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

[Pitboss Korea]

Shin Sung headed back towards the Korean position, "Well, what happened who are they?" Bae Hyeongyeong asked impatiently.

"Here sir, they are from Sparta" he said handing him the missive, "they were very rude."

The General looked at the letter "What in the hell is this? I can't read this!" he said, he gazed into the horizon, the Spartans seemed to be getting into formations.

"You paid no attention before we left did you?" Shin Sung said snatching the paper, "I'll read it to you..."

From Lacedaemon, leader of the Spartan army.

We, people from Sparta, long to hear about the war between the Koreans and the Mayans.
We also want to make it very clear that nobody can move through the pass of the horses.
If you do not call your troop of warriors back we have to kill all of them.

We from Sparta don't use fancy words. We make our message clear and won't warn a 2nd time.

"... so, what do we do?"

The General looked again at their formation, "Hmm, alright, I will go talk to them."

"You, what?" Shin Sung said shocked "They'll kill you, I say we fight them, we've destroyed those barbarians, we can see what these Spartans are made of!"

"Are you an idiot Shin Sung?" the General said, shoving the Greek missive into his lieutenant's chest "First of all, they have bows and arrows, they'll kill half of our guys before we even approach their lines, and clearly these SPARTANS are prepared to fight. We've got a bunch of children and invalids on a f*cking EXPLORATORY MISSION! Use your head, besides that, we are to report back to Wang Geon, dead men tell no tales Shin Sung."

"Yes sir," he said, folding the letter up neatly, "But what makes you think they won't kill you?"

"Well first of all, you're going to hold these" Bae Hyeonyeong said, handing Shin Sung his weaponry "And they said it themselves, they want to hear about our war with the Maya. Besides all of that, the Greeks are honorable, they would never do such a thing, the worst thing they would do is hold me for ransom" he said, peering over the Spartan lines, "Besides it will only be me, even if they kill me they will diminish their reputation and I can tell they do not want that." the General said, taking off his last peice of armor "And that shouldn't bother you anyway, you are already beyond their range, if they kill me you must return to Wang Geon and tell him of the travesty."

"But General, if you are gone, how will-"

"You will be General Shin Sung, its that simple, this is my oath of honor, and I will accept it. I will talk to this Lacedaemon, I am sure he is honorable and will accept a soldier, you keep vigil over our side. I promise you" Bae said, clutching Shin Sung's shoulders "I shall return..."

[Pitboss Korea]

Bae walked down the hill, weaponless, nearly naked, with his arms raised empty, awaiting the Spartan response...

[Pitboss Vikings]

Alarm bells rang out across the city. The black hordes of doom were approaching.

The Despotic council gathered the people and gave them all an axe each.

Go guard your homes my people

The crowd didnt move they were fearful.

But then the four dark robed axemen entered town and the crowd were fortified in their resolve. With these four they could protect the city.

The Great One will go before you and put fear in the Black Mans heart

[Pitboss Greece]

A man came down from the hill.
He walked towards the Spartan army.

"He has no weapons!" someone said.
Some of the archers putted an arrow in their bows and aimed at the incoming Korean.

"Don't kill him...." Lacedaemon said.

"He has no protection at all!" one of the chieffs remarked.
"No weapons, no protection..... this is a trap!"

More archers aimed their weapons.
The man raised his arms, showing the empty palms of his hands.

A soldier from the backside of the army came running towards Lacedaemon. "Sir, the Corinthians...."
"shut up" Lacedaemon mumbled. "Don't let the Korean hear you"

The Korean man was 10 meters from Lacedaemon, holding both his arms in the air.

Lacedaemon turned to the soldier.
"Tell me about the Corinthians, don't let the Korean hear you" he whispered.

"The Corinthians are not far behind. They will catch up with us soon." the soldier said.
"Hmmmm, keep this a secret. Make sure that it's impossible for the Corinthians to contact the Koreans Let nobody slip through the pass. Let me know when the Corinthians are about to get close enough to hit us with their arrows. We can't allow ourselves to find us between two enemy armies." Lacedaemon said.

Then Lacedaemon turned towards the chieffs, leaving the Korean where he was. He said "Lower your arms" before he addressed the chieffs.

"The Corinthians are moving in from behind. We must deal with the Koreans before the Corinthians are ready to attack us."
"Let's kill the Koreans first, then take the strategic position up the hill and wait for the Corinthians to come" one of the chieffs said.
"Let's hear about the Korean/Mayan war first" one of the other chieffs protested. "We have two enemies already, why make another enemy if we're not even sure if there's a friend somewhere...."

