Update 3 - 2700 BC
sorry about the wait, this one was a doozy.
HELLENIC REPUBLIC: Expands northeast as traders, learning their lesson from Carthaginian piracy, focus on internal economics. Economic boom takes place as Byzantium is established. Also, builds Cataphract Navies to combat the pirate threat, see special section below on Pirates!
KORYO: Strikes back as Xenshin horrors cause a massive militia army to build up. See special section below on Koryo-Xenshin War.
CALIFORNIA: Picks itself up following the rape of Irvine, rapidly reassesses situation. Bribes neighboring barbarians into joining with promises of gold and wealth, convincing many Nevada barbarians to join. Finally, defends against Mexican attacks with superior numbers and training. (+1 stone army, +1 marquis)
FLORIDA: Expands into Cuba and northwest into the Mississippi river delta. Grows economy and benefits from economic boom. Trades secrets with Mexicans, causing them to become civilized. See special section below on The Three Kings.
CARTHAGE: Sets up a haven in Sardinia, expands west. Continues to plague the Mediterranean with piracy, see special section below on Pirates!
MASSACHUSETTS: Expands north and west, benefits from economic boom. Sends troops to Chicago to combat Sioux. See special section below on The Three Kings.
SICILIA: No orders sent. Gold banked.
RUSSIA: Attacks Ukrainian barbarians, hard driving them back southwards.
XENSHIN: Attempts to consolidate gains but angers a large indigenous population, giving fuel to the enemy war machine. See special section below on Koryo-Xenshin War.
BENGAL: Expands west and east, pushes back Indians, grows economy.
TARTESSOS: Expands west, establishes trade with the union of the Channel. Is plagued by Carthaginian pirates, see special section below on Pirates!
ZULU EMPIRE: Expands north and benefits from economic boom as settlers settle the frontier. Encounters Congolese barbarians.
MADAGASKAR: Expands to the limits of the island, unifies island and enjoys the sign-up of conscripts.
KINGDOM OF MILAN: No orders sent. Gold banked.
WARNING: Will go NPC if orders are not sent this turn.
CHICAGO CONFEDERATION: Tries to expand south but heavy barbarian resistance stymies the attempt. Fierce battling with Sioux takes place along a broad front, ultimately loses land. See special section below on The Three Kings.
WU KINGDOM: Expands south, benefits from economic boom as rice paddies yield high amounts of crop.
CHANNEL UNION: Expands south, trades with Dani and Tartessos people, benefitting from middleman trading. (+2 growth points)
DANI TRIBE: Expands in the Baltic further, establishes friendly relations with Swedish barbarians. Trades with Channel Union. (+1 growth points)
SONGHAI: Expands south along the Niger river.
MEXICO: Is civilized from barbarians, immediately begins raiding Californian settlements - however Californian preparation causes Mexicans heavy casualties. Allows Florida access to trading post opposite the Rio Grande. (-2 stone army)
NIPPON: An advanced culture rises up in the far east, establishing the Imperial Monarchy of Nippon. Far more advanced than it's "balbalic" neighbors, Nippon stands poised to conquer a divided Korea.
ABALONIA: In the middle-east, the fertile crescent gives birth to the wealthy and respectable feudal monarchy of Abalonia.
Pirates!
Carthage gains a significant upper hand in the Pirate wars of the Mediterranean as the Carthaginian navy decisively outnumbers the Sicilians 3 to 1. Carthage was quick to capitalize on this advantage as it established pirate coves strategically throughout the western Mediterranean. Tortessus, which stubbornly continued trade with Sicilia despite extreme vulnerability to pirates, was the hardest hit as Carthage plundered vast amounts of gold from valuable Tartessian trade ships. Carthage also took advantage of Sicilia's seeming invalidity as Sicilian settlements were hit by rampaging pirates who took what they pleased. Despite this profit for Carthage, the Hellenic Republic was unwilling to allow Carthage to run rampant and bolstered the Sicilian numbers with their own Cataphract ships. While this tied Carthage's hands even further for easterly piracy, the west remains firmly under their control. (-1 growth points for Tortessus, Sicilia, +2 gold for Carthage)
Koryo-Xenshin War
The war took a surprising turn in this century as Koryo, on its last leg, struck back hard. Koryoans were called to serve in a militia force to drown Xenshin in numbers. Although Koryo morale had descended dramatically, a spike in conscripts occurred when the Koryo capitol was burnt to the ground by the Xenshin. Koryo refugees, escaping south, signed up by the thousands to serve as conscripts and defend their homeland.
