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

[England (DoB)]

Captain’s Log

We have traveled north for some time and are surely around the southernmost tip of this great African continent. Yet still no barbarian ships have been seen. It appears the rapidly growing settlements dotting the continent are driving back the once fearsome hordes that spawned in the unexplored darkness.

The Wu and Wei now lie at anchor with the Greek city of Fargold just ahead. Members of the crew who have gone ashore to explore the nearby coast report that the land, as might be expected, is rich in gold. They also bring back tales of some new religion by the name of Judaism. From what I am told it appears to contain elements of both Christianity and Islam, which again is not surprising as the Greek settlers who built the city would have come from a land that practiced both faiths and lies in the lands between the Christian and Islamic holy sites. While one might write off this Judaic faith as just some new Christian or Islamic sect, it contains one distinctive feature that truly sets it apart—a series of codified laws known as the Torah and the Talmud. While in some respects similar to the revealed wisdom of the Tao, these writings appear to be a far more strict set of “rules for living” rather than what one might characterize as Lao Tzu’s “moral guidance.” In any case, I hope to learn more about this new religion and greatly hope to secure free passage through these lands for the Wu and Wei as it would allow us to visit and pay homage at a second (third if one counts Hastings) holy city on this great journey of ours.

[Arabia (DoB)]

Abdullah, holy advisor to his eminence Mohammed V, was right in his assessment that by feeding and housing those fleeing the city of Medina the siege would only be exacerbated and further prolonged. Six months have now passed with over three quarters of the population having left the city for the refuge camps out west of it in the Arabian Desert.

Word had finally come from Grand Ayatollah Kulayni expressing his wishes to discuss terms to end the siege.

Mohammed sought further council from his close friend and holy advisor.

Mohammed V: "Abdullah, what say you with regards to these upcoming negotiations?"

Abdullah: "Grand Ayatollah Kulayni shares many common interests with the Arabic people your eminence. It might be wise to appeal to these directly and leave the differences between his holiness and yourself for the second round of negotiations. As your eminence surely understands; by leaving a first good impression and through being conciliatory you might find the second round of negotiations to yield considerably better results."

Mohammed pondered Abdullah's sound wisdom. The negotiations in his mind hinged on how much Kulayni coveted ultimate power versus how much the Ayatollah's pontificated altruism was actually genuine. Many rulers throughout history have fiend false altruism to cover up their true intentions; this story is as old as time immemorial. Only time would reveal his true intentions, and if something agreeable could not be forged Mohammed none the less had the upper hand and could further wait out Grand Ayatollah Kulayni.

[Russia (DoB)]

Knocking on the wall twice, walking in on Simon who lay in bed with one of the spanish servants, Foma gave the servant a Look that made him hastily gather the clothes and almost run out of the room. Simon however, lay back and made a great effort to stretch his body slowly, before he got up. Walking over to the window naked, he looked out on the city that was more silent than usual. "Are we leaving, Foma?" he said, the answer already plain.

"Did you not understand the look I gave you as I walked out right after the Romans?"

"Why, that look is so similar to the look you give me every time I go to have fun with someone." Simon said in a petulant tone. "Why did you not go with the Romans? It's bad enough that that ..girl.. made my very best clothings all soiled with dirt, blood and sopas. That servant you chased away forgot to take my dirty clothes with him! Not that it matters, that blood won't come off again I just know it." He turned, showing off his entire muscular body in a silhouette against the window.



"Are you aware that I have to get entirely new clothes now, and in this city I can get clothes the likes we've never known back home? Can I not stay for just a few days more? You can leave now and I'll catch up with you." he smiled in a provocative way. "I promise I won't be gone for more than a week, a month at the most."

"Yes, we are going to leave now. After all my talks and all your diversions, I think we are done here." Foma was again frustrated by his companion, all the more for his casual neglect of the dead girl. "I have had a hard time getting to the other delegates after the "Death of Hope" incident created by the French King. I hope you did not 'have fun' with his daughter?" He looked at his companion, who merely smiled and walked over to the dressing cabinet. "Please tell me you did not..? Simon, for the love of mother! Tell me you did not play with her?!" Foma became red as a cooked lobster in the face, prompting Simon to answer: "Very well, I will not tell you." Foma just stood there with his mouth open. "Oh do close your mouth before I get ideas." he said with a smile, watching as the red-faced Foma turned and walked out in silent frustration.




