Beyond the Pit [Pitboss Diplomacy Game] [Story Thread] . PART 12 (July 2009)

[OzzyKP]

Ozzy the Bateater has been lost in prayer for weeks, praying at the holy shrine in Black Sabbath he has sought guidance from the precepts of the Church of Metal. He has sought absolution from the Christian God. And most of all he has sought peace and unity.

As the bond between the Church of Metal and the Holy Roman faith of Christianity has always been strong, Ozzy invited a local Christian bishop to pray with him in the Metalhead shrine. The young Holy Roman cleric, Bishop Wojtyła read two passages from the Christian Bible, both from the book of Matthew:

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ozzy was moved to tears by the passages. They spoke to the Metalhead tradition as well of giving brotherhood and community to the outcast, the mocked the scorned. The passages made him reflect again upon the current state of the world - as he often did of late. Such terrible inequality, such terrible injustice. Korea, Maya, Piercia, Inca, all destroyed. Rome and Portugal straddle the globe like giants. Both ready to conquer new lands and new worlds far beyond our humble planet. Both ready to conquer anyone else who gets in their way.

What of the meek? What of the merciful? What of the last? What of the poor?

He left the shrine and walked again out to the ocean, to be surrounded by sea and sky, to be among the pure and the natural. He continued to think and pray.




He thought also of the many sins of the Metalheads. The war against Spain. The lack of charity to their fellow man around the globe. This, he thought, must change, and must change immediately. Long have the Metalheads been friends with their neighbors. The Meduian continent may be overlooked by the great western powers, but the Metal Church nations of Meduian were pure of heart. Good people, wise leaders, compassionate men and women in all corners of the continent. He thought of the recent act of the Holy Romans to liberate their city and return control to Spain.

He thought again of peace and of unity. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. The words echoed through his mind.

Peace. Unity.

[OzzyKP]

Ozzy Addresses the People - And the World - Part 1

In one of the massive outdoor Cathedrals of Metal, Ozzy led the gathered masses in a day of prayer. As is the Metalhead custom, much music was played, and many heads were banged.

It was also, however, a day of great political importance. After weeks of thought and prayer, Ozzy had a revelation. A revelation of peace. A revelation of unity. A revelation of mother earth. Ozzy invited all the leaders of Meduia. Most of them friends for many an age. It was this day the world would be shocked.

As is the tradition, he expressed himself in song. Before he began, he tore his shirt in a gesture of humility.

Mother please forgive them
For they know not what they do
Looking back in history's books
It seems it's nothing new
Oh! Let my mother live

Heaven is for heroes
All hell is full of fools
Stupidity, no will to live
They're breaking God's own rules
Please let my mother live

Father, of all creation
I think we're all going wrong
The course they're taking
Seems to be breaking
And it won't take too long

Children of the future
Watching empires fall
Madness the cup they drink from
Self-destruction the toll

I had a vision,
I saw the world burn
And the seas had turned red
The sun had fallen,
The final curtain
In the land of the dead

Mother, please show the children
Before it's too late
To fight each other,
There's no one winning
We must fight all the hate

He then made a shocking announcement. The Metalheads were permanently renouncing war. The nation would embrace pacifism. The nation would commit itself to the ideal of emancipation of all peoples of the world. War, he said, would never again be seen as an option for the Metalheads. He called upon all nations of the world to renounce violence, renounce hatred, renounce war. He especially called upon his Meduian allies and friends to join him in a world of peace, a world of unity.

[Pitboss Japan]

From: Prime minister Shinichiro
To: Terra

Announcements


Nowadways Japan is more concerned with its internal matters and disgusted by the evil games some so called "superpowers" playing, but there are some important matters we wish to reflect on.

After the last war it became clear that uniting Piercia by force is neither possible nor benecfical to even try for the Piercian people. It's also bad to maintain the current state: divided Pierca, Piercians, and a huge threatening army at both sides.
I'm glad to say that the political efforts made recently may result the end of this conflict, We Japanese are supporting to unite Piercia and grant them as much independency as possible.
We are also supporting a long lasting non agggression pact with Russia.


The question of Samos...

Japan is not a conquerer nation.. all we want is to free our citizens who now have to live under foreign rule.
Japan suffered badly in the last war and was forced to give up cities to nations who didnt deserve anything at all. SAmos was offered as compensation- and while the compensation (for our lost 4 cities) we think should be in order the method is questionable and reflects the Roman divide and conquer politics.
We are quite dissapointed in our Greek friends also.. they first agreed to give us Samos with its oil deposis then asked for the possibility to alter this "trade". We agreed to accept other kind of compensations (defensive forces/money) but we received no answer.. This was years ago..
Now wewonder what their master's, Rome's intentions are.

