The Assault on Lycus, April 13, 1204

[Dirty Chai]

The Assault on the Lycus River Gate and the Fifth Military Gate
April 13, 1204


Don't mind all the Turks and gunpowder in this image.

At three hours past noon, the trebuchets started firing away at the Fifth Military Gate and at the walls of the Blachernae District.
The trebuchet towers began to fire back at first, and then came catapult fire from behind the walls of Constantinople.

The Battle was beginning.

Players currently ordered to be in this assault:
Bohemond, Simon de Provence, Athelstan, Tancred, Ricco, and Godfrey

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

As Godfrey heared the horns and shouts of the commencing attack, he quickly put on his helmet and shouted for his squire
"BOY! HORSE! NOW!"
The squire hurried with Godfrey's steed, Gunter came running along as well
"have the letters been delivered?"
he asked while he mounted
"yes m'lord, your men have already been gathered at the edge of the camp"
"the numbers?"
"500 knights and 800 footmen, our own forces included"
Godfrey sighed and spoke softly in a disappointed tone
"Do they seriously expect me to take the walls with those numbers?"
he turned back to Gunter
"​Very well, we'll make do, prepare for advance, we'll await the commanders orders, no one puts one foot on that field before we got our orders"

All 3 men spurred of from their gathering, Gunter to the men, Godfrey and his squire behind him towards the gathering point for officers

[Lucius Malfoy]

The orders had come after noon had past as three groups of trebuchets fired upon the wall. The mighty host of 11,000 troops, prepared to assault the walls around Lycus were assembled and ready for battle. Bohemond stood at the forefront of his troops with all banners waving in the air. His eyes gazing at the wall and section he needed to be broken open. This day, Constantinople would be taken by the might of Western arms.

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

The orders had come after noon had past as three groups of trebuchets fired upon the wall. The mighty host of 11,000 troops, prepared to assault the walls around Lycus were assembled and ready for battle. Bohemond stood at the forefront of his troops with all banners waving in the air. His eyes gazing at the wall and section he needed to be broken open. This day, Constantinople would be taken by the might of Western arms.

Godfrey aligned his horse next to Bohemond
"If I may m'lord; my men are eager to lead the assault, give us the word and, we'll take those siege towers right up their walls and breach them"

[Zeus Almighty]

Ricco did not sleep much the prior night, he instead made his rounds to help ease the minds of his men the eve of battle. After just a few hrs of sleep he was awakened by his Right-Hand Isidro. He began making rounds to his sergeants, they to their men. They were up, preped and done their prayers for victory, before the trebuchets began firing. He rode to find Bohemond for orders and when he did, he approached calmly.
Master Bohemond, my troops are yours to order. Tell me when you wish for my troops to advance and we shall shed blood accordingly.
His words were calm, almost eriely so.

[Honors Bastion]

Simon de Provence was mounted upon his warhorse when the attack began. He was dressed from head to toe in his armor which was composed of a suit of good quality French chainmail, a jerkin of boiled leather, and several layers of quality linens. On his head, he wore a great helm that protected his face. He wore reinforced leather boots with leather gloves. On his chest, he had a tabard that displayed the sigil of his House de Provence. He wore triangular shield also emblazoned with his Houses sigil. For his primary weapon in the battle to come, Simon wielded a powerful war axe. He also carried a longsword at his left side along with two daggers, one on his right side, the other hidden within his right boot.

Simon had positioned himself near Bohemund de Lusignan for he was to join him in battle if the walls were to collapse. Before the battle, Simon made his confessions with a local priest from France and he had that same priest speak to his men and give prayer before the battle began. There spirits were ready and his men were eager to take Constantinople and repay the Greeks for the torment that they had to endure waiting for thesun to come out.

Leaving his cousin Rolland de Provence to control his men, Simon rode over to his commander and said “My forces are ready Commander Bohemund. 1,000 Frankish Knights with a same number of Frankish Men-at-Arms, 800 Sergeant Spearmen, and 200 Frankish Crossbowmen are ready to fight and eager to spill some Byzantine blood. We await your orders to strike.”

