The rosy Fingered Dawn continues to sail east with favorable winds guiding her along. Within a week of sailing across the calm waters of the Euxine sea land made. the delta of a small river running north can be seen on the horizon. There looks to be a small fishing village nearby.

The captain calls the nearly always silent Vranu on deck.

Vranu joins the others on deck and speaks in his heavily accented Atlantean..."This is the river that will lead us tot he VIllage of Stars. I have traveled through here several times. My own home lies to the northwest of here in the mountains but we traded with these villagers many times over the years."

"Just about a mile in we will reach some mountains then soon after the gorge that the old village is located but the river will become too shallow before then and we will have to make our way on foot to the village."

Nkruma eyes the fishing village with a critical stare. "Perhaps we should put in here. How far do you think we can get your vessel, Ason? I would rather you free to venture here upon the waves than waiting for some tide that never comes while stuck inland."

He takes a moment to look around the crew. "And how shall we travel, Alembos? Horses? On foot? Do we hire bearers? A wagon?" He shakes his head, ruffling his thick fur.

Ason replies..."Vranu has been unable to tell me how far the river will be useful so I plan to do just as you say. I will wait here int he village until you return from the ziggurat."

"As for transport...we should be able to buy some horses in the village itself at best and at worst we will learn the location of the nearest Kurgan horse dealer. We may need a chariot for Fernao though as I cannot see any of the native horses holding one his size."

Brude expertly pilots the sailing ship into the port on the river bank. He keeps his hand axe loose in it's frog on his belt just in case the natives are not as friendly as expected.

He turns and looks at his fellow crew members and says,
"Are you ready for adventure?"

"A noble mount would be fine, but Fernao has long legs. Strong legs....", says the Tauran as he is weaving flowers into another necklace.

He looses the train of thought, apparently, as he focuses on an intricate bit of whatever it is he is doing.

When time passes and Brude asks his question Fernao looks up with a spark in his eyes, "Yes!", he roars as he quickly begins to gather his materials into the leather satchel in which he keeps them. "Give this one, but a moment and he shall be ready!"

Thamyron smiles at Brude and says, "That is what we are here for, isn't it?"

After a few minutes of negotiations between Koryos, Vranu and the locals, the party finds itself heading up river on a small barge headed for the Village of Stars. They have been assured that mounts will be available there by the locals.

Ason waves to them as the barge pulls away. The party consists of Alembos and his bodyguard Vranu, Brude, Conall, Fernao, Koryos, Nkruma, Sabetha and Thamyron. A formidible group of warriors, scholars and sorcerers.

As the barge moves along propelled by the two villagers and their poles, the landscape begins to change from pleasant grassland to rilling hills then to rocky mountainous foothills.

Just as the terrain is about to get rougher a village can be seen from a distance lying on the rocky outcroppings to the west of the river itself. It is a good sized village that sprawls up the side of the rocky terrain before the actual mountains start. This is the Village of Stars proper, the old ruins must be further along the river int he mountains from what you have heard.

A man who could be Vranu's own brother stands at the crude dock as if he was expecting your barge.

Nkruma stands in the prow of the boat, nose lifted to the wind, his bow in hand. He eyes the man on the crude dock for a moment before turning his head. Looking over his shoulder towards Alembos and Vranu, he raises one eyebrow in silent question.

The man, evidently the hetman of the village greets those on the barge warmly and in a few minutes vanishes with both Vranu and Alembos. In a matter of minutes the trio return with two men who carrying wooden barrels on their backs. Vranu guides the men load the barrels on the barge.

Alembos speaks to those in his employment..."Our timing was perfect. We arrived correctly for the annual harvest of Imarelle mushrooms. I was thinking we would have to harvest them ourselves but no, I am able to purchase the mushrooms for a respectable sum.

We will return to the ship then back here for purchase of our mounts."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:24, Wed 14 May 2014.

After a quick trip back down river to deposit the cargo on the Rosy Fingered Dawn, the barge brings the party back to the Village of Stars.

The hetman escorts you to the small market in town where last minute supplies can be bought, mounts as well. The horse dealer seems to be the main establishment in the market, decent mounts and wagons can be found here for a decent price, chariots as well. (Not everything can be found at this market but most items can be as long as they are not too exotic.)

Alembos reminds you all that although his funds are not unlimited, he is still outfitting this expedition.

The Asena stands near the edge of the group, alert for anything. His eyes, ears, and nose continually check out everything that passes by.

"My apologies," he says. "I am not a horseman, nor do I have any true skill in riding. I will let one of you handle such purchases."

Koryos smiles at the Asena..."I would be happy to help you choose a mount but I am thinking perhaps a chariot or even a cart or wagon might be better for both you and Fernao? Most saddles are designed for human asses, you two are built differently."

"Aye," Nkruma nods, watching a pair of boys wrestling in the dirt beyond the merchant's paddocks. "Though I don't know how to sail those either."

He turns his head and winks, tongue appearing red against white teeth as he smiles. "Mayhaps a wagon is best. If anyone is injured it will give us an easy way to carry the body. And should we all survive and find some mountain of gold and silver, we'll need someway to return with it."

Brude is quick to find a mid-sized mare to serve as his transportation, but upon hearing the conversation between Koryos and Nkruma says, "My people use chariots and rarely ride on the backs of horses, our horses are smaller and weaker than those of the plains. I will take the reins of the wagon and Fernao and Nkruma can join me."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Wed 14 May 2014.

Thamyron picks out a horse that seems to fit his size. He examines the horse carefully, looking for any sign of infirmity or ill health. He then looks to Koryos and asks, "How does this one look?"

Fernao listens to the conversation about conveyances, "Fernao walks fast, but prefers the glory that a chariot conveys... But in a wagon we can carry more things. I shall let you make these decisions...", he says to nobody specific.

When Brude offers to handle the reigns the Tauran smiles, "Bruuuud is our pilot on land and sea!"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:56, Mon 19 May 2014.

Koryos helps the party make choices with the mounts, for the most part they are better than most of the horses any of you have seen before. He also helps with the wagon and finds a suitable chariot and two horse team for Fernao. Soon the party is ready to depart.

Koryos asks Alembos..."Will we travel straight to the siggurat now?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:27, Mon 19 May 2014.

"I am sorely tempted to explore the ruin's in the ravine below. The ancients but their homes in the natural caves in the walls of the ravine. THe network of tunnels and caverns is said to go on for miles and the locals fear them. Who knows what ancient treasures we could find. There is even talk of an immense library hidden deep within the caves...but i think the best course for us is to head towards the ziggurat. We can worry about the ruins on our return."

He looks around and asks..."Are we all ready then?"

Fernao, seated next to Brude with his quiver of Javlins across his lap and a partly done bracelet for flowers in his hands looks up and responds to Alembos, "Yes!"

Koryos the Kurgan stands next to a nice wicker chariot with a two horse team and says to Fernao..."No my friend, I chose a good chariot for you!"

Fernao looks at Koryos confused for a moment, but then puts his flowers away and jumps down, "Ah. I thought Brooood would pilot on the land like he does at sea. This is no problem, because Fernao too knows how to pilot!"

He grabs other gear from the wagon and moves to the chariot. Placing his stuff within and his javelins and shield at the appropriate places he looks over the horses that will be pulling him and gently rubbing their nuzzles, "You will pull Fernao the Flowered and together we will get glory. And I will get wine. You will get apples. This is good, no?"

Affirming the nature of their mutual partnership, Fernao jumps into the chariot, "We are ready to go now!"

"Aye," quips Nkruma. "Let us be off to this great tower and see what there is to be had. The sooner our task is done, the better."