You were examining a new laptop, 'Scriff enabled', when the antics of a couple thirteen year old brats in the next aisle went from 'annoying and ignorable' to 'crush'.

A splash of water from a water pistol overlept the aisle divider, and landed on you.

You turned to them with fury, and then you felt yourself being tossed backward, and your body jerked rigid by some great force.

Things got very fuzzy...

==============================================================

You're laying on what can only be stones the way they dig in your back.  Its chill and windy.  Not enough to injure you, but unpleasant.  A scent of green things, and the sharp spice of pine competes with salt in the air.

"Wake up. Now, mortal." The imperative female voice is speaking Greek to you. You understand it.

PT

OOC: btw, I'm wearing black shoes, black pants, a nice black dress jacket, and a white button-up shirt (top button undone), as well as a belt and black socks before versing.  Is that okay?

I open my eyes slowly to see who's talking to me, and I try to find her face.  I stick with english in confusion and say, "What happened?"  As I look around, still on my butt, I also say, "And where is this anyways?"

OOC: It's okay.

You look down to see you're on the horn of a rock dappled with short green plants, and its well over fifty feet to the rocky ground.

She's standing in front of you with her arm's crossed.  She's drop-dead gorgeous.  And light is shining from her air and her feet...

You realize that she's ten feet in front of you, and she's hovering in the air.

"Mortal. I am Athena, and I have a job for you. You are to take this youngling, and raise him. You will recruit help to train him in all arts mental, moral, and physical so that he can be a Hero. You will provide for his safety and livelihood until the day he slays a foul giant."

She pauses and slings back her glorious light radiating hair.

"Oh, yes, you're on the southern tip of Greece, near the Aegean Sea. Um, you transitioned from your world to my world by one of the means such is done."

Her accent has changed to Valley Girl aka 'What, like, totally...'.

She holds out a baby to you.

I smile some as I can't help but observe the goddess's beauty; however, I quickly throw my glance towards the ground afterwards, remembering that she is one of the virgin goddesses and would not appreciate such gandering.

I'm not fully certain of what is going on...  But I get the feeling that things around me are real at the moment-tangible.  Plus, everything so far supports everything else.

"Fine, I'll take this task upon my hands."  I hold out my arms and accept the child, while I continue.  "It would help me, mighty goddess of wisdom, military arts, and domestic crafts, if you could lend me some minor divine aid while I attempt to bring this child to a nearby city-perhaps new attire or a means of transportation?  Any aid would be humbly accepted, my Lady."

I bow in her sublime presence.

"Also, it would be much appreciated if you could point me in the direction of civilization, ma'am."  I stayed bowed upon making this request.

"I memorized my speech, no one told me they'd have questions."  She mutters to herself in complaint.

"Um, follow the coastline. You'll...." She squints. "Meet some sailors I think, and um tell them I sent you, and you need a ride to a town."  She pauses and frowns. "OK. OK." She yanks out one of her hairs. "Tie this around the first animal you meet."

She hands you the baby.

She vanishes.

The baby reaches up, and grabs your thumb,and sticks it in his mouth, and bites hard enough to bring a gasp of shock from you.

PT

I try to control myself, and continue to hold the baby firmly.  With my non-bitten hand, I rub the back of his neck, trying to coax him into releasing my thumb.  "Hey, Hero, cut that out now, or I might have to throw you into the water."  I say it in a kind voice.

Snippits of Freud come to mind about the oral stage of a child's developement.

Then, I put the hair in my pocket, hold the baby firmly, and start to walk along the coast, glancing along the land and water, keeping an eye out for an animal and a ship.

He eyeballs you, and considers.  Then he giggles and for a second, the preternatural awareness in his eyes is gone, and he's just a baby.  You slip your thumb free, and ruefully examine the dent in your thumbnail.

No blood was drawn, but then he doesn't have teeth yet.

You get down, and start walking along the coast.

A mouse darts from under a bush, and stares at you.

PT

I speak to the mouse soothingly as I squat down to it, and slowly reach for the hair in my pocket.  "Hey, I've got a present for you."

I lay the baby down in my lap, and I hold my hand open on the ground in front of me, inviting the mouse to come towards me.

If it accepts my invitation and comes on top of my hand, I make sure to be gentle as I tie the hair around the mouse's small frame.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Wed 27 Feb 2008.

The mouse scurries away.

The baby leaps from your lap to chase the mouse.  You try to grab for the baby, and its form shimmers, and slips free.  A wolfhound pup goes after the mouse who squeaks in terror.

PT

I pursue the mouse as well.  I have to get to the mouse, before the wolf...or the kid get it!

If I reach the dog, I attempt to pick it up and toss it to the side (not towards the baby).

If I catch the mouse, I grab a hold of it (without trying to squeeze it to death), and tied the string around it.

The wolfhound pup (aka the baby after shapeshifting) scampers toward the mouse.  The mouse darts under a bush.

You lunge, and your feet slip in the sand, and you eat some wet sand....

PT
OOC: "100", thats a botch...

I get to my feet quickly, and I proceed over to the bush.  I look at the baby, and regret taking on the assignment that I got from something that might be a hallucination.

"Okay, I don't know if you understand anything, Hero, but you need to get the mouse when I scare it out, okay?"

I go on the side opposite the kid/wolfpup, and I start to shake the bush violently.

You shake the bush, the mouse charges out, and the pup grabs him.  It takes a second or two for you to convince the pup to let go of its new toy.

After that you stroke the trembling mouse until it calms.  The wolfhound pup dances around you, runs up and down the beach, shapeshifts back to a baby, and fusses as it kicks its legs.  It then shapeshifts back, trots over to you on unsteady legs, and sits down at your feet.

The mouse calms,and you tie the glimmering hair around its waist.

Suddenly, its very heavy, and it drops.

The mouse changes form, and grows into a giant gray 'horse' with a rather mouse like face, and a golden saddle.

PT

"That's better, isn't it?"  I pet the horse on the head after I pick up the baby/pup and rub his neck/chin.

I then attempt to get on the sattle and tempt the now-horse into going at a slow pace.

