[en] The Tavern at the Inn

[NaVatar]

Doctors Notes 7th June

Diagnostic
The king's condition is critical.
I have done everything I can for him to ease the pain. He has lost a lot of blood and his condition is critical.

He has a mortal wound in his right side and left shoulder caused by two arrows, shoot from behind. His breathing is weak and haven't shown any change since he came to the infirmary.
He's uncouncious and has started to rabble silent on things i cannot understand.
Right now I must wait and see and hope for the best.
End of the Diagnostic

Rewiew on events the last days

I was there in the throne room, tied up cause of my loyalness to my king and was the next one to be punished but like the god Pie answered my prayer King NaVatar was standing there in the doorway with anger,passion and revenge in his eyes and weapons in hand and stormed the traitors.
He looked like he had lived in a cell for many days but he still had strenght to slay those who stood in his way. When he reached to the petrified and terrified man who sat on NaVatar's throne NaVatar rose his sword up the air and looked into the traitors eyes with unlimited anger the traitor fell down on his kness and begged for his life to be spared but I knew that NaVatar wasn't going to spare the man who betrayed him, took his kingdom, tortured him, threw him in his own dungeon but the worst crime he did (if I know Navatar right) was that the betrayer layed hands on Navatar's wife and the unborn baby (when he wakes up, if he wakes up, I must tell him the news about the baby) When the rightfull king was just about to slay the rotten snake two archers stood behind the king and fired the shots. Both shots hit the king, which fell down on his knees.
The betrayer laughed hysterically and ordered the archers to fire the killing shots. But the archers were both laying on the floor,killed by some cloaked man wich dissapered as fast as he appered. I didn't know who that man was but he saved the kings life.
The king stood up again and finally put the sword in the betrayers belly and freed the kingdom of Mercia of tyranny.
But the cost was great. The king is near death and I don't know what will happen to him in the matter of days. Only time can tell.

[Richard]

Some beer for all plz, :cheers: I think the bards need some fuel...

[Prince Eric of the Lorah Clan]

Beer for all is served! It's on Richard!:cheers:

[Angryminer]

Ah, that's very nice. Thanks for the beer... I currently don't have at home here... So thanks for the beer and cheers! :cheers:

Let's do something with the new fuel:

Angryminer's Tale
Chapter 21

The worst thing I had expected actually took place. Lord Xuca and Lord Nike are both dead! The prisoner told us the story of them. My prayers are with them, may god of mercy with them.
Now the fate of the conquest and the duty of revenge lies solely in our hands.

The Traveller, as we used to call the prisoner, said that he wasn't a noble but served Lord Nike. He offered us to gain the support of the Bulgarian nobility and provide us with reinforcements. I spend one night thinking about that and I have come to the conclusion that I will travel with him. I believe that I can serve our quest best when I follow him instead of waiting at the camp. The last time we spoiled time in africa all we got from it was that our attack on Constantinople turned into a desaster and our companions here are dead. I will not allow anything like that again. We must take action fast and we must be successful. That's why I will follow the Traveller and support him. After finishing this log entry I will tell the others about my decision.

In deepest sorry for our lost companions, Lord Xuca and Lord Nike,
Angryminer

[Traveller]

Hey, what's going on? Why's nobody writing? Kuno, Sakim, Dobber, atleast you write something, so that I know how to travel North! Or maybe they're too drunk to write... Drunkards!

A beer for everyone, except for the bards! They'll get their beer (on me) after they continue the story! :cheers:

[Angryminer]

*drinks his beer because he already posted something* Ahhh, the reward of my labour! :cheers:
I guess the other bards won't disagree to us travelling to the bulgarian king, so let's go!

Angryminer

[Traveller]

Well, some of them might also wish to join, who knows?! That's why I'm waiting for them to write something, so that we may depart.

:cheers:

[Kuno of Gersenau]

Kuno's log - x. of June (Sorry I'm not sure about the date)

Angryminer told us today that he will travel with the traveller to the Bulgarian king. (what a sentence :rolleyes:) I wished them all the best and hope that they will get back soon. I for myself will stay here and look that we get a solid and strong fort.
Afterwards I've in mind to look if I could spy out Constantinople or at least the walls. But we will see....
I also ask me if it even wouldn't be better to march to a Bulgarian town with our men, because here we could have problems with getting food and we have to be prepeard all the time against a Byzantine attack!
I will propose this to the others, best would be when I go now to Angryminers tent, hope he didn't leave yet!

