xxth

by genghis gilgamesh

the prospect seemed fair for the empire of xxth. its armies controlled the passes through the aieg mountains which separated the empire from the barbarian hordes of the inner continent. its navies controlled the northern coast of the outer continent, allowing its merchants unmolested access to the kingdoms of the lower continent. the petty kingdoms of the lower continent - nczo, iclf, dopz, and ajqf - paid their annual tributes of spices, silks, ivory, grain, slaves, and gold. wealth flowed into the coffers of the empire and through the streets of wnjo and the other great cities. the waters had receded from the terrible floods, offering hope that some of the vast treasures of the drowned cities could be recovered, thereby adding even more to the empire’s towering heap of booty. as with the floods, so with the storms. the sun shone day after day, and the ice which covered the northern continent began to recede, and fertile land to reappear. the arts flourished. the early art of the empire, of course, celebrated its glories, but as the centuries went by, notes of satire and world weariness began to appear, and these tendencies were smiled tolerantly upon by royalty and aristocracy alike. the courtliest graces were developed among the upper classes. the people of the subject kingdoms, and the barbarians, had no choice but to admit that the fairest women in the world adorned the emperor’s court. there was no unrest among the populace. the garrisons dozed in the provinces. no empire had ever obtained, or dreamed of, such unbounded felicity. and yet, within a few thousand short years, all had vanished without a trace. if it were not for the heroic endeavors of dr wasserkopf and his devoted colleagues. its very existence would be unknown today. what brought the great empire of xxth to its doom? as many theories have been advanced as there were years of the empire’s glory. the recent discovery of the mummified remains of a female subject of the empire, possibly a maidservant to one of the imperial princesses of the eighth dynasty, may throw some small light on the subject. excuse me? i did not realize what time it was. no, no, i found professor watson’s paper, exhaustive as it was, quite enlightening. i will be happy to resume tomorrow morning, after we have all had a good dinner and a good night’s sleep. what? ha, ha, yes, that goes without saying.