The Gathering of the Crusaders, 1096 AD

[Lucius Malfoy]

As the various hosts from across Europe gathered before the walls of Constantinople, a general consensus would arise that a leader to unite the many hosts would be needed as well as a general idea of how to get to the Levant. The lands beyond the Golden Horn were unknown and vast; what the Romans had called the Orient. The mountains of Anatolia held many Turkish foes, under the Seljuk banner, while the deserts of Syria and the Levant held all sorts of Muslim lords under the command of the Fatimid Caliphate. A general call was made for all the nobles to come forth and meet to elect a leader and discuss strategy.

A representative was sent by the Byzantine Emperor, his brother, Issac Komnenus, who was identified as Sebastokratōr. He was a proven general of his royal brother and a most trusted advisor to the Emperor, making him ideal to represent Alexios at this conference of Latin Lords. The Greek would linger to the far side of the meeting area, protected by a group of Varangian Guards and attended by Eunuchs and other officials sent by the Emperor.

The purpose of this meeting was to hopefully elect a leader for the vast crusading hosts and to make a general plan for how to get the Levant as well as how to counter the aggressive Turks in Anatolia.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Julien de Baalun would walk into the gathering area with his own retainers, notably, Sir Guy and Father Robert. He had noticed that many had already gathered at this location, especially with the presence of an Imperial representative of the Byzantine Emperor. His eyes easily found Issac Komnenus, who was flanked by a pair of Varangian Guards and attended by well-dressed Eunuchs and other Romans. It seemed this gathering had caught the attention of Alexios who had remained quiet till now. Julien would find a spot among the Frankish lords present and stand at the front of them. As the half-brother of King Philippe, who was sadly excommunicated, it was up to Julien to represent his homeland.

[Gandalfus]

A small contingent of Norman Knights arrived at the gathering, although their garb had changed. Jerkins had been traded for hauberks, and each wore long cloaks. They wore no helmets, allowing their peculiar haircut to be shown. Led they were by a lean, youthful man, who took his place alongside the other lords. Silent they were, save for some small chatter in the ranks. It appeared as if apprehension had claimed their leader, who's eyes darted between the peers, searching for signs of rank and title.

[Ace_General]

Stepan of Lesser Poland arrives

[The Mad Skylord]

The Scot known as Malcolm had been here for a while and he watched the new arrivals file in.

[Oznerol]

A herald announced

"Potentissimus Magnus Dux Robert Normandus Rex Angliae filius"

The boisterous and booming presence of Robert arrives to the gathering.

"What are those two filthy men doing here?! Men of lofty origin!"

Whispered Curthose to his secretary pointing to the scot and whatever the other fool was. He was dressed in courtly dress, a long tunic, embroidery in the collar and the sleeves. His hands adorned by several golden rings, including the signal one, engraved with two leopards. A long, red cloak covered his broad shoulders, embroidered with running lions and held in place by a jeweled fibulae. The sword pommel was heavy and inlaid with gold and silver. A circlet crowned his temples, the hair graying but not thining and cut in the Norman fashion.
Helias de Saint-Saes, his son-in-law and count of Arques dressed in similar fashion and stood by his lord's side alongside several other Norman noblemen, tall and terrible.

"Anyway, we're here to discuss the details of this expedition. So be it..."

And he eyed with greed the Sebastokrator. He nodded to him and ordered his secretary to salute him in proper latin:

"<My regards to the greatest and most powerful emperor Alexius and his nobilissimus brother the very powerful and great Isaac>"

[Ace_General]

A herald announced

"Potentissimus Magnus Dux Robert Normandus Rex Angliae filius"

The boisterous and booming presence of Robert arrives to the gathering.

"What are those two filthy men doing here?! Men of lofty origin!"

