Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 4 (November)

[Pitboss Portugal]

TO: Mikhail Pitrovovich Rus

Why didn't you come to us and talk about wanting to expand. I am puzzled by your actions to seek permission from the Romans. Did you feel that you were doing something wrong, not to want to ask us directly?

After all Portugal has been always straightforward with you, why weren't you?

I asked politely and your reply was cold and insulting again, why are you acting like that. You call us friends, well friends talk to each other!

[Pitboss Greece]

Alcetas and his son, Aeropus walked through the streets of Sparta. Alcetas told Aeropus everything he knew about ruling the great city states. He told him about the relations with all nations on earth. The negotiations, the the friendly words and also the behaviour of the Romans.

"All is being documented, my son." Alcetas said. "Look for the scriptures of the past if you have to make decisions for the future" he continued to lecture his son.

"I am getting old, my days are almost over. I know it. Soon you will be the 3rd King of Sparta, in the line of Alexander and Alcetas II, in the spirit of Lacedaemon."

Both men continued to walk through the streets. The Spartans looked after their wise and respected king and his son. They knew about his ageing body. They sensed that the days of Great King Alcetas the 2nd would soon be over.

Alcetas the First had been a nobody. An ancient grandfather of King Alexander. Therefore nobody had entitled Alcetas as Alcetas the 2nd. He had always been the first for them.

But now the cities where whispering about the coming dead of Alcetas the scribes started to write about their King. They suddenly started to speak about Alcetas the 2nd.

Aeropus was ready to become the new King.
He had studied the history of Sparta and all of the world. He was very skilled. The people had heigh hopes!

Suddenly a messenger appeared with a message for the King.

"Sir, a message from King Marco of Portugal"
"Aeropus, my son, can you please read it for me. My eyes aren't capable any more!"

Aeropus took the message and read it.
"King Marco asks you to mediate between the Mayan and the Portuguese." he said.

"You know about the conflict?" Alcetas asked his son.
"Yes, father, I do."
"You know about the letter I have recently sent to King Marco?"
"Yes father, I was there when you wrote it."
"Did we already receive an answer from Marco?"
"No, we did not....."
"Did we receive a request instead of an answer?"
"Yes father, we did"
"Did we answer to that request?"
"Yes father, we have done what King Marco asked us to do."

"Aeropus, soon you will be king, there fore I ask you: what can be the reason that Portugal is not answering our message?"

Aeropus thought for a while. "I think that he is in doubt. He values the relationship between Sparta and Portugal, and doesn't want to send a negative answer to us. But if I interpretate recent developments between Portugal and Russia, and all negotiations that happen there, then I think that there's more that's been valued by Portugal then just Sparta.

But Marco knows that you are right.
He knows it. But if he agrees, then he must change the future of Portugal. That's why he is in doubt..."

Alcetas smiled. "Yes my son. That's a very wise analyses of the situation. My thoughts are the same. Let's hope that Marco will answer soon though."

Aeropus wondered out loud: "What if he rejects your plans?"

"Well, what would you do?" Alcetas countered. "You'll be king by then!"

"I would understand it, nothing would be different between Portugal and Sparta, but it will be more difficult for us though..." Aeropus whispered.

"It's only in the best interest of Portugal" Alcetas said. "And Marco knows it. It's the only way to deal with the many problems that will happen in the future if we won't deal with it today."

"But who wants to repair the roof while the sun is shining and there is no cloud at sight?" Aeropus said.
"Let's hope that Marco is wise enough to not wait with the reparation of the roof till the lightning starts to strike." Alcetas said.

"What about the request of Marco?" Aeropus asked.
"You answer it!"

"He asks you to mediate!"
"And I send my son.... that's my decision. I am too old to mediate between two nations that far away." Alcetas said. His voice was aching.

"Go to the Mayan capital, go to see Mel Gibson, and try to get peace between the Mayans and the Portuguese! Make sure you'll be back before I'm dead!" Alcetas continued.

Aeropus grabbed his father's hand, they had an intense look into each other's eyes. Then Aeropus left to the south-east.

[Pitboss Portugal]

Yet You throw insults at us for settling lands that you have shown no interest in taking

Russ how are we insulting you now? When you are the one who did not consult with us before expanding on our side of the bay.

