Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 4 - July 2012]

[England (DoB)]

Yet the Henge of Stone was clearly built out of pure desire to subjugate all of France's neighbors and France could have in fact built the Oracle faster and helped its people sooner were this abomination never constructed.

[France (DoB)]

The construction of Stonehenge was completed well before France had learned Priesthood and in no way slowed down the construction of the Oracle. Our French ancestors had few choices in what to build at the time. Constructing settlers or workers would have slowed down the construction of the Oracle because it would have slowed our population growth significantly so they were not an option. France already had as many warriors as it could afford at the time so France was left with either constructing a barracks or Stonehenge. Frankly, Stonehenge was much more useful than a barracks and it is prophesized that Stonehenge will inspire a great prophet soon. The great prophet will help advance the people of France into a new era of enlightenment. Stonehenge was simply the wiser build choice at the time.

France only wishes to be left alone to be a peaceful builder and to improve the lives of its citizens. The only reason that France's culture is a problem to some of it's neighbors is because they have neglected their culture to pursue expansionist or military goals. That is a choice that France's neighbors are free to make however do not try to assign aggressive motivations to France for their cultural neglect. France has repetitively encouraged its neighbors to improve their culture for centuries, which is all we can do. We will not slow down our advancement simply because some of our neighbors wish to live in primitive societies built on the degradation of others.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Boarshunting in France

Keeping warrior in France for decades long quest to free Torinos prisoners. We have run out of food and the men are tired picking grapes from overgrown thorn bushes and weeds. So many years France don't tend her fields they all overgrow with weeds. So now we need better food to fill our bellies.



Take some men and hunt boars on the French countryside. They are plentiful, and France don't care about them anymore. The madnees of King Louis I is obvious passed down hereditary from generation to generation. Just like his great granfather, he sits hiding in his mud-palace in Paris, crossing arms and holding breath, with a melon helmet on his head waiting for his people to make bows and Arrows.



He keeps the Torinos locked and chains in Paris, while they please to leave. "What are we doing here? We have nothing to do? Why do you keep us here as prisoner doing nothing? We go to the hill, we make a road, the Romans tear it down, then same road we make, the Roman tear it down, back again, same hill same road, Fire Mystic tears it down. What is the meaning of this pointless life? "

But Louis the madman don't care, he just stick in ears his fingers and say "I am the King! Lalalalalalaaa! My father was King and his father before! So i must be King! The Oracle says it that me am supposed to be King! Lalalalalaaa! I'm invincible!"

Now we see that Hereditary Rule is only Hereditary Madness passed down from generation after the other. So Fire Mystic demand that:

1. France must renounce Hereditary Rule, and never return to it or Fire Mystics will return in War. This madness muts end.

[France (DoB)]

The Torino workers were lying back on the pole roofs of their thick-walled mud huts with their feet stretched out enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Occasionally they would spit a grape seed towards the Nether warriors who roamed in the far distance outside of Paris. The Nether warriors, living in squalid conditions, often came to take a longing peek at the luxurious lifestyle of the French.

This was the life. Vacation most of the time. Living safely in the undisputed best city in the world with lots of food because the starving Nether warriors were normally too afraid to come down from their hiding spots in the forested hills. Who could ask for more?

[Netherlands (DoB)]

A Nether scratch his head "French was sending messenger to every tribe, yelling of how Nether did invasions and cause suffering and Rome does harm to France but now the messemgers say "Oh no that wasnt true, everything fine in France! We footloose and fancy free spitting out grapes.' Which is it? You carefree and safe with no worries at all? Or you in distress from Nether invaders? French messengers tell so many lies and contradictions they cant keep track no more."

"Uh uh um" says French messenger

"And why you spit grapes? Should you not plant them to grow more? Why you spitting grapes instead of working in the overgrown fields? What this so-called relaxing is for when there is so much work to be done? How says you 'luxury' when all your fine stones and marble are overgrown with wild brushes? Do you have answer?

"Uh, I uhhh" says French

"No you don't" and he bangs his Axe on messengers face.

