With the genocidal Nethermen invading France after slaughtering all of their Dutch relatives, the Dutch Defenders abandon their posts so that they can move into position to fight against the greatest evil the young world has seen thus far!
Elizabeth on the Rise of the Barbarians
Tales of the emergence of the long prophesied barbarian hordes have spread to English lands. Though our vigilant warriors have deterred any barbarians from attacking England, we cannot help but wonder at the apparent similarity between the stories of the barbarians' mindless blood-lust, and the effect of French spells in obliterating the minds of English citizens. We fear the French "great valley seekers" may have discovered some terrible power in their distant questing which has given France this power to create these terrible spells. France may even have brought this plague upon the world by invoking such abominable curse. Our seers will continue to investigate this issue and we look forward to the day when England is in a position to send military aid to those besieged by barbarian hordes.
In the meantime, we encourage other tribes to attempt to enslave these barbarians. It may prove equally effective at redirecting their murderous tendencies to productive labor as has our efforts to counter the spells of the French.
With the genocidal Nethermen invading France after slaughtering all of their Dutch relatives, the Dutch Defenders abandon their posts so that they can move into position to fight against the greatest evil the young world has seen thus far!
In the months after the battle for River Village is over the victors are not seeing eyes to eye on many things. Ocean faction wants to start chopping down the forest to build a fleet of the new Galley they invented. Fire Mystics want to invade France and free the Roman slaves before they can build a road all the way to the border. Nether faction wants to create even more a stonger warriors with even better weapons so that the Dutch never again try to take over River Village. Nether faction has made all the captured Dutch their slaves. The Nether point of view is well said in a new drinking song. They sing:
"Fee Fi Foe Facts
I smells blood when Du-Cha attacks
Kill them dead right in they tracks
Or use they bones to build Barracks"
Finally all this arguing reach the boiling spot. Nether faction is in charge of learning new skills and they leaders say they will research new weapons and not try to learn anything else until this is done. Fire Mystics say they are going to France to free the Roman slaves with no fear of the foretold French superweapons. Ocean faction leaders get angry at this meeting and say they are leaving River Village. The few remaining free Dutch and Earth faction are too few to have their voices heard. Each faction goes to rebuild his own part of River Village and do what he wants.
Fire Mystics for they part cross the river into French territory within sight of the Roman slaves workers. The leader shouts demands to the Stonhenge Mystic warriors and Paris Boys warriors on the hilltop.
When hearing this, the Roman slaves shout and wave "Please help us Nether! We are here against our will! Save us!" One of the French Warriors begin slapping down and clubbing the Roman slaves, trying to get them to be silent. "Gew eeweey! Mind yur-run beezness!" yells French Garcon boys warrior to the Fire Mystic warriors.The Fire Mystic of Nation of Fire have come to France to make the following demands
1. France must return at once the Roman workers to Rome. Our forces will escort them safe home, then leave France.
2. France must promise not to build anymore World Wonders in Paris for 500 years (50 Turns).
Fire Mystics are now camped on riverbank in France, deciding what to to next.
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
The outlandish accents of the Nether spies trying to pose as Torino workers and French warriors gives them away immediately. The attempt to foment a rebellion fails miserably as several of the Torino workers use their tools to beat the Nether spies to death. The Nether may never understand that the French do not enslave, mistreat or kill their workers as is the Nether custom. The Torino workers take their tools and move to defend Paris as the last ditch defenders against the evil Nether.
The French have seen the atrocities that the Nether are capable of and realize that surrender is not an option so this will be an eternal war.
A small group of Torino children approach the Roman border where the Liberators of Rome are stationed. The group is led by the oldest girl, Manon, who is surprisingly articulate and bold as she walks up to the nearest Liberator and blurts out.
"We have a message for your ruler Marcus. We were always taught that our Roman heritage was something to be proud of and that Marcus was a great leader. Our tales tell us that when our ancestors were making the choice of whether to stay in France or return to Rome that Marcus said:
Our ancestors took Marcus at his word and decided to remain in France. Our ancestors' extended families lived in Torino, which had joined France. Rome was recovering from self-induced famine while France was prosperous. What sane person would not have chosen to live in France with those choices?Rome understands if these refugees does not want to return, but we pledge that if they do not feel comfortable in the lands of Rome they may return to France at any time if they so wish.
Now here it is hundreds of years later, when no living Torino person has even visited Rome, and countless generations of Torinos have been born in France, that blood crazed slavers have attacked our chosen homeland saying that they are going to "free" us and take us back to Rome.
