Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 5 (December 2008)

[Pitboss Greece]

Japan, your pm box is full.

[Pitboss Japan]

Ieyasu broke out in laughter upon reading the Spartan’s demands. We will never give up the city of Alcetas. And Philip had already returned to the city of Sparta years ago. The men that defend Echigo and Alcetas are the sons of the great warrior Philip. They are loyal to the Emperor of Japan and would die protecting it.

We have not broken the just signed treaty either. That treaty was about land this war is about justice and respect. They also claim we insulted their king when in reality I have only spoken the truth. But if truly wish I will show them what an honorable Emperor looks like and go stand on trial but not before the chief scribe is sent to Japan to stand trial in the place of their king.

These scribes have disrespected Japan more then any Spartan leader in history and it is time these lower forms of life where put in their place. It will be a cold day in hell when an Emperor would bow down to the will of a scribe that wishes he were king.

[Pitboss Rome]

"The King of the West ... the King of the West ... is coming".

The Romans had always been a religious nation, but now a new fervour gripped it. Every monastery and temple seemed to whisper the same message, "the King of the West is coming".

[Pitboss Portugal]

To: King Pacal Voltan of the Mayan
From: Marco of the Portuguese
Subject: Peace Offer

I agree with you King Voltan, it is time that we put an end to this unnecessary conflict. Portugal accepts your peace offer.

I will sign your proposal of 100 cycles of assured peace between the kingdoms of Maya and Portugal. Your return of ivory and technology is much appreciated; I respectfully ask that you give us the technology which you are currently researching.

Marco of Portugal

[Pitboss Greece]

Archelaus sat in the sun while the ship was sailing at full speed.
He read the letter he just received.

"What did the chief scribe do? Send him someone to Japan, pretending it was me? Did he insult Sparta like that?

Return this to the red haired scribe, messenger:

"Deliver the Chief Scribe to the Japanese, as they requested.
You will be the new chief.""

Then Archelaus continued to prepare his mission.

Back at Sparta the chief scribe was being arrested and transported to Japan.

[Pitboss H Roman]

It was a short march back to Empire territory for General van Heusten and his army. This was a good thing, as there was much grumbling amongst the troops that their efforts and losses had been for naught. They had Metallica in their grasp, and then at the last minute they were ordered to stand down, and then two days later they broke camp and headed east back to their homeland.

Rumors abounded. Some said a peace deal had been reached. Some said that the Metals had forged the stand-down order to escape destruction. Some said the Funglish has invaded in the south in support of the Metals, and that the Funglish had forsaken their Christian ways. And some said the Emperor had died - but it was not clear why that should have called off the attack given their beloved Emperor's fervent desire to liberate Metallica.

No, the army was not in good spirits as it crossed back over the border. And although most of the rumors had no basis in fact, one was close to the truth. The health of Otto I, the Holy Roman Emperor, had taken a turn for the worse.

[Pitboss Celts]

The stand down orders hold as negotiations for Iron Maiden wrap-up. preliminary reports are that Metalheads will cede Iron Maiden to the Celts as the city is not productive in its current state with cultural overlap. Compensation for this city will be given at a later time.

In a display of continued friendship, the Khmer have provided the Celts with an influx in population. Several families have crossed the border looking for a new place to live. These people were not thrown out of the country, but simply wandering over from Angor Wat, looking for a new start on life. The Celtic people gratefully accept these families into their country and remain with open borders should any other families wish to relocate.

[Pitboss Rome]

King Archelaus,

Our scouts have identified Spartan naval vessels off the Roman coastline, south of Meeting. Formally the state of war which you declared still is in force. Therefore our navy is prepared to engage and destroyed your vessels. However, we understand that this ship may be on a peaceful mission of diplomacy. If you will clarify this ships intention, we will ensure appropriate action is taken, and there are no unfortunate mishaps.

Tribune Hieronymus

[Pitboss Rome]

Emperor Aun'O Asiz Asizia of the Piercian Empire,

I am sure I have no need to remind yourself, or the rest of the world, that Piercia and Rome recently signed, in your words, a formal 'durable peace' between our nations. On the basis of this treaty we handed over New Mediolaneum to your control.

Therefore we are concerned that in the years since peace was signed, you have continued to build up forces on our western frontier (while in the same time we have reduced our troop numbers on the border as a sign of trust).

Could you reaffirm your commitment to peace, and explain the threatening build up of troops?

Tribune Hieronymus

To : Tribune Hieronymus

Greetings,

Troops are gathering at Meeting indeed. Our treaty involves the providing of a peace-force to be garrisonned in Cumae within 16 turns. The Shas'El refuse to send our current forces to Cumae leaving the Empire with minimal defenses so that freshly trained troops will gather at Meeting before traveling to Cumae all together.

I hope this missunderstanding may be pushed aside as soon as possible.

Aun'O Asiz Asizia

Emperor Asiz,

We understand your reply. However, you have to realise that amassing so many troops on our borders is a threat to Rome, set to undermine trust.

Perhaps as a trust building measure you could reaffirm your commitment to durable peace that you so recently signed, which though I asked you did not do in your reponse.

Tribune Hieronymus.

[Pitboss Rome]

It was a heady time in Rome. Nobody is quite sure what sparked off this new wave of nationalism - Was it the invention of gunpowder? Was it the rumours of the King of the West? Was it the sight of the new navy patrolling the coastline? Who knows, but there was no mistaking the patrotic spirit filling every town and city.

[Pitboss Persia]

To : Tribune Hieronymus

Tribune,

If you don't trust this peace, why have you signed it in the first place ?

Aun'O Asiz Asizia

[Pitboss Greece]

Tribune Hieronymus,

The caravel you see sailing along your coastline carries me.
I am traveling to Rome.
You may sink the ship if you don't want to hear what I have to tell you face to face.

Archelaus

[Pitboss Greece]

Archelaus watched the Roman lands from his caravel.
From a distance he saw romans working the land. "They sure do look like Spartans...." he concluded.

"Will we land here?" he asked the captain.
"No, Rome is far from these shores, there's a huge fjord between us and Rome. We will cross it in the next days, then you can leave the ship at the other shore and move to Rome." the captain said.

"Excellent" Archelaus concluded.

[Pitboss Maya]

I will sign your proposal of 100 cycles of assured peace between the kingdoms of Maya and Portugal.

Dear Marco,

Just a point of clarification before we put this war behind us.

"Cycles" in Mayan translates to "turns" in Portuguese. A Mayan linguist pointed out to me that you might misinterpret it to mean "years".

I would also like your son Henry to sign this agreement, so that when you pass from the earth our deal will still hold weight.

As long as the two above mentioned items are suffice, we can sign peace at once.

- Pacal Voltan

[Pitboss Rome]

To : Tribune Hieronymus

Tribune,

If you don't trust this peace, why have you signed it in the first place ?

Aun'O Asiz Asizia

Emperor Asiz,

Please - I signed it because I did trust you. Now, your repeated refusal to say you are committed to the peace you signed, starts to disturb. Not just me. Many of our neighbours and friends wonder why you will not simply say "I am committed to this peace" - the 'durable peace' (to use your words) which you signed so recently.

Lets be clear. I am committed to this peace. Are you? A simple yes or no will suffice.

Tribune Hieronymus.