The Enigmatic Invitation - Levantine Struggle diplomacy thread

[phonicsmonkey]

https://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa181/phonicsmonkeytw/le20090403.jpg
Constantinople, ancient Byzantium, winding city streets layered in the thick lacquer of countless generations of memories, the lost souls of innumerable civilizations clamouring to be heard amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. Girt by the impenetrable Bosphorus in whose murky depths lay the detritus of millennia, encrusted with barnacle and shrouded in thick silt.

If all roads in the west lead to Rome, surely even the humblest pony trail in the orient must at some stage in its wending way converge with its multitudinous peers in one hideous nexus on this beating heart of humanity, bringing with it the wayfarers, adventurers, soothsayers, rogues and clergymen cast adrift on the shifting sands of the Levant.

So it is of little surprise that there are to be found within the walls of the mighty Byzantine burg representatives of the major powers of the east: the Crusader States of Antioch and Jerusalem, the Sultanate of the Turks, the Caliphate of the Fatimid Egyptians and of course the Byzantine Emperor himself..each have their appointed persons in situ.

It is of some greater surprise however that these very persons should each find themselves invited, by way of a parchment of unrecognisable seal, delivered by hooded messenger in the dead of night, to a parley of unknown intent, to be held at a disused Basilica in the obscure Sixth Hill district of the city.

And it is to this mysterious rendezvous that we are now ourselves invited, to observe the events which are now to unfold before our curious eyes....

*This is the in-character diplomacy thread for players in The Levantine Struggle (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?133161-Kingdoms-Crusades-Hotseat-The-Levantine-Struggle) hotseat game. Please do not post in this thread unless you are invited to do so by the GM of the game.*

[Cecil XIX]

A man enters dressed in a simple, knee-length chlamys (https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?104247-A-Quick-Guide-to-Byzantine-Dress-(8th-to-12th-century)&p=1934510&viewfull=1#post1934510). His cloak is off-white, perhaps from too much time outdoors, and is a bit frayed around the edges. It's only decoration is a cross which dominates both front and back.


https://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy308/CecilXIX/TheOrderofStJohn-1.jpg

"Well well well, what's all this then? Is there anyone else here bothered at having been awakened at such an ungodly hour just to be summoned for... something?"

He pauses, and looks around.

"Oh. There's no one here. Well if this is another ambush then GET ON WITH IT!"

He pauses again, this time with his head darting to look at every which way. After a while he sighs.

"Man this is boring. I suppose I could leave, but then an anonymous summons in the middle of night just sounds so interesting..."

He takes a seat in the apse vault and waits, his eyes occasionally darting to some shadowy corner.

[Nightbringer]

After a few minutes, the sound of boots on stone becomes audible, and three men march into the room. Two of the men are fully armored in chain mail and brigantine, with masks covering their faces, leaving only their eyes to be seen. The man in the center is garbed entirely in black silks, and from his posture it is obvious he is the leader of the group, he turns his scared and wrinkled face towards the Christian diplomat already in the room and makes a disgusted face.
I wasn't aware that barbarians were going to be invited as well.
With that, he makes his way to the center of the room, turns, and directly faces the doorway, (away from the other diplomat) waiting.

[GeneralHankerchief]

As the various diplomats enter the room, they notice a piece of parchment hastily tacked on to the front door.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem seeks to maintain trade and friendly relations with all powers of the Levant and surrounding areas. Any diplomat proposing such will not be turned away. In addition, the Kingdom hereby and publicly claims the lands of Damascus and Banyas for its own.

[Nightbringer]

Having read the parchment, The Fatimid diplomat burst into laughter
It seems that the so called, "Kingdom of Jerusalem," is too afraid to even show its face at a diplomatic meeting. I wonder, how shall such men fare in battle?
He gestures and one of the men with him hands him a scroll of parchment. He hastily scribbles a message on it and tacks it up next to the one from Jerusalem.
It reads The Fatimid Caliphate seeks to maintain its lands against these Christian invaders, and in doing so, it is first necessary for its armies to forcibly remove them from said lands. We ignore all claims to land you make, for it is not your land to take. If you wish to live, you had best set sail for home now, for a wall of steel is coming your way.

[Lachin]

A person in green enters the room, nods to the men already present and takes a seat.

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Jerusalem diplomat walks in.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem is dismayed to hear of its less-than-desirable relations with the Fatimid Caliphate. We wish to hear of what we may do to improve relations with our Islamic neighbors.

He bows deeply to the Fatimid representative, and does the same in turn to the rest of the diplomats afterwards.

[Nightbringer]

First, sir "crusader," you can leave the Holy lands. You have seized lands from our people, killed them, and defiled our Holy Places. We understand it may take some time for you to leave, so you may begin by handing over the Holy City of Jerusalem.
Second, you will pay reparations in the form of 50,000 florins over the next 10 years for the damage you have caused,
Third, you may inform your overlord the pope that if he sets his dogs on us again, not only will we whip them, but we shall come and take his head to make sure it doesn't happen a third time.

