Kyronai will ask Bishop and Lydia which city Hermione usually procured her supplies from, casually mentioning that he lives in Athens in the hopes that distracts them from why he's asking so much about Hermione. When they suggest that he talk to Hermione directly, he replies only that, "That would be a good idea."
Edra happily points out Nico's humble home. After knocking on his door, it opens and a tall somewhat lanky tan skinned young man no more than twenty years of age answers. Once you explain the situation he happily invites you in. Once inside, you notice the chaos that is his home. Soiled clothing litter the floor which itself has not even been swept in a long time despite a pristine broom standing in a corner. The home is small much like Gann's but has a little furnishing including a table next to a lone chair and a few shelves lined with tiny figurines of various monsters and heroes. Nico watches in amazement as the pair of you cook a fairly decent meal for him as he does have some salted meats and some root vegetables stored away.
"Thank you so much for your help. The gods have not blessed me with the ability to cook. Most day it's crackers and some fruit. Sometimes Grandmother Edra will bring over some stew. She bring some everyday but I tell her that I can take care of myself. I don't want her to worry about me, though she worries about everyone here. This village does not deserve her."
"Hermione makes the wine and tends to go into town to gather supplies for us. She really is nice though I haven't seen her around today. Anyway, Gann is the town hero. I wish one day I could be as strong as he is. He easily fights bandits who want to take advantage of us and slays monstrous beasts that try to eat us. "
"I believe Euboea which I believe is an island, though it is a little far from here. We don't leave the village often so we do not know much about the surrounding area. We've spent most of our lives here." Bishop replies as Xander jumps into his lap without a care in the world. The small boy just waves to Kyronai. "You are welcome to spend the night here and any food is yours. We will set up a small cot for you. It is the least we can do for you after helping us with our small boy. Thank you again." Lydia adds before said small boy leaps lap to lap.
"In my long life, I have never seen such ... disregard for one's life."
Thinking even to the Coptic slums and the highland hills of barbarian dwarves of the north, even they keep their home cleaner.
"Well...I'll help cook and then tidy up. If you don't know how to cook, then get over here and learn. There is always something you can pick up by paying attention and having motivation."
She will guide the young lad by grasping his shoulders and placing him confidently next to the violent-looking hero cooking the food. When he speaks of Hermoine, she doesn't comment on what he says and mostly distracts him with a gentle reminder of some random cooking skill Amph is showing them to disarm the subject for the time being.
After they finish eating and he is relaxing, she takes in a breath, "I have some bad news about your friend Hermoine. When we arrived in town, we spoke to Gann and..." she then relates the tale in full how Hermoine sent the bears after even Gann and their group. Later she expresses how they tried to talk, but she wouldn't have it and drank a concoction. She'll explain that ultimately it killed her. Whatever she was doing she wanted it secret. Aika then will express that if he disbelieves them, that he can speak to Gann, who can attest to the truth of her words in part and is in mourning. "I am so sorry. I understand she was an integral part of your village. I'm bitterly hurt and am at as much of a loss as you all as to why this happened. Do you have any idea what she could have been doing that was so secretive? Anything you've noticed?"
In silence Amphitryon prepared the meal. His enthusiasm for the task was vanishing by the minute. If it wasn't for Aik, he would probably had just walked away. As he cooked with the less than ideal ingredients he reflected on the things he would do for a pretty face. He decided that it was a weakness of his and it wasn't worth fighting. One could not escape their fate so easily.
As Aik talked Amphitryon continued his silence. If he knew the lad better he would have tried to teach him how to cook, and probably box him on the ears until he cleaned the hovel. As it was, he was just glad that Aik was taking the lead in getting done with bearing the bad news. The awkwardness of the situation was not something he had expected to endure when he agreed to work for Olympus.
"That's very generous, thank you," Kyronai replies. He'll muse that he's never heard of Euboea.
Once any further forthcoming information about that island has been had, he'll make an offer to Bishop and Lydia.
"I don't have children of my own, but growing up, I remember that my parents would often need their time alone with each other. You are welcome to take a walk or spend some time together, if you like, while I put Xander to bed..." turning dramatically to Xander, "...with the best bedtime story every written."
Back to Bishop and Lydia: "If you're not comfortable with that, I take no offense."
Nico will do his best to pay attention and learn from the shadow warrior. He seems rather in awe of Amphitryon's cooking acumen. Once the meal is concluded, he listens to Aika's explanation. "No, that can't be right. She couldn't have done anything like that." Nico just shakes his head in disbelief. "I mean, she must have had a good reason. I can't believe she would hurt anyone. I'm sorry, this is a lot to think on." He thinks for a moment on Aika's questions. "She didn't talk about her past much, but I know she had a troubled life before coming here. I'm sorry I can't help you more. Thank you for dinner and sorry for the mess I call a home. I haven't lived on my own for very long." He chuckles nervously.
