Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 4 - July 2012]

[Sommerswerd]

[hide][top]Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 4 - July 2012]

This is the Story and Diplomacy Thread for the Diplo Game "Domination of Barbarians" (DoB)



The purpose of this thread is to post in-character story posts and diplomacy for this game. Please discuss all organizational aspects of this game the Organization Thread.
Use your Anonymous Apolyton Game Account to put posts in this thread.

Domination of Barbarians is a diplomacy game.
The players try to rule their empires like they are real. Role playing and story telling is an important way to achieve this.

[Sommerswerd]

Some of the villages remain small, while some are developing into more complex communities with different structures, Monuments, Barracks, even a Great Wonder in France. Hunting and gathering is no longer the only way to get food. Some tribes have learned to farm and are harvesting wheat by the bushel.



New advances in seafaring are discovered. Multiple tribes, like the Portugese, Dutch and Japanese put massive vessels to sea, capable of transporting people over large distances. These tribes are the first to settle new settlements overseas.



A new religion is founded by Portugal. The Wars in Europe continue to rage as a new nation, Rome, enters the fray. The new religion spreads to nearby tribes, increasing the numbers of the faithful.



Governments are overthrown and new leaders emerge. The Dutch sacrifice thousands of citizens in Wars and thousands more are forced into slavery. Slaves are made and leaders are executed in a constant battle between master and slave... tyrant and subjugated...



The barbarians arrive in hordes. They march relentlessly towards the 18 tribes, slaughtering every man woman and child in their path. They are a motley assortment of vagabonds and miscreants, but their stone knives are sharp and their wooden clubs are heavy.



It is doubtful that some tribes can stand against them, especially the hordes coming out of Africa. Still the tribes send their strongest and swiftest Warriors out to meet the barbarians or they hunker down in cities, hopeful that they can survive the rising tide of destruction.



Headship / Royal Lineages of the World

Barbarians
The Children of Barbarous the Expelled

France
Torino Workers, survivors of the Stonehenge Defenders, Successors of the Elder Mystics, Keepers of Benoit the Immortal, appointed successor of Tribal Chief Andre, traverser of the Alps, appointed successor of Pierre, First Despot of France, slayer of Jean-Guy, former co-ruler w/ his wife Patrica & brother Jean-Paul, son of Jean

Spain
Himilce, Princess of Spain, Mother of Astor

Portugal
Porto & Portu, husband and wife

Netherlands
The Three fations, slayers of Hanz the Dutchman, named successor of Trotseer the Brave, named successor to Chieftain Aantaleen the Primersteleider and his wife Angeline

Ottomans
Head Chieftain Bedri Ayhan

Byzantines
Tribal Chieftains, successors to Leader Justinian, son of Leader Constantine

China
Qin Shi Huang, successor of the Mother of Qin Shi Huang, successor to the Father of Qin Shi Huang

Viking
Chief Ragnar

England
Leader Elizabeth

Celts
Lord Chieftain Brennus & Aithe

Japan
Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, Leader of Japan

Russia
Ivan Grozni, succesor of Ivan Dragonoff, succesor of Leader Peter

Arabia
The Tribal Leaders, successors to The Prophet & his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Rome
Marcus, leader of the Slave rebellion, beheader of Baron Von the tyrant

Persia
Helu of Awan, successor to Peli of Awan, Rightful Chief of the Persian Tribes

Greece - ???
Germany - ???
Holy Rome - ???

[France (DoB)]

FRENCH VICTORIOUS!!!

The Oracle wars, a series of 8 wars pitting France against an alliance of Islamic Spirit Snatchers, Western Slavers and the Christ Crucifiers, were primarily fought over whether Paris or Mecca would be chosen by the spirits as the site of the Oracle.

The Spirits were impressed with French resolve in the face of incredible adversity, in which the enemies of France used the magic of copper to destroy the French army and infrastructure while the Romans used their ancient tactics of trying to starve their opponents to death by occupying French lands and beseiging Paris. The French adapted by changing from an agricultural society to developing fishing and hunting techniques that could be done on the move while avoiding Roman patrols. Anyone caught by the Romans were nailed to crucifixes and left for all to see so as to break the spirit of the French!

One notable victim of the Roman crucifixion was the wandering Portuguese mystic Jesus Christ. Jesus performed many miracles but in France he was always known mainly for his ability to turn water into wine! Wine was very scarce in Paris with the Romans preventing any agriculture from happening so the tale of being able to turn water into wine brought many converts. The starving people of Paris also frequently requested the tale of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes feeding 5000 people. It is also said that Jesus rose from the dead three days after the Romans crucified him.

