"Welcome home Chancellor!" Gan Ning bellowed from the front of the Bellona, as the small fleet under Crassus came to a halt in the water. The ships under Andrew and Kai's command seemed to stop in synchronisation and whilst he didn't say it, Andrew could tell Crassus' opinion of them had grown slightly. The Bellona towered above the other ships as Andrew and Kai peered around the side of it and saw another Trireme and two Bireme's behind them, all well equipped with deadly and experienced crews.
"Thank you for the welcome General, you don't normally treat me so well." Crassus laughed back as he commented to the Captain to begin rowing at a slow speed towards Gan Ning's minor blockade. Andrew looked up at the powerful ship, seeing a Ballista at the front, with rows of deadly Archers looking down towards him.
"I had to come check, the word of a small fleet travelling down the Calm River was alarming at first light." Gan Ning responded as he shouted for the ships to make space for the Galatea, as the Bellona herself began to push oars in reverse so as to gently turn in the water to keep aside the Galatea.
"Our Lord's guests have arrived and they brought some ships of their own." Crassus explained as Gan Ning's could now be seen better by Andrew and Kai. He was a muscular looking man, with old scar marks on his sleeveless arms, Andrew felt that he had heard the name of Gan Ning before, but Kai seemed to be looking on with excitement.
"That's Gan Ning!" Kai whispered to Andrew, "The Pirate General from Romance of the Three Kingdoms! "
"The one with the bells?" Andrew asked back as Crassus and Gan Ning threw comments at each other as they began to travel.
"Yes, that one!" Kai explained as Andrew's eyes opened in surprise.
"That is two famous Generals so far, what else is he hiding from us?" Andrew replied as he looked at Gan Ning who seemed to catch his eye.
"We'll get your ships in to the Shipyard and give them some upgrades." Gan Ning commented enthusiastically, having heard that he and Andrew would most likely get along from Dom. "They look well cared for, but I am sure our teams can make them almost new."
"Thank you, do you have any other ships like the one you are on?" Andrew asked back excitedly as he shouted up towards Gan Ning, seeing opportunities for his own gaming experience to grow.
"Unfortunately the Bellona is currently a one of a kind, but we have some much bigger monster ships further up the river." Gan Ning replied with a grin as he turned and began shouting some orders for the Bellona to lead the way. The Bellona suddenly began to gain speed as she straightened up and faced the same way as the Galatea.
"Don't let him beat us!" Crassus suddenly shouted to the Captain, as he passed on orders for his crews to begin rowing faster. "He's tricked me, I thought he was just joining us, but it seems he wants a race!"
"Won't his ship be faster?" Kai asked, realising he probably shouldn't have asked the question.
"That doesn't mean the Galatea will accept defeat easily!" Crassus snapped back as he began bellowing orders himself to the crew.
Andrew looked across the water at the Town of Tranquillity as they began to gain speed again, the Town was well developed with a large number of fishing boats tied to it's dock. There was also the sign of Warriors on the shore, with Civilians preparing for their day. The ground around it was full of prepared space for new buildings, whilst as they continued to travel, fields upon fields could be seen where crops were either growing or being planted.
"Kai, I am excited." Andrew commented to his friend, who looked back with a large smile on his face.
"Andrew." Kai exclaimed, slightly in fear as he pointed towards the water where a long serpent like creature swam with a lightly armoured warrior on it's back.
"I have no idea." Andrew replied as he looked around and saw that those on the Galatea seemed used to this sight.
....
"Ships approaching!" Ophelia shouted, the daughter of Helena. She had recently been setting up the docks in the other towns, and had returned on her mothers order to spend some time with her family. Dom looked at her and smiled, she was slightly older than Dom and had been a key member of the early Riverside.
"If only you could marry for love." Gregorios commented from beside as Trojan elbowed him. Dom shook his head at the teasing as he could see the sight of the Bellona racing down the stream towards them.
"He is going at some speed!" Helena commented from beside her daughter, both stood on the docks waiting for the ships. She realised that if he didn't slow soon, he would go straight past the docks. She quickly ran forwards and shouted loudly across the River. "Get those fishing boats out of the way!"
Behind the Bellona the other ships could be seen, two Trireme, the Galatea and the newly built Aegle. Further behind them were the blurred figures of what Dom assumed were the Bireme and Transport ships that were with them.
Dom turned and looked behind him, Forbidden Guard on Sabre Tooth Tigers, Female Horse Archers on their powerful Steppe Horses, as well as Female Lancers on their giant Red Hare Horses. There was also small unit of towering Batavi Warriors on their own horses, beside a handful of Wudang Warriors with their new Dire wolves. There was also his Praetorian Century, two Centuries of Legionaries and two Centuries of Hoplite, including some Spartans. Huang Zhong stood proudly at the front of them on his own Red Hare Horse, with Sun Ce beside him.
