Crusade From: "Dudley Holliday" <dudley.holliday@easynet.co.uk> Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 00:00:00 +0000 Crusade Summer comes, but why do I feel this chill in my bones? Outside the sun beats down, sweat runs from the backs of my fellow monks as they toil in the gardens. Here, in the library; where I sit it could be the dead of winter. My lord, pray tell me what you plan? Grant me understanding of your mysterious ways; for the news that reaches me today, well it makes no sense. After the fall of the mighty city of Antioch, the emperor sent word to the pope in Rome, he called for Christian aid from a fellow nation. The Pope in his wisdom called upon the monarchs of Europe to send aid to the east, he called for a great Crusade to reclaim the holy land from the treachery of the heretical Khwaraziam Shar's. It takes time to marshal and transport these forces, so it was with gladdened heart that we, the people of Byzantium, heard tell of the first armies of the Angel Christ to reach our shores. The first to answer our desperate call for aid came from the Island of Cyprus. A host of Crusaders! They landed in Armenia, marched overland to the city of Edessa. Brave and proud banners fluttered in the light breeze, banners that proclaimed the arrival of Descati of the knights Templer. With shinning armour bedecked with the symbol of our lord, a white robe emblazoned with a blood red cross. Professional troops, seasoned warriors, levies and camp followers, a host of near on four thousand people. The city of Edessa sits upon the newly established border with the Shars of Khwaraziam. A border under threat from the Shar of Antioch, the bloody handed murderer Khomenii. The emperor in his divine wisdom has called for a marshalling of forces, the southern army to defend this border has been named the army of the Holy Grail. This army had just begun to gather when the cities defence was further bolstered by the arrival of the Crusaders. Descati slammed the door shut as he stormed from the audience chamber. Heathens! How dare they! Hurling curses over his shoulder at the blank faced guards, he stalked through the narrow streets to the Inn provided for his use. The City Khomes or Governor, Amelious Scarpici had dared to question his ability. He, Descati, who led probably the best-trained knights in all the realms. Not only that his kind welcome was a false one. The governor had demanded that he be prepared to leave the city within the week! The knight's Templer would not be treated in this fashion. No, in the name of the Angle Christ, he swore it. Come nightfall and the city celebrated the arrival of the Templer army. The streets were thronged with drunken citizens and off duty soldiers. Away from the festivities, at the eastern gate, a detachment of Themata, levies, stood guard. The gate had been shut for the night. Two bored levie men stood watch while others patrolled the walls or slept within. One of the guards looked up, for a second he made as if to cry out. The other looked at him in surprise; an arrow jutted from his throat, seconds later a second arrow speed through the night to rip into the stunned guard's chest. He staggered back, blood soaking the front of his leather armour, he opened his mouth to croak a warning. A Battle-axe crushed his skull in an explosion of gore. From the shadows Descati smiled, the postern gate was his. He motioned behind him, Templer's run forth to open the gate, men at arms took up station either side with bow's drawn, arrows nocked. A second force moved within the city, through the darkness like wraiths, no sound escaped from their muffled equipment. Two hundred Pike surrounded the main barracks. Trained engineers rushed forwards to light fires, a single guard walked forward to question their presence, only to have a twenty foot pike rammed home in his stomach. Flames licked the side of the building, from inside came shouts of alarm. Half dressed men rushed out to be met by a solid wall of armoured Pikemen. In seconds a hundred unarmed Lochaghiai where sent to meet the Angel Christ. Elsewhere detachments from the Templer host seized the armoury, began to distribute weapons to waiting levies. Screams from the barracks and the roaring flames had finally alerted the city forces that not all was well. From the palace came the Edessa Kings Guard, heavily armoured and equipped troops, from barracks elsewhere came the Epilekta regulars. From outside the city gathered the Imperial units, all told the city could muster over three and a half thousand troops. Darkness and confusion from the unexpected surprise attack had left the forces of Amelious, of Edessa, UN-prepared. Many units where without armour or weapons. Officers hurried from the keep, hurried to find and command their troops. The narrow streets slowed them down, streets became clogged with soldiers. Amelious cursed, fools, he was surrounded by fools! Only one choice remained, he must take command, yes with the right leadership the city would be saved. With a unit of mercenaries, his personal guard, he rushed into the Market Square. Descati Laughed, the governor walked straight into his trap! From the other side of the market square charged nearly three hundred Templer's, this formation was led by the Sacre coure, the best of the templers. Arrows flashed across the market square, bounced harmlessly from plate armour. Then like a well oiled machine the templer's smashed into the lightly armoured Mercs. Like chafe before the wind, the Federati merc where pushed back, swept away. Imperial Optimati moved through the disordered mercs. Solid formations of professional warriors. A wall of pike crashed into the stalled cavalry. Soon the cobbled streets became slick with blood, more reinforcements from both sides pushing into the square. Descati listened to the reports of his officers. He was in control of the armoury, his troops had made massive inroads, but they where starting to take cassulties. The Byzantium troops knew the city, his own units became lost. He calculated that he was taking more casualties now, particularly in his freshly levied troops. If he fought on he would take the city. Already the fight was turning into a brawl as small units battled in house to house conflict. Fresh Imperial troops where encamped on the border with Antioch, in a few hours this forces would arrive. He had no doubt that the Templer's would win, even if outnumber by three to one. But.... In orderly fashion the exhausted troops of the Crusade began to withdraw from the burning city. They carried with them the weapons looted from the armoury, gold looted from houses and merchant holdings. They left the streets choked with the dead, innocent fellow Christians impaled on pikes, woman and children slaughtered. In the Market Square, four hundred men lay dead or dying, among them, half burred by a gutted horse lay the body of Khomes Amelious. All told some three hundred and fifty warriors of Edessa lay dead, along with over four hundred Crusaders. Yours in Blood and Vengeance, Dudley Holliday for New Hope Games Up