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Carthago! is a game by G.M., louisxiv just made a site for it.
Carthago! is a game by G.M., louisxiv just made a site for it.
Thursday 8th October ’26
7:45pm for 8:00pm BST
From: Sammus’s Boast:
We selected Mery of Memphis from the three candidate scribes who had approached Si'aspiqo and Si'aspiqo invited him to our lodgings for refreshments and to meet the party. A slightly built, 5’3”, man with a shaven head and smallpox scars arrived at the appointed hour. He spoke good Greek and Si'aspiqo introduced each of us to him. He reddened and became somewhat confustulated and tongue-tied when Toxoanassa was introduced to him. He said he would be pleased to accompany us all. Si'aspiqo explained that we had a mission to the East, but there might also be investigations into matters of interest. We asked questions to determine his power as a magician and his ability to survive a fight and then asked if he had any questions. We were happy with our choice.
On 31st March a soldier brought a sealed scroll addressed to Agripinus, ambassador of Carthage. It was from Harpalus and warned him to be ready to travel at 4 hours’ notice. We should take saddlebags only and be ready for hard riding. We let Magus know we would be leaving soon, and he wished us well and hoped to see us when we returned to Alexandria.
As we breakfasted on 2nd April, a soldier arrived with another scroll addressed to Agripinus from Harpalus, telling us to be ready at noon. We said our goodbyes and warned Diophanes to be ready. At noon a sergeant and four soldiers arrived with a cart and we walked across Alexandra, arriving at a heavily armed gate, where we were admitted into the palace district. This was a small city within the city. After a few turns along narrow streets, we reached a small courtyard. The cart was pushed in and the door to the yard was closed and locked behind us.
After 5 minutes an officer and scribe arrived and asked for Agripinus. The priest handed over his papers along with those belonging to those of us who had them. Those of Agripinus were amended to include Toxoanassa and Mago who hadn’t left the city. Everything was noted in a ledger by the scribe. The officer commented on Diophanes’ papers –
“Soldier of the Oracle of Zeus – I haven’t seen one like this before”.
“There aren’t many”, responded Diophanes.
“Well, that’s the King’s business, you can pass”, decided the officer. He told us to make ourselves at home and that the commander would be informed that we were here.
An hour or two later the locked door was opened and a splendidly dressed officer entered. He said he was Xanthippus, the commander of the royal mission to Seleucia. His task was to get Harpalus and Agripinus to Seleucia. Those in their entourages were under his protection. This was a military mission, and we would travel with speed, with few options to rest. Army conduct applied and any problems should be taken to Agripinus first, but if we saw anything we should shout out. There were no details, but the council had determined that there might be an attempt to delay or prevent the mission. The escort would leave tomorrow morning as planned, but we would set sail for Tyros before dawn – we should rest and be ready to leave at midnight. We should not leave this room as the guards had orders from Ptolemy to kill before questioning. The doors were locked for our safety. We were given refreshments of freshly baked bread and olive oil, dried meat, olives and dried fruit.
At midnight the doors opened and soldiers bearing torches guided us to a familiar dock and a ramship. We were ushered aboard the ship, which was packed with marines, up a gangplank and then led to a small pavilion tent, pitched on the deck near the bow. We were told this was our shelter, and we could store our kit here or in the hold. It was a small tent with room for six to lie down or 8 if there was minimal equipment. A bench nearby was assigned to us.
Si'aspiqo explained that he had some weather-related skills and he was led off to the stern and introduced to Diomedes the Navigator, the captain, who was interested in his skills. The magician was introduced to Naymar, an Egyptian priest of Serapis. He had a was-sceptre, almost like a walking stick decorated with gold leaf. Naymar was shaven headed, with a slight paunch and wore expensive robes. Si'aspiqo was told they would call on him if required and he returned to our pavilion.
