The Immortal Queen of Egypt - a Civ VI Cleopatra Quest
- Thread starter SpiritClown
- Start date
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- Tags
- civilization
- Location
- italy
Guys we are tied 3-3 for the plans, I'm considering calling the vote in about a couple of hours at most (so i can do un update today). If we don't solve this how would you like for me to handle it? I choose or i flip a coin?
- Location
- italy
Vote is closed. In the end what I decided to do will be revealed in the next post.
Turn 9
- Location
- italy
In the end you, Cleopatra, Pharaoh of Egypt, Goddess that came from the Mountain, the Builder of the Gardens decided: the war will continue. The Treachery of Trajan and the Romans will be paid in full. Your people did not fully understood where your hatred from the Romans came from but it was justified: having to play their concubine in your previous life was something you hated and now you will never lower yourself again. Now Egypt will be great again, even if you had to burn the whole world to prove it.
That was what you were shouting from your palace in the heat of the moment but after you calmed down you took a different choice. Oh, you would burn the Romans down, that was certain, but you would not have that be what would define Egypt. You would resurrect an ancient symbol of your people: in a dream you saw the great Pyramids and by the same enlightenment that granted you the knowledge to build the gardens you will now build the Pyramids. For who would build them but you?
Well... maybe another immortal. What if Trajan, Mvemba or someone else (because you were sure there was someone else) had the same visions as you? What if... someone else would take the heritage of Egypt from you, like you built the beautiful gardens... of Babylon?
You will not be denied. The heritage of Egypt will not be taken by someone else.
Splitting yourself between building the Pyramids, ordering people to work double shifts and cut forests to have more wood to build them quicker, and the soldiers attacking Puteoli was starting to leave its toll on you. And when you refused a peace offer Trajan proposed the Egyptians started wondering if you were making the right choice. And when you announced that your new city would be called Cleo, from your name, your people's faith in you started to fade.
You started to feel that, and so you decided to concentrate all political power and all decisions, of war and peace, in your hands. You will not need help, after all you lead them alone for all these years: You lived more than a century already and your leadership would not be in question.
You started to be called "The lonely Queen", but you didn't mind. You only had your interests, and whose of the people of Egypt, in mind.
Your people worries about you were lessened when another Immortal revealed himself to you. This time, he came from the seas.
That was what you were shouting from your palace in the heat of the moment but after you calmed down you took a different choice. Oh, you would burn the Romans down, that was certain, but you would not have that be what would define Egypt. You would resurrect an ancient symbol of your people: in a dream you saw the great Pyramids and by the same enlightenment that granted you the knowledge to build the gardens you will now build the Pyramids. For who would build them but you?
Well... maybe another immortal. What if Trajan, Mvemba or someone else (because you were sure there was someone else) had the same visions as you? What if... someone else would take the heritage of Egypt from you, like you built the beautiful gardens... of Babylon?
You will not be denied. The heritage of Egypt will not be taken by someone else.
Splitting yourself between building the Pyramids, ordering people to work double shifts and cut forests to have more wood to build them quicker, and the soldiers attacking Puteoli was starting to leave its toll on you. And when you refused a peace offer Trajan proposed the Egyptians started wondering if you were making the right choice. And when you announced that your new city would be called Cleo, from your name, your people's faith in you started to fade.
You started to feel that, and so you decided to concentrate all political power and all decisions, of war and peace, in your hands. You will not need help, after all you lead them alone for all these years: You lived more than a century already and your leadership would not be in question.
You started to be called "The lonely Queen", but you didn't mind. You only had your interests, and whose of the people of Egypt, in mind.
Your people worries about you were lessened when another Immortal revealed himself to you. This time, he came from the seas.
He is Harald Sigurdsson, Wiking chief and lord of the seas. You tried to welcome him warmly and finally your people recognized you again: for a day you were the charming Cleopatra they knew and loved and not the frightening Queen of Revenge. Even if the true motive to refusing the peace offer was that you would like to negotiate with Trajan from a position of Strength, after you took his city.
