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| Journey through Transylvania | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 2 2008, 07:58 PM (370 Views) | |
| Tristan da Cunha | Feb 2 2008, 07:58 PM Post #1 |
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Science and Industry
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After a month of travel, the Magyars reached a native town, commanding a crossing at the Mures River. The Magyars were knights and their squires and families, about 600 in all, making their way east through the forests and grasslands of Transylvania. They had already endured two barbarian raids in their travels, but rather than becoming disheartened, their spirits were raised; both attacks were repulsed with minimal loss of friendly life, and in the second instance, the Magyars chased the barbarians back to their encampment, massacring them to their last woman and child, and plundering all their food and supplies. The barbarians weren't Christian, but this native town had a church steeple. "This place is called Deva Crossing," replied a passing wagoner when the Magyars inquired. "Who is the lord here?" "Radu, son of blessed John. You outlanders would do well to sheath your swords, because Lord Radu is a Comitus of the Emperor himself." "We will have Lord Radu know that our steel is the faithful friend of all Christians and dire enemy of the heathens." The wagoner nodded and went on his way. The Magyars paid the toll to use the bridge at Devas Crossing, and started on the road to Sanpetru Hill. |
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| Rhadamanthus | Feb 2 2008, 08:17 PM Post #2 |
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Legitimist
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Sir Valentin was a westerner, a Dalmatian, who had spent time in Germany and had been knighted in the western style before leaving to seek his fortune in the East. Currently, he led a party of outriders from the Sânpetru Hill. Word had reached the Voivide from Deva that a several hundred Magyars had passed through the Crossing, paying the toll, and announcing that they were friends to all Christians. Radu the Grim had felt it proper that these strangers be given Christian hospitality. Sir Valentin's outriders approached the Magyars two days north of Sânpetru Hill. In the distance, the imposing face of the Eagle's Roost was visible to the Magyars, grim as Voivode Radu himself. Sir Valentin rode out ahead of his men and called out to the Magyars' leader. "Hail fellow and well met!" he greeted them, "who travels in Count Radu's lands?" |
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| Tristan da Cunha | Feb 2 2008, 08:42 PM Post #3 |
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Science and Industry
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One of the Magyar knights rode out ahead from the rest. He removed his leather cap in acknowledgement and replied to the knight. "Fellow, we have Magyars and Germans, all faithful servants of the King of Hungary. I am Sir Miklos, the chief of this band. We are passing through Lord Radu's land on our way to the frontier with the barbarians, where we wish to settle ourselves and our families, so that through us the King of Hungary can civilize the distant lands. "Since we are before his home, I would like to speak to Lord Radu. I believe our aims are not so different from his, as we are both Christian soldiers." |
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| Rhadamanthus | Feb 2 2008, 08:53 PM Post #4 |
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Legitimist
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Sir Valentin nodded. "Sir Miklos," he said, "have your people follow me. My outriders will escort you to my lord's seat on the Sânpetru Hill. It is two days ride from here. Lord Radu has prepared a place for you to set up camp, and is arranging for more comfortable lodging for your women and children, and perhaps some of the men as well. The castle does not yet have fit housing, or we would be able to put a roof over all of your heads." After the two men had finished talking, Valentin's riders led the column southward, while a portion of his men fell back to the end of the march in order to warn against potential bandit attacks in the hills. When they finally approached the walls of the Sânpetru Hill town, the Voivode rode out to greet them. |
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| Tristan da Cunha | Feb 2 2008, 09:14 PM Post #5 |
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Science and Industry
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Sir Miklos handed the Voivode a letter, to which were affixed the wax seals of the King of Hungary and the Holy Roman Emperor. The Voivode read the letter, which recommended "to sundry Christian princes" these errant knights as "honorable and unimpeachable." Sir Miklos explained. "The archives in Milan indicate that in ancient times Emperor Trajan founded a town called Caedonia, about 50 miles east of here (OOC: approx. modern-day town of Sibiu). Caedonia fell into ruin during the incursions by the Goths, and remains desolate to this day. Nonetheless, it seems to be an effective location for an outpost, and that is where we errant knights wish to settle permanently and make our lives. "We have only 650 men, women, and children with us, which will not sustain a settlement in the wilderness. That is why I am interested in purchasing up to 5,000 serfs from you." The Magyar motioned to his squires, who scrambled to unload several great wooden chests, filled with gold. "These are alloys of gold and silver. If you are willing to part with some serfs, we can wait for your metallurgists to determine what the precious currency is precisely worth, and then we will make the purchase." |
