A Phonecian's Desire

[Hiram IV]

Into the forum of the mighty Spartan empire strode a man of obviously foreign birth. He obviously had skin of a much darker tone, for this was the Phonecian king Hiram. He strides the streets of the city regally. As he walks he begins to wonder to himself over the power Sparta has over the penensula they inhabit. They seemed to be a small number of people yet they dominated the surrounding area.

It must be their skill in force of arms, my people once dominated the coasts all over the Mediterranean thanks simply to our magnificent fleets. Albeit we did not advance inland but still this was a mighty feat.

As he takes a seat upon the cold, hard ground he continues to ponder this question, thumbing through it in his mind.

Open to RP!

[Iolanthe]

Given the freedom to roam by Pausanias, who, for a Spartan, was fairly diplomatic considering who she was, Iolanthe decided to explore the forum. Though not too much, for fear that someone might notice she was Persian and do away with her without an explanation. But she had to admire the beautiful Greek architecture. It was all so delicate and exotic. It was spectacular that a single city could build such monuments.

As she was idly sauntering through the Forum, she saw a man. Who was...sitting on the ground. Interested, but wary, the Persian made a wide arc around him; from his clothes, he didn't seem to be Spartan, and as she got closer - he definitely wasn't. There was something familiar about his facial build; a race she had seen before. But she didn't know where.

"You're not Persian..." Iolanthe said finally. It wasn't a question. "Egypt?" she asked. One of the many nations Xerxes had conquered.

[Hiram IV]

As he notices the young woman's approach Hiram discontinues the thought he had been having. This woman, much like him, is obviously not a Spartan. She looked to be Persian so it was intresting that she would ask him if he was. Stepping up from the hard ground upon which he had been sitting he marches forward and in a deep, emotional voice says:

No, I am no Persian, nor am I an Egyptian, I am Phonecian. My name is Hiram. And you are?

[Iolanthe]

No, I am no Persian, nor am I an Egyptian, I am Phonecian. My name is Hiram. And you are?

Phonecian? Iolanthe was shocked. Her eyes widened a little, the only physical note of her surprise. What was a Phonecian doing here? Didn't they owe their alliance to Xerxes? Then again, she was Persian and didn't owe her alliance to that monster. Interesting.

"Hiram. It is a pleasure. I am...Iolanthe, a guest at the house of Leonidas nephew, Pausanias. Are you here to speak to the King as well?"

It was her nosy-but not so nosy- way of asking why he was here. Was he an ally?

[Hiram IV]

This woman seemed surprised that a Phonecian would be here to speak to the king of Sparta. It should not come as such, the Phonecians were not given the same oppurtunities as others under the harsh Persian regime. With a smile still lighting his face he begins to speak again:

Yes, as a matter of fact I have already had a very good conversation with him. I have come to ask him, one king to another if he would aid me in freeing my people from the fool Xerxes.

[Iolanthe]

Iolanthe couldn't help the smile at Hiram's less-than-respectful name for the so-called godking. She dropped her gaze to keep her response as modest as possible, and considered how honest she should be with him. Ah, well, they were on the same side...somewhat. Though he was a king, albeit a deposed one, and Iolanthe did offer a respectful sort of deep nod on her part. She was not about to get on her hands and knees - as Xerxes required, but she was speaking to royalty.

"What a coincidence, King Hiram," Iolanthe replied with a bemused smile, "I too am here to speak to Leonidas. It seems not all of Persia is as...enthusiastic to the Godking's reign as he seems to believe." The smile faded; he was a monster, that's what he was. "Xerxes is not his father."

[Hiram IV]

Smiling at the woman's use of his title of "king", Hiram smiles. He did not think himself a god as the monstrous Xerxes did. He was in fact the head preist of the god Baal. He would always be loyal to his god and to no other. Though his father was disgraced by bowing to the fool until his death, Hiram would reclaim the throne of his homeland.

Do not bother to call me king now, for I am not back on the throne just yet. Simply know me as Hiram. I do not wish to be like Xerxes, I do not think myself a god. Xerxes is not whos father m'lady?

[Iolanthe]

Hiram smiled, which at least was positive in that he didn't mistrust her for being Persian. She nearly smiled back, but his next words stopped her. Do not bother to call me king now... What right did Xerxes have, robbing a man of his kingdom? Like locusts his armies swallowed up everything that was good...

