Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 10 - January 2013]

[Russia (DoB)]

Light rain is falling from the sky in Baltia where spears are repaired with fresh yew cuttings. Axes make sparks fly in the forges while archers practice their skills on targets more than a hundred paces away. Warleader Ivan is watching several men fight among themselves, practicing the swing and sidestep motion that most effectively confuse the enemy. Scarred and tough, born of barbarians and raised by russians, Ivan is an unusual feature in the ranks. Hefting his axe, he prepares to teach them a lesson that they will not soon forget.



Far from the training of fresh soldiers, another work is near completion. Years of construction claiming thousands of lives, have forced barbarian slaves to the brink of death and beyond in their haste to complete the Grand Czar Palace in Moscow. Now it stands there, ready to shine as a glorious testament to the hard working leadership of the Russian people. Czar Konstantin is on his way to make the announcement.



Before the new palace is revealed to the world, he sends another message to the Germans:

German leader,

Is your name really Herman? Are you kindred with the elders of England, Spain and Japan? Do you ignore me in silence to have me wait upon your whim? I have recieved no reply written or spoken, after I had a message sent to you asking about the new settlement to the Northeast. What is the meaning of settling so close to Russian lands? Know this O leader of the German people; I want an answer, and I want it now. A lack of reply will have consequences. Mark my words.

Expecting a reply soon,
Czar Konstantin Simonovich

[Japan (DoB)]

"I don't believe you Wushu, you tell the biggest stories and you always make them bigger than they are."

"No, no, no they get told as I hear them myself, I swear on my father's grave."

"Really? What about the story you told me about the three babys and the king of France?"

"Now that was part of the King's Secret, that was not a story. I swear Mutsuki, you confuse riddles and tales more easily than a newborn."

"Oh really? So what is this about a man that walks on water? Is that not-"

"Wait! Look! Over there. I can just make out something.."

"If this is an attempt to get away from explaining the story you can forget it!"

"Hey! Use your eyes! Over there, south of the barbarian hillfort."

The two guards on the wall keeps an eye on the desert for some time. Then, as the sand reveals its secret, one of them runs down to the Captain Chitose, informing him of the arrivals. In short order he arrives at the gates and watch as the new arrivals move swiftly to join them.



Peace Guard reinforcements from the West have finally arrived.

[England (DoB)]

Victoria's was meeting with her newly arrived Nordic guests when she saw movement in the distance. "Please you must excuse me," she told her weary visitors. "One of my scouts is returning early, and I must haste to see what good news or warning they bring. You and your men are welcome to take shelter and refugee in what meager facilities we have to offer. When I return I look forward to hearing more of how your men also braved the treacherous and fickle path of Moses into the desolate frozen wasteland we now find ourselves."

Riding her chariot out of Cold Harbor Victoria marveled at the stark desolate beauty of the frozen empty landscape, so unlike anything in England this land of endless dark winters and frigid bright summers. Her men had ironically started calling the place Greenland, and the name had stuck after they first glimpsed the wondrous green lights shimmering in the heavens above their camp. A magical and wondrous place yes, but one she hoped to soon depart to fulfill the prophecies Moses had revealed. Her scouts had been making great progress charting the ice flows off Greenland's east coast and she prayed she could soon write her mother, her Queen, that success was at last at hand.

As she reigned in her horses nearing the scout he sprinted towards her panting with exhaustion and excitement, "a path...through the ice....discovered!"

...............

That night Victoria mulled over what message to send by messenger raven back to England. She had at last discovered a passage through the treacherous frozen waters off Greenland's coast, but upon reaching Nether territorial waters, her men received no reply or greeting when they hailed settlements on Ice Island. What did it mean, what to write .... she reflected on the teaching of Lao Tzu .... and wrote.

.........

Excitement and foreboding danced together like yin and yang in Elizabeth's chambers. The great prophesied age of discovery was near at hand, yet would the new age bring chaos or peace? Norse and Portuguese fleets were on the move, France was rearming, diplomatic ties with the Nether were confused - a steady hand would be needed in these coming years.


