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bear with me - I’m striking a compromise between the winning votes in a way that protects player options
The competing Phocians continue to bellow at one another (from a safe distance), flecks of spittle dribbling from their respective mouths. If Hyperenor was not wearing his undersized panoplia, tightly strapped over his gut, and waving the divinely-wrought kopis, you’d have some difficulty telling him apart from Sabas. You frown in disgust under your brazen helm - these men are swaggering louts, upjumped commoners. You cringe in secondhand embarassment as Sabas stumbles on a small rock, just as he attempts to further impugn Hyperenor's manful dignity...
It seems clear that your intervention will be needed - the idiots will stand and shout all day long without progress. You take in your surroundings - the two enemy camps, the sparsely-vegetated ridgeline, the bright blue of the sky above. Towering Parnassus, with a wispy crown, looming over all present… all awaiting your decision, it seems.
<span class="mu-i">“SILENCE!”</span> you belt, an awed hush coming over the ridge. You hear your distorted voice bouncing back from Parnassus’ flank - all present will hear you well, should you raise your voice to a general's shout:
“Allegations of kin-slaying have made by you, Sabas, and by you also, Hyperenor!” You punctuate these remarks with a pointed spear-tip at each man - they stand rigidly, awaiting your dictat.
“Such allegations can only be resolved by kings or gods - alas, there are only princes present. Therefore, we must resolve this question as best as we can. In noble Argos, such claims can be adjudicated by force of arms - the gods will determine the truth of such claims, by determining the victor…”
Murmuring begins from the soldiers - they know where this is heading. You play to the crowd now, with exaggerated gestures, so that your motions are seen clearly:
“Sabas, Hyperenor - if either of hope to win your kingship, you must do so first by the strength of your arms, TODAY! I, Hippomedon, mightiest prince of Argos - call upon YOU - settle this matter in a duel NOW - this is the most honorable way to proceed. If you cannot stomach such manful contest - then let each of you select twenty of your best men, and have it out, right here! And if your courage shrinks from even this - if you are WEAK-KNEED like women - then send your loyal men to do what you cannot, and let us determine the king of Siciunt by bloody battle - Βροτολοιγος Ares will crown a king this day!"
>cont
