[AAR] RTW: The Brothers of Normandy

[Ragabash]

Author: Atterdag
Original Thread: CTW: The Brothers of Normandy

CTW: The Brothers of Normady - Chapter. I

Posting the second Sicily AAR - but not the last I hope

Playing with official Chivalry Early Era version on Hard/Hard settings.

On top of that I use the following guidelines:

• No Crusader States or proclamations may be build before the council of Clermont event

• No cheats, except toggle_fow to take screenies

• Command every battle personally

- Prologue -




It rained. Strange.
It poured down from the sky of god, as if all the saints in heaven cried. His hauberk hurt his shoulders, the nasal guard of his helmet annoyed him, the heavy shield tired his left arm, but the blue standard he held in the right hand felt easy as his mind after a round of Sicilian wine.

Constantino looked down upon the city below him. The castle of Palermo lay quiet in the rain, only two guards were seen at the gate. He turned around in the saddle and shouted in German, with a considerable Amalfi accent -
Mein liege. Ze kastle is kweiet and has not yet zeen ouver host, not efen ze slightest lightning of fires.
A little stout man also clad in hauberk and with the ensign of a red eagle on his shield rode up beside him.
He answered in fluent Italian (with a slight Veronese accent though, Constantino noted):
- That does not suffice. Constant, send two of the Norman squires down to the gate, to let the guards know that their liege Robert of Sicily has arrived, and it is their duty as faithful vassals to greet him with all the formalities.
Wounded by the indifference of his linguistic abilities, Constantino did as he was told.

Soon Palermo was busy in the rain as two hundred Norman and Italian knights and squires rode through the gate.

.:First Chapter:.





- Summer 1072 Anno Domini -

Count Robert spread the large map out on the wooden table.
Eagerly he began issuing orders to his vassals.
The knights just arrived from Apulia and Beneveto was ordered to travel to Cosenza immediately, while the Normans would stay and train for six months.

Constantino observed the drama from the ranks of guards at the back. His liege was standing almost directly behind the count. After some time he got tired and went down to his horse.
His liege sent for him the following day and told him that they were to stay with the heir of the Norman count in Palermo. - Great honour. Constantino said in German, beaming. Yes it is - his liege answered in Italian.

After six months the majority of the knights left together with the count, while his heir stayed behind with four units of Sicilian militia, armed in all kinds of peasantry ways. Only a few knights did the count allow him to retain.
Proving fatally later on.



The family of the Norman count grew in the summer of 1073 Anno Domini. A man named Alberta Doria was given the hand of a female member, and brought the few knights he could afford into the ranks of count Robert.



And one of his nephews Boemundo clad in mail and went to serve his uncle.

But these happy times of jest and weddings would soon be changed by the will of the almighty.

CTW: The Brothers of Normady - Chapter. II

.:Second Chapter:.

- Winter 1073 Anno Domini -

Constantino looked grimly at the amassing infidels. They were not knights, but they were numerous.
Two contingents of light horsemen paraded past the stone wall, while they shouted their horrible war cries to the skies. He hoped the angels would send liquid fire down their open throats.
He hoped that they would burn for ever in hell and assaulting the city Palermo would cost them dearly he swore.
But he was not stupid. With nothing than a 400 Sicilian peasant and 70 knights they could not hold the castle.
The walls were to thin and they had no towers, nor had they burning oil to pour down the backs of the brown devils.

He prayed that he would find a worthy death with his liege.





In Italy news came as a shock to the count. His nephew was cornered. Sallying forth was foolish with such a small force. He had to relieve his heir. In haste Robert amassed his knights and gathered all of his vassals.
Some 400 knights could he muster, but there were those in his court that suggested that he should assemble the Norman cavalry who had served as tax collectors in Calabria. The newest member Alberta Doria said that the walls could resist any assault and that he himself had inspected them. Robert was calmed and gathered the cavalry.





When he was halfway to Palermo scouts told him that an attack had begun when they escaped through a secret door. The count's heir had decided to fight with his men.





.:The Assault:.


Constantino sat next to his liege. They observed together with the other knights how the infidels moved their rams closer to the walls. The Sicilians stood calmly at the walls ready to great any intruder with arrow and axe.
The counts heir who used an Italian name asked the liege of Constantino what to do, he seemed very insecure. Probably had something to do with his large hauberk and the blazing sun.
His liege sat for a while, as in deep thought then turned to Constantino and asked in German: - How would you oh my adoptive son, have this host to act?
Constantino beamed. I zink zat we should make an.. he searched for words.. Sturmangrif.. zally forth and tally ho - he smiled.

