Montupac's Tight Squeeze

Chapter 1 - The Challenge
Nadie convinieron siempre un desafío si él supiera lo que exigiría - No one ever agreed to a challenge if he knew what it would entail


King Tupac made his decision.
'Tupacatha, the Tupublic has judged you well and your exploits did impress me despite your mistakes, so therefore I shall have you as my left hand and the voice of patriotism within the clan.'
'Thank you, your highness,' answered Tupacatha bowing low. 'I am most grateful.'

King Tupac surveyed the rest of his clan and spoke.
'My children go now, and return tomorrow. For tomorrow I shall announce our clan's next task. Rest well, you will need it.'

The clan had assembled now each member eager to hear what the task was. In the case of d'Tupace, Tupacius and now Tupacatha these gatherings were no longer a cause for trepidition, as they had each succeeded in their respective assignments. However for those yet to recieve their assignments these meetings were time of anxious waiting. It was a great honour to recieve an assignment from King Tupac yet the shame in failing in the task was immeasurable.
Tupacarabi had a feeling he would be called up this day, after his comments at the conclusion of Tupacatha's assignment and his regular chats with King Tupac he had a hunch it would be him.

Naturally it wasnt.

'My children I have called you all together to announce the challenge we have recieved.' proclaimed King Tupac.
The clan gathered and waited with baited breath, eager to hear the task.

'From the archives of legendary games I have chosen a task of such great difficulty that it took a team of brilliant leaders two attempts before they could succedd, and a challenge so peculiar that we could not pass it up.
I am of course reffering to the Squeeze.
This challenge is very simple in principle, very difficult in practice. No city may ever be founded outside of our cultural borders. That is the basic and most fundamental rule of this challenge. Never. That means no constructing beachheads, no colonising islands, ever. There are no exceptions.
However this challenge does not end there. In accordance with the rules of the original game this will not suit any amongst this clan. This will be a game of culture. The only way I will accept a victory from the chosen will be if it is a 100k Culture Victory. Still too simple you might say, very well. All Victory Conditions are enabled. This means it will not be enough to simply build culture, in order to surpass the AI you will need war yet not too much lest you trigger domination.

But still I have not finished. Because we Tupac's follow the sword so easily, we will be restricted in our use of it. There will be strict periods in which war may be conducted. War may be declared or entice ONLY between 4000BC - 2000BC, 150BC-350AD, 1000AD-1500AD, 1750AD-1850AD, or 1950AD-2050AD however war may not be declared, nor enticed, between 2000BC-150BC, 350AD-1000AD, 1500AD-1750AD or 1850AD-1950AD.
In addition, during the years where war may not be declared or enticed, if possible Peace must be declared.
There will be one exception to this. In the event that one or more of the AI's have completed at least 50% of the spaceship, and have the technology required to produce the rest of the parts, war may be declared on that civilization, however the only city that may be attacked (that includes by nuclear weapons, artillery, cruise missile, naval bombardment, or bombers) is that civilizations capital. Pillaging of improvements in their territory is permitted however.

Oh, ho, but no it is not yet finished. Because we may not expand beyond our own borders, we may not bring anything from outside our borders. That means no colonies, and no trading FOR luxuries or resources. Ever. Trading such things AWAY is acceptable, although not encouraged.

But my children, it is not yet complete. For it would not be difficult enough for you my children, and the Tupublic would not be interested in another easy victory.'

King Tupac gave Tupacatha a sharp look, as if daring him to refute the claim. Tupacatha remained silent.

'And so as an additional command. When the Culture Victory is obtained, EVERY wonder that has been constructed at that point must be under your control. Simple, but will make you task that much harder. Those with whom I discussed this challenge, suggested to me that it should be played at emperor, however that is a ridiculous idea. My children, will play this challenge at deity. However as it will be difficult the map will not be completely random... I will preselect the conditions of the world.
70% Pangea
Wet
Warm
4 Billion Years
No Barbarians'

King Tupac let his children think about the challenge for a moment. All those yet to be assigned a task fidgeted nervously. And when you consider that only Tupacius, d'Tupace and Tupacatha have undertaken challenges... thats a lot of fidgeting. Finally King Tupac grew sick of it and announced.

'I have made my decision.' The crowd looked up quickly, the movement ceased and all went silent.

'Montupac, Emperor of the Aztecs, will undertake this challenge.'

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4595/picture11ad.jpg

This looks like a challenge, hopefully everyone is together on the same landmass. And if you win, you will probably have every nation's capital, I doubt you can get too many of the wonders in the early part of the game.

Montupac! :clap: I'll be watching this one with great interest.

Thank you Tupac for listening to me! No milatary wining!

Aztecs on peace though... good luck.

Chapter 2 - Early Days
Toda la gloria viene de atrevido comenzar - All glory comes from daring to begin


Montupac awoke suddenly. The last thing he remembered was being at the meeting of the Tupac Clan...What was he doing out here in the middle of nowhere?

Oh yeah.

The challenge.

Bugger.

Montupac had a look around at what he had, a worker and a settler, a forest game, a plains wheat and not a lot else. It looked alright, not earth shatteringly so, but alright nonetheless.
He decided to settle on the spot, he wanted his palace generating culture as early as possible, no sense in starting behind if it wasnt necessary.
He named his capital Tenotchtitlan, capital of Aztecland.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5418/1tenotchtitlan8sk.jpg

Montupac knew that an early temple was vital here, more so than a settler, granary or even an additional worker so he ordered the training of just two jaguar warriors, one for defence and one for exploration, before he gave the order for work to begin on a temple to the sun god. The sun would illuminate the lands around Tenotchtitlan and show where his people should settle.
For 800 years after the founding of Tenotchtitlan, the Aztec people thought that they were alone in the world. They were not even troubled by lesser or nomadic tribes. They were alone.

But then this blissful isolation was shattered. One day into camp strolled a stranger in a blue shirt.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/6591/2america2sc.jpg

'Abe?' thought Montupac. 'What kind of a name is that? A dopey one! I doubt if he's an Abe-le leader!'
He laughed loudly at his own little joke.
Everyone knows that Aztecs have no sense of humour.

That same year another stranger, this time wearing a big furry-shouldered coat. He called himself Tokugawa of the Japanese.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2518/3japan3qs.jpg

Montupac found that Abe knew very little, however he was the only one that Montupac knew of who understood about Masonry, so he resolved to purchase it from him. Youchies! It was expensive. Luckily it could be resold to Japan.

America: Warrior Code + Ceremonial Burial + 42gp for Masonry
Japan: Masonry for Bronze Working + Pottery + 20gp

While Xapexacetza, the explorior warrior, was travelling north, he came across an American city, known as Philidelphia, that was completely unprotected.

The year was 2850, only 850years of possible war remaining, guaranteed success, no GA, only the loss of RoP rep...

well what would you have done.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/624/4americawar6nu.jpg

Well Montupac had his war, he better be ready for it!

With the temple of the sun completed, and a barracks added in Tenotchtitlan Montupac ordered the training of a vet spearman to defend the city from any warrior counterstrikes. Of course he needn't have bothered because just two turns after the war started America came asking for peace and... well... with only one city and so long until the second expansion would allow for a non-ics city...

well what would you have done.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4861/5americapeace1wh.jpg

Cha-Ching!


Chatzacatzapotza, the second exploring Jaguar, had headed south and after reaching the sea had turned for home. On the way back he found what he was looking for.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6737/6dblcontact2ov.jpg

Contact was swiftly made with both the Iroquois, and the Zulu.

Montupac noted that Shaka seemed incapable of NOT appearing in a Tupac Tale!

It was a long time before Montupac was called upon to do anything more than manage the day to day affairs of his subjects. Finally in 2190BC he recieved the word that his priests had finished their studies of Mysticism and Montupac, generous soul that he is, was eager to share this knowledge with others.

He was most dissapointed to see that the Japanese had already developed their own form of it.

Nonetheless the others were willing to learn the Aztec way.

America: Mysticism for Iron Working
Iroquois: Mysticism +130gp for Alphabet + The Wheel
Zulu: Contact with America + Mysticism + 100gp + 2gpt for Writing + Contact with England.
England: Contact with America + 21gp for Contact with Rome
Rome: Writing for Contact with Persia

Finally the long awaited 2nd culture expansion took place in Tenotchtitlan and an eager Montupac began preparations to send his own people away to settle new lands.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/4504/11tenodotmap5nt.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/391/7teoutihuacan3wx.jpg

However Montupac's gradual expansion would not be allowed to continue in peace. At least not without dues being paid.

In 1650BC Japan dared to make demands of Aztecland. Had it been Tupacatha in charge of Aztecland he would have had no choice but to tell Toky to a-sexually reproduce but Montupac was not Tupacatha. And he didn't have nearly enough military to fight a war against Japan at the present time. So he caved.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3530/8japandemands8ne.jpg

Montupac saw an opportunity for effectively a free tech.

Zulu: 90gp for Horseback Riding
America: Horseback Riding for 87gp.

Then in 1325 Abe demanded tribute from Montupac. Perhaps Montupac should have been insulted by this given the result of their last war (skirmish is more accurate...) but he paid anyway. He was biding his time. Waiting, just waiting, for 150BC to come along.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5874/9americademands3en.jpg

And in the year 1000BC cartographers say that the Aztec Empire of the Great Emperor Montupac I looked like so...

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/376/10aztecland6tl.jpg

The Aztec control of the north was beginning, but what effect would the war-time and settling restriction have on Montupac's ability to rule new lands?

Woah, aren't you still on vacation? Guess you're a bit more addicted than I thought :lol:

And this looks like an especially tough challenge! Did you pop rush temples in New York and Boston?

Nice start. This should be a very interesting challenge.

Nice jump on the Americans. Abe did not prove to be to able early on.

This looks great, Montupac! But very hard to do also!

Man, you got Abe to cry like a little girl! :lol: Good going so far!

Excellent!! I'm gonna follow this for sure. Interseting conditions.

I saulte you Montupac! Looking at what u did to Ol'Abe, this will be a lot easier then the last one (but harder then the first two).

the only problem you might run into is that the AI sometimes will raze a city with an obsolete wonder in it, so you might not be able to capture some ancient age wonders if late war is breaking out...

:woohoo: Very good! Can't wait til you begin more :hammer:ing.

Yay! Will follow this one like I did the last.

All Praise Tupac, lord of the world!

Tupac-->:king: :worship: :worship: :worship: <---Me and others
:goodjob: with the first 2 chapters! :eek: with the darn restrictions! Worse than Sima Qian's!

Subscribed,and waiting eagerly for the next update.:)

EDIT: Forgot to mention, is it just me, or are the pictures(some) blurry?

Waiting eagerly.

:wow: I never thought a Diety AI would be so stupid!

Chapter 3 - Lock, stock and smoked reps
Toda la paz es vana, pero el alternativa es peor - All peace is futile, but the alternative is worse

Montupac entered into the fourth millenium of his reign by resuming trade with foreign powers.
America was one of the few nations who had not yet sped away from Aztecland in terms of technology, however their thinkers had developed philsophy and understood about Mathematics. Montupac was keen to know about these methods of thinking. So in exchange he offered to teach the Americans about Polytheism, the understanding that their are multiple gods.

America: Polytheism + 70gp for Mathematics + Philosophy.


England was wealthy and Montupac could not understand why, so he asked Lizzie and she told him it was all down to the fact that the English produced their own Currency. So Montupac emptied his treasury to learn about it.

England: 272gp + 7gpt for Currency

Montupac learned that several other nations were also suprised by Englands wealth and so offered to teach the secret to them.

Zululand: Currency + 5gpt for Construction
Rome: Construction for Territory Map + Map Making + 50gp
Iroquois: Construction + Currency for Code of Laws + 186gp + World Map
America: Code of Laws for 62gp
Japan: 150gp for Literature.

However the Aztecs were still laughed at militarily by foreign powers and several nations dared to make demands of Aztecland.
Montupac could do nothing but bow his head, swallow his pride and pay. Half a dozen archers could not defend his empire.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7148/1roomedemands8cl.jpg

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2589/2iroquoisdemands6vs.jpg

America continually sent troops and settlers back and forth through Aztec territory and for 500 years Montupac put up with it. But finally in 590BC he grew so thoroughly sick of the American presence he demanded their instant removal. He was actually rather suprised that Abe was so offended.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5003/3americawar5cp.jpg

Persia, that far off power, also threatened Aztecland, and this time Montupac was not afraid of war. Let them come, they would have to journey across the world to reach him. Let them come.

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/8092/4persiawar4sa.jpg

Montupac had alreadytrained nearly 25 archers since the year 1000BC, in preparation for a massive extended invasion of all neighbours in the year 150BC, however with America having forced his hand he turned them toward America's troops in his lands, after killing 11 spears, 4 warriors, 7 archers and capturing 5 settlers he sent these warriors toward America itself.

Atlanta was an old city now, founded on the site of old Philadelphia, it was of major strategic importance to America. It was the 'gateway' to the rest of her nation, it was their most forward city and also gave them access to a small supply of Ivory.

So Montupac sent 11 archers to the city, capturing it with minimal losses.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9854/5atlanta0dl.jpg

On the east coast all newly trained archers were sent to deal with the two unsupported American colonies there.

Seattle would be a very important city to America once it was connected to the trade routes, it would have access to a supply of iron upon culture expansion and offered a supply of grapes for making wine.
Montupac required just four archers to kill the garrison and destroy the city. That iron, and that wine, was all his.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9237/6seattle8rg.jpg

Further south the jungle city of Houston was lightly guarded yet the single spear who guarded the city killed three archers before one of Montupac's finest finally brought him down. The city was worhtless, however Montupac counted carefully and it was shown to be RCP 7, making it a rank 2 city. So Montupac spared the lives of the 10,000 American's who lived there.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3231/7houston5xs.jpg

On the opposite coast the coastal paradise of Miami was the target. Half a dozen archers succeeded in taking the city and, after a short holiday at its excellent resorts and partaking of its outstanding nightlife, they burned it to the ground.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4449/8miami4ey.jpg

Of course the real prize of this war was Washington. The capital of America.
Montupac knew all about culture flips and the like but with the Aztec culture so much more prominant than American culture he knew that if there was a time to be a-capturing capitals. This was it.

He committed the remainder of his army to the city and despite some suprisingly heavy losses the city fell into Aztec hands.

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/6522/9washington4ab.jpg

Normally Montupac would have pushed his advantage and press on against the weakened foe. However his forces had been decimated, he had gone from being an 'average' world military power to being a 'weak' world power.

So Montupac offered Abe a peace between their peoples, in exchange for a hefty fee of course.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/328/10americapeace8oc.jpg

Seattle proved to be a small colony on the otherside of the world.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5176/11seattle1gx.jpg

Pffft, what a waste of a settler!

Now that trade routes were again open Montupac made a foolish decision. One which would have far reaching, and ultimately, unpleasant, consequences.

