Rise of the Tyrants – Session 1

SCENE 1
When: Late morning. Sixteenth day of Dalios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily

I slouched sullenly in the corner of the Captain’s Rest and nursed my woes over a goblet of cheap wine. Sadly I’d found its potency was neither sufficient to wash away the memories of death nor ease my conscience over the guilt I felt for failing those I cared about. It did however numb the pain of their passing… though only a little.

I was vaguely aware of two men entering.

The first was named Cyrus. I recognised him from previous evenings at the tavern when he had entertained the patrons with enthusiastic accounts of great deeds and legendary heroes. Though I’d been preoccupied of late, I knew that he was both well liked and somewhat of a minor celebrity amongst the locals. He was handsome and charismatic and I had no doubt that he was popular amongst the ladies. I’d also heard that a short time ago he had organised efforts to rescue a young child, Nerisse the tavern proprietress’s daughter, after a building had collapsed on her during a small earthquake. From what little I knew of him he seemed like a decent enough sort.

His companion was very large. He was tall, dark and heavily muscled. The girth of his arms was as great as any normal man’s thigh. He held himself like a fighter and wore the scars from multiple combats. I thought perhaps he was a gladiator but I didn’t know him. I hadn’t seen him around there before.

Other midday patrons acknowledged Cyrus, smiling and nodding. Philomena, the tavern proprietress, went over and greeted him warmly.

“Cyrus, good day to you” she laughed happily. “And who is this mighty fellow?” She gestured towards Cyrus’s muscular companion.

“Philomena, this is Thanos, a gladiator belonging to my sister’s husband in Syracuse. He’s been sent here to stay with me while he recuperates from injuries he sustained in the arena.”

“Not Thanos the Mighty of Syracuse!” Philomena exclaimed.

Thanos bowed to her in acknowledgement. “That is what they call me”

Philomena smiled pleasantly and said to the gladiator, “Well you are most welcome here Thanos. I hope your stay in Gela is to your liking. May I offer you some refreshment?”

I rapidly lost interest in their chatter and returned to brooding over my wine until another man, a merchant named Simonedes who I had known for many years, entered the tavern and approached my table directly.

“Rhadamanthus” he said cheerily.

“What do you want?” I grumbled.

He ignored my bad manners and asked me how I was doing. Though I’d have thought the answer was pretty obvious. My next reply was as uncharitable as the first.

Simonedes persisted however. “I know things haven’t gone well for you Rhadamanthus but that’s why I’m here. I was thinking you might fancy a spot of work to get you out a bit. It won’t take very long, a day or two at most, and there would be a little money in it for you”

Without much consideration I turned him down. “I know what you’re trying to do Simonedes and I appreciate it but if it’s all the same to you I’d rather be left alone right now”

Simonedes looked disappointed.

“Alright my friend, maybe next time” he offered. “You take care of yourself Rhadamanthus”

He rose, leaving me to my melancholy, and went over to Cyrus, Thanos and Philomena.

After a few minutes debate they appeared to reach some kind of agreement and Simonedes thanked them and departed.

Soon afterwards Cyrus came over to me. It was one of those days. Why couldn’t they just leave me alone?

“Rhadamanthus isn’t it?”

“What of it?”

“Thanos and I are going along the coast to the lighthouse” he said. “Simonedes says they sent a relief out there yesterday but the fire hasn’t been lit for the last two nights. The merchants fear something may have happened”

“Well good for you. Let me know how that turns out” I replied with some irritation. Couldn’t a man just be miserable in peace!

“I thought you might be interested in joining us” he added.

“And what pray tell gave you that idea?”

“Well, I couldn’t help noticing that you’ve run up a bit of a bill over the past few days. And, though I know Philomena is a very nice lady and will probably just go on extending you credit, you don’t seem like the kind of fellow to take advantage of that. So this would be a good opportunity to earn a few silvers and clear your debt to her wouldn’t it?”

I eyed him suspiciously. I knew I was being manipulated but couldn’t deny that what the storyteller said was true. Through my grief I had allowed Philomena to support me more than I’d intended. Indeed I should do something about it.

“Very well” I said to Cyrus. “When do you intend to depart?”

SCENE 2
When: Midday. Sixteenth day of Dalios
Where: The Harbour, Gela, Sicily

An hour later I met up with Cyrus and Thanos at the harbour, where a weathered little man named Aristo sat waiting for us in a rowboat. He watched with mild amusement as Thanos and I manned the oars and made a complete hash of rowing us anywhere. Cyrus stood nobly at the prow.

Aristo offered us helpful advice and eventually, despite our lack of boating experience, we got our act together and progressed falteringly along the coast towards the lighthouse.

SCENE 3
When: Mid afternoon. Sixteenth day of Dalios
Where: A beach on the Lighthouse island, near Gela, Sicily

It was some time later that we reached our destination and alighted. I resisted the urge to fall to my knees and kiss the ground. Instead I offered quiet thanks to Poseidon, as frankly it could only have been through his benevolence that we’d arrived there without capsizing.

We were slightly startled as from behind us Aristo called “Farewell” and pushed the small boat back out into the breakers. “I’ll see you first thing tomorrow” he assured us.

“You’re not staying?” asked Cyrus somewhat taken aback.

