[RI] The Egyptians of Sat Manmenet

[tdfriese]

So I just had a disastrous thread about the Egyptians of Kumat that ended with me getting steamrolled while stumbling into the Renaissance in the 17th century. Let's hope this goes better.

I'm playing with Realism Invictus, perfect world 3.21 map generator, huge world, emperor difficulty. Ready? Let's go!

In the past, Egyptians wandered the hills and savannas of Sat Manmenet 'place of cattle', but the past centuries have led one central city to grow and begin ruling the surrounding countryside as its domain: Thebes.

Spoiler :

While some Egyptians have settled in Thebes and live off of fishing and trading in pearls and ivory, many still perform seasonal migrations with their cattle herds out in the grasslands and forests of Sat Manmenet. Egypt over the years settles into a politics of despotism and an economy of pastoral nomadism, giving large food and production bonuses to the local cattle herders.

Spoiler :

The cattle herders even venture far enough north into the drier plains and scrubland of Smit Nedes 'little desert' to support a small northern outpost, Memphis.

Spoiler :

By 2560 BC, the Egyptians have met the Celts, the South Chinese, and the Armenians, and in this year the Egyptians reach a landmark deal with the South Chinese: open borders. Egyptian diplomats will now be able to travel Chinese lands and ask questions in their fields, markets, and workshops to try to understand advanced Chinese technology.

Spoiler :

Egyptian technology advances quickly and is helped by open borders with the Celts as well. Meanwhile, Egyptian builders complete several world wonders, first the Pyramids which cement paganism's status among Egyptians and then the Nazca Lines, which farseeing sages claim will revolutionize Egyptian agriculture, but which most of the cattle herders can't be bothered to pay much attention to. Still, seen from overlooking hills, the elaborate figures are beautiful.

Spoiler :

An Egyptian engineer adds to the wonders and the Egyptians soon complete the Statue of Zeus, providing a free pagan temple (and culture and production) in every city, the Nefertiti Bust, adding yet more food to those free pagan temples, and the Great Lighthouse, giving extra trade routes in all coastal cities (i.e. all cities).

Spoiler :

We end this installment in 452 BC, and the Egyptians are advancing well. They have founded Alexandria at the south end of Sat Manmenet and have colonized southeast of Smit Nedes with Heliopolis. They even have the young settlement of Elephantine on the coast near Smit Wer 'big desert' beyond which lie the famed elephant herds of the plains of Sat Oun 'open place'.

Spoiler :

What should the priorities be? There is the Barbarian city of Cuman in Djada Wer 'great forest' and Egypt's bronze-age troops should be able to handle the barbarians. There are also several more city spots: one in the Khast 'hill country' (the peninsula to the northwest with clams and amber) and several in Sat Oun, to collect clams in the west, elephants in the center, or marble in the east.

 

[Moai_Spammer]

subbed

 

[DKVM]

Chapter 2

But just as the Egyptians were about to invade the Barbarians, out of nowhere came a green glowing object with fire at the end of it coming from the sky. It hit the whole nation and destroyed everything, Human, Animal, and Building. Thus ends the short tale of the Egyptians.

The End

OOC: Sorry, I couldn't resist. The last one was just so short.

 

[Noyyau]

Chapter 2

But just as the Egyptians were about to invade the Barbarians, out of nowhere came a green glowing object with fire at the end of it coming from the sky. It hit the whole nation and destroyed everything, Human, Animal, and Building. Thus ends the short tale of the Egyptians.

The End

OOC: Sorry, I couldn't resist. The last one was just so short.

That's a much better area than the tundra wasteland of the previous attempt!
I'd say stick to coastal cities, and go take Cuman if you want. I've no idea if it fits your ideal city placement or not, so that's your choice to keep it or raze it.

Most importantly, send a few units to explore north.

 

[CaterpillarKing]

I would take it so it doesn't become a new civ. Subbed

 

[tdfriese]

I would take it so it doesn't become a new civ. Subbed

Sadly RevDCM is not yet incorporated into Realism Invictus, but it will be in the next release!

