MTW2 Multiplayer Campaign Diplomacy thread.

[FactionHeir]

King Roger accepts Poland's claim of Adana and will withdraw his forces from the region. He also will not request any payment from Poland for this move, nor request that it be converted to a village, for the new bastion of Christendom needs soldiers.

King Roger will however claim jurisdiction over Jerusalem, Aleppo, and Acre to defend Antioch and Jerusalem against heathen hordes. King Wladyslaw is more than welcome to lay claim to Damascus and Gaza however to fortify our alliance. If Poland does not wish either Damascus or Gaza, any other Christian nation is welcome to take one of them.

[_Tristan_]

King Philippe gladly accepts the offer of King Wladyslaw.

We would also like to confirm to King Roger the marriage of our daughter to his valiant son in Naples this very year.

We would ask from King Roger Acre as a wedding gift for my daughter or Damascus if you would prefer. It would enable us to give help in defending the Holy Land from the Muslim Hordes.

[FactionHeir]

King Roger shall take Damascus for France and ensure its capability to produce men at arms when it is given to our most gracious ally.

[_Tristan_]

King Philippe gives many thanks to King Roger for his chivalrous behaviour and raises his glass to drink to the Franco-Norman alliance...

May the wedding of Simon and Constance be one of happiness and joy and the sign of the goodwill of both our Kingdoms.

[Ramses II CP]

The offer of Gaza is quite worth considering, however Poland is not yet in a state of war with the Egyptians and would prefer to press back the Turkish infidels before turning aside to launch another war. Perhaps in due time when the second crusade is launched, or when the Turks have been mastered.

Your graciousness regarding Adana will not be forgotten, sir, and will someday be repaid!

[_Tristan_]

My Lords,

After the many threatening moves of the Milanese on French soil and their invasion of our loyal Spanish ally, they have finally shown their true hands in attacking our army of former crusaders between Genoa and Milan. Therefore steps had to be taken to remove that threat and I'm proud to inform you that Milan and Genoa have fallen in front of French might... The Duchy of Milan is no more...



We wish to inform you also of the creation of the French Principality of Athens, ruled by Prince Louis, established around the Aegean sea.

King Philippe of France

[Ramses II CP]

King Wladyslaw sends word that he must decline the French offer of mutual military access for the simple reason that there are currently no enemies we must march through each other's lines to reach. If the King decides to take a larger role in the southern Levant, or other circumstances change, then the offer shall certainly be reconsidered. (Didn't seem to be any reason to have access right now )

Adana stands under siege and the Turkish Sultan has been driven from our lands.

[_Tristan_]

The French King wishes to make it known to Emperor Heinrich that he would consider selling Antwerp for a firm sum of gold and not tribute... The King is no money-lender nor pawn-shop owner...

However, Antwerp could be exchanged for Bologna and such an offer has been made...

OOC : Depending on whether the save is the good one...

[_Tristan_]

King Philippe of France adresses the assembly of Lords.

My Lords, the Italians are a bunch of treacherous m rs.
Only the Sicilians find favouor in our eyes being of Norman descent...

After the treachery of the Milanese attacking our former crusaders, the Venitians have struck against us and taken the castle of Rhodes from our hands.

The thiefs are in for their money as we have evicted them from Italy all together in a swift and merciless assault on the great city of Venice.

These actions were Pope-sanctioned and his Holiness is more than pleased to be rid of these obnoxious neighbours.

I know that some of you Lords were allied to the Venitians and I would apologize to you if it has caused you some difficulties.

With this, the King sits back down.

[FactionHeir]

King Roger of Sicily feels it necessary to point out that neither the Milanese nor the Venetians have pursued aggressive action against the French before being attacked. It saddens King Roger that he lost both his fellow Italian brothers as allies as a result, but he wishes to express his displeasure that King Philippe felt it necessary to strike out against two Sicilian merchants after our agreement that there would be no such further action.

[_Tristan_]

I would remind King Roger that the Milanese attacked our former Crusading army stationed near Milan without cause and were punished for it...

The Venetians started the war by attacking French-held Rhodes and are now themselves paying for it.

As for Sicily's merchants, their presence on French soil had been tolerated long enough without due payment.

His Holiness has nothing to say about France's actions and endorses our policies.

[EDIT] One more thing, on the subject of merchants, we sent you a letter about the agressive ways of your merchants around Milan and required of you compensation or removal of such agents...

