A bell rings loudly shortly after Itylus made his offer to go hunting for a suitable animal to sacrifice to the Gods.

Two of Lord Joris' servants opened the great doors that led into the courtyard to allow entry by the great Lord himself, followed by some additional guests of his. It is an unusual trio that comes with Joris. A nobleman of Thena - that is plainly seen by the garb he wears. Standing together, Petraceles says softly to Arthanos "See that man there? I think that is Matthias of the Michelakos family... yes! I am sure, it is him! What a wonder that he would come here!" Alongside the nobleman, comes a woman with a fierce look about her. She bore none of signs of having lived a luxurious life, and seemed not to be of any of the great cities. It is the way that her hand rests on her bow though that makes the clearest connection that she made be one of the Amazons. It was said that Amazons generally eskewed men, preferring to fight alongside women.  They were rarely seen in the Land of the Three Cities. Finally there is the unmistakable barbarian that comes with them as well, something that Agmund notes clearly with a grunt, though whether it is approval, disapproval or just mere acknowledgment of a fellow countryman is impossible to tell. The man has the look of a born warrior, and looks ready for battle even now in the relaxed fall evening.

Lord Joris looks to the heroes already present, a smile on his face as he presents the newcomers to those already present. "My dearest guests, the Gods have sent these three fine heroes to my home this very evening. It seems that those on great quests come to my home for help and guidance. I am humbled to continue to play a part, and I suspect that perhaps their path and yours may coincide..."

He turns then, gesturing towards the three to step forward into the courtyard under the light of the torches so they could be seen by the others. "Permit me to introduce to you, from our own Thena, Matthias of the House of Michelakos." Joris takes an amphora from a servant, which has been filled with wine. He takes a sip and hands it to Matthias. The symbol representing the sharing of his bounty, wealth and hospitality with his guests.  Joris continues "With him, comes Zuri from Amazonia, a representative of the Queen of the Amazons herself!" Joris conducts a similar ritual with Zuri, sipping wine from a amphora before handing it to her. "And this is Artaxes of Hyperborea, a brave warrior and also a representative of the seafaring tribes of his people." He conducts a similar ritual with Artaxes.

Joris then conducts the introduction of the three to the others already present, introducing Agmund, Aleta, Dysis, Eurenomes, Itylus as well as Arthanos and Petracles.

"I think I will leave it to our friends to explain why they have come. Needless to say, I will leave you all until the morning. I feel that there will a great task ahead of us, and I think I best prepare." The old man gives a bow and departs.

"Lord Joris is most elegant host," Matthias says genuinely to the assembled group, "I am grateful for his generosity."

The young noble smiles and says, "my companions and I are on an important quest in which we must journey to the Great Market of Argos.  We were hoping that Lord Joris might assist our journey there, either by sea or land."

Zuri looks the group over with cold, hard eyes. As she does, she assessess each person quietly and betraying no emotion, except when she passes her gaze over Aleta a sneer of disdain briefly crosses her lips before her face returns to it's bland, nonchalance. Uncomfortable in cities, and unaccustomed to the rituals these people participate in, she follows Matthias' lead in determining whether to take a sip from the amphora or not when it is handed to her.

Having accepted drink and been welcomed as a guest into the lord's grand home, the Hyperborean now stands with stout arms crossed before his broad chest.  He is garbed simply in sandals and a rough spun tunic, a shaggy bear pelt serving as a kind of crude belt, the arms strapped about his waist so that the paws hang down in front.  Narrow dark eyes take in each of the men present but what is made of them is difficult to know from the barbarian's impassive expression, especially when hid beneath his thick red beard.

"Sea would best," he notes simply.  "And an early departure.  The sooner we leave, the sooner we learn the will of the gods and find what was lost to us, Matthias.  Are you sure this man will assist us?"

Arthanos frowned slightly in thought at Petracles' comment as he put the name and face together, and did his best to remember that particular family. He nodded politely as the other two were introduced, their presences being most intriguing. After Joris departs, the three introduce themselves further, and Arthanos listens and waits for them to finish before replying.

Smiling at the noble, he spoke to him first. "Greetings friend! I am Arthanos, son of Thesidius of the house of Ortanios. It is nice to meet yet another of our kindred out traveling." He then stood and faced the Amazon, and bowed slightly. "And I am happy to meet a representative of the Amazons, especially one sent by the Queen herself. I have heard tales of your fair nation and I think we would all enjoy hearing more about it."

