Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 2 - May 2012]

[Vikings (DoB)]

The French leader must have misinterpreted our message. No doubt, his galloping spy paranoia makes him see agents everywhere and obscures his judgement about the surrounding world.

The Norse people did not decry violence as a mean to enforce our interests, to help our allies, or as appropriate response to a military threat. The crux, however, lies in the word appropriate. We find the discussion about espionage point allocation petty, and consider declaring wars, overthrowing governments and hijacking labour forces over it inadequate. These points are given by the gods and can not be stopped, only redirected. We ask, who does the French leader think he is, that he refuses to accept his fair share of them? Is he somewhat better than every other leader?

The French have proven to be aggressive and have repeatedly ambushed their neighbours. This is no badmouthing, such are the facts on the table. So it is in everyone's best interest to carefully monitor their military strength. Allocating espionage points to such a neighbour is not only not an affront, but as it stands it's an absolute necessity.

[France (DoB)]

The French realize that the Vikings who have only a limited view of the world, having only met 5 other tribes, has no means to understand the global espionage situation unlike the French who have detailed understanding of the espionage allocation of all the tribes.

For Viking education, there are well over 1000 "points" of espionage directed against France, far beyond that of any other tribe, in contrast the Vikings have less than 200 "points" of espionage directed against them. Who is not accepting their fair share of espionage points?

Based upon their comments denigrating the importance of espionage, apparently the Viking military is not advanced enough yet to understand that information is power. Wars are frequently won or lost based upon espionage intelligence. The equal distribution of espionage efforts amongst many tribes is a foolish waste of resources since espionage is best focused on enemies or potential threats. Over half the tribes realize that and are concentrating their espionage efforts. If a tribe is directing their espionage against your tribe then a wise leader understands that this means they consider you at least a potential threat.

France has not ambushed anyone. France has gone out of its way to attempt diplomacy to resolve issues with it's neighbors and it is only after extensive diplomacy efforts have failed that France has rightly escalated to war to secure it's safety. France has successfully conducted its wars as humanely as possible with no civilians or even soldiers killed.

France has even gone the extra step of publicly declaring its espionage policy so that all tribes can make informed decisions about their espionage allocation against France. The logic should be simple enough for even the Vikings to understand.

Espionage against France < Demographics = Future Open Borders
Espionage against France = Demographics = No Open Borders
Espionage against France > Demographics = Aggressive Counter-measures will be used to stop espionage

France makes no apologies for using a clearly outlined deterrence policy to prevent an activity which threatens our tribe's security.

[Celtia (DoB)]

Gaeth had sent a small group of tribesmen from Bibracte in one of the new boats, and told them to set forth to discover the lands of the English.

The tribesmen had reached a channel between two large landmasses where they could see people both in the north and in the south. The people in the south were unknown to them, but the people in the north were the English who asked them to join them on land and then welcomed them with a great feast! The Celts wished the world to know that they considered themselves brethren of the English tribe! A few days later the tribesmen left to see if they could discover more people of the world.

Some of them wished to meet the people on the southern landmass, and so they decided to pull their boat up on land and greet these people as well. According to the English they called themselves the French, and the Celts were curious and joyful at meeting another people!

[Rome (DoB)]

Marcus of Rome proclaims this to the world, and to the French:

We have received a second party of messengers from the French, with a message that "We have ignored their offer for a peace treaty". We have done no such thing! We have accepted all of their demands, and all we have asked them to do is to release our people that are obviously being held hostage on our borders by French warriors! We are not blind, and we see there are two military contingencies keeping our people there. We are in no position to not accept their demands, as Baron Von left us in a terrible state. But if they keep our people hostage and slaves, they are no better than the tyrant Baron Von was, and the entire world will see that they play the hypocrite when they claim that they declared war on Rome to help protect and liberate our people while they keep our people as slaves after Baron Von was deposed!

I apologize for the harsh words, people of France, but after the horrors the Romans underwent at the hands of Baron Von we will never again bow to despots or slavers! The Roman people are counting on the French to be honourable and kind, in line with what they have preached to the world, and release our people. On the day our people are released I am willing to come to Paris personally to shake the hands of the French Elder Mystic Council as a sign of goodwill. If our people are not released, we have already accepted your demands, but "peace" does not mean you may keep our people as slaves!