I'll post an update later today with Egyptian conquests of the barbarians.

 

[tdfriese]

Egyptian society is changing. While the pharaohs in Thebes could once freely rule over the entire realm, the growing ranks of cattle-herders, miners, fishermen, and townspeople demand power and form a republic. The happier people now group into larger cities than before but at the cost of slightly higher maintenance costs. The republic then introduces an institutionalized professional civil service, making for slightly more efficient production throughout the cities of the republic. While other nations depend on their farmers for food, the Egyptians still cling to the cult of the cattle as one of their basic gods. No change is on its way to their diet of beef and fish for centuries.

Spoiler :

The Egyptian artist Khafre builds the Mask of Agamemnon, further improving all Egyptian pagan temples, meaning that each new city now receives generous culture in addition to production and science bonuses.

Spoiler :

When the Egyptians discover iron working, they find out that the city of Heliopolis is actually build directly on rich seams of iron ore. While they will be able to make use of the metal, the city's location will prevent them from effectively developing the seams.

Spoiler :

Eager to continue their great building works in Thebes, the Egyptians found the city of Pi-Ramesses very close to the Spanish border to take advantage of the finest marble in the known world as well as well as the cattle in the area. The large cultural bonuses from the pagan temple means that Pi-Ramesses can expect to quickly Egyptianize the nearby Spanish countryside.

Spoiler :

Pi-Ramesses also acts as a site for portage between the Wadur Resy 'southern sea' and the Wadur Khast 'foreign sea' beyond Pi-Ramesses (not pictured). They find good resources in both seas. Explorations beyond the Wadur Resy are blocked by Spanish territory to the south, and the Wadur Khast has barbarian and then Spanish territory to the east and Armenian territory to the north. The Wadur Per 'home sea' to the north of Sat Manmenet and Smit Nedes also has Armenians to its north and the Barbarian city of Khoisan at the inner corner of the sea.

Spoiler :

Based on General Noyyau's urging, the Egyptians begin assembling an army including their new iron-age units, the Galatikoi Kleruchoi. However, while the army is still only half-formed, the insolent Spanish present an ultimatum: hand over yearly tribute of cattle OR ELSE. A meeting of Egyptian elder statesmen in the Senate reaches the hard conclusion that Egyptian armies are in no state to defend against the Spanish and so they decide to acquiesce while building up a larger defense force in Pi-Ramesses (currently several archers, a javelin thrower, and some spearmen).

Spoiler :

The Egyptians finish the Great Library, and as they continue to build up their forces (including the world wonder Helopolis), an expedition of Armenians harasses Egyptian borders, which are only lightly guarded with archers and a few infantry. Luckily, the Armenians retreat once the Egyptians make a show with their Galatikoi Kleruchoi.

Spoiler :

What are these Galatikoi Kleruchoi? A classical-era unique unit, they are swordsmen that start with a bonus against infantry from Shock and the ability to target infantry first outside of cities. They have an additional attack bonus against infantry as well as the ability to cause collateral damage - absolutely devastating. The new Egyptian army, comprised of a core of Galatikoi Kleruchoi with siege and archer support, is able to take Cuman without any casualties to speak of.

Spoiler :

Shortly thereafter, Egyptians meet emissaries from the Polish who are willing to sign an open borders agreement, speeding Egyptian progress towards Code of Laws. Someday, perhaps the Egyptians will be able to spare a resource to trade for Polish deer...

Spoiler :

A century later, Egypt expands again, this time taking Khoisan with experienced Galatikoi Kleruchoi, archers, and javelin throwers.

This shot also shows how the expanded civil service of Egypt has deployed large teams of laborers to connect the growing empire with roads and improve its lands with towns, pastures, mines, and quarries. It also shows the Wadur Khast to the northeast.