The rise of the number of Christ followers in France motivated the Stonehenge Priests to hasten the construction of the Oracle, a monument which was prophesized by Arabian mystics to be built by the French and give them the ability to know the future by communing with the spirits of the dead. The Stonehenge Priests wished to demonstrate their power to bolster their waning influence since they had been unable to stop the Roman siege of Paris.

The Oracle was built and a Priestess chosen by the spirits to act as their medium. The Stonehenge Priests held a public augury in which they asked the Oracle, "How can the French defeat our enemies who are immortal and seek to break the spirit of the French and conquer Paris?"

THE_ORACLE_II_by_DarkMoon_Priestess.jpg

The Oracle's response was "A great leader will arise in France, who's blood shall be bound to the land. Paris shall never be conquered as long as a member of this king's blood sits upon the throne, for a blood bond can never be broken."

The Stonehenge Priests were very pleased with the augury until the Oracle continued, "The ancient spirits that guarded the land of France have retired from this world and seven new Powers shall arise greater then even Mother Earth and the Fire Father. Two of these Powers have already entered this world, one has come to France to be our saviour."

There was disbelief in the Stonehenge Priests for the Oracle, which they had fought so hard and sacrificed so much to create, had prophesized their doom. For an entire decade the streets of Paris were in anarchy as die-hard supporters of the Great Spirits fought futilely against the new Christian converts while Romans beseiged the lands outside of Paris. The outcome was never in doubt though since even the Great Spirit supporters believed the Oracle's prophesy and the French officially converted to Christianity.

[Byzantium (DoB)]

Justin I, the new chief of the Byzantine tribe, silently cursed his predecessors as he listened to the grim news coming in from all his advisors.

The first ruler of Byzantium, Constantine, had ignored the warnings of his seers and advisors that a strategy of rapid expansion would result in being overrun by barbarians and had not even invested in any military research to defend his expanding empire.

The second ruler of Byzantium, Justinian, had continued his father's strategy of expansion with no military technology research instead relying on simple club wielding warriors for defense while the Persians and others were training archers. Defenseless Justinian was forced into signing the Mecca Peace Accord when the powerful Persians had invaded Byzantium. The Accord had left Byzantium with a heavy burden of building two cities for Persia or surrendering Adrianople to Persia. Justinian did not learn from his defeat and continued his policy of not investing in better military technology instead he decided to build a Great Wall of folly around Byzantium.

As a final legacy, the still defenseless Justinian had declared war on France as part of a Nether-Islamic alliance plan to prevent France from building the Oracle as predicted by Arabian seers. Fortunately the French were overwhelmed by the Nethers and reportedly another tribe called Rome and invoked some magic ritual which caused all wars to end for a hundred years. The Romans reportedly continued the war on France when the magic wore off but the Nethers did not continue the fight allowing the French to build the Oracle!

The death of Justinian by barbarians, allowed local chieftains to take over the city states as none of the tribesmen trusted the decision-making abilities of the central government. The Great Wall project was abandoned by the local chieftains. One of the local chieftains took it upon himself to redirect the second group of settlers, intended to pay off the Persian debt, to found the city of Nicaea near the choke point to Africa. The local chieftains exact plans were lost as he and most of his advisors were killed by barbarians but it is believed that the chieftain wanted to gift Nicaea to Arabia presumably to secure a position for himself in the more secure Arabian tribe.

The founding of Nicaea was a major strategic mistake for all of Byzantium for several reasons. Nicaea drew a constant stream of African barbarians who killed thousands of Byzantine warriors that came to its defense from all parts of Byzantium. All cities were constantly producing warriors in an attempt to prevent Nicaea from falling to the barbarians. The Byzantine economy was in shambles due to the expense of having so many cities, none of which had grown because all of their efforts were into production, and due to expense of supporting so many warrior units. As a result even though the local chieftains had re-directed their research into hunting and eventually archery, it would take well over a thousand years before any archers could be made! Meanwhile there was no way to hand over Nicaea to the Arabs, who reportedly did not have enough military units of their own to defend it anyway, and the people of Nicaea overwhelmingly wanted to join the Greeks and were actively preparing to revolt! Finally because of the demands to constantly create warriors to replace losses to the African hordes, Byzantium would not be able to create a second settler in time to pay the Persians and thus have to forfeit Adrianople!

Justin could not think of a curse strong enough to vent his frustration at his predecessors, now that he had managed to reunite what remained of the Byzantium empire. Nicaea was lost either to barbarians or a Greek revolt while Adrianople would be lost to the Persians and if the African barbarians broke through Nicaea then all of Byzantium was probably lost. Justin felt that there was a strong possibility that he might be the last ruler of Byzantium...