Did not Marcus say,So why now are the people of Torino being told to bow down to slavers? What kind of cruel tyrant would rather his blood kin be enslaved, torn from their homes, families and loved ones so that they could be forced to work for him over a choice their ancestors made centuries ago, a choice that Marcus said he understood? Why does Marcus not publicly speak out against these Nether slavers who are causing such suffering to his kinfolk? The French rulers publicly speak out when their kinfolk are being oppressed by other rulers. Does Marcus not place as much value on his kin as the French do?"after the horrors the Romans underwent at the hands of Baron Von we will never again bow to despots or slavers!
Last edited by France (DoB); June 8, 2012 at 18:18.
Forest green with shining leaves,
breath of prey moving not.
Eye follow arrow follow eyes,
heart beats fast beats not.
Soft step bending soft grass,
body follow tree follow bush.
Take arrow take proud deer,
bring home food for my hearts need.
-Rhyme of Jõmon the Hunter, as told to Tokugawa, leader of Japan, Defender of Kyoto. Year of the Busy Bee.
Marcus raises a stone cup of wine, while holding his wooden club in the other hand, and proclaims this to the world:
The French Elder council obviously have no limits to how low they will sink into their web of lies and dishonour. Now they are using children to deliver their messages, obviously not men enough to do it themselves.
The French has in the past been known for their lies, as they have countless of times shown the world. I admire the skill with words their men possess, and I have had to consider my words carefully as they are known to twist the meaning of words into their own view of the world.
Hundreds of years ago, France invaded both the Netherlands and Rome. Back then, the French bullied their neighbours, and they even had the nerve to tell me to "stop my incessant whining" when I told the world how they mistreated their neighbours. Now, the table have turned, and the French are being retaliated upon by the descendants of those they abused in the past.
The French has instructed the children to tell my warriors that I am a cruel tyrant for letting my blood kin be enslaved, when the truth is that I did all that I could to have my blood kin returned to Rome peacefully. Their lies will simply not end.
Elders of France. I have told my warriors to prepare for war, as I will no longer sit back and listen to your lies about me or my people. I believe Rome owes you repayment for what you did to us after you "freed" our workers. You have begged this upon yourselves, so stop twisting words and your whining! Accept repayment for your horrible atrocities in the past, as it is obvious that the only way to win your respect is to employ your very own "Wine and Club Diplomacy" against you.
News of 4000 Roman invaders crossing into Torino sending the families there fleeing into the surrounding lands has reached the Torino Road Crew, who are the sole defenders of Paris. With the axe wielding Nether Fire Mystics just across the river from Paris, the Torino workers tighten their grip on their tools and prepare to fight to the death. Outraged at the tyrant Marcus's attack on their kinfolk, every Torino worker publicly swears loyalty to France and renounces any former ties to Rome .
...
The Elder Mystic stood on Marble Hill overlooking the battlefield. The 6000 axe wielding Nether Fire Mystics had moved west to flank the French defensive line of 6000 warriors from the Garcon de Paris, Dutch Defenders and the Stonehenge Sentries. The Nether Fire Mystics had paused their advance on Paris when they were met with the 48000 men, women and children of Paris plus the Torino workers armed with nothing but rocks determined to face off against the slavers.
The Elder Mystic smiled. The people of France were showing the Nethers that they were not meek Dutch slaves who could easily be intimidated and slaughtered. They were the free people of France and they would fight for their freedom. A small tear formed in the corner of his eye as his heart filled with pride at the courage of his kinfolk even though they faced overwhelming odds.
The 2000 warriors called Trotseer's Braves were reportedly attempting to flank towards the east but the Stonehenge Sentries were fortified up to the impassable Alps so they were not going to get anywhere without a fight.
The mystics had watched the shadows and were predicting that one or two of the French warrior units would be destroyed in the next hundred years but that in the end France would survive long enough for the Priests of Stonehenge to complete the hundred year ritual to invoke the Great Spirits' Defenders Measured War pact. It was a sacrifice that every French warrior on the line was willing to make.
At a meeting of the Tribal Leaders one leader stands and addresses the group with news from a messenger. "Arabia has recieved the news that at last the forces of good are aligning themselves against the forces of evil! At last the most Evil Tribe in the world is having some of the strife they sent out into the world come back upon them! Blessed be Islam, the one true faith!"
Then he sat down. No one clapped or said said anything to acknowledge his remarks. He looked around, a little confused, and noticed that all of the Tribal Leaders were staring intently with looks of expectant disapproval, as if they expected to hear more, or were somehow dissatisfied with his words. A look embarrasment washed over his face, and he stumbled back to his feet...