Preparations continued at night and even more men boarded. As soon as the first grey light appeared the ship pushed off from the deck and rowed out to sea. The morning of 3rd April saw a southerly wind, and we sailed directly north, straight out to sea, watching the lighthouse and Egypt disappear behind us. Now it was light, we could see the ship had two decks of oars, although the ship now sailed under the power of a large mainsail. A little before noon two sails appeared on horizon, and all three ships altered course to pass close by. Signals were exchanged, and the other ships passed by, heading to Alexandria.
Agripinus divided us into two watches of four: he, Toxoanassa, Si'aspiqo and I were on one and Amphius, Diophanes, Mago and Mery the other. We each had six hours out of the tent, and six hours resting inside. Around noon Harpalus strolled along to speak to Agripinus. He told the priest he was glad we had made it and hoped everything was set up satisfactorily. Agripinus confirmed it was and offered his help if needed. Harpalus told him that this was Diomedes’ crew and we were all under Xanthippus’s orders. We would be sailing to Tyros and then heading into Seleucia from an unexpected direction – from the west instead of south. The cavalry escort that set off at midday would have extra people to simulate our presence. It would be interesting to hear if they came under attack or interference, but we wouldn’t know until we reached Seleucia.
He explained that factions in Seleucia might not wish the ambassador to be exchanged. He told us how Romans at the court of Ptolemy had protested about Ptolemy having an ambassador of Carthage, when Rome was at war with them. Ptolemy had told them that this was not Sicily – and anyone at war here was at war with Ptolemy. Harpalus chuckled at his story. We were served more good food along with watered wine. The ship sailed on through the night under a clear starlit night.
After midnight Agripinus and I struggled to sleep as Si'aspiqo was twitching and gibbering in a dream. Agripinus tied his feet together to prevent him from leaving the tent and we went to sleep.
At dawn Si'aspiqo was hollow eyed and very tired, he had been wracked by nightmares all night. Dreaming that he was being chased by something he couldn’t see; when he pulled himself together it had disappeared into the in-between. Mery had felt something cold during the night, but couldn’t see it, maybe it was a spirit. He said Si'aspiqo had been ridden by a spirit of the dead.
4th April dawned fine, but the brisk wind came from the northeast, and the ship was rowing into it, when a marine officer turned up asking for Si'aspiqo. He went to the stern where he was met by a glare from Naymar, but Diomedes asked if he could do anything about the wind. Si'aspiqo cast a spell and after a moment of stillness a vigorous wind blew from the opposite direction. The oars could be taken in and the sail raised. Si'aspiqo explained that he had learnt this from a fine Greek sailor. Naymar looked daggers at Si'aspiqo, but Diomedes said that all were grateful to him. Si'aspiqo had to recast after 6 hours, and the wind veered, more slowly this time, to a favourable direction. Each time there were cheers from the sailors, who would not need to row.
That night Mery set out some tiny effigies around the periphery of tent and wrote some small scribbles on parchment, warning us not to step on them – as they were to keep away evil spirits. The night passed quietly.
The next day was fine again, and the crew did some fishing. Toxoanassa and I joined them and she caught a decent fish. Just as the light started to fade, I caught something large and heavy. I braced myself against the rail on the edge of the deck and saw something swirl and heard a splash. Suddenly, I felt cold and dizzy and dropped to one knee, asking those around to help me. A wave of sickness and dizziness came over me, and I started to lose some control of my legs. There was an almighty tug, and I was pulled over the rail.
There was a big splash as I hit the water. It was difficult to co-ordinate my legs, almost as though I had drunk too much. I let go of the line and managed to bob to the surface and gave a shout. I could see the dark shape of the ramship not too far away. As I surfaced again, there was a lot of noise from the ship and I saw the brilliant white light of Tanit, which was now further away than I expected. There was a big sploosh – someone large or something had gone into the sea. I shouted again and tried to swim in that direction.
