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"You want to dance with me, you'll have to ask more politely."
Appearing in "Wolves on the Road (War Season, Part 1)"Edit
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Valkos (First Appearance)
- Dimitri (First Appearance)
- Rogatino (First Appearance)
- Wurkest (First Appearance) Pict
- Olag the Vanjrman (Death)
- Claudio (First Appearance)
- General Septimus (First Appearance)
Antagonists:
- Thumekmes (Death)
- Cavvalus (First Appearance)
- King Akkhimar’s Guards
- Captain Shemizan (First Appearance)
Other Characters:
- Persemhia Townsfolk (Mentioned)
- King of Messantia (Mentioned)
- Prince of Argos (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Hyrkanians
- Aquilonians
- Picts
- Stygians
- Gods (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth-818793
- Hyboria
- Argos-Shem Border
- Persemhia
- Tavern
- Koth (Mentioned)
- Stygia (Mentioned)
- Argos (Mentioned)
- Messantia (Mentioned)
- Hyboria
- Hell (Mentioned)
Items:
- Sword of Red Sonja
- Red Sonja's Chainmail Bikini
- Lotus Blossom (Mentioned)
Vehicles:
- Horses
Concepts:
- Sorcery
- Hyborian Age
Synopsis for "Wolves on the Road (War Season, Part 1)"Edit
In the age after Atlantis was swallowed by the ocean, there were mighty Barbarians in the cold northern villages embroiled in battle against one another. There was also sorcery unlocking terrible magics with the result of increasing bloodshed, rebellions and mercenaries. A Prince of Argos was unable to usurp his uncle the King of Myzantia, who then sought vengeance. The mercenary leading a group of men was Olag the Vanjrman.
Whilst at the Argos/Shem border a small group of men Valkos, Dimitri, Rogatino and a Pict Wurkest, are followin their captain Red Sonja. From the Nemedian Chronicles this red warrior was the first to bear that name. There is a mention of her family being killed and her vow to the Goddess Scathach. Their specific task was to intercept an Argossian message runner. Sonja lured out him after they set up camp, while bathing near a stream, and leaving her sword near her horses, Sonja captured their prey while managing to disarm him with her chain-mail, and quickly donning her armor before her men arrived. He was a Stygian scribe. He actually addresses them in their Hyrkanian language saying that he (Thumekmes) was from a family of standing and they could pay his ransom in gold.
Back at the battlefield General Septimus has sent message via Claudio, and the mercenary in charge Cavvalus slays Olag. He tells them to look for some that deserted.
Red Sonja came to Persemhia, a little known city state of Shem. There was Koth to the north, Argos to the West and Stygia to the east. Valkos exclaims “Erlik’s balls, this place reeks like a slaughterhouse.” Rogatino was educated in a temple in Ophir, and Valkos reminds him of the peacock god as a trickster and a blood god. He curses Anu’s bile, and states his warnings enough to make someone an atheist.
Red Sonja and her men enter a Tavern, and Thumekmes states that his associates with the gold will be there shortly. As time goes on Red Sonja grows uneasy and smells the acrid scent of the Lotus blossom. She slays a Stygian with her dagger. She states “you want to dance with me, you'll have to ask more politely.” Thumekmes calls upon the name of Ibis and Set. Rogatino put a sword to the neck of Thumekmes, and swears by Mitra “I'll have your eyes.” Red Sonja insists that Rogatino does not slay him. She remarks sometimes Stygian’s have secrets that can only be revealed by the blood of another Stygian. The blood dripping from her dagger over is back a text in scrolled upon his back. With that revelation a guard of King Akkhimar of Persemhia places them under arrest
Notes
- This issue marks the start of the "War Season" arc, setting up Red Sonja’s clash with political intrigue and dark sorcery in Persemhia.
- The hidden text on Thumekmes’ back hints at a larger Stygian conspiracy, possibly tied to the gods Set and Ibis.
Trivia
- Red Sonja’s chainmail bikini, a signature of her character, is both armor and a tactical distraction in this issue.
- The mention of gods like Mitra, Anu, and Erlik reflects the diverse pantheon of the Hyborian Age. Others like Set and Ibis are Egyptian deities but Stygia is located centrally like Egypt in Howard’s Hyborian age. The Pict in this issue is like the Northwestern European of this people group as well. Sonya of Rogatino, from which Roy Thomas developed Red Sonja sounds like Rogatino in this issue, who has a sword with a hand gaurd and dresses like Sonya of Rogatano.
See Also
- Write your own review of this comic!
- Discuss Red Sonja Vol 1 51 on the forums
- Images from Red Sonja Vol 1 51
Recommended Reading
- Red Sonja Vol 1 #50 – The prelude to "War Season."
- Conan the Cimmerian #1 – For more Hyborian Age adventures.
Links and References
Red Sonja Vol 1 #51 at Grand Comics Database