Justin's contemplation is interrupted as a messenger arrives from Nicaea. "There have been heavy losses in Nicaea and a second wave of fresh barbarians that outnumber the defenders three to one have moved into place to attack. The few remaining warrior units are heavily damaged and cannot withstand the next attack. There are no other warriors that can reach Nicaea in time. Nicaea is about to fall!"

Justin cursed again. He had just sent a messenger to Greece to hopefully arrange a peaceful transfer of Nicaea to the Greeks in the hopes that they could hold back the African horde. There was nothing to do but to order the abandonment of Nicaea and pull back the wounded to Thessalonica. The African hordes have broken through to the Middle East!

Justin ordered the newly trained Adrianople workers back to the capital and sent a messenger to Persia giving them Adrianople as final payment for the Mecca Peace Accord. Byzantium could not defend Adrianople but perhaps the Persians could. May Allah have mercy on us all, the barbarians are coming!

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Nothing but the bad news is what is heard in River Village. Nether messengers from all the factions reports aloud what is happening.

Fire Mystics say The Oracle War is lost, and the Torino Romans are still not free. Our lands will soon be overun by the evil influence of France's new powerful religion, along with the influence of their Great spriritual Wonders. One by one, our poor people will give way to Franch influence.

Ocean Faction has resume again enslaving people, this time forcing them to work with no end in the frozen lands of Nation of Water. They reports that they need urgently fishers but the work was going too slow. So the leaders of Ocean faction orders the people to prepare the nets and boats night and day, in blistering winter wind and frozen rains and snow. Whoever refuse is tied to a stake and forced to stay and work. Many have died from the cold. Hands frozen to the nets they were making.



Even worse is that Ocean Faction land will soon be cut off from River Village by the Celtia men to the South. Ocean faction say they saw a group of women children and some men carrying sricks and bundles to make a settlement. When this is made the narrow channel of calm water will be within Celtialand and Our ships cant sail through the rough seas in the east. We must sail near the shore or we will sink. So now Ocean Faction is on they own with no help coming from River Village.

Now this latest worse news that poor battle tactics by our Byzantines allies have cause them to lose their entire army to barbarians. "If only we could send some help to their incompetent military leaders" is what Fire Mystics are saying.

Today are sad days in the hearts of Nether. All three factions report nothing but troubles and failures.

[France (DoB)]

The anarchy in Paris has continued for nearly 30 years, as various would-be kings battle it out for who will become King of France. Meanwhile Roman soldiers continue the siege of Paris and the crucifixions of the innocent.

One fervent Christian priest, Ignatius, has become known throughout Paris for his sermons emphasizing the Christian teaching of

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

and leading massive prayer services for the spirits of the Romans! Spurred on by his belief that even the ruthless Romans can be swayed by Christian values, Father Ignatius left the safety of Paris to approach one of the Roman legions with the simple Christian message of

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Many of the French are inspired by Father Ignatius faith and willingness to become a Christian martyr however most believe that the Romans are too heartless to heed Christian teachings and that Father Ignatius will simply become another Roman crucifixion victim. All of France waits to see if Christian values can truly bring about peace where diplomacy and pagan magics have failed...

[Byzantium (DoB)]

The retreating Byzantium army loses another unit of warriors and the city of Nicaea is razed by the barbarians however the barbarians seem content to simply drive the Byzantines from Africa and are not at this time preparing for a massive invasion of the Holy Lands. The Byzantine army is cautiously optimistic that they will hold Thessalonica as they build up its defenses. The Byzantine economy is back in order and their research into new military technology is proceeding at a much more rapid pace now that Nicaea is gone. The future looks bright however our Islamic brothers are warned that Byzantium is no longer attempting to contain the barbarians in Africa and some may reach their lands so they should prepare their defenses accordingly.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The leaders of the Nether listen close to the messenger tell of the more crushing defeat of Byzantine Militry. "How can these incompetent leaders think they can lead or protect a people?" Fire Mystics are angered at the news and want to rush to help Byzantines but Nether faction is not agree. "We can not cross through Holly Roamers land to rescue Byzantines, the Holly Roamers people would never allow it even if the leaders did"

"We must ask the thinkers of Ocean faction and Nether to make some way to let all the people of other lands know that we mean them no harm. It must be some way that dont need any messenger to say. It must be some way that it will last even after the messenger is gone so everyone can knows about it."

"We must find a way to make our words last as long as stone"

"At least the slave revolts have ended and people are getting back to work in River Village."