"I'll talk to the Korean first" Lacedaemon concluded.

He walked towards the Korean.
Still many archers aimed their bows at the unarmed man.

"You don't wear many weapons. I don't hope you came here to battle me.
Who are you? What message did you bring from your leader? What's the news from the war between Korea and the Mayans? Do you have the authority to make decisions?"

[Pitboss Persia]

Fighting the barbarians

The warning the romans got wasn't enough. They were slaugtered by the barbarians almost without resistance. The piercian warriors went insane watching the massacre from the distance, and ran as fast as they could to help their friends, but they came too late. When they arrived, the barbarians were already taking a new formation to face their charge. But bloodlust flew threw the piercian veins, and there was no pity for the murderers. They were disarmed, tortured, and killed one by one.

A big hole was carved into the humid jungle soil, and all the dead barbarians were thrown in. A small hill was made over the grave, and roman weapons were placed on it's top.

"Well done guys. Let us remember this day, as the one on that we failed protecting our friends, and never let this happen again."

"Now, let's move on, we have to find a workable coastline for our trade-ships."

[Pitboss Korea]

Bae Hyeongyeong slowly approached the Spartan lines, you're an idiot they'll kill you for sure, he thought to himself. He wasn't going back to Pyongyang without something substantial for Wang Geon. This time he would prove his worth. The Spartans appeared to be arguing amongst themselves, probably over whether to kill this half-naked idiot in front of them, the only thing Bae was truly worried about was whether or not that idiot Shin Sung would do anything stupid.

One of the Spartans, well frankly the only one without a weapon aimed at Bae, cautiously approached him ""You don't wear many weapons. I don't hope you came here to battle me." the Spartan began, Bae thought to himself Shin Sung was right, that was rude, I could take this guy. The Spartan continued "Who are you?"

Bae looked at the men before him, "I am General Bae Hyeongyeong, Warlord of Pyongyang. I serve his majesty the Supreme King of Goguryeo Wang Geon. Master of Korea. I have been sent here on an exploratory mission to-"

The Spartan had no interest in hearing the rest of this, besides he had already read their letter; Spartans had little patience for pleasantries. Besides, they had more important issues to deal with than this one Korean and his mission, namely the other Greeks, "What message did you bring from your leader?"

Bae thought to himself, hmm well you don't exactly have a message, think of something Bae think! "Well, Wang Geon offers you his goodwill and support. We want you to know that we Koreans do not come here to make trouble, we simply wish to learn what has transpired that has caused such alarm amongst you Greeks, the Athenians-" Bae noted the Greeks before him react to that, "the uh, Athenians tell us of your quarrels, they paint you in a devilish light, but I am a General and I know what it is to protect one's country. You have my respect, I realize you are a great army and I simply ask of some token to represent my trip here and this meeting to send to my King, perhaps we can help the Spartans."

The Greek before him stared him down for a moment "What's the news from the war between Korea and the Mayans?"

"We have made peace terms," Bae realized this was his opportunity to relate to the Spartans "You see, one of the Korean cities Seoul was too arrogant and weak, they left our fellow Koreans in the fields without protection, they were captured by the Mayans, we men from Pyongyang Gang Jo, Hong Yu and myself went with our great King Wang Geon and made things right again. We are like you Sparta, much like you protect all of the Hellenes by guarding this pass, we of Pyongyang protect our beloved Korea."

The Greek stared at him blankly.

"But uh, yeah, we have made peace with the Maya." Bae explained.

The Greek leader quickly responded; "Do you have the authority to make decisions?"

"Certain decisions, yes I can make certain decisions, but I have been given a task and I must fulfill my duties. What did you have in mind?"

[Pitboss Greece]

"So, there is peace now..." Lacedaemon whispered.
"General Bea", he continued, "why did you come yourself? Why did you not send one of your men? Don't you know that we can kill you...?"

Then Lacedaemon turned his head and addressed all those archers who aimed their bows at General Bae:
"Soldiers of Sparta, what's more honorable for a man to do? Aim your weapon at a single unarmed man while hiding between hundreds of likewise armed friends, or trow away your weapons and walk naked and unproteced into the camp of the enemy?"

Some archers lowered their bows, looking down in shame.
Some hestitated....
One screamed: "I see no honor in a man who's foolish enough to walk around naked in the camp of the enemy. If all the Koreans are like him we can enslave them to let them find real honor by working in our silver mines!"

Quickly more soldiers lowered their bows, those who were close to the speaker moved a few stept aside.

"Take his bow" Lacedaemon said.

