Kingdoms-Crusades Hostseat : History of the Holy Land

[_Tristan_]

As suggested in the main thread, this thread will be dedicated to recreating the events and the battles that took place in the campaign.
Obviously, not all information will be divulged in this thread and it will necessarily lag a little behind the real events in game (to allow medium-term strategies to develop)...

So here it starts...

The Kingdom of Jerusalem

It is now almost a century since Jerusalem was taken from muslim hands...
King Baldwin is our new king, being only 16, and I, his best friend since childhood, can see the weight that has fallen on his shoulders... We have shared the same games, endured the same teachings, taken the same blows from our swordmasters, received the same education, knowing all the time that he would lead and I would follow...
This is what I'm doing at the moment as we walk on the mighty walls of the first city of Christendom, he the King and I, the leader of his bodyguard, his friend, counsel and confident...
The task facing him already takes its toll as he knows the sacrifices that will have to be made for Jerusalem to remain in Christian hands...

This is the story I will try to tell as exactly as possible...

Turn 1

The main threats to our kingdom lie in the Seldjuk Turks to the East and the Egyptians to the South... The faith of Islam is strong in those regions and it is still strong in our own lands, it needs only a spark so it can be rekindled...
My king is well aware of that and has ordered two of his best generals to join him : one ,Gerard the Crusader, tought us all there is to know about war, having fought all his life to keep Jerusalem a Christian City, the second Balain is a great mind and a great leader of men. Our King assigns them missions of importance :
Gerard is to conquer the rebellious cities to the north of Jerusalem to act as a buffer should the Turks ever try to invade our lands.
Balain is to take 500 men from Ascalon and lead them south to our border with Egypt and have them establish a system of watchtowers, to give us a warning in case the Egyptians should gather their forces and invade.

Heeding his orders, Gerard head north to Banyas and lays siege to the city.
The town, although being of muslim faith, still harbors a small christian community and through them the gates are opened and Gerard leads the victorious assault...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094224144711294014.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094312144711294017.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

All wealth in muslim hands is confiscated and those who refuse to convert to our faith are put to the sword.
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094245144711294015.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

In the meantime, Balain heads south in the inhospitable desert and sets up our network of watchtowers... However, the sands of the desert are no friends to the Knights of Christendom and Balain cannot regain the safety of the walls of Ascalon.

On the diplomatic side, contact has be made with our brethren and allies of Antioch and trade rights have been granted on both sides. Prince Bohemond, from what I heard, will be a great leader to match my own king.

Turn 2

Dire news have reached us : Balain has been defeated by a large force of Egyptians crossing our southern border. He has been forced to retreat to Ascalon, with a great loss of fighting men. The army that defeated him is led by a general named Zein, a name that will not be forgotten nor will he ever be forgiven...

A young man by the name of Philipp Grey has foiled an assassination attempt on Balain's life and our king has taken him into his family as a reward for saving the life of one he considers as his uncle...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094058144711294004.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

The would-be assassin was followed and it was discovered that he was working for the Egyptians... He was then quickly killed and what was left of him was sent back to his master...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094117144711294006.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

The struggle to bring the light of the Church to the Infidels has seen some success however as Gerard has laid siege on Damascus and proceeding as he did at Banyas has taken the town with the help of the Christian community who mastered the gatekeepers and allowed our men to enter the city by its gates, to the surprise of the defenders...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094326144711294018.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094342144711294019.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094357144711294020.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

Once again, all muslim-held riches have been confiscated and the Infidels who refused to receive the word of Christ have been sent to meet their Creator...

Our navy outnumbered at one versus four has also taken on some Egyptian ships at sea between Acre and Ascalon and have won a close victory, thanks to the seamanship of one admiral Jacob, leading the fleet...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094500144711294025.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

What we have feared for so many years since the taking of Jerusalem seems to be happening... The Egyptians have awakened and are launching their assault on our lands... The Egyptian army under general Zein is on the Ascalon road heading north and our spies have spotted two more armies heading for Jerusalem in the desert to the South...

I've accompanied my King in setting up a network of watchtowers in the desert to watch the movement of those troops...

A message has been sent to prince Guy, my King's own uncle, to lay an ambush in an oasis south of Jerusalem to delay those Egyptians soldiers... To enable him to do that, more than 1000 men have been sent with him... Let's hope it will be enough...


Turn 3

Our worst fear has come true... A Jihad has been called on Jerusalem...
We must prepare to deal with the incoming muslim hordes...

An offer of mariage has been presented by one of the oldest families of Crusaders to our King, but my friend and liege has rejected the offer without even setting eyes on the bride... Later, he told me that these times are times of war and the affairs of love will have to wait...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094414144711294022.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

The onslaught we fear has started... Sultan Saladin himself, leader of the Egyptians is leading the Jihad, the Holy War, though I cannot see how war can ever be holy...

