[SV AAR] The Wolf Among Dogs - The Latin Empire (Chapter 33, September 11)

[SonofaBooyah]

I've only recently found this AAR but it really is one of the best I've read. You've done a terrific job Radzeer, outstanding storyline. I'm definitely going to have to read your other two as well sometime in the near future.
Again great job mate

[Caracaos]

Great update. I love how you're incorporating the game's quirks into a genuine storyline, like that random mongol force north of targoviste.

[Marvzilla]

Nice to see you back. Those were some good chapters and story twists. Curious how he will get out of this rather unfortunate situation and how the situation about Sophie will unveil. Have some rep.

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Seems I am late to the party this chapter - I really liked the twist with the nunnery. Can't wait to see what happens with the Venetians - and Sophie.

[Admiral Van Tromp]

I found this masterpiece by chance three days ago and I coulnd't stop reading. My congratulations for your excellent work, and looking forward to the next update.

+rep!

[Radzeer]

Ah, nice work Radzeer. I have still been following though I haven't commented since, well, I don't know. But I did know that the story about Sophie wouldn't turn out true. It seems more likely that she would receive a brutal punishment from Richard, after all. I want to know what kind of brutal punishment, so get writing!

Thank you, and yes, I get writing asap! (I'm on the road now, so it goes a bit slower.)

Excellent chapter! Can't wait to see what happens next with Robert. Maybe there's still a chance with Sophie...

Thank you! Well, there is always a chance, as they say: it ain't over till the fat lady sings!

I've only recently found this AAR but it really is one of the best I've read. You've done a terrific job Radzeer, outstanding storyline. I'm definitely going to have to read your other two as well sometime in the near future.
Again great job mate

Thank you very much, and welcome here! Make sure to give enough time for the Kievan one - that is a monster! I'm glad you like the storyline, I have a lot of fun making it up.

Great update. I love how you're incorporating the game's quirks into a genuine storyline, like that random mongol force north of targoviste.

Thanks, and actually the mongols are not entirely random. They held the city for quire a while, when for some reason the whole Russian portion of their empire rebelled. That small army is the one kicked out of Tirgoviste, they have been cruising around for some time.

Nice to see you back. Those were some good chapters and story twists. Curious how he will get out of this rather unfortunate situation and how the situation about Sophie will unveil. Have some rep.

Thank you, and the same here: I'm glad to see you here again! I hope I can wrap this story up in the next 4-5 updates, and that it won't take forever. Thanks again!

Seems I am late to the party this chapter - I really liked the twist with the nunnery. Can't wait to see what happens with the Venetians - and Sophie.

Ah, come on, you have been supporting this from the very beginning, so you are entitled to being late. I'm glad you liked the twist - actually the versions I wrote up about the nunnery weren't any good, so I made this change... mostly to buy some time back then.

I found this masterpiece by chance three days ago and I coulnd't stop reading. My congratulations for your excellent work, and looking forward to the next update.

+rep!

Thank you for the kind words, and welcome here! I'm glad you like the story, and I hope the rest won't disappoint either!

---

I am traveling now, so the next update would take a few more days, but hopefully no more than a week. Thank you for your patience!

[The Norseman]

I would be very interested in seeing how the campaign map looks, if you have the time to post it or send it Gives me a better oppertunity to imagine everything which is happening.

[G-Ballz]

I would be very interested in seeing how the campaign map looks, if you have the time to post it or send it Gives me a better oppertunity to imagine everything which is happening.

I'd love to see the campaign map too. With the hours/days/weeks/months I've spent playing M2TW, I always find it very interesting to analyze a campaign map during an AAR.

[Radzeer]

I'm still on the road, but when I get back to my game computer, I'll post a map. It's easy to forget how the writer has all this in his head, and the readers need a bit more info.

[Thokran]

Great stuff! I eagerly await your next update!

[SonofaBooyah]

This isn't dead is it?

[Radzeer]

No this isn't, but I owe everybody an apology. RL has been unforgiving in the summer, and I could get enough brain capacity together to write. Not having internet for a long time did not help either. I can definitely promise an update for the weekend, and since the story is about 5 updates from the end, I will see this through.

