The Sands of Time - MoT diplomacy thread

[RexLegend]

Ah, but you never did request that we do so.

To the other diplomats

You see their bloodthirsty nature? They attack the polish for no reason other than to loot their lands. Surely the world must come together in arms against these madmen.

Spare your words, snake. War with Poland was inevitable since their King has been somewhat quite hostile against us. No-one likes unsafe rear-front while fighting in the Great War.

I would say the Danes were now showing their true colors but I suspect all of us were aware their bloodthirsty nature, not much slaked since their destruction of Norway, was bound to come out again.

See how quick they are to declare war without provocation, giving diplomats only a few days to respond to their threatening message. A message obviously sent in bad faith, given their prepared forces off the coast of Scotland. We can only be glad we did not reply quicker with messages of peace, as they would only use the time to prepare an even larger attack and betrayal.

It is with sad hearts that we find ourselves aligned with Muslims against those of the true faith. But when it is the infidels who show themselves closer to the spirit of Christ and the so called christians betray the trust of their coreligionists and attack their peaceful neighbors, what choice do we have?

Head bowed and moveing slowly as if weighted with a great burden, the diplomat makes the sign of the cross and sits back down.

Oh, so nice... Traitor of his own faith talking about betrayal. Don't you think it's christian duty to answer to call against infidel invaders? You did really help, by invading christian itself!
Large amount of armies heading towards Bruges with possible intention of invading Antwerp while having notable numbers of fleets to transport back to island. What do you think how it looks like? A provocation.

Enough of wasting words now. It doesn't change anything....

[phonicsmonkey]

Ibn-Battutah rises and, with a significant look to his Rus counterpart, begins to speak.

It is a grave misfortune that our lack of communication has caused there to be conflict between us.

We hereby publicly reconfirm our commitment to the non-aggression pact signed between our Caliph and your Tsar, despite recent events. This was your request and we understand that having fulfilled it there will be no further trouble betwixt our nations.

However, we urge you to make your own declaration - of neutrality in our war with the Italians and Germans. Indeed, join us in our struggle!

[Myth]

The Sicillian waves a hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Indeed, join you as your hordes become more numerous, your provinces richer and you still hold Jerusalem. Quite well for your lot, and in the end, you shall betray them just as you have betrayed us. Anyone can plainly see your path to domination of Europe and the Levante."

[phonicsmonkey]

The well-travelled qadi laughs.

Yes, inshallah, right through your lands and those of your ally! No need to go further north...

[Myth]

"You must believe everyone else here to be daft, for them not to see how close you truly are to achieving the domination of the region. Once you have what you want, north or south will be irrelevant. And talk not to me of your false God!"

[Nigel]

The Lithuanian diplomat receives a set of papers. After reading through them, he stands to speak, addressing the diplomat of the Moorish Caliphate.


Honourable Fārūq Zulficar, with all respect, but the recent advancements of the Moorish army have reached a point, where the expansion of the Moorish empire has to be regarded as a threat to every other nation. Therefore, in the interest of maintaining the balance of power in Europe, Lithuania has to request that the Moors stop further advances and withdraw from the Germanic cities. Otherwise, Lithuania will have no other option but to enter the war.

[Nightbringer]

The Lithuanian diplomat receives a set of papers. After reading through them, he stands to speak, addressing the diplomat of the Moorish Caliphate.


Honourable Fārūq Zulficar, with all respect, but the recent advancements of the Moorish army have reached a point, where the expansion of the Moorish empire has to be regarded as a threat to every other nation. Therefore, in the interest of maintaining the balance of power in Europe, Lithuania has to request that the Moors stop further advances and withdraw from the Germanic cities. Otherwise, Lithuania will have no other option but to enter the war.

The Moors will certainly withdraw from their Germanic holdings as soon as the war is over. However, to do so now would be most foolish, and surely you realize your demand is absurd in the midst of a war.

