Session 8 - Sticks and Stones; The Past is Shown
General Summary
Ischyrós catches back up with the team after spending a day carefully learning about Nostauron's cloth markets. Theresa informs him of the affairs of the party. She discusses the high cost of getting a charm to prevent Xenobia from wandering off during the discussion. However, Ischyros suggests that slapping her, as Pyro has already done, would be a much cheaper alternative. In addition, Ischyros decides to enter the temple and get cleansed. After an internal debate, Theresa also chooses to go in. With Abraxas leading, the party heads back to the temple of Astarte.
While preparing Theresa and Ischyros, Abraxas inquires if anyone has escaped the Labyrinth. He learns that no one that enters without the protection of Astarte leaves. It is revealed that some from the palace can enter and leave. They are reminded that any bloodletting will remove the protection. They enter a chamber and begin the ritual. After the ceremony, the party returns to the beekeeper's home.
After spending seven days in the city, learning about the ins and outs, performing, or ministering to their hosts, the party realizes that Xenobia and Lenora are missing. Lenora wandering off to the graveyard is on par with her routine. However, some became concerned that Xenobia may have wandered off under the magic she experienced the other day. Pyro asks people nearby if they have seen a “large woman with a tail that goes swish-swish.” A man tells Pyro that he saw Xenobia walking off into the night. Pressing, he inquires if Xenobia was moving of her own volition, but the person did not get a good look.
Concerned, Pyro asks the party to go to the palace. They agree and follow. He approaches the guard and inquires if they have seen Xenobia. The guards only recall her when Pyro reminds them of the incident where a centaur crashed the gate. The guards did not see her or hear about this happening last night. Satisfied, Pyro resolves to collect sticks in the hills to the south of the city. Abraxas inquires why Pyro wants to collect sticks. Pyro explains that he will make a divining tool that doesn’t kill birds. Abraxas attempts to convince Pyro that the sticks need to be collected by a sober satyr. Pyro doesn’t understand the concept of sober or satyr. Ischyros, Abraxas, and Theresa decide to accompany the fool.
Pyro is able to obtain some rocks, a few nice-looking sticks, and the components needed to make a thyrsus. As he searches and the other party looks around, he stumbles upon some markings on a tree. Curious, he calls Theresa over to see if she understands them. Theresa did not know and asked Pyro if he could read them. Pyro stares at them intensely and claims they mean the food is near.
The party then starts heading back, but Pyro remembers he left his wineskin up the path. The party members question this because he had never been that way, but they decide to follow him up the trail anyways. Considering that Pyro may also be under a spell, Theresa decides to slap Pyro. Rubbing his face, Pyro asks why, but presses ahead. As they go up the path, they find more marked trees. Abraxas attempts to interpret them and concludes that they are related to Zeus. Pyro thinks they are connected to his wineskin but attempts to call out to Zeus.
“Hey, Zeus, have you seen my wineskin?”
Pyro has a strong memory of leaving it in a cave and continues up the path until he finds an opening in the mountains. From the cave, a strong aroma of cedar and incense is burning. Before everyone enters, they have a conference on whether they should go in.
Pyro goes in. The rest follow, and Theresa creates a small glowing ball of wax. She rolls it on the ground, and Pyro chases it. As the party enters the cave, their eyes begin to water. Theresa notices Abraxas smiling, and she slaps him, thinking he is under a spell. They reach a part of the cave where large bonfires are lit. Pyro sees a figure in the distance and calls out to it, asking about his wineskin.
The mysterious figure appears with a beehive hairdo and long ponytail, asking why he dared enter the sacred area. Pyro states that though he has never been here, he knows he’s been here and left his wineskin. The woman asks if Pyro has just forgotten he has been here. Pyro states he both knows and doesn’t know. She laments that this is the fate of mortals.
Pyro whispers to Theresa, “What is a mortal?”
She whispers back, “You are.”
A discussion ensues with Althea, the temple keeper. They discuss how much mortals have forgotten, as well s the cause of Spyridon's disfavor before the gods,, Ares’ quest for vengeance, the foolishness of being bound to loyalty or kindness, and the danger of the Labyrinth. The party also discovers this was where the Nymphs hid Zeus until he grew into manhood and defeated his father. They hear, once again, that Dionysus will supplant the father. Pyro laments the stories of mortals being caught up with the god’s only leads to disaster for the mortal. He questions whether it is wise to be in their sight. Abraxas and Theresa disagree. Theresa asks whether the path leads through the Labyrinth orRabdos, but Abraxas and Pyro concur that their fate lies in the Labyrinth. Pyro questions if there is a way to become a centaur and if the gods can make mistakes when creating us.
The meeting concludes with the temple keeper asking to reveal something forgotten by each member.
To Pyro, she states that he has forgotten much and will need to remember. He was once a centaur. To Abraxas, she reveals that a relic lies in the center of the Labyrinth that his goddess wants. It may contain a power that no mortal should open. Abraxas inquires if it is Pandora’s Box. The temple keeper doesn’t answer but implies it is.
Ischyros declines to know the past but asks about the future, if Spyridon is worth rescuing, and if their fate in the Labyrinth is doomed. The temple keeper reveals little. Lastly, she turns to Theresa. She reveals that Theresa is not a mortal and talks of her parents and her mistress Despoina, who was the intended recipient of the sacrifice in back in Rabdos.
She implies that her cult is on the decline.
The temple keeper turns as the party begins to leave. Pyro asks for his wineskin, and she hands him one. Exuberant, he cheers, and she smirks as she walks away. The party exits the cave only to reveal it is now night. Theresa hugs Pyro calling him her good luck charm. The party decides to sleep under the stars.
They awake to hear metal scrapping and stomping.
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