A strange number of events...  Something simply cannot change its matter.  Unless the hair possessed some sort of substantial amount of energy, it isn't following physical laws, even loosely.

I proceed to try and go along the shore, bouncing the baby to comfort him, or holding it gently if he seems tired.

If I can't ride the horse, I'll lead it while carrying the baby still.

The 'horse' consents to let you ride, although it sidesteps as you get on the saddle.  You ride down the coast over wet sand, and past jagged rocks.  Spray from wild waves reaches up to drench you on occasion.

And something seems to move beneath the waves in the far distance.

Plus, the land seems unfriendly, untamed, full of mystery and horror.

PT

As if the land has a lifeforce, a passion of its own.  I feel as if I'm on the back of a giant being-whether it's good or evil I do not know.  For now, though I'll continue to wait and watch.  In time, I'll discover what's going on if I just play along.  Perhaps, once I understand, I will seize this wild place and put the saddle on it myself, metaphorically of course.

I smile at the thought, and I continue to ride the horse along the water.  I keep my eye out to see if I can get a better look at that sea-animal that I saw under the water.  If not, I don't fret.

Also, what kind of environment am I in?  Sandy beach with trees inland, or grassy hills inland?  Am I on a cliff?

The beach is thin, and dotted with rock mounds.  Out to sea, you see small piles of rock.  Inland, it is jagged, angular hillsides rising from the sea.  Some are made of granite, and the gentler are made of limestone.

Few trees grow.  The ones that do are wiry, and wind-sculpted.  Grass grows in sheltered spots, and hollows amidst the rocks.  In some places, as much as a half-acre of grass waves bold, bright green.  One one you see white dots, and a robed man with a staff...perhaps a wizard....

The sea is deep blue.  The sky is crystalline, and the air is untainted.

But for all that, there is a sense of powers unchained, of wildness, of brutality resting but shallowly.

You walk your 'horse' around the point of a cove, and see three fishermen with their boat drawn upon the sand.  They are mending their net.  They give you a cold, measuring gaze like what a wolf might give to another wolf chance met.

PT

Before I go further, I turn towards the wizard on a patch of grass and approach him on horseback with the baby in my arms.  If he allows me to approach, I greet him, "I've been commanded by the gods to raise and teach this child, who will one day be called a hero."  I then get off the horse and give him a small bow, "My name is Krillis, good sir.  What is yours?"

If that doesn't work out, I continue towards the sailors and greet them off the horse with the baby.  I do a small nod with respect towards them and ask, "May I help you mend your net?  You'd have to tell me how, but I'm willing to learn and try.  Four men can complete a task quicker than three, no?"

"Great lord, I wish you success in your quest.  But I am a simple sheppherd. I cannot help you."

He looks...not that bright, and not that adept.

You get to the fishermen, and they are stronger, but even more brutish in their eyes.

"Yes, but its more fun if one man does it while the other three drink wine."

They start to flank you.  One has a knotted rope, and another a short knife, and the middle one has an oar.

The one with the rope smacks near the horse, and it rears a bit.

PT

I stoop myself into an impassioned rage in front of the others, and try to forget that the baby is even there.  Then, I look at them all as I speak,

"Are you all so foolish that you would challenge a servant of the gods?!  I have their protection while on their quests.  I have seen the mighty Athena in her divine glory and I let you know that she will rain wrath down upon those who get in my path.  Poseidon will raise the waters around your boats when you're out at sea.  Ares will curve your swords towards you when you fight.  Great Zeus will unleash divine flame upon you and you will suffer the fate of deceitful cowards in Hades' morbid abode, Tartarus!"

I keep my glare to see if they bought it.  If so, I demand from them passage on their ship to the nearest port, so that they might be blessed by Poseidon with a bounty from the sea.

OOC: If you didn't catch it, I'm trying to intimidate them with very empty threats while trying to keep a good, mean poker face.

They drop their weapons and cower on the ground.  Begging for mercy and whimpering in fear they wait.

You tell them to take you to the nearest town. You have to take the saddle off the 'horse'.  It turns back to a mouse.

Two hours later, you arrive at Athens.

They let you off at the stone pier, and hastily pull back out to the sea.

A bored looking man walks up to you.  He has a scroll in his hand, and a young man with him who is carrying an ink well, and reed pen.

"One sesterce, barbarian, and your name."

PT

"My apologies, sir, but I must have left my money and name in my more noble clothes."

A smile comes accross my face as I continue to talk to him, allowing my free baby-less arm to make wide movements with my speaking.  "However, the wonders of the mind may still remain even if the outward appearance falters.  Take me to your mathematicians, good Athenian, and I will give you five sesterces extra for your troubles."  I try to give him a look of absolute wonder, confidence and trust with my eyes, hoping to excite the interest of the man.

OOC: I just realized how much easier it was to get people to do things for me when I could make fireballs, lol.

Greed and curiosity overcome his disdain, and he leads you to the marketplace below the Acropolis.

He points at an old man sitting on a rock in the marketplace.  The man is drawing in the sand near his feet with a stick.

"Convince that old one that I shouldn't have you beat for good discipline and order in the city."

PT

I take my pen out and use the end without ink to draw in the sand like the old man.

I draw a makeshift graph with a line graphed on it, which I know the equation for.  I then, in front of him, use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to determine the area between the line and the x-axis.  The problem involves integration mostly (they're easy problems for me).  I use a simple parabola as the curve.

I look over to see what the old man is drawing in the sand.

If he's watching me work, I ask him, "Is my solution that which you can derive from simple counting?  It works on any line."

He studies it for ten minutes.  When you try to interrupt him, he waves you silent.  He re-does your figure with several other examples, and nods to himself.

Then he comes back with a sine wave instead of the parabola for your 'curve', and looks questioningly at you.

He draws off to his side in the dust where you can't see it.

PT

I nod at him, and say, as I draw a cosine curve on another graph, "The integrated form of sine is cosine."

Then, I proceed to do the same fundamental theorem to find the area under a positive curve, and multiply it by how many curves are shown in his sine drawing.  I show him all of my work, and ask him if there's any other tests he'd like to put me to.

"Welcome to the Mathmaticians."  He pays your guide, and then puts up another problem more complicated.  Its to figure out the three-dimensional volume of a whirlpool.

