Re: The Lion's Court

[House of Judah]

Sir Arnau de Jordà
Hospital of Saint James in Jaffa

Sir Arnau sat at the head table of the refectory, along with a number of his top officers. Father Bertram sat with them today instead of dining with the other priests at the church. As such, the usually rambunctiousness was some what dampened from it's normal fervor. Still, the easy joking among the brotherhood continued.

At the end of the hall, a door opened and a man bearing the arms of the King strode forward. He presented Sir Arnau with a scroll which the Chapter Master immediately unrolled and began reading. He reached the end, nodded, then rose from his seat.

"Silence in the hall!" called one of the officers. Sir Arnau looked out at his men, then cleared his throat.

"Brothers, the King sends word. He marshals an army to march north to secure trade and pilgrim roads to Byzantium. He summons Knights of the Nazorean Guard to his banner to defend the pilgrims subjected to Alan raiders. Our chapter is called upon to send thirty men on this campaign. I ask now, are there thirty men here with the strength of Christ's conviction to march far from home in the service of our King, that he might defend our Christian brothers?"

[Varasd]

Victor Bärberg

Sir Victor stood up as soon as Sir Arnau finished his question.

"I volunteer, m'Lord!" He said, in a strong and confident tone. "God be my judge, I shall not be found wanting!"

[House of Judah]

Sir Arnau de Jordà
Hospital of Saint James in Jaffa

The bretheren were practically jumping over one another to volunteer.  He looked around the room and began selecting men.

"Sir Ector, Sir Erminio, Sir Ricard..."  He called out the men's names as he went.  "Sir Sebastian makes twenty-eight... Sir Victor makes twenty-nine... and the thirtieth I select myself to lead our contingent into war.  May the Living God stand with us in this endeavor.  Make what peace you need with your brothers and Father Bertram now before we take to the road.  We make for Jerusalem for marshaling of the army, and then to Antioch and war!"

---

Sir Lorenzo
Bethlehem

"Sir Kyros, I hope you have found Bethlehem to your liking," the Nazorean greeted the young Greek.  "I was wondering if you desired to see Jerusalem.  Myself and several of my compatriots have been summoned to the city.  If you want to ride with us for safety on the road, we would surely welcome you."

[Cybelos [ERE]]

Kyros of Lesser Sinai
Bethlehem

"Of course, shouldn't be much trouble on the road I would imagine. But, yes, I welcome the opportunity. I'll just gather my things."

[House of Judah]

Mood Music

---

Sir Lorenzo
Army Camp Outside Jerusalem

Lorenzo and his companions made their way along the road flanked by tents.  He looked over at Kyros as a banner bearing the arms of Saint James flanked by lions came into view..

"I'm afraid this is where we shall part companies, Sir Kyros.  Myself and my order are for war against the Alans.  I shall hope that we shall find each other once more when the conflict is at an end.  That is, unless I can tempt you to join us.  You are an able man with a sword, you could be quite the help upon campaign."

---

Sir Arnau de Jordà

The contingent Sir Arnau led from Jaffa rode towards the tent with Nazorean banner.  A man sat behind the table with a large book.

"Welcome, brother.  From what chapter are you?"

"We number thirty from the Jaffa chapter.  I am Arnau de Jordà, the chapter master."

"In that case, welcome Master Arnau.  I'll need the names of your company and you can go find a location for your tent."

"Sir Ector can give our names.  Sir Victor and Sir Ricard will set the tent.  In the meantime, I must speak with Aloys de Narbonnes, is he here?"

"No, Master.  The head of our order is at the hospital in the city."

"Very well then. I shall go into the city to see him.  Victor, Ricard, see to the tent then take the rest of the day.  You can see the city, if you like."

Ricard nodded and looked around for a little.

"This seems as good a spot as any," Ricard said. "What do you think, Victor?"

---

Aloys de Narbonnes and Sir Arnau de Jordà
Hospital of Saint James in Jerusalem

"Aloys, it's been too long," said Sir Arnau as he walked up to his old friend.

