Lords of the East - Council Chambers

[Thanatos Eclipse]

An Omani messenger scurries into the courtroom carrying a satchel full of letters. As he reaches the Omani table, he digs through his bag and pulls out a couple letters, throwing them onto the center of the table. As the sailors sort through them, the messenger walks over to Captain Amr, considers dumping his bag out, but decides otherwise. Amr happily accepts the stuffed bag and starts digging though it. From an inside jacket pocket, the messenger pulls out a letter, marked with the official seal of the Admiralty. “You might want to read this first, Captain,” the messenger says, handing Amr the letter. The messenger excuses himself as Captain Amr opens the letter and starts to read. The captain’s brow furrows as he scans down the page. He finishes, folds it up, and sticks it in his pocket; then turns to his crew and barks a few orders. In less then a minute they pull themselves together and rush out of the entrance.

The courts gaze follows the commotion, but as soon as the court doors slam shut all eyes turn back to the Omani table. Scanning down the table, all that was left of the Omani were overturned chairs and half-empty glasses, except for, at the very far end of the table, two figures set slouched in their chairs visibly quivering. The silence was unearthly as the court waited, watched the two figures as they tried to disappear behind the table.

Praying to Allah that they could be forgotten by more then just the Captain, but conceding defeat, the two figures stand up. The shorter one nudges his taller companion forward 'encouraging' him to speak.

Still shaking, he starts, "My name...M-my name isss..., well it’s really long, h-hard for others to say, b-but most just call me Zurm, and this is Em. We’re here as dip-lo-matic assistants for the Admiralty, not really suppose to do anything, j-just observe diplomatic process, learn, carry out menial tasks, nothing like this, not suppose to have to make decisions, don’t talk they say, don’t even cough they say, we don’t even the auth-OW!," Zurm yelps as Em jabs him sharply in the side, “and we will be the eyes and ears of the Admiralty while the ambassador-I mean Captain is... how’d he put it?" Zurm turns to Em. "I believe he said that the were already launched and the ball would start without them if they didn’t get their asks in motion!" Zurm gives Em a funny look, "He didn’t say ! And he might kill someone at a ball, but there’s no way he would be rushing off to one. Plus, he’s really scary! Who would go with him?" Em replies, "No, no, I’m pretty sure that’s what he said." "What about ships, he could have said ships, and brawl that sounds a lot like ball!" Em yanks his taller companion down to his level, "Are you trying to correct your superior!?" "We’re in the same position, the bottom!" "No!!! I’m your superior, I started before you!" "So you started the day before me, big deal" "Yes, it is a..............................!!!"

Zurm and Em continue arguing, but by this time it was only for an audience of few, for most of the court had long since gone back to their own duties.

[SilverShield]

The doors slam.

BUUURP He laughs out loud.

A huge, extremely buff man enters the room. He has long, wild, blonde hair. He is dirty all over and stinks like crazy. He has been in the field for years already starting his journey in the wild north in the lands of Europea apparently. He is wearing all different sorts of chain and fur and leather from all different breeds. On every peace there are engravings of diverse languages – Arabic, Sanskrit, Latin and signs unknown to the civilized world. He and his men obviously raided merchants and armies from every land. The body parts not covered reveal huge tattoos and scars. He is wearing tons of jewellery robbed from people from the entire world. Huge gold chains, giant gems and massive carvings of ivory. What a mercenary captain that is! A true warrior! His two bihaender he had to leave outside when he entered the hall.

Spitting on the floor.
I captured this message when my men and I raided a Sindhi silk caravan. Spitting on the floor again. However… the family of one my slave girls descendents from Sindh… BUURP! Ah those camels taste great He laughs out loud. She begged me to deliver this message and I am in a good mood so I felt like I am going to do her a favour. I want to raid those rich lands a bit longer anyway.

He is looking into the room noticing the Omani “delegation” huddling in the corner. He walks over to them and punches each of this pitiful human beings with his bear paws straight in the face so they fall of their chairs.

MESSAGE DELIVERED!! He laughs out loud.

I told you… the family of one of my slave girls descendents from Sindh. … and I dont like her to be sad. She neither is a good nor a good cook when she is sad… Ha! Why bother you say? Why not just take one of the other slave girls you own… you got plenty of them like from every land and every race. Blonde women from the north, nubic women from the lands of Africa, Indian women, women from the Mediterranean… Yes! True! But I just got to like the taste of these Sindhi delights. Therefore!

He laughs out loud, walks over to the throne of the former Caliph and grabs a truss of grapes. …look at these Omani bastards… He laughs out loud. …but what can you expect from men spending all the time jammed together on a ship… Disgusting… Groentjie! He takes another truss of grapes and gulps it down his throat. BUUUURP

[Quirl]

The woman puts her hand in her head and sighs, whispering...

How has this courtroom gotten so mad?

Then she lifts her head and smiles.

I am guessing this sudden disgust for the Omani Admiralty has to do with their invasion of your territories? Certainly... sadiq... we wish you well in defending your lands, but we also must admire the Admiralty for such a speedy sneak attack...

She coos.

And here I thought them mere drunkards. Surprises come in all shapes and sizes...

