Aiman and Daryn
Aiman and Daryn
Embedded Files
Story/audio log
Story/audio log
Author: Assistant Mechas
Published: 9/23/2024
Keywords: Selaiki, military, people of history, subterfuge, Eye of the Eclipse
Links: @92mechas on Twitter
[This is an audiolog script by Assistant Mechas compiling notes and research on members of Selaikic warfare. Dated 08/26/2024]
[As the recording starts there is the sound of paper rustling and someone sipping on water.]
[Begin Log.]
[Begin Log.]
After extensive research, at Dr. Alton's insistence, we- I have discovered two members of Selaiki history that are of historical significance. These two are Aiman, a Selaikic warrior, and Daryn, a male volunteer to the Bactrian armies. Interestingly, most information about their existence doesn't come from Bactria records but from Sogdia during the 2nd Sogdian war. Most likely due to their positions in Selaikic warfare, most internal records were expunged for secrecy. Meanwhile, Sogdia had an interest in propagandizing them.
One of the few Selaikic records recovered, a military registry, shows both met when Daryn was assigned to Aiman for training. Acting as her archer support, he would be on her *ahem* shelf taking out threats from a distance while in combat and holding supplies as needed for Aiman including but not limited to weaponry, rations, and medical supplies. According to what training notes I could ind they were seen as above average. However, other sources tell a different story. Based on some translated scripts they were both excellent in their respective fields but when forced to cooperate they had little in the form of teamwork. If one quote is to be believed.
[Grumbling can be heard and a slam from further away.]
I'm certain Alton is laughing at me now. Anyways, despite their apparent lack of coordination, they were cleared enough for combat as members of the Bactria's shock troops.
A note on Selaiki warfare, despite their cultural preference for subterfuge over direct combat (and promiscuous reputation among other nations). The Selakic people were actually well suited for the battlefields of old. Their powerful legs and long stride made them much faster and their strikes more powerful than that of other soldiers of the time. Their increased speed lent them to a shock troop specialization. Yet their greatest asset wasn't their speed but their maneuverability. While not as fast as traditional cavalry their agility and dexterity allowed them to use rougher uneven ground that would be of great hindrance to enemy cavalry. Many battles with Selaiki infantry were won when utilizing such terrain to deter enemy forces and surround enemy armies. Oh Alton left a note, granted once enemy forces understood this they soon stopped taking the bait no matter how enticing the Selaiki made it by-
[Assistant Mechas takes a moment to read ahead.]
No! I'm not finishing that. Dr Alton you had better pay me extra if you want to hear me say that!
[Pause]
Apologies for that, While Dr. Alton is clever, he is also…. let's say crude. Back on topic, while the two had a rough training their military experience says otherwise. Battle reports show that they seemingly were inseparable on or off the battlefield. This is speculated to have happened after an event where Daryn was harmed in battle and Aiman had to both defend and get him to safety. Rumors did circulate about an on-going relationship between the two after the fact. Whether true or not history doesn't say.
What is true is their deadly prowess in combat. Reports on the battlefield herald them as a powerful force able to pinpoint and relentlessly assault weakness in the enemy's back ranks. Through several battles, both victories and losses they achieved higher prestige and recognition. Even changing training methods for Selaikic warriors based on their own experience. That is until we reach the time that had the most records of their involvement, the eye of the eclipse.
"Their first trial made the [judge] laugh more than he had in years. Never had he seen the moon pluck a tree from the ground and run away with it.”
As previously mentioned, Selaikic culture and dynasties prefer subterfuge and shrewd negotiations over direct combat and warfare. To this end they had created, the eye of the eclipse, this name is a best estimate based on what could be translated. In essence they were a specialized group created to spread fear and irrationality in opposing nations so they would be unprepared or unwilling to engage in long war campaigns against Bactria.
Aiman and Daryn were founding members of the group hand picked by their judge thanks to their experience against the eye's irst target Sogdia. Members were tasked with entering the enemy country along with a few other members and causing ‘unrest’ amongst the populace. The methods used would vary from person to person but for the two on discussion today they were known for their stirring rebellious groups and assassination.
Attempts not real assassinations but making it look like they did. Stirring fear amongst the leaders of the nations which would trickle down amongst the citizens. In the form of tighter security and fewer resources being attributed to frontlines. It also didn’t hurt that they’d leave evidence of other groups nearby to drive suspicion away from them. They were prevalent enough that the two had become figures of fear and were the most recognized members of The Eye of the Eclipse. Though mentions may be exaggerated we mostly have wartime propaganda to go off of. The items we could discover paint them as near monsters to the citizenry of Sogdia. Their exploits are exaggerated to a massive degree. They have, or at least been attributed for at least 10 assassination attempts, 2 successful assassinations, 3 insurrections, and a dozen crop burnings. With one of the assassinations a guards report stating that the chief general was choked by…. massive…. rolls of… dough.
[A sigh is heard over the microphone before continuing in a whisper.]
(I swear some of this had better be some joke by Dr. Alton.)
[He takes a sip of water before continuing.]
Anyways, given the nature of their untimely demise and that the Eye of Eclipse only had a few Selaiki women in the group with them there is precedent that they would be involved.
Unfortunately for our research, this is where their tail ends. The last event known had them infiltrate a rebellious group in Sogdia, the unpromised court. Part of the eclipse's plan was to supply the court with resources. Then they would send intel to both the Sogdian government about the incoming insurrection as well as the court in hopes that it would escalate to a major conflict forcing Sogdia to recall their armies and Bactria could open a more advantageous dialogue. However, they were discovered. In an attempt to save their lives, they set fire to one of the court's major hideouts, a large granary in a trade city. The ire spread throughout the city taking many. In a sense of irony, the plan did work, the ire alerted the government and they discovered the growing group in Sogdia's underbelly. Along with this many government officials and documents were taken by the ire as well leading to a logistical nightmare that forced them to recall their troops. However, it seems that Aiman and Daryn were also taken by the ire as nothing concrete about them goes beyond this point.
Eventually the Eye of the Eclipse left Sogdia and moved onto other targets that were not attributable to the two we discuss today. Some say they were eventually captured by the Sogdian government and executed quietly. Others say they had returned to the warfront and were killed in action becoming martyrs for the cause. Dr. Alton theorizes that they had survived and left the Eye of the Eclipse once they had inished in Sogdia, eventually forming a family. While not necessarily the case others who have tried attribute the start of the Selaikic family to those we discuss today. This comes from the fact that the patriarch did have a missing eye just like how Daryn lost his during their time in the war. Most of this is speculation and related to propaganda Sogdia spread after the ire. Granted that also means their deaths could have been falsiied but we're brushing into speculation territory already.
What is true was Aiman and Daryn’s impact on Bactrian military and subterfuge tactics. Having a massive impact on the battlefield, turning the tide on multiple occasions but also effectively changed military training in Selaikic culture. While for the sake of brevity I skimmed over it, they had a major impact on Selaikic militarization, allowing for more Selaikic women to join in the fight. That and their subterfuge ploys were passed down to other members of the Eye of the Eclipse forming the background of their operations in other nations as well. While they might not have lived glamorous lives they paved the way for many in the future and irrevocably changed Selaikic culture.
[End Log.]
[End Log.]
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