In 1778AD Hannibal was informed by the Mayans that, because of his invasion of the French, that it was necessary for the Mayans to respond with a declaration of war in spite of the fact that it was the French that had declared the war and Carthage was just defending itself, albeit rather aggressively. Hannibal did not care this was 400 pieces of gold stolen from Carthage in tribute!
Before overacting to this Hannibal check with his Diplomatic (Foreign) and Trade Advisors. What was discovered was incredible.
Theodora was willing to talk peace and she had plenty of money to talk for her. A quick check revealed she would give Carthage the sum of 1272 pieces of gold and tribute of 230 pieces of gold for the next 20 cycles for the knowledge of medicine!
The Sumerians also wanted out of the war and would pay their world map, 6 pieces of gold and tribute of 14 pieces of gold.
Persia also had money pouring into its coffers and would give a further 104 pieces of gold, their world map and tribute of 34 piece of gold for the knowledge of medicine.
This was incredible. Hannibal was cautious. The straight money from the Byzantines and Persians would give Hannibal enough to expedite his research even if the tribute dried up. But Hannibal was also aware that these new Mutual Protection Pacts were causing problems.
Hannibal decided to take all of these deals but would then establish embassies with the Persians and Byzantines so that no further pacts were violated at least unintentionally.
And embassy with Persia carried a cost of 44 pieces of gold.
The scene here was rather pitiful. The idiotic Xerxes was building a Galleon rather than a harbor and he had science set to 100% as if that would help anything. Well, no one said Hannibals ally needed to be smart to make this work. A quick check revealed that Persia had a pact with the Mayans. Darn. An attack on the Mayans would then trigger a war with the Persians and rob Carthage of its tribute.
The deal with Theodora was struck peace and Medicine for her world map, 1272 pieces of gold and tribute of 230 pieces of gold. An embassy with the Byzantines cost 110 pieces of gold.
Theodora was also spending all her money on research while building a longbow. Sigh. A quick diplomatic check revealed no MPP entanglements.
Peace was made with the Sumerians and finally Persia as already outlined.
Hannibal ordered that the research on Sanitation be accelerated so that it was due in only 14 more years. This was pushing all income into research (100%) with a deficit of only 2 pieces of gold per cycle!
Hannibal was further visited by the Toxic Priests. Bowing low, for the Toxic Priests had taken particular interest in the working of Carthage as of late, Hannibal greeted them with food and drink.
These things were not of much interest to the Toxic Priests. Pious Hannibal, we have long meditated on the plight of the Netherlanders and it concerns us that they have no knowledge of polytheism. They are still stuck worshipping their corrupt and diseased mystics and wearing silly fur hats like Davy Crockett.
Hannibal snickered. William's hat was certainly ridiculous. I agree that the Netherlanders are despicable, but I do not know what can be done. They are so backward that they cant even ride horses. Not that they have horses to ride, of couse.
Fortunately, shortsighted Hannibal, we have the answer. The Toxic Priests assured Hannibal. It is the will and the
command of Toxicman007 that they be free given knowledge of Polytheism so that they may properly learn to worship the gods of Carthage!
Hannibal bowed low to the Toxic Priest. Your wisdom is, of course, undeniable. I shall see to this trade at once!
And so it was that the Netherlands learned of the existence of gods. And they deeply mourned their fate as the eternal subjects of Carthage, trembling before the might of the Carthaginian gods though they were not, perhaps, as fear inspiring as Hannibals mother. Hannibal greatly enjoyed the new cries of suffering and woe from the city of his old enemy, relishing their misery. The Toxic Priests were wise indeed!
At the LoD the Mayans, Americans and Chinese had made a real mess of things.
The Mayan Pearl Rifles of Palenque were escorting a band of settlers to the age old ruins of Hattusas. But the Chiense Peoples 3rd Spears were also rushing to the same location. The Mayans had also landed a sacrificial regiment of cavalry with a second band of settlers, which was done
after they had declared war.