Lacedaemon turned towards General Bae again.
"You heard what he said. He thinks you're a fool. He thinks that all your people are fools. He's brave enough to speak out his mind in front of you."

Lacedaemon handed his bow and one arrow to General Bae.
Then he pointed at the now shaking soldier.
"You can show us in what manner Koreans handle with people like him. Use my bow and arrow, if you want to. I will not intervene."

[Pitboss Greece]

Lacedaemon stepped aside.
Then he whispered to one of his chieffs: "Go, find the Corinthians. Tell them about the peace between the Mayans and the Koreans. Tell them that I want to discuss peace."

"But Sparta...." the chieff responded.
"When we return to Sparta we will end this madness. The other peoples stopped waging war against each other. Why should we continue to wage war against our own people?"

Then the chieff moved away.
Lacedaemon nodded at General Bae. "He's all yours."

[Pitboss Korea]

Bae reluctantly took the bow from Lacedaemon, what madness was this? He didn't know what to do, should he kill this trembling soldier? Should he do the work of Lacedaemon? Was it his place to discipline this soldier? And why am I standing here half-naked pointing an arrow at this guy with all of his comrades looking on?

Back on top of the hill

Shin Sung looked down in amazement "F*ck, he's going to die!"

Another soldier looked down at the scene "What are they doing?!" He said, shocked.

"Well, it looks like the one Greek is asking Bae to kill another Greek. This is ridiculous!"

"What should we do sir?" the soldier asked. "Should we prepare to fight?"

"NO!" Shin Sung said "He ordered us not to, we are to return to Pyongyang and tell Wang Geon no matter what happens here, c'mon Bae, don't do anything stupid..."

Back to Bae

What the hell am I doing? Bae thought, he closed his eyes and shot the arrow directly into the soldier's ankle, he handed the bow back to Lacedaemon and said "look he lives, apparently he's no Achilles.."

Damn, I hope they don't kill me... he thought to himself....

[Pitboss Greece]

The young soldier screamed in panic when he collapsed to the ground. He tried to stand up again, but his feet couldn't hold him anymore. He cried when he removed the arrow from his ankle.

"look he lives, apparently he's no Achilles.." General Bae said.

Then suddenly all soldiers started to laugh out loud.
The legend of Achilles who had killed many Athenians in the long forgotten past was a favourite story among the Spartans.

Lacedaemon smiled: "So, you're brave enough to make jokes about the enemy you just demoted from soldier to disabled homeboy. Even if his embarished father is standing next to you....."

Lacedaemon walked towards the boy who was still trying to stand on his feet. "You have dissapointed me, son. You have proven to be a good soldier. I wished though that you would have been a good leader as well."

"Your army is departing..... without you, General Bae.
I will go back to Sparta to establish peace among the fighting factions of the Greek.
Before we part I wish to give you a message. Bring it to your leader."

To the leader of the Koreans.

I don't know much about the Koreans.
I was told that Koreans were a weak nation. A weak nation with a weak army, weak military strategists and lacking any sort of honor.

My leader told me to lead an army towards the Korean border to assist the Mayans in destroying it.

But now I have met your General Bae.
A brave man.
Brave enough to offer his life
Brave enough to stand up for the honor of his people
Brave enough to let the offender live
Brave enough to live

If there are more in Korea like him, then we, the Spartans, are defenitely willing to sign a peace threaty.

I suggest that we draw a border between our territories.
West of Pyongyang starts a river. Let this river be our natural border.

We, people from Sparta, are tough to our enemies. But we are loyal to our friends. We both have enemies. We have worries with the Athenians on our western border. You have troubles with the Mayans on your northern border.

Let our mutual border be secure.

Lacedaemon
Leader of the Spartan army
Soon to be the Leader of all Spartans

[/q]

[The Capo]

Whoops! Pretend like it says Pitboss Korea
<-=- Right over there, sorry.

Shin Sung sat quietly by the fire, tossing random twigs into it and staring at the crackling embers. He was General now. He would have to return to Pyongyang and tell them what had transpired, inform them of Bae and his stupidity. "Wang Geon's going to kill me" he said aloud, nobody heard him, they were all asleep "Bae's dead and its all my-"

"BOO!" a voice yelled into Shin Sung's ear, he jumped, and grabbed his weapon.

"At ease soldier!" Bae Hyeongyeong said, smiling "Look at this, they let me keep the bow, its pretty decent, not as good as our own though. What a prize for Wang Geon!"

"How in the hell did you survive?" Shin Sung said, "Wait a moment, did you just say they let you KEEP the bow?"

"Yes, it was his son, the General's son that I shot, right in the ankle. Like Achilles!" Bae said, completely proud of himself.