The first casualties have fallen... Prince Guy's ambush turned against him when the army under general Zein and both southern Egyptian armies engaged him... The losses were dire... Only a handful of the men we sent Guy got back to Ascalon with him... Not nearly enough to enable Balain and Guy to try and intercept Saladin when he passed Ascalon en route to Jerusalem...

Those muslims must really be driven by rage and hate against us to have covered so much ground in so few time...

One evening, for one of the first time in our lives, my king asked me to stay away while he met with a shadowy figure, lurking in shadows...
Later, he told me that Zein had committed one crime too many against our Lord and some measures had to be taken...
I was there some days later when a Palace guard was allowed in the throne room carrying a basket he said was found in front of the gates at first light : inside was the head of late general Zein...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094136144711294009.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

Now almost leaderless, the armies that defeated Prince Guy were ripe for the plucking... My King gathered all the fighting men of Jerusalem, gave them a stirring and heartening speech and himself led them to combat...

Under the cover of night, we assaulted the two smaller forces, giving no quarters and taking no prisoners... Then, during the same night, with the taste of blood on our tongue and the smell of death in our nose, we fell on the unsuspecting larger force led by Zein replacement, one Hazem Ibrahim and routed him back to Egypt...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094148144711294011.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094211144711294013.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094159144711294012.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

We got back to Jerusalem having lost 300 men but having defeated almost 2500 Infidels and prepared to repel Saladin's onslaught which will certainly not be long to come...

On reaching Jerusalem, our King was celebrated by the crowds and reveled in the joy of its people... The pleasure was short as upon reaching the Palace, the Council representatives presented my liege with a demand to take another rebellious town, their appetites growing with the successes of Gerard... My Lord, generally well-mannered, sent them away under all sorts of expletives and refused to hear anything about it...
Later, he asked me to send a messenger to Gerard to ask him to investigate that town...

Our Lord must want to test our faith to have us suffer so much... And it might still be the beginning of it... I cannot but think that our fight with the Egyptians will be a fight to the death...

Turn 4

Surprisingly, Saladin did not reach for Jerusalem but instead sieged Ascalon, perhaps intent on capturing Balain and Guy, two of my King favorite friends... The Crown Prince Al Adil has joined Saladin with his cavalry only army under the walls of Ascalon, seconded by one Medhat Hossman...

Once again, I've seen my King meet with the shadowy figure and later, we received news of the deaths of the General Hossman and an assassin that tried to enter our lands...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004064910144711295307.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004064910144711295307.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

My King gathered his men and with help from the men of Acre led an assault on Saladin's army... Once again, we struck under the cover of night... The days here are much too hot to fight in full plate... Saladin was defeated and went back to Egypt... 17 of his own bodyguard were captured in his flight and killed along with any routers, having refused to convert, being fanatically crazed by the Jihad...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094520144711294026.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094534144711294027.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094548144711294028.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

Balain and Guy then led a sally from Ascalon and with our King's help defeated the Crown Prince who went back to lick his wounds in Egypt. Once again, the prisoners were offered conversion, refused and were then put to death...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094015144711294000.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094040144711294002.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

An another bride has been turned down as my King is too much haunted by the war to be able to see the beauty of any girl... Lastly, he's been telling me he's afraid he has fallen in love with his sword... I'm not sure he was joking...
http://www.casimages.com/img/jpg/071004094429144711294023.jpg (http://www.casimages.com)

Recent events have strenghtened my faltering faith in our Lord as he finally seems to have turn his benevolent gaze upon our once God-forsaken lands...


To be continued...

[Ferret]

Here follows the history of the Principality of Antioch as of ...(turn 5)

...(turn 5)

The armies commanded by Our Holy Prince have held the Jihading Turks at the bridge near Edessa for two years now.

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/5835/armieswa7.th.jpg (https://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=armieswa7.jpg)

Our main army is led by the Prince himself and the current Regent leads the Reinforcements.

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2346/antiochfm4.th.jpg (https://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=antiochfm4.jpg)

The enemy forces are commanded by the Dreaded Sultan Nur el Din and his son. Other Turkish Generals command the smaller army and help to sort out the Sultan's army. The enemies armies contain a variety of different regiments due to the fact that they are currently participating in the Jihad to Jerusalem.

https://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7884/turksux8.th.jpg (https://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=turksux8.jpg)

However Price Bohemond is tired and orders a decisive attack across the bridge immediately. He first attacks the famed Sultan Nur el Din in a night battle, excluding the reinforcements from both sides. Despite the famous dread and commanding skills of the Turkish Sultan he is not enough to hold off the onslaught of Royal Knights from Antioch and a decisive victory is won. All prisoners are executed.

