Third time's the charm right?

Standard World
60% Ocean
Continents
7 Other random opponents
Wet, War, and Five Billion Years

Civilization: Sumeria

Ur was blazing hot in the summer. On the floodplains, the only source of relief from the heat was the nearby Euphrates River, lush with vegetation. High King Gilgamesh IX liked to sit in the royal pavilion set up by the stream's shore, but that was not the case today. Today marked the beginning of the decline of the use of Enkidu Warriors.

It was a pity. Although they fought with the audacity and ferocity of Enkidu himself, they did not stand a chance against the new iron weapons. Today, his head seer, Mudutum, had come to test the ancient and venerable Enkidu Warriors against the new warriors. Mudutum called them swordsmen. Already he had proved that a blade made of iron was a powerful tool. Things could be cut with more ease, and game? Iron pierced the flesh and hides easily, much to the shock of the on-lookers.

Gilgamesh now sat on his litter in front of the city's barracks. Four Enkidu bodyguards surrounded him, acting as protection and transportation. Next to the litter, was the commander of Sumeria's military units, Etlun. Surrounding him were members of the despot's court, as well as many of the old Enkidu Warriors, and townspeople. This was a public spectacle, and the last test of the iron swords.

Mudutum finished drawing a large, wide circle in the dirt. This was clearly to be the battleground, big enough for only two people. He approached the despot, and bowed. "We are ready, when you are, sir. Give the word, and we will begin."

Gilgamesh squinted at the circle. He motioned with his hand. "Very well, begin."

Mudutum whistled. One swordsman approached, with one long metal blade. He was dressed very much like the Enkidu Warriors, white and light blue tunic, and dark blue armbands. His hair was long, and his beard was braided. The only difference between him, and an actual Enkidu Warrior, was the sword.

An Enkidu Warrior entered the circled on the opposite side. He was dressed in the usual garb, again much like the swordsman's, except he wielded a long wooden pole, capped with a bronze spearhead.

Mudutum stood in between them, looking at both of them. He began to recite the rules of the test combat in a quick voice. "Remember, not fatalities, or mortal wounds. Small wounds are fine."

The two nodded.

"INA QITRUB TAHAZI!" Battle onslaught. It meant begin.

The Enkidu Warrior attacked first, bellow loudly and charging head on. With amazing strength, he pounded his wooden spear against the metal blade, but it could not be pushed back with wood. Even Gilgamesh could see wooden versus iron was not going to work.

The swordsman grinned. He had the advantage with arms, even if the Enkidu had spirit, and audacity. The swordsman raised his sword hair in the high, and the opposing warrior held his own stick in front of him for defense. But it did not work. When the sword came down, the stick was easily cloven in two, and the Enkidu warrior received a shallow gash to the arm.

"BATILTU!" yelled Mudutum. Stop.

Healers attended to the wounded warrior quickly, while Mudutum conversed with Gilgamesh and Etlun.

"What do you think, sire?" asked the seer.

Gilgamesh stroked his beard. "I am impressed. They will help in any oncoming wars, yes?" He looked to Etlun.

"They will yes," said Etlun. "And it pains me much to think that our honorable and ancient Enkidu Warriors are made obsolete. I will see to refilling our offensive ranks with these."

"It can wait a bit," replied Gilgamesh. "The cities are producing temples, and libraries, and defining much of culture. Although the relations with Byzantine are slowly deteriorating, as long as we keep our ranks full, I see no problem."

"I refuse to let them demand gold from us again High King."

"It had to be done. We were weak with military, and still establishing much of the settlements which have now grown into cities." said Gilgamesh. He turned back to Mudutum. "Inform the governors to have at least one of these new swordsmen in their dominions. After which build barracks, and markets, and make sure everyone is content."

Mudutum bowed. "As you wish, High King." He scurried away to the palace.

Etlun asked. "What shall I do for now sire?"

Gilgamesh sighed. "I am also sorry to see such a proud heritage spanning to the very founding of our civilization and this very city fade away in the bowels of time. Keep all garbs the same, but change the weapon to sword. Oversee the new units of these warriors Etlun, and try to find a successor. We are getting older."

"Only a sprightly forty years sir."

"And still we must. Who knows what might take us at this age? My son has almost come of age, and soon he must inherit the title and position of High King. But first, we need to settle those rich lands to the north. What resources were there again?"

"Scribe!" Etlun barked. A short robed man walked over and handed the commander a pierce of parchment. Etlun read off the list. "Gold, iron, horses, bountiful places of fish, and sighting of some large fish."

"Ah, good, good," Gilgamesh nodded. He snapped his fingers. "Guards, take me to the pavilion by the river, I grow weary in this heat." The bodyguards lifted the litter. "Good luck with the training Etlun, there's no telling when conflict may arise."

