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Well here's my first attempt at a story. It chronicles an exciting phase of one of my older games. Any feedback you have would be great
The Roman Campaign: In search of Oil
Babylonians, Persians, Egyptians, Zulu vs Romans
Prologue
Hammurabi surveyed his principality with a gleam in his eye—the once small kingdom of Babylon had grown from 4 city states to a sprawling empire of over 30 Metropolis. Under his democratic rule the Babylonians had prospered in science and their cultural achievements were unsurpassed. His 4 neighbours had also advanced in their fashion but Hammurabi had made sure that they were always at least 2 steps lower on the evolutionary ladder.
Causes of war
It came to pass in the year 1789 that Babylonians scientists had discovered a new technology called combustion that would revolutionalise the way of life of the Babylonians citizens. There was however one problem: the new “combustion” machines needed a new resource called Oil to power them.
Hammurabi ordered that the empire be searched from north to south to secure this wondrous resource. To no avail, the workers of the empire returned with their hands empty but with reports that almost all of Babylon’s neighbours possessed this Oil.
Hammurabi sat in his office pondering on how to acquire this resource—he was too proud to ask his neighbours so it seemed that military conquest of oil rich fields would be needed. But how would this come to pass without damaging the spotless reputation of the Babylonians?
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August 1789—14:00—The Palace of Babylon
The emissary of the Egyptian people waited in the ante room for his audience with Hammurabi. The Egyptians had always been friendly with the Babylonians partly out of fear and partly out of admiration. He was here to carry word from his mistress the Queen Cleopatra. The Egyptians along with their allies the Zulus were engaged in a costly war with Rome. The aid of Persia had already been enlisted and so the emissary was hoping that the Babylonians would also join the fray to eradicate the Romans once and for all.
“Come in, come in” Hammurabi was as usual always gracefull to his guests no matter what their power in the world might be.
“I bring greeting from the mighty Cleopatra”
“Well met then what is it that Egypt desires of its neighbours today?”
“Our war effort with the Romans in the south is not going too well and we would like to ask you to assist us in this mighty struggle”
“Hmm, wars as you know are costly and this endeavour could stretch the finances of Babylon”
“I have been authorised to offer you the gift of 200 Gold coins”
“That would be satisfactory, tell Cleopatra that the Babylonians will be riding alongside your soldiers within a week”
“Thank you great lord your help will not be forgotten”
As the emissary left Hammurabi could not help but laugh at the way that fortune had favoured him once more. This war would be a perfect opportunity to seize the Roman Oil deposits near Syracuse and with no diplomatic consequences for Babylon.
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The Battlefield: A chronicle of the Roman Fall
Journal of General Tacitus of the Roman Republic:
“August 25: We have managed to repel another Zulu attack in the northwest, their knights were lured into an ambush and completely destroyed in the hills near Rome. That will hopefully teach them that the Roman armies only run from their foes with a purpose. Meanwhile in the northeast the Egyptians are besieging Veii. So far the city has changed hands 4 times with Egyptian and Zulu occupation rotating with its liberation by our forces. This time with the new fortifications in place its wall will be painted red with Egyptian blood”
“August 27: Disturbing reports have come to me today from our scouts in the north. It seems that two massive forces are marching against Rome. The vile Egyptians have enlisted the help of the Persians and Babylonians in the far north of the continent to aid them in their bloody work. Emperor Caesar had feared that this might happen and now with four foes against us it will be only a matter of time until the Roman flag is cut down from its mast in Rome.”
“August 30: The republic is in disarray. The Persians hit out western cities and the Babylonians have cut a large swathe across our lands (severing the empire in half) and have captured Rome! The Babylonian army is a sight I have never seen in all my years- 30 divisions of Knights and 5 divisions of a new type of mounted soldiers called “cavalries”. Their advance was swift and they seem to be moving with a final goal in place although I cannot ascertain what this could be. I am currently organising the retreat of our army and the escort of the emperor who is fleeing to Naples”
“September 9: Finally a victory for our tattered legions. We have successfully held at bay the Babylonians at Naples and even managed to regain Antium for a few days before a renewed attack from the Babylonians scattered our few defenders. In the north the Zulus and Egyptians are taking advantage of the confusion the fall of the capital caused and are capturing our weakly defended cities for themselves. Our leader Caesar has at last scored a diplomatic victory and has persuaded the Persians to sign a peace treaty while returning all the cities they captured to us.”
