NationStates Jolt Archive

The Al-Wuhaydi tribe of Bedouins had been making raids on caravans that tried to cross the the land of Jordanians on their way to Damascas for years. Now, today gathered in the An' Nafud Desert lay 300,000 Bedouin warriors, the whole the Al-Wuhaydi fighting men, and a sizable percentage of the fighting force of the entire Bedouin tribes.
Strung across the Desert they waited for the sun to crest the Eastern sky.

The King of Jordan would be crossing the Sands this day, and he would find he was no longer the strength in this land.

...................................

The First Engagement
The sun rose in the morning sky, it reached full bloom before the Bedouin scouts returned to report the approach of the Jordanian Kings caravan.

They reported it to be some seventy-five thousand strong.

The Bedouins readied their battles lines, they had spent nearly a year preparing for this assualt.

Slowly the tribes had been organizing, using their raids as training.
Coordinating larger and larger numbers.
The deserts had always belonged to the Bedu-which what they called thmeselves-though Bedouin to the rest of the world.

They had always traded with travelers and raid and stole as well, managed great herds of sheep and goats.

They had always been the greatest breeders of horse, even the Tartars had come to buy the Arabian stallions for stud.

They had always been a desert power.

Today,
The sheikhs planned to make their first towards world power.

The Jordanian KIngs caravan's vanguard marched along the route through the
An' Nafud the place had been selected for months for the ambush.

The heights of the dunes were perfect for hiding mounted riders.

All did not go as planned....

It is uncertain what betrayed the presence of the Bedouins, though some have said that day one of the younger Jordanians smelled the camel's dung from over the rise.

The Jordanian Vangard halted and men began to form battle lines in the diretion of the primary Bedouin force.

They would have to strike before surprise was completely lost and their enemy had time to ready themselves.

The Jordanian Vangard was five thousand infantry, and a thousand horse.

The Bedouins struck fast-
Camelry numbering twenty thousand poored over the eastern bluff with the sun still at their backs, driving a wedge between the Jordanian Vangard and the main force with lances and bows.
Twenty-five thousand footmen circled around to confront the Vangard from the North. The footmen wielding the long curved swords, their most deadly weapon however was the sling, which many of them halted high on the bluff to put to deadly use against the Jordanians on Horse back.

The Jodanains were well drilled and not to be taken lightly even if out numbered.
The Jordanian horsemen were hard fighting men, who thrust hard against the Bedouin Camelry(Lancers). trying to break their ranks to regroup with the main body of the Jordanian force-though it would make little difference.
The Jordanain infantry was being picked to pieces by slings and arrows only after a horrible barrage did the Bedouin foot move to engage them.
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The Rear Gaurd.

A number equal to the Jordanian Vangaurd formed the rear guard.
the tactic was the same, the forces were different.

As the main body of the Jordanian forces left sight in the dunes-out of the East road one thousand Bedouin Lancers on Horse, the most formidable force in the desert.
With them five-hundred mounted archers, and five-thousand Bedouin footmen.
The Bedouin Lancers attack on the fast Seglawi mounts, spearheading right through the Jordanian infantry who immediately broke ranks, as they did the Bedouin footmen attacked from the dunes with slings and then entered into melee with swords and whips.
The Bedouin Lancers charged straight into the Jordanian horse at full gallop, only the most experienced riders might attempt combat at such a pace.

The Jodanian Horse stood no chance against the Bedouin Lancers, it was a slaughter, the Bedouins did not wait to finish off the horsemen of the Jordanians, rather the mounted archers gave chase picking them apart.

While the Jordanian Infantry was tangled with the Bedouin footmen.

The Lancers now turned North and began to ride on the rear of the unsuspecting main Jordanian column.

The Van Guard

The Jordanian Vanguard fought with vicious fervor, they had formed quickly enough to mount a surprising defense against the Bedouin Camelry.
The Jordanian horsemen fought in unison well formed and effcient. Six times the Bedouin Camelry broke away, and returned, of course this was the tactic of the Bedouin, swift and quick assualts-small cuts.
The Jordanians did not break their ranks.

Even as the horse faired so well the Jordanian infantry found different opponents.
The Bedouin footmen closed in after raining death down on the men with slings.
The Jordanian infantry was crushed.
But even as that was happening the main body of the Jordanian column came over the hill.
Seven thousand lancers rushed forward to meet the Bedouin attackers.
The Bedouin Camelry divided exposing the footmen, who rushed into the gap a rain of heavy stone rocketed into the charging Jordanian Horsemen, slowing their momentum just enough that it stall as it reached the body of the Bedouin footmen, though they were still no match for the Horsemen of Jordan.
The Camelry however came back together in a sweeping wedge driving for the second wave of Jordanian Horse, cutting them off from the Vanguard.
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The Rear of the Column
The alarm ran through the Jordanian lines that the VanGuard was under attack from Bedouin raiders.
Infantry and Horse formations moved forward as lines were cut,
the sound of the Rear guard rushing forward could be heardin the ears of the those in the Column.