England: Iron + Horses (the only ones in Aztecland) + Spices + Wine + Ivory for Republic + 4gp + 3 (English) Workers

Why would Montupac regret this? Because little did he know...

...that England and Persia were at war, and England's trade route was not secure

Now it was time for some 2-fers and some other swingin' deals!

Zulu: Republic + (English) Worker for Feudalism
Rome: Republic + Feudalism for Monotheism
Iroquois: Feudalism + Monotheism for Engineering + 123gp
Japan: Republic + Spices +211gp + 2gpt for Invention
England: Invention for Chivalry + 122gp + 2gpt.

At the conclusion of this trading session Montupac had spent
Iron
Horses
2 Spices
Wines
Ivory

and had earned
Republic
Monotheism
Feudalism
Engineering
Invention
Chivalry
34gp
2 (English) Workers.

He was happy.

Everything looked good and so he decided that the time was ripe for his people to undergo a social and political revolution. It was time for the people to have a say. It was time for the birth, of the Aztec Republic!

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5827/12revolution8aj.jpg

Sorry to tease you all like this but thsi will be the only update until the 18th, I'm heading off for the second half of my vacation (been at home for 3 days) in about an hour so this will be it for a little while. Enjoy!

@Automated Teller - yes that could in fact be a huge problem, i'm hoping that no AI will get into that sort of business.

@Carmen15 - Woah, I wouldn't go that far, this variant is doable, just difficult, on deity. I can't even imagine trying any of Sima's variants on deity :eek:

@Ansar_the_king - yes i know, I'm trying to work out why that is. None of the pics are blurry when I open them on my computer :confused:

Great update!!!

World map?

I don't know, it might be as hard as Sima's variants, but anyway on Deity yours are much harder to win!

EDIT: Forgot to mention, is it just me, or are the pictures(some) blurry?

It seems like a lot of pictures I upload do not look anywhere as good as they do at home on my computer. Always seem to be somewhat blurry or the colors have bled together.


Tough game! Definately be watching!! Good luck, Montupac!!

Awww i dont wanna wait! Good update!

It's the 18th in Australia now... ;)

Well, it's the 17th here in America.

Ahh but I'm Australian, good to be back all. Am working on an update as we speak and should hopefully have it uploaded by tonight.

Chapter 4 - New Conquests
Ningún hombre conquistado siempre para el bueno del conquistado. - No man ever conquered for the good of the conquered.


And so after a long intermission Montupac once again came to rule all of Aztecland. As he assessed his position once again he was more than a little alarmed as he realised that he was a pitiful 4th in culture. He had to WIN by culture! He could not allow this, he began to really wonder how he would achieve King Tupac's demands.
'Curse king Tupac!' thought Montupac. 'I bet he never even playtested to see if he could do this variant on deity, let alone send someone like ME to do this!'

Still Montupac knew he had no choice, it was either press on and win as was demanded with him or face the ire of his siblings and feel the dissapointment of the Tupublic. So there was nothing to do but push onwards and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory... or some such rubbish.

After Montupac's inane ramblings had finished he began to focus on building his empire. With a new source of iron and horses connected up the ones he had traded away no longer were a worry and he orderd that his most productive cities begin to train knights while other cities began work on markets, temples, and libraries. For happiness and that much-needed culture.

However Montupac's reformed Republic could not be a model of peace to the world. Not when arrogant rulers like Shaka roamed its surface.
Shaka didn't seem to realise that it was futile to fight againts a tupac, he was so unaware of this fact that he actively sought to enrage a tupac, and Montupac of all people would not stand for it. He told Shaka to stick his fist up his big hairy... well you get the idea. Needless to say that Shaka didn't take to kindly to it.

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/9138/1zuluwar8ao.jpg

No-one could ever acuse a tupac of being overly diplomatic.

And now the whole world was about to make Montupac pay for his lack of diplomatic ability and globabl knowledge.

Well, not the whole world. Just Persia, and it was all bloody old England's fault too.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/6577/2hastings2qi.jpg

The loss of Hastings severed the Aztec-English trade route, ruining Montupac's valuable reputation and with just 2 turns of the deal left remaining.

Montupac was not a happy chappy.

Well now that the whole world thought Montupac to be a liar and a cheat he didn't feel so bad about having to declare war on a neighbour who had always been quite nice to Aztecland.
Oh well, bugger it. Things change.

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9339/3japwar9nj.jpg

Now Montupac had been waiting to start a war since the last warring-period ended and the moment the calendar hit 150BC he leapt upon the opportunity with glee, the war with Japan was designed to be short and sharp, and that it was.

Montupac had about a dozen horsemen who had not been upgraded to knights for the simple reason, that Montupac was stone-cold broke! Since Aztecland had become a Republic Montupac had frittered away its treasury on rushing temples and the like across his land.

So these horsmen were ordered to make a desperate charge, unsupported, against the 3 Japanese Samuari fortified in the city of Yokohama.
As amazing as it seems, (ok as damn unlikely is more accurate!) Montupac's men achieved a stunning success slaying all of the Samuari suffering no casualties. No losses, No Japanese Golden Age, No problems with war weariness and access to a new luxury.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8731/4yokohama4up.jpg

Does life get any better than that?

Well Montupac could try and make it better.
He sent the other 9 horsemen and a force of swordsmen south to Nagasaki and the city was easily captured. Cut off from reinforcements and resupplyment the city was defended lightly by just a handful of spearmen. Really, how stupid can the AI be? Montupac had to double check he was in fact playing deity!
Of course he was, but this was proving to be not that difficult, at least in the warring department.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7996/5nagasaki8qy.jpg

Now Montupac would just wait until Tokugawa was willing to discuss peace. Sending a force of several Pikemen to each city guaranteed that they would not fall and so Montupac was able to concentrate his efforts against the old enemy...

Abe had it coming, for so long he had it coming. He had lost the first Aztec-American war horribly and then had made demands of Aztecland. Honestly, if it weren't for that Montupac might have been content to let him eek out a pitiful existance. But not now, oh no. Now he had to pay, and this time there would be no peace, no middle ground, no quarter given or expected, and no shortage of inane cliches for Montupac to hurl into the fray.

'Abe,' said Montupac. 'It is a good day (year) to die!'

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1759/6americawar3zt.jpg

And so the archers, still not trained in the use of the longbow, were sent north from Chicago (11archers) toward San Francisco and they slaughtered the American spearmen who defended the old city, and Montupac declared the city part of the great Aztec Empire.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/2518/7sanfrancisco4ts.jpg

And moving from Washington the second archer force (9archers) headed north toward Phildelphia. Technically it was New Philadelphia but the American people simply failed to accept that the original Phildelphia had been destroyed by the glorious Aztec army thousands of years earlier.
The second Philadelphia fared no better than the first.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4181/8philadelphia6av.jpg

Aztec Swordsmen swarmed out of central Aztecland toward the new Surfing paradise of Miami, and Montupac, who had recently learned to surf, was keen to maintain control of the beach but the battle to defeat the village's garrison ruined the real estate and the large rocks that landed in the ocean there made the beach unsafe for surfing. Montupac had to admit he was a little dissapointed.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9164/9miami0yq.jpg

And Abe had been sent to meet his maker. Had it been Montupac it would be God, but in Abe's case... God knows.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/658/10deadamerica5fo.jpg

The Zulu finally found their feet and a huge force of Impi, Longbowmen, Swordsmen and Horsemen made their way to Yokohama and Montupac's relief force arrived just in time to avert catastrophe and a large section of the Zulu army was defeated.

It was time to make peace with Japan, the eerie lack of troops from their direction couldn't last and Montupac was determined not to get a sucker punch from a big-mutha of and SoD and so peace was made. Tokugawa had nothing to offer save his world map, he was dead broke, and Montupac felt that their past good relations meant that Tokugawa could keep his worldmap, it didn't matter that much to Montupac.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5139/11japanpeace8ws.jpg

And so Montupac ordered his cartographers to do a large map of his entire empire. It pleased him, although he saw much space for new cities to be founded. That was the job of his new conquests, culture and settlers, thats all they'd ever be good for.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9656/12world7es.jpg

Abe, today is a good day to die.

Haha. I like Montupac. :goodjob:

Very nice update. And thank you for the map.

Welcome back. Great update!

This is wonderfully done, but I only have one problem; Montupac doesn't seem to have been crowded in very much. So how is this a "tight squeeze"?

Because when I started the game I just posted the variant and the start and hadn't played into the game. My assumption was that due to the need to wait for culture expansion I would be hopelessly cramped. Of course America's idiocy in not defending Philadelphia which led to the hand-over of New York and Boston ruined that idea as they were perfectly placed to fill in lots of space with culture.

Trust America to ruin a plan! :lol:

True, trust Abe to ruin anything, that's why you eliminate him before marines come around. :wow:

Any updates coming soon?

Chapter 5 - Dance Puppets! Dance!
La herramienta básica para la manipulación de la sociedad es la manipulación de palabras - The basic tool for the manipulation of society is the manipulation of words


So after Montupac's laziness busy schedule abated, he was finally able to resume the throne of Aztecland after yet another long delay.

The year was 250AD and he saw that his people, though strong, were trailing the world's major powers: Persia and Rome.

However Caesar, was determined that only one great power exist in the world. He declared war on Persia and Montupac smiled to himself, the AI were going to beat each other down and he wouldn't even need to lift a finger.

'Dance puppets! Dance!' thought Montupac.

Montupac was keeping careful eye on the construction of wonders around the world, as he would eventually be required to capture them. His spies in Rome reported that the city of Antium had completed work on an amazing cathederal unlike any other in the world. Known as the Sistine's Chappel, it was Rome's 3rd Wonder.

And so the years flashed past as Montupac built markets and libraries and cathederals across his empire and then in the year 340AD, just 1 turn before he could no longe declare war, and emissary of Tokugawa arrived in Tenotchtitlan.
For you see, when Japan and Aztecland had signed for peace a mysterious bug had crept into the game. Unbeknownst to Montupac their Peace Treaty came up for renewal and he was at a loss to understand why. It had been a straight peace deal...
These events caught him by great suprise and in a state of shock he innadvertatly decapitated the messenger. This could be bad...

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9149/1japwar0fm.jpg

The following year was 350AD and per the instructions Montupac was given he was obliged to make peace with all of his enemies.
He had slain many Zulu warriors and Shaka was willing to offer a large discount on Theology.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5203/2zulupeace3ur.jpg

On the other hand, Persian and Aztec warriors had never met in battle and as such there was only token reparations paid by Persia.

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/5477/3persiapeace3ya.jpg

Japan wouldn't even acknowledge Montupac's envoys and sent them swimming in the Kyoto river in a concrete overcoat, with their pockets full of pebbles.

Montupac found that Rome had sped away from the world in terms of technology and so called an emergency council to discuss how to rein them in.

MONTUPAC: Ok, the problem is they are centuries ahead of us in technology. Does anyone have any idea how to turn this around?

SCIENCE ADVISOR: Well if you'd given us funding in the first place we wouldn't have this problem.

MONTUPAC: Get out.

Science Advisor leaves

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

RELIGIOUS ADVISOR: We could always pray to the Gods to deliver the knowledge to us.

MONTUPAC: Wait, aren't we operating under Monotheism now?

RELIGIOUS ADVISOR: Yes... thats what I said.

MONTUPAC: I see...

MILITARY ADVISOR: What about a little pointy-stick research?

MONTUPAC: Nope, King Tupac says we can't declare or insight war for another 650years.

MILITARY ADVISOR: Oh...

ONLY DECENT ADVISOR (ODA): Yes but sire, King Tupac did not deny you the weapon most crucial to the Tupacs.

MONTUPAC: Whats that?

ODA: The Tupacian Central Intelligence.

MONTUPAC: Now thats what I call thinking...

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6008/4tci4fb.jpg

Now what Montupac didn't know when he ordered the steals was that banking was in fact a monopoly tech. He couldn't believe his luck.

Montupac knew it was time for some swingin' deals.

Iroquois: Education for Gunpowder + 11gp
Persia: Banking for Chemistry + 27gp
Zulu: Chemistry + Banking for Printing Press + Monarchy + Astronomy + World Map + 44gp

And to help recoup his money from the steal Montupac offered to outsource Rome's Iron, for a substantial fee.

Somewhere in the vicinty of 94gpt!!!!!!

Now while all this was happening, Japan had been quietly building her forces and took Montupac by suprise when 11 Samuari and a multitude of older units all arrived on his doorstep announced.

Montupac just had to kill the lot of them and Tokugawa immediately came to Tenotchtitlan pleading for peace. Montupac, being the generous peaceful soul that he is, agreed. For a decent fee.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/9716/5jappeace3yh.jpg

The dogpile was also beginning on Persia with Rome signing the duo of Zululand and Iroquoisland into the war against Persia. The Aztecs also became the world's foremost musicians being the first nation in the world to develop a 'Music Theory' and they began work on a great cathederal where their greatest musicians could play.
This knowledge was traded to the Romans in exchange for the secret of Economics which the Romans had spread to Japan, Zululand and Iroquoisland.

Rome: Music Theory + 243gp for Economics

However it was barely moments after the trade was conducted when word reached Montupac from Japan. Adam Smith, the greatest master of Economics in the world, had decided to base his company in Japan. Montupac was steaming. This merely furthered his determination that the Aztecs be the greatest musicians in the world.

And in the year 660AD they would, when J.S. Bach's cathederal was finally completed and it become a loathed monument, a symbol of the end of peace... but thats gettign well ahead of ourselves... for it is still just 570AD.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6172/s6pd.jpg

It was in this year that Montupac learned that Rome and Japan had both entered the Industrial Age. This worried Montupac greatly. It was just 570AD and his total culture (although 3rd now, up from 4th) was just 6587. Still 93,413 culture points from achieving his required victory.

Montupac was deciding to keep the Tupacian Central Intelligence on Ice rather than throw them at whoever made a technological discovery. Montupac purchased Physics from Japan for about a 3rd of the cost of a safe steal.

Japan: Printing Press + 637gp for Physics.

Then used Physics as leverage.

Iroquois: Physics + 220gp for Military Tradition
Zululand: Military Tradition + 412gp for Magnetism
Persia: Physics for Navigation + World Map + (Persian) Worker + 44gp

Then used the last of his cash to pull himself into the Industrial Age as well.


Rome: World Map + (Persian) Worker + Military Tradition + 811gp for Theory of Gravity

Japan already knew Military Tradition and so Montupac couldn't afford to learn about gravity from them. Bloody over charging Japanese!

Montupac renewed his iron deal with Rome, but now that they knew about Cavalry, Iron had lost some of its value and the new deal was signed for just 64gpt.

When the payments for Mettallurgy to Japan finally ended, Tokugawa offered a new peace deal with no strings for either side and Montupac accepted saying,
'This is the dawn of a new age of friendship between our two peoples!'

