Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 7 (February 2009)

[Pitboss Rome]

Emperor Augustus, sitting once more in the Nave of the Temple of Mars, where he has set up his office once his allies had been attacked, read the latest message from Piercia and laughed.

"Mellitus, get me a dice and and inscibe on it as follows:

1. Peace
2. Peace peace.
3. War
4. War and murder
5. Oh pity me
6. Treachery

This will be my Piercian political omen. I will role it every day to see what the Piercians will do today. It will be more consistent than they are!

Peace peace, pity me, war, peace, treachery, war and murder, and then suddenly peace peace. Shake the dice Mellitus - lets see what they will do next. "

Shaking his head Augustus turned to the Russian military advisor. "Tell great Joseph that I believe he deserves more of an apology and compensation that this" he shakes the note "Rus have been murdered. But I am happy for him to do as he wishes".

[Pitboss Persia]

Aun'El Sa'Ly Lon'Don at the shores of New Portugal

After months of sea-travel, the two carvels on board of which Sa'Ly escaped from the dramatic turn of events in the Piercian Empire arrived at New Portugal. The crew desperately needed some rest and the distance to Funglia was still huge. They decided to remain on land for a while.

On the second day, early in the morning three ships arrived in the creek. A single scream put everyone on alert : "PIRATES!"

One of the Carvels was quickly sunk by the fire set by the pirate's arrows. Once this was done, one of the pirate ships began to fire at the camp, while the two others began to attack the second carvel.

On that carvel however, the men had enough time to arm the canons. Once the first pirate ship was destroyed, Sa'Ly was ready and called upon the tides...

The sea opened it's ever-hungry mouth under the pirate ships and burrowed them on the ground. Screams of panic and despair echoed threwout the creek when suddenly, she reckognized the Korean language ! Without hesitating she yelled as loud as possible : "Save them ! Save as much as you can !"

An hour later, thirty men were brought infront of her, visibly terrorized by what they just saw. One of them began to talk in a clumsy mix of greek and portuguese : "You be Sa'Ly ! I have heard stories. We be simple men who search adventure, far from homeland. Spare me and friends of mine please. We no bad people !". With a sigh, she began to talk with him. She learned that they fled the political reforms in Korea and were hired by a portuguese pirate captain who promised them wealth and rename on the open sea.

Despite the protestations of the Kor'Vre, she offered them to join their crew if the would help to repair the sunken carvel. They accepted. For the next few weeks, they would work hard in order to recover and repair the wreck, so that they could resume their journey soon.

[Pitboss Persia]

To : Augustus of Rome
From : Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl

Augustus of Rome,

I am beginning to grow tired of your blind support of those ridiculous lies of Stalin's. You are not an idiot, so read this and think about it !

- A country begs for protection, offering vassalage.
- Your predecessor accepts, analyses the situation and decides that peace is the best he can do for it's protection on short term.
- The country complains about that peace, publically insulting your whole nation, asking for continuation of the war.
- It's ennemy publically questions the reliability of your predecessor who, out of (questionable, I agree) pride, decides to let that war go on.
- The country renouces vassalage, because your predecessor gave them what they wanted !
- The country makes peace with it's ennemy who focusses on you only from there on.
- You realize the danger your predecessor has put your country in and begin to plot against him.
- The ennemy goes on, capturing 50% of your territory, crushing 80% of your armies.
- You manage to get rid of your predecessor and begin to rule over the country. Realizing whoose fault all of this is, you kill your predecessor and declare war on the country he tried to assist.
- The ennemy still holds 50% of your territory, blocks off any attempts of negociation and miraculously becomes the best friend of the country your predecessor tried to assist.
- You offer peace to the country, under the condition that they would repair for the damage they have done to both you and their ennemy.
- That country sends three batallions of knights onto your territory.
- You kill the intruders.
- The country claims that those were scouts, I quote, "who died doing what they did best : fighting". I ask you, what scouts are best at fighting ?
- The country announces it will send more military, claiming you wouldn't make any attempts for peace.
- The ennemy accuses you of murder for having defended the fragile remains of your country against heavily armed intruders.
- You offer conditionless peace to that country.
- The ennemy calls you an unreliable liar and bloodthirsty warmonger, while no other nation on the continent shares that point of view.