Turning lastly to the barbarian, he grinned. "Great Athena must have graced Joris in his decision to introduce you to us this night. We have been having a debate, and you my friend may be able to help us." he says, then sits and glances over towards the others* waiting to hear what they would say.

* - meaning Aleta, Dysis, Eurenomes and Itylus.

Eurenomes gave the barbarian and (especially) the Amazon a slightly nervous look but after a moment his natural confidence reasserted itself and he smiled roguishly. Stepping forward he moved to greet the newcomers. In appearance Eurenomes was a young man of average height and slender build with olive skin, dark hair and soft hazel eyes. He wore a blue chlamys and carried a caduceus staff - emblems of his city and god respectively.

"I am Eurenomes of Argos. I hear you speak of my home city and the gods and perhaps I can help with both.  I am a priest and silver tongued Hermes is my patron. And we were just considering where to travel onto next; fair Argos has indeed been mentioned."

Matthias' glance briefly falls on Eurenomes' staff and then he says in a genuinely pleasant tone, "it does my heart good to be in the presence of respectable Thenaian compatriots and their friends after being in the northern wilds for so long.  Upon our return to Thena my friends and I visited the Akropolis and asked the priests of both the Temples of Athena and Apollo to direct us in our noble quest.  The responses from the priests were frustrating at first, but eventually we were directed to seek more information in the great city of Argos.  Now, here we are meeting a son of Argos, and a priest no less.  It appears that the gods are smiling upon our venture after all."

Itylus nodded silently at each one of the visitors as they were introduced, but left the rest of the social nuances to the others. Instead he crossed his arms and heard the conversation while he observed the newcomers, returning both the Barbarian's and the Amazon's evaluating gazes. These were the first of Joris' guests Itylus met and they were a strange trio indeed. Not much unlike themselves admittedly. The old Thenian noble's house seemed to attract strange visitors these days, he mused.

Not bothering to introduce himself again after Joris' introduction, Itylus finally asks the noble: "What noble quest would exactly that be, friend? And what do you seek in our noble host's state?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Mon 30 Dec 2013.

Matthias eyes Itylus for a moment, as if trying to discern the man's heritage, before saying carefully, "we are seekers of a long lost gift from the gods and are tasked with returning it to its rightful place."

Aleta sips her wine as she looks over the new comers. She catch's the Amazon giving her a look of distain but she could carless. She has proven herself to those who matter. "Greeting to our new companions. I am Aleta and I tend to scout for the others. I use to be an entertainer and I developed skills that let me slip in and out of places quietly." she says with a grin.

Artaxes nodded brusquely at each of those who introduced themselves, including Eurenomes and Aleta, neither overly friendly nor rude.  Leaning over to Zuri, he says a few quiet words before stepping over to their host's table, pouring himself a generous cup of wine from one of the pitchers.


"A gift treacherously stolen from it's rightful holders it is my belief," the barbarian adds to Matthias's words. "And I have sworn to return it or die in the effort.  Failure might well mean war between our people."   This said with a glance at his Amazon companion, before turning to Arthanos.  "You said I might help you.  How so?  And speak plainly please."

"Certainly" Arthanos says, and smiles cheerfully at the barbarian. "We had been discussing methods of travel, and were interested in the idea of a boat. Sadly, none of us have first had experience with one. Yet Joris mentioned you were from the tribes who deal with boats. You turned up just when we needed someone of your skills."

He then turned to look at Matthias, his expression becoming inquisitive. "A long lost gift from the gods you say? Can you tell us what it is?"

A quick flit of a smile, like that of one enjoying an inside joke, crosses Zuri's face as she listens to Artaxes comment. She preferred to let the noble and barbarian do the talking as she was not one for words, nor versed in the ways of these so called 'civilized' people. But at mention of her having seamanship skills, she shakes her head in the negative, stating, quiet plainly, "I have no knowledge of boats. My people live off the mountain, not the sea."

In reply to Arthanos (msg # 37):

Matthias gives a brief deferential glance to his companions before continuing smoothly, "it is a powerful healing item given to both the Amazons and Barbarians by both gods Athena and Apollo.  However, its greatest power lies in the undeniable symbolism of peace it brokered between the two peoples.  It is paramount that it be recovered and returned to these two great peoples to avoid mistrust and maintain a peaceful alliance."

