[Crusades AAR] L'agenda du Almaric d'Arles

[Plonkdog]

This is my first AAR
In this, each turn will be a season, even though it was played with vanilla Crusades, so each turn is actually still two years.

Personal guidelines for this AAR

• Fight each battle relating to the main character. the rest are optional
• no cheats except toggle_fow occasionally
• I gave the Egyptians most of KOJ at the start of the third crusade to make it more historically correct. Its a bit more of challenge, too
• only battles in which the main character fights have screenshots
• every turn is reported on

As a quick note, I am not French, despite the name of the thread. It's just because the main character is.

Prologue: February, 1193

My name is Almaric d'Arles, although the game calls me Howard of Merryfield. I am a minor landowner, of noble, but impoverished birth from Provence, in an area near Burgundy. I have finally arrived in the Holy Land, Outremer, with my nineteen best men. Each of them is a peasant from Arles, but they are nevertheless the bravest of that lowly class, preferring to fight alongside me rather than till the fields. They have done so many a time, and the honour and wealth they have earned has done me much good. good enough, in fact, to arm them and myself for the journey of the Cross. We were all tired of fighting fellow Christians and God-fearing warriors, and so have come to test ourselves against God's enemies, the Saracens of the East.

Disturbingly, however, those Christians born here in the Latin Kingdom seem to bear some kind of tolerance for the Moslems, and would prefer peace to war, even though Jerusalem itself remains in unholy hands. Perhaps this lack of fervour is the reason that the Lord sees fit to deny them of success, and grants it instead to Richard the Lionheart of England, warrior of God, and Champion of Christendom. He abandoned the lands of his birth, seeking God's favour in place of wealth. He took Acre from the hands of Saladin in 1191, and routed his men. It is in him that the hope of victory lies, for it is long since we have seen so noble or courageous a leader. He is the inspiration for many a pilgrimage in arms to the Holy Places, and it is my goal to someday join him on the battlefield, to win a glorious victory for God alongside him. For now, however, I must be content with taking my men out to raid caravans and villages on the borders, and hopefully raise enough money to form a sizeable group, though I am but a minor noble. A freeman, and little more. I have heard that here in the east it is a man's strength of arm, mind, and heart that will win him prestige, not the manner of his birth.

[Plonkdog]

Part 1 - The Siege of Arsuf

January 1194

Today I heard a Templar cryer shout out to the people of Acre that the Lionheart himself had successfully besieged Arsuf, and it was a pitiful force that stood against him there. Arsuf, however, was deep inside Moslem territory, and it was only a matter of time before reinforcements descended upon the noble King of England. As a countermeasure, Gilbert Erail, Master of the Temple in Cyprus, had sent a force of Templars to aid him in the siege, fearing a loss of Crusading incentive in Europe, and these men were even now passing through Acre to gather support from men like me. This is my opportunity for glory and my chance for renown! I shall enlist with these fearsome warriors on the morrow, join with the well known Templar Order not as a full brother, for that would require lifetime dedication to them, but simply as a servant until I can make my way into Richard's army.

April 1194

I recall now the Assault on Arsuf's walls fondly, for it was a good day for Christendom. We arrived with the Templars to find that Richard was in sore need of us, knowing of the host bearing down upon him. His men were ready to take Arsuf or die in the attempt, for they could no longer wait and starve out the defenders. With only a night's rest, we woke in fighting spirit to shouts and warcries. The Assault on Arsuf had begun.

The Christian force was divided into two parts, brave King Richard took the right flank, and the Templar host, under their marshall, took the left. I took my position with the Templars, along with my retinue, which had gained the services of two local knights, making the number of men under my command twenty one. The Templar Marshall had brought with him approximately fourty Knight Brothers, sixty Confrere Knights, and three hundred sergeants, armed with spears, shields and crossbows according to their preference.

The Templar Host


Richard's host was much worn down after his many confrontations with the servants of Islam, but I hear he had with him around three hundred also. only his retinue of twenty were of noble birth and status. The number of the defenders I do not know, but I could see why they had such need of reinforcement. their majority was of light horsemen, ill equipped for defending walls and gates.

As the Templars advanced towards the walls, undeterred by the arrows flying from the enemy towers, Richard's men guarded them against the reinforcements which had even now come into sight, marching tiredly to relieve their comrades. The Ghulams, Horse archers, Mamluks and other Saracen dogs reminded us of the urgency with which we needed to get inside the walls, but they drew ever closer. Knowing that we could not both attack and defend at the same time, for our men were too few, we withdrew to a safe distance. some of the mounted Moslems dared to come close to us and shower Richard's men with cruel arrows, so I took it upon myself to protect them, charging them and routing them easily from the field.



As the reinforcements came between us and the walls, we charged them, crushing them against the stone of the castle. There were few to escape, and none could get into Arsuf. now that our siege weapons were in place and our men were unobstructed, we stormed the city. Templar sergeants were the first onto the walls, and Templar Knights were the first through the gate.

Taking the Gate


Whatever else can be said about these men, no man can say that they are cowardly. I myself accompanied their Marshall into the thickest part of the combat, and so can vouch for his bravery.

Finally, after a long struggle in the streets of the city, Arsuf was ours, as were the Moslem's horses. Richard celebrated the victory with a great feast, in keeping with his warrior's appetite, which was likely worked up from the fighting. We drank a toast to the dead, amongst whom lay six of my men, killed by Saracen spears.



