Enyalius wrote:Dionysus is the god of savages. Or at least that's what the Minoans are saying, but we Spartans are not as easily moved. My sister Athena asked me to seek out this Dionysus and bring back details of his culture. We sailed our ships to the Isle of Crete, just over the sea, where I met Dionysus in person. He was a skrawny fellow, hardly of our Spartan physique. He wore a white hooded cloak, with leather sandals on his feet. As he removed the hood from his head, I could see that his hair was red and wavy like flames and smoke. His skin was fair, and his eyes were hazel like the leafy wooden thrysos he carried. Dionysus sat in stillness on a throne seat, carved by hand out of the face of an aged oak tree. I could see that he was a wild man, judging by his age and the company of savages around him. He looked to be in his early sixties, though I could be mistaken. All around him were nymphs and gypsies, former virgins who had lost their innocence to the vine. Dionysus was apparently fond of grapes, as he wore a laurel crown adorned with the tiny purple fruit. Even the ivy branch he carried was decorated with grapes, and his other hand contained an ivory horn flask carrying strong black wine. I could see that he was drunk and had consumed of the grape just prior to our visit, for his eyes too were beginning to change color. I felt rather insulted that he would greet me in this sort of condition, as we Spartans cherish our state of mind. I could do nothing, however, without risking the lives of my men. Dionysus had made sure to employ his bodyguard, a pair of spotted leopards laying by the throne at his feet. Beside them were a group of hermits in hooded purple cloaks, whose heads were lowered so that their faces could not be seen. They were the Dionian elite, or forest wizards known for their magic. There were many dancing women, and artists who played music at the festival. Dionysus himself had sacrificed a goat and cooked it over a bonfire. The smoke in the clouds is what led us to their location in the first place. I did not eat of the meat, nor drink of the wine, though many of my soldiers did and were not sick. I was more interested in Dionysus, who for the most part, did not even seem bothered by our presence. He was quite merry, even after I insulted him for having slaves who fight to the death. Dionysus explained to me that his world was different from mine, and that those were not his slaves but entertainers who died freely. To them it was a form of honor, or human sacrifice which pleased the gods. The rest of the meeting was spent by the bonfire, as poets shared their tales of adventure and war with my Spartan comrades. Dionysus was playing with a four foot python, which seemed to coil around his neck and arms most comfortably. As night came and the moon approached, naked ladies danced in circles around the bonfire with horned helmets and masks. My soldiers grew weary, and we decided to leave. We travelled back to our ships, finding them just where we had left them, and fell asleep on the upper decks. The next morning when I woke up, we sailed back to Sparta and I shared my experience with Athena.
Meanwhile...
Dionysus wrote:Enyalius paid me a visit during the spring, bringing three ships with him from the east. The maenads tell me Enyalius is the god of war. I calmed them down with soothing words, ensuring them jokingly that I was the god of love. They drank and laughed, quickly losing their fears. I built a fire using wet wood so that the smoke would rise above the trees when the Spartan ships sailed ashore. Enyalius arrived during the afternoon just as I expected, bringing only a handful of Spartans with him. All of them were dressed in white tunics with red capes, wearing helmets and sandals. Each one had a bronze gladius attached to his belt sheath, every Spartan with a shield in hand. Enyalius was a brawny fellow, much larger and more toned than the rest of them. All of his men were big and strong, with huge muscles and bronze skin. Apart from height and weight, the Spartans looked much alike. Enyalius alone seemed to stand out above the rest, for he carried a spear instead of a shield. He removed his helmet and I could see short black hair, straight as a feather. His eyes were blue and cold, but his gaze warmed the hearts of nymphs. My entertainers danced for them, and the wrestler Onixeus died in a fighting contest. He was killed by his own brother Piratheus, a fellow gladiator and great swordsman. I was fond of Enyalius's oddly dark sense of humor. He made a funny joke about Piratheus that I found quite entertaining. I can see there is much our two cultures can share with one another. He appears to have spent most of his life in battle, no doubt the source of his reputation. I sense a great tension between us that perpetrates neither good nor evil. He does not drink the maenad's wine, perhaps a sign of mistrust? Tonight the satyrs and minotaurs circled around the fire, dancing to the serpent's ballad. I watched the Spartans joke and laugh with the nymphs, who seemed to take a great interest in them. Only their king stood silently in the dark. Only the great Enyalius kept his lonely composure. At the end of the night, they returned to their ships and sailed away the next morning.
Two months later...
Enyalius wrote:My sister tells me there is a conflict rising between the Spartans and the Athenians, apparently due to this cult Dionysus has gathered around him. I am not yet sure of the reasoning behind this conflict, but Athena tells me that the amazons have already killed a Spartan man and hung his body from a tree outside Athens, for all to witness. I recognized the body to be that of Grantureo, a friend of my father. How or why the amazons murdered him is still a mystery. Athena tells me she no longer can control the amazons, that they are free spirited and will not obey her commands. She fears they have chosen to hide in the forest with Dionysus, and become savages. I have been asked to wage a war with the amazons in order to restore our peace with Athens, but this would require for me to make another visit with Dionysus, which is something I do not anticipate will go over very well. Dionysus protects the forest where the amazons dwell, but has done nothing himself to become my enemy. My sister is jealous of his manipulative neutrality. I can see it in her eyes, she is afraid of losing her powers. Dionysus is my friend, but Athena is my kindred. I must do whatever is necessary to maintain peace between Athens and Sparta, my sister is more important to me than a bunch of savages. Dionysus will understand my Spartan duty as king, maybe he will assist in capturing these criminals. Then again, Dionysus likes to avoid dispute whenever possible. No matter, tomorrow I will show up on his shore with six ships and a grand total of three hundred Spartan soldiers. He will be forced to choose his alliance carefully. Dionysus is old but wise, he will see there is no choice but to join us. My mind is made up. Tomorrow we sail.
Enyalius did in fact sail the next morning like he said, with a fleet of six ships and a grand total of three hundred soldiers, westward across the Mediterranean sea to the Minoan island. As he stood on the bow of his ship, looking out over the water towards the approaching land, Enyalius saw something he did not expect. There, on the shore, stood over a hundred amazon women, ready to engage in melee conflict with them. All of the amazons were dressed similarly, wearing very little as far as armor or clothing. Most of them wore simple bras and skirts made of animal hides, with leather boots on their feet. Every amazon had her hair cut down to the length of her shoulders, and then tied back with a leather head ring or hair band. They looked much like barbarians, with their various skin colors and hair tones. Some of them carried swords, while others branded axes. Still others wielded shields with spears, while some even fixed bows and arrows. Enyalius was amazed to see their readiness for battle, but his own Spartan courage was just as unwavering. As the six ships sailed side by side, nearing ever so closer to the shore, Enyalius gave the order for his men to ready their shields. His voice was loud as thunder, as every Spartan soldier responded back with a resounding "HOO-HAH!!!"
