Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 3 - June 2012]

[Sommerswerd]

Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 3 - June 2012]

This is the Story and Diplomacy Thread for the Diplo Game "Domination of Barbarians" (DoB)



The purpose of this thread is to post in-character story posts and diplomacy for this game. Please discuss all organizational aspects of this game the Organization Thread.
Use your Anonymous Apolyton Game Account to put posts in this thread.

Domination of Barbarians is a diplomacy game.
The players try to rule their empires like they are real. Role playing and story telling is an important way to achieve this.

[Sommerswerd]

The once tiny villages grow in size as more of the people learn new techniques for gathering food. Hunting camps dot the landscape, fishing nets are created, crops are farmed. One tribe, the Norse, is first to discover the bow and arrow, but others soon follow.



The worlds first holy war escalates. Sides are chosen. The worlds Peace Accord is founded in the middle east, with several nations pledging allegiance to Islam. France conquers the Dutch and then the Romans, imposing sanctions and installing new rulers. The English are the first to implement slavery, killing off scores of English citizens...


New techniques are discovered to defeat wild animals. Arabia builds the worlds first military building. The Byzantines claim to have spotted the barbarians, but no one else has seen them yet. The French meet all 18 tribes. Tensions are rising...


Headship / Royal Lineages of the World

Barbarians
Barbarous the Expelled

France
Benoit the Immortal, appointed successor of Tribal Chief Andre, traverser of the Alps, appointed successor of Pierre, First Despot of France, slayer of Jean-Guy, former co-ruler w/ his wife Patrica & brother Jean-Paul, son of Jean

Spain
Himilce, Princess of Spain, Mother of Astor

Portugal
Porto & Portu, husband and wife

Netherlands
Hanz the Dutchman named successor of Trotseer the Brave, named successor to Chieftain Aantaleen the Primersteleider and his wife Angeline

Ottomans
Head Chieftain Bedri Ayhan

Byzantines
Leader Justinian, son of Leader Constantine

China
Qin Shi Huang, successor of the Mother of Qin Shi Huang, successor to the Father of Qin Shi Huang

Viking
Chief Ragnar

England
Leader Elizabeth

Celts
Lord Chieftain Brennus & Aithe

Japan
The most Noble and Honorable Tokugawa, ruler of Japan

Russia
Ivan Grozni, succesor of Ivan Dragonoff, succesor of Leader Peter

Arabia
The Tribal Leaders, successors to The Prophet & his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Rome
Marcus, leader of the Slave rebellion, beheader of Baron Von the tyrant

Persia
Peli of Awan, Rightful Chief of the Persian Tribes

Greece - ???
Germany - ???
Holy Rome - ???

[France (DoB)]

"What a load of horse-manure!" said Franz.

The large mud hut that served as the Elder Mystic Council's chamber had been silent for several minutes, except for the crackling of the small fire in the center of the room, after the travelling Dutch Mystic had told his version of so-called "history".

All eyes had been on Franz, who sat in the place of honor before the heavy hides that served to cover the enterance to Benoit's chambers. Franz was very large and burly by French standards, with a large thick skull that was common amongst French Elder Mystics. Franz was a legend amongst the Elder Mystics having won several debates even after clubs had been broken over his thick skull. Franz was the best debater in France and few dared argue with him.

During the Dutch Mystic's nervous history recitation, Franz had been rubbing the head of his heavy well-worn blood-stained club that he was famous for using to emphasize his debate points and everyone was sure that Franz was going to emphasize some point soon.

"Let's start with the minor point that you have no way of knowing that the Norse were the first to discover archery. It is true that the fanciful Norse story of how they learned archery has spread far and wide and for many tribes it was the first time they had heard of archery however there are many tribes from far away that have known this archery skill for generations and any of them may have developed archery first."

The Dutch Mystic eyeing Franz's club decided it was best to concede the point to Franz.

Franz continued, "Second point, France did not 'conquer' the Dutch or the Romans. Dutch rebels attacked the tyrant Trotseer and France merely mediated the resulting negotiations to minimize the casualties on both sides while ensuring a solution that would provide for long term stability in our northern neighbors land. Likewise when the people of Torino revolted against the mass murderer Baron Von, France came to their aid, even rescuing their family members who had been taken from them. France facilitated the transfer of power to a slightly more responsible Roman leader, again for the long term stability of our neighbor."

Again the Dutch Mystic chose not to debate Franz's point.

