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- Thread starter messaline
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RacingRodent
Consul
I am trying a different way of writing my episodes so I am really not sure how many there will be at this stage. However I will have all the words and Messa's pictures on my comp so I will be able to send them over to you in one file rather than you have to scour the thread.
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RacingRodent
Consul
Moved, so I am....moved to tears....
What a beautiful piece of work.
Well done to both of you!
Really glad though in all fairness this was the episode that Messa demanded and so Messa got, I needed to set up the preceding with a pretty hefty punch to the feels in order to prepare the ground though. Luckily we have Goddesses willing to restore balance to the universe
messaline
Crucified Amazon
Hum, fortunately that Achille was not viewing this : never he could understand ...But,now, what can happen ? Artemis said for one night : then, I"m afraid that we'll soon get out to Troy and to war !
Yet blood, killed men, perhaps some women too ... For what ?
Agamemnon'revenge ? Does he deserve that ? I rather suspect that it's for gold, wealth and looting ...
Men are men and us, women, are always condemned to follow them ...
So, I'll do !
RacingRodent
Consul
I must admit to being a little surprised our little variation on Iphigenia in Aulis did not arouse more comment. The original legend and original ending seems to have been told with Greek mythology's customary misogynistic gusto but then even the Greeks seem to have had second thoughts. Subsequent endings had Iphigenia substituted for a deer or even spirited away by Artemis, so strongly did the retelling become it even become a vital component of Orestes's legend (though there was a man who like most of his brutal and ambitious line needed some better PR if ever there was a usurper in need of it).
Anyway a link back to the final episode of that arc for those who may have missed it
Anyway a link back to the final episode of that arc for those who may have missed it
Sorry I've been away.
Touch of the deus ex machina but I liked it, nice twist.
I like the move from mundane (her toilet and bathing) to the light voice calling her, the goddess intervening and the night of passion, of love and devotion. Beautifully done RR and Messa.
malins
Stumbling Seeker
Hmmm well the whole substitution approach to human sacrifice was a kind of trend wasn't it? And anyway it was all Artemis' fault in the first place wasn't it
RacingRodent
Consul
Hmmm well the whole substitution approach to human sacrifice was a kind of trend wasn't it? And anyway it was all Artemis' fault in the first place wasn't it
It certainly seems to have set a fashion cf. the sacrifice of Isaac.
malins
Stumbling Seeker
That must have been when the downfall of civilization started. People just didn't honor the traditions of old anymore
Standards are dropping everywhere. I think Socrates lamented that.That must have been when the downfall of civilization started. People just didn't honor the traditions of old anymore
RacingRodent
Consul
That must have been when the downfall of civilization started. People just didn't honor the traditions of old anymore
Or the Gods just went soft on mortals....maybe Jolly knows something about it, after all it is his bailiwick
I'M JUST THE CONDUCTOR. I DON'T DO THE ACTUAL KILLING. YOU LOT DO THAT. I JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET THROUGH. BE A STUPID SYSTEM IF PEOPLE GOT KILLED AND DIDN'T DIE, WOULDN'T IT? I MIGHT OBJECT TO THE FORM, OR BE UPSET BY TRAGEDY, BUT A SHODDY SACRIFICE IS NOT MY AFFAIR. AS TO GODS, I OFTEN THINK THEY ARE SOMEWHAT PERVERSE AND ARBITRARY. IF YOU START BELIEVING IN THEM, IT GOES TO THEIR HEADS, I THINK.Or the Gods just went soft on mortals....maybe Jolly knows something about it, after all it is his bailiwick
malins
Stumbling Seeker
No they just went soft, reneged on their part of the contract, they haven't been doing any hands-on work for a long time. Lazy bastards those gods. I guess they figured out they'd get the reward without putting in any effort. And well we went on worshipping them quite a while before we wised up didn't we? ... but at least we have jolly old Death to rely on still, to hold out his hand to each of us. He's the only one we can trust.
RacingRodent
Consul
Yes even Taxes no longer seem to turn up for everybody any more...a sad decline in standards.
RacingRodent
Consul
Well fortunately Messalios lived in simpler times, not necessarily better times but simpler ones. The rules at least seemed a little clearer if not always any more fair.
Yes, it seems odd, but it's not really. Jesus is the sacrifice that makes all human sacrifice unnecessary.
So, yes, but that does not make Christianity a religion practicing human sacrifice! It's a pretty important distinction!
RacingRodent
Consul
Okay so one not terribly interesting sea voyage later we find ourselves and our Greek heroes off the coast of Asia.
The commanders of the Greek array had briefly laid up at a small off shore islet. It was not a good place for fleet, there was no sheltered shore and no fresh water but it did provide a place all the Kings and Captains could gather to discuss the problem. It had been a frustrating morning.
