Angst

The Tolosan officer and two of his men have come from the Zaragozza silver mine to Sancho’s camp and have asked for surrender terms. It seems that the Tolosan is not over-ambitious in his requests!

On the 15th, the lighter winds and favourable tide for which he had waited having arrived, Villeneuve led his fleet to the Garonne: as he was deploying for another attack sympathetic local fishermen told him that Dagamo and the Iberian warships had gone.

Suspecting a trick he sent a reliable (and courageous) man to go with the fishermen and check the facts. Just in case, a couple of the fishermen stayed with Villeneuve: they understood why but took no offence.

The departure of the Iberians was confirmed: Villeneuve contented himself with a brief foray ashore to show the flag and to see if there were any enemy nearby: there were so he left and returned to La Rochelle without mishap.

Cerdic’s men have erected field defences to protect the west bank of the Loire ford that lies 40 or so miles east of Vichy, and to defend the east bank of the Allier at the more obviously feasible crossing points.

However there have been several storms in the mountains where these rivers rise, with considerable damage to crops caused by enormous hailstones: animals and indeed men caught in the open have been injured.

Anxious locals have tried to point out that one or two more potential crossing places will appear when the rivers return to their normal summer level.

Whilst continuing to mount strong patrols throughout the Central Plain from the camps near Limoges, Sancho and Leo concentrated most their forces at Clermont: on the 9th Elasticus arrived with the siege train.

Baccalix, Fabricio's popular eighteen year old son who rules Clermont Ferrand as Regent (with advice from mummy) whilst Fabricio is away, intended to fight on despite Clermont having but a wood and earth stockade, few able-bodied men, and fast dwindling supplies, but mummy and the city elders persuaded him to negotiate: he nevertheless sent a messenger to inform Fabricio.

On the afternoon of the 10th the city gates were opened; Baccalix handed over 5,000 gp in cash and valuables: the city was not looted.

Sancho and Leo have built strongly defended camps and their foragers continue to collect the harvest throughout Toulouse Province.

Elbert opened the city gates and handed over the meagre contents of the city treasury along with about 5,000 gold pieces which he collected from the citizenry, in exchange for which the city was spared.

At dawn on the 8th Escarrio sortied from the fortified Nimes bridge in strength. Fabricio’s artillery positions were over-run and his engines were destroyed or seriously damaged.

Fabricio (“Well of course I wasn’t prepared for this! Why’s he done it? We weren’t doing enough damage to the bloody bridge to merit his taking such a risk!”) counter-attacked, leading Destrier’s close order infantry in person, and with cavalry and loose order infantry in close support.

Escarrio was one of the few to escape back through the gates of the western bridge fort before panicky defenders shut the gates. Destrier’s men took no prisoners.

Escarrio lost 800 of Publius Nitius’ (“Sorry Publius, I was just obeying orders.”) infantry.

Fabricio lost two heavy and one light siege engines destroyed and one and two respectively damaged: the crews were also lost, killed or deserted, as were about 100 infantry.

Fabricio’s scouts clashed with some of Leo’s scouts near Mende: initially they had the better of the exchanges, but the Italians were soon reinforced and the Gauls were forced to give ground. When the invaders continued to push south and east past Mende, Fabricio realised that he was in danger of being cut off: he thought it prudent to head for St Etienne rather than the more direct but difficult route to Vichy.

Fabricio is now camped on the west bank of the Rhone by the ford that lies 20 miles or so north of St Etienne.

Archeolis informed Publius and Escarrio that Fabricio had gone: when their scouts confirmed this the Italians were once more er, welcomed into Nimes city.

The unrest in the city boiled over into rioting and at times fierce fighting between the Tolosan refugees and the Italian citizenry with the heavily outnumbered Tolosans getting much the worst of it until the Tolosans of the garrison joined in to help them.

The Greek mercenaries of the garrison have opened negotiations with Regan.

