jalapeno_dude
AKA Panda Judo Eel
Update 5: Not with a Bang, but a Whimper
1600-1500 BC
Carthage continues its campaign against the Berbers. Having split the Berbers in two, they march southeast in force, destroying all in their path and burning down every Berber village (-400 Spearmen, 200 Archers). They take much land, though it is not of much worth in its present desolated state. The remaining Berbers flee south, though raids continue (-100 Spearmen).
As a side note, the king orders a small force to expand on Sicily and capture the city. The Carthaginians are shocked at what they find--not disunited tribes, but a thriving nation.
Trade had always been important on Sicily, but the Minoans, not wanting competition, had prevented a state from arising. In their absence, a great trading state has sprung up. It easily destroys the assault, and drives the Carthaginians back, nearly into the sea (Sicily: -600 Spearmen, -100 Archers Carthage: -500 Spearmen, -100 Archers) Sicily then cuts off all trade with Carthage, which has little effect as Carthage does not trade much.
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The rulers of Eire continue to fortify their territory, and raids have decreased to almost nothing (-100 Axemen). Through the efforts of the ruling dynasty, Eire's culture is rapidly differentiating itself from the tribes around it (+1 culture). Part of that differentiation is the establishment of the Galloglach. The Galloglach are captured children taken from their mothers and raised into an elite army of slave fanatics insanely devoted to the gods and to the High King. They serve as a royal guard, and have the best armor and are extremely-well trained in the use of the massive axes they carry. The sight of an army of Galloglach advancing strikes fear into every tribe on the island. Fortunately for them, Eire does not seem interested in expansion. Yet.
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The twin disasters of the raids and the terrible eruption have drawn the people of Britannia closer together then ever (+1 Culture). They have become much more cautious, and take little more land, instead focusing on preparing for attack (-200 Spearmen, -200 Axemen). Nevertheless, they soon have a border with Essex, who has also expanded.
Britannia also builds more ships, patrolling its shores ceaselessly in search of raids. Finally, on a cold fall day in 1553 BC, 5 ships are sighted to the east. They sail towards the coast, then up and down it, seemingly searching for a place to land. Britannia holds its breath. Finally, the ships turn around, only to be attacked by the Britannian navy. The invading ships are clearly outnumbered, and are quickly destroyed. All but one, which sails back to the east, into the ocean where the Britannians dare not go (-5 ships).
In other news, a cult develops whose sole purpose is to beg the gods not to send any more disasters. It seems to work, as no more occur.
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Atyria rejoices, for the great Harbor of Atyrian is finished, yielding immediate results (+5 ships). With its completion, all Atyria is tied together, both culturally and physically (+1 Infrastructure, +1 Culture).
Elated by its completion, the Atyrians restart expansion along the coast, taking a large amount of land both east and west (-400 Spearmen, -300 Axemen, -200 Archers, +1 size). Atyrian agriculture grows correspondingly (+1 Rural Economy).
As a side note, the tribes forced out by Atyrian expansion flee east, driving other tribes east, driving other tribes east, who push other tribes south...and soon enough, someone else is having some problems... (see below)
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Egypt, once again, is free (+1 Confidence). In a great battle, the Egyptian forces succeed in driving the Hyksos from the Nile, although taking heavy casualties from the Hyksos axemen (Hyksos: -600 Chariots, -1200 Axemen Egypt: -800 UU, -200 Axemen, -600 Archers). In the decisive battle, the Pharaoh is killed, and a pyramid is build to entomb him in--a Great Pyramid, in fact (+1 Culture).
After the battle, Egypt must decide its future. The Hyksos, though weakened, are still in the east. The Egyptian army is shattered. Raids from Cyprus continue (Egypt: -15 Galleys Cyprus: -10 Galleys). And without its second capital, Egypt is overstretched. Perhaps the Egyptian government could undertake a massive project to restore Memphis, bigger and more glorious then ever? Though it would take many years, Egypt could then fully take advantage of Mediterranean trade.
Speaking of trade, the ruling government of the Hedjaz collapses. In the brief period of anarchy that follows, they are once again driven out of central Arabia (-1 size).
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Mesopotamia is finally at peace, or at least not at war. The Medeans begin the process of "Medeifying" their conquered terriories, as well as increasing their army. They expand east around Ur, hoping to expand south and gain access to the Gulf, but Ur, too, expands east--almost as if they don't want a Medean port (Ur: +1 size, -300 spearmen Medes: -200 Spearmen, -200 Axemen, -80 Chariots). Rather annoyed, the Medes found the city of Shiraz on the southeast point of expansion. Attempts are made to increase trade, but far more money is needed--and Ur doesn't seem to want much more trade.
The Medes also expand slightly between the rivers. Still no sign of the destroyers of Babylon.
