			THE ONGOING

Listen, historians. This is the tale of Feanor the Great, eternal ruler
of the High Elves of the West.

(As a matter of fact, I used a self-made map of middle-earth which was
quite huge. I chose 7 civilizations but there popped up only 5 which I
don't quite understand, but there we are. Playing random starting
locations, I found myself somewhere west of Isengart, a long way south
of Elronds Place/ the Hobbit Lands - what are they called in english
again?)

Well, there were lots of grasslands around so my Elves could spread fast
and easily. My central city, Valindas, was quickly founded, a few
settlers started to explore the area and to irrigate the surroundings
and then I met the first potential enemy: the persians (please forgive
me I haven't used more customized Civilizations). They were located east
of me. We made peace since we both were too young to become a threat to
each other - any war would have destroyed either civilization -, sent
caravans as quick as we could to make money and that's it.

Both civilisations grew fast. In the meantime I noticed the other
players: the Aztecs were only a few steps south of me, but very well
behaved so we made peace too, the English east of the White mountains,
around Amon Hen (where I placed a city a while later); and the Japanese
right away in Isengart, where they built their first city exactly where
Isengart is located in the Lord of the Rings. Me (the elves) put their
cities whereever there was enough space, completely ignoring there were
other players as well. What? The english cover this area? Ok, let's go
on a few miles more and settle down there. Finally the map had around 20
white dots (my cities) everywhere, surrounding every other nation. We
had a global peace - well the english were pesky and tried to attack me
now and then, but I teached them a short lesson and from then on they
behaved very well. The Elves were allied to the Persians and the Aztecs
and in peace with the English.

Alas, the persians thought Kyoto (the japanese capital) to be too close
to their own capital so they crushed the japanese in no time. No problem
for me since I haven't even talked to the Japanese before.

Problem was, by sweeping the Japanese there came a new civilization up
just behind my uncovered back.

The babylonians, far behind the leading two players (Persian and me),
came walking along the road with a small crappy militia unit, showing
their swords and demanding tribute, completely ignoring they were no
more than a fly to be squeezed by an elephant. Well I said "No! And now
get off and try to learn about the alphabet yourself!" and after on
small legion of Babylonians were shot by my muskateers, I thought they'd
retreat and shut their mouthes.

Oh heck. They didn't. They came back again and again, using all of their
resources to knock on my door - to attack me, what they might have
called it.

I got angry. This game was supposed to be fun! I quickly sent out some
fighter planes (new invention, boys and girls... watch out! There are
flying demons above!) and zapped a few Babylonian settlers crawling
around the mud northwest of me. Oops! Wrong idea.

The babylonians, of course, had allied with the persians in the
meanwhile (my own ally dropped, but we were still at peace) and after I
killed a few of their armys they ran to Xerxes, ruler of the Persians,
and begun to cry about these evil Elves... Suddenly I found myself at
war with persia AND the Babylonians AND the english (they had an
alliance with the Persians, too, and signed a "F**k the Elves" treat as
soon as Xerxes decided to attack his old brother Feanor).

Ok I took one Persian city, and one english. Very quick both leaders
came to me begging for peace - Xerxes first. I said "Ok, and watch out
the next time." Then Henry MCLVIII came to me and offered peace. When I
said yes, he added "But I will always remember what you did to the
Persians!".

What? What was that again???

Yes, you heard right. After I had taken one Persian city my reputation
was on the bottom of a trashcan. No one wanted to ally with me anymore
(except for the Aztects who always helped me) and quickly I decided that
this would be the right time to set things right. But first: We need
airports. Middle-Earth is too big to travel even by train.

There we are today. The war has not yet begun. English, Persians and
Babylonians have allied against the Aztecs and me. Of course, they will
lose. I am everywhere. I can send my armies - and tons of them -
whereever I want to as fast as I want to. First I will eliminate Babylon
and wipe them off the map just because they started all this. Then I
will go on with England - London is mine now anyway - and free the
country from their obsolete civilization. And then, when I have
conquered all of my neighbors - except for the Aztecs, which I love - it
will be time for Persia to fall. I can barely wait.

+++++++++++++++++
Stefan Cords
stefan.cords@gecits-eu.com