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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.
TBA September ’26
7:45pm for 8:00pm BST
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:
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. The Council members 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:
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