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The Dark Ages[ic-open]; The IC thread of the Dark Ages RP
Topic Started: 6 May 2016, 14:46 (404 Views)
Tracian Empire
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The Dark Ages
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Religion. War. Empires. Kingdoms. Duchies. Knights. Sieges. We call them, the Dark Ages."
~Anonymous



Introduction

The World, Anno Domini 1095. Long have passed the ages in which Europe was mostly united by the glorious Roman Empire, and its Golden Age, the Pax Romana. Now, stories of those times are just... stories, legends, myths, for the inhabitants of this dark and war thorn world. War and Death are the only thing the people of the Middle Ages were taking for granted. That, and the existence of God, which only created more wars.

The West, with its proud Kingdoms, is led in almost all matters by the power of the Pope, the one who names the Emperors and the Kings. Under siege from Infidels and Pagans from all parts, the West has finally, more or less managed to stop the wars between them, trying to focus on the external enemies. Countries like France, England, and the Holy Roman Empire are slowly gathering their strength. And if something doesn't happen, war will begin soon again.
The East, which had once been a proud part of the Imperium, is now facing an imminent disaster. The last shadow of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, is locked in an endless two front war, with the Slavs and the Pechenegs attacking from the North, and the Muslims from the East. The relations between the Orthodox East and the Catholic East aren't all that good, from which the Muslims will clearly benefit..

Even so, it's clear that a change is approaching. Empires will rise and fall. The fate of entire religions is going to be decided. The world will once again fall into darkness and wars. Welcome, to just another story set in the Dark Ages..


Explanation

So, hello nations from all accross the INWU, your glorious MoRP here. IC thread here, this will be the place where you will post in character posts, while roleplaying your nation and national characters.
Let's have some fun, shall we?


Rules
1. I am the OP, so I am, by all means, a God here. The CO-OP's will be my little underlings, so they will also enjoy some of my divine power. Listen to us, or be impaled.
2. Godmodding will result into a quick and brutal impaling.
3. You can be a little alternative in your history, but with a good explanation
4. Unless that was already clear, the limit will be of one nation per player.
5. Nations can be destroyed, so anybody could lose their nations. Try to be realist, and not gangbang people though.
6. Act nice in the OOC. In the IC, you can act like a complete bastard, but keep it in the IC.
7. Keep any arguments, of any kind, out of this roleplay. Act nice.
8. If you break the rules, you get a strike. Three strikes are a direct ticket to Kolyma.
9. Put some effort in your posts. Try to be creative, and no one liners. One liner=Kolyma.
10. Please listen to the restrictions/instructions of the application.
11. Have fun, and enjoy this world... for as long as it will last.


I'm from Romania, and I'm a vampire in my free time...
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Tracian Empire
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Basileía Rhōmaíōn
Imperium Romanum
The Roman Empire

Emperor of Emperors, Ruling Over Those Who Rule!



Long ago, the world was ruled by the proud and glorious Roman Empire, the height of the human civilization and power. The lands under the Imperial Eagle were blessed by the Light of Rome, the Light of Civilization. But then, the barbarians came. In the face of these ruthless aggressors, the Imperium was split in two. The Roman Empire was divided. From the shores of Danube, to the sands of Egypt and Arabia, the Eastern Empire sprawled. The West ripped itself to pieces, abandoning Rome, while the righteous looked East.... Surviving the fall of the corrupt West, the Eastern Empire carried Rome's Legacy. The Sun rose over Constantinople, God's new city, a City of Light, where the spirit of Rome prospered. For centuries, the Roman Empire continued to stand strong, fighting against all the barbarians who dared to soil the Empire. But even an Empire as great as ours, must suffer defeats when faced with enemies possessing seemingly limitless numbers. And even if we fought bravely to protect Europe from all invaders, in the God's Year 800, the prideful and sinful Roman Pope betrayed us, crowing the barbarian king Charlemagne as Roman Emperor... betraying the memory of Rome once again. Betrayed by the West, the Imperium was forced to face the Islamic infidels... twice the Infidels have tried to besiege Constantinople, and twice we fought them back... but in the Lord's Year 1071, our armies suffered a catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Manzikert... the worst defeat in our history. Crumbling, the Empire almost collapsed... but Rome is Eternal, and Rome will last.. God helped us once again, by sending our most glorious Basileus, Alexios I Komnenos, to the throne of the Empire... and he saved us from complete ruin.

Now, 24 years after Manzikert, the Empire is still in danger. Filthy Pecheneg barbarians have crossed the Danube once again, and an army led by the Basileus himself will meet them in combat in Bulgaria. In Asia Minor, the Seljuk Turks have taken most of our lands, with the territories under Imperial control being few, centered around Optimaoi and Nicaea. The Normans, set back by the death of their treacherous King, are ready to jump on us at the slightest sign of weakness... the danger is great. Oh, glory to the Restorer of Rome, Alexios Komnenos, Emperor of the Romans! May you lead us once again to salvation! Oh Great Restorer, the fate of Rome lies in your hands...

And behold a red horse, and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the Earth... Romans of the Eastern Empire, true successors of the Spirit and Legacy of Rome, architects of a new age, forgers of a new, reborn Empire to light and rule the world! Be ready for war..
I'm from Romania, and I'm a vampire in my free time...
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Savalen
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Nobody knows from whence they came. The just seemed to appear from the East on one sunny day and settled on the banks of the River Volga. There had been rumours of a people that lived North of the Mongolian tribes for centuries, but even the most regular travelers of the silk road didn’t know anything more about the cold expanse of Siberia. But that is exactly where this nation was born. Siberia is a cold place, a place where proper men are made.