[Byzantium (DoB)]

Messengers to Netherlands return with tales of repeated insults by the Nether leaders of Byzantium's leaders and military. The Nethers offer copper to assist in the defense against the barbarians on one hand while privately councilling war with Arabia and Persia on the other hand.

Suspicious of the Nether's motives, Justin orders a thorough interrogation of the few remaining elders familiar with the plan to settle Nicaea, which reveals that the plan to settle Nicaea was masterminded by the Nether leaders as part of a complicated and shady scheme to trade the city to the Arabs. This explains why they have such an interest in the outcome. The question remains whether the Nether's purposefully convinced the local leaders to overextend themselves to sabotage Byzantium or were the Nether advisors so incompetent that they did not realize the foolishness of their proposed scheme.

Either way Justin's advice to other leaders is the same, "Beware of Nether's bearing gifts or advice".

[China (DoB)]

Qin has returned from his travels abroad. Qin thanks his cousin Wil Hung for looking after his dominion so well. He will name the new settlement in his honour. Upon his travels he found new tools and learned new techniques in the art of war and love. He has also (after many years) taken in interest in the daughter of the Japanese leader. He gazed upon her in wonder, across the table as a truce was worked out between the two great Asian nations. His council men hopes a marriage will eventually wed both man and wife, and nations. Meanwhile hordes of Barbs have gathered to the east accompanied by packs of lions and bears who appear to be working in concert. Defences are being readied for the assault of the 1000's.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Nether recieve word of the lies that advisors to Justin I are telling. Justin should behead such faulty advisors at once as the Nether have always been a true friend to Byzantium. Since ancient time Nether offered to send help against France when they invaded the land of Justin forefathers. Nether struggle mighty, hand in hand with Islamic allies to stop France from making the Death Oracle. Though we fail, we are one of Byzantium oldest most loyal friends and also a friend to all of Islamic alliance. Surely Byzantium can know this from asking any old man on the street.

"Send a messenger to Justin. Tell him to ask Arabia has the Nether been true and loyal to our word to Islamic allies? Maybe Justin because he is new leader does not yet know of what happened during his father and immortal grandfather's reign. Ask him what cause Nether could have to offer him the hardest stone ever known, the Caw-purr stone to protect his people? What reason other than true loyalty and friendship?"

[Byzantium (DoB)]

Justin listened to the Nether messenger and mused. The Nether and Arabs had never officially met and all communication between the two tribes was supposed to flow through Byzantium messengers but the Nether message implied that Arabia and the Nether had other communications that the Byzantines were not aware of. This may be why no Byzantines knew the details of why Nicaea was settled where it was and why it was supposed to be given to the Arabs. It could also have been discussions to do with the Nether's strange advice to go to war with Arabia and Persia to allow them to move through Byzantine lands. That could be a trick to allow the Arabs or Persians to attack Byzantine cities and military units to weaken them enough to allow the barbarians to take the cities. With the Byzantines eliminated then the Persians or the Arabs would be free to take the cities from the barbarians. None of the messengers to Arabia had returned since Justin assumed control of Byzantium so something unusual was going on.

The Nether track record was poor. They had convinced the Arabians to build the Oracle by promising to attack the French to slow down his production. They had even convinced the Romans to join the war against France. They had then reneged on their promise to attack once the French DMW magic wore off thus allowing the French to build the Oracle which meant the Arabs had wasted a lot of time building a useless pile of rocks. They had even left the Romans to fight the war against France alone.

The Nethers had then convinced the local Byzantine chiefs to build Nicaea which wasted many centuries of Byzantine time and resources. The Arabs, Byzantines and probably the Romans had all fallen well behind the rest of the tribes in terms of infrastructure and technologies due to the Nether's assistance. Perhaps that was the Nether objective, to slow down potential rivals...

Based upon past Nether actions, they seemed to have a pattern of agreeing to do something and then pulling out at an inconvenient point which meant the ally was left in a precarious position. If that pattern held true then the Nether could be offering the Copper with the intention of cancelling the deal while the Byzantines were in the middle of building a spearman thus wasting even more production. The Nethers were either incompetent or saboteurs.

A strange idea then occurred to Justin, perhaps the Nethers were secretly working with the French and the extremely vocal rivalry between the two tribes was merely to cover up their secret alliance. Everything the Nethers had accomplished seemed to help the French. Arabia and Byzantines, two strong French opponents, were weaker as a result of the Nether's advice while the French had managed to build two world wonders despite their "wars" with the Nethers. It would be an overly complex plan but not beyond the realm of possibility given the twisted mind of the evil French.
There were too many possibilities and Justin did not like the risks associated with dealing with the Nethers. Coming out of his deep thought Justin told the Nether messenger, "Thank your Nether leaders for their offer of copper however the walls of Thessalonica shall be built before we could make use of the copper and with those walls the city of Thessalonica will be safe from barbarians."

