Loukas and Dyanna have no problem finding a keg small enough to carry back to the shore. They note that Radvila is beaming with pride after the success of his carved post.

Loukas raises his glass to Radvila, "Here is to Radvila, whom I will call The Carver from this day forward. Your work was vital to helping us get Phasis's attention, my friend. Your artistry summoned the great spirit of this river and appeased the gods!"

When he finishes his toast he walks to each member of the party and leans in closely where A'kos and Jaleh sit. His face is bright and friendly from the drink and celebration, but when he leans in and speaks in a low voice, as if telling a joke, its tone does not quite match, "It seems we are being watched."

His hands are gesticulating as if he is drunk and telling a story and as he does this he just so happens to point his mug quickly in a specific direction, "I saw a man several hundred yards in that direction. I only saw him for a moment and he slipped back into the bush."

Delivering his warning he laughs as if just told a joke and moves on to the next party member. He does this until he has warned everyone, including A'kos and Jaleh.

"I see" laughs Balthazar.  He says out loud, "I forgot my wine!"  He makes his way back onto the ship, then when he is out of sight, he casts invisible and fly and flies over to investigate in the direction Loukas pointed out.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:12, Thu 06 Oct 2011.

"Balthazar forgot his wine? Impossible!"

Laughing (and this isn't fake laughter, because the idea that a Hedonite would forget his wine is funny), "Ha! You're right, Miro, the only thing Balthazar 'forgot' is that he drank his wine. That is the only reason his cup is empty!"

Balthazar casts protection from normal missiles just to be on the safe side.  Then he flies over to about 15 feet above the man and, still invisible, says, "Howdy.  And who might you be?"

Dyanna says to the others quietly,
"I got a glimpse of him as well. Probably not as good as Loukas did and definitely not as good as our Hedonite friend is getting right now. I thought he might be a hunter since I thought i saw a bow."

Miroslav wraps a meaty hand around his flagon of wine and down it in one long pull..."Let us not concern ourselves overly yet. If you sure it was a man you saw then it is doubtful that he is in league with the locals if a bow he carries."

He sets his flagon down with a bang, fully expecting someone to be kind enough to refill it.

Dyanna laughs and begins to refill the captains flagon saying,
"Of course my Lord! If there is anything else you may need, do not hesitate, to get it yourself!"

Barmak takes nourishment and then...patiently waits.

Cuivi chuckle softly at Dyanna's jest. He then goes back to looking nervous and out of place. He knows that he is a relative newcomer to this group and keeps himself in the background most of the time. He is content with his role though as he slowly sips his wine.

Heinrich drops the large bundle he was carrying, that looks like a bag lashed to a shield with an axe tied on as well. He looks around him, an altogether average-looking man with brown hair and eyes, his face studiously blank as he looks around for the disembodied voice he just heard. He keeps his bow on his shoulder, but very slowly and deliberately opens his gray cloak, placing one hand on the hilt of the sword at his belt, letting the other hand hang loosely by his side.

"I'm just a traveler, trying to stay out of trouble, and alive. Are you just another voice in my head?", he calls out in a voice only slightly louder than a normal conversational tone.

"No, I haven't yet mastered projecting my voice into people's heads yet.  Something I should definitely work on, though.  Jolly good idea, that.  I'm a wizard, and I would like to know where you travelled from and where you are traveling to.  The reason I ask is because my companions over there are about to lose a valued warrior companion, and you look like you could handle yourself admirably in a fight."

Heinrich cocks his head to the side, and then replies, "I'm heading from here to there, but the in between has gotten to be rather long. And the natives here are... rather....unfriendly. As for fights, I always prefer to avoid them. They tend to be messy and uncertain. "

He then stands quietly, waiting to see what happens next with the disembodied voice.

Miroslav turns a keen ear toward the brush covered edge of the forest. He holds up his hand for silence and says quietly..."Balthazar has obviously found his quarry."

He stands and cups his hands around his mouth, calling out..."Balthazar...what have ye found? Who speaks in yonder bush with the Hedonite?"

A'kos looks on with some interest, though he does not leave the comfort of the shade.

Loukas also turns his head towards where the voices seem to be coming from. That the Hedonite's tone seems to be conversational is welcome sign, but knowing the Wizard it did not necessarily mean that whomever he was speaking to was friendly.

DRAFT, subject to change or even deletion

Barmak gets up and appropriates a plate, a cup, some food (including bread), and some wine. He purses his lips and adds some salt to near the edge of the plate. Then he walks over to the newcomer. Traveling is hungry work. Here is refreshment. If you're worried, I'll taste it.

"Hmm, well, tell you what, come and meet my friends."  Balthazar wills himself visible and ushers the newcomer over to the group.  "My name is Balthazar the Hedonite.  I mainly use my skills to act as the party's advance scout."  Balthazar lets the rest of the party introduce themselves, then urges the newcomer to introduce himself as well.

Heinrich follows Balthazar, again hefting the bundle attached to his shield. He glances at Balthazar, and says, "You make quite a scout, with the flight and invisibility. I'm afraid I have fair poorer abilities."

Once he reaches the main group, he looks around and says, "Well, it seems your friend Balthazar has retreived me. I'm Heinrich."

He sets down the bundle attached to his shield, and waits to see what happens next.

Loukas gives the newcomer the once over before smiling, "Welcome, Heinrich. Forgive us for the care we are taking, but we have not had a good time with the locals. Your name is Germanic, no? May I ask what brings you out this way?"

Heinrich looks for a good spot to sit, and eases himself down, easing off his backpack and bow.

He then looks at Loukas and says, "I have had some issues with the locals too. I'm from Hamburg originally, but spent some time as a drover in Otto's army for his Italian campaigns.  Since then, well it's a long story, but it just seems like I end up getting places that are less and less friendly. Some rather unfriendly sailors decided to dump me here when I objected to being robbed."

In reply to Heinrich (msg #89):

Nods sympathetically, "Ah, yes... We have had similar experiences, yet we were fortunate to have them together. As a result we gained ownership of our unfriendlies' ship."

Clasping Miro's shoulder, "This is our Captain, Miroslav. We are a free vessel, though we have often served Sviatslav, Knyaz of the Rus and do so proudly....

"So, you are a drover? What else? We all have useful skills, eh? You have met Balthazar our 'scout', who happens to be a wizard. I pull an oar, myself, but was once an agent of the Empire -- today I am a Brother of Veles first and foremost."

"Well, with a little experience working with this team under your belt, I'll bet your skills will flourish.  Why, it seems only yesterday that Jaleh here was convinced that I had no magical ability because she never saw me cast any spells."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:31, Sun 09 Oct 2011.

At the newcomer's tale A'kos sniffs, glares at the man with sharp disdain but says nothing.