The Siege of Nicaea, 1097 AD

[Lucius Malfoy]

It would take almost a week for the Byzantine Navy to fully transport the lumbering host of Latin Crusaders as well as its own soldiers across the Golden Horn from Europe into the Orients. Anatolia was a very rugged terrain from the horizon seen as the Latins marched for Nicaea from the region of Nikomedia, still controlled by the Romans, but barely. Yet this was the land of empires; the Persians of Greek tales, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, various Caliphates, and most recently, the Seljuks of Rum. The loss at the battle of Manzikert during the reign of Romanos IV, some two decades ago, spelled the end of Byzantine control throughout much of Anatolia as the Turks surged forth in great numbers while the Romans licked their deep wounds.

Now, as the Latins marched south, the Roman Emperor hoped to regain what had been lost that day, over twenty years ago and reverse the misfortune of his Roman forebearers. To the Byzantine Empire, it was their chance to once more regain lost glory and prestige. To the Latins, it was their chance to fulfill their oaths to His Holiness, to Christendom and to God. Not since the days of Heraclius had such a pious host marched forth, baring blessed standards depicting Christ and the holy symbols of Christendom. Not since those days of the pious Roman Emperor Heraclius had war been defined with pious intent and holy justification. Soldiers sang church chants along the way as priests blessed them as they passed. The fervor was high and the determination to carry out God's wrath was present in all the hearts of those who went to war.

The vanguard was led by the German contingents, who arrived the earliest. Their soldiers had waited the longest and thus been given the honor to lead the march forward. They were commanded by Berthold von Zähringen, the former Duke of Swabia. The middle guard was that of the Franks who arrived relatively before the bulk of the Norman contingents. They were personally commanded by the leader of the Crusade, Julien de Baalun, but the crusading leader had decided to ride with the vanguard that day, leaving command to Elias of Maine and his personal retainer, Sir Guy de Villehardouin. Lastly, the Normans brought up the rear guard. Though this could be seen as an insult, Julien told the Normans that they held the vital position of protecting the host from rear attacks, something that the cunning Turk could easily devise. Without their strong presence protecting the rear of the army, Julien inferred, the Crusading host would fall apart.

It took them till May when the Latin Crusaders arrived at the very walls of Nicaea, the ramparts of its walls covered with the Saracen banners of the Turkish occupiers. Immediately, Julien set about investing a siege upon the city. Three camps were set up in a wide crescent. The Franks commanded the center camp under Julien. The right camp, facing further south, was occupied by the Germans. The left camp, which faced north, held by the Normans under Robert Curthouse. The Romans were last seen setting up camp somewhere on the northern edge of the city while the Latins set their sights upon the western side of Nicaea. It did not take long for crews to begin preparing makeshift ladders and rams as well as light siege weaponry for the battle to come.

The Armies of the First Crusade - 45,326 strong

The German Host, led by Zectorman (17,287) Zectorman (3,557): 572 footmen, 572 spearman 609 bowmen, 860 men-at-arms, 944 knights Iron Aquilifer (4,553): 722 footmen, 722 spearmen, 768 archers, 1086 men-at-arms, 1255 knights Bastard Feudalism (4,201): 668 footmen, 668 spearmen, 711 bowmen, 992 men-at-arms, 1162 knights Julia Domna (1,545): 237 footmen, 237 spearmen, 253 bowmen, 379 men at arms, 439 knights Lord Dread (1,741) 276 footmen, 276 spearmen, 294 bowmen, 415 men-at-arms, 480 knights MuttonChops (867): 175 footmen, 175 spearmen, 140 archers, 175 men-at-arms, 202 knights Kyrator (823): 166 footmen, 166 spearmen, 127 bowmen, 158 men-at-arms, 206 knights The Norman Host, led by Oznerol (12,209) Oznerol (4,206): 618 footmen, 632 spearmen, 687 bowmen, 1,076 men-at-arms, 1,193 knights Eredin (2,412): 467 footmen, 477 spearmen, 390 archers, 515 men-at-arms, 530 knights Skylord (449): 88 footmen, 90 spearmen, 73 bowmen, 92 men-at-arms, 106 knights Lord William (1,547): 227 footmen, 232 spearman, 253 bowmen, 396 men-at-arms, 439 knights Ace General (899): 132 footmen, 135 spearmen, 147 bowmen, 230 men-at-arms, 255 knights Jokern (630): 123 footmen, 126 spearmen, 103 bowmen, 129 men-at-arms, 149 knights Zeus Almighty (2,515): 370 footmen, 375 spearmen, 412 bowmen, 644 men-at-arms, 714 knights The French Host, led by Lucius Malfoy (15,830) Lucius Malfoy (4,042 men): 621 footmen, 635 spearmen, 676 bowmen, 978 men-at-arms, 1,132 knights Vernon (1,063): 216 footmen, 221 spearmen, 176 bowmen, 204 men-at-arms, 246 knights Celsius (1,845 ): 378 footmen, 389 spearmen, 299 bowmen, 446 men-at-arms, 336 knights Xion (2,493): 383 footmen, 391 spearmen, 417 bowmen, 603 men-at-arms, 699 knights Alexandrine (2,413): 371 Footmen, 379 Spearmen, 404 Bowmen, 583 Men at Arms, 676 Knights Poach (2,003): 308 footmen, 315 spearmen, 335 bowmen, 484 men-at-Arms, 561 knights Stildawn (1,971): 378 footmen, 386 spearmen, 309 bowmen, 399 men-at-arms, 499 knights

