Court of the Caliph: BC Hotseat Council Thread

[The Lemongate]

The ambassador of Rome who had been coming and leaving the Council quite often in the last few weeks returns with a missive bearing the seal of the Basileos in his hand.


I wish to announce to this Council that Rome has beaten back the barbarians that sought to subjugate her cities. Kilij Arslan the "Indestructible" Sultan of Ikonion has been captured at the siege of Amorion by the glorious hosts of Ioannes Ducas and Basileos Manuel Megas Komnenos. After willingly admitting to his crimes, he was paraded in the streets of the city he vainly tried to oppress and swiftly beheaded.

His remains have been sent back to Attaleia where his sons cower in fear of the Basileos of Rome and his mighty kataphracts.

Because Rome is generous, we extend an offer of truce to the new Sultan if he would return the city of Attaleia to Rome, cease his support of the felonious Armenian court in exile and pledge not to enter Roman lands or mass troops near Roman borders.

This would restore the status quo between Rome and Ikonion. Though this goes against regular Roman policy, we would be willing to hear the Caliph's point of view on this proposal. His wisdom might yet avert further bloodshed.


Peace is possible in our time. And may the Light of Christ guide the Sultan's judgement.




Completely OOC: But shouldn't we all be referring to the Turks as the Sultanate of Konya / Ikonium / Ikonion (go with your language preference) rather then Rum (Rome). I don't believe they used that name for themselves until the late 1300 when they owned most of what was Anatolia and parts of Greece though I might be wrong there. But whatever, that's just me rambling here...

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier stands.

Caliph An-Nasir the Peacemaker fully supports any deal between Roman and Turk that would end the bloodshed in Anatolia.

While the Caliph will not comment on specific aspects of the deal the Romans have offered, he urges the Turks and the Romans to negotiate in good faith to bring an end to the violence and fear which plague the lives of the Anatolian peoples.

He offers to act as a mediator if such a man is required to assist in the negotiations.

The Caliph mourns the death of Sultan Kilij Arslan - a great man of Islam has passed on.

He knows that the Sultan will be celebrated in paradise as a devout and committed leader of the Faithful, but urges his successor to tread the path of peace so as not to join him there prematurely.

[Askthepizzaguy]

The Sultan's messenger arrives from the Roman front:

"Due to the chaos and confusion of war, we cannot comment at this time regarding any peace deals, until the new head of state has been appointed.

With the death of the Great Sultan Kilij Arslan, his heir may be willing to discuss peace terms. However, since the intelligence from the battle has not yet come in, no deals will be made, and preexisting deals remain.

The Rum Turks have no regrets. Sultan Kilij Arslan sought peace will all his neighbors, bravely fought against Roman aggression, assisted his ally in a time of need, offered generous reimbursement packages to those supporting his cause, and never once backed down to the forces of tyranny.

I have need to present the last will and testament of Sultan Kilij Arslan, which reads as follows:

-------------------------------------------

The last will and testament of Sultan Kilij Arslan the Indestructible, Holy Warrior of Islam

Friends and brothers of the Council, if you are reading these words then the time of my death has come. But you should not feel sorry for me, because I died doing what I believe was the right thing. I lived my life to support the cause of truth, justice, and freedom, and I never once gave in to imperialist aggressors. Should I die valiantly in such a cause, then my Muslim brothers should not fear, nor should they mourn my death.

Indeed, it is a cause for celebration that a brother of the faith has died defending Armenian freedom, Turkish freedom, and in trying to prevent the forces of imperial aggressors from claiming more lands in the name of greed and avarice. Would you see this day as a defeat, I would ask that you raise your chin, and praise Allah's name. For the same manner of death that befalls the Sultan Kilij Arslan can happen to our enemies as well. Indeed, Allah has willed that no man be immortal...

