Two nice games on Saturday and Sunday. Both have potential for continuation.
On Saturday the Kuriotates were lead by Cardith Lgaarda. They found their settlements in the remote corner of Erebus, with some jungles and forested grasslands and hills. Although squeezed between harpy-event (turn 1!) driven cultural expansion of their northern neighbor Sidar, and the southern ocean, the noble nation managed to built three metropolia. The relations with the Sidar were good, as both leaders were concerned of the presence of another neighbor the numerous orcs from the Clan of Ember, growing in strenght at the coast of the "Bay of Pigs".
The situation evolved very slowly (medium speed in settings
). I dont know about the rest of the world (Belseraphs, Luchuirp, Sheaim, Elohim, Hippus and Svartalfar), but the only war at my part of the continent was a preventive sneak attack by Sidar against Clan, as orcs were extensively building their forces for an invasion. The attack was moderately successful, one city was taken, but the danger from the growing strength of orcs marauders was not mitigated. And just after the war started we decided to lay aside a game for continuation on the other day.
But on the other day, not all people showed up (Tas, you were a key person missing!), so we started another game. This time I entered the stage as Lgaarathiel of the Bannor. Quite nice start, I ended up with 4 cities (average result for that kind of a small map), all surrounded by villages/towns and mines. Good basis for The Crusade(tm). Unfortunately, AV was founded (by Belseraphs) far away, on the other side of a map. After buying friendship of neighboring Hippus (with kind diplomacy and promise to recapture Hippus city that had been claimed by Loki), the crusade started. Handful of axemen, demagogs and crusaders, lead by Valin, and blessed by confessors, rushed (ok, crawled, well, snailed) through Hippus land, and than Khazad land
and then
desert
and then
Eventually got to the first, well defended Belseraph blasphemous settlement. Snail-speed Bannor crusaders blocked roads to block the movements and engage demon worshipers armies in skirmishes, while quick Hippus horsemen were taking city by city. Three of them were taken, but unfortunately not an unholy city of Ashen Veil. Well
razing the unholy city was a main (only?) aim of this war campaign, so it could not be called fully successful.
Then, the Hippus decided to quit the war, and no money were able to buy their loyalty. Bannor crusaders, abandoned by their allies, stuck in the deserts of the eastern coast of a Mediterranean sea, had no choice left. Charge the unholy city, no matter the cost! The cost was in fact ultimately high. All forces destroyed, Valin dead, unholy city unclaimed. Failure.
Nice epic story. I found it climatic to be eventually left alone with the holy quest. Good move, Marco. Seriously, no sarcasm here, I find it was a nice contribution to the story.
By the way, Bannors are ok. My PC is not. It is a neolithic age technology, which is not supportive in any manner to tactical maneuvers in Civ 4. Need to scrap it soon.
Bannors are ok. Long distance crusade with speed 1 demagogs is not. Need to set closer target next time.
I hope we will come back to the "Bay of Pigs" game.
the earlier the better? 
