His father argued with him day in and day out, telling him what he could accomplish if only he set his mind to the task. But he would not, for a thousand days he grew older and none wiser. The only skills he collected those of simplification, of delaying and persisting in his arrogance and drunkenness.

He would amount to nothing, yet still he would be tasked with accompanying his cousin, perhaps a change of scenery would spark his mind. Thus, the venture to the Eastern city was born, a fledgling settling but one surrounded by fertile lands and valleys of gold.

Perseus met his brother at noon on the third morning since the trip was decided, sword sheathed at his side. Grey Armor tight across his chest, his horse was thin but strong and Dionysus upon one of war felt strange rising to meet him, drunk as he was and swaying like the water skin at his side.

“Hello dear brother, a little late, are we?” Asked Perseus jovially. Taking it for sarcasm Dionysus drank once more and set out down the dirt road soon ending and leaving them traversing wide fields of grain. Villagers gazing up at the immortals on rare horses, feet covered in dirt and clothes stitched at home comparing to their golden silk and iron plates.

As solemn as Dionysus was wine loosened his tongue and the two cousins were as brothers once more, travelling to an interesting and mysterious land promising unheard stories and words.

The first obstacle in their path appeared on the third day, when the fields and rolling hills turned into hard stone and sharp valleys, jagged pillars cutting open the sky and letting rain burden their passing.

When traversing one of the first paths they were forced to turn back after an avalanche blocked them, the second path they trod evaded them as it split off into many tunnels and valleys to easy to get lost in. The third path was easy if not a little risky as their horses without saddle marched down a thin cliff with fast streams running beneath them and the mountain out into the rocky plateau.

They made it through this landscape and many more, of stone and ice as well as of sea and storm. They found that unlike the mighty capital of their land the land in the east was perpetually split, a city on two sides of a great lake traversed each day by hundreds of small boats. This was a nation forged in the fires of struggle and determination. Neither of the brothers were very fond upon arrival.

Greeting them at the gates a man draped in rough cloth asked them their business. After hearing their stories of a city in the west he laughed and let them in peacefully though it didn’t seem like he believed their story. Oddities such as this continued and tormented Perseus, it was like no one in this city truly cared about outsiders at all, fact and fiction made no difference to them. They just tolerated the perception of others...that was unfamiliar especially when coming from a kingdom of living creators.

The real questions did not arise until they passed from the entrance to the trading districts “Perseus, I always thought you were the more civil of our lot, but i guess i was wrong if you’ve taken us to a city where no one cares who we are or what our goals may be” snorting at the suggestion Perseus remained steadfast “Think what you will, but as the successor to all our institutions i’d have expected you to be revolted by this place, not eager...” he said with a knowing eye. Dionysus like his brother claimed was happy to be in this city, here he wouldn’t be bound my any godly responsibility nor expectation. Here he could shine in a way only he and another fifty percent of the population knew how.

Three days after their arrival a messenger finally arrived for Dionysus, resting his head on stone slabs in a stout building, bottles of wine carpeting the floor.

“The Noble Perseus, son of Forethought and diplomat of all Atlas has requested your presence beside him in the halls of our Chief Agamemnon. To be quick about it too” The young boy asked handing the note to the god once he was finished.

Dionysus picked it up and turning it over saw the handwriting of his busy cousin, this meeting now seemed boring and for a moment there he thought he’d enjoy the company of mad men and interrogators. Not to say his cousin wasn’t either of those...as this meeting would be with one statesmen or another wherever he was.

“Chief’s a pretty ridiculous title. Are you sure he isn’t a king or lord of some type?”

Dionysus asked the boy as they closed in on the square topped pyramid.

“No he is a chief, for he rules our people on this side of the lake. The other chief rules on his side, our gods don’t select our rules we choose them and place them upon the pavilion before the gods.”

“Hmm, i don’t like it” Dionysus said blatantly looking at the fancy colors and rich oranges “not at all...i prefer marble and well...real leaders”

The boy was not impressed and refused to converse with him for the remainder of their walk. When they did arrive he silently disappeared and Dionysus got to enjoy waiting for his brother to finish his own talks with this “Chief” of theirs. A slightly plump man, with little clothing and a spear twice his height. Like everything else in this city Dionysus could only describe him as “Odd”.

When all was said and done, Dionysus rejoined his cousin in a small temple when the moon was high in the sky and the stars were visible...albeit barely as fog cornered this whole region.

“Accomplish anything?” he asked to which Perseus replied in excess “Well I spoke to their leader and convinced him of our plight, to add new allies to our kingdom and discover new lands. He believed us unlike the so called priests he has at his command. Tomorrow I’ll head out to the other side of the lake and visit this Great library they claim to possess. Your task will be to remain here, maybe help them grow a bit and become more civilized. No need to tell savages of our location” at that Perseus smiled a bit preying on the teachings of our many mentors ingrained through countless hours of repetition.

“Yeah...I don’t care. Though, since we have some freedom i guess i could give it a shot” Perseus thinking his gambit had worked mentally stoked himself for the future. Meanwhile Dionysus enjoyed the prospect of no possible supervision for possibly weeks in a city full of miscreants and savages.

In a parade of his own making and atop a chariot of his design, Dionysus “Civilized” the nation.

In his own manner of course. Coming to a stop near the entrance to the city he saw a single figure atop a horse, Grey metal defining broad shoulders. “Uh oh” Tigers turning and running the length of the city the parade began operating in reverse, confusing a great many people and spilling hundreds of wine casks. If he wasn’t so frightened he might have cried, ever desperate to escape he found himself at the end of the city only the port providing refuge.

Perseus was already rounding everyone up with a makeshift army from across the sea when Dionysus asked a destined question “Is there anywhere I can hide?” the rather naughty priestess accompanying him in purple toga whispered of a ship whom they wouldn’t dare hinder. It was there he slept, the priestess a few party goers and his cupbearer [The ex-messenger] keeping him company.

Thus Dionysus went on a wine encouraged voyage and to his brother’s dismay he’d participate in a war.

Continued: Dionysus goes to Troy