Session 142 - The Feast
Xan looks at the food on the table. It looks delicious. With one hand on the quiver she picks up a bread roll on the table and sniffs it. Incredible. She takes a bite
The ogre still sleeps.
Two awake. One a man without a tie, black straight hair and beards, eating the food as if this has happened countless times to them. The other a male in platemail with a crowned helmet, a sword and a tabard.
Calliope appears from almost nowhere, looks incredibly lost and immediately jumps up and stabs her dagger into the Sphinx’s chest screaming “RUN”. Theo flashes out of existence as Xan can barely get the food from her mouth to stop her. She shouts and tries to calm her down, bringing the confused Siren down to her level and sitting her on the same chair as she was sitting in.
Alke pops up and is also faced with a riddle she solves almost immediately. She solves it quickly and saves Hipofillius too from his task.
The others at the table become more obvious. A man with simple sandals and dirtied feet, black makeup around his eyes and looking ready for battle in his scorpion armour.
The other woman is a wild one, an elf with long wild curly hair and paint on her face.
Calliope reaches to heal the wounds of the Sphinx and he thanks her but it lasts not long as Alke voices her anger at them being used as playthings.
The Sphinx speaks of a test, he finds if people are wanting or heroes, to see if they are wise.
“Those that have thought receive some gift, those that have shown they are wise receive more. My apologies, it has been many years since anybody has come to this island. I assumed you came because you know of them. You have passed them all.”
“We do not interfere in the realms of mortals”
They are given a gift.
Immune to poison and being frightened
Advantage on wisdom saving throws
HP max gone up by five points
The Sphinx and Theo get into a conversation about the future, other dimensions, timelines and how they work. The only thing Theo understands is that he would understand if only he were a Sphinx. He gestured to the others and told them they are coming from other worlds of what is. He asks what the fates of the others are.
“They are to wait here until they are needed”
He explains the loophole of time. The end of the oath is not days closer while they lay foot on this island. The Sphinx describes that the time outside this world has frozen and not a day has passed.
Calliope begs to return home. Xan assures her she will return her to the ship but it is not right. She wishes to return to Yonder, her home. Xan can’t explain. Hippofilius pops in and asks more of Calliope - her memories may be gone but they are her friends, they are by her side. He promises they are here to do good in the world. He asks her to trust the oath that they are her friends. She looks suspiciously at him but seems to accept the situation at hand.
Hipofilius speaks to the Sphinx. “We came here to look for her, it’s unlikely that we will see you again”
He replies. “I cannot interfere, but I can help from afar, pushing the sundial”
“Perhaps the gift of time may be a gift. We don’t have enough. We have been to island to island, we have found a couple of weapons to wield but we have precious few allies to fight the armies of Sydon… we need time…”
“I still have gifts to give. You will see them in time.”
The Feast is another gift.
The Vault gifted them the quiver.
The arrows: they are arrows of fates. Those with powerful Fates, their greater children. The arrows bring them closer to death, but these are designed to law low gods and titans down. They confirm that they will not be involved in the battles, but giving the arrows to the Chosen means they can be impartial to what happens to them.
Xan says she will definitely take all credit for using the arrows should she take down a titan.
Hipofillius asks where they may find allies. The Sphinx says they put too much stock in allies and that they already have them.
“If you wish for more, the places you are going will provide you with few allies - only information - this is your fate to decide. There are a myriad of ways this can end from my perspective - but only one from yours.”
“Look for those that can make you greater - you will be followed by those who know you through fame and gain allies this way. If this war could be won with numbers the titans would have already won it. That is my advice to you. I will tell you nothing of what you will face or where you will go - I will not - none of my kind will”
Hipofilius speaks up with a word on the Lotus Witch, who helped them many days ago. He brings up the curse that was put upon them by her to turn into scorpions when they come of age with they are not paired upm and bonded.
The Sphinx tells of the Lotus Witch who left them. She would still be welcomed back, he thinks of her fondly but she is too prideful to return. She thinks she has burned every bridge she has on this island but he leaves open the possibility that she would be allowed to return.
Hipofilius asks that he would take a feather from the Sphinx’s wing as evidence they have visited her home and invite her back to the island they are currently on. The sphinx gives them a feather and tells them the fate of the world is a bigger concern.
“Your time on this island has come to the end. Remember the ancient covenant. Tell it to others. This island can only be found by great heroes. They should know what they are coming to do”
The Sphinx enhales and lets out a mighty roar. It rattles beyond sound and sight. Out of his mouth pours a sandstorm wrapping them up and transporting them back to the Ultros. The island is nowhere to be seen. Xan immediately loses the grip she had over Calliope’s shoulders.
Once they have regained their footing Xan is staring up at the stars, she realises they have ten days back in time.
10 Days in the past
“My third gift - some more time. Don’t go to where you have been before.”