Finally, two waves of American cavalry had once more assaulted Mongoose Mountain. The US 13th Reconnaissance Cavalry heraldry the arrival of the 1st Division of the IV Corps. The 52nd Seattle Cavalry Cavalry charged and killed the Knights of Earth in cowardly attack while the knights were burying the dead of the and 42nd Seattle Muskets (mostly so that they didnt stink up the place). The 52nd Seattle Cavalry did not escape unscathed and it was the intentions of the Carthaginian army that they never be given a chance to rest until they reached the next life. Finally the 21st New York Cavalry cut across the roads and rails to once more attempt an approach on Snakehead Mountain.
The first order of business was to destroy the 21st New York Cavalry to allow the retreat of Snakehead Mountains Batteries from the open plain. Toxics 6th Cavalry used the fortress at Snakehead to ambush the 21st New York as they prepared to fall upon the crusaders and batteries of the fort. The battle was brief, mere hours, as modern rifles and cavalry fought across the open plain. But the attacking 6th Cavalry had the advantage of surprise and the 21st New York Cavalry were easily routed from the field. The survivors were released only after they surrendered their mounts and weapons.
The Wild Geese took issue with the murderous 52nd Seattle Cavalry and a heroic charge down Mongoose Mountain clashed with the disorganized Americans. The dishonorable American soldiers were caught looting the bodies of the fallen Carthaginians for it appeared the Lincoln was running low on food and was having a hard time feeding his military now that the Defenders were tearing a destructive swath through their lands and sowing the ground with salt.
In one of the first tests of modern cavalry against rifles, the elite Toxics 1st Cavalry contested the movement of the (Mayan) Pearl Rifles of Palenque. The outcome was inconclusive. Though the Toxic 1st Cavalry carried the day, it was a hard fought battle. The Mayan rifles kept up a steady fire and caused serious damage to the Carthaginian cavalrymen. The Mayan50-51 slaves were sent to Mongoose Mountain to help with the construction of the fort. In fact, with the road open, all of the ESC slaves were sent to Mongoose to construct the fort and additional garrisons were placed on the mountain to hold it pending its completion.
The Batteries of the Snakehead were transferred to the command of the Left Boot of templar_x to shell the sacrificial Mayan cavalry. Even the Sparthaginian Navy got into the action. In a heretofore unseen land-naval cooperative effort ICS Honor of Civinator FR-04 assisted with the artillery bombardment. By the end of the shellacking, the Mayan cavalry were so scrambled that Second Knights (formed by the survivors of the First Knights and a new influx of the sons of rich Carthaginian merchants) accepted their surrender. The survivors and the settler band became the Mayan52-53 slaves and were sent to build a fortress in the western mountains.
Taking stock of the war with Portugal the conclusion of the struggle was evident. But Hannibal had more pressing concerns at the moment and so decided to let Henry off light. Henry was willing to give Carthage half of its remaining cities: Rio Janerio, Alcacer do Sal and Leiria along with his world map. This would free OMIA to assist with the depopulating of the central band of the eastern ESC that had come to be colonized by a ragged patchwork of Chinese and Mayan cities. In 100 years (if not sooner) Hannibal could return to dispatch the Portuguese with ease. Another of Carthages enemies had fallen by the wayside. The added benefit was that Carthage once more had a friendly port so that coal and iron could be imported to construct railroads on the ESC.
The easy things out of the way, Carthage pursued its war aims in France. The Knights of the Order of the Oak were sent to destroy the 14th French Infantry Regiment of Pikes in fledgling Bordeaux. The slaughter of the cities inexperienced 1,500 pikemen was a simple matter. Though the city itself was too small to use for slave labor a band of fur trappers and a band of settlers were also captured when the city fell.
These made the French33-35 slave bands. The slaves were immediately sent into the French-built fort at the base of the Fortress of Solitude, which was ironically crowded at the moment. The army was mostly moved into the fort to hold it until the slaves could build a road to make movement easier. Two band of crusaders were also sent towards the Fortress of Solitude to assist with the defense and to free other units to attack the French.
With everything going splendidly, Hannibal once more considered the luckless Hittites. But as Hannibal began to plan the destruction of his hated foe Mursilis he was visited by the Toxic Priests once more. Hannibal immediately bowed low to the priests of Toxicman007, for this god had been particularly interested in the working of Carthage as of late.
Wise Toxic Priest, what may I do in the service of the gods today? Hannibal inquired.
