The opening skirmishes of the war involve an Aztec axe destroying more or less all of Tours' improvements. This is stopped by the arrival of the Ever Victorious Armies, who frown on such things.

And that the reader might understand the issues of the day:

More or less what I want is Texcoco. It's a pit, but it's what the main issue is. After that I'll leave Monty alone, and that will be that.

I have, incidentally, a million people by 790 AD.

In 820, the Ever Victorious Armies show up at Texcoco, more or less win a lot, and with my war aims accomplished, I declare peace on Monty at a cost of 50 gold to him. He pulls that stunt again, well, Teotihuacan's next, and it gets worse from there.

You know, considering the days of yore, this business where Khan is my best buddy in the world is...amusing.

Meanwhile, on the tech front, as of 900 AD and Metal Casting's arrival, I am all the way to Currency, Metal Casting, and Iron Working, am working on Alphabet, and lack Archery, HBR, and Meditation. Other people definitely have Monarchy, and Gandhi is up Alphabet, Monarchy, and Calander.

In 940 AD, Monty, not content with my gifting him cows to make him happy, demands iron as well. Hefty, but fine. I don't really want Teotihuacan right now. His happiness from the tribute also lets me resign Open Borders, which will hopefully increase our happiness as time goes on. This, in turn, lets me sneak my handy missionary in and convert Teotihucan to Judaism.

In 980 AD, Alphabet comes in, and the tech situation is thusly:

Everyone: Up Archery, Calander

Gandhi: Up Meditation, Hereditary Rule, HBR, Literature, Drama; Down Metal Casting

Washington: Up Meditation, HR, Code of Laws, HBR, Construction; Down Metal Casting

Montezuma: Down Alphabet

Ghengis Khan: Up HR; Down Alphabet, Currency, Metal Casting

Alexander: Up Med, HR, HBR, Literature; Down Alphabet

I am at 40% science rate, breaking even. This will persist until my markets start coming in in 6 turns.

This ends the first playing session (11/29/05).

In 1005 AD, I finally hook up horses at Chartres. Meanwhile, most everywhere is building either markets or forges. I love forges. In 1010, Monty snags the Colossus at Tenochtitlan, thus giving me extra incentive to finish him, should we start fighting again.

Getting around to that tech trading I was going to do last time and didn't, in 1015 I dial up Khan, and trade him Currency and Alphabet for Calander and Hereditary Rule, plus 50 gold. Rather shortly thereafter, I snag Literature, plus Ptolemy the Great Scientist. Rhiems is currently making me a bunch of science, so I have Ptolemy create an Academy there, and will start on the Great Library there once I get done with a Forge. Meditation coming in will allow Monastaries for more science, and I then continue Old Tech Cleanup Day with Code of Laws for Courthouses and more income.

As of 1035, France holds 2 million.

Gandhi, unfortunately, REALLY wants to be my friend, asking for Open Borders, a Metal Casting/HBR trade, Metal Casting in tribute, and a Cows/Gems deal. Unfortunately, he's Khan's worstest enemy, so I don't.

"Game," I say, "Rhiems is going to take 30+ turns to complete the Great Library. Can't you give me some marble?"

"Good luck with that," says the game. "There's some on the other side of George up in the tundra, if you want. Best I can do."

"Gee, thanks," says I.

After CoL, I decide to swing for Drama, since theaters are great cheap culture. After that, during which time I'm still building lots of infrastructure and a couple three workers, I swing for Theology, since nobody has it yet, and I want Sistine for Paris when it gets done with the National Epic, which it does presently.

Seriously, Gandhi, what part of no don't you understand?

In 1135, Monty declares on Washington, which I expect isn't going to go so hot for him, since George is one of the top civs in the world, and Monty...not so much.

In another round of tech trading, Monty gives me Construction and 100 gold for Hereditary Rule and Alphabet. Unfortunately, Drama, CoL, and 130 gold won't get Feudalism out of Khan.

In 1145, I finish Theology, enter the Middle Ages, and start on Machinery, since I could use some mills.

Khan, it turns out, WILL go for CoL + Theology for Feudalism, but barely.

In one of those bizarre trades the AI comes up with from time to time, Monty offers me Archery + 340 gold for CoL, and I accept, because hey, that's a lot of deficit research, and I'm still only at 60%.

In 1180, Archimedes pops in Paris, and I almost rush Sistine, but then don't, because it's likely I'll get it anyway.

In 1205, lots of good things happen. Machinery comes in, and I go for Divine Right because I want both those wonders (and Islam won't hurt). Then...

And that ends play session #2 (12/6/05).

As of 1255, things are going excellently. I'm dropping marginally behind on tech, but am otherwise running away. To compound my wonder-building spree (currently building Sistine, Chichen, and Globe Theater), Heron the Great Engineer is born in Rheims, and moved to Tours for its next wonder.

That time is near at hand...

I don't build Chichen much, but I'm more or less right there, so why not?

Gandhi beats me to Divine Right and Islam by a single turn.

Versailles, well, not so much.

But first, following a message from the Census Board indicating that France as of 1290 has 5 million people...

Work is immediately begun on the Spiral Minaret.

In 1310, Versailles comes in:

Followed shortly thereafter by Civil Service at long last. I put off irrigation chaining for a while to get some wonders and religions, but it is time. Guilds is started, for Grocers.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs and Americans are going full bore at each other. Both ask me to join in their little war, and in 1325, Philadelphia is razed by the Aztecs, which I'm sure overjoys Washington to no end. Monty, of course, was never much about brotherly love in the first place.

This ends play session #3 (12/7/05) Curse work, and its worklike ways!