The group of four walked over polished light colored tiles toward the row of tall white marble columns that ran into the distance and out of sight in both directions. Each column was eight feet in diameter and bore fluted shafts with deep flowering engravings at their wide bases. He was not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but it didn’t take a genius to tell that the level of detail and beauty achieved with the contruction and carving on each completed by Star Child masters in the classic Corinthian. Not an expert on ancient Greek architecture by any stretch of the imagination, Josh was unaware of this. Still he was impressed them, estimating their height at fifty feet with approximately twenty-five feet of spacing between them. Their shear number was also nothing to sneeze at. Josh found himself enhancing his sight in a failed attempt to see the end of the line of alabaster pillars. They continued in their straight line over the declining terraced steps of green hills. It reminded him of the flowing sections of China’s great wall he had seen in the movies and posters back home. Taking all into account, and given why they were coming here, Josh suspected this incredible feet of masonry marked one of the borders of the stadium he and Sen would be competing in. This is going to be a contest on a large scale. He told himself. Well Joshy, your standing on the roiling surface of a giant gas cloud primed and ready to burst into nuclear fire…should anything here really surprise you? Ya I know, I’m not in Kansas any more he admitted. Then stopped talking to himself.
The two Titans, either oblivious or uncaring about Josh’s solo conversations, lead them up the first of three flights of low, wide carrera marble steps toward the front of the cavalcade. Now that they were closer, Josh could see a partially opaque, sparkling blue/grey barrier that stretched between the massive columns. Shapes and shadows could be seen through it, but fine details weren’t distinguishable. The only thing he could make out through it for sure was high rising, tiered stadium seating to the left. What was likely another layer of shielding lay over it preventing him from seeing who, if anyone, was seated there.
Underfoot was another broad parapet of pirstine sandstone tiles that ended approximately fifty feet away. Following after that was what appeared to be a vast, vast expanse of roughly flat undeveloped ground holding absolutely nothing. One huge empty space…
At this point in their cultivatory path, Josh had no delusions that any metaphorical light he could see at the end of the preverbal tunnels he and Sen were dragged screaming into were the rays of a dawning sun. Nope. That light wasn’t even from an oncoming locomotive. Something like that we could deal with. He had found that it was always best to assume that any light speeding on an intercept course with him and Sen’s path were the system lights on incoming ICBMs. Be that as it may. Standing here in this massive Star Child version of Madison Square Garden, they were certain they were on Karma’s path. And that was the cosmic autobahn toward Sophie. As such, he and Sen were going to see it through.
But…
What exactly is this Tavfl?
And what do we have to do to win it?
Whether Karma was backing Gaia’s shanghaiing of them into the Sun Surface Olympics or not, they needed that information to survive the carnage that would inevitably follow. And, now that they were standing in a stadium big enough to encompass any of the Benelux countries, maybe all of them, Josh felt he also needed this information right now!
Well first starts at home doesn’t it. Josh decided to check with Sen first. Flicking his eyes to his Karmic brother, ~Do you know anything about this Tavfl?~
Sen lifted his shoulders noncommittally. ~All I know is that on your world Tafl…~ Sen stressed the pronunciation with a ‘V’ sound, then continued, ~is a board game played by ancient Scandinavians to train the strategy of junior warriors. But I suspect that whatever purpose requires force shielding for those attending, along with the world beyond, has little to do with tactical training for young fighters. I believe the Titans are planning to tell us something more, but I suppose you should ask them at this point. Gaia did say they were supposed to prepare us.~
Josh raised his brows. ~Good point. But why not you? Unless I miss my guess, a fight is coming up here. Fights are war the last time I checked. ~ Josh unsubtly reminded Sen of the division of their public speaking labors. Sen covered all topics involving war and combat. Josh took the lead on all conversations involving political issues. Which lately, he couldn’t help but notice, seemed to be everything.
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Sen rolled his eyes. ~How amusing you think so. But I certainly hope we are not planning on a war with the Titans. Therefore, this conversation is political. Your side of things.~ Sen looked away and pointedly ignored Josh.
Josh’s eyes bulged out at Sen. ~Fine! But after this, you and I are going to have a long talk to redefine this division of conversational labor!~
Sen turned back with a canary swallowing grin. ~Whatever you say brother. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time for it.~
The female Titan walked up to the center of the shielding between the two pillars directly in front of them, and an interactive display appeared on its surface. She entered a long series of symbols with both hands that Josh’s Interface also couldn’t translate. A rectangular gap in the barrier appeared before her, and she waved them through before stepping across herself and restoring the barrier with a single tap.
