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You are Hippomedon Aristomachides, and you are satisfied with your progress, as night deepens and the stars begin to glimmer through Nyx’s shawl. You ride upon King Adrastus’ divine horse, Arion, through the Tegean countryside – a larger, finer, cleverer and faster steed you have never known. He is well-muscled, with clean proportions and a broad neck – his warm brown eyes dance with uncommon intelligence. Adrastus once claimed to hear the beast speak – a story taken seriously, given that the stallion was the product of a union between Poseidon Ἱππιος and his sister Demeter Καλλισφυρος; both were in equine form, if the myth is to be believed. Among other qualities, the god-horse is immortal, and was once gifted to Heracles himself. Before his divine ascension, Heracles had gifted the steed to your uncle, King Adrastus. From there, Adrastus has kept Hellas’ most valuable stud busy – nearly all of your uncle’s horses are descended from him in greater or lesser part. You are only of the only men of Argos who can take Arion out on loan; Adrastus was wise enough to grant your request without question.
>While riding Arion, Hippomedon enjoys a significant +4 bonus to any horse-related challenge, in addition to his regular +3 riding bonus from Gifted Athlete. WILL is the primary attribute for riding and charioteering, so Hippo’s total bonus is actually +8.
>Saddles, stirrups and other such things have not yet been invented in the LBA; mounted combat is generally not done.
Behind you rides your uncle Pronax, upon a large steed of lesser heritage, and behind him, the fifty men of your <span class="mu-i">Inachian Honorguard</span>. Yesterday, in the Trade Quarter of Argos, you had been convinced by your uncles, Mecisteus and Pronax, to conduct a cattle raid upon the estate of the southwesterly Tegean king, Agepenor. Of course, King Agapenor has been a friend to Argos for decades, and so this strike against his livelihood would normally be considered a major violation of ξενία. In most circumstances, the theft of two thousand cattle would <span class="mu-i">require</span> a prompt counter-raid from the victim, lest other unsavory Hellenes believe the victim to be too weak to sustain their holdings. In most cases, these raids and counter-raids might escalate into open war. Needless to say, Argos cannot afford a war to the southwest, not even a minor one - not while she marches on Thebes with nearly every spearman at her disposal. The raid upon Agepenor’s holdings, therefore, must be conducted with misdirection and secrecy, and upon a lesser target: the eastern estates of Agepenor’s youngest brother, Archigeiros. Among Argives, only yourself, your uncles Mecisteus and Pronax, and the men of your <span class="mu-i">Inachian Honorguard</span> know of the plot in order to provide Adrastus plausible deniability. In addition to this, you had suggested to conceal yourself as raiding Dorians, commanded by a pair of Heraclidae.
>cont