The Snake In The Grass

The Snake in the Grass

Prologue/Table of Contents-
I will be the Gorilla in the Mist, the snake in the grass, the bear trap buried under leaves, and the crocodile lurking in the muck of a steamy swamp.

I will be playing The Golden Hordes Mod, a mod which i honestly didn't find out about until several days before it came out, but here i am with the first story based around it. Now i will make some rule modifications because of the picky-bastard nature that i have. Notably removing corruption, making settlers and workers move faster, changing the tile graphics and civilization colors and possibly map size, resource values, worker speed, and other minor crap if i get real picky. But, i will still retain the mod in general, so I'm not playing some deviation of it that makes it seem like a completely different mod.

As for who i am playing as, not too sure, i will definitely be playing as one of the new 31 civilizations, since its time to give Sumeria and Ottomans a rest. I'll make the decision on the spot, tomorrow when i begin the game. I'll be playing on regent, since this is completely new for me, and i don't want to get hit with a train, but i also don't want to steamroll everyone in chieftain. The map will be the largest size (if in the mod its a 16 player map, i will make a 220x220 31 player map, i want to include all civilizations of course!), and it will be the lowest setting on mountains, medium land to water ratio, cool temperature (jungles can bite my ass), and medium rainfall.The victory will be set to conquests, accelerated production, nothing else.

I can already tell this will be a lot of fun, and the updates may be a bit rare in the beginning (school + football until the season ends (soon)) but i will definitely keep this one going. The reason i titled it "The Snake in the Grass", is unknown, it's just an expression that's pretty cool, maybe it will find meaning in the story, maybe not. Enjoy...


Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Early Darkness
Chapter 2: Lays Days of Despotic Rule
Chapter 3: Frost Quarrels
Chapter 4: The Rampant Age

Chapter One: The Early Darkness

We enter the realm as the Cherokee.

4000BC- Upon entering, we receive a starting land in which our capital will be built. This land is not the lushest of lands, but that is not even an inconvenience. The starving Cherokee people are just looking for some food. Thankfully, we stumble upon an area full of cattle. All of us use our minds and think, "Hey. Why should we run around eating berries and killing small mammals if we can live off of CATTLE?"

This gave us reason to settle. Tugaloo is founded and several men notice how close we are to the coastal areas.



Not foreign to the dangers that could be existing outside our lands, begin to make some Braves, not only to fight any savages, but also to explore and find more food, since i'm sure we will fill our borders quite soon.

We begin to learn Alphabet as soon as possible. Sure, we can go learn how to shoot arrows, but a written language is vital and my people embark on that.

3900BC- Our first brave is out exploring, and we continue to produce them, maybe to find another civilization to trade with.

3750BC- Our braves uncover knowledge of the land: To the north there is tundra dotted with forest, and to the east we are bordered by lush rivers and forests.



3700BC- Seeing that land exploration is bound to be slow, we push Tugaloo to make settlers to populate the coast to our south. This way, we will be able to explore the seas and find places faster.

3600BC- Our brave, just innocently exploring a spice-bearing forested area, stumbles upon some angry vagrants with whom he will clash.



3550BC- Although producing settler, Tugaloo is still growing very quickly. The cows really helped out the Cherokee people it seems. A brave to the east of Tugaloo disturbs more barbarians. It looks like our luck with wild people is dismal.

The western brave fares decently, taking some damage, but managing to clear one barbarian.

3500BC- On defense, the Western brave is stellar, defeating the other two barbarians and being promoted to elite status. he now walks the forests with pride.

The eastern barbarian has narrowed the band down to one.

Keetoowah is founded on the mouth of the west river. The rivers will now be referred to as the Kee river (west) and the Tug River (east)



3450BC- The last known barbarian is slaughtered.


3400BC- Enemy land is spotted! Having little clue as to who this might be, our elite brave lumbers its way over.



3300BC- We also send our settler in their direction to claim the aforementioned spices. We now begin to realize how important resources could become later on. The furs in the northern tundra, the silk in the eastern forests, and the spices we are aiming for could become quite lucrative.

3250BC- Ustanali is settled.



3150BC- We contact Argentina, who has two more cities than us and already has the knowledge of Alphabet. We know better than to throw away our wealth though, patience is our only friend in this place.



He wasn't a bad guy, just a little over the top with the jokes about my small civilization and whatnot.

3050BC- Tellico is our first city to the east, settled by some sheep and just outside the range of furs.



We also begin to uncover a peninsula it seems, to the south. it is inhabited by some angry barbarian tribes.



We also gain the knowledge of Alphabet, bow heading for Ceremonial Burial to expand our rich culture.

