Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 8 - November 2012]

[France (DoB)]

The Party is Over

King Louis XXIII The Festive is dead. Long live King Louis XXIV.

King Louis XXIII will be remembered for hosting amazing festivals but little else. His only true contribution towards advancing France's position in the world was the creation of the ceremonial guards, The Festive Spears.

King Louis XXIV has inherited another impending joint tao invasion from england and this time japan. The alliance with Portugal is slightly strained but still intact and the Catalonians have proved their worth as neutral ambassadors by arranging the Olónico Peace Summit. There appear to be plenty of opportunities to improve relations with several tribes at this time if French diplomacy proves skillful enough.

King Louis XXIV began the process of formally accepting the Olónico Peace Summit invitation as he waited for access to his advisors to be restored after a failed japanese ritual apparently had frozen all rulers from communicating with their advisors.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXIV sends his daughter Agnès, to attend the Olónico Peace Summit.

[Spain (DoB)]

"May I ask France and England which other parties should be invited to the Peace Summit?"

[France (DoB)]

On the tao side, France would like to see representatives from celts & germany along with the japanese, english and nether factions who have already indicated that they would come.

On the Christian side, France would like to see representatives from the Holy Roman Senate, Portugal, and Greece.

Rome may also have an interest in these proceedings and would be welcome by France.

[Rome (DoB)]

There is much celebration in Rome hearing about the Catalunian initiative for a peace summit. Even though Rome is at peace with all her neighbours, the honour of the French invitation is not lost upon Aulus. Aulus sends this official statement to all nations:

Rome will be delighted and honoured to participate in the peace summit, and want to thank the people of Catalunia for their wise and gracious initiative. Rome would also thank France for their courteous invitation, and let it be known to all that we consider this invitation a true gesture of goodwill from France.

Aulus Brutus will personally attend together with his wife, Minerva, and the Roman council of advisors. The major leaders representing each of the three faiths in Rome will be also brought along to attempt to help negotiate a greater understanding between the religions. A small honour guard will accompany them on their travels.

The Nether are of course welcome to come to Rome, and travel together with us to Catalunia.

[Celtia (DoB)]

Sending formal letters of thanks to Spain for the invitation, Brennus himself looks forward to attend the summit along with a personal scribe.

[Russia (DoB)]

Simon and Foma of the Russian Counsel arrive in Olónico with the galley transporting the delegates from Nether and Rome.



They have been instructed to attend the Peace proceedings and perhaps gain some new trading companions.

Along the way, Foma has had several talks with the Religious leaders of Rome, gaining a new perspective on their cooperative attitude towards eachother.

[Spain (DoB)]

The first nations are arriving for the Olónico Peace Summit.


In a festive, but formal parade the Romans, Celts, French, Japanese, English and Nether factions have been welcomed to the great city of Olónico. Even the Russians have sent a delegation.

The population of Olónico is awed by the grand spectacle. Even more so as even more nations are likely to arrive soon: Holy Rome, Portugal, Greece and Germany.




In her warm welcoming speech, Himilce asked all factions to prepare an opening statement in which each faction gives clear insight in the matters they want to settle at the Olónico Peace Summit.

Be clear and brief.
Be polite and forthcoming.
Mention a maximum of 5 matters you want to settle.
Give an insight in your arguments.

After the opening statements of each nation, the negotiation phase will commence.
But please let first each attending nation make it's opening statement.
Do not react on the statements of other nations. You will have ample opportunity later.

Behind the scenes Catalunian officials do their utmost to keep the French and English delegations separated. As another war between these two nations has just started. Don Fernandez, El Pacificador, hopes to ensure nothing happens between both delegations until both nations have made their opening statements.

[Spain (DoB)]

After the Duchess' opening speech El Pacificador added:

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

In the sacred silence which fell over the crowded audience room he whispered..

Remember, if you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

Somehow all had heard his words.

As he left the room all attending, friend and foe alike, made room for him to pass.
All were touched by the occasion.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Looking and seeing the silence from the words of Pacificador, Christofoor of Fire Faction stand to give opening statement of Three Factions, Nether, Ocean and Fire.

We are here to say openly who are our friends and who have not been friends. Then we say what we want from these talks with them.