......


The captains of the HMS Moses and HMS Icebreaker conferred deep into the night. They had received orders to sail with greatest haste to Cold Harbor and had been assured that a route through the treacherous sea ice had been discovered. Yet passage through the waters around Ice Island had been denied, and any confrontation with the Nether at this most sensitive time could derail relations for generations. What to do? After much deliberation it was decided, and the order was given to sail into the west, trusting unto Moses to show the way.

[France (DoB)]

Geopolitical Earthquake

King Louis XXX the Isolationist is dead. Long live King Louis XXXI.

King Louis XXX's reign was predicated on the observation that nearly every tribe's folklore was predominantly about their relationship with France (normally their hostile relationship towards France due to France's high ideals of Freedom and Peace being an anathema to their barbarian cultures of Slavery and Warmongering). The obsession with France spread from neighbouring English warmongers all the way to Japan, where the Japanese wrote lewd poetry about the French to excite themselves during their frequent masturbation sessions.

King Louis XXX believed that the strong French culture was preventing the weak cultures of the other tribes from developing their own folklore and stories about each other. By isolating France and limiting French interactions King Louis XXX believed that France could finally achieve some measure of peace having already been involved in 20 wars since the dawn of recorded history.

Alas, King Louis XXX's dream of peaceful isolation was broken with the supposedly pacifist Portuguese christians declaring war on France for no other reason than they wanted to travel through French waters. King Louis XXX's policies were deemed a failure by his advisors and his people.

There was great excitement in France about the restoration of French glory under King Louis XXXI, who had vowed to return France to it's former military might. The Oracle had predicted that there was a unique opportunity for a seismic shift in global politics with the recent revelation of the English superpower having uncovered a route to a mystical lands of Greenland and the rich lands beyond.

The Oracle had communed with the spirits to see if the English claim of settling Greenland was possible. The spirits had revealed that it was possible by situating a settler with some guards in the western most portion of the Nether region of Iceland, followed by a ritual breaking of an Open Border agreement, at which point a path through the ice would open up allowing settlers and guards to find a route to Greenland. Then by settling in the southeastern portion of Greenland and expanding the cultural borders of the settlement, the English could open a sea route through the ocean which only their ships could pass through. Whoever held such a route would have a 1000 year head start on settling the New World and become an unrivalled juggernaut of power. The fact that is was England who had laid claim to the route, which would add to the already insurmountable English technological lead, made the threat even more severe.

It was the Portuguese that had the most to lose from the English finding the route to the New World. The Oracle had predicted that the Portuguese were destined to create a ship called the Carrack that was to have given them a centuries head start on settling the New World however the English had pre-empted that early advantage! The irony was not lost on the French, that it was the very ships that the Portuguese had allowed to attack France from their territory that had allowed the English to settle Greenland and steal the New World settlement advantage from Portugal! The gods had a sense of justice.

The assessment of French advisors to King Louis XXXI was that the Nether and Portuguese were working together to thwart the English, who would be able to claim much of the New World land that these two kingdoms sought for themselves. The Nether were apparently smuggling their spies through French lands to Portugal in exchange for Portuguese triremes which had declared war on France to head to the Nether Iceland to defend those territorial waters from the English navy, who needed to pass through those waters to reach their Greenland settlements.

The Nether-Portuguese trade had to pass through France which would soon be impossible due to the DMW peace and by the time the Portuguese could declare a second war on France, France will have built triremes of their own to defend French waters. It would likely take much more than the 4 triremes which the Portuguese were planning on providing to the Nether for the Nether to defend against the powerful English navy so continued Nether-Portuguese trade was critical to the success of their apparent plan.

The dilemma for the French King is that thwarting the Nether-Portuguese trade actually helped the English, who were the greater threat, however French honour demanded reparations from both the Nether and the Portuguese for their betrayals before any open border agreement could be agreed to. So it was that King Louis XXXI dispatched two messengers.