And yes we had an agreement about land divide, you asked for all east from Vrata and we agreed. You agreed on the north for us across the bay.

[Pitboss Greece]

When Alcetas returned at his palace, one of his scribed approached him: "Sir, you still have to answer to Koreans!"

"Yes, I haven't done that yet. Let's do it immediately!" Alcetas grinned. "As if the Koreans have to consult us about these things...." he smiled. "They can do whatever they want with the gifts we have given to them" he said while shaking his head.

Then he told his scribe to write down the following message:

To: General Shin Sung, Imperial Commander of Korea
From: Alcetas, King of Sparta

Sir, Great Friend of Sparta,

You should know by now that Sparta will not deny you anything!
Of course you can do as you asked and Sparta will certainly not interfere! Go ahead! Thanks for finding solutions and ways to improve relations with all nations on our part of the continent!

Great Friend, why don't you visit me in Sparta before I die?
And if I die before we speak, promise me that you'll see my son, Aeropus, as me myself!

Hail General Shin Sung!

Alcetas
King of Sparta

[Pitboss Greece]

"What's next..." Alcetas thought "Portugal coming to Sparta asking if they can give one of their cities to Russia?" Alcetas started to laugh out loud.

"That's what they should have done!" he continued to shout semi laughing. He was really entertained. "Oh oh, those Russians and Portuguese should have contacted us first, then this situation wouldn't have been as it is. hahahaha!

That's an image! Great King Marco coming to Sparta as humle as the Koreans, to ask us to bless something that's not up to us to bless hahahaha"

"I need to sit, I'm too old to be that happy"
Alcetas walked to his throne. He was happy that he was apparently that respected that even leaders from other nations asked him things like that. "Hail the Koreans, great friends!" he said. "They did not have to ask me, but they did so anyway. The relations in our part of the world are solid! We are really on good terms over here in the south west!"

Then Alcetas suddenly started to burst out in laughing again. "Imagine Rome coming to us, asking if they can trade some cattle to the Oldonians buwhahahahahaha" Alcetas' heavy laugh was echoing through the palace. "As if Rome would ever give away something buwhahahahaha"

Then Alcetas grabbed his heart, screamed: "Aeropus, where are you?" and dropped to the ground. Dead.

[Pitboss Greece]

A messenger arrived at the Palace of Mel Gibson and handed him a letter:

Hail Mel Gibson, Leader of the Mayans.

I bring you news about the dead of Alcetas II, son of Alexander, King of Sparta.
He ruled like a wise man. He died like an idiot.

Soon his son, Aeropus, will arrive at your palace.
Will you please inform him about the dead of his father and ask him to return home as soon as possible.

The Scribes of Sparta

Similar messengers were sent to the Koreans, the Japanese, the Portuguese, the Piercian, the Wyandot, the Khmer and the Russian leaders. They all told about the dead of King Alcetas and the empty throne of Sparta.

Alcetas last words: "Aeropus, where are you?" where echoing through the Spartan empire.

[Pitboss Portugal]

To Sparta

My condolences Aeropus, your father was a great man. He was a good diplomat and a friend. He will be always remembered in Portugal!

I extend and offer you the same friendship that your father and I had.

Marco king of Portugal

[Pitboss Portugal]

A sad DAY

To honor his brave friend King Marco ordered that a statue of Alcetas be erected in Korecom.

[Pitboss Rome]

King Aeropus of Sparta,

The Senate and People of Rome sends greetings.

Priests in Rome have noted the disapearence of a star in the sky to our South-East and have interpreted this as sign in the heavens of the fall of great king Alcetas, your father.

We will not pretend that relationships between our two nations have been warm. As in the days of your father, we still seek peace and mutually enriching trade with Greece. We hope that one day this may be possible.

For now though we salute the death of your father, a great and powerful king, recognised as such even by those of us who were not able to count him a friend.

[Pitboss Portugal]

To Khmer:

A generous offer of a world map exchange with a free gift of Spice from the Khmer seems to have been rejected by Portugal.

Suryavarman 1 why do you act all surprised when we did not accept your world map exchange? After all the kingdom of Khmer was the one who started this policy, now that we merely follow it we are doing wrong?

Khmer why are you trying to hide behind Portugal’s achievements your powerful country? Seems like you are trying to camouflage the enormous lead of your country compare to all others by some silly excuses.

