Chapter 28: Old Vassals 2
Throughout late spring and early summer, I moved troops and supplies to Thessaloniki disguised as merchant caravans and logistics for the wedding of the King of Alta. I also communicated with the temples in the territories of the disloyal Dukes. One particular temple and the high priest in charge of it stood out among others as the most openly hostile to the lord of the domain, Boutsaras Doxapatres, the High Priest of Mystras.
Boutsaras Doxapatres was a pious man with a flawless reputation and was loved among the people of not only Mystras but the whole of Morea. He was born in the territory of the Serene Republic of Aquileia, in the part of Morea that the Republic controlled. Since the Republic of Aquileia together with most of Western Europe were followers of the Mysteries of Mithras, Aristomenes together with most of the native inhabitants of his homeland, who were the believers of the Goddess of Light, had their religious freedoms limited and they were constantly monitored. Aristomenes and his family managed to flee the land when he was only 12 and joined the temple of Light in the Principality of Achaea in Morea. He had then worked hard in different parts of Alta and even went North to the lands of the Varangians, an elf, human, dwarf mixed people similar to Altans, who were of the same lineage as the ruling dynasties of Alta and also followed a similar religion. He also participated in the battle against Medes and was famous for fighting fiercely with his war hammer against countless Immortals of the Shah of Medes. Boutsaras Doxapatres was one of the fiercest supporters of my developments and changes. He was present in all the councils that I held in Alta and one of the first to swear allegiance to me on the day the World Tree was reborn.
That was why I sent him a few of my loyal knights, 20 talented musketeers, newly made compound bows and crossbows, a pistol as well as a war hammer specifically made for him together with materials and supplies that were needed for siege defense because he would probably choose to resist if he was pushed further by the Prince of Achaea.
Our islands and southern borders were reinforced with more material and men so that the Knights of Lazarus would be kept in check. I placed Sir Thalandir in charge of a battalion of cavalry as well as two companies of light cavalry horse archers and sent him south to Philadelphia and instructed him to keep a close eye on the Knights of Lazarus in Rhodes and Southwest Anatolia. His mission also included the delivery of artillery and training of the guards in the use of artillery in border castles and checkpoints. My father and his most trusted knight and the leader of the Paladins, Sir Gildor was entrusted with leading the supply of soldiers and materials to Thessaloniki. Finally, Admiral Niketas was instructed to bring materials and men to the rebellious Duchies of Greece undercover and train his men in controlling the newly made galleasses as well as using the artillery more skillfully and accurately. Due to the advancements in chemistry and the abundance of material, we also added a small contingent of fireboats to our navy. Fireboats were small boats that were filled with inflammable material that could be propelled to the enemy line with sails and sometimes volunteers would steer the fireboats toward the enemy ships before jumping out.
...
Just before mid-summer, my father and mother left Alta for Thessaloniki accompanied by a vast host of nobles, servants, merchants, musicians, and almost all of the order of Holy Knights and the Knights of Light, and even the former royals and nobles of Pergamon, who were in a process of transitioning from being the ruling minority to adapting life on Alta as a part of its vast bureaucratic and economic system. Among the forces that accompanied my parents were the Almogavars who were instructed to scout and map the paths that the army would follow. All of them were given white crows, owls, and tamed wolves to help them navigate easier and without being noticed by the enemy. They were all equipped with equipments and tools that were influenced by modern equipments and tools that I myself was familiar with, such as magic camp stoves, multitools, camping hammocks, mountain climbing ropes, crampons, belay/ repel devices, etc. The Almogavars were led by Tirant lo Blanch, the former Prince of Pergamon who swore his allegiance to me.
I moved a bit later than my parents and took the rest of the men as well as the supplies with me to Greece. Before I left Alta, I managed to force the Kingdom of Moesia into signing a trade treaty as their lands were constantly raided by the Koutrigour tribes coming from the other side of the Danube river. I also struck a short-term vocal alliance of sorts with the Despot of Epirus, who controlled the western parts of Greece north of Morea as well as all of the territory of modern Albania. The Despotate of Epirus was originally the territory of the Old Empire, ruled by their remnants, and the title of "Despote" was a prestigious court title, but the native rulers lost their control of the territory when a Despot died without an heir and a Semnite-Formenian foreign army from Apulia in modern-day Southeastern Italy invaded and established his own rule. The Despote of Epirus was constantly under threat from the Republics of Semnia, my old world's Italy, in their territories in Southern Semnia. That's why they readily accepted my offer. Plus, since the ruling dynasty of Epirus was originally from Formenia like the royal family as well as some of the nobles of Alta, it could be said that we shared more than a few common traits including our races, as the Despot of Epirus was a half-elf too. It was a pity that they followed the cult of the Mysteries of Mithras and not the Goddess of Light.
My grandfather, Duke Celeborn Montferrat welcomed me to Thessaloniki, by slightly bowing his head towards me. After the ceremonial greetings, we moved to a more private location where we properly greeted each other by hugging. I was already aware of the situation as I received a pigeon nearly every day from Tirant, but hearing the finer details in person was always something I preferred.
My grandfather says the Duchies were anticipating the war to come, but probably didn't know where we would first strike from. My grandfather also suggested to not diverge our fleet and move slowly at sea as the Duke of Naxos had a vast merchant connection in the Aegean and knew about our superior ships and artillery and tried to strengthen his holdings in the islands of the Aegean accordingly, which left us the only option of invading from the land. I decided to summon Tirant and hear his opinion on the mountain passages in Central Greece so that we can outflank the enemy.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ryuutaurus
ryuutaurus "Boutsaras Doxapatres" is the name of a local Greek lord in Morea who resisted the Latins for half a decade before being ultimately defeated. He was a local hero at the time.
"The Mysteries of Mithras" was the early rival of Christianity in Europe. It was very very popular in Rome.
"Knights of Lazarus" was a real military order, but it was a small one. They are this World's version of the Knights of Rhodes.
"Semnia" is the Italy of this world. "Semnites" were a tribe of Italic speakers in Antiquity.
"Formenia" is the "Normandy" of this world. The meanings of both names are similar in that they both kinda mean "North men" in reference to the invaders from Nordic countries. The former is of Elven language origin.
I'll upload a map in the comments, so check that out.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone