Reign of Fire

[gganim]

Lord Montezuma, seeing fertile lands on the eastern shores of a bend in the great river, orders his people to settle a city to call home. The people of Tenochtitlan, as it is called, immediately set to work constructing a great monument to please Montezuma, already known for his fiery rule. Within the city, the Aztec scholars study the mating habits of native animals, so that flocks may be raised, as the lone Jaguar begins to explore west.



Soon to the south, ruins are found and a quick search yields forgotten riches. Then even more ruins are found, with a survivor somehow still living in them, who moves to Tenochtitlan upon hearing stories of the great Montezuma.



As the Jaguar continues south along the coast, the city-state of Genoa is found, and the Genoese people offer a small gift of gold. Soon thereafter, the Aztec scholars learn Animal Husbandry and while rolling down a hill after some goats, stumble upon the concept of The Wheel and begin to study it.




Askia of Songhai has troops passing through, and although we do not learn the whereabouts of his realms, he sends greetings and an offer of a Pact of Cooperation. This latter gesture is declined by Montezuma, who needs not the help of mere mortals.



During the Jaguar's travels west from Genoa, Roman lands are discovered and Augustus Caesar extends an introduction. As does Washington of America, while his troops pass Tenochtitlan, again, without indicating from whence they hail.




Far to the west, our Jaguar finds Bucharest, and their people shower gifts of gold, double the offering presented by Genoa, but still short of a proper gift to Montezuma.



With the monument complete and foreign people failing to see the true greatness of Montezuma, orders are sent for the training of a new Jaguar. These ferocious soldiers will teach the world a well needed lesson in respect. Through this process, our people gain a sense of Honor, and Barbarian settlements are reported to the west.



Meanwhile the Aztec scholars discover how to harness The Wheel and begin searching beneath the earth for more resources. A map of the known lands is sent by Teko, one of Montezuma's three advisors, back to Tenochtitlan so that the other two may begin their work.

 

[armorer]

When Teko returns with the map of the surrounding lands, the war advisor Ahexotl grins a wicked smile.

"That region you have sketched in purple there at the bottom, rich with Cotton and Spice... soon you will have to recolor it with the shade you used for our lands - the shade of dried blood. While I oversee this attack, set the townspeople to work making some vessels we may use to transport back the spoils of war. If they finish that task, then we should develop a system by which we know when the spices, sugar and such are best to harvest."

With that, Ahexotl sketches out a plan to march south and capture whatever city must lie just beyond the map's limits.

As the troops march south, Washington sends a messenger asking if we might join him in a pact of cooperation. Ahexotl agrees to this if for no other reason than to only engage one enemy at a time.

When our troops suddently appear at Alexander's walls he is angered, but there is no significant defense to be seen.

Refreshed by continued successes as they assault the walls, they find new strength to continue the assault.

The troops grow more disciplined as the attack proceeds, and the city of Rome is added to the empire.

As the battle draws to a close in the south, Tenochtitlan repels a barbarian assault from the north and begins training a worker to unlock the trasures in the surrounding lands.

The people also begin to clamor for a shiny metal they call silver to use in making jewelery. None of this metal appears to be nearby however. Washington, perhaps hearing of the fall of Rome, sends a messenger to tell us that our warmongering does not interest him and he no longer wishes to cooperate.

Ahexotl grins that same wicked grin as an updated map is tacked over the previous one in the advisor's chamber.

 

[Oguama]

Amoxtli peered closely at the maps drawn by Teko and Ahexotl. He wondered what riches lay to the North, beyond the peak which had watched over him all his life. He made a mental note to do some exploring and set to work reducing the people's unhappiness and growing Montezuma's cities.

The scholars soon brought news of their new calendar, and the alluring possibility of plantations. Amoxtli instructed them to pursue writing, reasoning that it might allow them to increase their effectiveness.

As the scholars left, the economic advisor entered with an idle worker who Amoxtli dispatched to build a sugar plantation. That complete, Amoxtli called for the training of another Jaguar in order to satisfy his thirst for exploration. Soon the scholars returned with a system of writing worthy of the great Montezuma. A newly completed Jaguar was sent to explore in the North and construction began on a library in Tenochtitlan. The scholars were instructed to start concentrating on military technologies, specifically archery.

Soon a barbarian spearman appears Southeast of Rome, but after an attack by Rome and the Jaguar stationed there, he perished.

After venturing in the North, a Jaguar sends back word of a successful battle with a barbarian warrior. This reveals\ed an encampment sheltering some laborers. Amoxtli took pity on them and instructed the Jaguar to liberate them in the name of Montezuma.

A victory over barbarians resulted in the creation of a military caste, increasing happiness in cities where troops are stationed. More reports of exploration in the North return, with news regarding surprising quantities of gold.

With the newly liberated workers on their way to Tenochtitlan, Amoxtli instructed the veteran laborers to head towards Rome in order to cultivate spices. A jaguar escort takes the laborers past American scouts, and they share a good laugh at the foreigners' expense.

Seeing signs of development to the west, the Jaguar exploring in the North met Seoul, and received a token gift for his efforts.

The scholars reentered Amoxtli's chambers, bringing news of masonry. Amoxtli was pleased, but ordered them to immediately begin work on construction techniques, specifically those that center around ritualized battle for sport. As an Aztec, he knows his people have a thirst for blood.

The Jaguar in the North returned to the river in the East, wishing to follow its path Northward, only to be met by the sight of a new Songhai city. It, like a weed, had sprung up overnight.

"We're going to need some bigger map-paper soon...," Amoxtli murmured to himself as he posted the latest maps on the wall on top of those of the other advisors.

 

[gganim]

With Amoxtli's map freshly posted, Teko felt a surge of pride in the accomplishments of his people, their explorations and discoveries - a feeling that was as short-lived as an enemy of Montezuma, for suddenly Montezuma himself burst into the map room.

"I have seen spearmen!" roared Montezuma, "yet we have no spears. Why is this? I cannot post heads on the tips of clubs. Find me these metals, find me better weapons, and do it now!"

Teko was left in a cold sweat, panting, thankful only that he was still alive. With a library freshly built in Tenochtitlan, Teko instructed the scholars to increase their studies and to redirect their focus to Bronze Working. As if sent by fate to taunt Teko, spearmen from yet another civilization passed by, and sent greetings from their ruler, Sulieman of the Ottomans.



Within no time, the Aztec scholars learned the secrets of Bronze Working, and realized that yet stronger metals could be found by digging even deeper in the ground. Iron, as they call it, could prove to satisfy Montezuma's thirst for superior weapons.

As all of this transpired, the people of Genoa sent a request a request for help dispersing a barbarian encampment. Our troops, bored with mere exploration, were more than happy to comply, gaining thanks from the people of Genoa.



Meanwhile, our Jaguars in the north found another barbarian encampment, which was as easily wiped out as a castle of sand. In the process, they found a Songhai worker, who was easily convinced that life is safer with the Aztecs than with the Songhai who let their workers be abduceted. Then another worker was liberated from the encampment to the west, which was left unoccupied by barbarians as dumb as they were weak.




As Tenochtitlan trained a settler, the scholars soon sent word that the new metal was perfected and a new era begun. Iron could be found all around, unfortuantely, much of it lay close to Askia's lands. Teko sent the settler and a Jaguar escort north, with the plan to lay claim to the lands richest in Iron before Askia can settle them.




"This continent is awfully crowded," Teko thought to himself, "we have met two new city states, Hanoi and Ragusa, there are three other empires and many more city states... We need to clear some space."

 

[armorer]

Ahexotl sent his Jaguars to scout the lands in more detail. He saw that the Songhai appeared to inhabit the northern tip of the continent. From that position, Askai was free to harass our northern border without concern for his flanks. This, coupled with the wealth at Askai's disposal, troubled Ahexotl greatly.

"All that gold, and all that iron. Teko says to make some space for our people, but I know what he really wants. The glint of metal is forever in his eyes. There is a good deal of space between Washington and our people. I think we can leave him to his own devices for now and focus on the wealth to the north. What we need is overwhelming force, shock and awe... Montezuma wants spearmen, but I will give him something much more powerful. I will give him steel encased men with wicked blades that can slash a spear in two!"