Meanwhile the captain of the Tolosan garrison at the Marseilles iron mine had decided to take Regan’s advice: he and his men came down from the hills but unfortunately Publius’ men, angered by the needless brutal slaughter of so many of their comrades, ambushed and killed them.

Ptelnet reviewed his forces and praised them for their great victory. He announced rich bonuses to all, with particular generosity to Spitames’ men and to Cheops cavalry, and with the promise of further rewards when the campaign is finished.

Ptelnet asked the prisoners taken after his victory if they wished to serve in his army. The mercenaries, 8,410 Greek infantry, volunteered to a man but despite Horisis’ encouragement, none of the Sassanid prisoners, some probably fearing victimisation in the UPA, others unwilling to serve alongside and even under peasants.

The Sassanids were however willing to swear an oath of loyalty to the new Emperor, particularly when the news of Stephanus’ murder became common knowledge (v.i.), and they were duly freed.

And so to the capture of Cairo. A herald had barely started to demand, in the name of the Emperor Ptelnet, legitimate ruler of Sassanidia, the brother of the late Emperor Stephanus who was so foully murdered (well, perhaps not yet in fact … v.i.) by the occupiers of Cairo, that the city gates be opened forthwith, when the sound of fighting was heard coming from the city.

Spitames sent a detachment of Tospades men forward with scaling ladders but before they reached the walls citizens had seized a section of the city wall and were letting down ropes. Once Tospades’ men were inside the few P&O guards were easily overcome and the city the gates were opened: Ptelnet and his men entered. The P&O fled.

The citizens welcomed Ptelnet and his men with unalloyed joy, though a significant proportion took the time and trouble to hunt down and slaughter any P&O functionaries who had not had the wit to flee.

Spitames in person led Tospades’ men to the palace and its attached citadel. They took the palace and then the citadel almost unopposed.
In the palace harem they found and took into protective custody Stephanus’ grand-daughters, 23 year old Steputra and 16 year old Cleone. These unfortunates had been taken to wife by the so-called Supreme Organiser but had hidden when he fled in such haste.

They claimed that the SO was the great grandson of Me’socolon of Alexandria and that it was to Alexandria that he had fled. They also told Spitames that all Stephanus’ family had been massacred except for themselves and Stephanus himself who was incarcerated in the palace cellars.
In the cellars Spitames found a recently slaughtered corpse, filthy and emaciated: the terrified and tearful women identified it as their grandfather, the now late Emperor Stephanus.

Stephanus was interred with all appropriate honours.

Ptelnet’s Immortals scouted widely to Alexandria and into the Delta without finding any significant enemy forces. Sympathisers in Alexandria informed Ptelnet’s men that there was a reign of terror within the city as the P&O tried to cling onto power. They are thought to have but a few thousand unreliable followers at most.

Mustasha the Younger ordered the urgent purchase of mounts for the levy and asked Khamon to take command, in conjunction with Pa’Simba, of course.
He also raised anti-Sassanid oops anti-P&O fervour by donating 1 gp to each soldier in his army and each volunteer in the levy.

Mustasha sent Urban Rameses, Horaph’uh’s brilliant young son who usually leads the levies of the Upper Nubian tribes, to command the light infantry in the forest on the left bank of the Nile north of Thebes. Rameses took with him several hundred volunteers from the Nubian Egyptian levy, mostly light troops but with archers as well. He also took enough gold to pay the men for their service and to buy supplies and help when necessary.

Atankhmun, youngest brother of Atanates and Horaph’uh, was seen leaving Thebes by night with a couple of dozen cloaked companions. That Atenatra has not been seen recently has led to the suspicion that Mustasha the Younger has sent her and Mustasha the Youngest to safety.