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5397/7jappeace7dk.jpg

And so the years went by, Montupac tried to show Adam Smith what he was missing by being the first nation of the world to complete a major stock exchange. The Aztec's being on Wall Street in Tlatelolco, completed in the year 650AD.

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/883/8wallstreet6nt.jpg

As you know, 10 years later J.S Bach's cathederal was finished. Why was it despised as a symbol of the death of peace? Because the day it was finished Caesar, hateful, loathsome, despicable Caesar... dared to threaten the Aztecs.

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The days when the Aztecs would bow to demands were long over. Now they were the world's premiere economy, ruled by the finest leader and lead by the most talented generals in all the world. They may have lacked the numbers of the Roman army but what they lacked they more than made up for elsewhere.
Caesar thought his numbers and strength would be enough to conquer Aztecland. But what he did not know was that gold was no longer just a spoil of war. It was now also one of its weapons. Montupac decided to show Caesar what the Aztec Republic was capable of doing without firing a shot.

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With his flanks covered Montupac decided to send forth his knights, not yet upgraded to cavalry, to show Rome the courage of the Aztec people.

The first target was the Roman colony of Byzantium. Byzantium was the only place in all of Rome's territories with iron deposits, yet they had never been utilised by Rome who had preferred to buy their iron from Aztecland. Now they would suffer for that mistake.
A force of a dozen knights and elite horsemen travelled into the mountains north of Byzantium and then fell upon the city in a huge assault. The city itself was protected by the new Roman Riflemen, yet the Aztec knights were not worried and they slew all of the defenders and seized the city.

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4732/11byzantium9ab.jpg

Once the city was captured a force of old swordsmen and archers were sent to garrison it while the force of knights pushed further south toward the old English colony of Newcastle. There they found it very lightly protected by just the XIV Roman Legion. The Romans fought bravely but in the end proved no match for the ferocity and strength of the Aztec warriors.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2451/12newcastle6jc.jpg

Montupac needed a new buyer for his iron and was suprised to find that Japan too lacked iron. It seemed that the hot, dry lands of the north where the Aztec people dwelt was home to much of the world's iron supplies. 44gpt secured Japan a source of iron and Montupac another trading partner. Japan also lacked Saltpeter and a seperate deal was struck which saw 33gpt head to Aztecland and a constant supply of saltpeter head to Japan.
Japan however was busy domestically as well, she completed the finest University in the world, its star attraction was its Chief Proffesor of Physics, the great Issac Newton. The Japanese adventurer Magellan completed his great world voyage, returnign to Tokyo in 750AD.

Meanwhile Aztecland took a technological lead for the first time. Aztec scientists unlocked the secret of steam power, in 830AD a decade before the Romans and then, in 1000AD the same year the Tupac Peace was to end, Industrialization came in, again before the Romans, while the rest of the world still struggles with concept of steam turbines.

Montupac sold Magnetism to the Persians, to help them join the modern world.

Persia: Magnetism for Free Artistry + World Map + 26gp + 27gpt

When the alliance contracts with Zululand and Japan expired Montupac did not renew them, however Japan eagerly signed Iroquois into the war as Aztecland's replacement. Montupac was now content to let the worlds new major powers: Japan and Rome fight it out.
The Zulu front was beginning to dissolve and key cities had changed hands from Zulu, to Roman, to Japanese, and were continuing to change hands reguarly.
Montupac sat back in his throne as his cartographer showed him the latest maps from the front and demonstrated the changes, making estimates as to he number of troops each nation had fielded and the approximate cost of doing so.

'Dance Puppets! Dance!' thought Montupac.

Montupac's Maps

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1703/13aztecland9iy.jpg

Great update!!! :woohoo:

:clap: Very good!

Yay, update! :dance:

Chapter 6 - The Golden Age of Democracy
La edad de oro está antes de nosotros, no detrás de nosotros. - The Golden Age is before us, not behind us.

When we last left Montupac he had just brought the whole world to war. He had been the master pupeteer pulling all of the world's diplomatic strings. He had turned the worlds 3 major powers against one another fighting a constant battle.
Meanwhile back home he had turned Aztecland into the world's economic superpower. And he had done all this while operating during one of the 'Great Tupacian Peace'.

But now... now the year was 1000AD and the Great Peace was over. Montupac was free to bring the world under his mighty rule. He was free to send forth his fearsome armies and have the world cower beneath his gaze.

Technologically he was pulling further and further away from the bickering nations of the Great South, his scientists studies into Medicine had yielded great results and this knowledge, along with the tecnology produced by Industrialization was traded to Japan for Nationalism and a small fee.

Japan: Medicine + Industrialization for Nationalism + World Map + 12gpt

Now Montupac turned his mind to war. On his southeastern coast the Iroquois had several colonies. They had been there for centuries and had grown to decent size. Montupac decided that they were present in lands that rightfully belonged to Aztecland. He demanded their hand over and it was refused, so Montupac was left with just one option.

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The two colonies fell swiftly. Their muskets were no match for the mighty Aztec cavalry, who numbered nearly 60.

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http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/2693/3tonawanda3fc.jpg

Montupac no longer cared for the Iroquois war now, he had no interest in native Iroquoisland. Merely in the territories he felt were rightfully his.
However Hiawatha was not interested in peace, so Montupac decided to simply ignore him. Maybe he'd die or go away, who cares?

Montupac felt that, despite the strength of the Aztec Republic, that it was time to give the people more of a say. He wanted Aztecland to become a true Democracy and so he authorized the overthrow of the Aztec Government.

http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/6746/4anarchy3sc.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8923/5democracy6fx.jpg

Just a year later he drafted final work on legislation to grant the right to vote to all citizens. This Universal Suffrage was the first of its kind in the world and to celebrate it a great statue was erected in Tlatelolco.

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2813/6us2ak.jpg

The people didn't know it at the time the legislation was drafted, but what they had done was to elevate Aztecland to a new level of power. They had begun
The Golden Age of Democracy!

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The Golden Age would not be spent just building factories and so forth, with their new sense of purpose and their conviction in the worth of Democracy the Aztec people decided that it was their job, nay, their sacred duty, to bring Democracy to all the people's of the world. Even if they had to hack them to pieces in order to do so.

The first nation who would be shown the light was the Communist Nation of Zululand, under the command of Comrade Shaka they were the only Communist nation in the world and Montupac was sure that if they were not stopped now, they would spread their foul influence, and ideals, to many other nations of the world.
So Montupac decreed that war was to be declared.

http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/782/8zuluwar9cu.jpg

The battle of Ngome was brief but ended in the total victory by Aztec forces. This gave the Aztecs access to the world's supply of gems... not that that was why war was declared... heaven forbid no... this was a mission of Democracy!

http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/6395/9ngome1no.jpg

The Roman Republic was weakening and Montupac did not want to see a Democratic country fall to the poison of communism so he made peace with Rome.

http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/23/10romepeace3uw.jpg

Electricity was then sold to Japan, one of the few other Democratic countries.

Japan: Electricity for 743gp + 86gpt

The Iroquois sent raiders north toward their old territories but Aztec defenders met them fiercely, and the warriors, although 'obsolete' proved to be brave and skilled warriors and one of the, Ahtzuot became famed throughout Aztecland for his skill and courage. So much so that Montupac appointed him to be the first General of Aztecland. General Ahtzuot, Commander of the First Cavalry Army.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1683/11leader1zz.jpg

Montupac then received something that shocked him. He received a list of demands from Tokugawa of Japan. Knowing full well he still had 18 turns to run on his 86gpt payment for Electricity, Montupac would not let him weasel out of the deal so quickly so he paid the demands but a cold fury began to build up inside him. A hatred for the Japanese was growing.

They would suffer for this... oh yes. They would suffer for this!

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/7053/12japdemands3sy.jpg

Ha. "Agree teo our demands, Montupac, or be destroyed."

Is that possible. :dubious:

Chapter 7 - The Communists
¡Hay rojos debajo de las camas! - There are Reds under the beds!

Montupac had no quarrel with the Iroquois now that he had his rightful lands, so he made Hiawatha a very reasonable offer of peace.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/6764/13iropeace4ud.jpg

The Roman Republic was growing weaker all the time, even with Aztecland out of the war. The prized city of Antium, jewel of Eastern Rome, had fallen to the Zulu and although it had been reclaimed several times it now seemed to be firmly under Communist control.
Montupac did not wish to see the Roman Republic fall to Communism, or even to a Monarchist state so he offered the people of Rome a supply of:
Iron, Horses, Saltpeter, Coal, Wines, Spices, Incense, and Ivory on interest free no-fixed-time repayments. Basically you could say that Montupac had 'gifted' all of it to Rome to help in their war struggles.

Tenotchtitlan's finest authors had finally completed their great Epic of Azhuot. Known as the 'Heroic Epic' it rapidly rose to the top of the bestsellers list and inspired future warriors of Aztecland for generations to come.

http://img288.imageshack.us/img288/619/14heroicepic7iv.jpg

It was not long after that in Texcoco, Charles Darwin, an Englishman living in Aztecland, completed his treatise on 'the Theory of Evolution'. This work sparked a massive technological surge in Aztecland and scientists operating using his new principles of scientific observation and method rapidly unveiled an 'Atomic Theory' which lead to further discoveries in the field of Electronics.

http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/53/15toe4or.jpg

Montupac sold the ideas of Scientific Method to the Japanese, who had pursued more military related discoveries.

Japan: Scientific Method for Espionage + 649gp + 2gpt

Unbeknownst to Montupac some of his agents secretly had meetings with Communist factions in Rome and offered a hefty sum for complete transcripts of the doctrine, which they could take back to Aztecland.

Rome: Espionage + Scientific Method + 500gp + Gems for Communism

However these people did not survive long. Montupac heard the word of Communism whispered in the street and so ordered the construction of an Intelligence Agency to train agents to protect Aztecland from such vile things.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/9585/16intelligencagen5ip.jpg

The Aztecland Agents became feared tools of Montupac, and they penetrated not only Communist cells within Aztecland, but cells across the world, Government Cabinets across the globe... all across the world the Aztec Agents became feared. Members of Communist Cells became terrified, one could go home and go to sleep and wake up in a dark cell, with no light, where no one would ever hear from you again.
The Agents of the Tupacian Central Intelligence became one of Montupac's most treasured toys.

The discoveries in Electronics had unlocked a new source of power, hydroelectric power. However Montupac knew that constructing small hydroelectric power plants across his empire would be cost prohibitive. So instead he commissioned the construction of a massive dam in Tenotchtitlan which could supply hydroelectric power to the entire empire.
It was named Hoover's Dam after the architect who designed it, a 12th Generation Aztec-American.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/6062/17hoovers9om.jpg

Finally, in 1290, after 160 years, the Golden Age of Aztec Democracy came to a close. Although they remained Democratic the people of Aztecland had lost their sense of sacred purpose and opted to abandon their principles of trying to enforce Democracy upon the rest of the world.
But it had been an age of wonders, an age of power (both military and electrical), an age of Democracy.
It had been, the Golden Age!

http://img286.imageshack.us/img286/9629/18noga5nl.jpg

The Aztec people, no longer resolute in their quest to bring Democracy to the world, finally even conceded that to bring the Zulu to Democracy would be nearly impossible. They decided to abandon them to their fate.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/8527/19zulupeace3mo.jpg

Chapter 8 - The Great Japanese War
Es como si Japón tenga víctima caída a un caso de la amnesia colectiva - (on Japan's Demands to Aztecland) It is as if Japan has fallen victim to a case of collective amnesia

The payments for electricity from Japan finally ceased and Montupac felt that now it was time to make the Japanese scum pay for their foolish arrogance. Pay with the blood of their people.

http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/8118/20japwar0mr.jpg

The Aztec army had been preparing for this for decades and assembled across the length of the Japanese border was nearly 120 cavalry units. This force fell upon Japan with such speed and ferocity that they caught the Japanese defenders completely off guard.
At Mpondo, a former Zulu colony conquered by the Japanese after it had fallen to Rome, the first wave of Aztec attacks began. Strikin it with rapid fury and then dissapearing into the night, the city was simply there for a moment... and then it was gone.

http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/3983/21mpondo7jf.jpg

The city of Sapporo was of vital strategic importance to the Japanese army. While the city itself was of minimal importance it provided the Japanese army with their only source of Saltpeter. The city was lightly defended for its importance, just a handful of Rifle Units, however they were fortified on the hill and had it not been for the artillery barrage which leveled the city and ruined their morale, prior to the beginning of the battle, the Aztec losses would have been horrendous.

http://img270.imageshack.us/img270/6209/22sapporo2yc.jpg

On the East Coast the city of Nagoya was a jewelled port and vital to the Japanese economy. The 4th AAC (Aztec Army Corps) under the command of General Azhuot struck the city in the early hours of the morning. Although the city fell, Montupac was greatly alarmed.
Infantry defended the cities.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6109/23nagoya0pu.jpg

The 2nd AAC moved out of Ngome toward Nara, their arrival was greeted by a barrage of artillery fire from the Japanese walls. It took the lives of thousands of brave young men to crack open the city but the infantry eventually fell and the city was held. Not with any intention of keeping it, but Montupac needed the culture expansion to be able to plant the cities he wanted. It would soon be abandoned.

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Defending the city of Ngome was a host of 'obsolete' units, one of them was a brave swordsman by the name of Izhuatl. In the defence of the city he slew several Cavalry and held together the cities defences, then chased down the fleeing Japanese Cavalry and killed the. His bravery earned him much fame in Aztecland and even the favour of Montupac. So much so that Montupac declared him to be the Governor of New South Aztecland (formerly known as Japan) and tasked him to build a palace in Ixtapaluca to rival Montupac's in Tenotchtitlan.

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The great cavalry armies of the Aztecland continued to advance southward, deeper into Japanese-held territory. The city of Osaka was home to the most famous playwright in all the world, William Shakespeare. While Montupac did not care for plays he knew that King Tupac had tasked him to control all of the worlds wonders which were built. So he held the city, garrisoning it well and working some of his soldiers to death to rapidly construct a temple to the Aztec Gods in the city.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/492/26osaka6pn.jpg

The city of Kyoto was most prized by Aztec scholars, for it was home to some of the world's Great Wonders. As well as being the home of Adam Smith and his world-famous company, it also housed the legendary inventor; Leonardo, the brilliant Scientist; Issac Newton, and the legendary 'Great Library'.
However with such history and significance it was very heavily defended, by 13 Infantry units. The Aztec Cavalry fell upon the defences time and time again, and the piled dead reached the heavens but in the end the Aztec Cavalry rode into the city. But it was a day of mourning. Nearly forty cavalry units lay dead at the gates of Kyoto...