Suddenly I felt a hand, or maybe a tentacle grasp my ankle and pull, but then immediately released me. I suspected it had been repulsed by Si'aspiqo casting protection from evil on me via my token. As I boobed up again, I heard a voice calling where are you in Greek and I shouted to let him know where I was. Diophanes, for it was he, swam though the water, told me to lie still and then grabbed me. I quickly warned him of the evil that had grasped me but been repulsed and I heard him call on Zeus.
He started pulling me back to the ship, but then he let go and let out a gasp. I heard a curse in a language I didn’t understand, but sounded vaguely Greek, and then I saw a large shark. Diophanes continued calling on Zeus. I saw the ship by the light of Tanit, much closer now.
As well as a circling shark, I saw a horrible human face with seaweed for hair. As the light of Tanit caught it, it ducked unhappily below the surface. I heard shouting and Greek voices from the ship and Diophanes called to Zeus again. A rope was thrown nearby, which Diophanes wrapped around me, and I grasped hold and was rapidly hauled aboard. Soon Diophanes was aboard too. He said that this must have been one of the immortal daughters of Tethys as he had heard it cursing in an old form of Greek. This was the second time I had been attacked by one, and we wondered whether I was a marked man in some way. Maybe it was related to the Ketos I had killed or perhaps it had more to do with the presence of Si'aspiqo I wondered. I spoke to Diophanes, who smiled and said:
“You may indeed be a marked man after slaying the Ketos. That was my task, but you stood as Perseus and the Titans may remember you. What Luck! To have such challenges seek you out, instead of suffering dreary passages over the Blessed Sea. You are a fortunate man, Sammus – although I think you should learn to swim as soon as may be.”
Si'aspiqo twisted the wind a little and we sailed on quietly to dawn.
Date: 20 Ptolemy II: March 30 - April 06, Dawn
The party & company:
Met: (named persons)
Places:
Party Loot:
Party Resources
From: Si'aspiqo’s Wheeze:
Over the last few months I have been fulfilling some of my duties as a Councillor of the Library by giving a series of talks on my work. Normally these are droning lectures about matters of librarianship, philosophy and poetry, I understand.
I decided on a series of monthly talks on the practical aspects of scroll and artefact collection: “Retrieving Texts from the Field”, though with a lot of the grubbier details rubbed off along with most of the names and locations. I talked in Arma / Koine Greek as the common denominator, with explanations of obscure technical matters through dialogue with the audience – these have been discussions as much as lectures, and “a learning opportunity for us all…”
I have made clear I am not the centre of the accounts, just talking from my point of view to this audience. I was lucky to be along for the ride and could not have survived nor succeeded in any of the encounters without the whole band: the Carthaginian soldier-divine, the Gallic warrior, the Scythian archer, the Balearic slinger (& tradesman, trader), and the Greek sailor of multiple talents. My companions’ motivations in these experiences were not my tale to tell.
November: The Chance of Hermeroskopeion — the circumstances of the retrieval of the Library of Euripides the Seer of Hermeroskopeion, and the problem of the unclosed gate/crack to the underworld.
December: The Chance of the Archon — travelling with the dead; a working tomb; mission accomplished and choosing a time to leave before an opportunity became a job for life and after…
January. The Chance of the Black Lion — Western Numidia, the search for and final destruction of the witch, his spirit haunt, the regrettable need for destruction of accursed artefacts, the burdens of known and unknown harms.
February. The Chance of the Great Sand — of sand cats, giants’ ruins, the wandering dead, a listing of the encountered spirits of the far Western Numidian region and southern lands, including Darkings and Shedim. Refers to travel requiring local guides of the relevant tribes. No details of secret oases, camels and other oath-bound secrets.
March. You only have One Chance once you interfere — the imperatives to travel: from simple thirst, to how I got here — illness, a dream of a cure, a chance meeting in Carthage, travel to the lands around; a, or the, Lamia; of swapping one burden for another; and now the onward road.
