Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 9 - December 2012]

[Sommerswerd]

Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 9 - December 2012]

This is the Story and Diplomacy Thread for the Diplo Game "Domination of Barbarians" (DoB)

Domination of Barbarians is a diplomacy game. The players try to rule their empires like they are real. Role playing and story telling is an important way to achieve this.

The purpose of this thread is to post in-character story posts and diplomacy for this game. Please discuss all organizational aspects of this game the Organization Thread. Use your Anonymous Apolyton Game Account to put posts in this thread.

[Sommerswerd]

The small tribes are becoming mighty nations one by one. The masons and artisans have been hard at work along with the slavemaster's whips. The worlds first Academy of Learning, the Heisenberg Academy is built by England, as well as the Colossus of London a massive Great Wonder that increases the power of Englands already prosperous coastal cities. All the while Libraries, are constructed by many other nations, leading to a boom of Great Scientists. The knowledge and cultural revolution is expanded by the building of numerous Monasteries and temples. Finally, the crown jewel of the era is the glorious Temple of Artemis built by France. This Great Wonder is an astounding feat of architectural prowess and etches Paris in the history book as the greatest city in the world.

With Africa now almost fully settled from the Sahara to the Nile to the southern tip, Asia is the last frontier on the Continental mainlands. Navies are even more important now, and all coastal powers have begun strengthening their sea power and exploring abroad. England and Japan disover new unclaimed territories on Pacific islands and each lay claims. The race is on, but Japan has the advantage as it will take Naval power to protect these claims. Naval power that England does not have in the region... yet.

Persia gains momentum, still uncontested as the largest nation in the world, set to soon become the world's first Major nation. As the Asian powers gain ground on the barbarians, southern Asia begins to fill with settlements. The northern wilds are still wide open for any brave enough to claim them... Meanwhile, the China-Japanese Alliance seems to be stable, but strained over the illness of the beautiful but amnesia stricken Aiko. The two nations remain unable to make any major gains against the barbarian hordes that surround them.



A true political dynamic takes shape in Europe as the Catalunians host the worlds first official Peace Summit in Olonico. Many nations send delegates and many more attend the event, which is filled with debates, and intrigue. In the end the summit is a dismal failure, as no lasting peace is achieved, and most of the delegations depart in disgust, but the lessons learned may prove to be invaluable in future events of this nature. The French King steals the show with a gruesome act, bringing the body of a young girl, allegedly killed by English invaders to the Summit, and then tossing a drowned corpse at the feet of the delegation.

The Islamic alliance grows, adding a new powerful Russian tribe to their ranks. Russia and England finally defeat the barbarian stonghold on the northern coast, sealing off Scandanavia from the rest of the Asian mainland. A civil War still rages around the Islamic Holy City with Mohammad holding fast against the Ayatollah, there is no end in sight with the leadership of Islam hanging in the balance.

At the same time, the Tao alliance has been shattered with Rome and then Netherlands joining France. England stands defiantly against France and argues that this is proof there never was any Tao alliance, but even England may soon have to bend a knee to almighty France and her Monarch.

The Christian alliance is strained, with France speaking openly against Portugal. Still France has emerged as the undisputed victor of the old conflicts as the worlds first Superpower, dwarfing the militaries and cultures of all her neighbors including her only remaining rival, England.

Headship / Royal Lineages of the World

Barbarians
The Children of Barbarous the Expelled - Warriors, Spearmen, Axemen, Archers and Galleys sighted

