Having been attacking the crippled Pathians for a solid year now, and producing enough gold to fund his, Pharnaces' AND Burebista's ventures, Artavasdes was celebrating with a night of wine.

"With all we have done," he said to his generals, "We still have a mighty army with which to march!"

The wine goblets raised to the sky, the men cheered.

"Even with our losses in raiding, we still have 25000 strong Armenian legionaries, 7500 in Pontic Phalanges, 12500 eastern infantry, 10000 cataphracts, 10000 horse archers, 5000 peltasts, 1500 archers, 1500 camel cavalry and 15000 peasant/allied infantry - 88000 men!"

The generals listened to the figures bored, as they had heard this vain speech before.

Artavasdes went on ranting that what they needed to do was seize some of the Parthian elephants....