Turning to the Byzantine diplomat
My apologies if I seamed overtly rude earlier, but I took your cross to mean you were one of these crusaders. I still do not agree with your choices, but my people have no hostility toward your nation.

turning to the man in green
Hello, and who might you be?

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Kingdom of Jerusalem regrets to inform the Fatimid representative that it cannot accept those terms as it would mean the cessation of its very existence. However, as a counter-offer, we are willing to cede Ascalon and 5,000 florins for peace.

We also take offense to the Fatimid representative's accusation that we defiled their Holy Places, as it was their previous Caliph Al-Hakim's unwarranted destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and your persistent warring with the Turks over the site that prompted us to come in the first place.

[Nightbringer]

hmm, that shows remarkable good will. I am surprised. Perhaps you Crusaders are not all vicious dogs. Very well, the Fatimid Caliphate shall accept 5000 florins and Ascalon and remain at peace with you. But be warned, if we hear that you have committed any atrocities, you shall pay.

Our armies will be there to claim Ascalon soon, and many of our troops will likely move east of you to bring some rebellious tribes back into the fold of the Islamic Empire.

[Lachin]

I am Lachin, servant of sultan Nur-ad-Din. :nods:

[_Tristan_]

A tonsured monk walks serenely into the nave of the basilica, perusing both the artwork decorating the walls and the persons assembled. His age is undefinable due to the deep tanned and wrinkled skin of his skull, giving an impression of old age immediately contradicted by a youthful glimmer in his eyes. Though clearly a man of the cloth by his robes, one cannot help but notice the mail hauberk worn underneath, nor the scabbard holding a broadsword of Toledan steel hanging from his belt.

Fellow conspirators, bonjour (turning to the Jerusalem emissary)... As salaam alaikum (turning to both the turkish and egyptian emissaries)... Hephaistos (turning to the byzantine emissary)


Please excuse my tardiness but my mule is not as fast as an arab mount...

I'm Frère Laurent, sent to this assembly by the noble Prince of Antioch, Bohemond the First, to speak in his name and make and receive diplomatic offers to your own rulers.

Antioch regrets the state of war that exists with the Turkish Sultan. It allowed many petty chieftains to rise against their betters and ravage the Holy Land.

I have just arrived here and so do not know the stance that has been taken by the Sultan Nur concerning this state of affair.

(OOC : Tosa : to which account should we direct any PMs ?)

[TosaInu]

(I'll check Lachin daily or more often).

[Lachin]

What is the state of affair are you talking about Frère Laurent?

[_Tristan_]

The state of war between our kingdoms that allow petty chieftains to ransack the Levant, defying both your master's power and mine

[Lachin]

I've heard some reports about this Frère Laurent.

[Nightbringer]

We have not yet received the payment and city of Ascalon. Our armies will be camped near this city, if we do not receive it and the payment promised we will see that you are a liar and will take it by force.

Turning to the Seljuk diplomat
We would greatly like to engage in trade with you, please send your diplomat to finalize this agreement if you wish this also.

[Cecil XIX]

Having been napping for some time, the Roman emissary awakes with start.

Eh? Apologize? He looks at the Egyptian. Ah, well that's fine I suppose. I wear this cross because I am the Grandmaster of the Knights of St. John, an order founded by the most noble Makedonios Ksanthopoulos under the reign of Aleksios Komnenos. We are not a crusading order, but our mission to protect pilgrims in the like. Your confusion is understandable.

What is not understandable is how you say you have no hostility towards us. I suppose you're going to just hand Egypt back to us then and return to Arabia?

[GeneralHankerchief]

Turning towards the Fatimid diplomat, the representative from the Most Holy and Noble Kingdom of Jerusalem raises an eyebrow.

Sir, neither the speed of our diplomats nor their number is infinite. By the time this deal was agreed to, the Kingdom's sole emissary was already on his way north. Rather than have him turn back, it was decided that King Baldwin recruit a second emissary for the specific purpose of liaising with you for this endeavor and all future negotiations that may arise. He is in the process of being trained in the diplomatic arts as we speak, and will make his way south upon satisfactory completion of his training. Patience, you will have your payment in due time.

Additionally, there is also the option of your own personal emissary approaching our territory to hasten the negotiation process.

[Nightbringer]

Turning towards the Fatimid diplomat, the representative from the Most Holy and Noble Kingdom of Jerusalem raises an eyebrow.

Sir, neither the speed of our diplomats nor their number is infinite. By the time this deal was agreed to, the Kingdom's sole emissary was already on his way north. Rather than have him turn back, it was decided that King Baldwin recruit a second emissary for the specific purpose of liaising with you for this endeavor and all future negotiations that may arise. He is in the process of being trained in the diplomatic arts as we speak, and will make his way south upon satisfactory completion of his training. Patience, you will have your payment in due time.

