Alexandros, budding hero of Epirus and spiritual successor of Achilles himself, thrust his spear through a bundle of leaves with a mock war-cry. He lifted the weapon high, crinkled brown detritus falling from the head and scattering across the shoulders of his bronze armour. Holding the long weapon firmly in his right hand he thrust the butt into the earth and used the shaft as a hiking stick as he climbed up a small rocky hillside. With his other hand encumbered by his Aspis Shield climbing could be somewhat difficult, and even in the relatively cool hours leading towards dusk the heat under his helmet made it tough going. Still, Alexandros was a hero, and heroes had to suffer hardship every once in a while. With a youthful enthusiasm that seemed undaunted by the task at hand, the young warrior trudged on. He’d found perhaps the highest point in the Gorge to climb, a short hill a half mile from the river which meandered through the area. From there he hoped to spot any signs of smoke or fire, which would reveal to him the location of a bandit camp stowed away in the forested Gorge.

The hill was only sparsely populated with mostly bare trees, but great piles of leaves had accumulated, hence his choice of playful target for a bit of spear practice. The strong young hero bounced up the last few feet with a sudden burst of energy and reached the top, letting out a brief sigh of relief. Climbing up hills in armour was never pleasant, not even for a hero. He span on his heel and plonked himself down, arranging the short-sword at his side and stabbing his spear into the ground with its butt-spike. Before him a fair view had developed, as he could see over the tops of the trees spread before him and spot the river beyond, glistening in the fading sunlight. With a casual disregard for a sight he had seen many times before, Alexandros allowed himself to sink into the soft grass and closed his eyes a moment. 

“Well. It would be best if I were to get to work.” He decided finally, sitting up with a start and looking all around, he stood with an exhale of breath and picked up his spear, looking out over the tree-line for signs of cooking fires. 

“Now where might you be?”