The dragon ship slides gently into the sandy beach of the agreed upon meeting point. Miroslav is the first out of the ship to greet those who were part of the expedition. He is surprised to see them with what looks like the equipment to arm a small troupe of soldiers.

Nodding first to Zmija he hands the holy man the scroll tube given to him by the messenger from the Knyaz.

The members of the group who are on the beach notice that the ship seems to have picked up a few extra passengers, two female and one child or teenager by the looks of him.

With a wry smile Loukas speaks to Miroslav, "It is good to see you again, Captain... It appears as if in splitting in twain we have come back together a larger, even better armed crew, eh?"

We need to get word to the Knyaz...  I suspect that we have won the battle."

The big Rus smiles Loukas greets him..."A battle at sea has been won for sure. We come there but what is it that you mean?"

Zmija looks up from reading the scroll with a broad grin covering his face...I'll tell you Miroslav! The Knyaz writes that he has gained word from inside the city to destroy the aqueduct and deprive the city of water! We have already done this! Evidently an unhappy cleric by the name of Anastasius shot an arrow with a message to the Knyaz at some time yesterday. The message stated that the water line was under repair when we landed upon them and that the water main had been shut down for almost a week as they were repairing the lines. They only just returned the water flow yesterday!"

He pauses a moment to flake some of the dried blood off of his forehead then continues..."A'kos scouted ahead and discovered the whereabouts of the aqueduct, Loukas wanted to destroy in immediately but we had some heated discussion over this but decided to investigate. We met and defeated a patrol of Or and half orc Pecheneg before destroying the aqueduct and now here we are."

"'Twas a fun romp," A'kos grins.  "I'd as soon stay shorebound, as I think most would agree, but will not abandon my agreement w/ the Knyaz so soon into it.  What next for our happy troupe?"

Looking at the newcomers with eyebrow raised he adds, "And who are our new...fellows?"

"I too am curious to meet them. As well I wonder what we are to do with these captured mounts. There does not seem to be space for them on the Heart with the extra crew and that...curtain."

"It seems that we will have time for you to get your wish Sir Jean, The Knyaz instructs us to take a force from the crew and destroy the duct and return here. He is sending reinforcements so that we may lead the charge against the North Gate of the city.

"With these horses we can double-mount and move quickly with most of the crew, no? Leave a small band to watch the Heart of Oak and with the remainder we can meet the reinforcements and head to the North Gate."

Jean's only reply is to smile his best "I love leading charges" smile.

Miroslav nods his head at Loukas..."Those are my thoughts exactly! Oleg is mre than capable of watching over the ship with some of the Greek sailors...too be honest, they are just getting used to handling an oar, they have even less skill at warfare but still they are getting better as sailors."

A'kos shares the Frank's enthusiasm.

"Nothing to test one's mettle than a cavalry charge," he laughs to the others.  "When do we start?"

Alyna steps forward when people are inquiring about the newcomers. Those who did not see her yet are in for a treat, as she smiles her angelic smile when she aproaches. The wind is playing with her hair and dress, and her beauty is very obvious. "Greetings. I am Alyna, first dancer of the Blue."

Her face then gets more serious. "After the ship I was on was sunk by your fleet, noone has told me yet what your intentions are. Why are you attacking a Roman fleet and a Roman city?"

Alyna wants to add: "Don't you barbarians know the power of Constantinople? What do you hope to gain?", but she keeps that to herself.

Dyanna watches the long-lived step forward and stays in the background, near Pyotr.  She looks out toward the horseman, particularly the Frank and the Magyar who seem unconscious rivals despite sitting their horses near one another.

The odd monkish looking priest she finds...opaque.  Of him she'll have to be aware, and she files this away for future reference.

Then she notes the little, dark skinned woman sitting a dainty horse.

"Lovely lines," she thinks to herself of the mount...of the woman she is unsure.  There is a core of steel there that the others seem not to notice.

"Interesting," she thinks as she notices the woman's glance toward the Magyar.

Grinning she looks down to Pyotr and says something in a low voice.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:15, Sat 23 Jan 2010.

Loukas leans forward in his saddle as the discussion upon tactics begins, taking in the new crew members, who all seem to quite charming. Alyna's question seems most relevant, "Greetings, Alyna of the Blue. I am Loukas Ouranus and I am sorry that your vessel was sunk and you have been caught up by this nastiness. We are former servants of the John Tzimiskes, who were trapped and nearly murdered by him despite our loyal service. So, we have turned our backs on him. Some of us looking forward to the day a more noble man replaces him on the throne, others simply out of justified anger at his treachery."