"Oh, and also, I think that France MUST be destroyed!" he called out firmly, shaking his fist in the air.
"Faranca wajaba sara damaar!" the Leaders repeated in unison. Then they all smiled and clapped their approval of his words each one approvingly slapping him on the back as he sat back down.
Heralds announce the founding of Shanghai on the Chinese Sea. But celebrations are muted with the news of the slaugher of a band of warriors that have succumbed to bears that have attacked the newly found village. A squad of archers have been sent forth to assist but fear they will find only the mutilated corpses of the remaining warriors protecting Shanghai. This is an evil land with constant attacks by wildlife and barbarians. Qin wonders what spells the French visitors caste on the land to make it so hard to farm and settle. He calls for the building of fortifications to protect the kingdom - a project that will span centuries. Chinese wisemen draw up plans.
A proclamation from Marcus of Rome has again been sent out to the tribes of the world:
Roman warriors have crossed over the southern borders of France and the road in Torino has been destroyed, just as I told the French years ago that I wanted done. We do not wish to trade or deal with these people now, except by the force that we must use to get our people back. At the same time, our Fire Mystic brothers of the Netherlands has crossed over the northern borders of France. We salute you, our brothers in the north, and we welcome your friendship and cooperation!
After searching the Torino area, we discovered proof that the children the French presented to our warriors were not pure descendants of our workers. An old woman who had managed to escape the French lived in the woods there, and when she came home to Rome she told me that the children were in fact children of raped Roman women! Women that the French brutes who captured our workers and their families abused to show the Roman workers the power of their new masters. Women who left Rome together with their beloved men to make sure they at least had someone to care for them when Baron Von sent them out into the fields to work the lands around Rome. Women who even now suffer at the hands of the French brutes, while the French tells the world lies about how well they are treated, and how much they enjoy staying in France. I do not even want to contemplate what the French did to force these children to come to my warriors on the border, considering how the Wine and Club diplomacy the French use is enforced against their neighbours.
All of Rome is crying out in outrage after hearing the old woman's tale, and there have been several uprisings in Rome. The people are demanding that I get our people back. I even had to personally promise to the descendants of the people who were captured by the French that I would do everything within my power to get them back.
Elders of France! I am only willing to end this conflict if I can uphold that promise. If you continue to keep Romans hostage and tell the world lies about how much they enjoy being ordered around by you, know that there will be no lasting peace between our people until the day I have upheld my promise. I will order all my people to infiltrate your lands to look for weaknesses. I will instruct the mystics of Rome to constantly battle your Stonehenge mystics to counter your defensive magic. And, I will train troops that will invade and harass your lands whenever your magic defenses are down! This promise I have made to my people, and now also to you.
The mood in Paris was jubilant. The Netherlander Fire Mystics had fled like cowards under a hail of rocks from the men, women and children of Paris to the eastern vineyards. There was much debate on the street whether the Nethermen even had a strategy or whether they were merely floundering around lost. Some surmised that the Nethermen did not want to engage the heavily fortified French positions so they had decided to siege the eastern lands of France however those lands had not been used in centuries so this was not seen as a highly likely possibility.
The popular theory was that the Fire Mystics planned to attack across the river against the Stonehenge Sentries fortified in the forested Stone hills. Under those conditions there was even a small chance that the Stonehenge Sentries might win the battle and become legends. More likely though the Fire Mystics overwhelming force would win that battle however in doing so they would be leaving their precious copper hill open to being destroyed by the combined forces of the Dutch Defenders and the Garcons de Paris. With the Dutch slaves off travelling the world in the Nether galley fleet, it would significantly slow down whatever nefarious plot the Ocean faction had going if those workers had to return to rebuild the copper mine and road.
Despite all their guesswork, the people of Paris were supremely confident that the Elder Mystic Council would choose whatever the best military option was since the French leaders had shown themselves to be the most experienced in the world having slain 6 lion prides, 3 bear, 2 panther prides, 15 wolf packs and 5 barbarian warriors all without losing a single battalion of French warriors.
There were even some cynics who claimed that the French leaders had been too good since, with no battalions destroyed, the French were being forced to slow their research to provide support for all the battalions. Those cynics argued that if France lost at least one battalion that it would be better off.
...
The ludricous propaganda being spread by Marcus was occassionally a topic of ridicule around Paris campfires. The idea that the women who left Rome centuries ago could "even now suffer at the hands of the French brutes", just went to show how little the immortal Marcus understood about the mortals crushed under his tyranny. Marcus' blatant lies didn't even survive a cursory scrutiny since he obviously did not understand that mere mortals do not live for hundreds of years!
