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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.
Thu 11th December ’25
7:45pm for 8pm BST
From: Sammus’s Boast:
In the morning Agripinus hurried to the Temple of Tanit and reported to the High Priest. He returned wearing impressive new armour, a bronze cuirass, and told us what he had found. He had told the High Priest about events in Kart and upsetting the temple of Melkart; the High Priest had just given a shrug. He had been pleased that we'd managed to unearth another complex, but concerned with the news that there was a Baal spy in the desert. He was very happy with Agripinus report of converts and agreed to send someone to fulfil Agripinus’s promise to Tamuda.
On the situation closer to home, the Army wanted healers at the front (even though as Sacred Band Agripinus should be defending Carthage), however, if Agripinus could wrangle a diplomatic mission that would trump any military directive, so he had asked Tanit for Divine Guidance.
The Goddess was very pleased with progress, finding secret pools of Suma, bringing proof, and then sealing them up ensuring that they cannot see the light of day again was ideal. However, she had a mission for Agripinus, to go far to the East, to seek the lost city of Hamazi, a place in which he would find the ruins of Akshak. Here there were stone tablets that would guide him onwards. There was a mystic man he would have to meet, but the first port of call would be Seleucia-on-Tigris.
The High Priest had taken all this in and was setting up the relevant documents and diplomatic messages so that Agripinus could get to Ptolemy in Alexandria and thence to Antiochus II, the Seleucid ruler. Those two were not on good terms, so Agripinus would have several sets of documentation to travel as a Diplomatic Envoy. Agripinus was advised that we should offload the potions we obtained through an intermediary so that we were not connected with yet more Suma-linked items hitting the market.
We agreed that we would accompany Agripinus on his quest and discussed how long we should remain in Carthage and what to do about our loot. We considered staying for a month, which would include the Harvest Festival, an important celebration in Carthage, and give time to Si'aspiqo to investigate the various arcane items we had found. However, we decided that it might be better to leave after a couple of weeks, if possible, to avoid pursuit. In the meantime, we should try to avoid notice.
Baal-Shaq found a town house to rent in his name for 200gp for the month including the servants. The town house was sturdy and defensible with a big roof terrace close to the harbour with a cool basement dug out below it. With help from the sailors, our goods were transferred there and stored in the large basement. We told Kallicrates that we planned to stay in Carthage for a while and released him to sail away. We said a cordial farewell to him and the crew, and they gave fond hugs to Toxoanassa in particular.
We engaged the services of the factor Mel-Far who we had used before to sell our potions for cash. He said this would take at least two weeks and his fee would be 10%. After using one bottle of each type as samples and setting up an auction, he sold a third of our potions for 2,210gp after his commission, getting 100gp per bottle of healing potion and 50gp per bottle for the sleeping draught. Mel-Far was very pleased with his cut.
Mago and Si'aspiqo accompanied me as advisors as I tried to sell the ivory idols I had bought in Kuku. We explored the huge marketplace, with streets of vendors stretching off into lanes of tiny workshops and stalls but no one offered me much more than I had paid for them. In a corner near the spice bazaar one evening we found the small stall of a transient trader – a grizzled Cyrenian, burned almost black by many years of the Libyan sun. He knew the worth of the ivory heads, exclaiming, “Carved Gods; I hear them laughing. Ha – I give you more than gold – see!”
From under the stall he pushed a battered wooden chest – within was a hoard of scrolls and Si'aspiqo's eyes flashed as he made out Greek and Egyptian texts in the twilight – something about Alexander in India, some huge tale of a Greek War, something from a Greek about the Assyrian language, and Egyptian prayers to the gods, written properly with hieroglyphs of power – at least one is a spell he already knows. Arcane treasure indeed!
He was urged to just take a quick look as they were near enough to dust already. After some bartering with Mago about so many scrolls per head, back and forth, he agreed to trade the chest and everything within for my Two Gods. Seeing the greedy look in Si'aspiqo’s eyes, I agreed, confident that the Kushite would give me a fair price for the scrolls.
Amphius found that the next ship bound for Alexandria, via Cyrene, left a couple of days after the lease on our house expired. The captain was a swarthy Macedonian/Greek named Magus. He seemed to generate some funny looks from Greek sources in Carthage, Amphius told us.
