Random Showcase - The Odyssey

This is the single day of the year when a Satyr will wake early, do all their chores for the year, make sound financial decisions and basically get their life together. The festival is extremely boring, everyone gets an early night, they play some light music in the evening, but not too loud. The only drink allowed is a small wine with dinner. Traditional foods include small lump of cheese and a plain loaf of bread, maybe some warm milk. A sacred day for Satyr's and tricksters everywhere, spawned many phrases like "as serious as a satyr on Enkrateia" or "to deal with a trickster, lock them up until Enkrateia" - Affectionately know as "The Sober Day".

The kingdom of Aresia has long been a rival to the kingdom of Mythos. The two cities have been engaged in dozens of wars over the last several hundred years, which are collectively known as the Aresian campaigns. The reasons for the fighting vary, but one thing is certain: warriors on both sides seek glory in battle. The warrior monks of the eastern shore are amongst the most feared fighters in all of Thylea.

Their children begin training with spears from the day they take their first steps, and every adult is required to serve in the militia. Aresians spend their lives in pursuit of ‘degrees’ in schools of martial philosophy, which have been refined over many centuries of defending their borders. Aresian warriors cultivate an air of rugged austerity out of a sense of pride in their history, but it disguises long hours spent on beauty rituals, poetry readings, and decadent feasting.

The most powerful families in Aresia are those which take the greatest pains to appear ascetic—eating unspiced gruel and wearing little to nothing in public, while lavishing fine foods and luxurious garments on their servants in paradoxical and conspicuous displays of wealth. The highest caste warriors make a point of leading lifestyles that most closely resemble those of their hard-pressed ancestors.

An annual gathering where Nymphs bring together their favoured mortals from across Thylea for a day of celebration and entertainment.

It is regarded by most mortals as a great honour to be invited to ‘Chaïdeménos’, with some even viewing an invitation from one of the Great Mother’s children as a sign of approval of Thylea herself. In reality, however, this annual event is little more than a chance for Nymphs to come together to show-off their favourite mortal pets. It is a show of status, an opportunity to social climb, and a chance to scout out other interesting people they might like to add to their ‘collection’.

Due to its nature, this gathering brings together many powerful, talented and famous mortals from across Thylea who are often at odds with one another (or even enemies.) Despite this, it is strictly forbidden for any altercations to take place, and they very rarely do: most recognise the value of the chance to network while keeping a discreet eye on other powerful people from across the continent.

Food and wine is plentiful, and mortals in attendance are invited to perform their talents: music, poetry, combat demonstrations and debates are all commonplace throughout the event. Those who perform well are rewarded with gifts and trinkets from Nymphs trying to win their favour and add them to their own collection of ‘pets’.

The location is picked by the Nymph who brought the mortal ‘winner’ of last year’s event (as decided behind the scenes by the Nymphs in attendance.) Should they be unable to agree on a favoured mortal (which happens often) the choice of location for the next year instead falls to the eldest Nymph.

Now in Xanders real tomb, the heroes were interupted by the hulking Graxis, having regenarated from his wounds, ready to confront them. With a roar and a charge he knocked Aella immediately unconscious. Raising the rusted axe he wielded he was about to kill her when the axe flew out of his grasp and launched itself into the hands of it's rightful owner - Xander "Dragonshield" Huorath himself, having silently risen from his tomb. Unarmed, the minotaur was still dangerous but the heroes of Thylea were more so and the creature expired with one of Praxos's arrows through its eye.

Turning to face Xander, a dessicated wight in the Dragonlord Commanders outfit he spoke to Tryntia. A heartfelt exchange followed ending with Xander telling her “If you cannot bear to live for yourself. Find something to live for.” and giving her his blessing and his fabled helmet which turned bronze when she touched it.

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Xander then turned to Praxos, recognising him as a soldier of Mytros he asked him to describe how the city had grown. Moved by his description he bestowed his fabled armour to him.

He additionally gave the party his Axe, the Titankiller and his shield, The Lion's Jaws however both items were in bad state after their misuse after being handled by Graxis for so many centuries.

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He answered a few questions from the party. To Praxos question on how to find and care for dragon eggs he was directed to the Island of the sleepy Dragon which they could get to by following the constellation of the Echo. After queried by Aella about possible golden dragons he informed her that there are two. Hrisonsoma and Iliokataktitis. Their riders were respectively Zanis Luatharn and Zeluna Huorath. With that and a few parting words Xander returned to his tomb, this time to lie there forever more. Later, when resting next to the tomb of Balmytria the group was let in and discovered the headless skeleton of the Dragon and a still living dragon egg clutched in safety by a long dead human, now only skeleton. Tryntia claimed the egg and covered it in warm water to keep it viable as the many centuries have clearly damaged it.

The party decided to visit The Mithral Forge in order to commission Volkan to repair their legendary armaments. On the way they spotted Dragons being ridden by individuals heading to The City of Estoria. Sending a warning to King Pythor via Kiriki who had come for her weekly delivery (she brought them a shield made out of the The Corrupted Boar they slew)

they continued on their journey. It was non uneventful however as on the third day of travel a rift in reality opened in front of them and a 24ft tall Goloron greeted them. He sought them out to correct a misunderstanding and make an apology. Apparently it was not him who attacked Aella but his brother Talieus . He stated that the Titans will rise and replace the Gods as the rightful rulers of the land and seemed to not known about The Lost Titans. He left quickly after Eurytus told him that his parents had kept the truth from him.

Finally, the party made it to the mines where they met a renewed Volkan who quickly took the items and started to repair them and a more muscular Selene who had become proficient in smithing in the short time they had been apart. She told them that she was still some way away from finishing the master weapon.

The journey then to The City of Mytros was also eventful with the first day running into a cyclops that wanted to sacrifice them tor Sydon but was dispatched incredibly quickly.

On the second day they encountered an old flame of Kyrah, Poet Laureate of Mytros's at some form of celebration or festival in the middle of the heartlands. Finally on the third day of travel, Aella’s clockwork owl started beeping in warning. There were 6 metallic birds in the sky, quite low down to the ground. Apparently Aella has never seen stimfays outside of Themis and this meant that Amazons may be around.

Finally, The City of Mytros showed itself to be in an etreemely pdd condition, with an endless storm battering it. The party entered the town but not before Aella was shocked by lighting again. Praxos took them to The Satyr's Tail, a seedy tavern in the Stygian Row in order to keep low, however it was obvious that they had been made from the very moment they enetered. A paranoid night later of keeping guard they were woken by Eurayle who was on watch seeing a bronze dragon peering through the window. A man came up the stairs and seemed to know Praxos. His name is Tarchon "Big Man", now a high-ranking member of the Centurions of Mytros and part of King Acastus fighting force, "The New Dragonlords". He exclaimed to them that the King wished them to come to his chambers immediately for an audience.

A week-long holiday celebrating the arrival of the settler races in Thylea and the warm welcome some of the inhabitants gave them. Replaying their arrival the settler races offer gifts and acts of kindness to all others throughout this week: many will give out possessions, volunteer to help and feed people in need.

Those who have arrived in Thylea since the last Welcoming, normally through shipwrecks, are the guests of honour at any celebration they find. They are then expected to carry on the tradition on future Welcoming days.

In The Kingdom of Aresia this celebration is a great event as it allows its citizens to show how they align with their predecessors’ ascetic means: large ‘feasts’ with only meagre offerings like gruel are organised for all, and the rich take great pains to be seen donating lavish gifts to the poor, often attempting to show up their rivals by making larger and larger gifts.