AU501 - The Power of Seafaring - One history

SirOsis · February 3, 2004, 04:23

“Kids! Kids! Gather round! Hey Georgie put that damn thing down and get over here. Your Pappy’s got something to say!” blurted a wizened old man with clefts so deep the Grand Canyon seems young. Well that’s overstating it a bit don’t you think? Let’s just say he’s old. An old fart.

Speaking of smells. Let’s get back to that story. Where the hell was I? My faculties are slipping of late. Is it my age? Oh smells. Damn. The smell of the sea. That is what drove the Byzantines to the sea. The fresh salt breeze of the crashing waves. That and the forests. The lush green trees dripping with moss and lichens.

These are the trees that will allow these Byzantines the ability to sail the seas…

SirOsis · February 3, 2004, 04:23

In their exuberance they named their city Yee Haw!

SirOsis · February 3, 2004, 04:33

Soon after they began to chop down the forests to feed their ships. A volcano erupted in the distance. The gods were pleased! “Chop, chop, chop your way”, became their work chant. The date was 3700BC.

Paddy · February 3, 2004, 05:54

Bring it on Sir Osis...

Looking forward to more of the heroic adventures of your people in this latest course from the Aployton Uni...

Thanks for the pics.

SirOsis · February 3, 2004, 13:16

Built at last. Look at those sails billowing in the wind. Don’t you wonder where they will take you? Over the glorious blue sea. The wind and the waves in your hair. Sail away Curragh. May the gods bless you on your journey.

SirOsis · February 3, 2004, 13:17

The ship sailed quickly around the point with huge gusts of wind. The sea! The sea! This is where the Byzantines belonged. Riding the waves in ships of beautiful wood.
*Cough* Getting deep in here. Regardless, the Byzantines continued on their course of shipbuilding.

ChrisiusMaximus · February 3, 2004, 14:06

Good stuff, like the piccies

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 12:58

Where were we? Seems like it’s been awhile. 400 years to be exact from the founding of Yee Haw! Of course it seems longer but that happens when you get older. Time seems to slow down. Or does it? Anyway, we’ve found some other people! The Japanese they call themselves. Their warrior seemed nice enough but he really had no interest in the sea. Talked on and on about religion and gods something like that. Didn’t really catch it. Had to set sail! On our way out of the cove we spotted the most amazing creatures! They were huge with shining white tusks.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 13:10

So much to tell. Where to begin? This is the point where writers block kicks in and you’ve got to type something to keep going. Kyoto. The Japanese’s capital of wonders unbelivable. I shall not speak of them here in your company.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 13:11

The sea still calls the Byzantines. It is the siren song.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 13:14

More volcanos erupt in the distance showing the gods are pleased with the Byzantines.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 13:17

3 curraghs sail the seas and discover another civilization. The Sumarians are very advanced technologically but they do not sail the seas.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 13:22

Another city is founded. Copenhagen. Built on fields of tobacco and next to the sea.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 19:08

Barbarians!

The Hittite city of Ugarit is spotted in 2470BC.

SirOsis · February 5, 2004, 19:11

The barbarians have killed all Byzantines warriors. The newly founded Caeserea must train some more to attack these foul savage people.

ChrisiusMaximus · February 5, 2004, 19:23

nice stuff keep it coming

Paddy · February 6, 2004, 08:19

bing it on...

vmxa1 · February 6, 2004, 19:46

SirOsis what level are you play? Have all the ships survived so far?

SirOsis · February 6, 2004, 21:21

I'm playing Emperor. All but 1 ship survives. I guess I forgot to post the pic of my suicide curragh.

ChrisiusMaximus · February 6, 2004, 21:26

Ive been having rather a lot of good luck with these little boats, sending many of them on suicide missions , but about 75% of them seem to survive. At least they have been doing so far.

SirOsis · February 7, 2004, 04:06

Of course this is before map making but what the hell. My world in 2150bc.

SirOsis · February 8, 2004, 05:47

"Let me see it!", yelled Theodora. Her hands trembled as the map was handed to her. Such a huge map of all the Byzantines had seen with their Curraghs. So many other civilizations discovered. Whispers of great cities beyond the seas with Wonders. The Maya, Dutch, and England. Strange names. Our Dromans will rule the seas!

925 BC

vovan · February 8, 2004, 21:54

Oooh, like that last pic. Keep 'em flowing in, please.

Paddy · February 9, 2004, 08:27

Thanks SirOsis

SirOsis · February 19, 2004, 17:05

PresidentMarcos · February 19, 2004, 21:34

Mmm. You're good with Photoshop.

vovan · February 19, 2004, 22:56

Man, these maps are huge! Huge and sweet.

Would like a bit more story to go with 'em though if you have time.

SirOsis · February 27, 2004, 00:26

Where O where have I been? The story has been quite stagnant of late. Perhaps I will add some comments as time permits. Time. Certainly fleeting. My empire has me contemplating poetry. Perhaps it is the beer. No matter. I shall quote some poetry I find apt for my current situation from none other than Percy Bysshe Shelley:

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whos frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandius, king of kings:
Look on my words, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Byzantine prophesy? Stay tuned...

SirOsis · February 27, 2004, 00:31

Quote:

Originally posted by vovan
Man, these maps are huge! Huge and sweet.

Would like a bit more story to go with 'em though if you have time.

Thanks for the compliments. I would like to add more to the story but right now it seems an amorphous mass that needs shaping. Maybe tonight I might conquer such a task but somehow I feel I am not up to it. Distractions are certain. If I have the willpower I may overcome them.

Let us hope.

SirOsis · February 27, 2004, 00:36

Seems like I've found some poetry to soothe my restless soul. That's what I tell myself anyway.

From The Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam
Fitzgerald 5th edition:

Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
Your Winter garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter--and the Bird is on the Wing.