Ulfr slowly sits down on the bench next to the dancer. He does his best to not make eye contact with her but at times he just cannot help it.

"I come from a small fishing village way to the north. When things got lean my brothers and I headed south to vike then south again to Kiev where we heard there were mercenary jobs open for Varangians. We hit the rapids on the way to Kiev and all were lost except for me...I headed even further south to Sviatoslav's capital...I only just joined this crew a few days before setting sail. Sorry not much of a story teller."

The tall blond Varangian Rus steps forward from his spot near the tiller and says..."Unlike this giant here, I have been with the group since the beginning...if there is anything specific you would like to know I can try to answer you."

He then points at the Balt Radvila and says..."Radvila here has also only been with us as long as Ulfr but he and Miroslav have known each other for years it seems but I have never gotten a full account of it."

Then he looks toward Zmija and says quietly enough that the holy man cannot hear..."Zmija has the ear of the Knyaz but I neither like or trust him. I do not think Miroslav does either but he must work with him it seems."

Radvila's ears perk up when he hears his name mentioned.

"Yes Miroslav and I crewed together on several occasion before this. Once against the Muslims in Cyprus as a mercenary for the former emperor then again we sailed far to the east on the Caspian sea trading among the Khazars and Orghuz.

I've fallen pretty far behind in this game - seems to happen with regularity - and this exchange takes place before Balthazar left with the others for the gate.



Before Balthazar can answer, Miroslav informs her about the city's apparent water shortage.  Balthazar adds, "Really Alyna, in the end, cutting off their water supply may be the most humane way to take the city.  But I sympathize with their plight, all the same, and to that end I have composed this little ditty."  Balthazar serenades Alyna with:

The foreman over there hates the gang,
The poor people on the farms get it so rough,
Truck drivers drive like the devil,
The policemen they're acting so tough.
They need water,
Good water,
They need water,
And I'm sure there isn't one of us here
Who'd say no to somebody's daughter.
No, no, no, no, no.

The foreman over there hates the gang,
The poor people on the farms get it so rough,
Truck drivers drive like the devil,
The policemen they're acting so tough.
They need water,
Good water,
They need water,
And maybe somebody's daughter.

Indian Lake is burning,
The New York skyline is hazy,
The River Thames is turning dry,
The whole world is blazing.
We need water,
Wow yeah good water,
Ooh we need water,
And maybe somebody's daughter.

Ah gimme gimme good water,
Ah gimme gimme gimme good water,
Ah gimme good water,
Please don't refuse me, mister,
I seen your daughter at the oasis
And I'm beginning to blister.

My Chevrolet just made steam,
Your crop is laying foul,
My grass skirt's lost its green,
I'm alive but I don't know how.
I need water, good good water,
They need water,
Gimme gimme gimme good water,
Wow, gimme gimme gimme good water,
Gimme gimme gimme good water,
Come on gimme gimme gimme...

[faintly:] Champagne!

All the parts in the song about somebody's daughter are accompanied by suggestive winking.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:44, Sat 06 Feb 2010.

As the others sit aboard the Heart of Oak and converse, ships appear coming from the west...six dragon ships from the fleet of Sviatoslav. They were not due till morning but obviously they are early in their arrival.

Minutes later they land on the soft beach near the Heart of Oak and men upon men begin to pour out. One tall older man seems to be in charge. When he see's Zmija who is still on the Heart of Oak he approaches the ship and with one hand pulls himself up over the rail...

"Lord Dobrynya, we did not expect you until morning!" Zmija stands in awe before this man.

The big gruff man smiles at the holyman and says..."Be at east Zmija...the Knyaz received more intelligence aboutt he water supply. it seems it was already cut off and the Pechenegs ravage the city. Rather than wait were were sent as soon as the word was out."

He looks about at those still on the ship until his eyes fall on Alyna. "ANd who is this vision? Surely Miroslav does not crew his ship with such beautiful creatures!'

He bows deeply..."I am Dobrynya Nikitich, pleased to meet you."

Dobrynya reminds all of you of a bit older version of Miroslav. He does seem to be rather well ranked and a bit more polished but still the two could pass for father and son.

In reply to Balthazar the Hedonite (msg #68):

Alyna looks genuinely suprised as the man serenades her. When he finishes, she blinks, pauses, and is quite relieved that the man has to leave before she can ask what a Chevrolet is.

In reply to Dobrynya (msg #72):

Alyna has kept herself in the back when the newcomers arrived.

Yet even more barbarians. Great.