As he spoke he found himself becoming angry as he described what had occurred in the past months. Clearing his throat and taking a breath to calm himself down, "We have seen the Knyaz in action and I have every reason to believe that yon city will be better off under his rule than that of John Tzimiskes."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Fri 05 Feb 2010.

        Gultunga listens closely to the conversations betwixt the new
arrivals and those that have been aboard the 'Heart of Oak' in order
to determine the truth to whats been said.  After a few moments he
reaches several conclusions . . .

        Odd, Gultungas here for the coin as many of those on their
ships crew, and know not a thing of the current ruler of the city that
they've placed under siege . . . or for that matter that of the one whom
they currently fight for.  From wot Gultunga hath heard so far, it seems
that I know far less than I should and cannot deem my companions words
worthy of song.  Oft reasons matter not whence coin and the glory of bat-
tle are concerned.

        The Stridesmans curiously looks at the display of the newly acquir-
ed weapons of the new arrivals in order to note if any of the equipment had
the potential of destroying a cities gate.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Sat 23 Jan 2010.

Jaleh dismounted from atop her horse to relax her bottom a bit from riding, though she stayed beside it and went about caring for the animal at a leisurely pace. Of course, all this was mainly a cover for her watching the new arrivals closely, especially the two women. She could already see the heads of her companions turning toward them. She wondered which of the women was the boy's mother, but also, she wondered further what they were doing here.

The thought she was having also led her to consider if she might end up having to kill either of them. They were already possible threats. It was also entirely possible that one could be here for her. Maybe even the boy, but she doubted that. He seemed too green. No, she was sure it was one of the women if was any body. She'd have to watch them more closely. Especially since she noticed one glancing her way, obviously checking her out.

Alyna listens to what Loukas has to say, and her eyes grew wide. "You have been working for the Emperor? Directly?" She seems to search for words for a moment, then she continues: "I had the honor of dancing in his presence in the Hippodrome. Are you certain you were deceived by him? Directly?" The thought was obviously unsettling to her.

"Pardon me, Alyna, but I should be clear that most of those whom you have met so far were recently hired or had been forced to become members of this ship's crew before we captured it and freed them. Our Captain, Miroslav, and we who have just returned were the ones who dealt with this Emperor's treachery... And, to the best of my knowledge none of us have met him. Nevertheless, we have each met one or another of his servants and if they have acted without his knowledge that makes me even less interested in serving him."

The young lad hangs back, overwhelmed by the war-ready riders, and they chatter of besieging a city. Holding lightly onto the skirt of Dyanna, half his face is hidden, and the brim of his hat is low, revealing only a random scatter of straw yellow hair, and one emerald green eye.On closer inspection his size and features might make him less then a decade old, though something in his features speaks to a soul that has seen much. If he has come from the fleshy paws of Constantinople, it might be a bit unpleasant to wonder what such a pretty lad might have been thru.

"Who are these people Dyanna? The captain seems to know them."

He glances at the new comers, measuring the inner strength of the Magyar, admiring the passion of the Roman Priest, and shudders at the shadowy spirit of the Hedonite. These and the others were all clearly dangerous, but the glance the female gave him seemed the most unsettling. He ventured to guess she had extra strength cooties.

The sight of her makes him cling all the closer to his female companion.

"So the Emperor might not have deceived you, he might not even know about you. That sounds more believable. I apologize if I seemed to have doubted your story, but Emperor John and Co-Emperor Basil do not usually deal with people like you and me." Alyna shrugs, smiling as if she shares a secret joke with herself. "I would like to hear the full story of what happened to you. But still, you must know that standing against the Roman Empire is not the best idea a man can have. Or a woman for that matter. Even here, the arm of the Empire is strong, and even if you take the city somehow, you must know that it will not last in the long run."

She pauses again, her brown eyes seemingly turning to a dark black. "And if you attack the city, what happens to the people living there? You already cut their water supply. Do you not care about the men, women and children suffering or even dying because of that?"

Alyna spoke with passion in her voice, she clearly has some experience that is awakened by this. Suddenly afraid of her own courage, she takes a step back and lowers her head.

Dyanna smiles at the child-like figure and places an arm protectively across his shoulders.

"They are more of these warrior folk, apparently, Pyotr," she replies.  "A puissant lot with arms, it seems."