However, the cold expanse and the absence of people to pillage and plunder was a large problem for the Khans of old. A new Khan, a new dawn, as the old proverb goes, has led the people West; the fruitful lands near the Slav peoples were completely empty. Here, his men are free to roam in a kinder climate and greater plunder. But with an old ally, the Armenians, ready to force a revolution against the Turks who so cruelly invaded them, call for aid; the Rus' lands seemingly coming together as one force and the constant bickering between Orthodox and Catholic may even touch the Pagans this far away, the landscape is becoming more treacherous by the day. It will take a great leader to lead Savalen through these tricky times. If he lives up to the task, however, there may just be more riches than anyone can imagine. It may, one day, fill out the promise of a “Golden Khan,” a thing many thought was a myth.
Edited by Savalen, 12 May 2016, 14:29.
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Dernland
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Gaelman, Son of Murchad, High King of Ireland, King of Meath, Herald of the Tuatha Dé Danann, Exalted of the Eochaid Ollathair, was completely and utterly bored. An interesting fact, as he was overseeing one of the largest tournaments in the recorded history of the High Kings. The problem was, the High King couldn't compete. The other Kings could, of course, but the High King was 'too important' to risk in the arena. It was utter Cac tarbh. Still, the matter of keeping up appearances was important, though slightly damaging to ones pride. Gaelman clapped exasperatedly as the crowd cheered for Éllim mac Áedáin, King of Ulster, as he won his second bout with a local knight. Éllim was one of the few men that Gaelman rather disliked, as he voted against him during the Kingsmoot. This wouldn't have been much cause for a fissure if the man hadn't thrown a fit and challenged Gaelman to a duel when he lost. The situation was diffused by Charus mac Durron, King of Connacht, who famously broke the stone voting table with his war-hammer to end the argument.

Gaelman had little doubt of Éllim's future victory, and detested the concept of handing the man the victor's prize, but such was life. If nothing else, this tournament was a break from the tedium of Kingship, and from the all important invasion plans for Mann and Wales. Mann would fall first, and become the staging ground for further expansion into Wales. The Welsh were divided, weak, and leaderless, and had the added benefit of being no friends to their neighbors, the English.

*****
The tournament ended, with Éllim being proved the victor, and Gaelman retired to the throne room and brooded over the campaign map. There were many markers representing the Kings and their various armies from all over Ireland. Five armies were gathered in the Hill of Tara, his own, and four of the lesser kings that were important enough to have standing retinues. Spies had revealed the location of an army on Mann, though it wasn't large. Planning had been going on for months, with all of the Kings of Ireland gathered in the Hill of Tara, all bringing their knowledge of war.
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Kalmar Union
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Status Pontificius
Stato della Chiesa
Παπικά Κράτη
States of the Church
"Deus Vult!"


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Rome was once the very core of the pagan Roman Empire, then its rulers saw the light of the One True Faith. Before long barbarians had brought it to ruin and plunged Europe into an era of war, bickering and petty fiefdoms. Among all this was the Holy and Eternal City; Roma, yet it was now reduced to a shadow of its former might. His Holiness the Pope, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God; Urban II knew of the days when all listened to the Pope. He could make Kings quake in fear and all men listened when he spoke. Now, the authority of the Papacy was almost non-existent. The heathens had conquered almost the entire remains of the Eastern Roman Empire almost unopposed. Yet Urban had plans. He saw a future in which the Catholic and Orthodox churches united once more and dominated Europe, nay, over the world; The Roman Empire was to be restored under the rightful Emperor of the East. He, his successors and the newly found Orthodox patriarchs he considers as friends would bring the glory of God to the world, by any means necessary.​...



The letter of Pope Urban II to his most loyal followers and advisors, 1095 AD:

My dear friends, I have sent this message to each and everyone of you. Each of you has known me for years. Each of you knows my views and goals. Each of you has proved to be invaluable to me. That is why you have all received this message.

We stand at a crossroads. In the coming years our actions will determine the future of our most Holy Church.
Since I have come to power I have reformed Rome and fielded a mighty army.
The Swiss reform has bolstered the numbers of my Elite troops. Now Rome has hardened regiments of the Swiss Guard. But we also are able to field Papal Guard Regiments, Corsican Guard Regiments, Cavalry units and a well-sized contingent of Pavise Crossbowmen Regiments. The time has come to strike.
However the risks are high. Our Elite Army is costly and we need to gain funding soon or we will risk coming into financial problems. Diplomatically we are weak too. My predecessors focussed solely on the spiritual and failed to realize that to achieve true Divine Order, worldly means are needed. Diplomatic actions will be required. Cardinal Claude Frollo, you will go and make trading agreements with the Sicillians, old allies of the Mother Church and the Vatican. Afterwards you will head eastwards to cement lucrative trading agreements with the Milanese, Venetians and of course our most powerful neighbour and soon to be allies... the Byzantine Empire. Together, we shall reunite the church once more under one banner and reinstall the ancient but grand Roman Empire! "Holy Roman Empire", bah, pathetic vile heretic Kraut scum they are! It was a mistake of my predecessors to recognize them as the true successors of Rome, what in the holy name of the Lord were they thinking? Cardinal Frollo once you've arrived in Constantinople, please don't pester glorious Emperor Komnenos with your singing during the night, quite frankly it's getting irritating to say the least hearing about that gypsey whore of yours! Remember to assure him that we will do our best to help defeat those Goat Defilers of Muhammad of the 666th Order; The Byzantines are our only hope and bastion against those heathens who claim to be our offspring!
Anyway, Cardinal Franciskus IV I've sent you out to strengthen the religious faith in Central Italy and use any means necessary to quickly exterminate any signs of heretic ideas, we can't afford to lose the whole of Italy to the Devil himself.
Rome is currently a city of great power and glory but new construction projects are yet to be undertaken my friends. The Eternal and most Holy city will be among the pulsing heart of the first truly holy Empire alongside Constantinople and Jerusalem, I have foreseen it. As you've also noticed, one of my outmost goals is to become more open, transparent and innovative, which is why I've recently conducted confessions in front of our Basilica and everyone is welcome, from the poorest peasant to the highest nobleman. Expect more reforms sooner or later!
I will heed your advise as always in matters of internal and external policy and the upcoming campaigns we will need to undertake.
I will require new Generals and Governors, new men and women of the faith and loyal agents. Finding competent men to fullfill these needs will be no easy task but I am certain you will all stand by my side as we go forth to build a new World Order where the light of Christ has enlightened all and where all heretics and unbelievers have been punished or converted.
Only the Holy Church and it's head, the Vatican can bring the stability and enlightment that the civilized world needs to face the perils that threaten it. The time has come for change my friends but that also means we must tread cautiously. I foresee that it will be a true balancing act these coming years between conquest and consolidation. We cannot afford to fail. It would be the end of years of work and preparation and possibly the doom of the Christian World.
I have sent out the Templar Knights to gather information and to eliminate the last religious vestiges of resistance that defied my rise to power. We cannot afford to have further dissidence. All of us must stand united or we shall fall. Luckily the Noble Elite of Rome is under my full control now, the Cardinals all bow down to my wisdom and the populace are convinced that my path is righteous for I have addressed them by words and pamflets, swaying them to my views.
There has never been a better time to set forth and let all bask in the light of Christ. By words if possible, by sword if necessary.
The winds of change are here. Will you rise to the challenge or will you cower in fear?
Now tell me my friends, will you come to Rome and aid me in my endeavour? Will you support your Pope or will you join the devil's accomplices?

