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Ariadne
Arisal Archila (Head
Beekeeper)
Quilla
(Archer)
Ariadne carries herself with the pride befitting a princess of
Krete- and like a woman who has nothing but pride left.
Growing up in the Royal Palace of Krete among her father’s
myriad children-she often thought that the whispers that her
father was truly the son of Zeus Thunderer by Europa were based
simply on his astounding numbers of progeny), Ariadne learned the
art of statecraft at her father’s knee. All of the children
royal-Ariadne and her brothers Androgeus, Deucalion, Glaucus,
Catreus, and her sisters Acalle, and Phaedra-were made to spend
time observing as Minos meted out justice and managed the vast
thalassocracy that was Krete. Though all the royal children were
tutored, there was also plenty of time to run wild through the
passages of the enormous palace complex and seemingly limitless
gardens. Acalle, Ariadne, and the boys would often sneak into the
soldiers’ practice yard to watch them train, or into the stables
to admire the priceless horses. Phaedra preferred to remain
indoors, learning to weave and playing with her dolls like a good
girl-and occasionally tattling on her siblings.
As she grew, Ariadne began to question her place in the
universe. Was it enough to simply be a political pawn as Phaedra
seemed content to be, and marry to cement an alliance? Androgeus
was dead in war with Athens, Deucalion crippled and learning the
role of counselor, Glaucus was intending to join the priesthood
(he’d been odd since his miraculous recovery from being
smothered in honey), and Catreus was set to inherit Krete when
King Minos (heaven forefend!) should die. And her elder sister
Acalle was best not spoken of since she had birthed a son and run
off when Minos demanded his exposure. She did not know what was
out there, but there must be something beyond an idle life. She
had a desire to make her own way in the world, perhaps as a
soldier, but few Kretan women fought in battle these days, and a
princess would not be allowed to join the ranks. Queen Pasiphae
noticed her daughter’s ambivalence and sent her to the temple of
the Great Serpent, Mother of All, for religious training and
spiritual guidance.
The years spent in the temple were among the happiest Ariadne
had known. She learned to care for the snakes housed therein, even
raising one for herself. Eventually, she was allowed to undergo
the first rite of initiation. Before leaving the temple to return
to the Labrynthos as a woman, Ariadne was cautioned by the High
Priestess to not shilly-shally about with her spiritual training.
The Priestess warned Ariadne of the dangers lurking for initiates
and told her to return when she had matured.
Upon her return to the palace, Ariadne fell back into the
routine of palace life. She spent time with her mother’s ladies
in the women’s quarters, weaving and spinning, she examined
scrolls in the palace library, and she practiced with a weapons
master, keeping her body fit. Too much time was spent staring at
nothing, wandering elaborately mosaiced empty rooms. Out of her
immense boredom, she even spent time with her sister Phaedra,
learning womanly arts for the first time. (Phaedra had spent only
a few months at the temple upon menarche; Ariadne privately
thought that her sister’s only devotions were to her own
reflection.) Pasiphae was thrilled to teach her daughter the uses
of kohl and malachite, porphyry and scented oils, and her Phaedra
helped her select clothes appropriate for a Kretan princess. She
was attired in the low woven gold bodice and flounced Tyrrhian
silk skirt traditional to her caste when Minos once again invited
her to sit in on an audience with him. As she entered the hall,
Ariadne caught her father eyeing her speculatively. She realized
that she was indeed ripe for an advantageous political alliance
and would end up presiding over her own ladies, discussing
childbirth incessantly, spindle in hand, conceivably for the rest
of her life. What to do?
The Athenian delegation arrived. For years now, since defeating
Athens over the matter of her brother Androgeus’ death, Minos
had demanded tribute from Athens-in the form of human sacrifice.
Every year, seven youths and seven maidens were sent to Krete for
execution by her half-brother Minotauros. (Minotauros was an
ill-formed man, supposedly the curse of Poseidon had deformed him,
and he was altogether too fond of killing, but Pasiphae had a soft
spot in her heart for him.) Ariadne sat up as the apparent leader
of the delegation stepped forward. He wished to go first, he
announced. Looking at him, admiring his tall, burly frame, Ariadne
considered. His eyes were the color of a brassy late summer sky,
and his hair was dark blond, cropped close like a slave’s.
Late that night, she snuck into the holding area to speak with
him. She offered assistance on one condition: he take her with her
when he left. After sealing their bargain, she left him with
detailed instructions on escaping the palace complex and a knife
for defense. She waited all the next day, concealed near the
garden gate nearest the seaport. Finally he emerged, covered in
blood and leading his fellows. They made their way to the port
unnoticed and escaped by ship. When they stopped at the
uninhabited island of Naxos to replenish their water stores, the
young man told Ariadne that he had killed Minotauros in order to
end the tribute from his city. She flew into a rage, shrieking
curses down on him for killing her kin. “Don’t you realize
that he was my brother?” she cried. “I am responsible for the
death of my mother’s son. How can I ever return home? I never
intended this, only for you to escape your bonds and take me with
you!” Huffily, he returned to his tent. She did not join him
that night as she had since they had left Krete, and when she woke
in the morning, the Athenians were gone. She was alone.
Remembering something a tutor had told her as a child, she
eventually made her way north and east, to Themiscrya, the land
where the Amazons had built their city. She knew only that they
were a race of martial women and hoped that she might find a place
in their society.
Ariadne is of middling height, but her carriage is such that
she seems taller. Her hair is shoulder length and a deep, dark
red. Her skin is a pale golden brown, ivory where the sun does not
strike, and her eyes are sparkling and black. She usually wears a
low leather bodice and multi-colored tiered and flounced skirt in
the Kretan style. Ariadne favors snake bracelets on her upper
arms, but no other jewelry. Though she enjoys physical activity,
Ariadne is rather indolent by nature, enjoying a tasty treat like
her favorite dish, (a fricassee of brains, honey, vinegar, fish,
pickles, and ouzo) poetry, or a dirty joke more than anything. She
does have a bit of a temper, despite her usual geniality.
Her totem is the Badger, and Ariadne fights with a staff of
Lebanese cedar.
Tae'Nah athelfi arche:
07 March 05
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