"I'd rather my manhood was spent probing you, darlin'," grins the Magyar, though he is sorely annoyed that such a lesser foe took him to task.

Spending a moment to untangle himself he looks up at one of the holy knights.

"Don' suppose anyone has the gift of healing?" he asks nonchalantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Fri 15 Jan 2010.

"Oh yes, yes. Of course you would." Jaleh replied with additional laughter. "Are you not worried then that other men may seen as more manly than you?"

"Certainly!" Roderichus says while he lays his hands on the wounds inflicted by the orc.

"Just out of curiousity Jaleh, how manly was my sleep spell?  After all it took down most of the foes."  He gives her a wink to indicate his jesting nature.

After his near abysmal performance in the battle with the patrol Conn of Skye looks to redeem himself as he picks up one of the workmen's heavy hammers and heads toward the exposed ceramic pipeline.

"If you wish to see manly, take a gander at this!" He swings the tool in a mighty arc towards the aqueduct.

Roderychus lays his hands on A'kos and there is a faint glow about them that spread to envelop all of the Magyars body, then as fast as it appeared it is gone.

Conn has more success than he wanted to with his one hammer blow as the ceramic aqueduct literally explodes knocking him off his feet with a raging torrent of ice cold mountain spring water a foot wide. There is no doubt, this source of fresh water for the city has been severed.

Zmija joins Loukas in searching the bodies once the duct is destroyed.

The loot:
15 falchions, 2 look of superior quality
15 suits of studded leather, 1 looks much better than the others
15 small round shields
15 daggers
15 shortbows
too many arrows to count
15 Iron caps
15 light warhorses

Jean almost bursts into open laughter as the aqueduct gives way to a single blow.

Looking up from where he and Zmija were standing amongst the bodies, Loukas sees Conn experiencing his successful blow on the aqueduct. "Manhood confirmed!"

"It seems to me that the horses would not only be the easiest things take from this lot, but also the most valuable."

Jaleh laughed and replied in a teasing tone, "Oh by far a potent spell. Magic is such a mysterious craft though. It's hard to judge because so many women can do it too. I suppose it depends on if one thinks scholars are manly."

She laughed a bit harder and clapped at Conn's display. "There. Now see, that is a manly action, smashing earthenware with a big hammer. Yes, yes, manliness confirmed." Jaleh added in a slightly mocking tone.

"Play nice, Jaleh," chuckles A'kos at her rapier witticisms.

To Roderychus he nods his thanks.

"Puissant indeed, Warrior of Christ.  You have my thanks."

Feeling hale again he looks at the group and let's out a guffaw.

"That was the most pathetic showing of force since I was 12 years old and stumbled across a lone goblin marauder from some nearby hills."

Shaking his head in self deprecating disgust he says to the group, "First round is on me when we take the city."

The Rus Monk claps A'kos on the back and says..."I know the feeling but at least you finished him. Judging by his superior weapon and armor he was the captain of this party."

He looks to Loukas and says..."Yes, we should take the horses and at least the weapons, can I count on you to secure the items to one of the mounts? We need to get moving if we wish to meet the others before nightfall. With any luck they will be waiting on us at the opposite shore." As he speaks, the monk helps to round up the gear from the fallen Orcs to take and pack on the horses.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Tue 19 Jan 2010.

While the loot is being loaded Jean, still smiling faintly, rides off a short distance to be certain they are not about to have more company.

Loukas responds to the Monk, "Yes, Zmija, I shall endeavor to do so."

As begins to deal with the gear and the horses he turns to the party, "Another pair of hands or two will make this happen faster, my friends"

Given the need to get going Loukas makes an effort not to bring along any item that is not in good condition. Otherwise he uses his experience on his father's merchant caravans to pack the horses as securely as possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Tue 19 Jan 2010.

Roderychus assists Loukas with the arms "We should head back at once as you say, Zmija."

A'kos dismounts with a flourish and lends a hand to the scavenging.

Balthazar lends a hand as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Wed 20 Jan 2010.

Jaleh tethers her horse to something nearby so it would stay put and then joins in the scavenging with the others.

Within twenty minutes the bodies are striped and the gear loaded onto the horses. Enough gear to equip a similar sized patrol, while not gems and gold, this is still a valuable haul including the mounts, all light warhorses of decent quality.

Zmija gives the signal to head out and A'kos falls right back into the role of a steppe horseman as he guides the captured mounts with just his horse and skill alone.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:54, Thu 21 Jan 2010.

I didn't think there was actually an NPC with us named Nestor...

oops! That should say Zmija:)

The rest of the day is fairly uneventful, the city remains on the parties right hand side at a safe distance. occasionally guards can be seen on the wall but are too far away to fire any missile weapons at the party.

By dusk the party reaches sea and the far east wall of the city. A lone dragon ship can be seen a few hundred feet off shore with an unmistakable outline.

"What's the signal, Zmija?" asks A'kos, staring out over the water toward the ship.

"I'm certain that's the Heart of Oak...the outline is unmistakable."

"Aye Jean, that is the Heart...but as A'kos points out, there was a signal needed. Thought he ship is easy to spot, we are not in the low light. This is something Miroslav and I had talked about."

He then reaches in his belt pouch and produces a round object wrapped in heavy cloth about the size of a plumb. As he begins to unwrap the object the is bathed in a bright light. From inside the cloth he takes out a glowing orb. Anyone familiar with magic will see this as an object that a permanent light spell had been cast on.

Zmija takes this glowing ball and tosses it high in the air clearly as a signal tot he ship.

Signal is obviously received as the Heart of Oak heads for the beach.

Everyone now go to the thread titled "reunion". Xp will be dished out shortly.