"This is Scylla, a nasty beast. We're looking for a way to ultimately choke the creature at the bottom of the whirlpool with rocks.  Its been tried before, but with never enough rocks."

You notice that the baby is sitting next to you.  He's drawing in the sand as well....

'if a=1, and b=2, then...'  He's looking a bit confused.

PT

"Well, all we need to know is the depth and the diameter of the whirlpool.  Then, I can just use the formula for a cone, adding a little to both diameter and depth to make sure we use enough rocks, and we can find the volume easily."

I look over to the baby drawing in the sand, and I draw a triangle, putting a and b on the short side, and c on the long one.  Then, I put the pythagorean theorem in front of him to keep him busy.

"Do we know those facts about the whirlpool?"

He shows you further math problems.  The apparent size of the whirlpool from nine ship's lengths away.  The angle of it.

"We can't get close enough to make an accurate measurement."

He smiles.

"Now, I've done the math, and I think I'm right, but others think I'm wrong. The merchants think we have to use half of what I say of rock volume.  If you get the same answer I do without my help, then you strengthen my case....so can you do this math?  If you say you can, I will take you to the lead merchants and let you solve it in front of their eyes."

PT

I take my time to think about this, as I draw in the sand slowly.  I draw two diagrams.  One is the shape of the cone which the whirlpool is, roughly.  I write the conic volume formula next to it and label the height, angle, base, and radius.

Then, I make another diagram with two circles.  One is bigger than the other, but the center point is the same.  I label 9s (9 ships) from the edge of the middle circle that reaches the outer circle.  I also put a length, x, down as the radius of the center circle (the whirlpool).

Knowing the two circles are similar, I use the system of equations r=x and 9s+x=r(prime) to determine the radius, x.  Then, to find the depth of the cone, I use a property of sin along with the found radius.  With this, I determine the volume writing out my further longer calculations next to my diagrams by using the conic volume formula (area of base) times height divided by three.

I wipe my brow, knowing that formulating took a deal of time and effort.  "Well, did you get that answer?  I can guarantee you that's what it is.  All you need to do is plug in the length of one of your ships, and you'll have your final answer.  I have a question, though.  Being a mathematician, do I get paid at all?  I have to feed and raise this baby somehow."

The mathematician stops you, and takes you to a trading house.  It is a large room with stone tables, and surrounding benches, well lit by the central atrium and by the open spaces between the exterior pillars.

You do your math for a group of merchants.  They are not well pleased, and they try to argue you and bully you out of your answer.  In so doing, you note that they do not seem as swift or as capable of mind as your companion.  They are not as brutish as the fishermen, but still they are less than you.

"Well, Archimedes, you've gotten someone to agree with you, and a Companion at that.  Fine, you can have your drachma for your pet project."  The leader of the merchants, Selasius, grunts disagreeably.

A servant is called up, and you note he has an iron torc about his neck, and a dim look.  He is sent to fetch money, and comes back with a chest about a foot high, and two feet long which is filled with silver coins.

The baby is fascinated by the shiny things, and heads straight to it, and knocks the chest over, spilling the bounty across the floor in a bright spatter of silver amidst sand over stone.

PT

Raising the kid...  I suppose that requires both protecting and teaching.

I quickly apologize to everyone in the room, and approach the infant.  Once I reach the child, I pick him up and smack him once on the hand lightly.  "Bad, Hero.  You shouldn't go and play with things that aren't yours.  Don't worry, soon enough we'll have foundation enough for you to play.  Just be a little more patient."

I pat him on the head and give him a small hug to make sure he knows that I'm not angry.

"Archimedes, I apologize for little Hero here.  I'd love to accompany you during the rest of your project, if I may."

Little Hero grabs a handful of coins and throws them as hard as he can in a wide spray across the room.  Then he turns and tries to bite you as you try to hug him.  When that doesn't work, the frustration level is too much to handle, and he starts bawling....very loudly.

Little Hero has a very healthy set of lungs.

PT

I grab the child by the back of his neck and hold him up in the air.  "You'll listen to me!"  I shout.

Then, I turn to Archimedes and apologize as graciously as I can while angry.  "I'm sorry about the mess, but the little one is impatient.  May I accompany you during your experiment?  I'm interested in witnessing your success."

Hero blinks in shock, and then stops crying, at least loudly.  He sniffles a bit now and then.

"Yes, absolutely. A Companion to a Hero, and a Hero, even if untested are nothing to sneeze at.  Besides, I have some ideas about math that I would like to go over with you."

That night you eat with Archimedes, and a number of his friends at a feast to celebrate the upcoming mission.  The next day, you set sail in a galleon on a clear, blue sea.

Its not long before you realize you're being tailed by another boat that must have been waiting outside the harbor.

PT

I run towards the edge of the ship and look back at the one following us.  "Hey, what's that?"

I point at the approaching ship, and I try to look closer at it to see if I can tell who's on it.  I see if I can recognize anyone on board, or if they look threatening or not.

A seaman comes up alongside you, stares for a half minute, and then grunts. "Pirates."  The Captain looks dismayed at the report, and draws you and Archimedes aside quietly.

"We have much gold, and few fighters. I would be very glad to hear advice from such eminent men as yourselves."  You can see he's not merely flattering you. He's quite serious.

PT

Quickly, I put my hand up to my face and look at the pirate ship, analyzing possibilities.  Then, I begin to spew them out to the captain.

"I have a plan of sorts, if we're unable to outrun them.  Listen closely; however, know that this is only a suggestion.  I understand your authority onboard.

We start firing as soon as they're within range and try to put holes in their sails.

If we still can't outrun them, we can use barrels of wine as ammunition:  We dowse the tip of an arrow or something we can throw in the wine, and then throw the barrel over onto their ship.  Once its there, we use the dowsed object to set it ablaze, with the hopes that it'll cause them some confusion.

We need to act fast if we're going to do anything.  If you need someone good at speaking to rouse your sailors to fight, then I'll do my best to do so.  Archimedes, do you have any thoughts?"

He claps you on the shoulder.

"My young friend has an excellent plan, Captain." He smiles confidently. "Someone fetch me a bow."

