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  1. #1
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Event Three: The Egyptian Crusade


    Please read the story and the Patriarchal Proclamation first. The Patriarch of Constantinople has called for a Holy Orthodox Crusade against the Egyptian Infidels. The target is the Egyptian capital city of Cairo, with Alexandria as a secondary objective.

    Rules:

    1) Any Senator may join the Crusade, though Senators who already own land are highly encouraged to remain behind to see to the welfare of their people. All Senators must declare their intention to join the Crusade by the end of the 1110 AD Senate Session by sending a PM to TinCow. All Senators who join the Crusade will be known as Crusaders for the duration of the Event. Whoever is elected Megas in the 1110 AD election cannot go on the Crusade.

    2) Every Crusader will be instantly transported to Constantinople after the 1110 AD Senate Session has ended. They will arrive with only their personal bodyguard; all other armies and military units under their command will be left behind.

    3) Once assembled in Constantinople, every Crusader will have a small army generated for their personal use during the Crusade. The army, including the avatar's bodyguard, will be no more than six units in size, and no less than three units in size. The number, type, and quality of units will depend on the traits of the avatar himself. The exact distribution will be determined by TinCow, but with the following general guidelines: Pious avatars will receive more ‘Crusader' type units (Grand Crosses, Religious Fanatics, perhaps even Crusader Sergeants, etc.); high Command avatars will receive higher quality units, either in the form of more advanced units, or normal units with extra experience and/or upgrades; high Chivalry avatars may receive trained knights, or their Orthodox equivalent; high Dread avatars may receive high-quality mercenaries; avatars that already own a settlement may receive some extra militia units.

    4) Only the units received in #3 can be taken on the Crusade. The Megas is barred from providing the Crusaders with any additional units in any way until Cairo is captured. Crusaders are free to join forces with their armies prior to setting sail or after landing in Egypt. Crusaders may abandon any other Crusader they have joined with at any point after landing in Egypt. Anyone who splits away in this manner will take all of their surviving units with them. All rank limitations on command are abolished for Crusaders for the duration of the Crusade. No Crusader may move his own army or fleet for the duration of the Event. All movement of Crusaders and their armies/fleets will be done by TinCow.

    5) Once all Crusaders have determined whether to join their army with others or remain separate, every separate army will be placed on a generated fleet of the proper size to hold them. The fleets will all set sail for Egypt at the start of the second turn of the Megas’ term. Every turn TinCow will roll a die for each fleet. This will simulate random factors effecting movement, such as weather, provisioning, delays, etc. Good rolls will result in full movement, perhaps even bonus movement. Bad rolls will result in reduced movement, or perhaps none at all. Armies of 6 units or fewer will receive a +1 to their movement rolls. Armies of 13 units or more will receive a -1 to their movement rolls.

    6) Every turn, any Crusader may attempt to sabotage the movement of another Crusading army, whether at sea or on land, or even while besieging Cairo or Alexandria. A die will be rolled to determine if this is successful. Successful sabotage while at sea or on land will slow down the movement of the target army. Successful sabotage while besieging a city will prevent the army from assaulting until the next turn. There will be a small chance that the Crusader who attempted the sabotage will have his identity revealed, regardless of whether the sabotage succeeds or not.

    7) When each army lands in Egypt, their entire fleet will be disbanded, with the IC justification of the wood being cannibalized to build siege engines. At this point, if the garrisons of Alexandria and Cairo are below 10 units, they will be increased to 10 units. After it lands, each Crusade army must send a PM to TinCow indicating whether they are marching directly on Cairo or going to Alexandria first. No city may be attacked other than Cairo or Alexandria. If there are AI controlled armies along the marching path, TinCow may require them to be destroyed before the city can be besieged. For the duration of the Crusade, an official declaration of war by the Senate or the Basileus is not required prior to attacking Egypt, however only the Crusaders may initiate the war.

    8) The Crusader army that conquers Alexandria will gain ownership of that city. This city ownership will completely bypass the usual rule requiring vassals to give provinces to their Lords. Whoever conquers Alexandria will obtain control over it directly. If there are multiple Crusaders in the conquering army, they must all agree on who will command the attack and who will receive the city prior to assaulting the city. If they cannot agree before the Megas declares the turn over, they must wait until the next turn to assault it. The Crusader who gains possession of Alexandria will be given two to four additional units by TinCow. This entire paragraph only applies if Alexandria is conquered before Cairo.

