Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] Part 2 (September)

[Pitboss Korea]

MISSIVE TO MAYA AND GREEKS



An Official Invitation of General Bae Hyeongyeong, Representing His Excellency Emperor Sejong of Goguryeo, King of Silla

TO: King Pacal II of Maya, and Menaleus of Sparta
FROM: General Shin Sung, Imperial Commander

General Bae Hyeongyeong, regent of the Korean Empire, formally requests the presence of ambassadors capable of making treaty decisions for your Empires, or the presence of your lordships.

We must discuss important issues that have arisen in the wake of the Oldonian visit to Korea. There are many matters to discuss about the world beyond our own, as well as matters concerning our three great Empires. We wish to discuss cooperative infrastructure that will aide us in future trade as well as more pressing matters that, for security interests, have been omitted from this invitation.

We invite you to a round-table discussion among our ambassadors at the Korean capital of Seoul. We shall prepare a dinner, but entertainment will be cut short as these issues require important thought and discussion that will not be interrupted with mere revelry.

An official response to this message would be greatly appreciated.

-General Shin Sung, Imperial Commander

[Pitboss Maya]

To: General Bae Hyeongyeong

From: King Pacal the Second

Subject: Official Acceptance of Discussion Invitation







General Bae Hyeongyeong it is with great pleasure that I accept your invite back to Seoul for further discussion regarding the future of the Koreans, Greeks, and Mayans.

Forgive the delay with this reply. The Mayans have been undergoing a spiritual transformation we call Taoism. Many projects and communications have been put on hold while this revolution pans out.

I would be happy to bring a shaman with me to perhaps introduce our theology to your more open minded citizens.

I will also add that our army currently decends upon one of the Aztec cities under the command of War Chief Nacon. Once he lays waste to this settlement, he will move west to crush the other Aztec encampment. We may in the very near future see our lands finally purged of the barbarian menace.

I am another you.

- Pacal II

[Pitboss Greece]

"What do you want answering?" Thadius the Barbarian asked.
Menelaus grew angry again....
"Do you not want to live?" he slowly responded....
"My question is.... do you not agree with me that an armed and well trained man that doesn't come to the rescue when the person who's saving his life is about to die, but tries to run away deserves nothing but dead?"

Menelaus fingers strongly embraced his knife.....
"These Oldonians are truely pathathic. He knew the question, he's only trying to win time. I vowed never to kill again but..."

while Thadius the Barbarian, the one who murdered all of his family thought about the question Menelaus thought about moving all of his armies to the north to find the Oldonians.

"These Oldonians are nothing like the Mayans and the Koreans. They are not fair and honest. They do not care about bravery and honor. They do not stand up for what they believe in. It's just treachery and lies they depend upon. Like Captain Kirk didn't want to give his life to safe his protector, this Thadius doesn't want to speak the truth but tries to hide behind answers...." Menelaus thoughts were running through his mind.

"Answer me...." Menelaus said again. "And you should know that your life and the life of your people depends on your answer. Your answer tells me what the Oldonians are really about and if we can ever become friends or will be true enemies. Know that as we speak 3 armies of Phalanxs and 1 army of archers are marching to the north to fight the Barbarians.

I will not hestitate to send them a new message, a message to tell them to attack the barbarians that belong to Thadius the Barbarian.

So speak honest and speak out loud, what is the answer on my question? What do the Oldonians think about cowards? About people who do not fight for those who try to save their lives?"

[Pitboss Greece]

Achmed was brought to Sparta to the house of Menelaus.
When he entered the house he saw a young man in Oldonian clothes. He looked a lot like Captain Kirk in his younger days...

In front of him there was Menelaus....
Menelaus was holding his knife behind his back, ready to stab this image of Captain Kirk.
The Oldonian, Achmed named him 'Kirk' in his mind, was clearly considering what he was going to say. All eyes were on him.

The tension was big. Everything in this room smelled like anger and fear.

Menelaus arm was holding the knife firmly.
Achmed had a deja vu, many weeks ago in the jungles north of Corinthia....

[Pitboss Greece]

A Korean messenger arrived at the city of Sparta.
When he almost reached the house of Menelaus a guard stopped him.
"Menelaus is .... busy" the guard said.
"I have a message for Menelaus" the messenger said.
"Wait here" the guard said, while he walked into the next house.