Later that day, the Russian delegates left for home. They had learned much during their stay in Olónico. Foma was very sceptical about the followers of Christ, and Simon was becoming worried about the strange itch he had aquired during the stay.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The Immortals

In the far east mountains Captain explores with his Fire Mystics on his quest to meet the last of the 18 tribes and return home alive to Scandinavia. Traveling south, on the western edge of Chinese lands the air is getting warmer in days time now. Gone are the frozwn winds of the mountain air that was freezing his men to the bones each night. Now even the trees are look different with plume spiked leaf tops that look almost like a long neck bird. The familiar trees of the northers wood give way to something new.



Traveling trough this new surroundingds Captain is see a strange sight in the distance. A man siting astride a ferocious looking beast, similar to deer but without horns. Captain ans his men have hear of this creature. It is called a Horse and the man is on top of it. Captain has heard of and seen the Chariot warriors who ride in the carts pulled by Horse weapons of the French, Holy Romas and England, but never this sight of a man riding atop the massive annimal. The face of the man is hidden by a black cloths that he wraps around his head and a grusome polished bronze mask giving a most fearsome appearance.



As Captain and his men get closer he see it is whole battle group of these terrifying warriors guarding the edge of the China border. Captain approaches and asks the Warrior in front who he is and what he is want.

"Greetings mighty Horse lord. I am Captain of Fire Mystics. Who are you and what land you come from? Why do you patrol the China border? To keep them out of your land or to keep your people in? Do you people claim lands in this area? May we visit them and pass through? Can you tell us how to meet the last of the 18 tribes, the ones who hold the sacred city of Mecca?"

The man does not answer through his battle mask. Just sits silent like an apparition.

"Will you not speak to me? I am from the Three Factions. We seek contact with all tribes. Do you underst.."

"We are the Immortals of Persia!" booms a voice from the mask. In unison the warriors behind him repeats exactly as he says in a whispered hissing noise "Immortalssss offff Perrrrsssiaaaa"

The sound of the hissing voice is make Captian nervous. It is quite a fearful sound and erie, like ghosts "Why do you guard this border?" he ask

"All these land are belong to us!" is the reply "beeelooong to ussssss" repeats the hissing crowd of warriors behind him

"But this is China" says Captain, confused

"Put away your weapons and leave this area! You shall not pass! Obey or be destroyed! We are the Immortals of Persia! orrr beeee desssstroyed"

Captain thinks to himself 'It is better to send word home about this and not start wars on my own. Without Beda we are too vunerable by ourselves and our Japanese allies have enough problems with barbarians. Better to withdraw in peace. Maybe the rulers of Persia have more forgiving hearts than these frightening drones."

With that, Captain and his men leave the Persian Immortals in peace, still littl bit nervous turning their back on such strange and frightening creatures.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXIV the Last Hope is dead. Long live King Louis XXV.

King Louis XXIV's reign could have been defined by the 12th attempted invasion of France (France's 16th war) or even by the ill-fated Peace Summit however it was the King's reaction to the english slaughter of a single slave girl for which he will be remembered. The death of Hope and the King's dramatic reaction, culminating in the King's vow never to negotiate with the english terrorists responsible, has fired up the passions of his French subjects.

The Christian principles of forgiveness and pacifism which have defined French culture for millenia are no longer predominant in France. Outrage at the continued english terrorist attacks against France, even while France was trying to make peace with england, has possibly forever changed French attitudes. Traditionally calls for vengeance and retribution were confined to the Tao believers in Freedom Point however such calls are now commonly heard in the King's Court in Paris!

Under the increasingly militant mindset, the French army has grown considerably stronger under King Louis XXIV with three new legions formed. The Last Slice, Slice of Hope and the Point of Hope legions are all well trained and well equipped.

King Louis XXV has been raised in an environment where the naive idealism of the past is viewed with cynical disdain and is likely to be a much different King then his ancestors.

[England (DoB)]

Elizabeth looked out over the assembled masses in London, her heart swelling with pride.

“My people,” she began. “The seas are our birthright! Our people crossed the narrow sea thousands of years ago and--through France may steal our fishing grounds today--we know that we shall reclaim them in the future. This sentinel, no this Colossus, overlooking the English Channel towards Paris shall serve as a timeless affirmation of our claim to the waters off our coasts.”

