And So it begins...(Closed)

[Heroceles]

He looks around, and proceeds to take a deep breath, and he was soon swamped by a myriad of smells and scents that soon overwhelmed him. And then begins to gag violently. “I really wish I hadn’t done that.” he says through his coughs. Heroceles, fresh off the boat that brought him to this mysterious land, wore his poorest clothes, a light woolen tunic, leather breastplate, knee skirt, shin guards, leather coif, and high strung boots (typical light travel/marching armor). Although he had all his possessions with him, he didn’t carry much on his travels, he was content to just throw his bag over his shoulder and start to do some shopping. After looking through his pouch, he was saddened to find it quite light. “Well, considering that I don’t have much gold on me, I might want to stick to looking” And so our Greek stranger set about exploring this new land and enjoying all of the sights and smells of his new, if not long-term, home.

He was shocked by the sheer mass of all the goods. Many a time he had been to the forums of Athens, the market at Delphi, and he had even seen the docks at Ceylon, but nothing could have prepared him for the sheer mass of this king amongst markets. “If I am not able to find something here,” he proclaimed, “it can not be found in the world!” For the richness he say almost brought a tear to his eye. “I wish my brothers could be hear to see this, this, wonder!”

“I shall write home many stories about this richness”

But, after many hours of wandering through this seemingly never-ending market, he found himself quite parched and in need of a drink that would bring the sweet relief of Dionysus. And after almost a half of an hour, he threw he his head up and screamed “Is there not a stall that can provide a man a drink worthy of satisfying my thrist!”

[Selentha]

Slender fingers balanced the basket on her hip as she entered the Baazar. The crowds seemed less clustered together than most days, which was a relief on her part. She never liked becoming squished between people while she tried to shop. A cool breeze filtered through the crowd as she walked around, gazing at various herbs and assortments for the temple.

"Good day Priestess Selentha!" a merchant called out from his small table, his smile wide and hand waving in her direction.

She smiled and lifted her free hand in a gesture of greeting, nodding her head at other various calls of her name. It seemed odd that people now noticed her rather than when she was just a child. Back then she was a nobody in this city.
Continuing on her journey through the maze of markets, she smiled at the children who ran through parents and strangers legs, giggling at whatever game they played.

"Is there not a stall that can provide a man a drink worthy of satisfying my thrist!”


A loud voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she bumped right into a man, falling backwards. She squeaked, light blue orbs going wide with surprise as she flailed her arms. Her robes lifted slightly around her mid-thigh as she sat on the gravel. Selentha's basket of purchased items layed in a mess.
Selentha rubbed her head, running her fingers through her blonde hair.

"A-ah...Im sorry sir..." she looked up, smiling slightly,"I should have looked where I was going.."

[Heroceles]

And suddenly, after hearing a squeal, his need for refreshment was replaced by an urgent need to retain his balance. “What in the…”, he stated as he whipped around.“You shou…” he cut himself off. What he saw was a mixture between shock, beauty, and hilarity. This small, young woman, was laying there with her robe almost up. This was almost distracting enough to keep him from recognizing that he had dropped his bag and she had spilled the contents of her basket.

"A-ah...Im sorry sir..." He heard her stutter out, "I should have looked where I was going.."

Quickly assessing the situation, he calmly stated, “I mean, its no real problem. Let me help you gather your belongings, won’t want you to lose all of these… things” The objects that were appparently in the basket did not surprise him so much the variety of things that were located in the basket. “Whatever this woman was up to, it is a very complicated thing indeed.” He thought,” Perhaps she cooks with all of this. Ah hah! She is a cook. That explains it.”

After helping her gather her things in the basket, for some reason she was very careful with some of these objects, he proceeded to pick up his bag. “Strange” he thought, “I thought my bag was heavier then this…”

“Just try to be a little more careful next time, alright.” He stated, “But, I was wondering, since you look like you know your way around and I’m new in this city,” he rattled on,” and I am kinda lost, if you could direct me to the nearest bar. For I have been traveling quite a bit and I have yet to find adequate refreshm….”

And he was having such a pleasant day.

He almost got to finish his request when, luckily, he spotted a man with a very similar bag that bore a very similar marking. A barracks marking. His barracks marking. “My kit!” And with that he immediately sprinted towards the man and proceeded to execute a perfect flying tackle. The barracks officer would have been pleased.

“I believe that this bag belongs to me!” he roared at the now quivering young man under hand. “And I believe that this will be sufficient punishment…,” He pulled back and slammed his flattened palm into the mans stomach. Calmly, our triumphant hero picked himself up, grabbed his small case, stepped over the now squirming man, and returned to the young woman.

“Now, do you happen to know where the bar is?”