I ask you, Augustus of Rome, what would you do ? I'll tell you what I will do. I will stubbornly continue to talk to people who do not listen. I will get my country ready for any incoming russian army. I will kill any russian foolish enough to ignore my peace-offers. And I will even put one more thing on the table of negociations : You blame me for the decisions of my predecessor, fine, I offer his remains for you to handle as you wish. I have killed him by my own hand and if this should not have been enough, you may have his body as a trophee.

Augustus of Rome, quit being as stubborn as you have been in the last months, quit listening to Russia's lies without questioning their words and quit treating me like my predecessor would have deserved it. Show me that you are a man worthy of the roman throne.

Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl

[Pitboss Russia]

Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl,

I don't understand anything about you.
First you say that peace is not an option, Russia has to pay.
Then I offer peace, without terms.
Then you insult us, you spit on us, you rage and scream, and refuse peace.
Then I offer peace once again, I do not invade your poorly defended city.
You murder 6 of my scouting knights. (Yes, fully armed knights on a scouting mission. Did these knights attack any Piercian during there stay in Piercia? No! While they were for at least 9 periods in Piercia, including a period close to your very poorly defended city, while we didn't attack!)

After you have murdered our knights you suddenly say that this is our last chance to sign peace.

I am completely flabbergasted! Russia has been willing to sign peace all the time. Russia has offered peace at least 3 times. It has been Piercia all the time that has refused.

But now you apparently are scared because of the Russian army that's moving towards Piercia. Now your big talking finally starts to slam into your face.

Yes, you were brave enough to kill 6 scouts in the open field.
But will you be able to stop a Russian army, ready to invade your poorly defended cities?
I am done with talking to you.

I'll tell you something. I'll lead my army to your cities, and I will capture these cities and raze them. One by one.
I will not answer to your letters any more. I will not even read them.

It'll be about 4-8 periods till my army arrives at Piercia.
If you are able to sign peace with Rome during that time frame, then I'll be willing to sign that same peace document, and retract my armies.
I leave our peace negotiations in the hands of Rome from now on. Anything that's suitable to Rome is suitable to Russia.

Rome will do the peace negotiations, I will only focus on your cities.
You can talk for hours about how 'violence will be a reason for diplomatic cool down'. You did not care when you attacked and murdered my scouts. I will not care when my army invades your cities and destroys them.

If you wish to have peace, don't look at Russia anymore.
Peace is in the hand of the Romans.

And no, we are not slaves of the Romans.
Russia and Rome have had a huge battle in which Russia showed to be strong enough to recapture her cities. We have then signed a mutual peace treaty based on equality and mutual respect. This peace treaty ended all hostilities between our great nations.

And no, Russia has never betrayed the Piercians.
You forced peace upon us when we had an upper hand in the war, and then, about 100 years later, you forced war upon us, when we didn't even had a leader and were certainly not ready for it!

And now you make it look like "When we gave you peace, you wanted war, when we gave you that war, you wanted peace."
How easy do you talk about war and peace. How easy do those words flow from your pen. How can you describe the huge trauma Russia has in such simple words.
You did not even fore warn us about the peace you forced upon us, or the war you forced upon us. And how dare you now talk about betrayal?

Climb on the roof of your palace, and look into the east.
You'll see the Russian army coming.
We did not came uninvited! you invited us yourself when you declared war upon us, insulted us, refused to sign peace, and killed our scouts.

Joseph Stalin

[Pitboss Russia]

For all international observers, my comments on the Piercian garbage they spread:

- A country begs for protection, offering vassalage.

No, not for protection, for help in fighting their enemy.

- Your predecessor accepts, analyses the situation and decides that peace is the best he can do for it's protection on short term.

Without consulting Russia. First we ask for allies in our war, then our ally promised to fight with us, but instead of fighting, it negotiates peace without even notifying us

- The country complains about that peace, publically insulting your whole nation, asking for continuation of the war.

Which was the entire deal that was made between Piercia and Russia. Piercia would attack Russia's enemies from the east, Piercia from the west. The vassalage deal was to wage war, not to sign peace

- It's ennemy publically questions the reliability of your predecessor who, out of (questionable, I agree) pride, decides to let that war go on.

