Stories Thread

[Northnovas]

Antwerp 1117

Dear Gauthier,
I see you have arrived safely in the city and that you are making progress by joining the Order and assigned to fight with Prince Henri. You know either Prince Henri or Louis would be good men as comrades in arms. Germans or Moors it is all the same to us. You have made quite an impression in Paris; the ladies are still talking about you and some men are willing patrons to assist you in defending France from our enemies. You are making us proud!

You are still quite young and have been giving a great responsibility. I think it was a wise move of you to return to the city and assist in the defenses. There will be plenty of time for campaigning and fighting in fields and enemy lands.

When you have time there is someone I want you to meet. I am making the arrangements to send them your way but it is difficult to secure transportation. It may have information that could enlighten you an

.......Gauthier crumbled the paper having read it over several times but not getting any further information. He tossed the letter into the roaring fire and pondered when his guest would arrive. He was tired from the journey and it was good to be a comfortable setting of a bed and hot food. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his peers on the campaign but was tiring of the food and tent accommodations. Antwerp provided a change of pace with good drink and soft company.
There was a light knock at the door. Thinking of such he went to open the door. His mind tonight was not on siege defenses that can wait till tomorrow. There were better softer thoughts for tonight.

“Good Evening and welcome ladies!” as Gauthier mockingly bowed before them …………………….

[Ferret]

This is a co-op story with Braden

Staufen, 1117

A hooded man walked the streets in the run down area of town. His pace was fast and his stride long. After turning down a small alley he entered a small but busy pub. In the corner of the room was a tall, slim man. He looked about him with the swift attention of a bird of prey. The hooded man walked up to the bar and ordered two meads before sitting down opposite the man in the corner, "You must be Duncan."

“Aye, I am that Sir” Duncan looked closer at the man before smiling warmly “and if I’m not much mistaken your someone I know quite well. Tell me, why are you walking about in disguise?” Duncan took the Mead and took a hearty sip, apparently amused with the appearance of the person in front of him.

"This is not exactly a safe part of the city for a noble to walk through, especially one only recently captured" André dismissed. "Now, there is a rather sensitive matter I'd like to talk to you about, concerning the battle during which Duc Saint-Amand lost his life. Am I right in thinking you are quite close to Prince Henri?"

Duncan nearly chokes on his mead *cough* "Erm not really Baron, I'm where I am now through chance, pure chance. I saved his life so he see's it, and me? I'm a simple man-at-arms. Been a mercenary for over two years and found myself here and fate put me and my few spearmen were there at the right place at the right time in that forest when the Prince was down to only two men in his company. So, I wouldn't say I'm close as such...I work close to him but if you want someone who knows the man on a more personal level then Andreas is who you want to talk to but then...that depends what exactly you want to know doesn't it? I was there at the battle in the Princes company and I saw the young Duc fall...saw it all." Duncan looks at the man in front of him much like a hawk would seek out a sparrow.

"That's close enough for my purposes. I'm going to ask you something and you are going to tell me the truth. Where was the Prince when the Duc died and who ordered the Duc to the site of his end?" André had lowered his voice and leaned in closer. Two more cups of mead arrive at the table.

Duncan raises an eyebrow "Ordered? Have you ordered a Duc lately to do anything?" Duncan smiled and lifted the new cup of mead "No one ordered the young Duc to do anything. The main battle plan was given by the Prince however, to be as simple as possible…our spears march forward only after our cavalry have done all they could to kill the enemy cavalry. Said he's used the same many times with only his own bodyguard...and tis true...been there too, seen the Prince bring down many an enemy Knight himself and put himself in danger to do it. Still, after we'd dealt with that and our men-at-arms had engaged the Prince led us all to the rear of the enemy army so we could chip away at 'em. I tell you those Knights of Foot are tough swine, they wouldn't run and we'd failed plainly to get all the crossbowmen, I don't know where they'd been hiding them though. Somewhere behind the lines I guess...*Duncan drifted off for a moment remembering the battle*...nahh, we'd only got one or two of their Companies. Too many of them I say."

Duncan downs some more mead and looks quite upset with the recollection but raises his cup again to drink before continuing.