After a while both the guard and another man came out of the house. The other man walked towards the Korean Messenger and bowed for him.

"Greetings, I am Alexander from Athens. Please hand me your message. I represent Menelaus concerning our surrounding civilizations."

A bit hestitating the message was handed towards Alexander. He immediately opened the message and read it.

"He will come" Alexander said.
"Menelaus will come immediately after he has finnished his current affairs. He told me this morning that he intended to visit Bae in Korea soon anyway. I will come with him.

Please tell General Bae that both Menelaus and Alexander will arrive to Seoul within only a few days."

Then Alexander walked into his house again.

[Pitboss Vikings]

Menelaus grew angry again....
"Do you not want to live?" he slowly responded....
"My question is.... do you not agree with me that an armed and well trained man that doesn't come to the rescue when the person who's saving his life is about to die, but tries to run away deserves nothing but dead?"

A stupid question with the obvious answeer being no, the only person deserving death is the destroyer. Thadisu thought this was a rhetroical question, the insane spartan was too preoccupied with his own madness.

Menelaus fingers strongly embraced his knife.....


"Answer me...." Menelaus said again. "And you should know that your life and the life of your people depends on your answer. Your answer tells me what the Oldonians are really about and if we can ever become friends or will be true enemies. Know that as we speak 3 armies of Phalanxs and 1 army of archers are marching to the north to fight the Barbarians.

I will not hestitate to send them a new message, a message to tell them to attack the barbarians that belong to Thadius the Barbarian.

So speak honest and speak out loud, what is the answer on my question? What do the Oldonians think about cowards? About people who do not fight for those who try to save their lives?"

"you ask whether my uncle was a coward, you say you trained him and gave him a dagger to use. We both know you are a liar. My uncle could not be trained to fight as he was an invalid. his fingers were knarled with some strange disease thst did not allow him to hold utensils., he even had difficulty eating. This is why he was a revered sailor, that despite his disability he still could captain a boat and explore.

You are the coward Meneleus, you killed your own general who was trying to protect the harmless, you staged it such that it would appear to the workd that Captain Kirk was a coward. Yes he was afraid, but he could do nothing to protect the one that protected himself. If it had been me in that situation you would have died long ago. I do not fear you. Yet you are the coward who always has to have others protect you. If your guard had not arrived in your leaders home you too would be dead again."

Thadeus stepped forward so he was in the face of Meneleus. "you threaten the peaceful Oldonians becasue you are a coward, of you were brave and loved fighting and honour you would fight the Mayans, but no , you seek only to kill those that are smaller than you. That is a coward and that is you."

Thadeus clenched his fists and didnt care for his own safety. He thumped Meneleus hard and fast. In the stomach and the face.

Meneleus spat blood and swung the hidden knife at Thadeus. Slicing into his arm.
"You weak and spineless man" Thadeus said.
He grabbed Meneleus and they both fell to the floor grasping for the knife.

Thadeus grabbed the knife hand of Menelus and smashed it into the floor. The knife skidded away to the feet of Achmed.

Thadeus was to ostrong for the insane Spartan and his younger reflexes gave him the advantage. He banged the spartan leaders head into the floor till blood flowed. Thadeus stood over the limp yet still breathing spartan and frowned/
"Your people may crush my people on the battlefield by sheer wieght of numbers, but you will never take us on individually as right has might of its own. Your armies are huge, i have seen them myself. Th Oldonians are small. One of the smallest nations in the world, yet Sparta can only be strong by figihting smaller nations. You are the cowards and anyone who follows you to fight the innocent and smaller armies are cowards too.

Let Sparta be remembered for what it is . YELLOW "

[Pitboss Greece]

Alexander entered the house of Menelaus.
Just in time to witness everything Thadius did and said.

All that were in the house stepped back when Thadius passed them. Nobody said a word.
He saw Menelaus laying on the floor, dying. There were no last words for Menelaus. He died drowning in his own blood.

Thadius got a free walk to the door till he met Alexander face to face.

"You have killed Menelaus" Alexander said.
"You had the right to do so after what he has done to your family. I will not judge you for that." he continued.
"You have also insulted Sparta. You did not have the right to do that. Surely not since your insults are without any truth for we have never battled with smaller nations or misbehaved on the battle fields."