His liege nodded. The peasant shouted when the heavy cavalry rode out, thinking that they would abbandon them.





The first ram moved slowly towards them. The infidels hadn't noticed the sudden movement.





With a great roar the knights of Palermo smashed into the flank casting several of the Muslims into the skies. None dared to raise their spear against them.
Constantino looked back and saw a wake of death.





Several enemies came against them now. Arrows flew above their heads. Spears broke thorugh the stomachs of horses and knights. Heavily armoured Saracens closed in. Desperatly they fought. Halos of saints stood above them, and yet, the infidels pressed on. Finally the heir shouted retreat and 50 knights rode fatigued into the castle.

The rams were moved up and the walls started to crumble.





The knights took a break by the keep. Constantino looked for his liege. He was unhurt it seemed, because he was counselling the heir.
Several Sicilians started to pray loudly. A priest shouted for the mercy of god until an arrow struck him in the back. Several knights cried. Why had the almighty abandoned them? Why?
The civilians ran to the church and the church bell started to ring.

Then the wall fell.





Through the dust, Constantino heard the war cry of the Saracens and only a second later, horsemen smashed into the Sicilian militia.





He saw the majority of them falter and run, so without minding the shouts of his liege he spurred his horse and rode down to the fray. He crushed an enemy rider with his lance, dropped it, drew his sword. Beheaded an infantryman. He felt his horse crush a man. He didn't care. He wanted to die alone forsaken by god.
Then he turned his head and saw three other knights, from Calabira they shouted their own war cries. 'Ave Maria, Ave Calabria!' He felt a rush as the remaining 50 knights came to his aid. The infidels shouted, cursed, but fought on.





A Saracen rider challenged him. The exotic sword in his hand red with Christian blood.
Constantino assaulted the enemy neck. The opponent ducked slashed back. taking rings from the mail with it. But the Christian wouldn't falter, he spurred horse and it kicked the infidel in the chest he fell and didn't rise again.
He heard more shouts in Italian as the bowmen drew their short swords and went to paradise.





But it didn't help. Another infidel closed in. One more threatened his horse. A third aimed his bow.
He cleared his mind and caught the first with the edge of his sword. Surprised he sat in his saddle with the blood flowing from his open throat.
The second blocked his sword and struck him on the side of his helm. Confused Constantino attacked again cleaving the enemy from shoulder to waist, but then he felt a sting the right shoulder. Another in the right leg. His horse disappeared under him. He met the black ground slowly.
When he opened his eyes again he didn't see Sct. Peter, but the heir falling victim to infidel treason. He saw a clear defeat. He prayed and crept in under the shadow of a house.





To be continued..



Will the next chapter be just as long and will it have better images?
Will Constantino learn proper German?
Will he find his liege alive?
Will he even survive?
And what will Count Robert do about the loss of Palermo?

Stay tuned to find out.

CTW: The Brothers of Normady - Chapter. III

Damn school.. But I’m continuing the story of Sicily, though the new patch will make this save impossible to use.

.:Third Chapter:.




Summer 1074 Anno Domini

The count had surrounded Palermo together with his vassals.
Norman knights made sure that no Saracen, Christian or devil would escape the fortress.
Count Robert had made up his mind and his knights agreed. They would tear on the besieged with burning arrows and blocade until the infantry arrived from Italy. The count had hoped that he could relieve his nephew, and had therefore only brought his knights and their squires.





A year later in 1075 only some 700 lightly armoured soldiers had come. Only the hiring of heavily armoured mercenaries prevented Robert of cutting the head off the responsible knight Alberto Doria.
When they were ready to assault, Robert died.
His friends say that he met god in his sleep and that Sct. John himself followed him through the gates of Eden.
But those who wish his reputation harm and only care to spit on the deeds of good men say that he drowned in his own tears. Crying over the loss of his nephew.





Luckily the count was a strong and pious man, for he led the host of knights without a doubt the following day. None dared to question his acceptation of power though he had not been crowned by a bishop, but by a humble monk from the mountains of Palermo.
While the coronation ceremony had been humble, his speech the following day was high flown and carried the weight of several saints. There before the broken walls of Palermo the count rode past his vassals, their knights, his own retainers, the infantry and the French mercenaries.
He urged his men to take the walls and crush the infidels, and promised rich gifts to the first knight who reached the keep.





