1225 (1): As proposed, I sell Mathematics to the Romans for 332 gold. After this, the Indians will only give 99 gold for it--which is disappointing, but which I suppose means that they're researching it, in which case we've done the right thing.
I risk a horseman attack on a Babylonian spearman about to pillage our horses tile, and we win.
The iron comes on line.
1200 (2): No Babylonian attacks.
1175 (3): Seven Babylonian Bowmen are within one move of Erdine. I pop-rush a spearman there.
I send our horseman to do some cautious scouting towards the northeast.
Three Bowmen die attacking Erdine. One even attacks cross-river. We lose nothing.
1150 (4): We found Iznik, surprisingly enough on my preferred site NE of Istanbul.
Another four Bowmen die attacking Edrine. Our losses are again zero.
A Babylonian spearman pillages our horses tile.
1125 (5): Our scouting horseman discovers a mother lode of BG to the northeast, along with a wheat tile. A city here will cut the Babylonians off in this direction, too. I decide we have to seize this opportunity, and switch Istanbul from swordsman to settler (due to complete this turn).
Our asterisked elite archer, finally restored to full health, destroys the pillaging Babylonian spearman.
I've been checking every turn, of course, but neither the Romans nor the Indians have Literature.
Our first swordsman completes, in Bursa.
Another four Bowmen die attacking Erdine. For the first time in this slaughter, one of our spearmen is redlined, but it survives.
1100 (6): One more Bowman dies at the walls of Erdine. No losses for us.
1075 (7): Our horseman disperses a Bantu camp in the northeast and promotes to elite.
Erdine, two more Bowmen, our losses zero, etc.
1050 (8): Another Bowman dies attacking Edrine, we lose nothing, yadda, yadda.
1025 (9): No Babylonian attacks.
1000 (10): So, the good news this round: Babylonian losses 17 units, our losses 0 units. The bad news: Literature hasn't appeared.
Erdine is at risk of flipping, which is why I've left the garrison at five even though the Baylonians' attacks have tapered off.
Our settler and its escort are on what I consider to be the right site for our next city.
There's a Babylonian settler/spear pair two squares from Eridu. We should be able to pick these units off once they pass the mountain range.
Our third swordsman (or second horseman, if this is preferred) is just about to complete in Bursa, so we're very gradually putting together an attack force.
