ITNES I - An Epoch of Change

[Sheep]

To Gaul
From the Punic Empire

We reiterate our offer for your withdrawal from the Punic Empire and for Cimberland's withdrawal from Didonia

 

[Sheep]

The crowd awaited underneath the balcony of the Great Palace in the Square of Dido, the massive 40ft bronze statue of Dido in the centre inspiring those around here for what would be a memorable address.

The Regent, Supreme General Gisco Hasdrubal Vect sat on a divian just inside away from the balcony waiting for the crowd to build. Today would be the first day of a New Dawn. One that the Nortugese had, despite all peace efforts continued to attempt to steal from them. Their so called offers were an insult. There was no way he would hand over the Emperor's lands of Novo Punicia [1], The Gisco Islands [2] and Nukoria [3]. The Nortugese asked for too much. The Punic Empire had asked them to simply withdraw from the areas of America. They declined.

Elsewhere Dacia and Luca made peace treaties, although the cost was great. The Punic Empire, mortally wounded had needed to amputate the lost lands to save the remainder. It had done so, and even now more and more Punic citizens came to the remaining Empire. The peace messages to Gaul and Cimberland may not of reached in time, those negotiations should return Didonia to the Empire, a great result given the circumstances. Until then the war would continue.

He stood. It was time. Stiriding out onto the balcony Vect felt the cleansing rays of the Sun, the Great Emperor of the sky, warm his face. He basked in it, taking it as a sign that great things would be done at his command. Behind him stood the honour guard and the ministry. Below a sea of people cheered on and on. The Regent held up his arms to gain quiet in which to speak....

'My fellow Punic citizens. We have suffered greatly these last few years and we have done much that pains us. Carthage has been lost, the Transponeic Sea no longer ours, but we cannot lose sight of the manifest destiny of the Punic race and the fact that despite everything, WE ARE STILL HERE!'

The crowed errupted in a cry of great pride. The Punic people knew their past and knew what future they would again have.

'When the Emperor attacked the Solists, thinking they were the true enemy, we were wrong. All along the enemy has been those who seek to deny the greatness of the Emperor all together. The atheists of Nortugal, know nothing of love, compassion or civilisation. I have researched our ancient archives and have discovered that we were the ones that ensured this degenerative race's original destruction, and we shall once again destroy it, ensuring that their taint may no longer live like a cancer on this world!'

A chant of 'Vect!' grew in the crowd. It thundered in, and died a minute later when the Regent once again raised his arms to speak.

'Their attempts to capture the Carib Sea from the Punic Empire is nothing but an attempt of these god-less legions of the Evil One, Erez, King of the Underworld, to deny the Punic Empire and its people its manifest destiny of a return to greatness.

I cannot and will not allow this! We shall fight them on the seas, we shal fight them in the New World and the Old. We shall fight them in the ports, we shall fight them in the forts, and they shall know no peace until they admit the error of their ways!'

The crowd errupted in the cheer. Many men were blowing on horns or bangin on drums. Within days the news of the speech had travelled the length and bredth of the old Transponeic Punic Empire, causing the fire in the hearts of the Punic people to grow hotter. Indeed the Punic Empire lay in the balance. It would be forever mediocre, or forever great and only one enemy truly lay in its path, Nortugal.

[1] Novo Punicia = Hispanola
[2]The Gisco Islands = Lesser Antilles
[3]Nukoria = Punic colony in South America.

 

[erez87]

to the people of the Punic Empire:
Look at how mad your emperor had become. The ones to backstab the alliance with Carthage were the Dacians. We officially stated after that that the Imperial pact was null and void. The ones to burn your capital of Carthage were the Lucans. Yet your emperor calls us, the ones you ones burned the homes and homelands of, the evil and enemy. Yes we may be enemies, but it is only because your emperor want too much. Carthage had the whole of Africa and south Dawn and central Dawn to expand to, and yet they wanted more, more from us. They want to make sure Nortugal could not grow itself into a equal ally. Than why should we side with such an "ally" who deny his own allies greatness as he achieved? Yes we may now fight a war but we will respect good punic people trough this war. Any Punic citizen who will be peaceful will be allowed to retain his lands, the poor Punics may have a chance of receiving their own lands. No worries of the so called emperor-god of the Punic empire. They are nothing, there are no gods. The proof your emperors are no gods lie in the destruction of Carthage. Gods could have stopped such a thing from occurring. Gods could at least warn. Yet nothing came to you. And you Punic people did no wrong, only your leaders have done. They are the ones who ordered you and frightened you by stories of gods that will strike you down. No gods. No hatred. We only despise your leaders for burning our homes hundreds of years ago, and for not alloying us to have a chance of equality this days. Your leaders were aggressive, and unequal. That is why they must fall. You must see this truth for it is the truth you know.

