The sea port of Al Haidiyad was conquered by a crusader army, led by Godfred de Guillon, in 1166 and 5 years later it was given to the order of the Templars, by papal edict. The knights, using local labour, fortified the hill overlooking the town and erected a keep for the order's Magistrate, who was appointed supervisor of the harbour traffic and responsable of the tax collection. The city remained under the Templars' control for 8 years, but Muslim traders, unhappy with the taxes imposed by the Europeans, have been conspiring with the Damascus Emir, planning to retake control of the city and slaughter the Christian population... The Lord of an outlying village, Joan de Villaroya, an Aragonese knight expelled from the order because suspected of corruption, has seized the opportunity for revenge and has collaborated with the Saracens; and reports arrive of a large Saracen army from Damascus, already approaching... Defend the city, and execute the traitor...