Once the battle had been won, the Marshall of the Temple himself came to me and praised my willingness to follow him into the jaws of the Devil. He told me that such courage should be rewarded and put to further use, so he gave me the temporary leadership of his knights, the sixteen remaining brothers and the nineteen remaining confrere, and charged me with the pursuit and capture of the escaped enemy.

I found the dogs' camp and struck in the night, though they had somehow gained word of my assault, and were ready for me. I had only fifty men against their hundred, but with me were knights, strong and well armed, with the fire of God in their hearts, and we faced cowardly peasants, too weak-willed to stay and fight us at Arsuf, and they had not a horse among them. The only fear that we had was for the Ghulams, who still posed a threat without their horses.

Charge in the Night



We captured each and every one of the knaves, and brought them back to Arsuf and the King's justice. Six more of the Templars were wounded, but I felt that I had won a name for myself as a soldier of Christ, and would yet be given more opportunity.

[Plonkdog]

Part 2 - the Castle Iconiennes

August 1194

In Arsuf I was required by King Richard's order to help rebuild, fortify, and settle the Castle, along with all other nobles fortunate enough to have men under my command. I worked mainly on the restoration of the city gates, which were close to the market at the entrance to the city, and also to the guardhouse. There I had everything that my men and I needed. Eventually, on the eighth of August, a messenger from the Marshall of the Templars told me that I had made a friend of his master, who had given me the responsibility of the defense of the Castle Iconiennes, on the border of the territory surrounding Banyas. this meant that I was to take up residence there, and use what resources I could to defend the border, and that the Templars had essentially given me a Castle of my own! Apparently the Marshall had written a memo for the Grand Master of the Order explaining the gift and I was to deliver it to the commandery in Acre, where it would be taken to Cyprus. I thanked the messenger as I wondered how I could muster the strength to defend this estate from the fury of the Egyptians in Banyas, who were now cut off from the rest of Egypt. Thankfully, what happened next gave me some hope.

Two men, one of them bleeding quite badly, and the other looking almost as bad, rode into the gates of Arsuf, asking to get their horses shod. By their dress they were Knights, and this was not an unusual sight, for many a crusading warrior would go out to do his work on the heathen, as I did in Acre. The unusual thing was that they said they had come from Alaniers, a castle far to the south, and the last of the Crusader holdings in Gaza. It was entirely cut off from the rest of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and lay on the road to Egypt, meaning it was under constant assault. How they managed to survive the journey through the Moslem territory I will never know, but they did nevertheless.

I offered to take them to the hospital in the square in return for their story. Alaniers, apparently, was still in Christian hands, and had a strong enough garrison to last a while, but it was weakening without supply or support. These two knights and ninety-five others, along with their pages and squires, had come from the castle to ask for aid, hoping that their numbers would be enough to last the journey, but they had been caught asleep by Saladin's men, and were massacred. Seventy of the knights were killed outright, and five of the wounded had been captured. as a gesture of kindness, those five were released, but the twenty-seven remaining knights and their sixty or so men were greatly weakened. luckily the group made it to within Christian lands and the two knights were sent ahead on their horses to tell of their coming.

When the survivors of the massacre had been nursed back to full strength, they were assigned to me at their request 'in return for aiding the two who rode ahead' and their services brought my army to a total number of 108 men, 48 knights, and sixty squires. Having relayed the story of Alaniers' plight, I took my leave, and my men, and rode for Iconiennes via Acre.

September 1194

Since arriving in Iconiennes, I have learned more and more about the situation here. The Moslems are not a single, united race, bent simply on driving us and our kind from Outremer. In fact, there are many factions and disagreements amongst them. The Fatimid Egyptians are not, as I first thought, allied to the Turks in the north, but enemies thereof, for they are of a denomination of Islam known as the Shi'ites, who are as different to the Sunni Turks as we are to the Orthodox Greeks. They are not comforted by the proximity of the Sunni on their North-east, but are distressed by it, and fear invasion. Another denomination in the area are the Ismailis or the Nizari, whose treatment by the Moslems would be comparable to our treatment of the Jews, although the Nizari do not come under the protection of the local rulers, and are freely prosecuted.

These Nizari have begun to call themselves the Hashishiyya or Assassins in recent times, and take pride in their courage and their method of covert warfare, which is to kill the leaders of their enemies in an almost suicidal way. they do not kill secretly, preferring to achieve honour by killing their victim in public so that all may see. If one of these Assassins returns alive from their mission, they are rejected by society and cast to the wild, for they are considered too cowardly to sacrifice their life for their task. Because of the anger that this cult bear towards the Shi'ites in the area, the larger denomination has acted aggressively and taken the Nizari town of Banyas, slaughtering the population. This is a good thing for me, because the Nizari have not the military power to reclaim it, therefore they have made generous donations to the crusader nobles in the region, like me, in the hope that we can rid the area of the Shi'ite Egyptians and capture Banyas. The Nizari do not expect us to then give Banyas back to them, as long as they are protected from the greater Moslem powers.

Because of this generosity, I have seen fit to make it my personal task to reclaim Banyas, and have managed to use the donations to recruit Syrian mercenaries and sailors from Europe. I have also sent men to partition the King asking for a force sufficient to besiege the town. I hope that he will see the benefits of securing the area, for taking Banyas would end the influence of the Moslems on our North-eastern front, and we could focus our efforts on the one front in the south, possibly enabling us to retake Jerusalem, and claim Kind Richard's Crusade to be successful.

