Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 16 - July 2013]

[Sommerswerd]

Domination of Barbarians [Diplo Game] [Story Thread 16 - July 2013]

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]

These were strange times. Some said it was an evil curse, others claimed it was the doing of the Gods. An unprecedented event was experienced worldwide. For an indeterminable period of time, all activity in the world came to a stop and everyone and everything was suspended in a perpetual dreamlike state, barely conscious, but still midly aware of the passage of time...yet, time was not passing. Scholars from all over the world are still attempting to fully explain this phenomenon, but this strange period of history has come to be known in many languages as "The Days When Time Stood Still." Great Artists found ways to depict the spirit of general malaise and timelessness that characterized this period of history.



The Barbarian Wars continue, with no end in sight. Through the power of the Apostolic Palace, England has United the entire civilized world against the Roman tribe of Barbarians. What was once a conflict limited to the Islamic nations is now joined by embargoes, blockades, declarations of War and outright military action by Persia, Spain, England, Greece, China, and Netherlands.

Still, the ancient Roman tribe holds on to life, withstanding assault from the assembled power of the civilized world, fighting back with Catapult barrages that send the civilized Nations running for cover. Even Romes, ancient Praetorian Legions are brought to bear in a last valiant but ultimately doomed defense. How long the stalwart Roman tribe can last in the face of these unspeakable odds, only time will tell.

The Viking barbarian tribe is also a people on the brink, but standing defiant in the face of overwhelming odds. The unlucky Vikings find themselves besieged by a joint invasion of the English and Netherlands, who have inexplicably managed to set aside their differences long enough to attack the Vikings.



The Netherlands has even introduced a new weapon into the theater, the War Elephant. These mammoths are particularly effective against other mounted units, and may be just the answer to the dominance of the peerless Grecian Knight, but these titans have yet to meet on the battlefield... as yet the Elephants have only been deployed against the Viking barbarian tribe. Nevertheless, the proud and powerful Viking capital has been able to repel the assault, for now, after losing their last remaining expansion.



The Russian barbarian tribe was not as lucky, however. Invaded fiercely by Holy Roma, Greece, and Ottomans, they were surrounded, outmatched and did not stand a chance. Finally after a steady blitz of invaders raced to carve up the Russian into new lands for themselves, the final Russian settlement was surrounded and put to the torch by the Ottomans. Russia is no more.

Even the once mighty French barbarian tribe was not immune to a similar fate. So desperate was the race to claim the shining jewel of the ruined French nation, Paris, that War broke out between the Holy Roma and Netherlands invaders. In the end, an agreement was reached, and Holy Roma won the rights to finish off France and claim the spoils. Now the European continent is dominated by Holy Roma influence, but it is an unsteady hold that Holy Roma has, as the cultural and ethnic roots of the nearby powers are much older and much stronger than hers. Already many of Holy Roma's conquests have rebelled and joined the nearby cultural powers. Holy Roma is finding that Europe can not be tamed by strength of arms alone.

A lesson being learned by Holy Rome is also proving to be a harsh mistress for even all powerful Greece, as Greece is seeing the people rise up and throw off her yoke in areas of cultural, ethnic, and religious turmoil. Still, the core of the Grecian economic engine, the Nile, is continuing to thrive and support the military and colonial expansions of Greece. And with her technological advantage, it is doubtful that any nation will be able to change this in the near future.




However, the Middle East and Africa are not a simple matter of Greek hegemony. Spain has a new leader, the brilliant military tactician Generalissima Ines. She has seized control of the technologically advanced nation and refocused the people on military rather than cultural strength. Through her leadership, Spain has taken much of the land previously held by Rome and stands poised to ignite the riches of Africa into an economic explosion that promises to rival even that of Greece.

But Spain has not stopped there. Still stinging from the humiliation and subjugation inflicted by Portugal, Spain, under their new leader have made a power play to take the land of civilized Portugal as well as barbarian Rome. All the while Ricardo of Portugal is missing and has yet to show himself since the Days When Time Stood Still.