"Arnau.  How have you liked Jaffa?"

"Nice and challenging.  How's Aliénor?"

"Married."

"She has taken a husband?  Who?  When?"

"Two weeks past she married Viktor von Hofkirchen."

"Hofkirchen?  He's been one of your most bitter critics."

"And two weeks ago he began singing the tune of fellowship of all Christians.  A lot of our worst have either gone silent or switched as well. Hofkirchen is even organizing an auxiliary of those loyal to him to take to holy war against the Alans."

"Your sister has become quite the politician."

"Indeed."

---

Ari ben Yitzchak ben Yehudah
King David's Citadel

For the past week, a whole new city had been growing on the side of Jerusalem.  Tents had sprouted up across the hills just outside the city gates, many with banners showing the residents particular allegiances, whether they be with the king directly or some other noble or even the Nazorean order.  Even now, more arrived for the army Ari was to lead north to secure the roads to the Grecian lands.

Ari stood upon the wall watching the army form along with his elder brother, Benyamin.

"Does it seem to you we have seen more war in the past few years than before?" Ari asked?

"The world is growing more crowded, and not all of our neighbors are contented to peace."

"Unfortunately.  And when conflict breaks out, I am called upon to settle for our father.  I know, I know, I chose to be the soldier, but I am growing tired of that tension."

"Ari, you conquered Cyprus with almost no bloodshed.  You should feel accomplished by that."

"I do.  But for once I wished it was your skills for diplomacy that were called upon instead of mine for war."

"Hopefully, when we have driven the Alans out of Anatolia, we can finally have peace again."

"Well, I doubt you'll ever truly find peace, brother."

"Why is that?"

"Because two weeks ago the woman you love married another man that you hate."

"Viktor von Hofkirchen is a fine man who has abandoned his inflammatory rhetoric and will make Aliénor a fine husband.  And I do not love her."

"Play politics with anyone else, Beni, but I'm your brother and I know you.  Growing up, you let me win countless fights.  You were bigger and stronger and you let me win."

"You're bigger and stronger now."

"True enough.  I've kept with it better than you have, but then you'll have to rule while all I have to do is fight.  Back when, there was one time you wouldn't let me win.  We fought to see who would marry Aliénor when we grew up.  And you made me eat sand.

"I wish she had found a way to choose you, but we all know that it was impossible." Ari rested his hand on his brother's shoulder.  "Stay strong, brother.  Your time will come."

[Cybelos [ERE]]

Kyros
Army Camp Outside Jerusalem

I'm sure they'd have my head if I were to return home lame, Sir Lorenzo.
Though I suppose if you are attempting to protect the Christians I shall join you.
After all, I'd hope for a similar response from my fellow Greek if my home were to be attacked.

[Jormark]

The two leaders have appeared to place in the tournament, find Magnus Henry a suitor to give him an heir, and embark on a pilgrimage.

They arrived in Acre and are going to Jerusalem:

[url=https://servimg.com/view/19481593/2]


They are going to arrive shortly.

[House of Judah]

Harbormaster
Acre

"Tell me, boy," the harbormaster asked his young apprentice, "do you know where Jormark lies?"

"No sir, I do not."

"It lies in the Northern Lands, on the far distant side of Europe."

"Why should men come from so far away to Akko?"

"For pilgrimage. They wish to see the sites holy to their Christian faith. And, as rumor has it, to find a bride for his son."

"What's a pilgrimage?"

"Um... it's a journey, both physical and spiritual I suppose."

"Sir, the ship!" the boy shouted and pointed. The harbormaster turned to witness the arriving ship and nodded.

"Right, let's be about it." The harbormaster and his boy made their way down the dock to where the ship would tie up once it arrived.

[Jormark]

Sigmund III & Magnus-Henry I
Acre

The two lords step of the ship clad in their attire:

Sigmund with a large gold crown, type of dark velvet linnen shirt, a blue cape, and atop the shirt, his military surcoat.

