I got Civ3 for Christmas - My First Game!!!

Hello! I got Civ3 and PTW for Christmas unexpectadly and have started playing my first game. I wrote some other Civ stories (Truly the Greatest, Hold the Line) but this is my first actual Civ3 story...Enjoy!
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Details: Standard Map, Most connective Pangea, Temperate, 5 billion years ago, Playing as Zulu

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Shaka of the Zulus knew this was the perfect place when he first saw it. Beautiful mountains in the northwest, a clear river flowing down the hillsides into a rich grassland expanse. He ordered his settlers to lay down their belongings and begin building here. The city would forever be known as Pine Springs. Blessed with the richness of the lands, it grew...and here in the shadows of the Shaka Hills, as they are known now, our story begins...

PINE SPRINGS -

The Zulus have begun intense explorations to find neighboring civilizations. Shaka knows the key to survival is finding and containing the power of his enemies. Through diplomacy, coersion, and military force, Shaka knows he will dominate all who oppose him.

Shaka looks at his world map. He had just let a band of settlers leave the captial (about half his population) to build another city in the northwest expanse past the Shaka Hills. He knows a great grassy valley lies there, waiting to be settled upon.

"Sir!" a royal page calls out from the halls.

"Come in!" Shaka responds. The page enters and brings forth a chart illustrating the newest territory information.

"Look, sir," the scout cries, "we've found a city in the east. It is of a small nation known as the Babylonians.

Shaka looks at the chart. "Babylon," he says to himself. "Interesting...request an audience with the leader. I would very much like to know more about these Babylonians."

"Yessir!"

PINE SPRINGS - The royal page returns from his assignment to find Shaka overseeing the empire charts. A moment passes in silence, but finally the page speaks up, "Sir...it's done."

Shaka pounds his desk, not in anger, but in joy. "Excellent!" he cries. "Send word build roads connecting our cities as soon as possible. We must build our infrastructure if people are going to fear us, right? Get to it!"

The page bows and leaves. For the past few years Shaka has been settling the western expanse. As his explorers returned with more information about territories, Shaka became more convinced it was time to settle the lands. He founded Salmon Creek in the great valley northwest of Pine Springs.

In the western mountains, Shaka discovered an unprecedented amount of mineral wealth. He sent settlers into the hills and founded Metal Town.

Finally, exploring the western shores, he discovered a breed of horse, prime for taming. Sending settlers farther northwest than Salmon Creek, he established the horse training settlement of Stallionville.

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Shaka continually checked his emperial charts to track the movements of the encrouching Babylonians. The Zulus and them had formed a strong, friendly relation, but Shaka was not convinced. He knew his empire would soon be surrounded and contained if his troops didn't make a stand.

But this was no time for war. Without a good infrastructure, his archers would be slaughtered in a second. War, when it came, would have to be fought quickly and decisively. Shaka had plans for his horses, but Metal Town was extracting iron from its mountains. With the power of iron swords, roads, and an exceptional war plan, Shaka believed he could destroy the Babylonians quickly without an economy-draining stalemate.

Suddenly his page ran in. "Sir!" he cried. "The Babylonians have founded Ashur on the borders of Pine Springs!"

Shaka didn't respond immediately. The land was up for grabs, but Shaka knew he had to do something. "You know," he began, "I've always had a taste for good wine. Build me a city in the northern vineyards. Call it 'Wineburg' and build a road connecting it to us. Also, build a road to Babylon."

"Sir? We're gonna build roads for trade?"

"No, my friend. We're gonna build roads for war! I'll feign the trade of wine for Babylonian silks...but when the roads are complete, I'll build up a force of swordsmen on the borders. Call 'em 'trade overseers'...and when the time is right, they'll strike at every city at the same time!"

"Wow! Sounds great! I'll get on it right away!"

"Yes...you do that."

Nice city names!
Hehe, wipe out the Babs, they *very* often irritate me too.
Attacking them all at the same time... Great, so long as you dont have ROP.
Great story!

Just watch out for Babylonian culture.

JUST OUTSIDE THE BORDERS OF BABYLON -

A lone rider gallops into the windswept swordsmen camps. Several regiment commanders approach. "Ah," they begin, "you've brought news, then?"

The rider dismounts and hands them a royal notice. The regiment commander reads it quickly and spins around to find hundreds of swordmen awaiting the news. He lifts the letter into the air, shouting, "TO WAR!" The swordmen cheer and draw their iron weapons from the leather scabbards. Leaving their tents up, they sprinted across the grassy fields, their commanders struggling to keep up.

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PINE SPRINGS - The page walked in...Shaka, nervously awaiting the first reports, looked up. "Well?" he uttered.

The page nodded and said, "Victory!"

The two men went over the emperial charts. The page made corrections on the map as he spoke.