Should Swabia and the Danes beg for peace, then a large portion of their possessions may be restored, as we are not fighting this war for their lands, but so long as they continue to insist upon fighting we shall continue to seize their property so as to induce them to relent.

I encourage Lithuania to remain neutral. If this war in Germania is truly your concern, then you must realize it was the Swabians and Danes who declared war upon us. True, they were aiding their ally Sicily against whom we were the aggressors, but blame can hardly be put upon the Moors for our success in Europe.

[Nigel]

Your words, noble Fārūq Zulficar, are well received and your notion of re-instating occupied territories to their initial rulers after the war is an honourable one – even if I have not yet seen it ever happen in the short time as diplomat in Constantinople. But Lithuania applauds you for bringing forth the concept and hopes for the best.

Meanwhile, it shall also be known that Lithuania considers Scandinavia and Swabia to have good and just cause for their fight, taken up in defence of their ally and in the protection of his rights.

Regarding Poland, it appears that Senior Duke Boguslaw has manuevered himself into an unfortunate situation. While he has been aggressively expanding the Polish borders, he seemed not to have realized that the powers around him were forming strong alliances. Now, there is nothing wrong with aggressive expansion as such – even if you Christian lords might disagree with that notion – but it has led to a situation where Poland is perceived as a threat and potential source of instability by the neighbouring lands. Therefore Lithuanian troops are now moving into position at the borders and will take control of Warszaw, unless a diplomatic initiative from the Polish Senior Duke can successfully convince his neighbours that they can be safe from Polish armies invading their unguarded borders.

Also, it appears that the peace between Kiev and the Fatimid Sultanate was a rather brittle construction and has now fallen apart in a cloud of dust.

You continue to violate our terms, we can abide no longer. Kiev and the Fatmids are now at war and one city have already fallen to our might.
Give up Caesara, Constantinople and all towns, cities and castles in between and there shall be peace again.

We hope, Great Ibn-Battutah, that your hospitality here in Constantinople is of stronger material – and the walls of your palace, too.

[Mithridate]

Dissaproving, the Kievan rose again from the dark rear rows after having just read his two letters

Surely word travel quickly to reach these halls before even I receive my news and orders, our compliments to your spies throughout the realms.
Indeed, every word you speak is true but it needs to be said that the Kievan are reasonable as well as mighty.

Turning toI bn-Battutah, with a stout expression and stern gaze he continued:

When you blockaded our ports you violated our agreements, you payed dearly for that and in our honorable folly we forgave you and peace was thought to prosper. Yet barely a year later you occupy our lands after we specifically told you that it would mean war, in our folly we held our anger and gave you one last warning.

A warning you ignored.

With one fluid motion the Kievan drew a short sword from his robe, dramatically pointing it directly at the somewhat distant Ibn-Battutah to the dismay of those present.

No longer shall we stay our hands, Constantinople is to be ours and to be defended by a new Varangian guard while the Fatmid are to withdraw back to Antioch and beyond. Sicily is to be given all land south and west of the city under the condition of immidiate peace. Isparta and Caesara along with the cities in between are to become Kievan. Do this and you shall have peace while still being allowed a representative, do not and we will burn your lands around you as we enslave your people in the ways of old.

With the last sentences the Kievan lowered the short sword looking at the alarmed guards posited at the ready, with a sigh he cut his left palm and squeezed a small puddle of blood on the floor.

By my blood, the blood of the grand prince i swear this. Further dealings will be at the point of swords and strokes of axes unless you give us what we demand.

With that, he turned and began to leave the hall with a menacing look and sword still in hand

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

@phonicsmonkey

[Nightbringer]

Hmm, and I thought you said you were reasonable. You sound more bloodthirsty to me.

[RexLegend]

Our minds and swords are with our Lithuanian and Kievan brothers, who have joined to our cause in defense of Old World agains Muslim invaders. May Old gods of Lithuania and our common god of Kievan grant them strength to withstand and drive out hordes of infidels. And may God have mercy on Sicilians, who suffer heavy casualities from both sides.