Shinichiro

[Pitboss Rome]

Cleopatra thanks the nations of the world for electing her to be the Secretary General of the United Nations. This was an unexpected honour, and is particularly fitting during this golden age of Rome. Be assured that I will use this role for the good of the world. Anyone wishing to propose a UN resoluation should contact me.

I also express my admiration for Ozzy and the Metalhead Church. This is indeed a Meduian phenomenon, although there is indeed a very small Metalhead presence in one of the many cities of the Roman Empire, and therefore it is true that it is indeed a great world phenomenon. I smile at the suggestion that the metalhead church can indeed bring peace and security to all peoples of this earth, when it is so clearly a Meduian important into the rest of the world. However, maybe, just maybe it is true that you can bring peace to the world. Either way, I salute you Ozzy of the Metalheads as a great world leader, indeed perhaps the greatest the world has seen through your words and culture. I wait with eager anticipation to hear your address to the world part 2.

Cleopatra.

[Pitboss Russia]

From: Prime Minister Daniil Aleksandrovich, Council of Transition and Stability
To: The World Community
Subject: Russian Conversion to The Church of Metal

Russia has embraced the ideals of the Great Teacher Ozzy the Bateater, a World of Peace and seeks to follow the cause. Never again shall a Russian gun be fired in anger.

The murderous tyrants of this World shall never conquer the pure of heart and soul.

Prime Minister Daniil Aleksandrovich
For, and on behalf of, The Russian Federation

[Pitboss Spain]

Spain was not offered a vote on the Election of a Religious Leader. We, at this time, feel annoyed with strict procedures and rules, preventing us from being heard.

ooc: I did not get a vote box

[Pitboss Spain]

In a tragic accident Alejandro Helvetico, President and Stadholder of the Spanish Metalhead territories died today, age 69.

While speeding down the Madrid countryside in a carriage pulled by his favorite pair Lusitano and Iberia, investigators stated, his cart hit a boulder and catapulted our great leader to his untimely demise. A wave of mourning spread through the Spanish lands.

In an Hommage, great Spanish Artist Picasso created his great work called "El Carruaje"

[Pitboss Rome]

ooc: I did not get a vote box

You're a vassal I think. They don't get the chance to vote!

[Pitboss Spain]

vassals don't get the chance to vote!

The Spanish People are too much in mourning over recent events to file any further formal complaints, although we feel slighted to our core.

(ooc: ah, that's what happened, thanks for explaining!)

[Robert]

You're a vassal I think. They don't get the chance to vote!

I think vassals get a vote box with only 1 option.
But maybe I'm wrong, that would explain why I didn't get a vote box either.

Are there more vassals in this game?

[Pitboss Rome]

Celts are a vassal of Metals as well

[OzzyKP]

And the Funglish.

[LiQuiD112]

New to Apolyon - From Civplayers

I love the idea of the Diplomacy type game; when does the next one start? I defintely want to play in it!

[Robert]

Hey LiQuiD112, we'll start planing the next one most probably this week!
Please keep an eye on this forum!

Welcome to Apolyton!

[OzzyKP]

The Last to First Initiative

After Ozzy the Bateater's stunning speech to the world (not finished yet, will be finished later) the Metalheads have put his new vision of the world into practice almost immediately. Throughout the empire swords are being beaten into ploughshares or, in this case, munitions into medicine. The Metalheads have begun an ambitious hospital building program designed to provide health care to the most in need in society. The tremendous outpouring of support from all corners of society - religious, non-profit, corporate, private and public for this grand project ensures that not only will there no longer be a hospital bed denied to a person in need, taxes won't even need to be raised to cover the new program.

In addition, the generosity of the Metalhead people extends far beyond their shores. In keeping with the nation's new commitment to extend a helping hand to the meekest and most needy of people and nations on the planet, dubbed the Last to First Initiative, the Metalhead Empire has just made a gift of 1,982 gold to the struggling Mayan people. Who, as many are aware, were driven out of their homeland by the murderous Roman Empire. The forsaken survivors of the Mayan people were cast aside on barren piece of tundra at the southern tip of New Portugal and are struggling to survive under such harsh conditions. The funds are given with the hope of improving the Mayan standard of living.