Troublesome Turks

**René Artois** · February 09, 2013, 08:31 AM

Raymond pulled the cloth shielding his face down and peered around. They had been riding for an hour or so now, and he was starting to feel as if they would never encounter the robbers they had been searching for. He had anticipated quite a fight, so he had gathered several other local lords to help. Richard, Peter, and Guy were all veterans of the 1095 crusade, and with Raymond had formed a band of sorts. Not a particularly merry one, nor a very sophisticated one. But years of near constant peril forges a strong bond of kinship between those faced with such adversity, and each would gladly come to any one of the others aid, should he need it. This mission affected them all though, as turkish bandits had been attacking Christian pilgrims and traders, leaving others in fear and not wanting to travel to their lands, and as a result they were all losing income. Now, with their forces grouped together, numbering around 40 men-at-arms in total, they hoped to kill or capture them.

**Mors Vigilia** · February 18, 2013, 09:45 AM

Roger was having some trouble controlling his horse as they rode. The beast felt its rider's excitement and anticipation of the adventure to come and was mirroring those emotions. Roger did not mind so much as he preferred to fight on foot, his sword being difficult to wield whilst mounted. He did not know how Turks fought but it didn't matter, they would fall to him easily enough.

**René Artois** · February 18, 2013, 03:16 PM

Raymond sighed, he had hoped they would have been attacked by now.
Let us water our horses and ourselves at the oasis, just over there.
He pointed to a faint clump of trees in the distance.

**Mors Vigilia** · February 18, 2013, 04:06 PM

Water was always welcome, Roger reigned in his horse before heading in the direction that the Knight had pointed out, though he could not yet make anything out at that distance.

**René Artois** · February 19, 2013, 08:14 PM

They reached the oasis and began to drink, dismounting but keeping the horses close.
Easy boys, they'll be here in a few minutes.
Of course it was just a guess, but Raymond had noticed the friendly locals who gathered water here seemed to have gone in a hurry, judging by some half filled buckets and even some wet clothes on a rock.

**Mors Vigilia** · February 20, 2013, 11:12 AM

Roger took a large swig of water and gave a small smile as he let his hand drift towards his sword. This had been a long wait for him but better late than never, he was going to see a proper fight.

**René Artois** · February 22, 2013, 10:41 AM

A faint dust cloud began to rise in the distance, growing larger.
To arms!
Raymond shouted, mounting his horse, a squire passing up his helmet and weapons.

**Mors Vigilia** · February 23, 2013, 10:35 AM

Roger's sword gleamed as it was gleefully drawn from the scabbard. Leaving his horse tied where it was by the oasis, the squire turned towards the rapidly approaching dust cloud, his feet already advancing, pulling him forwards to meet his foe.

**René Artois** · February 27, 2013, 05:13 PM

oopsie daisy forgot

The Turks approached slowly at first, then sped up as they realised they actually had to do some fighting. They swept in, clad in heavy robes, urging their mounts on whilst shooting off arrows. The first attackers retreated quickly, allowing more men to move forward and attack.
Forward, forward!
Raymond raised his sword and twirled it elegantly and effortlessly above his head, before moving forward, the rest of the men-at-arms at his back, swords, axes and hammers lifted at the ready.

**Mors Vigilia** · February 28, 2013, 02:26 PM

Roger felt the missiles rip past him, bringing him to a juddering halt as he slowly realised how close he had come to death. Cautiosly raising his sword again, he was buoyed by the speeding men at arms around him and joined behind them in their charge.

**René Artois** · March 02, 2013, 07:18 PM

Raymond swung his sword at the nearest turk, and his blow was parried frantically. He kept going though and found more success as he raised his shield, watching it slam into the head of a turk as he passed. He wheeled his horse, and a melee had begun in frantic, which he knew wouldn't last long, the turks dressed as they were, merely in cloth.

**Mors Vigilia** · March 04, 2013, 02:33 PM

As the men at arms charged through the Turks, Roger found himself left facing those that had evaded the horses. Not giving them a chance to assess the situation, Roger raised his heavy sword high in both hands and leapt upon them, roaring defiance as he sliced downwards.