Diplogame HOTW XII Ragnarok - Story Thread

[Diplo Mali]

To correct the record-the American leadership asked regarding our border agreements &, thinking they referred to whether Mali practiced an Open or Closed border policy towards its neighbours, we duly indicated that our borders "are open to all-comers" (being the friendly and inclusive nation that we are).
The Americans instead chose to twist these words to their own advantage & settle in direct violation of a border agreement that he could have been made aware of by checking this very document (around pg 2-3 I believe).

The Mali did seek to resolve the matter diplomatically, asking them to consider handing the city over in return for fair compensation, but they refused to countenance it. In anger & frustration, I confess to acting hastily & unwisely, but the speed with which the Desert was settled & developed suggests that this was always the American's plan, & that the "misunderstanding" was just a ruse. There are many "fallow" lands which the Mali were unable to settle due to its pre-occupation with barbarian incursion. The city we settled was equally on "fallow ground" which they could have settled as easily as they settled OUR Desert.

So I ask you, people of Terra, who do YOU believe to be in the wrong? Would any of you have stood idly by whilst your land was stolen from you, or would you have retaliated in some fashion when all reasonable requests had been refused?

All the Malinese people have ever wanted is Justice, Fairness & a place to live free, & the American people are doing their best to deny us these things.

King Mansa Sosso I.

[Diplo Holland]

Manning retired to his chamber... a darkly figure handed him the envelope.

What lay in this envelope?
News of the new Dutch leadership team: Huygens, Ginkel and Clovis , (now that Juliana was dead** )

Or news of his half witted Verkerk who was also long gone - believed to have died in the Arctic blizzards of the North searching for habitable lands.
---

** see earlier funeral procession

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No, Ah but this is a map!! Aye me hearties!!

[Diplo Holland]

Third century AD

In Amsterdam, oblivious of any espionage attempts (although rumours did exist), Huygens, Ginkel and Clovis heading up the new Dutch Republic savoured with delight the latest news from abroad.

Landfall in the new world.

New Hollande!

[OzzyKP]

Originally posted by Diplo Mali
The Mali are deeply concerned by Ozzy's unintended breach of player anonymity, & suggests that he might wish to edit his post in order to protect the identity of the Civ for whom he subbed last week.

King Sosso I.

Ah! Sorry! Even gods have moments of weakness it seems.

[Diplo Holland]

330AD Dutch Circumnavigation of the world - it is ROUND!

More news in the fouth century AD.

---

Finally the proof was made as Dirk Hartog, the commander of the Easterly venture, had predicted. The world was indeed round and ships could pass East to West and West to East for evermore and NOT fall off the edge of the world. The Easterly venture met with the Westerly venture and much partying did occor mid-sea!

---

Huygens, Ginkel and Clovis were most impressed and the news spread fast indeed to Amsterdam and beyond.

[Diplo Holland]

To: Hyuna Capac The Incans

From: Huygens, Ginkel and Clovis

Date: December 31st 360AD

De Dutch Republic is very aware that de world envies de capitals of our two nations. It is undeniable that there exists a certain rivalry between our two capitals but we fear that such competition will eventually lead to much bitterness in de many other nations of the world.

Would you be prepared to put a limit on de number of Wonders our two great civilizations can buiild?

Our Wonders greed will be our un doing we fear if we do not but perhaps de Inca are more at risk than the Dutch in this regard.

[Diplo Holland]

On matters Huygens, Ginkel and Clovis.


Huygens was a practical, scientific and organised pacifist leader who urged the devlopment of Philosophy and adoption of Pacifism in Hollande. It was his dream to bring the Confucionist nations together in a tight bonding of common purpose. He did not wish to impose any ideals upon other peoples and always led by example. He was magnaminous in his dealings with other nations and regretted the failings of past monarchs.

Ginkel was more of a general, although a Pacifist, he was more vigilant than Huygens and history would thank him for that. He was responsible for building on a strong monarchical base with vast troop numbers in all Dutch cities. He influenced the technologcal advancement of The Guilds and with Verkerk's ancient discovery of horse resources Dutch Knights would now be available for conquests in New Hollande.

