Divine Intervention V: Montezuma's Madness

[Arsonist]

The God of Luck wept at what he had done. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children would die due to his actions, yet he had been given no choice. Montezuma had been warned of actions of unlimited scope and scale, he was bound by his own words to commit it.

So it had been done, the lands dried and huge swathes of disease carrying trees raised to poison the lands. Would Montezuma now heed his message?

----

A gigantic stone tablet now stood in the palace of Montezuma, carved with the following message.

MONTEZUMA

YOU WERE WARNED AND YET YOU PAID NO HEED. THE LAST MESSAGE WAS NOT AN EMPTY THREAT. LOOK TO THE NORTH AND HEED MY WARNING.

1. PURSUE NO MORE WARFARE WITH THE OTHER NATIONS OF THIS PLANET
2. FOLLOW NO MORE THE WORDS OF NIHIL, GOD OF DESTRUCTION
3. WALK NO MORE THE PATH OF WARFARE AND DESTRUCTION AND RECANT YOUR PREVIOUS ACTIONS AS AGAINST THE TRUE PATH OF THE WORLD

THESE WORDS WILL BE BACKED WITH ACTION IF NON-COMPLIANCE IS STILL FOUND

THE GOD OF LUCK

NFTE

Spoiler :

I really can be a arsehole at times

Changes - Fairly obvious

Spoiler :

The four NW Aztec cities now have BFC's of plains jungle, no resources and no roads and rivers rerouted away from the cities

 

[Tracnar]

Because of the lateness of the edits and posting of saves....and excessive amounts of work, i will not be able to post until around Wednesday or Friday

 

[Winston Hughes]

"You see, Master?" said the Shaman to his King. "Tree still favours us with great gifts, even as his own lands come under attack. He sees our efforts to build a navy, and smiles on our dedication to his cause."

"However, we must act swiftly. Though some invaders have been repelled, others seek to conquer Treeland, gaining a foothold in its northern reaches."

"And the barbarians, who have long been Treeland's defenders, now seem to have abandoned their nomadic ways. In choosing to keep the city of Anasazi, rather than razing it as Tree commanded, they have turned their back on all that is good and natural."

"These cities must burn, Majesty".

Changes:

Spoiler :

*Changed jungles to forests around Malinalco and Tula.
*Jaguar (in fort) given Barrage I-III.
*Tree Shaman given Sentry and Commando.

 

[PaulusIII]

"How DARE you disobey my orders!!!". Thanatos's anger at the court of his immortal had reached a previously unknown level. "You cannot hold out without me! Because of my many blessings your empire is what it is... yet you take credit for everything, and with your stupid plans you have ruined it! But fear not... you have failed me for the last time.". And Thanatos left, withdrew his blessings, and unleashed a plague upon the empire for their insolence


In a way, though... the cruel plague left Thanatos downhearted. He had already showered another immortal with blessings, but he knew this immortal had built his empire well and did not necessarily need his help, thus would be more difficult to control. It was the end of a chapter. Five thousand years of plotting and work to bring his immortal to the top - for naught. He had failed and he knew it. His plot against Pavlos and his planned takeover of Over- and Underworld was never to be. He had lost.

... or had he?

Thanatos knew that another beast was on the rise again. This could mean only good for him... one way or another. One way or another, he could probably unleash full power soon.

The rise of a beast might force Pavlos to declare the Non-Intervention Law of the Underworld void so that he could try and stop the beast... and in the process give him the ability to use his powers to the fullest.

There was another, even darker option. But he dared not yet think about that option...

 

[Robert Can't]

Hello. My computer's hard drive went courrupt therefore I have been absent. Also I havn't had any time to re-Install Civ 4 so could someone do my changes for me. Thanks.

Central Spanish Telepathic Research Unit, Madrid

Dr. Feasel walked around the room inspecting his tanks and specimens. He came to an empty chamber fitted with all the latest pieces of telepathy-blocking technology. He checked it one last time to make sure. Then he heard footsteps behind him, it was the strange woman known only as "The Professor".
"Dr. Feasel," She said walking up to him "Is the chamber ready to receive our guest?"
"All ready as planned Professor." He replied trembling, as the stories that surround the mysterious "Professor" were mostly about Incompetents being killed.
"Then show him in."

Lizardmind looked at all the warmbloods surrounding the room, he was getting an unusual amount of hospitality for this meeting with the Spanish queen. Although he thought nothing of it.
He was soon shown into a small door which he entered.