Persia has experienced a golden age of their own, and with their new alliance with China, their technological leap forward, and their fresh new leadership under a hungry young Sultan, it is possible that soon the Middle East may have two great powers to watch.

[Sommerswerd]

Headship / Royal Lineages of the World

Civilized Nations

Spain
Generalissima Ines, usurper of Gran Duquessa Catalina de Valencia de Catalunya, successor to Gran Duquessa Himilce de Olónico de Catalunya, Princess of Spain, Aunt of Astor

Portugal
Ricardo Araujo Leader of the Jesuit Order, usurper of Pedro Machuka, son of Porto & Portu, husband and wife

Netherlands
King Karl, descendant of the old Kings and usurper of Minister Selashen, representative of King Christiansen, son of Queen Kirsten, joint ruler with King Christiaan twin daughter and son respectively of King Christofoor, first King of Netherlands, unifyer of 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 Durukan Hamdi emerging from the Age of Silence following the rule of Head Chieftain Bedri Ayhan

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

England
Queen Elizabeth the Immortal

Persia
Sultan Arsalan, son of Malik-Shah, son of Jafar annointed Caliph and successor to Princess Boran, successor to Arsaces XLV, successor of 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

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

Holy Roma
Lotharius rex King of the Sacred Roman Empire, sucessor to Caroli Magni

Barbarian Tribes
(Wild Barbarians)
-- The Children of Barbarous the Expelled - Warriors, Spearmen, Axemen, Archers, Galleys and Swordsmen sighted

(Organized Barbarians)-- Norsemen - Barbarian King Ragnar II, following the rule of Harald Hardrada, son of Chief Ragnar

-- Celtia - Barbarian Lord Brennus II, following the rule of Celtics people, in the absence of King Brennus, returning conqueror of King Ire, imprisoner of Lord Chieftain Brennus & Aithe

-- Arabia - Unknown ruler following the rule of His Emminence Mohammed V, following the Arabian exodous and subsequent exile of Grand Ayatollah Kulayni, ending the joint rule of 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 - Unknown ruler following the rule of Imperator Augustus, successor to The Council of Rome, ruling following the abdication of 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

-- Germany - Unknown ruler following the rule of Alemanni the 1st Successor, to Herman

-- Japan - Unknown ruler following the exile of Empress Aiko (wife of Qin Shi Huang the Eternal of China), proclaimed Empress following the death of her brother, 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

-- Byzantium (Destroyed by Greece) - Unknown ruler following the rule of Emperor Leopold, successor to Justinian II, successor to the Tribal Chieftains, successors to Leader Justinian I, son of Leader Constantine

-- Russia (Destroyed by Ottomans) - Barbarian Czar Kir Stepanovich, son of Czar Stepan Yakovnic, son of Czar Yakov Antonovich, son of Czar Anton Konstantinovich, son of Katarina Konstantinskaia First interim Czarina of the Rus Empire, successor to Czar Konstantin Simonovich, brother of Czar Leonid Simonovich, successor to Czar Simon the Lover, 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

-- France (Destroyed by Holy Roma)- Unknown ruler following the rule of Abraham, Informal Leader of the Advisory Council, following the assassination of King Louis XXXV the Kingdom, successor to King Louis XXXIV the all-seeing all-knowing all-hearing friend and High protector of the world, successor to King Louis XXXIII the Omniscient, son of King Louis XXXII the Benevolent, successor to King Louis XXXI the Quaker, successor to King Louis XXX the Isolationist, successor to King Louis XXIX the Unfortunate, successor to King Louis XXVIII the Traveller, successor to King Louis XXVII the Arbiter, successor following the assasination of King Louis XXVI the Beloved, 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

[Persia (DoB)]

They marched with a single purpose, to end all enemy threat.
From the valleys and hills to the field, of glory and foe's retreat.