December 1194

A temporary truce has been called between us and the worthy Saladin over the season of Advent, for Saladin, or Sala al-Din Yusef ibn Ayyub, is a gracious man, and a great leader. he is equal almost to out Richard in both strength and chivalrous ideals, and it is to the dismay of Christendom that he is not a disciple of Christ, for it is wrong that such a man be not saved from the clutches of the devil.

Both Christian and Moslem is making good use of the flag of peace, and Richard moves southwards to relieve Alaniers, while Arsuf is filled with soldiers, stationed for the protection of Acre. More and more forces arrive on my doorstep, lining the walls of Banyas, and my goal, even my survival here, seems to slip away. To my comfort, however, a host of Tripolites has arrived in Tyre, and it is my hope that they will march to my aid should Iconiennes be surrounded. If I could persuade the King to command them to aid in an assault on Banyas, then we would outnumber those in the Nizari city, and likely win.

[Desperado †]

Nice! Keep it up. You got a good detailed AAR. Do you think Almarics attitude towards the Saracens will change with time when he see's the trechary of his fellows? Or will Saladins cronies commit even more savage assaults upon the men of Christendom? Either way I'll stay tuned! +rep

[Plonkdog]

Right now it would make sense for him to keep his point of view because the Crusade is going so well, but I'm not going to tell what happens next until part three, which should be later today. btw, I like your sig

[Plonkdog]

Part 3 - Crusade of the Lionheart

March 1195

May all Christendom hear of this day, and may they rejoice in the knowledge of victory! Damascus has fallen, trampled under the holy feet of Antioch. That city has never before been taken by Christian soldiers, and its loss will surely strike fear and despair into the hearts of our enemies! without Damascus in the north, the Moslems in Banyas are truly without support or hope of aid, and surely the wise King Baldwin will now act on my plea, for I have more and more Syrians reporting to me now, to a total of almost three-hundred men, fourty-one of them noble. The Assassins continue their donations and it is with this support that my garrison has grown. as the refugees from Damascus pour in to Banyas, it is my sincere hope that I may soon march once more in a Christian host and volunteer my life for the good of the Kingdom.

June 1195

A messenger boy came today from Acre, telling me of yet another victory for Richard and for the Latin Kingdom. The noble King had fought his way to Alaniers to relieve Balain of Ibelin, who was unable to venture forth from his holdings for fear of the forces of Islam, which still have a great influence on the land south of Arsuf. King Richard arrived to see the Castle Alaniers besieged by a great host of the Infidel, numbering twice the defenders, and he immediately leapt into action, proving his Lion Heart's strength. Having seen the Christians marching over the hill, the leader of the moslems broke off the siege and moved to engage the King of England, while Balain took his men out to the fray.

The Christians in total numbered one thousand, five-hundred and ninety-six, one-hundred and eighty-one of them knights, while the Saracens numbered only one thousand and fourty-six men. Richard's arrival made the day, for without Richard, the defenders would have had but five-hundred and eighty-six men, and only twenty one knights. The battle was won, and the Egyptians sent home, but the victory was sorely achieved, for half of the flower of Christendom were killed, leaving a stricken but joyful army in Alaniers. The news of this victory, however, inspired the Garrison leader of Kerak in the east to uproot and march to Richard's aid.

Now, at the time I recieve this message, Richard's men in Alaniers control the Egypt road, and the Fatimid holdings in the Holy Lands are cut off from reinforcements for as long as our noble champion can hold them.

October 1195

The Kings Baldwin and Richard together are making such success of this Crusade that I truly believe we can win back Jerusalem. Richard and Balain in the south had put out a call at the beginning of September, saying that Ascalon was to fall for they would besiege it within the month, but could not take it with their weary force. Therefore all men willing to do victory for the Cross were to meet them outside its walls. They have indeed besieged the place, and my prayers go with them, for another victory here would leave only Jerusalem itself in Shi'ite hands, and the old Kingdom of Jerusalem would be all but restored.

I would dearly love to go myself, but His Royal Highness Baldwin III has ordered the Tripolite host in Tyre, and all the Nobles having residence on the border to march out on Banyas and besiege it, knowing that the Infidel can recieve no reinforcements, and can be easily starved out of the Nizari city. I have willingly taken my three-hundred men and followed the Banner of the Cross, successfully surrounding and laying siege to Banyas. The Hashishiyya are nowhere to be seen, for they are not yet strong enough to bring a force to battle, but I hear that the Nizari still remaining in Banyas promise to aid us in whatever way they can.

With two of Saladin's cities besieged, and the man himself in Egypt, fighting to retain his power, it looks more and more as if Richard will not only be the saviour of Jerusalem, but the conqueror of even more. When Banyas is taken, we will celebrate as we have not done before, in anticipation of the day when we may walk freely once more in the blessed streets of the Holy City.

January 1196

Ascalon is taken! the garrison of Arsuf had come to aid the Lionheart, but he waited still for the Templars, whose support he dearly loved. No word came from Cyprus, and the Templar commandery of Laroute remained closed to the world. fearing an army from Jerusalem or Egypt itself, Richard had no choice but to assault the city, which he did with great success. Ascalon is taken, and the Moslem dominance of the area is ended.

