Broken Crescent 2.02 New Beginnings Diplomacy Thread

[aslanamca]

I will have busy schedule as my university will start next week.And also it isnt nice to play with another faction in a campaign as players accuse me of revenge to the KoJ.I dont want to reply to these.Thats why i dont want to enter.

[Kavhan Isbul]

Let's see, there has been a lot of diplomatic activity lately.

First, Yaghi Beg's camp near Tbilisi was approached by the legendary beautiful Georgian princess Tamar. Stunned by her looks, Yaghi accepted her offer of ceasefire, and even stepped over his own authority by generously offering trade rights. Alas, his efforts to add this beatuful Georgian girl to his harem will result in ultimate futility, for she apparently prefers the love of other women.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hopefully, this will put an end to the war in the Caucasus.

The good cousin of Sultan Arslanshah has been approached with an offer of alliance, which was long time due and principally agreed between the two rulers through messengers.

A similar offer has been extended to the Sultan of Ghazni.

The Shah of Khwarezm has been offered the important stronghold of Gorgan in exchange for the insignificant village of Damghan, as a gesture of good will from Sultan Arslanshah.

And finally, here is a lenghty story about Shams of Balkh, which may or many not give some important insights into the campaign for those patient enough to read it.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shams was sitting in his camp on the Tigris, recollecting on his life. For a man realtively young, Allah had blessed him with adventures for several lifetimes. Who would have thought that who was once a small orphan would one day be adopted into the family of the rulers of Hamadan and Rayy, become the atabeg of Tabriz and Mosul and even be known across the land as Sultan Arslanshah's right hand?

In the orphanage, fighting with other boys was a daily way of life, and he was among those who could stand for themseelves. Apart from fighting, the only other skill he had was shooting a sling and a bow - the latter were the only way he managed to get meat for himself. When he turned 13, the only subsistence besides poaching was a job that very few others wanted - he was hired to
escort a caravan from Balkh to Khiva, through the deadly Karakum. They were only a few days away from the city and its great oasis, when the Turkomans appeared on the horizon, quickly closing in with blood curdling cries. As his companions were falling dead beside him, Shams had managed to get his bow strung and was able to put it to deathly use. One by one he let the arrows go, each resulting into a fallen foe. As he ran out, he took the sword of the captain of the caravan escort, who lied dead close to him, and prepared to die.

However, it was not his day. The leader of the bandits was so impressed with his skill that he offered him to join. After all, with several of his men dead, he could use a good archer. It was an easy choice for someone, who had nothing to lose back at Balkh, and so the Persian boy joined a band of Turkoman raiders.

Through the next several years his fame grew, and it was not long until he was a leader of a small band. Then a mercenary for the Atabeg of Yazd. After distinguishing himself in a skirmish woth the forces of Kerman, Shams was made into a Sirdar, and eventually he was introduced to Tegin Arslanshah, whom he befriended, joining his personal retinue.

A few years later, Arslanshah was now Sultan, and his power was almost immediately challenged by the Georgian infidels. It was to Shams that Arslanshah looked for help. And Shams came through, on what has since been hailed as the legendary liberation of Tabriz. The Sultan's gratitude was great and an appointment as the Atabeg of Tabriz followed. Then there was the campaign against the Zengids, who had renounced the Seljuk Sultan's authority and ruled in Mosul. And again, Shams had proven himself worthy, after defeating his foes with only his small retinue and a band of Turkomans.

In Mosul, he was happy to observe that a holy man was on his way North, where such men were badly needed to spread the word of the prophet in the lands, conquered from the kafirs. But he was alarmed to hear that the holy man was a spy in disguise, spying for the Caliph, and he was not alone. Rumor had it that a few other mysterious men, claiming to be horse traders, had entered Kirkuk and Mosul and were formenting unrest among the locals, urging them rise against their masters. The word on the bazaars was that the Caliph is raising a huge army, with which he was going to support a potential rebellion, and throw the Turks out once and for all.

Shams sent a messenger with a note to his friend the Sultan, to warn him of the danger. What was he to do, he asked? And the order was clear - make a prevetive strike and try to take Baghdad and depose the Caliph. The odds, as always, were not in Shams favor, but he managed to recruit many locals, by promising them spoils from the capture of the greatest city on Earth. The warlike Kurds eagerly joined, and Shams rode to the East, anticipating to soon meet the Caliph's mighty forces. He reached the city of Samara, where he was to learn that Sultan Arslanshah, no novice in the art of subterfuge, has his own spies in the city. Those were able to bribe the gate keepers, and Shams was happy to find the city protected only by the Crown Prince Az-Zahir. The Abbasid heir proudly refused to surrender and fought and died as a true man. As much as Shams wanted to press towards Baghdad, he could not, because the Kurds insisted on pillaging Samara, as they had been promised.

