Four Fates Under the Southern Sun PF, Session 10

Start: 11 am, Midsummer 24, 401

Şartom Eluë clarified that while he welcomed Mira as Ilishlu, he was keeping with tradition. He has done so once before, and mentioned "The last was more prepared than you, but I will provide you the honors you are due.". He did not seem to have high confidence in her, but realized she -could- be Ilishlu, as they view her.

After a rest, Şartom brought the party to eat with the expedition party that would accompany them. He stood by as a mediator.

There was palpable tension in the air. Vasileios covertly sensed alignment, and was troubled with the results. Everyone in the room other than him, Luna, and the guide, Emeria, radiated a tainted aura.

Emeria seemed not to want to get too close to the Archons. She was polite and answered their questions. She would go on to confide in Mira they were tasked with disallowing them from leaving the Unnamed Tomb if they do not return with the circlet of living ice.

This troubled the Archons.

A warrior in the expedition, an elf named Voni, openly doubted the veracity of Mira's claim. He seemed to believe 'Ilishlu will be returned to us when the goddess deems fit' and viewed her as an imposter intending to rob his people of an ancient artifact to their race. Things got contentious when Luna clashed with him, and Şartom mediated the situation.

He was eventually convinced that while he may not believe Mira is Ilishlu, it is far better if the circlet is in the hands of a foreigner than their sworn enemy in a crypt where they may not venture.

Polahdir the sorcerer seemed idly interested in this situation, and was conceivably part of this process as an act of obedience or contrition.

Xeriabel, the warrior, likewise was not opposed to the party, but was in evidently a similar situation to Polahdir. She tried to be the most chatty with the party.

Şartom poured the wine, as the most senior of those involved at the dinner. This appeared to carry cultural weight and significance.

The dinner concluded with Emeria divulging she was to guide them through the frozen wilderness, with amulets warded against the undead.

The Fortisskari account of how the circlet was lost is as follows: Circlet was lost in battle, Ilishlu was slain. It is not known if Ingvar the Corrupter still possesses it. The circlet is deep within the forbidden southlands, in a place called the crypt of the unnamed.

The party rested and departed at dawn.

The journey overland was mostly uneventful, with the memories of the contention of the dinner in mind. Emeria wished the party luck in their task, and seemed to genuinely wish them success.

They entered the Crypt of the Unnamed, and their elven escorted waited behind in the warm, humid entrance into this one of the four vaults of the Forbidden Southlands.

They explored the caves, which darkened once they entered.

Many of the caves appeared to be bored out of the stone in disturbing ways. Further inside, they explored a pool, which held egg sacs floating in the temperate water. A few amphibious krill-men emerged from the waters and assaulted them.

The battle was tense. Partway through the conflict, a shadow-cloaked skeletal giant observed the party from on top of the cave's waterfall.

It waited until the party was finished with the melee until speaking with them. It appeared unwilling or unable to intervene with the battle. The giant treated their wounds and spoke with The Spider Queen telepathically in its Eeg-Ulu language.

It seemed to be divorced from their customs of friendliness and small talk. It directly stated it did not wish them harm, and offered a gesture of goodwill. Then, it beckoned them to follow.

XP: 4800
End: 1 pm, Midsummer 27, 401