The Kingdom of Outremer

[Ferret]

OOC: oh dear that wasn't a very well worded comment I posted was it. It wasn't supposed to be a threat to the Kaiser but just Dieter worrying to himself whether this would provoke anyone into trying to. Sorry I'll try to be more careful in future.

[Privateerkev]

OOC: You did nothing wrong BTG. Since you didn't really say it loudly, we couldn't act on it IC. But, you did mutter something so I decided it was a "rumor". Rumors are perfectly fine in politics. Also, it shows that people are getting on edge in game. Rumors are going to be flying all around I suspect.

[Northnovas]

Karl Zirn returns to the room to speak with the King….

King Jan, I have spoken with Matthias Steffen and we feel that are services are no longer required here in the Outremer. We both have our individual reasons and I personally feel that my work with the Lord here is done.
It is time for me to return home. Unlike you I have more then just a title, I have lands and family that must be looked after and arrangements made to secure their future.
From your plan things are relatively quiet and there are more then enough Army Commanders to look after the Outremer possessions. It’s possible our services could be of more use at home where there is some unrest.
I will advise Duke Arnold of my plans and contact the Chancellor to find the best way home via land or sea.

It would be very rude of me if I did not congratulate you for your work with the reunification of the two great churches that will now be one. The Lord works in mysterious ways. The Pope and Kaiser think very highly of you and your accomplishments here in the Outremer. King Jan in your journey to Baghdad against the Turks I wish you Godspeed.
The Turks are an interesting people that I have come accustom to here in the Outremer as an enemy and friend.
There is a saying in Damascus from some of the Turkish people quoting a mystic of theirs Jalal-Uddin Rumi and has helped me govern the people there. It is said “Since in order to speak, one must first listen, learn to speak by listening.” Some wise words to reflect on as you continue your rule here in the Outremer.

The Governor of Damascus bowes deeply and leaves to prepare for his journey........

[Privateerkev]

Count Matthias, Count Zirn,

I'm sorry you both feel that way. But I respect your wishes and your decision. I urge the Chancellor to speed you both home as soon as possible. I hope you both find what you are looking for back in the Reich. We've all been through a lot together. We went on the third Crusade. We saved Jerusalem. We all survived the Horse Lords. We might sometimes differ on politics, but we're all Crusaders here and that is a bond that can never be broken.

May God go with both of you.

[OverKnight]

Matthias nods at Karl's words.

I couldn't have said it better myself Count Zirn.

I hope a Bavarian will take my place, but with current events in the Empire. . .

King Jan, I wish you, Count Dieter and Prinz Elberhard good luck.

To match Karl's Turkish saying, I will give an old Egyptian one, "May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk."

Farewell

Matthias strides out.

[econ21]

The Prinz's aides rush after the two departing crusader Counts and bring them back to the conference table, with a mixture of pleas and veiled threats.

Elberhard: Steady on, let's not be too hasty. There are matters to discuss here. I do not buy the argument that your services are not needed. The Charter of Outremer is quite explicit on this. Each settlement should have a Crusader Count and each Count must remain outside of Europe for the duration of his appointment. Matthias you have been appointed Count of Adana; Zirn, you have Damascus. Perhaps you could resign, but I see no provision for that in the Charter. I am not even sure it is legal for you to return.

Now this is all legal @#$%^&!!! and if we want to debate this stuff ad nauseum, we'd all have become lawyers, not soldiers. But what the Charter reflects is that Outremer does need you! Each of your provinces borders an enemy province. The Armies of Outremer are currently in or converging on Edessa to confront the Turks advancing from Baghdad. That was only possible because you had their back. Outremer needs more generals per settlement than Europe, because it is more exposed. Over here, we are in a defensive positon only. We do not have a large hinterland that expansion has made safe, like the German heartlands.

And I am by no means convinced that Bavaria and Austria need you more. Both Dukes have offered one of their Household Armies for service in other areas - Krakow and Thessalonica - so it seems they did not feel pressed. Both are training up new young generals who can assume independent commands should they be needed.

