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

[Japan (DoB)]

Aiko has a messenger sent to Head Chieftain Durukan of the Ottoman Empire:

Head Chieftain Durukan Hamdi.

I welcome your presence among the great tribes after your age-long silence, and look forward to continued friendship and trade between our people.

We are kindred spirits in the fight against the barbarians, as they have wrought much hardship upon my people and myself. I carry battle-scars from being on the defences along with my husband Qin, Eternal Emperor of China. Take my word for it, I know what it means to be vigilant and wary of barbarian attacks.

After many an age of barely avoiding defeat, Japan and China have combined efforts and taken the fight to the barbarians. They learn quickly as you may have noticed, and their defences now rival our own. After the taking of their three closest settlements, we have reached a time of peace, while still being under attack we now hold our own, and continue to take the fight to them. Are you interested in combining future attacks?

God be with you and your people,
Empress Aiko of Japan, wife of the Eternal Emperor Qin of China.

[Spain (DoB)]

Pax Catalonia

General Alexio, the Defender of Africa and governor of Nova Catalonia has accepted gifts from all leaders of surrounding barbarian tribes. They came to swear allegiance to Himilce, Grand Duchess of Catalunya and Viceroy of Nova Catalonia.




The fact that they had to swear allegiance to a woman had led to the last uprising, which was swiftly crushed by the veteran forces of Alexio. After this, Alexio used a potent combination of kind words and cold iron to reach a more stable arrangement: the Pax Catalonia.

At this occasion Alexio put it like this:
"Pax Catalonia can best be described as:
in return for friendship and trade we give more friendship and trade,
in return for death and destruction we give more death and destruction".

Himilce added:
"Well, what Alexio said is quite true, but he could have said it more friendly.
We Catalonians are a friendly people.

A general who has fought all his life against barbarians may be excused for using harsh words.
Harsh men use harsh words, while gentle women use gentle words.

There is a time for both..
now the time for the latter has come."

[France (DoB)]

The French army wanders unchallenged in southern england destroying english infrastructure and sending the plunder back to Paris while the english army huddles in its cities helpless to prevent the Price Tag attacks. After enduring over 500 years of english invasions the people of Paris are so happy at finally gaining a small measure of justice that they spontaneously throw a We Love The Monarch celebration that Paris has become famous for. Paris truly is the greatest city in the world in which to live!

[Netherlands (DoB)]

King Christiaan gives his best wishes for good fortune to His Emminence Mohammed V.

Your Emminence,

May the blessings of the almighty be with your brave people as they seek their promised holy land. I will pray for your safety and offer the friendship and support of my people in your holy quest.

-King Christiaan

Upon his return, King Christiaan is greeted by his twin sister Queen Kirsten and he shares the shocking announcement of the Arabian exodus. However, the Queen has exciting news to share and she is pleased to announce that the Netherlands first "We Love the Monarch!" celebration has erupted spontaneously on Ice Island. There are may festivals and games, including one which involves jumping headlong into the frozen waters in a show of joy and fortitude.



Venison and smoked fish are cooked everywhere, and the smell of the smoking fires and salted meats fills the air. It is a happy time, and even the rumors and murmurings about the Sons of Johannes have started to die down.

Undoubtedly, it is the long period of peace and prosperity that has inspired this. After ages and ages of slavery-fueled unrest in the divided Faction villages, the people have finally started to unite under the Twin-Rulers.

[Rome (DoB)]

Diplomatic channels in and out of Rome has been erratic at best, after wisemen from the Islamic Monastery in Antium let Minerva know that Aulus is nearing his death. Minerva abdicated from her position as the Imperatrix of Rome, to care for her husband in his last years, which left the daily governance of Rome to the Council.

The Council of Rome was left in disarray, and have been arguing night and day over who is the best candidate to take over the position of Imperator after Minerva left. There has been outright hostility between the Julii and the Brutii family over which family is the most powerful and best equipped to rule Rome, and in the wake of their conflict the Marcius and Priscus families has seized the opportunity to take several key positions in the Council.

In the abscence of an Imperator, the Council is governing Rome, and the patrician families now find themselves with more power than they have ever held. Some speculate that the families are reluctant to give up this newfound power, and that the new Imperator will have a tough challenge to reduce the power the families have gained in the wake of Minerva's abdication.

The question that is debated in all of Rome these days is "Which family will seize the empty throne of Rome, and declare the new Imperator?". Only time will tell which family has the necessary cunning and conviction to finally grab absolute power.

