Miroslav spends some time bundling up the loot taken from the keep including the two ever burning braziers which he wraps in a small tapestry he takes from the wall.

Once down he loads up the pack horse and shows both Cuivi and Yaro the mounts he has purchased for them..."Do not worry about repayment. Your deeds will hopefully be payment enough."

If you want a description of your mounts...please feel free to fill in the blanks:)

As he sits on his mount he says..."So who it is that grabbed the copper ball? You have it yes Loukas? I have Vikhors head here in a bag!" he finishes talking and pats the heavy hanging bag attached to his saddle.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Sun 14 Nov 2010.

"Aye, I have the copper ball." Reaching into one of his pouches he pulls the bauble out and places it on the ground. Once it starts rolling he follows on foot leading his horse relying on his Veles-trained speed to easily keep pace with the mounted party.

When Loukas tosses the copper ball of direction to the ground it sits for a moment as if trying to decide where to go...northeast towards the thick old forests in the land north of the Rus. Miroslav says they are heading in the general direction of Novgorod but that is very far away.

The copper ball and it's followers make good time traveling in the same general direction most of the day. it only stops as the sun begins to set, giving just enough time to make camp before the light gives out.

Miroslav has a nice pot of stew going from supplies he picked up in the village and wine a plenty was brought from Vikhors keep. Turnip, onions and white carrots stretch the cut of fresh venison he was able to procure into a hearty meal for all.

As the party rests by the warm fire Cuivi quietly slips outside the comfortable boundaries of the camp. The old man walks quietly and with purpose to a quite area masked from intrusion but within easy reach of the safety of his fellowship. Here he prepares the ground laying out his skins and furs and with a hushed intonation starts a chant that brings him into contact with the gods of his people.

The next morning after the party breaks it's fast on leftover stew kept warm in the pot overnight, the copper ball begins to roll once again. It continues heading through the thick forests into the northeast.

This pattern continues on for the next week. As the party begins to break clear of the heavy forested area...

The sound of an enraged bird and rough human-like voices echo across the clearing. As the copper ball rolls out of the forest, a three headed giant struggles to contain a gigantic two headed eagle within it's large net. One of the giant's heads glares at you across the clearing roughly 100 feet away while the other two heads focus on keeping it's giant prey captured.

In reply to Nestor (msg #10):


When Loukas sees the brawl before them he stoops down and picks up the copper ball putting it back into his pouch. Glancing back at his friends he draws his sword and as he melts into the woods says, "Three-heads and two legs bad, two-heads good!"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Tue 16 Nov 2010.

Cuivi reins his mount in,"indeed, if we can free the bird we may find ourselves a valuable ally in a fight against this monster that would deprive it of freedom."

"As a chicken-eater, I must abstain from taking sides in this matter."

"A Tapagoz," snarls A'kos angrily as he stares across the way toward the brute.  "A scourge indeed!"

With that, he draws his sword and lifts it crying out, "Arpad's honor!"

Kicking Storm's Wind in the flanks he charges into the open toward the struggle ahead.


To Dyanna from earlier: "Wrong side of the range, Ma'am."

In reply to Balthazar the Hedonite (msg #13):

Cuivi presses his mount forward aiming for some slightly higher ground to practice his sling arm from. He calls back as he rides, "Gentle chicken eater, the Magyar has it, this monster has already taken sides against you no matter if you abstain or not."

Also familiar with the three headed giants, Miroslav urges his stead forward behind the Magyars. Hi two handed axe is definitely not made for fighting while mounted so he draws his bow and an arrow from the gorytus attached to his saddle and makes to skewer the giant at least once or twice before getting close enough to dismount and use his axe.

Yaro follows the lead of both A'kos and Miroslav as he spurs his horse forward and almost kneels on his saddle drawing both his bow and arrows. With uncanny skill he lets fly two arrows towards the three headed giant.

There is a gleam in his eye when he lets loose the arrows as if he just knows he was born for this moment.

Jaleh sees the young new comer kneeling on his saddle and give a momentary thought of giving it a try but then decides that fall off her horse at this time might prove to be as dangerous as it is embarrassing so she lets her own arrows fly towards the giant.


:21, Today: Jaleh, rolled 2 using 1d6.
13:20, Today: Jaleh, rolled 1 using 1d20.
13:20, Today: Jaleh, rolled 14 using 1d20.

Balthazar draws his new scimitar but watches the fight from a safe distance, confident the party can handle the giant.  Nonetheless, he turns the weapon all on the defensive (+4 to ac) just in case there's any trouble that comes his way.

