
This scenario recrates the end of Antiquity and the beginning of 
the Middle Ages. These transformations were seen by people of that time 
as the destruction of the world as they knew it. Therefore the title, 
'Orbis terrarum ruit', or 'the world breaks down'. The main changes in the
rules are the increase in the movement allowance of triremes and the change
in order of feudalism and chivalry. Now you have first the weapon (knights),
and then the defense against it (pikemen).

A description of the civilizations follows.

Imperium Romanum:
In spite of the victory of the allied armies led by the roman general Aetius
over the huns, the empire lost all its western provinces in the following
40 years.
The dominant politic at this time was to absorb the german invaders within
the empire as 'foederati', or allies. This was ended by emperor Iustinianus,
who tried to reconquer the lost provinces by the force of arms. He was 
partially successful, but by the time the Islam appeared, the empire was too 
weak to stop it.
At the start of the game, the empire suffers from severe destruction made in
Italy, Gaul and the Balkans by invasions earlier in the century, from lack of 
men and from the tensions between Constantinople and the rich eastern 
provinces.  

Hunni:
After Attila was defeated in the plains of Gaul, his empire dissolved. The 
waves of invaders continued in the following centuries, nevertheless.

Franks:
This civilization was the only german kingdom that managed to become a major
power and to survive, in a sense until today.

Visigoths:
Threatened from almost every side, the visigoths defended their stronghold
in the Iberian Peninsula until they were wiped out by the arabs in 711.
Besides the Visigoths, this player controls the short-lived kingdom of the
Burgundians (capital: Lyon). 

Vandals:
This civilization comprises not only the seafaring vandals in North Africa,
but also the Suebs in Portugal and the Angles and Saxons in England and 
Scandinavia. The first tribe was conquered by Iustinianus, the second by
the Visigoths and the third struggled for control of Great Britain.

Ostrogoths:
The Ostrogoths were for a time vassals of the huns. Later, they gained 
control of Italy and founded a promising kingdom there. Theodoricus was an
illustrated monarch, and Italy flourished under him. Unfortunately, 
Iustinianus had other plans. He invaded the peninsula and after a quite long 
struggle destroyed not only the kingdom, but also Italy.

Sasanids persians:
This power was the eternal rival of Rome in the east. It also suffered from
invasions, and was obsessed with conquering the provinces of Asia Minor, 
Siria and Egypt, which had once belonged her. Cosroes II managed it only to
be soundly defeated by emperor Heraclius and thereafter by the arabs.
In this scenario, the persians also control the Celts and Scotts in Great 
Britain (probably led by King Arthur!). 

Made by Joaquin Vanno Gea


  