War Council at Galata, April 10, 1204

[Celsius]

Roger stayed silent. His father had told him stories about a certain de Lusginan. One that lost the Kingdom of Heaven to the Saracens. Atop that, Roger's father was a supporter of Conrad del Montferrato and was present at Acre during that little incident. Even though this "Bohemond" was different in style, he was still a member of the family that could be held responsible for the greatest lost in the history of Christendom. Roger de Rochechouart would remain silent

[Dirty Chai]

Philip simply watched silently still, making sure his squire was writing down everything.


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5 D20's
18, 10, 9, 10, 5

There was lots of silence from the major portions of the higher-born nobles present, some from Flanders, some from France, some from Savoy,
but support did come from a few major lords;
A certain Robert de Ghent echoed the declaration, followed by some Burgundians and the Lord of Orleans.

The clergy seemed more positively responsive, probably since they were less threatened by a secular leader in their own ambitions.

(Barely a majority, 52/100)

[The Stig]

Simon stood among the assembled crowd of knights, clergy, and soldiers watching the leaders of the crusade speak upon the dais. The amount of support for Bohemund, was unsurprising, giving his connections. Furthermore, in the event that his popularity outweighed his merit, he would be a convenient scapegoat if they were unable to take the city. In any case, it was impossible to endorse another candidate without compromising the crusaders' unity.

"Hail Bohemund, he who shall lead this grand host to victory!"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Bohemond had received just barely enough support to assume full command of this Crusade. He only hoped that those who did not support him would eventually once Constantinople was taken. He looks to the city now, gazing at its slightly ruined walls and mighty defenses. The Frank gently stroked his beard before gazing at the clear sky and warm temperature that had finally broken through the long days of rain. Then his gaze settled upon the Crusaders who waited to hear his word.

As the elected overall commander of this Crusade, I shall give you all three days of preparation for our assault. Have your gear polished, swords sharpened and clothing dried. God has given us favorable weather and we must use it to our advantage. Once the ground is dried enough for our siege towers, we will prepare for our grand assault upon Constantinople's walls.

Bohemond turns to the Venetian and Genoese captains and commanders that were present at the War Council.

Upon the day of this assault, your ships will ride the winds into Constantinople's harbors. We will not let this Emperor escape our grasps if he attempts to flee! Your marines will act as a diversion to split attention from the walls. Capture and hold the harbor till the city walls are taken and the gates opened to our host. We will flood the city with our overwhelming numbers and drive the Greek soldiers out of this city! God will grant us victory in our siege!!

[Dirty Chai]

Philip squinted, and glanced over at the distant figures of the walls of Constantinople.
Surely, the land walls were much greater, having three layers in some parts.
The Blachernae district was more vulnerable close to the waters, he knew however, even if it was situated on the northern slopes of the Sixth and Fifth Hills.
Anyone with quick eyes would notice it, and the way the Blachernae Palace flaunted its beauty from behind the walls.

[Honors Bastion]

When Bohemund finished speaking, Simon de Provence retreated to his thoughts. “So it is decided. Hopefully my decision to support de Lusignan as our commander does come back to bite me. We have three days to ready our forces, three days to pick a section of Constantinople to release upon, but which section. The Theodosian walls with its triple layers will be an opposing obstacle and I would rather avoid taking those walls on directly. There must be a better position, one that can hopefully allow us to get the support of some of the Venetian ships. Think Simon, you have been constantly examining these walls for the last few days. You must have seen something that would allow us take the city with less bloodshed.”

As he continued to think, Simon turned to his cousin Rolland and it donned on him that now would be a good time to teach his cousin a thing or two. He turned said to his cousin “We have three days to prepare our forces to take this city Rolland. Now tell me, cousin, once those three days pass and we begin the assault, which section of this ancient city shall we pit our forces against. Will it be the Land Wall that spans from the North to the South as we approach the city from the West. Will it be the Sea Wall that shields Constantinople from attacks coming from the Golden Horn as we approach from the North? Or will it be somewhere in between?”