So they marched with their heavy armor, it did not defend them at all.
The Praetorian Guard were all valiant, the Roman Legion uncounted,
the walls of Yehudim unbroken, until Arsalan's Doom came with dawn.

[Netherlands (DoB)]

A solitary rider arrives in the camp of the King. Breathless from his run and night-long ride he can barely hold his breath as he struggles to relay the message between gasps... but he knows that every second counts

"My King" he gasps, breathing heavy "Tonsberg is retaken by the Vikings chariots divisions, just as you said it would be. There were no casualties. The y have moved spears up to keep our Horsemen from retaking it. All of our men were out of the city as you ordered. A second detachment armed with axes and swords moves south from the city to reinforce them. Now what shall we do?"

The King sat on his horse listening to the kneeling scout. When the man finished, he simply nodded his head and wheeled his horse around to face a second scout, freshly rested and astride a horse, ready to ride.

"They have taken the bait. Give the order"



Without a word, the scout kicked his bootheels into the sides of his mount and headed West in a cloud of dust. His destination is the city of Fire Mountain, on the North Atlantic coast..

[Holy Roma (DoB)]

Dressed as a merchant spy writhed under the heavy blows of the secret police sergeant King Lothar.
- Start talking - said Sergeant Carl the human pulp on the floor.
- I had orders to keep track of when King Lothar goes to his hunting palace and if you see it immediately to convey the message to my boss.
- Who is he.
- He presents a traveling fortune teller and is located in the pub lame donkey. Please mercy.
- You're in a place where mercy is not requested and not given.
Sergeant Karl out of the basement and asked his deputy to form a team to capture the soothsayer. "To whom do these carrion," he thought.

[Greece (DoB)]

We thank the Holy Roma for giving us back the keys from our city gates.

[Greece (DoB)]

News have come from the north that Netherlands is on its way to launch is final assault against the Vikings capital. An Greek observer is being sent to observer this action.

In the west, a Greek knights division is being stationed in the Spanish capital to assist with anything needed.

News have arrived from the east that the Ottomans have declared war on Japan. It would be interesting to see how this campaign develops against the barbarian state of Japan.

In the south it looks like Persia is fighting on multiple fronts against Rome and Portugal.

[Persia (DoB)]

Public scroll proclaimed to the people in Adrianople:

Salaam Aleikum.

The good Sultan Arsalan tells you all to be brave and productive. Rome has lost a settlement to our superior forces and we march on their newly inherited leadership to annihilate them. In the far east Japan is under attack by Persian, Ottoman and Chinese forces. Our brave bolt companies besiege Kawamura supported by chinese swordsmen.

From the far north we learn that a Nether army is on the verge of destroying the Vikings capitol of old. England is once more at peace with Rome, following the Greek defiance of the Apostolic Palace resolution to halt all trade and unify in a declaration of war against Rome.

The Academies of Aleppo and Phrada welcome new students who wish to learn the trades and talks of thought. Our barracks now seek all children between five and ten to learn the art of war. Defend our nation! Defend your family! Join the barracks today!

The Qadi of Adrianople gives the following decree:
Jazeem ibn Arsham is to be decapitated for the crime of rape and murder tomorrow morning.
Tiran Al-Moud is sentenced to lose his hand for the crime of stealing later today.
Oktay ibn Akhan is to be decapitated for the crime of stealing from the royal treasury tomorrow morning.

Next moon will mark the coming of age of our Sultan's eldest son. A celebration lasting for a week to begin at dawn following the moon's turn.

Aleikum Salaam.

[Portugal (DoB)]

Ricardo's carrack hit the Lisbon's harbor's old wooden posts and only a single look was enough to tell him something is very very wrong. "This trip to Africa will have some huge price to pay for my nation it seems" He thought sadly.

"Why are all those Spanish soldiers starving my capitol? Why are all my soldiers dead? And most important how it came that we are at war with Spain who agreed we are right to ask for rightful rent for our lands which are used by the Spaniards? How low is to agree when you are about to lose half your empire and we to spare them for them agreeing to pay to repair the unjustice they did for so long stealing our land, and then, when I went away the Spaniards come and attack us? If they were not OK with what was our conditions back then, why they just did not rejected them?

