Vs.

Chinese Vs. Cartheginian

Introduction

I have noticed in the past few weeks that people have been wooed over by Age of Kings, but I didn't have it, so I wanted something else to tide me over. In my new PC Gamer, I found a cool-looking RTS named Seven Kingdoms II. I quickly installed it and loaded it up, and quickly I saw something that made me quite overjoyed. In red letters next to the Multiplayer symbol there was an offer for 20 free online games along with the demo. I really didn't think I was quite versed in the game enough to do that, so I just went into Single Player and tried some of the training and campaigns. I was shocked at how good the game looked and played. The only thing I could compare it to was a RTS with half-cartoon, half-realistic units. The gameplay is a mix of Starcraft and AOE. There are 2 races, with about 12 civilizations for the Humans and 7 for the Fryhtans. Before I start, I'll give the address of the demo if you would like to try the game out for yourself. I strongly reccomend it. You can download the demo at this address: http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10044-100-913370.html?tag=st.dl.10001_103_1.lst.titledetail

What is Seven Kingdom's II

First off, you can not only play as one of twelve human races, but also as one of the seven monstrous races known as the Fyhtans. The human and Fryhtan civilizations are substantially different. Humans are penalized for killing civilians, while Fryhtans are rewarded. Fryhtans must breed soldiers, while humans can recruit them from neutral towns. The Fryhtan economy isn't driven by trade, but by tribute from enslaved towns. In addition, each Human and Fryhtan race has its own units, structures, and attributes. The attributes are five in total; Combat, Leadership, Loyalty, Hit Points, and for spies, Spying. Most of these are rather self-explanatory. Loyalty determines whether or not a unit deserts or if a city revolts. If loyalty gets below 30, revolts happen and your citizens attack you. Leadership is how loyalty is gained or lost. Low Leadership means the units under the commander are low in morale. High Leadership is the opposite. Units are either civilian or military, and both are able to double as spies. New spying technologies can be researched such that experienced spies can steal technology and information, start a war between two countries, and even become invisible. Military heroes can be developed or hired, often wielding powerful items to give them an edge in combat.

Now without further ado, The Quest of Sir Fizban...

Chinese Expansion

This tale begins on the fertile plains of China near the city of Ying Shang Mei, ruled over by the benevelont Sir Fizban. The city was flourishing but still quite small compared the other capital city, Artentaria of Cartage. Seeing this, Sir Fizban called a meeting in Fort Ying, seeking suggestions on how to improve the Chinese status. One of the villagers, a hard-working fellow by the name of Sei Juin suggested that the city start mining at the copper and clay mine nearby. Sir Fizban quickly agreed and the building of the two mines was commenced. Two Factories followed shortly after this, which would used to form the raw materials into crafts such as pots and pans. A market came after this, which was necessary to the shipping of the goods to the other civilizations. The economy of Ying shot straight to the sky as the income from the trading quickly paid off the investment. Sei Juin was promoted for his great work, now the right hand man to Sir Fizban.

The outlook looked good for Ying Shang Mei, but the city needed to expand in order to extend the Chinese influence. An Inn was constructed near the outskirts of the city, its warm beds and cool ale attracting visiting mercenaries. One particularly mercenary, a Japanese Ninja, particularly Sir Fizban's eye. Walking into the Inn, Sir Fizban sat down and began chatting with the soldier, a man by the name of Shiro Nitsu. After a long chat, Sir Fizban had hired the Ninja as the Vassal to look over the new Chinese fort near the Neutral Roman City of Naples. Soon after the Vassal was appointed, Naples had joined the Chinese Empire. New Delhi, Ramanowsk, and Sicily followed soon after this. The once small country had now spread over into the neighboring territories, incorporating the Indian, Viking, and Roman Civilizations. His economy being very stable, Sir Fizban began construction on two forts near Cartage, bringing in the Japanese town of Hokosoki into growing empire. The Chinese expansion stopped here, as the Carthaginians began an offensive along the southern edge of Hokosoki and along the east flank of Naples.

First Skirmish

The Carthaginians began the offensive by sending a forth of five saber-wielding infantry to sneak around and ambush the Hokosoki civilians. They went unnoticed in the confusion, leaping off the ramparts and beginning attacks house-to-house attacks. Seeing this, four stealthy ninjas began to follow them, waiting for the right time to pounce. It came soon after this as the group stopped to catch their breath. The ninja's pounced, taking three of the infantry with quick jabs and incapacitating the other two with blows with the pommels of the katanas. In total, 4 of Hokosoki's 20 civilians died in the conflict, 1/5th of the city's total population. Sir Fizban arrived soon after the attack was neutralized, giving condolences to the families and vowing to get revenge on the culprits. The chance came soon after, as the eastern Carthaginian force was getting drawn into a trap near the River Naples. The trap was set at the bridge near the main towers at Fort Naples. Six of the cities defenders wielded bows at the guard towers at the end of the bridge, with four gigantic war elephants blocking the path. The Carthaginian attackers numbered 20, mostly ax-wielding skirmishers and a few mounted lancers. The Carthaginian Commander, General Amedeus thought his troops would massacre the ten defenders. Unknown to him, though, was the force of knights commanded by Sir Fizban hiding in the forest surrounding the bridge on two sides.