He leads you aside.

"Keep a brave look about you. Panic spreads worse than fire. Your plan is well. Not too complicated for such a man as the Captain, and hopefully effective. Tell me, can you shoot a bow? because few here will be able too.  And  yes, if you have a rousing speech in you, then give it. Courage is more valuable than bronze."

Someone brings Archimedes a bow, and he starts doing calculations for shooting it.

PT

I keep a look of determined conquest on my face, one with absolute confidence in the plan that I concocted.

"I took archery lessons a while ago, but that was only for a week and I didn't have any natural talent with it at the time.  I suppose most of my conquests have been mental."

I call for anyone who's had archery experience in the past to come up with a bow.  Speaking to anyone who is shooting, I tell them not to worry about location that they hit on the enemy mast, but to just aim for the center.  The mast is large, and they shouldn't lose heart if they miss it due to inexperience or to chance.

Suddenly stuck with inspiration, I look down to the baby Hero, and I call for any sort of throwable solid object-a rock being preferable.  Once I have it, I pick up the baby Hero and tell him, "Now, I have something that might be fun.  How far can you throw this?  See if you can hit that big blanket all the way over there."  I point to the mast and keep a prosperous tone when speaking to the child.

If the child hits the mast and pierces it, I call for more useless things for the child to throw.

After all of that, I just wait to see the results of everything.

Two men come up, and claim experience.  They fire a few shots, but its too far. They wait a bit as the chaser closes on them.

Hero takes the rock, and grins broadly. You see a single tooth coming out.

He throws it, and rips a hole in the sail.

One of the archer's breaks his bow string.

Archimedes is lining up a perfect shot, when a wave comes and knocks him overboard.  It sweeps Little Hero away too, but you grab him before he can move more than a foot.

PT

"We need rope for Archimedes!"  I shout to anyone around.

If no one gets a line for him, I call out for him to try and meet me back in Athens at some point, and I apologize for not being able to save him.

If we manage to get Archimedes back without slowing the ship, I tell him to relax elsewhere and assure him that I can handle everything here.

Whether or not Archimedes gets back on board, I continue with all plans.  I even look to little Hero and say, "That was a great man who just fell off the ship.  Here's a deal to avenge him, Hero: if you can break the beam holding up the mast, I promise that I'll give you a new toy next chance I get."

I give little Hero more rocks to throw, but I keep a sharp eye on him to make sure he doesn't fly away.

A line is tossed to him, and sputtering, he is dragged back on board.

"Toy." Hero mutters, and determinedly picks up one more of the rocks used in the ballast of the ship.

He rips several more holes in the sail, but keeps missing the mast.

But a sailor launches a flaming arrow, and it hits the sail.  There is a pregnant pause, and then it spreads rapidly. The other ship is forced to cut their sail down, and toss it in the sea.

The sailors take a moment to clap you on the shoulder, and little Hero as well.

PT

On the rest of the way there, I make sure to do some other things.  I go over whatever math terms that Archimedes wants to talk to me about, and correct any that I recognize.

Also, I make sure to feed the fieldmouse that I got earlier.

Finally, I try to be on a part of the ship alone with little Hero, and I say, "You did a really good job today.  I can only imagine what you'll be able to do later on.  Still, I want you to try something.  Can you change your shape into this?"  I hold up the fieldmouse, and wait for anything.

Once all of that's done, I wait until we arrive at our destination.

Archimedes and you get along well. He has a cheerfully cynical sense of humor, and an avid interest in everything.  He holds to the notion of 'sound body, sound mind', and so he practises standing on his hands in between bouts with the calculus.

You do know more than him, but not that much more, and he's like sponge. You explain something once, and he absorbs it, and then spits it back out in a different form.

Your fieldmouse is grateful for the crumbs given it.

Little Hero brightens up with a brilliant smile at your compliment.  He frowns as he looks at the field mouse.

He squints, and then shakes his head sulkily, banging his fists on the wood of the decking.

PT

I comfort little Hero and tell him that he'll be able to do it eventually and not to worry about it.

I call for someone with knowledge in swordplay and archery.

Once some individuals with those skills approach, I ask them kindly if they could teach little Hero and myself some things-like how to handle a sword and a bow.

You're given a bronze sword, and a battered shield, as his little Hero by the Captain. The shield is literally too big for Hero as its almost as tall as he is.

They begin to train you in the art of fighting as a sailor which they emphasize is different from fighting on land.

"Balance is the key thing. Knock your opponent back, and over the edge of the boat, and into the brine is just as good as running him through with your sword."

You find your sword bends frequently, but there is a simple remedy. Lay it down, and hammer it, or if you're really strong, use your bare hands.

You also find that little Hero has a bloodthirsty streak, and once he gets the hand of the sword, he's not listening to the injunctions that 'this is practise'. He's trying to gut his opponent, while he has a huge smile plastered to his face. Of course, he's not coming anywhere near the man since he's still a baby, but standing there, he looks very intent.

PT

I put my shield and sword down for a moment and head over, my hands out humbly, to Hero.  "Little Hero, please come here to me."  If he doesn't come, I walk over to him more, looking him in the face.

"Hero, you have to know this...  You must think before you ever draw your sword.  Pay attention.  You must think before you ever swing or thrust your sword.  Hero, do you understand me?  You don't want to hurt the wrong people!"  If he wasn't listening to part of the phrase, I raise my voice while saying it as I go on, to seize his attention while I talk.

He comes over to you, listens attentively, and then scrunches up his face.

"I sorry. Don't be mad, Krilly."

Then he grabs you around the neck, and hugs so that you get black spots in front of your eyes before he releases his grip around the neck, mostly.

He goes back to practise without aiming to gut his trainer.

"Krilleus, you have the gift," Archimedes says from your shoulder. He has a turkey leg in his hand that he's eating. "Do you agree with Plato that children ought to be raised by the governments of the cities?  Oh..." And he outlines about a dozen math problems which you soon realize are an attempt to describe and calculate the best move for the sword work you've been doing.

PT

I give little Hero a soft smile, and return the hug as much as I can to him.  "Don't worry, I'm not mad at you.  You just need to know when you need to use a sword.  That's much more important than actually being proficient with one."