After many years in which Piercia tried to negotiate terms for peace (after peace was signed!) Russia was without leadership! Nobody was leading Russia!!
Russia had no army, no scientific progression, nothing.

The war was not 'continuing', the war had ended already for many many years!

Then the Piercians even signed a lasting peace! Forced it once again on Russia.
Then, when the Russian farmers and citizen (still without an army or a leader) had accepted that their master Piercia had forced this peace upon us, and we had accepted the loss of our cities. Not because we had peace with it, but because we knew that it was impossible for us to ever regain this cities, exactly then, at that moment that Russia was further away from being ready for war, Piercia forced war on Russia again!

Without warning! Without protection!
For many years our enemies were able to invade our cities.

Only then the Russians discovered that their masters, the Piercians, were not leading them.
Joseph Stalin took leadership of Russia, renounced the (theoretical) Piercian lordship (without declaring war or ill words!) and started to fight itself.

- The country renouces vassalage, because your predecessor gave them what they wanted !

When it was hot, a child asked his father for some cool drinks. But his father refused ot do so. Then, many years later, during the winter, when it was cold, this same child, being ignored by his father, starving to dead, laying in the cold snow, being almost frozen, suddenly got a glass of cold water in his face.

When the kid complains the father says: "There's your water, that's what you asked for, right?"

- The country makes peace with it's ennemy who focusses on you only from there on.

No, we did not make peace. We waged war with our enemy. Once again our cities sacrificed many lives to create once again a proud Russian army. Farmers and citizen, men and women, older and younger people united to fight our enemy.

We recaptured our city of Minsk and were about to recapture Pitrograt and even some cities of our enemy.

Then, at that moment of Russian strength, we negotiated a lasting peace with our enemies.
We had a fair war, as far as wars can be fair, and we signed an equal peace. Not out of the blue, but after fighting long and hard!

You were not happy for us, that we finally got peace on good terms for Russia! You hated our guts for it and declared war on us.

Thank you daddy, for your care!

- You realize the danger your predecessor has put your country in and begin to plot against him.

Only to follow his footsteps when you got the power yourself.

- The ennemy goes on, capturing 50% of your territory, crushing 80% of your armies.

This happened at the same time that Russia battled your enemy. Russia sent letters to you, asking to coordinate our attacks on our mutual enemy. But Piercia never answered

- You manage to get rid of your predecessor and begin to rule over the country. Realizing whoose fault all of this is, you kill your predecessor and declare war on the country he tried to assist.

Yes, you just declare war. How did Piercia ever assist Russia? Maybe your predecessor had the best interest. I don't know. But what your predecessor did has only hurt Russia in any possible way. He did not even communicate with us about his plans.

And then you decide to declare war on the nation you assisted in the most horrible way. As if Russia is to blame for your horrible assistance?

Do you ever look into the mirror, and say: My predecessor was wrong, I should not continue his way of reasoning? Or do you blame Piercia's problems on others only?

- The ennemy still holds 50% of your territory, blocks off any attempts of negociation and miraculously becomes the best friend of the country your predecessor tried to assist.

Not 'miraculously'. There was a huge war in the east (you are not even aware!), we battled. Many Russians and many of our enemies died. We liberated our city, and then we signed peace. Yes, Russia knows how to sign peace, do you?

- You offer peace to the country, under the condition that they would repair for the damage they have done to both you and their ennemy.

You have never offered peace to Russia, nor did you ever share any terms for peace. You never told us to repair or how to repair.
Not to mention of course that Russia has never harmed Piercia.

Russia never forced peace or war on you.
Everything that happened to Piercia happened because of Piercia's own decisions. Russia suffered under the decisions made by the Piercians. But Piercia was free all the time to do what it wanted. How can you say that Russia has damaged Piercia? How did we damage you?

- That country sends three batallions of knights onto your territory.

After you declared war.
Yes, but these batallions did no harm to anybody. They did not even attack one of your cities, when they were close to it and the city was hardly defended. (3 longbowmen ([ooc: 1] against 6 knights [ooc: 3]). No, they tried to negotiate peace again. Once again with no terms, just peace

- You kill the intruders.

You send an entire army to the scouts, including suicide attacking catapults.

- The country claims that those were scouts, I quote, "who died doing what they did best : fighting". I ask you, what scouts are best at fighting ?

