The hardball line tells you to chest your cards (and maybe slip a couple up your sleeve).

Ultimately, Nicholas aspired to a pan-Serb ideal, desiring nothing less than the resurrection of the medieval Serb empire with himself upon Dusan's throne.

The siege of Dristra failed, as the emperor found himself surrounded by the Pechenegs. […] Fearing a Cuman–Pecheneg alliance, Alexios immediately sued for peace and the Pechenegs agreed to a truce, which they immediately broke in order to take advantage of Alexios' notorious lack of troops and invade Thrace.

For though some be lidder, and list for to rayle, / Yet to lie vpon me they can not preuayle: […]