fcNES: Gods and Despots

Why? My ignore until edited post was mean for that post, just in case you misunderstood.

Oops, sorry. Oh well, the edit is more like a historical document, and I still have original saved.

I think this is supposed to be an unspoken rule, but here is my official statement as mod anyway:


Thinking outside the box in a logical and reasonable manner will be appreciated and lauded.

To: The Picts
From: The Celts

Would you be intrested in a form of communication by way of unarmed, untrained-for-war horses carrying messages in some form?

Important announcement for anyone dealing with the Heavenly Empire!
After discussing it with the Moderator i've decided to chicken out leave the H.E. and play something else

Spam Story!

As usual it was a nice day in Mawarra, the trade winds helped maintain a pretty stable temperature throughout the year, only from time to time a tropical cyclone would disturb life in this little paradise.

Well, paradise is probably highly exaggerated, life in Mawarra was still pretty hard. The tribe was overwhelmingly dependent of fishing for its survival, this was at times supplemented with hunting inlands and trade.

Trade was slowly growing into a significant source of income for the people of Mawarra. Only a few generations ago a barge would come one, maybe two times in a person’s lifetime, but now a barge came almost once every new moon, one time there where even two barges!

The traders usually brought many exotic foods and items that were traded for to them equally exotic foods and items including some, to to the tribe worthless, stones the tribe possesed. The tribe would then trade some of these foods but mostly the items with the people living inland in exchange for mostly those strange "precious" stones that the people from the barges valued so much.

Mawarra’s growing role as a trade hum brought other benefits to its inhabitants, for example the voice of its ruler, Elder Benaroon, now carried much weight in the Elders Council and his position would now often determine the outcome of votes in the council. The people of Mawarra also found it much easier to find brides from other villages as the fathers of these brides were usually pleased with the prospect of having grandchildren growing up in this important and prosperous place.

Mawarra = Pleasant Place
Benaroon = Black Butt

To: Aragon, Liguria, Rome
From: Zaratia

Our great nation proposes a trading agreement. Will you accept the deal?

From: Genu XIV of Liguria
To: Zaratia

Yes, we accept

From: King John II of Aragon, (by will of the senate)
To: Zaratia

We will accept a trade agreement.

--------------------------------------------------------
Last entry of King John I's diary.
Sixth day of the Third month 1972.

From this day forth, Aragon will see great change. This land has always been ruled by a King, since time imemorial, or so they say, yet as I lie here on my deathbed and reflect upon my reign, I think, perhaps it should not be so. I have always tried to be just and fair, and hopefully, that is what the people shall remember me for but absolute monarchy simply doesn't work. My son, he's an ambitious lad and I have often had my concerns about passing the reigns of the Kingdom to him. Diego, would have been a better choice or Isabella even, but there are laws, even for Kings. The Crown of Aragon must be passed to the first son, and so it shall be.

However, from now on, there shall be a senate. Now of course it will consist of just the King's royal siblings, Diego and Isabella, yet one day, their decendents will fill the senate, each belonging to one of three noble houses, and thus, tyranny shall never reach Aragon.

From Kingdom of Rome
To Zaratia

We will see your merchants in Rome. We accept.

It was a beautiful morning in the village Alzmar. The fishermen were laying out their fish to dry. Like many children, Dzar was responsible for collecting the water for cooking his family’s breakfast. When he reached the stream, he noticed Arisa was already there filling her water jugs. “Hello Arisa” Dzar said as he approached the stream. Arisa turned to him and smiled to him. Arisa said “Hello Dzar how did you hunt with uncle go yesterday?” Dzar was about to reply when suddenly they heard many screams and much shouting from the village. Just as quickly, a strange man jumped from the bushes, and with one motion grabbed Arisa and threw her over his shoulder. The man was a fearsome sight. Half-clothed in leather and furs and half-naked. He literally appeared to be half-human and half-animal. Dzar was only eleven years on this earth. Just shy of becoming a man. He knew that he had to rescue from Arisa from this creature. He grabbed a branch that was lying on the ground and smacked it into the Scythian warrior’s mid-section. The warrior let out a big grunt of pain. The other warriors standing nearby began to laugh and point. A little boy had just injured a might Scythian warrior. The injured warrior’s face turned bright red and still holding Arisa; he closed his free hand into a fist and hit Dzar on the side of the head.