To King Christiaan of the Netherlands,

The legions of Nether spies which are being smuggled south through French lands have not gone unnoticed and those spies caught have been summarily executed. France is well aware that not all Nether spies have been caught and that some have successfully passed through our lands. While the French Kings of old have learned to regret accepting the word of the Nether, we are not our ancestors so I hereby offer terms for the Open Borders which you seek.

1) To satisfy French honour, Nether is to gift a unit of 1000 Dutch slave workers to France in reparations. This term is far less costly than the alternative of losing several legions of spies while attempting to smuggle them through France.
2) France will Open Borders with the Netherlands for as long as the Netherlands borders remain closed with England. If Netherlands borders are opened to England then French borders will be closed to Netherlands.

You should also be aware that England has offered peace terms that are very attractive to France and should you turn down this offer then France is likely to accept those terms.

King Louis XXXI of France

To the Despot Pedro of Portugal,

As your namesake Peter thrice denied Christ so to has Portugal thrice betrayed France by twice allowing England to attack France from Portuguese waters and by attacking France directly yourself. France understands the importance that Portugal places upon it's northern trade through French territory however the DMW peace magic is fast approaching and by the time Portugal is next able to declare war on France then French waters will be guarded by French triremes. Thus your northern trade route is about to come to an end or at least become very costly in terms of ships lost. France believes it is in French interests to allow the northern Portuguese trade provided French honour is satisfied with reparations. I offer the following terms for the Open Borders you seek.

1) To satisfy French honour for being thrice betrayed by Portugal, Portugal shall gift 3 trireme units to France. This term is likely to be far less costly than the next Portuguese war attempting to bring a fleet through French waters guarded by French triremes.
2) France will Open Borders with Portugal for as long as the Portuguese borders remain closed with England. If Portuguese borders are opened to England then French borders will be closed to Portugal. It is likely that England will close its borders with Portugal once you deliver the 4 triremes to the Nether Iceland anyway.

You should also be aware that England has offered peace terms that are very attractive to France and should you turn down this offer then France is likely to accept those terms.

King Louis XXXI of France

[Russia (DoB)]

The men in position, the battlecry like a wave upon the shore flowing from one side of his army to the other. The banners fluttering in winds vainly trying to rip them apart. Standing fast, steady against the storm. His men ready as young bulls in spring. Now the waiting begins...and the singing makes his army sound as a whole mountain coming down...and he knows the men willing to follow him wherever he would go. The hallmark of a true General. The army of Ivan.



Konstantin sends a final message to Germany:

Germany,

Russia hereby declares war upon our ungrateful neighbour for the silent treatment and denial of reply offered to us these many years. I will march upon your land and wreck havoc in response to your daring settlement close to Russian territory in the north. I give you one last chance to reply before my eager warriors do what they do best. You can change the fate of your people.

For the love of your sons and daughters, for the love of your way of life, for the love of your land and it's beauty, do not force me to do this. For do it I will, unless you can answer my question stated so many times that I do not wish to repeat it anymore.

The choice is yours.

Czar Konstantin Simonovich of Russia.

[England (DoB)]

An open letter to the 18 civilized tribes of the world

King Louis XXXI's insight's--while misinterpreting some key details regarding the sequence of events and misconstruing the nature of relations between England, Nether, and Portugal--are essentially correct. English ships currently sail towards a land prophesied by Lao Tzu. Should they meet no unexpected delays, I expect England to establish its first settlements in this New World in short order.

We hope to establish many such settlments in this New World, but if the teaching of Lao Tzu prove true, even the most aggressive English settlement plans would leave massive expanses of land open for settlement by others. In fact, we hope to have represntatives from as many of world's 18 civilized tribes as possible join us in this new age of discovery and exploration. We have already sent private messages to those we believe would be most interested in taking part in such an endeavor and encourage any we have not reached out to to contact us for more information.

This endeavor though is not for the wary as these lands are foretold to be a teaming final haven for the Children of Barbarious.

