INES I: Anno Domini
- Thread starter Imago
- Start date
das
Regeneration In Process
Tremble, for my orders have been sent. 
I wonder if anyone sent longer ones yet...
I wonder if anyone sent longer ones yet...100% of players orders recieved, deadline past, update to be started shortly. For the player who asked, no clarification is needed. And, for the information of all, das' orders were not the longest, though they take second place.
Expect the update in two to three days, but, that said, it will probably be here before the day is out. (No promises, though)
Expect the update in two to three days, but, that said, it will probably be here before the day is out. (No promises, though)
LittleBoots
The Bloody Banner
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2006
- Messages
- 1,979
Who had the longest then?
OOC: Yes assume Isreal invaded me...hope I'm right or these stories are "slightly" out of place.
Tantamani, King of Cush; A straight Forward man. Had a goal, a Vision.
He was an ardent follower of the Gods, The Egyption Gods. Of all the Gods, the Kushites followed Amun and Ra the closest. Being patronised by the Great Cushite Kings in days of old.
Amun; God of the Wind, a Nebulous Deity. Also Known as the "Hidden One", Invisable until the last moment, when you realise that you've been pushed, pulled and battered by this force. Further conotations of the breath of life, from which all life sprung from, had catapulted Amun up as the creator God, and from here his origins as the God of the Wind fell away, to be replaced by legends and myths based upon his new title; Father of the Gods.
Ra was worshipped or began to be worshipped as a subset of Amun, The Sun God Always held an important place in the Hearts of Egyptions and the Cushites. With Amuns rise to dominance, the Harsh Unforgiving Sun God, was incorperated into Amun; Resulting in the Father of the Gods new name; Amun-Ra.
However Tantamani; knew of the origins of these gods, knew what they represented in their purest forms. Swiftness, Invisible power, Harsh, Strong, Relentless. These powers combined made for a powerfull combinations, and indeed, the evolution of the Gods had shown this. And Tantamani had a Vision. He had seen that the Pharaohs of the Egypts grow weak, decadent. Complacent and content. Puppets to the Kings of Isreal, or recently, the power of the Temples, the King of Isreal had become decadent. Thus in recent years, the Isrealis faith had begun to infringe upon the Egyptions. Tantamani Knew that the people of Egypt were Strong, they beleived in strong Gods, but their Pharaohs had betrayed them. Rather than a revival of Egyption Glory, they were content with their courts full of young women, their riches squandered on frivolities.
Tantamani knew that the old Order, corrupt and weak WOULD fall. The Strength of the Egyption Gods would prevail, and the Peoples of Egypt would follow him, because he would lead them to glory, and none other would dare.
Tantamani, King of Cush; A straight Forward man. Had a goal, a Vision.
He was an ardent follower of the Gods, The Egyption Gods. Of all the Gods, the Kushites followed Amun and Ra the closest. Being patronised by the Great Cushite Kings in days of old.
Amun; God of the Wind, a Nebulous Deity. Also Known as the "Hidden One", Invisable until the last moment, when you realise that you've been pushed, pulled and battered by this force. Further conotations of the breath of life, from which all life sprung from, had catapulted Amun up as the creator God, and from here his origins as the God of the Wind fell away, to be replaced by legends and myths based upon his new title; Father of the Gods.
Ra was worshipped or began to be worshipped as a subset of Amun, The Sun God Always held an important place in the Hearts of Egyptions and the Cushites. With Amuns rise to dominance, the Harsh Unforgiving Sun God, was incorperated into Amun; Resulting in the Father of the Gods new name; Amun-Ra.
However Tantamani; knew of the origins of these gods, knew what they represented in their purest forms. Swiftness, Invisible power, Harsh, Strong, Relentless. These powers combined made for a powerfull combinations, and indeed, the evolution of the Gods had shown this. And Tantamani had a Vision. He had seen that the Pharaohs of the Egypts grow weak, decadent. Complacent and content. Puppets to the Kings of Isreal, or recently, the power of the Temples, the King of Isreal had become decadent. Thus in recent years, the Isrealis faith had begun to infringe upon the Egyptions. Tantamani Knew that the people of Egypt were Strong, they beleived in strong Gods, but their Pharaohs had betrayed them. Rather than a revival of Egyption Glory, they were content with their courts full of young women, their riches squandered on frivolities.
Tantamani knew that the old Order, corrupt and weak WOULD fall. The Strength of the Egyption Gods would prevail, and the Peoples of Egypt would follow him, because he would lead them to glory, and none other would dare.
Meroe; the First True City taken by King Tantamani. His forces had shown the way, the City had fallen, Upper Egypts armies were shown to be the weak forces that they were. The Pharaoes power only rested upon his small fleet, which held the river between the first and second cataracts.
Here in Meroe it would begin, Tantamani Approached the Temple of Amun-Ra, wishing to pay his respects to the God who had honoured him with Victory.
The Temple here was smaller than that in his Capital; Napata. But it was large enough for his needs. He entered, payed his respects, uttering a small blessing under his breath at the end:
"I shall be Formless, for mine enemies cannot fight what they cannot comprehend,
I shall be Swift, for mine enemies cannot fight what they cannot strike,
I shall be Harsh and Unforgiving, for mine enemies cannot fight back when they cannot survive me,
I shall be as Amun-Ra, perfect in form, perfect in execution, May his light ever guide me,"
******
Later he joined the soldiers, providing them with entertainment. But also, a message. A message not borne with words but through actions.
Entertainment consisted of two groups of prisoners, a portion of the Jews living in Maroe, and the others defeated Soldiers loyal to the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt. A makeshift arena was constructed. To The Defeated Soldiers, he offered freedom, and a place in his army if they defeated the Jews. To the Jews he promised death, even if they managed to kill their opponants.
The fight was bloody, and long. However, the difference in both sides was quickly apparant. The Soldiers of the Pharaoh fought like enraged lions, whilst the Jews were more despondant, lacking motivation to fight, for they would not survive.
The Soldiers eventually came out on top. Killing the Jews. Tantamani's own soldiers were enthused, morale was lifted, and a message was given. The soldiers realised that they must fight with every fibre of their being. For in the coming days, at war with both the Decadent corrupt Egyption Kings, and the Great power of Isreal, they had everything to lose, and everything to gain. The isrealis on the other hand, had little to gain, they were not faced with certain destruction.
Tantamani watched over his soldiers with some measure of pride, as understanding illuminated his soldiers faces.
Here in Meroe it would begin, Tantamani Approached the Temple of Amun-Ra, wishing to pay his respects to the God who had honoured him with Victory.
The Temple here was smaller than that in his Capital; Napata. But it was large enough for his needs. He entered, payed his respects, uttering a small blessing under his breath at the end:
"I shall be Formless, for mine enemies cannot fight what they cannot comprehend,
I shall be Swift, for mine enemies cannot fight what they cannot strike,
I shall be Harsh and Unforgiving, for mine enemies cannot fight back when they cannot survive me,
I shall be as Amun-Ra, perfect in form, perfect in execution, May his light ever guide me,"
******
Later he joined the soldiers, providing them with entertainment. But also, a message. A message not borne with words but through actions.
Entertainment consisted of two groups of prisoners, a portion of the Jews living in Maroe, and the others defeated Soldiers loyal to the Pharaoh of Upper Egypt. A makeshift arena was constructed. To The Defeated Soldiers, he offered freedom, and a place in his army if they defeated the Jews. To the Jews he promised death, even if they managed to kill their opponants.
The fight was bloody, and long. However, the difference in both sides was quickly apparant. The Soldiers of the Pharaoh fought like enraged lions, whilst the Jews were more despondant, lacking motivation to fight, for they would not survive.
The Soldiers eventually came out on top. Killing the Jews. Tantamani's own soldiers were enthused, morale was lifted, and a message was given. The soldiers realised that they must fight with every fibre of their being. For in the coming days, at war with both the Decadent corrupt Egyption Kings, and the Great power of Isreal, they had everything to lose, and everything to gain. The isrealis on the other hand, had little to gain, they were not faced with certain destruction.
Tantamani watched over his soldiers with some measure of pride, as understanding illuminated his soldiers faces.
