Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread]

[Pitboss Korea]

Thebes, Greek City-State...

Han Gong looked around the Greek city; it was very similar to a Korean village but very different at the very same time. It had been a few months since Gang Jo left him alone on his journey, the General was forced to attend the wedding of Pacal and Daemok, but it was no matter to Han Gong- he didn't like Gang Jo very much. Han Gong approached a vendor "What do we have here?" he asked.

"Ahh, a friend from the east" the vendor said with a large smile, Greeks were renowned merchants "We have the finest fruits all of Hellas has to offer my friend, the sweetest of pears, they are our specialty." the Greek said holding up a pear.

"Eh, what the hell, here you go" Han Gong said, as he paid for his fruit, he looked around and thought to himself no wonder Bae Hyeongyeong loved Greece so much, in fact that looks like him over there... wait a minute... that IS him over there!!! "Bae, GENERAL BAE, BAE HYEONGYEONG!!!" Han Gong yelled accross the street.

The vendor looked up "Bae Hyeongyeong, the Korean hero?"

"Hero?" Han Gong asked "Well I don't know if he is a hero, but he's one of our best Generals, if not the best."

Bae looked over, he smiled and walked up "Is that you Han Gong?" he asked, slapping his shoulder "I thought you were Gang Jo's lapdog now? Where is that bastard?"

"A pear for the great Bae!" the vendor said, "It is on me, General."

Bae took it, "Wow Bae you're like a celebrity here huh?"

"In some places, not in all places, what the hell are you doing here in Thebes?" Bae asked. "Where's Gang Jo?"

"Gang Jo went to that marriage, in Tikal. I am supposed to find these blonde travellers, on a ship." Han Gong explained.

"Blonde travellers, on a ship? And you think you'll find them in a market in Thebes?" Bae asked, taking a bite out of the pear.

"No no" Han Gong laughed "I just, ya' know, saw this town and figured I'd come and check it out, I've never been outside of Korea before you know."

"You came here to find wine didn't you?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright well, I know a place in Sparta, which is where I am headed. You can come with me, maybe they can tell us more about these blonde fellows." Bae said...

Seoul...

The Jogyesa Monastery was a resounding success, all of the teachings of Jogye were re-estabilshed for all time in a secure location within the capital city of Seoul. Subo was pleased with himself and finally Jigong would return to him. The last time they had seen eachother was just outside of Wonsan many years ago. Jigong came in with a young soldier "Jigong, I can't believe it!" Subo said, with outstretched arms and an even wider smile "I thought you were dead for sure!"

The two embraced "No, much worse, I am afraid I have gone mad." Jigong said.

"He does not lie Lama Subo." the soldier said.

"Impossible, he is just confused, he is bound to glory you see." Subo explained, "What is your name soldier?"

"Kim sir, Kim Jong-seo" the soldier replied.

"Very good, I shall see to it you are well compensated, you have done a great thing finding this man, a very important thing." Subo replied, the soldier was confused, Jigong was equally perplexed "You are dismissed though."

Subo waited for the soldier to leave, he then turned to Jigong "So we have much to talk about."

"I don't understand Subo, something seems wrong here." Jigong said "I have been eating meat you know, taking wine, lusting for women. I was a beggar in Pyongyang, I didn't-"

Subo interrupted him "So Jigong, I understand you hear voices..."

Meanwhile in Seoul...

King Wang Geon had returned to Pyongyang to oversee the establishment of new military forces, he was growing even older and still relished in the company of young soldiers, especially fresh recruits. It let him feel young again. Unfortunately for him this gave time for his enemies to conspire...

Gang Jo rolled off of the Princess, and kissed her cheek. "I love you Sinjeong" he whispered.

She simply stared at the ceiling, she had a worried look on her face. "Gang Jo, I think I am with child."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I don't know, but I have this inclination, its the same feeling I had with Daemok." she said, with a nervous smile.

"Damn it!" Gang Jo said, rising up from the bed "We must get you back to Wang Geon, you must take him to bed."

