Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 7 - October 2012]

[England (DoB)]

Elizabeth looked over the reports from her advisors and was pleased.

The English armies had returned home with substantial stores of wine and salted pork that had been pillaged from the French countryside. The invasion forces had suffered no losses and had undoubtedly set back French development several generations. The Wu and Wei sailed ever further south along the African coast and were nearing the end of Portuguese territories. Although some were worried by evidence that Greece had directed a substantial fraction of its economic output towards understanding English demographics, Elizabeth welcomed the development as she had long encouraged such activity in moderation. After all a solid bedrock for peace between tribes was such mutual understanding.

[England (DoB)]

Captain’s log from the Wu and Wei:

We journey south along the coast, a great desert to our left and the endless western ocean to our right. The island of Oporto a distant spot behind us. The crew is in good spirits. Both looking forward to the adventure ahead and well rested and recuperated after making repairs to our ships on the central island of Evora. But now our journey through the Portuguese coastal island settlements is at an end.

A small spot of clouds indicates another island up ahead which—though reportedly uninhabited—is probably similar to the other Portuguese islands. By which I mean hot, dry, and dusty. There is in fact very little to sustain such settlements other than the fishing to be had off the coast.

It is perhaps not surprising that the dualistic Christian faith of warring good and evil gods arose in such a place. Hot barren land contrasted with cold rich waters. Visiting the Church of the Nativity site and seeing the many pilgrims who travel so far to visit such a distant shrine was quite moving. It is my hope that someday Hastings shall build an even more magnificent shrine to honor the teachings of the great Lao Tzu, but I have little hope this should happen in my own lifetime.

Visiting the Church of the Nativity on Oporto was also useful diplomacy as by sharing our hospitality with the native Portuguese and the many Christian pilgrims from different tribes we were able to put to lie French propaganda that Taoists seek war with Christendom. In fact our ships even picked up a contingent of Christian sailors who wished to join our cause and thereby help keep the holy sites on Oporto safe from barbarian raiders. Their knowledge of the surrounding waters has been most useful, though their incessant debates about whether Sankara was a true or false prophet and if slavery is or is not sinful is tiresome.

My cartographer has also made progress charting these waters and visited the far western island of Guimaraes deep in the great ocean as well as the coastal Spanish settlement of Arcila which looks to be a gateway in the vast desert we now sail abreast.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXI, after a strange bout of deja vu, gathered his advisors to lay out his plan for the kingdom.

The Portuguese Christian leaders have clearly decreed that war is a sin. As a Christian kingdom, France must do all in its power to prevent the continued tao alliance wars against us. The tao are cowardly by nature and only attack when they believe they have a military advantage therefore France must build up its army to ensure the tao tribes never again believe they can attack France with impunity. Only then can war be averted.

For as much as the Christian faith promotes the virtues of truth, peace and freedom, the tao alliance seeks to offset those goods in the name of 'balance' with deceit, war and slavery. The warmongering tao cannot be reasoned with, any more than the Children of Barbarus can be reasoned with. The only thing that can stop them is military force.

Furthermore the tao alliance has attacked our Christian brothers in Holy Rome and even threatened war against the peaceful Holy Land of Portugal. Thus France must build up an army large enough to not only defend France but also the lands of our Christian allies.

Send forth word to all tribes that from this day forth, France shall consider an attack on any Christian land to be an attack on Christendom itself and France shall defend the faith by any means necessary.

Thus did King Louis XXI become known as The Defender of the Faith. The first military company formed under his reign took the name of the Stone Defenders, in his honor.
　
　
　

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXI's foreign advisor addressed the King's Council,

The tao alliance has been actively spreading their influence in secret to several other tribes. The northern tribe, which has officially claimed no allegiances and actively continues to spy on France, has sent tao agents to rome where they have established themselves in the court of Aulus Brutus. The agents were assisted in their infiltration by the nether agent Rembrandt who acts as the roman trade advisor. As usual the tao alliance seeks to keep their true strength and allegiances secret but it is obvious from their actions that the northern tribe is another secret tao alliance member and that the roman protestations of neutrality and allegiance to Islam should also be considered suspect at this point.