The first curragh is being produced in Keetoowah to explore the coast.

2950BC- Our elite Brave annoys some more barbarians out to the west by Argentinian borders. We are considering fleeing and leaving the Argentinian settler package to deal with it.

2900BC- To the south of Keetoowah, we discover what seems to be a small island which we plan on colonizing later on.

More angry warriors are disturbed out west.

2850BC- The warriors in the west are quickly taken care of.

Chota is built south of Tellico, by the silks, opening up a second coastal city.



We also learn Ceremonial Burial, so temples will be created quite soon.

We decide to head after the wheel, to gain access to the rumored Horses.

2800BC- The savages on the peninsula are cleared out.

We decide to speak with Argentina once more and see that we caught up city-wise but still lack in technology. We gave them what we had- Ceremonial Burial, for 24 gold, leaving them bankrupt.

2710BC- It turns out the peninsula isn't empty like i had thought.



Barbarians are disturbed by tundra mountains to the north of Tellico.

2670BC- Now things might be getting interesting. Argentina wants to settle to the south of them in the forests i had been eying up for quite some time.



The peninsula dwellers turn out to be Denmark. Who are more advanced that Argentina. I am beginning to think that might not be a peninsula, they could have contact with other empires that i have no knowledge of yet.



Kiowe is settled on the east coast.


2630BC- Honestly, the irony of this makes me laugh really hard.



I guess they're just deserters or something...

2630BC- We learn The Wheel, now embarking on writing.

2590BC- We market our tech to Argentina for Warrior code and 20 gold, not to Denmark since they already beat me to it. (Or they beat me to it, see image under Argentina image)





And then i find out i have contact with the Baltics, a tribe which i have no idea about their location and how they found me. The Baltics are also ahead, but not as much as Denmark.



I find out that the Baltics live in the desert to the south of Argentina. Seems the land is looking a lot less open now AND as if that's not enough, i see more borders to the south across the water.



I decide to send a settler down to the ithsmus- whatever that strip of land is- to claim it before any other country's beefy fingers grip it.



Over in the west, Chickmauga is settled, beside some thoroughly disappointed Argentinian settlers, pushing them west. My empire is fourth in the world, not too bad .



2950BC- My empire is now constantly churning out settlers, braves, and temples. Things are beginning to pick up.

Alright, we cut the Argentinians off from expanding southward, let's see if we can do the same for the eastward expansion.



2510BC- We meet the Songhai, who dwell to the south of the Baltics.



We are delighted to see that trade is capable with them. We give them Alphabet and Ceremonial Burial for Masonry and the last of their gold reserves.



The gap is closing between the Cherokee and Denmark and Argentina.

Oconee, the aforementioned canal city, is finally settled.



We meet Tibet (Orange in the screensgot of the southeastern civs that are near Denmark)



And Siam (dark blue in that same screenshot)



Both area ahead significantly in technology (but not cities and wealth ), with Siam up a whopping four technologies on us.

Echota is built by Argentinian borders to the north.



I believe that even though we are lagging behind in technology, we have vast wealth and land and it's safe to say we are out of the beginning Dark Ages...

Who knows, maybe i can be a snake in the grass...

So, phirst. I love Dan's graphics.

I love the history! Great work man!

Good story. Good choice of terrain gfx, too.

Chapter Two: Last Days of Despotic Rule

2510BC- As we begin to see that cities other than the capital are capable of producing settler, Tugaloo begins to work on the Panthenon, a wonder which grants two advances when completed. If we cant get a way to catch up, this will help us close the gap.

2430BC- Chattanooga is settled.



2390BC- Tennessee is settled.



Yet another empire is spotted to the south of the Baltics.



We enter a barbarian village and expect conflict, but instead met by a pleasant surprise: Mysticism.



2350BC- We learn Writing,and now go for Iron Working to possible secure this resource.

We establish embassies with everyone and then meet the civilization under the Baltics: Ireland.



2190BC- In Tugallo, there is a shortage of laborers to complete the Parthenon as quickly as i wished, so, i will build a colony on the wines just outside of Chickamauga.

Cowee is built due south of Oconee.



We also learn iron Working, and now head on to Map Making.

As for the Iron, we have none in our borders, but there is some very close by.



2030BC- And now we have a problem.



The only other sources i know of are far up in the tundra.

Ocanaluftee is settled.



And so is Tahlequah.



1990BC- We find another civ, this time south along the coast from Denmark.



Sugar Woods is founded.



Then i get this message. My plans are foiled!



1950BC- I meet the empire south of Denmark, the Etruscans.



We learn map making, and now attempt to learn Philosophy.

