Session 27 - The Road to Eidyla

General Summary

After Ischyrós, atop Pyro in his horse form, and Xenobia successfully breached the gate, Xenobia urged the group to move out of arrow range. However, after a short wait, the three decided to inch closer to the gate, eager to reunite with their friends. Finally, Abraxas and Candid caught up, but neither had any idea where Theresa was, despite Candid's efforts to search for her inside the city. They deliberated on whether to continue waiting or leave without her. Eventually, they settled on waiting until sunset, despite the ongoing chaos in the city. A stream of fleeing people kept pouring out of the western gate.
Meanwhile, Theresa, still at Grandfather Linus' house, skillfully evaded the Bacchanalia festivities. As time passed, she also noticed a growing number of people fleeing the city. Recognizing that their plan was working, Theresa decided to embark on a mission to find her friends. Stealthily, she entered the city, avoiding the flow of refugees. From the harbor, she could see numerous people and soldiers approaching, unmistakably Polydoros' men. They slaughtered city guards and anyone else they perceived as a threat. Theresa, always keen to avoid confrontation, carefully navigated her way to the western gates, beyond which lay the road leading to the Erymanthian Woods. As she journeyed through the city's heart, she observed Polydorus commanding his forces, yet, amid the pandemonium, he paid her no mind, allowing her to traverse the city without interference.
After exiting the city, Theresa was greeted by Xenobia and the crew upon her arrival, but she was momentarily puzzled when she was greeted by a horse carrying Ischyros before realizing the identity of the horse. With the group reunited, they set off, following the coastline southward toward the woods. Throughout the day, the journey was uneventful, but as dusk approached, they stumbled upon a villa reminiscent of Spyridon's estate.
Prompted by a nudge from Pyro, Theresa proposed that the group stay at the villa for the night. Xenobia, however, reminded everyone of the unfortunate outcome the last time they entered a populated area. Abraxas assured them that the followers of Dionysus were no longer inclined to consume human flesh and that he had become a god of love. Despite some initial hesitation, the party agreed to seek lodging for the night.
Upon reaching the villa, the travelers encountered some workmen winding down their day's labor. They appeared amused by the presence of this motley group of foreigners and their Sfardan -looking leader. Theresa, who typically preferred the shadows, emerged to introduce the mighty hero, Candid.
Candid introduced himself, and the workers departed to fetch their master. After a brief wait, they returned with their master, Dromeos, who bore the countenance of a seasoned warrior. Candid introduced himself once more, revealing his mission on behalf of  Demeter. to capture a boar from the Erymanthian Woods. The others also introduced themselves, with the exception of the mute equine Pyro.
Dromeos offered the group a place to stay but expressed concerns about an old man causing trouble for Pythias, his goat herder. Candid pressed for more details, but Dromeos was primarily interested in investigating the matter himself. If the herder's reports were accurate, it would be best to either scare off or drive away the old man. The party agreed to assist, with Pyro revealing his true form and Xenobia catching Ischyros. Dromeus and his company marveled at this peculiar assembly of companions.
Candid and Xenobia received torches from Dromeos upon their request, while Theresa created several lights for the rest of the group. Ischyros, now without his equine, opted to remain behind, as did Abraxas, who seemed more focused on spreading the word of Dionysus. The remaining party members ventured into the dimly lit night to locate the old man.
It didn't take them long to find the mysterious figure. His face concealed by a hood, he carried a staff and appeared to be gathering herbs. Candid approached the old man, inquiring about the frightened goat herder and whether he posed a threat to Dromeus's estate. The old man replied in cryptic terms, denying any intention of harassing the goat herder. He mentioned that feeding the Diktamnon herb to a fish could make it immortal, subtly hinting at Candid's own evasion of death. Finally, he alluded to a "master," which prompted Pyro to inquire further.