The tao have expanded upon their initial tactic of opening trade routes with tribes to spread their influence. The tao appear to be trying to infiltrate the major alliance blocks with tao tribes posing as members of the other alliance blocks. The celts pose as Christians. The northern tribe poses as a Non-aligned tribe and now the romans pose as Islamists. Tao infiltrators in France will of course hear of this report and the alliance will likely send out messages to all the tribes that it is nothing but French paranoia. However the truth of our assertion can easily be verified as the evidence of the tao alliances actions and intentions are plainly visible for all to see.

The english and celt invasion was used as cover by the nether's to infiltrate the recent Christian converts in the Ottoman lands. The Ottomans resisted longer than most the ancient tao strategy, of appealing to a ruler's greed to obtain open trade routes and then expanding those trade routes to include slaves. The nether's were forced to use a more complex ruse of aiding the Ottomans in destroying a barbarian town in exchange for open trade routes. Once the trade routes were open with the Ottomans however they were not able to resist the lure of easy riches either and now they too have succumbed to the evil of slavery!

The sequence of events have been remarkably consistent throughout history. Tao alliance members open borders with a new tribe and shortly thereafter the tribe converts to using slavery. Only France and the three Islamic tribes, all of which do not yet have trade routes with the tao, have managed to resist the evil of slavery. The tao will undoubtedly do everything in their power to open those trade routes so that they can convert the Islamic tribes to slavery as well.

My recommendation my lord is to:
I) Further solidify our alliances with our core allies of Portugal, Greece and Holy Rome
II) Expand the Christian alliance to bring in the Spanish and the Ottomans
III) Strengthen ties with the Islamic alliance to counter the tao alliance's attempts to bring slavery to their lands

[Japan (DoB)]

The Chasers of Sunset

Koji and his men have met many new tribes. Truly this middle sea is a good place for traders of every tribe.



The most talked about meeting was with Skaldr from the Northern. He was of the folk of old first said to use the bow and arrows. This commanded respect among the men. After sharing many tales, he went on his way after only a few short days with the Chasers of Sunset.

From Holy Romans, they were told to beware of the Germans. By Rus they learned about a reclusive tribe called the Ottomans far to the east in the cold lands. Through Rome they met with a representative of England, with tales of the cradle of Tao and their neighbours the Celts.

In the warm lands belonging to Byzantium, they heard of Porto's call to peace and his wish for every believer of Christ to never enslave another man and be at peace with themselves. They remembered their friends of old well, and thought the proclamation to be a wise one.

Now the journey was near complete, all the tribes known to the middle sea were well met, some on friendlier terms than others, and the tribes that the chasers had yet to find, were known as the Celts, Germans and Ottomans.

Koji wondered to himself, as they traveled from village to village to trade between them, if they would reach these tribes before he died.

[Byzantium (DoB)]

Message to the Ottomans

Just wanted to make sure you were aware that by razing Antioch, that you must give Byzantium our pick of your non-capital cities in 9 more turns, as per the DMW rules, since you have no way of paying the 500 gp penalty or of capturing 4 or more cities in the limited time available. Before you go on compounding your mistake, I figured I would give you a chance to negotiate. If you attack any more Byzantine units or cities then our negotiated price will go up significantly.

Since you have no way of paying the 500 gold penalty for razing a city, Byzantium is willing to accept 500 hammers of units instead. If payment cannot be made before the DMW peace treaty is to go into effect then Byzantium requires 1 of your cities as collateral until the debt is paid.

[Russia (DoB)]

Men on counsel say:"We should choose one single way of worship. This make people happy and more productive."

I think on this, of Rostislav and fight for leadership.

I say:"Send word, have the Islam, Tao, Christian, send best man here to present teachings. Then they fight. Winner becomes our way of worship. For Mother!"

Counsel approves:"For Mother!"

[France (DoB)]

What the hell?!!!!!

King Louis XXI turned on his foreign advisor in a fury,

Did you not just tell me about a few hours ago that we had reached an agreement with the Byzantines, NOT TO OPEN THEIR BORDERS TO THE TAO alliance?!!! Now you are telling me that the Byzantines have opened their borders to the nether!!!!

