The Official Game Status Update Thread

[Jamzor the Jaxxor]

DEUS VULT
Part of a Crusader Kings II game, Part One


The lands of King Malise, held under the Crowns of Scotland, Norway, and Denmark, in 1248

Taking up the Cross
In the year A.D. 1247, word reached Scone, the seat of Malise, King of Scots, Norwegians, and Danes, that His Holiness Pope Lucius II, had called upon all devout Christians to take up arms against the Mohammedan oppressors of the Holy Land. A wise and pious ruler, King Malise called up vassals up to take the Cross, and a great army was raised. Malise’s ancestors were wise and capable rulers with strategic mindsets. War had gained House Dunkeld much power, especially in the British Isles, but smart marriages and intrigue had brought the crowns of Norway and Denmark into his house’s domains. From Scotland, Iceland, and Malise’s lands in Ireland and northern England were raised 13,500 men, including 2,000 cavalry. From Denmark and Norway were raised 6,800 men, including 980 cavalry.

The Rescue of Zemgale
King Malise himself took charge of the western forces, preparing them for a long campaign abroad. The king’s younger brother Torquil took command of the eastern army of Danes and Norwegians. Camped in the county of Viken, Torquil made plans to set sail immediately for Scotland so that the king's army could be united in one place before departing. However, an urgent plea arrived from Earl Arnvid of Zemgale, a distant kinsman. The Earl’s ragged messenger had travelled all the way from Zemgale, the king’s farthest eastern territory. He brought dire news: Estonian pagans had invaded the county and were investing the Earl’s seat of Bauska. These men were raiders by nature; savages whom knew no honest trade, as far as the king’s men were concerned.

Torquil knew well the duty of his brother the king to his vassals, and he knew also his own duty to his kin. Acting in the king’s name, Torquil turned his army east. Some of the men worried that they would not see the Holy Land at all, and they would not receive the promised absolution of sins if they were to die to an Estonian blade rather than a Mohammedan one. To avoid any potential for mutiny and to disquiet the fears of the men, Torquil had the priests spread the word that any man who fights against heathen aggression in the north will be just as welcome in heaven, should he perish, as those who fight the Mohammedans in the Holy Land.

In due time, the rescuing force arrived on the shores of Zemgale. Within a short time, Torquil’s forward scouts spotted Bauska and its besiegers. The enemy was severely outnumbered by Torquil’s force, and Torquil did not wish to give the invaders any chance to escape. Although weary from the sailing and the marching, the overwhelming numbers, coupled with a rear assault from the castle’s defenders, ensured a swift victory. The enemy was routed and scattered across the countryside, while at least half their number were killed. Earl Arnvid was eternally grateful. Apparently he had been on the verge of surrendering the castle due to a lack of food and plummeting morale. Torquil allowed Arnvid to leave most of his men behind to stave off any further attacks.

The Holy Land



With Arnvid rescued, Torquil finally sailed westward, and arrived in Scotland. The gathering of such a force - over 20,000 men - from so many disparate regions, in addition to the rescue of Zemgale, had delayed the departure of Malise’s host until March 1248. The voyage was long but eventless, and by September the crusading army reached the shores of the Holy Land. King Malise, after consulting his advisers, decided to land near the city of Arsuf, northwest of Jerusalem. The landing was done under cover of darkness, and before the city’s defenders had any time to react, the city was surrounded. By this time, word began to reach Malise’s army that other forces had arrived in the land in response to the Pope’s holy call. Bretons, Saxons, Italians, Germans, Castilians - faithful Christians of all Types who had taken up the Cross.

It was not long before the Mohammedan also presented himself. A heathen army marched under the command of Emir Murad up from Egypt, making its way for Jerusalem. Malise made the bold decision to abandon the siege of Arsuf and head inland without first establishing a base on the coast for his fleet and for resupply. Emir Murad was met near Jerusalem. 20,000 soldiers of Christ against 13,700 Mohammedans. Despite his overall numerical disadvantage, the Emir held the high ground and a larger core of mounted troops.



Skirmishing began immediately while the two armies maneuvered. The left flank, commanded by the king’s brother Torquil, and the right flank, commanded by Earl Arnvid, clashed with the enemy simultaneously. The situation was not favorable for the Christian attacks, for they were forced to slog uphill under missile barrage, all the while fearing a charge by the dreaded Mameluke slave soldiers, as fierce as any Christian knight, if not more so. Torquil and Arnvid, however, were capable commanders and acquitted themselves well on the battlefield, despite their unenviable position. Even so, King Malise worried that the losses from this battle, even if they did emerge victorious, might cripple them for the rest of the campaign.

As if from an answered prayer, behold, reinforcements arrived. Italians, Saxons, and knights of the blessed Holy Orders surged onto the battlefield. Another 10,000 Christian soldiers turned the tide instantly. The enemy began to lose hope and their lines were faltering. King Malise’s leading his troops himself, ordering a charge across the entire battle line. With Malise leading the charge, clad in brilliant armor atop a massive beast of war, the center broke first. The enemy flanks soon followed. The adrenaline of that glorious day was high and many of the actions confusing. It was not until after the enemy had been totally routed that King Malise was found severely injured. Captured enemy soldiers revealed that it was Malik, Wali of Zabargad, who had dealt this blow to the king. No doubt he would be praised for this among the heathens, but the king’s men vowed that they would do everything in their power to ensure Wali Malik would never be said to have killed the king.

Despite his injury, and despite his councilors' insistence that another, such as Malise’s younger brother Maldred (Torquil is the youngest of the three), be put in charge of the campaign while the king recovered, Malise continued to play an active role in command. He sent half his force, under Maldred and Torquil, to take Arsuf while the other half remained to capture Jerusalem. During the sieges, news came that another Mohammedan army, perhaps also commanded by Emir Murad, was defeated by knights of the Teutonic Order in Madaba to the east.

At this point, victory was nearly ensured. The end of the Crusade was sealed with the fall of Arsuf and Jerusalem in August and September 1249, respectively. The peace was made official in April 1250. Hochmeister Svein of the Teutonic Order was granted temporary control of the Kingdom of Jerusalem by the Pope, while the weary Scots were simply glad to finally be going home.