PureNES: Epoch of Glory
- Thread starter Thlayli
- Start date
Nylan
Characters Welcome
IC I'm disappointed, but OOC I think it was an epic way to go.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: Panda is STILL on vacation you know Nylan...
Compiarda's death seems to be similar to many, many great conquerors
Compiarda's death seems to be similar to many, many great conquerors
Cuivienen
Deity
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2003
- Messages
- 8,011
Bring him in.
A small man entered the chamber, flanked by two guards. He looked resigned to his fate. His eyes did not leave the floor, and his knees seemed ready to give way. His clothes had once been rich but now hung off his body, dirty and disheveled. He carried no weapon, as was fitting for a man come before the Emperor, and looked as if any gun handed to him would be used, not on the Emperor seated upon his throne, but on himself. General Lucianus was a shamed man.
You have failed, and you have failed miserably, General. Although I am well aware of the technological deficiencies we still possess when confronting the Princepii, there was no excuse for the disaster at Beria, nor any for the loss of Hespiron.
General Lucianus shuffled his feet and shot a mournful look at the Emperor.
However, I have decided to give you one last opportunity. By sheer dumb luck, Haffasa has not been lost to us, and the complete disaster that could have been has been mitigated. I do, at least, congratulate you on the good sense to evacuate Hespiron in face of dire odds rather than stand defiantly and lose far more soldiers and ammunition than necessary.
I I thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty, and for your mercy.
The Emperor allowed himself a small smile.
Am I merciful? That will be for you to judge, General.
I am sending you where any mistakes you make will not be catastrophic to the Empire. You will have a small contingent of soldiers at your command, not enough to matter greatly if they are all lost. Do you understand?
I understand, your majesty.
Good. Do not make me regret sparing you the firing squad. The happy accident that caused the death of Compiarda has brought on a softness that few have seen.
Quite suddenly, the Emperor stopped paying attention to General Lucianus, who had regained the use of his knees and was now looking thunderstruck rather than fearful.
You are dismissed. Commander Hulion will brief you further on your mission tomorrow evening. Guards, please escort the General out.
General Lucianus looked around rather fearfully at this slight breach of protocol, but let the two men nearly a foot taller than himself guide him out of the hall. The Emperor sat back upon his throne.
Theres two fools dealt with in one blow.
(OOC: FWIW, I had nothing to with Compiarda's death. I suspect the remnants of the Guilds.)
A small man entered the chamber, flanked by two guards. He looked resigned to his fate. His eyes did not leave the floor, and his knees seemed ready to give way. His clothes had once been rich but now hung off his body, dirty and disheveled. He carried no weapon, as was fitting for a man come before the Emperor, and looked as if any gun handed to him would be used, not on the Emperor seated upon his throne, but on himself. General Lucianus was a shamed man.
You have failed, and you have failed miserably, General. Although I am well aware of the technological deficiencies we still possess when confronting the Princepii, there was no excuse for the disaster at Beria, nor any for the loss of Hespiron.
General Lucianus shuffled his feet and shot a mournful look at the Emperor.
However, I have decided to give you one last opportunity. By sheer dumb luck, Haffasa has not been lost to us, and the complete disaster that could have been has been mitigated. I do, at least, congratulate you on the good sense to evacuate Hespiron in face of dire odds rather than stand defiantly and lose far more soldiers and ammunition than necessary.
I I thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty, and for your mercy.
The Emperor allowed himself a small smile.
Am I merciful? That will be for you to judge, General.
I am sending you where any mistakes you make will not be catastrophic to the Empire. You will have a small contingent of soldiers at your command, not enough to matter greatly if they are all lost. Do you understand?
I understand, your majesty.
Good. Do not make me regret sparing you the firing squad. The happy accident that caused the death of Compiarda has brought on a softness that few have seen.
Quite suddenly, the Emperor stopped paying attention to General Lucianus, who had regained the use of his knees and was now looking thunderstruck rather than fearful.
You are dismissed. Commander Hulion will brief you further on your mission tomorrow evening. Guards, please escort the General out.
General Lucianus looked around rather fearfully at this slight breach of protocol, but let the two men nearly a foot taller than himself guide him out of the hall. The Emperor sat back upon his throne.
Theres two fools dealt with in one blow.
(OOC: FWIW, I had nothing to with Compiarda's death. I suspect the remnants of the Guilds.)
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
north king said:
To Telcari
From Yun Empire of Qiankun
Never. We will never lower a knee to our most ancient foe. We reject your demands! We shall fight on. For Emperor and Empire!
Kozmos
Jew Detective
Excellent update. Waiting for stats and some in-depth info on URA.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
A Failure of Words
He was not in a good mood, things were not going well. To compound it all was a certain letter that now lay upon his desk.
General Luo Zhongyi,
As stated before, you are forbidden from entering negotiations with the Jin Bo. They are rebels and traitors and as such they are not to be negotiated with. You have already crossed the line many times too often with your kindly treatment of proven traitors and rebels. We know of your sympathies in the Capitol and strongly admonish further activities such as that. To continue upon your path will undoubtedly lead in forcing us to take action. We wish you victory General.
