Persian

Biodata

Background

Persians are members of the Persian Empire, whose westward expansion places them in a long-running conflict with the Greek city-states. By the time of the Marathon campaign, Persian forces have destroyed, subjugated, or allied with Greek city-states along the eastern Aegean coast. They avoid provoking the Greek gods directly, including by offering sacrifices when passing sacred sites such as Delos. 124

The empire’s first major expedition against mainland Greece captures Euboea before moving toward the Marathon Plain under Maduo Si, Darius I’s son-in-law. Persian intelligence also indicates that Xerxes’s Immortal Army has been mobilized, though Xerxes does not initially take part in that campaign. 125 362

After the Battle of Marathon, Persia escalates into a full-scale invasion led by Xerxes and Hero King Gilgamesh. The empire mobilizes approximately two million troops, including its full force of one hundred thousand Immortal Army warriors and the Four Ace Legions. 546

Appearance

Persian students and nobles are noted for an elaborate, luxurious style, contrasting with Greek practicality. Common-born Persian students wear black and white rather than the purple associated with nobles. 205

• Purple outer garments with gold trim are associated with noble students.
• Clothing may be embroidered with gold and silver thread and inlaid with gold and jade.
• Tassels are a common feature regardless of social class.
• Wealthy Persian nobles may dress in robes covered from head to toe with gold and silver ornamentation. 205 619
• Immortal Army warriors wear dark-red full plate armor marked with a bright-red scimitar emblem. 376

Military Organization

Mages and Fate Sorcerers

Persia places warriors above mages in military status. Its mages are primarily used for large-scale attacks rather than organized into mage-centered legions with dedicated mage tactics. 381

• Persian Gold Mages can counter large battlefield spells, including using Stone Wall Technique against Suye’s Quicksand Technique. 380
• The empire fields Fate Sorcerers who borrow power from the bloodline projection of the supreme artifact, the Fate Tablet. 367
• Two Fate Sorcerers are sent during the Marathon campaign, and Darius later dispatches a Saint Realm Fate Sorcerer as reinforcements. 367 384
• Persian mages struggle against magic with unusually high dispelling costs; dispelling one Hell Demon Snake requires roughly fifteen uses of Magic Dissolution. 389

Doctrine and Battlefield Conduct

• Persian armies rely heavily on overwhelming numbers, commonly placing the King’s Army and Immortal Army in the center to force a breakthrough. 373
• The lightly equipped infantry on the flanks are identified as a major weakness in this formation. 373
• Gendarmes wield barbed whips to stop routing soldiers; Persian mages may deploy fire walls against their own troops to block retreat. 380
• The Immortal Army is used to stabilize formations and halt Greek advances even when ordinary troops are unwilling to continue fighting. 380
• Persia can rapidly reposition elite troops with teleportation gates and a divine artifact known as a plane ship. 390 398

Major Campaigns

Key Figures

• Darius I — Persian Emperor. He mobilizes additional troops after Persian setbacks and is willing to expand the war despite the strain on Persia’s resources. 614
• Maduo Si — Darius’s son-in-law and commander of the Marathon expedition. 362
• Xerxes — Persian crown prince and commander during the later invasion. He combines arrogance with capable battlefield command, but suffers major defeats at Pherae Pass. 598 605
• Gilgamesh — Hero King allied with Persia during the Dual Kings Expedition. His disciplined attritional tactics make him one of the most dangerous Persian commanders in Greece. 546 614
• Ajiman — Persian princess and Fate Witch. She repeatedly attempts to recruit Suye into Persia and advises Xerxes to capture him alive. 424 600
• Arash — Legendary Persian archer and commander of the Meteor Legion. 419

Relations

• Greek city-states — Long-standing enemies; Greeks and Persians are described as having killed each other across centuries of conflict. 205
• Suye — A major Greek opponent whose magic repeatedly devastates Persian formations, leading Persian soldiers to call him the “King of Hell.” 618 619
• Persian royal family — Commands the empire’s military and regards Greeks as uncivilized barbarians, while Greeks hold a similarly hostile view of Persians. 598
• Miletus School — Persian royalty avoids provoking Miletus’s masters, owing to the historical connection between Cyrus, founder of Persia, and the master Thales. 661

Notable Quotes

“The power of Persia.” 205

“Cunning Greeks, before the great Persia, you are vulnerable!” 205

“Persians never retreat!” 609