Age of Zalmoxis - Rise of the Fallen

Unleash ancient powers, lead legendary factions, and reshape history in Age of Zalmoxis: Rise of the Fallen! An epic adventure awaits!

The Dacians

Emerging from the wooded valleys of the Carpathian Mountains, the Dacians, or Daci as the Romans named them, were first mentioned in history around the 2nd century BC. The Greeks called them Getae, but these northern Thracians were more than just "an offshoot of the Getae," as they shared the same language and cultural tapestry.

Under the valorous leadership of the great king Burebista, the Dacians ascended as a formidable political and military power along the Lower Danube. Their influence extended through force and diplomacy, subjugating neighbouring tribes and Greek cities along the north-western shores of the Black Sea. However, the assassination of Burebista sowed seeds of fragmentation and internal strife, igniting wars between tribal factions vying for the great king’s legacy.

The Dacians were far from mere barbarians; they cultivated a sophisticated civilization, rivalling in certain aspects their Greek and Roman contemporaries. Encircled by the mountains, they engineered intricate fortification systems across the Carpathian chain and established the ancient city of Sarmizegetusa. Nestled deep within the mountains, this city boasted terraced architecture, advanced road networks, and water supply systems. Their richness in gold as well as their metalworking skills were legendary.

Situated at the crossroads of the steppe, Celtic, and Greek worlds, the Dacians synthesized a unique fighting style, amalgamating diverse influences. The Dacian nobility, armoured in chainmail and metal helmets, wielded spears and long swords atop their horses, with the sica dagger being a symbol of their elite status. The common folk, hailing from various walks of life, formed the infantry, armed with the formidable Dacian falx – a weapon feared for its ability to pierce enemy armour, along with lances and bows. The influence of the steppe world enriched the Dacian military with an array of light cavalry and mounted archers.

Rooted in their belief in spiritual immortality, the Dacians were legendary for their unyielding bravery on the battlefield. This belief, coupled with their diverse military tactics and sophisticated civilization, positioned them as a pivotal force in the ancient world, leaving an indelible mark on the Age of Zalmoxis: Rise of the Fallen.

The Romans

The Roman civilization, marked by its unrivalled brilliance, held dominion over vast territories from the Atlantic Ocean to the fringes of Mesopotamia, and from the Sahara’s edges to the misty forests of Germany by the middle of the first century BC. The formidable power of Rome had seen the fall of Carthage, Macedonia, the Seleucid Empire, and numerous other great realms, all succumbing to the relentless advance of its mighty legions.

However, despite its external conquests, Rome was engulfed in a profound internal crisis during the first century BC, characterized by seemingly perpetual civil wars that brought the slow waning of the old Republic. Caesar, famed as the conqueror of Gaul and vanquisher of Pompey, brought a semblance of stability, yet he too fell to the shadows of conspiracy while envisioning new conquests in Dacia and Parthia. The subsequent emergence of the second triumvirate of Marcus Antonius, Lepidus, and Octavian left the future of Rome hanging in the balance.

Renowned for their formidable legions, organized meticulously into cohorts and manipulae, the Romans brought standardized equipment and iron discipline to the battlefield. This disciplined approach often tilted the scales in their favour, enabling victories against numerically superior foes. Complementing the legionnaires were diverse auxiliary troops, drawn from regions under Roman control, many of whom retained their traditional weaponry, as well as complex siege engines such as ballistae and catapults.

The Greeks

From ancient times, the Greeks, masters of seas and exploration, established colonies from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea. By the 7th century BC, they marked their presence near the Danube's mouths, founding prosperous colonies thriving on trade and agriculture in a land both foreign and hostile. Renowned as diplomats, merchants, and when necessary, formidable fighters, the Greeks managed to sustain their presence in this diverse world for centuries.

However, by the mid-1st century BC, the golden era of the Greeks was but a memory. Athena and Sparta had been reduced to mere provincial cities, and the vast empire of Alexander had long fragmented into oblivion. Most of the Greek world had fallen under Roman rule, yet, within the colonies on the north-western shores of the Black Sea, remnants of the old warlike and enterprising spirit endured. In Olbia, Histria, Callatis or Dionysopolis, the spirit of those ancient Greeks, who had faced the unknown and braved the sea waves, was preserved.

