Sorry, civilopedia entry is wrong... (Says free beakers)
I found out that you can get infinite, free, permanent fire elementals, that (AFAIK) don't cause War Weariness and don't cost upkeep!!
Anyway, I have a small army. Of about 40+ of these guys. 4 mages popping 4 fire elementals each turn
The pyre is adjacent to a city, so... it does do a *bit* of damage, but it never kills the guys.
Now to use my diplomatic know-how to systimatically raze each and every city in the world... If only I had the Mercurians... but that building will take several hundred turns to complete...
(PS. I built the Tower of the Elements (I think that is the one, the one that gives my elementals +1 strength). 11 strength, collateral damage inducing, free, fast units with fire damage

Oh yeah!!)
[Edit]Obviously, I go to war. Against my neighbours. The Lanun.
They cast thier worldspell (Raging seas, does a fair bit of cold damage to all units that are near oceans, and can kill), and wouldn't you know it, most of my fire elementals (Vulnerable to cold) die. As well as my flying, command IV, City Raider/City Garrison I, Combat 5, Mobilty, Medic II, Inquisitor (??), March, and who knows what else Flesh Golem. So... that didn't go as planned

[/Edit]
[Edit2]Sorry for derailing this thread

I guess I got carried away. Anyway, that... exploit (I think that is what it is... although it could be a design feature, in order to increase the strength of the Pyre...) probably should be given a very critical eye...[/Edit]