Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 11 - February 2013]

[France (DoB)]

A sweet young man with delicate hands and beautiful eyes go to the court of Nether where he delivers these words to the King and Queen:

King Louis XXXIV the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-hearing High Protector of the Kingdom of Louis knows that the King and Queen are nigh beyond their years of service to their people. As such he completely understands that words may become muddled and confused, and new things along with change may be percieved as dangerous and a threat to their beautysleep. The friendship between Louis and Nether will not be hurt by declining to participate, and if you should expire sooner than later the offer still stands in case the future King or Queen has an open mind to wonderful change.

One last thing: The capitol is Louisiana. The Kingdom is Louis.

[France (DoB)]

Festivities are supreme in Louisiana, home town of the King. The many leaders come to honour him at the celebration of his 75th birthday. Wagonloads of food, wine, and precious gifts from near and far fill the streets on their way to the Palace as daylight gives way to twilight and the party proper. Louis XXXIV the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-hearing High protector of the world has donned his finest clothes and decided to wear some of the gifts presented earlier, especially the jewel-studded golden crown given to him by his son.



In gathering so many different tribes in one place,
arrangements have been made to accommodate those
who eye eachother with perhaps more ardour than proper
for a public display. Apart from certain neighbours to the north and east,
and some religious refugees far to the southeast, the party is fantastic
in it's simplicity and marvelous by the decorum done by the finest craftsmen
from the Valley of Kings. A pleasant surprise is the unusual gift of Fireworks from China.



Qin, named eternal emperor, is the first immortal to be welcomed in the court of any King Louis. Caroli Magni of Holy Rome brought a miniature city entirely made from marble resembling the Chichen Itza, whereas Himilce brought a hammer of Ivory. Rome gifted a potpourri of rare and exotic flowers from the southern continent of Africanus with an apology of distress caused by a recent outbreak of the black spots within Rome itself. It is hoped that none of the royal family succumbs to this untimely sickness. Pedro surprised Louis by sending a miniature Carrack that could sail on a royal garden lake with the aid of strings. Harald Hardrade brought a gilded cowhorn to drink from, a rugged gesture and appreciated. Boran outdid everyone by gifting a splendid stallion to breed better horses for the glory of Louis. A most strange token by the Russian Czar was the written line of Kings all the way back to King Louis I, written in gilded letters remarking their nicknames and reason for receiving them. Alemanni the 1st successor brought a woman dressed in fur to dance before the King, with drumbeats slow, sonorous and deep, she mesmerized every guest with the wedding dance ritual of Allemanni. Flushed cheeks and sussuration through the crowd displayed a great appreciation of that cultural beat. Greece was absent but for the delivery of a personal copy of the Torah for the King. An Ottoman brought a barbarian female to the wonder of the crowd of civilized men and women. Her half-naked form and barbarous nature blazed in her wild eyes and diminished only by her filthy, part mud-covered, part fur-covered body. A great display of the dangers in the unknown parts of the world. Brennus had a stone of fine carvings brought before the King, with a neverending three-way circle insignia upon it.

Many gifts, and some absences later, the party was over and another day began. For many years however, talk of this party was heard in every tribe of the world. Louis heard all about it, and taught his son the righteous way of being King.

[England (DoB)]

Elizabeth relished the fresh air as she rode through the woodlands south of York on the hunt. Yes she knew a massive pile of reports waited for her at the palace in London--shipping timetables to be approved or updated, correspondence with foreign dignitaries to complete--but what was the point of living over 1,000 years if not to enjoy life. And this hunt was proving to be not only enjoyable but quite educational. For as Lao Tzu has written,"in pleasure one may may find enlightenment."

Her party had brought along several bow-like contraptions based on schematics drawn up several centuries ago by the eccentric inventor Thomas Edison. A researcher at the London Academy had recently rediscovered Edison's writings titled "On Machines, Machinery, and Energy!" and realized his mechanisms for storing potential energy with a system of gears and pulleys could be modified to create exceptionally powerful bowed weapons. Prototypes of these hybrid or crossed bows could bend sturdy bands of iron and when this pent up energy was released could fire a heavy metal spike or bolt with incredible force.

