Rise of the Tyrants – Session 2
SCENE 1
When: Early morning. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: The Lighthouse, near Gela, Sicily
As promised, Aristo arrived to fetch us early the next morning. His previously cheerful demeanour was soon dampened by the news that Tuskan raiders had killed everyone on the island. He had known them all well. The return journey was a sombre one.
SCENE 2
When: Early morning. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: Simonedes’s Business Premises, Gela, Sicily
Once we’d made it back to Gela we set off in search of Simonedes and quickly found him at his business premises in the Trade Ward.
He was shocked to hear of the tragedy that had befallen the men manning the lighthouse and expressed his deepest regrets at being responsible for placing us in harm’s way. It was hard for him to miss the prominent wound to Cyrus’s scalp and a variety of lesser injuries that Thanos had sustained during his battle on the stairs. To his relief I at least had escaped pretty much unscathed.
Scribbling some instructions on a piece of parchment Simonedes handed it to Cyrus and told him to take it to the Temple of Asclepia, the Goddess of Healing.
“Give this to one of the priestesses there and your wounds will be tended” he offered. “You have my humblest apologies. I had no idea what dangers awaited you when I asked you to embark on this errand. I will take news of what has happened to the Merchant’s Guild and arrange for you to receive suitable compensation. If you come back and see me again around noon I should have had time to make the necessary arrangements.”
We thanked him and were about to depart when Simonedes called me back, “Rhadamanthus, might I have a word with you in private?”
I told Cyrus that I would see them later and sat back down. I’d known Simonedes for a number of years and had rarely seen him looking as troubled as he did at that moment.
“What is it?” I asked.
“My friend, there is something you should know” he said rather gravely. “For now this is merely a suspicion but I might be able to explain why the Tuskans raided the lighthouse.”
“Go on” I said.
“If I’d been left to my own devices I would have in all likelihood come to you myself but it was in fact someone else who proposed that I involve you.”
I was somewhat taken aback by what Simonedes was implying.
“Before you ask,” he added, “For the time being, I cannot say who that someone was. Believe me, I wish I could.”
“You’re suggesting that all of this was a set up? A trap meant for me?” I asked incredulously.
“For now I’m merely saying that you shouldn’t overlook that possibility. I will find out what I can but for the time being tread very carefully Rhadamanthus. I suggest you sleep with one eye open.”
SCENE 3
When: Morning. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: Around town, Gela, Sicily
After the discussion with Simonedes I left and spoke to some of my contacts to see if anyone knew anything. I discovered two things: firstly, someone had been asking around town about me, and secondly, a group of outcast Tuskans had been seen in the Army Ward looking for work as mercenaries.
There was only one inn in Gela that might accommodate these smelly and brutish creatures. A flea-bitten, dung heap of a place called the Tuskan Lance. It was run by a barbarian called Orath, who it was rumoured had been adopted by Tuskans after being shipwrecked in their territory.
I thought I might check it out later but for the time being I made my way back to the Dock Ward and the Captain’s Rest.
SCENE 4
When: Late morning. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
I met up with Cyrus and Thanos on their return from the Temple of Asclepia. Their wounds had been healed and they were looking pretty much back to normal. All around us news of the terrible goings on at the lighthouse had spread. It was causing quite a hubbub amongst the townsfolk.
Philomena treated us to a hearty late-breakfast, which we had only just finished when a tall, gaunt man entered the tavern. There was something about him that immediately drew my attention but I wasn’t sure what it was exactly. I decided it was the fact that there was a sense of thinly concealed power about him. I felt he was someone to be wary of.
I watched him speak to a couple of the patrons who gestured in our direction. Then he came over to our table.
“Forgive my intrusion gentlemen but I am seeking the Heroes of the Lighthouse and am told you are they”
“That we are” Cyrus replied.
“My name is Menelaus” the stranger went on “I am a humble merchant who is in need of aid. My best ship has a broken mast and is berthed at a small village no more than a day’s journey along the coast. If it can’t be repaired and its cargo brought to market, I shall be ruined. Time is of the essence so I must send a replacement mast overnight by cart along the coast road. And yet with these raiders abroad in the countryside I fear it may be waylaid and fail to reach its destination. If the Heroes of the Lighthouse would agree to escort the mast I would be immeasurably grateful. By doing so you would be preserving my livelihood and I would be happy to pay handsomely for your services.”
When Menelaus had finished I quickly interceded before Cyrus could say anything. After Simonedes’s warning I was suspicious of the merchant’s motives.
“Might we have time to discuss your proposal?” I asked.
“Of course” Menelaus smiled. Though I had the distinct impression that the gesture was insincere. “I shall return in two hours time. The mast must be on its way by late afternoon so I will need to know your answer by then.”
I thanked him for his patience and he left.
Once he’d gone I explained to Cyrus and Thanos that I now believed the raid on the lighthouse could have been a trap intended for me and that Menelaus’s proposal might be another one.
“However” I went on “If you are both willing I should like to accept it. If Menelaus is legitimate then we will be doing him a kindness and if not then it is an opportunity for me to draw out my enemies”
After some consideration Cyrus and Thanos agreed.
SCENE 5
When: Noon. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: Simonedes’s Business Premises, Gela, Sicily
As had been arranged, we returned to see Simonedes at noon. He thanked us once again and, on behalf of the Merchant’s Guild, rewarded us with the princely sum of three hundred silvers each; an amount that more than allowed me to pay off my debt to Philomena.
