The Conflict
Prelude
In a time of relative quite for Vebastonne save for the usual struggles of their homeland, suddenly the coasts of Vebastonne would come aflame in a lightning raid all across their land. Raiding ships from the lands of Tajir would take many slaves and much wealth from these costal villages, in some cases picking entire cities clean. So fast were these raids that the knights weren't able to respond in time. The ships would make to sail back to Tajir quickly being guided along the waves by genie spirts.
First came a national time of mourning, but was soon followed by anger. The Vestoni are not one to let threats go ideally by, and so the then King, King Louis the Courageous, would declare a war of the first of its kind: An Errantry War. Channeling the customs of every knights period of Errantry, he declared a grand campaign that qualifies all knightly participants for a higher status. He even allowed those peasant warriors who joined the ability to be granted knighthood if they but join the campaign. Thus a great fleet of ships was constructed, and a grand army was marshalled to sail to the lands of the south.
The vouyage to Tajir would take a long time for the Vestoni warriors, but not an impossible voyage for the warriors as a fire for vengeance burned in their hearts. They would make landfall at Wadiyyil. And from there advance to the lands owned by the dreaded Jaabir al-Rad.
It should be of note that the slave raid was not done with knowledge from the Grand Sultan, one Mahdi al-Ismael. Since Tajir was still reconstructing in some areas from the First Crusade, Mahdi ha dno desire to enter a war with the knights of Vebastonne. Personally allowing the knights to land at Wadiyyil, he parlayed with the King and agreed to effectively disavow Jaabir, and that though he would deploy his army he would only keep it to hold a concrete border line to show the territory the Vestoni were allowed to move through. King Louis accepted this, and so they were allowed to move through Wadiyyil without incident.
Due to the lands of Tajir, combat was fierce. Great vultures that could carry of horses and their armored riders assailed the warriors, not to mention the great scorpion-folk marauders, desert nomads tribes, and the scorching sun. Jaabir was also a powerful sorcerer, and summoned armies of undead and even evil spirits and fey to fight with him.
Jaabir was a rising star in the Sultanate of Tajir, owning multiple cities in a short span of time. However he was a cruel dictator, hated almost as much by his citizens as the Vestoni did, making Grand Sultan's disavowment of Jaabir equal parts a moral choice as it was a practical choice. The knights would be assailed by the grand armies of Sultan Jaabir, of both elite mercenaries and conscripted slaves. Their armies were mighty, but the fury of the Vebastonne was unmatched as they sallied fourth and drove their lances deep into their lines. Some of the most famous battles were the Battle of Varndihm, The Charge of Knihz, and finally the Siege of Vqajran. Sultan Jaabir was hoping that the sands and sun would kill most of the Vestoni army. In truth, the journey was harsh, and many died from the weather and harshness of the sands, but the chivalry and oaths sworn by the knights of Vebastonne helped them get through the harsh conditions, and tempered their fury into a precise lance that they would use to charge at the last holdout of Jaabir. The Dread Sorcerer would attempt to flee his stronghold as a massive battle raged, until a lance was driven into his back by King Louis, With the sorcerer dead, the rest of the battles were focused on mopping up the remnants of Jaabir's army, and freeing the slaves taken from Vebastonne. With this, King Louis declared that honor was sated, and the majority of the Vestoni headed back home.
While a majority of the Vestoni would sail home, a few would stay behind, entranced by the beauty of the land, and formed small chivalric orders to right any wrongs they found within the sands of Tajir. With Jaabir dead, Grand Sultan Mahdi was able to step in and conquer the cities owned by Jaabir with little to no resistance, increasing his wealth and prestige. King Louis granted many of the warriors titles and prestige, and the peasants that accompanied the knights were made into knights themselves.
Historical Significance
Many great names would be made during this war. Such names as Lancenet d'Arden "The Scourge of the Sands", Jaques d'Artavoinne, and Girard de la Vallee. All became heroes of legend, and would be held as men of valor and cuourage amongst the Vestoni.
