Prologue

France was one of the most powerful nations in the world. The nations of the continent were under its thumb. With the newest conquest, Louis IV believed nothing could stop him. Looking over Paris he saw a city that was the economic and cultural capital of the world. He was unaware of the fate that was to befall it, and the rest of the world.

A messenger walked into the throne room. "Your higness," he said, bowing, "I bring news of a strange new disease which is starting to spread in the Lyons Province. The city doctors believe it came from some explorers who went into the rainforest"
"I see," said Louis, "what is this disease like?"
"Well sire, the victim has coughing fits, spits up blood and gets sores on their body. They die about two days after the symptons develop"
"How contagious is it?"
"The doctors believe it is spread by a bad smell picked up by the explorers. Anyone within a few feet of a victim picks it up"
"That, isn't to bad. As long as the doctor quarantine it then we'll be alright"

One month later...
Reynald de Chatillion, Lord of the Orleans Province, stood on the dock awaiting the king. The Plague had swept across France and the neighbouring nations and was now in Paris itself. Entire towns and villages had been left empty in its wake. The king had done the only thing he could, run away. He assembled the most prominent builders, scientists, warriors and politicians to take to a continent believed to be across the sea. He still hadn't turned up and Reynald was getting worried. Then a young messenger ran up to the dock but two pikemen blocked him.
"(cough)Lord Reynald," he shouted past them, "the (cough) (cough)king is dead!" Gasped murmers came from the crew and passengers of the royal flagship. "His (cough) last words were to tell you (cough) that you are now leader of the expedition..." His words trailed off and he slumped to the floor, clearly dieing of the Plague. The pikemen looked at each other nervously. Their fate was sealed. The royal flagship set sail with Reynald as the captain.
"Set course away from the land," he commanded, "we will find this new continent or die trying"

A few months later they were running low on food and fresh water. There was still no sign of land. Reynald, knowing that politicians would be useless for founding a new civilisation, was prepared to offer himself to the sharks to allow more food for the others. However, he was ready to start his farewell speech when an enormous storm was sighted on the horizon. The storm destroyed the boat. As he sunk Reynald wished he could of done something more in his short time as leader of France...

A few days later he found himself on a beach. His first thoughts were 'where am I'. Then he noticed the ships translator unconcious nearby.
"Wake up," he said, shaking the crewman. The man spluttered out some water then opened his eyes.
"Where are we?" he asked.
"I have no idea," replied Reynald. It was then he noticed some people standing on the sand dunes just up the beach. "Hello!" he shouted, "we could use some help!"
One of the people, wearing only a primitive shawl came down and said "???????"
"What did he say?" asked Reynald to the translator.
"Well sire, if I'm not mistaken that sounds very much like the language spoken by the...

To be continued...

At this point I have no idea who I will be. I will start huge, continents game with maximum civs, all random including me except France. That's why I didn't mention anybody except France. I have no idea where I will be in relation to France but linked start will be on so if I'm european...

Part 1- The Start

"...Persians"
"I see. Can you greet them in the name of France," asked Reynald. Before the translator opened his mouth the apparent leader spoke. "What did he say?" asked Reynald.
"He said 'before he died the prophet said that, once the plague had passed, a leader would emerge from the sea to lead the survivors to new glory,'" replied the translator.
"Hmmmm, I think we should just play along then," said Reynald with a smirk, "as long as we are sure the Plague is gone from them".

The Persians led Reynald to their town of Persepolis. He could see the Plague had caused them to revert to primitiveness. They appeared to be good builders, making bronze statues with good masons. On the other hand the appeared to have no written language or easily organised system of religion. He decided that giving them religion would be the first priority.
"I'll need to learn their language, I think you should teach me," said Reynald to the translator, whose name he learned was Marcel.
"As you wish sire," Marcel replied.
"Don't call me sire. We could be the last two Frenchmen alive and I think that elevates your position"
"Of course Reynald"
Reynald stepped onto a platform overlooking the town. He may have failed to lead the French from the Plague, but these people would bring him his redemption.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads4/Periastart!!!.jpg

To be continued...

Edit- This is getting annoying. First I start on an island seperate from everything. And I mean everything. Then I restart with barely enough room to build a second city surrounded by jungle, desert, ocean and mountain!

he he nice :0

the story doesnt make sense. if this is along the timeline of the crusades, (as reynald was) it should be the arabs, not the persians. and if it were along the timeline of the plague, the persians still would have had zorastrianism (ahura mazda was their god). im confused can you clarify this?:confused:

Its not meant to be historical. It just a game where I decided to put myself into it. Its not even the world map.

Part 2

3650 BC: Reynald had sent out a cadre of warriors to investigate the surrounding area. A messenger ran back with news that they had found a supply of dyes beyond the Perse Hills.
"Bring the dyes here," Reynald ordered "build a road to them!"

3500 BC: The warrior climbed up the ridge. When he reached the top he looked down over an enormous green basin.
"By the elements," he gasped (no religion yet, see). Meanwhile, Reynald was pleased that the people of Persepolis were now working even further from the city. They even went as far as the coast to the north and beyond the Perse Hills to the south. That was good.

3400 BC: Word came that the warriors had engaged a group of barbarians when they entered a village. The warriors could protect themselves but the workers beyond the Perse Hills couldn't. Reynald pondered what to do. His only resource was the spearmen assigned to guard the city.

3200 BC: The barbarians were being pursued across the Great Grassland. However one group had disappeared into the desert. Reynald then took the decision to move his spearmen out of the city into a better place to defend the roads and workers. Despite the threat, he continued to tell people to prepare to move to a new town.

3000 BC: Pasargadae was founded at the north of the Great Grassland by the coast. The people cheered in the streets to their newly established god 'Ahura Mazda' (happy now). They believed this would begin a new era for the Persians. Reynald agreed with them. That is why he's ending Part 2 here.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads4/pesiapart2.jpg

To be continued...