Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 6 - September 2012]

[France (DoB)]

Miracle Accomplished

King Louis XIV, held onto life long enough to see his miracle come to pass.

The freed Portuguese slaves who just wanted a quiet life founded the city of Free Valley in the south while those slaves who wanted to help free other slaves formed the city of Freedom Point in the west near England. Thus was King Louis XIV's desire that the kingdom expand achieved.

The new French citizens went immediately to work and three wineries were opened along with a restoration of the French Channel fisheries. The abundant harvesting of resources surpassed King Louis XIV's wildest dreams.

Finally many of the freed slaves were not Christian and held no qualms about killing slave raiders. These new Frenchmen took up arms and vowed to defend their new homeland thus was the Kingdom of France secured from slaver invasions.

Everything that King Louis XIV, who was called the Christian Abolitionist for his accomplishments, had prayed for had come true. After enduring a hundred years of English slave raids, King Louis XIV's reign ended with the Kingdom of France being roughly as strong economically and militarily as any of his neighboring tribes, despite the Western Slavers Alliance repeated attempts to cripple France.

King Louis XIV's miraculous success would surely be legendary and inspire many more slaves to revolt as it clearly demonstrated the superior power of freedom and hereditary rule over England's miserable culture of slavery and immortal tyranny!

The hereditary rule of the Louis family remained unbroken as King Louis XIV's youngest son took the name King Louis XV and became the new ruler of France with his father's demise.

[France (DoB)]

Wine Auction

With the three wineries of France in full production, the French subjects are amongst the happiest people in the world. (King Louis XV's advisors believe there is one tribe happier but cannot agree on who it might be).

There is more wine then the French can possibly drink so King Louis XV sends out messengers to the tribes with which he can trade to see if there is interest in the excess French wine.

The wineries of France have an overabundance of wine which France is willing to trade for items of comparable value. Trade will be for a minimum of 100 years however longer agreements can be negotiated.

French wines come in 3 flavours:

Parisian Pure White Wine, "A Taste of Pure Goodness", is a clear sweet wine with a clarity of purpose and a strong kick.

Free Valley Rosé Wine, "The Best Wine is Free", is a dry sparkling wine with explosive flavour ideal for celebrations.

Freedom Point Red Wine, "Taste the Freedom", is a dry enticing wine with complex flavours that are sure to arouse passions.

All of these wines are guaranteed to appeal to the masses and help keep your tribe happy and productive. Make your offer now since quantities are limited and likely will be for many centuries to come!

[England (DoB)]

After speaking with the Portuguese envoy Elizabeth was dissappointed but no longer livid with their actions. It appears they aided France more out of naivete than any malign intent. They truly believed the words of the false french prophet and expected their actions to bring peace to the land. The sad naivete of an isolated an peaceful people, more in touch with the many Christian gods than with the trials of the real world and the devious nature of the French people. While word of Portuguese dealings with France had resulted in English ports closing off access to Portuguese traders, Elizabeth would ensure the trade routes are re-opened as past agreements contained in the library in London required.

As to French wine, Elizabeth dictated the following terms to one of her aids. "I will accept your wine in tribute and as long as the tribute is paid I shall not again invade and pillage your lands." And if these terms are not met others who might seek to trade with France are likely to find their
supply of wine to not long remain uninterrupted.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XV listens patiently to the english messenger's threats and replies,

The Kingdom of France stands ready for the next uninvited visitation by english slavers. The King of France will take any such action as express permission to return the courtesy by visiting the shores of england, which are notably devoid of defenders, and seeing for ourselves these so called improvements that england continually crows about.

It seems unlikely that england will be able to successfully interrupt the French wine trade however we understand that the english slave mistress's insecurities and feelings of inadequacy compel her to make such statements.

Perhaps after another english failed war, the english slave mistress will learn some wisdom but we rather doubt it. Until then may Freedom reign in England.

[France (DoB)]

The Final Pilgrimage of Shankara

The Prophet Shankara journeyed into Portugal to answer the Chief of Portugal's summons, in a flotilla of galleys manned by freed Portuguese slaves. The journey was slow, with frequent stops along the coast. There were many angry Portuguese former slave owners who came to challenge Shankara at each stop and reclaim their lost slaves however each time Shankara was able to calm the angry mobs. Shankara's sermons on slavery being a sin were so compelling that many a former slave owner fell to their knees before their former slaves and prayed for forgiveness. Donations to Shankara's Freedom Fund continued to pour in at each stop.

By the time Shankara reached the palace of the Chief of Portugal, the galleys were overflowing with riches. The Chief of Portugal was openly amazed at the vast treasures accumulated from his own tribesfolk. Several Portuguese advisors suggested that the Chief capture the galleys, treasuries and re-enslave the freed slaves but again wiser advisors were able to convince the Chief to pursue the more sustainable longer term path to riches.