I look back at Archimedes, and then at the turkey leg he's eating.  With a playfully iritated look on my face, I ask him, "Are you eating my reward, Archimedes?"

After I receive the reward, I return to the swordplay, now attempting to apply the formulas that Archimedes thought to use in the situations.  I put them to use, after proofreading them, to see the results in actual fighting.

"Ho!" Archimedes exclaims. "I am just testing it to see if its poisoned. A great man like you needs lackeys and minions like my unworthy self." He laughs as he relinquishes the turkey leg, and then unselfconsciously he wipes the grease off his fingers on his tunic.

At first, the formulas are awkward because you have to find time to think through them, but with practise you find it coming much smoother. As you start to memorize the moves, and appropriate counters, you don't have to think so much, and you react more.  And suddenly, you're driving your trainer back, until he shows you another move for which Archimedes had not planned.

He crosses your blade, and then with his free hand yanks your legs out from under you. Before you can blink, his sword is at your throat.

"Its wise to listen to philosophers, and the Platonic form of fighting is well, but we live in the dirty world." Your trainer says.

"I disagree. Its just my calculations haven't taken that into account." Archimedes yells back from across the boat.  Little Hero looks at you curious.

PT

"haha, but how would my minions and I get by, Archimedes?  I have no income."  I take the turkey, and feign choking from it for a moment to add to the humor.

I wave off the opponent and say, "No, no.  You've won this time.  I'll work on my skill and hopefully learn to fight as dirty as you some day."  I say this smiling, attempting to be humorous and not insulting towards the sailor.

I pick up Little Hero and I say, "I've finally thought of something to call you other than Hero.  What do you think of Gale?"  Whether or not he likes the name, I try to see what the child can do once more.  I ask him to try and transform into a dog of some sort for a moment, to see if he can.

"Hmm, yes, a man of consequence like you should have a few slaves, a house in town, a horse, and some silver to invest, or at least a farm with some slaves, at the bare minimum.  If you can think of a way to do the job we're doing with less rocks, then we can use the saved money to set you up." Archimedes muses.

The sailor grins.

"I have plenty more tricks."

Hero looks at you, and nods.  Then he shapeshifts to a coyote like creature.

PT

"I've been thinking over that for some time during this journey, Archimedes, but nothing has come to mind."  Then, I call to the skies with my palms up, "Oh, Muses, visit me and give me the inspiration that I need to solve this dilema in a less costly way!"

I continue to test the child, asking him to transform into some sort of bird.  After that, I ask him to turn into his normal self again, and I try to teach him some basic mathematics, up to multiplication.

He doesn't succeed in changing into a bird, but multiplication comes easily to him.

"You need to sacrifice to the gods, visit their temples, that sort of thing.  Maybe its different for a Companion to a Hero, but for normal men like myself, I don't just call out to the gods...well, there was that storm last winter, but I promised Poseidon a manweight of the best wine if I and my crew made it safe to port, and we did." The Captain says to you.

PT

I put my hand over my face once more in deep thought.  The process of the rocks goes through my mind and how to plug the whirlpool.  If they plugged it using individual rocks to fill up the uneven spaces between said rocks, they'd need more of them; therefore, if there were a way to plug those gaps with less rocks, they wouldn't need nearly as many.

Then, the idea comes to me-cement, or at least the concept of it.  "Archimedes, I have a plan.  We can smash up some rocks into a finer gravel, and then mix those rocks with water.  Occasionally, while throwing the rocks into the whirlpool, we should mix this cement in with them, to harden them better.  If we do this process, I suppose we could save a good 1/4 of those rocks, becuase we'd have a more solid structure that would be harder to leak through or break from the whirlpool."

I wait for him to say his opinion on it.  If he asks how we're going to break the rocks, I pick up little Hero.

He struggles intellectually.

"Cement? If you say so, I'll take your word for it, but this I got to see."

He does ask, and you raise Gale up who gives a one-tooth smile.  He then smacks you on the top  of your head to demonstrate.

"Raaaagggh!" He yells.  You stagger slightly as the world goes blurry for a second, but it comes back. You've got a welt on the top of your head.

PT

"We need to teach you how to control that power of yours.  I have a feeling that you just almost killed me, Gale."  I say to the child, but I try to smile through the pain.

"Archimedes, I just want to point out that this is just a strong theory.  You're putting the money at risk for this, while we still have a for sure chance to stop this whirlpool already by plugging it with all of the rocks."

After talking like that to Archimedes and Gale, I go off on my own, leaving Gale in Archimedes' care temporarily, to talk to some of the sailors.  I ask them how one goes about making a fortune in this world.

Archimedes has an almost aristocratic, as it might be called in later millenia, disregard for money. Its useful, but one should not obsess over it.  Also, one should not flinch back from the challenge the gods lay before you.

He explains this, and takes Gale from your hands. At which point, he bops Gale on the head just as you got bopped. Gale cries, and reaches for you, but Archimedes shakes his head at you to tell you to let Gale be.

"Little Gale, you have the strength of Hercules, but other men are not as strong as you. A Hero must learn to take care of the lesser men about him, or the gods will surely judge him, and turn  him into a monster on the outside as he is a monster on the inside." Archimedes says to Gale who looks at him wide-eyed still reaching for you.

======================

Timaeus the Sailor spits over the side into the blue Aegean.

"A man can grow olives and grapes, or fish the sea, but such things take time. Its better to merchant venture, or invest a coin with one who does. Piracy is fun, and going on a slave raid is useful. If you can get enough men together under your banner, you can go conquer a city. There are also the Great Quests which I expect you'll eventually be going on one since you've got a Hero with you.  But you probably want him to grow up a bit first before you try to kill a kraken, or something, and have him marry the princess, and make you his chief minister."

PT

I nod at Archimedes, and I go off away from Gale.  I notice that I actually have become quite fond of the fast-growing child, and I feel sorry for not going to him as he cries.

I simply nod to the other sailor, and smile.  "I'm sure that such things are in store for my future.  Maybe I will approach you about such a thing in the distant future.  By then, I will be a stronger man, hopefully."

