"After you," says A'kos, holding the door of the tavern open.

"Because my good friend, I value quality over quantity.  I'll see you in the tavern in a bit."

Later on ...

Balthazar enters the tavern with a lady friend.  She is clearly older than he, but has retained her youthful figure to a certain degree and has a regal countenance. "Miroslav, I'd like to introduce you to Elsmeera.  We go way back."  He winks at her.

After some small talk, Balthazar looks around and says, "Where's Armin?"

The Rus looks the women up and down and gives Balthazar an approving glance and says as he bows..."I am pleased to meet you my lady."

he then turns to Balthazar, while grabbing to goblets and a pitcher of wine for the newcomers..."Armin in hiding in his room. I am not sure what he thinks he will learn if he will not venture from he safety of his bed. There is much to learn here in Mesmembria, yes?"

After leaving the ship, Jean made arrangements for his horse for the night.  He was certain the mount would prefer some flat land under its hooves.  In the morning, he planned on letting it dine on some fresh foliage as well.

Once that was accomplished, he had no plans in particular, the entire trip having been unexpected.  He looked for unusual architecture or customs as he may at this time of the day.  Jean also listened to see if they still spoke Greek in this town.

Jean quickly notices that the common tongue here in Mesmembria is indeed Greek. There is not exceptional about this city really, he does notice a large Church a ways from the dock area and spies the Byzantine paladin, Roderychus, entering through the large double oak doors of the building.

Other than that it is looking to be a very mundane coastal city. Perhaps a few more Magyar looking types and a few more of the Rus than he has encountered before but that is about it.

Considering that this town seemed just like any other, it brought no excitement to his heart.  It was nice to be on land again; Jean had never been much of a sailor.

Spying Roderychus entering a church, the knight decided to take time to visit it as well.  Upon approaching, he noted that it was Greek Orthodox, which was most common in this region.  It didn't bother him overly, as the political split of the Church was not something he felt needed fixing (at least not by him).

Entering after his new compatriot, Jean first observed the interior of this holy structure, first in the entranceway, and secondarily in the main chamber.

"Well, I don't see what kind of an escort I can be if he just hides in his room.  There will be plenty of time for scribing on the ship, unless he can't write on a ship. I know some people have trouble with that."

Balthazar and Elsmeera head up to Armin's room and knock on the door.  "Armin, are you in there?  Would you like to see the town?  I do believe I know a nice local young lady that would look simply dazzling on your arm."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:24, Tue 04 Aug 2009.

Smiling happily, Jaleh slipped through the door in a manner that brought her body in close proximity to A'kos. An alluring habit that she had picked up while plying her trade in Constantinople. One could say that it was a valuable skill to have. As she whisked nimbly past A'kos and into the room, she granted him a musical little giggle.

In reply to Balthazar the Hedonite (msg #85):

Armin walks over to the door and opens it up but a crack and peers out with one eye.
"No thank you. I must admit that I am tempted but this past week on the ship has done horrible things to my stomach. I fear I will never be the same again, surely you understand."

"Of course, of course.  I do hope you'll be feeling better sooner than you think.  Come on Elsmeera, let's return to the common room."

A'kos felt the fool.  In retrospect he didn't think he'd spent this much time grinning in his entire life as he had since they'd set sail.  The girl...nay, woman was a wonder, and as she entered he followed close behind.

"Our companions, it seems," he said to her, nodding toward the table.  "Shall we join them?"

He hoped she declined, and chose a table for the two of them to share alone...

Turning around to face A'kos with a wry grin, she asked him a simple question while placing her hand upon his chest. "Would you rather share my attention with them or save it all to yourself?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Wed 05 Aug 2009.

Placing his hand over hers he smiled warmly.

"Your attention is all I need, and I would not share it with the king of paradise himself."

"Then perhaps our companions can fend for themselves." she suggested quietly, bouncing up on the balls of her feet to give A'kos, a swift kiss on the chek.