Nor do I understand your "individual reasons" for wanting to leave. Rather it seems to me that these are acts of pique motivated by your failure to be given a command. Matthias, I expected more of you. You have not merely had a command for the last 20 turns, you have commanded the entire Reich. Surely you can see the case for letting another, less experienced man acquire some of the skills and experience that you now possess in abundance? Zirn, maybe you have more of a case. Perhaps we can work something out to give you more of an active role in the next 10 turns?

If you must leave, I will not stop you. You are noblemen and I am no dictator. But I do beg you to talk it through with us and to reconsider. I am summoning the King here to see if he can help us negotiate a compromise.

[Privateerkev]

The King arrives in the Outremer Hall in his pajamas and sleeping cap. He is rubbing his eyes while Gunther leads him to the main table. A cup of coffee is put in front of him. Jan drinks the hot liquid down. It's not sure whether its the scalding heat of the coffee, or its caffeine content, that wake him up but he does get a little more coherent.

Alright Steward, I'm here.

My policy on the movement of people in or out of Outremer has always been clear.

If you want to stay, then I will fight like a bear to keep you here. I will face off with your Duke. I will appeal to the Kaiser. I will appeal to the Chancellor. I will give you asylum if you run afoul of your Duke. I'll even place you in Edessa if things with your Duke become too heated, since it is under my jurisdiction. King Salier did the same for me and I will return the favor to any who need it.

Alternatively, if you wish to leave, then I will fight equally as hard to speed your journey to where-ever you wish to go. I only want people here who want to be here. Service in Outremer is about commitment to the mission. If your heart is no longer in it, for whatever reason, then your probably wasting your time here.

I completely disagree with the Steward's interpretation of the Charter. Being a Crusader Count does not conscript them in Outremer for 20 years. Yes, there is no provision to resign the title but if they enter Europe, they would lose the benefits, rights, and influence given to them by the Charter of Outremer. So, any Crusader Count can leave at any time. This is why I ask before the Diet session if anyone is leaving. I had asked in here and sent multiple letters to Count Matthias but I never got an answer from Count Matthias or Count Zirn during the Diet. So, I defaulted into giving them their counties. This was as a courtesy to them because Diets are the only time I can grant them. I never intended for it to be seen as some sort of conscription into service. That runs counter into everything I believe in over here.

So, I believe they are both free to go. I strongly urge you to speed them both on their way at the earliest possible time. I also invite Bavaria and Austria to send replacements if any men are willing to come over.

[OverKnight]

Matthias's eyes narrow as he hears the Prinz's words. Ignoring Jan, he speaks directly to Elberhard.

A fit of pique?! I tell you what a fit of pique is, tearing down two forts north of Adana of the three I just had built there ten years ago!

How do I defend Adana if you have removed her defenses mein Prinz? Most telling that they are the ones on the road to Byzantine territory. Does the Kaiser have any more 'donations' in mind? Let me remind you, they were defensive structures meant to guard the mountain passes. Now they're just kindling.

Matthias begins coughing. His face turns red, but he forces himself to speak.

You want me to stay? Fine, I'll stay, let Count Zirn go, he's the Crusader who's been here the longest. He's the one who should have been King, as Conrad Salier wished. But the Kaiser wanted someone more pliable, and he got his lapdog.

Oh I'll stay, just to make sure Outremer isn't sold to the Purple for thirty pieces of silver.

Unification or Capitulation? It's the same damn thing.

Matthias storms out.

[Privateerkev]

Fully aware that Mattias left, Jan speaks to those assembled anyways.

There didn't seem to be a need for the forts now that the Byzantines have Ceasarera (OOC: sp?).

Count Matthias can rest assured that Outremer will not be sold. If that is his only reason for staying, he doesn't need to bother. Of course, if he still wants to stay, then I fully support that.

As for who gets to be King, that is the Kaiser's decision. I think it is regrettable that King Salier publicly named an heir when he really had no right to. He could have just privately wrote his wishes to the Kaiser but he also named an heir in public. I will never do that because that both undermines the right of the Kaiser to appoint a King and also undermines the new King for others might grumble and feel slighted.

