Session 006: Graxis & the Tomb of Xander Report
General Summary
The Chosen of the Oracle went to sleep listening to Kyrah telling them the ancient history.
The Birth of the Titans
In the beginning, the islands of Thylea were populated only by harmless plants and gentle animals—the flora and fauna a reflection of the nurturing spirit of the Mother Goddess that sacrificed herself to create them. A virgin paradise, the Forgotten Land was kept safe from the perils and evils of the outside world by the giant Kentimane of the Hundred Hands—Thylea’s lover and protector. And together, the two were content.
But one day, the tree at the center of the islands—the transformed heart of the Mother Goddess herself—blossomed with seven strange fruits. Each the size of a boulder, they shimmered and pulsed with vibrant, shifting colors, almost as if alive. Seeing the tempting bounty sprouting from the branches, Kentimane reached from the ocean and plucked the fruit. His fifty heads gorged themselves on the succulent flesh, tearing and chewing until all that remained were seven spike-covered pits, which he tossed into the ocean.
Instead of sinking, the pits floated on the waves, bobbing up and down. Offended by their taunting presence, Kentimane seized each pit in a clenched fist, squeezing so hard the spikes bit into his flesh and drew blood. Howling in rage, Kentimane slammed the pits down beneath the water, burying them deep beneath the muddy bottom of the ocean floor.
But the next morning the pits floated back up to the surface. Before Kentimane could seize them again, the pits burst open and the children of Thylea and Kentimane sprang forth into existence.
[05:06] MyrddinEmyrs-Sounds: The hundred-handed god stared in wonder at his offspring: eight Titans born from the fruit of Thylea’s tree, fertilized by the blood of Kentimane himself. Each of the first six pits had incubated a single child blessed with a different attribute drawn from one of their parents: Strength; Beauty; Wisdom; Craft; Prophecy and Swiftness. As these six Titans grew from children into adults, they became demi-gods, each representing the aspect of their parents they most embodied.
However, from the seventh pit two Titans were born: Sydon and Lutheria, twin brother and sister. Sydon embodied his father’s raging fury, and as he grew he became the God of Time and the Lord of Storms. His sister, Lutheria, inherited her mother’s stillness and calm... but without Thylea’s compassion or gentleness, she would eventually become the Goddess of Death and the Lady of Dreams.
But all this was far in the future, and Kentimane did not foresee what his offspring would one day become. He could not imagine the strife and suffering the Twins would bring to the peaceful islands. If he had known, he might have drowned them on the spot. But instead, he scooped up his children from the waves—including Sydon and Lutheria—and placed them gently at the base of the great Heart-Tree rising up from the center of the island, where Thylea could watch over them.
Having deposited the children in the warm bosom of their mother, Kentimane returned to the sea and resumed his eternal vigil, bound by his sacred vow to keep Thylea—and now also their children—safe from the outside world.
The Chosen met with two new Humanoid creatures who were walking back with Kyrah.
The Chosen were greeted by two newcomers. A Triton paladin named Pyra (with a Pseudodragon named Joruun ), & a Half-Orc Eldritch Knight named Ollidak. They swore an Oath of fellowship joining the Chosen of the Oracle.
The Chosen of the Oracle first came into a room with three Minotaur Skeletons.
After combat they were no longer a threat.
The Chosen made their way to the lair of the Minotaur who lived here. It appeared that he had Elven farmers strung up & ready to eat. It was covered in blood, soot, & grime. There was no mention of a place to sleep or rest. It appeared that whoever lived here preferred Humanoid meat.
The Chosen walked around the corner & saw this room. The word trap echoed in everyone's mind. Oren had the idea of propping the doors open with an adamantine javelin.
Once they entered the tomb, Graxis burst into the room sending the javelin flying. Hulgnir thinking quickly cast command upon the Minotaur telling him to run. Right after doing that, Hulgnir realized that Graxis had the Axe they were looking for in his hands, as well as the shield.
When it was just after the minotaur's ran a bit away, the coffin opened up & Xander rose from his rest. He went to the door. Xander opened his hand & the Axe flew into his hand. He turned the Axe in his hand, turning to face Hulgnir he handed him the handle of the Axe.
Hulgnir felt joy from the Axe.
After combating Graxis the Minotaur cursed by Xander to never rest to always guard the Tomb.
The party rested & identified the items they found.
Both the Breastplate of Mytros & Shield of Volkan required a week of repair. To repair both would require three weeks as the Forge needed to rest for a week between items.
The cost to do so is: 500 GP & an ingot.
Hulgnir sacrificed Graxis to Kyrah, muxinging in his Norse traditions with Thylea’s traditions, hoping for another oath of service.
Graxis disappeared in an ash cloud of light, Kyrah glowed with the same light as this occured.
A strap was all that was left of Graxis. Euadne picked that up.
Kyrah received a boost in abilities, damage, & health. Giving the chosen her gratitude, she swore an oath of service with the condition that it didn't interfere with any of her other oaths.
Not many sacrifice to the Goddess of Bards.
Upon collecting the armaments of the first Dragonlord Xander:
-Axe of Xander (sentient +1 greataxe. [INT 14, WIS 10, CHA 10] hearing & normal vision up to 120 feet. Communicates empathically by transmitting emotions to the one carrying or using it.
Primary purpose is to destroy titans or gisnts deals 3d6 extra force damage. It also transmits a sense of tremendous satisfaction & wellbeing to its user when it kills a Titan or Giant. You may heal 1D6 HP when this happens.