"WHAT?!?!" She said, "What are you saying Gang Jo?"

"It is important that he believe he is the father, if this child is a boy we can move on with our plans, against Wang Geon. You shall be regent, and I will be your advisor always at your side."

"I thought you'd be happy for your child Jo!" she said as she began to cry "All you seem to care about is killing Wang Geon!"

"Listen" he said, as he got dressed "Do you not understand that we could be killed, Han Gong is suspicious I know that, thankfully he is out in Greece chasing some fairy tale about blonde men on ships. If anyone finds out we both die, along with the baby, you will be shamed forever and thus your father's legacy, which you want to keep in tact, will be tarnished too. The only way we can share our love like normal people is to be disciplined like soldiers!" the General explained.

"I don't know, we should just run away" Sinjeong said, looking away from Gang Jo.

"We've discussed this my love" Gang Jo said, taking her hand "You will go to Pyongyang, you will take Wang Geon to bed, when you come to full term we will make our move. You will be named regent as your child's gender will be unknown, Wang Geon will be dead, and you can take me as a consort. It will be perfect..."

[Pitboss Japan]

The barbarians were getting out of hand. Empress Rin was no longer willing to do nothing about the problem. She sent word to one of her generals she wished she never would have to call upon. His name was known only as Shen. He was the one responsible for the original fall of Kyoto. For thousands of year he laid dormant waiting for the day he would be awaken to serve again. The only problem was without the Jade Sword no one was able to control him.



One night as she slept she had a dream. In her dream she saw the location of the Jade Sword. She did not want to forget so without even getting properly dresses she ran out. She ran out into the jungle to the south. There she found a temple, which looked like it was build long before even Kyoto was built. She walked to the middle of the temple as if she knew exactly were she was going. There she found the Jade Sword glowing in the moonlight. She then took the sword and returned home to awaken her sleeping general.

[Pitboss Korea]

SPARTA

Han Gong and Bae Hyeongyeong arrived in Sparta, Bae's exaggerations of the Spartan army wound up ringing true as countless soldiers marched around the city "They look quite powerful Bae, you weren't lying." Han Gong said.

"It is their will that makes them strong Han Gong, not their numbers, not their armor, come on, we've got to hurry he is dying..."

The men approached Lacedaemon's palace, it was hardly anything commpared to Wang Geon's in Seoul and Bae explained that this was the Spartan way. They were not interested in extra frills. They approached the door "What is this?" Bae said.

"A door." Han Gong replied.

"No you idiot, there are no guards here, there are normally guards, where the hell are they?" Bae said, he pulled out his sword.

"What are you doing?" Han Gong asked, he was frightened. "There are soldiers everywhere, are you trying to get us killed? No wonder Hong Yu-"

"You better not finish that sentence!" Bae barked, "C'mon, we're going in there" he said barging into the door, one guard sat peering through a crack in the doorway to Lacedaemon's chamber, Bae snuck up on the soldier and quickly covered his mouth. He turned him around and whispered "What the hell is going on, Spiro? Is that you?"

The soldier nodded. Bae let him go "I sent you that message, you better get in there, Menaleus has evil in his eyes."

"Who the hell is Menaleus?" Bae asked.

"Look" the guard said, Bae looked through the crack and saw a man standing over Lacedaemon holding a knife.

Bae turned to Spiro and shoved his sword into Spiro's belly "You worthless guard!!!"

Han Gong looked up in shock "What the hell are you diong Bae!?!?! F*ck, we're gonna die here!"

"Shut up!" Bae said, and he kicked the door open swiftly "STOP!!!!!"

The man with the knife turned around, and got into fighting position "So, here come the guards! At least one of you has the stones to stand up to me!"

"I am no guard" Bae said, removing his helmet.

"Bae, is that you?" Lacedaemon asked.

"Yes it is my lord" Bae replied.

"I could hardly tell, your beard is getting grey."

"I know everyone is saying that, this is no time for that idle talk, who is this?" Bae said, slowly approaching Menaleus.

