Thanks for the supplies and chronicles of Crudbucket year 15

[BlackAdder]

Greetings,

as you all know, (and if not why not?) I am at war with just 7 or 8 other lords right now.

So I will tell a bit about how that war came to pass and about a single light in the darkness.

Some quarters ago, when the weather was very bad, a scout made out a light that was sailing ever closer to the beach. It turned out to be a fast sailing vessel from the realm of Merlin which took the great risk of sailing to us in this bad weather because we have no port.

He said that he may be allied with Laurentius and Guother, but he still thinks that is was a great unjustice in attacking me so he decided to give me some supplies so that I may at least have a fighting chance.

So, thank you Merlin

I was also told to make this contract public so that Laurentius and Guother may understand that not all, not even their allies, think that they are right.

you can see a transcript here:

http://www.angeltowns.com/members/black ... liers.html

But there is also bad news, which I hope will prove untrue. Because I couldn´t believe my good fortune in getting supplies from an ally from my enemies, I went to the wise woman to have my fortune told because she has predicted the future before.

So here is what was said:

W: Oh Edmund, dark clouds gather on the horizon.
Me: Just another rainstorm. I didn´t come here for the weather forecast, I came to have my fortune told.
W: That is not what I meant. The gift from Merlin came with strings attached.
Me: Well, don´t they all?
W: Yes, but these strings are made from solid rope and are tied to a big stone that is on the verge of falling down into a deep gorge.
Me: Could you please quit your mystic talk and speak in plain english?
W: I will try. I see that the dift from Merlin will just be another ruse. For you 5 million is a very huge amount of gold, for them it is neglectable. So, after you made that contract public, Merlin and the order will say that you have lied and he will also declare war on you.
Me: But why should he do that? And why the sheming?
W: The land, Edmund, the land. They all want a pice of the cake because they think that they can kill us easily. Edmund, I have travelled long and far and heard many stories. Did you know that they sell the land for a million gold each acre? They don´t give away land for free, with all the costs they had for the pay of the soldiers and the weapons and armour. They will only give it to their new vassals. True, they might give away 10 to 20 acres and maybe even a city, but only to show that they are not evil and thus lure the new lords into a false sense of security. But you see who is getting the land. If Ansgar, who is over 200 years old, qualifies as a new lord in their eyes, then who doesn´t qualify?
Last night I was in your map and contract room and found...
Me: Wait a minute! How did you get into that room? It is constantly guarded!
W: A woman always has her ways...
Me: Oh come on, I mean just look at you! The guard couldn´t have been that desperate.
W: If you insult me again, then you can get yourself a new fortune teller!
Me: I.., I mean, oh ok, I am sorry
W: That´s better. Now as I was saying, in your map and contract room I saw that offer that was sent by Godefroy in the name of the order wich you refused to accept. And I also looked at our island and compared how long it would take to raise an army, move it to the coast, load it and sail it all the way around to the port town near Medusa. The result was that Laurentius had the troop on board long before because it is not possible to get there this fast. That is why the demands were so unacceptable. Even if you had accepted them, they would still have attacked because the troops were already on their way...
So, you have heard what I predicted, what will you do?
Me: I still think that I should make it public....
W: Don´t come later and say I didn´t warn you.

So, that was what was said. I hope that the order finally sees their error and the otheres see how wrong they are when one of their allies supports me. And I hope that Merlin confirms that he supported me and that was not just another giant ruse as the ones they made before...

[Merlin]

Ein gut gemachter Fake, Black Adder. Ich frage mich nur, wie ich mit Euch handeln kann, ohne daß ich Euch auf Tamar getroffen habe? Vielleicht könnt ihr mir dies sagen.

Merlin
Ritter der Tafelrunde
Bruder auf Zeit der Guridh
Herrscher über Eldar

A good Fake, Black Adder. I only ask me how I can trade with you without meeting you on Tamar? Can you tell me this secret?

Merlin
Knight of the Round Table
Brother in time of the Guridh
Sovereign of Eldar


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Merlin on 2003-09-26 22:27 ]</font>

[Garibaldi]

Lord BlackAdder,

While I do not wish to question your honour, I must say I am surprised at this account.

My agents form an extensive network, both on land and sea, and I must confess they have not come across any ships from Merlin in that part of Tamar. Indeed my agents also inform me that this is most likely an attempt to stir up dissent between your enemies and their allies.

It is undobltably true that the invasion of your lands by the older lords is motivated by pure greed, but these stories don't win much sympathy for your cause. Nor does the attempt by your traders to sell my representative some ugly lumps of a green substance resembling snot claiming they were priceless gems.

Finally a small technical point regarding your deductions about the timing of Laurentius' preparations. Sadly, your conclusions are flawed. What your cartographers probably don't know is that Laurentius owns a couple of small islands off the west coast of your area of Tamar, and ships launched from there could have reached the port you mention far quicker than if he had to sail all the way around your lands. Guother also owns an island in that area and can deliver new troops equally quickly.

Lord Blackadder, the danger is much closer to you than you think.


_________________
Captain Garibaldi of Babylon

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Garibaldi on 2003-09-27 14:21 ]</font>

[BlackAdder]

Greetings Garibaldi,

does that contract really look fake? Go over it with a fine toothed comb or a magnifying glass if you will. It is flawless(ly faked).

They always say that I´m lying, then why was my lie that obvious? Guess I need more training in that. So let´s try this again.

And what about my goods I tried to sell you? I never said that they were gems. It is a new substance invented by lord Percy and it is the finest "Green" you will ever find. It will catch on as a new fashion I think.

Or are you interested in spices to spice up your life? I could send some of those...