Blessed be my faithful and remember, DEUS VULT!

Pope Urban II
Edited by Kalmar Union, 9 May 2016, 08:23.
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Sieverdonia
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The Badass of

It was the year 1095 AD Godfrey de Saint-Omer and André de Montbard along with their men sat in the great hall of their castle in Melita, celebrating their recent success in "removing" Olaf I of Denmark, who had supported the anti-pope Wibert of Ravenna. A year prior, they had received a message through Friar Philip. The letter was addressed to the order of Templar's, informing them of dissidence in the north. They were to gather information regarding the rise of a false pope and terminate leading individuals if the opportunity were to arise. As fate would have it, a herald arrived mid way through the celebrations, with another letter from Pope Urban II. The pope required their assistance in maintaining a clear view of the current standings in Europe. The order was to infiltrate the Holy Roman Empire and maintain a steady stream of happenings to the pope, and prepare for further orders. Quite frankly the men were to drunk at this point to make any plans, so they pushed it of until the morning.

Godfrey and André were woken by friar Philip and a bucket of water. After much cursing, and a change of clothes the three proceed to Godfrey's study in the northern tower of the keep. Here hung a grand map of Europe, marking kingdoms as well as locations in which the order had informants and safe havens. The discussions went late into the evening and finally they came to a consensus. The plan was to take the cog, and travel by sea which would be faster as well as less noticeable. The goal was to stop at Cartagena and restock supplies before continuing around the southern tip of Gal and sailing up the coast. The ultimate destination was a small hamlet named Wangeroge on the Northern coast of the HRE, 10 leagues from a major city Called Hamburg. In Wangeroge, a local fisher by the name of Ralf, whom was inclined to the cause, would provide assistance in obtaining supplies, as well as inform the men of current standings in the region. The group, of 20 men would then proceed on horseback to travel deeper into the empire. That was the plan, and if everything went accordingly they may arrive within the next 2 months.

In the morning they would begin preparations, but for now, Godfrey and André would go to sleep, dreaming of yet another thrilling assassination.
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~Sieverdonia

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Greater New Poland
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The Court in Kiev



Kiev, Rus'

In Kiev, Sviatopolk II and his military advisors are looking nervously on the map. The Greeks have just started their invasion into Pecheneg lands. Though not involved in this conflict, the Pechenegs are weak right now, with their mutual borders with Rus' largely unguarded. This would be the perfect time to strike their common foe, if not for the Savalens in the east. Even though they're at peace with Rus', Sviatopolk II is afraid that the Savalens will attack Rus' if he directed his armies south. Thus the king is indecisive if he wants to attack the Pechenegs now.

On the other end of court, Basil I, Prince of Novgorod is planning another strategy. Though he have to pledge some of his armies to the King, the bulk of his armies is still controlled by him. The Pechenegs in the south do not bother him much, since it's so far away from Novgorod. Instead, he is more worried with the Samis and Finns in the North. They have sometimes raided Novgorodian trade ships, and it is affecting trade in the Baltic. Thus he plans to send his army into Finland to subdue and hopefully vassalize the pesky Finns. Besides that, that would give him greater access into the Baltic, allowing him to trade with far away nations such as the Holy Roman Empire and the Danes. He haven't told the king of his plan yet, but he's sure once his armies start marching, the King will be powerless to stop them.

Later that day, the Princes and dukes in Rus' (called the Assembly of rulers), with the notable exception of Novgorod, have voted to increase the king's crown authority by a little. This means that now, the King can raise up to 35% of the princes and duke's levies instead of 30%. Also, this raised the taxes payed to the crown from 10% to 15%. The general reason behind it is that with threats surrounding Rus' from the East and South, the King should be able to deal with this threat more seriously with more men and money. After the King learned of the Prince of Novgorod's plan to invade Finland, he came up with a compromise that the Prince reluctantly accepts. The Prince will pay his taxes, in return the King allows the Prince to invade Finland, and the King will not raise his troops for his personal use during the duration of the Prince's campaign in Finland. A crisis has been averted, for now. The Assembly, under the suggestion of the Prince of Novgorod, also voted and agreed on the standardization of weights and scales. It is expensive to buy new scales and weighs for the traders, but it is hoped that this will increase the quality of Russian goods and further increase trade in Rus'.

To help the King decide whenever to attack the Pechenegs, the King, with the agreement of the Assembly, has sent the Duke of Polotsk to Savalen. The King is offering a deal with the Savalens, which is that in return for signing a non-aggression pact with Rus', Rus' will trade with Savalen, and is willing to trade for horses in return for grain and other products. Potentially Rus' could also join a war against the Turks, provided that Rus' isn't preoccupied with another war. The King will also send 50 silver coins as a symbol of good gesture, and is willing to trade his 2nd son, Prince Vasily for the Khan's son as a royal hostage for peace. Besides that, the King also sent the Duke of Smolensk, Duke Dimitri IV, to the Greek court. This is to negotiate with the Greeks on what should Rus' do in an event that Rus' joins the war with the Greeks against the Pechenegs, and how the land should be divided if the Pechenegs are defeated. Besides that, the King is also looking for an alliance with the Greeks, which is also a fellow Orthodox nation. The King is hoping to have a royal marriage with the Greeks if possible, as that would cement their relationship with Rus'.

That night , the Assembly have ended by having a large and expensive closing feast that is hosted and payed by the king himself. A lot of alcohol and dancing is involved as the nobles are in a joyous mood and by the next day, the respective Princes and Dukes have stated to travel back to their respective lands. The King would have to wait for 3 months before he is able to make any major decisions again, as that is when the Assembly will meet, this time in Novgorod.
Edited by Greater New Poland, 17 May 2016, 12:37.
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Nardin
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Kingdom of Greater Bohemia

České Království




Prague, Bohemia
The bells of St. George's Basilica rang out across the city that cold morning, pealing out their hymn of exultation following Sunday mass. Winter had been mild that year, being warmer than usual with little frost or snow, promising an early and fertile spring. It was because of this that the townspeople of Prague, both peasantry and gentry alike, were at the center of town where a festival was being held to celebrate the change of seasons. Merchants from all over the country had made their way to the capital to sell their wares, and at their heels came the wandering minstrels playing as they went. A mystery play depicting the tale of Noah had attracted a crowd as well, especially a large number of children who watched with fascination; on the whole, the atmosphere of the city was one of revelry, with every inhabitant enjoying himself immensely.