Additionally, there is also the option of your own personal emissary approaching our territory to hasten the negotiation process.

Unfortunately, our emisary became somewhat lost and found himself in a small village in the desert. (occ: seriously, the fatimids only get one diplomat and he is right in the middle of the desert way to the East at the start of the game. The nearest thing is one of the eastern Turkish cities which is two whole turns away from where he starts. WHY WAS HE THERE?!?!)

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Kingdom of Jerusalem would like to report that we have finished the training of our second emissary and he will be in a position to officially negotiate the handover come next campaign season.

[Nightbringer]

Sir Crusader, we can see that though you may speak as one who wants peace, you do not act as such. We see that you have razed the buildings of Ascalon merely to obtain cash for yourself, we also see the numerous spies and assassins you are sending into our lands. In light of this, we must demand that you hand over Karak, fully intact, in addition to Ascalon and 5000 florins, in order to make up for this hostility towards us.
If you refuse, I think you shall find you have more than just us to contend with.

[GeneralHankerchief]

We have done no such thing in razing the buildings of Ascalon. King Baldwin simply refused to order any new construction as soon as it was agreed that Ascalon would be handed over (OOC: phonics, check through the saves, I'm telling the truth on this one). In addition, none of our agents are in Egyptian territory. The deal will remain as it is, and we will not allow your false accusations to pressure us into further concessions.

[Nightbringer]

(OOC: don't worry about checking the saves phonics, this isn't a rule's issue, he would be perfectly within his rites to have raised the buildings, plus, I believe him)
Hmm, perhaps you are telling the truth about ascalon, but I can assure you, as you apparently have utterly lost control of your own agents, that they are in Egyptian territory. They must leave immediately, and we will know if they do not.
We revoke our demand on Karak however, but demand an additional 1000 florins, bringing the total to 6000, due to the delay and the presence of your agents.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Firstly we would like to apologize to the Fatimid Sultanate misidentifying the position of our agents. Upon further examination of the most recent maps, it has become clear that one (and only one) of our agents is, in fact, Egyptian territory. However, he is also right near the border and is monitoring the progress of a large host to make sure that it does not advance on Jerusalem territories once the handover is completed. We do not apologize for ensuring that the deal remains unviolated.

However, two other agents of ours that you most likely speak of are in Ascalon's province, which still belongs to Jerusalem. As such, they have every right to be there and King Baldwin will not remove them until the transfer is complete, at which time you have his every assurance that they will retreat to further Jerusalem territory.

Furthermore, King Baldwin wonders how the Fatimids could be so well-informed of our agents' presence in our home territories unless of course you yourselves have agents of your own in the territory. Normally we would call you out for hypocrisy on this issue, but we will overlook it seeing as how the province will change hands shortly and you could just be setting up to make the transition easier. However, we refuse to pay the extra 1,000 florins.

[_Tristan_]

Sitting apart from everybody, Frère Laurent seems amused by the constant haggling between the Crusaders and the Fatimids.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Dear Egypt:

We cannot peacefully hand over Ascalon to you if our diplomat mysteriously disappears in the desert, never to be heard from again.

Love,
Jerusalem

[Nightbringer]

Excuse me, but this is the last straw.
We had nothing to do with the disappearance of your diplomat. We did not even have a chance to attack him after he was trained, so we can guarantee to the court that this is a fabrication by the Crusader states to prevent their handing over of Ascalon.
Our every suspicion has been confirmed about you crusader dogs. You lie and make false accusations, deny your own actions, refuse our demands, NO! You have stalled enough! This means war!

[_Tristan_]

To untrained hears, only a few words can be heard coming from the corner where Frère Laurent sits...

"... biting more than he could chew..."

[Cecil XIX]

The Grandmaster leisurely strolls back into the Basilica.

"My my, isn't it a nice day. I can understand why no one wants to spend time here. But don't you all think we should discuss the Principality of Antioch's sudden, unprovoked and unannounced invasion of Anatolia? Or how they assassinated my Emperor's beloved eldest daughter, Maria? Now if it were me, the fact that the Roman Empire is the toughest outfit around would be enough to justify going to war. But I'd make a big show of it and get everybody pumped, you know?

He turns to the Antiochean monk.

So why don't you explain yourself?"

[_Tristan_]

Frère Laurent stands up to adress the Roman delegate.

Once a bully, always a bully, it seems, my noble Roman "friend"... You come before us, full of assurance, throwing accusations left and right when every action of yours cries of aggression. You've let rivers of blood run in Anatolia by your reconquest of what you consider "your former lands"... It was a time when your ancestors were as much invaders here as those Turks you slaughtered...