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The city of Edo was of great significance to the Japanese people. It was now their most cultural city, yet it contained no wonders and so they foolishly guarded it with just a handful of Rifle Units. The Aztec cavalry, spurred by their 'victory' at Kyoto, attacked the city with great aggression and the city proved to be no match for the Aztec might. This time the victory was celebrated, not a single Aztec had died.

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South of Kyoto was the city of Tokyo, where the great Adventurer Magellan had set out from. The city was protected by many Infantry but this time the Japanese army was supported by a heavy artillery battery. The 40 heavy artillery opened fire on the city from around 2 miles away, and the shelling reduced the defenders to ragged troops, disorganised and dispirited, seeking shelter in the craters themselves. They were completely unprepared for the Aztec assault and once again the Aztecs recorded a casualty-free victory. They had learned the lessons of Kyoto well.

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The final city in the native lands of Japan was the city of Kagoshima, while of little importance (due to the movement of the Japanese capital, it now had little importance to either side) it nonetheless housed the Observatory of Copernicus, one of the Great Wonders of the World. The arrival of the Aztec army at the city was to be the last battle of the Great Aztec-Japanese war of 1310-1375. The Japanese city was defended just by riflemen and the battle-hardened warriors of Aztecland proved to be far, far too much for them.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2672/31kagoshima3ct.jpg

The victory marked the end of the war, with Montupac offering Japan a peace treaty. Japan accepted the conditional surrender and peace was declared.
While it is often thought that Japan offered its conditional surrender, there is evidence that Aztecland was suffering badly from the effects of war. The loss of so many at Kyoto had sent much of the Aztec empire into open revolt and peace had been quite necessary to prevent further disintegration of the Aztec nation.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/536/32jappeace1ql.jpg

Peace had returned to Aztecland... but for how long?

Very good job!!!! Tupac OWNS!! :goodjob:

Yay! Need...more...!

Chapter 9 - Treachery, Insanity and the fall of Tenotchtitlan
Cuando caída de Tenotchtitlan, la caída tan Aztec y entonces el mundo - When Tenotchtitlan falls, so fall shall Aztecland and then the world

The year was 1400 and Shaka's emmisary walked into the great palace of Tenotchtitlan. Bearing with him a scroll that stated that Aztecland had promised Zululand 100 years of peace. That contract had expired and the emmisary declared that Shaka was eagre to renew the deal.
Oh foolish Shaka. Had he said nothing all perhaps would have been well, but no. One does not simply insist to Montupac that something be done.

Foolish, foolish Shaka.

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/1311/1zuluwar9hz.jpg

Montupac saw this as an opportunity, and one not to be missed. He sent his cavalry, freshly healed and reinforced after the Japanese Campaign, on two precision strikes into Zulu territory.

The Zulu controlled 5 of the World's Great Wonders which Montupac had to control. They were:
The Pyramids (Zimbabwe)
The Great Wall (Zimbabwe)
The Hanging Gardens (Zimbabwe)
Sun Tzu's Art of War (Zimbabwe)
and Sistine's Chappel (Antium).

The Zulu were also yet to uncover the secrets of replaceable parts which would give them access to Infantry and Artillery.

Foolish, foolish Shaka.

The two strike forces numbered around 20 cavalry each, and met with pitiful opposition.

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http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/1508/3antium6ez.jpg

Both were immediately reinforced by infantry forces from Tokyo to secure the area. The Pyramids, Sun Tzu's and Sistine's were all excellent wonders for the Aztecs. With Cathederals across the empire now doubled in effectiveness it dramatically increased the Aztec ability to wage war while in Democracy. Sun Tzu's cut nearly 100gpt from the Aztec Maintenance budget while the Pyramids increased the growth of the highly productive cities in New South Aztecland.

Texcoco finally completed work on a Military Academy where young Aztec officers could be trained to be Generals of the Aztec Army. This was a very significant moment in Aztec history.

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The loss of the wonders hit the Zulu hard and Shaka sent emmisary's to Tenotchtitlan begging for peace. That was more like it, Montupac was generous enough to give in to requests if they were humble enough.

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/9527/5zulupeace8nk.jpg

Tugela was an island off the coast of Aztecland, it would become a significant naval base in future years.


Years went by with not war, it seemed as if the Great Tupacian Peace would be starting early... but no.
Tokugawa had never gotten over the shame of his horrific defeat in the Great Aztec-Japanese War of 1310-1375. Montupac had trusted him after the end of the war. He had opened his borders to the Japanese, he had allowed their military forces to use the Aztec rail network for travel... what a fool Montupac had been... and he was made to pay for it... not just with the blood of his people... but with his soul...

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Tenotchtitlan, capital of Aztecland, mother of the Aztec race, lay undefended...

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The capital was hastily moved to Teoutihuacan at great expense. Montupac had been in Ixtapaluca when the attack took place fortunately. But when he heard of these events, a fury like you could not imagine built up inside him. Indescrible, unquenchable. In an instant he lost his mind with rage. So enraged was he that he was unable to handle the press conference and it was left to his Vic-President to handle it.
'
Yesterday, December 7, 1483 - a date which will live on in infamy - the Democratic Republic of Aztecland was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the Military Forces of the Empire of Japan. Rest assured fellow citizens, no expense will be spared to make Japan pay for this attrocity, no ground shall be given and Japan will pay, in blood, tenfold that which we have suffered.'

The first step was to recapture the city. The 2nd Cavalry Army, under the command of General Ixipalitzcalaca, fresh from the Military Academy in Texcoco recaptured the city.

http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/6933/8tenotchtitlan8vb.jpg

Work was immediately begun on rebuilding the temples, cathederals, universities, libraries, and colloseums. The Heroic Epic had been in the city and had been destroyed. The palace would also need to be rebuilt. This would be difficult times for the people of Tenotchtitlan for sure.
The completion of the new Temple of the Sun in Tenotchtitlan marked the second stage of Montupac's madness. Every Japanese slave, or citizen of any Japanese descendancy was immediately taken to Tenotchtitlan and one-by-one they were lead to the top of the Temple of the Sun and sacrificed. 230,000 dead in just four weeks. Montupac ordered his entire army be mobilised and sent them to the new Japanese lands in the west.
The ancient Roman city of Veii was under Japanese control... the fact that it was Roman did not spare the city. Montupac's men captured and burned the city, and every man, woman and child of Japanese blood was taken outside the city and buried alive in mass graves.

Montupac's insanity and inhumanity had reached a crescendo.

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In the weeks that followed the cities of Brundusium...

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/3265/10brundisium7cl.jpg

... York...

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/5017/11york7nv.jpg

... and Palmyra...

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suffered the same fate. In the weeks of what was later deemed 'the Aztec Madness' nearly 300,000 Japanese men, women and children were murdered in a manner that even disgusted the Aztec people back home. They began to demand peace, the attack on Tenotchtitlan was a disgraceful display of cowardice from the Japanese yet they could not accept what their leader was doing.
Montupac's Vice-President spoke at length with Montupac and finally Montupac realised what he had done, it was like a man who awakens from a drunken stupor with blood upon his hands unsure of how it got there. Montupac had not made Tokugawa, the man responsible, pay. He had made innocent Japanese people pay for the crimes of another. Montupac was horrified...

When the Great Tupacian Peace came in 1500AD, Japan would not greet envoys from Aztecland.
'Why should we even speak with envoys from a man of such barbarity?'

And for once Montupac had no answer. Because he knew it was true...

The Aztec Empire as it Stands

Circa 1500AD - The Great South and New South Aztecland

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Circa 1500AD - Aztecland

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/355/14aztecland0mp.jpg

Note: Tenotchtitlan Awaiting Palace Reconstruction

:eek:
You had me there a minute...

That was a nice comeback for Japan, but you are getting close to wiping them off the planet...

They captured Tenochtitlan??? They should pay for this!

Great update!

nice writeup.

That was a nice comeback for Japan, but you are getting close to wiping them off the planet...
That was a nice comback by Tupac because I thought his core was doomed for sure!:eek:

Hey,

Great read. Really like the set war years. :spank:

Question Time.

1. Could we have a culture update?


Blaze Injun

Chapter 10 - Montupac's Great Peace, Elizabeth's Great Folly
No han deseado paz en todos; tienen desearon ser guerra ahorrada, como si la ausencia de la guerra era igual que paz. - They have not wanted Peace at all; they have wanted to be spared war, as though the absence of war was the same as peace.

They say that it is in peace that men sit idle and fail to appreciate the world the generations that went before built, and so sacrifice the world that their children will inherit.
Montupac would make sure that no such mistake was made while he ruled.
He would make the most of this opportunity. He could not afford to neglect his military, yet he could also not afford to maintain a huge military if it was simply going to sit idle.
So he decided that he would use the Aztec Army to build the infrastructure of his empire. And so hundreds of units of Infantry were ordered to be trained, with the sole purpose in mind of using them to help smaller cities throughout the empire erect great temples, cathederals, libraries, universites and stadiums, in the event of unexpected assaults the military could be rapidly diverted to counter any threats to Aztecland.
And the world was still a dangerous place, the sacrad mission of Aztecland to bring the world to democracy had long since failed; the entire world had fallen to Communism as they fought unceasingly amongst themselves.

While other nations fought themselves to a bloody standstill, and as thousands of men died in battle every week somewhere in the world, Aztecland turned their minds from matters of destruction, to matters of national development. The size of the Aztec Empire had brought about many problems with communication across such great expanses. It was the brilliant Aztec scientist Guglielmo Marconi (an odd name for an Aztec indeed!) who developed the revolutionary concept of the radio. Although it originally only allowed for a transmissions over a single mile, within five years it had been increased to 200 miles and within 10 years it had become the principle form of long-distance communication in Aztecland.

Of course Aztecland was not compeltely at peace. The vile Empire of Japan still threatened Aztecland's golden shores and emerald fields. However they were being contained at the Shakaaton Hills, between New South Aztecland and Zululand, a series of hills and mountains with 5 maze-like paths through them.
In battle against Japanese raiders one of the Aztec captains, Mixalixadixtrixta, became famed throughout the land for his single-handed triump in holding the pass of the seven gates alone until reinforcements could arrive. During his meetings with Emperor Montupac, he impressd the God-Emperor with his understanding of construction organisations. So much so that Montupac decided to appoint him chief architect, in charge of the re-construction of his palace in Tenotchtitlan.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/5125/1leader0yt.jpg

Rome, who had warred with Japan since Aztecland had first brough Japan into the war with Rome nearly three centuries earlier, finally brought they long-running conflict to a close with the treaty of New Edo.
Meanwhile Aztec cavalry, who had been resting in Antium after their strikes on Japanese controlled lands in Northern Rome, were ordered to strike at Intombe.
Intombe was originally a Zulu province which had fallen to Rome in the Triad Wars, in 1170AD. The city had been 'liberated' by Japanese soldiers but had remained under the control of the Japanese army rather than being returned to Zululand. Now Aztec Cavalry again 'liberated' the city, however not from an occupying army, but from the horrible grib of Communism. They had brought freedom to the former Zululand province.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3766/2intombe9sq.jpg

Unfortunately for Montupac, now Tokugawa was willing to talk and, as per King Tupac's instructions, peace had to be signed. Montupac figured he might as well get something for himself out of the deal.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3610/3jappeace4rl.jpg

When Tenotchtitlan had fallen to the Japanese sneak attack, one of the things they had destroyed was the original manuscript of the Heroic Epic. Although there was much grief in Aztecland for the loss of this priceless work of literature, Montupac commissioned a new Epic to be written, detailing the triumph of Aztec heroes in the conquest of Japan.

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6969/4heroicepic0wb.jpg

The Zulu peace treaty had come up for renewal again. Montupac was disgusted that the foolish Shaka again sent an emmisary to boldly declare that Shaka wished to renew the deal. Had they not learnt their lesson in humility before the God-Emperor yet? Nonetheless Montupac was compelled by the commands of King Tupac to sign the renewed peace treaty.

http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/8252/5zulupeace1ep.jpg

The years went by as the Aztec army helped to construct the necessary infrastructure across the empire. In order to more effectively control the troops, and maintain more effective communication over where troops were required to assist in building projects, Montupac commissioned the construction of a new Military Command Facility, known as the Pentagon.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2145/6pentagon1hc.jpg

As more and more countries realised the increasingly dangerous and volatile nature of the modern world, many smaller nations decided to sign Mutual Protection Agreements, in order to safeguard their national interests. The Iroquois signed such deals with England and Zululand, and Zululand signed similiar treaties with Persia and England.
Although Montupac received almost daily requests from foreign nations to sign a similiar treaty with Aztecland, Montupac maintained Aztecland's present isolationalist strategy, leaving the world to its own designs while Aztecland concentrated on making itself the world's most advanced nation.
Developments in refining and steel lead to the development of new technologies such as the internal combustion engine, as Aztecland began to pull well away from other nations. However with this new dominance, Montupac began to develop a taste for the Machevillian Doctrine. He began to play havoc with the smaller nations of the world by deciding to gift some of Aztecland's valuable surplus resources and luxury good to weaker nations while denying the same goods to larger nations. He in effect, levelled the playing field across the world, but in doing so weakened Aztecland's main challengers and she began to pull even further away.

The Great Temple of Tenotchtitlan was finally completed, rebuilt to its former glory. To celebrate its opening, Montupac sacrificed thousands of slaves on its great altar, inside the highest chamber.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6213/7greattemple9mw.jpg

In the city of New Byzantium Montupac had ordered the construction of a great metalworking facility, to turn raw iron into the new metal, steel, which had recently gained preference as the alloy of choice in Aztecland. The facility greatly increased the production of this valuable resource.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3401/8ironworks6tp.jpg

The same year, new breakthroughs were made in the field of medicine. In particular in the fields of battlefield medicine, where equipment and time could be greatly limited. The Aztecland Military Red Cross was founed in 1585AD, and its headquarters was located in Texcoco.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9384/9battlefieldmed9nw.jpg

The next fifty years were of great industrial production and development. The idea of Mass Production had lead to great leaps in the production capacity of the Aztec Empire, and the Aztec navy had benefitted. Dozens of destroyers now patrolled the coasts of Aztecland, protecting her shores from any and all threats. Most significantly however was the astounding 'flying machine' perfected by Aztec scientists in 1630AD, this lead to the development of, with the aid of improved combustion engines, fighter planes, and bombers. Aztecland was the only nation even close to developing this technology and they were eager to make the most of their most significant new weapon.
in 1653 the first Automobile rolled off Aztec production lines and 2 years later, the adapted military vehicle made its debut. The Aztec's latest weapon was a heavily armoured automobile mounting a high calibre gun on a swivellign turret on top of the vehicle. Named the Tanxamanxadanxapalanxa, or 'tank' for short, it rapidly became feared around the world, despite never having been deployed in battle.

