Session 14 - Ova and Ophis
General Summary
In the dimly lit chamber, the eerie green glow of the ghastly skull emanated from the hatched eggs, sending a shiver down everyone's spines. Ischyrós, ever vigilant, swiftly readied his sling, preparing to attack the menacing creature. However, before he could release a stone, Abraxas intervened, advising Ischyros to focus his aim on the eggs instead. Trusting his companion's wisdom, Ischyros complied, shattering several eggs with precise shots.
Theresa, on the other hand, attempted to use her frost magic on the skull, hoping to freeze it in its tracks. Much to her surprise, the frost seemed to have no effect on the ghastly entity. Pyro, always the optimist, tried a different approach, attempting to befriend the creature. Meanwhile, Lenora sought to understand more about the mysterious being, studying its movements and features.
Xenobia, concerned for Abraxas's safety, moved in to protect him with her spear in hand. But the skull seemed to have its own plans, catching Abraxas off guard and swiftly enveloping him. It drained the life force from his body, leaving him lifeless and limp in its grasp. Ischyros, changing tactics, aimed his sling directly at the creature, hoping to distract it from its vile deed.
Pyro and Lenora recognizing the threat posed by the eggs, started smashing them with all their might. Pyro sang and danced while smashing, perhaps trying to bolster his courage. Xenobia, determined to save Abraxas, fiercely stabbed the creature with her spear, but her attack missed this time. Desperation filled the air as the skull let forth a hideous scream, visibly disturbing Theresa and causing her face to age and wither. She attempted to run away, but like Abraxas was drained of her life.
As Abraxas struggled to breathe, and Theresa fought to cling to life, Ischyros continued his relentless assault with his sling. After smashing most of the eggs, Pyro hit the creature with his thyrsus which seemed to react painfully to his blow. The situation was dire, with Theresa's condition worsening by the moment. Ischyros kept flinging stones, and Pyro persisted with his attacks. Lenora and Xenobia showed no sign of backing down, unleashing a barrage of strikes on the creature. Pyro instructed Pandion to feed Theresa the remaining honey, and miraculously, her strength returned as color and moisture returned to her face.
Pyro hit the creature again, this time with more force, which seemed to provoke a reaction from the skull. The creature, sensing the mounting threat, turned its attention to Pyro, enveloping him and draining his life force. Lenora struck the creature with a force that visibly stunned it, buying the party some time. Xenobia once again missed her mark, but Theresa used her healing powers to save Abraxas. Lenora, her eyes filled with ferocity, stabbed the creature with her dagger, and Xenobia finally managed to land a successful blow with her spear.
With everyone cooperating, they eventually managed to overpower the creature, and Abraxas, too, called upon his healing abilities to mend his own wounds, as well as those of Theresa and Pyro. The party focused on healing one another, but Theresa's ramblings about unseen snakes made Pyro suspicious, and he kept a close eye on her.
Curiosity drew them toward a golden gourd, believed to possess healing properties. Pyro volunteered to test it first, but Abraxas was eager to try it as well. However, Theresa insisted that they see the effects on Pyro first. Xenobia, observing the situation, began to question Theresa's judgment and ethics.
As Pyro and Abraxas bit the gourd, they felt invigorated, but Pyro also saw a large snake slithering down the stairs. He reported his findings, but nobody else seemed to notice. Intrigued, the party decided to double back toward the smashed nest, with Xenobia crushing any remaining eggs underfoot.
Moving forward, they encountered another obstacle: blood-sucking vines. Planning to subdue the vines without harm, Theresa threw a concoction that caused the vines to wither. Meanwhile, Abraxas and Pyro amusingly taunted the vines while the others attacked them. Theresa's frost magic once again proved useful in neutralizing the vines.
Continuing on, they stumbled upon a lifeless body on the floor. Lenora identified it as a Kadmeian, and the group was wary of the glowing axe that rose from the ground and attacked them. Everyone fought hard to subdue the animated weapon, except Pyro, who was emotionally overwhelmed, believing the body might belong to his master. However, they managed to stop the axe just in time, and Pyro's fear was relieved.
After stripping the corpse of its belongings, they found a special axe that could be wielded by anyone who hadn't harmed the eggs. Xenobia couldn't hide her jealousy when Pandion received the axe, but she received some new armor and a helmet. With everyone equipped, they ventured further and discovered a statue of a woman holding snakes, surrounded by gourds similar to the ones from the previous room. Inside the gourd's mouth lay cube-shaped stones.
Pyro, in his usual resourcefulness, requested wine to help solve the puzzle. He deduced that the cubes fit into a door they had come across earlier. Taking a bite from one of the gourds, he felt the healing properties flow through him, and the party followed suit. They debated whether to return to the previous room but ultimately decided to rest for the night before facing the new challenge that awaited them.
With newfound strength and courage, the party stood victorious, ready to confront the perils that lay beyond the door. The air was thick with anticipation as they ventured forth, united in their determination to overcome whatever lay ahead in this mysterious and treacherous place.
Report Date
18 Jul 2023
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