Estate of Xenophon

[Ace_General]

[General Maximus]

Demetrios arrives at the estate of Xenophon, clad in simple decorated clothing, fit for minor noblemen. Behind him are two slaves, one of them carrying a basket.

[Ace_General]

Demetrios is lead into a rather modest room where Xenophon is directing slaves who are moving in furniture.

The weathered and scared ex-mercanary who seems ill at ease with domestic life turns to the other noblemen in his house and says

You look familiar, perhaps I knew you back when I was a kid. Anyways, Im Xenophon.

[General Maximus]

Demetrios, enters the room with a rough soldierly grace, and then speaks - "Greetings, mate. I am Demetrios."

After a slight break, he speaks in a friendly tone - "Perhaps you don't recognize me, I am your fellow war veteran...we were in the same battle against the Persians in Anatolia, remember? Although we didn't know each other at that time, I recall you as a brave man. When I recognized you yesterday, I was glad to hear that you are in Athens, like me. So I thought I would pay a brave fellow warrior a visit and my respects." He smiles.

[Ace_General]

Xenophon gives a crooked smile and says

Which battle in Asia minor? I've fought probably a dozen times in Anatolia, sometimes even in the employ of the Persians killing other Persians or Hades knows what other barbarians. But I assume it was in the most recent campaign just to the east of Anatolia. Before the persians could be manipulated, and we could profit off furthering their fratricidal wars, but now I fear Greece may be in grave danger.

Anyways, forgive me, I have been in the company of Lacedaemonians too long so instead of exchanging elaborate pleasantries like people of our city, so voice what troubles you brother.

[General Maximus]

Demetrios chuckles a little, and then speaks - "Haha, yes, that one exactly. I just came to pay my respects on a friendly visit. Although we military men hardly need such things, I thought it to be polite to bring a gift."

He orders his slave to bring the basket forward, and remove the cloth stuffed on it. Inside are a collection of some rare fruits from Egypt and eastern lands.

"I purchased them from a merchant ship that sailed in today, thought you would like them." He then offers the fruits to Xenophon.

He then speaks - "I heard that you are running for the office of Strategos of Athens too?"

[Ace_General]

Xenophon has one of the slaves moving furntirue in set down a table in the middle of the room, then has two chest set down as makeshift seats and produces a dagger out of his cloak and cuts a chunk of fruit in half and takes one, takes a bite and hand the other half to Demtrios and says

Aye, that I am. I was thinking about perhaps running for Archon if no one steps up this election or perhaps in the next one.

The tall noble leans looks forward and rubs his clean shaven chin and looks over the greek noblemen before him with cold steel grey eyes, both a rarity in Ancient athens, as if to take stock of the man and says


I appreciate the fruit my friend, tastes a damned sight better then whatever they scrapped off the stable floor and gave to us when we fought the Persians. But aside from the fruit and what I assume is still a dcent sword arm, what would you say qualifies you to be a Strategos

[General Maximus]

Demetrios takes the fruit, and bites it.

"True that. Much better than the constant rationing they gave us, while those darned Persians and their peasant soldiers camped around foraging the land before we could."

After finishing eating, he takes a glance at Xenophon.

"Well....there are many reasons that I can consider myself qualified to become the Strategos. As you might or might not have heard, I come from a family that has been serving the army of Athens since the days of Homer and beyond. I see no reason to change the military legacy we have. Other than that, I have a great deal of experience in fighting and organizing the army. Those poor Ionians would've not survived the Persian onslaught had I not reorganized their army into fixed divisions and formations. I created a proper, professional garrison for Cyprus as well."

"Besides being an army organizer and reformer, I have led a lot of contingents in battle successfully in southern Anatolia. I think Athens can make a good use for my experience and skills. So I would like to ask the same, what do you think about your own qualification for the post of Strategos?"

OOC: Would you mind if I use colours and the font as well, mate? Originally I was thinking of using plain text, but it sometimes becomes hard to read.