((Note: Specifically no references to the Kasserine campaign, whereabouts of the Archon, various hidden wells (just ‘stops’), the Red Dune and other matters on which I am (we are) oath-bound.))
The first lecture, Hermereoskopeion, only had a handful attending, (including my assigned scribes, probably only because they had to…). Doubtless expecting a philosophical trudge, rather than the tale of the discovery of the destroyed town and where our investigation led us.
Then telling of the Archon haunting my sleep, my negotiations with the haunt, and the deep tomb he rests (or not) in now, may subsequently have disturbed the sleep of some dozen or so.
The Black Lion was heard, and my lionskin cloak and the tooth & claw necklace admired, by twice the number. That I am formally a “Lion Hunter” and had eaten of the heart of the beast recently, rather than in my youth, did seem to cause some re-evaluations of a scrawny, old Kushite…
The Great Sand, this was given to more people than I could be bothered to count. People were stopping to listen as they passed through the courtyard where I was speaking. People at the front, mostly the Greeks, were writing notes and asking questions while the Egyptians mostly stood back and listened closely, as did some other Councillors. I got several invitations to dinners and symposia as a result of this talk…
The most recent, and last (for now?) You only have one chance — was a bit more philosophical, reminiscing on how and why I left Kush, arrived here, and what comes next…
This last – what comes next – has brought up a number of offers of ‘business opportunities’ for us:
I have Greeks, particularly, making enquiries about sponsoring expeditions to look for treasure and investing in any trip to Assyria… The Greeks seem to be prepared to pay money up front for shares in loot. Gold is mentioned. My feeling is that:
Perhaps more usefully I have been approached by a number of scribes inspired by the talks, angling for an invitation to carry my bags (ink bottles?) East in search of knowledge. They all have some arcane knowledge. I understand I can fit one such bag-carrier into my entourage.
I suggest:
Shall we conduct interviews? Emphasising how hard the travelling life can be, just in case the talks haven’t blown the stardust from their eyes…
From: Sammus’s Boast:
Magus asked what help we wanted from him. He knew people who could look for a suitable place to rent. Diophanes would spend the first month with us. Agripinus planned to tour some of the sites up the Nile for a couple of months. The light from the lighthouse was very evident throughout the town at night and it was not clear how it was powered.
Magus arranged a deal with a relative, Alexarchus the Merchant, an importer of Cretan wine, and we rented his town house until next spring for 100gp a month, including the domestic servants who support it. His house was in a decent Greek quarter, some three stories high, built around a small courtyard. The ground floor had a public reception room, a kitchen, a large larder and a storeroom or workshop. The first floor had four bedrooms and a large family common room. The top floor had 3 large garrets suitable as servants’ quarters and general storage. A Greek housekeeper and her two daughters lived in the house and cooked and cleaned as required. She was a respectable Greek widow and might have been some distant relative of Alexarchus. A night-watchman and his dog arrived before dusk and sat in the courtyard until dawn every night. The courtyard had a gate into the street, and this was the only access to the property; all the ground floor windows were internal to the courtyard, and all first-floor windows had shutters. Security against normal burglars seemed quite adequate for a merchant family and some goods. We had plenty of room for all our kit and a small workshop for Magus as well.
Each month cost 30gp for a comfortable lifestyle. I got cut practicing dagger with Toxoanassa. I paid one of the housekeeper’s daughters to help with my Greek. She was 14 or 15 and she spoke Greek with me for an hour in the afternoon each day for 3gp. I made progress and could recognize Greek letters. I started to know my way around Alexandria a bit and could find my way in daylight. I chatted to Diophanes about the Gods. He told me that next month he would go to the Oracle of Siwa hundreds of miles to the west, on a boat to the Oasis. There was a Temple to Zeus, and he would speak to Zeus and find his path. It was a famous and secluded place.
