Of Man's First Disobedience (2COT21)

Session begins on 13 Mirtul 1381.

Act 1

Yaphyll calls a meeting of the Covenant. She announces that she's located a possible Chosen who has survived. Her name is Astraia, and her sources say that she was born in a small village in Threskel, and was taken from her family as a baby by the King's men.

Yaphyll invites Desi to hire on as help in this quest, with the approval of a quorum of the Covenant. She offers her a contract for the safe return of Astraia. She does not explain that Astraia is a Chosen of Mystra.

The party journeys, at Desi's grueling pace, to Threskel. She gives them all of 5 minutes to prepare themselves, with no break for rest, food, or drink. Upon arrival in Doria, having traveled all day, she nonetheless pushes on to head directly for the castle.

The party meets with the King. Desi wastes no time, asking him for information on the girl; he will help her only if she agrees to duel him in sport. She begrudgingly accepts.

By the light of the setting sun, in a mostly empty Colosseum, the two wrestle in the traditional way: naked, oiled, and with very few rules. The King is the better wrestler, and stronger too, given that Desi refuses to tap her demonic strength to defeat him. Ultimately, she loses, and he reveals that he was hoping she would refuse, proving her honor was more important to her than victory.

That night, the King invites the party to a decadent feast. They dine well, and enjoy the favors of his slaves and servants. Desi, his sort of "conquest" for the night, attends him, visibly uncomfortable, shying away from his advances. She excuses herself, having failed to gain the information she needed; the party fills in for her.

They learn that, when the King was a young boy, he observed a woman, cradling a young baby, brought before his father by an excess of soldiers. They tore the baby from her and delivered it to the Ephors. He doesn't know any specifics beyond that, but it seems clear to him why it was done: the Ephors lay claim to all those of magical talent, and draft them into the priesthood. Likely, she serves at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Olympus.

Act 2

The party journeys up the slopes of Mt. Olympus. They find the magic of the place aroints their flight, and must hoof it. Unused to overland travel, they brought little in the way of food and drink. However, it is not a great problem, as the lower slopes of the mountain are quite fertile. They do get quite winded though--those unused to long overland travel.

Having stopped for water and rest at a small pond, they soon discover it is a clever ambush by an ancient hydra. The creature plugged a natural crevice, allowing water inlets to pool into a basin and form the pond. When likely prey happened by, it would snatch them up and take their shinies.

The party gets the better of the beast, taking its skin, gizzards, and shinies. Desi doesn't acquit herself well in combat at first, and soon loses her temper, unleashing her full demonic rage on the creature in pure overkill. Still, she is ashamed to have fallen into the trap in the first place.

They find shelter in an ancient shrine, carved into the very rock face. Ani whips up a tasty stew, being the only one who carries food routinely. Desi allows Keket to massage the pains of her battle with King Plataeus from her shoulders, in a rare show of vulnerability (now the second, both times with Keket). Too desperate for modesty, Kara bathes with the water pooling in the basin of the shrine.

The party leaves no watch, but the minor creatures wandering the lower slopes are too afraid of them to bother with an attack. They sleep peacefully.

Act 3

As evening falls on the second day, a dreary and overcast affair, the party arrives at Delphi. The town's gates are guarded. The guards deny entry, as the party consists entirely of non-Chessentans, except for Desdemona, who is obviously tainted. She loses her temper and just freezes them solid.

They storm through the village, past stunned priests and peasants, past the Temple of Apollo, toward the Oracle's Overlook. Having attracted the attention of guards, Desi simply wards them off by blocking the mountain pass with a wall of ice.

At the Overlook, they observe the Oracle doing her thing, as the Ephors look on. Callous and cruel, they force her to inhale noxious fumes to addle her mind and open her to divination. The party confronts them, and they hide behind their magic. All but one, that is.

Their leader steps forth, politely asking them to leave. They refuse, being heroes. When they shatter the protective ward and make a grab for the Oracle, their leader reveals his true form: a towering demon, with an aura of power far in excess of the wraith of Eltab. With but a thought, he smites them all, including the now-tainted Oracle, sending them directly to the Underworld.

Battle with the Hydra

• 3,400 xp each (new total: 141,000 xp)
• GP and other treasures, recorded in-game

Starring

• Anastasia Scrubs
• Raithen Nightsong
• Keket
• Talrendis Sunshadow
• Desdemona Heliakos

Guest Stars

• Kara Zial
• Plataeus Eurypontius
• Ceresia Lacadaemona
• Raynar Thrul
• Yaphyll