Prologue: A Mysterious Message

A courier delivers a sealed capsa to Gundus Tavius at the Temple of Turas. Inside is a rolled scroll set.



Gundus soon learns that the written message is from his former commanding officer, Calus Eramus Andra.

Gundus was attached to Eramus's contubernium as kyrazenus, during many months of field training a little more than a year ago. At that time, Eramus was a centurion, commander of 80+ legionnaires, in the 7th Legion of the Imperial Army. The two men had become friends, working together in rugged and austere conditions.

Gundus knows Calus Eramus as a proud Auran of respected Tirenean stock, who maintains all the old Empyrean Rituals. Though hot-tempered and intimidating at times, Eramus is a bold warrior and a shrewd commander. Sluggard troops dreaded his discipline, but the high men on the line were increased by his strength.




Required Action - Red, Robago: Make a collective decision whether Gundus and Syrena are currently living and operating in or around (surrounding small towns, countryside, etc.) either 1) the capital city of Aura, or 2) the southern border city of Amanuctum.

Xenophon Pyrrhosides is at a small camp with a few troops on the outskirts when a city man approaches. He has the look of a scribner or praeco.



The robed man takes a calm but official stance and proclaims, "Ius, I am a Commissioned Speaker sent to relay a message to Xenophon Pyrrhosides."

After a quick confirmation, the Speaker continues. "The message is from a Landed Auran Nobirus of High Standing, Calus Eramus Andra, Castellan, 3rd Imperial Legion. It is by the request of my Benefactor that the message be proclaimed to you in private. Shall we relocate to an alternative setting?"

Xenophon does not reveal his curiosity, but he wonders.

Calus Eramus was a commanding Centurion when 7th Legion troops fought alongside of Strabo's Seawolf Company in the spring of 379. Xenophon remembers Eramus's valor in the skirmishes against the Celdoreans in the Syrnasos.

But the 3rd Legion is in Amanuctum. And Castellan? Eramus must be climbing the ranks - that is not surprising - but what would the Commander need that would call for sending the message in this irregular manner?Required Action, Len: Decide where Xenophon is currently residing / operating, either in Kourithos or Amanuctum, when he receives the message from Eramus.

Required Action, Len: Decide which force was Xenophon serving in during Spring 379, during the Syrnasos skirmishes against Celdoreans. Was it the 7th Imperial Legion or Strabo's Seawolf Company? The first is self-explanatory, a regimented military unit under ultimate command of the Auran Taurkan (Nicea is still a province of the Auran Empire now). The second is a mercenary group.
Either scenario can work. I know Xenophon is a sellsword now, but was he always? Or does he have some formal military background previous?

Required Action, CB: Decide where Gennadius has been participating in the gladiator arena games: in the capital city of Aura or in Amanactum in the south?

Syrena walks into Dorinic after several days in the hills. She takes a hot meal at Mare Rufus House.



In short time, Angus Tapkin enters the common room and sits down with her.



Syrena is cautious. She knows Tapkin is a pireus of the Packers' Guild.

Gennadius had a decision to make. One path might leave him in poverty. The other path might leave him dead.

Since arriving to Amanuctum a month ago, he had only participated in two bouts. He had survived both of them by the narrowest of margins.

And the fact that he WASN'T killed seemed to come at the frustration of both the Harvest Colosseum crowd and the Headmaster of Death, Barracus.



"No more Work Matches, skinny. We run Death Matches here at The Harvest," Barracus had threatened. "You come back tomorrow, you put your worthless life on the line. If you sick-snake out of another bout, I'll kill you myself."

Gennadius had departed from Aura to see the world, and perhaps escape the increasing deadliness of the games in The Capital. He had heard from travelers that the games in Amanuctum were more of a mix of sport games. Those rumors had turned out to be wrong.

This arena was filled with Kemeshi, Skysos, Dwarves, and worse. Just the previous night, one of the Jutlander captives had broken from his chains. He went on to kill two overseers and seven other slaves before being run through himself.

In truth, it was more accurate that Gennadius had jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

But knowing so few people in the city, Gennadius had been unable to find steady work. And here, derelicts and loafers were often taken off the streets, either gang pressed into work camps or perhaps worse. The gladiator matches were a terrible risk, but they paid well enough for a win. Without fighting, what would he do to stay off of the streets?

Gennadius had tried his hand (and voice) at oration and epic story-telling, to some success. But not without the harassment of other street performers. Several had approached him to take part of his earnings, and even threatened to bring a gang against him to protect their turf. Every time he camped in the common parks, he feared that he would get robbed if he slept.

Now on the evening after the confrontation by Barracus, Gennadius tries again to get the attention of the departing crowd as they stroll out from the stadium.

This night he performs a few stanzas of the Comedy of Horsofos, hoping to lighten his own spirits and claim a few coins from the more generous patrons.

During the performance Gennadius notices a hulking man in the crowd belting out heavy laughter at every joke.



The man is a Titan! - standing head and shoulders above the next tallest in the crowd.

The giant continues to laugh at every turn in the story, even at some points that are not even intended to be funny. Gennadius remembers that he had seen and heard the man in the crowd on a few previous street performances.

When the Story is finished, the dwindling crowd has mostly been dispersed by the competing street performers lurking around on the darkening edges of the alleys and clutter. They look menacingly at Gennadius, but he also notices that they look on fearfully at the big man in the crowd.

Gennadius claps Braus on the shoulder and risks a furtive glance at the gang of street people. "Now that sounds like a deal, my big man! Which way to Gulleyloft? This way?" he starts walking before Braus can even indicate.

"Oh this way!" As he pivots a 180°, "Walk with me. You'll have to tell me all about what a Packer does, I'm quite sure it's less or little to do with filling crates, but before that, my good man, there is the issue of your name! "Braus" has a good ring to it, why it conjures giant men such as yourself, but it hardly commands the respect a good family name brings! Brausludwig is a fine name, a FINE name! It carries honor and strength! Why would you command only half that honor when CLEARLY you can command as much honor as you so choose!? You are quite powerfully built, sir Brausludwig! And I can appreciate the fine work that Packer men such as yourself do, whatever that may be, and you'll fill me in on the details as we go, but you also have the air about you of a man that can handle himself and take hold of the full honor of your family name. Why, few would care to tangle with a man that is clearly half giant! Have I told you I'm a fighting man myself? It sort of looks like running away, but I'm quite good at it and haven't lost a match in the arena yet! Why...

Gennadius' voice continues on with a non-stop torrent, fading from the ears of the gang as the two make their way down the street.

Many questions swim through Xenophon's mind when he hears the message.

Most of all, why was Castellan Eramus working with the Packers' Guild?

It was not every day that a man would cross paths with the top 2 bosses of the most powerful and dangerous criminal gang of the Menir Fons underworld.

Yet Xenophon was directed to the care of Dameon Korith in Kourithos and Glais Danarovus in Amanuctum.

And to meet a priest?!

What sort of job offer was this?