Session 1 - Spyridon and his Supplicants
General Summary
Prologue
The Moirai are a fascinating lot. Especially Clotho, who constantly interweaves tragedy with perfect comedic timing. One such thread, Theresa, found herself woven into such a tale. Theresa, a beekeeper and builder, was a solitary but industrious nymph. However, tragedy struck when a storm destroyed most of her hives. Undeterred, she packed her tools in a large bronze pot and set down the road looking to find a patron to learn new skills and rebuild her colonies. Winter was coming, and she only had a couple of months. While winters are mild, heavy rain always disrupts honey production.
Unfortunately for her, the road to her fated patron was through a disheveled and drunken satyr, who was affectionately known to his master as Pyro. Satyrs are known for their unrelenting pursuits of nymphs, so naturally, Theresa moved off the side of the road to avoid him. Pyro, often referred to by his master’s servants as a brick, would have strolled passed her if it wasn’t for a large bronze pot she was carrying. His master had ordered him to find bronze scrap, and there it was—a huge pot filled with endless possibilities and perhaps some wine.
“Nice pot,” Pyro exclaimed, “Does it have any wine in it?”
Theresa remained silent. Pyro, understanding that most people were intimidated by his status with his master, continued to explain that his master needed a pot. After realizing that Pyro’s master could be the patron she was looking for, she decided to accompany Pyro to his master’s estate. Pyro needed to ensure that there was no wine in the pot, and when she showed him, he saw the next best thing, tools. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, he thought as they walked down the road 15 feet apart...
Meetings and Partings in Ormos
Pyro’s master, Spyridon, was a battle brother of Kadmos, the former King and unifier of the land of Kadmeia. As a reward for his loyalty and aid, Kadmos gave Spyridon lands which formed his estate. Spyridon had the patience of a saint and would often indulge his slave Pyro which he affectionately thought of as a good luck charm. After an awkward introduction by Pyro, Theresa became employed by his estate. She was able to keep bees and apprentice under the local healer. Spyridon recently lost his wife and began traveling off his estate frequently. After several months, Spyridon requested that Theresa accompany him and Pyro to Ormos. Theresa agreed, and the local healer asked her to trade some honey for milk of the poppy when she was in town. Theresa’s main task was to watch Pyro, who sometimes got into trouble.
After an uneventful journey, Spyridon said he would visit a local soothsayer and requested Pyro to sell his goods. Theresa tried to keep an eye on Pyro and wanted to prevent him from drinking, but as luck would have it, Pyro was just too quick. They became separated, and Theresa began looking for poppy milk. Theresa found a group of strange foreigners selling the milk. She attempted to trade honey for it, but they preferred amorous congress. Theresa declined but was able to procure the milk and a lotus flower.
Meanwhile, Spyridon traveled to meet Lenora, a nymph courtesan with a flair for the macabre who haunts the local graveyards. Spyridon confides in Lenora as he laments his wayward son and declining years. Kadmos strongly influenced Spyridon’s formative youth and helped make him a man. His son Eurymachos has not been tempered by war as he was, and after the death of his wife, he realized his time was short, and his legacy was at risk. Lenora offers advice and comfort, but soon Spyridon leaves to meet Abraxas, a young and fashionable soothsayer in town.
Ischyrós, a foreign textile merchant seeking Spyridon to make a trade, hears that he might be with Lenora and heads over to meet him. Unbeknownst to him, he passes Spyridon with not so much as a glance before finding Lenora and asking about his whereabouts. Hesitantly Lenora reveals that he just left. Ischyros decides to wait and scope out potential clients in the area.
Abraxas was excited to meet his new and wealthy client, but something felt wrong. It seemed to Abraxas that he was waiting too long. He grabbed a chicken and performed a hepatoscopy to read the omens. It was revealed to him that it was unlikely that he would see his new client by waiting. He knew that Spyridon frequented the graveyards with Lenora and headed that way. When Abraxas reached Lenora, she thought it was strange that so many people were looking for him. She mentioned that he had a servant named Pyro in the market selling goods. They decide to look for him, and Ischyros asks to tag along.
Pyro’s wineskin is empty, and he begins drinking the wine to be sold. He finds a potential merchant interested and negotiates a good deal for his master, but suddenly wakes up in a building, not knowing where he is. The problem is that Pyro rarely knows where he is and, being in the moment, heads out to investigate sounds of mirth and gayety coming outside. To his shock and pleasure, he finds a group of dancing people freely passing wine about. This must be sent from the Gods, he thinks, as he joins the procession. Unfortunately for Theresa, she also happens upon the procession, where a persistent satyr grabs her and forces her to drink.
Just then, a dove flies over the procession asking in a booming voice for Pyro to follow it. Pyro exclaims to the crowd that the Gods have spoken and that they should follow that dove. Abraxas had sent his dove Olive to find Pyro but found a large mob of drunks heading toward him. He utters in the booming voice that only Pyro is to follow. Pyro convinces most of the mob to stay put, but the satyr who had Theresa also follows. After a struggle, Theresa breaks free. Pyro sees the satyr and tells him that the dove is for him. The satyr claims that the dove is for him, and both begin fighting in the street and insulting each other. Ischyros and Lenora watch the chaos unfold with amusement. Abraxas attempts to get the situation under control with his booming voice while Theresa unleashes bees on the other satyr. With the help of Abraxas and Theresa’s bee attack, the other satyr runs away and vanishes around a corner.
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