France
King Louis XXVI, descendant of King Louis XXV the Seeker, descendant of King Louis XXIV the Last Hope, descendant of King Louis XXIII the Festive, descendant of King Louis XXII the Spendthrift, son of King Louis XXI Defender of the Faith, descendant of King Louis XX the Grim, descendant of King Louis XIX the Golden, son of King Louis XVIII the Bored Boar, son of King Louis XVII the Beast Tamer, son of King Louis XVI the Sea King, son of King Louis XV the Wine Trader, successor to King Louis XIV the Christian Abolitionist, successor to King Louis XIII The Martyr, successor to The Silent Kings, Louis V- Louis XII, successors to King Louis IV, son of King Louis III the Gullible, son of King Louis II the Zealous, son of King Louis I the Stalwart, first Monarch of France, successor to the Torino Workers, survivors of the Stonehenge Defenders, Successors of the Elder Mystics, Keepers of Benoit the Immortal, appointed successor of Tribal Chief Andre, traverser of the Alps, appointed successor of Pierre, First Despot of France, slayer of Jean-Guy, former co-ruler w/ his wife Patrica & brother Jean-Paul, son of Jean

Spain
Duchess Himilce, Princess of Spain, Aunt of Astor

Portugal
Pedro, son of Porto & Portu, husband and wife

Netherlands
The three factions, slayers of Hanz the Dutchman, named successor of Trotseer the Brave, named successor to Chieftain Aantaleen the Primersteleider and his wife Angeline of France

Ottomans
Head Chieftain Bedri Ayhan

Byzantium
Justinian II, successor to the Tribal Chieftains, successors to Leader Justinian I, son of Leader Constantine

China
Qin Shi Huang and his wife Aiko of Japan, successor of the Mother of Qin Shi Huang, successor to the Father of Qin Shi Huang

Norsemen
Chief Ragnar

England
Leader Elizabeth

Celtia
Lord Chieftain Brenus, returning conqueror of King Ire, imprisoner of Lord Chieftain Brenus & Aithe

Japan
Heianshi Ainu, appointed to succeed the Family Elders of Kyoto, along with Ainu of Nishikyo & Jiraya of Osaka following the death of Tokugawa, defender of Kyoto, Leader of Japan

Russia
Czar Simon, Undisputer Leader of Russia, successor to The Counsel, interim succesors following the slaying of Stanimir defeater of Rostislav, successor to Volg, defeater of the Slav King, usurper of The Czar, successor of Ivan Grozni, successor of Ivan Dragonoff, succesor of Leader Peter

Arabia
Mohammed V and Ayatollah Kulayni, leaders of the The two Factions, emerging from conflict between the The Tribal Leaders, successors to The Prophet & his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid

Rome
Imperatrix Minerva Julii, wife of Aulus Brutus, son of Titus Brutus of the Bruti family, successors of Marcus, leader of the Slave rebellion, beheader of Baron Von the tyrant

Persia
Helu of Awan, rightful ruler of Persia, successor of Kikku-Siwe-Temti, ruler of Persia, usurper of Napi-Ilhush, usurper of Shushun-Tarana, usurper of Hishutash, usurper of Ukku-Tanhish, usurper of Tata I, successor to Peli of Awan, Rightful Chief of the Persian Tribes

Germany
Herman

Greece
The Workers of Greece, successors to the Jungle Fighters of Greece

Holy Rome - ???

[France (DoB)]

A messenger is publicly dispatched to the Three Factions.

It has been over 130 years since you publicly gave your 100 year notice to england that you were to close your borders with them as part of our Peace Accord and yet your borders still remain open with england. You are aware of the fact that the closing of the borders is overdue since France sent you a private message indicating this was the case. The details of our peace accord were made very public so failing to live up to those terms could adversely effect other tribes willingness to trust the Three Factions in the future.

My agents report the presence of the portuguese Great Prophet Moses in the Nether Faction city. My advisors believe that Moses is being exchanged for the Faction Great Scientist Johannes Kepler. In and of itself that trade is of no consequence to France however my advisors also believe that the Three Factions are deliberately delaying (or not intending to do so at all) closing their borders with england so that they can trade the Great Prophet to england to create a Tao religious shrine.

Ironically my Tao advisors from Freedom Point very strongly advise me to allow the Tao religious shrine to be built since eventually France will be able to counter-invade england and take and keep the Tao Holy City, during one of these frequent war declarations by the english.

