The Immortal Gazette: The Crusades – Siege Warfare and the Art of Disruption
The studio buzzed with the usual mix of ancient wisdom and sharp wit. Alice was, as usual, perched comfortably on her chair with a cup of tea, legs crossed in her usual untouchable way. Loki lounged against the wall, flicking his coin in and out of his fingers, the sound like a soft rhythm in the air. Rumplestiltskin, however, was elbow-deep in a weathered scroll, muttering under his breath as he read about one of the most famous sieges in history—Jerusalem, during the Crusades.
Alice stretched her arms, feigning boredom. "So, the Crusades. Siege warfare. You know, I’ve always thought it was a bit... dramatic, don’t you think? People fighting over who gets to own Jerusalem. Everyone’s got a claim, but in the end, it’s the poor souls stuck with the siege who get to suffer."
Loki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Dramatic, indeed. But those were no ordinary sieges. They weren’t just about the walls and the arrows—those battles were psychological nightmares. The siege of Jerusalem in particular? The ultimate battle of nerves."
Rumplestiltskin’s eyes gleamed, his sharp grin spreading. "Oh, indeed. Siege warfare wasn’t just about storming the walls. It was about mental warfare—draining your enemy’s will to fight before you even broke through."
"Ah, mental warfare," Alice mused with a smirk. "That's the fun part. But Rumple, if you were advising those Crusaders, how would you make the defenders wish they’d just handed over the keys to the city?"
Rumplestiltskin chuckled darkly. "First, I’d start with their morale. One of the most powerful weapons during a siege is the power of fear and doubt. When you’re stuck inside those walls, surrounded on all sides by enemies, it’s easy to let panic settle in. But you don’t just rush to break the gates. You don’t even need to attack right away. You let them sweat it out."
"Ah, I see where you’re going with this," Alice said, her tone suddenly sharp with understanding. "It’s all about the waiting game. Let them get complacent, thinking the siege is going to be a long, drawn-out affair. Then—bam—sow the seeds of paranoia. No one can keep their composure when they’re waiting for nothing to happen."
"Exactly," Rumplestiltskin said with a nod. "The Crusaders weren’t just trying to storm the gates—they were trying to break the defenders psychologically. So, what do you do? You use noise. Sounds simple, right? But you begin making sounds in the night—hammers pounding, chains rattling, the distant sounds of battle. They’re not attacks, no. It’s just... disruption."
Loki snorted. "So, you’d turn the whole place into a haunted house? That’s kind of genius, honestly. Keep them on edge, wondering what’s real and what’s just their minds playing tricks on them."
"Yes, exactly," Rumplestiltskin grinned. "Imagine being inside those walls. The defenders would be hearing noises all night long, whispers of movements, noises that make them think their attackers are about to burst through. This creates unease, and as you know, unease can break even the strongest resolve."
Alice laughed. "Ah, I love that. Playing with people’s minds. And then, I suppose you’d just sit back, sip your tea, and watch as they slowly start turning on each other?"
Rumplestiltskin leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the thought. "Precisely. But I wouldn’t stop there. If I were the Crusaders, I’d use rumors—more than just fear. I’d spread rumors that betrayal was in the air. Perhaps one of their leaders is making secret deals with the enemy, or that some of the defenders were in it for the riches, not the cause."
Alice raised her cup to him in approval. "Now that’s how you tear down unity. Make everyone question the loyalty of their comrades. A little paranoia goes a long way, doesn’t it?"
"Indeed," Rumplestiltskin continued, eyes glinting with amusement. "Once you have them doubting each other, you can escalate. False flag attacks. Perhaps some of your soldiers could pretend to be locals, sneaking into the city under the cover of darkness and causing small-scale chaos. It would make the defenders suspect that their own people were working against them, further destabilizing their unity."
Loki tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I’ve always said that fear is the best weapon. But to do that with siege tactics? That’s brilliant. And when the defenders are completely rattled? You make your move. The real attack."
"Exactly," Rumplestiltskin said, his smile sharp and knowing. "By the time the actual assault comes, the defenders will be ripe for the taking. They’ll be fatigued, disoriented, and, most importantly—distrustful of their own ranks. It’ll be a slaughter. They won’t even know who’s on their side anymore."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "And all without ever touching a wall. The most efficient siege ever—drive them crazy first, then come in for the final blow. How delightfully twisted."
"Well, it’s not just about the physical siege," Rumplestiltskin mused, tapping his fingers together. "It’s about making the defenders doubt everything they’ve ever stood for. You make them feel as though their own walls are working against them—and that’s when you strike."
Loki, ever the schemer, gave a slow clap. "And I thought I knew how to mess with people. You take it to an entirely new level. You could teach the Crusaders a thing or two about turning a siege into a mind game."
"Ah, but let’s not forget," Rumplestiltskin said, eyes glittering. "It’s not just about tricks—it’s about knowing the enemy’s psychology. The Romans were masters of siege tactics because they understood how to break the will of a people. It’s not about who has the most soldiers or the biggest walls. It’s about who can mentally crush their opponent first."
Alice tapped her fingers on her cup thoughtfully. "I suppose that’s why the Crusades were so bloody. It wasn’t just about fighting for Jerusalem—it was about everything else: control, deception, the constant feeling of being watched. Siege warfare wasn't just about steel and stone. It was about who could outlast who in a battle of nerves."
Loki sighed dramatically, clearly impressed. "Rumple, you’ve really outdone yourself. This is why you’re always the one holding the cards, huh?"
Rumplestiltskin winked. "What can I say? I always know the best way to make people crack. And it’s never about raw power—it’s about making them crack under the pressure. Every time."
Alice sipped her tea, a smirk on her face. "Well, Rumple, I think you’ve officially given the Crusaders—and the defenders—a whole new way to lose a battle. No walls needed, just a lot of minds to break."
And with that, the three immortals leaned back, the buzz of their conversation weaving through the air as they left behind a masterclass in how the power of the mind can make the walls of any fortress crumble—without ever touching the stone.
🖋️✨📜🖤
