Session 5 - Between the Blood River and the Mouth of the Bronze God
General Summary
As the party discusses possible options, the chaos outside makes its way to Abraxas' door. The king’s army has arrived to enforce order among the town and its revelers. The party wonders if they are no longer safe. Theresa decides it’s not safe and recommends heading to Spyridon's estate. Pyro recommends going to the capital. Xenobia states that her friend may be able to help, only to reveal her friend was the one who paid her to burn the ships. Pyro then recommends burning the ships to get more info. Theresa realizing the party is not taking action, leaves without the party. Abraxas, Ischyrós and Lenora follow, but Pyro and Xenobia stay behind.
Following Theresa's lead, the augmented party sees soldiers and guards attacking people in the streets and herding them into courtyards and buildings. Some of the party overhears that Zagreus has been captured, and that Manto, daughter of the famed seer Tiresias, will be sacrificed to Demeter to appease the patron deity of Rabdos and restore order. They attempt to avoid the soldiers trying to corral the frightened populace, but are rounded up and forced into one courtyard overnight.
The Kadmeians say, “A jackdaw is always found near a jackdaw.” Perhaps, it should have been translated as "jackass". We find two jackdaws waiting at Abraxas’s house. Xenobia, using wine as incentive, persuades Pyro to go burn the ships with her. Pyro agrees, but not before tasting the wine. They wait until calm has been restored in the streets, and proceed under the cover of darkness to the harbor. They have no plan or even torch but that does not veer them off their chosen path. They find a big ship, and Xenobia uses her powerful presence to convince the sailors to let them on board. Unfortunately, Xenobia is no match for the gangplank, and after a noble attempt stumbles and falls into the water. The sailors realizes these two are not right in the head and advise them to seek shelter in the city. Then they lift their gangplank and begin drifting off. Pyro, with one last ditch effort grabs a torch, and grunting, hurls it in the opposite direction of the ship now sailing off. Having failed to board the ship, Pyro and Xenobia decide to make for the capital, but find the streets still crawling with soldiers. Barely managing to avoid them, they come back to Abraxas' abode, and sleep for the night.
In the morning, Theresa is tending to the wounded. Abraxas, Lenora, and Ischyros peak outside while they wait. Once Theresa finishes, the party discusses what to do next. They first agree that there is no use going back to Spyridon’s estate. They debate going to the capital, up the coast, or sailing away. Abraxas doubts the current undertaking and questions whether he should be searching for Spyridon - a man he's never met - at all. Theresa speaks of the honor of both Spyridon and the party. She states she wants to find them, but is at a loss as to how to find them. They debate Pyro’s determination to go to the capital to find Spyridon’s friend, Kadmos. They also decide that they should seek the aid of Aphrodite one more time. After some debate, Abraxas consents to Theresa’s wishes, and the party decides to head back to Abraxas’ to see if Pyro and Xenobia are still there.
When they enter Abraxas’ quarters, they find Pyro and Xenobia drinking wine looking a little tipsy. Pyro inquires about the estate, and the team recalled their harrowing ordeal in the streets and the courtyard. Xenobia and Pyro relate their harrowing ordeal to the rest of the team. Theresa asks about Spyridon’s friend, and Pyro states it is King Kadmos, or at least the former king, who “retired.” Theresa thought he was dead. Abraxas consults Aphrodite again with a little help from Pyro. For a moment nothing happens, then suddenly Abraxas that two paths lie before them: The first, is a path through a river of blood to the capital to seek rebirth. The other, is to sail a ship through the mouth of a bronze god. Pyro immediately wants to avoid a river of blood, the rest of the party except for Xenobia agree. The party does not know where this brass giant lives. Pyro and Xenobia suggest the boat warriors they met last night. The team, with a clear mission in mind, head to the harbor to take the path of the brass giant.
As the party makes it way through the streets, soldiers spot them, ever the diplomat, Xenobia provokes them. One attempts to stab her, but she is able to fend him off with her hooves. Just then Theresa, stands between the soldier and Xenobia, trying to break up the fight. Lenora uses her quick wit and name drops Elpis. The second guard stops and asks where we were headed. Lenora explains they are heading to the ships to set sail. Theresa explains to Xenobia that she was attempting to stop her from fighting. The soldiers tell the party to continue on, but not before telling Xenobia that they had killed one of her kind. An enraged Xenobia is calmed by Pyro as the party leaves.
Pyro spots the biggest ship in the harbor and waits at the gangplank with Xenobia. Theresa walks onboard the ship asking for help. A sailor greets her, and she explains that she is looking for the land of the bronze giant. The sailor laughs, claiming everyone knew that land. It was Neheshya, the trading center of the region. The sailor explains that all nations trade through its capital, the port of Nostauron. The sailor asks Theresa about payment. Theresa offers barter and honey, but Ischyros then offers a jeweled bracelet. The sailors would like a closer look, but the careful Ischyros tells the leader and only the leader to examine it nears his companions. After examining the bracelet the leader agree that the bracelet is sufficient payment. Then he demands payment upfront, but Ischyros counters by swearing on a holy symbol of his people. The leader agrees, and the party begins boarding. Xenobia must once again face her dreaded nemesis, the gangplank. After three tries and a couple of swims, Xenobia manages to get aboard. Ischyros ensures that food and wine will be provided.
The sea is considered by some one of the three evils. Abraxas, Pyro, and Xenobia would agree. Seasick most of the trip, the trio were unable to do much. Abraxas meditated on his divinations. Pyro carved a little wooden centaur. Xenobia declared Theresa and Abraxas co-leaders of the ragtag team. Taking responsibility for her poor judgement, she requested the two assist her in making better decisions. Theresa, Lenora, and Ischyros were the healthier trio. Theresa kindly and sparingly distributes honey among the party and crew, tends to people's wounds much to Abraxas’ delight, and agrees to help Xenobia. Lenora uses her time to listen to a sailor named Xeno, who laments the mass hysteria that took place in Ormos. They talk about the evil that befell the city and discuss the need for order. Ischyros goes down to play knucklebones but decides to converse with the crew instead. One of the sailors reveals that he saw some of Ischyros’ brethren departing quickly from Ormos with a wiggling bag. Ischyros stated he surprised by his kin’s actions, and wondered where they were going.
After six days, the party arrived at Nostauron, where a giant bronze colossus stood high above the city. They had chosen their path. Still no closer to finding Spyridon, but they were hopeful that this new city would bring a change in their fortunes. In Ormos, everyone lost something, but this place felt different. Have the winds changed or have they carried the wind of chaos with them? Time will reveal all.
Missions/Quests Completed
- The party hires a ship and arrives in the city of Nostauron
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