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Montezuma is dead and the city of Tenochtitlan has risen against you. As Hernán Cortés, lead your conquistadors out of the massive and hostile capital during La Noche Triste. When you win, choose a different conquistador to be your lieutenant and see if you can escape with more gold and fewer losses!
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30th of June, 1520 Anno Domini
In the early morning heat, the Aztec emissary approached the conquistadors with the air of haughty conceit fitting of a Mexica nobleman among his inferiors. He walked through the palace grounds, the gardens of the tlatoani Montezuma, now dead only twelve hours, filled with the white men and their Tlaxcala allies, century-old enemies of his people. Scattered in the once pristine foliage and stone paths were the strange weapons of the invaders, along with barrels, boxes, and sacks, hills of trash and refuse, juxtaposed with the strewn piles of pillaged gold and jewels; a scene that betrayed the nature of these bandits and vagrants once viewed as demi-gods of the Feathered Serpent Quetzalcoatl. The emissary's resolute gaze only projected forward and high, his chin raised as if his nose were seeking the higher fresh air, away from the consuming stench of ordure and unwashed bodies.
He stopped before the leader of the conquistadors, his high gaze not lowering to meet the brown eyes of Hernán Cortés. His vivid feathery adornments and jewels of jade, amethyst, and polished obsidian contrasted with the muted grey iron of the Castilian's breastplate.
The emissary puffed his chest and through the translations of La Malinche and Gerónimo de Aguilar demanded the Spaniards' surrender of the palace and removal from the city. His brow raised and nostrils flaring, Cortés responded in fast and heated Castilian: "Do you not know the power we possess? Have you not seen the three thousand bodies of your countrymen at the pyramids of Cholula? If a single javelin appears over these walls, I will personally kill one hundred of your warriors!"
Unblinkingly and with the composure of his station, the Mexica raised a bejeweled arm to the palace walls, behind which could be heard the chattering of thousands of Aztec warriors. "My people could lose two hundred and fifty of our bravest sons of Aztlan for each and every white man we kill," the emissary explained with assured confidence, "and we will still annihilate you."
The meeting ended, Cortés turned to his lieutenants. He had just returned from Vera Cruz after successfully defeating the Spanish army of Pánfilo de Narváez, dispatched by the treacherous Diego Velázquez to arrest Cortés. He left his forces in the capital to Pedro de Alvarado but the cruel and merciless Alvarado had massacred eight thousand unarmed festival-goers, inciting the wrath of the entire city. Now was not the time to assign blame, however.
The palace walls were high but the Spaniards' food and supplies could not sustain a lengthy siege. Much of the gunpowder and ammunition had been expended and Cortés wondered if the abundant gold in the palace could be shaped into balls for the cannons and arquebuses. If they retreated from the palace, where would they go? The narrow causeways out of the city were veritable death-traps and likely blocked and well-defended by the shrewd Mexica. To even reach those causeways would require an intense fighting trek with house to house fighting against a numerically superior foe in the dense streets and canals of a hostile city. Even now, many of his men, scattered throughout the city, were fighting for their lives.
As the sun climbed into the sky over the pyramids of Tenochtitlan, Cortés had many problems. But had he not problems before? Had he not landed in Santo Domingo many years ago destitute, armed only with his wits and the respected name of his father? Had he not organized this expedition even amid the avaricious whim of Governor Velázquez who, hours before he was set to sail, revoked his charter? Had he not defeated an army dispatched to arrest him? Had he not fought and parlayed his way into an alliance with the Tlaxcala and Totonac and into this very city to hold the god-king of an empire for ransom?
Had Hernán Cortés not triumphed before?
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Gameplay
- Choose from one of four famous conquistadors to define the character of your army based on their historical personas (See Lieutenant System below for more information)
- Low visibility night-time combat
- How well you do determines Cortés' place in history. Play multiple times to see if you can match or surpass El Capitán General himself!
- Three difficulty levels (El Teniente, El Capitan, and El Caudillo)
- Every Spanish unit is a named actual member of Cortés' expedition (using Bernal DÃaz del Castillo's memoirs as a reference)
- Spanish units have been altered to emphasize the disparity between the Spanish and Aztec:
*Armored units (condottieri) are sturdy but move slowly
*Metal swords and bullets inflict great damage
*Cavalry are very quick but unarmored horses make them vulnerable
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________*Metal swords and bullets inflict great damage
*Cavalry are very quick but unarmored horses make them vulnerable
Lieutenant System
Your choice of second-in-command defines the character of your army based on each famous conquistador's historical persona.