Spoiler :

It is 204 AD and this chapter ends with the subjugation of all nearby barbarians and the expansion of Egypt to the northern and eastern fringes of Sat Oun. Egyptian technology is among the most advanced in the world; they are currently researching Calendar (though sadly Cheomseongdae has already been built) and will then continue to Irrigation Systems which will allow them to build plantations on their bananas and also improve their farming, paving the way for a new, more settled Egyptian economy.

What should be researched next? Compass for the food bonus to the many fishing boats in Egyptian seas? Commerce Code to allow for grocers and better income in the Republic since it is faced with new costs? Dynasticism to allow for a hereditary monarchy to decrease maintenance costs slightly while allowing for a great deal of happiness?

Spoiler :

What is the future of Egyptian expansion? The republic's costs are getting high but a batch of souqs (markets) and courthouses are being finished in the larger cities which should save enough money to allow for further expansion. There are still several good city spots including copper and elephants in the interior of Sat Oun and on the shores of Wadur Khast to collect gems.

However, Egyptian generals seek to continue their military campaigns. Some look to the tiny, primitive city-state of Tartar, but that would mean waiting for Egyptian culture to expand enough to allow them to sidestep Spanish territory or alternatively loading Egyptian armies onto ships.

Even more generals think of Armenia. Recent intelligence from the Armenian border and trade negotiations suggests that the Armenians have no workable metal deposits whatsoever and no horses or elephants, meaning that their armies are composed solely of archers, skirmishers, and primitive infantry. It is not known how many cities the Armenians have, but best guesses are around 4-5. Surely Egyptian armies should be able to handle them, perhaps with some new mounted elephants?

Spoiler :

 

[Noyyau]

Woo I'm a General!

I don't know much about RI, last time I played it was years ago.
My opinion is that another city is needed, between the Gems east of Khoisan, to block any Armenian expansion into our rightful lands. We can conquer them later, right now we need money! So I guess Commerce Code is our best choice.

Also, the Spanish really did not like the taking of the Cows, huh! And so they demanded them back.
Pi-Ramesses better have a decent garrison, I have a feeling it'll need it.

 

[tdfriese]

They could never have known it would mean the beginning of centuries of warfare for Egypt when they completed the Colosseum in 218 AD.

Spoiler :

However, just 21 years later in the dry season of 239, an Armenian champion who had come to seek his fortune in the cruel but glorious games was gored by an elephant at a performance in the Colosseum. Thebian townspeople, giddy with the memory of the tall and fair disemboweled Armenian, made effigies of the Armenian leader Thoros with his intestines hanging out. The Armenians had always been the Egyptians' perennially sickly, malnourished, and backwards northern neighbors and were better known throughout the towns and cattle pastures of the Egyptian Republic for bringing deadly tropical epidemics with their traders and diplomats than for any contributions to civilization. However, Thoros could not stand by and allow his country to be so openly mocked by Egyptian citizens, including some Thebians with prominent positions in the Senate and the civil service. And so it was that Thoros's pride resolved generations of dispute among the great houses of Egypt - House Noyyau, House CaterpillarKing, House Moai, and House DKVM - about the relationship it should develop with its neighbors, be it one of friendship or one of conquest.

Spoiler :

The force that the Armenians sent into Egyptian territory was bizarrely small, and this fact was all the stranger since the Armenians could in fact see the Egyptian city of Khoisan from their border posts and thus knew how well it was guarded. The Armenian force trekked through the jungles around Khoisan, looking for an avenue of attack, and Egyptian generals, including Noyyau X, the descendant of the famed Noyyau I, feared a diversion for a second, larger force. Still, they called up the Helopolis and other nearby units which had been on their way to bolster the defenses in Pi-Ramesses.

Spoiler :

Egypt's famed Galatikoi Kleruchoi did not disappoint. They hunted down the infantry core of the Armenian army and slaughtered them in the jungle, leaving their blood to crust on the ground and be washed away months later in the rainy season.

Spoiler :

Some versions of the history say that the confused Armenian survivors lost their way and accidentally wandered further south deeper into hostile Egyptian territory. Others say that they honored their orders to continue with some special quixotic mission of pillage. Such details are lost to history as no Armenians are known to have come out of the jungle after that season of warfare.

