Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 6 (January 2009)

[Pitboss Korea]

EDIT; please remove this post, DP.

[Pitboss Khmer]

The Celtic people are grateful to Suvaraman II for acquiring Rice Shores. An army is moving through Khmer lands to restore order to the new city. In the homeland, Celtic advisers are working diligently to balance the coffers so that the new city will have plenty of resources to thrive under Celtic rule.

It might be wise to re-direct your major force to Copper Cove

[Pitboss Khmer]

The American people are enjoying a period of prosperity and peace. The war with the Metalheads ended without a shot fired. Barbarian raids have diminished. Our relations with Brennus has been cemented and new relationships in far away places of the world have been forged. We received an emissary from Portugal who provided much needed information for the development of badly needed techs. Life is good in our far flung corner of the world. We did fail in our attempt to build the palace but we still rewarded Victoria for brockering the peace by supporting her.

Suryavarman 2 is a little miffed that our equivalent offer was ignored and that you traded with the Portuguese.

Khmer said in the diplo-screen, just tell us what you need and we'll trade for vouchers (benefits you only). We just did not want to receive Drama. Did you miss the message?

Xristo is attempting to rectify Portuguese ways of old and offerred dilomacy but as yet Khmer will not reply until there is a public post about the Taj Mahal intelligence. The Funglish swear they did not leak intell on our build to the Portuguese.

[Pitboss Khmer]

Leaks from Hastings.

Tidings all,

The Stinca will be destroyed. (OOC: They are not logging in nor creating or moving any units. The player needs to be outed. We have all tried all avenues to get them to post or at least communicate some diplomacy to save themselves but they have run away. I agree with Ozzy normally that a civ should not be destroyed but not in this case.)

The Spanish are not posting (and being run by Portugal). They are attacking the Stinca from the South - see earlier message. We can not let a non Hastings participant take Cornocopia. Khmer will take all cities from Sushi to Cornocopia. Khmer are happy for the Spanish to acquire Silver Lode only if all agree. The Spanish army on the outskirts of Silver Lode is huge.

In summary the Stinca will become extinct.

Sushi stays with Khmer

Copper Cove - suggest it goes to Celts (culture issue - see earlier msg)

Cuzco - who of the Hastings participants wants it (a nice Eastern ocean small city - size 4 but strategically good for Metals or America?

Cornocopia - full of wonders - who of the Hastings participants wants it?

Silver Lode - will be taken by the Spanish shortly as seen by Khmer explorer in the region. Spain has NOT discussed this with anyone...

tidings,
Surayavarman 2
---

The Khmer require that the Hastings participants put forward their thoughts as the chairman is plomped out on liquor.

[Pitboss Khmer]

To Isabella of Spain

The Khmer have noticed your declaration of war on the Stinca and your large force ready to attack Silver Lode.

I for one am prepared to accept that Spain may acquire Silver Lode provided that the parties of the Hastings Agreement all agree.

BUT you must not move further North. If you agree no harm will come to Spain from Khmer forces in the area.

Please confirm as soon as you may.

Surayavarman 2

[Pitboss Russia]

In Novgorod.


Alexandr the Young sat dazzled on his throne. Oleg the Old had retired and left him the reins. The first day he had done nothing. The people had not even noticed the change in rulers as most orders came from Piercian governors. But on the second day things did change. Alexandr knew that he must assert himself as a ruler fast, lest he be toppled or subjugated to the powerful interests around him. He studied maps, foreign correspondence and internal reports on everything from grain production to security threats. Then he looked out through his window in the castle and considered throwing himself unto the cobbled stones below. He dismissed the notion.


On the second day a number of orders were sent out from Novgorod. To every city in Ruskaya Zemlya new priorities were given, old governors replaced, military commanders reassigned and political overtures made. He had bought himself valuable time by destabilizing real or potential internal threats. Now he needed to make himself popular among the people.


On the third day he called in the remains of the Rus diplomatic corps, now in ruin as the Piercian's had taken over foreign policy. Orders were given to recruit new people, train them and prepare for a grand work. The diplomats of Russia hastily assembled and took to work, effectively reestablishing a foreign affairs department, independent of Piercian overlordship.



On the fourth day he sent out orders to all military commanders to withdraw from positions near Roman troops. Blacksmiths were given orders to cease making armor and maces, the Rus needed a new military, specialized for future development. Medieval arms were obsolete, but they could still serve a purpose.


On the fifth day, Alexandr prepared missives to be sent via his newly established foreign affairs department.


On the sixth day, he stared at reports from old and new city governors. Again he looked out the window. He would do what he could. The window would have to wait.


On the seventh day he waited.

[Pitboss Russia]

Russian diplomats met Roman spies. The Emperors offer was discussed and the Russians wondered. An elderly diplomat looked over the details.