Toxoanassa and I stayed home practicing sword and dagger, while Si'aspiqo spent his time in the library, returning every few nights to get some sleep and a hot meal. He seemed in his element, and I wondered if he would ever leave this city. Agripinus was away visiting temples on the Nile. Magus spent his time working on some kind of standard for Agripinus and trading. Amphius was off to the gymnasium every day.
I heard that an inundation had washed away the bank of the Nile south of Giza, which was a week from Alexandria, and some bold diggers had looted ancient treasure, until one night the dead took them to dine in the underworld. Only one had made it back to Alexandria to spend his gold and drink to his lost comrades. He had last been seen in the Egyptian quarter. Perhaps he needed some new bold companions to burn out the undead and loot the necropolis before someone else did? I asked my companions if they wished to investigate further, but Mago and Si'aspiqo declined and Agripinus was unavailable.
The next month, December, I spent some time acting as a bodyguard for Mago. I made no progress on a streetwise skill or dagger or Greek, but Toxoanassa made progress with sword. Diophanes had asked if I wished to go with him, but I was more attracted to Herakles than Zeus, so I looked to see if there was a temple to Herakles. There were shrines in some of the Greek Temples in Alexandra, but just small ones. I heard that up the Nile at Abydos were great temples, where there might be a shrine to a heroic figure that someone thought might be Hercules. I asked Si'aspiqo if he could see if there was any more information in the Great Library.
His chief advisor at the Library, Amenhotep, a scribe of the first class, told Si'aspiqo, “I think someone is playing a joke on you – the Great Temple of Abydos is dedicated to Seti, great saviour of Egypt and victor of Kadesh. May his soul live forever! Perhaps you would have a long trip for nothing if you go to Abdyos. You have heard of Herakleoupolis, I see. We call it Henen-Nesut, and the Temple there is sacred to mighty Heryshaf. Ptolemy’s priests say he is who they call Herakles and founded a new town there beside the old. Who can say they are wrong?”
Si'aspiqo noted that he said those last few words with a strong suggestion of a twinkle in his eye…
However, he went on to say: “But I will tell you this, in truth: Alexander-Ammun went to Siwa, to learn he was the son of the god, and not a mortal father. Once enlightened, he stayed there many nights to dream with Ammun, and when he returned the light of heaven shone from his countenance. He came back across the desert through the second oasis, which we call Djes-Djes. There he dreamed of his brother and founded his first Temple in Egypt as the son of Ammun. So, in Djes-Djes you may find what you seek. It is 2 weeks across the western desert — a long walk indeed — and you will need guides to get you there safely.”
Si'aspiqo added, “So as the Greeks hold Herakles to be a son of Zeus, and that Zeus is Ammun here in Egypt, Alexander’s brother from Ammun may well be Herakles. You would have to seek him at Djes-Djes — though I have heard of the oasis of Siwa, Djes-Djes is a new name to me.”
I heard a rumour:
“The tombs of Sakkara are full of treasures from the days of the Pyramids – wealthy beyond compare was Egypt then, when Greeks came as poor soldiers and peddlers. Now they rule Egypt and those tombs are unquiet. No man should walk amongst them on moonless nights, for the dark hides blood-thirsty spirits. The Temple of Ptah in Memphis will pay a bounty for the bones of the undead – but they keep it quiet. Ghouls are bad for the tourist trade, eh?”
I passed on the rumour to my comrades (apart from Agripinus, who was still away on pilgrimage).
I also asked if anyone could help with my desire to seek a temple of Herakles or wished to accompany me. Toxoanassa said that she had no wish to leave the house and all our hard-won possessions with no capable guard for most of every day for a month or more. She also had no wish to pray to the Greek icon of masculinity. She bad me take care on my trip and hoped the sky would look down on me kindly until I returned there. Amphius reported that the travel guides all clamoured for the wonders of the Nile Valley and implored me not to waste my time in the Western Desert.
