Genava55

What do they do if they can't send private messages?

I don't know if it is possible without consequences.

The biggest issue with captcha is the audio workaround to validate the captcha.

It seems to be in place:

Diodorus Siculus (book XX) description of Ophellas' army: And so Ophellas, when everything for his campaign had been prepared magnificently, set out with his army, having more than ten thousand foot-soldiers, six hundred horsemen, a hundred chariots, and more than three hundred charioteers and men to fight beside them. There followed also of those who are termed non-combatants not less than ten thousand; and many of these brought their children and wives and other possessions, so that the army was like a colonizing expedition. The Cyrenean monument called the "List of Military Officers": https://igcyr.unibo.it/igcyr084000 It mentions some soldier types: Triakatioi, Tethrippos, Paraibatai, Peltastai, Pezoi, Monippos, and Akontistai. The Triakatioi were probably an elite force of youths. Tethrippos are the four-horses chariots. Paraibatai were probably the fighters from the chariots. Peltastai and Akontistai were javelineers. Pezoi were probably heavy infantrymen. Monippos could be single horse chariots or cavalrymen. As for visual representations, I don't know of any at the moment.

Probably the best from your proposals. Otherwise you could go with Erythraean Sea city-states. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythraean_Sea

How does he manage to pull three arrows from his quiver in a single motion, and how does he manage to nock three arrows onto the string at once in a single motion? I'm genuinely curious because it seems to me that it's not that easy for other archers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periplus_of_the_Erythraean_Sea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbaria_(region) https://topostext.org/work/491

Proto-Cushitic probably not, the languages became distinct during the Neolithic. Cushitic languages include more than the area. Maybe other proposals could be: City-States of Punt City-States of Barbaria

Lopess is right here. "Macrobia" is more of a mythical Greek term, and using "Somalia" or "Somalis" for the era of the Periplus would be an anachronism, as that specific identity developed later. The ports you listed (Opone, Malao, Mundus, etc.) weren't a unified empire, but rather wealthy, independent trading hubs. In my opinion, City-States of the Horn of Africa (or Northern Horn Kingdoms) is the most accurate and objective choice. They operated much like ancient Phoenician or Greek city-states: politically independent but sharing the same culture and trade routes. If you prefer something with more cultural depth, Land of Punt is also an option, as it refers to the ancient roots of that specific region. The other terms don't fit as well: Cushitic is too broad (it's a massive language group), while Habashat and Automoli refer more to ancient Ethiopia and Upper Egypt/Nubia rather than the Somali coast. I would recommend going with City-States of the Horn of Africa or Land of Punt if you want a more distinct name for the faction.

It mostly comes from Herodotus: [4.170] Next to the Giligamai on the West are the Asbystai: these dwell above Kyrene, and the Asbystai do not reach down the sea, for the region along the sea is occupied by Kyrenians. These most of all the Libyans are drivers of four-horse chariots, and in the greater number of their customs they endeavour to imitate the Kyrenians. [4.171] Next after the Asbystai on the West come the Auchisai: these dwell above Barca and reach down to the sea by Euesperides: and in the middle of the country of the Auchisai dwell the Bacales, a small tribe, who reach down to the sea by the city of Taucheira in the territory of Barca: these practise the same customs as those above Kyrene. https://topostext.org/people/19741 - If we compare the accounts of Herodotus and Callimachus, it would seem that the city of Cyrene was founded on their territory and that King Adicran was their ruler. [4.159] Now during the lifetime of the first settler Battos, who reigned forty years, and of his son Arkesilaos, who reigned sixteen years, the Kyrenians continued to dwell there with the same number as when they first set forth to the colony; but in the time of the third king, called Battos the Prosperous, the Pythia gave an oracle wherein she urged the Hellenes in general to sail and join with the Kyrenians in colonising Libya. For the Kyrenians invited them, giving promise of a division of land; and the oracle which she uttered was as follows: “Who to the land much desired, to Libya, afterwards cometh, After the land be divided, I say he shall some day repent it.” Then great numbers were gathered at Kyrene, and the Libyans who dwelt round had much land cut off from their possessions; therefore they with their king whose name was Adicran, as they were not only deprived of their country but also were dealt with very insolently by the Kyrenians, sent to Egypt and delivered themselves over to Apries king of Egypt. He then having gathered a great army of Egyptians, sent it against Kyrene; and the men of Kyrene marched out to the region of Irasa and to the spring Theste, and there both joined battle with the Egyptians and defeated them in the battle: for since the Egyptians had not before made trial of the Hellenes in fight and therefore despised them, they were so slaughtered that but few of them returned back to Egypt. In consequence of this and because they laid the blame of it upon Apries, the Egyptians revolted from him.

I agree with your choices. There are other interesting characters like Shahrbaraz and Bahram V but I think the 5 you chose are the best options. Ardashir I should have a bonus related to civic centers and temples. Shapur I should have a military bonus, maybe something for the cavalry. Shapur II "the Great" should have a bonus related to fortresses and towers. Khosrow I "the Just" should have a bonus in training speed from barracks and stables. Khosrow II should have a capture bonus or a territory bonus.

I don't think it's physically possible to fire five projectiles at the same time with the same bow or crossbow. The energy is spread across five projectiles, and it’s difficult to properly align the trajectory with the movement of the string. The Chinese developed crossbows that fired two bolts at the same time, but they weren’t very popular, so they shifted their focus to repeating crossbows. So, for the Persians, I imagine it might have been a repeating crossbow with a magazine holding five bolts. But otherwise, the most likely explanation is an archery technique that allowed a warrior to hold five arrows and fire them quickly; that’s what best fits the nomadic traditions of mounted archery.

By the way, I had an idea for a unique bonus for you: Silphium Monopoly. Cyrene was the only region in the world to produce silphium, a medicinal plant that sold for a price equal to gold until it became extinct. This could generate a permanent income.