24 hrs has passed since you all were summoned to the court of Emperor John I by the Logothetes tou Dromou, Nicephorus of Byzantium. It was well known though out the city that Nicephorus was in charge of foreign affairs of the empire as well as having several other duties including being a personal advisor to the Basilius himself.

You had not seen the Emperor nor did any of you expect to. You had not even seen Nicephorus... you each only received a letter from him read by a scribe/messenger, demanding your presence here today at the time of noon.

A small group has gathered in a very large hall in the outer palace. A feast has been set nearby but there has been no order or allowance to visit the tables as of yet but you have all been served the finest green wine by young servant girls.

Several low long couches set against the wall below the tapestries. Some choose to stand while others sit.

A large double door at the end of the hall opens in in walks a short rotund man of middle years that you all recognize as Nicephours. At his side walks a small dark-skinned man with a full beard wearing the dress of a Persian.

Nicophorus grabs a goblet of green wine and hold it up in a toast..."A toast to you gentlemen! I thank you for joining us today to discuss a once in a lifetime chance to see the world and serve your Emperor!"

He downs the wine in one long pull then sets the empty goblet on a couch. Looking over those assembled he says..."Even though I summoned you, I do not know you from Adam. Please stand and introduce yourselves so we can get onto business."

Jean felt quite comfortable in this atmospere, and would be even if the Emperor was present himself.  He decided to respond.  The knight was wearing banded armor and carried a long sword at his side.  He bowed as appropriate.

Speaking in Greek, "I am Jean, and hail from the Kingdom of the West Franks.  I've traveled through much of Europe, and now have had the pleasure to see your fair city.  My thanks for your hospitality."

Boredom had motivated Akos to attend the summons not the directive itself, and his grin is private as he inspects the assembled worthies as the fat man makes his proclamations and introductions.  Keeping his thoughts to himself, he looks on as the armored figure speaks, but adds nothing to the man's words.

The tall, armored, young warrior salutes all the present "Greetings master Nicephorus," nodding to Jean and the other assembled folks "you fine gentlemen, I am Roderychus of the Venturoi, servant of God and of our Lord Emperor."

Besides a well cared-for banded armor, Roderychus carries a few religious symbols, prominently an iron cross hanging from his neck.

"Ah, a religious man.  Well met Roderychus, though I do not share your philosophies, I find religion too restrictive."  He bows from the waist to Nicephorus and says, "Greeting Lord.  I gather you have summoned me due to my reputation as a learned man.  I am Balthazar, nick-named Balthazar the Hedonite due to my known indulgences; forgive me Lord, the Roman blood runs deep."  He winks at Nicephorus.

He moves to shake hands with Jean.  "I have spent several years in your Kingdom, much to my delight.  Splendid country.  Well met, Sir Jean."

Balthazar eyes A'kos warily, but says nothing to him.

The impossibly wide looking warrior looks up from his goblet of wine and says..."I am Miroslav Chernovich of Kiev, I am no scholar or diplomat. So I am assuming that this chance to serve our Emperor has a more martial ring to it eh?"

Nicephorus let a broad smil spread slowly across his plump face and replies to Balthazar..."Yes...Balthazar you have been contacted due to your knowledge in certain areas...as you all have."

He motions the small brownish man to come forward and introduces him..."This is Armin, royal scribe for the Caliph of Baghdad. He has been given the task of not only mapping but chronicling the peoples and cultures of the known world. As a favor to the Caliph, our most gracious Basilius has offered to give aid to Armin as he travels into the continent...first around the  Euxine sea, then into the Danube basin tot he home of the Magyars, next into the north all the way to Novgorod and lastly into the Frankish Kingdom and all points inbetween. You have all been invited here due to your knowledge of the areas andability to help this project reach it's potential."

A'kos shifts angrily as the plans are told; he has little reason to return to his ancestral home.

"What makes you certain all of us would share our knowledge and aid your endeavor?" he asks softly, staring intently at the indolent fat man.  "Perhaps at least some of us are gathered in the lap of John's empire because we wished to explore southward rather than ride over well worn trails and tread familiar paths."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Fri 17 July 2009.

Balthazar remarks to no one in particular.  "My he's a touchy one."  Then he turns to A'kos and says, "On the run from home are we?  Perhaps you could don a disguise."  He grins, as if he's just told a marvelously funny joke.

Jean nodded a greeting back to Roderychus, and when offered, gladly shook hands with Balthazar.  The knight noted the most unusual hat that Balthazar wore, but made no comment on it.  The further he was from home, the more varied dress was.  "Well met."