[Lord William]

Lord Neville pulls his army back and places them in reserve

[Gandalfus]

Aumale watches as the forces of Neville march away from the main body of the Norman army, eyebrow raised. Looking towards Curthose, he gestures towards Neville's forces with a sneer.

"Mon Seigneur, has this coward lost his wits? Selfishly he tries to preserve his own force. Methinks he and his forces should lead the first assault."

[The Mad Skylord]

Malcolm watched with the Norman lords as Neville pulled back. Looking towards Curthose and Aumale, he said;

"Perhaps you are right, Lord Aumale, but is it a good idea to let our army be led over the wall by a coward?"

Malcolm smiled cruelly.

"Besides, if the Turks come up our rear, he will be the first to meet them."

[Lord William]

Richard wasnt going to be lead by a bastard, his forces would remain in reserve. He looked at Stepan, giving him the glance to fall back. If the Normans attacked it would be without Nevilles forces

[Oznerol]

Aumale watches as the forces of Neville march away from the main body of the Norman army, eyebrow raised. Looking towards Curthose, he gestures towards Neville's forces with a sneer.

"Mon Seigneur, has this coward lost his wits? Selfishly he tries to preserve his own force. Methinks he and his forces should lead the first assault."

Malcolm watched with the Norman lords as Neville pulled back. Looking towards Curthose and Aumale, he said;

"Perhaps you are right, Lord Aumale, but is it a good idea to let our army be led over the wall by a coward?"

Malcolm smiled cruelly.

"Besides, if the Turks come up our rear, he will be the first to meet them."

Robert stands on his stirrups, covered in mail and the nasal helmet. He looked towards the fleeing banners and spat on the ground.

"Coward, son of a dog"

He looked to Aumale and Malcolm.

"Seigneur de Dundee, you might be right. But reason also speaks by you, Aumale"

He scratched his bearded chin.

"However, we cannot trust our lines of supply and our rear to such a traitorous and cowardly man. Neither would be fitting if we granted him the chance to lead the assault, that would be a dishonor for all here, worthier and more valiant men. A vassal of my brother has disgraced himself so early... pah!"

"Saint-Saes, send a messenger to the Neville, summoning here inmediately. Let the dog talk by himself"

The count of Arques nodded and a rider swiftly was dispatched to summon the Neville.

[Lord William]

Tell that Son of a whore, I don't take orders from bastards!!!! And if he wishes to speak with me, he can get off his fat ass and come to me.
Richard said angrily

[Oznerol]

The rider came back with his prideful, brainless answer. Robert stood on the stirrups still, looking at the city.

"We need to test their defenses, their resolve and the strenght of their forces..."

He turned to the rider.

"Order Neville to prepare for an assault"

He looked to a tower nearby, a true stronghold on the walls, crowned by proud banners.

"That tower of there. He must seize it"

[Lord William]

Neville wipes his ass with the paper and has it sends back.

[Ace_General]

Neville wipes his ass with the paper and has it sends back.

Stepan laughs very heartily and draws his sword and tests its edge, and turns to his lord and says with his crooked smile

I know I am a bastard, but you are a real son of a my lord. If I was a man with something to lose, or a smarter man, I would be riding over to that Curthouse fellow. But Robert is a worthless whoreson and the best part of him slid down the crack of his mother's arse when she birthed him in a cowshed. And perhaps if some of the cow manure there replaced his brains, he might actually be less of a fool. Not to mention not one man of noble blood elected to have the bastard lead anything, and here he is appointed commander of the normans.

If any of his sycophants and fools come to arrest you, I shall personally split their heads open like a melon and send his arrest warrant back to him with his mens balls nailed to it.