As for the charge of lapdog, I hear that a lot lately. I am no ones lapdog. All because our politics differ, does not automatically mean that I am obeying the wishes of some master. Bah. The Kaiser gives me full leeway to run things out here as I see fit. I happen to agree with most of what the Kaiser does. And if I don't agree, he will hear of it. If you look at the Diet records, and ask my political opponents, I can hardly be seen as pliable. Count Matthias simply does not like my decisions so he feels the need to sling insults about.

It sounds more to me that someone is bitter. Count Matthias has had two full terms as Chancellor. And, through most of that, he has ensured that he has had a major army command. And I believe he hoped he would keep that army command. I remember a very threatening letter from Duke Arnold that made it clear to me that I would suffer politically if Count Matthias wasn't pampered. Well, I will not give in to threats or blackmail. Count Dieter and myself have hardly seen any action out here compared to Count Matthias or Count Zirn so it our turn to command armies out here.

Something tells me Count Matthias harbored ambition of becoming King himself. I think its one of the reasons some people wanted Count Zirn to be picked. The age difference between the two men is pretty stark. I'm younger so someone more ambitious would not be as happy with my appointment since I'll probably be around a whole lot longer. Well, I'm sorry to rain on Count Matthias's parade but the choice of King is left up to the Kaiser. Not anyone else. Though I wouldn't be surprised if others attempted to influence that decision, it obviously did not work this time now did it?

[Privateerkev]

Alright, by now all of you have heard of the destruction of churches around here and back in the Reich. I urge everyone to put guards around their holy places and to keep an eye on their populace. Though I must stress that we need to be discrete and as subtle as we can be. People are going to still be going about their lives. I want our presence in our settlements to be as non-invasive as possible.

Count Dieter, I wish to have you take your whole army into the city of Damascus and secure the city. But, be aware that these people are Imperial citizens. You are only to maintain order. Keep a visible but friendly presence. Keep discipline among your troops. No pillaging and no harming the populace. These are our people.

Please let me know if there is anything that any of you need.

Good luck.

[econ21]

Elberhard: Crusaders, I fear we must begin winding down operations here. With King Jan's permission - which he has granted - I intend to honour the late Kaiser Siegfried's wishes and gift Outremer to the Byzantines. At best, this move will secure re-unification of the Reich and the Eastern Roman Empire. At worst, we will remove a potential source of future fratricidal conflict and strengthen our alliance.

I propose a three stage withdrawal.

In 1310, we will gift Adana, Antioch, Edessa and Damascus. The cities have become unruly and delaying their transfer will likely lead to rebel crusaders seizing control of them. Or worse, Mohammedans. Adana is the gateway to the cities and the Eastern Romans must have control of it if they are to have a chance of holding on to the cities.

In 1312, we will gift Aleppo. I am delaying gifting it in the first stage, as Army of Outremer North needs to refit there.

In 1314, we will gift Acre. Thereafter, we will have to rely on mercenaries and reinforcements from home to maintain our armies.

In 1320, King Jan's mandate will be up and we will review our situation.

In the short run, I have no doubt that three strong German armies will be sufficient to protect Jerusalem up to that point.

In the long run, I hope that gifting six provinces to our Eastern Roman brothers will give them the strength to protect Jerusalem against the Mohammedans. They can always call on our swords should they be needed.

[Privateerkev]

The Kaiser's plan sounds good. Lets make sure it goes as smoothly as something like this can go.

As for a mandate, I don't have one. I always serve at the pleasure of the Kaiser. If the Kaiser wishes it, I will resign my post at any time. Hence, no mandate.

However, I ask that I be one of the ones left behind. Either as King if the Kaiser wishes, or as a humble noble if the Kaiser wishes otherwise. My place is here. I've spent most of my adult life here. I can best serve the Reich by helping to uphold our responsibility to Christianity and the Papacy by guarding Jerusalem.

[OverKnight]

A letter arrives from Matthias Steffen:

I remind King Jan and Kaiser Elberhard what I said in the Diet.

"I'm going to Outremer. As God as my witness, the Greeks can have Adana once they pry it from my cold, dead hands! What has been consecrated in German blood shall not be surrendered with the stroke of a pen!"

It makes no difference to me that a new Kaiser takes up the same failed policy.