-War Minister Tan Lanming
He had admittedly disobeyed those orders. Insubordination was grounds for a court-martial, very good grounds in fact. In that case he would be court-martialed and in the most likely scenario stripped of his commission. His peers, with a few exceptions, did not look kindly upon his known sympathies. The peers he knew who would defend him were few in number and would not be part of any military tribunal that would judge him. General Li Fang was besieged in Puyi while Zhou Yu was in Heaven knows where.
He had deliberately refused to accept the order and warning in the letter sent to him by the War Minister. He had dared to hope and gambled on the fact that the Jin Bo was willing to negotiate since the beginning of hostilities a few years ago. He had been wrong, completely wrong. The Jin Bo was anything but willing to negotiate. The beginning of the session was hopeful though that was dashed moments into the negotiations.
We are not willing to accept anything short of the institutionalizing of democratic principles.
Ah yes, after two years of war and death you still carry the same position?
Very well, we would be willing to accept the continuation of the Imperial Monarchy that would be completely subservient to the said democratic institution that would come into place.
The rest of the meeting was short and tense, with his hopes long dashed. He knew then that he was essentially doomed. It was very likely that any subordination would have been overlooked if he had been successful in reaching a compromise with the Jin Bo that the Emperor would accept. As that was not that case, he would be left alone to deal with the powerful and angry bureaucracy and with good measure.
His own subordinates and the soldiers he had under his command were unaware of the orders and thinly veiled reprimand he had received from the War Minister; it would have been damaging for morale. Yes, he wanted the war to end but he wouldnt risk the lives of his soldiers for his own personal desires. His dream of an unified Qiankun that would stand strong against the Telcari were for naught.
His military success and prowess on and off the battlefield had allowed him to keep his position as he pushed back the Jin Bo and maintained some semblance of order in the territories he occupied. Unfortunately, politics was not one of his finer points and that was why he was secretly here waiting for a decision from the capital after he had reported himself for insubordination.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
OOC: Panda is STILL on vacation you know Nylan...
Compiarda's death seems to be similar to many, many great conquerors
OOC: Yes, I know. I did send my diplo to NK after all. Before he left Panda had said he would support me, but I didn't expect much of a guarentee, his response was vague.
IC:
To: The Suziran Empire
From: The Kingdom of Gosica
You have thusfar not responded to our proposals. Let us reiterate one last time the significance of this war. If the Metti fall, you will have complete dominance over the waters of Western Hadir, and perhaps more. If you joined the war effort against them, you may also claim valuable colonies. Furthermore, there are rumors that the wealth of Mettlingen was shipped west from the Gates of Air. Should these rumors prove true, Suziran men and ships would be the best placed to find and claim it, a great boon indeed.
To: Jathalland
From: The Kingdom of Gosica
Your hesitation disappoints us in this war. However, let there be no enmity between us. Jathalland already is seeing the benefits of this war, your merchants have prospered and replaced the Metti in many areas. But if you remain out of the war, this is all you will gain.
Should you join the war, you would have the power to claim the many Metti colonies in the north, and secure complete hegemony in the area. You would have a say at the peace table, perhaps even more colonies, the friendship of Gosica and all her allies, and much more. Do not let this opportunity for both gain and a mighty cause (which we have explained on many occasions). Honorable Jathalland, we ask you to reconsider your decision.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
Can I have an ETA for the stats? They are pertinent to orders and other such fluff. It's a war out there, ya know
Insane_Panda
Deity
I hath returned.
edit: Diplo to be answered shortly. Nothing that should disappoint you, Nylan.
edit: Diplo to be answered shortly. Nothing that should disappoint you, Nylan.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
To assume that you know the motivation of Gosica in the war is a mistake. Pointing out the reasons, ethical and otherwise, that others would benefit from the war does not make Gosica greedy. Wanting allies does not make Gosica greedy.
Besides, what do you know, you're just a trader
and you'll see that it is the Guilds, not the Metti, that we fight. It will be more and more obvious as time progresses.
EDIT @Panda: Good to hear
I'm just speaking as the Metti on the streets here. Captain Zruyk will have his own opinions, as you will soon see.
And the conquest of Mettlingen's colonies by other powers, coupled with a lack of their return after the Guilds have been destroyed, is clearly not a strike against the Guilds alone.
And the conquest of Mettlingen's colonies by other powers, coupled with a lack of their return after the Guilds have been destroyed, is clearly not a strike against the Guilds alone.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
The Guilds are not destroyed, and I will point out that those colonies are almost entirely Guild, having little or no "Metti" in them, so returning them to a people who never had them is pointless. Mettlingen should have a place at the peace table if they behave themselves and purge their corrupt government and the rest of the coalition doe snot object, but why should they get everything that the Guilds took? Why should they benefit from the evil they created?
Of course the Guilds are not gone yet, but they will be soon. The colonies definitely do have Metti inhabitants, and the Metti are the original Ariosan settlers of the islands. They have 'taken' the islands no more than any other colonial power has 'taken' them.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
Fair enough. Everything will be settled at the end of the war.