"And that is how we wins the debate in Nether Faction" he said.

[Japan (DoB)]

Ainu, joining with his men in clearing the battlefield outside the village, was weary after many battles. The latest count, made the barbarian strength somewhere above five thousand men, all dead. A call came across the field then - the greatship had returned! He wiped his brow, hoping for good news.

[China (DoB)]

Qin relaxed for the first time in months. The onslaught of barbarians has subsided. 10's of thousands of bodies have been slain in a senseless slaughter. He has sent the villagers into the fields to gather the arrows from their bodies. The stench of rotting flesh is fearsome. The women in the fields watched over by escorting archers, tie rags over their mouth and nose. They have to beat off the birds that are feasting on the eyes and entrails of the dead. It is a sight few will ever forget.
The casualties have been few amongst the brave Chinese. Some of the archers can no longer pull their bow because their fingers are a purplish bloody mess from overuse. The medicine men are layering soothing salves and covering hands with bandages of banana skins to help heal their wounds.
Even some settlers were able to sneak out under cover from archers and found a new village - Hong Kong – far to the south. But the damage in the surrounding fields from the barbarian scourge is terrible. All the farms, roads and mines have been pillaged. Nothing remains but smoking ruins. The barbarians have scorched the earth. The supplies are depleted and will mean starvation for many unless the fields can be worked before winter. How can I send out men into the fields when barbarians continue to prowl the countryside? They are choking us to death!. Qin must come up with a strategy to work the fields. He calls for more archers to be trained for escorts to his workers. An English advisor far from the west suggested using this river, to entrench behind to keep the fields safe. To do so will require many more archers to be trained. And that is being done but the treasury is also growing smaller and Qin must raise taxes to build his army.
Recent communication with the Japanese settlement on the mainland shows that Japan is interested in formalizing the peace. The river Yangtze to North has been agreed upon as the border with Japan. Welcome gifts of crab and fish have been enjoyed by the citizens of Beijing. Qin has instructed his wise men to learn to fish. The travelers from the land of the rising sun also give promising news that Qin's interest in Aiko are reciprocated. A pending merger of the Japanese and Chinese people’s will be good. Together we can purge the lands to the north of the barbarians. Qin sends word to Ainu in Nishikyo to begin preparations in their village for the wedding. As well as wedding Aiko, Qin would also like to sign a formal agreement with the Japanese people for peace and agree on separation of lands. It is hoped he would could also meet their supreme leader from the island? Qin is interrupted in his dispatch with further word that more barbarians are gathering to the north. Will this ever end? He races to the battlements as horns call the women from the fields collecting the valuable arrows. The battle continues ...

[Japan (DoB)]

Ainu listens well to the men bringing news from China. The number of slain barbarians is overwhelming. His respect for the chinese people grows strong, and more than ever before he believes that Qin and Aiko will be a good match. He is relieved that the food he sent came in handy, and makes ready another ship with surplus food to help them in their struggle against the numerous barbarian hordes. He then sends a ship to Tokugawa with the news, urging him to come to Nishikyo himself, and from there travel to China in a greatship together with Aiko, to bring the two people together and formally agree on terms of the divided Main Land.

Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, leader of Japan, walks among his people in the hills by the sea.



Here they make a road to the village. It is a flattened area as broad as four men, going from the village and up to the hills following the lay of the land. The many handcarts are more effective now, bringing wood and stone back to the village, making stronger houses. A messanger comes running then, telling him that news from Main Land has come! He walks back to the village, deep in thought.

With his advisors and spirit guides around him, Tokugawa listens to the news from the main land. The way of the Chinese, and the words of Ainu both strike Tokugawa as good omens. He declares that he will travel to Nishikyo when the winter storms have passed, so hoping to reach China in the midst of summer, creating a new bond between the Japanese and Chinese under the full strength of the sun.

Two of his spirit guides, listening to this, starts to tremble and groan. Looking upon them, he asks what is the matter. They answer in unison:

Do not pass over the sea, for it will swallow you muscle and bone. Leave the main land be, and seek your strength alone!

