The Land of Petroilia

Once upon a time, in the land of Petroilia, there lived a people who were oppressed and beaten down and walked upon by not one, but two, bullies. The bullies did not like each other much. In fact, they hated each other. They both said they wanted to help the people; that they wanted what was best for the people; that they would treat the people better than the other bully. But neither did.

By and by, one of the bullies -- Scimitar - came into a place of power and control in the land of Petroilia. This control was cruel and hurtful and was made possible - mostly - by support from elsewhere and not from the wishes of the people of Petroilia. For many years, the people remained bent and cowed and were afraid to stand up to this bully who would be their king. But in their hearts they were not content.

One day the people rose up and shook their collective fist at the bully, who quickly tried to stomp them once again into submission. However, the other bully -- known as The Snake - had been waiting quietly for such a time as this and immediately rose up to feign support for the people; to encourage them in their rebellion.

And the bullies fought each other for control of the people of Petroilia.

Scimitar killed his own people in the streets; people of all ages and backgrounds; young children and elderly citizens; those who believed and worshipped differently than he did.

The Snake struck at the very heart of Scimitar and the soldiers he commanded and hid behind the people who were raising their fists against Scimitar. He killed and butchered and shouted out that the enemies of his god were his enemies and all would one day pay for their beliefs.

The leaders of other lands watched for afar. They waited to see who would gain the advantage in the land of Petroilia. They fought amongst themselves concerning who was in the right -- Scimitar or The Snake -- and they began to take sides. One nation wanted to help The Snake wrest control from Scimitar; others wanted to support Scimitar; and yet others sought to stay clear of the war between the two bullies.

For therein, good reader, lies the problem.

When two bullies are fighting for control over a people, should kings and princes from far away lands send their knights and horses and catapults and infantry into the fray? Should powers from other areas of the globe even get involved in the fight between two bullies who are equally cruel and hurtful and abusive and diabolical?

The answer, according to the leaders of those far away lands, is yes.

Especially when the battle is for control over the land of Petroilia.