Angst

Mustasha the Younger publicly declared his support for Sassanidian rule in the spirit of Stephanus the Golden and expressed the hope that Ptelnet would crush the arrogant P&O dictatorship and their insane demands to reimpose serfdom on the Nubian Egyptians.

He appealed to Nubians of all races and ethnic groups to preserve the new unity and freedoms enjoyed under Mustasha the Younger, founder of Nubia's House of Hamid.

Mustasha the Younger took personal command of his army (the Egyptians), enthusing them with a rousing call to fight to preserve their hard-won freedom. He then led them north towards the border with Nile Province.
Mustasha ordered the city garrisons to be strengthened and for grain to be stockpiled in the city granaries, and he called upon the levies to ready themselves to defend their lands.

The 2nd, 21st, and 22nd Protectors were already on the move with the cavalry, infantry and elephantry of the 2nd Sassanid (Nubian) army (the Sassanids) and the West Nile Sassanid cavalry levies, some 10-15,000 cavalry, 130 elephants, and 5-10,000 infantry.

Apart from a few thousand levy they crossed to the right bank of the Nile at Alexandria and headed south. On the 8th they reached Beni Suef where jubilant citizens pelted them with flowers.

Onward, their cavalry scouting ahead. Their advance was slowed briefly by some of Mustasha’s infantry harassing their march from the forest north of Nubia city but 2nd pulled his line of march a little way from the forest edge and sent a couple of thousand light infantry to clear the forests. On the 13th the Sassanids reached Nubia city, a town normally of about 5,000, its population now swollen to perhaps 8-9,000, mostly Egyptians but with several hundred poor Sassanids.

Some of these let down ropes by night, and at dawn on the 14th the Sassanid army entered the town and systematically butchered every non-Sassanid man, woman and child, the elephants smashing down the mud-brick houses and the cavalry hunting down those who sought to flee.

By the 18th the Sassanids were ready to continue their march. South of Nubia the track passes through a band of open forest where Khamoun and Mustasha had concentrated the Nubian forces and when the Sassanids entered the forest on the 23rd the harassment was sufficiently intense to halt them and indeed to make them recoil back into the open land.

The levy moving up the left bank was alerted by the Sassanids of Asyut and by messengers from 2nd. On the 26th they crossed to the right bank. Alerted by their scouts Mustasha and Khamoun with some difficulty extricated most of their men and retreated southwards towards Thebes, harassed by Sassanid cavalry and light infantry.

Egyptian losses mounted rapidly and Mustasha ordered his men to cross the Nile as best they may to seek the shelter of the denser woods on the left bank. 2nd sent his light infantry and cavalry across to the left bank to harry the retreating Egyptians.

Mustasha himself with his personal guard hastened to Thebes to join Atenatra and Mustasha the youngest, as well as his close advisers and followers.

The Nubian levy, about 7,000 strong, has mustered and has now joined Mustasha in Thebes, but the Sassanid levy of almost 2,000 has also mustered and, led by Gotark’uh, is moving north through the desert east of the Nile to join 2nd.

The gold mine near Shiraz-Ur has been the site of increased engineering and prospecting activity; a brigade of cavalry is conducting vigorous training exercises nearby.

Both Torud and Shiraz have recently inaugurated new public works, and a welcome public holiday has been celebrated across the Province in celebration of Kublai’s benign rule.

And at Gorgan the Syrian infantry have been celebrating the completion of the town wall on which they have been labouring for so long. The rest of the army continues to train and to patrol Zagros’ borders.

Thorsson and his men are back in Powellopolis after their not uneventful vacation.

Nyfører has agreed to hand over his rights in the Tigris Vale to Suren (or his representative), in payment for Suren's outstanding performance and long term contribution to the New Persian Empire. To clarify, the Tigris Vale consists of the cities of Sinjar, Mosul, Arbil and Tikrit including associated lands and fortifications.

Nyfører would like to thank all the residents of the Tigris Vale for their unstinting support over the last two seasons.

The agreement is of course subject to the beloved Emperor Angustus' formal approval. A senior emissary sent by Angustus was overheard muttering: “With support like that, … what is a stint anyway?“ The emissary then rather more formally announced: “As long as they pay the Emperor his share of the taxes, and stop making trouble, then the Emperor will certainly approve.”

Wagnimandua has taken over the defence of Tikrit and the post of Bey with the blessing of the Emperor’s emissary

The siege of Sinjar has been lifted and the Caspians and White Latvians now patrol peacefully from Hakka-Hakkari down both sides of the Tigris as far as Hosa and Aziz.

Abraham has discussed with Wagnimandua the possibility of Brahcua and the Iranians rebelling: he ordered all city and fort garrisons and the river fleet to be alert for any Iranian trouble.

A flying column of mounted foot moved up to Mosul with supplies for the Chaldeans who hold the fortified bridge. Further supplies have been delivered by the Chaldean river fleet.

Chaldean levy cavalry in strength, about 10,000 men, have moved up the east bank of the Tigris as far as Sinjar, scouting on a broad front: contacts with Kublai’s scouts have been cautiously friendly on both sides.

Small patrols have pushed as far Hosa, Sahand, and Daran: a patrol that intended to cut across the Iranian desert to Gorgan was politely turned back by Kublai’s men.

Nyfører has publicly announced that Daraxes’ forces can surrender at any time and that they will be well treated: this offer does not extend to Daraxes or Darius.

Nyfører has confirmed the agreement with Nestro’ai and has arranged for Skrapehake and Hidy Harald to arrange border patrols to ensure that their men do not inadvertently enter Kazgan territory.

Nyfører has publicly confirmed Wulfric, the Pripyatter, as Bey of Shushu on condition that he stand down any men currently supporting Daraxes. Wulfric has replied that he has ordered his men to their barracks, that he offers his loyal support to Rosanna and looks forward to formally offering her his fealty, and that he offers his eldest daughter to Nyfører to cement the relationship.

Rosanna (“I bet that lecher Wulfric would prefer to put his hands between my thighs rather than between my hands; apart from that I trust him!”) was asked to open a dialogue with Cymonadice: she expressed some astonishment and not a little anxiety but travelled under a flag of truce to

Shushu, though she did leave her beloved daughter with trusted guards.
In Shushu she met Daraxes who up-braided her harshly but honoured the flag of truce. He tried but was unable to prevent her meeting Cymonadice. She told the latter that Nyfører would confirm him as Emir of The Lower Kura & Bey of Baku were he to return to Baku with his men.

He promised to do so immediately and there and then offered Rosanna his fealty. Wulfric also formally promised to lust after be loyal to Rosanna.

Whilst in Shushu Rosanna met her husband Rosbarn; despite his fears it was an amicable enough meeting “… and of course I’ll return immediately to my our yurt with my our followers.”

Rosanna then sought and was granted a formal audience with Daraxes and his son Darius: she stressed the hopelessness of their position and urged them to surrender to Nyfører’s mercy. After a lengthy and at times heated discussion Darius said that he would return with Rosanna: Daraxes refused to do so and said that he would go to Powellopolis to seek Thorsson’s protection.
Nyfører has also offered Haomoputri the option to swear loyalty to him as steward in charge of Oz for her Viking-Armenian son until he comes of age. He adds that Bold Cnut is welcome to court her but should not force a union and should be warned of the dire consequences of washing and shaving to make her happy.

Nyfører met Polymetus and after an amiable discussion, Polymetus agreed to serve Nyfører with his fleet.

A longship and a few cavalrymen went to Baku to ask the ruler there to recognise Nyfører’s authority: they were told that Cymonadice had already agreed to do so.

Skrapehake and Hidy Harald and their men, whilst scrupulously avoiding Nestro’ai’s lands, have patrolled the Arax from a base near Sevan. A detachment of their men covers the lowest Arax ford, though on the right bank only as the left is in Kazgan’s territory.

Nyfører’s two biremes reached Sevan without incident and after resupplying, continued cautiously down the Arax and then the Kura to Amol, their shallow draught allowing them to cross the ford (vs) without mishap.

Bold Cnut bid the lady Haomoputri a fond farewell: he left 250 of his most reliable men to guard her and Oz. Leaving garrisons in Sevan and its fort, he moved down the right bank of the Arax with a screen of Laganides cavalry: he and Hyasaqyte and his engineers then surveyed the Kura but soon decided that a pontoon bridge is not practicable, particularly in view of the paucity of adequate timber.

