Cetashwayo
Lord of Ten Thousand Years
- Location
- Across the Horizon
Well, the reason being that the agricultural revolution created the horse-drawn plough, which allowed them to replace the even more expensive oxen as a draft animal.
Magna Graecia: Titanomachia (A City State Quest)
- Thread starter Cetashwayo
- Start date
- Original Alt. History
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- Tags
- ancient greece alternate history empire builder civ quest democracy gods save us granary management hubris it's an eretrian thing. let lose the weasels of war lithocracy lithocracy is my fetish maximum hellene my big fat greek divine wedding this granary aint gonna fill itself cetash unwinnable
Well, the reason being that the agricultural revolution created the horse-drawn plough, which allowed them to replace the even more expensive oxen as a draft animal.
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
calendar reform now
save the arms of our poor stone-carvers who have to chisel
ΜΝΕΜΝΟΝ ΚΕΥΛΟΝΟΣ & ΚΥΡΟΣ ΓΕΝΝΑΔΙΟΣ Δ
on every
single
brick
Last edited:
Turn 5, 349 OL: Honour in Victory
Cetashwayo
Lord of Ten Thousand Years
- Location
- Across the Horizon
Turn 5, 349 OL: Honour in Victory
349 OL
Plataiai, Boeotia
To Plataiai, Lakedaimon had promised justice. The city had fallen, and although the children and the women had fled, the men had stayed to defend it until the fall. They were a proud lot, these men of Plataiai, and knew their pedigree as the site where Hellas defeated the Mede and ended the threat of Xerxes. The Spartans, they hoped, were to acknowledge this and give them fair trial as participants in a great Hellene heroism. The men were gathered before the judges, and it was only that was revealed the true nature of Spartan justice.
For Demokrites was a baker, known for the puffiness of his breads and the tastiness of his dough. He had a dog by the name of Pausanias, and a lisp he had earned as a boy. He had two young boys, both fled with his wife following the end of the siege of the city. His favorite food was figs.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Zenon was a playwright, the best in the city. Known for his womanizing, many in Plataiai called him Dionysus' hound, because he could always sniff out where the wine was at parties or public gatherings. He loved the drama of it all, but was devoted to his natural-born son, who had died at the walls defending the city.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Kosmas was a young man, no older than eighteen from his birth, who had a beautiful singing voice and had always dreamed of glory. He had showered stones on the Spartans when they had approached the walls, and wept with the others when the city had surrendered. Still, he hoped to be reunited with his lover who had fled to Athenai.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Athanas was an old man, but still among the strongest of his generation, a titan of the Olympic games and winner of awards in wrestling. He had a lust for meat-eating that could never be sated, and so his countrymen often called him the hungry lion of Plataiai, and tried their best to sate the giant's appetite in thanks for his victories.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
And so it went for two-hundred citizens of Plataiai, as the Spartans ran their sharp-edged justice through all assembled there. Once more blood of Hellenes stained the field of Plataiai, pooling in fetid puddles and joined not by sounds of battle, but the stuttering of answers and the dying of men.
Until at last the field fell silent, for there was no one left to answer. Such was justice, delivered by the victor to the vanquished.
Plataiai, Boeotia
To Plataiai, Lakedaimon had promised justice. The city had fallen, and although the children and the women had fled, the men had stayed to defend it until the fall. They were a proud lot, these men of Plataiai, and knew their pedigree as the site where Hellas defeated the Mede and ended the threat of Xerxes. The Spartans, they hoped, were to acknowledge this and give them fair trial as participants in a great Hellene heroism. The men were gathered before the judges, and it was only that was revealed the true nature of Spartan justice.
For Demokrites was a baker, known for the puffiness of his breads and the tastiness of his dough. He had a dog by the name of Pausanias, and a lisp he had earned as a boy. He had two young boys, both fled with his wife following the end of the siege of the city. His favorite food was figs.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Zenon was a playwright, the best in the city. Known for his womanizing, many in Plataiai called him Dionysus' hound, because he could always sniff out where the wine was at parties or public gatherings. He loved the drama of it all, but was devoted to his natural-born son, who had died at the walls defending the city.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Kosmas was a young man, no older than eighteen from his birth, who had a beautiful singing voice and had always dreamed of glory. He had showered stones on the Spartans when they had approached the walls, and wept with the others when the city had surrendered. Still, he hoped to be reunited with his lover who had fled to Athenai.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
For Athanas was an old man, but still among the strongest of his generation, a titan of the Olympic games and winner of awards in wrestling. He had a lust for meat-eating that could never be sated, and so his countrymen often called him the hungry lion of Plataiai, and tried their best to sate the giant's appetite in thanks for his victories.
But the Spartans asked him what he had done for them, and he could not answer, so they cut him down.
And so it went for two-hundred citizens of Plataiai, as the Spartans ran their sharp-edged justice through all assembled there. Once more blood of Hellenes stained the field of Plataiai, pooling in fetid puddles and joined not by sounds of battle, but the stuttering of answers and the dying of men.
Until at last the field fell silent, for there was no one left to answer. Such was justice, delivered by the victor to the vanquished.
[X] Accept the peace.
Goings on from around the Mediterranean, presented by Xenoparakletor Mnemnon Keylonos of the Demos Exoria
MNEMNON: Citizens, I thank you. I thank you for vesting in me the duty of being xenoparakletor, though like all mortal men, I feel unworthy of the title. To be xenoparakletor is to be as Atlas, carrying the world upon your shoulders, going from place to place constantly, yearning of home. And yet I have tried my best to fulfill this duty, and to leave the city greater, better, stronger than before. In my time as Xenoparakletor, we brought closer our allies and made them come to us for tribute and festivities. In my time as xenoparakletor, Eretria gained the allegiance of the Messapii and saw weakness in the Dauni. Finally, in my time as xenoparakletor, we fought a war against the Tarentines for the liberty of the Messapii and the glory of our city, and we were victorious! We were victorious. But in our victory, we were magnanimous, and accepted the arbitration of Metapontion and its allies, who sought to ensure that Eretria and Taras were once again at peace.
I leave you with this; that I have journeyed to the Messapii this year, and received their homage. The Messapii have elected from their number the king Artahias, and he has gone before me and shook hands with me, and accepted the terms of the Peace of Phaidros imposed by Metapontion. Although the Messapii will not yet provide levies and tribute, as they have already been cost much and have little appetite for more, they accept that Eretria is their master and that they will not pursue war and peace without our say-so. I still argue that they must be brought fully into the fold soon, as that their strength may become our strength, and their wealth may become our wealth, but for now, the matter has been settled, and we will not need to worry about their rebellion or rejection of the terms. In truth, they are a broken people, much reduced from their heights before our arrival. It is not to say that we are cruel, but simply that the fates have been cruel to them, and the Tarentines too. But now we have an opportunity to bring them up, so they may stand once again in the sun.
I turn now to the goings on around the Mediterranean now that peace has been signed among us and Taras.
News from Hellas! The siege of Plataiai has ended and the city has fallen. The men were brought before the Spartans and killed down to a man, but the women and children, fled to Athenai, may fight on. The city has been razed and the area occupied by Thebai, which has always been jealous of the Plataiains for their independence. The city of Mytilini, which rebelled against Athenai, has also fallen, and the ringleaders of the revolt have been executed. The commander dispatched to the region to rescue the revolters from the Athenians was apparently so overcome with fear of Athenian triremes he deserted and began to raid the coast of Ionia. Urgent news from Kerkyra: the city has fallen into civil war. The Democrats, who had ruled the city for decades, have been overthrown by a league of oligarchs and fled to the city of Naupaktos, hosted by the Athenians. The oligarchs are aligned with Korinthos and may seek to take Kerkyra out of the war. Truly a dark day for the people of Kerkyra, who have to endure such strife. In Attike, the Spartans have staged another invasion, but the king Archidemos II has passed away, with his son Agis II too young to rule. A regency has been called for him, whilst the other Spartan King Pausanias leads the war effort.