Tantamanis last actions, were to be seen with the peoples of Maroe, helping them. Making them understand that a new Age of Egypt was upon them. He Struck Connotations with Amun, proclaiming himself to be the leader from an unseen place; Cush.
He walked amoung the market places, organising supplies for his Army. Honoured local customs. Replaced the old decadent tax collecters, who took money for a Pharaohs decandent wants, and turned it instead to helping fund a campaign against the Israelies, reclaiming power.
When news arrived in the market places that the Pharaohs of Egypt had appealed to the Isrealis for help, Tantamani was vindicated in the eyes of the people, these Pharaohs were not leader of men, they were weak fools, not listening to their peoples. In Darker places, it was whispered that the Pharaohs no longer worshipped the Egyption Gods, having turned to the Hebrew God long ago, to appease their masters.
Likewise, rumours, whispers and truth fled north, to Egypt, of Tantamani, of his goals and ideas, of his vision. Of his promise; of his words; "Make no mistake, I came to Egypt, not to Fight Egyptions, But Israelies," A sad reflection on the puppet like status of these Pharaohs, and the all pervading Hebrew Power.
He walked amoung the market places, organising supplies for his Army. Honoured local customs. Replaced the old decadent tax collecters, who took money for a Pharaohs decandent wants, and turned it instead to helping fund a campaign against the Israelies, reclaiming power.
When news arrived in the market places that the Pharaohs of Egypt had appealed to the Isrealis for help, Tantamani was vindicated in the eyes of the people, these Pharaohs were not leader of men, they were weak fools, not listening to their peoples. In Darker places, it was whispered that the Pharaohs no longer worshipped the Egyption Gods, having turned to the Hebrew God long ago, to appease their masters.
Likewise, rumours, whispers and truth fled north, to Egypt, of Tantamani, of his goals and ideas, of his vision. Of his promise; of his words; "Make no mistake, I came to Egypt, not to Fight Egyptions, But Israelies," A sad reflection on the puppet like status of these Pharaohs, and the all pervading Hebrew Power.
I'm willing to bet that I had the shortest orders. I usually do.
Imago, was all my paranoid preparation pointless? (Woo, alliteration) Was I being stupid and wasting my troops doing what I did? Tell me afore the updatttttttte.
Imago, was all my paranoid preparation pointless? (Woo, alliteration) Was I being stupid and wasting my troops doing what I did? Tell me afore the updatttttttte.
@Kal'thzar- It be only luck that I came back here again, to see your stories before I finished the update. But yes, you get bonuses, now.
@fantasmo- You did not have the shortest orders, not by far. Third shortest. But as for the update, wait and find out.
I'm done with all the domestic and random events; now I just have to do the military and spotlight. It will be bloody, I can assure you of that.
@fantasmo- You did not have the shortest orders, not by far. Third shortest. But as for the update, wait and find out.
I'm done with all the domestic and random events; now I just have to do the military and spotlight. It will be bloody, I can assure you of that.
jeps
Arcadefire
@fantasmo- You did not have the shortest orders, not by far. Third shortest. But as for the update, wait and find out.
Probably me. The picture took up a third of the orders. The rest was on how to spend my ONE eco point, and founding ONE new city.
Probably me. The picture took up a third of the orders. The rest was on how to spend my ONE eco point, and founding ONE new city.
21 AD – 40 AD: Turn 2
Domestic Events
Last time, we began in the far west of the civilized world; this time, we shall begin in the far east. The Middle Kingdom, largely thinking itself first in the world, deserves that honor, this time around.
Emperor Xiao continues to play center stage, in this ongoing drama. Appalled by Wu Taiwan’s refusal to participate in the Council of China, he declares an embargo on that nation, and the nation of Nan follows his lead. To begin this embargo, Xiao orders the assets of all Wu Taiwan merchants currently in the nation seized.
(+1 Chu Treasury)
Simultaneously, his advisors send forth a great flood of propaganda, that convinces many of the nations of Chu and Nan that the Wu merchants are spies. Chu rallies around its leader.
(+1 Chu Confidence)
As the rather angry Wu Taiwan merchants are herded back to their island, rumor comes that the Wu Emperor will not respond pleasantly to this. And he does not. Wu warships begin raiding Chu coasts, and the Chu navy responds. However, no real battles have yet taken place. But, as Chu and Wu Taiwan exist in an undeclared state of war, it seems only a matter of time…
(-6 Chu Ships, -4 Wu Taiwan Ships)
To the west, Chu expansion continues, and a land border with Liang is formed, but angry barbarians are beginning to take their toll.
(-2 000 Chu Soldiers)
To the north, the Zhou, somewhat amused by Chu antics, continue to trade with Wu Taiwan, and begin educational improvement of their nation.
In Wu Taiwan itself, the Emperor, suddenly having a surplus of merchants, begins focusing his efforts southward. Colonization of the island of Luzon begins, and the natives, at least for the time being, are indifferent to the foreigners.
South, in Cambodia, that nation ambles on, even as prayers are offered up to the gods for greater guidance.
And now, to India. The Three Princes’ War, it seems, is finally over, well and completely. Harappa has sued for a peace with Mohenjo-Daro, and it has received one, though it now must pay a hobbling amount from its coffers each year, for the next hundred. In Bengal, Prince Ashoka orders Mohenjo-Daro’s only retreat, as Bengal pays him a sizable sum to allow most of the rebelling areas to rejoin with their nation. However, due to the nature of the rebellion, there were a few bubbles that Ashoka would not let go of, as they were surrounded on all sides by territory his forces still held. In those regions, he allowed the Bengalis to flee for what remained of their nation, before reannexing the land, and flee they did, in large numbers, causing unrest among the other portions of the Mohenjo-Daro owned formerly Bengali land, where many of the inhabitants would have liked to do their same, and do not see why they are being punished for their peaceful behavior.
(-1 Mohenjo-Daro Confidence)
But besides this, the peace of the Three Princes’ War is a good peace, good for the nations that Mohenjo-Daro spared, and good for the behemoth itself, for it now can concentrate on more enlightened pursuits. The last shards of the central Indian rebellion are swept away.
(-1 000 Mohenjo-Daro Soldiers)
Even as his nation prospers, Ashoka decides that too long has his nation been ignorant of peoples outside Mohenjo-Daro’s general region. He sends out well-equipped exploration parties in all directions, in hopes of discovering, mapping, and perhaps forging trade links with other lands.
Those Mohenjo-Daro that head south discover the awakening nations of Satavahana, and Pandya. The latter, centered around the Palk Straight, is small, and weak, but the former is larger, and moderately strong.
Those explorers that head northwest, however, discover an entirely different sort of rising nation, one that seems to have a much brighter future, than the hemmed in south Indian nations. The nation to the northwest’s name is Sogdiana, and it is centered around the powerful trade city of Samarkand.
(+Samarkand as Sogdianan Economic Center)
Sogdiana is a nation of mixed Persian and central Asian culture. Brought together only years before the Mohenjo-Daro explorers arrived, by a man named Timur, who now rules as despot, Sogdiana had centralized quickly, and seems to have a bright future ahead of it. Quite unlike Persia…
Sargon the Mad is not done with his little war, even though he became faced with less than the quick victory his advisors promised him. He grows the army even more, and sends it into battle.
(-1 Assyrian Army Training)
Meanwhile, the Persians, fearing for the end of their nation, do the same, with similar training results.
(-1 Persian Army Training)
And so, Sargon’s War continues.
(See Military Events)
In the eastern Mediterranean, and along the Nile, very little is of a peaceful nature. Very little, except for Axum. In the southernmost of the civilized lands, a nation is stirring. King Yehoshua ben Avimelech takes the throne, and immediately impresses upon his subjects that he is a very capable man. Comparisons are inevitably made between him and the aging Israeli King David II, and most consider him, much to Israel’s chagrin, to be the greater of the two.
Yehoshua ben Avimelech, in one of his first acts in power, declares the Law of Return, which states that any Jew, from any nation, may come to Axum, and be accepted with the full rights of any Axumite citizen. Jewish refuges from Cush flood his land. In another religious move, King Yehoshua ben Avimelech begins the construction of the Beit Axum, a massive temple dedicated to the Jewish faith.
