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Morning mist

Scenery on river plains and coasts in the game; not a documented event of 559-479 BCE

In the game: Level 2: The Spear-bearer, Level 5: The Charter, Level 6: The Bridge of Boats, Level 7: Sardis Burns, Level 8: The Bay of Marathon, Level 9: The Canal, Level 10: The Hot Gates, Level 11: The Finale

Morning mist is common on river plains and coasts in the cooler months, and it suits the places where the game's campaigns are set. The ancient writers who describe those campaigns say little or nothing about it. The mist in the game is atmosphere, not a documented event.

In the game: The game lays morning mist over the river plains and coasts of its levels, from before dawn until it burns off, likeliest in autumn and spring and in winter at Memphis. It is scenery only and has no effect on play.

What the ancient writers report

Ancient account

Herodotus pays attention to weather when it changes events. He describes the north wind that wrecked Mardonius's fleet off Athos and the storm that struck the Persian ships off Magnesia. In his accounts of Marathon, Thermopylae and Plataea he does not mention mist, and I know of no other ancient narrative that does.

Herodotus 6.44; Herodotus 7.188-192

Dawn and visibility at Thermopylae

Ancient account

Herodotus says Hydarnes' troops climbed the Anopaea path by night and reached the summit at dawn. He mentions the rustling of oak leaves that alerted the Phocian guards, and he says nothing of poor visibility. This suggests that he noted conditions underfoot and in the trees when they mattered to his story, though silence is not proof.

Herodotus 7.217-218

Where the game's mist comes from

Disputed

Mist and fog form on river valleys and coasts in the cooler months today, including in the Nile valley in winter. Ancient climate can only be reconstructed cautiously, and no text gives the weather on a particular morning of these campaigns. The game's pattern of autumn and spring mist, and winter mist at Memphis, is therefore a plausible setting rather than a reported fact.

Herodotus 7.217-218