Yes, our scouts are best at fighting. But of course 6 scouts have no chance to fight against entire armies. They were not in Piercia to fight, why would I send such a small force to Piercia if it's purpose was to fight? They were in Piercia to scout. But hell can they fight. Half your army was killed by my scouts! Of course they had no chance in the end. They were not there to wage a war. If they were, they would have razed your city of Porpor (or whatever it is named) periods earlier.

- The country announces it will send more military, claiming you wouldn't make any attempts for peace.

Which is true, Russia has offered peace many times, but you refused. Then you killed our scouts, spitted on our graves and insulted us in many ways. Yes, then we sent a bigger army

- The ennemy accuses you of murder for having defended the fragile remains of your country against heavily armed intruders.

Heavily armed intruders? 6 knights? Knights that did not even capture a city when it was poorly defended. Worst Heavily Armed Intruders ever

- You offer conditionless peace to that country.

Yes, after you realised that you had really angered Russia and an entire army was coming your way, after you had murdered our scouts, after you insulted us heavily, yes, then you suddenly became scared and offered conditionless peace. But then it was too late.

Then Russia stopped negotiating peace and focussed on war.

- The ennemy calls you an unreliable liar and bloodthirsty warmonger, while no other nation on the continent shares that point of view.

I doubt that. Where are your friends, Piercia? Nobody is backing you up. Nobody is coming at your aid. When Russia was invaded the Spartans and the Mayans came. but who comes for Piercia? Even Sparta recently stopped backing you up politically.

I think that most nations think that Piercia got what it deserved after what it did to Russia, and after it broke it's oath against the Romans.

You have created a situation of war with Rome and Russia.
You declared war on both of us. Now it is up to you to fix it. Apparently nobody is going to help you. You are no victim, like Russia was. You are an aggressor.

But Russia is sick of talking to you.
If you want peace, sign peace with Rome, Russia will accept any peace treaty that's acceptable to Rome. If you can't sign peace with Rome, expect my army to arrive in the remains of Piercia anytime soon. We will have no mercy. We've had patience long enough with you.

Joseph Stalin

[Pitboss Persia]

To : Chief Tarhe of the Wyandot Nation
From : Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl of the Piercian Empire

Greetings, wise Chief,

I assume you are aware of the current situation. Sadly, it seems like Stalin is unable to read printed documents or has simply chosen to ignore my three peace offers. Let's show him how powerful words can be !

Please close your borders to russian soldiers immediatly. The pressure Stalin is putting on the peace negociation could very well affect their quality, which would be regretful. The latest incident near Por'Per clearly demonstrated what Stalin uses your good will for.

I am sure a man of peace like you won't let me down on this one.

Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl

[Pitboss Persia]

To : "All international observers"
From : Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl of the Piercian Empire

Greetings,

I won't bother answering to each of the many lies Stalin wrote in his latest public letter. If you would like to know more about any point he commented, please keep in mind that I can proove that I am right by my archives of private correspondancy. Don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you.

Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl

[Pitboss Greece]

Ano Esther Perhyl,

May I suggest you to stop talking about 'lies' or 'the truth'.
I doubt that 'the truth' is what this war keeps going.

Propose a peace plan to the Romans, then see what Romans have to say about it, and make sure that you can come to a peace agreement.
That's what helps you, your people and all nations in our regio best.

This talking about history is not going to lead anywhere.
Chose, either chose peace negotiations or chose war. Your hunt for the truth is not going to get you anywhere.

King Orestes of Sparta

[Pitboss Portugal]

"Hello King Orestes! Thank you for the warm welcome. For months I have been planning for this visit, but Portugal needed me, still I am happy to have found the time at last to take this trip down south to beautiful Sparta.”

Xristo continued…

“It has been many years since I was last in your country Orestes. I am amazed by how much it has changed. Athens has tripled in size this is unbelievable, still one thing hasn’t changed and that is Sparta’s hospitality.”

“Just look at this magnificent view from my window, breathtaking!! Thank you Orestes”

“My friend I have travelled much yesterday and today, I need to rest a bit before we get down to business. Long have we waited to meet in person, I guess a couple of more hours won’t hurt.”

“I will come to your palace when I have recovered from the long journey Orestes.”