More secularly, King Yehoshua ben Avimelech also orders moderately successful expansion, and founds Axum’s first real port, the city of Adulis. As trade in the city booms, some belive that, with the right economic policies, Yehoshua ben Avimelech might be able to turn Adulis into a major economic center.
To the north, however, there is chaos, not order. Rumors fly that King Tantamani intends to rid the Nile of Israeli influence, once and for all, and establish a Greater Egypt.
Looking down upon the Nile, however, is the mighty Israel. Even as David II becomes senile, rumors spread that the Great Kohen Jehoiada, highest of the priests of Israel, is the man who directs all. Dark and mysterious in a way that Constantine I could only dream about, Jehoiada slowly guides Israel away from sinful mercantilism, and propagates a culture of the Chosen People. (And if you don’t know who the Chosen People are, well, the Kohens pray for you.)
(+1 Israeli Confidence)
Under Jehoiada’s rule, heresies are purged with surprising ease, and it has not become an unsurprising sight to see Hebrews in the hundreds outside the Temple of Solomon, screaming that they repent their sins. For those heretics who do not repent are executed. Among those is one known as Jesus of Nazareth, crucified upon a cross…
Even those of the nobility are proven not be above divine law. Those who are heretical are found, again, with surprising ease, and their assets are liquidated, which provides a substantial sum for the Israeli treasury.
(+1 Israeli Treasury)
Rumors begin to spread of secretive angels, come down from heaven, to deliver God’s justice among the heretics…
Prominent in Jehoiada’s foreign policy is a hash doctrine regarding the Nile states. Upper and Lower Egypt will receive aid against Cush, it is declared, if, and only if they abandon their sinful worship of the Egyptian gods, and embrace Judaism.
As harsh as this is, the rulers of Upper Egypt look south, to the barbarians that have almost overrun them, and choose the lesser of two evils. The Pharaoh of Upper Egypt decries that he, while still having divine right, is not the son of a god, and embraces Judaism, at least externally. His nobles and ministers largely convert, as well.
At this, Lower Egypt looks at its brother, and declares that the conversion of a sun god is its own form of blasphemy. Violent declarations are made against Israel, and the rulers of Upper Egypt. All Lower Egyptian forces in Upper Egypt withdraw, to defend the homeland against a possible Israeli invasion.
And to the north of the gigantic quagmire that the Nile has become, Byzantium pursues its own policies. Though on paper, Byzantium signs an alliance with Israel, in truth, it sticks to its own sphere of influence, to the north. Though the Israelis expected Byzantine naval help in the south, the ships never materialize. Not that their captains are taking the day off, of course. But an explanation of that is to come later.
For now, we shall devote our time to the Grecian diplomatic situation. For it is every bit as troubled, as the situation of the Nile.
Constantine I declares Byzantium to be renamed Constantinopolis, to a lukewarm reception, and then turns his attention westward, to Greece. Macedon is further assimilated, even as those who were once its nobles disappear, and Byzantine immigration is encouraged. As even the ethnic Macedonians begin to accept, and even appreciate Byzantine rule, a movement begins to grow, that wishes for the region to be at long last annexed into Byzantium proper, rather than just occupied.
However, it soon becomes clear that Constantine I is not satisfied with merely Macedon. The rumors were true. He was after Epirus, as well. And, given the defensive alliance between Epirus and Greece, Constantine decides that he must take both lands. And so the insanity begins. For there are more complications, indeed.
(See Spotlight)
As a side note, there is growing unrest in the Hatti land. The people are beginning to dislike the way their culture is disappearing.
It seems no region can remain peaceful, but at least our next region has a peaceful prelude. The Roman Republic refines its class system.
(+1 Culture)
But then, however, the Roman Republic grows a massive navy, and decides that Icosium must be vanquished, once and for all.
(-1 Roman Navy Training)
(See Military Events)
Even further west, Lustitania and Barcelona watch the war with horror. Gaul, to the north, falls into civil war, and begins to disintegrate.
(-5 000 Gaulish Soldiers)
Military Events
We begin here with the continuation of Sargon’s War. And it is a bloody continuation, indeed. Years ago, when this war started, the Persians accused the Assyrians of using hordes, mass numbers of poorly trained soldiers. But now, their own army is much the same.
In the Arabian colonies, now flushed from any sort of Persian presence, the chaos continues. Sargon orders his generals to abandon the city of Hufuf, and leave the land to its own devices. Free of foreign armies in their lands, the Dilmun rebels under Abdallah consolidate their position, and now, their nation can be called as such. Counter-rebellions of Persian settlers are crushed, and free Dilmun is born. However, it remains to be seen what direction Abdallah will take his nation, with regards to foreign policy.
As the Assyrians leave, the Urrians also occupy a small piece of the Persian colony, a piece that was historically their own, long ago.
(+Dilmun as an independent nation)
The Persian Gulf remains firmly in Persian hands, as Assyrian generals do not even attempt another incursion.
Again, the Assyrian generals, spurred on by Sargon’s frantic urging, conclude that taking Persepolis is the only way to decisively end the war. And so, years of bloodshed later, the second battle for Persepolis begins. The Assyrians muster ten thousand soldiers, the Persians, half that.
The battle is joined.
The difference, it is said, between the second battle for Persepolis, and the first, is that attrition set in. Heavy, heavy attrition. The Persians, so long with half their nation occupied, were weak, and the Assyrians were likewise, after a long and tiring campaign.
But one side was weak, and had the walls of a city protecting them. The other side had those same walls before them. Even as reinforcements arrived from both sides, even as poorly equipped soldiers from both sides died in droves, the Assyrians found themselves, for the second time, being pushed back.
(-6 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -5 000 Persian Soldiers)
Driving home their advantage, the Persians continued to advance, liberating many of their core cities.
(-2 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -3 000 Persian Soldiers)
However, to the north, things turned in favor of the Assyrians. Always defensively neglected by the Persians, in favor of their home territories, the northern regions were poorly equipped to handle a second Assyrian thrust. The entire north was occupied by Assyria, including the important trade center of Tureng Tepe.
(-4 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -2 000 Persian Soldiers)
Once again, it seems, the powers of Assyria and Persia have been locked in a standstill, with fronts stabilizing. However, it seems the standstill will not last long. Back in the under garrisoned homeland, Assyrians clamor for an end to the war, that has lasted for so long, and brought them so little.
(-1 Assyrian Confidence, -Uruk as a Assyrian Economic Center)
And, on the other side, Persians seem to be willing to make concessions, for an end to Sargon’s War, at last. The peace doves on both sides hope that a treaty can be arranged, and soon, before both nations’ economies are destroyed beyond repair.
But Sargon still rules Assyria, and his mad will might be enough to force the war to continue…
In and around Phoenicia, a bizarre series of events take place. Israel makes the declaration that it will not tolerate Byzantine aggression, and pledges to lend support to Hiram. A small army under Israeli banners marches forth from the Phoenician-Israeli border, to help Hiram defend.
King Hiram meets them, welcomes them, and…
Is promptly executed.
All centralized control over Phoenicia breaks down.
(-Phoenicia as an independent nation)
It is revealed that the army was never Israeli at all, indeed, it was Byzantine, which Hiram realized, far too late, for, due to a variety of insidious tricks, he was misled. Assisted by Phoenician supporters, the Byzantine army occupies Phoenicia, and crushes all resistance to their rule.
(+5 000 Byzantine Skirmishers, -2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -3 000 Byzantine Skirmishers)
High Priest Jehodiada is less than happy with Byzantine actions, not just the subterfuge, but the Byzantine ignoral of their promise to send a fleet south, but he does not respond yet, as…
The War of the Nile grows deeply more complex, and deeply more deadly.
Twenty thousand Israeli forces race to protect converted Upper Egypt, even as Cush strikes northwards, its propaganda screaming that the war is not Egyptian against Egyptian, but instead, Egyptian against Israeli. The great majority of the Upper Egyptian Army and navy mutinies, the commanders horrified at what the government has done, and seizes Thebes from the Pharaoh before the Israelis can arrive, all in the name of a Greater Egypt. They pledge allegiance to Cush, and King Tantamani.
