Ajax 7

Ajax: The main part of the forest Scipio spoke of, and therefore the part most likely to hide the fleeing foe, was a few days travel towards the towns that had recently attacked Miletus. They could reach it, and get back within the week, if they marched fast, and stopped rarely. Most of the enemies who had fled had not stopped to go to ground anywhere nearby Miletus, being too afraid still of the visions of Ajax. There were a few copses closer to the town, but they would not hide men fleeing Ajax's wrath. For the most part, Miletus was surrounded by fields, for cattle grazing. The arena is plotted out in the centre of the field where the enemy soldiers are still smoldering gently, and work is begun excavating the pit for it. It is a project of at least two weeks, as the wood must be dragged from the copses of trees close by, and cut into planks.

The hunt begins, the twin town forces who had routed so badly the day before had scattered, most in the direction of their homes, leaving clear trails leading to the finger of forest that curled around Miletus and extended towards Mt Latmos in the east. Scipio smiles at the foolishness, because travelling by the roads, he can reach their goal area of search a good day before the sniveling cowards in the trees. Being a larger force, they do not often catch up with their enemies, who fled in groups of five and less, and so he felt no qualms about pushing his men a little to arrive where he'd find the most captives for the glory of Ajax.

Meanwhile, Alcaeus heads out with his own group to track the scattered horses, and finds the tracks converging together as their herd instinct asserted itself over their initial terror. He comes across small groups of two and three animals, luring them in with sweet words and handfuls of grain. He eventually heads back with about half of the animals, the others had fled in the direction the armies had marched from. These he pickets close by the town, and sets a few of the youths of the town to watch and care for them. There are almost 60 sound horses brought in from this hunt.

Meanwhile, the twelve prisoners have been locked in an unused storage room with a guard posted, awaiting their fates.

Followers: 430 (some men have succumbed to wounds taken in the short fight)

Miracles: Same as before. You find that anyone who either follows you, or is dedicated to your glory strengthens you when they die, but the most powerful is an unwilling sacrifice, your converts do not have the same flavour nor strength at their death.