Succession Game VI: The Balam Warriors of the Wind

[child of Thor]

Originally posted by yservel

Consequently, CoT's skin was used as drums for "His Holy Percussionist", his intestines were used to invent a new instrument: "The Celtic Harp" and his heart was used as a metronomist to rythm religious musics.

Yannick III never wastes useful talents...

Now if you were from Texas i'd be really scared!

[hexagonian]

Here is the post...

[hexagonian]

Due to the foresight of Hextan I of the First Hextan Dynasty, enough descendants of Hextanian blood were a part of the Mayan society to ensure their survival. When the Yannickian family rose to power and attempted to purge the Hextanians, some of the Hextanians were able to escape to in-can shores and were sheltered by the in-can nobility. So with the confusion created with the demise of the direct Yannick line, Hextan XI was able, with the assistance of the in-ca government, to lay a legitimate claim to the Mayan throne, with a call for a return to the past leadership of the Hextanian line. Having done so, Hextan XI established a peace with the in-cans to secure the entire south, and was able to concentrate his efforts on a long-term plan to expand Mayan influence in the west and north.

It was discovered that part of the grand plan included the desire to eventually incorporate in-can territory into Maya, allowing in-ca to grow fat and complacent on their little island until Maya was sufficiently equipped to deal with the 'in-can' problem.

It is also noted that Hextan XI made every effort to purge the land of those with Yannick and Taylorian blood. Those who even had a drop of the impure and tainted blood were violently killed - their blood painted on the walls of prisons, and the bones of their dead ancestors were used as paving material of the slums of Mayan cities.

Thus begins the reign of the Second Hextan Dynasty...

2310BC
Peace is established with the in-cans. Road construction is started to link up Tonina and Kabath Labna. A head and tail count of the Mayan armies is initiated by Hammurabi, as forces start moving toward the north and west for a great military endeavor that has yet to be revealed to the sub-commanders. The vast number of Mayan Javelin Cavalry is divided into a series of task forces that will assist on the defense of the internal Mayan empire, as well as serving on the front lines. Cities are stripped down to the bare necessity to maintain maximum happiness and internal defense.

A diplomatic envoy is dispatched to in-can lands.

2295BC
A lone celt chariot and hoplite are terrorizing the peace-loving Mayan farmers outside of Hextantin and Toltec. A Peace Army is assembled and deployed toward the threat. Hammurabi takes on the task of personally leading the front-line forces, and to ensure that he gains first choice of the slaves that will be captured.

2280BC
Filthy barbarians are killed south of Hextapulis. A small gift of 100 gold, covered by the blood of the barbarians, is sent to the in-cans to grease the wheels of future diplomacy. It is hoped that the blood will also work as a lubricant on the wheels of diplomacy, as barbarians threaten all peace-loving people.

2265BC
The Mayan court is entertained by the clownish antics of a visiting mongol diplomatic envoy, who also proposes a peace treaty between the Mayan and mongol people. After some casual blood sacrifices, the Mayan leadership reluctantly agree to the proposal, for the Mayans are a people who love peace.

Hextan IX notices that there are a lot of idle caravans, so he gently reminds the merchants that they either need to go out and make some gold for the betterment of the Mayan people or take their place as paving material in the merchants district. The following day, gold stocks rise to 213 per 15 years, and all available Mayan routes are manned.

2250BC
The mongol envoy proposes a map exchange. After killing some idle palace slaves as a sacrifice, Hextan XI agrees to the exchange. In a vision, Hextan XI sees the celt people as joyful and willing subject of the Mayan Empire, and thus, the path is made clear for the future goal of the Mayan Peace Armies. Having boxed in the celt chariot by Toltec, Hammurabi gets his slaves as the first fruits of that vision. In an act of supreme mercy, the celt hoplite by Hextantin has his still-beating heart ripped out of his chest, shoved down his convulsing throat and then is drawn and quartered.

After a long and fruitful life, Hextan XI dies in his sleep. His grave is placed in a secret location to prevent any desecration by Taylorian or Yannick sympathizers. Hextan XII takes the throne.

2235BC
Drama is completed. Hextan XII questions the need to proceed to Dictatorship, as he is already Dictator-for-Life. 'Our more immediate concern is for better production and a place to heal our wounded,' so he assigns his researchers to Architecture.

