The party was long, the wine flowed and the thanks of the locals were warm and heartfelt. The party had vanquished the cursed boar and bought a moment of peace back to this rural nook in the landscape. Kyrah spoke her thanks but there was not much time to marinate in this new found heroism - in the morning the party would set off east to see the oracle. Braz had a restless night, the wine didn't sit well with him - it was sweet and thick and not like the vintage from home.
Waking early Braz spent some time to meditate in the dawn - the light of Mytros fed his faith with a renewed strength. There was a moment during is mediation of concern, a flash of steel and Theo’s panicked face. Braz came out of his meditation with a jolt. Packing his bag Braz joined the party and followed Helikaon on a long days march through the old wood. The light dappled the trees and the forest was thick but the air was calm. Eventually they met the river Akelon and started the long uphill slog towards its source and the oracle.
Rocks became higher and higher, the stream running fast and cutting and turning sharply, eventually pouring out the mouth of a cave, steam and vapours rising from the ground and lingering in the air like the most glorious silver fog.
The dim light of the entrance was replaced by flickering torchlight as the party began to move into the cave. Before the party had the chance to take stock Alke spotted something among the vapours and loosed a crossbow bolt into the corporal form of steam.
All hell broke loose - the swirling forms of steam dived at the party, breathing a vent of hot steam towards the party with Calliope taking the full force.
Spreading out to avoid more attacks the party set to work hacking and slashing at these strange beings of steam, Helikaon and Alke hacking with his sword up close whilst Theo, Braz, Calliope and Hippofilius sent a volley of spells towards the beings that fizzed and popped as the final blows were struck. Alke and Helikaon took the full force of these explosions and were at the very edge of their will to continue as they fought the final few, as Kyrah sang powerfully - a soothing song that echoed across the cavern.
Across the cave close to the flickering torchlight Braz, Theo and Hippofilius noted some cowering soldiers at the entrance to the Oracle’s temple. Something was not right.
Braz approached, spear in hand but apprehensive - It was clear immediately that it was the order of Sylon and the scene in front of Braz was a bloody mess. Not wishing to cause more bloodshed in a holy site Braz was reluctant to strike out - The soldiers came forward and demanded to know if Braz was a hero of prophecy.
This caused a moment of uncertainty for Braz - he has been told in the last few days that he was a hero of legend but in his head he was still a rural minotaur who was fed up with the harpy menace. But he steeled himself and formed the word in his snout that he wished to be true.
"Yes?"
"Get HIM!" the soldiers yelled
At that moment Hippofilius waved his fingers, and astral threads appeared to form around the centaurs head and envelope the leaders head.
“Stand down - they are friendly” the leader ordered his confused troops - they didn't know what to do but stopped the advance, agitated. The sound of a faraway battled could be heard from the cavern entrance - a small boy in Order of Sydon clothes, holding a teddy appeared, incongruously rounded the corner.
"Quick, help, I think the heroes of the prophecy are down the valley" - this was enough evidence for the leader to order a group of the men down the valley.
Looking around Braz could see some of the temple attendants being held hostage. He continued to hesitate, a rash move could cost these innocent holy folk their lives and his conscious could not hold this.
A solider charged their shields into Hippofilius! Unthinking Braz stepped in to protect a new friend with a swift movement of his shield.
The battered party regrouped, and spotting what was happening the other party members had no hesitation in violently rescuing the hostages from their captors - even the little boy helped out by sending a teddy bear at a soldier with so much force it caved in his chest.
With his men dead the leader recognized his need to fight but Helikaon’s sword stopped him sharply.
Calliope - on hearing from the temple assistants that the oracle was in trouble rushed to the door, fumbling with lock pick to try and open the door as Braz, Alke and Theo followed the instructions of the temple attendants to collect the key.
Theo and Braz stood hesitantly in front of the key when through the fold of reality a grey, then silver, then bright white hand appeared and grabbed the key. Alke's mage hand returned the key to her swiftly but even before it reached her mortal form four blades had sprung from the wall and began slashing and hacking Theo and Braz.
With the vision of flashing metal still burned into his thick bovine skull from the morning vision Braz slammed his spear into an animated blade, sending it spinning to the floor. However he was unable to do this before the blades hacked at the retreating Theo, knocking him unconscious with a large gash across his back.
Braz was joined by the others to fight the swords to submission as Calliope did her best to stabilize Theo and the temple attendants handed out some healing potions.
The screams from down the corridor quickly focused the mind and the party dashed through the labyrinthian vault.
Answering a mimics riddle without missing a beat Alke led the party as the hurtled into the bowels of the Oracle's grotto.