Turnset 1: Turns 0-50
Changes in climate had gradually driven nomadic tribes to the fertile banks of the Nile. Here they settled, abandoning the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and taking up agriculture, and began to develop their society. Had they been left alone, they would have set up ruling dynasties, choosing their leaders through hereditary succession. But a young man named Spectrite stepped forward and shared his ideas of a democratic government. With some explanation and convincing, the people readily agreed, and elected Spectrite as their first leader.
As the Egyptian social structure solidified, Spectrite organized the settlement into the capital city of Thebes. Immediately, he ordered the citizens to be taught how to work the land to feed the city and supply it with resources. Meanwhile, a group of strong men, armed with clubs, set off bravely into the jungles of the southwest to explore.
Soon they came into contact with outsiders from a land called Sumeria. They spoke of their king Gilgamesh. Spectrite did not pay them much attention, but he did note that Sumeria's territorial borders formed a barrier to Egypt's northeast.
In 3850 BC, good news: the scouting party of warriors had found a tribe living on the outskirts of the jungle who accepted them hospitably and shared some of their gold.
Over the following centuries, Egypt met several other civilizations - the Greeks, the Arabians, the Babylonians, and the Carthaginians.
And the Malinese...
The Egyptian warriors scouting the land of Mali came upon a defenseless group of workers in the process of building a road. The opportunity was too much to pass up. They promptly captured the workers and sent them off to work for Egypt. The Malinese leader, Mansa Musa, was understandably upset about this, but he was pacified after a few years, and returned to his Cautious attitude toward Egypt. (Really, that was unexpected. Mansa is -3 with us and still Cautious. Hidden modifiers must be at work.)
At the same time, Spectrite began to hear of a faith called Christianity that had been founded in some distant land. (We are playing with Choose Religions, so that just means someone got Meditation or Polytheism.) Later we met the Ethiopians and the Zulu, who came from the south.
In 2850 BC...well, the picture's self-explanatory.
Naturally, Spectrite supported the tests without hesitation. Although fatalities did, regrettably, occur, they were a small price to pay for a huge long-term benefit.
And with that, Spectrite's term ended and a new election began for the next ruler of Egypt. But Spectrite was not gone. The people did not know, but Spectrite was an immortal. There were few of his kind remaining in the world, but several had gathered in Egypt, hoping to gain power through this rising nation. The struggle for power between them would parallel the struggle for power between Egypt and its allies and enemies.
Our situation:
Tech path went Mining > Masonry > Animal Husbandry > Pottery. Build path went Worker > Warrior > Warrior > Great Wall (partially) > Settler. We're Industrious and we have stone, so we might as well pursue that Wonder. It was just meant to be a "filler" build, but it's half done now, so might as well finish it after the settler.
We have unhappiness and unhealthiness in Thebes - the unhappiness due to the random event; it will wear off shortly. We have two warriors in the city (one waiting to escort the settler to the second city's site) and one warrior scouting in southern Africa. As you can see, we are Cautious or Pleased with everyone so far.
If you want any more information, simply ask.
Elections begin now!
