Author's
Description:
Mission name : Foundation
Version : 2.00
File : Foundation.sav - to be placed into Pharaoh\Save\Family_name folder and started through "Load game". Can be played both w/o or with Cleopatra expansion (not tested in Cleopatra though).
Author : Baltic
Contact me at balticus@volny.cz if you have any questions or problems.
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Mission characteristics :
Normal climate. Self-supporting city, except for the first few years no trade, except Luxury goods import. Mission for skilled players. Read the story carefully, there are some events you wouldn't understand without it. Some small Bedouin invasions, possibility of big Kushite attack in certain conditions.
Winning criteria :
Culture - 55, Prosperity - 100, Monuments - Large Obelisk
Kingdom - 20, Population - 6000, 2 Palatial Estates (shown in Pharaoh as 8)
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Story:
The Egyptian empire is falling into pieces under steady attacks from both North and South. One of the greatest seers of our age, Seldontep, has come with a vision how to overcome the hard times that are coming soon. He says that Kushites and Hittites will meet near Abedju in a big battle for supremacy over the fertile Nile region in 200 years, and this battle will drain the power of both nations. If Egyptian nation and culture can survive until this time, Egypt can be reclaimed in the name of its ancient rulers - city by city, nome by nome, and before anyone notices it, the newly born empire will be powerful enough to defend itself and expel the foreign rulers from Upper and Lower Egypt.
But, Pharaoh still believes that he can defeat both enemies now, on the battlefield, but he knows that the fate of Egypt is at stake. He asked Seldontep what to do... and got this answer: "Build a city that will be hidden from all, and no one will know about it except those living there. Build it in a place where no one would ever search Egyptian settlement, that is accessible only for people who know the secret paths. Such place can be found in mountains of northern Nubia - no one ever lived in this valley, no one has seen it yet.Yet itis rich in all resources except copper, the land is fertile and you'll find numerous herds of antelopes there."
Pharaoh will try to support you, but it is absolutely vital that this city remains a secret. Therefore, as soon as the Kushite troops approach Baki, this city will cease to trade with you. According to Seldontep, you have less than 3 years to establish a self-sufficient city. After 3 years, no standard trade will be possible except occasional import of incense from Pwenet. You have to do something unprecedented in the history of Egypt - encourage the scribes into becoming smugglers. Call them "free merchants", that sounds better - they have to infiltrate all cities in the area, and later in all of Egypt, and sell them the precious goods your city will produce. You as a governor will never see a deben from this trade directly, but it will be refunded in high tax income if you govern the city wisely. Free merchants may sometimes arrange for exchange of goods against weapons or sell food at high price to cities that suffer with famine, but not often. Think twice before you allow this, great deals can be profitable but dangerous, because someone could become aware of your presence in this area. If some enemy units happen to find the way to your city in track of your merchants, kill them before they can spread the news! Many dangers lurk in the mountains and surrounding deserts, and you have a fair chance that wild animals and shifting sands or rockslides will be blamed for their disappearance.
If Seldontep is right, you are the only hope for the future of Egypt... although you will never see this future. Good luck!
Explanation :
The exchange of goods happens as requests and gifts. Contrary to normal missions, ignoring the request will increase Kingdom rating (but of course you don't get anything). KR has different meaning in this mission, it shows how secret your city is. If it drops to 0, city will be discovered and invaded by Kushites.
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