The Torino workers were happy to hear though that "there have been several uprisings in Rome" since it meant the people of Rome obviously knew that Marcus was not a fit leader. The fact that Marcus had tried to spin the uprisings against his rule into a call for war against France merely showed how desperate he had become that he needed to fabricate an external enemy to try to distract the Roman people from their suffering under his rule.
As for Marcus' threats of continual war, in his feeble attempt to duplicate French Wine and Club diplomacy, the term Marcus has come to mean "a small limp club" in France.
Barbarians in Europe!
The large Germ-Manes settlement of Berlin is under constant attack from bloodthirsty Barbarian. There is already deaths of thousands on both side but our brave friends the Germ Manes have held off the brutes. We can only wonder if our good friends to the North are having similar attack in Norse lands?
We are with you in spirit, please tell the Nether if there is a ways we can help you and we will try our best. Silly Fire Mystics took all our soldiers away, but maybe we can convince them.
Nether Faction.
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
After checking the safety of the Roman slaves in Paris, Fire Mystics head back to the battle. Some of the childs in prisoned in Paris whimper "tell my grandmother I am still alive." With renew spirit, Fire Mystic send a messenger to report to Rome where their people are held prisoner by powerful magics that no Axe can break.
Fire Mystics love French stew, even down to this day, and so after gathering some few baskets and sending them back to river village, it is time to get to work. First Fire Mystics wait for cover of night. Then, while they think lazy French are asleep, they cross the river. But the splash of their boots is heard and French raise the alarm.
The Stonehenge Mystics are protecting the precious stone they use for their monument, but they are also capable Warriors with the high ground and plenty of trees cover. Unafraid, Fire Mystics race up the hill in a hails of rocks, sticks and heavy boulders French roll down to crush them as they charge up the hill. Many are killed but once they reach teh top they are in for the fight of their lives. Besides being capable and brave Warriors with they know terrain, the Stonehenge Mystics also have powerful killing magic that they also use against Fire Mystics. But in the end Fire Mystics triumph and Stonhenge Mystics are defeated to the last man. Trotseer's Braves are right behind, moving up toi care for the wounded.
It is a costly victory, and probably the most bloody battle to be fought in open since begin of time. Not since battle of river Village have there been such a battle, and Fire Mystics make song to imitate the Nether faction song.
"Fee Fie Foe Facts
Frenchman's run when the Fire attacks
Once I see they fronts or backs
I'll Grind their bones to sharp my Axe"
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
An open message to the Nether people
Thanks for your care and your good wishes. Our capital Nidaros is under siege indeed, but so far the gods have granted us victory. We don't need help for the time being. Our archers, inspired by Skadi herself, are beating the giants and villains back. Odin is guiding the hands of our military leaders and Thor sends thunder and hailstorms to the right place.
We wonder how our friends in the south are doing. We heard about growing tensions and the recent escalation. Since we have pledged peace to both sides, we won't get involved. The French declared us their enemies, which was uncalled for by our judgement, but doesn't really matter. The messages, that infuriated Benoit, weren't meant hostile, but at most cautious. After all this spy paranoia and threats and accusations hurled in various directions we came to the conclusion, that the gods probably twisted his mind.
We haven't met the Romans yet. They must be far away from us. The grey people, or Germ-Manes how you call them, never responded to our messenger and we never sent a new one. We would consider to help, once we have forces to spare, but we won't do so without being called.
The Elder Mystic Council sat around the camp fire on the peak of Marble Hill to discuss the war. The Stonehenge Sentries had done remarkably well killing 4800 Fire Mystics before the 2000 Stonehenge Sentries were simply overwhelmed by numbers. The lost battle had been predicted though and the real conversation revolved around the surprise appearance of 6000 more axe-wielding Fire Mystics to block the route to the Nether copper hill and impact that would have on the war.
"It must have been magic. Perhaps they brought the dead back to life. How else could they have gotten another whole battalion so quickly?"
"Perhaps they were hidden on the Ocean faction's fleet of galleys?"
"The galley would have to be stationed just out of our sight. It would have to move into River Village unload the axemen and then return back out of our range. Seems too complicated of a plan for no real benefit. It is more likely that with the slaughter of all the Dutch slaves that there were more former slave drivers that could be quickly trained into axemen. In the end it does not matter how the axemen got here, it just matters what we are going to do about it!"
"We cannot attack the Nethers they outnumber us 5 to 1 and that is not counting the 4000 Roman warriors! We either defend on this hill or back in Paris."
"We have a stronger defensive position on this hill and can kill more Nethers here then in the city."
