>>5623297This dinner is a good time to begin making inroads with the Telamonians. Realistically, Ajax is the true ally you want- heir to his father’s position as king and protector of the south, cousin to Achilles, and perhaps the most important de facto vassal of the house of Atreus. However, Ajax is also a man whose status in terms of both kleos and timae vastly outstrips yours. He is a genuine war hero, a student of Chiron, a master of estates and armies which are massive in comparison with yours. Unlike with the various Atreids or Achilles, each of whom had good reason to associate with you despite this difference in prestige, Ajax cannot be expected to demonstrate much in the way of interest in a minor northern noble.
The same cannot be said for his younger half-brother. Teukros, as a bastard to an important king, is rather close to you (a legitimate head-of-house, albeit of minimal status) in terms of social status. Yet based on what Palamedes told you, he could be a valuable ally to have on this diplomatic trip. Further, he may even present an easier in with his more important kin. So, you decide you will speak to him.
“Hail, son of Telamon and Hesione. I am Nikandros, son of Hippomedon the Argive. I will be sailing alongside you to sacred Ilion.”
Teukros, mid-bite into a piece of steak, takes a quick moment to swallow down the flesh with some wine. It seems he was not anticipating any address.
“Excuse me. It is a pleasure, Hippomedion, to make your acquaintance. But how do you know my heritage? It is no matter of public knowledge.” The question is fair. Teukros is not a famous man by any stretch of the imagination. You decide to tell a version of the truth, albeit one amended to exclude a certain Euboean prince.
“I learned it in the royal archive of genealogies. Would you happen to know Luwian, the language of our foes?” He answers quickly, prefacing his reply with words in a strange tongue which sounds so much like your own that you <span class="mu-i">feel</span> that you should be able to comprehend him even as you fail to.
“<span class="mu-i">Dat doe ik, mijn wijze kerel</span>. By way of my mother, Nikandros. Although to hear her tell it, my fluency in her first tongue is not up to par.”
So, you’ve established the accuracy of Palamedes’ hypothesis. You notice that in the course of this exchange Telamon has transitioned to speaking with his older son. Menelaus, in turn, has now been engaged by both Palamedes and Odysseus. You’re about a third of the way through the dinner. What now?
>Carry on speaking with Teukros. Ask him about… (What? You could ask him about his role in the household, or what he did during the second invasion of the Heraclidae, or about his thoughts on the situation with Ilion, or whatever you want. If you want two topics that will take up the remainder of the dinner.)>Turn your attention to someone else (either of the Dioscuri, one of the unknown other noblemen at the table? Will initiate a subvote about what.)