Four Fates Under the Southern Sun 3.5, Session 1

Start: 11 pm, Day of Worship (Saturday), Midsummer 5, 401 GA

Praxis, Ukurdiel, and Emilia were led from their homes by Maiden Confessors of Îsha to the Chamber of Contemplation. The Chamber of Contemplation lies below the Maiden's Cloister in the Cathedral of Îsha, in the Vardo District. It is here a child of the Viszudar awaits their trial of become, in which they will become an adult.

In each of their rooms, they found an unlocked trunk, which held an offering of goods, provided by House Thal to help them on their journey. Above the latch on each of the trunks it read: Trust your intuition, and remember you are mortal. Realizing the contents were for them to keep, each of them opened their trunk and collected their belongings.

Moving out to the common area, Praxis made his way over to the altar. Both he and Emilia recognized the herb present as dried noble bloodwort. It is an herb which burns slowly, allowing it to easily be used as incense. It traditionally is burnt to instill fortitude, such as before a great battle. Praxis lights and inhales this incense, meditating at the altar. The smoke smells aromatic, slightly bitter, and vaguely like copper. It reminded him of the smell of blood, if made aromatic and herbal. The aroma stuck cloyingly to the roof of his mouth.

Ukurdiel went to the table in the center of the room and ate the savory pastry set out for each of them. It contained venison, parsnips, and garlic. Each of those ingredients are foreign to the Viszudar. He greeted Lydia. Lydia informed him, Emilia, and Praxis they had an hour to prepare, and could pray at the altars, sample the food, or rest in the cots readied for them. Ukurdiel prayed at an altar as Praxis did after speaking with Lydia.

Praxis drank all of the Brinebrew Scalder provided for the three of them, and suffered no ill effects.

Ukurdiel intruded into the empty room and checked it. Upon investigating the chest, he read the latch. It read 'None are above redemption'. Seeing this, he relented and left the room untouched.

The three of them introduced themselves to each other and waited out the rest of the hour.

Lydia led the three of them to Axis square, where they awaited the moonlight augury, which would provide them with the terms of the trial before them.

An assembly of people awaited the three on the founder's platform. Among those gathered, the party noticed the Adjudicator of the Viszudar, Zozannus. Additionally, they noticed the right hand woman of their matriarch, Gavrinna. Beside her was a shaman, and gathered around the Adjudicator were many braves.

Before the Adjudicator and his throne was a silver font, topped with a prism, and around it were several vats of liquid moonlight.

The party was led to the platform by Lydia, who bid them farewell and wished them good luck.

Gavrinna greeted them and explained the ceremony was about to commence. The shaman, who identified himself as Kaliero, beckoned the first to approach.

Ukurdiel volunteered. The Adjudicator conjured the moonlight, which spoke to him in cryptic images and sounds akin to half-formed words. He beckoned Kaliero over, who seemed perturbed by what the Adjudicator feebly whispered in his ear. This process repeated for Emilia and Praxis.

After the final prophecy, the Adjudicator shouted 'Now. It is now, Kaliero. Protect them. There is another." As he shouted, blood began to trickle from his ears, then his mouth. The Adjudicator crumpled over dead. Glancing up at the sky above, the party noticed the two moons far too quickly go into total eclipse.

A red mist filled the air of Axis square, and the veil began to thin. Kaliero rushed over to collect the body of the Adjudicator, and shouted for the party to follow him. The others fended off creatures stepping through the void. The party accompanied Kaliero to the bridge, until they were separated by goatman-like creatures known as Aurings. Kaliero stopped and shouted back "I will return. Fend off the Aurings."

The party did battle with several Aurings. Ukurdiel fell unconscious during the final encounter, and Emilia helped him to his feet with her magic. They lasted long enough for Kaliero to return. He shrouded them in his magic, and they retreated to the infirmary of the Cathedral of Îsha.

Kaliero explained the Adjudicator is dead. In the absence of the Adjudicator, the old ways were followed, and Praxis, Ukurdiel, and Emilia have shed blood for the tribe, and are considered full adult members of house Thal. He was obviously troubled, and wasted little time telling what was on his mind.

Before the Adjudicator died, he spoke of the prophecy in the Chronicle of Galthan, which spoke of an upcoming age of upheaval and turmoil. In the prophecy, Galthan spoke of four individuals would be named Archons of Humanity, and would be tasked with saving the world. Kaliero reluctantly told the party Zozannus gave all three of them that vocation. Additionally, he said there would be another. Kaliero did not know what to make of that, as they have not been named, and the Adjudicator is dead.

Kaliero mentioned the first tasks for the Archons in the Chronicle of Galthan was said to be venturing beneath the runestone to the northwest of the Viszudar. He knew very little else. Emilia haggled for increased pay. Kaliero discussed it with the shamans the next morning, and increased the wage of the Archons to 1 platinum, 5 gold every week, at the pay counter. Kaliero gave the party a map of Southreach, the surrounding region.

The party rested in the infirmary for the night, received their wages, and went on their way the following morning.

They decided not to take a direct route along the river, instead cutting through the mountains. They found an odd paved hunting trail along the bend of the hills. Following this trail, they came upon an ambush by bandits, who were identified as Yoggite foreigners. They dispatched the bandits, and Ukurdiel left one alive, leaving a message reading "We are three of the archons of the Viszudar. Do not follow us, do not attack us. This is a message.". He manacled the unconscious bandit, and the three went on their way.

Venturing further to the northwest, the party took camp after fording the river. During the night, they were awoken by howls sounding exactly like the Aurings from the previous night. It is unusual for attacks from beyond to be so frequent, and is unusual for interlopers to stay after the nights have passed.

End: Midnight, Moonsday (Monday) Midsummer 7, 401 GA