Furthermore, reports of a giant Abbasid army reached Shams, and he decided to retreat from the city and establish a sbetter defensible position on the banks of the Tigris, and await reenforcements. He also learned that the Seljuk troops had more success to the East, and that Wasit and Ahvaz had been captured.

Now Shams was sitting in his yurt, smiling when he thought of his previous adventures, as he found himself in what was certainly the greatest campaign of his life, and easily his last. What could tomorrow bring him? Would he be enjoying roasted pigeons in Baghdad, after he has brought the great city to his master? Or would he lie in the desert, pierced by arrows and with his throat slit? Nobody in this world can tell a man what the Almighty has chosen for him. But one thing is certain - there will be more fighting, for to fight was his destiny since a child. Now, he took out a small rug he always carried with him, and he started praying.

[Commander Ruunu]

Question: did you start war with Abbasids or did I miss something? I dont really speak "roleplay"

[Poqzt]

Let me make this clear, the Abbasid Caliphate had no intentions of attacking the Seljuks at all. We were simply trying to summon a reasonable army in order to take some rebel settlements in the west. The Abbasid Caliphate has no spies in any Seljuk city, let alone Seljuk territory.

As always, no one can be trusted. When our great iman set to travel to the north, he expected to be recieved as a beacon of light and as a friend, instead he was greeted by an arrow pointing between his eyes.

I could write a whole lot of rant for this treason, but I won’t waste my time arguing with a warmonger. Once a warmonger have tasted blood, he is nothing but a beast that must be slained, without hesitation.

[Kavhan Isbul]

Question: did you start war with Abbasids or did I miss something? I dont really speak "roleplay"

Yes - I started a war with the Abbasids in order to prevent the strike they were carefully preparing, despite all their denials. If you want to attack a rebel settlement on one of your borders, you do not amass your armies on the other and you do not infiltrate your neighbors - it is as simple as that.

[TriforceV]

Yes - I started a war with the Abbasids in order to prevent the strike they were carefully preparing, despite all their denials. If you want to attack a rebel settlement on one of your borders, you do not amass your armies on the other and you do not infiltrate your neighbors - it is as simple as that.

the most powerful nation starting a war criticizing another smaller Muslim government for building troops in order to defend itself?

hardly sounds convincing.., whats more convincing to me is a powerful nation who is not content unless he rules it all...,

[Kavhan Isbul]

the most powerful nation starting a war criticizing another smaller Muslim government for building troops in order to defend itself?

hardly sounds convincing.., whats more convincing to me is a powerful nation who is not content unless he rules it all...,

Just because the Seljuks are powerful, it does not mean that their Sultan should be foolish and wait to be attacked by his enemies, especially when it is obvious that they are planning a strike.

However, the attack on the Caliph was completely defensive, and peace terms have been offered, which are quite generous - I actually offer the return of Samara and the stronghold of Mosul in exchange for Basra, or 2 settlements for one. This way, a firm border can be established on the Tigris, which will allow both Empires to live in peace henceforth.

Whether this war ends soon or continues to the end of one of the two adversaries is now in the hands of the Caliph, not mine. We understand the Caliph's justified rage at the loss of his son, and we are prepared to negotiate a blood ransom in denars if our courts can reach an agreement.

We are also prepared to intensify the fighting, if our fair and reasonable proposal is not accepted and we cannot negotiate a peace.

[Kaizer Merlox]

So much news about your neighbors... all besides the Khan, do you wish to tell us more?

[Kavhan Isbul]

Last I heard from the Khan was that he was happy to have reached a peace agreement with us. Those feelings are mutual and Insallah, the peace will last. Since nothing has changed since we reached this agreement, and since there have not been any hostilities whatsoever before, there was no need for a special announcement. Is there something the Khan wishes to discuss?

[Kaizer Merlox]

Nope, just a status report!

[Kavhan Isbul]

Our diplomats have reached the Seljuk outskirts, and have offered an alliance, trade rights, and map information. We have no desire to war with you, so let us ally and be good trading partners yes?

Sultan Arslanshah, or his successor, should anything happen to him during the Abbasid counter attack, will accept the Kypchak proposal.

