Diplogame HOTW XII Ragnarok - Story Thread

[Diplo Carpathia]

Harrod dines with Vlad Tepes II

This excerpt from "101 Tales of Terra" was written by Harrod around 755 BC. Modern historians joke that Harrod was Terra's first food critic, since Harrod's writings often include a detailed account of dinner. All joking aside however, Harrod is considered one of the most important ancient writers due to the scope of his work.

101 Tales of Terra, Chapter 2 Vlad Tepes

The supper with Vlad Tepes II was one of the more revolting and awful experiences of my life. Don't be mislead, the food was delicious. The countryside was lovely as well. Like his father however, Tepes II had a sadistic side.

Tepes II resembled his father in other ways. He was always extremely clean, and well dressed. He followed The Code, and ran his fathers empire as he did. He also had a fetish for eating among the dying as did his father.

Dining with us was 30 barbarians. Their seats made of sharpened wood, ours made of handcrafted wood.

"They pay for their crimes against The Code," remarked Tepes, "and sing the sweetest dinner music."

Clearly, the Count enjoyed this suffering.

"Count Tepes," I began the interview, "what does Carpathia think of rumors of war?"

"Carpathia has no interest in wars. Let the savages of this world kill each other over who's God is the real God. Carpathians put faith in The Code, and it serves them well. Although my father swore revenge upon the Mongols, I would like to end the Thousand Years War." replied Tepes.

"In particular," I began, "What do you think of the Dutch situation."

"The Dutch should stay on their side of the bay," answered Tepes with a mouth full of steak, "These lands east of the Americans have already been fought and paid for."

"And the Mali?" I jostered.

"Our army reports seeing them in combat, outside one of the heathen barbarian citys. They were decimated by the barbarians, which then allowed Carpathian troops to smash the ill placed village to rubble." he replied. "We look forward to more military victorys with the Mali at our side."

"Tell me dear Count, what do you think of the French?"

"I know little of the French, as the Inca, Ottomans, Russia, and the Mongols for that matter. Tales of a God named Ozzy rumor through our villages, but no missionary has come forth. I would like to trade Islam for this Ozzy religion. I feel all people would benifit from it." he replied while looking more and more annoyed with the interview...

"One more thing dear Count, what is this juicy supple meat," I inquired.

"Thats a rather tender subject, another slice anyone?" he offered.

from 101 Tales of Terra / chapter 2

[Diplo Carpathia]

Harrod's 101 Tales of Terra

The Carpathian writer Harrod is thought to have been born in 775 BC.

Growing up under the reign of Tepes I, Harrod was placed as Grand Master Scribe of the Carpathian Empire at the age of 20. Tepes heard many rumors of the other Terra tribes, but had little hard facts to go by. It was for this reason that Tepes sent Harrod out to wander Terra and bring back stories of his travels.

His accounts of war, politics, leaders, and Terra in general give modern day historians unique insight to many of the major events of the times. These travels are documented in "101 Tales of Terra".

"101 Tales of Terra" was one of the most widely published books of the period. Copies have been found by modern archeologists in many different areas of the world.

OOC: Harrod will be walking the game map as a scout unit. If you wish to have your leader interviewed by Harrod for entry into "101 Tales of Terra" allow him enterence to your capital. You will then get an email with Harrods questions, to which you can respond. I will make the actual Harrod post based off your answers (and anything else you would want to request be added for style)

[Diplo America]

OOC: That's a woman Carpathia.

Send Harrod on over to Richmond good buddy!

[Diplo France]

OCC: America is right.

He would be welcomed in Paris IF he followed the designated route and did not eveter other regions of France. We would also request he sends his questions before his visti.

[Diplo Inca]

We warmly invite Harrod to visit us and take account of Inca daily life.

We advice Harrod to use the Inca forest trails for safety reasons, as they are free of Mongolian scouts and skirmishers. This will allow Harrod to travel safely throughout our civilization.

We know of the Mongolian aggression towards unarmed Carpathians, thus please follow our trails

[Diplo Carpathia]

That's a woman Carpathia

How do you know? How do you REALLY know?

[Diplo France]

Originally posted by Diplo Carpathia


How do you know? How do you REALLY know?

Because of millions of years of evolution that resulted in some specialised face-analysing brain functions?

[Diplo Mali]

To: Vlad Tepes, Lord of Carpathia.

