Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 5 - August 2012]

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XIV incredulously listens to his advisors reports of the Nether lies. The French have held back their natural cultural growth for centuries to allow time for the primitive English and Nether tribes to blossom into their true potential however instead of developing their culture, the slavers chose to use the centuries to increase their armies and expand into other lands.

Even when the potential Japanese invasion situation arose, France sought to keep the peace by informing all of its neighbors as to what it would have to do to defend its borders even pointing out the potential negative impacts those defensive measures might have on its neighbors. France explicitly stated that it preferred not to invoke these defensive measures so as to not to provoke a regional confrontation and politely requested that England use its influence to dissuade the Japanese invaders through their trading partners the Portuguese. Instead of opening diplomatic negotiations with the Portuguese to prevent the Japanese invasion of France, England chose instead to DECLARE WAR on France and make exhorbitant demands!

France has gone out of its way to accommodate its culturally primitive neighbors even offering to send missionaries to the Nether Factions to assist them build up a semblance of culture in their society. However, as the Nether neglect to mention, the Nether refused such missionary aid from France!

The French have offered several proposals over the centuries and in each case clearly pointing out any negative consequences for not accepting the proposals. The slavers have continually refused each proposal and instead resorted to war to try to force their will upon France. Each war has failed to achieve its stated objectives although much damage has been inflicted upon France.

France assumes that eventually the English and the Nethers will learn that they must negotiate in a civilized manner if they wish to achieve any of their objectives however until then France will continue to tally up the damages done by their futile wars and increase the price of any future agreement accordingly.

If the Nether Factions need guidance in what to do then let them know that they should start by convincing their English ally to immediately withdraw its forces from France without any further infrastructure damage and open up negotiations with France for open borders and a specific period of time to limit cultural building construction and possible settlement delay. France is extremely practical and everything has a price however the price will continue to rise according to slaver damages to the Kingdom of France.

[England (DoB)]

"So they choose war then."

Elizabeth was not surprised to hear the French rejected her demands even though they were structured to be the same as French requests for aid against Japan. The French offer: in exchange to stop Japanese raiders--which might destroy fisheries--France would delay cultural advancement for an unspecified period of time. But when confronted with a clear English offer with clear terms: certain destruction of fisheries for a specified delayed in cultural advancement, France balked. It obvious France's original offer was a ruse and it had no intent to uphold the very terms it offered. France no doubt would have delayed its cultural advancement for a mere century--which given the short life expectancy of French rulers may appear distant--but from the longer lived English perspective was but a wink in time.

And the French suggestion that England compensate France for espionage? Laughable when France has conducted far more espionage against England than England has against France. Let them compensate us if they want peace!

"May the French countryside burn"

[England (DoB)]

Reports from English troops marching south of Paris tell of incredibly fertile land that is devoid of any human improvement save barren roads devoid of trade or other traffic.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XIV was not surprised Mistress Elizabeth chose the path of war instead of negotiation since wisdom had never been one of her strong points. The fact that she could not distinguish the difference between her extortion demands and the friendly French suggestion that she might want to use her influence to prevent the Japanese attack on France since the French defense would adversely effect England was not overly surprising either. However the fact that she then chose to declare war and trigger the very events that France warned her would bring about the downfall of London was very surprising! So be it. The eventual loss of southern England lands can be directly tied to this fateful decision.

King Louis XIV then set into motion the world's first true Hearts and Minds operation, as the French once again employed asymmetric warfare techniques to win the war while their enemy futilely destroyed roads and fishing boats.

Meanwhile the Torino Road Crew raised their cups of wine in a cheer, for with the destruction of the roads their future jobs were secured for many more generations!

King Louis XIV sent out messengers to the English tribesfolk but not their leader with the following message:

Hear ye! Hear ye! King Louis XIV has hereby decreed that any slave that reaches French territory shall be immediately declared a free Frenchmen and as such will be under French protection. Furthermore any lands which revolt and swear loyalty to the French crown shall also be under French protection and all of the slaves in those lands shall be immediately declared free Frenchmen.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

So now the plan of Evil France is exposed for the world all can see. France always plotted to use the evil detah magics to sheild Paris while evil spells brainwash the helpless victims. All the while France takes these hostile action against River Village with no provoking actions at all. France is using thier "asymetric warfare" to wage war on Nether for no reason and with no provoking, only greed and lust for power. Let all the world take notice.

-- Stone tablet sent to all known nations

[Netherlands (DoB)]

"Do you hear these lies of the so-called King Lois? Isnt that a name for woman?"