We celebrated the harvest festival with Amphius, Baal-Shaq and I celebrating harder than some, while Si'aspiqo busied himself investigating some of the items we had found and looking carefully through the scrolls. We discussed the fingerbone necklace and all agreed it should be destroyed, so Agripinus took it to the temple of Tanit to have them properly dispose of it.
While investigating the magic items, Si'aspiqo noticed something was watching him or us. Initially he felt that this was a spirit that had followed us in some way but then came to realize that the headband helped him notice things that were not obvious. Whilst wearing it, he had a feeling that someone was behind him but felt no active sense of malice.
Mago and Amphius further investigated the ship and captain Magus. He had a reputation as very proficient and had sailed with much success between Carthage and Alexandria and other points east. According to former crewmen he was a priest or sorcerer, who could interact with winds and avoid storms. He was highly magical observant of things in his ship. When they returned, Amphius spotted someone watching us. He was dressed as a beggar but had a large well-fed dog. He was out in the alley in the shadows and maybe this was what Si'aspiqo had noticed.
We all agreed that this passage to Alexandra was our best option. The cost was 40gp per passenger, reduced to 20gp for sailors or mercenaries, who would be under the command of Magus for the voyage. The ship would sail to Cyrene, spend a week there and then on to Alexandra. Amphius booked space for the six of us in a room together.
We drew lots organized by Baal-Shaq for picking magic items from the loot. Toxoanassa was drawn first and chose the ivory bangle with the luck spell, I was drawn second and chose the green ring, which I had been wearing for some time, and which improved my chances of saving against magic. Si'aspiqo then chose the protective scarab. Mago was drawn next and thanked Baal for his luck; he chose the priestess’s dagger. Amphius then selected the shen ring, followed by Agripinus, who chose the gold amulet, both items were similar in effect to my ring. Hannibal was drawn next, but by this time there was nothing left for which he had claim. Baal-Shaq was the last participant and grinned ruefully as he had organised the draw. He chose the bone medallion to find the polestar. Once again Baal-Shaq organised a draw for the remaining four items – Si'aspiqo was drawn first and chose the obsidian dagger, I was again drawn second and chose the cobra headpiece, then Amphius chose the heart of cold, which was now only slightly cool and finally Agripinus chose the small idol that acted as a link to the shedim.
We also drew for the green ring which had been found on the first shedim we had encountered, before we had met either Mago or Baal-Shaq. Si'aspiqo won the draw and many of us were pleased he had done so, as we felt it was important that our magician was protected leaving him free to protect the rest of us. We all thanked Baal-Shaq for his assistance in the draws.
We discussed the watcher we had seen and Amphius suggested making it known about a party planned to say goodbye to Baal-Shaq and to see if the watcher tried to take advantage of any distraction. The man had only been seen watching at night and Baal-Shaq thought it unlikely the watcher, who had done nothing but watch for two weeks or more, would do any more than that now. He said he would be happy to go and invite the man in to join the party.
Si'aspiqo had taught Agripinus the Egyptian word to trigger my headdress, so he borrowed it, and went outside, shortly before dawn the next morning. Baal-Shaq and I stood by the door listening, and Si'aspiqo and Amphius watched from the roof. Agripinus returned after 20 minutes with some fresh rolls. He told us that he had spoken to the watcher, and that the man was an adherent of Baal tasked with watching Agripinus, but to do no more than keep him under observation. The man was evidently Carthaginian and had served in the army. He seemed very comfortable in the dark and had warned Agripinus not to wander around at night without a lantern.
Amphius arranged for food, wine and entertainment to be brought into the house for a farewell party for Baal-Shaq. Everything was set up on the roof where it was cooler. We decided to leave the house a couple of days before the lease expired. Baal-Shaq would remain to handover to the new tenants. He suggested we leave when the streets were busy shortly before dusk and Amphius arranged for dockers to carry all our gear down to the ship. We said fond goodbyes to Baal-Shaq and expressed our hope that we would meet again.
We made our way down to the harbour just before dusk on 30th August and found our new berth. The ship was a penteconter, the Hippocampus or Sea Horse, Amphius and Mago informed me. It had a large mast, and normally had space for up to 50 oars, but had been modified to make room for cargo to replace some of the oars. Mago, who claimed he had been a sailor long enough, chose to pay 40gp as a passenger, but the rest of us had signed up to work our passage as soldiers or healers and paid 20gp each.