The Military unit was split in half, with a small group of people on foot between them. Subutai, Xun You, Xun Yu, Hatshepsut and Zhou Yu stood in light hearted discussion at the front. Whilst Meritamen and a lightly armoured Sun Shangxiang stood amongst them also having a conversation with Shang Yang and Lucius.
"It's quite a welcome for your friends." Helena commented as she returned from shouting at the fishermen in the water, "I hope that they appreciate it."
Dom understood her tone, a lot of effort had gone in to this and he knew it had frustrated her as it had impacted her normal routine at the docks. Ships that would be returning from either Serenity and Jai, or Noctus and Renatus, would now be delayed and this would cause her a backlog in to her day.
"I am sure that Crassus and my friends would have brought enough goods to make this worthwhile." Dom replied to her, slightly intimidated by Helena who reminded him of a young version of his mother. He looked across and saw the balled Himilco stood nearby grinning that Dom was being told off and not himself.
Soon the Bellona had anchored, with Gan Ning travelling to the dock on the back of one of the Titanaconda's, whilst the Galatea docked. Andrew and Kai's fleet waited slightly away, surrounded by Dom's small fleet. Ling Tong had also returned and a large number of Doujian and Mengchong were also placed nearby.
A member of the Dock team quickly placed a ramp against the side of the Galatea as Crassus disembarked with two young men beside him. Andrew was tall and looked the same as he did in real life, his looks already catching the eyes of some of the female fishermen, whilst Kai looked around in amazement.
"About time you got here." Dom laughed at them as the three of them approached, with Gan Ning soon appearing behind them.
"If I knew what I was missing out on, we wouldn't have done any side quests!" Andrew replied seriously. Dom was surprised at his tone, having expected his friend to be laughing back in response.
"Crassus said that we should act professional in front of the public, or some of the other Heroes may put a dagger in our backs if we insult you." Kai whispered as he looked around in amazement. Dom looked towards Crassus who heard the comment.
"Did you have a good trip north?" Dom asked him, understanding that his intensions were good and it was likely that Subutai would see to it if they did insult him in public, there real life roles and in game roles blurred.
"Very good, you will like my purchases!" Crassus beamed, "Your friends have also brought you some treats!"
"Let's talk about it at the Palace." Dom replied with a smile to Crassus as he grinned at his two friends who both looked shocked at the word Palace. "Let me introduce you to some of my other Heroes before we move on."
"This is very exciting!" Kai exclaimed as they began walking towards the gathered Heroes and the small army. "Are those Legionaries, wait are those people on the back of Tigers, Sabre Tooth Tigers?"
"We have a lot to talk about!" Dom laughed as he caught Andrew looking towards the Female Horse Archers with an excitable glint in his eyes. "They would defeat you quicker than I do."
"That's because I am your best friend and I go easy on you." Andrew explained as they neared the Heroes, "Plus, it's a different type of duel I want to try with them."
"You would have to beat Actumerus here to have a chance." Gregorios commented as the guards walked with them, the towering Batavi Guard smiling at Andrew whose face paled slightly.
"What have we let ourselves in for!" Andrew exhaled as Kai came to a stop in front of the Heroes.
Shang Yang stepped forwards as the group formed a semi circle around Dom, Andrew and Kai. The two newcomers looked at the elderly statesman, dressed smartly in his robes as he approached.
"Welcome to Riverside, the Capital of the Lazarus Kingdom. I am Prime Minister Shang Yang." Shang Yang introduced politely. "Whilst I know you are good friends with our Lord, please do remember the difference between Lord and Retainer."
Dom shook his head internally as Shang Yang telling his two best friends off before they had even said anything, but surprisingly the two of them still seemed in such shock at the different units in front of them that they didn't know how to respond.
"Let me introduce you to some of our Leadership, many of our Generals are currently on campaign, however this is our Supreme Commander Subutai, as well as our Supreme Strategist Xun You and Naval General Zhou Yu." Shang Yang introduced, as the three Heroes nodded their heads in greeting. Both Kai and Andrew recognised some of those names, especially Subutai and they instantly looked towards Dom with mouths agape. "You have already met Chancellor Crassus, however beside me I also have our Head of Development Hatshepsut, our Capital's Mayor Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus and our Head of State Affairs Xun Yu."
These three also nodded their heads, Andrew wasn't aware of them, however Kai was well aware of the three of them and excitement was visible as his hands shook. Andrew and Kai then looked at the two other women, One was an exceptional beauty in a tight fitting dress, whilst the other was also an exceptional beauty in light armour and a sword beside her waist.
"These are my two wives, Meritamen and Sun Shangxiang." Dom introduced, as they both came forwards and nodded their heads in greeting towards Andrew and Kai.
"Dom, how?" Andrew exclaimed, as Kai took another wide look around the City from his position. The two of them had travelled since day one and felt that the journey was well worth the wait.