News from the West! In Campania, Etruscan force made up of the cities of Nuceria and Irna have been defeated by the shepherds in a battle on the Campanian plain. What was once thought to be simple raiding may turn out to be far worse. There is great fear among the cities of the Campanian coast, but the people of Kymai remain proud and stalwart, and would surely never fall to barbarians, even if the frail Etruscans do. In Sicily, an outbreak of fighting between Syrakousai and the Sikeliote League has led the city of Gela to declare a general Sicilian congress. Cities from across southern Italia and Sicily itself are invited to arbitrate the dispute between Syrakousai and the Sikeliote League, as has been the tradition on the island since the common peace first prevailed. Many violations of the peace have taken place, but have always been confirmed by a congress of the cities, and so it may be once more. In Italia, Myron Aristeides and the war party have been ousted from power in Taras in favor of Pankratios Telesphoros, who leads those advocating for peace with Eretria. There is still much frustration in the city, however.
News from the North! King Sitalces of the Thracians has received some success in his campaign against the Triballi, defeating them in several battles and taking back much booty to Odryssa. Raiding among the Liburnians is reaching a pitch that is directed not only at Eretrian shipping but also some of the other Illyrians. Though the Iapodes are also pirates, the Histri and Dalmatae are not, and have had their coasts attacked and their villages pillaged. The Enetoi have dispatched a few counter-expeditions that have fallen to disaster among the complicated channels and hidden coves of the northeast Adriatic, a treacherous realm difficult even for the Argnonauts to sail.
Goings on from within the city, presented by Proboulos Kyros Gennadios of the Demos Antipatria
KYROS: Citizens, I speak to you in my final year as proboulos. Though I shall run again, only fortune will guide me forward to victory, as well as the good decisions of the people of Eretria. In the meantime, I bring you the tidings of the census, conducted once more after four years, collected by the members of the boule and the volunteers among the people. Despite the losses of brave Eretrians in battle, the Kleos Exoria and Hieros Ekdromoi have inducted new recruits, celebrated heroes among the cavalry and hoplites, to take the place of those who have been lost. Indeed, we were fortunate enough not to be weighed down by our losses, and our city has still grown in an extraordinary fashion. Since the last census, there has been growth of 5.3% in the city, mostly due to the Metics that have come from abroad to Eretria, though I fear that in successive years we will be lucky to have such a bounty with our agents. The war in Hellas has been fortutious in this regard, driving men from their fields and families from their homes. The loss of Hellas is the profit of Eretria!
The ratio of citizens to metics has fallen to 44% from the previous 45%, though the overall population of citizens have grown. The proportion of hoplites has also fallen slightly, even if in absolute numbers the men in our arrays grow more by the day. This has brought us great fortune in our finances, for the loss from our distribution of the public lands has been made up by the new tax revenue from our new citizens and metics. One can see now the wiseness of the decision to provide land for the people, for in a year we have reversed the loss it gave us in our finances and come out even stronger! The census of the tribute and levies of our allies has also come, raising the dues of the league and the tribute of the barbaroi. It is hoped too that with the discovery of murex in Ankon the colony shall soon grow enough to provide a trireme to Eretria and aid us in the protection of the Adriatic.
Finally, the Hill of the Divine Marriage continues its construction. In honor of the victory, however, all the demes have met and come to an agreement that there should be an additional year of construction and extra expense spared in order to expand or construct a new temple to the Gods upon the hill. It is only proper that we should do this in repayment to the Gods for the victory they have granted us in war and the protection they have bestowed upon our men and our city for the past four years, so we have only grown more prosperous and more happy, a people united in purpose.
The Augurs of the Ballot
Behold the city of Eretria, favored by Nike. The victory over the Tarentines may have ended not with absolute victory but mere humiliation, and some in the city felt humiliated. A number spoke up against the peace, calling it insulting and a travesty. But the majority of citizens, from those opposed to war to those who saw war as a matter of border brawls and not the destruction of a rival, accepted the imposition of the peace, though they did not much like the Metapontines for their actions.
Still, to be able to arrive home, and not hold to a siege for years, satisfied many, and the indemnity paid to Taras as well as the gaining of domination over the Messapii gave great cheer to the proceedings of the Running of the Weasels, a folk festival that had been performed for many years in which young men chased girls wearing masks of weasels through the gate of the weasels and onto the field. Nominated by Skantarios the Hoplite, the psillos Hermesdora Eretriazenis was appointed as the master of the festival for the year, and did so while proudly limping, for he had suffered a terrible and disastrous injury on the field of battle with Taras in the form of a sprained ankle which he wished to show to all. He made a speech which extolled the virtues of a dog-driven cart, recommended that in the future they smother Taras in dirt to defeat it, and told a fantastical story of Eretria fighting against a tyrant representing all of barbarian Italy that sought to subjugate the city.
Aside from these amusing festivities, there was of course the coming of the elections. For this election year the demes had learnt their lessons. All three had now come up with proposals for expanding the Hill of the Divine Marriage further, and indeed also adopted policies of immigration, seeing the success the Antipatrids had with the platform. At the same time, Demos Drakonia gained a new asset in the form of Epiktetos Linos, who stepped down as strategos in order to run for election as proboulos. Althouigh disliked among some who had been in the front line of fighting at Taras, few could doubt Linos' intellect and ability, seeing as he had been able to win the battle for Eretria not through open combat but clever strategy and trickery, which had always been celebrated as a virtue among the Hellenes since the time of Odysseos and the false horse of Illion.
Now, with the elections here, the time had come for the augurs. In the last election, the augurs had practically determined the course of events by destroying the support for the Demos Drakonia in favor of Demos Antipatria after Zeus demanded a renovation to his temples. Now the demes were ready, and the city awaited the news of their good health and prosperity that they hoped the augurs would surely bring.
The augurs commence with the ox, which is slaughtered and its entrails read for the city's good health and wealth.
d100 (No modifiers) = 89
The city, having been victorious in the past war, will now settle upon a time of great prosperity and happiness for its citizens, triumphant as they are, and a time for planting and the raising of children, in which all citizens will be able to enjoy the fruits of past labors. The news was greeted by all with great joy, and the demes attempted to argue for their own platforms on this basis, that such a prosperous recommendation revealed that the city would be even more wealthy and powerful under their particular rule.
The augurs then proceed to the mixed meat and fish, which is burned, the colors of the flame observed by the priests to discover the city's success in war and peace.
d100 (No Modifiers) = 46
This augur boded more poorly. It was argued by the Grand Mantis that the city had had luck in both war and peace in the past but it must now seek to improve its capabilities in both realms, and that without this improvement and the active effort of the citizens, they would fall behind. Once again, all the demes seized upon this to interpret it in their favor, suggesting that this policy or that policy would ensure that the mediocre augur's warnings would never come to pass, for they would improve the city to such a degree that it would be unrecognizable from the city that was given this prophecy.
The augurs then proceed to the final offering to Zeus of the meat of the Thunderbird. Replacing the feather that Zeus demanded removed, the meat was smoked and burnt, whilst a priestess interpreted the remains and spoke with the voice of Zeus on the future religious tidings of the city.
d100 (No Modifiers) = 49
Zeus remains displeased. Though the city has begun construction on the Hill of the Divine Marriage, by interrupting the construction it did not give him and the other Gods proper homage. In order for the city and its people to be praised and rewarded by the Gods, the Gods expect ample contributions of funds towards the Hill and its completion, until at last it is a glorious and beautiful monument to them and the city as a whole. However, Zeus praises the demes for their forthright and clear acceptance of the necessity of worship, for each deme has now incorporated into its platforms the construction of new temples. Zeus, and without any relation to this, the Grand Mantis, are both very pleased by this.