Tell the Rus that we we would welcome peace. They should renounce Piercian overlordship, and we will agree peace. Rome wants secure, peaceful, borders on our East. Look at the Wynadot nation. Rome has lived in peace with them for millenia; indeed we often share our technology with them out of good-will. We do not expect the Rus to like us, at least at first. But Rome desires to bring peace and security to the East. The Rus can still be a great nation - indeed their position on the east coast of this great continent means they will be at the heart of the world."

"The Rus will need to accept that Mediolaneum old and new are ours. Just a few years ago, as part of a peace treaty we returned a city to the Rus, and we were betrayed. We will not make the same mistake twice. Rome will never hand over cities again. I have no doubt that is a hard fact for the Rus, but it is their lords the Oath Breakers who are to blame. But there is no need for further Russian cities to fall."

-I find it curious that your Emperor blames the Piercians for the loss of our cities, when they are occupied by Roman soldiers, not Piercian. We had no say in the matter to declare war on Rome. We thought we had peace, and were not even in charge when it ended. Rome blames Piercia, we hold them responsible partly as well, but what should we do? Ask Piercia for their cities as compensation?

Your Emperor says that Rome will never give away cities, but they are not Roman cities. Your Emperor wishes safe secure borders on his east, but what about our wishes? The Emperor had safe and secure borders on his east before Roman soldiers invaded Russia. We wish our nation to be whole. It is not an irreasonable demand. How much land and resources, how many subjects and armies does Rome have? Why do they need Russian lands, subjects and resources? Russia can never threaten Rome, nor have we ever tried to, we have only always tried to maintain what is ours.

This is a problem created by Rome's ambition, and it must be solved by Rome. The choice is of course whether to solve it by diplomacy or arms. We have nothing to fight with. And nothing to bargain with.









On the 8th day the king flung himself from his window and died upon the stone.



I'm out. There is just no point in playing Russia anymore, they're not fun to play and havent been since very early on. And I blame the map for that.

[LzPrst]

Maybe someone else can have more fun with them than I did, but I just don't see any point in continuing. It is a civ completely stuck in a corner.

[Edit by CyberShy]I have removed the login info. I'll sub for Russia till we found a perm-sub.

[Pitboss Russia]

Viktor Chernomyrdin found the body of Alexandr the Young outside his house.
He was shocked...!

Russia's new king had passed away in only 8 days after his inauguration.

Alexandr was buried in a very simple way.
Almost nobody visited the ceremony.
Viktor Chernomyrdin was crowned king in his place.
Only a few Russians had hope for the future.
Viktor Chernomyrdin felt like an 'in between' leader as well.

The first thing Chernomyrdin did was sending a letter to Rome:

To Augustus, Emperor of Rome,

We long for peace.
The Russians are tired of war.
But there can be only peace if all involved nations will be satisfied.

We do apologize for the oath breaking of our former masters.
We spit on their graves.
We were never consulted to start this was.
Neither did any Russian soldier ever invade Roman territory during this war.
We did not participate in this war.

Nevertheless you have token back the cities you had returned to us.
We can only have a lasting peace if you once again return these cities.

Theoretically we have indeed declared war upon you.
But that was done in our name by the oath breakers.
For real we have never broken the deal. Russia kept the promises it made.
Therefore we hope that you, great new Emperor of Rome, will honour the deal as well, and return the cities to us.

If not, then a continuing hate against Rome will survive under the surface of our nation. We will sign peace, simply because we do not want to live in wartimes anymore. But our hate will grow, and one day Russia and Rome will meet on the battle field again.

Let's make this peace lasting, and fall back on the deal we have made in the past.
We support Rome in taking compensation in the west, by taking cities from the oath breakers.

Viktor Chernomyrdin
King of Russia

[Pitboss Portugal]

To: King Voltan and the World
From: Xristo

I Xristo have come forward to announce publicly that Voltan the ruler of Maya has kept his word and traded the last part of our age old contract.

Let this be a new start between our two countries. I salute you Votan for keeping your word! You were right when you said that you are a man of your word and the Maya can be trusted. You have earned the Portuguese people trust once again. I also want to use this happy occasion to invite you to send to my lands representative of your religion.

Best,

Xristo

[Pitboss Spain]

This is letter is for Khmer.

Khmer you have already conquered countless cities from the Stinca people. You have even burned and razed cities. You started this war of distraction clearly stating that you seek nothing for yourself but to help others on our continent.

Now you have changed your plans and say that you will hold for yourself the biggest and greatest full of wonders and riches Sushi city. How strange!

Now you have led an army of knights to Spanish borders. Are we next on your imperialistic goals? Is Madrid the next trophy on your list?

You yourself drew the borders between Khmer and Spain, now you want to give our northern territory which was stolen from the Stinca to the Celts? Why so easily break what you personally offered? Look at your border map and see, the spot you plan to give to the Celts was left for us to settle.