[Rome (DoB)]

Marcus, being informed by messengers from his friends in the lands of the Nether about what the new leader of the far away nation of Byzantium had said, hastily sent several men to the lands of the Nether. He told them to tell this to the Nether:

My friends in the Nether. I have been told that your people have been accused of being dealbreakers or incompentent, and I would like you to know that I will personally vouch for your honour. When Rome needed the Caw-Purr, you sent it to us, and we have trained many axemen using the Caw-Purr you sent us. Your assistance has been invaluable to us in the French wars. Please let the Byzantine leader know that Rome defends your honour and stands with you as we know you will not break a deal once made!

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The messenger told of Justin still being greatly suspicious of Nether words. Nether leaders cant believe the wild mixed up lies that fill Justins mind! He must be a very paranoid person to come up with all these. Nether have no knowledge of any deals of Arabia with Byzantines. Nether only talk with Arabia through Byzantine messengers. Byzantines told Nether that Arabia wanted Nether to attack France to help them build Oracle. Then Arabia betrayed Nether by delaying the project, but still Nether keeps their word and fights to stop France. Nether forgave Arabia for their treacherous delays and fought to help them as a friend would. Now Arabia sells the so-call "useless" rocks for a pile of failure gold that is deep enough to swim in, while the loyal and true Nether are left with nothing. Nothing but an even more powerful more oppressive neighbor, the evil France. Arabia promised Nether rich rewards for our help but no message has come from them since the Oracle has build by France. It is madness incompetence for a leader under siege from barbarian hordes to refuse an offer for weapons to defend his people, to instead cower behind walls, but if the foolish obvious imcompetent to lose their cities new leaders of Byzantines are too ignorant to except help when offer is given in friendship then we cant make them.Even more foolish is to turn your back on a loyal friend. As wise Trotseer once said "Good friends are worth more than shiny rocks"

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Fire Mystics are furious that France builds Oracle against all our resonable request. We demand that France promise not to build anymore Wonders in Paris and return the Torino's to Rome. Fire Mystics lead a battle group back into france to free the Torinos.

[Japan (DoB)]

Raijin is near death, and the lack of news from his scouts worry him.

The many families of Nishikyo are steadily making a number of boats to help the tribe gather food from the sea. But the wood on the Main Land is different from the wood in Japan, and many boats have been ruined by a lack of knowledge about this wood. It is slow going, but they will succeed, of this he is certain. Raijin then calls his son Ainu close, and with his family around him, makes Ainu the new leader of Nishikyo.

Ainu is tight-faced, trying not to make emotion sway him too much as his father lies there, breathing fitfully. Raijin beckons to his son, making him come closer. Ainu leans in, and his father starts to whisper something in his ear - at that moment a warrior enters their home - "Raijin! Urgent news!" Ainu rises up and strikes the warrior down in one movement! As he stands above the man, he can hear the last wind of his father leave his body. "Kamikàze protect him" he says, and the family all voice it with him.

The warrior suddenly realizes what has happened. Ainu grabs a hold of the warrior and takes him out of the home, talking in a tight voice: "What is this urgent news that made you see fit to disturb my fathers last moment in this world?!"

The warrior looks at Ainu, and with one word everything changes: "Barbarians!"

[France (DoB)]

From out of the anarchy of Paris, a young leader called Louis arose demanding a separation of the church and the state. Louis rallying cry was to let the priests save our spirits while the king saves our land. The Oracle proclaimed Louis the rightful King of France and with a powerful ritual bound Louis' blood to the land of France so that the fate of France and the fate of every descendant of Louis would forever be intertwined.

The ancient Stonehenge priest magic ritual of Defender's Measured War, was adapted by the Christian priests to become a prayer to the Holy Spirit. The prayer worked just as effectively against the Romans but no sooner was it completed then the Nethers declared war on France. The Christian priests once again began their chants in Stonehenge praying for the Holy Spirit to bring peace to France.

[Celtia (DoB)]

Brennus came over the hills, looking down on the great stone quarry that made the great houses of Bibracte sturdy and well protected against wind and rain. Villagers were hard at work, as some of the stone was cut into smaller pieces to mark the path towards Vienne from Bibracte. The new village was set down by the coast at the far north of Celtia.

Vienne.jpg

A cold wind tossed his hair back, and thanks to his clothing made from sheep wool it felt more like a mild breeze. Waving his followers onward, they passed by the workers on towards Vienne. It would be many seasons until the road was completed, but then it would be safer and faster to travel through the land.