I took the opportunity to describe our encounter with Menelaus and asked Simonedes if he knew him but he did not. The only Menelaus he knew was Menelaus of Messina and it was apparent from their descriptions that they were not the same person. However, as Simonedes pointed out, Menelaus was a common name.
Before we left I told him that we were going to agree to escort the mast and why. He wished us luck.
SCENE 6
When: Mid-afternoon. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: The Coast Road, near Gela, Sicily
And so it was that soon afterward, having returned to the Captain’s Rest to keep our appointment with Menelaus and pay Philomena what I owed, we found ourselves accompanying Avel the carter as he coaxed his mast-laden cart along the coast road away from the city.
Before we’d gone too far Avel asked shrewdly, “So what’s all this protection about?”
“Tuskans have been raiding up and down the coast” Cyrus exaggerated. “So we’re here to ensure your safety”
“Tuskans!” Avel exclaimed, bringing the cart to a halt. “Nobody said anything about Tuskan raiders. I’m not being paid enough to risk my neck. I’m going back to Gela”
“But you’re in no danger” assured Cyrus. “We won’t let anything happen to you”
Unconvinced, Avel began turning the cart around.
“Do you know who that is?” I intervened, gesturing towards Thanos.
Avel paused.
“Should I?” he replied sceptically.
“Would you feel any safer if you knew you were travelling with Thanos the Mighty?”
“The gladiator? Thanos the Mighty of Syracuse?”
“That’s him”
Avel considered this for a moment and then went back to turning the cart around. “Blimey! It must be really dangerous if they’ve sent him”
Oh well, so much for that idea!
Cyrus tried another tactic. “But think of what you’ll be missing if you go back now. What a story it will be. How you and Thanos the Mighty braved the Tuskan raiders and saved the day. Everyone in town will want to hear it”
“Hmmm… that’s if I live to tell the tale,” Avel pointed out. But it seemed his resolve might be weakening.
It took some time but eventually, after much coaxing, we convinced the carter to continue.
SCENE 7
When: Late Evening. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: The Coast Road, near Gela, Sicily
We trundled on until dusk before pulling off the road to make camp for the night amidst the ruins of a small building.
As we did so Cyrus said to me, “I’m not sure but I have a feeling that we’re being followed. I’m going to take a look and see who it is”
“Be careful” I replied. I hoped he knew what he was doing.
Thanos, Avel and I went on into the ruins to make camp.
SCENE 8
When: Dusk. Seventeenth day of Dalios
Where: The ruins of a small building, near Gela, Sicily
We soon heard a shout and sounds of a brief scuffle from out in the gloom. A moment later Cyrus sprinted back into our camp.
“It’s the Tuskans,” he panted.
We drew our swords and spread out through the ruin.
As darkness fell we hunkered down and waited. Occasionally an arrow would fly through one of the many gaps in the walls but as long as we remained inside the dilapidated structure we were afforded reasonable protection.
As Avel remarked, we shouldn’t have to bide our time for long. Tuskans aren’t known for their patience. They would come to us soon.
Time passed. I was crouched in a corner by a doorway, trying to remain out of sight while being ready to repel any assault from that direction. Suddenly there was movement. An arrow flew out of the darkness and in its wake came one of our enemies. I struck out with my sword. There was a yelp and the Trollkin retreated. Our perimeter was being tested.
I heard more noises; a cry that sounded like Avel, the clash of weapons. Then Thanos emerged through a gap in the wall behind me.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes” I replied. “What’s happening?”
“They’ve breached the perimeter,” warned the gladiator. “So watch your back”
Suddenly another Trollkin appeared at the threshold and Thanos set upon it enthusiastically.
“I’ll hold them here” he grinned, driving the creature backwards.
I turned and went looking for Avel and Cyrus.
The sounds of battle grew louder.
Then I saw a Tuskan ahead of me, readying his bow. His head and shoulders were visible over a low wall. I couldn’t see what he was aiming at but it seemed a good bet that it was one of my friends. Before he could loose the arrow I launched myself across the gap, swinging my sword at his head and connecting. The Tuskan staggered back.
I might have followed up but a group of Trollkin burst in through another opening to my left. I turned on them yelling a war cry and cutting the first one down in his tracks.
The others hesitated, looking at me fearfully.
“GET OUT OF MY WAY!” I roared. They turned and ran.
By the time I got outside however the wounded Tuskan archer was gone.
I went back to find the others
Inside another Tuskan and a number of Trollkin lay dead or wounded. Though Avel and Cyrus had both been injured, neither was seriously hurt. Our enemies had been killed or routed. The skirmish was won. Thanos was mopping up the stragglers.
When we were sure it was over, I bound Avel and Cyrus’s wounds and then, while we still could, Cyrus and I questioned the wounded Tuskan who lay groaning inside. It was an unpleasant business but necessary if we were to find out who was trying to kill me. The Tuskan gave us two names before he died, he had been employed by a tall, gaunt man named Krateros and the Tuskan who had escaped was named Graal.
SCENE 9
When: Evening. Eighteenth day of Dalios
Where: The Captain’s Rest, Gela, Sicily
The next evening, back at the Captain’s Rest we reflected upon what had occurred. After the fight in the ruins we had continued on to our destination. We hadn’t been surprised to discover that no ship awaited us there.
Cyrus and Avel had agreed to sell the mast in Gela. Given the circumstances we believed we had the right to claim it. So we had returned and, thanks to Avel’s haggling, managed to get four hundred silvers for it. The carter was delighted with his third share and went off to tell the tale of his adventures with Thanos the Mighty.
For my part, I was left wondering who Krateros was and why he wanted me dead.