Ahexotl then devised a plan to develop these terrible soldiers. He set people to work in the library of Tenochtitlan with the potential to become expert scientists. Finding the library itself insufficient, he set more people to work building a Great Library to serve as a true center of learning. Thinking that men on horseback may come in useful in the future to cross the great plains between the Aztec lands and those of Washington, and seeing the great wealth of horses at his disposal, he also began to find the best ways to tame and saddle the beasts.

As his Jaguar scouts roamed they met many more city states.

When the scientists determined the best way to utilize the horses, they began to study numbers in great detail, knowing that such skills could only aid in the wartime activities Ahexotl ranted about daily.

As a spring which suddenly bursts forth from previously still soil, the bubbling of ideas reached a climax and a golden age ushered forth for the Aztec people.

The army became excited by the weapons development and it's professionalism increased tremendously.

With the wealth brought in from the golden age, Ahexotl equipped all his warriors with the new armor and weaponry. As he was doign so Askai sent a messenger down to do little more than brag of his great wealth. Little did he know what Ahexotl was planning for him.

Back in the advisor's quarters Ahexotl held a meeting.

"Amoxtli - I have created the mightiest warriors this land has ever seen. I have stationed them a stone's throw from the cities of our arrogant northern neighbor. It is time you cut your teeth in battle young man. Burn his cities to the ground! Take his mighty capital as our own. We can resettle the riches to the north ourselves in a more sensible manner, and not have to hear the constant wailing of Songhai children."

"Listen to my council if you will, blaze your own trail if you will not - it matters little to me so long as the Songhai bleed. No matter what you decide, Jenne and Taghaza will fall quickly. My cat could attack them and smash their walls to ruin by himself. Gao will be more tricky. I suggest you send a small band of solders to attack the city from the southeast, and bring the others in to attack over the river from the west. If you heal your men as I did in my assault on Rome, I believe that Gao will fall. Assuming you have made it that far, you should have time to regroup and make a textbook attack on Tomboctu. Make Montezuma proud!"

 

[Oguama]

“Your council is wise, Ahexotl, - the Aztec have a deep-running thirst for blood. It has been too long since we have satiated this need. The time has come for our steel warriors to make many blood sacrifices as they raze the Songhai cities. Soon Montezuma will have all the space he needs. Never again will an Aztec have a want for shiny metals, they will be so common,” whispered Amoxtli, so calmly that it sent shivers up Ahextol’s spine.
Amoxtli sent word for Taghaza and Jenne to be washed in Songhai blood. Jenne fell first, yielding its stores of gold from the mines. He knew Taghaza would fall soon, even without reinforcements, but had little hope to find much in the way of spoils in that pathetic town.

The scholars entered, bringing word of currency, and of putting small round pieces of shiny metal in every Aztec pocket. It sounded insane to Amoxtli, but they swore it would generate greater riches for Montezuma, so he sent them off with orders to look into building temples to boost the Aztec culture and the threat of blood sacrifice if their currency ideas were flawed.

With Jenne and Taghaza washed in blood and burning, Amoxtli set his sights on Gao, instructing his soldiers to tighten the noose.

With Gao resisting their annexation, Amoxtli set to work building a courthouse, and sent a soldier to garrison in Teotihuacan to increase happiness in the city. Suddenly, in burst a messenger from Rome “I’m Marathonxl… Roman messenger… Songhai… Warriors…. Northwest,” he managed between pants.
“How far did you run to bring me that message? Rome must be at least a score and a quarter miles from here,” Amoxtli chuckled and shook his head. “A Warrior, Askia? No match for our longswordsmen! Fear not messenger, the warriors will be dead before you return.”

When Askia sent a messenger seeking peace, Amoxtli slit his throat and watched the life run out of him. “We’ve burned two cities, and still I feel the bloodlust. Maybe wiping out the Songhai will make me feel better,” he muttered to himself.

The first attack on Tombouctu was so skillfully executed, Amoxtli had no choice but to single out the soldier responsible for leading the battle, and make of him a mighty Aztec general.