Franz stood up, with his head nearly touching the mud ceiling, to make his final point, "These inaccuracies are of course minor compared to calling the death of fourty-two thousand English 'citizens' nothing more than 'killing scores of English citizens'. This belittling of the scale of the holocaust that the English have invoked is essentially condoning the holocaust by denying its severity."

With no argument from the Dutch Mystic, Franz continued, "Now why would a Dutch Mystic travel to neighboring tribes to spread a tale designed to minimize the slaughter of slaves by the English?"

The question was rhetorical so Franz continued, "The obvious answer is that the Dutch intend to perform a similar slaughter of their slaves to keep them from revolting and seek to preempt the moral outrage of their neighboring tribes. The Dutch slaves are weak but are still kinsfolk to the French and France is strong. A bond of blood cannot be broken. The Code is clear. Might makes right. Do you understand Mystic?"

By this point, Franz was looming over the much smaller Dutch Mystic who dropped to his knees and said, "Yes Master."

Franz immediately emphasized his point by cracking the Dutch Mystic over the head. Through the ringing in his head the Mystic heard Franz make his concluding statement, "We are Frenchmen so we are free men. There are no masters or slaves in France so never insult a Frenchman by calling him Master. Now return to Master Hanz of the Dutch Slavers and deliver this message to him."

"Good friends are better than dead slaves."

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Hanz is sitting in his hut in great worries. "Hear all at the reports that France continues to call me Slave master and slave alliance and all these. I can not understand these things. I thought that this fueuds was over and now France and Dutchlands are friends? Now I hear that France is making another Great monument to increase their power and take more lands from us? We must beg and plead for them not to do this. Get for me a messenger!

Call the Fire Mystics to me and also someone who speak for the Nether-Dutch and those who love Earth Mother, those who love Ocean mother and those who love Mountain Fire father. The time has come for we to unite and decide how best to unite our people into one voice. We must decide what we believe and who is truth and what is false!"

[Japan (DoB)]

In the main village of Kyoto, a new weapon is being formed from the basis of the many tales of Jõmon, where a stick is thrown through the air with great speed, to kill animals far away. The hunters in particular are very passionate in their desire to figure out how this could be done. It is expected to give us the same ability to hunt and defend as the mysterious Norse people.

The rumour of a Chinese tribe has given way to increased settler teachings, and families are chosen among the numerous villagers of Kyoto to best create a new village; on the north side of our isolated land. That from now on we call the Island of Japan. This will in turn make us able to cut more trees to build better boats. So we can reach the main land on which so many tribes live, and join them with villages of our own. This will take a very long time, but it will be done. This is the plan of Japan, given by Tokugawa, leader of Japan, defender of Kyoto. In the year of the Golden Clam.

[France (DoB)]

The Great Valley Seekers have reported killing off 3 wolf packs at once in the tundra forests to the far north of Japan, as the Children of Barbarous desperately attempt to slow down the French search for their village using their trained animal attackers. Ultimately the attempt is futile however as Le Gaulois have finally managed to locate one of the hidden Barbarian warrior units, in the lands to the northeast of Ottomans thus completing the Chasse aux Barbares quest. Initial attempts by Le Gaulois to make diplomatic contact with the Barbarians have been unsuccessful and Le Gaulois expect to be attacked shortly thus starting the prophesized Barbarian Wars.

French espionage sources have been monitoring the so-called Mecca Peace Accord and have noted that both Arabia and Persia have broken article 6 of the Accord which prohibits applying "espionage points against each other." Thus proving that both tribes are completely untrustworthy! Byzantium in particular should take note of how it's two allies betray each other.

It is not too late for Byzantium to beg for French forgiveness, cease all espionage against France and swear to never adopt Islam as the Byzantium official religion.

[France (DoB)]

With the start of the Babarian Wars, the Stonehenge Mystics of Paris have foreseen the coming end of the era of the great beasts. In an effort to unify all tribes in the war effort against the Barbarians, the Stonehenge Mystics are asking every tribe to provide the number of great beast packs that they have slain and the numbers or names of the hunters, living or lost. The Stonehenge Mystics will memorialize the Great Hunters in a cave wall painting.

No French hunters have been killed and The Great Valley Seekers and Le Gaulois warriors have between them killed 11 Wolf Packs, 2 Panther & 6 Lion Prides plus 3 Bears.

OOC: If you just want to provide IG screenshots of your hunt then please put spoiler tags around the screenshot for those who do not want to see screenshots in this thread. (Seems like a reasonable compromise to me).