"Agreed. We must inflict as many casualties on our enemies and buy as much time as we can for the Stonehenge Priests to complete their invocation. So be it. We will make our last stand here. Vive la France."
A chorus responds, "Vive la France"
The Dutch Defenders and the Garcons de Paris along with the Elder Mystic Council bravely fight to the last man but are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of axe wielding Nether Fire Mystics. All that remains to defend Paris are its 48000 citizens, the Stonehenge Priests and the Torino Road Crew.
With no warriors left in France the citizens panic and break into the mud palace to demand action from Benoit but only find his centuries old skeleton! Now the citizens knew why they had not seen their elusive leader for centuries. Benoit had been as mortal as the rest of the Frenchmen but the Elder Mystic Council had duped their fellow tribesmen and other tribes into thinking he was immortal like the rest of the tribal leaders.
With no other factions left in Paris, everyone turned to the Stonehenge Priests to guide them. Eilon was the most charismatic of the priests so he was chosen to be High Priest and lead the people of France through these dark times!
...
Le Gaulois, who were under relentless assault, had slain several more barbarians despite being unable to fully recover from each assault wave. One of the defeated barbarian tribes surrendered instead of fighting to the last man. Over time the defeated barbarian tribe has been assimilated into Le Gaulois making the battalion much more aggressive.
...
The Great Valley Seekers continue to explore the Far East fighting mainly wolves and the occassional barbarians. Communications between the Seekers and Paris is very slow given the great distances involved not to mention all the Nether and Roman troops blocking the route.
Celebrations are held all over Rome and Antium in honour of the great victories of the forces of the Fire Mystics and the Romans in France. The people applaud the wisdom of Marcus when he made agreements with the Fire Mystics to combine forces against the French, and his position as the leader of Rome is now more secure than ever!
All the French prisoners that were taken to Rome in the pillaging of France were brought to Marcus, who told them this:
There was much discussion between the French people, as some wanted to return home while others wanted to stay. Eventually a small group of about fifty Frenchmen said that they wanted to return to France, and Marcus nodded and said:I know you are afraid, but please don't be. We mean you no harm, and I am sorry your people have had to go through this. This is all because of your greedy elder council, who keep telling lies about me, my people and our friends in the Netherlands. They captured some Romans a long time ago who they have kept hostage, and my people have demanded I do everything I can to get them back home. I offer you the choice of remaining here in Rome as free men and women, or to go back to France. Rome does not enslave anyone, and we only want our people back.
A large contingency of guards were sent to ensure the safe return of the French who wished to go back to their homes in France. The rest of the French prisoners were given food and homes in Rome, where they started new lives.Of course. You will be escorted all the way to Paris by my finest warriors. I will most likely regret this, as your elders will no doubt come up with more lies about me when you have returned. But I will at least know the truth no matter what your elders claim.
Your leaders are capable of telling the world that you were mistreated horribly by me, or even claim that you were led into the forests outside Rome to be killed, and that all this was just a ruse to pretend to the world that I am honourable. I just hope they don't kill you themselves to fabricate proof that I ordered your deaths.
If you see your leaders and they let you live, remind them that if they wish to end this conflict all they have to do is let Rome have our people back, and promise not to build the Death Oracle.
I wish you good lives, and should you regret your choice you will always be welcome back to Rome.
Marcus prepared himself for the next tirade of ridiculous lies and insults from the French. He would probably ignore them again, as he decided to do the last time when they fabricated lies about unhappy Romans under his rule and that his people died as quickly as the French. A lie so obvious that he didn't understand how they dared tell it.
Anyone who visited Rome knew the French had no idea what they were talking about. Rome was frequently visited by people from all the neighbouring tribes who returned home to their tribes and told them that the French were just fabricating things to make themselves look better. With the powerful spells the Roman mystics had discovered, it was common for any Roman to live long lives, just like Marcus. It was not some coveted secret for a small elite, but a knowledge shared freely with those who wanted it. If only the French had been good neighbours, the Romans would have shared this knowledge with them too.
A messenger is sent from High Priest Eilon to the Marcus of Rome with the following message:
With the destruction of the Elder Mystic Council, the Priests of Stonehenge have assumed control of Paris. Since assuming control we have learned that the Elder Mystic Council has kept the secret of the tyrant Benoit's mortality and death several centuries ago and as such we are willing to consider other allegations of the Council's duplicity.