3 celtic chariots are seen fleeing westward from Toltec. Hammurabi and his Peace Army gives chase.

2220BC to 2190BC
Peace units continue to assemble toward the front with the celts.

2175BC
Hextan XIII takes the throne.

Hammurabi takes a fancy to a Macedonian female settler and takes her to work his lands.

In the greatest blunder of the Third Hextan Dynasty, the city of Uxmal falls into the hands of revolting slaves. The city nomach swore that he kept a required garrison unit there, but it becomes clear with all of troop movement in the area, somebody screwed up. The Homeland Army of Love moves to retake the city.

2160BC
Uxmal is retaken, as the revolting slaves attempt to hide in a boat in the middle of a small pond within Uxmal. The idiotic nomach is ground into mortar for the new palace that needs to be built for the new nomach of Uxmal. There is a reported surplus in the PW fund when Uxmal is taken, so more mines are built by Chichen.

2145BC
Architecture is completed and Masonry is started. The assembling of forces continues with over 30 units of solders heading north and west.

2130BC
Hextan XIV takes the throne.

In his first act, he orders the attack on Rhondda. A lone spearman is sent in to investigate the city defenses. Despite earlier reports of heavy defenses in Rhondda, the city is only manned by a single archer. Hammurabi decides to take matters into his own hands and sends in the Third Division of the Peace Army to finish the job, with him safely in the back lines of the attacking army. Many celts are peacefully sent to the next world, and more celt slave find their way into Mayan society.

The PW fund grows, and work commences on a road from the Mayan heartland to Rhondda. Foot-weary soldiers cheer...

2100BC
Hextan XV takes the throne. An embassy established with the in-cans. The documents are signed with the blood of the celt solders who defended Rhondda. The in-cans are suitably awed.

2085BC
The northern campaign against the celts continues, as more slaves are taken by Hammurabi, and the armies continue to push northward into celt land.

2040BC
Hextan XV envisions the start of a ceremony that will honor men who can leap further, run faster and fight harder. Many Chichen residents are placed as laborers in the fields to find and grow performance-enhancing herbs.

2025BC
A reasonable demand to the in-cans for Herbalism, to aid in the development of some drugs called 'ster-oids' is met with derision by the in-cans.

Hammarubi gets more slaves. A heavily-wounded Mayan warrior is accidentally pushed into the city of Caerphilly and falls over a full complement of celt defenders.

Hearing of this, Hextan XV flees from the Royal palace and is never seen again.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Ugh. I have to admit this in TWO threads. The shame, the shame.

I was sick the last two days (back to about 90% now), and before that...

OKAY, OKAY, I ADMIT IT!!!

I WAS FOOLING AROUND WITH ANOTHER GAME!!!

My apologies. I will complete my turn by Sunday. Another variation on the 720-hour rule?

-- HtL

And before you ask, it was Zeus: Master of Olympus.

[hexagonian]

No problem...

I was up until 1:00 last night playing...gasp...civ3!

I'll see how I enjoy it once I have a lot of units to move around though. (Can't say I am too happy with how the units are activated from a stack either and combat is played out as one-on-one battles - that alone is enough to make the game become very tedious after the medieval age).

But I also played a lot of CTP2 last night before tackling civ3

The celts are ripe for the taking - Caerphilly is loaded though. Use your forces wisely.

[Hermann the Lombard]

I'm just confirming that Matthew is skipping this round. If so, I'll play tonight. Sorry for the (continued) delay.

[hexagonian]

A small note,

I will be offline for the next week (through Wed, June 26th), so if somehow, this game gets to me in the next few days, you'll know why it stalled out.

[Locutus]

Guys, I think it's supposed to be my turn now but because my PC broke down I'm afraid I can't play. No idea when I'll be able to fix this problem, might be tonight, might take two weeks Either way, I should be skipped until further notice

[Hermann the Lombard]

Gad. We're dropping like flies. Matthew thought he was going to be able to play, then had to reinstall *everything* from the top, then had illness in the family, now he has to drop out...and Wouter's computer is D.O.A.

I think it's only fair if I pass the game along to CoT. I promise to take care of my next turn in a timely fashion!

