New Horizons - EuroDiplo - Story Thread

[OzzyKP]

Hopefully the game will be up soon and we can pick our civs. We need CS to create anon Apolyton user names too. Just be patient.

[Rome (NH)]

4000 BC

The old man looked around him. To his left was his son and to his right his daughter. Before him stood the future tribal leader.

He had always wanted to leave the tribe in the hands of his offspring but his first born had died many years ago and now his children were too young to take the lead. But the life of a tribal leader was a hard one. Many, many miles they travelled. Over hills and through rivers.

The old man dreaded gving up his families lineage of leadership. But what could he do? His son was only a mere 13 years of age. The old man was sick and almost on deaths door.

Then just as he was about to remove the crown from his head. Antony Giccino , came running in.

Lord, the people have made campment and are happy

The old man smiled, good his people would be happy with this spot for a period. He could be buried here.

He turned to his aid.

Tony, go tell people to explore the area, we will stay here till my passing.

Lord no, if you die here we will all stay. We will build a large monument to you, we will live on this creek near this ocean. Plenty of food

You are good to me Tony. And your are right, we need to cease being nomads. And if we are settled here my son can lead.

The future tribal leader was upset but not angered as the Old man placed the head gear on his son.

Lead the people well, explore the sea. Explore the lands. Protect my people my son.


And with that the Old man , Roman Piccino died.

And the tribe did name the place Rome.

[Austria (NH)]

The Austrians cursed wildly. Their prized scribe charged with compiling the record of their founding had nearly finished his masterful work when dark magic consumed him. The scribe and his epic tale with him vanished into thin air. All the time and effort put into composing such an story was wasted and lost forever.

The Austrians were not a happy people.

[Spain (NH)]

Kull the magnificent settled his lost tribe after a long journey from the Ocean to the middle of the lands he had decided to name Iberia.

[Rome (NH)]

The tribal council met as was its custom in the large hut in the centre
of the village. IT was a special day today as it was the 100th
Anniversary of the founding of Rome. The chiefs sat around the fire in
the centre of the hut and gave thanks to the ancients for leading them
here.

Appart from organising the Centenary Festival, the chiefs were
discussing the latest news from the military advisor. General Pontius
addressed the meeting and informed them that a new military base had
been established to the north. Here the army had crossed into hostile
territory across the great river. The soldiers had discovered to their
north a small village and awaited orders.

The chiefs discussed this news and made a proclamation. Enter this
strange village, and inform them that they are under the protection of
mighty Rome.

As it is written let it be so.

Such rewards were bestowed upon Rome as 49 gold coins.

[Ottomans (NH)]

The Saga of the Ottomans

Bumin the Great, led the Ottoman people from the east. The Turkmen had been growing, multiplying on the great steppes of the east. Too many people, too much conflict. So Bumin had gathered his clan and set off to the setting sun, travelling over many years. When the reached the second great sea (later known as the Black sea; the first being the Caspian) they heard rumours of another tribe forming to their north – the Rus. Seeking space not the old conflict of the steppes, Bumin led his people south hugging the coast of the second sea as huge mountains rose above them.

On they went, seeking for the right place for the people to settle. Resentment grew – this was a fine and, empty, warm and well watered – why was Bumin leading the people ever westward. Did he wish to bathe in the boiling waters where the sun goes down in the ocean? Finally they came to the great channel where the waters of the second sea emptied into the third great sea (later known as the Mediterranean). Finally Bumin knew that this was the place. If they crossed this channel they would be free from the pressure of the Turkmen tribes. And … the Turkmen legends were full of stories of the tribes of the Western lands, soft full bellies, weak arms and rich land. Here on the western bank of the great channel Bumin gave his clan rest and security, and they began their first great city.

[Ottomans (NH)]

The Saga of the Ottomans
The fates smiled on the Ottoman people. The people of the lands of the setting sun welcomed them. Bumin had been right to come this far west.

The tribes of the second sea taught the Ottomans about the gods of this new land. Now the turks could offer sacrifice to the gods of streams, forest and hills. And they did. Making offerings to secure the favour of this new land.

The tribes of the mountains gave gifts of gold to the turkish envoys welcoming them as friends and defenders against the plague of bears troubling the land.

The tribes of the woods gave valuable carvings to the turkish envoys, seeing in them fellow worshippers of the gods of the forest and bringers of new culture to the land.

The Austrian people in the far off hills of the setting sun welcomed the turkish explorers, friends to share the good gifts of the gods. The land between the Austians and Ottomans wide and broad, space for all.

