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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 18th June ’26
7:45pm for 8:00pm BST
From: Si'aspiqo’s Wheeze:
So, as my comrades disappear into the teeming streets of Alexandria, on their first day of freedom after the quarantine is lifted, on the last day of the waxing moon – or the first day of ‘November’ if you prefer the agreed intercultural reference our party have adopted with our high ideas of mutual and equal inconvenience and confusion – I find myself standing by a busy door and addressing its guardian thuróros.
“Good sir,” I open in my much-improved-through-practice Greek, “I have here a warrant I must present to a senior official of your Library. Are you that one, or should I seek another?”
“Yer what?”
I showed the good thuróros the cover and seal on the outside of my papyrus.
“Oh, reedin’ matters. Jist a moment, scribble boy… Oi! Inside there! Get one of the ink-fingers aht ’ere.”
So a very junior scribe – about an acolyte pen-sharpener – comes out and takes a look at the seal and inscription, turns and dashes back inside calling for a higher authority, who appears in due course (with a number of scribe-acolytes behind him peering through the doorway, until shoo’d back to their tasks by the thuróros).
This intermediate scribe bids me enter and wait out of the sun while he fetches a more senior colleague. I am left in what appears to be a general reception room amongst others seated or standing as is their preference. I lean on my staff and wheeze theatrically so people give me more room… but there is little time to wait before a senior scribe arrives, a young lad in his thirties unless I miss my guess, who introduces himself as Hermippus of Smyrna, a Scribe of the First Class.
He fully unrolls the papyrus. Reads it carefully. He bows and tells me that Librarian Zenodotus will see me immediately. There are stairs and more stairs to climb and landings to cross. Finally there is a room. What a room. The walls are shelf upon shelf of piled sheets and scrolls and codices and scrolls and librams and scrolls… There must be more scrolls, written words, in this single room than I have ever read or seen assembled in one place; more then than in the entire college of Medewi.
(aside: Medewi: more widely known as “Meroë” – a Persian mis-transcription’s coincidence with the name of a King’s consort has stuck with outsiders.)
Librarian Zenodotus is an old man. Balding, white bearded, but clear eyed none the less, who speaks to me in Greek, like all the others, bidding me be seated. From the look of relief at my bow, my expressing thanks in the Greek, he’s happy not to have to try Egyptian.
Young Hermippus passes him the scroll from the royal court. He checks its words and the seal.
“The notice.” He says. “Unexpected. Your appointment is a god from the machine, if you understand the reference. Ptolemy has appointed you the eleventh scholar and councillor. That means there is a possibility of a decisive vote rather than a tie which I must break.
“So. I am Zenodotus of Ephesius. I am the First Librarian. Your fellow councillors are:
“And now an eleventh. What is your learning and expertise?”
So I explain my background at the College of Medewi / Meroë, and refer to a lot of experience in the field in recent years, rather than being explicit about exploring ruins, grave- and corpse-robbing, and dealings with unhuman beings and post-mortal entities.
“From far to the south, the land of Kush. Interesting. Interesting. Well, ours is not to question the inspiration of Ptolemy. He is the father and architect of this great project. He has taken it on from his father’s beginnings and made a great project.
“I think, ’Mippius, you should get Amenhotep to look after Si’aspiqo. Get him a room and some scribes and then perhaps we’ll have a discussion.” He turns back to me.
“I’m rather busy today, but perhaps towards dusk we can find a few minutes. Once you have had a bit of time to find your feet and be briefed by Amenhotep. Ask him anything. He will give you all the briefings and then later we can learn your thoughts, what fields you propose to study and what involvement on the great project catches your interest.
“I’m rather hoping you will be able to assist us with the uncatalogued volumes. Many are in Egyptian; we could do with more supervision in that area I think. Perhaps that is what Ptolemy has in mind.”
I informed the Librarian that I bring with me a small library from the west. As well as some personal collections.
“Well if you have, yes, most interested to hear how you acquired these and if you have composed anything yourself. And many of the, many of, well, most I would say of the Greek councillors are scholars and creative authors. Although Thutmose and Ramose are more… organisers and doers and men of knowledge, rather than of creativity. Perhaps you will follow their path, or make your own.
“Very interesting to meet you, Si’aspico. Hermippius, run along and find Amenhotep. He can take the lead today.”
I thank the Librarian for his time, and make a polite departure. He acknowledges with barely a nod and returns to reading a scroll; a man after my own heart.