1910BC- I thought i might get excited to trade Map making, but only two civs don't have it. The Songhai are dirt poor and have nothing to exchange for it, and the newly met Etruscans refuse to trade. Great.

But hey, at least the Barbarians are generous to me right? They give us horseback riding.



We meet Abyssinia, who is advanced as well. They dwell south of Tibet.



In world news, Ireland declares war on the Baltics.
1870BC- Qualatchee is founded.



1830BC- Kulsetsiyi is founded, securing us a source of Iron.



1725BC- Estatoee is built.



And so is Toxaway.



1700BC- I meet Austria, who resides east of Abyssinia and Siam.



1675BC- Anisgayayi is settled.



1650BC- Tomassee, Itseyi, and Ellijay are founded.



Code of Laws is learned, Literature is next.

1625BC- Watauga is settled.



I discover Australia, a civ who resides to the east of Tibet.



We make a deal, receiving Mathematics for Code of laws and 40 gold.



I then glance at Siamese cities and realize that they are not like they were before. I speak with Ram Khamhaeng and it is confirmed. They are in the Middle Ages! Abyssinia also has taken that step.





1600BC- I decide that it's time to make some trade moves. I buy Currency from Abyssinia for 350 gold. Then i sell currency to Austria for Literature and 160 gold. Then i sell Currency and Literature to Australia for Construction and 30 gold. Then i make the move that launches me into the Middle Ages: Selling Currency to Tibet for Polytheism and 41 gold.

Our free tech from scientific trait is Engineering, which helps a lot so we can have a war soon without having to worry about crossing over the Kee and Tug rivers when marching troops to our enemy, thanks to our new Bridges. We research feudalism next so we can create powerful Medieval Infantry to bash our targets with.

Now here i am, making deals with the Big Guys. I give them Engineering for Monarchy and 93 gold. And then i cash Engineering in with Abyssinia for 530 gold, nearly doubling my treasury.





I revolt to Anarchy so i can now transition into a Monarchy.

As you can see, things are beginning to pick up. I was real patient until i waited for the right moment to trade. That coupled with my high number of productive cities and heavy treasury makes me one of the most powerful forces in the world.

Can we haz a world map?

lurker's comment: Good to see you back, dominatr! I hope that we can see this story conclude.

Takhisis said:

Can we haz a world map?

Click to expand...

Yeah, i'll post one at the end of the next update

Sparthage said:

lurker's comment: Good to see you back, dominatr! I hope that we can see this story conclude.

Click to expand...

glad to be back, and of course, i'm really enjoying this one!

We're enjoying it, too.

This story is great, I can't wait for more.

This is great! I'll be following it till the end!

Chapter Three: Frost Quarrels

So as a rising power, i decided once i am out of Anarchy, i should try to attack someone. My primary goal is to attack Argentina, but if not, I'll go for Denmark.

1575BC- Tawsee is built.



1550BC- Dustavalunyi is built, concluding my settling.



1475BC- I give the Baltics literature for 115 gold and 3 workers. They have fallen behind most likely from their war against the Irish.

I end the Anarchy and am in a Monarchy now. Lumber Mills, Forges, Libraries are being built in all cities. Lighthouses on the coastal ones, and Walls and Castles on the Key border towns, like Cowee (by Denmark) Sugar Woods, Chickamauga, and Echota (all three border Argentina) After i complete most of these buildings i will begin making Medieval Infantry .

The Songhai and Argentinians send settlers through my territory and this might mess with my plan of war against Argentina.

1425BC- Production is beginning to become rapid in well developed cities, like Tugaloo producing 21 shields per turn, Tellico with 21, and Chattanooga pumping out 26 per turn. These will be instrumental in producing troops a bit later on, but libraries and marketplaces should optimize their revenue.

1400BC- East of Abyssinia along the coast, we meet the Arawak, who seem very large and are around my area in knowledge.



As i was sailing past the Etruscan capital, i am ambushed by a galley in their harbor, who fails to even put a scratch on my galley.



I doubt they will even reach me with their troops before asking for peace, but i don't see why i shouldn't start producing a military right about now.

1375BC- East of Australia, i find the Apache, who are in the same position city number wise and technologically.



I learn feudalism, which means its MDI time! Next i go for invention. Sun Tzu's art of war is started in Chickamauga.

1350BC- The Baltics and Ireland cease their fighting.

1325BC- I find Poland who is north along the coast from the Apache. They are a bit behind.



