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

[Pitboss Maya]

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Delete this post please.

[Pitboss Korea]

A Dark Time for Korea...

The increasingly frail, increasingly old, and increasingly insane Wang Geon had his fill of the entire affair; namely the one between Gang Jo and Princess Sinjeong. She was pregnant, and gave birth to a song who she named Sejong. Wang Geon was no fool though, and realized that she gave birth much too early for the child to be his own. He had long suspected Gang Jo of bedding the Princess, ever since General Bae Hyeongyeong told him of Hong Yu's dying words; "Gang Jo loves Sinjeong." He felt the distance growing between he and his wife Sinjeong, and hoped with his heart that they would be able to bridge this gap. He gave Daemok the hand of Pacal II, he hoped this honor would not be lost on Sinjeong, but he was wrong. All of his achievements, his defense of Seoul against the marauding Aztec, the establishment of the Jogyesa Monestary, and the fulfillment of his promise of peace and security within Korea was for naught in his mind. The aging and demented ruler called upon a relatively unknown soldier named Kim Jong-seo to his palace in Pyongyang.

Pyongyang...

Kim Jong-seo was of humble origins. His family was of the peasant class from the banks of the river Taebong, he had personally risen in the ranks of the Pyongyang army serving under General Shin Sung as a young lieutenant, but once control of this force was handed to Han Gong he was lost in the crowd. He was thuroughly loyal but just as thuroughly unknown. He wondered what the King had summoned him for as he walked into the throne room. "My lord!" he said, bowing dramatically "How might I be of service?"

Wang Geon looked horrible, his hair was grey and matted, the normally hearty warrior was now disintegrating into a frail skinny old man. His fingernails were long, and his face was grey and cracked "Come closer to me Kim Jong-seo" he began "My eyes are failing me."

Kim Jong-seo obliged his master and approached him "Yes my lord?"

"I have been betrayed."

"By whom sire?" Kim asked.

"The General Gang Jo" the King began, Kim was astonished "He has done me a great dishonor, and he must suffer the consequence."

"What has he done my lord?" Kim asked, Gang Jo was popular amongst the troops, especially those of Pyongyang.

"That must never be known brave soldier" Wang Geon said, he then began to cough up blood, he licked it from his lips "Do you honor your King?"

"Always my lord, I would die for you master."

"General Shin Sung has spoke well of you Kim Jong-seo, he told me you are courages and loyal, that you would never let me down."

"General Shin Sung is a wise man, and he speaks true." Kim replied.

"Very good" Wang Geon said, he pulled out a message "This has my seal upon it, after you do what I ask you to do you will provide this to the soldiers in case I die, it shall clear your name, if necessary."

Kim Jong-seo knew where this was going, but asked anyway "What is it you ask me to do my lord?" he said, nervously taking the message.

"You will kill General Gang Jo." Wang Geon said bluntly.

Kim Jong-seo simply nodded, turned, and slowly walked out of the room.

Wang Geon dared not take vengeance upon Sinjeong herself, he did not want to risk losing the loyalty of Seoul, and figured if Gang Jo was killed she dare not divulge the paternity of her child Sejong. Wang Geon would have his male heir and Sinjeong would live in even more heartache and pain. Wang Geon was finished trying to win her over, now she would suffer emotionally and lonely for the duration of her life. Later that night Kim Jong-seo swiftly snuck into Gang Jo's home and murdered him in his sleep...

Days Later, the Hills Outside of Pyongyang...

The officers of Korea all gathered in the hills of Pyongyang to bury and honor their fallen General Gang Jo. Most of them knew who ordered his death, but only Bae Hyeongyeong knew why it occured. Bae shaved his head and his hair to appear less Greek, an image he had adopted since his days as ambassador to Lacedaemon many years ago. Flanked by General Shin Sung and newly appointed General Han Gong he lit the incense and they sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. The army knew their King had gone mad, the army knew the stability of Korea once again hung in the balance but this time it wasn't due to outside forces, this time it was internal, this time it was more somber, and this time the solution may not be so simple. Shin Sung turned to Bae "You know Bae, he made me a General, he gave me this opportunity."

Bae turned to him and smiled "He was an honorable man, a great leader, and he always did what was right. Even choosing a fool like you turned out to be a good decision."

"He was vastly loyal to Wang Geon you know" Shin Sung said "And this is how he is repaid?"

"The King is sick Shin Sung" Bae said "You know that."

