EA Game Strolling, part 2 - send in pretenders

[Kadelake]

We should probably turn caelum AI at the same time. He has stalled several turns.

[johnarryn]

The might nation of Abysia, which has never engaged in hostile action against other nations (Marverni having attacked us even as we negotiated in good faith) suggests to the rest of the world that if they seek to avoid a dominant, victorious Sauromatia they attack now.... if we fall, then all is over.

Sauromatia has engaged in hostile and aggressive action from the very beginning, destroying Kailasa.

Act now, or all is lost.

[Wrana]

To Abyssia:
You should also add that you didn't even respond to attempts at negotiations by your other neighbors... And while we understand your concern that war with an equal opponent may prove your undoing unlike your war with weaker Marverni nation, our nation doesn't see it as a threat to us.
Anyway, our existing agreement with Sauromatia would forbid our intervention at your side.

[johnarryn]

To Helheim,

We are unsure as to what unawnswered attempts at negotiation you reference. We again note that the "weaker Marverni nation" provoked war with Abysia even as we attempted to negotiate with them. If you cannot see the threat of two of the mightiest nations seizing Abysia's territory, there is little we can do to convince you of the reason of attacking Sauromatia now.

[johnarryn]

On a non-diplomacy note, I will shift the turn time to 48 hours, as some have requested.

[Wrana]

To Abyssia:
We can also see the threat you would be after you conquered one of aforesaid "mightiest nations", namely Marverni. So currently we prefer to remain neutral. Considering Marverni attacking under the truce flag - that's a serious offence and it can make others think twice about listening to them. However, why then didn't you proclaim it at the moment of said offence? It would carry much more weight then...
Considering other negotiations - Yomi attempted to reach you several times. He could miss once, but I am not inclined to believe that he would do so twice - especially considering that he could be quite a juicy target at the moment...

[zenphos]

Well I think I should spend a bit more time on the forums as my good name is being dragged in the mud. My recollection is that Marverni, possibly the weakest EA nation, stated they were not interested in a NAP with you and then 2 turns later attacked. Not sure where the negotiating came into it?
And the reason I attacked was your attempt to negotiate a 12 turn NAP while all the time planning to block me in and prevent me expanding, which while a cunning and sneaky move I would not suggest is an act of good faith. Fortunately for me someone had used a similar tactic on me in a previous game so I was ready for it.

[Ossa]

Caelum is effectivly out of the game, our arrows and mammuts unable to stem the tide of llankan doubleblessed demons. Sauromatia has been kind enough to shelter our sacred virgins and precious air gems while our kings die.

__
My pretender (the one who got cursed via random event on turn two) got blinded and limped in his first battle btw.

[Salamander8]

To the nation that sent me (R'Lyeh) an in-game message a few turns back, I flew through that turn before responding or even recalling who sent the message and have not received a PM on the boards like I hoped so I am posting here to let you know that I am not ignoring it. Please send me a PM here at the boards. PMs are better for me as I keep them till the game is over. In-game messages evaporate too fast.

[johnarryn]

Zenphos, let me respond completely out of character, to avoid confusion. It was my impression (completely honestly) that we were in the process of negotiating a NAP when you attacked - I assumed we were just dickering over details... as you may have noted from my in-game communications, I was a bit surprised when you attacked. Thus, when I state that "negotiations were ongoing" this was the impression that I, as Abysia, was under. Part of this is no doubt due to relying on in-game communication, where there is always a turn lag.

I would also hesitate to characterize my eastward expansion as an attempt to "block you in and prevent you from expanding." If you meant that I was attempting to secure as much territory for myself as possible, you are of course correct. That is, after all, the entire point of the game. I was simply attempting to cordon off as great a range of provinces as could be attained. If you're implying some sort of bad faith beyond that on my part, i'm not exactly sure how to respond.

I hope that clears that up. I enjoy playing Dominions in a friendly manner, and in-character posturing aside I am enjoying this game.