THE SKY WENT BLACK,

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? Agoge's inaugural TDM.
WHEN? The Battle of Hattin, 1187.
ANYTHING ELSE? Violence, as always. Please warn in subject lines for anything beyond physical violence, and move to a personal journal if things go beyond PG-13.

FROM JERUSALEM WITH LOVE;

the horns of hattin, 1187: the holy land

read the jerusalem setting infopage

Your eyes open, and above you is the roof of a tent, a heavy woven material that blocks you from what must be an otherwise glaring heat that is beating down. Near you stands a man - you understand him, but you aren’t sure you are supposed to. Aware as you are that he is speaking Arabic, a trickle of words as he dabs water on your brow, that as you go to reply, you realise, you are speaking Arabic too. Urging you to sit up slowly, and now that you are awake -

“Good, slowly does it. You are meant to have heat stroke. Nothing sudden now. The Commander will explain it to you soon - in here it’s safe, no outsiders can come in. Check your BCE, it will tell you what has happened - ”

As he indicates to the small pack that seems to hold your belongings, he explains: you are in the encampment of Saladin, the greatest commander in all of Islam. He has been fighting the crusading invaders since the death of the Crusader King Baldwin VII. But one of the most important was about to start: you are here, at Hattin, though the enemy hasn’t arrived yet. Not that it means it’s time to rest: this is a war camp. There is much to do. Saladin runs a impressive army, and it wins by its discipline, no idle hands here, and for you, newly awakened to it, there is just as much to do. So enjoy the first few moments of reprieve, there won’t be much of it in the coming days.

MISSION OBJECTIVE

The forces of COST-- allied, today, with the armies of Saladin, though they will never know-- aim to win the day.

This is imperative, because Saladin's victory at Hattin makes his next victory possible: he intends to march on Jerusalem, long held by invading Crusaders, and take his city back. Historically, he wins a Hattin and at Jerusalem. But, the Regency supposes, if they could weaken Saladin in Hattin, perhaps even completely defeat him, he would not be so able to take the city.

Preserve the flow of history. Aid Saladin's army. Defeat the Crusader army at Hattin.

A MESSAGE FROM GROTHIA

>>@CMDR

@ALL I don't have time to explain right now, but the transporters have played havoc on the way in and we think that the - nevermind, the techdacts don't make any sense at the best of times. Your memory has been tampered with, one of the Regency's tricks, no doubt. Price for late intelligence, we didn't know until we made the transfer.

Short of it is, I put you all down as having a bout of heat stroke that knocked you out and that’s the story you need to stick to. Even if you don't want to trust me, you're going to have to follow my instructions if you want to live through the next week. We can do our reintroductions later.

Follow our instructions and we’ll all make it through this with minimal casualties.

Welcome back, soldiers. Good to have you with us again.

WIN THE DAY

MEDICAL

Help build up the army after the Siege of Tiberias.

After this battle, Saladin's forces turn toward Jerusalem, and eventually take it from Crusader control. It's imperative, then, that Saladin's forces are strong, healthy, and most importantly, alive. This is war: there are a larger number of soldiers who are wounded and require medical care to maintain the numbers. Saladin's forces are lucky: their medics are some of the best in the medieval world. But there is constant need for more hands on deck to assist. Whether that’s holding down a soldier to cut off his leg - or dress a wound. Maybe it’s just as simple as a soldier that wakes up from his fever wanting water, there is always something that needs doing.

STEALTH

Sabotage the water supply of the crusaders.

All armies march on their stomach, and in the desert, access to water means life or death. Saladin knows this, and the Crusaders are heading for the largest oasis between Jerusalem and Hattin to replenish their stores. Saladin has placed a line of defense at the oasis to stop the Crusaders. Some truly desperate Crusaders are risking death, attempting to break through the defenses in an attempt to get some water. Your orders are simple: no Crusader should be getting to that water.

STEALTH

You know what else armies need? Sleep. For those brave enough, its been encouraged to try and exhaust those Crusaders. Your orders are vague, leaving plenty of room for creativity: psychologically mess with them, mimic loud animals to wake them up, forcibly introduce these 12th century men to Cyndi Lauper at the top of your lungs. Whatever takes your fancy, just try not wake Saladin’s forces, they still need their beauty sleep. And most importantly: don't get caught.

