The Crusade Takes Shape
(You may want to refer back to the character post on page 1 of this AAR to remember some of the dukes who will be participating.)
Deep in the castle....
A roaring fire spits and cackles inside its stone prison as a group of men, the greatest lords of Aquitania, stand around a high table spread with maps, scrolls, and half eaten bread crusts.
- "My lords, there can be little doubt amongst you as to why I have called all of you away from your holdings at this time, for I am sure the Papal envoys have reached each of you."
Doumenge de Caumont, Duke of Aquitaine- "Indeed my liege, we have each heard the call to arms against the heathen Mosulmen. None here doubt that you have plans to take advantage of the situation."
Michels de Montesquiou, Duke of Poitou- "Truly, I can hardly surmise that any other crisis bar a French invasion would warrant this gathering."
King Zavie- "You both speak truth, but thankfully we will not face the wrath of little King Louis just yet. I fully intend to put the full military power of our Kingdom into the coming battle with the heathens. Other matters can wait, since I fear we have let this intolerable occupation of Christendom last to long already."
Guiges de Toulouse, Duke of Toulouse- "Cousin, we are aware of your feelings regarding the Iberian situation. Now is the time that both your father and yourself have waited for, a direct request from the Pope to take back these lands. The only question is how do we proceed?"
Poitou- "Even with this war occurring on our doorstep, we will face the logistical problems of operating in hazardous enemy territory. The upkeep of any army capable of the invasion will be tremendous."
King Zavie- "As you were traveling, I took the liberty of having my Marshal put together a rough plan for our campaign.
Emmanuel de Curieres, Marshall of Aquitania- "Yes my liege, my lords. If you would take a look at these.
"The main force of our western regions will march directly toward our target(Gold Star, like you didn't know) taking the shortest route possible. This will involve taking the small independent sheikdom of Labourd, which will present no difficulty. A small holding force led by the Duke de Foix will remain behind to protect the region from any possible counterattack."
Raouf de Foix, Duke of Gascony- "My liege! I must object, there is no reason for it to be me that guards the baggage train! Give it to any of the others I plead of you! The Mohammedans will never forget the punishment I will inflict on them."
King Zavie- "Remember your place Raouf, I do not see this as a servile position. I need someone that I can trust to secure our flank and I consider you the man to do it. If my favor of you is misplaced, you may speak again and I might consider having my daughter serve as the occupier of Labourd. Pray continue Emmanuel."
Emmanuel- "Yes my liege. These are the only four provinces in Spain occupied by the Kingdom of the Hammadids, as they call themselves. If we take all of them and rout their armies, we will have gone a long way to the achievement of our goal."
Toulouse- "I sense that it will not be so easy as that, what other power does the enemy possess?"
Emmanuel - "The enemy also possesses much territory on the African continent, as displayed here."
"We have the option of either using our eastern forces as a solid defense against any attacks that they launch from this territory or we can use them as an offensive weapon, putting more pressure on their armies and occupying land that will be of value when we decide to negotiate peace."
Gilbert de Milhaud, Duke of Auvergne- "You actually think they might attack us here? I came under the impression that we would be the ones attacking! My liege, you must allow me to go and prepare the defenses of my demesne! A crew of raffish Islams might be preparing to attack my keep, all of our keeps, as we sit here talking! I could not bear the thought of my lands being trodden upon by their feet!"
King Zavie- "Calm, Gilbert. One would think that you would be eager to prove your loyalty to God and the Pope considering the recent revocation of your excommunication. There is little chance that they will land in enough force to seriously threaten us, but they will no doubt prove a nuisance if they manage to get significant numbers ashore. I am of the disposition to allow our eastern forces to guard the coastline until we see how the campaign in Spain goes. Then we may be able to spare troops from there to facilitate a direct attack on the Hammadid heartland."
Jaume de Caudoine, Duke of Bourbon- "Keep me from this holding force lord. I desire nothing more than to..."
Poitou- "Frighten the Muslims with your overly developed facial hair?"
Bourbon - "You mock! I will show each of you what my men and I are capable of. No sheik will have pity from me in this holy venture, no stronghold will remain barred from our conquering host!"
King Zavie- "Hold man, do you want these lords to think you still a boy? You will accompany my force into Spain Jaume, but I doubt that war will be much to your mind's image."
Bourbon- "No matter my liege, I shall earnestly serve you in every respect in this campaign. None will prevent me from executing my duty"
Toulouse- "Now that we decided on a course of action, how do you rate our odds Marshal? Where do we stand in comparison to them in troop numbers and disposition?"
Emmanuel- "Our most recent reports have come up with these numbers for the Hammadids. They possess approximately eight thousand troops, of which most are stationed in their homeland of in Africa. The Spanish areas will likely not be able to be reinforced until we have conquered our objective. They are also allied to the Kingdom of Almoravids located along the western North Africa coastline. These allies have the possibility of bringing another ten thousand troops into the war, but we are uncertain how effective they will be or even if they will attempt to combat us in Spain."
King Zavie- "Our own strength approaches forty five thousand, but we will have to deal with the effects of attrition in enemy territory for the first stages of the war. Still, I assure you that that victory is preordained, since we do have God on our side after all."
Poitou- "That's right, he's never let us down yet."
Try listening to some The Who when playing, makes for a very good mixture.