Xander's face lights up as his eyes go wide and his jaw drops. He excitedly turns to face his parents in anticipation. In turn they both sigh and smile at their child. "I suppose we haven't had a nice romantic walk alone in a while. It would be nice to spend some time beneath the Pleiades." Bishop says to his partner. "Alright, on once condition young man. You have to behave and stay in bed once you are tucked in. Do you understand?" Lydia asks of her young son who just nods enthusiastically in response. "You are a godsend, Kyronai. Thank you." She says turning to you.
Kryonai tells Xander the story of how Prometheus gave man the gift of fire, but he uses silly voices for Prometheus, Zeus, the eagle, Heracles, and Prometheus' pet cat, Calix.
He doesn't have any other goals other than entertaining the boy, getting him to sleep, and then waiting up until the parents return.
"I can clean up for you. You and Amphitryon relax after cooking such a wonderful meal. Tell me, do you know where Hermoine came got her supplies from?" "Come on Amphitryon...ask some questions!" she thinks, sharing with her companion a flash of seriousness in a look, like one telling another to get off their ass. A moment later, when Nico looks at her, she is all smiles, as if she never made a face at all.
After he answers, she asks, "Do you have a rain barrel, a well, or stream nearby where I can get water for boiling?"
Amphitoryon fought the urge to roll his eyes as he walked over. He put on his best game face, to pretend that he cared about the man and his problems. Reaching the forlorn man he said "It's alright, don't feel too bad. Even good people can make bad decisions. Tell me, did she have any close friends? People that she often hung around or spoke to? Anything you can think of would be helpful."
"Thank you so much. I think she went to some island city, Eubayla or Euboea or something. We have a well on the outskirts of the village that has fairly clean water. As far as I know, she was friendly to everyone but she talked to Elder Edra and Gann the most I think. Though I remember hearing something about a village south of Athens that she visited. She might have a friend there but I know not their name. If you find out why she did these things, please come back and tell me. I would like to still believe you that she was good."
Little Xander is enthralled by the story, especially when Calix the cat is brought up. Though try as he might, the young boy only makes it three quarters of the way through the story before sleep defeats him as he cuddles a small stuffed minotaur. Bishop and Lydia arrive back at their home roughly two hours after they left, looking refreshed and relaxed. They both mouth a thank-you for the good job before they also go to their own bed to rest for the night.
Amphitryon would have seen Aika at her worst. Sweat-covered. Bleeding. Haggard from hours of suffering. He's seen her refreshed and beautified for her audience with the gods. Now he will see something else.
She literally rolls up her sleeves and could easily pass as a cute housewife or maid in her adventuring outfit stripped back. The elf requires nothing from the two of them. They could talk and smoke or just relax. She, however, will gather the filthy clothing and clean it in boiling water and soap for the young man. With her fragrant soap made of cedar and citrus, she will clean them, as well as clean his floors with a good sweep and scrub. Her specialty will be to cleanse both men's feet of travels, work and battle. Aikaterine presses them with oil of cassia and hyssop and will use her long hair to rub the oil in.
As darkness settles in, she will travel out to find some night-blooming flowers and will plant them in a pot for their host. The end result is that his home is renewed. He can see, feel, and smell the womanly touch of this determined and gorgeous elf. That night, she'd settle into bed and rest and recover from the long day. If her and Amphitryon are set up in a separate room, she will barricade the door. Whether it is so or not, she is attentive in her sleep that night.
Nico is in awe of Aika's cleaning ability. "Thank you so very much. I didn't expect anyone to be so kind." While there isn't a separate room to sleep in, Nico offers the pair of you the bed while he sleeps on the floor as thanks for the aid.
Hours later, the morning comes as Apollo rides across the sky and the party wakes up. Kyronai and Varocles are offered breakfast by their respective hosts while Aika and Amphitryon are poured some morning honeyed wine by Nico. Cyrene wakes up and finds that the night has passed uneventfully.
Cyrene, naturally, didn't sleep at all. The blessings of the Huntress do away with the need for such things but thankfully there has been no danger. Her traps remain undisturbed, apart from a rabbit, so with some local vegetation the hunter eats well.
She decides to remain in the wood for now, preferring to stay away from the village where possible. The others know where to find her and she'll hear them coming from a mile away so it works out better for everyone.
