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You gaze upon your own face dispassionately – the feral brown eyes of a predator, finely-hewn nose, and broad face. You are clearly handsome – but endless days in the training yard has made your face angular and sharp. Despite your years of military service and your record as a superior boxer, your face is generally unmarked and unscarred – you’re unbelievably quick for a man of your size, and you’ve dodged innumerable fists, spearbutts, elbows, knees and heads all seeking to damage your good looks – a scarce few have ever connected cleanly, and not with enough force to blemish permanently.
Ah, yes - you have seen many victories in the realm of athletics, and also on the battlefield – defending the hereditary domain of Talaus from threats both within and without. You have become a beloved nephew to unyielding King Adrastus, since the death of your own father, Aristomachus, and well-known in his royal court of Argos. Of course, this is partly due to the fact that Adrastus has no sons of his own; the nephews of such a man become elevated by necessity. Better than this though, you have become renowned across the Argolid as one of Argos’ great captains, a man who can thrust out his hands and tear victory away from his opponents upon the field of battle. Above all – you are known as one of the deadlist Argives to walk the face of Gaia Ευρυστερνος. As the legend of your deadliness has spread, King Adrastus has taken note. You have often silently accompanied him during discussions with rival kings – the embodiment of Argos’ strength.
>Hippomedon’s current KLEOS stat is 8! His fame is such that most Hellenes know of him and his achievements!
Satisfied with your self-assessment and the fighting condition of your men, you turn your attentions to your plan of travel. You have only just left your prince’s estates embedded within the forested swamplands of Lerna, and it’s less than two days ride to Argos proper – you plan to make extreme haste, if possible, although the muddy trails may sometimes hinder speedy travel by chariot.
Like all members of the Argive royal court, you pay close attention to the moods and whims of King Adrastus, as well as rumors and interesting news. For example, last autumn, there was a strange tale from neighboring Boeotia - some atrocity had come to light amongst the royal family of Thebes, and King Oedipus was said to have gouged out his own eyes before resigning his throne in shame. Months later, you learned from your aunt, Astynome, that the kingdom of Thebes was arranged to pass between the Theban princes, Polynices and Eteocles, on an alternating annual basis; a bizarre arrangement apparently meant to preserve comity amongst the Oedipal sons.
>cont