Shahnameh II - an Iranian/Persian AAR

[Emperor Walter]

Picture of Abolqasem Ferdowsi.

So I've decided to write an AAR. Whoo. I've chosen to do it as Iran/Persia. I know it's a great while until Vicky 2 is even relesed, but I'm going to use that time to write the prelude to this aar.

The title is a reference to the Shahnameh "Great Book" of Abolqasem Ferdowsi. Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to find a copy of this wonderful epic. it is the national epic of Iran. So that's why i've chosen to do this aar.

Btw, if you are fortunate enough to find a copy of this book, buy it. Even if it is almost 1,000 pages long...

 

[Sudaxe]

I thought this was a beta AAR.

 

[Garak]

Picture of Abolqasem Ferdowsi.

So I've decided to write an AAR. Whoo. I've chosen to do it as Iran/Persia. I know it's a great while until Vicky 2 is even relesed, but I'm going to use that time to write the prelude to this aar.

The title is a reference to the Shahnameh "Great Book" of Abolqasem Ferdowsi. Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to find a copy of this wonderful epic. it is the national epic of Iran. So that's why i've chosen to do this aar.

Btw, if you are fortunate enough to find a copy of this book, buy it. Even if it is almost 1,000 pages long...

I looked this book up after seeing your post. I was given the impression that it's very rare. Is there an English translation available anywhere?

 

[Sam L]

I have a copy of this. I haven't read the whole thing. It's so long but it really is one of the greatest works literature ever.

 

[OHgamer]

Thread moved, really not apropos to the V2 forum, can be moved into the V2 AAR forum once game is released. For now just being in the general AAR forum is probably the best place for it.

 

[Emperor Walter]

Thread moved, really not apropos to the V2 forum, can be moved into the V2 AAR forum once game is released. For now just being in the general AAR forum is probably the best place for it.

That's a good Idea.

 

[coz1]

Maybe to Vickie 1 until 2 is ready. Remind me when it is and I'll be happy to move it over.

 

[Emperor Walter]

I looked this book up after seeing your post. I was given the impression that it's very rare. Is there an English translation available anywhere?

Yes, there is an out of print nine volume edition, which is used by most scholars, and there is this near complete (some stuff has been omitted, but 80%-90% of the poem is still there) translation by Dick Davis. It is put together in an odd fashion though, in a combination of prose, and couplets (Apparently it's some older poetic form).

And yes, it's hard to find as its not well known in the western world.

As to the AAR, I'll begin the prelude tomarrow.

 

[JDMS]

Sounds good. I'll follow.

 

[Emperor Walter]

Prelude Part I

It was a dark night. In the distance, two figures could be seen running. As a hare will run away from a fox, dodging this way and that through the underbrush, so did these two run. One was a women by the name of Sorya Esfandiary. She instinctively hated the night, for she had she could not see. But she knew that was her only chance of survival. Her companion, Feraydun Baktiari, ran swiftely but gracefully, carrying the box in his hands as a mother will hold a crying baby. The moon was hidden beneath the clouds, as a bright diamond is hidden beneath a carpet, but this served their purpose also, Sorya noted. A crack behind them- what was that? The Soldier started to yell "They're here", but swift as a bolt of lightening, he was shot through the heart before his lips could form the first syllable.

Dawns first light was appearing on the far horizon, when they managed to get away, dissapearing before them as fog dissapates before the dawn. They stopped. Sorya asked Feraydun: "Will it work?" Feraydun replied: "If it doesn't we are trapped between Scylla and Charybdis". Sorya gave him a questioning glance. "If it doesn't work, we are dead men", Feraydun summarized, "Now help me with this Sorya". Sorya moved to help Feraydun. Just beyond the edge of the horizon, the distant shouts of soldiers could be heard, like the cries of so many hungry wolves, going in for the kill...