6th chapter: The Rise of a New Dynasty
1279: After travelling trough the harsh desert wastelands, and visiting numerous desert sheiks, al-Adil finally secured the aid of the Berber nomads. Though for the time being only in Algier. There were promises, however, that with sufficient donations, berber camels would be available in more provinces. Though the archer-warriors were looked down upon by the more rough beduins, who considered the bow a cowards weapon, al-Adil knew they could bring new possibilities to the battlefield. More importantly, these new warriors had sworn oaths in his name, not the Sultans. At the same time, all over the empire, new Beduin tribes, following the footsteps of conquest, were gathering forces. But these “young tribes” as they were referred to by the old beduin elite, sought to make a name for them selves. And new land, or at least the promise of such gains. In Cairo, the Sultan was more than pleased with these new recruits, but failed to realise the potential for change they brought with them. Who would question the legitimacy and value of the Sultan and his young prince? He could not imagine. But in Algier, al-Adil was openly securing the aid of many new beduin leaders. For now, there was not much he could offer. But Iberia had vast stretches of land capable of holding future beduin and berber warlords, and this capital was what al-Adil held in front of them. This same year uncle as-Sahin dies of old age.
1280: The current dynasty consists of the Sultan, the young heir, two youngsters soon to come of age (11 and 10 years respectively) and al-Adils uncle Mohammed. Al-Adil knew he’d have to act now, though he still faced a respectable outer enemy in the Spanish who had managed to gather impressive numbers in Morocco. Or maybe this enemy could turn into a more personal ally? With the help of the brotherhood of thieves in Algier, he managed to produce a summoning in the name of the Sultan of Prince Mohammed to the western front. As soon as these false orders were sent, prince al-Adil shipped another set of secret orders. This time to the brotherhood of knives in Constantinople. Their services had been frowned upon by the Sultan, but al-Adil were more appreciative of their worth. The young prince, currently enjoying the pleasures of the city and the attention from the old elite after being announced heir, was in the way of al-Adils progress. The price was high, and al-Adil could not raise the money with his current standing. But the brotherhood of knives knew that future contracts might be more valuable than immediate payment, and accepted the deal. In the summer, when a ceasefire with the Italians prompted a massive feast in Constantinople, the knives struck against the brothel the young prince had so carelessly ended his night. A night that ended his life as well.
1281: In Algier, prince Mohammed was now the heir, but this information escaped him most curiously. Apparently all the messengers and runners in Africa reported back to the network of informants ultimately held by al-Adil. Mohammed was not only summoned by the Sultan to defend Algier, but also to attack Morocco. So said his orders from Cairo, though there was a little detail with the signet on the orders. Mohammed considered this odd, but thought it came from the hardship endured by the ships fighting their way from Cairo through the Spanish blockade. In the spring, Al-Adils scouts, most benevolently put under Mohammeds charge, reported the Spanish had in large numbers withdrawn from Morocco. Trying to capitalise on this change of fortunes, he ordered a massive invasion. During the entire march reports kept flowing in on massive numbers of camels joining his own regiments. Though Mohammed never saw them himself, the reports were reassuring. At the day of the battle, the Spaniards had deployed spears in masses, and then there where handgunners, archers and militiamen as well. Mohammed felt glad that there were many more camels in reserve on the other side of the hill, just behind him. Without them, this battle would surely be lost. Had he known the Spanish totalled 2700 men, he would have hesitated, as this number was almost 4 times higher than the reports he received. But as he was assured the 800 men on the desert hill he could see himself was all the Spanish could field, he charged confident he would be the hero of the day, and the champion of the Sultan. Mohammed ordered a flanking manoeuvre on both the Spanish flanks and took charge of the main center in the army. As the attack was ordered, he closed in on the numerous chivalric sergeants with the Tower of Castille on their shields. They would fall, as all men did, against the might of the camels, and his ingenious tactics. He and his bodyguard lowered their lances: the beautiful desert morning would soon see his hour of triumph! The fighting was hard, though, and the many long spears were difficult to avoid. Somehow he and his men could not quite get close enough to kill, as long as the enemy wasn’t pressed on the flanks. He could hear the screams of his men as the fell. Where are the flankers? And where are the reinforcements?? He barely dodged a thrust from a spearman in yellow and delivered his own lance in the opponent’s chest. But in doing so, it broke, and disarmed him. As he looked up, there were only three bodyguards left, and not a camel nearby. Several camels were routing, and on the flanks there was noone to see. At this moment Mohammed realised he was abandoned. He realised that all the reports were fake, and he was to die this day. Was it the Sultan? He could not believe it! But his orders…? Just before three chivalric sergeants closed in and with their spears brought down his mount, he remembered the signet. The last thought he ever would have, was on al-Adil. Then an armoured spike went through his armour and ended his life.