I go back to Archimedes after a while, until Gale stops crying over next to Archimedes.

Then, I address the mathematician.  "Archimedes, I've decided that it must have been divine providence to give me inspiration about using cement.  I think that this will work flawlessly, and I won't shy away from such a task."  I give Archimedes a smile and a nod, confident in my plan.  I then whisper to him in as low a voice as I can muster, "By the way, Gale hasn't caused you any trouble over here, has he?"

I look at Gale and say in a voice more suitable for young children, "Have you been listening to Uncle Archy?"

"Excellent." Archimedes replies very quietly. "Most excellent. And indeed no, Gale and I have been discussing multiplying numbers by themselves. He finds it intriguing that '1' multiplied by itself is always '1', but '2' is not so. Soon I shall introduce him to '0'.  He keeps trying to distract me with geometry tho', the little rascal, as he knows thats my particular weakness for I love it so."

Gale looks up at you with a big smile, and shows you a drawing of a square that is filled with multiplications. You see another area calculation below it as he is trying to calculate how many times he can write 1.1=1 in the area of the square.

And you realize Gale heard every word.

He crows to have caught you out, and hugs Archimedes's leg before transferring his grip to your leg.

"I good."

PT

"Haha, I know you're good, Gale."  I rub him on the head roughly.

I ask the captain afterwards how long it will be before we make port, and use the rest of the time to rest, observe the scene around me, and take out my pen and journal, putting in an entry about what's been going on.

It's only been a day here in this world, and I'm still not absolutely sure what's going on.  I've found myself rushed into the myths that I've read about-talking with Archimedes on mathematics, raising a young boy to be a great Hero, and I've even seen a goddess.  I only hope that I can find out what's going on-whether or not this is a dream...

After that, I just watch the sea more, keeping an eye out for pirates or anything worse.

"By noon tommorrow, if we continue with good winds."  The Captain replies.

You spend the rest of the day looking out, and that night, you see the stars glowing brilliantly.  The planets are clearly visible.

A streak of light crosses the sky, and you think meteorite, but a sailor murmur's...

"The passage of Mercury on a mission for the gods. Hail Fleetfoot."

After that, sleep comes quickly.  Its been a long day, filled with surprises, and much physical exercise, and you're exhausted.

You wake the next morning with the sunlight knifing into your eyes.

PT

When I wake, I stretch out and find Gale.  With him in my hands, I sit him in my lap so that the both of us can look out at the sea for a while, until perhaps Archimedes or someone else awakes and talks to me.

The next thing I do is ask the captain how he got into the business of sailing, and I ask what exactly he usually does on the sea.

Gale is asleep next to you for warmth and comfort.  Archimedes is already up.

The Captain smiles.

"Ah, my father was a fisher, but I was obviously meant for better things. So I took ship with a merchanter, did some trading, some pirating, and when he retired, he sold me his boat. It rotted eventually, but by then I had enough drachma to buy this boat."  The Captain shrugs. "Usually, I trade, but I'm also considered reliable, so I pick up extra money running missions for cities like the one we're on now."

PT

I thank the captian graciously for disclosing his past to me, and walk away nodding.  It seems like there are many ways to profit in this world...Analyze options...

If the cement plan works, I Archimedes will either set me up with the money to be a rich farm estate owner, or an inner-city stock-holder it seems like.

If that doesn't pan out, there's always...

Sailing, Pirating, Slaving, Raising an Army...  Perhaps later.  I should focus on the task at hand.

I head to Archimedes once more, and say to him, "I've revised my cement plan.  We should use the cement to combine the rocks togeather to form one very, very large rock.  With that, we could fill the whirlpool easier and save some rocks.  If we were to put the cement in while throwing rocks in, the cement wouldn't harden, due to the water."

I take some time to examine Gale's growth as well-eye color, height, skin tone, hair color, how his teeth are doing, any other noticable traits.

The Captain nods graciously in reply.

Archimedes grins. "That would be very tricky to get it all to stick together, but I am confident you will come up with a brilliant idea, or I will. It will be like building a house upside down, I think."

Gale's eye color changes, although its mostly green or yellow.  His hair is curly black. He now has two baby teeth in the front just poking out, and he grumbles when you check them as they seem a bit tender. He has a pale olive cast to his skin.  He is definitely a child of Greece.  His skin tone is flawless, without blemish, except for a few scrapes he's gathered.

PT

I rub Gale's hair to comfort him, and I approach Archimedes about one more thing, noticing the clothes I have on.

Perhaps dress shoes, black pants, and a nice shirt aren't suited for this place...

"Archimedes, I just noticed a concern that I have.  My attire isn't quite fit for this place.  I mean, I like the style of class, but I need something a little more maneuverable than this.  Perhaps you have some extra clothes, or ideas as to how I might be able to get some cheap?"

They get you a tunic with a belt for which they apologize as its not the wear of a young gentleman, but of a lower level servant. The Captain improves it by putting a bronze bracelet on your left arm.

"There. No servant would wear that. You look like a young noble who's fell on hard times."

PT

"Thank you so much for being so kind to me during this trip, captain.  The least I can do is offer you my clothes in exchange.  You won't find anyone else in the world dressed like this."

I, with the tunic and bracelet already on, give the Captain my stack of clothes.  "I'm not sure if it's your size, but this is all I have to offer you of value."

After that, I lean on the edge of the ship again, and just watch the sea, relaxing.  While I relax, I keep an eye on Gale and ask him to try flipping around some, to see how acrobatic he is.  That's all I do for the rest of the journey, unless something comes up.

The Captain takes the clothes.

"Fine stitching, and I know a young cousin about your size who is about to enter the priesthood of Mercury. It will serve him as my gift for his reaching manhood and the priests ways."

He smiles. "You've repaid me more than I gave you, Krilleus."

Later Gale practises somersaults, and rolling, and touching his toes.

Archimedes comes by with some string and a hook, and teaches the both of you how to catch fish.

And late that afternoon, in the heat of the day, you make port in the town of Lelphion.  The ship is welcomed, as is the news that the wealthier city of Athens has agreed to buy Lelphion's rock for the project.