Mustasha the Younger made a rousing speech to the citizens of Thebes and messengers have borne the following far and wide:

“Mustasha the Younger condemns the mass extermination of the entire civilian Egyptian population of Nubia City down to the last man, woman and child by the P&O butchers, and rallies all Egyptians and true Sassanids of a united Nubia to the Sassanid cause of Ptelnet, the brother of the late Stephanus the Golden, to whom Mustasha the Younger pledges his support.”

Mustasha decided to hold Thebes: he declared martial law: Arsap’ur the unpopular Sassanid Bey of Thebes decided it would be prudent to visit relations far to the north and fled, as did most of the Sassanids still in Thebes. Mustasha handed out cash to reliable local leaders to buy grain and improve the city defences where possible.

All grain supplies have been placed under guard and as much as possible of the harvest has been brought to the safety of the city: experts opine that there is enough grain in the city to feed its defenders and citizens for a year and more.

Mustasha spoke to the Sassanids in his army, a small unit of light cavalry still loyal to him … so far. He gave them generous bonuses and asked them to make their way to join Ptelnet by next Wapenry. When the news of Ptelnet’s successes reach them I can reveal that they will hasten to join him, full of praise for the noble Mustasha.

Mustasha sent men to hold Aswan and they destroyed the ferries on both banks of the Nile.

Meanwhile the 2nd, 21st, and 22nd Protectors and their armies continued their slow but inexorable advance. By the 15th of Aufield their cavalry was outside Thebes, looting and laying waste the land. By the 18th all their forces had arrived and established strong camps in an arc around Thebes, their light troops still on the west bank completing the encirclement of the city by establishing camps in the thin forests opposite Thebes.

On the night of the 23rd Rameses and his men attacked these camps on the west bank and succeeded in driving off almost all the light cavalry’s mounts.
On the same night a small force, about 1,000 or so under Pa’Simba attacked one of the besieger’s cavalry camps and fired the painstakingly collected fodder and grain stores.

The P&O forces are finding it increasingly difficult to find fodder and grain: the locals have mostly fled southwards or have melted away into the forests, hills and deserts, taking flocks, herds, and harvest with them.
You may remember that the Nubian Sassanid levy led by Gotark’uh had deserted intending to join the P&O forces: they swung far to the east and when they finally made contact, found that they had ridden too far to the north. They circled round the eastern forest and moved south-east towards Thebes.

When they saw a distant mounted force at the edge of the forest, unaware that many of the Egyptians were now mounted, they sensibly enough assumed them to be Sassanids. A lethal hail of arrows disabused them: they fled, pursued by Khamon … rather briefly, as he only had 15 cavalrymen.
For some reason the P&O are felling trees.

Most of the Sassanid converts of the Libyan levy, harassing the Baalists on their march from Oysk to Paender, had given up and returned to Windicta, leaving a few hundred to continue to watch the Baalists.

These too were ordered back to Windicta but the orders arrived too late.
Zaranissa and his forces had tired of the unwelcome attentions of the Motiphators. Using locals and their knowledge of their home terrain, Zaranissa arranged a successful ambush in overwhelming strength. Very few of the Motiphators escaped: prisoners were not taken. Baalist losses were but a few dozen.

Having rallied from an exhilarating pursuit, Zaranissa and Salammbo and their forces have continued on to Paender, reducing the numbers of Motiphators whenever the chance presented … not all that often now; there are few who follow the Motiph persuasion in Trias province these days.

Informed of the direction taken by the Baalists though before he heard of the above minor set-back, A’Rrosee ordered his forces west along the coast with all haste.

By the end of the month A’Rrosee and his Sassanid converts and Ban’kher and the Chosen were in Schkender along with Elros. Horus and the Peasant converts had reached Kahra.

Melqart and his army including the new recruits had also reached Schkender apart from the elephantry which is due in Cahns in another 2 days.
Elros rode with the van and arrived in Schkender on the 24th, rather the worse for wear.