[Selentha]

“I mean, its no real problem. Let me help you gather your belongings, won’t want you to lose all of these… things” He stared at her assortment of items oddly, reverting his stare back to her. She blinked a few times, staring back at him until he opened his mouth in a reply. He looked like a foreigner that was sure. His skin was lightly tanned like hers compared to the deep tans of most of the people in the city. His eyes a hazel and short.cropped hair meant he was well-groomed. His clothing was definately different as well. She saw symbols she hardly recognized minus the few travellers who came to her temple bearing the same resemblences.


“Just try to be a little more careful next time, alright.” He stated, she looked up to stare at him“But, I was wondering, since you look like you know your way around and I’m new in this city,” he rattled on; definately a foreigner,” and I am kinda lost, if you could direct me to the nearest bar. For I have been traveling quite a bit and I have yet to find adequate refreshm….” he stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing in annoyance as he stood up quickly, walking over to some stranger and taking the bag that she guessed was his own. He skillfully punched the man, dusting his hands and walked back to her, smiling victoriously. Theives did run around these parts...her thoughts wandered to a certain silver-haired pervert and her left eye twitched. Her lips forming a frown. Breaking from her thoughts, she glanced up and squeaked, seeing how he towered over her now.

Her silver-blue orbs went wide with uneasiness as she stood up quickly, adjusting her robes so they looked decent. She dusted off her hands and clothing from the gravel she fell upon before looking back up to meet hazel.

“Now, do you happen to know where the bar is?”he asked.

She shook her head, smiling shyly, "I am sorry...I do not go...to bars..But there should be a few with water. The Lotus has water as I know.."

She bowed, holding her basket as she turned quickly.
"Sorry I couldnt be of service. The Lotus is a few shops down..cant miss it. If you have any questions I shall be in the Temple of Ra." she smiled, "Have a good day"

[Heroceles]

“Get lost”

Well, that’s what he heard anyway.

“Well, I know where to find water.” He thought, “How can they stand to drink the stuff? I mean its so… so… common. No manner of civility. I’ll have to make a note of that. But now, I need to find a drink, a bed, and, worst of all, a sponsor. Great. Might as well try the nearest temple.”

“If you have any questions I shall be in the Temple of Ri.”

And, now smiling happily with a renewed since of opportunity, he decided that the “Temple of Ri”, where ever that is (and who ever this ”Ri” guy is) was the place he needed to be. “Damit" he thought," I don’t have a sacrifice.” He pondered and then, “Do they even have sacrifices? Better to be safe then sorry. And I have no idea where this place is. Again, great.”

“If you have any questions I shall be in the Temple of Ri.”

“Of course!” he proclaimed.

“Excuse me! Excuse me Ma’am!” he yelled as he hurried through the crowd. If he didn’t catch up to her, he was never going to be able to get to that “Temple of Ri” place, at least in a timely manner.

“Do you mind if I follow you to the Temple of Ri? I some important business to attend to and I believe that the temple would be a great place to start.”

[Selentha]

She slid easily though the crowds, walking briskly back to the temple. She was late enough and knew her partner and guardsmen were more than likely bickerly like small boys over trival things.

“Excuse me! Excuse me Ma’am!” the same voice from before bellowed over the talking of the people as she glanced behind her..to see him running to her, pushing people aside in hopes of catching her. Oh ra...not another crazy foreigner. Silver-blue orbs went wide with surprise as she stopped. Waiting for him. If she turned and ran, well..that would be rude.


“Do you mind if I follow you to the Temple of Ri? I some important business to attend to and I believe that the temple would be a great place to start.”he asked.

"Ri?...who the-" it dawned on her what he meant and her ringing of giggles echoed through the Baazar. She felt tears prickle her eyes as she wipped them away , cheeks flushed from the laughter. She smiled warmly and curtsied.

"First off sir, It is RA, R-Ahh" she corrected him, lifting her pointer finger with each pronounced letter,"Secondly, I shall take you there. I am High Priestess Selentha" she introduced her self.

This man would clearly be such a interesting hit with the others. She'd be the one more than likely showing him around or another priestess.

"We do not make sacrifices for just staying...so do not worry about that" she told him as she continued walking in the general direction of the temple.

[Heroceles]

"First off sir, It is RA, R-Ahh" she corrected him, pointing out his failure with her fingers, "Secondly, I shall take you there. I am High Priestess Selentha"

“I look like such a fool right now” he thought “I have been talking to a religious leader the whole time and I didn’t even know it! I should have known that from her clothes… guess is was to busy looking at something else…”

“Thank you very much High Priestess… Selentha was it? Thank you very much, but I have to do just one thing before we continue to the Temple of Ra-Ahh” he felt slightly embarrassed at his inability to pronounce the name of one of their Gods. He would have felt very angry if she had mispronounced his. “Always something new to learn…” he concluded.

And with that, he dropped his bag on the ground, opened it up wide and began to withdraw the necessary items. First, he needed to put on his breast- and back-plate. Although these had some dents and dings, they were flawlessly polished and every dent reminded him of how luck he was to have had quality armor made for him. Next were his bronze arm guards, and these were worse for wear, but these were unique in that they’re far more scratched. Some of them looked like they were sliced, but other looked almost like animal bites… Next came the shin guards, bronze and polished to a high sheen, these had helped in keeping the painful, but not quite deadly, blows to his lower legs at bay. “But if you take out a giants legs, he is only a stump” he quickly reminded himself. Then came his metal and leather skirt, a piece of armor he valued not because of its value, but because of the valuable objects it protected. Next was his short sword. Fashioned out of the finest bronze available in all of Greece, this sword shined the most radiant golden color outside of actual gold. He shifted his dagger to his left side and tied the holster’s strap around his waist like a man of much experience. Finally, the last item to come out of the bag was his war helmet. A polish brass helm that reached al the way to his neck and a bright red plume of feathers stuck out from the top, indicating that he was a member of the General’s staff. He chooses not to don this piece of equipment and decided to carry it under his right arm.

He looks like a proper solider now.

Closing his bag, he heaved it up on his shoulder, now much lighter then before, and proceeded to walk towards his new highly informed, highly respected guide.

“Now, that’s a lot better. I am all ready to go High Priestess, when you are ready.”

[Selentha]

"Thank you very much High Priestess… Selentha was it? Thank you very much, but I have to do just one thing before we continue to the Temple of Ra-Ahh”Selentha smiled and giggled again at how he said the God's name. He'll catch on in due time. She realized he stopped a few feet back as she turned to look back and wonder what made him stop.

"Oh dear..." her eyes went wide, a blush burning her cheeks as she toughed her parted lips in a small look of shock as he dressed in his armor and weaponry held in peace.

People around them whispered in each other's eachs, pointing at the display of his armor and unique way of dressing....in public. She stared gawkly at him, wondering if this was common back where he resided. She knew he must have been someone of high ranking atleast.The sunlight glinted off the armor, reflecting her own apperance. Ra she needed to bathe later...or atleast do something. She looked dirty, thanks to bumping into him.
He closed his bag back up, holding it over one broad shoulder, the other arm holding his helmet at his side.

"Now, that’s a lot better. I am all ready to go High Priestess, when you are ready.”
He replied.

Selentha sighed softly, did he need to dress so formally and so publically. It was like he was beckoning the people to talk amongst themselves. Her cheeks were pink as she coughed.

"Alright then. Follow me...sir. But do warn me before you..um...dress again so publically.." she softly said, glancing over to look at him. She knew that she had to go back and more than likely dress more appropriately as well. She sighed again.

[Heroceles]

"Alright then. Follow me...sir. But do warn me before you..um...dress again so publically."

Then the two of them casually walked to the temple, they passed many, many vendors. Some appeared to be selling the same things he had seen in High Priestess Selentha’s basket, others appeared to be trading goods that had come from Greece, and still others sold some of the strangest and oddest looking things that Heroceles had ever seen. One vendor had clothing for sale that was so light and flexible and comfortable, but was a durable as any wool or hind. This vendor called this material “cotton” and said it grew along the river. Intrigued, Heroceles took note to acquire so of this amazing material on his next trip to this wonderful market. Another vendor appeared to be selling long white horns. This vendor claimed that these came from an animal far up the river and it was the hardest substance you could own, except for bronze. All of these amazing goods, all in one place. Surely this had to be the biggest market in the entire world, what other could match its extravagance? Heroceles made many notes on his trip through the market, mostly to return to purchase some of these items, when he acquired some gold, of course…

But, the entire time, Heroceles was think about only one thing, ”What was that supposed to mean? I didn’t get naked, I just put on armor, you would think they would have seen a man put on armor before. And why are they all staring at me. Ohh, they probably have never seen such shiny armor. They must all be jealous…”

And after much ego stroking, which was not included due to its pompous nature, Heroceles and High Priestess Selentha arrived at a monolithic structure.

“What in the name of Zeus?” he muttered. He had never seen such an extravagant temple. Not even the Parthenon had this scale to it. He was surrounded by one of the greatest engineering feats of mankind. “That is a very, very large building” was all he had to say.

[Selentha]

Selentha greeted people as they passed, each bowing curtiously to her as she smiled and waved.

Her pink lips formed a smile, the temple grew larger as they drew closer to their destination. She heaved a sigh, stopping at the steps of the temple. She bowed to the temple then turned to the man.

"I humbly welcome you to the Temple of Ra...I am High Priestess Selentha, once again." she smiled warmly

“What in the name of Zeus?”he muttered, his eyes travelling up the stairs to stare into the vastness of glory Ra displayed.

"Ra is our Sun god, he brings us light and is very important to us.." she explained shortly, "Come, we shall have lots to do.."






CLOSED

END: And so it begins...