TROY - 1332B.C.E.

Upon Paris' return home with his new wife Helen, the proud city of Troy erupted into a month-long wedding celebration. The party ended when rumours of the Achaean cities banding together and launching a expeditiary force to reclaim Helen by any means neccessary.

Now a pall has fallen across Troy as the inhabitants prepare for the siege. Each new day brings new rumours of the oncoming army and the great generals. In every home makeshift shrines have been built to the gods. The sound of prayers and smoke from burt offerings fill the city. Strange cults have formed with adherants prophesizing the destruction of Troy or destruction of the Achaeans, or even the end of the world by various actions of the gods. Every person has their own opinion on the fate of the city and these theories are loudly debated in the wine-houses and public squares.

Priam rules the city with Hector leading the army aided by the cousins Sarpedon and Glaucus. Another hero has quickly risen in the ranks of the city's defenders - a foreigner calling himself Athanasios Ankhba Atreios who is said to match Hector in skill with the spear and surpass Sarpedon in battle lust.

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The evening finds Athanasios walking the ramparts with his companions Diokles and Epona. Looking out over the sea they watch a small ship race ahead of the wind towards the beach outside the city. The sail bears the rampant horse symol of Troy. Reaching the shore a group of men quickly jump off the ship and run to the city. Leading them is the priest Hutsgol and two of the others struggle to carry a large chest across the sandy and rock strewn ground.

Athan has seen Hutsgol in the company of Helen and Paris when the royals tour the city and he is said to be a special confidant of Helen's.

"Diokles. get some archers ready and see what happens. Me and Epona will go and check what that priest has brought. If I raise my arm in signal, fire at the group. I'll shield myself and Epona so don't worry. Then alarm the city." Athanasios gave the order to his second in command the moment he noticed the chest with Hustgol, and went with Epona down the ramparts.

"The time is almost here. I hope the defense improvements I discussed with the architects will be finished in time." He said to Epona as the young girl hurried after Athan. "I rather don't leave anything to chance, and that chest is suspicious. Could easily hold anything, or anyone with that size." The Hoplite commander thought how he wouldn't be surprised if the chest was still empty.

The greatest concern for Athanasios was that he was still unsure how true Helen's love for Paris is, and that risked all citizens of the city state. Having this priest he didn't recall of the stories meant a new factor he had to take consideration of. It was already a disadvantage that Troy had not enough time and resources to build a navy to rival that of Athens, so Athanasios focused on defenses and training, enlarging of the army.

Diplomacy was not part of his job, despite that, he hoped Hector listened and at least attempted to gather allies from other Anatolian cities. The Lydians, Phrygians and especially Suppiluliuma of the Hittites as they were the strongest now in the region, and honored their agreements. He had a voice as a commander now, but he worried Priam to be too arrogant himself to listen, but at least he had some chance to persuade them, unlike Cassandra.

"Too much can go wrong." Commander Atreios grumbled as they reached the shore. He took a casual stance after his rushed arrival at the shores, with the tip of his spear resting in the sand, but with shield prepared as he stepped before the priest's little group. "Hail there Hustgol, what are you and these men doing on this fine evening? Chest fishing? Hiding Menelaus in it?"

Epona stood somewhat further behind him, with her bow in hand but not readied.

Hustgol orders his men to stop their dash and the two carrying the chest lower it with obvious relief. The priest and his men slow the effects of many days at sea; they are filthy and salt-encrusted, hair greasy and wind-tossed.

Hustgol sneers at Atreios showing his stained and misaligned teeth.

"Step aside, commander, and do not interfere with what does not concern you."

"Oh, I will gladly step aside if this doesn't concern me. The safety of Troy concerns me greatly however." He replied to the priest as Athanasios watched the men Hustgol arrived with.

"Priest be reasonable and just open the chest. You and your men seem tired from a long journey and I won't care if you transport riches or even the ambrosia of the gods. I may even escort you myself to Paris or Helena so you don't get held up again, if you request it from me.  You're very likely to be held up a couple more times in the city unless a Trojan officer gives you support. You must admit it looks highly suspicious to see someone carry such a chest when rumors of war are around us." He took a quick glance at the city walls, fortifications. Which should make it clear to the priest they're being watched.

