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May 17 - Dobber's log
The winds are favorable, if they remain so we should arrive at Constantinople in much shorte time than the first leg of our journey. Yesterday we left Commander Angryminer and Sir Gersenau behind to venture back to my friend Sakim for more mercenaries for our attack upon the great city of Constantinople. The men are still bragging about their heroics during the taking of the pirate ships. Oh the lust for blood rises in them! I hope the Commander remembered to change the flags on the vessels, he should be flying the Norman flags I gave him before we parted. I would hate for other ships to mistake them for pirates. I also ordered that all the ships in our fleet to fly the Norman flag for the rest of our journey. It is imperative that we appear to be sailing to aid the Byzantines in their quest. I am counting on my spy getting through with the message I sent of my "Norman" :biggrin: force coming to their aid. If we can sail right through the great sea gates we will be inside the walls. Then nothing will stand in our way of devastating that great city the Byzantines are so proud of!
Journal of Sakim - 17th of May
A messenger has arrived saying that Dobber's Commander and some really sickly looking man have arrived at the harbor. What has become of My friend Dobber? I am not to sure of this Commander, What has he done to Dobber?
Upon reaching the harbor, I realize these are different ships than the ones of Dobber.
And why were they flying the skull and crossbones? It is a wonder my people hadn't sank the ships! This Commander explained what had transpired since yesterday and told me of the request from Dobber. I invited them to my camp for the evening to strategize. I will speak with the Caliph's tomorrow and give the Commander a decision.
Knight Richard's adventure
Chap. 8 New men and bad news.
May 26, 1005
Today in the early morning I was finally able to stand on my own two feet. My back still hearded, but I couldn't stand been on that tend any longer, and needed some fresh air. So I walked out and finally some sun light touched my face..
"Oh, you'r walking!" A familiar voice said. "How is my lord, feeling today?"
I turned to see and it was the man that had took care of my wounds. I didn't see him well the first time, only his face, but i saw him today completly. He was an old man, tired by the years, but yet full of energy and happines. Allways had something to make a joke about and I wondered why a old man like him be on this war? How can he be so happy, so full of hope after living such a long life?
"I'm feeling well, thank you." I finally answered, "What is your name old man?"
"I have had many names in my life sir, but you can call me Robin the herb."
I could see why he had earn such nickname, he was good a curing illnesses and wounds.
"Ok Robin, I thank you for your accistance"I said as a rider came at al gallop into the camp.
The men stoped him, thinking he could be an asasine or something like that ,but then he spoke.
"Where can I find sir Richard" He said." I bring him news from the king of England"
It was the rider I had sended for more aid, and as spected he came by the end of may, but somethign seemed wrong.
"Where are the reinforcment" I asked
"They are a day behine sir, I rided here when i heard your where in this siege."
The rider said, but still he appeared to have bad news.
"How many men the King send me?" And is there soemthign wrong?" I asked
"My king sended 20,000 men sir, but I'm afraid there are soem bad news." the rider said " When we landed near the cost of France, we saw many norman ships, apparently preparing for a invasion."
"And invasion?" I asked "Where?, WHERE!!"
"I'm not sure sir, could be england, thats why i sended a massage to the king so he can be prepare for anything"
I said nothing, stood there thinking what I should do. So now here on my tend I'm thinking on what to do. Surely if that invasin is to england my king will need help, but I can't ride on my horse still. Tomorrow I will send some spys, to gather information, also will talk to Hawk knight to see if he could aid. The reinforcement should be here tomorrow by noon and with them I'm sure we can try another assoult, but I can't fight alone side my men. Damn that arrow! It will be sometime until I can mount my horse.
Traveller
06-05-2005, 10:29
Xuca, I suggest we wait a little till Dober & Co. reach us, cuz we're still a week ahead of them!
Btw how big is your army? How many men are in the camp?
l agree, we are ahead of them for some time. While we wait, we could use a beer. Bartender! A round of beer for everybody!
And there is 3000-4000 soldiers in the camp, mostly infrantry.
Angryminer
06-05-2005, 12:13
I guess the bartender has a lot to do... a beer for everybody, including those 4000 soldiers. :cheers:
Angryminer
Xuca, I suggest we wait a little till Dober & Co. reach us, cuz we're still a week ahead of them!
Btw how big is your army? How many men are in the camp?
Carry on whenever you are ready, my next entry will be dated @ 3 weeks later than the last. And can be made at any time hence.
Prince Eric of the Lorah Clan
06-05-2005, 23:31
I guess the bartender has a lot to do... a beer for everybody, including those 4000 soldiers. :cheers:
Angryminer
OK, a beer for everyone on the board! :cheers: 4000 soldiers... :eek:... they will have to wait a while! :wink:
:confused: Where is hawk knight, will he ever continue his part of the story...
Maybe he was waiting for the other bard's to catch up time wise, His last entry was from May16th of his log. And some of us have just arrived on that time frame.
We have a couple of other bard's who haven't posted in a while The Knightly Sword and NaVatar.
Let's see.......