The concern that France has at the moment is to determine whether Peace Accords with the Three Factions can be trusted or not. France traded wine to your tribe in good faith however so far you have not lived up to your end of the Accord. If Moses is traded to the english before you close your borders then it would show that the Factions have not been acting in good faith and the Peace Accord will be considered broken.

[Portugal (DoB)]

Pedro was at last home in Lisbon. He was covered in dust from the long travel back from Olonico, smashed from sorrow mourning for Porto and praying for the souls of the war victims. He was not in a good mood for work, but matters of the state could not wait any longer. The Chancellor Diego Maebe was there to speak with the Head of the Church Pedro.

- Sorry to disturb you, Your Highness, but these affairs can no longer wait - Diego handed few letters with different state stamps to Pedro - First we must address the French diplomacy.
- Hah - Pedro said after skimming trough the documents - you call this diplomacy? Heap of smelling lies and outright threats to us? Then closing borders with us? What for? How Portugal deserved such attitude? The French fast forgot when Portugal was their first and only friend. Now they bathe in the awe of their numerous new friends and they tend to forget who was good to them trough all those years. So, portuguese leadership breaking the ancient espionage agreement with France What was that? We have no enemies and yet we have to spend our espionage somewhere. If all the nations we met ask we did not spend espionage to them, where we are to direct our eyes? And what was this ancient espionage agreement? Porto told me once France threatened with war if we did not direct espionage elsewhere and we, the meek stopped spying on France. We do not know how many espionage we had on them and if we increased it since then. "...allowing the english to invade from their territory" is blatant twisting of the truth. England did not came from Portuguese waters, but from their own. Just as that France forced us to close borders with Japan few years ago making us believe Japan want to attack France and then we saw the sadness in the Japanese words who said they swore to France they would not attack them, but yet France used threats and lies to make schemes where to put one nation against another and sow discord. "lying about closing their borders with england after the invasion" How he dare! We said we have an agreement with England and we cant close borders just like that as we value our word given! "...their centuries long delay in implementing the Shankara agreement religious edict against slavery (and even then only declaring the edict along with an edict against war to hamstring the French counter-offensive against england..." It was France who did not fulfilled their part of the deal to deliver the Prophet where was agreed on with the excuse they cant do at that time. And decree against slavery was issued. Just as a decree against war was issued. If this mess up with the warlike and bloodthirsty French intentions, that is their own problem! France was intending to invade England and pillage themselves the English lands and coasts, but then England showed with their powerful fleet and now the French claim to be war victims? Who was the one who accepted and hid the French ships from their powerful foes when they were chasing them? Who helped France under mortal danger of being invaded with overwhelming force for just helping a neighbor when he is in dire need? Who was the only one who gave strategic resources to France under deadly danger threat from England? And who was the first one who sent workers even before the war was ended to restore the French countryside and remove the consequences of the war? 16 times being in war? How so? Coincidence? Fate? Troublemakers? Maybe France should start thinking a bit about their own behavior and listen to the Christian virtues rather than using the religion as a tool of finding new friends and condemning old enemies! "...None of the other tribes have ever mentioned these so called written agreement terms with england so it seems highly suspicious that england only insisted upon these terms with Portugal...." None? Are not the newly knelt Nether people mentioned that? And why is suspicious that no nation reports to you what diplomatic agreements they have with third parties? You want obedient servants? You lied and deceived so many times those who you dealt with so you suspect everyone and everything to do things especially directed against you? Everything gravitates around you and your paranoia? You dream of world dominance and cant allow someone to live their lives? You see only black and white - enemies and servants??? "...Portugal must make a decision as to whether they wish to keep england's trust by adhering to obscure legalese of tenuous value or keep France's trust by closing their borders with england immediately...." Obscure!!!!! This is what you get when you tell France what agreements you have and that you intend to keep them. I already feel sorry Porto did not told France to just mind their own business and not try putting their beak in every hole. They ACCUSE us of "...attempting to string along both the French and the english...." But of course we are trying to balance between those two warring powerhouses! Everyone comes and threatens us and want something from us! We want to live in peace and dignity! We hate no one! We do not want your wars the reasons for which are long ago forgotten but still the wars are fought with such eagerness! If we pay with an eye for an eye, we would live in a world of blindness, you fools!!! Old enemies turning in new friends, blaming old friends for imaginary sins.. I only hope that the world will become ill of such malice and ill faith and stop feeding the French ungrateful monster's ambitions! This is what I want to tell the arrogant and disrespectful French king! - All of this Pedro said with almost one breath of air only. But it was not all he had to comment.