[Radzeer]

29. The end of winter

A few days later the Frankish army arrived and surrounded the town. I learned that the commander was no other but Raymond of Flanders, the son of old king Henri who was pushed aside when the Courtenays took the throne. Raymond felt that the rebellion in Tirgoviste provided him a good opportunity to extend his territories to the north, and continue to build a Flemish province in northern Greece. I had little doubt that he would eventually take the town, and I knew that the sooner it happens the better it is for me. My goal was to get away from Tirgoviste as soon as possible, sneak back to Greece and find out what happened to Sophie. This was of course not possible until the siege was over.

To my great disappointment, Raymond decided to starve out the garrison. The town had ample supplies for a few months, so they were optimistic to hold out until the winter would force Raymond to withdraw. Furthermore, Raymond was not the only one having his eye on Tirgoviste. Mongol scouts were nearby, likely to report the situation to the khan, the former suzerain of the region, and a small Hungarian army has appeared from Transylvania as well.



The Mongols were a distant threat, but to keep the Hungarians away, Raymond made an alliance with them.



The negotiations took a long time, as Wallachia was the border of both kingdoms. But once the deal was sealed, the besieging army started to receive supplies from the Hungarians. Soon rations ran quite low in the city, and the confidence of the garrison has also lessened with it. The governor of Tirgoviste decided to sally out while he still could, hoping to cause enough damage and then withdraw to the city if the battle turns against him. I thought it was a foolish plan, but it brought the end of the siege closer. Since I neither cared for the fate of the city nor had I any intention to fight, I looked toward the battle with great expectations.



With several others, I rushed to the monastery and climbed to the bell tower where I had an excellent view at the city and the field outside the main gate. The first to ride out were the horse archers, not too many as the long siege cut their numbers, but enough to cause trouble if led by a capable commander.



The riders tried to flank Raymond's army on the left. He was prepared though, and soon hundreds of arrows flew from behind the ranks of his light infantry. He also moved his army ahead, trying to squeeze the defenders into a small space where the horse archers have little place to maneuver. These completely confused the defenders, and the rebel horsemen quickly fell into disorder. They not only became ineffective, but also made it impossible for the rebel infantry to deploy in any useful formation.





If I were the city governor I would have fallen back and tried to negotiate with the besiegers. But apparently he felt that he had no other chance but to attack. The rebel infantry charged in one large mass. The Frankish army was in strong defensive positions, but the numbers were about equal, so for a moment I felt that maybe the rebels have a chance.



I heard the distant cries as the battle lines clashed. It was not easy to see who fights with whom, as the soldiers did not look too different. I could see that Raymond had a lot of local auxiliary troops, which was common for the Flemish and French barons.





The forces were roughly equal, and neither the rebels could defeat Raymond's infantry nor the Frankish army could push the rebels back to the city. Then I saw movement on the right, and after a few moments the Frankish cavalry charged the rebel flank. It was a well timed move, and I saw Raymond's own retinue leading the charge.



As expected, the rebels had no answer to this. Their right flank routed and immediately pulled the center with it. In a few moments, the whole rebel army was running back toward the city. I could see Raymond and his knights closely following them to prevent the gate to be closed. This was a bold move but also very dangerous, as if the rebels let Raymond and his knights in but were able to close the gate right behind them, they could have easily overpowered the commander.





It did not happen. There was no organized resistance at the gate, and the defenders tried to save their lives. I saw ballista shots flying over the walls, and hitting the withdrawing rebel soldiers on the streets. The Frankish infantry quickly took the gatehouse, and the reserves started to move in. The defenders fell back to the city center to put up their final resistance.





Given how many rebels were fighting on the main square, I think many of the defenders disappeared already in the alleys. The last fighting troops must have been the personal followers of the governor, who had no other chance. The melee was bloody, but the outcome was not in question.



Finally, Raymond was able to rally his retinue again, and charged the enemy commander. For a moment I could see him fighting in the crowd, and I thought that he is a true son of old king Henri. He led his men by his own example, not shying away from the battle like many of the Lombard nobles did. I don't know if he was the man who killed the city governor, but suddenly the battle was over.





The Frankish victory was expected, and now it was time for me to leave Tirgoviste. I said farewell to the monks who were happy to see the Frankish takeover, and wished me the best on my journey. It was not too difficult to leave the town, as Raymond's soldiers let most of the people go, except those that looked too wealthy - something I certainly was not.