A'kos horse seems to glide across the ground with astounding speed and grace, and his sword is lifted high overhead with one hand as he guides the beast with legs and one hand lightly holding the reins.  His warcry lasts nearly a full minute, after which the impact is terrible as both he and the horse crash into the monster with a resounding echo!

12:10, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 4 using 1d6. dmg 3...um, not so much!.
12:10, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 3 using 1d6. dmg 2.
12:10, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 5 using 1d6. dmg 1.
12:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 1 using 1d20. the horse att 3.
12:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 14 using 1d20. the horse att2.
12:09, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 10 using 1d20. the horse: att1.
12:07, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 13 using 1d12+5. dmg 2.
12:07, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 9 using 1d12+5. dmg 1.
12:07, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 22 using 1d20+5. to hit 2.
12:07, Today: A'kos, the Falcon rolled 18 using 1d20+5. to hit 1.

The Falcon's blade flashes twice; the spume of blood flies, splashing horse and rider in crimson spray as he hits the beast twice.  At the same time, Storm's winds hooves and sharpened shoes hit the beast with fury, yet as he tries to bite the beast he overbalances, and (potential) calamity befalls horse and rider.

(Natty 1 w/ that bite attack.  This should be interesting).  Looks like 25 points of damage, depending upon Storm's Wind's first leg attack (to hit 10).


ooc: I haven't played A'kos nearly as recklessly as I had early on...this was a fun charge!
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Sun 21 Nov 2010.

Clambering from his mount Cuivi plants himself firmly and lets loose a stone from his sling.

21:45, Today: Cuivi rolled 4 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 1. Cuivi to hit roll.

OOC: oh well a good first start!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Sun 21 Nov 2010.

Dyanna rushes forward atop her horse and comes to a halting stop within some thirty feet of the brute.  She lifts her arms in a sudden gesture, then begins to weave her hands in and out in a swaying, hypnotic fashion, all the while droning in a low, soft chant that seems to carry to the monster before them.

Cast Hypnotism.

Jeans drives Donnerhuf in hard on Akos' left hammering his lance into the giant.

The single head turned towards the party looks deep into Dyanna's eyes as she cast her spell over him just before a half a dozen arrows impale or bounce off the giants thick hide. A single shot slung from Cuivi bounces off the creatures thick skull doing no damage.

It's other two heads turn to see who has attacked it just in time to feel Jeans lance and A'kos sword plunge into it;s gigantic body...it wobbles greatly as Loukas leaps upon it's back and drives his sword between the great shoulder blades and into it's already distressed heart.

It falls to the ground almost crushing the dvoriem, still caught in it's net. Within a few seconds the great three headed giant bleeds out from it's many wounds. Loukas standing on it's expansive back.

The dvoriem struggles in the net near the giants shoulder.

Yaro goes and collects his two arrows, as he passes by the dvoriem he draws his belt knife and begins cutting at the net. "Fear not brave dvoriem, we will have you cut free in a jiffy." He looks to the others to see who else is going to help free the magnificent raptor.

Dyanna dismounts, and pulls out a dagger (not her new acquisition, by the way) to assist their newfound companion.

"A beautiful creature," she murmurs as she studies it.  "I've never heard tell of such before."

Within a minute or two, Yaro and Dyanna have enough of the net cut that the dvoriem can poke both of it's heads out of the hole they have created. In another minute the great double-headed eagle is free. It stretches it's great wings which span upwards of 20 feet.

It looks at it's saviors with both pairs of eyes then focuses on Cuivi for a second.

With a great double cry out, it lurches into the air and is gone from sight within a few minutes as it climbs higher and higher.

Miroslav retrieves his arrows as well and checks the body of the giant. He shakes his head indicating that there was nothing on the giant worth keeping.

Loukas sheaths his sword and salutes the dvoriem as it flies off and jumps off the giant's back. "It can only be a good omen that we came when we did to free that noble creature. One might suggest that this was a good representation of what we could do for the Rus: if we succeed in finding/helping the son of Sviatoslav we have saved the Rus from the awful chaos represented by this beast's three heads."

Scratching his lightly bearded chin absent mindedly he once again pulls out the ball, "Well, I suppose it is time to get back on to the path, eh?"

Dyanna chuckles.

"Such symbolism," she says.  "I thought only the Greeks reveled in such omens and signs."

She gathers herself and mounts, thoughtful, replaying the encounter in her mind.

Loukas stretches one last time setting forth again on foot. In response to Dyanna's comment he turns his head, "You apparently forgot my darling, but if I am only half Greek, I am still a Greek! It's my worst side, so be leery of it."