Alerted by this, he thinks of the many things to come, the things in dreams of long seasons past. In his dreams, the village alone would crumble and die, true strength could only be found together with other villages, other tribes. The more, the better. Even two would do, but more could only mean greater strength! The Chasers of the Sunset were to find more tribes, but the only words from their spirits, were a moan of barbarians by the coast. More strength from closer friends, this is what Japan would need.

He then resolved to go. Against the warnings of the spirit guides. The friends on the Main Land would be worth this risk. Sending word back with the ship before the winter storm began, he orders Ainu to prepare himself and his sister for a journey to the villages of China in the next season of green.

Talking with his advisors, they began wording this agreement of the land. Working on how it could be made in the best way, with wood, stone, or some other form.

[Japan (DoB)]

The Chasers of Sunset

The thick jungle and the rivers that came from it, had now parted with us and we saw hills and flat land ahead. There were seen men in the hills, and remembering well the terrible barbarians, the spirit guide was consulted.

After going in a trance, she pronounced the men to be strange, yet likely to be friendly. She then said that we were close to not one, but two tribes! The crew became agitated, and a decision was made, to contact both at the same time. Our spirit guide urged us to travel further along the land, until we could see land on both sides. There we would stop, and send men to meet with these tribes.

The men in the hills were seen with clothing that was light blue in color, and so we send Osamu, who appreciates all the colorful things in the Main Land.

To the unknown tribe we send Katsumi, the wise and thoughtful one, who thinks well before he acts.

With them are two men each, bearing objects of value from Japan. Rare and beautiful shells, decorated stones on string to be worn about the neck, and images of Tokugawa carved in small stones, to be given as gifts to their respective leaders. They also bring these words from Tokugawa himself, as instructed before our departure on this voyage:

Greetings from Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, leader of Japan.

My men come to you without club or stick, for I wish to know more of you through peaceful talks. They bring gifts, as a token of Japans affection for new friends. If this does not please you, then I ask that my men be free to return to their ship, to continue on their way to meet other tribes. Any message you wish to give me, you may give to my men. They will return it to me. May your family and tribe be ever strong, and filled with the laughter of many children.

Now the ship is waiting for their return, hoping that they bear good news from these tribes.

[Holy Roma (DoB)]

The Holy Roman Empire official position has been neutrality in this conflict between the western nations.

Now we must report dissention amongst the people of Rome. Smoke and rioting have been reported in Antium. Then a force of troops was dispatched to the city, brutally quelling the disturbances for a time. But once again the people of Antium have risen, and driven the troops from the city. They have requested to join the peaceful Holy Roman Empire.

The Holy Roman Empire agrees to this request, and takes the city of Antium under it's protection.

[Rome (DoB)]

Marcus proclaims this to the tribe of Holy Rome:

I am saddened to hear of my people's wish to join another tribe, but the people of Antium has chosen this themselves. There will be no bad blood between Rome and Holy Rome because of this.

Please, treat my people well, and walk in peace.

[England (DoB)]

Elizabeth looked with pride upon her industrious loggers. Surely her people have felled more timber than those from any other tribe and with this bounty massive construction was underway to finally answer the dark cultural threat emanating out of Paris.

[China (DoB)]

Qin receives the news from his scouts privately. New barbarian hordes are on the horizon marching in formation with long poles and fearsome iron tips. They are called spearmen and Qin is worried that his well dug in archers can hold. How can there be so many barbarians?!

[Japan (DoB)]

The Chasers of Sunset

The ship sailed on, passing the lands of Arabia and Persia in silence after the messengers had returned.

[Japan (DoB)]

In Nishikyo, Ainu is standing by the shore watching the sea.

Sending the archers out into the forest to take back the hunting grounds proved worthwhile. A number of barbarians are dead now, and villagers have gathered enough material for fishing boats so more food can be gained from the sea. No barbarians have been seen since the snow melted.

It is late spring, preparations are complete and the ships are ready to sail to China. The heat is strong now, but Tokugawa has not yet reached the village. Walking back to his house, Ainu calls for the spirit guides..