That wasn't the limit of the surprises, either. A Koryo "death squad" escaped on a raft into the lands north of Xenshin. They attacked barbarians there, dressed in Xenshin military regalia, and escaped into the northern forests of Xenshin. Manchurians thus awakened, the Xenshin found themselves fighting a two-front battle as the Koryo hit from the front and the Manchurians hit from behind.
The actual battling further evidenced Koryo ingenuity. Koryo militia were sent out to bait the Xenshin into an attack. The Xenshin, thinking they had the upper hand, pounced, and sent March Infantry to flank what they perceived to be the main battle force to take the final Koryoan city. This was a move made in error, however, as it was revealed that Koryo had been well stocked behind the front lines. Two major battles took place between Koryoan militia, regulars, and the Xenshin march infantry. In both battles the Xenshin were ferociously destroyed and, with only one Xenshin army remaining, they were quick to retreat against the advancing Koryoan forces.
Koryo quickly gained control over their homeland and even made some forays into Xenshin proper. This, combined with Manchurian barbarians, may sound the death knell for the Xenshin nation. However, Xenshin still retains controls over a majority of its population, and its industrial capacity has remained undiminished.
The Three Kings
This century proved interesting for international cooperation as the three major powers of eastern America, Chicago, Massachusetts, and Florida, joined together in an alliance celebrating their monarchies. It is clear the pervasion of Floridian influence in this century especially as monarchical power structures rapidly became the government of choice in North America, evidenced by the adoption of the civic by Chicago, Massachusetts, and Mexico. The three powers, reveling in their similarities and combined capabilities, quickly set out to support one another. With the Sioux banging down Chicago's front door, Massachusetts immediately set about sending an expedition to aid them. Before support could come, however, the Sioux rampaged violently against Chicago's unprepared forces and took a large swath of land west of the Mississippi. When Chicago was reduced to defending the small settlement of Cairo, miraculously the Massachusettians arrived. Then ensued the largest battle ever fought in ancient history to date,with 60,000 men participating on behalf of the Three Kings and 100,000 fighting on behalf of the Sioux Warchief.
The fighting is said to have lasted a month but ultimately the East prevailed. Extremely well-trained Massachusettian soldiers are what preserved Chicago's territorial integrity as a Massachusetts general reported ninety-thousand enemy casualties as a result of their actions. Chicago thus saved and the enemy pushed back, the Sioux threat was greatly diminished as their will was broken against Cairo. The Massachusettians would stay in Chicago for years to come and it is said that this period brought the two people closer together by leaps and bounds.
Meanwhile in the south, the rapidly growing nation of Florida expanded its control voraciously. From Havana to New Orleans its influence spread, and it even sold the secrets of civilization the Mexican barbarians of the west. The Mexicans thus enriched, and encouraged by Florida, they assaulted the Californians. Such an attack ultimately proved in vain, however, as California was ready and defended its frontier capably. Even with this failure, however, Florida is easily asserting its dominance in the region, and it is clear that Mexico - guided from Orlando - will not let up in its quest to rip out the last shred of gold from California.
All in all, the alliance seems to be off to a lucrative start, and may soon come to dominate all of North America.
RANDOM EVENT: Bengalese monsoon season kicks off a fruitful harvest. (+1 growth points)
MAP
Update in 24 hours Thursday.