword and shield, “Charggggggge!”
The banging of feet on the soft ground of the Persian Army was drowned out to Callimachus’s ears as the Greek’s ran to meet their enemy...

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Away For Three Days

The Persians were within view and striking range as Miltiades sounded the charge order. The front row immediately picked up their shields and ran forward in line as Theseus followed. This was more to his liking. With no confined space to take advantage of their shields and spears, running forward would cancel out the risk of the front line being out maneuvered by the larger Persian army.

They were all shouting while hoisting their spears, the shouts of his other brother Atheneans were heard coming from the other two flanks as well. Theseus couldn't see what happened to the rear ranks of the Persian army, but they too broke into a charge to meet up with the small center line hoplites.

There was break in the timing as shields clashed and the spears pierced Persian bodies in the collision. Blood of both Persian and Athenean sprayed towards Theseus's face but he didn't care. In this instant, he was like a Spartan. Blood thirsty and enjoying every second of it. They soon dropped into personal skirmishes as both lines blurred and wavered.

Theseus pierced a Persian in the face with his spear while knocking another away to crash amongst its comrades. As he retracted his spear the butt end caught another Persian behind him, knocking his winds off and causing him to fall and be trampled by the confusing stampede of two armies.

Theseus lost track of time as he thrust with his spear and knocked his enemies back with his shield. His sandals were slippery with blood that might've been his own, but most of it were certainly of his enemies.

What Theseus was aware of however, was laughing with glee.

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Callimachus Slashed his sword at a Persian and blocking a powerful blow with his shield. His sword dug deep into a Persians chest before being torn out allowing an artery to spray him with blood. He could see some of the Persians realising what was happening and try and get away... They were to be picked off later when they had won this battle and were to be ignored now as was the command. A sword came down hard on his shield... A big tough Persian now stood in front of him. The sword came down again this time cracking his bronze coated shield, knocking him to the ground. He looked around for help with no sign of Miltiades. Callimachus quickly got to his feet and ran forward aiming a series of blows at the Persian who just brushed him off with a few little effortless parries. He knew he was in trouble.. BAM! The Persians sword flipped the shield away from his grasp... The sword then came down with lighting speed towards Callimachus!

Miltiades watched as Callimachus’s head flew through the air, “Callimachusssssss! Noooooooo!”
He ran forward with angry blows, the huge Persian hadn’t expected to see such a furious warrior....

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Away For Three Days

He felt like a god, and he was alone. His squad was dead already, leaving only him to strike at the Persians around him, and he was doing that with a vigor that would of left many dumbstruck.

'' A one and a two and a three and a one and a two ''
He kept his pace up, moving from battlestance to battlestance, swinging his spear around at a timely pace, slitting Persian throats and tendons.

'' I could get used to this ''

Aeolus knew the plan, wait til the Persians struck the center line, then close in from the side. And that is how it went, Persians went into a wedge, trying to drive right through the line just to find the sides of the line close in the hit their flanks.

Almost perfect.

Aeolus found that the sides saw them swinging in, but if they had tried to raise an alarm, none had heard. And then, they struck, and hard. Aeolus and a few others of the front line had charged in, shield first through their ranks. Their shield rush had made some openings, the second ranks following in not far after, picking off those that had been knocked over.

That initial charge had done its job, and now the Persians knew they were surrounded and were beginning to fight back on all fronts. The fronts turning into personal battles, boiling down to epic combat.

Aeolus and a fellow Athenian had kept together, knowing their chances better in a small group. I'll have to learn his name if we both survive this. Spears were flying each way, their shields were being torn up from blow after blow, but the dead kept piling up...

And his companion slipped, probably on the blood that was beginning to cover the whole battlefield. Aeolus wanted to help, but sadly he couldn't, busy with his own battle. He could never forget the death cry that man gave, they had seemed invincible for a time. Aeolus became even more pressed, 4 on 1 were never good odds.

By Ares' own luck, Aelous wasn't dead immediately. His spear holding off a single Persian, his shield did atleast not breaking on him. Aelous' spear finally hitting home, giving him the chance to focus on keeping himself safe from the other three. Though, as if Ares had plans for Aelous, his fellow Athenians had already come and got the Perisans in the back. I may be able to see my wife and son after all, if Ares keeps this up with me.

__________________
Wanted For:
- Assault With a Deadly Weapon
- Assault With a Potentially Deadly Weapon
- Assault With a Weapon We Can't Believe Could Possibly Be Deadly, but Unfortunately Was.