However, Mago came through for me – he found an Egyptian merchant who traded with the second Oasis – Djes-Djes – and he would take me to the Temple of Alexander there. His name was Mon-Ray, and he would take me there and back again to Alexandria for 60 gold pieces. He would be leaving in a day or so to make the most of the moonlit nights; back in a month or two, depending on the weather and trading. At that price, He planned to travel mainly by night as it was cooler – it appeared that he used donkeys to carry water and goods and the rest of his caravan walked. “Horses drink far too much for the desert and die too easily from hardship. You can wear a pilgrim’s cloak as you travel with us. Few bandits or thieves will commit sacrilege and harm a pilgrim. If you bear arms, you must take your chance with the rest of us.”
I visited the Temple of Poseidon in Alexandria, where there was a shrine to Herakles and I donated 10gp. I mentioned Djes-Djes and the priest looked baffled; but when I said, “The Second Oasis” he tilted his head and nodded “A long journey; you may find enlightenment there if your heart is true and your hands are clean.” He said this, and nothing more. Just so, and then the door… Enigmatic fellow – or was it something I said?
I recommended Tipsas, a Celt-Iberian mercenary, to Mago as I would no longer be able to act as his bodyguard.
I met up with Mon-Ray with just a small bundle of cloth with my shortsword concealed in it and a small pack. It was a small caravan with donkeys or mules carrying some merchandise and plenty of water and a few guards. I was the only pilgrim. We walked at night although I was warned it would not be long before we would have to continue to walk for the early part of the morning. I found the cooler temperatures overnight very pleasant for marching as it went down to about 5 degrees. It rose to around 20 during the day. After a week, the leader of the guards spoke to me and said that I seemed to know the ways of the desert, and I admitted I had crossed deserts before. We had a few rain showers, but no problems.
We headed west, and then south and then southwest and after about 2 weeks we left the desert into semi-desert and into a long wide valley with mountains around. I started to see a few springs, small oases, with palm trees and a few hamlets. Soon there was a large oasis with high hills or low mountains to the north and south. This was the second oasis or Djes Djes to the Egyptians.
The locals looked like Libyans, although their dress was a little different to that of the pirates we had encountered recently. There was music from the village overnight.
In the morning Mon-Ray took me to a brand new, white marble Greek temple. There was a small necropolis nearby, which was much older, with crumbling ruins of Egyptian stonework. He told me this was the Temple of Alexander. He pointed out to me where he would stay and said to find him when I finished, or he would send word two days before he was due to leave. He told me the departure would depend on his trading but warned me that he would not wait and if I did not arrive when stipulated he would leave without me and I would have to make my own way back to Alexandria.
I made my way into the temple as a supplicant and met the priest Polycrates. He asked me why I had come. I explained that I was a warrior from Gaul and that while we worshipped many Gods, I had heard tales of Herakles and felt an affinity with the God, which I wanted to pursue.
He explained that the Temple had been founded by Alexander when he had come from Siwa. He had founded the Temple to Herakles as Herakles was his brother, both being sons of Zeus. Polycrates asked to read my path, and I gave him my hands. He traced lines on both my hands and looked at my arms and the many scars.
You have fought many battles and followed a long journey, he told me. He added that I had shown strength and fortitude. He asked me if I wished to learn here and become an acolyte, which might take a year. He said that I could undergo a great trial when I felt ready, which would leave me marked for life and could not be repeated if I failed. It would require strength and fortitude.
I told him that I first wanted instruction about Herakles. I spent a week at the temple, where I was fed porridge, dates, olive oil and a little meat, and was given lessons on the life of Herakles and his 12 labours. Herakles was the son of Zeus, and a demi-God. He was the epitome of masculine strength and martial force. I donated 100gp and asked for a blessing for my safe return.
He said that I appeared to have a strong spirit and a healthy body, and I asked him more about the trial. He reiterated that the trial would leave me marked for life and would take strength and fortitude. Many failed the test and although most took a year of training as an acolyte before attempting the trial, I was free to take the trial if I felt confident.