At the sound of drum and flute play the army advanced under wavering banners, glittering in the warm sun.
Knights from Normandy and Sicily held together with the new count the centre and would smash through the destroyed wall section.
The knights from Italy, volunteers from the cities of Pisa, Amalfi and far away Milan held the right wing while knights from the counties of Calabria, Apulia and Beneveto held the left.
Priests had promised that slaying infidels would not enrage the almighty and that Sct. Peter guarded them. All they had to do was raise their swords in honour of the fallen Christians and leave none alive.





The plan was simple. The right and left wing would start to smash their respective walls and when the enemy ran to reinforce those positions, the main force would strike.
As the two rams started to rumbe across the field their enemies ran around confused. It seemed that any chain of command had been broken.
Everything was going as planned.





An arrow hit a knight sitting next to the count. It hit him below the helmet and over the protection of his hauberk. The neck exploded in blood. Taken off guard by the hot liquor splattering across his face the young count vomited.
Some of the knights took their dead comrade to the priests while the count prayed for victory.
But then the time had come and the two wall sections crumbled. The Christian centre rushed forward. War cries and the thunder of horses filled the thick air.
They cleared the rubble and Christian lances met Muslim shields and bodies. An infidel came in the way of the count. Clumsy he cut off the enemy head. His companions cheered. The count fell a lust for vomitting, but kept fighting. His Greek horse chrushed anyone beneath it. His knights screamed in extase as blood flew through the air and Muslims got stabbed, kicked, impaled or cleaved in several pieces.
Now everything went fast. Their charge had cast away dozens of enemies, but even more came running to fill the gaps. He screamed in French to the mercenaries and they came willingly for he paid their wage. The French spears and Sicilian swords rose and fell like the hammer of god upon the defenders. They shouted in anger and cursed, and many turned around and fled.





Pursuing them they reached the square by the keep and every infidel was slaughtered.





Constantino looked out from his cell. They had taken all from him. His sword, his hauberk, his helmet and only left him with a simple peasants tunic. They’ll regret it. He thought cruelly as he saw the Sicilian knights breaking through the Arab centre. All of the sudden he heard high voices in Arabic and the scream of the inmate in the cell next to him as they killed him.
He jumped down from his stool grabbed it and moved over to the side wall. The first Saracen who entered wore no helm. Quickly he smashed the stool into the Saracen’s face. The stroke was so hard that blood sprung out from the man’s other ear. He seized the sword before it fell from the Saracen’s hand, and stabbed it into the belly of the other infidel. He moved steathly out into the dungeon corridor. He checked the cells. Only two men other than him had survived the infidel assault. The one their captors had slain was a knight from Messina. Quickly he freed the last survivor, a squire who spoke Italian with a Maltese accent. The Maltese greeted him gladly and Constantino gave him one of the two swords. They also took the leather armour from both dead Saracens. The squire accepted the one who Constantino had wrecked with his sword when he had gutted the second Saracen.





As they carefully exited the dungeon, they realised that all of the enemy force had been pulled out of the castle to man the walls.
Constantino took a peek out of the gate. Total carnage was his reward. The Christian infantry was mopped up with a large force of Saracen swordsmen. Mounted knights wielding lances and carrying the colours of the holy virgin smashed into their rear. What a sight, but hen he became worried around 50 of the enemy’s best men were running for their lives. Towards them and the keep.
Not wasting a single moment they closed the gate and could hear the desperate screams of the infidels as they were cut down by the Christians.





The count turned his head and the sun blinded him for a second.
Around him hundreds of dead enemies lay, immobilised for ever. The knights screamed with joy their thanks to god, and his vassals congratulated him.

He turned the tired horse around and said:


'Here on grassy island
sires of honour and virtue
met broken soul
hard a struggle was fought
saints strode beside them
and Christendom prevailed'



His vassals noded in ave, but from the castle a scream was heard.


___________________________________________________________


What will happen when Constantino meets the new count?
How will the new count react on the remaining Muslim forces?
Will Constantino find his liege?
And will he get the opportunity to speak some German?

Stay tuned to find out!

School is the slayer of AAR's

.:Third Chapter - continued:.