This letter went unanswered and we acted accordingly.

I hope our alliance still stands...

[EDIT#2] My scribes have found a copy of said letter (OOC : 24th, Jan)

King Roger,

I would ask you to keep your merchants on a shorter leash...

I tolerate their presence in my lands around Milan but not at the cost of my own merchants being taken out of business...

If you want to go on a commercial war, I'm up for it... Otherwise, I hope you will compensate my loss.

If no agreement can be reached, I will ask you to retreat your men out of French lands or take the risk of being taken out of business forcibly...

Hoping we can reach such a trade agreement,

Philippe
By the Grace of God
King of France

[FactionHeir]

The men reporting to King Roger have noted that the Milanese were not the aggressors in the conflict nor were the Venetians. While they may be fallible, so may any Frenchman. King Roger however does not wish to bore this chamber.

As for the merchant matter, only one French merchant had been taken out of business and if I may say, he was of little value (OOC: Finance 0 iirc). Indeed I believe my actions were beneficial for France. However, your nation has robbed two of my more experienced merchants, which is very regretful. I believe that I should be the one asking you for compensation now. Further, as allies, I do not believe that there is any reason that you should not tolerate our merchants, who are unarmed, on Italian lands.

[_Tristan_]

King Philippe wishes to inform King Roger than in order to make amends for the past events in northern Italy his diplomatic offer has been accepted.

[Ferret]

May I enquire as to why there is a large Danish army on my lands? This violation of our truce will be tolerated if they have left by next year, but stay any longer and there will be retribution.

[Tran]

Truce? Have we ever made truce? Retribution? You must be joking, we shall smash your weak and cowardly troops to pieces before you even know it...























My apology for the Russian Duke. We were not serious with the recent statement Our troops were pursuing a group of brigands and accidentally crossed into your territory. We shall immediately withdraw our troops back to our border.

[Ferret]

that is pleasing to hear, though for future reference I know the extent of your military and it does not worry past the fact that it will hinder my expansion into the East.

[Csargo]

A large Hungarian army has appeared on my border near Vienna, if they cross onto my lands I will be forced to act.

Emperor Heinrich

[Ramses II CP]

I will discuss this matter with the Hungarians at my next opportunity. It would be dreadful if conflict were to begin over such a matter. I pray that the peace between my two allies can be maintained.

King Wladyslaw

[Tran]

The Danish representative, furious after the "incident" at one of Danish settlements:

I come here to bring a message to all Kingdoms of Europe, especially to the one that attempted to cause trouble within one of our settlements. Let it be known that any foreign agent caught doing any crime or wrong acts inside our settlements, will be executed. And anyone who sponsored this particular troublemaker shall be swiftly punished and their journey to afterlife hasten. Let us not forget the fate of a Kingdom once existed by the name of "England".

He walks away with sneer look at the Frenchmen

[_Tristan_]

The French emissary rises at this point.

Dane, keep your empty threats... If the French had an assassin in your lands, which they have not, they would not go for mere sabotage but there would be royal blood spilt, believe me...

As to suffering the fate of England, check your maps and your reports and think again who is nearer to that fate this very day...

It is a shame that you have insulted us so as we were prepared to help you in uncovering the guilty party as an ally should act towards his ally... A watchtower has been built at our common border and could have helped in revealing the agent's employers... Now be sure that we will keep that piece of information for us, unless some pardon is asked first...

Lastly, what would we gain from sabotaging buildings in Denmark ? And better yet, who would gain the most ?

Answer that last question and you might find your culprit...

Finishing that last sentence with a wide gesture encompassing the whole assembly, the French emissary sits down, a stern look on his face.

[Tran]

The Danish representative is unsure whether to laugh, or to take insult after he heard French emissary's reply. He holds his breath, and begin to speak

My dear ally, we did not accuse you of doing some lowly criminal behavior in our territory. It was clear, that we address our message to all Kingdoms of Europe, regardless of who really did the sabotage. But why did you take our words as if you were the one who did it? You could reply gently, or just ignore us, if you really did nothing wrong.

I advise you to watch your words, it was clear you are the one who are threatening us with your words. And about your last questions...you talked as if you know nothing of "dirty business". By sabotaging our buildings, you could possibly do one of the followings:
First, prevent the recruitment and training of local militia
Second, disrupt and weaken our economy
Third, instill fear among our people and troubles
There are many more effects, but I will not go into details, because I am sure you already know the answers. As to who gain the most...it was clear whoever behind this will gain the most benefit.