Magus, the captain and owner was under a shady awning. He was almost 6 feet tall, sturdy and swarthy. When he saw us, he called us a Trojan horse, as we were not Greeks at all, but an army crew, with an Amazon to boot he added looking Toxoanassa in the eye. He laughed and exclaimed that we could have afforded to pay double. He admitted that Amphius had fooled him, with no lies, but he would try to get his value out of us. He produced a roll of papyrus where we each signed or made our marks in turn as we each swore the same oath, to follow his orders and act for the best of the ship and crew. Mago, as a passenger did not need to swear.
I was assigned to the blue watch under Diogenes, Magus’s second in command, along with Si'aspiqo, while Agripinus and Toxoanassa were assigned to the red watch under Magus. Amphius would watch overnight, and could sleep in the day, but was nominally assigned to the blue watch. Mago was not assigned to a watch but told Magus he could call on him if required. We were shown to a group cabin to stow our gear, which was probably the captain’s cabin. We were introduced to Shemesh, a large man who looked Egyptian, and was accompanied by four Greek mercenaries. They were peltasts, armed with javelins, and a small shield and sword, wearing leather armour. Shemesh himself had a larger shield and sword. They also were split between blue and red watch. Diogenes was Greek but also had a few words of Egyptian. Magus asked us to declare if we had anything inflammable and Si'aspiqo showed him our incendiaries. He checked they were properly packed and admitted Si'aspiqo knew his business and reappraised the Kushite and bowed slightly. It looks like we will have things to discuss, he told Si'aspiqo.
There was a family of Carthaginians, two parents with three small children and two other men, who were said to be Carthaginian, but had an unusual accent and unusual clothes. We were just waiting for a Greek to arrive and then we would set sail.
The next day was fair, and the Greek arrived with some cargo. During the red watch just before dusk, Magus had a quiet word with Agripinus. The priest relayed to us that Magus had diligently avoided taking on last minute passengers, offering large amounts to come on board in place of the existing customer. We owed him a favour.
The following morning soon after dawn on 2nd September, Magus went down the gangplank and we saw him talking to a group of Carthaginians, shaking his head and saying no, before bidding them farewell and returning to the ship. The gangplank was soon pulled up and the crew cast off shortly afterwards. As we left harbour, I noticed that there was a small mast at the front, which I had not noticed before and Mago called the Artimon. An auxiliary sail could be set on it he told me, although there was not one up now. There was a light wind, but it was not useful and the crew rowed out of harbour. As we left, we could see Baal-Shaq waving from the shore and a group of unhappy Carthaginians. The wind was from the southeast as we left harbour, which was no use as we needed to go south or southeast, but after a while the wind shifted to come from west of south and we sailed east for the rest of day. It was clear to Mago that the Hippocampus, a sturdier and heavier ship, was quite a bit slower than Morning Breeze. Late in the afternoon, the wind veered back and the crew rowed until dusk, and the ship drifted through a dark, peaceful night.
The 3rd September was bright and clear, with a fair wind from the northeast and we sailed southeast and the day passed uneventfully. At night Amphius noticed a pod of very big fish jumping out of water and circling ship – dolphins. The crew thought this a good omen.
The next day there was a west wind, but after a while it shifted to come from the northwest, an ideal direction. Si'aspiqo could see that Magus was muttering quietly and twisting the wind. We saw a sail during the day but the rest of the day and night were without incident. The Carthaginian family, a cobbler and his family, were planning to disembark at Thapsis, to start a new life there. The other two Carthaginian citizens with the unusual clothes and accent were going to Leptis and the Greek merchant, a dyer, was going to Arsinoe.
There were five Greek colonies in this area, all founded by Greeks from the islands, but under Macedonian influence since Alexander. They were referred to as the Pentapolis. They were Cyrene, Appolonia (the port for Cyrene), Arsinoe, Berenice and Barca. The Hippocampus would stop at Sebrata to take on water, then at Thapis and on to Cyrene and Appolonia, where there would be a longer stop and Magus might take on passengers for Alexandra.
The 5th September, there was a cool, steady breeze from the west, which soon turned to come from the northeast. The Hippocampus ran west down the coast to Thapsis.