These rapid developments lead to leading historians to believe that Aztecland had in fact entered into a completely different technological era to other nations of the world. The Modern Era.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4746/10modern8gu.jpg

With this chapter nearing its close many of you will be wondering what Elizabeth's Great Folly is?
Let the scene be set...

Aztecland has gifted to England, in ongoing deals:
wines
spices
incense
furs
ivory
dyes
coal
iron
saltpeter
horses

England is currently at war with Rome, Japan, and Zululand (their agreements have long since expired).
They are dependant on Aztec resources and support for survival.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9440/11engwar5su.jpg

A Great Folly indeed.

The English's only assault was a single unit of longbowmen against the veteran Azec Rifle unit, fortified in Seattle. The Aztec defenders were victorious and the Aztec Air Force finally had their chance to shine. Dozens of squadrans of bombers rained death onto the English colony of Umtata, the defenders there were all but destroyed and the traditional Aztec elite, the Jaguar Warriors sent to the colony thousands of years ago, attacked the colony and were succeful in taking control of the colony.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/6386/12umtata2bg.jpg

In the year 1715 the first computer was built by Aztec scientists, the extra calculational and research power alloted by computers to researchers became very important to Aztec research and Montupac orderered that every city have at least one research facility. Computers also allowed for research and improvements to be made to the Aztec Infantry forces, equipped with new vehicles and weaponry the Mechanised Infantry companies of Aztecland further underlined their incomporable military power on the global stage.

Finally the year 1750 came. The Great Tupacian Peace had again ended.

What would Montupac do? Would he excersise his unmatched military power? Or would he quietly build his cultural strength?
He currently had 58,865 culture points and gaining 707 a turn, meaning the game would be over in just 59 turns. However three wonders still lay outside his control...

What will Montupac do? How long will it be before the God-Emperor of the Aztecs takes his place amongst King Tupac's Chosen Champions?

Chapter 10 Appendixes

From The Cartography Archives of the Democratic Republic of Aztecland

Aztecland - Circa 1750AD

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New South Aztecland - Circa 1750AD

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From The Military Museum of the Democratic Republic of Aztecland

Recruit Numbers per Unit (part 1 subsection A) - Circa 1750AD

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Recruit Numbers per Unit (part 1 subsection B) - Circa 1750AD

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Recruit Numbers per Unit (part 1 subsection C) - Circa 1750AD

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Please Note the following Chapters are Concurrent. That is to say that they were happening at the same time as each other. Once the requisite chapters have been completed I will post the updated World Map so please don't ask for one before they have finished.



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In 1750AD the last Great Tupacian Peace came to a close. After two and a half centuries of peace, Montupac was ready to put his plans into action. Montupac had not sat quietly in peace time, he had been planning a massive four-way campaign for decades. A campaign that would shatter the world order forever, that would see Aztecland take total control of the world. The year 1750AD marked the end of the traditional idea of 'nations' and the beginning of Montupac's great countdown to victory.

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Chapter 11 - The Iroquois
"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset."


The Iroquois Confederacy, a Communist coalition that ruled the former Iroquois Republic, had been in control of Iroquoisland since 1485. Iroquoisland had always been a small nation, who had managed to avoid major conflict and thus maintain its independance. However in 1750 came the declaration that marked the collapse of the Iroquois nation.
Montupac's declaration of war.

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The Central Iroquois Theatre: 1752 - 1758

The planned invasion of Iroquoisland had a very precise timetable it had to run under. This was because Montupac needed his troops to be able to divert to other frontiers once the campaign concluded.
Oil Springs was the first target, as the northwestern capital, it was protected by the best forces Iroquoisland could muster. Unfortunately for its citizens the best they could muster was half a dozen units of Riflemen. The Aztec forces included Mechanised Infantry, Cavalry, Bombers and Tanks. The initial forces deployed to Iroquoisland were used to deal with isolated regiments around the countryside, and to clear the way for the assault on Oil Springs. The attack itself ran smoothly for the Aztecs, after days of heavy bombing, the defenders were in no condition to fight and the result was not one which would suprise many.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8718/2oilsprings8ds.jpg

Montupac wanted the campaign to be a lightning one and so would not allow forces to be bogged down quelling resistances, so all cities were to be razed, with the exception of Salamanca which housed two of the world's Great Wonders.

Northeast of Oil Springs was the Iroquois' other border province, Cattaraugus. Cattaraugus was more heavily defended than Oil Springs and was backed up by several artillery units. The Aztec bombers, operating out of Kyoto had suprisingly little success in targetting the populated areas of the province, and military facilities. The initial attacks were made by Aztec tanks but despite numerous succesful assaults, the defences of the city held and in the end it was left to a fierce cavalry charge to finally sweep away the last of the defenders.

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Like Oil Springs, Cattaraugus was torched.

The Aztec forces divided into two battalion's one pushing down each coast. The 1st Battalion, moving down the east coast reached the large city of Grand River. It was considered an unsual name considering there was no river for miles. Yep, its that Iroquois sense of humour again... The city was only lightly defended, perhaps the Iroquois had not anticipated anyone being able to penetrate this far into their territory. Certainly the Aztec bombers could not operate that deep in enemy territory without an airbase. Conventional artillery were sent for from home and the heavy shelling reduced the, already meagre, defences to a wreck. General Ixatupactec and his tank army were able to capture the city by themselves. As per their instructions the city was torched and the population were sent to labour camps, back in Aztecland to work on clearing up pollution, and on the Roman front constructing extensions to the rail network.

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On the West Coast, the last major city was Niagra Falls. Niagra Falls was the second oldest city in Iroquoisland, having been constructed in 3750BC. Fortified in the Buffalo Hills it was to prove a tough nut to crack. With bombers out of range in Kyoto and the conventional artillyery operating on the other side of the country at Grand River, it was left to a plain, simple, unscientific full-frontal assault. The Iroquois Riflemen, backed up by cannons were able to repel the first three waves of Aztec tanks but a tank commander by the name of Maxaraxatanxa was able to break through the city's outer defences and occupy the city.

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The loss of Niagra falls left the Iroquois West Coast wide open, while only Allegheny on the East Coast provided any opposition to invading forces moving toward Salamanca. Allegheny again proved to be suprisingly resiliant. With the majority of Aztec tanks deployed for this operation either in the shop for repairs, or already moving toward Salamanca, the assault on Allegheny was alloted only a handful of Mechanised Infantry units for the whole operation. Of the 8 'Mech Infantry' deployed to Allgheny, three were completely destroyed in the assault. These losses came rapidly, and early in the assault and suprised High Command so much that a number of still-damaged tanks were ordered to assist in the assault. Despite staggeringly high losses in defeating the Rifle defenders, in the end one of the tank units was able to finally brush aside the defences.

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Salamanca was regarded as the most famous city in the world, the only national capital never to have been held by foreign occupying forces, it was home to two of the world's Great Wonders, the Collosus and the Great Lighthouse. The city was protected by 11 riflemen units however Aztec High Command had found 11 Elite Cavalry, 23 Tanks and 14 Mechanised Infantry, units to allot for this operation. Against such overwhelming numbers the Iroquois defenders had no chance. They were outnumbered and outgunned, yet they were fighting for their land and their lives while the Aztec soldier fought because it was their job. The Iroquois had the advantage of knowing they were fighting for what was right...



...and to a man they died utterly.

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The North Pilanaraes Ocean Theatre: 1760-1762

The North Pilanaraes Ocean had just one main landmass, Almaria. The world's largest island, it was contested by three nations. Aztecland had possessed territory there since the Americans had handed over Seattle thousands of years ago. In recent years they had acquired the English colony of Umtata as well. The Japanese however maintained the strongest control of the lands there with two large Provinces, Shimonseki and Reading. The Iroquois also controlled a colony there, Akwesasne. The Iroquois navy had been using the colony as a naval base for decades and since the Aztec-Iroquois war began they had relentlessly pounded the colonies of Seattle and Umtata from the sea. The Aztec air force had done well to restrict their abiltiy to do this but with the four-way war that Aztecland was currently locked in, only 6 bomber squadrans could be spared. With the Central Iroquois Theatre falling quiet additional pilots were able to be stationed in Seattle, and a small force of tanks and mechanised Infantry were able to be deployed there as well. Although conflict had been ongoing since the beginning of the war, it was not until 1760, when Aztec army forces were deployed that the North Pilanaraes Ocean Theatre became active. The city of Akwesasne suffered relentless bombing raids prior to the assault by Aztec forces and in the end the city fell easily, and Almaria was now contested by just two.

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The Central Aztiroquec Ocean Theatre: 1766-1768

With the fall of Salamanca, the Iroquois Government had been relocated to St. Regis, one of the two Iroquois colonies (the other being Centralia) in the central Aztiroquec Ocean. The Aztec navy was unable to spare the ships and transports required for an invasion of these islands for many years after the fall of Salamanca as they were required for operations against England and Rome, however in late 1765, there were enough freed up to allow for assaults to begin on the last Iroquois outposts.
St. Regis was the first to be attacked. The city had been cut off from supply lines to Iroquoisland for centuries and as such the defenders were traditional spearmen units. Aztec Battleships opened fire from around a mile away on the morning of the assault and levelled the assembled spearmen units.

Outdated, Outnumbered, Outgunned and outthought the Iroquois warriors were helpless to prevent the bloodshed.

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Centralia was no better prepared than St. Regis and with several squadrans of Aztec bombers being, brought into action courtesy of the aircraft carriers HLAS Tenotchtitlan, HLAS Texcoco and HLAS Kyoto, the small strike force had no trouble whatsoever in finally bringing one of the hated Communist nations down.

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The Iroquois Confederacy's destruction in 1768, brought the first, and shortest of the Aztec Campaigns to a close. In total the campaign took 18 years to complete and cost the lives of over 900,000 combatants and civilians. It was the first time that Aztecland had displayed the awesome power of modern weapons. From their dominance of the sea they were able to restrict world trade to their enemies and damage vital coastal infrastructure. Their standing army was far superior to any other in the world, but it was the power of their airforce that marked Aztecland as truly the world's premiere military nation. There were over 90 squadrans of bombers and 30 squadrans of fighters that the Aztec's could call upon. Of course Iroquoisland was not a powerful foe, the real test of the Aztec military was taking place far to the West in the lands of the Zulu and Rome...

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Chapter 11 Apendixes

Map Reviews

Central Iroquoisland Theatre Review

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The North Pilanaraes Ocean Theatre Review

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The Central Aztiroquec Ocean Theatre Review

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:woohoo: One of the best updates you did!

Outstanding update!!!:clap: Totally enjoy the paragraphs describing your forces advancing, how many of what type of defenders, all the battle plans and map reviews! Very good job!!:goodjob:

Tanxamanxadanxapalanxa

:rotfl: nice name

Thanks very much for the kind response. Looking back its hard to believe I did the map reviews in Microsoft Word! :lol:

Hope you liked the style the chapter was written in, the next 3 chapters (Zulu, Roman and English Campaigns) will be done in the same style, will hopefully post the next one soon, maybe tomorrow night.

Man, great history! Keep it that way!
Interesting, you sorta used good ol' Blitzkrieg on the Iroquois. Well, how it would be called on Aztec or Spanish?

Chapter 12 - The Zulu
Do not speak of the Rhinoceros if there is no tree nearby - Zulu Proverb


The Zulu government had been under the control of the Communist party since before even the great Aztec Golden Age of Democracy. Once upon a time Zululand had been a friend of Aztecland, now however the two powers would clash in a titanic struggle, from which there could only be one victor.
June 13th, 1756 - a day that would be remembered and recorded for centuries to come.

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The Zululand Theatre: 1756 - 1766

The Campaign to take Zululand was not, as the Roman and Iroquois Campaigns, necessary in order to control Great Wonders and thus complete King Tupac's instructions. No, this campaign was purely a strategic one. The land route from New South Aztecland to the Roman front was blocked by Zulu territory. Montupac would not allow any nation to ever again possess an open borders agreement with him. He had been burned badly by Japan. Nor would Chief Shaka allow foreign troops to simply march through his territory. Transportation of troops to the front via sea was too long and too costly and excersise and Air lifting troops was not a desirable method due to the cost of constructing the requisite air bases on the Roman front, and the airlines flat refusal to transport workers, artillery or Great leaders. In the end the only satisfactory option was to open the land route by force.

In order to open the route there would need to be a joint assault on either side of the route. The first route which needed to be opened was that between the Antium/Intombe province, and the Zimbabwe Province. Barring the way was the Zulu held territories of Bapedi. 11 Airlifted tanks from Antium were sent to open the route between these provinces. At Bapedi the Aztec forces encountered Zulu infantry. The Aztecs had never fought against Infantry before and here, without artillery or air support, the Aztec forces had to deal with an extremely well dug in force of infantry. There were 5 Units of Zulu Infantry stationed in the province and though they must have known that they could not hold the province against the Aztec forces indefinitely, the did their best. Although they died to the last man they cost the Aztec forces four full tank units, and severely damaged 3 more. Nonetheless the province was seized, and the route between the provinces of Antium, Intombe and Zimbabwe was now open.

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/4295/2bapedi3sq.jpg

Although the Aztec forces now had unfettered access between their provinces in southern Zululand, the route to New South Aztecland was still not open. Montupac could not allow this and so ordered his battle hardened troops from the Iroquois campaign to deploy immediately to the Zulu province of Ulundi.
Although around half of they forces Montupac sent for were unavailable due to losses suffered while fighting in Iroquoisland, there was still 19 Tank, 23 Mechanised Infantry and 41 artillery units that were able to be called upon.

Ulundi was defended by several fortified units of Infantry, all of them veteran soldiers. Despite the power of the Aztec artillery en masse, the Zulu defenders steadfastly refused to give up and they held their ground against the first two waves of tanks despite heavy losses, however the third charge proved too much for them and finally the city fell into Aztec hands and the whole of Southern Zululand was freed from the tyranny of Communism... it fell into Montupac's open palms.

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With the route from the Roman front to New South Aztecland now open, additional forces were able to be deployed there, however Aztec High Command did not neglect their western neighbour.

In Eastern Zululand was the city of Isandhlwana, a major agricultural centre, and producer of almost 23% of Zululand's gross agricultural product. Given its economical significance for Zululand it was suprisingly lightly defended, the 4th Aztec Army Corps was advancing on it from New South Aztecland and the city's garrison of 3 Infantry units were easily overcome.
The fields of Isandhlwana had found a new source of fertiliser... the blood of Zulu warriors...

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The capital of northern Zululand was the province of Warwick.
Aztec historians were not sure when this province came under Zulu control, what is known is that it was originally an English Province which fell to the Persians in 390AD. How it came to be in Zulu hands was a mystery never to be solved.
The province seemed as though it was a recent acquisition however as the defences were very thin and in fact included several cavalry units. All up they numbered 9 units, 6 Infantry and 3 cavalry. The initial forces deployed from Aztecland number just 5 tanks, but were supported by General Itchicuxi of Texcoco and the 6th Aztec Tank Army. The individual tank units performed as expected but the victory was built on the mighty assault of General Itchicuxi and the 6th Tank Army. The city eventually fell when Commander Muxaraxli and his tank unit broke through the city walls to seize control of the city. The city's population was immediately hostile to the occupying forces and the attempt to quell the insurgency left the city less a city and more a smouldering heap of ruined building and charred bodies.