[Thanatos Eclipse]

As Zurm and Em help each other to their feet, Zurm touches his bruised eye. “Owww! That was uncalled for. We don’t even know what’s going on. We were just ‘left’ here as fill-ins, until a proper diplomat returned—Hold on! Did she say invasi-” “I’ll tell you what she said!” Em interrupted, “She called Omani drunkards! I’m no drunkard! And Femr Ushem is no example of what it means to be an Omani! Why, oh why, are sailors the only Omani anybody ever remembers! Why not merchants or imams or diplo-”

“BANG”

The unexpected slamming shut of the entrance’s doors startles Em into silence. As the court looks towards the entrance, it becomes apparent that the figure had been standing there awhile and had used the slamming of the door to draw the courts attention. If not for the Omani crest embroidered on his jacket, few would have the believed this new comer to be of the same breed as the pirates they had come to associate with Oman. His dark hair, neatly combed, fell just short of his shoulders, the golden handle of a sword glittered in its ivory sheath, and his finely crafted silk garments were bright red, with a touch of ocean blue, and accented with gold trim.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Em says, but Zurm elbows him hard in the side to shut him up.

The new comer clears his throat, then, once he had everybody’s attention, he starts “I am Malek al-Bakr, personal messenger of Grand Admiral Walid, of the Omani Admiralty. I have been sent here as representative and dignitary of Oman to this court, until such time that Captain Amr can resume his duties here. Before you all go back to your own duties I have a letter, from the Naval Council of Oman, that I was instructed to present to the court. It reads:

Dear dignitaries,

This letter is an official declaration of war against the Malikate of Sindh by the Omani Admiralty. The Admiralty has seen the desolation that the rulers of Sindh have dragged their people down into. Their ‘change of religion’ is nothing but a ploy to distract other nations from the atrocious living conditions the people of Sindh now dwell, while their leaders sleep in beds of gold. But even those riches are not enough for them; they greedily send their armies off towards Khwarezm territory in search of more lands to plunder and people to enslave.

The people of Oman experienced such hardships under the rule of the Imamate and the false prophet Murshed, and will not stand by idly while the people of Sindh suffer the same, stripped of everything they hold dear: their families, their lands, and their god.

Signed,

Naval Council
Grand Admiral Walid

Thank you for your ears and your time respectable dignitaries,” Malek finishes. Malek folds up the letter as he walks over to the Omani table. As he passes the mercenary slaver, Malek says “My ‘associates’ might be pushovers, but I assure you that I am one of the finest swordsmen of Oman, I've even bested Captain Amr on occasion.” Once reaching the Omani table, Malek eyes the dirty glasses still left on the table and signals a servant to clean it up. He pulls a clean goblet from an inside pocket of his jacket. As he sits down, he slides the goblet towards Em and Zurm. They just stand there, looking at it dumbfounded. “You going to fill it anytime this week?!” Malek asks.

As Zurm almost stumbles over himself to fill the goblet, all Em can do is say,

“Oh, Crap”

[Thanatos Eclipse]

Zurm enters the court from a side corridor and walks up to where Malek sits. Zurm bends down to whisper in Malek’s ear. After a minute, Malek nods his head and sends Zurm off. He then stands to addresses the court.

“My fellow dignitaries, I have just received word from the east of the creation of the Grand Oceanic and Indian Alliance, or GOIA for those among us who might have trouble remembering such a long name.” Malek pauses to look over at the mercenary slaver, who came to the court as the Malikate of Sindh’s only defense, and a prime example of its corruption. Malek continues “The GOIA is the union of the Rajput Empire and the Omani Admiralty in the interest of common defense and the liberation of the people of Sindh. The Grand Oceanic and Indian Alliance has pledged its resources to free the people of Sindh and take them under its protection. Any incursion, by foreign militaries, into the lands of Sindh shall be viewed as an act of aggression against the GOIA.”

[CiviC]

Deleted

[TriforceV]

after much long debate within the council, the chattering finally stops, and for a brief moment, there is silence and peace among the respect diplomats and representatives, and yet there is an unease as if a calm before the storm.

No sooner can the silence take hold when there is a faint echo of footsteps that gradually get louder as it approaches the door of the council.
Suddenly the footsteps cease completely and the door slams open.

The Kwarez diplomat enters the room, dressed in the finest military gear, he takes a seat at his respectful designation.
There is a renewed sense of purpose about him, as if a completely different man from his previous council visits.

"Good day council members,
The good Shah wishes to extend his warmest welcome to each and everyone of you, and that all your campaigns in the future give your nations the respect and glory it rightfully deserves...
And yet, there are some intriguing developments afoot, that the Shah himself insisted upon addressing with the utmost urgency.
Specifically, the creation of the GOIA, and their war against the Sindh.

First of all, The Shah is very disappointed in the Omani Admiralty and Rajupt Empire, we have always shown respect for these nations, and thought our neighbors of the East to be in good standings.. and yet this how they treat us?

These people of the Omani and Rajupts wish to go to war with the Sindh, then it is there business the Shah has no ambitions or desire to take any of the Sindh lands, nor does the Shah really care that these people go to war with them at all.
But let us not fool ourselves, The Rajupt's and the Omani alliance is not for Liberation and Mutual Defense against the Sindh, for my spies know for a fact, that most of their armies were heading towards our lands, not theirs...('Which is why my Shah recently asked them to retreat'), and that the Sindh are the weakest nation of the East.

So then I ask?
Why do they need an Alliance, to invade this weak country?
Why do they act like two hungary vultures picking away at a dead animal, unwilling to share?

As I've said The Shah does not care for the lands of Sindh, and he has no intention of stealing away Sindh lands from the GOIA,

But what angers the Shah the most about the GOIA is their lack of character, dispense with the liberation and defense rhetoric and call your aggressive-opportunistic invasion of a weaker unprepared nation what it truly is, because you are not fooling anyone!.

The Kwarez diplomat sits down, and kneels back to a stuned council for speaking what is rarely heard within these walls... the truth.