    9) The Crusader army that conquers Cairo will gain ownership of that city and will gain two religious relics. This city ownership will completely bypass the usual rule requiring vassals to give provinces to their Lords. Whoever conquers Cairo will obtain control over it and the relics directly. If there are multiple Crusaders in the conquering army, they must all agree on who will command the attack and how the spoils will be split prior to assaulting the city. If they cannot agree before the Megas declares the turn over, they must wait until the next turn to assault it. The Crusade (and the Event) ends when Cairo is captured.

    10) There is another aspect to this event which will remain secret until it occurs.
    Last edited by TinCow; 07-16-2008 at 13:40.


  2. #2
    Prince Louis of France (KotF) Member Ramses II CP's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Vissarionas ek Lesvou enters the Magnaura. The years have been kind to him despite living in a foreign, and at times hostile, city. The boy who first ventured here so long ago has clearly become a man, and confidence can be read in his stride. He marches to the Order table and, turning to the rest of the senators, begins to speak.

    'First let me announce my unshakeable intent to join the Crusade! Our Patriarch has called, and at the very least I would expect all unlanded nobles to answer!

    Second let me say, having so recently returned from there, that Cairo is a city of wonders and glory. Lately ascendant within the Fatimid empire it has grown to such a size that the population is beyond count, and people of every race, religion, and nationality mingle there. The quantity of trade goods moving through her ports is astonishing, and there can be no doubting the wealth of her leaders.

    Thirdly, alas, I must relate that some madness has overcome the Caliph in his palace, and as I have heard with my own ears he means to slaughter our good brothers and sisters in Christ and expel the survivors from his city. This cannot be borne! This must not be borne! Revered sites of ancient wisdom and holiness are threatened as well, and they must be rescued!

    With God, Patriarch, and Senate as my witness I vow here that I will not rest until the city of Cairo is taken in the name of Orthodoxy! If I must march alone I shall do so, but I pray that some among my fellow heirs of Rome will follow in my path. Let us light a fire of revival and justice across the Levant until Cairo is redeemed for the evil that is even now being done there!

    I shall participate in the other issues raised this session as best my Crusade preparations allow.'

    Vissarionas ek Lesvou then adjourns to the Order's chambers, to speak to his brothers.


  3. #3
    Makedonios Ksanthopoulos Member Privateerkev's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Makedonios walks into the Senate for the first time in a long time. Older, but still with a fire in his eyes, he walks in without the aid of a cane. He does periodically still cough into a napkin though.

    Greetings fellow Senators,

    I full-throatedly support the Crusade. The people of Cairo must be saved from extermination. I will provide all the material, legislative, and political support that I can muster.

    Any member of the Order without land has my full blessing to join in this Holy Crusade.


    Knight of the Order of St. John
    Duke of Nicosia

  4. #4
    Member Member Ituralde's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Pavlos stands, still looking a bit haggard and a full-grown beard now covers his face only broken by his scar but almost long enough to cover it.

    It does my heart good to see many in the Empire willing to teach those heathens a lessen. The Omens stand well for an attack against the Fatimid Sultanate and I wish every man that will venture there the best success!

    Let me just take this opportunity to congratulate Antypatos Ioannis Kalameteros and his wife Anna Komnenus on their recent wedding! Unfortunately I have been busy in the East and couldn't join the festivities on your estate, I am sure it was an event that many will speak of!
    The lions sing and the hills take flight.
    The moon by day, and the sun by night.
    Blind woman, deaf man, jackdaw fool.
    Let the Lord of Chaos rule.

    —chant from a children's game heard in Great Aravalon, the Fourth Age

  5. #5
    Saruman the Wise Member deguerra's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Ioannis stands and gives Pavlos a quick bow

    Many thanks for your kind words. I understand many were out furthering the cause of the Empire while I was married. No one need apologise for that.

    I too wholeheartedly support this Crusade. Egypt was once Greek, was once Roman. Our influence in those lands must not be allowed to be exterminated, nor must we ignore the plight of our brothers in faith.

    I will not be crusading myself, however. We are still at war with the Turks, and that war must be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. I am, as you are doubtlessly aware, a landowning noble and I encourage this to be an opportunity for those still without land to prove their worth. Finally, I have a beautiful wife and two small children. My Turkish campaign will keep me busy enough as it is, I do not want to spend more time from them than I have to.