All, of course, but one. One man standing in the shadows, watching the mystery play unfold. A passerby might not have noticed, but a sharp eye could tell he was of noble birth by the way he held himself and the plain yet rich cloth that he wore. He observed as the common folk reacted to the play, as they watched in rapture the colorful 'animals' walking two by two into the ark, the rain pouring from the heavens, and the eventual disembarkment onto dry land. Where they saw the events as if real Noah was standing before them, the man watching saw nothing but an acting troupe wearing poorly made costumes, water being flung over a hastily constructed structure of wood.

The only scene that touched the man was the drowning of the sinners of the world. He chuckled with mirthless laughter as the crowd booed at those who pleaded to be let into the ark; how very like the people, to point out the sins of others while forgetting about their own. A fickle people indeed. No man can be free from sin, not even someone as high in life as himself; for the man cynically watching the festivities was none other than Vratislaus, the King of Bohemia. The crowd began to disperse, seeking other amusements, leaving the ruler watching unnoticed. The play was over, yet he still felt an odd connection with the damned souls left on earth; how could a man be saved, after all he had done? He remembered back, nearly two score years ago, to when he and his younger brother Conrad had overthrown the usurper Spytihnev, their older sibling. Conrad never knew what had become of his elder brother, no one did. No one except for Vratislaus. A cold wind suddenly blew down the streets, sending him on his way back to the palace.

'I did what needed done, I did what no one else could do...' he muttered.

But it hadn't stopped there. After they had regained their lands, the Premyslid duchies were still weak despite the bond of family. Weakness has no place in a world already so much divided, especially in one dominated by those Germans to the west. Strength, unity, one leader, was needed. Conrad had died that next fall, so it was said, by wounds suffered when fighting during the revolution. Only one man knew the truth.

Had his rule provided the stability he wanted? He had forged a kingdom, a united Bohemia for all the Czech peoples, yet was this enough? Ambitious nobles lurked on all sides of his realm, but he was no closer to keeping the peace than he had been forty years ago. He reached the gates of his home at Prague's center, and turned to see his city. Sun shining through the crisp air, the people - his people - celebrating the coming of new life, little suspecting that wolves lay in wait all about, waiting for the right moment. Those wolves lay always to the west. The Empire was no longer what it had been three centuries ago under Charles the Unifier; the core was rotten, its states and duchies always at odds. Emperor Henry could no longer be trusted to hold the Imperial crown if he could not keep the squabbling group from fighting itself.

His drawn face set grimly. It was time to better prepare the kingdom, to protect it has he had so long ago.

His ambition would drive him on. No matter the cost. No matter the sacrifice.
~Ducisk av Nårdinisc / Grand Duchy of Nardin~
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Basileía Rhōmaíōn
Imperium Romanum
The Roman Empire

Emperor of Emperors, Ruling Over Those Who Rule!



The Legacy of Rome


The Battle of Nicopolis, the Theme of Bulgaria

A few months ago, words reached Constantinople that the Pechenegs had dared to make another raid across the Danube... even if they had been defeated four years ago in the Battle of Levounion, they were still dangerous... and the Basileus wasn't going to allow them to raid Roman lands any further. Calling upon 10,000 Roman soldiers, the Emperor himself marched north. The Pechenegs, unable to win the Siege of Phillipopolis, retreated north, trying to reach the Danube. The Emperor divided his forces into two. 5000 marched to Scythia Minor to meet with the 10,000 Cuman allies, while the rest of the Roman troops, led by Alexios himself, followed the Pechenegs. The two armies met at Nicopolis, with the Imperial troops cutting of the way of the barbarians to the river... the Pechenegs had to get through, or die trying.

The Roman troops adopted their usual formations, with three Chiliarchiai, 3000 men, one in the center, two on the flanks. A Chiliarchy was generally made up of 650 skutatoi and 350 toxotai. The skutatoi formed a line of 15-20 ranks deep, in close order shoulder to shoulder. The first line was called the kontarion, the first four lines were made up of skutatoi the remaining three of toxotai. Light cavalry was on the flanks, and the rest of the troops were hidden somewhere.. surrounded by some hills, the battlefield was only a large plain...

Trying a daring attack, the Pechenegs attacked in their usual manner, with their missile cavalry attacking in force. In their foulkon formation, with the shields up similar to the old testudo, the Roman soldiers resisted the arrows that were falling upon them, so many that they were darkening the sky. But the Pecheneg wave was stopped by the Roman formation. Eight ranks deep, the foulkon formation quickly brought the spearmen forward, in a phalanx type of formation. The Pecheneg cavalry hit the phalanx in full swing... and stopped, wavering. The barbarians were desperate, pushing, but behind the Chiliarchy's, the Roman archers stated to fire on their own, raining death on the Pechenegs... and then, horns were heard from the hills in the distance.... charging at full speed, the Cataphracts attacked the barbarians from the rear and the flank. It ended with a massacre, but the Imperials were merciless. Another great victory for the Roman Empire was won that day...



An officer got down from his horse, and knelt before a man in an armor, with a golden crown on top his head. No other than Alexios I Comnenos, the Emperor of the Romans..

"My Basileus, the remains of the Pecheneg horde have been routed towards Scythia Minor. They will fall right into the trap of our other forces, led by the Porphyrogenitus. We should be ready to cross the Danube in around a week."

The Emperor smiled, crossing himself. "Blessed be God. It's finally time to secure our northern borders, and recover Dacia Felix. We should start preparations immediately. Any other news?"

The officer bowed again. "The Rus' have sent a delegate to Constantinople, and our delegation should reach Rome right around this time."

The Emperor invited the officer to rise. "Let's hope that everything will go on as we want it to go.. the Empire's survival depends on it. Kýrie eléison!"

"Kýrie eléison, my Basileus!", the officer responded.

Lord have mercy.