And why are our old friends Greece, who promised us they will be our allies if we let them settle in America and always fight on our side, how are they also in war with us??? It seems old friends are just as bad as new ones. How it happened that our newest friends Persia, who gave us official non-aggression pact and resources and many-words-thanking for us making them favors, how they are at war and attacking our units? Isn't there at least one decent ruler around us?"


Something which he had heard in Africa while dealing and fighting with the Romans came to Ricardo's mind: "Oh, tempora, oh, mores"

[Spain (DoB)]

Leaders of Portugal,

These are the Catalunyan demands to accept immediate peace from your nation:

The City of Oporto
The City of Coimbra
The City of Evora
The City of St. Julien
1500 Pieces of Gold
10 turns forced Peace Treaty

If you agree to these terms, we agree to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw our troops from the vicinity of Lisbon. If, however, you do not agree to these terms, Lisbon will be invaded and taken under our custody, and the war continues for 5 more turns. We can not imagine that any other offer you may give us is satisfactory in light of your obvious intents to raze Valencia. You may try to give us a counteroffer if you wish, but do not try to play us for fools if you do. We are aware of the fact that you may cause problems for our captured Roman colonies, but we are willing to take that risk as Lisbon is a far better city than the cities you threaten to capture or raze with your armies in the south of Africa.

Your claims that Catalunya agreed that you had a just cause in demanding rent for your lands are simply ridiculous, as you very well know. The Gran Duquessa had no other choice than to accept your terms, as the only other option was the heart and soul of our Duchy burnt to the ground by your horrid intentions to slaughter millions of people, among them hundreds of thousands of faithful Christians. We can only hope that in the future your people carefully consider who they decide to declare war upon, as this would never have happened had you not decided to attack us in the most treacherous and ungodly manner you did.

We await your response.

Generalissima Ines of Catalunya

[Portugal (DoB)]

"Not only cowards to bow and agree to our terms, but also lying brood it seems we are about to deal with. How quick they forgot and denied they agreed that rent must be paid for the use of the Portuguese land:

...And since now pay us the same 10 gold pieces sum per turn per Portuguese land they use.

Catalunia accepts the Portugese peace terms with immediate effect.

There is more to add to being cowards and word- breakers those Catalunians. They are also greedy and cruel ones to ask for our cities. What for? How we owe you our cities? What reason beside bottomless greed you can put forward for asking for so much cities? To use those cities and produce more units to be able to come 10 turns later and blackmail us again?

Beware, Catalunians, you cowardly liars, you, fighters with the absent ones, victors of the dead dog, you will see what the horrors of the war can bring you, just you wait a bit. Hopefully you have mourned your victims already, as you will not have the time in the future to weep for all of them."

This Ricardo Araujo of Portugal said and spat behind his shoulder.

[Persia (DoB)]

Messenger arrives from Arteshban Ilderim to Sultan Arsalan: "Walls breached, by sunset the city is ours."

[Netherlands (DoB)]

The taking of Nidaros, the destruction of Vikings and death of Barbarian King Ragnar II- by Netherlands Historian

After laying the siege to the Viking capital for many months, King Karl seemingly gave up and called the siege off. This trick was so convincing, that even the silly English issued a statement mocking Netherlands for giving up the siege, it seems that even they were fooled by the gambit.

King Karl order his whole army to move south to the Baltic-Northsea and board ships in Tonsberg. Only Karl and his regiments of horse archers would remain in Scandinavia. Moving his forces south accomplish many important goals for the King. The negotiations for newly revolted Paris were stalled and the Holy Roma had moved their entire mighty forces to threaten Netherlands homelands. Moving the bulk of the Army back to the capital brought Holy Roma back to the negotiating table and in the end a quick settlement was reached giving Paris to Netherlands permanently.