I note that:
Party & company:
Met:
Places:
Party Loot: —
From: Sammus’s Boast:
We returned to the Morning Breeze and met up with Agripinus, who put on his gear and cast an augury to determine where Si'aspiqo’s purse was. He thought it was in the settlement to the southwest. We then set off in search of the miscreant and the purse. I had my sword and a cloak as did Baal-Shaq and we both carried torches. Mago and Toxoanassa had their normal skirmish gear. Amphius had his marine armour. The weather was deteriorating, dark and cloudy. It was the last quarter of the moon which had set, so it was very dark. We set off southwest into the settlement, and past a marketplace, close to the inn where Si'aspiqo had been robbed, which was now shut.
Agripinus muttered another prayer and pointed off in a direction that led into smaller and smaller lanes. We came to some round huts and a small square, where dogs started barking at us. It had now started to rain. There were shouts to which Mago replied and told us that they wanted to know who we were. There were more noises in a language that I didn’t understand and the sound of loud bangs of alarm from a couple of the huts. Agripinus led us on through a tangled set of interlocking houses and yards, until we saw torches ahead and there was an exchange of words between Mago and the torchlit group ahead. They asked what our business was, telling Mago that this was their neighbourhood and we couldn’t come here armed for battle without there being trouble. Mago translated for Agripinus, who explained that one of us had been robbed and we were looking for the goods and the robber and that we would not cause them a problem.
The spokesman for the torchlit group told Mago that we should return in the morning and ask for Ertebas, and he would take us to Ablan, the district judge. Si'aspiqo offered a reward for the return of his purse and a substantial portion of the contents, then we returned to the boat, with Baal-Shaq and Amphius acting as rearguard. The Greek saw a few torches and people keeping their distance but following us for a while. The group had seemed like poor citizens rather than military or even organized crime.
In the morning, we returned to the same area. Mago asked for Ertebas and was directed to a slightly bigger house with a yard where there were a few large dogs and a sturdy citizen who introduced himself as Ertebas. It was raining heavily as he took us to Ablan, and the wind was blowing fiercely; it was lucky we were not at sea. Ertebas wore a rain hat and waxy cloak to protect against the weather, and I was glad of my own hat and cloak.
We were admitted into a larger house and shown into a small chamber with an elder well-dressed man, and we were invited to sit on stools. He started in Punic, but then went back to the local language, with Mago acting as interpreter. He asked us to tell our story and Si'aspiqo related how he had been in a bar and had had his purse strings cut and his purse containing over 50 gold pieces stolen. There was some back and forth between Mago and Ablan and Ablan had been surprised at the large sum, but Si'aspiqo explained that it had been in settlement of a debt and he had inadvertently put it in his purse. Si'aspiqo offered half of what he received back as a reward. At this point Ablan turned to Ertebas and asked what he had found. The latter handed over a purse containing 48 recently minted Carthaginian gold coins.
Ablan explained that someone had come to buy a barrel of wine from Ertebas last night and had a purse containing many gold coins and no explanation of how he had come by it. Ertebas had confiscated it. Si'aspiqo confirmed that it was his purse and stood by his reward. There were more words between the judge and Mago and then Mago relayed that Ablan felt that 8 gold pieces was perfectly adequate as a reward. We were told that if we lost something else or there was another crime against us then we should come and ask for the judge. Si'aspiqo apologized for our hasty action and explained that we had moved in haste due to the large sum involved.
Ablan said that we were strangers here and that they did not want there to be any trouble with Carthaginians, then asked if we were satisfied with his judgment and Si'aspiqo agreed that we were and that we were grateful for his wisdom. Ablan told us to go in peace. Agripinus gave a long speech giving the thanks of the Carthginian state. Si'aspiqo asked Mago if it would be appropriate to pay judge, but Mago did not think so, we should just leave. Si'aspiqo went up to Ertebas, and they shook hands and Ertebas invited us to his place for wine.