The trader lords from Carthage also distracted you from the war: your trading contract was expiring and they were wondering if you would renew it. You both prospered from it and you saw no reason to not continue your beautiful friendship with the Carthaginians.
-Also, tell you what, my dear friends- you said, willing to finish those negotiations so you could focus a little more on the war and on the Pyramids -I will send one of my most trusted maids with you, so she could be my eyes and ears in Carthage. Everything you say to her will be reported to me, and i shall speak to you through her. Something to make us even closer. What do you think?-
-If you make us visit that wonderful building when you'll finish it, it's a Deal Pharaoh!-
-Oh, but those are finished my friends... come with me. I shall make you visit the new Wonder of the land of Egypt... the Pyramids!-
The trader lords from Carthage also distracted you from the war: your trading contract was expiring and they were wondering if you would renew it. You both prospered from it and you saw no reason to not continue your beautiful friendship with the Carthaginians.
-Also, tell you what, my dear friends- you said, willing to finish those negotiations so you could focus a little more on the war and on the Pyramids -I will send one of my most trusted maids with you, so she could be my eyes and ears in Carthage. Everything you say to her will be reported to me, and i shall speak to you through her. Something to make us even closer. What do you think?-
-If you make us visit that wonderful building when you'll finish it, it's a Deal Pharaoh!-
-Oh, but those are finished my friends... come with me. I shall make you visit the new Wonder of the land of Egypt... the Pyramids!-
Pyramids built: to be continued in the interlude
The Secret of the Pyramids
The Secret of the Pyramids
After your day with the delegation from Carthage, which made them pledge loyalty to you, you returned to focus on the war with renewed energy. And you would soon be rewarded: the walls of Puteoli fell, and the city followed soon after. That city was yours to keep, even if you hadn't won the hearts of its people yet.
It was soon after you conquered the city that the thing you feared the most appeared. The Roman legions. Trajan trained his men again. You knew about the might of the legions, their coordination and strategic might. And soon after you showed them, the prisoner you kept, locked in the Pyramids, became possessed by her leader, Trajan of Rome.
-I come to talk about peace, Queen of Egypt...-
We finished Pyramids (I had to speed up production by cutting a forest near Thebes because I didn't want to lose them to AI) and we started Petra on Cleo (I'm trying to build them near the Pyramids to try and have a nice tile for a Theatre Square if we want to build it). I decided to call the city that since the plan that won didn't have that option, and also i think it goes well with the autocratic personality our queen/goddess is starting to develop.
Now, here's the peace deal from Trajan:
68 gold + 1 gold per turn for 30 turns (basically all his gold as of right now)
1 iron (not really useful, but we don't have it in our empire and a swordsman might be nice to have)
1 jade (a luxury, we really need it, amenities are starting to become a problem)
1 horse (so we can train one more horsemen if we want to start training them, we might need an encampment in Thebes but now we have the time to build it
relic, holy grail (gives us tourism and faith, useful if we want to start working on a cultural victory)
another city, arretium (yes, he will cede Puteoli and also another city. This one is south of rome, has a holy site and it's on the sea so we can start building boats if we want)
So... do we take the peace deal?
[] Yes, take the peace deal it's too sweet to pass it
[] No, keep fighting
If we take the peace deal we will not be able to declare another war with him for about 10 turns, he will have time to train more legions and he might also declare war on us after. But this is a really nice peace offer (and with the second city we basically surround Rome).
If we keep fighting I was thinking about something like this...
[] Plan Catapults
We start building catapults to crush Rome and her encampment and we try to conquer Rome now, even if he has legions. Slowly we will start building an encampment and stables to build horsemen and transition into knights when we reach medieval era (i don't think we will do it in one update, but it's just to let you know)
If we want to take peace instead...
[] Plan Trades
We start building commercial hubs, and also encampments, to make all the trade routes. Also, another city or 2 in the west, north and/or the east between Thebes and Puteoli.
I think it's too late to try religion, but feel free to suggest other plans. I'm really open to suggestions.
