This is my report for Realms Beyond Civilization Epic Thirty-Four. For the full details on this game visit Realms Beyond Civilization Epic 34.

The game is touted as "Not recommended for Beyond-Deity veterans or thrill seekers. Ideal for a change of pace, a relaxed game, or a quiet adventure."  I take one look at the start, note the mass of jungles, and that it is a hand-drawn Sirian map.  "Relaxed game", right.  This one is worth playing just to see what the magician map-maker pulled out of the hat.

Here follows the tale of Monte, leader of the Aztecs, as told by his faithful High Priest, Bam-Bamcatl.  The great reign of Monte began in the middle of a steamy jungle, with sea and lakes all around.  The gods were pleased with this location, and Monte ordered the founding of the capital on the spot.

From the start, we of the priesthood knew of our ruler's intent, even though we tried to advise him of the local conditions.  "Build me Jaguar warriors, so I may rush our foes and overwhelm them with the speed of our army!" he would thunder at anyone who would venture in earshot.  The first high priest, Tetlahuehuequititzin, tried to dissuade our leader from this course of action.  Of course, he ended up as a sacrifice the next evening.  I cannot say that I mourned his loss greatly, for you see, that is how I because Monte's high priest.  Needless to say, I did not take the direct assault again.

Our scouts reported twisted jungle peninsula as far as the eye could see--surely not meant for speedily rushing our foes.  Monte chose wisely to learn the fashioning of pots to store our little grain and fish.  I was instructed to spare not expense in pursuit of these secrets.  After a time, these secrets were learned, but the granery was not immediately built. The initial build was jag, jag, settler.

I advised that first settlers should be sent out with our warriors escorting, since the scouts had reported many a slack-jawed yokel trapsing through the jungle.  This sage advice won me great honor in Monte's court, since the group found yokels soon after departing Tenochtitlan in 2270BC.

Teotihuacan is founded soon after, and the empire begins to grow.  Settlers continue to slowly make their way out of Tenochtitlan, and Monte follows my advice to continue exploration and yokel hunting around the feathers of our continent-island.  Again this advice is rewarded with results, as we meet up with another ruler in 1870BC.

As you can see--Monte wanted to quickly learn the secrets of writing, which would lead our people to be able to then learn maps and hopefullly find more leaders.  The knowledge of writing leads to more benefits.

Which leads to this.

The third city of the empire was founded just 25 years later.  Monte requested that I commission a survey of the known world in 1500BC.

The next task for our fledgling empire was to settle the remaining nearby lands, fend off Cletus and his horde, and slowly research the secrets of polytheism.  After forty seasons (610BC), these secrets net our empire mapmaking, horseback riding, world maps, philosophy, and 110g.  It is at this point our mapmakers bring me this scroll outlining the known world.  Half of them go insane--endlessly laughing and repeating the word "Sirian" again and again.  Is this a sign of the apocolypse?

That Ancient Age Waltz

So, full maps a good laugh, and we settle in to the one-two-three of settling, barb hunting, and slow technological progress.  Along the way we settled the landmasses immediately north and south our great starting position, sharing these locations with Carthage (north) and Greece and Egypt (south).   Along the way, the great Aztec scientists picked up another 2-fer trade, this time netting math and literature.  Also, Monte sent our merchants off to buy Code of Laws so that we can embark on another 40-season quest for Republic.  Monte tasked me to commission a survey our our empire the season before the start of the Aztec Republic.

After the Aztec republic was establish (naturally with Monte as its leader), our newly invigorated scientists set off to learn the secrets of currency.  In 460AD, the merchants again buy secrets from Carthage.

Just forty years later, we learn currency and set off into a new age.