My Prince has never suffered bullies, not when he was a child and surely not now. In his wisdom, he considered it was ample time to put a stop to your eastern expansion. So, true... our men have attacked one of your border settlements and taken it. Take it as a warning that this is where your march east stops.

You'd tell us that simply asking you would have make you stop but we all know how it is with bullies... They're thick-headed and should not be trusted to keep their promises... Hence, we used the only argument a bully could understand : force of arms...

Now, it seems we have your attention... Maybe you'll be willing to discuss terms with us for the return of that settlement of yours. It is of no use to us, a simple tool to convey a message.

As to the assassination of your daughter, you're willing to throw accusations but can you bring proof of what you say ? Only last year, one of our agents was killed in the area as well which brings the possibility of a foreign agent roaming in our lands not unfounded... Our searches have proved fruitless until now but we persevere... NOw you've brought this to our attention, we may have a chance of cornering the man and bringing him to justice...I should tell you also that we know for a fact that a Turkish disreputable character was present in our lands a few years ago but we've lost track of him. Of this we can give proof, should you require it. Can you do the same and back your accusations with proof ?

Nevertheless, my Prince wishes to present his condolences for the grief that struck your Emperor... No man should see his children leave this wolrd of sorrow before he does... I'll say mass for her soul, may she rest in peace...

Amen

Frère Laurent remains standing, head bowed, hands joined and lips moving soundlessly a short while before regaining his seat, a look of benign interest on his weathered face.

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Jerusalem diplomat sits impassively throughout this debate, silently deliberating for some time afterwards. Eventually a thought crosses his mind.

It seems that if we have all lost something in the mountains of Anatolia, gentlemen. One of my diplomats, sent north to further King Baldwin's mission of peaceful trade relations between the Levantine powers, has been out of contact with us for some time. We fear the worst. Perhaps if all of us pooled our resources, we could better work to determine the identity of who is wreaking such ungodly slaughter.

[Nightbringer]

Ah, another nonexistent diplomat has disappeared ay? Do not trust this crusader pond scum, his every word is a lie.

[Cecil XIX]

My my, I confess that's sophistry of a much higher caliber than I was expecting. Certainly then I expect you'll have no problem explaining how you're so different then us, going after Adana, Caesarea, Rhodes, Theodosiopolis and the rest as you have done. And certainly, if I had an excuse that good, I'd make sure everyone knew it as soon as possible. Hell, I could have used that line publicly, and that this war is just a natural way to deal with problems that I've already brought.

But I suppose you have a great deal more dignity than your liege lord, Frère Laurent, and couldn't bear to spout such nonsense before this esteemed body. Good for you getting that all out of the way now.

Now if you wish to discuss terms, here are ours. We desire the return of what was wrongly stolen from us, as well as Theodosiopolis which, as it's properly Greek name implies, is well within our rights of possession. As for this Turkish assassin, I've spotted him northwest of where Princess Maria was slain. He's not particularly skilled, certainly not enough to have killed more than one person.

[_Tristan_]

After being handed a sheaf of papers by one cleric, Frère Laurent rises to adress the Grandmaster.

Our way is significantly different to yours, Roman... You might call it sophistry but still the difference remains. All we did was pacify territories that knew no law in the aftermath of your defeat at Manzikert. Those areas knew no masters be it Roman, Turk or Westerner. Hence, in is great wisdom, Prince Bohemond decided that he should bring law to lawlessness and order to chaos.

You did quite the contrary bring chaos into order by refusing to accept the hard truth that your Empire is decadent and doomed to fail like its Western counterpart... The time of Caesars is past.

As to your claims, we might be willing to return Alanya to you but we would have to be compensated for it for we have no guarantee that seeing it retunred to you, you wouldn't use it as a outpost from which to launch attacks on our homeland. And let me laugh at your claim over Theodosiopolis who should belong to you "because of its Greek name"... A name is nothing more than a label put on things... People in that city still remember the time when it was called Karin by its Armenian settlers or would you prefer to call it Erzurum, as the Turks chose to call it ?

I might even call Constantinople Bohemond's privy but that wouldn't make it so, would it ?

So, unless you come up with a reasonable offer for Alanya, I fear we won't be able to return it to you.

Frère Laurent smiles to the Roman delegate. After a quick look to the topmost of the papers handed to him beforehand, the monk continues.

Now to the more pressing matter of assassination, more pressing for no man is out of reach of an assassin's blade... It seems that if you accuse of sophistry, Grandmaster, we could at least accuse you of hypocrisy.

I bring here proof that while you raise high cries of treachery over your death of your daughter, you have in your employ men cast in the same mold as those that surely took your daughter.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/IntelRomanAssassin.jpg

Hence, you're in no place to accuse others of black deeds when you surely have committed the same one time and again.