"This is what has happened," he began. "Ashur fell without much of a fight...Ur was totally destroyed in the battle there. We lost a sword regiment and are currently displacing another. Wineburg has extended its hand in the northwest and founded an incense colony. It's defenses have not been challenged yet. Our forces are en-route to Akkad after destroying a small settlement on the southeastern shore...I forget its name. Babylon, our main target has fallen. We caught them by surprise and our men, bloodthirsty, charged through the defenses without much of a problem...My main concern, however, is in Nineveh...their new capital."

"Oh? What's happening?"

"We sent two regiments to quell the city. One was destroyed and another was attacked by enemy archers. They survived, but are holding on at 1/4 strength. We have another swordmen regiment coming from Wineburg and a distant reinforcement in the south, fresh from the battle at Ashur. We estimate at least two spearmen regiments fortified within the city."

"I see...well, we must carry on. Well done, page."

The page saluted and exited. The Zulu regiments pressed forward...

PINE SPRINGS -

"Hm...yes. I understand. No, I'll relay the message to Shaka. Okay...yes, thank you." The royal page walked into Shaka's chambers.

"Sir," he began. "Nineveh and Akkad have fallen. We scored a major victory in both cities!"

"That's great news, page! And Hammurabi? Where is he?"

The page shook his head. "We couldn't find him anywhere...It appears he's fled the city."

"Fled? Where?"
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THE GREAT ISTHMUS - Hammurabi gasped for breath with every step he took. He was now in the Barrier Jungles of the Great Isthmus, a strip of land connecting the western and eastern continents. His, now-assimilated, empire used to reside in the southern grasslands of the western continent. After the initial assault on Babylon, Hammurabi fled to Nineveh and rallied his countrymen to battle.

After winning the initial battle against the Zulu swordsmen, Hammurabi gathered together as many peasants as he could and fled north across the Great Barrier Jungle dividing the northern and southern parts of the Western Continent. India was already growing in the northern parts so Hammurabi was forced to turn east and traverse jungle once again through the Great Isthmus. Since the Eastern Continent was occupied by the Chinese, Japanese, and Persians, he knew the Great Isthmus was his last option.

"STOP!" he yelled. Looking around, he saw jungle everywhere...the worst place to found a settlement. His peasants (the surviving ones) all halted. Many had collapsed during the journey and been left as stragglers. "We build here," Hammurabi continued. "We'll call the city 'Ur', Babylonian for 'Revenge'!"

His peasants began to clear the jungle and build up a small settlement...

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PINE SPRINGS - The page ran in to Shaka's chambers, reviewing his latest charts. "Ah, sir," he called out, "we've found the Babylonians! They've fled far north and built a settlement in the jungles of the Great Isthmus named 'Ur'."

Shaka looked at the charts. "Hm...that's far for our troops to travel. Call in the Indian representative."

"Yessir!" The page left and returned within the hour with the Indian ambassador.

"Ah, Shaka," the representative greeted him. "How have you been?"

"Very good!" Shaka responded, smiling. "The war was very fruitful! We've taken the silks of Babylon and founded several settlements!"

"Good, good! I'm glad to hear it. Now...what would you like India to do?"

"Well, I have a problem. That fool Hammurabi has fled north and founded a settlement near your borders. If he regained his strength, he could pose a great threat to your country! I would like you to declare war on him and take his isthmus stronghold of Ur."

The ambassador nodded slowly as he heard Shaka speak. Finally, he responded, "I think Gandhi will see it your way. Don't trouble yourself, with these matters, my friend. Let India take care of it."

"Thank you, Mr. Ambasador!"

"Of course...you will remember our generosity when it comes time to trade that incense, won't you?"

"Yes, yes. Goodbye."

The ambassador left. Shaka turned to his page. "Those fools in India will take a while to rally any forces...Send two veteran or elite swordmen regiments to the north. Take the settlement if the Indians haven't. I would like to establish a presence in the area anyway."

"Yessir! I'll send the men right away!"

PINE SPRINGS - The royal page enters to inform Shaka of the latest developments.

"Sir!" he calls out, holding the most recent emperial charts. "The Babylonians have founded another city called Babylon on the shores of the inland sea. Ur is growing and has been clearing the forest to build up an infrastructure. The Indians are marching several warriors to the area, but I'm afraid it won't be enough!"

"And our swordmen?"

"They await your command. Currently, they're stationed within striking distance of Babylon."

"My order is...assault the city."

"Yessir!"

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OUTSIDE OF BABYLON - The two swordmen regiments have finally crossed the Great Barrier Jungle and reached the new Babylon. It was a wonderfully-chosen position for a city. The settlement rested within a valley of small hills. To the north lay plains and a small desert along with a fresh-water river and fertile flood plains. If the Zulus could take this city, they would have a strong foothold in the northern territories.

A messenger rides into their camp and delivers an order to attack. The commanders assault the city and take it with very few losses. A lone spearman regiment collapses and the Babylonian governor ceceeds the city to Zulu control. Shaka is now in control of a city in the north.

