Gameplay thread is open!
Alright.
It's a bright and early mid spring morning. The sky is party cloudy, and it rained the night before. The birds are chirping and the trees had their fill of water last night.
All of you are in your houses having your morning juice. Whether it is grape juice or orange juice, that is up to you. The sun woke you all up and its nearly time to go to the gymnasium for some folks.
Describe what you do, each morning. Give me your morning routine. And tell me if you are staying with family or are on your own.
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Tiasis wakes up in the morning and starts off his day by splashing some cold water in his face and getting dressed. After he's dressed, he does some stretching and warm ups before going for a run around the city to keep in shape. After his run it's time for breakfast. He makes himself a quick bite to eat, usually some sort of bread or teganites with honey and dates with grape juice. After breakfast it was psionic/combat practice to make sure he's always prepared, in his line of work you never know when something could happen. After training it was time to head off to the Autolycus family to preform his daily duties and any additional jobs he could pick up to make some coin.
Castisa starts her day differently, at least that is what she tells herself. In truth when not sailing and caring for the ship, she was out at her family home, doing upkeep with the elders who no longer sailed. Given the past she had with the rebellion, what felt like so long ago, she would often stare out and wonder what could have been. The sea called to her like all of her people, but the time spent had shaped her often, resulting in arguments with other family members about different topics, though always respectful given her father's standing within the Maenad community.
She would dress in a simple light blue chiton, tying her hair back with the hairpin her mother gave her after her first successful voyage and return, and would travel from the family home in to the city. She would note that some of the guards and other were already up and running as she strolled in, her walk long enough to have been passed by Tiasis often enough they knew each other from sight, if not speaking.
Another morning, another training session.
Leonidas wakes up, shaves, eats breakfast, and hurries to the training grounds. First calisthenics then weight training followed by combat training of some type.
Achaius, the training officer, barking commands:
"Stab with that spear! I said stab not tickle!"
Then what Achaius calls a 'leisurely jaunt' which is actually a very long run up the surrounding hillsides to build endurance.
"If you run that slow you'll never die in combat because the fighting will be done before you get there! You're the worst soldiers in this city!"
As Leonidas completes his training for the day, all of you can meet at a local tavern. Hercules' Rest is the tavern's name, and it's located near the Agora of Old Town.
Castisa comes into the tavern, greeting any of the other sailors she may encounter, asking about different shipping routes. It was basic behavior for her kind, a bit detached from the normal citizens given her races history of not quiet aloofness but rather controlled emotions. She does seem to acknowledge both Tiasis and Leonidas, sitting at an empty table and ordering a water and a shade of pita and olives for the table. She was passingly familiar with both men given her long walk from home into this part of the city proper.
Leonidas carefully sits down at the same table as Castisa, glad to be off of his feet given the day's training. He orders more food and water for the table to share.
"I thought at some point training would become easier on my body. I'm still waiting for that day! How has life been treating you all?"
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Looking around the room, he sees Castisa acknowledge him and then Leonidas join her. Not really knowing anyone else but recognizing there faces from running around the city he decides to join them. "This seat taken?" he says as he sits down "I hear you about the training, I feel it too" he replies to Leonidas with a chuckle "I am Tiasis, Tiasis Nothos. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." he finishes his spiel while looking at both Leonidas and Castisa
Looking around the room, he sees Castisa acknowledge him and then Leonidas join her. Not really knowing anyone else but recognizing there faces from running around the city he decides to join them. "This seat taken?" he says as he sits down "I hear you about the training, I feel it too" he replies to Leonidas with a chuckle "I am Tiasis, Tiasis Nothos. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." he finishes his spiel while looking at both Leonidas and Castisa
"They keep telling us, 'Iron sharpens iron!' and I might just have some cracks in me at this rate."
A maid brings you some food. She is wearing scarlet with a leather belt. She smiles as she brings your orders.
"Where are my manners? I am Leonidas Archidamos. I wondered if my pulsing headache meant my mind left my body and apparently it did."
He chuckles a bit and thanks the maid who brings the food.
Castisa smiles at Leonidas as he came and sat with her, greeting him as appropriate for their different placements within the city, as he was more a guardian while she was more a merchant.
" Training never stops. Even the seas give training when not on them." The words seemed rote, as if from memory and training itself. " Besides, is not your goal in life perfection anyways? Why live as long as we do and not perfect the gifts you have?"
As they chatted, a new person came up, or rather a familiar face, but no name. She had never spoken to him, and introduces herself as well. " I am Castisa Yapione. As much as you both run, I would imagine it is too the walls, not away? They are the only things that should have cracks, otherwise we may sink into the waters and never surface."
"Good guess Lady Castisa! I'm a member of Athena's Pride and indeed my job is to run to the walls and then run through any who try to breach them."
He draws a xyphos from its scabbard, executes a couple basic maneuvers, and finishes with a flourish.