Now finally that we launch our attack on the Stinca you come threatening us with your armies, and that is happening while you are razing and conquering so many cities plundering tons of Stinca gold. Silver Lode is Spanish period. I will advance north and scout the region. Cornocopia will not be attacked, but in exchange I will settle where the Stinca city stood.

The war against the Stinca was planned long time ago and if evidence is required we will provide it.

You have misused our good will. Scouting spanish territory with your explorer looking for a place to strike. I guess the concept of open borders in Khmer is very different to ours. We seek trade and free flow of people, while you spy for possible targets.

I seek peace and coexistence with your Empire! Who I am I to stop Khmer from destroying my dear Spain. My people await your judgment, I hope you are merciful.

Penelope

[Pitboss Portugal]

Public statement to Khmer

Dear Suryavarman 2 I just heard that you have turned back my diplomatic envoys. I have been told by my advisors that you hold some kind of a grudge towards the people of Portugal and do not wish to meet with Portuguese representatives.

Since I was elected to lead my country Portugal hasn’t done anything to harm Khmer. This is not my foreign policy quite the opposite, one of the main reasons for me to be elected was to reopen closed doors and improve relations with countries that my predecessors found hard to work with in the past.

I would like to extend a hand of friendship to you and your people. That is why I have decided to investigate what you call the Taj Mahal issue. It seems that this so called Taj temple is referred here at home as the Great Healing Temple. Due to the fact that this building was build so long ago and no one is alive from that period, I had to ask my librarians to search the historical achieves for clues which may put some light on this matter.
Suryavarman 2 it says in one of the documents here that the Great Healing Temple was to become a healing center, where people from all over the world can come for treatment. It seems that King Henry was begged by his father Marco to rush the completion of that temple, where he hoped Isabella can be treated. The great queen was stroked by a mysterious disease and was very sick at that time. Says in this next passage in order to speed work Henry forced many peasants from the warmer south into work. Many lives were lost, because people were not prepared for the harsh and cold weather. That will explain the great loss of life during the final months of construction.

Dear Suryavarman 2 I can reassure you that after thoroughly investigating the matter I have found no evidence to support any so called Taj Mahal intelligence. I warmly invite you to send a group of your own investigators. I will grand them full access to Korecom’s historical documents.

Again it is disturbing to see how the old rulers of Portugal mistreated Portuguese citizens to safe only one person. This is why so many supported me to become the new ruler of Portugal. They entrusted me to correct the old ways and improve their lifes.

With much respect

Xristo.

[Pitboss Rome]

Emperor Augustus to King Chernomyrdin

King Chernomyrdin of Russia,

Thank you for your message. We thank the one true God that He has raised up a leader for the Rus people who has the best interests of the Rus people at his heart, and with whom foreign nations can have meaningful discussions.

We read your case with interest and sympathy.

However, the situation is not as simple as you suggest.

The fact is that decades ago you could have renounced the overlordship of the Piercians but did not. Indeed despite your words you still have not done so.

When four nations attacked Rome and Rome itself was under serious threat, the fact that you were at war with us meant that we had to keep considerable forces on the Eastern Border. However much you now regret it your partnership with the Oath Breakers in their unprovoked attack on us, in betrayal of our treaty, did cause great problems for Rome, and greatly supported the Oath Breakers.

My proposal is this. You should now demonstrate your desire to renounce the activities of the Oath Breakers by renouncing their overlordship. You should then propose a cease-fire with Rome. We will accept this immediately and pull back our troops from your current territory. We will then enter into negotiations of a final peace treaty with you on the basis of compromise.

Let me be clear, in public. Now is the key moment for the Rus people. Not next year, not next month, now. Prove your words. Renounce Piercia overlordship, offer a cease-fire, and we will negotiation a compromise. This may not include all that you wish for, but we will give.

Delay and your words "we support Rome in taking compensation in the west, by taking cities from the oath breakers." will be proved to be false. For every day you continue your war with us, you support the Oath Breakers.

Seize peace, King Chernomyrdin. Renouce your faithless lords. Save your people. You will find the Roman people fair.

Emperor Augustus.

[Pitboss Rome]

The messenger ran all the way to Rome. Emperor Augustus, the City of Oath is ours. The people of the city the Piercians called Meet'ing rose in revolt against their Piercian masters and weclomed our army. The huge Piercian occupation force has been destroyed.

[Pitboss Rome]

Emperor Augustus to King Chernomyrdin

King Chernomyrdin,

I am saddened that my generals report that you have rejected peace and instead attacked Roman forces, killing many legionaries.

You wrote to me:

We long for peace...We did not participate in this war...Let's make this peace lasting...We support Rome in taking compensation in the west, by taking cities from the oath breakers.

yet you then instruct your armies to kill Romans.

This is not a good start for peace. Explain yourself.

Emperor Augustus.