As to the Turkish assassin, nobody claims he killed two people and pardon me, but it doesn't require a very skilled man to kill a woman, be she a Princess of Rome... But if you would look at this evidence I bring before you all, I think you would reconsider your position and find the culprit behind all those disappearances we've all had to suffer over the years.



https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/IntelTurkSultan.jpg


Frère Laurent then turns to the Turkish delegate.

Do you have anything to confess ?

[Cecil XIX]

You admit that we are fighting to preserve our realm and call us villains for it. You claim that merely employing assassins is on a same moral plane as using them to murder young girls. You maintain that a name that derives from centuries of custom and history has the same authority as a name given on a whim by a conqueror. You call us a bully then publicly insist on extorting money from us in return for the land which you stole in a surprise attack that, despite your cries of justice, you didn't even bother to mention until I brought it to our attention.

Do I have that right? Feel free to keep talking, I'm sure everyone finds it most instructive in the ways of Antioch.

[_Tristan_]

Frère Laurent smirks at the Roman tirade.

I'll keep talking for you alone seem to hear what you will in my words, but it might enlighten other listeners... As to the murder of young girls, we feel no responsibility in that save that it happened in our lands and thus it should have been our responsibility to ensure the Emperor's daughter should have been safe from harm... And now you wish to repay us in kind by killing Antioch's little girls too ?

I'm sure the information I divulged before you will surely interest our Southern Crusader friends as to the fate of their diplomat.

On the matter of compensation, we would have dropped the idea had you been reasonable in your demands... But as always, it is your greed that will be your undoing.

Anyways, we know now where everyone stands and thus my Lord knows what course of action he shall pursue.

[_Tristan_]

Frère Laurent receives a report from an aide sotto voce. The longer the report goes on, the more red in the face he becomes. With the report ended, Laurent stands and points an accusing finger at the Grandmaster.

You shall burn in hell for your foul deeds, miscreant... Did you believe we would let the slaughtering of two of our brothers, men of piety and kindness, go unpunished ? Perhaps did you think that Antioch was as decadent a Kingdom as your own ? But Prince Bohemond is not only a wise ruler, he is also a staunch defender of the faith and a lion in battle. For those holy lives you've taken, countless of your countrymen will lose theirs.

Such villainy we would have thought possible coming from the Fatimid or Seljuks heathens, but from men that claim to follow the word of God, never !!

Here are the names of the culprit : we know them and their whereabouts. They shall pay for their sinful crimes and forever burn in hell afterwards.

Frère Laurent then strides to the center of the room and pulling a dagger from a sheath at his belt, pins a latin-written parchment on it.

On it can be seen two byzantine-sounding names :


https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/ByzAssassin2.jpg
https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/ByzAssassin3.jpg

Having regained his seat, an aura of danger still emanates from the Crusader monk, such as would never have been believed to exist in a man of the cloth.

[Nightbringer]

While i understand your anger, I do not see why you are pointing at the Grandmaster, isn't he your fellow heathen crusader?

[_Tristan_]

Frère Laurent turns to the Egyptian emissary without bothering to stand up.

I was adressing the Grandmaster of the Order of Saint-John, the Roman emissary. I would never call him a crusader though I would still call him heathen even if he himself would claim to be a Christian...

[Nightbringer]

Oh, yes, so many Grandmasters and such, you Christians have such silly names for things, if things went back to Muslim control we would have nice rational names like Caliph that everyone knows.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Muslim control? You simplify things far too much, Egyptian. Exactly which faction of Muslims would rule - the Sunni or the Shiites? I'm certain that whatever the answer, the significant amount of population in the other camp would happily drop their centuries-old religious traditions and customs in order to seamlessly resolve the deep and personal theological debate that has plagued your people since roughly two generations after the death of your Prophet.

And that's just getting into the religious aspect - what about race and heritage? When you say "Caliph", do you mean that your Shiite Fatimid Caliphate would take the lead? After all, your Caliphate is a relatively new player in the scheme of things. Would it be the Sunni Abbasid Arabs once again? Or would it be their usurpers, the so-recently converted Sunni Seljuk Turks? Would you so easily trust those who are of a different race from you, of a different religious sect from you, who only recently converted to that sect anyway and humbled a previously great dynasty, the heirs of the Umayyads and constructors of the greatest learning center on Earth: Baghdad?

Ah, but never you mind, I'm sure that you would know better than me that "Muslim" is a single unifying concept that has absolutely no fissions or internal divisions whatsoever to speak of.

[Nightbringer]

Of course it would be the Shiite Fatimids, who else? Those others you speak of obviously do not follow the true path and as such are inadequate to the task.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Of course it would be the Shiite Fatimids, who else? Those others you speak of obviously do not follow the true path and as such are inadequate to the task.

I'm sure your Turkish counterpart is thrilled to hear those words.

