Alalia

Representing the Etruscans of Corsica, Alalia is the only playable Etruscan faction in the Invasion Sandbox of the Eagle King DLC. It is a naval invader, and its possible starting locations are located off the coasts of Etruria and Campania.

Alalia doesn't currently occur in any other game modes.

In-game Description
"Alalia is a city in Corsica originally founded by the Phocaean Greeks in 566 BCE, which grew powerful enough to disrupt Carthaginian and Etruscan trade in the region, prompting an invasion fleet. Though this fleet was destroyed, the battle left Alalia defenseless, allowing the Etruscans took over and resettle it as their own."

Possible Starting Locations

 * Off the coast of northern Etruria, near Velathri and Pupluna
 * Off the coast of central Etruria, near Velch and Tarchna
 * Off the coast of southern Etruria, near Cisra
 * Off the coast of Campania, near Pompeii and Irna

Starting Brigades
When composing your starting army, Alalia has 18 points to spend, with the following options available: In addition, you will receive a free group of Colonists, a free Light Warship and as many Small Transport Ships as are needed to carry every brigade.

The default loadout consists of 1 Archers, 1 Axemen, 2 Heavy Hoplites, 2 Light Cavalry and 4 points to spare.

You will be given 3000 gold to start.

Historic Starting Generals
When playing this faction in a sandbox setting, the player may choose to start with one of the following pre-defined historic generals instead of a generic one. These characters usually have far better bonuses than can be obtained with the generic starting generals.

Strategy
Though the starting positions of factions in the Invasion Sandbox are somewhat randomized, as they will have randomly conquered an amount of cities from one another depending on the world age setting, you are far more likely to find friendly factions in Etruria, making Campania the more difficult starting position.

Plan your playstyle while composing your starting army. Do not waste your starting points on Heavy Warships if you're going to more or less immediately make landfall. They are only worthwhile if planning to settle an area far away from your starting location, or when thinking of a naval raiding playstyle.

Trivia & History

 * Historically, Alalia was the site of a major naval battle in the 530s BC between the Phocaean Greeks on the one hand and the Etruscans and Carthaginians on the other, as referenced in the in-game description. This battle was a turning point in the history of the western Mediterranean and largely put an end to Greek colonization attempts in the region. The Etruscans captured Corsica, while the Carthaginians were cemented as the leading naval power west of Italy.
 * The Etruscans of Alalia seem to have continued to cooperate with the Carthaginians, and were as a result conquered by Rome during the First Punic War.
 * Historically, the Etruscans of Alalia are not recorded as attempting to invade mainland Italy. Their presence in the Invasion Sandbox is a bit of alternate history. They were presumably included for the sake of having playable Etruscans in that setting, to diversify the faction roster.
 * The faction icon depicts a hippocampus (a mythical creature that is half horse and half fish) swimming alongside two dolphins. Like with most faction icons, this design seems to be taken from ancient coins found in the area.