The Dance of Civilizations [Diplo Game] [Story Thread Pt4 - December 2009]

[Persia (DoC)]

Hiawatha,

The tech was free for them.
We paid the voucher and we gave the tech.

It's not for no reason that Persia is being bored by all these "let's give small nations some help" babbling. We do take care of our allies. Not for charity, we need them as much as they need us.

Maybe Korea and Byzantium should try to find some friends as well and just start to negotiate with their own friends to start handing out gifts to 'weaker nations'.
Persia doesn't deal with 'weaker nations', we only deal with strong and proud nations like Britannia and Ottomania.

The talking from these nations is getting old.
They are talkers only. It's as if someone will award them with some school grades if they whine enough about giving cookies to small children.

From now on Persia will ignore all those calls from charity nations talking about 'splitting up' continents and 'dividing new worlds' as if this is some birthday party where everybody deserve the same size cake.

For Persia this is reality, we are under attack and we do not hand out goodies.
And yet we did more for other nations in the past 10 years then Korea and Byzantium did together for their entire lifespan.

Guru Fed'AZ

[India (DoC)]

Greetings great King Kaliph,

I am honoured by your invitation, and I have given the order to start preparations for the journey to your land. Tao has spread to our lands, and our people are grateful for its wise teachings. I will accompany an envoy of our Tao priests; I am curious to learn more about your faith, even though Egypt has become a Christian nation. I do not believe in persecution of other faiths in my land, although my Christian priests believe firmly in the persecution of heretics. However, I will not see my land divided by petty squabbles over what I deem personal beliefs. In ancient times, we followed many gods, and none was favored over the other. Our unity lies in our love for the land and each other, ideals which are part of all religions but Hastogianism. Therefore I will celebrate with you, out of respect for our common ideals.

Ramesses, Pharaoh of Egypt

((ooc: I think Egypt doesnt mind that I publish this private letter here. I made my invitation in the story board as well as in pm and since I want to continue with the stroy I think it's beter to be here.))

[India (DoC)]

King Kaliph was watching the city from it's palace's balcony preoccupied by his thoughts. The Indian people like celebrations and Delphi was preparing its greatest celebration of its time, the 5000th year anniversary of its foundation.
But the King was troubled. Serious thoughts invaded his mind. He was old and He knew his time soon would be up but He was left without an heir despite the promise of the high priests. He had a daughter though who was raised up as priestess of the Tao, but according to the law She couldn't be crowned as ruler of India- and the King wasn't sure it would be a good idea anyway, the church has too much power already... It is a tradition that the church must be separated from the wordly leadership, but laws come from the God and the words of God come from the high priests. So does he or his ancestors had any real power at all or all just an illusion?
And those prophecies which Zulkash was talking about a lot.. dreams about old glory and power..plans to convert the world to the true faith.. great tasks which were waiting his never born son... preparations against enemies which were never been seen..

".. but enough of dark thoughts.. the celebrations will start soon and our guests are waiting, the Natives, the Mali and Egypt, I must greet them..."

[Korea (DoC)]

korea officially withdraws all suggestions it has made, it ws foolish in thinking that it would be good.

[India (DoC)]

The Egyptians led by Ramesses himself has arrived to Delphi. On their way they were accompanied by the King's royal guards, high ranked clerks and priests. They didnt miss the opportunity to show the Egyptians the Indian cities and culture along the way and to talk about the greatness of Tao which blessings can be see in the wealthy cities.

In Delphi the celebrations were about to start. Many Indians came from all over the country to the capital for this event, the celebrations supposed to last for weeks.

In the Parthenon, which is the indian royal palace, King Kaliph has greeted his illustrious guests, the Mali, the Natives and the Egyptians were already here. No word from the Koreans and Incas, they rarely come for a visit but the King hoped they would too arrive before the celebration ends.

After some time King Kaliph invited Ramesses for a private talk, Kordush, one of the Indian high priests too joined them.

