A long time ago, in a land not so far away..., Hades. Rain.--> First Rp! -excited-

[Hades]

||A plot in Greek-historical settings||

A long time ago, In a distant land in Ancient Greece, there was a castle. Worn down by years of weathering and war.
Now in that time there was a man. He was ruler of the land and ‘messenger of the gods’. His name was Acacius and he had a son named Aesop. After the kings death, Aesop was only five, Aesop inherited the thrown. Very unsure of how to run a kingdom with out the help of his father he had to rely on the advice of his older mother, who, I must say, was a terrible one. The people of Greece had no idea that it was the mother of the young king ruling over the land.

What exactly did this wicked mother do?
She taxed the people more than they got paid.
What would happen to a poor peasant who didn’t manage to keep up with his/her taxes?
They were thrown into jail and sometimes hung if they didn’t pay off by a deadline.
What did the people think?
They thought it was the king’s fault and that he was passing all of these laws just to be mean.
What did the young king think?
He thought he would just run away and live in the woods with the fauns and nymphs and other magical creatures in the woods.

And indeed that is what he did. On a cool clear night, moon full he managed to escape in the near by woods with out the guards find him. The shadows cast by the full moon must have helped! And when he had, latter thanked the goddess of the moon for his safety and went on living in the woods.

As the years passed the young king grew to be as strong and as good looking as his father, with, sadly, his mother’s eyes. Spending the rest of his days in the woods he never really stopped to consider what his mother was doing to his country. Rightly his country. Now about the age of twenty, or there about, he had never wandered into the big city, his foster parents wouldn't let him after what the goddess of the moon had told them. But being a rather curious ‘little boy’ he decided not to listen and there is where our story begins, rightfully.

I think it would be about the middle of spring and the blossoms of the trees are blooming and our young king, who might rightfully be called a prince, is wandering about the market place, lively and in the middle of the day! He had no idea he was going to meet a family of four, three sisters and mute a little brother. Now where shall I go from here?
Well, I see no reason to leave you in the dark.

The oldest of the three sisters, go on look at the candy counter, is Lana, Lana Agatha McCrae. Did I forget to mention that the family he met was called the McCrae? Of course I did. Anyway, the second oldest, the one begging Miss. Lana, and youngest by far, is little Catharine Alexis McCrae, a pretty youngun, with her head full of stories and always acting silly! And next in line would be… yes the one standing in the door way, Alexis Chloe McCrae. And of course we can’t forget little Benny! Everybody calls him Jack, the little boy playing the flute out in the street.

Oh for Cosmos sakes child! I bet you are wondering who I am! Well don’t just stand there look around the market place! NO! Not at the food stand go a little bit further. … Naw, I’m not in the street band, though I would be though if I wasn’t so petty at playing the pipes, no, no, not the music stand either. Look to your right! … Your other right. Ah! There you see, there I am. The man in the brown robe with the weird looking hat. Ah ye- No. The other man with the weird looking hat. Haha, yep that’s me, sitting in the rocking chair minding my own business. My name is Jordan, Er, Jordan McCrae, the first of a long line, hopefully. Ah-ha! Yes there see me wave! Of course at the time I was waving to little Benny playing with the monkey I had brought home Africa, of the lands beyond, depending on who you talked to. Now this story is about to get interesting! Grab a seat, NO! WATCH OUT TH- … the cat was sitting there. Oh well…
Just sit back and watch the scene unfold before you.

[Hades]

Well… I don’t know about you, but I think we should start off a little bit differently to day! Oh, where are my manors? Er, tea? No? Very well, but I will have some! … … … … Ah! Now. Where was I? Oh yes… This is a wonderful tale filled with romance and comedy. And I fail to see why you are already laughing at me! Goodness child, hush up and let me tell my tale! Like I said, my name is Jordan, Jordan Alexander McCrae. Shocked to see I have a middle name? You shouldn’t be! Middle names are very important to the McCrae’s! Now… just take a look out into the street and tell me what you see.
-x-
Catherine, five-foot-four and growing. (The McCrae’s are naturally famous for their height. Well… not all of us.) Stood in front of the candy shop gazing at the seemingly endless array of sweet candies and chocolates placed in delicate lace-lined pans, she let a sigh escape her lips before turning around to gaze out at the busy street, also just in time to see little Benny pluck something out of a passers-by pocket. How young he was. How innocent he looked when the young man turned around to see who was picking his pocket! If poor little Jack hadn’t been mute she was pretty sure that he would have given the man a piece of his mind… and then gotten a beating- (which I might add was normal, spare the rod and spoil the child was no exception when money was hard to come by. ) Oh well, Little Benny ended up giving the money back to the man and turned back to his little orange monkey, who had managed to take the young mans purse back. Benny came running and over to Catherine, his eyes filled with excitement that couldn’t be contained. Glancing around the store she took the small purse from him and spread the coins around, counting-
1- Obols
2- Obols
3- Obols
4- Obols
5- Obols – and that was it. Just one more and they would have had enough to make 1- Drachma! Oh so close! But it wasn’t enough unfortunately. Candy in these days, for at least one dozen, was 2- Drachma! Expensive! Sadly one couldn’t afford to bring down the price of the goods of which they sold. The more people bought the easier it would be to pay taxes, and the easier it would be to get on the good side of the queen! Benny tugged at the edge of Catherine’s dress. Glancing down she saw the look in his eyes and shook her head, there wasn’t enough…