Hermippius though seems a little discomforted by this and babbles “Yes, the First Librarian, the architect of classification, um, you know, the architect of much of the great project. He’s a very busy man, you understand? Anyway, come with me.”
We go down a floor and wend our way through various corridors and small libraries where scribes are pouring over piles of parchment fragments spread on tables. Heh. My scraps press writ large… And then to the room of Amenhotep. Hermippius introduces me, in Greek, and hands me into his care and… makes his escape? Hmm. A pressing engagement with a scroll perhaps?
Amenhotep engages in Egyptian, initially, but though he has something of the Elephantine accent – that is, of the southern lands of Egypt closest to Kush – it is clear we’ll both be more comfortable conversing in the local Greek. That saddens me slightly and I resolve to improve my grasp of the down-stream tongues – both Egyptian and Greek. He is a Scribe of the First Order and therefore engaged directly in the Great Project itself. Anyway he is an engaging fellow and is quite happy to tell me to call him “Huy” — all his friends do.
Most of the councillors have a room and a team of scribes, depending on their involvement in the Great Project. So he gives the tour, showing off the catalogue rooms: the catalogue is 80 volumes listing 40,000 texts by subject or classification, author, title and special arrangements made to cover unknowns … but there are 60,000 un-catalogued texts and some of those are in many individual fragments. We pass though a number of rooms where scribes are piecing together fragments or carefully studying a reconstructed sheet to make sense of it.
This is where we meet Councillors Thutmose and Ramose. They too seem to surprised at my introduction as the 11th councillor (so the rumour mill runs slow in the Library…), but we are all polite (in Greek) and Huy hurries me on, not wishing to interrupt the councillors’ important work?
Huy finds a room he considers suitable for a councillor and decants the resident scribes. While they are scurrying to collect their scrolls and bowing their ways out he notes the council formally meets each full moon, and attendance is the key to receiving one’s councillor stipend, 1/13th of the annual amount at each meeting present. A passing abacus is rescued from the decant and he reckons my silver talent is nearly 770 pieces a moon, so more than a gold piece a day. I had wondered how far my stipend reaches in Alexandria, but Huy adds that scholars of the Library may eat for free in the refractory, making up a cot in one’s room is not uncommon and one’s scribes will attend to minor needs by day.
And so the day turns to practical discussions of access to parts of the library, how to get scribes and porters assigned to me, the formality of the council meetings and it is not until after dark I return to the dockside, accompanied by a Library Porter as guide and linkman.
And the Council meeting starts at the third hour tomorrow…
Met: (named persons)
Places:
Party Loot:
From: Sammus’s Boast:
After six days in harbour with very little happening under-captain Megaphron returned to the Hippocampus, to inform Magus that he, Agripinus and Si’Aspiqo were called to an audience with King Ptolemy. They returned about an hour later with wide smiles. Ptolemy had been in a good mood, and they had been well received. Si'aspiqo has reported in more detail on this elsewhere.
Magus offered to help us get set up in Alexandra when we could land, but for now all we could do was wait for the plague to clear up. I chatted a little to Diophanes and he talked about his travels from temple to temple and said that he was waiting for a sign from Zeus. In the meantime, he seemed happy to stay with us and might even come with us to Seleucia. He was a languid character outside of battle and spent much time staring into the far horizon or meditating. I sparred with him with wrapped weapons and he was a little faster than I with four options to my three, but I wasn’t outclassed; he was obviously a different proposition in the heat of battle with his magic weapons.
Magus kept the few remaining crew members busy preparing the Hippocampus to be stored for the winter and I and some of my comrades helped with the work. The next few days had quite a lot of rain and showers and Magus told us that this would help clear plague. On the 28th October several warships returned to harbour and tied up away from commercial area. It was fair for the next few days but then on 31st October we received welcome news that the embargo will be lifted from 1st November. At some point on that day, we would be told that we could go ashore and normal access to Alexandria would be restored.
The under-captain delivered a parchment letter of appointment with a seal confirming that Si'aspiqo had been appointed to the council along with a paper noting him as a citizen. Magus had a cargo to sell and would then settle up any money that he owed us and the crew.
Around midday on 1st November, we were allowed ashore. We decided to make our way to the Jewish quarter where most foreigners were based. As we left the ship, Magus pointed out the great library near where we went ashore, and we left Si'aspiqo there before heading east along the great road. At one soon Mago was surrounded by a crowd of dubious looking locals and after Agripinus persuaded them to leave, Mago found that he had lost his pouch; fortunately, he had just had some loose change in it.
