Lurking... Enjoying.... Waiting some new Chapters...![]()
Lurking... Enjoying.... Waiting some new Chapters...![]()
Carthage's huge variety makes for truly fantastic AAR material.
Of course EB's huge level of detail helps a lot, I wish XGM could have the same resources at its disposal...
The best is yet to come.
ZX MiniMod: Where MTW meets AOE
https://www.wmwiki.com/hosted/ZxMod.exe
Now on beta 3 with playable golden horde!
Oh, I hope that my latest comment to you lurkers didn't sound like a plee for comments. I did not mean that at all, but thanks for commenting anyways!
Thank you, expected update either tonight or tommorow night
Wow, MAA commented on my aar, I am very humbled.
That, and the fact that there are very few Carthaginian AAR really helps me be very original! (I hope)
Gader
Gader, a city that owed its allegiance to Thassalokratia of Kart-Hadast, that payed its taxes to this city, for what? Protection from its own cousins in blood, the Lusitanian? Gader fell to Hamalcar's Father many years ago during the First Iberian War. He treated the city fairly, after seeing the soldiers bravery in battle, and allowed its independence, so long that it payed its taxes and offered its young to fight in the many wars that the city of Kart-Hadast had participated in.
That was about to change today, or so hoped Hamalcar. Officially, not in charge, Hamalcar had hoped to win over the council in the city. He waited patiently, going over what he wanted to say in his head as the council gathered. It was a few days since his beloved wife Polymede, died, but he was making his recovery. He didn't allow himself to get attached to many things. It wasn't that he didn't miss her, its that he was good at forgetting. He kept himself busy with many things.
The council gathered, and there was much chatter from the men. Hamalcar looked over the faces and tried to remain relaxed and casual. He was always good at that. His good looks allowed people to look at him and awe, sometimes winning them over just by looking at them. Now that he was single, he could use that to sway the men over with a proper marriage.
Avaro, a tall man who looked more like a warrior than a politician and manager of a city looked at Hamalcar and spoke. "Hamalcar, you have gathered us to this meeting with what purpose, speak wisely, as we despise fools."
Before Hamalcar had a chance to speak, another man stood, this one, shorter, and looked as if he could out drink you any day. His hair was wild, his beard untrimmed, yet he did not look violent at all. Rather, he had quite the silly smile on his face. The man spoke as well, but not to Hamalcar, instead he turned to his colleges and said, "He wishes to tell us we need to increase taxes so that he can have a much bigger vineyard than all of you, after all we know that a citizen of Kart-Hadast is so much more important than we, the council of Gader."
There was laughter amongst the men. Some turned to Hamalcar to see his reaction, only to be disappointed that Hamalcar was laughing himself. This time Hamalcar stood and spoke, letting his crowd winning silver tongue work its magic.
"Men of Gader, My story isn't long, but it sure isn't a pleasant one. I was born in Kart-Hadast. Raised in a royal family, I was the 3rd oldest son in the family. Realizing that I was in a disadvantages position, I studied hard, fought hard, and worked hard. But that means nothing with no support. My brother, Mago, has insulted me many times, the last time it killed my wife and scarred my son."
He paused for a moment to see the expressions on the faces of the men. He saw that he caught most of their attention, and now he could say what he really wanted to say.
"I wish to live a life where I know I did the right thing. That I helped the right people. Let me help you. As you all know that you have a fixed tax which you owe Kart-Hadast every 3 months. If you give me the power of a governor, I could lower the taxes with my authority. It would completely change the setting in which you live in. The poor could feed their family, the merchants, bring more cargo without paying more, and you my friends," He paused again after saying the word 'friends', for he did not know how they would react, but seeing no disgusted faces in the crowd he continued, "you my friends, will keep more of your money to outgrow my vineyard, which is still in its stage of infancy."
Hamalcar let the words sink in. It was like being at a foreign land and being served a strange dish. You would put a small portion on your eating utensil, and put it slowly in your mouth, letting it swirl around in your mouth before you chewed and finally swallowed it. You would either politely smile, and keep eating it, knowing that you hate it, or, you would continue eating it with great joy, realizing there is more to food than what you thought there was.
For the men of the council, it was the later. The crowd was won. Hamalcar smiled with his success. He spent the day treating the men of the council with a great feast. Wild boars have been caught and cooked over a pit for these men. Endless vats of wine were served until the men all fell into a great stupor.
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The next day, Hamalcar was given the title of Governor of Gader. He personally wrote a letter to Mago in front of the men and sent it off to Kart-hadast, stating that the taxes would be lowered. He spent the latter part of the day talking of improvements that could be made in this city and province. He knew, that without taxes he would need another source of income. For that he offered making a clearing in the center of the city and creating a much larger Bazaar.
The men liked the idea, following him as he walked the streets and talked about rebuilding this great city. He even ventured to say that all Kart-Hadast owned lands, which were not being used at all, could be given to merchants and businessmen to exploit. Much happened that day as businessmen, both wealthy and the not so wealthy poured out much of their treasury buying from the great land grant which Hamalcar had enacted.
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Avaro had become good friends with Hamalcar, seeing that he was wise in his management and was very open handed. Many other men of the council started trusting his as well. Soon the whole province began to adore Hamalcar. This was was just the beginning. His looks would take him even further.
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