Blathazar easily finds the party of refugees heading east towards Cuivi and the other refugees on the east road. Shortly after, the rest of the part catches up and after a time they all reunite with the others.

Cuivi shakes his head as he looks at the refugees and says...I cannot see how I can ocntinue on with all of you. It is best that I escort these children back to Kiev and i request that Yaro and the archers accompany me as well."

Onfim looks over at the lot of women and children and nods his head..."I would surely hate to lose half our party but surely these poor folk need our help to get to safety."

Loukas agrees, "I am particularly concerned about losing you, Cuivi (sorry, Yaro), but I think you have the right of it. We can not leave these poor folk to fend for themselves.

"If nothing else it's more heroic for us to travel on without a healer, eh?", he ends with a wry grin.

"Well, if we succeed in our quest, the Grail is supposed to have great healing qualities."

Onfim nods his head..."Yes it does but until then I do have some skill in healing."

"Okay gang, lots of dead bodies out here that shouldn't rot out in the sun, let's get to burying them."

I imagine the party will be busy for the next couple of days on grave digger duty.

"These lands are not overly crowded," said A'kos.  "Better to pile them and leave them for the vultures, and other scavengers.  Nature's bounty, I say."

Onfim nods his head..."Aye, the wolves and ravens will be here soon enough. I would think the Pechenegs will double back to loot their own dead soon enogh as well."

The party splits with Cuivi and Yaro taking a wagon full of refugees to Kiev along with the archers and Casius while A'Kos, THorn, Balthazar, Loukas and Onfim continue on in search of the Grail.

Days pass and Balthazar leads the party in the direction his spell pointed. Nearing the destination Balthazar confirms that a distant cabin in the distance is their goal. Smoke streams from the chimney in the small round sod house.

It is faster going with the smaller party and Loukas appreciates this. While he is a city boy born and bred, but he was also born to a merchant family and this means that he knew how to survive on the road even before joining the Fellowship and then the Brotherhood and since then his survival skills have suitably increased.

When they finally come within view of the cabin he turns to Balthazar, "Before we go any farther, remind us what your spell is supposed to be directing us to. I mean, is it directing us to the Grail or to an information source about it? We should scout this cabin out before knocking on the door, no?"

A'kos nods at Loukas's question.

"If need be, the son of Veles and I can swiftly reconnoiter the place."

(and I assume Brother Finnegan?)



"To the Grail.  Yes by all means scout it out."

"I can scout the place out swiftly as well, Falcon, and I can also do it stealthily. Let me go forth and be ready to back me up if I fail to be as stealthy as I need to be."

If there is no further conversation [OOC: That is, if y'all don't want me to do this.] Loukas pulls out his Gusli. Using the Invisibility from it he will move as silently as a man who is not only a monk but a trained thief may move and approach the cabin.

Of course Brother Finnegan is there, my slop, sorry:)

Loukas vanishes, presumably headed for the small house while the others wait.

PM

PM

Loukas returns to the party. He remains invisible for the time being, but speaks [OOC: I know attacking while invisible cancels the spell, but if I'm wrong about speaking let me know and I'll edit], "Hoy, fellows! So, I took a gander and it looks like a normal cabin. There's an old fellow in there enjoying some sort of hot, drink, which it looks like he's enjoying. It seems like he's the only one in there and he also seems to be the only magical thing about the place. He positively glows with the stuff!

"Well then, let's do it."

Balthazar approaches the cottage and knocks on the front door.  "Good day I say.  Is there anyone at home?"

Loukas begins to ask Balthazar if he has any idea who the old man might be, but the magus moves off so suddenly that he finds himself standing there. Because he is still invisible nobody can see that his mouth is agape.

Rather than attempt to stop him the Hedonite he shrugs, accepting that there probably is no planning or preparation for whatever will come next, and follows after performing a combination punch and kick that is not only a move from the Brotherhood of Veles's martial art, but, unsurprisingly, is also known as a move in a traditional folk dance.

Anyone who is still around to see him notices that he seems to spin out of his invisibility. Everyone else notes that he catches up and and stands to the side of the mage expectantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:47, Fri 10 Jan 2014.

A'kos kicks Storm's Wind into motion, following Balthazar at a walk.

The old man looks up as he hears the knock on his door. It had been years since his last visitor. He grabs his crutch and stands..."Just a minute!" he calls as he hobbles the short distance to the door.

With no little effort he opens the thick oaken door and looks at Balthazar and the others and says..."I thought you would never get here."

Balthazar gives him a broad smile and says, "Ah, I see we're expected, excellent.  Also very glad we don't have to do that 3 questions to cross the bridge game.  I must admit, I can't quite make up my mind as to what my favorite color is.  Well, my name is Balthazar, and this here is Loukas, and this here is A'kos, and this here is Thorn, and this fellow Onfim, and this fine Irishman Finnegan.  Since you obviously know why we are here, may we come in?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Sat 11 Jan 2014.

"What is that delightful smell?" asks Thorn. He mighe be meaning the hot drink that the old man is enjoying, or he might simply be being polite, and pretending that any other odour is simply not there.

"My favourite colour is green, by the way."

Loukas bows his head humbly in greeting when Balthazar introduces him, but does not otherwise respond.