The Meysam Chalice: Sessions 4 through 6

General Summary

Session 4

After having learned that the Ostia Aterni, of the Empire's Creator Astralian Church, had made off with crucial intel that may have a strong lead on the lost city of Meysam, the party ventures north to the ever-contested border between Arcanaan and Nasir. Their destination: Callon; but the four stop along the way to rest on the bank of a river, where they meet a seemingly harmless old woman named Olga. While resting and catching their lunch, the heroes share their stories with each other and the old woman, taking the time the strengthen their rapport with one another. In exchange, Olga tells them of four astrals that may aid them with their personal struggles:

Talpheon - Astral of Remembrance (Xander's Trial)
Gelgrius - Astral of Liberty (Miri's Trial)
Omindial - Astral of Forgiveness (Cayenne's Trial)
Dronos - Astral of Bonds (Kinsara's Trial)

When Olga began to leave them, she transformed from her disguise as a feeble old woman and revealed herself be a beautiful, raven-haired nephilim, the human-astral hybrids that reside in the northern reaches of the Numir Mountains. Before the party could react, she was gone in an instant, leaving no trace.

Session 5

Upon arriving in Callon, the party looks to find a way to safely pass into the Arcanaan Empire, where chimeras are forced to live out their lives in slavery. Since there are three chimeras in the party and only one human, they must be able to travel with as little scrutiny as possible. Kinsara had thought to buy silk before their departure from Zabran Port in Session 3, and so intended to pass as a silk merchant representing her people, the Isepox, who are known for their monopoly on silk production in the Ecios Mountains. With a retinue of three chimeras as "her slaves", the party should be relatively safe in the empire, but there was another problem: the chimera members of the party would need to look and act the part. They needed collars... enchanted restraining devices imbued with a curse that curb the wearer's inclination to rebel against their betters.
Before long, after entering the town, the party encounters Dr. Abeline Odessa, a Tellan scientist and anthropologist. She was busy trying to barter with a rug merchant for a saddle blanket, but was having no luck. The party offered to pay the difference, hoping to do one good deed in turn for another. Abeline obliged by offered transport aboard a Tellan "mechanical bird" called a Starling. She would take them as far as Argos Base in Tavarin.
During their trip through the skies, the party learned a bit about Abeline and the strange world she's from. They also learned about how Tellans don't and can't use magic, instead relying on science and ingenuity. Halfway to Argos Base, the pilots of the aircraft picked up an incoming threat traveling toward them at remarkable speed. When the Starling banked around for a better view, all were stunned to see a white dragon. A booming voice, undoubtedly belonging to the magestic and terrifying creature, echoed in the minds of all aboard the craft. Together, Kinsara and Miri used their magic to elementally bind the dragon in the air, using a combination of air, water, and ice to trap the dragon in a vortex of freezing rain until Kinsara practically froze it entirely. But the dragon's strength proved unparalleled as it broke free. It scattered hundreds if not thousands of shards like bullets through the sky. One of the shards scratched Miri's cheek as it bolted through the open door of the Starling. One of the Apex Security Forces members aboard, primarily escorting Dr. Odessa, unlocked a Tellan weapon aboard the side of the aircraft and took aim at their persuer. He unleashed a storm of needle-like projectiles that agitated the beast and forced it to flee...
Finishing their trip safely, the party finally landed at Argos Base, where Abeline introduced them to Lt Rayna Sharpton, the second-in-command of the travelers' mission on Adarus, and showed them to a sleeping quarters set aside for guests.