I'm from Romania, and I'm a vampire in my free time...
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Sieverdonia
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The Badass of

A fortnight ago, the letter from Pope Urban II had arrived. Since then the trip had been fairly uneventful, except for one event in Cartagena. It had taken them a week to prepare the cog for departure. They had filled its holds with supplies, mainly dried beef, hardtack, and rum. Along side this the ship was heavily loaded with weapons, each man carried a sword as well as a dagger, while the hull was filled with spears, shields, and bows. However, in case they were asked to disclose their cargo, the weapons had been placed in a secret compartment in the bow of the ship. The main hull had then been filled with cheap wine made on the vineyards on Malta, which was easy to part with, and a great tool for bribery should anyone give them trouble. After their departure, they had set sail for Cartagena.

The trip had taken seven days, with favorable winds, and was fairly uneventful except for the occasional ship sighting. The weather had been good to them, and some of the men had even gotten a sunburn after long hours on deck. Their captain, Robert Lancy, was an experienced sailor. He was a robust man, and his skin was leathery and tan from his time spent at sea. His beard was scruffy, and he looked older than his 32 years. Under his watchful eyes, the crew guided the ship safely into the harbor in the evening on the seventh day. The men were ready to be back on solid ground, and after the ship had been docked, the men immediately went to the local pub. Except for the twins Giles and Gilbert, they of course went of to find the local whore house. As mentioned earlier the night was not uneventful. The twins after they had their pleasure, went to join the others in the local pub. However, after a couple of beers, Gilbert felt up the waitress, who just so happened to be the wife of the pub owner. The man threw the lot out, and they reluctantly left, all except Giles. Giles declared that he required compensation as his brother had molested the mans wife and not him. The pub owner ignored him and in two bounds Giles had crossed to the pub owner's wife and clasped her great bosom in his hands. The owner, who was rather short and plump, attempted to tackle Giles. However Giles was younger and in better shape, and the owners attempt to topple him only sent him into a fit of laughter. The owner, realizing he was not going to be able to defeat Giles made off to call the city guard. But before they arrived, Gilbert and one of the others dragged Giles from the pub and the group of eleven attempted to fade away. Although, "fading away" would not quite describe it as any onlooker merely saw a group of drunk men tumbling down the street, periodically putting their fingers to their lips and shushing each other loudly, which in turn would call forth another shush. Luckily the men made it back to the ship without further incident and they promptly left port in the morning. But not before Godfrey had sentenced the twins to scrubbing the deck, and they had disclosed four caskets of wine to the city guard.

Now the ship was sailing at a pleasant rate along the western coast of Portugal. André hoped they would reach their destination in 4 days time, although Robert warned of a possible storm in the British Strait. Only time would tell, as for now, André was content with examining maps of the coast and watching Giles and Gilbert labor away.
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A village just right outside of Novgorod



Novgorod, Rus'

After a 10 days of traveling through rivers and dirt roads, Basil I, Prince of Novgorod and his entourage finally reached back to his stronghold in Novgorod. He is clearly disappointed with the assembly this round, even though me managed to get a few major concessions from the King, including a secret deal that in return for loyalty and support, the king will pay the Prince 20 gold coins to partially fund his campaign to the north. To be honest he has another reason why he wanted to invade Finland. As you can see, Basil I is a pious Orthodox, and he sees the infidels in Finland as the perfect target for evangelization, that and also the fact that Scandinavia is converting to the corrupt Catholic faith, whom he sees as heretical. Thus by expanding into Finland 1st, he'll be able to stop that part of the world, which also borders Novgorod from turning Catholic. This is partially why the king is willing to partially fund the campaign, out of fear of losing out to the Catholics. That's one common ground that the prince and the king could agree on, even though they might be at odds on other matters. For now there's a lot to prepare for the upcoming war.


Constantinople, Roman Empire

The Duke of Smolensk, Dimitri IV, after traveling about 6 days by sea, finally landed safely in Constantinople. He came with his 2 trusted advisors, Konstantin and Andrei, plus a 20 men army. Konstantin is the duke's personal spy master, while Andrei is an educated trader who knows Greek and the art of trading. Even though they're in the heart of Byzantium, they will maintain their own guards, as they fear that the Greeks aren't trustworthy. Dimitri can still remember in one of the battles where he fought against the Greeks when he was only 15 with his father. Thus he has a distrust against the Greeks, and that is what the king is counting on. The king, even though seeking an alliance with the Greeks, are wary of the Greeks. The king hopes to put this wariness aside, with the threats in the East and the West being more pressing than the pesky Greeks, but he also needs someone who knows how to negotiate, someone cynical enough to see through the traps the Greeks could lay. This is where Duke Dimitri IV comes in. He knows Rus' cannot afford another conflict with Romania, and he also knows that the Greeks can't have another full scale conflict with Rus', with the Turks at their doorstep right now. There is much to discuss with the Greeks, no matter how wary his views of the Greeks are. For now, he'll enjoy what Constantinople has to offer, as he just reached there. Even if there's difficulties ahead, there's nothing that is stopping the Duke of having a little fun in a foreign land. Even though in the royal document it states that it is for the Emperor at Constantinople, Dimitri knows better. As long as there's someone that he can negotiate with, he'll negotiate with that person. It would be interesting to see how the Greeks will negotiate with such a difficult and cynical person.
Edited by Greater New Poland, 17 May 2016, 12:36.
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Khan Tokhta galloped over the hill. It was six in the morning and just before he got to the top, the sun blinded him. "The gods give us their blessings," he shouted to his guards, who were following up the hill. Tokhta was once again taking gold from some inferior tribe or other when he was told about the Roman invasion of the Pechengs. He had heard about the Rus' seeking diplomatic relations, but this was a chance. He couldn't just pass up the opportunity of taking land from a nation so devasted by their destruction at the hands of the Roman Empire.

As he came over the pass, he was greeted by a snake of men and horse, which carried on as far as the eye could see. It had been fifty years since the Savaleners had move to where they were now. Now on the extremities of the known world, they were a force to be reckoned with. It must have been 30,000 men. The depleted Pechengs would have no reply.

"My men," called out Tokhta, "we are on the verge of a great attack. In the distance," he motioned behind him, "is where we came from. That way," he motioned to the right, "leads the path to the border. It is but 10 miles away. Just 10 miles to glory. And we shall take it." With that, a great cheer went up and Tokhta galloped down the pass.