When Dzar awoke, he was lying on the ground tied to a stake. It was pitch black so he could not see anything outside the glow of the fire. It was obvious that he was somewhere in the Scythian encampment. He sat up and looked around. That is when he noticed the Scythian warrior he had attacked staring at him. The warrior roughly grabbed another young boy and pointed to a steaming pot over the fire and then to Dzar. They boy nodded and quickly dished up a bowl of stew and handed it to Dzar. Dzar was starving and greedily ate the stew.

The rest of the night Dzar tried to get sleep. However, he could not cover up the sound screaming women and the laughing Scythian warriors. He was especially bothered by the screams of a woman sounding like Arisa. That night Dzar made a vow to himself. He would live. He would live to avenge his village and especially Arisa. He would have his revenge against these Scythians. But first, he needed only to LIVE!

Dzar was awoken the next the day by a kick to the stomach. Breenan, his new owner told him that unless he wanted to die, Dzar better get a fire going and breakfast cooking. Brennan bought Dzar to replace the last slave who had taken too long fetching water for Brennan. As Dzar got the fire going, he noticed the few remaining villagers being rounded up and tied together. They had been sold to one of the many slave traders who follow the Scythian war parties. At the very end of the line was Arisa. She stumbled along looking battered, bruised and of broken spirit. With out thinking Dzar ran to her and called out her name her name. Suddenly a warrior stepped in front of Dzar and punched him in the stomach. Dzar was dragged back to Breenan. “I caught your slave trying to run away,” said the warrior. Breenan glared and Dzar and ordered him whipped fifty times across the back.

Thus, Dzar learned his place as a Scythian slave. Beaten if he got his master’s water too slow. Beaten if a meal was too hot or too cold. However, Dzar lived and this seemed to impress Breenan. Most Scythian boy slaves lasted less then a year before they wore out or were accidentally killed. However, over the years Dzar had lived and even grown stronger. Breenan began to treat Dzar more as a son and less like a slave. At age 16 Breenan gave Dzar his freedom and allowed him to leave. Dzar remained loyal to Breenan and became one of his most trusted warriors.

In his 18th year, Dzar ran across the warrior who had captured him and destroyed his village. He was now a powerful warlord, named Ruzar, who had gained much fame in his ruthless march through the central Crimea. Dzar became angry at the site of him. However, he knew he could not directly attack the warlord. He needed an opportunity. At that time Breenan’s warlord and Ruzar decided to ban together to attack a small town on the south coast of the Crimea. The battle was tough one. The townsfolk new the fate of people subjugated by the Scythians and they fought with every once of courage and strength they could muster. Dzar fought bravely and began to work his way towards Ruzar who was having a rough go it. Ruzar and four of his men were surrounded by twenty of the enemy bearing clubs. Although Ruzar and his men were giving more punishment then they received, they were being overwhelmed by superior numbers of the enemy. Dzar and he fellow warriors charged the enemy and forced them to retreat back towards the town. Ruzar was visible relieved as Dzar approached him. Suddenly Dzar raised his sword and with one swing removed Ruzar’s head from his neck. All of the Scythians stood around in shock. Before they could react, Dzar took off into the woods and was never seen again. Latter several slave traders stated a person matching Dzar’s description had asked them about a woman named Arisa.

Narrator:

The Scythians’ eventually conquered the Crimea. The area was completely devastated by the invasion. Villages that appeared to have no value were completely destroyed and the survivors sold into slavery. The remaining towns and villages and plundered and then forced to pay an annual tribute. Many villages paid a ransom to one war party to not destroy them, only to be sacked by another war party. The flickering light of these early civilizations was extinguished by darkness of Scythian oppression.

Breenan never forgave what he saw as Dzar’s treachery. It turned him into a cold and bitter man. Eventually he became a warlord and controlled the southern third of the Crimea. He treated the natives as animals. He cruelly forced them to pay tributes they could not afford. When they starved because they gave away all their food in tribute, he told them to work harder. He said they were only starving because they were lazy. Needless to say, there was much secret rejoicing when Breenan finally passed away.

