Quoted By:
You turn over Castor’s words in your mind – the man has decades of insight into the machinations of power in the Aegean, and you have no doubt his blunt assessment is a true one. “Strange to think that so many nations and kingdoms should live or die by the marriage of a single woman,” you finally reply.
Castor looks at you, eyes unreadable, before responding –
“You have it backwards, Nikandros. My sister Helen will live or die by the marriage between nations and kingdoms.”
With this, he leaves you to consider his words – and you do, wrestling with their meaning. What do you really know of the Oath of Tyndareus, organized by Odysseus and Agamemnon? All of Hellas knows the broad terms of the arrangement, but you know almost nothing of how it was actually negotiated, and for what reasons. The more you learn of the politics of Hellas, the more you feel that you have stumbled ignorantly into the middle of a conversation between elders – there is much that you do not yet understand.
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After weeks at sea, you are at home among the cramped accommodations of the Salaminian galley - wine-dark Ποντος rocking you to sleep during the nights, and boredom during the days. You have a chance to spend significant time with one of your crewmates - but who to select?
>Okay, players, I need one roll of dice+1d20 to determine naval transport speed. Higher is better here.
>As for Nikandros' actions, what do, /qst/?
>Spend time with Ajax. You'd be eager to learn of his opinion about Samos, Ilion and Mycenae. He may know more about the political affiliations of the Hellenic colonies that you are soon to pass. And there is that game of petteia that you owe him...
>Spend time with Teukros. At this point, company with the man is easy, relaxing, and pleasurable. You can count him a friend, true - but you will need to learn his goals, his motivations, as well, and this will take real discourse.
>Spend time with Pollux. What does the greater of the Dioscuri know of the Oath of Tyndareus? And that crack about your spearmanship cannot go undefended.
>Spend time with Castor. You realize that during your previous days with him, you never discussed your conversation with the deity on Delos, or of the message that was delivered to Castor from Hera. You were so busy learning about the methods of the pharmakis, these topics slipped your mind entirely.
>Spend time with the Salaminian sailors. Despite your shared time aboard, you have not struck up easy friendships with the men like Teukros has. Perhaps it's time to change this!
>Rest your mind, sleep well, and make another attempt at recuperation, to clear the last vestiges of fog from your mind. Please note that Nikon's concussion will fade naturally by the time he reaches Troy, but by selecting this option, Nikon gains the chance to remove his FADING CONCUSSION trait by two "roll-under" CON challenges.
>Something else?