(-4 000 Upper Egyptian Soldiers, -4 Upper Egyptian Ships, +4 000 Cushite Soldiers, +4 Upper Egyptian Ships)
Tantamani, a huge army behind him, races to Thebes, and gets there at about the same time the Israelis arrive. An epic battle ensues, in which tens of thousands of soldiers fight under the Egyptian sun, with Monarchist Egyptians helping the Israelis, to the best of their ability. Religious propaganda is thrown to such an extent that each side believes the other to be an army of demons.
(-7 000 Cushite Soldiers, -2 000 Cushite Royal Guards, +5 000 Israeli Skirmishers, -8 000 Israeli Soldiers, -5 000 Israeli Skirmishers)
The epic battle of the Theban Gates is a massacre, for all sides involved, but in the end, it is the Israelis who make a tactical retreat. King Tantamani places himself upon the throne of Upper Egypt, to the roaring approval of those who remain.
(+1 Cushite Culture)
The Israelis, recoiling, take the initiative once more, and thrust their forces at Lower Egypt, as Tantamani remarshals his army, for further attacks north.
The Lower Egyptians, hostile to both the Israelis and the Cushites, and by now, very much wanting Egypt to be left to the real Egyptians, is beset by an Israeli assault. Perhaps it is because of fear for what Jehoiada will do to them, if they fail a second time, but the Israeli forces are surprisingly successful.
Attacks by ‘angels’ kill Egyptian leader after Egyptian leader.
(-1 Lower Egypt Leadership)
The Lower Egyptian army falls into chaos, as the nation is beset from two sides, both from the east, and from the west, assaulted there by a reserve Israeli army based in Cyrene. And so, Lower Egypt collapses, its Pharaoh is killed somewhere in the fighting, and an Israeli protectorate is established.
(-Lower Egypt as an independent nation, -4 000 Israeli Soldiers, -2 Israeli Ships)
South, the remnants of Upper Egypt either submit to Tantamani, or are destroyed. The converted Upper Egyptian Pharaoh somehow managed to escape with the retreating Israeli forces, as an interesting sidenote, but for the moment, that is neither here nor there.
(-Upper Egypt as an independent nation, -2 000 Cushite Soldiers, 2 000 Cushite Royal Guards, -1 Cushite Ship)
To the south, in the last major offensive in this stage of the war, a small Egyptian army conquers an almost undefended part of the Israeli Red Sea coast.
(-1 000 Cushite Royal Guards)
But then, both great empires come to a standstill. Logistics for further assault for the moment are too much to bear, and there are still many rebels in the Egypts for Cush and Israel to deal with. The war devastates the economic status of Thebes.
(-Thebes as a Cushite Economic Center)
One can only imagine what the forces of the One True God, and the forces of Ra will do to each other, in the years to come.
And to the west, there is the war of Rome. It begins, to say the least, oddly. As a great Roman navy is moved to Sicily, to mask its presence, the ports are temporarily shut down. However, the people of Icosium are no fools. A nation does not close its largest ports for no reason.
And so, when Rome declares war on Icosium, thus beginning the Second Punic War, the despot in Algiers, a man named Hannibal, is not the least bit surprised. In fact, he hopes that the war will prove once and for all, that Icosium bears no comparison to the weak, dead nation of Carthage.
The war’s first play is made by the Romans, as its ships raid the coasts of the Balearic Isles, and Iberia. Hannibal dispatches his massive and well trained fleet, to destroy them. The expected great fleet battle, however, never materializes. All the Icosium fleet finds in the west are a few Roman privateers, which are quickly destroyed.
(-5 Roman Ships)
It is then that Hannibal realizes his folly, as he suddenly realizes that the bulk of the Roman navy is in the east, not the west. His admirals turn the fleet around, but before they can be fully recalled, the Romans reveal that the fleet never left Sicily, by sailing south, and depositing a huge army of ten thousand Legionaries, lead by none other than a man known as Julius Caesar, upon the shores near the city of Carthage.
It is said that when the Carthaginian defenders saw the determined Romans wash over the shore, in great waves, more than a few fainted.
The battle for Carthage was more of a training exercise, than a real test for the Roman army. The city, overawed, surrendered without much of a fight.
(-1 000 Roman Legionaries, -1 000 Icosium Soldiers)
Carthage secure, Julius Caesar turned his attention westward, his army fueled by supply lines running through Tripolitania. Roman forces slowly advanced further and further west, securing more and more territory in the name of the Republic.
(-2 000 Roman Legionaries, -3 000 Icosium Soldiers)
All seemed to be going well. Until, at least, the Icosium navy was recalled. That was when the Romans realized how desperate the situation truly was. On paper, at least, the Icosium and Roman navies were roughly comparable. But in reality, the Roman fleet was a poorly trained wreck, while the Icosium fleet was the best in the world. The two navies clashed, as the Romans fought to maintain their trans-Mediterranean supply lines, but in the end, there was a clear victor.
Icosium.
(-28 Roman Ships, -11 Icosium Ships)
The remnants of the Roman navy were scattered, and the supply lines to Africa were broken. And that meant bad news for Julius Caesar, and his army. Suddenly, he and his army found themselves in dire need of supplies, even as volunteers flocked to join the Icosium army to drive the Roman invaders back across the sea.
(+10 000 Icosium Skirmishers)
Horribly outnumbered, Julius Caesar staved of complete defeat through sheer genius, but was forced to retreat back to Carthage. Now, that city is besieged by Icosium forces, and it is unclear how long the Romans can hold out, before they are forced back to Tripolitania…
(-3 000 Roman Legionaries, -2 000 Icosium Skirmishers, -1 000 Icosium Soldiers)
In the Western Medditeranian, havoc is played on trade, as Isosium, dominant on the sea, destroys Roman trading routes.
(-Caligari, Carthage as Roman Economic Centers)
And in the Punic regions of the Republic, descent simmers…
Domestic Events
Last time, we began in the far west of the civilized world; this time, we shall begin in the far east. The Middle Kingdom, largely thinking itself first in the world, deserves that honor, this time around.
Emperor Xiao continues to play center stage, in this ongoing drama. Appalled by Wu Taiwan’s refusal to participate in the Council of China, he declares an embargo on that nation, and the nation of Nan follows his lead. To begin this embargo, Xiao orders the assets of all Wu Taiwan merchants currently in the nation seized.
(+1 Chu Treasury)
Simultaneously, his advisors send forth a great flood of propaganda, that convinces many of the nations of Chu and Nan that the Wu merchants are spies. Chu rallies around its leader.
(+1 Chu Confidence)
As the rather angry Wu Taiwan merchants are herded back to their island, rumor comes that the Wu Emperor will not respond pleasantly to this. And he does not. Wu warships begin raiding Chu coasts, and the Chu navy responds. However, no real battles have yet taken place. But, as Chu and Wu Taiwan exist in an undeclared state of war, it seems only a matter of time…
(-6 Chu Ships, -4 Wu Taiwan Ships)
To the west, Chu expansion continues, and a land border with Liang is formed, but angry barbarians are beginning to take their toll.
(-2 000 Chu Soldiers)
To the north, the Zhou, somewhat amused by Chu antics, continue to trade with Wu Taiwan, and begin educational improvement of their nation.
In Wu Taiwan itself, the Emperor, suddenly having a surplus of merchants, begins focusing his efforts southward. Colonization of the island of Luzon begins, and the natives, at least for the time being, are indifferent to the foreigners.
South, in Cambodia, that nation ambles on, even as prayers are offered up to the gods for greater guidance.
And now, to India. The Three Princes’ War, it seems, is finally over, well and completely. Harappa has sued for a peace with Mohenjo-Daro, and it has received one, though it now must pay a hobbling amount from its coffers each year, for the next hundred. In Bengal, Prince Ashoka orders Mohenjo-Daro’s only retreat, as Bengal pays him a sizable sum to allow most of the rebelling areas to rejoin with their nation. However, due to the nature of the rebellion, there were a few bubbles that Ashoka would not let go of, as they were surrounded on all sides by territory his forces still held. In those regions, he allowed the Bengalis to flee for what remained of their nation, before reannexing the land, and flee they did, in large numbers, causing unrest among the other portions of the Mohenjo-Daro owned formerly Bengali land, where many of the inhabitants would have liked to do their same, and do not see why they are being punished for their peaceful behavior.
