Stratos Kopteros's page

"I went to the mysteries to see if there was anything for my order. We call ourselves Jericho, for we attack the walls of the real. I had no idea that you were one of the gifted. We have names for many things, and it is hard to forget them. I will try and speak plainly. I am a wizard. I learned for many years how to shape the world through words of power. These words are written in the first tongue, before Babel. The logos that the builder used when he made the Earth. The words are terrible to a mind that is not prepared to handle them. There are other ways of magic. If you can heal, that is a gift I do not have. I do not know the ways of those who are gifted. I know the ways of the ones who are skilled. The gift is for the old gods to bestow. I am not going to be much help to you on your path, but it is good that you came to me. There are forces at work that seek to destroy the old magics, in the name of the Christ. They will kill you if they know of you. They have people all over the known world. There is a man I know who channels his faith in Hermes into miracles. He is gifted, as you are. He lives outside the city, on a farm by the river, about a day's walk on the north bank. There is an apple orchard, and a stone house with a small tower. He is called Hermocrates of Sidon. He can teach you to hear the goddess and be attuned to her will. I sat with him for a month, and could still not see how his magic worked. My principles were useless to decipher his. The gods are great indeed to have made many types of magic."

"I have heard of a man called Lycurgus. He is one of the wise. He studied under a woman called Affeili. He started out as a very conservative, very academic scholar of the arts, but he found something in the dust of Tunisia that opened him up. He can do great things. I heard he can burn things with a word. He can call things to serve him, move things with his mind. He can speak to animals, and even raise the dead to serve his will.He learned a lot from his Mistress, but then denounced her as a follower of the dark ones. Some of my friends in Jericho said that he was a bastard first, a politician second, and a wizard third. He apparently was greedy for power, not just over the art, but over other casters too. He wants the power of the names all to himself. He has a lot of sway with the blue churchmen"

He sees that most of this is lost on Isat, then says "What did your masters tell you in the shadow college? You are of the art? You were said to be of great talent. Surely you studied the art?"

In Greek, but just as fast. " You are Isat! I have heard about you. Welcome to Constantinople. I see you brought a retinue. One can't be too careful these days: There are people who... but that is a subject for another time. Hello everyone. I am Stratos Kopteros. I am vvery happy that my friend from afar has finally come to see me. Any friend of El...Isat's is a friend of mine. Thank you for bringing him safely into this den...this place. This most Christian of cities. I am sure you are coming to wait out the storm with me, but my room is small. I will go with you then. I will need a change of clothes. It will take me approximately sevven and a half minutes to get the clothing. The Greek minutos, not the Roman. They count funny here. I will be right back. Nice to meet you all. Don't go anywhere. I will be right back."