The Way West [March & Camp]

[Dirty Chai]

The Way West
Upon the Walls of the Heretics
To Burn and Capture
All that is God's,
and all that is Caesar's



Main Host
Philippe d'Alençon: 900
350 Frankish Men-at-Arms
150 Frankish Crossbowmen
150 Armoured Sergeants
250 Mounted Frankish Knights


Arvid Eriksson: 1,258
306 Armoured Sergeants
341 'German' Archers
361 'German' Men-at-Arms
250 Mounted 'German' Knights


Roger de Rochechouart: 1,132
190 Frankish Men-at-Arms
172 Armoured Sergeants
770 Mounted Frankish Knights


Simon di Napoli: 365
110 Dismounted 'Siculo-Norman' Knights
135 'Sicilian' Archers
120 Mounted 'Siculo-Norman' Knights


Simon de Provence: 718
63 Frankish Men-at-Arms
91 Frankish Crossbowmen
564 Mounted Frankish Knights

Attached Host
German Host: 2,600 men
150 Mounted 'German' Knights
150 Dismounted 'German' Knights
150 Feudal Crossbowmen
200 Feudal Archers
250 Armoured Spearmen
300 'German' Men-at-Arms
300 Light 'German' Cavalry
300 Levy Archers
800 Sergeant Spearmen


French Host: 3,900 men
250 Mounted 'Frankish' Knights
250 Dismounted 'Frankish' Knights
300 Feudal Crossbowmen
300 Feudal Archers
400 Armoured Spearmen
400 'Frankish' Men-at-Arms
600 Light 'Frankish' Cavalry
400 Levy Archers
1000 Sergeant Spearmen

[Dirty Chai]

10,000+ men
2 Days of travel to Adrianople

Post Time: 12:30 PST, Thursday, August 15 (Late 1204 AD)
Leaving: Constantinopoli
Destination: Andrinopoli
Arrival Time: 12:30 PST, Saturday, August 17 (Early 1205 AD)

[Ganbarenippon]

Roland de Provence rode along with his cousin's banners. He was excited, yet cautious. He and his cousin would be amongst the first to take their lands for the Empire he wondered what kind of land Bucoleone was. He would begin to daydream for a while then, imagining the wife and children he would have, the epic battles he would fight and the gratitude of Simon and the Duke and the Emperor. Then he looked at his cousins men and his spirits faded. 'They are so few.' When Simon had arrived in the Empire he had brought over 2,000 men with him, now they were less than 800 'And like to be further reduced still.' All-in-all though Rolnad was excited to march to war, the battle at Constatinople had been his first, but he had begun to feel a comfort on the field that eluded him elsewhere in his life and, a somewhat darker part of him acknowledged, he enjoyed the thrill of combat.

The dust the army kicked up as it marched was reduced somewhat by the damp, autumnal chill but still enough to be cloying. He rode toward where his cousin was conversing with the other captains of the small, de Provence host. "What do you think of our new arrivals cousin?" He asked, gesturing to the French and Germans that marched with them.

[Honors Bastion]

Roland de Provence rode along with his cousin's banners. He was excited, yet cautious. He and his cousin would be amongst the first to take their lands for the Empire he wondered what kind of land Bucoleone was. He would begin to daydream for a while then, imagining the wife and children he would have, the epic battles he would fight and the gratitude of Simon and the Duke and the Emperor. Then he looked at his cousins men and his spirits faded. 'They are so few.' When Simon had arrived in the Empire he had brought over 2,000 men with him, now they were less than 800 'And like to be further reduced still.' All-in-all though Rolnad was excited to march to war, the battle at Constatinople had been his first, but he had begun to feel a comfort on the field that eluded him elsewhere in his life and, a somewhat darker part of him acknowledged, he enjoyed the thrill of combat.

The dust the army kicked up as it marched was reduced somewhat by the damp, autumnal chill but still enough to be cloying. He rode toward where his cousin was conversing with the other captains of the small, de Provence host. "What do you think of our new arrivals cousin?" He asked, gesturing to the French and Germans that marched with them.