[Angryminer]

Angryminer's Tale
Chapter 22

This evening I had a discussion with Kuno. He brought to me his best wishes for my quest to get reinforcements from the Bulgarians and talked to me about our strategic situation. He wanted to move the army near a bulgarian town. I oposed that the ships are still at the coast and when the army marches into the bulgarian lands the ships should be sold, as they are currently not in a defendable state with so few crews on them.
I also expressed my fear that the byzantine might attack soon. The propably didn't follow us in the harbour of Constantinople because they didn't have the troops available but by now they should have been able to get the troops and the information that we are not normans but forces from the mercian knights.
A seaborn army would be able to reach our position any time now. It would be vital to crush the byzantines before they can get hold of some of the beach if they attack. When Kuno oposed that a seaborn attack of the byzantine would surely destroy all ships in sight of our troops which would surely pose a great loss of morale among our troops, I agreed that the ships should be sold. They are neither of direct need nor of any strategic advantage in their current state.
But I'm still of the opinion that our forces would be able to crush a seaborn byzantine attack if our positions are used wisely. We have a fortified camp near the sea and the propably more numerous byzantines won't be able to use their full strenght at one time while dismounting the ships.
On the open field a byzantine attack would be by far more dangerous, if not fatal.
I have the strong feeling that a byzantine attack is inbound, but I am sure that our forces will prevail.
I offered Kuno to stay near the sea where only a seaborn attack is to be expected now. If we recieve bulgarian reinforcements we should move into bulgaria because then we will be able to defeat the byzantines on the open field.
Also, within a week byzantine armies could be in range so that the position at the sea-side is no more of any advantage.

I already packed my bags and tomorrow morning I will leave the camp together with the Traveller.

Angryminer

[Prince Eric of the Lorah Clan]

A beer for everyone, except for the bards! They'll get their beer (on me) after they continue the story! :cheers:

The beer is here!:cheers:

[Dobber]

I will have something before the day is done guys! Maybe Sakim will show his intentions "b e t w i x t" now and then and I might know better what to write.

I had to come back and edit, it censored 3 letters of my word. I guess I could have just come back and changed it to "between" but, I guess I wanted to show how ridiculous the censorship tool is getting.

[Angryminer]

@Dobber: Joe Co*ker is also a victim of censorship...

Angryminer

[Dobber]

@Dobber: Joe Co*ker is also a victim of censorship...

Angryminer

Yeah, I found that out some time back while listing a Joe C o c k e r song to the music thread.

[Traveller]

Ok, Dobber and Sakim, you could just write here, outside the story if you want, whether you stay with Kuno or come with me. But I think that atleast one should stay to help Kuno. And when you write something, you'll have your beer! :cheers:

[Dobber]

June 10 - Dobbers Log

So much to do, which way to turn. Everybody has different ideas about what should be done. Damn there has to be one commander in charge, one man making the decisions, four men can not command a force in harmony. To many differences of opinions. Angryminer has sensed this also and has decided to follow the Traveller in search of support from the people we are here to support. Where the **** are the overland forces that were to march to the aid of Sir Nike. It seems the Byzantines and Normans are playing a pretty good game of divide and conquer right now. And right at this moment, I am not feeling like much of a commander. What did I do? I led my men into a ******* trap, that's what I did! It is a wonder any of us are alive. And by all rights, I should be fish food now.
I have decided to trail along with Angryminer and the Traveller, I need a fresh view of things and would likre to here more about the demise of Sir Nike. I talked with Sakim and he seemed to be leaning toward gathering his men and scouting the surrounding countryside to get the lay of the land. I wouldn't blame him if he put his men aboard ship and sailed back home. But I hope that he would hang around nearby as extra manpower might be needed in case Kuno's forces were attacked. I need to get some rest before time for us to leave. I hope the damn revellers shut their yaps so I can sleep a bit.