And you say that Laurentius owns several islands to the west? You should check your map again. Or else my spies are feeding me wrong information...

Lord Blackadder, the danger is much closer to you than you think.

No, it is already here.

[BlackAdder]

Greetings,

I have send out some spies and one has just returned. From Hell, no less.

And he swiped a contract out of the devils own contract room. Here is a picture from the contract:

http://www.angeltowns.com/members/black ... racts.html

Sounds about right, eh?

[Garibaldi]

Lord BlackAdder

And what about my goods I tried to sell you? I never said that they were gems. It is a new substance invented by lord Percy and it is the finest "Green" you will ever find. It will catch on as a new fashion I think.

Only in realms with Baldrick's dress sense, I fear.

Or are you interested in spices to spice up your life? I could send some of those...

Feel free to contact my agents with any goods you have to offer. They are authorised to make purchases for me if the deal is attactive enough.

And you say that Laurentius owns several islands to the west? You should check your map again. Or else my spies are feeding me wrong information...

Ah, perhaps I wasn't precise enough:

There is a small island to the west of Medusa's town, and south of Heiderich's. This is owned by Laurentius, and while I haven't investigated it closely yet, I would be surprised if he did not have a port there. This is within half a season's sailing from the town you were referring to, so very close indeed.

There are also four small islands to the west of Lord Salmuth's land (not yours, I apologise for my mistake), which are still closer to you than having to sail all around your coast. Three of these islands are owned by Laurentius and one by Guother. (There may be more islands there, but four are all my explorers have located so far). I can only suspect that your source's information was out of date, as these islands were not accessible before your prt of Tamar was opened up to universal access.

[Godefroy]

Harharhar!

You made my day!

[Merlin]

First you try to throw my name into dirt and as you see that no one trust your lies you try it with Laurentius.

We know that you are the biggest lyer on Tamar. As the war against you begun I said to Skar and Guother that you should have a second chance. But since this lies I say now, throw him out of this beautiful land of Tamar.

Merlin
Knight of the Round Table

[Ursus]

Damn funny, I can't stop smiling

In terms of lies we should not forget that there have been doubtable actions from some other Lords too. What about "Richter" or "Mungo"? Is our memory that short-time? So no matter how this war continues there are some Lords who gain profit with their lies!

And because of this I am still in the believe that BlackAdder shall have a second chance. I believe this is very important for the peace of Tamar. Else this will be a very bad example on how war can be started based on lies without consequences.

[Skar]

Dear Blackadder,

everything what I did in last time, was aimed at saving you.

But you telling lies about members of my tableround and about my allies.

So i feel to let them do there own way, i cannot protect you anymore.

Sincerly
Satai Skar

[Guother]

Guother hielt sich gerade in seiner Bibliothek auf, als ihm die Fälschungen der Natter überreicht wurden.
"Noch nicht mal sonderlich guot geraten", dachte er bei sich und übergab sie den Schriftgelehrten.

Wenig später fiel ihm ein altes Pergament in die Hände. Aufmerksam las er die Zeilen.."Hm, sollte die Natter den Kreis schließen, ist er jener von welchem hier die Rede ist?...alles deutet darauf hin...

Nun, so will ich die Zeilen der alten Schrift den Völkern nicht vorenthalten - mögen sie entscheiden...


When dreams had given him their power,
When all the sheaves had bowed their heads,
His ruled Elements came to be
A secret source of sullen dread.
He feared the pit, death's prisoner's crie's,
He feared the Brothers, and the blood
His sword one shed, he feared the sighs
Of lonley spirits, those which brood
At night. All that was not his own
He feared. Sternly, sceptre in hand,
Whith eagle-shield and heart of stone
He ruled for ruling's sake. His land
Grew barren round his adder's head throne:
All that was fertile turnes to sand

[Kronar]

I find it quite arrogant and outright devilish of the Order of Guridh to claim such righteous ways when acts of evil are commited by it's members all the time.

I have sent my researchers out to find out more about this so called "Order" so that I may make better and more accurate judgments about it, but the evidence presented to me so far by the tales that have reached me and the evidence I have collected by myself do not protray it in a very good light, infact based on what I have learnt so far I still would declare the Order of Guridh "EVIL" until it can prove itself otherwise.

Also, I believe King Skar is in a questionable position to preach about righteousness, when his past is not so clean anyway!

I will endeavour to find out more about this Order, and if the future actions of it's servants cause me to change opinion, then I will - but until I see any good deeds done by this organisation, I will officially declare it evil in my realm.

Lord BlackAdder: I believe that there are some parts of your story which may be fake/lies, although not necessarily deciet of your own doing. I do not currently have scouts in your area to determine the whole truth for myself. That said, I would recommend you ask to re-start talks at the Order of Guridh's negotiation tables. You may disagree with their evil acts and they may disagree with yours, but unless some form of compromise can be made then the situation is only going to become a bleak one for you - and the Order of Guridh would certainly profit from your death anyway, which is not what you want surely?

I will watch the unfolding actions of so called "righteous" Lords involved in this dispute and see what further evils or acts of good come out of it.

Lord Kronar

[Lipsius]

@Kronar:
Can you tell me something about the "Order of Guridh"?
Do I want to know has to do I with whom it?
And also about the "King Skar", tell me what you found out.

[Skar]

Dear Lord Kronar,

i really must be surprised very much.
What in my past shall not be clean?

Sincerly
Satai Skar

[BlackAdder]

What in my past shall not be clean?

When was the last time you had a bath for example?

Sorry, couldn´t resist that one.

@Kronar: Yes, there were two lies. The contracts of course but even my dead grandmother could have told you that and she was blind

I guess I don´t have the practice in lying like the order does but gimme a bit of time and I might...