(-1 Mohenjo-Daro Confidence)
But besides this, the peace of the Three Princes’ War is a good peace, good for the nations that Mohenjo-Daro spared, and good for the behemoth itself, for it now can concentrate on more enlightened pursuits. The last shards of the central Indian rebellion are swept away.
(-1 000 Mohenjo-Daro Soldiers)
Even as his nation prospers, Ashoka decides that too long has his nation been ignorant of peoples outside Mohenjo-Daro’s general region. He sends out well-equipped exploration parties in all directions, in hopes of discovering, mapping, and perhaps forging trade links with other lands.
Those Mohenjo-Daro that head south discover the awakening nations of Satavahana, and Pandya. The latter, centered around the Palk Straight, is small, and weak, but the former is larger, and moderately strong.
Those explorers that head northwest, however, discover an entirely different sort of rising nation, one that seems to have a much brighter future, than the hemmed in south Indian nations. The nation to the northwest’s name is Sogdiana, and it is centered around the powerful trade city of Samarkand.
(+Samarkand as Sogdianan Economic Center)
Sogdiana is a nation of mixed Persian and central Asian culture. Brought together only years before the Mohenjo-Daro explorers arrived, by a man named Timur, who now rules as despot, Sogdiana had centralized quickly, and seems to have a bright future ahead of it. Quite unlike Persia…
Sargon the Mad is not done with his little war, even though he became faced with less than the quick victory his advisors promised him. He grows the army even more, and sends it into battle.
(-1 Assyrian Army Training)
Meanwhile, the Persians, fearing for the end of their nation, do the same, with similar training results.
(-1 Persian Army Training)
And so, Sargon’s War continues.
(See Military Events)
In the eastern Mediterranean, and along the Nile, very little is of a peaceful nature. Very little, except for Axum. In the southernmost of the civilized lands, a nation is stirring. King Yehoshua ben Avimelech takes the throne, and immediately impresses upon his subjects that he is a very capable man. Comparisons are inevitably made between him and the aging Israeli King David II, and most consider him, much to Israel’s chagrin, to be the greater of the two.
Yehoshua ben Avimelech, in one of his first acts in power, declares the Law of Return, which states that any Jew, from any nation, may come to Axum, and be accepted with the full rights of any Axumite citizen. Jewish refuges from Cush flood his land. In another religious move, King Yehoshua ben Avimelech begins the construction of the Beit Axum, a massive temple dedicated to the Jewish faith.
More secularly, King Yehoshua ben Avimelech also orders moderately successful expansion, and founds Axum’s first real port, the city of Adulis. As trade in the city booms, some belive that, with the right economic policies, Yehoshua ben Avimelech might be able to turn Adulis into a major economic center.
To the north, however, there is chaos, not order. Rumors fly that King Tantamani intends to rid the Nile of Israeli influence, once and for all, and establish a Greater Egypt.
Looking down upon the Nile, however, is the mighty Israel. Even as David II becomes senile, rumors spread that the Great Kohen Jehoiada, highest of the priests of Israel, is the man who directs all. Dark and mysterious in a way that Constantine I could only dream about, Jehoiada slowly guides Israel away from sinful mercantilism, and propagates a culture of the Chosen People. (And if you don’t know who the Chosen People are, well, the Kohens pray for you.)
(+1 Israeli Confidence)
Under Jehoiada’s rule, heresies are purged with surprising ease, and it has not become an unsurprising sight to see Hebrews in the hundreds outside the Temple of Solomon, screaming that they repent their sins. For those heretics who do not repent are executed. Among those is one known as Jesus of Nazareth, crucified upon a cross…
Even those of the nobility are proven not be above divine law. Those who are heretical are found, again, with surprising ease, and their assets are liquidated, which provides a substantial sum for the Israeli treasury.
(+1 Israeli Treasury)
Rumors begin to spread of secretive angels, come down from heaven, to deliver God’s justice among the heretics…
Prominent in Jehoiada’s foreign policy is a hash doctrine regarding the Nile states. Upper and Lower Egypt will receive aid against Cush, it is declared, if, and only if they abandon their sinful worship of the Egyptian gods, and embrace Judaism.
As harsh as this is, the rulers of Upper Egypt look south, to the barbarians that have almost overrun them, and choose the lesser of two evils. The Pharaoh of Upper Egypt decries that he, while still having divine right, is not the son of a god, and embraces Judaism, at least externally. His nobles and ministers largely convert, as well.
At this, Lower Egypt looks at its brother, and declares that the conversion of a sun god is its own form of blasphemy. Violent declarations are made against Israel, and the rulers of Upper Egypt. All Lower Egyptian forces in Upper Egypt withdraw, to defend the homeland against a possible Israeli invasion.
And to the north of the gigantic quagmire that the Nile has become, Byzantium pursues its own policies. Though on paper, Byzantium signs an alliance with Israel, in truth, it sticks to its own sphere of influence, to the north. Though the Israelis expected Byzantine naval help in the south, the ships never materialize. Not that their captains are taking the day off, of course. But an explanation of that is to come later.
For now, we shall devote our time to the Grecian diplomatic situation. For it is every bit as troubled, as the situation of the Nile.
Constantine I declares Byzantium to be renamed Constantinopolis, to a lukewarm reception, and then turns his attention westward, to Greece. Macedon is further assimilated, even as those who were once its nobles disappear, and Byzantine immigration is encouraged. As even the ethnic Macedonians begin to accept, and even appreciate Byzantine rule, a movement begins to grow, that wishes for the region to be at long last annexed into Byzantium proper, rather than just occupied.
However, it soon becomes clear that Constantine I is not satisfied with merely Macedon. The rumors were true. He was after Epirus, as well. And, given the defensive alliance between Epirus and Greece, Constantine decides that he must take both lands. And so the insanity begins. For there are more complications, indeed.
(See Spotlight)
As a side note, there is growing unrest in the Hatti land. The people are beginning to dislike the way their culture is disappearing.
It seems no region can remain peaceful, but at least our next region has a peaceful prelude. The Roman Republic refines its class system.
(+1 Culture)
But then, however, the Roman Republic grows a massive navy, and decides that Icosium must be vanquished, once and for all.
(-1 Roman Navy Training)
(See Military Events)
Even further west, Lustitania and Barcelona watch the war with horror. Gaul, to the north, falls into civil war, and begins to disintegrate.
(-5 000 Gaulish Soldiers)
Military Events
We begin here with the continuation of Sargon’s War. And it is a bloody continuation, indeed. Years ago, when this war started, the Persians accused the Assyrians of using hordes, mass numbers of poorly trained soldiers. But now, their own army is much the same.
In the Arabian colonies, now flushed from any sort of Persian presence, the chaos continues. Sargon orders his generals to abandon the city of Hufuf, and leave the land to its own devices. Free of foreign armies in their lands, the Dilmun rebels under Abdallah consolidate their position, and now, their nation can be called as such. Counter-rebellions of Persian settlers are crushed, and free Dilmun is born. However, it remains to be seen what direction Abdallah will take his nation, with regards to foreign policy.
As the Assyrians leave, the Urrians also occupy a small piece of the Persian colony, a piece that was historically their own, long ago.
(+Dilmun as an independent nation)
The Persian Gulf remains firmly in Persian hands, as Assyrian generals do not even attempt another incursion.
Again, the Assyrian generals, spurred on by Sargon’s frantic urging, conclude that taking Persepolis is the only way to decisively end the war. And so, years of bloodshed later, the second battle for Persepolis begins. The Assyrians muster ten thousand soldiers, the Persians, half that.
The battle is joined.
The difference, it is said, between the second battle for Persepolis, and the first, is that attrition set in. Heavy, heavy attrition. The Persians, so long with half their nation occupied, were weak, and the Assyrians were likewise, after a long and tiring campaign.
