Session 6: Death or Illidost Report

The party awoke at dusk, preparing to depart unseen toward Illidost. They gathered together their possessions and ate the evening meal which they paid for with the two dolns. Passing conversation was had between them, on subjects relating from Azidael’s use of Vojûn to the companionship of Aragos and the Wayfarer. Auron spent that time outside, for he had been on watch all day, ensuring that the agents of Syrgus did not sneak upon them. After the meal, Azidael woke Auron from the tired stupor which overtook him and offered him food. Calista went out and tended to the horses. Once darkness fell over the small town of Tharsyan, the party mounted and continued westward.

The night was uneventful. Members of the party continued to speak to one another in regards to plans and past. Dawn arrived hours later and it was the job of the tired Auron to scout the path. At around 5:00 in the morning, he heard a faint rumbling from a fair distance behind the party. Fearing an attack, he moved swiftly and warned the party of the threat. They retreated off the road into the light forest which flanked either side of the road. They crouched into the brush and had their horses lay down in order to hide themselves. A column of cavalry approached. In the morning mist the party could barely make out their banner and shoulder cloaks- azure with embroidery of silver, accompanied with silver waves. At the center is a flame of silver, token to the Taras Astoria. These are the arms of Varikon. While this host passed, two ranks of 25 marching westward, Azidael’s horse grew restless and neighed and bucked in the brush. This gained the attention of the column, which stopped in place. Ten riders broke from the column and began to stalk toward the forest.

Fearing death if the whole party is discovered, Auron stands and states that he will distract them. The party watched as his body meshed with the mist and consumed him. He came upon the ten riders, who were startled and immediately demanded that Auron drop his weapons and surrender. Auron held his ground, and he spoke with two of the soldiers who were the acting commanders. He told them that he was a mercenary looking for work- a hedge knight of sorts who was compelled to sleep in forests for protection. The soldiers were suspicious of this, and continued to question him, though without significant success. When they were appeased for the time, they told two other riders to guard Auron while the rest of the unit scouted the forest. The rest of the party could hear their approach. Ballisar rose and departed from the trees, and hid himself from sight. If they saw him in Dramana armor, then it would be death for them all. They entered and passed right over Calista, the Wayfarer, and Aragos. Indeed, stepping within feet of Calista’s head- yet, they remained undiscovered. The riders did find Azidael, however, and drew weapons to challenge him. Azidael explained that he was a merchant and that Auron was his bodyguard. The guards were skeptical of this, for Auron had stated he was a mercenary soldier. Additionally, the soldiers were wary of Azidael as a Dhrak’onyth, and spoke of tales they had heard regarding Nevan- Dhrak’onyth enslaving and slaughtering people, devouring children, and casting spells from their evil temples. Azidael was baffled. Thankfully, he managed to talk his way to freedom, but the soldiers demanded payment for the inconvenience. They took 8 dolns and two books, then departed. The soldiers guarding Auron gave him a heavy blow to the head with the end of a spear for good measure.

After that close encounter, the party decided to depart from the road and establish a camp some three or so miles away from that spot. They camped upon a reasonable hillock rise among the open ground, and thus had clear sight of approaching threats. The rest of the day was spent resting. Around 10:00 or so, the Wayfarer noticed a large host of soldier marching westward along the same road from a great distance away. He rode closer to catch a glimpse, and noticed that they were the strange, foreign personal soldiers of Emperor Syrgus, bearing flags and all. There were around 300 troops in all. This cast great fear among the party, and they were hard pressed to decide their next move.

When evening arrived once more, they departed for Illidost. The decision was made to maintain straight course, as too great a delay would endanger the Empress and Illidost itself. This time they marched through night and day, and thus came upon Illidost around 11:00 the next morning. They prepared for final approach, and moved down the stone cobble road to the front gates. However, danger stirred. As they passed between two shallow hills crowned by trees, they were suddenly flanked by two lines of 10 horsemen. By appearance, they were the same Varikon men as were seen yesterday. Battle ensued, during which the Wayfarer was wounded and his horse was killed, Ballisar was mortally wounded, Aragos was killed fighting off four enemy cavalry, and Auron unleashed a measure of his power as a breather. Calista and Azidael avoided the fiercest fighting, and were thus largely unharmed. The Empress received a few slight blows, but the dogged protection of Ballisar saved her from any mortal or grievous injury. It was brutally close fight, and the party just managed to escape from the exhausted and overextended horsemen.

The party reached Illidost shortly after, where they were stopped by a lance of Astorian troops. When Ballisar explained they were saving the Empress from the turmoil in Pyrgoros, the Iochas of the unit immediately guided them through the vast fortress city of Illidost toward the main palace complex. He offered them space within the officers’ quarters and bid they wait and rest themselves while he spoke with Syntarch Lytheron about their arrival. During that time, Azidael silently used his nascent abilities of Áckesh to heal Ballisar and save his life. The Wayfarer, in a measure of shock, simply lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. Empress Cesstecia was taken to Lytheron, and the other simply slept.

When the time was proper, Lytheron summoned Ballisar and whomever else to his chamber. It was an ornate place, with gilded wood and marble pillars, more of a pleasure palace than a strategic planning room. All the same, the party speaks with him and regale him with the story of their battle and the events of Pyrgoros. Additionally, they begin to discuss plans moving forward. Lytheron congratulated them and Cesstecia thanked them, pleasant words were exchanged. Once all was said and done, the party departed to sleep for the night, preparing to rest a few days before departing Illidost.

While the rest of the party waited to speak to Lytheron, Auron travelled into the eastern, civilian portion of the city. Within that section, he sought out a clothier and ordered a fresh set of clothes for Azidael with the money gained from mercenary work. It is a large red robe and tunic combination.