After some thought I decided to take the challenge now. I stripped down to my loincloth, and the priest poured hot coals into a great vessel of bronze. I was told the trial was to pick up the bronze cauldron, just using my arms, carry it to the altar and place the cauldron on the altar. I took a deep breath and grasped the vessel as instructed. It was burning hot, but I picked it up and carried it to the altar and hoisted it up. It was very painful and a lesser man would have passed out but I am hardy and strong and I passed the test.
Polycrates congratulated me. Few managed to do so without the year of training he told me. He applied a salve and bound up my wounds. They were still painful but eased noticeably. After 2 days of rest, I had almost completely recovered. Polycrates was a very skillful healer. From now on I would bear the marks of Herakles as the scars looked like bull-headed man on one arm and a ram-headed man on the other. I felt a sense of achievement from having passed the test.
Polycrates taught me a prayer to Herakles and told me that I had passed the trail and was now a son of Herakles. Saying the prayer, I could call on the God and gain a boon of strength. I would lose 4hp but gain +1 hit and +1 damage. The hit points would require a long rest to recover. I should sacrifice to Herakles at every shrine I saw. I would see tests and trials which I should take, and I would know when these arose. Once I had completed 12 of these labours my life would be over.
After a couple of days Mon-Ray came to tell me he would be departing shortly. By the time we set out I had healed completely and I was left with quite intricate scars, almost like tattoos as they were a slightly different colour to my skin. These would be obvious unless I wore long sleeves.
We returned safely to Alexandria by the middle of the next month.
I learnt that Amphius was paranoid about Egyptians watching our place and found out why. He had learnt of the midnight auction of recently acquired items. Each moneyman was allowed to take a bodyguard and so Tipsas, the guard I recommended, had gone along. Si'aspiqo had not been allowed to touch things but had been able to identify those with arcane properties and had bought a few minor pieces. Toxoanassa and Amphius had been watching in the darkness outside and seen people turn up with a woman in a palanquin. However, the men had grabbed weapons hidden inside the palanquin and rushed the gate. My two comrades had loosed arrows as they heard shouts of “the Red Hand of Isis”, and “Anubis” from the attackers. This had decimated the attackers and though a few had made it as far as the door, they were met and dealt with by guards there. The woman, a priestess was the leader.
My comrades had then left and headed home, but Amphius had carried off the wounded and unconscious priestess and taken her back to our house, before deciding this was a bad idea. He had dumped her a few streets away and then heard street rumours that she had survived.
I went to the shrine of Herakles, to ask about blessing my spear, but they suggested I emulate Herakles and use a two-handed club. I successfully learnt to speak Greek with a bit of an Alexandrian accent but made little progress with dagger. Amphius had bought the Ketos ivory off the party and had had a beautiful dagger and sheath made from one of the larger teeth and some of the hide, which he gave to me.
Maybe two weeks after my return there was still no sign of Agripinus, but Diophanes returned. He looked even more sunburnt than I and his sandals were even more worn. He had been to the temple of Zeus at Siwa, which he said was a great oracle and a pilgrimage well worth doing for worshippers of Zeus. It had given him much to think on. I showed him my brands, and he was impressed that I had passed the trial. He did not know of other foreigners that had done this. I had proven my worth by trial and effort and had gained the respect of the temple and the notice of the God. He added that Herakles was another son of Zeus like Alexander.
I heard a rumour: “The famous Kydon of Corinth is looking for Heroes! A voyage to the land of the golden fleece is not for the faint-hearted, only bold and strong men should apply. They say a Hero might have 50 gold pieces and 1/50th share of profits from the voyage, so glory and treasure await those who dare!” I passed this on to my comrades, but none seemed interested and we had already agreed to accompany Agripinus on his journey.
