Court of the Caliph: BC Hotseat Council Thread

[rossahh]

We find it equally amazing that the sickness that first arose in Damascus (ooc: naturally) was spread to Hama, Homs, Antioch and Aleppo despite not a single soul being allowed to transmute between the settlements. At least, not a single soul from the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

We suggest that the Rajput army take a eastern routing across the desert if they wish to visit Jersualem. That way your men can meet another of our delightful armies from the south, while allowing our quite busy armies in the north a bit of time off.

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier clearly does not believe the Latin denial.

And why, may I ask, would the Caliph instruct his agents to spread disease among his own subjects?

No, this infestation of plague can only be a deliberate act of aggression by the enemies of Islam (their names be cursed eternally)!

Whosoever it may be, let it cease immediately before the perpetrator feels the divine retribution of Allah (his name be praised eternally)!

[phonicsmonkey]

A ghulam boy scurries into the Court bearing a message for the Vizier, who reads it carefully before smiling broadly and addressing the gathered dignitaries.

Praise be to Allah! The Caliph's faithful armies have succeeded in capturing from King Baldwin's men the village of Hama and Castle Homs! I am told that many Crusaders were slain in the battle at Homs, and fought bravely to the death against the most pious jihadis.

In celebration of this great triumph, the city formerly known as Antioch has been renamed 'An-Nasir' in honour of our mighty Caliph.

Further to this, the Roman incursion in the former Georgia has been halted with the recapture of the port city of Ani - the residents were most joyous to be reunited with their erstwhile leaders, and have petitioned for that town to be renamed 'Az-Zahir' in honour of the late Crown Prince.

Perhaps now the Greek Emperor of Rome and the Leper King will see the inevitability of their defeat, and give way to the armies of Islam without further bloodshed.

Allah-u-akhbar!

[phonicsmonkey]

The Crown Price Abu-Bakr strides into court, flanked by ghulams in ceremonial garb who are blowing out a fanfare on their long trumpets.

He smiles broadly at the assembled dignitaries before reading aloud from a scroll emblazoned with the Caliph's seal.

Sultans, Emirs, Maharajahs, Kings and Stewards of many realms,

Recent victories by the armies of the Caliphate and their noble Seljuk allies have brought King Baldwin of Jerusalem to the negotiating table to sue for peace.

The negotiations have resulted in the Treaty of Jerusalem, which brings an end to the war in the Levant, Syria and Egypt.

The Caliph and his allies have agreed to cease their war against the Kingdom in exchange for certain territories, including the holy cities of Jerusalem and Damascus.

Further to this, the Kingdom of Jerusalem is no more - the former King Baldwin will serve as Steward of some lands which shall be known as the Levantine Protectorate, and will serve the Caliph economically and enjoy his military protection.

As part of this deal, many of the lands seized by the infidel from our Ayyubid brothers will be returned to them, including their largest city Al-Qahira.

The Levantine Protectorate will retain only a small military force for defensive purposes, and will thus pose no further threat to the faithful people of the region.

Baldwin, Steward of the Levantine Protectorate, is to be praised for his good sense in accepting the Caliph's terms, and in sparing his people any further hardship.

Praise be to Allah for granting the Caliph and his faithful allies this great victory!

It is to be hoped that the Greek Emperor of Rome will likewise see sense and concede defeat to the armies of Islam, before there is a need for further bloodshed.

[Redemption]

A group of mail-clad riders bearing Roman arms arrive at the Caliph's palace in Baghdad. After a brief exchange with the Vizier, they bind every member of the previous Roman delegation in chains and ferry them away. A lone man and his scribe remain. He adresses the assembled diplomats with a proud contenance.

Dear fellow representatives, I am here to represent the house of Komneno-Dukas that has once again risen to take the reins of the Roman people. I convey to you the greetings of Ioannes Dukas, Despot of Nikaea, on whose behalf I speak today.

The war in Anatolia has brought misery to all peoples involved and hopefully, a resolution will be forthcoming. In the meantime, the valorous armies of Rome have defeated a lackluster siege at Trapezon and reinforced the castle. Our generals also report victories in central Anatolia against the forces of the Seljukid Turks, having seized the towns of Kaesareia and Laranda. We are well aware that these minor skirmishes have not even dented the mighty power of the Moslem armies sent against us, but hope to resolve this conflict in a way more profitable to all parties involved then open warfare can afford.

The people of Rome are wearied by war, but if you insist on bringing it on their doorstep, they will make you pay dearly for every inch of ground you thread and drown countless of your soldiers in blood.

I pray to the Lord that we are not forced into such a treacherous path, for once slick with hate, a blade can not be sheathed and will thirst for blood until it breaks.

After his speech, the ambassador is shown a simple wooden table by the vizier and flanked by two imposing ghulams, a clear sign of the current standing of Rome in the greatest city of Islam.

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier rises to read a prepared statement.

The Caliph welcomes the new Roman delegation to Court. Regardless of the state of hostilities between our nations, it is well that the ERE is represented here.

However, the Caliph and his allies see no reason to cease hostilities until their stated aims are achieved. To repeat the Caliph's ultimatum, the Romans must hand over the lands of Anatolia and withdraw across the Hellespont, or be destroyed.

Know that these terms are less harsh than those last offered in private to the fiend Nevoulos, after he committed the heinous crime of defiling the body of the Caliph's beloved son, and Crown Prince, Az-Zahir (Allah bless his eternal soul and bestow on him all the bounties of paradise for all eternity.)

[Redemption]

Without rising, the new Roman diplomat simply states:

Your demands would reduce us to the level of a city state and condemn hundreds of thousands of Christians to a life of slavery. Your ultimatum is worse then harsh, it is a disgrace Rome would never accept. You know as much. In fact, you know so well that you have called on armies from across the world and poured the riches of all Asia against us in an attempt to crush our resolve. You may have cowed the pitiful Georgians without a fight, you may have conquered the Latins until their Pope decides to send more of them to fight for the Holy Cross, but Rome, Eternal Rome, will never bow its head to an eastern king. As every little grain of sand in the desert is melded into glass for the glory of our cathedrals, we shall slay your soldiers in droves to form an epitaph to your greed that will endure through the ages even if we should not. The numberless dead will be a burden to your souls, pray it does not break your necks.

Maybe in time your loses will convince you to deal with us fairly, as our dignity commands, and as honorable men, we shall be open to a just resolution.