All right. A fairly short round, but a significant one.
Things began with a rather nice early bonus outside of Persepolis:
Also, the people of Mecca adopted the ways of Buddhism. Let them worship as they will, so long as they work the fields and pay tribute to me. Indeed, their quiet faith negated my need to promote civic pride through the construction of Monuments and Libraries. I set my wise men to study the ways of this simple devotion, first concentrating on simple Mysticism and then the processes of Meditation central to the Buddhist way. My people were growing restless beneath their oppressive Immortal Happiness limits. If I could turn the lessons of contemplation to my advantage, perhaps they would see reason.
With the secrets of Priesthood in my grasp, the gilt Persian coffers, once burgeoning with the plunders of distant lands, now lay empty as the people's toils went to feeding complacent troops. Do not worry, my Immortals. Soon, you will ride again. Persepolis was to be the site of a great Oracular temple, where the wisdom of the gods themselves could be heard:
Even the secrets of heaven, though, had their limits. I also studied the Alphabet, that I might share in the rudimentary technologies of my backwards neighbors.
In 1000 B.C., the spirits of the heavens spoke to Xerxes:
They taught the Persian leader new ways to rule over his people. Rigorous edicts could be enforced by Courthouses across Central Asia and Northern Africa. Corruption would be slashed as Xerxes' will could be felt at the very fringes of his empire.
In Babylon, the old ruling class of lawmakers studied the Code of Xerxes and saw in it the spark of the divine:
So the Persian empire was a land of two religions: the commoners' quest for solace and peace in the provinces, and the elites' rigorous adherence to the law. Outside the borders, though, the Greek ways of Judaism surrounded the empire, so, not yet ready to defy the world, Xerxes bit his tongue, refusing to officially recognize any faith as true.
Great Caesar, the one world leader for whom Xerxes felt some measure of repect, came to the Persian court accompanied by a regiment of well-trained, but poorly-equipped troops. He offered to help Persia's quest for a universal Alphabet in exchange for their knowledge of metallurgy:
Knowing that this meant that the disciplined people of Rome would soon be the scourge of Europa, Xerxes agreed with a heavy, solemn heart. The Persian economy was still hemorrhaging funds, and only a unified Currency could save it.
Xerxes, though, was as crafty as he was all-powerful. If Rome were to learn the secrets of Iron Working, then, well, so was Athens:
This seemingly charitable deal gave Pericles the might he would need to hold Caesar at bay.
In 825 B.C., the Immortals rode again, this time scourging the Black Sea coasts and bringing its inhabitants under Persian rule:
Xerxes was, perhaps, not yet ready to extend that far, but he could not allow the cities to fall to the Greeks or the hated Romans.
In 650 B.C., those far-off settlements brought interesting news:
First, both had Judaism. This could be a tremendous opportunity for us. The Greek faith is absurd, but if we were to fly its banner, it would be a welcome sign of solidarity with our neighbors.
Secondly, Pericles is sending Settlers into the Black Sea region. The quick-striking Immortals could surely flense them and send a message to Pericles, but we are trying to court him, and time spent squabbling with Greece is time that Rome can expand unchecked. Indeed, purple borders can already be seen north of Odessa. But if we were to allow the frivolous Greeks to settle too close to our Black Sea conquests, their wanton culture could quickly win over our austere peasants. Xerxes donned his thinkin' chains and pondered...
He looked over a map of Persia:
Nine cities, all struggling beneath the whip, but all producing valuable infrastructure and military for the years ahead.
The secrets of the elders:
Rome is indeed dangerous. Caesar, with his massive domain, has the ability to both build and research unchecked. We must sour relations between him and Pericles.
Sadly, at this point everyone is Cautious with us. Would Judaism change that? What of war with Greece? Short term, it makes sense, but can we justify it long term? And what of our Settler? I feel it should go to the isthmus with the Copper and the Deer to better integrate our Black Sea holdings with the empire proper. Xerxes turned to his advisors. What did they think?
Here's the save.
) and no stone. But on the other hand, TONS OF FOOD! 1 banana, 2 rice, 1 pig, 1 deer, 1 cow, and 1 sugar, plus plenty of production in the forms of like 3 mines and a marble quarry. 
lol
In here in fact it rang midnight now but the people on the wrong side of the Atlantic are still on Tuesday 
SWEET! Cann't wait.
Whenever they make Civ5, they better fix the AI..
