- ARCHIVE - Ducal Court of Lithuania

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Message from Danmark

The ambassador from Danmark entered the royal court to present his credentials,

Your majesty I am Lord Bjorklund and I am here to represent my King Erik VII of Danmark-Norge och Sverige. He sends greetings and good wishes to you and hopes you will exchange embassies.

The ambassador withdraws after his presentation.

 

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A tall gaunt Dominican presents a letter from the Arch-Bishop of Prague.

 

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The same Dominican returns with another letter.

 

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A group of mongol mounted arecher comes riding towards the capital of Lithauania. The scouts quickly recognizes them and foolishly attacks, the scouts are easily beaten but to their own suprise not killed. The leader instead tells them that he is not there to wage war but as a messanger to the court.

Fearing for their life the scouts doesnt dare to question him. They lead them to the fortified city of Vilnius. The mongols are forced to leave their weapons to enter the city they do so and the leader is alowed to enter the court.

When he enters the sound of the debates are quickly silenced. Everyone in the room stares at the unlikly guest. The mongols bows to the Geand Duke then begins to speak.

"You highnees, i am sent here in the name of the Great Khan and the entire Golden Horde. Many lithuanian men died when they attacked the defence of the Golden Horde, the simple garnisons of the Golden Horde. Does lithuania wish to waste more lives againt the unbeatable Mongol army?

In the name of the Great Khan and the Golden Horde i offer you a peace where lithuania only shal pay a minimal tribute of 200 gold dinars (ooc: 1 eco) for the few lives lost in your attacks, in return Lithuanaia will not be cruched under the humongous unbeatable Mongol army of the Golden Horde."

The Mongol bows again then exits the court and doesnt delay the disembark form the city.

 

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Olaf Kinderov arrive at the court of Lithuania.

" My lord.

The kingdom of Muscovia is proud of what you achieved for the great glory of our alliance, and want to assure that the Golden Horde will never pass by Muscovy to attack you, our civilians are ready to burn their farms to stop the advancing of the Khan...

Never we will surrender... "

He bows, and then leave...

 

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Embassy of Tver

An embassy arrives from the people of Tver, your neighbors. Bearing gifts of furs, ikons and gold, the headman of the group steps forward and says:

"We greet the people of Lithuania, our neighbors. The peoples of Tver have invested new life and new hope in their Grand Prince, Ivan, that he may guide us in the days ahead! All under the cross of Christ should rejoice in unity against the enemies of the faith. We present this humble servant, Ivan Kars, our trusted friend, as our ambassador to relate our interests. We seek greater trading connections with your people, and the freedom to steer our own destiny without interference. Hail to you and farewell!"

A young man steps forward:
"I am Ivan Kars, of the boyar Kars in Tver. I will do my humble best to represent the interests of Tver in your court, with your permission."

 

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A group of Mongols comes riding. This time they arent attacked, it seams that the generals talk to the guards had effect. These have also came to deliver a message for the Great Khan.

"It seams the duke of Lithuania arent informed of its possition, muscovy have surrendered already, Constantinople and the mamelukes are pleeding for peace. The only front the Golden Horde needs to figth on is the weastern border. The only ally of Lithuania is Poland. The army of the Golden Horde will focus only against Lithuania.

The Great Khan also confused by these national feelings, should the people revolt only because hte name of their nation is the Golden Horde instead of Lithuania? The only person who had heard of this was a manic who claimed to seen a future where the borders of antions was based on the culture of the people and not the might of the rulers.

Signed Great Khan Ulugh Muhammad of the Golden Horde"

 

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A soldier arrives with a message delivered at the boarder. It bears the symbol of the white sheep.

"To help our golden friends and protect the faith the White Sheep hereby declare Lithuania war. Defend yourselves."

signed Qara Yülük `Uthman Khan of the Aq-Qoyunlu.

 

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Novgorod's ambassador enters the court:
"Dear Grand Duke of Lithuania! The treacherous cowards in the Teutonic Order have declared war against us and since Lithuania is allied with those filthy rats we fear that you may turn against us. Please do not attack your own wartime ally and friend! The Teutonic knights are just hungry for their own power and glory and have not even assisted your glorious armies in the war against the Golden horde. They do not deserve any help from your glorious soldiers! If possible join your true friends in the north instead!"