From our friends in Rome, England, Japan, Celtia, Spain, Ottoman, Russia, Norselands, Germany, Holy Roma and Persia we wish to continue beneficial trade and Open Borders. We wish to continue to support each other with fighting men to hold back the barbarians and keep them away from yours and our lands. We wish to keep growing our bonds and make each other prosper and strong.

From our friends in Persia and Greece we wish for permission to pass through your lands to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Islam.

From our friends in Portugal we wish Open Borders to make a pilgrimage to Holy city of Christianity.

From our friends in China we wish to continue our Open Borders and trade and we wish to make a safe path across Asia from yours land to ours.

From Byzantium, who were once friends but have not been lately, we wish Open Borders and we wish for permission to pass through your lands to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Islam. We also wish to remake the old friendship our tribes once had, not against France as it once was, but now to bring Islam to River Village to enlighten the people. We wish to have all the worlds religions as other nations do.

From France, who have not been friends, we wish to become friends or at least not enemies. We wish for Open Borders and for permission to pass through your lands to make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Christianity. We wish an end to the ages long conflict and to finally embrace as cousins, descendants both of Fire father, the mountain. We wish an end to the rumors and accusations of secret alliance of slaver and dao alliance. We wish for a promise not to build more Great Wonder in Paris to take away our lands with powerful influences.

Now we wait humbly to see what other tribe have to say.

[Portugal (DoB)]

Christians all over the world, pray with us in this dark hour. Pray for our brothers in faith in France who are attacked unprovoked by the infidels.

[Portugal (DoB)]

For his old age Porto had sent his grand-grand-son Pedro to represent Portugal in the peace conference and just as a normal young man he was late, but finally arrived, took a seat and started writing down notes.

[Spain (DoB)]

After hearing the words of Christofoor of the Fire Faction Himilce said:

Thank you for your clear and well-chosen words.

I ask all tribes not judge or comment them at this stage of the summit.
The scribes have recorded these words so at a later stage these can be reacted upon.

Who whishes to speak now?

After this next speech all guests are invited at the formal dinner party.
This will take place in my outhouse, which is designed by my favourite builder Gaudi.
Who is inspired by empathy, tolerance, freedom of mind and the beauty of nature.

May this inspire the entire Summit..

[Japan (DoB)]

It was the evening before the summit began.

All over the city, people gathered around the fires of home and talked among themselves. The gossip was ripe about the new arrivals in Olónico -Who made the best impression? Which tribe would gain the most from the proceedings?- and he stayed silent, listening to what they didn't say between the lines. A gathering of common folk had drawn him in where he felt at home. In the grand palace on the hillside, a great many important people were likely feasting on rare fruits and meat from exotic animals. It was not in him to stay there, and he had taken a long walk towards the center of the city, where he had found these fishermen and joined them in their kitchen. The warm crackle of the fire and the low tones of their voices made him relax and think of his crewmates. He was startled as the flames in the fire rose up suddenly, scaring the others as he suddenly felt the calling. Excusing himself, he walked towards the harbor not understanding what would happen, he just felt it inside like a small itch inside his hand and an urge to go towards the water. He rarely felt this unless there was a ritual taking place, but he was alone in Olónico, the older spirit guide had stayed with his father to await the King's reply. As he walked towards the water, he passed an arch where he stopped. It was tangible in the air, like a taste of metal on his tongue. Passing his hands through the torches hanging on the wall, he formed the flames that was his calling, and understanding came to him through his touch of the boundary.



From the torch, flames flew out towards the water in a great circle, reaching nearly twice as high as the warehouses on each side of the man as he made a complicated gesture and darkness descended in the blink of an eye. The gentle waves caressing the ships and the slow moaning of anchored ships was the only sound for a long while. Then a voice called out: "Takanami?" Breathing slowly, he called back: "Father?" Then torches were lit, and a cheer went up among the Chasers of Sunset! They had completed a ritual of fire unheard of! Moving an entire ship from one guide to another! Takanami was astounded, this was nowhere near anything he had done before! He breathed, and became warm inside, warmth turned from comfortable to the point where it began to hurt, and he raised his hand and saw that it still burned...the pain...the pain!

