The Tales of the Apocalypse Part 1: South
Hi guys,
If you want to get in the mood for the atmosphere of Total War: ATTILA, weve got just the thing for you - Tales of The Apocalypse is a new series of short stories showing snapshots of life in the fifth century. These tales, penned by Creative Assembly staff, are accompanied by fitting event pictures from Total War: ATTILA.
If you visit our facebook page youll see these event pics animated, just as they will in game.
Our first story is called South.
Enjoy!
South
As the winters grew longer and robbed people of their harvests, populations across Europe began striking southwards in search of more fertile lands to call home. Not all would find the prosperity they sought.
We are on the road now. We are ragged, and we are failing.
Two score of us set out when the crops withered, and sixteen of us remain. To leave our hearth and kin behind was unbearable, but our meager store would feed only half the village. As the foremost of the tribe, the decision fell to me. And so we make our way south.
We measure the passage of time not by the rise and fall of the weakening sun, but by the meals we beg from others as we approach their camps - and they are precious few. In truth, we offer thanks to God if we are not simply turned away at the point of a spear.
The road has not been kind.
Bandits attacked us in the forest, and seven of our number fell to their blades. When they realised we had nothing, they killed two more to spite us and moved on. They wore the armour and livery of Roman soldiers, but we heard no clamour, we saw no smoke; no sign of any kind to indicate an army was nearby.
Nine succumbed to some malady of the flesh, among them my son Hercynius. He was dealt the warriors share at each meal, but it made no difference. He shivered and he wasted, and one day he did not awaken. The ground is hard and cold, and our strength so slight, we could not even bury him. He lies now beneath a Rowan bush, a meal for the beasts. It is a mark of these evil times that a father cannot honour his son in death.
Six simply disappeared in the night. They did not return to us.
Yesterday, we came to the town of Casurgis. As we approached, our hopes of deliverance were dashed as we saw a great crowd surging weakly at the gates, begging for entry. There were hundreds of them. Thin, weak, pathetic a congregation of ghosts. The soldiers on the palisade looked on with faces of stone. Perhaps they are hungry, too.
We are ragged, and we are failing. And so we head south, to what fate we do not know.
Hi guys,
Today we have another Tale of the Apocalypse for you Profit.
Enjoy
Profit
The city of Ctesiphon was the heart of the Sassanian Empire and the centre of a vast trade network. Goods flowed along the Silk Road from China and India, through Arabia and into North Africa and Western Europe. But luxuries were not the only things to find passage with the caravans.
Katlego, my old friend! Please, sit, sit! Will you take some tea? I have this remarkable new blend, all the way from China. It is dark as pitch and most invigorating! And you must sample one of these dates, fresh in from Syria; the flesh is uncommonly soft and sweet. They tell me the palms there are thirstier than the usual variety which accounts for their luscious texture.
And tell me of your wives and children, at home in Dimmidi, do they thrive? May Spenta Mainyu grant them eternal health and wellbeing. My own are quite well, thank you, and why should they not be in these feculent times! Truly we are blessed men, for it is with many sons that our fortunes are sealed.
I was greatly pleased, Katlego, greatly pleased, to hear of the expansion of your trade networks. You must own the caravan routes from Mauretania to Aegyptus now? One might think you had ambitions of empire, hah! And it would be richly deserved. Your caravanners must be hardy men indeed, to cross the great Saharan wastes and emerge unscathed. And if not for our caravanners, where would we be, eh?
Now I know I have drawn you far from home old friend, but Ctesiphon has a great deal to offer, as you will see. My home is yours, and you must inform me of any needs or desires. Visit the bazaars and sample our goods; cloths and spices, hides and fruits, gold and jewels. All things flow into the city Katlego. Even weapons.
Ahhh. There now, I divine in your countenance an item of true worth. We all know of the troubles in Ravenna, the trials that face Constantinople, eh? Such times we live in Ive never known simple blades and spears to be in such demand! There are many that would see the old wolf shackled, and shackles are wrought of iron, are they not?
Yes, there is much we can offer you I think, Katlego and your customers in Africa. Come now, let us meet some very good friends of mine
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Re: The Tales of the Apocalypse Part 1: South
Originally Posted by MathiasOfAthens
is this. Would rather have a demo instead.