Thinking of the fishermen that had seen large Nether ships far at sea, he thought about making ships to explore the sea. It would have to wait. Earth mother has blessed us with strong grey stone, and some strange red-brown stones that were different from ordinary stone. A group of villagers were testing this new stone to see if it could be useful.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Advancing on Paris the Fire Mystics catch their first glances at the Oracle of Death as it is known by. Already the worshipers of the France Polytheism religion are flocking to Paris and the Nether in the forests near River village give in one by one to its spell.



All over there are makings of the many Polytheism Gods of the France religion. Looking at so many different gods it seem alot like the Norseman beliefs. Maybe that is why the Norseman village have the same religion as France? We will ask them if they are loyal to the France Polytheism or if France has copy they Polytheism.

[Japan (DoB)]

Wave upon wave beat against the ships timber, it was still strong yet many repairs were visible. Different woodtypes made it better, and the protective spirit eye on the sail had been colored again with stronger colors made from berries that were bitter but useful. The Main Land changed many times, with new things being learned whenever they went inland to get more water and food. They had been given a great task that would make their leader proud. The spirit guide had recently been more silent, as if something was troubling her. No matter, it would be shared when the spirits deemed it right. They sailed on with strong hearts, passing both friendly and unfriendly land.

Sailboat-At-Sunset.jpg

Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, leader of Japan, was troubled by news of barbarians from Nishikyo.

Sending word to Osaka, taking all men capable of using a bow-and-arrow and sending them to Nishikyo by greatship, he hoped they would be of aid against the attackers. Reports said they outnumbered our warriors, Ainu was confident that the fight would go well, but nothing had been heard for a long time.

Far better was the news that the leader of China was interested in a companion-bond with the sister of Ainu, the
daughter of the previous leader of Japans Main Land village Nishikyo, Raijin. She had told her brother of her interest in the leader of China, and Tokugawa sent word back that this union would be a welcome step to bringing our two people together.

Jiraya told him of new tales of Jõmon, where the chinese now were not told of as dangerous brutes, but friendly men that worked together against the demons-in-men, the barbarians, and their animal companions. In both Osaka and Kyoto men were being gathered to help improve land in Japan. There were hills with strange stones in them, that when worked in a fashion, made better tools for use in the village. The way to Osaka could be improved, if a gathering of men used tools to make it wide and flat, so small carts could bring trade by land instead of by fishing boats.

Tokugawa then gathered with the spirit guides around a fire, to chant the names of the spirits blessing Japan. Thanking them for every fortune and every challenge that would come to Japan from the great unknown world.

Fire.jpg

[France (DoB)]

King Louis listened to the dismal updates from his advisors. The constant siege of Paris by the Romans and the Nethers had made France the poorest tribe of all. Barely able to feed his people, Louis nevertheless prayed to the Holy Spirit to save the spirits of the Nethers and the Romans so that they might one day turn from their evil ways.

Spoiler:

France Demographics.jpg

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The old Fire Mystic just shook his head with frown on his face after he listen to messenger.

"Why the new French King allows such despair on his people? Is he madman? He has the finest city the world has ever see, with more fertile land then all his neighbors combined. Still this is not enough, he must have more. More why? For what? He can't use it if he stays at War. His boars run wild and untamed, his lands are overgrow with tres shrub and brush, his grapes are choked with weeds. His rich stones and Marble quaries are cover with mosses and mud, his fisheries are abandon. He even has the Caw-Purr in his vast lands.

But with all these riches he can not use them, because he refuse to release his Torino prisoners. And he refuse to stop building Wonders in Paris. And what purpose do they serve him? They cant do no work! They are not allow to leve Paris for fear Roman will take them back to Rome. And no matter how much land his wonders give him, no matte how many are turn to the France culture, he can not use the land as long as he is at war.

What is this? Is he pride? Ego? Vanity? So-called King Louis twiddles and fiddles thumbs while Paris, the jewel of all the lands is stunted in her growth, only because their foolish leaders wishes to hold his breath like a child till he turn blue. Even now, our spies report that he orders his people to learn the ways of the Bow and Arrow, hoping that this will save him and he dont need to make any peace. Little do he know that already we are learning ways to defeat the bow and arrow.

What a waste of time! He wont just return the Torinos and stop building the Wonders, he wants only to solve his woes through the force of arms. All while he complain that other use force against him.

And until then he hold his breath"

The Fire Mystic sighes a long sigh "Maybe we should call for the execution of this madman Louis and all his heirs before he brings destruction to his people. French are afterall our relatives."