And when he said those last words, he came to a realization. The site that he would attack had been staring him the face over the last few days. He would release his men and their pent up energy on the area where the Sea Wall meets the Land Wall, the area known as the Blachernae District. There he would not have to contend with the triple walls that made the Theodosian walls and there he would still be in range to receive some support from the Venetian ships It was perfect. He waited for his cousin to reply, wondering if Rolland would reach the same conclusion.

[The Stig]

The Sicilian carefully studied the distant spires and hilltop towers of the magnificent city he now besieged. Like a few others in the crusading host, he noticed that Byzantine defenses were weak in a small section in the northwest of Constantinople, near the Blachernae palace. Still, the area's apparent fragility, not to mention it's proximity to the Emperor's residence, only meant that the Greeks would use their best and brightest soldiers to defend it. An attack further to the south, along the river, would have to deal with fewer troops, but the walls of Theodotus were not to be underestimated. That left the sea wall, which appeared much easier to overcome than the landward fortifications. Simon also disliked the idea of relying too heavily on the Venetians, lest they take the opportunity to expand their influence over both the trade lanes to the east and the crusaders themsleves. All the potential courses of action carried with them some degree of risk. It would be interesting, and hopefully somewhat telling, to see how de Lusignan would carry out the assault.

[Dirty Chai]

Bohemond had received just barely enough support to assume full command of this Crusade. He only hoped that those who did not support him would eventually once Constantinople was taken. He looks to the city now, gazing at its slightly ruined walls and mighty defenses. The Frank gently stroked his beard before gazing at the clear sky and warm temperature that had finally broken through the long days of rain. Then his gaze settled upon the Crusaders who waited to hear his word.

As the elected overall commander of this Crusade, I shall give you all three days of preparation for our assault. Have your gear polished, swords sharpened and clothing dried. God has given us favorable weather and we must use it to our advantage. Once the ground is dried enough for our siege towers, we will prepare for our grand assault upon Constantinople's walls.

Bohemond turns to the Venetian and Genoese captains and commanders that were present at the War Council.

Upon the day of this assault, your ships will ride the winds into Constantinople's harbors. We will not let this Emperor escape our grasps if he attempts to flee! Your marines will act as a diversion to split attention from the walls. Capture and hold the harbor till the city walls are taken and the gates opened to our host. We will flood the city with our overwhelming numbers and drive the Greek soldiers out of this city! God will grant us victory in our siege!!

The Lord of Orleans spoke up, visible concern across his middle-aged face.
"Where will we attack? The land-walls are long and thick; we cannot spread out too far lest we become too ineffectual, and we cannot attack only one spot lest we become overwhelmed by all of the Roman defenders in one spot."

A Burgundian spoke up, a rowdy fellow, with large shoulders.
"We should attack by the river, where the walls hang over the waterway."
Many nodded and echoed his suggestion.

An Venetian accent yelled about the Blachernae district.
"We should attack the northern gates!"
A handful of Genoese accents argued with it.
"The Romans will know we will try to attack there!"

Several parts of the gathering were getting rowdy, the Italian crowds specifically getting aggressive.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Bohemond raises his hands to silence his allies. He did not want them bickering over the assault plan and ruin the unity of their Crusade. He gestures to the Burgundian.

Destroying the wall there would be a prime assault area. It is the weakest part of the wall and would an easy access point. We could easily focus our siege weapons upon it and surge forth through the gap.

He then gestures towards the Venetians.

Your marines and vessels will strike at the Harbor of Theodosius which lies between the Constantinian and Severan Wall. Burn any and all ships that resist! Capture any and take their goods as part of your reward, Venetians. Once the harbor is secure, make for the Constantinian Wall to aid our effort in securing it for our further assault into the city.

Then Bohemond looked to those who suggested Blachernae district. It was where they last assaulted during the siege of 1203. However, these Byzantine Emperors were incompetent. From the looks of the walls, they were mighty, but still damaged from the previous siege last year. He looks at those gathered; soldiers and nobles.