Summer 1074 Anno Domini

Constantino wept. He held desperately the molested body of a man to his chest.
His warm tears hitting the blood splattered white tunic with a red eagle.
The Maltese stood patient behind him, having realised with all the sharpness of an islander, that the Italian knight had found a friend or relative that now walked the pastures of heaven with Christ and his saints.
The father of Constantino looked like a dead peasant. His eyes were wide open, his mouth expressing true horror and his noble beard had been cut off.
The young knight from Amalfi regained his dignity. Slowly he ordered the Maltese to help him drag the tunic and hauberk of the dead lord.
He raised his head to the blue sky and screamed in agony, and down in the courtyard, another man also raised his head in praise to god.

CTW: The Brothers of Normady - Chapter. IV

.:Fourth Chapter:.




Winter 1081 Anno Domini

Count Guglielmo sat in deep thoughts.
Outside the farmers went of to work in the cool early hours.
The fire had died out and he could hear the slumbering guard on the other side of the door.
He scrambled through some papers on the oak desk. Memories subdued his strong will and he got lost in the past.
He revived his campaigns.
From the death of his benefactor, count Robert to the slaughter outside Agrigento.
This vassal. Constantino was his name; he scared him as a ghost.
Guglielmo delved into the papers once more, but couldn't get the numbers of the Apulian taxes to cover the 'event'.
Constantino had walked down to him as in trance, completely obvious to the world, pale as a noble woman’s skin, in a white tunic with a red eagle, staring at some distant shor no other than himself could see.
He had indeed appeared to be a spectre.
When the young Italian had reached him he kicked a wounded Saracen in gut until the infidel had begged for mercy in a form of Frankish. Constantino had just cut his tongue out, and proceeded to beat the Saracen to death.
Mad with grief - he mumbled.

None the less he had helped him taking the remains of Saracen Sicily. Norman hegemony had been secured.
He shivered as he thought of the pure madness Constantino had shown when he learned that he had allowed Saracens to serve in the Sicilian army. A guard knocked on the door. He rose from the stool covered his robes around him and gave the permission. His personal bodyguard entered.
An infidel delegation have arrived at Messina my liege - the guard was sleepy.
They request an audience within a week- he continued, mumbling.
Are Constantino and the knights from Italy still in Agrigento? - Guglielmo was nervous.
Yes my liege.
Then let the Saracens know that I'll see them within 5 days here in Palermo - the count replied.
Aye, my lord- the guard bowed and walked out.

Five days later he received the enemy delegation in his chamber.
It was an emir from Cairo, who led them. The emir spoke a kind of Italian so they could personally negotiate. The Fatamid caliphate in Egypt had for a long time been protecting the Zirids from Tunisia. It were them the Christian’s had fought for control over Sicily, so technically they had been at war. Now only Malta and Tunisia remained in the Zirid hands. The Caliph had obviously discovered that the Sicilian Muslims were loosing, so he offered a fair peace. Gulielmo doubted that the far away calpih had even asked the Zirids, if they wanted peace.
But that wasn't important. What mattered was the fact that all of Sicily was to remain in Norman hands and that the emir from Malta would become the vassal of Guglielmo.
He on the other hand promised not to attack Tunisia within 10 years. Furthermore the Egyptians would be given trade rights in all the cities on Sicily and the Muslim populace were allowed to retain their religion without harassment.

CTW: The Brothers of Normady - Chapter. V

.:Fifth Chapter:.




Summer 1082 Anno Domini

The Emir of Malta had not sent any taxes, nor had he sworn allegiance to the fledging Sicilian state.
He seemed to be more interested in piracy on Christian ships. So Guglielmo sent a delegation to Cairo. They obtained the assurance that no Muslim in Tunisia or Egypt would react if they punished an unruly vassal. So the count assembled the army and navy.

.:Malta:.