[Celtia (DoB)]

An age has passed since the false King Ire died along with his delusions. Yet many now lay claim to that time as a golden age for the Celtic people. Many who serve as equals do not wish to be treated thus, and slaves that are fairly treated wish to be more than mere slaves.

To put a halt towards what may have become a rebellion within the tribe, Brennus has himself proclaimed King of Celtia in an elaborate ceremony performed in the newly established Temple of Christ. As the festivities are ordered for an entire week without end, the people are again happy to be under a ruler who follows the will of the people.

As he looks over the plans for the new constructions to come in Celtia, Brennus wonders how happy they will stay in the future with all the work that is to come...

[Russia (DoB)]

Konstantin rode in the horse-drawn cart with servants tending to his sore feet after the 44 hour barefoot ceremony in Mecca. The way back to Russia would be an interesting one. Several dignitaries had slipped messages to him during the ceremony, and now he was more aware of the ways of the other tribes.

One of them involved assisting a construction of a summer retreat for a religious man of high regard. With the plans of Leonid well under way before he left for Mecca, Konstantin had a messenger sent with orders to divide the workers near Moscow so the summer retreat would be finished by the time he came home. With that, the support of the religious caste would surely sway towards Konstantin and not towards his other brothers. Feeling good about himself, he settled back to enjoy the care given to his sore soles.

[England (DoB)]

Heavy smoke rose over the English country side, but it was no longer the smoke of razed cottages and burnt pastures, but the smoke of some 60 thousand war dead being burned in massive funeral pyres. The great French invasion force was destroyed.

The French army, having landed near Hastings, then moved north towards York leaving a wake of scorched destruction in its path. But the French were overconfident in their strenght and did not take heed of the massing English forces at York, Hastings, and London. Yet even so, none could have predicted the even greater impact the tactical genius of Arminius--newly returned from his distant travels--would have on the field of battle.

Arminius had traveled far and wide and had seen much combat in his many years. He was part of the crew of the Wu and Wei ships that had first taken the fight to France and destroyed the French fleet. In the middle east he disembarked from the ships and made his way north overland to Russia as an advance scout for Bedouin archers who had pledged allegiance to england. In Russia he arrived just in time to take part in the siege and capture of the barbarian encampment at Yayoi. But all paled in comparison with his exploits leading the English assault against the invading French army.

Swinging his heavy iron axe Arminius led a company of axemen that cut through the weaker copper armaments of the French forces. But, far more significant was his order to attack the French from three sides, north, south, and east. And by so enveloping them in this pincer maneuver, the French were trapped and cut down to a man.

English losses, while still numerous, were less than one dead for every two Frenchmen killed. A truly great victory and one that would give any future French King long pause before sending troops to test the metal of the now battle tested English armies. For Arminius had put French immortals to the test and found them in everyway lacking.

To commemorate this greatest general the world has ever known, massive construction projects in London have been undertaken. Projects that should put to shame the ancient dread wonders of Paris.

[France (DoB)]

Chronicles of the Unfortunate War (the 6th English Invasion of France)

The 5th English Invasion of France had been fought so that the English could send a an armada of three galleys through French territory to the south bearing a settler with a large number of legions to presumably defend the new found city. French intelligence presumed the English intent was to colonize a part of Africa.

The 6th English Invasion of France began during the reign of King Louis XXVIII the Traveller and was fought so that the English armada of three galleys could return to England via French territory. Despite the fact that the English had not yet settled their sixth city, French intelligence presumed the settler and its escort of legions had been disembarked in Africa somewhere or been traded to another kingdom. So it was that the French Generals made the fateful decision during King Louis XXVIII's travels to launch a counter invasion of England by landing the Grim Reapers, Cut Thrifts, Slice of Hope, Last Slice, Point Defenders, Festive Spears and the I and III Sons of Zoroaster legions on the poorly defended English southern shores.

With the death of King Louis XXVIII, King Louis XXIX returned an active French king to the throne of France. The English took this opportunity to engage the new French King in diplomacy attempting to buy time for the movement of english troops. During the feigned diplomacy, England moved its fleets to cut off French retreat from the English Isle and moved the galleys returning from Africa into England where they disembarked the settler and its escort of legions! Apparently whatever plan the English had had for those units had been aborted and the galleys had returned to England with as many units as they had left with!

Cut off from retreat, the French army made the best of the situation and began their celebrated Price Tag attacks by destroying a stone quarry, a dairy farm, a mine, a hamlet and a horse ranch. It was during the destruction of the horse ranch that the decisive Battle of the London Corral occurred.

