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

[Pitboss Portugal]

Maya I salute your transparency, please we encourage you to continue down playing your wars. Your public statements are an insult to other leaders.

Again we ask what evidence do you have against us for doing anyone harm?

We ask Sparta, Russia and all other great nations have we done something to hurt you?

Thank you

Henry

[Pitboss Persia]

OOC: Rome, please empty your PM box. I have no time at all today for taking care of civ, I apologize and add another turn to my ultimatum as a compensation. This leaves us 4 turns.

[Pitboss Rome]

Emptied, Sorry

[Pitboss Korea]

Imperial Palace

Part of Sejong's reforms was to organize the Korean cities into a uniform government. Throughout its history Korea was split into separate (yet unified) territories. Each with its own ruler and its own laws and customs, although there was much overlap as the years passed by and intermarriages progressed. Sejong saw this as a weakness of Korea, who's powerful nobles were able to halt much of Korea's diplomatic progress when it came to trade and production. In taking the power from the nobles Sejong effectively removed order from these areas, and to counter-act this established the Imperial Ministry of Domestic Affairs; his first appointee was Bojong of Wonsan (see left), who was the most successful and loyal of all the governors in Korea. Bojong was also chosen because he was a Taoist and his city had much in common with the Mayan cities, and Bojong's first order of business would be to take up the reigns of the Alemanni negotiation...


Bojong walked into the Imperial throne room, it was his first time in this room and he was quite nervous. He was ecstatic that he was chosen to his post, and knew that Empress Soheon (who was from Wonsan) probably had a hand in his appointment, as he was great friends with her late father Jeong Jung-bu. "Minister Bojong" Sejong said "A pleasure to finally have you in my throne room, I must apologize for my terse treatment of you at the meeting of the nobility, I musn't appear to favor anybody."

Bojong bowed dutifully, "I understand Emperor."

"Minister, I know you have only recently been appointed, but I wish to know your plans for our country, Korea is falling behind on the world's stage and this must come to an end." Sejong said.

"Well your majesty, I do realize this is not my place, but I believe re-establishing relations with the Greeks is of the utmost importance. I know this is a matter for the Foreign Ministry, but trade has been stifled due to this and trade is the lifeblood of our cities." Bojong said.

"And what shall we do Bojong?" Sejong said, "Come back, on our knees to the Spartans?"

"No of course not Emperor."

"They put us on the spot in public, and we do not appreciate this, we shall on the other hand attempt to regain our standing with the Spartans, but not at the risk of seeming to be a low, groveling, dog." Sejong said, this was a point of anger for him.

"Very well Emperor," Bojong was begining to get nervous, this was not going as well as he had thought it would, "As far as development, we have plans to construct another settlement on the isle of Nam'po, there is a possibility of another settlement in the east but the land is unforgiving and for the most part inhospitable, it seems the only food source near the production areas is just out of reach, so it will take some time to determine our next move."

Sejong thought for a moment, "Bojong, I am putting you in charge of the Alemanni negotiation. General Shin Sung is a good man, but I do not want King Voltan to believe we are trying to use his relationship with the General as a means to curry favor. You as an unknown to him will serve as a respectable negotiator. Also I understand you are a Taoist?"

"Yes your majesty" Bojong cleared his throat "The entire city of Wonsan has become Taoist, when the Aztecs destroyed the first city many of the inhabitants blamed it on Buddhism," Wonsan was once a Buddhist city until the Aztecs Razed it, "As their governor it was wise to adopt the religion."

The Buddhist Emperor stared at his Minister, "Well, Pacal Voltan is a Taoist as well, so you will make a fine representative. I will tell you Bojong; Pacal Voltan is my nephew, he is as a son to me, and I wish for him to be as a brother to my son Gojong. You will treat him with respect, and while we will negotiate the final location of the city I have sent him sheep as a sign of good faith that this negotiation will continue successfully." Sejong said, standing up "DO NOT disappoint me!"

"Of course not Emperor."

"Very good," Sejong said, placing a map on the table, "This is the map, I have marked our proposals 1, 2, 3, and 4."

"And which one do we want the most Emperor?" Bojong asked.

"Well, you are the Domestic Minister Bojong, why don't you tell me what you think?" Sejong asked, with a sly smile.

"Well Emperor, I would say-"

"Pacal Voltan has named these hills west of position three, and position three itself." Sejong noted on the map.

"Emperor, I must insist that we go after either position 1 or position 4. Position 4 has more production potential, and position 1 gives us a position on the inland sea. I believe that it is either one of these two outcomes that we should press upon." Bojong said.

Sejong considered this, "Very good, I concur, you will negotiate one of these outcomes with Pacal Voltan. Now, you must be a very busy man, I have made much work for you..."

[Pitboss Maya]

To: Bojong of Wonsan, Imperial Domestic Minister of Korea
From: King Voltan of the Maya

Fellow Taoist Bojong,

A few weeks ago I took the Taoist sacrament of Teonanácatl for the first time. Needless to say, my eyes have been opened to many things.

Before eating the Flesh of the Gods I could not think of a way to justify handing Mayan land over to Korea without a substantial payment. The Mayan people would question my loyalty to Maya.

However, while under the influence of Teonanácatl the solution (as well as the solutions to many things), came to me.

The common Mayan does not have the same understanding of our ancient boarder agreement as we do. All they know is that south of the river in that region is Korean, while north of it is Mayan.

Therefore, you could settle locations 3 or 4 without raising an eyebrow from my people. I do however ask that you take location 3. Although this will deny you the extra grass hill in the east, you will have access to the sea. Settling location 4 would compromise our planned city sites too severely. I have already adjusted two future city sites to accommodate you in location 3.

Instead of a voucher, I only ask three things...

1. Korea breaks open boarders with our enemy Portugal, as well as the tyrannical Romans. This policy would remain in effect until Maya opens their boarders with said nations. At that time it would be at your discretion to keep them closed or open them back up.

2. Korea acknowledges that Maya is under no written obligation to adjust our boarder. I adjust it out of moral obligation to keep my friends the Koreans strong, and an obligation to Maya's policy of helping lesser nations whenever possible. I stress the latter because Portugal recently accused us of being just as greedy and land hungry as they are.

3. Maya is also released from the old boarder agreement, and agrees not to settle south of the yellow line denoted in your map. I have moved one of our city sites to the clearing just north of the yellow boarder, next to the bend in the river.

If the above conditions are acceptable, feel free to settle location #3 at your convenience.

- King Pacal Voltan

[Pitboss Russia]

Send a message to the Emperor, if he can get through the Roman blockade. This is most disconcerting...


To His Emperor of Piercia and Sovereign of Russia
We have grave news. The Romans have fortified Pitrograd, built powerful walls and are massing troops on our border near Omsk. They are in every way thinkable preparing to dig in for a protracted conflict. The advantage we once had is now lost, retaking our city in case of failed negotiations will be very expensive. We will of course suffer this price as well and any other that Rome heaps upon our impoverished nation, but for each passing day the price grows. We suspect the Romans are not in good faith negotiating to return Pitrograd, but are instead buying time in order to secure their positions and prepare another campaign of destruction upon my people.

Vladimir Rus

[Pitboss Korea]

TO: Pacal Voltan of Silla, King of the Maya
FROM: Bojong of Wonsan, Imperial Domestic Minister of Korea

Wise Pacal,

I have considered your proposal, and I thank you for amending your initial proposal, and going through the trouble of amending your own planned settlements. It is not in the interest of Korea to hinder the expansion of the Maya, as we believe it is against the interests of the Maya to hinder the expansion of Korea. Therefore we will agree to settle in location three, however ask for a few amendments to your requests.

Firstly, I would like to state that it is my understanding that Emperor Sejong has already sent the sheep to you. And instead of the voucher you asked for three things;

1. Korea breaks open boarders with our enemy Portugal, as well as the tyrannical Romans. This policy would remain in effect until Maya opens their boarders with said nations. At that time it would be at your discretion to keep them closed or open them back up.

As you know the status of our open borders to trade with the Romans has been an issue of contention between the Koreans and Spartan Greeks. You however show great acumen, and the true understanding of friendship by putting it to us in this manner, rather than those of the Spartan Greeks. And hope that you, in your wisdom, will press upon the Greek Spartans to re-establish these open borders. That said, we will agree to this on two conditions. The first being that we will maintain open borders with the Romans until and if the peace negotiations between the Piercians and Romans fail. As you know we were sponsors of an original call for peace talks and would seem quite hypocritical if we were to now, out of a want for more land, change our position. Needless to say, were it not for the Greeks forcing our hand in public this would probably be an easier request to agree to. Despite this, if the peace process were to fail, which seems the likely case, we shall rescind our agreement with Rome as you request.

As for the Portugese. We will unquestionably revoke our open borders with them at once. No further explanation is necessary.

