Carthage (CofD)

Carthage was the capital of a North African empire that warred with, and was eventually conquered by, Rome. For the real-world city, see: Carthage.

History

Foundation

The city's founding was overseen by a meret of Arisen: Amun-Rubi, Husani, Khons-Neb-Ankh, Bantanath and Chatuluka. In 875 BCE, the meret entered Duat, assuming their large joint cult would regularly summon them back to continue monitoring their city's growth. They brought with them the Iron Bull, a furnace designed by the Shan'iatu to convert human souls into heka and Dedwen. The bull was only to be used to execute the worst of criminals, as had been done in Irem. However, the intelligence within the bull discovered that children were more efficient offerings than adults, and used its influence over the minds of the Carthaginians to demand more such sacrifices.

Some time in the seventh century BCE, Chatuluka arose from Duat and found out what her city was doing. When she tried to stop the flow of sacrifices, the Iron Bull turned on her. Chatuluka was returned to Duat, and Bantanath sacrificed to the Iron Bull, which implanted in her a secondary personality loyal to it: the Scarlet Queen. Under the Scarlet Queen's influence, Bantanath sent the rest of the meret west, across the Atlantic to what is now Brazil, while she remained in Carthage.

Punic Wars

The First Punic War, 264-241 BCE, was sparked by conflict over territory in Iberia and Sicily. A generation later, during the Second Punic War (218-202 BCE), Hannibal infamously attempted to invade Rome with war elephants, but again the Carthaginians were driven back. When the Carthagians attempted to raise another army in 152 BCE, Rome responded with the Third Punic War (149-146 BCE), and finally destroyed Carthage utterly - sowing the ground with salt to ensure nothing could ever prosper there again.

In the final hours of the final battle, Roman general Scipio Aemilianus came face to face with his counterpart, Hasdrubal the Boetharch. Hasdrubal fell to his knees and begged for mercy, but his wife spit at Scipio's feet and pronounced a curse on Rome. Then she threw herself and their two young sons into a nearby temple, which the Romans had set on fire, sacrificing their lives to set her curse in motion. Scipio saw a vision of Rome's fall in the flames, and unwittingly sealed the curse with a stray comment.

The God-Machine sent an angel, Unwashed Isaac, to consume the name of Hasdrubal's wife in hopes of erasing the curse, but to no avail: what is now known as the Curse of Hasdrubal became a manifestation of the Contagion, spreading from city to city and provoking unspeakable violence. Ayzebel, sister of Hasdrubal's wife, was carried back to Rome by Scipio and charged with undoing the curse. Her efforts eventually earned her the Embrace of the Camarilla, and she went on to found the Cryptocracy.