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Zayaat looked at the sun. It must have been around four now. Th Rus' delegation was about to arrive. As the son of Tokhta, he was told to greet the delegates and talk about whatever they wanted. In secret, he just wanted to get rid of them and take the 5,000 man backup army to the Pecheng lands to the south as quickly as possible.

The bell rang. Zayaat stood up, as did his aide. The small wooden table was rarely used and the place didn't really have the character that Zayaat liked - he would much rather be in a yurt. Uzkand was a strange city. It had been the only proper civilisation that had been taken by Savalen in the great migration. The capital city, called Uzkand, had been a small bustling trading town on the Novgord - Armenia/Persia road, but the Savaleners, in need of a place to invite the odd foreign diplomat, turned it into a mini city. Great gerdens and palaces were planned and built, but still the city focused around the market.

The doors opened and in came the delegation.
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"Empire of Empires, Ruling Over Those Who Rule."



The Legacy of Rome


The Imperial Capital of Constantinople, the Second Rome, the Queen of Cities
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Constantinople. The Queen of Cities. The Second Rome, the rich capital of the Roman Empire. The City of World's Desire, a place where Roman and Greek traditions mixed with the Occident and the Orient in one city, a beautiful city between two continents. A place of riches, a place of gold. A place of churches, temples, palaces, and museums. A place where all your desires could come to life... From the old center of the city, filled with old palaces, monuments, and the magnificent Hagia Sophia Cathedral, the center of the Orthodoxy, the church of Hagia Eirene, the Hippodrome and the Great Palace, to the Galata, Constantinople was truly a place where multiple views, multiple cultures, clashed and mixed, all under the spirit of Rome.

Even if the city had suffered a lot over the past century, especially after Manzikert, Constantinople was still the richest and largest city of Europe. It could only be understandable that the Rus would be... wordless after seeing it. It was truly an unimaginable sight.

As unfortunately, the Emperor himself was still in Bulgaria, preparing the Roman army for crossing the Danube into what the Romans still called Dacia, the only one waiting for the Rus' Duke was Michael Komnenos, Second Prince and Despot of the Empire. Wearing a purple cloak, and guarded by Varangians, it was much clear that the Despot was a member of the Imperial Family, as they were the only ones allowed to wear purple.

The Despot was waiting for the Duke in front of the Golden Gate, the main triumphal gate in the double Theodosian Walls of Constantinople. It was clear that at least in the view of the Romans, they were making the Duke a great honor. In the Empire, only the most respected foreign dignitaries were allowed to enter through the Golden Gate, and to enter in in the accompaniment of a member of the Imperial family, a purple born Prince? Truly, a great honor.

As the Duke and his men finally arrived, the Despot saluted. "In the name of His Imperial Majesty, Alexios I Komnenos, Emperor of the Romans, I, Michael Komnenos, Second Prince and Despot of the Empire, would like to officially welcome you into Constantinople, Duke Dimitri of Smolensk. Unfortunately, the Emperor himself is currently leading an army in Bulgaria,and the First Prince is in a diplomatic mission in the West, so I am going to handle the negotiation, as the representative of the will of the Emperor, my father."



Rome, the Papal States


Around the same time the Rus' Duke was arriving in Constantinople, a Roman delegation reached Rome, the current capital of the Papal States, or how it called itself, the State of the Church. Although the relations between the Papacy and the Empire had been tensed over the past few centuries, the Empire was ready to.. negotiate. The Infidels were assaulting Europe, and in order for Europe not to fall like it did under the pressure of the barbarians so many centuries ago, it had to stand united... and that's why, the Emperor had sent the First Prince, the Kaisar of the Empire, the purple born heir apparent, John Komnenos. Having arrived into Rome, with an escort of 200 Varangians, and a group of advisors, the Prince immediately requested an audience to the Pope.
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The Bells of Roma - The Arrival of the First Prince John Komnenos and Pope Urban II's Roman Empire Fetish Commences



Pope Urban was waiting enthusiastically with the numerous cardinals, bishops, deacons, priests, nuns...for the arrival of First Prince and Purple Born Apparent John Komnenos of the Eastern Roman Empire; it would have been the first time he ever encountered a living embodiment of the true Roman Empire. A couple of days beforehand, he had made the entire city of Roma prepare for the arrival of such a grand visitor; every street was to be washed, garlands of flowers to be hung, decorations to bet set...even a magnificent feast was prepared with a combination of Italian/Greek foodstuffs and drinks, even alcohol was spared no exception!
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There at last the First Prince came with his 200 intimidating Varangian Guards and a couple of advisors; now it was the time for the Pope to show what he's made of! John Komnenos began to bow but in an instant, to his great astonishment, Pope Urban hugged as if it was his son he hadn't seen for ages. "Oh praise the heavens that you made it safely here to Roma, the Eternal city, my beloved Prince. I've always longed to meet a representative of a great empire of yours; Welcome once again". The Pope realized that he was choking the somewhat confused and surprised Prince. "Ehm, oops, hehe; let's head inside for a special mass I've arranged; a combination of Western and Eastern rites which, I hope, you will find quite satisfactory. Believe me, it was hard to convince my so-called "Servants of Christ" or should I say "Cardinaltards" to make it happen. After that, you shall experience a true Roman fest; every little detail has been sewn together, if I would put it midly! They turned their gaze towards St. Pteter's Basillca"As you can see my prince, extensive renovations have been made on our Basilica; when I became Pope it was in a dreadful mess; piss and shit everywhere, the paint had eroded away...heck, even the library was empty of manuscripts and books. But now, this is somethign I would call a masterpiece. Over dinner, I'll tell you more about my achievements and future plans/goals." Together with the Pope's personal envoy of Swiss, Scots, Papal and Scandinavian Guards, the various Knightly Orders, prominent cardinals, the occasional mistress or whore and the Prince with his Varangians they all marched to the St. Peter's Basilica to attend the mass the Pope promised to be intriguing...


Edited by Kalmar Union, 13 May 2016, 12:33.
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The Great Novgorod-Armenia Road

Zayaat trotted happily with his army behind him. He had been able to muster many more men than he expected. The day was fair - overcast, but no sign of rain. The cool breeze tickled his face every time he looked East, behind him.

He thought back to Uzkand, now a couple of weeks ago. The Slavs and Savaleners had signed a non-aggression pact for 5 years. That was a great outcome, but even Zayaat was surprised when he managed to weasel out some money for the upkeep and improvment of the North-South road. Then a messenger reached him. He called a halt and took the note that had been scribbled to him by the Great Khan himself.

