Session 24 - Blood, Wine and Sea
General Summary
As the errant arrow missed its mark, a fresh volley of arrows descended upon the party. Thankfully, all the arrows failed to find their targets, but amidst the chaos, the group scattered. Abraxas, his body limp, couldn't cling to Xenobia any longer and tumbled off her back, awakening in the nearby woods, where the party had fled. Confused, he sought to grasp the events that had transpired since his last possession.
After a brief exchange, the party deliberated on their next course of action. Pyro and Xenobia proposed throwing a grand festival in honor of Zagreus, hoping it would draw him back. However, Theresa described nearby alternatives: a different estate or a seaside town. With Pyro's suggestion of Spyridon's estate estate, Abraxas and Theresa cautioned him against it, explaining that Eurymachos and others believed Pyro brought bad luck and might have had a hand in Spyridon's death. Despite Theresa's detailed explanations, Pyro struggled to comprehend the situation. The discussion shifted away from Spyridon's estate, focusing on the two remaining options. Ultimately, with vocal objections from Xenobia, the party decided to head for the seaside village.
A Welcoming Reception
The journey to the seaside village proceeded without major incidents. Upon their approach, Pyro requested to ride on Xenobia's back. He initiated a lively song to capture the villagers' attention, prompting numerous women to emerge with amphoras of wine, drums, and thyrsi. They inquired about their master, Zagreus, and whether he had risen. Pyro enthusiastically affirmed that Zagreus had indeed returned, eliciting jubilation among the crowd.
Abraxas, seizing the opportunity, informed the gathering that he had served as the vessel for Zagreus's shade to return to his body. The women became ecstatic, embracing Abraxas and showering him with attention, including some rather unusual actions. As the frenzy escalated, a couple of tough individuals tried to warn the party to leave, but the women turned hostile, biting into the men's flesh, reminiscent of the fate of the guards in Ormos, a distant memory now.
The women then began searching for unbelievers, while others continued their frenzied acts on Abraxas's body. In a commanding voice, Abraxas urged the party to find safety. Theresa took the initiative, opening the doors of various homes to explore. Xenobia, concerned for their safety, offered to use her chariot to whisk them away. Ischyrós wandered off, and Candid started rummaging through nearby homes for food, finding various provisions left behind by the fleeing villagers. Theresa eventually left with Xenobia after receiving some jars thrown her way. Candid followed, enticed by the promise of more food, while Pyro stayed behind to watch over Abraxas.
As the bacchanalia reached its zenith, the women decided to make their way to the hills, inviting Abraxas to join them for further revelry. Ever the diplomat, Abraxas promised to join them shortly via chariot. The women retreated to the hills as most of the townsfolk fled. Seeing the town emptying, Xenobia, Theresa, and Candid returned to the village, reuniting with Pyro and taking refuge in an abandoned building. Theresa secured the doors, and the party slept soundly.
A Morning Confrontation
Upon awakening the next morning, the party heard voices outside their room, demanding entry. Pyro recognized the voices as belonging to Eurymachos and his men. Theresa, changing her appearance to resemble one of Zagreus' cultists, and Pyro, following Theresa's lead, altered his own to match hers. Xenobia unbarred the doors and entered the room, accompanied by a few of Eurymachos' men. Eurymachos inquired about Abraxas's whereabouts, and Candid recounted the frenzied events of the previous night. Then, Eurymachos turned to "Theresa" and asked about Pyro's location. The party claimed not to have seen him. Xenobia attempted to persuade Eurymachos of Pyro's innocence, but he remained unconvinced. The conversation shifted toward freeing Polydoros' pinned-down troops.
Eurymachos proposed a plan: send the cultists in the hills to Ormos as a diversion while he, his troops, and Candid make contact with Polydoros in the harbor. Both the "cultist" and Abraxas agreed. Xenobia, agreeing to carry Abraxas via chariot, and "Theresa," accepting the role of following the others, allowed the plan to take shape. With their strategy in motion, Candid boarded the boat with Eurymachos, leaving the others behind.
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