- Oh! and one more thing! When naming other nations it is simple yet fundamental rule to write their name with a capital letter. I can understand their hate and feelings for those who they perceive as enemies, or simply having the bad luck of not serving to France as France wish, but it is just a matter of elementary culture. Pity otherwise France counts themselves as cultured nation. This is what I would have sent to France if I was to act instinctively. However, I am a ruler and must act as such. Send France this short message:

Too sad you do not consider us friends anymore. May God lead you in your ways and hopefully at some point our paths meet again. God help you.

- And if they are stupid enough to continue spread lies about us to blacken our name, we will start sending messages to all their new friends where France plotted to harm and cripple them in the not so long distance past. Hope they are clever and get the message.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Here is the treaty of reparations proposed by France

While friendship and trust are difficult to achieve after so many years of tension between the Three Factions tribe and the Kingdom of France, it should be possible and France feels that your letter is a positive step in the right direction and will respond accordingly.

Here are the steps that France proposes for the Three Factions to start gaining the trust of France.

1) For the destruction of French infrastructure, Three Factions will provide to France, within 20 turns of agreeing to this proposal, 2 workboat fleets. The workboats are to be safely delivered to the city of Paris so that they are not destroyed by invading english triremes.

2) The espionage peace treaty between our people is to remain in effect with the added specification for clarity that the Three Factions are not to have any more than 243 spies in France while France shall not have more than 266 spies in the Three Factions.

3) The Three Factions are to agree to abide by international open border norms and not allow third parties to invade France from within their borders.

4) To prevent the secret arming of english invaders by the Three Factions, the Three Factions must end their open borders with england until a long term peace, that includes english reparations to France, is achieved between France and england. (DMW and 10-turn peace treaties do not constitute long term peace). This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France.

In return for these items, France will agree to open borders with Three Factions and will consider additional trade proposals for resources and units based upon their commercial merits.

We trust the rational thinkers of the Three Factions will prevail and accept this proposal.

King Louis XXV of France

For item 1, we negotiates an even better payemnt which France agrees to. The payment sits at the border, all France need do it to accept Open Borders to get it. Even two different nations can bear witness to that fact as it is clearly visible to them. We even offer it as a token of goodwill, France can open the border to accept the payment then close right after to talk more on this matter about the Great Prophet. Either way, there is nothing else we can do than offer the payment for you to accept or refuse. We have upheld our part of the bargain. It is up to France to uphold yours.

For item 2 we have upheld this in full. Item 3 we have also upheld in full.

Last item number 4, we have upheld this in full and given no arms to the English. We have not closed borders with them because you French have signed a peace treaty with them. England publicly offered a peace treaty unconditional and you accepted. It says clear as a bell on the treaty you propose that this will lift the number 4 term. So the number 4 term is lifted anyway. But even if it was not, we have faithfully met all your terms and have even abided by the condition to not arm any weapns or soldiers to England.

We have upheld the deal France proposes. Now is time for France to honor their word. The rest is nonsense, the deal says nothing about Great people, and anyway we made no deals about Great people with England, but we will listen to what France have to say as we have no choice since we are defenseless. But this is high extortion to say we have not given everything asked in the deal and more. This is deal breaking and deal changing at its worst if France really tries to do this to us.

[France (DoB)]

A messagenger is sent to the Factions.

The Peace Accord is very clear, "the Three Factions must end their open borders with england until a long term peace, that includes english reparations to France, is achieved between France and england. (DMW and 10-turn peace treaties do not constitute long term peace). This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France."

