"I suppose that shall accompany you folks ashore and continue my search for a temple after a drink or two," Nkruma says as his eyes comb the docks and nearby ships.

Though he leaves his armor and bow aboard, he does take with him his dagger as well as a quantity of coin.

Koryos lays a strong hand on Nkruma's furry shoulder and says..."Believe it or not, I know and understand much of the religious lore of Europa and it's people, a strange subject for a Kurgan warrior to specialize in but one that holds great interest for me."

"It is my theory that most people share the same gods seen through the eyes of their own cultures. My people call Olukun, Akwon Nepot. The Hellenes call him Poseidon or Husband of the Waters. Obatala is also known here in Hellas as Zeus Pater, by my own people as Dyaus Pater or simply Papios."

He then smiles and says..."Yes, freemen are allowed to carry weapons here in the city but there is little need as the city is quite safe. As you are joining us for a drink or two I will go with you to find a temple once we have slaked our thirst."

Nkruma nods silently to Koryos's words. "There is some discussion in places of learning that the gods are all but facets, broken mirror reflections of Olodumare himself." He shrugs. "But I know little of such things. Let us follow and quench our thirst. Then we may be about the business of finding a temple and offering up a sacrifice in gratitude for our safe travels thus far."

"Yes.", said Fernao with to the conversation going on around him. When people began to talk about such matters as Gods it is probably wisest to agree. Not that he would not agree, but such conversations often become complicated and he gets confused.

"The Gods like wine too. It is good."

Thamyron grins at Fernao and says, "I like wine too."

He looks at the rest of the group and starts walking slowly, while he asks, "Shall we go find some? Anyone have any suggestions on where to go?"

The party consisting of Aias, Brude, Conall, Fernao, Koryos,Nkruma, Sabetha, and Thamyron head out into the city with Aias in the lead. He seems to know the city fairly well.

Alembos and Vranu had gone off just as soon as landing was made as had Seer. Ason was still dealing with official business of selling the galley and getting the three women settled.

About a half mile from the docks, Aias stops before an establishment that has a sign in front depicting an amphora of wine tipping into a goblet. The party enters and finds the tavern all but empty. Clean and well furnished out but clearly this was a slow time for the tavern.

An older man motions towards a large table in the middle of the room and says..."What can I do for you? You look thristy!"

"Aye, thirsty we are. We have had a long voyage by sea and more travel awaits us," Nkruma says as he holds the door for the others. "And perhaps after some wine or whatever local libations you have, you can give us some information as well, good sir."

Fernao speaks with a smile and a flourish just as Nkruma finishes, "Hellloooooo!

"Yes, please delicious wine with which we may celebrate our coming to your town and place! Some delicious fruits would be good too. And some meats. Have you cheese? Cheeses would be goooood as well.

"And bread, please. Yeessss!"

As he speaks the Tauran, who is big for a Tauran clearly becomes more and more excited by the prospect of enjoying the tavern's offerings.

Brude reaches up and grabs Fernao by a flowered horn and gives his head a playful shake, "Fernao, your good spirits lift us all!"

He turns to the tavernkeep, "My friends speak true, we are thirsty and hungry!"

The tavern keep barks out some orders and within a few minutes two serving girls begin bringing trays of food and pitchers of wine to the table. Fresh figs and grape leaves stuffed with goat cheese as well as some roasted meat left over from last night sit on trays as well as loaves of flat unleavened bread...a good makeshift feast for folks who have been stuck with sea rations for some time.

The wine is good and strong, unwatered...perhaps seeing the man from Scythia inspired the tavern keep to serve the wine unwatered in the non Hellenic fashion of the steppe people.

Aias digs into the food with gusto. He hated dried and salted food more than anything and he missed the foods of his homeland these last few years of traveling. He was a bit concerned over who was going to pay for all of this but he would cross that bridge when he came to it, for now he was happy to eat and drink.

Sabetha also tucks in, but in a far more lady-like fashion.  Instead of eating with gusto, she eats as if every bite is to be savored, and she does just that.  The expressions on her face show how much she's enjoying each bite.

Fernao smiles at Brude's words as he settles in for food and libation. Being as big and enthusiastic as he about food and drink is the manner that he approaches his food and drink might be surprising. Indeed, he does not tear into stuff with gusto, but literally "settles" and seems to revel in the foods he finds delicious, which appears to be whatever he places into his large mouth. The wine he drinks in copious amounts, but even this is not done sloppily. Rather it is clear that he is tasting the stuff and if it is not up to his standards he is not shy about saying so. Whether or not his standards are particularly high, well, that is another conversation.

On the whole, the Minotaur relishes the food and wine offered and as he 'grazes' he makes noises indicating the pleasure he takes and sometimes those sounds are comments and conversation, but other times simply rumbles and sighs of satisfaction.

Koryos reaches into a pouch on his belt and pulls out a few small emeralds and sets them on the table in front of the tavern keeper and says..."Keep the food and drink coming!"

The tavern keeper greedily snatches up the gems and smiles broadly. He looks at Nkruma and asks..."What sort of information are you seeking my friend?"

Nkruma hastily swallows the bit of wine in his mouth and rubs at his muzzle with the back of a paw. "Merely the location of the nearest temple dedicated to the Lord of the Sea, Master of the Deep Waters. After a successful voyage, it is right and just to pay him honors and I would do so ere we set forth again."

He looks at the cup in his hands. "This is a fairly strong vintage."

He tavern keeper smiles once again and replies..."Yes strong! Have you ever seen a Scythian's reaction to being served watered wine in the Hellene fashion? It is not pretty and that Kurgan you have with you is a large one. Best to keep him happy...besides many of the city guards are his countrymen and they frequent this establishment, we are used to serving a stronger wine here because of that."

The nearest temple of Poseidon is just a few minutes walk from here. When you leave the building head west for just a few minutes and you will see the temple, you can't miss it."

Brude throws a fig in his mouth and washes it down with the dregs from his goblet,
"Strong wine, weak wine, sour wind, sweet wine, I like it all as long as someone else is paying!" he says slamming his empty cup down to be refilled.

Conall pauses stuffing his mouth to nod and raise his cup to the Pict, "Brude, you talk good sense.  I like you more every day!"

Nkruma nods and drains the rest of his mug. He shakes his head to clear the wine fumes and turns to Koryos. "Well, stout warrior, shall we head west and find this temple?" After he gets an answer he will nod to the others. "We shall find you again shortly, I believe. Perhaps back aboard ship."

Thamyron downs another goblet of wine, banging it down on the table. He looks up at Nkruma, and says, "You good finding the temple? As much as I may dislike it, I can tear myself away from this fine wine."
He ends with a crooked grin on his face.

Koryos stands and says..."Aias gave us good enough directions...so it is the three of us? Do any of you others wish to visit the temple of Olukun? We have a bit more sea under us. Making good with the God of the waves cannot be a bad thing."

Just as Koryos finishes talking, the tavern keeper shows up with another tray of pickled eggs and some strong drink that smells of licorice.

Fernao begins to speak, but spies the incoming tray of picked eggs and pauses until the innkeeper has placed them on the table. He is interested in the flavored drink, but it is the eggs that hold his attention. Taking several of them at once he deposits them in his mouth and settles back into his seat comfortably, "Yes, Koryos, I too would join you. We must give the gods their due and I think that they think their due is a lot, so we should visit them often and say our prayers."

Thamyron takes a sniff of the new drink, and pours himself a measure. He then shakes his head, adding, "Yes, we should make an offering at the temple. It seems most likely we have only begun to see the trouble we will run into on this journey."