The people of Berytos are the descendants of a civilization created by the Telkhines, titanic storm demons defeated by a previous Pantokrator. The Telkhines taught shipbuilding, sailing and metalcrafting to the human ancestors of Berytos. When the Telkhines were defeated, the humans fled across the sea, led by the Storm Callers, disciples of the Telkhines. With the knowledge of ironcrafting and the magical might of the Storm Callers, new colonies were founded on distant shores. Like a phoenix, the dying empire was reborn. But the Telkhine gods were dead and the humans sought divine leadership. They found the Melqarts of Hinnom. One of the colonies was situated near Ashdod and the bloody cult of the Melqarts soon spread through the Phoenix Empire. In the capital colony of Berytos, a great temple to the Melqarts was built. But soon another power found its way into the cult. Refugee Colossi, great men of the Machakan royal family, arrived in Berytos and established themselves as rulers of the bloody cult. Their sorceresses claimed divinity and called themselves Brides-in-Waiting. Now Berytos is a seafaring people led by sorcerer-queens from the great temple in Berytos.

"Berytos exists only in the early era. It is the Phoenix Empire that was destroyed and reemerged in numerous coastal city states. It is a cultural melting pot influenced by several other nations. The nation is heavily inspired by Mediterranean seafaring peoples and the Phoenicians in particular. The sea peoples of Canaan and Egypt, combined with Greek migrational hypotheses, Phoenicians and their Carthaginian/Punic extension have been important sources. The Canaanite/Phoenician cities of Byblos, Tyros, Sidon and Carthage inspired the ideas of a seafaring nation and led to the Berytian dependency on coastal forts.

The legendary founding of Carthage by Dido/Elissa and her marriage with the high priest of Melqart combined with the biblical concept of Canaanite Ba'al worship laid the ground for the concept of Berytian Melqart worship. This enabled some intertwining of Hinnomite and Berytian backstories. I also wanted a deeper mythical backstory and found that the Telchines, Dactyls and other Greek mythological island-peoples combined with the Greek migration hypothesis fit the role. I liked that the nation had an arcane legacy free from influences from Hinnom.

When I remembered the slightly bizarre Ars Magica supplement "South of the Sun" by Atlas Games, where there are Carthaginian descendants dabbling in dark magic I figured the great men and queens of of Machaka would fit a niche as exile queens and leaders of the cult of the Melqarts. Berytos has been one of the most fun nations to develop, probably because it involves and expands the backstories of several other nations and concepts. It also has several unique mechanics designed primarily for them." - Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Magic Access	Alt. Access	Unit Summary	Core Abilities	Buildings
3 (rare 4) 3 (rare 4) 3 3 (rare 4) 2 (rare 3) 1 (rare 2) 2	Hero 31332 3233 344422 Summons 332200% (req. 23) 244321100% (req. 25)	Archers Light and Medium Infantry Lancers Elephants	Sailing	Advanced Forts Coastal Fort Income Bonus Trace Income Across Oceans

Capitol Gems: 232

Heat limit + 1

Prefers Heat Scale + 1

Blood Sacrifice: Priests can sacrifice a blood slave at a temple to help extend the dominion.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia