The Drums of War

[Adris]

There was a bar in Stalingrad, little do they know the epicenter that they were going to become. A man rode in on his horse, normal looking enough, and tied it to the post outside. He strapped what looked like a spear to his steed and walked into the establisment. After giving a polite bow to some of the patrons he sat on the stool.

"My friends, this is day is the start of something great! The next round is on me, drink as though this is the last day of your life!"

Just as he promised he placed a heavy sack of gold coins on the counter, enough to not just pay for one round, but for this bar it was enough to pay for a nights worth of celebration. He was an older man, but there was no difference between him and the other husky gentlemen warming thier spirits in vodka. The trait that did stand out though is that he possessed only one eye, the other he left only slightly covered with a tied cloth.

[Tuyet]

Mikhail looks up from his drink in surprise when he hears the announcement, and his eyebrows nearly reach his hairline when he sees the sack of coins. Though not the sort to turn down a free drink, the arms merchant's is wary of anyone who can drop that kind of cash at a moments notice.

"'Something great'? What are you referring to?" he asks suspiciously, though not quite sharply enough to sound challenging.

[Adris]

The old man smiles, although his eye does look sad, as though he regrets what he dosn't know. It is best for the mortals to be in ignorance. They don't need to know that thier world will soon collapse around them.

"The Immortals smile on mother Russia. I can feel it, and that is why I share my happiness with you. You get to choose the drink sir, they are not poisoned."

He himself orders a pint of the best ale the barkeep can offer. He will have one before he tends to his work. He is here to give them one last night of happiness before the Viking warriors burn the city to the ground.

[Tuyet]

The young man notices the hint of sorrow, but doesn't mention it. Instead he says with a slight smile, "May mother Russia, and the Immortals continue to smile for each other! In that case, drink and let tomarrow come what may." He raises a glass of cheap vodka and says more loudly while facing westward, "Come!"

Then he downs the shot in as few sips as possible, though the alcohol is strong enough to nearly bring tears to his eyes. It seems Mikhail was already rather drunk when the old man came in.

[Adris]

The old man smiles to this and raises his glass to the toast. He began to drink silently until he was done with the entire cup, and politely passed it back to the bartender. He leaves the sack of gold coins for the patrons of the bar at that.

"Enjoy your night on a stranger. I wish you and mother Russia good tidings for this and the future. Farewell."

With a sigh he walked out of the bar, and patted his horse a couple time, whispering that he just needed a couple more minutes. He undid the spear and walked into the center of the street, holding it parallel to the earth below. Looking up to the sky the man started saying a prayer in the tongue of the Norse.

[Tuyet]

Mikhail watches the old man leave, then turns his eyes toward the sack of gold coins for a moment before ordering another drink. He had a feeling all is not well, but cannot quite place why he feels that way or what could possibly be the matter.

"A man from nowhere with one eye, and a sack of gold which he seems to want us all to spend on drinks. Then he vanishes like he was never even here. There probably won't be any evidence tomarrow, if this even could be proven as something other than a product of this drink-addled mind. No one is that generous without a reason."

[Adris]

He finishes his prayer, and takes a couple moments of silent revelrie. He hopes that those in the bar are enjoying themselves, it could very well be thier last night. He decides he has thought enought though. With a grunt he lifts the lance above his head and jabs it into the ground. For a couple miles around the epicenter the crash could be heard like thunder as the blade met the ground. The job was done, Gungnir was activated. Now all that is left is to leave while his followers answer its mighty call. Odin hops on top of his steed and rides off to Bifrost to join the Gods in Asgard.

[Adris]

Days go by after the strange event. The weapon still planted in the road. There have been several attempts to remove it, but all that has done was tear up the path that it was planted within. The city planners eventually give up, waiting until they can get a machine and money to move the earth itself around the weapon. Little do the people of Russia know what sits just outside. Britt stands on a knoll, sword in hand, looking at the city she will soon be charging to tear apart.

"It is the first time my father has trusted me with this big an assignment before. Although... all I have to do really is tell the men to charge."

