(OOC: I will probably have to wait until early next week to get information on the continent of Aquaria. The download is not working. However, if the Oerik continent, Hepmonaland, and AnaKeris are the Old World, Aquaria (or maybe use a better name) would be the New World.
The following is a public post. I will be posting less frequently soon, as I will be much busier. However, some things deserve a reply. I will reply to some other things later.)
Edena of Neith originally posted:
[sblock]
My poor, sweet boy ...
You must grow up, painful as it is.
There is the world you dream of, and then there is the world ... that is.
Your people recognize that. Why don't you?
Most beings, throughout history, have been slaves.
Slavery is a part of life. It is as natural as life itself.
The choice a person does have is what kind of slavery she chooses, and how she makes it work for herself.
We choose Lolth as our mistress, and she has forged us into a strong race.
The legitimately powerful and frightful races of the Underdark move aside, when we come along.
The people of the Surface World, respect our power.
Elves, pray to the Seldarine for the kind of power and strength we wield. Were elves our equal in strength, they would rule the Surface World today.
If that is slavery, then I will take it gladly.
If the elves enjoyed such slavery, they would not be confined to tiny Celene and Highfolk, driven out of their lands by humans.
You speak of morality, of rights, of democracy, of freedom.
My dear boy, my dear Al'Akbar, none of those things will save your people from the Whispered One, or from other aggressors.
You may write down all the freedoms you want, but the Sword isn't halted by noble words.
People may revel in discussions, committees, and parliaments, but that does not stop the Firebrand.
The Baklunish may enjoy revelry and merriment and peace ... when the hungry enemy comes, where will their strength be?
Al'Akbar, you will discover to your horror that to save your people, you must embrace the Way of Lolth.
You will find that you must lay down strict laws and see them brutally enforced.
You will find that you must draft your women and men into the army, and train them under the blazing sun.
You will find that you must sacrifice the freedom of your people, if they are to become a potent military force.
And ...
When war comes to your lands, the strong and cunning will survive and the weak and foolish will not survive. That is the way of war, whether you would desire it or not.
My poor boy, you will find you must execute those who will not obey you.
You will have to crush and forge your people into the tool you need them to be, wrench and twist your society to your requirements, trample freedom and democracy and noble sentiments under your bootheel.
And your people, will hate your guts.
Yet fear: fear of you, and fear of their enemies, will keep them in line.
Al'Akbar, this is the Way of Lolth. The Way you will be embracing, your long speech aside.
If you do not embrace this way ...
(Eclavdra sighs, and looks bemused and a little sad)
If you do not embrace this way, your enemies will destroy your people. Even as the ruthless Suel destroyed them a millennia ago.
Which will you choose? The Whip, or the annihilation of your people?
My poor boy, it is time to grow up.
[/sblock]
The look on Al'Akbar's face is one of weary amusement, much like someone trying to be polite having seen a street magician perform the same tired trick yet again. He shakes his head, and speaks. The voice is utterly calm.
"Vesharess Eclavdra, I am amused that you call me boy and your patronizing advice to grow up, to use your words. I have seen fossilized wood, but seldom have I seen so fossilized a mind as yours. You seem to approach existence with a binary logic that only admits one of two possibilities. Either I accept the way of the Queen of the Spiders or defeat. I chose neither, and many have chosen different paths than yours to greater glory, freedom, and power. I was born long before you and was a demigod as well before you drew your first breath. Apparently, young girl, you must view any older and greater than you who hold different views as children. Right now, several deities far more powerful, far wiser, and far more compassionate than the Queen of Spiders are probably laughing at you.”
“As for seeing the world as it is, I note that such charges are often made by cynics – who lack the wit to see any view of the world but their own. If we only saw the world as it is, then there would be no agriculture, no metallurgy, and civilization. No one would have had the imagination or the will to establish such things. We would still be illiterate societies surviving on hunting and gathering. If I only saw the world as it was at the time of the Invoked Devastation, if the Baklunish only saw the world as it was a the time of that tragedy, we would not have had the vision to build a civilization far more vibrant and stable than your own. Rather than being an agent of change and progress, you seem to be an agent for stagnation, chewing on the bones of the past like a dog with an old bone."
“You say I should grow up. So, I imagine that you believe that all gods greater than your goddess in power and yet follow different philosophies are children. My, you do seem to be setting new standards for sheer gall. Your deity is not a greater goddess and does not even control the Abyss. Some of her plots have been defeated not by nations but by adventurers. Perhaps it is you and the drow who should unshackle their minds from a failed ideology of a goddess whose followers are weaker than their surface kin. So, if the forces of Good are so weak, why have they stood for so long against the assaults of tyrants? You mistake goodness with weakness, compassion with lack of resolve. Many have died at the hands of those you mock because of this flawed thinking. If you want evidence of this, consider how many good and neutral powers have prospered and endured in the face of great challenges. Or do you chose to deny any fact that does not fit your beliefs. That is not seeing the world as it is, and is rank hypocrisy.”