Talking about barbarism...

To: Urartu, Abalonia, and the Egyptian Empire

I propose a trade agreement with each of you, and, as a separate agreement, a legal allowance of missionaries of the Jewish faith to enter your nations. Agree to none, one, or both as you see fit.

Remember folks, you have the option of changing costs. For example, simple societies can opt to have no wealth in their unit costs, as long as you give a reason (honor-bound warriors ala primitive Germanic societies, labor-tax ala some time in Egypt, etc etc). Higher quality troops tend to be more expensive (less for the same price), etc etc. Societies untainted by commerce can have wealth-less troop as well.

Of course, as players, you can choose to make this game as interesting (or otherwise) as possible.

In other news, I've added the stories to the front page. Keep it up guys -- order deadlines on Wednesday afternoon to Thursday night (depending on timezone).

Okay, I was a tad confused with my correspondence with some people. If I blathered on about the cost of increasing industry to cost 3 wealth, I was wrong. It's really 5.

Anyway, in other, more important news, I've updated the stats and they are now complete (also moved The Heavenly Empire to the NPC list). Go look for your nation, ask me to add/change anything to the notes if you find it not according to your plans and I'll go see if it will be possible to change, and send your orders before the end of Thursday 10:00 pm (GMT+8).

If you have any problems with the rules, or anything else regarding the NES for that matter, don't hesitate to ask. And, before I forget, add diplo in your orders. Your trade pacts may be beneficial, and I might miss the important ones.

Ok Fc that is fine except its not generally that corrupt, but their is the potential for corruption. The nobles tax the people and the senate taxes the nobles, their can be corruption within the senate though. Also, people don't really resent the King. The previous King was generally well respected in most of the kingdom and was the one who really united the area, before then there were smaller, less stable Kingdoms. The only one who really dislikes the government(senate) right now is the King.

Are our leaders immortal like in civ 4 or do they die and get replaced?

The Corronation of King John II.

John, the Crown Prince, sat at his desk in his room in the Royal Palace whilst his barber fussed over the last touches of his hair. He was turning the crown round and around in his hands, deep in thought. Suddenly there came a knock at the door, the Prince span around, shoving the barber out of his way.
'Enter!' he called. The captain of the guard sidled into his room, looking at the floor. John II looked at him coldly, 'Well! Speak man! Is she dead?'
'N-n-no n-n-not exactly your majesty.' He replied.
John sighed theatrically, 'Tell me what happened, Fermin.'
Gaining confidence,'Well, sir she must have been expecting it sir. She was hiding in her room and jumped out on him. With a knife, sir'
'So, the assassin is dead? And my sister lives?' Rage bubbling away inside him.
'Yes sir, and sir, they say she is on her way now, she has called an emergency senate meeting.'
'Really..' He took a long-bladed pair of copper scissors from his desk, and began to play with them in his hands. Staring at the captain icily.
'Errr, y-ye-yes sir, and Lord Diego is coming too sir'
The prince let out a scream of rage, leaping of his chair. He threw the scissors at the guard, which hit him blade first. He fell, bleeding,to the ground. 'Enrique,' said John, to the barber, 'Go and get someone to round up some more peasants and train them up. 'I will not have Isabella interfering with my Corronation!'

Kol.7, on corruption, I'll "clean" your system for this turn. However, any feudal and favor-based system is bound to be corrupt at some point.

On leaders: No immortals. You can opt not to change every turn (of course, if he/she's a central character to whatever plot you're weaving, then do so). I'll just throw in a random name or add a Roman numeral after the name. Or not change the name and pretend it's a different person.

Remus was pretty old now... almost 126 years old. He thought of his brother in the south, who had sworn for a slow death for his state.

But he is still limber, and with his expariance, he can defeat any contender to the throne.

His wife, Jasavan, was in labor, soon, he will have a son. A son to continue their legacy and to keep the union of the diverse people of the Po River Valley United.