Aleta looks at Matthias "Where both items stolen then? And if so, who would profit from them going to war? I can't imagine that one group would steal one and then hide theirs"

Matthias smiles pleasantly at Aleta and says, "it is a single item we seek that was gifted to both peoples jointly by Athena and Apollo.  I am afraid that with it lost tension has been rising between these two great peoples.  It is our hope that in recovering and returning it peace shall once again return as the status quo."

Dysis had kept to her place near the window, in silence.  Mostly continuing to mull over all Itylus had said regarding this cult, and their intent.

However, she was quite cognizant of the newcomers, and indirectly observed each, during the conversation. A peace based upon the presence of a single, thievable item?  The fragility of such a situation was almost absurd.  Almost better they war, and get it over with.   Of course, were she one of the peoples in question, she would feel otherwise, and understood.  As well, it was a sacred gift to them from a pair of gods.

"I am Dysis.  Thenian, by birth. Though I've spent some recent years in Argos, too.  I like to study things.  And practice a little magic. I have to say that, you bring this to our attention, just as we were looking at another matter.  One of great concern.  That involves a very dangerous enemy, with very dire plans.  I understand your own need is great.  But I do not think letting this other thing drop, would be wise. At all. However, it is not for me to tell you about it." She glanced toward Itylus, uncertain whether he would share or no.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Sun 05 Jan 2014.

Matthias raises an eyebrow at Dysis' strong, yet mysterious, words and smiles before asking with an amused chuckle, "was that an indirect offer to assist us?"

The barbarian listened to Dysis's words closely but showed no offense at them.  "You must do as you think best.  I for one have not come begging aid.  Friend Mathhias said this lord might wish to help us and so we are here, that is all."  He considered a moment, studying the group with an expression that suggested he did not quite know what to make of them.  For the most part they were not warriors, but they did likely know this perplexing land and its people better than he.

"Yet if the gods have brought us together intentionally, to defy them would be to guarantee failure for us all.  We would accept your help gladly if you choose to give it and I will even pledge myself to assist you in this other matter, whatever strangeness it is you speak of."  He glanced to Arthanos.  "As a gesture of friendship, I will offer to help select and outfit this boat you need, regardless of your decision."   

Aleta looks at Artaxes "I don't have any plans at this point. But if we are going to search for this item you seek, do we need a ship or just horses? I do seek to stay with my current companions, so I would like all of us to make a decision as to what we are going to do"

Eurenomes, who had been looking both thoughtful and uneasy cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well I had promised to seek a divination with my god on behalf of my friend Itylus.  Perhaps silver-tongued Hermes can provide me with guidance on all this."

He smiled wryly at the others. "I do after all wish to return to fair Argos even if a deadly quest was not quite what I had in mind. Itylus, you are a hunter could you snare a hare or rabbit for the sacrifice?"

Dysis' return smile to Matthias was wry.  "Not entirely, sir. Not yet. But you could say, I've begun to develop a feel for how these things tend to work.  And, with your comrade already offering to assist with the boat, well.." She then addressed the barbarian warrior:

"Aye. You say well about the gods. This is precisely what I mean. But thank you for the offer, in any case."   

Dysis then waited to see how Itylus would reply about snaring a sacrifice.  It seemed the next step in that matter.

Arthanos watches and listens as the discussion continues, then nods as Dysis speaks. "I agree. Thank you for your offer friend in any case." He says to the barbarian.

She grins at Eurenomes "Yes, I promised to help you with the sacrifice. So, when did you want to do it?" she wondered what that would be like. She had never been very religious.

Further conversation becomes interrupted by the ring of another bell in the estate, though neither Lord Joris or any of his household come out to address the gathering.

With the flow of conversation interrupted, the gathering starts to break up as individuals or small groups go their separate ways - either engaging in idle chatter, indulging in more wine, or breaking off to find their quarters to rest for the next day.

---

Early the next morning, while the others sleep off the drowsing effects of the Joris' best wine, Itylus sets out early looking for a suitable sacrifice for Eurenomes to make on his behalf to beseech the Gods for a divine vision, giving all the slip save for just a few of the servants who spied him from their daily tasks, but by now they were used to this strange hunter leaving the estate in the early morning.