2. Korea acknowledges that Maya is under no written obligation to adjust our boarder. I adjust it out of moral obligation to keep my friend Korea strong, and obligation to Maya's policy of helping lesser nations whenever possible. I stress the latter because Portugal recently accused us of being just as greedy and land hungry as they are.

Obviously Korea recognizes the amicable motives behind this Mayan act. The world community will know of your generosity. This symbolizes the flexibility and wisdom of the Mayan leader in a time of much greed, avarice, and wanton destruction. Pacal Voltan is truly a generous figure in a world of men who merely think themselves so.

3. Maya is also released from the old boarder agreement, and agrees not to settle south of the yellow line denoted in your map.

The Emperor would appreciate some clarification of this point. It is our understanding that this border was the original border agreed upon thousands of years ago by the Supreme King Wang Geon. If this is erroneous please correct us, but we have our maps and can prove this the case. That said we do not quite understand your meaning of this point.

I feel we are very close to an official agreement. I will have my scribes draw up official papers with an official line of demarcation, establishing the official territories and borders between Korea and Maya in light of this new agreement. To clarify; we will agree to settle location 3 so as not to impede upon Mayan expansion, we will close our borders with Rome if the peace negotiations between Rome and Piercia fail, we will close our borders with Portugal, if it becomes apparent that Rome is supporting Portugal we shall like-wise close borders with Rome, we recognize that Pacal Voltan allots this land to Korea not out of obligation but out of generosity, we have already provided the sheep you requested in prior missives.

This is the understanding of I, Bojong of Wonsan, Imperial Domestic Minister who speaks for His Majesty Sejong of Goguryeo, Emperor of Korea.

- Bojong of Wonsan, Imperial Minister of Domestic Affairs.

[Pitboss Khmer]

Originally posted by Pitboss Greece
Sparta is very impressed by the Khmer abilities to recover information from caravels that has been sunk thousands and thousands of miles away in unknown territories!

Trust you to pick that up

We have our ways mind you.

Also, We would like to name this landmass [B]New Sparta[/] and I asked you in game but got no reply.

Khmer would only be interested in a role of assisting other land-challenged nations in settling it.

Mind you we have only circumnavigated half of it so unsure if anyone other nation has disc overed it.

[Pitboss Spain]

To my dearest Brother

Oh brother, where art thou? It seems that you somehow found my journal and decided to share it with the rest of the world I never knew you decided to send spies to my territory to find out what I thought about you. Very shady indeed. But I would not put it beyond you to be such a shady person, even when we were back in Korecom you were always sending your friends to try and get information ab out me. I remember when you tried to send your best friend to try and seduce me so that I would tell you secrets, that my mother told me about life in the Spainish empire. To be honest I just do not understand what my mother saw in our father, since you are showing what most Prabul men are really like. Well at dad is different from the rest, but I would have seen through the charade and not have been interested. Also I heard that you said I sent you letters about who I fancied. I know that you are such a good story teller, but this is certainly one fo the best stories I have ever heard you told. I would never ever share such a thing with you since you have broken up my first love when I was back in Korecom. I have not forgiven you for what you did to that boy and you should be ashamed. Once the deal is done that our parents set forth in motion, I really do not want to talk to you ever again.

[Pitboss Rome]

Vladimir Rus

You continue to show your true nature with your lies aimed at sabotaging peace.

Send a message to the Emperor, if he can get through the Roman blockade. This is most disconcerting...

There is no blockade. Trade and miliatary observers are passing freely between us and your master's territories.

We have grave news. The Romans have fortified Pitrograd, built powerful walls and are massing troops on our border near Omsk.

The only reason we have troops on the border is that you, and your master, currently intend to invade us in four turns. Given that threat do you expect us to leave our border defenceless?

We suspect the Romans are not in good faith negotiating to return Pitrograd,

Not true. We have on the table a public offer of returning Pitrograd to you. Negotiations are well progressed with your master to achieve this.

but are instead buying time in order to secure their positions

Not true. The only timetable in this whole situation is one imposed by your master the Piercians. We are complying fully to their timetable. It is they who have most recently asked for a delay.

and prepare another campaign of destruction upon my people.

The current peace talks between myself and Piercia are at a detailed advanced stage. Our information is that the only major blockage now is that you will not accept the peace deals that they feel are reasonable.

The truth, Vladimir, as all can see, is that of the three parties involved only one - you, do not desire peace, and hence you continues this stream of correspondance privately and publicly aimed at provoking war.

Your attitude is irrational, since you are the one who would suffer most from war, but you seem to be lost in a self-destructive spiral of vengence and hate. I pity your people.