Clovis was not a Pacifist. He was a more brutish military man who believed in the old Monarchy. However Hollande was now a refuge for those fleeing censorship and thought control in other places and the likes of Clovis were tolerated within the Dutch Republican System. His ancestry is a little obscure but strategies in horse skills is known to be his forte.

[Diplo Inca]

A messenger enters the chambers of the Grand Master of Cuzco baring a letter from a nation called Holland. The Grand Master looks at it and wonders what is the meaning of this. Who are these people and what do they want with us. Feeling old and weak with memory he wonders who are these people, who are they. Why do they come now, the records show hardly any accounts of dealing with these Hollanders. He takes a look at the recently created Incan relation index chart. What is the meaning of this we even don’t have open borders with them, they do not want to open them Grand Master an advisor jumps to explain. So why do they come now, we have no common grounds with them. Borders are closed because of them; they spoke harshly of us in the past. Some records show that they were irritated and even considered us greedy. The advisor asks why should we listen to what they have to say, because this is our way. We treat people with respect and do not send them away.

Write this and hand it over to their messenger. Give him water and bread and send him safely away.

Up till now the Incan people had no knowledge of any capitals that are trying to rival Cuzco. This is the first time that we have heard of a capital that is trying to compete with our grand city. Cuzco has been a symbol of grandeur for many millenniums to all people of Terra. People do not envy us, quite the opposite they write stories about our city. As a famous Carpathian writer once wrote:

“Nothing can really prepare one for the Cuzco experience. Prior to visiting, I had read accounts of the Incan capital, its wealth, its culture, its wonders, and its people. Nothing written compared to seeing it for oneself.”

People come to admire our accomplishments. Many have visited Cuzco to bare witness to what we have built. Many of them found it hard to leave due to the warm atmosphere and lavished banquets thrown in their honor. In order to be part of Cuzco’s history people like the Mali and Carpathians even spread their religions to our capital.

Sign Grand Master of Cuzco

[Diplo Carpathia]

Early Medieval Carpathia

Early Medieval Carpathia chimed into being with the discovery of machinery. The Carpathians were one of the first to gain this knowledge, and became master machiniests. So impressed was Tepes II that he offered an award for the most deadly machine.

The winner of course, was the Carpathian Crossbow. Of exceptional accuracy, power, and durability, the engineering plans for the Carpathian Crossbow were never leaked, and thus they retained their secret advantage.

It was also during this time that the Islamics founded their holy building after the death of their profit, Timso Magdeces. This ancent shrine brought followers of Islam in from all over the world. This tourest trade brought in much needed moneys to fund the ever expanding Carpathian Empire.

News of Harrod's death reached the Count years later, and although he was displeased with yet another Mongol attack on Carpathian citizens, he realized that Harrod did violate The Code when being disrespectful in anothers home. For this reason he called for a quick truce with Mongolia.

The epic 101 Tales of Terra was never finished, and ends in chapter 6.

[Diplo Holland]

Originally posted by Diplo Inca
A messenger enters the chambers of the Grand Master of Cuzco baring a letter from a nation called Holland. The Grand Master looks at it and wonders what is the meaning of this. Who are these people and what do they want with us. Feeling old and weak with memory he wonders who are these people, who are they. Why do they come now, the records show hardly any accounts of dealing with these Hollanders. He takes a look at the recently created Incan relation index chart. What is the meaning of this we even don’t have open borders with them, they do not want to open them Grand Master an advisor jumps to explain. So why do they come now, we have no common grounds with them. Borders are closed because of them; they spoke harshly of us in the past. Some records show that they were irritated and even considered us greedy. The advisor asks why should we listen to what they have to say, because this is our way. We treat people with respect and do not send them away.

Write this and hand it over to their messenger. Give him water and bread and send him safely away.