Zayaat, I hope you are on your way and the Russians haven't kept you waiting. We have taken our first victory over the Pechengs and are in the process of advancing and will soon step foot on Pecheng soil. Glory be to us! Now I must bring you news - now that the Pechengs aren't a threat, please go towards the Armenian border. Along the way, if you follow the Black Sea coast, you will find the rebellion group. They will tell you what to do. I wish you well. Khan Tokhta.

Zayaat ran his eyes over the message once again. He couldn't believe his eyes, he would be leading a real campaign! Against a great Empire too!
The messenger looket at Zayaat again and told him that half of the Khan's army would be bought back to defend the nation against the Slavs, half of which will join him on the Don Pass.

"Rain," came the shout of one of the entourage. Yes, there was rain in the distance, but nothing could spoil Zayaat's mood. Not today. Not with 5,000 men marching towards the Armenian border behind his back, each an expert on a horse. Defiant as he was, he had to pitch up quickly, before evrything and everyone got soaked.
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The Badass of

A week had passed since the Order had....successfully, left the harbor at Cartagena. The first two days had gone by without a problem. Giles and Gilbert were busily scrubbing the deck, and every time they made to get up and ask Godfrey if they could halt their menial task, he simply made a boob grabbing gesture and ordered them to "Get on with it!" This caused an uproar of laughter from the men, and overall, everyone was in a superb mood. However, in the eve of the second day, they spotted the first signs of the storm that Robert had warned off.

It was a perilous sight, the clouds were dark and foreboding, and they could see lightning flash between the clouds an the surface of the sea, forming a curtain of light. Luckily, the storm appeared to be moving away from the cog and the proceeded onward. The men stayed up in aw watching the storm, that was roughly three leagues to the north, unfold. One by one, they went below deck and drifted of into an uneasy slumber. After most of the men had left, Lancy beckoned Godfrey and André to the stern of the ship.

"Let's get straight to the point, we should anchor somewhere. This here ship was not made to withstand a storm such as that," said Robert, indicating the storm a head.

"Is that really necessary?" questioned Godfrey, "Our man in Wangeroge is waiting and we are already slightly behind schedule."

"Besides, your an expert sailor and I'm sure you could handle the waves in the wake of the storm," added André.

"Thank you for your faith, sir, but I have never seen a storm quite like this, and I'd rather not endanger the lives of the men."

"If you insist!" returned Godfrey, "Set course for a port.

And so Lancy set course for a port on the Frankish side of the channel. To the great dismay of all, the storm took a turn for the worst, quite literally, as strong winds began to direct the huge storm clouds towards the ship. Within an hour, the storm was upon them and everyman was doing his part to keep the ship from flying apart. The waves were 40 feet high, and practically rolling over the deck of the ship. The next couple of hours passed in a haze, consisting of tying things down and attempting to adjust the sail according to the orders Robert was Bellowing across the deck. There was one terrifying instance when an unusually large wave crashed into the port side of the ship and one of the men, Lorencio de Guerra, a lad of 16 was seeped of the ship. Sadly, there was nothing the men could do that would not endanger any further lives.

When the storm had finally settled the what remained of the ship was not a pleasant sight, the mast had survived, but upper one of the beams that held the square sail had splintered in two, and now the sail looked more like a triangle, than anything. Many of the items on deck had also torn away their bindings and had been flushed overboard. The ship was in no condition to continue on the journey and so the group was forced to anchor in a lagoon somewhere on the shore of France. Godfrey and André had decided to continue on foot, as the repairs would take weeks according to Robert's estimates. They left him with five able men, to assist him in repairing the ship and them sailing it back to Malta. After the loss of Lorencio, a fine young lad, and the absence of the five men and Robert, of the twenty one men that had set sail, 14 continued on foot towards their destination.

They traveled by foot, for 3 days, only passing small hamlets and farms. One night they stole a chicken from one of the coups, consoling themselves with the thought that it was in the name of the pope. Now, they were sitting in a clearing right out side of a larger city by the name of Roubaix. They had entered the city the day before, to enquirer its name and get some grub. The men sat around the fire while Godfrey and André discussed future possibilities. Their only hope was that they would make it there soon enough, to prevent anything major form happening without the Pope being alerted.
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The Legacy of Rome


Rome, the Eternal City, Capital of the Papal States



For one, Prince John Komnenos, the First Purple Born Prince, or the title was known in Greek, Porphyrogénnētos, Kaisar of the Eastern Roman Empire, the presumed heir and successor of the Basileus, was fairly surprised by the welcoming the Pope had just given him in Rome. After all, for the past centuries, ever since the Papal crowning of Charlemagne and the Roman iconoclast civil wars, the relations between the Pope and the true Roman Empire had been rather tense.. a situation which ended up with the Great Schism between the Western Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Christian Churches, a situation that hadn't been mended to this day. By all means, the Prince had imagined that this diplomatic mission was going to be difficult, but it seemed that the Pope was rather enthusiastic about receiving him and the Roman delegation in Rome. Maybe, there was a good chance that the negotiations were going to turn out well.. his father had entrusted him with this mission, and he wasn't going to fail it.

The city was rather impressive. Considering the general... unhealthy way of life of the Western cities, the Prince had expected to see a pretty filthy Rome, but he found one that was in celebration. Of course, it was just a pale shadow of it had been under the Imperium, and it couldn't be compared to the Queen of Cities, but it was still an impressive city.

And the Pope and his Cardinals, of course, they were just like the Prince had imagined, at least at a first look. Arriving in front of the Pope, the Prince, was obviously standing out among his Varangian Guards, especially due to this red-yellow Roman clothing, with some rather clear Oriental influences as compared to how the clothes in Western Europe were, and especially, due to his purple coat, definitvely proving, by Roman tradition, that he was a member of the Imperial Family.

The Prince began to bow, since even if one would ignore the Papal dogma that was claiming that the Pope was the Vicar of Christ, which was obviously the exact opposite of the Orthodox belief, in accordance to it, the Bishop of Rome deserved at least the title of primus inter pares among the Patriarchs. The Emperor though, as the Viceroy of Christ on Earth, would have had a bigger rank, but he was only a Prince. But much to his surprise, the Pope hugged him, as if they would have had a close relationship. A little surprised at the beginning, the Prince though quickly recovered.