Commander Atreios didn't wish to become the priest's enemy, even though Hustgol was on his list of 'suspicious people'. He watched the few men who carried the chest until now relaxing without their burden, and smiled friendly. "At the gates I can also order a few men to help carry the chest after the inspection."

"And you must admit that it is highly suspicious to see a soldier leave his post when rumours of war are around us," the priest replies. "Go back to your walls and leave the servants of Paris to do their work as you serve under Hector."

He considers his options and turns to Epona before making his final decision. "What do you think, is there anything suspicious you see about the chest, or whatever it holds?" Epona tends to notice things he doesn't.

Epona nods at Atreios' question. "There is power there and it is something of importance."

The priest laughs "Of course it is important! Why else would I have been sent in a rush to Egypt to retrieve these objects and get them back before the Lacedaemonians and their allies arrive? Tend to you walls and leave matters of intellect to your bettors, soldier. Trust that you will given ample warning if any threat comes to your precious priestesses ."

He gestures to his men to resume carrying the trunk into the city.

"I decided." Commander Atreios speaks after a moment of consideration. "Show me what's inside the chest. Open it, now." He commands the men of the priest. "If Epona had not said anything I would've left you pass, but now as you also mentioned Egypt I can't take risks."

Athanasios turned the spear up and holds it in normal stance. "I'll report what I find to Hector and King Priam as well if required. You forget that you have no military rank Hutsgol while I'm an officer myself, but we both serve Troy and not only under one or another of Troia's leaders. If you wish you can complain about my inspection to Paris, I will gladly come with you if you wish. My offer still stands and you get more men to carry the chest."  

Looking for further disobedience in the eyes of the priest he continues. "I assume you still prefer to open the chest rather that to being a target of a volley of arrows." He checks if Diokles is in position. Athanasios then takes a more reconciliatory tone "I'm from Egypt, I might be more of an assitance than you assume a common soldier could be."

"If I have no military rank then I am not subject to any of your idiotic 'commands'," Atreios the priest sneers. "Sure, have me open the chest so all those on the walls can see inside and maybe, if you are lucky, one of the Athenian spies won't see what I carry. Already they know that the military is harassing the King's councilors; I am sure Agamemnon will be pleased by this information. Unless that is your plan? To eliminate those who prtect the royal family? To sell us out to the Lacedemonians when they arrive? OPen the gates to let them in and hand over Princess Helen to them?

"You are new to the city, are you not? Not even from the colonies but from another power. Why should we trust you?"

The sailors had dropped the chest when Athanasios raised his spear. Now at Hutsgol's gesture, they raise it up again but this time not as high as before.

"If you wish to continue to abandon you post then feel free to follow me and my people as we carry this burden through the city. Even up to the palace you can come, although I doubt the guards will let you inside."

He sighs. "My 'post' isn't on the walls, it is the protection of the city in all forms unless Hector or the king says otherwise. I just happened to inspect a portion of the walls when you arrived, and just as we've noticed you coming ashore others did probably as well, no one from a distance could se anything from a glimpse into the chest."

Commander Atreios first turns to Epona, ignoring most of the snarky remarks of the priest. "Go back and gather 6 or 8 stronger soldiers to help with the chest." Then he turns back to Hustgol. "You're right with one thing, this already took too long now, however I won't let you out of my sight. I'm coming with you to the palace, my second in command is enough to stay at the walls and continue the work. Then I'll report about this to Hector at the very least."

Taking a deep breath to calm himself down after Epona leaves he takes a better look at the priest. "I know you're a priest Hustgol, but not whom you're a priest of. Which god has the pleasure of being served by you?" Athanasios tries to place the man better, perhaps remembering him from a story.

"Let none of your bumbling fools touch this chest! It is only for me and my acolytes to bear this load. And to try and open it?" the priest giggles, "Well, that would be death to your soldiers."

The acolytes begin to trudge through the sand and rocks towards the city.

"I am a servant of all the great gods of Olympus and have made sacrifices to them but the temple of our father Zeus is where I perform most of my duties.

"And what of you, commander, which god do you worship? Phobos or Ares, I presume?"

