<span class="bbc_u"><strong>Players/Characters</strong></span><br/>Zamdrist - Halie, Nymph, Narrator<br/>Aeval - Nicola, High Priestess of Nike<br/>Indigo - Voleta, High Priestess of Hecate<br/><br/><strong>Premise</strong>- Two opposing Greek temples at odds are compelled by their patron goddesses to resolve their conflict and must drink from the waters of a bathing nymph. Aphrodite however has other plans, much to the dismay of Nike and Hecate.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>The Bowl of Gaia</strong></span><br/><br/>(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/1c/BowlofGaia.jpg)<br/><br/>Heartrendingly beautiful and able to bring the stoutest warrior to his knees in tears with a mere glance. Try as though they might, the many minstrels and singers of Greece could never fully convey the beauty of Aphrodite. She was crowned with a swirling tempest of golden tresses, possessing tempting and dangerous curves, apple red lips rumored to be sampled once even by the regal Demeter and sea green eyes that lured even the mighty and stoic Poseidon.<br/><br/>She was as meddlesome as she was beautiful.<br/><br/>Two temples, one of light, one of dark; Nike and Hecate. The two temples, their followers and high priestesses were decades into a conflict that threatened to rend apart the two houses of worship. So dissimilar were the nature of the two, truth be told it was no surprise they found themselves at odds. The bright and golden warrior priestesses of Nike looked upon the dark priestesses of Hecate with disdain and contempt. The use of tainted daggers and mystical arts were for cowards not warriors. The followers of Hecate looked upon Nike's adherents as naive and foolish. One did not give their enemy the advantage of meeting them face to face, sword to sword on the battlefield, that was a certain death sentence, sooner or later. Learn of your enemy and use every advantage, small and large against them no matter the means.<br/><br/>The conflict had come to a stand still with neither gaining an advantage, or none that withstood any test of time. Back and forth the two houses schemed and planned against one another, threatening to not only destroy their own but plunge the city of Athens into a damaging civil conflict. Upon the cloudy heights of Olympus the great Zeus brought before him the two patron goddesses. The conflict must come to an end. With the help of Hera, it was decided to visit upon the two high priestesses a dream:<br/><em><br/>Pure, crystal clear waters. Gurgling and flowing like sweet music over polished stones of a mist-shrouded stream. Finely shaped and dainty hands the color of cream holding a bowl. A bowl both ancient and sacred. Golden and shining warrior priestess upon one bank, a mystical and confident figure, a dark priestess shrouded in black upon the opposite bank.<br/><br/>Drink. Drink and be free, free of conflict and hatred.<br/><br/>Bathing figure, svelte and nubile both allusive and alluring with glimmering beauty. Waters wash over and cleanse, the bowl a full vessel and then not, washing over and cleansing blood and hatred.<br/><br/>Drink and let go, wash away the conflict and make peace.</em><br/><br/>Aphrodite's spies whispered into her ear and she smiled a mischievous little smile. Normally the affairs of lesser deities concerned her not, yet this caught her attention and promised to keep it, for awhile at least. The goddess of love descending from her high abode. At the mouth of a quietly tinkling stream there was a nymph's grotto. Aphrodite summoned forth the creature. From the grotto, heeding the goddess's call came the nymph. She dared not look upon her goddess fully, gazing through long lashes, her head bowed in shame. The nymph's own beauty paled before the deity, her stance humble even if not fully submitted. The nymph was no mortal but knew well her place before Aphrodite. The goddess smiled though and laid a comforting hand upon the shoulder of her tender minion.<br/><br/>Aphrodite whispered into the lithe beauty's ear her wishes and commands. The nymph's eye's widened with a mix of mirth and excitement. The creature nodded affirmatively and Aphrodite had no doubt the nymph would carry out her instructions to the letter. The goddess took her leave, but not before consummating their scheme with a sweet kiss upon the nymph's mouth. It was a small and brief kiss but nevertheless left the creature breathless with tears rolling down flushed cheeks. With the departure of the goddess, the nymph's beauty shone brightly again. Wiping the tears away she turned back to the comforts of her grotto.<br/><br/><em>Where was that bowl she kept anyhow? Somewhere among her small collection of trinkets and possessions.</em>