Behold the city of Eretria, favored by Nike. The victory over the Tarentines may have ended not with absolute victory but mere humiliation, and some in the city felt humiliated. A number spoke up against the peace, calling it insulting and a travesty. But the majority of citizens, from those opposed to war to those who saw war as a matter of border brawls and not the destruction of a rival, accepted the imposition of the peace, though they did not much like the Metapontines for their actions.
Still, to be able to arrive home, and not hold to a siege for years, satisfied many, and the indemnity paid to Taras as well as the gaining of domination over the Messapii gave great cheer to the proceedings of the Running of the Weasels, a folk festival that had been performed for many years in which young men chased girls wearing masks of weasels through the gate of the weasels and onto the field. Nominated by Skantarios the Hoplite, the psillos Hermesdora Eretriazenis was appointed as the master of the festival for the year, and did so while proudly limping, for he had suffered a terrible and disastrous injury on the field of battle with Taras in the form of a sprained ankle which he wished to show to all. He made a speech which extolled the virtues of a dog-driven cart, recommended that in the future they smother Taras in dirt to defeat it, and told a fantastical story of Eretria fighting against a tyrant representing all of barbarian Italy that sought to subjugate the city.
Aside from these amusing festivities, there was of course the coming of the elections. For this election year the demes had learnt their lessons. All three had now come up with proposals for expanding the Hill of the Divine Marriage further, and indeed also adopted policies of immigration, seeing the success the Antipatrids had with the platform. At the same time, Demos Drakonia gained a new asset in the form of Epiktetos Linos, who stepped down as strategos in order to run for election as proboulos. Althouigh disliked among some who had been in the front line of fighting at Taras, few could doubt Linos' intellect and ability, seeing as he had been able to win the battle for Eretria not through open combat but clever strategy and trickery, which had always been celebrated as a virtue among the Hellenes since the time of Odysseos and the false horse of Illion.
Now, with the elections here, the time had come for the augurs. In the last election, the augurs had practically determined the course of events by destroying the support for the Demos Drakonia in favor of Demos Antipatria after Zeus demanded a renovation to his temples. Now the demes were ready, and the city awaited the news of their good health and prosperity that they hoped the augurs would surely bring.
The augurs commence with the ox, which is slaughtered and its entrails read for the city's good health and wealth.
d100 (No modifiers) = 89
The city, having been victorious in the past war, will now settle upon a time of great prosperity and happiness for its citizens, triumphant as they are, and a time for planting and the raising of children, in which all citizens will be able to enjoy the fruits of past labors. The news was greeted by all with great joy, and the demes attempted to argue for their own platforms on this basis, that such a prosperous recommendation revealed that the city would be even more wealthy and powerful under their particular rule.
The augurs then proceed to the mixed meat and fish, which is burned, the colors of the flame observed by the priests to discover the city's success in war and peace.
d100 (No Modifiers) = 46
This augur boded more poorly. It was argued by the Grand Mantis that the city had had luck in both war and peace in the past but it must now seek to improve its capabilities in both realms, and that without this improvement and the active effort of the citizens, they would fall behind. Once again, all the demes seized upon this to interpret it in their favor, suggesting that this policy or that policy would ensure that the mediocre augur's warnings would never come to pass, for they would improve the city to such a degree that it would be unrecognizable from the city that was given this prophecy.
The augurs then proceed to the final offering to Zeus of the meat of the Thunderbird. Replacing the feather that Zeus demanded removed, the meat was smoked and burnt, whilst a priestess interpreted the remains and spoke with the voice of Zeus on the future religious tidings of the city.
d100 (No Modifiers) = 49
Zeus remains displeased. Though the city has begun construction on the Hill of the Divine Marriage, by interrupting the construction it did not give him and the other Gods proper homage. In order for the city and its people to be praised and rewarded by the Gods, the Gods expect ample contributions of funds towards the Hill and its completion, until at last it is a glorious and beautiful monument to them and the city as a whole. However, Zeus praises the demes for their forthright and clear acceptance of the necessity of worship, for each deme has now incorporated into its platforms the construction of new temples. Zeus, and without any relation to this, the Grand Mantis, are both very pleased by this.
Platforms for 349 OL-353 OL
The policies and missions that the various Demoi seek to promote are the extent of their program for the following four years. Electing a Proboulos from that faction will signal the Ekklesia's approval in that Demos' domestic program, and they will seek to implement it (meaning there will be no further votes on these options unless something goes awry), Electing a Xenoparakletor from that faction will signal the Ekklesia's approval in that Demos' foreign program, and they will seek to implement it (meaning there will again, be no further votes, except to appoint a strategos in case there is a military mission involved or something goes awry). In effect, this is the platform, or executive program, of this faction, and the ekklesia can only "mix and match" between different domestic and foreign programs by electing a proboulos and xenoparakletor from separate factions. It cannot pick out individual policies from each faction it would prefer, even with a user motion, unless it is an emergency.
These goals provide guidelines for what, with assembly approval, the executive will attempt to accomplish in the next four years. It is not the sum total of what will happen, and it is possible that these goals could be derailed by foreign events preventing them from being accomplished. These goals and mission can be implemented at any time during their four years, though changes to military composition or building construction will generally start as soon as the new officials take power.
The cost for great works is spread out over the years of construction; a 500 talent great work with five year construction time will cost 100 talents a turn for five years.
Demos Drakonia
Current Goals at Home
- Mercantile Policy: Given both Illyrian raiding and the necessity of Eretria's merchant marine to its prosperity, revenues, and success, the time has come to create a formal Register of the Merchant Fleet, which will force Eretrian merchants to register with and catalog their movements to the city's agoranomoi. The Register will also provide for formal Eretrian colors of blue and gold for the city's ships to bear while at sea, with a guarantee to merchants that the city will protect their ships and their lives [+3 extra public upkeep per year, +5% tariff efficiency (+7.7 talents of trade revenue)].
- Colonial Policy: Eretria's poor and landless, its metics and its beggars, all call out for opportunity. But the city has already given away its public lands, and Metics cannot own land besides. But abroad, in the colony of Ankon and the other colonies of the Epulian League, a new life could await. Epiktetos Linos proposes that for a period after a colony's founding there will be yearly lotteries for freemen and citizens to win citizenship in the colony, after which they will depart and settle there. The purpose of this decree is not only to relieve the pressure of the poor, the metic, and the landless, but to expand the power of Eretria and the Epulian League by transforming the colonies into strong and contributing members of the Epulian League [Slight population growth decrease for Eretria and core Epulian League members, large population growth increase for Adriatic colonies such as Ankon for first twenty-five years, relieving of some land pressure in Eretria].
- Immigration Policy: What Eretria needs above all are talented and skilled professionals, merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen to enrich the city's trade and culture and economy. This above all should be the priority of future metic immigration; only the truly worthy and capable should be brought to Eretria, plucked from across the Aegean and with an eye towards the literate, the intellectual, and the technically skilled [-15 talents, 4-5% population growth by next census, mostly high-skilled labour].
- Great Work Addition (Temple of Prometheus): It is time that Eretria honor the great Prometheus, known across Hellas as giver of arts, civilization, and fire, the constructor of human society. Prometheus' punishment was his sacrifice for humanity; both his transgression and his punishment were righteous act, borne out of the contradictions of the divinity of Zeus. To construct a temple to Prometheus is to celebrate the creation of fire and the emergence of civilization [Additional year added to Hill of the Divine Marriage construction, cost increased to 660 talents, 117 talents a turn for four turns including 349 OL, Note that building a Temple of Prometheus will NOT give you a steam engine].