NaVatar's Journal
30th May
Why didn't i see that coming.....*sign* Very well...There is not much I can do in this cell anyways....Blast those normans! Why are they so persistent! Can they never give up!
I might as well review these couple days as I don't have anything else do than to stare at the cold stone wall....
After that Dobber and his army left I contiued to rally men to go with the other army.After the army size was up to 20000 or so I gave them orders to ride out.Everything was fine for many days and I got some small messenges from my spy's about the crusade to Bysantium and other stuff. But! After some days I didn't hear from my spies for a long time and I got no news about the war.This was the time I was getting suspicous and started to investigate the matter myself.
I thought to myself "If you want a job done, you have to do it yourself" so I left the crowns duty for a while to my loyal friend TKS. I discarded the warnings of my advisors and went out to act like a spy of my own.
I visited taverns (under disguise of course) and the docks for some leads about my spies, but it was futile and i didn't get any leads so I went back to the castle.
It was very quiet many days later.I had a bad feeling about everything 'cause my advisors and those nobles who were living in the huge castle were casting suspicous looks at my direction every time at dinner and whispers echoed the hall at night.
One day,oh what a day to remember, I was going to the balchony at my quarters after a small dinner with close friends.And when i stood there, looking out to the foggy air I saw a large army of Normans advancing through the mist! I was shocked that they could have advanced this close to Mercia without having been noticed.I figured that my spies got to close to the army and they got killed and because of the mist the town-guards wouldn't have noticed them anyways.I heard a noise and turned quickly around with the sword in my hand and I saw 10 men with black clothes walking with daggers towards me.They positioned in front of me and then a large man shouted "Remember! Our employe wants the king alive so if anyone kills him that unlucky bastard will be one head shorter! Got It!" And so the men charged me.
I managed to slay 4 of them but then 2 of them managed to get behind me and grabed me and I were hit in the backhead and fainted.Damn, it still hurts!.
And now i'm in this cell deep down the castle with only rats and skeletons to keep my company....well in some way they are far better company than some nobles i know....haha..ha.......ha..*sign* I'm hungry,i had only bread and water for the past week and i fell extremly weak......What shall i do.....There is noway to escape....I must keep my mood up and not fall into despair......Blast! I hate cells!
This round of beer is on me Eric! Bottoms up! :cheers: :cheers:
Prince Eric of the Lorah Clan
07-05-2005, 23:42
This round of beer is on me Eric! Bottoms up! :cheers: :cheers:
*Drinks are served* :cheers:
the knightly sword
08-05-2005, 01:11
tks journal 31th may 1005
I couldint battle novogrodians with my friends hawkknight and richard as king navtar made an urgent call puting me temporarly king at mercia. the king have still not returned from his journey .
later on that day
what in gods name i get reports of an huge army approaching our borders . i order the border guards to trippel the manship and watch out for any unexpected attacks . i sent messengers to all our allies as this might be another even more threatning enemy then the normens.
Traveller
08-05-2005, 10:53
Traveller's Log - May 25th
Hide and Seek
After a whole day search I came to the conclusion that the assassin has escaped from the camp. There is no sign of him. I ordered a check-up of the list we made before to see who's missing. It seems that four people have left the camp in the disorder, caused by Lord Xuca's death. Men continue searching the forrest, but with no result. I have to do something, but what?! All I could do was to put in use the old tactic of punishment and reward. I gathered the men and told them: "My friends, there is a traitor among us! Atleast one, but maybe even more. I want to make it clear to you: We WILL catch them! Sooner or later we will! And when we do, they'll pay the price of treason costly! So, if you hear me now - give up and you may survive! Because I will catch you and there will be no mercy then! And to all who might have some information, concerning some suspicious persons and/or Lord Xuca's death - report to me or some of the high commanders and you may receive a reward, sufficient enough to buy yourself from the best beer for years ahead! That is, if it leads us to the villain, ofcourse..." I can now only hope this will startle them and they'll give up what they know, both to avoid the punisment and to receive the reward! Maybe even some of the assassin's associates could give up. Not very likely, but there is a chance...
Also a messenger arived today from the Bulgarian reinforcements. I couldn't let him in the camp (maybe I should put a sign "Quarantine"), so he had to give me the message through the palisade. The Bulgarian forces were on the way and would reach us within three days. Nearly 4000 men, of which around 3000 fine Bulgarian horsemen, would aid us, doubling our army size. I told the messenger to tell them to tighten the control of the guards and to look for foreign persons. I don't want the assassin to join them and later to enter our camp. But when the reinforcements arive we'll have to continue our way immediately. We have lost too much time. Time that might cost our allies dearly... So, when both armies join, we'll march to the Serbian-Hungarian border! Even if it costs me my life...
Adventures of Xuca
26th may
l followed the traitor for two days and finally reached his camp, where was about 20 men. They welcomed him and one of them asked: ,,Who is the man with you" and he said: ,,lt's our control, and l don't like being controled, get rid of him tonight" Then a plan came to me, but l'll have to wait for the dark.
