OOC: Just wondering what are the rules here for historical accuracy. Obviously there will be some deviation, but it seems like this is turning into an alternate history roleplay.

Histocial note: Palestine and Jerusalem was Egyptian(Fatimid) territory rather than Turkish, although the Christians fought through the Turks in Asia Minor as well to get there. The 1st Crusade was also launched at the instigation of Alexius I. Alexius I had written a letter to the pope in 1095 asking for help against the Seljuk Turks, who had taken all of Asia Minor from him. Rather than having plans of conquest in the West, Alexius needed aid in the East against the Turk.

When the Crusaders arrived, Alexius forced them to swear fealty to him, in order for him to give them supplies and ship transport to Asia minor. By making them take this oath, Alexius wanted them to turn over any territory they captured back to the Byzantines. Of course the leaders of the Crusade had no intentions of doing this, and ended up carving out four independant western Crusader Kingdoms in the middle East for themselves.(collectively called Outremer)

The 1st Crusade(the one we are roleplaying) also ended in success for the Crusaders. They first captured Nicaea, along with the Byzantines who kept the city. The Crusaders then captured Jerusalem which was their main goal, as well as Antioch, Edessa and Tripoli.(which became the 4 Crusader nations)

If anyone wants background info on the 1st Crusade, here's a good site:

http://crusades.boisestate.edu/1st/index.html