And so the king of Nortugal declares. Any group or island or territory or area or any other that will declare itself free from the Punic Empire will be allowed full autonomy under the Nortuguese, and if they will show their full disbelieve in the existence of the so called "Punic Emperors gods" will may even be allowed to retain freedom of their own kingdom. We believe i freedom and equality. No gods tell us we are better, or worse. We are all equals. We hope the Punic people do not see themselves as better, or worse, and that they will understand what that we wish to achieve.


(ooc: lol) oh and sheep. cancer still isn't a disease in this times, at least not a known one. You should really stop using that line "the cancer of the world".

 

[Sheep]

To the World
From the Punic Empire

We point to the lies that Nortugal spews forth. Indeed the Dacians and the Lucans attacked us, however they accepted an honourable peace. A peace that the Punic Empire needed. Even Gaul and Cimberland were negotiating a fair and equitable peace. Nortugal would not. They would not withdraw from the Carib Sea. They were not content on merely annexing Punic African colonies. They sought more. We could not allow this.

Their blasphemy against the spirits of the Emperor's past who will cherish our souls in the afterlife cannot be easily forgiven. Their assertion that there are no gods merely shows their ambition to one day eliminate all relgions.

The Punic people are not safe under Nortugese rule. They seek nothing but the sujugation of the soul and the to end the purity of the Punic race. This we cannot allow. We call upon the world to censure and declare war against the abomination that attempts to subvert, lie and steal an Empire so that they may propogate even greater lies and con all of mankind to their atheist dogma.

The Punic Empire for one will stand against this nation of thieves, this nation of mongralised weak minded fools that know not the compassion that our gods give us.

Supreme General Gisco Hasdrubal Vect, Regent of the Unified Punic Empire, in the name of his Holy Punic Imperial Majesty, Hannibal Barcelona VI.

ooc: Erez I will say whatever I damn well want to say and the next time I comment in turn on the forums on anything you say in your diplomacy and stories will be the first. If das has a problem with it, I will change it. Until then I will simply ignore your stupid attempts to detract from my stories.

 

[Sheep]

To the Punic People
From the Regent of the Punic Empire

Listen not to the lies of Nortugal. Indeed the Dacians and Lucans gave us many blows, however the Transponeic Sea has long since outlived its usefulness and the Punic Empire lacks the strength to survive in a war against the Eastern juggernaut.

We did however have a bright future in the Atlantic, one that would make the Punic Empire strong again. Until the atheist mongrels of Nortugal led by the heritical Portugese King ruthlessly attacked and began to try and destroy our future. Those territories in the New World, rich with gold, silver, jade and other minerals. Broad stretches of agricultural land, has been threatened to be stolen by the Nortugese pirates and with it the any chance of future greatness for the Punic Empire.

We even offered them an equitable peace treaty of pre-war borders, they refused... This is so much for the Nortugese willingess to be nice. They wanted to take 2/3 of the territory the Punic Empire held in the Americas. Such a blow would be grevious to the long term prosperity of this Empire. That is why, I as Regent have declined, and why I as Regent will ensure the future of the Empire.

I thus ask for you all to not listen to the evil musings of the godless King of Nord Lisbon, and indeed follow the heart and the pure Punic blood each one of us has against the Nortugese threat. We must crush them and drive them back. Only when our future is secure will we stop in our righteous fury against these mongrel peoples.

They offer the poor land. I offer everyone land. Once the war is over colonisation in the New World will continue expontially. New opportunities will arise, new industries be built. The Punic Empire may of lost Carthage and the Transponeic Sea, but the ancient ways had lost their meaning. Now the Punic Empire will have Didalia and the Atlantic Ocean.

United we cannot be defeated, divided we will.

 

[Sheep]

ooc: Oh one last note das, I do not believe that an open letter to the people of the Punic Empire from Nortugal should be allowed considering this IS the medieveal age and such a wide circulation would be easily suppressed and so on...

 

[Sheep]

The High Priestess and the priestesses and priests of the Punic Empire cult lead prossessions throughout all lands held by the Empire today calling for a greater effort against the 'Atheist threat' that would only be the work of the Dark One himself, Erez, King of the Underworld.