As we carried on eastwards Amphius spotted a Greek theatre and then Toxoanassa had to extract herself from a crowd trying to sell her things, up until now, no-one had noticed that she was a woman. We reached the temple of Poseidon; it seemed a wealthy temple and had shrines to many associated Gods. Amphius was shown around by a guide and asked the guide if he could recommend someone to show us round and maybe find suitable accommodation and food. He cost 2gp for the day.
The guide got rid of more youngsters around Toxoanassa and was surprised to notice that she was a woman. We passed a heavily guarded building, with a row of tenements, which was an army barracks. The guide led us along the wall at this point until we came to the Jewish quarter. People were dressed slightly differently here, and most were not speaking Greek. Agripinus heard someone speaking Punic and hailed them. He introduced himself as a priest of Tanit from Carthage and when he asked about food and accommodation he was told about an inn run by Phoenicians, which was frequented by most Carthaginian sailors or people from Tyre. Agripinus was then shown to the temple of Baal.
Amphius left us at this point with the guide, and we agreed to meet back on the ship in the evening. In the temple, Agripinus was shown to subsidiary shrine to Tanit; evidently here Tanit was just seen as the supportive wife of Baal, not as a powerful goddess in her own right. Agripinus explained that this is how it would have been in Carthage one or two generations ago. He asked the priest about accommodation and was directed back to same inn mentioned before. Agripinus asked the barman to send a message to a merchant and while we were waiting, we sat and had some very good, strong red wine and something to eat.
Later in the afternoon a merchant arrived in the bar and the barman pointed Agripinus out to him. Agripinus explained that we were looking for accommodation for maybe six people for a few months and arranged to meet him here the next day at lunchtime. The owner of the bar found a young lad to guide us back to the harbour where Amphius soon joined us.
Amphius had been impressed with the gymnasium, it was newly completed. He told us that this was the largest Greek city he had been to for a long time. He had been shown all the main sites: the mausoleum with important tombs, which was difficult and expensive to visit; the Library; the wall; various temples; and a stadium. He was shown around the temple of Serapis, a Graeco-Egyptian God with links to other Gods. The stadium was in the southwestern corner of the city and was big enough for horses and even chariots to race around. He saw the Moon Tower, a strong, military fortification set in the wall, where there was a causeway leading to the island of Pharos, where the lighthouse stood. He was then shown back past the temple of Poseidon and back to the ship. Amphius arranged to meet his guide again the next morning at the ship.
Party & company:
Met: (named persons)
Places:
Party Loot:
From: Si'aspiqo’s Wheeze:
The 18th, the day after we arrived at Alexandria, is warming up from the previous cooler weather. Most of the Alexandrians on the ship choose to go ashore, despite the plague. Diogenes, 15 sailors and the four peltasts go home. The five sailors who are not citizens here must stay on board, along with Diophanes, Shermesh, Magus and us.
Things are set up as the under-captain said. Fresh food and water is delivered every day. Another under-captain arrives to check there’s no sickness on board and for any messages to those on shore.
Agripinus is told his status as a diplomat has been passed on and to await a response. Papers have gone to important people, apparently.
A couple of ships come into the harbour, but nothing else happens. Days go by. We can talk amongst ourselves, help maintain the Hippocampus, study and train… Some are starting to think we could be marooned here forever… when on the sixth day, October 23rd, Under-Captain! Megaphron! turns up and says he has orders to take Agripinus, Magus and Si'aspiqo towards the palace for an audience “where you can present your papers to Ptolemy, Lord of Egypt, King… (etc., etc.). You can have an hour to prepare.” And is rowed away again.
There’s some fast impromptu washing up. Magus pulls on an embroidered scarlet tunic, a posh belt, but no blade of any sort, some sandals he does not wear on the ship at sea and his best battle helmet. Si’aspiqo gets out his best tunic, bought in Kart he muses, the lion skin cloak, tooth & claw necklace fetish and his other amulets: ceremonial dress for the witch doctor set, someone comments. Agripinus dons his Priest of Tanit ceremonial robes as formally he is the representative of the High Priest of Carthage.
The customs galley returns, the three of us are taken aboard and rowed across to the other side of the harbour. There’s an impressive building which Magus had pointed out as part of the palace district, which comprises a series of buildings isolated from the walled town of Alexandria, and which have their own long arm of a breakwater. There’s a lesser light tower at the end of it, opposite the great lighthouse on the island of Pharos.
From the customs galley we are hustled aboard an enormous, sumptously accoutred barge, almost a floating wooden palace. Thus we do not set foot on the soil of Alexandria, so the quarantine edict remains unbroken.