Alexander looked at Thadius like a father looks at his misbehaving son and continued: "But I will not judge you for that either."

"You have shown that there is bravery and honor among the Oldonians. Whatever Menelaus might have said, we will not wage a war against us. We do not wage wars against either cowards or heroes. Menelaus was wrong and you may have served Sparta well by killing him."

"The reasont that I can not let you go is that you have killed innocent people in the silver mines of Sparta.
You must face the concequences because that makes you not better a better man then Menelaus."

Alexander drawed his knife while saying: "Thadius the Barbarian, your fate will be the same fate Menelaus suffered because your actions were simular as well"

Alexander slide his knife through Thadius throat who immediately died on the floor.

Then Alexander spoke to Plaey: "Go to the north and find the Oldonians. Negotiate peace with them. We must leave hte past behind us."

To Achmed Alexander said: "Here, take the knife of doom and bring it to your leader. Diditos will go with you."

"Diditos: learn more about these Piercians. We Spartanians have learned to not base our entire understanding of a nation based upon the actions of a single representative of them. Both Kirks have shown us that."

Then Alexander addressed all: "From now on I will lead the Spartans unless anybody has a problem with that..."

Nobody protested. Alexander continued:
"I will go to Korea first to meet with General Bae and the Maya leader. Till I am back Sparta should be lead in the Spirit of Lacedaemon. Burry Lacedaemon with all respect he deserves. Burry Thadius 'the barbarian' Kirk and Menelaus together."

Then Alexander left.
Many days later he arrived at Seoul where he asked for the house of General Bae.

[Pitboss Vikings]

News of the Spartan incident arrived in Oldonia many months later.

The leaders gathered and knew that a message must be sent to Sparta.

No one argued that the young thadius had done wrong

To the mighty greeks in Sparta.

from The Council Of the United Oldonian Provinces,

It has come to our attention that a gang of Oldonians have entered your lands to seek retribution for alleged crimes undertken by Spartans against Oldonians.

We have been told that the leader of this group Thadius Kirk, did slay many innocent people to gain access to the guilty one. This type of action is not condoned by Oldonia. We would have pushed for a trial with evidence presented on the alleged crimes agaisnt us.

Now the alleged guilty are dead and so is the Oldonian perpetrator.

We wish to put this matter behind us as we bleieve that despite due process not being followed that in the end it is all even.

We have much more pressing matters to deal with in our territories than this incident , and hope that one day we can join on the battlefield agaisnt the Black Peril.

We do ask that we both leave the past in the past and move forward in forging a closer tie in the Western Razolia region.

We have been forewarned by our Prophets of other perils to the East. It is for this we must prepare.

[Pitboss Maya]

Taoism Spreads

Word of the spiritual awakening in Palenque quickly spread to the Mayan capital.

Pacal knew there was no accident with the grain. Although he did not see it comming, secretly he applauded the Elders for being so clever in their bid for power.

Xuruto the Head Elder was summoned to Pacal's palace. He suspected it was for his execution, although he did not fear for his life. His days were numbered anyway by age.

Unexpectedly, there was no execution. Rather, Pacal thanked Xuruto.

"I had always suspected that sharing the wisdom of the mushroom would further our civilization, but was never quite ready to take that plunge. I am glad it happened accidentally and that you were available to guide the people." Pacal said to the head Elder.

Xuruto knew the King's gratitude was a veil for his true feelings regarding the Elder Council's decision to awaken the populace behind his back.

"I hearby appoint you Chief Shaman," the king added. "I expect you to continue to lead the people spiritually, while I lead them in maya.

Xuruto had not expected Pacal to embrace Taoism, although in hindsite he realized that he left the King no choice.

[Pitboss Khmer]

Originally posted by MMC
From the Court of Alexander McFungal, Crown Prince of the English Happy Funland (aka the Funglish Dominion):

"Very well. I am given to understand that visitors from other nations were invited to the ceremony, namely the Holy Roman's and a people known as the 'Combers'?"

Visibly relieved, the messenger eased forward again.

"Yes, sire. The Khmer sent an official party, and the crew of the Fungolia were able to discuss preliminaries with them. The Holy Roman Empire, however, did not send anyone in an official capacity, although I'm sure many peasants attended."