The Greek fleet had appeared over the horizon with every expectation of making a swift landing on the wide gently shelving beaches of the port of Troy and perhaps even a swift assault on its citadel only to find a Trojan force drawn up in battle array, bright in burnished armour beneath proudly flapping banners. Agamemnon with swift decision had diverted the fleet to next good landing beach to the north only to find another Trojan force standing guard there, a tiring turn around and rowing without aid of the wind had taken the Greeks south to another beach and again more Trojan troops.
“How did they know we were coming?” Asked someone standing back among the more junior captains, voicing the question everyone had been dying to ask for the past quarter hour of holy rituals to appease the Gods and establish an augury for whether the meeting was a good idea.
“Spies, damn cursed spies must have warned them,” Muttered Menelaus.
“Brother please, be a little objective,” Admonished Agamemnon, “We ourselves did not know our day of arrival till last night and what ship could traverse these waters faster than ours?”
“Besides only Philoctetes is missing and we all know that is because the idiot shot himself in the foot trying to show off and had to put into port to have it looked at,” Odysseus pointed out and everyone laughed at the other’s misfortune.
“It is most probably their seers My Lord Kings and Noble Captains,” Grovelled Calchas, “The Temple of Apollo in Troy is renowned for its talented seers.”
“Really, I thought he was on our side?” Queried Menelaus.
“Well it might have been, erm, when his sister, was,” Agamemnon looked embarrassed, “A bit cross with us.”
“Oh so it was your fault,” Menelaus nodded happily, Agamemnon glowered at him.
“Well maybe we could try for a more distant beach, they cannot have covered all of them,” Odysseus suggested.
“The next nearest beach is a full day’s rowing away, let alone having to march to Troy, we’d be days, the Trojans could attack us anywhere along the route,” Said Ajax the Lesser who was King of the Locrians.
“So that settles it, we hit them head on, land our ships and smash their army on the shore,” Said Achilles.
“What have you seen how many there are? This is not one of your raids Achilles, we have an entire fleet and there is not enough beach, we need time to draw some of the ships up from the waterline or we’ll smash ourselves to pieces on each other’s vessels as badly as on a rocky shore,” Odysseus explained slowly and carefully, as one did with the slow child.
“Then don’t send the whole fleet,” Achilles replied, “I’ll lead a forlorn hope against that bluff on their flank, they have to move to meet us and I bet you their commanders all rush to be in front, that way our High King can take his time bringing in the main fleet on their new flank while they dither about getting orders, plenty of time to get ashore and get organised.
“I volunteer for this mission,” Roared mighty Ajax the Greater, King of Aegina.
“I too volunteer for this mission,” Declared Ajax the Lesser.
“I too,” Menelaus proclaimed, “And if anyone sees that pup Paris in the front lines remember he is mine!”
“Excellent,” Nodded Agamemnon, “But you’ll need a fifth ship, with a commander of wit and discernment, what say you Odysseus?”
“What? This mission is suicide, we’ll be surrounded and cut off for ages by a bunch of berserk Hittites,” Odysseus protested, then looked around, “Oh alright then, I volunteer for the stupid suicide mission.” Everyone laughed at his famous banter, the King of Ithaca merely looked sour.
“Right men,” Explained Achilles a little later after talking to the crews of the other ships as his own Pride of Peleus approached the shore, “When we hit the sand get your kit and leg it as fast as you can to that hill there, as soon as they see our banners the Trojans are going to rush us so you don’t want to get caught short.”
“Right, hit the sand and run for the hill,” Messalios nodded, “Got it.”
“No not you Messalios, I need you to cover the boats, make sure no one nicks them or our supplies while we are in battle, I assign you oh, the rearmost ten rowers, they are all good men.”
“But I want to fight!” Protested Messalios.
“And fight you shall but not today, today you guard my ship,” Achilles told her.
“But I want to fight today,” Messalios stamped her foot.
“Look Messalios I am not sure you are quite over Iphi- well things, look while you wear the armour I gave you, you will obey my orders,” Achilles said getting cross, well crosser than usual for Achilles.
“Very well, while I wear your armour I will obey your orders,” Messalios agreed even as the prow of the boat crunched into the sand.
“Right, this is it men, run like the clappers,” Achilles said, though he himself stood awhile on the sand counting everyman ashore before he then raced to the head of the attacking column.
“Erm Messalios, why are you taking off your armour?” Asked the eldest of the veterans as Achilles and his men and the other companies streamed up the hill, he looked a bit startled.
“Wraggithos Achilles said that while I wore his armour I must obey his orders,” Messalios had shed her cuirass and helmet and gauntlets and now kicked off her greaves.
“Ah yes but Mistress Messalios, I don’t think you need to take off your shift,” Said Wraggithos turning bright red under his olive tan. He tried looking away, looked back and looked away again and back again.