The scholars soon entered with news of Temples, but left as soon as they were told to perfect trapping, clearly unnerved by the look in Amoxtli’s eyes.

Having wiped out the Songhai, Amoxtli found he felt no different. If anything, the thirst for blood felt stronger. He pushed these worries out of his mind and focused on Edinburgh. “I want blood, Teotihuacan wants whales, Kuala Lumpur wants Edinburgh taken care of, and Kuala Lumpur has whales,” he thought.
The scholars entered again, glad to see Amoxtli looking less frightening, if still gloomy. He told them to work on formal government positions, reasoning these civil servants could find some way to boost food production in the empire and keep Montezuma’s cities growing.

Amoxtli sent orders to his army, “Take some time to heal your wounds, and then storm Edinburgh from the Northeast. A catapult will meet you there and besiege the city from the West.”

At that moment, Teko entered. Amoxtli looked up at him, saying, “Edinburgh is as good as ours! Why, after one shot from our catapult, an army half the size of ours could take the city in short order.”
Teko spent a long moment looking at Amoxtli. “I hear you’ve been spooking the scholars. Go drink some ale – we both know you’ve earned it. I may as well burn Edinburgh – you’ve already burned that bridge. Between that and the ale, I’m sure you’ll feel better.”

 

[gganim]

Just as Amoxtli foresaw, Edinburgh fell with little effort. Teko decided that the name was too ugly for Montezuma's ears, and as it was Amoxtli's conquest, he ordered it renamed to Amoxtliten. Just off the southern tip of Amoxtliten a natural wonder was discovered, which made the Aztec people happy and they named it the Rock of Gibraltar.




Teko then set forth to Gao where he found the city working so lazily that the site of the planned courthouse looked as if it would take almost a century to build. The fire in Teko's eyes was enough to reset the residents' priorities and now the courthouse of Gao should be complete within a generation.

After hearing of the fall of Edinburgh, the people of Kuala Lumpur swore their allegiance to Montezuma. And soon after, the Genoese sent a friendly convoy to thank Montezuma for introducing them to the Ottomans.

Through all the great battles, our armies adopted a Warrior's Code and a great General Aztec Sargot was born in Tenochtitlan. Teko then discussed many things with the scholars of Tenochtitlan, and asked them to recruit citizens to join them in the library there to speed up their research work. Through these efforts, Civil Service, Sailing and Optics were discovered and research began into a concept called Chivalry.




Then one day while walking south of Tenochtitlan, Teko noticed a weed, a blight, "Washington's people have settled a new city!" Teko wrote to his fellow advisors, "And they call it Chicago. The name is as ugly as the name Edinburgh. Yet I will not punish Washington overtly yet, I will keep him close for now."



With that and a few other strokes of his pen, Teko entered a trade agreement with Washington to help keep the citizens of Rome happy, and when Washington proposed a Research Agreement, Teko agreed as well.



In the same breath, Teko ordered a new city to be built north of Chicago and east of Rome, along the eastern shoreline. The new city was named Tlatelolco, and it should provide a seaport to the east, as well as a stopper to the sprawl of Washington's people.

Late in the afternoon, while visiting Tlateloco, Teko received word that Ghandi of India has sent greetings. This impressed Teko little, and when the news of barbarians raiding the countryside of Gao was brought, he forgot all about Ghandi, and ordered his men to march.

"I have dispatched the barbarians outside of Gao," Teko wrote his fellow advisors, "please see to it that the farmland and the trading post to the west of the river of Gao are completed. Also, I have sent another group of pioneers to settle in the hills west of Gao, I suggest settling on the site of the City Ruins north of the Longswordsman in the hills. He is stationed there to kill anyone else who may try to take what is rightfully that of Montezuma. I am going to stay a while in Tlateloco, the ocean air is good for my health."

 

[Oguama]

Amoxtli saw all that Teko had done, and he was pleased. The workers of Teotihuacan had completed a settler, so Amoxtli instructed the settler to head North in search of riches, and commanded the workers to begin a library.