Once the city had been taken, however, the victorious King is rumoured to have sent off another message to Cyprus, saying this time that the Master of the Temple was a coward, and that he would rather remain in Limassol counting his money than fight for God. I pray that this rumour is not true, for it may serve only to anger Grand Master Gilbert, and the Knights of the Temple may retreat entirely from Outremer in spite of Richard. A divide would then arise between me and the King, for I would have to choose between forfeiting my castle of Iconiennes, which technically still belongs to the Templars, and forfeiting any chance of fighting alongside Richard. Oh, how intrigue and foul words can ruin a man's life. It was those devices of the devil that first caused the loss of Jerusalem, for Crusader lords quarreled and bickered then, as some do now, and they could not fight as one, united under a single cause. Let not this Crusade suffer the same fate as others have done, let not arguments and disagreements divide us.

[Icedie El Guaraní]

Wow you got your self a very nice report!!!

[Plonkdog]

Part 4 - Arm, Mind, and Heart

May 1196

The siege of Banyas continues as normal, and victory here still looks secure, though the provisions of the defenders still last. All eyes are turned to the Master of the Temple in Cyprus, waiting for word of some reaction. I don't think I am the only one holding their baited breath, for all seems quiet, like the calm before the storm. The war with Saladin has lowered in intensity, with Banyas under control and Jerusalem surrounded by Christian lands, but Richard has made no attempt to deny the rumours that he has denounced the Templar Grand Master as a coward, and so they have grown from gossip into belief in the hearts of many.

Despite the tension, Cyprus seems calm, with nothing out of the usual being heard of that place. Another shipment of recruits for the order has arrived there from Messina, but this is normal, and the Templar presence on the island constantly waxes and wanes. On the mainland, too, the Templars are silent. The Marshall of the Order, Phillip of Plessis, remains in Laroute Castle with his garrison, locked up and closed to communications. Many of the nearby villagers are nervous even to approach the castle now. Something must be happening in Cyprus, I can feel it in the air and see it in men's eyes.

July 1196

It appears as though Saladin has not remained idle since losing Ascalon. Somehow, a relief force has appeared to defend Banyas, and our situation looks bleak, as we are outnumbered, and have little cavalry to combat their horse archers. where could these reinforcements have come from? surely they would have been seen crossing Christian lands, and so they must either be Turks from Baghdad, or demons, growing from the sand itself. They fly no Turkish flag, but that of the Egyptians. Therefore I conclude that the Egyptians are indeed slaves of the Devil, rising from hell through the desert sand. May God, in his mercy, save us from Satan's host!

If we can indeed hold our position here for but a while, then we may see salvation, for one-hundred and twenty Templar sergeants arrived this very day to bolster our ranks, with the message that Phillip of Plessis had uprooted his men, and left but a small number to defend the castle. All told, he had with him around seven hundred men. Of those, there were seveteen confrere knights, and twenty-four knight brothers. Finally we can release our breath and end our anticipation of Templar wrath, for it seems that the order wishes to continue active involvement in affairs of state, protecting the Holy Land as they were formed to do.

October 1196

We have successfully held our position here outside Banyas, without even engaging in combat with the heathen. This allowed the Templars under Phillip to arrive in good time and join us in the siege. together, our forces are larger than those of the defenders and it would be a folly on the part of the Saracen general to engage us. Banyas looks well and truly defeated in its current situation.

Upon arrival at the city walls, the Templar Marshall met with me to discuss the situation in Cyprus. He told me that the Grand Master did in fact recieve Richard's letter, and was infuriated. He ordered all Templar forces in the Holy Land to stand down temporarily, until Richard was begging for their aid. For a time, Phillip of Plessis obeyed this order, not wishing to take matters into his own hands and openly disregard to will of Gilbert Erail. After he heard that the Siege at Banyas went sorely, however, he could not stand to let fellow Christians die because of a minor vendetta. Phillip told me that once Banyas was taken, he would do his best to overturn Gilbert's order, by force of arms if necessary, and asked me for my support, which was freely given.

January 1197

O woeful day! The treasure of Templar glory is fallen, and that day when Banyas will fall is now as far from me as my home in France. I have lost all stomach for the fight, and there lies but a tiny glimmer of hope within me. All of the joyful anticipation of which I have written is no more than a lie. Guilt, too, hangs heavy from my shoulders, and it would be better were I hanged from the walls of Acre for my sin.

It was a pale morning when the Demons of Banyas descended upon God's soldiers. In my ignorance, I had failed to stop the full force of the defenders from sallying forth not to fight us all, but only to prey upon the Templars. As my men and those of the Triploite commander slept, the glorious Templar Marshall fought alone. There were one thousand and fourty Moslems to rise to the fight, deploying between the Templars and us, cutting of their hope of relaying the alarm. Against them were six-hundred and sixty-seven Templars and Phillip of Plessis, a noble commander, all of whom stood upon a hill in defiance of the enemy.

The Templars



They stood valiantly, fighting long and hard but eventually the numbers and the odds began to take their toll on the Templars. many of the Templars had died, and there was no respite from the onslaught, until the Egyptians finally gave way. They retreated back to a safe distance, and reordered their men. They denied the Templars this opportunity, however, for they resorted to the cowardly practice of hailing the Christians with arrows, while the Templars had none with which to retaliate. Phillip had no choice but to charge the enemy, and, in doing so, sealed his fate. The cowardly mamluk archers circled around on their horses and surrounded the Marshall of the Order.