But one side was weak, and had the walls of a city protecting them. The other side had those same walls before them. Even as reinforcements arrived from both sides, even as poorly equipped soldiers from both sides died in droves, the Assyrians found themselves, for the second time, being pushed back.
(-6 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -5 000 Persian Soldiers)
Driving home their advantage, the Persians continued to advance, liberating many of their core cities.
(-2 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -3 000 Persian Soldiers)
However, to the north, things turned in favor of the Assyrians. Always defensively neglected by the Persians, in favor of their home territories, the northern regions were poorly equipped to handle a second Assyrian thrust. The entire north was occupied by Assyria, including the important trade center of Tureng Tepe.
(-4 000 Assyrian Soldiers, -2 000 Persian Soldiers)
Once again, it seems, the powers of Assyria and Persia have been locked in a standstill, with fronts stabilizing. However, it seems the standstill will not last long. Back in the under garrisoned homeland, Assyrians clamor for an end to the war, that has lasted for so long, and brought them so little.
(-1 Assyrian Confidence, -Uruk as a Assyrian Economic Center)
And, on the other side, Persians seem to be willing to make concessions, for an end to Sargon’s War, at last. The peace doves on both sides hope that a treaty can be arranged, and soon, before both nations’ economies are destroyed beyond repair.
But Sargon still rules Assyria, and his mad will might be enough to force the war to continue…
In and around Phoenicia, a bizarre series of events take place. Israel makes the declaration that it will not tolerate Byzantine aggression, and pledges to lend support to Hiram. A small army under Israeli banners marches forth from the Phoenician-Israeli border, to help Hiram defend.
King Hiram meets them, welcomes them, and…
Is promptly executed.
All centralized control over Phoenicia breaks down.
(-Phoenicia as an independent nation)
It is revealed that the army was never Israeli at all, indeed, it was Byzantine, which Hiram realized, far too late, for, due to a variety of insidious tricks, he was misled. Assisted by Phoenician supporters, the Byzantine army occupies Phoenicia, and crushes all resistance to their rule.
(+5 000 Byzantine Skirmishers, -2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -3 000 Byzantine Skirmishers)
High Priest Jehodiada is less than happy with Byzantine actions, not just the subterfuge, but the Byzantine ignoral of their promise to send a fleet south, but he does not respond yet, as…
The War of the Nile grows deeply more complex, and deeply more deadly.
Twenty thousand Israeli forces race to protect converted Upper Egypt, even as Cush strikes northwards, its propaganda screaming that the war is not Egyptian against Egyptian, but instead, Egyptian against Israeli. The great majority of the Upper Egyptian Army and navy mutinies, the commanders horrified at what the government has done, and seizes Thebes from the Pharaoh before the Israelis can arrive, all in the name of a Greater Egypt. They pledge allegiance to Cush, and King Tantamani.
(-4 000 Upper Egyptian Soldiers, -4 Upper Egyptian Ships, +4 000 Cushite Soldiers, +4 Upper Egyptian Ships)
Tantamani, a huge army behind him, races to Thebes, and gets there at about the same time the Israelis arrive. An epic battle ensues, in which tens of thousands of soldiers fight under the Egyptian sun, with Monarchist Egyptians helping the Israelis, to the best of their ability. Religious propaganda is thrown to such an extent that each side believes the other to be an army of demons.
(-7 000 Cushite Soldiers, -2 000 Cushite Royal Guards, +5 000 Israeli Skirmishers, -8 000 Israeli Soldiers, -5 000 Israeli Skirmishers)
The epic battle of the Theban Gates is a massacre, for all sides involved, but in the end, it is the Israelis who make a tactical retreat. King Tantamani places himself upon the throne of Upper Egypt, to the roaring approval of those who remain.
(+1 Cushite Culture)
The Israelis, recoiling, take the initiative once more, and thrust their forces at Lower Egypt, as Tantamani remarshals his army, for further attacks north.
The Lower Egyptians, hostile to both the Israelis and the Cushites, and by now, very much wanting Egypt to be left to the real Egyptians, is beset by an Israeli assault. Perhaps it is because of fear for what Jehoiada will do to them, if they fail a second time, but the Israeli forces are surprisingly successful.
Attacks by ‘angels’ kill Egyptian leader after Egyptian leader.
(-1 Lower Egypt Leadership)
The Lower Egyptian army falls into chaos, as the nation is beset from two sides, both from the east, and from the west, assaulted there by a reserve Israeli army based in Cyrene. And so, Lower Egypt collapses, its Pharaoh is killed somewhere in the fighting, and an Israeli protectorate is established.
(-Lower Egypt as an independent nation, -4 000 Israeli Soldiers, -2 Israeli Ships)
South, the remnants of Upper Egypt either submit to Tantamani, or are destroyed. The converted Upper Egyptian Pharaoh somehow managed to escape with the retreating Israeli forces, as an interesting sidenote, but for the moment, that is neither here nor there.
(-Upper Egypt as an independent nation, -2 000 Cushite Soldiers, 2 000 Cushite Royal Guards, -1 Cushite Ship)
To the south, in the last major offensive in this stage of the war, a small Egyptian army conquers an almost undefended part of the Israeli Red Sea coast.
(-1 000 Cushite Royal Guards)
But then, both great empires come to a standstill. Logistics for further assault for the moment are too much to bear, and there are still many rebels in the Egypts for Cush and Israel to deal with. The war devastates the economic status of Thebes.
(-Thebes as a Cushite Economic Center)
One can only imagine what the forces of the One True God, and the forces of Ra will do to each other, in the years to come.
And to the west, there is the war of Rome. It begins, to say the least, oddly. As a great Roman navy is moved to Sicily, to mask its presence, the ports are temporarily shut down. However, the people of Icosium are no fools. A nation does not close its largest ports for no reason.
And so, when Rome declares war on Icosium, thus beginning the Second Punic War, the despot in Algiers, a man named Hannibal, is not the least bit surprised. In fact, he hopes that the war will prove once and for all, that Icosium bears no comparison to the weak, dead nation of Carthage.
The war’s first play is made by the Romans, as its ships raid the coasts of the Balearic Isles, and Iberia. Hannibal dispatches his massive and well trained fleet, to destroy them. The expected great fleet battle, however, never materializes. All the Icosium fleet finds in the west are a few Roman privateers, which are quickly destroyed.
(-5 Roman Ships)
It is then that Hannibal realizes his folly, as he suddenly realizes that the bulk of the Roman navy is in the east, not the west. His admirals turn the fleet around, but before they can be fully recalled, the Romans reveal that the fleet never left Sicily, by sailing south, and depositing a huge army of ten thousand Legionaries, lead by none other than a man known as Julius Caesar, upon the shores near the city of Carthage.
It is said that when the Carthaginian defenders saw the determined Romans wash over the shore, in great waves, more than a few fainted.
The battle for Carthage was more of a training exercise, than a real test for the Roman army. The city, overawed, surrendered without much of a fight.
(-1 000 Roman Legionaries, -1 000 Icosium Soldiers)
Carthage secure, Julius Caesar turned his attention westward, his army fueled by supply lines running through Tripolitania. Roman forces slowly advanced further and further west, securing more and more territory in the name of the Republic.
(-2 000 Roman Legionaries, -3 000 Icosium Soldiers)
All seemed to be going well. Until, at least, the Icosium navy was recalled. That was when the Romans realized how desperate the situation truly was. On paper, at least, the Icosium and Roman navies were roughly comparable. But in reality, the Roman fleet was a poorly trained wreck, while the Icosium fleet was the best in the world. The two navies clashed, as the Romans fought to maintain their trans-Mediterranean supply lines, but in the end, there was a clear victor.
Icosium.
(-28 Roman Ships, -11 Icosium Ships)
The remnants of the Roman navy were scattered, and the supply lines to Africa were broken. And that meant bad news for Julius Caesar, and his army. Suddenly, he and his army found themselves in dire need of supplies, even as volunteers flocked to join the Icosium army to drive the Roman invaders back across the sea.
