Session 17: The Road to Bel Tocino

General Summary

As the city of Santa Bella disappeared beneath the clouds, the seven adventurers and the unofficially adopted Silvia Bolivar, set course for Bel Tocino, a trading city in Elguedos, on their way to Viso to rescue Balasar’s father. The group became slowly more familiar with their dinosaurs.
As they flew, the gang encountered The Travelling Postmen of Sicaro, wearing robes with royal blue embroidery, and flying on buffalo. The postmen gave the gang several letters and parcels. The first was a letter to Balasar from his father, Viphantez Zamath, explaining the cryptic ingredients to what Balasar assumed must be the anti-hypnosis drug. Nydyr received a love letter from Emillo, relishing their time together and informing him that he would move to Dio Salam due to the conflict in Santa Bella. Devis’ previous pimp, Briolla, contacted her and gave her a small amount of money. Aries received a crystal ball with the tag ‘Divine’ attached, and Frar was given a mysterious message in a strange language, whose true nature was not revealed even to magic.
The group continued to navigate the skies above the Esteban Desert, as they analysed the letters they had received, speculating particularly on Balasar’s. Once night-time arrived however, planning to rest their dinosaurs, after forgetting to buy food and water for them, the gang slept in shifts in the hot dunes of the Esteban Desert. Moses dreamt of his family back home, and the rest of party slept soundly, Nydyr and Frar took first watch.
Observing the desert keenly, they noticed an oasis of fresh water and vivid greenery across the dunes. The dwarf and the dark elf awoke Devis to keep watch, stating that she should worry should they not return in 20 minutes. The twenty minutes passed, and Devis woke up Moses, Ekxus, Aries, and Balasar. Aries stayed back to protect Silvia and the dinosaurs.
As they approached the oasis, which Nydyr and Frar had discovered to be a high-magic illusion to draw in travellers, they encountered a mysterious androsphinx, who tasked them with solving three riddles. The first was about an eye, the second about memories, and as the sphinx delivered the final riddle, its eyes glazed over, and it was apparently possessed by a force the adventurers could not discern.
An intense fight ensued, the party taking some heavy blows, but eventually defeating the sphinx with a combination of arrows, darts, and… a rock? Exhausted, the party rested for the night.
In the morning, the party resumed their flight, this time low to the ground, surveying the desert as they did so. Frar appealed to her patron for information about sphinxes, recalling that they often live in nests near the coast, and are worshipped in some parts of Illorin. After several hours of flying, they noticed a boat in the sand, and upon approaching, they realised it was in fact a small village, consisting only on boats, despite their inland position.
The party rested their dinosaurs and ventured into the village, keen to restock on supplies. They were greeted by Shin, a shrewd and sceptical but ever-smiling young man with dark skin and white robes. He told them that the settlement was led by a woman named Bai Sen, who promised the people that the ocean would return to them in time. The adventurers were greeted as ‘brothers and sisters.’
Nydyr and Balasar spoke to Bai Sen, who expressed that the villagers were afraid of the dangers of the outside world. They also discovered that the village has a close relationship with the sphinx they had defeated previously. Frar conversed with an old woman and her two children and gathered that the entire village was pretty much brainwashed. When Nydyr asked Shin to retrieve some water for him, he returned with salt water, and an equally watery smile.
As Nydyr investigated an odd door in the central boat, Frar began warning Bai Sen of the adventuring party, hoping to gain further information on how the settlement came to be, and why the people follow Bai Sen so loyally.
Shin was knocked out and tied up, and Moses took on his appearance, investigating the village and discovering that they were slowly running low on resources. He also talked to Grandpa Toko, the village's medicine man, who was revealed to have very few actual powers. As Nydyr crept into Bai Sen's boat, the session ended.

Rewards Granted

Moses - some herbs from Grandpa Toko
Nydyr - a letter from Emillo Kukane, a bottle of salt water
Balasar - a recipe from his father, Viphantez
Frar - a letter in a strange script
Aries - a crystal ball, and a note saying 'divine'
Devis - a letter from Briolla, 10 gold

Missions/Quests Completed

The party began their journey toward Bel Tocino, travelling approximately 30km of 80km on their dragons.

Character(s) interacted with

The party interacted with The Travelling Postmen of Sicaro, Shin, Bai Sen, and elderly woman in Saricho, two young boys (twins), Grandpa Toko, and of course, Silvia.

Report Date

01 Aug 2020

Secondary Location

Saricho