Queen Elizabeth I

[France (DoB)]

Exhausted French scribes desperately try to keep up with extensive diplomatic messages from the new French king.

[England (DoB)]

King Louis XXXI,

Your open letters to Portugal and Nether indicate you view my suggested peace agreement as "very attractive." This is most welcome news, and I must admit, somewhat unexpected given our history of mistrust and conflict.

I would like to note my offer to you will stand regardless of any deals that are made with Nether or Portugal.

In the past our many conflicts were born out of disparities in culture and military strength. Those days are behind us. My many wars against your people were intended to buy time so that my cities would not be overwhelmed by your terrifying culture. With the construction of a Statue to Zeus I am confident London will never become a thrall to the power of your Stone Henge and Oracle. Meanwhile, the large size of our armies (and your pending construction of triremes) demonstrates the futility of future land/naval invasions. Let us put the past behind us and show the world the true meaning of greatness.

-Queen Elizabeth I

[Russia (DoB)]

Fleeing farmers head towards the largest city in Germany, setting crops on fire to keep the army at bay. Wildfire destroys wheatfield upon wheatfield as far as the eye can see. The army waits until the fire dies down before sending scouts out among the ashen fields.



"They burn their crops to flee. Clever move." Ivan stated. "Where are they headed?" he asked the returning scout.

"To the city."

"Then run to the other commanders, tell them the order is to surround the city."

"Yes General Ivan!"

[Netherlands (DoB)]

To King Christiaan of the Netherlands,

The legions of Nether spies which are being smuggled south through French lands have not gone unnoticed and those spies caught have been summarily executed. France is well aware that not all Nether spies have been caught and that some have successfully passed through our lands. While the French Kings of old have learned to regret accepting the word of the Nether, we are not our ancestors so I hereby offer terms for the Open Borders which you seek.

1) To satisfy French honour, Nether is to gift a unit of 1000 Dutch slave workers to France in reparations. This term is far less costly than the alternative of losing several legions of spies while attempting to smuggle them through France.
2) France will Open Borders with the Netherlands for as long as the Netherlands borders remain closed with England. If Netherlands borders are opened to England then French borders will be closed to Netherlands.

You should also be aware that England has offered peace terms that are very attractive to France and should you turn down this offer then France is likely to accept those terms.

King Louis XXXI of France

Queen Kirsten has carefully considered the generous offer of King Louis, and releases this statement

Unfortunately, Netherlands can not sacrifice another worker as my father, King Christofoor already surrendered a Worker to France for open borders as part of a deal which France failed to keep open borders as promised. Hopefully, there are other peaceful arrangements that our two nations can come to. Importantly, we find the notion of permanent closed borders with England to be a non-negotiable, non-starter for agreements.

We thank you for the hospitality you have shown our diplomats, and we add that after losing the SoJ officers in your lands, we have suspended all travel of SoJ through France, so there were no officers who crossed France successfully.

Let it also be known that after conferring with my brother, King Christiaan, we agree that Netherlands shall become a Christian land, as my father, a native of Fire Mountain was Christian, and named his twin children, myself and my brother Christian names. We hope this will foster a new spirit of comradarie with our Christian neighbors.

Kirsten of Netherlands

[Russia (DoB)]

Reports come to Konstantin in Grand Czar Palace of burning crops and fleeing farmers. Another, more subtle report was given to him about the sighting of a holy man in the nearby City. A Judaic Missionary has come there from Rome, but to what end?

The answer would wait as a hundred matters small and large waited upon the Czar's decision. Among them a new report that Nether had turned from the way of Tao and towards Christianity. The possibility of German aid from Nether as part of the Tao Alliance that always was boasted by France appeared to be non-existant.

Sometimes it was tempting to throw everything out and burn the claims and the claimers. As he pondered on this tempting move, he suddenly felt an urgent pricking in the small of his back. Turning around he looked for his assailant, but saw his wife instead, standing with a smile in the doorway. Then he looked down into a couple of bright blue eyes.



