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[Doubloon-Seven]

What if, on January 1st of the year 500 BC, people began to learn use magic, and build magical technology? It's up to the players. This is an alternate history game in which players edit a map of the ancient world, to show the progression of history, and accompany it with descriptive text, inventions, cultural developments, etc.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

How to Edit the Map:
Just save or copy the map into MS Paint, or a similar program, zoom to your desired amount, and use the eyedropper, fill, and pencil tools to draw up new borders and fill them in the color of a nation.

Rules:
1. At least in the beginning, try to obey the facts of history. Not to the letter, but enough to have cultures be somewhat accurate.
2. Despite the wide use of magic being intended in this game, please don't go crazy with it at the start. No golem armies of Hannibal,a t least until it's gone on for some time.
3. Don't blatantly contradict the updates of others, and obey the posting order.
4. Add some cultural and scientific texture to the game, besides the bread and butter that is military action.
5. Each turn will last ten years. For example, the first turn will be from 500 BC to 490 BC.
6. The image map is required to post an update, even if there are no visible changes.

How to Play:
Post in the thread with a post marked  -Reserved-. You'll then have at most 12 hours to complete the update. If you don't complete the reserved spot by editing the post withing that time limit, the turn will go on to the next person in line for a turn. People can play as often or as little as you like, and anyone can have a turn.

Summary of the World:
In Asia, the Chinese Zhou-dynasty states war with each other, theoretically controlled by an emperor, but acting like separate nations. In Vietnam, the predynastic Vietnamese thrive upon the Red River. In India, loosely-connected city-states trade amongst each other. The great city-states of Greece create great cultural works and philosophy, as well as being a military powerhouse. In Rome, a humble republic has arrived, yet to expand beyond their city, with the old Etruscans to the north and Greek colonies to the south, as well as other small latin cities. In North Africa, Carthage's oligarchy searches for new ways to make money off of the ancient world. The mighty Persian Empire Finally, in the Americas, cultures in the Yucatan and the Andes are trapped in the stone age, but the arrival of magics could change them. It could change the entire world.

Side Note: Black lines mark national borders, nations with white fill are cultural groups, and grey lines mark provincial boundaries.

[Maximum Spin]

Yes I will do this yes.

Spoiler: 490 BC (click to show/hide)

Not much has changed in the first ten years. Magic is pretty complicated, and not every nation has even noticed its existence yet.

The biggest beneficiary so far is the Achaemenids, who currently hold many very old places in the cradle of civilisation where magic has been practiced extensively for thousands of years without the minor technicality of actually working. Due to some crucial invocations, in particular those to protect ships from storms, they've made significant gains in their assault on the Greeks, and Athens is probably doomed in the near future. The Egyptians are suddenly extremely powerful, and have used this power to secure control over many of the Nubian tribes with whom they have long vied, but their skill with magic hasn't filtered out to the rest of the Empire too much. If it does, expect even more of the map to turn yellow; but perhaps Egypt will claim its independence instead.

Upstart Rome successfully imposes its will on the Latins, but hasn't done much more than in this world, lacking any serious magical tradition; much like the Greeks and many others, various superstitions and rituals of theirs suddenly start working, but they don't notice any serious difference (if they knew their superstitions and rituals weren't working before, they probably would've stopped) or know to use it extensively yet.

The Nords and Olmecs precipitate as quasi-defined entities with their own colours; the next player will probably want to do this for even more cultures. We could probably use a key before too long. Just saying.

The Chinese states are still mostly too busy fighting amongst themselves to do anything interesting. A stronger Emperor could change this, but China, historically, has had something of a paucity of those. Vedic India is starting to coalesce a bit, but nothing worth mapping yet. Basically, the world was pretty boring at this point, and magic hasn't been around long enough to make it stop being. The next guy will get to have more fun, though.

[Xvareon]

Wow, what a fresh concept! Yes, I will do this.
-RESERVED-

[Glass]

I don't have the time/skill to do one of these, but please someone make an American civilization prepared to not die when the Europeans arrive.

[crazyabe]

PTW.

[Tyrant Leviathan]

PTW. Have no access to Paint. So no posting. Love alternative history though.

[Maximum Spin]

Oh yeah, thanks for indirectly reminding me, TL, I was going to post when my turn was done so people would notice but forgot. So yeah, that's been done for like ten hours.

[Doubloon-Seven]

I think Xvareon's got their turn skipped. Anyone want to reserve?

[Xvareon]

I think Xvareon's got their turn skipped.

