My thoughts were reeling and sleep was not easy coming.
As I drifted off, I seemed to sink into darkness, until a painful spot of light illuminated a man in front of me. Hog tied to stake, bleeding, tears leaving pallid streaks across his bloodied face.
A woman’s voice taunted me from the darkness. Anger. Taunting. Threatening.
Powerful.
I jerked from sleep, drenched with sweat. As I opened the door to let some air into the suddenly stifling chamber, Theo did the same, followed shortly by each of my companions in turn.
One nightmare is possible, especially given the events of today, but six of us sharing the same dream? Lutheria, the goddess of dreams, has taken a hand in the conflict. Some others talk of almost succumbing to madness, but feeling sheltered by a silver light. It’s odd. Perhaps it was because I woke earlier? Who knows.
It’s a shaken group that heads towards Estoria in the pale morning light.
As we get close to the city, we are stopped by a Centaur, marked with some of the clan markings of the Scorpion tribe. The smell of alcohol washes off him and he drunkenly stops us with a formal challenge. We try to talk with him, but he seems past the point of reason. As he plants a fist across my jaw, I shift form to try and defend myself, but even in wolf form, he’s a strong adversary. I manage to knock him from his feet and at last he capitulates.
Pholon, as he calls himself, is too young to have known me well when I took my leave from the tribe, but is one of those that accepted the bond with the Aresians. Rather than accept the servitude of the cavalry though, they left together and made their own way as soldiers of fortune.
You’ve got to admire that. This foal may have a head full of rocks, but no man should be locked into bondage.
Unfortunately the bond has been broken as his partner, Ankaios, was killed in a brawl. At the next full moon, the curse will take Pholon.
It crystallises once more for me. It doesn’t matter that the loremaster of the tribe isn’t my real father. The curse takes too many of us. It will be the doom of my people if it can’t be broken.
As we approach the city with our new friend in tow, we begin to hear rumours from those on the road- a warband of centaurs and cyclops waits outside the northern edge of the city.
As we get into the city proper we are met by a contingent of the guard. They ask us to go with them to the palace.
King Pythor, the god king of Estoria demands our presence.
As we get there, we find out why. His daughter has been selected as the sacrifice to the Titans, and the Oath of Peace prevents him from doing anything about it. He wants to see if we can do anything about it. She will be put to death in 5 days time at the full moon, chained to the rock on the river, near the south gate.
We agree to do what we can. The favour of Pythor would be a great help against the might of Sydon and Lutheria.
More curiously, Pythor recognises Calliope. He says it’s been the best part of 5 centuries since he saw her last. As drunk as he was, he could be mistaken, or perhaps knew her forebears, but he called her by name. How does one that is not immortal survive that long?
With no answers and new questions for our siren friend, we head out to the Dragon shrine to find the horn that brought us here in the first place.
We meet the shrines attendant, an elf by the name of Aesop. He was husband to one of the ancient Dragonlords, which marks him centuries older than his youthful visage would suggest. At least with the elves, this is more like their regular lifespan. Like Pythor, he recognises Calliope and discusses how she was a companion of the dragonlords of old.
So why doesn’t she remember?
The horn we are after however, is not there. Two nights ago, it was stolen.
Housed here for centuries and taken two days before we arrive? I sense the hand of our enemies in this.
We retire to the Dragons Tooth inn to rest and decide our next steps. Again, our victory over the boar has gone before us and we are recognises us. Braz delights some of the patrons by taking part in the wrestling contests and we begin to ask around for information.
Alke uncovers rumours of the smith in town from some dwarves and a possible lead to the Mithral forge we seek.
I find out from the innkeeper some information about the army camped outside. Gaius is the name of their commander. Perhaps we can find a settlement for Pythors issues? There are daily sacrifices of animal stock that occur throughout the week. Perhaps if we might find the method of sacrifice, we might find a way to stop it.
There is a wine festival occurring over the next few days. Perhaps it will provide the cover we need.