“They seem to be capable men, no different from our own host originally.” answered Simon. “The fact that these men answered our call for aid has proven their willingness to fight us. The only thing that hasn’t been proven is their ability to fight and only by fighting a battle will we be able to determine this. They seem to be good men and more diverse than our original host. Only time will tell. But anyways, we need more men no matter what their abilities.”

[Jokern]

Arvid rode at the front of his own banners, guarded by German knights. He was happy that they were finally marching to battle again, he had begun to feel sick by the intrigues and deceits at the Imperial court. No, he had always thought that when a man fights, he shows his true colors. He had already seen two of the nobles in the host battle the Greeks at Constantinople. The other two he didn't trust, especially the commander, Philip d'Alencon. He had stayed close to the Emperor all this time in the capital, whispering in Bohemund's ear. Arvid didn't take him for a warrior, but a deceiver. A man like leading them spelled trouble a long way, but the Emperor's decision was absolute. But one thing reassured him: among the nobles in the host, his banners were the most numerous, if you didn't count the 6,000 fresh soldiers that had arrived long after the siege was over.

Arvid relaxed a bit and grabbed a lute that hanged from his saddle and started playing a melody he had picked up on his journeys through the Holy Roman Empire. It was a merry melody about a band of brothers leaving their homes to defend the realm from the forces of evil like dragons, wizards and trolls.

[Ganbarenippon]

Roland nodded at his cousin's wisdom. "I have heard the Germans are fierce fighters, I look forward to seeing what they can do. Cousin, have you thought what it is we will do after your set is taken? Will we remain behind or continue to fight for our Duke?" The younger de Provence asked his liege.

[Honors Bastion]

Roland nodded at his cousin's wisdom. "I have heard the Germans are fierce fighters, I look forward to seeing what they can do. Cousin, have you thought what it is we will do after your set is taken? Will we remain behind or continue to fight for our Duke?" The younger de Provence asked his liege.

“That will all depend on what happens when we reach Adrianople.” said Simon. “If the city falls quickly to us without much of a fight, then there is a possibility for us to continue with our Duke. However, I will still need to install a garrison when we claim the city and because our own forces are so limited in number, I may not have the men to march with our duke, especially with we do battle with the Byzantines beforehand. In that situation, I shall leave you in command of Adrianople’s defenses while I march with the duke to Phillipoupolis. My presence may be needed there if we are met by the Bulgarians and we are forced into negotiations with them. I trust that you will be able to command Adrianople while i am gone.”

[Ganbarenippon]

Roland beamed. "It would be my honour cousin." He was flattered by the faith his cousin had in him. "I won't let you down, I promise. The city will be one of the finest in the Empire by the time you return to it!" He laughed for a moment before turning pensive. "After the main fighting is done and you return I will be free to secure our Northern borders and my lands on them. If things do not go well with the Bulgars it will be my task to shield your city and warn you of any assault that comes my way." He looks Simon in the eyes. "I won't fail you in that either."

[Pinkerton]

Lawrence of Thanet didn't like armies. They were dirty and too crowded; War was messy
Yet he was there. He was there because he needed his lands and the only way to get them was through these people:
10.000 dirty franks and germans

“That will all depend on what happens when we reach Adrianople.” said Simon. “If the city falls quickly to us without much of a fight, then there is a possibility for us to continue with our Duke. However, I will still need to install a garrison when we claim the city and because our own forces are so limited in number, I may not have the men to march with our duke, especially with we do battle with the Byzantines beforehand. In that situation, I shall leave you in command of Adrianople’s defenses while I march with the duke to Phillipoupolis. My presence may be needed there if we are met by the Bulgarians and we are forced into negotiations with them. I trust that you will be able to command Adrianople while i am gone.”

Roland beamed. "It would be my honour cousin." He was flattered by the faith his cousin had in him. "I won't let you down, I promise. The city will be one of the finest in the Empire by the time you return to it!" He laughed for a moment before turning pensive. "After the main fighting is done and you return I will be free to secure our Northern borders and my lands on them. If things do not go well with the Bulgars it will be my task to shield your city and warn you of any assault that comes my way." He looks Simon in the eyes. "I won't fail you in that either."

