Editing The Red Duke (section)

==The Crusades==

The Duke's idyllic life in Bretonnia though was not to last however thanks to a major event that was about to shake the world courtesy of the Nation of [[Araby]]. You see Araby at that time was undergoing a bit of resurgence thanks to finally being unified for the first time since [[Arkhan the Black]] decided to wreck the place back during the Ancient Undead Wars. The reunification of 1435 IC was thanks in large part to one man, a powerful Sorcerer turned Sultan over all of Araby named Jaffar (real original there GW) who united an alliance of desert tribes into an army powerful enough to conquer all of Araby. Jaffar accomplished this goal thanks to three things: his amazing charisma, his sorcerous ability to summon and bind Djinn and [[Daemons]], and the secret aid of the [[Skaven]] rat-men who agreed to spy on and assassinate his enemies in exchange for Warpstone. That last thing however turned out to not be such a great thing as in 1448 IC the Skaven, sensing an opportunity to weaken the realms of humanity, tricked Jaffar into thinking that the neighboring nation of [[Estalia]] was planning to invade Araby. In response, Jaffar launched a pre-emptive invasion of Estalia an act that terrified and outraged kings throughout [[the Old World]]. Infuriated by this unprovoked invasion of his neighbor King Louis ordered the first Errantry war against the Arabyans with the intent to oust the Arabyans from Estalia before they could solidify their hold on their conquest or attempt to push further into the Old World. This call to arms was swiftly answered both by the Nobles of Bretonnia and by several independent orders of Knights from [[The Empire (Warhammer Fantasy)|the Empire]] during an event recorded in the histories of the Empire as the Great Crusade against Araby. Sadly despite the entreaties of Louis the Empire could not send a whole army to aid the Bretonnians as the Empire at the time was in the middle of a Civil War brought on by the death of the famed Emperor Mandred Skaven Slayer some time prior.

Unsurprisingly the Red Duke was one of the nobles to answer the king's call to arms and during the campaign in Estalia he proved himself just as great a warrior as his reputation had indicated. As thanks for his heroic actions in Estalia, the King of Magritta gifted him a loyal and powerful steed called El Morzillo who would go on to carry him through many battles in Estalia and then onto Araby itself in 1449 IC.

It was there in the deserts of Araby that the future Red Duke's noble reputation would reach its peak. During the ensuing counter-invasion of Araby (which eventually lead to the Arabyans finally leaving Estalia completely after their empire collapsed in 1456 IC), the local Arabyans seeing the terrifying skill the Duke possessed in the arts of combat gave the Duke the nickname of El Syf ash-Shml or 'The Northern Sword', though it was commonly simplified to just 'El Syf'. Adding to his legend was the fact that around this time, the Duke would acquire the mystical Blade of Leaping Gold from an Emir he defeated in single combat. This weapon carried a powerful enchantment that allowed it to attack with the power of three furious strikes instead of one something which only added to the Duke's already great reputation.

Fighting alongside his King in the scorching deserts of Araby, the Duke gained further renown where at the battle of Black Lizard in 1451 IC the Duke intercepted Jaffar's underling Mehmed-bey who had set out to the aid of his lord. Without his support, Jaffar's army was overwhelmed at the battle of Al-Haikk by the combined army made up of nomadic tribes, Bretonnians, Imperials, and the traitorous inhabitants of Al-Haikk, who had repudiated the tyrannical sorcerer. This battle marked a turning point in the war as Jaffar himself was slain by an unknown Bretonnian and without his leadership, his Sultanate would fall into the hands of his underlings before collapsing in the following years. Later the Duke would also become known as the hero of the Siege of Lashiek, helping to bring down the city’s walls...only for him to vanish shortly after the city fell. Three days after the walls of the city had fallen the Duke was found in the desert barely clinging to life and delirious. Turns out that while returning to camp from his great victory, the Duke was assailed by a horde of Arabyan assassins who were aided by a traitorous knight, one of several nobles who hoped to usurp his Dukedom. In the end, the Duke had slain all his opponents but during the fight, he had been wounded with a poisoned blade and without aid, he would soon die. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on who you ask the Duke would survive this event thanks to some unexpected intervention.