Jasavan Cried, a midwife quicky swept over. The Flagstone cover of the medical room is barely sufficiant enough to keep this place sanitary.

Jasavan gasped, and then lay on the feather bed.

"It's a boy!" Cried the Midwife.

Suddenly, a cry rent the room... the baby boy was holding the hair of another one, and the 2nd baby, a twin, was holloring...

But then the 2nd one smashed the first's skin, a shower of droplets fell.

The King set them, excited but not surprized, into the two cradles ready made.

And so, he named the First ;Johnathan Remus II the Elder and the Second.... Calvin Rones the Fighter...

One shall be the King, and the other, the head of the Concil...

Can you have a dynasty of symalar Kings?

EDIT: Changed Johnathan to Johnathan Remus II

126?!! Back then nobody even lived past 80. The healthcare sucked and there were no machines to help them.

But ok, makes it easier for another nation to conquer an old man and his army of old men.


Romulus walked outside, he breathed in the air, "Ahh... smell that air, Marcus. It is the smell of money." Romulus has just signed two lucrative trading contracts that promises to bring extra money and people to Rome. He walked over to the barracks to look over his soldiers.

An officer stood up and saluted, Romulus saluted and headed inside where he saw the soldiers laying down and watching a comic do his stuff. Every one of them stood and saluted when the officer bellowed, "Attention!" Romulus looked at the soldiers and muttered to himself, "This army is in dire need of new weapons and armor." He turned and left the building.

Once at the palace he sat down and grabbed a scroll, and a pen with ink, after several attempt he issued his final draft,
"Roman Legion command structure:
Legate
Commander of Legion.
Tribune: 6 per legion
Commands each maniple, rich aristrocats hold this position.
Primary responsbilities; organize legion camp, give orders during battle, organize for march.
Pilitus Centurion
Senior officer in command, second in command of Legion. Takes orders directly from Legate Commander.
Primary responsibilities; oversees legion camp, leads Legion on march, runs the day to day operations of the Legions including battles, in charge of centurions.
Centurions: 60 per legion
Commands Cohorts, takes orders from Maniple Tribune.
Primary responsibilities; issues commands to cohorts during battles, takes care of cohort in camp and on march, reponsible for maintaining a top notch cohort including taking care of standard, men, weapons, armor and morale.
Optio: 60 per legion
Second in command of cohort, takes orders from centurions or if cohort centurion is dead, the Maniple Tribune.
Primary responsibilities; oversees the mens morale and training, chooses who carries the cohort standard into battle.


Legion layout:
1 Legion constists of the following; Legate Commander, Pilitus Centurion
6 Maniples of 1,000 men each. Headed by Tribunes.
60 cohorts of 100 men each. Headed by Centurions.

When on march:
Lead cohort to be chosen by Legate Commander will lead the column, followed by the rest of the Maniple. The other maniples will follow suit as Legate Commander sees fit. Pilitus Centurion makes sure Legion is following protocal.

When in camp:
Legate Commander HQ and tent is in center of camp.
Pilitus Centurion is on his right, with the Tribunes tents on the left.
Blacksmith across the street, flanked by the stables (takes care of horses and cattle)
Barracks line the fort in straight rows east-west, for easy mustering and departure of fort in times of peril.
Doctor's tent lies next to the Pilitus Centurion.
2 cohorts from 2 maniples man the defences for 2 hours before being relieved by 2 new cohorts from other maniples.

When in battle:
Each maniple is arranged side by side, facing the enemy. Each maniple may choose which cohort will take the place of honor on the frontlines. The Legate commander will choose which maniple takes the right flank, the place of honor.
Once battle has been initiated each cohort will fight for 30 minutes before retreating to the end of the maniple and the next in line steps foward and keeps the fight going, this is continous until battle ends.
Once battle ends, each cohort must reform at their standard and be counted, each centurion then takes his count to the Tribunes who in turn takes it to the Pilitus Centurion who will tell the Legate Commander.


The fearsome Roman Legion ready for action.

EDITED: Forgot to add, the legions will be armed and protected by the best armor and weapons at the time. When new weapons are found the Legions will be armed with it.