“Well I want to fight naked, armoured by my faith in the Goddess Artemis,” Messalios told him.
“Oh but what about the ship?” Warggithos called as she jumped down.
“Oh you are in charge of the ship,” Messalios called over her shoulder and went charging up the beach.
The battle was in full fury by the time she arrived with entire regiments of Trojans shooting arrows, while squadrons of cavalry charged around the perimeter of the small Greek formation and several much larger phalanx brigades prepared to mount a coordinated assault.
“Tremble Trojans for today you face a woman’s wrath,” Called out Messalios spiritedly.
Sadly her voice did not carry very well over the noise of battle.
“What was that?” Asked an archer.
“I said,” And this time Messalios raised her voice, at just the moment the Trojans all decided to be quiet in order to hear their generals’ orders and the wind changed direction so as to carry her words with an eerie distinctness to all ears, “Tremble Trojans for today you face a woman’s wrath!”
“Oh shit, it’s Aphrodite,” Said Paris and promptly ran to a cavalry man’s horse, pulled the man off and legged it on his borrowed steed. This very quickly started a stampede. Messalios did her best. She ran towards the nearest brigade of Trojan pikemen who took a brief look at this most gloriously arousing of martial sights before throwing down their main weapons and sprinting back to Troy as fast as their legs would carry them. Messalios run up to some archers but they took to their heels even quicker, well archers had that reputation, “Come you cavalry show us what you are made of,” Messalios tried her luck there.
It would seem the Trojan cavalry was made of some very good steeple chasers as they promptly made a bee line for the citadel, leaping all obstacle in their path without pause or hesitation.
“That was bloody brilliant,” A large meaty hand clapped Messalios on the shoulder and she noticed Odysseus had come down from the hill to stand beside her, “I thought Achilles and the Ajax’s had come up with another one of their stupid triple A suicide charges and we were all about to be massacred but instead he had a cunning plan.”
Odysseus looked around at the now rather quickly emptying battlefield, “Oh by the way if you would like to play a less martial Aphrodite, my tent any time,” He whispered in Messalios ear, “Hey Achilles over here, your girl was bloody marvellous, the real hero of the day.”
“But I wanted to fight,” Pouted Messalios but as so often the men were too busy congratulating each other to hear her.
The commanders of the Greek array had briefly laid up at a small off shore islet. It was not a good place for fleet, there was no sheltered shore and no fresh water but it did provide a place all the Kings and Captains could gather to discuss the problem. It had been a frustrating morning.
The Greek fleet had appeared over the horizon with every expectation of making a swift landing on the wide gently shelving beaches of the port of Troy and perhaps even a swift assault on its citadel only to find a Trojan force drawn up in battle array, bright in burnished armour beneath proudly flapping banners. Agamemnon with swift decision had diverted the fleet to next good landing beach to the north only to find another Trojan force standing guard there, a tiring turn around and rowing without aid of the wind had taken the Greeks south to another beach and again more Trojan troops.
“How did they know we were coming?” Asked someone standing back among the more junior captains, voicing the question everyone had been dying to ask for the past quarter hour of holy rituals to appease the Gods and establish an augury for whether the meeting was a good idea.
“Spies, damn cursed spies must have warned them,” Muttered Menelaus.
“Brother please, be a little objective,” Admonished Agamemnon, “We ourselves did not know our day of arrival till last night and what ship could traverse these waters faster than ours?”
“Besides only Philoctetes is missing and we all know that is because the idiot shot himself in the foot trying to show off and had to put into port to have it looked at,” Odysseus pointed out and everyone laughed at the other’s misfortune.
“It is most probably their seers My Lord Kings and Noble Captains,” Grovelled Calchas, “The Temple of Apollo in Troy is renowned for its talented seers.”
“Really, I thought he was on our side?” Queried Menelaus.
“Well it might have been, erm, when his sister, was,” Agamemnon looked embarrassed, “A bit cross with us.”
“Oh so it was your fault,” Menelaus nodded happily, Agamemnon glowered at him.
“Well maybe we could try for a more distant beach, they cannot have covered all of them,” Odysseus suggested.
“The next nearest beach is a full day’s rowing away, let alone having to march to Troy, we’d be days, the Trojans could attack us anywhere along the route,” Said Ajax the Lesser who was King of the Locrians.
“So that settles it, we hit them head on, land our ships and smash their army on the shore,” Said Achilles.
“What have you seen how many there are? This is not one of your raids Achilles, we have an entire fleet and there is not enough beach, we need time to draw some of the ships up from the waterline or we’ll smash ourselves to pieces on each other’s vessels as badly as on a rocky shore,” Odysseus explained slowly and carefully, as one did with the slow child.
