Pent, cities, comparisons

From: Svechin_at_...
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 18:37:05 EDT

 > Thanks - I like Peter's and Martin's logical analyses. Martin's
> > effectively 9:1 ratio of archers/lancers matches Suren's 10:1 ratio
> > at Carrhae, and Peter's 6:4 ratio matches early Mongol (Subotai
> era)
> > armies. Both were effective (duh!), so anywhere in between there
> > should work. Later Mongol armies (Tamurlane era) had more heavies,
> > but they also had cities, not very Pentan IMO.
>
> Effectively, I had estimated armies with a reference to Tamerlan
> period.
> Also you are true, Tamerlan empire had cities and Pentans not.
> Then, referee to earlier era would match better.

Though the Scythians had significant cities on the edges and as parts of their domain, as did the Volgan Bulgars, the Cumans, the Khazars and others. It is actually a not uncommon nomadic feature to be dominant of several, often large, cities within the steppe that serve as sort of "oasis people" for the various hordes around them.

Pent has some serious surprises in it, there are cities there in the depths of its hidden lands, on the boundaries of the northern taiga and there are colonies seeded by Sheng and others of dislocated peoples working lost mines and crafting goods for their current owners. Orathorn is not the only surprise Pent has to offer. In fact, since the Sheng period there are _more_ surprises awaiting the Lunar Empire from Pent as many of Sheng's secret projects and population shifts have had time to gestate and come to fruition.

> My mistake comes from my comparison of Sheng Seleris with Tamerlan
> (who I feel closer than Genghis Khan or Attila).

Sheng cannot IMO really be compared with any of them except in a "Nomadic conqueror" kind of way. His empire was vast and potent like Genghis but less organised and disciplined, like Attila's, however his magical ability and demigodhood with effective powers of rule and conquest made him something far more esoteric than the RW nomadic versions.

Martin Laurie