France has not accepted any long term peace with England and as the Factions are well aware the current peace is merely part of the continual DMW cycle. The Peace Accord terms are very clear:

1) England has not paid reparations
2) The DMW 10-turn peace treaty that currently exists is explicitly stated as not consituting a long term peace in the Accord.
3) France has made no formal declaration lifting the stipulation

It has been 140 years and the Factions have not yet ended their open borders with england therefore item 4 has not yet been completed. France calls on the Factions to uphold their end of the agreement immediately and fully.

[France (DoB)]

France sends a messenger to portugal:

France deals honestly and openly with friends and foes and has nothing to fear from any private messages to portugal. France gives portugal permission to publicly post all of our private messages. Or if portugal does not wish to go through the effort then France will post all the messages with portugal's approval.

[Japan (DoB)]

"What is this the Frenchman say?

"The Oracle has spoken with the ancient spirit of Tokugawa"

"They dare disturb our great leader in the spirit realm?! This is far beyond what I would expect from even them. Nothing is sacred to them, nothing but their own lands, their leader, their people. Everyone else are treated with as much value as a game of stones played by children. Men! Prepare to set sail!"

"Where to Sailmaster Ushiwakamaru?"

"To France and beyond, where neither Koji or Takanami dared to go. It is time we took up our mission and fulfilled it, come what may."

[Japan (DoB)]

Praising Kamikáze for filling the sails to bursting and moving faster than anyone could remember, the Chasers of Sunset moved swiftly through french waters and finally met with two greatships of the celts. Passing along letters of greeting to Brennus, seeking friendship and trade relations. Then a fog descended as they moved further northeast, and all became eerie and quiet..

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Dear King of France,

The first term says

1) For the destruction of French infrastructure, Three Factions will provide to France, within 20 turns of agreeing to this proposal, 2 workboat fleets. The workboats are to be safely delivered to the city of Paris so that they are not destroyed by invading english triremes.

Now as you know, we have agreed to a different form of reparations, but in order to satisfy this, France must open their borders so we can deliver the units. If you don't open your border for us to deliver them we cant satisfy the term and you are violating the treaty by refusing to let us do what your treaty requires. Paying the units to you is Step 1 of the treaty and must be done first.

This brings another problem. Step 1 of your treaty that you wrote says we have 20 turns to satisfy the first step. How you can say we break the treaty when the 20 turns since we agreed to the treaty is not even up yet? We have to do step 1 first don't we? Of course we do because its step 1! It makes no sense you insisting we close borders now with England as you have to Open borders to us first so we can pay the reparations. We have to do this first step first before we can move to step 4. You wrote the treaty and you not even listening to what the treaty says, just making it up as you go along!

Here is another problem. The Treaty you write is not very clear as you say. The term number 4 says this

4) To prevent the secret arming of english invaders by the Three Factions, the Three Factions must end their open borders with england until a long term peace, that includes english reparations to France, is achieved between France and england. (DMW and 10-turn peace treaties do not constitute long term peace). This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France.

Now we notice in your last letter you leave this most important first clause out

"To prevent the secret arming of english invaders by the Three Factions"

Why is that? Why you leave this out? The whole point of term number 4 is that you dont want Three Factions giving arms, weapons and soldiers to England, while England is fighting against France. This makes good sense, but what this have to do with Great Prophets and Great scientist trades and the like? Nothing. You are now trying to change the agreement in the middle of the deal. This is unfair and poor dealing.

Next problem is that there is conflict and contradiction between the next clauses of the treaty. One clause says

Three Factions must end their open borders with england until a long term peace, that includes english reparations to France, is achieved between France and england.

So this by himself would be clear you want reparations from England and until then you want us to close borders with England. We understand this, but then you say

DMW and 10-turn peace treaties do not constitute long term peace

What this means? How we know what kind of treaty you have with England? We can't know such things. All we can see is if there is peace between you or not. We don't know if its "long-term" and we cant know this because war can be made at any time. There is no way for us to know how long your peace with England will last until the next war starts or you tell us otherwise. We see you made peace, so we wait for you to say whether is the kind you want or just the DMW kind you say dont count as long term.