Spoiler :

The Egyptian navy, led by Moai sa 'son of' Moai, seizes the opportunity to explore Armenian territory, causing havoc and destroying Armenia's fishing fleets while sending home reports on the city of Yerevan as seen from the sea and the general layout of Armenia's miserable mosquito-ridden landmass.

Spoiler :

A great general is promoted from the ranks and sent to the front to lead the troops while small units of harassing Armenians are dealt with near Pi-Ramesses and Cuman.

Spoiler :

General Noyyau XI and his advisers are pleased that during the early years of the Armenian Campaign Spain is warring with Poland, leaving Egypt slightly more secure on its eastern front. Still, a few decades later, the Spanish again make an arrogant demand, this time of straight gold. The Armenians accept rather than open a second front against a more powerful opponent.

Spoiler :

Do not think that the Armenian Campaign was a time of hardship in Egypt; it was in fact witness to great years in the cities and pastures of Egypt! With steadily advancing fishing and farming technologies and a more content citizenry, the population explodes, passing the 1 million mark in 309 and then the 2 million mark in 545, with many of these living in the great seat of the Republic, Thebes and its southernmost city, Alexandria.

Spoiler :

The Armenian Campaign years also see the birth of a tradition of great engineers of the Djoser family, who one day will give Egypt a world wonder, though currently they work on minor projects until inspiration strikes.

Spoiler :

Enough about the home front, let's get back to the war! Egyptian armies lay siege to Tigranakert just north of Khoisan. After taking the city, they don't find much worth keeping and believe the city to be poorly situated without access to fresh water, and so they burn it to the ground. Muggy Dvin to the northeast and its Armenian population is allowed to stay on the condition that they surrender and swear allegiance to the Republic, which they do.

Spoiler :

This chapter ends in 555 in the middle of the siege of Yerevan, with Egyptians having leveled an Armenian city to the east whose name is lost in the chaos of the Armenian records of this era. (Egyptian historians say that the ruthlessly efficient Egyptian swordsmen and elephant units never even asked the townsfolk the name of their city before killing them.) Yerevan is expected to fall easily once the siege is allowed to continue, and the Egyptians will then have a mopping-up operation of two small poorly-defended Armenian cities.

Spoiler :

Meanwhile, Egyptian navies under Moai have mapped the rest of the Armenian coast as well as one medium-sized resource-rich island to the north, fit for two cities. Egyptian traders have heard of Armenian silver and are already working on designs to incorporate it once Yerevan is subjugated.

The main problem with Armenian territory and the reason for their backwardness are the rainy lowland swamps and jungles that occupy so much of their territory. Egyptian engineers have talked about windmills that might allow for draining swamps but no practical plan has been developed yet. (That comes in the early middle ages in RI.) However, baths and urban sanitation currently in prototype stages in Thebes will soon be spread throughout the Republic and should help with the disease problem.

Question: Should Egyptian forces hold Vagharshapat when they take it given that it won't be able to grow much until Egyptian engineers are able to clear the swamps around it?

Spoiler :

How is the Egyptian home at this critical moment in the Armenian Campaign? Sat Oun is still a vast grassland with Egyptian traders and cattle herders slowly creeping in from Giza, Elephantine, Cuman, and Pi-Ramesses. Roads have been completed connecting from Sat Manmenet to the south through Elephantine to Cuman and Pi-Ramesses to the east and to Giza, Khoisan, and Dvin in Armenia to the north. Jungle clearance is a slow project but is underway near Cuman, Elephantine, and Giza, leaving the cities healthier and with a lighter disease load. Meanwhile, Egyptians now keep huge numbers of fat pigs near Elephantine and Cuman and trade salted pork throughout the Republic which is a welcome change to the nomads from the veal and beef stews and jerkies they usually make. Banana plantations are in production near Cuman and the Republic's second small farming region has grown up in the Cuman River valley.