[Lucius Malfoy]

Ooc: gonna throw this up.

Before the battle, Bohemond had given the overall plan of their attack. Bohemond and Simon would make for the gap in the Theodosian Wall once the trebuchets did their work. All other commanders and forces were ordered to either make for the towers once they made contact with the wall or follow Bohemond through the gap.

At that moment, Bohemond waves for the six siege towers at his disposal to make for the walls.

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

Godfrey looked from Bohemond to Ricco and spoke, unable to hide an undertone of contempt
"whatever orders, you will be behind me, Italian"
After that he spurred his horse towards his banners and aligned with his horsemen. He beckoned the infantry officers
"follow up on the siege towards in shield wall formation, i'll take the nobles with me. and no man is to set foot on those towers before we do!"
he ordered the officers away and turned to the mounted nobles
"Nobility of Flanders, it were your ancestors who were the first to breach the mighty walls of Jerusalem, let's show these Italians why we are so renowned! DISMOUNT!"

[Zeus Almighty]

Ricco heard the man and felt his....anger? Contempt? It didn't matter, he had his order and now he rode to his men. He smiled when he seen them. Many of their faces wrought with terror, he spoke to calm them. There is a man leading this Godly army. His name is Bohemond d' Lusignan. I tell you this, because though we fight for god, he will be who we follow in. his sergeants drummed the ground with their spears
My name is Ricco Da Monte, and god has given me the honor of leading you men for HIS glory. Our deeds shall be remembered for this day and our salvation carried on the edge of our blades. Never mind the Englishmen, never mind the Franks, never mind the Normans. On this day, all that matters is gods glory and MY ORDERS. Come, men of heaven, let us follow Bohemond into the mouth of the wall and into chaos that we may be born anew!

[Honors Bastion]

Having received his order to join Bohemund in the assult once the attack began, Simon de Provence rode away from his commander to speak to his men. Simon starred at his men for a moment. What he saw were Frenchmen from all over France tohugh primarily from Champagne and Provence, although few from Aquitaine, Brittany, and Normandy were present as well. He was happy the host of men with him and he was ready to lead the charge to glory. He said to his men with a deep resonating voice “Behold good Frenchmen the mighty walls of Constantinople being pummeled by our mighty trebuchets. Soon the walls the shall crumble under the onslaught and we shall have access to the city. When that time comes, I expect all of your to raise your weapons and show these Greeks the power of the sons of France. Now draw your swords brave Frenchmen and pray to the Holy Father one more time. For when this battle is over, the Jewel of the East shall be ours and the world shall know of the glory that we have rightfully won!”

Afterwards, after giving time for his men to cheer and pray, Simon ordered “Knights form up. Ready your swords and lances. Foot soldiers, form up behind us and do the same. Crossbowmen ready your weapons to send the Greeks straight to Hell.”

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

as the siege towers rolled forward, the sergeants followed up in shield wall formation, covering the sides of the towers and shielding those who pushed them forward. After all knights had assembled in line, Godfrey waved his hand forward
"into your sections! one hundred pases behind the towers, advance!"
The order was echoed throughout the line by the other officers as groups of knights marched out in the trail of smoke left behind by the slowly-moving towers.
As they progressed towards the field, they came into the cross-fire of the stones flying over the field. Godfrey tried not to show any signs of anxiety, but could not resist to see where every boulder in the sky headed, ready to leap aside if necessary.

(OOC: I'll guess I'll continue once the additional rolls have been posted, is there also a roll for me getting hit in the bombardment? g'night all)

[Gandalfus]

Tancred mounted his horse, and with a grimace as he glanced towards Constantinople, rode to the front of his assembled men, drawing his sword. Once they fell silent, he began shouting.

Englishmen! Many of you fought with King Richard against the Saracens, the Cypriots - even the French. Displaced crusaders who have nothing more to live for in England. Righteous men, all of you are, and seasoned warriors. Today we take the gateway of the east from these pompous Greeks. Today, Englishmen shall breach the walls of this ancient city, and claim it in the name of God and this crusade! GOD WILLS IT!