Magnus with the same but with a silver crown. He follows the road from the dock up to the boathouse.

[House of Judah]

Harbormaster
Acre

"Good day, my lords," the harbor master said, inclining his head and body in the half-bow Judeans had adopted as the compromise between the respectful gesture and their restriction to not bow to none other than God. "I shall have need to take down your names and your reasons for coming to Acre. Am I correct that I address his grace, the Grand Duke of Jormark, and his son?"

[Jormark]

Harbormaster
Acre

"Good day, my lords," the harbor master said, inclining his head and body in the half-bow Judeans had adopted as the compromise between the respectful gesture and their restriction to not bow to none other than God. "I shall have need to take down your names and your reasons for coming to Acre. Am I correct that I address his grace, the Grand Duke of Jormark, and his son?"

Grand Duke Sigmund III and Baron-Prince Magnus-Henry,
Acre

 "Aye, that is correct. We plan to stay for two weeks. We are here to join the Festival. Also, I am here on religious matters to visit the areas sacred in Christianity."

 "Also, I heard of a tourney trial and feast," Baron-Prince Magnus Henry said, "many noble lords and ladies will undoubtedly attend."

 "This is my son, Magnus-Henry. He is 19 years of age. He is excited to be introduced to the foreign delights of the Court..."

[House of Judah]

Harbormaster
Acre

"Of course, Your Grace. Please, follow me. A squad from the local Nazorean hospital await you."

---

Sir Albert
Acre

"Look alive, men," said Sir Albert said to his men. "Here he comes." The Christian knights stood upright and brushed their red tunics flat. As the two Jormen drew close, Sir Albert bowed to the Grand Duke. "Your Grace, I am Albert of Saxony, Master of the Acre Chapter of the Nazorean Guard. Our hospital is prepared to receive you. On the morrow a contingent of my men shall depart for Jerusalem to join the army bound for Anatolia, but until then they shall provide you with escort. If you would please accompany me, Your Grace," Sir Albert indicated the waiting horses.

[Jormark]

Grand Duke Sigmund III and Baron-Prince Magnus Henry, Acre


The two Jormen walk to the horses.

"Yes, sire I will accompany you. To where are we to be going?"

[House of Judah]

Sir Albert
Acre

"To the Hospital of Saint James in Acre. It serves the dual purpose of providing a resting place for Christian pilgrims and a chapter house for the Nazorean Guard. It is not as near as grand as the hospitals in Jaffa or Jerusalem, but they have had more time to build." Sir Albert came to pace beside the Grand Duke on his horse.

"Your Grace, forgive me if the question seems impertinent, but what brought you to choose Acre as your port of entry? Given the recent troubles with the Greek Christians, many Latin Christians have chosen to come to the Holy Land by ports further to the south, where we form the majority of Christians in the realm."

[Jormark]

Grand Duke Sigmund III, Acre
"I chose Acre because of my route. I landed in Antioch originally, but I was forced to leave due to *ehm* circumstances my route was:

Sail south from Jutland down the Elbe. Then I made land and sailed down the Danube to the Black Sea. Sailed south from there into the Eastern Mediterranean. It was the quickest route by boat. Acre was the most convenient port."

"Now, I will indeed accompany you to the hospital, we best be off."

[House of Judah]

Sir Albert
Acre

"I see. Antioch's Christian Quarter has become quite the hot bed of Greek Christian agitation, not that we Latins are much more blameless. Our own agitators can be quite the bother in the south. If not for how it secures his crown, I would think the Jewish King would have been done with the members of our faith and expelled the whole of Christendom. At times, I am not convinced that he will not do so anyways, though I am told he considers the master of our order, Aloys de Narbonnes, much as a further son. That, and the fact that the Pope was birthed in Jerusalem and has been on good terms with the King for many years still protects Christian passage in the Holy Land."

[Jormark]

Grand Duke Sigmund III, Acre

"The king is ruling the holy land well. I do agre with that. Must we ride on to the hospital?"

*turns around*

"Son! Magnus! We ride to the hospital!"