The Templars attempt to rally


At the end of the battle, four-hundred and seventy four of the Templars were lost, along with every knight among them. Phillip of Plessis himself was killed in the combat, and we will never know what would have been his fate had he lived to challenge the Grand Master. The valiant efforts of his men would not go unnoticed, however, as half of the Moslem host was killed, or wounded beyond the healing capabilities of their physicians. The Egyptian General is truly a cursed man, whose very existence is a blasphemy. He could have seen the worthiness of his foe, whose courage and determination drove him to the brink of defeat, but instead he had the Templar prisoners slaughtered to a man. Every one of them dead. The survivors of the battle, who had fled so that I may hear this despairing tale, came to our camp and received protection.

Their rest was short lived, however, as I was enraged by the loss of my ally, the Templar Marshall, and led my men to assault the walls of Banyas, knowing that I had superior, fresh, and more numerous forces. Vengeance, however, is a cruel mistress, and we were too eager to end this siege. All went as planned until we reached the city centre, for we had taken the walls with much success, and were impetuous. Every one of us ran to claim the city, believing the worst of the fighting was behind us, but we met greater resistance than expected there, and the run through the streets had exhausted our strength. My men were routed, and hewed down in their flight. Had i acted as a general should, and controlled my anger, we would have won the day. of the thirteen-hundred men I brought to the field, only four hundred still lived, for the prisoners were once again executed. May God have mercy on their souls, for they died avenging his Holy Knights, set about by cowardly infidels. I could not defend them , as I could not defend the Templars, but I did at least take the survivors into my care at Iconiennes. No doubt the wrath of many men, if not God, will come down upon me for this impetuosity. Who knows how the two Kings and the Grand Master will react to their loss.

[Plonkdog]

Part 5 - Saving Face

May 1197

It seems as though the Master of the Temple may now need to remain passive in the struggle in the Holy Land, for the Greeks have landed on his Island of Cyprus, a stronghold of the Templars. They are met with stiff resistance and it seems will be hard pressed to successfully invade. Nevertheless, the majority of Templar forces are engaged there, and it is even less likely that they will sail here. The Count of Tripoli seemingly remains faithful in my ability as a commander. He has sent yet more men of his city to aid me, or at least protect me here in Iconiennes. Perhaps he fears that should the borderlands be lost, and Tyre then fall, that he will be the next target of the Banyas Shi'ites, which are now effectively an independent power of their own. Great Richard is confident that his conquests in the south are held strongly, and so have taken himself and his host back to Acre to recover, and to plan his next move.

June 1197

The Greeks have realised their position, and asked for a truce with the Templars. It was agreed upon, for Gilbert Erail feels no ill will towards fellow Christians, even if they do not follow our ways, and do not consider us brothers in Christ. Perhaps this comes from the ungodly actions of the Venetian 'Crusaders', rogues and traitors to Christendom as they are. They have besieged Constantinople, Jewel of the Eastern Roman Empire, and foul the name of the pilgrimage in arms. We are not barbarians like them, and it is a dishonour to be grouped with rebels.

The King has likely lost faith in me. Either that or he merely wishes to give me a second chance, for he has put out a Royal order saying that Banyas is to be taken, and all nobles or men at arms able to fight, residing in the cities of Tyre, Tripoli, and Acre, are to march on the city and take it. All others willing to answer the call may do so, and none are to be left within the aforementioned cities but for the unarmed, and the militias.

This edict has been well received, and men come flooding into the region, sometimes one by one, and sometimes as groups and warbands. Few of these men come to Iconiennes, but I make do with those I have.

September 1197

The Byzantines have lost favour with me, for they continue to play games with us, and it is difficult for our leaders to build their strategies if they cannot trust the heirs of Constantine. The Greek commander in Cyprus has begun once again to raid the Templar villages, using cowardly tactics and waiting for the Templars to come to them. They have also blockaded the port of Tyre, cutting off trade. The Templar numbers in Limassol are at an all time high, and it is predicted that there will soon be a Templar march, though no-one knows where. will they cleanse Cyprus of their enemies? will they besiege a Byzantine town as retribution for Byzantium's untrustworthiness? will they invade Egypt? or will they hear the King's call and sail to Acre? Let it be the latter.

Balain, who has long been the Lord of Ibelin and garrison commander of Alaniers, wishes for greater control over the area around Ascalon, for though the city itself is ours, Egyptians run rampant in the region. They can march from Cairo all the way to Beni Sulaym in the east freely, without fear of ambush or embattlement. They even use our roads. Balain has taken his men southwards to establish castles and watchtowers along the roads which will hopefully cut off the eastern Egyptians from the western, or at least force them to face the untamed desert.

[Plonkdog]

I'm going to Sydney for a week from tomorrow, so no more updates for a while. I'll let you ponder what happens next, but I haven't really left it a much of a cliffhanger, have I? At least you don't know what the Templars will do. I hope.

[Daimon]

To bad, but I think I can wait

[Shacklock]

Liking it so far, much more story-driven than most AARs, always prefer those that centre on less pivotal characters.
It's in the wrong section *Grin* but a minor matter.

[Nole4694]

that last post was about 3 wekks ago so someone is going to have to send him a pm or something if you want him to start on this again if he still comes online anymore

[Plonkdog]

yeah, guys sorry. the school term has started again and I didn't realise that it was going to be so taxing on my free time. I'll get another update done soon. just have to play a bit further into the future first. Anyway, I count only two weeks

[Plonkdog]

Part 6 – Consolidation

December 1197

No longer is the Byzantine commander lying in wait, for he has besieged Nicosia on Cyprus, and has destroyed the local Templar fleet, the purpose of which was to ferry troops from Limassol in the south to Nicosia in the north. In response, more ships are under construction, and the island is scoured for any volunteers willing to aid the Templars. About ninety Turcopoles have joined the new Marshall of the Temple. We must hope that Nicosia can hold on until the reinforcement host arrives.