Bold Cnut and Laganides continued on to Amol.

Nyfører was unable to build a conventional pontoon bridge and had insufficient longships and indeed timber to build a bridge of boats. He used the various navies now at his disposal to ferry men and mounts across the Kura at Amol: his crossing was unopposed.

Even though the Chaldean warships were escorting the merchant ships bringing in the supplies, Nyfører still had almost 30 longships to supplement the capacity of the ferry taking the men across, but when it came to horses, they could only be unloaded at the small wharf on the north bank.

Lief’s men were soon across and established a defensible bridgehead: they were followed by Chaldean cavalry. By the 16th Cnut and Laganides and their men had also been ferried across to the north bank.

The Bukharan problem.

Nyfører sent a trusted envoy to Bukhara and also another two longships to patrol north and east from Amol in the direction of Bukhara … just in case.
Aware that once Nyfører had re-established his rule in mainland Ostland, which seemed to be all too likely all too soon, Bukhara would be next, Anders was already worrying.

Having learned from the envoy as much as he could about the recent naval battles, on the 9th Anders arrested the envoy and those of his men unwilling to join him, and added the longship to his fleet.

On the 11th he set sail, the envoy’s longship and two others with double crews well ahead of the rest of his longships. The ruse worked and he added the two patrolling longships to his growing fleet.

Anders now had 1,600 Estonians manning his fleet of 20 longships plus another 14 privately owned longships manned by 1,100 Estonians of his retinue. His plan was simple enough: he knew he could not beat Nyfører on land, so he would destroy Nyfører’s fleet.

On the afternoon of the 17th he camped on the seaward side of the point at the broad mouth of the bay that becomes the Kura estuary. At the first faint hint of dawn on the 18th his fleet rowed up the bay in three groups: the first reached Amol just before noon.

They may have been seen but if so they were not recognised as a threat. Virtually all Hans Hansson’s longships, including those of Polymetus, were tied up at Amol or were anchored or beached a bit further upstream near the ferry, most of the crews idling after the long hard slog of ferrying the armies over the river.

In the ensuing fighting Anders lost 1 of his own and 1 other longship, but managed to tow away 4 of Hans’ ships and to set fire to 13 others though 2 were saved essentially undamaged. There were relatively few deaths.
Anders freed the envoy and his longship and many of its crew at the mouth of the bay to bear a message to Nyfører. “If you acknowledge me as undisputed and perpetual ruler of Bukhara and of the isle of Kara Bogaz, I shall attack neither your lands, nor your supply ships, and there will be peace between us.”

Anders with his fleet and prizes reached Bukhara on the 27th. Polymetus pointed out that it could all have been much worse: Anders could have arrived during the ferrying operation.

Dagamo left Bordeaux on the 1st and sailed, with some difficulty against the prevailing wind, to Muros where he arrived 3 days ago.

Meanwhile Villeneuve sent a couple of merchant ships south to see what they could see: they arrived after Dagamo had left but since they prudently did not venture up the Garonne estuary, they did not realise that he had left. They are currently off Bayonne.

Sancho has moved most of his forces to the Limoges area where they are based in strongly fortified camps: Leo has moved large numbers of men to camps south-east of Limoges close to the Vichy bridge: with the harvest season starting supplies are so far not a problem.

Their scouts range to the ocean, to the Loire, and to the Allier. A series of probing attacks along Cerdic’s defensive line on the Allier and Loire have become bolder as the falling water level has revealed potential new crossing places, a few in the Loire upstream of the Tours bridge, but mostly in the Allier.

Foraging and looting have continued throughout the lands roamed by the Iberians and Italians. La Rochelle and Bourges have been invited to open their gates immediately and be spared, or to hold out and face fire and death later. Elbert of Bourges has opened negotiations, asking to know the exact surrender terms offered.

Dubius Status, the 77 year old commander of the so-called Rietan Home Guard, the Old Doloran 9th, and Dux Populi of Rieto, died during the night of 11th-12th of Dujuly.