The best Portuguese statesmen were able to convince Shankara that his Freedom Fund would likely end with his eventual demise. To continue the work that Shankara had started they successfully argued that an institution would need to be put in place. The Portugese statesmen wanted to construct an institutional building in the capital of Portugal but Shankara insisted that the church be built in the city where Christ was born. The Freedom Fund would be used to pay for the church's construction.

Shankara was an old man with not long left to live and it would take decades to build the church since much of the material would need to be transported via sea through Spanish lands. Shankara would never live to see the church's construction however his final demand was that his remains be interred in the church but not until such time as all Portuguese christian priests ministering at the Church of Nativity swore an oath recognizing that slavery was a sin and that the proceeds from the church would be used to end slavery. Only then would Shankara's spirit imbue the Church with his influence and inspiration.

[China (DoB)]

Aiko looked at her husband while he spoke to yet another officer. Beijing was under siege as the barbarian hordes gathered outside the city gates. Qin was advising the newly arrived troops from the north to protect the western wall and to hold half their numbers to reserve. They were assist the water throwers. Now that the barbs had learned archery, random missiles were being fired into the city. Some were flaming (the arrows that is), which the water throwers soon put out.



Qin had been despondent to learn that Toinass had been killed by an assassin. The surprise attack had caught the remaining Chinese archers at the Affirmation hill unaware. Despite having more troops than the barbarians, they were overrun and completely slaughtered. 1000’s of Chinese archers had been lost. The remaining reserves were ordered back to Beijing. The barbarian spear and archers were making for a deadly effective fighting force.

Some longer heavier shafts were affixed with a new strange whistling weight, so that when the arrows descended from on high (fired from the neighboring hills), they sounded like Mountain Hawks ...wooooeeeEEEHHHH. The sound got louder as they descended. People were terrorized. The shafts were capable of puncturing most of the flimsy reed roofs in the city. People were asleep in their homes to hear woooeeeEEEHHH in their nightmare from which they never awoke. 100's of people were being slain in the streets. All through the city streets there came the "whistling doom".

Qin had ordered 10 of his best guard to protect Aiko at all times. They shield her every step with a thick bamboo roof. 2 of the guards had succumbed to falling arrows. As Aiku looked at her husband, she wished she had not come to this city of death.

[China (DoB)]

The people rejoice in the streets the several 1000 barbarians spear, warriors and archers have broken the siege!

The traditional celebratory pot throwing causes several severe headaches but no deaths.

Qin takes Aiku from behind and slams away his frustration as Aiku moans in sounds of desperate pleasure.

It is a good day.

[Celtia (DoB)]

A loud boom from the skies above, and a whistling wind tore through the trees with promises of things to come. Down the path a running figure was seen by the watchful eyes of an owl. Leaping across broken trees in his path, swiftly running towards the hill again, with nothing to stand in the way. By the time the hill was reached, the clouds were dark and swiftly moving. "Christ" he said, "be fair to me now".

He found the spot, and as he pulled out a long copper stick, it did not appear that Christ had heard anything as rain began pouring down and thunder struck the top of the hill! Startled, he stepped away from the stick wedged between the stone and the face of the hill - as he did the lightning struck! A burning blue-white afterglow of the lighting that struck the stick remained, as he found himself face down in mud, his body aching and his hairs standing on end. On one knee starting to get up, he swore under his breath.

As he slowly came upright, he realized there was something strange at work. The rain still battering down, soaking his clothes. Lightning and thunder one after the other, chasing through the skies. Turning around to look at the stone.. that was gone.. in it's place a gaping hole. A flash of lightning gave him a moment of true vision, and he fell to his knees..

Inside a moment of pure white, he could see a spread-eagled figure of a man inside. There was no doubt now. This was him. For all those years, all those times where he spared every moment he could to visit this place, to remove another stone, one by one.. it was all worth it. Stepping inside the cave, he once more heard the whispers, coming stronger now, from between the crusted, battered lips of a man worn down by decades of solitude and naught but air to sustain him. Another task was now at hand, and more would come to pass than ever before. Now that Brennus was found to be alive.

[Japan (DoB)]

By the calm waters of the river, Ainu looks upon Nishikyo Mountain. Gazing as the sun steadily moves across the peak. Breathing slowly, he thinks about the wonderful way that she moved, recalling each word spoken, each smile, every little flicker of her eyelashes.. it makes his heart ache and his manhood tremble in anticipation. Calm.. calm.. breathe slow.. it will be worth it. He decides to send a messenger to Qin, asking his permission to make a life-bond to her.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XV, the Wine Trader, has died peacefully in his sleep. His reign was peaceful and marked by mutually beneficial trade agreements with Persia and Portugal that brought exotic wares to France and expanded the Kingdom's roadways. Under King Louis XV, France became the largest exporter of goods in the world and he was the most loved ruler in the world.