The foreign advisor looked decidedly uncomfortable under his King's wrath as he responded,

Yes my lord but we believe that a new ruler may have taken over the Byzantine empire.

Just in the last few hours?

Aye my lord.

Did our agents not help facilitate this transition from the old ruler to the new ruler?

Yes we did my Lord.

It didn't take long for this new bastard of a useless ***** to betray us. Remind me never to invite him to a game again!

I don't understand my lord.

Never mind. Send a messenger to the Portuguese high priests and find out if there is any leniency in their prohibition against war for ridding the world of backstabbing bastards!

But my lord we are in the middle of a DMW peace period and the repercussions for declaring war during such a period are very severe.

Aaargh! You are right. Fetch me some wine instead. It's going to take a lot of alcohol to remedy this latest headache.

[Russia (DoB)]

A man from Islam comes:



A man from Tao comes:



A man from Christendom comes:



Unknown to them, they are to fight amongst themselves to become the leading power of Faith in Russia.
As the days pass by, they give to the crowd their stories and the reasons to follow their faith.
Then the reality strike home... as Stanimir, ruler of Rus, gives the order to fight for supreme following of Russian faith!

[Rome (DoB)]

Ianus, The High Alim of Rome, advisor on religious affairs to Aulus, entered the council room where Aulus was waiting for him. He was distressed by the Taoist movement in Rome, and the possible consequences this could have for the future of Roman relationships with the other nations. Admittedly, there had been no word from any of the other Christian nations about going to war on the Taoist nations, and the Portugese and French Kings had even decreed that warfare is a sin against their God. But, there was a thin line between decreeing that slavery and wars are sins, and going to war to abolish these sins in the name of religious zealousness.

My Lord Aulus

As I informed you a month ago, a Taoist wiseman came from the lands of the Norsemen to Roman lands. My agents have been unsuccessful in discovering any ulterior motives behind his arrival, and there has been absolutely no word from the Norsemen themselves. Recent developments are that he has been successful in converting large amounts of people in the city of Rome itself to the Taoist faith. He has set up a small shrine that he personally tends in one of the quarters of Rome, and people flock there every day to listen to his words. The good news, is that I believe we are now the only nation in the world that has representatives of all the three religions within our lands, my Lord. The bad news, however, is that we may face problems within the city of Rome itself now that the people here have a different faith than yourself and your family. It is thus more important than ever that you exercise caution, and that you strictly adhere to the holy words of Allah that decrees tolerance of any faith as holy.

We can now prove to the world that there is room for all beliefs and faiths in the lands of Rome, and that merciful Allah provides for all. Our ancient peace with both the Taoist nations and the Christian nations show no signs of being weakened. The recent border agreements with Portugal serves as a confirmation that Portugal, the birthlands of Christianity, does not hold any ill will towards the Roman government, regardless of any religious differences.

Blessings of Allah upon you, my Lord, and know that I will tirelessly continue to work towards our people's continued prosperity and growth.

Aulus smiled and gave acknowledgement to his advisor before dismissing him. With all the three major faiths of the world represented in his nation, Rome could be known as a center of tolerance, and perhaps even some day serve as trusted and neutral mediators in cases of disputes between the other nations. He walked over to his window, looking out over the main plaza of Rome. The city was bustling with activity with people from nations wide and far. Truly, Rome had come a long way since the days of Marcus.

[China (DoB)]

Qin sat his desk reviewing the written reports of battle all over the kingdom. It was for a change - good news. Some 12,000 barbarians had been killed with the loss of only 2000 of his own and several hundred workers captured. His people were happier than in a long time. Unfortunately the countryside was in dismal shape. The fields burned, roads dug up, mines destroyed. People will starve this winter, Qin said to himself. His captains had done well but at terrible cost to the future. His last general Well Hung died in the battles but his captains, especially under the guidance of Wax Off and Wax On, had with the help of the Japanese, pushed the barbarians back and established a defensive line along the Qintang river. Another 8,000 barbarians were incoming from the north. Oddly the barbarian scourge to the south had stopped. What has caused them to cease attacking there, he thought.