“Please have your people ready the documents”

[Pitboss Rome]

A personal letter to Aun'O Es'Ther Per'Hyl,

I am saddened by the latest series of messages coming from Piercia. I see that you are under great pressure.

Fundamentally, I think you need to accept that change happens. Indeed you want to assert this yourself in relation to Piercia, suggesting that I should forget the actions of Piercia in previous times when dealing with you, and yet you will not accept change in relation to Russia.

Yes Rome and Russia had much conflict in the past, but its over. A century if not two has passed since the Oath Breaker's war. Russia is Rome's friend. Joseph Stalin is my friend, and I have found him trustworthy.

The same could be true of us.

I believe it is possible for us to have peace. Piercians and Romans were great friends long ago. But it will involve compromise, and it will begin with respect and peaceful words and actions. Please do note that my army which is capable of destroying you has remained outside your territory for many, many years. Other nations have suggested that I shouuld destroy you but I have rejected that advice. We have done nothing to harm you for many many years.

Peaceable words, and actions, my friend. And that will need to include words about my friend, Joseph Stalin.

I will spend time in prayer in the temple of the Lesser One, and will contact you again.

Augustus of Rome.

[The Capo]

The Imperial Palace, Seoul...

Gojong finally returned from his long trip to Sparta. The Spartan hosts were quite generous, they even constructed a personal palace for the Emperor to visit at his leisure. Gojong felt that he had accomplished much in Greece, however during his absence there was great disorder in the northern lands. This region was probably the most war-torn in all of Terra, as the region had been marked by war with nearly every possible combination of enemies and allies. Even nations of the south (arguably the most peaceful region) were dragged into their local rivalries and petty gripes. An attempt by a Buddhist monk to offer a peace proposal resulted in even more name-calling and petty bickering. Gojong returned to his palace with his foreign ministers agitated and prepared to talk with their Emperor.

"This is unbelievable Minister Bak!" the Emperor fumed, he was angry that word of anti-Greek rhetoric reached Greece during his visit, "You gave Ku Kai NO instructions what-so-ever?"

Bak Moon, the Foreign Minister shook his head, "With all due repsect your highness, you were the one who gave him cart-blanche. He has no ties to the Imperial authority, and you felt he would act as a neutral observer. Instead he did the opposite; the Russians and Romans considered him biased because of his Buddhist beliefs."

"Biased? How would he be biased?" the Emperor laughed, "That is a ridiculous contention, the Piercians accept Judaism as their state religion, a violent belief shared by the Romans themselves! Regardless minister; you are ultimately responsible for the actions of your ambassadors, and Ku Kai's words have done everything but kill any chance we have for this proposal to go through."

"Might I interject your excellency?" the Prime Minister Bojong asked.

"Certainly Prime Minister." the Emperor replied.

"I understand you have agreed to sign the Greek emancipation pact, however, as I understand you did so with the expectation that they back Ku Kai's proposal?"

The Emperor nodded, "Yes what is it Bojong?"

"Well, according to my reports the Greeks have yet to actually back the proposal, they simply say they are willing to send soldiers to the region, which of course is quite an undertaking in and of itself, but without proper backing from Greece and Portugal it will never be accepted, especially with this latest tift between Russia and Piercia." Bojong said.

"So Orestes hasn't backed our proposal? But they signed it!" Gojong fumed.

"They did, I saw it with my own eyes" General Kim said.

"Well Emperor" Bojong continued, "I'd advise you to get the Greeks to put more pressure on the negotiations. The Romans are being quite stubborn right now, but we have been speaking with the Russians and so long as we agree to apologize for the words of Ku Kai they will attempt to convince the Romans to consider Ku Kai's proposal, which I believe has merit."

"So what do you say we do?" the Emperor asked.

"I think we should-" Bak Moon began, the Emperor quickly interrupted him.

"Not you Bak! You have angered me with your inability to control your ministry. Prime Minister, please, what course of action do you suggest?"

"Well, firstly you need to visit Pacal Ermal in Maya, and possibly address their assembly. They are not going to be happy with this agreement with Greece at all, and I am quite sure word of your intention to sign the pact has reached their government."

"I have yet to sign it." the Emperor said.

"But you will?"

"Of course, I gave my word."