The fates, and the new gods, had indeed smiled on the Ottoman people.

[Austria (NH)]

The Origin Tale of the Austrian People - 4000 BC

It was a cold, misty morning when the tribe of Ogg the Strong awoke with a startle. The nomadic tribe of hunters had ended their long journey the previous night when they reached the banks of the great river under the cover of a heavy fog. It had been a hard year and they were relieved to reach the spot they intended to endure the winter. The bears had their den, squirrels their next, and the Aust had their river. The fog was so thick they could see no more than 10 feet ahead, but knew they had reached the mighty river that was their goal. They made camp and rested.

Their rest was not to last. In the morning the camp was abuzz with panic. As the fog lifted and the sun rose Ogg’s tribe spotted a foreign tribe across the river to the east. Who were they? Were they following them? Were they hostile? How long had they been there? Ogg’s warriors were on high alert.

A small band from the foreign tribe began to ford the river. On makeshift rafts they made their way to a small island in the middle. Gnar, the Aust’s brave hunter and warrior insisted they send out warriors immediately to subdue this threat. Ogg who had seen many battles in his day was inclined to agree, but hesitated. His young son, Buda, had wandered near the bank of the river and was watching the foreign men on the island. He was laughing as he waved, signaled and communicated with another small boy with the strange tribe. No raiding party would bring children with them, thought Ogg, they must not be hostile.

So it was that Ogg decided to personally visit the island, and bring his son with him. He also brought Gnar and some of his finest warriors, Ogg was no fool.

A tall man with long hair and a thick red beard came out to meet them. The men stared at each other, unflinching. Sizing each other up. No one wanting to be the first to speak. Gnar’s hand tightly gripped the handle of his club, his fingers flexing, preparing for whatever may come. It was just then, when the tension was the greatest, as everyone’s attention focused on those across from them, that Buda ran out from behind his father and ran right up to the small boy he had seen from across the river. He was a wild, unmanageable boy, always following his own light wherever it led. On this day it led him to a foreign child with rosy cheeks and brown hair.

For a moment, the two boys solemnly sized each other up, mimicking their parents, and then, like a panther, Buda pounced upon the other boy. The men gasped and drew their weapons, approaching the two boys rolling in the grass, but then the clamor was broken by the most delightful sound the human ear can hear – children laughing.

The two impetuous boys were now wrestling in the grass, laughing and carrying on like old friends. It was infectious and soon the men were roaring with laughter. Ogg the Strong and the tall man greeted each other and tried to communicate. While neither spoke the other’s language they soon learned through gestures that they were both chiefs of their tribes, and that the two boys now contently playing under a tree were their sons. The day wore on and they began to learn more of each other’s language and started to understand more about each other. The other tribe, known as the Hunga, had also arrived the previous night, and also had intended to spend the winter along the river. They were equally surprised to wake up across the river from a foreign encampment.

Magor, the chief of the Hunga, and Ogg the chief of the Aust spoke the entire day. The two men quickly became quite fond of each other. Ogg’s tribe were skilled hunters and he taught Magor some of their techniques and skills. Magor’s tribe on the other hand were very spiritual and he taught Ogg about powerful magic and the afterlife. The two men resolved that their peoples had much to learn from each other and many goods and skills to trade. As it was already too late in the season to find another place to weather the winter and they had already grown too fond of each other to go to war, they decided they would live on their own sides of the river.

Time passed and the two tribes became quite friendly. Ogg and Magor met frequently, as did their sons, Buda and Pest who were by now strong friends. The two men learned that both had been toying with staying in this location for longer than the winter. Both their wives had been nagging them about finally settling down. The river was bountiful, the land was rich, and the company was quite nice, so as spring began, the two tribes decided to end their wandering and call this new land home. In honor of their fateful meeting and the junior diplomats who brought them together the Hunga named their village Pest, and the Aust named their village Buda.

[England (NH)]

England: A birth

The men filed silently, by twos and threes, into the clearing between the tents. The women hung back, as befitted their status, but they would learn what was decided fast enough. A few guards were still left out along the edges of the encampment. After all, there were still wild animals, and other tribes, and gods knew what else.

Cerdic was proud as he made his way among the men. Although less than four hands-ful of summers old, he was already accorded some prestige among the men. His hunting was almost always successful, he often could find things the people needed faster than older, wiser men, and he often could get those angry at each other to stop their feud, and even laugh about it. Still, he was young, and somewhat naïve; during the last moon he was caught unawares by a sudden storm, so intent had he been on his quarry. The hail from the storm had pelted him, and left him bruised, which bruises of course were the butt of many a joke since. But he shrugged off the disgrace, laughed at the jokes wryly, and learned from his mistake.

