Oleg works through the night to get the ship ready but obviously has had some difficulties, nothing major but it looks as if the ship will be another few hours before departing.

Sir Jean is gone before the break of dawn. No one sees him leave.

By midmorning the ship is ready to leave and Oleg is ready to sleep. Miroslav calls for Barmak to pilot the ship in Oleg's absence. The weather has turned cold and rainy and the winds unfavorable. Most likely there will be more time on the oars spent than usual and the destination will not be met until the rise of the sun.

Balthazar uses a monster summoning spell to get some substitute oarsmen for a few minutes to give everyone a break.

Loukas heaves to with enthusiasm.

Thanks to Balthazar's summoning spell Loukas and the others are relieved form their oar duties for a time by 8 burly half orc Pecheneg rowers. T Hey don't seem to mind the work nor do they seem confused as to why they are here, they just follow the Hedonties orders until they vanish from sight.

As always, Jaleh tries to find someway to help out on the ship without manning an oar.

A'kos laughs at the mage's ingenuity.

"You are a most useful companion, Mage," he notes, while resting awhile from his exertions aft of the benches and the now rowing Pechanegs.  "I hope you have other useful tricks up your sleeves!"

I just realized a big 'ol error on my character sheet; luckily it has never come into play because no one has launched a melee attack at Balthazar.  Check this out from the cloak of protection description:

"Note that this device can be combined with other items, or worn with leather armor. It cannot function in coniunction with any sort of magical armor, normal armor other than that of leather, or in conjunction with a shield of any sort."

Alright, so ... since his cloak is pretty sweet, he can no longer use the studded leather +2 recently handed down to him.  He can pass that off to Jaleh, who can then pass off the studded leather +1 to ... Heinrich?  Do you need some magic armor?

I'm going to retroactively grant Balthazar a suit of leather armor, if that's okay.

OOC: I'm all for that.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:16, Fri 14 Oct 2011.

Barmak keeps the sight of land off afar to starboard, and he asks the helmsman to notify him if there seems to be a change in the current. In the meantime, he keeps a weather eye out, including what's happening with the sail (if it's up).

[Barmak is relatively new to the game, so I'm assuming the ship is single-masted.]

Heinrich takes a turn on an oar, after he secures his gear appropriately for a sea journey, taking special care of his bow and bowstrings. While the orcs are rowing, he'll walk over to Balthazar, rubbing his hands together, and ask, "Now that's a good trick. What do we expect to find at this library? Whose errands are we running? I'm glad to make some friends to get moving from where we were, but am unclear on how things run here."

OOC: Just starting here to avoid confusing myself with two threads (I feel really old lately).  Heinrich would definitely enjoy the magic armor.

When the Perchenegs settle in to row, Loukas moves to a space away where he can stretch and begins to move his arms and legs, shoulder and heads in graceful figure eight movements. Up and down, side to side he seems to roll with the sea through these exercises. After doing several rounds of these he stretches again, pulls his cow hide cloak around himself and settles down seeming to focus himself on the horizon often caressing the mistletoe wrapped amulet around his neck as he waits to return back to his oar.

"Miroslav, show our new friend the treasure map."

Balthazar waits for Miroslav to roll out the map, then says, "A while back, we attained a nifty magic item called the Deck of Many Things.  I think we might still have it?  Anyway, Miroslav gained a treasure map as his boon, and here it is."

(Copied from when we first saw it)
Miroslav unrolls the vellum carefully due to it's great age and frailty. It is a map of the eastern shore of the Euxine Sea, the area known as Colchis and the city of Dioskurias. There is an inset map that shows the city closer, or better put the ruins of a city. A tower near the docks is highlighted. There is a script at the bottom of the map in a very archaic dialect of Greek.

Balthazar adds, "That script reads 'The great library lies beneath the tower of Dioskurios. The key can be found in the possession of Phasis. Without the key the library will turn to dust.'  So we have the key, and now we are ready to roll.  I don't have a clue as to what is contained in the library.  I'm hoping spell books.  But maybe it contains answers to the  ancient mysteries of the world, like who built the Pyramids and where do the vast oceans lead."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Sat 15 Oct 2011.

Balthazar also says, "If we do have the deck still, be careful Heinrich before deciding to pick from it.  While I profited from my draws initially, somewhere a devil contemplates nothing but evil against me."

Miroslav watch in appreciation as Loukas moves in the way of a monk of Veles. He says..."Very interesting. one day I will show you warrior Buza dance!"

He then pulls out the map to let Heinrich and anyone else who desires take a look at it. He replies to the Hedontite..."We do still have the Deck but it is back safely locked away at home."

Armor swap works for me...I took care of Jaleh's and Heinrich's sheet...Balthazar you can handle your own:)

A'kos recalls the favor he was granted from the Deck, but adds nothing to the conversation.

I took care of that days ago :)

Seems like a good time to do XP from the Phasis adventure.

In reply to Miroslav (msg #14):

Loukas grins and bows to Miroslav and his comments, "I have heard of the Burza dance and look forward to seeing it."

When the talk of the Deck of Many Things comes up he shakes his head dismissively, "Careful Heinrich. Such things are dangerous... Things gained from them are not cursed, but as our Wizard notes, they are also not always what one would desire."

A few hours after sunrise it looks like the ruins of a city can be seen growing closer as the Heart of Oak creeps along the coast.

Miroslav stands at the prow with the map unfurled in one hand. He looks back and nods at Barmak who has been piloting the craft since they left Phasis. Oleg has taken up a spot on the bench. He seems unperturbed by having to share pilot duties.

Heinrich nods to Loukas and says, "Magic often tends to have ... unanticipated consequences."

He then turns to Miroslav and asks, "Where is home for you? How do you intend to approach the city? Should I finish my turn on the oars now so I can be ready with my bow as we approach?"

Barmak guides the ship in as close as is safe, if there's no wharf or such.

As Miroslav directs Barmak to land at the ruins of the docks just to the north, he answers Heinrich..."Originally home was Kiev but like the others, I now call the Black Sea city of Khorsun home."(Khorson is located on the southern cast of the Crimean)

He look sat the ruins of the city and says..."So far, no smoke or other signs of life. We will form a landing party and go inland in search of the library. I am sure there are a few of you that I could not hold back with a team of oxen but I will ask who is going to come ashore."

He points at Oleg and says..."Oleg will remain on the ship."

As Miroslav finishes his speech the Heart of Oak gently glides up tot he remains of the dock with a slight bump.

Ulfr is the first to jump up and claim a spot in the landing party. "I have sat behind these oars too long!"

Loukas stands and grabs his sword from the chest under his spot at the oars and straps in onto his back, under his cowhide cloak. "Let us visit the skeletons of long dead librarians! Talk about past due..."