As the sharp dirt road meets the smooth paving stones of the town - still warm from the scorching day, you breathe a sigh of relief and go directly to the Centre Square where you drink cool water and sit down. It is here that the grief you felt at your house comes rushing back. Your sobs echo down the black streets away from the town centre where you lie hunched over, shuddering with every cry from deep , deep inside your heart. Your tears and sweat cool your cheek, searing from the exertion on the road before and you sleep.
You awake as a coin hits your head - your clothes are damp with dew but the sun has climbed since it fell and your skin and hair are scorching. "Well, aren't you going to thank me?" a man screams "You filthy street scum, you should sell yourself today and do everyone a favour, although you probably wouldn't fetch much".
As you pull yourself together you slip the coin into a pouch in your shabby toga. Stalls are setting up along the streets and the square is full of carts with cages - some empty, some with chickens and sheep, exotic animals, and slaves., and slaves. Slaves! - Your family have been abducted - it is too much of a co-incidence, a raid the day before the market, they must be here somewhere. You spring to your feet and immediately start searching through the town. Every cart, every cage, every stall must be checked. If you find them before noon you might set them free before they are sold, there will be nothing illegal in that. You whisper a prayer to Agathos Daimon, the guardian of the family, that you might find them.
The sun climbs in the sky, you have seen no sign, asked hundreds of people. The town is now a-buzz with your story and people are offering their support - a man approaches you and draws you down an alley - you are impatient, time is scarce - "Hush up", he shouts, "your family, what's left, is safe. They have been stolen and will be sold as slaves. My master is the thief and he has sent me on an errand before we head out on our journey". "Journey?" you ask. "Yes, your family will not be sold here, you must be stupid, they would be too easily recognised, no, they will go to Hibernia with fifty others to be sold at great profit." "I must rush" you say, "to free them." "Come, says the man, I will show you, but first, I must compete my errand," He takes some bread from his bag and takes a bite. "I am not a free man like you", he offers you a second piece and you take it and eat. Within seconds the poison takes hold and you are with the Gods, and your Father.
You reached level 1, "Dead Peasant".