Tribune Hieronymus

[Pitboss Persia]

To: King Henry of Portugal, Tribune Hieronymus and the Senate of Rome

Greetings, neighbours,

I have had quite productive private negociations with Rome indeed. We managed to agree on almost everything. The problem still was site A.

We came to a possible solution. This would have been the replacement of Site A by a trade of Guilds for a voucher.

However, Rome pointed out that I was the only one giving something away without recieving anything in return. In fact, several members of the Aun agree.

We have consulted with the Por'O for elaborating the following treaty :

1- Pitrograd is handed back to Russian control.

2- Durable peace is signed between Rome and the Piercia. Any further agression of Piercia towards Rome will have to be payed by a voucher to Rome. Any further agression of Rome towards Piercia or Russia will have to be payed by a voucher to Piercia and a voucher to Russia. Any further agression of Russia towards Rome will have the rejection of Russian vassalage and declaration of war on Russia as a consequence for Piercia. Those guarantees will last for 50 periods.

3- Site A is to remain unsettled, for settling it would only lead to further border-conflicts.

4- Rome is free to settle Site B. Any Piercian interference with this undertaking within 20 periods will have to be payed by a voucher. Any Russian interference with this will have the rejection of Russian vassalage and declaration of war on Russia as a consequence for Piercia.

5- Rome is traded Guilds in exchange for 2 vouchers. One voucher for the regular trade habits, another one for Guilds being a powerful military and economic tech and rewarding Piercia for it's efforts in making peace.

6- Piercia is to send a military force to Rome's eastern border within 20 periods in order to dissuade any Russian attempts of breaking peace.

7- Piercia is to suspend any spying missions on Rome's territory. Any spying mission on Roman territory within 50 turns is to be payed by a voucher.


This purposal involves heavy guarantees for both sides, rewards for every side and a solution for any further Russian agressive behaviour. I will be awaiting your answer within three turns.


Emperor Aun'O Asiz Asizia of the Piercian Empire

[Pitboss Russia]

The Piercians have sent a peace offering to Rome. And for some reason Portugal. But they have said nothing to us. At times we wonder if they even realize that we exist at all.

[Pitboss Persia]

To: The scribes of Sparta

Greetings,

Your backup troops in case negociations would fail have arrived in southern Piercia. Your fleet carrying more soldiers is expected to arrive at Meeting soon.

I officially thank you for your gesture, still hoping it won't really be needed in the end.

Emperor Aun'O Asiz Asizia of the Piercian Empire

[Pitboss Portugal]

To Maya:

I stress the latter because Portugal recently accused us of being just as greedy and land hungry as they are.

Maya as usual you continue to use empty talks without any evidence. I still await you to publicly state if we have stolen any nation's land or hurt any nation in some way? I will keep on asking you this, just to show that Maya have no grounds and evidence for what you blame Portugal. You have ignored for decades facing us diplomatically and showing us any proof. Of course you are free to continue using Maya propaganda to try and fool others.

You are the one who starts wars not Portugal.

As usual my actions are backed by deeds unlike you Maya:

*Portugal has retracted its claims and request for payment from the Russ Merchant when they settled our territory. We have stated that publicly many years ago. I will be more than happy to post that statement for you to read.

*We have offered twice now the Russ people land in New Portugal, they still haven’t answered us

Maya should I continue? It is clear that you are working really hard now to look good. (Of course you will agree what the Korean ask for, when you need public support you will sell your kingdom just to look good in times of need) Well why don’t you return the land you stole from Piercia if you are so noble and think of others well being? Why did you ever settle that land when you had so much space to settle at home?

Because we live in a civilized world, I ask respectfully that when you blame us for something back your statements with some real facts. Examples will be helpful Maya. The song you are singing right now is very entertaining at least.

Henry

[Pitboss Greece]

To the Maya

Dear friends,

May we express our ideas about the Portuguese-Mayan conflict.
Why do you care that much about the size of other nations? Why can Portugal not expand, if it wants to expand, to territories unclaimed by others? They do not harm anybody, they do not murder innocent Russians, like Rome did in their hunt for land.

We sincerely hope that the problems between the Maya and the Portuguese can be settled soon and you are willing to pay Portugal for the damages done under the command of Mel Gibson.
Sparta does consider the Maya to be friends but we can only condemn the Mayan action of murdering innocent Portuguese settlers.

I also hope that Portugal is willing to not push this payment too much and keep their demands low to make peace possible easily.

The Scribes of Sparta