He meant to have some influence today. Important decisions were about to be made. Ælle, the leader of the people, had been convinced to discuss with the men novel ideas. Cerdic had been talking to the men, in ones and twos, never with statements, only with questions, “seeking understanding” as he put it. As a result of his questions, the men were thinking new thoughts, and had many questions of their own, questions Cerdic felt he had an answer for. But no one would listen to someone his age tell them what to do, so he intended to sit, and wait, and answer the questions when the right time came. He sat to one side, with some men a little older than he, hunting companions of his, and waited.

Ælle entered the clearing, and looked around at the men. Cerdic could see his brows knit as he scanned them, could almost feel the tension and unhappiness inside the leader. No leader likes to be questioned, let alone told how things will be. A good leader rarely allows it to happen. Ælle was a good leader, but he was limited, in Cerdic's mind. No imagination, no ability to see forward. Always his thoughts on today, and maybe tomorrow, but that's it. Cerdic believed he could see farther; his goal was to have Ælle see further, too, without realizing he had been manipulated into it. Ælle was not happy that he even had to have this discussion, Cerdic could see.

Abruptly, Ælle strode to the front where the stump was. He stood on the stump and addressed the men. He was blunt; Ælle was not one for word-fencing. He addressed the main issue first: there were men who wanted to stay in this place for good, stop the seasonal wanderings. Ælle scoffed at the notion. How were the people to feed themselves when the fruits here were done? What game would they hunt when the animals were used up, or went on their usual wanderings? How would they deal with the storms, the cold, the snow, if they did not head to the coast in the winter? He put the questions plainly, to show the men the folly of the idea.

Cerdic did not want to talk yet. His place was not to answer such blunt questions; his experience was not sufficient to matter in such things. But ideas are powerful when they take root, and Cerdic had been watering many a rootling for some days. Across the clearing, Ælfwurth stood and answered Ælle. He pointed to the river, with its fish in the nearby plain. He mentioned the grasses growing upstream, with the seeds that the people had used from time to time in times of lean hunting to survive without famine. He noted that herds of cattle were found not many days away to the sunset, and that scouts had found sheep beyond that. The land was rich; they could stay here forever, he said.

Men began to take sides. Some grumbled that Ælfwurth was just lazy, and didn't want to move. Others complained that each time they moved, they had to worry about who else hunted there, who else fished and gathered there. Cerdic bided his time. Almost, he thought, almost. Then Ælle spoke.

“If we stay here, if we do as you suggest, will we not become ourselves targets? Will not others want to take what we have? Will they not come to carry off our grain, our furs, our women? When we wander, we are not a fixed target. Do you want to be the target of all?”

Cerdic rose. He knew the time had come.

“Do I hear fear in our leader's voice? Does he say that he cannot hold what we take? Does he worry that his women will be stolen? Is he concerned that his weapons are not sharp enough? I am Cerdic! I am not scared! Let them come! We will defeat them. We will enslave them. We will use them in the fields of grass, we will take their women and raise even more sons, we will collect their jewels, their ornaments, and we will be richer for it. Who else here fears we cannot do this?” In the sunlight, he stood disdainful of Ælle, a tall statue of a young man, ready to take on all comers.

The men growled assent. Their pride was stung. Ælle himself bristled at the thought of being too afraid to make a stand. He repudiated the suggestion, and adopted Cerdic's idea and approach for his own. He postured, and the men began to posture with him. Cerdic smiled. All was as planned. Let Ælle have his day for now. The future was the important thing.

As Cerdic wandered away, his eyes were not focused on the men around him. Instead, he saw things to be. The camp no longer here, but rather a city of huts. Fields of grain that were tended and harvested. Industry, the labor of many men, making weapons, producing goods, mining the rich metals that he hoped were nearby. He looked across the river, and thought deeper thoughts. Scouts had told him that the people along the coast talked of men across the water, men who had weapons much like the people did. Men who could not be easily understood. And suddenly, it crystalized in his mind, what was needed. The people would have to make one last move, across the river. If they could control the coast, they might well control the water between them and the other land, and that other people. He smiled. Then, oh yes, then they would see who would be master of whom.

[Austria (NH)]

Prosperity of the Aust & Hunga

The two tribes would live in peace for years to come. The Aust and the Hunga traded goods and crafts and learned a great deal from each other. Together they became stronger. They learned to farm, learned to mine. They sent forth warriors and scouts throughout the region to explore their new lands. Their new home was a rich plain surrounded by mountains to the north, east, and west. Further their scouts pushed into the wilds. They encountered smaller, friendly bands of peoples in all directions. Either impressed with their power, or fearful of it, these small tribes offered great tribute to the combined might of the Aust & Hunga.