We have also noted however several lies by the Marcus of Rome. France has had 6000 warriors killed by the Nether Fire Mystics. All of their spirits have been saved from Jahannam and accounted for in the paradise of Stonehenge. As all tribes who spy on France, such as Rome, know France keeps a detailed accounting for its tribesfolk. All 48000 tribesfolk in France have been accounted for so we do not know who these 50 "Frenchmen" are that wish to infiltrate Paris but we can only assume they are Roman. We will not speculate on the reasons why Romans would want to leave Rome and come to Paris but they have all been turned away to return to Rome.
Our divinations, which can be divined by even the most primitive mystic in any tribe, have shown that the best life expectancy amongst all the tribes is only 90 years so the Marcus of Rome's claims that Romans live for centuries like Marcus are a clear exaggeration at best.
Spoiler:
It has been 250 years since the Torino workers have come to live in France. Even assuming the worst case scenario of each generation taking 25 years, the Torino workers have been French for over 10 generations and few if any of them even know their ancient ancestor that first came to France. None of the workers which you are looking for has even been alive for over 200 years. None of the French workers wish to leave their homeland and go to Rome nor will France ever abandon its kinfolk even in the face of extreme hardship. These are real people with real lives, not some game pieces to be bartered by immortal players.
It is unfortunate that the immortal rulers of other tribes hold vendettas against France for slights that were committed by our ancestors hundreds of years ago and for which no Frenchmen currently alive can reasonably be held responsible for since they were not even alive then. Such eternal vendettas can only lead to a continual cycle of violence.
The Priests of Stonehenge are committed to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. We are simple peaceful builders so we request that now that you have exacted your revenge by killing our warriors and destroying our infrastructure that you leave France.
Last edited by France (DoB); June 12, 2012 at 10:55.
An open proclamation is sent in response to High Priest Eilon of France from Marcus of Rome:
I send this message with true hope for reconciliation between our two tribes.
I am sorry for the loss of your people, but I am glad to hear that your potent magic protected them and that they now reside in paradise in their afterlife. I am also glad to see that the people of France are beginning to realize how many lies the Elder Council told. I hope that under your guidance France will be a friendly and reliable neighbour. Onto your message, that I will treat with respect considering that I have not dealed with you before, even though you do insult me by calling me a liar.
First of all, it is truly sad that you would deny your own people the right to live in their homelands, and claim they are not French. I am impressed and puzzled that you are able to keep count of your people down to the last man when your people are still following the code of Barbarous. I would like to know the secrets behind how you manage this. But at least you let them live, which is more than I would have expected from the Elder Council. I promise you they will have peaceful lives in Rome, even though they would have preferred to live back home in France.
I have no interest of going into a prolonged discussion with you on whether or not my people live as long as they do, so listen very carefully as I shall say this only once: If you refuse to believe, or do not wish to understand, then that is your problem and not mine. You do not have the faintest idea what is the reality in Rome, as your people have been barred from entering Rome for centuries, and Roman security is far ahead of the French. It is well known to all tribes that the mystics are only able to divine an average expectancy of life, and that this does not take causes of death into consideration. Some Romans live for centuries, while others die young in work accidents, brawling, and other various reasons. Please, do not start another fight over words and continue the quibbling of the Elder Council. I am tired of fighting with your people, and would truly welcome an end to all this bad blood. It is obvious that I would gain nothing by telling lies about Rome and her people, so do not fall into the same trap your Elder Council did and tell me that I am a liar when I am not.
I have promised my people to return their kinsmen who are held in Paris that you claim are dead generations ago. The mystics of Rome knows many of them are still alive, and our scouts that are now actively scouting out your lands have confirmed this too.
The formal peace treaty offer from Rome is simple, and if you truly wish to prove yourself a peaceful neighbour, then I promise on my life that I will not return to bother your people if you accept the terms.
I. The Roman worker families must leave Paris and go south, to allow my warriors to escort them back to Roman lands.
II. France must promise that they do not build a building of the magnitude of the Stonehenge in Paris, as this severely disrupts the neighbouring tribes territorial claims. This shall be limited to fifty seasons though, as a demand like this would be very harsh if not limited. I expect France will have enough to do rebuilding their lands for the next fifty seasons.
III. France must promise not to send scouts or spies into Rome for the next fifty seasons.
In return, these are my promises.
I. Rome will not declare war on France for at least the next fifty seasons.
II. Rome will not send any scouts or spies into France for at least the next fifty seasons.
III. Rome will open the borders to France again, allowing messengers to pass freely between our people again.
IV. Rome will treat France honourably and fair as long as France does the same to Rome.
V. Rome will also, when France has proven trustworthy, help the French people in any way we can if France asks.
If you decide to not accept these terms, then I have to assume that nothing has changed in France except a transfer of leadership. Your Elder Council knew this conflict will not truly end until my people have been returned, and now you have been informed as well. I do not care if this leads to an endless cycle of violence, as I never declared war on France and kidnapped French people. I do however care about the promise I have given my people. A promise I must keep.