CLANG

The door closed behind him he was left in a small dark room with no windows, but more disturbingly, no link to his fellow Lizards. He simply could not imprint his consciousness past the walls of the room. He was Trapped. If the Spanish had the power to trap a god, who knows what else they could achieve.

Montezuma's Palace, Tenochticlan

The Lizard empire had been thrown into a state of chaos and anarchy. With no connection to the Lizardmind millions had gone feral. The remaining population fled with all there speed to the 3 great strong holds of the Lizards. The flowing tide of serpents and lizards swarmed through Chotec gate. All of the Lizard fishes fled to the Isle of the fish. The once great empire was now on it's knees.

Geccogreentail raced through the palace in Tenochticlan trying to find Warmbloodmontezuma's court. When at last he reached the room he raced trough and pushed through the rows of advises.
"Warmbloodmontezuma, Warmbloodmontezuma." He croaked desperately
"What is it? And why do you so rudely interrupt my court?" Montezuma said agitatedly.
Geccogreentail re-told the situation. The Lizardmind's imprisonment in Madrid, the thousands of lizard refugees and the fact that the Lizardmind must be retrieved at all costs. Even the highly trained Geccogreentail was beginning to feel the effects of being away from the Collective for so long, He could no longer think strait and was starting to feel dizzy, as he spotted small prey he started to get urges to give chase.

Meanwhile Purplescale the Iguana led the great crusade against Spain from the Celtic states. Their patriotism for the cause of the Jungle never wavering.

The situation was shockingly grim.


The Mission.

Spoiler :

1) Declare war on Issabella
2) Capture Madrid
3)DO NOT go to war with the celts.
4) Same rules about moving units into Techenhuan still aply.

NFTE
Could some one do this for me.

Spoiler :

1) Spead Islam to all Celtic cities without it.
2) Increase size of Techenhuan by 4
3) Increase Population of Celtic capital (I forget the name) by 2
4) Give Celts and spanish -4 relations
5) Start a war between celt and spanish

 

[Tracnar]

If someone would make Robert's changes, I can get the update up by Friday night....it depends on how disheartened I get by the loss of my cities, maybe Saturday

 

[PaulusIII]

Added changes.

 

[Hadin Gunther]

*save made from DI V edits Lizardmind.civBeyondSwordSave to ensure no continuity errors*

Hopefully I am not too late to make one change. The age of it is going to run out, and one must have the tools. (that and killing four cities was a tad much when forshadowing worse to come, one or two would have been more then enough to make a point)
------------------

Night had fallen on the realm of Montezuma, yet rest escaped him. The hand of fate would soon touch the world again and with it would come new hope, and additional concerns.

To this mind came a slight touch, a feeling of soft warmth to ease doubt, and a hint of firey purpose. For the touch of courage was subtle, yet mighty in it's own way.

Changes

Spoiler :

Tlaxcala gets a source of iron and a road to link it, the mine was in place before the change

 

[Tracnar]

alright, im now calling a got it, should be up tomorrow evening

 

[Tracnar]

i just have to say....was trashing 4 cities and my economy really a appropriate response to me declaring a fake war with tokugowa, and having izzy and shaka declare war on me and taking peace the first instant it came up.....


im sorry, im just really disheartened...those 5 cities i was working on for the last 100 turns to make productive, and now that i finally finished the infrastructure, and they were starting to specialize...poof


long story short, im not getting this update for the next few days, i just cant stand all of my long peaceful builder work being destroyed because i declared a fake war and defended my cities from shaka decaring on me


i will...attempt to try the round, but im just depressed about it, no cost efficient place to expand, and no war conquest unless i wanna see England go under too
and if i seek the protection of nihli, i can expect..what was it called Nictel? "the Aztec island group?"


don't worry, you will get your update by Monday, but expect Montezuma's actions to be....apathetic

tl;dr: im whining because my actions<gods punishment
my future actions < possible punishment

 

[TheForestAuro]

Welcome to divine intervention

 

[Winston Hughes]

im sorry, im just really disheartened...those 5 cities i was working on for the last 100 turns to make productive, and now that i finally finished the infrastructure, and they were starting to specialize...poof

I feel for you. It needs to be fun for the mortal, otherwise this format simply won't work.

I'm thinking that the next game should emphasize the importance of subtlety when making WB changes. The occasional major intervention is fine (the destruction of Corinth in DivInt4, for example), but they shouldn't become commonplace.