Jean removed his helm allowing hair to fall free and strode closer to the conversation. His eyes appraised Alyna but there was no lust or threat there.

"In truth Loukas had not yet joined our company when we were approached by the Emperor. Twas the Imperator's trusted advisor Nicephorus who charged us with the task which preceded the treachery in question. Nicephorus in turn is charged with all of the foreign doings of the Emperor. It is highly unlikely that he acted without sanction."

He looks closely at the newcomers.

"Though you say you sailed with the Greeks you speak far to freely to be prisoners. Am I to assume then that you are allies? If so then you must adjust yourselves to these facts; yon city is the goal of the Knyaz and therefore you city is the future of this company."

He finished in a slightly softer tone.


"Only a swift end to the conflict can spare those people from excessive suffering."

"Neither prisoners, nor allies, yet. I am a Kiev Rus, in transit home to visit my mommy. I had no quarrel with these warriors..." he gestures towards the Dragon-ship and it's crew, "... when they attacked the ship I was on, and I have no quarrel with you, but I see no reason to aid you in the destruction of a city with no good reason. And before you exhale once more, be aware that 'loot' has as much interest to me as 'rape', and less then the pleasure of violence that so enthralls you big-folk."

He juts out his hairless chin defiantly, though his grip tightens on his female companions skirt; his demeanor is brash, but perhaps isn't backed up with as much courage as he had hoped to display.

"Be silent boy. Adults are speaking."

With a glance at the Frank, Loukas shrugs, and speaks to Alyna, "Quite right... I did not know Sir Jean or any of these others until I had joined their party as an agent of the Basilius. That said, my orders were not given to me by His Imperial Majesty, but whose orders are? Your naivete is charming, Alyana, but is naivete, nevertheless.

If you do not wish to join us, you may dive back into the Black Sea and find your way back to wherever you would rather be. Or stay here and the Captain my decide that we will deliver you wherever it is you wish to be. Those of us who have been thrown together by fortune or employ have a job to do... A job that we have taken as free men and one that I, for one, do not fear. And as Sir Jean says, our actions, I hope, will bring this siege to a quicker end than would have occurred otherwise. Such is precisely the Knyaz's point in ordering an attack on their gate. In doing so we ensure the Orcs defending the city that there is something worse, and quicker, than dehydration."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:19, Sun 24 Jan 2010.

             Gultunga is disturbed at the dancers audacity at having added
her voice to that of the  War Council whence her loyalties are quite quest-
ionable.  The Stridesman quickly adds his voice to that of the Council . . .

             "Hush Alyna!!!  Though I appreciate wot ye hath done for me,
I can not allow thee to attempt to dissuade or ruin the morale of those fine
warriors that are now gathered here for this War Council.  Alyna ye are nei-
ther a warrior, skald, or war priest to command such a voice here and now.

             Alyna doth thee not realize that thy words fall like chaff in
the wind.  Ye hath the hands of a healer, the legs of a dancer, but not the
authority, nor the knowledge to judge the way of things as it now stands; ye
are undoubtedly biased and hath motives most questionable whence considering
thy origins.  Obviously thy heart lies with that of the Romans and not with
our war band!"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Sun 24 Jan 2010.

Bristling at the brusk dismissal by the knight, the lad avoids the urge to bring the Frank to his knees, and comforts himself with fact that numb-skulls like this liked to lead the charge, and more often then not ended up feeding the daisies.

If minds like this were in charge of this siege, however, his coin was on the city.

"We should go find a place to sit, Dyanna. Hopefully someplace with a nice view of the field of battle. I think I'm gonna enjoy this..."

Giving the knight a broad smile, the youth pulls three leather balls out of a belt pouch, and starts to juggle them as he walks away. Though they remain red, green and yellow, to a quick eye, it seems the colors are shifting. Maybe.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Sun 24 Jan 2010.

Dyanna's smile at her youthful companion splits into a wide grin as he walks away.

Turning to the others she says, "Surely such men as yourselves, puissant in arms, can come up with something better than spilling your brains against a heavily fortified gate?"

"I would ride with you.  I've some skills that may be of use, and ofttimes the guise of an innocent is the best disguise of all.  Yet who says even this may be the best plan - what say we reconnoiter the gates of the city and make what plans we can at that time."

As the woman in the studded leather speaks, A'kos eyes the other.  When the former finishes speaking he barks at both, "Too much talk!  If you are with us, then come - we've mounts enough for you to keep up.  If you have doubts, then stay and be silent to the ways of war.  Share not your mercies and misgivings lest you spell doom upon those with strong sword arms!  We have set our course, 'tis not for you to offer counsel otherwise!"

