Evil Game I - Carthage, Regent (Picture Intensive)
- Thread starter Symphony D.
- Start date
Symphony D.
Deity
I had it set as a link originally, but I figured what the hell. I can change it back if it's that bad. Should be updating sometime later today.
While I'm at it, having read Ision's Fascism vs. Communism article, anyone else have any opinions on his findings? If he's for the most part correct (as it seems he usually is) I know which way I'm heading with the game.
While I'm at it, having read Ision's Fascism vs. Communism article, anyone else have any opinions on his findings? If he's for the most part correct (as it seems he usually is) I know which way I'm heading with the game.
necrosmith
Warlord
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2003
- Messages
- 167
Symphony D.
Deity
The brutal betrayal of the Indians was not without its positive side-effects - at least for the Carthaginians. A gamble on the idea of Currency, a standarized form of paying for transactions, resulted in a distinctly new age for the people of Carthage, starting sometime around 0130 B.C.
Hannibal's government, having just come off the Second Indo-Carthaginian War and having just entered this "Great New Era", decided to ease up restrictions on personal freedoms - setting its scholars about the study of Feudalism, which the theologans and philosophers said would yield benefits in military endeavors - something Hannibal could see the value in given his recent designs. But war was not quite the immediate issue. There were other things to deal with. Peace was made with the Persians and the Mongols - to the gain of 79 and 48 Gold for Carthage, respectively. The diplomatic relations with Persia had revealed they had knowledge of Engineering - apparently Carthage had not been alone in its advance. About that time, Bangalore and Lahore were renamed to Theveste and Tingis; the first steps in the ambitious plan of 0170 were beginning to be taken.
There was a problem however...
They called themselves Estruscans. They were a bothersome people, no more advanced than the other scum which had plagued Carthage's frontiers since the dawn of time, but more threatening in that they liked to assemble in large hordes - groups dubbed "Waaaghs!" for their battle cries - rather than attack Carthaginian holding in a more piece-meal fashion. They were also notoriously tough to get rid of. The last great Waaagh destroyed itself at the gates of Rusaddir soon after its formation in the Tibesti Mountains, but it would take until 0050 B.C. for their camp to be destroyed.
Soon thereafter, the instrument of the Estruscan's destruction, the glorious D.S.A., finally began making its way into Rusaddir, where Hamilcar had begun assembling his troops into Swordsman Army I - a rather unimaginative name, and one made before standardized military designations of troop deployment sizes had been developed. Even after the full structuring of his forces, Hamilcar waited in Rusaddir for some time - until 0050 A.D. to be precise. No one was quite sure what had prompted this change in dates - most simply assumed it was on the will of the great Hannibal, but none were certain. Nevertheless, in that year, Swordsman Army I and the D.S.A. embarked from Rusaddir on the long trek to French territory.
Expansion continued with the founding of Rusuccuru in 0110, and like previous efforts in the past was met with intermittent fighting with the uncivilized heathens who dwelt on the fringes of Carthaginian territory. A new architectural masterpiece of the ages was completed in Carthage at this time as well.
Dubbed the Mausoleum of Mausollos, it was little more than a glorified tomb, but crafted as a place for the living to enjoy themselves, rather than brood on the thought of death - as well as the final resting place for one of the most affluent members of Carthaginian society at the time. The citizens of Carthage itself seemed to grow more at ease at the ability to see the structure from any point in the city - perhaps as a testament for the accomplishments of men to outlive the men themselves.
The construction of the Mausoleum was to foreshadow other accomplishments - in 0130 Swordsman Army I finally came within range of the French city of Tours, and war was declared upon France once more.
The Mongols, former enemies, were persuaded to join the fold for no cost after an Embassy was constructed in their capitol - indeed, but mere decades ago they had taken the French city of Orleans. The initial skirmish at Tours was inconclusive, however, it did later provide the inspiration for a great work of literature.
At the resumption of 'good' relations with the once hated enemy, the Mongols were given Construction, Code of Laws, and 65 Gold for the concept of Monarchy - rule by divine right. This knowledge, in turn, was given to the Dutch, along with 164 Gold, in return for the idea of the Republic - rule by the people. To compensate for the monetary loss, the Republic was then sold to the Vikings for 204 Gold. Hannibal did not plan for the use of either idea immediately - the destabliziation required would be too risky under current conditions - but it would be good to have both options available when the time was right.
At this juncture, it is likely prudent to focus in upon what was known in Carthage as the French Campaign, rather than continue with an overall view of the period's history, for the sake of simplicity.
(Click for Larger Image)
The French Campaign was, as conflicts go, essentially low intensity. It has been argued that without the presence of Hamilcar's Swordsman Army I, would also have been virtually impossible to accomplish, as the Carthaginian tactics of the day were clearly inferior to what is understood today (assaults over rivers, et cetera). However, to note this is to note the obvious; Hannibal only undertook the venture because he had that particular unit at his disposal.