Erectheus' breathing was hard and shallow, the anxiety he had felt before the battle now reaching a pinnacle as the distance between him and the Persian lines closed. Having been more towards the rear of the Athenian ranks, he had been forced to watch the battle unfold before him, straining to see over the heads of those taller than him. He continued to stand on his tiptoes, stumbling as those behind him pushed forward, eagerly heading for the inevitable bloodshed. It wasn't until the ranks of Athenians ahead began disappearing into the Persian lines, friends dispersing into foes as the organization began to collapse, that Erectheus had a clear line of sight into the vicious and bloodsoaked fray.

With the lines pressing in on the Persian mob from each side, the enemy was becoming more panicked, lashing out fiercely. A particularly aggressive Persian unit was carving a path straight towards Erectheus' position, causing the nausea in his stomach to intensify. Soon, there was a single line of men separating him from the horde, and he gripped his spear tightly, hefting it up over his shoulder, readying himself.

The man before him thrust his spear forward, attempting to drive it through the nearest Persian's abdomen. He was careless, however, and his attack was easily parried away. The counter was quick and deadly, a curved sword plunging deep into the Athenian's collar, lodging itself into the bone. The man began to buckle, and Eretheus came to his senses. He had been watching, an observer... Now the battle was right here in front of him. This was it.

The adrenaline suddenly surged through him, and he drove his spear forward, forcing it through the neck of the Persian who was attempting to remove his sword from the other Athenian's collar. Erectheus pushed forward, pushing the Persian to the ground before sending his shield across his body, striking a passing enemy with its edge, causing the head to burst open as the man crumpled. Erectheus then immediately returned his attention to his spear, whose handle was jutting out of the jugular of the fallen Persian from seconds before. He placed a hand on it and pulled, only to fall backwards as he pulled back a broken piece of wood.

A larger man now stood before him, his blade having just broken the spear, nearly taking off Eretheus' hand as well. He rushed to his feet, the Persian charging forward, attempting to take advantage of his disarmed opponent. He swung his sword horizontally, slashing at Eretheus' chest. Erectheus jumped back once, twice, and on the third attempt ducked underneath and charged, taking the Persian by surprise as he struck him in the genitals.

The Persian grunted loudly, trying to keep himself standing as his knees buckled. Erectheus grabbed him by the backs of his thighs, screaming loudly as he drove his shoulder forward into the man's stomach while pulling back on his legs, lifting him up slightly and slamming him down into the ground forcefully. The wind left the Persian's lungs and Erectheus lunged forward, one hand grabbing for the blade while the other reached for his enemy's face, his fingers curling and digging in. The man screamed in agony as Erectheus' middle and forefinger pushed into the eyesockets, blinding him.

With blood now gushing out the wound, Erectheus put all his attention on the man's weapon, removing his hand from the face and reached over to attempt to wrench the sword out of the man's grip, but the Persian refused to let go. He maintained an iron grip on the hilt while his other hand flailed wildly, striking Erectheus in the face repeatedly. Growing frustrated, Erectheus brought his knee down on the man's wrist, keeping his sword arm pinned, freeing his right hand to grab the other flailing limb, and allowing him to use his shielded left arm to finish the Persian off.

Yelling fiercely, Erectheus raised his left arm up and brought the flat side of the shield down upon the man's face. A loud crack sounded as the nose snapped in two, now turned at a grotesque angle towards his cheek. With the Persian crying out, Erectheus raised his shield and brought it down upon the his skull again and again, until the cries were reduced to whimpers as the Persian succumbed to the fatal blows.

Exhausted, Erectheus stared at the man for a moment, never having seen such gore so close before. The area around the eyes was bruised, streams of red pouring out of the holes where his eyes were once housed. His nose was no longer perpendicular to his face, but now bent and twisted, the tip just touching his crushed cheek bone. Blood was dripping from his ears as well, absorbing into the earth, staining the ground with crimson.

He was brought to his senses within seconds as the pounding footsteps of Athenians running past caught his attention. The lines were pushing forward again, compacting the Persian forces. Wiping the blood from his dried, parched lips, Erectheus snatched the sword from the Persian's now loose grip, and forced himself to his feet, rushing forward to assist.

Theseus seemed to have misplaced his spear somewhere. He remembered seeing the big Persian cutting off their commander's head, the second in command Mittialdes was lashing out on the brute in full fury, as hopeless as he had seen. He was in a red haze afterwards. All he knew was that he was trying to get to the second in command to save the group, the spear must have been stuck in some Persian gut somewhere.

By the time he arrived at the giant's flank, his sword was bent and bloody. He threw the junk away and punched an incoming Persian in the face, followed by a backhand that drove the Persian backwards. The Persian's sword escaped his grip but made its way into Theseus's. Theseus ran the Persian through for good measure.

Jogging some ways to flank the large adversary, he knocked a wounded Persian with his shield and let his shield go. It was too heavy to run with it. He spotted a chance and ran up to the big man and leapt at him with an overhead stab aiming it the big Persian's jugular while he was preoccupied with Mittialdes.

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