I decide to scrap the Argentina plan because of the mass of settler clans parading through my territory that would mess up the plan. Instead, i would attack the Songhai. They are the weakest technologically in the known world and are pretty close. In my plan below, Red lines are land advances, blue is by sea, and green lines are defense lines in case they counterattack. I'm hoping to drive them into the southern jungle tip of their peninsula.



As i mobilize for war, i remember to keep trading technologies. I speak with the Danish and they have a fair deal: Monarchy for Feudalism.



1250BC- We learn Invention. Next we go for Chivalry so we can have fast moving Knights to help us in a future war against Argentina.

1200BC- As i am amassing Medievel Infantry at Tahlequah, it hits me. Why should i wait for Chivalry when i can trade for it? I speak with Abyssinia and work out a deal.



Next i go for Theology since it is cheaper than Gunpowder, therefore quicker to acquire.

1175BC- I forgot i was at war with the Etruscans and they punish me for my forgetfulness by eating up one of my workers.



1150BC- The following turn, i am able to get peace with them and they pay me decently with a city. I'm totally fine with entering a war, not fighting and getting land out of it.



Velch is situated in the jungles by Tarquinii (Etruscan capital), and looks like it could flip if i don't get some culture resonating from it pretty soon.

I then declare war on the Songhai, fighting with their settler packages traversing through my territory, hoping to take slaves and feed some of my lower population cities.



We clash at several spots in my borders and i end up with no lost troops and 8 new slaves to assimilate into my cities.

Seeing that Chickamauga is struggling to keep its high population happy, we have a word with Argentina and they are trading us Gold (luxury) for Furs and 150 gold.

1150BC- Alright, NOW i've got a real reason to be pissed. Those backstabbing Argentinian bastards attack me one turn after setting up a resource trade. They have settler packages roaming throughout my land and are around my size in cities, so this one could be brutal. this also changes my attack plan. In their attack, the Argentinians capture Ellijay.



1125BC- My plan now is to sweep through southern Argentina and reinforce the northern tundras so they don't meeth the same fate as Ellijay. I still plan to capture Birnin Kibbi, but further than that with Songhai won't happen. I will use galleys to fend off any incoming warships, and i am primarily fighting Argentina now. I don't think the Songhai horsemen will be anything more than a pest.



Birnin Kibbi succumbs easily and is autorazed. It will be replaced with a Cherokee city soon. The troops from down there advance north to Santiago del Estero. We also clash at the Echota - Mar del Plata border.

MEANWHILE, i meet Israel, who lives south of the Arawak. They are terribly backwards, lacking even mathematics or literature. I remember when my country couldn't add numbers.



Songhai fails an attack on Sugar Woods, but seems to be mobilizing more troops than i had originally thought.

I learn theology, onward to Education. Canada completes Sun Tzu's art of war, and i was several turns away from completing it myself. We switch to Leonardo's Workshop.

1100BC- We capture Santiago del Estero.



In the water against the Songhai, we fare poorly, losing both our galleys to theirs. Up at Estatoee, we kill off some attackers with MDI, saving it from destruction.

South of Israel, we meet Illyria, who is as backwards as their neighbor.



We complete Leonardo's Workshop.



1075BC- The Songhai seem to be attempting to mount an attack on Santiago del Estero.

Sailing along the northern coast, in the tundra we find the Huns.



We clear the stack of encroaching Songhai and a Brave of ours wins a battle and triggers a golden age for us. Just when the world thought be couldn't rise anymore, we climbed to a completely new level.

1050BC- Tallulah is settled on the ruins of Birnin Kibbi.

Wishing to concentrate my attention solely on Argentina, i make peace with Songhai. At a price though. For them. They hand over Mopti and Boussa.



Now we approach Santa Fe for another attack. In the northern tundra, we close in on several cities and things are not looking too great for Argentina.

1025BC- Our attacks on Catamarca and Ellijay aren't too successful, but knights are coming in to help. Santa Fe holds fairly well, but Rosario isn't as fortunate as the others.



Education is discovered. My next target is banking so after the war i will be able to build some banks and rake in profit.

1000BC- I decide to trade with Siam, giving them Education and 170 gold for Gunpowder.



We capture Catamarca finally.



Ellijay rejoins the Cherokee nation.



Corrientes does as well.



975BC- After another shot at Santa Fe's staunch defenses, we are able to overcome, although losing more than would have liked in the process. We capture a jackpot of 13 slaves!



With such a stellar victory, it can be considered the end of an age. To show our current progress, i present a map of the known world.



My possessions that are not part of the main empire are Boussa and Mopti by Ireland, and Velch by the Etruscans.

Hey, this is entertaining and I love the screenies, but it takes an age to load.

Takhisis said:

Hey, this is entertaining and I love the screenies, but it takes an age to load.