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PINE SPRINGS -

The page reports to Shaka: "The troops have taken Babylon with no losses. I have spoken with the Indian representatives and they assure me that three archer regiments are en-route to Ur to put down the resistance and execute Hammurabi."

"Good...very good," Shaka replies. "Now we must begin building our power. The war was effective, but I need more...Build me cities in our northern sectors. Rename the old Babylon in my honor. Rename the new Babylon what you wish. Get a settlement going near the Great Barrier Jungle. Build roads and connect them all...got that?"

"Yessir!"

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OUTSIDE OF UR - General Hadji of the Indian Military prepared his archers to fire. The last Babylonian city was ready to fall. Hadji estimated a garrison of only one or two, under-equipped spearmen against his veteran archers.

Hadji made a final inspection of the archer lines. Satisfied, he assumed command and began the attack. "Draw arrows!" he yelled. The archers, dressed in the purple national colors, pulled back their bows.

"AIM!" The archers lifted their bows into the silent air. The Babylonian spearmen could only watch in horror. Hadji waited about half a minute to see if anyone would fire prematurely. No one did.

"FIRE!" The archers let the arrows loose and loaded another volley. The Ur defensive lines were showered with the Indian arrows and broke almost immediately. Spearmen, crawling with arrows in their legs or chests, fled the lines and made their way to secluded alleys.

Hadji's men fired several more volleys before the lines completely fell apart and surrendered. The victorious Indians marched in and took the city. Hammurabi was found hiding in a broom closet of his palace. He was tried for crimes against humanity on the spot, and executed the next day. Several resisting civilians were arrested and quelled. The Empire of the Babylonians had fallen.

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PINE SPRINGS - The royal page relayed the news to Shaka: "It's done."

"Good. Now how about the cities I asked you to build?"

"Old Babylon has been renamed Shaka City in your honor. A committee is being formed to rename the second Babylon. We have crossed the mountain chain and founded a city in the central deserts called Dunetown. We have established a settlement on the fringes of the Great Barrier Jungle called Junglepost. The Great Library and Sun-Tzu's Art of War wonders are currently under construction."

"Excellent! And what about our neighbors?"

"India is colonizing futher south. Hyderabad is their newest settlement. Now the Japanese are in a war with the Persians over a border dispute."

"And the results?"

"Japan has lost a lot of territory and several cities. Persian swordmen are pushing deeper into Japanese territory."

"And how does this affect us?"

"The Japanese have begun a great migration westward to colonize our continent. Shimonoseki has been founded between the new Babylon and Junglepost. Fortunately, we've kept pretty good relations with their country."

"Excellent! I've heard we're developing a new weapon combining swordmen on horses."

"Yes...knights, I believe they called them. Their based on a system of chivalry. Powerful things..."

"Good. Monitor situations around the globe. These Persians are becoming a nuisance."

"Yessir!"

TUNDRAS SOUTH OF PINE SPRINGS - It was a desolate place. A place where rarely was a man seen...and if he was, he was almost certainly about to die.

The wind blew, dry, and inhospitably against the hard-packed snow. For centuries, it had always blown, shaping ever-moving dunes of white powder. The sea that surrounded this nightmarish land was only navigable on the warmest days of the summer. Even then, any ship that dared to traverse these waters, sloshed through the thin ice that was always present.

It came as a total surprise, therefor, when the Persians landed on the shores of this frigid terrain and established a settlement. Technically, these lands were outside the Zulu borders, but being only a few hundred miles from Pine Springs, Shaka immediately demanded its removal. And here, in the frozen wastelands, the world would begin to change...

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"Commander!" a knight called out. An officer rode back to him to respond: "Yes? What is it?"

"Why are we entering this cold, miserable place?"

"Well...the Persians have founded a settlement here and refused to surrender it peacefully. You know how our capital lies only a few hundred miles to the north, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Shaka wants it gone?"

"Right!"

The men rode off toward the icy settlement. The Persian spearmen setting up defenses in the cold streets also wondered why Xerxes, King of Persia, had chosen to build here. Perhaps it was the fact that a decisive Japanese counter-offensive had halted military progress. Perhaps it was the fact that almost all of the Eastern Continent had been settled...Or perhaps it was Xerxes' continuous distrust of Shaka. Something drove Xerxes to challenege Zulu authority and build a settlement dangerously close to the capital...and Xerxes would soon pay for his mistake.

The attack began...two regiments of knights threw themselves against the frozen, shivering spearmen regiment tittering in the icy snow. Soon, it was all over. The Zulus, having no reason to keep the province, burned it to the ground, imprisoned the survivors, and returned to the warm interior.

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PERSEPOLIS - The Persian military secretary, Erik Mesoy, entered Xerxes' conference chambers.

"Sir," he called out. "Our tundra settlement has failed to Zulu knights. War has begun."