They pointed out the numerous people that King Erezuis of Nortugal was in fact a spawn of Erez, and pointed to the similarity in their names as futher proof. The read out prophecies from the Punic Holy Books stating that when Carthage fell for the third time (which it did not so long ago) that A Great War would be among the Punic Empire and that although they would suffer a lot a new Empire would open up to them.

They also pointed to a saviour in the time of need to lead the Empire to greatness, another prophecy, and in such a way that clearly alluded to the Regent in Didalia.

Finally they spoke of a day of reckoning when the Punic race would stand the test, and Queen Dido would return to her people to lead them onto victory. This all well known to the Punic citizens that heard it, cheered it, breathed it, but it revitalised the Empire yet again.

The priests and priestesses had done their job. They had taken the word of the Emperor's to the people and had ensured that the Empire would fight to the last man and the last Skelpun.[1]

Skelpun = basic Punic monetary unit.

 

[Sheep]

Admiral Hammo Kisako lead the ships to their voyage to Atlantkage Island. There he gave gathered the sailors at the docks before the mission that would make or break the future of the Punic Empire. Inside him Kisako knew that is was no small honour to lead this force. This was a culimnation in a long and distinguished career and indeed this command would be his greatest.

He stood facing the sailors who had accompanied them to this outpost. He raised his hand, and silence was immediate. He breathed in and readied himself to speak to his men.

'My fellow sailors of the Imperial Navy. I come before you today not as your Commander, but as a fellow Punic citizen. We are at war. No doubt about this we have been at war for many years now. However we cannot falter in our destiny and thus we find ourselves here, contemplating the most ambitious and daring operation in the history of the Punic Empire.

Victory in our task, will assure the Punic Empire glory, a healthy future for our families and the survival of the pure Punic race. Defeat will spell the start of the long and agonising retreat into obscurity and the eventual destruction of our race. We thus cannot fail.

We must stay co-ordinated. I want no captain to take idea of personal glory and consider it to be a worthy attribute. Only working together can we ensure that the Punic Empire will have victory. Togther WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS.

FOR DIDO, FOR THE PUNIC RACE!'

The crowd of sailors cheered, hollared and took up the chant. For fifteen minutes the dock was aflame. The Nortugese had no idea in what that had unleashed with their attacks.

 

[Symphony D.]

OOC: You all do realize none of these stories matter for anything until the next update since the deadline has already passed, right (and by the situation will perhaps have radically changed)? Same for all the diplo. It's irrelevent to what's actually going to occur by now.

 

[Sheep]

ooc: Yes but considering this is the only time I can really truly make stories, and the fact that I tried to post the first two stories before the deadline but net at my place was down.... I will take my chances and have my fun.

 

[andis-1]

These stories won't effect anything you know. And that diplo is anywya useless, at least they won't anchieve their goals.

 

[Disenfrancised]

OOC: You all do realize none of these stories matter for anything until the next update since the deadline has already passed, right (and by the situation will perhaps have radically changed)? Same for all the diplo. It's irrelevent to what's actually going to occur by now.

'Traditionally', das gives random event bonuses for stories posted anything before the update is posted. And its nice to see events of the update in context eh?

 

[erez87]

to the world:
Notice Carthage way of "fair" peace. Dacia and DIE asked for the Carthaginian homelands! That is a fair peace. Gaul asked to retain control over Punic people, that is a fair peace. But did we asked for all their lands in the new world? On the contrary! We only want what we need. We even offered to leave them with the main islands and a key to expansion in Northern Dawn. Isn't that a fair peace by their accords of fair peace? Fair peace for them is only counted on power, not on truth.


As for the Punic people. Your emperor madness seems to be growing! He now called your homelands! your old lives! usefulness! All the wars that you fought in emperor's name! "Useless". They have lost their usefulness! What will happen once your emperor declare his citizens has lost their usefulness and now must be his own food? He calls himself a god, what makes you believe he won't be asking for such a thing. All know that human sacrifice is a well known thing in Carthage, why not eating the sacrifices? He is mad. He will only get madder. We suggest you to look onto the right way. Fine, we are at war, you may hate us, You may call my king the son of the underworld, even thought it is well known we do not believe in any underworld or god. Fight us. But also fight who that does harm to you more directly. Think for a minute there, and you will see the truth. Your mad emperors which now calls your homes and lives useless for his empire, he is also your enemy. Now think, who is the worse one. A enemy outside, or an enemy leading you..

 

[Symphony D.]