"I am Menaleus, I am the leader of the Spartans, or I will be why don't you get your yellow ass out of here before I put it in the dirt." Menaleus said.

"If you make one more move I will kill you on the spot." Bae said "DO NOT TEST ME!"

"Spiro let you in?" Menaleus said "He will be the first to die when I am king."

"Spiro is dead, I killed him, he didn't do his job. Put down that knife, right now or I will kill you. That man on that bed is like a father to me, he showed me what true courage and honor is. If you think you are capable of being a true leader you must have the patience and the foresight that you clearly lack. If you don't have patience your enemies will surely use your haste against you, if you don't have foresight you will never realize that leaving WITNESSES TO A MURDER MAY RESULT IN A VENGEANCE KILLING AGAINST YOU!" Bae yelled, referring to the now dead Spiro who certainly would have witnessed Lacedaemon's murder. "But of course none of this matters, because if you don't put down that knife I am going to run you through with this sword..."

[Pitboss Greece]

Menelaus turned around facing the stranger.
He immediately understood that this person was prepared to defend the life of Lacedaemon with his own life.

"Finally" he thought. "Finally someone who wants to stand up to protect the life of their leader."

Then he said out loud: "So, here come the guards! At least one of you has the stones to stand up to me!"

"I am no guard" the stranger said while he removed his helmet.

"What is he going to do?" Menelaus thought. "Removing his helmet? Is he going to offer his head to save Lacedaemon's head?"

"Bae, is that you?" Lacedaemon said from behind Menelaus'back.

"Yes it is my lord" the stranger responded with his weird exotic accent.

"This man is not from Sparta" Menelaus suddenly realised. "It is Bae from Korea!" Suddenly Menelaus remembered the stories of long ago.
"Bae is known for his courage and his creativity! What faith brought him here to show up at the moment of Lacedaemon's demise? Are the gods behind this? I must test him...." Menelaus pondered while he ignored the conversation between Bae and Lacedaemon.

"I am Menaleus, I am the leader of the Spartans" Menelaus said when Bae asked about his identity.

Suddenly he realised that he was supposed to be the new leader by now..... but things had changed....
"or I will be" he quickly added.

"And what about you?" Menelaus continued, you came here to die together with Lacedaemon?

Bae looked like Menelaus had just said: "why don't you get your yellow ass out of here before I put it in the dirt." to him. Most probably the language barrier.....

"If you make one more move I will kill you on the spot." Bae said "DO NOT TEST ME!"

"So, the guards let him in" Menelaus thought. "Spiro let you in?" Menaleus said "He will be the first to die when I am king."

Bae said: "Spiro is dead, I killed him, he didn't do his job. Put down that knife, right now or I will kill you. That man on that bed is like a father to me, he showed me what true courage and honor is. If you think you are capable of being a true leader you must have the patience and the foresight that you clearly lack. If you don't have patience your enemies will surely use your haste against you, if you don't have foresight you will never realize that leaving WITNESSES TO A MURDER MAY RESULT IN A VENGEANCE KILLING AGAINST YOU!" Bae yelled, referring to the now dead Spiro who certainly would have witnessed Lacedaemon's murder. "But of course none of this matters, because if you don't put down that knife I am going to run you through with this sword..."

Menelaus considered Bae's words.
He came here to take charge over Sparta by replacing Lacedaemon. But he did not came here to start hostilities with the Koreans. "This man will truely give his life for Lacedaemon. He does consider him to be his father...."

"Bae" Lacedaemon suddenly said. "Bae, come to me!"

Bae stepped towards Lacedaemon.
Menelaus stepped back. "Speak to your spiritual father" he said.

"Bae, my time is over.... I am old! My life lays behind me. Menelaus is right, the days of the past are behind us, we have to let the future catch up with us. Life is only a footnote to deadt. I have tasted life and it tasted sweet, now I have to turn back to the gods. I have lived my life to serve Sparta, if I now have to die death to serve Sparta one last time, then that's what I will do. The gods surely didn't send you here to prevent the unpreventable. If I won't die today then I will die tomorrow. What's your future, Bae? What's the future of Menelaus? I ask you, Bae, test Menelaus, if he's worthy to lead the Spartans, accept him as the Spartan leader. If he's not, kill him...."