Here in the Holy Land we are preparing to march on Banyas in the knowledge that the Templars are even less likely to aid us now. They will be missed, however, as they command a great proportion of the Latin Kingdom’s fighting forces. Richard will wait a little longer for their support, and here in Iconiennes we sit idly, watching the Fatimids intently, in case they should make one false move. For now, we can afford to remain on this side of the Jordan, for Banyas does nothing but barricade themselves in, leaving us the initiative. A new road system in the Acre region now allows faster movement to Richard’s men, should the borderlands fall.

Preparation is hindered, however, for Saladin puts great store by his control of Ascalon’s roads. No sooner had noble Balain moved southwards and begun construction on the distant Castle Takrite, than a Moslem general of Jerusalem besieged Ascalon itself. This would indeed have forced Balain back to relieve it – thus abandoning his mission – were it not for Prince Guy in Arsuf, who forced Saladin’s man back to the desert. Nevertheless, the strained military activity has put a drain on the King’s coffers, and he is too stretched to send King Richard men.

March 1198

Guy de Lusignan has settled his men in Ascalon, in anticitipation of another attack, allowing Balain to continue his efforts, now with the responsibility of protecting a Great Cross. The area in the south is still relatively untamed, by all reports. There are far more Moslems surrounding Balain than Christians under his command. They have not yet taken it into their minds to attack as one yet, and so the Crusaders may be able to take advantage of this by picking off the smaller forces that use the road, one by one. Construction of Takrite proceeds unhindered.

Yet more ports have been blockaded by the Greeks, and Tripoli and Acre cannot benefit from the revenues gained by trade with the Italian city states. Yet more strain is put upon the wealth of the Latin Kingdom because of this, and King Baldwin states that he is not open to the great expenditure of assembling a fleet large enough to rid our coasts of Greek ships. There must be some way to get the money for this. Doing so would only allow the Crusader states to create more income.

The Templars, at least, have created a fleet large enough to transport their men safely to Nicosia, and the Marshall goes with his men, looking to educate the Byzantine Empire about the true rulers of the Cypriots. The defenders of Nicosia themselves number almost as many as the Greeks – though they are a rabble – and the men from Limassol bring the same sized force, though it consists entirely of Templar lions.

July 1198

The Limassol force easily routed the Byzantines, whose remainder dwindled into the background population of Cyprus. Their commander is dead, killed in battle. The Templars once more have full and undisputed control of Cyprus, and the ports on the mainland’s coast have been liberated. The ships have seemingly retreated after this show of force, and the seas are clear. The Cypriot ships are no longer harassed, allowing passage between there and here.

Alaniers was besieged by yet more of Saladin’s angry leaders, but Balain and Guy united to drive the attackers away. Both men have returned to their holds but Balain still struggles to pacify the roads.
Here in Iconiennes, looking out over the Jordan, I can do nothing while I wait for the great men of our time to decide my fate and the fate of others. I send spies and informants to teach me of the situations swaying the outcome of this war, and diplomats to help speed any help that may come here, as well as pacify the heathen opposing us. There is still a large Moslem population in the area, however, and many of my employees come from that field, most notably the Nizari, who are more than willing to aid me in day to day Castle management, despite my current inability to affect Banyas’ situation. It seems the only effect I have had on that city is to strengthen their defences and make them wary of attack. My allies consider me incompetent, my enemies respect my word, and the Hashashiyya put their hope in me. It seems strange that the Moslems are more tolerant of my failings than my fellow Christians. If a second siege of Banyas should ever occur, then it is there that I must prove my ability once more, if only to restore that sense of normality that comes from Christian trust, a reward that I came here to obtain.

October 1198

Castle Takrite has been completed, and Balain now fortifies it as best he can, for it is remote and deep into the far reaching influence of Saladin, who has himself appeared in the area, or so the rumours tell. Thankfully the road is securely in Christian hands, and will remain so for as long as Balain’s strength and faith in Christ can hold out. I can only pray for him, he who is surrounded by his enemy, staunchly defying them. He is alone in the crowd that makes up his garrison. To hear of his situation reminds me of my own. He has not yet drawn the hostile eye of the Shi’ites, but could be killed or destroyed should they simply turn against him as one. In this we are similar, but he has Saladin’s presence to worry about, and no Jordan to protect him. He does not seem the kind of man to uproot in the face of danger and retreat to safer lands. May we not lose so strong and chivalrous a leader as Balain of Ibelin.

Gerard of the Temple, and Marshall of the same, has called for the patience of Richard and the King, and asked them to wait for him. He has announced his intent to aid us in the taking of Banyas! Despite the threat posed to Cyprus, Gerard brings with him the full force of the Templars and their Turcopoles across the sea, and extends the reconciling hand of the Templars. I find it strange, however, that no statement has been made by the Grand Master. Perhaps it would be wise to take a route of caution when considering the offer of Gerard, for it may be that his mind is as the late Phillip of Plessis’ – God rest him – and he acts only on his own authority, not that of the his earthly master. I myself would race to his aid, but great Kings must take slightly more caution, knowing that to accept the help of a traitor would only serve to widen the rift between them and the Templars, whose power in Europe is perhaps greater than a mere King, depending on the mind of the people. If the Templars spun the tale to make it seem as though they were the victims, which could be easily done, it would be hard to prevent a war with them, and a Kingdom as fragile as this cannot afford a war on so many fronts. If only Grand Master Gilbert sent but a small note in support of Gerard, we would be an unstoppable force. He has not, and so Christians must tread lightly in their own camp. This is politics, and it is the curse and damnation of honest men.