'Traditionally', das gives random event bonuses for stories posted anything before the update is posted. And its nice to see events of the update in context eh?

Untrue since at least the start of NES2 VI. During the entire course of that game, as best I can recall, anything posted after the deadline got credit with the next update. I recall this behavior going back to the last IT of ITNES as well. Maybe it varies, but more often that not it's the case that you shouldn't depend on getting a story bonus if you post post-deadline (not that you should at all, nor are you [statiscally] likely to get any anymore anyway [with the rankings]).

 

[Niklas]

Admiral Hammo Kisako lead the ships to their voyage to Atlantkage Island....

May I ask, what OTL island is this? Nice stories in any case.

 

[Finmaster]

If Panda is no longer Gaul, I'll take Gaul.

*makes notes about this being the 4th time the DIE has switched sides in a war against Carthage*

Unless of course they re-re-betrayed Carthage, as that story oh so subtly implies.

Oh, yes. It wasn't something I was planning, though, silver just freaked me out by appearing one hour before deadline, making treaties with Carthage that were in contridiction of what me and Carthage had agreed, giving him money, acting all arrogant towards me and my claims on North African territory.. I was almost starting a war with him. This combined with the fact that I had heard rumours of sheep getting a new ally with whom he'd screw me over in the peace treaty made me draw my own conclusions.

So.. yeah. I had an hour before deadline and I had to do some quick decisions, maybe I wouldn't have done it had I had more time to think. But what is done is done. Sorry about it sheep.

 

[silver 2039]

I didn;t do anything. My orders were horrible. I was just very irritable and emotional because of the IB at that point and I had no idea what treaty you made with Carthage so I just made my own.

Domestic Orders

--Agree to treaty of Luca and Dacia

-Open trade with Nortgul, reopen trade with Carthage, open trade with Dacia in North Africa and open trade with Luca in north Africa

-Have engineers and scientist from Nortgul set up blacksmith shops, smelters, academies, and schools, and develop new weapons, etc…

-Appoint loyal and able governors and chieftains to the newly gained territory, some of the Berber tribal chiefs should be appointees as governors of provinces to reward their support of us.

-Do not harm Carthaginian occupied population unless they revolt in which case we will crush them.

-Continue other policies from last turn

Military Orders

Crappy map to give you an idea what I’m talking about, not to go by arrows our generals can decide attack strategies)

-Send 17 Imperial Berber Camel Rider thousands and 20 thousands to the various anarchic, and the Carthaginian Mauretanian provinces and take control of them. We will send our forces and secure the main cities towns and villages and crush.

-We must secure the large white gap between our forces (don’t go by the arrows necessarily) and restore order and security through them so trade can flow once again. The penalty for banditry and piracy shall be death, our Berber warriors can secure the vast expanses of the Sahara and the desert areas of Mauritania.

-Demand the the remaning Mande tribe in the middle of my territory join me. If they refuse have 19 thousands attack them and crush them with force.

-Consolidate rest of territory making everything under my rule in that area they can retain traditions and government but they must respect the words of the Emperor.

-Have my 10 levy thousands in safe defensive positions as last turn.

-Put down any rebellions ruthlessly

-My ships should start traveling and charting the African coastline, we can also get maps from Nortoguese, and Carthaginians, I want to travel south and see who is there. Encourage trade with them

.

Those were my orders the worst I ever sent...you shouldn't have attacked Carthage.

 

[Finmaster]

Yes, the more I thought about it the more I understood that it wasn't a good move; because even if my suspicions had been true (and I still am wondering what those "secret treaties" you had made were ), I would've been in better defence positions than I'll propably be after this turn.

But like said, I had an hour before deadline so I really didn't have that much time to think how to deal with it. Meanwhile sheep refused to deliver u my messages (I couldn't get to MSN myself). At that point I honestly started to believe that sheep was screwing me over in the peace treaty with you (and I still have some doubts about that), so at the time I considered it to be the best possible option - there would've propably been better ones had I had time to think for them.

 

[silver 2039]

Meh I realized Sheep was trying to screw me over when I found out about the other treaty you made which set borders. In the treaty I made with Sheep I thought I was getting much more land and I would have inadvertently ended up attacking you. The secreat part was in regards of Nortgul, Sheep wanted me to attakck them but when they offered such a low price for techs I changed my mind, and did nothing, and consolidated according to your borders and traded ****.

 

[Finmaster]

So while I did miscalculate the situation and overreacted, it still does seem that sheep was trying to get you and me to fight each other.

Good enough reason to call the peace treaty with him null and void.