Great Hannibal, it would seem that a mistake has been made; an unfortunate mix-up in the Toxic labs. The Toxic Priests said. Though the words sounded like an apology the intonation as definitely not.
What error? Hannibal inquired. And why did he care?
Godly Hannibal, when we rescued you from the poison at Amsterdam before it became the holy city of Toxics Café, we told you that the poison was of Mayan origin. The assassin never confessed but we assumed we knew enough. The Toxic Priests explained. The test results were quickly matched against the Mayan civ color and that was that.
This sounded reasonable to Hannibal. What was the problem, then?
It seems that the Hittites share a color very much like the Mayans. And for that matter, so do the Americans and they all live in the same general region. The Toxic Priest continued. Hannibal nodded in agreement. He remembered thinking much the same thing only a short time before. Now that we have looked at the results a little closer it would seem that it was not the Mayans that attempted to assassinate you but the Hittites.
Hannibal slammed his fist down. It is a good thing our peace deal has expired so I can remove them from the world once and for all!
Hold, Hannibal. The Toxic Priests said patiently. This can be done but now we must make reparations to the Mayans. As we destroyed three of their cities - Coba, Mayapan, Kaminaljuyu we must give them three cities in return. And because it was through Hittite deceit that this occurred, it is the will of Toxicman007 that the cities be that of the Hittites.
Hannibal did not like the idea of giving cities to the Mayans but it was the will of the gods. He knew taking back these cities would be difficult. It was then that the priest of the wise Elephantium once more came into the presence of Hannibal. What had he done to earn such recognition today?
Oh wise priest of Elephantium, what news do you bring from your great god? Hannibal beseeched the priests.
Just this, obedient Hannibal, The priest said in a loud voice. We cannot intervene in the wishes of another god, but you have other commitments to the gods to fulfill. Gifting cities to enemy civilizations is not in alignment with these commitments. After the traitorous Mayans receive their cities Carthage will never again bequeath a city to an enemy civilization.
These words were fair to Hannibal but his dream nagged at him that something was not right. He would obey Elephantium, however, until he better understood his vision.
Of more immediate concern was summoning the Hittite ambassador to his throne room. The Hittites attempted to be pleasant and to give the impression that they had done nothing wrong. Hannibal dismissed this façade and had the ambassador fed to his mother by dropping the man through a craftily constructed trap door into a pit below where his mother had her lair. Hannibal also noted in his ledger that the Hittites were being released from total tribute in the amount of 167 pieces of gold but it seemed to be gold well spent to Hannibal.
The difficult of the situation, of course, was that the Mayans had declared war on Carthage and thus no Hittite cities could currently be gifted to them. Hannibal decided to move POPs Rangers through the Hittite lands, pillaging as they went until peace could be made with the Mayans.
In 1780AD, in spite of the belief that Carthage and the Byzantines had entered into a cordial relationship, Theodora signed and embargo with Joan against Carthage. Stupid embargos.
With the arrival of the Crusaders at the Fortress of solitude it was decided that the offensive in France should continue. Toxics 4th Cavalry led the attack on Strasbourg. Quickly covering the distance it was found that the city was held but a mere 4,000 spearmen. The 400 cavalrymen of Carthage could not believe their luck. The attack was immediately ordered. The long range fire of rifled muskets could not completely remove the stubborn spears of 9th French Infantry Regiment of Spears and when the troopers entered the trenches the French descended upon them as a mob, killing 50 men and wounding many more men and beasts.
The grisly deed finally complete, the 4th Cavalry set the city afire and collect a band of fur trappers caught in the area when the assault began. These were the French36 slave bands and were sent back towards the Fortress of Solitude and Beaver Fort.
OMIA began its withdrawal towards France and its new duties while POPs Elite Rangers began their rampage through the Hittite Lands.
Otherwise 1780AD was quiet. 1782AD was shaping up a bit different. China had sent the Peoples 43rd Riders to establish an outpost on Carthages Mainland.
This, of course, was unacceptable. The newly formed Toxics 11th cavalry was sent to handle the invasion. To the great surprise of Carthage the 43rd Riders proved a tough nut to crack and the cocky 11th Cavalry ran into disaster. The Riders, anticipating this response, placed half of their men in ambush position at the sides of the roads. When the 11th Cavalry approached the Riders fell upon from all side. Cut off from retreat, the 11th Cavalry fought to the bitter end. The Riders, now recognized for an elite band, had suffered 60% casualties in the battle. Unfortunately for them, Carthage was well railed and relief troops were but a click away.