Menelaus listened to the great leader of the Spartans. He putted his knife back in his belt.

Bae opened up his mouth but Lacedaemon continued: "I love you, my son. Yes, you were like a son to me. I wish that my real son would have been like you......"

Then Lacedaemon closed his eyes. His last breath never left his mouth anymore....

[Pitboss Korea]

Bae slowly put his sword away, Han Gong walked in. "Is he dead?"

"I think so, you son of a b*tch!" Bae yelled at Menaleus "I came here to pay my last respects to a great man, YOUR KING, and you waste my time with your nonsense, I should kill you right now!"

"Then do it Korean! I dare you!" Menaleus said, he was quite arrogant.

"C'mon Bae, let's go home" Han Gong said "There's nothing here for you anymore, besides we have to find the blonde travellers."

"Silence Han!" Bae said, "Lacedaemon gave me one last task, and that is to test this scoundrel here." Bae said, the anger in his eyes was unnerving the Menaleus, but he kept his Spartan resolve.

"Listen Korean" Menaleus said "I know of your story, I respect you, but you don't understand. Lacedaemon was not working towards a proper future for Sparta, he was becoming senile. Do not take my reaction as a sign of intimidation, if you challenge me I will kill you. But those blonde men you speak of, they are called Oldonians."

"So you know of them?" Han Gong said.

"Shut up Han!" Bae said, he looked to Lacedaemon "I knew he would die, but he was more honorable than dying at the hands of a man so weak-willed he would sneak up on an old dying man and kill him." Bae shook his head.

Menaleus looked at Bae, he knew in his heart this Korean's words rang true, and he had got his wish after all "So what now?"

"What now?" Bae asked, he again looked at Lacedaemon "Well, this is not my business, if you are to be King the people of Sparta will make you King. But mind you Menaleus, if you ever dishonor the legacy of Lacedaemon, if you tarnish his throne and bring shame upon your people I will kill you. I won't have you killed, I won't make war on you, I will sneak into your home at night and I will kill you."

Menaleus wanted to laugh in this man's face, but he knew the Korean was only speaking bluster, he knew that the worst was over and this angry man before him was calming down "So, are you here in an official capacity, or is this is a personal trip?"

"Personal" Bae said.

"Actually" Han Gong said "He may be, I am here on official business" he pulled out a message "This message is from General Gang Jo, he asks that you help me in locating these Oldonians as you call them. We must know information about them; are they peaceful, are they warlike, are they strong-willed or weak-willed. Where are they?..."

[Pitboss Inca]

Behold the Glory!



The sun rose over the vast land of Stinca and the people were nearly blinded by rays from the harbor at Sushi City. During the night the canvas had been removed to reveal the polished bronze plates.



The alchemists discovered that the Tin from the hills and the Copper from the valleys could be blended to form this noble alloy. The artisans labored for years to hammer the plates as directed by the Great Architect. Now the citizens stared in awe at THE COLOSSUS.

[Pitboss Korea]

Web page not found, and that's even after I edited the html to be correct. How about an actual post?

[Pinchak]

Miss post

Please Delete

[Pitboss Vikings]

The Oldonian council met for the last time in history.

After hours of debate it was decided that the Greeks were ignoring all oldonian messengers, despite repated attempts at freindship the Greeks were more interested in others friendships and not the oldonians.

The Oldonians made the decision to stop wasting time of themselves and others.

This missive was signed by THE GREAT ONE himself.

[Pitboss Greece]

Out of Character:
@The Oldonians
I have never ignored you.

First:
You must understand that I can only let the oldonian messenger arrive AFTER the Menelaus/Lacedaemon thing had been resolved. I want Menelaus to deal with the message from the Oldonians, not Lacedaemon.