But this was only a side effect of the main plan. The primary goal was to lure the Vikings to divide their forces, leaving the Capital more lightly defended. And this works like a charm. As soon as the King's army moves away from Nidaros, a detachment of two Sword divisions was sent out by the barbarian King to march on the English held city of Upsala. As soon as they are out in the open, they are cut down by bolts from the Kings crossbows.



There are still many defenses in the capital, this is only a minor victory and the beginning of the grand plan. So the troops march south and defeat the forces that leave the hills near the viking capital. Then they all board the ships in Tonsberg and abandon the city appearing to leave Scandinavia for Netherlands capital. Once they are in Netherlands, they wait in the harbor, re-supply and secretly board the ships again, setting sail for the Father Mountain range on the tip of Scandinavia. There they wait, the whole fleet hidden by the majestic mountains for word from the King.

The Barbarian Ragnar II, thinks that the soldiers of Netherlands Kingdom are gone and Tonsberg has been abandoned, so he sends a large force of Swordsmen, along with all his Axemen south to capture Tonsberg. He even send all his Spearmen, as he know that the King Karl himself and all his brave Horsemen are remaining in Scandinavia to cover the withdrawl from Tonsberg. Once Tonsberg is captured, Ragnar II sees that it is not just the King and his personal horsemen in the hills near Tonsberg, but several divisions of horsemen. Ragnar II quickly sends more swordsmen from the Viking capital out south to reinforce Tonsberg from counterattack. This leaves only a few defenders, archers and swordsmen left in the capital.



Once Tonsberg is captured, King Karl sends word, and the main Army sets sail, hidden from view. They sail around the tip of Scandinavia and land in Fire-pass in the hills south of Nidaros, blocking the only route between Tonsberg and Nidaros. The trap is sprung! The reinforcements sent to Tonsberg are cut off from returning to the Viking capital, and now the small Nidaros garrison is staring at the bulk of the Netherlands army along with a full force of siege weaponry. The detachment from Nidaros has no choice but to flee to Tonsberg as they are cut off from their capital.

Once the forces are in place, the horn is sounded and the catapults unleash fire and stone upon the Viking stronghold, followed shortly after by the thundering sound of the fearsome War elephants. Any man who was not singed by the catapult fire is crushed underfoot by the massive Elephant.

Nidaros has fallen!



Once the capital is taken, the army marches south through fire pass for the final confrontation at Tonsberg. How fitting for the final showdown to be here, the sight of the original insult against Netherlands. Here Ragnar I founded an offensive city right on the Netherlands border, and here is where the Viking Norseman civilization would meet their end. The ancient and legendary regiment of Jarl Ulfr, oldest in the Viking army is powerless to stop what is coming, as they are across the Baltic in eastern Europe as Netherlands march on Tonsberg. They can only see the fires in the city as catapult fire rains down on the defenders on last time.



King Karl is in the brave Vanguard and he leads the charge through the ruined defenses. Soon, just as in Nidaros, the last remnants are crushed under the mighty feet of Netherlands Elephants, until only one remains. Ragnar II, the barbarian King steps forward, and without a word, Jumbo, the most powerful of the Elephants steps on him, crushing his chest like an ant. Thus was he forever known as "Jumbo the Kingslayer."



Once the battle is over, Victorious King Karl dismounts and stands to address the whole Army, with words of pride and gratitude that stir the men to a rousing roar of whoops and cheers. Tonsberg is theirs, Nidaros has fallen, Ragnar II is dead, the Vikings are destroyed, and Netherlands is victorious!

[Persia (DoB)]

He walkes through the streets when a messenger comes running; "My Sultan..." he speaks without a breath left in his body from the hard run. Arsalan speaks to him in a quiet, commanding voice to be calm. The messenger looks up, presenting the roll to him with a face pale with dread. He reads the roll, eyes going large with the implications therein. Looking up, he speaks softly, as to himself. "Allah have mercy."



He returned to his home, summoning his scribe.