The Thousand Bedouin Horse Lancers crashed into the main body of the Jordanian column.

The column lost forward momentum as units began breaking forwoard to assualt the Bedouin Camelry, not knowing of the attack on the main column to the rear. While other units swung out to strike at the Bedouin Lancers however they were in amongstthe Jordanians sweeping through the rear lines of the column-organized counter attack was impossible.
it was in close melee, just what the Bedouin Lancers wanted. The Jordanians were breaking formation to try to mount a unified counter-attack.

The over the Eastern bluff crested fifty thousand Bedouin footmen.
They rushed down upon the flank of the stalled caravan, now men raced forward to engage the Bedouin Camelry, they broke ranks and tried to regroup to engage the thousand Bedouin Horse who had swept into their midsts. Then to the East the horrible sight of the bedouin footmen racing down the bluff with the sun still over their shoulders.
The curved blades seen glistening in the sun spinning in the air as the footmen of the Al-Wuhaydi Tribe charged the weakened flank of the Jordanian column.
Hooking from the south, another thirty thousand Camelry swept in to clean up the remainder of the rear guard.

From the Southeast came the remainder of the Camelry of the Bedouin, thirty-five thousand strong charging into the confusion made by the thousand Bedouin Horse Lancers.

As the column lines re-enforced to fend of the footmen assualt, the lloud undulating cry of the Bedouin began in the West.

The Joardanian lines broke at the sound.

Scattering against the still attacking raiders.

Then over the West bluff came the first horses, riden by women.
Veiled to the eyes their heads tilted back giving that shrill wail charging straight into the Jordanians--This was a most feared tactic of the Bedouin, they would send their women straight into the heart of an enemy, their sisters, and duaghters(only single women).
Then the women would give the horrible cry to let the men know they were still alive.

"Fadia!!!"
"Fajera!!!"
"Nasmat!!"
The women's names became the battle cries of the Bedouins, or more accurately it became the Battle cries of the forty thousand Bedouin Lancers who poored over the West bluff after the women.

They drove into the main Jordanian column, these men were the best of the best. They ripped through the Jodanians like they were merely merchant guards.
The King of Jordan being no fool, had as his main guard the respected Turkish Mercinaries so feared throughout the Arabia and Asia.
Five thousand of these men.
They fought like devils, they fought so hard as to raise the hearts of the Jordanian forces.
Then the Second wave of Horse crested the Eastern Bluff.

The Turks pressed hard against the Western edge of the Bedouin lines.
It was to no avail, they could not punch a whole for the Jordanian king to make his escape.
The Jordanian King was captured and now he would capitulate, and the Jordanian Kingdom would be added to the grazing lands of the Bedouin, as well as opening more trade opportunities.

The Jordanian Column was swallowed by the Bedouins, it was swallowed by the desert sands.

Even as the Al-Wuhaydi tribesmen were sewing up Jordan and installing the Sheikhs to rule in place of the Monarchy.

The mighty Koriesh tribe aimed even higher.

Among the Six tribes seemed be a contest as to who could bring more glory and riches to the Bedu.

Too long had these men of tender feet and soft bellies claim power.

Too long had these men, who could not ride or fight and better then women or children rule the sacred lands.

Too long had these men who feared the desert claim to be its master.

The Koriesh who who were the keepers of the Kaaba.

The Koriesh who were the most repected camel and Horse breeders in Arabia.

The Koriesh who had raided as far as the HinduKush mountains.

The leveled their steady gaze upon that most prized Jewel of the Desert.

Babylonia(Iraq).

The Koriesh had assembled in Ar'ar their most sizable force ever.
It was the largest group of Horse ever seen on this peninsula, or more then likly any other.

Eighty-five thousand Bedouin Lancers(with re-mounts),
Fifty-five thousand mounted archers(with re-mounts),
One-hundred thousand Camel riders(with re-mounts),
Two-Hundred thousand Footmen(Swordsmen),
Ninety-five thousand Archers,
Two-Hundred thousand Light Footmen(Slings,Pikes,Dagers)
Countless support persons, flecthers, armourers, healers.
Seventy percent of the tribe would be making this strike, leaving the Peninsula to the other five tribes.

They would strike out at the Babylonian lands, first to Eridu, then Ur where they would cross the Euphrates, then they would strike out at Babylon itself.

