"I don't know what's gotten into everybody today.  Alright look, this is gonna be easy." With that said, he steps forward and casts invisibility on Vladimir.  "As long as you take no action that could be construed as an attack, you will remain unseen by all except possibly a wizard."  Then he addresses the group, "Alright, I need some air."  He casts fly and takes off to be alone.

"Well, that is one answer to one dilemma..."

Vladimir nod to Sir Jean and says with a confident smile..."Well enough then!" just before he vanishes from sight.

He looks down at himself or at least that is the sense you all get..."Well this will get me into Kiev without a problem! How long will this last? We are only a few hours from the city."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:04, Mon 21 Feb 2011.

"I know not how long it will last, but since you're small you can ride behind me upon Storm Wind's back without much note," says A'kos, holding his hand down in the direction fo the Prince awaiting his grasp.

Vladimir grabs the offered hand and lets himself be swung up behind the Magyar. "With no mount, they will not suspect anything more than you are returning after a failed mission, good thinking. My Aunt Sophia and her Boyarina's will follow until we reach the country side surrounding Kiev, then they will return here and wait for word from me. We ride now yes?"

Miroslav nods his shaggy head at Vladimir and says..."Aye, we ride!" He looks relieved to say the least. Relieved to have found the Prince and relieved that he did not have to choose allegiances between his liege and his comrades.

"When we near Kiev, I will ride lead. I am well known in the city and will be less likely to be stopped or questioned."

Loukas mounts and falls in with the party. As they ride he wonders, Whatever happens from here can not be more difficult than what has happened up to this point... Can it?

Yes. Yes it may be., he replies to himself and murmers a prayer of forbearance to Volos as they ride on.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Wed 23 Feb 2011.

Conscious of his charge, A'kos rides close behind Miroslav, with Sir Jean flanking him for added protection.  Though it chaffs, he knows he will have to stand back for others should they encounter combat between here and the city...a thought that occurs only after they've started the trek toward Kiev.

Still, it's a private honor to carry the future Rus king atop Storm's Wind.

Jean rides close on the flank of Stormwind.

Keeping his lance in hand his eyes scan the skies and the land for trouble.

<DarkBrown>"Hang on tightly, your Highness,"</DarkBrown> calls A'kos over his shoulders.  "Guards'll not see imprints upon studded leather armor, and the rest of you is masked by the enchantment.  Have a care, however, not to squirm when we get within sight of the guards!"

Balthazar flies back down and takes his place on his horse, but is moody and says nothing to the others.

After a relatively short ride, the walls and onion domes of Kiev can be seen in the distance. With Miroslav in the lead, the way past the guards and into the city is easily navigated and soon, lead by Vladimir's directions you find yourselves at the base of the southern wall of the palace.

A large stable butts up against the wall and Vladimir informs you of a secret passageway into the palace accessible through the stable. He is positive that the Knyaz's chamber can be reached via a series of connected secret passageways that Sviatoslav himself oversaw the construction of.

In reply to Nestor (msg #40):

"Then we should stable our horses then!"

Once they have dealt with their mounts and are preparing to find/enter the secret passage in the stable Loukas pauses and speaks in a low voice, "Your brothers may be aware of your father's construction projects as well, your Hightness..."

Looking around the group he continues, "It seems as if Jaleh and I ought to lead this time. Something tells me that we have the most experience with this sort of work."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:58, Sat 26 Feb 2011.

A'kos helps the lad down before dismounting himself.

"Have a care with this one," he warns the stableboy.  "He's tempermental at best."

When the stableboys rush to their efforts, he says in a low voice to the others, "We must needs move quick before word of this strange appearance should move from the stablehands to others outside the palace.  Of certain will his Highness brothers seek to waylay, or prevent his arrival upon the throne."

After a thoughtful pause he notes, "Perhaps one of our magically inclined folk can cause an enchanted slumber to befall the lads?  One that will leave them no hurt?"