After walking through desolate winter lands, deserted farms and unplowed fields, I made it to the coast of the Black Sea. With the first wind of the spring I found a ship from Kiev on the way to Constantinople. The journey was peaceful and I became friends with the crew, a cheerful band of traders from the north. They were planning to stop in Constantinople only for a short time, and then travel further to the south.

I had no plans what to do when I arrive to Constantinople, but it turned out that there was no need for any. After so much suffering, the Lord smiled upon me. As I was standing at the docks, wondering how should I start my search, suddenly a soldier pushed me aside. "Move away," he said, "the king's envoy is coming!" I looked up and saw about half a dozen soldiers making way to a group of nobles. "Achaia is much nicer at this time of the year," said one of the envoys. "No wonder the king holds his court there," responded another as they passed by me.

Neither of these men were familiar. I looked at the knights in their escort, and wanted to be among them for a moment. I realized that my appearance changed a lot in the past months: the captivity in Adrianople, the road to Tirgoviste an then the siege made me look like a dirty peasant. I had no weapons but a dagger and wore no armor. My status was declining with my looks, I had no suzerain or fief, and I was sad to see how low I sank from the rank I had when I arrived to Greece.

I was just about to turn away so that I would not need to bear the sight of my misfortune, when I noticed a woman in the group. Despite the veil which covered her face and the soldiers that blocked my view, I would have recognized her anywhere.

"Sophie," I whispered as I was too weak to make any louder sound.

For a moment it seemed that she did not hear me. But then she stopped, looked back, and I could see her eyes opening wide behind the silk veil. I wanted to run and hold her in my arms, but I was sane enough to know that I would have been arrested immediately. So I just nodded toward her and smiled, but fear gripped my heart about what would she do.

"I will take a look at those merchants," she said to one of the envoys. Her voice was shaken, but fortunately the man she was talking to did not notice that. "It won't take long."

"Yes, it shouldn't," the man responded quite impolitely. "We need to leave soon." He turned to one of the soldiers. "You go with the lady and make sure everything is fine."

Sophie started to walk toward the merchants followed by the soldier. I looked around but did not see her husband in the crowd. I have no idea how I would have faced Richard of Arras had he been there. I made my way to the merchant stands, keeping my eyes on Sophie. She stopped at one of the traders who was selling clothes and linen that were hung on ropes like curtains.

"I'll take a look at these," she said loudly to the soldier who escorted her. "You wait for me here." The soldier shrugged and started to chew an apple.

A minute later she was in my arms behind the stand. Nobody could see us, and a long kiss told more than a thousand words.

"We need to get away," I said when my mind finally wondered back to reality. Sophie nodded. I looked around and saw that the Kievan ship I came with was ready to leave. I remembered that they were heading south, I did not know where, but I did not care either. I grabbed Sophie's hand, we ran to the ship, and soon Constantinople was but the tallest towers far away just above the horizon.
~

[Scottish King]

What a way to come upon Sophie! I'm sure the happily ever they seek will not be granted to them. Richard of Arras will certainly be on their heels! + rep

[Radzeer]

What a way to come upon Sophie! I'm sure the happily ever they seek will not be granted to them. Richard of Arras will certainly be on their heels! + rep

Thank you! And yes, the happily ever after part is still up in the air.

If all goes well, I'll have the next update over the weekend. I did not forget the map, but I am quite ahead in the campaign and had no time to find the save closest to where the story is now. Stay tuned, and thanks for following!

[Robin de Bodemloze]

Woo! Certainly a welcome turn of fortunes, but I can't imagine this is a smooth ride (or boat ride) into the sunset either - that would be way too pacifist for Radzeer.

[Radzeer]

Woo! Certainly a welcome turn of fortunes, but I can't imagine this is a smooth ride (or boat ride) into the sunset either - that would be way too pacifist for Radzeer.

Thank you my friend, and yes, pacifism lacks the action needed in the word AAR.
The setup for the grand finale is coming within the hour!

