[BC 2.3.2 AAR] Resurrection of the caliphate

[the new username]

Quite nice AAR you have here Herald. Going to follow this.

[The Kybrothilian]

chapter 9

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Through the streets of Samarra, an escort of horsemen clad in metal plates traveled. They were making their way to the central square of the city. These warriors wearing steel and iron attracted the curious eyes of many a merchant and craftsman, and heads turned at their appearance. As they arrived at the square, they found a new sight: rows of dark men, brought as slaves from the lands surrounding the upper Nile, south of the sultanate of Misr, Christians and Pagans all. Now they had been given spears and shields, ready to serve on the battlefield, instead of working in the farmlands. In front of these men, stood a man of Arabic descent, glad in ornate robes, indicating him to be of high position. As the escort came to the square, the man and his soldiers turned their gazes on them. From the middle of this escort sprouted out one rider. His garments and armor were different to those of the others, suggesting a high rank in the caliphate. As it happens to be, this man was none other than Al-Nasir, the crown prince of the Abassid caliphate.

"Is this the tribute of soldiers you have gathered, Muhammad?"

"Yes, great prince. A thousand armed Nubian slaves. They stand ready to serve you in your campaigns."

"Excellent. They will be much needed."

"I can see. The overlords of Mosul guard the fortress with a large host of experienced riders. The fortress wont fall easily"

Muhammad ibn abd Allah was the emir of Samarra, an important city of the caliphate, north-west of Baghdad. Muhammad had always enjoyed the life of a governor; he was not particularly interested with warfare.

"Whatever the case is, God will give the caliphate its victory. These renegades will fall, and Mosul will bow to the righteous rule."

"Indeed. Mosul should serve as a good guard for our western border once this expansion is over, as Kermanshash already does in the north."

"For your information, neither my father nor I plan to cease the re-conquest of Muslim lands to Iraq. All of the Ummah has to be unified under a single caliph."

"Yet, will the Abassid dynasty have the strength to even reclaim its lost power, let alone unify all of the Muslim world?"

"Of course it will! Are you doubting the divinity of our war, Muhammad? Why do you turn away from our cause?"

Muhammad shook his head. He had nothing to approve with Nasirs fanatic dedication to conquest. Peaceful life was more satisfying for him.

"Does the holy Qur'an not forbid murder, especially the murder of fellow Muslims? Why do you seek war and conquest, mighty prince?"

Nasir was getting annoyed. He did not like the pacifistic nature of Muhammad, who appeared nearly unpious to him.

"Enough of this! I have a fortress to conquer. For the moment, you have fulfilled what has been required from you. But do not think that I forget what you spoke of."

"So be it, my prince."

An order was barked, and the Nubians moved towards and past the retinue of the prince. Nasir gave a final facial expression of disgust to Muhammad, before turning to leave the city. Muhammad stayed in place, watching the retinue and the levied troops leave. Once they disappeared out of sight, he gave a heavy sigh and returned to his residence.