Immediately Tamarin snatched up the purse and ran out into the streets. (Well can you blame him? The man had less than a Drachma! Wouldn’t you want to return it? Oh… who’s Tamarin? The monkey of course!) Benny sighed and sat down on the ground. For a moment he blew a few notes out of the flute then stopped. Catherine’s mind jumped as a voice said, “I wonder what Lana is doing!” shaking her head to refocus herself she looked where Benny had just been and found he was gone. Sighing she turned back to the counter to gaze at the chocolates that were calling her name, and teasing her with there sweet aroma!
-x-
Well gee! Don’t expect everything to turn out funny! I can’t always have something funny to say! Though you must admit, little Tamarin sure is active and quite the thief! ... You don’t think so? Well who asked you anyway? I’ll bet you are wondering what has happened to the Queen! … No? Well for Cosmos sake! Why no? … You don’t think she’s very important if- now wait just a second! If you will- Me wait a second? Fine. I’ll tell you what has become of our little … prince… you see it started off like this---
-x-
Mr. Hugo Fredric Driftwood, of Driftwood manor, out somewhere in the middle of no-where’s unparticular, as he put it, was just sitting down to his breakfast, yes, breakfast at high noon! No wonder he was fat and chubby and balding. He always slept the day away. Some mistake him for a hobbit. Of course who hasn’t heard of one? Anything in the world is possible isn’t it? Well… maybe not possible in the real world, but most certainly possible in the magical kingdom. Like I was saying, he was sitting down to breakfast. No, not reading the morning news paper! Now you see here… who on earth would want to carry around a large stone tablet- oh… the Flintstones did it? Who on earth are- never mind? Okay then. His wife wasn’t up yet so Hugo had to make his own breakfast and Artemus was no where to be found…
-x-
“Gosh darn that child! I swear by the all mighty Zeus that I will have a chat with that boy about proper edict! Look at this mess!” he growled as he tried to find a clean bowl… this was the first of a long time that he had seen the kitchen like this. Of course if Artemis had taken the boy out for his hunting lesson then I guess he would be off the hook… for the moment. Sighing he sat himself down at the table, with a clean plate, and at his already over done leftovers form the night before last.

[Rain]

Artemis, goddess of the moon and of hunters...
My, what a surprise she must have had when a young child wandered into the depths of her forest, barely clothed and tired eyed, as if just having escaped merely the clutches of some home. Speaking of... looking around, she frowned, but still seemed to take pity on the child, letting him roam her forests, and even taught him. However, something must have nagged her that this child, though taken under her wing to be a powerful and respectful hunter even at such a young age, told her she was not hers to keep, still a free spirit. Ah, so what an awed look must the little couple by the edge of the forest have had when a stag with gold gilded horns left the child upon their doorstep. But still, the child held a calling to the wild, and though his new found parents were strict, even they knew they could not keep the growing young boy from the forest, or the mythical creatures inside.

Yes, but now, both Adara and Artemis knew that her adopted son must be free to wander into the city, giving him a simple task for this, at first.
"Artemus, this was a wonderful lesson. Now, off to your family, you go." Artemis said, looking over her trainee and now young man under her wing. Artemus, the name the family had given their child, translated into 'gift of Artemis'. Hm, how fitting. Looking to the goddess with eyes as green as the forest, he grinned, putting his quiver filled with arrows upon his back, notably crafted so well that any archer would be impressed, a nifty trick obtained from the goddess that rescued him.
"Yes, Lady Artemis!" " he replied with a bit of enthusiasm, lacing up his flat sandals, Artemus wearing a male's short tunic, giving him much room to run and much better to hunt with. A smile showed up on Artemis's worn face, and she lightly put a hand on his shoulder.
"My child, you may stay a bit longer, if you wish..." she offered, as if unwilling to let him go as to let his mostly 'pure' mind, unclouded by the ways of men and cities, be let go. But Artemus only gave her an odd look, but then smiled.
"Thank you for the offer, my goddess, but my parents might be wondering where I am. I will return to you later, though!" he said, sounding much like he meant it, too, and with that, he bid his mentor farewell, heading for his home, the sun warming his sandy tan skin on the rather brisk day.