The affair was rather simplistic - Swordsman Army I was easily capable of powering through French defenses after a short siege, and the French, weakened by years of warfare with their neighbors and their essentially pacifistic stance on matters, only mustered a reasonable reply against Carthaginian aggression in a number of skirmishes in the mountains north of Chartres. This distraction kept them from dealing with the main threat to their empire, and, tired and weakened, they were finally brought to heel in 0340 - a long siege of their final city marking the end of their minor civilization.
In the area of peaceful accomplishments, the age of the French Campaign was also one of great boon to Carthage, most notably in the area of expansion. Calaris, Gigthis, and Cadiz were founded in 0150, Nora in 0280, Zouchis and Carthago Novo in 0300, Cirta in 0310, al-Kaf in 0320, Leptis Minor in 0330, Gades in 0340, and Zama in 0350 - Carthaginian expansion was all but complete, only one planned city remained which had not been founded. In a darker vein, the more sinister elements of CEP0170, as the guiding plan came to be known, also took shape, as the Indian cities which stood in the way of Carthaginian progress were systematically destroyed as the newer cities encroached on their positions. It is estimated on the order of 50,000 Indians who refused to leave their homes died during the destruction of their cities. Despite this, at the conclusion of the French Campaign, Carthage entered a state of political upheval (anarchy is not precisely the correct term - life in the cities continued much as it had for untold years before) as Hannibal's government did its best to restructure itself into something more efficient.
It was also a time of great engineering accomplishments, though many were completed by powers other than Carthage - the Incans completing the Great Library, the Russians completing the Great Wall, the Vikings building the Statue of Zeus, and, perhaps the most detrimental of all to Carthage itself, the Persians completing the Temple of Artemis. There was also the politicking, as there always was. The Mongols withdrew early from their committments to destroy the French, though by that point their aide was no longer necessary. Trade continued as well, though the deals of the day were minor at best - the only notable transaction being the sale of the notion of Feudalism to the Zulu in return for the ideas of Engineering and 145 Gold.
The time after the French campaign was to not to bring about an era of peace however. It began at the provcation of the Zulu in the years following the beginning of political upheval in Carthage.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was an idle threat, in the opinion of both Hannibal, his Generals, and the Military Advisor. Carthage could have easily paid the "tribute" but the notion was rejected merely on principle. Indeed, it wasn't until 0410 that the first Zulu troops - a single detatchment of Warriors - made their appearance on the Carthaginian border, where they simply took up a position on a mountain top and stayed. It was not long after then, in the year 0430, that word was sent throughout the land and the world that a new power had risen - the great Republic of Carthage. Hannibal had determined that the troops capacities estimated under this form of government would be sufficient for defense and small-scale offense while at the same time providing great economic stimulus - indeed, the Carthaginian economy skyrocketed at the sudden lifts in economic restrictions (+48 gpt).
Even this so called "phony war" with the Zulu, a state of relative peace, was not to last. Hannibal's notorious temper combined with the second demand of the Persians that Swordsman Army I, off to do glorious battle with the distant Zulu, be removed from their territory, stirred his ire to no end.
(Click for Larger Image)
And so Carthage again marched to war.
Hannibal's government, having just come off the Second Indo-Carthaginian War and having just entered this "Great New Era", decided to ease up restrictions on personal freedoms - setting its scholars about the study of Feudalism, which the theologans and philosophers said would yield benefits in military endeavors - something Hannibal could see the value in given his recent designs. But war was not quite the immediate issue. There were other things to deal with. Peace was made with the Persians and the Mongols - to the gain of 79 and 48 Gold for Carthage, respectively. The diplomatic relations with Persia had revealed they had knowledge of Engineering - apparently Carthage had not been alone in its advance. About that time, Bangalore and Lahore were renamed to Theveste and Tingis; the first steps in the ambitious plan of 0170 were beginning to be taken.
There was a problem however...
They called themselves Estruscans. They were a bothersome people, no more advanced than the other scum which had plagued Carthage's frontiers since the dawn of time, but more threatening in that they liked to assemble in large hordes - groups dubbed "Waaaghs!" for their battle cries - rather than attack Carthaginian holding in a more piece-meal fashion. They were also notoriously tough to get rid of. The last great Waaagh destroyed itself at the gates of Rusaddir soon after its formation in the Tibesti Mountains, but it would take until 0050 B.C. for their camp to be destroyed.
Soon thereafter, the instrument of the Estruscan's destruction, the glorious D.S.A., finally began making its way into Rusaddir, where Hamilcar had begun assembling his troops into Swordsman Army I - a rather unimaginative name, and one made before standardized military designations of troop deployment sizes had been developed. Even after the full structuring of his forces, Hamilcar waited in Rusaddir for some time - until 0050 A.D. to be precise. No one was quite sure what had prompted this change in dates - most simply assumed it was on the will of the great Hannibal, but none were certain. Nevertheless, in that year, Swordsman Army I and the D.S.A. embarked from Rusaddir on the long trek to French territory.