“September 20: I am witnessing the final days of the republic. Naples was lost days ago to the Babylonians and nothing is stopping the advance of Zulu knights and the new Egyptian cavalries. I am currently with two divisions (all that’s left of our once numerous legions) in Caesarea guarding the city and Caesar. The Zulus are outside the city and word has come to us this morning that we hold the last Roman outpost in the world. It is only a matter of time now, more Zulu armies are approaching and I am going to the walls to die like a true Roman soldier”
The Roman Campaign: In search of Oil
Babylonians, Persians, Egyptians, Zulu vs Romans
Prologue
Hammurabi surveyed his principality with a gleam in his eye—the once small kingdom of Babylon had grown from 4 city states to a sprawling empire of over 30 Metropolis. Under his democratic rule the Babylonians had prospered in science and their cultural achievements were unsurpassed. His 4 neighbours had also advanced in their fashion but Hammurabi had made sure that they were always at least 2 steps lower on the evolutionary ladder.
Causes of war
It came to pass in the year 1789 that Babylonians scientists had discovered a new technology called combustion that would revolutionalise the way of life of the Babylonians citizens. There was however one problem: the new “combustion” machines needed a new resource called Oil to power them.
Hammurabi ordered that the empire be searched from north to south to secure this wondrous resource. To no avail, the workers of the empire returned with their hands empty but with reports that almost all of Babylon’s neighbours possessed this Oil.
Hammurabi sat in his office pondering on how to acquire this resource—he was too proud to ask his neighbours so it seemed that military conquest of oil rich fields would be needed. But how would this come to pass without damaging the spotless reputation of the Babylonians?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 1789—14:00—The Palace of Babylon
The emissary of the Egyptian people waited in the ante room for his audience with Hammurabi. The Egyptians had always been friendly with the Babylonians partly out of fear and partly out of admiration. He was here to carry word from his mistress the Queen Cleopatra. The Egyptians along with their allies the Zulus were engaged in a costly war with Rome. The aid of Persia had already been enlisted and so the emissary was hoping that the Babylonians would also join the fray to eradicate the Romans once and for all.
“Come in, come in” Hammurabi was as usual always gracefull to his guests no matter what their power in the world might be.
“I bring greeting from the mighty Cleopatra”
“Well met then what is it that Egypt desires of its neighbours today?”
“Our war effort with the Romans in the south is not going too well and we would like to ask you to assist us in this mighty struggle”
“Hmm, wars as you know are costly and this endeavour could stretch the finances of Babylon”
“I have been authorised to offer you the gift of 200 Gold coins”
“That would be satisfactory, tell Cleopatra that the Babylonians will be riding alongside your soldiers within a week”
“Thank you great lord your help will not be forgotten”
As the emissary left Hammurabi could not help but laugh at the way that fortune had favoured him once more. This war would be a perfect opportunity to seize the Roman Oil deposits near Syracuse and with no diplomatic consequences for Babylon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Battlefield: A chronicle of the Roman Fall
Journal of General Tacitus of the Roman Republic:
“August 25: We have managed to repel another Zulu attack in the northwest, their knights were lured into an ambush and completely destroyed in the hills near Rome. That will hopefully teach them that the Roman armies only run from their foes with a purpose. Meanwhile in the northeast the Egyptians are besieging Veii. So far the city has changed hands 4 times with Egyptian and Zulu occupation rotating with its liberation by our forces. This time with the new fortifications in place its wall will be painted red with Egyptian blood”
“August 27: Disturbing reports have come to me today from our scouts in the north. It seems that two massive forces are marching against Rome. The vile Egyptians have enlisted the help of the Persians and Babylonians in the far north of the continent to aid them in their bloody work. Emperor Caesar had feared that this might happen and now with four foes against us it will be only a matter of time until the Roman flag is cut down from its mast in Rome.”
“August 30: The republic is in disarray. The Persians hit out western cities and the Babylonians have cut a large swathe across our lands (severing the empire in half) and have captured Rome! The Babylonian army is a sight I have never seen in all my years- 30 divisions of Knights and 5 divisions of a new type of mounted soldiers called “cavalries”. Their advance was swift and they seem to be moving with a final goal in place although I cannot ascertain what this could be. I am currently organising the retreat of our army and the escort of the emperor who is fleeing to Naples”
“September 9: Finally a victory for our tattered legions. We have successfully held at bay the Babylonians at Naples and even managed to regain Antium for a few days before a renewed attack from the Babylonians scattered our few defenders. In the north the Zulus and Egyptians are taking advantage of the confusion the fall of the capital caused and are capturing our weakly defended cities for themselves. Our leader Caesar has at last scored a diplomatic victory and has persuaded the Persians to sign a peace treaty while returning all the cities they captured to us.”
“September 20: I am witnessing the final days of the republic. Naples was lost days ago to the Babylonians and nothing is stopping the advance of Zulu knights and the new Egyptian cavalries. I am currently with two divisions (all that’s left of our once numerous legions) in Caesarea guarding the city and Caesar. The Zulus are outside the city and word has come to us this morning that we hold the last Roman outpost in the world. It is only a matter of time now, more Zulu armies are approaching and I am going to the walls to die like a true Roman soldier”
) parts!
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