Tancred silenced the cheers from his men, gesturing to the towers.

The Knights and Sergeants will make for the towers and fight the Greeks on the walls. The archers shall remain here until the walls are cleared before climbing the towers. Once the walls are ours, the city will soon follow! ADVANCE!

Tancred lead his men towards the siege towers, dismounting his horse and deciding to personally lead his men over the walls. If he died - so be it, he was an aged man with little to live for - but if he lived... Glory would be his.

[Dirty Chai]

Attackers

20 Trebuchets 6 Siege Towers Bohemond de Lusignan: 5,000 1,000 Frankish Men-at-Arms 1,200 Frankish Crossbowmen 1,800 Armoured Sergeants 1,000 Mounted Frankish Knights Simon de Provence: 3,000 1,000 Frankish Men-at-Arms 800 Armoured Sergeants 200 Frankish Crossbowmen 1,000 Mounted Frankish Knights Athelstan Wreak: 800 600 'English' Archers 200 'English' Men-At-Arms Tancred Mortimer: 1,200 600 'English' Men-at-Arms 200 Armoured Sergeants 200 'English' Archers 200 Mounted 'English' Knights Ricco da Monte: 1000 300 'Venetian' Men-at-Arms 400 Armoured Sergeants 300 Medium 'Venetian' Crossbowmen Godfrey of Leuven: 800 500 Armored Sergeants 300 Mounted 'Flemish' Knights

Defenders

14 Ballista 8 Catapults Boiling Oil at Gates Fourth Military Gate & Gate of St. Romanus 75 Thematic Archers 100 Contaratoi 95 Peltasts 100 Scoutatoi Spearmen 100 Scoutatoi Swordsmen 50 Toxotae River Lycus, Fifth Military Gate, & Gate of Adrianople 75 Thematic Archers 100 Contaratoi 95 Peltasts 100 Scoutatoi Spearmen 100 Scoutatoi Swordsmen 50 Toxotae 1,000 Varangian Guards

Siege Skirmish Phase I:
Crusaders:
10 Trebuchets attack the River Lycus Wall, Concentrated
D10
Roll = 2
Wall Health: 19/20 -> 17/20

10 Trebuchets attack the Fifth Military Gate, Concentrated
D20*.75
Roll = 8 (*.75 = 6)
Gate Health: 19/20 -> 13/20

Romans:
4 Ballista Towers from the Gate of St. Romanus to the Gate of Adrianople attack the Crusaders, inaccurate
2 Hit
Godfrey of Leuven loses 10 spearmen, and Simon de Provence loses 3 knights.

10 Ballista Towers from the Gate of St. Romanus to the Gate of Adrianople attack the Siege Towers, medium accuracy
6 hit
Siege Tower I HP: 17/20
Siege Tower II HP: 19/20
Siege Tower III HP: 12/20
Siege Tower IV; No damage
Siege Tower V HP: 17/20
Siege Tower VI HP: 16/20

8 Catapults fire from behind the walls, blind fire
5 hit
Ricco da Monte loses 60 men
A siege tower almost gets hit; Godfrey of Leuven loses 24 men
Bohemund de Lusignan loses 30 men
A siege tower almost gets hit; Simon de Provence loses 36 men
Tancred Mortimer loses 28 men

Siege Skirmish Phase II:
Crusaders:
10 Trebuchets attack the River Lycus Wall, Concentrated
D10
Roll = 8
Wall Health: 17/20 -> 9/20

10 Trebuchets attack the Fifth Military Gate, Concentrated
D20*.75
Roll = 20 (*.75 = 15)
Gate Health: 13/20 -> 0/20
Fifth Military Gate completely collapses, Defenders lose 25 Contaratoi and 25 Scoutatoi Spearmen

Romans:
4 Ballista Towers from the Gate of St. Romanus to the Gate of Adrianople attack the Crusaders, inaccurate
None Hit