And finally, we want you to remember this: If we found out that you actually did no harm to us, we are willing to apologize and pay certain amounts of compensation for accusing you. But if you, Frenchmen, turned out to be the one behind this criminal act, then may God has mercy upon the righteous. Our kingdom might be smaller than you, but that does not mean we are weaker than you.

The representative stares at the French emissary, showing no sign of fear

[_Tristan_]

OOC : My answer was perhaps a bit too OOC taking into account what was said in the Main Thread...

Anyway, what is done is done...

IC :

I hope your investigation goes well for we have nothing to fear and we gladly accept your offer of compensation...

May I inquire when you will estimate that your investigation will be over ?

Just asking with regard to collecting our compensation...

[Csargo]

I will discuss this matter with the Hungarians at my next opportunity. It would be dreadful if conflict were to begin over such a matter. I pray that the peace between my two allies can be maintained.

King Wladyslaw

My people and I thank you. I would hate for blood to be spilled in any case.

Emperor Heinrich

[Tran]

The Danish representative stands up, upon hearing the latest situation

Hear! Hear! The Frenchmen are trying to play with us! We have located a French spy inside the forest, hiding, not far from our city.



The representative then stares at the shamed French emissary

I ask, what exactly is France business here? Why is there a French spy very close to our city? Even better, he's trying to hide! I warn you, Frenchmen...it's just a matter of time before we discover your assassin...you better prepare to pay us a huge amount of compensation...or we will be forced to act.

[_Tristan_]

The French representative rises.

Let me quote the minutes of these chambers...

It is a shame that you have insulted us so as we were prepared to help you in uncovering the guilty party as an ally should act towards his ally...

Our man was behind our borders until your announcement of foul play in 1120 but on hearing of your predicament, he was sent on a mission near Arhus to try and discover the guilty party... He began his investigation in the vicinity of the city and then followed the same reasoning as you, it seems, and went looking into the woodlands...

Unfortunately, the foul weather did not allow him to come back behind our borders...

Moreover, I'm sorry to report that he hasn't found any evidence of any other foreign agent.

On the matter of compensation, I've been asked to tell you that the longer you go on insulting us before this Council, the more we'll ask in compensation.

Should our man go on with his investigation or do you wish him gone ?

Clearly waiting for an answer, the French representative sits down, counting on his fingers and nodding slowly.

[Tran]

Let me also quote the words of hypocrite France

Moreover, I'm sorry to report that he hasn't found any evidence of any other foreign agent.

Don't try to fool us. The only agent in our land is your agent. Indeed, we suspect you have sent a spy and an assassin to our land.

I will just make it short, because it is clear these Frenchmen are playing with us. What will you pay as compensation if we discover French assassin on our land?

As for your spy, he is going nowhere...

[_Tristan_]

The French representative stands again.

How is my man to go nowhere ? Would you care to point him in the general direction at least ?

As to an eventual compensation, do not ask what we are prepared to pay but ask yourself what you will be able to pay, once you discover how you have erred, to fulfill your own promises...

Not once you have even considered that we might have acted out of good faith and that while you insult us and drag our name in the mud, one of the fellows in these very chambers is striving to keep from laughing out loud...

Let me say this : I will not hold you accountable if you fail to discover proof of our alleged culpability but France wishes to warn all other powers in these chambers that should we discover the party that has been trying to frame us, we will bring them down even if we have to cross the whole world to do so...


The French representative sits again, anger clearly burning in his eyes...

[FactionHeir]

King Roger is most alerted by what his agents have reported. It seems that there are French assassins roaming the area around Rome, and several of them seem to have taken victims already, judging by the reports from the area.

This also seems to confirm that it may well be that the assassin near Arhus was from France as well.

[Cecil XIX]

Unfortunate. Though we thought nothing of it at time, we can confirm that a French assassin is on the border between his country and Navarre. It would be troublesome indeed if the French were to send such an agent into Iberia, which is ruled by naught but France's own allies.

[Tran]

It seems, after all, Frenchmen are bad people who like to play dirty tricks with everyone, even their allies! Worry not however, we have discovered your true evil intentions, and the assassin, now attempting to flee from Danish land...