In the dead of night two legions of English axemen caught the Sons of Zoroastar I and the Grim Reaper legions by surprise and wiped them out. The Cut Thrift general swiftly martialled his troops and put up a solid defence by destroying two english legions, one of spearmen and the other of axemen. Similarly the Slice of Hope general also martialled his troops to destroy two more english legions again one of spearmen and the other of axemen. Unfortunately the Slice of Hope legion was overwhelmed by the third english legion of axemen.

As the sun rose in the morning of the battle, both the Last Slice and Sons of Zoroastar III legions fell to english axe legions. The last english axe legion easily cut through the Point Defender legion of spearmen while the Festive Spears fell to an english spear legion. In the end it was just the Cut Thrifts left standing surrounded by the english hordes and an english legion of chariots wiped out these heroic French heroes.

In the aftermath of the Battle of the London Corral, French advisors assessed the performance of the battle. There had been no upsets in the twelve sub-battles that occurred however of the four sub-battles that were equal odds of either side winning, the English won all four battles! The Tao force for evil had proven stronger than the Christian god on this day much to the shock of the general French populace. Whether it was Luck, Fate or the Gods, the French had been dealt a resounding defeat despite the odds thus did King Louis XXIX become known as the Unfortunate.

King Louis XXIX the Unfortunate, sent out immediate word to his allies for more reinforcements and began rebuilding France's army which had been significantly depleted in the war.

A positive outcome of the war was that French intelligence learned that the Russians and the Arabs have been secretly sending arms to the English despite the English being at war with their supposed ally the Byzantines. Secretly sending military units to an enemy at war with your ally was certainly a hostile act and France immediately sent word to the Byzantines and Persians notifying them of the betrayal by their allies.

Meanwhile the Japanese believing King Louis XXIX to be a complete idiot after the recent French loss, sent a messenger to France wishing to renegotiate the espionage treaty between Japan and France stating that they just wanted to send 4 more espionage agents so that Japan could see French "demographics". The French are well aware that the Japanese can already see French demographics and that what the Japanese are truly seeking is to see what French alchemists are researching. King Louis XXIX responded to the Japanese in no uncertain terms that any increase in espionage by the Japanese would be overwhelmingly countered by the French.

[Russia (DoB)]

Leonid had enjoyed his stay at the Heisenberg Academy in London, witnessing the practical application of their finest students as they created what came to be known as the Statue of Zeus for posterity. Among the students, who knew the theory and practice behind the fine work, it was an appreciated tap on the shoulder to have numerous stories spread about the easy win on the fields of gold thanks to the french god being scared away by Zeus, the new guardian of England.



When he dined with the Queen of England, word came to him of being party to their war effort, simply for accepting an escort on his way with the ships from Russia. He said that it was no secret that he asked for an escort, so why would it be blown out of proportion by the french? Were they sore after a humiliating defeat by superior English forces? They laughed about french attitudes, and shared their best versions of the King's Secret/Czar's Secret with eachother. It was a welcome relief after all the talks of war.

He made a point to send reassurances to his Byzantine and Persian friends, providing them with explanations of no military build-up happening with aid from Russia to attack them. England had sent an Escort for his journey to their Academy, and their job being done, they were now back were they belonged. Cleary stating that Russia would remain neutral in their dealings with all tribes.

Now he was on his way to Aryabhata Academy, looking forward to meeting the newly crowned King Brennus and visiting the Hanging Gardens of Bibracte. After his stay with the Heisenberg boys, he had formulated plans of a grand scale to be implemented in his hometown of Moscow. Sending letters back home with variations of his original orders, it would perhaps be finished before his return. He looked forward to many things, giving praise to Allah in his mercy to guide him on his way.

[Ottomans (DoB)]

DOMINATION OF BARBARIANS: OTTOMAN STYLE

The record keeping by Ottoman officials was meticulous, both at the end of the Age Of Silence, and back to the earliest beginnings of the empire. Hence, we have an excellent history of the Ottoman's life and death struggle with the barbarian hordes. This struggle defined the civilization; and its military efforts were an integral part of society. Young men were expected to join a brigade at the age of 17, and serve until 25. The military records were updated at local barracks to reflect barbarian attacks, and the successes and occasional failure of the brigades. At the end of each year, scribes would circulate all the community data, such that not only the capitol, but each individual barracks had a complete and updated historical record of all military action against the barbarians.

The records at the end of 130AD show the following:

Barbarian Bands Destroyed in Action

11 Animals
129 Warriors
46 Axemen
22 Spears
49 Archers

Grand Total: 257



Platoon corporals steadied their men. This was a newly recruited Axe Brigade out of Uzbek, and although it had seen action, and had two promotions already, it did not have the extensive experience of units currently engaged in the Far East. Some troops were restless, as they watched the barbarian horde advance.