But when the obvious leader talks directly to her, she steps forward, her chin raised. Looking into his eyes she answers in Rus: "I am Alyna of Aleppo, First Dancer of the Blue. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Admiral Nikitich." She follows her answer with a perfect and gracefull curtsy. The rank Admiral was a guess of course, but she could not come up with anything else that is above a captain.

"And no, I am not a member of this ships's crew. These men saved me from the waves when the vessel i was travelling on sank."

Dobrynya smiles when the dancer calls him an admiral..."You will have to tell me what it means to be the first dancer of the blue. Once the city is taken, I am to be the Knyaz's regent here. I do not wish to upset the city anymore than we have already done. It seems I have much to learn about Roman ways and more important the ways of this city.

He then turns to Zmija and says..."We leave immediately!"

"I would be happy to help, if i can.", Alyna answers, bowing her head to the Regent. "And if i may ask, please make sure the people in the city are safe."

She then steps back and returns to Ulfr's side.

Dobrynya offers Alyna a slight bow and says..."I can make no promises but rest easy...a safe and happy people are much easier to rule than the alternative. Sviatoslav does not wish to change the city but instead use it as a way to change the cities of the Rus. He moved his capital south from Kiev for just such a reason...trade is more important than war. There are no greater traders than the Romans."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:21, Thu 11 Feb 2010.

The over sized Norseman grabs his gear, armor and weapons and begins to prepare to get ready to march or ride to the city walls. He had hoped to be able to sleep a full night after his ordeal but honestly feels good enough now to move out. He nods a thank you to Alyna again as he heaves his great bulk over the rail of the ship.

A Ulfr and the rest of the Heart of Oak crew prepare to get moving, the troops continue to pour out of the Rus ships that are obviously troop transports. Within a few minutes the beach is completely full with the force of Rus footmen, well armed and armored with sword, axe or spear and heavy banded armor.

Only a few horses are unloaded and Dobrynya takes one for himself and offers one to the Lady Alyna.

A double time forced march is next on the agenda...the Rus ground force with Dobrynya and Alyna in the lead move out.

The ships are left with a minimal force guarding them. Oleg leaves the heart of Oak in the hands of the few Rus that remain behind and the Greek sailors of it's crew.

Radvila falls in with the troops. He has been on many a forced march in his career, this is naught but another. He tries to keep close to Ulfr so he can keep a close eye on the big oaf. He has grown quite fond of him over the last few days.

After fetching some stuff from her chest, Alyna takes the offered horse, thanking the Regent for it. For a moment she seems to be mentally communicating with the animal, when she is stroking the horse's head. Then she swings herself on top of it with amazing agility and grace. The slit in her dress now reveals her right leg fully, but she does not seem to care. She makes sure to ride on the left side of the Regent though.

Looking back over her shoulder, she adresses him: "Mylord, are you certain that your fleet is safe here? The romans would eat the ships for breakfast if they knew they can find them here. All my posessions are on boards of the Heart of Oak, and I would not like to lose them."

"What is left of the fleet we had the battle with has fled to regroup but should be too weak to worry about and the fleet fromt he city is still stuck in the harbor...we should be fine here. Most of Sviatoslav's fleet still is near the mouth of the harbor. We are expecting some more ships as well...they are due in the morning.Prince Yaroslav brings a fleet from Kiev."

Alyna listens to the Regent speak, but there is one thing still in the back of her mind: "I am curious. How did your fleet combat the greek fire?"

As they ride Dobrynya answers the dancer..."The Greek fire of the towers by the bay still hold us off. As for the fire on the ship...it seems it was more luck than anything else. One of the fleets ships fired flaming arrows and started a fire on the lead ship and we can only guess that they were unagble to contain the flames before they reached the supply of fuel for the fire. The Ship was fast ablaze before we even had to engage it."

This message was deleted by the player at 03:16, Sun 14 Feb 2010.

As the force lead by Dobrynya gets closer to the city gate. The smell of smoke begins to fill the air. At this hour it is too dark to see any smoke coming from the city but there is a faint glow which can not mean anything good.

Only about 45 minutes left on their forced march till the gate is gained.

Smelling the smoke Alyna grabs the arm of the Regent, obviously unsettled by the smell. "I beg you, make sure the people in the town come to no harm. Please, it smells as if the town is burning. It needs order, and quickly.", she sais to him, her voice full of urgency.

Dobrynya nods in agreement with Alyna as he spurs his mount forward. 10 minutes or so of extra forced march, much to the dismay of the troops and the large contingent of Dobrynya's finds itself outside the cities north gate.

The sound of battle is strong from the other side of the gate and before a few second have passed the gates are flung open revealing a battle scene and Miroslav standing before the open gates as arrows fall all around him and the others. Dobrynya rides through first.
All other responses please use the Gate thread.