From his seat high in the amphitheatre Braz had a great view of the festival. The pulsing mass of humanity in all its beautiful and colourful forms was as intoxicating as the torrent of wine.
Today had started well. A long sleep followed by the swearing of an oath between Theo and Pholon bought Theo something like a family and Pholon something like salvation. And then it was time for the festival.
Munching through a range of foods that he had never seen before Braz gave a prayer to Myrtos that maybe the dawn could wait on this night and the joy of this debauchery may last. He thought of the piety of the last twenty years, and sat in his small village by the coast. Mytros had given him hope and solace but not the joy that Lutheria had bestowed on the crowd below.
Or was it bestowed?
Having met the gods over the last week Braz began to question what they did for those who they asked worship from.
Pythor drank and left this grand city suffering drought and poverty. Volcan played with trinkets his forge, forgotten by those who once worshipped him. Kyrah did nothing but follow around a group of adventurers picked from obscurity.
Even when they did take a moment to impact the lives of those around them it was for minor benefit to the individual, never to the collective.
Then there was Mytros. Braz could feel her presence, but he had only seen a glimpse of her help. More often than not it was the power of those who had faith that impacted the world rather than her touch.
These thoughts washed over Braz as he watched the beautiful dancing and the waves of emotion caused by the play. He had looked forward to it but in this moment his focus was on the life and vigour around him - he had to do a double-take as Helikaon took to the stage in a wonderful costume and declared something about a boat.
As the evening ended Braz slept with a head full of doubt and wine.
Morning came quickly and as fun as the previous evening had been there was a firm consensus in the group that the search for the missing youth of Estoria was vital.
Theo picked up the trail of the enchanted wine and the group set off deep into the Oldswoods.
It wasn't long before the party found themselves in a clearing. From the edge of their perception came a scream, a cry for help.
It was a young woman and she was being harassed by goatlings who made horrific bleeding and insulting pronouncements towards the group.
A brief but bloody combat ensured. The goatlings were soft to the swing of a sword but there were many of them and as they all descended on Alke their sheer weight of numbers led to her to be overwhelmed.
With the goats dispersed, the party was informed by the young woman - Corinna - that her and her friends had been led to a temple close by to serve as priests. This enticing offer appears to have been a double-edged sword and on trying to escape, Corinna had been followed and berated by the foul creatures the party had just slain.
It was unanimous when the decision was made to follow on and try and rescue the others.