Ostfall-only RP: pilgrim crisis!
In the western city of Crim, in the The Sultanate of Abakzad, likes the shrine of St. Marcus of Crim. The shine is a primary pilgrimage destination for christians of all faiths. In recent months and weeks, bands of muslim fanatics- self styled "gazis"- have been attacking pilgrims along the route to Crim. Three days ago, a large band of Westford pilgrims, led by a noted Westford bishop, were attacked by a large band of fanatics armed with modern magazine rifles (a huge step above the swords and muskets usually used by bandits) and were killed to the last man. Many conservative clerics in the Sultanate have spoken in praise of the bandits.
The lack of any serious Sultanate attempt to crack down on this banditry has raised tensions between the sultanate and westford. It has also brought attention to the many incidents of violence along pilgramage routes, including the one to the shrine of the Orthodox St. Vlad.
The Sultanate of Abakzad is taking a number of steps towards mitigating the inflammatory practices of foreign clerics. We will thank you not to insult our sovereignty by investigating too closely.
Your weak promises simply shall not do. Beacuse you have shown yourself inable to bring security to your own nation, we demand that you allow Westford to protect its citizens in the Sultanate!
We want all pilgrim routes to have full protection from the sultanate police and army. Failing that, if the Sultan's forces cannot protect his own roads, then he surely will let Westford's troops do so for him.
The Holy Empire of Andromedias decries the heathan scum of Abakzad. Deal with the rebelling primatives soon or suffer the consequences! They only rebel becasue you worship a false diety. Perhaps the time is right to launch a crusade.
We cannot locate these alleged "Christians" we are oppressing with our militant unwashed hordes. Perhaps they have seen the TRUE light ...?
Let us be honest with ourselves. There are no "rebelling primitives." Your "noted bishop" must not have deserved his title.
The Sultan should be reminded that Westford subjects are dead, and it is very unwise (not to mention tasteless) to claim that this massacre did not happen. The Sultan should also be reminded that, wether he like it or not, there are Christian holy sites within his domain, and Christian pilgrims on the roads to them.
It is evident that the Sultan does not wish to sully his hands with anything that is not muslim enough for him. This is fine and good, and in fact, Westford does not object. He simply must turn over the shrine of St. Marcus to the Church of Westford, and let westford soldiers guard the roads to the shrine. The Sultan shall not have to lift a finger or spend a drachma. The pilgrims shall be safe, and the bandits will be slain.
Unacceptable! we are a sovereign nation!
Funding to our internal police forces has been increased. We are looking into the matter, but we would thank Westford to remember that such investigations take time, and with the nature of these nomadic bandits it may be wholly inconclusive in the end.
And before you ask, no, you may not place Westford citizens on the ranks of the investigation. They are liable to be biased, and it is our investigation besides.
The Christian holy sites are not closed to Christians. We are a relatively open nation.
The Christian Holy Sites were stolen from us by the cruel Turk and now the same Turk wishes to dictate terms to us. Now that is truly unnaceptable. You will allow our people to enter the holy sites immediately as well as make assurances of the proper military protection lest another such unfortunate incident occur again.
It is time for the Sultanate to specify some sort of concrete action, instead of vague promises. It need not even be a concession of territory or territorial privlidge to Westford or any other power. We simply must have the details of what the Sultanate plans to do.
We've had enough of being brushed off with fancily worded rejections. We demand specific, directed action or failing that, detailed plans for such action.
Westford has called up the 2nd Kings Own Uplands Riflemen, and has dispatched the regiment to our eastern border. We do not want to begin the move twards war, but we do not want to imply in any way that we wish this to continue being a flurry of meaningless diplomatic telegrams. The sultanate has 48 hours to present a detailed plan to counter these acts of banditry, or the King will dispatch the 2nd Riflemen to secure the road to Crim and allow free and safe passage to all who travel it.
The Trabzonian Senate would like to offer the services of our Foreign Service Bureau as a neutral party for talks on resolving this regretable crisis.
Westford would gladly take part in any Tabzon-moderated talks.
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As would the Sultanate. It seems we cannot reach an agreement directly.
If there are to be no talks through Trabzon, Westford must specify who will be coming and why they deserve specific attention from our military before we describe a specific plan for said attention.
Westford should also remember that we are a sovereign nation, and are not subordinate to it; what policing we do is our business.
Since both parties are open to talks we suggest that both send a telegraph with their demands to our Foreign Office and we will produce a suggested compromise open to more negotiation. The Most Serene Republic thanks both sides for their understanding in this matter as we all work for a more peaceful and prosperous world.