HOTW9 - story thread (game already started)

[trev]

The Trevian nation and all followers of Trevfucious are most alarmed by the provocative building of Valladoid so close to our city and we reserve the right to deal appropiately with this most aggressive act by the Spanish people. With the adoption of a representative government, the leaders of the Trevian people are only too aware of the strong desire of the people to remedy this situation rapidly, but we have held the hand of our people back to this point in time.
We continue to trade with most of the civilizations as a peace loving civilization, aiding other civilizations when they fall into trouble. In particular we have destroyed several terrorist cells that were creating havoc for the Egyptian people, and also captured a training centre, reeducated the population and handed control of the centre to the Egyptian people. It is now an antiterrorist site, serving the Egyptian people well.

[condor223]

The Egyptian People thank the peoples of the world for sending aid against the terrorist cells that spread havoc in our cities, preventing anything but training an army for several centuries. The infidels wasted our lands before our warriors came out of hospital care.

The Spanish, Incan, English and the Cartheginians sent troops to clean up the vast interior forrests and remove the scum!

Our Priests have given thanks in the temples and have sent, or are sending missionaries to those who have so generously assisted us in our time of need. We have only our knowledge of religion, since our civilization has been at the mercy of the terrorist barbarians. Indeed, it was a pleasure to see the Incan Hero, a true Knight, demonstrate prowress on horseback! The fine English axemen were also effective in removing another settlement and training cell.

We shall build a temple in the gifted city as thanksgiving for the generosity of the Trevian Nation.

Egypt will soon have Banking to trade with those who need it, now that we can focus on our economic growth.

May all of this good news be a cause for celebration and dancing!

[Frank Johnson]

In the Great Hall of the Holy Capital of the Vikings, a great number of the most powerful men in the Viking Empire had gathered to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing the future of the Viking Empire, the prospect of settling the Great Forest, a place which had been rich with Viking Lore since the time of the earliest scouts to leave the coast.

Waiting for the meeting to start the men grumbled in small groups anxiously. They were well dressed yet gruff in appearance obviously they were men more used to pratical efforts to enhance their goals then meeting in the Halls of the Holy Capital, but these were concerns that the entire Empire could not afford to ignore, or address individually as they had done in the past. Finally the heir to the Phophet Dangime, master of the Holy Capital and for the time being, supreme ruler of the Viking Empire called the meeting into order. The grumbles across the longtable ceased.

"My friends, you know the purpose of our gathering today. Our Empire is great because of the indivdual efforts of our great people, and you their noble rulers, but now that future which we seek is threatened by outsiders. The arrogant Spanish, who for centuries have languished under the sword of barbarian rabble have emerged with new vigor, and the victims of their insults are no longer unclean barbarians, but Vikings, our own countrymen."

Grumbles mixed with occasional scouts as the Holy Heir paused. The tension was high, particularly amongst the nobles from the eastern frontier.

"I will allow the Imperial envoy appointed to investigate this situation offically to speak to better inform the assembly of the situation. Listen closely to his words for they hold they greatest signifigance for our future."

The envoy appeared before the men and began to speak. "I have personally traveled by order of the Holy Emperor to the lands of the Great North East with the purpose of investigating the Spanish intentions towards the Viking Empire."

"As you know, relations with the Spanish have been cold from the very begining. Every effort to trade or even communicate with the Spanish people have been rebuffed or ignored, save a few responces to messages that the Viking People ment them no harm, and sought to cooperate with them in slaying the vile barbarians of the frontiers."

More grumbles filled the room, the nobles being reminded of the great many insults the Spanish people had heaped upon them by their unique disrespect for the Viking People through their inhospitality.

"Efforts had been made in the past to make cooperative plans for the fair and equitible distrubution of land in the East. All these efforts have been ignored as well. As my report will show, the Viking people's reward for their restraint and good intentions may very well be an intentionally hostile enclosure of the frontier by the Spanish to the great detriment to the Vikings and our Empire."

Shouts and calls for war once again filled the pause led the Eastern Nobles, while the Western Nobles waited calmly for the report to continue.