"I think it is Louise not Lois"

"Still that is a name for a girl not a mighty King"

"It his name, what can we do about it? What about the lies?"

"They say that Nether is building weapons instead of improving our lands and villages! This is lies. All the world knows that the Nether have built a grand house for the tablets of stone so that our people may learn new things and shed the primitive thought of the past. All the world knows that Nether alone have build the first trading cottage so that our people may trade their wares with other. Nether atrisans have sent crafted gems and jewls all over the world. Nether metal workers have helped friends to learn to fashion weapons to defense their land from evil invaders like France. Nether have worked hard to improve the lands around river village and we would do more but France keeps trying to steal land from us! And for what? They cant improve any of their land because they cant stop starting wars with their neighbor. French land to this day is barren and overgrowed with weeds because of the endless war France keep making on everyone."

"France call us primitive. Ha! They the ones who cant read or write. They say all we do is make weapons but they are the ones who dont toil their lands. French are liars. Never trust the French"

"Yes, Never trust the French."

[France (DoB)]

The primitive Nether propaganda is ludicrous nevertheless King Louis XIV is bored and decides to respond to it.

France's actions have been open for all to see and does not involve any magic whatsoever. The only "death magic" is that of slavery which trades the lives of its victims for material gains for those evil enough to employ it.

France is countering the evil death magic of slavery by offering its victims hope and life. France has faith in the human spirit and believes that slaves will rise up to throw off their bronze shackles if given a choice.

France is offering the slaves that choice and in so doing offering it's neighbors a choice. You can either construct buildings that improve the lives of your slaves and tribesmen or you can await the day when those slaves will eventually rise up against you.

France realizes that it stands alone in its beliefs nevertheless we stand proud and true because we are doing that which is right! That which is
Christian and good!

[France (DoB)]

Why are the Nether so obsessed with bondage?


They create copper magic to bind people and not satisfied with that they create clay tablets to bind the very ideas and words of people. Words and ideas like people should be free, not bound!

[Celtia (DoB)]

The King wants to sail the seas. "Build me a boat unmatched in size and beauty!" he orders his men. They seize their clubs and go off to do the King's bidding. Meanwhile, a boy has found a strange round stone at the base of a landslide. Curious, he begins digging for more of the stones.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The ignorant French still think that the writing the clay tablet is magic. Silly French.

The adventurous Fire Mystics have made contact with a new tribe! We will send tablets to all the known tribes when have more to say. For now we only met one person but we hope to learn more from him by using our writing techniques to communicate and lean his language

[Greece (DoB)]

Our scouts bring news that a new war has began in the northern parts. The Germanic tribe has invaded the Holy Roman people.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Our sources inform us that evil hands of France is behind this yet another war. France schemes and lies never cease to causing violence and death all over the world from seas to seas.

[Japan (DoB)]

Thanks to the veterans of China, whose skill and ability is unsurpassed in the known world, the archers of Japan increase their own skill against the neverending surge of barbarians. The fourth company of archers defending Nishikyo are known to have had a massive seven flights of arrows in the air at the same time! Barbarians running towards the archers with a mind to kill, have instead been shocked to see the very sun being hidden from view before they die.

The very best of archers however, are those able to kill a grasshopper at a distance of a hundred paces. There are few of them, but they bring inspiration to the rest of the men. In villages, these tales bring the children to train from an early age to take down grasshoppers, looking to become known as the best archers on Main Land.

[China (DoB)]

Soolong thanked the Ottoman archers who saluted his scouts for holding off the first attack. He returned the salute and turned away. He needed to organize the burning of their dead in this strange forested land. There are too many barbarian encampments in these dark forests. As night fell, so did the fires dwiddle to a warm glow. He closed his eyes hoping for a restful night.

Suddenly the camp was in chaos ... screams to his right and left and as he rose from his sleeping blanket he realized the camp had been overrun by more barbarians. And that was the last thought he had for the next moment he felt nothing. Nothing at all.

[Holy Roma (DoB)]

Our scouts bring news that a new war has began in the northern parts. The Germanic tribe has invaded the Holy Roman people.

German invaders kidnapped many Holy Roman citizens who were building a new mine near the German border, moving those citizens deep into German territory before our military was aware of the raid. Those citizens have now been located and liberated by Holy Roman troops on a deep raid, and are being escorted back out of German territory.

In addition, Holy Roman charioteers stand ready to assault the city of Hamburg in retaliation for this unwarranted attack.