The Da Vinci Code a Templar Knights AAR

[Northnovas]

They Arrived! The Outremer gets Crowded

1220 opens with some news from the Papacy another Templar Cardinal Jonas Engel has been promoted to the College. 3 seats are vacant and other diplomatic news the Orthodox Factions unite in a treaty. Two rulers lives end.




Dongla 1221

King d’Alvarez army was ready there was minimal siege equipment constructed.

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Success the veteran agent had opened the gates there would be no battle for the walls.



Aws al-Fatimiyyun offered little resistance for the main streets but prepared a defence for the Centre of the City.



The Fatimid was surrounded by all entrances and exits.



The melee ensued with the St. John heavy infantry leading the charge. The king held back his unit and watched the battle unfold.



The Fatimid Spearmen were starting to falter al-Fatimiyyun committed himself into the melee.



The Fatimid were quickly surrounded but fought hard. The Templar Knights were able to overcome and the general was knocked from his horse. The enemy did not weaken in resolve being leaderless.



King d’Alvarez saw the opportunity and committed his unit to finish off the enemy. Victory was in hand.




The settlement was captured and strict measures were ordered by the King. Resistance was futile. A small amount of florins were added to the treasury.

From east of Baghdad news comes from the merchants on the Silk Road. This mysterious faction is now at the borders of the Outremer. No city has fallen but there is panic amongst the populace making it a dangerous place at best now.
The Grandmaster does not feel he is ready if no peace can be obtained with this menacing faction called the Mongols. There tactics are different then what the Order has been used too. Agents will be sent to find out more.

Alexandria 1222

Young Heinrich de Payns organized his army on the ancient city. His catapults were inadequate to breach the walls. He falls back.



The diplomat in Western Europe reports what happened when he arrived at the French Capital. The Grandmaster is still hoping of the possibility of an alliance with France. However his relations with England are much better.



The clergy is working hard spreading the Gospel and dispelling heretic talk.



On a positive note King d’Alvarez daughter Brasia marries a Venetian noble who joins the ranks of the Templar Order. The young noble makes east for the Outremer. Relations turn to poor with the Venetians.

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Alexandria 1224

The Duke of Damascus commenced his second assault on the great city. This time better prepared.

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The catapults were reequipped with heavier ammo to breach the walls. They attacked the western gate which was not has reinforced has the southern gate from the first attack.




Success the wall is breached and the attackers storm through. The enemy tried to block the flow of attackers. The bottle neck was making it difficult to get into the city. The enemy had plenty of missile regiments for support.



The breached could not be stopped the Templar Knights were making a footing and allowed the cavalry regiments to squeeze through and charge for the city via the southern wall.



The enemy had plenty of light cavalry in the Town Square. A melee of men and horse filled the square.



The Rebel general fell early in the battle however this did not change the heart of the enemy and they fought with more determination.



The Duke now made his charge and stormed for the Town Square. The rest of his cavalry units were badly depleted.



The Square was a scene of chaos men on both sides falling. The Duke engaged into the centre of the storm. It was unknown what way the battle would swing. The Rebels were not going to surrender.



Finally the Square was captured but a Regiment of Rebel Archers away from the Square engagement escaped.



The King of Jerusalem was pleased with the capture of the city and the Western Region was secure except for a Rebel Army on the road to Gaza. The city was sacked this allowed for the upgrading of the Capital Tortosa to another level of fortress.

Other news the King’s oldest son comes of age.



The Rebel Army in the west region.

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More news of death from the Royal Courts and another Princess there are several eligible bachelors in the Order.




Crusade 1226

The Pope has called for a Crusade on Zagreb, a city under Venetian control. The Dodge has been excommunicated.



A dilemma has occurred for the Grandmaster under the mandate of the Order of the Templar Knights all Crusades will be joined. However, his newest commander nephew in law de Palma wants to go and seek vengeance against his family for their lost ways. He is close to the city but has no troops. He conducted a massive recruitment of mercenaries but not enough for a Crusading Army.
The Duke of Constantinople demands to go on another Crusade but has so much unrest that he cannot leave the city without it revolting from his control. This is certainly a problem for the Grandmaster.

The ex Duke of Vienna de Parma assisted the Byzantine allies to remove a Rebel Force from their lands.



The Byzantines were grateful for the assistance and report that they have lost their Emperor and a Princess is available for marriage.



The Crusade grows but no Order of theTemplar Knights yet!



The young d’Alvarez is granted a new title Grandmaster of the Knights Hospitalier. The King’s youngest son comes of age.



Further obituary reading



As the decade comes to an end another clergy of the Templar Knights is promoted to the college.



The latest intelligence reports on Medina. Grandmaster of the Knights Hospitalier is gathering a large force to capture Medina and then to finish off the Fatimid Caliphate.

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They have arrived!

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The Golden Horde but no cities have been attacked. Baghdad is still under Seljuk rule.

Overview



A progressive pace to claim the Outremer but what will these Mongols do to the Order of the Templar Knights and their land holdings??