stCVNNES: In Story and Song, Update Zero: In the Beginning…
…the Earth was without form and void. But let’s skip to the beginning of human history.
We begin in the far west and south where a small group of humans has settled the southernmost regions of Iberia. They call their land Tartessos, and though they have fought small skirmishes with the surrounding Iberian peoples are generally well-liked due to their penchant for trade. Their Lusitanian neighbors might not be inclined to agree…
To the north and east across the Pyrenees lies the fertile realm of Orleans, named for its capital city. Though the land itself is fertile, Orleans is on the edge of civilization, and, when compared to nations around the Mediterranean is somewhat backward. Nonetheless, it has great potential for the future, particularly if it harnesses the latent potential of its land. Unfortunately, Catalunya and Massilia to the south prevent Orleans from easily acquiring a Mediterranean coastline…
Even more remote than Orleans is the tiny nation of Germania. In a cold and bitter environment surrounded by barbarian tribes the Germanians can only hope for a brighter future. However, they are not inclined to lives of leisure and may prove formidable opponents in war to the softer nations to their south. Now, though, legend of their existence barely even reaches Etruria…
Nearly directly south of Germania, across the Alps and Mediterranean lies the subtropical port of Carthage. Once a far-flung Phoenician possession, Carthage long ago became independent and now vies with Syracusae for control of the central Mediterranean. Though Carthage is ideally situated to become a great power, it currently faces many great threats; the Numidians to their south are fierce…
Across the sea from Carthage the River Tiber and its jewel, Rome. Some among the Romans say that they have seen a future where Rome rules the known world. Others call them insane. Nonetheless, it is certainly true that Rome currently faces no significant threats, though its expansion southward is rapidly being encroached upon by Syracusae and northward by Etruria…
At the northern end of the Aegean Sea lies the nation of Thrace. Somewhat set apart from the multitude of Hellenic city-states to the south, Thrace has a rougher edge that often has it sparring with nearby Macedon. This has made the Thracian mighty warriors, if somewhat lacking in culture. If only their culture rivaled that of Ilium across the straits…
Hustled around the Nile Delta lies the nation of Egypt. Proudly proclaiming itself the one true Egypt despite a challenge from upriver, Egypt has the greatest agricultural potential of any nation, but it is perhaps limited in potential by a rigid political system and overdependence on the Nile River. Of course, these things also characterize their Upper Egyptian rivals…
Far to the north can be found the “civilized nomads” of Scythia. Influenced by Greek culture, the Scythians have settled down somewhat, though they retain their marauding armies and distrust of the sea. While one day they may pose a threat to the Greek world, currently the Scythians are held in place by the Cimmerian barbarian tribes and by quarrels between leaders. Despite their disunity, they have become feared in such nations as Dacia…
On the opposite shores of the Black Sea lies the city of Trebizond. Once a colony of Athens, Trebizond has been independent since Athens lost its status as the strongest of the Greek city-states. While culturally more significant than surrounding peoples, many of the local tribes are hostile to the Greeks who stole their land. These sentiments are only stoked by the Hittites, who would use them for their own advantage…
In the aptly-named Fertile Crescent lies the mighty city of Babylon. Once only an offshoot of Sumerian culture, Mighty Babylon’s armies now threaten to overwhelm the quiet city-states to its south. Of course, this assumes that the Persians do not overrun it first…
Now far to the east lies the realm of Turkia. Much like Germania, it exists in lonely isolation, surrounded by hostile tribes in a resource-poor environment. This has made the Turkians tough, but left them bereft of much technology and virtually any culture. Their own hope for glory may be to conquer, but there are many barbarians between them and any nation at all, even Sind…
Just south of Sind lies the Punjabi nation. One of many Dravidian groups to settled down and build cities, Punjab is somewhat defended from the impending Aryan onslaught by its fellow Indus Valley nations. In the fertile flood plains Punjab has grown to become one of the most populous and organized nations, but it is yet to be seen if it can stem the tide that may soon engulf Harappa…
At the other end of what is now known as India lies tiny Pandyas. Known both as mariners and warriors, the Pandyans are also Dravidian, though much further south than the Punjabi. They are on equal footing with their surrounding rivals, however, and so will need to work hard to establish themselves on the world scene. After all, Cholas would not mind at all adding Pandyas to its mighty empire…
Though most Chinese civilization lies along the Huang he, the nation of Wu has appeared on the fringe of Chinese civilization. Known more as mariners than as philosophers, the Wu are unique among the various Chinese peoples, and that uniqueness may allow them to challenge the status quo. After all, China has long been divided between Shang and Yi—maybe Wu can break that barrier…
Finally, on the islands of Japan one Shogunate has risen to power over many others. Though much of the islands does not yet fall under his control, Oda Nobunaga has taken great steps to unifying Japan, a concept never before attempted. After all, if Japan is ever to compete with the mainland it will need to be unified. Japan is resource-poor, and the Ainu constantly threaten…
Don’t post until I say you can. If you aren’t sure which nation is which, ask!