A very important piece of Khmer analysis is that the Portuguese are teching nearly twice as fast as the Khmer, despite Khmer's highest GNP

Again inaccurate information, which sadden us.

Portugal will have Liberalism in 9 periods yet Khmer would take 16 periods unless Portugal was experiencing a GA.

Is Khmer aware that we have been researching this technology for quite some time now? Seems unfair to portray as by stating it so blindly that it takes us to invent the given technology just in 9 periods and Khmer 16.

Khmer I do not see how you are improving your international relations, by constantly using Portugal as a boxing bag. Your wealth and superiority does not give you the right to look down on others!

As the greatest nation of the World, you have no reason to constantly look for guilt in others actions.

[Pitboss Greece]

the scribes of Sparta where angered. They had important information that told them that Japan had given TWO vouchers to Sparta's arch enemy Rome for one technology! Why did they do that? And why was Rome once again using small nations for it's own fortune?

Where was their Prince?
Who would decide what to do?

The scribes immediatley to stop all aid to Japan. They told Korea that
Sparta cancelled their support for the Japan deal till further notice. The galley with the settler for Japan was called home.

[Pitboss Rome]

And why was Rome once again using small nations for it's own fortune?

A travesty. We agreed, without negotiation, to the deal proposed by Japan. Their suggestion, their terms, their proposal.

If you - or other nations - want to understand, you might want to consider how frightened Greece's neighbours are of it, and why they are so keen to develop key military technology.

[Pitboss Japan]

News of the death of Alcetas reached Japan. Upon
hearing the news Itoku fell to his knees and cried out in
pain. Alcetas was always more then a friend to Japan
he was like a father to Itoku and with Alcetas gone
Itoku just shut down. The pain was too great to
describe for Itoku so he locked himself away to grieve in
his own way.

Meanwhile Philip sent the condolences of Japan to the
new king of Sparta Aeropus. He then returned back to
preparing Japan. Soon Japan will have an army unlike
any the world has ever seen. An army so large it would
make the Roman’s army look small. These were the
orders of the Emperor so that the world would no
longer consider Japan as weak and powerless.

[MMC]

Whilst the young Jesse Pendragon McFungal was wise beyond his years, there was much he was yet to learn. Robert, his chief advisor and mentor, was getting old, and was soon to retire.

Preparations for the Second Hastings Conference were underway and an armed band of Merchants had arrived from the Celtic tribes. Traversing the often dangerous continent had proved no challenge to the experienced travelers, who quickly left to pursue a gang of barbarian marauders who were scouting close to the city. Whilst the original delegations from the Khmer and Metalhead nations to the first conference had long departed, they had left ambassadors in Hastings who would be able to attend the second conference. The Holy Roman Empire did not leave and ambassador, however many of their citizens treated Hastings as one of their own cities (indeed, many Hastings residents frequented the Holy Roman cities as well), and any delegation would arrive within days of any call being made.

With the Second Hastings Conference planned for, Robert decided to set in motion one plan to ensure that he could retire in peace. Quietly contacting the Khmer ambassador, he requested that they send their best tutors and advisors to the private McFungal residence in Nottingham, where they would prepare Jesse Pendragon for his royal duties.

The plan would then have Jesse Pendragon heading up the Second Hastings Conference when he was of Age, at which point, the Khmer tutors would be free to establish a school to teach any others who would wish to learn. However, this plan would rest entirely on the response from the Khmer Nation.

[Pitboss Japan]

Japan has no need to explain anything we do to
anyone. Never the less I will give an explanation. Japan
made the trade with Rome for one reason and one
reason alone. We wanted to gain our samurai warriors
before it was too late to use them. Granted Rome and
Sparta do not get along but that is no reason to take
out your anger on Japan who is only trying to improve
it’s self. As for your support if you wish to withdraw it
then you may do so. The settler, if you wish to take it
back then do so, If you do not support the return of the
northern half of the land bridge back to Japan then fine.
We do not now nor ever need the support of a major
power to gain new lands. We will be settling the land
bridge and this time if you try to stop us we will not be
so kind as we where before. So I ask you this in the
best way I know how. Do not stand in our way for if you
do you will regret it. Do not cause our Emperor anymore
heart ache by forcing us to go to war against you.


Philip,