By the Rivers of Babylon - Egypt Summer 1249

Extract from MS Paris.

And so the King of France, magnificent son of Christ came to the shores of Egypt, and assembled his army on the coast opposite the city of Damietta, which had been captured and held by the Franks in 1219 to 1221. The city was on the edge of a branch of the River Nile which flowed into the Mediterranean sea. A bridge of boats was quickly build by the army of God so that they might access the city and invest it properly. The Muslim defenders of the city sallied forth but were soon beaten back and forced to withdraw behind their walls. Lacking courage and the King of France having put the fear of the Lord into them, they commander fled and left behind only those who could not walk or flee. Upon his arrival before the Sultan’s court in Babylon he was beheaded for his cowardice and not defending the city appropriately. The King of France had great siege machines built and the walls and towers were battered by them so that they shook and some came close to falling. The King’s brother Robert of Artois, arrived in the camp from Cyprus and brought with him many men and supplies. Despite Bedouin attacks upon the camp of the army, and the death of many foragers and Templars who went out into the fields and woods, the army prepared to assault the city and claim it for Christendom once more.

Letter between Subject Roger de Clare to Subject Rathmonicus.

Since it may be of interest to you I have written below the matters that have occurred in the siege of the city of Damietta. Having arrived here, we set out and invested the city with siege machinery having built a bridge of boats to cross the Nile. The garrison did come out but were soon beaten back after a skirmish, and they thence fled, We have extended our siege works around the East and Southern sides of the city and will soon assault. Robert of Artois has now arrived with the remainder of our forces, so nothing remains to be done now. We have been under siege in our camp from foes of course. The vile Assamites have kidnapped and slain many of our ghouls and retainers, while the Gangrel of these lands make the moving of supplies difficult, but we have doubled our patrols and the Templars seem to ward them off with their faith. John de Montmorancy has lost many particularly, he may have to return to Cyprus to replenish supplies and troops for the shadow war that we play here. Pray for us for our fates are in Gods hands now. Our Setite allies continue to whisper into our ears. I would wipe them out as ready as the pagan mortals about us. I do not trust them, they are too eagre.
Roger de Clare
June 2nd 1249

Letter from Subject Binesh to Subject Jaffar.

Sire,
Our dearest Khalidah had now left the Island of Cyprus in the mighty vessel of her husband Andreas and is headed for the city of Damietta. She continues to lug around those reprobates she has the temerity to call coterie fellows. She is well by the sounds of it though and I believe she intends to make a call upon our brood in Tinnis, quite soon. A warm welcome id perhaps in order after some of her most recent successes. As for the campaign of the King of France, I urge that we stress the importance of capturing Alexandria after Damietta has fallen. The control of two branches of the Nile is integral to future success and the conquest of the entire country of Egypt. However the Franj are impetuous, they intend to focus on Mansourah and Cairo itself. Something has to be done otherwise it will be a repeat of the last attempt, and all will be for naught.
Binesh
June 3rd 1249

Letter to Unknown recipient from Subject Bilaal.

We managed to get to the city of Tinnis as intended , but I fear that all is not well in our land. The Amenti are stirring once more. Some of my companions followers were slain by a creature that rose from the sand at an oasis two days from here whilst gathering water for the camels. The creature then torpored two members of our party, one of them a Spanish Knight called Osias. Greater precautions must be taken lest any assault be launched against our Temple in the city. The creature dropped a small statuette of the Jackal god Anubis, I know not what this means though, it is a matter for our sorcerers to consider who are wiser in these things than I. Fortunately we encountered a regiment of some CC Mamlukes under the command of a Commander Baybars Bundukari. His presence and those of his troops I believe discouraged any further attacks on our caravan.
Bilaal
June 8th 1249