Next contradiction is this, term number 4 says clear that

This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France.

It says "ANY PEACE TREATY" and the term 4 is lifted. You have peace treaty with England right now do you not? That is a peace treaty so that satisfies the "ANY PEACE TREATY" part. You write theis treaty, not us. This are your words not ours. Its say "ANY PEACE TREATY." Term 4 is lifted according to the treaty that you wrote. So we dont have no duty to close borders with England. Now what you want to say is that you will change the treaty in the middle of the deal and drop out the terms that you dont like but without any agreement from us. That is unfair dealing!

It is true that the clause "

This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France.

is in conflict with the clause

long term peace, that includes english reparations to France

but that is your fault not ours. You are the one who writes this treaty. If you write the treaty wrong and wants to change it in the middle then you must say so openly and make some agreement with us. Also, we should not have to suffer unfairly because of your treaty writing making contradictions. Execute your treaty writing scribes or confiscate their pigs or stop giving them wine so they can properly focus on their job but dont cheat us. If you made a mistake in writing the treaty and there is contradiction it should be your burden not ours because you wrote the treaty. That is only fair.

What you are trying to do now is change everything around and make up the treaty as we go because you desperation to stop England from getting a holy shrine. But this have nothing to do with our treaty. If you dont want England to get a holy shrine and you want us to help stop them you should propose a new fair deal to us, and stop trying to just add things to the deal we already made. This is unfair dealing!

Christofoor of Fire Faction Christian Leader of the Rational Thinkers, on behalf of Greita of Ocean Faction and the Nether Chieftains

[Netherlands (DoB)]

Christofoor and Johannes travel to Ocean Factions Ice Island to discuss the latest problems with France. There is a great argument between the two delegates to the Olonico Summit, Greita of Ocean faction and Christofoor of Fire faction. The Chieftains of Nether Faction are there being neutral observers.

Greita: But look here! It clearly says that if France makes any peace treaty with England that we no longer have to close Borders with England! Look read what it says you so-called "Rational Thinkers"!

This stipulation will be formally lifted as part of any peace treaty between england and France.

Greita makes a mark on the treaty under the word "ANY" with her ash writing stick

Christofoor: Yes but France has nearly three times the military size as us. And that is counting the Fire Mystics and Netherdeutche who are all far, far away assisting our Eastern allies. We must do as France says! We are defenseless!

Greita: But that is your stupid fault for sending them away! Why you sent them all our fighting men away levaing us to bow to the will of French might?!

Christofoor: Captain's men must be found and brought home safe at all costs!

Greita: Madness! I agree we to help our Asian friends, but to sand ALL our soldiers was wrong.

Johannes: It makes no difference why they are gone. We must do the rational thing. We have no protection and we need security from France. We must obey them.

Greita: YOU must obey not me! I obey the treaty! How can it be rational to ignore the clear words of the treaty!?

Christofoor: Yes it does say "any peace treaty" but France will complain that its not what they meant.

Greita: But THEY wrote the treaty! They can just change their minds about what they mean at a whim!? They can just ignore their clear written words!? And what of the brave men we sacrificed as tribute to them!? We fulfil our obligations and sacrifice our own people to satisfy them based on agreement they write then they can say "Oh we didn't mean that, we mean something else"!? What madness this is!

Christofoor: Without this treaty, we are trapped. We can not send any ship south. We must go south to find new resources and land to settle. You ships already went North and found nothing but death dealing barbarian ships and frozen glaciers to block our path East.

Greita: We also found glory and victory against the barbarian ships! And we saved our Norseman friends fishing boats from further ravaging. Good friends are worth more than shiny rocks.

Johannes: We are straying too far from the topic.

Christofoor: Yes the issue is that we have to face rational facts. France is strong and we are weak. Rome has deserted, cheated and betrayed us and now they obeys France. We must join with France if we are to survive.