Recent victories have made King of Scandinavia to bring out his plans. We lay the claim on entire Britannia, to bring back to life the Knut's North Sea Empire and fulfil the Nordic goals of old. We are asking King Ralph to cede all his territories to Nordic possession and leave last territory of London without garrison. We promise no harm to local people then. If you refuse, then take up your arms and show what you've got!

Dear Fārūq Zulficar, complaining about others being bloodthirsty is ridiculous. Do you really think Kievans should sit and do nothing while Fatimids are on rampage? If so, European winters and summers have done no good for you.

[phonicsmonkey]

Ibn-Battutah rises to address the Kievan representative.

We are disappointed, if not surprised, at your cowardly attack on our holdings in northern Anatolia. Your pretext is risible - it was clear from your military and naval buildup and your lack of response to our diplomacy that you were planning to attack us and would seize on any flimsy opportunity to do so.

It matters not, inshallah the new Caliph Ja'afar will lead the armies of Islam to our ultimate victory. That is, unless you see sense - the door is still open for peace should you withdraw from our lands immediately and engage in talks regarding a new treaty.

[Mithridate]

Ibn-Battutah rises to address the Kievan representative.

We are disappointed, if not surprised, at your cowardly attack on our holdings in northern Anatolia. Your pretext is risible - it was clear from your military and naval buildup and your lack of response to our diplomacy that you were planning to attack us and would seize on any flimsy opportunity to do so.

It matters not, inshallah the new Caliph Ja'afar will lead the armies of Islam to our ultimate victory. That is, unless you see sense - the door is still open for peace should you withdraw from our lands immediately and engage in talks regarding a new treaty.

Turning once again to face the fatmid

Your accusations are laughable, only fools and weaklings fears what is untrue, we are neither. As to your "offer"...

Spitting a phlegm on some velvets hanging from the walls

That should match the blood on your floor, its meaning equally clear. We are simple perhaps brutal men, but men of honor nonetheless... Our word is iron.

[Nightbringer]

Turning once again to face the fatmid

Your accusations are laughable, only fools and weaklings fears what is untrue, we are neither. As to your "offer"...

Spitting a phlegm on some velvets hanging from the walls

That should match the blood on your floor, its meaning equally clear. We are simple perhaps brutal men, but men of honor nonetheless... Our word is iron.

Ah! Men of honor who actually spit on fine velvet! Next you'll be saying you are a man of refinement who has been forced into the barbarity of war by the "infidels."

[Mithridate]

Ah! Men of honor who actually spit on fine velvet! Next you'll be saying you are a man of refinement who has been forced into the barbarity of war by the "infidels."

The Kievan is no longer present, nor any representative.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Honor has an interesting relationship with manners, the japanese spit on the floor when they eat in accordance with their manners yet do you know more honorable people? Interesting how they backstabbed eachother and broke words though in the time of samurai... furthermore how the "mainstream arab" kill sisters over "honor" while they never hurt guests in their homes for any reason, but outside even if theyre innocent and defenseless in the name of religion... with no remorse.

Breaking ones word is however viewed dishonorable, anywhere you go. Spitting was twofold symbolic, the fatmid no longer have any honor to the kievan and are thereby not worthy of any respect :) They are strong, and worthy enemies however. We go to war because we said we would should he continue to dishonor and violate the NAP

Honor differ in all parts of the world :) True honor is measured in character imho, furthermore in action and inaction folly or not. For us it would have been better to attack when he first violated the nap, yet we waited as we where bound by our word and only truly free after "we will attack if you do not honor the agreements terms"

[Nightbringer]

The Kievan is no longer present, nor any representative.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Honor has an interesting relationship with manners, the japanese spit on the floor when they eat in accordance with their manners yet do you know more honorable people? Interesting how they backstabbed eachother and broke words though in the time of samurai... furthermore how the "mainstream arab" kill sisters over "honor" while they never hurt guests in their homes for any reason, but outside even if theyre innocent and defenseless in the name of religion... with no remorse.

