These chronicles of the Omegan Empire date from circa AD1310 and provide a fascinating insight into the history and development of our great country. The surviving manuscripts, though diverse and incomplete, are largely intact and allow us a priveledged retrospective understanding of the hearts and minds of some the greatest leaders the world has ever seen.

This particular record details what has subsequently become known as the "Age of Ascendancy" when this country emerged as the undisputed, pre-eminant power among nations. Though Omega was later beset by further challenges and bitter rearguard wars, this period effectively sealed the fate of the world, and is the reason you, the historical scholar of today, can use and understand the Omegabet, and enjoy the fruitful, rewarding life that you do under our enlightened leadership.

The era immediately preceding this age was one of economic stabilisation and rapid growth of the medieval military industrial complex under the von Richtmark Dynasty (for details of this period, please refer to "The Stormtrooper Palace" manuscripts) and it is important for allowing the subsequent and now legendary Tones Dynasty to achieve continental domination. In an ironic twist of fate, the Zigeuner faction, who might well have been able to claim power when Konrad II had his unfortunate accident with the trebuchet "fun ride", were away on vacation enjoying the sunshine at the time, and so it fell to the Tones Clan to pick up the Mace of Monarchy and bludgeon out the destiny of the Omegan people.

Lucky for us all, eh?

Transciption from High Court proceedings, Megaton Courthouse, AD1315

Monday

That went quite well I thought. A few gold coins in the Inquisitor General's pocket and a painting of him "in flagrante" with Honey the barmaid ensured that I was found completely innocent of any nefarious activities. Von Richtoven, or whoever, is now history and I am now free to indulge my slightest whim.

Luckily I have managed to secure a copy of the "Stormtrooper" manuscripts. I can go through those and steal any good ideas and pretend they were mine ignore them completely. There seem to be some military plans here too. Hmmm, something to do with invading Portugal. Seems like a jolly wheeze. I might just get the army together and do it. Now, no fight is complete without the Fightin' Firteenth so I'll have to find them first.

Contacted all the city Governers and made numerous adjustments, just to show them who's boss. Can't have them making up their own minds can we? This place, for example, can knock out one of them Great People a whole year earlier. So what if the population starves? Bugger 'em.

Things to do by Tuesday: decide what the boffins need to research after Guilds; explore arch-enemy Alpha with Grand Master Spy; send lots of soldiers north; build sumptuous new Palace because this one is tatty; become Dictator of Death and Tyrant of World.

Pre-turn save:

Curses! A Great Artist has been born. What use is that? The chances were well against it. He could be used in the war against Portugal I suppose or to research some sissy technology like drama. Bah! Limp-wristed artistic types, grrrrrrr......

On a brighter note, our forces are assembling close to the northern border, ready for our glorious crusade. Elsewhere I am building knights like crazy thanks to the new Guilds we have invented. Can't have Portuguese horse archers running rings round us can we? I have temporarily put the brakes on research so I can build up the coffers. I also want to see what those wretched Alphans research next. Ex-dictator Konrad II did have a few good ideas. According to his writings, we could lure them to liberalism, then grab it ourselves at the last moment which is, you have to admit, pretty irresistable. On the other hand, I am much tempted by gunpowder and chemistry. I like things that go bang, and fast ships that go bang are definitely on my pressie list.

Interesting huh? Those Portuguese folks have built some nice cities for us. The Alphan pigdogs have only one in the top five.

Meanwhile, on the high seas, our brave sailors have spotted the opposition....

And Viktor gets a first look at some more Persian cities. Somerset? What sort of stupid name is that?

Very soon our army will be in place. Our galleons will patrol the seas and chase down any caravel spies they spot. The riches of Portugal will be ours. Our espionage is practically unbeatable. Long live the Omegan Dictatorship!

Woke up this morning and decided to invade Portugal. Dunno why, just fancied it I suppose. Bit of a shame since we were getting on so well but, ho hum, world domination beckons and all that. Had a bit of luck with one of those random things that just happen out of nowhere - our wise men had a kind of collective brainwave and decided to use saltpetre in the gunpowder mix instead of plain old salt. This means we are that much closer to cracking the secrets of things that go "boom". I think this might have just tipped the decision.

Anyway, no sooner had our brave boys gone stomping on Portuguese heads than whoopee, Sun Tzu popped up to give us a hand. Cool huh?

We're a bit short on regular troops, to be honest. Lots of trebuchets of course as they were Konrad II's favourite toy, but never mind for soon our gallant knights will be taking to the field.

Overseas our ships continue to scout and Viktor sneaks around revealing more of Alphland. I am positioning our galleys so they can be upgraded in an emergency and sink any Alpha caravels. That will mean war, of course, but who cares?