Expansion continued with the founding of Rusuccuru in 0110, and like previous efforts in the past was met with intermittent fighting with the uncivilized heathens who dwelt on the fringes of Carthaginian territory. A new architectural masterpiece of the ages was completed in Carthage at this time as well.
Dubbed the Mausoleum of Mausollos, it was little more than a glorified tomb, but crafted as a place for the living to enjoy themselves, rather than brood on the thought of death - as well as the final resting place for one of the most affluent members of Carthaginian society at the time. The citizens of Carthage itself seemed to grow more at ease at the ability to see the structure from any point in the city - perhaps as a testament for the accomplishments of men to outlive the men themselves.
The construction of the Mausoleum was to foreshadow other accomplishments - in 0130 Swordsman Army I finally came within range of the French city of Tours, and war was declared upon France once more.
The Mongols, former enemies, were persuaded to join the fold for no cost after an Embassy was constructed in their capitol - indeed, but mere decades ago they had taken the French city of Orleans. The initial skirmish at Tours was inconclusive, however, it did later provide the inspiration for a great work of literature.
At the resumption of 'good' relations with the once hated enemy, the Mongols were given Construction, Code of Laws, and 65 Gold for the concept of Monarchy - rule by divine right. This knowledge, in turn, was given to the Dutch, along with 164 Gold, in return for the idea of the Republic - rule by the people. To compensate for the monetary loss, the Republic was then sold to the Vikings for 204 Gold. Hannibal did not plan for the use of either idea immediately - the destabliziation required would be too risky under current conditions - but it would be good to have both options available when the time was right.
At this juncture, it is likely prudent to focus in upon what was known in Carthage as the French Campaign, rather than continue with an overall view of the period's history, for the sake of simplicity.
(Click for Larger Image)
The French Campaign was, as conflicts go, essentially low intensity. It has been argued that without the presence of Hamilcar's Swordsman Army I, would also have been virtually impossible to accomplish, as the Carthaginian tactics of the day were clearly inferior to what is understood today (assaults over rivers, et cetera). However, to note this is to note the obvious; Hannibal only undertook the venture because he had that particular unit at his disposal.
The affair was rather simplistic - Swordsman Army I was easily capable of powering through French defenses after a short siege, and the French, weakened by years of warfare with their neighbors and their essentially pacifistic stance on matters, only mustered a reasonable reply against Carthaginian aggression in a number of skirmishes in the mountains north of Chartres. This distraction kept them from dealing with the main threat to their empire, and, tired and weakened, they were finally brought to heel in 0340 - a long siege of their final city marking the end of their minor civilization.
In the area of peaceful accomplishments, the age of the French Campaign was also one of great boon to Carthage, most notably in the area of expansion. Calaris, Gigthis, and Cadiz were founded in 0150, Nora in 0280, Zouchis and Carthago Novo in 0300, Cirta in 0310, al-Kaf in 0320, Leptis Minor in 0330, Gades in 0340, and Zama in 0350 - Carthaginian expansion was all but complete, only one planned city remained which had not been founded. In a darker vein, the more sinister elements of CEP0170, as the guiding plan came to be known, also took shape, as the Indian cities which stood in the way of Carthaginian progress were systematically destroyed as the newer cities encroached on their positions. It is estimated on the order of 50,000 Indians who refused to leave their homes died during the destruction of their cities. Despite this, at the conclusion of the French Campaign, Carthage entered a state of political upheval (anarchy is not precisely the correct term - life in the cities continued much as it had for untold years before) as Hannibal's government did its best to restructure itself into something more efficient.
It was also a time of great engineering accomplishments, though many were completed by powers other than Carthage - the Incans completing the Great Library, the Russians completing the Great Wall, the Vikings building the Statue of Zeus, and, perhaps the most detrimental of all to Carthage itself, the Persians completing the Temple of Artemis. There was also the politicking, as there always was. The Mongols withdrew early from their committments to destroy the French, though by that point their aide was no longer necessary. Trade continued as well, though the deals of the day were minor at best - the only notable transaction being the sale of the notion of Feudalism to the Zulu in return for the ideas of Engineering and 145 Gold.
The time after the French campaign was to not to bring about an era of peace however. It began at the provcation of the Zulu in the years following the beginning of political upheval in Carthage.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was an idle threat, in the opinion of both Hannibal, his Generals, and the Military Advisor. Carthage could have easily paid the "tribute" but the notion was rejected merely on principle. Indeed, it wasn't until 0410 that the first Zulu troops - a single detatchment of Warriors - made their appearance on the Carthaginian border, where they simply took up a position on a mountain top and stayed. It was not long after then, in the year 0430, that word was sent throughout the land and the world that a new power had risen - the great Republic of Carthage. Hannibal had determined that the troops capacities estimated under this form of government would be sufficient for defense and small-scale offense while at the same time providing great economic stimulus - indeed, the Carthaginian economy skyrocketed at the sudden lifts in economic restrictions (+48 gpt).
Even this so called "phony war" with the Zulu, a state of relative peace, was not to last. Hannibal's notorious temper combined with the second demand of the Persians that Swordsman Army I, off to do glorious battle with the distant Zulu, be removed from their territory, stirred his ire to no end.
