The General nods in agreement at Mustafa's comment.  They basically asked us to agree to leave for nothing. Maybe you need to explain that the other sheiks do not approve of this fellow and he is to step down, leave everything in place and get lost to continue living. If we get him, we hand him over to the other sheiks to deal with.  I would expect that to be very unpleasant.

The baron nods at the generals comments and then, looking at the two of them, asks, "Would appeal to or promotion of second in command be likely to work? Like 'shank your boss and you can take over IF you agre to restore the previous conditions to the farmers and trade and so forth'."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Sun 18 Sept 2022.

I'd think not and the Sheik's will likely want to choose who leads here.

Kenyan nods, "We shall continue."

He moves back to the shiek's nominated translater, "It is possible to reach agreement peaceably but not on those terms. If your Shiek stands here, it is time for him to step forwards, as this should be directly for his ears, unchanged by possible tricks of the memory or multiple repetitions."

At this point Kenyan is comfortable with looking directly at one of the pair he believes understands him perfectly, preferably whichever one shifts self-importantly or who is glanced at by those not so gifted with quick wits..

The coy game stops as te fellow you spoke to rattles off something in Arabic, which the translator returns as:

It is not possible, the Sheik does not speak with those not of his rank and not followers of Allah..

"That, then, woud be completely fine if the Shiek would be so good as to agree to accoampany us to convene with the Council of Shieks. They would absolutely be of his rank and followers of Allah. Unless the Shiek has reason to fear those of his rank and faith?" pushes Kenyan looking the Shiek firmly in the eyes.

This obviously startles the assembled group and they launch into a lot of discussion.  They eventually say they will be back tomorrow and disappear.

After the delegation has departed Kenyan looks at the two seniors, "Comments, gentelmen? Should we expect assassins tonight?"

After listening to responses he finishes up with, "Fine, we camp here, rest both folks and horses, gather a little strength, and tomorrow make a good push towards the shiek's encampment. Place guards as you deem necessary."

In reply to Baron Kenyan Worley (msg # 933):

"The imposter believes he is chosen by Allah for someone special. We should fight him on his own ground and invite priests of Allah to deal with his heresy. Once we have done that, he will be just a common thief instead of a martyr. But in the meantime, yes, we should expect assassin's, and fanatical suicidal ones at that."

Perhaps so, or not, the support for this sheik is not solid at all, so I think we see a few men trying to foist this take over on the populace.  I think we have him where his efforts could fall apart in short order, and many of those who currently favor him may turn on him when it is safe to do so. We must not give himtime to consolidate.

Kenyan nods a thanks to Mustafa and pauses at the general's comments. "Are you suggesting, general, that we should advance now?"

In reply to Baron Kenyan Worley (msg # 936):

"The general is right in that we should press the attack, but long term we should not let his military defeat become a rallying point. We need to deal with his ideology to, or someone else will take his place."

Good Grief no, but come morning we should not pause for mettings with these emmissaries whose sole reason to talk is to buy time.
And I think Sir Zephyr is correct about the Ideology as well.

In reply to Finger of Fate (msg # 938):

Mustafa will seek to get the army moving again, even while they discuss things.

Kenyan cuts this off, "No, as I said, camp here, rest both folks and horses, gather a little strength, and at first light tomorrow make a good push towards the shiek's encampment. Place guards as you deem necessary."

In reply to Baron Kenyan Worley (msg # 940):

Mustafa will look to see the generals opinion. If I understand correctly, we have already rested one night, correct?

OOC: The delegation arrived in msg #906 "cose to sundown" and disappeared in msg #932. IMO it's still some while aftersundown and the troops and horses need a rest.

The Baron is correct. It is night.

Come morning, everyone is up and moving beforesun up and the army starts out, shortly the same messengers show up and want to parley.
They stop in the middle of the road, but the rmy does not and forces them off the road to northwest.

We keep going. Kenyan trusts Mustafa to handle the scouting.

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OOC: Are we getting close ?

Well there is a very upset Group that wants to parley ... and expects the world to stop while you do.
Do you send anyone to speak with them?

Send a mounted messagnger with a squad of guards to deliver: "As the Shiek declines to attend the meeting with the Baron Worley thence, unlike the mountain, shall the Baron become to visit the Shiek. Please be so kind as to inform the Shiek of our immminence."

On receipt, pandamonium ensues... one of the Arab speakers replies But you must honor the parley! Others hurry awayto tell whomever that things are not going as planned.

The Courier shrugs and replies, They will honor the Parley when the sheik shows up. , then turns and rides off.

We keep going. Kenyan trusts Mustafa to handle the scouting.

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OOC: Are we getting close ?

Yes, the land is spreading out and the city is on the far horizen.
With your telescope(s0 you can see the enemy trying to gather units and form a battle formation across the road. You can tell that the officers and sergeants are having a great deal of trouble doing this. The count comes in as six conscript units and three sort of solid troops, herds of disorganized light cavalry milling around. The General shakes his head. Yell Boo and half of them will be running away.

Ah, then I misunderstood. Mustafa would want them moving next morning.

"Then perhaps we should tell boo, though to be honest, if he is going to want a siege,  large numbers of conscripts will actually shorten the siege by eating all his food. We just need to watch our own supplies."

Keep the cavalry scouts s scouting, and engaging when they feel they can to deal with any outlying recruiting...