"Indeed, and what is to stop this sick madman from doing this to us, if he could do it to his old friend? His friend from childhood?" Shin Sung asked.

Bae knew why he did this, even if the rest of the army did not "Believe me, he felt he had good reason, nobody else will be harmed."

Han Gong, of course, knew the reasons why. He had once walked in on Sinjeong and Gang Jo while they were in bed, he leaned in closely to Bae and whispered "Someone ought to tell Sinjeong, someone ought to get her to safety."

Bae nodded...

Seoul...

Sinjeong sat alone in the garden of her palace in Seoul. She had heard rumors that Gang Jo had died, but no official word had reached her. She didn't know it, but Wang Geon practically had her on house arrest. Any messengers that came to the house would be stopped by guards and censored. Of course a General like Bae Hyeongyeong did not have to deal with this problem. He walked up to her, she was wearing black to mourn Gang Jo's loss, and would do so until she found out he was still alive. This of course would never occur.

"Who is there?" Sinjeong said, she didn't turn to look, "If Wang Geon sent you, do it quickly."

"Nobody sent me" Bae said.

"Bae?" she asked, she turned around, she was clearly in mourning "Is it true?"

Bae nodded "Yes, I'm sorry to say it is."

"And you know, you knew all along?"

"About you and Gang Jo? Yes, well I didn't know, but Hong Yu told me as he lay dying." Bae explained, he was deeply saddened and couldn't help thinking this whole mess was partially his fault. "He found out, you gave birth too early, he knew it wasn't his child, and I guess he decided to take his revenge now."

"Oh Bae, I can't believe he is gone!" the Princess said, she rushed up to the General and embraced him, and began crying on his shoulder.

"It is okay, do not fret, you are safe and your child is safe. If you were not you would already have been killed."

"....." The Princess said nothing.

"I know, I know, I will make sure nothing ever happens to you, I promise you Princess." Bae continued.

"....."

"Sinjeong." Bae said, he stepped back and the Princess fell to the ground, from her hand fell a knife. Bae looked at it and recognized it; it was the same knife Menaleus was going to use to kill Lacadeamon, the very same knife he held to Bae's throat, and the same knife he had given Bae in Sparta. It was Bae's knife. And now it was the knife Sinjeong used to end her own life. (CUE DRAMATIC MUSIC ) She took it from his belt. He looked down at the Princess, who was breathing heavy, her stomach was cut open, she stared up at him. "Damn it, what have you done Sinjeong!?!?" he said, as he dropped to his knees.

She died...

The Regency of Bae Hyeongyeong...

With both Gang Jo and the Princess dead Wang Geon's illness quickly overtook him, he spent his final days muttering to himself in Seoul. Talking openly with a very dead Gang Jo as his attendents gave him food and drink, Subo and Jigong tried to keep up his spirits but there was little their Buddhist mantras could do to stop the disease. One morning they found him dead. A somber melancholy draped over all of Korea, the future was unsure. Both the royal line of Seoul and the Warlord ruler of Pyongyang were now dead, and only a small boy remained to unite the people. As per the missive given to Kim Jong-seo by Wang Geon the General Bae Hyeongyeong would take control of Korea until Sejong came of age, a job that Bae took very reluctantly. This would began a very bad precedent in Korean history; the idea of military rule, one that would one day far from now return to shake the country to its core. But for now Bae would serve not as a dictator, but a capable and careful ruler. He knew he was only a place-holder, and he knew he had to live up to the honor not only of Wang Geon, not only of Gang Jo, not only of Empress Daemok, but of Lacadaemon too, and most importantly to the young boy Sejong...

(OOC: You guys like that black motiff?)

[Pitboss Korea]

OFFICIAL MESSAGE TO THE MAYA AND GREEKS



TO: Menaleus of Sparta, Pacal II of Maya
FROM: Steward Bae Hyeongyeong, General of Pyongyang

It is with great sorrow that I report the Koreans have lost their King Wang Geon of Goguryeo and their Princess Sinjeong of Silla. The King died of illness and the Princess took her own life, upon hearing of the King's death.

I am, however, happy to report the birth of Sejong who shall ascend the throne once he comes of age. In the interim I shall take up the reigns of governance and promise that I shall honor and follow all deals made by the King Wang Geon as will his son Sejong when he ascends the throne. I assure you of continued friendship and amity between the peoples of Korea and the nations of the Maya and the Greeks. This is a painful time for many Koreans and we hope that this event will not effect the friendly relationships our nations have achieved. Any messages or responses should be addressed to Hae Mosu, our foreign advisor.