 

[PaulusIII]

"Montezuma."

The immortal Aztec leader was roused from his sleep.

"I greet you, immortal leader of the Aztec. My name is Pericles... another immortal, from another cycle of Creation, in a world with different gods and different civilizations. The rest is not important, but heed my words."

Montezuma rubbed his eyes. Was this a vision, an exceptionally lucid dream or just a convincing hallucination. Pericles paused a bit, waiting for Montezuma to pay attention again.

"The gods are not always fair to you. Neither have they always been fair to me. The only thing to do is take their punishment head-on, maybe try to appeal to them directly but don't think they will listen to you. Instead, show them that you are able to overcome divine adversity and that they will never be able to destroy every single bit of hard work that you have done. Much destruction has been unleashed upon my world, many wars have been fought without my consent, but in the end I prevailed in making the world a better place."

"Do not let their vindictiveness guide you. Instead, take your own path... let the gods direct you a little bit, but in the end YOU are the one in control. You cannot keep all the gods happy... one half seeks peace, the other half seeks war. Choose your side and stick with it. Do not give in to madness or inaction as I have done. Choose thy path and stick with it, and you will succeed. Farewell."

Pericles disappeared. Hopefully he had succeeded in giving Montezuma the will to go on again.

 

[Nictel]

"the Aztec island group?"

Yes, though that was before the destruction of your other cities. I wanted to give you a conflict on who to follow. I was planning, if you decided to follow nihil to divide your continent into four islands. Maintenance would have increased and troop movement would have been more difficult. Though it would have been a large change I don't feel it would have been very destructive. Also you would have gotten a couple of wonders from Nihil in return, balancing it. I think that the changes should be balanced as well, only destructive and bad changes aren't fun either for the mortal.

If you are really down, may I remind you off:

IV. Thou shalt not use your powers for cataclysmic destruction
--(Remember, less is more. Be subtle. It is far more interesting for everyone if you make subtle, interesting changes like forming a choke with mountains than if you just tear giant swathes of ice through my cities. I reserve the right to reject saves I think are unnecessarily apocalyptic.)

I feel for you. It needs to be fun for the mortal, otherwise this format simply won't work.

I'm thinking that the next game should emphasize the importance of subtlety when making WB changes. The occasional major intervention is fine (the destruction of Corinth in DivInt4, for example), but they shouldn't become commonplace.

Also perhaps limiting the amount of gods to five? It's nice to see that people want to interact mid-game but at this point I find them more of an annoyance really. Especially when they disrupt the strategy and ideas of the other gods.

 

[Diamondeye]

I think Nictels point would justify ignoring the edit that wrecked four entire cities. Have others redo their changes from before Arsonists' changes, imo.

IC:

The Jester came to Montezuma as the depressed emperor looked upon the punishment that the gods had thrown in his path. He sneered and sung a silent song to the king before leaving:
"Have courage, immortal, have courage,
although you bow to the gods' rage,
I can assure you, I can be a friend,
and we can make all this a happy end,
just heed my word before it is too late,
I want you to abandon the lizard gate:
Their leader is trapped, the serpents are weak,
rid yourself of another god, that is the action you seek."

(I think this one explains itself)

 

[Tracnar]

alright, i admit it...you guys cheered me up some

if i can suffer through this round...i want my empire back

so you know....whoever manages to get my 'sumer' area cities unjunglefied when im done with this round will earn...much favor

MONTEZUMA WILL GO ON!

 

[Diamondeye]

Tracnar, unjunglifying your cities is impossible as it conflicts with the will of another god.

Now, rewarding you with gems and wheats in the tiles where you cut down the jungles if you abandon the false religion of the Tree, on the other hand, is completely possible to do.

And that was just a thought example of course

 

[Tracnar]

IX. Thou shalt not war with the other gods. Much.
--(Obviously there's going to be some strife between those who would support Monty's Quest, and those who would seek to oppose him. Having said that, Gods are not allowed to reverse the effects of an intervention without waiting for the update after the effects have been felt. This includes quests. In fact, you would do well to leave the other god's quests alone entirely. If you want me to do yours instead, make it more interesting or more lucritive)

Technically you can...

 

[Diamondeye]

Well in that case you have a really good reason to abandon the shrines of Tree. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

 

[Tracnar]

I played the round, will post tomorrow because i said so

i have to say....this round went much better then i thought..but i guess that because chopping down all those trees was soooooo relaxing, chop,chop...CHOP!