The Greeks have no place in the Levant. We came to Outremer to expunge the sins of Hubris and a Kaiser who put his own political agenda above the interests of the Reich. Now, these same sins would have us abandon our Divine mission. Anyone who thinks the feckless Byzantines could protect Jerusalem is a fool, for they have already lost it once. Without us, their 'Empire' would have been consumed by infidels years ago. All that they have gained, we gave them. They are nothing more than a Buffer State, to turn them into the Guardians of the Holy Land, to believe they could fulfill that responsibility, is unwise. Their time has passed.

Without the lands of Outremer, any Imperial army left to defend Jerusalem is doomed by a long supply line and indifference from the Diet. Our God given mission is to defend the Holy Land, we cannot hand this off to others. To do this we need the Kingdom of Outremer. It is ours, not to give away in a base negotiation, but to keep safe in the name of the Lord.

I will stay in Adana, I will hold the line. No more retreat, no more concessions, no more diplomacy! Outremer belongs to the Reich, given to us by God as we fulfilled His Holy Mission! We are the defenders of the Faith.

It is God's will. Woe to those who defy it.

[Privateerkev]

Jan reads Matthias's letter and says to no one in particular,

But it was also God's will to see his Christian children re-unify. If Outremer, Palermo, and Naples are the price of that religious re-unification, then I think we should pay it.

[Ferret]

I am happy to accept whatever decision King Jan makes on the matter. However I would like to return to Franconia as soon as possible as I am eager to take up the position of Furst and begin oraganising my new lands there, I see no reason for me to remain here any longer.

[econ21]

Count Dieter, I am not sure where this leaves the Army of Outremer South. It is rather a large formation to be headed by a Captain. If you do intend to leave, I fear it may have to be disbanded.

I can report that the first stage of our gifting of Outremer has proceeded smoothly. Adana, Antioch, Edessa and Damascus are now in Eastern Roman hands; our militia there has been disbanded. Many of the crusaders in Adana have left our service, but the remnants are marching to Aleppo to join Army of Outremer South. I have not heard from Matthias Steffen. Perhaps he reconsidered his vow not to hand over Adana?

[Ferret]

I see no problem with the AoO S being disbanded, There is no need for three armies to stay near Jerusalem or even two. I believe that King Jan is cpable enough of a commander to defend it himself.

You could always 'gift' the army to the Byzantines like you have with so many other things.

[econ21]

Elberhard: Very well, Dieter. I will arrange for your passage to Europe on the first available ship.

[Privateerkev]

Count Dieter,

Very well, I wish you luck in your further endeavors. You have served Outremer well and I will miss you my brother-in-law. May God go with you and your family.

My Kaiser,

I suggest we build a fort and leave AoO South in it so we can use it for replacements. This would stop the army from going rebel. Also, legally, AoO South can't be completely disbanded.

[Privateerkev]

My Kaiser,

Aleppo has been retaken. We're at war with the Byzantines anyways and we needed a base up north. It was lightly defended and casualties we're minimal. Two of the gates and a big hole in the wall will have to be fixed though. Couldn't be helped...

Now I will leave AoO north behind to secure Aleppo while I organize a small party to search Adana for Matthias. I hope to have him back with us soon.

[econ21]

Elberhard: King Jan, well done on retaking Aleppo as ordered. I do not consider ourselves at war with the Byzantines yet, but I am afraid the courtesy is not returned. Our retaking Aleppo will no doubt be seen as a further act of war. But I could not see you and your army left helpless out in the desert. We have the right to defend ourselves.

[econ21]

Elberhard: I am glad to see Matthias Steffen back with us - King Jan, I congratulate you on the success of your mission. Nikeforos @#$%^&!!!ed with the wrong men.

Now is an appropriate time to discuss our next steps.

Outremer is almost gone. We are the only German generals left. No more that I know seek to join us. Our cities are now held by the Byzantines, whose powerful armies roam the deserts. Jerusalem, whose protection was Outremer's raison d'etre, is now hostile to us.

In these circumstances, one option would simply be to march out of here. Together, with three armies, we could perhaps make it back to the Reich through Asia Minor. As Kaiser, seeing my country in chaos and my authority everywhere undermined, this option is holds some appeal. However, I suspect it is less appealing for the two of you and I will not abandon you to the wolves who I may have unwittingly let into the pen.