[Nole4694]

woops lol sry nice update btw

[Kallum]

nice going

[Plonkdog]

Part 7: When they are of one mind…

February 1199

Gerard has set sail for Acre’s port with his full force of eight hundred and fifty six men, most of them Templars, superior to the average Arab man. They will not only aid us greatly at Banyas, but also outnumber those forces already committed to the battle. They will undoubtedly be a great asset, and so patience is here a virtue worth showing. Richard’s preparations continue as he readies his men for the march, and the men of Iconiennes are prepared already, once again having the hope of victory in their hearts. No further reports have come from the south, but I assume that this means that there have been no major developments or setbacks in Balain’s task.

May 1199

Bad news has been spread on the word of Gilbert Erail’s messengers. He has denounced Gerard, his marshall, as a traitor, condemning all Templars who join him and laymen who associate with him as the same. Division between Christians is not what we need at this time. It is not a disagreement between Templars and secular leaders, but a rift driven between good men, those who support Gerard, those who long for Banyas’ capture, and those who do not wish to incur the wrath of Gilbert and his European links. The King has refused support for Gerard, even though it was by his command that we march for Banyas, but Richard has chosen to allow the Templar marshall to join him. Many of Richard’s men, however, still owe loyalty to King Baldwin, and so are forbidden to remain with Richard. The English King is forced to hire mercenaries to boost his greatly reduced force, and he has only three hundred and fifty seven men willing to march. I too have suffered this problem, as the Count of Tripoli has withdrawn nearly all of his support of the border defences, hoping to stay out of this Templar business. Now there are only one hundred and twenty Tripolites in Iconiennes, as well as two hundred and twenty Templar sergeants, who are loyal to Gerard. Richard’s army – including Gerard’s and mine – still outnumber the defenders of Banyas, and so I am to march as soon as I can, and meet the greater host outside the walls.

The last time I spoke of such hope, it was a false joy. Now, however, I believe that we can triumph, for with us marches only the most devoted to God’s cause. Those who choose to risk losing their lives to - if not the Moslems - then their Christian allies, just for a chance to capture Banyas and defeat the heathen. God will be with us for as long as we keep faith, and it is difficult not to in such devout company.

Balain of Ibelin reports that the region around Takrite and the area that it guards is secure, but he has discovered another main road to the south that is still freely used by the Egyptians. The roads merge at a point deeper into Egyptian territory, and so to guard the point would be more risky, but would allow control of both routes, blocking off the Egyptians’ path to the east.

July 1199

We have now arrived at Banyas, after a short trek through the Transjordan, and have besieged the town with the aid of the rest of King Richard’s force. The hot Arab sun glints off of the shining helms of the Knights and the white garb of the Templars, blinding me with its pure light. It is a glorious sight, and emboldens the spirit in a way that no other sight does. There will be much sorrow once this affair has ended, but now, on this still summer morning, it is easy to believe that the peace could live forever in this moment. It is the calm before the storm, a time for prayer and preparation. The defenders despair, seeing us before them, and as they weaken, we grow ever stronger, more assured of victory. Is it not written, ‘When you see contention amongst your enemies, go and sit at ease with your friends; but when you see them of one mind, string your bow, and place stones upon the ramparts’? I am proud to be a leader of these men, even if I command but a small number.

The march to Banyas


I have brought three hundred and fourty men, Tripolites and Templars, to add to King Richard’s men, one hundred and seventy seven of whom are noble. Gerard the Templar has with him twenty knight brothers, ninety nine confrere knights, sixty seven turcopoles, and six hundred and seventy sergeants. In total the Christian force numbers one thousand five hundred and fifty, and against us stand barely one thousand Moslems. The camp is jubilant, having victory on its mind.

November 1199

In late October of the year of Our Lord, eleven ninety nine, we could see that the defenders were greatly weakened by lack of food and relief. It was three months since the city was besieged, and the realisation of defeat grew in the minds of the Moslems, heralded by famine, pestilence, war and death. Nevertheless, there was no sign of them cracking under the pressure, and so the time came to end the wait. Banyas was under attack.

Leading the assault was Gerard of the Temple and his men. They took their fearsome siege equipment to the walls, with two great siege towers, and ladders aplenty. A battering ram they had also, and this made directly for the gate, with over two hundred sergeants in tow. The towers were marched up to the walls, while the laddermen wreaked havoc atop the walls.

The siege equipment


Richard and I had taken up our position on the other side of the city, and chose to destroy a section of the defenses, allowing our cavalry to charge. The walls were strong, however, and it would be all we could do to arrive in the city centre before it was too late.

The defenders put up a desperate fight at the gate, charging out as soon as it had been destroyed. They killed many sergeants, but when the confrere knights joined the fray, the Egyptians there were routed. The fighting on the walls lasted much longer, however. A large number of Moslems stood there, and the fight could have gone either way. It would not end by flight, for the Templars stood between them and the inner city, blocking off their route of escape. The palisade was built up with bodies, and it dripped with blood.