Greita: Survive by cutting off a limb?! If you close border with England you will isolate Ice Island from the other factions! We will be cut off!

Christofoor: It is for the greater good!

The argument raged on into the night and into the next morning. Many fights broke out between the personal guard of the two delegates. One thing was clear, there was going to be bloodshed over this matter and only one could lead the Factions. There is too much infighting between the leaders.

[Japan (DoB)]

Sitting inside the tent provided by the French, Takanami waited for the French King to arrive. He had taken a long time to come, and even longer to set up camp. With the wine cup still filled and standing on the table, Takanami considered how he would open these discussions. The spirit guide had been unusually silent of late, complaining about headaches. Then he heard footsteps coming closer and stood up, prepared to meet with the French King at last.

Anticipation became confusion as two guards with axes came to stand before him. "You will come with us." said one. "Now." said the other. Pushing him out of the tent, he looked around him, at the Frenchmen hustled around in haste, appearing to pack down everything for the journey home. "What is this?" he asked, but only got the pointed end of the axe in his back in response, giving him the choice between moving forward or be slowly impaled. Either choice appeared to be equal as far as the guard was concerned.

They walked out from the camp towards one of the hills close by, standing at the top was one of the Free Men of France, with none of the symbols associated with christian or tao origin. The guards moved back two steps, and Takanami stood silent as the man looked out towards the sea. "My King wishes for you to see this, Takanami of the Chasers." he spoke with a husky, half whispering voice, pointing out to sea as he spoke. In the far distance a sail was visible. "I see a ship, is your King on that ship? Has he sailed without meeting with me?" annoyed by the guards' behaviour there was little kindness in his voice. "Look closer, Takanami Sailmaster." the added emphasis on his title made him look closer, squinting in the sunlight.

Then he saw it.. impossible. They had set sail without him.

As the Fremen turned towards him, he could see the impressive scar down the side of his face moving as he spoke. "You will walk with us, and talk with us, and help us understand exactly why you wanted to be alone with our King, as your men sail into our waters in breach of your promise to us." Before Takanami could respond, the two guards were at his side, taking hold of him and binding his hands behind his back. "We will of course extend all matters of courtesy to you. You should understand that under the circumstances, our King is not very trusting at the moment with everything happening so suddenly. He is on his way home to the Golden Throne, and we will follow soon enough." The two guards held on to him as they walked down towards the campsite where nothing now remained apart from another set of guards and what appeared to be Priests, everyone appeared ready to move at a moments notice.

As the long walk began, he thought about the last words of Tokugawa and wondered not for the first time if it really would be worth it.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXVI The Beloved is dead. Long live King Louis XXVII.

Lured to meet the japanese ambassador Takanami on on the western Pyrenees shores, King Louis XXVI was slain by the treacherous Takanami assassin while the japanese galley fleet invaded France from portuguese territory! Takanami was briefly apprehended by French guards however he managed to escape due to the assistance of the extensive japanese espionage network in France. Once again, a French King seeking peaceful resolution to a potential conflict is betrayed by a warmongering tribe.

King Louis XXVI The Beloved will be remembered for successfully leading the French through another english invasion without any loss of life. King Louis XXVI ended relations with tribes that betrayed France but secured new allies that were more trustworthy, including augmenting the French army with four Persian legions of Immortals descended from the Persian mystic Zoroaster, blood brother of France. The people of Paris were so happy with their King that they spontaneously threw the first We Love The Monarch celebration that the world has ever seen.

Unfortunately, many of the cruel evil slave leaders neighbouring France, who ruled by fear alone, were jealous of the love that French subjects showed the good French Kings. The evil jealous natures of some of France's neighbours may make long term peace unattainable. The new King Louis XXVII will need to decide what will need to be done since it appears peace is not an option given the evil treacherous nature of some of the tribes.