“Then don’t send the whole fleet,” Achilles replied, “I’ll lead a forlorn hope against that bluff on their flank, they have to move to meet us and I bet you their commanders all rush to be in front, that way our High King can take his time bringing in the main fleet on their new flank while they dither about getting orders, plenty of time to get ashore and get organised.
“I volunteer for this mission,” Roared mighty Ajax the Greater, King of Aegina.
“I too volunteer for this mission,” Declared Ajax the Lesser.
“I too,” Menelaus proclaimed, “And if anyone sees that pup Paris in the front lines remember he is mine!”
“Excellent,” Nodded Agamemnon, “But you’ll need a fifth ship, with a commander of wit and discernment, what say you Odysseus?”
“What? This mission is suicide, we’ll be surrounded and cut off for ages by a bunch of berserk Hittites,” Odysseus protested, then looked around, “Oh alright then, I volunteer for the stupid suicide mission.” Everyone laughed at his famous banter, the King of Ithaca merely looked sour.
“Right men,” Explained Achilles a little later after talking to the crews of the other ships as his own Pride of Peleus approached the shore, “When we hit the sand get your kit and leg it as fast as you can to that hill there, as soon as they see our banners the Trojans are going to rush us so you don’t want to get caught short.”
“Right, hit the sand and run for the hill,” Messalios nodded, “Got it.”
“No not you Messalios, I need you to cover the boats, make sure no one nicks them or our supplies while we are in battle, I assign you oh, the rearmost ten rowers, they are all good men.”
“But I want to fight!” Protested Messalios.
“And fight you shall but not today, today you guard my ship,” Achilles told her.
“But I want to fight today,” Messalios stamped her foot.
“Look Messalios I am not sure you are quite over Iphi- well things, look while you wear the armour I gave you, you will obey my orders,” Achilles said getting cross, well crosser than usual for Achilles.
“Very well, while I wear your armour I will obey your orders,” Messalios agreed even as the prow of the boat crunched into the sand.
“Right, this is it men, run like the clappers,” Achilles said, though he himself stood awhile on the sand counting everyman ashore before he then raced to the head of the attacking column.
“Erm Messalios, why are you taking off your armour?” Asked the eldest of the veterans as Achilles and his men and the other companies streamed up the hill, he looked a bit startled.
“Wraggithos Achilles said that while I wore his armour I must obey his orders,” Messalios had shed her cuirass and helmet and gauntlets and now kicked off her greaves.
“Ah yes but Mistress Messalios, I don’t think you need to take off your shift,” Said Wraggithos turning bright red under his olive tan. He tried looking away, looked back and looked away again and back again.
“Well I want to fight naked, armoured by my faith in the Goddess Artemis,” Messalios told him.
“Oh but what about the ship?” Warggithos called as she jumped down.
“Oh you are in charge of the ship,” Messalios called over her shoulder and went charging up the beach.
The battle was in full fury by the time she arrived with entire regiments of Trojans shooting arrows, while squadrons of cavalry charged around the perimeter of the small Greek formation and several much larger phalanx brigades prepared to mount a coordinated assault.
“Tremble Trojans for today you face a woman’s wrath,” Called out Messalios spiritedly.
Sadly her voice did not carry very well over the noise of battle.
“What was that?” Asked an archer.
“I said,” And this time Messalios raised her voice, at just the moment the Trojans all decided to be quiet in order to hear their generals’ orders and the wind changed direction so as to carry her words with an eerie distinctness to all ears, “Tremble Trojans for today you face a woman’s wrath!”
“Oh shit, it’s Aphrodite,” Said Paris and promptly ran to a cavalry man’s horse, pulled the man off and legged it on his borrowed steed. This very quickly started a stampede. Messalios did her best. She ran towards the nearest brigade of Trojan pikemen who took a brief look at this most gloriously arousing of martial sights before throwing down their main weapons and sprinting back to Troy as fast as their legs would carry them. Messalios run up to some archers but they took to their heels even quicker, well archers had that reputation, “Come you cavalry show us what you are made of,” Messalios tried her luck there.
It would seem the Trojan cavalry was made of some very good steeple chasers as they promptly made a bee line for the citadel, leaping all obstacle in their path without pause or hesitation.
“That was bloody brilliant,” A large meaty hand clapped Messalios on the shoulder and she noticed Odysseus had come down from the hill to stand beside her, “I thought Achilles and the Ajax’s had come up with another one of their stupid triple A suicide charges and we were all about to be massacred but instead he had a cunning plan.”
Odysseus looked around at the now rather quickly emptying battlefield, “Oh by the way if you would like to play a less martial Aphrodite, my tent any time,” He whispered in Messalios ear, “Hey Achilles over here, your girl was bloody marvellous, the real hero of the day.”
“But I wanted to fight,” Pouted Messalios but as so often the men were too busy congratulating each other to hear her.
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