Battle of Rhium (CYOAH!)

The Spartans under the command of Cnemus lay siege to the city of Stratus, an Acardnanian ally, while ferrying reinforcements to the southern coast.

While the garrison of Naupactus is not moved from its station by this Spartan offensive, naval forces attempt to cut them off. At the Battle of Rhium the Spartans suffer the capture of twelve ships by an Athenian naval force more than half their size, and another loss soon after outside the port stronghold.

The Acardnanian Campaign ends in a Spartan defeat as a result, reaffirming Athenian control over the Corinthian gulf, and on the sea at large. As a result Athens manages to squash a rebellion across the sea in Mytilene without Spartan intervention, while also launching naval raids all along the Spartan coasts. The island of Sphacteria, near Pylos is captured by the Athenians and turned into an outpost just south of Spartan territory, which may tempt the helots into revolting. The Athenians have also launched two invasions; an assault on Melos and Boeotia, led by Nicias, and an invasion of Aetolia, under the command of Demosthenes, aided by an emboldened Acarnania. If Demosthenes should succeed the Athenians would have the capabilities to surround Boeotia.

Nevertheless the war is not yet lost. A plague in Athens has ravaged a large portion of the city's population, while the distant Spartan army has been spared. Also, the Macedonians have managed to repair after the Thracian invasion, and have begun planning an assault on the Athenian colony of Amphipolis. Perhaps an army could be marched on land to Thrace to take the city, which would cut off Athens from a vital silver supply.

What should your strategy be for the campaign of 426 BC?


 * We must halt Demosthenes and cut him off from Boetolia.
 * March the army to Amphipolis and assault it with Macedonian assistance.
 * Seize the stronghold on Sphacteria, before the Athenians cause a helot revolt.