COMBAT

The Crusaders are here: fight them. Crusaders will in heavy chain mail into battle, often with a padded gambeson underneath them. Aim your weapons for the chinks in the points that quickly immobilize: the throat, armpit, inner elbow, inner thigh, inner knee. You will always want to aim for the veins and joints. This isn't about clean, this is about hard and fast. Battles in the desert are made worse for every hour spent in the gruelly heat.

They fight with heavy sword and shield, and the metal they wear makes them more strongly defended, but also slower; they cannot mount their horses without some help, so if you manage to unhorse a Crusader, they must survive the remainder of the battle on foot. Often if you wounded a horse, it can kill the man riding it.

Medieval warhorses are huge animals that can do serious damage with a single kick; however, by Crusader tradition, many are stallions, which are famously willful difficult to control. Being thrown from one of these horses, especially in armor, is no small thing. This is where by contrast Saladin's army comes into its own. They ride a lighter horse more suited to this kind of warfare, and the cavalry works by spiking in quickly, reigning down an attack, then retreating. The Turks are famous for riding by, and shooting down arrows into foot soldiers before retreating out of range again.

Aside from the knights on their horses, keep an eye on hired mercenaries and others of all classes storming into battle. Watch out for crossbows: a single bolt can punch through thick metal, much less whatever you might be wearing. However, the shots take a great deal of time and strength to load, requiring the user to pull the bolt back while standing on the bow. The weapons are not stealthy, and striking an opponent while they load them is the surest route to victory. More traditional archers are far more difficult to defeat; though their arrows can't cut through metal, they can shoot from much farther away and draw another arrow ten times as fast. Other fighters charge in with cudgels, maces, spears, axes, polearms, and the fervent determination fanaticism brings. Do your fellow soldier on the battlefield a favor: try and take out an archer whenever you can. But for those fielding the arrows, don't stay put, they'll always try and take you out first.

The battle of Hattin is one of the most bloody in the history of the Crusades; famously, it is said that its outcome left the sky black for all the birds hungrily circling the carnage. Your job in this battle is twofold: fight to win, and survive.

COMBAT / STEALTH

Capture Guy D'Lusignan.

History dictates Guy D'Lusignan, current King of Frankish-ruled Jerusalem, is captured by Saracen forces, which later leads to Muslims recapturing Jersusalem from Frankish hands. Help the Saracen war parties ride out, make sure they aren't sabotaged, and attack King Guy's war party. Along with them, you'll find Reynard de Chatillion, another nobleman whose capture will herald a collapse of the Crusader forces. Medieval battle isn't like modern warfare, where soldiers fight on in spite of their leader's capture or death.

A medieval battle ends when one side gives up, or when a leader has been killed or captured. Capturing the heads of an army leads to the immediate death of the battle's morale and will to fight. To win the Battle of Hattin, it is imperative that Guy D'Lusignan and Raynard de Chatillion are captured, as they were in history.

read the jerusalem setting infopage

NAV. NETWORK LOGS OOC PLURK DISCORD

Comments

ADDITIONAL.

[agogemod]

[ a place holder ]

>> CMDR: DAWN ANNOUNCEMENTS

[byfist]

[ A little after dawn, the message is sent out: ]

@ALL:

1 ) Don't bother come looking for me in person, not after the mess on entry. All further communication will be coming through these means. I cannot risk our cover being blown.

2 ) For the millionth time: don't take out the BCE in public. If I have to kill one more well-meaning soldier that just ran away screaming to cover your lack of foresight it's you who will be burying them. Let's all do a little better this time around, shall we?

[ ooc: This is free for all characters to respond too. ]

[artifica]

If we are to be soldiers, shouldn't we be brave?

[byfist]

Bravery and stupidity are different things.

[twerkinprogress]

Hello my good sir, madam, or other title you'd prefer. Whatever. Look, I'll keep this short and sweet. I'm one of these lucky people who just woke up to be told that I've volunteered for this army, but due to a clerical error, had my memory wiped. Or something. And that's fine. That's like an average Tuesday for me. But I'm a little iffy on believing that because I'm a wizard. I don't do the whole swinging swords business. Too messy. So I have to ask what exactly I'm meant to do in this battle since the aforementioned screaming will likely result if I'm seen performing spells.

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

Commander is what is preferred.

Those spells. Are they only effective on people? Or could you say - rott a food supply?

[tress]

For what fault is this well-meaning soldier being killed for? The punishment should fall upon those who made the error.

[maskedlumen]

Our presence here is of utmost importance and secrecy.

I doubt killing the one at fault would be beneficial here but I rather not the soldiers of this time period face such a cruel end.