The Black Hats answered the summons to battle and immediately pressed the attack on the 43rd Riders before they could consolidate their gains. They were not so lucky against the black hats and the Chinese15-16 slave bands were formed from the Chinese supply train.
Against the French the next move was against Bayonne. 1,100 heavy cavalry, 800 knights and 800 Toxic cavalry were dispatched to take the city. Upon arrival they discovered the 25th French Infantry Regiment of Medieval Infantry holding the city. Exhausted by their long march, the Carthaginian army invested the city and rested their troops for the coming assault.
The annoying Chinese had settled the city of Shantung on the outskirts of the Snake Mountains they were just begging to be killed. But the Mayans sent a relief force of 800 cavalry to keep the Carthaginian occupied, giving the Chinese a respite. The batteries of Mongoose Mountain took careful aim at the Obsidian and Ruby Cavalry of Uaxactun.
The regular mixture of rocks and steel shot dropped amidst the Mayan Cavalrymen, spooking horses and killing a few men outright. The damage done, the Jagged Knights took the lead attack against the Ruby Cavalry. Already reduced to 75% combat effectiveness the Ruby Cavalry put up quite a scrap, their riffled barrels ripping countless men from their saddles before the heavy cavalry could lower their lances and charge. Once the combat became a matter of hand-to-hand battle the Ruby Cavalry quickly folded and dissolved.
Though the next attacked belonged to the Hessian Company the knight of the Wild Geese could not be restrained and they attacked.
In 1784AD the French attempted a counterattack with some limited success. Two Medieval Infantry assaulted the combined forces outside of Bayonne, driving off the elite Shadow Knights. The 25th French Infantry Regiment of Medieval Infantry pursued their retreat, finally slaying them on the open plain but suffering extensive wound. Meanwhile the 37th French Infantry Regiment of Medieval Infantry assaulted Beaver Fort and failed in the assault upon the sturdy fortifications, their amateur attempts repulsed by the Snow Knights who, after defending the wall of the fort, bravely sallied out to destroy the arrogant Infantry.
The Peoples 82nd Riders attempted to run past the Mongoose Fortress and several of the Chinese knights were cut down by the fort defenders without the fort ever coming under attack. In addition, a band of riders was still on the lose on the mainland, hunting barbarians by New Crobuzon. This was, of course, unacceptable.
Hannibal was also pleased to see that the trade embargo agreed upon by the Byzantines and Mayans had come to an end though realistically this had no practical effect on Carthages ability to trade.
Hannibal immediately ordered up the three elite bands of knight stationed outside of Smilin Bob to deal with this new threat. The commanders of the Carrot and the Stick were tasked with the immediate job. Having gained their recognition as barbarian hunters, this was the first real action seen by this company of knights. Taking advantage of the advanced railways of Carthage, the Carrot and the Stick snuck up on the 110th Riders as they lay in camp, enjoying the spoils gained from their barbarian hunting. The Carthaginian knights, fighting for their homeland, quickly overran the lax Chinese unit, capturing its battle standard for CommandoBobs Pentagon.
The 82nd Riders also had a rough time. After losing 25% of their strength to the defenders of Fort Mongoose they lost another 50% to the catapult and trebuchet batteries fortified in the mountain fortress. The riders, limping and disorientated were finished by a charge by Lady Isabella. This earned the Lady and her men the status of an elite band. This was an award that was a long time in coming and well deserved.
Further scouting along the railway constructed on the ESC revealed the Peoples 44th Pikes attempting to place a city along Carthages supply route. Toxics 2nd Cavalry was sent to correct this minor problem and the 2,000 pikes had no where to go they were trapped in the wide open desert. The 2nd Cavalry made extremely short work of the pikes, easily gunning them down at long range, and claiming the Chinese18-19 slave bands.
