The Pope is new, his Catholic nations torn and fighting among themselves. A crusade against Jerusalem ended with the Pope before the last dying and the new pope cancelling the crusade.
Far to the northwest the small country of Scotland has asserted its independence from England and not only established itself in Scotland and the Irish Isles, but has also captured the Castle of Oslo, Norway. Trade routes are now capable of being defended, and scottish Naval vessels have access to Russia and Poland, bearing diplomats and gifts of gold in return for slavic alliances and trade.
In short, Scotland has become the defining economic power in the North Sea. Denmark, a jealous nation, has caused problems with the Scottish Navy and have declared war on the emerging power of the North Sea. Now another war among people of the same faith looms bleakly on the horizon.
The new Pope has just been elected, and excommunicated Denmark, England, and Milan as examples of what happens to those who war on other Catholics. And to reestablish christian connections with the Holy Land, a Crusade has been called to Jerusalem by the new Pope.
No faction as yet has joined the crusade exept for the Portugese; but to the Northwest the pope finds a new ally among the economic powerhouse that is Scotland.
One of King Edward's son in laws is tasked with taking up the cross and going to the holy land. A year is spent building an army and planning the coming campaign to the Holy Land. Pirates roam the seas, and Denmark's Norse Navy chokes the English Channel in their war against England and Scottland. The Scottish Navy, while keeping Denmark's naval power pent up in the channel, is not big enough to establish control over the atlantic yet; they have only just finished establishing power over the North Sea.
A land route is decided on, from Holland to Italy and by naval mercenary vessels from Italy to Greece, then to Asia Minor and from there, to war against the Egyptians in the Holy Land.
The young noble sets out with his army, after a long night of feasting and tender goodbyes to his wife, for the Holy Land in 1182 AD. The next few days are spent crossing from Scotland to Mainland Europe, where the young Scot meets his first challenge as a general. His allies, the French, are being beset by Denmark and Milan, and the coastal town that he was planning on recieving a warm welcome at upon his arrival he finds in the hands of the Norsemen.
He calls a meeting with his advisors and captains. The Priest accompanying the Crusaders attends, and the Scottish Diplomat MacDougal rushes across France and Normandy to attend as well.
The Diplomat's arrival is a pleasant suprise for the young Erin of Berwickshire. At 18, he is not yet accustomed to Running and army, much less using diplomacy to get that army from Western France to Italy without hazard.
MacDougal Speaks first at the meeting. "Lads, I have come from Paris where the Norsemen have sacked the French Capitol. The King is bottled up in Rhiems, and there is no hope of saving him at this point in time. England is holding only slightly to Normandy, and we are facing a France ruled by two nations who are opposed to the Pope and thence, our crusade. Milan has just announced an alliance with Egypt, and will contest our every move should we attempt to make Marsialles, or Italy via the southern route.
"The Holy Roman Empire, while not being our ally, or even a friend of Scotland or the Pope, is just to the East of here. We can make it through Denmark, for they keep to the coast. As soon as we get to the Holy Roman Empire, we are safe."
Eric listened intentley to these words. "MacDougal, you have served the King faithfully for years now. You are aged and wise, and your knowledge of the area is invaluable. We shall march for the Empire, tell the men to double the pickets in camp, and we march an hour before daybreak on the morrow."
The next morning the Crusaders set out. Nobles march at the head of the column, while free Highlanders there on their own accord march at the rear, holding the place of honor as the rear guard of the Army. Pikemen, archers, and French, German and English Crusaders new to the expedition march along in the column, and for weeks the army tries to maneuver through the Norse held lands without incident.
Word comes an inquisitor burned MacDougal at the Stake; Erin has too little time to worry with this now. He is marching by night to try and make the lands of the Holy Roman Empire before his army is attacked. But he reaches the Rhine, and finds Denmark's host waiting for him.
THE BATTLE OF METZ BRIDGE:
Erin has now marched for months over the European landscape at a horrid pace; not only has he been sneaking around the Norse cities, but there are no roads in the land to use, and now there is a Danish army waiting for him across the bridge; the only bridge he can use to get across the Rhine into the Holy Roman Empire only a few days march from there.
Erin calls his captains together. They look across the river at the norse army; the Norse have 500 men in a defensive position. All of the enemy are hardened veterans of wars against the Germans, the French, and Italians. Erin, himself only 18, is not young for his army. The Scots have been blessed with sixty years of peace at home, and there has been a generation gap in soldiers. All of Erin's men from the Scottish countryside are under 25. Even the nobles with him are young, of the forty in his army not one is over 23. Only the Scottish Mercenaries and the weathered Crusaders joining his army have any experience fighting. So Erin looks to the mercenary captain, MacDonnel, and the French Crusader d'Bussy for aid in his battle plan. In extreme secrecy they spend the whole night planning the attack for the next morning.