Some have questioned the use of my nickname, "the indestructible", as if it were to imply that my mortal vessel were somehow eternal. This is not so. Those who strut and smirk and taunt because they managed to defeat a man in battle have much humbling in their future, because they are but mortal men as well. No, "the indestructible" refers to the truth that freedom will always triumph over tyranny. No matter what happens, no man can bend, break, or destroy the truth of our existence, part of that truth which binds humanity together is the fact that given the choice, men would rather stand up and fight against tyranny, instead of stand idly by, or join the cause of evil.

One might look to our current situation. Let us suggest that the Rum Turks have indeed been defeated in battle, and they are either to be vassals or destroyed by the Romans or the Latins. Is the battle of Anatolia over? For now, perhaps it is. But the war is not over.

No, the war against the forces of tyranny is never over. No defeat, no setback, no fear, and no despair can ever stop the forces of freedom from challenging tyrants such as the Roman Imperialists and the Levantine traitors of Christ.

The men who remain in Rum will never surrender, never falter, never waver, and never accept defeat. They have all taken a solemn vow to stand up and fight against Imperialist aggressors. It is my legacy that the Rum Turks will fight to the last man in the cause of freedom. We will also honour our agreements with the BRAVE men of the council who chose to support our just cause.

The snickering and taunting of the Romans will soon be silenced, for they do not yet realize how hollow their victory is, and how soon death will be at their doorstep. If they think the endless and mighty armies of Islam will stand idly by and watch their fellow Muslims get slaughtered, then they do not understand the concept of brotherhood. If they think that their aggressive and warlike actions towards their own Christian brethren and the council will go unpunished, then, perhaps like myself, they have miscalculated. And just as grave as my apparent miscalculation, the Romans will find their own error to be just as deadly.

Friends and brothers of Islam:

I now declare a Holy Jihad against the Roman imperialist aggressors. The city of Constantinople will fall before the might of the armies of Islam. These traitors who cowardly backstab their own friends and brothers of their faith, who trade loyalties in brothels for coin, and who have declared war on all their neighbors, they will not live to see the day when they can peacefully coexist with the vast and eternal armies of Islam.

The remaining Rum Turks have all joined this sacred quest, upon my death, they are all to summon their courage and march on Rome. I call upon my Muslim brothers, in my absence, to aid them in their cause. For now, I can no longer guarantee that any further tribute can be repaid, but I can guarantee that any further support to the Muslim Turks of Anatolia will bring more warriors of Islam into the fight for justice.

Perhaps you do not all trust one another. Perhaps you have pressing matters at home to attend to. Perhaps you are busy quelling riots in rebellious provinces, and cannot afford to struggle in the name of Allah.

Then you have a choice: You can watch the Turks of Anatolia die bravely in their cause, and do nothing to prevent Imperial Rome from marching towards your homelands...

Or you can stand with my brothers and children this day, and declare in one voice; we will never surrender to the forces of Imperial Rome. We will never vanish into the night, we will not roll over and die without a fight, we will not allow the armies of the infidel to continue killing good Muslims without retribution, we will not allow the great and noble Islamic civilization to fall to backstabbers, traitors, tyrants, and cowards!

Join me, my brothers! Join me!

I bravely accepted this challenge, and I did not waver when staring death in the face! I never backed down from my principles, and neither will the Rum Turks!

Join me, warriors of Islam! My final request to Caliph an-Nasir of the Abassid Caliphate:

Approve my call for a jihad, that the vast and endless armies of Islam would descend upon thy unclean and treacherous foe... Only when Constantinople falls, will the aggressors against Christian and Muslim nations alike finally realize that to attack a Muslim nation without cause is to invite every able bodied Muslim to their doorstep, wielding great assortments of razor-sharp weapons, chanting the Holy name of Allah!

By the death of Sultan Kilij Arslan, the Indestructible forces of truth and justice will swarm upon our treacherous foe, and the vanquisher will become the vanquished!