A great cheer rose up from the crowd, proud of their many years of labor in building such a wonder of the world.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXV's court was abuzz with reports of the new assault on France by the tao alliance. With typical tao treachery, the three factions had broken the ancient espionage peace treaty without any warning. The english and three factions had combined all their espionage efforts to overwhelm the French counter-espionage efforts.

Even more disconcertingly, the english had built a new secret weapon in London that they called Colossus. This threatening giant statue was posed with a burning flame in its hand to hurl at boats in the French Channel. French mystics doubted that the Colossus could actually hurl fire however the combined espionage efforts by the three factions and the english were spreading the rumor that it could amongst the French subjects. The intent was obviously to scare French sailors from the French Channel.

The French claim to the waters off our coasts has been in effect since before recorded history. The King's advisors were agreed that this new english attack on French sovereignty could not go unanswered.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

More lies from France as usual. Three Factions has not made any change in our spying in thousands on top of thousand of year.

[France (DoB)]

Perhaps the 3 factions have not learned basic mathematics yet so please allow France to assist. Last turn there were 239 faction spies in France. Now there are 243 faction spies in France. That would constitute a change in spying!

Fortunately all foreign advisors keep a very accurate count of all spies in all known tribes, even counting the number of spies that third party tribes have against each other. We request that anyone doubting the veracity of France's word check with their own foreign advisor to see for themselves the current number of spies there are between France and 3 factions.

Having been caught breaking the treaty, it is possible that the 3 factions will stop increasing their spying for next turn, in which case the problem is resolved. However to prevent a reoccurrence of such a treaty breach, France would like to provide everyone a simple visual memory aid of the current status quo.

Spoiler:

[France (DoB)]

The French court has long been a bastion of Christian advisors however King Louis XXV was not satisfied with continuous religious admonishments on the virtues of peace and had expanded his advisors to include the StoneHenge Mystics, the Oracle and even Tao representatives from Freedom Point. For the first time since France had become officially Christian, many different religions now vied to influence the King of France.

Although officially the French court were debating how best to respond to the latest english aggressions, each of the various advisors often diverted the debate towards their personal agendas.

The Tao representatives were the most aggressive in pushing their agenda to invade england and claim the Tao holy city. They were almost as aggressive, and arguably more successful, in trying to undermine the Christian old guard's influence on the King. The Tao argument was multi-pronged. Christian pacifism had done nothing to prevent the continued invasions by the english and their allies and had arguably emboldened the invaders. More importantly the Portuguese had informed France that their open borders agreement with england was to be cancelled after the english invasion of France from Portuguese territorial waters and yet over a hundred years later that agreement was still in place. At best the Portuguese were unreliable allies, at worst they were attempting to play both sides. Either way the Tao argued that the Christian leaders were poor allies.

The Christian advisors response to the Tao representatives arguments was visceral and intense, with plenty of accusations of blasphemy! The Christians pointed to the extensive aid provided by France's Christian allies. The Portuguese tribe had built most of the road network in France while the Holy Roman Republic had provided workers and soldiers to aid in France's recovery and defense! These were the acts of true allies and who were the Tao representatives proposing that France ally with as an alternative, the tao alliance that was trying to destroy France?!?

The StoneHenge Mystics advocated searching the spirit world for the secrets of the old gods that had been long forgotten. While individually not as powerful as the Christian, Tao, Islam or Jewish gods, collectively these forgotten gods should provide a viable alternative to both the Christian and Tao dogmas. Instead of limiting France to aligning with just one god, why not take the best that many gods have to offer!

The Oracle's role had been largely ceremonial since the advent of Christianity in France, although by tradition the Oracle retained the role of crowning each new King. Previous King's had found the Oracle's advice to be too cryptic to be of use, although King Louis XXV seemed to enjoy deciphering the Oracle's responses. So it was that as the debates droned on, King Louis XXV pondered the Oracle's most recent advice, "The answers you seek will be found in the forest that was."