"Pharaoh Ramesses, I'm glad you could come. Our people were always friends, our trade realtions fruitfull and now this is a great opportunity to make the bond between our people stronger. We here thought this the time for you to consider joining our great Taoist community. Please, let my high priest say a few words about this"

Kordush bowed deeply

"Great Pharaoh,
By now many of your people know and following our path. You yourself must have witnessed the blessings of the Sha'Tao; great knowledge, power, enlightment which all can be yours too. But beyond these gifts it is even more important for everyone to realize that the world is at the crossroads. We can see the signs which are written in the prophecy, evil forces are rising all over the world and only faith-faith in the true God can save us. All must worship Sha'tur or everything will be lost...and we won't let that happen. The conversion of the whole world to the true faith is inevitable. There is not much time left, Pharaoh, for the good of your people and every soul on the world You must accept Tao - now."

[Korea (DoC)]

korean religous advisors are always in india and were well represnted at the celbrations.

They just dont like to make their presence known as thwey are humble servents.

[Persia (DoC)]

High Priestess Roza of Russia,

If my concerns stay unanswered I must continue the Persian campaign.
I am fully aware of your scientists progressions on new weaponry.
I will not accept any delays that help you achieve new possibilities to continue your aggression against Persia.

Guru Fed'Az

[England (DoC)]

King Kaliph,

May I ask why hasn't England been invited to India? As you know very well England has seen the good in adopting Tao. We are in the progress of converting our larger cities. The day that we fully adopt Tao as a nation is growing near. I expect we to receive the same respect as the other Tao nations.

Wallace.

[India (DoC)]

King Wallace,

A meeting between our people is indeed a good idea. We apologize for not inviting you to this event, but for these kind of celebrations we usualy invite our Taoist brothers only and we did not realize that the conversion of your people to the true faith is progressing so well.
Please accept my invitation now, let's meet in Taorisha, which is the holy city of Sha'Tao and the biggest port in India. We too will send our representives accompanied by missionaries to to you soon.

King Kaliph

[Korea (DoC)]

Across the world the word did spread.
Great wonders and power were spoken of
but it was all hidden amonsgt a thread
somehow it was lost and never heard of

But the plan was now coming to a head
for better or worse all the scheming was through
for centuries it had filled some with fear and dread
but watch this space for it is coming to you too.

[Arabia (DoC)]

Mecca Weekly - The Arabian Update

Arabian Update

The cease fire between England and Arabia has been in place for a number of years. Too many souls were departed on both sides, to not make the truce ever lasting. Saladin hopes that the cease fire has evolved to true peace. We have had no contact with England since the end of hostilities. We assume they bore no ill will towards us at this point.

Overseas our emissaries hear reports that the defeat of Russia in their surprise attack on Persia, has all but been completed. It pleases Saladin that Persia was victorious but the loss of life on both sides was appalling.

Saladin has announced that Arabia will forever more be devouted to peace and tranquil reflection. A new age of enlightenment and prayer, religious teaching and meditation has spread throughout the lands.

We hear of new lands being colonized but have no knowledge of their location. With the more powerful nations of the earth quickly moving to settle the new world we fear we must concentrate on our own undeveloped shored.

Our fervent tilling of the land and settlement continues in Arabia. More workers are dispatched daily to harvest the rich bounty of our soil. Jungle becomes fields of grain and villages spread from the cities. Workshops have begun to be built. Our scientists working in concert with the Persians have allowed us to discover Guilds. This has resulted in a new defensive unit that is quickly being sent to our border towns.

Saladin worries about our neighbours. Rome has assured us there is no question that MAD is strong and has no ill will towards us but they have a large army idle and that makes Saladin nervous. Greece who continue to build up offensive units in the gifted city of Damacus (now Poli) has not been in contact with Mecca for several years. We wonder what their leader is planning. In these troubled times, it has been shown that neighbours and allies can quickly turn and one can never be too careful.

Mecca Weekly

[Ottoman Empire (DoC)]

Bayezid was excited to hear that Selim had sent a message! He hadn't heard from his son since he had sailed for the New World!