The zealous Carthaginian troops began trekking up the Cobblestone Bridge under the cover of their shields, slowly but efficiently advancing on the defenders. The trap was sprung as the attackers cleared the midway point, starting with Sir Fizban sounding the battle horn. A line of fully armored knights, 8 strong, lowered lances and charged full gallop across the bridge, completely shattering the Carthaginian formation and allowing arrows and elephant tusks to penetrate the shield. The attack was demolished at the cost of an elephant and a horse. The trap had worked marvelously, the losses of the Carthaginians being so great. Seeing this, Sir Fizban decided it was time to take the fight to the Carthaginians, sending a force of 10 knights, 12 bowmen, 12 axe-throwers, 5 elephants, and 10 Catapults towards the Cartage Peninsula. The force was led by none other than the mercenary ninja who joined near the start of the empire; Shiro Nitsu was now a General in the Chinese army. King Fizban had one sentence for him troops before they left for Cartage, "Let no one escape, Cartage must be destroyed."

Fall of Artentaria

The troops reached Cartage a day later, invigorated after the rest at nearby Hokosoki Castle. Their numbers were bolstered with reinforcements of four cannons from Ramanowsk and six ballistas from nearby New Delhi. The Siege of Artentaria began at the outskirts of the city with the bombardment of boulders, cannonballs, and giant arrows onto Fort Artentaria. A quickly made skirmisher force from the Fort was quickly obliterated under the hail of arrows and rocks. In a move of pure genius, the Cartage King Jeriko the Bull ordered a force of mounted bowmen around the city to ambush the siege machines from the sides. A smart move, the Carthaginians succeeded in destroying all of the catapults and 2 of the cannons. Despite this, 10 more catapults and 3 newly built unicorns joined the attack. The Unicorns looked like moving spiked balls, but the spikes had nothing to do with an attack. The unicorns were used as suicide bombers, getting to their target and unleashing an earth-shattering explosion. King Fizban quickly ordered the spiky balls of death to charge the Castle, seeking to end the battle in one masterful stroke. It almost worked. The three suicide machines exploded a mere ten feet from the castle, killing almost all of the town\rquote s defenders but leaving the castle and the King unscathed. The slow push began as more and more siege vehicles pushed into the town and began bombarding Castle Artentaria.

Knowing his downfall was soon to be Jeriko the Bull made his last attack against the Chinese by ambushing its King. Jeriko seemed to say to Sir Fizban, if I die, I'm taking you with me. The attack almost succeeded, seriously but not mortally wounding the king. Yet, with one foul arrow, a spy within the ranks of the Chinese let loose an arrow into the heart of Sir Fizban, killing him but not before the Carthaginians had surrendered after losing its King. The traitor was quickly hacked down by the King's bodyguards, but it was too late to save Fizban. Victory was gained, although bittersweet.

The successor to Fizban's thrown was none other than Shiro Nitsu. Although he was not Chinese, Shiro had grown to love the Empire, and he did not want to see it crumble over one man's, albeit great, death. What happened to the Empire cannot be told now, as it has yet to happen, but further installments will follow the course of the Chinese Dynasty and its empire. Until then, I bid you, good day.

Fryhtans

Prologue

Peace in the Chinese Dynasty did not last very long, however, as a new threat was quickly approaching. A small Fryhtan clan had moved into the northwestern edge of China, enslaving the nearby villagers. A gigantic force, left over from the battles with the Carthaginians, was quickly dispatched toward the new threat. The army, combined of Mongol, Celtic, Roman, Greek, Japanese, and Norman. Many sets of cannons and ballista followed along with the armies, a mighty imposing line of machines on the battlefield. In total, the army numbered close to 100. The Fryhtans tried to fight it, but they had no chance to destroy the force. Under the great coordination of Shiro Nitsu, the Imperial Army cratered the nests of the monsters as soon as they reached the slave towns taken over. The second test was a great success for the Empire, cementing itself into the political world. Who will be the next to challenge the great Chinese Empire. Only time will tell. When it does, I will be back to tell that tale as well. Until then, I bid you, Good Day.

-Sun Zei Vladmir

Author's Notes...

I strongly recommend this game to anyone who likes Starcraft, TA:K, or Age of Kings. I welcome, nay, demand comments from everyone who reads this. How did you like it? How could I have done it better? Thanx for your time,

Vladmir{KRT} Aka. Fizban_ Aka. Papa'Smurf