TVM - SHARK Conflict

So. SHARK have claimed so far that their actions are not intended as a challenge towards TVM's land claim in general. They claim to be furthering a strategic objective, which is to hold the centre of Broken Lands. The attitude I infer from there is "We don't really care about TVM; we have an objective and we're fulfilling it". They have consistently claimed to be keen to avoid a war. If you, as Shark have consistently stated, do not recognise land claims, then Shark's actions are entirely justified. This would appear to be the line of rhetoric which Shark are attempting to further.

However, claiming as Halcyon did to be the victims of aggression is fairly misguided, for a number of different reasons.

Firstly- regardless of whether you recognise land claims or not, Shark were aware that TVM would not have made their land claim without wishing to enforce it. By placing their cities specifically in an area of Newlands claimed by TVM (not all of Newlands is held by TVM), Shark are implicitly provoking a response.

Secondly- if Shark truly did wish to compete in tournaments, why exactly have they been moving cities in that contain, for instance, 262 catapults?

Thirdly- why is this forum post here to begin with? If Shark were truly interested in maintaining peace, they would have tried to message first Lorcan, then TVM leadership, then RE leadership. To a certain extent, this has happened. However, posting what is frankly a threat on the forum, directed purely at the leadership of two alliances, is one of two things (or both). It is either an attempt to claim, as I have already stated, the moral high ground- something which does not appear to be working all that well. Or- SHARK are flexing their muscles on the forums, and attempting to cow people into giving in to their strategic demands.... Or attempting to provoke the DSD further, of course.

Once again.... If Shark want a fight, simply say so. 

The SHARK group leadership has never been anything less than belligerent. Some individual members have actually been friendly but those conversations are out the window when leadership shuts the dialogue down and insists they " can't contact TVM" regardless of what variety of Olive Branch is extended. They have never gone beyond "our members will settle where they please and we dare you to stop them" (again, not a quote, but that's the main talking point, as seen above).

This sort of "diplomacy" would not be tolerated anywhere, in Elgea or TBL, regardless of whatever claim has or has not been made by an alliance that is clearly colonizing an area. For example, if we were to send members to relocate and settle in a cluster of SHARK cities and when contacted by their leadership to ask what our intentions were we said "We will move where we want and don't care what you think," there would be some tension, to say the least. Don't be fooled by the talk; this is and has always been about diplomacy. Some are less...adept at it than others.