[Jormark]

Grand Duke Sigmund III, Acre

Sigmund looks and his skin starts to develops lumps. And he is feeling slightly weak.

"What is happening to me?" His skin was getting abrasions and getting darker. What was happening to him?

[Jormark]

Sigmud III, Gnarls, and Magnus Henry

 Sigmund III and Magnus Henry announced that the two of them and one ship had to return home. Sigmund never showed his face. Gnarls remained. He told everybody that there was an emergency, but never what about.

 Gnarls now has control of the gold that his father left behind in Acre. He made haste to Jerusalem. No need to remain in Acre.

 Within a week he reached Jerusalem.

[Grand Auvergne]

Claude Septiman :

In the port of Jaffa, a ship bearing the now much more known heralds of Auvergne and Montpelier arrived. Inside it, there was Claude Septiman and his escort, who signaled their presence to the authority as representative of the Septimanian Traders Guild, wishing to salute the King and to discuss trades relationship with the east.

They stayed a night in Jaffa, and then took the road to Jerusalem, to King David's castle.

[House of Judah]

Yitzchak I
King David's Citadel

Benyamin leaned in close to his father's ear to discuss the next audience.

"His name is Claude Septiman, he represents a trade guild in Marseille."

"A Frank?" asked the king, which was replied with a quick nod. "Frankish knights have been among the more troublesome agitators, have they not?"

"Yes, father, though I don't know the extent to which the Auvergnats have been among the troublemakers. Besides, he is common, unknighted."

"And his purpose?"

"Trade, or so he says?"

"You have cause to doubt him?"

"Not firm, but... you recall that Cardinal Amos has begun construction of a Latin cathedral in Antioch with funds secured from Rome?" Yitzchak I nodded his affirmation. "Barak has said he believes those funds originated in Auvergne. This Claude Septiman may be an attempt by the Auvergnat Franks to secure greater influence in your realm."

"I shall guard myself duly."

"Your Majesty," called the herald from the far end of the hall. "Claude Septiman of Marseille." The court watched as the Auvergnat made his way into the great hall of the King of Judeans.

"We recognize Claude Septiman of Marseille and will hear his petition."

[Grand Auvergne]

Claude Septiman

"Vostre Majesté." The ambassador bowed before King Yitzchak, respecting the etiquette of Judah. he then kept talking bu in a language understood by both parties : greek "Accept the most sincere salutation from the Merchants of Septimania, and be certain that we pray for your Highness to rule your Realm for many years to come, with the fairness and wisdom that you're reputed for. As a proof of the truth in our words and of our determination to see good relations between our organisation and your Kingdom."

With a sign, two of Claude's assistants advanced, each holding an handle of a chest. Claude opened it, and revealed the bottles of wine from Aquitaine, the wools of Auvergne and Brittany, salt of Narbonne and silver coins, marked with the profile of a men and the words "Dux Arvenii/Rex Francorum", showing they were from the first batch of coins minted since the Dux made his claims clears.

"If your Majesty accept, I shall present to you the reason of my presence here : The Duke Berenger, who is the protector of the cities of Septimania, as authorized our association of merchants to be formed, to control and harmonize the trades in the south of his Realm. To do so, he gave to our Guild privileges over the sea trades, to Italy, Iberia, Greece and Anatolia. As such, we have control over the distribution of productions from the lands under the Dukes of Auvergne's rule. Wools, wood, stone, metal, weapons, cereals, salt, wines, silver... we can furnish you in all the products of the west your land need and be an alternative to other sources you were dependent of until now, such as the Roman Emperor, whom, controling both Constantinople and Venise, holded until now an almost complete dominion over the exchanges between the West and the East.

In exchange, we thought you would agree that some form of privilege in your ports, access to the Silk Road and an agreement over the price of salt that could satisfy both of our parties, are but a small demand.

If some of thoses terms do not satisfy Your Highness, then we would gladly accept to negociate them, as it is why we are here before you : to negociate a just and fair accord that will give wealths to both Realms."