Bae was familiar with the story of Achilles, its the only thing he paid attention to when the Greek scouts passed Pyongyang years earlier, "You shot the GENERAL'S SON with an arrow and they let you live?!?!" Shing Sung was stunned, "I would have skinned you alive if you did that to my son."

"He said we were weak, called us slaves, they put me on the spot, it was the only thing I could think of. We've got to get back to Wang Geon though, I'm not sure what this says, but I'm sure someone back in Pyongyang would know, can you read this?"

Shin Sung grabbed the tablet "Um, let's see, it says something about knowlege something then Korea, says that a few times, I don't really know how to read this, it says your name something about bravery or something."

"Give me that!" Bae Hyeongyeong said, turning to the sleeping soldiers "Nice to see you all lost sleep over me!" he yelled, kicking one swiftly in the ribs, "DOES ANYONE HERE READ GREEK?!?!"

[Pitboss Japan]

Emperor Lee had been watching the movements of the sound village very carefully. for a long time he felt the sound ninja would betray him. he know it was just a matter of time so he went to each of the 5 great ninja villages to make a mends with them. he left Jade in charge and left with a small group to each village. Jade being who she was sent two divisions to the Oldonian capital, but for what no one knew.

[Pitboss Persia]

Homeland Security

The final step of the great homeland security project was done.

The Empress had called for a day of celebration. She stood on a balcony of Her palace and watched what happened down on the central city place.

"Nice work, my Prince." she said to the man standing next to her. "I knew you were worth my daughter's hand."

"It is an honor to serve Your greatness, oh my Empress." He answered, smiling at the spactacle down there.

"Oh please Asiz... stop that. Call me Iris !"

"As you wish, oh my Empress... ehm... Iris." he answered, somehow confused.

She cleaned her voice a little, and then adressed to the crowd :

" Piercia ! This is a great day for Us. We knew the barbarian hordes never stood a chance compared to the Piercians, but now, they won't even try anymore !"

*applause*

" The safety we all worked so hard for now lies in our hands. The Great Wall of Piercia will remind our ennemies to stay out of our lands for ever and ever, till the end of times !"

*applause*



"But that's not all, and you know we have accomplished much more ! The brave men and women who travelled westwards, risking their lives in the most dangerous part of the piercian jungle are now able to provide us with all the metal we will need to equip our soldiers with the finest and deadliest weapons known to mankind."

Two men walked to the center of the place, showing their weapons and some combat moves to the impressed crowd.



*applause*

" Admire your fellow Piercians from the city of Wild Kho'Per ! Be greatfull for their endurance, their everyday's live is always a struggle for survival. "

The two men stood in the middle of the crowd, and with ice-cold eyes, they watched the celebrating crowd. They were not very impressed. They knew, most of them wouldn't survive a week in their homelands. But they were Piercians, in their heart burned the same fire and so it came, that they couldn't help but smile.

*applause*

" All this could never be done without the protection of the bravest among the piercian women : celebrate your guardian angels, celebrate the archeresses !

*applause*

Some women entered the place. They were wearing the colours of their respective cities. One of them, had a little creature on her shoulder, and walked in front of the first line.



" Theese are the women who defended Wild Kho'Per by following the barbarian horde deep into the jungle, and killing them to the last. Thank you Captain !"

*applause*

" And now the time has come to show the world what we are made of. The barbarians have established a city next to the lands of our friends from the Wyandot Nation. The time has come to get that scum off this world !"

*applause*

[Pitboss Persia]

" Our Prince will lead the assault personally, so that noone can doubt the piercian honor !"

Prince Asiz took a step forwards and presented his blades to the crowd. The drums became louder and louder, and celebration went on all night long.

[Pitboss Portugal]

News has reached the capital that wild men are overrunning the country side in the west. Baba has ordered that a 10,000 strong army be gathered and send to clean and safeguard the region. Archers were to join the 10,000 strong axemen as supporting units. Baba saw that as an opportunity to further extend his domain into the west, so he ordered that a new heavily fortified outpost be build as a buffer between his lands and the lands of the undomesticated wild people.

In the south a messenger was send to the Romans; his orders were to inform the southern neighbors of Baba’s claims to the North Nile.

“Romans, we have seen the great fertile river west of the Outpost. I have instructed the Bear Slayer and a couple of his best men to go and secure that land. The local magistrate in Outpost has been already instructed to send out some skillful builders and farmers to start cultivating the land in the region of the North Nile delta. I offer you the Desert Mountains be a neutral border between our two people. What you do with the southern portion of the river we do not care”