Is there any who agree in attacking upon Blachernae? Do we think that this incompetent and withering dynasty of Byzantines have learned their lesson from the last assault or sit idly upon their throne?

[Celsius]

Roger listened carefully to what Bohemond said. He nodded, understanding the plan which had been port fourth by the barely elected Commander of this rag tag army. He finally spoke.
"What of the people inside? There are over 140,000 people behind those walls. People that we know nothing about. Nothing about their loyalties, their thoughts, their possible.....reaction to a besieging force. Battle is one thing. Aftermath and governance of a population that highly outnumbers you and your allies is another."

[The Stig]

Simon nodded in agreement.

"This man is right. We should have some way of dealing with public discontent, at least until we decide what to do with Constantinople after we take it."

[Dirty Chai]

[Guys, the city will be sacked. It's the default thing to do when a medieval army captures a city. Don't tell me you're all going to play Balian of Ibelins and decline a sack?
Which doesn't make sense, as all of those virtuous, intelligent men would have left long before the army got to even Zara.]

[Celsius]

[A sack of the next capital of our established nation to be more specific. Again, it's a splitting point to either divide or bring together certain individuals. Just making a little RP to see where it goes.]

[Lucius Malfoy]

There is no concern about the population. As we remember in the last siege of 1203, the citizens of Constantinople were rioting against their Byzantine Emperors. In fact, there has been smoke rising from within the city. The citizens must hate these Angelus Emperors! We will be like liberators to them, my fellow Crusaders! We will be like Constantine who liberated the Empire from the grasp of Maximian, Licinus and Maximinius Daia!

Bohemond raised his fist into the air as he spoke. He knew that the citizens would be at risk, but the Frank needed to keep the spirit of their army together and up.

[Celsius]

Roger has his hands clasped in front on him and nodded with Bohemond
"And if these Orthodox Byzantines do not welcome Western European Catholics my Lord, then what? We are going in based on the assumption that the populace will embrace us, when they could turn on us just as quickly as they turn on their Emperor in his palace. We need plans, constincieny to ensure that order is kept and basic needs continue to flow. Plans for trade and supplies to enter the city as soon as possible."
He nodded once more
"While I do not wish to sow discontent among our ranks, I feel that plans are best made before hand and not when they are forced. Has anyone even bothered to ask the people to surrender their city, instead of asking their Emperor? Despite what men think, power resides where people believe it to resides. If the people believe that the Emperor has the power, they will stay with him. Show them that we have the power, but show them that we are the alternative to their now failing government."
He sighed
"Only a suggestion, my Lord. I will of course comply with whatever the Council here agrees to."

[Gandalfus]

Tancred sighs, then looks around swiftly to examine the crusaders before him. Stroking his chin, he raises his voice over the crowd.

We need catholic settlers to populate the city, my lord, or at least try and convert the orthodox Greeks to Catholicism.

[Dirty Chai]

A Savoyard priest with monk-ish robes spoke out, loudly, as if chastising.
"The Greeks will follow the Pope, we just need a Patriarch in Constantinople loyal to St. Peter!"

[Gandalfus]

Tancred rolled his eyes at the priest, but replied calmly.

If we look past religious zealotry and into the realm of common sense, do you really think the Greeks will abandon the sect of Christianity they have adhered to since the schism on the whim of a few clergymen?

[Celsius]

Roger spoke
"And this is not Jerusalem, Antioch, Acre, Edessa, or any other Muslim dominated settlement. This is Constantinople, the Bastion of the Great Schism. If the roles were reversed and Byzantines were upon Rome, would people follow Innocent III just because they forced him to convert? It is......doubtful and ill-reputed."

[Dirty Chai]

"They need not like the Pope, they must only worship God, as they already do!"
The Savoyard was quite blunt, and clearly angered by the two knights and their stubborn argument.