Sx07 - A Sudden Departure

***A Sudden Departure*** is the 7th session of the campaign*.* It is preceded by Sx06 — The Cave of Trauma, and followed by Sx08 — Are You Hurt....

This session takes place over two days, Sabato the 13th of Leontes and Kiriaki the 14th of Leontes. Notable moments of this session are each talking to our gods, arriving in the Zeus District and Rigani's departure.

## Re-Entering the Stonehill Mine

After everyone completed dancing, the 3 girls (Adrasteia, Rigani, and Leoven) re-enter the Stonehill Mines to check the final path way, investigate and collect any remaining loot. Found a potion that \*\*Rigani\*\* learnt was "the opposite of a potion of healing" but is sometimes mistaken for a healing potion. In the second box \*(see The Stonehill Mine)\* there was a set of Plate Armour and a Longsword (give to Leoven) There was also adventurer's supplies (the supplies of Brutus and Ceanus) behind the alter. It seemed like the alter had been assembled in a hurry - wasn't intended to be a permanent fixture. The water at the bottom of the cavern is dirty. Surrounded by quicksand

Down the other path was a sleeping gas trap. Bell seems to be for the function of alerting Brutus and Ceanus to the trap being set off. This tunnel ended in a dead-end, but there was a plain golden locket worth around 20 gp with a picture of a girl inside it. She is a young human woman. Long brown hair in a ponytail. Wearing shopkeeper clothing - implies she is slightly richer than anyone who would be working in the mine.

## Perhaps someone's significant other - should investigate further.

There is no name, engraving or identification on the locket.

Arcana on the Red Cluster showed it released a mental poison that would enter the bloodstream and cause damage (A WIS save, on a fail take half) Would be interesting to get this implanted into a weapon. The red powder was the poison.

## Returning to Stonehill

Long rested in the town again. Evan (pronounced Even) saw a shadow following us but we brushed it off After our long rest Oto goes to Evan (pronounced Even) to find him dead - was this something to do with the shadow? Are we being followed by the shadow creatures from the 1 - The Stonehill Mine A check from Oto suggested they were some kind of creature from the underworld.

We talk to the owner and update them on the situation. We each received 55 gp (gained) as a reward for clearing the mine. They asked us to take a crate of Iron to Artemis Cove as well as a letter for the funerary association Then we set off back to Artemis Cove Zephyr does not return.

## Back at Artemis Cove

The group returned to the Blacksmith (Oto sat outside). The group gave him the letter from the mine and the shipment of Iron. He then wrote a letter of recommendation to the Zeus District. Meanwhile Oto went to the bookshop and found a book named Communing the Gods, A Noble Art - Book, which he was given without charge by Petros Macgroglou.

After that, Oto, Carban and Player Characters/Rigani went to the Magic Item shop and learnt it had changed, but gave up investigation for now since the owner had no answers and there was no clue in the shop itself. The young man at the counter was named Christopholous Rolled a 10 arcana and found there's "probably something magical happening"

## Entering the Zeus District

As we enter the gate of the Zeus District they take a sketch of our faces so that they recognises us. Upon entering we all split up to complete different tasks.

## Talking to the Gods

### Oto talks to Dionysus

Oto alone enters the Temple of Dionysus. It is decorated with vines, a purple carpet and tamed leopards. There is also a statue of Dionysus holding a large chalice and covered in well-tended vines. The temple is filled with people tending to the vines.

Oto offers a prayer to Dionysus, pouring some wine into an open chalice. A purple fog appears and Oto can hear Dionysus' voice. He says: - "Those who wander lost are most often found [...] The path ahead will be difficult but you must face your fears" Oto then asks about his goal of freedom and Dionysus responds with: "Freedom is an ideal hard to grasp but you will find your freedom with your friends."" Oto also voices fears about someone coming for the gods, and Dionysus suspects the same.