Let there be no peace will bullies, aggressors, and tyrants! Let there be no peace with those who declare war on their neighbors and brothers! Let there be no surrender, no vassalage, no tribute, no treaty! Let there be no appeasement of tyrants! Let there be no shame and fear in fighting to our deaths to defeat the scourge of the Islamic world! Let there be none who question the just cause of freedom! Let there be an eternal jihad against the treacherous forces of slavery and oppression! Let the proud and holy name of Islam be shouted from the rooftops, from the streets, from the hills, from the mountains, from the Ghorid emirate to the nation of Saladin Ayyubid, from the Khwarezmid nation to the Imamate of Oman, from the vast territories of the Great Seljuk, to the honourable state of Ghazi, from the Abassid Caliphate, to the Rum Turks fighting against Imperialist aggression, let the proud and holy name of Islam declare forever and unending war against injustice!

Let the indestructible cause of truth and justice lead the swords of Islam to the throats of the oppressors and invaders of Anatolia! Let the anger and wrath of Allah for these great injustices and war crimes be swiftly and forcefully dealt in stinging and crippling blows against the infidels who will one day kneel in fear of Islam!

Let my death mark the beginning, not the end, of the eternal struggle against the sinners and heretics, the pirates and criminals, the imperialists and the Crusaders. Let my death clear a path for those to follow in my brave footsteps, to finally put this vicious pack of wolves on their backs, and unapologetically cut off the heads of these serpents.

Let there be war with those who make war, and peace with those who make peace! Let the sons of Islam, and all others who care truly about justice, rise as one and SMITE THE INFIDELS!

I will be at the right hand of Allah to guide your struggle... for now that I have ascended, a proud warrior, into the kingdom of heaven, I am indeed indestructible, and so is the truth of the message I bring, and so is the concept of freedom and justice for those who would fight for it.

LET THE ROMANS HAVE THEIR HOLLOW VICTORIES, FOR THE WRATH OF ISLAM WILL DESCEND UPON THEM AND SHOW THEM THE SAME MERCY THEY SHOW THEIR ARMENIAN BROTHERS!!!

LET THERE BE HOLY WAR AGAINST THE TRAITORS OF CHRIST!!! LET THERE BE....

JIHAD!!!!

Allahlalalalalalalalalalalalalallah!!!

[rossahh]

The doors to the court open. The representative of Jerusalem strides in. He seems no longer the old man that he once was. He seems younger, more energetic, more astute.

The Armenian delegate glares at him, and he glares back. The Turkish delegate eyes him apprehensively - the Sultan's will still in his hands.

With a bow to the Vizier, the representative moves to the unoccupied chair. Upon reaching it, he turns and addresses the court.



So, we are back.

The conclusion of hostilities between Jerusalem and Armenia has allowed us to return this court of nations. Much has been said in our absence, and by many,

throwing a glance at the representatives from the Cairo, Anakara and Constantinople in turn

but we hold no grudges. We have shown that peace can prevail and we implore the Turks to see reason and accept the reasonable terms of peace from the Romans. Though it may be quite unlike the peace you previously offered them, your Sultan's recent demise by the hands' of the Romans should show you that peace is preferable to war. Can not all follow our good example and match your words of peace with action?

I duely hope so.



The representative sits down, and makes himself comfortable. He doubts very much the other representatives will simply let him return without some interrogation.

[Banzai Kamikaze]

Brothers of Islam ! Sons of Allah ! The death of Sultan Arslan results in a great sadness for the Ayyubids. His death shall be mourned for seven day by our entire diplomatic staff. We shall pray for his passing in the hands of Allah.

May he find peace, and may the Roman blade that struck him down be cursed for eternity.

The Ayyubids are deeply saddened by this death and by the turn of events in Anatolia.

We pray Constantinople will understand that this war is far from over, unless they negociate with the Turks. The Roman coffers can't hold on forever, and I believe it is in the interests of Emperor Manuel to stop the current bloodbath with a solid and LASTING peace treaty with both the Turks AND the Armenian survivors.

The Jihad called by the Sultan is stirring up a lot of debate by our Imams and Generals. Only Salahuddin's will is keeping control of the fury of our own people against Constantinople. How long this control will last is an issue of its own.

