Civ3 Game Ends in Disaster

I was going to post more of my Civ3 game... but in about 1000 AD, 4 computers declared war on me in the space of a few turns, just because I was distracted by a war that I had started (lesson there, I suppose). Needless to say, I was crushed. Utterly. Oh well, here's the story:


210 BC:

As we expand into the Smoking Desert and gain the Library of Elesia, we gain a technological and economic advantage over our opponents. Our military is stronger than ever, thanks to the iron and horses from the north, and the ripe plains of the Cuezi beckon.

50 AD

A messenger stands before the new Nyei of Xurno.
"My lord, the new King of Cuzei sends his greetings. 40,000 gold cinars worth of fine goods have been sent, in return for your blessings in making him the King of Cuzei."
"Excellent... that makes 210,000 gold cinars for the Monarchy of Xurno. Send word to Inex. The horsemen of the steppe will surely be ours if we pay so richly."
"Of course, my lord. Culau grows more powerful with every Horseman who joins our ranks."

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After the gain of the Library of Elesia and a major technological boost, our philosophers look have been ordered to devise a plan to construct mighty stadiums where the strength of Xurno can be displayed. The recent founding of Yesh, to the south, should protect Xurno's supplys of Iron, and settlers will soon be dispatched to the Glittering Jungles of the South. As Cuzei's Men of the King (their unique unit) are in their prime, our forces have been order to stand down and build up. But our 6 battalions of Swordsman will protect Xurno from any incursions.

150 AD

The Nyei himself attends the auspicious event. A massive statue of the Trade God has been completed in the city of Buki. The high priest of the Trade God bless the structure, then allows the Nyei to kiss its feet. As the Nyei stands up, the fireworks explode over the city, and wow the foreign dignataries from Cuzei, Tzhuro, and even the far land of Uytai. The Nyei himself is also the first to travel along the Lake of Buki to Culau by galley. It is indeed a golden age for Xurno.

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With the completion of the Trade God's Blessing, our treasury is larger than ever. Three battalions of Archers will be the next project, for the Xurnese have a special affinity with archery. Our first sea-going ships will soon depart from Cuzei, making contact with the strange "Skorhin" people across the sea.

570 AD

A war council assembled in the Nyei's court.
"My lord, the treacherous Dhekhnami will never be able to do any great deal of harm to us. Their route to us is blocked by the Tzhuro, who will never let an army pass freely through their lands." said the Warleader Achinius.
"You assume too much, Warleader." spoke Vizier Matrius. "The Tzhuro may indeed aid the Dhekhnami, but I suggest we do all we can to prevent such an event. In any case, Warmaster, you have overlooked the sea as a route of passage."
"Cease your bickering!" interjected the Nyei. "I require information. Emissiary, do you believe the Tzhuro will allow such an action to proceed."
"My lord, I do not know. We have heard little from Attafei in recent weeks, but what has come to pass will soon be obvious. I suggest we establish an embassy in the Tzhuro capital to mantain a continual watch on their policies."
"An excellent idea. Warleader, what of the threat from the sea? Our navy is not strong enough to stop such an invasion."
"Indeed, my lord. I suggest we station battalions of swordsman at every coastal city, and mantain a close watch on the Gulf of Cuzei."
"What of our options to attack?"
"I would not recommend a naval attack, but if we can secure an agreement with the Tzhuro, our horsemen could sweep into Dhekhnam and capture at least some territory."
"It is agreed, then. Emissiary, you must depart for Jippirm tomorrow. I will arrange for your embassy to be built with all speed. Warleader, send your men to Yesh. I have a feeling that they will be needed. Vizier, our Manual of War must soon be distrubited to our armies. See to it."

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The Dhekhnami have attempted to bully us into giving away the secrets of our religon, but Xurno is not known for giving in easily. Meanwhile, we have established a colony, Rauninj, on the Skourene penisula. The Library of Elesia has attracted scribes and philosphers from the world over, allowing us to mantain an unstoppable technological advantage, though my advisors say that the spread of literacy throughout the known world may end its usefulness. If we can mantain our current advantage, I feel that Xurno can become the bastion of civilization for the entire world.

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The Nyei greets his exhausted messenger.
"Good news, my lord!" exclaims the messenger. "The Tzhuro have accepted your offer of military alliance!"
"Excellent. Sit, and rest a while. Vizier! Send 4,000 gold cinars to Attafei, in support of their military effort."
"At once, my lord."