Whispered Curthose to his secretary pointing to the scot and whatever the other fool was. He was dressed in courtly dress, a long tunic, embroidery in the collar and the sleeves. His hands adorned by several golden rings, including the signal one, engraved with two leopards. A long, red cloak covered his broad shoulders, embroidered with running lions and held in place by a jeweled fibulae. The sword pommel was heavy and inlaid with gold and silver. A circlet crowned his temples, the hair graying but not thining and cut in the Norman fashion.
Helias de Saint-Saes, his son-in-law and count of Arques dressed in similar fashion and stood by his lord's side alongside several other Norman noblemen, tall and terrible.

"Anyway, we're here to discuss the details of this expedition. So be it..."

And he eyed with greed the Sebastokrator. He nodded to him and ordered his secretary to salute him in proper latin:

"<My regards to the greatest and most powerful emperor Alexius and his nobilissimus brother the very powerful and great Isaac>"

Stepan replies to the strutting Norman

I have the blood of kings in my veins as well, and I am from no more humble origins then your father. And forgive my clothing, as I have just arrived from the road and have not the time to dress up in fancy foppish clothing like one of *them*.

​Stepan dismissly points to the ornately dressed eunuchs

[Oznerol]

ooc: *whispered Curthose to his secretary*
*whispered*
*whispered*
*whispered*
...
EDIT: Also, if you don't speak French you couldn't understand what I said.

[Dirty Chai]

Soon after the entrance of the Norman dux, an opposite tent flap was pulled back, letting in both cool air and a small cadre of more nobles.
At the head stood a thin man with long black hair and striking blue eyes, the color of the summer sky. He was dressed in a blue tunic, with a leather belt around his waist holding up a sheathed sword, the belt with cuts and the scabbard with carvings. Around his collar and shoulders was a short cloak reaching to his waist. Simple, but distinct from the mailed retainers who stood beside him.

He looked around the canvassed room with regarding eyes, then whispered to one of his men, pointing at several different figures.
The other two retainers joined in and the four Rhenish knights turned to a calm debate in their own tongue, all while the blue-eyed princeps fingered a black beard.

Soon, the lord gestured his head in a nod, silencing his followers.
He strode forward, his hand holding the handle of his sheathed sword in a calm, collected approach.

Halting before the Normans, he offered salutations in a vulgar but sufficient Latin.
"Greetings to the Dux Normaniae; I am comes palatinus of the Empire in the west, Sigfridus Megina;"
Siegfried of Mayen, then, offered a formal gesture in stoic grace. He was a young man, one noticed at this distance, with a strong jaw and sharp nose.

[Oznerol]

Soon after the entrance of the Norman dux, an opposite tent flap was pulled back, letting in both cool air and a small cadre of more nobles.
At the head stood a thin man with long black hair and striking blue eyes, the color of the summer sky. He was dressed in a blue tunic, with a leather belt around his waist holding up a sheathed sword, the belt with cuts and the scabbard with carvings. Around his collar and shoulders was a short cloak reaching to his waist. Simple, but distinct from the mailed retainers who stood beside him.

He looked around the canvassed room with regarding eyes, then whispered to one of his men, pointing at several different figures.
The other two retainers joined in and the four Rhenish knights turned to a calm debate in their own tongue, all while the blue-eyed princeps fingered a black beard.

Soon, the lord gestured his head in a nod, silencing his followers.
He strode forward, his hand holding the handle of his sheathed sword in a calm, collected approach.

Halting before the Normans, he offered salutations in a vulgar but sufficient Latin.
"Greetings to the Dux Normaniae; I am comes palatinus of the Empire in the west, Sigfridus Megina;"
Siegfried of Mayen, then, offered a formal gesture in stoic grace. He was a young man, one noticed at this distance, with a strong jaw and sharp nose.

The large Curthose turned to face the Rhenish lord, his retainers followed suit. He answered in a rude vulgar latin, the intricate high latin was for his secretary, Orderic.