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

Because our goal, our real goal, is to avoid Regency detection.

But you are right, anyone who does so should be punished for compromising us. How would you suggest that is done?

[dorzalta]

Convenient that you hide behind the written word. Am I to assume you are our commander?

[ No commander of hers. She's a firm believer of manning the front lines, when necessary. ]

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

Of this Cell, yes.

[heilt]

Will there be more information on what happened?

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

Once this fight is through, yes. I will sit down and answer all your questions.

[disorderdisgust]

Can I express my appreciation for the fact this time I have actually been provided with something to cover my face? I would hate to have to breath the same air as everyone else around here, after all.

And well, you did take my mask. Which I do not appreciate, even though your reasoning is perfectly understandable, as plague doctors did not exist at this period of time.

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

No, they don't, as the doctors here do not need such things, given their competency.

That being said, perhaps whenever we return to base, you can have something made more... preferable.

[mylawn]

I don't remember signing on to this. How long have I been in your employ?

>>@CMDR

[byfist]

As a whole, or in this cell?

un: @hawkeye

[alsohawkeye]

why should we believe you're the good guys here?

[dominance]

Take him as a hostage. Enough blood's been shed.

[jelmazmo]

Would you not agree that enough blood waters the sand already? Spare the soldier.

>> point: re: DAWN ANNOUNCEMENTS

[pointedlook]

Do we at least get a shovel for digging? Asking just in case. You know.

un: @rooks

[trainwreckoning]

Does that mean after the mission, you'll be granting in person appointments?

[I mean... he'll probably just try to break in if she doesn't say yes, but. Easy way first.]

@IPPOURIS

[horsepowered]

@CMDR

Is there a protocol in place in case the BCE is seen by an individual accidentally (if a corner is turned by an unaccounted for person(s))?

NPC: Abu Yusuf Da'ud al-Mubarak ibn Ahmad

[agogenpc]

Congratulations, soldiers, you saved at least one soldier from the Commander's frustration.

The young man is sat in the middle of the tent, his hand's bound and his eyes up in a fixed expression somewhere between fear and wonderment. An avid curiosity. The slide across of his gaze as he watches everyone else progress around the tent of the COST forces. After all, in here, no one needs to pretend what they are. He's definitely seeing too much since the Commander ordered him tied up and dropped there for safe keeping until the conflict is over. He does seem very young, dressed no differently to the other soldiers of the encampment though he's been stripped of his own weapons that have been put into a bundle and sat in the corner of the tent. No more than about seventeen years old, if that, from how those big warm eyes of his watch each person coming past.

Near to him, a falcon sits. It's hooded and capped, and incredibly expensive looking, by its well-groomed feathers and very decently fed. For the moment, it seems to be asleep. Not causing too much of a problem for anyone except the soldier, apparently. For anyone who asks about what has happened: it seemed he's the servant of a prominent lord, whose was chasing after the Falcon he was in charge of when he wandered straight into a group of COST soldiers.

Soldier and bird, now are guarded by another COST soldier whose hand is resting on the pommel of her blade. She clearly isn't too interested in the task at hand, but orders are orders after all. If asked, she steps back to let anyone that wishes to step up to talk to the young man, who looks up with his eyes bright and curious at the new person coming to visit him.

[hellene]

Diana didn't have a chance to advocate for his safety, but she's quite pleased that the Commander had relented.

Man might have built a world where standing together is difficult, if not impossible. But she'd not been a part of that. before she'd arrived here, she'd helped see what had been called the 'The War To End All Wars' to its end. How many soldiers had she seen wounded, suffering, dying? Too many. And there'd been millions dead before Steve had ever stumbled upon Themyscira.

Standing at the entrance to this tent, she hopes deep down that this endeavour will help make a difference. That somehow, someway, there may yet be a method by which to reach the hearts of men and unite them. He's young. Much too young, by her estimation. She'd wanted to fight since she'd been small, but she'd been born an Amazon. Not mortal as this boy is. There's a pang in her chest, her heart pained.

But she's smiling, gently so as the guard stands aside for her. Diana doesn't come to him with a weapon unsheathed; she bears a skin of water, instead, and moves to join him inside the tent. To feel how hot it is in here makes her glad she came, and she offers forth the skin without much preamble.

"Here." The curiosity almost seems to win out over the fear in his gaze. Her smile warms. A valiant heart. "You've had a trying day, from what I've heard. Has anyone offered you food yet?"

He doesn't look injured, so far as she can tell. That's good.