Xerxes, confident in his forces, nodded and said, "Good. It's time to teach these Zulu a lesson in foreign politics. When do you think they'd be ready to strike?"

Mesoy's expression was grave as he handed Xerxes an emperial chart, adding, "They're already on the way here!"

Woo, thanks for putting me in the story!

PINE SPRINGS - Shaka paced back and forth along the palace balcony overlooking Pine Springs. He knew is troops were arriving at the same time in Persia, ready to begin the war. This initial invasion, comprising of about six knight regiments, was later known as the "First Coming".

Shaka's advisor came in. "Shaka?" he said, walking over to the balcony. "Are you all right?"

Shaka nodded. "I'm fine," he replied, softly. He wondered if his troops would win out. Just then, he looked down and saw a woman, cloaked in rags, put something down by the palace steps. She lingered for a while, then left, dissapearing in an alley. A cry rang out from the bundle she left behind.

"What's that?" Shaka asked.

"I'm not sure...I'll go see."

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JUST OUTSIDE GORDIUM, PERSIA - A knight regiment landed on the sandy shores outside of the enemy city. Without stopping to rest or make camp, they assumed battle formation.

The two month trip had seemed never-ending for many of the men aboard. Finally ashore, they could release all their frustration on Gordium, the Zulu's first target. The city lay in a frozen area of the southern shore, not unlike the tundras south of Pine Springs. There was a small pine forest to the west and hills further on. A road ran through the city from Japan and continued on to Persopolis. Gordium was the westernmost Persian city in the south, and a must-have for the Zulus if they were going to take the capital.

As the knights prepared to leave the forest and strike, more men offloaded from the ships. This time, it was an old sword regiment, left over from the Babylonian war. Together, the knights and swords faced about one spearman regiment defending the city.

The battle horn sounded and the horses charged, followed by the swordmen on foot. The Persian spearmen braced themselves...

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PINE SPRINGS - The advisor returned to Shaka's chambers carrying something in rags. Shaka went over to him and looked. A baby's cry came from the old blankets and Shaka looked at his advisor.

"His name is Mpende," the advisor said, showing Shaka an attatched piece of paper.

"He was abandoned, then?" Shaka asked.

"Yes."

"Then, the boy goes to the orphanage."

"Wait...what if we train him up?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You've always said you've wanted an great leader to take charge in battle. You know that your current generals are not exceptional leaders. You want someone who will prove himself in battle and take charge of all the troops."

"Yes..."

"So let's train this boy up in military life. Let's teach him tactics, skills, history......enrich his mind and body. Then, we'll put him in battle. See what he can do."

Shaka nodded. "Okay," he said, "let's try it...Mpende."

Shaka's royal page walked in holding a emperial chart. "Sir!" he cried. "Look! They've taken Gordium!"

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GORDIUM - The Persian flag was lowered and replaced by the Zulu one. Many civilians had died in the fight, but Gourdium now rested in Zulu hands...the first Persian city to fall. With a Japanese Right of Pasage agreement, Zulu forces could now strike at the northern cities from Japanese territory and have an element of surprise.

"General!" the knight commander called out. The sword general came over.

"What is it?" he inquired.

"Shaka's orders. Your sword regiment will stay here while our knights ride forth to Persopolis, the capital. There, we'll meet with additional knight reinforcements to capture the city!"

"What?!! Why are my men ordered to fortify the city? Why can't we go and help in the seige of Persopolis?"

"Isn't it obvious, you don;t have the strength, speed, and endurace we do. The time of the swords id over...you had your battles. The time of the knight has arrived!!!"

Twenty years had passed since the fall of Gordium. In that time, the Persians had mounted a great counteroffensive and the war had sunken down into a bloody stalemate. In the fighting that ensued, the well-equipped Zulu army had taken Persopolis after a long, six-year seige. The city was retaken by the Persians several times after and finally burned, twelve years into the war. With Persopolis destroyed, the capital moved to Sidon in the east.

The city became the next objective for the Zulus, but the invasion that had overwhelmed the Persians in the beggining, was now only a memory. Almost all the original regiments and reinforcements were dead. Gordium, the Zulu base of operations, was destroyed, partially due to a brutal winter.

With a surviving force of barely two, foraging knight regiments, and the development of Persian musketmen (rumored to have come from China), the Zulus had no effective counterforce. Shaka's people had grown tired of war and yearned for peace. In Persia too, the people of Xerxes were demanding an end.

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PINE SPRINGS - Shaka walked over to the balcony, his body moving slower than at the start of the war. He knew what he had to do, but so many had been lost fighting that he began to think it couldn't be done. He opened an old history book and turned to one of the later chapters.

Chapter XVI: The Babylonian-Zulu War

After building the settlement of Ashur, on the borders of our capital, the Great Shaka knew he had to act decisively. He sent what forces he could to the front, knowing well that any failure would have disasterous results for our blosoming country. With great knowledge, and a decisive knew weapon called the 'sword', Shaka was able to crush the Babylonian traitors and claim all of the southern lands for the Zulus.