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/2846/5warwick4jf.jpg

To the south, neighbouring Antium and Bapedi, was the Zulu city of Hlobane. With the Roman front beginning to fall quiet there were many squadrans of bombers freed up for use in Zululand. Operating out of Antium was the core of the Aztec Air Force (AAF), 36 Bomber Squadrons.
This imposing aerial strike force was able to reduce the proud, size 10, city to size 4 and with the entire defensive force reduced to a fraction of their strength, incapable of providing any real opposition. After the initial charge of the Elite Cavalry had been succesful, yet failed to occupy the city, it was left to General Silirixalixidixidroxide to deliver the final blow, like taking a sledgehammer to a snow pea.

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The Swazian Islands Theatre: 1766

The Swazian Islands was not really an appropriate name for this landmass. It was really a single mountainous island off the coast of Western Aztecland. It was home to the Zulu province of Swazi, a small, backward colony founded almost 12 centuries ago. 5 tanks had been deployed there to deal with, what was later found to be, just 2 Rifle units. These tanks had the backing of 12 AAF Bomber Squadrons and the Battleship HLAS Tlaxacla and in the end the operation was painfully overblown, dragging needed forces away from operations in Roman territory. Nonetheless it was another succesful operation and a necessary operation in order to eliminate the Communist Zulu's.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3087/7swazi3pw.jpg


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The Persian Theatre: 1780

Decades earlier the Persian War, between Persia and the Combined Zulu and Japanese Empires, had ended. It had lasted nearly 180 years and in that time many new provinces had been formed and lost. One of these was the one-time Japanese province of Hakodate, it had fallen to Persian forces in 1720 and been recaptured by Zulu troops in 1735. The city was occupied by 3 Infantry units and two Cavalry units when the Aztec forces arrived in 1780. Spearheading the Aztec forces were the twin tank armies of General Itchicuxi and General Silirixalixidixidroxide. Supporting them was a mammoth force of 7 Elite Cavalry, 28 Tanks, 22 Mechanised Infantry, 53 Artillery, 11 Veteran Cavalry and the Cavalry Army of General Azhuot, the liberator of Tenotchtitlan. The meagre defences of Hakodate stood no chance against the reformed, and now unassigned 4th Aztec Army Corps, fresh from their victorious campaign in the Central Roman Theatre.
The battle itself was merely a formality. The Aztec soldiers charged, and the Zulu soldiers died...

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Sweeping down from Hakodate came the Aztec armies, marching straight through Persian territory, Xerxes dared not challenge so mighty an army, to the Zulu controlled Persian city of Antioch. The ancient city possesed much significance to the Persian people and the Zulu forces were well dug in and had resisted several concerted efforts from Persia in the past to reclaim the city. 7 Infantry guarded the city, which was built and fortified on the largest nearby hill. The Aztec forces made camp 3 miles away from the city and laid siege the ancient city. The artillery forces proceeded to hammer away at the ancient walls, reducing the defences slowly but surely. When dawn broke on the third day of their besiegement, the Aztec forces charged the city and after 3 days of relentless artillery bombardment, with the darkness against them and their spirits broken the Zulu defences gave up without a fight. Bringing the curtain to a close on the Persian Theatre... at least for the Zulu campaign anyway.

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The Northern English Theatre: 1778-1780

Native England had been in possession of the Persian Empire for centuries until the Great Persian War of 1555-1735, when most of the territory had fallen to Japan and Zululand. Most of this territory had been subsequently conquered by Rome but the North of England was still in Zulu hands.
Canterbury was the traditional appointment place and residence of England's most significant Archbishop, however in Zululand's Communist hands there was a blanket ban on religion. The city, without its religious significance, did not warrant much of a garrison in Zulu eyes, just 2 Rifle units guarded the old city and a force of 6 Mechanised Infantry were diverted from the main task force, for this theatre, to deal with the city.
The city was so small that no-one, save the English, said anything of its destruction.

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While the small force broke away, the main task force of 20 Mechanised Infantry and 10 tanks, supported by the Aircraft Carrier HLAS Azhuot, reached the last Zulu fortress, the ancient English city of Hastings. This city was of particular significance to Montupac. It was this city, all those centuries ago, who cost him his reputation. When, with just 2 turns left to run on the trade deal, his trade route with England (this was back in the days when England was in control of England), and made the whole world think of him as a dishonourable cur.
Montupac laughed with delight, that he now had the opportunity to destroy the city of his shame.
The sole Infantry unit that guarded city fell easily, revealing the last defences that Zululand could muster.

A single, regular longbowman. Pathetic.

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The destruction of Hastings in 1780AD marked the end of Communism's leading power, the Zulu Empire. Although England remained Communist for nearly 2 decades after the fall of the Zulu, the battle of Hastings really marked the death of the Communist world order. Although Aztecland had abandoned their sacred quest to rid the world of communists many years earlier, they had finally achieved their dream with the fall of the Zulu.
It was nearly 15 years before the Roman Empire was finally completely annexed, but by now Montupac's great Campaign was drawing to a close. The Zulu were the second nation to fall before the mighty Aztecs, they had proven far stronger than the Iroquois who fell before them, but it was in Rome that Aztecland faced their strongest foe.

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Chapter 12 Apendixes

Map Reviews

Zululand Theatre Review

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The Swazian Islands Theatre Review

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The Persian Theatre Review

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The Northern English Theatre Review

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Significant Event Reviews


1768 - Commandor Manhattan becomes a national Aztec hero.

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1770 - General Manhattan completes work on his project into Nuclear arms.

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1780 - The Zulu Empire comes to an end

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Sry Montupac, I've been away for like EVER, but I'm loving what uve been doin.

That railroad bug is very common. It happens to me in the ancient age all the time. :lol:

Hey, Montupac,

Just wanted to say I've been lurking about here, reading this and your other stories, and I have enjoyed them a great deal. Thanks for your work on these stories. I'm sure I speak for everybody here when I say that your work is greatly appreciated :goodjob: :goodjob: :goodjob:

Thanks again :thanx:

Chapter 13 - Rome (Part A)
Now conquering Rome doth conquered Rome inter, And she the vanquished is, and vanquisher. To show us where she stood there rests alone Tiber; and that too hastens to be gone. Learn, hence what fortune can. Towns glide away; And rivers, which are still in motion, stay.



It was once said that 'all roads lead to Rome' and once that was true. The famed Oracle of Rome was the first Great Wonder of the world, Rome was once the world's premiere military, economic and technological power. But those days were long gone by 1750AD. No, in the position once occupied by Rome now stood the Aztecs, alone and uncontested and with no fall ever to seem likely. During the Great Wars that Rome had fought of the last 5 centuries against Zululand, Persia and Japan, Aztecland had been their benefactor. They had supplied them with raw resources needed to fight their battles and with luxury goods to keep their people happy, all without any notion of being repaid.
Or so Rome thought. The repayments that Aztecland wished for were not reparations of the coin.
Oh no.

They wanted Rome. In 1750 the Greatest ever of the Aztec Campaigns was to begin. It was the beginning of a war that would last 36 years and would pit the two greatest powers of world history, past and present, against each other.
Only one nation could survive.

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The Central Roman Theatre: 1750 - 1776

The Roman Campaign was to be the single largest campaign in world history. Aztecland occupied 49% of the world's landmass, Rome occupied a further 37%. Between the two of them more than two thirds of the world fell under their control. The battle lines were very narrow, the City of Rome and the city of Antium. Aside from these two strongholds, both immensely well defended, Zululand acted as a buffer on one side and the ocean on the other. This war would see the concentration of the two greatest armies in world history at a single point.
For more than a year the front looked likely to fall Rome's way as Roman forces poured into the province of Antium faster than the Aztec High Command could airlift troops from Aztecland, however by virtue of their powerful Mechanised Infantry units, making their combat debut for Aztecland, Antium remained in Aztec hands.

However in the summer of 1751, after victory over the Roman forces in Antium, Aztec Cavalry crossed the Rhubicon and attacked Rome. The initial charge was a complete disaster. 19 whole Cavalry units were completely destroyed with 21 more reduced below fighting capacity. It was the greatest military disaster since Kyoto. The Roman Infantry, heavily fortified inside the ancient city, took up secure positions on the hills of the city and despite the AAF stationing 60 bomber squadrons in Antium to lead the aerial assault on Rome, and the barrage from over 50 artillery pieces, the Roman lines held strong.

The defeat spurred Aztec High Command into action. Montupac ordered the immediate withdrawal of troops and equipment intended for fighting on the Iroquois peninsula, and their redeployment to the Roman front.

The second assault on Rome was far more succesful. In March 1752, after months of heavy shelling and bombing, Aztec tanks crossed the Rhubicon and, supported by the re-organised survivors of the first assault, the city was captured. Montupac now had all the world's Great Wonders. He was permitted victory now, but it was still someway off.

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With the capture of Rome the front changed dramatically. Now Aztec forces were concentrated in Rome but were completely surrounded by Roman territory and troops. The initial assault had stalled and the new troops being airlifted were required to simply hold the line. The main problem was a lack of supply lines to Aztecland. Zulu territory disrupted the lines and it was beginning to drain the Aztec war effort. After 4 years no advancement had been made and the Aztec High Command made the bold decision to declare war on Zululand. In the first year of the Zulu war, the route to New South Aztecland from Rome was opened and supplies once again began to flow to the Roman front. However it was still several years before new, successful, assaults took place.

Finally in 1762 the war in Zululand had all but come to a close, and with the arrival of the 2nd Aztec Army Corps from Iroquoisland there were sufficient troops to renew the push into Central Roman territory.

Cumae had long been a thorn in the side of Aztecland's Roman front, regarded as the most culturally significant city in the world, even ahead of Tenotchtitlan, it placed significant risk on the well-being of the troops in Rome. Cumae's very existence was insighting the local populace to rise up against the occupying troops. The city was suitably well defended and had it not been for the destructive power of the AAF it is doubtful whether even the might of the 2nd Army Corps, with their complete compliment of Artillery, Tanks, Mechanised Infantry would have been able to take the city. The final battle for the city saw the Aztec forces face wave after wave of Infantry, as one unit fell another rose up to fill the breach. In the end Aztec officials claimed that as many as 20 Roman Infantry units had been killed although the number was more likely to have been half of that.

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With the fresh troops arriving daily from the homeland the Aztec forces were extremely well supplied and reinforced. While the 2nd Army Corps pushed northwest, new soldiers arriving from New South Aztecland and Zululand formed the 4th Army Corps and began to push north and northeast. The small village of Lutetia was very home to Rome's only Uranium mine and so Montupac was keen to make sure they could not put it to use. Although the world was far less advanced than that of his sibling Tupacatha, he knew the power of uranium and what it allowed. He would not let himself be burned the same way. The village maintained a garrison of just two Infantry units and the advancing cavalry, supported by the AAF, had no trouble in dealing with them. After weeks of bombing they had lost their ability to fight effictively, loss of numbers and morale had weakened them enormously.

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With the loss of Rome, the Roman leadership had re-established themselves in Pompeii, a large city to the west. The province of Pompeii supplied all of the mainland Roman coal supplies needed for their steam locomotives which carried supplies. Montupac recognised the strategic significance of this resource and of the value in eliminating the Roman leadership while in Pompeii. The 2nd Army Corps was ordered to assault the city. However the people of the province had no intention of allowing their capital to simply fall into Aztec hands. Volunteers joined the Roman army en masse with nearly a dozen units of Volunteer and Conscript Infantry heading to Pompeii.
People often like to heap praise on volunteer soldiers. There are many sayings, espousing the value of such warriors.
'There is nothing stronger or more powerful, than the heart of a volunteer' 'Ships help, guns help, but some things are unbeatable' and many others.
However when Montupac tested the hearts of the Roman volunteers, far from being powerful they proved weak. Maybe the people who said those things never faced the horror of war. But no heart, however strong can resist the morale-destroying, sanity-sapping horrors of war. Men watched their comrades, their friends and their brother die beside them. They saw their limbs blown clean off, many suffered injuries from shrapnel and almost welcomed them as a form of relief. When the Aztec ground forces finally attacked the city they found not an iron-willed, determined defence but a collection of ordinary people, patriotic for sure, but who simply could not take it anymore. In August 1762, Pompeii fell into Aztec hands and the famed city was burned to the ground. A testament that Montupac would not brooke opposition. His was a sacred mission of assimilation.

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Heading east from Pompeii, the 2nd Army Corps reached the seaside city of Ravenna in Autumn of 1764. The province of Ravenna was famed for its dual climates, in the north were fertile lands and mountains home to much valuable manufacturing and agricultural industry, in the south; some of the best skiing land in the world. The 2nd Army corps had the full backing of the AAF when it reached the province and the deployment of new Jet Fighters to the already formidable compliment of bombers left the city more or less a ruin well before the ground forces arrived. The 2nd Army corps encountered a dispirited defence force of 5 Infantry units sheltering in the pockmarked streets and crumbling buildings of the city as the invading forces arrived. Who knows what they thought when the Aztec tanks rolled through the gates. They had no chance of victory, perhaps they saw it as a chance to die a heroic death defending their nation, or perhaps they saw it as an escape from a futile struggle where they could fall into death's comforting embrace.

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After the fall of Pompeii the royal family of Rome had made their way to Neapolis where they had established a new capital for the Roman empire. Built on the opposite side of a great river to that which the invading forces would attack from and guarded by 8 of their prized Infantry units the Royal family must have felt they could resist the Aztec army from here.
Once again they were dead wrong. The great weakness of the city defensively was that it was built in a province of open plains. There were no hills or mountains for miles, and none within the province itself. This meant that the Roman army could not use any tricks to deceive the Aztecs and that the only outcome was a single pitched battle. Exactly what the Romans needed to avoid.
In 1766 Aztec Tanks and Cavalry crossed the river north of Neapolis and attacked the city. Without their most significant defensive position, and caught by surprise by the unexpected direction of the assault the Roman forces were immediately placed at great disadvantage and though they sternly held their ground and were able to repel several Cavalry units and destroy 2 Tank units, they were completely wiped out and the city of Neapolis destroyed utterly. Nonetheless their sacrifice bought the royal family time to escape once again. This time they headed to the former Persian city of Bactra, far away in the north of Western Rome.

