A Trojan man boldly enters the Greek camps and pleads to Agamemnon for the return of his daughter, who is considered the 'prize'. They refuse and the Trojan man seeks Apollo through prayer.
Thetis (the sea nymph mother to Achilles) seeks to restore his pride by the help and will of Zeus; where she asks him to injure the Greeks (their own men) as they have injured Achilles (by taking away his prized possessions).
Zeus sends false dreams to Agamemnon who makes him believe that he would win the Trojan War the next day; however a massacre and disaster occur instead to the Greeks.
Homer lists roughly 1,000 ships that head to Troy. And the question that comes from this catalogue is at what cost do we risk it all?
Paris (Hector's brother, Trojan) is set to duel Menelaus (King of Sparta/Greek side) -- as Paris took Helen (Menelaus wife and Queen of Sparta) yet at the last moment, Paris is taken by Aphrodite.
Zeus doesn't really understand why Hera hates TROY so much; but he agrees to her that he will not interfere even though Illium (Troy) is his favorite city of all mankind.
Diomede is human; however his performance on the battlefield terrifies all other men to the point they believe he is Godlike. Athena gives him clarity, strength and precision.
Hector knows there is potential for Troy to be destroyed; and his wife and son are at stake. But for his honor and his men, he still feels required to be in the battle. It is a moment expressing fear and loss.
The Gods see that there is too much slaughter, too much bloodshed. Apollo and Athena pull Hector away and incite him to single duels so others can rest and regain strength.
The men are chess pieces of the chess board; they are merely pawns of the plain, of the greater cosmic order. Even Diomede was able to see this through powers given by Athena.
Achilles watches from the tents but he will not join the war as there is no thanks or reward to him. The Greeks suffer without his support.
Troy sends Dolon as a spy to the Greek camps. Odysseus and Diomede go to spy on Troy and find Dolon; they learn of a few things and then take him out.