Lost Worlds, Fallen Kingdoms scenario (unchosen character, very different)

The Lost Worlds, Fallen Kingdoms scenario is radically different from core Civ III. Each civilisation, rather than having two traits and one special unit, has multiple traits, special units and unique buildings, as well as a unique government. In addition, there are locations on the map (representing ancient places of learning/culture/etc.) that grant special benefits to the first unit to investigate them and the first civilisation to build on them, and the tech tree has changed (including, among other things, the need to research before settlers can be built).

Rather than the normal civilisations, Lost Worlds has eight races, all shadows of their former selves:

• The Drakes, once proud half-dragons, now without flight or fire. (Cultural basis: Japanese).
• The Dwarves, once the greatest military power in the lands have turned insular, and forgotten their technological heights. (Cultural basis: Babalonyian).
• The Serpent-folk, once the greatest scientists and sorcerers in the lands, now fallen down to a stone-age level, worshipping the broken-down technology. (Cultural basis: German/Russian).
• The Aravar, birdmen without the wings they used to have. (Cultural basis: Incan).
• The Elves, their tribal shamans shadows of the masters of the elements they used to be. (Cultural basis: Celtic).
• The Ifrit, humans who traded their souls and bodies to demons for powers which have now decayed to the point of uselessness. (Cultural basis: Arabic/Persian).
• Droidecha, self replicating humanoid machines from another dimension who don't remember how to get home or in fact why they came here... (Cultural Basis: Ancient Sparta.)
  [Important point of note: The Serpent Folk and Droidecha cannot enact a peace treaty until one of them researches a special cultural advance; as the Serpent Folk consider the Droidecha a kind of technological demon. They may however agree to ceasefires and truces.]
• Noctians: Long ago, when the Ifrit were making their deal that turned them from humans into something else, another group in another part of the world did the same but became a very different sort of inhuman monster. The Vampires (who call themselves "Noctians") clashed with the Ifrit when they met long ago, but over the years since both have been hunted to the brink of extinction as their powers slowly waned... (Cultural Basis: cross of the Aztecs and The Venetian Republic.)
• And the primitive, cave-dwelling humans, who are the "barbarians" of the game.

But, all is not lost. Each race has recently had a change of leadership. The new leaders can, without exception, operate at the level their race used to (most were actually alive during the race’s glory days, and the others have all the powers formerly given to members of their race), and have knowledge far beyond what they should have.

They will lead their race and their world back into the glory days, with **** if need be.