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Urdnot's Qarmatians - Abu Tahir Al-Jannabi

The Qarmatians rose from humble beginnings - a small sect of proto-socialist Ismaili's in Southern Iraq noted for their vegetarianism - to become the single most devastating, terrifying and downright cruel actors of the Medieval Islamic world. Gripped by millenarian fervour in the early 10th century - spurred on by the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky - the Qarmatians embarked on an apocalyptic era of terror from their home base in Eastern Arabia. The sect's warriors fanned across the Arab world, striking fear into all who encountered them by razing towns, massacring pilgrims and demanding tribute from the greatest thrones of the era - from Cairo to Baghdad, none dared oppose the holy fury of the Qarmatian soldiers. The group's most famously bloody entry into the history books came in 930 when, viewing the Hajj as a superstition and eager to trigger an apocalyptic battle for the fate of the mortal world, the Qarmatians under Abu Tahir al-Jannabi sacked Mecca. They filled the holy Zamzam well with corpses and taunted its faithful with verses from the Quran before finally loading the holy black stone into a cart and returning to Bahrayn, where they ransomed Islam's holiest relic to the highest bidder, shattering it - and the collective peace of the Islamic world - into multiple fragmented pieces.

UA: First Flame of the Last Days

While in the territory of a City you're currently Razing, your units can move an infinite number of times.

UU: Uqaylid Outrider (Pikeman)

Much cheaper and weaker than the regular Pikeman, the Uqaylid outrider does double damage while below 50% health. If killed, the Outrider does 30 damage to all adjacent enemy units.

UU: Ransom Caravan (Great General)

Though it may not be expended for a Citadel, the Ransom Caravan may be expended for a Gold and Production boost in the Capital. If adjacent to an enemy city when you capture it, the Ransom Caravan duplicates itself. If it's a holy city, duplicate again.

In Civilisation V, the Qarmatians adapt this apocalyptic legacy into a set of truly terrifying bonuses which facilitate lightning campaigns across enemy lands. By razing enemy cities, the Qarmatians may move with impunity, allowing you to quickly wipe out all remaining forces with your cheap and expendable Uqaylid outriders. Before the last ashes have cooled, use your infinite movement to rocket towards your next target, amassing a huge collection of Ransom Caravans along the way through their unique ability to double themselves whenever a city is taken. With these bonuses, the Qarmatians can burn entire empires overnight, collecting holy cities - and the ransomed loot of their reliquaries - to facilitate the ultimate domination victory. Finally, cart your ill-gotten gains back home to redeem it for Gold and Production, allowing you to pump out even more warriors for your next battle.

Full Credits:

- Urdnot: Design, Database, Art
- Chrisy15: LUA
- Fran: LUA
- Lasqueto: Art (Civ Icon)
- Zharques: Pedias