Pertinax Macedon opened his eyes, groaning as he clutched his head before his eyes widened upon noticing the vibrant azure sky and the plentiful green of plant life that now surrounded him. As he slowly sat up, he continued to look about him, taking in the beautiful nature of the planet he was now on; listening to the birds singing and feeling the gentle, cool breeze blowing against his skin.
A heavy sigh left his mouth as the memories came to him; the fragments of who he was before his rebirth, his entire life as the son of Alexander the Great, or more well known in his last two decem millennium (20,000 years), the God Emperor of Mankind, and finally his purpose. A sad smile graced his lips as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "Good bye," a slight pause followed, carrying the weight of many unspoken emotions before he softly continued, "Father."
Sighing heavily, Pertinax squared his shoulders before straightening his commissar uniform and looking up at the forested mountains that surrounded him. As he walked through the woods, he cycled through his knowledge, rushing to plan out what steps he would need to take first to complete the mission, his purpose; though a small quiver deep in his heart shook as he silently hoped that there would be more for him than just duty, for he feared of walking the same lonely path as his father.
As several hours passed, Pertinax would send out a small psychic burst spanning several miles around him in search of any form of civilization, though found nothing except for a gentle stream tumbling down the mountain that had taken his interest for possibly settling upon.
The mountain's serenity eased his heart, a sense of peace that he had long since forgotten after the end of Mankind's 3rd Millennium. A smile graced his lips as he took in the babbling crook before turning and following it downstream. Maybe it would lead him to civilization, and if he found no city at the stream's end, then he would return to this mountain to begin forging his path, alone though undesirably.
For forty days and forty nights, the lonely man walked, using the stream's resources to sate his hunger and thirst. And out of the wilderness he walked, for from the forest's edge, Pertinax saw the towering, though crude, stone walls of the city nestled along the coastline. Towering temples and manors peaked out atop hills within the city and wood smoke billowed into the radiant sky of the setting sun that slowly lowered against the city's backdrop into the ocean.
As he drew nearer the city, a small smile tugged at his lips. An old memory had been faintly jostled due to the city walls looking extremely similar to that of the ancient Greek walls of Terra, ones he had grown up seeing while as prince of Macedonia. Small, earthen hovels lay scattered around the wall, of which he quickly assumed was either as home or storage for the peasant farmers, or geomoroi, as he had known them then.
As he drew closer to the city, the geomoroi and other travelers immediately took notice of him as his advanced commissar attire drastically stood out to the chiton (tunic) and peploi (longer "woman" tunic) wearing peasants and merchant caravans.
He could hear the murmur of their whispers as they quietly spoke amongst themselves while looking upon him. He paused, taking a few seconds to process their language and sift through his memories until he could recall the language and dialect, allowing him to understand them; though as he did so, surprise flashed in his heart for he was able to recognize their language as Ancient Greek, though a dialect form belonging to that of the Illyrians.
Walking towards the nearest geomoroi Pertinax gave a gentle smile as he waved and spoke ancient Greek, "Good afternoon friend! Could you tell me by chance what city that is?"
The man glanced at his companions before warily looking back at Pertinax as he continued eying his weird attire. "The port city, Epidamnos." He slowly stated, before quickly rushing off with his companions to continue their work tending to the fields.
Pertinax watched them, to an extent, flee from his presence before turning back towards Epidamnos, or what was known as Durres, Albania during mankind's 3rd Millennium.
He strode towards the city, the couple hoplite guards swiftly moving to encircle him as their commander firmly called out, "Halt Traveler!"
Pertinax froze as he raised his hands, leaving his chainsword and laspistol at his sides while staring directly into the eyes of the commander. The older middle aged man paused as his gaze made contact with the foreign man, a shiver traveling up his spine as he realized, 1) this was a fellow warrior standing before him, and 2) he was strong. The commander couldn't make out what was telling him this, however his gut screamed not to engage in a fight and so, he chose to follow its lead, remaining courteous as he called out while keeping his dory spear pointed to the sky. "Where do you come from, stranger? And what brings you to our city?"
With a soft grin, his response carried across the gentle breeze. "I am just a wary wanderer, making his way about the world to learn its secrets and to share my knowledge. I came with the intent of finding a place to settle for a while, to make some coin, to gain some food. I bring no threat to your home, and I can leave after three moons time if that would make you comfortable."
The commander pauses as he thinks before nodding his head and backing a few steps away before turning his gaze towards one of his fellow guards. "Agapetos, stay with this man until he finds residency and then return to your post." Turning his head towards another closer guard, he softly whispered under his breath, "Alcaeus, go report back to the council about this man after he has departed."
"Understood sir." Alcaeus' deep voice softly carried out as Pertinax walked through the gate with Agapetos walking beside him.
A warmth filled Pertinax's heart as he took in the bustling, crowded dirt streets as stalls and wooden overhangs jutted out into the street while the crowd traveled to and fro. Smaller passages branched from the main street every now and then through the dried mud brick buildings. The last time he had seen such a peaceful and prosperous looking environment was on the agriworld Iax in the Ultima Segmentum region during the cusp of the 41st millenium, just before Cadia's fall and the beginning of the end of the cosmos.
"Agapetos correct?" Pertinax looked at the soldier, choosing to withdraw from his memories and return his focus onto the present.
The bronze armored hoplite nodded his head as he looked towards the strangely dressed man.
"Is there a tavern or inn that you would possibly recommend? One that is open to negotiating delayed payment? I sadly have no coins upon me at the moment." Pertinax studied the soldier, though he quickly noticed the growing silence of the crowds around them as more and more residents and merchants of the city noticed his apparel and began studying him as he traveled by.
"This way, stranger." Agapetos turned down one of the narrower side streets, leading him to a small two story building before knocking on the wooden door. "Here."
Pertinax nodded at him before stepping into the inn, noting the small tavern and the keep behind the counter. The older man, about to call out, paused as he took in Pertinax's appearance. "Looking for a room stranger? It costs you two drachma1 a night and three obol2 for a single meal."
Pertinax raised an eyebrow, noting the expensiveness of the inn though deemed it slightly understandable in the sense that most travelers between the city states would be merchants, sailors, or warriors filled with coins and treasure, all of whom would have the coinage to spare for such a cost.
"I'm afraid I have no coins to give, though I was hoping if there would be a way I could give service in exchange for staying until I find a suitable enough job to make some coin." He studied the innkeeper, watching his face to see his reaction.
A slightly thoughtful, though sly look flashed across the innkeeper's eyes as he paused before gruffly speaking while stroking his beard. "I could let you stay for a moon's time for free, if you can reclaim a precious heirloom that was taken from me by aristocrat Alcibiades."
Narrowing his eyes, Pertinax stared at the innkeeper warily. "And, may I ask, what does this heirloom look like?"
A chuckle broke the man's lips, "A golden chalice with the depiction of the goddess Rhea on one side, a twin serpent handle, and a depiction of a boar on the other side of the chalice."
"And where would I find this chalice?"
"Of course, at lord Alcibiades' manor on the northern edge of the city. I can lead you to it, but how you get it and return it to me is entirely up to you." The innkeeper then turned and called out to his eldest son to man the inn before he walked out, guiding Pertinax through the streets once more as they made their way North.