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Finally, as you descend from the northern hills of Parnassus onto the Phocian plains, you elect to retain the kopis. The weapon is simply too useful to give up; you keep the weapon hidden in your belt-sheath, and your bronze sword stowed within the car of your chariot. As you ride closer to your destination, you are surprised by the amount of traffic on the road. You had imagined that this corner of Phocis would be a sleepy backwater, but vagrants, musicians, priests and men of an undeniably athletic bent are beginning to bunch up along the roads, all traveling north. A pleasant attitude is in the air – the men chant songs, all in high spirits, and traveling bands merge together in a friendly manner.
Your presence is noted warily – news of your previous business with Sabas and Hyperenor has spread quickly, as only rumor can. You do manage to make conversation with several of these bands, learning that your journey is coinciding with an athletic competition in Trachis. Several stocky young men with clubs, all claiming to be “priests of Heracles”, inform you that the king there, Eurykratides, styles himself as Heracles' first and greatest devotee. Some years previous, he had hosted a “Oetian Games”, ostensibly on the twelfth year since Heracles’ ascension to Olympus – although, doing the math, you’re not sure that Eurykratides has his dates correct. Nonetheless, the same muscular priests inform you that it is now the twelfth anniversary of the last event, and Eurykratides has promised generous gifts for the victors of this second competition, inviting the men of Phocis, Boeotia and other neighboring regions to compete.
Suffice it to say – you’ve never heard of these games, although with so many smaller athletic events are happening all over Hellas, no one can keep track of them all. The sheer number of travelers tells you that this Eurykratides must be offering significant rewards; you even bump into a Lacedamonian man who claims that Pollux, son of Zeus himself, will be attending to honor his half-brother’s achievements. You have to admit to yourself – a prize enough to draw one of the sons of Zeus is certainly worthy of your attentions.
Of course, you cannot forget your original purpose – to return the “Phocian Thief’s Ring” to its rightful owner – or at least determine who it once belonged to. Over the course of the next day, the plains begin to rise once more, as Mount Oeta comes into view; Trachis reveals itself to be a medium-sized city, unwalled, that is nearly bursting at the seams. Thousands are camped outside the city proper in tents of hide, with colorful banners of all types waving in the breeze. Of course, you will be staying in the “Royal Palace” of this place – meeting with Eurykratides is your first order of business.
You wonder what sort of man would style himself as “first priest of Heracles”, as you pass through the main thoroughfare…
