When Cuivi gives him the signal Loukas uses the blade to slash the bulls throat and is careful that the blood from their sacrifice flows into the river.

Once Loukas slices at the bulls throat, the great beast drops to it's knees, letting it's blood flow freely into the river. After a few moments it falls forward into the water.

A moment later and the water begins to roil and a froth forms along the shore. Clearly Phasis is accepting his gift as the the body of the bull is puled under by something unseen.

Through the rolling waters a large figure emerges. Standing roughly 15 feet or so high, the being, obviously Phasis, stands on top of the water..."This sacrifice, the monument, what is the meaning of such?"

Phasis looks to be made of the stuff of the river...mud, silt, reeds etc...his great watery maw looks to have river stones as teeth.

Loukas kneels formally and in doing so washes the bull's blood off into the water ensuring that Phasis receives every drop of their sacrifice. Standing he speaks, "Mighty Phasis, we have come to you because we are seeking a legendary place that we believe you may permit us access -- The Library of Dioskurios.

"We make these offerings with the hope that with them we might gain the key that will permit us to save the knowledge within the Library from turning to dust."

A'kos looks on, nonplussed.

"Y'don't see that everyday," he mutters to Jaleh.  "You'll note the elemental patterns, though, eh?  Fire, Air, Water...I wonder, then, when we'll meet earth?"

Balthazar looks on, clearly very impressed.

A'kos grins at the Hedonite.

"Din't think I had it in me, d'ja?"

Phasis rises up a few feet above the level of the river then splashes back down under the surface which goes unnaturally still upon his entry.

A few seconds later a small river otter emerges carrying a brass key in it's mouth. It sets the key at the feet of Loukas and splashes back into the water.

Once, Loukas would have shrugged, smirked, and made a wise crack about how easy all of this had turned out to be. But that was before he became a Brother of Veles. This is the new Loukas. When the otter drops the key he kneels down again, sends a prayer of thanksgiving not only to Pharis, but to Veles as well, and stands...

Smirking and shrugging, "Well, that was simple enough. Now... How do we get to the Library of Dioskurios again?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Thu 29 Sept 2011.

Dyanna stands with he hands on her hips looking on.

"And here I thought we would have to do battle with this godling! Good job avoiding battle my friends."

Miroslav nods in approval..."Yes! A good job! Much of the credit must go to Barmak who came up with the idea on how to appease Phasis. It seems that playing upon his need to be worshiped did us well."

He takes a moment and looks at Loukas holding the key and says..."We have a few minor repairs on the ship to make according to Oleg. It should take the rest of the day, we can set out for the library in the morning."

Barmak rises and goes to the river. He lies down and says Thank you. You may wish to observe what happens. If it's feasible and You care to observe, I'm going to drink of Your water. In any case, I wish you well...and may all who come here offer You their respects. Then he immerses his head and drinks deep.

Cuivi smiles and nods at Barmaks actions. He does the same a few seconds later.

In response to Miroslav Loukas nods in agreement, "Aye, Barmak, your understanding of the gods would make a fine cleric out of you..."

As he speaks a thought occurs, "Are you a cleric?"

No...just a trader...well, I've done some...now, a traveler...coming along for the ride as it were.

Loukas smiles understanding, "Ah, yes, I was born into a merchant family myself and my early days were training to become a trader myself. Of course, since those days things have... Changed. But I learned something vital from them. Something that you seem to have learned as well: understanding others is vital to making a good trade. You clearly learned this better than I, because your understanding of the gods has served us all quite well. Well done, friend."

Thank you. Of course, I may have been lucky in this case...or, who knows, inspired by Phasis himself.

"Perhaps Balthazar will offer us another feast to while away the rest of the day and to celebrate our appeasement of the great River."

A'kos looks hopefully at the mage...his stomach is growling again.

"Can he conjure up another bull? I would've liked to had a big juicy steak." Jaleh said in a half-teasing manner to A'kos.

Balthazar does likewise, knowing just how big a boon the key to the library is.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Fri 30 Sept 2011.

Miroslav goes to the ships stores where he gets one of the swords of the fallen warrior women. He stands on the shore at the edge of the rive and places the point down on a flat river rock as he hold the handle. Pressing his foot against the blade he bends it past the point of recovery into a crescent shape. He then tosses it into the river saying..."Another gift for Phasis."

He then bows down and drinks from the river offering his thanks.

"Quite right. One never knows when the gods are affecting us."

Having already offered the last of the bull's blood from the sacrificial knife and a prayer, Loukas takes a sip from the river and when Miro makes his offer to Phasis he turns to the party, "It seems to me that Jaleh makes a sound point: we have earned ourselves breakfast."

Sir Jean stands back and watches shaking his head. "I am sorry my friends but I cannot take part in a heathen ceremony such as this. My lord has touched me and I will not bow my head to another, would be a sin."

"Ha," grins A'kos.  "I'm touched as well.  My stomach calls for sustenance!"

Sir Jean, you saw Phasis, and what you observed was business; or, if you like, the beginning of a relationship atl least resembling friendship. Phasis is an intelligent entity beyond mortal scope who is associated with this river and its watershed. Because you reverence another entity is no reason deny this one the respect called for by your ethics.