Our reporter says that two days ago, perchance still exhausted by the fast ride from Windicta or weakened by his diet of bees … (“Don’t be so stupid; he doesn’t eat bees: that’s what his physicians say ails him.” Ed) … Elros fell into a slumber from which it is increasingly difficult to rouse him.

Melqart in particular has shown considerable concern.


Naladi bar Sahdi and his men moved to Adrianopolis whence they scout to the south and east. His men have been in contact with Maharbal’s scouts; cautious though without friction.

Maharbal and his forces have stayed at Thassos where all is now calm and where it is clearly established that Kryptos continues to rule at Maharbal’s pleasure. Astofolos and his small band of mercenary artillerists have been incorporated into the New Ellas forces, along with their useful transport ships.

Maharbal’s men continue to scout widely, to the Marit and in very small numbers across the river to Gallipoli. Maharbal’s scouts have made no attempt to cross at Adrianople or at Philipopolis but do exchange pleasantries and supplies … an amphora of wine or freshly caught game … with Demetriaces’ scouts.

Demetriaces returned to Philipopolis accompanied by Lysander and his other aides and trusted advisers, by Mustasha Sr and Vashti, and by Arne Loppson and his Vikings.

After a week feasting with the local dignitaries Demetriaces continued his progress; he and his retinue are now in Gallipoli where they have been welcomed and feasted by Chairman Orpheos and the local Councillors and dignitaries.

A galley has arrived in Gallipoli harbour to wait until Mustasha Sr needs transport.

Philipo and his men continued to loot Prizzi’s lands in the west of the island; the Prizzi iron mine was raided and a few tons of ore were taken and loaded aboard the ships still raiding along the coast.

A small coastal ship was used to send an emissary to Sardinia: the report that he was eaten is totally untrue.

The commercial harbour has been packed recently. Probably as a result of the growing rejuvenation of Malta under its new management there has been quite an influx of willing guest workers: labourers, menials, and skilled workers from the islands as well as oarsmen and marines seeking employment.

Of course many had come for the annual 3 day festival of Neptune that started officially at sunset on the 29th. Notorious for unbridled licence and the inordinate consumption of the local bouiabaisso … bouillabaisse to you and I … and wine, by morning many revellers were the worse for wear and a few had joined Neptune with fatal results. Many were still very sober and very well organised.

Philipo had left a reliable 500 man garrison in the fortress and had hired 250 Maltese to defend the fortified part of the harbour. A couple of Corsardian pirate ships having been reported off Gozo, the fortress garrison was on a full alert though it has to be said that the Maltese were a bit lax as regards the security of the inner harbour where the wine flowed freely.

By dawn on the 30th Malta and the fortified harbour were under the control of a motley crew including Corsardians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Gauls led by the self-same Temeraix that had so recently lost the island to Philipo.

You may recollect that the fortress is extremely strong and with a 500 man garrison and adequate supplies and an excellent chef could withstand a siege for years. However, that so excellent chef opened the fortress doors: a lot of the garrison were still alive though incapacitated, but Temeraix had them killed, more vengeance than kindness, we fear.

The chef and his half dozen kitchen staff were happily unharmed, not having partaken of the delicious bouillabaisse that they had so lovingly prepared.

The young captain Poseides who has shown such skill with light galleys has been promoted to the admiralcy left vacant by the untimely death of Xenophon.

One of the new-fangled small warships, a liburnian, left Crete a week ago headed north. It came from Sicily.

The first full meeting of the Dunarican Confederation started off a lively affair but Rheann, Royer, and Drusus soon put a stop to that. Drusus was confirmed as the CinC of their forces and was asked to present a plan for their organisation and improvement.

A praesidium was agreed: each city ruler and Drusus: the latter suggested that Rheann should be Prima inter Pares and since his Tuscans were providing the guards for the meeting, this was passed unanimously, though it is widely thought that the result would have been much the same even in the absence of Drusus and his men.

The meeting decided unanimously that Sombor should be invited to join the Confederation and a messenger was despatched to speak to Alkibiades who intemperately despatched the messenger.