"So yes, you must visit the Mayans, potentially convince them to hold off on Emancipation, at least for a few cycles. I would also say we make that apology to Russia, but within it we should request that Piercia do the same." Bojong said.

"NONSENSE!" Kim Jong-seo barked, "For Russia to claim that ARMED and UNIFORMED soldiers, during times of wawr, and in enemy territory were MURDERED is PREPOSTEROUS!"

"General, I-" Bojong muttered.

"No, Prime Minister, this is insane! If we simply chalk this up to a massacre on the part of Piercia it feeds into Russian lies once more. This nation has for centuries been untrustworthy, nothing has changed this, even today they are able to manipulate the Romans. And you are going to give in to this? Your majesty I implore you! The Korean military will not appreciate this, what would you do if the tables were turned and it was the Koreans who were to apologize for slaying an invading army?" Kim said.

"General, you will silence that talk. We will make our apology, on behalf of Ku Kai, we will urge Persia to do the same. I will not let petty distinctions of truth and lies sully this peace deal. The Piercians are our friends, and our allies, they may have different leadership now, and they may be going a different route with their nation, but Korean word is bond. The Romans are our friends, they are a bit misguided at this point, but our friends none-the-less. They know we stood up to Greece and maintained our friendship with them, they know despite our allies invasion of their lands that Korea kept itself neutral. While they may speak ill of us now, of our proposal, and of our contentions against Russia they know quite well, or at least should know quite well, that we only speak what we believe to be true." the Emperor said standing up, "Prime Minister, Foreign Minister; you have a lot of work to do, I want private missives sent to Greece, and Piercia. You will make our apologies a public matter. As for you General, you seem stressed out, you will take a leave of absence back home to Pyong'yang..."


Alemanni, Korean Military Camp...

General Jumong and his army was still camped out in the territory of Alemanni, recently captured from the Aztecs. He was awaiting a group of settlers that would finally put a Korean settlement in the area; thus securing it from any further Aztec uprisings. This process was going slowly however, due mostly to the absence of the Emperor and the Imperial Courts attention to the northern conflict between the Piercians and the Russo-Roman alliance. His power waned during the reign of Gojong, and he realized this, but at this point he was the most powerful military officer in all of Korea. Traditionally the Korean military was run by a junta of Warlords, each with his own private army (although it was normally subsidised by a local nobleman) who all operated under a weak alliance at the beck and call of the Emperor through his Imperial Commander. During Sejong's reforms though, the Korean army was nationalised/imperialised and the Imperial Commander became the de facto leader of the entire military structure. Although he was at the Emperor's command. Gojong had diminished the authority of the Imperial Commander (using Sejong's murder as an excuse under the pretense that he was prventing a coup), but for all intents and purposes he was the top dog in the Korean military.

"General Jumong, General Jumong!" a young officer, Park Long, said rushing to him, "The Emperor has returned from Sparta, you were supposed to be at the palace for a meeting." he said, out of breath.

"Supposed to be?" Jumong said, "PONG!!!!" he yelled.

"Yes General, it appears this was to be two days ago, I'd imagine the Emperor is quite upset." Park Long explained.

Pong came waddling up towards the General, "Yes-"

Jumong back-handed him to the ground, he dropped like a sack of potatoes; "Pong, you fat f*cking idiot! I was supposed to be in Seoul two days ago!"

Korean soldiers practicing martial arts training; the Korean army had strict guidelines known as "Hwarang," as to different martial-arts skills each soldier had to know. Certain roles/positions had different disciplines.

Pong rubbed his cheek in pain, "I apologize General, but I told you last week, when you were drinking with that Aztec girl."

"Aztec girl?" Park Long said.

"Pong, you damned fool! You know damned well I'm not listening to your stupid ass when I'm busy. You had better come up with a good excuse for this, NOW!!!" the General yelled, as Pong quickly scurried away to write a letter to the Emperor.

"General?" Park asked.

"WHAT!?!?!?" the General said, he shook his head "Sorry, I apologize Captain, what is it?"

"That is not all that has come from Seoul sir, here" he said handing him a contraption the General had never seen before, "Its called a musket. We got them from the Maya a few years ago, and now we have developed our own prototype, its being constructed in Wonsan as we speak."

