Raiders of the Lost Ark

[Dan the Man]

The prophet and High Priest of the Israelites, Levi, had a vision of the Lord: He told Levi to take a force of Hebrew soldiers, and seek the lost Ark of the Covenant, which contains the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. Levi told Abram of his vision, and he told him to depart, and follow God's command, taking some of the army with him.

The Party:
High Priest Levi (Prophet/Magus)
50 Israelite soldiers (heavy infantry)
25 Midianite Wildmen (archers)
15 Camel Scouts (light cavalry)

[Barry Goldwater]

The High Priest and his men wander the land fruitlessly for a week, but nobody is willing to talk - the most they have been able to get was a warning from an aged couple of the Ark's tremendous power and its mysterious guardian, who is certainly not of this world. However, just as many of the soldiers were about to talk, a lone wanderer points the company in the direction of Aphek, far up north, and leaves with nothing more than a warning of the great power of the Ark's protector...

[Dan the Man]

Levi anoints all soldiers with holy oil, to show that they are in God's favor, and the party moves on towards Aphek, confident that the Ark's guardian will understand their divine mission.

[Marshy]

Again. There is no God or Jesus Christ in 3000 B.C.

[Prodigal]

1. There has always been God.
2. There being no Jesus Christ influences nothing.

EDIT: I correct myself, there has ALWAYS been a Jesus Christ(we Orthodox defeated that heresy in the Ecumenical councils ) he just hadn't manifested himself yet.

[Dan the Man]

Again. There is no God or Jesus Christ in 3000 B.C.

Marshy, God has existed forever. Judaism itself has existed in some form since the beginning of time (if you believe in the tradition of the Torah/Bible), Christianity started in the 1st century AD, after the crucifixion of Jesus.

[Barry Goldwater]

Days later...

It is the afternoon. As the company approaches an abandoned well, they hear the thundering hooves of unknown horsemen. Scouts report that a raiding party of mounted bandits is rapidly approaching...

[Marshy]

Im sorry I am just ignorant like that.

[Dan the Man]

Days later...

It is the afternoon. As the company approaches an abandoned well, they hear the thundering hooves of unknown horsemen. Scouts report that a raiding party of mounted bandits is rapidly approaching...

The small party form a tight square, perfect to absorb cavalry charges, the archers stand close behind, firing arrows at the approaching horsemen. The camel-riders stay on the flanks, ready to circle around from either side of the formation, and envelop the bandits. Levi overlooks the battle from the safety of a nearby hill, ready to heal injured soldiers and praying that God intervene and protect His chosen people, as He always has.

[Barry Goldwater]

A party of about twenty horsemen are now circling the Israelites, throwing javelins at the Israelite formation or dismounting and firing. Several of the horsemen close in, only to be cut down by the Israelite soldiers. Eight of the horsemen have broken away to engage and occupy the Israelite camel-riders...

[Dan the Man]

Lo, Levi's prayers are answered, and a giant column of fire descends from the heavens, engulfing the raiders!

Juuuuust kidding...


The Camel Raiders engage the bandits, the infantry move forth to attack the dismounted javelin men, and the archers continue their volleys.

[Kip]

Lo, Levi's prayers are answered, and a giant column of fire descends from the heavens, engulfing the raiders!

Juuuuust kidding...

OOC:

[Prodigal]

Sounds just like Arabian Nights.

And Lo, the men prayed to the glorious Allah, and a great pillar of flame and fire descended upon the infidels.

Such a great book.

[Barry Goldwater]

The dismounted horsemen fall back as quickly as they can, taking advantage of their nonexistent armor to outrun the Israelite infantry and just daring them to pursue.

Meanwhile, the riders' horses are frightened by the Israelite camel-riders. Two men are thrown to their deaths, while others are forced to either hastily dismount and fight at a disadvantage or try to fight from the back of an uncontrollable horse...

[Dan the Man]

The dismounted riders are quickly cut down by the charging camels. The soldiers, seeing the camels approaching, herd the remaining bandits directly into the camel charge. The archers keep shooting, and Levi begins to chant Jewish prayers aloud, to inspire the troops.

[Barry Goldwater]

The bandits on foot, panicking with the death of their comrades, hurry back to their horses and attempt to flee the scene. The men still on horseback have already left, seeing that they were severely outnumbered and that their enemy had camels. Some of the Israelites urge their captains to give chase...

Israelite casualties: 2 heavy infantry KIA, 2 heavy infantry wounded, 2 archers KIA, 1 camel-rider wounded
Bandit casualties: 9 horsemen KIA

(note: the battle still isn't over - the Israelites can choose to pursue the bandits or leave them alone)

[Prodigal]

Better start saying the kaddish.

[Dan the Man]

Good thought Kaits!

Levi says the Kaddish over each fallen soldier, and they are given a proper funeral service. The bandits are left to be picked apart by the carrion birds. Despite the urging of the expedition's second in command, an officer by the name of David, Levi urges the party on. They can't afford to waste anymore time.

As they march onward, they hear a roar, and a large plume of smoke explodes out of the area the bandits had retreated to. The smell of friend chicken (geddit, cuz they ran away! ) fills the air.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Barry Goldwater]

It has been four days since the bandit attack on Levi and his company. A wild-eyed old man in filthy rags suddenly approaches the company, shouting,

"Oi! 'scuse me! I hear you're looking for some kind of ancient artifact? Lemme speak to your leader!"

[Dan the Man]

It has been four days since the bandit attack on Levi and his company. A wild-eyed old man in filthy rags suddenly approaches the company, shouting,

"Oi! 'scuse me! I hear you're looking for some kind of ancient artifact? Lemme speak to your leader!"

Levi approaches the man.

"I am Levi, High Priest of the Israelites. What is it you want?"

OOC: By the way, I forgot to mention Levi used his powers to heal the injured soldiers after the battle.