>>5992203It's early morning and the army of the cross has already finished it's disembarkment on the shore of Asia. Far in the distance, the dome of Hagia Sophia glistens with the morning light. Several days have passed since the crusaders made their oaths of friendship and cooperation with emperor Alexios. Each of them swore his oath on the veil of Mary herself, [i:lit]the Greeks have quite the artifact collection[/i:lit] Hugh of Vermands says with disdain to his accompanying household knight Otto. The boy noble is the only prominent crusader who decided not to swear the oath, not buckling under the pressure from his seniors. Even Bohemond couldn't get through him. Thankfully Alexios, pragmatic as always, benevolently let the boy's stubbornness win, having in mind that Hugh leads the smallest contingent of the seven commanders and his age wouldn't sway many possible followers in the near future. Otto is glad that Hugh didn't take the vow. The boy has enough brains to know that he won't honor it, so why give it in the first place. Otto likes his determination. Even though a second son on paper, Otto knows that Hugh is actually adopted. He isn't sure if the young lord knows that himself. Nonetheless, Hugh wears expensive norman-esque chainmail and breastplate with the image of Mary on it. He is her devotee, maybe the reason why he chose not to swear on her cloth fragment, Otto thinks. For his 16th birthday he received a queer gift from a visiting guest - a sword made of strange dark material that doesn't let any type of liquid to remain on it's blade. From water to blood, all rolls off the edge through the the sword's black crevices. His incredible dueling skills have received a worthy tool. Hugh named it the [red][i:lit]"Bathing Virgin"[/i:lit][/red].
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Forces: 6 999 knights | 35 000 foot soldiers | 9 000 archers and crossbows
Morale: Very High
---> piety/discipline: Very High
+piece of the True Cross +Adhemar +Peter the Hermit +sworn oaths on Mary's veil +harsh but fair punishment of criminals
---> provisions: Very High
+spring +Byzantine supply lines