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| Rhadamanthus | Feb 2 2008, 09:54 PM Post #6 |
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Legitimist
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Radu looked over the letter carefully while listening to Sir Miklos speak. "All honor," he pronounced, "to the King of Hungary and the Emperor of the West. Your missions is an honorable one, for the good of Christendom. I will offer you any assistance I may be able to provide." Pausing for a moment before continuing, the then said, "And my villages have been growing well these last years. I shall be able to provide you the serfs you desire. But the metallurgists can weigh out the metals on the morrow. I have prepared to host your people, and you and the best of those who travel with you shall dine with me tonight." |
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| Tristan da Cunha | Feb 4 2008, 11:51 AM Post #7 |
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Science and Industry
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"The honor is ours as guests. Lead the way, friend," said Sir Miklos. Through the conversation, Radu noted that Sir Miklos had a strange lisp in his speech, as if he had a speech impediment. The Voivode guessed that the Magyar had either an oversized tongue, or a harelip concealed under his moustache. |
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| Rhadamanthus | Feb 4 2008, 08:27 PM Post #8 |
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Legitimist
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That night, Radu prepared a fine dinner for his guests, though what constituted fine in the Sanpetru valley was not what would be considered fine in Constantinople or Milan, or even in Aachen. But Radu's Greek wife was already adding a touch of culture to the region, and Radu was eager to show his erudition to his guests. He secretly wondered whether the Westerners thought of him as a true lord, like those of Germany or Hungary, or whether he seemed merely an overreached shepherd chief. The knights and fighting men were camped at the base of the Hill. Housing had been cleared for the women and children, and men with wives were allowed to stay with their families where there was space. The townsfolk followed their Lord's will in making space for the wandering Magyars. |
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| Tristan da Cunha | Feb 5 2008, 11:49 PM Post #9 |
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Science and Industry
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Sir Miklos dined with Count Radu at the place of honor, joining them a few Magyar knights handpicked by Miklos for their presentability, a German friar, a Magyar priest, and the courtiers of Sanpetru. After dinner, wine and fruits were brought out, and for the entertainment, a bard recited meters from Virgil; the Voivode and his wife were listening intently, so Sir Miklos pretended to listen as to not betray his lack of culture, even though he did not know Latin. The clergymen in his party, however, knew Latin perfectly and therefore nodded and reacted to the bard's performance at all the right places. Miklos wondered in his mind if Radu was also, like himself, feigning comprehension of the sacred languages. After all, the master of the house looked like a rough man, certainly rougher than any Saxon or Frankish lord. At the same time, the Voivode's wife, whom Miklos learned came here from the Great City, was incomparably more refined in her bearing than any Western lady Miklos ever saw. At one point, Miklos inquired of Radu, "What can you tell me of the barbarians who live beyond the Christian frontier? I have studied the geography of this place, and learned that the barbarians are called Pechenegs. On our journey through the province, we were ambushed by some wild men, which we assumed were a Pecheneg raiding party. What are their habits in their natural state? Do they eat the flesh of humans? What precautions should Christians take against them, and how do you yourself defend your fief against them?" |
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| Rhadamanthus | Feb 8 2008, 04:47 PM Post #10 |
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Legitimist
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Radu nodded solemnly at the mention of the Pechenegs. "They are dangerous for certain. I travelled through their lands not long ago when I rode east and south toward Graecia. They are heathens and barbarians, the Pechenegs, but thankfully I have not heard of their eating human flesh. They seem to have gained some of the attributes of civilization by allying themselves at various times with the Romans, the Bulgars, and the Rus', but in truth they are still mostly savage and thus cannot be friends in the long term with any power. "For protection I have gained the aid of the Emperor in Constantinople, whose campaigns against the Bulgars I have joined. You have seen that my lands are mountainous. We use the mountain passes as natural defenses against the Pechenegs, but to the east they rule over my Roman (i.e. Vlach/Romanian) brethren. "This land is hard one. You must learn it before you can tame it. As your mission is a holy one, I will offer you my aid in civilizing the east." |
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11:49 AM Jul 13