[Nightbringer]

Judging by what I have heard of his actions, he has done little to drive your kind out, so I fail to see how he would take power.

[Quirl]

A man enters the court. He walks over to the Turkish Ambassador's table and whispers something into his ear. Graciously bowing, the other man seems to take his leave. After waiting a moment, the new arrival then takes his seat in the former ambassador's chair and addresses the court.

Salam wa aleikum,

My name is Amin Saffāh of the Zengid Sultanate. I speak for my master, Nur ad-Din Zangi. Up until now, the Zengid Dynasty has been a vassal of the Great Seljuks (those you call "The Turks"). However, the Seljuks have fallen—their territories in Rûm swept away by a combined Roman and Crusader onslaught. Because of this, we are no longer their vassals and the Zengid Dynasty has declared its independence. Furthermore, in his wisdom, Nur ad-Din has migrated the Zengid Dynasty further into Syria and to the very gates of Baghdad. With this holy city now in our position, the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad has declared Nur ad-Din Sultan—ruler of the east and west—and the Zengid Dynasty has officially become, with the Caliph's blessing, the Zengid Sultanate.

Now that I have arrived, I wish to open communication between ourselves and your empires. First and foremost, what is this talk about the blasphemous Fatimids resurfacing? Our great Sultan, Nur ad-Din, destroyed these infidels when he sent the legendary Shawar to defend Egypt from the Crusaders. Shawar ruled in our name until Salah al-Din inherited his position and betrayed us! Has Salah al-Din fallen so far as to convert to a Shi’ite now, too?! Or have the Fatimids somehow regained power?

[Nightbringer]

The Fatimids have indeed regained their power. The people of these lands have cried out for assistance against the crusaders killing and forcibly converting them, and, knowing we can do this, have helped raise the Fatimid Caliphate to a mighty stature once again. These feuds betweens shi'ites and suni are grave indeed, but they must be put no hold until these crusader dogs have been driven out!

[Quirl]

To what end? So our brethren may be persecuted by Shi'ites rather than Franks? We have no interest in exchanging one oppressor for another.

[Nightbringer]

Well, Alah has shown us Shi'ites one point of favor by blessing us with the capture of Jerusalem. While hardly the most important city of Islam its return is surely a sign of the Fatimids coming supremacy.
Additionally, this marks the end of the pretender "Kingdom of Jerusalem." These dogs last few cities and armies will be cleared up soon enough, perhaps then the other crusaders will see that this is a pointless and pathetic attempt to overcome Islam and return home.

[Quirl]

Amin strokes his chin.

Interesting... This is an intriguing turn of events.

He turns to The Kingdom of Jerusalem's ambassador.

I wonder what King Baldwin has to say of all this?

Are these claims true? Is your nation really finished? Should we expect Fatimid rule in the lands of al-Quds now?

[Nightbringer]

I don't think you will ever hear from the former King Baldwin again my friend.

[Quirl]

Amin cocks his brow.

My... has the zombie king been killed?

[Thanatos Eclipse]

Regent Reynolds walks into the court of Constantinople and grimaces at the sight that greets him. Drenched in the filth of years of uselessness, the fattened pigs of peace lay around the court as if just waiting for the slaughter. Spotting the fattest of the bunch, Reynolds walks up to him, but upon seeing no recognition in the mans glazed eyes; Reynolds kicks the chair out form under him.

“Is this how you treat your Grandmaster!!” Reynolds barks.

The fat diplomat rolls his head and looks up at Reynolds through his dim glassy eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he asks in a slow distant voice “Who?”

Reynolds spits in the man’s face, “You disgust me. Is this how you serve your people and your God; drink and drugs?!” Snapping at two of his guards, “Get this animal out of my sight, throw him in the mud with the pigs. That should be a fitting place for him.” Spotting a few Egyptian dignitaries trying to hide behind chairs a few sizes too small, he snaps “See that they share his fate.” Turning to the rest of the court, “See that you lot take this to heart lest you end up spending the rest of your short lives scrounging through the mud. Cause once-if I were your leader that's where you'd be.”

Now to the reason for my visit to this perverted and heretical city; I am Regent Reynolds of the Crusading State of Antioch under the glorious rule of the crowned Prince Bohemund, and as far as most of the world was concerned, especially our western lords, that’s the way it was. However circumstances have changed and the support of the King, even the Pope, is no longer needed. I come to you now as the Grandmaster of the Order of the Eclipse, choosen by God as his shield and sword; protector of the Holy Lands, and bane of the unfaithful.”

“As to announcements, the mighty city of Cairo is now under the glorious shadow of the Eclipse! The high walls of the Turkish fortress shall fall yet again to the might of the Crusaders in the coming season, and Baghdad shall be swiftly reclaimed...once the Turks finally take it back that is.”

