Megas Logothetes' and Senators' Reports

[TinCow]

Annios Solomon (woad&fangs) was not in too great a hurry in his march to Alexandria. The city was close, his ally Methodios Tagaris was supervising the siege, and there were no enemy armies nearby. As they marched towards the rendezvous with Methodios' men, Annios' column passed another mass of Crusaders along the road. This was the army of Efstathios Laskaris (Ibn-Khaldun). It seems Laskaris' Great Cross had broken an axle... a break that was so clean that it was surely caused by a handsaw. Despite knowing that this was an act of sabotage, Efstathios' men were fearful of abandoning such a powerful symbol of Christ on their Holy Quest, and refused to move until the Cross was repaired. While this work was eventually completed, the army has made no progress this year. As Annios Solomon rode by, his men simply laughed at the misfortune of their fellow Crusaders who had so recently done the same to them out at sea. Eventually Annios joined Methodios Tagaris in his siege of Alexandria, and the combined armies stand ready to assault the city.

Vissarionas ek Lesvou (Ramses II CP) and Stavros ek Amarinthou (Knights_of_Palma) continued their combined marched to reach the precariously positioned Vartholomaios Ksiros (Rowan). Despite the large size of their army, which made logistics a bit less efficient than before, they made good time. Skirting a large Egyptian force on the east side of the river bank, the Crusaders hurried to join Ksiros' camp in the optimal defensive position at the bridge. The effort of the march was very great, though, and they could not muster the strength to reach Cairo this year. However, all three Crusaders are finally encamped together with a major army and they are within striking distance of their objective. Unless there is some significant act of God or treachery of man, they will surely besiege the city next year.

http://www.mizus.com/files/pbm/LOTR-1125-8a.zip

I have also moved Savvas ek Militou (Andres) to Arta for safekeeping. I have decided to keep him alive and in possession of his province and Oaths for 1 full Megas term. If Andres is still absent at the end of this term, Savvas will be killed off according to his wishes and his property will be divested according to his last Will.