Thirteenth warrior is extremely loosely based on the mission. In the time the difference between trader, diplomat and spy was somewhat shady; he indeed was sent mostly to gather the information. However, large arab settlements have beeen established as far north as Tbilisi; Caucasus was involved in a 300 year long war between arab armies, khazars, alans and local caucasians up until the arrival of seljuks. It has made all the sence to them to investigate the northern territories, even though Khazars were already declining at this point.
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