[France (DoB)]

King Louis sends messengers to the leaders of the Spanish and Portugese tribes.

Greetings fellow Christian leaders. The Islamic tribes of Arabia, Persia and Byzantium have formed an alliance while the Western Slaver tribes of Netherland, England, Germany and Rome appear to have formed an alliance as well. The Kingdom of France believes that the Christian tribes should form a similar alliance.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Kingdom of France has been the victim of repeated wars from both the Islamic and Slaver alliances who were allied to prevent France from building the Oracle. Despite the many tribes allied against it, the Kingdom of France prevailed to win the Oracle wars while the Islamic-Slaver alliances seem to have broken apart over accusations of who was at fault for losing the Oracle wars.

The Kingdom of France has made peace with the Islamic alliance and does not foresee any future wars with that alliance since they appear to be engaged in fighting barbarian hordes and are geographically distant from France. The Roman and the Nether tribes however are engaged in a cycle of repeated Hundred Year Vendetta wars against the Kingdom of France which are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

The Romans and Nether make a lot of noise about the return of descendants of the Torino workers but their obvious real objective can be seen in their main ongoing demand that the Kingdom of France agree to never again build any "Wonders". This is of course completely unacceptable. Furthermore French strategic advisors are reasonably confident that even if a deal that was acceptable to France could be made with the Roman and Nether heathens then the Slaver alliance would just have the Germans and English continue the Hundred Year Vendetta wars by proxy.

The Roman and Nether bullies only understand force and will continue to attempt to blackmail the Kingdom of France until we can successfully prevent them from entering our lands. The Kingdom of France is therefore reluctantly building up its army to counter these Hundred Year Vendetta wars however we have been a peaceful people for many centuries and it will take a long time before the French can drive its enemies from its lands, especially given the ongoing sieges by the Slavers. We have given the Slavers every opportunity to repent their evil ways and accept the Holy Spirit into their hearts so that we all may live in peace and harmony but they have hardened their hearts and only want eternal war.

The people of France have placed their faith in the Holy Spirit to deliver us from this evil while we persevere in these difficult times. If you cannot ally with us then will you not at least say a prayer for your Christian brothers and sisters in France?

May the Holy Spirit guide you in your decision.

Your Christian brother,
Louis I, King of France

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Messengers come back from Portugal with news

The Romans and Nether make a lot of noise about the return of descendants of the Torino workers but their obvious real objective can be seen in their main ongoing demand that the Kingdom of France agree to never again build any "Wonders". This is of course completely unacceptable. Furthermore French strategic advisors are reasonably confident that even if a deal that was acceptable to France could be made with the Roman and Nether heathens then the Slaver alliance would just have the Germans and English continue the Hundred Year Vendetta wars by proxy.

One Netherman in River Village stands. "So now France excuse for keeping prisoners is they cant trust Nether's words? More lies as usual. In the First invasion on River Village the French forced Nether to agree not to send secret watchers on France. And since then, even through all our Wars and fights and even though we killed the defenses of France, we still honor our word not to put any hidden watcher in France. France can not doubt our word as we have always keep our promises to France even as war enemies. So this is a lie. France just wants to keep Torinos imprisoned forever in Paris. For next excuse Now France lies against their allies in Germ Manes and England who has never lift a finger against them. All to get soem sympathy for their stubbord prideful hearts.

Sends to France another messenger. Here are Nether reasonable demands. I
1. France agrees not to build another Wonder in Paris. France can build as many Wonders as they want, just no more in Paris.
2. France sends Torinos back to Rome
3. The madman Louis and his entire family must surrender to Nether so that this madness can stop and to repay the blood debt for Trotseer the brave

These are all the Nether asks for peace.

we have been a peaceful people for many centuries

The Nether in river village just stares at each other with slackjaws and eyes as wide as full moons.

"Say again what the message was. I can't believe I hear it what you said" somebody asks

"Yes he says that France have been a peace for MANY centuries! Yes France! Can you believe it?"

"France starts the first War in history against Nether, and since then France is in every single War since the start of life itself and is non-stop warmaking forever and now they say they are a peaceful? Then what is not peaceful?"

[China (DoB)]

The Chinese people are exhausted his advisors tell Qin in private council. The barbarians are assaulting like never before. He gazes at the image produced by his scouts.

dob1.jpg

It is relentless as they appear on the horizon one after another. His archers are able to defeat them but no workers can go out in the fields and costs of the continuous battle are draining the treasury.

Qin is pleased though to here that his interested in AhLee is reciprocated. He cannot at this time though travel to see his future bride while under attack. He sends word to Japan to begin planning the celebrations.