To Tiasis he says, "There's no shame in being a runner; remember the Battle of Marathon? Athens would've been lost without excellent runners."
" Runners may be one of the most important parts of a battle. Not everyone is able to talk to each other without words. Though I am sure our Generals can, it would be hard for the normals to do so. Though as being some great lady, I am simply the daughter of a shipping merchant. It is a good life, and quiet. Though the seas are often more fun I would say, than a battlefield. Tell me, have either of you been on one?" Castisa queries into her companions lives, curious about how the others chose to live their lives.
"A skirmish or two to deal with brigands outside the city but nothing major. And I've yet to be on the sea."
"Pirates do bother, but with proper planning and skill they will not bother you. That and ballistia work as well. Not much trouble have I actually faced outside a few broken bones to repair. My skill is in healing, not fighting."
Make perception checks please. DC 15.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
Good.
The three of you notice an old man, who was staring at you the whole time. It feels a little creepy, but he looks to be harmless enough. He's three tables away. Finally, he gets the courage to get up and see you.
"Excuse me, but I was wondering if you can help me with something," he says.
The three of you notice an old man, who was staring at you the whole time. It feels a little creepy, but he looks to be harmless enough. He's three tables away. Finally, he gets the courage to get up and see you.
"Excuse me, but I was wondering if you can help me with something," he says.
"Please, have a seat. I am Leonidas Archidamos and you are?"
" I can not make any promises elder, I am just a simple merchant sailor." Castisa spreads her hands, her clear lack of weapons giving more away of her fighting, or rather lack of ability to fight.
"Asterios," he says. "There is a family heirloom I'd like you to retrieve."
"Asterios," he says. "There is a family heirloom I'd like you to retrieve."
"Greetings Asterios. Could you tell us more about this family heirloom? What is it, where did you see it last, how did you lose it, and if you have any information about where it might be now?"
"It's a sword, a magic sword," he explains. "One blessed by Athena. It was stolen from my home. I think the orcs have it, but I am not sure."
"quite the heirloom to have stolen, sounds like you should protect it better" Tiasis says, then he scrutinizes Asterios and asks "If we help fetch this sword, what is in it for us?"
"Please don't kick a man when he's down. That he lost a sword blessed by Athena is painful enough. What an insult that such a blade is now sullied by the hands of orcs!"
"I can not disagree with him however. How does one lose a blessed sword from a Goddess? That sounds either like a curse, in which the gods have placed, or carelessness. But you also do not seem careless, so give us some information on how it was stolen, and how the orcs have it. Perhaps like civilized people they can be bargained with." Castisa tries to sooth the older mans worries with her words, seeking information on what all has happened
"Yes, I was hoping you could go to the orcs and negotiate with them," he says. "Without killing anyone. I tried to do it myself, but I was regarded as too old and was derided. Maybe they could tell you where it is and how you could get it back."
"Yes, I was hoping you could go to the orcs and negotiate with them," he says. "Without killing anyone. I tried to do it myself, but I was regarded as too old and was derided. Maybe they could tell you where it is and how you could get it back."
"Negotiate eh? Not my strong suit but I can try. Where are these orcs located? And is there a reward for the return of your lost heirloom?"
"I can pay two hundred Staters for the return of the sword," he says. "It's not a lot, but it's all I have."
" We can talk of the reward of the sword later once we have it back yes? We should not throw an old man out without anything left to his name. Unless he is trying to cheat us." Her words seemed to mean both they need to be kind, but the old man should not cheat them either.
"No, I'm not cheating you," says the old man.
"A thief stole it, and sold it to them for 10 staters," said the old man.
"A thief stole it, and sold it to them for 10 staters," said the old man.
"Do you know who this thief is?"
" So we can get revenge on your theft, and get the sword back. Perhaps we visit the thief, get the 10 back from them, and peacefully get the sword from the orcs? Or we could just kill them all. But I would prefer peace."
"A thief stole it, and sold it to them for 10 staters," said the old man."Do you know who this thief is?"
"No, I don't," says the old man. "I have my suspicions, but nothing strong."
" So we can get revenge on your theft, and get the sword back. Perhaps we visit the thief, get the 10 back from them, and peacefully get the sword from the orcs? Or we could just kill them all. But I would prefer peace."
The old man nods, "I prefer peace as well."
"A thief stole it, and sold it to them for 10 staters," said the old man."Do you know who this thief is?"
"No, I don't," says the old man. "I have my suspicions, but nothing strong."
" So we can get revenge on your theft, and get the sword back. Perhaps we visit the thief, get the 10 back from them, and peacefully get the sword from the orcs? Or we could just kill them all. But I would prefer peace."The old man nods, "I prefer peace as well."
"Who do you think it is? Have you tried asking one of the diviners for assistance?"
"I asked one, but they talk in riddles," the old man said.