Post by VemuKhaham on Feb 3, 2005 11:26:22 GMT -5
As you walk past the dozens of humble servants, pages and lackeys, over the clean sheet of red linnen which is rolled out before you over the neatly paved avenue, you approach the large entrance, decorated with artistic finesse and grand displays of wealth. Two brightly dressed servants bow down to you after they have opened both the doors before you.
Behind the statue-rich doorway unfolds a major entrance room, with two golden stairways curling up towards each other at the other end of the room. The red walker ends there in the center of the room, and as you look around in marvel of the great beauty of the place you are impressed honoustly by the enormous dome-shaped vault above you, in which every single inch has been carefully painted by the greatest of artists. The artificial sun thus created on top of the dome seems to give light to the centre of the room, but instead you find a grand chandelier hanging from the painted sun. The symetric lay-out of the room brings great harmony to the place, and the flora is spread heavily near the side walls.
As you are waiting there in the centre of the room, your personal pages take your coat, and guide you towards the main dining room, holding your hand with snow-white gloves lightly in a supporting manner. There you pass between the two stairs, through an equally decorated door as the main entrance of the embassy, and find yourself at the end of a long-stretched antique dining table. At both sides are the greatest politicians, strategists and advisors of both your countries, and they great you at your arrival with a modest nod. At the far end of the table you find your equal in this contest of words, in this peaceful attempt to unite your two peoples even more, in this private conversation of world importance. At the end of the table where you now stand is an empty chair, with a soft cushion on it.
The doors behind you are closed. You rub your hands in anticipation, as now, shut away from world's view, you and your adversary shall meet in a merciless battle... with words...
As you had prepared yourself to set aside al civil manners and modesty, you are reminded that even though nobody will ever know what transpires here behind these closed doors, the Code is still there, hanging at the middle of the left wall of the room, an annoying parchment that constantly reminds those of civility, modesty and proper behavior. As the king who has to set an example, your eyes force you to read the lines word by word, carefully...
...In other words:
Ok, now that you have read this introduction to these boards, you should know that the Embassy described is just a backdrop for this board, and is in no way a replacement for any other backdrops that the game itself will provide. So whenever two lords decide to discuss their diplomatic relations during a nice hunt in the forests, they may do so and disregard this entire introduction. It was just to give you the 'feel' of what this board is about.
However, you may regard the so-called 'Code of Modesty and Majesty' as something that you WILL regard everytime you are on these boards, no matter what the actual backdrop of the discussion. Of course, some of the rules in it are more in-game, like no weapons allowed and such, and these can be ignored. They are just to point out that doing this you are not acting diplomatically (more like an assassin... ). Other rules in the code are really about these board's rules.
...In fact, all you need to know is this:
Every player will receive its own thread (or converation room) to which only he and the GM have permission to visit. The owner of the Conversation thread may invite other players to it by sending this person a message, like a PM, to let him know that he has authorisation to enter your conversation room to negotiate. At any time, the owner of the conversation room may end this authorisation and dismiss the other player/lord.
If you visit a conversation thread without authorisation, then this is simply cheating. Therefore, I know this system is cheat-vulnerable, but I will trust you all on your maturity. IF it is found out somehow that you did cheat in this way, I can garantuee you, you will forfeit your spot in this game. (I hate saying such things; leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth... er, fingers. )
This rule exists to make sure conversations between rulers remain secret if they want to. For example, it would be no fun to make secret plans to invade a third party by surprise if this third party would know all about it. It is all intended to give intrigue, deceit and surprises the ability to impact at full potential. If you as a player don't feel the need for this, you may of course allow anyone to enter your conversation room.
Now, good luck in discussing world dominance...
Behind the statue-rich doorway unfolds a major entrance room, with two golden stairways curling up towards each other at the other end of the room. The red walker ends there in the center of the room, and as you look around in marvel of the great beauty of the place you are impressed honoustly by the enormous dome-shaped vault above you, in which every single inch has been carefully painted by the greatest of artists. The artificial sun thus created on top of the dome seems to give light to the centre of the room, but instead you find a grand chandelier hanging from the painted sun. The symetric lay-out of the room brings great harmony to the place, and the flora is spread heavily near the side walls.