"Da! Da!" his son said. "Da! You show me how to fight! You promise!" the eagerness of his son made the Czar and his wife laugh. "Yes of course Anton! Come! I will show you how to kill a barbarian!"

..and laughter filled the Palace halls while far away his army surrounded a city filled with husbands, wives, sons and daughters..and the future was pale with a fog of death awaiting..unless the German leader returned soon..

[Russia (DoB)]

Russian troops slowly come to a halt around Munich. Caravans of food come in from the closest Russian farmsteads to support the growing number of men around the city. Smoke still rises in the distance after the great flames consumed all surrounding fields.



A message is delivered to the leader of Munich, addressed to the leader of Germany:

To the chieftain of Munich.

Know that I am General Ivan. Your city is surrounded by my army on behalf of Czar Konstantin Simonovich of the Rus Empire.

Undoubtedly you have recieved numerous tales from the farmers arriving in your city. They have fled and torched their crops to keep my men from staying well-fed while in your lands. A clever move that I commend your people for.

Your leader Herman has been silent for as long as Russia can remember. The only time a proper correspondance was recieved, was after a direct threat upon your people traversing the land with suspicious intent. Intent that was assured to be far from our land. So the edge of our axes was not coated in German blood, and your people safely moved on. Imagine the surprise when these settlers created a village where it was believed there would be no influence apart from Russian.

This town now reported to be named Frankfurt is an eyesore, an affront, and an insult to the good people of Russia. You have made a claim upon land too close to us. We have no fear of the sovereign citystates of Berlin and Munich, these are all within your territory and they prosper as you should too, with friends, good will and trust among your neighbours.

The placement of Frankfurt has damaged our relation. Your silence after repeated messages has not done anything to repair this wound. As a response we have declared war and with force entered your lands. It is unfortunate that your farmers burned all your crops, but such things happen.

To repair the damage dealt to the relation between our nations I offer the following solution:

1.Give the settlement of Frankfurt to Russia.

or

2.Remove your defenders from Frankfurt so nearby Russian troops can level the city. The defender may return through Russian lands to Germany with a guarantee that they will not be harmed by our troops.

It is with welcome ears we listen to the leader of Munich if he will respond to this message on behalf of Herman and Germany.

Signed,
General Ivan,
on behalf of Czar Konstantin Simonovich of the Rus Empire.

[Russia (DoB)]

A scruffy-looking messenger is sent out from Munich. He speaks to the first Russian warrior he finds.

"This is a misunderstanding. Go home. Then we can talk."

The warrior recounts it to Ivan, and a new reply is relayed by messenger to the gates of Munich.

"If you wish to talk of peace, I am here. Come out and we can talk man to man. I have given you a choice. Failure to abide by these choices, and offering no choice of your own will have further consequences. If you do not come to me, I will be forced to come to you."

[England (DoB)]

French fishermen have withdrawn from historically English waters near Hastings in an unprecedented thawing of ties.

[Russia (DoB)]

Munich stands with gates open in welcome, as General Ivan enters with his army of Spearmen, Axemen and Archers. The few garrisoned troops yield their weapons and return to their families, safe from harm. Messengers are on the way to Berlin telling about the overthrow of German leadership and a new order of Russian electorates from Moscow handling out surplus food to the starving children and their families. Peace returns in short order to the city and it's countryside.

General Ivan dictates the following message to German leadership in Berlin:

To the German Leader,

Munich has had enough of your stalling. They welcome our men with open arms in return for simple gifts of food and water. Your terrible hoarding of valuables and food stocks are a shame to behold. I offer again, to make all of this go away. I will even hand over Munich to you as it has of old always been a German city. But Frankfurt must be dealt with. I will give you ten days to consider this. Either give Frankfurt to Russia, or abandon it so my men can destroy it.

I await your reply.

Signed,
General Ivan,
on behalf of Czar Konstantin Simonovich of Rus Empire.