“Perhaps not what you wanted to hear huh? Know this though, it was the Princes’ battle plan…perhaps not the best, certainly not the worse…I’m not one to know such things. The Prince was with me most of the time of the battle, we got separated a few times though..heh..the general mess of combat and all that. We lost 12 good knights that day in just our company…likewise in the Duc’s company. You saw how the Prince was after the battle, it truly was the largest your realm has seen I think. Ahhh…I’m sorry I can’t give much more to you, you’ve been good to me Baron tonight and know that I’ve told you as much truth as I can be assured of.”

André sits silent for a few moments before quietly thanking Ducan and leaving the inn. After he leaves another cup of mead is placed in front of Duncan by the barman.

[shlin28]

The day after the battle…

“All the men are accounted for, Baron.” Captain Renaud said as he approached Villain, his armour still spattered with blood. “We lost five hundred and eleven men in the battle, another twelve perished in the night. I fear we will lose many more if we do not move. We also have four hundred and thirty three men battle read- ”

“The prisoners?” Villain interrupted Renaud. The number of men is not his biggest concern right now; he does not plan to linger any longer here anyway.

“Under the guard of Xavier, as you ordered.”

Villain noted that Renaud said Xavier’s name bitterly, as though his very name is poison. In truth, within many soldiers’ minds, Xavier is the poison within their little army. He, like many of Villain’s retinue, was recruited from dubious sources – they were certainly not from wealthy landed families, nor where they promoted from the rank and file of the army. Their origins were mysterious, but their behaviour is for all to see; their brutality on the battlefield and off it has become legendary amongst Villain’s men. Some more pious souls even suggested that they were worshippers of the Devil in secret, using the blood of innocents to feed their unholy hunger for violence.

Villain of course knew better. The men that formed the core of his bodyguard were in reality merely acquaintances from his Steward days – even then, as the lord of a few dirty villagers and some broken hovels, he had realised that violence can solve every problem, excessive violence doubly so. Since then, some of the ‘acquaintances’ had gone on to join the army, or moved to serve another lord to keep his peasants in line; it was simplicity itself to have a few choice words there or hand a handful of coins to another in order to regain their loyalty.

Xavier of course, was the worst of them all, and the perfect person to keep the prisoners in line.

“Excellent, Captain. Order the men to pack up their gear; we will be moving west as soon as some nasty… business gets sorted out.”

Renaud turned to leave, but stopped when he saw Villain drew his sword from the scabbard.

“Baron… are you… erm… going to execute the prisoners?”

Villain ignored him and kept walking towards to where his bodyguards were encamped. Renaud can be useful sometimes, thanks to his dogged loyalty and the respect he commands from the men, but sometimes his annoying naivety concerning matters of war annoys Villain to no end.

“But why did you order me to send an envoy to the Germans?” Renaud continued as he followed Villain.

Villain finally turned around “Because we will not be able to stop that army crossing the river, the only thing we can do is to defeat them by… other means. Now see to it that the men are packed and ready to march!”

Renaud gave a curt bow, his face full of indignation and doubt, but he obeyed Villain’s order and walked away.

Villain sighed, now there is another loose end that needed to be tied up very soon.

---

An hour later…

His bodyguards, assisted by the mercenaries, quickly forced the three hundred or so prisoners to line up on the banks of the river, whilst the rest of the army moved west to a more defensible position. Villain was taking a gamble in moving the bulk of his forces away; he was banking on the fact that this Philip is as chivalrous as he was reputed to be, to not attack whilst the prisoners are prepared to being handed over.

“Baron! They are here!” One of his bodyguards shouted as he rode back across the bridge to the French side. Indeed, minutes later, a small group of riders wearing the colours of the Roman Empire rode into view; no doubt this Captain Philip is amongst them, hoping to gain some measure of glory by negotiating the release of his fellow Germans.

Villain would not allow that to happen, in mere hours, the German army would be demoralised and defeated before a single drop of French blood had been shed.

“My good German comrades!” He said loudly to the prisoners, whilst a mercenary translated his words into unintelligible German babble. “You are free to go!” He gave a warm smile to show that he was sincere. The prisoners did not move at first, but slowly, prodded on by the translator, they began to move cautiously towards the bridge.