I guess I misjudged the 12 hour time limit vs. my schedule... sorry. Probably best if you guys went on without me for this turn, then, since I likely won't get this done for at least another couple hours. I have a habit of writing longwinded turns, and I already had China finished, but I'll go ahead and skip for the next guy. If they want to hear what I had in mind, I'll gladly PM them and let them know so they can use that for inspiration, at least!

[Doubloon-Seven]

You already have something done? I can give you an extension for some time, Xvareon. Four hours sound fine? I'll reserve the turn after you.

-Reserved-

TURN 3
489-480 BC



Europe
-In Spain, a wealthy Carthaginian merchant decides to fund a colonial effort in western Iberia. Ostensibly, this is for fishing and farming purposes, but the merchant has heard rumors of a greater prize to be found in the area of Portugal- Gold. The merchant wishes to expand his power base, and while surveying the mining sites, he falls over onto the rock, suddenly. He collapses, and is rushed to his personal physician. He murmurs in an unknown language for several minutes, before waking suddenly, shouting for the physician, before calming down. He seems normal, but close advisors think he has begun acting odd. Reports arise of workers in the mines falling sick and dying mysteriously, but the merchant orders for mining to continue.

-In Rome, the consul begins a a drive of expansion. Soldiers subjugate towns south of Rome on the coast, and clear the way to the Adriatic. This plan is twofold. First, gain access to the Adriatic sea, so as to better trade with the Greek city-states, and possibly seek an alliance. Second, send out the urban poor to clear the streets of Rome, and send them out to become productive farmers. The campaign is swift and brutal, and the Etruscans see this. They station soldiers along their southern border, waiting for Rome to step out too far.

-The Nordic peoples living in Denmark experience odd, beneficial effects. For years, it was a tradition to create small ornaments of copper or silver, as blessings from the natural world. The skill and passion of the craftsmen who work them unwittingly translates into small amounts of magical energy within the token. These effects manifest in minor ways, easing the hard work of planting, clothiers making slightly better furs, and other such things. The people do not see this as very odd, simply reinforcing their simple faiths.


Middle East
-Darius the Great is frustrated. An uneasy truce has begun with the Greeks, and has held. His levies are low, and his people are tired of war. He returns major armies to the heartlands, dismissing the irregulars, but keeps a force of local troops on guard in Asia Minor, Achea, and west of the Bosporus. The Greeks, in turn, withdraw. Neither side wishes to Admit it, but for now, the Greco-Persian war is on hold. Instead, he turns his eyes to a greater project- a canal to bridge the Red Sea and the Mediterranean for the first time in history. Engineers draw up plans of a great stone channel that will open up from the Red Sea, through the lakes of the Sinai, and finally, into the upper Nile. It will be a project that will take years, but Darius has his heart set on improving trade everywhere, opening the world to new and exciting routes. Laborers begin digging through the desert sands with shovel and pick-ax, extracting sandstone to make the walls of the canal along the way. The most simple part is completed after four years of work, bridging the gap between the Great Bitter Lake and the Red Sea. Cheers ring up amongst the workers as the waters mix- onto the longest stretch.


Asia
-In China, the Zhou emperor Jing dies. His son, Yuan, succeeds him. This king, oddly, dislikes most of the other states of China, seeing them as unruly and disrespectful to his authority (Which, of course, they are). He is friends with a court Vizier, who is an Oracle, a diviner who predicts the future. As Yuan ascends to the throne, this vizier is asked to read his future, it is a lengthy ordeal. As the vizier reads the results of the incense smoke, tea leaves, and cracking bones in the fire, the result is this- Yuan is destined to be emperor of all China, a strong ruler, to achieve great things. In the following weeks, a flurry of letters is sent between him and the ruler of the nearby Chu state. An alliance forms.


The Americas
-In the Andes, a breakthrough is made. A Peruvian miner discovers a source of clay with large deposits fo copepr. When the clay is taken to be fired, the pot, of course breaks. The real discoveries are the metal beads embedded in the clay. The potter realizes this, and sends for the miner to bring more. He does so, and the potter extracts the clay, ever so carefully. After a month of work, the potter has successfully smelted a bar of copper. The American Metallurgic Revolution has begun.

