Court of the Caliph: BC Hotseat Council Thread

[rossahh]

Just out of curiosity, may we inquire as to which settlements are under seige?




(ooc: A suicidal, elephant strike from the other side of the map. A hotseat first?)

[phonicsmonkey]

(OOC: have fun with those nellies rossahh!

if you do end up fighting them at some point, consider taking some screenies for us and posting a battle report in the story thread

it would be extrememly amusing, and would mark for all history the moment when met )

[Ramses II CP]

The city of Damascus, the castle at Homs, and the small city northwest of Homs (Forgot the name). We are naturally amenable to a peaceful solution to this minor disagreement... but I personally suspect that will not be your own desire.

[rossahh]

That would be the city of Damascus which currently is infected with a diabolical plauge, the useless town of Hama and our northern staging point at Homs. What a broad selection you have chosen.

Yes we would rather kill you all and then negotiate with your corpses. We find that it works best when the other side aren't around to contest our demands.



(ooc: I'll do a story about the mighty and diseased mice from Damascus saving the day by running wild against the strange and unheard of giants from the east).

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier chuckles.

King Baldwin should feel free to hand over to the Caliph Hama and any other territories he has no use for, rather than fight needlessly over them..

[Merlox123]

we're already wat war with like 3 people, we don't need some Hindu man involved with this as well.. T_T, Go take Baghdad. lol

Ahh well, I hope them elephants are sent my way, Considering that now is the rare time that Rome's obsessed feelings about the Javelin Horsemen and foot men will come into brutally, also their Pike units. XD

EVERY ONE BACK AWAY! THIS IS JUST BETWEEN EMPEROR NEVOULOS... AND KING HINDU ELEPHANT MAN... WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AFTER WE FOUGHT THEM IN THE SELUCIED EMPIRE! OUR ORICAL IS A GOD SENT, WE KNEW IT... WE KNEEWWW ITT!!!

Roman falls back asleep.

[rossahh]

A new message is delivered by a hooting bird. Again, one of the attendants reads out the message



To the Sultan of the Ayyubids (meaning at the moment TheFlax),

Gaza has fallen, along with its army. This army was the fifth army group to be destroyed by the forces of the Kingdom and the forces of Constantinople, and your last major military formation. Your major cities, save for Alexandria, which is under blockade, and your primary castle are under occupation, and your armies have been all but annhilated. Only the Omani expeditionary force is left in a position to defend your soveriegnty.

Previously we offered you terms for peace which you ignored. We will offer again, but with the terms matching your decline in military power. We offer you an immediate ceasation of hostilities. If you agree, then Qahira and Bilbeis will be returned after 5 turns have expired. The rest of the captured settlements remain under the control of the Kingdom. The Sultanate is to pay reparations of 2000 florins per turn, until Bilbeis and Qahira are returned.



Baldwin IV
King of Jerusalem

[rossahh]

As we hear of yet more political turmoil in the Ayyubid Sultanate we, in an offer of potential frienship, are open to an Ayyubid counter-offer for terms of peace, if they find the Kingdom's present terms too steep.

Also, we offer the Rajputs an offer of peace. We request a simple map of India in exchange for peace and trade rights. You may delay your reply until after your second army is defeated if you wish.

[Ramses II CP]

The Rajput emissary offers a small smile before replying,

Be assured we have no wish for war, none at all, but neither do we wish to be barred from exploring the world as we see fit. Remove your fort that blocks our access to the lands to the south and peace will be at hand instantly. Note that we passed through the lands of the Caliph in just such a peace, as well as some parts of the Omani and Seljuk empires. Surely this proves our good will?

Otherwise we see little need for peace. Our nobles are quite enjoying their sport half a world away from our homelands.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

A message from Ayyubid Sultan is brought...

Jerusalem,

We will think about it. I need just a little time to consider all the angles in here.

Sultan

[rossahh]

There are no forts that will you deny passage to any lands. If you wish to head into Cilcia, why not go through your good friends the Seljuk's lands. If you wish to come further south, there is nothing stopping you from taking the longer route through the deserts, or can your beasts not survive such harsh a climate? Do not think us fools, you talk of travelling in peace through your own allies lands'. Perhaps you failed to notice the "peaceful" forts of the Caliphate guarding each of the major crossings on the Euphraties and Tigris?

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier chuckles to himself behind a richly embroidered sleeve.

[Ramses II CP]

The road to Jerusalem is the matter in particular debate at the moment, and it was blocked by the fort between Antioch and (Hama? that castle to the east). In point of fact the elephants of our command do not wish to spend all their days walking through the desert, but, as I said, the Rajput nobles are quite enjoying their sport. If you are not then perhaps you should offer better terms?

The Caliph's forts, peaceful or not, did not block us from seeing any of the great cities of the world.

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier addresses the Latins.

Indeed sir, the glorious and bountiful lands of the Caliphate are open to all peaceful travellers, and firmly closed to those infidels who mean us harm.

Unfortunately this has not prevented certain despicable agents of the odious King Baldwin from spreading a vile and contagious pestilence among the Caliph's innocent peoples - an infestation which is most unwelcome!

The King would do well to keep his pustulent diseases to himself, for fear of having them visited back upon him in the vengeance of the mighty Allah!

Cease this abominable, unchivalrous and dishonourable tactic at once or face the consequences in this life, and then in the next!

[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.

[Ramses II CP]

The emissary of the Rajputs addresses the chamber with a stern tone:

Evidence has been presented, good evidence, of the existence of a state of war between our vassals, the Ghorids, and the allies of our allies, the Seljuks. Further this was brought about by a hostile act of the Ghorid armies at large. This is entirely unacceptable. The Ghorids are instructed to meet any honorable terms offered by the Seljuks to reach a ceasefire within the next year (Two turns) or to face punitive action from their ruler, the Maharaja.