The French had also committed a serious blunder Though the 25th French Infantry Regiment of Medieval Infantry had managed to slay the Shadow Knights they had also left the city of Bayonne garrisoned with only the 3,000 spears of the 36th French Infantry Regiment of Spears. The knights of the Order of the Dragon was committed to the assault upon the city. The spears, though dedicated to the defense of the city, were quickly overpowered by the better equipped Dragoons. The Dragons, fully expecting to ride into the city as conquerors were quickly repulsed by the 29th French Infantry Regiment of Medieval Infantry, the same men that had driven off the Shadow Knights before the 25th Regiment slew them without mercy. Their ire raised, the Toxic Knights charged the 29th Regiment. The men of the 29th Regiment, still binding their wounds from their scrap with the Shadow Knights, valiantly attempted to hold the city gates, driving off the Toxic Knights in close quarter combat.
The blood of the Carthaginians was now up. The Green Knights were sent on the attack, the lances of the heavy cavalry would not help in the close confines of the city but, rather, they dismounted and attacked as heavy foot infantry. This accomplished the task and the Green Knights set fire to the city, gathering a band of gold miners that had taken refuge in the city. These were the French37.
The newly arrived Toxics 8th Cavalry put down the 25th Regiment, avenging the Shadow Knights and capturing their battle standards.
1786AD was a new year and it brought new embargos. This time America had signed up the Portuguese. Hannibal disregarded the Trade Advisors hyperventilating. Carthage was an island unto itself.
Then Persia and the Mayans signed an embargo. Hannibal oversaw the Trade Advisor while she was given oxygen but otherwise was not distressed.
Reports from the ESC confirmed that the annoying Peoples 5th Riders ambushed the Swords for Hire while they were protecting a company of Toxic Cavalry and workers trying to lay rails to the Fortress of Solitude. The crusaders were not caught off guard however and a fierce battle ensued. The Riders, over confident, rushed the crusaders believing they were defeated. In close combat the superb combat skills of the crusaders won out and the 5th Riders were slain.
The Trade Advisor, regaining her composure, was pleased that at least some deals could be made. The Portuguese, for example, were willing to give their world map, 9 pieces of gold and tribute of 4 pieces of gold for Carthages world map. The deal was made and Carthage continued to accumulate wealth.
No counterattacks were mounted by Carthages enemies so the carnage continued into 1788AD. OMIA had finally reached the Fortress of Solitude and the Old Mans escorts began the healing process. The column of 16 new slaves were nearly back into Carthages territory. Toxics 9th & 10th Cavalry along with the Knights of Old Blood and Guts and the Heavy Cavalry of the Wolf Pack descended upon the French city of Brest.
The Wolf Pack, the weakest of the advance units, scouted the city and found the city garrisoned with the 7,000 pikes of the 45th and 53rd French Infantry Regiment. The Toxic Cavalry were called forward. The 9th Cavalry struck as the pikes of the 45th rushed into position. The traditional phalanx formation was virtually useless against the long range rifle of the Toxic Cavalry so the pikes made themselves small targets in their trenches. Confident of victory the 9th Cavalry pressed the attack but the tides quickly turned when it came to hand-to-hand. The heavily armored pikemen fought hard and brutalized the Carthaginian Cavalry. In the end the 45th Regiment broke ranks but it was a narrow margin of victory far closer than would have been guessed.
The 53rd Regiment, seeing their compatriots break quickly pressed forward and Toxics 9th Cavalry could not press the attack, nor was it necessarily to do so. Toxics 10th Cavalry was right on their heels and prepared for battle. The 53rd, however, was a small band of pikes, number only 3,000 compared to the much stronger and better trained 4,000 men of the 45th Regiment. The fighting was still intense with the pikemen making a good accounting of themselves. But undersupplied and outclassed the pikes eventually surrendered rather than be slaughtered. The French38 Slave band was formed, 2 pieces of gold were seized from the city treasury and the city itself was destroyed.
Old Blood and Guts and the Wolf Pack moved to cover their wounded companions and the new slaves.
In a simultaneous effort the combined men of Toxics 5th, 7th, and 8th Cavalry descended upon Marseilles. The heavy cavalry of Green Knights were also in support but could not reasonable be brought to bare against the city. The city was garrisoned much the same as Brest with the 7,000 pikes of the 57th and 20th French Infantry Regiments of Pikes. The 8th Cavalry made the first run at the city trenches. Once more the fighting was fierce, for the French commanders had learned how to minimize themselves in their trenches to force the superior Carthaginians to engage them in hand-to-hand. The 8th finally pushed the 57th Pikes out of the trenches when the 20th regular Pikes came crashing down on them, forcing them back out with their reserves.