As soon as you send the Roman workers out of Paris to meet my warriors there, I will order my troops to leave France together with my people. Rome will not send warriors or scouts - spies as you call them - into France unless you attempt to build another great monument within the time stated by this peace treaty, thus breaking the treaty.
The fate of France rests within your hands, High Priest Eilon. Choose wisely.Spoiler:
Last edited by Rome (DoB); June 12, 2012 at 17:37.
Another messenger is sent to the Marcus of Rome:
We accept your point that it may be possible that many Roman babies are sacrificed so that a small number of Romans may live for centuries thus accounting for an average longevity span of Romans of 90 years or less. The Priests of Stonehenge have chosen not to judge the practices of our neighbors no matter how abhorrent we find them.
Unfortunately the Torino workers have lived the last 250 years in France, where as you said the Romans have not shared their knowledge of how to live longer lives by sacrificing babies. The average lifespan in France is a mere 69 years old since our neighbors have the unfortunate habit of invading France and killing us. Without the Roman secrets to long life, the original Torino lived only French lifespans and died centuries ago as we have repeatedly stated. There is nothing that we can do about this so obviously we cannot accept your first term.
Your second term is indeed harsh as you say and as such we cannot accept it either. The French are completely surrounded by foreign tribes and have nowhere to go. Our choices are either to build a large army and invade one of our neighbors or create buildings that make the world a better place. We have made the peaceful commitment to the latter course of action since the French are naturally industrious and creative. As always we encourage our neighbors to create their own wonders instead of the armies which they use to invade us and then there should be no issues over territorial borders.
Your third term about scouts and spies is something that we could agree to in return for a peace treaty.
We are doing our best to come to terms for a longterm peace with your tribe however unfortunately you continue to repeat the same terms which are unacceptable to the French (this stance has not changed between the Council and the Priests of Stonehenge) therefore we are not going to get anywhere.
The difference between the Council and the Priests is that the Council always believed that negotiation was pointless and that our neighbors were always going to invade us for building our wonders so we should preemptively strike to prevent the attack whereas the Priests have said that our neighbors will be reasonable and diplomacy can work. We hope that you will not prove the Council correct.
The Nether in charge of learning new skills marvel at the vast advancement knowledge of French. We know well that the sun go up and down and comes up. That is a day. Beyond this we knows that lots of days make a month and when the months are too many to remember that is what we call a year. When it gets so long that people having the children that is centuries and when you die that we call many centuries old. One, some, alot, too many for remembering. That is how we keep track of things. Any more than this and we have not learned the knowledge to understand it. When talking about men or warrior what we call "hundred" means a lot. And when we say thousands well that means to many to remember how many, so many that you cant even see to the end of it is a "thousands"
We have no idea how the French have such precise ways to keep track of men and days. Our seers say many years from now we Nether will discover ways to make precise measurments of days and keep track exact of how many days but that is far far awy. Our seers say even that there is in the future some knowledge coming that will make us know how to say exact whether all the men in Nether are the same before a battle and after. For now all we can say is it looks like "thousands" meaning too many to see the end of it. The French must have some powerful magic to know that only a handful of men are missing or not from thousands.
And then there are these strange images the French messengers produce by some fire and flashes of light that even our few Fire Mystics don't understand. The images are full of some strange markings and symbols, we have no idea how France can even make sense of such nonsense. Ous seers say that someday we will learn new knowledge that will make us know symbols different from each another and each symobol has a name as you give a name to a man. It all sounds like nonsense, but this is what they say.
Last thing this confuse us is France messengers say this flashes of light and fire shows us symbols we dont understand to tell us meanings of keeping track of how long lives mortal man that we have no knowlege to know and then all this meaning is that Rome lies when they say that their people are immortal and not mortals. But if France fire images are for keeping track of mortals then they dont include immortals.
The French messenger looks confused at this, he has no answer. And then poof! His evil illusion dissapears
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
The Priests of Stonehenge marvel at the utter lack of basic mystic knowledge of the Nether. Could it be that they did not know that the Great Spirits are all-knowing and can answer even the most complicated questions easily if entreated properly? Perhaps they were not as attuned to the Fire Father and Water Mother, as they have led others to believe!