-- HtL

[child of Thor]

In a move not unlike a silky side-step by the great Gareth Edwards playing for Wales of yester-year, I might have to pass on this oval ball CTP2 to the next guy in line(i'm trying to forget football ok?!) as it looks unlikely that i will find the time before this weekend. But in the vain hope that dark matter somehow messes up space-time continuem, i'll hang on to the save game for a day or two before posting it on to yservel.

EDIT: Darkmatter exists.I'll post my turn in a day or two and the savegame is on its way to yservel

[child of Thor]

His sensations partially dulled, the blinded and flayed CoT was not expecting the call to power to come when it did. Surely this time was a few centuries to soon? Maybe his state of sensory deprevation was causing the once proud founding father and demi-god to make a mistake. Whatever, power and wealth were wonderous gifts, able to cure the gravest of afflictions.
CoT packed his essentials and headed out from his home in Cotz to travel the highway to his seat of power.Copan and the Mayan people awaited his return(again).

2025bc Empire wide building of units is commisioned, Archers where ranged units are lacking or hoplites for defense.Caravans are built where available - our own internal trade can be betterd by looking abroad, the Apolytons offer good prices for our goods.

2010bc Masonry discovered by our struggling wisemen.They say that to get our techgoal of dictatorship we will need to discover philosophy next. In the time to understand this new advance we could learn 3 of the other options on offer.A difficult choice.
1st peace army digs up road outside Caerphilly.
2nd peace army fortifies in hills just to the east of Caerphilly.
3rd peace army rejoins and pillages as it heads west into mountains, awaiting reinforcements and a new government(!) that will support more than 15 cities.
To the south our diplomat looks for a good landing place on Incan soil.

1995bc More manouvers on the front. 3rd PA(peace army) continues to pillage around Tintagel.
1st PA heads into forest to move under cover and head around Caerphily in a flanking attempt.
New units, mostly hardend footmen, move towards the northern front.
4th PA, on gaurd duty of our border with Mongolia recieves warrior reinforcement.
200 gold given to Byzantine empire as our regaurd had fallen with them(and they will be a good ally when this celtic/mongol pennisula is ours.)

1980bc (lets hope the music was better in b.c. compared to a.d.)
Besides being a fantastic year for hair styles named after fish, The celts surprise our 4th PA with a show of force of 10,000 men!!Its Hoplite warriors look ready to deal death! Our 6,000 men of the 4th PA hope if they are quiet enough, the celts might go away. Foot soilders turn south from the northern front to support the 4th PA.

1965bc Graneries invented! CoT was getting fed up with rotting food and scavanging whenever the harvest was bad. The wisemen advise Herbalism as our next endevour, and CoT wonders what that pungent smoke is coming from under the wisemens door? CoT summons the fire picket just in case.
3,000 men sent from Hextantine to bolster the 4th PA and stop those knocking knees.
Hextantine's slaves try to revolt so 2,000 of the 3,000 reinfocements head home to beat the slaves back down.
Strangely the Celtic army melts away as quickly as it appeared.
Diplomat built in Tikel and sent to awaiting coracle.
Diplomat now on Incan soil holds a reception in Chimbote to sooth relations with our(hard to please) brothers.

1950bc Frontline troops head to their final destinations on our north/west most and slightly vunreable front.

1935bc strange messages are sent to CoT, the wisemen - non to coherent themselves, mumble about a reloslic and an asterix button? CoT orders them out side for some fresh air.
Arrgggh! A 12,000 strong Apolyton army is discoverd by our diplo-coracle in the south! It is just ouside our City of Tikel - inside our border in the woods!!
200 gold rushed to apolyton.
That little panic reverts CoT to old habits. 8hrs work a day is a joke! So 10hrs become the norm and extra food is provided to help feed the nation.

1920bc Herbalism has been discovered and the hardup and tired looking wisemen advise CoT to let them try currency(this way they can fuel their new habbit!).
Huge Apolyton Army now outside the gates of Tikel - our 3,000 garrison will surely fall!!Diplomacy is our only hope(that and Obi-wan).
It worked!!! They agree to withdraw(and CoT offers them our maps to make sure).
200 gold sent to the Incans(they've forgotten our reception already!).
4th PA now 10,000 strong.
3,000 barbarians appear near apolytons 12,000 outside Tikel.The inhabitants of the city watch from their walls to see what happens.