A second option is to reconquer what is lost. King Jan's cannon may give us a great edge here. But we would have to contend with large armies and the lack of funds to reinforce our losses. I suspect full reconquest would be wildly optimistic until normalcy within the Reich is restored.

My personal preference is a third option: to endure. We seek to avoid major battle, to conserve our force. Partly this is diplomatic - I have no wish to deepen the state of hostilities between either the Eastern Romans or the Papacy. But it is also pragmatic - lacking the ability to reinforce our commands, I fear two major battles a piece and our armies would effectively cease to exist. We hold Acre and Aleppo. We could use spies to keep a watch on neighbouring provinces. If they are left poorly guarded, we could seize them opportunistically, as we did Aleppo.

I would also like to see us agree a pact of cooperation. While we each may command a separate army, we should undertake to march to each other's aid should one of us be faced with destruction. Honour demands no less.

I would hear your views.

[OverKnight]

Matthias speaks up.

Good to be back among the living, mein Kaiser.

I must admit that a journey back across Asia Minor has an epic appeal to it. For one, it would be a reversal of the 1st Crusade's land route, yet it would have a tinge of retreat. Secondly it would be a journey through hostile territory to return home that would rival Xenophon and his 10,000.

Besides that, it would have the practical effect of strengthening your rule in Europe Kaiser. With the sea lanes cut, the Reich is descending into chaos, excaberated by your absence. It might be wise to return to reestablish Imperial authority. Sacking a city or two on the way might help the coffers as well.

As for conquest, we cannot take back what has been. . .given. . .away. We don't have the resources. The best we could hope for would be to take a settlement by surprise when there is a small garrison, as King Jan did at Aleppo. We should keep an eye open for such oppurtunities. Our focus should be on Castles, as they are easier to control.

As for staying. I am inclined to keep fighting here. I meant what I said when I made my futile stand at Adana. . .

Matthias pauses to finger a new eyepatch.

. . .and I hope to have a more pleasant encounter in the future with Nikeforos.

Of course, given the increasing strife around us, any plan we make is written in the sand, fragile and easily disrupted.

[Privateerkev]

Jan nods to Elberhard,

Thank you mein Kaiser, it was tricky but it was a group effort. A lot of people contributed to the operation's success.

As to your ideas on what to do out here, here are my thoughts,

As long as the Charter of Outremer exists, I will stay to uphold it. As long as I am King of Outremer, I will administer the Kingdom to the best of my abilities regardless of how small the Kingdom has become. If you have to leave, in order to administer the Reich, I understand. You have more to think about than just Outremer so I will not blame you if you go.

So, I will stay regardless. I will guard the Papacy regardless of their feelings towards us at the moment. It is my greatest hope that we reconcile with the Church. We can't let the actions of one mad man keep the whole Reich damned. Until that reconciliation comes, we need to make sure there is a Church to reconcile with. I assume Durazzo is gone. If it is, Jerusalem will become the Church's capital and home for future Popes. I won't stand by and let the Saracens, or any others, take advantage of the situation.

Right now I believe option 3 to be the most prudent, but my heart is with option 2. It seems that the ERE have been poor stewards of Outremer. While we may try to avoid war, I think war is inevitable. It is nothing personal against the Byzantines. I believe my record of being supportive of our allies speaks for itself. I just don't know if they are up to the task of guarding this place. That and they might never forgive us for our past actions. As such, it would only be prudent to watch for opportunities like we did with Aleppo.

As for cooperation, well of course. We are in this together. I will help you both as much as I am able. To me, even if the Reich falls apart, some things will not change. My Kaiser is my Kaiser regardless of the political situation back home. And Count Matthias is one of my Crusader Counts regardless of what has happened to Outremer. Not only do we have these bonds of honor and responsibility to each other, we have a bond of brotherhood. While we will not always agree on everything, the three of us have been through an awful lot together.