PT

When I get on land, I give myself a couple minutes to get used to it.  Then, I go with Archimedes and I follow his lead when it comes to buying the rocks.

I also take Gale with us, but I tell him ahead of time not to touch anything this time.  It would make life hard on Uncle Archy and me if he makes a mess again like last time.

I ask Gale and Archimedes some geometry questions and answer them if neither of them can answer on the way.

Archimedes can, and Gale is willing and able to learn.

You arrive at the quarry, and find the quarry owner to be a rather nervous man.  He assures you that he can fulfill the contract, just not today, or tommorrow, or well, next week is looking pretty bad too.

A bit more questioning reveals that he has a problem. An infestation of gorgons. He's lost several of his crew to being turned to stone, and the price of their leaving is for him to sacrifice his wife to Ares, and "Her family is rich, and besides, as bizarre as it sounds, I actually like her."

PT

I then take the lead confidently, and look the other man in the eyes.  I put a foot up on the chest of money that we brought as well, for more drama.  "I can solve your gorgon problem.  Even after I do, I will gladly let your city keep the defeated gorgons to offer to the gods in whatever way you wish."

I give him a few moments to be grateful, and then I continue, "However, I'll need some supplies for this.  I need as many brave men as you can give me.  It'd help if they knew how to fight as well.  I need as many mirrors from torso-sized to full-body as you can offer.  Finally, I'll need the same amount of rocks from you for our own project for half of the payment.  Do we have a deal?  I guarantee it's well worth your while.  Your business will prosper, especially after you offer the dead gorgons to the gods."  I offer my hand to him to seal the deal.

If he agrees, then I ask him for details-how many have died, how many gorgons they have (supposing there are more than 3 in this world), and where I could organize a way to kill them.

He agrees to your terms, and promises tearfully to help in any way he can.

There are four to six gorgons, I think. I've lost three good men, and eight slaves.

The slaves are, I think about nine of them that were stoned. I didn't keep track.

They get the 'stuff'.

PT

There are two five foot tall mirrors. Four mirrors that are two foot by two foot complete the mirror selection.

The free men are armed with bronze sword, breastplate, and helmet.  The slaves are armed with cudgels.

PT

How many freedman and how many slaves are there?

Do any of them know the properties of the gorgans?  Some specific questions include: Do you have to look into their eyes to turn to stone or will just looking at them do that?  Does anyone know if gorgans can be killed by their own gaze through a mirror?

Also, what is the terrain that the gorgans are infesting like?  Is it full of rocks, a cave, an open field?  What is the area around it like as well?

Four freedmen, and eleven slaves.

Your question about their abilities provokes considerable arguement. One thing is certain--people get turned to stone near them.

Its a quarry in a mountainside that is dotted with olive trees.  There are caves in the limestone that is above the marble strata.

A dazzling burst of radiance interrupts your thoughts.

An angry looking young girl appears in front of you. You don't recognize her.

"I am the Muse. You have robbed me of my rightful worship. So now I curse you!"

She raises an arm with an olive wand in it.

PT

Thoughts cross my mind, about what I could do to escape the situation, but I come to an ultimate resolution, and bow to her.

"My apologies, I am but a lowly servant to the gods.  Do what you will."  If there are others around that can see her, I signal for them to bow down, immediately, even Hero.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:46, Wed 14 May 2008.

She breathes out, and you hear the men with you. Their teeth are literally chattering with fear.

"Bring me something simple. One of the hairs off Atlas' head. You have one week."

A dazzling burst of light, and she's gone.

PT

Once the muse is gone, I look to everyone around me.  "I have a bargain to keep with the people here.  I don't care about what is in my future, but right now we must deal with the problem at hand.  Still your breathing, calm yourselves!  You can't be like this against the demonic snake-women."

I put my arm on every one of the men in turn, and tell them, "We're here for the gorgans...let's hunt!"

"Now, follow my instructions and we should do fine."

I command the freedman and slaves to group up-1 freedman leads 2 slaves.  I'll go in with three, and leave little hero outside, or with Archimedes.  I order the mirrors to be fastened thus:

The four 2x2 foot mirrors will be divided into two, making two sets of two mirrors.  Each set will be fastened to the other in the set, back to back.  This will make a double-sided mirror.  Two of the freedman groups will have these, and the slaves will hold them.  The two remaining five-foot will be fastened back-to-back, and will go with my group coupled with the other two freedman groups.  The slaves will hold the mirrors.

Everyone's instructed to only look into the mirrors, and to close your eyes when striking a gorgon, if a group encounters one.  They're also instructed to communicate about the attacks, so that people won't hit comrades.

Once everyone understands the instructions, I give them 20 minutes as a group to figure out how they will move and get used to it.  Then, I take my larger group to where the gorgons were most recently seen, and dispatch the other two, smaller groups, to places where they were seen, but perhaps less frequently or less likely.  If there are no other places, we all go togeather to where they were last seen.

PM me if there's any confusion, please.

You nearly drop the mirror when you look into it and see the first gorgon. She's astonishingly ugly. With your hair standing up, you guide your group into attacking her.

A few thumps, some confusion, and she's dead. One of your teammastes slashed your back in the scuffle, and your swords are bent.

A bit of work, and you get the swords straightened out.

Your back feels like its on fire, but your compatriots assure you that its not a serious wound as long as it doesn't get infected.

You join with another group, and find that one group is not joining you.  There are still two more locations to check out.  Your other group that joins you lost one slave, and killed their gorgon.

PT

After I'm told about the losses that have happened, I instruct that everyone goes togeather now.

Our formation will be my group in front and the others in the back of the group.  The single-group formations will remain the same, with slaves holding the mirrors and freedmen ready to attack; however, this way we'll be able to watch each others' backs with better proficiency.

I instruct everyone, emphasizing once more to only look into the mirrors.  I let use walk around as one larger group for about ten minutes, then we go to one of the other two places togeather.

You're practising, and its been about five minutes when something flies through the air, and lands with a clunk in the middle of you.

Aware that you shouldn't because it might be a gorgon, you look.

Its the stone head of one of the freemen of the third group.

"Leave thissss placcccceeee, or diiiiiiie herrrrre."