Sliding his hand to her lower back, A'kos grins stupidly but guides her to a table by one of the windows.  As they sit he nods at one of the waitresses and says, "A pint of ale, and whatever the lady is having..."

Miroslav watches A'kos an Jaleh take another table at the tavern and calls out while laughing..."What, do we offend your senses?"

He downs his last swig of wine from the goblet and calls to the server to bring mead.
"Enough of this rotten grape water! I can feel the wind sweeping across the sea fromt he plains to the east. We need a good Rus drink at our table now...mead or even Kumiss but I doubt we will get fermented mares milk in a Greek city!"

Tempted to reply, A'kos forestalls his baser instincts and instead offers an amused grin to the other table before turning his attention back to Jaleh.

"Heh," he chuckles quietly.  "I had a feeling he would respond like so.  He is a large boy...he would contest everyone and everything for the sake of competition."

As the night goes on the Boarshead starts to fill up and things begin to get more loud and rowdy. The more Miroslav drinks the more wild he becomes but luckily for most of the patrons the wide Slav is not a mean drunk...just boisterous.

Alexander, the man who is acting as Armin's aide has even made an appearance and is quietly sipping some ale in the corner.

Overcome with the flowing wine, mead and ale and the camaraderie of new found friends on the ship and in the tavern this evening Miroslav hops up on the table grabs a pitcher of mead, takes a huge pull from it then holds it over head and begins to sing in a fairly strong and surprisingly pleasant voice...

"If we drink we will die
If we don't drink we will die
So we might as well say "What the hell!"
And raise our glasses high
Whatever your name You'll be dying just the same
So you might as well say, "What the hell!"
and join us in a drink Hey!"

He then tops off everyones drink at the table from the mead pitcher...even if they were not drinking mead! So some of those around the table now drink a mixture of mead and wine or mead and ale.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Thu 06 Aug 2009.

Loukas has spent his time since sitting down next to Miroslav doing his best NOT to match the big Rus's drink capacity, but drinking nevertheless. When his cup is filled after the song he takes a quaff. "One wonders if your voice is as good when you aren't drinking, Miroslav. Give us another!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Fri 07 Aug 2009.

Jaleh walked closely to A'kos letting him virtually cradle her in his arm as he held her by the small of her back. When they sat, she slid a chair, presumably for herself over near the one A'kos chose but rather than sitting in the chair, she spun around and sat in his lap while hooking an arm around his shoulders. A moment afterward, the hand of that arm began teasing his goatee.

She was tempted herself to respond to Miroslav's question, but as A'kos had declined to respond, so did she, assuming that since A'kos was a man, he would know better whether to respond or not. As the night went on and things became more festive, Jaleh Stayed with A'kos and took her queues from him on how to please him, whether to stay with the party or move to a private room.

"Ha Loukas! You have discovered my secret! I sing much better when I am in my cups, lyrics seem to flow better with drink yes?"

He settles back down on the edge of the table and begins to sing a more subdued tune...
"Don't rejoice oak trees.
Don't rejoice green ones.
Not to you are the girls coming.
Not to you, the pretty ones.
Not to you are they bringing pies, pastries, omelettes.
Yo, Yo Semik and Trinity!
Rejoice birches! Rejoice green ones!
To you the girls are coming!
To you they are bringing pies, pastries, omelettes.
Yo, yo Semik and Trininty.

When he finishes he plops down back into his seat and fills himself a new goblet of mead..."Enough song from me...I am spent! now for the rest of you...surely you know some good songs to drink to? Balthazar, surely you must know a few?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Fri 07 Aug 2009.

Alexander gets up from his spot in the corner and walks over to the table, taking a seat next to Loukas..."You all are having so much fun here, I thought it was a good time to join you."

Loukas smiles at Alexander and makes room for the man to join the party, "You are welcome to do so! I am Loukas. You work for the Persian, don't you?"

Alexander"I do not work for him, I was loaned ot him by Nicephorus. Normally I work as a scribe but for some reason, my employer felt that I would be invaluable to Armin and set me as his aide." nods his head at Loukas...