Noooooooo!
So here's the scenario:
Genoa's long war with the Moors is reaching a climax. Iberia is dead-heat with Genoese-Aragon alliance being complicated by the outbreak in hostilities between Leon-Castile and Aragon, and although Grenada was captured by Aragon in a successful crusade (suggested to the pope by myself); their southern possession is now in serious jeopardy.
The Moors had denuded their north-african defences, and I made good this opportunity - swooping upon the weakly guarded fortress of Algiers. I rebuilt its defences, rearmed my forces, calmed the population, and awaited the Moors' next move.
The Moors took a few turns to assemble, but finally two full stacks approached Algiers. I didn't even have a full single stack - so I took Sun Tzu's advice and stood still. They came to me.
Three significant generals in one of the Moorish stacks. Buckets and buckets of decent infantry. No artillery. Only one of the stacks had developed siege equipment. I knew how this would roll.
Crossbowmen and three groups of militia spearmen to hold the front gate. The crossbowmen I would keep - the militiamen would be sacrificed. A veritable wave of enemies hit the defences and soon I was having to pull the crossbowmen due to the scrambling ladders. The spearmen braced as the gate caved in - and the rush began.
The spears held for awhile - at least until the sheer weight of enemy numbers turned their flanks, coupled with their compromising by the fall of the exterior walls. Those that were not butchered moved to the next set of defences.
Here was where I would make my stand. My elite crusader knights upon the walls, coupled with the saved crossbowmen. A full circle of spears - 6 deep behind the gates so that enemies would be surrounded on all sides.
The ladders boobed and weaved through the sea of orange - lit up by the enemy torchlight. Pared down by my withering fire they nonetheless reached the walls. The first assault was repelled, and the scene grew still - apart from the slow assemblage below and the steady sapping of their strength. The battering ram was brought forth again.
Far from abandoning the ladders - as soon as the gate had cracked the ladders were scaled again by forces on both sides. A thousand enemy soldiers rushed through the gates led by the 10* general and his force of bodyguards. Line upon line of Moorish men were cut down by the assembled wall of shield and spear - but my plan of launching a pincer counterattack were undone by the continued stream of enemies - I couldn't afford to break the shield wall.
So thick the clot that even Moors who were routing could not escape and were forced to fight to the death. Yet, my crusaders were dying, my once thick line of shields was now a thin golden sheen. My crossbow men cowered on the corners of the ramparts. My reserve was launched upon the gate: my cavalry waiting upon the hill.
The Moorish generals were killed in quick succession, but so, too, was my own. My crusaders - now down to just four men, finally routed and fell prisoner. Both sides were punch drunk - but the first fleeing Moors pulled down more brave men - and the flying, battered forces of my horse brought down more and more of the enemy as they rushed upon the shaken crowds of skirmishers and arches waiting without. A last push by the remnants of the Moorish forces - the last Moorish general and his guard pushed forward. The Great Cross was abandoned, so too the chase of enemy forces, and my returning horse and advancing foot sandwiched and smashed the last of the Moors.
The day was saved. Some 400 enemies escaped. The same number was captured. Twelve hundred lay dead within the fortress. The fighting force in north Africa was for the time silenced. I may not have had the capacity to launch an attack from Algeria, but the outlook was bright.
Another crusade? I have a Genoese man upon the Papal See. Let the other powers hit them in the front and I will snatch Africa for the kingdom of Genoa.
Medieval II has encountered an unexpected error and will now exit.
Ahhhh.....
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Re: Noooooooo!
Originally Posted by Parva Corvus
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. You should stop by and pay us a visit....at "Tale of the Week". .....