At that moment Qin’s thoughts were interrupted by his Aiko’s shaman. Aiko was still lying in the endless sleep, in what his shaman called a coma. “Come quick my Emperor”, Ailme urged. Qin and Ailme ran through the temple, to the royal hospice, where Aiko had been moved from soaking in the eternal pond. Waters from the pond had been placed about her bedside with slaves waving bamboo fans across them Ailme had thought the fragrance of the sweet waters would bring back consciousness. Qin entered the room, unsure what to expect.

Aiko was sitting up, her eyes full of fear. Qin ran to her side and pulled her to his chest, tears now flowing from joy to see her up. But Aiko screamed and pushed Qin back with a force that surprised him.

“WHO are you?” , she asked.

Dismayed Qin responded “But I am your husband, my sweet, you are my sun and the stars”.

Aiko confused replied, “Who?…. I don’t know you. Where am I? Who am I?” She collapsed in tears. Aiko had awoken to a life unknown.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXI, the Defender of the Faith, is dead. Long live King Louis XXII.

King Louis XXI's reign was marked by a military build up in preparation for the next tao alliance invasion when the current DMW expires. The Stone Defenders company and the Point Defenders company were formed under his order. King Louis XXI also negotiated the freedom for many of the Holy Roman enslaved worker crews working in France, under the condition that should any of the worker crews desire to return to Holy Rome in the future that they would be guaranteed to do so. Provisioning so many worker crews along with the increased military units has placed the first real burden on the French treasury, which has disgruntled the French financial advisors.

The growing militancy of the tao followers in Freedom Point, who are calling for an invasion of england, has resulted in increased unrest in that city. To quell the discontent King Louis XXI dispatched the Grim Reapers to keep the peace and protect the French subjects there from tao invaders.

King Louis XXI's last act was to dispatch a messenger to Holy Rome thanking them for freeing the worker crews and for maintaining the massive army in Prague ready to assist in the event that the tao alliance unwisely choses to declare war again when the current DMW peace treaty expires.

King Louis XXII was raised by his father in the art of war and to prepare for the next tao invasion when the DMW peace expires which should happen during his reign. It is expected that the new King will likely be as militant as his father.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

"What shall we say to the many slanders of the French against us! yells one of the assembled men in a Nether faction council meeting.

"Ignore their lies" a wiseman scientist said, "We have already denied their fabrication to all the world. Let them go on preaching their paranoid fantasy. What other business to discuss we have?"

"Word come in from Fire faction that Captain's fire Mystics have made contact with Japan and then China. Beda is seperated from him but his men are still alive and will meet up with Captain soon. From Ocean faction the report is that they have built mighty statues on they frozen coast. Some say these These statues have mystic powers that cause the fisherman to work faster with the fishing and then be able to return to shore to help the builders. Some other say the arrangement of the statues, called 'Moai' causes the water to flow to the shore in ways where it can be used for making tools like hammers. Still some says that the statues ar enothing but symbols, but the stones that they are made of is very useful and there is there in abundance. No matter who you believe, production of building is higher on Ocean faction island than ever before. As for our Nether exploring Warrior, he was able to visit Rome where they met the Japanese famous Chasers of Sunset, also Greece and Holly Roamers, but our old Byzantine friends say they dont want us visiting their land, but after careful negotiation by the Warriors, trade routes have been reestablish, so some good news. After this success they renamed their group The Peacemakers, and continue on to visit Russia, then they meet a new tribe, the Persians. These Persians have a vast land with many cities, but they wont allow us to visit or even respond to our messengers. With so many messengers gone in and never come back we decide maybe they are barbarians like that don't talk just fight and kill."

"So now we have met all but one of the 18 tribes?" said the scientist

"Yes but we think the last tribe lies south of the Persian land in the bithplace of the Islam religion that they all follow out there. But since they wont let us cross their land we don't know how we can meet them. We once had contact with them throught our old Byzantine friends, but ever since the old rulers died we have had trouble making close ties with Byzantines again."