Click to expand...

yeah i make each chapter have around 30 screenies, because i like to be consistent, but at least its worth the loading time!

I would not say that a load time is a problem. At least to me.

I haven't had time to play it yet, but it looks like it would be worth a long loading time.

Can't wait for the next update! I wonder if he'll declare war on the Baltics.

Subbed.

Chapter Four: The Rampant Age

950BC- Apparently, i met the Polynesians. As i look over the map, i find out that they have a city next to the Hun one in the tundra and they must have spotted my ship.



The war with Argentina continues, with an easy victory at Cordoba.



925BC- We capture Jujuy easily as well.



Mar del Plata almost lets us march right in.



Santa Rosa is taken over by my knights.



We are contacted by the Holy Roman Empire and they offer us Printing press for Education. I renegotiate it and end up getting this:



I recieve Printing Press, contact with Khmers, Canada, Brazil, Phoenicia, Mali, Tupi, Kush, Manchu, Nubia, Mexico, and the Sioux. I give them Education, contact with Baltics, Argentina, Songhai, and Ireland, and 60 gold. I'd say that's a good deal for me.

After the deal is passed, i get various trade requests from my new contacts. Nothing catches my attention. They all involved giving me the Republic (which i have no need for) and some Luxury that i also don't want, in exchange for techs, contacts, or gold per turn.

I learn banking, and its off to learning Chemistry. The main reason i want chemistry is because it allows for the construction of the Porcelain Tower, which has an effect of "One more trade in each trade producing tile" If i build it, i will be economically stable when exiting my golden age and with the crazy production i have in some of my cities, i don't see why i shouldn't build this. I can research chemistry in 4 turns and still net in 347 gold per turn.

900BC- As i am establishing embassies with my new contacts, i try to make an embassy with the Sioux, but it won't let me. It shows they have no cities, and this could mean that someone has been fighting with them to the point of extinction. I find that this is not true because i speak with Sioux and they display a list of 14 cities.



I head out to sell Banking and i find a generous buyer in Tibet. Nobody else wants to pay any money, so it seems they are the only ones that will get Banking from me.



We launch an attack on Salta, nearly capturing it, but it stands guarded by timid warriors.

875BC- Salta is ours.



850BC- As i look at some of my cities, the golden age has accelerated production so much, with Echota producing 71 per turn, Chickamauga with 57, and Tugaloo with 50.

After a short period of preparation, Buenos Aires is about to get pummeled.



825BC- Chemistry is learned, we move toward Economics to nab Smith's Trading Company as well.

800BC- Buenos Aires is greeted by our Knights after the last defender falls to our feet.



La Plata is also taken.



And so is Mendoza.



Argentina is down to just three cities.

We also complete the Porcelain Tower.



775BC- Yet another capture, this time San Luis.



750BC- Parana falls. One city left to go. With 21 knights charging through the tundra to La Rioja, things are about to wrap up.

730BC- At last, La Rioja is annexed and the Argentinian empire is no more.

Troops have already began mobilizing to the Cowee-Alborg border to prepare for an attack on Denmark. With our empires crazy production speed, it would be a shame not to put it to use by building a constant stream of knights.

We acquire Economics, and next pursue Metallurgy.

710BC- Here comes some trades. First, we hit up Tibet, giving them Economics for Metallurgy and 160 gold. Our research changes to Physics.



Then Siam gives Music Theory, 20 gold, and 4 gpt for Economics.



Poland gives us Astronomy for Economics and Metallurgy.



Smith's Trading Company is completed.



650BC- With 95 units stationed in Cowee, i think it's time to move on in.

Alborg is captured quickly.



Physics is learned, next is Theory of Gravity.

630BC- Our Knights are placed in a strategic location, on a mountain for defense and in proximity of two cities which can be taken at once.



610BC- Hedeby is captured.



Odense is ours too.



Troops advance toward Roskilde, the Danish capital.

JS Bach's Cathedral is completed.



590BC- Roskilde is captured after a very long fight, giving us control of the Great Lighthouse.



570BC- Ribe is captured.

As i begin to realize how easy this war is, i decide that i should try to attack the Baltics soon, and have two wars going on, since i can obviously afford it. Knights begin to station at Cordoba, aiming for Taurage soon.

I learn Theory of Gravity and go for Magnetism so i can reach the next age. Newton's is being built in Tugaloo.

550BC- Denmark requests peace but i decline. War shall continue.

530BC- The battle of Viborg is unnecessarily long, but we win it.



As this chapter comes to a close, we consult with our adviser to chat us our progress and this is what he comes up with.