[Askthepizzaguy]

The shaken and embarrassed delegate from the Sultanate of Rum still holds the will of Arslan in his hands, and is clearly surprised by the words his Sultan wrote, as he stares blankly at the scroll, he hears whispers and murmurs in the crowd of assembled delegates... the Muslim delegates are clearly reacting to the words of the slain Arslan, far more than the delegate anticipated.

A messenger wearing Turkish colors arrives in the council chambers, appearing from the hall leading to the private negotiation rooms. He hurriedly moves over to the Turkish delegate and excitedly whispers into the Turk's ear some urgent news, no doubt.

The shocked expression on the noble Turk's face only deepens, as he clearly cannot believe what he has just been told. He immediately gets up from his seat and storms out of the Chambers, clearly moved by something the messenger has said. He heads in the direction of the private negotiation quarters, and leaves the messenger in his place.

Speaking out of turn, the messenger moves to the front of the hall and announces to the murmuring guests:


"Brothers of Islam! Even in his death, Sultan Kilij Arslan is clearly able to fight against the Roman imperialists! Already, forces acting on behalf of Rum interests have more than doubled their commitment to the security of the Rum Turks! The Holy Jihad is upon us!!!"


The Caliph reacts swiftly to this glorified mail carrier's attempt to hijack the peace negotiations. He claps his hands and the guards chase him out of the chambers. But already the warriors of Islam do not seem to need his consent to wage jihad against the infidel. Clearly, for peace to happen between the Romans and the Turks, the Romans would need to figure out a way to calm the Muslim outrage regarding the death of Arslan. Should they consider this a small matter, they will undoubtedly find themselves on the receiving end of the wrath of the faithful Muslims, who greatly outnumber the Romans.

The seat of the Turkish delegate on the council remains empty, for now, but an appointed scribe remains to take note of all the various announcements and proclaimations, and perhaps also to gauge the reactions of the assembled delegates.

If Arslan's words have provoked such a strong reaction among ambassadors and delegates trained to control their emotions, then there is no telling how the warriors of Islam in the field will react. Indeed, the blood of the Muslims is reaching the boiling point.

[phonicsmonkey]

The Caliph rises slowly from his seat, where he has been sat for some time with his brow furrowed in concentration. He is clearly troubled by the events at Court. After a long moment's pause while his gaze scans the chamber, finding the eyes of each man there and gaining his attention, he begins to speak in a low but resonant tone.

Those who see the cold mouth of the grave opening before them would call on others to join them - it was ever thus.

The dying words of the Sultan of the Anatolian Turks implore me to call a jihad against the Romans.

I cannot do so - a jihad in its true form can only be called by Allah himself, through his mouthpieces on earth the Imans. And his call will only be heeded if the Iman who makes it commands the respect and loyalty of the ummah, that they would die in battle for him.

There are no Imans in the Caliphate with sufficient stature that the Faithful would die for their words - let the Turks look elsewhere for such a man.

If they are able to find him, and his call is convincing enough to the faithful, we will see then whether there will be a jihad.

You might ask, could not the Caliph himself call a jihad?

I think not - although the Prophet's blood runs in my veins I do not claim to know the mind of Allah in this or any other matter. His angels do not speak to me as they may have to my predecessors - I must let my own conscience guide me.

And so we come to war - simple and deadly war. That is all the Turks can ask of the Caliph, and I must refuse them this.

The Romans are the aggressors in this conflict, that is true - but against their own brothers in religion the Armenians.

They have not attacked the Faithful - the Turks have joined the war of their own free will in defence of their Christian neighbours.

And well might they, but their treaties of mutual defence are their own concern and not for the Caliph or other leaders to enforce for them.

The Caliph's armies will not march on Constantinople, and he will not implore others to send their armies there.

I will call one more time for peace between the Romans and the Turks - let them sit down and discuss terms that will end this shameful cycle of violence!

The Caliph sits, clearly exhausted.