"That doesn't look like Rome," the sergeant observed.

"No, it does not." The captain looked up at the sky. "I do not see any familiar constellations. I do not know what happened, but we did not come out of the Alps. These mountains are strange. Perhaps we are in the Orient? My compass does not seem to work here."

"What's your orders, sir?"

"While I hope the locals recognize the authority of the Pope, I suspect we are among heathens. I know it has been a long march, but we need defenses. Have the men dig a ditch and set up a palisade.

/---------

"An army appeared overnight?"

"Well, not an army, m'lord. More like a large company."

"And what have they done so far?"

"They appear to have set up an encampment like the northern barbarian tribes, with a crude stake wall."

"So they're tribesmen, eh?"

"Well, we aren't sure. They aren't dressed in furs like the barbarians. They wear a mixture of brightly colored fabrics, and use metal armor. And they seem to use exceptionally long spears and crossbows, not axes."

"At any rate, they are armed intruders and should be dealt with accordingly. Have them dealt with."

"Yes, your majesty."

/----------

"Well, I don't recognize the style of their armor and clothing, but it doesn't seem very exotic. Maybe even a bit drab."

"This is a conscript army, I think. Bound by sumptuary laws. The knights have nice armor, though, they are probably petty nobles."

"I wonder what that one in the blue robe on the hill over there is doing, waving his arms like that?"

"Some sort of messenger or scout, maybe? Communicating by arm signal? I've read about such techniques before. Maybe we should try it sometime..."

FTHOOOOOOM!!!

"SHOOT THAT SCOUT!"

/-------

"General, your report?"

"Yes, your highness. We started with the usual approach. Have the battlemage open with a fireball, follow up with a charge to mop up the panicked stragglers."

"I am familiar with the method."

"Well, they didn't panic. Dozens of them shot at the mage with crossbows. He blocked most of the shots, but a few made it through."

"Go on."

"The charge failed as well. Those spears are too long, we couldn't close. And their armor was strong enough that our archers had to get dangerously close before they stood a chance of penetrating it."

"Tell me why I shouldn't have you thrown in the dungeon?"

"Because a second group of soldiers just appeared on the other side of the city?"

/---------

"Sir, where are we? That river does not look like the Yangtze."

"I am not sure, but this looks like what the caravans describe as being to the far west of us, beyond Constantinople. Perhaps we are in Rome?"