"Yes... The Holy Roman people are reported to be very insular, although I'm told we've been making significant progress on the diplomatic front." The Prince motioned for his diplomatic adviser, a large fellow called Robert the Plump, who was waiting in an alcove. "Am I mistaken?"

Robert quickly stepped forward, and spoke with the experience of one who has server flawlessly for many years.

"Of course not, sire. The Holy Roman people love us, mainly for our public proclamation of their Christian faith. The people seem to open up to us much more than the leadership does. As you know, we have had many goof years of trade with them, exchanging our excess fish for their local delicacy known as Beef. We have gotten to know their merchants well enough that they often proclaim the state of their cities with little regard to secrecy. However, their leader, whom I believe is called Matthias, seem very reluctant to talk about much."

The Prince pondered this for a moment, before returning his attention to the messenger.

"I see. What of these Khmer? Are they trustworthy?"

Bolstered by Robert's obvious confidence, the messenger answered promptly.

"They seem to have trouble grasping the finer points of our common language (which we share with the Metalhead nation), unlike the Holy Romans who are able to switch languages as one might switch hats. However, they seem to be a very trustworthy people, and have readily expressed a desire for further contact. I believe the Captain of the Fungolia, did arrange for some preliminary discussions for a treaty, but I had left before I could learn the outcome of these discussions."

it very sad of oswald as message of regrets previous sent.

thank ozzy for allowing invite to metal capital. here we meet final the funglish and now it time to talk. we trustingly sent dialog but it refused. base on previous dialog about trading shiva unsure now. we offer a bit different as based on funglish advances.

but it surprising you all speak similar tongue. it important to hold culture identity and difference.

but shiva know it disadvantage and misunderstanding easy with foreign tongue. if all speak of own tongue it might be more real however and not so many deals done. shiva see far and all too many deal done easy but not easy for combers. he. shiva crack a joke as friendly. and even do paragraph for funglish understanding.

ozzy warrior welcome in shiva lands but warn not to pee on steps of royalty. your forebears had a urinary issue in our jungle. new cure discover here and it cut off the offending appendage. he.

our scout continue in metal land and look for christian holy roman mother.

shiva has problem and need advise. it seem khmer combers need religion as it not formalized yet. shiva a hindu god but metal religion a little different. and metal a strong veteran civilization. it occur to shiva to ask holy roman mothers for christian as it need more help than metal. metal can spread too but all khmer city must choose one. shiva in much conflict with this.

funglish help holy roman mother too and shiva respect funglish advise.

it await jungle mail from all civilization who invite by funglish for pact or something. religion issue must be in this.

great tidng to great men and women of these great nation.

[Pitboss Persia]

Achmed was paralized. This man looked just like Kirk, but didn't behave like him. The Spartan refered to him as barbarian and insulted his people.

As the oldonian began to fight with the Spartan, Achmed didn't want to interfere. He knew that this Spartan would kill him, whatever his men may have said.

When the knife fell just infront of him, he picked it up, hoping this would prevent the two men from killing each-other. But he was wrong and the young oldonian crushed the Spartans skull. "If only you were a warrior", he thought to himself...

Another Spartan entered the room, killing the oldonian quickly after a few words that Achmed did pay no attention to.

After that, he introduced himself and asked Achmed to lead a Spartan emissary to the Piercian Empire. So he answered.

"Yes, i think you spartans may come along much better with other Piercians then me. I am just an almost dead old messenger, but i can guide you to my homelands. However, you will need a ship to get there."

The spartan answered that he had to know more about the Piercian Empire, and if a ship was needed for that, a ship shall be built.

"In the mean time, do you have someone who knows about wounds and can have a look at my leg ? At the moment, i can barely stand."

Alexander was disgusted about that complaining, but told a guard to lead him to a healer. He warned him however, that the journey would start as soon as the ship would be ready, without consideration for Achmed's wounds.

"I don't want to waste more of your precious time as absolutely needed, i'll await the ship in the healer's house then."

[Pitboss Vikings]

The archeological digs around the base of the Great Mountains reveal that deposits of Copper and Iron were discovered by 100BC. It would appear a shortage of labour meant that the deposits were not mined for many centuries. This is all more evidence that the civiliastion in this area was led by a weak leader who failed to take advantage of many of the rich bonuses in the lands.

History could have been so different id perhpas a leader like Churchill, or roosevelt or many others had been born in those lands.