Elizabeth was at first skeptical of these unusual contraptions, but after a bolt cleaved clear through the shoulders of a red stag from over 200 paces, all her doubts were put to rest. While not as accurate as a regular bow in the hand of an experienced archer, the crossbow's penetrating power was unlike any weapon ever conceived. Even more promising was that--despite the apparent complexity of its gears and pulleys--the crossbow was surprisingly easy to operate and one could operate it proficiently within only a few hours of use.

These would be formidable weapons indeed in the hands of English troops and would greatly aid in the suppression of the endless barbarian hordes of the New World.

[Arabia (DoB)]

The Ummah rejoice!

Kulayni and Abdullah entered the privy council chamber where Mohammed V waited for them. Word had come from the old world and their was much to discuss.


Adullah:

Your Eminence, word has come from Mecca. Their is new Byzantine leadership. Emperor Leopold now rules Mecca and rumour has it that he has declared the reinstatement of the Nacitav. All the Ummah have been instructed to send an Ayatollah to stand for election as Grand Ayatollah to govern the affairs of the Nacitav.

Mohammed V:

This is great news Abdullah, the new Byzantine leader appears to be very forthcoming and agreeable. Perhaps a new era has dawned in Ummah relations? Ayatollah Kulayni, what do you have to say in this regard? Are you willing to go to the Nacitav to represent the Qurayshi and stand for election?

Ayatollah Kulayni:

Your Eminence, I would be honoured to attend on the Dominions behalf. Please make the arrangements, I should leave immediately.

Mohamed V:

Abdullah, have the ship prepared with all the necessary rations, and include 3 chests of our finest gems to offer Emperor Leopold as tribute. Ayatollah Kulayni, please present these letters that I have prepared to the Emperor upon your arrival.

The three men chatted for hours into the night to discuss all the pertinent events in geopolitic, and their was much to parley.

[England (DoB)]

When Elizabeth returned to London and found the invitation to the celebration of teh birthday of the French king she quickly drafted a note of reply:

King Louis XXXIV,

Please accept my apology for having missed the invitation to your birthday celebration. Please accept this supple fur coat brought from the shores of the distant new world as a gift and as a token of the peace our nations have enjoyed during your rule.

Perhaps it is time we opened our borders and normalized relations?

-Queen Elizabeth I

[England (DoB)]

After a long and at times arduous journey it was time to bid farewell. The crews of the English escort warships prayed that the almighty Tao would watch over the brave Celtic and Greek settlers they had seen disembark on these dangerous yet bountiful shores. Only time would tell if the Celtic and Hellenic colonies would prosper or fall into ruin.

[France (DoB)]

King Louis XXXIV the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-hearing high protector of the world is dead. Long live King Louis XXXV.

King Louis XXXIV has passed on, draped in strange fur generously donated from England. Unfortunately the old King never knew of this gift as it arrived after he died.

Oracle reports are horrifying in their details about the barbarians faced by celtic, hellenic, norse and english forces across the sea. A wave of death is coming! A wave of death is coming! A newborn child will bring balance to the religions of the world. It is a babe not born of religion, but religion will be born by it. Hidden men will reap what they sow, and secrets will be brought to light from afar. When the blood of Iron moves, and Wolves run from the fields, Louis will grow strong in the face of danger!

In light of these reports, King Louis XXXV has trained extensively with all manner of weapons, his favourite weapon being the brutal double-headed axes mostly used by the tribe of barbarous. Qin, visiting his palace has given him personal lessons, specifically in low-light conditions favoured by the Chinese emperor. Qin used these words: "Use your enemies weapon against him, for it will kill him as surely as it will kill you, but the blood tastes sweeter when his own weapons hurt him." So far, King Louis XXXV has not used his weapon on a real enemy, and the words of Qin are unproven.

