IC Story Thread: The Call of Apollo

She giggles and a smile splits her lips for just a moment. The sound of it is light and distant and icey as it echoes around the chamber... It makes the room seen more cavernous than it is, "I didn't call for you..."

Ageisdomas wordless takes in the surroundings then as the other man speaks he simply puts his words to action. He steps forward removing his sword in sheath and takes a knee before the female laying his sword cross-wise between them and then bows his head awaiting the directions that would be forth coming.

At her comment Ageisdomas softly says without raising his head, "No called by Apollo but you appear to be his spokesperson here or you are at least aware of him calling us. Do you have a word from Apollo?"

Pagoni looks at Dio and just shrugs, thinking to himself "This may be a good time to keep my mouth shut for once"

It's a more throaty laugh this time that bubbles up... "Well, actually...", she begins, feigning peevishness, "... it was Hermes who called upon you... who knows how long it would have taken you goats to notice that silly sun-ray otherwise...", she wrinkles her nose in soundless mirth at her own words.

Then she sighs a withering sigh, "Ahhhhhh... But, yes... it was our ~God of the Sun!~...", she says the title in an overly-dramatic fashion and flourishes her hands and fingers at the sky, "...who bade him make the summons..."

She sways a little bit on her stool, "A-a-anyway...", she pauses, swirling her finger around the rim of the bowl again, tilting her head and gazing into it, "So, eager to know of their fate...", she mutters distantly to... someone? Then looks up under lidded eyes, "Ver-r-ry well... you are here because a dark future has been foreseen... For man and for god, alike. Someone... is working to return the Titans, and their machinations, to the realm of man...", she sways in her seat some more and draws a deep breath in through her nose, then takes you all in again with more piercing eyes.

"Do you know... what the Titans are?"

Charisteas shudders.

"I mean...my grandmother used to tell us tales of them...the first gods she called them. But they were banished..."

Ageisdomas listened to the information being shared wondering what purpose he was to serve. Why would anyone want to reinstate the gods of ole, their were displaced due to being terrible leaders. Upon being asked and without moving Ageisdomas recites his teachings, "The Titans were the gods in power prior to Zeus and the rest of the Olympians, who are the children of those Titans. Further some of these Titans, but not all, have been imprisoned by Zeus after their great war most notable Cronus their leader. Some of the Titans died in the great war while still others actually fought on Zeus's side while others just simply stayed out of the fight altogether."

"I know a good story when I hear one, and this is epic." Pagoni flourishes with his hands as if setting the stage: "Trying to stop the titans from returning before they can continue their reign of terror. But there's a plot hole, who would be so foolish as to bring the titans, and why?

"The ancient ones..." Capaneus whispers, then looks at Pagoni, "Yes, what madness might possess somebody to try to bring them back to this realm? Mankind would never survive such terror! Tell us, woman. Tell us what we may do to stop this from coming to pass!"

She nods along as you all speak, eyes nearly closing, "Mmm, yesss... so you all can see the trouble... The titans are beings from an era before mankind. They are creatures of power and dominion... and desire. Too close to Chaos that spawned them...

Our world... the world of man and the world of the Olympian... would not survive the return of the titan!", she pauses again, inhaling deeply through her nose.

"As for who... mmm... Alas!", she places the back of her hand to her forehead and flutters her eyelashes, swooning, "...prophecy cannot reveal all.

But I do know that it has already begun..."

Charisteas looks at the oracle dumbfounded. "Who would even want to do such a thing?" The Pythian Games And the lure of victory is a million miles away, the man who coveted those things has vanished. In his stead, a determined young man with sense of renewed purpose is standing, a steely resolve in his eyes. "THIS is my calling."

What do we need to do?

"Well, you must stop them, of course...", she says dreamily, smiling sweetly.

"The gods have seen, in each of you, abilities necessary to overcome this dark future.

They have seen, in you, potential. And will...

An-n-nd they have provided us with some aid...

There will be great danger, and toil, and sorrow in your future. This is foreseen, and it will occur, whether or not you accept this fight as yours. So... do you accept it?"

Ageisdomas replies, "My blade and my body are Apollo's"

"What use is there to fight fate, I will serve"

Charisteas drops to a knee

"It is not a mortal's place to question the gods!" Capaneus kneels as well, "What aid to you speak of, oracle?"

"Poseidon has commanded the potamoi - the river gods - to transport you to the locations of the titans when and once they are discovered...

And we have discovered one such location already. In the Calydon region of Aetolia... there is a great and dire boar! Abrastamos it has been named! And it has trampled into the ground the fortress of Calydon, and ravaged the fields and vineyards of the area, slaying many men...

But very little is known about Abrastamos aside from that it is seemingly invulnerable to the attacks of man.

The potamoi will take you to the banks of the river Evinos outside what remains of the city, and you must discover how the dire boar might be defeated... and then you must slay Abrastamos!"

Charisteas can’t help but look a little shaken at how fast his life is upended. He thinks for a second before speaking again.

"But wait...if he’s invulnerable to the attacks of man...what chance do we have?"

The Oracle draws in a slow breath as if she's about to say something, but then let's it out again before pausing and only then speaking.

"Mmmm, a very small one, it would seem...

But this is why you must first seek to learn of your foe. The Calydonians may know more. Surely whoever created it must know things... if you can find them. And just studying the beast yourselves may reveal something.

You are the Chosen! Trust in your abilities, use the gifts the gods have given you... Be the Heroes that our land needs!"

"I accept these tasks and my fate." Ageisdomas picks up his sword by the sheath just below the haft and stands all in one fluid motion. He reattached his sword then looking at the lady simply says, "Thank you." He then turns and heads out of the room saying, "To the river and our destiny."

"From the time I suckled breasts I've been destined for such. Modesty holds no quarter for the gods' chosen! Let us rise and meet our destiny. To the river! To Abrastamos's grave! Come, fellow chosen! Come and meet your fate!" Capaneus stands and follows Ageisdomas.

"Thank you m’lady". Charisteas turns on his heels and follow the other two men out of the room.