Having downed several goblets since his and A'kos's arrival, Loukas was more at ease than he had been since meeting the other party members just a few weeks ago. He raised his glass towards Jean, "I wondered why you had kept so quiet when we were discussing these matters aboard ship, Frank. If by "cheese knife" you mean the dagger, it's already mine. The armor? Yes, take it and may its enchantment protect you from our enemy's cheese knives and be light enough not to drown you if you fall overboard!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Wed 28 Oct 2009.

"The wine has certainly loosened your tongue Oarsman..." Jean smiles but it cannot be told if it is a comradely grin or an arrogant smirk.

"...in any case I was referring to the the muslim's sword. It is a weapon of some power but I will hold to my "Cercuil Clou"."

He pats his long double edged sword affectionately.

"It has never failed me."

He hold up his cup signaling to the wait staff for more wine.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Tue 27 Oct 2009.

Looking at the Frank ki-niggit, A'kos says to the barmaid, "Yes, bring him more water...but bless it first so it doesn't burn his throat!"

Loukas laughed good-naturedly at Jean's response, "Ah, the Horseman notices that I've been speaking? Well, if wine seems to have loosened my tongue to you, it seems to have loosened more than that in your case to me. Which is good, because you are no longer a passenger, as you might've notice. On the Heart of Oak you're going to be doing some oaring yourself in the coming days and if you pull that crap with your horse aboard our ship you'll have more than enemy cheese knives to worry about."

As he spoke the humor had drained from his face. This Frank was clearly an aristocrat wherever it was he lived, but to a man of Byzantium he was no more sophisticated than most sheepherders. His father is probably poorer than my own cursed father! And that he was still trying to act as if he was a passenger and Loukas a crewman! He could certainly feel the pent up frustration and anger of the past few days begin to roil, but this was not all that was in his head. Glancing quickly around the table he realized that if this group were going to succeed in whatever they were going to do they needed to make clear to his fellow crewman how things need to work.

"What is this? Forgive me, friends, but this has needed to be done for a while and since Miroslav hasn't stepped up to do it, I'll do it..."

Taking another sip of his wine he wipes his mouth and forces a smile, "Jean, I understand you are new to ships, but if we'd been hit by a wave or our opponents been swifter you might've done us some severe damage before we ever met them hand to hand. I look forward to getting to know you better, and maybe we'll even become friends, and I welcome your company as we meld ourselves into not merely a crew, but... Well, a company, eh? Each of us have skills that the others do not have, and that will be useful at times, but we are all going to have to learn to be sailors or we shall never get to those times. Until you learn a shipboard skill more useful, you will be at the oars just like the rest of us. If this seems unfair to you, then get the hell out of here and thank you for choosing the Heart of Oak for your tour of the Black Sea, because your value to us is no greater than the strength of your back no matter how well you ride that damned horse. And if you think I'm afraid of your damned sword regardless of whatever damned armor you are wearing, you've got something more than seamanship to learn!"

A'kos looks at Loukas, and his grin spreads ear to ear as he listens to the young man's tirade.

"HA!" he crows to the others upon the young man's conclusion.  "The lad's tongue is sharp, and his barbs sting!  Methinks he's come into his own, though we shall see."

Turning to Loukas he says, "Well put, but the Frank has skills you do not, as you so aptly pointed out, and we've need of every ally, dubious though they may be.  His horsemanship may be called to question, but his bravery is undeniable, as is his swordsmanship...and loathe as I am to admit it, both would be welcome in our coming travels to be sure.  Careful with your tongue, and your orders if you would keep the company together, as it seems you wish."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:39, Tue 27 Oct 2009.

"I am going to spare you this once as you are clearly in your cups but let me speak clearly. Should you ever address me thusly again there will be blood."

"You are neither my captain nor my lord and to be blunt you never shall be. I will contribute to our quest as I see fit. No more and no less."

"You have come but lately to our company and for you to presume to command me is absurd beyond reason."

