"Distinguished guests, envoys, and citizens from the city-states, kingdoms, and nations of the Eastern Continent including Phoenicia, Lydia, Phrygia, and others, the assembly is about to commence,"
Odysseus was situated in a corner of the venue. As he conversed with the priest, a steady stream of people continued to enter the place.
It wasn't until the sun reached its zenith that most of the attendees had taken their seats and an elderly man of courtly birth stepped onto the central stage, facing the tens of thousands in the audience.
"Today, under the eyes of the gods and the rule of the Kingdom of Athens, we shall hold a grand ceremony where the wise from all countries will present their talents as offerings before the deities."
"But before that, there is one more task we must complete, and that is to finalize the theme and the judges for this assembly,"