Here follows the account of Melda, Chief Minister of the Delphian kingdom and loyal steward of the rightful heir to the throne.
In accordance with the advice rendered by the council I proceeded forward.
My fourth term as chief minister passed with many setbacks, offset to some extent by some achievements.
Turn 1 game turn 95 / 550 BCE
Kirrha building Terracotta Army. Will be done in 22 turns.
Pythas's scouts continued west, following the coast to the south of the Polish lands.
Hellenism has now been established as the official religion of the Delphian kingdom! Its tenets include the building of stone circles, church property and holy warriors.
((Incidentally, we have now jumped up a lot on the scoreboard to second place. Not bad!))
Turn 2 game turn 96 / 475 BCE
I bring terrible news. The Shoshone have completed Terracotta Army, which means Kirrha can no longer do this. And the Polish have completed the Pyramids, foiling Delphi Nova's efforts. We have received money in compensation for our efforts, but I do not feel it was worth it. I misstepped in steering us toward these ventures, for which I take full responsibility.
In preparation for our army-building efforts, and since our cities were not going to be able to start work on them for some time before receiving these terrible tidings, I have taken the decision to construct barracks in both Delphi Nova and Kirrha. Once they are fully constructed, we can commence the establishment of highly-skilled armed forces. Delphi Nova will be ready to start recruiting troops in 8 turns, Kirrha 6.
I now have no ideas as to how we are to gain influence over Milan. If opportunities arise I will take them but for now I am flummoxed.
Turn 3 game turn 97 / 450 BCE
Pytheas's scouts reached as far westward as they could before encroaching on Polish territory. I have requested they bear back north and look for gaps to sneak through without risking war.
Turn 4 game turn 98 / 425 BCE
Our great thinkers have determined how to make iron from rock. It is most wondrous. Some are even saying we have entered the age of iron. I'm not sure about that, but what we may now do is replace our warriors' stone axes with iron swords!
I instructed our great thinkers to turn their minds towards further refinement of metal which should result in productivity improvements.
Turn 5 game turn 99 / 400 BCE
The Dutch have founded another strange, one-god religion in Amsterdam. Many-gods religions like ours are become the minority. Some have asked me if displeases the great Kong the Magnificent, head of the Delphian pantheon. I choose to leave such theological matters to the priests.
Other than receiving this news there were no major decisions to be made at this time.
Convocation of the Delphian Council game turn 100 / 375 BCE
A great traveller has compiled a work in which he describes Siam, the Netherlands and the Delphian Kingdom as the least wondrous places to visit. An insult, to be sure, on the back of the failure of two wonders recently under construction in the kingdom.
Pytheas's scouts found a passage through Polish lands, an unprotected gap between Warsaw and Wroclaw.
Our influence with Zurich, an ally of the hated Siamese, has lowered to the point where we are almost no longer friends. However, my sources within the city-state indicate that we will swing back into favour with them 12 turns because of the piety demonstrated by the Delphian people.
The people of Dostana want gold connected to our trade network. As we have no gold deposits within our territory the only way this will be achieved is through international trade.
Where things currently stand:
The Delphian people remain generally happy.
Our wise thinkers should have worked out how to make metal casing in 10 turns.
Delphi Nova's barracks will be complete in 4 turns, Kirrha's in 2. At that point I think we can start training troops en masse. Dostana will have fishing boats in 3 turns. The original plan was for it to construct Petra, but I will leave it to wiser minds than mine to determine if this should still go ahead.
With regard to growth, the capital is to grow larger in 2 turns, Kirrha in 17 turns and Dostana in 1 turn.
The Delphian people will next tolerate social change in 17 turns.
I took the liberty as chief minister to upgrade our warriors to swordsmen; they have now traded in their stone axes for iron swords and shields. They will one day make the other kingdoms tremble in fear at their might.
Ultimately, apart from the official founding of our state religion the only other thing I can be proud of from this term in office is that construction of the King's Road, or 'Meldanian Highway' as some have taken to calling it, progresses well. It will take many years until it is completed, but I believe it is an important and essential piece of infrastructure which will make all Delphians proud.
Here ends the fourth term of Melda, Chief Minister of the Delphian kingdom and loyal steward of the rightful heir to the throne.
I bear promising and heartening news regarding the royal line. I can confirm the former King Kong II is alive and well, however in my estimation he lacks the capacity to rule again. But I wish to commend to this august body the former king's nephew, who is young, strong and fit to rule.
O Great Council of the Delphian Kingdom, I hereby resign as chief minister of this great kingdom and beseech you to decide upon whether the former great king's nephew is worthy. Or if any others believe themselves to have the requisite blood to rule as anax, let them speak and be judged by the council!
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Melda, the former chief minister, waited patiently while the council deliberated. Despite the setbacks in his most recent term in office he felt contented. Years before he had reached these lands as a foreigner. In that time he had married a local Delphian woman and sired many children. But only now at his retirement as he ran his hands through his greying hair and beard, with his duty complete and successfully discharged did he finally feel like a Delphian.
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((Despite comments about bloodlines and the council, anyone can nominate themselves as a candidate and anyone can vote on the candidates. The following timeframes apply to this nomination/election period:
- Nominations close within five days from the timestamp of this post.
- If no other nominations are received I will continue on as chief minister for another two terms (thankfully unlikely now we have activity back in the thread! ).
- If at least one other nomination is received within the five day limit, there will be two days of voting and the winner will be leader of the Delphian kingdom.
Bring on the nominations!
))