Scene 1: The Court
Mikula is led in
Harry and Raphael are arguing
Ok Harry, we’ll discuss that later
Well Mikula, can you start
Yes, well this was all that was left of the family holdings, mine and his combined
Helpfully Vseslav my son was pretty promising, so there was some hope for the future
Hang on ….
Who are you?
Satan
oh … does that mean ….
Yes quite likely … anyway, I just want to be clear … for the court records you see … you didn’t just inherit from your nephew did you?
Yes I did
Yes, you did, but something happened to make him pass the throne to you
Ah you mean …
Yes, you had him assassinated
Ok Harry, you’ve made your point, now Mikula please continue
Well it was rather stressful even thinking about how to sort out the mess
Not helped that my wife didn’t like me
Hah, that’s what all the Rurikovichs say
Harry …
Ok, ok, Mikula …
Well I wanted two things, first to gain some reputation, and second regain some land, so I started a war with Bryansk, and then …
So there was more building burning, surprising as I though that Roman hadn’t left much left standing, and I did something heroic
My bishop toddled off, obviously just couldn't match the standards I was setting
Some idiot tried to emulate my grasp of military tactics
And then I started to improve my overall reputation
Which meant
And just to follow it up, more military genius by me
Someone of course has to show off
So the war with Bjarmia was going very well, most of their army was dead, I’d taken 3 counties off them and we were besieging their home provinces
Scene 2: Hell
Astarte is standing with a group of very tough looking demons[1]
So, look he’ll come back, drunk, pleased with himself, empty handed as usual, so you lot grab him, lock him up and we start to run this place properly
Scene 3: The Court
So one last cavalry charge
Ok, well you didn’t get up to much, I think a spell in Purgatory would be best all around
Harry … you object?
Yes, we’re ignoring what he did before he inherited, killed his nephew and declared war on at least 4 of his neighbours, clear case for Circle VI, Ring 1 – he can throw things down at his nephew, make use of them both
Raphael looks at the clerks
He’s right you know
Well Mikula you’d better follow Satan ….
Scene 4: The Gates of Hell
Look you’ll like it, I tell you we have all the fun people down here and your circle is really popular (there’s some German bloke with a red beard just turned up – Frederick someone or other) and Astarte will be so pleased
[2]
Harry
Astarte, ... oh hi lads (
nods to the ultra scary very tough demons)
Who’s your friend?
Mikula, I was just telling him how happy you’d be, an addition to your private circle, give the Furies someone new to chat to
[1] Really tough ones, Kirk Douglas in Spartacus, that sort of tough, Mark Van Bommel (well maybe not that tough, but that sort of thing)
[2] According to Dante, Astarte is Queen of the Furies who torment those damned for violence and aggression
Was that another failed rebellion? Can Vseslav carry on the task of retaking Russia?