Stories Thread

[Dafuge]

Port of Thessalonike, 1150

Ferro stood next to the great trading ships in the port of Thessalonike. It was raining and the sky was black with constant cracks of thunder. Men hurried around in the distance, picking up crates of various products from all over the world. In front of Ferro stood his only son, Efthymios, small and weedy, but loved all the same. Recently he had been promoted to the rank of Senator, a fine position for him and ensured a better life for his family. His shoulder length black hair was soaked and clung to his skin, drowning out his face.

‘Son, promise to visit me soon,’ Ferro shouted over the boom of thunder and waves.
‘Father, I will come as soon as my military and political matters have been sorted in Alexandria,’ Efthymios exclaimed sternly. Ferro sighed, once again his son was been his formal self, trying to hide his emotions. Bloody typical of him, at a time like this, thought Ferro.

‘Tell me why you are going to Alexandria instead of staying here in Thessalonike? This city is perfect for you, not to far away from Constantinople and very profitable. Why not stay here awhile until you are set up. Then move to some exotic land to the south.’

‘I’m going to Alexandria father and that’s final,’ proclaimed Efthymios stiffly. ‘You know as well as I do why I am going Northern Egypt father. I am to become a Legate of the House Ilios Korakas and soon I will have my own city, just like this one and your doubts will be cast from your mind. Also you know I how I feel about fighting fellow Christians, which I am sure to do in Greece, no matter how pompous they are. I wish to fight the Muslims and spread the true word.’

His father sighed again, once more wishing that he hadn’t given his son works of Caesar to study. From a small age Efthymios had become obsessed with military writings and his heroes consisted of Romans and Greeks such as Scipio and Alexander. He had a burning desire to become a mighty general like them, and fight for his country. The only problem was that his poor intellectual capacity for anything other than reading and logistics meant he never had the right flair or imagination to be educated in a military school. Thus he had a small knowledge of military matters but he had a lot to learn, including how to kill a man.

A shout came from across the dock for Efthymios; he quickly turned to his father and gripped him in a fierce hug.

‘Goodbye father, we will see each other soon,’ and before Ferro could reply Efthymios was off, onto the ship in a flash and sailing away to some distant land. Ferro ran his wrinkled hands through his white hair. He sighed for a final time a turned his back on the dock, slowly walking back up to his carriage to take him back to Thessalonike. As he reached there he climbed into the back and told the driver to take him home. He gave a curt reply and lashed his horses. At once they were off, at a slow trollop down the muddy road.

With the hour or so of uncomfortable bumping until they reached the main city, Ferro had time to reflect on his past. He had shoved it aside for the twenty years he spent raising his son but now with him gone, there was only himself to look after. 42 years had gone by since that dreadful event in Cairo, when Ferro had to flee the great city with the mighty general Vissarionas ek Lesvou.

Back then he was young, a meagre eighteen years old, but already a retainer of the promising Senator. He had escaped, barely, with his life. Once giving his report to the appropriate Senators and the like, he resigned from his job and moved into Greece with a small fortune. Quickly buying all the available land he was free to live his life how he wished. He fell in love with a woman and they lived happily for many years with only one burden. This been her trouble with producing offspring as many died during infancy or whilst still in her womb. She finally gave birth to Efthymios prematurely to Ferro’s great delight. But then to his horror worse news came, his wife, Helen, had died during labour. He had got his final wish, with great expense. Once Efthymios had lived past his first years Ferro began to indulge him, desperately trying to make God and Mary forgive him. He had lived the rest of his life happily.

Now his son, Efthymios, was returning to Egypt, where his father all those long years ago had seen such terrible things. Now he was going to return the favour, to beat back the Fatimid dogs to their last province, and their most holy one. Mecca. There he and other noble Senators of the Byzantine Empire would destroy any last resemblance that Egyptians had tried to rule what was rightfully Roman.

With that last thought Ferro succumbed to tiredness and fell into his bed, having already returned to his home. He was smiling while he slept; making an eerie site for the maids and servants, but all the same Ferro knew a storm was coming, and he was happy!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Written with permission of Ramses II

[Smowz]

Athens 1150

He sat across the table listening intently to the messenger, it was not what he wanted to hear. Summoning up all his patience he waited whilst the man went through other trivialities and gave the man his expenses.

As soon as the man left the building Nevoulas ek Philadelphius walked up to a nearby vase, calmly picked it up and hurled it across the room and watched as it smashed into smithereens.

Behind him came a slow hand clap, Nevoulas did not need to turn to know it was his brother Makedonios.

Nevo if only you could take on the Muslim hordes with the Athenian porcelain at your disposal. Crowed Maka.

Nevoulas turned angrily, about to remind his brother of his place and to call him by an appropriate title. But upon seeing his brothers chirpy face, he reminded himself that things were not so bad. He was having to remind himself of this fact too often in these latter years of his term as Megas, the news from the outlying towns was the tip of the iceberg.