Jean suppressed a chuckle at the petulant lad's antics. He was reminded of a young cousin who had sadly died far too young.

Turning back to the conversation he nodded in agreement with A'Kos

"True enough."

Jean extends his hand to Dyanna.

"If you will ride with us I would know your name? I am Jean D'Arzillieres."

Dyanna listens to the Magyar's rant, then says to Pyotr, "Come, it shall be interesting.  I shall carry you above the waves - I would that you ride with me."

Lifting her diminutive friend, she makes her way ashore holding him above the roiling waters, and approaches the mounted horsemen.  She looks up as the Frank knight addresses her, and studies him speculatively.

"I am called Dyanna, Sir Jean.  I carry no surname since the destruction of my village more than a decade ago, though I was born in the same hills where Leonidas I earned his fame so many years ago."

Alyna nods at Gultunga. "You are absolutely right. I am not a warrior. Therefore me participating in your charge is out of the question. If you do not mind me sticking around at the back, I would like to be there when the wounded are returned. And if you decide in your war council that the way of diplomacy could be the better way, i would gladly offer my services in delivering your message to the city and speaking on your behalf."

Looking at the Frank, Alyna adresses him directly: "Sir Jean, my city, Aleppo, was taken by the Romans just eight years ago. I know what i speak of when i voice concern about the innocents." She adds then in fluent Frankish: "And please, do not assume to know where my allegiance lies."

Alyna then walks a few steps back and sits down on a rower's seat, giving the men the space they seem to need to hold their war council.

"Innocents are going to suffer and die," Jaleh said, speaking up from where she stood beside her horse. "They always do. Mainly because of their rulers, such as this case. If the innocents don't want to suffer they need to find a way to convince their ruler to surrender. Rome is indeed powerful. But Rome's might lies in the legions. The Legion is not here currently, so we need not be overly concerned with them."

"There will be less suffering if the gates fall soon. I will ride with you as I did before, if only to try taking as many of the populace out of harm as it is possible."

Pyotr scrambles away from Dynna, grabs his bags, and slides over the front of the ship, sinking a bit in the wet sand, and heading for shore before the next wave approaches.

Turning back, he grins, and thumbs his nose at the grabby female. She wasn't the first woman to take liberties, he had lived in Constantinople, after all. At least now, he could avoid the discomfort of unwanted amorous advances.

Upon reaching a spot above the shoreline, he takes a seat in the grass, and resumes juggling his purple,red and gold leather sacks.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Mon 25 Jan 2010.

In reply to Roderychus Venturos (msg #34):

"I agree Roderychus, but I am not sure it will come to a battle before the gates. By the time we have met up with the Knyaz's reinforcements the city will have realized that they have lost their water supply. The Orcs may be willing to fight knowing that, but the citizens will not be and we may find we have allies within the city we did not realize."

At long last, Balthazar tears his gaze away from Alyna and Dynna.  "I am Balthazar the Hedonite, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you both."  Then he nods to little Pyotr, "And to you as well."  He turns to Miroslav and Gultunga, "Glad to see you both in excellent health.  Where are Ulfr and Barmak?"

I didn't really keep up with the "setting sail" thread - would it be too much to ask to get a synopsis of what happened?

Then he asks Miroslav, "Will there be time for a short meditation before we storm the gates?  I have some bold new ideas and I wish to study my arcane tomes for a brief period."  (translation: went up a level, have 2 more spells I can memorize)

A'kos chafes at the delay, his sword resting across his legs as he stares down at the newcomers.

"What's this, a boy?" he laughs aloud.  "Perhaps we can set him in the front rank - likely he'll have our foes' hearts a tremble at the mere sight of his wee frame!"

"Enough, already," he finishes.  "Let us be on our way once again to see what we may find!"

       Gultunga gathers his accoutraments and all of his possessions, and
jumps down onto the shore.  The Stridesman makes his way over to a nearby
lone rider and readies himself to ride double . . .

Alyna's use of French had distracted Jean for a moment but when Gultunga walked over his mind came back to business.

"No horse will carry a man your size double mounted Iverson."

He lead over one of the mounts which formerly belonged to an Orc.

"This one is strong. It should serve you well."

