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Eagles of Alexandria: A Ptolemaic-era Scion Quest

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[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] Politely move on.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.
 
Jeeshadow said:
I understand why people are voting for the Phylakitai job but I am worried that us leading a unit of men older than us might not go well! Agent seems more of our wheel house imo.
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That's a fair concern. And some reasons that it'll be ok that we we're young is that we are likable, much easier to work for somebody if you like them regardless of age. Diligent should mean that we acclimate to our duties after we spend some time. And being empathic, being able to relate to other can be a real boon when forming connections with men you lead.

Creative can also benefit us in actually being good at our job as well.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
I'd rather hold out for a 'better' marriage, so to speak, but this feels more in character.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.
This seems like a job with a lot more freedom on how you go about it. There's no required quota, too much politicking, nor a strict military chain of command. Better on the conscience, plus its right up Apollonios' wheelhouse.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.

Yeah, agent seems more interesting.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] A granary manager to the city's southeast.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] a commandant of the Phylakitai (rural police) for a small settler town a day's ride to the east, near the city of Kanopos.
 
[X] Politely move on.
[X] a commandant of the Phylakitai (rural police) for a small settler town a day's ride to the east, near the city of Kanopos.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.

Seems she's connected to powerful people. We should probably just give it a shot? I hope the character verifies what they're telling. Deme is the local administrative division and her father is the highest civilian law enforcement in that area.

It'll probably get us involved in local politics as well. Cities have several demes, so I hope we look that up as well.

We've got a wildly influential job where we can use our rhetoric (as an epistates). A bit of a natural choice that one.
 
Voting closes 8-ish hours from now, at 1 P.M. EST, loving the turnout! Continuing the courtship and agent of the epistates are both comfortably leading.
 
[X] Politely move on.
[X] a commandant of the Phylakitai (rural police) for a small settler town a day's ride to the east, near the city of Kanopos.
 
[X] Call upon her again, when work allows it.
[X] An agent of the epistates of Naukratis.

Agent seems like an appropriate job for our skillset, unlike tax collection. As for waiting for a beneficial match, consider this: we're very low on the social totem pole and we're about to be sent off to deal with a lot of shady characters in the big city. Getting in good with the city's official skullcrackers and muckrakers may not seem glamorous, but it may well save our life down the line.

Besides, Artemidora is bae.
 
Sorry for the wait! Hopefully today or tomorrow. Busy-busy, end of semester and all. Also, to give you guys an idea of what's to come: given the sensitive nature of your new job and your deepening relationship with Artemidora, I'm going to dedicate the next few chapters to your first serious mission in the service of the epistates before having you come home to Alexandria, where you can hang with her more and make a decision on marriage. Cool? Cool!

In the meantime, I've updated "Map of the Kingdom's Heartland" and added two entries to the Encyclopedia, "Bureaucracy and the Provincial System" and "the Police and Policing." These will be relevant, so do your homework!
 
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Chapter IV: Empty Vessels
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    • Chapter IV: Empty Vessels
    CW: light xenophobia​

    Ripped away from your pleasant winter strolls with Artemidora -- now affectionately Artoula to you -- and Polias, you found yourself riding the ferry upriver once more to the polis of Naukratis, just after your twentieth birthday. You spent the day's travel watching the peasants seeding their fields along the Neilos, as both you and them alike suffered under drizzling rain and clouds of mosquitoes, while a drunk fellow traveler ran his mouth for hours on end. Herakleides' umbrella-fan and valiant attempts at conversation proved utterly in vain but, at last, you passed through Naukratis' gates just after nightfall.

    Billeted in a fine inn for the first few days of your stay, you learned quickly of the city's centuries-long history as a Hellene colony, populated mainly with the descendents of fellow Iones, and its role as an interchange between Hellas and the Eastern barbaroi. You met your new employer on your third day in the city, the Epistates Diodoros, who took to softening his tone and calling you "son" even as your beard finally grew out; "I've got a boy about your age," he'd say again and again. Otherwise, though, you thought him competent and kind enough, and learned of a reputation for incorruptibility.