1905bc Apolyton recalls its huge Tikel crushing army as promised and the barbarians fade into the woods.
Chichen's Olympics changed to Temple of Zues(an uncle of Ch'ipi and Raxa) to increase happiness, our work shy people are finding the 10hr days hard to cope with(how soft they have become). Our increased production will have it finished soon and then the glory of the Olympics will be undertaken again.
Dipolomat from Tikel heads into apolyton territory for a bit of recon.....er diplomacy.

1890bc 10,000 Celts appear near the 4th PA, our 10,000 boys give them the 'V' out of respect.
Diplomat from Tikel holds a reception for WesW and marvels at the three 12,000 strong armies he sees marching around apolyton land. They need somewhere to go.
4th PA sends word to the 2nd PA in the north, a trap should be set for this troublesome celtic army. 2nd PA heads south to help out.
4th PA withdraws to pickup 2,000 reserves from Hextantine and draw the celts into our borders and a cunning trap.

1875bc Byzantine suggest exchange of maps as a sign of goodwill - nice of them.
Hextantine is revolting! Its the stench of all those slaves! jugglers are rushed to the streets to entertain the people, although some grumble herbs might better solve the problem.

1860bc Hextantine is calm again.
1st and 3rd PA now at 12,000 men each, hold down our northern front and harrass the vincinity of Caerphilly.
2nd PA heads south into mountains to close the trap on the celts.
4th PA waits for the signal to attack.

1845bc Diplomat from Tikel sees that same 3,000 barbarian army moveing unhinderd through apolyton land-very suspicous, and sends a message to Tikal and Huari,via pigeon, to shore up their defence.

1830bc Currency now understood and map making is embarked on.
Diplomat has to run for his life as the 3,000 barbarians head straight for his location, almost as if they were being directed by someone?

1815bc Diplomat sees a huge creature near Hexagonian. It appears to be the size of a house and has five legs!! The apolytons are a truely advanced and great ally!
2nd and 4th PA close in to spring the trap.

1800bc 4th PA see's the Celts split their army in two, and seizes the opportunity to attack the stronger army of 8,000 men. Their chariots help them not, surprised in the woods 8,000 hearts are pulled from chests at the cost of 3,000 brave mayan warriors.
2nd PA approaches the remaining 2,000 celts.

1785bc Barbarians arekilled near Tonia, trying to steal brickd from our fine roads- no doubt for their stinking hovels.

1770bc 2,000 Celts are crushed by the 2nd PA as it rushes from the mountains to engulf the sorry men.
Diplomat loses the barbarians and stops of for a cup of tea at Immortal wombats city.
Incan bireme appears near Huari - it has a cargo!!
200 gold given to Incans.
200 gold given to Byzantine.

1775bc Maps discovered.Chariots undertaken.
Apolyton 12,000 army back in our borders! they accept to withdraw and a quick move makes them agree to a trade pact- hurray!

1740bc lone barbarian near Chichen.
CoT decides to call it a day - He feels the need to nurse his wounds and is thankfull for the time he spent serving his nation.

[hexagonian]

From Yannick

1725 BC
celt unit dstroyed near hexantin
Dale has been discovered: How can such a brillant civilisation can
choose such crap names for their cities remains a mystery...
1000 babarians killed near chichen...
Recption held in Dale

1710 BC
Tintagel has fallen!! 2 Units lost.

1695 BC
2000 Gold offered to the Apolyton civilisation.

1665 BC
Cork has Fallen! 5 units has been lost. Sadly, they were all of Hextanian descent...
Caerphilly is very well defended. The unit 8 army managed to withdraw without any loss though...
A military pact has been signed with the Apolyton civilisation

1650 BC
An Apolytan emissary suggested us that the Mongolians have to learn where their place is.
Yannick IV couldn't been more agree... An mongolian unit has been destroed near Kakorun.

1635 BC
The Apolytan slaughtered our diplomat!!! They proposed a cease fire immediately accepted...
Macchu picchu (Inca) build the Olympics!
Rhimmey has fallen though but the victorious peacefull army is almost entirely destroyed...

1620 BC
Rebellion in almost all our cities: our empire is too large...
The production is descrease to 8 hour and the wage increased to 12
Commercial route from tintagel to DanQ established for 90 gold with 5 caravans...

