The Agora

Bannor · Emperor Pro Tem Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 33

Bannor climbed the rocks alone to the temple of the Oracle. He had not come empty handed for the Ephors were corrupt, he knew he could take no action in the Council without first consulting the Oracle, and he needed direction. The Oracle sat in her chamber awaiting Bannor, for she knew he would come. The sweet perfume of the acrid smoke dancing around her, the Ephors moving about the chamber nervously knew that tonight she would prophesize.

He reached the summit silhouetted by the moon large in the night sky. Upon its craggy top loomed the temple. He poured the gold at the Ephors feet, much to the corrupt ones pleasure. Then Bannor was led deep into the ancient and holy caves. Bannor was left alone in a great steamy chamber of vaulted rock. Through a veiled archway The Oracle entered, it was Elektra the young girl that had once sought shelter in Laconia after her father’s death. She moved gracefully across the chamber seeming to float on the smoke that wafted from the earns placed throughout the room.

“Hello king of the lion people…” she spoke to him in a far away tone.

She sat on a fainting couch, the only piece of furniture in the room, and beckoned for Bannor to join her.

Elektra was radiant....much more the woman then when he had last seen her...her long hair flowed about her as if in a dream....her Greek attire only strategically draped silken fabric, sheer and nearly transparent lent mystery to her curves....but little to the imagination....

His head reeled with the intoxicating smoke and it took all of his discipline and focus to remember why he had come and ask the questions of The Oracle....

“Ask your question my Emperor” she said.

He looked into her eyes and began “Tharros we are faced with a mighty foe and our path is uncertain...we have taken our enemies capital, re-built the Citadel of Peace and granted it to our allies in the hopes that it would please the gods, but it has brought them woe....oh Tharros! How may we serve you in the coming year?...”

“There are two roads, most distant from each other: the one leading to the honorable house of freedom the other to the house of slavery.” He had to lean in close to hear her, her words barely discernable.”
“It is possible to transverse the one through manliness and lovely concord…So lead your people on this path.”
“The other they reach through hateful strife and cowardly distruation so shun it most of all.”

“You’re words are awesome my mighty and beautiful Oracle...ahh, but alas... it is difficult to tell the destination of a road from the first steps of a journey...How will i know this true road to freedom?”

He questioned her, then offered “I always strive to take the honorable path of manliness and as for lovely concord....I believe that we please the gods and our song of war is in harmony with our purpose.”
He prodded her for explanation “Lovely concord?”

“Heh, Divine madness!” she replied indignantly.
Then continued “Laconia will find this road in the dark, only strength and courage will give you the light to see the path before you.”
“Concord-harmony.” She whispered.
“So perfect harmony.”
“Know thy self Spartan.”

Bannor’s brow wrinkled in thought at her prophecy “No sacred and arcane mystery is ever revealed to vulgar ears without being somehow wrapped up and veiled...a harmony of the spheres, a revolution of the heavens…perfect harmony?”
“Harmonia is the daughter of Elektra” he said to her.

Elektra looked at him with distant eyes “Irony... I think not!”

He tore himself from her side lest the intoxicating fumes and her beauty distract him further; his climb back down the mountain was even more lonely than before. He had seen the Oracle, now to discern her meaning. He would take the prophecy to the council and see what they had to say about it.