With a yell he sat bolt upright, moving his hand away from the red-hot ember that had landed on it, tucking it under his arm, cursing himself for falling asleep. Around him, the men began to laugh as they became aware of what had happened. He laughed with them and went outside, shaking his hand in the cool evening breeze. What a strange dream, he thought. It was as if they had really been there, in the harbor down below, just like that ship there.. he stopped. It could not be. He ran down towards the docks, getting lost in the smaller streets on his way, but finally coming to a halt in the very same archway that he had dreamed about, with the same torch on the wall, but now the ship was there already. How..?

As he stood there dumbfounded, he heard a small rowboat approach from the ship and he called out: "Father!" and the reply came "Son?" and soon after, they stood on the docks reunited.

"Father, how can this be? You were camped by the French coast just a few days away!"

"Son, the Portos appear to have lost their faith in our word of honor. Mere hours after you left, two greatships came and told us we had to leave their waters. It appears that there is a new French King, and he has made great effort to have us as far away from his realm as possible. Forcing the Peaceful Portos to take these steps only gives strength to the claim that the French are afraid of shadows and distrustful of everyone around them. The two greatships escorted us until we reached Spanish waters, from there we sailed as fast as possible to have our say in the Summit."

"Have they lost their minds? Does our age-long friendship mean so little to them?!"

"Taka, be calm. We should not blame them for-"

"What?! Not blame them? They spit on the strongest bond we have, our honor!"

"Taka,-"

"No father! I will hear no more of this. I will go to them now and demand that they answer why they have done this! I don't care that it is late, they will listen to me!"

"TAKANAMI!" the old man spoke with every ounce of leadership gained after countless years at sea, and Takanami stopped in his tracks. Silent now, waiting for his father to speak, Taka thought about his words and felt the red-hot glow of anger grow weaker with each breath. When his father spoke, it was in the cold tones of a Sailmaster berating a fresh sailor having tied the wrong knot.

"When the chasers first came to these shores, the first thing we did was trespass on their land. Sailed straight past the fishermen that we did not understand. We did not take the time to understand them, and thus insulted them, in effect making an act of war against them, simply for our own need to complete the mission given to us. I tell you son, the least we can do is accept and forgive them for this, as they have forgiven us our trespass in the past. In the spirit of this gathering, can you understand why this is the way we must take? I may never meet the tribes that are beyond the French waters, but it will be worth it, if it means that you can reach it in peace, without fear of any tribe apart from the barbarians."

At this, Takanami was silent. Truth was a bitter fruit to taste. Looking up, he saw the kindness in his father's eyes and realized that being here, together, the opportunities to speak with many tribes at the same time would have a greater chance of success with both present. They left the harbor to find sleeping quarters for the Sailmaster and his crew in the upper city.

[Japan (DoB)]

In the wilderness of Asia

They surrounded the buildings, torches in hand. All of them holding the torches high above their heads, the chanting began. Slowly, a swaying motion from side to side accompanied the singing of all the men and women of Stone Hill, led by the esteemed Spirit Guide Yamazuki who had the clearest voice of them all. As the chant continued, the flames fanned between the torches until they made a circle above the heads of them all, swaying in tune with the song. As it grew in volume, so the flames grew and took on different shapes above their heads, to some, the vision was of great plains close to an unknown sea, surrounding a city where the people talked in a abrupt, coughing way, like the Fire Mystics led by the Captain, the strongest warriors ever to befriend Japan.



For others, the fire turned into visions of a great wall surrounding a grand city of marble and stone structures, the flames running in waves along The Great Wall and through the guards at their posts with no harm coming to them.



Some of them sang to the visions as if speaking to someone far away, and they could hear parts of their song return with new words and new voices from far away. Greetings to the voices that were heard through the flames. Many began weeping as the sense of wonder grew in them, and some of the men and women, chinese and japanese alike, felt a sense of bonding between them that they never had felt before. It lasted for many hours into the night, and when the sun returned to the soft blue sky, it alighted on a group of villagers forever changed by their experience that night.

New feelings of friendship with friends living far away were nurtured, and the sense of wonder never left them to the end of their days. Yamazuki was the leader of Stone Hill settlement, the most revered village of Japan on main land, for it was seated between two barbarian settlements and would never know rest or respite from the barbarian raiders.