A Strange Trojan War – Part 1
The united Greek army set out to destroy Troy.
Most of those gathered were the next generation of heroes, ones who had not participated in the voyage of the Argo or the hunt for the Calydonian Boar.
However, what they grew up hearing from their parents were the grand epics of great heroes.
Cadmus, Perseus, Bellerophon, Asclepius, and Orpheus... culminating in the tales of the mightiest of them all, Heracles.
These warriors trained with dreams of making their names known and their fame resound like the legendary heroes of myth.
They believed that through this campaign against Troy, they too could rise from obscurity and achieve glory.
"For Helen, who was abducted by that treacherous prince of Troy!"
"No matter what cunning schemes he used to take her, he will pay for it..."
"We should seek divine prophecies about this war. If the gods grant us their favor, surely..."
Among them was Menelaus, the man whose wife had been taken by Paris, and his older brother, Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae.
Joining them were other heroes like Ajax, prince of Salamis, and Diomedes, renowned for his prowess despite his young age.
Notable heroes like Theseus and Jason were absent from the army.
They had not been suitors of Helen, and having already established great reputations, they felt no need to participate.
"War, you say? Not against monsters, but men? Ha, the world’s really changed for the better."
"Indeed. Back in our day, monsters were everywhere, attacking anyone who set foot outside the city."
"Isn't it your fault, slaying all the monsters in your quest for glory?"
"You joined me, spear in hand, Idas, so what are you complaining about?"
The previous generation of heroes, those who had even trained in the Underworld’s barracks, were unimpressed by this war, even if it promised great achievements.
In fact, only two veterans of the older generation joined the campaign.
"I thought this was a war for the young, but it seems there’s at least one familiar face."
One was Nestor, king of Pylos.
"I’m not really interested in the war itself. I’m just here to convince my little sister to come back. What about you? Are you here just to kill time?"
The other was Polydeuces (Pollux), one of Helen’s two older brothers and a master of pankration.
Responding to a request from his sister’s husband, Menelaus, he warmed up casually, a confident smile on his face.
Naturally, a war involving so many Greek states prompted prophecies from the gods.
However, the oracle they received was strange, to say the least.
The outcome of the war is no longer in human hands.
"What on earth does that mean?"
"Are the gods deciding it themselves? If so, the odds are in our favor, right?"
"Of course. Why would the gods tolerate that vile Paris?"
"But doesn’t Troy worship Apollo? Surely the Sun God..."
Confused by the bizarre oracle, they turned to Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, reputed to be the wisest man in Greece.
Since he had proposed the Oath of the Suitors, they naturally assumed he would be present.
"Where’s King Odysseus?"
"He hasn’t come at all, has he?"
"...?"
Odysseus was nowhere to be found.
Ithaca
Odysseus, king of the small island nation of Ithaca, was a man who knew his limitations well.
Numerous examples illustrate his cunning.
For instance, when Odysseus first traveled to Sparta as a suitor for Helen, he quickly realized he stood no chance against the more powerful contenders.
So, he proposed an alternative:
"You must have your hands full with so many suitors vying for your daughter."
"...?"
"If you give me Penelope, I’ll show you a way to resolve this situation. Have all the suitors swear an oath to band together against anyone who tries to disrupt the marriage..."
Thus, he advised Helen’s foster father, Tyndareus, to demand the Oath of the Suitors.
But that wasn’t the end of his cunning.
As the king of a small nation, Odysseus had to choose its patron deity carefully.
Troy worshipped Apollo, Thebes honored Pluto, and Athens revered Athena. The choice of patron god could determine a nation's rise or fall.
‘We need a god who is both authoritative and merciful, someone who would pay attention to a small kingdom like ours without being overshadowed by other gods.’
After much deliberation, Odysseus reached a decision.
‘Long ago, the princess of Arcadia and the prince of Calydon held their wedding in Thebes. Their connection stems from the training grounds of heroes that once existed there. By worshiping Pluto, Thebes, Arcadia, and Calydon formed a tri-nation alliance. Even Seriphos follows this example... Perhaps Ithaca should also honor Pluto?’
Though the Underworld was an unsettling association, Pluto’s dominion over wealth, mercy, and justice was appealing.
If Ithaca could slip into an alliance with the tri-nation pact, the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks.
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"Hear me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Ithaca shall worship Pluto, the god of wealth and mercy. Build a temple immediately and appoint priests..."
Thus, Ithaca became a kingdom devoted to Pluto.
Through this cunning move, Odysseus successfully integrated Ithaca into the alliance, earning the respect of Thebes and praise as a wise ruler from his people.
Now, upon receiving a letter from Menelaus asking him to join the war, Odysseus sought guidance from the temple of Pluto.
As expected, the Lord of the Underworld was strongly opposed to the war.
Judging it unwise to defy his patron deity, Odysseus firmly refused the summons.
"Lord Odysseus, Menelaus has sent me to ask for your aid in the campaign against Troy."
"I’m sorry, but Pluto, Ithaca’s patron deity, does not favor my participation in the war."
"Pardon? But you proposed the Oath of the Suitors—"
"Regardless, I cannot go against my god's wishes."
When the envoy pressed further, Odysseus dismissed him with a suggestion:
"Why not bring along Achilles? He’s the son of the hero Peleus and the goddess Thetis, isn’t he?"
"We’ve already persuaded him. Though he tried hiding in disguise, we identified him by his interest in tales of Heracles."
"Then you don’t need me. There’s no prophecy saying my presence is essential to victory."
"Hmm..."
Despite the envoy's persistence, Odysseus, emboldened by his alliance with the tri-nation pact, was unyielding.
Using Pluto as his excuse, he declined to the very end.
"Fine! I’ll report this to Lord Menelaus!"
"Do as you will."
Odysseus: absent.
Achilles: discovered and reluctantly joins.
Troy
Meanwhile, in Troy, King Priam grew increasingly anxious as news of the approaching Greek forces reached him.
"Last night, Pluto sent Morpheus to me again. They say the Underworld is aligned with justice. What could this mean?"
"Pluto is the god of fairness and mercy. Perhaps he seeks to aid the side he deems more righteous?"
"But we built a temple for Pluto, and he promised to help Troy..."
"To earn the support of a god of fairness, shouldn’t we ensure our actions are just?"
The king’s advisors began debating.
The consensus was clear: Troy’s actions were far from righteous.
"Your Majesty, this war began because of us. Perhaps Pluto is pointing this out?"
"Because of that scoundrel Paris and the woman he brought here? What am I supposed to do about it?"
"If the Greek army sets foot on Trojan soil, we must return the woman Paris took."
"But that would be conceding to their demands..."
Returning Helen might seem like the simplest solution, but it wasn’t that straightforward.
It would undermine Paris’s status, Troy’s pride, and their stance in international politics.
Handing over a woman chosen by a prince, even under questionable circumstances, would signify weakness.
Moreover, according to Paris, Helen was a gift from Aphrodite herself...
"Your Majesty, Pluto has sent two prophecies already. Surely, the god of fairness is deeply invested in this matter."
"Your Majesty, if we must choose between Aphrodite and Pluto, shouldn’t we prioritize the greater deity?"
"Mortals inevitably face just judgment in the afterlife. Please remember this."
The aging king furrowed his brow, gripping his head in frustration.
If Paris was indeed guilty, he would face consequences in the Underworld. Perhaps returning Helen now would lessen his eventual punishment.
A war significant enough to draw Pluto’s attention... and Apollo remains silent? Oh dear...
After much deliberation, King Priam finally spoke.
"Send away the woman who brought calamity to Troy."
Yes, his son had done wrong. Returning Helen was the first step.