Up till now the Incan people had no knowledge of any capitals that are trying to rival Cuzco. This is the first time that we have heard of a capital that is trying to compete with our grand city. Cuzco has been a symbol of grandeur for many millenniums to all people of Terra. People do not envy us, quite the opposite they write stories about our city. As a famous Carpathian writer once wrote:

“Nothing can really prepare one for the Cuzco experience. Prior to visiting, I had read accounts of the Incan capital, its wealth, its culture, its wonders, and its people. Nothing written compared to seeing it for oneself.”

People come to admire our accomplishments. Many have visited Cuzco to bare witness to what we have built. Many of them found it hard to leave due to the warm atmosphere and lavished banquets thrown in their honor. In order to be part of Cuzco’s history people like the Mali and Carpathians even spread their religions to our capital.

Sign Grand Master of Cuzco

Grand Master of Cuzco, I take it you care not for the desires of the other nations of the world.

We, the Dutch are prepared to restrain ourselves but you do not wish to do so, such greed sir.

I'm not sure that you give us enough credit for influencing the course of history in saving Cuzco in ancient times from the Mongols? My ancestors worked hard to point out the folly of taking down a wonderfull capital like Cuzco and yet you act like the Dutch have done nothing.

So be it.

Peoples of the world take note that the Inca will show NO restraint in their glutenous building of world wonders.

The Dutch desire to NOT compete with Cuzco but if they continue to build wonders we have no choice but to compete, utilising our technological advantage.

Incidentally, if the Dutch ae so irrelevant to the Inca why are your relations graph with us so negative in ancient times? We made an effort to support you but were also annoyed that you sought help from so many countries who in curre unhappines as a result - all because you failed to defend adequately and yet you still escaped the Mongol wrath.

[Diplo Ottoman]

An open letter to the Nations of Terra,

Increasing international tensions are not in the best interests of this planet, we call on all nations to show greater restraint and be more flexible in their diplomacy.
Our ottoman people do have an interest in cooperating with certain nations for strategic reasons which go beyond religious brotherhood. In particular a allied Holland is essential to our strategic need to access the oceans and new worlds and we will cooperate with them to ensure that this access is maintained. Any threats and war against the Dutch people is therefore also an affront to the strategic interests of the people of the Great Rivers and will be appropriately handled.

King Constantine of the Land of the Great Rivers

[Diplo Mongolia]

The Mongol-Dutch Conflict.

Beginning over a simple religious dispute, the Mongols became increasingly agitated over what they seem to have perceived as Dutch arrogance. They made fierce demands upon the Dutch or there would be consequences. The Dutch leaders refused and the Mongol tribes of Turfan, Beshbalik, Runan'Gee and Ning'Hsia decided to make war on Holland. Their aim seemed clear, to capture the Holy city of The Hague. We have some sources that indicate the Mongolian battleplan. A contingent of Riders of Horses and Elephants would move through France and attack from within Holland, while the main force would march North from Turfan to The Hague. The plan was daring, and perhaps too daring. Holland at the time had seen a great golden age and built up a great technological advantage as well as a strong military. The riderinvasion was thwarted in the north and Holland could focus on the defence of Hague. A Mongolian army marched into the then vast jungles of The Hague, but were ceaselessly assaulted by dutch siege weapons and ultimately destroyed by heavy cavalry, which the Mongols lacked. When the Mongol vanguard had been defeated, Ottoman declared war on Mongolia, but mainly kept out of it. Despite this, the Dutch never managed to penetrate Mongolia proper, though a number of skirmishes happened on the border. This lead a Mongol Clansmen to reply to the Dutch when he was informed of the many Mongol graves throughout southern Holland, "Yes, but we have none of yours in our lands" indicating the inability to penetrate Mongol defences. In the end Mongolia realized it had lost the initiative and peace was discussed.

