Later, much later - when it was already way too late for this to matter at all - they would say that he came from Illyria, or perhaps even from Khemri. But when he first came, most people believed that he, just as he had claimed, was from the north. For, indeed, he came from the northern direction into the Kiyevgrad. The question still remained, though - from where exactly in the north did he come? Was he a Finn, or a Chud? Or even a Scythian? Or, like all other weird things and people that were sighted in the land, did this traveller arrive from Hyperborea?
It was hard to say, for he looked... not quite like a man of any tribe. He was clearly a hermit. An old (if one looked him in the eyes, he seemed a thousand years old if not more) thin short bony man, who nonetheless had all the teeth in his jaw - and this in a land and a time where few people had at least a half of theirs! His eyes were not just old - they were also filled with an odd strenght, and none could withstand his gaze. He wore a simple black robe, and mostly moved very slowly and painfully, but sometimes showed agility rarely matched by a man on his two feet, or even on a horse.
When he came to Kiyevgrad, Voevoda - for he still wore that title back then - Kiy was healthier and happier than ever. He gave daily feasts for his people (from znachar (healer) and znatnik (noble) to lowly smerd (semi-slave)), he assembled a large harem and was served the best food and drinks in Tripolye, and yet remained in shape, as when free from the courtly activities, Kiy hunted vigorously. He was still young, and so was his nation and his people. The new generation grew up on victories - it never had to face the bitterness of prolonged bloody struggle with the Scyth, and indeed the only Scythians that remained were crushed and enslaved by this new generation. Their homes were safe, and they themselves thirsted for more and more glory. Tripolye was on the march towards Greatness.
And his city, the City of Kiy - Kiyevgrad - was also young. It was not yet overpopulated and dirty, like the great Urrian cities it was modeled on; it stood proud and tall on the River Dnieper. The river harbour was the best in Tripolye. The ziggurats, built by invited Urrian architects, were even better than the original ones, even though they were hard to build in this land. The temples to Slavic and Urrian gods inspired rightful awe. The orderly grid of wide paved streets was somehow monotonous, but the statues and the trees that could be found here and there made even the poorer quarters look beautiful. And the gardens! Oh, the Great Gardens of Kiyevgrad!
Later, this city would turn into a dirty, overcrowded, noisy place and life there would become completely unbearable. But not yet.
It was a good life for Kiy, or so it seemed. But really, he was bored. In his heart, he wanted adventure, glory, victory... he wanted war. But his war-like sentiments had no expression or directon, not yet. For he knew not whom to fight with. Ur was an ally; Illyria was an ally; and the Scythian survivors who were so often mentioned in the bazar didn't seem to exist at all (and even if they existed, were too far away for Kiy's like). Perhaps his youth might have waned just like that, and he might have settled down for a peaceful life, and a peaceful reign.
But came the traveller from the north. He requested a private audience with Kiy, and said to be a disciple of a god, a god who for now required anonymity. He explained that his god has chosen Kiy for his purposes - Kiy was to become a demigod, and was to found an empire to span the world. Intrigued, Kiy tried to find out the god's name, but the traveller refused to do so. Instead, he explained that Kiy's destiny was calling for him, that he was to lead his endless hordes to victory. Yet before the War to Unite the World, the War to End All Wars, there was one thing Kiy needed to attain. He needed to become immortal.
The traveller played the right chords in Kiy's soul. Only one thing did Kiy fear - and it was old age. He wanted to live forever, and the traveller explained how.
"Desh, the ruler of Ur, has the secret of eternal youth. But he is not the only one - a few chosen of his priests know it as well. Desh grew arrogant as milleniums passed by, and he would not share with you. But his priests... perhaps one of them could, if he feels it neccessary."
"But it is neccessary! It is my divine duty, my destiny to become immortal!"
"His priests are too short-sighted to understand it... Perhaps the only way to gain it is by force."
"Do you mean kidnapping a priest?" - asked Kiy, incredulous.
"No." - said the traveller - "I mean attacking Ur, striking for their capital itself and making them give in."
"But... Desh is my friend! Surely if I ask him, he will give me the secret peacefully!"
"Try." - said the traveller, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
An ambassador was sent to Desh, as soon as Kiy recovered from the shock. Yet Desh, indeed, did not want to share the secret. Kiy could not understand it. Why... why would Desh be so greedy? Its not like he loses anything by giving him immortality!
"Or maybe, he does." - said someone from behind Kiy's back, as the Voevoda stood alone on the palace's balcony, studying the horizon.
"Hmm?" - asked Kiy, recognizing the traveller's voice.
"He is waiting for your death. The Urrians fear you - trust me, for I know their ways. They want to destroy your state by seeding discord amongst your sons and retainers after your death."
"What foolish..." - Kiy started, but suddenly, in a flash of understandment, he realized that the traveller was right.
Soon after, when Kiy and his closest generals and advisors engaged in a simple feast, just as the beer got into the men's heads, Kiy begun cursing Desh and his greediness. The Urrian advisors weren't there, preffering wine as they do (Kiy immediately declared that they were clearly spies all along, and are afraid of his righteous anger), so the men soon begun planning a campaign to conquer and destroy Ur.
On the next day, Kiy woke up with a hangover and a few disconnected memories. He remembered getting drunk, berrating Desh, crushing a table... and making an oath to never rest until Ur is in ruins. Ooops.
For now that he was sober, he realized how insane the plan was. Ur was strong, it had numerous and well-trained armies, and the mightiest walls in the world. They would be smashed like ants.
The traveller soon asked for another private audience. Aware of Kiy's oath, he persuaded him to prepare to strike. To consolidate his power at home for now, to adopt a new title more befitting of a demigod and to strenghthen his grasp over the country... and by the way, Tripolye was an anachronistic name. Many, many were the fields under Kiy's rule - not just three (Tripolye="Threefields"). His was a great state, a great Slavic empire. Welikoslavia ("Great Slavia").
And while he does all that and prepares the armies to invade Ur... Koshey, for that was the traveller's name, will visit the great lands of Ur. He told Kiy to wait for him for three months. By then, the news of the result of his efforts should come to Kiyevgrad.
To be continued.
