Orders: Spend 1 Jack to grow the economy (details in the story to follow). Expand west and south with the 3 armies, and attack the Ukrainians mercilessly with... BEARS!
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An ancient Russian folk tale dating back to the time of Petrov the Great, the first true despot of Russia, who legend has it domesticated the bear...
Once in the cold Russian autumn Petrov the Great and a band of hunters were out in the forests north of Moscow on a traditional yearly hunt. The ultimate goal of the hunt was to kill a large animal and bring it home for it to be feasted upon by the despot's entourage. Ideal for these purposes were deer or their ilk and so the hunt might last for days to find the perfect specimen. Indeed Petrov only took the best with him and so him and his group, all large, truly Russian men, with great beards and furry hats, was composed of experts. Of course in those times nobody belabored any points so while a modern individual may only be content after they explain every minute detail of a hunt these Russian men explained it in a few words: "Kill animal, stay alive."
So they forayed into the forest laden with stone spears and axes and all too willing to do the tradition justice. Suddenly Petrov comes across an injured bear in a clearing. The bear's back left leg was broken, however it was not prepared to go down without a fight. Although the men were all too ready to kill the bear so that the hunt could be over, Petrov was wiser than that.
"No," he announced, "We must do the hunt justice. Taking an already injured animal is the coward's way out, and truly we Russian men are no cowards."
No, of course not; the followers agreed unanimously that this was the case and so backed off the bear. Petrov however approached the bear and he looked into the bear's eyes and saw his soul. He saw in the bear a quintessentially Russian essence in the way the bear, despite being injured, was not about to give up, and indeed had had the strength to journey so far.
So Petrov ordered the bear be escorted back to Moscow for safekeeping. Despite the usual difficulties associated with owning bears it was mostly a simple affair. In time the bear became healthy again and it longed for the wide open space, and to be away from the humans.
For a whole year the bear tolerated the high-security stable until Petrov had the bear taken out one year later during the next hunt. He was to ride the bear in the hunt. At this proposition the bear was taken aback, and insulted. However Petrov was steadfast in his assertions. Although the bear resisted Petrov rose his heavy hand and the bear knew then who was master.
Legend has it that Petrov's efforts in this affair inspired his entourage to try it. Although many a good man were lost to attacks related to bears, the practice became quickly widespread and soon many people owned bears or used them in one capacity or another. The bear had been domesticated.
In this way Russia boomed as on the markets appeared bear this, bear that, buy your bear the best bearings around. No application, however, was so widespread as in the military, wherein bears were adopted as the official stallions of the Russian cavalry. By 2700 BC the Russian Combat Bears were feared in two capacities: as shock troops, deployed and then abandoned to tear apart enemy ranks; and as cavalry, men riding the bears into battle.
The Ukrainians and the Finns were suspicious, however, and feared the bear cavalry. The rapidly expanding Russian nation now had harnessed the bear, and its people were taking advantage of everything Russia's new position had to offer, including the sea lanes. Indeed, domesticating the bear had far-reaching effects.
EDIT:
Unique Unit: Bear Cavalry
Aggressive and dangerous units, can consume the flesh of fallen enemies to become sated. Perform exceedingly well in cold climates and forest regions; not so much in warmer areas.
