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

[laveers]

I have heard stories of Your Grace and the dragons, but we have never met face to face. I have been in the North this last month.

[dorzalta]

[ Another loooooooong silence. One filled with doubt and confusion. ]

And what of Yara Greyjoy? Speak true to me, my lady, I am in no mood for jest.

[laveers]

This is no jape. I know not of a Yara, I am the only trueborn daughter of King Balon of House Greyjoy.

This is the work of evil sorcery. I will meet with you.

[dorzalta]

We'll meet where they hold the horses, my lady.

[ Trick or not, she'll stay true to her word. The fabrics upon which she's required to don are an inconvenience and a blessing, hiding her Targaryen features from all those who surround her. Even hidden as she is, it's easy for all to discern that she's either a woman, or the slip of a man. A boy, perhaps. Her posture speaks of pride, as she watches the horses mill about.

Only when someone steps near to her will she speak, gaze remaining on the graceful beasts before her. ]

I've seen a number of strange things in my life. The confusion of names and memory is not one.

[laveers]

[ She's not fond of horses, but stables are a recognisable feature in any place. Thankfully, these ones are not difficult to find. Asha strides through, the smell of salt and leather clinging to her even under her disguise. She has kept her axe away and carries a sword — passing as a man. ]

And I have seen stranger. [ it is clipped, but her anger is not at Dany. ] Your words ring of truth, as do mine. This sorcery is not known to me.

[dorzalta]

We hail from the same world, this much is true. [ A tilt of the head, so that she may regard Asha. ] I wonder what tricks our kidnappers seek to play by uniting us. I'd allied with your brother. The Ironborn fighting upon my side were ambushed by Euron's fleet, defeated in battle.

[ There's something cooler in her tone. An anger which she cannot abandon, when the insults of battle still remain so fresh in her mind. ]

Do you swear allegiance to your maddened uncle, Asha Greyjoy?

[ She'd rather not recognize the only familiar soul (debatable how familiar) as an enemy in this strange world. ]

[laveers]

[ She has the look of a Targaryen — itself unusual enough that Asha is satisfied she is who she says. ]

My brother is an unusual choice of ally.

[ Theon — much as she cares for him as the least idiotic member of her family — is neither shrewd nor wise. If it a means to gain a fleet, she or Victarion are far better choices. ]

[ Nay, there is something here she does not know. ]

I would sooner be drowned than swear my allegiance to Euron Greyjoy.

[ She does not even call him a king. ]

[dorzalta]

[ Yes, he was, wasn't he? She'd not spoken to him very much, truth be told; he seemed to prefer bleeding into the background. ]

Yara was the one who approached me with the proposal.

[ Honesty, for however much it is worth, would do her far better here.

There's a look of satisfaction settling in her features, melting the slight chill which had settled in her gaze as she broached the subject. Yara, Asha, these are details muddied by outside forces. Nevertheless, it is allies she needs, not answers. ]

We share that in common. [ A beat. ] And if you had the choice of who to swear your fleet to, who would it be?

[laveers]

[ A bold girl, for ironborn. Cousin to Asha herself, this she cannot bristle at. It's admirable. ]

My fleet would be sworn to me, the Queen of Salt and Rock. We would resist those who sought dominion over us unjustly.

[ She's not without pride. But Asha scrutinises her, curiously, then she shakes her head. Aegon the Dragon had taken the Iron Islands — Daenerys had dragons. If they were at home, there would be no question. ]

That was not to be. Ask me to swear fealty to you, and I shall ask something of you in turn.

[dorzalta]

[ Much akin to Yara, in this. The same familiar thread of like warms her blood now. She is bold. She is proud. There is an appreciation for both, compounded by the fact that Asha is not overbearing in either. ]

A well deserved claim, I'm sure.

[ She does not prickle over the title of queen, not as she had in the face of Jon's proclamation as King in the North. Not when the offer of fealty is broached. With a curious tilt of the head, Dany steps to face Asha. Their surroundings turn to a distant hum, the horses grunting, the sound of laughter and shouts further away. ]

My conditions are thus: the Ironborn will not reave, rove, raid, or rape the coasts of Westeros. Name your request in turn.

[laveers]

[ She dips her head in acknowledgement. A dragon king would not have been met with even that, perhaps. But only a fool looks into the eye of a dragon over the sky and says, I will not burn. The sea will claim her dead, but men burn all the same. ]

That will not be easy, [ she warns, ] Greyjoys before me have tried. [ herself among them, ] but I deem your cost fair. Other than what you have forbidden, we are free to do what we will. We suffer no faith but our own, we will build halls on the Northern shores. Your enemies will be our enemies.

[ Her smile curves sharply. ]

It may be that the first among those is another kraken.

[dorzalta]

I do not expect easy, but it will be done if you're to settle on Northern lands and be of your own mind.

[ What has been easy in life? Very little. She expects no less in this... and appreciates that honesty for what it is. How many would agree to these terms, yet balk over them in secret, determining ways to undermine those very same terms? No, she's no doubt the Ironborn will resist, but perhaps the terms will fit their fancy enough to try. ]

The Northern lords will not be pleased. [ She, on the other hand, sounds delighted. It is, in no part, a jab at the supposed King in the North. ] But they will accept this.

[ A thoughtful pause. Dany studies Asha in her sharpness, and there is something appreciative in her own smile, something equally as cutting. ]

Our enemies will be the same, be it kraken, lion, wolf, or stag.

[ Or the many others she can't be bothered to list. ]