Session 6

Now within in the confines of the travelers' strange base, the party splits up to explore and meet with the strange and interesting people of Tellus. Most prove to be quite hospitable and just as interested in Adarans as the party is interested in them. They meet with zoologists, another anthropologist that works with Abeline, a pair of eccentric and competitive physicists, an agreeable engineer, and meticulous physicians. But they also brush up against Tellan distrust and caution: such as when Kinsara had the pleasure of meeting Commander Jonathan Titus, the sole man in charge of the Tellans' exploration mission. A military man through-and-though, he had little incentive to trust Kinsara's intentions when she offered to help his men hunt down the nightmares responsible for ambushing and massacring one of his recon teams in the Sentinel mountains.
In order to earn Titus' trust, Lt Sharpton suggested Shiva try aiding some of the others around Argos Base first. One such opportunity was easily fulfilled by turning over the ancient relic slates they found in the ruins at Pyrith. Dr. Jeffrey Hampstead of the anthropology team (Abeline's boss) was thrilled to receive them and even paid the party for each slate turned over.
Second, the party sought out the physics team, since the zoologists they met earlier suggested they might find great interest in seeing a demonstration of magic. While the two physicists they found were definitely interested, they were more motivated by proving their own theories than by actually seeing the wonders of law-breaking sorcery. Neverless, the physics team appreciated the opportunity for a field study.
And third, the party assisted Dr. Amond from the medical team by procuring samples of bilibo droppings she needed to extract an enzyme that could used to develop a treatment for paralysis and epileptic shock. The jaunt through the fields outside Argos Base proved fruitful in acquiring the samples, but poor Miri might beg to differ.
At the end of a long day, the party's efforts to impress Titus paid off. Lt Sharpton greeted them with good news, and played a recorded mission briefing from the commander himself. The 2nd Odysseus Expedition is now formally asking for Shiva's aid in finding the nest of nightmares that has been plaguing their recon teams in the Sentinels.

"A pathfinder team was ambushed by nightmares when scouting the Sentinels. Three personnel are missing. I need someone on the ground to locate that damn den. Any chance of survivors by now is slim to none, but A-Sec wear identifiers we call 'dog tags' on our person. Recover the tags if you can and bring them home. Don't engage the nightmares unless necessary. Transport and evac will be provided. Do me this favor, Shiva, and all of A-Sec will owe you."

-Jonathan Titus, Cmdr, E-ASF

Rewards Granted

• 100 lora for each of the four relic slates turned in by Miri to Dr. Hampstead (400 total).
• 40 lora for each ancient coin (80 total from turning in 2 coins.
• 3 fake slave collars fashioned by an Odysseus engineer; should reasonably pass for the real deal at a glance.
• A free dose of a prototype paralysis antitode manufactored by Dr. Amond's team: can cure some status effects (that are chemical or biological in nature) that prevent a character from executing a normal turn, including paralysis, stun, and fatigue. Ineffective against external physical impairments, such as bind, as well as psychological or magical impairments (such as terror, dread, or psychologically-induced sleep). If consumed in advanced, has a chance of preventing a status effect it can otherwise cure. The player Rolls the Die if the ailment is to be applied as normal. If the outcome of the roll is not a Failure or Catastrophe, the preventative proves successful, but subsequent attempts to apply the ailment can no longer be prevented by the same dose.

Missions/Quests Completed

Collection: A Ripe Antidote

"I need help gathering potent samples of excrement from bilibo habitats in the local region. The creature's droppings possess an enzyme that, when used as a catalyst in antidotes, can be quite effective at both treating and preventing epileptic shock. Yes, yes, I know I'm asking you to literally pick up s***, but it's for a worthy medical cause!"

-Rose Amond, MD, Medical Team

Trade: Knowledge is Power (Recurring Opportunity)

"I'm looking to expand our knowledge-base through sourcing local assistance and need as many relic tablets as you can bring. We're willing to pay 100 lora for each intact tablet and can provide a free translation of the tablet's information after we've had time to decrypt the contents."

-Jeffery Hampstead, PhD, Anthropology Team

Character(s) interacted with

Olga, the nephilim
Dr. Abeline Odessa
"The Sergeant"
Lieutenant Rayna Sharpton
Dr. Jeffrey Hampstead
Masumi san Ashur
Dr. Rose Amond
Commander Jonathan Titus
Tom and Frank, Zoologists
Unnamed Physicists
The Lunch Lady
Unnamed Odysseus Engineer
Unnamed Medical Technician
Racist Imperial Merchants

Fallen by sakimichan

"Olga", The Nephilim

Report Date

16 Jun 2021