Ambassadors, please check in

[Shiber]

Do we want to approach ND ourselves (that is, without GoW being middlemen) and ask them to set a chat date? Or do we want to wait for the joint GS+GoW+ND chat to first discuss this issue with ND?
I suggest that we talk to ND about this before the joint chat. This kind of issue shouldn't be brought in a 3-party chat, or else things might get 2 vs. 1 on the matter of control over Bobian soil, where we end up being the unlucky 1.

[DeepO]

Lego chat postponed for at least another day: it's too late to start one now (at least for me it is). And perhaps its better to wait after the ND one has passed anyway

DeepO

[notyoueither]

Anyone heard from alva lately?

[notyoueither]

Damn. alva has been away since the 14th. We seem to have a confused history of contact with them since June.

OPD, could you jump in and contact Darekill and Borc?

Let them know you are back up for... whoever is supposed to contact them (make a joke of it). Try to schedule a chat ASAP. Friday 1800GMT can be done by me. You?

They seem to be carrying themselves very well. We are impressed. How serious is that war? What are their objectives? We want to keep in closer touch with them and nye is terribly sorry to have missed Darekill in chat on Sunday.

Anything else?

[notyoueither]

Shiber, what is your take on ND? I would like OPD to ride point on this, if that is OK with you. He is very good at pumping information.

[Shiber]

I'll probably have much less free time in the upcoming days due to RL, so if OPD wants to replace me, that's fine with me.
In fact, I encourage it. I think we need to have the same bunch of people as our contacts with all the parties involved in this war.

[OPD]

cheers nye I guess people trust me far too much.
I can't make Friday 1800 gmt but have read in another thread that Zeit probably can.

[OPD]

UnO wants to talk today at 1800 gmt (3 way chat). I can make it but don't want to w/o nye or someone else there?????

[DeepO]

I can most likely make it, if I hurry from work.

DeepO

[zeit]

"GoW ambassador Zeit, reporting for duty!"

I'll be there...

[OPD]

ok will pm UnO to confirm

[notyoueither]

Diplo position on the pending Grand Alliance.

We do not want to let slip that RP and we are allied to the extent that we will be, that is for sure. No quicker way to unite all the other civs into a 3v2 than that.

So, what do we do? What is our position, publically? With GoW (this one is critical). ND, and Lego (important as well). I suggest that...

With GoW: We told you we want on to Bob as we deem certain areas as vital to our security. RP has agreed that we are welcome on Bob. Unfortunately, ND did not see things our way, so they will now pay the price. We have no quarrel with you, leave our lands in the East alone, and go on your way. Bilbao, Toledo, and New Madrid are to go to the Storm [we should not mention the extent, but indicate that we have interests in addition to Bilbao]. What is the price that ND will pay? That we will defend Espana against them, to this we are pledged.

To ND: Too bad, so sad. We tried to talk with you. We tried to get you to see that our concerns re Bob were legitimate. Our concerns were ignored. We are pledged to defend RP lands vs your aggression. We understand if that means war between us. Let us not hate, let us fight if we must, and then share a drink in Valhalla.

To Lego: We have secured concessions on the East coast of Bob that are to our long term advantage for strategic defense. We are pleased. In return, we are pledged to defend RP lands. We hope this does not displease you.

Publically: The Star Chamber of the Council of the Storm [or change that to the uptight, titled body of your choice] is dismayed by the plight of the Spanish people. We have received assurances that the armies of the Storm are welcome on Bob by the Nobles and people of Spain, and we rejoice. In friendship with the crown and the people of Spain we pledge ourselves to the defence of their realm, and to the protection of his holiness [insert RP pope here].

That's about all I can think of at the moment. The task is that we ease into this new position on Bob. We do not alarm GoW, and we certainly leave Lego feeling like secure little builders if we can.

Possibly, GoW will reconsider their position and withdraw to look greedily at ND land. I am not counting on it, but we should not discourage it.

Above all. We let on to no-one the extent of the Treaty with RP that is in the works. That is the critical bit.

Comments? Ideas?

[Shiber]

I like it, especially the Lego bit. Tell them what they want to hear: that we'll be balancing Bob and their intervention won't be necessary, so that they can keep to themselves.

[asleepathewheel]

I like that framework.

We might avoid public statements that we have converted to Catholicism (or whatever religion they have)-might be too far.

Maybe just talk about exchanging bishops or something, that we are either in a situation analogous to the catholics/eastern orhodox situation and are working together, or that its a relatively new regligion, but the fastest growing in Stormia, (faster growing than islam, take that nd!)
I don't' know, but I would be careful on how to word that stuff.

Lego will probably like this war, since everyone but them is involved, so I don't see them caring that much. We know they have a pact not to attack RP until 1000ad, but that doesn't mean they won't cause any mischief-maybe even some horsetrading like we are doing. doubtful though.

GoW-they had their chance for us to be on their side, now they have one final chance to be on our side.

ND-earlier proposal was laughable. bah.

[notyoueither]

re the Pope, our pledge to protect him is not a statement of our converting. It is a statement that GS is a religiously tolerant society and that we can well see our responsiblity to protect an institution important to so many people.

Besides, Frater Ralphus is about the receive a Cardinal's hat. They are growing among us.