I must add that I am confused by the French approach to this, and I hope this is all just based on a misunderstanding. The French has appeared to be an honourable and trustworthy people, offering their help to us. I do not believe you are slavers who wants to profiteer on the Roman people's misery. Surely the Roman people will be returned to Rome, and the French will prove you are the honourable people you claim to be.

[France (DoB)]

OOC: Clarification to ensure there is no confusion. The reference to ignoring peace treaty offer refers to the fact that France sent Rome a Peace Treaty offer in game after which Rome logged in and when France logged in again the Peace Treaty had not been accepted. France has resubmitted a second Peace Treaty.

IC: The mysterious disappearance of another French messenger of which Marcus again claims no knowledge, does not bode well for the new Roman-French relationship. France strongly suggests that Rome better patrol its own lands, as so far the only difference noticeable to France between the Marcus regime and Baron Von's regime is that Baron Von was quieter.

There are no hostages being held in France. Marcus is young so perhaps he is not aware of the history of the workers of Torino. As part of Baron Von's forced labor program the workers of Torino were building a road in Torino when the people of Torino revolted against Baron Von and asked France for protection. Baron Von yanked the workers back to Roman territory, as France advanced our forces to protect Torino, thus separating entire families. The Torino families requested that we also save their family members from Rome, which France has done. The workers and their families are now happily reunited and are under the protection of France.

The two military contingents that are in Torino are there to protect the workers, a concept which Rome would be wise to learn, as it is obvious that the lands of Rome are unsafe since messengers continue to disappear there with regular frequency.

[Rome (DoB)]

Marcus of Rome proclaims this to the world:

Rome accepts the so-called "peace treaty" the French scum have enforced upon us.

But know this, all people: the French are constructing lies about our people that they have decided to keep as slaves. They claim our people have willingly joined the French, which is an outright lie! The French lie about "disappearing French messengers" who are perfectly safe, messengers that has been treated as honourable guests of Rome in our best accommodations! And they threaten us by telling us we need to patrol our borders better and now even compare me with the tyrant Baron Von. I am at a loss of words for the dishonour I see from these dogs!

We will not forget how the French scum treated the people of Rome in our time of need. We ask the French to tear down the road between Rome and Paris, as we have no interest in trading or dealing with these scum, and we inform the world that the Roman people will not deal with the French until they have proven they are interested in cooperation and not only enslaving and bullying other people. The French hide between honeyed words of "peace", "stability" and "assistance", while the naked truth that the entire world are witnessing now is that they are tyrants and bullies! Even Baron Von had more honour than these dogs, considering that he was honest about his motives and did not try to hide the fact that he was a tyrant.

Your messengers who are currently visiting us have been sent home to you with all the trinkets that you claimed are gifts to us. These gifts were an insult to our honour, and we will not allow slavery to be covered under the guise of gifts! Like mere trinkets are enough to compensate our people for the loss of some of our finest men! No Frenchman is welcome inside the borders of Rome again until our people are allowed to return home, and an apology is offered by the French people. Unlike the French, however, who demands the death of the people they disagree with, we Romans are honourable enough to accept an apology and hope for the redemption of evil people. All we want is our people back, so they do not have to suffer more.

We implore all the other nations to see the French for what they are, and we implore you all to put pressure on the French people to make them release our people. Prove that you are better than these dogs, that you care for cooperating with your neighbours, and that honour is not a trait only known to the Roman people.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Let All Peoples of the friendship and good cheer hear my words, I am Hanz, leader of the Dutchlands. With the help of France I has been installed as leader and I wish to repair the hurts of the past. I have changed the name of our my country to Dutchlands to move forward to a bright future. Our country is in turmoil following Trotseer's death, and three faction are formed the Dutchlanders who want peace and independince. The Fire mystics who are fanatics to die in fire like Trotseer, these ones are fanatic who want to cut all ties with outsiders. Last are the Nether-Dutch who follow the Ocean Mother and wish to pursue the bounty of the seas. All these are agruing and figthing nonstop mostly about the wars.