1282: A rival short, and a year away from the coming of age of the Sultans second son, everything was going according to plan for al-Adil. But it demanded high treason to assure the final goal, the ultimate goal. To be Sultan, instead of the Sultan. Again the brotherhood of knives were summoned. The Sultan received reports from one of his most trusted agents, the chief of internal security in Constantinople. Not only had he the same day heard the word of a disastrous defeat in Morocco, costing the life of his brother, but now he heard that a plot was brewing against him in Constantinople. As he entered the chiefs chamber in the imperial palace with his three bodyguards, he complained of this fact. “You have other things to worry about” the chief said, but it was not the chief, but a brother of the knife! As two of his bodyguards plunged in between them, he moved closer to his oldest bodyguard Fayed. Something was not quite as it should be with Fayed, the Sultan thought, but forgot it again as the assassin was brought down. Still in shock from the assault, the Sultan watched the two bodyguards hauled the body away, and he was alone with his last remaining bodyguard. “So the reports were right, Fayed. But… By Allah, you are not Fayed! Who are you?!?”. “Me, most illustrious Sultan?”, answered the man as he drew his knife. “I… am the backup.”
1283: The crowing of al-Adil in Cairo was the most spectacular feast in the empire since the celebration of the victory against the Turks.
There were many of the chiefs of the young tribes present, and their joy was boundless. There were also, however, many of the old houses, who did not appreciate the change of fortunes. As he passed the cheering crowds, al-Adil knew that many things were demanded of him. Gold to ensure the loyalty of the informants he had gathered, gold for the loyalty of the brotherhood of knives, and more importantly land for the increasing number of young ambitious camel riders who had so recently joined his cause. If he could not deliver, their support would be just as loyal to him, as they had been to his uncle. He decided that he had to move against the Spanish, whose numbers had increased dramatically in the last year, and whose lands were rich enough to support many camels.
1284: (and back in a more reporting AAR-style) The first offensive action for al-Adil as Sultan, were against the Spanish in Morocco, who totalled 3950 men under the leadership of Lord d’Antequera (3 stars). Sultan al-Adil (3 stars) could muster 3700 camels, the highest number ever in the history of the Egyptian empire. I was quite surprised that 8 years after loosing 2100 men in Algier, going down to roughly 2000 in Morocco, they could rebuild their army so fast. That’s almost 2000 new recruits in 7 turns! I need to take down the Spanish fast. And what’s more disturbing: They have build plenty of spears! Of the 3950 men, more than 1000 are spearmen! And in the first line-up they field 600 of them. With 15 camels and a Sultan’s bodyguard, I can bring 621 men to the battle. So I’m outnumbered 1,5/1, but it’s desert fighting and I have berber camels, four units to be exact, meeting the precise number of CA I can control without loosing my mind. The Spanish place themselves on a hill in the middle of the map. That’s good, as I get room to move around them. As the main line approaches the Spanish head on, the archers move to the rear of the enemy formation. The first wave tries a fake attack on the front and right side of the enemy formation, whereas the main attack is made on the left. The fake attacks do cause some confusion, and more than one spearman-unit is caught in the flank. But there are many spearmen, and they tend to rescue each other. Only in one case the attack is successful and the spearmen slaughtered. The second wave goes to the right of the formation, and I win some and loose some. Then the entire first setup is either dead or exhausted, and I withdraw all to bring a new fresh 16. The Spanish do the same, their second mix features some militia sergeants and more archers. I move the entire host of camels past the Spanish left flank, and this causes them to abandon the hill in favour of a hill in the corner. My insults against the screen are wasted, and they fail to loose honour from map edge abuse. In the move, I caught a couple of rear-guard units, but can’t intercept the army proper, before they are in a good position. After some skirmishing on their new left flank, I withdraw all I’ve got left and bring on a third wave of camels. This time, the Spanish have many archers, and I make a ‘Camel Hammer’ move, but now the desert turns against me! After having to march across the entire battlefield to get to the Spanish cozy-corner, all my camels are at one bar stamina. Again I win some and loose some, but I tend to loose a little more than I win. I realise I properly have to wear down the Spanish, each attack killing more than they can reinforce. And I withdraw. I killed 1260 Spanish, many of them annoying spearmen, and lost 930 camels. I could ransom back 137 though, so I only effectively lost 800. At this point I build 500 camels a turn.
At this point al-Adils future can only assured by winning Iberia in the near future. Will he succeed, or will there be another dynasty on the throne of Egypt before the end of the next chapter? Can the Spanish be worn down, or will there be a fight for the lives of the two empires? Certainly, the two young princes, sons of the murdered Sultan, are not readily accepting the changes of fortune cemented by the birth of al-Adils first son this year. And will we ever see camels fighting in the snow? This campaign isn’t over yet.
/KotR
Re: The Camel Campaign
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