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The 2nd Army Corps moved south from Ravenna to the city of Pisae, the main oil supplier to Rome. However despite the city's importance it was isolated, cut off from reinforcement and ressuplyment. They never stood a chance. The Roman soldiers, merely riflemen, had like so many others, already been defeated by the power of the AAF. They lined up at the walls of the city, prepared themselves, raised their weapons... and fired shots which merely skidded off the reinforced armour of the Aztec Tanks, General Mitixilari and his Tank Army were the first into the city and made sure that the Roman defences were completely destroyed... before they turned their guns on the city itself.

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New Edo (although officially known as Edo) had been built in lands that once belonged to Persia during the great Persian - Zulu/Japan war. The city had fallen to Rome during Rome's great conquests of the 17th century AD, when they had the backing of Aztecland. Aztec geologists new its mountains housed a valuable supply of aluminum, although the Romans knew nothing of this. The people of Edo had maintained their traditional Japanese way of life and Roman culture had been very slow to spread in the province. The 4th Army Corps, lead by General Itchicuxi and numbering nearly 15 Cavalry, 25 Tanks, 20 Mechanised Infantry and 45 artillery pieces approached the province through the valley of Tokugawa between the Great Neapolitan River and the Hills of the Serpent. The province was not considered a high priority by Roman command and its defences numbered barely 3 complete Infantry units. The Military-Industrial power of the Empire of Aztecland recorded yet another victory.

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Heading north from Neapolis was a new Task Force. Their original purpose was to target the Zulu provinces in Northern England however there were three Roman provinces between the newly claimed lands in Zululand and Central Rome and the task force was 'encouraged' to deal with these provinces as well. The task force, known as 'Operation Cleanup' comprised 19 Tanks and 25 Mechanised Infantry, all fresh from the production lines of Aztecland and New South Aztecland. Assembling together at the ruins of Neapolis the force split in three, one headed for the former Japanese provinces of Nara and the others headed for Hispalis and Veii.
Nara was lightly defended for a border city with just 6 units of Infantry. The AAF was operating further west and was unable to provide air support for 'Operation Cleanup' so the attack by Aztec tanks went unsupported. However the Roman soldiers had perhaps, seeing what had happened to the soldiers who had stood against the Aztecs before and having heard of the warrior-sacrifices in Tenotchtitlan, resigned themselves to a quick death rather than truly attempt to withstand the Aztec army. When the Aztec forces arrived they simply manned their stations with an air of despair. They had clearly rehearsed this battle many times in their minds and new the inevitability of their struggle.

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The forces headed to Hispalis reached their target next, using the Roman rail network they reached the city by 1776 and encountered a defiant, but ultimately doomed defence by the 6 Infantry units who protected the city. Aztec forces suffered light casualties, with the loss of 3 Mechanised Infantry units in the attack, but the city fell anyway, with Aztec Tanks of the 12th Brigade making the breakthrough to capture the city.

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Veii was a newly established province in honour of the original Veii which was conquered and destroyed over 1200 years ago. The city of (New) Veii was defended by just a single Infantry unit. The heavy forces that Montupac had brought to bear there proved superfluous and the city fell with embarrassing ease, bringing a simple close to what had been a long, violent and bloody conflict across the Central Roman Theatre.

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However the Campaign was not over yet, the Roman Empire in the west, and their colonies remained, and Montupac would not rest until the debt Rome owed to Aztecland for their past generosity had been completely repaid.

No one has ever believed Rome would have accepted Aztecland's help if they had known what Montupac had planned for the repayment scheme...

Chapter 13 - Rome (Part B)
Now conquering Rome doth conquered Rome inter, And she the vanquished is, and vanquisher. To show us where she stood there rests alone Tiber; and that too hastens to be gone. Learn, hence what fortune can. Towns glide away; And rivers, which are still in motion, stay.



The Western Roman Theatre - The First Campaign: 1772

While the might Aztec Army rampaged through the Central and Eastern Roman Empire, raids were already beginning into Western Rome. Western Rome was home to the new capital, in Bactra, of the Roman Empire. Western Rome was largely comprised of former Persian and English territory which had fallen to Rome many years ago. The first city which was to fall to the Aztec raiders was the city of Susa. An old Persian city that had been in Roman hands more than 200 years, she was lightly defended and the crack assault force of 6 Elite Aztec Tank units was able to take the city with minimal casualties. The 3 Infantry units protecting repelled 2 Tank units without causing any casualties but in the end the weight of numbers they faced proved to be too much and the city fell. As Montupac had no plans yet to push onwards into Western Rome he burned the city to the ground rather than attempt to hold it.

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The Western Roman Theatre - The Second Campaign: 1776 - 1784


The end of the Central Roman war in 1776 is the point when historians consider the Aztec-Roman war to be over in all but name, however the point when Aztecland won the war was the fall of Rome itself, after that it was a foregone conclusion. With the conclusion of the Central Roman campaign, attention in Aztecland shifted to the still impressive, Western Roman Empire, this time not just raids but a full-blooded campaign.

The ancient Persian city of Pasargadae, the second city of Persian history, had been handed over to Rome as part of the Great Parsa-Roman peace of 1740. The Roman government considered this city to be a crucial part of its Western Empire, more so now that Central Rome had fallen and it was now the front against the Aztecs. The Romans deployed 9 Infantry units, 4 of them Elite to hold the city against any Aztec advance.
The city's strategic significance extended beyond merely offering a significant buffer for advancing Aztec forces, it maintained the rubber mines so crucial to the Roman war effort.
Montupac knew, take or destroy Pasargadae and you cripple Western Rome.
So nothing less than an exceptional force could be deployed to such a crucial front.
The 4th Army Corps, lead by joint commanders General General Itchicuxi, General Azhuot and General Silirixalixidixidroxide and their respective armies.
The total force numbered over 60 fully capable combat units and 50 artillery pieces. It was a force to be respected, and most of all feared.
The battle itself was a protracted one, the initial assaults failed causing the situation to digress from an assault to a siege and finally, after months of artillery barrage, a determined assault by an Elite unit of Mechanised Infantry succeeded in capturing the city. Not wanting such a force to be split up from their campaign Montupac ordered the city's destruction, and the 5000 year old city faced an undignified destruction at the hands of foreign 'liberators', after being seized from foreign invaders.

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After the siege of Pasargadae the forces divided, a large section pushed westward to finish off the Zulu while around a third of the combined forces pushed northward toward the Roman forces. Arbela was the target.
Arbela was another old Persian city and was famed for its wheat production. In times of war food is one of the most vital of weapons, like water, whoever controls the food controls the war. But Roman command did not understand this concept and so left the important agricultural city defended by just 2 Infantry units, one of them merely regulars.
The Aztec Tanks had no difficulty in sweeping away this pitiful collection of defenders and Western Rome suffered yet another crucial blow. Montupac preferred a scorched earth policy when it came to these far-off campaigns. His own food supplies were plentiful.

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In 1778 after extensive conflict between Aztec and Roman forces around the former province of Arbela the conflict moved westward toward the province of Gordium. Gordium was yet another former Persian territory, although when it fell into Roman hands was not clear to Aztec scholars.
It seemed as though Rome could no longer pay and equip her troops, each year Aztec spies reported fewer and fewer Roman soldiers, even taking into account those killed by Aztec forces their numbers were dwindling.
Gordium was defended by just 3 regular Infantry Units. Though lightly defended, the infantry defending the city held firm and seemed to grow stronger with every battle. Montupac sent for the Battleship HLAS Ixatapaluca to support the ground forces. Eventually the Aztec technology, firepower and numbers proved to be too much and like Roman cities everywhere, this one too fell to the Aztec onslaught.

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The battle of Bactra was not a notable one like the fall of other Roman capitals. No Bactra was defended by just 3 Infantry units, and the advancing Aztec forces under the guidance of General Maxapaluca of Texcoco and his Tank army stormed the city succesfully with the support of a single other Tank unit. The Roman government was yet again dispersed, this time they fled as far as they could to Samaria on the isle of Halloran.

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London, or the province in which it resided anyway, was not the original London. The first London had been burned to the ground by advancing Persian forces nearly 800 years ago. London, as it stood today, was a latter day province of England which had fallen into Persian hands and later to Roman hands. The Romans had now controlled it since 1680 and their grip was suprisingly strong considering the relative strength of their other cities at present. Defending it were 5 Infantry units supported by 2 Artillery pieces, the Aztec attacking forces numbered 8 Elite tanks. It was a tough fight for a crack assault force like this, and three full units were destroyed but the city fell and the way to Rome's northernmost colonies was opened.

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Travelling along the old Roman, and newly constructed, railroads Aztec forces were able to push on from London and reach the city of Tarsus in late 1778. Tarsus was vital for Rome, and very attractive to Montupac as well. The reason for its lure was its extremely valuable supply of silks, the only ones in the world. Silks were the only luxury that Aztecland did not currently have access to and Montupac was desperate to get his hands on them. In order to achieve this he sent one of the largest forces he had assembled outside of the Army Corps. 20 Mechanised Infantry made the long journey along the railways to reach the city to find it defended by but two Infantry units. While the battle itself was almost non-consequential the result of the battle, Aztecland's acquisition of a supply of raw silks, had a huge effect back home. There were celebrations in the streets and people across the homeland praised Montupac for his wise and wonderful leadership.

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Pushing on from Tarsus toward the northenrmost point of the Roman empire was General Azhuot and his Cavalry army. Finally after months of travel they came to Hamadan. Aztec scholars were not even aware of which nationality the original Hamadan belonged, just that now it was a Roman province. It was defended by just 1 Rifleman division and Azhuot earned himself yet more fame by bringing an end to conflict in the northeast of the campaign.

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1784 marked the end of the Roman campaign. In Western Rome the only remaining city was the jungle city of Virconium. Buried deep in the jungle it was extremely difficult to reach, it was a long time indeed before Aztec forces were able to reach the city, although when they did they found it defended by just riflemen. It was a short and bloody battle and the Aztec navy had already been bombarding the city from the sea for years. When it fell on June 3rd the Western Roman campaign came to a final close and Montupac was able to turn his attention to finishing off the Roman forces on Halloran and the hated English.

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The Halloran Island Theatre: 1780 - 1786


Halloran was the name given to a large, fertile piece of land off the northwestern peninsula of the main continent. The island had access to coal, horses and rubber and so was the ideal place for Rome to attempt her revival. However the Roman government, when they relocated to Halloran, had not taken into account the sheer power and size of the Aztec navy. With more than 40 battleships and 10 aircraft carriers Aztecland had long been the undisputed masters of the oceans.
The hills were the wild horses roamed was the chosen landing sight for Montupac's assault force on Halloran. Landing in 1780, the Aztec forces prepared for an assault on Samaria. The fearsome power of the Aztec battleships patrolling the island's shores however was able to all but destroy the city before Aztec tanks even arrived. The 2 Infantry units were easily destroyed by the crack landing force and the city was held, not because it was valuable, but because strategically it gave the Aztec forces a launch pad with which to strike at the remaining Roman cities on the island.

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One half of the force turned and headed south 5 miles to Syracuse, on the southern tip of the island. Syracuse had supposably been a great naval centre in days gone by, hence the Roman governments decision to relocate there. However the harbor (and the Roman navy) had long since been destroyed by Aztec Battleships. At Syracuse the Aztecs encountered a sole rifleman unit defending the city, even without naval support the Mechanised Infantry dispatched to deal with it rolled effortlessly into the city.

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Caesaraugusta was not reached for some time after the fall of the island's other two cities due to difficulties in moving the troops to the correct locations. However the Aztec admiralty used this opportunity to redeploy their Battleships in the region within range of the city.
11 Battleships unleashed a torrent of fire and death onto the city leaving the sole Infantry unit, charged with the cities defence, all but dead long before Aztec forces arrived. When they did they encountered little to no opposition and the last Roman city, along with the Roman people, fell into the comforting hands of oblivion.

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Chapter 13 Apendixes

Map Reviews

Central Roman Theatre Review

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Notes: The Cartographer responsible incorrectly labelled the area of event, he has been executed as a result. However due to the debilitating number of man hours required for the development of the map Montupac did not wish to wait for another


The Western Roman Theatre Review

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The Halloran Island Theatre Review

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Significant Event Reviews


1762 - Commandor Unitiddixilixipixi becomes a national Aztec hero.

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1766 - Under the supervision of General Unitiddixilixipixi, work is completed on a United Nations, where countries can come to talk through their problems. With Aztecland the sponsor of the project and at war with the rest of the world it is instantly proclaimed 'a fancy place in which to do nothing'.

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1784 - The Roman Empire comes to an end

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Nice job! :hammer:

This is some serious pwnage by Montupac. Keep it up! :thumbsup:

Wow man, you kicked the buttes out of 'em real good. Keep the good war work. That is a serious ass-kicking here.

Chapter 14 - England and the Last Days
If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.



Elizabeth was arguably the most foolish ruler in all the world. She had been totally dependent on the generosity of Aztecland for survival and then, as her need grew greater still, she declared war on her only friend.
Montupac could have crushed England with a wave of his hand but he had chosen not to. At least not yet, instead he had used England as a training ground for his naval forces. Instead of deploying valubale ground forces who were required in Iroquoisland, Zululand and Rome, he sent the admiralty to deal with England, and for years they had relentlessly hemmed in England, restricting them to the land. No ship who left an English harbor would ever see land again. Aztecland had over 30 Battleships in English territory, and they had been there since England's declaration of war.
However the actual true conflict did not begin in the English Theatre until 1780.


The English Theatre - 1780 - 1790

While mighty Rome collapsed against the might of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Aztec Army Corps the nation of England had remained untouched by the Aztec onslaught. The English thought that they had been exempted from the slaughter. How wrong they were. Montupac grants exceptions to no one.
In 1778 Montupac assembled a crack assault force of 4 Elite Tanks and 4 Elite Mechanised Infantry whose task was to land in English territory and then, with the support of the Aztec navy, conquer and destroy England. It was late December, 1779, when the forces arrived in England, landing a few hundred miles north of Oxford, the new English capital.
From there they pushed southward arriving at Oxford on January 4th 1780. The elite force encountered the English garrison of Oxford and were not impressed. 3 Riflemen accounted for the entire defence force in the capital. These elite, battle hardened soldiers easily overran such meagre opposition seizing Oxford on the 8th of January, without the numbers to hold any cities Commander Maxtla who was in charge of the operation called for the city to be burned, it was better than letting it fall back into English hands.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5372/1oxford9xj.jpg

The push toward Liverpool further north was slow, the countryside proving England's best defence as it delayed the push for four years. It was not until early 1784 that Aztec forces were able to attack Liverpool. In that time more naval forces had arrived and the battleships were now supported by a pair of Aircraft Carriers, the HLAS Azhuot and HLAS Itchicuxi.
In the attack on Liverpool the CO, Maxtla, proved his prowess once again as he captured the city. His leadership in the operation so far impressed Montupac so greatly that he announced his promotion to General Maxtla.
The decision had been made to hold Liverpool until the transport ships could arrive to take them on to the next island to finish England off.