He saw the banner's of Provence and rode towards the two men

Which one of you is Simon de Provence?

Lawrence asked with no hesitation. He wasn't a shy man

[Honors Bastion]

Lawrence of Thanet didn't like armies. They were dirty and too crowded; War was messy
Yet he was there. He was there because he needed his lands and the only way to get them was through these people:
10.000 dirty franks and germans

He saw the banner's of Provence and rode towards the two men

Which one of you is Simon de Provence?

“That would be me good Priest.” answered Simon de Provence. He stepped forward and gave a short bow to the man out of respect for his profession before he said “And who may you be good Father? Are you a representative of our Patriarch?”

[Pinkerton]

[/COLOR]

“That would be me good Priest.” answered Simon de Provence. He stepped forward and gave a short bow to the man out of respect for his profession before he said “And who may you be good Father? Are you a representative of our Patriarch?”

I am Lawrence of Thanet, Bishop of Saint Demetrius

He stared at the man in front of him. He had pictured a much older man, more experienced

[Celsius]

Roger arrived at the Camp. He had been held up in the city due to some management meetings with the Emperor and was actually a little tired, but it didn't matter. They wouldn't see any battle for at least a few days, so he could relax on his horse. Maybe try to figure out ways to fill coffers so that the new Empire didn't buckle under it's own weight. He got to the camp, dismounted his horse, and got a drink water before sitting down on a log.

[The Stig]

Simon hacked and wheezed as the horse trotted along. Only the morning before they left Constantinople, he had caught quite a nasty cold. His lungs burned, his head swam, his neck felt as though it had been stung by millions of wasps, it was all horrid. Everyday it got a little worse. If the Greeks and Bulgarians don't get me, Simon thought to himself, this blasted sickness surely will. He doubted he'd be contributing for some time now...

[Jokern]

Simon hacked and wheezed as the horse trotted along. Only the morning before they left Constantinople, he had caught quite a nasty cold. His lungs burned, his head swam, his neck felt as though it had been stung by millions of wasps, it was all horrid. Everyday it got a little worse. If the Greeks and Bulgarians don't get me, Simon thought to himself, this blasted sickness surely will. He doubted he'd be contributing for some time now...

Arvid, still playing on his lute, suddenly heard a large sneeze. He looked around and saw Simon di Napoli sneeze a second time. He chuckled a little, amused by the thought of catching a cold in these warm lands. He rode up to the Sicilian pulled out a small piece of cloth and handed it to Simon.

"Here, blow in this, it'll help. Sounds like a nasty cold, although I didn't think you could get it around the warm Mediterranean. But, you are used to this kind of weather, so I shouldn't be that surprised."

Arvid kept playing his lute and looked at di Napoli's banners. They were few, not more than 400, but they were veterans and could most likely pack a good punch.

"So, Simon. You and I will be close to each other once we have our land. I imagine you plan to grab more land south of Larissa, maybe even Athens if you're lucky. But you know, I have a similar plan in mind, and our ambitions might... clash, if you see my point."

[Celsius]

Arvid, still playing on his lute, suddenly heard a large sneeze. He looked around and saw Simon di Napoli sneeze a second time. He chuckled a little, amused by the thought of catching a cold in these warm lands. He rode up to the Sicilian pulled out a small piece of cloth and handed it to Simon.

"Here, blow in this, it'll help. Sounds like a nasty cold, although I didn't think you could get it around the warm Mediterranean. But, you are used to this kind of weather, so I shouldn't be that surprised."

Arvid kept playing his lute and looked at di Napoli's banners. They were few, not more than 400, but they were veterans and could most likely pack a good punch.

"So, Simon. You and I will be close to each other once we have our land. I imagine you plan to grab more land south of Larissa, maybe even Athens if you're lucky. But you know, I have a similar plan in mind, and our ambitions might... clash, if you see my point."