His death was unexpected but there was no untoward circumstance. He will be succeeded by his popular son Varius Status as Dux Populi of Rieto.
Varius is known to dislike the military life and his younger brother Parlus, serving with the Old 9th, has taken command of the Rietan forces.

Escarrio and Publius Nitius conferred: with no reinforcements coming they decided to abandon Nimes city, fearing that with no citadel and no entirely adequate strong-point they would be unable to prevent the citizenry helping Fabricio take the city. Instead they would concentrate on holding the strategically crucial fortified bridge. They told Archeolis of their plan and told him that it would be in his best interests to welcome Fabricio into the city but to remember that they would be back.

They kept him incommunicado until they had moved to the bridge. On the night of the 2nd they moved men, equipment, and some supplies along the road to the bridge, sweeping aside a small detachment of Fabricio’s men. Despite the pitch dark they were able to find their way easily along the already surveyed track: Fabricio, fearing a trap, let them go. Archeolis welcomed Fabricio and his men.

Next day Fabricio sent scouts to investigate the strength of the Nimes bridge. Rather strong and Archeolis told him that the Italians had bolt and light engines.

By the 10th Fabricio’s men had rebuilt their siege engines and had built suitable and well-defended artillery positions; they started to hurl rocks at the right bank (western) fort. The Italians hurled smaller stones and a few bolts back with such accuracy that Fabricio was forced to pull his artillery back and build new positions for them.

Escarrio built a camp at the eastern end of the bridge whence his men patrolled the left bank of the Rhone in some strength. They also made contact with Regan at Marseilles to inform her of the new situation and she informed Leo by ship.

2,200 of Kalevard’s cavalry with about 2,000 extra mounts moved south to the Saone, then down the right bank of the Saone and Rhone via St Etienne to Nimes where they arrived on the 20th. Fabricio has pushed numerous scouts towards Mende, Montpellier, and St Etienne.

At the ford above St Etienne 200 cavalry crossed to the left bank and continued south. They were of course seen by Escarrio’s scouts and on the night of the 18th their rather carelessly built camp was over-run by 1,000 or so of Publius Nitius’ light and armoured terrain troops. A few may have escaped.

Regan’s agents have warned her that any attempt at storming the city would most probably be an expensive failure, but she is much cheered by their reports that a growing shortage of food is causing increasing tension between the 1-2,000 Tolosan refugees, the Italian citizenry, and the Gallic garrison.

Regan had gathered elements of her Northern League Army to the great fortress that lies some 60 or so miles west of Marseilles; heeding the advice she has instead instructed her men to loot Marseilles’ lands.

She went with a small personal guard to the great open iron mines in the hills 20 miles NNE of Marseilles city. There she explained to the captain of the Tolosan garrison that she would be returning in some force in a few weeks and that if he and his men were still there, she would ensure that they lived long enough to regret it. She advised them to leave via the ford north of St Etienne.

Sassanidia is a country with four provinces, Nile, West Nile, Libya, and Nubia. Sassania is one of the provinces of New Persia and is the original homeland of all the Sassanids. The Old Emperor divided his realm between two sons Angustus and Stephanus: their brother, Ptelnet, was omitted from the share-out for no recorded reason.

Returning from the Diwan in Said with a guard of Spitames’ men, the elderly Bifuud had become unwell: greatly lamented, he died on the 3rd despite the loving care of his family and physician. He is succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Bifuad.

By this time Ptelnet had set off for Said with his army. Told of Bifuud’s death Ptelnet returned to Gaza with a small bodyguard: his forces continued on to Said. Informed of the death, Spitames set off back to Gaza, accompanied by Aaroun, the new Bey of Said (and by Aaroun’s male cousins!).

In Gaza, after the funeral, Aaroun and Bifuad discussed the governance of the region: they agreed, Bifuad perhaps reluctantly, that, as local convention demanded, Aaroun as the more senior should be Emir.

It is rumoured that Aaroun has mooted the return of Said and Gaza to New Persia

Before leaving Said Spitames sent emissaries to inform the 1st 11th 12th & 13th Protectors that if they cross the Canal they are invading what is historically Sassanian ie New Persian territory: an act of war that will be punished.