Athanasios has heard rumours and stories about the Hustgol most involve him coming to Troy many years ago from Egypt and building a new temple to Zeus. As a high priest he became close to Priam's family and continues as an advisor to them. Other tales tell of secret rites and mysterious powers the man learned while traveling to the distant reaches of Persia and among the dark cults in Herat and Samarquand.

Commander Atreios watches Epona leaving and turns to the priest.

He considers his answer. Should he say Alexander? The mortal man won't even be born for a long time here, if at all. Serapis? Also unknown to someone like Hustgol despite the many temples and monasteries from his own Egypt. Ares? He's of the Atreios blood, Tantalos and Orestes, dynastic rulers of Sparta, should Athanasios say that instead? Agamemnon and Menelaus are alive here and now, that would cause confusion. On his grandmother's side he's blood of Heracles which would probably cause even more trouble. Should he mention the name of Mithra just to see the reaction of Hustgol? No, bad idea. "...I could also say I serve many gods as well by my very existence, but I guess all warriors serve Ares, though I only ever served and met a single god for certain personally and directly, and that is Anubis."

As he ponders the situation he steps closer to the chest. "I will have the soldiers escort you with me also join until you arrive safely at the palace. Paris and Hector will both get notified of your arrival with the chest. They will decide inside the palace if I shall stay when it gets opened or not. As you said we shouldn't argue here and get inside the city." This option allows at least certainty that Paris and Hector both truly get to know of the priest's arrival.

"...for now.." Commander Atreios watches the chest "...let's see how heavy the chest actually is, you belittle my strongest soldiers but I wonder how much I could lift it on my own. If it's lighter than expected I'll just carry it myself with you together to the palace. My soldiers and your acolytes can just go as escort around us then." He steps in and tries to lift the chest on his shoulder. If it is too heavy he can still share the weight with the acolytes, or leave it to them alone. Whatever happens the weight might reveal a new clue on what's in the chest.

The chest is damn heavy! It is also about 5 feet long and 2 feet tall so even getting it balanced is difficult for Athanasios. But he can carry it. The trip to the city is through much sand and uphill so he can expect to be hunched over and sweating profusely before reaching the palace. while moving it he can hear the rustle of papyrus and the shifting of stone slabs from within the box.

The acolytes grin and are happy to be relieved of their burden. Hustgol keeps his mocking smile.

Anubis, eh? I have seen the Jackal's mark upon your aura but few take such a burden on willingly. Let us hope you bring your god's blessing to our enemies and not our city."

He just nods in response without furhter arguing, as it seems Hustgol just loves arguments to begin with.

Athanasios is proud enough to not hand the chest back to the acolytes right away once he lifted it. He'll make an attempt to move steadfast and careful, and make an effort to not look overwhelmed by the weight.

He will carry it to the gates where as he ordered should 8 strong soldiers wait, and see if they can lift it. If not, then only there will Athanasion hand the chest back to acolytes. By his calculations that distance should be enough for him to sweat just at an 'acceptable level' without looking like a joke or exhausted horse. Then either the acolytes or soldiers will carry it to the palace, and both Paris and Hector, maybe even the King will be notified by the time they arrive.

Athanasios trudges under the weight of the chest while Hustgol makes comments all the way.

"Watch your step! Stay clear of that rock. Step lightly like a gazelle of the veld, not plodding like a hippopotamus out of the water! take care, those are delicate treasures in that box!"

At the gate wooden poles are attached to the chest and four of the guards begin to struggle with it through the winding roads of the city eventually reaching the palace compound gate. Many people come to ask for a blessing from the priest and he speaks with them as friends during the march.

The chest is placed down at the gate and the soldiers massage their tired arms and shoulders. One stretches his back and all can hear the cracking of his vertebrae.

"Next time call on Heracles to help carry this," he mutters to the priest.

Hustgol gestures to the palace guards and four of them come forward to carry the chest into the compound.

"The Temple of Zeus thanks you and your soldiers for their assistance," he says to Athanasios, "I will be sure to recommend you to your commander and the King."

From where he stands, Athanasios can see into the courtyard beyond the wall. The palace is a part of the city he has never been invited to enter.