Current Goals Abroad
- Military Mission: The time has come for more than a simple pirate-hunting expedition. For years Illyrian pirates have stalked the southern islands of the Liburni and threatened Eretrian trade eastwards. It is time for Eretria to seize these islands with a full expedition and establish a colony on the island of Issa, ending the threat of piracy in the Adriatic conclusively through the establishment of a new colony in the region for merchants to call home while building allies for Eretria among the Illyrians [3 Month campaign led by strategos Xanthos Irenaeos, 500 Ekdromoi, 18 Triremes, 72 talents naval upkeep for campaign, if successful, new land for colony on Eastern Adriatic Island of Issa].
- Xenoparakletor Mission: Dispatch the Xenoparakletor on a trading mission to the head of the Adriatic to convince the Enetoi to open up the Amber Road to Eretrian trade and gain a monopoly on amber exports to the rest of the Mediterranean. Through this we can new allies, but also a new trading network, with an ultimate goal of establishing a new lagoon-bound colony in the swampy marshes of the northern Adriatic from which we may receive the trade of cold Europa [Mission success dependent on Xenoparakletor. If successful, Eretria will be then be able to construct a trading colony in the Venetian lagoon and a new luxury trade route].
- Diplomatic Mission: The polis of Kerkyra, once a proud democracy in the Ionian Sea, has been overtaken by oligarchs aligned with Korinthos. If Eretria is to maintain its advantage and control of the Adriatic sea this cannot stand. With the Athenians supporting the democratic faction and also encroaching on the Ionian Sea, Eretria must sway the democrats over to its side and restore them to power in order to ensure that the Ionian sea does not become either a Korinthian or Athenian lake [Diplomatic emissaries dispatched to sway Kerkyran Democrats. If successful, military mission will embark to Kerkyra to help them regain power as an Eretrian-aligned power neutral in the war between Athenai and Korinthos].
Demos Antipatria
Current Goals at Home
- Religious Policy: For decades the Pythagoreans have been among the most well-known of the religious groups in Italia, with members in every city from Rhegion to Taras, and their center in the city of Metapontion. With the akousamtikoi defeated by the mathematekoi, who favor a more useful approach to their belief and are famed for their technical skill in mathematics through Italia, it would be wise for Eretria to dispatch emissaries to Metapontion and speak with members who would be willing to establish a philosophical center in the city of Eretria Eskhata. It would be valuable not only to the city's merchants and aristocrats but among all those willing to learn and study in Eretria [-25 talents, mission dispatched to invite Pythagoreans to Eretria Eskhata].
- Military Policy: The war with Taras has revealed the inadaquecies of Eretria Eskhata's hoplites. However, no amount of simple training or festival practices can prepare a young man who has never faced a war with the reality of battle. Instead, what must be done is a reform to the organization and structure of our hoplite phalanx, so that we may achieve a greater degree of coordination and flexibility between parts, and ensure that the great array of shields and spears is kept stable. We must discover a way to do this that does not compromise Eretria Eskhata by relying on unreliable mercenaries or destroy her finances by funding dangerous standing armies [Opens up options for reform of military organization].
- Immigration Policy: What Eretria needs above all are those Metics who will be loyal to her and her ideals. If the city is to accept immigrants, they must be those willing to abide by Eretria's customs and traditions, those of similar cultural and philosophical inclinations, those who would be grateful to be a part of the glory that is Eretria. [-15 talents, 4-7.5% population growth by next census, random assortment of immigrants from different economic strata].
- Great Work Addition (Temple of the Divine Marriage): When Eretria Eskhata began, it began with a marriage, the marriage of Apollon and Athena. To beautify their temple, to raise it above all the others and to make it something truly notable in Italy, something that the citizens of the city can be proud of and look on with reverence, would be the greatest sacrifice that the city can provide the Gods who have given them so much. To exalt the Divine Union, to celebrate the Divine Union, should be the city's priority above all in religion, so that it may be celebrated not only in Eretria but across all Epulia [Additional year added to Hill of the Divine Marriage construction, cost increased to 660 talents, 117 talents a turn for four turns including 349 OL].
Current Goals Abroad
- Diplomatic Mission: The situation in Sicily is reaching a boiling point. With a Sicilian Congress to be held in Gela in only three years time Eretria Eskhata must move to ensure that its interests and those of its allies are well-represented. To that end, a large sum of gold and emissaries will be dispatched through southwest Italia and Sicily in order to build a coalition against the interests of Syrakousai and their allies in the region and prevent them from using the conference as a jumping-off point to force concessions from the Sikeliotes. It is also a way for us to ensure that our allies see our continued support of their own interests and ambitions in the region to prevent Eretria Eskhata from being too militarily isolated.
- Diplomatic Mission: Metapontion and the Italiote cities were able to force Eretria to concede its war goals and accept a peace brokered by them. Let us accept this peace, and let this disgrace never happen again, for in the future Eretria Eskhata will always ensure that the Italiotes are on our side and will have no reason to fear us. To this end, dispatch emissaries through Italia to create new proxenoi in all the major powers, from Rhegion to Metapontion, and guarantee specific laws and rights of these emissaries, including the right of residence and the right to advocate for Eretria Eskhata abroad. These proxenoi will be provided stipends by the city in order to keep them in their positions [4 extra public upkeep per turn, if mission successful, direct line of communication established between Eretria and the Italian cities of Lokri, Rhegion, Thurii, Krotone, and Metapontion].
- Xenoparakletor Mission: Some may complain about the lack of support for the Messapii in the plan of the Demos Antipatria, but this is for far more important reasons, for we seek to reconcile Taras and Eretria once and for all through the mechanism of the city of Lykai, the last independent city in the Sallentine peninsula. To be sure, the Tarentine wound is still raw, but if we wish to prevent it from festering and take advantage of the peace party's renewed support, then we must move quickly and prevent a festering sore to open in our relations to transform us into permanent rivals. Let us use the city of Lykai, last independent city of the Sallentine and a symbol of Kerkyra's treachery, as an example of our reconciliation as we negotiate with Taras for its conquest. [-10 talents, Xenoparakletor will be dispatched to Taras, if successful will be able to reconcile the two cities].
Demos Exoria
Current Goals at Home
- Commercial Policy: For far too long the city has ignored the economic benefits that the Barbaroi could bring to the city with their herds of cattle. Create the Office of Barbarian Commerce under the command of the Proboulos in order to manage the Barbaroi as an economic unit, negotiating deals with chiefs to drive their herds towards the city in the spring and summer. With the addition of the Messapii as vassals they can also be economically integrated into Eretria's trade [-3 talent per turn cost for office upkeep, +2 overland staple trade route, +13.5 talents in trade per turn, better economic relations with the Barbaroi].
- Religious Policy: Eretria's festival calendar has been confused due to the differing origins of many of its festivals, causing a situation in which festivals meant to start in mid-summer are now starting far later than they should. The confusion that this has garnered is growing to disrupt the city's festivals, and place further confusion on which festivals are endorsed by the people. The time has come for a comprehensive reform of the city's calendar in order to end all of the confusion, merge the competing calendrical systems together, and pull in folk festivals such as the Running of the Weasels that have been celebrated for decades but have received no official support [-10 talents, -2 talent upkeep per turn to reform festivals, better festival schedules will improve happiness in the city, +2% tariff efficiency].
- Immigration Policy: In barbarian Italy the true strength of any city is numbers. New metics can become new tenants, new laborers, new colonists in future endeavors, new spears and new shields for the city. The city of Eretria needs labor, for its fields and for its docks, and it needs to rise above, to grow beyond its neighbors and its enemies. But it is only through immigration and the promotion of tenant labor that Eretria can achieve this potential [-15 talents, 7.5-10% population growth by next census, mostly lower class and menial laborers from around Hellas].