Dyanna responds to A'kos "I'll do better than that." She lays a hand on the stableboys shoulder and takes him for a short walk where she is out of sight with the others. In a moment she and the boy returns, they are both smiling.

"He won't even remember we were here two minutes after we leave but he will continue to care for our mounts as if they were his own and will release them to the strangers. us. Now, shall we move on?""

"Right then...we are off! We need to go directly to the chamber of my father. My brothers would not dare move him unless he is long gone...I do not think he is." He looks at Loukas and nods..."Yes my brothers are aware of these passages, let us hope they think me dead. As far as I know there have been no traps here either but it has been a while with me away...you and Jaleh, please lead us.

Loukas easily finds the hidden passage way behind a false wall. It is dark but not without light. It seems that the passageway had been built to allow some natural light to seep through various cracks.

Jean draws his sword and steps close to Vladimir. Close enough to cover him with his shield and body if necessary.

"They will clear the way Your Highness. If it please you stay close to me as we move to your Father's chamber."

As Jean takes on the role of bodyguard, A'kos crowds behind Loukas and Jaleh, allowing them the space to do their thing, but within easy range to respond quickly should need arise.  His sword is out, and in his firm grip.

Darkness is uncomfortable, but for a Brother of Volos it is not intimidating. (Beside having a light would give guardians a warning of their coming.) So Loukas nods to Jaleh and steps into the barely lighted secret passageway. His weapon drawn, his movements deft and careful.

As the party nears the chamber of the Knyaz, the palace can be heard in an uproar. You can hear shouts..."The Knyaz is dead!, The Knyaz is dead!"

Vladimir rushes to the end of the corridor and pushes open the panel showing the scene of Sviatoslav's resting place.

Sviatoslav lays on a stone slab in the center of the very large room. His crown resting on his chest along with his sword. Vladimir rushes into the room and grabs the crown and places it on his own head and holds his fathers sword in hand.

The Knyaz's court stand in silent witness to both the laying out of Sviatoslav and the return of the once thought dead heir. Yaropolk and Oleg, the brothers of Vladimir, stand in shock when their brother rushes into the room.

THe boyars of the court stand to one side, some old men, some clearly warriors of repute...lengendary warriors such as Ilya of Murom an Alyosha Popovitch can be made out int eh crowd by any who have been living in the realm fr the last year. Behind the two brothers stand their own retainers all cloaked in black.

"I am the chosen heir!" he shouts. As the new Knyaz, I order these two traitors to be taken into custody!" he says ad he points to his two older brothers.

Yaropolk and Oleg both draw their swords. Yaropolk turns to their retainers (15 of them) and shouts..."Kill them all!" Ten of these retainers are lower level boyars who have sided with the two princes, they are more than capable warriors. Cowls are thrown back on the remaining five retainers and it becomes clear that some of these are not even human.

The first stretches to her full height once free from the cloak and nears seven feet tall, a hag with one eye. The second looks like some sort of cross between a man and a crow.(Ilya glowers at this particular retainer). The third drops his cloak to reveal pale almost reptilian skin and a physique even larger than the hag, if not by height then by girth. THe fourth is a beautiful dark haired woman and the last a short very hairy man.

The rest of the boyars (5) in the room including the mighty Ilya step back towards Vladimir and produce weapons of their own.

EDITED
When they entered the hall, Loukas had fallen back and moved gingerly into a position from which he might covertly use his speed to move quickly up the wall, and if he can, across the ceiling above the Sviatoslav's slab...

When the brothers made their move and their strange followers were revealed it occurs to Loukas that however powerful they are, if their masters are brought down the melee might be brought to an end more quickly. Accordingly, Loukas lunges from whatever position he was able to gain at the vile Yaropolk using the clamor and chaos of events to ambush the villain.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Thu 10 Mar 2011.

Sorry, going back over what I wrote I see that i am not clear enough. Ilya, Alyosha and the other three senior boyars are siding with Vladimir against his brothers and their 15 retainers. So the battle is roughly even at 15 a side.

Doh! I'll edit my post.