“As to the Greeks who fancy themselves Romans, if you do not pull back all your agents of darkness and corrupt forces out of God’s lands, it shall be considered a declaration of war against God! A war you can not win!”

[Cecil XIX]

Armatos stands.

"What do we care for the mad ramblings of a Prince who is heretical to his own Church? We will fight, and we will win. Let the world tremble in the face of the battles to come! Let the Lord's will be done!

[GeneralHankerchief]

The Jerusalem diplomat looks around, notice that Egypt is no longer represented in the council, and smirks, going back to reading his pamphlets.

[Thanatos Eclipse]

"Mad! MAD!!" Reynolds shouts. "Well maybe...a little, but that matters not now, for I am merely a tool in God's hand; a scythe to cut back the heretical weeds from God's garden. No pope or king can take precedence over a direct mandate of God."

Reynolds stops and sighs, "However yours is a brave people and the battles to come will be great, but in the end people shall not speak of your valiant defense and the poets shall regale none with stories of your noble fights, for your peasants mouths shall be filled with cries of raining brimstone and your songstresses left wailing of Divine fire sweeping across the lands."

[Thanatos Eclipse]

A representative of the Order stands and addresses the court, "The Grandmaster has but one message for the feral hounds who have circled God's lands, 'Bring it on'."

[Myth]

Two men birst into the room, with a dozen of armed guards spilling after them. The tensions quickly rise and the other diplomat's own guards are alerted. The man on the left, a tall, European looking fellow tih a pointed beard and trimmed mustaches raises his hands. He is dressed in red robes and a heavy golden crusifix hangs from his neck. The man to his right is a shorter but more robust fellow, clad as a Knight Templar in mail over padded dublet, and with a tabard over his armour wtih the Templar's cross scribed over it. The man has thin scars running about his face and the yellow dust of the desert still covers his steel toed boots.

"Gentlemen." - the taller man announces with a heavy accent signifying his italian descent. "I am Cardinal Paolo Fisconi, charged with overseeing a mission of the Holy Inquisition by his Holiness the Pope himself. The former ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem has been removed from his position, and will be investigated on accounts of heresy, fornication, blasphemy and a disobedience of Roma. The Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici will assist us wtih the governance of the nation and with solving the current situatin we find the realm in. This mission is cruicial to Roma and His Holiness, and we must establish ourselves before you, the powers in this reagion, and hear what you have to say, both in private and before all."

The Templar nods and grunts out his name, producing a simple "Philip de Aquitaine" with a Frankish accent, as he makes his way towards the table and establishes himself where the previous diplomat used to sit. The man now stands, pale faced and clutching his ledgers and papers, surrounded by the Cardinal's guards.

"His Eminence has been most gracious monseneurs, and has decided to investigate rather than simply pass judgement. I will speak for Jersualem's armies and people. Where are the maps?"

The former represetntive of Jerusalem hands several rolled up papers with shaking hands, and then is swiftly escorted out along with the Cardinal.

"Let us begin." the Templar kngiht states bluntly and looks around the room with unblinking brown eyes.

[Thanatos Eclipse]

The Order's representative looks crossly at the Jerusalem Cardinal, "We have nothing to say to you. And don't think some switch up and pampas, I mean Papal decree is going to fool us. The Pope has already shown his support for the Order's work in the crusaders he recently sent to join the Lord's Crusade against all the Dark forces in these lands. And don't expect any mercy from the Order just because you used to be faithful Catholics. The Lord has set a challenge before the Grandmaster and he intends to see it through, whatever the cost. Should God deems this war claim our lives, then angelic chores shall shepherd us home as heroes. If we send you heathens to hell first, all the better."

Turning to the Turks "And don't think we missed your Jihadist rising up out of the East, they shall be dealt with swiftly if they don't disband. We're not going to loss all the progress we've made in the east just because the Devils found a new playground in Jerusalem."

[Myth]

The Templar narrows his eyes and writes something down on parchment. He sands the ink and blows across the writing, before speaking.

"You are warmongers and hide behind the word of the Lord, so that you may fool the noble kninghts who serve you into following such actions. Your war threatens Rome's position in the Levant, and will undo the progress of several hundred years of crusades if you fail. It is our duty then, to liberate your lands and establish a more sound relationship with the local powers. Your delusions of vanquishiong everyone in the Holy Lands is absurd!"

[Thanatos Eclipse]

"Warmongering? Either your ignorant or blind, the only Crusade we chose was against the Saracens, and even that is so long ago neither side rightly remembers who started it. As for the Greeks, it is true that under the Principality we did start the war with them, but the Order has since done its best to mend bridges and maintain peace, but it turns out the sins of Babylon flow through the Greek veins. They raided out borders and we were forced to respond in force. As for your people, as it seems you have forgotten, we pulled you from the Egyptian tide and returned your homes to you asking nothing in return. We wanted only to maintain God's glorious kingdom, however we were to late. The Devil had already sunk his roots into Jerusalem and all that is left is for our cold steel and holy flames to cleanse these lands of his dark taint."