In a little less than an hour, Itylus catches up a few white rabbits. He considers them with a careful eye, making sure that they are strong, healthy animals.  He wouldn't want to dare risk offending the Gods by offering up a sick or diseased animal, after all.  He then returns to the estate and finds Euronomes, Aleta, Dysis and any others who are interested. The group proceeds out towards the shrines that Joris' maintained on his estate towards the small one devoted to Hermes.

Eurenomes takes the plumpest looking rabbit and examines it before heading into the shrine. He explains to them that while the ritual itself would take only a matter of minutes, depending on the circumstances. He also advises that the visions he may receive may come from the past, the present or even the future. He notes that visions of the future often take a symbolic form that make them difficult to interpret, but that he would do his best to make sense of whatever Hermes would tell him.

He asks them to wait outside.  They would be able to see and hear him as he made his prayer, but his entry would provide a private space for him and Hermes to commune.

---

Euronomes recalls Itylus' expressed concerns, and tried to formulate them into a question to which to beseech his patron. The hunter had told them about a dark cult that had done great harm to people and offended the Goddess Artemis herself. The cult's leader was a Stygian necromantress, and the group's objective was the summoning of an Arch-Fiend from the depths of the Infernal Realms. It was a lot to take in.

But the simplest question could reveal the most. Location is what matters. Hermes would provide the rest. Taking the rabbit in one hand, and knife in the other, Eurenomes begins his ritual, devoting the rabbit as an offering from him and begging him for his divine favor.

He finished his prayer and waited. Nothing happened.

Eurnomes knew, however, that sometimes the visions from his patron came out of nowhere.

And this one did. Eurenomes looks down at the blood from the rabbit on his hands and on the knife and then faints...

(While visions have been disturbing for Eurnomes in the past, they have never been outright terrifying.  This one is...

Eurnomes sees first a heavily pregnant woman, an Argosian noble by the blue silk she wore. At first she seems serene. She appears almost like a Goddess. Where she walks, flowers bloom. She starts to bleed. Sharp claws from creatures out of nowhere rake at her face and body, tearing skin and exposing bone.

A baby's wail is suddenly cut off by the quick stroke of a knife. Euronomes looks at the child, which is now in his arms. It transforms into a rabbit and Euronomes sees himself holding the knife.

A hooded stranger takes the rabbit from him, laughing manically. The stranger carries with him a Caduceus. Eurnomes knows that it is important somehow, but cannot discern why ...

The rabbit is thrown to wolves and is torn apart, while the Caduceus is thrown onto a bonfire.

Out of the bonfire comes a gigantic, bat-winged, hoof-legged humanoid horror with a white, skull-like face, horns, spear-length claws and a dark leathery skin. It roars defying and Eurnomes has to hold his hands to his ears, fearing that he'll go deaf. The horror turns its' gaze upon him and the toothy grin it gives turns Eurnomes blood cold.

It is a demon. A fiend. It lashes out towards with claws out-stretched and Eurenomes and he cannot help but scream, begging for Hermes aid.

Argos burns. The fiend impales warriors with his claws, and continues to grow in size as it feeds on the living and slain. A kick of his hoof destories the House of Athena. The feeling of terror and despair begins to overtake the priest when the vision ends.)

Euronomes awakens in a cold sweat and begins to shiver. Closing his eyes, he can still see the horror from the vision.

---

Hours pass.  Word comes around that Lord Joris has summoned everyone to his chambers.

It is there that he makes his announcement.

"Matthias of the House of Michelakos. I have decided to look favorably upon your request for assistance. My family has a number of merchant ships that engage in trade with the city of Argos. I understand that there is a ship in dock currently that has been undergoing repairs. It is called The Peaceful Wanderer.  Given the quest you, Zuri and Artaxes undertake, I think it appropriate to lend you use of this ship for your travels.

You will have to find a crew for her in fair Thena.

He turns his attentions then towards the others. "While you, champions who returned my daughter to me, are always welcome here. I understand that it is time for you to travel as well and that your destination is Argos the Blue to purchase your own ship. I would suggest that you travel alongside Matthais, Zuri and Artaxes for the time being. They have free reign of The Peaceful Wanderer until such time as their quest is complete, but it could be that your path will take you down a different road than theirs in time.

---

After some continued discussion, there is agreement that the group will travel to Thena to outfit a crew for an expedition to Argos on The Peaceful Wanderer.

Game Play Continues in Chapter 2: The Gods' Messengers