(edit) read my post below, see how perfect your messenger now fits in with my and korean's story? Now it's up to you to continue the story for a tad bit. (remember to mostly only play your own people). And if you want to address Menelaus, be quick, Bae may decide to kill Menelaus, it would be a pitty for you if Menelaus drops dead before you can give your message, Bae may steal it (btw, this is not a request to Korea to kill Menelaus )

2nd:
You asked me In Game to trade Corn for Sheep.
I denied and wrote a message back (in game) that we already were growing corn ourselves and had no need for it.

3rd:
I have not ignored your story lines, I have even adapted to your stories. I gave you opportunities to gain my friendship. I don't want to become friends with all 17 other civs in this game. Civs must gain the friendship of the Spartanians.

I'm not going to trade with everyone. This is not going to be one big feel-good game for me where I trade with everyone and create one big builders-fest.

I hope that you can understand that. If Korea would have send a coward and you would have sent a hero to Sparta, then I wouldn't have any bounds with Korea and the Oldonians would have been my friends.

It's against the Spirit of Sparta that foreigners who are shy and don't dare to speak up are respected.
In my story line your representative ran away when things became scary. Well, that's fine. But Sparta is not about cowards, we are brute and arrogant, and we show respect for the strong.

Sure, killing your Kirk with a knife in his back is bad form, but we, Spartanians, aren't about 21th century civilization, we're BC Spartans

I hope that you will just continue this game like you did. Work out the character of your civilization and try to understand the characters of other civilizations. Don't expect that everybody wants to be your friend.

Not to mention that I don't even know yet where Oldonia is. Why should I become close friends with a civ I can't even locate on the maps?

end Out of Character.

[Pitboss Greece]

Menelaus walked towards the now dead Lacedaemon.
He grabbed his hand, pulled out his knife again and cut of Lacedaemons right-middle finger.
He shove the ring from the finger and trowed the finger away.

"Where did you ever got the idea that I wanted to kill Lacedaemon?" Menelaus asked Bae.
"All I wanted was this ring, the ring that belongs to the leader of the Spartanians. That's how things work here in Sparta."

He walked back to Bae and said: "So, you're going to sneak into my house and kill me while I'm sleeping.... that sounds much more honorable then killing and old man while he's awake!"

Then he walked to the other Korean and asked: "That's what your great generals do? Sneak around to kill people? Maybe I should adopt to that practice as well.... sounds like fun!"

He turned his head back to General Bae.
"Tell your leader back in Seoul that I, Menelaus, am the new leader of the Spartanians. I will respect all deals Lacedaemon has made with you in the past. When he's going to send new messengers, tell him that he sends you again, General Bae. I like you."

Then Menelaus tabbed Bae on his back.
But suddenly he drawed his knife again and put it in Bae's neck. Some blood dropped from Bae's skin while Menelaus kept him tight.

"Remember, General Bae, if you ever find the need to kill me for whatever reason, don't do it sneaky in the night. Do it in public."
Then Menelaus suddenly grabbed Bae's hand, putted his knife into his hand and brought the hand to his own neck.

"You can kill me now when I am awake" Menelaus said.

While Bae confused kept the knife in Menelaus' neck Menelaus talked to Han Gong, pretending like there was no knife.........

"Han Gong, the Oldonians are cowards from the north. I have traveled for months through the Spartan jungles with their respresentative, captain Kirk. He never dared to question us about anything. He didn't dare to speak when we didn't gave him the word. He only chitchatted all the time with his Piercian friend.

We could fool around with them all the time, they accepted everything. I have been told that Lacedaemon let him wait for 3 nights in front of his house, the Oldonian accepted that without questioning anything.

When I was about to kill his protector, he ran away in the jungle and didn't even try to give any help to the man who gave his life for him.

I have no respect for any of these Oldonians! I am willing to show you where he came from, but I don't know where Oldonia is."

Suddenly someone entered the room.
He said: "I have a message for Lacedaemon, leader of the Greek"

Menelaus responded: "Well, here is Lacedaemon, lying in his bed! Why don't you give him your message?"

