Quoted By:
The next day and a half are spent in discourse with Palamedes, a man trained in many methods of artifice and construction. His depth of knowledge, you suspect, may even rival Odysseus’, although Palamedes certainly does not share Laertides' talent for self-promotion. The Euboean seems relieved to share his knowledge with someone, and proudly reveals his set of master craftsman’s tools, complete with various sets of hammers and chisels. You learn a considerable amount from him regarding stonework, sculpting (you practice the very basics of chiseling on the galley’s enormous ballaststone), and even learn some simple mathematics as they relate to civil engineering. Palemedes is not disheartened when he learns of your illiteracy; he instead provides you some useful mnemonics to prompt easy recollection of the relevant ratios.
As for Odysseus, he attempts to join in your educational talks several times, but given that he is already quite familiar with the principles and information being discussed, he is quick to lose patience and depart once again. He does a poor job hiding his irritation, after the third attempt, when he must finally realize that your interest is not a passing curiosity or some clever ruse - that you <span class="mu-i">DO</span> truly intend to listen to Palamedes‘ exhaustive review of the methods of stone wall construction...
Your time with Palamedes culminates in the creation of a small figurine - the Nauplian prince is kind enough to donate to you a fist-sized cube of limestone, and so you spend several hours chipping away at it until you have a crude soldier - or at least, you have the roughly-developed outlines of one. Palamedes offers some blunt critiques of your progress, but you’re oddly fond of the little soldier despite his blocky and ill-formed shape. Palamedes additionally offers to provide you with further instruction, which is a bit surprising to you - until you consider that he might prefer to be accompanied by a friendly giant as much as possible. No doubt he is aware of Odysseus’ wrath, just as you are – he must realize that Odysseus will eventually seek vengeance.
Once halfway completed, you stash your figurine into your traveling chest, besides the carefully-hidden vials of nepenthe, and your small bag of gold and silver talents. It would take even more time to etch the finer details of the stone figure’s face and panoplia, and you have more important business to attend to – the cheering on the main deck suggests that the docks of Ilion are within sight!
>Nikandros gains a “Crude Stone Soldier”!
>Nikandros unlocks the [PETRAMECHANOS] trait through his contact with Palamedes!
>cont