The elf will gladly take the opportunity to lie curled up at Amphitryon's side once more, leeching off his body heat. If he is not too bothered by her presence, she will be even closer. The mighty hero would notice that while she normally sleeps bare, this evening she will sleep, not only somewhat clothed (a light garment for a "top" and underwear, no doubt some hot-weather garment of barbarian origin), but will keep her spellbook nearby and cestus under the pillow, ready to slip on at a moment's notice. Still, her bareness may be hard for such a young host as theirs to handle seeing, having been so inexperienced with the world and secluded before. While many women of the Greeks seemed to wear clothing, only in art does it seem that women of high-society were bare or scantily clad. Yet before him here is one shaped like those statues and idols he may have seen, acting just as womanly as in such works.
Ultimately, whatever worries that initially plagued the elf's mind to be on guard will pass and she will sleep in until later that morning, and unless stirred from sleep, she will be taking full advantage of the bed's comfort; even through eventual discussions and breakfast between the men. She is clearly a creature of comfort when she feels safe. Despite wearing no makeup--typically olive oil and charcoal to darken her eyes slightly--with her hair a mess, and even the tiniest cute snore, at the moment, she still has a powerful, fey-like beauty to her.
She rises with the sun hitting her face as it shines through the cracks of the door. They will find that without care, sometime in the night she removed her breastband and now reapplies it this morning without care of who sees her. Perhaps she is destroying the youthful heart of their young host, but this all seems normal for the elven woman. She will fully clothe herself in clean Grecian garments meant for travel and will wash her face in the washbasin. If forced to speak, her talk would be brief and light, as if distracted by hidden intentions and a mind elsewhere.
Nico will find her behavior is such due to the fact that she says morning prayers first thing to Zeus and Poseidon, as well as to a number of other gods. Ones that perhaps whose worship was not known to the Grecian locals. Her prayers are mutters, but if listening in, he would at the least be able to tell they are full of substance and personal speaking (anguish, trials, guilt, love, passion), as though in a one-on-one conversation, rather than as some distant thrall. Given her audience, they are not detailed but kept general.
Once done, her conversation is much more livened. She will prepare a beauty regimen and eventually brush her hair as the early morning hours stretch on. Before long, she has pushed the last bits of sleep from her and she thanks their host for the courtesy of his home to stay in that night. With the gathering and checking of her things, she will then head out. Nico will find that she will reject the morning drink offered but will thank him for his kindness.
---------------------
As they settle to leave Nico's home, she volunteers, "I would not wish to inconvenience you another night. We may be staying somewhere here again. I am not sure. It depends on our plans for today, of which we will need to discuss with the other members of our order. Good day."
Perhaps it is said to give the young man an opportunity to invite them to stay with him again? It is unclear. With that, she will head out toward the village and ultimately, toward Gann's home in hopes of finding the others. On the way into town, she has a light bit of nuts from her pack to munch on. She keeps her eyes open for anything that would be suspicious as she speaks to Amph:
"I was thinking about what he said about this 'Eubayla' or 'Euboea'. There doesn't seem to be anything at all happening here. Not that I have seen. If her previous 'friend' was from a town south of Athens, then perhaps these other people she was meeting are connected to this task she had in mind?"
There were no complaints from Amphitryon for Aikaterine's company. They were most welcome, in fact. At his core, he had a fatalistic outlook on life. He knew, deep inside, that he would die young. It was a fate that he had come to terms with, given his profession. With that in mind, he had long decided that the best he could do was to live each day as he saw best, for the next might not come. Even now, working for the Gods, he knew that he was expendable. He didn't bother praying, as he had never seen the need for it. He figured that the attention of the Gods was very similar to the attention of officers. Useful when really needed, but in almost every situation just not worth it. It was asking for trouble. One might think that this outlook would have left him embittered, or despondent. But that was as far from the truth as possible. It was just how life was. The best he could do was his best, and to enjoy what time he had. If anything, having a beautiful elf at his side was just proof that the struggle of life was worth it.
When finished with their host the two left. Amphitryon listened to Aik's reasoning and nodded. "If we had not fought that madwoman ourselves, I would scarcely believe any of this. It would seem best for us to take our exploration elsewhere. Aside from a deadly alchemist, this town is in every other way unremarkable. But..let's meet up with the others first. Perhaps they have learned something that will put all of this into clearer context."
" But..let's meet up with the others first. Perhaps they have learned something that will put all of this into clearer context."
*********
The next morning, Kyronai breakfasts with his hosts, surreptitiously leaves a few gold pieces in a place where one of the parents were likely to find it in a few days, and seeks out the others.
"I learned that Hermione often travelled to an island called Euboea to procure supplies for the village. I suggest we ask Gann where it is and head there next."