(+10 000 Icosium Skirmishers)
Horribly outnumbered, Julius Caesar staved of complete defeat through sheer genius, but was forced to retreat back to Carthage. Now, that city is besieged by Icosium forces, and it is unclear how long the Romans can hold out, before they are forced back to Tripolitania…
(-3 000 Roman Legionaries, -2 000 Icosium Skirmishers, -1 000 Icosium Soldiers)
In the Western Medditeranian, havoc is played on trade, as Isosium, dominant on the sea, destroys Roman trading routes.
(-Caligari, Carthage as Roman Economic Centers)
And in the Punic regions of the Republic, descent simmers…
Random Events
King Tantamani of Cush gains much popularity, as his invasion of Egypt is transformed into a holy war against Israeli tyranny.
(+1 Culture, +1 Confidence)
Construction on the Beit Axum gets off to a good start.
(+1 Axumite Project Progress)
Prince Ashoka absorbs the years, and continues to be an effective leader.
(+1 Mohenjo-Daro Leadership)
Emperor Xiao’s actions cause an unexpected upsurge in confidence among his Chu subjects.
(+1 Chu Confidence)
Spotlight: The Oracle’s Blessing
“A great nation will fall, as a result of your war, Constantine. Which nation, you ask? …… Umm …… That is not for you to know yet, mortal.”
-The Oracle at Delphi
The Greek political situation at the beginning of the year 20 was a confusing one, to say the least. Greece and Byzantium together had the Hellenic Alliance, but Greece and Epirus had a different pact, and there was no love between Epirus and Byzantium. This shallow peace was broken when Byzantium invaded Epirus, with a massive force. But what happened next, not even Constantine could have expected.
Greece threw their defensive pact with Epirus to the wind, and, instead of invading Byzantium, invaded Epirus, as well, betraying that nation in cold blood.
Constantine, confused as to why Greece had made such a move, nevertheless proceeded with his plans. The Greeks were to be considered hostiles, as well. And so, in Epirus, a three-way war erupted.
Epirans found themselves crushed between an odd sort of hammer and anvil, a hammer and anvil that were coming at each other, too. Utterly confused, and not sure what to make of the Greek declaration of war, the Epiran commanders engaged the Byzantines, fighting the battles they had been expecting, for a long time.
(-2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -3 000 Epiran Soldiers)
But it was not the battles they expected to fight, that killed them. The Greeks set the death blow. Their forces sweeping through the lightly defended Epiran west, the Greeks took the Epiran capital of Corcyra, and the trade center of Dyrrachium.
(-2 000 Greek Soldiers, -2 000 Epiran Soldiers)
The Epirans still had an army left, after this, but it was weak, only a third the size of the Byzantine army, and utterly demoralized. Without a capital, without really any land still in Epiran hands to defend, the Epiran army disintegrated, and what remained of the nation descended into chaos.
(-Epirus as an independent nation)
And so, the Epiran War began as a fight between Greece, and Byzantium. Constantine personally led his forces into battle, and after a great siege, ‘liberated’ Corcyra.
(-1 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -1 000 Greek Soldiers)
What remained of Greek expedition force retreated northwards, to the Dyrrachium pocket, and fortified it. Constantine decided that taking that city would not be worth the trouble, and so he directed his forces southwards, to the Greek heartlands.
At this point, an astute reader might ask; Why did the Greeks betray the Epirans? The answer is real, though odd. It seems that the Athenian senate, during debate, decided that it would be best to forgo their alliance with Epirus, as to not start a war with Byzantium, and then appease Byzantium, by invading their former ally. However, what the Athenian senate never realized was that Constantine was set to destroy their nation in any case.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled war.
The conflict between Greece and Byzantium now had very little to do with Epirus, but it was still called the Epiran War, to note its beginnings. However, as the behemoths clashed, some wondered how the bloodshed could possibly relate to the backlands of a small, northern country.
The battles fought as the Byzantines invaded Greece were perhaps the bloodiest of the war. Against thousands of well trained and equipped Byzantine soldiers, led by the living legend, Constantine I, the Greeks fielded an army equal in size. While the Greeks were less well trained, and less well equipped, they had the advantage of fighting in the region they knew, their homeland.
Constantine, a brilliant tactical mind, found out too late that he had underestimated the strength of the Greek forces. Expecting them to be poorly trained rabble, he had under-committed. But, as was said, it was far too late to back out now. In northern Greece, the battles began. Innovative tactics give the Byzantines a slight edge, but Constantine’s march south is stalled.
(-3 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -5 000 Greek Soldiers)
Despite mounting losses, the Greeks might well have been able to halt the Byzantine invasion, had it not been for dissension within their ranks. Even as Delphi fell to the Byzantines, many within Greece thought that the Athenian senate had been crazed, to turn on their ally, Epirus, and some even advocated secession from the Athenian union, encouraged by Byzantine propaganda. And that latter group began to steadily grow in number.
Around Sparta, the first rebellions began, as the city, and some surrounding areas declared their independence. Due to genocides years earlier, most of the ‘Spartans’ could not truly claim to be as much, and indeed, many were descended from the slaves, that had massacred their masters. However, this was not an ethnic rebellion. It was a rebellion against Athenian tyranny.
(-2 000 Greek Soldiers)
But the Spartans were not the worst of Greece’s rebellions. They were nothing but the prelude. It was the secession of Minoa that broke Greece.
Roughly two centuries ago, Minoa had fallen, in the War of Endings, and been annexed wholesale by the upstart Greece. But the Minoans had always been rich, and what they lacked in military strength, they made up for in economic strength. In recent years, Minoans had come to consider their subservience to Athens to be an alliance of convenience. They were a rich people, and they were happy, and so, they saw no reason to break the peace and start a revolt.
But then, when the Athenian senate decided to go insane, and the Epiran War started turning in Byzantium’s favor, the Minoans made a decision. They were not going to fall with Greece. They were going to reforge their nation. Phaistos was declared capital of the restored Minoan Empire, and Cyprus was quickly reincorporated, as many of the merchants turned-oligarchs of Minoa had strong connections to the Cypriot throne.
In a matter of weeks, Crete was rid of all Athenian presence, and then the Minoan and Byzantine fleets formed an unsigned alliance, to chase the Greeks (now increasingly merely Athenians) out of the Aegean. The alliance was successful, as the Greek fleet was horribly outnumbered. The Aegean was purged, and the surviving Greek ships fled west, to the Ionian.
(-1 000 Greek Soldiers, -8 Greek Ships, -2 Byzantine Ships, -1 Minoan Ship)
However, the Athenian Greeks finally turned the tables, on land. They threw the bulk of their forces northwards, until the Byzantines were outnumbered two to one. Delphi was recaptured by the Athenians, but Athenian numbers were then largely negated by superior tactics on the part of Constantine, and his generals. The front has now stagnated, quite close to the original Greek border.
(-2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -4 000 Greek Soldiers)
The Athenians have made an impressive recovery, but with their navy destroyed, Minoa established, and Sparta in flames, who knows how much longer they can hold on?
NPC Diplomacy
To: Assyria
From: Persia
Propose a sane peace, and we will agree to it.
To: Byzantium
From: Minoa
We should formalize our alliance, and perhaps make other treaties, as well.
King Tantamani of Cush gains much popularity, as his invasion of Egypt is transformed into a holy war against Israeli tyranny.
(+1 Culture, +1 Confidence)
Construction on the Beit Axum gets off to a good start.
(+1 Axumite Project Progress)
Prince Ashoka absorbs the years, and continues to be an effective leader.
(+1 Mohenjo-Daro Leadership)
Emperor Xiao’s actions cause an unexpected upsurge in confidence among his Chu subjects.
(+1 Chu Confidence)
Spotlight: The Oracle’s Blessing
“A great nation will fall, as a result of your war, Constantine. Which nation, you ask? …… Umm …… That is not for you to know yet, mortal.”
-The Oracle at Delphi
The Greek political situation at the beginning of the year 20 was a confusing one, to say the least. Greece and Byzantium together had the Hellenic Alliance, but Greece and Epirus had a different pact, and there was no love between Epirus and Byzantium. This shallow peace was broken when Byzantium invaded Epirus, with a massive force. But what happened next, not even Constantine could have expected.
Greece threw their defensive pact with Epirus to the wind, and, instead of invading Byzantium, invaded Epirus, as well, betraying that nation in cold blood.