The litter departed, and Gilgamesh IX enjoyed the rest of the day resting by the bountiful Euphrates.

Good read? Screeens?

Let's see...

Currently playing civs:
2 Sumerias
3Japans
1America
1Rome
1Arabia, Germany, India, Carthage:D
1.Scandanavia
1France
etcetcetc...

Lagash was almost as great a city as Ur. It was built along the Tigris River, on a floodplain just like the capital. Locals of both cities had nicknamed it “The Son of Ur.” But Lagash had one thing the capital did not have: The world’s first library. While the year’s funds for Ur had gone towards new arms, Lagash’s governor spent it on a library.

When philosophers some years before were first defining philosophy, they thought to write down all knowledge and keep it in a public place. They called it a library. The one in Lagash had the honor of being the world’s, and Sumeria’s very first. Already now, only petty months after its completion, scholars, and philosophers alike, were abuzz all over again. The High King was even impressed with it, and ordered libraries to be built in five new cities. The cost to build them was cheap, and they added much to the culture of Sumeria.

Sataru walked through the streets of Lagash. He was still young, and had the honor of being in charge of the library. Him, a normal scribe. And what an honor! Sure, it was not like being a governor, but to be in charge of such a fountain and watering hole of information, it was thrilling. The salary was not much, but it was enough for Sataru to be utterly content.

He approached the library, and flung the doors wide. It was still early morning, and the sky was clear. Sataru sat behind the little wooden table near the entrance. There were still some scrolls to be recorded and cataloged into the library. The librarian began his work.

It was not long before he came in. Sataru knew he was not Sumerian. His skin was far too white, and his hair too light. His skin was not tan, like those of the Spanish to the far east, so Sataru determined him to be from Byzantine. He certainly had to be brave to venture into Lagash at a time when the general populace was irked at the Byzantines pompous behavior. He wore a crimson tunic, and a satchel, as well as brown leggings.

“Can I help you with something?”

The Byzantine man looked at him. He stumbled with his words at first, but eventually he became steadier. “Uh… no. No need. I just came to see the great library of Lagash.”

“You speak Sumerian?”

“Yes, although it’s bit quite a while, and I am a bit rusty.”

Sataru tapped his index finger on the table. “You have traveled quite far for a Byzantine,” He pushed the chair back and stood up. “Quite far indeed. My name is Sataru, and I am in charge of the library.” He extended his hand in greeting.

The Byzantine took it. “Lucinus, scholar of Varna.”

Sataru sat back down. The two looked at each for a full minute before Sataru cheerfully said. “Well, is there anything the Library of Lagash and I can do for you?”

“What do you have?”

“Well…” Sataru got up once again and strode toward the shelves. “We have everything from Sumerian civilization origins, to such literary works like The Epic of Gilgamesh. Now there is a public place for all written word, open to the public. I’m still working out the organization, but it’s still fit. I can always help you find anything. All scrolls however,” he plucked one off a shelf. “Are in Sumerian.”

Lucinus looked around. “Impressive. But where do all the scrolls come from?”

“Scholars from Bad-tibira to Agade have donated the initial collection. We do accept donations, but through government funding we can buy more,” answered Sataru. “Once the scholars found that part out, they demanded we buy scrolls off them. Some still donate though.”

The Byzantine walked over to Sataru. “What’s the one you hold?”

“Uh…” Sataru unrolled the scroll. “Looks like a copy of the designs for Sumer’s new aqueduct. Still under construction to my knowledge. It allows for more easily accessible water see?”

Lucinus poked the parchment. “Ah yes, I believe Constantinople has one. Very similar to this design too.”

The parchment showed two drawings. One was of the actual aqueduct which from above land, looked like a series of arches leading up to a large circular reservoir of water. The drawing below that one, sketched in blue ink showed where the aqueduct was going to go in relation to the rest of the city of Sumer. The aqueduct was to wrap around the city’s west side, and come to a rest at the reservoir within the city near its entrance.

“Yes, well our scientists did heavily borrow some publicly available data on it,” Sataru admitted. “But you have to admit, it’s still a good design.”

“Indeed it is,” Lucinus was quiet for a moment, before pulling a scroll from his pack, and handing it to Sataru. “Here, your first Byzantine scroll.”

Sataru rolled up the aqueduct scroll, and put it away. He looked at the new scroll. “Well, what is it?”

“A scroll on early Byzantine history,” replied Lucinus.

Sataru opened part of the scroll. “Oh, it’s in your Byzantine language.”

“We call it Greek.”

“Yes, yes, yes, I am fully aware of that,” Sataru rolled the scroll back up and placed it on the nearby shelf. “I’ll have to translate it later, maybe get Ishme to help me. He’s much better at Greek then I am.”