Constantino and his Maltese squire Frederico sat at a fire, as far away as possible from the Saracen part of the camp. Around them, sergeants from Constantino’s county in Apulia ate their late supper. When his liege had died, the whole county and small family castle went to Constantino. He had now served Guglielmo for quite some time and aided him in taking Sicily for the Normans.
Frederico was polishing his sword and helmet, but raised his brown head when a shout in a strange language cut through the warm evening air. It appeared at first to be a mixture of Italian, Greek and Arabic. But it was Maltese. Frederico went over to the camp gate and brought a tall armoured man with him. The squire explained that this was Alfonso di Malta, the Christian captain of Malta.
The stranger saluted and sat down. His white tunic was dotted with countless small black crosses, and he wore a well trimemd beard.
Slowly through Frederico, the Maltese explained that he and some 300 men-at-arms had come to fight for the Christians, and asked if he most courteously could be let to the count.
A akward silence filled the Maltese air. The Italian sergeantswent quit, they knew that their liege and the count wasn't the greatest example of brotherhood in arms.
Constantino spat on the ground. Here it’s me who’s in command – he told Frederico who translated. The count is here yes, but he does what I tell him to do – When Frederico had finished, the captain looked smiling at Constantino.
In a slow, but warm voice, Alfonso di Malta spoke again to Frederico, whos translation was even lower.
You are a strong man monsieur - Frederico translated. I can tell from your face, men and equipment, that you have faced many a fight. That's normal for men like us. But I do not go against my liege, well I do not have an earthly liege, Christ is my only lord. The pope, you wonder? - he asked when Constantino was about to . He is not any holier than Sct Peter was crucified with his head towards the sky. He's nothing more than a man of straw held in power by the men from Tuscia. That is not the issue however. What is of most utterly importance is that you, sir, lay down your hostile actions towards your liege. I may not know you, but I know that such incidents only lead to hate and strife, and such deeds are not pleasuring to Christ and his saints. - Frederico finished.
I am surrounded with infidels - Constantino mumbeled. His eyes were red and he seemed to age before them - and rest assured, that I will take care of you later, di Maltese.
The two Maltese men were not very joyful when he left them.

.:Malta – Second part:.

Guglielmo shouted an Ave Maria as he led the knights forward. He felt a rush as the sound of horses and commands filled the air.
The zealous Constantino had told him to hold the left with his knights.
Some vassals mumbled about the order of society, for it was not fitting for a vassal to command his liege. But the count saw it as advice. Constantino was the only one among them who had such knowledge to the infidel tactics. He counted on him.





Constantino observed the Saracens. He and Frederico rode with the horse archers. Picked by him to only include Christians they were almost more important than the heavy cavalry. At first he had thought them to be blasphemous, but now after having fought the infidels in 10 of his 26 years he had understood how efficient they were, and as they lacked any other form of ranged support he counted on them.






From the hill they could see how the Maltese and Saracen infantry marched against the Zirid Maltese lines. Fortunate to have heathens kill heathens, so Christians wouldn't get hurt. He himself had the heavy Italian cavalry with him, while the Count took the Norman and Sicilian knights together with the other 100 mounted archers.





The enemy now rushed forward, their lines came in disarray. With a stroke of good fortune from Sct John, Constantino noticed the weak enemy lines and ordered the heavy cavalry to engage the enemy.
He left Frederico with orders to keep firing at the Saracen horse archers.
His horse carried him once again into the fray.





He swung, he stabbed, he killed. The light Zirid cavalry could not withstand them and dozens fell.
It was short and brutal. The Saracens tried to parry the incoming lances, but their shields broke.
They tried to parry the swords, but their arms were cut off.
Constantino calmly calculated the amount of casualties. A good charge surely, and the Norman count had used it. The infantry was falling like flies under the sun of god. Now they turned around and ran. He laughed grimly as the hooves of his mount crushed Saracen bones and flesh in the pursuit.





Frederico, ordered the horse archers to fire. Again and again they sent volley after volley down upon the Zirids below the hill. The Saracens were unable to return fire. Well they tried, but every single arrow struck the hill before claiming any casualties.





The Emir of the Maltese appeared from behind the enemy lines.
Guglielmo spurred his horse. The Sicilian knights followed him and soon they reached their foes.
The count gutted an enemy noble, his interiors flowing on the green grass of Malta.
A knight was beheaded by a fine sabre. Quickly. He parried. He ducked. He fought. And the enemy died.

Soon all of the enemy cavalry lay slain and Guglielmo kissed his sword, thanking the lord almighty and all of his saints for this victory, but deep inside of his mind he praised Constantino more than Christ and Sct John, for he had won with his knowledge.


_______________________________________

How will Constantino handle his new power?
What new target will Guglielmo seek?
Is Constantino mad?
How long did it take to write these chapters?

Stay tuned to find out!