He listened to Nicephorus explain some details of the goals desired, and nodded a greeting to Armin.  Before Jean could reply, he was startled slightly by the emotional reaction from A'kos.  Of course, Jean didn't understand why there was such a reaction, although in the knight's uninformed opinion, it appeared to be an overreaction, at least from a guest.

And after Balthazar spoke again, Jean attempted to keep a straight face.  Would the words by taken by A'kos in a friendly way, or an insult to his honor.  He waited to see...

"As a politician you must have understood that not all of your guests would greet such a proposal with open arms,"  said A'kos as he stepped forward.

Lazily resting his hand upon the hilt of his sword he came to a halt but a couple strides away from their host.  Disdainful of the effete, turbaned man and ignoring the others he continued, "You would also know that such a request would come with a price..."

Balthazar backs up his new "friend".  "Yes, absolutely, I'm sure good Nicephorus was just getting to that detail."

"Bathazar is correct...I do mean to address these concerns and yes, I know there is a price for everything. Do you really think we would ask this of you as a favor to the Basilius without thought of compensation?" Nicephorus takes a sip of wine.
"Some of you are citizens of the empire and know how deep our pockets run while others are new here. You will note that those familiar witht he workings of the Empire did not question payment? They know the Emperor pays well."

He then directly address A'kos..."What would you consider a fair price for your services?"

There exists quite a scale between humility and hubris.  After having watched the display, Jean wondered where on the scale A'kos lies.  Would he be so filled with hubris to ask for an exhorbitant amount of payment, considering himself priceless?  Would he ask for something other than money?  The knight remained quiet for the moment to see...

A'kos smiles, and rubs his nose lightly with a finger as he replies, "What worth to you my services?"

Turning to look at the others he continues, "What worth all of our services?"

Laughing a bit, suddenly enjoying the game, he defers the question back to Nicephorus.

Nicephorus smiles and takes another sip of wine, then says..."So we see what passes for diplomacy among the horsemen eh? Answer a question with a question? That is bad form but I suppose I am not guilty of it as well now!"

The fat mans smiles grows even broader now and he finishes off the last of his
wine, finds a couch and leans forward..."For your service to the Basilius you have a choice in how you will be compensated...you may choose 5000 in gold or better than that, a small estate and minor title in the city of Chersonese on the shores of the Euxine Sea on the Crimean Peninsula. Clearly the estate and title are worth more than the gold but either offer is more than generous. Also to be blunt, you all were chosen because we knew you need the gold or estate."

Stepping ahead after Nicephorus speaks, Roderychus says in a grave tone "I am sure all you fine gentlemen will be more than able to arrange an appropriate price for your services. As for me, the Emperor can rely on my sword and shield for this task. If I am to be blessed by some form of compensation I would rather ask for it being reverted either to God or to my family."

Now, here was a man of honor, will feelings not unlike his own, and so Jean spoke up.  "Well said!"

The knight had never heard of the location where such a parcel of land might be.  He didn't even know if he spoke the language of that area.  Although, Jean would accept the money, for his donation would be going to the Catholic Church, and he would see that it got there.

He added, "A noble sentiment nobly spoken."

A'kos glances at the scribe and snorts.

"A century ago my folk would have ridden you down.  Now, more likely, they'll crucify you.  You are ready for such a journey?"

Armin the Persian nods his head in the direction of A'kos and says..."If my escorts fail to protect me then I will trust in Allah."

"Ha!" chuckles A'kos.  "Where we're going Allah's the last one you'll want to trust.  For my part I'll trust to the wind, and the sky, and the sun...and to thunder rolling across the plains."

"And my sword, of course."

Bowing his head to the scribe with a mocking grin he finishes, "If an estate is my reward than I, for one, am at your service."

Turning, he makes his way to the delicacies set upon the table and begins to enjoy the feast.

Miroslav shrugs his wide shoulders as he walks toward the feat table behind A'kos..."I am with the Magyar...I will go as long as an estate is the compensation plus all the spoils that we might pick up on the way. I know Chersonese or as my people call it Korsun. The pechenegs harry the northern border at times but near the coast is safe enough."

The Slav picks up a roast leg of fowl and digs in without waiting for a reply from Nicephorus.

"Though they range far away, my folk have heard of them, and call them Besenyő.  They are hardy warriors and nomads, and also mercenaries who whore themselves to whoever pays them the most," says A'kos to the Slav as he chews thoughtfully upon a grape.  "By the time we return they may be long gone and no longer a threat.  At least I can hope...I would hate for my future palace to be burnt to the ground before I've returned to enjoy it."

Laughing, he took a long pull from his tankard before setting it aside in search of further delicacies...

