Etruscan Demigods

Building Relations with War Games

At the same time, Camp Halfblood: 

Percy, Annabeth and Rachel led the Etruscan delegation through the border. "That's all?" Ramtha Semni, the old female senator, a legacy of Tinia, asked surprised. "Camp Halfblood is just a training camp and save heaven for young demigods." Annabeth explained.

Many demigods came to see the new people. Annabeth had informed Chiron, that they would come with a Celeres (Century) of Etruscan warriors back to camp and it seemed that the news were quick to travel around. "Hey Prissy! Found new friends again?" Clarisse asked with a face as if she wanted to kill him. Than she laughed. 

Chiron came to them and greeted "Welcome to Camp Halfblood. I'm Chiron, the trainer of heroes. You are free to look around. Just be carefull around the Ares cabin. Clarisse and her siblings love their landmines. If you want to camp here, the romans had build their camp there on the harvested strawberry fields." Arnth thanked him and gave orders "Athumic (Officer) Cai Celsclan (Celsclan means Son of Cel, Cel is an etruscan earth goddess), take your men and build a camp, where Chiron had told us." The warriors went to work while Arnth, Ramtha and Larth Spitu (The old senator) followed Chiron and the camp councillors to the big house.

"It's an honor to meet you, Chiron." Arnth said and bowed. "No need to bow, ma boy." Chiron answered. "Now come inside." He led them inside and sat down in his wheelchair. They settled around the ping pong table. 

Clarisse opened the conversation with the words "So, you guys are Etruscans?" Arnth nodded and said "That's right. I'm Arnth Pumpuna. Son of Uni and the mortal Pumpus clan Laris. I'm the consul of the the etruscans of Mechlum Tinia. To say it in your words. Who are you?" 

"I'm Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares. I've heared you have an ongoing war. Who is the enemy?" Clarisse answered. The other counselors joined in and demanded to know who was threatening them. So the etruscans explained the civil war.

About Lauchume Hapre Matulnai Atna, their enemy, who wanted to end all demigods. About former clashes with their enemy, which were minor but still brutal. Much was discussed and in the end, an alliance was made and the etruscans were invited to play capture the flag against camp halfblood.

Arnth was inspecting the battle ground before the battle started. He had also a map, which Chiron had given him. "Zeus Fist is the usual place to place the flag..." He said to himself. 

Cai the Athumic of the Eprial Axunana (Superior Guard), as the unit was called, answered "Than let's hide it somewhere else." They arrived at the area of Zeus Fist and looked around. "It's a good area to defend." Cai said and climbed the stone heap. "We do it like this..." Arnth said. "The main force will defend this area and the flag. I will attack with a small team the others position, we try to sneak through and steal their flag and take it over the creek." 

Cai looked at him and asked "Who do you think about, Zilath?" Arnth scratched his neck and said to the officer "Mary Clearwater, the daughter of Apulu. She is quick with the bow and can control light. That could be helpful." The Athumic commented "The girl is promising, despite coming from outside our society. But you should know, or you would not have put her into my unit. Who else?" 

"Marce Alethnas, the son of Turms. The last in the group will be me." Cai nodded. "I will lead the others?" "Yes." "Good. We will defend the flag to the last."

They left the battle ground and walked back to their camp. Lars read the oracles and came to the conclusion, that the war games could end with victory or defeat. The gods would not decide on this. And so they prepared for battle. When they were ready, Arnth gathered his fighters and told them "Listen! Chiron told me the rules. No killing or maiming allowed. Magical weapons and personal abilities are allowed. The team that can cross with the enemy's flag over the creek, wins. Got that?" They answered "Vthi, Zilath! (Yes Consul!)"