Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends

If you've been following our Rise of Legends coverage you know we've already taken a close look at both the Vinci and Alim civilizations. Today we're finishing up with a look at the game's third and final playable civilization, the Cuotl.

The People

The Cuotl are an ancient people living far to the east, in the jungles beyond the Great Desert. Their culture is known for complex social rituals and a focus on religion. They are polytheistic, but the overwhelming focus of their religion seems to be on four specific Gods who are said to walk among the people. The Gods are said to have provided the amazing technological advances the Cuotl possess. The outwardly primitive-looking appearance of their dress and domestic tools is in sharp contrast to their architecture and weapons of war, which would seem to support this assertion.

The Fallen

The religious theocracy imposed by the worship of the Cuotl gods is uncompromising and harsh. This has led a number of the Cuotl people to rebel against this form of society. Led by former High Priests of their religion, the Fallen lead a struggle to free the people from this oppressive way of life. While the Fallen have managed to secure small amounts of the Cuotl God technology, their struggle seems doomed in the face of such overwhelming power.

Shields and Cloaks

A unique aspect of Cuotl building technology is the existence of a device known as a "shield." It is a force of crackling blue lines, apparently electrical in nature, that repel fast-moving objects. Firing a cannon shell at a Cuotl building may weaken the shield, but unless the attack is sustained the shields will quickly reform, leaving the building unharmed.

Cuotl troops also come equipped with personal versions of these shields. Fortunately, it appears that the power source for these smaller versions can only sustain their use for a limited time.

Another device carried by Cuotl troops is the "cloak." This device can mask the presence of troops on the battlefield from sight and sound. The method employed for this effect has baffled the top Vinci scientists. Some have suggested the fusion of magic and science, but this is widely considered to be impossible.

Fane Units

The Fane is the mustering building for foot troops and other ground-based vehicles of Cuotl design. Its most striking feature is that it can fly -- once in the air it can hover indefinitely, or move slowly toward its destination. It is often used to deploy troops into battle.

• Sentinel: The Sentinel is the basic soldier of the Cuotl army. Highly motivated and zealous, those chosen as Sentinels wear the sacred garb of the Cuotl gods. They carry weapons that appear to fire bolts of pure light. Combined with their shields and cloaks, a Cuotl infantryman is the most elite soldier on the battlefield.

  With additional training, the Sentinel can be promoted to the ranks of the Guardians. Only the physically strongest and most adept warriors are allowed to become Guardians. Above Guardians are the renowned Defenders, the absolute pinnacle of fighting prowess in the Cuotl army.

• Sun Jaguar: These vehicles dedicated to Xil, the Sun God, are shaped like the beast of the same name. They bound at amazing speeds to deliver a devastating attack. Sun Jaguars also are equipped with the same light-beam weapon used by the soldiers. It allows them to fire while closing with the enemy. Although Vinci scientists have examined these devices, so far the samples have been too badly damaged for accurate analysis.

  Within the ranks of Sun Jaguars there are also levels of excellence; Veterans and Elites who have truly mastered their vehicles are given the best-maintained and more powerful equipment. Their presence can easily turn the tide of a close battle.

• Death Snake: The pilots of Death Snakes, a larger and more dangerous vehicle than the Sun Jaguar, are devotees of Czin, the God of Death. The great size of the vehicle, plus their ability to inflict melee attacks that inject a lethal toxin, make the Death Snakes fearsome opponents in a ground battle. Only air superiority can protect against the onslaught of even a few of these vehicles.