The Winds of Change

The financial situation for the Templar Order was precarious at best. There has been no assistance from other nations of the faith. The merchants have been slow building and the cost of the army upkeep has been rising.



Damascus 1210

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Further pressure on the finances occurred when the City of Damascuswas besieged. The Garrison Captain was ordered to sally forth.



The Seljuk force was a little smaller but contained experience troops. When the garrison moved out the enemy withdrew further from the city limits. Weary of a trap the Captain held back the missile regiments to remain on the walls and sallied 3 regiments with one in reserve.



The enemy abandoned their siege equipment for better ground. The equipment was quickly destroyed. The garrison marched steadily out in order not to tire them themselves.




The enemy situated themselves and dug in. They had a small javelin unit that was quickly neutralized. The garrison attacked the individual regiments rather then a full out assault. The Seljuk held their ground and did not support their regiments in combat.



The enemy regiments were mainly spearmen and the Templar Cavalry commander had to attack and retreat enemy spearmen fighting infantry units.



The battle wore on to through the day and the garrison was tiring there were still fresh regiments of enemy troops. The Garrison Captain committed the last regiment of spearmen. The Garrison Captain fell in the ensuing melee.



The Templar’s pressed on and the enemy Captain’s unit was the last unit to commit to the battle. The fighting was fierce but the Seljuk Captain was also cut down in the fighting. However, the Seljuk did not falter and continued to the very end.



The siege had been lifted and victory achieved for now.



News from the west raises concerns for the Grandmaster. It has been some time that a diplomat has been west. A diplomat was dispatched to report his findings.



The Siege of Thebes had commenced. The King of Jerusalem was ready to quash the Fatimid footing west of the Red Sea.

Other news advises of another capital falling and relations with the Byzantines are going well. There is also news of a Danish Princess coming of age. Both the Grandmaster’s sons are still bachelors.



More Orders are formed that are for teaching then fighting. They are promised protection in the Outremer by the Grandmaster to spread the Gospel and remove the Heretics roaming the land.



Thebes 1212

The King of Jerusalem was ready the spy was inside and could be of assistance. The enemy garrison was light and there was not much resistance expected.

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Success the gates were opened by the Templar agent!



The Fatimid had position their troops to defend the Square. There were a few small missile regiments that manned the walls.



The Templar surrounded the Square and brought the ballista crew in.



The enemy held their ground and were unfazed by the ballista shot. They struck out and a bloody melee ensued.



King d’Alvarez committed his Unit to finish off the enemy. Yahya the Lazy did not fight like his name and fought till the end taking many casualties with him.



The Castle was captured resistance was futile!



More news from the English Island and the times are a changing.



Edessa 1213

The Seljuk put more pressure on the Order by besieging Edessa. The Prince of Antioch was in the city rebuilding the Army of Antioch.

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The Prince sallied out under the cover of darkness. The sides were evenly matched.



The troops faced each other and only the light of the flaming arrows and ballista shot silhouetted the soldier’s formation.



The Prince rode out to remove the Seljuk Ballista crew. Success!



The enemy moved forward and like shadows quickly came out where they stopped short of the line. The Templar Crossbowmen fired continuously into the enemy formation they did not flinch remaining in formation.



The Prince moved up to the line from the enemy rear flank and both enemy regiments moved in after the Prince. The Templar line surged forward.



The siege was broken and it was a Heroic Victory for the Prince of Antioch



Disturbing news from the Intelligence Agency just when they thought the Fatimid Caliphate were removed from the west region of the Red Sea but another city was located deep down the African Frontier. The King mobilized a force to capture the City of Dongla.



Princess Brasia tried to seduce a Hungarian Nobleman but was rejected.

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To add further concern for the Outremer the Grandmaster hears of a new threat from the East and wonders if the fortification of the cities in the Outremer will be able to hold off this new army rumoured to be coming.



More news comes from the European Courts three rulers have passed on.



From the Diplomatic Corps, France and Scotland have been reconciled but France is now at war with Milan. More importantly the Seljuk Sultanate requested a ceasefire. The Grandmaster agreed so that he can concentrate on the Caliphate and prepare for this army from the East.



The Pope promotes a Templar Cardinal to the College.


The Navy of the Templar Order is in a sorry state. There have been some light guarded transport ships but their skill at fight Pirates has been dismal. The fleet blockaded in Jerusalem tried to break out but were defeated badly.



The trouble continues for the Russian Dynasty with another death of their new ruler. Also changes in Poland.



The decade closes and there was a request by the Council to eliminate the Crown Prince Hayaan of the Moors. The Crown Prince has travelled through the Outremer heading west from Gaza. His intentions were unknown since a state of war exists between the 2 but continued to move west without any aggression. The Grandmaster has no intentions of following up on the request made by the Council. His presences did stall the young de Payns in Cairo from striking out on Alexandria. The city has rebelled from their Sicilian rulers and is free for the taking. Also news that Mecca is under Rebel control.