"Comes Palatinus, I salute you"

His ruddy face was framed by a half-grey, half-red beard. Unlike so many other Normans he sported a beard from time to time, made him look fierce, more dangerous. And Robert loved that.

"In you I see a true peer, monsieur. Hope the travel from the Rhenus was uneventful"

He had heard the Duke of Lorraine, Theodoricus, had come, but still he hadn't glanced him. His men said few had brought a force as large and powerful as his, one of those being the palatine count. That pleased him.

[Dirty Chai]

The large Curthose turned to face the Rhenish lord, his retainers followed suit. He answered in a rude vulgar latin, the intricate high latin was for his secretary, Orderic.

"Comes Palatinus, I salute you"

His ruddy face was framed by a half-grey, half-red beard. Unlike so many other Normans he sported a beard from time to time, made him look fierce, more dangerous. And Robert loved that.

"In you I see a true peer, monsieur. Hope the travel from the Rhenus was uneventful"

He had heard the Duke of Lorraine, Theodoricus, had come, but still he hadn't glanced him. His men said few had brought a force as large and powerful as his, one of those being the palatine count. That pleased him.

"Tiring, but a breeze to what we will endure," he answered, before looking around the room, assessing the other nobles present.
He was impressed by the grandeur that the Normans assumed, both in and out of this tent, in both court dress and battle gear.
Of course, that was the reputation of the Normans, for they reached high.. Alemannia was old, by contrast, a land of forests and mountains, old wooden meadhalls and palisades, and blood feuds which regularly shook what was considered the Roman Empire in the west.

"I fear we must elect a leader from among us this day, in assembly, as the Holy Father has not given us one."

Crowded by noble blood of the Rhine, Theodoric took his time to assess the servants of God who presented themselves as the leaders of various bands of the pious.

If a commander is needed then I offer myself. The duke spoke in Latin, drummed in to him as a child. I dare to say that my host is the largest single force here and I am of relation to kings through blood and wife, if such a thing has any bearing upon suitability in the sight of God. Stepping forward a half-step, breaking free from his retainers, Theodoric Chatenois nodded to every third man. I would take to counsel every man who has status, allowing your will as well as God's to choose the path before us. If lands are to be taken it shall be taken together, divided after His will is done. No man would go without, and no man would rise above the rest. Everyone has a part to play in this reclamation of the Holy City, and I would not allow this force to be divided by former disputes and petty rivalry, by the ambitions of unholy men or the blasphemes of the Moslem hordes.

"We are here united against the infidel threat to the east," the Pfalzagrafo spoke out to the assembly in his Allemanic diutisc tongue, directed at the Duke of Lorraine, "but you are a dog of the Kaisar, how can we trust you if you serve that apostate back home? Mine own father and uncles were killed by such men, in cold blood!"

Siegfried of Mayen stood pointing an accusational finger at the Lotharingian, his tense blue eyes glued to the man.
"I have no doubt in your prowess, butcher of Langensalza," he added with a bitter tone,

[Lord William]

Richard entered with a grand enterance, greeting those he knew than taking his seat

[Gandalfus]

Stephen inclined his head in respect to the Couny Palatine when he approached the Norman party; he stood at the side of Duke Robert, his liege, but spoke little. Betraying nothing but slight boredom from his facial expression, the only thing that moved were his eyes, that constantly flickered between the peers assembled.

"Where is the Lord Bishop...?" He mumbled to himself, alluding to the absence of any form of papal authority. Impatiently, he stood silent, and waited

[Zectorman]

Following in beside other German nobles, the former Duke of Swabia Berthold appraised the situation with a quick scan with his eyes. Nobles from all Christendom had come, some from regions that were far off. He assembled next to the other Germanic nobles, speaking across to the various french cousins from time to time. The man that particularly stood out made himself out to be a sort of lord among lords. Rumor has it being that this man was relative to the King of France, or at least that is what the people in camp have said. Speaking in a common frankish dialect shared between their people he spoke to this Julien, "They say that you are royalty, brother to the king of France. Is this true, do you claim yourself to be nobler that the rest of us?" A part of Berthold says this in jest, but he was mildly curious how he seems to be leading the main faction of Franks.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Speaking in a common frankish dialect shared between their people he spoke to this Julien, "They say that you are royalty, brother to the king of France. Is this true, do you claim yourself to be nobler that the rest of us?" A part of Berthold says this in jest, but he was mildly curious how he seems to be leading the main faction of Franks.