"Finally!" the General said, "I have been asking for these things for years."

"We have already begun production in many provinces, and will be sending some along with our colonists to New Portugal. I brought an entire supply here to Alemanni for you to try out." Captain Park explained.

"Excellent captain, excellent." Jumong said, aiming the gun into the distance, "Come, let's go get ourselves drunk and shoot these f*ckers off..."

[The Capo]

TO: Augustus of Rome, Stalin of Russia
CC: Maya, Sparta, Portugal, Wyandot, Piercia
FROM: Gojong of Silla, Emperor of Korea

Men of Honor,

It is with great humility that I, without pretense or qualification, apologize to the Russian people and their leadership for the words of our monk Ku Kai. He made statements with haste, without proper study, and of course without heed for political expediency. On behalf of the Emperor, Gojong of Silla, I apologize for these words. I would also like to issue an apology on behalf of the Emperor for the insinuation that our Greek friends where involved in any type of conspiracy towards Rome. This was again, a mistruth.

At this time, it is the belief of the Korean foreign ministry that peace is actually on the horizon.

In the wake of the massacre of a troupe of Russian Knights, we have discussed with the Piercians their position on the matter and believe they are prepared to make amends to Russia for their actions. We further believe that, once this occurs, the Korean proposal should again be considered. We have made a few amendments to the initial proposal:

• Piercia formally apologizes for the slaughter of the Russian Knights.
• A small indemnity will be paid to Russia for this.
• Rome will return all captured territories to Piercia with the exception of Mi'Ting (Meeting) which will remain in Roman control as a spoil of war.
• Piercia will further provide Rome with one technology of Rome's coosing or a voucher if Rome deems that a proper indemnity.
• Piercia can only occupy overturned territories from Rome with TWO garrisons.
• These cities will be garrisoned with an international force, Greece has already agreed to this, and we hope that Portugal and Wyandot will agree to send a few troops as well to these territories.
• REGULAR and thourough reports on Piercian military movements in these regions will be given by the international occupiers.
• This is done to give Rome the protection it deserves, and to prevent a Piercian attack from these border regions.
• Piercia will sign a non-aggression pact with Rome and Russia; thereby revoking any ability of Piercia to declare war on either Rome or Russia. If this is broker signor nations to this proposal will agree to break all ties with Piercia (trade, borders, etc.)
• All former debts owed by Piercia to Rome or Russia will be paid.

We continue to believe that this agreement will help peace. It will establish an era of non-confrontation between these nations that we believe, over time, will results in peace and prosperity among the three nations. We hope that this agreement will eventually lead to perpetual peace in the region.

Korea will agree to sign this. We ask that Portugal, Greece, Wyandots, Oldonians, Japanese and Mayans sign as well in a show of good faith in the peace process. We hope that the Romans, Russians and Piercians would please like-wise agree to these terms and end the hostilities once and for all.

- Bak Moon, Imperial Foreign Minister of Korea

[The Capo]

TO: Pacal Ermal of the Maya
FROM: Gojong of Silla, Emperor of Korea

Honorable Pacal Ermal,

We are quite aware that word of our intent to sign Greece's non-emancipation pact may have reached your government agencies.

We celebrate the eternal friendship and histories of our nations, and hope that the Emperor might visit your nation to discuss the reasons behind this decision. We formally ask for a meeting with Pacal Ermal as well as an opportunity for our Emperor to address your assembly to explain why Korea is doing this.

We hope you accept our request.

- Bojong of Wonsan, Imperial Prime Minister of Korea

[Pitboss Greece]

Bak Moon, Minister of our Korea,

First of all I wish to thank you for your apologizes.
I think that there are some misunderstandings between our two great nations though.
Let me explain myself, and please read my letter clear!

- Your Monk concluded that Sparta once invaded Rome in an alliance with Piercia. I have sent a correction to him. Sparta was never allied with Piercia.

- We never took any insult from the Monk's mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. That is no problem. The Monk has created a large document, we were just happy to send him one correction.

- For the record, yes, Sparta was involved in a conspiracy against Rome, together with the Maya. (We were just not in a conspiracy together with Piercia!)