Fierce resistance



Having listened to my tale of the previous assault on Banyas, Gerard chose not to act recklessly and charge into the city with a reduced force. He set up a defensive perimeter just inside the gate while waiting for Richard and I to back him up. On the other side of the town, the wall was finally breached. There was little resistance to block the gap against us, as much of the defensive force had thrown itself against Gerard’s wall of spears in the main street. The fighting on the walls had boiled down to a scuffle, and the remaining sergeants and knights of the Templar order broke formation and rushed to the town square. As the Shi’ites formed up for their last stand, we charged their back with full force, our knights scattering their remnants and spearing their leader.

Taking the square


The last few men had not a chance against our overwhelming numbers, and the day was won. The damage we had caused was repaired, and word was sent back to Acre of our victory. Surely Christendom must realise that we acted out of piety and diligence, and that we are not traitors to the Templars or to the Kingdom. Surely we will be seen as heroes, elevated above our position in the minds and hearts of men. Surely…

[Kallum]

nice update

[Plonkdog]

Part 8 – The Crusader’s Goal

February 1200

Banyas, the Nizari city, has finally been taken on the turn of the century, twelve hundred years after Christ. Its capture has occupied my mind for almost all of my time in Outremer. I should be celebrating this victory, and crying out my thanks and praises to God above, but I can’t. In the eyes of half of the Kingdom, we are nothing more than rebellious criminals, no better than the renegade Venetians who took Constantinople. In the absence of any other suitable noble, I have been made governor of Banyas by King Richard, but it is a false and hollow title if it does not have the support of others. I am now alone here, for Richard and Gerard have been ordered back to Acre to stand trial and put forth the case of the accused in this matter. If they are found guilty, King Baldwin will have no choice but to execute or exile all of us ‘traitors’ to ward off the wrath of Gilbert Erail. Needless to say, my beloved Castle Iconiennes has been confiscated until a decision has been made. My very life hangs in the balance of the next month or so. I can only hope that the Pope himself – for only he can judge the Templar Grand Master – will see reason and side with us.

Managing Banyas is nothing like looking after Iconiennes. The place is so much bigger. I cannot see from one window my entire domain as I could from the castle walls. I am forced to decide how to improve a growing economy, founded on the return of the Hashishiyya, and for the first time I have to employ advisors to keep me informed. No longer can I go down and work the fields for the good of the community, because I know not where the fields are. I can not work alongside the tradesmen, for I know not who they are or what they do. There are so many people here, and so much construction to oversee. For now I am unburdened by the task of supplying the Kingdom with fresh soldiers, because I am heavily policed by the king’s agents, who ensure that I have no capability to rise up and rebel any further. All of my men have been ordered to stand down temporarily, while the city is garrisoned by King Baldwin’s forces.

Banyas




May 1200

Blessed and wise is His Holiness the Pope! He has seen reason and after thoroughly reviewing the situation has concluded that Gerard did indeed disobey orders of his own initiative, but did so having seen that the Grand Master was more concerned with earthly vendettas than with his heavenly purpose and the role of his position. Gerard is to pay a small fine for his behaviour, but Gilbert has been severely reprimanded and ordered to forgive Richard, returning to take a greater role in the protection of the Holy Land. This means that Gerard and all of his supporters are free to live normally. The guards have been removed from Banyas and King Baldwin has offered reconciliation. Of course there are those who still mistrust us, but the real threat is from Gilbert, who no doubt is angered after the direct blow to his pride. I myself have received a messenger who told me that Gilbert will allow me a month to leave Outremer, and if I don’t then I will have further enraged a powerful and lethal enemy. How can I leave, though, when we are so close to ultimate victory? Jerusalem is surrounded on all sides, and our northern reaches are screened from the Turks by the Principality of Antioch. This means that Tripoli and the northern cities of the Kingdom can be drained of all fighting men, who are now free to march on the Crusader’s goal.

Richard himself has gathered whoever he can from Acre and begun his march south. He passes from village to village, and with every stop his forces are bolstered. Thousands flock to the King’s banner and the banner of Gerard of the Temple, and Prince Guy undoubtedly prepares to muster the men of Arsuf and Ascalon for the same purpose. I am doing the best I can to secure the new ownership of Banyas so that I can race to the Holy City. I will leave the temporary management to the Nizari, as they are the only ones I can trust. Officially the role will be given to one of my Knights, so as to prevent uproar amongst those who do not yet understand that the Hashashiyya are the enemies of Egypt, not servants of Saladin. I will also have to leave most of my men behind, in case of any problems which are usually inevitable when a town has been freshly conquered. The final part of this crusade will be like my early days here, when I had only myself and my nineteen men, only six of whom remain.

July 1200

There has been rebellion in Egypt. The Mamluks have risen up and begin to challenge Saladin’s power. They have seized the opportunity granted them when much of Saladin’s army marched eastwards in a bid to reinforce Jerusalem. That same army has been defeated outside Ascalon by Prince Guy. There is little hope for Saladin’s reign now, if the rebellion is of any real substance. More and more fighting men take up the journey to Jerusalem and it is estimated that the Moslems are already outnumbered twice over, even before the Christians have come near the city. I believe that we have once again the upper hand in the coming battle, but it would be foolish of me to be presumptuous as I was in Banyas. There is a knocking at the door, and I must leave my writing. What mission could be so important as to continue into the dead of night?