[SECRET] The Notched Blade of George Kastrioti
In 1457, to commemorate Albanian victories against the Ottoman Empire, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg was awarded a replica of Szczerbiec, the Polish King's sword. He was granted honors and titles within the Kingdom, and lavished with such gifts. An alliance of brothers in Christ against a common foe was born that day - but it had met a quick and brutal end.
Now, however, the Commonwealth stands at the border, and Murad 'The Liberator' as the Poles and Hungarians have taken to calling him has begun to make his case known for the title of Sultan, ruler over the entirety of the Empire.
With this in mind, Anna has seen fit to send via Hungarian merchants on their way to Constantinople with goods a message, which reads as follows.
"To the good lords and ladies of Albania, I wright;
Good health to you and yours. The Kings of Poland, from the annals of history and even now with me as Regent, have always looked favorably upon the Albanian peoples and their struggles against the Ottoman menace. Even now, you chafe under their rule, with your children pressed into service and fed the teachings of Muhammed against their will until they are subservient to the Sultan himself."
"I fear for the peoples of Europe, and those within the Balkans. And I fear for you, good peoples. Yet I must ask that you rise once more in sacrifice, for the good of all. Murad the Liberator has come to free those states which have been unlawfully subjugated under the Ottoman boot, you chiefly among them. We would see his message carried out, and with lands stolen from the good peoples of the Balkans returned to their rightful owners!"
"Even now, whispers of Jihad have begun to murmur across the Mediterranean Sea. The Ottoman forces will be preoccupied elsewhere, should they come to war with the Commonwealth and the Knights Hospitalier. Your children who have been taken from you will be sent off to fight in foreign lands for people they do not know, and for a cause their lineage does not support. Would you see this as your constant and prevailing future? Or will you rise up and take the independence which even now simply stands just out of reach? Rouse yourselves, people of Albania! Join in Murad's liberation! Cast down those who have oppressed you, and join once more in the grand struggle against injustice!"
"So says the woman who will descend upon the Turkish menace like a great storm. So promises the regent of Poland. And so declares Anna Radziwiłł, Sejm Liderem."
"Should you be found lacking in anything, make the merchants known of it, and we will provide you with it at the earliest possible moment."
"Deus Vult."
META: This is, in effect, an attempt to bring more support to Murad in his rebellion, and is writing a 'blank check' to the Albanians for them to request anything specific they need. As the Hungarian merchants are already allowed access to the Ottoman Empire to spread their wares, and as the border has remained open, they should be allowed entry. Please determine how much the Albanians need, if anything, so that they can be further encouraged to revolt.
Posted Sep 16, 2015, 6:58 AM UTC