(Click for Larger Image)
And so Carthage again marched to war.
jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Nice installment!
I noticed you changed border graphics- any special reason?
I noticed you changed border graphics- any special reason?
Symphony D.
Deity
I've seen it in some other screens and it looked pretty good. Plus it's easier to fill in with transparent color than the other one. Of course it makes some screens I took before I changed it stand out, but, eh.
downwithgravity
Zen Rocker
great stuff. love the pics.
keep 'er coming
keep 'er coming
deo
Emperor
What a bloody game 
Symphony D.
Deity
An excerpt from A Concise History of the World reads as follows:
Chapter XIII: The Seeds of Supremacy
The beginning of Carthaginian military ascendency began with a rather inauspicious start. Despite the notable achievements of absorbing the Indians and the destruction of the French, Carthage's military power in the first few centuries A.D. was at best adequate, at worst sorely lacking for the size of the nation it represented. This was most succinctly illustrated during the course of the Third Persian-Carthaginian War, which is reckoned by historians to be the first where either side actually fought one another.
The war was ill-conceived in execution, the product of an infuriated General Hannibal being fed up with perceived Persian insolence, and the Carthaginian military response, with only one notable exception, was carried out almost entirely by the same force which had annihilated the French.
As conflicts of the era were to go, it was very short, and for the length of time in which it occuried, exceptionally bloody. The great Carthaginian poet of the day, Iago, discribed the Battle of Argash Hill thusly:
Although ultimately victorious in driving back Persian encroachment for the time being and defending the honor of Carthage from a perceived slight, the war was terminated when it was because it became apparent from the vast numbers of Immortals heading toward the Carthaginian border that should the Persians not be made to sign peace, the result could indeed have been very bad for Carthage.
The attack on Antioch, rather than on Zohak - a city built near the ruins of Chartres which likewise threatened the planned Atlas Divide spanning border of Carthage - was in itself proof of the desperation of Hannibal's Generals to secure a knockout blow that would force the Persians to the bargaining table. It was also mismanaged in their haste - as the siege could have taken half as long had they not chosen to go around Lake Urmia. The route was perhaps taken as a cautionary measure against reprisal from the Immortals, although after the performance of Hamilcar's army on Argash Hill, if this was the case it was a rare overestimation of the enemy.
The gambit paid off however, with the only Persian defeat beyond the Atlas Divide being near Zouchis, where an advance guard of Immortals were defeated in the mountains around the city. The Persians, through a campaign of bloody terror, were brought to listen to Carthage's emissaries, something they likely would not have considered had Antioch not been laid to waste.
The prize for Carthage from winning the war was the small settlement of Istakhr, which was renamed Forward Base I, as Carthage had, at the time, no plans for expanding beyond the Atlas Divide for defensive reasons. It was to be the last war in which Carthage engaged - aside from some odd skirmishes here and there with distant enemies - which could ever be precisely termed small.
Shortly after the conclusion of the war, the first phase of the plan laid down so many centuries before, the almost mystic "CEP0170", was finally brought to fruition. It had been, in essence, complete since before Carthage became a republic, with one exception - Tacape, founded in 0540.
(Click for Larger Image)
Perhaps out of some sense of the plan's purity, Forward Base I was abandoned soon thereafter, around 0590, and Persian slaves were used to create Incense colonies in the Zam Desert. This was to ultimately be a critical mistake, as it was to eventually lead to the immense conclusion of the Dust Wars (which, some argue, started with the assault on France in 0130), so called for the fighting over these precious Incense sources in a barren wasteland.
That was to lay in the future however, and for the time being, despite the lessons of the Third Persian-Carthaginian War, Carthage focused internally for many long years...
End excerpt.
Chapter XIII: The Seeds of Supremacy
The beginning of Carthaginian military ascendency began with a rather inauspicious start. Despite the notable achievements of absorbing the Indians and the destruction of the French, Carthage's military power in the first few centuries A.D. was at best adequate, at worst sorely lacking for the size of the nation it represented. This was most succinctly illustrated during the course of the Third Persian-Carthaginian War, which is reckoned by historians to be the first where either side actually fought one another.
The war was ill-conceived in execution, the product of an infuriated General Hannibal being fed up with perceived Persian insolence, and the Carthaginian military response, with only one notable exception, was carried out almost entirely by the same force which had annihilated the French.
As conflicts of the era were to go, it was very short, and for the length of time in which it occuried, exceptionally bloody. The great Carthaginian poet of the day, Iago, discribed the Battle of Argash Hill thusly:
Although ultimately victorious in driving back Persian encroachment for the time being and defending the honor of Carthage from a perceived slight, the war was terminated when it was because it became apparent from the vast numbers of Immortals heading toward the Carthaginian border that should the Persians not be made to sign peace, the result could indeed have been very bad for Carthage.