Sataru went back to the chair. “So, how long are you going to in Sumeria for?”

“I’ll be in Lagash for only one more day. I leave tomorrow for Ur, and then Bad-tibira on the eastern ocean,” answered Lucinus. “From there, I’ll take a ship home. It’ll be easier then walking here.”

“Now that is a long distance,” said Sataru. “You came up from one of the southern cities I suppose? Like Erech?”

Lucinus nodded.

“Well, anyway it takes about a week to get to Bad-tibira from here,” explained Sataru. “Three and a half days to Ur, and another three and a half to the town itself. After that, depending on what ship you take, you could be back in Constantinople within a fortnight.”

The Byzantine smiled. “That sounds good.”

“Yes, as long as you don’t run into any ‘resistance.’”

Lucinus frowned. “Surely the people can’t be that angry towards Byzantine?”

“I can not speak for the public,” said the scholar. “But after Theodora’s latest demand the people and High King Gilgamesh grew weary. Anti-Byzantine thoughts are roaming throughout the country, and don’t even get me started on the Spanish…” Sataru shook his head. “They have been rather pompous and arrogant towards Sumeria in recent years, and even the High King’s patience wears thin with them.”

“Have they demanded tribute?”

“No, but they have squabbling over border disputes and violations of territory for the past twenty years. Ever since the current High King ascended to the throne. Isabella seems to have problems with him.”

“I hope war does not break out.” Lucinus commented.

“It will, eventually,” Sataru said sadly. “Hopefully if Gilgamesh is good enough as he has been in politics he’ll ward it off.”

“Yes hopefully…”

Sataru drummed his fingers on the table. “Well you’ve seen the library, browse all you like. Just, uh, don’t steal anything. Enkidu warriors will run you down.”

Lucinus chuckled. “Of course.”

:thumbsup:

Dagon breathed in the fresh Sumer air. Before them stretched the first great work they had completed in the name of the High-King: Sumer's aquaduct. Constructed from stone, it led water from a faraway mountain spring to the city of Sumer, where it ended in a round recieving pool.

Dagon took a clay goblet and filled it with water from the aquaduct. He swirled it around in the cup before drinking deeply. It was cool, clear, and refreshing. No longer did citizens of the city have to strain and grab water from wells. Now they had all they wanted.

"You see, brother?" Dagon said to his brother, Damuzi. "I told you the design was sound."

The bearded Damuzi sniffed. "Let's see how long it lasts. In six months time, the governor will be summoning us for repairs."
Dagon took a scroll he had placed on the ground. "As long as the High-King keeps paying the cost for maintaining it, there will be no problems. Now then, Damuzi, what shall our next project be?"

Damuzi took the goblet, and filled it with water to quench his own thirst. "We have many options now, don't we?" he drank from the cup. "Bonuses from the governor, and large estates for ourselves in Umma and the new normal settlements, and an entire list of work that will keep us busy for a lifetime."

"Not mentioning the concubines the High-King has promised us."

The two brothers chuckled amongst themselves.

"Well, what's next on the list?" Damuzi asked.

Dagon skimmed the scroll. "We're to add a new section to the High-King's palace in Ur."

Damuzi stroked his beard. "Ah, yes... I have a few ideas in mind. They'll have to wait until we get to Ur of course."

"Just two days to Lagash, and another three to Ur," Dagon repeated the known distance. "You know I hear the palace has some very nice guest rooms. Think we'll be able to get that concubine promise done early?"

"Eager to get your earthly reward, dear brother?" grinned Damuzi.

"Can't say I have not earned it," replied Dagon. "It took forever to find the right stone for this." he patted the aquaduct.

Damuzi gazed at the surrounding city. Sumer was in the midst of a range of hills. Because of this, the buildings were not tall like Umma or Ur, or Lagash, Sumerians still had not figured out how to make a more sounder structure. The hills did, however, offer some protection against barbaric tribes.

The sun in the sky was rapidly sinking into a background of orange and pink. Stars attempted to come out early, but most waited until the sun was fully gone before showing themselves.

Dagon yawned. He was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. Toiling day and night to finish the aquaduct would do that to a person. "Come, brother, let us go back to the inn. We are done here."

Damuzi agreed. The two set off for thier inn, a cozy, quaint building having only two floors. The entrance was in an alley off to the right, inbetween the wall of the inn and the city wall. There were few people out at this hour, most were sitting down to an evening meal, but a scarce few who were out for a stroll, or packing the last goods in thier sacks, stopped to admire the country's first aquaduct. They would not find its designers, for they had already entered thier lodging, and collapsed into thier beds.

A lone Enkidu swordsman patrolled the rampart on the city's wall, watching the rising moon in the east, and the vanished sun in the west.

Wow. I just realized this is back. Very good. :thumbsup: