Rise of the Tyrants – Session 7
SCENE 1
When: Mid-morning. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
After attending the weekly service at the Temple of Agonius I returned to the Captain’s Rest to find the bar staff doing their utmost to stay out of Philomena’s way. It was evident that she was annoyed about something and nobody wished to anger her.
I saw Barachus lurking off to one side and went over to ask him what was happening.
“Any idea what’s up?”
“Philomena’s in a foul mood” he whispered. “She’s got it into her head that Cyrus has been out all night with some young hussy. She reckons he spent all evening with her in the bar but I have to tell you, the only person I saw him with was an old guy.”
I’d been in the tavern with Kalliope most of the evening and could vaguely recall Cyrus being seated at a table with someone I’d presumed was a merchant. He hadn’t looked that old to me but I could easily have been mistaken. Either way I was pretty sure they’d left together so I was as puzzled as Barachus was about how Philomena had got the idea that Cyrus was playing the field.
“Those two should just sleep together and get it over with” Barachus muttered.
“So I assume Cyrus is keeping his head down?” I said.
“I guess so. Actually nobody’s seen him since he supposedly left with this woman last night”
Suddenly I was concerned.
“It doesn’t seem very likely that he’d just disappear without telling anyone,” I observed, “particularly after what happened to Thanos. He’d know we’d be worried about him.”
“You have a point” Barachus agreed.
I discretely asked around the bar staff to see if anyone remembered anything. A disturbing picture quickly emerged. The details that they recalled of the individual who’d been with Cyrus were different in every case. An old man, a young woman, a sailor, a merchant; no two were the same.
I didn’t like it.
I told Barachus what I’d learned.
“That doesn’t sound good at all” he said gravely. “I should notify the Temple of this at once.”
While Barachus went to the Temple I spoke with Philomena, explaining that all might not be what it seemed. At first she thought I was covering for Cyrus but eventually I got through to her and her irritation with him was soon replaced with worry.
I made some enquiries but it seemed that no one had seen or heard from Cyrus. He’d simply vanished without a trace.
SCENE 2
When: Early Afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
Helplessly we hung around at the Captain’s Rest hoping to receive word of Cyrus’s whereabouts from one of my contacts. After a few hours a message arrived from Lysagoras, an old and trusted colleague of mine from my days in the Watch. It read:
Come to the South Gate. I think we’ve found your friend
Thanos and I immediately hurried off to the South Gate.
SCENE 3
When: Early afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The South Gate, Gela, Sicily
When we arrived, Lysagoras greeted us and led us into the guardhouse. To our relief Cyrus was there but disturbingly he seemed dazed and barely aware of his surroundings. He merely sat there staring vacantly into space.
“He’s been that way since the patrol brought him in” Lysagoras informed us. “They found him wandering along the road about two miles out of town. We’ve no idea how he got there or what happened to him prior to that”
Despite our best efforts to rouse him Cyrus’s condition remained unchanged.
“We should take him to the Cult” Thanos suggested.
I glanced up at him, considering for a moment.
“You mean the Cult of Asclepia?” I ventured.
Thanos’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he figured out what to say. It was obvious that he’d meant the Cult of Agonius. “Either, I guess” he replied unconvincingly.
“I feel a visit to the Ladies of Healing would be in his best interests right now” I asserted.
I thanked Lysagoras for his prompt action and then Thanos and I ushered Cyrus off to the Temple of Asclepia.
SCENE 4
When: Afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The Temple of Asclepia, Gela, Sicily
When we arrived at the Temple we began explaining Cyrus’s condition to one of the priestesses. While we were doing so Carena, the healer who had treated Thanos after he’d been assaulted, passed by. She recognised us and stopped.
“Rhadamanthus, Thanos what brings you here? Are you well?”
“It’s Cyrus. Something’s happened to him”
After a cursory inspection Carena told us to bring him inside. “I’ll take care of this,” she instructed the priestess we’d been talking to.
She then led us into an antechamber where she examined Cyrus more thoroughly. When she had finished she informed us that nothing appeared to be wrong with him physically.
“I’ll have to consult with another healer over his mental condition,” she told us. “You can wait outside in the gardens”
At that moment my mind suddenly cleared and I realised that my memories from the night before had been clouded. Now a veil had been lifted and instead of the merchant sitting talking with Cyrus I saw Krateros. We had all been deceived.
“Carena” I said urgently. “There’s something you should know. I believe that Cyrus’s condition may be the result of an enchantment placed upon him by a man named Krateros”
At that Carena’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly and I knew immediately that she had heard of him.
“Thank you” she replied slightly evasively. “This information will greatly aid us in helping your friend”
“I see that the name Krateros is already known to you,” I pressed.
This time her surprise was less well concealed.
“You are most perceptive,” she acknowledged, “but please speak no more of it for it is a subject I am forbidden to discuss with those outside the order.”
Reluctantly I accepted this. Now was not the time to press for answers. Cyrus’s health was the priority. I provided Carena with all the information that I could and then Thanos and I went outside to wait in the Temple grounds.
We’d been there only a short while when an acolyte sent by Carena brought me a sealed parchment that had been found on Cyrus’s person. Puzzlingly it was addressed to me.
It said:
Rhadamanthus, you have kept your side of the bargain by not digging into things that do not concern you and I have kept my side of it by allowing you to live. Now I advise you to inform the Lady Philomena that it would be in her best interests not to stand as Guild Master. I trust you will apprise her of the need to take this seriously.
There was no mark or signature but I had no doubt who the message’s author was. A conflict with the sorcerer was seemingly inevitable!
I showed the letter to Thanos.
Shortly afterwards another acolyte arrived and informed us that the High Priestess of the Temple, Lady Nerissa, wished to speak with us. We agreed to an audience with her and followed the acolyte to her chambers.
SCENE 5
When: Afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: Lady Nerissa’s chambers, The Temple of Asclepia, Gela, Sicily
The elderly Nerissa greeted us and suggested that we speak plainly. She informed us that Cyrus had been subjected to powerful magic. Under the care of the Temple he should recover, though it was unclear how long this would take and it was likely that his memories of what had happened to him would be lost forever.
I showed her the warning that I had received and asked her what she knew of Krateros.
She told us that the sorcerer had been an acolyte or apprentice of the Master of the Tower of Ravens but that they had parted ways some years ago and, judging by the injuries that Krateros had sustained during his eviction from the tower, it hadn’t been on good terms. He had spent many weeks recovering there at the Temple of Asclepia before eventually departing. For some time after that nothing was heard of him but years later he re-emerged as a name to be feared and despised amidst the criminal underworld.
“And now he’s working for Lord Maloch” I stated.
“That seems likely,” Nerissa confirmed. “It is no secret that Philomena is a woman of strong convictions, who will speak her mind and stand up for the rights of the commoners. There is little doubt that Lord Maloch would feel that it is undesirable for her to take a seat on the council. As such, it is very likely that he is behind the sorcerer’s actions in this.”
“But you and the Temple of Agonius support her?”
“We do. Philomena’s politics broadly agree with ours, and Parmenio and I think that she would make a fine addition to the council. We would both be disappointed if she were deterred from standing.”
“Will you endeavour to protect her?”
“I can offer no guarantees. Ultimately both the risks and the choice of whether to face them are Philomena’s. I will do what I can but for the time being Parmenio is better placed to offer the kind of assistance that you need.”
“Very well. I had thought to take word of this to him since the Temple of Agonius has already shown an interest in Philomena’s well-being”
She nodded, as though being careful not to reveal too much.
“I would ask that you repeat none of what we have discussed here” she added.
“Of course” I replied.
The meeting was concluded. We thanked her and departed.
SCENE 6
When: Late afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
Leaving Cyrus in the care of the priestesses of Asclepia, Thanos and I headed off to the Temple of Agonius. On our way we stopped in at the Captain’s Rest to tell Philomena what had happened to Cyrus.
She was greatly relieved that he had been found but also troubled over his condition. When I showed her the warning from Krateros she pursed her lips and asked if we might leave her alone to consider. Philomena was not a woman to be cowed by threats. I strongly suspected that Krateros’s actions would have the opposite effect to what he desired. Either way, as the Lady Nerissa had pointed out, it was Philomena’s decision.
Before departing we also informed Barachus of what had happened. He urged us to proceed with all haste to the Temple, as he and his men were not equipped to deal with magic should anything else be attempted.
SCENE 7
When: Late afternoon. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: Parmenio’s chambers, The Temple of Agonius, Gela, Sicily
When we arrived at the Temple of Agonius we were immediately ushered in to see the RunePriest Parmenio. He was a hawk-nosed man with a shrewd gaze and a gentleness that belied his position of authority. I found his manner vaguely disarming, as though we were old friends, when in actual fact this was the first time I had spoken to him in person.
After Thanos had reported on recent events I showed Parmenio the letter that had been found in Cyrus’s possession.
He read it carefully and then asked what the Lady Nerissa had said to us about it.
“Only that you might be in a better position to aid us than she was” I replied discretely.
Parmenio smiled. “I can see that you are someone who can be trusted” he observed. “Very well, forgive me if I recount anything you already know. It was around ten years after the fall of the monarchy when Krateros was ejected from the Tower of Ravens. A rather spectacular display of magical power accompanied his eviction so I think it safe to say that he and the master of the tower had a falling out. As a result of what happened Krateros was badly injured; in fact it is said that to this day his chest is still weak from the wounds that he suffered. For some months afterwards he remained at the Temple of Asclepia recovering his strength. Since then he has chosen a dark path, studying forbidden lore and growing in power. Now, for whatever reason, he has allied himself with Lord Maloch. He is a dangerous adversary and poses a significant threat, one that we must act quickly to counter. Fortunately, I can be of some assistance in this.”
So saying, he called in an acolyte and gave them instructions to fetch Tagmatarkhes (major) Cletus and Illyarches (lieutenant) Thea.
Then turning back to us he said to me “While we wait for Cletus and Thea I wonder if you might satisfy an old man’s curiosity and tell me what happened that made you leave the Watch? Is it true that Garonius had you removed for disobeying orders? I believe you continued to investigate a series of disappearances and murders after you’d been instructed not to? Is that the case?”
I considered for a moment but decided it was best to humour Parmenio, after all I sought him as an ally.
“You are well informed,” I observed. “A veteran of the Watch named Basilus, recognised a connection between otherwise unrelated incidents. He asked me for help and, though I aided him, I did not take his theories seriously until after he was murdered. I was ordered to discontinue the investigation at that time but through my arrogance I ignored those orders and got another member of the Watch killed.”
“And it was their death that you were held responsible for?”
“I hold myself responsible”
“I think you judge yourself overly harshly Rhadamanthus” Parmenio offered. “One day you must lay down this burden of guilt that weighs heavily upon you”
No, I thought. The guilt for Alcmene’s death shall always be mine to bear.
Fortunately I did not need to think of an answer for at that moment a man and a woman entered.
Parmenio greeted them, “Ah! Cletus, Thea welcome. Thank you for coming”
He then introduced them to us and explained that they were mages who could protect Philomena and the Captain’s Rest from Krateros’s sorcery. He suggested that they join Barachus and his men as guards at the tavern, assuming Philomena would agree to hiring them of course.
Thanos and I said that we would recommend this to her and see what her response was.
Then the five of us discussed the situation further. I voiced my concerns about another confrontation with Krateros. My last meeting with the sorcerer hadn’t gone at all well.
Cletus and Thea replied that they could provide a measure of protection. It was in their power to make a talisman that would ward against the use of magic. It would only negate the effects for a limited time but it might be enough of an edge.
I gratefully accepted.
“And what about the Tower of Ravens?” I said. “That would seem the obvious place to go if we wish to find out about Krateros”
“You can try if you wish but it has remained sealed since Krateros was expelled from it. There is no known way in or out.”
“Perhaps it’s merely waiting for the right time” I suggested.
“Perhaps” Parmenio acknowledged.
SCENE 8
When: Evening. Eighth day of Thesmophorios
Where: The Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
After our meeting with Parmenio we took Cletus and Thea back with us to the Captain’s Rest. We explained to Philomena that we felt she should hire them to work alongside Barachus and the other guards as they had special talents that might prove extremely useful given the threat of magical attack. On this occasion Philomena was easily convinced. She seemed greatly reassured by Cletus’s and Thea’s presence and welcomed them openly.
