(These events took place a few years after my last post, but they had left port during that time frame, so this doesn't include any spoiler info.)
Our initial scouting expedition to the Southeast, a caravel with a horseman, discovered Barb Island in 920AD, but lacked the strength to attempt a landing, and was soon lost to the fog. However, they had sent word back of seeing animals with valuable Fur roaming the woods beneath the fog, and so an expedition was put together to tame this savage island. There was some debate of waiting for our scientists to complete their work in Physics, then Magnetism, to build new, sturdier and faster ships to travel such a great distance, but it was determined several hardy bands of Spartans would be issued Muskets, and our remaining horseman would don armor to become knights in a newly rebuilt barracks, and set sail in smaller caravels immediately. (I had disbanded most of my military centuries earlier, only had about 5 units available). Using the knowledge gained from our explorer
Magellan, they would sail as quickly as they could. A follow-on effort, using one of the new vessels, would bring reinforcements and some people to settle this land.
They arrived off the coast around 1160AD, only to find the island now truly swarming with barbarians, in fact there wasn't even a safe place to land! The three captives were still alive, and needed an urgent rescue. One caravel actually spotted an open patch of ground, but wanted to wait for the other ship to arrive, and an opportunity was lost. It would be 50 years before another opening would appear.
Barb Island in 1200AD, a Forboding Place
Finally in 1210AD, in their rush to swarm the coasts, the barbarians actually left an opening in the center of the island! Our caravels put our brave troops ashore: 5 Musketeers, three of whom were veteran Spartans, and one band of veteran Knights. But no training could have prepared them for the onslaught they would soon face. Caught in the open grass, with nothing but a bonus to hide behind, there was little they could use for defense, and they hadn't even had time to fortify themselves. Luckily, many of the barbarians from the south had to cross a river to get to them. The first wave was staggering, a total of 22 horsemen, as well as a couple of warriors. But our Musketeers laughed in the face of danger "Har Har Har", and in spite of their injuries, they gathered renewed strength and jumped for joy (really) as they quickly became Elite warriors. It truly was a battle of "All for One and One for All", as when one was wounded severely, others would step forward to take his place. By the end of that first, dark night, all had been wounded, two within an inch of their life, but they all survived. The following morning, the musketeers rested and fortified themselves for the next wave, while our knights picked a fight with one of a group of horsemen poised to attack, but remained in our camp after their victory. The second wave came, but not nearly as ferocious as the first. Three more horsemen and two more warriors attacked, and were easily defeated, as yet another Musketeer came to be considered Elite. This seemed to be the last of the attackers, so our knights moved south to destroy an encampment, while some of our healthier musketeers stormed Mt. Faka, killing the last barbarian and freeing Cracker and his fellow captives. By now relief was on the horizon, as our first new Galleon dropped of a new Musketeer and a band of Settlers, and then joined our caravels in clearing away the remaining fog. Once the ground fog was also cleared, the city of Calaris was built, while our grateful captives started building a road to bring those valuable furs into town. However, as they say, there is no rest for the weary (just the wounded), and our Galleon has orders to return immediately with our new Elite musketeers, as war clouds have gathered closer to home, and it is hoped that such elite soldiers can provide Great Leaders in our time of Crisis. But that is a tale for another day.
The beautiful Isle of Calaris, our new Happy Place!
The 20K culture victory won't be a problem in this game (at least in the OCC).
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. Finally this madness was brought to an end and the Carthaginians could concentrate on expansion at there nearby islands again.
What is your secret? Except for the Colosus, Great Lighthouse, Great Wall, Sun Tzu, and Cleo's, I built all other culture buildings. And yet, I got only 69 points per turn while yours was 80 point per turn at the earlier year.