Jan listens to Matthias's suggestions, (OOC: I was writing this while your post went up)

I think we should find some way to take at least one more settlement. That way each of us would have a base of operations and a source of supply. I agree that a castle would be best to defend and Adana is the obvious candidate since we have Acre and Aleppo. If an opportunity does present itself, I suggest we move the cannons over to Count Matthias so he can just blast his way in. It really helped out for me when I took Aleppo back. It prevents a blood bath at the walls.

For administrative matters, let me make a couple quick announcements. Army naming has become an issue when the armies get moved around outside of their geographic naming. I wish for something a little more original than numbering but I balk at naming the armies after people (so many good ones to choose from). I propose to name the two AoO's after cities. And not to tie them geographically to an area, but to use area names to symbolize our roles in Outremer. The current army under my command in Aleppo is hereafter named the Army of Jerusalem. It is to signify Outremer's goal of guarding the Holy City. The current army that is off of the coast of Adana is hereafter named the Army of Antioch. It is to signify Outremer's goal of guarding the rest of the holy lands. These names are not meant to tie the army to a geographic area but to signify the dual role that Outremer serves for the Reich. Which is guarding the Holy Father and guarding the birthplace of Christianity. Between these two things, we help the Reich be a spiritual beacon upon the world. We seem to have slipped in that role for the moment but I have faith that we will take it back up. As of now, AoA is to be commanded by Count Matthias.

So, to summarize, these new army names are not to tie these armies to a specific area or duty. Both armies are floating armies used for the same things. They just now have names that I believe will symbolize our goals here. Please let me know if any of this is unclear.

[econ21]

Elberhard: The suggestion of transferring the cannon to the Army of Antioch, in the hope of retaking Adana, is a good one. I was about to propose that we regard the cannon as common resources, to be allocated to whichever army has most need.

I appreciate the sentiment about Jerusalem, King Jan. But I believe as practical matter, its protection will fall to my army based at Acre. I am inspired by your words and will seek to protect the Holy City, regardless of the Papacy's current hostility to us.

[Privateerkev]

I apologize for the confusion my Kaiser. Of course the day-to-day defense of Jerusalem falls to the Kaiser's Army. I only meant what I said as my overall "goal" and "mission". As King Salier said once long ago, the defense of Jerusalem is everyone's responsibility. In a way, we all defend Jerusalem. By covering the other fronts, Count Matthias and I allow you the strategic freedom to not have to worry about your back and flank. This allows you more maneuverability as you defend the Holy City. So, while you will take on the day-to-day responsibility of the city's defense, the overall responsibility rests on all of our shoulders. We've seen what happens when we allow ourselves to forget that duty. I don't want to see Jerusalem in Saracen hands ever again.

[Privateerkev]

My Kaiser, Count Matthias,

I think it is time to discuss the next step. While our options for this turn (1316) are not good, we can use this turn to set ourselves up for the next one. I think we should look at the possibility of re-taking Adana during 1318. To do this, we need to do some things now or soon. Here are the two ideas I have come up with:

A.) I could attack the army to Aleppo's northwest this turn. Then I would travel up the road with AoJ to the Antioch/Adana border. That is as far as I can go this turn. There is a small Byzantine army in the valley there but I don't believe I can reach it this turn. Meanwhile AoA would sail to the cove just to the northeast. From there it would land and either clear some forces in the immediate area or wait. On 1318, I fight the armies in my way and then send the cannons over to AoA. Matthias would take the cannons and re-take the citadel. AoJ would make its way back to Aleppo.

B.) AoJ would stay around Aleppo. Instead we would use spies to get into Adana. There are three spies that can be in Adana by 1318 if they get moving now. These three spies should be enough to open the gates. AoA walks in and re-takes the citadel.

Either option is risky. There are armies marching all around Aleppo and Adana right now. There is a giant Turkish army by Adana and we might want to wait and see if them and the Byzantines will duke it out and weaken each other. I welcome both of your thoughts on this and stand ready to assist how ever I can.

I'll also use this opportunity to talk about something related. And that is my policy with sacking. There have been reports of sacking and extermination going on throughout the Reich. I wish to make this very clear. I wish for any former Outremer settlement to be occupied, not sacked or exterminated. I know we need the money but the loss of life that would result from sacking is not worth it. These people are our citizens. It is not their fault that we gave the Byzantines those settlements and I will not have them suffer for our past mistakes. I feel very strongly about this. I take my obligation and responsibility to these people very seriously.