### Adrasteia talks Ezekiel

Adrasteia met Ezekiel, who is an archaeologist and believes something fell from the moon (an asteroid) long ago, destroying a previous civilisation and creating the crescent moon shape that Artemis Cove is on. - No one wants to claim what is down there but him - He needs someone to help him be able to breathe under water - The item falling matches Adrasteia's prophesy that she got in Posttown - Ezekiel used to work for the The Owl and Spear Sect/Athena temple, but they cut of his funding. - He was funded by a woman named Louisa Nicolai, a priestess of Athena - Ezekiel has been feeling as if he were being followed - eyes on his back feeling. - Ezekiel had spoken to Orym Omara about 6 months ago, looking for bags of holdings. Orym Omara said it would a couple of notes - a timeline that matches up with Orym's Notes

## Rigani's Goodbye Letter

*To my Adventuring Family,*

*I am sorry I had to leave this way, it was never the way I intended to go. Know that you are all always in my prayers and I will guide you.*

*To my boy Carban, don't let your rage define you, you are so much more than that. Adrasteia, never have I met more gentle and pure soul, keep guiding everyone forward and you will do well. My headstrong Leoven, you are a certain young elf and have forced me out of my comfort zone, thank you for your confidence. Oto you are so much more than a prototype, you have built a life with these people and show them love, keep your chin up (and maybe look into the function of a rubber duck if you have a free moment). Finally, Khantos and Ayleth, I've never met a robot dog before, yet you are so gentle and kind, Khantos taught you well! You are an intelligent boy and I know my 2nd family is safe in your hands.*

*I am in search of Asclepius in hope that he has some personal answers. For now, know I am safe and wish you all well. I can only hope that Vassilious grows up to be as bold and brave as you all.*

*All my love,*

*Rigani <3x*

## The Temple of Athena

As we entered the Athenian temple we saw that it was much larger than the other ones, and has more worshippers. There seemed to be a back door that the workers were going through.

### Oto

* Using Leoven as a distraction (an explosion of harmless fireworks) Oto cast the \*Blink\* spell and moved through a locked door. 16 Stealth and 12 Perception
* He moved up into a private apartments of what seemed to be a higher-up in the organisation.
* In the study there was a chair with the symbol of The Owl and Spear Sect embroidered into it's back
* There he found (and stole) a ledger of members (including Louisa Nicolai) and a paper with the ideology of the sect on it. (The Owl and Spear Member's Books, The Owl and Spear Manifesto)
* There was no list of employed mercenaries (was looking for The Rival Party) - Definitely missed a lot - kind of want to go back.
* Used \*Blink\* again to escape out of the roof and fell a bit, then travelled back to the Temple of Dionysus.

### Khantos

* Disguise self to sneak into the workers rooms.
* Looking for methods to kill gods - only myths.
* Looking for myth enders - only the book on the history of the Temple of Athena

### Adrasteia

* Wild Shapes into a cat - goes down the same path as Khantos
* Splits away from him, and finds a pair of heavy metal doors, behind them are the sounds of metal against metal and fire being lit (a forge perhaps?) - Something is being made/tested
* As it is late evening, everyone begins to move.
* Variety of people - all from the city
* No one kind of following
* All academics here
* Two other doors - one smells of burning, the other of dust.
* Adrasteia goes through the dust door and it locks behind her - she is trapped there (no vents)
* It clearly used to be a research room but the room seems to have a sphere of it missing - an explosion.
* A cabinet with research notes documents details of an experiment. - testing extradimensional storage (a link to Khantos and Orym Omara) - wanted to create a larger/infinite storage space - days before it was to be concluded the notes end. - but there is a final note saying: Conclusively Successful; No researchers survived
* They combined a portable hole and a bag of holding
* This was all written in different handwriting.
* There were no books on bags of holding, they had all been taken.

### Leoven

* Mixes in with the chaos after distraction.
* Helps someone pick up notes, glimpses: Snowbrook Facility; Storage [...] experimentation [...] production [...] Arrow Completion Site
* This was taken from her quickly.

### Carban

* Stood outside
* Saw a man followed by two guards in blue robes move from the Athena Temple to the Zeus temple/castle