Dar al Salaam
The 1880 British Invasion
of the Land of Peace

Turn 3-12-00 and 3-16-00

by Chris Engle

Results for 3-12-00

The French Embassy ball is a great success! (Well..er...sort of!) General Wesley is besmitten by an Arab woman named Fatimah. They go off together and are absent most of the evening. While the General was away, and despite the fact that the evening was alcohol free (Gee I wonder what is in all those hip flasks?) A German and French officer argue and challenge one another to a duel! Meanwhile in the smoky back rooms the details of the Financial commission were worked out. M Duprey is named chair of the commission – effectively giving the dominant voice in the country to France.

The Islamic institutions split down the middle, with the urban areas favouring Mullah Amad and the rural areas favouring Ali Baba. This is not a situation that is going to be resolved easily or swiftly.

3-16-00 turn results

The Mullah Amad goes to Mecca on the Hadj. Given that tomorrow is Id el Adha (the end of the Hadj) this is quite a feat. But he does it and all the people of Dar as Salaam agree that truly this is a holy man.

Ali Baba's spies in Dar as Salaam city, give him forewarning of the combined British-Turkish attack. He is well prepared and has the advantage in the coming fight!

The British land forces, supported by the Turkish regulars under Abdullah Ibn-Almanni, move south in one large formation (leaving only the young Salaam troops in the capital) to engage Ali Baba's horde and crush the Jihad in battle once and for all.

After more than a week of digging, Schliemann's party have unearthed some truly magnificent artifacts. But plans for a larger dig are curtailed by reports of a "jihad" and threats of death to foreigners. When the dozen or so locals employed as diggers don't show up for work, Schliemann decides to close shop. The tombs are sealed, the artifacts packaged, and the expedition makes for the boats. Meanwhile, Schliemann's operatives in Dar as Salaam insist Captain Hornblaeser act to guarantee the safety of the Schliemann expedition in light of the reports of "jihad." If he doesn't act and the party is harmed, his career is down the tubes.

In the United States William Randolph Hearst stirs up the people with headlines like "Muslim Extremists Still Hold American Hostage!!" President Hayes buckles under to pressure from the German-American community (who love Schiemann) and sends three gunboats and a contingent of Marines to Dar as Salaam under the command of Captain George Dewey.

Dar as Salaam: 1880 British Invasion Matrix Game

Started in MG #11.

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