I accompanied Si'aspiqo on a little all expenses paid ‘fishing’ trip to the Nile Delta via Rosetta, when he was looking to gather Sycamore tree sap at the Full Moon at the end of February, our fourth month in Alexandria. He told me he should now be able to invoke – for a few rounds – Hathor’s Radiant Blessing on prepared (anointed) weapon blades to help them smite things of Darkness.
Part the way through March, our fifth month in Alexandria, Agripinus finally returned. He let us all know we would be leaving at the beginning of April; we would be accompanying Ptolemy’s diplomatic mission to the Seleucids. He had discussed this with Harpalus, Ptolemy’s ambassador and this would be like a cavalry patrol, moving at high speed. We would each have two horses, provided for us, one to ride and one as a pack horse and we would ride along the imperial road, changing horses along the way. I was concerned how Si'aspiqo in particular would cope with this.
I bought some replacement clothes and boots and made sure I had a set of good quality clothing in reserve. I made sure I was ready to set off in plenty of time.
Over the month I finally started to show some improvement with the dagger. I spent quite a lot of time as a bodyguard with Tipsas as a bodyguard for Magus, who seemed to have had a good month of trading. I found my way around Alexandria, learning where the different quarters were and which areas to avoid at night. I was making progress towards a streetwise skill. I went to the shrine of Herakles again and showed the priest my tattoo and made a small offering. If I went to any other such shrine I would be given support, refuge, sanctuary and any help I needed.
One night when I was drinking wine at a local bar, I heard a rumour from a mercenary. He told me: “Hey Sammus, a Greek guy wants some hard, sword-swinging mercs to sort out a problem for him. Apparently, he’s lost an elephant or something in the Nile delta. A ransom job. Dunno how you lose an elephant. Have you seen those things – they’re HUGE!!”
“Sounds like 50 gold apiece if the elephant makes it back in one piece and the bandits don’t. Big money! What’d you think? Hic. Another wine maybe?”. I passed on the rumour to my comrades, but we all agreed it was too late to pursue, or we would risk missing our departure for the diplomatic mission.
Si'aspiqo came one evening and announced: “By grace and will of the basileus Ptolemy, expressed through his Council of the Library of Alexandria, a gratuity of 2,400 pieces of silver is awarded to the company of Councilor of the Library Si'aspiqo of Kush in recognition of their substantial contribution of rediscovered and unknown texts made to the Library.” We still had the texts, some in rewritten fair copies and he told us that he would forego a share of this, so that would give 480sp to each of us.
Agripinus had returned from his pilgrimage with a black and white striped hide and some tusks which Mago helped him to trade. He no longer had the slave Zeno with him, I assumed something must have happened during the pilgrimage, but Agripinus did not say.
We agreed to keep all the healing potions {from Kuku -Si'} and sell all but two of the pain ease potions. Mago set up an auction and after fees we made 1130gp. He and Si'aspiqo sold the 6 flasks of various potions from the witch near Sef to a Greek alchemist, from whom we received a healing potion, a potion of capture scent (with 3 or 4 doses), and a flask of tomb powder. When the powder was thrown in someone’s face, it would temporarily render them blind and incapacitated.
Diophanes related that Zeus had told him to follow the path of Alexander. He asked if he could come with us, as his path lay in the direction we were headed and we all agreed. We also agreed that Si'aspiqo could try to recruit a suitable scribe to accompany us with basic arcana and a little mana as well as knowledge of Persian and Assyrian regions and languages. Agripinus would conduct interviews with him to find a suitable candidate.
Date: 19 Ptolemy II 11 (November) – 20 Ptolemy II 03 (March)
Met: (named persons)
Places:
Party Loot:
I set as the era the year of the accession of the Pharaoh Ptolemy II, son of Ptolemy, so we begin in the year 18 of that reign, and I use a simplified system of twelve months with no regard for the multiple systems of intercalary days, weeks, months or moons of our own various cultures nor those we have passed through. I shall use the month names used by the main story-teller, a Gaul, Sammus the Strong, but number them to disambiguate their order.
–Si'aspiqo