- Great Work Addition (Temple of Artemis): Before the Eretrians came to Epulia, among the most popular of our Gods was Artemis Amarysia, who protected the people in times of strife and stayed a stable guarantor of the end of tyranny and the survival of the demos. Her love of music, her affinity with the Barbaroi, her protection of the demos against the hostile forces of those who would destroy or slaughter us, are all reasons to celebrate the huntress [Additional year added to Hill of the Divine Marriage construction, cost increased to 660 talents, 117 talents a turn for four turns including 349 OL].
Current Goals Abroad
- Military Mission: For decades the Dauni have sat on the border of the Epulian League and menaced our allies with raids and skirmishes. Their kings have plotted against us, warred with us, and allied against us many times. Now, the time has come to pay back the debt they have bestowed upon us by destroying them once and for all. The xenoparakletor will rally the cities of Herdonia, Salapia, and whatever other cities would be willing, and back them in a rebellion that seeks to overthrow King Ausculos and end the Dauni as a threat. Whether that will be through annexing the rest of the cities or simply replacing their leadership with something more amenable to Eretria remains to be seen, but the Dauni must be made to never again threaten the city of Eretria Eskhata [War against the Dauni with attendant strategos options].
- Tributary Mission: The allies of Eretria fought well during the war with Taras, but they were slow to mobilize and sometimes disorganized. It is time to create a common command structure and organization of their levies so that we can call on set amounts of their men in war, rather than counting out the number of allies that we need with each war and giving them much grief in assembling the men to do so. In doing so we will tie them closer to us and make them more effective in battle [Opens up options to reform the militaries of the allies and make them more effective].
- Xenoparakletor Mission: The question of the Messapii cannot wait. Too much is still to be settled, and where the other Demes would seek to let the issue lie for some time and let the wounds heal, better to tend to them ourselves. The Messapii must be pulled up from their place of devastation and become strong once more, so that their strength can become our strength, their numbers can become our numbers, and their cities will become part of our dominion in truth as well as in theory. The xenoparakletor will be dispatched on a tour of the Messapii cities to gain their respect and bring them into the Eretrian fold [If successful, access to about half of the possible Messapii levy and tribute, which will recover to its full potential over time].
Eretrian Elections of 349 OL
It has been tradition for some twenty years that the Proboulos is the younger of the two officials elected by the people. The proboulos is often a lieutenant or rising star in their faction who has been chosen by the leader to represent them in domestic affairs. They will be in charge of the domestic policies of the city, a relatively less high-stakes challenge, and will make their mark by the success of their administration.
See the front page under the section "Characters" for an explanation of how to interpret character stats.
Pick one of three.
[] Proboulos: Epiktetos Linos (Demos Drakonia)
Glory 5, Lawfulness 6, Friendliness 4, Courage 2, Magnificence 6, Wisdom 2
A man of much moderation, known in the past for his leadership against pirates in the Adriatic. Wealthy and kind, he has devoted much of his life to assisting the Eretrian poor rather than building great works. He is known for his preference for avoiding battle in favor of more methodical and careful tactics, but what was once assumed for cowardice has become heroism after his success in the Tarentine War.
[] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
Glory 3, Lawfulness 4, Friendliness 4, Courage 2, Magnificence 6, Wisdom 2
Son of Eretrian sea captains from Kymai who were granted citizenship in the early days of the city. Known for being one of few Antipatrids who are merchants, with an export of Byssos cloth, he is also a man of great magnificence, though some of his donations have been gaudy. Known for his upright reputation, fine oration, and good management of the city's finances during his previous term as proboulos.
[] Proboulos: Theron Archippos (Demos Exoria)
Glory 5, Lawfulness 6, Friendliness 2, Courage 4, Magnificence 3, Wisdom 3
Descendents of Illyrian slaves granted citizenship by the city on landing, Theron Archippos is a cavalryman who was inducted as a member of the Kleos Exoria following his fine service in the Tarentine War. Grown rougher in his older age, Theron has proven his worth and service to the city on the battlefield and now seeks to gain the privilege of standing atop the painted rock of office.
It has been tradition for some twenty years that the Proboulos is the younger of the two officials elected by the people. The proboulos is often a lieutenant or rising star in their faction who has been chosen by the leader to represent them in domestic affairs. They will be in charge of the domestic policies of the city, a relatively less high-stakes challenge, and will make their mark by the success of their administration.
See the front page under the section "Characters" for an explanation of how to interpret character stats.
Pick one of three.
[] Proboulos: Epiktetos Linos (Demos Drakonia)
Glory 5, Lawfulness 6, Friendliness 4, Courage 2, Magnificence 6, Wisdom 2
A man of much moderation, known in the past for his leadership against pirates in the Adriatic. Wealthy and kind, he has devoted much of his life to assisting the Eretrian poor rather than building great works. He is known for his preference for avoiding battle in favor of more methodical and careful tactics, but what was once assumed for cowardice has become heroism after his success in the Tarentine War.
[] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
Glory 3, Lawfulness 4, Friendliness 4, Courage 2, Magnificence 6, Wisdom 2
Son of Eretrian sea captains from Kymai who were granted citizenship in the early days of the city. Known for being one of few Antipatrids who are merchants, with an export of Byssos cloth, he is also a man of great magnificence, though some of his donations have been gaudy. Known for his upright reputation, fine oration, and good management of the city's finances during his previous term as proboulos.
[] Proboulos: Theron Archippos (Demos Exoria)
Glory 5, Lawfulness 6, Friendliness 2, Courage 4, Magnificence 3, Wisdom 3
Descendents of Illyrian slaves granted citizenship by the city on landing, Theron Archippos is a cavalryman who was inducted as a member of the Kleos Exoria following his fine service in the Tarentine War. Grown rougher in his older age, Theron has proven his worth and service to the city on the battlefield and now seeks to gain the privilege of standing atop the painted rock of office.
The Xenoparakletor has, by a tradition formed some twenty years ago, the senior of the two positions, led by older men who are the most notable within their factions. Drawn from great factions or fine pedigress, the xenoparakletor has a much more difficult job, determining the city's policies with its neighbors in war and peace and implementing the goals of their faction abroad. The success of missions in which the Xenoparakletor is personally involved, dependent on their skill, can elevate them to the position of heroes or disgrace them utterly.
Pick one of three. Choice for Xenoparakletor does not have to be the same demos as proboulos.
[] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
Glory 6, Lawfulness 4, Friendliness 3, Courage 3, Magnificence 7, Wisdom 3
Leader of the Demos Drakonia and member of the Drakonid family, called the "Golden Ram", a man of extraordinary magnificence who bestows his fantastic wealth to the city whenever possible, served as both a volunteer rower and an admiral, then a public defender in the city's juries. Known for his direct manner of speaking and propensity for strong statements, his practical and forthright way of speaking and thinking, and his moderate lawfulness and friendliness, Symmachos has become a man who inspires much respect among his peers.
[] Xenoparakletor: Obander Eupraxis (Demos Antipatria)
Glory 6, Lawfulness 7, Friendliness 2, Courage 3, Magnificence 2, Wisdom 6
Leader of the Demos Antipatria and member of a branch of the Antipatrid Family, called the "Black Bull," a man of great lawfulness and wisdom who is known for his oratory on the nature of justice and the necessity of fairness. A modest smallholder, he has provided more words than wealth for the city but earned glory as a naval captain and a hoplite at the Battle of Taras despite his advanced age. As he has become older his image as a pure and virtuous Hellene has grown, with his glory rising.