As these negotiations took place, Mongolia decided to make a final play towards their other enemy. The army located at Turfan marched west up upon the hill southeast of Bursa. Here an Ottoman Confucianist traitor disabled the defences and Mongol catapults hammered the defenders to rubble. A valiant counterstrike was made, but ultimately futile. Bursa was plundered by Mongol troops. Following this turn of events, the Dutch sent a large division of armored knights to Ottoman, retilting the balance of strength in their favor. The Mongols, realizing they could not hold the city decided to return home, liberating the few remaining survivors to rejoin Ottoman.

Despite this being in most ways a defeat, the Mongols did not see it as such only. They had learned that their hit and run tactics were (come on, firaxis read a history book...) inferior to the heavy cavalry of dutch knights. Their advantage of mobility was poorly utilized due to the great reach of dutch troops based on an effective network of highly advanced roads. In the end the Mongols made their defeat into a great epic tale, telling of the failed invasion, the reasons for failure, the lessons learned and then of the successful strike on Ottoman. In practice, their national lore became a military strategy field manual. I happen to know that Lieutenant Lee here on the second row, on exchange from West Point, has studied these ancient Mongol strategy guides in great detail, and that they are in fact curriculum on West Point if I am not mistaken? Ah, an affirmative, curt military nod, thank you Lieutenant Lee.
Professor Randall smiles at the young cadet with the beginnings of a stylish beard

[Diplo Mali]

To: All fair minded nations of Terra.

From King Mansa Mari I.

We hope you can all now see what a duplicitous snake Benedict Arnold is. He gains an assurance from us not to attack Atlanta, & receives a technology in order to seal the deal, & what does he do? He launches a sneak attack on Goa, a city which clearly lies on the Malinese side of the border.

He says he will allow us to rebuild the city, but exactly how can we trust him given past form? We call on the people of America to overthrow their despotic monarch before he destroys your reputation throughout the world.

We call on all trustworthy & decent nations to help us in containing the current & future threat of American aggression. We are close now to driving America from Malinese soil & reclaiming our sacred land. We call on other nations-such as France, Carpathia, Ottomans & Dutch to repay America for their past betrayals and retake land which they felt was unfairly taken.

Though we hope the American people will see sense & put a man of peace upon the throne, we fear that nothing short of the complete dismemberment of the American Empire will check this threat to Terra's stability.

Unfortunately, America's betrayal has cost the life of our King, Sosso, who ended his own life rather than deal with the humiliation of allowing himself to be betrayed so easily. Our nation mourns him, & prays that he finds comfort in the bosom of Ozzy the Dual Natured. We left behind shall avenge his death with the smoking ruins of Atlanta & the burnt & bloodied corpses of its finest soldiers.

King Mansa Mari.

[Diplo Mali]

The Mali Chronicles Pt 7: The invention of Currency

With the devastating consequences of the Barbarian Wars behind them, & with looming conflict with America on the Horizon, King Sosso took it upon himself to make it possible to arm their Empire quicker in the face of war.

The finest minds in Mali set to work, & came up with a series of metallurgical practices involving furnaces, molds & smelting to produce weapons and armor in large quantities, & of far finer quality.

Sosso invited all the nobles from across the Empire to witness the unveiling of the very first large-scale Forge.

The first cousin of Sosso-Duke Mansa Mari Djarti of Kumbi Saleh-was particularly impressed with the Forge, and its operation gave him an idea as to how to solve a pressing problem in his Duchy of Kumbi Saleh.

Several days later, Duke Mari visited the King in his throne room.

Bowing low, the Duke said "Greetings King Sosso, it is always a pleasure to meet up with your eminent personage."

King Sosso blushed slightly and said "Noble Cousin, we don't need to be so formal-we are kin. How goes it in the Duchy of Kumbi Saleh, & to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?"

The Duke decided on the direct approach. "Well, Cousin, it is not all as well as it could be. We have many tradespeople working in the city who produce goods for others, not for themselves. Though the recipients of these goods have a means of trade, the original tradespeople are usually paid only in food and lodging."

"So?" said the king "that is how it has long been here in Timbuktu."

"Yes Cousin, but we are finding that it is greatly restricting trade within the Duchy. If only their could be some medium of exchange that all people could receive to buy the things they need and want....."