[Netherlands (DoB)]

On behalf of Three factions we condemn the lies of France. Our spying on France has been the same. It is France who needs to learn basic counting. In all the French paranoias and conspriracies theory you have made a wrong count somewhere. Maybe you are too suspicious that you confuse the spies of someone else with spies coming from us. Or maybe in your torture chambers the spies lied to you to say they com from here when they don't. Frace had more spies in our lands than us for thousands of years and it is still the same as it has always been. France stop your lies. Statues "hurling fireballs at your ships"? What a disgrace are you lies. It saddens our heart to see how low you will sink to slander your peaceful neighbors. Parading up fantasies created by your evil Death-seers and Death-oracles does not mean you have proven your lies to be true. Just stop your lies against us, it has to stop.


Never trust the lies of France.

[Rome (DoB)]

"Aulus has been haunted by evil spirits!" is the word on the streets of Rome.

After seeing the dead child, Hope, at the Catalunian Peace Summit Aulus has been haunted with dreams and horrible visions. His wife, Minerva of the Julii family, has taken over the rulership of Rome. Islamic monks are doing all they can to care for Aulus, but there is no longer any hope that he will be able to return as the ruler of Rome as all their attempts at driving out the evil spirits from his mind have failed.

In light of the new rulership of Rome, Minerva has sent a public declaration to all nations.

My Lords and Ladies,

I have lost my dearest husband, not to death, but to evil spirits. He is suffering under the influence of terrible visions and nightmares. The atrocious actions performed by the English against the French, resulting in the death of the child, Hope, is the direct cause of my husbands demise. With immediate effect, Rome is closing it's borders with England until such a day as the English publicly admit their atrocities and repent for their sins towards humanity.

Also, I am pleased to announce that Rome and France are now allies and friends. The French has been most gracious in their dealings with Rome, consolidating me and my people for the loss of my dearest husband. For this, the entire people of Rome are most grateful to France, and we wish to show our gratitude to their generosity. Any nation who wishes to take hostile action against France will also commit hostile action against Rome, and Rome will respond.

Any and all deals that have been made in the past by any of my predecessors with the intent of hurting France or any other nation are called off with immediate effect. All current ongoing trades will be upheld and honoured by Rome, as none of these trades and deals are hurtful to any nation.

Some nations will name Rome deal breakers over this decision, which may indeed be a valid claim. However, it is better to be named a deal breaker and have a clean conscience towards humanity, knowing that Rome will no longer silently accept the atrocities that are being committed. By being a silent bystander, pretending that these atrocities does not affect us, Rome could just as well partake in committing these atrocities ourselves, and we will not stand for it!

Finally, I offer thanks to Himilce and the Catalunian people for their attempts at mediating a peace in Europea. Your people is an honourable and kind one, and you have my profound respect.

(signed)
Imperatrix Minerva Julii of Rome

[Russia (DoB)]

"Honored members of the counsel, there has been a new development." Everyone listened as Yevgeny told of Baltias newfound faith - Christendom! "I have consulted with the spirits, they declaim this as complete and utter nonsense! Brothers, as true russians I say we burn every believer for not following the old ways!" after stating this, everybody began to talk at once, and the counsel was thus occupied until the return of Foma and Simon.

[France (DoB)]

The polytheistic policies of King Louis XXV has led to a rapid series of diplomatic breakthroughs, particularly with the Islamists. Ancient blood ties formed by the Great Valley Seekers of France and the Persian mystic Zoroaster are reaffirmed while the extended families of the Torino workers are reunited. New trade routes are established and borders opened as ancient feuds are forgotten through the power of diplomacy.

In sharp contrast, the belligerent warmongering strategies of the tao alliance have failed to achieve any of their objectives instead forcing the French to do exactly what the tao alliance did not want. A lesson could be learned by the tao alliance members but it is doubtful!

King Louis XXV sends a messenger to each of the tribes,

The blood ties between France and Rome, also between France and Persia, are ancient and deep. As such, the Romans and Persians are considered family by the French and any attack on either will be considered an attack on France. Attacks on our Christian brothers in the Holy Roman Republic, Greece and Portugal will still be considered attacks on France as well.

[England (DoB)]

The mood in Elizabeth's court was somber, Rome an old friend, had fallen under the thrall of Paris. Surely some new black magic entwined with the newly built Temple of Artemis is to blame. But Rome shall reap what they sow, for in time French culture will continue to overwhelm their lands and leave Rome impoverished.