Re: Chapter 3: A Tale of Two Villages
The animals paid for, Arthanos and Dysis take leave of one another and go to the separate houses of worship to make their offerings.
As Dysis enters the house of Hades, she sees the usual kind of folks who would make pilgrimage here, namely those who make offering and prayers for their own honored dead, as well as those who feared the God of the Underworld. Even though a bronzed statue of him sitting on a throne awaited any who entered this temple, those who sacrificed averted their faces to him, lest they catch his eye. Also depicted next to the sitting Hades is a statue of Cerberus, looking as fierce as the three heads each gaze in different directions.
More surprisingly, is a nearby statute of Persephone, also depicted sitting on her throne holding a pomegranate. Both majestic and also dreadful to those unfamiliar with her mysteries. She had a varied cult. Farmers of all kind would appeal to her, but others might find in her an appeal and interest that they would not find in the more reserved and passive Hades, who was usually content to let surface matters be, so long as they didn't interfere with his realm.
Dysis looks around the small house. Save for a few petitioners there are few present. Most here have their own sacrifices of smaller animals. Some leave coin or grain though. The sheep Dysis had purchased makes a noise which pierces the somber atmosphere. A darkly robed attendant approaches her, and gestures towards sacrificial altars where she could make her sacrifice, though she does see a priest present who obviously who would be used to ritually making the sacrifice on the petitioner's behalf. She approaches, though the priest is silent. The man's grey eyes gaze first at the lamb and then at Dysis. "For which soul do you petition for, young woman?" he asks, his voice raspy.
The temple of Poseidon that Arthanos enters is, perhaps unsurprisingly, well maintained and obviously well cared after, given the connection that the islanders would have with the Sea God. The Earth-Shaker himself is represented in marble, a trident held in his hand as he judges all those who enter into his house. Marble fountains have been built inside the temple, and as Arthanos enters, he sees fish of various species swimming in smaller streams and ponds. There were quite a few people here. Many, of course, were petitioners, though it seemed the the temple itself was a common area into itself as others had gathered inside the temple to talk amongst themselves, conduct meetings, or just enjoy the tranquility of this place. It has a certainly irony, given the wrath that Poseidon would display to those who traveled the seas without making proper sacrifice. Arthanos with his lamb is flagged as a petitioner, and two attendants approach him, nodding approvingly, and lead him towards a sacrificial altar where a priest awaited. Even as Arthanos approaches, the priest greets him. "You have come, child of Athena, to give thanks to Poseidon for your voyage, have you not?" He nods. "It is proper, as only fools would dare to offend or ignore him when they ride his waves."
Being a priest himself, Eurenomes obviously needs no assistance in giving prayer and worship to his own patron, Hermes. Like so many times before, he intones his prayer and goes through the ritually begins to prepare the sacrifice. Such devotion could take a long time, of course, and if he wished boons from his God then he was required to spend that time. The communing itself was a blissful act that nobody save priests or perhaps the very few chosen by the Gods themselves could truly understand.
Elsewhere, Aleta stands up but Gastadonis stays where he is seated. "There is no rush, Aleta." he says. "Please... sit, finish your wine. Then we shall stroll." he takes a large sip of his own glass and smiles at her.
A maid approaches the table where Itylus sits by himself, and brings him a steak such as he ordered from the proprietor. Both Aleta and Itylus can see Gastadonis' eyes naturally wander towards the woman's behind before he darts them back to Aleta, renewing his charming smile at her. The maid gives a slight nod and smile to Itylus. "Best that we have, good lord." she says. "You look worn out." she adds. "Have you traveled from far away?" she inquires.