The attack on Antioch, rather than on Zohak - a city built near the ruins of Chartres which likewise threatened the planned Atlas Divide spanning border of Carthage - was in itself proof of the desperation of Hannibal's Generals to secure a knockout blow that would force the Persians to the bargaining table. It was also mismanaged in their haste - as the siege could have taken half as long had they not chosen to go around Lake Urmia. The route was perhaps taken as a cautionary measure against reprisal from the Immortals, although after the performance of Hamilcar's army on Argash Hill, if this was the case it was a rare overestimation of the enemy.
The gambit paid off however, with the only Persian defeat beyond the Atlas Divide being near Zouchis, where an advance guard of Immortals were defeated in the mountains around the city. The Persians, through a campaign of bloody terror, were brought to listen to Carthage's emissaries, something they likely would not have considered had Antioch not been laid to waste.
The prize for Carthage from winning the war was the small settlement of Istakhr, which was renamed Forward Base I, as Carthage had, at the time, no plans for expanding beyond the Atlas Divide for defensive reasons. It was to be the last war in which Carthage engaged - aside from some odd skirmishes here and there with distant enemies - which could ever be precisely termed small.
Shortly after the conclusion of the war, the first phase of the plan laid down so many centuries before, the almost mystic "CEP0170", was finally brought to fruition. It had been, in essence, complete since before Carthage became a republic, with one exception - Tacape, founded in 0540.
(Click for Larger Image)
Perhaps out of some sense of the plan's purity, Forward Base I was abandoned soon thereafter, around 0590, and Persian slaves were used to create Incense colonies in the Zam Desert. This was to ultimately be a critical mistake, as it was to eventually lead to the immense conclusion of the Dust Wars (which, some argue, started with the assault on France in 0130), so called for the fighting over these precious Incense sources in a barren wasteland.
That was to lay in the future however, and for the time being, despite the lessons of the Third Persian-Carthaginian War, Carthage focused internally for many long years...
End excerpt.
Symphony D.
Deity
Symphony D.
Deity
Following the Third Persian-Carthaginian War, virtually all attention was focused inward on Carthage itself, with cities completing infrastructure deemed critical and the older, more developed ones focusing on building up a substantial Worker force.
The dispute with the Zulu had been resolved sometime during the war - it was seen as a mere distraction - and what few Zulu troops that had made there presence known soon departed. Military action was limited to putting down sporadic barbarian raids, and a gambit was made at reducing maintenance costs by selling the raw materials of established Barracks in preparation for the completion of Sun Tzu's Art of War, a doctrine which promised to give the same benefits. Exploration also benefittedly slightly with the establishment of contact with both the Russians and Spanish, who had been known of but never directly interacted with.
Trade occured a fairly regular pace in these years between the various powers that be, with Carthage benefitting along with others. In 0600, Incense was sold to the Vikings, along with a deal of 10 Gold Per Turn and 23 Gold in return for Ivory, as it happened to be cheaper than spending cash on Luxuries - apparently the people approved as well, as Hannibal's Palace was massively expanded over the following years. In 0670 the notion of Theology was sold to the Inca for Invention and 7 Gold, and to the Dutch in 0710 for Chivalry; the Dutch were also sold the Republic for 1 Gold in 0720. Chivalry, being mostly known by everyone at that point, was sold to the Vikings for 13 Gold in 0740.
However, not everything was right in the world, and more sinister things were afoot. Hannibal knew it was not the time to engage in large-scale warfare, but smaller skirmishes were not beyond his capability. With the Persians essentially controlling the access to the large peninsula upon which Carthage sat, none could directly attack her without that power's aide.
And so in 0700 Hamilcar's Swordsman army once more readied for battle, heading for the Mongol controlled city of Orleans, one of the last vestiges of French civilization. Things were not to be that simple however - approximately a decade later, two Russian Settler teams with escorts (1x Spearman each) made their presence known both near the Incense colonies, whose operations had been expanded to 3/4 full capacity by that time. It would not do to have these insolent Russians settling on Carthage's borders. Preparations were made and troops were moved, right as the last few Barracks in Carthage's possession were sold for materials.
As preparations were finished, demands were made upon the Russians.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was not expected that they be met, but it would provide sufficient excuse should they fail to comply. The Foreign Advisor once again showed his ineptitude by babbling incessantly about the Russians betraying "our friends" the Mongols, who were anything but. The Russians flatly rejected the demands and with amble excuse Carthage declared war.
So officially began the Dust Wars. Some have argued that they technically started back in 0130 with the planned extermination of France, however, up until this point, conflict had been over expansion and border security, not resources. These wars, although not continuous, were to mark a period of strife that would not end for quite some time.
Both Russian Settler parties were captured and their escorts slain (2x Spearmen) with the relatively minor loss of a regiment of Swordsmen. Similar demands - a modest 9 Gold - were placed on the Mongols a decade later, and they likewise insolently refused Carthage's demands out of pride. It was to cost them. Hamilcar's Swordsman Army I laid siege to Orleans, ultimately demolishing three whole regiments of Mongol Spearmen (3x) and destroying the city in 0740.