We all sat under his stoop and were served bread and wine and Ertebas and Mago talked. We drank several ceramic mugs of rather good wine and found that Ertebas was a wine seller. He wondered whether we might like to buy some of his wine and we took him and introduced him to Kallicrates when we returned to the Morning Breeze. Kallicrates then returned with Mago to Ertebas’s place to finalise a deal. Si'aspiqo, Amphius, Baal-Shaq and I accompanied them. Ertebas maybe knew enough Greek to make a deal, but things went more smoothly with an interpreter. Kallicrates ordered 20 small barrels of wine at 5gp each to be delivered the next morning. Amphius and I finished the barrel we had started and had to be helped back to the ship. Mago was not up to the task of bearing a large man like me and fell over, so Baal-Shaq had to take over leaving Si'aspiqo and Mago the easier task of bearing Amphius. By now it was still raining, although the wind was a little was less blustery, but the weather served to sober up the Greek and me.
Si'aspiqo cast cantrips to help decide whether we should go to Karalis first, or sail directly to Carthage and Agripinus carried out an augury. There seemed to be no ominous portent against going to Karalis and so we decided to do that as both Mago and Si'aspiqo had things to collect there. We stayed in port for another day as there was steady rain and no wind at all. The wine was loaded from a cart pulled by a donkey and 3 trips were needed to deliver 20 sealed barrels or casks of the wine. Si'aspiqo got out the shell and cast a cantrip to predict the weather and thought it would be dry and fair the following day. Later in the day the rain stopped, and we had some hot food in town.
The morning of 24th July was fine, with a fair wind from the southwest, which meant that we needed to row out of harbour. Once out of harbour we could tack east. The day and night passed quietly and the next morning the wind was from the northwest, and we made good progress for the day.
We hove to at night and both Si'aspiqo and I both heard a strange voice calling us in our dreams, but we managed to avoid answering its call, however the helmsman started clambering over the side and had to be pulled back by Agripinus, who was on watch. Neither he nor Amphius, who was also on watch, heard the voice, only those asleep. Kallicrates and others of the crew were talking concernedly on deck, and I understood from Amphius that they speculated on what had disturbed us. It did not seem like a siren as that usually affected those awake. Perhaps there was a sunken ship nearby and one of victims might be haunting us in our sleep.
Agripinus started singing a hymn and soon it started brightening in the east and he greeted the dawn. There was a fair wind for Karalis that day and we sailed on, with the shore sighted soon after midday. We sailed along the coast for a little way and were met by a Carthaginian guard ship. Agripinus had on his armour and gave his name and rank and we sailed on. The guardship had not come out to meet us last time, we had sailed here, so there seemed to be a heightened military readiness. We rowed into harbour in the late afternoon.
The next morning, 27th July, Agripinus went to the temple and exchanged news, while Mago collected his tools and Si'aspiqo collected his gear. Agripinus reported back that Carthage was dealing diplomatically with the tribes in the north of the island, as the army wanted to clear any rebellion ready to fight in Sicily. Provisions were provided and Kallicrates loaded them along with everything Mago and Kallicrates had brought on board and was concerned with how much cargo we had aboard.
We spent a modest night out in Karalis and then set sail on 28th July with a fair wind for Carthage. The following day was sunny and warm with a good wind from the north and Kallicrates felt the Gods were with us. Around noon we saw sails on the horizon, and soon there were more and more of them heading roughly towards us. Eventually 17 large ramships came into view with many men rowing and lots of shields and glittering armour in view. One diverted to come in hailing distance and Agripinus told them his name and destination. They rowed on by, and we sailed on to Carthage. Mago said that this was a large detachment from the main fleet and war or military action must be afoot. There were 200 berths in the centre of the harbour in Carthage, but normally most ships would be in storage, laid up for time of war. These looked like they were heading from Carthage, probably for Sicily. Later that day, we saw the shore and then the lights of the city. Kallicrates decide that as it was a fair night, then with help from Amphius we should be able to make harbour.
Unfortunately, there was a misjudgement coming in to moor and the Morning Breeze bumped against a quay whilst manoeuvring in the dark. There was a challenge as it was a surprise a ship would moving in the dark, but Agripinus answered and we managed to moor safely in the early evening of 29th July.
Party & company:
Met:
Places:
Party Loot: —
From: Sammus’s Boast:
By dawn on 18th July a gale was blowing. Everything was lashed down, and I removed my armour and just wore my tunic, a woollen cloak and a waterproof hat. Agripinus began singing a holy hymn of Tanit to encourage us all and kept singing for three hours. By this time the weather had deteriorated and there was a lot of spray and rain, and the wind had increased to storm force. Agripinus took a short break from his hymn but then began once more, and some of us joined in as we began to learn the words and tune and all felt encouraged. The ship began pitching horribly and everyone was soaked and feeling chilled.