However, Pyro suddenly sprinted away from the scene. Xenobia, taking a more direct approach, told the old man to leave. Convinced that the old man posed no harm, Candid intervened, and the old man decided to continue collecting his herbs. The party, satisfied that they had resolved the situation, returned to Dromeos's estate.
Back at the estate, Abraxas engaged Dromeos in enthusiastic conversation, extolling the "good news" of a risen god of love. Ischyros was briefly questioned by Dromeos, and in turn, Ischyros explained his profession, his travels, and how he came to meet this peculiar group of companions. He then ventured into a discussion about the textiles in the region, capturing Dromeos's interest. Surrounded by an abundance of food and wine, Ischyros indulged, soon finding himself too inebriated to eat further. It was around this time that Pyro discovered Ischyros in this sorry state, unable to move, and on the verge of vomiting. Ischyros leaned on Pyro as Pyro inquired about heroes in his native land.
Some time later, the rest of the party returned. Candid sought out Dromeos and reported their findings regarding the old man, concluding that he posed no threat. Pyro mentioned the old man's obsession with immortalizing fish and his resemblance to Pyro's own terrifying mother. Dromeos, attempting to fit these details into a coherent narrative, mentioned a former ruler named Glaukos, who had achieved immortality or transformed into a fish. He also introduced the party to the story of the new ruler of Eidyla, a city lying in the isthmus connecting northern and southern Kadmeia, and lying just west of the Woods. This man, Sisyphus, was known for his inhospitable treatment of guests on his land. Dromeos believed that Sisyphus would likely be aware of the party's presence and intentions in the woods.
With the problem of the old man seemingly addressed, the party settled in for the night. Guided by an inexplicable desire to deliver the immortal fish, Pyro ventured out to find the old man. However, after an unsuccessful search in the dimly lit night, he quickly gave up and fell asleep. The morning sun greeted him as he awoke. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the party at Dromeos's estate debated their next course of action. Candid expressed concern about their lack of a clear plan for capturing the boar and suggested seeking assistance from Sisyphus. Theresa deferred to Pyro for his advice. Candid observed Theresa closely, attempting to discern if she was being truthful. Concerned for Pyro's whereabouts, the party searched the estate for any sign of him but found neither Pyro nor any horses. They assumed that Pyro had moved ahead of them and decided to proceed with their journey, trusting that Pyro would eventually find them.
In the hills, Pyro was awakened by the goat herder, who had been previously frightened by the old man. Pyro described the old man as frightening but knowledgeable about turning into a fish. The goat herder mentioned that the old man appeared as a skull, but Pyro insisted that he resembled his mother. The goat herder, unable to make sense of Pyro's ramblings, distanced himself and continued on his way. Pyro resolved to travel to Dromeos's estate but found his friends had already left. He retraced their path, collecting the old man's herbs as he went. He tasted one, finding it bitter and mildly unsettling.
Pyro eventually caught up with the rest of the party, who had paused to rest. They resumed their discussion about capturing the boar, with Theresa prompting Pyro to devise a plan. Pyro suggested that he could transform into a "girl boar" to lure the creature to them, relying on wine to subdue it. Abraxas mentioned his ability to potentially put the boar to sleep, and Theresa proposed that she could secure enough wine for the task.
Realizing the need for a sturdy rope to carry out their boar-capturing plan, the group collectively decided to craft one. Xenobia and Pyro were the first to suggest Theresa's magical skills in creating such a rope. Theresa affirmed her capability to make it happen but emphasized that they required hemp as the raw material for her magic. With this plan in mind, the party set their sights on the hills, intending to procure hemp to facilitate Theresa's rope-making abilities and move closer to their goal.
As they ascended the hills, they noticed fire pits, prompting Pyro to suggest camping near them to stay warm. Xenobia, however, was wary of this idea. As she attempted to explain her reservations, Candid curiously peered into one of the pits. In an instant, a cone of fire surged forth, engulfing Candid in flames. From the pit emerged a bearded lizard , catching the party by surprise and prompting them to prepare for a battle.

Report Date

30 Jan 2024