When the discussion over the sturdy norseman's blade has finally quietened down, a slender dark-skinned fellow steps forward.

With a nod to the others, he directs himself to Miroslav "good sir, I was informed that you seek crew for a sea voyage.  Need all your crew be doughty fighters or do you require some who merely know how to handle a sail, a steering oar, and smell the wind?".

He speaks greek quite well, but with somewhat of a Persian accent.

A'kos grins at the drunk's mockery of his name before turning his attention back to Jaleh.

"Will you keep up this silence forever, then?" he asks softly so the others may not hear.  "It seems we've been set a journey, and I would not have you wroth with me."

Ulfr begins to walk forward but the small dark man beats him to the fore and addresses the one called Miroslav. His huge bulk shuffles back towards the wall. He looks like he is mad at himself for not being more assertive.

Miroslav catches Jean's look and nods..."Yes I think our sodden new friend here has passed his test. I said I noted his calloused hands since those are from an oar, I think he is truly a man of the sea. I can tell this jsut as A'kos can tell if someone is a horseman...it is easy to spot those most like yourself."

He looks to the large Norseman shambling back to his original spot and says to him..."You will be next, I promise."

Then to the dark man..."No not everyone needs be a hulking warrior. In fact it would be nice to have someone well versed in sailing along as well but of course you must be able to handle a weapon because there will be combat. Tell us about yourself and how you came to be here in the capital of the Rus."

Looking at the Falcon Jaleh grins, and reaching out she touches his nose with the tip of her finger.  Sliding her chair closer to the handsome Magyar she lifts his arm around her shoulder, and settles into the nook beneath.

"Never take me for granted, Horseman," she replies quietly for his ears alone, before turning her attention to the interviews that play out.

The sailor replies "I am very handy with a knife in the close quarters and rolling decks of a ship.  And I am fast enough to get out of the way when someone bigger comes along."

He pauses "Now as for why I am in this most vibrant of cities..."

[ooc: I have to travel for a few days... will finish dreaming up reply replying on Monday when I'm back]

With a raised hand Miroslav interrupts the dark slim man..."Just a moment if you please."

He looks first at Gultunga and says..."I am glad you have accepted our offer. I believe you will be an asset to the ship. I do expect to see you on the morrow, dry in all respects. I have no problem with strong drink but we need to know that drunk is not a constant state of being."

He then looks at the rest of the part then to the hulking Norseman..."I will continue to interview this swarthy gentlemen. I think it best if some of you move onto to the big northman by the wall. We don;'t want anyone losing interest and wandering off, especially one so big!"

Balthazar makes his appearance, his robes wrapped tight around him, not from coming downstairs but coming in from the outside.  He says to no one in particular, "My, that was a beautiful sunrise."  He hears what Miroslav says to Gultunga, sizes up the situation, and says, "I shall make Gultungua my personal project.  Gultunga, pleasure to meet you.  I am Balthazar, and I am an expert in drinking.  There's getting drunk the right way, and getting drunk the wrong way, and it will be my pleasure to show you the difference."

Then he summons the waitress and says, "Good day ma'am.  I'd like an order of what you consider the finest breakfast meal this establishment has to offer.  My friend Gultunga and I are hungry."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Fri 06 Nov 2009.

The server nods her head and shortly comes back with a tray laden with warm dry sausages and a loaf of the blackest bread Balthazar has ever seen. Also on the tray are several different cheeses and a pot of thick cream and another of amber honey. "The owner of this establishment was given strict orders to serve this crew only the best at the request of the Knyaz."

She returns in a few moments with a pitcher of kvass, a slightly intoxicating drink made from fermented raisins ands black bread.

Jean approaches Ulfr with his hands hooked in his belt.

"You have manners it seems."

He glances around at A'Kos and Gultunga among others.

"You may not fit in very well hereabouts."

After a second to see if his jest has any effect he continues.

"Your certainly large enough. Can you handle that axe?"

Balthazar says, "I would be delighted to have you along as company on our journey. I am in need of a tutor in the art of swinging a scimitar, perhaps you could train me?"

(this said assuming Balthazar can see a scimitar at Barmak's side, as Nestor indicated)

Oleg the young Varangian leans forward and says to Balthazar..."If the dark man cannot or will not, I can teach you how to use a curved sword. I do not use a scimitar like the Persians but a tesack, single edged and very much like the Persian weapon. I believe some call it a falchion. Of course if he can teach you, I will still help as well if you are interested."

"Thank you, Oleg.  Falchion, scimitar, heh, I can't really tell the difference."

In reply to Sir Jean D'Arzillieres (msg #54):

After Miroslav's suggestion, Loukas follows Jean to where the Varangian is standing. Opting not to comment or react to the Franks comment on manners he does nod in agreement with his question to Ulfr about his ability with his axe and adds, "Yes, and what experience have you shipboard?"

The huge man steps forward, he does not seem to understand the nature of the other mans jest so he ignores it only offering up a slight grin. "I must admit that I have chopped down more trees than I have men and that I have spent much more time behind a plow than behind an oar. Still I have sailed south with my brothers, fought several battles and manned the oar as well if not better than most."

In reply to Ulfr (msg #59):

Loukas nods again, this time in response to Ulfr's response. He then asks in Norse, "How long since you came south? Tell us of the lands you have visited." After speaking he leans towards Jean and repeats himself in Greek while keeping his eyes on the big Northman.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:05, Fri 06 Nov 2009.

"I lost my farm and family to Wendish raiders on the isle of Rugen. My two brothers and I having nothing to stay for signed on with a foolhardy captain a little over a year ago. We raided the Wends themselves before traveling to Novgorod in the Northern lands of the Rus. From there we headed south to Kiev, then south once again to the Black sea where we would land in Byzantium and hire ourselves as Varangians. Our foolish captain refused the advice that we needed to portage our vessels on a stretch of river south from Kiev. Almost all were lost when we hit the rapids. My brothers an all but two of the crew died. We three traveled south to the capital. I have since lost track of my crewmen and am here alone in this city seeking employment."

In reply to Ulfr (msg #61):

[OOC] Sorry, Ulfr's reply was in Norse but he speaks Greek well enough to understand the first questions and read the advertisement. I think he would prefer Norse but Greek is the language of the game so either is fine for talking to him. He also speaks the Wendish variation of Slavic.

In reply to Ulfr (msg #61):

Loukas translates Ulfr's words into Greek for Jean and Balthazar.

Continuing in Norse, "I am sorry for your loss. You have traveled far and seen much, but I will warn you now that if we accept you into our crew you will need to improve your Greek. That is the language we speak on the Heart of Oak. I expect that this will not be a problem for you, but wanted to warn you."

Turning to his fellow crewmen he speaks in Greek, "He seems to me to be a good candidate. It may be that he was once a farmer, but his story bespeaks a man who has great, if unfortunate, experience both at sea and in battle."

"It speaks also of honesty."

Ulfr responds in Greek "My Greek has gone without practice for many years. On Rugen there was a Priest who lived next to my family while growing up. He was a good man and even though a Christian, he did not try to convert my family. From him I learned the language. I will do my best to practice my Greek and stick to speaking it on the ship if I am hired."

With a smile, "Honest and not afraid of hard mental or physical work. He has my vote."

Balthazar shakes his hand, "I'd be happy to help improve your Greek Ulfr, and in return I hope to pick up a little Norse myself.  Many languages I know, but Norse is not among them."

A'kos is contented so that he does not rise to the Frank's bait beyond a small 'harrumph' of disgust.  Instead he focuses on black bread and sausage, and the lovely dusky woman curled in the crook of his arm.

OOC: Ah, romance.