Walking over to his father's horse, he grinned, petting the faithful mare, currently several weeks pregnant with a foal, but still able to at least get a good amount of exercise.
"Come on, Acacia, let us go home..." Artemus said to the horse, and with that, he headed towards his home.

"Husband, I was gone yesterday, remember?" Frowning, Adara Driftwood sauntered into the kitchen, looking around with a disappointed look, half debating on scolding her husband for letting him sleep in so late.
"My, I leave the house for the town for one day, and what a mess it becomes." she mused, quite lean as compared to her husband, simply walking just outside the door to the well and retrieving some water, dumping it into the indent in the counter they dubbed a sink, taking a cloth and humming softly as she started to clean up the house.
"You know, today I was thinking we should let Artemus visit the city." she finally brought up, stopping in her humming after a moment, making a neat pile of all the cleaned dishware as she did, "I mean, we've kept him isolated for how many years since the goddess gave him to us? Besides, he should see what has become of the town he is supposed to rule..." Adara added, before falling silent just as Artemus entered, grinning broadly.
"Ah, mother! Good afternoon." he called, before looking to his father, giving a nod.
"Same to you, father." he added.

[Hades]

“Well dear, I don’t know why you would want to let him-“ just as he was about to finish statement his son walked in. Hugo was unfazed by his ‘Good afternoon’, I mean still half asleep and not willing to wake up just yet… maybe he could catch another Z or two on the couch later that night? Maybe not. His wife would need his help around the house and his son would most certainly want to go out and hunt again. He boy couldn’t get enough of the clean fresh air.

Sighing Hugo Driftwood cleared his plate, washed it and turned to face his son again. Smiling fatherly like he replied, rather late, “Good after noon dear boy! Might I ask why you left the kitchen in such a mess? Or should I say hurry?” He was positive that his son had made part of the mess… at least he washed his dishes when he was done. More than once he had failed to do this, but he wasn’t as lazy as he looked. “And one more thing… how did you enjoy your hunting lesson?” Not really wanting to come to the point, Hugo glanced at his wife and replied, “I’ll talk to you later dear!” Well… maybe he could take the boy in to town, he did have a few debts to pay, Hugo that is. And the man was always on time with his debts. ‘Hugo the right’ is what they called him in the City. ‘Never missing a beat and always paying his taxes on time, wither he can afford to or not!’ only once had he gone to jail for not paying his taxes. But that was before he met his beautiful wife, Adara. He had also managed to pay off his debt the same night he got married to her. What a honey moon they had!
-x-
Well, that was part of the life of the Driftwood’s. There adopted son always so bright and cheery! What? When does he come into town? Oh very soon I should I say. Hugo owes me some money and won’t bother to be late, he hates being late you know! Why do I say that? Well, Hugo happens to be one of my buyers. Yes of course I sell things! How do you think I can make a living? What do I sell? Weapons, live stock, and a few other things…
What do you mean ‘what are my nephews and nieces doing here?’ They are visiting their old man! No Hugo has never met them! This would be the first time in over… I lost count, years that I have seen my grand children! What do you- Oh, I guess I did mix that up didn’t I? well none of that matters, I’m old so I can blame it on my age. Look out to the street again my dear and tell me what you see… yes of course again! We have to get somewhere with the story you know!
-x-

Benny, a stout and rugged looking nine year old with ruddy blonde hair and sandy skin scanned the crowed for anything that might be worth … borrowing. Tamarin sat on his shoulder like a good little monkey. He felt like a little sneak but who cared? He couldn’t speak, not even if the world depended on it! He knew things that no one else does and no one else will! Secrets told to him would die with him! That is why a mute friend is a best friend! Though a mute man could never tell you the secrets he knows to his best friend. A mute man is a good man, a thief is a bad man, but a mute thief is an excellent man! He can take things and no one would know the difference. He could do millions of things to wow people with more than just words alone! Ah, being mute was a gift! A different way of life!
Ah-ha! No Tamarin! Not yet, and not that one. He could say with just a swish of his hand and a shake of his and a very disapproving look. Tamarin was the only one that understood him! The others had no idea! All but Catherine his sister. She was good. She still had no idea that he had stolen and lost one of her dresses, what had he used it for? To get money of course! A mute man was a man who had use his brain! The talking ones didn’t know how to use there wits, or stay quite. They always made to much noise! But not much can be said for Benny, whom everyone called Jack! “Look out for little Jack!”
“Here comes Jack the pick-pocket!”
Was Benny shamed by people calling him Jack? No! A mute man is an honest man! No doubt about it! But the right victim hadn’t come along yet. But Benny, or Jack the pick-pocket, and Tamarin would know when the right would come along! It always came! No one could hide from Jack…
-x-