*Out of story message* *I said I would write something before the day was out, 24 hours have not passed yet, so it is done.*

[Xuca]

Adventures of Xuca

I don't know what day it is, nor where am I.
When I met the King of Hungary, he already caught some spies and didn't belive me. He threw me in the dungeons, taking all my belongings. There was three more men, probably the spies. One said: "Hallo, join the party! We are haveing lots of fun here, tomorrow we'll be executed! I wonder why did I agreed to this..." I tought that was it, but then I had an idea. I was in pretty bad shape when I came here, so maybe if I play dead, they would throw me somewhere. I told that to the others, and they didn't think that's a good plan, but agreed. They started calling the guard and told him that I died. Guard called some other people to check what to do with me. One said: "He's not dead, he's just pretending!"
"So what should we do to check him?"
"Bring a poisonous snake! He'll get scared and move!"
So they found a snake and put in on my chest. I was calm, because I know snakes won't do anything to you if you don't move. But the guards were not convinced yet. The leader said: "Light a fire on his chest! He won't be able to stand that if he's alive!" Than I got frighten! I would sure give myself up! They brought some firewood and lighted a fire. I don't know how I managed to stand that. I think I fainted away. Next thing I remember I heard the guard saying: "Stick nails under his nails! If he stays still, he's dead for sure!"
It was great pain, but somehow I stayed still. Then the guard said: "It looks like he's dead. Throw him in the moat!"
Then they went on the highest tower and threw me from there. I survived the fall and swam out of the moat and crolled into the forest. There I pulled out the nails with my theet and fainted again. Now I'm lieing in some hut and writing this down. My wounds seem to be almost healed, so I must have been leing here for a long time. I will have some day my revenge, but I must now find the man who helped me and thank him and then ride back to Serbia to see what can be done...


Bartender! A beer, please. I think I earned it after this torture! And a beer for everyone else, on me! I took some parts from epos "Mali Radojica" where he (Radojica) gets tortured by Becir-aga.

[Traveller]

Ah, now this is much more like it! Good job, guys! :cheers:

Edit:

Traveller's Log - June 10th
The long road begins with a small step

Yesterday the Mercian commanders debated about my travel and decided that the Angry Miner, Sire Dobber and about 5 more horsemen would come with me as an escort. Sir Kuno and the Arabian guy would stay protect the camp, as there is a possibilty that the Romans could attack them. So, now we're riding as fast as we can to Ohrid, our capital, with just a few short stops from time to time. By the way, I had forgotten that our troops had already taken most of Greece and was still riding with my Greek noble's light armour. Good thing I remembered that, before we met the first garrison of Bulgarian soldiers and removed it, otherwise we might have been taken as Romeans and captured. To the troops I met, I told that the reinforcements from our allies in distant Mercia have arrived at the shores of Constantinopol and they should be ready to march in their help. I also asked them to send this message to all the nearby troops, because on our way back they would probably join forces with us. The men weren't very excited about sieging the Great City without the necessary preparations, but the news of the distant (and to some - exotic) allies would fire their hearts for awhile. We continued our way, but it gradually got too dark to ride, so we stopped and lighted a fire, under which's light I'm writing this. We're somewhere in the south-eastern Greek part of Macedonia. If we get up tomorrow as soon as it gets a little more light and we continue with this speed, we should reach our destination till noon. Wow, I'm travelling so much these last few days that now I know why friends call me "Traveller"!


Traveller's Log - June 11th
The Royal Court

With a fast and steady rate, we came to Ohrid, as I guessed, around noon. Good thing it's a "land as a human's hand" and our roads are being well cared for! We immediately went to the king's palace, but the guards said the king has an important meeting with his advisors and would meet us in a few hours. So, here we are, waiting for the king and wasting valuable time! Atleast I had enough time to gather some information. Till now, only around 40 000 men have gathered, fully equiped and ready to fight. Another 15 000 are prepared, although not so well armoured. On our way back we could also gather not more than 10 000 men, both equiped or not, experienced soldiers or new recruits. That makes a maximum of 65 000 men to help our allies. No ships, no siege weapons. With such a force, I think it would be most wise not to siege Constantinopol until all the preparations are ready. It would be better to make a strong, fortified camp somewhere around it. Thus we'll also keep an eye on the enemy and his movement. This would be my advice when we meet the king. But maybe the Mercians could have something else in mind...


Welcome back, TKS! :cheers:
Dobber, Angry, I leave you to lead the meeting! :cheers:

[the knightly sword]

tks come back:the traveling to bulgaria

june 10 tks log

after defeating the normens once again with there allies ive now decided to join the fellowship of heros who once saved mercia from the grasp of normens. ive got ceaseless news of battles and bloodspilling in the bulgarian lands, so ive set off with a horde of brutefull warriors to help my friends in battle.ive bought a ship to sail over to baltic sea to reach poland , from poland we will march to bulgaria


june 11 tks log

ive now reached polands coast after a hard storms . winds are blowing hard , clouds are dark. like if the sky cryed out its pain. this might be a sign of the gods .they dont favor me these days. i will need to forget the storms and see what future awaits me but for now i need buy some maps from the local village dealers