Thank you for your time.

-Bae Hyeongyeong-

[Rasputin]

Originally posted by 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?"

The messenger smiled. His whole lifetime spent to get to this point. He saw the dead old leader and laughed.

"Meneleus, you fool, the message was really for you, i knew the only way ti get in here was to lie to you. Outside you will find the bodies of all of your family. Your mother , your father, your aunties and uncles the lot.

Vengence is mine says the GREAT ONE"

The messenger pulled a sword on Meneleus.

"You take one of my family , i take all of yours. My name is Thadius Kirk"

[Pitboss Korea]

OOC: Bae is already long gone and actually years have passed since this event occured, so you guys go ahead and have fun with it. But Bae is already gone with Han Gong back to Korea, the King of Korea is dead, so is the Queen and now Bae is the regent until Sejong comes of age. So if you are going to finish this story keep all of those facts in mind. Also I was under the impression that the messenger in that story was a Japanese messenger, the one who brought the note posted in the very next post.

[Rasputin]

ooc: years also passed between my character kirk arriving on his shores and he then killing him, so i figured time moves slowly in greece.

If Brae wasnt there to witness the massacre then so be it.

[Pitboss Maya]

The Grand Illusion

Flesh of the Gods

The spiritual use of the compound Psilocybin by the Mayan elite dates back to 5000 BC. It's introduction into mainstream Mayan culture occurred sometime around 260 BC.

"Teo-nanacatl" (God's Flesh) was the name given to the sacred, psilocybin containing, glowing mushroom found in the jungles outside Palenque. For centuries the Mayan Elders perpetuated the rumor that the mushroom was deadly poisonous, so as to keep it's power to themselves.

Ingestion of the mushrooms had a profound effect on the mind, and it was this effect that the elite associated with "true reality", while the mundane everyday world was nothing more than an elaborate illusion they referred to as "maya".

This understanding explains the origins of the names "Maya" and "Mayan" as the noun and adjective used to describe the civilization. The realm entered under the influence of Teo-nanacatl made no distinction between people of one culture or another, or animal or plant or time for that matter. When reentering the illusion after the effects waned, they were back in maya where distinctions were primary to the experience and a term for themselves seemed appropriate.

Another aspect of the Mayan mushroom theology was that the mushrooms were placed on earth by extra-terrestrials possessing technology that would one day be developed in "maya" by people. It was also believed that Teo-nanacatl allowed trans-dimensional communication with these otherworldly beings, along with other noted effects such as telepathic communication, the ability to foresee future events to occur in "maya", and a clear perception of truth and justice on a cosmic scale.

An overriding theme of this tapped intelligence was that one day man would destroy the earth with technology. The Elders were not sure what to make of the visions that depicted thousands of metal boxes on wheels, enormous gray rectangular temples bellowing black smoke skyward, and perhaps the most frightening vision which showed enormous fireballs killing millions of people. There was however no doubt in the Elders minds that Teo-nanacatl would be the key that would save humanity from itself one day.

The decision to reveal the magic behind Teo-nanacatl to the general public was not for the greater good of the Mayan people however. It was like many things, driven by politics.

From the time Pacal II came into power, the control of the people shifted drastically away from the Elders and into more of a monarchy. Pacal the First was the Chief Elder, where as Pacal the Second clearly separated himself from the Elders referring to them on several occasions as dried up crazy old men who's guidance was useful only as campfire story fodder.

The Elders resented Pacal II for this treatment, and after many backroom secret talks, they decided that the best way to sway the people back to their control would be through the mushroom.

[Pitboss Greece]

OOC: Time is passing very quickly in Sparta, but sometimes it just takes some time till stories are written about past times. Like even still today sometimes stories are written about the ancient past

Now I'm first going to write a story to explain why Bae apparantly missed the massacre of Menelaus' family.

I had planned it out all so perfectly! I was talking with Han Gong about the Oldonians just when the Oldonian messenger arrived.......
Unfortunately that wasn't clear enough

end of OOC
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While Menelaus was watching the Oldonian walking towards the body of Lacedaemon Bae withdrawed the knife and trew it on the ground while saying: "I don't need your sword to kill you, and I won't kill you if you live up to the legecy of Lacedaemon. Now let me mourn about the loss of my spiritual father. If we meet again later I hope the circumstances will be better and we won't need to play powerball against each other.

C'mon Han Gong, let's get our yellow asses out of here."

While Bae and Han Gong left the house Menelaus tried to stop them: "Wait..... these Oldonians I was telling you about, one of them is here....." but Bae and Han Gong were too far away already.

Menelaus turned towards the Oldonian and said: "Those Korean people were looking for your people, maybe you can catch up with them......"

But suddenly the Oldonian smiled and started to laugh at the body of Lacedaemon.

He said: "Meneleus, you fool, the message was really for you, i knew the only way ti get in here was to lie to you. Outside you will find the bodies of all of your family. Your mother , your father, your aunties and uncles the lot.

Vengence is mine says the GREAT ONE" and pulled his sword from his belt and immediately aimed it at Menelaus.

"You take one of my family , i take all of yours. My name is Thadius Kirk"

Menelaus stepped back while peeking at his knife that layed at the ground. He considered his chances. "Was this man right? Or did he lie about the dead of his family..."

Suddenly a soldier from Thebes entered the room. "Let me talk to Lacedaemon" he said.
"Talk to me, Lacedaemon is dead, I am your new leader."

The soldier looked at Thadius Kirk and his sword......
"Sir, this stranger........"
"Ignore him, and tell me your message" Menelaus said.

"Sir, a barbarian entered the silver-mines of Thebes..... he killed everybody who was working there, both the miners and their leaders.... then he went to Thebes and killed the family of the leaders...."

Menelaus stopped breathing for a while....
"My family, my family..... this barbarian from the north did not lie....."

While trying to hide the tears in his eyes he addressed the Oldonian:
"So, you're Thadius Kirk. You look like a brave man, coming all the way to Sparta to kill my unarmed family and then come to me to brag about it....."

Menelaus knees were shaking......

"Tell me Thadius the Barbarian, what would you do....
Imagine that the one who is protecting your life with his own life is about to get killed because he is protecting you. Imagine that you have the change to draw your knife and kill the one who is going to kill him to save the life of the one who wants to save your life.....

Tell me Thadius the Barbarian, what would you do? Would you show courage and kill him, or will you run away in the jungle?"

Menelaus pulled himself together again while focussing on Thadius. While ignoring the sword he walked towards Thadius while raising towards his full lenght.....

"Answer me....!" Menelaus barked...

[The Capo]

OOC @ Greece: Damn it, you obviously didn't read my post. Bae needs to take that knife with him because Sinjeong uses it to kill herself.

[Pitboss Greece]

@Capo: no worries: I have an idea to get that knife to Sinjeong....
It's not for nothing that I let Bae trow it on the ground explicitly... the story of the knife will be special

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Attached Picture: Thadius the Barbarian on the destroyed silver mines.

[The Capo]

OOC: Meh. That was why she embraced Bae in my story, it kinda ruins the whole dramatic aspect of it if he doesn't have the knife on his person and it symbolizes his mindset; he keeps it to remember to keep track of Menaleus, but whatever its not like anyone read the story anyway.

[Pitboss Greece]

While Menelaus walked towards Thadius the Barbarian his left foot hitted something. He peeked at it....

It was his knife, just at the place where Bae had trown it.
No.... it was not his knife, it was a different knife.....

"What did Bae do to my knife....?" Menelaus wondered.
"Strange, I've met Bae under such strange conditions, , we didn't really make friends together, yelled at each other, and now I wish he was here."

Then Menelaus focussed on Thadius again and screamed: "Answer me!"

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OOC
well, your story didn't tell how the knife came in her hands so I wanted to provide an achronological backstory. (stories don't have to be chronological! Remember!) But I've fixed it for you

[The Capo]

TY, its not that important, but I thought it would be an ironic twist that had Bae never gone to Greece she would have never been able to kill herself (remember she was on house arrest), just as had Bae never gone to Greece with Hong Yu then Gang Jo probably would have still been alive.

[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.

[Rasputin]

Kirk was mad with revenge he was no longer thinking straight. His vengence was beyond his control.

He stared at the Spartan with hatred.

" i am not here to answer you questions. I am here to destroy you"

He swung his sword and hit Meneleus in the arm drawing blood. But kirk was fatigued from his long march and slaughter of so many already.

He staggered as he swung again and this time missed the Spartan completely. Kirk was feverous and he swore as he missed his mark.

"Stand still you swine"

kirk never saw the spartan guards gathering and pointing their bows at him, he never saw them sliding a sword to Meneleus. He was so out of control now.