But the commander of the unit knew his stuff. They were aligned in the forest edge, across the path of the barbarians who were trying to get further south. It was strong defensive position, and experience had taught the Ottoman military commanders to use patience, and the forest, when confronting the barbarians.

With a war cry that startled every creature for miles around, the barbarian horde crashed into the fortified axemen. By late afternoon, it was over. Barbarian blood stained the ground in all directions. The Ottomans sustained minor casualties.

The commander would need to update the records when he got back to the Uzbek barracks.

[England (DoB)]

Not to be outdone by the so called industrious French, the people of London built a great statue of the ancient king of the gods ... the almighty and powerful Zeus. Although few still followed the old gods, a great Statue of Zeus was chosen as a fitting illustration to demonstrate England's fearsome prowess in war. Furthermore the Statue of Zeus represents a powerful metaphor for English victory over France given the temple honoring the lesser deity Artemis that had previously been built in Paris.

King Louis XXIX,

With your army defeated I offer generous terms to secure a lasting peace. Should you accept open borders and renounce your claims to reparations, England shall not invade your lands in retaliation. You, unlike many of your forebears, have fought bravely and have proven a worthy adversary deserving of peace on equal terms. Do not turn down such an offer now, for you are sure to come to regret it as you no doubt regret your refusal to hear out and keep an open mind to our far more generous proposal when your great army first landed.

-Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth greatly enjoyed her time spent with Leonid and his traveling companions showing them the marvels of the Heisenberg Academy, the Great Colossus, and the newly completed Statue of Zeus. Much laughter was had at French denunciation of English collusion with Russia and Arabia given that England had supplied and exchanged military forces abroad for several centuries prior to the Byzantin attack against England. Ah but the short memory of mortal Kings.

[Japan (DoB)]

Hearing about the Ottoman struggle with the barbarians, and their numerous victories, Aiko requests a tally of all confirmed attacks and kills of barbarians attacking Japan. As numbers come in it becomes plain that they have indeed taken their bloodlust out on the Ottomans primarily. Since the settlement of Main Land began, libraries have these counted as true kills:

104 Warriors
35 Archers
30 Spearmen
6 Axemen
4 Galleys

A total of 179 confirmed barbarian bands killed in action.



In the green hills northwest of Stone Hill, the archers were keeping watch over the barbarian settlement. After seeing the gates open and a number of unarmed men with tools marching towards them, the Captain gives the order to ambush. In a smooth maneuver they capture almost a hundred workers, improvised ropes made from animal sinews have them tied and sent on their way to Stone Hill under guard to make a headstart on the Katsumi road.

"Are the barbarians stupid Captain?"

"No, they are desperate. This is just a ploy to get us out in the open."

"Captain?"

"Have your men ready their bows, it will begin soon."

Three days later, the workers were started on the road and a report was underway to Nishikyo. Tallying another defeated warrior band attempting an ambush of seasoned archers, failing completely.

-Recorded in the library of Nishikyo, 140 AD, the year of silent dogs.

[Japan (DoB)]

Persians, as mentioned among the tribes of Japan and China

The dirty persian, a children's rhyme:

To the Palace of Beijing came a Persian man without a head.
Oblivious to the cause of all the people's dread.
Little did he understand why backs were turned in laughter.
His nose in the sky so he did not smell.
Ears filled with dirt so he could not tell.
He wore the same clothes every day and night without fail.
Wearing Dirty Sweat, Yellow Rain and Brown Stains.
The Persian Mans Markings.
The Persian Mans Markings.

The real persian, an adult fireside poem:

In the village where he lives no animal is safe.
They do to them what real men do to wives.
Poor persian men, poor persian women.
Spreading their legs to anyone who pays.
All for the glory of gifts and fancy trades.
No wonder their men care more for pigs from behind.
Pigs are true to their lover.
They always bend over.

Note found among copies of letters made out to Persia, by unknown hand:

Persian, Persian, why do you bend your knee?
Persian, Persian, Allah has no more gifts for thee.
Arabian men knows the pleasure of their lord.
He has said 'friends are more worth than gold'.

[China (DoB)]

Qin sitting at his desk after the latest blood feed, which he hungered for constantly, saw the following from his scribes:

Confirmed Barbarian bands killed in action:

6 Animals
117 Warriors
33 Axemen
30 Spearmen
37 Archers

Grand total 223 as of 150 AD