Military Facts:
No. who served in uniform: 17,550
Killed in action: 3,112
Wounded in action: 4,881

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Shaka turned away from his book and looked at the latest compiling of military documents:

Persian-Zulu War Document No. 616554

No. serving/served: 68,433
No. killed: 41,118
No. wounded: 11,244
Presumed captured/killed: 4,021

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Shaka saw before him, two options: he could back away right now and humiliate the nation, or send another massive wave of troops to finish the Persians off. His economy could withstand the war for a few more years before a recession set in. He called in his war minister.

"Yes, sir?" the minister asked as he walked into Shaka's chambers.

"Mr. Minister," Shaka replied, holding his history book. "I want you to write another chapter in this book...Build up our military once more. Send another wave of knights to Persia!"

The minister shook his head. "Shaka...our people don't think we can win this one. It's not our troops, it's just...Persia lies so far away, our supply lines are horrendous! They have the greater defensive advantage on home soil, with muskets. We need a break...please, Shaka!"

Shaka listened for a while and sat in silence. Finally he rose and turned to his minister, "Send my son...the people will trust my judgement if my son is with them. Don't send him as an officer...send him as a front-line knight. Do this now..."

The minister looked at Shaka for a second, then left.

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OSAKA, JAPAN - The populace rose and cheered the passing knights as they charged toward Bactra to the east. The once-Persian, originally-Japanese city had been captured in the First Coming and peacefully returned to Japanese control. The event had soldified friendly relations between the nations and allowed the continuous Right of Passage agreement to live.

Mpende paid little attention to the cries of the citizens...his eyes were fixed on Bactra. Although the Persian city lay about a hundred miles to the east, Mpende had a clear vision of the enemy in his mind.

Two days later, Mpende eyes were fixed on the gates of Bactra. The city, held only by two regiments of pikemen, was the last city immediately bordering Japanese territory. With the destruction of Bactra, the Japanese would be free to settle the open territory without Persian intervention.

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"DRAW SWORDS!" came the cry from a nearby officer. Mpende drew his silver weapon and pointed it at the waiting pikemen. His horse neighed beneath him and Mpende calmed it with a firm voice. The rolling foothills of Persia lay at his feet. The smooth, grassy peaks rolled into a massive, jagged mountainous uprising further east.

"CHAAAARGE!" the officer bellowed. His horse, trained to obey calls, bolted toward the city. Mpende steadied his shaking hand by taking deep breaths. This was his first battle and the only time his father, Shaka, had allowed his to fight. He had spent all of his childhood in military schools, training to become an officer. But, six months before, his father had pulled him out of the academy and enlisted him in the Knight Corps. With a superior knowledge of military tactics, he had risen to an admirable stance among his fellow knights.

A yell arose from several knights as they approached the defensive lines. Mpende looked beneath him and saw the grass streak by as his horse continued, untroubled. The pike lines drew closer...Mpende noticed the summer sun gleam off the metal engravings of the enemy pikes. Some pikemen were taking steps back as they saw the rush of war horses approach.

Mpende raised his sword as his horse galloped within fifty feet of the lines. His heart beat and sweat ran down his face. His sword shook in his hand, no matter how well he tried to steady it. The lines readied their pikes for the onslaught.

Twenty feet...Mpende's sword rose above his shoulder as he picked out his first target, a young boy nervously gripping his black pike. Ten feet...Mpende brought his sword down with all his might and slashed through the young boy's helmet, his body falling to the ground. Mpende's horse charged through the lines as several pikes brushed by his body harmlessly.

Suddenly, his horse gave a jump, as if he had run into a wall, and twisted to the ground. A pike rose from the front of the horse and fell as it came free of the animal's flesh. Mpende rose with great speed and held his sword tight. He charged at a nearby pikeman and deflected away his weapon, following with a chop to his neck. Blood spurted into the air as Mpende turned to face his next opponent.

As he looked, he noticed the great battle taking shape...knights cutting away at pikemen and visa versa. He couldn't tell who was winning or where he was, but he continued. Running further into the city, he encountered more pikemen. With excellent skill, he cut away at their body and they fell. Running to a nearby house, he did battle with several other pikemen before finally entering the bloddstained door.

The house was abandoned, but Mpende made his way, cautiously, to the second floor, and looked out one of the windows overlooking the battlefield. Wave after wave of knights were charging into the city. As he gazed toward the horizon, he saw Zulu reinforcements approaching. Mpende collapsed on a nearby chair and fainted...

Map Facts:
Purple = India
Yellow = Zulus
Light Blue = China
Dark Green = Japan
Light Green = Persia

An excellent story so far, I'm really enjoying reading it, even if I feel you could do with a slightly tougher opponent!