930 AD

Another war council sits in the refurbished and upgraded palace War Room.
"Warleader... I have considered declaring war on Cuzei, due to their numerous territorial incursions and their claiming of the southern jungles that should rightfully be ours." says the Nyei.
"Yes, the Cuezi scum are ripe for the taking. I suggest we aim for these four cities: Poron, Nayas, Lesindas and Pomavibode. Capturing Pomavibode will give us the Glittering Jungle, and Lesindas is the key to the north. Poron is far to dangerous for comfort, and capturing Nayas will frighten the Cuezi, because it is the key to Elesia. Our new Xaleza battalions should swiftly overwhelm Nayas's defenses, while a unit of Knights will strike Lesindas. The real fighting will be over Poron. Our cities in the Smoking Desert are weak right now, and troops will take a while to get to Poron."
"What of Korzoko?" says Vizier Akandu "It is undefended by any but the slightest of militias, and if it is lost, our supply of Diamonds will be cut."
"We will draft a unit of Xalezas defend the city, and the Cuezi troops should be focused to the south. If necessary, we will depoloy Knights to the north."
"An excellent plan, Warleader. Proceed with the preparations. In a year's time, our army must be ready to strike!"
"As you wish, my lord."

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Cuzei sits, ripe for the taking. If we can crush their defenses and capture our targets, Xurno will be the strongest nation on the face of Almea. Also, the workshop of Shm Revouse will soon be open, allowing us to quickly convert our remaining Horsemen into knights. We should be at war and winning by 1000 AD.


1100 AD

On the palace balcony, Nyei Miundis looked out upon the ruined city. The screams of the dying echoed through the streets. A few muskets and bastions of red troops remained in the city, but were overwhelemed by the massive regiments of Cuzei kingsmen, Tzhuro nomads, Dhekhnami archers, and Cheiyu crossbowman. As he watched, a battalion of Cuzei horseman rode up into the Great Library of Culau, burning its ancient shelves.
"How did it come to this?" said the Nyei.
"My lord, the Library has fallen! We must pull back! We must abandon the city!" shouted Warleader Akara, a young man. Most of Xurno's military officers had fallen to the Allied onslaught.
"And where will we go? Buki, Nekan, Inex, Zelmash? They have all fallen!"
"An Uytain galleon lies off the coast of Yesh. King Abaras has offered to take you into exile. If we remain, you will be executed."
"I will die with my PEOPLE! The city is fallen. You, go, take my family to Yesh. Perhaps they will return one day. But, I will stand here."
"But... as you wish, my lord."
Warleader Akara left the balcony. The Nyei walked into the throne room, and opened a compartment in the throne. A magnificent, gold coated rifle sat in the compartment, and enough ammunition to last weeks. Miundis sat on the throne, and reflected on how he had got here. If all had gone well, this rifle would be in the hands of his entire army. Today would be the day when the King of Cuzei bowed down to him and signed a treaty. A day when the Xalezas would march down the Grey Road to the palace. What could he have done? The Dhekhnami, Cheiyu and Tzhuro had all demanded that he give away the secrets of Xurnese military superiority. Of course he could not give them up. How could he have known that refusing their demands would lead to the destruction of his nation.
He was awoken from his reflection by the sound of doors being broken open. A group of Xalezas swarmed into the Throne Room.
"My lord! The alliance has broken the palace gates! They are coming as we speak!" shouted the Xaleza commander.
"Let them come. We will give them hell."
Miundis stood, and cocked and raised his rifle towards the throne room doors, now deserately held by a few Xalezas. He smiled, and waited. The doors opened.

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Salas, Cheiyu Republic, July 16 2045 AD

That is all that we can reconstruct from the diary of Nyei Miundis, the leader of the ancient nation of Xurno. One can only imagine what might have happened had the Xurnese been allowed to force Cuzei to their peace treaty. Perhaps it would have infact prevented the Great Fall of civilization, as these texts plainly show how far ahead Xurno was. They even developed the breechloading rifle 900 years ahead of the rest of civilization! Perhaps it would have prevented the Cadhinor conquest of Cuzei and Tzhuro 400 years later, the Xurnese Xaleza defending the continent from Cadhinor aggression. Perhaps they could have even traversed the Great Star Ocean centuries before the Seyalaun program.

But such speculation will forever remain in the realm of the imagination. For better or worse, we are living in the world created by Empereor Ervea, not Nyei Miundis. Time will tell, however, whether Xurno will return, as a rising wave of Xurnese nationalism seems to have overwhelmed the Xurnese provinces of New Cadhinor, which is in part the reason for this reconstruction.

I remain,
Historographer Uxana Miundi.