“I’ve got things to do. I can’t hang around all day,” the little man called cheerily as he handled the oars with practiced ease. The boat rapidly receded. “Don’t you worry, I’ll be back bright and early in the morning.”

Great! Now we were stranded! Not for the first time I wondered what had possessed me to come on this foolish errand. Surely I could have found a better way to repay my debt to Philomena.

Before us, steps wound up a steep incline towards the lighthouse. I set off towards them. Might as well get this over with. Thanos and Cyrus followed close behind.

SCENE 4
When: Mid afternoon. Sixteenth day of Dalios
Where: The Lighthouse island, near Gela, Sicily

We reached the top of the steps and made our way across the small island towards the lighthouse. We soon spotted a flock of gulls squabbling raucously over a tattered heap of something on the path ahead of us and, as we drew nearer, we were able to make out a body with a spear sticking out of it.

I moved slowly to the edge of the flock, taking care not to scatter the birds, as I didn’t want to alert anyone to our presence.

From what I could see the victim had been struck from behind while fleeing down the path towards us. It didn’t appear that he had been armed. The spear looked cheap and ill cared-for. Other than that it gave little clue as to what had happened.

Thanos drew his sword and Cyrus and I followed suit. Suddenly things were serious. There was a tangible threat on the island.

Keeping alert and scanning the surrounding area for signs of movement, we spread out and made our way forwards. We reached the lighthouse without incident. Forebodingly the doors stood open, gently creaking in the wind.

Thanos edged his way into the opening, scanning the shadowy interior.

I peered through a nearby window into what might have been a study. Inside a second victim was slumped in a chair. It looked as though his throat had been cut. The remainder of the room was unoccupied. I eased the shutters open and gestured to Cyrus that I would go in that way. He nodded and followed Thanos in through the main doors.

SCENE 5
When: Mid afternoon. Sixteenth day of Dalios
Where: Inside the Lighthouse, near Gela, Sicily

Making as little noise as possible I slipped in through the window and dropped to the floor.

I paused for a moment in the study to collect myself but all of a sudden there were sounds of a commotion coming from where I believed Thanos and Cyrus to be. I steeled myself and rushed to their aid.

I went through a doorway that led in the right direction and emerged in the entrance hall to find my companions engaged in combat with a scrawny Trollkin and a powerfully built Tuskan. From the sounds of movement and guttural voices in the room beyond, it was clear that these two were not the only raiders there.

Thanos despatched the Trollkin with practiced ease but was forced to give ground to the Tuskan. Then without warning an arrow flew from the interior and hit Cyrus in the skullcap. He staggered back against the wall clutching his head, and collapsed to his knees.

Before things could deteriorate further I yelled and threw myself into the fray. My sudden assault surprised the Tuskan and distracted him sufficiently for Thanos to finish him.

This small victory earned us a brief respite as the door to the room where our adversaries were suddenly slammed shut. Around us however, both inside and outside the lighthouse, we could clearly hear the sounds of movement as the others manoeuvred to cut off our escape. We were trapped.

I helped Cyrus to his feet. He was shaken and bloodied from the head wound but he had been very lucky. It could have been much worse.

“How many are there?” I asked Thanos tersely.

“At least a dozen” came his grim reply, “Though I finished another one of them inside.”

The gladiator cocked his head and listened as the noises of our opponent’s movements subsided.

“We should move,” he added. “There isn’t much time. They will come at us again and this hallway is not easily defended. There are too many doorways.”

“The stairs” said Cyrus groggily.

We reached the first floor and I hurriedly patched Cyrus’s head wound. There was much blood and a deep gash in his scalp but he would live to tell the tale. Quite literally in Cyrus’s case.

His face was ashen and he still seemed a little unsteady but he fixed me with a determined gaze and assured me that he was all right.

I nodded. It would have to do for the time being.

I’d barely finished when they came at us again.

The Tuskans urged their Trollkin underlings forward. A half-dozen of the craven creatures had already reached the first floor and burst out of a nearby doorway, coming at us along a short corridor. Simultaneously the remainder assaulted the stairs. Thanos held the landing, while Cyrus and I took defensive positions at the end of the corridor and waited for the group to come nearer.

On the first floor it rapidly became a standoff, as there was a Tuskan with a bow behind the Trollkin and he was well positioned to pick us off if we moved from where we were. As it was, both groups had cover and could not advance without leaving themselves exposed to their opponents. We were deadlocked.

Fortunately for us, judging from the cries of pain and squeals of panic that came from our rear, it was only a matter of time before Thanos carved his way through the group on the stairs.

As the sounds of carnage continued the group opposing us grew increasingly nervous. Eventually they dropped their weapons and either fled or cowered in terror.

Soon afterwards Thanos, emerged from the stairwell and reported that the remaining raiders were making a run for it.

We gave chase but arrived too late to prevent their escape. By the time we arrived, the three surviving Tuskans and a handful of Trollkin had embarked in their rowboat, which was moored nearby, and were bobbing away across the waves back towards shore.

Once we were certain that they had gone and would not return, we went back and saw to the bodies before relighting the fire at the top of the lighthouse.

That night we made camp and sat around pondering what could have prompted the raid. The Tuskans were a bestial, nomadic race who operated either as part of larger warbands or sometimes independently as mercenaries. They were not known for causing much  trouble in these parts. So, given that there was little if anything of any value at the lighthouse, their actions were a mystery to us.