HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
After the Muslims seized control of Damascus in 634 after a siege and surrender by the Byzantines, they continued their war against the Byzantine Romans in the Levant, led by Khalid ibn al-Walid and Abu Ubaidah, while also raiding along the Euphrates against the Sassanids, led by Muthana, in a two-front campaign. Caliph Abu Bakr died in 634 and was replaced by the new Caliph Umar who instituted some new changes in the military and administration system. Emperor Heraclius was sending reinforcements to the Levant, by land to Antioch, and by sea to the various ports along the Mediterranean. After the Roman defeat at Pella in 635, Abu and Khalid divided their forces to conquer as much Levantine territory as possible while the Romans had no mobilized army ready yet to confront them, taking Baisan and Tiberius, and then securing the entire region south of Beirut with the exception of Cesarea and Jerusalem. Heraclius made an alliance with Yazdegerd and the Sassanids to unite against the Muslims, and rushed reinforcements, led by the commander Harbees, to the major city of Emesa, which was under new threat by Khalid and Abu. The siege began in December, and after several months of waiting out the cold winter, Harbees, with supplies in the city dangerously low, led a sortie forth from the Masdud Gate to surprise the Arabs and break the siege. The Arabs were taken by surprise and retreated, and seeing this, Abu Ubaidah led his cavalry from the other side of the city to flank the Romans and prevent a rout.
War Council
Arabs (Tan blocks, Rashidan Inspired Actions)
Leaders: Khalid ibn al-Walid, Abu Ubaidah
Command Cards: 5
Inspiriation Tokens: 3
Send Over The Reinforcements: The Arab player begins with Command Right card.
Byzantine Romans (Purple blocks, Byzantine Inspired Actions)
Leader: Harbees
Command Cards: 5
Inspiration Tokens: 4
Move First
Sally Forth!: The Romans begin with Foot Onslaught card.
Victory: 4 Banners
In this scenario victory banners are only awarded for completed objectives, not eliminated units.
Breach The City: The Arabs earn two victory banners for each gate stormed. To storm a gate an ordered Arab unit adjacent to a gate rolls two dice. Gate is stormed on a roll of swords (leader bonus applies). The stormed gate is removed.
Break The Siege: The Romans earn 2 victory banners for each Arab camp destroyed. To destroy a camp an ordered Roman unit that occupies a camp hex rolls two dice against the camp. The camp is destroyed on a roll of swords (leader bonus applies if applicable). The destroyed camp is removed.
Special Rules
*Moat and Walls are impassable
*The Sword Of Allah: Arab medium cavalry units may move up to four hexes when ordered by a Mounted Charge.
*Rain Of Arrows: Roman Light Bow foot units have three blocks only. Roman Light Bow have an indirect ranged attack with 1d without needing Line of Sight, and with a range of up to 5.