Makes me considering doing some succession games again

I understand what you mean by "horrid supply lines". But atleast your home territory looks great, and almost too good to be true if you build FP in one end and Palace in the other.
Great job. Try not to let it go to your head though.

An excellent story so far, I'm really enjoying reading it, even if I feel you could do with a slightly tougher opponent!

Click to expand...

Heh! As my first game, I decided not to take too many chances, so it's on "Chieftan" level (easiest).

I understand what you mean by "horrid supply lines". But atleast your home territory looks great, and almost too good to be true if you build FP in one end and Palace in the other.

Click to expand...

Dang! I didn't know what the forbidden palace did until later, and I ended up building it in Salmon Creek, right next to Pine Springs (the capital)...

Oh well. Atleast you know what forbidden palace is and I early FP often compensates for a not-quite-perfect-as-God placement . If I get a perfect placement, it is usually with a leader, or in 1600 AD.
Note: Your desc says Saiyan Warrior, did you notice that there is now a saiyan smiley? :saiyan: :saiyan:
Now stop listening to me ramble, go beat up everyone until they :worshp: to you! And if they will not bend their knees, break them.

BACTRA - Mpende was awoken by a patrol investigating the city.

"Hey!" the patrol said, shaking Mpende's arm. "Wake up! How long have you been here? Go to the captian...he'll need you for torch duty."

Mpende rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Torch duty?"

Walking downstairs, he exited the house and overlooked the battlefield. Stunned, he remained silent in the doorway.

The large field adjacent to the house was littered with bodies, rotting in the afternoon sun. Flies swarmed over the open wounds and bloody grass. Horses covered much of the open terrain as well. Axes and swords criss-crossed each other on the ground, their edges caked in dry blood. Looking down, Mpende saw some of the men he'd killed earlier, their armor gleaming and bright.

Walking over to his captian, Mpende was handed a torch and told to ignite the granary and houses. He walked over to his targets, stepping over bodies along the way.

The granary stood about twenty feet tall...its large dome holding a month's supply of grain. Mpende brought his torch by the wooden structure and watched as it began to darken and burn. The flames crept up the sides and black smoke filled the inside. Finally, the flames grew bigger until, the whole dome was an orange ball of fire, useless.

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ANTIOCH, PERSIA - The regiments approached the city, a key point, west of Sidon. The dawn's light barely illuminated the fortrified city. It rested at the foothills of the the great mountains, northeast of where Bactra stood. The surrounding countryside was heavily mined and the city provided Persia was a fantastic source of industrial wealth. If the city fell, the Persians would lose a great deal of might as well as have their capital threatened.

The knights readied for a charge. The city boasted two musket regiments facing four elite knight ones. The commanders knew it would not be easy, but with superior tactics, the city could fall. Most of the promised forces had been pulled back to aid in taking the great southern fortress-city of Susa.

The knights drew their swords and encircled the city for an all-out charge. Three regiments would lead the initial assault, followed by the last regiment to force the weakest point to fall.

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THE ROAD TO SUSA - Mpende tried to sleep as his horse trotted forward on the old road to Susa. This would be the first real test of Zulu might. Susa, (or as many soldiers called it, "The Great Southern Fortress") was garrisoned by no less than three musket regiments, one pike, and at least one spear.

Mpende's body would not cooperate...he could not force sleep upon himself. The regiment had been riding all night since Bactra had burned the previous day. His regiment had met up with several others, all marching toward Susa for the invasion. The morning's light, illuminating the blue sky meant another day without sleep for Mpende. His regiment continued...

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ANTIOCH -

"REGIMENTS, TAKE THE CITY!!!" the call rang out! Riders from all directions, charged toward Antioch as the sun lay just beneath the horizon.

From the fortifications, came the snapping of musket fire. The battle had begun...The 41st Knight Regiment awaited the command to attack. They were the fourth regiment, awaiting the time to charge the weakest defensive point while the others tested the Persian defenders.

The soldiers saw many riders fall onto the grassy field, their armor useless against musket balls. With a range of 100 yards, many would die before they reached the lines. Shouts rang out from the Persian defenders as the pikes were called in for close combat.

Some muskets fired off their last rounds before slinking back and leaving the pikemen to their jobs. The knights clashed and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Ten, then twenty minutes later, the knights continued their clashing, sword against axe. Few remained atop a horse. Those who did were prime targets for snipers.

Thirty minutes had passed, and the knights had thinned out significantly. The soldiers fighting in the distance now appeared sluggish, exhaustion had taken over. Half an hour of heaving twenty-pound swords had their effects.

Forty minutes...and nothing. Knights were now taking great effort in their sword fighting. Soldiers tripped over the dead as they fought, like jesters in a royal court.

FINALLY-THE WEAKNESS!!! On the eastern sides, where a distinguished regiment of knights had clashed, the pike lines had thinned far enough. The horn of the Zulus sounded over the field. The 41st rode off to the east as a line of musketmen followed, loading ammunition.

The knights already fighting, began to slowly pace backwards, yielding room for the impending assault. The 41st circled far enough and formed a 'V' formation, perfect for splitting apart a defensive line. The leading charger, a young man (known only to his friends as kittenOFchaos), drew his sword and kicked his horse forward.

The last regiment charged!!! To the fighting knights, this final regiment seemed to them a godsend...a divine intervention! They cheered, barely able to lift their swords as they skipped backwards, allowing ample space for the attack.

"There stands Antioch," kittenOFchaos told his men as they rode, "gateway to Sidon! Our objective!" The line of musketmen formed to face the invaders. "Our flag will fly high upon the halls and all shall cry allegiance to Shaka!"

One hundred yards...the muskets aimed their weapons...kittenOFchaos and the knights raised their swords...

All was silent, but for the galloping of the horses! The musketmen, fixed on their targets. KittenOFchaos smiled...the great sun finally burst over the eastern horizon and flashed its beautiful light over the eyes of the muskets! Blinded by the brilliance, the muskets pulled back...

The knights charged through and took out the musketmen with excellent speed!!! The pikes, exhausted from battle threw down their weapons and surrendered to the oncoming Zulu! Charging to the governor's hall, kittenOFchaos pulled down the once-proud Persian flag and threw it down among the bodies of his brothers...erecting the beautiful Zulu flag to flutter in the morning's rising sun!!!

ANTIOCH - The Chinese representative approached the Zulu regiment commander, and the two shook hands as the Zulu flag came down...

Antioch was now China's...a tribute to the Chinese whom had not allied with the Persians. The city would also be a barrier against a Persian strike toward Japan. The commanders exchanged some last remarks, then, the Zulus left for their next target...Sidon.

The Battle of Antioch had been terrible, however. Four regiments had been reduced to two, exhausted, war-weary ones. Fortunately, an additional regiment arrived from Japan and the three regiments all marched toward Sidon.

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SUSA, PERSIA - Mpende finally saw the great city of Susa, it's banners flying high from the temple. Eight knight regiments arrived, congregating outside the gates to prepare for the assault. An additional two regiments were offloaded from a galley recently arrived.

The lands were colder than in Bactra. A few miles to the southwest, snow still covered the ground from a recent winter's storm. Susa lay within a coastal valley surrounded by green, rolling hills and the sea. A naval blockade had been set up by the Zulus as well as a severing of all roads connecting the city. Running on the eastern side of the city, a small river flowing out of the mountains passed by, emptying through a delta just outside the city limits.

In the chilly air of the afternoon, as the wind whistled through the grass of the hills and the citizens of Susa finished their lunches, the attack began. The only way to successfully take the city would be to smash through the gates, enduring the musketfire. There was no way to encircle the city and prod the defenses. Great barriers prevented any assaults elsewhere.

The first regiments charged and were completely routed or destroyed by the highly-organized musket regiments. Four...then five...then six regiments were routed. Mpende's turn...

He rode toward the gate, leaping over his fallen comrades as he rode. The muskets crackled as he saw more of his regiment fall. He was still many yards from the gate when the retreat trumpet was sounded and the survivors fell back, losing many along the way...

Eventually, after several months seiging the city, Susa finally fell, unremarkably. The Zulus had lost half of their personnel and the Second Coming was over...

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SIDON - With three tired regiments outside the capital facing the most fortified city in Persia, Xerxes felt no reason why he should leave. The city had been cut off from the rest of the empire, but an underground movement continued the relaying of vital information.

"The Zulus have failed!" Xerxes declared after the fall of Susa. "Their numbers are too small now to pose any threat. I vow that as of today, Persia shall not lose any more cities!"

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And the vow came true...A subsequent assault on Tarsus, just east of Susa, proved disasterous for the Zulus. Even after calling the regiments sieging Sidon to Tarsus, the Zulus lost every regiment but one. This final, wrecked, injured, humiliated regiment, limped back to Susa...the last remaining Zulu-occupied city in the Eastern Continent.

The Persian-Zulu War was the most humiliating war for the Zulus. Losing hundreds of thousands of men, the end result was a ravaged, frozen settlement (Susa) in the south.

Persia, too, had lost many in the struggle. The nation would never recover from its loses, although it continued to survive in a corner of the world. The nation was practically ignored completely in national debates and sunk into virtual oblivion.

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PINE SPRINGS - The science advisor entered Shaka's chambers. The quiet man had rarely been seen recently...most of the nation's wealth was diverted to war activity, not science.

"Sir," the advisor spoke, "we've come across something. It combines the power of muskets with the fury of knights. We call it the cavalry."

Shaka looked up. "Are you saying we have a weapon to counter the musket's threat?"

"Yes, my lord. We do."

Shaka fell to his knees and prayed to the Zulu gods as he heard the wonderful news! The Zulus would have a "Third Coming" into Persia...or so Shaka thought.