Because I usderstands the pian that cause by wars on my people, I beg humbly to my kinsmen in France that they may give return to the Romans their worker. No matter if they say they wish to stay in France, of course they do France is the envy of the world, while Rome is in shambles from the tyranny they survived. But this does not make it for them to stay in France and sip French stew! Thier homelands needs them! Please Benoit and Mystic council, I beg you to send home the Romans to theiur rightful homes.

Hanz of the Dutchlands

[Vikings (DoB)]

The Norsemen, by the French wrongly labeled "Vikings", can clearly distinguish words and deeds. The French have honeyed words in their mouth, but their deeds are brutal and aggressive. Judging by their behaviour, it is more than understandable, that other nations see them as a threat and focus their interest on them, lest they become the next victim.

Trust can be built up by a peaceful, sincere and just policy, and only this way, and not by sweet words while a dagger is hidden behind their back. Returning the Roman labour force to its rightful place would be a first step to build up said trust.

[France (DoB)]

France sends out messengers to the Despots of all the Tribes and Slavers who are attempting to cajole France into breaking the Barbarism Legal Code that is used by all 16 Tribes and 2 Slavers. The Code is clear:

1) Might makes right.
2) The strong take from the weak.
3) Disputes are settled by combat.

The tribes of France have no interest in playing this false game of Despots and Slavers pretending to be Pacifists. France adheres to the Code and has acted consistently with the Code and with its civics, unlike the disingenuous Despots asking for France to send the workers of Torino back to Rome.

The workers of Torino will not be returned to Rome based upon such illegal arguments as pleas to help the weak or give peace a chance. Such arguments are inconsistent with the Code and Civics used by every tribe and are especially hypocritical by the Dutch and the English who have abandoned Tribalism to adopt Slavery. Any arguments to persuade France should be based upon fundamentals that are consistent with the Civics of the presenter or they will be ignored.

The workers of Torino are not slaves as France, unlike the Dutch and the English slavers, does not practice slavery. If at some future point the workers wish to return to Rome then they will be allowed to do so but until then France will defend them.

[France (DoB)]

A French messenger bears the following response to the Dutch:

Greetings Hanz Master of the Dutchlands Slavers,

I trust the turmoil in the Dutchlands mentioned by your messenger will be resolved soon as France hopes to have stable neighbors. France will not get involved in the disputes in the various factions in the Dutchlands nor will we get involved in freeing the slaves of the Dutchlands, some of whom we see are developing Copper Hill.

Out of curiousity, how do the Dutch decide who will be slaves and who will be free? We trust you are not enslaving the French within your lands.

Benoit, Chieftain of the French Tribes

[France (DoB)]

The mood around French campfires is incensed, as word has reached France that Elizabeth, Mistress of the English Slavers has enslaved the French within her lands. The English slave-owners are force-breeding French slaves for their perverted pleasure and to increase their "stock" of French slaves. As a result of this greed and depravity, the number of French compared to English is increasing rapidly in much of eastern England where most of the French slaves are located.


Elizabeth, Mistress of the English Slavers

[Rome (DoB)]

Marcus of Rome proclaims this to the world:

So, the French finally come out and reveal themselves for what they are - bullies and barbarians who wish to dominate their weaker neighbours with military might. I hope the other tribes take notice of this, and that the French may one day be allowed the honour of choking on these very same words if this is the path they wish to take. Blabbering about some code does not make a wrong right, Benoit, even if you try to present to the world that you are doing the right thing hiding behind this code of yours.

The only thing I can say does you some amount of credit, Benoit, is that you are finally honest. You openly admit that you are a bully, for the world to see, instead of hiding behind dishonesty and lies as you have done in the past.

Your attempts at diverting the attention to the other tribes by insulting them are pathetic, Benoit, but by all means go ahead and see how many friends your tribe will be left with. You have invaded the Netherlands, invaded Rome, insulted the Norsemen and now the English. Who is next? Spain? The Holy Roman Empire? The Germans?

"Treat others as you want to be treated yourself", my father told me. We shall see how the other tribes will treat you in the future to come.