Every three or four hours Agripinus took a short break from his hymn but then started once more. Kallicrates ensured that the man at the helm was relieved regularly as it was exhausting work. The ship continued to run north of west before the wind, trying to keep ahead of the following waves. The ship continued to pitch violently, and the fierce wind and heavy rain continued until dusk on 18th July, but then the storm dropped back down to a gale, but the rain continued.
The gale continued until midnight when the wind eased just a little and veered to come from the southeast, and the drizzle and spray lessened. Kallicrates came round and reassured as all that the worst was probably over. We nibbled on some dried sausage, but we were all soaked through and chilled to the bone.
The gale blew on unchanged until dusk on 19th July but then finally began to ease. Agripinus was able to cease his singing and heal Mago who was suffering from exposure. I am sure the priest’s hymn had aided our survival and whispered my thanks to Tanit. After midnight, the wind dropped to brisk, and the crew gave a cheer. The wind was now from west of south, but it had started rained heavily once more. Mago was still suffering from exposure and Agripinus carried out two more rites of healing after which Mago felt much recovered. We all managed to huddle together in the early hours of 20th July and got some rest.
At dawn on 20th July there was a brisk wind from the southwest and Kallicrates discussed our options with Agripinus. With this wind it wasn’t possible to make for the African coast, so they decided to sail north for either Karalis or maybe the Balearic Islands depending on how far we had been blown west. With the aid of Si'aspiqo’s arts a fire was started in a tripod stand on deck and hot drinks were prepared.
During the day the sail tore and had to be replaced with a spare, while the tear was repaired. Mago spotted land on the northwestern horizon. The sailing master thought it was one of the Balearic Islands, maybe Minorca, where the port of Mago the namesake of our comrade lay. If that was correct, we would need to sail due East for a day and half to reach Sardinia and then sail south along the coast to Karalis from there or sail south of east to aim for Karalis directly. It was soon clear that the harbour of Mago lay ahead but unfortunately a sail tore and had to be replaced, and we knew we would be unable to reach the main harbour before dark. Under the guidance of Amphius we made it safely into the outer part of the harbour in the rain and dark and anchored up ready to row into the harbour proper after the sun rose. Si'aspiqo cast a cantrip with the conch and thought the next day would be fair weather.
At dawn on 21st July some fishing boats arrived and tried to sell us fish. Kallicrates asked Mago to translate and he told them thanks, but that we were going into harbour to get some warm food. As predicted it was a fair day, but with a warm wind from west of north which meant we had to row in. We made our way past a point and then an island with a Carthaginian fort and then a naval yard with a Carthaginian warship. We moored close to the town on the south side of the island.
Mago was taken by Kallicrates to help him buy provisions, while Agripinus went to visit the authorities, and the crew went in search of some hot food. The rest of my comrades and I stayed on board to rest and guard the boat.
When Agripinus returned he told us he had heard that there was rebel activity on the west coast of Sardinia, so this area should be avoided, and we should sail directly to Karalis. The commander had not heard of Hannibal of Uttica. The priest had spent some time healing a soldier with a badly broken leg, as a favour to the commander.
Mago arranged for supplies from the small local market and then bought a bronze Celt-Iberian sword. It was quite old, with Sardinian marks on it, but had no particular virtue. He sold it to Amphius for a substantial profit.
We stayed in port for the rest of the day and at dusk Mago, Amphius, Si'aspiqo and I along with some of the crew went ashore for a few drinks and some food. When we started to head back to the ship, Si'aspiqo noticed that his purse was missing – the strings had been cut. It had contained 50 gold pieces which Amphius had just paid him in settlement of a debt. He realised that it must have happened when he had been jostled going to the jakes at the last bar and thought he knew who had done it. We returned to the bar, but Si'aspiqo could not see the man or anyone spending his money.
We returned to the Morning Breeze and met up with Agripinus who put on his gear and cast an augury to determine where Si'aspiqo’s purse was. He thought it was in the settlement to the southwest. We then set off in search of the miscreant and the purse.
Party & company:
Met: —
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