[House of Judah]

Yitzchak I
King David's Citadel

"Your blessings and gifts are well received." The king nodded and several servants moved forward to collect the chest and take it to the Chief Steward's office for accounting. "Trade is always of interest to Us and so we consider your offer. You offer trade of the products of Francia here in Our realm and ask for privilege in Our ports and a fixture of salt price. We ask you what privilege it is that you ask and what price you would affix to salt.

"You have privilege over trade in the ports of Septimania, and yet Auvergnat ships are not the only non-Hellenics to sail the Great Sea. Judean ships do come to port in Byzantium and Athens and Rome. Would they not be so welcome in Marseille, carrying the product of Our and far eastern lands?"

[Grand Auvergne]

Claude Septiman :

Ah, Marseille. A great port, indeed...a long time ago. I must admit, I was born there. But alas, I haven't come back there in years and it is not one of the cities associated with our Guild. No, we are the inheritors of the league of the Free-cities against the tyranny of the lords in Narbonne and as such, we hail from Montpelier and Aigue-Morte, mainly.

As for our privileges, indeed we don't have a monopole over trades with the west. But the Duke gave to our Guild the rights over trades in his most southern possessions, from Narbonne to Avignon. What it mean is that all traders there must be members of the Guild, and foreigners in our ports must go to us if they want to sell their products or buy ours and all Auvergnat merchants on the sea are guild members too. We finances theirs expeditions, collect taxes on trades, pay for our members in need, resolves conflicts among them, pay for their children's formations, take care of their families when they are travelling the world or if God took them away from us too soon. We also are the voice of our members at the Duke's court, whom protect us in exchange for his rightful share of the taxes. We are not the only organization of the sort in the Duke's Realm. For example, the Sapaudian Traders Guild have similar privileges over the trades in Burgundy and Helvetia and there is discussion to see if traders in the most northern region couldn't unite themselves to regulate the trades over the Seine and the Loire.

So you see, we may not be the only source of "western good" you can find, but we pride ourselves with being the most stables, trustworthy and efficients merchants from thoses countries. Wars and Tyrants may stop others of our peers in their activities, but our rights and privileges are guarantee that no such thing happen to our members, whom, even if they came to know difficulties in their work, are protected by the Guild and by extension, their clients and their commands.

And this is why we feels the need to ask your Highness for your protection and grace. You see, we desire to extend our operations to the East and to take a more active role on the Silk Road. This is why we come to your Highness, in the hope you may grant us a "port", as in, a dock for one ship and a warehouse were to stock our goods, with maybe a building for the direction and the lodging of our members. It would make our day to day operations easier and You certainly know that to ease the trades is to make the economy grow, which in turn give health and wealth to a Realm. The problem of the salt price is something we would like to discuss as to avoid futur disagreement, as both our regions are known for this ressource and it is as a sign of peace we come, before anything bad arise from this concurrence, to ask you your Highness, to publish a decree over the price of salt in your Realm, with the insurance that the Duke of Auvergne shall promulgate immediatly a similar decree. The price that is the most convenient to you shall be our price. This way, we hope to keep the relations between our Guild and your Kingdom peaceful.

Is there anything else your Highness wish to know ?

[House of Judah]

Yitzchak I
King David's Citadel

"We have the requisite knowledge to make answer to your petition. By royal law, all piers within Our harbors are property of Our crown, and as such are at the disposition of Our will. We offer to your guild the opportunity to rent one of our piers for the exclusive operation of your guild by royal charter. No ship save by royal decree shall tie there. The duty upon ships which tie at this pier shall be halved while the duty upon those goods which are offloaded shall remained unchanged. A warehouse, conveniently located, shall be included in the parcel for your rents for use by your guild as a trading house. Your guild will appoint a master for this house and pier who shall see to their upkeep and who shall stand in Ha'Knesset Gadol to speak and answer for your guild.

"We shall also grant you your arrangement over salt price, the coordination of which shall fall to Our Chief Steward. Are these terms agreeable to your guild?"

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