[] Xenoparakletor: Mnemnon Keylonos (Demos Exoria)
Glory 5, Lawfulness 3, Friendliness 5, Courage 7, Magnificence 4, Wisdom 2
Leader of the Demos Exoria, called the "Young Stallion", for his excellence despite his youth. Serving as the city's past Xenoparakletor, the once modestly known cavalryman has become the city's premier advocate for its barbaroi allies, and has great rapport among them. A frontiersman, he is of a rougher cut than most, and is known for his devotion to Artemis and his love of physical pursuits such as wrestling. As he has become older, however, he has also become more practical and less friendly, learning when it is best to couch your words and withold the truth.
Control of the non-elected offices (Metic Prytanis, Grand Mantis, Agoranomos, Chief of Public Lands, Elder Ekdromos, Assembly of the Mint) is dependent on how well each faction does overall in both elections. The higher its share of the overall vote for Proboulos and Xenoparakletor combined, the higher the chance a faction will take control of a lower office, which can influence what issues come up in the following years. Voting is now open. Vote for a Proboulos and a Xenoparakletor, like this:
[] Proboulos: Name (Faction)
[] Xenoparakletor: Name (Faction)
with an X between the [] brackets.
[] Proboulos: Name (Faction)
[] Xenoparakletor: Name (Faction)
with an X between the [] brackets.
MAP OF THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN IN 349 OL (427 BCE)
Note: Border changes in Italy are due to me touching up the historical accuracy of some borders and names and don't reflect actual border changes
Note: Border changes in Italy are due to me touching up the historical accuracy of some borders and names and don't reflect actual border changes
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The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
I have no idea what to pick as of yet, particularly for xenoparakletor.
Leaning Drakonid for xenoparakletor and Antipatrid for proboulos, but Exoria for proboulos and Antipatrid for xenoparakletor are also tempting. Really the problem is that every part of the foreign situation is exploding but we have to just sort of let 2/3rds of it continue to get worse.
Leaning Drakonid for xenoparakletor and Antipatrid for proboulos, but Exoria for proboulos and Antipatrid for xenoparakletor are also tempting. Really the problem is that every part of the foreign situation is exploding but we have to just sort of let 2/3rds of it continue to get worse.
- Location
- United States
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
Securing the Adriatic and punishing the Illyrians while founding several colonies appeals to me greatly. Leaving the Dauni and Messapii alone is a little irritating, but ultimately I think this is both more time-sensitive and has greater benefits. I don't have a strong opinion about the home front, but Antipatria reforming our hoplites and inviting Mathematicians sounds good, even though I disagree with their immigration policy.
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
Securing the Adriatic and punishing the Illyrians while founding several colonies appeals to me greatly. Leaving the Dauni and Messapii alone is a little irritating, but ultimately I think this is both more time-sensitive and has greater benefits. I don't have a strong opinion about the home front, but Antipatria reforming our hoplites and inviting Mathematicians sounds good, even though I disagree with their immigration policy.
- Location
- in the trash
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
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- Location
- Hell
[X] Xenoparakletor: Obander Eupraxis (Demos Antipatria)
I am unsure who to vote for Proboulos as I like parts of all their platforms, but the project I am dedicated to the most is ease of tensions with Taras.
I am unsure who to vote for Proboulos as I like parts of all their platforms, but the project I am dedicated to the most is ease of tensions with Taras.
Ahh, but more importantly, will it give us steam baths?
- Location
- United Kingdom
iirc Kymai was founded by Eretria (the original) so if they start coming under considerable pressure it would be worth providing aid to them.
Well that's fairly fucking awful news. Kerkyra by itself is a considerable power, if they were to once again fall under Korinthos' sway rather than being a counter to them we could easily lose the entire Adriatic.
Before seeing the Events that had occurred this turn I was fully prepared to vote for Demos Exoria because the longer the Messapii are put off the more difficult it will become to fully integrate them. But now... I don't see how we can ignore Kerkyra. If things go wrong in Sicily that's a real problem for us down the line, if the Messapii become unruly that's going to be a big headache but if Kerkyra falls under Korinthos' sway that's an immediate disaster, and Athens wouldn't be much better.
I think for the Xenoparakletor it's going to have to be Demos Drakonia, but Im more torn on the Proboulos. I'm tempted to go for the Drakonia for Proboulos as well, but getting the Temple of the Divine Marriage as the Great Work addition is very tempting, and the Commercial Policy of Demos Exoria could do a lot to mitigate not taking them for Xenoparakletor with the Messapii.
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Godwinson
"Well, I've got nothing."
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Mnemnon Keylonos (Demos Exoria)
I was not expecting to be voting for an Antipatrid Proboulos this election, but by the gods, a reform of both our own military, and that of our allies with the Exoria Xenoparakletor, that's too strong of a synergy to bypass. The focus on enthusiastic immigrants and reaching out to the Pythagoreans certainly doesn't hurt.
[X] Xenoparakletor: Mnemnon Keylonos (Demos Exoria)
I was not expecting to be voting for an Antipatrid Proboulos this election, but by the gods, a reform of both our own military, and that of our allies with the Exoria Xenoparakletor, that's too strong of a synergy to bypass. The focus on enthusiastic immigrants and reaching out to the Pythagoreans certainly doesn't hurt.
- Location
- alphen aan den rijn
hard time picking because i like all of those plans?
Satar
Xetares, Third Redeemer; World Drinker
- Location
- Sesh
Skantarios coughs.
Would that we had three offices and the means to do all the things that the Demes propose! None are muddle-headed in their aims, and in truth we would benefit from all they suggest. But some disasters are nearer than others, and it is by this metric that I suggest the following decisions:
For probolous, let us elect Deme Antipatria. The weakness in our hoplites was as I suspected, and were it not for our allies and our great Strategos Linos, we might have lost the decisive clash before the gates of Taras. This cannot be allowed to continue! While I have a great respect for our skirmishers and psilloi, they are not the deciding element of war. The hoplite is. Let us learn how best to fight in formation, as true hoplites ought.
Speaking of learning, we would do well to invite the Pythagoreans to our great city. We have long been accused of being provincial in our tastes and interests, and so to hold congress with men of such learning will only better us. The Pythagorean cult also helps tie all of Italia together, and future xenoparakletors will surely benefit from association with it.
For the position of xenoparakletor, however, we must need elevate Demos Drakonia. The matter of the Messapi and the Italiotes is not so urgent as that of Kerkrya. The prosperity of our city is greatly dependent on its trade in the Adriatic, and to allow it to fall into the hands of Korinth will be our undoing. It is an unmitigated disaster. Before all else, we must undo what has been done and restore the Democrats of that city to power.
So I beseech you, friends, citizens, to vote into power this slate: Antipatria & Drakonia, a slate of land and sea.
--
Skantarios votes for the Slate of Land & Sea:
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
Would that we had three offices and the means to do all the things that the Demes propose! None are muddle-headed in their aims, and in truth we would benefit from all they suggest. But some disasters are nearer than others, and it is by this metric that I suggest the following decisions:
For probolous, let us elect Deme Antipatria. The weakness in our hoplites was as I suspected, and were it not for our allies and our great Strategos Linos, we might have lost the decisive clash before the gates of Taras. This cannot be allowed to continue! While I have a great respect for our skirmishers and psilloi, they are not the deciding element of war. The hoplite is. Let us learn how best to fight in formation, as true hoplites ought.
Speaking of learning, we would do well to invite the Pythagoreans to our great city. We have long been accused of being provincial in our tastes and interests, and so to hold congress with men of such learning will only better us. The Pythagorean cult also helps tie all of Italia together, and future xenoparakletors will surely benefit from association with it.
For the position of xenoparakletor, however, we must need elevate Demos Drakonia. The matter of the Messapi and the Italiotes is not so urgent as that of Kerkrya. The prosperity of our city is greatly dependent on its trade in the Adriatic, and to allow it to fall into the hands of Korinth will be our undoing. It is an unmitigated disaster. Before all else, we must undo what has been done and restore the Democrats of that city to power.