King Louis XV's son, King Louis XVI has inherited the throne. While his father seemed content to peacefully expand France's economic base, King Louis XVI is young and reportedly more assertive.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Notice to France,

We of Three Factions have hear the rumor that your new King, Louis XVI is aggressive and even more greedy than that of his forebears. The Three Factions stand united that we will not accept any more of your greediness of our lands. We have lived in peace for many years and have even offered to you the free and Open Borders. We are suprised that someone that claim to love freedom would deny his people the freedom to travel to their Nether and Dutch cousins if they choose. Where is your so called love of freedom to allow the people of Ocean faction, your relatives and cousins to sail freely the waters of the world we all share? Of course this is because your supposed love of freedom is all more lies so easy to see through.

At any case, we repeat that we want no part of the supposed "assertiveness" of the new King directed our way.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Cold winds whip throught the evergreens with a loud howl. Far far from the Ocean coast they call home, the Fire Mystics sat hudled around a campfire. Some men rubbed hands together for some warmth, others held hand close to the fire, but it was getting colder and everybody felt it. This was a different cold they felt in these lands. Not the cold of the winter Northsea, but a cold of the woods, of the hinterlands. There is was no salts in these cold and no thickness in the air. Everything is sharp, biting, stinging the flesh.



"Wind Sky truly is master over these land" said one Mystic. "I can feel his hard lash against my face like a whip!" The other agreed.

"The brother of Fire Father is cruel to us indeed!" another said.

The Captian of the B-Grade Mystics was leader of the expidition. He look on at the situation which was grim. Contact was had been made with a New tribe, the Ottomans. Fire Mystic had heard no word from them since spotting their stange looking Axemen in the hills near the border. Were they friend of foe? There was no way to tell. Rather than risk a confrontation and decades of war he ordered his men to go around Ottoman lands to continue the mission.

But as they move North to the north of Ottoman land they way is blocked by something no son of River Village has ever see before. A settlement populated completely by barbarians? Could this be? The Barbarins have started to form a formal nation? A messenger was sent to see how civilized they are and all he return with is this message,

"The way is shut. We are the Uzbek. The way is shut. Withdraew or Die."

Now the Captain face a problem. Soon he see that also have arrived are warriors of the Ottoman tribe. They are camped on the other side of the village. They do not have the numbers to take the Barbarian camp, but perhaps, together we do. But then who will place his flag above the camp? Will it be the Ottoman flag or the Fire Coloured Banner?

The Captain makes a quick decision. "Send a messenger to the Ottoman..."

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XVI's advisors notified him of the return of the english slaver galley to France's western borders while the Pride of Ire had arrived at the France's northern borders. Then of course there was another blustering threat from the nether slavers that should be dealt with.

King Louis XVI decreed,

Consolidate the fleet in the French Channel between Paris and London. Let us make it clear to all would be invaders who controls the French seas. If the english or nether slavers wish to pursue another war against France then they should be aware that France holds the undisputed power to blockade all of their coastal regions which is the life blood of their economies.

Send word to the captain of the Pride of Ire that since the Celtic tribe has honoured the espionage agreements of the French kings of old that France will agree to an Open Borders agreement with them should they desire, as soon as they have learned to capture words in clay. However the Kingdom of France is not like the english slavers and will consider any intrusion into our territorial waters, before such an agreement is made, to be a true act of war and we shall sink any invading ships. Should the captain doubt the French capability to sink their ship then recommend that they take a trip to London to see for themselves the strength of the French navy.

As for the empty threats of the nether faction we shall respond with action and call their bluff. Send word to the slave rebels in the nether southwest that France shall support their bid for freedom. Let us see the vaunted nether response to losing another plot of land!

The nether and the english have been told throughout the centuries by successive French kings that the only way for them to achieve their objectives is through diplomacy for which they must first pay reparations for the war damages that they have caused France and then their requests can be fulfilled in exchange for adequate compensation. Their continued threats and wars are futile and counterproductive.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

France says they give Open Borders for respect of spying treaties. Hoevever Nether respect treaty of no spying for generations and France still refuse Open Borders.

Never trust the French.

[France (DoB)]

The nether claim that because they have not increased their level of spying against the French for generations that France should agree to Open Borders with them meanwhile nether maintain sufficient espionage against France to monitor French demographics. The most ancient rulers of France were very clear what would be required for France to allow Open Borders with another tribe.

Those tribes that focus sufficient espionage against France to learn its demographics are not considered friendly and will not receive the benefits of an open border with France.

The nether chose to ignore this clear warning as to the implications of their actions and now whine because their navy is cut off from the rest of the world. They should have had the foresight to heed France's clear warnings as to the consequences of their actions. Many other tribes such as the Portuguese, Spain, Greece and the Celts chose to honor France's simple request and as such will be allowed access to French lands because they are trusted.