>moctezuma runs the most sophisticated intelligence network in the western hemisphere>spies in every market from the gulf coast to guatemala>been receiving reports about these weird boats for two years>some guy showed up>looks at cortes "ah, Quetzalcoatl, finally, please have my empire"
>>18541724That's oversimplified, but it's a great cautionary tale that no matter how sophisticated the power apparatus if your leaders happen to be feckless goobers who hesitate too much a stiff wind can knock you over.>be montezuma>smugly coast on the inertia of an empire that managed to build a city state alliance into a sophisticated tributary network>educated by some of the finest scholars in the Americas>have a massive and semi-professional military with a history of success>Spanish arrive>see them as a curiosity, utterly disregard them as a threat>lazily humor every theory on them including crackpot theories that they're gods or godlings>do fuck-all to keep the Spanish contained>let them have free access to all your vassals and rivals who despise your entire society>waffle on your response until it's far too late>history remembers you as a tragic figure who got bullied by the mean old heckin' Spaniards instead of a limp loser who didn't have the spine to rule at the most decisive moment>now cholos put shitty AI decals of you on their cars and dorks post fanart of you on Deviantart
