A'kos shakes his head, a skeptic when it comes to seafaring.

"Let's be about this," he grouses unhappily, checking his weapons to ensure all are ready and at hand.

Miroslav lays a meaty hand on the Magyar's shoulder..."I understand how you feel my old friend. Rest easy knowing than soon we will be on land routing the Pechenegs on hosreback!"

He then turns to Oleg and shouts..."Get us close enough that we can make a difference...flank them on the left where the Khorsun are thinnest!"

His bow is nearby, but he knows his shoulders are of more use to the matter now, so Loukas throws himself into oaring.

Barmak bravely gets to wherever seems the most protected. ("Bravely"? Yes, because he risks ridicule and scorn.)

Jaleh readied her bow and perched herself at the bow of the ship where she could shoot anything that came close enough.

Heinrich helps with an oar until they get close to an engagement distance, then stops, limbering himself up to get ready for using his bow.

He'll glance around, and quickly asks, "The invaders are our targets, yes?"

Once he is ready to use his bow, he will move to the crow's nest (if there is one), or step to the ship's rail, far enough from Jaleh to not present bunched targets, and prepare to send a stream of arrows at the sailors steering the enemy ships.

Dyana asks for Miroslav's help to get the mirror wrapped in furs from it's secure spot. Once the mirror is set up she concentrates on scrying what seems to be the command ship.
"Maybe we can get a better look at what we face using this?"

Within a few moments the glass of the mirror reflects not what is before it bu the deck of the command ship. A man can be seen talking to another.

When Loukas sees the image in the mirror he pauses and takes a breath, "Huh."

His voice is calm and his face is bland, almost blank. In his head however, there's a roil. He doesn't see red, he sees white. "Our old friend has given us an unexpected opportunity."

Turning to the party members who are newer, "That is the Nicephorus Balthazar referred to in Apollonius's tower."

"Hmm, wouldn't mind running into him around now," A'kos muses, a half smile upon his lips.  "Might make this sea-voyage more tolerable if we could manage to skin him clean to the bone..."

Dyanna places one hand on the frame of the mirror and the other one on her hip.

"You know, it is possible to use this mirror as a doorway. A number of you could be on that ship in seconds."

A hungry look crossed Loukas's face, "How many may cross? Vengeance aside, this would also permit us to more effectively affect the battle. If enough of us could cross over and take over that ship, we not only remove an enemy from the battle, but add to our forces."

Now the Falcon's grin is wide, and he draws his blade and readies his equipment for battle.

"I'm ready!"

Any number can go through. Lets just say that Dyanna lets this be known.

Miroslav grips his axe with a white knuckle grip as he stands next to the falcon..."We go through and hit them hard. Taking the ship is our goal...revenge secondary! Prepare your weapons...we go through just as soon as we are ready!"

Loukas stretches his fingers, shoulders and neck, "I've the weapons that I need and am ready to bring Veles's cleansing flood to the decks of yon ship. Come friends, let us add another verse to the song of our Fellowship!"

Stepping back as the mirror is prepared and the party gathers, he begins to sing the story that he'd begun at Apollonius's and with each word the party members feel their adrenalin begin to rush, "Gather round and hear the tale of Miroslav the Bold and his dauntless crew...

Of A'kos the Falcon, proud warrior of the Magyar;
Balthazar the Hedonite, wizard of knowledge and pleasure;

Jaleh the Archer, foxy and adroit,
Barmark the Arab with the canny scimitar to exploit;

Dyanna the Spartan, who's sorcery is subtle;
Heinrich the German, who across Europa has scuttled;

And Loukas Ouranus, Brother of Veles and singer of the song,
From the deck of the Heart of Oak through Dyanna's mirror they throng

To bring doom to treacherous Nicephorus, malefactor and vile factotum...!"

OOC: Using POETIC ABILITY: Raises morale of associated creatures 10% & gives +1 To Hit. (Requires 2 rounds of poetics to inspire effects, Lasts 1 Turn, Bard may engage in melee, but not cast spells or Charm, etc. during poetics)

In other words, Loukas begins the song as they're assembling and by the time they're on the deck of Nicephorus's ship the +1 To Hit ought to be in effect. I've only included PCs in the song here, I think. If I've left anyone off, mea culpa! Let me know and I'll add you directly.

And I promise never to attempt to rhyme anything again. Ever. Promise.

A'kos chuckles, then frowns.

"A fine effort, Loukas...though while I agree I'm not sure I approve of your observation regarding Jaleh..."

OOC: Please note the edit.  No offense, sweetling...
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

"What do you mean you're not sure? You don't find me foxy?" Jaleh asked A'kos. For all she knew A'kos could have been referring to the 'adroit' phrace, but wasn't was certain herself of what that meant.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

In reply to Jaleh (msg #34):

Loukas doesn't pause his poetics at A'kos's comment [OOC: in this time 'foxy' would have been known to mean wily, clever, 'sly like a fox' more than sexy], just shrugging his shoulders he grins.

Okay, time for Balthazar to catch up on this game!

1) Balthazar is probably the only player who did NOT read his magic tome.  He has kept the Silver Libram, as the XP it will give him to go from 10 to 11 far outweighs the lift from 9 to 10 (177,500 compared to 312,500).  Just an fyi.  (DM - if this too meta-gamey, then screw that and we'll say he read it.)

2) Balthazar learned a whole bunch of new spells from the spellbook.  The spell he chose for getting to 9th level was passwall, so that it will be hard to stop the party from going wherever they want.

3) The morning before the party would have arrived in Khorsun, Balthazar cast heroe's feast, so as a reminder, everyone gets for 12 hours (of which we are still well within):
- immunity to poison
- effects of bless, so +1 to hit
- immune to fear, hopelessness, and panic

4) Now back to the present.  Balthazar readies himself with protection from normal missiles  and invisibility.

5) Balthazar casts his second invisibility on Jaleh.  Nothing like an invisible assassin.

Balthazar says, however, to the party, "I'd like to capture Nicephorus alive, so we can question him."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Thu 09 Feb 2012.

Balthazar adds, "Aye, once we secure the ship and take Nicephorus prisoner, I will use my magic to destroy enough of the Greek fleet to turn the tide."

A'kos is troubled by his companion's mounting ability in the mystical, but says nothing.

Heinrich moves over to the mirror, and asks the others as he points out the man identified as Nicephorus, "So we want to take that one prisoner?"

He then looks at the layout of the deck and where their enemies are standing, trying to decide if he can effectively use his bow before he ends up in a melee.

The bear-like Rus can feel the music of Loukas filling him full of confidence. He lloks at A'Kos and smiles, ready for battle.

He answers the German..."Yes, that is the one...It will be hard thing to not bury my axe in his head but the hedonite is correct, alive if possible."

"I'm first for the man the traitor is speaking to - he, at least, shall die!" says A'kos, and with that he dives through the mirror!

ooc: i'll let nestor describe the scene before making my rolls.  don't like to get ahead of myself - our good dm may have a nasty trick in store, and I'd hate to roll a natty 20 while falling into the roiling Abyss!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Fri 10 Feb 2012.

"You're not going without me!" Jaleh called after A'kos. Then she too jumped through the mirror.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Thu 09 Feb 2012.