Session 32 - In Sisyphus' Palace

General Summary

On his way back to Phasias' villa, Ischyrós is startled to see Pyro and Theresa coming towards him. They explain that the master of the villa kicked them out, and they are on their way to Eidyla to check out the city. Ischyros joins them and heads back to Eidyla with them.
The temple district is on outcropping over town, but an important temple, dedicated to the Myrian god Thoth, is outside the city walls. Ischyros is looking for bigger deals, and that is the biggest emporium in this land.
The emporium is not well organized. Visitors pour in from all sides creating a chaos of wares and people. It is difficult to find anyone who seems to know much about cloth, and Ischyros is not even sure how to leave the market when he bumps into a nymph named Korinna. Struck by the resemblance to Theresa and thinking Theresa may like to meet someone of her heritage in this odd land, he invites her to come with him into the city.
He pays her entrance to the city and guides her through the streets to the courtyard where Theresa was to stay. The folks there say she has gone to do business at the temple. Rather than just wait, Ischyros decides to take her to meet Pyro who is as good at entertaining as anyone he knows. Ischyros brings Korinna to the home of the old people with whom Pyro was staying.
Pyro, like Theresa, is absent, so Ischyros gambles with the old folk winning modestly while Korinna gossips with them. They are happy with the end of death. They noticed the change about 10 days ago. They say the city is more verdant now too.
Pyro eventually returns and Ischyros introduces him to Korinna. When Pyro discovers Korinna can play the lyre, he gets her to play while he sings. She is talented, and her playing draws a slew of marriage proposals from the older men. She reveals she is a traveling hymnist of Hermes.
Ischyros, Pyro, and Korinna stay at the home overnight. The next day, the crier informs the town that the great hero Candid and the centauride Xenobia are guests of the king. Not to miss an opportunity to live in better circumstances, the trio head toward the palace.
They first stop to meet Theresa, make introductions, and get her opinion of the plan. As she is wont to do, she decides to stay back, but the three decide to proceed anyway. As a precaution, Pyro transforms into a mouse and hides in Ischyros’ pocket.
When Korinna and Ischyros reach the palace gate, Ischyros asks to speak with Candid and Xenobia. “We are friends,” he says. Surprisingly, the guards admit them in and lead them to the throne room where they meet Sisyphus.
The king questions them briefly asking them about their travels with Candid and Xenobia. He seems to know about their journey to Hades and back, but he is the man who imprisoned Thanatos. Is he really hosting their friends, or did the trio just enter his trap? To Ischyros’ relief, the king does not imprison them, ask for a pledge, or demand a feat. Instead, he produces Xenobia and Candid as he said he would.
It seems their arrival to the palace occurred while Candid was talking business with Sisyphus. Candid was trying to exchange favors for a boar to lift the curse on him and Ischyros. Candid also explains to Sisyphus that Hades is looking for a place to send new souls. He tasked our party with finding such a place. A king would certainly have such a place, a domain for Shades. Candid says Abraxas or Pyro would be able to contact Hades on his behalf.
The king does not understand how he would benefit from a deal in which he surrendered a boar to us and his lands to Hades. Candid explains that when the king dies, he will not be forced to live in the underworld, but could continue to live here among the dead.
Sisyphus, on the other hand, would like to live forever in his kingdom with his people. He is willing to release Thanatos and give us a boar provided that Hades allows him and his people to live without death in this kingdom.
We would need to speak with Hades to make such a deal. Abraxas can facilitate this, but he is not here. Sisyphus is skeptical the deal will be accepted, and he would like to know the future first. Pyro might help determine this to a degree, but he is apparently not here (though still in Ischyros’ pocket). Could we instead ask this of the titan Prometheus?.
Yes, it is that Prometheus he speaks of. The one who brought fire to the mortals, and who was punished for it. According to Sisyphus, he is still chained to the Toros mountain, but he also has the gift of foresight. He thinks it may take us a month’s journey to reach him. Both Candid and Ischyros point out that they may be dead from the curse within a month, so Sisyphus agrees to offer the boar and take their sworn pledge before a god of their choice before they begin. The party needs time to discuss their options, so they retire to Candid and Xenobia’s suite.
In their suite, Pyro resumes his satyr form. He figured prominently in the tales of Xenobia, and so he is recognized and accepted without remark. He persuades the king to allow him to entertain the court in the evening. With the help of Korinna, he sings, plays, and dances, while Xenobia and Candid perform feats of strength and prowess to the delight of all. The king presents them each a bronze vessel at the end of the evening.
Later, Pyro slips out of the palace to meet Theresa. He explains what all has transpired, and they agree to meet back in the palace. Theresa plans to slip in through the main entrance in the company of a large group, but the guards are careful and suspicious, and a simple ruse will not do. She instead disguises herself as a palace servant and sneaks in the next day.
Once in the palace, she makes her way to Candid’s room. Unfortunately, she is not unnoticed. A guard challenges her, so she tells him she has to collect some information from the guests. He tells her to go away, and he will do it for her. He comes to the room alone and asks each of us what is our profession and what are we renowned for. Korinna is renowned for being in the right place at the right time. Pyro is renowned for being Hades’ second-in-command. Ischyros is renowned for his charm.
Theresa evades the guard by wandering the palace. When some time has passed, she comes back to Candid’s room to deliver some wine. Disguised as she is, the party does not recognize her, so she tells them that one of Pyro’s friends was to meet them at the servants quarters across the way. Theresa retires there to wait, but she is discovered to be an imposter by the other servants there. She is held, but then Pyro appears and says, “Unhand her, she is my friend!” They do not.
She is dragged away by two guards with Pyro following. When they are essentially alone, she attacks them with her bees and escapes. Pyro flees back to the room where he alerts the rest of the party, and we all come running to the place he leads us to. The king and his men arrive there at the same time, and Theresa we all discover Theresa hiding behind a curtain. Defeated, she comes out and the king admonishes her for her behavior.
The king asks us whether we have come to a decision, but Theresa has other things in mind.

Rewards Granted

• four bronze drinking vessels

Report Date

09 Apr 2024

Primary Location

Eidyla