[Pitboss Japan]

Empress Rin received news that one of her war ships was stuck on the far side of the Greek border unable to continue home. Empress Rin sent a messenger to the Greek capital in hopes of finding a solution for this problem.

To: Greek leader
From: Empress Rin

Over the years we have stayed out of each other’s affairs. And for a long time we have never had need for anything from you, but it seems one of our war ships are stuck behind your border unable to continue home. We ask for temporary open borders to allow the Zanza’s Wrath a passage back to our waters. We do not wish to force the issue but if you do not answer soon we will have no choice but to force the issue.

[Pitboss Korea]

Sparta...

Bae and Han Gong left Lacedaemon's home and prepared to sleep the night out before they made leave to find the Oldonians. "Bae, you are insane" Han Gong began "You could have caused an international incident!"

"You don't know these people like I do Han Gong, I did what I had to." Bae said stoicly.

"Yeah but I mean c'mon, you nearly got yourself killed in there, you nearly got me killed." Han Gong said, "You know this makes me wonder, is this how Hong Yu died?"

Bae stopped in his tracks "Don't you ever say that again, listen, that old dead man in there was a great leader and a wise man. Much better than ours, and that pathetic scoundrel who snuck in there was going to kill him, I know it, and he knows I know it. But that is no matter, Lacedaemon is right. He is dead and gone and Menaleus will take over. We must maintain good relations with Greece."

"Okay, relax big guy!" Han Gong said "We had better get you back to Korea as soon as possible, I want to find these Oldonians though. It will give me prestige in court."

"If you think so" Bae said "How much prestige have I gained with our dear leader Wang Geon?"

"More than you know Bae" Han Gong replied "More than you know..."

Pyongyang...

The Princess sat nervously accross the dinner table from her husband, who was growing more frail and grey with each month. Unknown to the court at the time, and to anybody really in such an ancient age in history, the King was slowly developing dementia and adopted a very dark and melancholy attitude towards life and court affairs in general. In sum he was becoming much more difficult to deal with. Much had changed since that day in Seoul when he battled the Aztecs. Sinjeong did her duty though, and had taken Wang Geon to bed night after night, she wanted him to know the child she carried was his, even though it was truly his top General's child. This man, Gang Jo, was also present at the meal...

"...so I think he would be a good candidate, he is pretty loyal and he doesn't back-talk, which are good characteristics." Shin Sung said, he was very uncouth, his mouth was filled with food.

"Sounds like exactly the opposite of yourself!" Gang Jo replied, nobody laughed.

"That's the idea." Shin Sung replied.

"So, Gang Jo, Sinjeong, tell me" Wang Geon began, picking up food with his bare hands and throwing it into his mouth, his nails were now long and unkempt "What do you do to pass the time in Seoul?"

Gang Jo looked nervously at Sinjeong "Well, for myself sir, I spend my time with the men sir. There is actually a lot going on around the Han right now. We are busy preparing armies for the defense of Korea, establishing a road network and I have overseen a scouting mission against the Aztec village, they seem to be-"

"No, your leisure time Gang Jo, surely you don't go around soldiering all day long? That leads to vice, that leads to, well, a disgruntled soldier, does it not?" Wang Geon said slyly.

"Well certainly not sir, I have been..." he looked around the table nervously all eyes were on him "...you know, doing things that inappropriate to discuss at this table."

Sinjeong looked shocked, Shin Sung laughed, and Wang Geon was intrigued "Please, indulge us Gang Jo!"

"Well if you insist sir, I spend most of my nights at brothels, and then I take to drinking. I am very lonely to be honest, and soldiering is the only thing I do well." the whole table grew silent.

"Ahh, of course" Wang Geon said "He takes to drinking, I noticed you haven't touched your wine."

"I am tired sir, from last night's drinking. Of course." Gang Jo said nervously.

"Of course." Wang Geon replied. "Last night's... drinking..."

[The Capo]

Sorry

DELETE THIS POST PLEASE

[The Capo]

Sorry

DELETE THIS POST PLEASE