I know some of us in the Reich disagree on how to treat those that are a different race from us. But I hope we can all agree on how to treat those of German descent. I am starting to regret giving Outremer to the Byzantines and I do not wish for any citizen to pay for my error in judgment.

OOC: I know econ asked us to sack in the OOC thread. But, now that we have a little money, I'm waiting to see if he will rescind that OOC request. ^_^

Update: Econ just said in the OOC thread that sacking is no longer necessary for OOC reasons. Now it's back to being strictly an IC issue. yay!

[OverKnight]

Kaiser Elberhard and King Jan. . .

Matthias mutters something under his breath about too many nobles and not enough footmen.

While I would greatly like to see Antioch our Adana returned to us, I do not believe it is the time for offensive operations. Even if we succesfully seize a target, we are then forced to defend it. Any new conquests would only serve as traps, focus points where our enemies could bring their superior numbers to bear in a long siege. Losses from an assault and to garrison duty would reduce our mobility, which at this point is our only advantage.

I suggest waging an active defense. Remember when we faced the Mongols? We sought choke points to defend, and only attacked when we had the advanatage. This is what we should do now. Let our enemies fight amongst themselves, let them throw themselves at us as we defend bridges and mountainsides, let them scatter themeselves in foolish marching. We will be the wolves among the sheep, picking off the weak, nipping at their flanks, until the flock is finally exhausted. Then we shall feast.

Remember the example of Caen, seizure of a strategic stronghold is only effective if you weaken the surrounding armies before the strike.

The thought of Adana under Byzantine control sickens me. The thought of Outremer under their control is worse. But we must fight the impulse to set everything right at once. We must be hard hearted, live to fight another day so that we can eventually triumph.

[Privateerkev]

I agree that we have to reserve our forces and resist the urge to recapture all of Outremer at once. But I am concerned about having not enough castles. With the Byzantines as our allies, having 3 armies around Jerusalem that were supplied by mercs and convoys from Europe was possible. Now, with the Byzantines being hostile, we are in a meat grinder. Our only hope is to get each of us in a castle. If we have the three castles, we can cut Antioch off from the rest of the Byzantines while still defending ourselves. Eventually, we can seize Antioch and defend it with a castle on each side. I fear we are going to become quite cut off soon and we need to plan for survival in the longterm. With Antioch retaken, we can shuttle forces with ease between our three castles. From this position, we can hold Outremer for quite some time. But first we need to seize Adana for that plan to work.

I agree that mobility would serve us well but it sacrifices replenishment. And I see this more as a war of attrition. Without settlements, I fear our three armies will eventually be ground down until they are combat ineffective. Even the local mercenaries will eventually be used up for a time. These are my thoughts on the matter. Matthias, since your the one that would actually have to assault and defend Adana, this is more your call in my opinion. If you would rather hold one of the bridges, so as to funnel the enemy into a death trap, try to pick one close by me so I can swoop in and flank them or otherwise lend assistance. Unless your picturing your force more being a mountain based guerrilla force. That could work but I fear the enemy strength up north is quite large.

Either of you have any thoughts on this?

[OverKnight]

Have you not heard King Jan? The Imperial Treasury has disappeared. There is no hope of replenishment of our forces in the next few years. If we attack Adana now, it will merely serve to deplete and stretch the forces left to us.

Even if we successfully seized Adana, this would open us to attack from the Turks. We have enough enemies now, that we don't need to open ourselves to further attack.

Instead of taking Adana, I suggest using it as a choke point. Have my forces take position on the bridge between Antioch and Adana. If the Byzantines try to force the bridge, we will bleed them and gain money by ransoming their men. If they try to go around, they will come close to Aleppo and be preyed upon by King Jan.

This way we split the Byzantines off from most of their new possesions, interdict their troop movements and weaken them in battles favorable to us.

Once we have money and reinforcements and the Byzantines are ground down, then we can strike.

Edit: And if the Chancellor notices a moment of weakness near Adana, I will be in position to strike.