Not to be outdone, the 5th Cavalry pressed the next attack and in some of the bloodiest moments in the Cartho-French war, the 5th Cavalry forced the 20th Pikes into the city. The battle all but over the remaining pikes refused to give up and were shot in the streets. The able bodied citizens were gathered into the French39 work crew. All of the units gathered and entrenched on a nearby mountain while the Toxic 3rd and 4th Cavalry joined the survivors so that the next attacks could be planned.
Finally, the 39th Houston Cavalry had occupied the hill below Coil Peak. Too afraid to attack the mountain itself, they intended to go after the softer units protecting the rail line between the LoD and the mountain fortress. The elite Toxics 1st Cavalry repelled the invader, clearing the hill and forcing the 39th Houston to surrender their weapons.
In 1790AD the Byzantines and Portugal signed a mutual suicide pact. Too bad for Portugal that Carthage would not harm the Byzantines so long as they remained a cash cow.
But the people of Carthage were so impressed by the butt kicking being delivered to the French that they offered to add second tier to the Palaces east wing. This way it was possible to travel from the informal game room to the restrooms without a great deal of running up and down stairs past the open palace doorway. This would make it so that the public did not need to see Hannibal and his advisors sloppy drunk.
With no counterattack by the French, all of the wounded Carthaginian units began to retreat back to the Fortress of Solitude and the protection of OMIA. The healthy core, however, pressed the attack. Toxics 3rd Cavalry found Chartres with the same sad protection 8,000 veteran pikes arranged into two Regiments of pikes; standard French defense. The 9th and 13th Pikes marched out of the city in fine form. The 3rd and 4th Cavalry attacked, unable to believe the pikes would be foolish enough to offer open combat. The Cavalry maintained their distance, knocking down row after row of pikemen. Only a final charge managed to threaten the 3rd Cavalry. A hand-to-hand skirmish broke out between the massed pikes and the 3rd Cavalry but the Carthaginians kept their heads and quickly extended their lines and retreated. The total cost was 50 dead and thrice that wounded or dismounted. The French loses were nearly the entire 8,000 men, the city of Chartres, 300,000 citizens that slaughtered as they resisted (no slave bands from a size 4 city?), 5 pieces of gold from the treasury and a fleet of galleys that were in the city harbor.
The final battle of 1790AD the Wild Geese took issue with the 43rd San Diego Regiment of Longbows that were snooping around Fort Mongoose. The Irishmen slipped out of the fort at night and found the 43rd Regiment bedded down for the night. Their guards were too lax and by the time sentries realized what was happening the Wild Geese were in the camp, swords to their throats. The 43rd Longbows surrendered without firing a shot. The captured men were used in a prisoner exchange and thus were not available for enslavement.
In a nice deal with the Sumerians the Trade Advisor recommended selling the secrets of medicine (which was now widely known) for the Sumerian world map, 58 pieces of gold and the tribute of 41 pieces of gold for 20 cycles. This was excellent. After a diplomatic check it was determined that there were no entanglements with Carthages current wars and the deal was struck.
By the end of 1790AD things were looking brighter for Carthage. Carthages treasury was a robust 1904 pieces of gold. Sanitation would be learned in only 2 years and Carthage was going to reap on income of 284 pieces of gold in the same time span until new research began. Total Tribute to Carthage was at an all time high of 383 pieces of gold every cycle, and though this windfall was not expected to continue it was very good news.
As for civilizations:
Eliminated: Japan, Ottomans, Korea, India
Client States: Dutch, Persians, Byzantines and Sumerians.
Defeated: France, Portugal, Hittites
Enemies: Mayan, Chinese, Spain
Nemesis: America
This is a marvelous development!
Yeah, I guess imprisoning a warlord AI in a tundra actively prevents them from researching anything for the remaining 500 turns of the game. Oh, and until recently they didn't know anyone other than me, Xerxes and maybe Mursilis. William might have known the Japanese, he likely never knew we shared (in the loosest sense of the word 