“Xavier? I believe the prisoners are escaping.” Villain said with a grin to the armoured warrior next to him as the first prisoner stepped onto the bridge. Xavier nodded, his face unreadable behind the metal helm, and promptly slashed his sword into the midriff of a nearby German soldier. In seconds, Villain’s bodyguards and the mercenaries moved in, slashing and stabbing at the unarmoured Germans. In minutes, they were all dead, not even a single one of them had reached the other side of the river.

The German riders were still too far away to even attempt to ride to the prisoners’ rescue, but they saw everything, and that was enough for Villain. “Xavier, the flag?” The armoured brute hoisted up a white flag, its colour in stark contrast with the red on his armour. It took a while for the German riders to decide what to do, and Villain was tempted to ride out and finish off the leadership of the German army. But then, he reasoned, what would be the point of putting on such theatrics if no-one is left alive to tell the tale?

After what seemed to be an eternity, a lone German rider moved slowly to the other side of the bridge and shouted: “You traitorous French dogs! We come here to parlay for the release of the prisoners, not to witn-”

Thank God, the fool actually spoke French, thought Villain inwardly. “My good German friend, how can you call us that, I am insulted that you even thought of it. We have nothing but honest intentions for the prisoners. It is, alas, their ill judgement that led to their deaths. Had they not tried to overpower the guards…” Villain shook his head in false regret, “But the past is the past, perhaps we can forget this unfortunate incident and cease this bloody war before more German blood is shed?” Villain asked cheerfully.

“Peace? With you?” The envoy glared at Villain and spoke with venom. “Never.” He rode swiftly back to the rest of the German riders without looking back.

“Then the war must go on… Au revoir, my friend, may we meet again soon.” Villain whispered to himself.

---

Later that night…

“The Germans are burning the bodies, Baron. They are also building some sort of fort around that area – they will not give chase to our army.”

“Excellent job, Xavier. Go and sleep for a few hours, we will continue the march at dawn”

Villain was quite pleased with himself. He had just stopped an entire German army in its tracks, now confirmed by Xavier’s scout report, and he had just received a delightful message from Paris. Even the appearance of Captain Renaud at his shoulder did not dampen Villain’s mood.

“My good captain! What may I do for you?”

“Sir, I have only one question to ask – what happened to the prisoners?”

“Prisoners?” Villain frowned, “There were no prisoners.”

Renaud was about to retort when Villain continued: “Xavier, did you see any prisoners?”

“No, my lord, I only saw honourless German cowards who fled rather than face honourable death in battle. They are not prisoners; they are scum who deserve only death.” Xavier replied.

“I agree.” Villain paused slightly to allow the message to sink in on Renaud. “Captain, you will get the men ready to march as soon as the Sun is up. I have some business in Paris to attend to; I hope that when I return the army is encamped at a secure location. Do not disappoint me, Renaud.”

Captain Renaud did not acknowledge the order, and simply walked away.

“Xavier, enforce discipline when I am away, do not let Renaud speak to his men. We must not have dissension in my army.” Villain said quietly as he stared at the figure dwindling away into the distance. “If necessary… use force.”

“I obey.”

[Braden]

Frankfurt – 1118

“Charles has asked me for aid” Henri sits in the study chambers whilst Andreas idly flicks through one of the government tomes on another table beside him.

“What does he want my lord?”

“Ha! What he’s wanted since he became a knight…land. Forestooth I think his first words in Council were to request land from our Father, I assume he’s been rebuffed again by him as he now writes to me for help….hmm…he believes that opportunity will come to him from his elder brother now he is a Duc eh?”

“Indeed my lord but you can’t just give him land. The Duchy has little enough as it is to produce money and troops.”

Henri waves his hand to dismiss Andreas’ statement “True enough but I feel that to gain we must do so.”

Andreas stops reading and regards Henri with a ‘you can’t be serious’ look on his face.