It is not yet too late for you to relent however, Benoit. Rome will, as I have said in the past, unconditionally forgive you these transgressions if you just return our workers. If you wish stable and secure relationships with Rome and your other neighbours in the future, I should say this is a small price to pay. It seems as if you are bent on conquest, barbarism and might though. So, it saddens me to say this, but I guess that is the path we will be taking, and that my words are as powerful as throwing wine into the ocean hoping the entire ocean will turn to wine.

[France (DoB)]

To Marcus of Rome,

Since Barbarous and the Expelled were sent from the Great Valley there has only been one legal code, Barbarism. Barbarism has been adhered to by all the tribes from the Celts to the Japanese, including the Romans. So until the Romans have researched some new code of laws and adopted it, cease your incessant whining for France to break the Code.

France has not lied or hidden anything. France has even gone to great extremes to make sure everyone knows our policies well in advance of potential violations. We have been extremely open about our objectives and motivations and we have adhered to all our public statements.

France does treat others as we want to be treated which is why we do not spy on our friends. This policy has worked very well with Spain, Holy Romans, Germans and many other tribes with whom France has enjoyed hundreds of years of peace. France looks forward to being able to reward those friends in the near future.

In the meantime here are some picture aids to help Marcus learn the Roman Legal System:

The Roman Barbarism Legal System:


Barbarism defined:

[Arabia (DoB)]

The tribal leaders were meeting to discuss the situation with the defenses of Islam. Many felt that no more warriors should leave the Holy City of Mecca, as so many had been eaten by the ferocious wild beasts living outside of the city. Others argued forcefully that exploration was the best way to gain the knowledge necessary to increase the strength of Islam.

To improve the skill of the warriors has been the order of the day, and to accomplish this, Islam has erected the worlds first military training ground, called a Barracks. Warriors trained in the Barracks are much more skilled fighters than typical warriors. This will make the fighting force of Islam the strongest in the world, able to resist the Evil French as well as the hungry beasts in this area.

Talib, one of the tribal leaders stood up to speak. It was his idea to build the barracks in the first place.

"Leaders, we live in a world where the strong rule the weak. The wild animals nearby, and our enemies the Evil French have proven this time and time again. This barracks is the path we must follow to create security for the holy city. Strong Warriors, strong defenses. We must abandon these religious pursuits and return to the military ones, for it is only military strength that will make religious strength possible. I know that some will say that Islam is the path of peace, but where has peaceful exploration gotten us? Slaughtered warriors and at War with a distant Evil tribe. I have recieved word that our newly trained warriors have just defeated a pack of wolves on open ground. Such a thing was unthinkable a century ago. This is proof that we must continue to train these stronger warriors to defend our lands.

Although our Persian friends have reached out the hand of cooperation, the nearby Byzantines have taken the high ground near Mecca, just outside Islam's border. This aggressive act is obviously intended to block Islam from settling on the other side of the Red Sea. This shows that not even all our neighbors are friendly and also, I think that Faranca wajaba sara damaar for the longterm good of Islam. All these things indicate that military strength is of absolute importance."

Hearing these words, all the leaders nodded their agreement, and repeated the phrase "Faranca wajaba sara damaar."

A visiting messenger from the Persians whispered to the tribal leader he was next to "What does Faranca wajaba sara damaar mean?"

The leader replied "France must be destroyed"

[Byzantium (DoB)]

As the years passed and the Byzantine nation grew so did the vicious attacks on the southernmost part of the empire. On the narrow strip of land
leading into the area known as Africa vast numbers of wild barbarians and wild animals began trying to cross over and attack Thessalonica and
move south into the Arabia. At great loss and sacrifice to the Byzantine people, warriors from each of the three great cities pushed the barbarians
back into Africa. After days of fighting the Byzantine warriors under command of Justinian pushed back the would be invaders killing thousands of
barbarian. He set up a small fortress atop a large hill from where his men would be able to defend the nation from invasion. Justinian sent amessage to the elders of Constantinople stating what he saw.

Elders,

Our warriors have held back the enemy. From the descriptions of old the enemies look like the French but are dressed in black and they yell out
strange things when they attack. From what I can make out it sounds like they speak some sort of French slang. All I can really understand is
something about killing Islam and something else about Arabs. I will stay here until more men can be sent to help against the barbarian invaders
please send more men as soon as possible.

Justinian,