Guest Friendship is of course a sacred obligation for all Thyleans but an oft overlooked part of it is that it can extended to people out with someone’s city or home. While on the road, a fellow traveller, especially if they are in need, should be helped. A tale often shared over a campfire that illustrates the importance of this, is the tale of Pythor, the mysterious stranger.
Once upon a time, when Estoria was still small and ruled by a human tyrant, Pythor was visiting the King. While the feast was grand, he was troubled with how the servants were treated. As such, when night fell Pythor and his best friend Harilas disguised themselves as ordinary peasants and roamed the town. They asked people for a place Pythor to sleep but the people were afraid and did not look them in the eye. Puzzled they turned to the guards who told them that beggars and travellers were not allowed into the Kingdom and that they should leave. Furthermore, if they were still there when night fell, they would be beaten and taken to the jails of the King. Pythor was dismayed for the king had told him that this was an open, happy land and truly when he had arrived in his chariot there were hundreds of smiling faces waiting to greet him. In denial he kept trying but try as they might they found doors bolted and no word of kindness.
That is, until they came to the outskirts of the town and
came upon a man named Philemon, a sheep herder heading back to the city after a
long day's work. The man while poor, shared his meagre food and wine and was
welcoming to the strangers. He answered their questions and explained that the
King was actually a Tyrant that and that they'd be best served leaving. The
Kingdom was much more dour usually but everyone had been ordered to act in good
cheer earlier as Pythor was visiting and the King wanted to impress
the God.
Harilas asked him, did he not fear speaking to strangers as it was against the
law but the sheepherder explained that if he could not be kind to people then
he already had lost everything worth living for. They spent an hour more
drinking wine by the fields, then bid farewell to Philemon. Before they left
Pythor turned to him and told him "You are the worthiest
person I've met today. You have my blessing, whatever you turn your hand to
will turn to good." What follows next is known to history; the King was
slain and Pythor became King Pythor and The Kingdom of Estoria became a place of
friendliness and joy. It is said that many times over King Pythor's reign
Philomenos, now an owner of sheep instead of a caretaker would visit the King
and they would drink into the evening.
A more recent occasion of this story is said to have happened. Indeed, it was
the The Heroes of Thylea, while they quested in The Heartlands that
encountered one such stranger. While camping, they were approached by a man
wishing to share in their fire. It had been a tough day, the heroes had been
injured and their quarry had fled but they being, noble souls, invited this
stranger to share their fire but also their food and drink as well. This man
proved an excellent storyteller. This fellow was quite odd. His trousers were
off a modern design but of an unknown material. He was wrapped in a shawl that
would have been in fashion a hundred years ago. Even more egregious was the
lump of a hat that lay upon his head. It did not look like any hat the heroes
had ever seen and some of them were literally from other worlds. His speech was
odder, full of boasts and dad jokes but he was friendly enough.
After a while Euryale the beauteous noticed that while their cups had been refilled several times, the pitchers were still full. A short consultation followed with Praxos and Kyrah, Poet Laureate of Mytros and then Kyrah, Poet Laureate of Mytros who was of course Kyrah the Goddess in disguise told the stranger "Brother, we all know it's you. Remember, you are a King. You need to stay at Estoria and rule properly". The stranger's mouth widened in shock, then disappointment. "But I don't want to rule. I want to go on an adventure with you." Pythor sighed. The Heroes of Thylea reminded him of the responsibility he had to his people and thus chastened, Pythor turned back to his true form, bid the heroes farewell and went back to Estoria.
There in, lies the moral of the tale. Treat strangers on the road well, for you never know; they may be a God in disguise that want to join you for wacky adventures.