- Scythia and Sarmatia -

452 A.D.

Sandwiched between the feared waters of Cruz del Rey and Engel lay the decimated but legendary cavalry of Sarmatia. Reeling from setbacks inflicted upon them by the heinous yet perspicacious Romans, what remained of the Sarmatians quickly regrouped in an attempt to protect their sovereignty. Granted a stay of execution by the Romans, who had admired their bravery and horsemanship, the tall and proud yet recondite Sarmatian warriors swore off battle and drink -- until, upon the dawn of a new era, their commander Artorius chanced upon the pallid but pulchritudinous land of Scythia.

Countless times the gallant Sarmatians laid siege to the fortified citadel of Scythia where they'd heard the streets were paved with gold, where the barley trees rose to meet the sun in its waking moments, where culinary delights took precedence over many other issues and where they knew they could start new lives, and that entry into Scythia would be the best thing that could happen to any of them.

Relentlessly they hammered and hammered away, and yet they were constantly frustrated, the defence put up by the Scythians simply too much for the perseverent Sarmatians, who had far too much interest in the welfare of the Scythians to hurt them. They knew that food was a major concern to the Scythians, and employed the services of their associates to transport the best epicurean treats from the furthest ends of the world. Realising that the torrential winds were causing havoc within the imposing Scythian walls, they formed a blanket of soldiers, each holding a different shield, and wrapped themselves around Scythia in a myriad of colours. They sent a cartographic parchment into the city to ensure that not a Scythian would lose his direction.

But then the Sarmatians realised that no matter what they did and however hard they tried, there was no breaking into the guarded city of Scythia - the walls would have to come down themselves, and letting people into the citadel was purely within the sovereign autonomy of Scythia. And Scythia had no wish to allow intruders into their fair land.