Repeated betrayals have made the ice beneath you very, very thin my vassal. Be wary of cracks.

Additionally a state of war has come to exist between the Romans and the Rajputs as our exploratory forces encountered a needless roadblock. Most regrettable, but our nobles will have their sport in distant lands.

With a bow the emissary retires.

[Redemption]

The Roman delegate shakes his head at the news of the Rajput act of aggression.

We knew this day would come. The Rajput seem a senseless people who seek war at all costs. Know this Rajput: if our hands were free, we would march to the ends of the earth to punish your insolence and free your people from their barbaric ways. Alas, with the hordes of the Moslem at our very gates, it will be all we can do to put down the rabid beasts you have sent against us.

[Ibn-Khaldun]

Ayyubid ambassador stands up..

I would like to announce that we have signed peace with the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Also we proposed peace to Eastern Roman Empire and Alliance to the mighty Rajputs!

Sultan does, however, have problem with all those Latin merchants that are using our resources. So, he asks for the King of Jerusalem to remove them from our southern territories. He needs those resources to build up our economy that was destroyed by the war recently. Sultan have no problem with those Latin merchants in Nile Delta though.

Ayyubid ambassador bows and takes his seat..

[barcamartin]

The Seljuk silence at the court is broken by a short message.

' The Sultan has no hostile intentions against the Ghorids, and the news of the Seljuk warriors slaughtered troubles him. If the Ghorid intentions are truly peaceful, why kill allied soldiers instead of discussing things like civilized men? If the Ghorids continue to take such liberties, our nation will respond, with force. You have been warned, Ghorid. My master would like to call you friend even in the years to come, but will you be worthy? Word will be sent to your leaders to settle the matter shortly.

Furthermore, the Rajput support is most welcome. We thank you for your kind words, friends and allies of the Seljuk Empire. '

[rossahh]

The Ayyubids are free to enact the place-exchange policy of old on the merchants in the deep south.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Bump my merchants off on your turn with a military unit, stick your merchant on the resource and you get the income for that turn. On my turn I bump your merchant off and get the income. You repeat the process.

That's the way it worked until the Ayyubids invaded. Instead of bumping them off the resource, I did hostile takeovers as punishment.

[Redemption]

The Court of the Caliph is eerily calm these days. Georgia and Jerusalem having had their voices silenced by the Moslems and Rome's position becoming more isolated by the day, most ambassadors have relegated the open debates that used to rage through these halls to a secondary role. Still, the Romans, by proud tradition, sit at their designated table. After scanning through the latest dispatches from the war with a wearied frown, Rome's representative walks to the center of the Court:

Christ and Fortune have smiled on us today! We hail the proud deeds of our gallant warriors who have managed to retake the fortresses of Trapezon and Seleukeia in Kilikia, as well as the town of Ani from the Moslems! Every town in the Empire basks in amazement to the valour of Roman arms, and woe to those who would stand between us and victory!

The Moslem generals Musa ibn Ammar and Walid Ar-Rashid have been sent to an early grave for defying the might of Rome, and so have the beastly men from the far Indus who dared to bring mayhem and misery to our people. Indeed Anangpal Lawtamia and his elephants have been killed nearly to a man. We hope this will deter further senseless aggression from the warmongering Hindi.

Roman heroes have also restored order in the rebellious keep of Ankyra that now flies the colors of the Empire.

The loss of the distant castle of Hermonassa pains the empire, but our warriors vow to revenge this offense tenfold upon its perpetrator! Your Northern armies will be destroyed Seljuq! And the fleet you are trying to assemble in Kilikia will never ferry your warriors on their grim sojourn! Our dromonds and galleys will send them to the depths.

Know this enemies of Rome, you thought our aegis broken and our swords dulled but have found the Roman eagle's claws to be as sharp as steel. Your soldiers run before our glorious host and the places you sought to despoil fall through your grasping fingers. Your greed is your undoing. And by God and all the Saints, we will crush your merciless hordes on our soil and ride the tides of war until you hear our swordplay from the windows of your homes and palaces!

[phonicsmonkey]

The Vizier yawns.

[Redemption]

The Roman ambassador, sitting back down:

Nice comeback, chief eunuch.

[Redemption]

The weeks go by. Islam's rulers already feast openly to their victory over the ageing Roman Empire, but the steady stream of messengers coming from the front lines speak of a stalemate. The Great Jihad is nowhere near accomplishing its goals and the losses mount. Rome's ambassador takes the floor once more, under the venomous gaze of the vizier, to brief the leaders of the few remaining powers as to the state of the war.

Roman citizens give praise to God for the great victories our legions reaped on the field of battle. The towns of Dvin and Juliopolis have been boldly reclaimed for the empire with minimal losses. The Roman fleet also saw action, destroying to a ship the nascent Seljuqid navy both at sea and in the docks of Juliopolis.

The famed general Aleksios Pikernes also led his mighty host into the Western Taurus Mountains were he brought just retribution upon the army of cavalrymen resting there. But it is in the Northern Anatolian Mountains that Roman strength of arms was most proudly reaffirmed: a large Sejuqid warhost led by Toghrul, prince of the Sejuqs, son of the great sultan Arslanshah himself, has been anihilated to a man. The bodies of the Tengin and of his aids, Turanshah and Qutb-Addin, will be returned to Rayy for burial as soon as a convoy can be dispatched.

Though the Seljuqids have raided Nikoseia and marched with a light force on Ikonion, the Empire has little fear that these settlements will be reclaimed shortly.