The exchanges between the newcomers and the 'veterans' bring a smile to Conn's face, but he decides not to speak himself, whether to add fuel to the fire or to douse it. Besides, they will be off soon enough, and there will be more riding to do, and a backside to suffer further! Neither the Picts, nor the sons of Alba nor the Vikings were much for riding horses, and the man of Skye was finding it hard going, though he took to it easily enough. Come the assault on the city, he would do no charging of the gates, for he much favoured his role as a warrior and skirmisher - the nobles could lead that errand.

Miroslav notices that Zmija has taken a silent role in the discussions and raises an eyebrow and a quick scowl towards the holy man of the Rus.

He first looks to Alyna..."I appreciate your offer but we here are just soldiers in the army of Sviatoslav, it is not for us to hold a war council of to negotiate with the enemy. We cannot know what is going on in the city. Form his wishes to sever the water supply it is clear the Knyaz wishes to take this city without a pitched battle but this cannot be a sure thing so he is sending us to the gates. If the city does surrender then we will be needed their regardless if they do not then it is up to Sviatoslav to plan how we take the gates.

The holy man steps forward and addresses all in particular Roderychus and any who seem to be concerned with the civilians...WHat what we have learned from Miroslav and out own encounter, it seems that the Orc and Pechenegs are heavily used as mercenaries here in and around the city. I think this is an important point for us to consider. These creatures are not of the empire and fight for little coin or what they can grab. Do not be surprised if they are used heavily in defense of the city."

To Balthazar..."While we were waiting to head out the next morning a smaller fleet seemingly coming in aid of the city was spotted. We quickly and violently engaged them and they were overcome. Dyanna and Pyotr we on the ship we did battle with, they aided us in victory,m Dyanna with her bow and Pyotr with some sort of magic...you may want to talk to him about it, it is all beyond my ken. Alyna was flotsam we picked up along with her seachest.

During the battle with the other ship we did come upon some loot, gems and gold and a few interesting items but nothing too powerful except for one small metal cube. Pyotr wished to keep it on him but talk of doorways to hell and such convinced me that it was best safely locked in my sea chest. I would like you to take a look at this as well and give me your opinion. Personally if it is what the lad described I would see it destroyed or resting at the bottom of the ocean.

"Thanks for the update.  Did we lose anybody in the fight on the other ship?  As for the cube, that does sound very interesting.  I will need to spend some time with it; if we are in a hurry to make the gates it will have to wait for later."

        Upon hearing Sir Jeans advice, Gultunga goes to the aforementioned
horse and mounts it as best he can.  He places his foot into the stirrup
and brings his other leg up and over the back of the horse.

Dyanna makes her way to the smallest of the captured mounts, and climbs up.  Sitting up, she holds the reins and steadies the creature, no expert, yet no novice either of riding.

"Pyotr, will you join me or continue your petulent charade?" she laughs at the boyish figure.

A brilliant smile is the little jugglers only response to Dyanna's comments.

The balls pick up speed, and begin to weave in and out in irregular patterns.

Suddenly a thin slice of the grassy hill he is sitting on separates from mother earth, lifting the lad up into the air, until he hovers about a foot off the ground. Slowly it rotates, then begins heading slowly towards the city.

"Hurry up, you slow pokes, last one there has an Orc for a mommy!"

The big Rus looks on as Pyotr seemingly floats in mid air and shakes his head..."I will never get used to seeing such things."

To the others..."Let us head out, there is no need to hurry though as the aqueduct is already destroyed. I imagine troops will land on the morrow. It is a good idea to have everything scouted beforehand though. If we can get some scouting in before making camp I think that we will be much better prepared for the morning. Some may wish to stay here with the ship on the beach."

He then goes over to Zmija and they exchange words. It is fairly clear from Miroslav's actions that he does not like the holy man very much or at least that he does not fully trust him.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Wed 27 Jan 2010.

Ulfr finally drags himself off his bench and over the rail, onto the beach. "If it would not upset you captain, I would have one more day to recover before jaunting off on a horse. I will stay here with the ship and Oleg."

He finds a large rock or log on which to rest himself and relax on dry land again.

"As your captian has suggested to me. I will wait here on the beach form the others to arrive. i will bring them along in the morning. If you stick to the roads you should be near the gates within the hour."

Alyna is not happy that her offer for using diplomacy instead of violence was turned down, and she has a hard time hiding it. Also, the newly arrived woman makes her soul shiver. And her offer to treat wounds was ignored. So she keeps quiet for a while.