(the interlude about the Pyramids will also be an occasion to answer some questions about our situation if you have them)
[X] Yes, take the peace deal it's too sweet to pass it
[x] Plan Trades
[x] Plan Trades
- Location
- California
[X] Yes, take the peace deal it's too sweet to pass it
[x] Plan Trades
Looks like Cleo is alone. Hopefully, there are other female civs she can be friends with.
[x] Plan Trades
Looks like Cleo is alone. Hopefully, there are other female civs she can be friends with.
- Location
- italy
There should be. I think. I might actually do the interlude now and the next turn tomorrow since it looks like there's such a landslide.
- Location
- California
Plan trades is a solid plan taking advantage of Egypt's ability for trade routes and a defense from Roman Legions( gasp). I would be surprised if anyone can make a case against it or for Catpults.
- Pronouns
- Male
[X] Yes, take the peace deal it's too sweet to pass it
[x] Plan Trades
[x] Plan Trades
- Location
- italy
The secret of the Pyramids
Finally, they were done. Thanks to your enlightened and focused direction you gave back the Pyramids to the land of Egypt. True, having the "Pyramids of Cleo" could have been cooler but still... you were now "The master of the Pyramids". The Builder of Gardens, the Goddess that came from the Mountain... "The Lonely Pharaoh" of Egypt.
You chuckled between yourself, you had been called worse names before, and if "loneliness" was the price to pay to made Egypt the great empire it once was, it would be worth it. Not all was fun and games though, far east the war with the Romans was going on but you were sure by looking through your forces eyes that soon the siege of Puteoli would be over, and the city would be conquered.
-But enough thinking about war. Today is a day of celebration, and I have to put on my best smile for my allies from Carthage. I have to negotiate a new trade deal. And thanks to this... to the symbol of Egypt magnificence I will made them kneel- you said, talking with yourself, the only person you could really trust with any decision.
[...]
You were now visiting the inside of the Pyramids with the Carthaginians, the trade deal was already signed and now you were talking about some other things.
-My dearest Pharaoh- said the leader of the Carthaginian delegation -These Pyramids are wonderful, truly a wonder of the world. But aside from being a nice experiment I fail to see their purpose...-
-Originally they were thought to be a home for dead kings, to preserve them in their journey to the veil beyond...-
-But... why? You don't need to do this- replied a Carthaginian, -Unless... have you thought about taking a husband?-
It was difficult to not laugh loudly at them. -No, I have not thought of taking a husband, dear Guest. See... these Pyramids are full of traps to keep people from entering and desecrating the sarcophagus of the Pharaoh... So I can put something inside that I want to protect-
"And an enemy that I can't Kill" you thought, thinking of the Imperator.
You learned also of the people around Carthage, of a new city in the south of Carthage: the pious city of Yerevan. Not someone you were really interested to woo, but you could also gain more allies, more so since your enemies also had allies of their own: the city of Lisbon, in the far south, sent envoys to you declaring war at the side of Trajan. You will bend them too. As you will bend Trajan...
[...]
-Hello, Queen-
-Hello, Imperator- you replied. Trajan took possession of the prisoner that, after you refused the first peace offer from Rome, you imprisoned in the Royal palace, where only you could talk to. A nice way to talk between immortals, and you knew Trajan did the same. Diplomacy will be certainly different from the past.
-I have come with talk of peace- he said -Puteoli has fallen-
-I know- you said -And you finally trained well enough your man to form... a Roman Legion-
-I know- he replied -You know full well the might of the legions of Rome, but...-
-But you know that Egypt is not the shell of itself, like it was... on the other world-
-Yes, you have built the Empire of Egypt once again and for that I congratulate you. But now... we should talk of peace-
-Yes, we should- you said. Your people were tired of war, and the Legions were really strong. Rome conquered the world with them once, and their might had to be respected. -What do you propose, Trajan, Emperor of Rome-
-I will give you 68 talents of gold, and 1 talent for 30 years-
-Not too much, Trajan-
-It's all I have in my treasury. I can also give you an ancient relic... something called "The Holy Grail"-
-Never heard of it. But I will take it. Also, I want to keep Puteoli.-
-Of course, Cleopatra-
-And I want another city... the one called Arretium-
-Do I have to?-
-Yes. Yes you have Trajan. Also, I could really use some of that Jade, I don't know if you have heard it but I just built some Pyramids, i need gems to pretty them. And myself-
-Fine... Fine. I accept-
-Good. Glad to make business with you. May this be the beginning of a long lasting peace between our people-
Trajan disappeared, and you laughed so hard the Roman prisoner actually became terrified of you.