This was not to be the only good news; the great strategician Sun Tzu had been persuaded to teach Carthage his great military doctrine.
Apparently others had been close to raising sufficient funds to attract his attention as well, for soon there after it was announced to all the world that the Russians had pooled their funds to establish an elite, dedicated order of soldiers.
General One: The actual value of these "Crusaders" is dubious at best, they are good on the offense and mediocre on the defense, but they are little better than foot troops at movement.
General Two: You are thinking only in terms of our requirements. We are in need of high mobility troops, perhaps the Russians are not.
General Three: It would certainly have been beneficial to have their fortress construction ability for Phase Two.
General One: We'll have sufficient slaves from the fools attempting to settle near the Incense colonies to complete those of our own volition without tying up military units...
Hannibal: Enough! I don't care! The Russians have them and we do not! Stop your squabbling and present me of something which actually required my attention!
General Two: We believe the Inca are in possession of Gunpower, sir, enabling them to easily counter massed frontal assaults.
Hannibal I am not a fool and I do not expect to be talked to like one! I am fully aware of the possibilities.
Hannibal gestured for one of the aides to come over and dictated a note for the Foreign Advisor to see what would be required as payment to procure the technology. As he finished a messenger entered, apparently quite shaken and red from exertion - it seemed he had been running to get to the war room.
Messenger: Prime Minister, sir! The Persians have overun two of our four Incense colonies! They sent messengers warning the area was now under their control and that should our forces not vaccate the colonies it would be considered an act of war!
Hannibal: WHAT?!
Messenger: Their demands were immediate sir, we had no choice but to pull back--
Hannibal: I did not authorize such a move!
The Luxury Advisor spoke up.
Trade Advisor: Sir, please calm down. We were not trading them with any other parties - as long as we have one source it will be sufficient to keep our people placated.
Messenger: S-she is right sir, although the Persian settlement is threatening a third colony, the fourth will remain out of their control for some time barring further expansion...
Hannibal hmphed and placed a hand under his chin, resting his elbow upon the great mahogany table.
Hannibal: Insolent, insufferable Persians... they will pay for this...
Messenger: The defense force also reported seeing Arabian settlers north of the remaining colonies...
Hannibal growled beneath his breath - these incursions were becoming bothersome.
Hannibal: Kill the soldiers, capture the civilians.
General Three: But sir, is it wise to engage so many enemies at one time? Our forces are not--
Hannibal: Their empire is far away and ours is here! Annihilate them!
Domestic Advisor: There's something else...
Hannibal turned his head and leered at her, not amused at the notion of further bad news, before hissing a reply.
Hannibal: Yes?
Domestic Advisor: The volcano near Oea has errupted...
Domestic Advisor: However, our Worker force is not up to thirty-five regiments worth (35x).
Hannibal narrowed his eyes - none of this was good news. He couldn't fight the volcano, Oea would be at it's mercy if it kept errupting, but he could fight the foreign powers...
It was to be a series of small, shuffling wars. The Arabs were not even dignified with a proper declaration of war, instead their settler part was sneak-attacked, the defending unit of Spearmen killed (1x) and the civilians enslaved. The Mongols soon came groveling for peace - and persuaded to part with 1 Gold and the city of Ereen in return. As one party exited the Dust Wars however, another entered - a Zulu settler party entered within range of the two remaining colonies in 0800. A piffling 3 Gold was demanded of the Zulu, who refused. Their colonization party, like so many before, was slain and enslaved after war was declared on the Zulu in 0810. That same year peace was signed with the Russians, with the addition of 2 Gold to Carthaginian coffers.
And then a most curious thing happened - apparently Carthage was on the bleeding edge of technology.
The full discovery and exploitation of Astronomy had been led by a single great mind - that of Bomilcar, and under his guidance, it was deemed possible to alter the initial designs for the Sistine Chapel to the specifications of the Workshop of the great engineer, Leonardo, before others could managed to provide an adequate place for him to operate - it was believed foreign powers were drawing near to this objective, and Hannibal's advisors indicated the Workshop to be of more value than the Chapel. And so, in 0820, Carthage became home to another great wonder to last the ages.
Meanwhile, the Incans, much like the Russians years before, seemed to have been close behind in progress, and did the opposite of Carthage, converting their half-finished Workshop into a magnificent cathedral.
In the realm of peaceful developments, there was great progress. Virtually all territory north of the Atlas Divide came under Carthage's control by 0830, and 15% of the world's lands were under her sway. Hannibal's Palace was rapidly being expanded by the loving citizens of his prized city, and the trade network was quickly being improved, all cities in the nation being linked in 0890. Peace was signed with the Zulu in the same year, and the much sought knowledge of Gundpower finally attained along with 5 Gold, in return for the notions of Theology and Chivalry. A peace treaty was also signed with the Arabs in 0930, to the benefit of 20 Gold for Carthage.
But peace was not to last. The training of Knights had begun in Utica, Leptis Magna, and Sabratha as early as the mid-0800s, and Carthage was arming for war. She would not have long to wait.