Even the most novice Acolyte of Stonehenge knew not to look at the fire and flashes of light but instead to read the shadows on the cave walls which the fire and flashes cast. The Nether had learned a terrible secret in their copper axe weapons but apparently they had not even studied the most basic Mysticism!!!
Last edited by France (DoB); June 12, 2012 at 19:45.
Yes this exactly is what said to us the messenger when he was with us. Then he shows us the fire and says it is proof of Rome's lies. He says it show that the life of a mortal man is only this long. Then we say but Romans are immortal, living many centuries as are the Nether. What your fire says about this? Immortal man lives not mortal man lives?
He had no answer. He just scratch his head like a Germ-Mane and leave.
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
The French messenger meeting with the Romans, and apparently some Nether guests, had returned to Paris quite frustrated. Apparently he had given up trying to explain simple shadow interpretation to the Nethers. The Nether guests had correctly interpreted a longer shadow meant a longer life for a mortal however they then assumed that an immortal would therefore have a very long shadow. The French messenger had been unable to teach the Nether guests that the shadow representing an immortal was The Marcus, "a very small limp club-shaped shadow"!
shaped_lemon.jpg
Last edited by France (DoB); June 12, 2012 at 23:20.
The proclivity for lies and deception of the worlds most Evil tribe never ceases to astound us. Now we hear that they are sending around their snake oil peddlers to put on a show of illusion, deception and sleight of hand. We know well the secrets of Mysticism and this French fire illusioneering is not it!
In fact we have learned all the Mystical secrets of the known world including religion. And Most of them we discovered far before the French, so we are must more knowledgeable about Mysticism, and we can say without question, that what the French are peddling is not Mysticism at all, it is pure lies and Evil deceptions. Blasphemy against the truth of Islam is all the French can offer. Smoke and mirrors it will always be with these Dark magicians, the French. They are utterly incapable of speaking plainly or truthfully about anything, because of their Evil, they always have so much to conceal.
A messenger-magician came to Arabia peddling his nonsense and we threw him into the Red Sea to be eaten by the ferocious, voracious, but equally delicious, fish that live there. As he drowned screaming and gasping while fish ate his genetalia, we asked him "So, How long does the average Frenchman live again?" When he failed to respond we answered him. "Until an Arabian throws his sorry hide into the Red Sea!"
"Oh and also" we said,
"Faranca wajaba sara damaar!"
"What does that mean?" a visiting Byzantine messenger asked.
Why of course "France must be Destroyed" we told him.
"I agree" he said.
Last edited by Arabia (DoB); June 13, 2012 at 00:55.
After receiving the last messages from the French, Marcus sends a messenger back to the French:
I will not stoop to your levels of disgraceful insults by claiming things about your people, like sacrificing young children. In fact, your insults are so ridiculous that I will ignore them altogether, as it only is proof of how twisted your minds are. I will let Rome's actions will speak for Rome, while your insults and lies can speak for France.
As you do not accept my generous terms, and you continue the path of the Elder Council with lies and insults, your wish shall be granted. Our war continues, until the terms have been accepted, and there is nothing unfortunate about this. Your people were the aggressors, not ours.
Fire Mystics have been camped in France a long time. They slowly replace the casualty from men from River Village. Trotseer's Braves have gone off. Some say to chase plentiful boars in France, some say chase women, some say to chase meeting Himicle. Already she is called the Maiden of the Pink Mountains in River Village for the way the Sun look against the Alps Mountains in her country. Others say it is for her bed which has no been touch by no man to this day is like a Mountain no man can cross. There are other reason that most men keep to himself for calling "Pink Mountains"
Now that the insane Elder Mystics Council are dead perhaps some sanity can be found from the Stonehenge Priests. Elder Mystics send all France warriors, thousands men to their deaths for no reason instead of safely retreating to hide and disguise themself as civilians. It is the only weakness of the Fire Mystics that they refuse to harm the hostages Torino workers with invading the Paris streets to hunt down to the last man the Stonehenge Priest to finally end this years long war.
Instead of heeding the mercy of Fire Mystics the Stonhenge Priest continue to hold hostage the Torino's and use them as a human shield, knowing the soft hearted for the defenseless nature of the Fire Mystics. All the time behind their human shield Stonehenge Priests continue to conjure some evil spell that will curse the Fire mystics somehow. And still France continue its secret Oracle building project.
"In the service of Netherlands, always" - Captain Eriksen, Royal Netherlands Navy
With the skilled aid of Byzantium craftsmen, Helu of Awan, Rightful Ruler of Persia is pleased to announce the settlement of Western Gate.
دشمنان من نابود خواهد شد.
“Luck is infatuated with the efficient.” - Persian Proverb
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