Morning comes, and the men are awake. The young nobles are itching to fight; broadswords are polished, and armor is donned. The highlanders put on their leather curiass, and the crusaders pray for victory. The priest holds mass, and by seven AM the army is formed and the knights are mounted. D'Bussy forms his mounted crusaders into a column at the rear of the army, and puts his company into a wedge at the front of the mounted division. The Scottish spear militia from County Edinburgh form up at the front of the army; their leader, captain Bruce MacDougal, grandson of the diplomat, has petitioned Eric for the honor of being the first into the battle. Behind them the crusading French infantry are formed, eager now not to Crusade, but avenge the fall of Paris. The Scottish nobles, wearing tartans of their family and the armor of their class, itch for a brawl behind the crusaders. Archers are formed on the edges of the river, and mercenary crossbowmen are placed alongside the spear militia from Edinburgh to take up a firing position on the bridge.
Eric rides with his retainers up the column, nodding at d'Bussy and MacDougal. His trumpeter sounds the attack, and the archers let loose fiery arrows at the Danes.
MacDougal holds his spear high, and signals his men forward into the jaws of the Norse position across the river.
The attack is on; the crusader infantry supports MacDougal immediatley, and the Norsemen are pushed from the river onto a hill, where they rally and counterattack. The Scottish Nobles lead themselves and the highlanders across the bridge, and into the fray. It is a bloody sight; the nobles engage the Huscarls of the Danish King, and a blood feud among young nobles is born. The Scots push the Danes' right flank back, and the Danes counter with an assault by mounted Huscarls on the Scottish flanks. D'Bussy sees Eric's banner wave; a second, plain blue flag is waved and he recognizes the signal. His trumpeter blows his horn, and the mounted division races forward.
"FOR FRANCE!" yells d'Bussy, levelling his lance. His men echo his war cry, and they pass the Scottish Pikemen left to hold the flanks and cross the bridge. The Danes have fought well, and against overwhelming numbers. This charge is simply too much for them. The enemy flank routes, the professional troops of the Norsemen cracking and fleeing. Their general is killed, and Eric adn his men chase down the fleeing Huscarls and slaughter them.
Now d'Bussy can concentrate on his foes' flanks, and regroups his cavalry into a single line. Two ranks deep, the Chivalry of France begins their final assault at a brisk trot, moving ever forward.
Meanwhile MacDougal's Spearmen have been overzealous and have made it to teh top of the crest into the remaining Norse soldiery. They realize they are surrounded, and the scottish nobles are fighting vigorously to get to them but are still hewing at the enemy at the base of teh hill. MacDougal orders his men into a Schiltrom, where they try to fend off the attacks of enemy reserve spearmen. There are only 17 left standing of 75 militia, and unless something is done fast nobody will be left to represent Edinburgh in the Holy Land.
A young Scottish captain in command of one of the two companies of Free Highlanders realizes MacDougal is stranded. The French Cavalry is about to charge the Dane flank, but knows they will not make it to the crest in time.
He regroups his company, and they sneak to the south to slip around the Danes' left flank. Running as fast as they can, the 33 Highlanders rush around and up the saddle leading to the crest where their fellow scots are fighting for life and limb.
With a battle cry they rush on the Danish rear, and smash into the Norse archers and reserves with their axes. MacDougal, wounded, passes out from loss of blood; his men, numbering only 5 still capable of fighting, stop after they have been relieved to look to the wounded.
D'Bussy is now close enough to the enemy to order his men to charge. They have been riding at a canter now for some time, but now is the moment of truth; those whose lances are still intact after the initial charge level them. Those whose lances broke level their swords, and the line of five companies of knights bears down on the remaining three hundred or so Danes, now utterly surrounded.
The fight goes on for no more than two minutes; the "Real" norsemen have fled, and the peasant-class spearmen and archers give in at once, and are captured trying to flee.
A messenger, a young Scot noble with the name Finley Kennedy, rides with two of his retainers to the camp of the King of Denmark in Lowland France, to bear a note of ransom for the captured troops.
"Never!" the king says, a mouth full of boar, "Kill the traitors. I won't pay a single shilling to barbarian Celts!"
Erin, not able to support the weight of prisoners, allows whomever wants to swear allegiance to the Pope, Scotland, and King Edward. The rest are put to death as the young noble cries in his tent and confesses to the priest.
Three days later, the army marched past the first outpost of the Holy Roman Empire. The gruff Germans wave to the passing Crusaders, and finally Erin's army can rest.
However, a long road to Palestine still awaits. As the sun sets, Sir Kennedy arrives back with the grim message: The Holy Roman Empire is at war with the pope, and has been ex-communicated.
Erin calls his captains together. It promises not to be a dull campaign!
-----TO BE CONTINUED-----