After appropriate obsequies Ptelnet and Spitames hastened to Said where they rejoined their forces on the 7th. On the 8th Spitames’ scouts informed them that the Sassanid armies had taken the coast road and that their scouts had crossed the Stephanoid Canal on the 7th and by dawn on the 9th their entire force had crossed the Canal and was continuing along the coast road in battle order. They halted about 10 miles east of the Canal.

Ptelnet ordered Ahmose to remain in and hold Said. With the rest of his armies he marched west along the coast road: on the night of the 12th the armies were camped some four or five miles apart. Ptelnet sent heralds to address the enemy but the 1st Protector had anticipated this and the words of the heralds were drowned out by prolonged drumming.

Next morning the armies drew up in battle order, and again there was much Sassanidian drumming to boost morale or drown out any appeal from Ptelnet.

“Sire, they outnumber us by at least 3:2. Should we withdraw and seek reinforcements from Emperor Angustus?”
“Horisis, have courage. What do you think, Spitames?”
“They’re mostly on foot, we need no reinforcements.”

Despite the disparity in numbers Ptelnet’s line overlapped the Protectors’ by a few hundred yards. Horisis commanded the centre of about 4,000 infantry and 76 elephants with a frontage of about 800 yards: on the left Spitames had the Imperial cavalry and some Immortals, 4,000 EHC and about 2,500 lighter cavalry covering some 2,000 yards: Ptelnet commanded the right wing with 4,500 EHC, about 1,000 HC & MC, and 3,000 or so light cavalry spread over about 2,700 yards.

“Dimwit, you said that we outnumbered them! Look!”
“Sir, 11th is correct. Look at the depth of our line.”

The 1st Protector had deployed 13th in the centre with their 8,500 mercenaries and 20 bolt engines on a frontage of almost 1,000 yards: 11th was on the Protectors right with 4,000 EHC, 2,000 HC, and 2,000 LC on a frontage of 2,400 yards: 12th was on the Protectors’ left with a mixed force of 1,000 EHC, 1,000 HC, 3,000 HI, 1,225 LHI, and 5,000 forced levy spread over some 1,500 yards.

Ptelnet refused his centre, his flanks advancing quickly. The Protectors’ mercenaries, fearing envelopment, advanced slowly despite the ineffectual urging of 13th.

12th had drawn up the levy in some depth immediately to the left of the mercenaries and joined them in person to bolster their courage: he was carried away when the levy broke on seeing EHC bearing down on them at a smart canter, preceded by a hail of arrows. In the south Spitames LC was overwhelmed by twice their number of 11th’s HC, but Skaphos’ Immortal division of MC and LC carried away two brigades of 11th’s LC.

In the north by mid-morning only a few hundred of 12th’s cavalry still fought on: the centre was still unengaged: and in the south Spitames had broken half of 11th’s EHC. 11th was fighting in the front rank of the remainder.
An hour or so after mid-day the fighting slackened and water bottles were passed round. In the North all of 12th’s men were in flight: in the south 11th and his men were also in flight apart from the HC who had routed Spitames’ LC and had prudently refrained from returning to the fray.

In the centre the mercenaries offered their surrender: they reported that they were leaderless as not only had 13th fallen backwards onto his sword whilst trying to demonstrate some point, but that the 1st Protector himself had hastened to them to make the same point with the same unfortunate result.
“Why did your bolt engines not kill any of my elephants?”
“We were not provided with any bolts.”
“Just as well for you!”
Losses include crippled as well as dead: Ptelnet and Spitames recovered their injured more promptly so more survived.
The 11th lost almost 4,000 of his 8,000 men.
The 11th Protector died of his wounds.
The 12th lost 8,300 of his 11,225: these losses were high at least in part because flight was hampered by the Canal.
The 12th Protector was killed in the pursuit of the levy.
Ptelnet lost 966 men.

Cheops, fighting in the front rank of his EHC, received a wound from which he is now almost recovered.
Spitames lost all his LC and 420 EHC.
“Sire, I trust that my Emperor will not begrudge the cost we have paid today to win you your Empire: but, Sire, remember the debt should he need your help in the future.”
“Are you going back to Petra now?”
“No Sire, my orders are to help you as long as is necessary.”

