The Ancient Relics



The Ancient Relics is the fifth scenario of The New Atlantis campaign in Age of Mythology: The Titans. The main objective is to capture four relics from queen Amanra, in order to punish the Egyptians for coming to Sikyos's defense.

At the same time, the Atlanteans must defend a special, ancient Temple from being destroyed.

Summary
While Kastor sailed to Scandinavia with the intention to destroy the Tower of Odin (which he did, by using Kronos' Deconstruction Wonder power), a separate expedition was sent to Egypt, in order to steal some relics to force the Egyptians to leave the city of Sikyos.

As Amanra receives information regarding the siege of Sikyos, she is suddenly visited by the now immortal Arkantos. After she and her guards bow to Arkantos, he immediately warns her that she is about to be attacked by the Atlanteans, in her own homeland, where she is undefended.

As the Egyptians prepare to muster troops to defend their lands, the Atlantean expendition lands close to an abandonned Temple, devoted to Kronos.

Objectives

 * Garrison the four sacred relics into the Kronos Temple. If the Kronos Temple is destroyed, you are defeated.

Relics

 * Marmashu guards a Relic that provides Bronze once captured.
 * Saqqara guards a Relic that provides Earthquake once captured.
 * Desert guards a Relic that provides Tornado once captured.
 * Avaris guards a Relic that provides Ancestors once captured.

Players

 * Kastor's forces (Kronos) - The player begins in the Heroic Age (to which they are restricted), with four Citizens, five Murmillos, six Arci (two of them being Heroes), an Oracle Hero and a Transport Ship. They also begin with the Temple of Kronos, that must not being destroyed, yet no Town Center or God Powers, which will be granted by garrisoning relics.

Enemies
Note: all enemies begin in the Archaic Age.


 * Marmashu (Ra) - The most immediate threat in this mission, Marmashu is located to the northeast. The first to advance to the Classical Age, they may often attack early in the game with Barracks units and Sphinxes. They have average numbers of buildings, including a Market, two Temples and three Barrackses.


 * Desert (Set) - The weakest enemy, they consist of forces that guard a relic to the south, that include three Avengers and a large band of Spearmen. Once the relic is picked up, they will also spawn large numbers of Animals of Set.


 * Saqqara (Set) - The second weakest player, they occupy the namesake city of Saqqara, to the west. They have less structues that the other two cities, but boast two Migdol Strongholds, as well as some starting forces, composed of Scorpion Men, Slingers and Animals of Set.


 * Avaris (Ra) - The most distant enemy, found to the southeast, and usually the last to be encountered. They boast the most well-developped city in this mission, including two Town Centers, a Migdol, an Armory and three Barrackses. Their walls are Citadel Walls, one of the reasons for which early-to-mid game attacks are ill-advised.


 * Patrolling Phoenixes - Four Phoenixes that guard the outskirts of Avaris, and the second reason to avoid Avaris at early-to-mid game. Use Heroic Arci against them.

Strategy
This guide is applied to hard difficulty. It is, of course, also applicable for the other grades of difficulty.

Setting up
First, set up some essential structures. Build a Manor (as the player begins with almost occupied population), then a Military Barracks, then a Docks.

After these structures are build, task one or two Citizens to wall some or all passages from enemies, in order to wall up the Temple of Kronos, and send the rest to the Settlement across the river.

As the Citizens prepare these, task the Military Barracks to produce some soldiers, to defend against early attacks from Marmashu. Also, task the Docks to produce Fishing Ships to exploit the Nile's fish, and one Siege Bireme that will harass Saqqara. The last one is especially important as Saqqara cannot yet produce military ships, so they will be at the player's mercy this way (just beware of the coastal Migdol).

Also, don't forget to scatter the troops a bit, in order to pursuit scouting Priests and kill them, sending 100 Gold down the drain.

Early aggression
Once Marmashu reaches the Classical Age, prepare for attacks. The Town Center at the north should be complete by now, so wall the cliff to its northeast; this way, early raids from Marmashu will be delayed.

The waters that connect Saqqara and the player should be completely under control, to delay Saqqara's progress for as long as possible. After repulsing one or two attacks, turn some military units into Heroes and attack the Desert player's position. Send the Heroes first, as the Avengers will easily massacre groups with their special attacks. After the guards are defeated, steal the Relic and leave the area; large numbers of Animals of Set will spawn, but they can be just ignored.

Saqqara and Avaris should have already reached the Classical Age, and the first will immediately prepare attacks of its own. Use Tornado if they overwhelm the player, but it is recommended to save the power for later.

Attacking Saqqara
If the player can afford it, research Enclosed Deck and find a right moment (read: after fending off one or two attack from Marmashu and Saqqara) and embark neat numbers of troops to the coasts of Saqqara (again, be careful of the Migdol). Focus on the gates that wall off the Relic and capture it. Also, send the attacking army to the south of the gates to attack nearby Laborers and ruin Saqqara's economy, to further hinder its progress.

After garrisoning Saqqara's relic, the mission will become much, much easier.

Attacking Marmashu and Avaris
In this stage of the game, at least two cities will have reached the Heroic Age, and will start establishing firmer defenses, including Migdols. As soon as the Relic of Earthquake is garrisoned, immediately head for Marmashu. Make an opening to its walls, and send a Hero to steal their Relic. Cast Tornado if need rises.

Destroy some of their structures if the player judges it will delay Marmashu's progress, but it is recommended to head straight for Avaris.

Before attacking Avaris, Time Shift a Palace closer to the frontlines, and build some Destroyers. Then convert any Arci available into Heroes and send the forces to the west outskirts of the city. There, kill the Phoenixes quickly, and try to make a breach to the defenses, by casting Earthquake. This should be more than enough to allow for an opening to the relic. Storm the city and send a Hero to secure the relic and return it to the Temple of Kronos.

All in all, there are multiple enemies, with well developped bases, but if the player reacts quickly and captures the relics as quickly as possible, they can beat the mission in less than 35 minutes.

Additional Tips

 * The number one rule for this scenario is to abuse the weak startup of the enemies. All begin in the Archaic Age, with few starting forces, so it is a must to attack in right time.
 * In order to delay somewhat the progress of Marmashu, try destroying some of their Houses, found on the outskirts of the city.
 * It is highly recommended to have a single Contarius Hero in waiting, in order to quickly steal any Relics before enemies can catch up.
 * It is recommended to focus Citizens mainly on wood and gold, in order to invest on ships, archers and buildings.
 * Also, an excess in gold can be very helpful in this scenario in order to build large groups of Automata. They are very cheap, can repair each other (very useful, as the player lacks healing methods), and are a reliable meatshield for other units.

Trivia

 * This is the first of two missions where Kastor is not a playable Hero, the other being Betrayal at Sikyos.
 * Saqqara and Avaris were both real-life ancient Egyptian cities, located on Lower Egypt.
 * Oddly enough, the mission's location is claimed to  be to the very west of the Nile, to the Sahara. This is probably an oversight of the developpers.
 * Ironically, the city of Saqqara worships Set, despite the events of the Egyptian part of Fall of the Trident.