"Father,

It is with great pride that I declare the Ottoman Empire has settled in the New World. By our accounts only us and our friends the Persians have done so already. This marks a new age of Ottoman glory as you, father, have brought our nation from one of the weakest, to a growing empire! With my new mission of settling these new lands, we will rise up and become one of the greats!"

Bayezid grinned ear to ear and knew that one day, Selim would be the ruler of all of the Ottoman Empire. He had succeeded in his quest and this was no easy feat.

Return this message to my boy Selim, Bayezid said...

"Selim, you have done you nation proud. Say a prayer for our friends the Persians while you are there as it is with their assistance that this has been made possible. They suffer many insults on the world stage and have been branded as evil by many, but their dealings with us have been nothing but honorable. I have heard that silk is plenty in the new lands, bring me some so that I may offer it in gift to Fed'Az.

When you return, I have another settling party ready for escort as we have much more work to do!"

[Orb (DoC)]

***Notice***

To any interested nations,

Due to the high demand for East Indiaman we are offering any nation who wishes to upgrade there ships to come to Britannia. We will upgrade your ships at the cost of 155 gold plus a 100 gold laybor fee. For those who wish a new ship built the coast is 500 gold. Any nations interested should contact the East India company in Port Alexander. Thank you for your time.

[Byzantium (DoC)]

The ebbing of an era

Theodosius looked at the responses to his "New World Equality Pact", and shook his head.

He had thought that the rulers of the great nations would have seen the justice in his proposal. It would have been a fitting end to his lifetime.

He leafed through the responses.

Fed'az, well he could have predicted that. In a strange way its was comforted to see the true spirit of Hastogianism revealed once more. It was interesting to see how Hastogianism worked. When the Russians invaded, the Persians shat themselves and suddenly they were no longer full of arrogant bluster, no longer speaking ofthe rightness of taking what you want, but looking for friends, begging Byzantium not to trade with its neighbours. Now, once they felt strong again, the true nature of Hastogianism was back in force. A religon which leaves you when crisis comes. Theodosius shook his head. Then he laughed. Guru Fed'az's assertion that Byzantium had never helped anyone had angered him at first - it was so blatently untrue - but now, of course, he remembered - the well-known and convenient Persian system of forgetting all history every time one of them died.

The Indians. Well, it seems true that the great power of Tao'ism looked after its own. Indeed, the Tao'ist temple in Constantinople seemed to be overflowing with the wealth of the East. A shame though that it saw nothing beyond itself - did it not recognise the common humanity of all people? The need to support the weak?

Silence from the Koreans and English. Wallace was normally a man of his own council. And, well, it was understandable that the Romans, Arabs and Greeks were not in favour among the English. The response from the Koreans was interesting. Their counter proposal showed their good intent, though difficult practically - how was a nation like Greece meant to get a settler to Korea? But now - it wasn't clear what they were going to do.

Britannia, as always a good friend, showed its commitment by its offer to upgrade other's ships. It wasn't a large nation - it couldn't be expected to make gifts - but even so it was doing what it could.

The Ottoman announcement confused him. Why were the Ottomans demanding a gift of an ocean going vessel when they already had them? When they were one of the few nations already settling in the new world. They were small, yes, and had always been a friend of Byzantium, and woudl continue to be, but in the matter of the new world they were streaks ahead of others. Theodosius smiled. He had always liked the Ottomans - it was good to see that they were settling the new world.

Theodosius banged the table and threw the correspondance across the room. But what of the other nations? How could they be lifted to the same position as the Ottomans? He would aid the Romans immediately, and then see about the next nation.

Then he began to cough again.

Through the doorway Justinian looked watched with calcuating eyes. It would be soon now. The old man was dying. The whole court new it. The Byzantine empire had grown slack during his old age. True, Justinian thought, the advances in science and commerce had made the empire strong, but ... well, this talk of helping the poor. Something for the priests. The age of faith is passing, Justinian knew it. His would be a different world.

[England (DoC)]

A warning!

Ottomans we have caught one of your spies in York.

If we do catch one more time such a hostile activity there will be war between us.

You have been warned!!