Ptelnet spent a week caring for the wounded, collecting valuables, and rounding up prisoners, the latter trapped between the Canal, the Sea, and the desert. Scouts and emissaries were pushed to the outskirts of Cairo.

On the 21st Ptelnet resumed his march on Cairo, a march that soon became a triumphal procession as crowds gathered to welcome their new Emperor. On the 29th Ptelnet established a great camp just east of the city and asked that the civil and remaining military authorities come forthwith to submit … or else!

The wagons and infantry are now near Malatya. Officers have pushed ahead to check the road from Alep over the mountains to the sea.

It is worth noting that at present Ptelnet and his opponents, and the people of Cairo and Alexandria and places north thereof do not know what is happening in Nubia, nor do those in Nubia know of 1st’s disastrous defeat setback in the north.

Ceutabaal and Leptonos and their armies and prisoners had all reached Thessaly without incident by late on the 6th to find Maharbal and Ariadne awaiting them.

Maharbal had already sent an emissary to Thassos to discuss the status of the city: the emissary travelled by sea and was accompanied by Sirsalis and Pygophilos and their fleets.

Thassos is a walled city of about 10,000 inhabitants; there is a great fortress attached to it, and the harbour is also fortified. The Strategos of Thassos is Kryptos, uncle of Heracles of Thessaly and brother of the late Admiral Xenophon: he decided to defy the Punic and Greek fleets and refused them entry to his harbour.

Kryptos is noted neither for his intellect, nor for his popularity, nor for his courage. He may have been persuaded to defy the Carthaginians because of a misplaced confidence in his drinking and whoring companion, Astofolos, whose siege corps garrisons the fortress.

Sirsalis and Pygophilos camped on the western side of the Thassos inlet and established a naval blockade.

Maharbal asked Ceutabaal to sort out Thassos whilst he went to a conference (vi)

On the 14th Ceutabaal and the armies arrived outside Thassos, though the cavalry had arrived on the 11th and established a blockade by land.

Perhaps disheartened by the sight of the Pontic Royal Guard prisoners, capitulation became a race, won by Astofolos who welcomed Ceutabaal into the fortress when the latter was assessing its strength. Kryptos was not far behind: he hastened from the city to welcome Maharbal, failed to find him, but prostrated himself before Ariadne
“… and your noble son Kostas, the rightful king of Greece.”
“Was that a tactful thing to say?” “Er, um, oh.”

In what is regarded by the naive as an amazing coincidence, Chairman Heracles of Thessaly was killed just before midnight on Dujuly 22nd by a blow to the back of the neck with a heavy sharp implement: death must have been instantaneous.

Vice-Chairman Declivitos pronounced himself Chairman of the Council, but then realistically added
“… subject to the agreement of Commander Maharbal, oh, and of the Lady Ariadne, and indeed of King (oops) Kostas.”

Demetriaces reviewed the Thracian Army and made a point of meeting and talking to all its officers: he arranged the purchase of ponies for Arne Loppson’s men.

He then conferred with Laconeas, the loyal and vigorous Senior Archon of the city before leading his forces across the river to establish a camp on the west bank of the Marit.

Demetriaces and Mustasha the Elder and their advisers, and Arne and his men rode up the river to reach Philipopolis late on the 10th. They established a comfortable camp in a village some five miles west of Philipopolis.
Maharbal (vs) rode with his bodyguard from Thessaly to this self-same small village and arrived late on the 11th escorted by guides from Philipopolis.

The two leaders exchanged gifts and fulsome compliments and over a series of feasts established a warm rapport. We hear that they discussed the state of the Known World, the desirability of peace and the importance of wise rulers: they parted as friends, promising to seek opportunities for co-operation in the future.

Cambyses and his field army marched to the Danube in three fast moving groups, the wagons following as a fourth and slower group.

The main crossing was at Galati but Ruse and Kish were also used. The wagon train with its bridging equipment used the pontoons to speed its crossing. Lysander in person with staff officers greeted Cambyses and did all he could to facilitate his march with maps and markets.

By the 20th the wagons had reached Constanta: by this time the rest of the army was re-united in Burgas. Late on the 27th the van entered Istanbul; if anyone thought of denying them entry, they prudently refrained from voicing the thought … no Archon to ask anyway.

