As a result of a short-term malfunction of the on-board systems, the Soyuz TM-M-4 spacecraft lands in... the 3rd century. From the first minute, cosmonauts Gennady Cherepanov and Alexey Korshunov find themselves in the center of events of the past - stormy and merciless. Scythians, barbarians, savages... They were considered ferocious and greedy. But they themselves called themselves Glorious and valued luck in leaders above strength. In one of the battles, Cherepanov was taken prisoner, and Korshunov was left alone with an alien world. Intelligence and courage, composure and luck help him earn the respect of the barbarians and become their leader. What were they really like - the future conquerors of Rome? Who were they - the predecessors, and perhaps the ancestors of the Slavs? Barbarians...