 

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A letter arrives.
"It's realy simple actually.
If you had followed the actions done by Novgorod, slaughtered innocent monks, hunted innocent munks from their lands. Without any reason what so ever.
Karl has told me everything evil they have done.
I who trusted them, i who beleived we after all could be friends, my heart was scattered, my hopes destroyed, and now war seems as the only way to solve this.
And as for the war against the Infidel in the Golden Horde.
The Infidel Horde will soon be scattered and humiliated. The might of Poland and Lithuania will crush them.
And as for the contribution by Novgorod, it is remarkable that they do this, and this we thank them for. But one good thing do not outweight hundreds of evil. And if they want to spare troops. Stay out of our way.
Signed
Michael von Sternburg"

 

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hmm

A letter arrives.
"We see that you have some minor difficulties with the Golden Horde.
I would strongly advice you, and Poland to halt the advance, and be on defence or save troops untill we all can do a combined strike.
Firstly i shall take care of the Novgorod Issue.
Calculated results is that we have reached our goals in a period of 3 months. And if they are willing to agree to out peace terms then my forces can turn around.
The Danish King have spoken openly about to attack the Golden Horde.
And he is the mightiest nation in our area.
Furthermore the Holy Roman Empire must help us when heathens invade our christian land.
Which they have not done fully yet.
So only wait, and stay alive.
Golden horde will be handled.
"

 

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A letter arrives.
" The troops are already crossing the border, we hav heard reports of minor skrimishes already.
The army can't be recalled before we manage to send a messanger to them, which takes time, as the army have ridden for weeks. And waged war for weeks.
The army will figh it's battle.
And then we will give order to Halt the army.
IF Novgorod still is willing to negotiate"

 

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Embassy of Tver

Ivan Kars, the ambassador from Tver, walks into the court.

He bows deeply, removes his hat, then says:

"My lord,

Lithuania and your house have a difficult decision to make. Your war with the Golden Horde goes poorly, yet your allies diminish. Your friends the Teutons have declared war on your war-allies the Novogorod. Muscovy has fallen under the Horde's yoke, and no other Chrisitan nation seems available to take up the sword.

Unfortunately, Tver itself is too small to fight against the Horde. Our memory is replete with the horrible deeds of the Horde on Rus soil, and we wish not their attentions on our lands.

Novogorod seems intent to make enemies of it's neighbors, and no longer represents the Rus.

We implore you not to take their side in this conflict! Continue the fight against the Horde, and protect all Christendom! The Teutonic Order will punish the Novogorod for us all, and allow the conflict with the Golden Horde to widen.

To show our good will, we are diverting our traders from Novgorod to Courland. We wish to pass through your territory where appropriate, and of course will pay proper toll.

These are the words of Grand Prince Ivan. We hope you will make the correct choice on this matter."

Ivan bows deeply, places his hat upon his head, and leaves.

 

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The Teutonic Ambassador enters and speaks

”There is nothing to discuss. Either Novgorod accepts our most generous terms of peace. Or the war goes on.
We are here in Eastern Europe to make the heretical Orthodox convert to the one and true faith, Catholism.
But we cannot do all this in one big bite. Therefore we take bit by bit.
So the Demands of the Teutonic Order are as following.
Ingermanland are to be given to the Teutonic Order.
Kexholm are to be given to the Teutonic Order.

In return we will aid Novgorod in their war against the Golden Horde, even though it is against our beliefs, to fight side to side with heathens. We will fight a war, side by side, with heathens against another heathen.
Furthermore we sign a Non Aggression pact with Novgorod for the time of 2 years (ooc: 8 weeks). And we will hold the meeting about Novgorod-Teutonic relations and religion.
If any of the Orthodox nations attack Novgorod the Teutonic Order will back up Novgorod under the 2 years we have non-aggression pact.
I believe this is a very very nice agreement. Considering we could easily conquer all of Novgorod. But we do not want that. Do we?
“

The Teutonic Ambassador leaves a note of all he has said, and leaves with the phrase.