Spoiler :

Back in the homeland of Sat Manmenet, life is good. Thebes continues with its great works program and is currently constructing the Parthenon and still has one corps of great engineers in reserve for a future project. Heliopolis is supporting the war effort by training units of archers, and other cities are developing economically and culturally. Jungle clearance is complete in this part of the Republic, leaving Thebes healthier. Banana plantations are also producing near Thebes, providing the fruit to the cities and towns of Sat Manmenet. Two new small cities have been founded, Byblos on a peninsula to the east, and Akhetaten to the northwest.

Spoiler :

The Armenian Campaign can be expected to wrap up soon and leave Egyptian armies unoccupied. Some generals think the Spanish could now be managed given the Galatikoi Kleruchoi's crushing power against infantry in the field and the Spanish being distracted by the Poles, while others think the barbarian city of Tartar should be their next target and still others prefer to wait a bit. Should a spy or two be the first priorities given how little Egyptians know of Spanish territory?

In terms of peaceful expansion, the Senate knows that House Noyyau has for centuries wanted to develop the gem mines of Wadur Khast. They have also invited Houses DKVM and CaterpillarKing as well as Admiral Moai sa Moai to give the Senat nit Remet Sat Manmenet (SnRSM) 'Senate of the People of Sat Manmenet / Egypt' their recommendations regarding expansion, be it towards the barbarians of Tartar, the always greedy sun-worshiping Spanish, the gem deposits of Wadur Khast, or the copper seams and elephant herds of Sat Oun. There are even untapped fisheries on a jungle-covered peninsula jutting out into Wadur Resy from Djada Wer.

 

[CaterpillarKing]

Spy the land to know.

 

[DKVM]

Question: Should Egyptian forces hold Vagharshapat when they take it given that it won't be able to grow much until Egyptian engineers are able to clear the swamps around it?

No, we should destroy it then later resettle the land on the south bank of the river that the city is near.

I will edit this when I think of answers to the other questions.

 

[Dumanios]

Time fer followin'.

 

[Lelouch]

Subbed

 

[tdfriese]

Spy the land to know.

Agreed, will get on it.

No, we should destroy it then later resettle the land on the south bank of the river that the city is near.

Possible, but one group of senators (i.e. me ) wants to check with republican cartographers and see if any planned cities for the northern island will use those pearls.

 

[DKVM]

First, I believe we should spend time training a navy and settlers rather than spies. One settler would be used to build a city on the east bank of the river near that lake west of Pi Ramesses. The other could be used to resettle Vagharshapat on the South Bank of the river. In response to you wanting the pearls, we could use the navy to send a settler on the island and settle on the east bank of that short river. We would be able to get the pearls and two sea amber tiles if we do that instead.

 

[CaterpillarKing]

At least one spy. We need to know what we are attacking.

 

[Noyyau]

Raze the Armenian city in the swamps.
Finish off the Armenians, then move the bulk of our forces to Pi-Ramesses. The Spanish will soon want more than just some tribute.
Found gem-city and ivory-city first, then if money permits go for the island.

 

[DKVM]

At least one spy. We need to know what we are attacking.

My thoughts are closer to Noyyau's, instead of spies, finish off the Armenians then move soldiers to Pi Ramesses to defend not attack

 

[tdfriese]

Armenia Falls

As expected, the Egyptians have no trouble with Yerevan, finally pacifying it after a few decades of constant siege and minor skirmishes. It is then an easy job to take out Artashat and demolish the last Armenian city of Vagharshapat as decided by the Senate.

Spoiler :

The Armenian 'civilization' has thus been destroyed, and will hereafter only be known as a minority ethnicity within one underdeveloped province of the Republic of Egypt.

Spoiler :

Egypt at War

As usual, Egypt does not have to sacrifice much more its expansion abroad. The great minds of Thebes now meet up to discuss the fine points of philosophy and the various books they are writing at the Parthenon.

Spoiler :

New standards of sanitation sweep the Republic, including running water, covered sewers, and elaborate bathhouses. That combined with continued jungle clearance means Egyptians are healthier than their ancestors ever were.