1600 - 1500 BC
Reorganisation of our armies. These recents victories have been costly...

[hexagonian]

The in-can and the Mayan people had a long history of political intrigue regarding the leadership of the Mayan people. It is known that the in-cans played a part in the establishment of the Second Hextan Dynasty. 0ver a period of 1,200 years, in-cans were also able to infiltrate key Mayan government positions and to gradually place a pure-blooded in-can ruler in charge of the Mayan society. Thus began the Third Hextan Dynasty.

1500BC
Hextan XX takes command of the Mayan people as a loyal puppet king of the in-can Empire.
Hextan XX's first diplomatic act is to negotiate a peace with the celt and the mongrol nations, as there is an urgent need to rebuild Mayan military forces. He also boost the PW funds to 60% of the GNP, in an effort to quickly create funds to construct a series of forts so future wounded military units can heal quickly. A diplomat is sent to kush.

Hextan XX serches in vain for the great general Hammurabi?Having no idea where he has gone, Hextan commissions the formation of several slavemasters to help augment the Mayan labor pool.

Another Macedonian settler is killed by Mayan forces.

1490BC
Two large apolytonite stacks are noticed in the vicinity of Tikal and are asked to withdraw from Mayan soil. They agree with smiling faces. Hextan XX is relieved, as the southern forces are weak, due to the longstanding peaceful alliance with the apolytonites and the in-cans.

1480BC
Nothing of note here. All quiet in the world, until?

1470BC
The backstabbing celts and mongrols unjustly attack innocent Mayan fishermen off the coast of Cork and Rhondda. Hextan XX vows swift revenge.

1460BC
3 celt charioteers are sent to the peaceful embrace of death. Meanwhile, to the south, the apolytonites continue to trespass on sacred Mayan soil. Hextan XX grows nervous and starts a vast reorganization of military units. The war with the celts and mongrols is put on the back firepot, though it is not ignored.

1440BC
Forces start to muster to the southern Apolyton front, and the reorganization of the Northern Peace armies continues, so that the celt and mongrol threats can also be met.

1420BC
Hextan XXI takes the throne.
The Great Fort of Rhondda is completed, and wounded units climb over one another in an effort to reach the fort to be healed. Faith healing increases 200-fold

Ho, hum...a celt hoplite is mercifully killed - however a new type of warrior is spotted wearing celt colors. Military analysts call the new unit a 'Hypaspist' and are eager to employ the new type of warrior to the Mayan forces.

1410BC
Religious freedom is dealt a severe setback as a celt prophet is killed after converting the people of Cork to the blasphemous celt faith. Only Hextan XXI is to be worshipped.

An embassy with the ku****es is established. They are not happy with us for some reason - Hextan XXI does not care though?

1400BC
A suspicious in-can vessel with unknown cargo is asked to move from the waters outside of Huari. The in-cans mock our reasonable request. Tensions mount among the pure-blooded Mayan nobility, but Hextan XXI does nothing to anger his masters?

1390BC
Hextan XXII takes the throne.
The city of Hextantin is attacked by 50,000 force army of mongrols. The defenders of Hextantin withstand the assault with nary a scratch, except the loss of 10,000 residents. All the mongrols die slow painful deaths, and their mutilated carcasses are used to fertilize the farmland around Hextantin.

The apolytonites ask Maya to unite against the ku****es. The Mayans agree, thus shutting down the embassy that had been recently established with the ku****es. A wasted trip, but with the continual incursions of apolytonites on our soil, we need the apolytonites allies more than the ku****es.

1380BC
More glorious victories for the Mayan Peace Armies, as 60,000 celt hypaspists are killed with only the loss of a single Mayan Javelin Cavalry.

Hextan XXII greases the diplomatic wheels of the byzantine empire with a gift of 400 gold.

1360BC
The gift pays off, as we are able to trade Masonry for Cosmology from the byzantines.

The great fort of Jaina is completed - both the north and the south now have recreational facilities for our brave soldiers. Brothels spring up in Jaina overnight.

1340BC
The foresight of Hextan XX is revealed, as the apolytonites show their craven nature and attempt to take Tikal from us. 120,000 apolytonites die attempting to storm the walls. Tikal holds firm. A great celebration is held after the victory. Hextan XXII takes the Mayan/apolytonite treaty, pisses on it, feeds it to the last remaining apolytonite soldier, then takes the soldier and throws him from the walls. It was a moving ceremony.