[Radzeer]

Background to the story

The Latin Empire included various crusader factions that fought together to take Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade. Once the crusade was over, these factions tried to carve their own territories in Greece, establishing several semi-independent states that followed the king with various degrees of loyalty and enthusiasm. There are three major factions that have an important role in the plot. The actual Latin Empire was Constantinople and its hinterland in the north. The other two important factions were the Kingdom of Thessalonica ruled by the Lombards and the Principality of Achaia governed by the French crusaders (see the map here). Men of Flanders and Picardy These knights gathered around King Henri who is the younger brother of the Count of Flanders, the late Baldwin who was the first king and died shortly before this story starts. After the fall of Constantinople, the knights from Flanders and northern France took most of the territories in the north, such as Constantinople and Adrianople the large fortress. They are threatened by the Bulgarians to the north and the remnants of the Byzantine Empire to the east. While Constantinople is just a shadow of its former self, it is still the most important source of income for the king and his followers who would do everything to keep the capital under their control. King Henri: The Latin Emperor from Flanders, who took the throne after his brother was killed by the Bulgarians. He was a good politician who tried to balance the forces within the realm as well as outside of it. Sometimes he was accused of not being more aggressive against the Greeks in Asia Minor and the subjugated Greek population in his own realm. He understood the weaknesses of the Latin Empire and knew that hotheaded actions suggested by some barons and occasionally the pope could be disastrous. He died in the battle of Tarnovo, which was won and broke the Bulgarian Empire after years of warfare. Raymond of Flanders: King Henri's son. A popular and generous young knight, born too late to be the heir of the realm. Some would like to see him following his father on the throne and giving the control back to the Flemish barons. He is the governor of the great fortress of Adrianople. Andry Mauclerc: Crusading noble who came to Greece to serve King Henri. Chivalrous and pious, he was Henri's right hand man. He is appointed as the governor of Constantinople. Thierry Mauclerc: Andry Mauclerc's son, a true follower of his father. He was with Henri in the battle of Tarnovo, and was appointed as the conquered city's governor. Jehanin Mauclerc: Andry Mauclerc's second son, who scorns his father and older brother. He was appointed as the governor of Damascus, as an attempt of the Courtenays to cause discontent among the Flemish barons. Men of Lombardy and the Italians Northern Italians grabbed Thessalonica after the Fourth Crusade. They were led to battle by the Duke of Montferrat, Boniface who was the leader of the crusade but was vetoed by the Venetians as the king. The Venetians had no interest in strengthening those that are their competitors in northern Italy. Lombards therefore have deeply seated mistrust toward other crusaders and the successive dukes tend to have little loyalty to show for the kings from Flanders. Guglielmo di Monferrato: Duke of Montferrat, son of Boniface (who himself died before the story starts). He was openly hostile toward King Henri and accused him of not sending support to Thessalonica against the Bulgarian invasions. His accusation seemed to be correct when Thessalonica was finally taken by the Bulgarians while the king's army was in the neighboring Adrianople. Guglielmo died in that siege. Boniface di Montferrato: The son of Guglielmo who was in Constantinople when his father died. Despite the expectations of the barons from Fladers, he was given Thessalonica after Henri reclaimed it from the Bulgarians. He is inexperienced and his loyalty is questionable, but Henri needed a Lombard noble to secure further support from northern Italy. He decided to use the army raised for the king in Italy for his own goal of taking Skopia. After first being defeated in the siege, he came back and took the city. Philippe Borain: A Lombard noble who married Boniface di Monferrato's daughter and was appointed as the governor of Skopia. The Courtenays and other French nobles Led by the grandson of Louis VI the Fat, Pierre de Courtenay and the French knights conquered the Achaia and most of ancient Greece in the south. They could utilize that land effectively and run their regions largely independent from the king's oversight, although their economic interests often suffer from the Venetian competition. Their main enemy is the Greeks in Epirus. Their loyalty was secured when Henri named Pierre as his heir on the throne. King Pierre: The second emperor after Henri of Flanders. He is the former ruler of Achaia, supported by the French kings from home. He shows tolerance toward his Greek subjects, but looks down on Italians should they be the Venetian traders or the Lombards in Thessalonica. With the defeat of the Bulgarians he has the strategic initiative to chose the next enemy. Robert Courtenay: The firstborn son of Pierre, and the heir to the throne. A hotheaded and arrogant noble whose first military action was a disaster and who married without his father's approval. He is the governor of Athens and the leader of the crusading army set out to take Damascus. Baldwin Courtenay: The second son of Pierre, a chivalrous noble who follows his father's footsteps. He is the governor of Mistra. Emery Courtenay: Pierre's third son. Story characters Robert de Loup: The protagonist and storyteller, a young knight from Picardy who came to Greece to find fame and fortune. After the woman he loved got married, he left for the Holy Land. Arnulf de Loup: Robert's older brother, and experienced and wise knight who was his main adviser in the affairs of the Latin Empire. He fell at the siege of Thessalonica. Later Robert found out that he was killed before the siege in a political conspiracy. Gottfried of Flanders: An experienced knight who came to Greece with the Fourth Crusade and convinced Robert after the death of his brother to join him on a raid against the Bulgarians, and offered him a position in his retinue. King Henri ruled the raid as disobedience and put Gottfried in the dungeon. When he was released, he decided to leave for the Holy Land to fulfill his original crusader oath. Richard of Arras: A knight who was in the service of King Henri. Rumors say that he is the king's bastard son. A chief troublemaker who compensates his illegitimate status with excess arrogance. After the death of Henri, he offered his service to Pierre Courtenay. He married Sophie, Robert's love. Bertrand de Charentes: An experienced French noble, the right hand man of Prince Pierre. He was with Robert and the Duke of Montferrat in the first siege of Skopia where both him and Robert were captured. Enguerran Sorel: Flemish diplomat in the court of king Pierre. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30. The land of God