For some unknown reason, a massive group of Armenians move south along the coast of the Black Sea, as if fleeing some unknown enemy. The massive standing army of the Medes moves to crush these invaders on general principles, and, panicking, the Armenians do the only thing they can--destroy irrigation and burn the crops (-1 rural economy). In the great fires that ensue, the army is unable to advance.
Dilmun has expanded northwards and built a city, Kuwait, on the border with Ur. Both nations have grown rich on the trade between Kuwait and the city of Ur. (+1 trade economy for both)
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Faced with limited income, the Byzantine Republic decides to increase its navy rather than paying off the Thracians. The Thracians wait impatiently for their money. When it is clear it won't come, they invade. So far, clashes have been indecisive, but the war could swing either way (-200 Spearmen, -200 Archers)...
Crete is dead. Devoid of life, it is completely deserted, and it is whispered that it is the home of the devil, as smoke can be seen occasionally pouring from it. After a disastrous Athenian attempt to settle it (-10 galleys, -200 spearmen), no one else has dared land on its shores.
And perhaps Crete's curse spreads to those who land on it. For the Athenians are on the verge of destruction. The Spartans finally devised a winning strategy. In 1506 BC, they split their force in two parts, and one part, as usual, marched to besiege Athens. Thinking this was the same as a usual assault, the Athenians waited in the city, confidently waiting for their fleet to supply them with food from the north. But the Athenians made two mistakes. First, they left the north undefended except for local militia, and it was quickly taken by the second force (-300 Spearmen, 1 rural economy from Athens to Sparta), which then joined with the first force to assault the city. Second, the Athenians had no fleet, and thus could not make money from trade (no trade economy without a navy). For six long years they have held out, but they are now beginning to starve--and they have no timber to build a navy. Will anyone come to their aid? Or will Athens be crushed?
Troy and the Hittites, meanwhile, continue to expand, and will soon come in conflict with each other. While only minor skirmishes have happened thus far (Hittites: -200 Spearmen, -50 Chariots Troy: -300 Spearmen), a larger clash seems inevitable...
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After centuries of holding out, the last independent tribe has given in and joined Prussia (+1 rural economy, +1 confidence), although some have traveled south after hearing rumors of another, mighty state with a unique culture. This, together with some westward expansion (-200 Archers, -400 UU), has stretched Prussia to the breaking point (no more expansion until infrastructure increase), and thus the overseas colonies cannot be founded as planned. The king's advisors have wisely begun investment into roads (you underspent--the +1 and -1 cancelled out).
Close to home, the Prussian navy rules the waves, but this is not true everywhere. Of the five ships sent to scout out the rich island, only one returns (-4 galleys), but the Prussians have learned much more of this "Bri-tan-ya". (+ minimal contact, but only Prussia can initiate it)
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The Romans invent biological warfare. The poison the water supplies of the barbarians, and give them blankets used by diseased people. This kills many barbarians, and Rome expands a little, but the rest of the barbarians won't speak to Rome, and have increased their raids (-300 Axemen, -100 Spearmen). More barbarians seem to be fleeing from the south, pushing these ones towards Rome. There are whispers of a great northern state.
The king of Rome apparently is feeling generous, and establishes a council of advisors to "help" him govern. Although the gesture is essentially meaningless, the people like it (+1 confidence).
NPC Diplo
From: Sicily
To: Carthage
If you ever want to trade with anyone again, withdraw from Sicily.
From: Essex
To: Britannia
We propose an pact of non-agression for 300 years.
From: Armenian Tribes
To: Medea
Please let us take refuge in your lands.
From: Sparta
To: Byzantium
You're next.
Rants from the Mod (OOC)
Added stats for Cyprus and Sicily, since I suspect they'll be needed.
Luckymoose, 1 eco point buys 1000 spearmen.
LittleBoots, I decided that Galloglach would be 500/eco, since they're so highly trained. Although they're axemen, you can still recruit normal axemen.
Iggy, nothing personal--you just had twice the income of anyone else, and that was unrealistic.
You people do know that you can spend more than one eco point per turn on projects, right?
This update was not particularly exciting (hence the name). Start making contact with each other, fighting, etc.
Contacts:
Aegean knows each other, Cyprus, Sicily, and Egypt.
Atyria knows Byzantium and Troy.
Medes know Ur, Magan, and Dilmun.
Egypt knows the Hittites, the Hedjaz, Cyprus, Sicily, Carthage, and Magan.
Sicily knows the entire Mediterranean, except the Hittites.
Rome only knows Carthage and Sicily.
Carthage knows Egypt, Rome, and Sicily.
Eire, Wessex, and Britannia know each other.
Prussia knows Britannia, but not vice versa.
Scapegoat-for-the-turn: Dreadnought, for being on vacation but making me update his entire region nevertheless.
Best orders: Iggy, though LittleBoots was close.
Deadline is Monday at 6 PM.