Great merchant Zhang Qian has wandered around the world in search of worthy trade partners, and is now returning to Louis with reports on his findings to the King. Louisiana is buzzing with the news and great expectations about his return are ripe.

Still, the Kingdom of Louis remains a happy place where people are well-fed, taken care of, and crime is non-existant with the Sons of Zoroaster patrolling the streets. King Louis XXXV has gained the throne in a time of peace and plenty..



..but he is prepared for the dark prophecy of the Oracle.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The Royal historian of the Kingdom of Netherlands finishes his tome of recent history. Some passages of interest

... Kirsten, Queen of Netherlands traveled to Ice Island to investigate the rumors that the daughter of Greita, King Christofoor's strongest rival was alive and sowing dissent. The Queen's investigation revealed that there were many SoJ officers that had in fact seen the so called daughter of Greita, named Giselle, and that she had died many years ago, bearing a single son, named Aander. The name of the father of this Aander is unknown, and no one has seen or heard from them since. It is rumored that they were able to book passage to the New World aboard Norse ships, where they intend to remain hidden from the King and Queen's wrath...

... After many decades of exploring, and battling against barbarians, the men of Captain's brigade have finally returned home, first division in history to have done the impossible, completed the famous quest of the 18 tribes and returned home alive to tell the tale. Of course the original men, including the mighty Captain himself have long ago passed into the Nether, but their spirit and training lives on in their Axeman division, an elite woodsman force. They were celebrated in River Village as heroes, given parades and all manners of honors were heaped upon them. Medals ribbons and riches as well as their pick of women to share their beds. But their rest was brief, sweet though it was, as they were sent quickly on another mission to Ice Island...

... Much rumor has been made over the birth, of Christiansen, sole heir to the throne of Netherlands, as it occured in secret and no one has ever known who the father of Christiansen is. Even his name has caused much speculation, as it seems to be a combination of the King and Queen's name, that Christiansen is actually the son of the Queen's twin brother, King Christiaan himself. There has even been speculation that the father was exiled, or the poor wretch may actually have been put to death, or languished to his end in some deep dark dungeon...Of course the subject is not discussed in polite company and the topic is banned from official discussion. The only official Royal statement on the matter is that The King and Queen thought it was best, given that there was only one heir, to keep the title to the throne free from any clouds of competition, or confusion of title. For this reason, the father of Christiansen will remain forever anonymous, generously provided for by the Crown, while the King will refrain from producing any heir that could potentially cloud the title and give hereditary rule over to some other family. It is not known exactly how the King has managed to refrain from producing an heir, but the subject is not discussed in polite company...

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The reign of the annointed twins, King Christiaan and Kirsten, first Queen of Netherlands is over. Power was passed without fanfare or disturbance to Kirsten's only son Christiansen, who is now the third reigning King of Netherlands.

King Christiansen issues a proclamation, his first public statement since taking the throne.

I am Christiansen, son of Queen Kirsten, and rightful hereditary ruler of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Kingdom of Netherlands has grown rich through trade, and wishes to acquire the services of all manner of men, Workers, fighters and settlers from all over the world. Please contact our diplomatic offices with your terms and prices.

To those tribes that must cross the waters of Netherlands to reach the great ocean and the New world beyond it, Norsemen, Rus, and Allemania, I say that Netherlands shall offer you a fair price for safe passage through our lands, just as France once offered us terms for passage through theirs, and England offers passage through their waters to the New world at a price. To those among you who have already reached an agreement with us, we congratulate you and welcome you to our waters.