-Breastplate of Mytros(once repaired): +1 to AC & +1 to CHA (we'll use an effect). Giants & Titans have disadvantage on their attacks against an opponent wearing this Breastplate.
-Golden Shield of Volkan: (when repaired)
Golden lion face engraved on the front & 3 times per day the user can use a bonus action to cast the spell thunderwave. The spell will be accompanied by the mighty roar of a lion & the lion carving will animate.
The severed head of any medium or smaller creature can be attached to the front of the shield by wedging it in the lion's teeth. The user can spend an action to activate this head & will gain a benefit of one of the creature's traits for 5 rounds. Spellcasting of any kind will not work. This ability can only be used once per day. Once used, the head disintegrates into ash.
While holding this shield, the user has advantage on initiative rolls & wisdom (perception) checks. In addition, while holding this shield the user can also understand & speak the Draconic language.
The Chosen also found a mahogany staff with a bronze dragon claw holding a crystal. (Studying the staff while in Estoria Euadne discovered that the staff can store the Gem of Brightness in the crystal. This extends the range of the Staff's light spell by 15' feet. There is another section on the crystal to store another orb.)
Their was a pair of bronze knuckles that John took. They increased his 12 strength to 19. As well as made his damage versus inanimate objects always critical hits.
The Chosen experimented with giving their Cockatrice a Headband of Intellect to Oren’s great confusion.
The Cockatrice could not communicate. So they returned the headband to Oren.
On the way to Estoria Kyrah told the Chosen of the Oracle the Myth of the Creation of the Fey Races
[05:54] MyrddinEmyrs-Sounds: For a time the eight children of Thylea and Kentimane lived quiet and contented lives, sheltered on the islands spawned from the body of their mother. But, in time, contentment became loneliness. They were gods, but they had no purpose.
Talieus, the God of Crafting, first born of the siblings, gathered his younger brothers and sisters together and proposed they create races of mortal creatures to worship and revere them. Of all the Titans, only Sydon and Lutheria, his youngest siblings, refused: they were united by the powerful bond, and did not feel the empty loneliness of their kin.
The other Titans created centaurs, satyrs and nymphs, who quickly spread to populate the islands. Next, they created the cyclopes and gygans, great giants capable of moving earth and stone to build massive temples in honor of Talieus and the others who had given them life.
Sydon and Lutheria regarded these new mortal races with contempt. They became bitter and resentful, and isolated themselves on the last uninhabited island of Thylea, where their hatred festered.
One day, Lutheria approached Talieus, claiming she and her twin had grown weary of their solitude. Offering praise and flattery, she urged him to create a new race, one greater than all the others, to dwell on her island.
Weakened by his sister’s adulation, Talieus did as he was bade and the myrmekes were born. An industrious, insect-like race with a shared hive-mind intelligence, the myrmekes quickly spread out from their isolated home, overwhelming and conquering the native species on nearby islands.
The other Titans condemned Talieus for creating such aggressive and dangerous creatures. Talieus, burning with parental pride, refused act against his newest children. It fell to Sydon, the God of Storms, to halt the myrmekes’ advance. As they piled into their ships, he unleashed the fury of the sea, dashing their vessels to smithereens with howling winds, drowning them beneath the waves. Even Sydon could not halt their advance forever. The other Titans, fearful the myrmekes would continue to spread, begged their father for help. Moved by the fears of his children, Kentimane used his hundred hands to gather all the myrmekes onto a single island. Calling on the strength of Thylea herself, he bound them there with powerful magic so they could never leave.
As punishment for his foolishness and pride, Kentimane stripped Talieus of his power and gave it to Sydon. Using his older brother’s former power against him, Sydon bound Talieus and presented him to his sister and now wife as a gift.
Lutheria took no pity on her helpless elder brother. She blinded the mighty Titan and sewed his lips shut, so he could never tell the others the truth of his downfall. Then she bound his power to her crystal scythe and forced him to wander eternally in the Nether Sea, dragging her throne-ship across the waves behind him by a great chain strapped around his neck.
Seeing Talieus’ fate, the other Titans were horrified. Together they began plotting revenge against the twins, but Lutheria and Sydon were ready for them.
When they got to Estoria Oren went shopping & the rest of the party did their own things.
Pythor & Volkan approached Hulgnir & told him of the arrangement they did for his stronghold. Queen Vallus had sent some royal wizards to create a stronghold that would become a new center for a Dragonlord Empire. Asking that they come to Mytros when they finish their labours.
The stronghold was now complete. In two weeks Sydon's forces would be attacking the Mithril Mines.
What the party has left to do, quest-wise.
1. Thericles asked John to find his daughter Corinna in the Old Woods.
2. The Chosen tracked those who stole the Horn of Balmytria to the Old Woods.
3. The Chosen have to complete their final labour: drink from the Horn of Balmytria
4. The Chosen have two items that need to be repaired by Volkan in the Mithril Mines.
5. Hulgnir has to bloody his fortress & deal with an attack by Sydon’s forces in 14 days. Then spend a week in an extended rest.
6. The Chosen have been asked by Vallus to come to Mytros.
Will the party put off going to the Mossy Temple?
Will they head back to the Mithril Forge without their rogue?
Tune in next week to find out.
Notes
PC
Oren
Veronica's last
Hulgnir
Ollidak
Pyra
John
1 day
Hulgnir
Report Date
03 Oct 2020
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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