"I have illustrated for you a map, which shows the locations of Viking and Spanish Settlements in the Great Northeast. As you can see from the illustrations, Spanish settlements have sprung up, each one further to the north and east, and each one impeading upon lands traditionally held and traniquilized of barbarians by the hands of the Imperial Viking Army. If this were not enough of an insult, to suggest that the Vikings be disallowed access to the Great North East, the Spanish had created these settlements so close to prexisting Viking Settlements that conflict between them locally for lands is almost a complete certainity. What is worse is that we find that these settlement for their size contain garrisions that far exceed the neccessity from protection, and the nature of these forces could very well be considered hostile."

With this roars came up from the Assembly. Men stood up from their chairs and branished their knives, sinking them into the table. The Holy Heir raised his hands calling the meeting into a recess. They had much to dicuss even still.

[Frank Johnson]

World Map

1115 AD Viking World Map

[Frank Johnson]

In the corner of a small tavern tucked away in the foreign quarter of the Holy Capital, a young Viking was meeting with his friend of some time a deitian junior diplomat. Sealed letter in hand, the Viking's usual easy going disposition was soured by the gravity of his task.

"Why so glum, friend?" The deitian had shared many a drink with the Viking page in the same halls.

"You must take this to your superiors, it's an urgent matter." Puzzled, the junior diplomat looked at the seal. "This is from the Old Capital, it's come a long to way to reach me, what is it about?"

"All our efforts to contact the Spanish have failed. Those who support war in the council of nobles are gaining support, but a majority of the Western Nobles want to establish communication with the Spanish and hammer out some kind of agreement. The problem is we can't get through to them, no matter the channels, so we are asking foreign governments to contact them for us, in a last ditch effort."

"This is grave news. Terra has not yet known war between civilized men. The Spanish are unlike any barbarians you may have faced. You would do well not to underestimate them." The deitian was wise beyond his years.

"I know that, and even those who support war know that. The Spanish are formidable, but even the officer cadets know that the Vikings would prevail in any sort of long term conflict. It would be a battle of attrition, but one the Vikings would be certain to win from the outset." The Viking was resolute. "We have a final offer to give to the Spanish. Ironically due to the lack of communication it may be both the first and last offer, however we must try nonetheless. We know the Spanish are backwards, and the great learned men of the West would just assume trade knowledge for land rather than lives. I believe they would find such a deal to their advantage, as well as avoiding a costly conflict, but the great frontier must be shared equally amonst the nations that border it or such greed will be met by hatred. Its not just you we're talking to, we're urging all the other kingdoms to deliever this offer."

Letter in hand, the deitian finished the last of his drink before saying his farwells and heading out to the busy streets of the Holy Captial.

[deity]

[ Conq really needs to start posting, else the game stalls as a proper diplo-game. ]

[deity]

The Deitian Representative Council was functioning in a democratic form way ahead of its time.

By having representatives from the far corners of the Stronghold all views were expressed and all considered.

The Westen Isles were strongly insular and supportive of the economic focus, whilst the southern mainland states were multi-cultural and enjoyed the rewards of great Wonders. The mainland was more militaristic and worked closely with the Vikings in their alliance. They were also the first to adopt Trevfucionism and enjoy the happiness benefits provided in deals with the Trevians. They also enjoyed the quiet diplomacy of the friendly Inca nation who negotiated the adjoining border quite adeptly. They were genuinely receptive to the claims of our desert civilisation needing more room on the mainland and 'dei junglia' was established SW of 'de cap'.

News of friction on both the Eastern and Western Spanish borders provoked considerable concern.

An announcement was in order to support our Viking allies:

"Failing negotiation with the Spaniards by the Vikings, The Deitians proclaim full support for the Vikings in any action they deem necessary to protect their cultural borders. This is a civilised planet and all nations have a strong track record of working together to help the far Eadtern states fight the barbarian menace. Let this spirit prevail and let negotiations at least commence between the Spanish the Vikings and the Trevians. If this fails the whole of Terra will be flung into a world war and Spain will suffer badly, having to fight both East and West. The Spanish act to locate cities extremely provocatively on both the Trevian and Viking borders is an ac t of war in istelf. May cool heads prevail amnd the views of other nations expressed in this international arena, lease!"