    Your first three months of work were drudgery, and as the heat of the summer began to beat down upon the Delta you felt an anxiety rising in you. This is all an agent does? Run letters? Sit in on trials and take notes? Gather forfeited goods for auctions? It was scarcely better than the tax collecting job, your conscience perhaps the only part of you enjoying the change of pace. But you realized, in time, that it was simply all trust-building.

    One morning, as you reported to the magisterial office outside the polis for your daily duties, you found Diodoros joined by two men you'd never seen before, well-dressed and acting important.

    "Good day, son," said the Epistates, "pay your respects to the two gentlemen here: this is our Strategos and our Epistates Phylakiton."

    Your stomach dropped. The Strategos? What's going on? You nodded at the two deeply, taking care to not lapse into a submissive, Persikos-style bow. "Sirs," you said, trying to keep a poker face.

    The Strategos snorted. "You look like you're facing down a war elephas. Relax. You're not in any trouble," he said.

    "In fact," added Diodoros, "we're very lucky you've come along. You are just the boy we're looking for. Dorion, you've read the dispatches more than me," he said, nodding to the Epistates Phylakiton.

    "Right," he replied. "Six days ago, a barge containing fifty-five amphorae of quality, undiluted wine departed from a royal vineyard down by the coast, heading upriver bound for Arsinoe. Six phylakes, an oikonomos, and some oarsmen. And, three days ago, this barge came floating back down into Sais without a soul on board."

    He looked about ready to drop a punchline. Maybe you're too sensitive, you thought, but this is funny? They may be dead! Policing must harden the heart. "Save, of course, for the poor oikonomos, barely breathing with a cracked skull. Hasn't woken up yet, and a letter dated to yesterday says he's running a terrible fever. And those amphorae? Onboard, but empty. In short, we're looking at the murder of an official -- anyday now, at least -- and the theft of around, oh… Let's say twenty-thousand silver drachmas? Twenty-two, maybe?"

    More than three talents of silver. That's about thirty years' wages for a typical craftsman. More than you make in a year, too, for certain.

    "Not just that, but we've got three missing phylakes now, too; you see, later that day, the other three and the oarsmen come screeching into town on a commandeered wagon. The oarsmen usually leave the barge for the night to sleep in a boarding house, but the three phylakes had quite the interesting story. They said a peasant boy alerted them to banditry in progress, so three left with him and the other three stayed aboard with the oikonomos. When the investigators came back, the barge was unmoored, in sight but more than a dolichos away -- couldn't catch up. The three onboard men haven't turnt up, their wives and families claim they haven't heard from them. We're dredging that stretch of the river but nothing's come up."

    The Strategos' face soured. "Naturally, the oikonomos was -- is -- a Hellene and the phylakes and oarsmen Aigyptioi," prompting disdainful head-shakes from the epistatai.

    "Sounds like an inside job, sirs," you said.

    "Precisely, son, good work," said Diodoros, clearly unaware of his tone. "This is where you come in. Sais and the vineyard in question actually are outside of our jurisdiction, they're in the next nome over. However, their strategos has asked us to dispatch an investigatory team unrelated to his own men, given the sum involved and the fishiness of it all. People don't know your name and face yet, not to mention your age, no offense. It'll help you keep a low profile."

    The Epistates Phylakiton chimed in. "Your primary duty is to find our suspects and inform Sais' strategos. You may detain the three missing phylakes, should they turn up, but no one else. This is an information-gathering mission first. We're attaching two phylakes to come with you, for your protection. Skilled men, hand-picked by myself. One's an Aigyptios, but trustworthy -- you'll need an interpreter, and he's not two-faced like the rest of them. They're technically your subordinates, but they've been at this since they were seventeen so show some respect. And bring that slave of yours, too, they tell me he's burly. Don't want to turn out like our poor oikonomos."

    The Strategos gave you a firm dexiosis. "You'll leave tomorrow and return in a month at the latest, should you come up empty-handed. We're putting great trust in you, young man, we'll see how you do with some real work. Eutukei, and best of luck."

    "Thank you, sirs. It will be done."

    The following morning, you were introduced to the Hellene Sarapion and the Aigyptios Kollouthes, two tough-looking phylakes in their mid or late twenties.