A second apolytonite army between Tikal and Jaina is slaughtered without the customary Mayan battle mercy that is renowned throughout the world.

A second deal (Barracks for Aqueducts) is negotiated with the byzantines.. Hextan XXII immediately kicks himself for forgetting the little-known effect that prevents upgrading units when the enable advance is traded for rather than researched. Hextan XXII then kills his advisors for their oversight. Blame must never fall on the ruler?

1320BC
Somehow, the apolytonites had managed to sneak 80,000 men to the east of Tonina, and were biding their time until their treacherous attack in 1340BC. Mayan forces are in the vicinity though, and it is hoped that they can be positioned to destroy the intruders.

1310BC
A celt army manages to kill a 60,000-man army. Among the dead is Hextan XXII, who left no descendents. 'Good riddance to bad rubbish' says those of pure Mayan blood. A search for those of the pure Hextan bloodline is started, but with the instability because of the vacant throne, it is anyone's guess who will ascend to lead our people.

[yservel]

Hi all, Here is a picture of the celtic's town conquered during my reign...

[Hermann the Lombard]

The Story of Herm’ann III, Balam Boss

From the Second Taker Dynasty to the Balam Republic

Yes, there was a search for those of the pure Hextan bloodline, but as so often before in the history of the People of the Wind, the emphasis was on the blood. In the wake of the military defeat any Hextans or other In-can sympathizers caught were eviscerated on the altars of Kukulkan, Ch’ipi, and Raxa. Next the people turned to look for those of the Tay’lorian line, but if any of that family survived they remained carefully hidden. Seven cities slipped into disorder. These chaotic conditions once again allowed the Taker Clan to gain control, and the Underworld emerged as Overlords.).

The Balam Warriors of the Wind were used to being ruled by self-proclaimed Gods such as Hextapul and the first yservel, or the offspring of Gods such as Child of Thor. It was no great leap to being ruled by a Godfather. However, the Taker Clan had learned a great deal from the excesses of the First Taker Dynasty and the subsequent seventeen hundred years spent on the lam. The Second Taker Dynasty would be run as a legitimate business while the customary Taker rackets continued uninterrupted, but out of the public Eye (Hextapul’s or otherwise). Another thing they had learned was that the apostrophe moved in the fourteen hundred years between the rule of Herm’ann I, the Taker of the Blame, and the rule of Her’mann II of the Taker Clan. In a return to tradition—and the Taker Family has always valued tradition—the most powerful Taker assumed the name Herm’ann III, Boss of Balam.

1300 BC: The Chichen Army marches boldly to confront the Apolytoners while the army’s detached cavalry, the Chichen Fingers, rode around the Apolytoner army to prevent their escape. Meanwhile, the Boss of Balam offered 400 gold bars to In-ca in return for removal of some In-can archers north of Huari. It might be nice to have *someone* not at war with us, but the arrogant In-cans refuse our offer; they must still think that the Maya are their puppets. They shall learn otherwise!

1290 BC: That In-can tool Hextan XXII has allowed all sorts of unorganized riff-raff to wander the land, disrupting legitimate criminal enterprises. There is an Apolytoner chariot west of Tikal, barbarian hypaspists and chariots EAST of Tikal, a Mongol chariot west of Hextantin, a Celtic mounted archer northwest of Rhondda, and innumerable Celtic biremes plaguing the seas. Herm’ann III lances the first boil, and the Chichen Army destroys the Apolytoner army.

1280 BC: The Scholars of Balam have discovered the principles of a new form of government called “republic.” This form of government seems a ideal environment for Taker enterprises, so Herm’ann orders the end to the city states. Profitable anarchy descends on the land. The Scholars are ordered to learn how to ride and shoot bows at the same time. The Scholars have painful memories of learning to ride in the first place, but Herm’ann assigns his best Project Capo to supervise the research. Damaged Chichen units limp into Kabha Labna to recover. The Boss orders javelin cavalry to seek out any other intruders in Balam lands, and barbarians are found trying to cut the road east of Tikal.