The oddly distorted whisper carries as far as a shout, and holds such pure evil, and hatred that your first response is to wish you could climb back under your blankets, and whimper for mommy.  Some of the others look whey-faced, and tremble although a couple look furious with a desire for vengeance.

PT

I let a look of hate dawn on my face for the vile gorgans, and then I speak.  "These monsters have devastated one of our parties that searched for them.  It truly wearies my heart-the loss of this group, as well as that chilling, monstrous voice.  Still...it tells me something important about these monsters,"  I speak gloomily, then I dawn a hopeful, smiling face amongst the others, "They fear us!"  I speak confidently.

"They have clearly resorted to this-terror-to stop us from destroying them.  That tells me that they themselves are fearful of us-so there is no reason for us to be afraid.  Let us go out and show them that they don't fear us enough!  If your fear still grips you, then think of your fallen comrades here, and the satisfaction that will come when your blade slashes the throat of one of those dreadful beasts.  Let us go after them, now!"

I decide that we've had enough practice, and I lead the group, in the formation I've established, toward where the stone head and voice came from.

You charge, and you've gone three steps before you realize most of the others are not joining you.

You see the hideous face of the gorgon in your mirror for a second before it charges you with scuffling of feet on the dry rock, and a shriek of which nightmares are born.


PT

I focus on the image behind me, and I try to calculate the speed at which the distance is closing.  I swing my blade around me, when I feel it will appropriately hit the gorgan, and I aim for neck-height.  I make sure that during the swing, I look toward the ground, and close my eyes.

You swing on the memory of the image, and just barely miss.  The gorgon grabs at your arm, and tries to drag you to it, but you fall to the ground at its feet.

You hear a thunk, and a gorgon screams in mortal agony. One of your few brave comrades succeeded.

PT

Once the gorgon is dead, I get to my feet and clasp the man who saved my as-I mean life-on the shoulder, smiling to the brave man.  "Cut a piece of her off as a trophy for yourself.  I wouldn't suggest the entire head.  It might not be safe to show that to your family and friends."  I ask him what his name is.

I lead the group through this area still until we've looked around for a while, then I lead them back out to where the rest of the group should be waiting.

If I make it that far, and I see the entire mass standing there, I raise the man who killed the gorgon's hand, and I shout, "Raise honor and remember this man's name, for he has slayed a gorgon, and has avenged your friends and your pride."  Then, if the rest of the group is hopeful once more, I lead the entire group to do another once-over of the entire area, but I urge everyone to stay on guard during this, because some might have slipped by us in the earlier processes.

"My name is Gracchi, and I am a silversmith in good times, and a quarryman in bad."  He chops off a hand, and sticks it in a leather bag. "I was not just saving your life, but mine too. These idiots thought that being a coward would make them safe. I'd order them flogged, myself."

From examining the area, both the cave, and some footprints, it seems clear that one gorgon decided to hightail it. You lost one whole party of your original three due to being stoned.

The men cheer Gracchi. He shrugs, hiding his contempt.

PT

"Well, Gracchi, you've impressed me greatly and I could use company.  Do you have any family that you're obligated to?"

How old is Gracchi?

Whether or not Gracchi accompanies me, I go to Archimedes and the quarry owner, to make sure the deal is fulfilled on his end.  Also, I make a point to tell him about the men who were too afraid to accompany me.

I leave all the money in Archimedes' hands, and tell him about my situation and how I need to go get a hair of Atlas.  I encourage him to complete his project, and I ask him where I can meet him after I've completed my task.

"I have family, but they are well-situated for me to take a quest. One travels to seek a fortune, after all."

He's in his mid-twenties.

The quarry owner looks furious. It seems some of the cowards have been by already to claim their reward, and he's paid them.

Archimedes suggests meeting in Athens.

PT

A few queries...

Does Archimedes have enough money to set me up in Athens while I'm gone?

Do I have a sword now, left over from the gorgon-slaying?

How's Hero doing, and is he excited about going on an adventure with me to find Atlas?

I go to the temples with Gracchi, asking him to make sure Hero and I follow religious protocol at them.  I go to the temples to verify the location of Atlas.

Yes.

No, but they do give you a dagger. Its bronze, btw.

Hero has vanished Archimedes realized, and is searching for him. In a panic, you set out after him. You come upon him as he's heading back.

He's got a bag, and in it is a gorgon head.  He found a good path of retreat, and perched over it in ambush, and dropped a rock on the gorgon's head.

Hero is quite excited to go on a Quest. He imagines that he will be leading the Quest. He can't say more than a few words, but his whole attitude shouts "I'm in charge." as he struts about.

In the temple of Athena, the statue animates.

"You're doing good, but one of my brethren wants you to fail. Its cause I made Hero to clean up some of their messes, and they don't want to admit they made a mistake." She turns her  head to the left like she's arguing with someone invisible.

PT

I think a moment on the task set before me, and instantly reckognize what god is probalbly against me.

Who's...

A. Against Athena usually.
B. The progenitor of many, many monsters and giants.

The answer is...  Poseidon.

I bow down to the goddess, thank her, and ask no more of her.  Humbly, I depart while still bowing.

Once outside, I address Gracchi.  "I need to get to Atlas.  Let's see...  If memory serves, the Atlas Mountains are in North Africa...; however, if I'm wrong, that's not good.  Do you know where Atlas resides?  He's our quest-to pluck a hair from his head."

He scratches his chin.

"I know he holds the world upon his shoulders, but other than that, no.  However, I think you may have a point. If the mountains were named after it, it is a good place to start."

So saying he leads you down to the docks to rent a boat.

PT

"Alright..."  I move my hands around a little in front of me to visualize an old map I was required to memorize in class.

Then, I say aloud, "Okay, then it should be...to the south of Spain.  Right, it's in north Africa."

When we get to the dock, I shake my head to Gracchi.  "No, we shouldn't take a boat.  We should travel north, then west once we clear Greece and Macedonia.  Once we make our way to the southern tip of Spain, we can go accross a small straight to get to Africa.  I have a strong feeling that Poseidon is against us on this journey, and it's too far to sail safely, in my opinion."

"How many days' ride would that be?"