During the night the Istanbul ferry terminal and the ferries were secured.
At crack of dawn on the 28th three of Komopedion’s infantry brigades crossed and secured the Anatolian terminal. By the afternoon of the 29th the remainder of the troops apart from the wagons had reached Istanbul: the wagons are expected to arrive in about a week.
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Seg informed Galgyn and Gwalchai that he was happy to respect their neutrality - Ghengis is the enemy. But Seg went on to say that they have ever so slightly got in the way, and that if they could please withdraw to Volsk and then keep their heads down he would be very grateful.

Seg sent friendly messages to Xanadu Tuuf and Atle wishing them well but asking them to please stay out of the way.

He suggested that they go and visit their northern Urohun cousins or perhaps even go and loot Siberia/Lagoda. After a very brief discussion they opted to go and loot Siberia: they left and headed north and have just entered Siberia.
Seg reminded his forces that the Volgan and Ural lands are to be treated with respect and he let Galgyn, Gwalchai, Xanadu Tuuf and Atle know that he had so ordered.

With Ghengis holding Volsk and fearing treachery, Galgyn and Gwalchai were unable to cross the river to Volsk: they explained the problem to Seg and then hastened to get out of his way by moving east along the left bank of the Don.

Seg moved men into Mekha and when it was clear of Volgans he asked Tenapin and his men and his own foot levy to hold Mekha and the left bank of the Don.

On the 5th Seg set off up the left bank of the Don with the rest of his forces: Ghengis was slow to realise what was happening but then sent light cavalry to shadow the Byelohuns, following more slowly with the rest of his army.

Between Tula and Kursk there are three fords: there is also another at Tula but it was not used. Ghengis’ light cavalry was unable to prevent Seg’s forces pouring across the river and by the 25th they had concentrated on the right bank at the good ford that lies about 20 miles above Kursk, perhaps 40-50,000 strong. Suborai’s small levy joined Seg.

Ghengis’ forces, about 15,000 strong, were at this time more or less concentrated some 50 miles south of Seg’s. Ghengis fled redeployed westwards at his best speed.

After 5 days vigorous light cavalry skirmishing … both armies at this stage protecting their armoured cavalry … Ghengis forces were having much the worst of the exchanges. Some of his men are beginning to throw away heavier items, others try to slip away at night, hazardous though it be.

It seems possible that Ghengis hopes to reach the Holy Tree of Hunland (Site of) where he could clasp its trunk and claim sanctuary, though the lack of an actual tree or indeed of a bush could be a problem.

The Ostragoth levies regrouped at Birzai and then made their way to the Dvina ferry at Viski. Here light troops swam the river and, unopposed but not unobserved, brought the ferry back to the left bank on the 13th. One 200 ton ferryboat; hardly adequate for so many.

After some rather fraught argument it was decided that the armoured infantry with a few light troops to screen them would cross using the ferry and take Viski: Johan would lead everyone else in a forced march to the ford some 40 miles or so below Ulla and then force a march back to Viski; the whole force would then march on Riga.

It all went wrong.

In Viski were many of the defeated rebels: they watched with disbelief. When two ferry-loads of Ostragoths, mostly light infantry, had crossed, the rebels attacked the unprepared infantry without warning.

When the Ostragoths on the left bank realised what was happening they hastened to reinforce their comrades with heavy infantry, perhaps overloading the ferry, though that wasn’t the problem.

As the ferry reached the landing stage firebrands were hurled into it and with disembarkation vigorously opposed, the Ostragoths were trapped.
The ferry was consumed by the fire and the men aboard were killed by rebels, fire, or drowning.

Johan reached Viski three days ago to find the town not only deserted, but burned. His men still on the left bank have now crossed to the right bank using rafts.

Friederich and Harda Knut marched to Okolova: as they approached the town they were met by Loki and Trinian who welcomed them to Pripyat Province, and asked that their men refrain from looting or foraging and pay for all that they needed.

Friederich agreed and ordered the men to act accordingly; they continued their march and are now but one day’s march from Ulla, watched by cautious Sarmatians.