I have determined that the system of slavery engaged in by my forefathers was barbaric and harmful to the populace. This system has kept my people in constant turmoil and fear for their lives at the hands of the slavemaster's whips and the overseers blades in the rebellion battles that have plagued my land. I have decided that it is far greater to devise a new system of labor, where each subject of the Crown is given a specific job and station so that no one is enslaved again. I am calling this system a Caste system and instituting it in Netherlands. I invite other lands who find this system useful to imitate our example. I expect there will be some turmoil while the people adjust to the new order, but I am confident that the transition will be bloodless and I look forward to a new day in Netherlands.

King Christiansen of Netherlands

[France (DoB)]

The Oracle Prophecy fulfilled!

A child is born in Africanus, in a city of Greek descent. His birth heralded by earthquakes and thunderstorms, wailing winds and stars falling from the sky! His name is Hindu - and they follow him wherever he goes! Woe upon the world! Greece has given birth to a new religious following! Already a Grand Mausoleum has been built in his honor - a preparation that marks a scary turn of events among the tribes. What will Greece do next? Fall upon Rome? Attack Byzantine? Destroy Persia with their new religion? Woe upon the tribes - Hellenic power is rising!

Now people are waiting for the next prophecy to be fulfilled. Iron and Wolves, what does it mean? What does it mean?

[Russia (DoB)]

"Are you as mad as the french? Those ships do not belong to us! How will they be fed?"

"But, my Czar, they appealed to our faith as good Muslim-"

"SILENCE!"

"..."



"Return them, all of them, at once! I will not risk war with Nether! They have ever been friendly towards us and I do NOT wish to anger them. Have the Alemannian ships return to Berlin. I will send for the scriveners to mark down an explanation of this travesty and hope against hope that the Nether do not see this as an act of war!"

[Netherlands (DoB)]

King Christiansen looked up from the letter in his hands.

"So the Czar of Rus has shown himself to be a faithful and powerful ally"

"Yes my King" said the messenger

"Then the world will know that Rus treats well her friends. So now then I must write two letters. Let us hope that reason triumphs over pride and vanity"

"Yes my King, it sometimes does"

[England (DoB)]

King Loius XXXV,

May your rule be long and prosperous as was your father's. Your interest in the martial arts are well known, and with full normalization of relations it may be possible for a selected number of your men to train with the powerful new English weaponry called the crossbow that will in time render the axe wielding legions of this age obsolete. However, should you wish to truly test French mettle, we invite you to join our crusade to suppressed the final holdout of the Children of Barbarious in the distant New World.

-Queen Elizabeth I

[France (DoB)]

A stern-faced messenger is sent to Rus:

To the Czar of Rus.

I expect a formal apology for your gross misuse and insult upon the name and tribe of Louis in your correspondance with Nether.

-King Louis XXXV

A smiling, flower-scented messenger of great beauty is sent to England:

To Queen Elizabeth,

Your gift to my father was appreciated, the words of your increase in arms and willigness to share this does interest. Have you seen the new Bordeaux blades recently invented in France? Perhaps we shall face eachother in a friendly bout some day? You are rumoured to be quite the swordswoman from all accounts.

-King Louis XXXV

A dust-covered man comes to King Louis on his Golden Throne:

Great King,

The Legion is ready.

-General Pierre.

[Japan (DoB)]

Aiko, Empress of Japan has implemented a strict rule after her husband took leave of his own and left for the courts of courtesans and madmen with too much power making their head spin. A new rule based on beauty and proper behaviour has affirmed her tribe as a courteous and honorable people. Fair to friends and merciless to enemies.

While borders are patrolled by experienced axe and sword companies, with new companies being trained and tested against the villages of Barbarous. In the mainland proper, and the Isle of Japan itself, peace is a household name, and the hardworking people are happy. From the highborn merchant to the lowest of fishermen.



Rivers bring forth fish, as does the sea filled with crabs and clams. Valuable trade commodities that earn many mouths their food, while prayers from the High priest of Christ recently ordained in the Capitol of Kyoto gethers the faithful in the thousands for each daily evening sermon.

-recorded in Kyoto library, AD 580, year of the soaring hawk.