1270 BC: The Balam Republic is declared! Happiness soars, except among the Entertainers Guild: 18 of their number have to find real jobs! In the field, elements of the Jaina Army corner barbarians northeast of Tikal. The In-can forces appear to be withdrawing from the Tikal area (or could be shifting toward Huari). The Balam Boss orders javelin cavalry to tail the In-cans. The first hypaspists of Balam emerge from training in Chichen and march toward Cotz. No fewer than THREE Celtic biremes infest the waters off Cork and Rhymney.

1260 BC: The Celts turn out to be bold and aggressive. Celtic biremes disgorge hypaspists outside Cork. Mounted archers bypass the 4th Peace Army and ride right up to Tintagel. These mounted archers have made a big mistake, as the first pezheteroi of the Balam Republic lead the Army of Tinatagel against the intruders. The survivors are now gainfully employed in Tintagel, as the surviving barbarians are elsewhere. (“Gainful” means “of benefit to Balam, the Takers, or both.)

1250 BC: The army near Kells detaches a force to screen that city while the bulk of the army hurries back to confront—and destroy—the Celtic hypaspists. Two warriors are promoted to Veteran status. An In-can bireme can be seen offshore near the empty fortress of Jaina. The Boss orders forces to occupy the fortress, just in case.

1240 BC: Celtic biremes harry the coast of North Maya, looting goods and pirating trade routes. It is good to see a Mongol bireme doing the same to the Celts near Caerphilly. Good news comes to the Godfather: the Apolytoners have gone to war with the In-cans. He gives 500 gold bars to the In-cans as a symbol of our goodwill.

The Chichen Fingers have reached the Toltec, and they overwhelm the first of two barbarian chariots southwest of Toltec. It is time to concentrate force against Kells, as our new government can safely absorb at least three more cities. The 4th Peace Army detaches four regiments to screen Caerphilly and the approaches to the Fortress of Rhondda. The bulk of the army marches toward Tintagel…to find barbarian hoplites lurking in the sand dunes.

1230 BC: The faithless Mongols launch an unprovoked surprise attack on the Fortress of Rhondda. The newly-raised Second Pezheteroi are taken by surprise and call on the rest of the army for help. The pezheteroi are annihilated, but they are avenged by their comrades, henceforth to be called the Helpme Rhondda. The Balam Boss accepts offers to exchange maps from the loyal Byzantines and the less-loyal In-cans. The Chichen Fingers eliminate the remaining barbarians southwest of Toltec, and the 4th Peace Army does the same in the sand dunes.

The In-can representatives, now inexplicably hostile, again refuse to withdraw their forces, in particular the archers entrenched north of Huari. It may be time to dispose of this irritant; a slavemaster joins the troops watching the archers. The real outrage is that the In-cans claim that WE failed to withdraw. This must refer to our Diplomat in the Coracle near Paracas (and Huari).

1220 BC: We discover Mobile Tactics! Since we can’t research Huntsville Tactics, we begin researching Horse Armor. An earthquake strikes Hexagonia; fortunately that isn’t US. An In-can army menaces Huari; if they won’t withdraw, this is WAR.

It’s war.

We destroy the In=can archers, and the small Jaina Army (archer and slavemaster) reinforces Huari. Mongol archers attempt to bypass Hextantin through the mountains. Part of the garrison moves to block them while the Helpme dispatches a Mongol chariot. Peace Army 4.1 destroys Celtic hypaspists. Our coracle sights FIVE In-can biremems and turns west in periolous, desperate haste. The 4th Peace Army finds MORE barbarian hoplites in the sand dunes. They’re like sand fleas!

1210 BC: The 4th Peace Army swats another flea. The Balam Boss dispatches reinforcements toward the many fronts.

1200 BC: Mongol archers continue north, just out of reach and out of sight, moving from the mountains into the foothills southwest of Rhondda.

Herm’ann III goes to visit the Scholars, who wish to demonstrate the new armor they have developed for use on horseback. He dons some of this “horse armor.” As an exercise, a student will fire a bow at the armor to demonstrate the protection. Herm’ann stands fearlessly, willing the student to shoot fair and true. Herm’ann collapses, the student’s heart—and those of several Scholars--pulses on the altar even before the Balam Boss expires. Back to the drawing (and quartering) board!

So ended the Second Taker Dynasty in the Seventieth Year of the Balam Republic.