Because, in the northeastern incense fields, where the peaceful Zulu colony was working hard to meet the demands of the nation, a terrible event was taking shape...and it would quickly turn into the largest, most brutal war the world had ever seen......

INCENSE COLONY, NEAR WINEBURG - The lunch bell rang across the small colony, and the workers all came together on the commons to talk and eat. Merrily, they spoke about their days under the afternoon sun.

Just then, a yell came over the whole colony from the gate. Indian representatives stood, their eyes looking about the colony. The Colony Master came over and greeted them. The Indians didn't respond. Instead, the represenatives handed him a piece of paper and made an official declaration to all.

"By the authority of the Indian Nation, your colony now rests within the borders of our newest settlement. Therefore, as of now, this colony is under Indian control and will be promptly shut down. All workers will leave our borders immediately...the incense fields now belong to India!"

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PINE SPRINGS - As Shaka drew up plans for the third invasion of Persia, his domestic advisor entered, hurriedly.

"Sir!" he cried. "Sir!...the Indians have taken possesion of our incense fields! They've built a city right by our colony and displaced the workers! We no longer have access to the incense..."

Shaka bolted from his chair, furious. "What!" he shouted. "How can that be?!! Call the Indian representative in NOW!!!"

Fifteen minutes later, the representative was speaking with Shaka at the palace.

"Uh, do try to understand, Shaka," the representative muttered, uninterested. "we need the incense to meet national demand. We'll gladly trade with you, of course...Gadhi would like the wines of Wineburg in exchange...there's no reason we can't come to some sort of agreement."

Shaka held back the intense rage he felt and spoke slowly. "The incense fields are ours and you may not simply take them at will. What would Gandhi like for the settlement he's built?"

The representative chuckled. "No...that settlement stays with India."

Shaka pounded the table!!! "Dammit! Give us control of that settlement or else!"

"Or else, what? Your armies are weak...the Persian War has dragged you into a recession. Our war elephants will crush whatever your puny nation can conjure...You're not fighting the Babylonians anymore...we will NOT be taken by surprise! The incense is ours!"

Shaka stormed out, headed for the Persian embassy.

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"Let me speak with the representative from Persia," Shaka told the secretary. The representative came out of his office.

"What do you want, Shaka?"

"Peace...without any strings attatched."

"Done...both our countries are weary of war. You may keep Susa as long as you promise not to invade our country again."

"Fine." Shaka left for the War Room. The time for action had come!

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SHAKA CITY - Mpende had finally mastered the new tactics of the cavalry. Initially, his orders had been to return to Susa and march on to Tarsus, Persia.

Recently, however, peace had been declared between the two countries and rumors were spreading of military tensions between India and the Zulus. Suddenly, the regiment commander called a meeting to discuss the most recent news.

"Gather round," the commander spoke with an odd, almost-saddened tone. "Let me update you on what's happened...Shaka has declared war on India!"

The regiment's silence erupted into an uproar of discussion.

"Silence!" the commander continued. "The incense settlement was destroyed twelve hours ago by cavalry regiments from the capital. Our mission objective now is to ride toward the incense fields and meet up with supporting regiments to march onto India! So...everyone mount up! We're leaving now!"

The regiment, stunned at the news, packed up quickly and rode off toward the west.

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PINE SPRINGS -

"All regiments have been called to Meeting Point A," the war minister reported. "We have eight cavalry regiments so far with more on the way."

"Good," Shaka replied. "Call the Japanese ambassador in."

"Yessir!"

A tall, well-dressed man in his early forties entered and sat down. After a brief greeting, the two men began the important discussion.

"Mr. Ambassador," Shaka began. "We gave you the cities of Persia as we went further in our struggle. I think the time has come for Japan to pay us back for our generosity."

The ambassador nodded. "What can we do?"

"Declare war on India! I know your nation probably cannot send any troops to help us, but the political act of declaring war would make our struggle that much easier."

"Hmm...okay. We'll do it. But I can't promise any help."

"That's fine. Thank you, sir."

The ambassador left and Shaka ordered his minister to usher in the Chinese representative.

"Ah! Representative Chang! How are you?"

"Good, good," Chang replied.

"Excellent! I have a proposition for you."

"What may that be?"

"Declare war on India and I promise you the military support of our troops. I have eight regiments ready for battle with more already on the way. I understand the Eastern Continent has become full. Why not lash out against your militaristic neighbor, India, and take some of his land?"

"Yes...that sounds good! But...our military is presently in financial trouble......Let's see...give us 140 gold pieces and your territory map, and we'll agree."

Shaka shook the hand of the Chinese representative: "Done!"

Very nice write up.

One remark though. In the first screenshot you are irrigating grasslands while in depotism (I assume you're in despotism, since you just started). AFAIK this is useless because the third food icon on grassland gets deducted in despotism. Would be better to mine those grasslands.