Cambyses has absolutely no legitimate reason to be marching on Alansberg. Marching on the capital is rebellion, he knows that. Pontus is about to go down the pan as a consequence, once the neighbours figure out what's happening. One day we'll have to fight the Punies for real if Cerdic goes. That means building up the fleet, strengthening the frankly weak armies, and making allies in the west (not attacking them!) “Yes, yes, east!” This just makes it easy for the Punies: Leo and Sancho will love this mess.

At dawn on the 1st the Pontic 77th (Galatian) Army left its camp just south-east of Alansberg and set off in good order for Tuz. They were followed by scouts from the Royal Polonovan Guard.

Macalix left Ate’s Palace at about the same time and went to join the 77th. Later that morning officials of PLODIre (Inland revenue extraction) arrived at the palace but were refused entry by Paciartes men even though they had a valid warrant for the arrest of Macalix for tax evasion.

Perhaps suspiciously, there is no rumour suggesting that Macalix was warned by Ate’s adherents in PLODIre.

When Cambyses arrived in Alansberg later in the month Macalix went to confer with him: unusually, whatever was said or agreed has not yet leaked into the public domain.

Ate had invited El Cid to meet her but when he arrived yet later on that selfsame busy morning he had a large number of burly guards with him. Paciartes men were loathe to let them enter but knew that he had Ate’s invitation and he said that without his guards he would leave.

“In this present tense situation I feared that there could be yet another attempt upon my life. The noble lady may trust me or not, as she wishes, but I trust not her husband. I am a Galatian and know full well that no Galatian is to be trusted.”

El Cid and his bodyguard were allowed in. It seems that he was entirely correct: Galatians are not to be trusted. Exactly what happened next is open to dispute: that there was some sort of altercation is certain; that there was a scuffle in which Paciartes men were bested is possible; that the Lady Ate was man-handled is unlikely in the extreme.

Be that as it may, after a brief meeting the Lady Ate left with El Cid and went with him to Shalman’s headquarters in the citadel “ … to discuss this growing threat to our beloved Empire … “.

Onlookers and eavesdroppers report that Shalman greeted his sister warmly and affectionately in person, though it is said that neither the warmth nor the affection were fully reciprocated, and indeed Shalman may no longer be on Ate’s Mithrasmas card list.

Shalman ordered the mounts from the Imperial stables to be gathered to Alansberg where they were loaded with grain and sent east along the Corun-Sivas road.

A significant amount of grain was moved into the citadel and a 700 man garrison was installed there; it is widely rumoured that they have been given a significant bonus and generous promissory notes in recognition of their onerous task.

Shalman sent orders to the rulers of all Pontic cities that under no circumstances is the rebel Cambyses to be allowed to enter the cities, or be provided with supplies. (As an ex-Empress Ate's orders should not be obeyed, and Macalix is a Galatian, so only a fool would obey him.)

Shalman also sent orders (rather optimistically) to the fleets explaining that Cambyses is now an outlaw and traitor to the throne of Pontus, asking them to prevent Cambyses's crossing the Bosphorus.

Deputations of nervous and concerned citizens have approached Shalman to appeal for compromise and moderation.

On the 16th of Aufield Shalman set of with his army and family: past Tuz where Ate sent Paciartes to insist that a civil war was not to be started and that she was not in any danger and was learning many really useful new skills. They passed Corun 5 days ago. Paciartes and his army following doggedly.

Paciartes showed obvious signs of distress. He summoned all his men to the Alansberg citadel but it was all too obvious that he did not have the strength to oppose Shalman’s Royal Polonovan Guard. None the less his men camped outside the citadel. Ate came to an upper window and ordered them to refrain from violence, insisting that though she was not happy with her sequestration, she was in no danger. When Shalman left Alansberg, Paciartes and his men followed. Grimly and glumly. Paciartes was granted an audience with Ate, private but carefully guarded exits.