Spoiler :

Soon thereafter, Thebes even finishes Gondeshapur, effectively eradicating the diseases of centuries past from the capital and allowing it to grow larger and larger.

Spoiler :

Also helping the city grow is the changing Egyptian economy. The old days of just fish and beef are over; Egyptians grow more and more grain to feed their growing population, and they now do it in vast plantations owned by nobles and worked by hundreds and in some cases thousands of serfs. The noble families of Lelouch and Dumanios have especially large holdings near Thebes and, with them, growing influence in the Senate.

Spoiler :

Serfdom helps recover a bit of the food from farms that is lost from pastoral nomadism. (Seasonal migrations mean that herds of hundreds of cattle still drop by at inopportune times, sometimes delaying planting, sometimes eating young crops and riding off before the farmers can do much about it). The nobility and its manors also adds a bit of production to cities and commerce to the growing farms, of which Thebes now has 2, allowing the capital to continue growing. The integrated irrigation system extends all the way to the farming villages surrounding Memphis to the north.

Spoiler :

Egyptian diplomats are able to secure the long-awaited deal for Polish deer meat, usually brought in as jerky or dry cured sausages.

Spoiler :

A great merchant named Alara settles in Memphis and builds a fish market which helps provide much-needed food and plenty of cash for the small but ancient, developed, and influential city.

Spoiler :

Egyptian Spies Explore Spain

Meanwhile, the new espionage apparatus launched by House CaterpillarKing has been able to explore Spain. It seems the Polish Wars have taken their toll. Spanish cities are guarded by 1-2 archers each and a Caetratii, including Salamanca, the holy city of their perverted sun cult!

Spoiler :

Continued explorations show the new Spanish city of Pamplona and new Spanish levies - poorly-trained peasant infantry units that would thus be defenseless against Egyptian Galatikoi Kleruchoi. Additionally, the open, unforested Spanish countryside would allow the Helopolis in, which would be the first time the legendary siege engine has seen combat!

Spoiler :

Egyptian spies are disappointed to reach Santiago and find a decent-sized military force, probably to defend against the Polish armies which are not far south of the city, holding territory which they must have recently taken from the Spanish. They note that the Spanish have light cavalry, though those should not trouble Egyptian elephants much.

Spoiler :

Decisions!

SnRSM aka the Senate of Egypt requests the input of all patrician families on a number of points.

First, a plan should be made for the Spanish. The Egyptians have around 15 strong, experienced units, with each Spanish city defended by 2-3 weak units in total. Should we go straight for Salamanca?

Second, a research direction is needed. Egyptian scientists are currently researching military engineering, which will allow for the Kremlin (a second Forbidden Palace, possibly using the GE in Yerevan?) and slightly stronger swordsmen. The Art of War (exp. to units built in all cities) has already been built, so Feudal Contract is less attractive, but it does unlock having vassal states, which the Egyptians might find useful for the Spanish some day soon! Alternatively, they could research Algebra and Geometry for access to schools (+3 and +10% ), Mill Machinery to drain swamps, or Stained Glass for Notre Dame (+1 )

Spoiler :

Third, a settler is now headed to Sat Oun to resume peaceful settlement. The gem site suggested by House Noyyau seems obvious, but others less so. The far southwestern site is favored because it has in its fat cross a square of rich soils which will someday hold a grain resource, either rice, wheat, corn, or potatoes (not able to be developed until modern times. The central site could be displaced one square to the east to leave both riverside tiles for towns and the city would still have fresh water from the lake.

Spoiler :

Meanwhile, in the province of Armenia, Senate planners are pleased that one city could feasibly serve as a central trading post for all the aquatic resources off of the island north of Armenia, leaving one city spot for the mainland as well, which could go where indicated or one space to the south, on the Armenian ruins.

 

[CaterpillarKing]

I would say storm Spain and don't stop until they are all ours. I would research Feudal Contract in case we can no longer support a Spanish war but only after researching for a better military.


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