Four Fates Under the Southern Sun PF, Session 17

Start: 4 pm, Foreautumn 6, 401 GA

Vasileios and Mira had nocturnal business to attend to, and both had a late night.

Luna, additionally, recalls a disturbing dream, of which she shares with the party. The events of the dream are as follows, from Luna's perspective.

"Upon waking, you hazily recall a most peculiar dream. It was if you were in a trance or daze. Your eyes half lidded, your mind induced into a serene calm. You felt tranquil, and were possessed of a warm feeling, as if you were truly home, at last. In your dreamlight twilight, you recall dimly lit torch sconces, the smells of lemon and lavender, and three others of your kind. They spoke with you as if you were a sister of theirs, long lost by fate and circumstance.

They applied an unguent over your scales and skin and gave you a hibiscus scented draught to sip. In your calm, you felt compelled to follow their direction, as they seemed at once familiar, as if lovers long lost. They directed you to an altar and attended to you. One of them departed and returned with an evidently fearful man. They found this amusing, as did you, at the time.

He pled with the primary sister, named Tveria, to stop. She did not stop. She took his hand and shed his blood over your forehead with a small athame. Your vision lapsed. In a whirlwind of sight and sound, you dimly recall an all-devouring serpent, squat ziggurats, and hundreds of years of war. You can barely grasp the memories, but for a moment, you felt as if you touched upon the cusp of your people's history. In that moment, it was all over. You awoke in your quarters, feeling altered, dressed in the same beaded garments you were wearing in the dream."

During this dream, Luna saw three ghostly vipers.

Mira, Tzara, and Luna find Vasileios missing and ponder about where he could have went. To this end, in the early morning they visit the temple of Vollûr. They buy some scrolls, and Vasileios circumstantially contacts them around this time, to notify them he is fine.

During their visit, they observed a brawl taking place in a ritual area in the temple. It appeared to be a cultural take on the ritual of bloodletting, a preparatory practice of clerics of Vollûr.

The three of them eat breakfast with Giancarlo and Tveria. They all notice an uneasiness in Giancarlo that was not noticed previously. Mira noticed an additional note, indicating perhaps her plan is taking effect.

They return to the inn room, awaiting Vasileios's return. Return he does, with his brother, Alcaeus and an Orasid named Aidyn. Aidyn seems quite out of place, and quite content to quip while eating beets. Vasileios introduces Alcaeus and recounts the previous night's events.

During the conversation, it was revealed Aidyn received an education as a scribe and speaks many languages, but there was no need for another scribe at his village, so he took up farming. He knows Marai and Cormine, along with Viszud, Yog, and Orasid.

They rested briefly at the inn room. During this, Vasileios communicated with Sahil, who informed him the eggs they left with him are 'highly irregular' and are being studied.

Vasileios spent some money in the market and withdrew from the group stock to equip Alcaeus. While in the marketplace, Alcaeus described the cult leader, a man named Baldwin. He is a half-golem, and by Alcaeus's judge, seemed to be a northerner.

The party decided to visit Jucika once more. She expressed interest in Luna's genetics, finding them exotic. Her primary goal is Giancarlo being eliminated, but if Tveria could be captured, she would be quite pleased. She offered 12k for Tveria or one of her sisters captured alive. They parted with the words: The Vatatzes are generous. You would do well to keep that in mind.

Mira sent message via hound Archon to Sahil, informing him to send fortified, armed ships for trade with house Koshkas. She indicated to have her house notified as well, and any other interested parties. Through their exchange, he was informed 'basic necessities, such as food and statues of Isha' were required, along with troops to fortify the docks against possible Vatatzes interference.

At the boat, Mira gave Aidyn 25 gold to wait in the hotel room. This confused him, but he obliged the request. Mira visited the Koshkas estate and spoke with Giancarlo about the trade deal. She reassured him about the Vatatzes, and mentioned the requisitioned troops.

They prepared in a room in the Koshkas estate. Luna was buffed with delay poison, and Luna and Mira stayed in the same room.

XP: 700
End: 8 pm Foreautumn 6, 401 GA