10 Ballista Towers from the Gate of St. Romanus to the Gate of Adrianople attack the Siege Towers, medium accuracy
7 hit
Siege Tower I HP: 13/20
Siege Tower II HP: 11/20
Siege Tower III HP: 5/20
Siege Tower IV HP: 18/20
Siege Tower V HP: 6/20
Siege Tower VI HP: 15/20

8 Catapults fire from behind the walls, blind fire
3 Hit
A siege tower is almost hit; Ricco da Monte loses 36 men
Godfrey of Leuven loses 16 men
Tancred Mortimer loses 24 men

------------------------------------------------------

Summary of Situation:
The Siege Towers are able to approach the walls, none of them destroyed so far, although 2 are damaged.
The attackers take some damage from catapults and ballista, but nothing huge.
The Crusader trebuchets manage to cause the complete collapse of the Fifth Military Gate, and significantly damage the walls that run over and along the Lycus River.
The Trebuchets are able to continue attacking the walls if the attackers wish;
The Siege Towers are now usable to launch assaults on the walls.

Attackers

20 Trebuchets 6 Siege Towers Bohemond de Lusignan: 4,970 1,000 Frankish Men-at-Arms 1,200 Frankish Crossbowmen 1,770 Armoured Sergeants 1,000 Mounted Frankish Knights Simon de Provence: 2,961 1,000 Frankish Men-at-Arms 764 Armoured Sergeants 200 Frankish Crossbowmen 997 Mounted Frankish Knights Athelstan Wreak: 800 600 'English' Archers 200 'English' Men-At-Arms Tancred Mortimer: 1,142 600 'English' Men-at-Arms 142 Armoured Sergeants 200 'English' Archers 200 Mounted 'English' Knights Ricco da Monte: 904 280 'Venetian' Men-at-Arms 344 Armoured Sergeants 280 Medium 'Venetian' Crossbowmen Godfrey of Leuven: 750 450 Armored Sergeants 300 Mounted 'Flemish' Knights

Defenders

Fourth Military Gate & Gate of St. Romanus 75 Thematic Archers 100 Contaratoi 95 Peltasts 100 Scoutatoi Spearmen 100 Scoutatoi Swordsmen 50 Toxotae River Lycus, Fifth Military Gate, & Gate of Adrianople 75 Thematic Archers 75 Contaratoi 95 Peltasts 75 Scoutatoi Spearmen 100 Scoutatoi Swordsmen 50 Toxotae 1,000 Varangian Guards

[Gandalfus]

The knights, men at arms and sergeants are ordered to scale the towers and attack the walls.

[Dirty Chai]

Byzantine Initiative for Backup:
Roll = 19
The entirety of the southern defense forces along the southern walls get alerted of the attack on Lycus, and begin to move.
They aim to amass on the Seventh Hill, south of the Lycus Gates.

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

As the towers were about to reach their destination, the rain of missiles bombarding the men became more and more intense, Godfrey witnessed as a ballista bolt flew straight through a tower from one side to the other and impaled several men as it landed. The moment of truth was getting closer.
"advance to 20 pases!"
Godfrey's group quickened their pase and advanced to 20 pases behind the towers, however, this also ment the concentration of projectile fire and arrows increased, as was demonstrated when a rock landed into the group of sergeants to their left, shattering several men and sending debris of rock flying around. A few knights in the front line were stunned, as was Godfrey, but he was quick to come back to focus as the towers were getting in position:
"don't stand around men, there is work to be done! Onwards!"
As Godfrey was about to enter the tower, a runner came from behind
"Sir, both the towers to your left and right have been heavily damaged, they may not hold for the breaching."
Godfrey looked left and right to see 2 towers, or what was still left of them: more a collection of holes and loose beams, but still, in essence siege towers.
"Dammit, so much for my flanks. one section along with me, the other to the right flank, go!"
As the messenger sprinted off, Godfrey pulled out his sword, said a quick hail Mary inside his head and started climbing up to the top of the tower

[Gandalfus]

Tancred swore aloud as he saw his men go down, but at least the towers were at the walls. Turning momentarily to his men, he sprinted inside the tower, bellowing aloud.