"OK enough of that. Now, who all going to view the religion battle in Russia?!" the scientist calle out. Some cheered, some just callle out who they think will win. Many raised their hands to say they would start the long walk to Russia. The wise man was thinking "This walk will be too long, we need a faster way to travel. Maybe the French and Holly Roamers have a good idea with these Chariots."

[Celtia (DoB)]

Through halls lit by tripod-mounted torches, the walls containing mostly empty shelves, he walks by men writing in silence. Brennus halts by one of them, stroking his beard as he follows the writing. Observing the steady movements marking down another part of the Celtic lore.



Smiling to himself, he walks into the counsel chamber at the hub of the newly completed library. There they stand, his counsel and dignitaries from other tribes. Spreading his arms wide he speaks:

"Behold my friends, the strength of Celtic stonecraft! With this small miracle, I will have the world know that Celtic wisdom comes from both hands and heads. That we as a people can match any tribe for ingenuity and skill. I will welcome to our library every written agreement between our tribes, be they trade or border specific. I will also look forward to recieve copies of the holy writ of all three Religions. In this I look to Romes example of diversity within their realm. Go now, and tell your leaders this."

The dignitaries make as to leave, then Brennus says:

"Wait. As a gift, my scribes have written this excerpt from the wise words of Tao:"

"Knowledge studies others,
Wisdom is self-known;
Muscle masters brothers,
Self-mastery is bone;
Content need never borrow,
Ambition wanders blind;
Vitality cleaves to the marrow
Leaving death behind."

With every dignitary having received one of the gifts, they leave the halls of the counsel, the patter of their feet the only sound for some time, until the sound of a door in the background, and the slow sussuration of the scribes in the outer halls.

He looks upon his men, many of them aged and worn with the passing of time. But with keen minds and good memories. One of them speaks: "Is this wise my Lord? France has given us time and again warnings of being in this Tao Alliance. With this gift, their king will only see proof of their lies made manifest!" Several other counselors agree to this. But one says: "This is not proof of anything. If they choose to see things that are not there, then they have drunk too much of their own wine!" Most of the counsel becomes loud at this point, and Brennus thinks to himself that silence between arguments would be a dear gift to the counsel, if only for his own ears. As their disagreements wander off into silence, he speaks:

"I spoke to him one time myself, when I visited my friend Elizabeth of England. I made a promise to him, to all that is Tao, that I would welcome him and his words in all parts of my realm. This has been done. But now, I realize that it is not enough to simply listen, I would speak his words myself in the streets if this would make more people flock to the words that are Tao.

Alas, I cannot. They would be listening to their leader, not to a man. I would speak these words, and the people would hear my talk, think it my way, and lose the true meaning of the words. No, I can only give these words to other leaders and they can choose themselves to listen, to understand, or not.

Having said that, I have chosen three of you to go to Russia, to witness this fight that is rumoured to take place there. Myrddyn, Colm, Suibhne, you will have this honor. Make sure to come back with many stories."

The three men were soon readied, ready to be the eyes and ears of Celtia.

[France (DoB)]

The financial advisors of King Louis XXII were in an uproar. The Holy Roman Senate had responded to France's request for aid by sending tens of thousands of slave workers to France where they immediately became freed French subjects by ancient decree. The drain on the French treasury to support so many workers was immense and causing much anxiety amongst the French advisors. King Louis XXII addressed his advisors,

Not only can the French treasury support our newest subjects from Holy Rome but with the peace treaty about to end with england and the celts, I have requested from our Christian allies a further loan of several military companies to prepare for the impending tao invasion. With this mighty force, not only do I intend to defeat any tao invaders that dare land on French soil but I intend to counter-invade england itself and destroy their infrastructure!

The Portuguese Christian leaders have decreed that War is a sin therefore it is our Holy duty to bring about an end to these incessant wars by the tao once and for all! We shall raze the tao holy city itself if necessary to bring an end to these wars! We shall forever end these wars even if it means bleeding our treasury dry to do so!

Upon hearing these last words, several of the financial advisors fainted. Thus did King Louis XXII become known as the Spendthrift.