"No one could ever be as evil as he is," Iolanthe admitted honestly. "Xerxes...is no one's father, I hope." As if he should procreate. "I mean to say...Darius was neither as cruel nor as mad as he son seems to be." She hesitated. "Don't you think?"

[Hiram IV]

At this statement Hiram becomes engrossed in thought again for a moment. It was true that everyone was someone's child but sometimes he wondered about Xerxes. Such a man was so horrible that it was hard to believe he came from the loins of one of the mightiest leaders in recent history.

Yes, both Darius and his father Cyrus were very able leaders. My great-grandfather saw the might of Cyrus and allowed him the use of his territories for a navy but nonetheless he was still king. It was the same during my grandfather's reign which occured at the same time as Darius'. Then came Xerxes, as soon as he ascended he threw down my father from his throne and had him executed, I barely escaped with my life. This was but a year ago.

[Iolanthe]

Iolanthe agreed. She'd heard stories from others, older Persians who mourned the loss of the old reign. And she wondered what her fate might be now if it wasn't for Xerxes' ascension to the throne. Not to mention, as the Phonenician admitted, they were far more fair. Compromise, rather than domination. Xerxes knew nothing but oppression.

"How have you managed to remain undetected, for a year? Surely Xerxes would like nothing more than to eliminate all threats to his so-called kingship."

[Hiram IV]

At this Hiram frowns, he had done many things he would rather not speak of, especially to a woman, in order to garner his own survival. He was the king and the people had fought for him but still he was ashamed of himself.

Lets just say alot had to be sacrificed for my survival. Now let us speak of you. What has your life been like?

[Iolanthe]

Hiram frowned, and Iolanthe was certain she had said something wrong, but as the Persian considered her words, she could not think of what. Perhaps she did not need to know what had occured during the deposed king's tribulations - it could have been dangerous information to possess. And while she was curious, she did not wish to further sink into political intrigues.

Now let us speak of you. What has your life been like?

"That is quite...a question," Iolanthe said honestly, and hesitantly. There was nowhere to begin, and she did not trust anyone with her past. There were always those who were willing to use it against you, and she would rather not recall her sins.

"It is nothing of interest..." she added carefully, before allowing, "I daresay I do not my life before the day I gave my last glance to Persia." That was indeed the pinnacle-her escape. Iolanthe gave a small bittersweet smile to Hiram,

"Our pasts cannot be helped. And in these troubled times, old sins hardly weigh in upon the scale of righteousness." Not with Xerxes so violently tipping such justice into the abyss. It did not matter; what mattered was the alliance.

[Hiram IV]

The young woman's answer did not entirely suit him, it was not very informative. Nonetheless it was acceptable and he would not bother her with more, it was clear that was all she wished to say to him. He smiles to her once again.

So have you heard anything of when the Spartans are to move againest the "Great" king?

[Pasiphaë]

(I hope you don't feel I am invasive here...I apologize if so)

"I have heard plenty," Pasiphaë declared, her voice cool with distaste. She had overheard distinctly accented voices discussing Leonidas, discussing Xerxes whilst she was passing through the forum. The Spartan widow engaged her curiosity in getting a glimpse of the foreigners, and both seemed to be dark skinned. Perhaps even Persian? The woman, surely.

Pasiphaë crossed her arms over the Spartan dress, and frowned at the two from beneath dark brown locks.

"Though whether Spartan plans are your business remains to be seen." She paused, then bluntly inquired, "What are you doing in a Spartan forum, strangers? You are not Greeks." The unspoken threat? You are not welcome here. She did not like newcomers. She was prejudiced, like many Spartans.

[Hiram IV]

Turning to the woman Hiram smiles. This is a clearly Spartan woman. She was proper in this place. It was not entirely odd that she was distrustful of him as a foreigner. He had wondered how long it would be before he met with the typical Spartan xenophobia. Hiram begins to speak to the new stranger who had come to speak to him:

I am Hiram, the deposed Phonecian king. I have come here to Sparta to ask for her aid in my rebellion againest the despicable king of Persia. I have sworn my aid to Sparta for as long as she provides aid to my kingdom. And you are?