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            - ICON AND FLAME - EIKOS KAI FLOGMOS -    -

                               the 1st edition
              created by ipostratig Alexandr (ipostratig@excite.com)
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TECHNICAL NOTE: You need Civ 2 Gold for this scenario.

SHORT INTRODUCTION (only for those who know nothing about this period)

Roman Empire (Byzantine). The starting year is 741...
Leo III's coruler and succesor, Constantine V Copronym (741-775), continued his father's 
religious politics (iconoclasm). He also was well-known for his large and usually
successful military expeditions against Bulgars and Arabs.
So, the summer of 741... Constantine prepared the campaign against Khaliphate. A large army
was concentrated in Phrygia (in the center of Asia Minor); but new emperor left his back 
without defense. Artavasdos (he was husband of Leo's daughter, Anna; also - curopalate
and theme strategos) suddenly attacked Constantine's camp; then he moved to Constantinople
where he got support of citizens (which were icon-worshippers, on the whole) and where he was 
proclaimed the new emperor and basileus of Romans "as orthodox man and defender of God's 
dogmates".
But Constantin escaped to Amorium (the main city of theme Anatolikon; the stronghold of 
iconoclasts, who were devoted to Isaurian family). There he drafted new army for the great and
bloody fratricidal war for the crown of Roman Empire...and for the religion of Romans.

SIDES AND NATIONS

There are three roman (romaioi) "sides" in this scenario: purple (Artavasdos), green ("neutral"
or "rebellious" romaioi) and white (Konstantin V).
It was planned, that there'd be 2 alternative sides for human player: Artavasdos or Konstantinos.
But at this time, I recommend you to play only for Konstantinos: "events" for another side are
still incomplete (sorry; and don't think, that I'm an advocate of iconoclastic heresy; but it
more difficult to create historically right plot, which based on "what-if" prerequisites. Also,
I haven't any free time now).  I'll include in the 2nd edition: 1) the original set of "events"
for Artavasdos; 2)units, historical events and texts (like great plague of 744-48 or civil war 
in Khaliphate) - the scenario will be much more detailed.

- Romaioi ("green") - neutral roman cities, which supports neither Artavasdos, nor Konstantin...
until they'll strength their reign in those lands. In general, the cities are ruled by local
archontes, they have only small and weak garnisons, and there is almost no danger to anybody
from this side.
(exception: Rome (and Neapolis, too) is ruled by Pope and guarde by Latin militia - to protect
the city from both Barbarians (langobards, franks) and Roman army (the attitude between Popes
and Emperors became worse since the iconoclastic doctrine was proclaimed in Konstantinopol;
and Pope always wanted to protect his temporal power in this region).   

- Khaliphate (or arabs, or "persians") - the most dangerous opponent.
- Cordoban Emirat - historically, it proclaimed it's independence later than 741, but in this 
scenario it also reflects centrifugal tendencies and disorders in Khaliphate in the middle of 
VIIIth sentury.
- Bulgar Khanate
- Barbarians - all the barbarians: franks, germans, langobards etc.

MAP

I took the standart map (from scenario "Cross and Crescent" by Eric Hartzell) and rebuilt it in original way.
[the curious thing: at first I wanted to create a scenario based on the "History of Wars.."
by Procopius; than I realized, that, despite of some features, this isn't really new idea 
in general ("The Age of Justinian", "Vizigoths"...etc.) and started to rebuild the map again.
It was successful, the new scenario was born...but there are 1-2 insignificant "artifacts" -
I desided not to clean them out:-))] 
My aim wasn't to create "The Full Simulation of Whole Eurasia in VIII century", but a balanced 
(and historically right) map of "local" area - Roman Empire (H Politeia ton Romaion) and
adjoining lands. 

TITLE.gif

"The Angel with balance" [the detail of mosaic composition "The Last Judgement" (XII century;
the west wall of the cathedral in Torchello)]. You'll understand this symbol, I sure...

SOUND

Play in silence, please! There are NO SOUNDS; and I think there is no need in any sounds in Civ2. 

PLAY LEVEL

Recommended play level - Kaisar or Autokrator, not lower.

ABOUT LANGUAGES AND TRANSLATION

My English is far from ideal, I suppose. I did my best to translate even some parts of 
ancient texts from their Russian variants into English - you can see this on the title page of
the scenario.
But, if you are russian-speaking man (    !:=)), I suggest to choose a russian 
version of this scenario. [just rename eventsRU.txt and 35yearRU.txt to events.txt and 
35years.txt]. Some interesting texts (quotations from byzantine authors) weren't included in this 
scenario - I can't translate these texts correctly, or it's nearly impossible to make a correct 
translation [IMHO, there are some nuances, linguistic and literature peculiarities in complex 
Greek texts - espesially rhetoric, - which can be fully reproduced only in Russian, not in 
English (you can see the truth of my words if you compare, for example, Greek original of 
M.Psellos "Chronography" with Russian and English translations)].


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                 =ICON AND FLAME=
             New in the 1.5 Edition

GRAPHICS. Better city graphics ("muslim" - from H. Thompsons collection, Roman - from Masis Panos scenarios, but slightly altered). Terrain: I looked through lots of  alternative terrain graphics, but I prefer standart terrain in most cases - except desert, plains (from terrain collection) and some other elements, which were changed or repainted.
NEW units, historical events (plague of 744-48 and others) and messages - all as promised, except events for Artavasdos.
The texts from events and title page were corrected by St. Leo. 
Negotiations between Konstantinos and Artavasdos, Konstantinos and "neutral" Romaioi are not permitted. 

Playtesters are still required! 
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THANKS:

- to all these perfect books and their authors:
  1) Uspensky F.I. Istorija Vizantijskoj Imperii.
  2) Dashkov S.B. Imperatory Vizantii.
  3) Rudakov A.P. Ocherki vizantijskoj kultury (po dannym grecheskoj agiografii).
  4) Shishkin O. O myatezhe.
 
         ...and many others...

- to St. Leo (Leons Petrazickis) - the texts from events and title (35years.txt) were translated with his great and irreplaceable help. 
- to all people who created/collected those huge amount of units (so I had a really wide choice!): Harlan Thompson, Sorin Oprisan and others.
- to Alex The Magnificient and Masis Panos - for their so different but both beautiful Civ2
scenarios.



 