Spoiler:

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Netherlands send by messenger to France the following message:

I Hanz, approved by France leader of Dutchlands after meeting with the many faction leaders in Dutclands do solemnly plead to France the following pleas:

1. France promise not to build the Oracle or anymore great Wonders in Paris so that the influence of Paris does not starve for land her neighbors
2. France gives back the Roman worker to Rome right away so that Rome can begin to restore their broken country
3. France promises to stop calling England and Dutchlands the "Western Slavers" and any such similary derrogatory slanders as Dutchlands have never enslaved anyone and England has state that they only killed off some few mindless undead zombies

If France publicly agrees to these request, I Hanz will promise not to allow any French living in River Village to be enslaved. If France refuses, I will have no way to appease the faction in Dutchlands other than to resume spying on France. This will be a serious consideration if France does not agree to these simple and fair request.

Respectfully,

Hanz of Dutchlands

[China (DoB)]

Barbarians! A cry was raised in town that a strong mass of barbarians were detected by sentries on the hills. Qin dispatched his archers that have been trained to bend the wood and shoot the straight pointed wood. The new weapon was effective. The barbarians were removed with few losses but the town is full of fear.

[Arabia (DoB)]

France is correct for once.


The Islamic alliance is crumbling. France's evil influence has permeated into Islam and there is discord in the Islamic world. Persia has gone mad with suspicion and jealousy. Only Byzantium has kept their heads clear as Persia and Arabia quibble endlessly over the fate of the Islamic alliance. There have been accusations of treachery! Rumors are spreading that members of the alliance are working secretly with France!

Tales abound that Persia wishes to cancel the Mecca Peace Accords entirely, relieving all obligations of all parties under the treaty. Persia is claiming that Arabia has broken the treaty, naturally meaning that the whole treaty is void, and no nation has any further obligation under the treaty.

The barbarians are here, and Persia is ready to dissolve the peace accords. What will happen in the region if this occurs?

And also we thing that France must be destroyed. Faranca wajaaba sara damaar!

[Persia (DoB)]

Persia denies desiring to cancel the Mecca Peace Accords and calls on all members of the Accords to uphold their obligations under the Accord or forever be known as untrustworthy allies.

[Arabia (DoB)]

Obligations are irrelevant as an alliance is a matter of trust. Obligations under a treaty can be met and even exceeded, but if there is no trust, the alliance is just a hollow means for tribes to extract some petty gains from each other. Persia has stated that she no longer trusts her allies. How can an alliance stand under such conditions? Arabia calls on Persia to retract her past statements and hurtful accusations, and embrace her allies in trust and friendship. Without mutual trust within an alliance there is no alliance.

And also we think that France must be destroyed. Faranca wajaba sara damaar!

[Netherlands (DoB)]

French messengers are usually so busy but now France silence is deafening. France only response to Hanz letter is to send again Warriors toward Dutclands border. This was the same as the last time France attacked. Warrior went to the Marble hill, then invaded Dutchlands. And even this time, the dreaded Stonhenge mystics are with them watching, waiting. All is quiet now in the darkwoods borderlands



At these threatenous acts, some faction already call for espionage on France to start again. All factions in Netherlands wait for reply from France. Hanz gets more nervos each day, hoping his friends in France will can persude Benoit.

[Japan (DoB)]

In Kyoto there is a great celebration! Many fires are lit and animals slaughtered for a feast in honor to the brave hunter Guga, who has made the first bent wood capable of shooting sharpened sticks at animals far away! Many warriors talk among themselves about how best to use this both hunting and fighting. His trick was to use dead pieces of wood to make the weapon, that he calls a "bow", in honor of his grandmother who always spoke in a confusing manner, bending words until he had to run through the forest a bit. Every stick that is thrown far away he calls an "arr-ow" in honor of his hunting partners first words, after becoming the unintended victim of its first use.

Pride fills Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, leader of Japan, in the year of the Perforated Pig.

[Persia (DoB)]

The last 100 years since Peli of Awan agreed to the Mecca Peace Accord has been a tumultuous time for Persia as several rulers have been usurped since Peli died. Peli was succeeded by Tata I, who in turn was usurped by Ukku-Tanhish, who in turn was usurped by Hishutash, who in turn was usurped by Shushun-Tarana who in turn was usurped by Napi-Ilhush, who was usurped by the current, as of 2400 BC, ruler of Persia Kikku-Siwe-Temti.

Much of this internal strife has been fomented by the disputes over the Mecca Peace Accord but fortunately Kikku-Siwe-Temti seems to have stabilized the Persia.