The shoe drops.Polycrates is still with the guards, and he is being as unhelpful as he can.
'I understand you've arrested Dipthis and Crabia,' you say.
'And others. Your friend Lactris is in trouble too. I was hoping Psyche was going to have it out with him, but you seem to have defused that particular situation.' For the first time, his manner lightens a shade.'What is your interest in these traitors?'
You have a sinking feeling. 'I want them released.'
'Oh, is that all?'
'Please, Polycrates.' It is not going to work.
'All right.' Polycrates draws you away.
'All right?' You are as surprised as you have ever been. 'What's the catch?'
'You must kill Kremton.'
'I don't understand,' you say.
'Then listen. Minos is an effective king, who gives me the power I need. But he is not immortal, and when he dies Kremton will be king. I cannot imagine Crete surviving for a year after that. Can you?'
'I suppose not.'
'Well then. If you kill Kremton today, that removes the... danger.'
'And leaves what? Ariadne?'
'Ariadne I could rule without difficulty, if it became necessary... But all this is idle speculation. You want a favour from me: you'll have to do one in return, first. It's your decision: we'll see how you decide in the fight.'
I assume we take the divine sword and breastplate, lmk if you think differently.In your room you sit and wait, anxiety gnawing at your stomach like rot at the base of a mighty tree, which crashes to the ground in the forest. Two guards come to collect you and take you to the temple. You have time to conceal one weapon and one piece of armor about your person, as well as any number of miscellaneous items. On your Chronicle Sheet, bracket off the arms and armour you leave behind, as you may be able to recover them later
In the temple, cunningly wrought iron braziers burn with heady incense. A drum throbs out a slow intoxicating beat. On the altar are an amphora of water and a bowl of grain, as in a normal ceremony of Demeter, but also a beheaded heron. It is clear that this is the fashion in which the Cretans worship the Earth Mother, an obscene twisted parody of a celebration of life, growth and fertility.
Pangryon, the High Priest, is officiating at the altar. There are guards on all the doors. The rest of the court are grouped in a half circle around the altar. The seven youths and seven maidens are in a huddle of their own, under heavy guard. They stare at you reproachfully and you wink at them with a confidence you do not feel.
'Lady Demeter,' intones Pangryon, 'we are met here at this time to celebrate your festival. Now two strong youths are to battle in your honour. Let the contestants stand forward.'
Opris takes your tunic and pats you reassuringly on the shoulder. Ariadne, from the other side of the temple, blows you a kiss, and you look at her in surprise. Kremton, too, has stripped to his loincloth, and is striding around the ring slapping his belly with the air of a master fighter. You step into the ring.
Kremton's in great shape, but a predictable fighter. So, any preferred strategy for the fight? And when it comes down to it, do we go for the knock-out, or the kill?
The pankration, or boxing-match, is handled by you the player. On a piece of paper write down your Endurance, and Kremton's which is 50. Combat takes place as a series of punches. Each boxer continues to box until he is blocked, when his opponent takes over.
To punch, choose a target area (head, groin, or body) and roll a die to see if Kremton is defending it (see table). If he is not, you subtract from his Endurance an amount of damage corresponding to the area struck: a body blow does 1 damage, a groin hit does 2 damage, a head punch does 3 damage. If he is defending the correct area, the blow does no damage and he takes over. You decide which area to block, then roll the die to see which he is attacking.
1: Attacks head, defends body.
2-3: Attacks groin, defends groin.
4-6: Attacks body, defends head.
If your Endurance falls to 0 or below, you are dead and Zeus will not save you. If Kremton's Endurance falls to 0, he is unconscious. If Kremton's Endurance falls below 0, he is dead.
Altheus the Adventurous, Son of Aegeus
MIGHT: 8 (4 Natural +4 Divine Sword)
PROTECTION: 14 (10 Natural +4 Divine Breastplate)
HONOUR: 18
SHAME: 9
ENDURANCE: 37
INTELLIGENCE: 4
Possessions
Mother's Gem
Ball of Wool
Small Golden Bull
Divine Breastplate (Protection 4/6*)
Divine Sword (Might 4/6*)
[Secreted: Rusty Helmet (Protection 2), Greaves (Protection 1), Shield (Protection 2), Harpoon (Might 3), Divine Shield (Protection 4/6*)]
The Gods
Zeus (Listening)
Aphrodite (Patron)
Asclepius (Favour)
Hera (Favour)
Athena (Favour)
Dionysus (Favour)
Hecate (Disfavour)
Hephaestus (Favour)
MIGHT: 8 (4 Natural +4 Divine Sword)
PROTECTION: 14 (10 Natural +4 Divine Breastplate)
HONOUR: 18
SHAME: 9
ENDURANCE: 37
INTELLIGENCE: 4
Possessions
Mother's Gem
Ball of Wool
Small Golden Bull
Divine Breastplate (Protection 4/6*)
Divine Sword (Might 4/6*)
[Secreted: Rusty Helmet (Protection 2), Greaves (Protection 1), Shield (Protection 2), Harpoon (Might 3), Divine Shield (Protection 4/6*)]
The Gods
Zeus (Listening)
Aphrodite (Patron)
Asclepius (Favour)
Hera (Favour)
Athena (Favour)
Dionysus (Favour)
Hecate (Disfavour)
Hephaestus (Favour)