“Oh my dear Andreas, can’t you see? We are clearly overstretched. The armies facing us on our borders are large and we are…frankly…weak. Had my plans come to fruition we would not be in this predicament but we did not seize Hamburg, Thomas did not seize Magdeburg and Nuremburg has been given to the Germans again. All this leaves us, Lorraine, dangerously exposed from three fronts.”

“What’s in your head my lord?” Andreas was now intrigued.

“Charles can have Staufen. We don’t have the means to defend or Southern borders but Charles will not be left to rot by the King or council, he will be given the means to defend himself and by proxy us. We can concentrate on the threat to the East and the Order can nullify the threat in the North for now. However, we need to get something more ‘overt’ from such a deal. I cannot be seen to just give land to Charles…it would not sit well with my vassals.”

“Ok, my lord, good reason thus far but what can Charles give you?”

“Oh….Andreas…Charles can give me more leverage. You know I favour Villain?”

Andreas baulked at the name “Gah! Yes my lord but I still fail to see why…the man is lowborn at best, base in his action”

“Andreas! Stop that now, you know Villain is a means to an end, he is clearly the correct tool for the job at hand. I am a Prince of the Realm, it is beneath me to conduct a more total solution to defend the Duchy or indeed France. My personal principles hold me to a code of honour that will have us fight the same Germans three or more times…costing countless extra lives…I am sorry you find him abhorrent but he is just exactly the man the Duchy needs now.”

“I suppose so my lord but he is a beast”

“Indeed he is Andreas, indeed he is…but he is our ‘beast’ and I wish to keep him so. I have granted him title but now Charles presents me with a unique opportunity. Adoption”

Andreas nearly fell down through the chair he was sitting on “Adoption?!? Are you mad?”

“Nay Andreas, not mad…far from it indeed. Andreas, you taught me well but we find ourselves in a position where we have Villain, a man you and I know well. You know he will not remain loyal, even with a Barony…but if he had a truly vested interest in the continued health and wellbeing of the Royal household….”

Henri trailed off, the question unanswered. Andreas filled the gap in awe

“Keep your friends close but your enemies…well, potentially deadly enemies…closer still?”

“Very true Andreas and I cannot think of a closer proximity than to be my Brother…can you? Villain will serve the Duchy well and whilst I do not intend to sell him out at anytime, it pays well to have an insurance plan when dealing with such a man.”

[Braden]

The 2nd Siege of Frankfurt – 1120

Henri was worried. He had been besieged by the German force for a little over two weeks now and had sent several requests out for aid to the main army that the Duchy of Lorraine had just North East of the city but no word had come from them and no sign could be seen from the parapets of Frankfurt where he now stood looking past the German earthworks and siege engines.

News had reached that soldiers from Metz castle were on their way and could bolster Frankfurts defence but it was only three companies of men, Henri reasoned that they could…just…tip the balance in his favour but it would be the fight of his life.

The Germans were preparing. Their siege tower started to move forward and Henri looked across the walls at the few men he had. Two companies of spears, only one of them full strength and his own body guard. Looking East he made out the banners of the men from Metz, they would arrive but perhaps too little too late. Henri gazed into the distance and his eyes filled with water…was it fear he felt? Andreas put a hand on his armour shoulder.

“We will prevail my Prince” simple words of comfort and encouragement but Henri welcomed them anyway.

Suddenly a horn sounded and Henri snapped back to look at the German lines in front of the city. Men rushed too and fro, siege engines were being abandoned and they were forming up to march. Henri couldn’t believe it.

Henri asked the world “Have they lost heart?” but Andreas answered

“No my lord, I feel the answer is walking towards us now” he pointed across the wall to a herald approaching. The herald bowed and addressed the Prince.

“My liege, the Lieutenant of the Order of the Fleur de Lys sends his apologies and advises you he will join battle with the Germans in good order to the North East of the city.” Out of breath but pleased he’d completed his duty the herald bowed deeply to Henri.

Henri said in mock disapproval “So, the Order graces us with is presence finally?” the herald lost his smiling face in confusion at the comment before Henri smiled widely

“HA! Better to be late than never aye? A goblet of the finest we have for this good herald who brings us life renewed!” Henri nearly leapt from the walls as he strode to get his horse.