[Pitboss H Roman]

They had been wrong about Matthias. He would not be the leader all had hoped.

His religious commitment could never be questioned; in that regard he was very similar to his predecessor, Charles II. But his initial enthusiasm for the role of Emperor soon gave way to self-doubt, which led to further time in prayer to seek guidance and strength. This frustrated the ministers and bureaucrats who were trying to pull the Empire into the modern world.

Initial diplomacy with the Funglish, a very open and amiable civilization, soon led to silence with the death of Joseph, the stalwart of the Holy Roman palace. Matthias never did respond to the Metalheads, but he at least had the common sense not to interfere with the return of the Metalhead workers captured so many years ago.

His response to the Great Southern Barbarian invasion had again been to turn to his religion. It was left to local military commanders to deal with the barbaric axemen, and only the skill and bravery of Colonel Viktor Richard of the 14th Holy Roman Archers saved the capitol and the Empire from disaster. Emperor Matthias prayed for the souls of the many archers who died. He struggled with his conscience about the souls of the barbarians.

Then came the blackest day in the history of the Empire. They had endured the loss of all their scouts. They had endured the long and costly pursuit of Christianity. They had endured the incursion of Metalhead cities into Holy Roman lands. They had endured the barbarian axe invasion. But the loss of the caravan of settlers heading south, along with their escort, the 5th Prague Regiment, to a lowly band of barbarian warriors was so discouraging and logically inexplicable that it hit the Empire very hard. Most could claim a relative lost in the barren southern lands. And all, including the Emperor, could not explain why their Lord had seemingly abandoned them.

Matthias fell into a deep depression, broken only by fitful periods of delusional prayer. Caretakers and bureaucrats tiptoed quietly around him to keep the Empire functioning. All foreign correspondence was essentially ignored. The invitation to the funeral of Oswald was ignored. Even the news that a new caravan of settlers had successfully settled the southern site could not raise the Emperor’s spirits.

And then Matthias was found dead, by his own hand; his knife through his heart in the early hours of the morning. His personal manuscript, which was burnt shortly afterwards, provided the rationale. Matthias clearly felt that he was unworthy. That he had somehow disappointed his Lord, and that had brought ill fate upon the Empire. He had no other option. He killed himself to save his civilization.

[Pitboss Maya]

80 BC

War Chief Nacon lead his army east of Tikal into the thick jungle in search of a barbarian city rumored to be in the foothills of the mountains.

Upon coming across the Aztec city, Nacon and 1000 Mayan warriors killed the Aztec guard, burned the town, and brought the women and children back to Tikal for slavery.

The east was now safe. Nacon and his army rested in the capital in preparation for the assault on the western Aztec city...

[Pitboss H Roman]

The Holy Roman Empire now found itself in an unusual, but familiar situation. There was no one to rule.

Emperor Matthias never took a wife, and died childless. The bureaucracy, with the death of Joseph, was in disarray. The earlier purge of the military had eliminated the would-be kingmakers , but fortunately brought forward a new and committed crop of young commanders. The religious ranks had never clamoured for power; they were content with prayer and study.

Despite the religious order’s reluctance to assume power, the Empire was nonetheless, a religious state. The Emperor was not only the administrative head of state, he was the religious leader as well. And with the spread of Christianity to other nations, his standing took on international importance. For these reasons, the cardinals and bishops of the Empire met in an emergency session to firmly establish a process for choosing an Emperor. Given the urgency of the situation, the new protocol was hammered out in one week of discussion and debate.

First and foremost, the Emperor would be of his father’s bloodline, provided certain criteria in education and competency were met, and a majority of the Council of Cardinals approved the appointment. Secondly, the Emperor could choose a successor not of his bloodline, again subject to the same criteria. And thirdly, where no heir or successor existed or was recommended, or all had been rejected by the Council, then the Grand Body of Religious Order would undertake a rigorous screening, nomination, and election process to choose the Emperor. In this Election process, and providing the Emperor had not died, the Emperor’s vote amounted to one-fifth of that of the Grand Body.

So, in the present circumstances, the third set of criteria applied, and with an efficiency unusual for an Emoire where things always seemed to move slowly, the Grand Body of Religious Order chose, within a month, a new Holy Roman Emperor.

He was Otto. Otto the First.