Euboea or Evia is the second largest island right after Crete. It is separated from southern mainland Greece by a strait. It is believed that it used to be part of the mainland until Poseidon separated it with an earthquake though the reason is unknown.
"Did you now?" she replies to Kyronai, flashing knowing eyes to his brother. "We learned something of that sort. It was also referenced that she gathered supplies there from people she knew. It was worded as a joyous event that she went to these places. It was hinted that she may have traveled to what I'm assuming was the keep in which you all rescued me in. This was another friend she got supplies from, so I have little hope toward this other location in Euboea, or Evia as it is know, being safe to us. What I want to know is this: If Gann held Hermoine's goods in the barn after being confiscated, he had to know she was up to something. You don't confiscate your innocent lover's merchandise without cause. I think we were lied to on that front. Anyways, it's not like he wanted to tell us now, but that's just something to keep in mind. I think he feels so guilty because he knew and doesn't blame us because we did what he couldn't..."
She stops rambling and shrugs. Who could really know?
"Have you seen the others?"
On the journey, Aikaterine will ask about Kyronai's stay and who he lodged with. She will then express how horrible the stink of the house they stayed in was. How she spent most of her evening cleaning.
”A journey to Euboea it is. With the hope that we can accomplish enough to at least not anger the Gods.”
"I think that we have already broken the logistical chain of what happened to the soldiers in that fort. Tragic as our actions may have been to do so. Zeus should be pleased about that. There's no telling if anything will please Callie, but..." Kyronai finishes the thought with a shrug.
"But taking the initiative to go beyond our orders so long as we're addressing the overall directive will hopefully impress them, and honestly is the sort of freedom I never got to enjoy as a mercenary."
"To think that you'd be pleased with my actions..." she marvels in thought at what Kyronai muses. "Egh...I hated working as a mercenary in my youth. It was like...you had to follow the rules but didn't get the benefits of stability. Then they could discard you whenever they wanted. The only good thing, I found, was that the money was decent" Rolling her eyes, she then shakes her head. "Being unrestrained and unaffiliated has been my preference. Odd jobs of my own choosing...but I'm liking this as well. I mean...how can I pass up an opportunity to work for the gods? Besides, I'm indebted to them and you all." Looking around, she takes in a breath of fresh air. Something about her seems quintessentially elven as she revels in the nature about them, "but this has been entertaining so far. I have gotten to travel and see parts of this world I haven't seen."
"Well, it feels like we are in the theater that you are so enamored with." Amphitryon said, elbowing his brother. "So, Kyronai, what type of play are we in? A comedy, or a tragedy?"
"Art imitates life, so that makes sense," Kyronai replies. "But our tale is mostly unwritten, hopefully. As for what style of story we are writing... it perhaps has its comedic elements, because... well...
"How do we get to Euboea?"
**queue laughtrack**
”By following the lead of Captain Saltbeard, our fearless Dwarven cleric of Poseidon, of course.” He replied with a mostly straight face.
"Euboea or Evia, as it is called, is a massive island right near Crete. It used to be part of the mainland until Poseidon separated it with an earthquake. That's the rumor anyway. I wouldn't dare anger him by stating such a thing with certainty since I wasn't there and don't know why."
"And why exactly Euboea?" Cyrene asks, appearing out of nowhere with the eerie stealth she deploys so easily.
"There aren't too many places this side of Atlantis that I can't sail us to. Just give me a ship, worthy of the name, and place me at the tiller with an ale in my hand.?"
"And why exactly Euboea?" Cyrene asks, appearing out of nowhere with the eerie stealth she deploys so easily.
Kyronai does his best to control his surprise, but his stiffening spine gives him away as Cyrene appears.
"We've traced Hermione's trail to the island of Euboea. Whatever supplies she gathered for Dr. Ravendrax possibly came from there."
"There aren't too many places this side of Atlantis that I can't sail us to. Just give me a ship, worthy of the name, and place me at the tiller with an ale in my hand.?"
"That sounds easy enough if we can afford it. If the island is as big as Aikaterine says, having our own way to travel around the island might be worthwhile."
"Well, I say we make strides to head back the way we came. See if our beloved vessel is still there and willing to bear us to the island. Hopefully, storms won't be a problem this time of year. And not being an expert on the distance of it, or how long this will take, I do hope we will have enough time to return before winter sets in."
As you were previously told, the Frisky Satyr does come back in a few days for you. While the captain is reluctant to go off on some detour with you, he does offer use of a spare dinghy for you to use. While not a luxurious or even dignified way to travel, it will get you where you need to be. Being the expert sea-person, Varocles surmises that will probably take a few days of straight travel, assuming stops only for sleep.