Constantine, confused as to why Greece had made such a move, nevertheless proceeded with his plans. The Greeks were to be considered hostiles, as well. And so, in Epirus, a three-way war erupted.
Epirans found themselves crushed between an odd sort of hammer and anvil, a hammer and anvil that were coming at each other, too. Utterly confused, and not sure what to make of the Greek declaration of war, the Epiran commanders engaged the Byzantines, fighting the battles they had been expecting, for a long time.
(-2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -3 000 Epiran Soldiers)
But it was not the battles they expected to fight, that killed them. The Greeks set the death blow. Their forces sweeping through the lightly defended Epiran west, the Greeks took the Epiran capital of Corcyra, and the trade center of Dyrrachium.
(-2 000 Greek Soldiers, -2 000 Epiran Soldiers)
The Epirans still had an army left, after this, but it was weak, only a third the size of the Byzantine army, and utterly demoralized. Without a capital, without really any land still in Epiran hands to defend, the Epiran army disintegrated, and what remained of the nation descended into chaos.
(-Epirus as an independent nation)
And so, the Epiran War began as a fight between Greece, and Byzantium. Constantine personally led his forces into battle, and after a great siege, ‘liberated’ Corcyra.
(-1 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -1 000 Greek Soldiers)
What remained of Greek expedition force retreated northwards, to the Dyrrachium pocket, and fortified it. Constantine decided that taking that city would not be worth the trouble, and so he directed his forces southwards, to the Greek heartlands.
At this point, an astute reader might ask; Why did the Greeks betray the Epirans? The answer is real, though odd. It seems that the Athenian senate, during debate, decided that it would be best to forgo their alliance with Epirus, as to not start a war with Byzantium, and then appease Byzantium, by invading their former ally. However, what the Athenian senate never realized was that Constantine was set to destroy their nation in any case.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled war.
The conflict between Greece and Byzantium now had very little to do with Epirus, but it was still called the Epiran War, to note its beginnings. However, as the behemoths clashed, some wondered how the bloodshed could possibly relate to the backlands of a small, northern country.
The battles fought as the Byzantines invaded Greece were perhaps the bloodiest of the war. Against thousands of well trained and equipped Byzantine soldiers, led by the living legend, Constantine I, the Greeks fielded an army equal in size. While the Greeks were less well trained, and less well equipped, they had the advantage of fighting in the region they knew, their homeland.
Constantine, a brilliant tactical mind, found out too late that he had underestimated the strength of the Greek forces. Expecting them to be poorly trained rabble, he had under-committed. But, as was said, it was far too late to back out now. In northern Greece, the battles began. Innovative tactics give the Byzantines a slight edge, but Constantine’s march south is stalled.
(-3 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -5 000 Greek Soldiers)
Despite mounting losses, the Greeks might well have been able to halt the Byzantine invasion, had it not been for dissension within their ranks. Even as Delphi fell to the Byzantines, many within Greece thought that the Athenian senate had been crazed, to turn on their ally, Epirus, and some even advocated secession from the Athenian union, encouraged by Byzantine propaganda. And that latter group began to steadily grow in number.
Around Sparta, the first rebellions began, as the city, and some surrounding areas declared their independence. Due to genocides years earlier, most of the ‘Spartans’ could not truly claim to be as much, and indeed, many were descended from the slaves, that had massacred their masters. However, this was not an ethnic rebellion. It was a rebellion against Athenian tyranny.
(-2 000 Greek Soldiers)
But the Spartans were not the worst of Greece’s rebellions. They were nothing but the prelude. It was the secession of Minoa that broke Greece.
Roughly two centuries ago, Minoa had fallen, in the War of Endings, and been annexed wholesale by the upstart Greece. But the Minoans had always been rich, and what they lacked in military strength, they made up for in economic strength. In recent years, Minoans had come to consider their subservience to Athens to be an alliance of convenience. They were a rich people, and they were happy, and so, they saw no reason to break the peace and start a revolt.
But then, when the Athenian senate decided to go insane, and the Epiran War started turning in Byzantium’s favor, the Minoans made a decision. They were not going to fall with Greece. They were going to reforge their nation. Phaistos was declared capital of the restored Minoan Empire, and Cyprus was quickly reincorporated, as many of the merchants turned-oligarchs of Minoa had strong connections to the Cypriot throne.
In a matter of weeks, Crete was rid of all Athenian presence, and then the Minoan and Byzantine fleets formed an unsigned alliance, to chase the Greeks (now increasingly merely Athenians) out of the Aegean. The alliance was successful, as the Greek fleet was horribly outnumbered. The Aegean was purged, and the surviving Greek ships fled west, to the Ionian.
(-1 000 Greek Soldiers, -8 Greek Ships, -2 Byzantine Ships, -1 Minoan Ship)
However, the Athenian Greeks finally turned the tables, on land. They threw the bulk of their forces northwards, until the Byzantines were outnumbered two to one. Delphi was recaptured by the Athenians, but Athenian numbers were then largely negated by superior tactics on the part of Constantine, and his generals. The front has now stagnated, quite close to the original Greek border.
(-2 000 Byzantine Soldiers, -4 000 Greek Soldiers)
The Athenians have made an impressive recovery, but with their navy destroyed, Minoa established, and Sparta in flames, who knows how much longer they can hold on?
NPC Diplomacy
To: Assyria
From: Persia
Propose a sane peace, and we will agree to it.
To: Byzantium
From: Minoa
We should formalize our alliance, and perhaps make other treaties, as well.
OOC
Stats are here. However, don't expect the non-essential first page stuff for a while. The Kal'thzar - das war was by far the hardest part of the update, made especially so by the fact that das sent strategic orders, and Kal'thzar sent tactical orders. I would have given the spotlight to them, but, I decided that the Grecian oddities edged out the War of the Nile in entertainment value, if not importance. 90% guarantee that the next spotlight will be on the War of the Nile.
btw, I'm curious if any of you have any suggestions for me about how to get the updates done faster. Speak.
And as always, more players joining would be very welcome.
Orders due Friday, 20:00 GMT
(as the first page says)
Stats are here. However, don't expect the non-essential first page stuff for a while. The Kal'thzar - das war was by far the hardest part of the update, made especially so by the fact that das sent strategic orders, and Kal'thzar sent tactical orders. I would have given the spotlight to them, but, I decided that the Grecian oddities edged out the War of the Nile in entertainment value, if not importance. 90% guarantee that the next spotlight will be on the War of the Nile.
btw, I'm curious if any of you have any suggestions for me about how to get the updates done faster. Speak.
And as always, more players joining would be very welcome.
Orders due Friday, 20:00 GMT
(as the first page says)
Nice Update!!!
From Rome
To Lusitania
We ask that you assist us in defeating Icosium which will gain you much land in Iberia and even Africa.
From Rome
To Barcelonia
We ask that you help drive Iscosium out of Iberia. Will you accept an alliance against Icosium?
From Rome
To Lusitania
We ask that you assist us in defeating Icosium which will gain you much land in Iberia and even Africa.
From Rome
To Barcelonia
We ask that you help drive Iscosium out of Iberia. Will you accept an alliance against Icosium?
Great Update! From the map it appears the the newly explored area west of my capital is basically unoccuppied by any organized nation. Is that correct?
LittleBoots
The Bloody Banner
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2006
- Messages
- 1,979
FROM: Byzantium
TO: Israel
We apologise for failing to commit our navy to aid your efforts in Egypt. Our navy, if needed, is ready to remedy this mistake in the coming years. If this is insufficient, we are willing to negotiate with our Israeli friends to mend this issue.
((OOC: Sorry, completely slipped my mind!))
FROM: Byzantium
TO: Minoa
Agreed. Byzantium proposes a treaty of mutual defense and guarantees of trading rights.
TO: Israel
We apologise for failing to commit our navy to aid your efforts in Egypt. Our navy, if needed, is ready to remedy this mistake in the coming years. If this is insufficient, we are willing to negotiate with our Israeli friends to mend this issue.
((OOC: Sorry, completely slipped my mind!))
FROM: Byzantium
TO: Minoa
Agreed. Byzantium proposes a treaty of mutual defense and guarantees of trading rights.
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