Session 15 - The Labyrinth's Guardian
General Summary
In the heart of a restless night, Theresa and Abraxas grappled with elusive visions that slithered through their minds like intangible serpents. The haunting images denied them the respite of peaceful sleep, leaving them to wrestle with their own thoughts. As time passed slowly, the rest of the party stirred awake, save for Theresa who sought solace in continued rest. Abraxas, driven by an intense focus, wandered the earthy cavern, touching each stone and speck of dirt as if seeking protection from the phantom serpents that plagued his mind.
In a different corner of the Labyrinth, Ischyrós and Xenobia ventured deeper into its depths, while a refreshed Pyro and Pandion leisurely joined them after a comfortable awakening. Xenobia's words wove tales of snakes and centipedes, much to Pandion's chagrin. Impatience compelled him to plead for silence, the serpentine tales an unwelcome backdrop.
Eventually, the party reconvened before the vivid statue adorned with a crimson gemstone. Pyro's magical hand extended to retrieve the jewel, which they then brought back to the group. Despite their companions' weariness, the adventurers focused on the intricate puzzle door that barred their way. Working together, they overturned the gourds, finding that some of them concealed a distinct stone, within the puzzle's framework. The radiant red stone, held aloft by Pyro's conjured hand, assumed its place among the other minerals. The door, now unlocked, revealed a passage shrouded in enigmatic mist. Beyond its threshold awaited a creature of serpentine grace its form a blend of majesty and ire.
A hiss of displeasure pierced the air as the creature's gaze fell upon the interlopers, and accusing them of having smashed the eggs, she unslung her bow and prepared to fire. Abraxas, his spirit kindled, cast aside the specter of his visions. He called out a name, a challenge, igniting laughter from the creature. Ischyrós, wielding his sling, launched a stone that missed its mark. Xenobia, fierce in her determination, charged with her horned crown poised for a strike. Pyro, once bemused, now donned a bewildered expression as he transformed into a centipede, his perspective reshaped.
Amidst this surreal tableau, Lenora's emerged as a voice of reason, seeking diplomacy with the aggrieved creature. Yet, the serpent's ire held fast, and its retaliation manifested in a shower of arrows that rained upon the adventurers. Within this symphony of chaos, Ischyrós' stones struck the serpent's head, sowing confusion. Xenobia danced with the creature, narrowly avoiding an arrow, her movements reminiscent of a serpent's grace.
Abraxas, sensing an alternate path, summoned his resonant bell, its mournful tones permeating the air. However, the creature's response was muted, seemingly impervious to the melancholic magic. Pyro's centipede form approached Pandion, a fleeting exchange of fangs and axe.
Lenora's empathy blossomed, and her gaze locked onto the serpent's. Their wills clashed, an ethereal contest of power, yet the serpent remained unyielding. Amidst the fray, the serpent constricted its coils around Xenobia, testing her resolve. As Pyro's transformation receded, Pandion's poised strike stayed, camaraderie overcoming instinct.
Ischyrós' stones continued to assail the serpent, chipping away at its defenses. Meanwhile, Xenobia broke free from the constricting embrace, readying herself for another assault. Abraxas summoned his mournful bell once more, its ghostly tones intertwining with the chaos. The creature's response was tepid, its essence seemingly immune to the somber melody.
Amidst this interplay, Pyro offered a confession of instigating the smashing of the eggs. His guilt kindled the serpent's ire, and Pyro's admission acted as a catalyst, prompting the creature to release Xenobia. An arrow grazed Pyro as Xenobia, fueled by fury, unleashed a torrent of hooves upon the serpent's form. Pandion too joined in the cathartic release, a culmination of pent-up energy.
As the serpent's essence waned, the chamber bore witness to a sense of resolution. Amidst the aftermath, the party explored the serpentine sanctum, the echoes of battle slowly fading. Among the treasures, Xenobia and Ischyros found a breastplate, helmet, lamellar armor, and a bronze sword. Lenora's gaze was drawn to a pool, a pool of reddish liquid, its depths holding untold secrets. With a voice trembling with revelation, she declared the long-sought discovery—the gate to Hades.
Before them loomed a precipice, a passage into the realm of shadows. Urgency and caution waged a silent battle within their hearts. Seeking guidance from Lenora, they reached a consensus—an hour's respite before they ventured forth.
One by one, they entered the enigmatic pool, the boundaries between realms dissolving as they descended. The currents of spectral souls embraced them, their whispers like echoes of forgotten memories. Solid ground welcomed their touch, a land shrouded in obsidian veils, where the barriers between worlds wavered.
Within the cage of darkness, a river meandered, its flow carrying whispers of souls bound for the beyond. From a distant shore, the Ferryman emerged, heralding their passage. Yet, within the anticipation, a chilling realization emerged—Theresa was missing. Swiftly, Abraxas dispatched his dove, paid Charon's toll, and stepped onto the vessel.
One by one, they followed, each grappling with the absence that echoed like a lone note in a cavernous silence. Olive's return bore no scent of Theresa, and with a sense of inevitability, they set sail into the shadows, a collective voyage into the unknown, a solitary echo of a companion left behind.
Rewards Granted
- Armor and weapons found in the chamber of the serpentine guardian
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