[Conquistador45]

From Conquistador the 45th of Spain to the Vikings..............there will be no further Spanish expansion northward. If you look at the map Spain had no choice but to expand to the northwest with Trevian Empire to the west and the Inca to the east. Land is still available in the north. I hope a war can be avioded.

[trev]

If you look at the map Spain had no choice but to expand to the northwest with Trevian Empire to the west and the Inca to the east. Land is still available in the north. I hope a war can be avioded.

The trevian empire is now locked in on all sides, no further expansion possible with Vile on one side, Spain on other and Nolan jumping in on top, no access to the north land for me unfortunately without dividing my empire.
We appreciate the removal of the Spanish units from the contentious city of Valladoid and its disbandonment, thank you for your cooperation in that matter. Without the ability to expand the Trevian people have chosen to become more insular and self reliant, trading technology as required, but relying on internal trade and specialist for our own economy, no free markets and global companies for our people. We will stay in charge of our own destiny.

[kbarrett]

Norse Newpapers Network ... FreyasDay evening skrellings report:

The southron skrellings wisely ceded the disputed eastern city to the Vikings ... but a route to coal resources is still needed.

Failing a trade agreement, the only other sources will require annexing areas being claimed but unused by the backwards skrelling ( "spanish" or "egyptian" in their own tongues ) cultures.

Hopefully, they can be educated enough to trade coal to us ... but the railroads will go through, one way or another.

Some discussion was made at the last AllThing about considering a command economy ( communism ). A decision has not yet been made ... but corruption in the East may force the issue.

[trev]

It has become important for Trevriffic to travel abroad and spread the trevfucious way of life further to new people and continue the education of our itinerant evangelists. Therefore the reins of the Trevian Empire has been left to other hands. However trevfucious has prepared for this occasion by writing down an oracle declaring future events that will happen.
'The Trevian Empire will continue with Organized and Bureacratic civics until that Great Building, the Pentagon is built after which the civics will change to Free Religion, Free Speech, Universal Suffrage, and either State Property or Free Market. No changes to the civics will occur before this time. Once these changes are made, taxes will be raised so that further marketplaces, grocers, stock exchanges can be built and bought in all cities followed by scientific buildings, production buildings and health buildings if needed. During this period approximately equal income will go to taxes and to science. Our technology will beeline towards computers and then genetics so laboratories can be built for faster learning and the health status of the trevian people can be improved. there will continue to be some coordination with the good people of the deitian stronghold and the Vikings with the development and sharing of technologies.'
As Trevfucious has spoken in his Oracle, the events will occur without fail regardless of who runs the Trevian Empire. Trevfucious has never failed to accurately predict the future.

[Rasputin]

.Didnt play so removed psot.

[kbarrett]

Norse Newpapers Network ... FreyasDay evening skrellings report:

A centralized economic control committee has been appointed by the All-Thing, to combat corruption in the east ... proposals for a "green" economy were laughed out of the thing.

The Eastern skrellings ( "Egyptians" ) have wisely decided that they would rather trade than have our mighty nation go a-viking ... so railroad building is now proceeding in earnest.

The southron skrellings are beginning to mass troops in the disputed zone ... it is unknown if this is in fear or an unwise attempt at conquest. Most of their units are extremely obsolete, although someone has apparently sold them maxim guns and railroad tech.

Infantry troop build up will continue now that industrialization has been completed for the most part.. Our warriors eagerly await the new oil-powered dragon crawlers our artificers have promised to have for us, real soon now.

Volunteers for the arctic region settlements are still wanted.

[condor223]

An old soldier entered the armory with his adult son. Indeed, he had been away too long at the request of the King. His son quietly examined the stores and settled in to listen, for he was to replace his esteemed father at court and in battle.

http://citybuildingcontests.net/thesoldier.html

Sorry I can't figure how to put my flash on poly.