Varocles will take 10 on his sailoring, and get a 24.
Kyronai asks the captain where the major ports are on Euboria. He describes Hermione, shares what village she lived in, and asks if he remembers ever encountering her.
"I only know what you know Kyronai, I'm sorry I can't help you."
"Please sir," she replies to the captain while moving closer. She takes a delicate and womanly hold briefly onto his leathers and seems almost injured at his discourtesy, playing the feminine card all too well. "You cannot require us to use the dinghy." Whispers she. "A woman with no privacy for so many days is not proper. It is the open ocean as well. I trust our sailing ability, but not our continual rowing strength. Would you have me row hard all day? What if the currents are stronger than our constitution and carry us off? Do you wish us to die? Are we not allies and friends to you?"
Varocles tries pushing Aikaterine away, "woman, this is most unseemly. Please, did you check out the dinghy on this ship? It has sails, yes oars, but also sails, so calm down. We'll get there."
Cyrene just sighs, everyone is making a huge fuss. Varocles says he can get them where they need to go, so she trusts the cleric to do just that. Everything is a matter of patience, a skill always required by the hunt.
"We have a tight schedule and other customers who need passage. As your wise friend said, there are sturdy sails to aid you. If you need to rest, there is plenty of hospitable coastline where you can stop for rest. Of course I do not wish ill upon you or your friends. But my job was to bring you here and to bring you back. Even letting you on this excursion is beyond my contract." He then turns to Kyronai. "I have never seen such a woman unfortunately but there are a few ports to that island on the eastern side though all fairly small ones. I am willing to compromise as we have a few spare supplies and I believe I can spare a single crewman to aid you. But at the end of the day I have a responsibility to the people that I have made contracts with to honor them. And unless something greatly upsets Poseidon, there should be no rough waters to impede your journey or threaten your life. Monsters? Possibly, but I have seen how capable you lot are." Varocles thinks that having the extra crewman should help you shorten the trip by a day roughly.
Aikaterine seems to submit and steps back. While she listens to the explanation, she looks out to sea. It seems his contract is quite limiting. In the end, she nods in agreement.
"I will help get ready then," she volunteers. As she does, she will logistically plan out their route. No doubt Varocles is factoring in the wind and angles of which to travel. She will be there to offer her support for when he wishes to sleep.
”We will gladly take your offer of an extra hand. Another able bodied seaman among these lubbers will be a great help. He will be blessed as well, to be on our mission.”
As promised, the captain's crew gathers some supplies in packs for the party. It is mostly rations and canteens of clean water but it should suffice. The crewman assigned to you is named Pelagos, a young handsome man of around 20 years of age who has only been a sailor for a few years but you are assured of his competence. Pelagos is a rather shy sort and makes very little small talk but is able to do his job well. The weather for its part is fair and the party does not run into any trouble. With Varocles' expertise aided by Aika and Pelagos, the trip only takes 2 and a half days with the group landing on port on the southeastern side of the island of Euboea. It is late afternoon when you all arrive. There are a fair number of dock workers about who are too busy to notice you. "I will be at the inn if you need anything from me. My stomach is aching for something other than hardtack." Pelagos tells the group as he secures the boat to the docks.
"It has been an honor sailing with you Pelagos. May the blessings of Poseidon go with you. And drink some on me." Varocles flips a gold coin to Pelagos.
Kyronai nods his thanks to Pelagos, and again at Varocles in approval of the tip.
He then seeks out a harbormaster or other official. He asks what the name of this port is, and where would be places to buy alchemical supplies in town.
Pelagos catches the coin and nods to Varocles with a smile of appreciation. Kyronai looks for someone official looking and finds a rather large man being paid some coin by various sailors from different ships. "That'll be 2 dinars a day for that ship if you can call it that. The name is Thanikos and I'm the harbormaster. The docking fee is mostly for our few guards against bandits and sea monsters. Surprised you didn't know what port you were docking at, but welcome to the small town of Eretria. We don't carry much in the way of chemicals but we have a general store that has a few potions and cure-alls. If you want anything more, you'll have to travel a couple days north of here to Chalcis. It's the biggest city on the island and it's almost as big as Athens." Is his reply to Kyronai.
"Thank you greatly for your aid, Pelagos," she echoes. With her worries passed and now on solid land, she hopes there is a place she can attend to herself. Such thoughts, however, are stopped by Kyronai and Thanikos speaking.
"Does Eretria have a private house or inn for us to stay in should we need to be longer in our business than a day?" the elfin beauty asks, stepping up with two dinars and gracefully placing them into the harbormaster's hand.