[Lord William]

Stepan laughs very heartily and draws his sword and tests its edge, and turns to his lord and says with his crooked smile

I know I am a bastard, but you are a real son of a my lord. If I was a man with something to lose, or a smarter man, I would be riding over to that Curthouse fellow. But Robert is a worthless whoreson and the best part of him slid down the crack of his mother's arse when she birthed him in a cowshed. And perhaps if some of the cow manure there replaced his brains, he might actually be less of a fool. Not to mention not one man of noble blood elected to have the bastard lead anything, and here he is appointed commander of the normans.

If any of his sycophants and fools come to arrest you, I shall personally split their heads open like a melon and send his arrest warrant back to him with his mens balls nailed to it.

I know brother, you are loyal to a fault and I love you even more for it.
Richard pulled out his sword, and yelled for more wine
Brother should this be our last day, let us take that bastard of a whore's son with us!!!!

[Ace_General]

I know brother, you are loyal to a fault and I love you even more for it.
Richard pulled out his sword, and yelled for more wine
Brother should this be our last day, let us take that bastard of a whore's son with us!!!!

OOC: lol I think on this crusade you are considered sick if you are not an alcoholic

Stepan shrugs and said

Perhaps we should attack the city at a spot of our choosing. I came here to slay heathens after all. Then that Curthouse bastard cannot deny our piety or willingness to fight the turk, then you insult him inside the city and challenge him to a duel for leadership of the army.

Though if you wish to fight him on the field, so be it as you are my lord and I am my vassal and I would follow you to the gates of hell. I have nothing to lose and my army is made up of the scum of my homeland, and I doubt that if I add some Normans to the tally of Bohemians, Poles, Saxons, Norse, and Ruthanians I have killed in my short and rather violent life it will make much a difference to the almighty

[The Mad Skylord]

Malcolm pointed out quietly.

"It is their leader that is disobedient, my lord. Rather than punish his men, why not order him from the field in ignominy?"

Malcom quickly changes his mind when Neville sends back the paper.

"Permit me to talk to him, sir?

[Oznerol]

Robert looked to the rider. And then to Malcolm, he had started to like that man.

"He has fully disobeyed orders from a superior. We will not beg him to come. We entrusted him with a task, and he plainly ignored it. However, his men, as you say, ser Malcolm, are not to blame"

He looked at the Scot.

"Seigneur de Dundee, you will indeed come to him, but you shall bring him in chains before me. He is hereby stripped of his command; we cannot endanger the whole crusade with a behavior as irresponsible as his. His men shall join other hosts and squads. Aumale, the knights will be under your command, the archers under mine, and finally the footmen shall be under yours, Dundee"

The Scot had said they were splendid combatants on foot. Robert would bolster his ranks with more footmen and see if the Scot was worth his words.

[Lord William]

Lord Neville protected by his men, should anyone attempt to arrest him will be starting a war

[The Mad Skylord]

Malcolm nodded. Little could be done, Neville was a damned fool, a blasted child! Malcolm glanced round to Angus, always at his shoulder. In Gaelic, he commanded;

"Spears into Schiltrons at the front, dismount the miles and my knights and have them join the footmen. Form them up in ranks behind our pikes."

Turning to Robert he asks, conversationally;

"Were you thinking of lending me any more foot or pike, Duke Robert?"

[Oznerol]

"Seven hundred footmen and spearmen shall acompany you, Dundee"

Said Curthose.

"Our whole army will be ready to act shall he resist to be brought to my presence. If, once he's befor,e me he repents of his attitude and begs for forgiveness I shall return his men and command to him"

[The Mad Skylord]

Malcolm nodded. He gestured for one of Curthose's banners to follow as he set off. He took a band of 10 knights with his bannermen and the banner of Curthose and the banner of the Crusade. He left Angus to get the 1'300 men into battle formation. He rode up to the ranks of the English host and yelled to Neville.

"Lord Richard Neville, I hereby demand your surrender into my custody, you will not be harmed if you do not resist."

Malcolm hoped it would work, but he knew it wouldn't, he was just buying time for Angus to get the men into position.

[Oznerol]

Robert himself commanded several squads to be ready, including the forces of Aumale, Cailly and Cadbury. He himself readied his knights in battle order, a powerful single line of armored Norman knights. He would bleed for the valiant and loyal scot if necessary.

[The Mad Skylord]

Malcolm gallops back to Curthose, shaking his head sadly. He quickly explains his plan, and then gallops back to his contingent, where he dismounts. The Scots begin hurling abuse in Gaelic, and then the battle horns sound, signalling the order to attack.