After a wait in the day’s fitful showers we are ushered within a wooden enclosure, an open area where courtiers escort us to an important personage on a wooden throne. Magus bows extremely low, as low as it is possible to and not actually collapse, Agripinus also bows. I, Si’aspiqo, take to one knee, saluting as I would to a Kushite king.
King Ptolomey, son of Ptolomey, appears an elderly man, somewhat broad in the beam. He speaks in Greek: “Magus I remember… a long time since your father brought you to court. You have your own ship now, I’m told, sailing to Carthage and back, I hear. Dangerous business. I believe you’re good at it – always need good sailors. Well, you have your audience. Tell your tale.”
Magus relates the story of the sea battle against Libyan pirates; the deeds of the Greek hero Diophanes, and the bravery of his crew; how Agripinus and his Gallic companion Samus, the wisdom and arcane knowledge of the Kushite Si'aspiqo, were all crucial in helping them win. But also that Si'aspiqo here, it was who spotted a strangely carved amulet amongst the Libyan booty and identified it as an ancient scarab from Egypt, with its virtue of protection still alive.
Magus says to Ptolemy “I have heard you search for such things and so have brought it to you as a gift; for who should have these things if not the King of Egypt?”
He offers a wrapped item, which is seized by a courtier, unwrapped and handed to an Egyptian priest who mutters, holds it up and steps into a beam of sunlight coming through despite the rain-bearing clouds above. He looks at the offering and says, in a heavily accented Greek “It is a scarab of protection, from Karnak, of emissary grade. The cartouche is worn, but its virtue still shines, unseen to normal eyes. Long forgotten, now it returns to the land of its birth.”
Ptolemy says, “Excellent! The real thing, and not some fake from the deceivers. That deserves a reward. But first, tell me of yourselves, you two, and what you seek?”
Agripinus steps forward, gives Ptolomey greetings from the High Priest of Carthage and names himself. “I am Agrippinus of Carthage. I bear a missive from the High Priest.”
He hands over his documents to a courtier to be opened and given to Ptolemy, who has a quick read. “So this is Agripinus, Priest of Tanit, Standard Bearer of the Sacred Band, and now travelling for diplomacy, it seems. Further to go, eh? Where does your journey take you?”
Agripinus replies “My journey takes me east into the land of the Seleucid Empire.”
“Ah, Seleucid. Seleucid. I shall give some thought to that.”
Then it is me, Si’aspiqo. I tell the tale of the lost western settlement of Hemeroskopeion and of finding the sage’s library, intact. “Then we contemplated what did the gods want us to do with it? And of course, on thinking of the great Library here at the other end of the Blesséd Sea, we have brought them to you, because there could be no better place for these scrolls!” And I hand over a fair copy, in Greek, of the list of 89 titles.
Ptolomy says, “An arcane scholar and treasure finder. And Kush is your origin. Well, look at these books” he taps the list, “and marvel at all of man’s endeavours. Well. That is a good start to the week!”
He looks at his court. “We’ll get to the plague figures later and news from the war and all those other petitions. If everyone brought me such good news as this, the world would be a happier place.
“Si’aspiqo: I appoint you to the Council of the Library as a Scholar with access to Arcane Volumes and a stipend of a talent of silver every year. We shall draw up a paper and you shall become a citizen forthwith. I would value the perspective of Kush on many obscure translations from previous dynasties.
“Magus: I give you a land grant of my new land in the Delta. A hundred plethons for you to mark out and register. A man with a boat should find that easy enough when the river falls from the great inundation. Yours to farm or sell, as you wish.
“Agripinis: My ambassador to Seleucus will be replaced next summer. His three years will be up and he can return home here. You shall join my emissary and journey in safety across the royal roads of Alexander, all the way to Seleucia. You shall travel under my seal and protection and all will be provided for your journey. So cast aside your cares and worries. It would be an act of war to harm a diplomatic mission.
“Enjoy the sights of Alexandria and Egypt. There are many, many ancient temples for a priest to visit, and the expedition will not set out before March. I have boats running up and down the Nile constantly and you can use those to get about if you want to see the sights and things.”
Minions are waving frantically, indicating the scheduled end of the audience. Ptolemy stands and waves dismissal saying “No, no, there’s no need to thank me, I’m in a good mood today, in a good mood, the gods reward generosity and we can all celebrate the good things in life. Farewell, farewell…” fading into the distance as he and his entourage leave the audience space.
Party & company:
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