    Sarapion looked at your new beard, still evening out after a few final months of patchiness, and smirked cruelly. "Sir… Are… Are those pigs' bristles and... tar? I didn't know we were going in disguise. Kollas left his wig and veil at home; he can howl just like one of the professionals!"

    Mourners? Prostitutes? What? What is with people? Can anybody take you seriously around here? This is awful.

    "Oh, give it a rest, Apophis consume you," barked Kollouthes, despite trying to repress the faintest of smiles. "A thousand apologies, sir, truly, please forgive him. You must understand: three months ago, we got attached to a fifteen-year-old tax collector -- I've never seen anything like it -- some Makedone's son, acting like a little basileios. Good at math, though."

    "I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of it," said Sarapion, his exacerbation growing. "Ever since the boy-king boiled his brother, the whole rotten --"

    Now Kollouthes was legitimately unamused. "Do not speak of Holy Pharaoh like that! Filthy rumors. You want the river to dry up or something?"

    By the Gods, what you'd do for some respect -- no, no, don't get like this. Beat them at their own game, like with the Twins way back. Or, wait -- pull a Polias! They probably respect physicality and coarse humor, like any soldier or guardsman.

    "You shouldn't count me out, gentlemen," you said, feigning a Makedonian accent and tilting your chin up in mock arrogance. You gestured at Sarapion. "So talented am I in the art of stealth that I ripped out this swine's ass hairs for my disguise without waking him, just before dawn this morning. You know something, Phylax Sarapion Kastorou? I ought to…"

    Time for the killing blow. In a sudden movement, you lunged forward and swung right towards Sarapion's appropriately piglike, fleshy nose. The phylax hopped back, hand reflexively on his dagger, a shocked expression on his face. You had pulled the punch by a good few inches, though, anyway. "Flinched!"

    "Dodged! Dodged," replied a now-laughing Sarapion. Kollouthes smiled and chuckled softly. "Alright, that was good," conceded the bigmouth.

    "Thank you very much," you said, a bit pleased with yourself. "I'm not here to be a tyrant. You're both more experienced, I know that, I respect that. But please, some manners."

    "I wanted to see if you'd report me to my commandant or the epistates. I'm happy you can take a joke, sir," said Sarapion, at last shaking your hand.

    "And dish them out too!" added Kollouthes.

    "A pleasure to meet you both." Probably? "I take it you two have been briefed?" The men nodded. "Perfect. Now, let's get down to business…"

    Plan time! I want to experiment with some more open-ended voting here -- if it works you'll see it more often and if not, you won't. Please submit a plan containing three points pertaining to your opening moves in the investigation, WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT SEQUENTIALLY. Here's some things you may wanna consider:
    • Whether to actually go in disguise or not, Sarapion's joking aside
    • Where to focus your attention geographically: Sais, the villages around the site of the incident, or the vineyard from which the barge originated
    • Interviews and interrogations, or more indirect information-gathering
    • Examining the barge, amphorae, or other physical evidence
    • Checking with oikonomoi and scribes for tax/market disturbances

    Please format as follows, and see what I mean by "sequentially:"

    [] Plan: Will's Dinner
    -[] Go to the icebox
    -[] Eat their plums
    -[] Ask for forgiveness
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Character Sheet: Age 20
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    • Apollonios Lysikleou of Myos
    Age 20
    Year 4 Olympiad 139/Year 1 Oly. 140, the 2nd year of Ptolemaios Philopator, the year of High Priest Pytheas​

    Physical Appearance:

    You are tall for the period, just an inch or two shy of four cubits (six feet) in height. You've filled out well in your young adulthood, with broad shoulders and a trim figure. You wear your wavy black hair shorter, in a more Hellenistic style now, and can at last grow a respectable beard. Brown-hazel eyes, the color of honey. You've got a rather handsome face, with a tough-looking Greek nose and bushy eyebrows above a dimpled chin and a decently-formed jaw. Medium complexion, a bit darker than a Hellene but lighter than an Aigyptios.

    Personality:

    Creative    : Imaginative and inventive, new ideas come frequently and old ones are expanded upon with ease. A dynamic thinker, good for both drawing up a clever battleplan or composing a song. Prone to romanticism, too.