Ah, yes very true. Jack was a little pick-pocket. Why I remember when I just about his age I would do the same thing, but times were less- Hmm? Oh I am getting carried away again? No I don’t think I am. But as long as this story keeps rolling out in front of me I will be able to speak of it! I never for get anything! And no I am not leaving out anything either! Why just look at little Catherine take little Alexis aside for a moment wont you?
-x-

Catherine wandered from the little shop happy as a lark. Why? Because she had found a loose talent on the ground! Some careless folk would dare come looking for it if it wasn’t there! And besides one could walk around feeling rich from the feeling it gave one! Catherine wandered over to where Alexis was and slipped it into her pocket with out being seen. Then taking her little sister aside she whispered, “You’ll never guess what I found on the ground! Just take a look in your pocket why don’t you!” it didn’t seem like magic. But who knows maybe- “Should I buy this loaf of bread? It’s so expensive…” someone’s thought broke into her mind again and she shook her head again trying to clear it. How on earth could she do that? Was she some sort of… witch? She kept her slight gasp inward and swallowed hard. She was no witch and she knew it. Besides withes were hung, no mistake about that! She had seen the heads along the city walls and read the warning signs that said: ‘Any witch who dare enter beware!’. She would never have her head cut off! Never! She would be an honest peaking woman! Blinking back to the present she smiled at Alexis and waited to see if she would check her pockets.

[Rain]

"Eheh, sorry, father. I forget that even I have to do women's chores in our house... no offense, mother."
"None taken." Adara said simply, flashing her husband a look as she went on with the chores, giving her son a quick embrace as he offered a hug to her, before he went and settled himself down at the table, watching his father, giving a soft laugh as he asked.
"Ah, you know me too well, father. It was a fine lesson, by the way. I am truly grateful for all my goddess has given me." However, at Hugo's sudden outburst, Artemus furrowed his brows slightly. "Father...?"

"What, husband, are you leaving me for the town already?" Adara asked, a smile creeping onto her aging face, Artemus looking from her, to his dad, then back to his mom, then back to his father. Laughing softly, she went back to contentedly humming as she worked. Hmph, if her husband dear wouldn't bring up the subject, then she'd bring it up for him.
"Artemus, would you like to go with him?" Adara offered, watching as a light became aflame in her adopted son's eyes, flashing a look to Hugo as she did.

"Really?" Barely able to contain his almost childish excitement, Artemus turned to Hugo. "Father, would you really bring me into the town with you?" he asked, barely able to contain his excitement. After all, to him, the town seemed to be a taboo place to him, his parents isolating him from the other people for the entirety of his life with him. Were the afraid that the many people would pollute his mind, and taint his soul? Or something else? Whatever it was, this was one of the few times that his mother sounded honest about letting him go to the city, and he wasn't going to let the opportunity slip without a fight.
"Please, father! I am old enough now! I promise I won't leave your side if it comforts you!" Artemus begged, wanting to see for himself the new faces and scents up close, and take in the sights and sounds of a place other than his wild forest home and his isolated home here with his foster parents.

[Hades]

Hugo glanced around. Was his wife serious? “Well… I don’t know, I mean-”
“Please, father! I am old enough now! I promise I won't leave your side if it comforts you!”
Hugo shot an amused glare at his wife for a short millisecond before turning to his son, “You are old enough, I can see that. You needn’t remind me.” Even though his voice was somewhat harsh, there was laughter in his eyes and a broad smile on his face. How could that woman bring him to his point? ‘Maybe I will take him into town today…’ he thought before saying in a firm voice, “Very well. I don’t see any reason why not to. That is if our dearest, wonderful goddess has nothing else to do for you this evening.” Walking into the hallway and over to one of the pegs Hugo Driftwood plopped a leather hat on his head, stuck his short arms through the jacket sleeves, grabbed a walking stick, and called to Artemus, “Ya cumin’ er what?” surely the boy would jump to his feet as quick as a rabbit and be at the front door in less than a second. He was going on his first trip to town.

-x-

Hahaha. Yeah. That was the life alright. Mr. Driftwood isn’t a hard man to persuade into anything. Though you must give him credit, he has held off from taking the lad anywhere near here for quite some time. A few years I wouldn’t imagine. You what? … you don’t know what is taking so long? What do you – oh you mean them getting here? … Gosh child. Be patient, everything happens slowly! Oh now you wonder what’s going on in the streets? Well fine be that way…

-x-

Not much time had passed since Jack, the pick-pocket, had last seen the pouch of that man… what was his name? Benny had forgotten. But who ever he was - was more than likely to return. Tamarin screeched with half delight as a piece of bread hit the ground. Immediately the African monkey was after it. And in a flash he had picked up the bread and run back over to Benny to ran into a near by, abandoned since it was noon, music shack.
Splitting the bread with Tamarin, Benny ate in silence. Now if only there was some sort of cheese…


Ooc~
Well, it would have been longer if you had replied to Catherine! xD