Soon the scholars entered, bringing news of chivalry, and mighty knights on horses. Amoxtli thanked them for their discovery, and set them to work harnessing the power of fire for the purposes of war. He knew this would take quite some time, but he was committed to making Montezuma’s amry the greatest the world had ever known. He also made a gift of gold to Kuala Lumpur, in order to ensure the people of Gao would have access to Whales. Having done that, he returned the citizens of that city to a default focus, and instructed them to start work on a monument immediately.

The next day, when a messenger from Suleiman came calling, begging for open borders, Amoxtli was in a bad mood, so he made of him a blood sacrifice.

His mood was immediately improved by the founding of Texcoco, although this was dampened a bit by the people of Amoxtliten demanding furs.

To make himself feel better, he decided to do some barbarian hunting, starting with the Spearman outside Gao.

​

Soon Gao completed their monument, and Amoxtli instructed them to build a mint. Similarly Teotihuacan’s library was finished, and they began a workshop. Still stinging from Amoxtli’s rejection of his last offer, Suleiman sent another messenger, begging for a research agreement. Amoxtli let this one live, but refused the research agreement. When the people of Rome demanded incense, he sighed to himself and wondered where to find all these luxury goods.

Soon he received news that the people of Kuala Lumpur had connected Whales to the Aztec trade network, causing the people of Gao and Teotihuacan to celebrate.

​

Having eradicated the barbarians, Amoxtli instructed the longswordsman to return to its garrison in Gao to improve the happiness of the people. He started a granary in Teotihuacan, and a market on Tenochtitlan, and left the leadership of the people to Ahexotl, wishing to return to the ale house for some relaxation.

 

[armorer]

Teko's blight crept north in the form of a new city called San Francisco. Even as this city was being built, Washington denounced Montezuma which led Suleiman to do the same. Ahexotl became enraged at this insult, and decided Washington's time had come.

"Washington has grown cocky and bold. Let him feel the pain our steel can bring, let his children cry out in the night when they hear the beating of heavy hooves in their fields."

Ahexotl tought his men the traditions of military life that they would become experienced more quickly.

A great southward march began. His military force spread over so much land that he assaulted the majority of Washington's bordering cities simultaneously.

San Francisco was razed.

Chicago was razed.

Philadelphia was razed.

Seattle was razed.

He was brutal in his tactics, sacrificing two great generals to the war so that they might usher in golden ages for the people. He diverted all the gold from the treasury to the purchase of armor and weapons. Washington would fall, whatever the cost, it was only a matter of time. For all of his glory in the field, his people were enranged with him, perhaps this time he had gone too far?

With his troops gathered on the outskirts of New York, having marched the full north-south length of the continent, he summoned the other advisors so that they could share in his blood lust and rage.

His troops laid seige to the capitol city of Washington as well, waiting only for the fall of New York before storming the walls in full force.

When Teko arrived he shook Ahexotl, hard, and told him sternly:

"You have done your duty and more, but let me finish this before your burning blood melts through your skin. Go now Ahexotl! Ride hard and fast and most importantly, away. I will see this thing finished, and then try to calm the people from this hurricane of death."

Ahexotl stared coldly at Teko for a long tense moment before nodding once, and striding silently away to his waiting horse.

 

[gganim]

Ahexotl was right, New York fell almost before Teko reached the battle. Impressed by the Great Wall that was built there, Teko spared the city from being raized. This must have made Washington mistake Teko for compassionate, for he took the opportunity to beg for peace. Teko smiled, "Only for those of your people who accept Montezuma!" he penned in his reply.



With that, Washington fell, then Boston was raized, as was Altanta.



The face of an imperial messenger glowed red from the fires burning behind Teko as he approached to report that the scholars had discovered metalurgy and theology while the battle was raging, but that the citizenry was malcontent nonetheless. "Then educate the masses!" declared Teko, "so that they may understand the greatness of my master's vision."




Teko knew that it was time to focus on domestic issues, conferring with the leaders of each city to determine their best contributions to the empire. Soon systems of education were developed and research began into tracking finances through banking.



Great buildings were erected in cities throughout the empire, and the people, impressed with Montezuma's divine power, grew happier and more pious.