Once through the cacophony of a massive crowd's innumerable conversations came from behind the shielding of the five stories of seating to his left. And, aside from the grit cracking under his steps on the stone flooring…that was it as far as new information went on what was happening.
Realizing that this was as good a time as any to ask the questions burning in his mind, Josh turned to the young-appearing Titan and spoke through his friendliest door-to-door salesman’s smile, “Hi, I’m Josh. That’s my brother, Sen.” He gestured to Sen with his right hand. “Which Titan, um …who are…umm what should we call you … ahh him, errr both of you?” Josh trailed off as the young female Titan raised a brow over a steely stare and lifted her hand, indicating he should stop speaking.
As a boy, Josh had been mildly interested in ancient history and mythology. He had even taken a book on the subject out of his Catholic school library once or twice. Back then, he had known most of the main gods and goddesses by name and power. He wouldn’t have been able to recognize any of them on sight. How could he? It wasn’t like they had pictures on their Insta… But even now, he recalled that there hadn’t been a lot of information on the Titans. Given his epic fail at introducing him and Sen, Josh quickly wracked his brain for what he did remember … The information was scant.
There had been twelve Titans. Cronos was the youngest and greatest. He had swallowed all his children to prevent them from rising up against him. His last son, Zeus, had been secreted away by his mother, Rhea. She had slipped Cronos a baby-sized rock instead. Thus, being saved, the young godling had been raised in Crete. Not liking the whole ‘father ate my brothers and sisters’ thing, Zeus ultimately grew up to defeat his father and the Titans that stood with him. Once beaten they had been locked in Hades, where he and Sen had first found the long-forgotten Cronos.
Josh vaguely recalled a small reference that some of the less offensive Titans had assisted Zeus’s side in the battle between Cronos and his children. After the struggle, these Titans were allowed to continue living with their ruling descendants. This had all happened before the Time of Heroes. Before the legends of demigonds like Odysseus, Achilles, and Hector had taken place. Sometime before 1600 BC, roughly.
The resultant power vacuum from the Titans being taken out made space for the rise of Zeus’s Olympic pantheon of gods, at least on Josh’s Earth. There hadn’t been a lot of details, and that was about all he could pull from his mind while standing under the withering gaze the powerhouse in the form of a very fit young woman telling him to shut up.
In reflection, some part of Josh’s mind couldn’t help but point out that the Titans had never had a big marketing push that enhanced their branding. Compounding that, they had been out of circulation for a very long time. At least human-speaking-wise. Still, being stared down from the perfect but now cold features of the young and immensely powerful being in front of him gave rise to some very anxious thoughts. The biggest one being, Is she mad at me for not recognizing her?
Josh decided waiting for her to make the next verbal move was the smart play, his lips smacked together as he did so. And he didn’t have to wait long as she cut to the heart of the matter.
“I am Theia, mistress of light and beauty. Life mated with my brother Hyperion,” she nodded once to the male Titan standing at Sen’s side. “The master of wisdom and vigilance.” A tone of instruction filled her words, “What is pertinent for you both is that Huitzilopochtli, the leader of the Aztec Clan, has elected Tafl as the first game to establish who will control of the Sol Throne and the reformation of the Stelate Creaturix.” The stern tone of her words was softened by the concerned look that had overcome the initial mild irritation on the statuesque woman’s youthful face. Josh could tell that even she considered Huitzilopochtli’s involvement and the choice of Tafl as less than good news.
Reasonably sure he wasn’t about to be smote by the Titan of Beauty, Josh’s inner mouthpiece took over. “Ya– That’s what Gaia said, but what is tavfl…” Josh again stumbled over the pronunciation of the archaic word but was able to keep his questioning tirade going. “Who are we playing against? What do we have to do? And most importantly, how do we win?” The staccato tone of Josh’s words kept pace with the sudden sense of urgency he was feeling standing in the massive place with an unseen but raucous crowd all around them.
The young Titan’s classically beautiful features became a thoughtful expression as if she was about to speak. Then, suddenly, she grabbed Josh’s right bicep in an iron grip and spun him around to face the open land that proceeded after the fifty feet of sandstone parapet. Hyperion did he same with Sen.
A disembodied and somehow familiar voice echoed from everywhere all at once, “LET'S GET READY TO RUMMMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEE!!!”