She knew that she was leading the armies, but her father's pincer attack was the crux of the battle. It seemed like only yesterday that they were pulled to this place for some inexplicable reason. Even she could see this town in her dreams, burning to ashes as they fought with a bloodlust she hasn't seen since the expansions.

[Tuyet]

Mikhail, unknowing of the Norse camp, inspects the weapon planted into the ground, and compares it to the lance he'd brought with him from his stock of similar weapons. Similar in that both are lances; but the one planted into the ground was certainly of much more skilled make than he had seen before, and certainly a great deal older.
__

At the edge of the city closest to the Norse, a man is reading as he occasionally looks over toward the door. He's expecting company, but certainly not the same kind of company that was coming to Stalingrad.
__

Kaja tugs on her gloves, and adjusts her armor as she waits. Hearing Britt's comment, she replies, "Don't worry, you'll do fine. Your father wouldn't have entrusted you with this unless he had a great deal of faith in you. I'll be right here if you need me, and I'm sure everyone is going to be proud of you after this."

[Adris]

She looks over her shouldern and smiles to Kaja. They may not have been the same family, but within thier own personal tribes they seem to be fighting for the same thing. To that she always seemed to get along with the woman exceptionally well.

"I thank you for your support Kaja. The thing is that my father usually dosn't do things to confidence in me, he does them because he dosn't think I can do them. That means he is desperately looking for me to prove him wrong. Did you have the strange visions as well? The ones that pulled us here? I don't quite understand what was happening."

She balanced on her sword, the archer torches were being set up as she surveyed everything. The surprise attack should give them an upper hand, although she didn't know whether the enemy used swords like them, or else weren't harmed by the fallout of the last great war. Luckily scale mail was shown to be able to absorb a round from an armor piercing bullet though.

[Tuyet]

"You're welcome... Bah, isn't that the next best thing? If someone wants to be proven wrong by you, it's still a compliment considering how unpleasant that is..." Kaja shakes her head slightly then continues, "Yes, but I don't understand it either. Maybe it's some kind of fate."

[Adris]

The girl smiles while listening to her friend, although she hides the expression behind her helmet. After a moment of embarrassed blushing she turned and gave her friend an accepting and grateful nod.

"As always you are a great help to me. Perhaps one day our families will unite. If it is fate that brings us here then the Immortals smile on us, may Odin bless us in battle. Kaja, are you ready?"

She made a motion with her arm and one of the war drummers stepped up for her, awaiting anxiously the command to get started. She only now has time to hope and pray her father has went undetected thus far. A horde of Vikings is hard to keep inconspicous.

[Tuyet]

"Ready when you are," Kaja says, and balances her sword before looking toward the city. "Might be interesting to see what happens after the battle as well as during. Something like this just has to lead to some kind of side effect."

[Adris]

Britt nodded her head and then waved her hand for the drummer to begin the charge. A fierce look approached her eyes, one not often seen in someone so young. She pointed her sword towards the sleepy Stalingrad.

"My people, for lord Odin, charge!"

She waits until the first group of warriors pass and then begins her run herself. She isn't as able to keep up with the mounted soldiers but that is to be expected. War torches were being pushed to the front for the archers to begin lighting buildings on fire. This attack had to be swift like the strike of Thor's hammer.

[Tuyet]

"Gods! You damn fools! Don't fire so close to my storeroom; you'll light the gunpowder and blow your heads off as well as ours!" Mikhail adds at the nearest viking; by some chance, that viking is Britt, "You there! If you understand a word from me, I have something to say."
__

Meanwhile, Kaja and the vikings nearest her have almost completely finished off those in the street they were currently on. "You're the only one left. Tell me why I shouldn't finish this."

Aleksei swallows his pride, and replies, "There is little in this world that does not cost money."

"So?"

"I'm not a poor man, nor am I foolish enough to think I can take on an army alone. My money is yours, in exchange for my life."

"Fine. You'll live then." Kaja ponders this then knocks Aleksei out with the flat of her sword. "You are a fool... Forgetting to ask for your freedom."

She grabs some rope and binds his wrists.