    But I fully encourage all nobles of House Asteri, and indeed of all Houses and factions, who desire to heed the Patriarch's call to go. I especially encourage those without land, as I have said, but let us not exclude men of worth on silly technicalities. If a man feels it is his duty to go, I ask that we not bar his way.
    Saruman the White
    Chief of the White Council, Lord of Isengard, Protector of Dunland

  6. #6
    The Count of Bohemia Senior Member Cecil XIX's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    I fully support the Crusade on Cairo.

    Thus, I propose Edict 3.1-

    War is to be declared on the Fatamid Caliphate, and a Crusade on Cairo is to be assembled and launched, as per the Patriarchal Proclamation.

  7. #7
    Makedonios Ksanthopoulos Member Privateerkev's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    I second Edict 3.1


    Knight of the Order of St. John
    Duke of Nicosia

  8. #8
    Senior Member Senior Member Ibn-Khaldun's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Efstathios raises from his seat. He looks around and waits till the voices get quiet enough so that he could speak and says..

    "Our family are known as brave warriors and as good Christians."

    "So.." Efstathios looks in front of him for a second, sighs and then raises his eyes again..

    "I will join this crusade for the good of the Christian people in Cairo and for the good of the Empire!"

    Determination sounded from his voice while saying this..

    Looking Vissarionas he continues..


    "It would be a honor to join our forces noble Vissarionas ek Lesvou. Also I would like to know more about Cairo and it's people. Surely not all of them are as bloodthirsty like their Caliph?"
    Last edited by Ibn-Khaldun; 07-16-2008 at 15:55.

  9. #9
    Liar and Trickster Senior Member Andres's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Magnaura

    Dear Basileus,
    Dear Caesar,
    Dear Senators,


    As you all know, I am not a man for religious fanaticism.

    What is happening in Cairo as we speak cannot go unnoticed.

    We are Romans and therefore, it is our moral duty to bring civilisation into the known world. Killing Christians because of their belief, is not civilised, to say the least, and thus cannot be allowed as long as there is a Byzantine Empire! This fanatic nutjob of a Caliph needs to be punished!

    Savvas inhales after his outburst.

    Talking about religious fanaticism, there's also the matter of the crusades called by the Catholic Pope. In my humble opinion, the Megas Logothetes made the right decisions during his term.

    Of course, most of us are not happy with crusaders wandering through our Empire.

    Of course, the hostile behaviour of the Germans was outrageous.

    But... our Empire couldn't afford a war on two different fronts during the mandate of Markianos Ampelas.

    Thanks to Markianos, we now do have the means for a war on two fronts.

    The recent events in Cairo however, oblige us to pick that region as our second front.

    My esteemed colleagues, given the current situation, the Crusade on Cairo should be a priority.

    Other priorities are the strenghtening of our Western and Northern frontiers to prevent the crusades on Jerusalem to take "a detour" through Constantinople and, of course the War against the Turks, who still haven't suffered enough for the disasters they caused to our Empire in the past.

    There's also a practical reason for the importance of continuing the war against the Seljuks: our efforts for the Crusade and the strengthening of our frontiers will require florins. Alot of florins. Florins that can be acquired by sacking the cities of those damnable Turks.

    Since both my lord and me have to take care of our own territories, the rather small House of Tagamata unfortunately cannot send one of its' members on the Crusade.

    However, let it not be said that House Tagamata will neglect its' duties during this time of peril.

    As Arthimos (protector of the Royal Family) in the House of Tagamata, I am willing to take care of our funds, our frontiers and to offer support on the war efforts of my fellow Senators during the Crusade.

    I remind all of you that I am experienced both in battle as in politics and that my actions thus far have proven me to be a loyal servant of the Empire.

    Most of you will probably remember that I left my own settlement, Arta, and took its' entire garrison with me to march to our Northern frontier the very moment I heard about the large rebel armies threatening our Empire.

    Therefore, I hereby humbly ask the Magnaura to elect me as your new Megas Logothetes.

    Savvas sits down.
    Last edited by Andres; 07-16-2008 at 16:09.
    Andres is our Lord and Master and could strike us down with thunderbolts or beer cans at any time. ~Askthepizzaguy

    Ja mata, TosaInu

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