The assassination of King Louis XXVI has caused the Tao of Freedom Point to organize as they see the assassination as just the catalyst they need to change France from its peaceful traditions to a more militant tradition, The Christian priests are also organizing to counter the growing Tao momentum, using the new argument that there is only one God. The new monotheism dogma of the Christians is heavily disputed by the Oracle and the High Priestess of Artemis. As the religions organize against each other, France has been thrown into anarchy from the religious infighting.

Despite the anarchy, King Louis XXVII's first act is to dispatch a messenger to the Three Factions,

Your feeble attempt to twist the words of the Peace Accord are transparent enough that I have no fear that any French allies or neutrals in this matter will be swayed by your argument. You obviously feel that your position is strong enough that you do not need to worry about others trusting you to adhere to future peace treaties. That is your decision to make. France has opened our borders so you can no longer use that as an excuse to delay closing your borders with england. The Peace Accord started because the Factions claimed that they wished to end the chapter of your people's endless tensions with France. France clearly spelled out what would end the tensions however your continued non-adherence to the closed borders with england stipulation is about to bring about another round of tensions and continue the endless cycle. The choice is yours.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

"Look here is another letter from the French"

Augustaaf, one of the Nether faction Chiefs did not pay any heed to the messenger. He was very busy one hand around the neck of a full wineskin, the other around the hind quarters of his wife.

"More wine!" He screamed with slurs in his voice.

"Does this letter come with any wine?" another Chief says. Then all the Chiefs laugh and keep drinking. All together, all five Chiefs of Nether Faction are back from the arguments on Ice Island and celebrating the triumph of the Rational Thinkers over Greita. Mostly, they are just celebrate because they have lots of French wine.

The messanger looks annoyed "Chieftains, all our people are waiting for orders for the upcoming year. The sacrificial men wating at the French border to be sold over to the French for the reparations! None of these letter have been looked at for many seasons. What are you doing? Just drinking and staring out at the villages not giving any orders? Stop your drinking somebody and get out people to work!"

"Eh they know what to do!" says one chif in response.

"My wineskin is dry!" says another.

"Here take mine!" Augustaaf tosses to him the wineskin and fall back out off his seat in drunkeness, knocking himsef out. All the Chiefs roar with laughter.



"My Chieftains" the messenger continue "As well a Great Prophet arrives from Portugal. He is called Moses. He says he wishes to meet with Johannes and they have much to discuss. I think maybe he want Johannes to go to Portugal.

"Johannes is still on Ice Island" says one Chief, "He went for the meeting. He can't go to Portugal anyway, he would have to cross France"

The messager sighs "France is open to us now, my Chieftain."

"What?! Since when?! Hoew you know that?" says another Chief

"Because I read all the letters" messager rolls his eyes "Look at the pile of them there"

Augustasf was snoring loudly, but he wakes with a start "Moses?" he grumbles. "Does he drink wine?" Augustaaf ask. The other Chiefs laugh and keep on with their drinking.

They never did give any orders, just got drunk and fell asleep.

The next day Christofoor arrives in River Village to all the drunken stupor Nether Chiefs and shakes his head and clentch fist in anger.

"These fools!" he think to himself. "They will ruin our relations with France! There is no use for them anymore. It is not rational to let such men rule River Village."



But first thing first. He calls a messenger. And he draws a new weapon he picked up on his way back from Ice Island. It is called a Sword

[France (DoB)]

To resolve the religious in-fighting in France, King Louis XXVII makes a decree to his people.

It is the official position of France that there is only one Christian God. The Tao is the Way but not a God. Artemis and other ancient spirits appear as powerful as Gods compared to mortal men but are not Gods.

With this decree, the anarchy in France subsided and the people of France were productive once more. As is the way with compromise, each of the religious groups took a small positive piece from the decree but none were truly satisfied. In the end, the Christian conservatives of Paris were the most pleased with the decree and to celebrate they threw another We Love The Monarch Day in Paris, the third such day so far!

With the anarchy over, King Louis XXVII turned his attention to the Japanese invaders and in 170 BC (Turn 333) he instructed the Mystics of StoneHenge to begin the DMW ritual to end the war with Japan.