- Our problem was not with what the Monk had said or done. No, we had a problem with your reaction, Minister Bak Moon, your response to our (humble) correction contained the following line wich insulted me deeply:

To our eternal allies the Greeks; I urge you not to make such hasty comments in public, especially when my office keeps records , do not attempt to make fools out of Korea's Foreign Ministry. For if you dropeth that card, we shalt picketh it up.

It was that exact quote that angered me.
Not the mistake the Monk made! Not at all! But the response to our correction. Which implied that I lied or did not know history, and that I would face concequences if I would continue to 'lie'.

But the past is the past.
You have stepped up by apologizing. Unfortunately for the wrong thing, but I appreciate your gesture and attitude.

Let's burry the past. Your apologizes have been accepted.
I hope that this letter has cleared al misunderstandings.
There is on lesson: please watch your words when you address foreign rulers, especially friendly ones! Don't jump to hasty conclusions and defenitely don't be quick to imply those things you implied in the above mentioned quote.

Regarding your peace proposal, I will not sign anything before I know if it is acceptable to our friends who are involved themselves. I do not wish to fulfil any kind of a mediation role here, unless Rome asks me to.
I hope that there'll be peace though.

Rome's last message is important. Maybe there should first be an end in exchanging harsh words. I suggest you to make a step-by-step plan instead of suggesting a final plan of peace immediately.

Such a routemap to peace could be something like:

• Piercia stops insulting and spreading harsh words about Russia and Rome
• Russia stops moving it's army towards Korea
- when this has achieved for 2 periods:

• Piercia apologizes for breaking it's oath with Rome

then:

• Piercia and Rome/Russia express their desire to make peace

then

• Rome promises to Piercia that it is willing to help Piercia to rebuild it's nation, and to protect it from enemies during this rebuilding period.

• Piercia says it is accepting to pay for it's faults

Then the almost final step:

• Rome/Russia and Piercia expressing the desire to bury the past and the will to create an enduring peace in the regio, ending all hostilities, both in word, deed and thought.

Then, after all of the above has happened, you could propose your plan for a peace treaty.

The above is only an example of how such a route map could be like. Sparta does want to stay away from pushing a specific treaty to Rome.

But I believe that immediately talking about peace terms is too early.

Greet my good friend Gojong, your emperor.
I wish you all wisdom and I hope that you succeed.

King Orestes of Sparta

[Pitboss Rome]

A personal message from Augustus of Rome to Emperor Gojong of Korea

Worshipful Gojong of Silla, Emperor of Korea

I am taken the unusual step of writing to you personally, Emperor to Emperor, in the hope of improving the understanding between our nations, which at the moment seems to be at an unusual low.

Over recent years as I have been constantly confused and frustrated by messages from your ministers and ambassadors, I have almost concluded that it might be a problem in translation.

You see, in Latin, a mediator is a neutral person who has been invited by two sides of a dispute, to listens carefully to both, and to work with them to find common understanding and eventually agreement.

This word 'mediator' or 'mediation' has been used in relation to the Korean involvement in the situation between Rome, Russia, the Wynadot and Piercia. However, the actual involvement of various Korean ministers, ambassadors and monks, does not match the meaning of the Latin word 'mediator' but rather our word 'advocate' or 'supporter'.

I don't want to weary you with many examples. But I will explain a little more for clarity. No Korean has ever asked Rome what its opinion is on the matter, what it wants, what it would find acceptable and what it wouldn't, while many messages from Korea demonstrate that there is extensive communication between Korea and Piercia. Its as if a plan is agreed between Korea and Piercia and then proposed. Nothing wrong with that, but we call it 'advocacy' or more simply 'Korea being a friend of Piercia', not mediation. The proposals which have come from Korea have been almost identical in substance (given some finessing) to the demands that Piercia has made. Again supporting the Piercian position not mediation.

Given all this, with all respect, I am not quite sure how the Korean involvements assists. Its as if I am simply hearing from the Piercians second-hand. I have tried to explain this to your foreign minister, suggesting that he would be welcome to come here to Rome if he comes with a blank sheet of paper and an ear to listen, but I didn't seem to get much response.

I continue to hold your Highness and the Korean people in great respect, but I do remain confused as to way in which the actions of Korean ministers and ambassadors relates to the word 'mediation' as Romans understand it.

Emperor Augustus of Rome.