Julien's eyes turned to a German who had addressed him, asking a most serious question. For a moment he remained silent before the Frank spoke truthfully.

I may be the son of the late Henri Capet and half-brother to Philippe Capet, but I am a bastard, sire. I have noble origins, but my status at birth has smeared that. Only the kindness of His Royal Highness ensured that I was legitimized as a Capet, remained in good favor at the French court, had a home to call my own with good lands and a wife who I could love. So no, I do not claim myself to be any more noble than the next man.

Julien then reflected back on the bull of excommunication sentenced upon Philippe.

Yet I do act as a representative of the French Crown, for sadly, His Royal Highness is excommunicated and could not join this most noble crusade of princes. I only claim to represent the King of France and that of my homeland, but I do not claim to be nobler than the rest of the pious folk here. For they are of noble birth and good stature within their realms. I am both a bastard and only a simple Lord.

[MuttonChops]

Richalm entered quietly, bowing his head briefly to the august assemblage. He picked his way towards the German corner, even finding the odd Bavarian to greet. At least here he could understand the gossip.

[Iron Aquilifer]

Crowded by noble blood of the Rhine, Theodoric took his time to assess the servants of God who presented themselves as the leaders of various bands of the pious.

If a commander is needed then I offer myself. The duke spoke in Latin, drummed in to him as a child. I dare to say that my host is the largest single force here and I am of relation to kings through blood and wife, if such a thing has any bearing upon suitability in the sight of God. Stepping forward a half-step, breaking free from his retainers, Theodoric Chatenois nodded to every third man. I would take to counsel every man who has status, allowing your will as well as God's to choose the path before us. If lands are to be taken it shall be taken together, divided after His will is done. No man would go without, and no man would rise above the rest. Everyone has a part to play in this reclamation of the Holy City, and I would not allow this force to be divided by former disputes and petty rivalry, by the ambitions of unholy men or the blasphemes of the Moslem hordes.

[Lord William]

Crowded by noble blood of the Rhine, Theodoric took his time to assess the servants of God who presented themselves as the leaders of various bands of the pious.

If a commander is needed then I offer myself. The duke spoke in Latin, drummed in to him as a child. I dare to say that my host is the largest single force here and I am of relation to kings through blood and wife, if such a thing has any bearing upon suitability in the sight of God. Stepping forward a half-step, breaking free from his retainers, Theodoric Chatenois nodded to every third man. I would take to counsel every man who has status, allowing your will as well as God's to choose the path before us. If lands are to be taken it shall be taken together, divided after His will is done. No man would go without, and no man would rise above the rest. Everyone has a part to play in this reclamation of the Holy City, and I would not allow this force to be divided by former disputes and petty rivalry, by the ambitions of unholy men or the blasphemes of the Moslem hordes.

ill be damned if I will allow a French bastard or a German princeling lead the army of Christ. If need be I'll lead my army myself into the holy land.

[Celsius]

ill be damned if I will allow a French bastard or a German princeling lead the army of Christ. If need be I'll lead my army myself into the holy land.

The Bishop's head was swift to turn
"These are your brothers in Christ. Before they are French or German, they are your brothers. That is what has brought us all here. You are not English. I am not French. You are Christian, as I am I..."

[Alex the Bold]

Abso entered the meeting quietly, sitting behind his lord, Bishop Robert of Burgundy. Then he prepared his writing tools and began taking notes of the words spoken.