680 AD: There are a lot of forces on my eastern frontier but Russia doesn't seem to be in any hurry. In fact, difficult to believe, Catherine is at war with the Ottomans! No action there either. Also the Persians and the Songhai are at war with Ramesses II of Egypt. - They all appear to be having fun without me - time to start gate-crashing this party :-) The situation:
685 AD: Elizabeth of England appears to have only three cities - I have thirteen - and don't appear to be a threat.
690 AD: Time to mix things up a bit by planning to build a city near to where today's Rostov is. That should get some kind of reaction from Russia!!!
Meanwhile on the African front all is quiet - boring in fact!
700 AD: My Settler is nearing it's destination and notice that I have moved a couple of Ballistas to the East....
...and what on earth are the Arabs doing???
705 AD: My trireme ran into a bit of trouble while investigating the English - a Pirate hornet's nest! Time to activate a Legion, upgrade it to a Longswordsman and make mincemeat of the pirates.
My Settler has arrived and Rostov is built :-) - Note that there is room for another city northwest of Moscow.
OK...can somebody explain why Darius of Persia is peeved???
710 AD: Great - my Harbour at Tunis is completed so my African cities are now connected to Rome.
I also give my Longswordsman its sailing orders to Iceland...
....and it's on its way.
715 AD: Both Catherine and Suleiman complain that I have broken my word by expanding in terrain that they consider theirs - at the most a couple of protest notes....The Ottomans appear to be moving their forces south - Persia or Egypt?
720 AD: Now the denouncements start: England, India, Egypt, Babylon, the Songhai and Turkey - but not Russia. I guess the dozen or more troops on Catherine's border have deterred her.
Well, Ladies and Gentleman. It appears that my Legions have an appetite for Turkish Kebab washed down with plenty of Raki!!! The earth is atrembling and Rome is about to swallow some Turkish Delight - Ave, Caesar!!!