I crossed the Mediterranean Sea before, but nothing was comparable to that mad rush away from Constantinople with Sophie. It was as if everything I had hoped and longed for was suddenly realized, and all we had to do was to find a place where we could live in peace. As dark as the months before my unexpected reunion with Sophie seemed, the journey to the east was nothing less than a lost soul emerging from purgatory on the way to his salvation.

The Rus sailors were friendly and once they heard our story they offered their help. They were very interested in Greece, and in return they told us many stories of their homeland. One was particularly moving for me: a story of two men, a priest and a soldier, who looked for their long lost brother. Facing many dangers from Saracens, Greeks and Tatars they did not give up the search which took them across the steppe and the Black Sea until they all were reunited. It was an old story from the time when Greece was firmly under the rule of the Byzantine emperor and the eastern frontier of the Rus was nothing but endless plains with pagan tribes. I was fascinated by that world, and while some parts of the tale seemed too fantastic to believe, the sailors told me that it was a true story. They claimed that the son of the lost brother later became an important general, reuniting the warring Rus princes without which their land would have descended into civil war and darkness.

In one of the small harbors of Asia Minor we said farewell to the men of the Rus, and wondered where to go from there. I feared that the coast of Asia Minor would become a battleground if King Pierre or his sons decide to expand. A better choice was to leave for Outremer which was firmly under Christian rule. We just had to make sure to avoid Damascus, where the young Mauclerc was the governor, bearing the newly created title of the Duke. I did not want to run into anybody who may have known us from Greece and alert either the king or Richard of Arras.



The accursed Richard of Arras... He has been my mortal enemy ever since the siege of Thessalonica where I fought alongside Gottfried and was accused of cowardice. Sophie told me how that bastard treated her after the king threw me into the dungeon, and that made me mad. He loved her in his own twisted way, but that was hardly more than possessing her like a prized stallion or a valuable property. After our affair came to light, he tried to beat Sophie into submission and shame. She complained to her brothers but they did not listen to her. For them, Richard was a good party whose support was important for their rise in rank. Desperate and sad, she was returning from them to Achaia when we met at the harbor.

The past now seemed clear, but the future was uncertain. The only plan I could devise was to visit Gottfried, my old comrade in Antioch. Last time I saw him, he was with the Sicilian governor of the town. When we were fighting for Damascus, he encouraged me not to give up on Sophie, and now I wanted to show him that I took his advice. I also knew that he too hated Richard of Arras, and thus we could be safe there. We were both sure that Sophie's departure must have made him angry beyond belief, and suspected that our life is not yet free of him.



Upon arriving to Antioch, we learned that the caliph of the infidels had just died. This was good news for all Christians, because the fight for his inheritance was going to divide the Saracens for a long time. I was able to find Gottfried, and while both rejoiced to see each other, I was surprised how old he grew during these years. He said a few good words to the governor about my battle skills, and I joined his retinue. I found the Norman knights and barons always ready for a fight but very practical in religious matters. We shared a distaste for Lombards, but they hated the Greeks the most and it seemed to me that they were as much against the emperor of Nicaea as they were against the infidel.