“Sign or face the consequences”

 

[Legolas]

The day was cloudy and windy. It mostly corresponded to the mind of Kestutis Skirgaila, the chief advisor of Magnus Dux. He was thinking of recent happenings thourought Europe.
"The infidels, those damned, God-forsaken bandits! They attack our beloved lands, the lands just to the South of our country! And we, we are too weak to counter them now. Our allies fade and disappear, Muscowy, Novgorod too, even possibly Constantinople are all either defeated, out of war or too far away to help. WHY??? My God, why hast thou abandoned Lithuania? Why?.. Fighting for survival of christendom, and we are now in such a huge dilemma: whom should we ally with: Teutons, our old enemies but possible friends, or Novgorod, our friends in the past, now seeming to have abandoned christendom and joining the infidels. Whom must I choose? My God, please, please help me!!!"
He mumbled for a while after, but, getting no answer from above, stopped praying.
"But what... what if that 'God' is just a fairy tale? What if all minds, both these of Christians and of Muslims, are poisoned? Paganism also helped us, gave ideals to fight for, and we resisted. Only not long before, we took that faith, the faith which we do not know about. Maybe this was a poison, a poison to our mind. All Christian rulers seem to be so narrowminded, so untolerant. Why is this? Is this what that 'God' wants?"
He suddenly noticed that a servant was listening through the door.
-Come here,- he ordered.
-Yes, master.
-What have you heard?
-N...n...nnothing...
-Really?
-Really, I sware!
-Sware with what?
-I sware with God Thunder, God Oak and God River!
-NO!!! This might not remain! Go now, and bring me my tome of Bible. I will read it to you, day by day, and talk with you. You WILL feel what is Catholicism!
The servant ran out, and Kestutis could not keep his tears. 'My country... my soul... what have I done?..' he mumbled.

 

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A letter arrives from Poland:

Dear Brother,

It seems as though I have just awakened from a dep sleep. I have done things in the past which I truly wonder at, but from now on that will change. I write to you to tell you of the first of these changes. I seek to remove the Teutonic Knights from the Eastern Alliance. I don't know what came over me when I accepted them as allies. Why, less than ten years ago the two of us were on the battlefields fighting them in what could only be discribed as the largest battle the world has ever seen. I would ask that you join me in expelling them from the alliance. Although I have the power to do this myself I will not do so if you, the other member of the alliance do not agree that they cannot be trusted. I would also like to send a permanent ambassador to your nation. If you would accept one, I ask that you could send one to Poland which I will take as acceptance.

Your brother,

 

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A letter arrives from Cracaw:

Dear Brother,

Rejoice, dear brother, for you need no longer trouble yourself with making a decision on expelling the Teutons from our alliance, for they have done so themselves.
My only waoory is that they seek war against us. I am not sure what this Grand master wants or aims to acheive, but if his dead predecessor is anything to go by, all that he wants is the destruction of our lands. I hope that he is not of the same warlike nature as the man he replaced for I fear for your borders and wether or not your northern one will remain secure. I swear to you, dear brother, that shuold theTeutons try to take the land that is rightfully yours, we will help you protect it with all of our might.

Your dearest brother,

 

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A sealed letter is delivered to the Ducal Palace by a cloaked stranger. The only identification is the seal of the Polish King.

 

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A message arrives from the Duke's brother,

Brother,

I do not quite understand what you are saying. I am not keen on destroying the Teutonic Order. I merely mentioned them because of the increase in tensions between us and the fact that they have made aggressive moves against us in the past. I do not seek their destruction, merely the safety and integrity of our lands.

Your brother,

 

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Mojtec Marlek enters the Court and brings with him a message from the King of Poland:

Dear Brother,

I konw not why you continually speak of war. We desire no war with the Teutons. If it comes to that we want to beprepared for that eventuality but we do not welcome it.
I hope that you will reconsier your involvement in the Eastern Alliance which now comprises of Poland and Sweden.