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/1630/battle1em0.th.jpg (https://img229.imageshack.us/my.php?image=battle1em0.jpg)

Straight afterwards the Regent marches up behind the Prince and the other two Turkish armies are quickly put out of action.

https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/9141/battle2ni3.th.jpg (https://img376.imageshack.us/my.php?image=battle2ni3.jpg)

This leaves Jerusalem safe from the North and leaves the Nearby Turkish town open for taking. Who knows where Prince Bohemond will chose to direct his forces next?

[Privateerkev]

Turn 5

The Turkish Sultan fires his adviser for the lack of success in the latest campaigns. The new adviser promises to lead the Turks to glory. But the road will not be easy. The Turkish Empire is low on funds, low on troops, and lacking in any significant infrastructure. And worse, it is split into two far off parts.

But the adviser will try anyways. A call is placed to all of the assassins across the lands. The Hashashins agreed to set up a guild to help with training since they know that the adviser is supportive of their goals and pays well. Churches in both Antioch and Byzantine lands are damaged or destroyed. Since direct warfare will be difficult, this will become war in the shadows.

The armies will need to be rebuilt. And the Jihad to Jerusalem will have to be rethought. While Jerusalem is a long term goal, strategically it is not wise to commit all of the forces to something so far off. But the men on Jihad are already filled with zeal and will not wish to be delayed. Perhaps something must happen to those already on Jihad...

[Doug-Thompson]

Bravo. I don't have the time right now to make a worthy reply. I will, however, confirm that Tristan de Castelreng's surmise is entirely correct: "Saladin did not reach for Jerusalem but instead sieged Ascalon, perhaps intent on capturing Balain and Guy, two of my King's favorite friends." I was intent on capturing, killing or ransoming them, and capturing a castle in striking range of Jerusalem. I almost did it without a siege, too.

=========

It all began when couldn't find his main army. There was only one forest that my spy had not explored. I sent one unit of mercenary Bedouin Cavalry down the road through it.

Sure enough, a massive stack of his best troops ambushed that unit. Most of my intrepid explorers got away, and I ransomed six riders. So, in all, I'd discovered his whole army for the cost of eight men killed and about 114 florins in ransom. Also, his army stayed in view because my spy was close enough.

I attacked him with three stacks, obtaining a clear victory. To my further amazement, the AI did not retreat his remaining forces — including the two leaders — to Jerusalem, but west to a coastal castle.

This caused the declaration of Jihad. I was able to get two more stacks into the fight. My great hope was to draw the garrison out of the castle and capture it right off, without a siege. It almost worked, but the two leaders got into the castle, and I had no siege equipment. So Saladin besieged the castle. He had stacks in reinforcement range, but the excellent Christian leaders' ability to attack at night and boldness saved his friends and the castle.

[_Tristan_]

Turn 5

Our war with Egypt is also a war of shadows, of sneak attacks and fomenting riots... It has drained to our lands several disreputable members of Christian society who have asked from our lord the grant of some lands in the city of Jerusalem to install a guild house.
Seeing both the benefit of having more and better-trained spies at hand and controlling them, our Lord has accepted to lend some funds to that building

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5ThiefGAccept.jpg

There might be a moment of calm in our war with the Egyptians but Baldwin has confided in me that Saladin is a lion, crouching to strike with more force at his prey... Knowing that is life could soon be forfeit, he has once again declined to woo the bride presented to him.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5MarriageDecline.jpg

On the northern marches of our realm, Gerard strikes at the rebel castle of Baalbek. His many successes in the region have brought him great consideration from even his enemies, and some Arabs have joined him. Through them, he has once again obtained to have the postern gate open so that leading a small number of his men, he could enter the castle unhindered and open the main gates to the rest of his force.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5BaalbekSiegeOpen.jpg

The opposition is no match.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5BaalbekDeploy.jpg

The castle stores are ransacked and the garrison is put to death.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5BaalbekSack.jpg

Gerard has gathered around him a few comrades in arms that helped him in taking the castle, men to watch his back in combat and advise him.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5GerardRetinue.jpg

Our Council of Crusaders is very much pleased with this turn of event and have provided for the sons of minor lords to be conscripted as squires and begin their trained as knights.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5MissionSuccess.jpg

Further south, our assassins have taken out two of the Egyptians generals, hopefully delaying their armies in attacking our lands...

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5AssassSalahudinGnal.jpg
One died as his ancestor Cleopatra did, with the bite of a snake to his breast.

https://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee86/badlieutenant_bucket/CrusadesPBM/T5AssassHazem.jpg

Such unfair dealings take a heavy toll on Baldwin, but he knows that the safeguard of Jerusalem has a price... A price to be paid in blood, and better theirs than ours...