De Villehardouin's Tent

[Pinkerton]

On the southern side of the Frank's encampent is located Guy de Villehardouin's tent. Here is where he sleeps and meets up with anyone that has been granted audience with him.

[Lucius Malfoy]

A messenger arrives from the tent of Julien de Baalun, requesting the presence of his retainer, Sir Guy.

[Iron Aquilifer]

Theodoric arrives with a cask of wine, looking for a moment with the Frank nobleman.

[Pinkerton]

Theodoric arrives with a cask of wine, looking for a moment with the Frank nobleman.

Theodoric found Guy sitting and looking at some maps of Anatolia and the Crescent.

The knight looked up to see his visitor and then asked

"Yes?"

[Iron Aquilifer]

I intend to give up the pleasure of wine in this most holy expedition, Theodoric informed the man in latin. Most humbly, of course, I ask if you would host me, for a few glasses at least.

[Pinkerton]

I intend to give up the pleasure of wine in this most holy expedition, Theodoric informed the man in latin. Most humbly, of course, I ask if you would host me, for a few glasses at least.

The frank stared at him for a couple of seconds and then nodded slowly.

"Yes, yes, of course. I see you've brought a bottle, let me get the glasses"

de Villehardouin stood up and walked towards the chest where he kept his belongings. From there the Knight took two silver goblets and invited Theodoric to the simple table that was in the middle of the tent.

"You are with the Germans, right? Lothringen?"

Guy seemed tired and absent-minded. They were soon moving to Nicaea.

[Iron Aquilifer]

With the warriors of Christ, the Duke corrected a little sternly. We are surrounded by enemies, old and new. Allies now, brothers in the sight of God. I would say it were glorious if there was a chance for this expedition to be a simple matter. He stopped himself. But no politics! I see you have better things to do and I thank you for your hospitality again. Drink as much as you can hold. Cleaning his own cup, Theodoric refilled it himself. Will you miss your home?

[Kyrator]

A knight approaches the tent and requests an audience. He flies a banner of white and blue though not of any easily recognizable house.

[Pinkerton]

With the warriors of Christ, the Duke corrected a little sternly. We are surrounded by enemies, old and new. Allies now, brothers in the sight of God. I would say it were glorious if there was a chance for this expedition to be a simple matter. He stopped himself. But no politics! I see you have better things to do and I thank you for your hospitality again. Drink as much as you can hold. Cleaning his own cup, Theodoric refilled it himself. Will you miss your home?

Guy sipped his drink and he listened to the German

"I try not to think of home. I do miss my wife and my children but right now my focus is our mission. There will be plenty of time for everything else once we take Jerusalem.
But what about you?"

A knight approaches the tent and requests an audience. He flies a banner of white and blue though not of any easily recognizable house.

The knight was allowed inside Guy's tent

"And who might you be?" He asked to the knight

[Kyrator]

Guy sipped his drink and he listened to the German

"I try not to think of home. I do miss my wife and my children but right now my focus is our mission. There will be plenty of time for everything else once we take Jerusalem.
But what about you?"



The knight was allowed inside Guy's tent

"And who might you be?" He asked to the knight

The knight entered the tent, dust clinging to his boots. "I thank you for your hospitality, fellow knight. I am Alexander of Ortenburg and I have recently arrived to join our fellow crusaders in their cause. After some delays traveling through Hungary I have finally made it here and heard that you were also a knight with a substantial backing and I was most interested in joining forces so that we can present a unified front in matters political and military. I do not wish to be marginalized in this campaign"

[Pinkerton]

The knight entered the tent, dust clinging to his boots. "I thank you for your hospitality, fellow knight. I am Alexander of Ortenburg and I have recently arrived to join our fellow crusaders in their cause. After some delays traveling through Hungary I have finally made it here and heard that you were also a knight with a substantial backing and I was most interested in joining forces so that we can present a unified front in matters political and military. I do not wish to be marginalized in this campaign"

Guy de Villehardouin nodded as he listened.