Back in the URA
"Look, I'm Metti, but I'm not in the Guilds. Kuurel, Dreningen... not in any."
"Your engines have the Kuurel mark sir."
"Of course they do- am I going to make a steam engine large enough to power a ship singlehandedly? I don't like helping them more than anyone else, but there's nowhere else to get one. Damn, you're an idiot!"
The URA Port Authority representative made a few marks in his notepad.
"Your insults are not needed. You ARE aware of why I'm doing this, right?"
"NO! So why in Seraph's name are you detaining my ship?"
"There's a war. Gosica, the URA, and several others have set out to end the Guilds."
Zruyk froze as this registered.
"End the guilds? How can a small collection of nations take down the Guilds? They're practically forces of nature!"
"Getting defensive for your patrons?"
"No, damnit! I'm self-employed."
"Well, frankly sir, I'm not buying it. It's my understanding that Kuurel has undercover agents, and your logs are frankly... suspicious."
"Suspicious? Bloody Seraph, you paranoid idiot, I'm a trader. Is it a crime to trade now?"
"Well..." said the man quietly, surprised by the sudden outburst of anger, "You've made an abnormally large number of ocean-crossing trips. Accompanied with all of the Guild activity in southern Alhaven... I see a connection."
"What about Elesius? They have next to no presence there."
"Look sir, I'm sorry, but the detention order remains in effect."
Zruyk was about to release a massive outburst of expletives, when two distant 'booms' caught his attention. His pupils dilated, and he leapt forwards.
Behind him, the pier exploded into a thousand shards of wood.
"Look, I'm Metti, but I'm not in the Guilds. Kuurel, Dreningen... not in any."
"Your engines have the Kuurel mark sir."
"Of course they do- am I going to make a steam engine large enough to power a ship singlehandedly? I don't like helping them more than anyone else, but there's nowhere else to get one. Damn, you're an idiot!"
The URA Port Authority representative made a few marks in his notepad.
"Your insults are not needed. You ARE aware of why I'm doing this, right?"
"NO! So why in Seraph's name are you detaining my ship?"
"There's a war. Gosica, the URA, and several others have set out to end the Guilds."
Zruyk froze as this registered.
"End the guilds? How can a small collection of nations take down the Guilds? They're practically forces of nature!"
"Getting defensive for your patrons?"
"No, damnit! I'm self-employed."
"Well, frankly sir, I'm not buying it. It's my understanding that Kuurel has undercover agents, and your logs are frankly... suspicious."
"Suspicious? Bloody Seraph, you paranoid idiot, I'm a trader. Is it a crime to trade now?"
"Well..." said the man quietly, surprised by the sudden outburst of anger, "You've made an abnormally large number of ocean-crossing trips. Accompanied with all of the Guild activity in southern Alhaven... I see a connection."
"What about Elesius? They have next to no presence there."
"Look sir, I'm sorry, but the detention order remains in effect."
Zruyk was about to release a massive outburst of expletives, when two distant 'booms' caught his attention. His pupils dilated, and he leapt forwards.
Behind him, the pier exploded into a thousand shards of wood.
alex994
Hail Divine Emperor!
OOC: BOO YOU HYPOCRITES! BOO YOU ALL ESPECIALLY GOSICA.
P.S. Sell me weapons
P.S. Sell me weapons
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
You know, if Iggy actually controlled a nation, it'd be doing pretty well right about now. Alex and Cuiv are also doing well on the consistency side.
As for the rest of you slackers, shape up! The next story/order deadline is Monday August 6th.
@LittleBoots: Yeah, I'm a jerk for making you wait so long for your well deserved stats. Doing them now.
@Nylan: I already did Gosica's.
From: Guild Elstadt
To: The Satanic Coalition
Very well, enjoy the economic collapse that follows after we cut off all trade from Karai. We hereby relocate all of our operations to Telerius, where we have been given sanction by the mighty and noble Emperor himself.
From: The Suziran Empire
To: Gosica
We shall be a friend to the guilds as long as they continue to exist. If they die, we shall consider making new arrangements with the barbarian kingdoms of the north.
From: Guild Dreningen, assorted minor guilds, Mettlingen government-in-exile
To: Gosica, Princeps, Taenevix
You can rot in hell.
As for the rest of you slackers, shape up! The next story/order deadline is Monday August 6th.
@LittleBoots: Yeah, I'm a jerk for making you wait so long for your well deserved stats. Doing them now.
@Nylan: I already did Gosica's.
From: Guild Elstadt
To: The Satanic Coalition
Very well, enjoy the economic collapse that follows after we cut off all trade from Karai. We hereby relocate all of our operations to Telerius, where we have been given sanction by the mighty and noble Emperor himself.
From: The Suziran Empire
To: Gosica
We shall be a friend to the guilds as long as they continue to exist. If they die, we shall consider making new arrangements with the barbarian kingdoms of the north.
From: Guild Dreningen, assorted minor guilds, Mettlingen government-in-exile
To: Gosica, Princeps, Taenevix
You can rot in hell.