Then the Oracle was built. Taking this as a sign that they were being rewarded for their piety, religious groups organized to ensure that the masses could remain in divine favor.




"The blight is gone, the people are happy, our cities are prosperous, and our name feared." penned Teko to his fellow advisors. "I would not invate any more of the city states, unless absolutely necessary... for now... because we cannot simply burn them to the ground and their people foster malcontent amongst our citizens. If we can find a way of picking off the enemy from greater distances, we may be able to take full control of this land."

As Teko finished his notes, the imperial messenger returned, "The scholars have developed a system of banking and need direction."

"Give this to Ahexotl and tell him that news," said Teko, "he will know what to do."

 

[grandad1982]

Lurkers comment

Nice write up so far keep it going. Also Askia's former lands are amazing! So much gold with mints that area is a profit powerhouse!

 

[armorer]

"My dear advisers,

I met an old man in the north, a gold miner who goes simply by Grandad. We spoke for a while about the slow pace of things and the riches buried in those hills. He dreams that one day all of that metal might be made into coinage for our realm. I believe that he expects great things of this empire. He's right to do so of course, and I will see about building a mint in Texcoco. It's a shame but in another life this old man could have been an adviser like us. Instead he is destined to lurk in the dark among the threads of gold, wondering what he will find around the next bend.

I have ridden over every inch of our soil these past weeks. I ordered that a number of cities be built on the ruined grounds from our battle with Washington, and another far to the north. I commissioned images be painted of two and have included them here, the others you will have to see for yourselves.

I made allies with Ragusa and Kuala Lumpur through gifts of money, and friends with Genoa and Bucharest by performing various tasks that their rulers needed. Ragusa has proven an excellent ally, they provide us with an excess of food! I believe that Genoa would do the same if we cozied up to them more.

Our scientists have grown in skill significantly. I believe that the contributions from my new cities, and from the growth I have encouraged in our existing cities, has much to do with it. We researched fertilizer, and now our farms produce much more food than before. We also learned of Banking, and now know much more about the earth and sky through the development of Compass and Astronomy. Ask around in the cities, I'm sure there are men who can tell you of these things.

Keeping the people happy through this rapid expansion has proven to be a delicate matter. We are importing luxuries from our allies, and we are trading wine and cotton with Gandhi in order to import his silver. He is weak, so I am not concerned by this lopsided arrangement. A magnificent cathedral was built in Gao as well, which pleased the people there but it seems happiness no longer bubbles forth contagiously from one city to the next as it did in the old days.

I have been letting our funds accumulate in the treasury, but I expect that we will soon need to spend them on Colosseums in the new cities to keep the masses content. The best news on that front however is that we are rich! Our lands are so rich with resources that coins fall like rain into our coffers. If Colosseums are not enough to keep them happy, then we can build theaters.

Finally, I have explored our western borders. The sea is closer than I had expected - soon we shall have to voyage out into it and spread the glory of Montezuma.

Be well, and see to it that my new cities thrive. One day, soon, I am sure to call on their young men and bid them follow me to war.
- Ahexotl"

 

[Oguama]

Amoxtli read Ahexotl’s letter twice, and thought about the task before him. He doubted he would be able to keep the people from experiencing a short bout of unhappiness, and he knew even that would take every ounce of diplomacy he possessed. He began by buying a Colosseum in Tlaxcala, and called for a library in Gao. Soon the scholars brought word of Navigation and powerful Frigates with which Montezuma could control the seas and explore.

When Calixtlahuaca completed their monument to Montezuma, Amoxtli set them to work building a Colosseum. Seeing Texcoco stagnant, he invested in some fishing boats to keep the people well-fed. Try as he might, the empire soon entered a period of minor unhappiness. The scholars soon produced a solution – theaters to dazzle and distract the citizens.

Amoxtli bought another Colosseum, this time in Tlateloco, and the people were once again happy. Looking to the future, Amoxtli started construction on several other Colosseums. Soon Montezuma’s Tower of Ivory was completed, at the same time as Chichen Itza. Amoxtli set both cities to work making theaters, in order to improve the happiness of the people, and seeking funds, urged Michael Faraday to usher in a golden age for the Aztec people.

