@SCENARIO
@width=620
@title=%STRING0
^^Length: %STRING1 to %STRING2
^^The End of the Dark Ages
^^And the Rise of the Medieval Era
The Roman Empire has long since vanished, washed away by tides
of barbarian hordes. The year is now 749 of the Common Era. Four major powers have arisen from the 
ashes of Rome and its neighboring empires. In Gaul and Aquitaine, the Carolingians
have seized control of the Frankish kingdom from their Merovingian overlords and
are striving to rebuild the Empire in the west. In Greece and Anatolia, the Byzantine
Empire keeps the light of Romanitas burning. In the Middle East and North Africa, the 
Islamic Caliphate has arisen, spreading the word of its prophet by fire and sword. And in the 
steppes of southern Russia, the Khazars, Turkic nomads turned empire-builders, are itching
to expand. There are other peoples as well. The Slavic tribes of Eastern Europe, disunited and primitive, yearn 
for a leader who will bring them to glory. The Norse Kingdoms of the far Northlands turn a 
greedy eye towards the rich trade routes of Russia, Britain, and the Mediteranean. The Turkic 
hordes of the Far East are moving westward, pushed on by war in their ancient homeland 
and dreams safety- and of conquest. And numerous barbarian peoples, Berbers, Saxons, Celts, Finns, 
Lombards and Goths, lurk on the edge of civilization, waiting patiently for a time when they can 
rise to glory. Play as the East Roman Empire to restore the glory of Byzantium. Play as the Muslims to spread
the word of Allah to the non-believers- and reap the profits of conquest. Play as the Franks to conquer the 
barbaric west, the Norse to trade and subjugate the weaker tribes, or the Khazars to secure the 
destiny of a proud warrior people. The Turks and Slavs are not historical to play, since in history 
they were divided up into many petty tribes and kingdoms, but may be an interesting challenge to 
an experienced player.
Go forth and conquer- or die trying.

@end -- this line must be here!