Tarek Fawaz rode out with the lead men in the front Horse column.
They remained still a great distance behind the forward scouts who were on foot. To minimize the chance of being seen, to soon by some of the Babylonian.
Trek had led many Bedouin raids, this however was different. This was a true Bedouin assualt.
Tarek had counted out seven hundred and thirty-five thousand warriors.

The Babylonians would not know what hit them. They had readied themselves from war with those in the North or in the East, but none had ever suspected the true strength that lay hidden in the Deserts of Arabia.
None had suspected that a force like this could rise from the sands and still only be a portion of the true strength of the Desert dwellers.


The Bedouins road for two nights, slow and steady.

When on noon of the third day, just as anticipated. The forward scouts came claiming the city Eridu had been reached.

Tarek sprang to action-
He directed his force of twenty thousand Lancers on Seglawi mounts, were directed to begin the long ride around the outskirts of the city to strike it from the North-anyone they encountered would be put to the sword so as that none could cry alarm.

The other three wings of the Seglawi Lancers broke wide to strike at the City from the other three directions.
Tarek did not have to wait for a sign or a signal- it had aoready been calculated how long the ride around the city and coming in to strike formation would take.
Each column of twenty thousand Seglawi Lancers moved into position according to the time table-even if a premature strike was to occur the multi-propnged assualt would regulate the ability of the city defenders to make weak for the final piece of the asualt.

Ther Seglawi Lancers moved on Eridu they came whoppin and yelling, their cries of blood just barely audible over the thunder of their Horse charging them into battle.

The Sun was setting.

As eighty thousand of the Seglawi Lancers laid rolling seige to the city-Officials had no chance to surrender.

They struck with fervor, striking dead all who they encountered save for the children and the mothers.
The Eridu defenses were mediocre at best. The City of Babylon will be the true test.

As the eighty thousand Lancers made the opening engagement, one-hundred thousand Footmen marched on the City, bringing fire and steel.

The attack was horrific.

The city of Eridu fell before the sun had set. It was of course a small city-but the victory was enough to rally the Bedouins to the next target.

The Koriesh sent out look outs all around the city of Eridu, not to see who was coming, but catch someone leaving.

Tarek knew it would only be a matter of time until someone did leave the city.
They could not be allowed to warn the Babylonians.

A garrison of fifty thouand light footmen would be left behind to secure the City while the remainder would march for Ur, there they would rest for two days, no longer rest could be permitted.

Already the Bedouins were the lush lands ofthe Euphrates valley.
This was the greatest reason to come here, to fight for this.
The Babylonians had no idea what riches they had in the land alone.

The city securely yoked, the remaining Bedouin forces moved on Ur only a short distance away, and located directly on the Euphrates river.

This was not an attack the Bedouins liked, the river would force their flankers to be dangerously exposed while attempting to encircle the city.
This would be the perfect chance for one the citizens to escape and ride for Babylon.

The Seglawi Lancers lead the way this time- a simple plan.

The Lancers encirculed the City, not even walled.
As the footmen both regular and Light moved in behind them.
The ranks split and the the footmen rushed into the city.
Three-hundred fifty thousand men rushed into the City of Ur.

The Horse remained outside the City, many men died trying to escape the city, only to find the whole of the Koriesh cavalry surrounding the City.

The Bedouins fought through the night.
When the sun finally crested, the river bank was a wash with blood.
Reports shown now that five thousand men had been lost in the fighting.
Ur held a garrison of Babylonia troops to prevent river crossing, the garrison had not been prepared to stop an army-it was stationed there for show.

They would rest, come the next morning the men from Eridu would come to divide their forces between the two cities.
Every man of fighting age was to be killed, none would be spared.

Two days had past as the cities of Ur and Eridu were pbrought to total submission.
These were not a warring people, they were wholly unprepared for this, their spirits were meant to endure such a catastrophe.
Their wills were easily broken, by the spilling of so much blood.


The Bedouins had gathered together great treasure from the two cities of Eridu and Ur, they bundled it and placed it on camelback.
Lances were turned to tent poles, and an army was turned to a caravan.
They would come as Bedouins bearing gifts to the great rulers of Babylon.
The vainity of their enemies would surely make this plan work.

...After all, the Bedouins do not raise armies, or attack fortified cities with in the Furtile Cresent.

Tarek, would miss the fifty thousand men he had left behind.
This would take every one of them to the last, and that was only if things went right.
The Bedouins had to get a large force within the City, for they could not hope to lay siege to it.

Camels laden with Gifts for the rulers, horse readied to be sold at market, slaves, and rugs and cheeses. They looked like a massive caravan of traders.
The thin column stretched for miles, it was that fact thwat made Tarek think this was possible, the guards would let them in slowly as the caravan approached, they would not realize how many they had allowed in until it was too late.
Or they would make us wiat outside the gates until they realized no caravan was this big.