[France (DoB)]

The King is Dead! Long live the King!

King Louis I, the first King of France has died after ruling France for 50 years. King Louis I reign began during the 1st Roman Vendetta War which was repulsed via prayer and strong faith and ended during the 1st Nether Vendetta War.

A devout Christian, King Louis I the Stalwart, attempted to found a Christian Alliance to counter the rise of the Western Slaver Alliance and the Islamic Alliance however he died before such an alliance was ever agreed to. His most notable accomplishment was his unwavering stalwart resolve in the face of the relentless brutality of the Romans and Nethers continued wars of aggression.

King Louis II has ascended the throne still facing all the same problems that his father's faith had not yet resolved.

King Louis II first act is to send a messenger to all the Slaver's Alliance tribes, with a response to the Nethers extortion demands,

Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me. Aye we know who thou art Prince of Lies, Lucifer, Fire Father! Know this, there shall be a time when you shall be judged for thine war-mongering, slavery, genocide and lies and you shall be returned to the fiery pits of Hell! The Holy Spirit has chosen to test the faith of the French and we shall not be found wanting!

To the tribesmen of the Slaver's Alliance, I say repent now and convert to Christianity or thy soul shall spend all eternity suffering in Hell! For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Satan-vs-Jesus.jpg

[France (DoB)]

Free France Flotillas

English smugglers of escaped slaves have been unsuccessful in attempts to circumvent the Nether blockade of France. Inspired by the French ability to peacefully resist the Nether and Roman invaders through faith and sheer people power, the English smugglers have launched numerous Free France Flotillas. All of the Flotilla attempts have been stopped by brutal Nether raids and with the slave mistress Elizabeth refusing to speak against the Nether blockade, the English sailors have forsaken England and joined the French resistance, proclaiming "You may stop some of us but you cannot stop all of us. For we are all French now!".

As a result the French channel is entirely French now although the Nether blockade is still in effect.

[England (DoB)]

Elizabeth has seen generations of French rulers rise to power and then pass away into dust, and even while this new ruler Lewy styles himself a “king” he is but the same petty tyrant as those who have proceeded. Even as the Nether and Rome make generous peace offerings that would end the vicious 100 year cycle of wars that have impoverished the French people and rendered their land barren – France makes and unprecedented claim on ancestral English fishing grounds which have been in use for centuries. At the same time, with the creation of the oracle of death, so many more citizens of London fell under French mind-destroying curses that tens of thousands had to be put to death and another band of settlers set forth to settle new lands far to the north.It should be clear to all that France continues to blindly follow the same immoral creed it has so oft and boldly proclaimed throughout the ages: that might-makes-right. But England shall never bow in obeisance no matter what trials our people must endure.

French actions have also led Elizabeth to question the tenets of this new religion of Christianity. For even as France calls for a holy war of believers against non-believers, the Spanish appear to remain as peaceful and friendly as always and the Portuguese have yet to issue and response to the bellicose proclamations from the Muslim lands. Could the French truly have corrupted the principals of this faith so totally, yet if so why have the Spanish and Portuguese not spoken out against it? Elizabeth would welcome missionaries from both Christian and Muslim lands so that we may come to understand the principles of each and thereby have an even greater knowledge of the spirit realm.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

France continue this never-ending parade of lies. Ocean Faction has peacefully transport Nether faction tree cutters not blockade France. Blockade is over decade ago. But now as retaliate for the slanders and insults against Ocean Faction we will resume our blockade until France promise to give to us Clams and safe passage for our ships. Unless they give these we will blocade for they lies agaonst Ocean faction

[France (DoB)]

Disappointed at Himilce's indifference to the plight of the Christians in France suffering by repeated heathen invasions, the Spanish Christians of the Pyrenees have decided to come to the aid of their Christian brothers and sisters by joining France.

As one defecting Spanish priest put it, "While those tribes that invade another tribe for ostensibly humanitarian purposes may not always be good, there can be no doubt that any tribe which enslaves, kills and starves tens of thousands of innocents is evil. There is a battle of good and evil in the world for the souls of mankind and the Slavers and their allies are clearly on the side of evil.

Attempts by the forces of evil to justify their ruthless wars of vengeance by equating them to the ancient humanitarian missions of France is despicable. The ancient French 'wars' were brief, harmed no innocents and had stated objectives to prevent the enslavement, starvation and death of tens of thousands of innocents. The French have proven their peaceful intentions by not escalating the wars and only offering passive resistance to the invaders for centuries.

In contrast the Slaver Vendetta wars are designed to starve, kill and enslave tens of thousands of innocents for generation after generation for endless centuries. There can be no moral justification for their evil actions."