"Your drive is commendable, Sir Alexander. But I fear you've come to the wrong place. I am a vassal under Seigneur Julien de Baalun, who's been recently elected commander of the Crusade. You should speak to him, in order to inform yourself of what has occured while you were still traveling."

[Kyrator]

Guy de Villehardouin nodded as he listened.

"Your drive is commendable, Sir Alexander. But I fear you've come to the wrong place. I am a vassal under Seigneur Julien de Baalun, who's been recently elected commander of the Crusade. You should speak to him, in order to inform yourself of what has occured while you were still traveling."

Alexander frowns slightly, he hates being misinformed.

"Ah, in that case I am most sorry for my intrusion. I thank you for the information and wish you good luck in your campaigns. Perhaps we shall fight together someday."

With that Alexander walked out eager to learn what he had missed.

[Iron Aquilifer]

Indeed, my apologies for prying. I do think of the lands I have left in the name of God, of my eldest son who will remain behind. I do miss the family, but the knowledge that they will join me once we have completed this momentous task keeps me ready to face the day. Yet, what if he detest this new land of ours? What happens when we arrive to find the land unworthy of our sacrifices. He sips his wine now, although the taste is gone.

[Pinkerton]

Indeed, my apologies for prying. I do think of the lands I have left in the name of God, of my eldest son who will remain behind. I do miss the family, but the knowledge that they will join me once we have completed this momentous task keeps me ready to face the day. Yet, what if he detest this new land of ours? What happens when we arrive to find the land unworthy of our sacrifices. He sips his wine now, although the taste is gone.

"It is a gamble, this Crusade of ours. We do not know what we'll find once we arrive to the Crescent and that's if we get there and manage to beat the Saracens. But I doubt it's all sand, milord. The riches of the Fatimids are known to the whole world and cities such as Acre and Tyre are ancient and have a lot of history to them."

Strange question. Honest one, Guy thought, not pretending to be holier-than-thou and not caring about wealth or lands. Refreshing, in a way.

[Iron Aquilifer]

That is true, and yet, what is ancient history worth when we burn down their walls to get at the riches within? The best we can hope to do is limit the destruction so that our own holy sites can use their foundations. And the people we conquer? Will our children be able to walk freely among them, will guards have to watch every street corner for a Moslem blade? He offered a half-hearted giggle. Will the women be exotic flowers or has the heat made mockeries of their maiden faces? All these questions and no answers. No answers but faith. Not even wine. Finding his cup to be empty, the Duke nodded. I apologize for this dark mood I am in. It does not befit the generosity of your position as host.

[Pinkerton]

That is true, and yet, what is ancient history worth when we burn down their walls to get at the riches within? The best we can hope to do is limit the destruction so that our own holy sites can use their foundations. And the people we conquer? Will our children be able to walk freely among them, will guards have to watch every street corner for a Moslem blade? He offered a half-hearted giggle. Will the women be exotic flowers or has the heat made mockeries of their maiden faces? All these questions and no answers. No answers but faith. Not even wine. Finding his cup to be empty, the Duke nodded. I apologize for this dark mood I am in. It does not befit the generosity of your position as host.

"It is quite clear that taking Jerusalem is only the first step. Afterwards we'll have to stablish a Christian Kingdom to defend the lands, and after that we will have to actually defend them, with sword and axe, against the Muslim foe and perhaps even the Greek. This isn't as simple as some holy men would want us to think, milord. 'Tis a complicated affair and is bound to bring doubts to even the most pious of men."

Guy's cup was almost full. He hadn't enjoyed spirits in a long time, he only drank out of courtesy.

"But you must always remember that this is an opportunity to achieve great things and those do not come often."

[Iron Aquilifer]

Greatness is an aspiration of us all, Theodoric accepted with an open smile. And what is greatness if not merely the stories told by men who know nothing, of those who have nothing? The Holy Land is where we are needed. It is where Christ wants us and it is where we will become the names men aspire to be. Lifting himself up abruptly, Theodoric offered a shallow bow. Blessings upon you and your family, my lord Villehardoon. Offering only a wan smile as to the butchery of the knight's name, Theodoric left. ​I will wish to greet you when the priests write of us.