Imperial Palace in Damascus

Sir, I know what you do to the bearer of bad news, but the Bedouin has taken over our 2 cities of Ur and Eridu and...

I've heard enough, the Emperor said calmly. "Guards, you know what to do."
Hmmph, he muttered to himself while smiling, these fools do not know what they are getting themselves into, our land is vast, and the front is huge. They will surely overstretch their forces, "Khan! get me the commanders."

5 minutes later, 10 Commanders walked into the throne room and kneeled down in front of the Emperor. "Sire, we can currently mobilize 50 000 troops a day over the course of 4 days. We suggest that we establish a front here and here," as he pointed to the locations on the map. With a single word, "deploy", troops from everywhere in the Empire started leaving the barracks, their homes, and families.

3 Commanders in the field with the first 50 thousand troop contingent.

One of the commanders stepped in front of his troops and started a speech:

"Soldiers! you have been brought here to fight for the empire, these raiders think they are better than us, that their barbarian ways are superior. Have no fear, they die just as easy as other men. WE are desendents of Alexander the Greats Empire, WE are the superior ones, WE are the more civilized and better people. So, take up your spears, swords, and bows, and fight with Honor!" The soldiers cheered willingly, shouting war cries and spite to the barbarians.

With that, the commander stepped down and stepped back to where his 2 comrades stood.

"They wish to attack us? Let them make the first move. I want 100 troops to rotate every 8 hours to watch over the camps.


The Empires Troops: (first contingent)

20 Thousand Phalanx Spearmen
10 Thousand Archers
5 Thousand Mounted Archers
5 Thousand Cataphract Heavy Cavalry
5 Thousand Long Swordsmen
2 Thousand Skirmishers
3 Thousand Light Cavalry

OOC: Real quick Vorta, I was going to ask how you want to do this for real, numerically I will crush you, and that is no fun for either of us.

This is what I had in mind--unless you really want ot go to war.
If so, what kind of people do you RP, I mean like MOngols, Greek Spartan Types, Romans, are you going to be Babylonians since you have Babylon.
By, the names of your units I would say Romanesque which is cool.
For now I will assume that.

Since I didnt realize you were such a small nation I think this would be an interesting way to go if you would like to try diplomacy.

I surrounded Ur and Eridu--and Garrsoned troops around it, it would take weeks for word to reach Damascus. Even if someone got away.
However those are small cities--Babylon is a big Fortified City(at least the real one was, your doesnt have to be--do you have an ancient map of your areas--it is in the fertile cresent so you are in a sweet spot.
SO as you might have read I have my Bedouins trying sneak forces in appearing as traders.
Now if a large patro were come across my Bedouins and realize they were not traders, they would have the immediate advantage--they wouldnt beable to over take seven hundred thousand men, butthey wouldnt need to, my lead men are not openly armed(accept for standard merchant guard types that guard every caravan) and they are caraved out--they are not in battle lines.
SO if your patrol engages the front of the caravan it is not as if magically all my friggin guys just appear stoping the piss out of them.
You Patrol can fight off the bedouin attackers run back to the City of Babylon(two other cities lie currently between my men and Babylon--so your men could divide themselves) once Babylon is warned, it changes my approach--Bedouins could lay seige to a desert city no problem--however Babylon is right on the Euphrates---supplies are not really a problem for them.
Second the Bedouins are not psycologically prepared to lay seige to a massive fortified city.
Anyway something like that---if want to go to war that is fine, I dont- I can field more men then you have population, and that is just boring-
But for the sake of reality I ask you to stand Damacas down--there is no way anyone in Damascas knows anything, except maybe that I just took over Jordan.
Have Babylon know Iam coming if you must-they areonly perhaps two days away, soeone could feasibly have escape Eridu or Ur just as the attack began and made it to Babylon.
Anyway hope this works out well--What else did you get besides Iraq and Syria?

he also has Iran.

READ THIS POST VORTAPost in the Link below Vorta.
However since there is a time difference I am going to add somestuff for you in this thread concerning your Syria and my Jordan.

http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7645111#post7645111
There Vorta now your Area wont be stuck with my Jordan stuff and Black can keep track of it better.

much abliged :)

A messege arrives in Damascas for the King of that land.
It reads as follows:
The Al-Wuhaydi tribe of Bedouins have taken from the throne the weak and impudant Monarch of Jordan.
We recognize your wisdom and strength in matters of State.

We seek and audience to discuss terms of alligning ourselves to you, and you to us.

Kufuh Nasid Jordania Khan