"As usual, you misrepresent the truth. You claim that slavery is natural and the way of history – wrong again. So, how are the drow experiments in ensuring that slaves are born with chains on them coming along? To say that all live in slavery of one kind or another is a lie, which seems to be your chief diplomatic tool. Repeating something loudly, such as saying that Eclavdra meets her guests dressed as a clown, does not make it so. Even the most tyrannical of the ancient Baklunish Emperors respected more rights than drow society. Also, perhaps the reason you are calling me weak is to hide your own weakness. So far, the drow seem to stand alone -- and have given no persuasive argument for any to ally with them"
“The way of the Whip or annihilation? Foolish and bitter little girl, you frame the terms of an argument, and try to make it so none can stand against you. Most children can do better than that. Of course if you say that the only colors are black and white, you ignore the many shades of gray and many other colors besides. The laws of the Baklunish Empire are just and fair. Any government will have laws against actions taken to overthrow it. However, these laws can be fair and just as well as effective.”
“Military drafts are taken by good and neutral surface powers. However, those societies enjoy far more liberty than all but the noble houses enjoy in your society. There are also laws dealing with those who will not serve. These have proven adequate in the past and should in the future. Freedom and security are not contradictory. Indeed, people are more prepared to fight for their freedom than to be a slave. We will have arms and iron wills to stand against the Whispered One and other agressors, including yourself if that is your true intent. We have withstood aggression in the past thousand years, and have resisted many aggressors. Even the last act of the Old Baklunish Empire was effective, and its leaders were more just and good than you are, Vesharess.”
“As for international agreements, I agree there are some tactics that should be avoided. However, there are some whom I have no evidence that they can be relied on to honor their agreements. I must evaluate any such pacts in the light of the potential signers. A pact is only as valid as the will of the signatories to honor it. There are some who have not given evidence that they will honor their agreements based on past behavior.”
“On another matter, encouraging others to oppose my rule does count as spreading sedition. As you well know, your ambassadors do not enjoy diplomatic immunity nor would any that I might send enjoy diplomatic immunity in your territory. Your speech might be considered a hostile act, but I will warn you this time only. Further efforts to subvert my rule will result in the expulsion of your embassy as it will be considered a hostile act.”
“I intend to stand with my allies so your actions towards any of my nation’s allies will likely impact my actions towards the drow. I will stand with my allies and against those who act as aggressors towards them and expect the same in return. National security is an issue in and of itself and national self-interest is a valid concept. However, these are not the sole issues in diplomatic relations. It helps to be able to trust one’s allies if you rely on them for assistance. So, I am going to discontinue my discussion with you as I have guests here and business to conduct. I consider this conversation to be at an end as is your transmissions within the Baklunish Empire. As you have seen fit to address others, it will be interesting to see how your people react to a transmission from another. I do not hate the drow as a people, and I believe they have achieved much. However, I believe they could achieve much more with a wider view of the world than you seem to show on this day. I do not yet consider you an enemy, but so far you have offered me nothing to consider you a potential ally. The conversation on both our parts ends now. However, your embassy is still welcome here. I may wish to consult with you.”
Eclavdra finds her transmission is blocked and that the message to drow is ended. Any attempts at broadcasting by Eclavdra are meet with a blocked message and a returning image of Eclavdra dressed as crying infant in pink baby clothes, wielding a rattle with a head shapped like a very unscary spider.
“As for the ambassador from the Empire of Iuz, I had planned on letting him speak but needed to respond to this matter. If he wishes to return, he may and perhaps show greater patience and respect. I shall speak with the representatives of other powers after I conduct my business with my honored guests, King Seth Rhynnon of Greater Nyrond and King Ogrim Scarseer of Orcreich and the Khanates.”
“At the present, I do not have a quarrel with the Great Kingdom of Aerdy and welcome the opportunity to speak to the representative of the Overking. As indicated, I have other business to conduct first. I would ask that the representatives of other lands to wait patiently. I offer them my welcome, and extend my hospitality while they wait. I will instruct my ministers to ensure that the guests have suitable areas to wait for me to address them, if they wish. Or if they have embassies, they may wait there and I shall contact their respective embassies.”
“King Seth Rhynnon, I do agree there is business at hand. Shall we meet?”
TO BUGBEAR AND VENUS:
[sblock]Do you think we can do this on the boards without sblocks, because everyone seems to think they can chime in at anytime for private negotiations. Perhaps we can take this off the boards and come back with a public statement.[/sblock]
At the gates of Ekbir, a diplomatic delegation led by Caliph Xargun of Ekbir greets Advisor Ashardalon. "Welcome, Advisor Ahardalon, whose counsel strengthens Overking Jahren of Aerdy. Emperor Al'Akbar sends his regards, and bids you to either wait for a meeting at the palace or at your embassy. Whatever your decision, know that you are welcome as a representative of Aerdy! What is your pleasure, noble Advisor to the Overking?"
]
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
All the fumes raised bu Iuz were, in fact, nothing more than unnice nagging from my side ... Sorry 
:\ 