Upon seeing his illustrious brother's glum face Maka's face also turned serious.

More bad news from the East? he enquired.

It would seem your former overlords have been regrouping out in the East. They are bringing hordes of horses with them. The eastern push is in danger of stagnating and if these latest reports are true some of our best men are in severe danger.

Maka pondered his next words carefully.

I am sorry my brother I do not know much of this latest Sultan, he was most adament to push most of us outsiders close to the Eastern extremes, this is how I ended up fighting for the Egyptians.

Nevoulas eyed his brother, this was the first time in years, Makadonios had mentioned anything of this dark time in his life as a virtual Mamluk. He waited as Maka looked away for him to continue.

It was almost as if he knew that the Seljuk hold on Anatolia was weakening, I heard rumours of lavish buildings in Baghdad. Those were strange times. Maka wiped a tear from his face.

Nevoulas went to put his arm on his brothers shoulder, but Maka suddenly straightened.

But onto the present, I come to report that finally the extra ships from the south have arrived. After the embarrassing logistical display of a year ago we can soon be ready to set sail.


Nevoulas smiled at that, indeed it was a farcical display as they had set sail the first time with too many munitions and troops for the vessels to support them. After three horrific and painfully slow months at sea they came back the Athens. It would be good to go on this campaign, he really could not wait for the adventure if truth be told.

Yes, once my megas term ends, we will have that to occupy our thoughts my brother. Lets go to the docks now and have a look at the fine vessels myself.

[Northnovas]

Constantinople 1150

Aleksios left the building site of the new city walls and headed to the Tamagata House to meet a man who had been a part of the retinue of the late Emperor Aleksios. This man he was meeting was a veteran of the Emperor’s Army and had now been assigned to Aleksios.

Aleksios rode from the building site in a coach, thinking it had been sometime since he rode a horse. He was a builder and his buildings and civil plans were in various government locations in the Empire. He came to Constantinople to defend it against the Moors and ended up designing the capital’s defences with the new walls. Why would the Basileus assign a soldier to him? He thought back to his early days in the creation of his House to defend the Basileus and the Empire but his campaigns were next to nil. He ended up designing structures by commissions and what can this soldier do for him now.

The coach pulled up to the House and Aleksios aide was waiting for him and assisted him to the door.

“Master, the gentlemen from the Royal Army is here and is waiting in the Hall. He seems to be a decent fellow I have prepared your afternoon refreshments”. Aleksios acknowledged his aide and comment. He immediately entered the hall.

A small meal and wine had been prepared the guest was already indulging himself. The striking figure rose from his seat and greeted Aleksios.

“Antipatos Aleksios, it is an honour to meet you finally! I have been looking forward to meeting you and have concluded my personal business and I am at your service”. The soldier made a formal bow. Aleksios was already impressed with this character.
“I am Kostaki, soldier of the Royal Army, from the Corinth Region and now in your service as decreed by the late Basileus Aleksios.”

“Corinth!?” mused Aleksios. “No finer of a region for a soldier to come from; some of the best are coming from there now. What I can’t figure is how you were assigned to me I need an engineer not a well trained soldier?” The two sat to eat and continued the conversation.

“My lord, men in this Empire are known for their campaigning then their civic contributions. Maybe the late Aleksios is telling you it is time to get away from the cities and make a name for yourself. The men that can defeat our enemies and capture their cities are the men obtaining influence and wealth……………..”

Aleksios reflected back to his campaigning and smashing the Rebel Army and the rush of the battle and glorious victory he felt. However, the feeling was short lived on his return to Durazzo and seeing the place in squalor and reorganizing the city to improve the living conditions and that brought another euphoria. He wasn't sure what was greater? His attention wondered back to his guest.

“………. I will assist you my lord and bring you up to the level of the other generals. You have the organizational skills that can be applied to the battlefield.” Kostaki had realized he was losing his new master’s attention and was praying that if he was not campaign that he would release him from his services. The thought of remaining in the city did not appeal to the veteran soldier.

The two men sat awhile in silence and ate their meal.

Aleksios took a deep drink and finished his goblet of wine. Looking at the veteran soldier for a moment he made his decision.

“Kostaki, we ride! I don’t know where the hell too but we leave this week!” The soldier let out a sigh of relief. “My business is done here and I should return to Corinth. The Army has been sitting to long the men have most likely forgotten how to fight. A good campaign is what we need but where?”

The veteran thought for a moment. “There are still Rebels in the Empire especially in the north. Why don’t we make our way to Corinth through the northern lands and destroy the Rebel Armies we find along the way. It will give the men some training before they meet a professional army of some enemy faction.”

“Excellent! Let make the arrangements and we ride out by weeks end.” Aleksios was not sure what he was getting into but it felt good to have a plan and be on the move. “More wine!
Kostaki let us celebrate this new collaboration and toast the Army of Corinth and too many victories.”

The two men feasted with other guest of the House long into the night.