"Oh my dear Trajan, you let me have peace, two of your cities, a lot of gold and resources. Basically for free. Because you see... I have another enemy to fight now"
Mvemba a Nzinga (Kongo) has denounced Egypt
He thinks we are a warmonger
He thinks we are a warmonger
"How come I am the warmonger while it was Trajan who attacked us?" You asked yourself "It's clearly just an excuse to attack us. At least now I will only to fight one war, since by our agreement... When Kongo will attack us Rome will still be bound to keep the peace"
You kept watching the Pyramids, as your masterpiece of Diplomacy unfolded before your eyes. You were... happy. You will make all of them fall. Through might of arms or might of coin. Because thanks to the trade deals with Carthage soon your Kingdom will flourish with coin. And you will build more cities. And as soon as your secret project will be completed in Cleo... that city will be worthy of having your name.
- Location
- California
Obv., Mvemba heard cleopatra ran over Trajan in the peace talks, and does not approve.
In-game that's just poor design; especially, when there should be no warmonger penalty in the Ancient period for war.
- Location
- italy
I know that it's game mechanics but that doesn't mean that It makes sense for Cleopatra 
turn 10
- Location
- italy
The War with Rome taught you something: you hated being taken by surprise and so, to prevent Trajan to exploit you weak eastern side you decided to found another city between Thebes and Rome, that could be some sort of a buffer between your capitals. You were also thinking about conquering Rome for good, something you will need lots of money to do.
We have found another city, how do we call it?
[] Abydos (game picked name)
[] F.U. Rome (classical multiplayer name)
[] Write-In
Your plan to make more and more gold, some of which you would use to improve the infrastructure of your cities, was simple but effective: make more trade routes. To do that though you would need two things: to teach people how to make trade deals and actually sell stuff and also how to teach other people. Your Civilization now counted a lot of people and will grow even more thanks to your recent acquisition of two Roman cities and the founding of one new Egyptian one. But one step at a time. The first thing was to reserve a plot of land, near the river to improve trade, to build commercial buildings, warehouses, trade caravans, markets and such. You already thought about the perfect place back when you were designing the Pyramids.
Finally you also had access to the sea, thanks to your peace deal with Trajan and the newly acquired city of Arretium... mhh... let's say, wouldn't it be better if...
Do we want to change the names of the two Roman cities we acquired in the Trajan War?
[] Yes (will trigger vote on the names)
[] No
If Yes, what do we call them?
[] Use Civ name generator
[] The Alexander the Great Way, just name them after ourselves (you can write in)
[] Write-In
After you decided what to do with the names you ordered your people in your new sea-faring city to start building boats. The sea was always a great way to trade stuff, you knew that, so that decision will only improve on your ability to trade.
We Researched Apprenticeship. We Reached the Medieval Era.
Finally, no more teaching thousands of times the same thing over and over. Now your people will teach each other. And it was finally time: you reached your limit on the technologies that you could teach them. Now they will have to think a little bit by themselves.
It was soon after that your ships started sailing the seas that a viking guest started morphing into their leader
-Harald Sigurdsson, how are you my dear friend?- you asked, surprised by that sudden visit. You weren't friends, you barely knew each other but it wouldn't hurt try to have at least one friend in your immortal club. You were almost a thousand years old, it was time to start making friends again.