A few Seljuk merchants have already asked about trading slaves just North of the Caucasus, in the region of Magyar, but the Sultan has not granted them permission to enter the Khan's lands, before the Khan's official approval. Please advise if such approval will be granted so that we know how to proceed.

All Kypchak merchants are welcome in the lands of the Sultan on resources, which are not already claimed by other merchants who work for the Sultan or his allies. We advise any traders to keep away from the Abbasid border for the moment, as we cannot guarantee their safety from our foes - we do not want our good relations to be compromised due to assasinations carried out by the Caliph's shady subjects.

[Kaizer Merlox]

We will allow merchants from the Seljuk Empire to trade goods in our lands.

[spanish_emperor]

The Roman emissary arrives at the turkish palace to negotiate a peace treaty. He is dressed in a presentable fashion and is invited to the throne room where the sultan is seated. The sultan is covered in the finest of clothing from Baghdad and visible in all kinds of Roman treasures from his spoils. The sultan knows the emissary's purpose of journey but the Roman emissary knows the sultan has yet received news of all the events concerning his nation.

After bowing in respect he presents the sultan with a turkish sword adorned with jewels and a golden handle. It has been cleaned extensively so it dazzles in the sunlight yet the edges are blunt on purpose. The sultan immediately recognizes the sword as one of his generals who he had received a letter from not long ago.

He grabs it and demands to know where it was found. The emissary responds, "you recognize it?". The sultan looks up but says nothing. "Then you should realize what has happened" continues the emissary. "He did not surrender and fate overcame him and his pitiful wooden fort. We did not wish to kill him but he left us no choice, truly cowardly man he was".

The sultan is overcome by anger and swings the sword with all his fury which the emissary stretches his hand and grabs, the sword being so blunt that not a drop of blood is spread. "if you wish to kill me then let it be so but how will you know what happened if i am dead" says the emissary. The sultan controls his anger and sits back down on his throne, stunned and speechless.

The emissary continues; "this gift is one of two messages, we wish to make peace and the jewels on the sword represent the treasures that you will obtain if you accept. Do not forget our trade knows no boundaries and you would benefit more by cooperating with us than against. The other message is clear; no betrayal will be accepted, no turk spared if war is decided and all your efforts to strike back will be harmless and hopeless. Choose carefully sultan for you might regret your decision".

The sultan looks up and responds "I will not respond until i have received my official damage report so if this is the reason your here you are wasting your time". "On the contrary, i was sent here to report to you of the events and the consequences of your future actions. To us, actions speak louder than words and it was your actions which forced us to destroy your army and conquer your most prized recruiting ground, Ankara" announced the emissary.

This resulted in the sultan jumping off his seat, "impossible, why all this betrayal when we agreed to a peace treaty. You have only shown your new emperors true intentions".
"Hardly" responded the emissary "As i mentioned before, our actions are only a result from yours. When my new emperor rose you were at war with his people and he immediately expressed his intention to negotiate a peace deal which you agreed upon. Yet before he could see the state of his empire he received news that his army had been defeated and destroyed, his most valuable castle conquered and you were publicly spreading this message". The emissary takes out a letter and reads it out loud,

The era of the Roman Empire has almost reached its end and opened a new capitel for the rise of the Turkish Sultanate!

"this was found at one of your generals camps which he had inscribed on a piece of rock for all to see".
says the emissary as he rips the paper apart and continues.

"My emperor was confused and puzzled by all this and decided to act for he knew all peace negotiations were lies and Constantinople was their real target. For this reason the emperor ordered a new army be recruited from wherever possible and unable to wait for the training and lacking sufficient men to take up arms he resorted to the large mercenary pool in Thrace and attacked Nicaea where the highly experienced turkish army was enjoying the splendors of Nicaea believing that the Roman Empire was already theirs. Their spies had taken the city previously and it would have been impossible to open the gates had it not being that our regent had placed spies before it had fallen. They were capable of opening the gates at night and our men did the rest, slaughtering a disorganized rabble which had previously regarded itself as an experienced and dangerous force. Surprisingly, they did not even have a general which contributed to their laziness and a lack of resistance. Many were found drunk and dispersed which gave an easy job for our Varangian Guards. By dawn the city was reconquered, all turks killed with minimal casualties and the sultans' most valuable army destroyed". The emissary stands up straight and takes a step forward. "How can you accuse us of betrayal if it was you who betrayed us first".