Cambyses sent an officer to Naladi bar Sahdi who was camped a few miles west of Istanbul with 4-5,000 Chaldean cavalry; Naladi was to be permitted to continue his march to join Demetriaces. Naladi was given a message to deliver promising Cambyses' support, setting out Cambyses' political position (basically that Ate is right and Shalman a twit), and warning against any involvement on the weaker and least competent side in any internal Pontic dispute.

Cambyses had been offered the opportunity to ransom the captured Royal Guard at a bargain rate. He agreed, COD at Istanbul. A few of Cambyses’ less temperate men collected the cash … as a loan … from the citizens of Istanbul, who were told that it is all Shalman's fault.

The ransomed Guardsmen have just reached Istanbul where the cash was handed over to Maharbal’s agent.

Meanwhile Cambyses had detailed Hextus to maintain control of the crossing and it was some of his men who collected the donations from the citizenry.
Cambyses crossed to Anatolia with Komopedion’s, Lentoras’ and Al Abamah’s divisions in the van, followed by the other divisions, with the wagons and elephants bringing up the rear several days behind.

At Amasra Kamnashires, the elderly, indeed senile, Bey granted them free access to the Imperial granaries.

Tiridates, Bey of Ankara, was nervously welcoming: his merchants were however happy to sell grain to Cambyses’ quartermasters at only a very slight profit.

Cambyses and his van reached Alansberg on the 19th; the last of his other divisions has just arrived except for the wagons and elephantry which have just reached Ankara.

In what must may be regarded as a spontaneous episode of combustion 20 … don’t be daft, it was far more than that: the whole lager went up … of Cambyses’ wagons caught fire when camped outside Ankara last night. It has to be admitted that being in a friendly country, precautions were lax: however there is no suggestion … but what about that strange smell?

Sahure and Kyriaces and their forces arrived in Alep without incident; the journey over the mountains to the coast went slightly slower but they are now all in Tyre where loading of the wagons and heavy equipment aboard hired shipping is under way.

Many of the infantry are to continue down the coast road with the horses. A couple of officers have gone ahead to inform Ptelnet of their progress.

Friederich asked Loki to swear fealty again: Loki replied that he had not previously offered fealty to Friederich because his liege lord is Bifrost of Bragin: were he to swear fealty to anyone else he would of course expect to lose his posts and positions in Pripyat: he offered Friederich his friendship and support and the matter currently stands thus.

Loki with a small personal guard accompanied Friederich.

Friederich and his forces crossed the Dvina at Ulla and then moved down its right bank. A cavalry screen pushed well ahead. At Viski Friederich linked up with Johan and his subdued levies on the 16th.

The cavalry had reported that the rebels were in Riga, perhaps 3-4,000 under Dredd and Foed., so on down the valley to Riga where Friederich’s main force arrived on the 23rd. Stragglers tended to disappear: perhaps the watching Sarmatians are not as cautious and are more numerous than at first thought.

Riga is protected by a timber and earth stockade but about ½ of its perimeter faces either river or sea. A siege being inappropriate because of Riga’s harbour and the lateness of the season, Friederich ordered his men to build scaling ladders and to cut a couple of battering rams. By the evening of the 25th they were ready.

Hrunting and his fleet camped at the mouth of the Rusne late on the afternoon of the 3rd to wait for Blovin and Smaragda who joined them later that same evening. Scouts rode to Polessk, Taurage, and Birzai but found little of note except 5 recently burned longships at Taurage, probably Sten’s.

On the 5th the Estonians set off up the coast, with a few scouts keeping pace with them on land. With the prevailing wind against them the knarrs made only slow progress and it was late on the 15th before they reached Durbe.

On the 24th they camped in the shallow bay on the mainland opposite the southern tip of Valjala Island. It was here that the news of the situation at Riga reached them.

