Raised on the world of Ephesus, Bellerophon was named for his great grandfather, a respected former first prime to his goddess Artemis. Neither Bellerophon’s father nor grandfather had born the Gold symbol of the first prime and the family had fallen from their goddess’s favor.

From the day of his prim'tah Bellerophon dedicated himself to becoming the greatest of Artemis’ Jaffa. Training relentlessly under his masters, Bellerophon rapidly replaced his childhood flab and replaced it with lean corded muscles. Practicing all day and well into the night, he honed his skills in unarmed combat, marksmanship and combat with the staff weapon. When he was barely fifteen, Bellerophon challenged his instructor, the famed Philox, to a duel. The gathered Jaffa laughed hysterically at Bellerophon, thinking the challenge was either some sort of joke or foolish pride. Philox did not laugh. The large, tanned trainer stood around six feet six inches to Bellerophon’s six feet; Bellerophon had long lean muscles while Philox had large, knotted and bulging ones.

Without a word, Philox made for the challenge ring, Bellerophonon his heels. As the student and teacher entered the packed sand ring, the other Jaffa that were present gathered around, watching expectantly and talking excitedly. Student and Master faced each other bowed and began to circle one another in a clockwise course. A faint smile of approval crossed Philox’s lips as he watched his student with calculating eyes. The two kept their feet squarely underneath them as they circled; occasionally prodding their opponent’s defense with a quick thrust of their practice weapons or an abbreviated charge.

Seeing an opening in Bellerophon’s defense, Philox charged in, aiming a savage blow to sneak through the perceived gap. As the blow neared, Bellerophonstepped forward, he opponents weapon passing harmlessly under his arm. Clamping his arm down on Philox’s weapon, Bellerophonbrought his leg around to sweep his teacher off his feet. Before his leg could land the blow though, Philox used his prodigious strength and his trapped weapon as a lever to lift his student off the rings sandy floor. Tossing Bellerophonacross the ring, Philox ran him down planning to plant a vicous blow across his downed student’s ribs.

As Philox closed, Bellerophon rolled and whipped out his training staff that had lain hidden underneath his prostrate form. Taken by surprise, Philox twisted to lessen the blow, but still took much of the force sending him staggering backwards. Leaping to his feet, Bellerophoncharged his teacher, pressing his advantage. Striking with fierce combinations, Bellerophonkept his teacher moving backwards as Philox parried his student’s blows. His confidence high and a grin spreading across his face, Bellerophonsought a crushing blow to end the duel. Seeing his opportunity, Bellerophonput all his weight into the strike…and too late saw his error.

As his staff weapon sailed past his master’s smiling face, Bellerophongrimaced as the first blow crashed against his ribs. Moving with incredible speed, Philox followed the blow to Bellerophon’s ribs with strikes to the youth’s wrist, which sent his weapon flying, to his knee, head and stomach. The last blow sent a dazed Bellerophon sprawling onto the circles sandy floor. Standing over Bellerophon,Philox placed the tip of his practice weapon against his student’s throat. Smiling brightly, Philox reached down and pulled the still dazed Bellerophon to his feet. Raising the youth’s hand high in the air, Philox caused the gathered Jaffa to erupt in a tumultuous roar of applause and cheers. Still dazed, Bellerophon looked dumbly around the masses until his eyes locked on a striking pair standing on the cliff above the training grounds. His goddess Artemis stood with another beautiful woman, who Bellerophon assumed must be a fellow goddess since she was not Jaffa. His hand struck his chest as he sunk to his knee.

As the other Jaffa realized why Bellerophon had knelt they followed suit. Soon the training grounds were silent and all of the Jaffa present were on bended knee. The silence was only broken when Artemis’ sweet, melodious voice drifted down from on high. “Philox? Who is this man?” the goddess asked simply.

Standing and dragging Bellerophon to his feet with him, Philox announced with pride, “Bellerophon. Blessed Artemis.” With a slight smile or smirk, Bellerophon could not be certain, Artemis turned and walked back towards her temple, her compatriot in tow.