[Cecil XIX]

Armatos stands, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.

You will be pleased to note that the island of Cyprus has been returned to the Empire, and by the grace of God we have reclaimed Theodosiopolis from Antioch. It seems the governor there suffered an unfortunate accident, and when his bodyguard dispersed it was necessary for us to send a nearby contingent of cavalry into the city to restore order.

[Thanatos Eclipse]

"Eh, he was a second cousin, thrice removed, in a city too far away to really care about," the Order Knight dismisses. "Now what interrests me," the knight says enthusiastically, "is how your Vangarian Guards stack up against some real men. God's faithful verses hired axes, the devoted verses the greedy, should be exciting."

[Myth]

The Templar smirks as he receives a message by a hooded man. "It appears His Holiness has been busy. He and his Bishops have ran an extensive campaign to purge the Order of the Hospitalliers of heretics and demon worshipers. Your leader has been burned at the stake, as well as two of his most corrupt commanders. Cardinal Fisconi also sends word of more heresy awaiting to be rooted out, and he speaks of a massive purge that is soon to come via his armies hailing from New Rome and the surrounding castles."

[Thanatos Eclipse]

The Order of the Eclipse has started it's own inquisition, but instead of hiding in the shadows we'll do it out in the open. It seems the Grandmaster himself has already found him a demon to vanquish, non other then your own false prophet King Toby. He was found guilty before God's holy army and put to the sword, along with the rest of his demonic tribe. The sands of Kerak run black with demon blood.

It seems the Turks have also finally acknowledged the glory of our God and have offered the spoils of Baghdad back, as a sacrifice to him.

[Thanatos Eclipse]

The Order Knight glares at the Saracen party, "It is not nice to take back what you have gifted to God, he will not easily forgive you for this."

The Order Knight laughs, "I'm just kidding, he wasn't going to forgive you anyways. I mean you're heretics following some lunatic that thought he was a prophet. More Holy then the Lord, Jesus Christ! Give me a break. However, on the bright side at least you still have time till your judgement day, the poor souls of the false inquisition of Jerusalem are going to be meeting their maker any day now and I doubt they're going to be happy with were he's sending them."

Looking around the room, "And I guess that just leaves the Greeks. Don't think we've forgotten about you. Even as I speak a new Crusading Horde gathers on the outskirts of the Antioch region, ready to march straight for the heart of Anatolia. Think I'll join them once they get closer," the knight says with a grin, "but for now I can't shrug off my duties at this boring diplomatic post."

[Thanatos Eclipse]

Listening to the silent court, the Order knight sighs. Turning to the figure beside him, the knight ponders, "Do you ever get the feeling you're just talking to yourself?"

The figure just stares back blankly. The two sit there for a while in silence, till the figure's head loses it's balance and tumbles to the floor. "Alas, poor Yorick. I feel the same some days." Bending down, the knight picks up Yorick's skull. The knight puts Yorick back on his body, but he just rolls off again, "Sometimes, Yorick, I can't help but wonder if the rest of the people in this court are as dead as you are; heck, you're more talkative then they are these days."

Grabbing Yorick off the floor again and holding him up, the knight continues to talk, "Guess it's probable just you and me for now. I'm so glad I have you here to talk to; I'd go crazy if I was stuck here talking to myself. Ah, Yorick..." the knight laughs, "you know, that wasn't always your name. No, they use to call you...well, I don't know; but some how I feel Yorick fits you. I was told when you were brought here that you used to be second in command to Dragos the Scarred, the pillager of the Order's northern territories. Although from what I hear, Dragos the Runner would be more appropriate. They say he ran from two battles and all the way across Order territory, from Diyabakir to the Greek controlled Adana. Which is quite an achievement, Yorick; you obviously couldn't do it."

"Apart from your past, Yorick, I have also recieved word that Antioch was liberated when the foolish defenders were slaughtered while trying to support their nearby forces. It also seems that the vile Greek trebuchets were destroyed in the process; so, Yorick, anything else that you think is important to bring to this courts attention?" The Order Knight looks at Yorick expectantly, "Well, sure there was those few ships defeated in the south, even sunk an Inquisition's boat, but no one's going to care about that..........no, no, the defeat of one horse unit scouting the mountain passes in the far north isn't classified as important either.....Well, if I knew you weren't going to be helpful then I wouldn't have asked...Fine, be like that!"

The Order knight slams Yorick down on the table, "No, I don't want to hear it!" The knight grabs for a cloth and throws it over Yorick. Sitting back in his chair angrily, the knight grumbles to himself and grabs for a drink, all the while continuing to stare intently at the now covered skull.