Whilst on Bornholm Hrunting spoke to Bjarni at length, trying to persuade him that as a Viking, indeed as an Estonian, he should not be helping Friederich and the Germans.

Bjarni countered that Friederich had honoured and trusted him, making him the ruler of Latvia and that he was also indebted to Harda Knut who had in the past saved his life.

At a final feast hosted by Hrunting on the 30th Bjarni, drunk, mocked Hrunting for believing that he, a landlubber from Vibor some 200 or so miles from the sea, could ever hope to best him, Bjarni, a man born in Tallinn who had spent all is life on the sea.

Hrunting, as host, maintained a dignified silence. However Smaragda was obviously enraged: everyone guessed from her gestures that she was cursing Bjarni fairly comprehensively, but since she was cursing him in the Sarmatian dialect of Gruntish few understood exactly what fate she called down upon him. Next day they all left.

Hrunting and his followers sailed south to the coast of the North German Plain, largely populated by Vikings, landing at the mouth of the Oder on the 3rd. They were offered supplies and hospitality by Ymir the leader of the Estonian migrants settled in and around Stettin.

On the 5th Hrunting sailed east, much slowed by the knarrs’ problems with the unfavourable winds.

Further east the coastal plain is predominantly settled by Latvians, who are unsurprisingly disturbed by the news trickling back to them, doubtless often much distorted and exaggerated, about the war in Latvia.

By the 25th Hrunting and his fleet was some miles off the mouth of the Wista. Smaragda persuaded Blovin to have a look at Friederichshaven, pointing out that their oarsmen could easily catch up with the rest of the fleet.

Following the destruction of Friederich’s fleet, the harbour was largely deserted and they were able to enter almost unopposed: they burnt what they could and then left.

Hrunting and his fleets are about halfway from Friederichshaven to Polessk, the knarrs still struggling against a steady headwind.

Ostia’s fleet sailed from Malta to a large bay on the south-west facing coast of Sicily. There they put ashore about 1,500 men who moved to Prizzi on a broad front, looting as they went. Prizzi’s gates were firmly closed but this small army continued to loot with enthusiasm, heading steadily west.

Meanwhile the fleet moved westwards along the coast, looting the coastal villages. The fleet and the army have rendezvoused near the fortress on the western tip of Sicily. It seems that there is a number of refugees in the fortress: they have refused to open the doors.

It seems that two of the triremes fled when the opportunity presented, and returned to Windicta.

Another pirate fleet entered the small harbour very early on the 15th and disembarked a horde of eager raiders.

The elderly alcoholic Bercus Bibulus, the Dux Populi of Brindisi, was still up entertaining a dozen or so sailors from ships recently arrived in his harbour: some local deity’s feast day. But he is now but a figurehead, with authority vested in Gordianus, an alert great nephew, who reads the News, had left the celebrations early and got his men up and armed.

When the sailors readied themselves to leave, no longer inebriated but surprisingly brisk and well-ordered, they were detained by Gordianus. The raiders made a few desultory attempts to scale the walls but in the end had to be satisfied with looting a few wharehouses and taking one merchantman.

This fleet is now just approaching Messina.

Faron has publicised an apology from Philipo who also hastens to assure Faron that he will return. Faron has indicated that his return as soon as possible and in chains would be much appreciated.

It is rumoured that Faron has received a cash offer for the armour in his treasury.

An attempt by Philipo to recruit men was frustrated by the moderately sudden death of the half dozen optimists who made the offer in a bar on the Windicta waterfront.

Emperor Elros and A’Rrosee and most of their forces have rested and recuperated in and around Windicta. Melqart has started to incorporate the Punic captives into his army.

It is rumoured that Elros hopes to unite Baal and Motiph in a new Baaliph religion. In his favour it has to be admitted that adherents of both religions show equal antipathy to the suggestion.

It is increasingly obvious that Elros’ diet of bees is having a dramatic effect on his weight: whereas once he spent all his time eating, he now spends at least half of it drinking.

Zaranissa and the various Baalist forces fell back to Linka.

After a brief rest there they headed west via Oysk: they are now about halfway from Oysk to Paender.

They have been followed and rather cautiously harassed by elements of the 10,000 or so Sassanid Converts of the Libyan levy.