[Angryminer]

Angryminer's Tale
Chapter 23

Sire Dobber wanted to follow me and the Traveller on your journey. His presence will propably easen the discussion with the king.
But it seems he isn't in a too good state of mind. To be frank, he looks depressed and exhausted. While travelling I decided that I will take the full command of the troops once we are back and talked to him while riding. Sire Dobber will propably be happy to find the forces' command in one man's person and my close connections to the soldiers are only of advantage, as I recruited and trained many of them.
The Traveller has lead us right to the bulgarian King. He seems to be trustworthy and very well motivated to help us in our quest against the byzantine.
We had few problems to get a meeting with the King, Sire Dobber's presence as a nobleman opened us the doors.
We had few intentions to loose time and spoke about our plans very soon. The bulgarian king said we were fools to plan an offensive war against the byzantine, he said he was lucky that the bulgarian crown was still existant. We convinced him that only courage could win this war. We proved to him that our forces were strong and that we would be successful with the bulgarian's help.
I still think that we promised too much, but we are in dire need of the bulgarian reinforcements and our quest would end here if we recieve no help...
At last the bulgarian king sighed and said to us
"The fight against the byzantine has weakened the kingdom of Bulgaria and emptied our treasury. The people are exhausted and I sometimes pray to the Lord that he may send us a miracle so we could bring peace to Bulgaria because I don't believe I can end this war myself.
Perhaps..." He pauses a while and I felt that this man was weary of the war by looking at his face. "Perhaps you are this miracle. Perhaps god has lead you here so you can recieve reinforcements and end the bloodshed." Again he paused. He was still thinking wether he should take this decision or not. A wrong decision would lead the bulgarian kingdom into doom, either way.
Then he commenced with a more convinced voice: "I will hand 15000 men and equipment to your command and 20000 soldiers under the command of a bulgarian knight. The soldiers under your command will be able to leave within two days, the bulgarian troops will follow later when I have chosen the knight who will lead them. I will command to raise more standing troops as the bulgarian crown can affort but I can't promise much.
I pray to god that this was the right decision."
We thanked the bulgarian king for this decision as much as we could but he soon sent us away, propably to think about his decision. We were offered to stay in the castle until we leave with the troops by the king's advisor. We were also able to send bulgarian messangers to Kuno and Sakim to tell them that they should break the camp and meet us. They will propably recieve the note in one or two days, so our meeting point should be about the half of the way.
At last hope is strong again.

Perhaps the bulgarian King was right and it was our fate to come here. The attack on byzantia would have proved fatal to us all when neither Lord Nike nor Lord Xuca are attacking byzantia. We must thank the Lord that we were not successfull in the attack on Constantinople. Even if it was on the cost of many of our soldiers on Sire Dobber's ship, a defeat in Constantinople would have killed many more people.

Angryminer

[Dobber]

June 11 - Dobber's Log

I am very troubled by the atmosphere of the meeting with the Bulgarian King! It seems as though his saddened heart still hung heavy with grief from Sir Nike's asassination. (We learned from the Traveller that Sir Nike had been murdered and that later Lord Xuca who had brought his forces alongside Sir Nike's in support had suffered the same fate.) I am glad Angryminer is going to take sole command of the forces when we return, for it seems commanders have a low life expectancy in these parts. I do not fear my opponent on the battlefield, but these people who attack from hiding, these cowards, and I call them cowards for they will not face a man and give him a chance to fight back, them I do fear. The atmosphere of the meeting was one of despair, it was as if the King felt there was no reason to continue the struggle. It brought pause, I wonder if Sir Nike was the heir to his throne? That would certainly bring one to despair. If the committed forces do not arrive soon this man will be so depressed people will begin to question his leadership.
I have always worked best when in motion, it is the waiting that unnerves me and gets me in the state I was in back at the camp. I shall ride northwest and look for the other forces and see if we can get them moving with some urgency in their step.
I leave a note for Commander Angryminer, I do not wish to wake him and besides he would try to cumber me with a protective escort. What I am undertaking needs no one else along for me to worry about, besides they will need every man they can muster to bolster Sir Kuno's forces. I also leave a letter of recommendation that he take sole command of the army with Kuno as his Captain. And I leave a letter to Sakim that he pledge his loyalty to Commander Angryminer the same as if it was me in command. And with this done I slip into the darkness, outfit my mount and ride with the wind into the night.