As you are waiting there in the centre of the room, your personal pages take your coat, and guide you towards the main dining room, holding your hand with snow-white gloves lightly in a supporting manner. There you pass between the two stairs, through an equally decorated door as the main entrance of the embassy, and find yourself at the end of a long-stretched antique dining table. At both sides are the greatest politicians, strategists and advisors of both your countries, and they great you at your arrival with a modest nod. At the far end of the table you find your equal in this contest of words, in this peaceful attempt to unite your two peoples even more, in this private conversation of world importance. At the end of the table where you now stand is an empty chair, with a soft cushion on it.
The doors behind you are closed. You rub your hands in anticipation, as now, shut away from world's view, you and your adversary shall meet in a merciless battle... with words...
As you had prepared yourself to set aside al civil manners and modesty, you are reminded that even though nobody will ever know what transpires here behind these closed doors, the Code is still there, hanging at the middle of the left wall of the room, an annoying parchment that constantly reminds those of civility, modesty and proper behavior. As the king who has to set an example, your eyes force you to read the lines word by word, carefully...
___________________________________
Code of Modesty and Majesty
Thou shall not resort to any kind of violence, wether it be with words of rudeness or with acts ment to apply harm upon another
Thou language must not, in this embassy, deteriorate to a state below kingly virtue. Speak with honour, fairness and politeness. This rule includes body language, which in turn includes dress code, facial and other somatic expressions
Thou shall not bring any arms into the Room of Conversation or in any room within the Royal Embassy for that matter
Thou shall end and begin a conversation only in agreeance from both sides
Thou shall be appointed one of our many Conversation Rooms, so that thou does not feel the need to create thy own
Thou shall not enter Conversation Rooms not appointed to you, and violation of this rule is equally treated as cheating
Thou are allowed to speak as much and as often in the Conversation Rooms so long as thou hast not been accused of previous violations and been punished as thus
Thou shall do as the Embassy states, for between these walls you are not king but customer
___________________________________
Code of Modesty and Majesty
Thou shall not resort to any kind of violence, wether it be with words of rudeness or with acts ment to apply harm upon another
Thou language must not, in this embassy, deteriorate to a state below kingly virtue. Speak with honour, fairness and politeness. This rule includes body language, which in turn includes dress code, facial and other somatic expressions
Thou shall not bring any arms into the Room of Conversation or in any room within the Royal Embassy for that matter
Thou shall end and begin a conversation only in agreeance from both sides
Thou shall be appointed one of our many Conversation Rooms, so that thou does not feel the need to create thy own
Thou shall not enter Conversation Rooms not appointed to you, and violation of this rule is equally treated as cheating
Thou are allowed to speak as much and as often in the Conversation Rooms so long as thou hast not been accused of previous violations and been punished as thus
Thou shall do as the Embassy states, for between these walls you are not king but customer
___________________________________
...In other words:
Ok, now that you have read this introduction to these boards, you should know that the Embassy described is just a backdrop for this board, and is in no way a replacement for any other backdrops that the game itself will provide. So whenever two lords decide to discuss their diplomatic relations during a nice hunt in the forests, they may do so and disregard this entire introduction. It was just to give you the 'feel' of what this board is about.
However, you may regard the so-called 'Code of Modesty and Majesty' as something that you WILL regard everytime you are on these boards, no matter what the actual backdrop of the discussion. Of course, some of the rules in it are more in-game, like no weapons allowed and such, and these can be ignored. They are just to point out that doing this you are not acting diplomatically (more like an assassin... ). Other rules in the code are really about these board's rules.
...In fact, all you need to know is this:
Every player will receive its own thread (or converation room) to which only he and the GM have permission to visit. The owner of the Conversation thread may invite other players to it by sending this person a message, like a PM, to let him know that he has authorisation to enter your conversation room to negotiate. At any time, the owner of the conversation room may end this authorisation and dismiss the other player/lord.
If you visit a conversation thread without authorisation, then this is simply cheating. Therefore, I know this system is cheat-vulnerable, but I will trust you all on your maturity. IF it is found out somehow that you did cheat in this way, I can garantuee you, you will forfeit your spot in this game. (I hate saying such things; leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth... er, fingers. )
This rule exists to make sure conversations between rulers remain secret if they want to. For example, it would be no fun to make secret plans to invade a third party by surprise if this third party would know all about it. It is all intended to give intrigue, deceit and surprises the ability to impact at full potential. If you as a player don't feel the need for this, you may of course allow anyone to enter your conversation room.
Now, good luck in discussing world dominance...