- Alamannia, Holy Roman Empire, 870 a.D. -

All conversations have been translated from Alemannic, Old High German and Latin. Just to be sure everyone who reads this chapter understands what the hell the characters are saying!

The day breaks. People gather around to thank the gods for another day of Sun. The Alemanni tribes do not worship the Christian God. For the Holy Emperor, that's not a problem, as long as they bow to him. A group of Imperial Knights approach a small settlement of tribes. Their horses galloping furiously, as if chasing something. As they reached the "village", they stopped. One of the knights begins to speak.

– I bring to you a message from the Holy Emperor himself. "I, Holy Roman Emperor Louis, second of this name, bring you a warning. The tribes of Alamannia shall bow to me, to the Pope and to God. It is time to end the paganism of this land." – the knight folded back the scroll.

– Why does the emperor decide this now? No emperor before him took that stance. – an old man asked.

– The Empire is at war with the Saracens. And the Empire requires more knights. But in a Holy War, we cannot have pagans fighting in the name of a god they don't believe in. – another knight, one with long blond hair and blue eyes, answers the man – I myself am an Alemanni. And it pains me to almost force my own kind to bow to God. I believe in him on my own terms, but it was a decision I had to make some time ago...

– Well, if it is an Alemanni who asks us, we'll do it. Young boy, what is your name? – the old man asks.

– Siegfried. Siegfried von Krone.