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Unfortunately due to administrative cock-ups the transportation to the next isle was to take another four years and it wasn't until 1788 that General Maxtla and his men finally reached the second English Island.
The city of Brighton was the new home of English parliament but with no navy to protect her, England was still very susceptible to the Aztec navy. The Battleships and AAF Bomber Squadrons left the city in virtual ruins by the time General Maxtla arrived. His arrival was met with barely a flicker of opposition from the two English Rifle units who were barely standing. Despite the damage done to the city, Maxtla decided to hold the city to provide Aztecland with a naval port on the island.

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From Brighton General Maxtla took his forces toward Leeds at the edge of the peninsula to put an end to this nonsense once and for all. His forces met with little opposition, in the weeks prior to his arrival the way had been cleared by the AAF and the Admiralty, when the force arrived in Leed the garrison was nowhere to be seen. The occupying forces eventually found the all but destroyed rifle unit charged with the city's defence cowering in a bunker under one of the city's many ruined buildings. Maxtla and his men put paid to any hopes they may have entertained of survival.
It would have been unproffesional do anything else.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2929/5leeds3vd.jpg

And thus in 1790, the last of Montupac's Great Campaigns finally closed. It had been a series of Campaigns unrivaled by anything else in Aztec history and it had seen the destruction of all of Montupac's notable rivals... and one who was not so notable.
All of King Tupac's orders had been fulfilled and now Montupac would simply await the arrival of victory.

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ENGLISH THEATRE REVIEW

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However it was to be a considerable wait for victory to arrive and in that time the Aztec people raised new wonders to celebrate their achievements in curing cancer,

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and in achieving such longevity in the Aztec people's lives. Of course Montupac had always known about longevity, the secret was regular excersise.

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9374/8longevity5xi.jpg

Finally in 1854, 64 years after the end of the Great Campaigns, the great day finally arrived.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5600/10victory4dq.jpg

Montupac, like his siblings before him, had succeded in King Tupac's great challenge.

Chapter 15 - Post Game Analysis
A collection of pictures detailing the Great Montupac's success.


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Well it was a surprisingly easy game really. Obviously that successful ultra-early war with America was the key but I also think I am continuing to improve my game play with everyone of these challenges I undertake.
This particular challenge was not difficult, aside from the early problems with expansion all this variant really serves to do is slow you down at the beginning.
The reason for my massive dip in the score and power charts right at the end there is I allowed Persia and Japan to recolonise all the old lands of Zululand and Rome, the dip isn't me losing power, its them gaining power.

Oh and Slaughter, I believe its Spanish translation is 'guerra del relámpago'

Will post King Tupac's assessment soon.

:rockon: Very nicely played! And always highly entertaining reads. What member of the Tupac clan will step forward next? What challenge would truly be worthy? (Perhaps Sima could suggest something? :mischief: )

Maybe play a no optional techs game? as japan?

While N.O.T. may sound easy on the surface, you cant leave despotism since all other govs require an optional tech, you cant build knights or cavalry, you also cant build libraries. and playing as japan means you cant get a GA from your UU.

Grrr! Azzaman do you have spies in my house?!
yes NOT is indeed ONE of the variants that will be included in the next game.
The next game, which won't start for a little while yet, Cody_the_Genius and Sima are both helping me to set the game up, assuming the variants gel well together its going to be an exceptionally hard game and one which will hopefully provide me with a huge challenge.

It should be good, without giving too much away lets so that a few of the legendary games are going to be revisted in one go, NOT may well be the least of my worries...

SimpleMonkey - as the next game is likely to be my last (at least for a while anyway) you may very well find that it is King Tupac himself who steps forward to take up the challenge... :king:

Gradz, your 1/4 done! Next time I'd acctualy like to see a space race.

Great Stuff! :goodjob:

Excellent story! (BTW, its scary how 2 men r kissin Montupic)

Have you got some building mod on those cities?? They all look slightly different to mine, mind you, what version are you playing there?

Have you got some building mod on those cities?? They all look slightly different to mine, mind you, what version are you playing there?

It looks like snoopys terrain and cities.

Beautiful work! I love the maps. It shows how much you care about the story, the work that you put into this. I especially love the way your navy surrounded those last few cities, like sharks closing in on prey. Excellent!!

Montupac blinked at the sudden assault of light upon his senses. Where was he?

As his eyes adjusted to the brighter surrounds than his temple-palace, he realised with glee where he was. He was back in the grand council of Tupac's! Tupacatha was the first at his side to congratulate him on his victory and Montupac lapped up the adulation of his peers and siblings. However King Tupac remained impassive. Finally Montupac had the courage to step forward and approacach King Tupac.
'Your highness, I have succesfully comleted the challenge you set for me,' said Montupac bowing low.
King Tupac eyed him with disdain.
'Yes I know Montupac. I observed you the entire time. I am not impressed,' answered King Tupac. The council was silent, no-one would speak against King Tupac.
'But.... why your highness?' pleaded Montupac. 'I did all that you asked, and still won with ease... what more can I do to impress you, your majesty?'
'Win a real challenge,' was King Tupac's only reply.
Tupacatha stood up now, he had received the same disdainful acknowledgement at the completion of his task as well.
'Your majesty it was a real challenge,' declared Tupacatha defiantly.
King Tupac looked at Tupacatha, greatly suprised one of his subjects would disagree with him.
'No Tupacatha it was not. From the off the challenge was too easy. The early war against America that saw not a single fight and merely the destruction of an American city radically changed the game. By such events was New York and Boston freely handed to Montupac thus allowing far greater early expansion than the variant, and indeed a regular game, would allow. Also by forcing to wait for proper culture growth meant that the game was merely slowed, there was no vast difference. As one of the spectators declared 'its not much of a tight squeeze'. Montupac defeated the variant with an early lucky break, just as you yourself did Tupacatha.'

There was silence. All present knew King Tupac to be correct. Finally King Tupac spoke again.
'Nonetheless Montupac, you did complete the task assigned to you, and with a degree of style as well. I will acknowledge your victory, though I will not acknowledge any great achievement in it.'
Montupac was furious.
'How can you say that your highness? Of course there was great difficulty in it! What gives you the right to talk down to us in such a manner? What is it that gives you divine providence to decide whether or not our achievements merit acknowledgment? What have you ever done?'
There was a low buzzing as the council murmured amongst itself. Could it be true? Could King Tupac not deserve his status? Was Montupac right to speak out against him. King Tupac glowed with fury.
'What gives me the right? What gives me the right, child, is that I am far greater than yourself, that gives me the right. What have I ever done? I taught all of this council all that they know, without me you would all still be struggling at chieftan!' bellowed King Tupac.
'Prove it,' answered Montupac with a steely glint in his eye.
'VERY WELL!' roared King Tupac. 'I will take part in a challenge so staggeringly difficult that it will make this council weep in fear! I will prove to you that I am the rightful head of this council!'
'And what challenge will you undertake to prove it,' said Montupac nonplussed.
'Oh ho... wait and see child... wait and see...'

http://www.daretostruggle.org/images/tupac-thuglife.jpg

He's alive!

I'm afraid and I'm not even there. :scared:

Ooh.. When is it starting? We already know from the Azzamanistani spies that one of the variants is NOT. Is another variant OCC or AW?

Just waiting on Sima to perform a little tweak for me and then I'll let you all now, I'll say this though, another game from the legendary archive will be revisited.

I easily say this or Tupacatha.

The council of Tupac's had reconvened and already the council had begun to polarise into two distinct groups, those supporting Montupac and his critiscm and defiance of King Tupac, and those who stood firmly alongside their king.
For days the council had waited and now King Tupac had summoned them all together to inform the council of the new challenge. The challenge that he himself would undertake in order to put Montupac in his place.
When King Tupac finally took his seat at the head of the council, the room was abuzz with anticipation.
'My subjects,' began King Tupac. 'Some of you amongst this council have dared to doubt my abilities, and my right to head this council. Therefore I have prepared, with the assistance of the Grand Historian Sima Qian, prepared a challenge that will leave in no doubt, who is the greatest in the council of Tupacs.'
There was a low, excitied murmur amongst the council as King Tupac was handed a scroll by a slave who had entered the room.
King Tupac spread it across the table and the council stared in disbelief.

KING TUPAC'S INSANE VARIANT
Note: This variant is not for the faint hearted. It is rated extremely difficult and it is not suggested to be attempted above Monarch level..

This variant combines three of (what are generally regarded) as some of the hardest variants in the game.

Variant 1: The Supreme Nationalists

How about a variant I've been pondering for a while: Supreme Nationalists. This is for the ultimately arrogant, dominating, aggressive civ.

Pretty similar to defiant:

1. No foreigners are tolerated within your borders. They must be told to leave as soon as they're spotted. Repeat until the offenders go or declare.

2. Peace treaties are allowed, but only if the other side is giving more than you are.

3. No giving in to extortion. Ever. All such demands must be refused.

4. All conquered cities are razed. No exceptions. They are inferior.

And here's the kicker:

5. Your civ is too proud to let its own citizens work. No workers may be built after the first foreign slave is taken. As soon as you start taking foreign slaves, you must rejoin any existing native workers back into your cities on a 2:1 basis (i.e. for every two slaves you take, you return 1 native worker to being a citizen). Soon the only labor in your empire will be slave labor.

Added to original model
In addition to alliances being forbidden, you may never sign RoP's, MPP's or Trade Embargo's with any civ.
- Foreign cities may not be demanded as peace concessions.
- In addition to one native worker being merged for every two slave workers, foreign workers may never be merged to cities for any reason. They may however be disbanded (worked the slaves to death seems to fit the nationalistic theme)
- If the AI razes one of your cities you must eliminate that city (no time frame, but if the civ is still in existence at the conclusion of the game you lose regardless of other VC's).
- If a city is captured by the AI it MUST be reclaimed (no time frame).
- If the AI razes one of your cities while in the possesion of another civ it must be eliminated.
- Abandoning cities is permitted.

This challenge has been undertaken, and succesfully completed by Tupacatha. However King Tupac does not regard his success as highly notable, therefore he shall prove that this variant is doable.

Variant 2: No-Optional Tech (NOT)

Definition: No Optional Tech (NOT) : You are not allowed to discover optional techs. Optional techs are those which are not needed to reach the next era, monarchy for example.

Well, doesn't sound like a challenge. But think over the complications. I list the most important features sorted by their importance:

a) The one and only one type of government will be despotism. With all the corruption and tile disadvantages included. Have fun.

b) You never can build a knight or cavalry. So this game is essential near an infantry game. Have fun. In other words, clean your own continent before the ai reaches military tradition, or you are possibly toasted. (Up from demi god, this can be a problem even for experienced players)

c) You can never build a library, since literature is prohibited. This means, you can never build a university, since libs are required to build them. In other words: Your own research capabilities will humble you, and still you must avoid a cultural victory of other civs.

d) You will never be able to get cities above size 12, since sanitation is an optional tech. More important, you are not able to build battlefield medicine. So have fun with it.

e) Stealing technology will be difficult, expensive and comes along with a high failure rate, because you cannot build the intelligency agency. And this means, you cannot plant spies.

f) You can never mobilize your economy, since nationalism is optional. This may really humble you up from demi-god level.

g) You can never build a marine to take out this damn last island city of your opponents. Ok, usually not that important, but it's like a course in my games. Nearly always there's one of these ugly one-tile cities, and combined with war weariness this can cause problems.

h) If you capture the great library, you must raze this city, because there's the danger that you receive optional techs from it, and your entire game is toast. So, you cannot use the GB to boost your research, which is annoying up from demi-god.

i) You have no access to some important wonders like Smith or JSB, except you capture them, of course.

Believe it or not, but all the feature together, the difficulty of a level moves up around 2, so a simple monarch game usually becomes humbling as demi-god.
Personally, i still had no success with it above emperor, and with normal settings and luck i'm meanwhile able to beat deity on huge continent maps, so i guess, i'm a experienced player.

So check it out, it's quite annoying and evil :-)

with kind regards
a fanatic

If this unplaytested variant lives up to its billing it will indeed serve to prove King Tupac's rightful position as head of the council of Tupacs.

Variant 3: Naked

(thanks to Sima Qian for agreeing to mod this particular variant)

The human civilization has no civ-specific traits (commercial, industrious, religious etc.) or Unique Units.
The human Golden Age will be triggered upon completion of their first wonder.
All AI civilizations have their regular Civ-specific traits and Unique Units.

This variant is included for a mild addition to the difficult and to demonstrate that King Tupac is not reliant on any specific trait or Unique Unit for success. Its one attempt also netted a place in the Archive of Legendary Games, confirming that this is not a variant to be considered lightly.

The combined added difficulty for these three variants amounts to 3.5 difficulty levels by Arathorn's reckoning. That would take a humble Monarch game to just shy of Sid level in Conquests, and a vanilla deity game into dangerous waters.

As such King Tupac will play this game on a Large World, against 11 opponents on Deity.

The council gradually finished reading the variant and looked up at King Tupac sitting smugly on his throne.
After a long silence it was Montupac who spoke.
'You cannot be serious,' he said.
'Why not Montupac?' demanded King Tupac. 'You're the one who challenged me to prove my position is warranted.'
'Its not doable,' answered Montupac bluntly. 'On Monarch maybe, even then... I wouldn't like your chances. You want to do it on deity? You're out of your mind. Its just plain and simple not doable.'
King Tupac stared at Montupac for a few seconds, then shrugged. 'If I say its doable then its doable,' declared King Tupac. 'If it proves too much then it proves too much but I believe I can do it.'
Was that a hint of hesitation in King Tupac's voice? Was he having second thoughts? His face wasn't giving anything away.
'You don't have a tribe,' said Montupac. 'Without a tribe its not doable.'
'Well then I will commandeer one,' responded King Tupac. 'Who will hand me control of their tribe?'
No one answered.
'Will no one give me control of their tribe?' asked King Tupac.
'I will' answered Shaktupac stepping forward.
'Excellent,' declared King Tupac.
'But know that the warriors you have will not be my finest, they will lack the strength of my most militarily powerful soldiers and the skills of my scouts.'
'That is fine, it is in the variant anyway. No traits and no Unique Units, I suppose without the expansionist trait I will have no scouts either. Ah well!'

Tupacatha spoke up. 'Your highness,' he began, the old respect returning to his tone. 'What will be the world conditions?'
'We will wait and see. I am still awaiting the final word from the Grand Historian that the modifications for naked battle are complete. Then I will select a starting location to undertake this challenge from.'

Tupacius stepped forward, Joan d'Tupace at his side.
'Good luck your majesty. Good luck...'

:eek: Let me be the first to say it: this is perhaps the most insane variant I've ever seen. Good luck, King Tupac! :salute:

Senile. Hurr hurr hurr, se-NILE!

So, uh, good luck.