The scouts encountered more than just small tribes however. To the north they encountered Germans, Russians to the far east, Italians to the southwest, and the friendly Ottomans to the southeast. Distant travelers from France and Spain also were spotted. Only the Ottomans attempted to make contact and agree to peace. Of this Ogg was grateful.

[Spain (NH)]

The Atlanteans settled in the centre of the peninsula they had landed on.
Scouts travelled far and wide, mapping vast stretches of land.
Workers gathered to farm the lands according to ancient Atlantean techniques.
The people farmed, built and prayed. Their leader was Kull the Exiled.
Thinkers rediscovered Atlantean knowledge.

Nearing the end of Kull's great lifespan there was confusion of who would succeed him. The hunters and livestock herders had one candidate. The Farmers who provided the food for the people had their own man who would aid in their interests. And finally, the master of the city guard wished to strengthen the power of the nation. Kull's choice was nearing.

[Austria (NH)]

The Enlightenment of Buda

All of this prosperity became possible because of the union of two tribes. Two tribes who joined because of a chance meeting and the peacemaking of a mere boy. It seemed to all that fate brought them together that cold misty morning. It seemed further to all that the spirits moved through Ogg the Strong’s young boy, Buda.

The residents of both Pest, and the town of Buda held the young prince in high esteem. As he grew and matured his reputation as a peace maker grew. Not only had he brought them untold peace and prosperity as just a child, as he grew older he became truly wise and his opinion was sought to resolve a great many disputes. Unlike his contemporaries, Buda had a way to cut through the passions and biases presented to him and expose the truth of any situation.

Seeking to hone his natural flair for wise, just thinking, Buda would often sit and contemplate various matters of higher truth and consciousness. His style of meditation began to be copied by many among the Aust and the Hunga. One day while contemplating a particularly difficult matter he sat under an old fig tree outside of Pest and didn't move for forty nine days. It was then, after much meditation that Buda discovered the "middle way".

Years later he would explain his discovery of the middle way by relaying the story of his childhood - what would become the most important event in Austrian history. His father was known as Ogg the Strong and his clan were all proud warriors. Whereas the Hunga, who they had met that fateful morning many years ago, were deeply spiritual and mystical. It was there, in the middle of the mighty Danube river that these two peoples, these two world views met and merged. It was upon this razor edge of geography and circumstance that these two tribes avoided catastrophic war and found peace. This middle path brought them not only peace but sustained prosperity, strengthening both tribes and avoiding great suffering for them both.

It is therefore through unity and meditation that suffering can avoided. This middle way is no mere compromise between conflicting values, but represents a high middle point, like the apex of a triangle, more value filled than either alternative. To achieve this ideal fully is to achieve Nirvana and escape suffering.

He shared his newfound understanding of the world with the residents of Buda & Pest and they were in awe. They studied his teachings and devoted themselves to achieving enlightenment.

[Austria (NH)]

Intrepid Settlers Seek a New Home

The Aust and the Hunga grew along the banks of the Danube. In peace and prosperity they sought enlightenment and continued to grow. Children were born, the old passed away, but the people grew larger and stronger. Eventually, even their beloved leader, Ogg the Strong passed away as well. As was the custom, leadership of their joined people fell to Buda the Enlightened. While less concerned with temporal matters than his father, his rule was just and wise and led his people into a glorious golden era.

Their home was bountiful, but not limitless. As they grew they strained the land around them. In his wisdom, Buda knew they could not remain here forever. He permitted a band of brave settlers to set off to the west in search of a new home. The Aust, still the most courageous and adventurous of the tribes were the first to volunteer for this. The settlers who left were thus largely from the Aust tribe. They followed the banks of the mighty Danube until they found a glorious hill top along the river on which to build. It was there they built the city of Vienna and there they would now call home.

[Rome (NH)]

Rome (NH) has new password.

[Russia (NH)]

In the beginning God created man and though he loved all his children equally he loved a people known as the Russians slightly more.



In order to ensure the Russian people's safety and prosperity he turned himself into a human man who's power and stature was unmatched.



In his time as a human the Russian people grew into there own. The Russian People traveled far and wide finding other nations and discovering new technologies. With the building of St. Petersburg God felt his time with the Russians was coming to an end. His human body was failing him and soon he would have to return back to the heavens to see over all of his children.