The Danger Gang Returns Triumphantly To Chrysopolis
Sailing out of Abados, the Danger Gang finally returns to Chrysopolis. Even in this short period of time, there have already been some huge changes. For intances, some one has dug out the harbor. As soon as they step foot on the dock, they're greated by little Helena, who urges them to come with her. They follow her to this fancy looking vineyard that's laid out in some big old hedge maze. It looks like they just missed some kind of big dinner party. In the center of the maze is a hole, leading to a winery and a dungeon. They follow Helena through the dungeon to the secret entrance to the church. There they conscript the deacon into caring for Brother Peter and Lleryn, still reeling from the effects of the Yellow Musk Creeper.
Helena tracks down Eorl and there's a big, happy reunion. He's especially excited about Aristotle's no longer lost work on comedy. They all catch up on old times. Just then Lugurix stops by. Martialis cries out, "I've had enough of your false flag operation! It's go time!" and changes into a leopard. Can and Arben are totally confused. It's not like Martialis to fly off the handle and start attacking old aquaintances of his. Though Lugurix defends himself valiantly, but is unable to handle the more seasoned adventurer. Gershom decides it is time to intervene and heals the poor man. Martialis then starts slapping him around, yelling about how a kingdom needs a king, a druid, a bard and a peasant and that he'll never be king if he doesn't fight some monsters or something. He storms away. Thoroughly disturbed, Can, Gershom, and Arben pick up Lugurix and beg him to never do another false flag operation again.
Eorl shrugs his shoulders and urges them that they get down to business. There's doings afoot, as described in Eorl's Record of his Conversation with the Angel Nelchael. Eorl calls down Leo, and he and Arben catch up on old times. They show eachother the cool spells they picked up while traveling. Eorl chats up Gershom a little bit about Ikulu, discussing the fifty names of power. Xenon hits the town to stock up on supplies, all on Eorl's tab. In their conversations, Leo mentions that Abner the famed mathematic monk is in town, so they decide to track him down and see if he can give any insight into the riddle of Stratoniche's Tomb. Unfortunately, the abilities of the Pythagorians have been grossly exagerated, and he offers no insight.
Everyone decides that, since it is still early, they'll take a day trip into Constantinople. Arben and Can still need to be slightly incognito, and so they don their disguises as John and Man, who are, in turn, posing as textile merchants. Arben sells of the gemstones that he picked up at Aege and uses them to purchase teh rare herbs he needs for his Find Familiar spell (finally). They then migrate to the library to talk to Nicephorus. Leo tells him that the burgeoning library of Chrysopolis has recently aquired Aristotle's Work On Comedy. Nicephorus is very jealous, and he and Leo work out a deal to trade pages from it in exchange for Nicephorus's services as a sage. They also trade a few spells that none of them can yet cast with the old librarian. They then board the ferry back to Chrysopolis.
On the way back to the governor's mansion, they discover that a horse has been stolen from the gubernatorial stables. A quick survey of the town reveals that Lugurix has run off. Martialis turns into an eagle and flies off to try to track him down. Everyone shrugs their shoulders, figuring weirdness will become par for the corse with these two. Eorl urges everyone back to the church to discuss matters.
"I need your help," Eorl explains. "Unfortunately, your help may earn you some powerful enemies. It will also, however, earn you an ally. I am willing to grant all of you something in exchange for your aid. Arben, I know that you have a longstanding desire to set up an inn here in Chrysopolis. Now, I know there are plenty of little places hither and thither that you could purchase, but I am willing to grant you something far greater. Aid me and the governor's mansion is yours. It's way more than I need anyway. Xenon, I know that you desire a kingdom to call your own. Unfortunately, I have no kingdom to give you, but every kingdom needs allies. When you found your kingdom, Chrysopolis shall be your ally, and we shall come to your aid whenever you call. Gershom, I know that as a Jewish historian, you would love nothing more than to have the artifacts of your people returned to you. I pledge that the next such artifact I or my allies encounter in our journeys shall be delivered unto you. Before you were but one reliquarian, but now you are legion. Can, sweet innocent Can, I know that if you could have one thing, it would be magic underpants. I made some for you out of the hair fo the Earthly Beauty. So what say you men? Will you take my offer?"
Everyone agrees, though some more whole heartedly than others. Eorl swears an elven blood oath with them, his pale pink blood kind of giving them the creeps.
This seems an auspicious time for bonding, so Arben consults with Can on offering their companions seats in the illustrious Danger Gang. Martialis, being absent, gets no vote. They agree and offer the men this much sought after position. Gershom agrees, as long as it is understood that his fidelity to his god comes first. Xenon says that, while he is happy to travel with the world famous Gang, he wasn't sure his interests lied with theirs. This seems fair enough and they welcome his company for as long as they'll have him (laregly because they need someone to guard them while they rest).
Having heard that the world famous Bogatyrs are in town, Arben asks for an introduction. Eorl explains that he is very busy with trying to take care of some lady at the governor's mansion, but if he wants to introduce himself, he can find them at such and such an inn. Xenon is also interested in meeting such acclaimed warriors and goes with. Arben heads down there to find Ilya and Solevei playing chess. Arben calls winsies and soon looses to Solevei. That chat and everyone gets along nicely. Xenon is very interested in chess himself, being a bit of a gamesmen, but they had no such game in his time. They tell eachother of their homelands and Arben learns of the many troubles bothering Kiev, including zombie armies. While these problems seem a little out of their league, Arben says that, should he would be able to, he would be honored to help such great men to show his gratitude for helping his adopted home town. He asks if there is anyway he could help make the Bogatyrs' stay more pleasant in his capacity as cultural attache. Ilya confesses that the men are a little restless. Being fighters, they are anxious for a little fight. Fortuitously, it is then that Eorl bursts in through the inn door with just such an opportunity. Eorl tells the Bogatyrs his tale of woe about the demoness that is camped out if his room. After all the rumors, everyone is interested to see these fellows in action. Arben offers to lend any magical aid he can (which isn't much, but is better than nothing). The Bogatyrs graciously agree. Being good hearted men, they don't care much for demons and they are blissfully unaware of Constantinople's ban on demon slaying. They suit up, grabbing Svyatogor and the sullen Volga to help out in the demon fighting. Solevei asks if he can borrow Xenon's fancy magical sheild, in exchange for which he will teach him chess. The former mummy agrees.
Arben casts a few Strength spells on the few that need it and an Enlarge or two and they head over to the governor's mansion. Of course, with Eorl there, there is a lengthy interview with the demoness before any fighting can commence. Ishopra taunts Eorl with the tale of Kabar Hadra, an ancient Lebanese scholar and warrior who, she claims, went to Libya and killed all the Amphisbaena. This upsets Eorl a great deal, but he feels better once the Bogatyrs whomp on her. That night, he sleeps in his own bed again. Little does he know that this will be one of his last restfull sleeps, as an angry missive from the patriarchate is already en route.
Before tucking in for bed, Arben excitedly casts his Find Familiar spell, summoning up a friendly little weasel, that he names Saint Simon,