And she is still wondering what these people are thinking. A Roman city of course has cisterns, for the case that an enemy cuts the water supply. Constantinople for example can keep it's citizens supplied with water for years during a siege.

The boy-magician was obviously misunderstanding Dyanna's intentions, but it is not Alyna's place to correct him. He is a strange little fellow, and who knows what he had to go through in the past.

After these thoughts have mulled through her mind, she nods at Balthazar, the man with the strange title. "Greetings to you too, Balthazar." When Miroslav speaks to her, Alyna turns towards him and answers: "You do not think the city has cisterns? A single Aqueduct would be a terrible weakness in my point of view." She could say more, but many of the men seem so eager to throw themselves against the walls, that it would not make sense. Maybe the survivors are more reasonable. After the captain has updated the others on the recent developments, she adds: "I will stay here with the ship if you don't mind." She goes off the ship and walks over to where Ulfr is resting, puts a hand on his shoulder and asks: "How are you feeling? Still a bit dizzy?"

        The Stridesman attempts to guide his newly acquired horse over to
Balthazar for a brief word . . .
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Thu 28 Jan 2010.

The Rus captain answers the dancer..."Yes, the city would have cisterns but evidently the Knyaz has received intelligence that there has been a problem with the water supply as of late and that the city was operating on rationed water until the aqueduct could be repaired. Perhaps the region has been hit by a drought...I cannot say other than the Knyaz feels this is the best course of action."

He then approaches Alyna and talks in a low voice.

Unconcerned by the slow pace of the others, the little juggler entertains himself by floating in circles, and even adds a fourth ball into the rotation.

Barmak, at long last finished with aiding the other sailors in securing the sails, climbs over the gunwale and strides through the surf up the beach to join the others.

"My pardon," he offers quietly, seeing that the others are in council and mounting horses.  He seeks Gultunga to hear a recap of what has been spoken thus far, nodding slowly as he takes in their plan.  He makes certain his scimitar is secure at his side and follows the gestures of the others to find a suitable horse to carry him.

"A weak aqueduct, drought...It sounds as though Allah has favored the Kynaz to carry victory over the Romans thus far," he says in a tone somewhere between optimism and resignation.  "I should not be surprised if this is judgment for the Basileus's treachery, for the pagans to conquer his territory."

Barmak mounts and nods to Jean and A'kos.  "I am glad to see you have all survived," he says with a wry smile.

Jean responds to Barmak, "Though I have been distracted from saying so it gladdens my heart to see all of the crew are well. Yourself included."

He looked around at the newcomers.

"Though it is an odd harvest indeed that you have brought in from the sea."

"Anything else was never a worry," A'kos grins back at Barmak.  "Though there was one ugly toadie that gave a bit of a scrap...I'll let the Frank tell the story as he had a front row seat."

Zmija perks up and looks offended at the Magyars words but then realizes what he is talking about and settles back down.

Miroslav slings himself up onto the back of one of the horses. He looks just as at home there as he did on the deck of the dragon ship. Some of you who have traveled all the way from the Emperors court with him have noticed a change in him...he seems a bit more wild and at ease as of late. He is still polite and a good soldier but his disposition is a bit more ruthless, almost feral.

"Enough talk, let us ride. Balthazar, I have the chest with the cube with me. We can inspect it after we make camp. Zmija, I will see you and the others in the morn."

With that the wide shouldered Rus leads the others int he direction of the gate along the Roman road. They will remain on the road as long as it does not bring them too close to the city wall.
I am assuming all on the expedition besides Zmija are coming along and those on the ship are staying on the ship except for Barmak, Dyanna, Pyotr and Gultunga.

A new thread..."To the gates" for those on the road with Miroslav...the rest can still post in this thread.

When Alyna lays he small hand on Ulfr he jumps up and stammers..."I f-f-feel b-b-better, thank you."

His cheeks glow red through his heavy beard. He is like a huge boy taken in by the dancers beauty.

Radvila comes back from answering natures call in the nearby forest and is surprised to see he was left behind. He says to Zmija "Eh, I had planned on going with them but the sea rations have finally taken their toll on my digestive system. I guess It is a trip int he morning for me then."

Alyna smiles as she sees Ulfr's reaction to her. She was used to men reacting to her, but this bear of a man seemed to see a woman for the first time. "Please, sit with me", she sais, sitting down beside the spot where he just jumped up from. "Maybe you can tell me about your adventures before you were poisoned on the ship? I would like to know more about you and your comrades."

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.