Breaking ones word is however viewed dishonorable, anywhere you go. Spitting was twofold symbolic, the fatmid no longer have any honor to the kievan and are thereby not worthy of any respect :) They are strong, and worthy enemies however. We go to war because we said we would should he continue to dishonor and violate the NAP

Honor differ in all parts of the world :) True honor is measured in character imho, furthermore in action and inaction folly or not. For us it would have been better to attack when he first violated the nap, yet we waited as we where bound by our word and only truly free after "we will attack if you do not honor the agreements terms"

Ha, so he has fled before his filth spewing mouth was shut for him by the guards. Ah well, at least the smell will improve.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Just supporting my ally here, honor is subjective in the extreme to be sure, and I don't mean anything OOC

[phonicsmonkey]

Ibn-Battutah.

A guilty conscience has caused him to flee, no doubt. He speaks of blood on our floor, forgetting that he spilt it there himself...

[Mithridate]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This amuses me greatly :D

After checking everything and phonics prolly not having recieved my messages... no longer

then everything ive said besides him violating the first nap, planning to attack him and me/the kievan alike wieving the fort as a violation... is false
now, should i back and attack once the nap is over in a couple turns, hold my position or push on as planned?

Im really torn, i want to be viewed as honorable as a player and as the kievan character/s but in the Kievan facrions interest and reason (messagers killed by third party)

[Nigel]

Vassili Alexandrovic, the Lithuanian ambassador, returns to the courtroom at Constantinople after finally the plague has ebbed off and the Council of Diplomats is able to meet again. The other diplomats are already assembled, but he notices that several seats are now empty.

There is a heavy silence in the room. Although the Council has not met face to face for a long time, everyone is aware of the events by communication trough letters and messengers. No one appears to feel in a position to take the lead of the meeting. Finally, Vassili decides to stand up and raise his voice.

Gentlemen, I am the youngest serving diplomat and little does it befit me to take the Chair of this council. But please allow me to address some words to you all nonetheless and make you a humble gift.

Here I present you a map of our world from the secret chambers of the Lithuanian archives. This map has been composed from information gained from our allies and our spies as well as diplomatic communications. Please forgive the fact that it is surely inaccurate in areas far from Lithuania. I hope you will find it noteworthy nonetheless.



As you can see, the Lithuanian and the Kievan empires have grown considerably. As have the Moorish and the Fatimid Caliphates. And it is well known to every educated man that the Moorish Caliph is the most powerful leader in the world today.

The kingdoms of Scandinavia and Swabia had formed a strong alliance in the centre of Europe until the corruption of their dynasties was exposed and their governments collapsed. Their lands are now open to be assimilated into the neighbouring empires and surely this can leave no doubt that the oriental alliance will be the dominating power for the years to come.

It is of note, though, that the Cumans have survived throughout all these years of turmoil and especially that the English have managed to bravely hold on against an overpowering enemy. It is these small but undaunted nations that deserve our special respect.

But let me not forget the brave struggle of those who fought and finally succumbed to overwhelming odds; the Byzantines, the French, Sicily and Poland. And also to mention are the King of Norway, who lost his power struggle against his rival from Denmark and the Doge of Genoa, who played – and lost – a dangerous gamble when he tried to play out two powerful neighbours against each other.

But now the peace among the nations is finally restored. So let us fill our glasses and drink to the health of our honourable colleagues, Fārūq Zulficar and Ibn-Battutah, diplomats of the most powerful alliance of Europe today.

[Nightbringer]

Cheers!
And great game everyone. Although it ended in unfortunate circumstances, I really enjoyed playing with you all!

[Myth]

Great work Nigel!