From: Chief Koboku of the Malinese Nation.

Hail, Lord of the Carpathians, scourge of Villains. We happily await the arrival of your scribe so we may tell the amazing story of the Chosen People-The Mali.

[Diplo America]

I know its a woman because its a replica of this picture,



Which is a famous fresco of a Roman woman.

[Diplo Holland]

Dearest Harrod,

I have heard de news of your upcoming adventure!

My king will not allow such an interview nor will he allow you passage through Dutch lands - some problem with clams and corn I believe.

Note that I am NOT in de King's favour for he has packed me off to Paris on lesser duties.

His daughter Juliana resides in Paris however. She is preparing writings of certain parts of history and and interview may be interesting. She is intensely loyal to her father but her French studies have liberated her thinking I believe.

You may need to travel via America, Inca and Ottoman to reach France. This will be exceedingly dangerous with war imminent between de Inca and de Mongols.

I personally fear Hellugo the shifty so take great care...

Just a secret piece of information for you - Lyons is perhaps the best point of entry into France but this produces a difficult problem for your king Tepes.

You would need to declare war on either de Dutch OR de Mongols to cover de remaining miles to Lyon. De Dutch have all sea passages blocked by de way.

But here is hopin Harrod that ou make it alive for I am reasonably sure they will not harm you...

Verkerk, de Dutch diplomat en route to Paris

---

[OOC a scout unit is named for Verkerk]

[Diplo Inca]

To all Terra Nations,

We the Inca would like to clarify something, some like Holland say that war between us and the Mongols is imminent.

This is false!

Inca does not seek war with anyone, because this is not our way. But we will fight to defend our lands from any aggressive acts against us. Mongolia has for centuries pursued an aggressive foreign policy against all nations. They demand something from us that we can not give and now threaten us with war. In preparation for such aggression we the Inca have found friends to help us. Again we do not want war, but we will protect what is ours. All attempts until now have been in vain, we have sent a counter proposal to the Mongols. They claim now that we have never answered their diplomatic message but we have, the problem is that we never got a reply just a declaration of war from three Mongolian tribes.

We fear that Mongolia has made its mind long before any negotiations were attempted.

As such we have contacted others to assist us in defending our lands and many have accepted to help us if we are attacked. We think that there is still time to find a peaceful solution to this issue. Mongolia we ask you to reconsider and offer a fair deal. The future of many lies in what you decide to do next.

[Diplo Mongolia]

A dark rumour is spreading in the Carpathian countryside. From the easternmost borders, slowly, word of a darkness in the land is reaching westwards towards Targoviste. The peasants are terrified. They dare not exit their homes at night. They pray fervently to Allah. They beg the authorities of the Code and the Faith to protect them. An evil is present in the land. It is felt, more than seen. But those who have seen it dare barely whisper of it. Some never speak again.

They say there is a sorcerer in the land. A deep evil, clad in a crimson robe. Bloodlike in color, flowing like liquid instead of wool or cloth. It is said to walk, some say glide, slowly, but steadily towards the west. In direct path of Targoviste. It is said that the evil figure does not stop for hills nor mountains, not forests or jungles. It simply trudges on, due west. Step by unseen step. A deep terror strikes any who it strays near. For weeks, noone nearby sleeps well after it has passed through. Flowers seem to wither. An unnatural cold grips the land.

Brave men have sought it. Few have dared but to look upon it from afar then flee. A hero of the land claimed he shot it with an arrow. The demon in the crimson robe continued walking. The hero now lies in drunken stupor every night, too afraid to be sober, lest he remember every detail.

The dark red shadow continues west. As it nears Targoviste people feel their hairs stand on end. More people see it. Livestock are sacrificed to please Allah. Mothers lock their children indoors. It is a manshaped devil. Draped completely in the flowing fiery cloak. A dark burning hood covers its face. It never stops. Never rests. Never eats. It only drags the red robe further west. Towards Targoviste.

An honor guard is assembled to calm the peasants. Their shining armor and weapons gleam in the chilly sunlight. They march east from the grand city to meet and halt the deplorable strangeness. The figure comes nearer. It is within sight of Targoviste. The honor guard stand strong. Their formation solid. Shoulder to shoulder. Strong men. Battlehardened. Knees trembling.