Seeking furs to placate the people, Amoxtli allowed relations with Kuala Lumpur to deteriorate somewhat, seeking instead to please Bucharest. This caused the celebration of we love the king day to take place simultaneously in five cities. Somehow the scholars were also able to discover Economics, despite all the celebration.

Despite the outward appearance of a happy empire, Amoxtli knew the people still demanded incense and ivory. Beyond that, further work would still be necessary to keep Montezuma’s growing empire content, if not extremely happy. He summed up the situation in a letter to Teko, and left it where it could not be missed. I am done catering to the whims of the people, at least for now, thought Amoxtli as he left in search of some strong ale.

 

[gganim]

"My good advisors,

Things could hardly be going better for our lord Montezuma. We saw the birth of a Great Scientist who helped our technological advancement. In a very short time our scholars have developed a Scientific Theory, discovered ancient artifacts through Archeology. Our armies are now equipped with Rifles and, wisely, the people have accepted Montezuma's Theocracy!




What foreign relations we could not win we have bought with our overflowing coiffers. Our entire army has been updated and we are once again the strongest empire of which we know.




Montezuma was heralded as the World's Most Wonderful Person, and personally thanked me for our devotion - I trust you have received his gifts.



A new era has dawned, and we are seeing unprecedented joy. I have had the privilege of presiding over a Golden Age that has lasted longer than any I have ever heard or read about. We have momentum and now must continue to push the boundaries of our rivals. Sea exploration has already begun, and along the way our sailors discovered a Great Barrier Reef.





Work well, I will look for your word upon my return from our great capitol.

Teka"

 

[armorer]

Ahexotl, reading Teko's words, decided that there could be no better time to seize complete control of the remaining cities under partial rulership. He annexed Rome, Washington, New York, and Amoxtitlen and set all of the cities to work building courthouses. The people we unhappy for a time, but when law and order was restored they became content once again.

As Teko's ships explored, it became evident that what Montezuma's people had come to know as the ocean to the east was really a Great Lake instead. The Ottoman empire was discovered at last, and Ahexotl had a Caravel built to patrol the lake waters. Ottoman settling parties and troops looking for a foothold in Montezuma's territory were seen crossing the lake.

Ahexotl focused much of his energy on institutions of learning, and infrastructure to help fund these new research centers. Many advances were made including Steam Power, Biology, and Electricity. These advances revealed many wonderful resources, and Ahexotl directed workers to begin gathering them.

Seeing that the people were still happy, and concered that foreign settlers may snatch up the remaining open parcels of land, Ahexotl settled two new cities and sent parties to other sites to settle there in the future.

After revealing the true geography of the near east, Teko's ships set off over the horizon. There they mapped the coasts of France, and spotted shallow waters north of there that must lead to the home of the Germans.

 

[Oguama]

Amoxtli saw that the people were still happy, and focused his attention on growing Ahexotl’s new cities, as well as founding others, and advancing the learning of Montezuma’s people.

After a short time, a Golden Age dawned, putting greater resources at Amoxtli’s disposal. He used these to keep Montezuma’s armies a force to be reckoned with, as well as investing in fishing boats and workers. Noticing Suleiman looked particularly weak, he stationed some troops near the border, anticipating that Montezuma might call for an invasion soon. Suleiman noticed this and mentioned it, but Amoxtli soothed his fears by pointing out that there were still significant troops near Tenochtitlan, and if he were truly planning an invasion these would surely be needed.

Soon word returned from a Caravel that had been off exploring, with a map of Bismarck’s lands attached. Amoxtli ordered it to return to Texcoco so that it might be upgraded to a Destroyer. He surveyed his works and saw that in all things the Aztecs were the mightiest, with the exception of lands. Though the French were dominant in that respect, their continent had no room for growth, so he saw no reason to worry.

Now that Montezuma could see the breadth of the world, Amoxtli hoped he would soon decide what to do with it. Either way, that was Teko’s worry for the time being. He filled him in on the situation, and left for some much needed rest.