Journey to Akbyset: Once Was Lost

La Compagnia returned the sword and bones of Gregorios to Grandmaster Andronicus Prodromus at the Monastery of Adza Oasis. Theo also gave him the scrolls they had found in the tribute room of the Tomb of the Djeti, which the Grandmaster said he would place under guard. Asbjørn Þórsteinnsson complained bitterly at the loss of such a grand sword. Grandmaster Prodromus thanked them for their efforts and bade them rest before they continued on their journey.

Kegho was restless and assisted the masons with rebuilding the walls and lifting heavy stones and setting them down in slightly different places. Alexandru Croitoru took food and drink to the servants and workmen of the monastery and as their tongues loosened with drink he probed for useful tidbits of information. Riven Telstandis sought out the halls of the craftsmen and apprenticed under the monastery's fletcher, who praised Riven for her fastidious work and quick learning. Theo offered to help with rebuilding efforts and was encouraged to donate more than he had. He financed his donation with Alex. Asbjørn sought out more information in the monastic library about the sword and the faith of these heathens and why their gods acted so directly in the affairs of men, but entry to the library required a donation larger than he could muster, and he sought release from his frustration by "training" with some of the paladins, and placing wagers on those practice sessions. He hoped to train with the Rhennish paladin, but did not see him in the ring.

Theo took time to rest, as did Alex. But no amount of rest could help Alex shake the weariness he felt. His eyes had become sunken and his lips cracked. He tossed and turned at night ruminating buying a parcel of land with the proceeds from Eye of Nekhtebu and establishing a safe township for the displaced Oameni, a new homeland. During the day he was continuously on alert for attempts to steal the Eye. He drifted into daydreams of hobbling the barbarians and snuffing out the mage and priest while they slept, potentially even leaving the arrows of the scout in such disarray that it would take days to organize them before she could begin her pursuit of him.

One night as Alex finally felt he was so bone-tired he might sleep, he felt a pulsing fire pass from the Eye in his bag into his his spine and throughout his body. His blood turned to dust and seeped out from his nose, then mouth and eyes, under his nails and then his pores. In his blood's place he was filled with inky blackness and then he began to drift on the sea of void that was within him and without. He struggled awake and realized he had been dreaming. He rejected the blackness—for now—but the effort weakened him both mentally and physically. The party saw these changes and grew concerned, but did nothing.

Riven led them into the desert to travel to the next oasis: Akbyset! Soon after they leave, they encounter dirty and bloody men in armor wearing badly damaged tabards of the Paladins of Aelos. Theo approached them and invited them to rest with the party for their evening meal. They were elated that that Adza Monastery survived the onslaught. They were shocked to hear that a holy man such as Theo would be journeying to such a fallen place known for its fleshpots. They departed on good terms and Theo blessed them with refreshment for the remainder of their journey.

Theo sat watch, wondering at what good he might do in Akbyset, but his watch passed uneventfully and then he slept soundly. Kegho sat watch next and found near the camp a once-beautiful but now dis-repaired statue. It was tall, even while partially buried and vaguely humanoid, but the more he looked upon it the more uncanny it became and he felt unsettled. "Sorcery!" he scolded the statue and woke Teleptyon, who was shocked to recognize it as a working of the Cult of Nexra. The statue beckoned him, singing songs of power, and death and unending life. It called to the Ring of Semutkheti and his serpentine finger responded. He saw the doorway to the Path of Ghosts and had only to reach out to open it. "I SAID I AINT ROMANCIN' NO NECROS" he screamed—to no-one as far as Kegho could tell—and stormed back to the camp. Kegho considered bringing the statue with as a prank, but thought better of it and finished his watch. Alex sat the last watch and heard something in the distance. He found the source was dogmen traveling in the distance and heading in a different direction.

Alex looked sickly the next day and told everyone he was just "tired" and everything was fine. His companions grew more concerned, but were distracted by the roaring of lionesses. They managed to escape unharmed, but only later did Theo remember that his renewed faith may have let him communicate and pacify them.

With the chaos of the chase they became disoriented and ended up back at Adza. They were received warmly, but the monks became concerned when they explained that they had been heading to Akbyset and had gotten lost. The Grandmaster explained that Akbyset had once been a silver assaying town and that miners had a special connection with Nexra and the darkness of the underworld. In the time leading up to the Refugium, a "red cult" had driven many of the denizens mad with autophagy and the Paladins of Aelos had been forced to purge the town to exterminate the cult. The Grandmaster offers to send a Paladin, Macedonius Mytinatis with the party as a guide and protector and the party agrees. Teleptyon cracked a nut pun at Macedonius' expense which seems to wound his pride.

They set out once more and set up camp under an ancient Djeti monument with gems adorning its face. Alex pulled out his grappling hook and consulted with Asbjørn for throwing strength, but in his diminished state did not feel like he could safely reach the gems. He noted the location for the future.

Kegho's watch was peaceful, but a dark shape blotted out the stars for a time before disappearing. He wondered at the sight, but did not mention it to Alex who took the next watch. Alex smells burnt flesh and searches out the source of the smell: a partially eaten camel, charred, as if by lightning. Alex woke the mage to see if there was any trace of magic on the camel, but when Teleptyon focused the Ar around his eyes, the camel looked normal, but Alex was a fearful sight to behold: a fist-sized object in his back had laid tendril-like threads along his spine, drawing Alex's very essence into itself and replacing it with corrupted Ar.

Teleptyon diplomatically attempted to broach the topic with the hunted-looking Oameni, but when he mentioned it, "The wizard wants the gem for himself!" flashed through Alex's mind, followed quickly by "He doesn't want the Oameni to be free!" Driven by feral instinct, Alex swept Teleptyon's legs out from under him, tossed his torch aside and fled into the dark desert night. Teleptyon roused the party and they began to chase after him. Ükhilflin reached Alex first, but nimble Alex dodged out of the way. Theo's soothing word fell upon deaf ears. Kegho tried to tackle him, but missed. Teleptyon cast his voice to the backpack, hoping that the idea of whatever was affecting him telling him to stop would work. Alex was distracted enough Asbjørn was able to tackle him, but he was able to slip away.