-Fairest Queen, I come because finally you too have decided to brave that wonder that is the sea. I can see ship with your flag and your colors sail the sea. And also, I come to tell you something about our powers, as Immortals-
-Oh, that is something really interesting Harald. What have you come to share?-
-Well you know how we can... possess our followers, yes? And morph them into ourselves?-
-Yeah, I know about that-
-Well, I thought something... since we also transform their clothes when we morph...-
-Not sure I follow you, yes we exchange clothes... so?-
-So, Cleopatra... what about something that we are handling in that moment?-
Slowly you started to realize. -Oh- You said -We can actually...-
-Yes! We can exchange things between us without bothering about our trade caravans being attacked by barbarians!-
"Or paying travel taxes" you thought between yourself
-So, Harald, why revealing this wonderful trick to me? Do you want to trade something?-
-How clever Cleopatra! Of course i want to trade something! My delegate here in your lands has told me about that wonder that is silver. I want some for my people. I am more than willing to pay for it, if you are willing to give me some-
You were more than drowning in the stuff, so much so after building your second mine that it was almost becoming more common than Iron.
-Sure Harald. I can trade with you some Silver. I'll even give you a discount for sharing this little secret with me-
The next leader that visited you wasn't so friendly. Apparently Trajan learned something from the Kongolese King.
Rome has denounced us, we occupy one of their cities
"It seems like both Rome and Kongo don't like us... I'm afraid they might ally to attack us one day..." you worried
-My Pharaoh, my Pharaoh- said one of your people, coming running towards you -News from the east! The Romans... the Romans...-
"What, are they attacking? But our peace deal..."
-The Romans have declared war on Kongo, my Queen!-
You smiled, full of joy and mischief. Rome and Kongo, fighting each other? What was sweet.
Do we want to exploit the Rome-Kongo war to our advantage?
[] Yes, triggers vote on how
[] No, continue build our trade empire
How do we exploit the war?
[] Try to ally ourselves with Kongo
[] Try to ally ourselves with Rome
[] Wait for them to fight it out and intervene afterwards (write who to attack)
[] Write-In
Now is a time also for a lot of more decisions...
Do we want to change our government?
[] No, let us stay with Autocracy
[] Yes, let's become a Classical republic
[] Yes, let's become an Oligarchy
Also, we have a new trade route! Which one of these we want to deploy?
[] An internal trade route (gives a bonus of 1-2 food, 1-2 production and 2 gold to one city of our choosing)
[] Trade with Mvemba (+9 gold, +1 culture)
[] Trade with Trajan (+1 production, +9 gold, +1 culture)
[] Trade with Yerevan (+10 gold, +2 faith)
[] Trade with Carthage (+10 gold, +1 Production)
Some small things to tell you: we should finish petra in about a couple of game turns, so i think you can expect a Petra Interlude if you want it.
[] Yes, give us the Petra Interlude!
[] No, you update too slow, focus on the normal turns (will talk about petra in that one but it will not be the focus)
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- Location
- Jersey
[X] Abydos (game picked name)
[X] No
[X] Yes, triggers vote on how
[X] Use some trade gold to upgrade our units and then try to join forces with Kongo if and when Rome looks stretched out or weak
[X] No, let us stay with Autocracy
[X] Trade with Carthage (+10 gold, +1 Production)
[X] Yes, give us the Petra Interlude!
@SpiritClown are there any Great Prophets left? What's the leader board/victory conditions look like?
[X] No
[X] Yes, triggers vote on how
[X] Use some trade gold to upgrade our units and then try to join forces with Kongo if and when Rome looks stretched out or weak
[X] No, let us stay with Autocracy
[X] Trade with Carthage (+10 gold, +1 Production)
[X] Yes, give us the Petra Interlude!
@SpiritClown are there any Great Prophets left? What's the leader board/victory conditions look like?
[X] Wall
[X] Yes (will trigger vote on the names)
[X] Use Civ name generator
[X] No, continue build our trade empire
[X] Yes, let's become a Classical republic
[X] Trade with Carthage (+10 gold, +1 Production)
[X] Yes, give us the Petra Interlude!
[X] Yes (will trigger vote on the names)
[X] Use Civ name generator
[X] No, continue build our trade empire
[X] Yes, let's become a Classical republic
[X] Trade with Carthage (+10 gold, +1 Production)
[X] Yes, give us the Petra Interlude!