The figure approaches slowly. Men at the edges consider fleeing. Their captain stands fiercely proud and strong. He inspires courage in his men. They stand. The captain's teeth are clenched so hard they creak. The devil nears.


Hold foul fiend!!! Shouts the Captain! In the name of Allah! Turn back! Begone from our lands!!
The figure trudges on. It is within arrowrange. The captain orders his archers to fire upon it. Only a dozen arrows fly. All miss. The archers turn and flee. The axes remain. The captain cries to his men to hold their ground. The men stand. They sink their feet into the rich soil, now cold and dry. They are ready. They have felt furious barbarians slam into them, they know how to hold their ground. Not give way. Not a single step backwards. The figure is a stones throw away.

The bloodred gown proceeds. The strong men of the axe brigade stand firm. Paralyzed. The demon comes nearer. The captain, breathless, directly in its path, he does not blink. His hair turns white. It walks, a steady determined movement. Even within a few feet its visage is hidden in the hood. It's body and arms engulfed in the lifelike robe. It stops.

[Diplo Mongolia]

In the prayer tent of the Horde near the Cuzco border.

Brothers, the Inca continue to spread their lies and falseness. Should we do something? Send out an announcement? Send messengers to the leaders of other nations?

-Brother Ogodei, your years with the French has clearly blurred your mind of what it means to be Mongol. It matters not what other nations think or do. We know the truth and we must follow our conscience. The prophecy is clear. If the boy does not come, the darkness will fall upon us. We have explained this to the Inca. We have even offered them the finest mind in all of Mongolia as a compensation, and we have promised that the boy will be treated like the great soul he is. And they have bickered and stalled and conspired and deceived. We know that the boy will not be delivered, compensation or no. And thus they have doomed us to darkness. Then we will doom them to the same. Let them put their entire nation to our spears and torches to keep us from our salvation. They choose this themselves. Even at this hour, when our chariots are ready, our horses fed, our warcries called, even now they can avoid destruction, if they were only to deliver our saviour. But they will not. And so we must show the world that we do not make false claims. That Mongolia fears no one. Nor many. That the darkness will come, then we will hope that we die in battle instead of having it consume us.

Aye. Better to die on the Incan wall than to fall to the darkness. Come, let us not tarry any further. Our very hesitation is a sign of its rising power. We will remember what it is to be Mongol and we will die Mongol.

We Ride!

[Diplo Inca]

To all free nations of Terra,

This is what we have received from the Mongols

We care little for cities. When we conquer Cuzco we will not know what to do with it. But we will take it. Perhaps enslave all its people, we hear they have much gold that we can plunder. Or perhaps setting it to fire would make a light against the darkness we feel rising. The only way for you now to save your people and your city is to give up the boy immediately. Your compensation is now your continued existence

We ask you friends will you allow such hatred to exist so close to your borders. Will you allow innocent men, women and children to perish.

We hope many will speak out or forever loss a cultural and religious center as Cuzco.

[Diplo Holland]

Originally posted by Diplo Inca


To all free nations of Terra,

This is what we have received from the Mongols

We care little for cities. When we conquer Cuzco we will not know what to do with it. But we will take it. Perhaps enslave all its people, we hear they have much gold that we can plunder. Or perhaps setting it to fire would make a light against the darkness we feel rising. The only way for you now to save your people and your city is to give up the boy immediately. Your compensation is now your continued existence

We ask you friends will you allow such hatred to exist so close to your borders. Will you allow innocent men, women and children to perish.

We hope many will speak out or forever loss a cultural and religious center as Cuzco.

Willem was irritated!

He started to make diary entries:

"Those Inca keep putting pressure on ALL de world. A problem of their own making; a greedy desire for religion and wonders whilst Hollande and other nations built defences against the Mongols."

"Why are all nations being asked to help de Inca for their own inability to defend their great capital?"

"Why didn't the Mongols attack Hollande?"

"Well, de Dutch built troops, axe and spear aplenty to defend de holy city of De Hague; that nearest to the feared Mongol hordes. We did not defend with a warrior or two and build magnificent WONDERS and buildings. We built TROOPS god damn it! Why is this now our problem? Why is it my problem? I want to build wonders too!"

"And the Ottomans better take great care in how they choose their religion! You asked for Confucionism and you got it! Don't stray from the true path!"

Willem was drinking but really quite angry with this. He put his diaries away... "I wonder how that Verkerk fool is getting on?"