Caravan East

Population Migration / Travel

Syres heads east with his new subordinate, John. The noble families of Ancyra, Euchaita, Amasea, and Koloneia host Syres and he starts to see how they maneuver within the hierarchy of the Roman nobility. He meets many people and is exposed to the luxurious lifestyles of the Anatolian noble families before going to the old capital of the Kingdom of Pontus, Trapezus.

Syres is also designated a military title so that when he arrives in the east with the army, he can lead and make decisions for the Emperor- the title of "Tourma" serving under the Strategos of Chaldia (the younger brother of John Kourkouas) Theophilos. Syres travels to Ancyra in central Anatolia where his subordinate from Chaldia meets him to escort him the rest of the way. Along the entire journey, Syres comes upon magically-adept orphans and pays for their transport back to Constantinople where Apollonius is waiting for them. Syres' subordinate, the head Droungarios, was a member of the Kourkouas family named John and did not like taking orders from Syres, who was believed to be descended from Muslims Syres doesn't care about what people think, eager to get back onto the battlefield once more. While travelling through the central steppes and mountains of Anatolia, they are attacked by a raiding band of Muslims from Tarsus and Syres saves John's life.