Then the traitor talked about his conversation with the Byzantin in the forest, and then they were planning which spy would take which actions. l was surprised how well organised they were and how many people was on their side. They mentioned even the King's finest spy to take the most dangerous action - the murder of the Hungarian King. And their conversation lasted deep into the night. Soon after, they retired.
They left only one guard, which was not such a smart move, so l started to act. First l got rid of the guard. He was standing near a bush where l was hiding. l waited for him to get closer, and the l striked him from behing, stabbing my sword right in his heart! Then l hid near the Greek's tent to wait for his assassin. When he came, l striked him same as l striked the guard. Now it was Greek's turn. l needed to kill him without a mess, so l started to strangle him. He woke up, tried to shout, but l sqeezed his throat so hard, he couldn't make noise. Soon, he was dead. l searched him and, unfortunately, found nothing. l took his body and his belongings and carryed them out of the camp.
Then l retourned to finish my job by killing their leader. l took the Greek's dagger and sneaked back in the camp. The leader was drunk and couldn't hear nothing, so l was quick stabbing him and left the dagger in his cheast.
l took the Greek's body and burryed it deep in the forest, so now the traitors will think he was sent to assassinate their leader, and the Byzantins wil think they killed their man. This will ruin their cooperation and give me enough time to reach my, and the Hungarian King and worn them. l took the Greek's horse and l found a letter in the traitors leader's tent, but l can't read it, it's too dark right now, and l don't know how will this what l'm writing look in the morning...
Traveller
10-05-2005, 16:42
Traveller's Log - May 26th
Birds song
I can't believe it! I just can't believe it! I think luck finally smiled upon me! I thought that my yesterdays anouncement would have no effect, but I was obviously wrong. Today two men came to my tent and wanted to speak with me. The guards searched them for hidden weapons, but found none. They looked scared and guilty, but also a spark of greed could be seen in their eyes. "They're here for the prize", I thought. "I'm tired of this! So many men came here with such absurd "informations", like that Lord Xuca himself was the assassin for example, that I'm beginning to think about a punishment for all, who try to lie me." But those two were different. They told me there was a small "underground network" in the army, which was comanded by some foreigner, rumours suggest a Byzantine. He recruited some men, including my two "birdies" here, promising them a substantial ammount of money. But since he ran away from the camp and left them to do on their own, many of the recruited have started to fear for their rewards and their lives. Some have also ran away after Lord Xuca's death, but some are still in the camp, worrying about their heads. The others didn't want to surrender themselves to me, because they didn't trust me and maybe they're right! My two new "friends" promised to show me the other traitors and to give me proof of their guilt. They also said they might know where the master-assassin is hiding and would lead me there. I don't really trust them, but this trace is worth following. Besides, in two days the reinforcements would come and we'll have to continue our way. I have no other chance than to risk! That's why I ordered all acused to be arrested and interrogated. If they prove guilty, they'll be decapitated! To my informers I gave a small ammount of money, saying I'd give them the rest when we capture the assassin. Ofcourse, I can't let such traitors to go away unpunished, despite my promise not to hurt them. That's why in all the battles we'll have, they'll be on the first line, at the heart of the battle. They'll have the chance to redeem their crimes either through their bravery or with their blood! I wash my hands clean...
Adventures of Xuca
27th may
When it got lighter, l emediatelly read the letter. lt was a letter from Byzantin Emperor himself to the Serbian noble Vladislav Pavlovic recogniseing him as the King of Serbia and his ally! And there are instructions how to bring Hungay to their side! Knez Vladislav is King's right hand! l can't belive he's the traitor! l must worn the King, but l don't belive he'll belive me! Better first to go to the King of Hungary, it's more important to prevent him declaring war to Serbia, and now l have some proof. l might have a plan:
lf Hungarians belive me, they will catch the spies, and we can force one to reveal how it was planed for them to report they succeded being caught, and then missguide the traitors we don't know about the plan. Traveller will probably arrive with the army, and maybe, just maybe the Hungarians agree to help us against the Byzantium and send an army, too. Then the rebels would think the Hungarians come to help them, so we could crush them with ease. And, of course, the King must not know anything before the rebellion starts, because he could never belive Knez Vladislav could want to raise a rebellion. l'll think about the plan a little more...
Journal of Sakim - 18th of May
The meeting with the Caliph's was not as promising as I thought it would be. I had expected wholehearted support. But there seems to be a split in the council, They desire to confer with each other and give me their answer on the morrow.
Later in the day I met with Commander Angryminer and informed him the decision is delayed another day, but we will have an answer tomorrow. I also informed him that in the meantime I would be mustering all the support I could and that if the Council of the Caliph's decided against aiding in the effort, I would take what support I could muster on my own and join them on their voyage.
Journal of Sakim - 19th of May
The Council refused their support. What I can do must be on my own effort and my popularity with many of the men. I send messages to all those who support me, to meet me in 2 days, a half days journey to the west where we first met Dobber.
I reported to Angryminer the unfortunate news, and tell him of my plan. He will sail from the harbor as if he is leaving and will then sail west to the spot we first met along the coast. I will meet him there 2 days hence with all the men I can muster and what supplies I can slip off with.
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