Spoiler: Map (click to show/hide)

[micelus]

470 BC


China

-Yue has finally finished its conquest of Wu, showing that even if they invented the Art of War, it was Yue that perfected it. Many point to the Yue ruler's alliance with Chu as reason for his victories.
-The Chu have seemingly strengthened their ties to the royal house, having forged bonds of matrimony with king Yuan. The ruler of Chu uses this opportunity to gain hegemon status amongst the various fiefdoms, irking their allies of Yue, who currently vye for dominion. It seems the house of Yue has accelerated their clamouring for 'independence', with rumours of kingship being declared. There are even heinous rumours that the Yue ruler uses 8 or even 9 cauldrons for his ancestral rituals.
-An inventor in the minor state of Qi has begun selling a rejuvenating elixir composed of alchemical ingredients. Customers and traders say that it actually seems to work.
-The state of Yan expands eastward.
-The peoples of the northern borders begin reporting tales of the renowned celestial steppe horses being somewhat more celestial. Some say they have seen the steppe raiders gliding across the plains on their little horses.
-A dragon has been supposedly spotted in the Gulf of Jili. Inhabitants are celebrating its appearance as a good omen.
-The Zhou king has called upon the scholars of the realm to congregate at his capitol. He has taken to obsessing over philosophical works and alchemy, which he believes will aid toward centralising his authority. He has furthered his relations with Chu and while they are not truly obedient, they can be relied upon to aid him.

Asia in General
-A steppe child has been born bloody and clutching its afterbirth; this is considered a most fortuitous sign by her tribe. She is supposedly destined to be a mother of great warriors and a great warrior herself. Her parents are most pleased and have already begun planning out a future marriage proposal.
-the peoples of Buru have been unified under the brilliance of a man named Lesnussa, who's charisma, great knowledge and wisdom has seen him become what could be called royalty, if the concept yet existed in Buru. In secret, Lesnussa has figured out a way of consuming the mana of his foes, and this has aided him greatly.

The Near East
-The magi have become zealous as a result of their rituals working far more effectively in the last few decades. They decide collectively this to be a sign of Ahura Mazda's favour. Shah Xerxes is of course, annoyed by the prospect of an even stronger clergy, and attempts to centralise more divine authority around himself. His lack of knowledge on rituals and the seeming wave of zealotry occurring in the empire has for now, stalled such attempts.
-A fortuitous maid in Tyre has invented a sweet that would one day be called a 'baklava'.
-Trade between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean has improved significantly due to Xerxes' construction project, although the maintenance cost of the canal continues to be a source of complaint amongst imperial accountants.
-An elderly but curious priest of Anubis has somehow figured out a a superior method of embalming. His experiments have resulted in mummies that seemingly never rot. He is hailed a hero by all Egyptians and his on the way to godhood for his discovery.
-Athenian prestige and influence is at is height. Despite the lack of a true victory, the Athenian ability to withstand the Persian onslaught has won them many supporters. Only time will tell if they will continue to survive. Making use of the Persians' war weariness, the Athenians establish de facto control over much of the formerly Persian European territories. They also secretly foment unrest in the conquered Peloponnese, supporting various guerillas and bandits.
-A dimwitted Messalian girl has begun selling dairy products that never spoil.
-Corinth becomes known for its excellent textiles that when worn, feel far softer than they appear. The 'magical' Corinthian cloth soon becomes a luxury good in the Mediterranean.

The West

-Carthage continues to grow wealthy, with the ventures of its merchants both securing the empire, and making it yet more prosperous. The cursed mines of Portugal, while a concern for the locals, is ultimately a minor issue for the Carthage elite. The owner of the mine prefers it this way, lest suspicious eyes discover that there isn't any gold in those mines.

-Rome unifies; Carthage sends out its traders. The two empires seem to get on amicably, for now. As long as the foolish Latins stay to their little peninsula, of course. Fighting of course breaks out with the Etruscan realms as well as with other Latin tribes. For now, the status quo continues, unperturbed by the alarming increase in supernatural occurrences in the world.

The Americas

-Life goes on.

[Xvareon]

You already have something done? I can give you an extension for some time, Xvareon. Four hours sound fine? I'll reserve the turn after you.

-Reserved-

Mmm...... thought about it, but again, my habits tend towards really long and detailed descriptions of what goes on, and I'm not sure I can do everything justice and still write the map in time. So thank you, but it's still probably best that I skip this turn. I'll be happy to share what I was gonna put up, though; I managed to finish Carthage's turn, too. Just ask for it and I'll send via PM.

[Maximum Spin]

Oh god, it's not just forts, nobody ever finishes a turn of anything after me

[Doubloon-Seven]

Posted with turn 3! Your turn, Micelus.

[ATHATH]

I'm no good with MS Paint, so can someone have all of the penguins in the world spontaneously form a hivemind and claim Antarctica?