"Of course, your Holiness. Its an honor for me to meet the great Bishop of Rome.", the Prince said, listening to the Pope's explanations. "I must admit that seeing the Eternal City like this has surpassed my expectations."

Looking at the Basilica, the Prince had to admit that it was impressive, although it seemed to lack... the kind of spirit the Hagia Sophia was emanating. But even so, it was a beautiful church.

"I'd be glad to take part in what you have prepared for me, your Holiness.", the Prince said, as he followed the Pope and his personal envoy.
Edited by Tracian Empire, 17 May 2016, 10:41.
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Kiev, Rus'

The Duke of Polotsk has finally returned to Kiev to report of the good news. King Sviatopolk is delighted to hear a non-aggression pact with the Savalens had officially been signed. With this in mind, he had decided to raise the levy around Kiev and those who can travel to Pereyaslavl in 3 days time. They are to fight the Pechenegs in the south. The King plans to claim Moldova, which were historically been under Russian influence, and in some ways still is under Russian influence. They're all to meet at Pereyaslavl in 3 days time and will travel South to meet the Pechenegs in combat. A total about 5500 troops will march south to meet the Pechenegs in combat.

Later that day, the King met a man just known as Hjalmar, who is a Norse from Scandinavia but is also a fellow Orthodox. He is a close friend of the King, being adopted by the King's father when he is young. The King has a secret plan to communicate with the Papacy in Rome. He is planning to seek the Pope's help against the Holy Roman Empire, which could be a major threat in the future, especially when Rus' starts to expand westward. As a skilled fighter and also an educated spy, he knows Hjalmar is perfect for this job. Before he leave for Rome, the King gave him an official letter to pass through Rus' and beyond, and also a secret letter (written in Greek) that should only be addressed to the Pope. With that Hjalmar left for Rome.



Constantinople, Roman Empire

Dimitri is amused as he was expecting a cold welcoming from the Greeks, his once enemy. The last thing that he's expecting is a formal welcoming party through the Golden Gate. He has heard of tales in Rus' of this gate, and according to those tales, only those of royal blood or those whom the Greeks really respected are allowed to pass through these gates. The gates are as beautiful as the tales described it, he is struck with awe. This kinda threw him off, but he acted in front of the Prince as if nothing ever happened. Perhaps the Greeks have changed, he thinked. With the help of this advisors, he greeted,

" Today is a good day, no? For the 1st time in many years, I finally have meet you Greeks in peace, not war. To be honest I can't remember the last time when I was able to have a decent conversation with you all without either of us trying to cut each other's throats"

With that, his soldiers took out a bottle of Vodka and 2 cups. They poured the Vodka into the 2 cups. He then told the Prince,

"You did me great honour by greeting me here, when you can easily do that in the comfort of your palace. In return, let me return the favor. In Russian tradition, we drink only with people we consider as our friends. Since I now consider you my friend, let us have a toast to our friendship before entering this magnificent city, and that this meeting will benefit to both our nations."

Then be took one cup for himself, and offered the 2nd cup to the prince.



Novgorod, Rus'

Basil I is satisfied with the preparation for the march North. By tomorrow, everything will be ready for the march north. By tomorrow, he'll march north, and he'll finally convert the infidel Finns to the Orthodox Faith. Mikko, an Orthodox priest of Finnish descent, will be accompanying him to Finland. His job will be to spread the faith, and the Prince be relying on him to convert the Finns. For now, he is praying to the Virgin Mary for success in his private chapel.

Next morning, all is ready. A total of about 4000 troops will be marching north, along with the clergy. In his absence, he has decreed that his brother, Ivan will be the regent. With that he and his army marched up to the cold north to face the Finns.
Edited by Greater New Poland, 17 May 2016, 13:02.
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The Legacy of Rome


The Imperial Capital of Constantinople, the Second Rome, the Queen of Cities
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Near the Golden Gates, inside the city

The Roman Prince smiled,taking the second cup of vodka, as they toasted. "For friendship. Not only between us, but also hopefully, between our nations.", the Prince said, before he drank the contents of the cup."Now, Duke Dimitri, please join me in the Sacred Palace, where we should start the negotiations."

And with that, the Duke and his delegation were taken to the Sacred Palace.


The Great Palace of Constantinople

As they arrived at the Great Palace, near the Hagia Sophia, the Duke and his advisors were allowed to rest and relax for a while in the section of the palace which had been reserved for their use during their visit. The Rus' would be more than able to enjoy the sumptuous rooms, halls, and baths of the palace, which was at the moment one of the most luxurious palaces in the whole of Europe. Eunuchs, and female servants were always ready to accomplish whatever desires the Rus' men would have. A truly wonderful experience.

A couple hours later, after resting and relaxing, the Duke and his men were called, and brought one one of the terraces of the Palace, decorated luxuriously, allowing them to enjoy the wonderful sight of the Golden Horn, and the nice and warm weather of Constantinople. The Prince was there, together with a man who was clearly from the army, and a woman wearing purple clothes.

I'm sorry for requesting your presence so soon after your arrival, Duke Dimitri. I should have let you and your men rest for a little longer, but unfortunately, the things we need to discuss can not be delayed any further., Prince Michael said. "Together with me are my mother, Empress Irene, and the Grand Domestic of the West, Typhon Vasilios. They will serve as my advisors in our negotiations.", the Roman prince presented the people next to him. "Mother, Megas Domestikos Vasilos, this is Duke Dimitri, the Duke of Smolensk. He is our honorable guest, and he has come here to discuss with us in the name of the Kievan Rus'."

After the introductions were made, the Prince smiled, and started talking. "As I suppose you already know, Duke Dimitri, the barbarian population who is occupying the territories between the Danube and the Carpathians, in the former Dacia Felix, and even further, on the coast of the Black Sea, until Taurica, are the Pechenegs. Wild people, them and their raids have created countless problems to both our nations. A few years ago, my father, with his Cumanian allies, has managed to defeat them once, but they have continued in their barbaric way. We have just received news that their latest raid was crushed by my father near Nicopolis. Now is the time to strike.". Michael made a short pause."The Roman Empire would be interested in coming to terms with the Kievan Rus', for a common military alliance against the Pechenegs. We should help each other to secure our borders, and improve the relations between our nations. We are both Orthodox, followers of the True Faith. Together, we would be stronger."
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