The armies of the Greek colonies, relatively modest in size, were primarily composed of citizens who fought in the traditional hoplite style. Donned in heavy bronze armour, wielding round metal shields, lances, and short swords, they epitomized the essence of Greek martial prowess. Complementing their ranks were a multitude of diverse mercenaries, often recruited from neighbouring nations, adding versatility to their military composition.

The Celts

Emerging as one of the great civilizations of Iron Age Europe, the Celts first made their mark in the northern Alpine area, gradually expanding to occupy vast territories from misty Britain to the heart of present-day Anatolia between the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Composed of numerous tribes often embroiled in competition and warfare with each other, the Celts have earned the epithet "the terrible children of Antiquity" from historians.

During the 4th-2nd centuries BC, the Celts held sway over the central and western regions of Dacia. They quickly overpowered the local populations, imposing their rules and customs. However, their rule was rather short lived, since after the first half of the second century BC, they found themselves retreating to the west and north, repelled by the Dacians. Burebista managed to subdue and subjugate the tribes of Scordisci, Boi, Anarti, and Taurisci, but following his demise, some of these nations managed to reclaim their independence. Unlike their western relatives from Gaul, Brittania or Bohemia, the Scordisci, Anarti and Taurisci did not build hill forts or large settlements, but they were skilled metallurgists, silversmiths and pottery makers.

In battle, Celtic nobles took to horseback, wielding long straight swords and donned in iron helmets and chain mail. In contrast, their warbands favoured spears and relied on leather armour and massive wooden shields for protection. Although lacking disciplined formations, the Celts’ ferocity and valour in battle led to numerous victories, marking their formidable presence on the battlefield through the ages.

The Bastarnae

Emerging from the shadows of northern Europe in the last half of the 3rd century BC, the Bastarnae are a people shrouded in mystery, their origins still a subject of speculation and wonder. Known for defeating and dismantling the flourishing Getic culture east of the Carpathians, the Bastarnae are suspected to have spoken a Germanic language, with their name possibly signifying "the mixed ones", in contrast to the name of a related tribe, the Scirii, meaning "the pure ones". The Bastarnae were subdivided into several branches: the Atmonii, the Sidonians, and the Peucini.

Eschewing the construction of significant fortresses or settlements, the Bastarnae may have seemed materially impoverished, but they were legendary for their bravery, with some ancient historians deeming them the bravest of all ancient tribes. They engaged in various military expeditions and raiding ventures throughout the Balkans, spreading terror among the populations of the Lower Danube and the northern Balkans.

The relationship between the Bastarnae and the Dacians was characterized by fluctuating alliances and conflicts. Following the death of Burebista, and weakened by prolonged wars against the Dacians and the raids of the Sarmatians, the Bastarnae aligned themselves as principal allies of the Dacian kingdoms and tribes from the east of the Carpathians.

The military might of the Bastarnae was primarily constituted of infantry, equipped with spears and swords. Notably, their ranks included warriors who fought unarmoured, fuelled by the thrill of war and the taste of blood.

The Sarmatians

Throughout the annals of history, the great Eurasian steppe has seen the rise and fall of numerous formidable peoples. The Cimmerians, the fearsome horsemen of ancient Greek legends, once brought terror to Assyria and Babylon. Following them were the Scythians, who notably defeated and repelled the mighty Darius of the Persian Empire.

In the 3rd century BC, a new warlike nation emerged from Central Asia, overpowering and extinguishing the affluent Scythians: the Sarmatians. Speaking an Iranian language, the Sarmatians were a nomadic people divided into several distinct branches including the Aorsi, Alani, Roxolani, and Yazigi. Living in tent camps, they were constantly on the move, their locations dictated by the seasons and pasture quality. The Sarmatians made their presence known in the Lower Danube from the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. As their population burgeoned, so did the intensity and frequency of their raids. Following the death of Burebista, several Sarmatian tribes sought to penetrate further into the plains of southern and eastern Dacia.

The Sarmatian military might was predominantly cavalry-based. Their ranks boasted nobles and cataphracts, the heavy cavalry clad in armour made of iron scales, whose thunderous charges could shatter even the well-organized battle formations of the Roman legions.