As they walked forth, the innkeeper turned to glance back at Pertinax, stumbling in slight shock as he noticed the immediate change to the man. For before his eyes, the oddly dressed stranger was now wearing a similar attire to that of the noble aristocrats, vibrantly red and purple laced his tunic while a finely trimmed beard had appeared across his previously clean shaven face. A golden headlet rested atop his head and his black hair was so cleanly kept that the old innkeeper had no clue as to how one could style their hair in such a way. The thought that immediately flashed through his mind was that he was interacting with a god, as to which god it could be, he silently prayed for it to be one of the more tamed ones.
"M-my lord, forgive me for I did not know. We can return to my humble home and spend no need to bother with such an insignificant task as this with one so divine." Fear laced his voice as his body faintly trembled.
Pertinax glanced at the innkeeper with a raised eyebrow and a mischievous grin. "There is no need for that friend. You stated you would let me stay for a moon's time for free if I helped you reclaim your heirloom. As one of my honor and word, we formed an agreement and I shall keep it such. Your family's heirloom will be returned to you, this I swear."
Sweat beaded the man's head as he fervently looked upon this unnamed god. "Thank you my lord. I give you my word, I will have the finest meal prepared for you as soon as you return, and for everyday you stay. Please, may I ask, whom is it that has blessed my family, to whom does my family owe our worship?"
As they walked through the crowded streets, the faint response whispered through the raucous voices, "Pertinax."
The innkeeper nodded his head before continuing the journey, answering all of Pertinax' questions about the city's economy, allies, politics, military might, and even recent major events in the Greek world before they finally drew upon Alcibiades' manor.
Pertinax studied the extravagant building before him before turning to the innkeeper. "Come on, it will be far easier for you to just point it out as soon as you see it."
The innkeeper froze before nodding his head dejectedly, hoping the god before him was capable of changing his appearance as well so that Alcibiades wouldn't be able to recognize him.
Pertinax then began walking forward, giving no care to the few guards that sat watch at the manors entrance. Rushing after him, the innkeeper kept pace, trying to remain hidden behind Pertinax's back. Though as they got closer to the door, he began to wonder why the guards had yet to call out and order them to stop.
As they drew close, he sucked in his breath in fright, feeling his entire body tense before they just walked right between the two guards and through the entrance. He felt his knees grow weak before dropping to the floor, taking in ragged breaths before looking up at Pertinax who had turned back to watch him, a slight smirk of amusement on his face, and then glanced over his shoulders to notice that even now the guards did not seem to perceive him.
"M-My lord! How is this possible?" He called out while shakily standing back up before brushing off his knees.
Pertinax just glanced at the man, his face still relaxed, before turning his focus back to the rest of the manor. "Focus. We need to look for your family's heirloom, no?"
"Ah, uh yes my lord."
The two then quickly made their way through the mansion, searching each room thoroughly, and the innkeeper having a fright every now and then as they ran into the staff and residents of the manor, yet none seemed to hold a reaction to their presence. No amount of sound or sight tipped the inhabitants of intruders amongst them, and soon, the innkeeper felt a surge of arrogance take his heart as he walked unhindered amongst one of the most noblest of households in the city.
Eventually, the two found themselves entering into a storage chamber filled to the brim with rare metal treasure, jewels, artistic pottery, and even rare and exotic materials and items from both the local region, and from trade routes through the city's port.
Sifting through it all, Pertinax finally lifted the goblet up and glanced towards the innkeeper. "Is this the one?"
"Y-Yes my lord!" The older man shakily cried out as tears welled in his eyes upon seeing the heirloom that his grandfather had passed onto his father and then onto him. "Thank you." He rushed forth to gently take it from Pertinax's hand before quickly cradling it within his tunic.
Pertinax smiled as his eyes glowed golden before returning to their natural hue. A simple psychic enchantment was woven upon the object, after all, unlike his father who stood within the shadows believing and hoping in the best of Mankind; Pertinax knew that he would need to take command and indoctrinate mankind against the lies of Chaos before Chaos could shove their grubby claws into their souls.
"Let us return to your inn." The two quickly turned and made their exit, the innkeeper not noticing Pertinax wave his hand as all the objects and treasures within the room shrunk and disappeared into a small rift that quickly sealed shut, leaving the storage room barren.
Nearing the inn, the innkeeper turned to glance at the god before him. "Lord Pertinax." He paused before continuing, "Are you possibly on your way to Mount Othrys to hear the grand prophecy Gaia intends to share with the Titan King Cronus?"
Pausing, Pertinax glanced at the man, a slight crease of confusion tracing his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"M-my apologies, my lord!" The innkeeper nervously twitched. "I thought all was made aware that the Pamphoros1 Gaia intends to share a vision of the future pertaining to her favorite son, Titan King Cronus, upon the last day of his wedding celebrations to the Meter Megale2, Rhea."
"I see." With a nod of his head, Pertinax returned his attention to what was before him. "Tell me, friend. When is this supposed to take place again?"
"Several mene3 my lord. After Pamphoros Gaia has finished with whatever task she has stated to be busy with."
"I see. In that case, I may make my way there before the great celebration, but until then, I have things I must take care of." Pertinax glanced up towards the city walls, towards the mountain peaks that stood behind them lost in thought before returning his focus to the present, choosing to ignore his growing hope, after all, the stories his father shared of the long lost age was proof enough that Pertinax, as he was now, was alone. As for the so-called "gods" at Mount Othrys. He would investigate the psykers for chaos corruption and deal with them then, after he had secured himself a base of operations. "I wish to retire to my room for the evening if you could be so gracious my friend."
"O-of course my lord!" The innkeep called out before rushing forth to lead Pertinax to the best room they had and then taking his leave so the glorious god could be alone.
Entering the room, Pertinax studied the wool stuffed bed that sprawled before him and the wooden chest at the bed's end before turning his gaze towards the wooden shuttered window.
"So. I have arrived upon this universe's variation of Terra… no Earth… during mankind's 11th to 1st Millenniums Before Christ4. Hell, based on the advancement of this city, I could technically have arrived during the very age I myself had been born back in the Warhammer 40k Universe as son of Alexander the Great. But then the biggest issue is those so called gods on Mount Othrys. My father did mention stories of psykers who had once claimed those titles, but they had ended up dying out on their own due to their own wars and due to the sentient awakenings of Nurgle, Tzeench, and Khorne. They may inadvertently be following in the same path, though I haven't sensed any other psykers upon the planet. I should do a thorough sweep tonight.
I can leave them to themselves for now and should focus on trying to lay claim to this city state so as to begin building up proper advancements for the coming war. Maybe I should take a look and see what is going on currently, take a quick sneak peek. After all, those bastards never did realize I was watching them.
1. Pamphoros: Ancient greek title used in relation to Gaia meaning: "all-bearing, similar to mother of all"
2. Meter Megale: Ancient greek title used in relation to Rhea, Mother of the Gods and one of the first goddesses of motherhood; means great mother
3. Ancient Greek word used to mean the moon or month, most likely in reference to the lunar cycle from new moon to new moon.
4. The reason I chose to use Before Christ instead of BCE (Which is also referred to as the Imperial Record) is due to the fact that in lore Emps actually traveled and hung out with Christ finding him intriguing (probably eyeing up the fact that a human deity had a physical embodiment if we are to go off the whispers that the Primarchs have pseudo human god souls and that Sanguinious' soul is basically the soul of God and Heaven) and then one of the Emperor's closest perpetual friends was also an avid worshiper in Christianity, even though he was a perpetual psyker and had witnessed everything Emps could do.