"What would you suggest, cousin?" asked the king.

"Well, our nation is replete with gold, iron & bronze-not to mention ivory & papyrus. Surely we could use these new forges to create disks of metal & ivory-of a specific weight-which tradespeople, farmers & miners can receive in return for their Labours. Then other tradespeople could sell their wares in return, which will help our economy flourish."

"Indeed it would," said the king "but how would we prevent just anyone from making these disks?"

"Well, I considered that too. We ensure that the weights & specific compositions of each coin is known only to a few dozen people within the Empire, & that each coin be stamped with a royal seal only possessed by these self-same people. Then we can regulate the quantity of coinage within the realm."

"That is a great idea!" said the King, "we should set about it at once, starting with your Duchy."

Over the next few months, the king collected up large quantities of gold, iron, copper and ivory & built a number of royal mints to turn them into coinage. The impact on the economy was immediate-marketplaces sprung up to become middle men in the trade of goods, & trade with other empires also flourished anew.
Little did the King or the Duke know, however, that this new, flourishing economy would attract a vicious & duplicitous snake to attack them.

[Diplo America]

His Majesty Benedict the Redcoat, Lord of New York, Burgher of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Lord of Pennsylvania, Duke of Maryland, Hero of Walata, and King of the Americans

TO: King Mansa Mari I
FROM: Secretary of State William Manning

Your great and noble highness, King of the Malinese,

My Lord, the former General Benedict Arnold, known as the Redcoat, understands the rancor the Malinese people hold towards His Majesty. It is understandable from my point of view as well, being his Secretary of State. And while the attack by General Daniel Morgan did not only result in his own foolish death, and the eventual decimation of the city of Goa resulted as vengeance we would like to point out a few issues that we feel, if agreed to, could help us mend these wounds.

Firstly, you ask the nations of Terra to come to your aid against our people. You have already destroyed an army of Americans, and have assaulted the city of Atlanta whose heroic inhabitants hold out against your greater numbers and constant barrages of siege equipment. Now that America has gone on the defensive you ask for allies to support you? Is it true reparations that the Malinese want or the destruction of the American Kingdom? As I've stated, I would understand why you would want this, but don't lie to the rest of the world about the plight of the poor Malinese.

Secondly, I will admit that our leader is quite ambitious. But He must be. Our nation is quite backward compared to others, your own included. The sole purpose of our attack on Goa was to acquire the gold mines near the city. Which is also the reason we settled Atlanta. We have no money, and our nation is backwards because of it. We are simply attempting to live as equals amongst the nations of Terra. In our estimation, and in accordance with our deal with Carpathia the settlement of Goa was an affront to our future aims. We understand you knew nothing of these aims, although we do note that our allies did warn you not to settle more north than you already had, and clearly Goa was in violation of this. We were sworn to protect this agreement as we saw fit and we did see fit.

Thirdly, Goa could have been taken in the first war between our peoples and our leader kindly decided to stop the onslaught. We asked that Goa be turned over so it was not taken and you refused, offering instead to provide us with secret knowlege. Following this you turn around and accuse us of stealing it from you? (or something to that effect).

Finally. Following the final destruction of Goa our King realized what he had done and how foolish the entire affair had been. He tried to contact you, and did succeed in this regard. We offered to help you rebuild the city, we offered to even reimburse you for the knowlege we accepted from you with knowlege of our own and yet you refused. Over three times you have refused. Yet you go to the world and ask for their help, you ask them to help you destroy an already backwards nation when it is unnecessary.

Mansa Mari, we understand that we have grown to despise one another. But we have realized this is a foolish thing, we have realized that our futures are intertwined and if we continue down this path that future will be filled with death, destruction and mistrust that could last for centuries to come. We implore you to at least come to the table and hear us out.

Our efforts would be better utilized in cooperation, and we suggest we meet in the Incan city of Cuzco to iron out a solution to this mess that wastes neither Mali nor American lives.

Let us bury the hatchet, as we say here in America.

-Secretary of State William Manning