FOR GOD AND ENGLAND!

He then disappeared inside the tower, climbing up to the top towards the walls. His heart was pounding from fear, but with his English knights behind him he showed none; carrying on to the top of the walls.

[╬Ritterbruder╬]

Light trickled in from between the wooden planks making up the tower, there was utter silence in the room, apart from fast and heavy breathing from all, including Godfrey. Only a wooden ramp covered in leather and 3 swordsmen stood between him and the enemy, but there was nothing on his mind, sheer anger and adrenaline had taken over his mind, and switched it off.
He could hear the shouts outside, only a few metres away, he could hear small projectiles hitting the tower from the outside.
Suddenly, the rattling of chains: the ramp started to lower fast. The grip on his sword grew tighter, the tension was nearly impossible to bear.
All that he could utter before they charged in were the words he had always heard at the start of battle, first to himself, softly, then load enough for the entire group to hear:
"WERE DI!"
The other knights repeated the words as they charged across the ramp, directly into the javelins and spearpoints on the walls

[Honors Bastion]

Simon de Provence watched as the first volleys of catapults and ballistae fell upon his men, with shouts of “Look out and get out of the way were heard throughout of his battle line.” For the most part the missiles were inaccurate, missing most of his men. The few that did hit however claimed the lives of thirty-nine of his men. Three of his knights were slain when a ballistae bolt from one of the Byzantine towers fired and impaled the three men and their horses, causing them to suffer an agonizing death. Another twenty-five of his Sergeant Spearmen were killed instantly when they were crushed by a lucky hit from one of the Byzantine catapults with another eleven being killed by the shrapnel that resulted from the catapult’s boulder’s impact.

Simon himself was almost injured from flying shrapnel though he was saved from injury when he managed to raise his shield in time to deflect the deadly shards. He cursed at the Byzantines and he rode, encouraging his men, to keep their morale up. “Look at the pathetic Byzantines sons of France. They cower behind their walls using catapults and ballistae to try to end our lives.They are nothing but cowards too afraid to match us in true battle, with sword and axe, in a glorious melee. When those walls collapse, when the gate falls, we will show these Byzantine dogs the strength of France,. God Wills It!”

Moments after Simon spoke those words, he heard a crash as the Fifth Military Gate of Constantinople collapsed. He immediately readied his men to charge, while he himself rode towards Bohemund de Lusignan to receive his orders. “The Fifth Military Gates has fallen Commander. Shall we launch our assault in support of our fellow Crusaders attacking the walls?”

[Ganbarenippon]

Roland de Provence stood at the front ranks of his cousin's men. He had heard from some of the more experienced fighters that it was suicide to ride a horse into a siege unless you knew what you were doing. Simon knew what he was about but Roland was new to this. He didn't wish to be worrying about his mount whilst he was in the midst of battle. He was clad in plate-mail, his shield strapped to his arm in the colours of his house, the same colours his cousin wore in front of the men. The poinard and shortsword strapped to his belt felt heavier than they should. He shifted his feet restlessly for the umpteenth time and readjusted his grip on the war axe in his hands. And waited in rank.

The projectiles began to fly as the great trebuchets flung rocks and the siege towers rolled ponderously forward. Roland ducked low behind his shield as the Greeks began to find their range. His eyes grew wide under his helmet as a scorpion bolt impaled a knight sat astride his horse not eight paces away. The impact panicked another horse, throwing it's rider onto the ground with a sickening crunch. When the rock thrown from the walls mowed down three of the men two ranks behind him Roland's bladder let go.

Thankfully nobody noticed Roland's shame as, all of a sudden a deafening roar followed by a sound like a collapsing mountain drew everybody's attention to the walls. An enormous cloud of dust was already rising into the air far above the battle. "The gates are gone!" He heard a mounted knight say. 'It's time then.' Roland thought in the grip of a sort of numb terror. He tightened his grip on the axe in his hand and waited for his cousin to order them into the breach.