A cloaked figure slips silently among the busy clerks and officials in the official house of Government. At the other wing of the building is the private residences of the elected leaders. In this wing are the office areas. He entered using access panels known only to himself and some few previous occupants. Yet these areas were unfamiliar to him. Before, people had come to him, now he cautiously entered rooms used by those people, for the first time. The fascination was in moving about unnoticed, something impossible previously. He smiled, and entered a small room off the main Library. Glancing about quickly, he could see it was empty, and that it had been so for some time.
Books and documents littered the desk and all the surfaces that could hold them. Picking one up at random, he read "The Attack on Elephantine: Economic and Military Considerations". Another read: "The Establishment of Citadel: Measurable Factors of Aggression Vs Homeland Development". Stunned, he realized he was in the abandoned office of the Venerable -Jrabbit, Historian of older times, and last of the line. Carefully sorting through the piles of dust-covered published reports (the far smaller body of information laying around him), he considered what to do with this trove of information and documentation. He glanced at the door; there were so many other rooms to be examined out of curiosity. But there was something compelling about this one.
"Ah well, one must make choices after all", he muttered to himself, "and this ancient project, maintained through all the years, deserves a completion". Outside, in the hallways, he heard great cries of joy. The Carthaginians had fallen, the last enemy was defeated. He stared at the door betwixt they and he; the boundary of the future and the past. He contemplated that. On a table was a hat with "Official Historian" inked onto it. He placed it on his head. "Doesn't fit well", he murmured, "but well enough". With a sardonic smile, he sat at the desk, arranged a piece of parchment before him, and began to write:
"In the year 1826, I, Cavebear, inscribe these words. Here is the history of our world from 200 AD and beyond, as well as I can determine the events"…
(More to come as quickly as I can cut, paste, type, and embellish. And I mean to complete this today or tomorrow.)
Books and documents littered the desk and all the surfaces that could hold them. Picking one up at random, he read "The Attack on Elephantine: Economic and Military Considerations". Another read: "The Establishment of Citadel: Measurable Factors of Aggression Vs Homeland Development". Stunned, he realized he was in the abandoned office of the Venerable -Jrabbit, Historian of older times, and last of the line. Carefully sorting through the piles of dust-covered published reports (the far smaller body of information laying around him), he considered what to do with this trove of information and documentation. He glanced at the door; there were so many other rooms to be examined out of curiosity. But there was something compelling about this one.
"Ah well, one must make choices after all", he muttered to himself, "and this ancient project, maintained through all the years, deserves a completion". Outside, in the hallways, he heard great cries of joy. The Carthaginians had fallen, the last enemy was defeated. He stared at the door betwixt they and he; the boundary of the future and the past. He contemplated that. On a table was a hat with "Official Historian" inked onto it. He placed it on his head. "Doesn't fit well", he murmured, "but well enough". With a sardonic smile, he sat at the desk, arranged a piece of parchment before him, and began to write:
"In the year 1826, I, Cavebear, inscribe these words. Here is the history of our world from 200 AD and beyond, as well as I can determine the events"…
(More to come as quickly as I can cut, paste, type, and embellish. And I mean to complete this today or tomorrow.)
of the ancient leader "shade" marked by the ancient icon of
. At this time, our civilization exists on only several islands and we have discovered 4 other civs. It is a difficult time. New cities start with difficulty and unrest "you probably also see the unhappy city of kIndalia(it started out with a BLACK face now a temple is being rushbuild and 3 units already could make it a red one)", he declared back then. Apparently, these difficulties remained for many years as our growing civ contends with lack of luxuries and resources.
Still, these brave leaders and the Citizens pressed forward, determined to overcome all obstacles. But even then, expansion and mere survival lead all concerns.
Shade sells the City Walls of one city to complete construction of a Lighthouse (the better to traverse the dangerous and dark oceans, and to speed to Triremes on their brave new adventures), establishes garrisons of troops in another to enforce martial law, etc. It is clear that our ancestors faced hard times and great challenges. In spite of that, outpost cities to challenge the local dominance of the other civs are established. Citadel remains an example of bravery and assertiveness to all. 
Moneyed merchants dare to travel the wilderness areas between secure cities with little fear of Barbarians and even young comely maidens may dance in the unsecured fields unmolested! Some old-timers rue the passing of routine lootings and pillagings, but they are slowly overcome by the rising tide of security and happiness in the home islands. Shade may be the despot King, but he makes the Caravans run on time and the People are secure in their persons.
, and it is first among known civs in population, manufactured goods, and land area. He leaves the People 2 Great Wonders, Michelangelo's Chapel and the Lighthouse. The People all hail King shade for a job well done.
even suggest that former King shade wants to enrich himself through this position
. Other stalwart supporters deny this scurrilous accusation, pointing out that, as King, shade could have had all the riches he desired
.
was a publishing success unlike any ever known throughout the history of Apolytonia. Within a week of release the first run was completely sold out. The next run went in 3 days, the third; sold out before it even reached the shelves. 

Others still surmised that Hydey, Foreign Minister at the time of Carthage's defeat, decided to one-up everyone by releasing a book that would become legendary - and everyone wondered how exactly the ad for his planetwide network of dress-up Spy uniform outlets got into the book.

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