The rotund Greek points toward the two men who have not spoken yet, both have the look of Varangians. "We have contracted Thorfinn here to sail you north to the mouth of the Danube after a brief stop over for resupplying in Mesembria on the Thracian coast."

He then motions to the darker of the two men and says..."Dobryny is a brother to Thorfinn and will head up the crew of the ship. I know a few of you are no strangers to the sea so if you feel the urge, your help onboard would be most welcome...or so I am told."

Thorfinn steps forward...
"I am told that we leave in the morning. There is room onboard for your horses, just barely but they should all fit. I sail with the sun!"

Jean looked a little surprised.  "On board?"

"Yes, onboard! What better way to reach the Danube? We take you to the Rus' city of Pereyaslavets. Journey overland would take four times as long."
He says with a thick Slavic accent.

A'kos turns his attention to the two sailors, listening.  He knows little of sea craft so doubts he would be much help during the journey, though he likely could handle the horses, who would be nervous on the unstable deck of a ship.

He recalled his arrival in Constantinople.  Alone, he had ridden down from Transdanubian region, through Bulgaria, and made his way to Constantinople.  It had taken him weeks to travel some 200 leagues through rugged territory, a trip that had taken its toll on his mount, Storm's Wind.  Recalling such, he would not argue against a shorter, easier trip.

Turning from the sailors he says to Miroslav, "If we leave on the morrow on a sea voyage, mayhap its not such a good idea to eat or drink too much."

Setting aside his tankard, he turns to Nicephorus.

"Who rules in Pereyaslavets: Bulgarians, Rus or Byzantine?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:16, Sun 19 July 2009.

Miroslav answers A'kos before Nicephorus gets a chance to..."Prince Sviatoslav moved the capital of the Rus from Kiev to Pereyaslavets just a year ago. I visited there just a month ago. You will find no greater ruler on earth than the Knyaz, Sviatoslav!"

The Slav then downs a goblet of wine in a toast to Sviatoslav...Dobryny and Thorfinn obviously share the same opinion as they both nod and smile at the gesture.

Miroslav then claps a meaty hand on A'kos's shoulder and says..."I have both legs and stomach for the sea my new friend...but you are right. You may not fare so well if you are not used to the rocking of a dragon ship!"

Nicephorus seems slightly annoyed at having the words taken from his mouth by Miroslav and says..."As Miroslav says..it is now the capital city of the Rus. Byzantium has a truce with Sviatoslav. Passage is safe there even for Greek ships but we thought it better for you to travel with the Varanger, just to make sure you do not draw too much attention to yourselves."

A'kos nods to both men.

"That is good then.  What about provisions?"

Roderychus eyes the rus, the turns to Nicephorus "It will certainly be an interesting travel. What shall be our path from there on?"

"I am leaving the choosing of paths to Armin but as of now the plan is to visist the land of the Magyars then far to the north past Kiev and into Novgorod."

He looks once again to A'kos..."All provisions will be provided to you, one of the reasons you make a stop at a Byzantine city before heading into the capital of the Rus. We could provide for you here but we want to offer one last bit of greek hospitality to our guest Armin before sending him off to the wilds."

I am going to assume that all the characters have agreed to take on this task of escorting Armin on his journey. The ship leave early the next day giving the characters only a short time to get their affairs in order, get packed up and buy any last minute items they require. Any purchases can be made and charged to the court.

I will leave this thread open only a little while longer and open a new thread for the voyage.

"Very well."

"Armin, tell me, are you planning on riding a horse?  Or will you be riding in a wagon?"  Considering Armin was charged with mapping an entire continent or more, a wagaon seemed likely to hold so many papers, ink, stores, etc.  But the knight inquired anyway.

Afterwards, Jean went through his goods to see what might be needed and made arrangements for anything additional that was necessary.

"I have brought the finest Arabian mare for a mount. A wagon makes good sense but I fear we will not always have passable roads so the mare it shall be."

"An Arabian, eh?" notes the Magyar with interest.  "A swift breed, good for running from the field of battle.  Still, I bet it has good lines..."

Armin either does not catch the insult in A'kos's words or else he just chooses to ignore it.
"Yes she is a beautiful horse that a true horseman like yourself would greatly appreciate."

"I'll have opportunity to see her tomorrow," replies A'kos, setting aside a final small sip of ale.  "I wish to check my own mount, a magnificent beast in his own right...not so tall as a full destrier, but swifter to the attack and just as angry!  I'll look forward to our sea voyage to be complete so that I may ride once again.  I bid you pleasant eve, and will see you at the docks in the morning."