Months passed, and slowly we had found our new life. There weren't many news from Greece, and we did not mind that at all. Pilgrims, mercenaries, traders and alike arrived every day, but we remained unnoticed. The only unsettled part of our new life was that we could not marry, as Sophie was still Richard's wife. She gave me a daughter though, Isabelle, and our days were just as bright as the sun on the sky of Outremer.

Then pope Innocent died, starting a chain of events that changed many things.



This created a lot of gossips in Antioch, as one of the main contenders to be the next pope was from Sicily. In addition, the bishop Huguenin of Damascus, recently promoted as a cardinal, was one of the electors. His views were unorthodox at best, but he came from the same circle as the Courtenays, and was close to the king. King Pierre was a generous supporter of the Latin church, likely not only to ensure his spiritual immortality but also to make sure that the papacy remains a close ally of the realm.





The main opponent of the Sicilian candidate at the papal election was a cardinal from Hungary. They were our allies and could expect our support in Rome.



For a while it seemed that King Pierre and the French cardinals would decide who the next pope should be. I don't know what happened in the background, but it is enough to say that at the end the French voted for the Sicilian candidate, while King Pierre supported his Hungarian allies. Despite his support, the Sicilian cardinal became the pope.



This was a big disappointment for King Pierre and the Courtenays. Antioch was celebrating the new Sicilian head of the Church, and despite the debates Christianity seemed as strong as ever. I have to tell though that when the bishop of Damascus returned from Rome, he had to travel in disguise as the Normans in Antioch had ill feelings toward him.

One day Gottfried introduced me to a diplomat, named Sorel. He was not only a skilled man, but also the main agent of the Flemish faction in the Court. He was instrumental in securing the Hungarian alliance and Raymond, the aspiring son of old king Henri had his utmost loyalty.



When we met, Sorel looked at me as if he knew me before. I did not remember him at all, but I paid no attention to such court men when I was serving Pierre and his sons. I still had a bad feeling about this, and thought that even if he did not know me, he may recognize Sophie. Thus I politely declined his invitation to bring her to the feast Gottfried was giving before Sorel left back for Greece. To change the subject, I was asking him about Raymond, not revealing of course that I was there at the siege of Tirgoviste.

Sorel told us that Raymond became the lord of Wallachia, and with that the Flemish barons controlled a large territory spanning from Constantinople to the Hungarian border. To further increase their influence, Raymond married one of the ladies from an old Flemish family. These were all small signs that something was in the making.





A few months later the French king died. He was poisoned they say, but his death remains a mystery to this very day. It is a fact that King Pierre and the Courtenays benefited from this, but I doubt they were the only ones. The king's death removed the man standing between the pope and the Courtenays, and by the time of Sorel's next visit in Antioch, the alliance with Sicily was made.





All these events far away from Outremer should not have affected us. I cared little for who the pope or the French king may be, in fact I cared hardly more about who is the king in Greece. However, these events were small pebbles that roll down a hill and turn into an avalanche only when it's too late to do anything. It was this avalanche that once again took me from where my heart wanted to be.

The excommunication of Venice surprised us all, and became that final pebble.



I remember that day well. It was the smoke rising from the merchant district in Antioch which signaled the beginning of the dark times to come. As the news about the excommunication spread so did the fire. Warehouses were looted, ships were burned, and many Venetian merchants were put to the sword. I'm not saying that it was right, but many saw it as God's punishment on these people who saw others with condescension and contempt.



Hardly a week later King Pierre declared war. The temptation for him to destroy the Venetian merchant colonies that suffocated our trade was too great. The rumor was that Negroponte is going to be the first target. When I heard about this, I knew that I had to go too.

I had an old score to settle there once and for all.
~

[Scottish King]

Things are coming to a head! Finally we will be able to meet the people behind our hero's brother's death. Also liked the connection you made, if I'm not mistaken between this story and previous AAR. Great way to work that in!

[NikeBG]

Indeed, a most interesting update! And I quite liked the reference to the Russian AAR as well.