Roger noticed Simon and Arvid and walked over and asked if he could sit. It was a false question, as he was already moving to sit anyway, but it didn't hurt to be courteous. As he sat he felt relieved

"Don't mind me. Just hard finding people you know around this camp."

[The Stig]

Arvid, still playing on his lute, suddenly heard a large sneeze. He looked around and saw Simon di Napoli sneeze a second time. He chuckled a little, amused by the thought of catching a cold in these warm lands. He rode up to the Sicilian pulled out a small piece of cloth and handed it to Simon.

"Here, blow in this, it'll help. Sounds like a nasty cold, although I didn't think you could get it around the warm Mediterranean. But, you are used to this kind of weather, so I shouldn't be that surprised."

Arvid kept playing his lute and looked at di Napoli's banners. They were few, not more than 400, but they were veterans and could most likely pack a good punch.

"So, Simon. You and I will be close to each other once we have our land. I imagine you plan to grab more land south of Larissa, maybe even Athens if you're lucky. But you know, I have a similar plan in mind, and our ambitions might... clash, if you see my point."

Simon took Arvid's cloth and ceased sniffing long enough to hack out a response.

"I wouldn't worry too much about that. I'm sure two reasonable gentlemen such as ourselves can work something out. Besides, the army may march south, but an enterprising man sees opportunity in every direction. I am confident that, in the event that we do one day seize Athens, we will be able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I might even go so far as to say that I may already done a good deal of thinking about how the situation could work to both our advantages, although I might've forgotten the details to such a potential compromise with so many listening people around. Maybe when it isn't so easy to hear us I'll remember."

Simon flashed Arvid a wicked smile.

[Honors Bastion]

Upon realizing the man’s position, Simon gave a bigger bow before he said “It is a pleasure to meet you Bishop Lawrence. It seems that we shall be working together to improve and convert the city of Adrianople and its people to Catholicism. I shall look forward to working with you.”

[Pinkerton]

Upon realizing the man’s position, Simon gave a bigger bow before he said “It is a pleasure to meet you Bishop Lawrence. It seems that we shall be working together to improve and convert the city of Adrianople and its people to Catholicism. I shall look forward to working with you.”

It is the Lord's will, Count

Lawrence frowned

Did you take part in the Assault, son?

[Honors Bastion]

It is the Lord's will, Count

Lawrence frowned

Did you take part in the Assault, son?

“Forgive me Bishop Lawrence. Of course it is the lord’s will not ours and we are nothing more than the Holy Father’s agents on Earth, you more so than I.” said Simon with regret.

“To answer your question Father, I did participate in the assault. I was the commander of the force that first assaulted the breach at the Fifth Military Gate. Though I met with fierce opposition, I did manage to take the breach, at the cost of heavy casualties to my men. Later in the battle, I was the commander of the flanking maneuver of our knights that routed the Greek reinforcements that were attempting to retake the Fifth Military Gate breach. Again, I was successful but more of men had fallen.”

He said his last comment with bitterness and remorse. The Provencal knight was deeply saddened at the loss of so many of his men and angered that so many had to die

[Pinkerton]

“Forgive me Bishop Lawrence. Of course it is the lord’s will not ours and we are nothing more than the Holy Father’s agents on Earth, you more so than I.” said Simon with regret.

“To answer your question Father, I did participate in the assault. I was the commander of the force that first assaulted the breach at the Fifth Military Gate. Though I met with fierce opposition, I did manage to take the breach, at the cost of heavy casualties to my men. Later in the battle, I was the commander of the flanking maneuver of our knights that routed the Greek reinforcements that were attempting to retake the Fifth Military Gate breach. Again, I was successful but more of men had fallen.”

He said his last comment with bitterness and remorse. The Provencal knight was deeply saddened at the loss of so many of his men and angered that so many had to die

They died a heroes' death. You shouldn't be ashamed, son. I'm sure the Lord, our God, was glad to receive them in the Heavenly Kingdom as the brave soldiers they were

He tried to comfort the kid. Death wasn't easy to handle

It is good to know that you have experience, son. It will be useful. Constantinople may have fallen, but the crusade is far from being over