G.M.’s Intro
1. Introduction
Stranger – where are you bound?
I follow the iron road, friend – to whatever end.
The city-state of Carthage dominates all the Western part of the Blessed Sea, and trades to all parts of the wide world. Our ships sail all across the Blessed Sea - to Egypt, Sicily, Iberia, Gaul, Liguria, and all the colony cities of Macedon scattered throughout the world.
Punic adventurers have even travelled out into the demon-seas to open trade routes to the freezing North, and south to the Black Coast.
Traders from the interior bring goods across the great desert to the Numidians, who guard all routes to the coast and our great city.
Carthage is huge, with vast walls encircling it, housing the heart of the Punic nation and harbouring her great fleet of galleys. The citizens of Carthage are craftsmen, sailors or shopkeepers. Very few bear arms and march in the ranks of our army. The best warriors from lands far and wide come to serve as mercenary soldiers under our commanders. These officers have a heavy burden indeed, for the fate of the whole nation lies in their hands in time of war.
The peoples of all the lands around the Blessed Sea have their own culture, skills and language. Many take a place in Punic service for many years, and earn good silver in exchange.
Some prefer to make their own way, outside the security of contracted service to the state.
These freebooters have no master and live from job to job.
Who are these Mercenary warriors in our army ?
- Numidian tribesmen are peerless riders and skirmishers with javelin and light shield. Experts at scouting and foraging, these proud nomads are our most faithful allies.
- Libyan tribesmen are obedient and reliable. These warriors form the core of the army, trained as close-order infantry who fight with stabbing-spear and heavy shield.
- Balearic islanders are the finest slingers known. These skirmishers learn to shoot sea-birds in flight from endless practise on the shores of their rocky islands. Many of these tribesmen are well-used to scrambling up cliffs and rocky outcrops, and can both swim in the sea and forage from the shore.
- Iberian and Gallic tribesmen are fearless warriors. Only the bravest and strongest are chosen to join bands of sword-brothers who journey over the sea to serve in our army. They can fight in close order with sword and shield, or in lighter equipment for rough country or raiding.
- Ligurian and Sardinian tribesmen fight in open order and often serve at sea as marines as well as rough country duty in the army.
- The Greeks are an educated and civilized people, with colonies all over the Blessed Sea. Their land is now part of the Macedon Empire, but their phalanx-men are still renowned, and serve in mercenary bands for many nations.
The Great Powers
Eighty years ago, the Greeks say that Apollo sent his spirit into the world to shine amongst the darkness of the East. Alexander was his vessel, and he burned like a fire through summer grass, consuming everything in his path. But the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and Alexander blazed so very, very bright. Through the grace of Tanit, his time came before he turned to the West. As he died, he left his vast new empire “To the Strongest”. The wars amongst his Successors were terrible, and broke those lands into the great powers that still contend to this day.
Macedon — Antigonas Gonatos has ruled the heartland of Apollo for nearly 20 years, which includes all of Greece, Thrace and Illyria as its provinces.
Egypt — the heirs of Ptolemy rule this ancient land, where many golds have walked and now slumber beneath vast hills of stone. The great library of Alexandria draws scholars from all around the Blessed Sea. From far to the south, in the land of Kush, comes sorcery.
Persia — the Heirs of Seleucus rule all the lands of the Persians as far as the mountains at the edge of the world. Some say they rule as far as India, on the uttermost shores of the demon-sea. Through their lands pass the most valuable spices, rare gems, and the lustrous silk cloth found nowhere else on earth.
Upstarts
Italy — the Greeks of Campania submitted to the Romans more than 50 years ago. Despite the invasion of Pyrrus the Great and several defeats, the Romans still press against all their neighbours, striving to rule all of Italy and beyond. They are a brutal people with no respect for any who do not speak their language or worship their gods. Many fear that they only understand the language of the sword, and will never live in peace.