The emissary notices the sultan clenching his fist but he is undisturbed for he knows any assault would be a sign of war and he knows the sultan does not and can not continue a war which he will loose.

"I have come to propose a peace treaty" says the emissary. Another piece of paper is drawn from under his cloak. "My emperor never desired war and although he should continue until your nation is destroyed for your arrogant and deceiving behavior he is a forgiving man. He does not want war for he wishes to restore the Roman economy before this war destroyed it. He therefore gives nonnegotiable terms;
1. Doryeleum will pass to the hands of the Romans once more. It will be untouched or else. Its about to fall either way.
2. All my armies will retire from the borders.
3. You will pay a sum of 2000 gold coins in exchange of a ceasefire.
4. All agents will abandon Roman territory. All mine will abandon turkish territory.
5. All forts in Roman territory will be abandoned and will be safely escorted back to turkish territory."
6. All your armies will retire from the borders.

"If you wish to continue this war then be so at your peril but you have been warned". the Roman Emissary bows once more and says "let God guide your decision for God desires peace"

With this the Roman emissary left the peace offer on the floor and left the building. The Sultan was still very angry yet restrained himself and did not move. Not after the emissary had gone but stayed there like a statue frozen in the depths of time deep in thought.

[spanish_emperor]

Unfortunately the Romans cannot help the Armenians since it would be violating the rules since Armenia is a regent and therefore cannot apply diplomacy.

[Commander Ruunu]

There for my post shall no yet count We will see if someone is brave enough to take them.

[Cyrus Kabir]

Truly - these were hard times for the Turkish Empire and its population. The wise sultan knew this too exactly and therefore, it fell him obviously hard to take a decision concerning this matter. His eyes stared to the western window of his palace to Constantinople, where his worst enemies have planned an attack on two fronts of the empire, some years ago with the Armenians - with the putative certainly that this would probably mean the end of the Sultanate. However, those were badly planned and to quick controlled considerations which led to the fact that the Armenians are now on the edge of destruction and the Romans who have accomplished for the first time to destroy a Turkish army and to take a fortress, imagined now once more in a supposed better position.

The Sultan released his look from the window and got up. He opened a cupboard which was beside his throne. For one moment everybody was shocked, because the reflected light briefly dazzled. After some time all recognised that in the cupboard were the swords of the fallen Roman Kings. Each was decorated with precious stones and gold - thousand-fold finest as the Turkish sword which the ambassador has brought. The Sultan took the most excellent sword and looked at it exactly. His eyes started to shine - he shouted after the guards and demanded to fetch the Roman ambassador back. In the meantime The ambassador saddled in the court his horse as he suddenly felt two arms on his shoulders.

Thereupon he was brought back to the throne room and knelt down in the greeting once more before the Sultan. The Sultan showed the ambassador the swords and whispered him in the ear:
"Say, do you know these swords?", the ambassador sighed and responded: "Yes - these are the swords of our fallen kings."

The Sultan walked before the ambassador and turned his back to the him. Besides, he held ready his right hand firmly around the sword, to the slash. It ruled dead still in throne room when the Sultan broke the silence and asked the ambassador again:"With which God-given right do you appear then before my eyes and demand the Turkish empire to capitulate if you only own one sword of my numerous generals?!" The ambassador solidified - well knowing what will happen to him.

The embrace of the sword became more firm and with a slash the sultan swung the sword up to the neck of the ambassador where the shaft left blood scratches. "I will not kill you! "answered the wise sultan grinning. "You should report your master that the Sultan does not bend to the cowardly Romans. One Empire will be destroyed in this fight! The Turkish people will fight to the last gasp! So shall it be written and so shall it happen!"

Bathed in sweat and shaking the ambassador got up, bent and left in forced march the hall. The Sultan raised the sword in the air and shouted: "God is great!"

And so it happened:
The glorious turkish army destroyed the Roman army which has besieged Dorylaeum and reconquered Attalia, where another Roman General fell in battle. The remaining roman soldiers were sold as slaves to the Arabian merchants. After these two victories - the Sultan decided now to destroy Nicomedia which lies on the way to Constantinopel. The City has been destroyed, the wifes and women raped and the young men sold as Ghulams to serve the Sultan as later brave soldiers!

Furthermore Sis has been taken from the Armenians and therfore we offer them a vesselment:
(Conditions: Sis in exchange to Tarsus)!