So I beseech you, friends, citizens, to vote into power this slate: Antipatria & Drakonia, a slate of land and sea.
--
Skantarios votes for the Slate of Land & Sea:
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
- Location
- in the trash
Kind of annoying that the diplomatic situation just had to completely catch on fire this turn. Urgh.
That said, I'm strongly inclined to either Drakonia (sorting out the mess with Kerkyra) or Antipatria (stabilizing Sicily and smoothing out relations with Metapontion).
I'd really like to deal with the Dauni and rhe Messapii but there are just too many issues to deal with right now.
That said, I'm strongly inclined to either Drakonia (sorting out the mess with Kerkyra) or Antipatria (stabilizing Sicily and smoothing out relations with Metapontion).
I'd really like to deal with the Dauni and rhe Messapii but there are just too many issues to deal with right now.
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
Kerkyra falling under the sway of Korinth and the metastasizing pirate cancer are both catastrophic if left unchecked. Much as it pains me not to address the Sicilian situation or to gain the salt resources of Lake Salpi, we cannot afford to let the Adriatic become implacably hostile.
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
The Antipatrid theme this election is something I feel is of immense value: the construction of a distinct Eretrian identity and laying the foundation to promote our specific take on Hellenic culture in the future.
As much as the Exorian program to tie the local barbaroi even more tightly to us and reform our calendar appeals, the Antipatrids seem to be doing far more to address the running complaint of our city being a cultural non-entity, especially compared to other poleis of its size.
Kerkyra falling under the sway of Korinth and the metastasizing pirate cancer are both catastrophic if left unchecked. Much as it pains me not to address the Sicilian situation or to gain the salt resources of Lake Salpi, we cannot afford to let the Adriatic become implacably hostile.
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
The Antipatrid theme this election is something I feel is of immense value: the construction of a distinct Eretrian identity and laying the foundation to promote our specific take on Hellenic culture in the future.
As much as the Exorian program to tie the local barbaroi even more tightly to us and reform our calendar appeals, the Antipatrids seem to be doing far more to address the running complaint of our city being a cultural non-entity, especially compared to other poleis of its size.
Satar
Xetares, Third Redeemer; World Drinker
- Location
- Sesh
I concur. Antripatria and Drakonia is the slate that guarantees strength on land and on sea.
- Location
- USA
[X] Proboulos: Kyros Gennadios (Demos Antipatria)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
- Location
- Hell
On the other hand, I do not think it is a good idea to ignore the other side of the coast. Things are building up in Sicily and we must show our support for our own allies, lest they become broiled in war again and Eretria being seen as distant.
I would not be completely morose, some of the other policies got through last anyway.
Cetashwayo
Lord of Ten Thousand Years
- Location
- Across the Horizon
The way Samnite expansion works appears to be a little different than the way say, Roman expansion worked. The Samnites only emerged as a clear confederacy in the 4th century BCE. Before then, the Samnite conquest of Campania was conducted by Samnite tribes, but once the Samnites took the area over it wasn't really incorporated into Samnium but became a mixed area. Instead, the Samnite ver sacrum appears to be a form of population control, where a certain percentage of children are sworn to Mamers (the Samnite Mars/Ares) and sent to conquer. If they find new land to settle and graze on, that's fine, but if they all die in the attempt, that's also fine, because the Samnites don't develop into a polity seeking expansion to gain territory for itself until later and are primarily concerned about maintaining enough land to graze and farm on without having to feed excess mouths.
So when Samnites raid that's generally children sworn to Mamers who have now grown up and left the village and are attacking the surrounding region in order to settle there.
Walker Of Chaos
Best/Worst Dynasty
- Location
- Sweden
This is a tough one. Unlike 345 all faction have very compelling platforms in both categories. Right now the only leaning I have is towards the Drakonid foreign policy. The Illyrians are apprently getting much much worse and the Messapii - who I though would be our primary problem - are more reasonable than I thought. The Antipatrid platform is also quite tempting but i'm not sure if it's worth endangering the majority of our trade for the sake of strengthening ur Greek ties.
PyroTechno
The Procrastination Pokemon
Turn 5 Patch Notes: What They Actually Mean
tl;dr: We're doing the election thing again, so imma do this thing again
Domestic Goals side by side for comparison:
DRAKONIA:
- Have the merchants tell us where they're going so we can protect them from pirates. We'll, like, give them flags too I guess (3 upkeep per year, +5% trade efficiency (+7.7 talents of revenue))
- Send the poor landless people to go colonize stuff (slight pop growth decrease for us, big pop growth increase for colonies, poor people are less pissed)
- Prioritize high-skilled immigrants (-15 talents up front, 4-5% pop growth by next census, mostly high-skilled labor (we could use this))
- Build a Temple of Prometheus, god of civilization (+1 year for temple rebuild, +cost and yearly cost for temple rebuild, we probably won't get a steam engine)
Epiktetos Linos: A wealthy and kind navy guy known for assisting the poor and punching pirates. This guy led our navy in the Tarentine War.
ANTIPATRIA:
- Obtain math philosophers (-25 talents, +obtainment of math philosophers)
- Reform our military organization (maybe maniples?)
- Prioritize loyal immigrants (-15 talents, 4-7.5% pop growth, random immigrant wealth)
- Make the Temple of the Divine Marriage even nicer (+1 year for temple rebuild, +cost and yearly cost for temple rebuild)
Kyros Gennadios: Wealthy merchant with a good grasp of the economy. The incumbent Proboulos.
EXORIA:
- Trade more with the barbs (-3 talents per turn in upkeep, +2 overland trade routes (+13.5 talents in trade), +barb relations)
- Calendar reform (-10 talents, -2 upkeep, +city happiness, +tariff efficiency)
- Prioritize quantity of immigrants (-15 talents, 7.5-10% pop growth, low immigrant wealth)
- Build a Temple of Artemis so the barbs will like us more (the temple rebuild cost will increase no matter what we do, won't it? Fuck.)
Theron Archippos: Tarentine War veteran cavalryman. Won't be making many friends in office (how much will he be able to get done?)
Foriegn Goals side by side for comparison:
DRAKONIA:
- Go punch some pirates and take their land (3 month military campaign, 500 dudes and 18 triremes are occupied, costs 72 talents, might get new colony site and punch pirates)
- First we do the trade stuff, then we get the women (+trade colony site at Venice, +luxury trade route (amber))
- Put the Democrats back in power in Kerkyra (diplomatic mission to the exiled Democrats. If successful, military mission to knock over the oligarchy before Athens or Corinth get ideas)
Athenagoras Symmachos: direct and forthright lawyer. Fantastic wealth, good reputation
ANTIPATRIA:
- Build a coalition against Syracuse
- Establish permanent embassies in the Italiote cities (4 upkeep per turn, possible +communication with the Italiotes)
- Try to reconcile with Taras (-10 talents, might reconcile with Taras)
Obander Eupraxis: Old guy that talks a lot. Modest smallholder. Experience as a naval captain. Veteran hoplite from the Battle of Taras.
EXORIA:
- Knock over the Dauni (anything from essentially annexing the Dauni to replacing their King with a new puppet)
- Reform our allies' militaries (might lead to League centralization?)
- Make the Messapii like us more (go on vacation in some ruins for a while, make the ruins spawn a bunch of men and money ex nihilo, ???, profit)
Mnemnon Keylonos: Young, excellent leader. Practical. Advocate for the barbarians. Incumbent Xeno.
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Thoughts on the Election:
I'm not saying we couldn't use direct military reform, but the economy is the backbone of the military. Armies don't march and navies don't sail without supplies and pay. A plan for strengthening Eretria should start at Eretria's pocketbook.
