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