In 0950, Persia founded the city of Behistun on the road linking the last Incense colony - they effectively controlled access to that resource, and could cut it at their leisure - resulting in riots in the state of Carthage. This was deemed unacceptable. Analysis on the part of Carthaginian diplomats in Persepolis estimated Carthaginian military strength to be on par with that of the Persians (Average). A plan was formulated to tip the scales in Carthage's favor however...
Embassies were founded in the Incan capitol of Cuzco, the Zulu capitol of Zimbabwe, and the Arabian and Russian capitols of Mecca and Moscow. This was accomplished right as the final straw was broken - a Persian settler party was advancing on the final Incense colony. War was declared on Perisa, and the Fourth Persian-Carthaginian War began. And then the deals were made...
The Russians were given Gunpowder, the Zulu 11 Gold a season (GPT) and 6 Gold, and the Inca 11 Gold a season (GPT) and 19 Gold, each for a Military Alliance with Carthage against the hated Persians.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was to be a long, bloody war.
The dispute with the Zulu had been resolved sometime during the war - it was seen as a mere distraction - and what few Zulu troops that had made there presence known soon departed. Military action was limited to putting down sporadic barbarian raids, and a gambit was made at reducing maintenance costs by selling the raw materials of established Barracks in preparation for the completion of Sun Tzu's Art of War, a doctrine which promised to give the same benefits. Exploration also benefittedly slightly with the establishment of contact with both the Russians and Spanish, who had been known of but never directly interacted with.
Trade occured a fairly regular pace in these years between the various powers that be, with Carthage benefitting along with others. In 0600, Incense was sold to the Vikings, along with a deal of 10 Gold Per Turn and 23 Gold in return for Ivory, as it happened to be cheaper than spending cash on Luxuries - apparently the people approved as well, as Hannibal's Palace was massively expanded over the following years. In 0670 the notion of Theology was sold to the Inca for Invention and 7 Gold, and to the Dutch in 0710 for Chivalry; the Dutch were also sold the Republic for 1 Gold in 0720. Chivalry, being mostly known by everyone at that point, was sold to the Vikings for 13 Gold in 0740.
However, not everything was right in the world, and more sinister things were afoot. Hannibal knew it was not the time to engage in large-scale warfare, but smaller skirmishes were not beyond his capability. With the Persians essentially controlling the access to the large peninsula upon which Carthage sat, none could directly attack her without that power's aide.
And so in 0700 Hamilcar's Swordsman army once more readied for battle, heading for the Mongol controlled city of Orleans, one of the last vestiges of French civilization. Things were not to be that simple however - approximately a decade later, two Russian Settler teams with escorts (1x Spearman each) made their presence known both near the Incense colonies, whose operations had been expanded to 3/4 full capacity by that time. It would not do to have these insolent Russians settling on Carthage's borders. Preparations were made and troops were moved, right as the last few Barracks in Carthage's possession were sold for materials.
As preparations were finished, demands were made upon the Russians.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was not expected that they be met, but it would provide sufficient excuse should they fail to comply. The Foreign Advisor once again showed his ineptitude by babbling incessantly about the Russians betraying "our friends" the Mongols, who were anything but. The Russians flatly rejected the demands and with amble excuse Carthage declared war.
So officially began the Dust Wars. Some have argued that they technically started back in 0130 with the planned extermination of France, however, up until this point, conflict had been over expansion and border security, not resources. These wars, although not continuous, were to mark a period of strife that would not end for quite some time.
Both Russian Settler parties were captured and their escorts slain (2x Spearmen) with the relatively minor loss of a regiment of Swordsmen. Similar demands - a modest 9 Gold - were placed on the Mongols a decade later, and they likewise insolently refused Carthage's demands out of pride. It was to cost them. Hamilcar's Swordsman Army I laid siege to Orleans, ultimately demolishing three whole regiments of Mongol Spearmen (3x) and destroying the city in 0740.
This was not to be the only good news; the great strategician Sun Tzu had been persuaded to teach Carthage his great military doctrine.
Apparently others had been close to raising sufficient funds to attract his attention as well, for soon there after it was announced to all the world that the Russians had pooled their funds to establish an elite, dedicated order of soldiers.
General One: The actual value of these "Crusaders" is dubious at best, they are good on the offense and mediocre on the defense, but they are little better than foot troops at movement.
General Two: You are thinking only in terms of our requirements. We are in need of high mobility troops, perhaps the Russians are not.
General Three: It would certainly have been beneficial to have their fortress construction ability for Phase Two.
General One: We'll have sufficient slaves from the fools attempting to settle near the Incense colonies to complete those of our own volition without tying up military units...
Hannibal: Enough! I don't care! The Russians have them and we do not! Stop your squabbling and present me of something which actually required my attention!
General Two: We believe the Inca are in possession of Gunpower, sir, enabling them to easily counter massed frontal assaults.
Hannibal I am not a fool and I do not expect to be talked to like one! I am fully aware of the possibilities.
