Russia
The image above pictures a Russian army march to the suburbs of Novogrod to quell rebellions
Josef looked around the corner, only his head peering out from the side of the stone house. His bow in hand, the well-built Russian with his brown leather armor around his torso and small iron shield leaned up against the stone looked for another victim. For three months the small village of Smezni had been under siege, the militant Novogrod separatists holding the village earnestly, intent on not giving up. The Moscow Army, famous for its general, Josef Yeslitzky, and its amazing work in the Baltic Wars, was called upon by King Ivan XX to quell the rebellions with force if necessary. The Moscow men were now in the most intense city in all of Russia, fighting within the streets the rebels who had just given up the siege and relied now on delivering heavy casualties to the Russians.
However, Josef would not have it. Looking to the right, Josef observed the rapid bursts of steam from his closest pal and lieutenants mouth, Alec Talin. His roughly shaven face was pale with fear, the shadows under his eyes seemed to consume his face. However, his eyes showed the fortitude of serving his King and country, and for upholding the status of the Moscow Army. Finally meeting Josefs stare, he nodded in readiness. Grabbing his own sword, he let out a frightening Now! and burst around the corner.
Standing up and facing the enemy, Josef let out arrow after arrow in covering fire for Alec as he ran, crouching his head, to where the enemies hide behind several stacks of yellow hay. Demonstrating his brilliant skill with the blade, Alec fought in close combat with only two of the seven rebels who were hidden before either ripping through the gut or slicing the neck for the head to roll off. Watching in awe as his companion laid waste to seven well-trained swordsmen, Josef failed to realize he was being watched from atop a thatched roof, just ten or so yards away. Stringing the arrow into the bow in a ready position, the assassin slowly aimed for the back of the neck. Only when a woman yelled from the opposite window that Josef was about to be struck did he turn to meet the arrow in midair and duck in time for it to shoot right by.
Upset and full of anger with himself for being so blind, he quickly and easily let loose three arrows that pierced the heart of the rebel, and watched him fall from the roof to the floor with an eerie thump.
***********
Sire, Josef fairs well in Novogrod, it is already reported that the rebels have been destroyed and that the province is again loyal to you, my liege. A squire informed Ivan. Sitting at his table, stuffing his face with anything from Volkish hog to the rare apples found only in the Moscow market, the King nodded his head when hearing the good news. He was obviously not attentive and had more urgent matters to asses to that lay upon the table in front of him.
After waiting nearly a half hour, watching his King eat endlessly from the table in front of him, the squire finally spoke, And my majesty, what would you have the Moscow Army do now?
Hmm? Ah, yes, the army. Have them explore
err
something. You know He replied, waving his hand to dismiss the inconvenience of managing the nation. Sighing silently to himself, the squire bowed and walked towards the end of the hall where he would exit the Royal Quarters. Emerging into the bitter cold of the Moscow winter evening, the squire pulled on his leather coat tighter to his body so to preserver as much heat as he could. Despite the chilling weather, the populace of Moscow was as busy as ever near sunset. The marketplace was the place to be at all times in Moscow, selling rare foods and commodities brought by the lucky merchants who happen to survive the trip to far away and foreign nations.
The squire, known as Felipe Satoriga, was the official squire for the king, and wore the Mark of the Crown upon his coat. He began to walk down into the streets, descending a pattern of nearly a hundred stone steps that led from the commoner streets below to the palace of the king. As he materialized with the common populace in the streets, people began to move out of his way when they saw the Mark, whispering to their friends and family they were with that Felipe was evil. Not much love was around the villages of Moscow for the new King, and frankly Felipe could not agree with them more. The King, they would argue, is a better commoner then a royal. All he does is sit at his throne, eating, sexing, or yelling to someone to bring him one of the latter. He has done nothing but make the nation worse.
However, there was promise, Felipe knew. Passing an artist stand, he caught glimpse of a painting of the young Prince of Petersburg. The painting captured the young Ivan in his innocent years as a toddler, playing in the snow. Picking up the picture, he studied the eyes and realized they were dead on. Slowly lowering the painting back to the stand, he brought his eyes to meet with the hopeful eyes of the painter.
Ah you like? Fifty rubels! he explained, waving his arms to incite enthusiasm. But Felipe had something else on mind.
You have met with the young prince, yes? he asked, eyeing the painter suspiciously.
Well, he began, but catching a quick glimpse of the Mark, he cleared his throat and looked to have completely gone lax. Well, good sir, I have only seen him in others paintings. No, I have never seen him in reality, sir. Never. He repeated, intent on implying that he did not know the child. Taking one last look, Felipe turned away and continued on his way to the stable.
Thinking back to the days of day care when he watched over the Kings son. Now the son was nearly seventeen, with a brain fully independent of his father; a success for Felipe. Yes, he knew, good times are just a death away
ORDERS
Continue wonder.
Crush rebellion with the Moscow Army, led by general Josef (500 men).
After the rebellion is crushed, continue to expand to the east.
100 men each are to expand south and north. Do not go more north then the current borderlands north of Petersburg.
Increase army 2 times.
Upgrade army to iron age (if this is not needed, increase army a third time).
New army is to occupy homeland.