Each lieutenant provides different bonuses, different starting bonus units, and slightly different dialogue. Your army also earns experience from kills and are upgraded based on your lieutenant's specialty (at 250 and 500 kills).
Pedro de Alvarado (boosts infantry: Tracking/Squires researched; condottieri +25hp; experience benefits condottieri) was Cortés' second in command. Called 'Tonatiuh', or Red Sun, by the natives for both his red hair and his feiry disposition, it is believed Alvarado's appearance influenced the native associations of the Spaniards with the god Quetzalcoatl. Alvarado was feared by the Mexica and known for his cruelty and brutality. On 20th of May 1520, Alvarado, ostensibly to preempt a coming attack, had his men slaughter thousands of Mexica celebrating the Toxcatl festival at the Templo Mayor. At scenario start, Alvarado is with Cortés in the palace.
Incited by your teniente Alvarado's ferocity, your Spaniards have killed 250 warriors! Your rodeleros eagerly charge into the native throngs! (condottieri +3 speed)
Alvarado's mercilessness against our heathen foe inspires your infantry to push and stab even when struck so that they swat away the enemy's blows like so many mosquitos! (condottieri +1 armor)
Alvarado's mercilessness against our heathen foe inspires your infantry to push and stab even when struck so that they swat away the enemy's blows like so many mosquitos! (condottieri +1 armor)
Diego de Ordaz (boosts archers: Ballistics researched; archers +2 range; experience benefits archers) was the grizzled veteran of the group at forty years old, having participated in the earliest expeditions to Panama and Colombia. Unskilled at cavalry tactics, he was talented in the employment of archers and cannon and served in that capacity. In 1519, he climbed the volcano of Popocatépetl, a feat that impressed the Spaniard's native allies. Besieged in Montezuma's palace, Cortés dispatched Ordaz to scout a route out of the city. At scenario start, Ordaz is away from the palace but returning soon.
The disciplined firing of your gunners and archers under Ordaz' experienced eye has sentenced 250 enemy warriors to hell! Your archers have become better shots! (Spanish archers +4 attack)
Ordaz has taught the archers techniques he learned in Panama to better protect themselves against the Mexica weapons and tactics. (Spanish archers/gunners +25 hp)
Ordaz has taught the archers techniques he learned in Panama to better protect themselves against the Mexica weapons and tactics. (Spanish archers/gunners +25 hp)
Gonzalo de Sandoval (boosts cavalry: Bloodlines/Husbandry researched; experience benefits cavalry) at twenty-three was one of the youngest officers in the expedition and among the most popular. An excellent horseman, he was known for his courage and concern for his men. Bernal DÃaz del Castillo would describe him as 'not highly educated, but a simple man; neither was he covetous for gold, but only for fame and to be a good, strong captain.' At scenario start, Sandoval is somewhere in the city.
With every courageous charge and cry of '¡Santiago!'', Sandoval inspires your cavalrymen to weather the storm of enemy spears and arrows. (cavalry +25 hp)
Sandoval's fearless example inspires your cavalrymen to drive their steeds harder, galloping into battle. (cavalry +2 speed)
Sandoval's fearless example inspires your cavalrymen to drive their steeds harder, galloping into battle. (cavalry +2 speed)
Cristóbal de Olid (gold, weaker enemy wonders, native allies +20hp, experience provides unique events) was raised in the household of the governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez, and was in many ways the prototypical conquistador: resourceful and very ambitious yet quarrelsome, Olid was by his nature a rebel. His disputes with other conquistadors, notably Pedro de Alvarado, were well-known and fractured the Spaniards' solidarity. Nevertheless, due to his ties to powerful men and his own skill, he remained an important ally to Cortés. At scenario start, Olid is somewhere in the city.
The enterprising Olid has somehow obtained Mexica warriors willing to kill their countrymen for Cristo y España! (3 Elite Jaguar Warriors appear at the palace)
Fortuna smiles on us! The resourceful Olid has somehow managed to convince the Aztec nobles to consider a ceasefire! (Aztecs ally for 120 game seconds)
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________Fortuna smiles on us! The resourceful Olid has somehow managed to convince the Aztec nobles to consider a ceasefire! (Aztecs ally for 120 game seconds)
Screenshots
Fight in the city's temples
The farms on the way to Tacuba are fraught with danger
Explore the Floating Gardens
Defend the Palace of Axayacatl then challenge the massive city
Pillage the riches of the New World
Enemies emerge from the shadows in the Night of Sorrows
If you fail, hungry Huitzilopochtl awaits
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