Hannibal gestured for one of the aides to come over and dictated a note for the Foreign Advisor to see what would be required as payment to procure the technology. As he finished a messenger entered, apparently quite shaken and red from exertion - it seemed he had been running to get to the war room.
Messenger: Prime Minister, sir! The Persians have overun two of our four Incense colonies! They sent messengers warning the area was now under their control and that should our forces not vaccate the colonies it would be considered an act of war!
Hannibal: WHAT?!
Messenger: Their demands were immediate sir, we had no choice but to pull back--
Hannibal: I did not authorize such a move!
The Luxury Advisor spoke up.
Trade Advisor: Sir, please calm down. We were not trading them with any other parties - as long as we have one source it will be sufficient to keep our people placated.
Messenger: S-she is right sir, although the Persian settlement is threatening a third colony, the fourth will remain out of their control for some time barring further expansion...
Hannibal hmphed and placed a hand under his chin, resting his elbow upon the great mahogany table.
Hannibal: Insolent, insufferable Persians... they will pay for this...
Messenger: The defense force also reported seeing Arabian settlers north of the remaining colonies...
Hannibal growled beneath his breath - these incursions were becoming bothersome.
Hannibal: Kill the soldiers, capture the civilians.
General Three: But sir, is it wise to engage so many enemies at one time? Our forces are not--
Hannibal: Their empire is far away and ours is here! Annihilate them!
Domestic Advisor: There's something else...
Hannibal turned his head and leered at her, not amused at the notion of further bad news, before hissing a reply.
Hannibal: Yes?
Domestic Advisor: The volcano near Oea has errupted...
Domestic Advisor: However, our Worker force is not up to thirty-five regiments worth (35x).
Hannibal narrowed his eyes - none of this was good news. He couldn't fight the volcano, Oea would be at it's mercy if it kept errupting, but he could fight the foreign powers...
It was to be a series of small, shuffling wars. The Arabs were not even dignified with a proper declaration of war, instead their settler part was sneak-attacked, the defending unit of Spearmen killed (1x) and the civilians enslaved. The Mongols soon came groveling for peace - and persuaded to part with 1 Gold and the city of Ereen in return. As one party exited the Dust Wars however, another entered - a Zulu settler party entered within range of the two remaining colonies in 0800. A piffling 3 Gold was demanded of the Zulu, who refused. Their colonization party, like so many before, was slain and enslaved after war was declared on the Zulu in 0810. That same year peace was signed with the Russians, with the addition of 2 Gold to Carthaginian coffers.
And then a most curious thing happened - apparently Carthage was on the bleeding edge of technology.
The full discovery and exploitation of Astronomy had been led by a single great mind - that of Bomilcar, and under his guidance, it was deemed possible to alter the initial designs for the Sistine Chapel to the specifications of the Workshop of the great engineer, Leonardo, before others could managed to provide an adequate place for him to operate - it was believed foreign powers were drawing near to this objective, and Hannibal's advisors indicated the Workshop to be of more value than the Chapel. And so, in 0820, Carthage became home to another great wonder to last the ages.
Meanwhile, the Incans, much like the Russians years before, seemed to have been close behind in progress, and did the opposite of Carthage, converting their half-finished Workshop into a magnificent cathedral.
In the realm of peaceful developments, there was great progress. Virtually all territory north of the Atlas Divide came under Carthage's control by 0830, and 15% of the world's lands were under her sway. Hannibal's Palace was rapidly being expanded by the loving citizens of his prized city, and the trade network was quickly being improved, all cities in the nation being linked in 0890. Peace was signed with the Zulu in the same year, and the much sought knowledge of Gundpower finally attained along with 5 Gold, in return for the notions of Theology and Chivalry. A peace treaty was also signed with the Arabs in 0930, to the benefit of 20 Gold for Carthage.
But peace was not to last. The training of Knights had begun in Utica, Leptis Magna, and Sabratha as early as the mid-0800s, and Carthage was arming for war. She would not have long to wait.
In 0950, Persia founded the city of Behistun on the road linking the last Incense colony - they effectively controlled access to that resource, and could cut it at their leisure - resulting in riots in the state of Carthage. This was deemed unacceptable. Analysis on the part of Carthaginian diplomats in Persepolis estimated Carthaginian military strength to be on par with that of the Persians (Average). A plan was formulated to tip the scales in Carthage's favor however...
Embassies were founded in the Incan capitol of Cuzco, the Zulu capitol of Zimbabwe, and the Arabian and Russian capitols of Mecca and Moscow. This was accomplished right as the final straw was broken - a Persian settler party was advancing on the final Incense colony. War was declared on Perisa, and the Fourth Persian-Carthaginian War began. And then the deals were made...
The Russians were given Gunpowder, the Zulu 11 Gold a season (GPT) and 6 Gold, and the Inca 11 Gold a season (GPT) and 19 Gold, each for a Military Alliance with Carthage against the hated Persians.
(Click for Larger Image)
It was to be a long, bloody war.
biggamer132
King
Great addition Symphony. Can't wait for the next part. 
Symphony D.
Deity
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