    High Verbal Intelligence: Good with words in a general sense. Speaking, listening, reading, writing -- it comes easily to you.

    Pessimistic: You learned from a young age to not expect handouts from life -- or anything good, really. While this makes you prone to defeatism and self-sabotage, your cynicism may leave you the most clear-sighted in the room at times.

    Empathic: The twin deaths of your mother and brother planted within you a deep sadness and vulnerability. Mourning with your father and the slaves and then being presented with an uncommunicative Herakleides left you with a strong sense of empathy; you're quite clued into social cues, and often feel deep emotions on others' behalves. You wear your heart on your sleeve, too -- be careful it isn't stabbed.

    Rowdy: You're not afraid of a bit of healthy confrontation, nor are you afraid of raising a little hell in the name of a good time. While you're extroverted and great fun at a feast, you may be a little inconsiderate, even rude, at times -- sometimes you just don't know when to quit. Also developing a bit of a taste for wine.

    Diligent: You can appreciate a hard day's work and have mastered the art of pushing yourself through a given task to its completion. However, given that you spent months and years of your time in Sosikrates' compound, you may be a little lacking in street smarts.

    Relationships:

    Surviving Family:

    Kaunios, 54, Uncle: Highly influential layperson at Didyma. Close with the top priests and the oracle herself. Visits Miletos once a week to check up

    Arliomos, 35, Brother: Royal tax collector in Alexandria, married and with two of his own children. You met him only once as a toddler; he's on his way home to Karia to take over the familial estates, having resigned from his taxman position.

    Artemisia, 32, Sister: Married to a major landholder on Samos. Never met her.

    In Aigyptos:
    Artemidora "Artoula" Sophonou, 18: A fiery, unconventional, "manly" young woman who's rapidly captivating you.

    EPISTATES Diodoros Protarchou, mid-40s: Your boss. Fair but a bit patronizing.

    Eupolemos "Polias" Sophonou, 32: Sophon's heir and a self-described "uncle" to his young sister, Artoula. A talented actor and comedian, but pursuing a scribal career.

    SUB-CAPTAIN Harnachtes Horiou, late-20s: ethnic Aigyptios Alexandrian watch sub-captain. Very friendly and chatty.

    Herakleides, 19: Your property and adopted brother, originally a herdsman's son from Khios. Very large and strong, but carrying a meekness within himself. Thick as thieves from your time at home helping him.

    PHYLAX Kollouthes Phremithieiou, late-20s: Aigyptios phylax attached to you for the duration of the wine barge investigation.

    PHYLAX Sarapion Kastorou, mid-20s: Bigmouth Hellene phylax attached to you for the duration of the wine barge investigation.

    CAPTAIN Sophon Eupolemou, early 50s: watch captain for the deme -- or city district -- in which you live. A tough man and obsessed with his work. Father to Eupolemos and the lovely Artoula.

    In Karia:
    Aristokles and Euterpe, 21: Your best friends from childhood; you exchange letters with Aristokles every few months -- Euterpe's been married off to one of Miletos' most prominent men, some thirty years her senior. Both possessed statuesque good looks when you last saw them.

    Sosikrates, early 50s: Local aristocrat and father of Aristokles and Sostrate, your guardian during your school days.

    Employment:
    Tax Collector, back half of Year 1 Ptolemaios Philopator.

    Agent of Epistates Diodoros Protarchou, start of Year 2 Ptolemaios Philopator to present.

    Education:

    Ended a year early.

    Athletics: Low-average
    Arete: Average. Good-natured but too sensitive, they say.
    Grammar: Gifted
    History: Above-average
    Philosophy: Above-average
    Poetry: Gifted
    Rhetoric: Gifted
    Mathematics: Poor
    Music: Low-average

    Spoken Language & Literacy:

    Karian:     Mother tongue. Aristocratic accent. Getting rusty. Illiterate in the Karian script, though you can theoretically render Karian sentences in the Hellenes' alphabet.

    Hellenike: Full fluency, perhaps a better speaker than some of the natives! Ionian-Karian accent of respectable refinement. Literate, quite a way with the written word.
     
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