A'kos turns from Loukas and considers the knight.  His smile remains, though turns slightly mocking as he says, "Methinks, Sir Knight, that the boy is more clear-headed than you give credit to.  And you'll not draw blood without your own being spilt as well..."

Shaking his head, his grin disappears, replaced by a frown.

"I've never been one for diplomacy - leave that to my cousin, the effete' bastard.  But there is opportunity here, if we can come together...harsh words and threats are for others...let us see what we can make of ourselves, what renown we should find in the service we choose to give!"

"Your suggestion is agreeable but my word is my bond. I will not be disrespected by anyone and if you will all stand against me then I will take as many as I may before I fall. I have no fear of death."

"What I speak is simple truth and if we are to travel and fight together it must be accepted without compromise. There is no threat that you are capable of which will inspire me to accept such abuse without recourse."

"No moreso would yourself I reckon."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Tue 27 Oct 2009.

After brief consideration A'kos nods once to Jean.  To the others he says, "Then let us put aside ill words and enjoy the evening, and tomorrow set whatever course fate lays for us."

Loukas finishes his wine and puts the goblet down.  Jean's response caused him to raise an eyebrow and smirk, but throughout their exchange he kept quiet until A'kos spoke, "You are right, Jean, I have had some wine. They used to say that there is truth in wine, so, perhaps you ought to drink down that cup and get another, because it is clear that you are in need of some truth rather desperately."

Looking around the table he continues, "Perhaps all of us are? While some of you may decide to call this a quest, I respect that, but it is not what I call it. And is it really some sort of romantic reason that has drawn us together? It seems to me that we continue together, because whether or not we knew it before the day we acquired the Heart of Oak. We now know that each of us were serving one faction or another, each of which had an interest in Armin the Persian, and a few of us were not actually what we appeared to be until that day.

"Jean, what you call a quest others call pay for hire, regardless of what you take for pay.  We have been offered an opportunity to help Sviatoslav take a backwater town from John. Vengeance. That is what this is about, eh? That is what holds us together... Well, that and the fact that today, we are  each hunted by the Byzantine Emperor for one reason or another. And his reach and power is rather more significant than most, I think. So, it seems to me that we are together because we are alone otherwise. Which means we are attacking this town with the King of the Rus is an easy way to poke John back."

Turning back to Jean, "So, Jean of the Franks, with this understood, and even if it isn't, if you want my respect you will treat me with respect. Otherwise, let the crew of the Heart of Oak vote to decide which of us will stay... I am willing to abide its result."

"No romanic am I," says A'kos with a sidelong glance at Loukas.  "Except perhaps for that bit I save for little Jaleh.  But now's time you've said enough.  If I can tolerate the knight for the nonce, so can you.  Enjoy your wine, lad...and for the four winds' sake shut up!"

Jean waits calmly to see if the young fool will listen to reason of if he will be forced to make good on his word.

Why am I the one being hushed? Why the hell do we care about this idiot's sensitivities? It was the Frank who spoke down to me, wasn't it? It was aristocrats like this ass who had killed my uncle. And THIS one, who'd nearly killed all of them charging his damned horse of a dragon ship..., the words rushed through his mind.

Loukas turned to A'kos and began to speak, but then stopped, No. He's right. A'kos speaks wisdom... Besides there's nothing else to add. Well, hell, what have I probably do have more to lose if he leaves.

He took a breath and looked at Jean, "A'kos is right. I have said more than I should have."

Pouring himself more wine he raises his glass, "My apologies, Jean. I have had a very bad couple of days and similarly you did not know that you were being disrespectful of me. I am sorry if I was was disrespectful to you in return. If you can accept my friendship, I offer it willingly..."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Mon 21 Nov 2011.

OOC - Just to make this clear and not spoil your fine exchange: Roderychus has not followed the other to the tavern. He will seek some place to wash himself, tend to his gear, pray and, if there is still some time left, get some rest.