We were told directly by the GM that trade routes are one of the easiest and most powerful options we have for rapidly increasing our wealth. We saw in the Tarentine War that the navy is one of our greatest strengths. Thus, I propose that we use it to secure the Adriatic and the Adriatic trade. Let Syracuse and the barbarians tend to themselves for now, this isn't an empire quest anyway; we're trying to build something great here, a city that truly stands the test of time.
I'm in favor of the Drakonia domestic and foriegn plan. They combo well together. Focusing on the well-being of traders even as we attack the greatest threat they face; increasing our focus on colonization while opening up new colony sites (that gets us inroads into Illyria and the Celtic interior, which Word of GM says is worthwhile); keeping the competition out of our personal lake (while fighting for democracy at the same time! I can feel the FREEDOM already)
We said we wanted to focus on talented immigrants, to promote the arts and sciences of our city, right? Well, guess which Demos wants to do that
To be blunt, I don't care which temple reno option we go for. Prometheus is fine, I guess.
I'm aware that we're essentially handing the entire government back to Drakonia with this plan, but, uh, so what? Our democracy made it through 20 years of that just fine. The other guys can get back to me when I like their plans.
[X] Proboulos: Epiktetos Linos (Demos Drakonia)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
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General Thoughts on the Update:
With the choice of expanding the Hill of the Divine Marriage, we've handed the religious authorities of Eretria a greater influence over the city's politics. If this goes too far, then it's entirely likely that in some future crisis, the Grand Mantis will attempt to seize control of the city and establish some sort of theocratic state. In short, the religious faction is a potential threat to our democracy. We should seek to moderate their influence, while being careful to avoid being SEEN as doing so - they could call us out on it and declare "x", "y", or "z" person to be an affront to the Gods or whatever. Did Ancient Greece have anything along the lines of excommunication? At any rate, stepping over "the line" here would be solidly out of character, so we should try to avoid it.
Our expenses were actually higher than our income this turn
Sparta's a bunch of douchebags lol
tl;dr: We're doing the election thing again, so imma do this thing again
Domestic Goals side by side for comparison:
DRAKONIA:
- Have the merchants tell us where they're going so we can protect them from pirates. We'll, like, give them flags too I guess (3 upkeep per year, +5% trade efficiency (+7.7 talents of revenue))
- Send the poor landless people to go colonize stuff (slight pop growth decrease for us, big pop growth increase for colonies, poor people are less pissed)
- Prioritize high-skilled immigrants (-15 talents up front, 4-5% pop growth by next census, mostly high-skilled labor (we could use this))
- Build a Temple of Prometheus, god of civilization (+1 year for temple rebuild, +cost and yearly cost for temple rebuild, we probably won't get a steam engine)
Epiktetos Linos: A wealthy and kind navy guy known for assisting the poor and punching pirates. This guy led our navy in the Tarentine War.
ANTIPATRIA:
- Obtain math philosophers (-25 talents, +obtainment of math philosophers)
- Reform our military organization (maybe maniples?)
- Prioritize loyal immigrants (-15 talents, 4-7.5% pop growth, random immigrant wealth)
- Make the Temple of the Divine Marriage even nicer (+1 year for temple rebuild, +cost and yearly cost for temple rebuild)
Kyros Gennadios: Wealthy merchant with a good grasp of the economy. The incumbent Proboulos.
EXORIA:
- Trade more with the barbs (-3 talents per turn in upkeep, +2 overland trade routes (+13.5 talents in trade), +barb relations)
- Calendar reform (-10 talents, -2 upkeep, +city happiness, +tariff efficiency)
- Prioritize quantity of immigrants (-15 talents, 7.5-10% pop growth, low immigrant wealth)
- Build a Temple of Artemis so the barbs will like us more (the temple rebuild cost will increase no matter what we do, won't it? Fuck.)
Theron Archippos: Tarentine War veteran cavalryman. Won't be making many friends in office (how much will he be able to get done?)
Foriegn Goals side by side for comparison:
DRAKONIA:
- Go punch some pirates and take their land (3 month military campaign, 500 dudes and 18 triremes are occupied, costs 72 talents, might get new colony site and punch pirates)
- First we do the trade stuff, then we get the women (+trade colony site at Venice, +luxury trade route (amber))
- Put the Democrats back in power in Kerkyra (diplomatic mission to the exiled Democrats. If successful, military mission to knock over the oligarchy before Athens or Corinth get ideas)
Athenagoras Symmachos: direct and forthright lawyer. Fantastic wealth, good reputation
ANTIPATRIA:
- Build a coalition against Syracuse
- Establish permanent embassies in the Italiote cities (4 upkeep per turn, possible +communication with the Italiotes)
- Try to reconcile with Taras (-10 talents, might reconcile with Taras)
Obander Eupraxis: Old guy that talks a lot. Modest smallholder. Experience as a naval captain. Veteran hoplite from the Battle of Taras.
EXORIA:
- Knock over the Dauni (anything from essentially annexing the Dauni to replacing their King with a new puppet)
- Reform our allies' militaries (might lead to League centralization?)
- Make the Messapii like us more (go on vacation in some ruins for a while, make the ruins spawn a bunch of men and money ex nihilo, ???, profit)
Mnemnon Keylonos: Young, excellent leader. Practical. Advocate for the barbarians. Incumbent Xeno.
-----
Thoughts on the Election:
I'm not saying we couldn't use direct military reform, but the economy is the backbone of the military. Armies don't march and navies don't sail without supplies and pay. A plan for strengthening Eretria should start at Eretria's pocketbook.
We were told directly by the GM that trade routes are one of the easiest and most powerful options we have for rapidly increasing our wealth. We saw in the Tarentine War that the navy is one of our greatest strengths. Thus, I propose that we use it to secure the Adriatic and the Adriatic trade. Let Syracuse and the barbarians tend to themselves for now, this isn't an empire quest anyway; we're trying to build something great here, a city that truly stands the test of time.
I'm in favor of the Drakonia domestic and foriegn plan. They combo well together. Focusing on the well-being of traders even as we attack the greatest threat they face; increasing our focus on colonization while opening up new colony sites (that gets us inroads into Illyria and the Celtic interior, which Word of GM says is worthwhile); keeping the competition out of our personal lake (while fighting for democracy at the same time! I can feel the FREEDOM already)
We said we wanted to focus on talented immigrants, to promote the arts and sciences of our city, right? Well, guess which Demos wants to do that
To be blunt, I don't care which temple reno option we go for. Prometheus is fine, I guess.
I'm aware that we're essentially handing the entire government back to Drakonia with this plan, but, uh, so what? Our democracy made it through 20 years of that just fine. The other guys can get back to me when I like their plans.
[X] Proboulos: Epiktetos Linos (Demos Drakonia)
[X] Xenoparakletor: Athenagoras Symmachos (Demos Drakonia)
-----
General Thoughts on the Update:
With the choice of expanding the Hill of the Divine Marriage, we've handed the religious authorities of Eretria a greater influence over the city's politics. If this goes too far, then it's entirely likely that in some future crisis, the Grand Mantis will attempt to seize control of the city and establish some sort of theocratic state. In short, the religious faction is a potential threat to our democracy. We should seek to moderate their influence, while being careful to avoid being SEEN as doing so - they could call us out on it and declare "x", "y", or "z" person to be an affront to the Gods or whatever. Did Ancient Greece have anything along the lines of excommunication? At any rate, stepping over "the line" here would be solidly out of character, so we should try to avoid it.
Our expenses were actually higher than our income this turn
Sparta's a bunch of douchebags lol
Droman
𐤊𐤍𐤏𐤍
Well that's even better. Samnites attack Dauni and are repelled without consequence, leaving a weaker Dauni. Or, the Dauni are 'conquered' by Samnite migrants, and the resulting mixed populace is weak enough to be culturally and politically subsumed by the Epulian League.