[TriforceV]

Truly - these were hard times for the Turkish Empire and its population. The wise sultan knew this too exactly and therefore, it fell him obviously hard to take a decision concerning this matter. His eyes stared to the western window of his palace to Constantinople, where his worst enemies have planned an attack on two fronts of the empire, some years ago with the Armenians - with the putative certainly that this would probably mean the end of the Sultanate. However, those were badly planned and to quick controlled considerations which led to the fact that the Armenians are now on the edge of destruction and the Romans who have accomplished for the first time to destroy a Turkish army and to take a fortress, imagined now once more in a supposed better position.

The Sultan released his look from the window and got up. He opened a cupboard which was beside his throne. For one moment everybody was shocked, because the reflected light briefly dazzled. After some time all recognised that in the cupboard were the swords of the fallen Roman Kings. Each was decorated with precious stones and gold - thousand-fold finest as the Turkish sword which the ambassador has brought. The Sultan took the most excellent sword and looked at it exactly. His eyes started to shine - he shouted after the guards and demanded to fetch the Roman ambassador back. In the meantime The ambassador saddled in the court his horse as he suddenly felt two arms on his shoulders.

Thereupon he was brought back to the throne room and knelt down in the greeting once more before the Sultan. The Sultan showed the ambassador the swords and whispered him in the ear:
"Say, do you know these swords?", the ambassador sighed and responded: "Yes - these are the swords of our fallen kings."

The Sultan walked before the ambassador and turned his back to the him. Besides, he held ready his right hand firmly around the sword, to the slash. It ruled dead still in throne room when the Sultan broke the silence and asked the ambassador again:"With which God-given right do you appear then before my eyes and demand the Turkish empire to capitulate if you only own one sword of my numerous generals?!" The ambassador solidified - well knowing what will happen to him.

The embrace of the sword became more firm and with a slash the sultan swung the sword up to the neck of the ambassador where the shaft left blood scratches. "I will not kill you! "answered the wise sultan grinning. "You should report your master that the Sultan does not bend to the cowardly Romans. One Empire will be destroyed in this fight! The Turkish people will fight to the last gasp! So shall it be written and so shall it happen!"

Bathed in sweat and shaking the ambassador got up, bent and left in forced march the hall. The Sultan raised the sword in the air and shouted: "God is great!"

And so it happened:
The glorious turkish army destroyed the Roman army which has besieged Dorylaeum and reconquered Attalia, where another Roman General fell in battle. The remaining roman soldiers were sold as slaves to the Arabian merchants. After these two victories - the Sultan decided now to destroy Nicomedia which lies on the way to Constantinopel. The City has been destroyed, the wifes and women raped and the young men sold as Ghulams to serve the Sultan as later brave soldiers!

Furthermore Sis has been taken from the Armenians and therfore we offer them a vesselment:
(Conditions: Sis in exchange to Tarsus)!

The Rajupts hearing of such wild behaviors from far off merchants, can i only conclude that the West is a devilish place, and prefer never to encounter such warmongers!

[Kavhan Isbul]

The Rajupts hearing of such wild behaviors from far off merchants, can i only conclude that the West is a devilish place, and prefer never to encounter such warmongers!

The "peaceful" Rajputs seem too preoccupied fighting among each other, but once the helpless Chauhans are destroyed and one maharaja unites the North-Western part of India, what would happen then, one wonders? Only time will tell.

Elsewhere, Anadola lays in ruins, with both rulers now left with only remnants of what were once mighty armies. However, while the Turks have no shortage of men, willing to join their ranks, even if most of them are relatively poor tribesmen, the Basileus finds himself relying on expensive foreign mercenraies. To make the situation worse, the Armenians have wisely chosen to save themselves, leaving the Romans all on their own. At the same time the Turkish Sultan will be receiving countless amounts of gold from his ally. It appears that it is only a matter of time until the crosses are torn down from the Hagia Sophia and replaced with crescents.

[spanish_emperor]

The Roman Emperor wishes to know which units lie in Doreyleum and how both my armies were destroyed in extensive detail.

[TriforceV]

The Roman Emperor wishes to know which units lie in Doreyleum and how both my armies were destroyed in extensive detail.

Per request, I have taken a look at the situation to ensure no foul play was done by Cyrus in his attempt at world domination.
As that was said, none was found...

However, I will say one thing, If I'm considered "Master of Spies", the good ol' Cyrus should be considered as "Master of AI Battle_mode Abuse", because he certainly knows all the tricks of the trade

Only, another nail in the coffin for me to to ever make another Battle-mode Campaign