If the group decides to seek some prospective crew or more gear the next day he will go along, or else he will look for any local religious spots of significance.

In reply to Roderychus Venturos (msg #73):

OOC: Sorry, Roderychus, I misread your original press. I've edited this from my post later in the evening and moved it here, so that the conversation can take place in our "past".



"So, let's see... What's left? Not much, eh? Though, whatever we got there is worth a pretty penny... I think I understand what you want to do here, but I say we keep whatever else remains until we know we need the gold. We're here, because Sviatoislav needs us. That means as long as our demands are reasonable, he'll meet them. Otherwise, we take our ship and..."

For the past few days, perhaps for the first time in his life, Loukas realizes, that he has been speaking more disrespectfully about powerful men than he'd ever dared do before. You might be a pirate today, Loukas, but if you wish to be an old pirate someday you maybe better start thinking a bit more!

Taking a deep breath, "And we leave."

The impossibly wide Rus listens to the exchange between members of the party without saying a word. When it seems as if it has calmed he says..."We will always fight amongst ourselves. Great men hold the ideal above all others but great men also know when they must compromise. Sheep however, do not quarrel and their entire life is a compromise."

He finishes the last of his mead in one long pull and stands saying...'Now my thirst is quenched but I have other needs that I must attend to. I suggest the rest of you do the same and be ready here in the common room of this inn in the morn so we can find ourselves a crew!"

Loukas raises his goblet to Miroslav when he excuses himself, "Wisdom. The Rus speaks wisdom. Until tomorrow, then! I intend to finish this bottle and then, perhaps, I shall retire as well..."

As Miroslav stands and excuses himself Jaleh arrives to find expressions that range from considering to affronted on the faces of those sitting around the table.

"Did I miss something?" she asks A'kos, her eyes darting toward Jean as she asks.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:16, Thu 29 Oct 2009.

After a moment of no reply Jaleh gives A'kos a frown and asks, "Anyone care to buy a girl a drink?"

With a smile Loukas leans forward and pours Jaleh a drink from one of the bottles Balthazar had ordered, "The Greek has been drinking and apparently when he drinks he speaks... Well, he speaks his mind."

Pouring the wine for Jaleh he raises his glass, "So, here is to you, Jaleh, who would probably be the most beautiful amongst of even if there was another woman here!"

A coy smile flits across Jaleh's face.

"Many thanks, Loukas," she says softly before sipping her drink.

Jean settled back into his chair and set himself to the serious task of drinking and brooding.

His actions of the last few days seemed to him as if they had been performed by someone else.

He had no explanation but the recent treachery they had faced had awakened him to the need for careful thought.

In the future, he resolved, he would be at all times worthy of his family's name.

A'kos looks at Jaleh's flirtations and scowls.  His cup empty, he grabs the pitcher and refills it, and drinks in brooding silence while eying daggers at young Loukas.

Loukas drinks a two more goblets of wine, but with A'kos's well aimed daggers of visualization begining to make him feel something like a pin cushion he opts not to make small talk with Jaleh, but asks Balthazar about the wine pairings that they'd had earlier displaying a convincing knowledge not only of wine, but food as well. Finally, ordering himself a bottle to take to his room he stands, "Til morning shipmates, til morning!"and makes his way upstairs.

Once he is in his room he climbs into bed and as he is drinking wine he cleans his sword.This was the first time since the battle that he'd really had time to attend to it, as he did so with something almost like religiosity. After all, this had been his Uncle's blade and besides a slight guilt (Might he have been better able to defend himself from that bastard had he had you with him?), that he possessed it meant that he still had some tangible connection to him. He took his time with the chore and had nearly finished the bottle by the time he was finished. Once done he grabbed the bottle and his new dagger and climbed into bed. Taking a last swig of the wine he places the dagger under his pillow and blearily fell into a much needed, wine muddled sleep.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Fri 30 Oct 2009.

Any drunken conversations can continue here but the main storyline has moved to the Crew thread.