After sometimes heated discussions well into the night it was dicided that volunteer skeleton crews would take the captured longships to Riga where they would take off any who wanted to leave: the ships were not to be risked.

They were not going to reach Riga until latish on the afternoon of the 26th.


At first light on the 26th Johan’s Ostragoth infantry moved to launch the attack.

The palisade was defended not only Dredd and Foed and their rebels, but also by the able-bodied men of Riga … and indeed by many less able-bodied and by not a few women: perhaps 6,000 to defend an accessible frontage of about 1,200 yards.

The first attack was repulsed, as were the second and third, with increasingly heavy losses as the Ostragoths became increasingly enraged and incresaingly foolhardy. But by late morning the southeast gate had been smashed by a battering ram and even though barricades had been erected they were eventually over-run.

By this time the 25 approaching longships were clearly visible: what was not obvious was that they were almost devoid of crew, not packed with another 3-4,000 fighting men, though it would have made little difference if they had been.

When the longships reached the wharves almost all the town was held by the Ostragoths and less than 1,000 fighting men and a few hundred women and children escaped. The longships returned to Hrunting and the fleet.
Over the next three days Riga was looted and its inhabitants slaughtered: neither Friederich nor Johan were able to prevent the Ostragoths killing almost everyone who had not fled.

The Ostragoth losses in the three assaults and then in the vicious fighting in the town were possibly as high as 9,000.

Order was finally restored on the 29th and Friederich and his forces left early on the 30th, still watched and harassed by Sarmatians.

Bjarni has been taken to task by a number of his advisers, but most worryingly by his wife, Uliv Tyrsdottir, who seems to have discovered that he has a second wife and a baby in Latvia.

Tyr, the elected leader of the Waste Coast migrants, and an unusually skilled fighter, is perhaps not someone to offend lightly.


Ghengis and his 15,000 or so men continued westwards at a brisk pace with Seg’s 40-50,000 snapping at their heels.

The Siberians realised that hordes of Seg’s light cavalry, perhaps 10,000 or more, were passing their left flank and the Siberians veered increasingly northwards, homewards. If Ghengis had thought to go to the Site of the Holy Tree of Hunland, he was thwarted.

Meanwhile Tenapin left Mekha and rode up the left bank of the Don with his 15-20,000 cavalry.

The Siberians headed for Moskva, intending to cross the Don above Moskva where it is much more easily fordable.

As they crossed they were attacked by Tenapin and his light cavalry, and then their rear was assailed, first by Seg’s light cavalry but then by his armoured cavalry. The 2,000 Urohuns and Lagodans in Ghengis’ forces were quick to surrender.

Many Siberians surrendered, most fought and many died, some fled but were hunted down, a few fled and got away.

Ghengis’ dead are thought to be about 5,000: Ghengis is amongst them. The prisoners number approximately 500 Urohuns, 1,500-2,000 Lagodans, 4,000 Siberian levy, and 4,500 Siberian army veterans.

Seg lost rather more than 500 men, mostly light cavalry, and Tenapin lost about 1,000 of his light cavalry.

The Byelohuns have been celebrating rather noisily near Moskva and indeed many of their prisoners have been permitted a celebratory drink.

Xanadu Tuuf and Atle continued to loot Eastern Central Siberia. Galgyn, Gwalchai, and their followers headed home much relieved, though some of their more thoughtful sages worried as to the future and even opined that they should have helped Ghengis, despite everything, in order to avoid being ruled by Seg. “Could be worse though.”


The Galatians captured by Nyforer, having laboured satisfactorily, were given their freedom, plus food and drink for the journey, and have now returned to Galatia.

We hear that Suren has ordered a further tightening of personal security … not sure why but I don’t blame him.

Nyforer’s scouts watch to the west for Galatians and to the south for Iranians.

Nyforer has expressed admiration for Darius’ brave return, in marked contrast to that of his father Daraxes.